Girardi's Osteria
Girardi's is arguably the best Italian fine dining in Edmonds. The atmosphere here is lovely, darkly lit with warm colors, and relaxed. Their food is quite good and its presentation has a lot of charm, which of course makes it even tastier in the curious court of the human mind. The wine list is teeming with intelligence. Try a glass with their antipasti plate, and another with your main course. If you're in doubt, ask your waiter for the chef's recommendation.
Their Caesar salad is exceptional, not to be missed. When it comes to your main course, they do great justice with their rack of lamb. For a less expensive alternative, the duck breast will not disappoint. Girardi's is open nightly for dinner, and serves lunch Tuesday through Saturday. They also serve a prix fixe early dinner during the week, and offer a family-style menu for larger gatherings.
504 5th Ave. S
Edmonds, WA 98020-3403
(425) 673-5278
girardis-osteria.com
Thai Cottage
This is classic Thai-American fare with a familiar menu and solid quality. Located right off Main Street in the thick of downtown Edmonds, Thai Cottage is not much of a cottage. They're more reliable with the "Thai" part, though. Their crab delight makes an excellent starter, and the sweet and sour sauce it comes with is very good. For a main dish, their rad nah and panang curry will not disappoint. The portions are modest in size. Their rice is more expensive than you might expect.
They serve both lunch and dinner, but if the weather is nice then your best bet is to order take-out and go eat at the beach. Thai Cottage is open every day of the week, for lunch and dinner.
417 Main St.
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 774-2222
thaicottage.net
Arnies Restaurant
Arnies is a good "occasion" restaurant, suited for birthdays, family visits, and romantic interludes. The service is solid middle class Americana fine dining, but the milieu is like something right out of a luxury resort. The building has an elegant personality, and of course the westward view of Puget Sound is almost an occasion in itself. You'll be able to watch the ferries depart from the nearby docks, and the Olympic Mountains fill out the horizon beyond. In the evening, when the sun is on the water and the sky is red, perhaps you'll take your glass of wine in hand and feel, at least for a moment, truly satisfied.
The cuisine stands out as consistently very good. This being a seafood restaurant, you can get a feel for the place by trying their take on clam chowder, which goes best with beer or a tart cocktail. If clam chowder is not your fancy, then try the oven roasted crab dip. It's much too rich to eat in large amounts as a starter, but if you're dining with a party of four it serves as an ideal appetizer. When it comes to the main course, consider the Arnies seafood grill or the catch of the day, and don't be afraid to order off the menu, either. Save room for dessert.
Arnies is open daily for lunch and dinner. They serve a prix fixe dinner between four and six o'clock in the afternoon Sunday through Friday, and a wonderful Sunday brunch.
300 Admiral Way, No. 211
Edmonds, WA 98020
(425) 771-5688
arniesrestaurant.com
