BELLEVUE. Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall, Andre's is a unique find. Its eclectic menu takes cues from European and Asian cuisines, and the sleek, open space includes a romantic fireplace, making the restaurant a great place for a date. Tempting dishes include Asian crab ravioli, Algerian lamb, turmeric-lemongrass chicken, and Eurasian pork tenderloin, simmered in a curry marsala-ginger sauce. Noodle, pasta, and vegetarian dishes are also delicious.

Thai for "banana leaf," Bai-Tong offers intrepid palates one of the Seattle area's more top-notch forays into traditional Thai cuisine. Located near the airport in an unassuming building that once housed an old root-beer stand, this friendly little restaurant has enjoyed a loyal following since opening its doors back in the early 90s, with patrons granting high marks to such sensory delights as marinated chicken wrapped in a herb-enriched toey leaf, stir-fried vegetables served in oyster sauce, and vegetarian-friendly tofu curries whose seasonings are imported annually from Thailand. Reservations are accepted.

WEDGEWOOD. A popular notion is that you have to make your way to the International District to find really good Chinese food in Seattle; fortunately, this Wedgewood eatery goes a long way toward dispelling that myth. For the better part of a decade now, the Black Pearl has been wowing Seattle's Northside with a menu that peppers traditional Chinese fare with a bit of a Pacific Northwest lilt. The hand-rolled noodles are becoming somewhat of a local legend.

BELLEVUE. Loyalists at this family-run institution show up regularly to feast on well-spiced Thai favorites like crispy spring rolls, garlic chicken, seafood dishes, and classic pad thai. The lengthy menu also features plenty of vegetarian options, and the atmosphere combines relaxed attitude with upscale, authentic decor.

PIONEER SQUARE & INT'L DISTRICT. This friendly Seventh Ave eatery is known far and wide for its dim sum, and many Seattle insiders have even gone so far as to grant China Gate's 100-item menu the title of "best in town." Specialties include fresh crab, shrimp, lobster, and squid, and familiar favorites like sweet & sour pork, almond-fried chicken, and Peking duck. The brightly lit main dining area is dominated by hues of jade green and traditional renderings of dragons and phoenixes; the live seafood tanks up front help complete this quintessentially Chinese-American scene. Dim sum is served late into the night, too!