Café Juanita

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Café Juanita Review

There are so many ways for a pricey "destination restaurant" to go overboard, making itself nothing more than a special-occasion spectacle, but Café Juanita manages to get everything just right. This Kirkland space is refined without being overly posh, and the food—much of which has a northern Italian influence—is also perfectly balanced. One bite of lauded chef Holly Smith's tender saddle of Oregon lamb with baby artichokes, fava beans, and lemon emulsion and you'll be sold. The daily fish specials are almost always worth the plunge, and the restaurant is extremely accommodating for gluten-free guests. With advance notice, she'll craft individualized tasting menus at "Table 2" with its view of the kitchen. To top it all off, the restaurant has an excellent wine list.