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Cafe Juanita Review
Read our Seattle restaurant reviews. Or post your own.
Cafe Juanita 
- Address: 9702 NE 120th Pl., Kirkland, WA | Map It
- Phone: 425/823-1505
- www.cafejuanita.com
Fodor's Review:
There are so many ways for an expensive, "destination" restaurant to go overboard, making itself nothing more than a special-occasion spectacle, but Cafe Juanita manages to get everything just right. The space is refined without being too designy or too posh, and the food, much of which has a northern Italian influence, is also perfectly balanced: you won't find needlessly flashy fusion cooking or heavy sauces that obliterate subtle flavors. If you've ever had a bad experience with lamb, you must order it here; one bite of the tender saddle of Oregon lamb will expunge all memories of tough wedding entrées or greasy falafel-stand horrors. The daily fish specials are also worth the plunge, especially when the menu's featuring whole fish. Even the "seasonal fruit" offering -- so often the most boring item on a dessert menu -- is finally done some justice here: instead of being smothered in too-sweet creams or syrups, local strawberries are marinated in balsamic vinegar, sprinkled with black pepper, and topped with a mild gelato. To top it all off, the restaurant has an excellent wine list. Cafe Juanita prides itself on using fresh, local, and organic ingredients; this is hardly a unique feature among Seattle restaurants, but if you need to convince someone (or yourself) that local and organic foods taste (and look) better, this should be your first stop. Avoid trying to drive here during rush hour -- dealing with traffic on the 520 bridge is not an auspicious start to such a great meal.
- Credit Cards: MC, V
- Closed: Closed Mon. No lunch
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