Cafe Juanita
Italian restaurant · Kirkland ·
Northern Italian fine dining with Northwestern ingredients and tasting menus
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67120971/LS20150811_juanitacafe_001.0.jpeg "Cafe Juanita by Lara Swimmer Photography")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20533269/IMG_3759.jpeg "Cafe Juanita by Holly Smith")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/20533263/33B32B4C_2939_4899_B8FF_362593131DA4.jpeg "Cafe Juanita by Holly Smith")
Northern Italian fine dining with Northwestern ingredients and tasting menus
"ComplimentaryLeave it to a fine-dining legend that has multiple bread courses—Cafe Juanita is doing it right. First, you'll receive smooth focaccia squares sporting an absorbed reserve of elite olive oil that unleashes on each bite. Later on, the whole basket shows up, which includes nutty caraway-speckled rye, grown-up Cheez-It-like aged Parmigiano Reggiano crisps, and stellar garlicky potato bread." - Aimee Rizzo
"A well-regarded Eastside fine-dining destination where the newly promoted chef previously held a position earlier in his career." - Harry Cheadle
"How Far In Advance Should You Book? Day-of for weeknight reservations; at least a week out for primetime weekend slots. Kirkland’s fancy northern Italian restaurant is a great (if pricey) spot for a birthday dinner or anniversary. It’s one of those rare places you can dress up without feeling out of place, all while enjoying braised lamb or delicate homemade tagliatelle. And since you no longer have to plan such a meal months in advance, the pre-dinner focus can be on that killer outfit. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - gabe guarente
"Holly Smith’s Northern Italian fine dining restaurant feels old-fashioned, a quiet, low-key dining room tucked away in Kirkland. But the food is still outstanding and inventive. The menu changes frequently based on the seasons, but you’ll find bites that astound — we’re still thinking about an umami-rich foraged mushroom pasta we had there years ago. Notably, Cafe Juanita serves four different tasting menus: an omnivorous one alongside pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan options. Couple that with a nonalcoholic beverage pairing you can opt for instead of wine and you’re looking at one of the most inclusive high-end restaurants in the metro area. If you drive: Don’t try to mess around by finding street parking. You’re going to drop $200 a person here before drinks, you might as well pay $10 for the valet service." - Harry Cheadle
"Holly Smith and her team have been holding down the fine dining fort in Kirkland for over two decades, and the northern Italian–influenced tasting menus haven’t lost a step. The focaccia is casually some of the best in the metro area, the little in-between-course surprises are thrilling, and the staff boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of the dishes being served. Tasting menus (which include vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian options) are $205." - Harry Cheadle
