Hi! I’m Elizabeth, a (no longer) twenty-something Seattleite who loves cooking healthily (with some desserts thrown in there… lots of desserts), dancing at any given opportunity, drawing everything, reading suspenseful mystery novels, exploring the Pacific Northwest and playing with all the big dogs.

Come visit my blog for healthy recipes (mostly plant-based and gluten-free options) plus some treats too. The key here is moderation! I might even mention a few restaurants I can’t get enough of…

Bizzarro Italian Cafe (Wallingford) Cozy Italian food (gnocchi please!) with very quirky, umm bizarre decor. Can you spot the harry spider? Try not to fill up on fresh, fluffy focaccia before your entree even arrives. And be prepared to wait for a table.

Flying Squirrel Pizza (Maple Leaf, Georgetown) Amazing, fresh toppings paired with a perfect crust. Not overly heavy and not cracker thin. The R.E.M. will surely give you a taste of heaven… if you believe in that sort of thing. Split a pie with one lucky human if you’re hungry, or two other people if y’all eat like birds or don’t care for cheesy carbs. The salads are pretty good too! Arrive on the later side unless you enjoy babbling (screaming) toddlers.

Poppy (Capitol Hill) Inventive, seasonal cocktails and food. Order the eggplant fries! Even if you think you hate eggplant. FYI, for dinner you’ll get a personal platter with one main protein and like five tiny bites alongside. Don’t cry if you dislike one of the five (lavender potatoes, guck) because the rest will probably be amazing. Update: Poppy closed. I might have cried. On the inside and on the outside. Tears for days.

Cactus (South Lake Union, Alki, Madison Park, Bellevue, Kirkland) Hola! This place maybe isn’t the most authentic but I love the atmosphere (especially the Madison Park and Kirkland locations) and the food is always good. Andd the cocktails. Give me free warm chips with fresh salsa and I’m one happy camper. Try the jackfruit tacos for something a little different. Yummm. Update: Highly recommend ordering one (or three) of the Mamacita margaritas served up, no salt.

Umi Sake House (Belltown) Trendy AF vibe so utilize that dry shampoo and peel yourself out of your fave yoga pants before showing up if you would rather avoid judgy side-eye. Yes you should order trendy sake with your trendy sushi because that’s the trendy thing to do. Pop in Bathtub Gin & Co after (a neat little speakeasy) if you want to get your drank on in a classy manner. (It’s located in a semi-sketch alley so bring a buddy with some guns muscles.) Update: Last time I popped into Bath Gin & Co my cocktail was way too sweet. So maybe don’t go ha.

List (Belltown) Another swanky spot for you to park your mod bum and sip on a posh cocktail while you nibble on borderline pretentious (but delicious) dishes. If you have a thing for heated toilet seats, come here. If you’re obsessed with the color red, come here. I’ve heard the gnocchi is off the chain, but haven’t had the chance to try it yet. Ohhh and do stop by during happy hour because all of the food (except the specials) will be half off. Apparently you can get a bottle of wine for $18 too… so there’s that. 21 and up only so bring your fake or sprout a few gray hairs if you happen to be a youngin. Update: Last I checked, during happy hour all bar food is 50% off, and you can score a bottle for $22. Still a sweet deal given inflation and all that!

Tavolata (Belltown, Capitol Hill, Stoneway) Apparently I (used to) like Belltown. But really, these guys make the most amazing spaghetti. Ever. Show up for happy hour and your spaghetti will be pretty cheap. Score! Feel free to share Lady and The Tramp style because the serving is rather generous. Update: Hop on over to Vendemmia instead for a big ole bowl of (vegan!) spaghetti. Madrona is a cute neighborhood and parking is a breeze. See how my priorities change with age? lol

Crow (Queen Anne) Even though there is a lot of meat going on on the menu, they usually have a tasty vegetarian main plus super fresh salads. And beyond good cocktails. So no complaints over here. Update: Crow is closed now too. Why?? Talk about a cruel cruel summer.

Cafe Flora (Madison Valley) Wait what?! I can order pretty much every item from the menu? Heck yes! Everything here is vegetarian, with a ton of vegan and gluten-free options. The tacos are bomb… same goes for pretty much everything else. Enjoy a hippie cocktail while you’re at it. And don’t be surprised if you see an array of rainbow hair colors and 500 million tats.

No Bones Beach Club (Ballard) My new fave fave restaurant. Because it’s alllll vegan. And not the super duper healthy hippie type but the semi-greasy comfort food variety. Heck to the yes. And did I mention they have a pretty juicy happy hour with tempting food deals (hello “crab” cakes, loaded “cheesy” nachos, crispy jackfruit flautas, and fried avocado tacos) along with tropical adult beverages? Well they do so get your bum over there, meat eaters and plant peeps alike. Update: Closed. Ugh.

Morsel (University District) Flaky, tender, buttery biscuits in Seattle? Yes dreams do come true. I just might marry “The Goat” biscuit sandwich because herbed goat cheese, roasted tomato jam, and cucumber slices were meant to be with me… and a fresh biscuit forever. Add a fried egg to really seal the deal. There aren’t a lot of seats available so be prepared to eat your biscuit on the street or in your car like a non-loser. Update: Now that I’m a (mostly) plant-based peep I haven’t enjoyed morsel in a minute. But my vegetarian folks and omnivores, go right ahead.

HB Beverage Co (Kirkland) Kirkland technically isn’t Seattle, but I’ll still drag my rear over here for the best acai bowl known to mankind. Get the full size because you will be depressed after you finish the half size and realize your fruity breakfast bowl craving hasn’t been satisfied. Um yeah it’s not cheap, so refrain from going every single day… unless your husband/wife is Justin Bieber and you have a secret crush on your dentist. But the ingredients are fresh and your bowl will be loaded with a ton of fruit, crunchy granola, coconut flakes, and hemp! Pay some extra change for a peanut butter drizzle… you won’t regret it. Again, not much seating, so get cozy in your car. Update: Also closed. And now I live within 10 minutes of where HB Bev Co used to reside. I’m just going to go hide under a blanket forever. Maybe I need to bite the bullet and come up with a new eats list… sigh.

Full Tilt (White Center, Columbia City, Ballard) Who likes fresh, warm waffle cones?! Me me meee! These guys have some standard flavors (hello vanilla my bestie) and some weird stuff that actually tastes good (ube?). Oh and the very best chocolate ice cream on this planet which just so happens to be vegan! Anyway. The scoops are big, the cones are fresh, the ice cream is well, creamy, and the prices are fairly reasonable. Get to it. Update: If you want to pop into a 100% plant-based ice cream joint, visit Frankie & Jo’s. Yes even the waffle cones are vegan!

General Porpoise (University District, Capitol Hill, Pioneer Square, Belltown) Even if you claim you’re not a fan of doughnuts, you’ll like these puppies. Tender and subtly sweet with the best damn cream fillings I’ve ever tasted. Yeah they’re pricey, but you should still get three (for your own consumption) because two just isn’t enough. Don’t even consider trying to stop yourself after one… Doughnuts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner anyone? And no they’re not vegan, but I do treat myself every once in a while. Update: Mighty-O Donuts is allll vegan! So that’s an option for you plant-based (and not plant-based) friends.

And fun things to do in the area (Kerry Park, Frye Art Museum, Green Lake, The Great Wheel)… as if anyone has time for extra stuff. But really, make time. Currently (weather permitting) one of my favorite things to do is picnic along Lake Washington. Bring some snacks, a little something something to sip on, along with a good read!

All of the recipes and photos you find here are my own, unless otherwise stated. Feel free to share! Just be sure to link back to my site, please and thank you.

That is all. Enjoy!

P.S. Find some big fluffy dogs and pet them for me!

If you have any questions or just want to chat, email me at: livinghealthyinseattle[at]gmail[dot]com