Ivar’s on Lake Union is one of Seattle’s most iconic restaurants, and made its name with the fish most closely identified with the Pacific Northwest (although nowadays the salmon often comes from Alaska). For centuries, salmon was a mainstay of the Native American tribes in this region, and it was they who developed the alder-smoked cooking method that is the signature salmon style at Ivar’s. Although the restaurant keeps up with the times and serves other “upscale” dishes, it’s the salmon—grilled or roasted—that defines the place (as does the white clam chowder). Ivar’s is meant to resemble a Native American longhouse, only one with great views across Lake Union with Seattle in the distance, and it celebrates Native American heritage with artifacts and photographs. As you dine here you’ll be able watch a lot of boat traffic on Lake Union, which adds to the ambiance. You can’t be in a hurry, though, because the restaurant is large and the service can be slow.