Best of: Outdoor decks

There are only so many days of sun to enjoy a deck in Seattle so strike early and strike often. Here are my favorite places to sit outside, grab some grub and enjoy an adult beverage:

1) SAMBAR – Although SAMBAR has received accolades from national publications such as Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure, this petite and sometimes hard to find cocktail bar in Ballard surprisingly remains relatively obscure to a number of Seattlelites.

Maybe that is partially why it continues to maintain a low-key vibe.  Tucked away behind upscale Le Gourmand, SAMBAR specializes in innovative cocktails from bartender extraordinaire Jay Kuehner, who leverages fresh herbs, fruit and fine liquors in each of his drinks.  Kuehners switches up the cocktail menu every few months to align with the seasons and to keep regulars on their toes.

On a fine day in Seattle, I am all about snagging one of SAMBAR’s 5 or so tables outside which make you feel like you are hanging out in a secret garden.

Hungry?  Nibble on their addictive pomme frites, seasonal souffle (right now, they have a twice-baked nettle souffle on the menu) or their classic roasted Half Young Chicken with a Ragoût of Morel Mushrooms.  For lighter fare, I order the salad creation of the night and soup of the day, both of which have never led me astray.

SAMBAR is a place for Teva-wearers and black cocktail dress wearing people alike.

Secret garden-feel at SAMBAR

2) Hard Rock Cafe – Step past the dazed tourists and drunkards on Pike Street, enter through the doors of Hard Rock and make an immediate right to ascend a couple flights of stairs. You will be rewarded with a rooftop deck.

Now, if you are in Laguna Beach, this wouldn’t be a huge deal, but outdoor seating is hard to come by in Seattle.  Finding rooftop outdoor seating overlooking the iconic “Pike Place Market” sign and the Puget Sound is damn near impossible.

The cabanas can be rented for a fee, but the rest of the outdoor seats are first come, first served.  You don’t have to go far to grab a drink as there is a dedicated bar on the penthouse level.

Apprehensive because you are not into chain restaurants?  Well, good because there is limited seating up there and I don’t like to share.  Your loss.

Cabanas in Seattle? Are you sure we aren't in Veags?

3) Uneeda Burger: For outdoor love that is easy on the wallet, check out Fremont’s Uneeda Burgers.  The owners of much loved Quinn’s in Capitol and Restaurant Zoe have always wanted to open a casual burger joint serving more upscale burgers.

There are about a dozen burger options on the menu, not including specials.  All burgers are made with all-natural Painted Hills beef, but you can upgrade to 100% Wagyu Kobe grass-fed beef for an additional $3.00.

For non-cow eaters, Uneeda makes an interesting emmer veggie burger with portobello mushrooms and owner/chef Scott Staples even offers gluten-free buns as an option on any of their burgers.  The gluten-free bun resembles what I imagine prison food tastes like so  I would steer clear of the sans-gluten bun and opt for Atkin’s style if you have a gluten intolerance.

Burgers range from $7-$12.  People also pair their burgers with chili fries, a pint of beer, and Empire Ice Cream milk shakes.

Burgers, poutine fries, milkshakes and sun

4) Revel: Husband and wife Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi’s astounding Korean street food success debuts their deck this summer.  When Revel opened in mid-December 2010, I already had my eye on the deck and had visions of being able to enjoy a pork belly pancake while working on my tan.

Facing away from the main drag in Fremont, the deck is quieter than one would expect in the “Center of the Universe.”

Revel’s BBQ grill just arrived last week and they are serving up different cuts of piggy every night of the week- Loin, sausage, and butt. You pick the portion size and they bring you the cuts.