Cafe Juanita is one of the most acclaimed restaurants on the Eastside — a Northern Italian kitchen that has been running in Kirkland since 1979 and earned its reputation through sustained excellence rather than trend-chasing. The menu focuses on handmade pasta, game, seafood, and seasonal vegetables, with a wine list that takes the Italian regions seriously.
The setting is a converted house near Juanita Beach with a warm, unhurried atmosphere. Reservations are essential; the restaurant books out weeks ahead on weekends. It is the kind of place that earns regular devotion from locals who would rather not see it discovered — but it absolutely deserves the attention. The tasting menu is particularly worthwhile if budget allows.