Maybe you’re getting engaged or celebrating a major birthday—or maybe you just want to go big on a particularly awesome Tuesday. No matter what your special occasion is, you need someplace exciting for dinner. Someplace that probably requires advance planning, costs more than you’d usually spend, and has outstanding food and service. Even in windbreaker-loving Seattle, there are plenty of places that rise to a more buttoned-up moment, no matter what it is.

Trying to plan for a big group? We have some ideas that may help there too, along with a private dining directory.

No rating: This is a restaurant we want to re-visit before rating, or it’s a coffee shop, bar, or dessert shop. We only rate spots where you can eat a full meal.