Americana, Seattle

After 10 years cooking in the frenetic kitchens of New York City restaurants, Executive Chef Jeffrey "Cheffrey" Wilson moved to Seattle hoping to find room to freely express his culinary talents. The owners at Table 219 were impressed by his experience at Gramercy 24 and gave him that chance by asking him to develop their menu. He eventually became a partner of the business as he honed his own brand of New American fare, whipping up dishes such as bison burgers and mini tuna-tartar tacos. After taking the reins as sole owner, he renamed the restaurant Americana to reflect the eclectic cuisine and the eatery's interior design. Dark woods and tin-tile accents create a rich, historical ambiance ideal for gatherings with friends or reenactments of pioneer speed-dating events. Wilson relies on a team of mixologists to stir up specialty cocktails—such as the Lemon Meringue Pie with whipped-cream vodka—that also complement the stars-and-stripes vibe.