Restaurants in Bothell

Twisted Lime Island Pub's interior—filled with pineapple pendant lamps, surfboards, and tiki masks—emanates the spirit of the tropics. Their island-minded chefs crown meaty burgers with pineapple and coddle key limes until they willingly take up residence inside of a pie shell. A team of bartenders shakes up tropical classics such as tequila sunsets and margaritas. The dulcet tones of live bands and karaoke flood the tropical pub on select nights.

Garam Masala is traditionally a mix of Indian and Pakistani seasonings. In homage to its name, the restaurant incorporates authentic spice mixtures and halal meats into its menu, earning the distinction as Seattle’s best Indian restaurant in the Best of Citysearch 2011 competition. The kitchen staffers have held onto the traditional recipes of their homeland, abstaining from serving up popular Americanized versions that call for footlong hot dogs in place of kebab skewers. These Old World flavors surface in selections such as the lamb dopiaza, draped in 21 spices, and the roster of hot-to-buttery curries. A 2009 review in Seattle Weekly praises the chefs' devotion to custom by likening the eggplant bharta dish to "a baba ghanouj dressed up to hit the Emmys."

Rust-red tiles lead the way into Nirvana Indian Cuisine's elongated dining room, which swirls with the zesty fragrances of authentic Indian fare. The friendly waitstaff carries hefty portions of tandoori meats, curries, and samosas to resting spots on black-clothed tables flanked by red chairs. Glasses of sweet or salty lassi add dimension to each table's spread of savory meals, most of which can be transformed into vegan entrees, and appetizers and bread keep stomachs from wailing the same annoying yet catchy pop melody.

The flavors of the Old World are never far away at Taverna Mazi, where tender lamb, imported Greek cheeses, and pungent garlic populate a menu of inventive Mediterranean eats. A diverse array of small plates encourages sharing and sampling of drunken prawns drowned in an ouzo-tomato-and-cream sauce or garlicky fries sprinkled with ample heaps of feta and oregano. Patrons can also dunk pitas into dips including caper skordalia—greek yogurt blended with parsley, garlic, and capers—or a pot of feta whipped with mint and peppers and topped with a black-cherry reduction. A roster of larger plates features a braised lamb shank in orzo and tomatoes that Seattle Weekly designated “the standout entree,” opining that “the lamb would probably fall off the bone if a gentle gust of wind blew through the dining room.” The Weekly also praised the fizzy Eos Lemon cocktail on Mazi's drink menu, which also features greek margaritas that replace limes with cucumbers and affectionate cheek-pinches from Yia Yia.

Mirrors flank Taverna Mazi's walls, reflecting cheerful ochre hues, deep-blue tablecloths, and urns of statuesque palm fronds. On the ceiling, strings of party lights fan out from a chandelier, which curls its wrought-iron tendrils into complicated curlicues that grasp small candle-like lights.

Wine shelves, glowing in the near-black azure of the deep sea. Undulating waves set in the smooth surfaces of columns and sushi bar. Bubble-like sheets of lights. The easy flow of Haiku Sushi & Seafood Buffet seems to mimic the smooth rhythm of the eatery’s namesake poem. Patrons slip through the restaurant, gazing at a buffet laden with a rotating selection of sushi, clams, fresh-cut sashimi, and lobster. Like snow tires stored for the summer, the seafood options stay cool on thick beds of ice, and the nearby grill releases merry crackling as chefs place made-to-order entrees on its rippling-hot surface.

Named for the Spanish word for warrior, Casa Guerrero Mexican Restaurant battles hunger pangs with a menu of traditional south-of-the-border fare. Classic beef dishes such as carne asada and tampiqueña team juicy skirt steak with flavorful accouterments of fresh guacamole and pico de gallo, and chicken stalks appetites in a host of disguises including tacos, fajitas, and powdered wigs. The eatery's culinary crew also charbroils prawns and whole red snapper, accenting the seafood's sweetness with zesty, pepper-infused sauces. To quench thirsts, bartenders serve up fruity red sangria and concoct 16-ounce margaritas from just-squeezed lime juice.