Arnies Restaurant, Mukilteo

For 40 years, Arnies Restaurants have stood along the Washington shore like trustworthy lighthouses in Edmonds and Mukilteo. As for which spot has better views, well, you'd have to flip a coin. Color creeps across both dining rooms during sunset dinners. At the Mukilteo location, sweeping vistas of the Puget Sound provide views of Whidbey, Hat, and Camano Islands. In Edmonds, meanwhile, diners can peer out toward the snow-covered Olympic Mountains before diving into one of the restaurant's warm, hearty dishes.

Similar to those stunning backdrops, the food at Arnies exudes the Pacific Northwest. Weekly "fresh sheets" highlight the season's best offerings, but meals might begin with steaming bowls of Arnies clam chowder loaded with potatoes and bacon. Seafood platters are especially representative of the region: they feature golden-fried prawns, lingcod, sea scallops, and calamari. Still, the balanced menus boast plenty of land-inspired creations, including filet mignon served with a cabernet demi glace. Extensive wine selections and a full bar round out the tasty experiences at both locations.