Rusty Pelican Cafe, Seattle

Peter and Marilyn¬ met while working at a steak house, then fanned the flames of foodie passion over more than 30 years of marriage—all of which they've spent working in and owning restaurants. Their labor of love resulted in The Rusty Pelican Cafe, where Peter mans the kitchen dishing up all-day breakfasts, seafood, and pasta and their twin daughters help run the restaurant. A few specialties hint at Peter's childhood in Greece, but the bulk of the menu is rooted in Americana: old-fashioned burgers, new york strip steaks, and two-scoop ice-cream sodas topped with whipped cream and a cherry. The sprawling menu helps even the most diverse groups of eaters all settle on a dish, whether burger-lover, vegetarian, or allergic to breakfast.

While naming the café's omelets the Best of 2009, Seattle Weekly noted that "[c]eramic pigs, potted plants, and I Love Lucy memorabilia occupy every flat surface" in the café. Amid this nostalgic décor, the kitchen flips up crepes, pancakes, and scramblers at any hour to help awaken taste buds and disorient crowing roosters.