We have continued our search within Seattle for some of the best dining experiences. The more we look, the more we are impressed with the growing number of options. However, even among those great places out there, few have moved me to the point of rethinking what good quality dining should be. While we often think of NYC, Chicago, or LA as the homes to these fine dining experiences, we'd be mistaken to overlook Seattle as it takes its place among the country's best. Archipelago sets a new standard for what our great city can achieve and I am excited to share our experience at the Seattle's crown jewel of restaurants. How does one describe Archipelago? Its website tagline uses three words: identity, culture and empowerment which I think articulates their philosophy through and through. Simple yet powerful. Artistic but not pretentious. They combine the best of what you would imagine embodies the Pacific Northwest while also telling new stories through their food and service. Rooted in the Filipino-American culinary history, the Archipelago team led by Chef Aaron Verzosa and his wife Amber Manuguid, guide you through the underappreciated story of Filipino culture in Seattle and how this has influenced global cuisine. Their approach to storytelling includes a Filipino food influenced PNW tasting menu set in a beautifully decorated cozy bar converted to restaurant. Overtly, the decorations pay tribute to the PNW and more subtly there are small but powerful tributes to Filipino culture throughout the space. Many will be covered in the dining experience to come. Making reservations will be a challenge as there are limited seats for each seating and I believe at most two seatings a night. If you're lucky you can get online and find an open reservation, but I suggest getting in on as many waitlists as possible. I was fortunate to have been emailed about seating availability on a night that I had signed up for the waitlist. The email came at 1am and I grabbed 2 seats. All seats were taken within 10 min of the email going out. Seattle "stars" could be nominated for reservations as well but I don't have the details on how those are selected. Dinner starts promptly at your reservation time. Vaccine cards are checked before you arrive or at the door. Physical or digital copies are required. Don't be that person who forgets. All staff wear masks and all guests are required until they are seated. Everyone sits around the bar with the exception of 4-6 people who may reserve the table for dining. You pay in advance and have the option for "insurance" for a refund should you not be able to make your reservation. The only choice you have to make before your dining experience is whether you will do the juice pairing. You will not be able to select this when you are seated but you can choose from the wines available or other equally attractive non-alcoholic beverages. How do you describe the food? Half of the enjoyment is not knowing what to expect next so I will limit the details on each dish. But each was prepared artiscally to appeal to all your senses. Careful attention is given to the presentation on the plate and how each was served. The unique flavors of the ingredients were highlighted by the preparation. Each dish came with a story - the how and why each dish, each ingredient was chosen and why it was important to Filipino culture was told with a story arc that spanned your dinner experience. You're encouraged to ask whatever questions you wanted of the staff with each providing additional information about the decisions made about the restaurant. For example, I asked about serving ware and apparently many of their serving dishes were sourced locally by people inspired by the PNW. Needless to say after my wordy review above that this is a must try. I know many of you travel for your dining experiences and Archipelago is in our backyard. I'm excited for them about their James Beard nod but perhaps it's time that Michelin included a Seattle guide. Certainly this is a 2+ star restaurant. This was a dining experience to remember and I'd be back in a heartbeat if I'm ever lucky enough to get a reservation again. read more

Loved loved loved the food, ambiance, and storytelling of each course. This restaurant has heart and soul baked into each course, and we enjoyed every minute of our time read more

Archipelago - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came here for our anniversary and had a great time. Aaron and his wife Amber host a small group of 8 at each meal service and make exact portions for everyone. My favorite dish was the Miki -- ask for an extra serving before they start, and maybe they'll prepare extra, because it was that good (noodles, miatake mushrooms). Also, at the end of dinner portion of the meal he served a delicious steak dish & asked how hungry we were, and that he would give us extra if we were really hungry (on a scale of 1-5). I answered 2.5 but wish I'd said 1, it was very good. Ps, there is no easily visible signage from street, so trust google maps, park, then walk toward the spot on Rainer Ave. read more

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This spot is serving meal kits (balikbayan box) and a weekly-special take out meal, served hot & ready to eat (pamana) during COVID. I chose the pamana of the week because I've always wanted to try their food but wasn't ready to commit to the meal kit just yet. It was delicious! I follow Archipelago on Instagram and awaited their weekly announcement for the pamana of the week. This week it was spicy prawn with miki noodles and that combo really spoke to me. I saw the announcement on IG and placed my order via their Tock website. The process was really simple with follow up reminders for my pick up time and date. Picking up my order was seamless as well! The street had a lot of curbside parking. Aaron, one of the chefs, was very communicative with explaining my order while still maintaining social distancing. My meal was well worth it and I am appreciative of how the ingredients and the labor are all local based and small business owned. Archipelago also has partnerships with local artists and small businesses so I treated myself to a hand-made mug by Lexa Luna Studios! Will definitely order from here again. Thank you! read more

Archipelago - Pamana of the week, spicy prawn miki noodles, chicharron topping, third eye sage mug by Lexa Luna Studios - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Possibly best dining experience I ever had. Felt like I was invited into their home as guests of honor. The meal was delicious and introduced me to new flavor combinations. Recommend the juice pairing! Can't wait to go back. read more

Easily one of the top 3 meals of my life. Maybe even the best. I've been to many of the standard fine dining spots in Seattle (e.g., Canlis and the like), and while they were quite good, Archipelago just blew my mind. The level of customization offered and the flavor in each bite was simply unmatched by any place I've been to in Seattle. Phenomenal food without pretentiousness or ostentation. Some of Seattle's "fine dining" restaurants can certainly learn a lot from Archipelago. If the Michelin guide ever comes to Seattle, Archipelago will be on it -- I'm sure of it. Unfortunately you have to book a month or two in advance and it gets full really quick because there are only 12 seats. Pro Tip: If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, you can use Chase dining to get some exclusive seats even on days that are sold out! read more

Complete nightmare trying to get I to this place. You only have select dates that open up at a time, and if you don't type fast enough your reservations will be pulled out from underneath you. They use Tok - the world's WORST reservation platform - which just adds to the nightmare. So I'm out all together - I don't even have an interest in this place now after this experience. It shouldn't be this difficult to access a reservation platform - and it definitely shouldn't be the case that your seats get pulled from you if you don't complete the reservation form at lightening speed. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect for elevated filipino food as most of the filipino cuisine I've had has been street food, but I'm happy to say the experience at Archipelago was amazing. It was really great to hear the thought process behind how they elevated a humble or traditional filipino dish for a more fine dining experience. I was also very pleased with the thought and care put into locally sourcing ingredients right down to their wine pairings. You can tell how important every aspect of the dining experience is to everyone here and there's definitely a performance aspect of it. I believe there are only 8 seats and we had a party of 6. The way the seating is set up makes it difficult to talk to anyone but the person/people right next to you. However, this experience is almost kind of like watching a show. There's little time to talk amongst yourself anyways since it's mostly about listening to the story behind each dish and then enjoying it before the next. Overall I really enjoyed myself and I'm excited to come back in the future! read more

This is an outstanding dining experience. The space seats 8 and there are only two seatings each night for a full tasting menu. The chef and his wife (Aaron and Amber) run the entire show and provide the backstory behind each dish, the sourcing of the ingredients and explain the connection between the NW ingredients and the traditional Filipino dishes. By the end of the meal you want to be friends with Aaron and Amber bc of their warmth and passion for the food. Aside from the experience itself, the food is also fantastic, interesting and includes unique dishes and interpretations of Filipino classics. The house made miki noodles made from WA wheat were incredible and the caramelized squash soup with the charred vegetables (that offset the sweetness of the soup) were a fantastic combination. If you enjoy creative dining experience, you are sure to appreciate Archipelago. read more

Soooo loved this. We had our 10 year celebration and had the place to ourselves. Amazinnngg and so delicious. :) Chef Aaron and Chef Amber are fantastic. See the pictures and you'll drool. :) read more

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Lovely, intimate space and beautiful presentation of food and history throughout the evening. Dishes were thoughtfully prepared and tasted great, but with the hype and the price tag, I felt no sense of regret when the meal came to an end, and I have no desire to return for a second experience. Attentive service from all members of the team. read more

I went here with my brother as a treat. For $126 per head you expect a downright good full course meal. That is exactly what I got from this place. A Filipino twist entrees that is out of this world. Would I come back again? Most definitely but the price is a bit steep so it might be a while. read more

New restaurant with some fantastic dishes and some kinks to smooth out. 5/5 for the food and 4/5 total because some of the dining logistics could be improved. The night started out slow and got better as it went on. We had the 5:30pm reservation and the first ~3 dishes took over an hour to come out with very small portions. This was semi-expected because it was a tasting menu after all. However, it was a bit awkward because it only took 1-2 minutes to eat and then you would wait for the next dish for 10+ minutes, and everyone in the room was just on their phones waiting. Maybe it was just our particular group or day, but the atmosphere seemed a bit quiet and nervous? The juice and wine pairings were also smaller than I would expect for the price (like 1/8th of a wine glass), and it was unclear what dish each drink was being paired with. Do I savor this sip of wine with one dish or two? I understand that there was a big emphasis on minimizing food waste, but to share half a bottle of cider amongst multiple guests' glasses felt a bit cheap. I really enjoyed the main steak entree, probably the best steak I've had in Seattle. For the earlier dishes, I would have liked to see more of their storytelling in the taste of the food itself ie. to invoke an ephemeral feeling, rather than represent their background literally through the presentation (type of rock or plate decoration). It sometimes felt a bit too literal and my challenge there would be more "show vs. tell". read more

I would recommend this restaurant to everyone I know. It's 100% worth the cost. It's not just the food which is absolutely incredible, but the atmosphere and storytelling. I loved learning more about Filipino culture, food and their history in the PNW. Such a delight, I found myself smiling ear to ear many times throughout the two hour dinner. I can't wait to go back again! read more

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I don't have Filipino food much at all. Especially not elevated and coursed. It was an intimate dining experience where we had the opportunity to see the chef and small crew explain their menu and vision. I'd rather not spoil much; so I'll just say give it a try and open your palate to new and exciting things in Seattle. (Not much in Seattle yet!). I cannot wait to dine again. I didn't take any photos. Was having a good time with my company and enjoying the meal. read more

Chef-duo Aaron and Amber cook up a wonderful fusion of progressive Pacific Northwest and Filipino cuisine! I had the opportunity to be seated at their compact 8-person bar recently and was blown away by how they had transformed such a small space into something so cozy and intimate. As soon as you enter, Aaron will grab your jackets for you and Amber seats you in a specifically chosen seat. The walls have beautiful designs alongside pictures and wooden figurines doing traditional Filipino tinkling. We were gifted with a ten course meal over two and a half hours. All of the dishes were tasty but our two favorites were the Anak ni Bet and Year of the Pig. The Anak ni Bet was a caramelized butternut squash soup with a piece of grilled squash and delicious mushrooms. I've never tasted caramelized butternut squash soup before and never thought I would, but the deep caramel flavor was exquisite. Year of the Pig was their play on sinigang (their use of cranberry was genius) as well as the dish to "rate your hunger". I thought it was bold and quite thoughtful that Aaron and Amber intentionally asked how much more we wanted to eat before serving the last savory dish, as to help create both an enjoyable but also filling experience. read more

Doesn't look much when you walk past but this place is amazing! This Filipino restaurant is comparable to $500/person dinners we had in other cities. The 10-course dish were all flavorful and diverse. The texture, colors and plating were all impressive! They thought of every little detail, the food was phenomenal, customer service was impeccable and the interaction with the chefs made the experience memorable. They injected a lot of Philippine history when they explained the dishes. I was surprised that their dinners were priced affordably. You have to book way ahead of time though because they only take reservations 2 months at a time (you have to book 1-2 months in advance) and they only have 8 seats. read more

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Special and unique dining experience. 10 course meal with optional wine pairing or juice pairing. Before we even arrive they ask about preferences and restrictions, which are confirmed as we sit down. The service has an outstanding attention to detail. A new napkin was brought when my wife got up to use the restroom. Also the restroom was cleaned immediately after anyone used it. Also each staff member, including the chef made an effort to connect with us, which meant a lot. With such a high level of service, I can say the food was even more impressive. Each dish had a beautiful story and is given so much intention. Fresh and local ingredients are highlighted through a Filipino lens. As a Filipino, many dishes has familiar nostalgic flavors but presented in such an elegant way. Even the actual dishes the food was served on had a story. I don't want to say more, because I feel like part of the fun is observing and being surprised as the service starts. I cannot recommend this experience enough! read more

Archipelago - Troll king salmon kinilaw - Filipino Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This tiny intimate dining establishment is the ultimate culinary and cultural experience in seattle. The entire staff works in unison like a well oiled machine and the food is next level amazing. It was not only excellent food, but the northwest stories intertwined with the Filipino heritage was educational and touching at the same time. I cannot recommend this place highly enough! It is an example of what fine dining in Seattle is. I definitely recommend the wine paring as it local northwest (not big names) and each were beautifully pared to the plate served read more

Tantos place is really good . I like the ambiance and the food is great I like the little dance plates. The service was also very good. The drinks are wonderful read more

Archipelago is a unique and intimate immersion in Filipino cultural, expressed in the form of a carefully crafted chef's tasting menu. I actually scored a rezzie to dine here for April 2020 before we knew the world would lock down, and wound up waiting a year and a half before we could experience this masterpiece. The venue is a cozy counter space where all 10 diners have a front row seat to the chefs preparing your meal. Each of the 9 courses are slid out to the diners in unison, accompanied by thoughtful stories about the plate's significance in Filipino history. I also highly recommend getting the juice pairing with your meal, as the delicious concoctions are designed to highlight the freshest produce available for the week. My highlights of the evening were the king salmon dish which, forgive me for simplifying, was like best poke I've ever had. Also the "sour soup" course which was surprisingly addictive and I wanted more of both. All in all a fantastic experience that was worth the wait and highly recommend for all passing through Seattle to try this at least once. Note you'll get a variation of the menu since the team comes up with the menu based on the freshest seasonal ingredients and fair warning to plan ahead as reservations are released in a specific day for the month ahead and usually book up immediately. Happy dining! read more

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Part history lesson, part Filipino fine dining experience. It was a magical and transcendental night at Archipelago. This is my first time eating in a fine dining space and it was well worth it for the money and the time we carved out of our busy week. First up, the interiors was so beautiful and well-executed, the restaurant looks like the chef and his wife's home and it felt that way too! The food was so inventive, the flavor profiles were very familiar to my Filipino palate but re-imagined in ways I've never thought of. "Anak ni Bet", a play on the northern Philippine dish of bitter vegetables and shrimp paste--genius! Even a non-dairy take home treat called "mamon," a Filipino muffin if you will, was consumed as soon as we got home. I have a severe dairy allergy and it was such a treat to be catered to, and most especially getting to eat foods that I never thought I'd eat again like pan de sal and mamon. I wish Chef Aaron and Amber the best! Check this place out and be transported for a night! read more

This was the best dining experience I ever had. Food was amazing in every way and the staff was super friendly. I really enjoyed the storytelling from Kuya Aaron and the rest of the crew; listening to them talk about their own personal experiences growing up as Filipino Americans and how it influenced the dishes they made for the night. I highly recommend dining at Archipelago. I came out of this dining not just super full, but also super inspired to learn even more about the culture, also being a Filipino American. Thank you to the Archipelago Staff for the amazing work you guys are doing to the community. read more

I got their Balikbayan box last weekend and wow wow wow. It's been a strange and isolating couple of months, and the entire box just really lifted my spirits. It felt like a care package from a best friend, and every bit of it was surprising, thoughtful, personal, and delicious. I made all of the suggested recipes, but still have lots of ingredients/this amazing sauce that came in the box left over, so made a sort-of silog for dinner with pork belly (also came in the box), fried egg (box!) and rice stir fried with the sauce. It was so good. Thankfully I still have enough sauce for another dinner like this tomorrow night. Thank you Archipelago! read more

We've been to a few Michelin tasting menus and this is one of my favorites. Every course I had, I was in love with. They did a special paleo menu for my husband and it was amazing! The wine and food are spectacular. They were the best host too. Will def come back. Yes read more

Came here to celebrate my birthday. It was fabulous. Small and intimate. Fantastic food. It's an artistic experience for all the senses. Think of it like you would by tickets to the theatre or opera - it's a fun spot to splurge on and enjoy with someone you love or even by yourself. Love that they make sure you don't leave hungry which is not a concern of all places that have tasting menus. We shared a wine and juice pairing. If you are a fan of wine I would go with the wine for sure but if there are two of you to share the juice was fun too. Will hopefully come back during a different season to enjoy the new menu! read more

Exceptional. The whole experience --the food, service, and ambiance-- was truly exceptional. This is a PNW love song to Filipino cuisine and history, with some serious culinary magic sprinkled on it (sorry for the mixed metaphor ;-). Every course starred fresh, local ingredients (seafood, vegetable, meat, poultry, and condiments), thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and (bonus!) came with a historical narrative. The pace of the meal was such that I was able to savor and linger on each dish and be happily surprised with the next offering. I thoroughly appreciated the wine paring (again, locally made wine) that was unique and perfectly matched the flavors of each course. The team looked absolutely proud of what they were serving and had so much heart. I left the restaurant feeling so touched -- even inspired. I put the next reservation window on my calendar so I can experience that magic again! read more

Archipelago is easily in my top 3 restaurants in Seattle. Every part of the experience was thoughtful - the reservation process, welcome, plating, cooking, storytelling, serving, etc. Tonight was my first time here and I've already decided to take my parents, my brother, and anyone who visits from out of town. This is a special restaurant. Aaron, Amber, Casey - thank you. read more

After hearing a lot about this place, my boyfriend and I decided to make reservations for his upcoming birthday. It's not your typical dining experience. There are only 8 seats along a big wooden counter top in an open kitchen. The restaurant is run by a friendly and charming filipino couple. The theme of their restaurant is taking only local ingredients and recreating classic filipino dishes. We had a series of 10 dishes, each dish described as to what it is and where the ingredients were from prior to eating. Being Filipino myself, I was familiar with all the dishes. But I've never had Filipino food elevated like this. Not to mention each dish was beautifully plated. The standout dishes to me were the anak ni bet, a play on the filipino dish pinakbet and the pork sinigang. The anak ni bet was warm and earthy and very well put together. The squash and other grilled vegetables all harmoniously worked together. My mind is still blown from their pork sinigang with cranberry sauce. Tamarind is the main ingredient that gives the sour flavor in a traditional sinigang. However tamarind not being a local ingredient, they used cranberries as the base of their sinigang and it was spot on. Kudos to the chef for bringing a familiar taste with new ingredients. Ended the tasting with a hazelnut champorado with tons of texture. Overall a great culinary experience. You can tell how passionate Aaron and Amber are by how much they put into their restaurant, how they choose their ingredients, and by the way they highlight Filipino cuisine. read more

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Phenomenal tasting menu experience. If you're going to do one, this is the one to do in Seattle. Lovely staff. Inventive and varied dishes in an intimate setting. Accommodating and welcoming. read more

This is an experience, not just a meal. Aaron and Amber are true artist. This is an extremely detail oriented and thoughtful environment, from the original design in decor to the personally sourced serving materials and of course the amazing dishes themselves. This has made my list of PNW favorites. read more

10-course dinner at Archipelago was superb. Delicious dishes inspired by Filipino cuisine, beautifully interpreted with Northwest ingredients in an 8-person chef's-counter seating, with interesting back stories in a lovely space. I applaud the chefs for doing something truly unique in terms of local ingredients, cultural heritage, and tremendous skill. read more

One of the best meals we've had in a while - and, experience-wise, truly memorable and special. Not only was the food masterfully cooked (in front of us) and presented, but Aaron and Amber's explanation of the historical, cultural and culinary relevance of each dish - traditional Filipino, prepared with 99% local ingredients and playful tweaks - left a lasting impression and made us feel much more in-touch with the Filipino contribution to Seattle. We will be back, and are so psyched to have such an incredible, unusual restaurant in our neighborhood! read more

Delightful blending of Filipino and Pacific Northwest cuisine. More than a meal, this is an experience. Aaron and Amber will charm you, educate you, and satiate you. read more

We had a phenomenal meal at Archipelago. Each dish was so thoughtfully prepared, plated, and explained to us. Amber and Aaron do everything, from design to cooking and serving. I don't think they have any other staff at all! It's clearly a labor of love and we felt they offered exceptional value for a meal that lasted nearly three hours. With just 8 diners eating at a time, it's hard to compare to any experience aside from perhaps a really intimate sushi bar. The emphasis on local grains was really interesting and I'm still thinking about the roll that began the feast, the noodles, and the muffin they gave us to take home. Above all else, the restaurant made me want to learn more about regional Filipino food and travel to the Philippines. I can't wait to see how the menu changes with the seasons. This place is sure to attract national attention and great acclaim. I can't wait to boast someday that I wrote the 6th yelp review! :) read more

This place is transcendent. Every moment is a worthwhile experience. The fresh local ingredients, the amazing beverage pairings, the thoughtful decor (they serve some dishes on family heirloom china)..everything about this place is amazing. Chef Aaron and Amber are incredible hosts. I use the word "hosts" because stepping into their restaurant, is like stepping into their home. They are warm and inviting, all while managing to offer an unpretentious fine dining experience. The intimate seating (8 total diners) gives each person an up close and personal look at a master chef, living his dream, and sharing his passion with his guests. Each of the 10 courses came with a bit of backstory or fascinating history about the origins of the flavors and ingredients, all of which are locally grown and sourced. Every bite was incredibly fresh and flavorful. Archipelago has really set the bar for Filipino dining in Seattle, and possibly the entire Pacific Northwest. This experience is worth every penny! read more

the tasting menu is well thought out and each serving gets better and better when you feel like it possibly can't. BOMB AF