3 Best Restaurants in Pioneer Square, Seattle

The lines are long for hearty, unforgettable sandwiches filled with superior house-cured meats and more at this shop, originally founded by famed New York chef Mario Batali's father Armandino. The oxtail sandwich special is unbeatable, but if it's unavailable or sold out (as specials often are by the lunchtime peak) order a salami, porchetta, or meatball sandwich with onions, peppers, cheese, and olive oil. Vegetarians can't go wrong with the eggplant parm sandwich. You can order whole or half sandwiches. Most people opt for takeout, or grab one of the tables in the packed dining room.

Since the 1980s, Il Terrazo Carmine has specialized in Tuscan and southern Italian cooking, creating soul-satisfying dishes such as homemade ravioli, linguine alle vongole (with clams), and eggplant Parmesan. The impressive wine list represents vintages from the West Coast of the U.S. to Italy and France. Ceiling-to-floor draperies give the dining room understated dignity, and intoxicating aromas waft from the kitchen to the restaurant's small outdoor patio that sits beneath a canopy of lights. It's your Italian home-away-from-home that you may never want to leave.