When I want to take out-of-towners to a restaurant that feels truly unique, I drive them to this aquavit distillery and cafe right by the Ballard ship canal, where Lexi and team offer a tasting board of locally sourced herring that’s pickled in house, and flights of their house-produced aquavit (they can’t serve you more than 2 ounces, as they currently function on a distillery license). The seating area is small, little more than one counter and one handsome wooden table in the middle of the store, but this is what you want—a front-row seat to learn more about aquavit, the history of old Ballard, and the people you’re sharing some delicious cardamom bread and homemade butter with. CORINA ZAPPIA