Altstadt, owned by former Belltown street taco entrepreneur Lex Petras, is arguably Seattle’s first stab at upscale German food. And it hits the mark. Certainly the Pioneer Square restaurant still resembles a bierhall, if an exceptionally handsome one, but the food is a cut above your average pub grub. Chef Megan Coombes won my heart with her Oktoberfest mackerel special, served whole and stuffed with lemon and herbs, the fish perfectly flaky and accompanied by a liberal heap of her excellent sauerkraut. TOBIAS COUGHLIN-BOGUE