We ordered one of the takeout boxes recently, this one was the BBQ box and the meats were perfectly cooked and everything was pretty good minus the collared greens and the bland salad. The portions of the meats were a little lacking too. We've ordered take out from them several times since Covid and I have to say this one was probably our least favorite. The Huckleberry Cobbler was SOOO good though, really tart and fresh, but I also wish it was bigger, but that could also be my unhealthy obsession with desserts read more

Canlis - BBQ takeout box - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Took my partner here for his birthday! Did I have to book the reservation 3 months in advance? Maybe. I have no idea how difficult it is to get a reservation regularly, but when his birthday fell on a Friday that was also a Holiday, I figured it couldn't hurt to be prepared. All in all - food is amazing. But not blowing my mind amazing. What going to Canlis for is the overall experience. It was both our of first times in a more fine dining restaurant, but we felt so curious and excited about every part of it. I couldn't help but be amazed at the view and just think about the gratitude and privilege we had to even have a restaurant experience like it. Definitely made the special occasion that much more special. We'll have to be back again to try the different menu items! read more

No to Canlis. I felt severly cheated after leaving. I can comfortably say Canlis is the worst restaurant (value, experience, taste, seating, service, after meal satisfaction) I've ever had, and I've eaten at many restaurants. You will be tempted to go if you haven't been there, have a bug to splurge or you are looking only online. Don't fall for the perception. The choice to go to Canlis will be leave you completely underwhelmed and disappointed. First off its VERY expensive. To say "very" is an understatement. You will become angry when you get the bill. Expect to pay $200-300 per person. For anyone in their right mind, this is unacceptable. You have been warned. The view is wonderful but you can get better views from 100 other restaurants in Seattle. I'd much prefer to be on or very near to the water for 1/5th the cost. The wait staff is awkward. They are faux pretentious - NOT well trained or educated but more like bar folks asked to do something they were never taught - to be elegant. I don't think they are bad folks, but they are in over their heads. Skimpy portions of supposed "haute" cuisine. Haute is appreciated but should accompany a satisfying meal at these astounding prices. Again, you will be very disappointed and feel ripped off. read more

What went wrong First the expectaction. I travel to Seattle sparcely but keep certain places in my radar. Canlis was one that was reserved for and when I visited with my wife. It happened that I would visit this May and so I made a reservation using Tock. The reservation was made several weeks beforehand. I had read the restaurant was a Seattle staple. The cuisine was a Northwestern institution. Architecture was outstanding, view outmatched and service unparred. Second first impressions. Once we got to the restaurant it is a sight to see. Architectuarly it is one of the most beautiful restaurants we have visited. Between our UBER being fast and me being eager, we got there maybe ten minutes early and were told to sit at the bar. Very cold reception at the bar. Not welcoming at all which is precisely the opposite of your expectation. In fact, the bartender served us our sparkling last after taking care of all pending orders. Cold until he sent us with a few words in Spanish to relate in passing. Third your table is ready. That is always welcomed news. However that meant in this case going the backways of the restaurant through the intricate skeleton of a beautiful restaurant's inner doings. To find the infamous Cache room which I never realized I had secured. A private room for two, completely out of the way. We laughed as we wondered how we would go to the washroom if need be. I had received an email from "Grace" on May 11th (one week prior) confirming we had a reservation. Little did I note that it also stated that reservation was for a private room. My reservation was done through TOCK (complaint has already been filed). No private room was asked for nor offered or taken. Grace did not acknowledge the fact that we were "upgraded" to a private room. While the Cache room did have gorgeous views of a bay during sunset, it is not ideal if you want to experience the restaurant atmosphere. We were isolated. At times, totally forgotten. As tourists, a couple visiting Seattle, I find it odd I would phantom reserving a private room. Doing so through TOCK I find it impossible. That Grace did not explain the fact is still bewildering and most possibly will come back to me for not asking. I live in Costa Rica and everything was done online. Little guidance from the restaurant. Seriously disappointed. Fourth lets eat. So they start with what they call snacks. Those are nibbles that range from oysters to scallop toasts. Most of the items are available from the bar menu so you are not getting anything new. Then it is on to the tasting menu. And again, I would say you are in for nothing new. We had a little simple soup and a crab custard before the main event which consisted of sablefish and asparagus and escabeche florita and american wagyu. Food was so ordinary that I will not get into it. Perhaps only the crab custard will call for some comentary as the custard was heavy and overpowered the delicate crab. Everything from the sablefish to the wagyu (which was miniscule) was very basic. Not one dish outshined. Fifth how did I serve you? Suitably but not for the price. Service was remiss. Being in the outpost of the restaurant we would be a good thirty minutes without service and then have precise attention for a course. Erratic. The two of us, at the end of the building, ended up closing the restaurant. Sixth here's the bill First of all, and most of all, I got stuck with a $200 surcharge for the Cache room which I did not reserve, did not ask for and was stuck with because of the email I received from Grace. If asked, I would have never agreed to the Cache room. We walked past the kitchen and backrooms of the restaurant. We were secluded. The only individuals we ever saw were the servers. Not at all what I want on a vacation. Total price for 2 individuals with a very modest wine bottle as suggested by the sommelier was over $1,000 including the Cache room. That is simply outrageous and specially uncalled for. Thank you Canlis, you made the start of my vacation an unpleasent one and the memories of your restaurant, aside from the recount in your menu, one of pure remorse. read more

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Amazing food, service and ambiance. The view was spectacular. I really look forward to going back. read more

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I love Canlis - while some reviews have pointed out, the food is great, but I wouldn't categorize it as the best there is. Because Canlis has such a reputation in Seattle, I think people place unrealistic expectations on it. What Canlis does exceptionally well is their hospitality, their sense of place, and their wine menu is superb. Everyone I've interacted with in Canlis have been gracious hosts in every sense of the word. From making you feel comfortable, guiding you through your dining experience, and providing thoughtful touches (ie. The post-dinner postcards offered) you feel right at home in the best way. Their sense of place comes through both in their food which is elevated PNW (examples include Walla Walla Onions, spruce tips, geoduck, etc) as well as their restaurant location and design. Beautiful mid-century modern vibes, with such an amazing view of Seattle - you know you're in someplace special and part of the fabric of Seattle. Come to Canlis without your own inflated expectations and enjoy the experience visiting this Seattle institution. read more

Canlis - Smoked cocoa Nougatine - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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10/10 service 10/10 ambiance 4/10 food Most of the dishes were extremely showy with very one dimensional flavors and heavily over/under seasoned. The wagyu beef was bang average and chewy. read more

The view out of the dining room is absolutely stunning. When we arrived our table wasn't quite ready so we had drinks at the bar, but could still catch a glimpse of the lake and town. The wine menu is extensive with some really outstanding vintages. Dinner is 7 courses total. You pick three and they fill in the rest. The fist was three bites: a sashimi hamachi wrapped in a shiso leaf, a mushroom puff filled with cream and a deep fried scallop toast. The toast was my fav because it was so buttery with that deep fried goodness. Next was my favorite dish of the evening, crab with whipped Yukon potatoes topped with ginger and allium. Larges chunks of crabs beneath a smooth and creamy layer of potatoes with a refreshing citrusy dust on top, what's not to love.? Next came the signature salad with bacon and mint and a small rye loaf with butter topped with apple balsamic. Everything in this course paired so nicely and the flavors really complemented each other. After this came the first round of dishes we ordered: artichokes with a balsamic cream and crispy spinach leaves and venison (not even a hint of gameness). Next up was the halibut with asparagus and coulotte steak followed by the end of savory and beginning of sweet dish, flash frozen Greek yogurt with olive oil and caramel. This was a really nice and refreshing way to transition the end of dinner and beginning of dessert. You may not think olive oil belongs on Greek yogurt, but I'm here to tell you it absolutely does. The evening ended with smoked cacao with ice cream and pistachio nougat and the strawberry rhubarb with white chocolate. Both desserts were light and tasty and left us perfectly stuffed. The staff was wonderful and attentive with the a member of the Canlis family welcoming us to the restaurant. We found all the wait staff friendly and helpful. Would definitely dine here again, just be sure to reserve your table a month in advance and be prepared for at least two and half hours. read more

The venerable Canlis. You know it as that place where you have to dress up in Seattle. Oooh, must be fancy! To be honest I really appreciate that there's at least a place or two in the region that enforces a dress code of sorts because the Emerald City is definitely a daggy metro. Of course, when you actually get inside the place you'll notice that they're not really enforcing the business casual rule too enthusiastically these days so you'll probably end up feeling like a schlep for donning your evening's finest. The space does make a really good first impression. You'll notice the spectacular view of the city almost immediately and it will likely remain the star of the show through your entire experience. The mid 20th Century design of the restaurant feels like a very tasteful blend between chic 1950's modernist architecture and contemporary styles. This said, the overall vibe feels slightly sentimental and will probably please older patrons who might initially be skeptical about dining at a place where they'll have a hard time reconciling the price in their head. The live pianist is a nice touch. Service does not disappoint. Every member of the staff attending to your dining experience is customer-focused, deeply knowledgeable about the menu and associated pairings, and clearly enjoys their job at Canlis. Unfortunately, things take a bit of turn downward when you consider the meal in totality. Our opening courses were quite tasty, with modern fine dining approaches to the execution of flavors and presentation; the prawn with avocado was delectable and ever so slightly (expertly) coated in tempura, the Hamachi sashimi was definitely fresh if a little boring, and the Dungeness crab soup had a very appreciated buttery richness that was unexpected compared to usual earthy taste of famous local shellfish. Finishing off the beginning was a bread course with a really unique mild rye (?) loaf that had a very mild approach it usual strong malt flavor. However, the rest of the meal was fairly underwhelming. First off, I don't really want to pick on the "Canlis Salad" because they're clearly proud of its legacy with the institution but when you're paying 160 a head for the joint it's probably time to rethink momma's Italian iceberg lettuce mix. For the meat course I chose duck and I think I was expecting something more duck confit-like but instead was presented with two very gamey slices of fowl with accompanying sausage - it was old world, a bit dry in presentation, and a bit much to be honest so I didn't eat much of it. The American wagyu faired better if a bit boring and honestly inferior to a lot of steak served elsewhere through the region. I think I came in expecting that Canlis had updated its food to modern techniques and tastes, and unfortunately too much of the meal felt yesteryear and not up to par with dozens of Seattle's more contemporary institutions. read more

Totally worth the price and wait list. The ambiance, service, food and wine list is top notch. A fantastic place to celebrate a special occasion! read more

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It was great to check canlis off the Seattle bucket list. The view was amazing and it was nice to see it in the daylight to sunset/ night. Great for a larger party. If you are a picky eater it might not be the best place for you as there are not a lot of options on the menu. I believe you pick three things and the chef picks the rest of the courses. The food is good, presentation is even better. The small portions may leave you a little hungry at the end which is never fun when spending so much. My favorite thing was the canlis salad. I'm glad to have experienced it, probably won't go back. read more

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Can't recommend this place any higher! Made for the perfect anniversary dinner with amazing service only shadowed by even better food and wine! A MUST if you are looking for a timeless Seattle staple. read more

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Came in for a birthday dinner, enjoyed cocktails in the bar before heading to the dining area. The staff were super helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating. Food was excellent and elegantly served. Want to say a special thank you to Ally for an excellent wine program. read more

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It was decent small portions big prices the local pub around the area has similar bigger dishes worth the price since I didn't have to pay for a couple tiny bites we just went. I know the chef is making art pieces but even a prisoner is fed well. The old chef from canlis before the new one used to hook it up one look he knew double portion same price read more

I waited 25 years to go, and it was the least satisfying epicurean excursion I've ever embarked on. It was a ship I wanted to get off; as soon as the waiter arrived I knew the ship was headed for an iceberg. I've read about multiple defections from the kitchen, and the installation of a new head chef. My guess is the talent left, and the new chef just can't make all the ingredients gel. At $160 per person (plus 20% tip), you would expect something that rivals one of Tom Douglas' restaurants. Nope. I got four of the saddest little dishes I've ever seen, unless of course you include my 7 year old niece who makes a wicked cucumber sandwich. I couldn't stomach a single thing. The first course was a foul eggplant omelet. It looked like something alive, like a toad. The second dish was the house salad, and while it tasted okay, it was not worth more than something you get from Starbucks takeout. The fourth dish was an uncooked duck, four bites worth, and it was so stringy, I couldn't chew it, and the sauce made me a little ill. The final course, the one no one ever messes up, they messed up. Ice cream "something" that was too sweet to eat. Literally. My spouse is a dessert phile, and she eats anything....but not this. The owner introduced himself, and was aware it wasn't happening. I barely eat a single thing, and my spouse ate half of her dinner. It was Christmas Eve, and we waited, as a couple, 17 years to go. Hence me taking the time to write this--wake up Canlis, you're blowing it. If you don't imbibe in alcohol, you will get flagged because you're not going to spend a lot of money. We got flagged, and things like filling a water glass or refilling my lemonade, took 20 minutes for anyone to notice empty glasses. Other than them freaking out that the food was not agreeing with my palate, the dinner was over for them. Maybe we looked like freaks as the only two in the restaurant with large N-95 masks on our faces the entire time? None of the diners donned a mask. They did check for vaccine status, but it was mask free from there, no tests required. Finally, if you're going to drop serious coin on Canlis, make sure it's a window seat, or it will be like eating in a school lunchroom. Lights up high, no views, and nothing pleasant to look at. The live piano player even suffered from lack of skill and repertoire. I want Canlis to succeed. I truly wish they would do some soul searching about the head chef. The root of the chef's limitations is in the sauces. This is fundamental to a great chef. This chef just can't find the right chemistry. The valet service, on the other hand, was the best I've ever experienced, and I'm a driver from Manhattan! Bravo on the valet! Update: We were charged $200 when all I could eat was the "house salad" which the owner made himself, and was at best, no better than Dukes Seafood House. The total bill was around $400 which didn't include alcohol. They kept the $200 that reserved the table. I had to get food elsewhere after leaving, as I was starving. So, the owner lied on Yelp because we have a $200 receipt, and nothing to show for it. Since the owner brought up the piano player, he was awful. I've spent my life around pianist both professional and amateur. The pianist was a rank amateur with a scant repertoire of mediocre tunes that leaned towards the soporific (hire the man who used to play at Nordstrom downtown back in the day!). If you want to have an epicurean delight in Seattle, there's one great alternative -- Osteria la Spiga! Had the owner apologized appropriately, and refunded our $200, I wouldn't have wasted my precious time to pen this review. Caveat emptor! read more

An amazing dining experience for anyone in Seattle that even remotely enjoys food. Securing a reservation can be tough and will require some future planning, but the effort will be worth it. Canlis isn't just about the food, but the overall experience. It's easy to see why Canlis is one of Seattle's top restaurants! I came here with my girlfriend to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. It's the perfect spot for a romantic dinner date. They have a semi-formal dress code, which gave us a fun excuse to dress up nice. They also offer free valet parking, so the experience really started before we even entered the restaurant! The dinner experience is fun - you get to choose 3 courses from their options, and the rest were courses that they pick out. It was exciting to see what they brought out each time, and each dish was 100% enjoyable. I can't exactly remember what each dish was, but I included pictures. Two of my biggest highlights - their salad being probably one of the best salads I've had and the superb hamachi that just melted in my mouth. They also do a great job at pacing our food. We never felt like we were waiting too long between Service was great here and everyone felt warm and inviting. We don't go out to dine at fine establishments much, but we certainly never felt out of place here with how well they treated us. We paid about $450 for a dinner for two and drinks. This might sound hefty, but it's not often that you'll go out and enjoy fine dining like this. The Canlis experience is worth it. read more

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Came here after much anticipated wait for a special celebration with friends! The food was great (I was surprisingly not hungry by the end of the meal) as well as the service and ambience. I am not sold that all of that justified the $$$$$ of the place, but like I said we were there for a celebration. I think it was worth coming to check out, but if I could choose another place, I probably would. read more

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Incredibly rude valet people. Maybe you should put up a sign on valet only for the only path through your restaurant property, vs. rudely telling your customers it's "valet only" and giving bad instructions on where to park and then again rudely telling them that's not where to park (hey - can't help it if you can't communicate) read more

Let me precursor this review with a couple of things. 1. I'm a snobby foodie from Chicago with extremely high standards. 2. The lack of star is due to only one thing...the presentation of the food. Read on! :) Canlis is an amazing experience. The service is next to none. The space is unique and just overall one-of-a kind. Kudos to the staff that makes you feel like royalty without the experience seeming snobby or elitist. They're friendly, funny and knowledgable. Special shout out to Nathan for making my friend and I feel like "bad ass bitches". The wine list is stellar. (Definitely worthy of that James Beard award!) When the sommelier came to the table the first thing she asked was...how much do you want to spend. (Obviously in the nicest of ways). There are bottles here ranging from $100 to several thousands of dollars from all over the world. The cocktails are gorgeous. Their stemware is so delicate that any cocktail would be a stunner...but they're tasty and beautifully presented. One small knock for not having bleu cheese olives for a dirty martini. That's like the best part!! :) The food. We were presented the 12-course tasting menu which was the perfect amount of food. Some may think it a lot...but if you've dined at places like this before, you know it's thoughtfully considered whether you're going to leave hungry or bursting from the seams. Excited to find out that the new executive chef was a woman, Aisha Ibrahaim nails utilizing local ingredients while presenting a simple, yet elegant plate. But I wasn't enticed by the presentation. Small bursts of color would've taken this meal to the next level. The seafood dish, the most colorful, was my least favorite. It combined uni, crab, ikura and geoduck in one dish. Uni is strong and I would've loved to see an uni butter perhaps around the wagyu? But the combined seafood flavors weren't appetizing. Actually needed salt and couldn't taste the berry with the overpowering of the fish flavor. And this is a big no no. My wagyu, although still delicious, was overcooked. My friends was perfect though. I recognize that Aisha is new to Canlis and new to the PNW and I think she'll find her place. But her Asian flare wasn't part of this menu. Which is completely fine. But I'll look for refinements from Asian cuisine and hopefully more pops of color if I get a chance to go back! Finally, I feel like Seattle has yet to have a restaurant like Alinea or Moto or Schwa. The crazy colors, use of gastro-infusions, the deconstructed vision that creates a completely new cuisine and genre of restaurant. This is what I was truly hoping for in my experience. Especially for the price tag and excitement built around the opportunity to dine here. read more

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I respectfully disagree with the reviewers saying that the food isn't worth the price. Not only was the food wonderful, but the service, history, and views couldn't be beat. Griffin, Forest, Heather, and the bartenders (I apologize, I can't recall their names) were so lovely. They really made the evening. Thank you for such a wonderful birthday dinner! read more

Canlis - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Service was really good, food was really good as well. The fish was fresh and very tasty!

THIS IS WHERE I GOT ENGAGED! Did I know this was where it would be? Did I hint at this being the perfect place for it to be? Did I tell him I wanted to go here? The answers to all that was NO. Looking back on it, this was the perfect place for us to get engaged. I would say I have foodie tendencies and I love food so going somewhere with fine dining and amazing food was perfect! We got there a little early and if you have ever been you know that it is a valet type drop off. You turn into where the restaurant is located and right there is the front door with a little covered area. They open the doors for you and you hand them the keys. Once you are inside, there is a bench to the left and the bathrooms. On the right you walk a little further in to see the dining room to the left and another seating area on the right with a fire place right in front of you. If you get there a little before the first reservations when they just open, you may catch a glimpse of their staff meeting. That is what happened to us. We were not greeted by anyone or asked for coats immediately like you probably would be if you were not in the first round of reservations. Someone did come over though shortly after to take out coats away. Once the staff meeting ended, which you could hear little bits and pieces of, the staff member assigned to your reservation comes over and asks to take you to your table. THIS IS WHERE IT HAPPENED. I had never been to Canlis before so when we started walking up the stairs I did not know I was being led to their private room. The view from up there was amazing and would definitely be a good space for special occasion or group event. They even have a small bar up there as well. If you get engaged here, they also give you champagne right after. Once everything went down, we were led over to the private dining room. This had a small little couch and a table set for two. The view in this room was just as amazing as the big private event area. You could see parts of the city and gasworks park. I was very happy to be able to see the view in the day time and at night with all the night lights. For the meal, I was still in shock so it took me forever to even pick up the menu and read it. I started with the drink menu and ordered what was recommended. Throughout the night I had the champagne, I think the Millionaire and something else that was fruity which I asked for as recommended. The two cocktails were very good. For the food, we ordered: ONE CHAWANMUSHI (Japanese egg custard with hedgehog mushroom and geoduck) CARAMELIZED MUSSELS (Pine nut "green curry" with geoduck XO sauce) TWO FRIED RABBIT (Yoshoku potatoes, buttermilk, and herbs from our garden) GRILLED CARROTS (Glazed in reduced blackberry jam with chorizo and clams) HAIGA RICE (In brown butter dashi with Dungeness crab, fried chili, and hazelnuts) We were only meant to have two from course two but the Rabbit was given to us by accident and I am grateful it was because that was probably the best one out of the three dishes. THREE DRY AGED RIBEYE (Gratin of potato and fermented cabbage, with sauce Pierre) SEA BREAM (Stewed onions, horseradish, and flavors of oyakodon) FOUR SWEET POTATO (Japanese sweet potato with bee pollen garam, yuzu sherbet, and cocoa butter cake) AGED CHEDDAR AND APPLE (French toast, apple chutney, yogurt ice cream, and Petit Pomerol cheddar) I did not know it would also start with bread and a bunch of small started plates but it did and each of those small bites were delicious. Everything about the meal was delicious. We even got a side of truffle fries which was in fine print on the menu and I love my fries so they were a perfect addition. After the meal, which we took our time enjoying, we were taken on a tour around the restaurant with an option of some sort of drink to carry around. Learning about the history, seeing the kitchen, the wine cellar and the champagne room was really cool. If I was not as still in shock and semi tipsy, it probably would have been even better. At the end of our Canlis experience, we were thanked for dining with them and greeted with our coats being heated up by the fire place. I loved everything about this experience and will definitely be going back one day. read more

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Roughly 8 courses plus a few chocolates at the end at an absolutely gorgeous restaurant. The view is incredible and the ambience is just amazing. You'll sit side by side at a table for two which is honestly quite nice. The service was really great overall, they were attentive and fun. They explained each dish and elaborated for any questions we had. Ill go into my experience for each dish: - the opener was a small cup of marinated lions mane mushroom and a small fried scallop. These were both absolutely delicious and new experiences to me so I loved them. The small scallop bite left me wanting more. - the salad was very standard, tasty but nothing unique - the sea bream wasn't too great. Not much flavor there and the fried oca was alright - the dungeoness crab with uni over plum consumme was really unique but honestly couldve done without the plum consumme. The flavors of sweet and salty and buttery just kind of clash. In addition the pickled topping just made the dish so many strong flavors but not cohesive - duck somehow ended up tasting like steak? It was really tender and perfectly cooked but kind of lukewarm temp and just didnt give me the nice fatty duck flavor I expected/wanted. Perhaps it was the sauce or how it was prepared - the dry aged striploin was delicious but nothing too unique there. They also provide an onion/beef pho style broth on the side which was delicious and unique. Loved that one. - both desserts were absolutely amazing however, the presentation, flavors, texture, and portions were just perfect. It was a great way to end the meal. Add in a few chocolates at the end for a great ~8 course meal. Overall, a great experience for a special night but quite pricey. For the price of roughly 250 per person, I think I was expecting a more elevated and unique experience. There were more "main" courses than I expected but all very simple in flavor. Personally, I think they should double down on the seafood especially locally available seafood. Nail down some incredibly buttery fish, combined with some lobster, crab, it would be amazing. I'm just not sold on the experience of having fish followed by duck followed by steak. read more

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Tucked into the hills of downtown Seattle, lies the Canlis Restaurant. During my trip to the west coast, I had to visit one of the top rated restaurants in the city.......make that the country. Break out your fancy schmancy attire for this occasion; or you will stick out like a poor thumb. (I meant what I said) Was treated very kindly the entire evening. Derek was the bartender on this particular night, while Jose served me two excellent dishes. Most flavorful burger I've ever eaten; you will not feel as though you've "settled" for it at all. The scallop toast was a pleasant predecessor to that. Overall, enjoyable experience & I will return next time I am in Seattle. Shoutout to the kitchen staff for making it happen!!! read more

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Had a wonderful dinner to celebrate my marriage anniversary at this Seattle iconic, three times James Beard Award winner, and the restaurant with the most potential of getting a Michelin star in Washington. Ever since they shut down during the pandemic and got a new chef, I have read so many mixed review on yelp and was getting a bit worried. Ready to "Hit or Miss", I was wowed by the experience of magnificent views of Lake Union, excellent service, and wonderful food. I started with the Sumaq Punch Cocktail with Pisco. It was fruity, spicy, and damn strong. I could feel the alcohol halfway through my glass. My first course was the Kanpachi, covered with daikon for a contrast in texture and huckleberry sauce. The sauce had a tint of cumin and was so interesting. The second course Shaved Wagyu was my absolute favorite. It was fatty and soft, and so satisfying. My server recommended the Maitake and King Trumpet for my third course. I was surprised of how much I loved this vegetarian dish! They were so flavorful with complex layers of flavors. I paired it with a Guímaro with notes of red fruits, leather, and is earthy, and smoky that complimented the mushrooms wonderfully. My husband ordered the Duck for his third course, cooked perfectly pink, with crispy skin and juicy meat. The pumpkin with kale was not his favorite though. My dessert was the Pear and Reisling which is a yoghurt sorbet, with Peach caramel and Szechuan peppercorn. The other dessert, the Smoked Cacao Nougatine though was not aesthetically as pleasing, and the sunflower seed and pumpkin topping was a bit sticky for my teeth. Loved the asian elements in the dishes. Impressed by this level of fine dining in Seattle. Enjoyed everything. It was definitely a "hit" night! read more

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I haven't been to Canlis since college so I thought it was time to give it another try I remember it being very elegant and an exquisite place to visit. This year we went there for my birthday the ambience was nothing short of what I remember the wait staff was exceptional and the view was nice. The menu has changed quite a bit since I had been there maybe it was due to Covid or maybe they had just changed overtime what we were offered was a prefixed menu for about $150 per person for three courses. Both my husband and I were quite disappointed at the caliber of food we received for the value that we paid you can definitely get a better meal somewhere else. The dishes were lackluster. The proportions seemed a bit small considering there were only three courses. Had there been 5-8 the portion sizes would have been more accommodating. Finally the food. Well, it wasn't bad but not mind blowing and not rich and complex in flavor as what my palate was expecting. It was a celebratory day so we enjoyed our time. Had it been any other day I think our disappointment level would have been higher. Sadly we probably will not be going back for quite some time. read more

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We wanted so much to love Canlis. The view is beautiful.The servers that replenish water, bring out the food and fold your napkins are great. We said ahead of time when we made our reservation for our anniversary that we didn't like seafood. The waiter said he could make some accommodations but when we asked, it wasn't possible. When you're paying over $600 for two for dinner you want to like the food. read more

This is more like a experiencing restaurant, which you start to enjoy the service right after arriving the valet parking area. I was expecting to see the same menu as I saw on yelp, yet, they do change their menu seasonally. Meanwhile, the price also increased a bit. They also provide four extra light dishes, which include the deserts before and after your main courses and the Canlis bread. My main course was the pork, and it was my first time seeing the raw pork as a dish, so I asked to make it well done, but it was still not well done until I asked the second time. Our server told me that it was delicious, but I will still not recommend it, and you will understand if you do some research online. All the dishes here are pretty sour in overall, which is very appetizing, but the Canlis salad was too sour. Service charge is included and the valet parking is free. read more

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Had dinner for 2 here last night and was left with mixed emotions. This was our second time at Canlis. And we were expecting the same experience we had 7-8 years ago. The service was good but not as special as it was first time we visited. Not sure what it is. The staff was great. Maybe it wasn't as formal as it was before? Also, the food was hit and a miss as much as I would hate to say it. Some of the dishes were over salted and all meat served was either raw or just seared. (Which I realise is a preference and they probably would have cooked it more if we requested it, if you don't like raw meat just a heads up to state your preference.) Overall the staff is extremely friendly and we had a good time. But for sure will not be making another reservation any time soon. More of a once in a long while experience. read more

Wow... what can one say about this place? It's a dining experience. Not just dinner. Service is Michelin rated, food is executed perfectly. The presentation is muted but artful. It's a special occasions place. The proportion seems small but there's 7 courses. The wine list is superb. Very large selection with decent prices. It's a notch below French Laundry but in the same vane. You've seen this food ... it's just done to perfection. For example: A piece of onion is not just a piece of onion. It's been cooked slowly for 3 days and taste like sugar. Lovely meal. read more

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Canlis was on my list for a while and finally I went there. The expectaion is really high due to all rukes and in advanced payment of $100 per person. The photo on yelp and their website are also nice. inside the restaurant (especially if you are not window seated) is below average. I cannot believe it, fastfood restaurants have nicer interior. If you seat at window table, at least you can see outside and get distracted from inside view. The fact that the menue is half picked for you and half you select, raises the expectation. However we did not like our food at all. portions are like a bite and honesty there is nothing special about them. At the end, the prices are crazy, 165 before tax and tip per person which come to 221 per person!! fact 1: you are not gonna impress anyone if you take them there fact 2: with $100, you can really have great dish at a very fancy restaurant. Canlis is a rip off. fact 3: I cannot understand why people are promoting this restaurant! read more

3- Stars for Food. 5+ Stars for Service. Evens out to 4. tl;dr: If you want to eat the food, eat at the bar. You won't be restricted by the courses and you can pick out what you want. Also better bang for your buck. Excellent service on all accounts but if you are prioritizing good food, then look elsewhere. Let's talk FOOD first. To be honest, it did not live up to the hype. Though, I wonder if the hype is more of the atmosphere and service than food overall. Out of the 4 courses, our party of 6 all agreed that the most noteworthy (and only) course was #3 which we all loved our dishes. I highly recommend the Mushroom entree, duck, striploin, and sea bass. Every single one of these entrees was delicious and flavorful and perfectly cooked. If I could order all of these for all my courses, I would've given them a 5 for food. For Course #1, 2, 4 - nothing really stood out to us in any of the dishes. We got yummy amuse bouche but nothing to write home about. And the Namesake Salad (The Canlis Salad) - oh man.... I will never hear the end of it from my friends. Basically, I talked 5 out of 6 of our party to get the salad because I heard "it was amazing" and there was a "NY Time article about it" - turns out (to no one else's surprise), it was just a salad, an over dressed salad no less. There was nothing special about this plate of lettuce and tomatoes and it was highly overdressed. I guess you get table side service if the whole table orders it so you can "experience the making of the salad" but only 5 out of 6 of us ordered it so..... we didn't even get that. Now, sadly my credibility is lost to my friends. Personally, I got crab in course 1, salad in course 2, hazelnut tofu in course 4 - again, just not worth remembering, just didn't taste good. Now SERVICE. That's where Canlis absolutely shines. Also why it hurts me a little to write such a bad review for the food (but I have to be honest). From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, we interacted with the BEST staff. Eders - The head Valet. Amazing memory. Fun fact - he and his assistant remembers every single person in the restaurant and what they drive at any given time. He takes your car when you arrive and will have your car ready at the door for you when you step out of the restaurant. He tracks where you are in your meal so he knows exactly when to get the cars ready. So impressive! Joshua - our main waiter for the night. So friendly and knowledgeable. He told us about our dishes and the dinner ware they were served on. He gave us fun facts about where the plates, bowls, and glassware are all from. Beware - don't break anything (not that you would) because those things cost more than your meal. He was so fun to talk to and really made us feel comfortable and relaxed in what could be a stuffy fancy place. We wanted him to join our party by the end of the night! Too bad he had to work.... Dan - the Senior Som. He gave us excellent recommendations on wines from what we told him. My friends gave him some specifications and he really delivered. He was professional the whole way through but didn't make us feel out of place even though he was better dressed than any of us. Jason - the pianist. Apparently he's also studying to be a doctor? Anyways, he was so talented and skilled. He played beautiful piano renditions of songs we know and love all night long. He also takes requests!! If he doesn't know it from the top of his head, he'll pull up the sheet music and play it right then and there. Wow, we were all SO impressed with him!! He was great! Thank you so much to the wonderful Canlis staff!! You are all such great people and really made our night!! So a group of 6 of us went and spent $1,700 total. We had a great time getting all dressed up and getting to know the staff at Canlis and we enjoyed our night very much. However, at the end of the day, the food did not play much of a role in contributing to our great night. So just set your expectations before going in. read more

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We went to Canlis for the 1st time for our anniversary and it did not disappoint. It was an experience where they did everything right and we felt like we got service like someone rich and famous would get. We had a 7 course meal but could only pick 3 of those. Everything was delicious. Service was exceptional. One of my favorite dishes was the butternut squash and yogurt. Ambiance was a mid-century modern, beautiful and elegant. They had someone playing a piano. read more

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My husband and I had dinner at Canlis (restaurant) for our very first time. We had a gift certificate from our children for dinner to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. It also happened to be my 70th birthday. The staff was very nice and our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. The cocktail from the bar was delightful. The food was interesting and overall quite good. The exception was the main course. The halibut was dry, not flaky, and tasted too fishy. Perhaps it was old? The replacement main course was a mushroom teriyaki. The mushrooms were tough and chewy. Also, I need to rant that the vegetarian options were very limited and there were not any vegan alternatives. Really? This is Seattle. For the price, it could have been better. Bev Fissel read more

This is five star dining - PNW style. Great food; outright friendly and welcoming service and a beautiful building/view. But what makes Canlis so lovely - and unique - is their dress code policy: you need to dress up. Jackets for men; no athletic wear, no baseball caps and generally speaking, no kids. This is a celebratory restaurant - an anniversary, engagement, promotion kind of place. You spend a lot of money for the experience so the last thing you want is to be seated amongst slobs who couldn't care less what they're wearing. read more

In the interest of full disclosure I could write six or so reviews for Canlis and they would all be glowing five star reviews. Never once even the slightest niggling little issue to make note of - truly in my experience "THE" best restaurant on the west coast. Again in the interest of full disclosure, I haven't been back for some years now for a few reasons: 1) We don't live as near to the city as we once did. 2) COVID 19 3) Our dining out budget just isn't in the Canlis network Now, I will be back and very soon! Why? Read the article in the Seattle Times about their new Executive Chef - wow!!!! Canlis, see you soon! read more

From the moment we pulled into the parking lot we were treated like VIPs. This was our first time at the Canlis and we decided to treat ourselves to celebrate our 40th anniversary. It was one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. read more

I've never actually dined in at CANLIS. I have ordered meals from them that we either picked up or had delivered. The meals were absolutely among the best that I've ever eaten. I can't wait until someday I get the opportunity to eat at the restaurant or at least visit the bar area. One of the delivery meals at the beginning of pandemic was the following: Côte de Boeuf CANLIS salad Twice baked potatoes Asparagus Homemade rolls & Desert was a really great cake You can find some of their recipes online. If you search on you tube for CANLIS community college you'll find video with step by step instructions. You'll also find tons of additional content! read more

We paid for the Valentine's special 5 course meal which was more expensive than the normal 7 course meal. Somehow they managed to make sub par food for this special day. The only highlight was the wine we brought for ourselves. The American wagyu course was tough and chewy with gristle inside my girlfriend had to spit out. The dessert was a joke with the choose for yourself Pinkberry style ice cream and lumps of caramel "sauce". This was so disappointing as their regular menu was of much higher quality. I almost choked on the long and undercooked grilled leek in scallop course. There was no palette cleanser before the dessert or anything. The only highlight was the starter course. Shame on you Canlis trying to do a quick cash grab and serve cheap food for a higher price on Valentine's Day! I want a refund lol and they have a long way from even getting one Michelin star read more

Canlis - Chewy American wagyu - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Nearly 7 years in Seattle (inclusive of time living on westlake just half a mile away) we finally made it to canlis for a wedding anniversary dinner. And it absolutely lived up to the hype. My husband snagged a reservation immediately after they opened up the dining room after Covid. He booked the private room and I really did not know what to expect of canlis and especially of private dining. I now can say that I wish every dinner was a private dining experience, especially if the service is as thoughtful and seamless as the canlis one. (And if you like your company lol... you are stuck in a room with them for a few hours after all with no ability to people watch or have many distractions). We had an amazing view from of the sailboats (it was sailboat Tuesday) and perfect service throughout. The menu is a four course menu with some extra snacks sprinkled in. I would not say I left full, but I did feel satisfied with just how delicious and artful the food was. Favorites included the halibut and the Dungeness crab salad. Menu is $155 pp for four dishes. For drinks, we started with a couple cocktails but then brought our own wine we like. Not a crazy fancy bottle, just one that we really like by local Seattle winemakers. You can bring your own for $10 pp corkage fee, but they do ask that it's a bottle they do not already carry. We ended with a dessert wine pairing recommended by our server Dan. What a treat. Dan was awesome along with the rest of the staff. We got a little tour of the wine cellar at the end and that was just incredible. The whole building is... so much history. You can feel the pride from all that the restaurant has accomplished and after dining here, I'd say it is well deserved. You've got to come experience it for yourself! read more

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