Disappointed at lunch yesterday. My husband and I no longer drive at night but have loved coming to Ivar's for lunch. We have often taken people there for their birthday or brought out-of-town guests. We have especially enjoyed the combo lunch specials - a great lunch, lots of delicious food for about $25. When we went yesterday we found there were no longer any lunch specials. We would have been fine if you had raised the price by 5 or 6 dollars, or had made the portions a little smaller but that was not the case. I was planning to bring some friends there next week for a birthday lunch but we have decided to go elsewhere. Hope you will bring back some sort of lunch combo or daily special. read more

This Ivars is almost directly below the I5 bridge on the Portage Bay Reach. Very loud outside but great for boat watching! Service was friendly and quick. Started with one of their fabulous Bloody Mary for me and beer for him. I ordered the salmon BLT and he had fish and chips. My salmon was cooked perfectly and served on a very soft bun. Two problems though. I am apparently in the minority that I think bacon is raw if not crispy so ended up putting it aside. Second issue was the "L" portion was a large piece of iceberg core. Not really lettuce, guys..... So I basically had a salmon sandwich with a slice of tomato and some flavorful tartar sauce. The fish and chips were also cooked perfectly and were inhaled. If I come back I would just grab food from the take out side and sit on the dock. read more

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Arrived about 3:30pm and was greeted by the host and informed we were free to select a table in the lounge. We grabbed a seat near the windows with a beautiful view of Union Lake. The waiter brought us water and returned shortly afterwards to take our order. PRO TIP: Try going at happy hour daily from 3-6pm for great food and drink specials. We started with fried calamari and oyster shooters as appetizers, and the Ivar's fish and chips as our main entry. I paired my meal with the local Space Dust IPA . The appetizers arrived about 10 minutes later. The calamari was delicious, meaty, crispy but not over cooked. The oyster shooters were fresh and delicious. The fish and chips arrived a few minutes later. It was truly the star of our meal. The cod was moist and clean tasting. The fries were fresh tasting. The combination of lemon, malt vinegar and tartar sauce were great condiments. The only minor disappointment was the service that was slow. Although still highly recommended for great Seattle PMW culinary experience. read more

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Long story short, we ended up here but accident but man was it worth it!! About a 10 min wait for outdoor seating on a gorgeous Seattle evening. Beautiful views of the space needle, bridge, and boats. The food was pretty spectacular. Fish and chips somehow tasted fresh while being fried. Yum! Crab cakes and the chipotle sauce were amazing too. read more

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This is an amazing restaurant on Lake Union. The restaurant is large, well decorated, and has lakeside patio seating. Opted to sit outside on a breezy sunny day and it was perfect. The service was spot on, was not rushed, and did not wait for anything. The salad was fresh as well as the ahi tuna which was a great starter. For the mains the salmon and steak were seasoned perfectly and cooked to perfection. The shrimp skewer was a great addition to the sirloin steak. In addition the specialty drinks were perfectly crafted and made the meal overall. No complaints here and will be back soon to try more dishes. read more

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the fish itself does not really measure up to Spud's Fish and Chips. It's definitely fried less well - it just doesn't have the same breading on the outside. Even the inside doesn't taste half as good - it's a little bit pully. There was supposed to be Cajun breading on the outside - but I pretty much didn't notice any difference at all - there was no extra seasoning or any extra flavor that i could taste Still - it wasn't bad. Fried fish is going to taste pretty good unless you completely screw it up - and this place certainly didn't. The portion of fish was quite good as well - as 5 decently sized fish were enough to be filling the tartar sauce was average - nothing too special. it slightly improved the fish taste but didn't add to it the same i will say the fries were really good. the fish came in on top of a massive portion of fries - and while there was no real seasoning there - these fries were pretty fantastic in terms of being perfectly soft on the inside. I really enjoyed them with the sauces read more

Ivar's Salmon House - fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had a reservation for 13 people. Food was good , chowder was good. I ordered brussel sprouts, crab cakes and goat cheese spread. Service was great . Best part is there is a big parking lot across the street ! read more

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I stopped in on a whim. I almost went to the outside window. I'm glad I decided to dine in. I had the best service and server!!! I ordered a garden salad with shrimp and the Simply prepared king salmon with smashed red potatoes and asparagus. All were very tasty! I will be going back!! Views are also no joke!! read more

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The service was decent, but the food was lukewarm even after receiving the wrong order (received salmon instead of seafood saute) and being told the correct order was "piping hot." Moreover, we purchased the clams as an appetizer and more than 50% of them were empty.​ Ambiance was mid, and the place was mostly empty. Finally, my cocktail was just a strawberry juice (good strawberry juice) with no Hendricks to be tasted. Clearly this location is living off of its reputation. Edit: After speaking with the manager, Luis, I am definitely willing to go back to this restaurant. He insisted that he refund the entire meal despite our protestation that we ate the food and should pay at least 50% if not more. read more

My favorite place to eat in Seattle, hands down. Every visit feels special from the moment you walk in. The dining room is surrounded by stunning Pacific Northwest Coast art that celebrates Indigenous culture and creates an atmosphere that's both elegant and deeply rooted in place. It's the kind of space that makes you pause and take it all in before the first bite even arrives. The food is consistently outstanding. Each dish feels carefully crafted, with fresh local ingredients and beautiful presentation. I've tried a range of menu items over several visits and have never been disappointed. The flavors are vibrant yet balanced -- true comfort food elevated by creativity and care. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the staff are knowledgeable about both the menu and potential drink pairings if you're feeling unsure. My dining partner, who has celiac disease, absolutely adores the flour-free chocolate cake. It's rich, decadent, and perfectly portioned. It's wonderful to see such thoughtful options for guests with dietary restrictions. The restaurant works well for all group sizes, from intimate dinners to celebratory gatherings. Noise levels can get moderate during peak hours, but conversation is still easy. read more

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I got the seafood appetizer tower ($43) and the salmon sampler ($43). The sampler came out in about 10 minutes. I really enjoyed everything that came on it. The crab cakes, scallops, and calamari tasted very fresh! Afterwards the main dish came and I was quite happy with the relative amount of food. Out of the three salmon of king , sockeye , and coho my favorite was the king. Staff was good and the food came out in a decent time. Overall the food was super amazing! I can see why the Seattle is known for its salmon. I would highly recommend this place. Food(50%): 9.0 Staff/service(25%): 6.0 Value(25%): 7.0 Overall: 7.4/10 read more

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I loved this place! It wasn't too crowded - maybe cause it's pretty large. Has a great patio area to sit by the water and enjoy the views. The mussels were deliciousssss! And we did a taste of the northwest to get a lil bit of everything. Normally I like bay scallops but I was seriously impressed with how light and tender the sea scallops were. The salmon was light. The halibut was good - basic? But like it's a white fish so that's what's expected, Service was fast and friendly. I really liked that as a tourist I was able to walk from my hotel (the graduate) and quickly be seated outside. Not overwhelming at all. I could have sat there sipping my wine and snacking forever. read more

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One of my families favorite spots and that's never changed, never will. Inside is gorgeous, outside is equally as beautiful with a view. Inside resembles a Native American longhouse and offers a variety of salmon from the Pacific Northwest cooked traditionally. read more

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Very disappointed in this experience. $22 for a bowl of completely dry ahi nachos and over salted king salmon. The service was notably bad. Yes, it was dinner hour, but the waiter checked on many tables while neglecting ours. Our sodas came out after our food, they forgot an order, and he never once checked on our table. We ordered, he brought the food out, then came for the check. When the young curly haired, awkward waiter asked about the nachos (that he recommended) I pointed to the pile of dry chips and said I was a little disappointed by how dry they were, and he replied with "noted". It was terribly awkward. He must be new to service because this was a painful interaction. Either way, the food did not make up for the poor service. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Happy Hour is a great time to come by and try their extensive menu. Salmon, cod, prawns, chowder, oysters and more is in their HH menu. Plus they have great cocktails and a really good dinner menu. Since I've been looks like their staff has some new faces and the service is a tiny bit slower, it still friendly. Ivar's view day or night is a special place to bring friends/family too. They will love it! read more

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My husband and I were craving for some fish and chips and so we dropped by this place on the way home from the outlet. Given by the name, it's pretty known around the state. However, we felt so disappointed with the quality of the food we got. We ordered the northwest platter and upgraded our cod to the cajun salmon which we regretted right away. The salmon was old and very overcooked. The cajun was very salty. Same as with the halibut. Both fishes were overfried so it was very dry. With this platter included 2 small shrimp and maybe 4-5pcs of clams that we have to literally dig in since most of the crunchy small pieces (which you would think are clams), included on the plate were all just pure batter. The calamari was okay. So overall, spending almost $70+ dollars with just calamari at $18 (on happy hour) and the northwest platter which was about $30 was definitely not worth it. Will never come back for sure. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Met wonderful old work friends here for Happy Hour on one of those 90 degree days in Seattle and it was wonderful on the lake that day. I was the only one who ate off the Happy Hour menu but the fish and chips were wonderful and so were the two salmon dishes, too. It's been 35 years since I visited but it was just as good as I remebered. I appreciate the consistency for over three decades. I usually eat at the location on Elliott Bay downtown but this is just as good, or even better. Our waiter was both friendly and funny and I enjoyed the view of the lake from the air conditioned restaurant on a 90 degree day. And, parking was good, too, so we hit it at just the right time. 3:30 was a great time to visit and the ADA parking next to the entrance was much appreciated. I look forward to visiting again. read more

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Well this is a mixed bag for sure. Was able to get in for Easter which was nice. But they definitely said they were more booked up then they actually were. So we weren't happy to be sitting in uncomfortable seats while prime tables sat empty for over an hour. Then you sat us by ourselves and when we came back there were some sketchy looking characters sat right next to us...when there were 32 other places to seat them. It was awkward. Then you put the menus down which described brunch and the dos and donts and such. Then when we came back minutes later the menus were gone. Had to ask for them again. Didn't know who to order what from without the menus. I will say that the 2 girls working by the bar were super nice and accommodating even though they weren't our server. They did more than the actual server. I think they should get the tips. So when you're dropping a Benjamin Franklin for lunch you should leave full of course, but you shouldn't need a chiropractic adjustment especially while primo tables with back support sat empty. Not a good look. Oh and I won't even talk about the nonsense with certain clientele and the crab legs. That definitely needs to be addressed and handled differently. Our 1st time here and maybe the last. Update...I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the self-proclaimed "queen of the crab legs". She was the star of this show and went out of her way twice to help me even though I didn't take her advice the 1st time. She is doing what she can to mitigate the damage done by the bad actors whom are trying to hoard all the crab to themselves. She definitely needs a raise and just changed my mind, I may be back just to see her! read more

We visited Ivar's this evening to celebrate my son's birthday. I have been coming to Ivar's since I was a kid and have always enjoyed its classic Pacific Northwest ambiance and menu. However, this evening we were unfortunately, extremely disappointed. 1) Our food took over an hour without any apology or explanation until we got up to go ask someone what the issue was and ask for something to keep our three young kids from melting down. They no longer serve bread so the best they could do was oyster crackers and the explanation we received was that the kitchen was backed up. At this time, the restaurant was at 50% capacity. Our orders included salmon, salads, a clam chowder and two kid's plain pastas. In other words, nothing time consuming. 2) We told them it was our son's birthday upon arrival knowing they typically do a small birthday treat with candle, but it seemed pretty clear our server forgot when she brought our check. We mentioned it again but eventually we just had to leave because it was taking so long (we'd been at the restaurant over two hours at this point). 3) Cobb salads were overdressed 4) the entrance to the restaurant was covered in leaves and debris 5) overall, some of the staff were very receptive and apologetic when we mentioned some of the issues and that goes a long way with me, but overall we felt our presence was an inconvenience to the staff and after spending over $300 to feed eight people, that is just a huge bummer. Sorry Ivar's, but we won't be coming back. read more

Usually, when we go on boat trips for the Boeing air show during Seafair or college football tailgating activities during the season, we always pass by this place that is always interesting because it always has a lot of people there. My friend suggested we stop by and grab something to eat. I must admit that I didn't really order anything because I'm vegetarian, so many of the options they had weren't things I would eat. I ended up getting two snacks: French fries and Caesar salad. Please take this food review with a grain of salt because it's extremely limited. I wasn't a fan of the Caesar salad or the dressing. It wasn't that I'm not a dressing person, but it didn't really have a good combination of flavor. It just seemed kind of lacking in the flavor department. The fries were okay; they weren't overcooked, but I would say they were decent. I did have a beer, which I think was the imperial oatmeal stout. It was very good and was kind of like my highlight of the meal. I do think the views are nice. The service was something that I really couldn't read because there was a lot going on, but the gentleman was very prompt and accommodating, so I will give him four stars. Overall, I don't know if I would see myself coming back here, but it's okay. read more

I'm a long time customer of Ivar's Salmon house, along with others in my friend group. We would often go to celebrate special occasions. However, I want to let you know about my disappointing experience recently. I invited a friend to supper there as a bon voyage for a trip to Europe. The wait staff were very nonchalant and unhelpful, giving us the wrong menu, not bringing our orders quickly, even though you were not busy, not clearing the plates until requested. Compounding the problem, however, the food was subpar. First, you no longer offer the happy hour salmon sampler, which made the happy hour very worth our while. And what we did order was not very good. Most notably, the broiled brussels sprouts were burned on the outside and raw on the inside. Almost inedible. My salmon Caesar salad was nowhere near as good as it's been in the past... not much lettuce, not much dressing, over seasoned salmon. My friend's seared tuna was almost raw and should've been called sushi. All in all, it was a very disappointing experience. The only things up to standard were the sourdough rolls. I no longer consider Ivar's my 'go to.' Get Outlook for iOS read more

Table was right by the window and I really enjoyed being able to look out at the city skyline. Staff were attentive and friendly. My meal was a little lackluster for the price. It was good but I think that I would rather just go get fish and chips at ivars. My friend. Got the halibut and that was probably the star of the table. read more

I appreciated the ambience and the fun tiki guy decoration. The fish and chips were tasty and I like a da fish yummy

Great backup option if Salty's on Alki is booked out. You still have a good view of the Seattle skyline, and Lake Union is beautiful on a sunny summer afternoon (watching all the boats going back and forth is fun too). There's nice outdoor seating as well. I loved the indoor aesthetic. Really captures the historic "frontier indigenous forest" vibes of the region. Service was attentive and engaging. We came early around 4:30pm on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't busy then. Our server was fun and appreciated his recommendations. I kept it simple--king crab bisque bread bowl. Super good, but I did notice the "bowl" seemed to have *more bisque* than the "bread bowl", even though the bread bowl is more expensive. Hmmm, okay. :) Free parking across the street reserved for restaurant patrons. Pretty close to Gas Works park so you can add it before or after on your itinerary. read more

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Food was terrible..... Not enough servers..... The food end up sitting on the counter for more than 30minutes. It was the first time I had fish n chips which didn't smell like fried food, no aroma, not crispy but tough, French fries are like leftovers...... The shrimps were small not prawn 40-50? I knew their service n foods are getting worse, but can't beat the view.....maybe we should looking for other restaurant seriously! Can't keep complaining every time we set a foot in there read more

Ivar's Salmon House - The fish n Chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I had a great experience at Ivar's Salmon House. The ambience is great! The food is extremely well prepared and presented. The service is attentive. The restaurant is built thematically around Pacific Northwest indigenous people's traditions of the Longhouse. Food is largely themed around PNW seafood, but there are good salad options for vegetarians, and chicken and steak options for those who prefer something other than seafood. It's well worth heading here for lunch or dinner. read more

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Ivar's is a solid choice for a seafood spot in Seattle. Thia Salmon House location on the north side of Lake Union has great views of downtown and the space needle. If you can go during summer and get a table outside on the water, it is awesome. Even in the winter time though, the great thing about this place is how big it is and how much seating there is. While we always try to book a reservation, even when we have decided last minute to head here for dinner with a party of 4 we have never had to wait to be sat. Their menu is decent and they always have seasonal options which have never disappointed. The food always taste fresh and the service has always been great. The food is a bit pricey, but for seafood in Seattle I don't think it is unreasonable. This Ivar's continues to be one of our go to spots for group dinners or when we have folks visiting us, so definitely recommend! read more

The waitress we had was THE BEST, we thoroughly enjoyed having her wait on us- thanks Kendra S. We had a reservation and were able to get seated within 5 minutes on a Wednesday evening at 5:30pm. It's a very popular place and I had previously shown up and unable to get a place without a reservation (this was years ago). It's very fancy, right on the water with a great view. But you're paying for that ambiance! Lots of work dinners seemed to be going on around us. My pesto penne was HUGE and I have enough for a 2nd meal. It was a hefty $34. It wasn't the best penne I'd ever had. I would say you're paying more for experience and for fresh quality fish, read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Pesto Salmon Pesto-Cream Penne Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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There were 12 of us traveling from SC, TX, MD, FL, NY who were looking for a good meal before our cruise to Alaska. Overall my clients enjoyed their meal. I expected more from Ivar's Salmon House. I ordered the Alder Grilled Salmon Sampler which was very bland and tasteless to me. Service was good but rushed. I loved the location as it sits on the water with great scenery of the Needle. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Birthday celebration before our cruise - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I absolutely loved the log-cabin ambiance in this place and the beautiful view of the Seattle skyline from our seat right next to the window. Our waiter was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food out the bread basket, which was quite good. I enjoyed my fish and chips, but I had been hoping there would be more sub $40 options on the menu. Definitely still a very nice dinner experience read more

Ivar's Salmon House - PC Fish n Chips - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I never knew that there were restaurants in Seattle that allowed boats to park outside on the lake to order food! It was a very cool experience. Saturday evening, we stopped by on our way back to return to Rainier Beach. We ordered from the outside bar that is around the corner where the main entrance is. I ordered the Salmon Fish 'n Chips (4pc) and Cup of White Clam Chowder, which was under $23 total. The chowder was SOOO GOOD. I could have definitely eaten more if I ordered a bigger size. read more

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The place has a great throwback 70s environment; tiki/Polynesian style which I believe is actually indicative of the local indigenous peoples who were originally located in Washington state. The food however lacks in flavor across the board. It's very unfortunate. All dishes we ordered, chicken and fish, were tasteless. Descriptions on the menu don't get translated to the dish. This would be a simple "meh"; however the HIGH pricing left me reeling, wondering if the harbor view is REALLY worth it. The bread was even stale. :( Please work on flavor and affordability. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - View from Ivar's dining room. - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow. What a prime location and a beautiful tribute to the local indigenous folks who were here long before us Europeans. A beautiful building on the waterfront with dozens of handcarved pieces of artwork and craftsmanship welcomed us in. The food and beverage was also excellent. We all had some sort of seafood (hey, when in Seattle), which was perfectly prepared and lightly wood smoked. The cocktails and beer were a perfect pairing for an enjoyable family reunion. My only regret was that we had to get up early the next day, and so we were unable to linger for more than a few hours. If you go to only one Ivar's location, make it this one! read more

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A friend of ours had a dinner reservation on 12/23 with the intent of viewing the Xmas boats but had a last minute conflict. She offered her reservation to us so we decided to check it out. The last time we were at Ivars was back in March when we had a great Easter brunch. We had the opposite experience this time. Pros: Ambiance - you can't beat the Seattle skyline and Lake Union view. Interior decor was PNW quaint Service was ok although our waitress never asked how our food was $22 Crab Cakes - this was one of two items we enjoyed $12 Dessert Trio - good way to sample 3 treats Kid's clam chowder and $10 grilled chicken were not bad $17.50 Manhattan well drink was ok Cons: $20 Mussels - they were overcooked and shriveled; the curry broth was almost not bread dip-worthy $6 sourdough rolls were plain and not worth having to pay for bread $33 Chicken Saltimbocca- chicken, prosciutto, & pears were melted together into 2 dry lumps. Again way overcooked and barely edible No king crab legs so we settled for the $65 whole Dungeness crab special. The crab was so dry that my husband said it was the worst crab he has ever eaten Our tab came to $225 for 2 adults and 1 child. Due to the poor food quality and preparation, we will not be returning. read more

Today was the second time recently that I went to the outside window at Ivar's Northlake location and the guy forgot to give me a spoon for my chowder and I asked for cocktail sauce instead of tarter and neither one happened. These were to go orders. I go there frequently because I work in the area but there has been a change in staff and it has made a difference in service. Vee read more

The food, crab cake appetizer and salmon entree, was pricey for the quality. Potatoes with the entree were underseasoned. Service was so-so. Parking is limited. read more

Came here on a business dinner. Wonderful, we can order anything we want. Loved the totem poles and the nautical sense of the restaurant. The The ambiance was really nice. Especially the wonderful view of the scenery and the Space Needle. It was a beautiful setting for a great meal, Sat down to a mostly empty restaurant. We were all hungry and eager to get appetizers and drinks,so the restaurant seemed empty. However, it took over an hour for us to receive our basic orders. Most of us ordered in ordered either fish and chips or a salad with clam chowder. Unfortunately, none of us were impressed with the food. Shouldn't take very long. We had too much to drink and no food. The fish and chips were over fried and cold. Equally, cold clam chowder with a layer of skim on it. Later, some people experienced gastrointestinal problems they linked to the clam chowder. Our server tried their best, even with a mostly empty restaurant. But still incredibly slow. We all were not happy with both our service and food. Loved the view, just a very unhappy group experience at a restaurant we expected better of. read more

Food I was here for a big family reunion and each person had to pay $45 for a set menu with a choice of Salad/Clam Chowder and Salmon/Fish and Chips/Chicken dish. For $45, i was expecting pretty good food. I got clam chowder and Salmon. The clam chowder was actually pretty good but the salmon was not good at all Salmon was dry and flavorless. The cornbread it came with was also not good. Considering the price we paid I was not amused at all. Service/Ambiance This is really the only thing place had going for it. A nice waterside location with good views. A nice motif to the restaurant and some nice servers. Nothing else really to say read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Salmon Dish - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We went for Father's day and was surprised that it was buffet only. The interior is absolutely beautiful with stunning woodwork and a surprisingly nice waterfront view. The buffet was definitely nothing to write home about and the line was surprisingly long at times. I remembered that Anthony Bourdain said that Sunday buffet should be avoided because it's an opportunity for the restaurant to get rid of the food they couldn't sell that week. It certainly felt that way. On the plus side, the best thing that I ate were the brownies and cookies. They were the only things that tasted fresh. Salty's buffet is now $90/person which means it's somewhere I would only go every 3-5 years. In that sense, Ivar's wasn't too bad of a deal at $60/person. We also walked to Gasworks park afterwards which was a nice way to end the meal. The sidewalks are narrow and nonexistent at times though so beware. read more

This place is one of the must-try places in Seattle. Get a seat outside if you can and coming for Happy Hour is a serious deal. We ordered a ton of stuff and the service was 5/5 as well. The fried calamari- 5/5 stars. SO GOOD. Just get it. Perfectly fried with a light batter and seasoned well. Salmon steaks- 3/5 stars. Gotta do the salmon Seattle. But, personally, it was not my fave. Clams in sauce- 5/5 stars. We had both clam dishes that were on the HH and it was AMAZING. Like, get that extra bread to order so you can dip it in the sauce goodness. Fish and chips- 3/5 stars. I had high hopes, but it was OK for me. I think this would be the other place that I'd want to return to for the clams and their calamari. Solid 4.5/5 read more

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