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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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

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

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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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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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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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

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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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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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

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

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

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

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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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

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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Low rating. Went here a couple weeks ago on a beautiful day and it was pretty empty. Took 25 min to be sat down. Our server was slow and rude, and it took very long to get our food and appetizers. I got the Cajun salmon and fries, and a plate of calamari which was good. I also like the decor inside, although it was boiling hot inside the restaurant. I'd much rather go to chinooks in fisherman's terminal. read more

Where to start? First, let's start with my wife and I have been coming to IVAR'S SALMON HOUSE im downtown Seattle for over 38 years. Today was for lunch with less than 10 people at lunch. Service was GLACIALLY SLOW! We ordered; 2 iced teas, Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer, a (1) large Caesar Salad and Lemon Meringue pie. Over 45 minutes later our waiter brings; Shrimp Lunch (not the original order as an appetizer) and a WARM Caesar Salad! When we we pointed out the menu error, he said; "Thats why pencils have erasers" took the errant shrimp and returned 15 minutes later. Five minutes later a SECOND order of Cocktail Shrimp appetizer appeared at our table! When the LEMON MERINGUE arrived it was WARM and possibly the smallest piece of pie ever made. When our bill came, our waiter attendant to charge us for the ENTIRE MISTAKE! Upon being reminded of the errors, our waiter disagreed for 15 minutes with the corrected bill. $68.00 dollars! FOR LUNCH! God help you for dinner! For really good, generous servings of pie GO TO THR HALF WAY CAFE! AVOID IVAR'S SALMON HOUSE on Lake Washington at lunch AT ALL COST! read more

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

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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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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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

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

Absolutely delicious lunch. Menu has been recently updated. Beautiful views of Lake Union. Had Mussels in a spicy broth, generous serving. My friend had coconut shrimp which he really liked, very tasty and crispy, 5 huge shrimp. Side Caesar salad fresh and crunchy. Best of all, service by Jesus was outstanding. Friendly and efficient. Highly recommend. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Coconut shrimp, Caesar salad, Curry Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The view was wonderful but the food was overpriced for the mediocre quality and small portions!!! To add insult to injury, we had to PAY FOR BREAD!!!! The final cherry on top was as we were leaving and the manager walked up to the kitchen and yelled out to the kitchen, "Where's my fucking food"!!!! I highly doubt we'll be back after this experience!!! read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Food all over the floor, underneath our table, left over from the previous diners... or perhaps even the diners before them!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the better bowls of chowder I've had. We got a great table outside with an awesome view. Service was fine. Don't waste your money on the baby prawns. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Caesar Salad, Clam Chowder, and Baby Prawns - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The service was very good. Our waitress was very friendly and patient with us. We had a party of 8 so getting everyone to pay attention tends to be a bit difficult sometimes. Ambience was good and we went at night so we couldn't see the view very well. For food I got the pesto penne and it was okay. I thought it was a bit bland but the salmon in it was tasty. The calamari was interesting. I got to enjoy 2 textures. I did enjoy eating it and there's a lot of it so it's easily shareable. The Hot Toddy was recommended by the waitress and I liked it. It was different because it was a warm alcoholic drink. It was kind of like a spiked apple cider in a way. If you're allergic to cinnamon I do not recommend getting it since there is a cinnamon stick inside. Overall I think this place is mostly for enjoying ambience. My friends seemed to have enjoyed the crab cakes and the salmon themselves. I'm just giving this place a 3 because the food wasn't as good as I had expected it to be but others may enjoy it more. I think this spots highlight is the view. To give you guys a heads up you would need to find street parking and walk over to this restaurant. There is a tiny parking lot for this restaurant but there's maybe around 10 available if they aren't taken. read more

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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

Excellent food preparation and presentation. I had not been there in probably 40 years as I am rarely in the area, obviously. I had remembered having been there and I remembered their salmon. I didn't recognize the place as they had expanded and the layout was changed from my original visit. Still as wonderful as I remembered! read more

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This is a must if you're visiting. Fantastic view of Seattle, its right on the water, under the bridge. I'm not a salmon expert but you won't be disappointed. This place is great for a special occasion or some sort of celebration. read more

Go for the view! Gorgeous. The seasonal dessert was fantastic - s'more cheesecake. They should have it on the regular menu, its that good. Unfortunately, my lobster roll was not successful. The buttered and toasted bun was delicious. The lobster salad inside was not. If I didn't know it was a lobster roll, I would never have guessed there is lobster in it. There is a mayo based salad with lots of stuff (celery, egg, other?), and little shredded pieces of what I would have guessed was surimi if I didn't know it was lobster. Do NOT order the lobster roll. The fries were requested extra crispy, and they were good. My friend's salmon sandwich was good. Our service was good until we wanted the check. We didn't see our server for 20 minutes after finishing the dessert before we could ask for the check. Maybe she was on a break. read more

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Sun-drenched at 68 degrees--Seattle's version of a heatwave--I found myself basking on Ivar's Salmon House patio, the scent of alder smoke wafting from their open-pit barbecue. The Alder Grilled Fresh Alaska Halibut arrived, adorned with pineapple salsa and a sweet chili glaze, resting on a bed of cilantro-ginger jasmine rice alongside tender asparagus . Each bite was a harmonious blend of smoky, sweet, and savory. Accompanied by a glass of rosé and a refreshing sangria, I watched seaplanes dance over Lake Union. The service? Swift and attentive, without the overbearing cheeriness. Dining in a Native American longhouse replica with panoramic skyline views, Ivar's offers a quintessentially quirky Seattle experience--where tradition meets the unexpected. read more

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

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