Food offered by the vendors at the Ballard Seafood Fest was not up to snuff for me, so I decided to…read morego here with my foodie friend for dinner that day around 6:30pm before catching Built to Spill later that night. You could say the "secret" part of this restaurant is that you see the signs advertising the place at the front, yet you have to enter a small lobby before hitting up the main entrance door almost to the immediate left of the lobby entrance. If that was a mouthful, wait till you need directions to find the shared restroom one floor below... besides that, the inside contains several booths and two- and four-tops in a compact but surprisingly quiet area due to the muffled noise from the seafood fest. My foodie friend and I got a booth seat close to the window where we thought the main entrance door to this place was. How convenient... Menu is extensive and includes appetizers, soup, curry, noodles, rice, desserts and a bunch of lunch specials. The two of us took our time deciding what we wanted, and settled on the following: - Phad woon sen with chicken (2-star spice): my dish for this visit. This is a bean thread vermicelli noodle dish with egg, onion, cabbage, celery, Chinese broccoli and Thai stir-fry sauce. Noodles had a smooth, silky and al dente consistency, and paired well with everything else inside. This is savory all right, but not overly so. - Thai fried rice with chicken (3-star spice): my foodie friend's dish. Similar to my phad woon sen in ingredients though it has tomato and garlic and no celery. Very filling, and not too oily with the taste spread evenly overall and a smoky taste akin to wok hei. - Pandan sticky rice with mango: a dessert we split together. Yeah, we went overboard with this and I ended up eating up most if not all of this dessert. The sticky rice here is pandan flavored, and a ton of thinly sliced mangoes surround the dish, with some cubed mangoes sitting on top of the sticky rice dome in the middle. So dang delicious, didn't think the sticky rice could be any other flavor than what the coconut sauce usually provides! All dishes were around the same price of $15-20 - yes, even the pandan sticky rice with mango. It was a lot, but the both of us went beyond the night with everything we ate here without having to get anything else after. I've got a new favorite Thai restaurant that I'd like to come back to given I'm around the area!

Ordered take out online. Ordered 415pm on a Friday afternoon and it was ready about 30 minutes…read morelater. I arrived a bit early and they didn't have it ready but the lady was super nice. If you're going to have a dine in experience, there are a few seats on the upper level but most of it is on the downstairs level with a few stairs going down. Simple but cute tables. Really nice vibe. I ordered the green curry with pork and a spicy level. It had a nice kick. I love spicy. Probably could have went higher. If you like hot, go with this level. I got it with sticky rice. Wasn't the biggest fan of that. I think next time I'd go with the classic white rice. Not because it was bad. But because I think it didn't match well with the curry. Parking in Ballard isn't great so be prepared to walk a bit to get to this place.

Great food, great drinks! I recommend family styling. This place was super cozy, the staff is kind,…read moreand the food was delicious! My group kept ordering more naan because we were addicted!

Just ok. Expensive for what you get…read more I appreciate that they have a wide range of vegetarian options. We had the pakoras, the greens, and the cauliflower. All three were solid, but not great and the portions were pretty small for the price. For example, 4 small-to-medium pakoras cost $16. Service was fine. The patio was charming. I likely won't be back. There are much better restaurants at this price.

Oh my gosh! The food here is next level! I am a long time meat chef and eater who has recently…read moreswitched to a plant based diet. I am now a regular at Vital Vegan Bistro. Abosoloutely worth a drive from the Eastside even in Friday traffic! Last night I had the Oxacan Bowl and my son had the Yaki Soba Bowl. Both outstanding! The berry smoothie was also amazing. Chef/Owner, Michael, has spent years crafting these dishes. There must be something about eating vegan because he looks about 15 years younger than his actual age! His wife, Cindy is a server and long time waiter, Chris, greets us by name whenever we're there. Next step for their menu is to add some more desserts. I highly recommend Vital Vegan Bistro--even if you're a meat eater!

Mixed experience. Amazing food but the service killed the overall experience. We drove from…read moreEastside and went around 1:30 pm on a Saturday. Placed an order. The food took an hour-- clearly understaffed. I was very hangry and frustrated but didn't say anything. The staff knew it and knocked off 50% off. They were kind and empathetic-- and that alone deserves 5 stars. Okay things happen! But just hoping these issues are resolved. The food was absolutely banging. The Cajun fries with the spicy Srirancha is a must order. Perfectly crispy thick cut fry with some magic seasoning on top makes us demolish this quickly. My friend got the Oxacan bowl-- what flavors. The rice, slaw, veggies, beans and the sauces were perfection in every bite. My Bahn Mi bowl was okay-- i found the sauces too vinegary so this one is on me. We got a salted pistachio shake which was delicious.

I had bought some cinnamon rolls at the farmers market from Shambala Ancient Grains because they…read morehad told me they were a tree nut free facility. When I got home to heat them up I was curious about the ingredients since they are also gluten free, and I am grateful I checked because they use almond milk in them. So I saved myself a trip to ER by checking the ingredients list but this is super concerning and frustrating as this is life threatening for me and others. I was told confidently and on the websites home page that this was a tree nut free facility, and definitely will not be purchasing again due to concern for dishonesty in what is in their products.

Did I want to spend 13+ on a loaf of bread (herb sourdough) no, was it the best piece of toast I've…read moreever had? 100% my kid also crushed his yellow sun shaped cookie.. I got a little nibble and it was delicious. Give this as a gift to your gluten free or vegan friend and you will be highly regarded!

I had visited Ocho a few years ago and really enjoyed the food so when I was in town, I had to go…read moreback! My boyfriend and I went around 2pm and it was empty, we were the only ones there (the first time I went, it was during dinner and it was packed). We weren't super hungry so we ordered a ginger ale, patatas bravas and the Croquetas Borrachas. Both tapas were great! The croquetas had a great flavor and the patatas bravas were one of the best we've had - the sauces were great. Can't wait to be back to try more tapas!

Ocho has a cool atmosphere and is a nice place for a drink and a small bite. Their food is…read moretapas-style shareables. We tried the Brócoli and the Dumplings, which were both pretty good. Someone at the table also got the Gambas al Ajillo, which they said was delicious. I tried a bomb pop drink and it was pretty good. Only knocking down a star because the cocktail prices were a bit steep, and they only had one server attending the entire restaurant. I felt for her, but it made the experience a bit slow.

Well I just came to Yaygit for a green juice, and it was probably the best I've ever had. I got…read morethe Super Green and added kiwi. Absolutely delicious and exactly what I needed. The prices are high but this is Seattle and it was what I expected to pay for something like this ($11). I can't speak to the food but what I saw people eating looked tasty. If you need a juice fix and don't mind splurging a little, I would highly recommend a stop.

All the tables were dirty and the cafe was empty when I arrived and remained so during my wait for…read moremy order. The restaurant looked antiquated and the kitchen area didn't look organized. The person who took my order also prepared my order. The soup was slimy and had a strange smell. The grilled cheese sandwich was soggy from the excessive sauerkraut on top and the size. The cheese was not fully melted and it was a very disappointing experience both texture and flavor-wise. I also got a tofu sandwich and it's literally raw tofu thinly sliced and looks absolutely anemic. I would never recommend this cafe to anyone due to the cleanliness, food quality, and lack of care for flavor.

Food made with the warmth and love of an Italian family kitchen paired with a menu that's not…read moreafraid to travel. Goose's Gambit is about to be Frelard's (border of Fremont and Ballard's) newest culinary opening. Taking up residence in the former tasting room of Hale's Ales, they hope to fill the void that the closing of Ronette's left further down Leary Street. I got a pre-opening tasting and can't wait to see this new bistro come to life. What can you expect? The Italian classics are as authentic as can be. Cold grey Seattle got you down: the Italian wedding soup will cheer you right up. Craving a sandwich on your way to the Ballard breweries: try one of the five modeled after the Florentine sandwich shop all the study abroad college students rave about. Need a creamy pesto gnocchi: you had best believe it is all handmade in house. What's unexpected? Before the anticipated opening at the end of January, the chef is experimenting with a larger selection of vegetarian and vegan options to round out the side of the menu not doused in Southern Italian red pepper flakes. Thai Curries, Miso Soups, and vegetarian patty burgers are expected to make the rounds on the menu card. If you find yourself in the Frelard area, Goose's Gambit will be worth a stop.

I've been waiting for a year to see what ELDR was all about. I had moved to Ballard from Snohomish…read morefollowing my heart for love and one of our first long day dreaming walks in the neighborhood we stumbled across a corner restaurant that seemed to have been cherished by the community and had a menu that spoke to my heart, almost as much as my soon to be and now wife. Fast forward to a year later and my bride surprised me on my birthday yesterday with an eagerly awaited indulgence. ELDR did not disappoint! The space was cozy, the staff was exactly what I wanted concerning passion and someone who you could share a drink with and talk industry for hours. I wish we would have done better documenting our selection but that just means we'll have to go back and eat our way through the menu! I wish I would have asked if the bread service had an half order. It's a great value and the charred Onion Compound butter was next level. We shared everything as I imagine the small menu was design to do and the potatoes were heavenly. I loved the grilled cabbage dish (undocumented) and the braised pork short ribs with the Meyer lemon bbq sauce was an amazing find. The seasonality is spot on and I hope the menu follows the weather. I can't wait to see what they do for hearty cold weather at the end of the year if that's how the chef's want to proceed.

I used to come to this space when it was Samara, so I was happy to see that Eldr appears to have…read morekept much of the same setup, including the oven, Argentinian-style grill, and even much of the interior design. That was a plus for me because I always loved the charred flavors Samara produced. We came as a group of six and tried a good portion of the menu. We first asked what was included in the tasting menu and were told it would be whatever the chef felt like making. When we asked what the chef felt like making that day, we still could not get an answer, which was a little strange. We ultimately decided to order à la carte. We had the albacore crudo and grilled squid, along with the charred potatoes, gem lettuce, and charred gai lan and mushrooms. For the larger dishes, we ordered the baked crab, duck confit baguette, steak for two, and pork chop. The amount of food was enough for all six of us, and the portion sizes were generally good, especially for the entrées. The steak was nicely sliced and cooked medium rare. The duck was slightly overcooked, but still delicious. The baked crab was somewhat like a rich mac and cheese topped with crab, although the portion felt a little small. It is difficult not to compare eldr with Samara because they share the same space and cooking equipment, even though I understand that they are completely different restaurants with different menus. Samara's menu was simpler and more vegetable-forward, and I felt it made stronger use of the charcoal grill and smoky, charred flavors. I would have liked to experience more of that at eldr as well. A heads up - A 22% service charge was automatically added to the bill, and the overall meal was on the pricier side. Still, the food was enjoyable, the portions worked well for sharing, and the space continues to have a lot of character.

Cool spot with some super healthy options!…read more We were greeted by a super nice server and were lucky to have some great weather to sit outside. We tried the "On the Wagon" and "Southern 'Not Fried' Chicken", both of which were great! If you're a coffee lover, a latte with their homemade syrup is a must get. Definitely will be coming back.

Staff friendly enough. Bowls were $20-$22. Lot of brown rice which seems undercooked. Beef bowl…read morewas salty. Both bowls did not have a lot of protein and the beef was shredded - a bit weird. Quiet as hardly anyone was here. Doubt we would come back again.

The food was amazing, with so many wonderful flavors! The service was superb, and Sage, our…read morewaitress, was absolutely wonderful. She was proactive, attentive, and made sure all of our needs were taken care of throughout our meal. We highly recommend this place! We had such a wonderful time tonight and a fantastic overall experience. We'll definitely be back! Must haves: garlic bread, burrata, and tuna dip for appetizers. Skirt steak, salmon, and mafaldine as sharesbles for the 3 of us. .

Food was spectacular. The pepperoni pizza is one of my favorite takes on a classic, and the beef…read morecheek tagliatelle was melt in your mouth with perfectly textured noodles. My only complaint is the portion size for the price. At $34, the pizza felt a bit small, and for just $2 less, the bowl of pasta was kid size. The quality was great, but the value felt a little off given the portions. If I came back, I'd probably skip the pastas and stick with the pizzas.