We were wandering around in the dark and happened upon Matthew's. We loved it! And how lucky for us…read morethat it was Happy Hour! Our wonderful server, Seth, immediately and proudly proclaimed (with smile) that they use premium liquors for all their Happy Hour pours (at a mere $5!) I ordered the Rosemary Gimlet from their Unique Cocktails list: House infused rosemary gin, fresh basil, lime juice, simple syrup--it was total perfection. Nate, our second server, joined in the fun as we toured the photos of young stars. Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, delicious drinks. A fun time was had by all!

Great drinks, well informed bartender, and great windows!…read more Mojito was fresh and minty, I tried the experimental lager/liquor cocktail (crystal mourning) and it was funky but good. I'd go back ‍

This place was, to say the least, unforgettable. I grew up in Bellingham but have never lived there…read moreas an adult. I visited Redlight on my dad's 62nd birthday. Not only were the cocktails delicious and intriguing, the food delectable, and the atmosphere spectacular. The service was beyond words. Anna was a wonderful server as well as a different server who helped when I asked for something, but additionally I spoke to a bartender who provided great recommendations for my father. When the food and drinks were served, my expectations were exceeded. In addition to all of the positive experiences, once we had closed out a customized birthday card signed by the entire staff was delivered to my dad. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND VISIT THIS RESTAURANT!

We had a really good experience at Redlight and I'm already looking forward to going back and…read moretrying more of the menu! First, the cocktail menu is fantastic. It's been a long time since I've seen one this creative and extensive. If I wasn't worried about falling over, I probably would have ordered one of everything . I had the Song of the Siren, which was a perfect balance of sweet and tart without being too sweet. I especially loved the hint of white balsamic vinegar. It was surprisingly strong though, so one was plenty! My husband had Le Tigre, which had guava, passionfruit, pineapple, lime and Thai chili tincture. It had just a touch of spice and a really interesting combination of flavors. We both loved our drinks. For food, we started with the ribs and then ordered the pork belly bao buns and the hot noodle dish. The ribs were cooked really well and had a wonderful crispy/fried texture, but they were very lightly seasoned. If you really want to taste the meat, you'll probably love them. For us, they could have used a little something extra. A couple of fun dipping sauces, maybe something like a honey gochujang, would have made them amazing. Our waitress, who was extremely friendly, told us the hot noodles are one of their favorites. They weren't quite for us. There was definitely lots of flavor, but the sauce was pretty rich and dense and the dish had a good amount of spice. We each had about a bite and ended up packing the rest to take home. It sounds like it's a popular dish though, so I think this one is probably just personal preference. The absolute highlight was the pork belly bao buns. I was a little worried pork belly might mean a lot of heavy fat, but these were much more meat-forward, with the perfect crispness around the outside. The flavors were phenomenal and the bao itself was perfectly cooked. Definitely order these! Overall, really good food, wonderful service and one of the most interesting cocktail menus I've seen in a long time. We'll definitely be back.

Connor is a genius! I told him I wanted a couple of n/a cocktails and that he could pick for me…read more(I'd like anything) or experiment on me. He chose the latter. OMG! Each used n/a spirits (n/a mezcal in the latter) and a symphony of sophisticated ingredients, which wish I tell you what. Each had a speared dried citrus slice and a luscious ginger bite (or something!) a top. The first had included honey, but it wasn't sweet--just complexified with a little snap to it that the honey smoothed; the second was a little sweeter in tone, including a bit of huckleberry along with the mezcal. (Connor might recall them by my play name for them. Inspired by a book in my hand on collecting meteorites, I nicknamed the first the "Extraterrestrial Visitor" and the second the "Heavenly Visitor.") They were so delicious I suggested he put them on the menu. If he does or doesn't, no matter. Just ask him if he has time to get creative for you. He'll ask you flavor tone preferences, or you can just go for whatever he wants to make, like I did. Again, he is excellent. I enjoyed my lovely drinks with a Caesar salad (another OMG!) which included crispy bacon bits and loads of tiny shreds of a delicious white cheese along with a creamy dressing. It was scrumptious as was the very lovely charcuterie plate. Pistachios, green apple slices, fat outstanding Castelvetrano olives (caution: with pits), a luscious pepper jelly that went beautifully dipped into with their choice of excellent crackers, delicately flavored salami and a prosciutto so elegantly-flavored it could make you weep. And it was lovely enjoying it all on their "porch" on a sunny day.

During a recent stay at the Fairhaven Village Inn (adjoining) we were excited about visiting…read moreGalloway's - based on the website's photos and posted menu. The place has potential but honestly disappointed. See photo below of the Hummus Platter. Really? Next came the "Baked Brie with Figs & Cherries" - which sounded delicious. No figs in sight - yes, a ramekin of baked brie with a bit of cherry in it, but... uninspired. We also ordered the Stuffed Potobello - and left most of it on the plate. Pros? It was close to our hotel, and has charming half-moon booths. Summary? Uninspired with potential.

Stopped by for a Saturday dinner with my wife. Street parking available though we walked from where…read morewe were staying. Not very busy though WWU is out for the summer. Seated promptly. Orfldered a margarita and coffee Martini. App was the queso which was excellent. Main was a Capri sandwich and a meatball sandwich , both with a side salad. Salads were fantastic. My meatball sandwich was okay, missing something. Capri sandwich I was told was good. Ambiance was nice, rustic and not too loud. Overall a good experience.

Eh. Food was ok. Nothing to write home about Service was…read moregreat. Bourbon tasted more whiskey than bourbon. Honestly, not worth it.

For date night this evening my wife and I decided to revisit The Elk Street Tavern in downtown…read moreBellingham. For those who are looking for a date spot with unbeatable ambiance and gourmet cuisine, The Elk Street Tavern should be your next date night destination. As soon as we sat down at their beautiful bar, the waitress and bartender were both very attentive and friendly. We both ordered cocktails off their seasonal cocktail menu. I had the East of Eden which was smooth and refreshing, but its flavor did not overpower that subtle bite of the gin. My wife ordered the Dream Girl. The combination of banana, raspberry and coconut tied together with smooth rum was so good we could have ordered several more. Our food arrived in a timely manner. The Elk Street Burger was first up. Elegantly simple with just bacon, cheese and heap of pickles with a medium rare all beef patty in-between a soft sesame seed bun. I do wish that the burger came with a toothpick through the center to keep everything together. The taste and texture of this burger was fantastic, but the real star of this dish was the frites. These jojo style potatoes had a fried crust with a crunchy texture that was almost indescribable. They also came with Elk Street's house sauce that is a mixture of mayo, mustard and bbq that gave my food a tangy kick of flavor that I will not soon forget! I would also recommend asking for their house made garlic chive sauce. It is so good! My wife's Prawn Roll was fresh and light. Chunks of prawn mixed with lemon aioli, celery, and chives stuffed in-between a toasted brioche bun. A great choice for anyone who is a fan of lobster rolls and is looking for a lighter dish bursting with flavor. Lemon wedges to garnish and a small bowl of potato chips on the side, this dish was a ten out of ten. Elk Street Tavern has a great vibe for a dinner date, or if you are just looking to sip on great cocktail at a classy bar. I will definitely be coming back again.

Elk St. Tavern is an upscale 21+ only bar with an amazing menu and an outstanding bar staff with…read moresome original drinks but no arrogance towards the classics. The Shepherds pie was delightful as well as the Scallops. I highly recommend for an intimate setting or meeting another couple for dinner. The setting is darker with some outdoor seating on busy State st.

After trying their Caprese Bruschetta, signature martinis and their burger sliders with crispy…read morekale, we haven't been able to stop going back. Atmosphere is great! Never busy when we go on a weekday around 7pm. Staff are so friendly and welcoming.

Ambiance is good. Martini was meh. Food was t made with the absolute cheapest ingredients…read moreavailable, and awkward. Like almost, but with weird ingredients like salad shrimp in the "gumbo" at least that's what they called it. It's a good location. Money could be made. Good ingredients done well isn't hard.

We're staying at Hotel Leo for our yearly Halloween Ball and this morning we were just looking for…read moresomething small for brunch before heading out. We walked by Amendment 21 and saw the jazz brunch menu and honestly it was perfect, didn't have to go out in the rain, thank god. The place wasn't busy which was nice, and it's got this cool old-timey vibe, like a classy prohibition bar but still comfy. There was a guy playing guitar live which totally fit the mood. Our waiter was great, super friendly and happy to go find answers for us when we asked questions. You could tell he actually cared. Hubby got the corned beef scramble and an orange juice and I got a coffee cocktail that was AMAZING. The best part was watching our server train the other staff on how to make my drink, so I got to lowkey eavesdrop on the whole process. Kinda fun! I also ordered a side of fruit and it was shockingly fresh, dragon fruit, orange, blueberries, like not sad hotel fruit at all. After my cocktail I wanted just a regular coffee and the server was awesome, he brought out coffee and fresh whipped cream and topped me off. Seriously such a small but amazing touch. Everything about it was just chill and cozy. Great service, fun vibe, and being able to charge it to the room was the cherry on top. We didn't even have to go outside in the rain. Total win.

DRINKS. HISTORY. A…read moreCHAT. RELAXING. 5-stars. PARKING Well, we stayed here, so parking was easy. But this is Bellingham - parking is easy everywhere. And it's Cornwall Ave - just walk here. SERVICE Orion L was THE BEST. We just got in and needed a post dinner drink, but also wanted to just take it in for a moment. Orion gave us menus and let us chill for a minute with our decisions - - but we still had questions... and got answers. DRINKS Great warm you up drinks and a comfy couch. This is what you want after a long drive up to Bellingham. Amendment 21 & Orion didn't disappoint! FOOD Apparently there's food here too? But it's Bellhingham. And why do I keep putting an extra "H" in Bellingham. Frick. There are some tasty spots around here to check out. LOCATION This is inside the lobby of a hotel. The hotel isn't remarkable from the street, but come in past a pair of elevators and into the dark hotel bar up the stairs. There are a few high tables and stools at the bar, but the key spots are the deep couches in the middle of the room. I completely forgot to look at the historic photos covering the walls of the bar. Apparently, there's a tour/escape-roomish thing that goes on in the hotel as well? Have fun.

the beer selection is crap! chuckanutt kolsch- crap…read morestems IPA- ok Larrabee Lager- crap terramar cider- seriously cider! wander IPA - absolute crap model- acceptably crappy Miller High Life- seriously! Heidelberg Lager- are you kidding me!

Super rude manager who cannot read an ID - refused service because my real ID didn't look real to…read moreher. Will not be going back & will not recommend to friends! Absolutely unwelcoming environment.

Yes, yes, yes! The staff from the moment we walked in, to ordering drinks, getting drinks and…read morechecking to see our satisfaction was on Point! The cocktails are as unique as the glasses they are served in. The drinks were 10/10. The vibe...like the name....it's fun and flows with a funky sexual fun vibe. Definitely will be back!

The staff is very welcoming and really care about your drinks and make sure you are enjoying what…read moreyou are having. The music is great, the staff are friendly and the drinks are Incredible! Highly recommend!!!

It's really hard to find cocktails under $10 anymore. The Orion is here serving up delicious and…read moreaffordable cocktails to Bellingham in style!!! I mean, look how cute my cocktail was??! When I went, most cocktails were $8. I was unfortunate enough to barely miss happy hour (5-7pm) when I went. During happy hour cocktails are $5 each. Other than the amazing deals for cocktails and snacks, the Orion is a very quaint and quirky bar. I love the space theme, vintage video games, small tables, and the separate more private room for larger parties. I saw some negative reviews about service. The night I went I was served by a very kind gentleman. He was slammed with a huge crowd and he handled it very well, and I didn't have to wait that long for my drink. I'll definitely be here again!

I've only had the opportunity to be here a few times so far, but it's always been such a genuinely…read morewonderful experience. Very fun room designs, great drinks, as well as incredibly sweet && helpful staff. I absolutely love it here, highly recommend! I'm hoping to return on a Wednesday next to enjoy more live jazz.