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    Loretta's Northwesterner

    4.2 (698 reviews)
    ModerateDive Bars
    Closed • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Loretta's Northwesterner Photos

    Business Info

    LORETTA'S NORTHWESTERNER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Loretta's Northwesterner

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    Ribeye was A+
    Nicole Q.

    Insanely delicious ribeye! Buttery juicy flavorful cut of steak! The loaded baked potato could really be served on its own - it's that good. Even the veggies were excellent! Their burger is said to be good but I haven't tried it yet. Guess I'll have to return soon!!

    Fish & chips
    Eljay C.

    I came here for lunch w/ a coworker and came on a Friday. I wasn't able to eat a burger since I can't eat on Friday's so I feel like I'm missing out on this review. Instead I got the fish and chips. I thought they were meh. Next time I'll come back for the burger that everyone is raving about. Other than the food I thought the service was fast and ambiance felt very chill.

    Tavern burger and fries
    Wennie H.

    The burger hit SO hard, so good. Just what I needed. The fries were extra good- solid mix of soggy and crisp. Super busy at 1pm on a Friday afternoon.

    Tavern Burger with Bacon and Fries
    Adam R.

    This is a great place! The food is good, they have lots of beverage options and it's 21 and over, so no kids is always a good thing when enjoying your lunch or dinner. They even have breakfast items! Seating is kind of limited, although they do have the patio area but if it's raining, only a few of the seats are dry. The burgers are good and the fries are also good. I got to try their soup of the day, which was a Guinness and cheese! Love me some beer cheese soup and this didn't disappoint. If you are in the area or want to get a good burger, check them out!

    Beer and cheese soup of the day
    Vinh M.

    Okay, the burgers here actually hit... I came here with a friend and fellow Yelp Elite on a Friday noon around 12pm on a very rainy day and a very dim-lighted but bustling inside bar area that was jam-packed expect for the heated outside patio. It actually makes the inside feel very intimate despite it being a bar and therefore really noisy. We ordered our food at the front bar and luckily got seating near one of their ceiling heat lamps at the outside patio. I got their tavern burger for $7 and a side of fries for $6, while I tried some of my friend's soup of the day that was infused with beer and cheese. It's such a simple smash burger, and it's pretty small too but how does it pack so much heat and flavor though? It only really has cheese and pickles and onions and it somehow was one of the best things I've tasted. The beer cheese soup was also a hit for my taste buds even though I'm not into alcohol. Not much on service here though, since my friend and I ordered, ate, and asked for to-go boxes very quickly with minimal exposure to the servers as they were very busy inside. I later realized many of my friends have already went here, and have also only great things to say about here, almost echoing the words I've said in this review. That's how solid this place is, and I'd be down to come back here!

    Tavern Burger
    Albert T.

    One of the dishes I miss after moving to Seattle from the Midwest is the humble tenderloin sandwich. A giant plate-sized piece of pork, pounded flat, breaded and deep fried? Yes please. After finding out about Loretta's Northwesterner, which is basically the only place in Seattle that serves tenderloin sandwiches, we made it a priority to visit on a surprisingly rainless and cloudless February winter weekend. Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich ($18) - That's the stuff. A perfectly fried and breaded tenderloin, easily 3 or 4 times the size of the almost vestigial bun, topped high with veggies (on the side, of course, to assemble to taste). It's a very respectable size, larger than many places I've visited in Indiana and Iowa. Thick breading encrusts a perfectly cooked tenderloin, allowing a hard crispy shell to develop, while the interior meat, pounded flat, remains tender yet moist. Both the breading and pork are liberally seasoned with salt, pepper, and spices, which creates a well seasoned bite. They include tons of romaine, red onion, tomatoes, and tangy pickles - with everything in place, I almost had to unhinge my jaw to eat the sandwich. The bottom bun is slathered with an ungodly amount of mayo. It's necessary to add more creaminess and fat to the relatively lean meat. The one qualm I have that prevents me from anointing this sandwich the best in the west: the bun. While toasted on all sides, it's dry and kind of crumbles apart while eating. Otherwise, this sandwich is excellent and easily competes with the many pork tenderloins I've eaten in the Midwest. (5/5) Fries ($6) - A $6 basket comes with a generous portion of freshly fried potatoes. The fries are skin on, which basically makes these crisp starchy sticks a health food. I found them to be fried a bit too far, rendering the interiors fluffy but dry. They have good crisp exteriors, though, and aren't overly salted. (4/5) Tavern Burger ($7) - Loretta's is actually more famous for their burgers than the tenderloins, with many publications in Seattle claiming they serve the best in the city. People often recommend getting the Double Tavern Burger, but we opted for the single given that we were planning on a couple of stops for desserts and pastries afterwards. For a full meal, I'd definitely want to upgrade to the double - the single isn't that large, probably comparable to a cheap fast food burger with a slightly larger patty. The beef is heavily charred in flavor, lending a great smoky aroma and a beefy bite. It's cooked well done, so the entirely of the burger is the same brown color, but there's more than enough moisture coming from the other ingredients to offset the dryness of the beef. There's a requisite slice of melted American cheese on top and plenty of fatty mayo-based secret sauce underneath, dressing a bunch of chopped onion and sliced pickle. The tanginess from the pickle balances out the fat and meat quite well. I'm not sure I'd call the burger the best in the city, but it's certainly pretty good. (4/5) I don't eat at dive bars very often, but I'd definitely return to Loretta's for the tenderloin sandwich. It's not a dish commonly found in the PNW and the fact that Loretta's rendition is actually really good, is a boon to the city. Bathrooms - Two tiny unisex rooms

    Hand cut fries
    Anthony R.

    "A neighborhood outpost where drinking is a priority, but also happens to have a really good burger" not sure there is a better slogan than that! Loretta's is a very unique dive bar. Had 90s rap bumping which I was not expecting but loved. The bartender was very friendly and helpful. I liked that you could order at the counter and then they will bring you the food. Overall everything was good but there were a couple minor things that took away a 5 star review. To start the burger looked a little sad. I tried to get the best angle of it in my picture but didn't look great still. It was tasty though. The breaded pork loin was extremely crispy and absolutely massive. It was very tasty but slightly salty for my liking. There was also way too much mayo put on the bottom bun. The hand cut fries were extremely crispy and by far our favorite part of the meal. Overall Loretta's was good and we enjoyed our visit.

    Loretta lemonade
    Wendy K.

    Tried going to Loretta's a couple years ago on a Friday afternoon. It was packed but we decided to wait in line to order. Sadly the customers right in front of us were told there was a 15 minute hold on orders so the kitchen could catch up. We couldn't wait but I respected that they do that and are up front about telling customers. the bartender that day was one of the ones I saw today. Wish I got her name cause I was just impressed watching her today as I was when I first tried to order. Both bartenders were friendly and organized ran the bar well and communicated well with the kitchen. We were there around 1:15 and had gotten in right before things got busy in a second afternoon wave. Dad and my brother had the double tavern I had the regular tavern. We split an order of fries which were generous. It's a great deal for the price the buns are nicely toasted there is limited toppings which is actually smart so you can taste the great char on the burger. We also had two ice teas and a Loretta Lemonade. We heard the fish and chips are good from our visit at Little Jaye's after from one their staff so you know we'll try that next time!

    This is an excellent Scuttlebutt Amber Ale. My next brew was a  delicious Lucille. So good!
    Samuel M.

    Loretta's Northwesterner still has it! I'm drinking a delicious Amber Ale from one of my hometown brewers. The guy behind the bar is a big ol' badass! The other front of house guy, kind of a more wiry guy named Brian with a hysterical t-shirt, is cool AF too. The beer selection remains extraordinary! I just spotted a Lucille grapefruit that's a favorite of one of my sweet Aunt's. That'll be my next beer, guaranteed! Here's to you, Aunt Dee! Cheers to Loretta's Northwesterner and the great people who make it iconic!

    Shao-Lon Y.

    Amazing neighborhood bar with a super local vibe and cheap delicious food! This tavern was definitely made to serve the community, but word got out about the amazing food and it's super popular now. The popularity is well deserved with the craft rotating taps and $7 burgers. The highlight of this place is definitely the tavern style burgers. The most simple burger is only $7 so a step up from Dick's but still won't break the bank. The burger is juicy and has a nice smoky charbroiled flavor. The bun is soft and the toppings are minimal which is reminiscent of other fast food burgers. If you're not feeling a burger, the other food options are great as well. The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is delicious but pretty unwieldy to eat. The pork tenderloin is crispy on the outside but juicy and tender on the inside. It's huge, delicious, and super messy. The chili fries are also pretty good. The hand cut fries are fresh and the chili is meaty and rich.

    Irish Nachos
    Jeremiah M.

    My friend and I spent our Friday night at Loretta's Northwesterner after hearing many positive comments about the place. I've been to a few bars before, but this was my first time at a tavern - safe to say that Loretta's has inspired me to try more of them. Walking in you'll find a decent-sized bar section to the left and booth seating to your right. The setting was dimly-lit making it feel more intimate and comforting. But as you walk down the hall you'll enter into an outdoor patio area with seating. Most of top is uncovered where you can watch the moon glisten and airplanes pass by as they leave/enter SeaTac. In the middle section it'll have a covered area with heat lamps hovering over - I did wish there was more heat lamps in we sat at since it was a cold night. Both my friend and I ordered the $7 Tavern Burger. There's only a few words I can say - FANTASTIC! Absolutely a great burger to accompany your evening with drinks. It's just a simple burger, described by the menu as charbroiled beef with melted cheese wrapped up in toasted buns with pickles, onions, and their special sauce. It's not a big burger and left me wanting more, so when I come back I'll definitely get their Double Tavern (double patty) If you're with a group or even just with another friend, I HIGHLY recommend the Irish Nachos. They're fries that are dressed like a baked potato (cheese, bacon, onion, sour cream). While it was only the two of us demolishing this large plate, it felt like I ate as much of the fries as I did with the burger. Definitely a side for sharing. Beer here is good, I don't remember which ones we ordered but my friend loved the one he got. All in all you could say we enjoyed our time here at Loretta's and we plan to come back soon with our other friends, even if it is across the other end of town for us. Will be back real soon!

    Dave Y.

    Parking in the back. Pretty busy on a Friday lunch break, but they were very efficient and got the food out quickly. Fish and chips with the crisp beer batter and perfect fries was killer!

    Bar
    Ryan B.

    Great spot. Best smash burger in Seattle. Really good service and vibes. Fish and chips are also very good for being beer battered. Never had a bad meal.

    Double tavern burger and fries. It's smaller than I thought, but money. I guess the size of a dicks deluxe.

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    6 months ago

    Great burgers and service!! Sat outside and the heat lamps kept me warm. Love how the glasses are chilled for drafts

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - Loretta's Northwesterner

    Are children allowed?

    No, they only allow customers who are 21+

    Do you take reservations?

    We do not

    Do they have outdoor heaters by chance?

    No. There is a wood burning stove. Which they lit for us.

    Are kids allowed on the patio?

    It's 21+ only.

    Is the place Dog friendly?

    Dogs are not allowed

    Are they open for take-out during covid? Also, can you fill growlers?

    Yep! open and delicious as always :) Take out and patio dining outside, first come first serve. I'd just been visiting again only a couple weeks ago.

    Hows the parking?

    Good. There’s a lot in the back that’s easy to park in.

    Do you have A/C?

    No, but it's very cool and dark inside on a Summer day.

    How late is the kitchen open?

    11pm Sun-Mon, Midnight Tues-Sat

    View All 11 Questions

    Review Highlights - Loretta's Northwesterner

    “Atmosphere: 6/5 Many things in Seattle are quite expensive, this tavern burger is worth the $7.”

    Mentioned in 87 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Loretta's Northwesterner - divebars - Updated September 2026

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