Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Olaf's

    4.2 (100 reviews)
    ModerateAmerican, Bars
    Open 3:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Olaf's Photos

    Business Info

    OLAF'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Olaf's

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    The front has that massive window that opens up. Fresh air for days!
    Carl N.

    Love this old bar. Formerly the Coppergate when I grew up in the area, the owners were smart enough to not change everything about the bar and leave it a bar! Just upgrading the quality of the alcohol and offering some food. I like that the bartender acknowledges your presence when you walk in or approach the bar even if they are busy and will get to you when they can. The quality of the pour is very good. Clean chilled taps. Large wall opens up to the outside. EASY PARKING!! I don't know if that parking and back, but there has always been street parking for me in that area so I can usually park very close if not right in front.

    Heather J.

    This place has a cool vibe. It's in an area of Ballard we don't get to often, but that means that parking is much easier than some other parts. The main room is a huge bar with lots of seating. They can open up the front so that you can get some breeze and enjoy a nice summer day. They also have food but we have yet to try it. What I like about this is the pinball rooms located in the back. There are a lot of games here, including a change machine. A couple times we've had the room entirely to ourselves. I first learned about this from a list of local pinball places and am glad I did. I might never have found it had I not read that article. Most games are 75 cents, but there are still a few 50 cent ones. My favs are Jaws and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If you are not in to pinball another thing that is nice about this place is that it seems like a separate place so the noise seems to not overpower those who are just trying to enjoy a drink at the bar.

    Alison H.

    Such a cool vibe...Corn dogs were a "tasty" treat Samuel Jackson would scarf... Friendly.Beer of the day was refreshing. Someone referred to this as a Dive Bar. Clearly that person hasn't been to a Dive Bar in North Idaho! Tunes were full-on. Ya'll gonna be satisfied fer sure...

    Exterior
    Erika M.

    Finally made it to Olaf's for a drink and a burger with tots. The burger and tots were well seasoned. I was so hungry that I failed to take a pic. I'd come back for more tots and to try the Philly Cheesesteak and Chicken sandwich. Both looked really good.

    Pup-friendly pub

    Pup-friendly neighborhood pub. Bartender brought over a container of treats while we enjoyed our drinks. Thanks!

    The doorway to the "V" Room
    Debbie P.

    We came here last night for my friend's 50th birthday celebration. It was held thru the anatomically correct vagina doorway, it gives a new meaning to "hole in the wall". The room itself was a throw back to the '50s '60s rat pack days. Plush red booths lined the room with tables and stools. The room also had a projection system. And there were velvet paintings of very voluptuous, naked ladies on the walls. It was a really cool, intimate room. Olaf's provided some pub grub for the party like sliders, veggies with dip, tater tots, and salad. All were decent enough and we had one server for the party, Cheeto (yup, that's his name), and he did an awesome job with the group!!! Opposite to the room was an area with pinball machines, too. Olaf's is a cool, neighborhood spot to grab a beer (or two), eat some pub grub, and watch the game. If this was in my hood, I'd be a regular... (even just to gaze at the vag doorway)

    Sauces

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ben K.
    7
    76
    0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    The Olaf's Burger was very tasty. Cooked to your liking. The tots good as well. Good beer on tap.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Funky pinball bar with delicious tater tots, great beer selection, and lots of seating. It's perfect.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Meh, captures it exactly. Better service, choices and prices are a short walk away. Too bad since I am not big on walking.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Stay away, I'm sure they will go out of business soon. Terrible service and very poor bar

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Because Stella works here you will enjoy your time here. She is genuine and attentive. Whatta gal

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of jk w.
    2
    29
    0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Terry W.
    68
    121
    1

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Really need to lower there beer prices .With 6 dollar short pints and so many other choices in Seattle for beers it'll be a tough go.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Olaf's

    Review Highlights - Olaf's

    The atmosphere, the chill customers and staff (it wasn't too crowded for a Saturday night, which was nice) the drinks, the vagina door.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for American 9,132 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Americano

    Americano

    4.4
    (120 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Still the best damn burger…read more I like a burger with no cheese no onions and with avocado. Also I like that there's usually Spanish television on.

    Decided to give this little hole in the wall joint a shot with my father. On a Sunday evening…read morearound 6PM we were one of the only folks in this place. A 10 top joint, this place is small, however there is a patio outside that also shares with another restaurant so that during the summer addition seating is available. We walked up to the counter and were pleasantly greeted by a young lady who took our order. My father ordered a bacon cheeseburger and I ordered the pastrami burger which was a cheeseburger with pastrami also on it. We also ordered onion rings and the Greek fries to share. We both had chocolate shakes. The food came out quickly, probably 10 mins or so. The shakes are hand done and mixed to order. DELICIOUS! Both of our burgers were juicy and delicious. All burgers have lettuce, onion, pickle and tomato. Several versions of burgers, sandwiches and salads available. The rings were to me perfect, well cooked and great breading. The Greek fries were also delicious, however, HEAVY GARLIC. Just be aware that your Vampire boyfriend will be repelled for hours!! I look forward to trying some of their other options the next time.

    Photos
    Christmas decor (taken Dec 2022)
    Christmas decor (taken Dec 2022)
    Bacon Cheeseburger
    Bacon Cheeseburger
    From the back window seat, more seating to the side and in an elevated area

    See all

    From the back window seat, more seating to the side and in an elevated area
    Eldr

    Eldr

    4.4
    (26 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Steak for two
    Steak for two
    Eldr

    See all

    Outsider BBQ & Beer Garden

    Outsider BBQ & Beer Garden

    4.2
    (174 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    Lets start with the important part, the food! It was delicious! I am from Kansas City, Missouri…read moreand finding good bbq on the west coast has been a challenge. Outsiders has a solid smoky, flavorful bbq for sure! I had the burnt ends which were pleasantly fatty, as they should be. The fries were crispy and not greasy. And the bread was golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The sauce is probably more southern... which is fine. In KC it sweeter... but the important part is the meat. Do this! Go here! Try it! We will be back. Seating was great, spacious..indoor and outdoor seating. Clean and like dining in the back yard. The staff was very kind and the wait was not long...and they were very busy since we came on July 4th.

    Our family ordered the "big tray". We ordered macaroni & cheese and the collard greens for sides. I…read morefeel if you're not local, you won't be impressed. The meat was greasy, bland, and cold. The owner stopped and talked to my friend, while I was greeted with a scowl, and eye roll. I'm not sure if my family and I weren't welcome as he continued the behaviors the duration of our meal. They are high volume, so have your order ready with few question. They don't like that. Come early, prepare to joust for seating. We spent ~$160 (family of 5), I'll stay agnostic on value, as this is a labor intensive dish. I think better can be had elsewhere.

    Photos
    (10/4/25)
    (10/4/25)
    Beef rib (IG: hangryforwhat)
    Beef rib (IG: hangryforwhat)
    Brisket, rib, pork belly, sausages, beef cheek, collard green.

    See all

    Brisket, rib, pork belly, sausages, beef cheek, collard green.
    The Ballard Cut

    The Ballard Cut

    4.4
    (326 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$$

    One of the best whiskey bars in Seattle with a huge selection at reasonable prices and a great…read morecustom flight program! Every custom flight is tailored to your specific taste and price point which I love. Hannah, one of their whiskey curators, is super knowledgeable and created one of the most memorable bourbon flights I've ever had with super rare allocated stuff. The service here is extremely friendly. I was speaking with Hannah about what I wanted in my flight and shared my wish list. Based on that, she chose 4 esoteric bottles that each had their own characteristics that would be interesting to compare against one another. My flight consisted of the Pappy Van Winkle 23 years, Colonel EH Taylor Distiller's Council, Very Olde St. Nick Superfreak, and Wild Turkey Austin Nichols 16 years. It was super nice trying all of these rare bottles that I wouldn't even be able to find, and they were all interesting and delicious! The food here is also fantastic. We came during happy hour since the food is a lot cheaper. My favorite things were the Dry Aged Steak Frites and the Crispy Pork Belly. The steak was cooked perfectly and extremely tender with a great beefy flavor. I love a good french fry and these were fresh and crispy. The pork belly was tender and fatty but the fat was nicely rendered so it wasn't chewy. I love the Asian inspired flavors and the kimchi slaw provided the perfect acidity and freshness to complement the fatty pork belly.

    Very bad food! I went with my family of four. Every single…read moredish was bad. I don't understand how they got over 4* but I fell for that mistake and expected a fine dinner. Bread and butter, bread crust is over cooked and supper dry. Butter dip : the garlic had burned flavor and the vinegar in it was a bit too unpleasant. Pork belly very under cook and chewy. Clam was okay. Water: I took a sip of my cup and instantly spit it back into the cup, taste like fishy or eggy or disgusting unwashed cup ... Main dishes: supper disappointing steak , supper chewy , not pleasant experience at all for a $200+ single order Pork chop, the sauce was interesting but it was also very chewy and nothing special. We spend over $340 and if it was as low as $20 we would never go back and try it again. I strongly recommend you to not go there for food. Very disappointing and low quality food, nothing as it is rated

    Photos
    Main dining area.  There's outdoor seating.
    Main dining area. There's outdoor seating.
    Dry Aged Steak Frites
    Dry Aged Steak Frites
    Outside signage

    See all

    Outside signage
    The Little Beast

    The Little Beast

    4.3
    (40 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    The next time I was here, I made sure to get here incredibly early to get the lamb neck korma pie…read more I made a reservation at 5:30 to guarantee it. Based on availability, I probably could've walked in around an hour later and been fine, but didn't want to risk it since they only make like 30 in a day. To my great surprise, the dish came out just a couple minutes after ordering. It seems like the pie is already pre-made and they just pour korma over the top before serving. The server assured me that one would be for one person, so we each got one. From the moment it's presented, this looks like nothing you've seen before. The colors of the beige korma washing over the sturdy brown pastry is just a visually striking image. What's even crazier is there's so much that's obscured by this initial plating - things that you find out as you dig into the dish. After the first layer of pastry, the dish descends into a massive layer of lamb neck meat. And when I say massive, I mean the meat is so densely packed together into this pie you're left wondering how they fit so much into what's not a big shell diameter-wise. So, how is everything? It's amazingly good, at least for the first 3/4ths of the meal. I have to start with the pie crust, or the pastry shell, which is just perfect. The way it retains its shape, refusing to break down until real pressure is applied, is ridiculous. The texture is incredibly sturdy, and the taste is phenomenal. No matter what was placed inside this crust I would still enjoy it. It's crunchy, buttery, the inside wall is flaky, and the absolute highlight here. The korma is also very good. While certainly a westernized version of the sauce, lacking any spiciness and turning way more on the sweet side, it's still got enough flavor to be a great complement to the main pie. I do think a more acidic and spicy would've help offset the fattiness of the center item, but this sauce was still delicious on its own. Lastly, the lamb neck was great. Super fatty, of course, but braised to perfection, resulting in meat that's tender and melt in your mouth. Like I mentioned, there's an insane portion of meat here. Of course, this is all great until about 2/3 to 3/4th through the pie, where you begin to really feel the effects of an insane overload of fat. I can eat a lot of food, but this really started to wear on me. Here's where I have some slight issues - I think a) the inability to counteract the fat present and b) the amount of lamb neck needs to be toned down a bit, as ironic as asking for less meat might sound. One might have the attitude that if they're paying so much, might as well give them the most meat possible - but in my opinion, the best dishes are truly about balance. And when you can't expect someone to eat a dish and feel good about it afterwards, that's not the hallmark of a great dish. This could've been avoided if the server had mentioned that one pie could be split between two people, but that's not what she recommended. This resulted both me and my companion not finishing the meal, which I absolutely hate to do, but I was left with no choice in this case. The other part is the price. Each pie cost $50 each, which is a significant amount. Additionally, there was a 22% automatic tip even for a party of two, which is just way too high. The server didn't even tell us about this automatic tip which resulted in unintentionally tipping more on the tip pad. I would not hesitate to refer to this restaurant as overpriced. Overall, it's a truly inventive dish that's one of my favorite things I've eaten in Seattle, but the price and portion complicate things slightly. 9/10

    We popped in for the new breakfast service at Little Beast - offered on weekends in the…read moremorning/before noon. There is no online sample menu for LB's breakfast that I was able to track down, so from memory they are currently offering: the English Breakfast (standard size), the Full English (which is 2x the English - pics included in post for comparison), steak and eggs, a biscuit breakfast sandwich, the Scotch egg (same as the one on the dinner menu), and an assortment of smaller plates (Bubble & Squeak, English muffin with rhubarb jam, porridge with fixings, etc.). They are also serving Bloodies and a variety of N/A beverages. Overall, we liked the English options - the standard size is plenty of food for the average appetite. I did not care for how strong the warming spices were in the black sausage; the spices were the predominant flavor - I like to taste the minerally undertones of the other ingredients. That's just a personal preference though! Bubble & Squeak was very tasty - a fun vegetarian option, or a good side for the table to share.

    Photos
    The Little Beast
    Fries
    Fries
    Lamb Neck Korma Meat Pie & Korma Gravy with Fermented Turnips

    See all

    Lamb Neck Korma Meat Pie & Korma Gravy with Fermented Turnips

    Olaf's - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...