we stayed at the Palladium, which is the hotel attached to this restaurant, & they offer breakfast…read morevouchers for the chase sapphire reserve for part of their amenities- which gave us plenty of meals through shaker + spear. every morning we were so grateful to have delicious, well done breakfast to get our day started! every entrée that we had was really good, solid breakfast food that included coffee & juice. We had a mix of classic breakfast foods like omelettes, french toast and benedict- but our personal fave was the salmon benedict as well as the banana foster french toast!! I have to say, the food was pretty good- nothing super out of the ordinary, but the service is what blew us away. The wait staff was extremely professional, prompt & friendly. Our favorite server was Alexis, he made every breakfast feel like we were having one at home with a friend. The manager, hosts & servers were all amazing people who genuinely just want you to have a good meal. I really admire any restaurant that can truly make it feel like home. Thanks to Shaker + Spear for being amazing for our trip in Washington- will 100% be back!!

Nice and easy restaurant attached to a hotel. Service was rather slow this evening as there was…read moreonly one cook in the kitchen. It's nice to watch the staff cook because it tells you that the food is fresh. I have high expectations for seafood in Seattle. However, I was disappointed with the scallops as it tasted raw and cool to the touch in the center. I'm not a scallop expert but this one missed the mark - the flavors were off with the sauce (tasted earthy). Presentation and color looked good, but this didn't taste good. Also came here breakfast several times. I don't have pictures, but each time the breakfast was amazing!

Next level food. Never missed the mark. Long wait but worth it. My whole family loved it. Wish they…read morehad a location in California!

Sebastian was an amazing host, guided me through the order. Excellent food and atmosphere.read more

Went during happy hour, the drinks were totally reasonable and so delicious we had to order a…read moresecond round. The bread service was also a standout. Above all our server, Sassy, was the best! So funny, attentive, and friendly. We felt super taken care of and really comfortable because of her presence. Will be back not only because of the great food, but because of her! Highly recommend.

I believe The Ballard Cut seamlessly pairs culinary prestige with a warm, neighborhood atmosphere…read more My appreciation for their kitchen began a few years ago in their previous, smaller Ballard footprint, where I experienced one of my absolute favorite bites of food in the city. Remarkably, it was a side dish--a testament to how Chef Rachael treats every single component on the plate with meticulous care. When community members ask for recommendations that deliver both an exceptional meal and an outstanding beverage program, this is always the first destination I suggest. The menu beautifully balances signature cuts of steak with a thoughtful understanding that other proteins matter, offering expertly prepared chicken, fresh fish, and dedicated vegan main options. I truly believe "the bites" and "the sides" are equally treated as stars, and I always go back for the seasonal salad and crispy potatoes. The beverage program is equally legendary, offering an extraordinary opportunity to try rare whiskies from all over the world and different eras, where every single pour carries its own unique story. When I brought my partner in for his birthday, the owner asked a few questions of his whiskey interests, and customized a flight for him. It is a nicer, upscale restaurant that remarkably retains a deeply grounded community feel, and in my experience local recurring guests are remembered with genuine hospitality.

We came here for dinner. Restaurant was nearly EMPTY but got seated in a box near the back. We…read morerequested to move to a table by the window but hostess said something like the server doesn't serve there!?? we were like, what? Our server came and asked him if we could move, he went to ask the hostess for a while and came back and moved us to a nice table. What was wrong!?? Ambience is important. We got a bottle of nice champaigne. Everything was great!! One of the memorably tsaty food ever.

I read amazing reviews and we were excited to give it a try…read more The room is beautiful, looks and feels every part a French bistro. The restaurant was half full and we were seated at a lovely 2 top. Our server was efficient. We were in time for HH. We ordered smoked fish and potato croquettes, chicken quenelles, and a non-HH pan seared halibut. The croquettes were fine, but bland, the quenelles were also bland but in a good tarragon sauce. The halibut was dry and bland and served with woody asparagus and a fairly bitter sauce. Bland was a theme that came through everything, as was small portion size. HH options I can understand, but the halibut from the regular menu was also quite small. If you're coming here to drink wine in a pretty room, I guess this is your place.

I came with my husband for a personal celebration of a life event. I researched the experience I…read morewanted - intimate, chef owner led, fresh/sustainable and landed on Violet. It was just exactly what I wanted. I've seen other reviews say that the time between courses was too long, but most other places, I feel rushed. It was perfect...enough time to appreciate each course. I felt taken care of by our waiter through the night, food was perfect and having Chef come over to discuss our experience really topped it off. The ambiance was also perfect...quiet/ intimate/comfortable. Xoxo

2026 Seattle. New American…read more 5-course American Omakase Included: Battered oyster Maine Sea Scallop, Baby Carrots, Leek, Carrot Puree Local Steelhead, Brown Butter Cauliflower, Miso Grilled New York Steak, Potatoes Foresiere, Herbed Butter Chocolate mousse Overall, interesting format. "I'm a fan."

My coworker and I had some time to kill in Seattle before our flight home and were told that The…read morePink Door was a great place to check out, so we decided to give it a try for lunch. The place is definitely a little tricky to find, and the door itself isn't quite as pink as you might expect! But once we found it, we were lucky enough to get a table for two on a Saturday without much trouble. We each had a drink, and I ordered the linguine alle vongole. It had a generous amount of clams and was really delicious. The food was excellent, the service was great, and the atmosphere was even better. I'm sure this place gets especially fun in the evenings when they have live music and entertainment, although I imagine getting a table is considerably more difficult then. Honestly, I'm glad we experienced it for lunch because it was a great way to spend some time before heading to the airport. Overall, really glad we stopped in. Great food, great service, and a really cool atmosphere. We definitely lucked out getting a table, and I'd happily come back the next time I'm in Seattle. Five stars!

The food at this restaurant was delicious, I'm not surprised it's so hard to get a reservation!…read moreHowever, the portions are quite small, so be prepared to need an appetizer in addition to the entree. I got the popular lasagna, and it was so good but very small. The cioppino was the perfect size and the bread it came with was perfect for dipping. So delicious, I highly recommend! The cake was kinda hard so not the biggest fan, it did taste good but it didn't seem as fresh as it could've been and it didn't really taste like basil.

This restaurant usually specializes in steak and other Pacific Northwestern proteins, but I went…read morehere for the happy hour for their $12 Butcher Burger. Happy hour is daily 4-6pm but all day Monday, bar seating area only. Plenty of seating, plenty of parking in an unpaved lot, or accessible by the 5 bus. The menu uses a lot of strong ingredients that sound like it would turn away picky eaters - blue cheese, anchovies, balsamic, pickles, etc, and I frankly don't like blue cheese, but all the ingredients they use, they do it well. Just order and don't think too much about the specific ingredients, or be open-minded! I got the Butcher Burger which is soooo flavorful - I love the caramelized onions and how juicy the patty is. I also got the Fistful of Dollars cocktail which was also $12 - gin, basil, Chareau aloe, lime. This was so smooth to drink and looks elegant. Service is great - the bartender checked up on me a few times and proactively refilled my water, making sure my water is almost always full. If you want to make a visit for the burger, definitely recommend going on the earlier side because it is limited quantity. Even though it is 1 per guest per visit, still go early. I was there and of the 5 parties that got seated, I think almost everyone each got the burger, so definitely a hot item!!!

Outstanding Happy Hour & Incredible Vibe! It's been a while…read moresince I had such an amazing Happy Hour experience! We booked a table in advance to catch an early bite, but the Happy Hour menu looked so good that we decided to sit at the bar instead. We ordered the Tuna Tartare, Clams, Pork Ribs, Grilled Eggplant, and Fennel Pickles from the Happy Hour menu, plus the Roasted Olives with extra Sourdough Bread from the main menu. Honestly, every single dish was delicious. The absolute highlights for me were the olives, tuna, pickles, and the sourdough!Here's a quick breakdown of what we had: Sourdough & Herb Butter: Absolute perfection. Crisp on the outside, chewy and moist on the inside. The herb butter was heavenly! Roasted Olives: The ultimate cocktail pairing. Tuna Tartare: The addition of cucumber made it taste so fresh and vibrant. Fennel Pickles: So addicting--I'm still thinking about them! Pork Ribs: Loved the Gochujang (Korean chili paste) sauce, which felt familiar and comforting. The flavor was great, though it had a slight pork aroma that might appeal more to those who enjoy a richer meat flavor. The cocktails were fantastic across the board. Now I completely understand why this place was constantly packed--unbeatable prices, top-tier food quality, and excellent service. Finding great food always sets the mood for a perfect day, and this place definitely made my day!

Lovely atmosphere and definitely a "happening" spot, so I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking…read morefor a quiet dinner. The guac and chips were good, although the chips were very salty. We ordered Bombay Sapphire martinis with olives, but the bar made them dirty martinis, so we had to send them back and so we waited a long time to ever get our first drink. The burrata starter was okay, but probably not something I'd order again. That said, the ahi dinner was fantastic and definitely the highlight of the meal. Our server was also very pleasant and attentive throughout the evening. Overall, a good 4-star experience.

Alder & Ash restaurant is located in the Sheraton hotel in downtown Seattle. They serve three meals…read morea day and have a cocktail bar. We went there for dinner late on a Saturday night, making reservations through Open Table. The restaurant wasn't very crowded. I liked the decor and our attentive waiter. I ordered the fish and chips and my sister ordered an A&A burger. My food was just okay-- it lacked flavor. My sister enjoyed her burger. I don't think I would return for dinner, but I had their breakfast buffet the next morning and it was very good, although pricey. I'd definitely go back for that. They offered lots of delicious fruit like watermelon and red grapes that I enjoyed very much. Good French toast, too.

Came with one of my girlfriends, I rarely come to this area so this was a nice find. I'd say this…read moreis a great spot to bring the girls for brunch or dinner, beautiful drinks - and tasty non-alcoholic bevies! We shared everything - I missed taking a pic of their green salad, and this was a good portion for us both. She took home the leftover potates! The tartare was okay - I love tartare so for someone who has a preference, this landed in the intro/standard area. The salad was big and overall pretty standard as well. The potatoes were not my vibe personally - while I like dijon/grey mustard, there was quite a bit on these. I'm also not a potato person. The BEST part was definitely the mushroom agnolotti - it reminded me of a dish i got at a capital hill restaurant, Cornelly's. The sauce was incredible and salty, the filling was delish. My only thing was that the dried mushrooms on top were a little big and dry for me, that being said, i'd still get this again! I think the aesthetic of this place was great, behind us was a table of girlfriends celebrating something, and I just think girls brunch or small bridal celebration of sorts would be so cute here.

How I heard of this place: Not having realized how long the establishment has been around, some…read morefriends suggested we give it a go for our Taste Buds Dinner Club, and we made it happen. Type of cuisine: "We never tire of talking to our guests about how we got our quirky name. Inspired by two British drinking terms, Brimmer & Heeltap seeks to celebrate the moments that exist between the first sip of one's libation and the last drops lingering at the bottom of the glass. Since late 2013 we've delighted in creating an environment that is inviting, lively, and comforting. A sense of playfulness is present in everything we do, from the inventive dishes our culinary team prepares, to the friendly, genuine hospitality we provide. We're a bistro that takes pride in being a neighborhood place - the kind you can escape to at day's end for a delicious meal shared among friends." Ambiance: "Located in the former Le Gourmand space in beautiful Ballard, Brimmer & Heeltap offers an intimate, cozy atmosphere complete with an open kitchen, full bar, and multiple sections to drink and dine in. Our garden patio is one of the best-kept secrets in the city, offering a dreamy place to dine outdoors during Seattle's spring and summer months. We also have a tucked-away back studio that offers the perfect setting for special, private gatherings year-round. Just how many pennies does it take to cover a floor? Just ask Brimmer & Heeltap's proprietress Jen who collected tens of thousands of them from family, friends, and the community to help execute the vision of a cool gathering placed dubbed, naturally, the "Penny Room." This dining room, beloved for both its wall of menus and its shining penny floor, is a favorite place to break bread with loved ones, and plays into the restaurant's blend of nostalgic and contemporary design. The restaurant was designed in collaboration with Sean Sifagaloa of KRFTWRK and local builder Mike Marian, owner of Marian Built. Light, texture, metal, wood, and floral elements are all at play here. This historic building possesses a playful, familiar charm that we wanted to preserve in its latest incarnation." What I ordered: Wishing to sample a little of everything, we were served, family style, two orders of Bread ($9 each) - buttered with salt and pepper; Fritto Misto ($12) - assorted, lightly fried and pickled vegetables with tarragon aioli; Smashed Burrata ($19) - snap peas, preserved lemon, mint, basil, sherry reduction; Carrot & Tahini Dip ($16) - caramelized garlic, feta, pistachio, crudite; two orders of Heirloom Tomatoes ($21 each) - melon, chevre, crispy quino, soft herbs; Crispy Potatoes ($16) - whipped feta, hot honey, mint; Mushroom Agnolotti ($34) - roasted maitakes, chanterelles, whipped ricotta, miso butter, thyme; Roast Chicken ($42) - chickpea, berbere yogurt, marinated cucumber, mint gremolata. To finish off our meals, we shared the Olive Oil Cake ($14) - basil yogurt cremeux, strawberry gel, and the Chocolate Tiramisu ($16) - mascarpone, rum, amaretto, candied hazelnuts. What I loved: Oh man, every dish was delightful. I found something to savor and repeat in each of the dishes we were served. From the sweetness of the heirloom tomatoes, to the creamy burrata, from the crispy potatoes, to the fresh peas and everything in between. Our least favorite, at the table was the mushroom Angnolotti, inconsistent from bite to bite. The presentation of the Carrot & Tahini dip was a bit haphazard compared to the rest of the dishes served, but the flavor was still lovely. Why I loved it: The service was unparalleled, comfortable yet professional and quick to offer recommendations for our larger party. The decorations and quaint spaces truly welcoming, and the food, excellent. Cost: High ($40+ per person)

Stopped here on our fifth anniversary for dinner, and had a great time! We were seated quickly, and…read morethe staff were super nice. We got a couple drinks and did not enjoy them, and they replaced them for no charge. We ordered the mushroom confit, the hush puppies, and the vegetarian pasta. All of which were delicious! We especially loved the pasta. The sauce was creamy and the burrata on top was delicious. It was a very nice dinner, and I would definitly go back again!

This place prides itself on being fancy, and they have the prices to match. I went for brunch and…read moreordered avocado toast...easy, right? But when I asked if the egg could be poached, the server looked me dead in the eyes and said they can't do that. I realize this makes me look like a curmudgeon, but how are you going to have your staff strutting around with their noses turned up, with swanky decor and a general air of snobbery, and not be able to poach an egg? The food I DID have was mediocre. Service was fine, although the server seemed irritated. Probably tired of destroying people's dreams of having poached eggs for brunch. I'm giving this place 2 stars because any time I walk past it with company, they gawk through the windows and say, "My, that place looks nice!" Sure, it looks nice, but does it deliver? Nah. I've never been back. Brunch is abundant in Seattle, so no need to settle for average.