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Cute spot near Golden Gardens Park with excellent pizza. The square pizza was excellent. There is a back patio as well, not a ton of inside seating so there could be a wait, but we got lucky to grab a table. Chairs are uncomfortable, though, because there is not much of a back to them. Server was excellent also.
Tucked away in a residential area, it's great for families or casual dinners. Relaxed atmosphere with attentive staff. The pizza was fine! I believe there is much better options in Seattle but this hit for what we needed. Something I don't care for is sweet red sauce. We ordered a pepperoni and jalapeño pizza expecting it to be rich in flavor and spice but it was sweet and served room temperature.
Fresh on our Detroit-style pizza binge, our first since moving away from Detroit, we chose Sunny Hill for our next stop. We walked in right after they opened for a Saturday lunch and were the second group seated. Crunchy Cauliflower ($18) - Amazingly robustly crunchy breading surrounding a tender roasted cauliflower inner core. It's so evenly breaded and adheres so well to the moist interior that it almost seems like a commercially breaded frozen cauliflower. But these have to be homemade, right? They are sprinkled with a chili crisp-esque aleppo oil, which is dry rather than oily, and has a bit of sweetness to complement the heat. It's all on top of a super creamy and thick cashew and cilantro sauce. It's fresh and nutty, and really delicious. (5/5) Now onto the pizza. Taken from another of my reviews: there are several characteristics that define Detroit-style. Firstly, the base must be a thinner and chewier focaccia dough-like crust, pillowy on the interior and with a crispness on the bottom and sides that are somewhat greasy but not overladen*. There must be flavorful Wisconsin brick cheese (or blend), buttery and fatty, melted on top and spread until it spills over the sides of the crust, creating a crisp caramelized frico ring surrounding the pie. The pepperoni must be underneath the cheese**, and the flavorful tomato sauce, typically in several wide lines, is spread atop the cheese. There must not be too many toppings to prevent the crust from compressing and ruining the texture. *Note 1: The fat/grease is very important, both to allow the crust to crisp up and to act as a hydrophobic layer to prevent sogginess. **Note 2: This is the one trait I dislike since it makes the pepperoni limp and soaked with grease. Loyal w/ Pepperoni, 4-Square ($31) - Before I get started, I have to say that the pricing for the 4-Sq vs 8-Sq is bizarre. In no world should an 8-Sq pepperoni pizza be $56. Not to mention it's actually MORE expensive than the 4-Sq on a $ per square inch basis! And you get 4 less corners? People pay a premium at Jet's for their 8 corner pizza! I'm sorry, for a value proposition, this pizza gets a big fat zero. Usually Detroit-style take a while come out, typically 20+ minutes, often over 30 minutes. This one took less than 15, which I found very curious. Surprisingly, the pizza actually comes cut into four slices instead of six, unlike pretty much everywhere else on the West Coast. It looks picture perfect, with the two saucy racing stripes across the top and a superior lacy frico crust along all edges. It's seriously a sight to behold, one of the more perfect Detroit-style pizzas I've seen in a long time. It's after lifting a slice up that things start to unravel, at from a traditional technical perspective. Instead of baking the toppings on raw dough, Sunny Hill seems to either par or fully bake the crust before adding toppings, then bake again. This means the crust doesn't fully meld with the toppings, resulting in a crumb that's extremely airy and light and a taste that's somewhat disparate rather than harmonious. It's more akin to focaccia with toppings rather than pizza. And yet this allows the base to be fully fried on all sides, lending a superior buttery browned flavor. Unfortunately this method of assembly causes an issue - the frico literally slides off the bread. Even before picking up a slice, I could see it separating from the dough and melted cheese bleeding through. The top is a little more forgiving, so the melted mozzarella and brick cheese mixture does manage to mostly adhere. Speaking of the brick cheese, it really does make a huge difference in flavor. This blend is miles better in flavor complexity and fattiness as compared to most Detroit-style places around here that use pure mozzarella or a blend without brick cheese. The sauce is very good as well. It's balanced between sweetness and acidity, spiced just enough to add flavor but still keep the fresh zing of a great tomato sauce. On top of the sauce, the pepperoni is charred and cupped. It seems to be carefully applied so there aren't too many overlapping pieces. This ensures the pizza doesn't become too salty, which is really appreciated. Value-wise this pizza is terrible. $31 is the most I have ever paid for a 4-sq pizza. Heck, it's more than I've paid for many 8-sq pizzas. Luckily for Sunny Hill, I don't usually include value in my ratings, but I was seriously considering dropping the score here. (5/5) I think with this pizza, traditionalists will cry afoul. People who are more open minded will accept that this is a delicious pizza regardless of all the flaws. I'm in the latter group, although with a caveat: What Sunny Hill serves is emphatically not Detroit-style; It's a great Detroit-style-Inspired focaccia with toppings. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms.
As a fan of Detroit-style pizza, Sunny Hill has been on my list for a while. Then I stumbled across an article stating that Sunny Hill has one of top burgers in Seattle, so I had to go check it out. This place was fairly busy upon arrival. Someone came up to us immediately and politely asked us to wait a few minutes for them to set up the table for us. As we were waiting, someone else showed up to take our drink orders. As soon as she took our order, our table was ready. Very systematic and phenomenal service! This is within the first 5 min of being there! The building seemed a bit old and there was a rustic vibe to it. It's not very big and a bit intimate. I wouldn't say it's really designed for groups bigger than 4. Our food came out at a reasonable time after ordering. We had ordered the Arcade square pie with mushrooms, the Lord General square pie, and a Sunny Smash Burger with cheese. Hot honey on the side. Arcade - wanted to keep it somewhat simple with this one so I can get a general understanding of their pizzas. It was loaded with toppings. A bit too much, but I believe it's because of the added mushrooms. The dough was slightly too chewy. I tried it with and without hot honey. I preferred it without. The pizza had too much going on. The flavors were there, but it was a bit heavy. Lord General - this pizza was much better. The flavors were more balanced. It was lighter on the toppings, making it easier to eat with the dough. The sausage and soppressata were a very good combo. They compliment each other very well. Sunny Smash Burger - this burger was very solid. Although it's a smash burger, it's pretty big. The toppings were simple and delicious. The onions was definitely the star of the show. It was heavy on the pickles. A bit too much for my liking, but would be great for pickle lovers. This is great alternative for people who don't want a pizza. Overall it was a great first experience. My only regret is not getting a round pizza to taste the crust. The groups around us all had round pizza and it looked amazing. I'll have to try it next time.
I stopped by Sunny Hill for a late lunch. They open at 4pm on weekdays and 12pm on weekends, making it a great spot for a weekend lunch. Service was friendly and welcoming. The restaurant was clean and inviting with plenty of natural light. They serve both round and Detroit-style square pies. I ordered the Loyal square pie (4 slices) with castelvetrano olives and mushroom. I liked the sauce and the crust, but I personally would've preferred a bit more sauce and olives on my pie. There are plenty of pizzas and toppings to choose from, and it's also possible to customize the order. The chocolate chip cookie, while a little pricey, was excellent and very tasty.
My review is for takeaway. I finished a walk around Green Lake and thought I definitely earned a pizza! I heard Sunny Hill had one of the best Detroit style pizza and round pizzas in Ballard. I placed an online order for their Lord General round pie. By the time I arrived at Sunny Hill pizza, my pie was ready! It was a Thursday night around 7:30pm and there were a few people in the restaurant. The server greeted me warmly and handed me my pie. It smelled really good! By the time I got home, the pizza was still warm. The sausage olive thin crust pizza was delicious. They added just the right amount of toppings so you can taste each flavor. The crust had nice coloring and it was crisp. Everyone has different preferences for their crusts and I like mine crisp vs chewy. I would go back and dine in to try their other pies.
With a dash of hot honey on their pizza, and it was a perfect mix of crispy, sweet and savory. Their dessert was a sweet tiramisu like cookie which is always worth sharing with the table
Great little food stop. Friendly and quick service with street side seating, indoor seating and a rear heated seating area. We tried their square pizza and waffle fries. Both were great and loved their garlic ranch sauce and hot honey. Will definitely be back.
Sunny Hill has an inviting, neighborhood feel. It's in North Ballard by Golden Gardens so could be a good hang out or date spot. If you can, snag a table by the window. It's ideal for people-watching and soaking up the afternoon light! A random touch, their glass cups are adorably shaped and perfect for drinks. What We Ordered: Gem Lettuces ($18): The bonito lime Caesar dressing added a unique twist, and the furikake sprinkled on top gave it an umami kick. The romaine was fresh and crisp. 4/5. Really Good Burrata ($18): Kind of not good. The burrata wasn't quite there and the rhubarb yuzu kosho accompaniment didn't elevate the flavor as hoped. But honestly, for this dish, maybe it's just me and I can't appreciate the yuzu kosho! 2/5. Roasted Asparagus ($18): This dish had a lot going on, but in a good way, and the accompanying flavors complemented it well. 4/5. Death by Misadventure Square Pie ($30): The pizza was tasty but portion size was basically for a single person. It's a lovely spot to catch up with friends over a drink and a bite, but it may not be the best value. It feels very Seattle food scene in that way-- iykyk
I got the arcade pizza to go and ate it while walking around in the area. I should have taken a picture from the outset but I couldn't because I scarfed half of it down too quickly. It was incredibly good. My wife actually thought it was so so but I told her she needs to rewire her brain. I think it's because she's trying to lose weight so she doesn't like thick pizza. But for me this was heaven. The pepperoni was perfectly crusted. I believe that's the mallard effect or something other. I also liked how it had both sauce and tomatoes, so it tasted extra juicy. And what's good about this is that there's no crust with no toppings on it, this is good all the way around. I also saw the chef taking a baked chicken quarter out of the oven and throwing it over some greens. And a few other people sitting down got some meatballs that looked good. I need to come back here and try it off. The ambiance is pretty upscale but comfortable.
One of my favorite pizzas in the area. The crust was crispy yet still fluffy. Definitely recommend adding hot honey to pair with the pizza. The burrata appetizer was just as good as the pizza to me. The bread was flavorful (I think they add like fried or dried garlic?) and nice texture to go with the burrata. It is a bit pricey and the space is a bit cramped, but I would definitely come back to try more.
I would highly recommend stopping here after visiting Golden gardens Beach. The staff was very attentive. The pizza was seasoned well, thick crust, and tasted amazing!
Pretty good lime times two! Weird glass but we're not here for that. Come for the limes, stay for the pizza!
3 years ago
3 years ago
Amazing pizza. Really good fun place, no reservations so show up planning on a little wait. Great service and an excellent root beer. read more
3 years ago
You order as you enter the restaurant, then the server will deliver the food to your selected table. Currently, they only offer outdoor seating. The serve was attentive and very friendly. She constantly checks on us to make sure we have plenty of water and share plates. We ordered waffle fries with black garlic ranch, roasted broccoli, and the Lord General square pie. The waffle fries were super crispy without being super greasy. Never thought black garlic and ranch can be a good combo. I love the roasted broccoli as the sauce tasted amazing; the salt was a bit unevenly distributed as certain pieces were too salty. Lord General square pie was good but not a huge fan of the green olive add on as it makes the dish too salty with the sausage. I like the square pies as the dough/breading taste good without being too dense. read more
I've got to say, Sunny Hill has got it going on. It was recommended to me on the basis of their square Detroit-style pizzas. The first time I went we got there later in the evening and they were sold out of them, so we went to plan B and ordered a round thin crust pie and were pleasantly shocked by how good it was. The crust had the perfect amount of char, and was really tasty. The sauce and cheese is where they really get the slam dunk though - both were absolutely top quality. I think I prefer it to Delancey. Next visit we got to experience the square pie in all its glory, and it did not disappoint. The edges were covered in perfectly crisped cheese, the dough was delicious, and the same top shelf ingredients completed the party in my mouth. Both times I got the same toppings - the Arcade, with castelvetrano olives added, and it was excellent. They only lose the 5th star on value, as the pizzas are on the small side, and also on the side dishes, which were good, but seemed a bit lost. The green beans and radishes were a little over-salted, and while they had some Asian influence, the dish seemed confused about its true identity. Similarly, the heirloom tomato salad was tasty, but came atop a curry sauce base that just seemed out of place and unnecessary. It also didn't get delivered to our table until we were nearly done with our pizza, which was annoying...but overall the staff here are wonderful, and everybody gets a mulligan once. read more
Sunny Hill is in a nice little residential area and I'm so happy to have found a pizza place that's close to where I live. The pizza here is very yummy and apparently very popular because they run out of stuff if you come too late! Came here last Wednesday evening to pick up some pizzas for my friend's birthday picnic and it was super easy to call in and pick it up. We got the Warchild and Arcade Round pizza and both were really delicious. I absolutely love mushrooms and the Warchild was full of all the savory mushrooms. The Arcade Round had pepproni and some extra spice from the jalapenos. Both pizza crusts were crunchy and not too thick or thin. One of the pizza crusts was a little too blackened. Also got the polenta, meatballs, and fries to eat on the side. I really enjoyed the crispiness of their fries with homemade ketchup, it had a little extra tanginess that regular ketchup doesn't have. The meatballs were kind of too dense for my liking. It is little pricey for the portions, but it you're paying for specialty pizza, everything we order came out to be a little over $85. So if you are in the Ballard area and want to eat some good pizza, stop by Sunny Hill! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
The service was great, food was prepared well & done with high quality ingredients. We ordered a square pizza & charred broccoli app. Husband got a beer & I chose the house red, which was much better than I expected! Yes, this place is on the expensive side of pizza places. I felt if the above mentioned positive comments were no present in our experience then I would have been let down, However Sunny Hill delivered! I might give 1/2 less star for off street parking, if you care about that sort of thing. read more
2 years ago
Love this spot! Can't believe it took me so long to try it living so close in the neighborhood. I'm a sucker for inventive and delicious veggie sides so right away I knew I was in good hands. We tried the roasted carrots/broccoli/cauliflower and the lentil salad, all were terrific. The carrots, with a rich cashew cream, and broccoli, served on a bed of bright lemon tahini, were the highlights. The pies themselves were also excellent. The square loyal pie was awesome. The best parts of both deep dish and focaccia. For the round pie we sampled The Warchild, which had a generous amount of oyster mushrooms and a nice crisp crust. Food was ready right on time and the staff was great. Can definitely see myself grabbing this for a golden gardens picnic in the near future. read more
3 years ago
Some of the best pizza we've had in Seattle :) such a cute spot in the coziest neighborhood to walk around before or after, a great drink menu, and of course delicious pizza. The service was great too- they kindly helped seat us inside after we decided it was too hot outside. Definitely want to come back and try their burger!! read more
2 years ago
Tucked away neighborhood haunt. I've done dine-in and takeout. Food and service are both excellent. I've bad every pizza and each has its own appeal. They have WARM HONEY to drizzle on your pizza. The shrub drinks are a welcome treat! In a city filled with overpriced mediocre pizza (and restaurants in general), this one is worth driving across town for. Perfect to head down to Golden Gardens for sunset. read more
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6 years ago
Sunny Hill.... How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... This is such a true neighborhood gem that everyone should be willing to make a trip to Sunset Hill to experience. Their pizzas are phenomenal, especially the Detroit Style. I'm not even embarrassed to admit we've ordered it twice in one weekend before; you truly cannot go wrong. In addition to the deep dish Detroit delight, their burger has now officially secured my vote as the #1 burger in Seattle. It's char, it's onions, perfect bread, amazing cheese ratio, and everything else it has going on is sheer perfection. On the lighter side, their rotating salad and vegetable options have all been a treat as well. Caesar salads, broccoli with some sort of magic tahini sauce, beets, cauliflower, potatoes... SH produces some winners. The one time I had an issue with an order, I reported it not asking for anything and I got a call back right away with an offer to make things right. If you like meat, go to Sunny Hill. If you like vegetables, go to Sunny Hill. If you like pizza, go to Sunny Hill. Moral of the story is just go, you will not regret it! read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
I love Sunny so much. I hate yelp but I love sunny enough to get on here and rave. The square pies got a lot of hype at the beginning and they're so good. But my favorite things here are the round pie with cheese, the burger and the chicken dish. There are a million cheese pizzas you can choose from, but this simple perfection with three cheeses and a blistery crust is the best. I've fought a couple of 10yo girls for the last slice and I did not win. The burger is so gooey and lusty and kind of NSFW to eat in public. No one eats the burger and looks cute doing it. It's insane. Def get waffle fries and feta ranch to go with it. The chicken is my go-to. It comes with really bomb potatoes -- some are crispy and some are just fudgy textured somehow. And some great onions too. And green sauce that's super herby. I would marry this chicken. And like the cheese pie, obviously there's a lot of roasted chicken dishes in the city but this one had my heart. Their salads are always solid. The Caesar was my fave when it was shaved Brussels sprouts and crisp romaine or something but now it had arugula and I'm allergic to that. So, I hope they change it back. The dressing is great though. People love the chocolate chip cookie but I do wish it were served a little gooier. read more
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First time here! Lovely back patio (didn't have to wait on a Friday night), fantastic salad and broccoli, and the square Detroit-style pizza was outstanding - so indulgent but sooo good. Can't wait to come back and try the round pizza and cocktails which both looked incredible too. Def a must try read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
Staff was super friendly Place was packed waited a little longer for my takeaway order but that was fine because that meant I got my order fresh out of the oven. Just happened to be at the beach nearby and yelped this place. Originally from LA and I wanted to compare this deep dish pizza. Well, it must be the ingredient quality because it was delicious. The burrata cheese placed on top is just decadent. Thanks sunny hill for making my last night in Seattle great. Wish you continued success. read more
7 years ago
We would have been happy with just about any food option in North Sunset Hill, but this place seems pretty special. Great meat and veg options - my wife and 2 young kids loved the grilled asparagus and broccoli as well as the cheese square pie. My burger was excellent, and everyone loved the waffle fries. Really nice people, too, with a convenient and safe pickup area. We were lucky enough to be their first order on their first day and we're ready for more! read more
3 years ago
7 years ago
Had to come here twice in two days cause I NEEDED to try their crispy parm crust square pizzas, but didn't order in time this pepperoni was fire tho! Also tried both of their roasted veggie dishes(the cauliflower was my favorite ), one of which was reminiscent of the charred broccoli at Stoneburner.. The kale salad had all these funky ingredients, super unexpected combo of things but sooooo tasty I'll be ordering early Wednesday to snag one of their coveted pan pizzas!! read more
4 years ago
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3 years ago
We've tried this pizza spot a few times now and just not overly impressed to be honest. The food is decent but the pizza hasn't ever come to the table as warm as one would expect. Last night we had a few glasses of wine and shared a square pie (can't recall name of it) but it had pepperoni and pickled serrano peppers and I don't think I could even tell you if there were peppers at all. The pizza being a little cold made it difficult to cut. Maybe I'm just not a Detroit pizza gal but I don't know if we'd seek this out again after trying it twice. Broccoli appetizer was delish and would eat that again but it was really overpriced. read more
3 years ago
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More info about Sunny Hill
3127 NW 85th St
Seattle, WA 98117
Sunset Hill, Ballard
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(206) 659-0355
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https://www.sunnyhillseattle.com
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