A haunted library vibe where tacos are the main character. The Bad Seed 2936 E Olympic Ave Spokane, WA What We Ordered at The Bad Seed: * Texas Size Taco Platter * Grilled Chicken Tacos * Smoked Brisket Tacos * Crispy Tofu Taco * Green Salad with Nopales & Pepitas * Red Rice & Black Beans * Chips & Ranchero Salsa A little extra salt could be just what it needs, but overall, the flavors are really coming together. Sadly, no guacamole this time :( The service was incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the bartender was fantastic I'd definitely come back just to see him again! read more

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Went for New Year's Eve (had a 6:30 reservation). We ordered appetizers (which were good), but the chips that came were basically crumbs (not big enough to scoop the salsa). We waited patiently for about 30 minutes for a server to come, but no luck. Finally after an hour someone came to check on us and we ordered another set of appetizers (as we were told the kitchen was backed up). Just when we though the wait was over (around 7:45) the meals they brought us were for another table; our meal didn't arrive until after 8:30 (2 hours after our reservation and about 1.5 hours after ordering). The food was luke warm and mediocre at best. If they didn't comp our appetizers (a nice touch given the disaster of events); this would have received 1 star. read more

While this wasn't the best Tex-mex I've had (I live in Texas ) it was good and the atmosphere was cool! The ambiance of the bar is dark and moody. The music was a little loud for my preference, but overall was a good stop! read more

The Bad Seed - Tacos with street corn and red rice - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

The place looks much larger from the outside. It's quite cozy on the inside. Our server was great and the food delicious! We're definitely coming back on a Thursday to try their Prime Rib special! Tonight though, we had their Braised Beef Short Ribs - served with red rice (we were able to substitute this for their salad) and smashed gratin potatoes. read more

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I don't get it- it's not TexMex. Getting Texas transplants excited and then having it completely fizzle into disappointment. I guess if you have to misrepresent the style of food for business though. Food isn't bad but it's not TexMex. Not even close. Maybe go to Austin, San Antonio, or Houston to name a few... understand what makes it TexMex - or just say you're middle of the road inspired Mexican Food. read more

NICE date night place, get there early. But really worth the wait! I am still trying to copy the drinks that were AWSOME!

Why do they call this Tex Mex? It surely is not! Have the owners ever been to Texas and eaten Tex Mex? The food may be tasty but call it what it is! read more

Went here just to catch up with a friend from out of town and grab drinks. He and his dad ate before I got there and said the food was amazing. The cocktails we had were great and the customer service even better. We stayed all the way up until close which I hate doing but the staff was still checking on us politely and didn't mind at all. It's in an old library in hillyard and it's one of a kind. I'll definitely be back soon for the food. read more

Had a great meal and margarita on taco Tuesday. Nice service and the portions were substantial. read more

The Bad Seed - 1 beef guisado taco and one chicken. - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

Amazing service by Kevin and the cook tonight, we both got the enchilada, salsa and chips, chocolate torte, and we were met with awesome really chill, Ambience, some sensual frames that I really appreciated and the art style was very interesting. Shout out to Kevin for giving myself and my friend a memorable time tonight, we really needed it. Thank you Bad seed, it's what we needed tonight. Piece of advice, always be kind to our servers, and be patient!!! read more

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Rick and I found ourselves at the Bad Seed in Hillyard for dinner and may I just say yes and yes! This old library has been turned into a comfortable place with old world ambiance. If the female form offends you stay away. But I love old paintings and the female form, so it was fabulous. Staff: very friendly. Drinks: creative names like mama's ruin and afternoon death. Beer by bottle, cocktails very good. Food; Tex Mex meets something that becomes an explosion of deliciousness on the tastebuds. I had a smoked brisket taco that was just shy of spiritual. Have you ever heard the term foodgasm? They even have a ghost named Veronica, and occasionally the lamps dance to the beat of the music. I will be going back, a lot. Maybe I'll see you there. It's definitely with a visit read more

Great old building with eclitic decor! Good vegetarian and gluten free options. It is set in a residential neighborhood so parking can be spotty. read more

We've been wanting to try this eatery for a long time. Set in a very cool building (I would love to know the history behind it) almost in the heart of Hillyard, is Mexican food that isn't your usual Mexican fare. Okay, they do have a giant burrito, enchiladas and tacos, so perhaps a bit of the usual. Maybe it's the ambiance, or the super friendly service. There is good music playing and a very vintage Black and White movie reel playing on the wall tonight. Not too crowded for an early dinner. Most likely very busy on the 2nd Monday of the month when they have live music. We enjoyed our meals and talked to David our server about liqueurs and cocktails. We had the Chicken Burrito with a side of Elote, that's grilled Mexican street corn as well as the Enchilada platter. One brisket and one chicken enchilada with red rice and Elote sides. Don't forget the chili verde sauce! Nothing was over seasoned or spicy. A nice departure from smothering something in cheese, salsa or sauces. Street parking only so keep that in mind when you stop in for a nice meal. I'm sure they would love to see you! read more

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This restaurant has a great atmosphere and a cool vibe, but it does not make up for its poor service and marginal food. I came in and was seated pretty fast but after that it took an hour and a half to get my food. When the restaurant seats about 40 people, it should not take this long. When the food finally came out it was not hot and the rice was undercooked. I would have been ok with the wait, but they did not inform us there would be large delay in getting our food. Even after having us wait an hour and a half, they did not offer any type of compensation-which is not expected but would have been appreciated given the extenuating circumstances. read more

A few things I would like to preface: I've never written a Yelp review because I never felt the urge to heavily comment on a restaurant's service and food like this restaurant. So these are my honest and truthful opinions. As the name suggests, there were plenty of bad seeds. First, upon our arrival, we did not receive waters nor utensils. However, I'd like to comment that there was one to two waiters serving and taking orders. I understand being super busy, but we went most of our stay without any water nor forks to eat with our meal while everyone else received these items upon sitting down instantly. Upon request, we eventually received the items. Now, here's for the food: the rice and beans had absolutely no taste whatsoever. It looked great, but the blandness and unseasoned food was highly noticeable. I ordered the birria taco plate and my friend the taco plate with tofu. There was nothing special about my plate for I've had better birria tacos elsewhere for cheaper price. After eating and walking out the restaurant, my friend, no joke, threw up the tofu tacos. While it could have been the drink she had, she is very unlikely to throw up food in general and can handle her liquor. All in all, we were greatly disappointed by our overall experience especially since it was for my friend's birthday dinner. Our consensus is that it's overpriced for the bland food you're paying for, but then again, it's Spokane Tex-Mex food edition. What did we expect?‍ Also, they were out of the corn side when we arrived only after 2 hrs after the restaurant opened for we ordered at 6. How does that happen? I should give this place 1 star, but 2 will suffice. read more

The Bad Seed - Birria tacos and Single Tex-Mex Tofu Taco - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

Our family tried out The Bad seed last week and it was so delicious! Everything we tried was truly stellar. The servers were really nice, and the decor and environment were really unique and not too loud (even when every table was totally full). My favorite thing was the shrimp taco! Also, the chipotle sauce on the carnitas taco was quite spicy just as a heads up read more

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You know what. I really wanted to like it here. The concept is great. the service and food was disappointing despite their intent. Short staffed caused delays. the food was not very warm, had so much potential but didn't deliver as i expected. Invest time in staff and resources and it would be worth revisiting. read more

The staff are very good and the food is great. The building is an old library in the Hilliard area. I think you'll be quite pleased with this restaurant. If you want a unique and relaxing evening, come see them. read more

I read about this cute library turned restaurant and had to make the journey. It's a very warm and inviting building with lots of cozy tables and friendly staff. They make Mexican inspired food. When I entered the building I heard the sweet voice of Nick Cave swooning over the stereo. I smiled and felt right at home as I made the connection to The Bad Seeds... As a vegetarian I was thrilled with 2 taco options; tofu and soyrizo. The tofu was the best and truly a delicious taco. You can order 3 tacos with black beans and rice for $15. It's a huge plate of food for such a great price. I liked the queso we ordered too. It wasn't bland but not so flavorful either; just good. My friend got the taco plate with brisket and shrimp. He really enjoyed the brisket tacos but literally spit out his shrimp taco. He thinks it was spoiled and returned it with no problems for another brisket. I loved the beans and rice. Both were cooked perfectly and the beans had lots of flavor and not mushy. We had margaritas that were great and our server was wonderful. It is such a friendly place. It has a rustic vibe and felt romantic even though we weren't on a date. I think the decor romanticized our experience. I would drive back over to this side of town anytime to visit again. It's definitely a fun spot. It's not authentic Mexican food so please come with an open mind and just enjoy some darn good tacos. read more

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Great service! Good food! Great place to meet friends! Ranchero Pork was truly delicious and a generous portion. Only downside is parking. But we got there early. I love this old building. Used to ride my bicycle there when it was the Hillyard Library back in 1976! read more

Been here many times. Great food. Great drink menu. Ambiance is unique and gives a lot to see and talk about.

We've been so excited to try this place and only regret that we didn't come sooner! The Bad Seed is located in the old Hillyard library and as you can see below, brings all the dramatic aesthetic as a result. The building has tons of character, the big windows inside make you feel like you've been transported to another time, and books are still a functional aspect of the decor. Our server even let us know it was Free Book Friday and invited us to help ourselves to a book from the free shelf. On the topic of the server, ours was top notch. She was nice, super fast, and tuned in to our needs. I love when I feel like my server's only/favorite customer even though he or she may have several tables. The food at The Bad Seed is great. First, nothing on the menu was more than $14. The quality of the food presented is outstanding for the price. My husband and I both really enjoyed our dishes. The queso was to die for. Our one joint criticism about our entrees that slightly impacted my scoring was the food was just a little underseasoned. This is a very subjective area, but we both remarked that the lack of salt in the dish prevented it from being an A+ for us (more like an A- because it's still very good). Moreover, they don't have salt or pepper at the tables. Unfortunately, our server was running around giving some great service, so we didn't procure that before filling our bellies. All in all, the experience was great and you can't beat the price with a stick. Love this little place and the people in it. We will be back soon. read more

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We went in today and the service was very slow, they seemed almost irritated we were there. We had two young kids with us because we were told it was family friendly, there's no kid menu and everything was glass, no lids offered etc. we sat ourselves like the sign said and then waited a while for menus. The food was alright, but pretty expensive considering the portion sizes, I've had street tacos that were bigger and more filling than the "Texas sized taco platter", the Bristket was nothing special, and the Birria was not impressive. It was taco Tuesday according to the website and no one said anything about it. The chip and queso appetizer was $10 and was only a serving for one. The cheese tasted canned and was really greasy. The fact that it's haunted is fun and they lean into it with candles (which were unlit, no offer to light) and paintings of naked ladies. It would be a fun place to drink and "ghost hunt" at but I wouldn't eat here again and I wouldn't bring kids. read more

This place is amazing.!!!! Great Atmosphere,food, and margaritas! Best dining experience I have had in a long time. The manager Kevin was our server and he was excellent! He was so friendly and gave great recommendations on what to order. Our whole group agreed that we will be going back soon read more

The food was phenomenal. We got some locally foraged dishes that were on special - stinging nettle enchiladas and pork tenderloin with a morel mushroom ancho sauce. Both were SO delicious and flavorful. The dish was very filling. Drinks were very good. I got their margarita and my husband got the fear and loathing (shot of whiskey and a cheap beer) The ambiance is awesome. It's an old library and the decor is dark academia moody. They played some unusual music, not the typical fare, but it was awesome. The server and chef were friendly and great. Service was very prompt. We will definitely be back and with friends. read more

A great local restaurant that has an awesome atmosphere and the food is delicious. We will definitely be coming back.

My wife and I heard of this place some time ago and it had been described as 'hipster' which isn't necessarily our cup of tea. I recently saw a picture of their Thursday special burrito though, which was enticing enough to get us in the door. So glad we did. Upon driving up it doesn't look like much other than an older building (library) tucked right up to the local neighborhood. Walking through the doors brings an old world feel with open ceilings with lots of wood and old paintings throughout. Yes, as the Yelp pictures show, there are lots of nudes, but it's not 'in your face' kind of stuff. Tables have old style candle holders that are lit once seated. Wood tables are located throughout the bar and non-bar areas and come in all sizes. We didn't think it felt hipster at all. We ordered the queso for a starter and it was super tasty. This is not your gallon can of queso cheese from Costco, rather a well flavored blend of cheeses and spices. Our main course was the burrito special they have on Thursdays; $8 for a giant burrito. Better yet, this thing has spot on flavors and is loaded heavily with high quality meat. Choices include brisket, pork, carnitas, chicken, and tofu. We opted for one brisket and one pork version. Both were outstanding. The sauce also needs to be called out. Very fresh flavor with just a hint of heat from time to time. It's the kind of heat that supports the overall flavor without overwhelming anything else. I'm not a spicy heat kind of person and this was great. Our server was outstanding, being both friendly and efficient. Drinks were always full without noticing her coming and going. The Thursday special has to be one of the best deals going in Spokane both for the price and high quality of the meal. This is a locally owned joint that one would hope finds great success moving forward. For certain we will be making this a regular stop. read more

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Went for trivia night on Wednesday. Very cool, laid back, atmosphere. Had the grilled pork taco, chocolate torte, and the Bad Seed margaritas. All were excellent. The music played was all old punk rock which I loved. During the week, going after 6 pm is best time. Parking is street in suburban area so can be iffy bit doable. Worth it though. read more

The Bad Seed - Bar area - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

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Came here as a new guest, at the recommendation of family, who was with us. She had called and made a reservation for the bar, but when we arrived, the table wasn't reserved. This is where Dave saved the day. He recognized immediately that this detail pissed off the party, and he stepped in and made it right. Dave is a hero and I hope his employers know what a gem they have in him. It's a rarity to have the level of customer service he provided and I want to sing his praise for any other future guests or patrons to convince them that visiting the Bad Seed is worth it for Dave alone. I will say the ambiance is lovely. I'm a book nerd, and loved the old library for its architectural design and book nerd detail. You should request to see the folder that has historical records of the place if that's your thing. It was mine, and I devoured it. The food is simple and great. I love a good fresh street taco, and the menu offers many options to satisfy. The drinks are crafted, and I feel like it's a good place to grab a craft cocktail after a long day. Dave is exceptionally knowledgeable about flavor profiles - I could tell based on his recommendations, his experience in crafting recipes to try, and his descriptions of things on the menu. I'm sitting in the parking lot of total wine to buy the tequila he discussed with us, which is part of some menu drinks. Beyond the food, the atmosphere, and the flavor profile, Dave was just exceptional at making something that was crappy into something memorable and fun. That's real talent, and as a manager of people I value that level of customer service. Dave, I hope you see this, and know your worth. You are a gem, and you're the kind of employee managers dream of. If your goal is to run a business, know that I see that spark and drive in you - go for it. If you are Dave's manager....please recognize the talent you have in this gentleman. Pay him accordingly, and have him train your staff. I'll be back! I'll tell my peeps to come here for a nice drink and fun nerdy ambiance! read more

Score: 4.93 out of 5 considering this restaurant is in Spokane, WA. Eclectic building. The food is different, yes agree! If you expect this restaurant like Rancho Chico, etc., you will be disappointed. My husband and I love everything about this restaurant! Well, maybe not exactly 100% everything. 1. Food Overall, we not truly enjoy the chef's creations. It's different, yet very flavorful and tasty. My shrimp and grits was lacking the salt. But I can see how this would benefit those who watch for salty food. Big deal. Ask for salt shaker. 2. You don't get chips and salsa like other Mexican restaurants. So what? Big deal. Just buy the chips and homemade salsa! The salsa is divine! We added the infinity sauce - ghost monkey and brought the flavor to the next level. 3. Ambiance. Building is unique, love it. The music choice is good. However, the bass needs to be toned down a bit as I felt like I'm dancing while eating. And, it's a bit Smokey inside the building. Not sure why. 4. Service: great! Food was served fairly quick. Between this and Kizmet, we both are thrilled to add these restaurants to our go to list! read more

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Food was Awesome, the waiters and bartenders were also Awesome. The actual setting was very inviting and relaxing.

Such a gorgeous, moody, pretty little space. My jaw dropped at the carved wood overhead, the old books, skulls and literally one of my favorite art prints ever. And I hate myself for what I'm about to say but...Damn. The food is just not good. The tacos which took over an hour were greasy and lacked flavor. The rice was bland, the salsa weirdly oily? It's so disappointing because the staff seem like really nice people but yeah--they also seem like they have been beaten with bats. One server, one bartender in the whole joint, both moving as fast as they can but what can you do? I can't even fault them, they would bring things super late to the table and just apologize out of habit. You get the feeling they are trying but there is just no more gas in the tank. We didn't complain. How can you kick a man when he's down? The margaritas are sour and not drinkable. The black potatoes made me sad. Poor Bad Seed. They have such a nice building and conceptually it should work. Maybe on a super quiet non-Taco Tuesday weekday with just a sprinkle of live tables they can hit it outta the park. I genuinely hope so. I'd hate to see this is place go under as it really wants to be charming. I'm rooting for ya, Bad Seed. That should be two stars but I want it to be more, so I'm rounding up in case that helps. Eh. read more

The Bad Seed - Side of (burned) Smashed Gratin Potatoes - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

We decided to visit after driving by one day and were not disappointed. The ambience is wonderful, creative decor while still paying homage to the library. It was our servers first day; he was attentive and fun. I ordered the taco platter with a shrimp and pork belly taco. Both were absolutely delicious. There were three of us so we all ordered different sides so we could try them all. Personally, my favorites were the black beans and smashed gratin potatoes. But everything was good. We also tried the cheesecake and chocolate torte, both were yummy, but the cheesecake was one of the best I've ever had. We all had a different cocktail, and everyone enjoyed theirs. read more

service was a little slow , but friendly. food was great. Ambiance was cool. I liked the masks on the wall the most. The art in general was cool though. read more

The building is a historical location- The Hilliard Library. It may house the ghost of the librarian! We came in and Gino took care of us. He made delicious homemade lemonade with just the right amount of agave syrup - watching my carbs- and Tito's Vodka. The tacos were delicious and the chocolate tart we enjoyed as dessert was to die for! We will be returning. They have an upstairs room that can seat 15 individuals and jazz night on some nights. A nice addition to Hillyard. read more

I really want to like the place. The food is good. The decor is entertaining, but for the love of god, hire some staff. Don't sacrifice customer service by trying to have a 12% labor cost. It happens every time I come here. All I want is a drink and a taco at the bar after working my ass off all day. Hire another server, or better yet a bartender. I stopped recommending this place to people. I recommend Kismet instead. It's unfortunate that Hillyard has so few places to get good food and good service. read more

We were in a few weeks ago. The first 2 drinks my cousin got were not good. No one really came by to check on us. My husband and I had to wait to eat our food until our cousins food came out, which in turn caused us to eat cold food. They said 2 of their tacos were very dry. The table behind us was getting very good service. The guy waiting on them should have just sat down, that's how much time he spent there. lol or waiter seemed to be stretched a little thin. My cousin got a discount on their food due to delay, but no discount for us having to wait to eat until we got their food as well. read more

Don't sleep on going to the Bad Seed to sample their wares. Soon it will be too busy to get a seat, but for now, until this hidden gem is undiscovered, you can walk in and find a table waiting. We dined on a Friday evening. Since it was our first time here, we tasted around the smallish, but eclectic and thoughtful menu. Featuring a full bar, we started off with cocktails. A house margarita and a persnickety odd-ball choice for my persnickety odd-ball main squeeze. The bartender knew the drink and main squeeze said it was perfect. For starters we had the tejas pork and the elote. The pork was a tex mex take on Chinese bbq pork with chimichurri and a chipotle sauce instead of mustard and horseradish ketchup. The elote was de-constructed and was served on a corn cake with a smoky/creamy/spicy sauce. We had to restrain ourselves from licking the plate. For the mains we had the enchiladas and the habenero shrimp. The winner in the mains category was definitely the enchiladas. The brisket filling was so delicious. Almost stuffed to bursting, we had to pass on desserts....but the table next to us had the dulce de leche cheesecake and they said it was decadent. read more

The Bad Seed - Naked ladies everywhere. Lol. - Bars Near Me - Spokane, Washington

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Traveled to Spokane just to try this restaurant due to the raving reviews from my daughter. She had been in several times and was not disappointed AT ALL. Wow! Great place to eat and relax. Service was impeccable, food was amazing. We will be back! Thank you so much for a great evening out. read more

Wow, such a cool place. The building is an old Carnegie library that's been beautifully transformed into an eatery. The food is Spanish/Mexican fusion and really tasty. The staff were super friendly and fun. We really enjoyed our time. read more