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    The Ballard Cut

    4.4 (326 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    The Ballard Cut Photos

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    THE BALLARD CUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Brussels sprouts and tartare appetizer
    Laurel C.

    Came here for appies and drinks. Had a great time! The server was super attentive on a Saturday night and gave us just the right amount of space & check in frequency. The bar was a good vibe and I felt like there was plenty of space between tables.

    baby gem salad, flank iron salad, beef taretare, bread service, bone in pork chop

    Service great, food not that great. The baby gem salad was very yummy! But the rest of the order (pork chop, flank iron steak, taretare) was very not sadlyyyy :(

    Frank B.

    Service - A + Ambiance - A + Food - Mediocre at best Decided to meet up with friend for dinner and choose Ballard Cut. Located in heart of Ballard this massive bar & restaurant. You've got indoor and outdoor dining spots available for the few months we have weather.. Our ordering experience was kinda off. The menu was in transition so the waitress kept saying we have or we don't have... I really enjoyed the pork belly appetizer but it was small due to Happy Hour portions. We ordered two different types of steak which both were not exciting or juicy. Both looked blahhhhhhh and tasted almost the same. On a positive note my wine was sensational and worth what ever was paid for it. Hopefully it was an off night cause I'm not excited by my visit. Well, that's all I can report!

    Espresso martini
    Sara P.

    Enjoyed a great afternoon after stumbling upon The Ballard Cut. Wish we would have known about this place sooner. It was fun to meet the owner Tommy and learn more about all of the different whiskeys available. He is very knowledgeable. The whiskey is on an ipad with over 15 pages. Many different price points to try from. The bartender was also very helpful. I had cocktails, while my husband had a flight of whiskey. I enjoyed the standard daiquiri, the watermelon collins, and an espresso martini. They were all very good. We also tried a small happy hour plate of pork belly. It was very flavorful. I especially liked the homemade kimchi that came with it along with the edamame puree. We will definitely be back to try more whiskey as well as have a proper dinner. The menu looks fantastic.

    Bourbon
    Gina R.

    Loved the restaurant and the area! We came for happy hour and stayed a little longer. The restaurant is quaint, not too big. I had a glass of wine and my hubby had bourbon. He doesn't usually drink bourbon, but decided to try it because of their incredible selection. The staff is knowledgeable and very friendly! We also had the steak frittes and a flat iron steak- amazing! We will definitely be back!

    Strip steak with crushed potatoes and cornbread...
    Yikhwan D.

    Great service and ambiance. Loved their cocktails and wine. I thought the food was ok overall. Had the strip steak with two sides. I wasnt disappointed per se, but i probably wouldn't order their potatoes and cornbread again... But then their pasta and pork belly was sooooo goood.

    Great Bourbon selection
    Jordan L.

    The Ballard's Cut is an absolute gem -- a true Seattle staple that deserves every ounce of praise it gets. From the moment you step inside, the atmosphere captures you: modern décor, intimate lighting, and a warm vibe that feels both upscale and inviting. Everything is immaculately clean and thoughtfully designed, setting the tone for an exceptional dining experience. If you're a bourbon lover, this place is paradise. Their collection is incredible, but what truly sets them apart is the service. The Bourbon Curators, Ms. Hannah and Mr. Tommy, along with our amazing waitress Ms. Sassy, make you feel like a VIP from start to finish. They welcome you with open arms and create a personalized bourbon journey -- teaching you about flavor profiles, history, and how to discover different palettes you never knew you had. It's not just a drink menu... it's an experience. And the food? Michelin-worthy. We shared the Autumn Chicory Salad and the homemade Autumn Mushroom Pasta -- both beautifully crafted, rich in flavor, and perfectly paired with the bourbon experience. Every bite showed off the kitchen's talent and passion. We were actually recommended this restaurant by strangers we met at the Seattle Space Needle -- and wow, did they steer us right. The Ballard's Cut surpassed every expectation. If you love bourbon, phenomenal food, and top-tier service from people who treat you like family, then this is the place. Do not miss it.

    This special drink he ordered for his birthday bourbon.I believe it is
    Judi W.

    It was a wonderful night out at Cut in Ballard For our Son Birthday. The big 35 food was wonderful service was great. My son and his grandma try different drinks from the bottle and it was really neat because he explained them. And how he did it his own way. I highly recommend this restaurant. We went to it 3 years ago. And it was still wonderful, nothing's changed. Thank you again Cut restaurant in Ballard. The best staff very friendly.It was the best time out in a long time.

    Happy Hour 2-5 pm
    Brian M.

    Stopped by for Happy Hour (Sunday, 2-5 PM) and had a great experience. The bartender was fantastic--super friendly and knowledgeable, taking the time to explain the different whiskeys on the shelf. The HH Old Fashioned was perfectly balanced and served with a large ice cube. The clams and mussels in green curry were packed with flavor--absolutely perfect for a cold, rainy day. Great drinks, great food, and top-notch service.

    Tracy D.

    We came here with our son and his girlfriend to celebrate their graduations. We were seated immediately (we did have reservations) and had a great table by the window. After looking the menu over, we decided to order a sampling of several items off the "bites" , "plates" and "sides" to all share. This was a really good choice so that we could sample more of the menu without being overly full on any one item, or being overcommitted to any entree. We ordered the bread plate, the baby gem salad, the crispy pork belly, the bone in pork chop, the grilled lemon pepper 1/2 chicken, the crispy herb potatoes, and the cauliflower gratin. It all came hot and in a timely manner, minus the cauliflower, which they apparently forgot, but once brought was apologized about and removed from the bill. I am personally a picky, easily intimidated eater, and by doing shared plates, I surprised my family and myself at how many of the options (almost all!) I loved! I would definitely recommend this place, and highly recommend sharing all the dishes!

    Truffle pasta
    Natasha B.

    4.5 We came for New Years Eve and had the best meal! Docked half a star because they were out of some things on the menu. The service was great and the servers were attentive even though it was NYE. Cocktails are a little pricey but they were good.

    curry clams and mussels
    Nini N.

    This is one of my new staple date night spots! I love the dark ambiance, really sets the romantic mood. They were previously in a smaller space and relocated. Sooo much nicer and with a lot more seating now! It's a very clean establishment and the service is always friendly. There's many great options on the food menu, I always end up getting a large spread for my boyfriend and I to share. Everything we ordered is phenomenal, packed with flavor literally nothing is bad here! I also don't drink alcohol so our server was able to recommend me a popular mocktail with coconut and pineapple. It was so tasty and refreshing! I get it every time we dine in now. Overall I leave happy and full each visit! Definitely a 10/10

    Spirits menu (June 2025)
    Charlie T.

    I finally got a chance to visit this place after hearing about it for a while now. If you like whiskey and good food, this is the place to go to. Their selection of Japanese whiskey and bourbon is one of the best in town. We were able to try some rarer scotch and bourbon, which made my day. Their food program is pretty solid as well. We ordered the special Tomahawk to share with the table as well as a salad and crispy pork belly. The owner here is very knowledgeable about the spirits he carries. It was nice of him to ask us what we wanted to try and our price point. He then curated a tasting for us. Overall, the service was great and hospitable. I would come back here again when in the area.

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    4 months ago

    Wonderful evening out with wonderful food. Great atmosphere and pleasant staff. Loved the menu !

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    Ask the Community - The Ballard Cut

    Is this restaurant family friendly? Good for younger kids?

    I belive it is

    View All 3 Questions

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    I really liked this place -- it had such a welcoming vibe, and the unique décor was amazing. From…read morethe moment we walked in, Luke the bartender immediately greeted us with a warm and sincere demeanor. We initially thought it was a fine dining restaurant and were a little disappointed to see a limited menu. However, it's actually a fantastic spot for drinks and light bites. We decided to stay since we had never been there before, and Luke was so gracious we almost felt bad leaving! We ordered the meat and cheese platter along with a couple of drinks, and everything was Grade A. I'm giving it an A+ though, because of Luke's outstanding service.

    Everything was great and the owner Jeff was there tending bar when my friend and I went in for…read morehappy hour. We were the only ones in there for a while and so had a chance to talk with Geoff, who made great recommendations for food and was very pleasant and friendly. Everything we tried was delicious. My friend initially ordered a drink that wasn't on happy hour as she had forgotten to ask about it, and at the end, Jeff had changed the price to a happy hour price since he didn't let her know about that in advance. Very class move and going the extra mile in a way that makes a huge difference and leaves along lasting impression on the customer! Happy hour food menu is small, but that seems to be for a reason, because what they do they do well!

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    Triangle Spirits

    Triangle Spirits

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    The best happy hour in Fremont! This is my husband's and my go-to spot for fried chicken and…read moresports. Their daily 3-5 happy hour makes it particularly fun to watch college football on Saturdays or NFL on Sundays. They have a dark and cozy interior with a lovely shaded patio on hot days. We typically order the same thing each happy hour - I love the fried chicken sliders (Nashville hot) and my husband gets the fried chicken basket. We always pair that with a vieux carre. Total tab is under $35 not including tax and tip. A complete steal in Seattle these days! Service is usually quick and thoughtfully-spaced with enough time to make a dent in the drinks before the food arrives. It's the perfect spot to meet up with friends, host parents, and watch sports of any kind (the mariners game is always on).

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    The Muse Whiskey & Coffee

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    Drinks were amazing. Staff was friendly and fast. This location is stunning and brings such a…read morewonderful eclectic vibe. I was in awe of this cute little tavern! If you love fantasy or the whimsy this has to be a spot to check out! You can get desserts ordered from the restaurant to this pub location too!

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    The Ballard Cut - newamerican - Updated August 2026

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