I am usually a bit skeptical about downtown restaurants due to value for quality. This place is actually not the case. I went here on a Friday dinner, right after the dinner / pre-theater rush, as this place is right next to Paramount Theatre. I got the chicken schnitzel and the Practical Magic cocktail. The chicken schnitzel is quite lovely. The potato salad and the pickled cabbage can be a bit tangy but it cuts the fattiness of the chicken schnitzel. I also enjoyed the curry mustard that goes really well with the schnitzel. $32 is a little bit higher than what I would want to pay, but the quality is there. Practical Magic is quite a pretty cocktail - it has gold stars sprinkled on top. It is a more tart drink with beet and a smokiness from the mezcal. I enjoyed it When the bill came, it was quite an interesting check cover since it says Paybill instead of Playbill. Those theater booklets you get in Broadway shows. Service is pretty good. I had a call during dinner but they still made sure to check up on me occasionally and filled water frequently. It's also nice to see even the general manager serving customers - there is no delineation of responsibilities - looks like everyone helps one another out to ensure a good dining experience. Love that read more

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They change their food and drink menu often. The beet salad is wonderful. Everyone is attentive. We have never wanted anything different when we visit. The owner walks around to the patrons and talks to us. What a personal touch! Their prices are very reasonable. We had the beet Appetizer, two alcohol drinks each, entrees- the salmon and ribs. read more

After a long day at a work conference, a colleague and I were looking for a nearby spot to grab a quick sit-down dinner close to our hotel. We landed on The Carlile Room based mostly on its Yelp rating and a few reviews (note to self: always check the menu first ). In hindsight, I realized the menu is pretty limited for someone who's gluten-free and doesn't eat pork, so my options were slim. I ended up with a classic "girl dinner" - a salmon Caesar salad and French fries . The salmon portion was generous and flavorful, though the salad itself was on the smaller side. The fries were solid and came out hot, which is always appreciated. For cocktails, I ordered the Practical Magic (mezcal, Campari, and beet). I was a little nervous about the beet element, but it was actually delightful and well-balanced . Overall, the food was decent and quick, but nothing particularly memorable, especially for the price point. That said, the service really stood out. Our server was attentive, funny, and gave great recommendations, which definitely elevated the experience . The space itself is cool, rustic, and spacious, and midway through dinner we learned that The Carlile Room is a popular pre-show spot for performances across the street (which we somehow missed upon arrival... long day, okay? ). Would I go out of my way to dine here? Probably not. But if you're staying nearby or need something convenient before a show, it's a solid option based on proximity. read more

The Carlile Room - Practical Magic - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came here to have something to eat and to hang out while our teen daughter was at a show. I will say the place is cute, the decor, the big windows, all of that was great. The menu was very small. I'm a pretty picky eater I will say that, and they didn't really have anything for calling it American food etc.. They also didn't have ranch or BBQ for dipping just a heads up. It'd be a cute place to have some drinks but maybe go elsewhere for food. The food also wasn't great. We both had burgers and friends and we weren't impressed. read more

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We were running short on time before a show. Luckily they were able to seat us at the bar right away. We decided to make a quick meal out of starters: fries, root vegetable salad, szechuan shrimp, baked cheese. The fries were bangers. The baked cheese was good, served with foccacia, but the amount of cheese was disproportionally low for the amount of bread. Really wish there had been more cheese. The seasoning for the shrimp was great but it was heavy-handed on the fish sauce, the guanciale was a little overdone, and the shrimp themselves tasted a bit gamey. The root vegetable salad was a complete miss, just bitter and unappetizing (though it was pretty with nice colors. Service was fast and friendly. Prices were high but it's Seattle. Ambiance was nice. I think we would have been happier if we hadn't been pressed for time and had gotten entrees. read more

We stopped in at The Carlile Room for a pre-show dinner before catching a musical nearby, and while the evening had its bright spots, it left us feeling a little mixed overall. The restaurant has a genuinely great vibe -- the space feels lively and polished, exactly what you'd want for a night out on the town -- and the prices are fair for what you're getting. It checked a lot of the right boxes on paper. The food was mostly a success. The focaccia was wonderful, and the Caesar salad was exactly what you want from a classic -- crisp, well-dressed, and satisfying. The Sichuan Peppercorn Shrimp, though, was a bit of a letdown; we expected bold, punchy heat and instead got something surprisingly muted. The mains were largely excellent: the Chicken Schnitzel and Umbrian Pork Sausage & Beef Ragu were both standouts, the Flat Iron Steak & Fries and New York Strip were very good -- though the Strip came out undercooked relative to how it was ordered, which was a small but noticeable miss. The Maafe rounded things out nicely. We finished with the Strawberry Milk Tart for dessert, which was the highlight of the meal -- truly excellent, and a lovely touch that it came out complimentary in honor of my wife's birthday. Where things fell short was the service. Our server was friendly and warm, but the pacing was noticeably slow -- not ideal when you have a curtain time to make. It added a layer of stress to what should have been a relaxed, celebratory evening. Finally, the odor of the baked cheese dish that came out of the kitchen multiple times was really pungent and unpleasant. Given the combination of service hiccups and a few small culinary misses amid otherwise good food, we're not sure we'd rush back. There are plenty of other spots in Seattle that hit the same notes with a bit more consistency. read more

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I'm a bit perplexed on how to write this review. On one hand, I like so many things about the Carlile Room but then on the other hand the experience was tarnished by other things. Allow me to explain as best I can... The host at here should also be the trainer of the staff because his fondness of the restaurant and his knowledge of the menu was outstanding. We came after Jerry Seinfeld did his standup across the street. The host knew who we were even though he'd never met us. Very impressive. What he missed is we were there for a special occasion (anniversary) and even though that was in the reservation, we were placed in the middle of the restaurant. The entire time we were there, none of the cozy booths by the windows were utilized. We weren't really sure who our server was when she came by to bring us water. She never took the time to introduce herself or provide any feedback to set up our experience. The special Seinfeld menu was never handed to us but because we saw it in the window, we asked for it. We ended up ordering off the normal menu. We ordered the bread because we were starving. It came with balsamic and olive oil but not quite enough. It was delicious. The server disappeared for a very long time. The host walked around and refilled water and he was very engaging. We asked him for more balsamic, which was delivered quickly thereafter. He added they make the bread there fresh. I wanted to take some home--so good! The food arrived with no pomp or circumstance, yet that server didn't know who belonged to what plate--seems like something that would be known at this price point. They really have no system for this? The crusted salmon I had was absolutely incredible. I ate it so slowly because it was so delicious. How did they make those greens taste so good? It all worked together quite well. My other half had a pasta dish that was also quite delicious. Our experience reminded us why it's worth coming over the lake to Seattle because the Eastside doesn't have any American food restaurants that are worth visiting, other than Von's and Russell's. That said, I would've expected more of an experience from this establishment. Anniversary wasn't acknowledged, the server had absolutely no personality--she was pleasant but just no flare at all. If she worked at a diner, I would've given her a decent tip, but she works at a quality restaurant, so her mediocre performance gained her a mediocre tip. I don't know why we all put up with these lousy dining experiences in the greater Seattle area. Perhaps we're all too passive and just let it slide? Perhaps they aren't aware and nobody gives them feedback? No restaurant at this price point would survive in the Bay Area with this malaise-approach to service. This attitude, as if they're doing us a favor because they exist, is simply unacceptable. Ok, back to The Carlile Room... I've already recommended it to 4 other people because of the food and location. Hopefully, the lame service we received was an anomaly. I will return but for now the 4-stars given are for the kitchen because the food was do darn good! read more

The Carlile Room - Crusted Salmon and greens were so flavorfull! - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hadn't been here for a few years, but Experience Hendrix was at the Paramount! I had a good "Hendrix" dirty martini, and husband had Stoup Robust Porter, which he liked. We started with the Fritto Misto, which was scallops and calamari, with pickled celery and jimmy nardello peppers, whatever they are. Almost all were delicious, the last one really hot! We were so excited I forgot to take a picture! Then Heirloom Tomato Salad, with a mysterious pistachio butter that was so good! Wanted to lick the plate! Peach Toast had amazing flavors, would have been better if it was actually toast, as the bread got soggy. Service was excellent from the moment we walked in. read more

The Carlile Room - Peach toast - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food was very good. Service was ok. It got really busy and a large group was sat in the section I was in so the server got really busy. Overall it's a nice restaurant with a nice atmosphere. read more

The Carlile Room - Chicken Schnitzel - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Overpriced food, amateurish service, cramped seating and entrance area. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! Pros: Complimentary champagne for our visit (anniversary dinner). Chicken wings (starter) - flavorful and good ratio of meat to skin/fat/bone. Chicken schnitzel (add-on for Caesar salad) - $15 but cooked well and flavorful. Fries were decent. Proximity to Paramount Theater (across street) - but honestly I would've rather walked a few extra blocks for better food/prices and service. Cons: Strangely under-staffed for a busy Saturday evening. Management: hello? Martini took 20 minutes to receive. By that time I'd lost my enthusiasm to order a red wine for my steak (which would've been a disgusting pairing anyway - see below). Focaccia - boring sliced loaf, barely toasted, minimally inspired. We weren't offered individual plates for our bread or chicken wings starter. Wtf? Our server otherwise checked on us minimally. Busy night, yes -- but also maybe anticipate and staff your restaurant better? Caesar salad - just "OK" and difficult to justify price starting at $20 without (!) any protein. Steak frites - worst $50 fat- and gristle-ridden cut I've ever had; comes with funky gravy sauce and zero finesse. Bottom line: We'd hoped for a solid dining experience given the menu and other reviews, but instead we endured the food, service, and comfort of a B-rate wanna-be "grill." Tom Douglas should be ashamed of himself. Find another spot and thank me later. read more

I really wanted to like this restaurant - I had seen the mixed reviews but had a soft spot for the food and drinks. Sadly, I wish that I would have followed my fellow Yelpers, but alas, I thought I knew better. Overall, the best word to describe my drinks is "fine." I told that to the server and his reply was "sometimes fine is all you need." I should have let that lead my experience and left after that, but I didn't. First, it was pretty busy since there was a show that evening across the street. While I was seated quickly, the service suffered through most of the experience. I'm not sure if they were short staffed or just unprepared for the rush of people, but it was apparent everyone was running around. I'd like to offer a shoutout to the food runner from that evening, on multiple occasions I saw him presenting people their bills and handling payment. For me specifically, he took one of my orders as he was next to me with another customer. Moving on to the food and drink...the beets were quite good, nothing all that special, but a nice portion of a classic. If I were to go back, that would be the only thing that I would get. The brussels sprouts were quite salty, but were quite bland beyond that. As for both drinks, neither were good, honestly, but I don't remember their names to warn you, dear reader. Sadly, I wanted more with such a cute ambiance, I'm hopeful it was an off night, but I'm not sure I'll be back to find out. read more

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A very nice experience. The Schnitzel was cooked just right. The Pot o Creme dessert finished off the meal well. Was able to part just a block away. Service was very good: from the time I walked in the door to the time I finished my meal. read more

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Super wonderful service and I loved the interaction with service staff including management. We needed to have a quick bite before the show at paramount started and everywhere else had long lines. We were seated quickly and kindly. I think my only problem is the price and the quality of food. I ordered the ceaser salad and added chicken fried on it. 30 dollars. But the chicken was papersize thin.... I just don't think I will be back for food but maybe post show for drinks. read more

The Carlile Room - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Service was excellent. Ambience was really nice and the food was really good. We ordered wings and fondue with the cheese for apps. Our group had the eggplant fusilli, baby back ribs, and the steak all enjoyed the meals. Highly recommend the coconut cake for dessert. read more

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We came here for a friend's birthday before going out for the night. We ordered drinks and a bunch of appetizers to share. But I was pretty hungry, so I ordered a steak for myself, which was pretty good. Everything was really good. We all enjoyed it, and nothing was left on the table. read more

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The good part? Everything!! It was all fantastic. The bad part? I forgot to take pics of the food - it was too good to pause before devouring! (Which is actually a good thing!) We started off with a pimento cheese ball on happy hour. You just don't find pimento often in the PNW. The pimento cheese ball was served over honey and pepper jelly with saltines. You got a good cheese to saltine ratio, but I could have used a few more saltines. It had a nice pickled veggie accompaniment- which was very tangy, very tasty!! Hubs and I shared the Hangar Steak - substituting veggies for fries. Our server highly recommended the hanger steak (our 2nd choice was the schnitzel). He kept commenting on the deep red cut of meat. The chef offered us a side Caesar salad as the veggie substitution before we were served - we appreciated it. And let me tell you.... the Caesar dressing was amazing. Nice crisp croutons, fresh romaine, I would definitely recommend and I would order again. The highlight of the event was the Hangar Steak!! We ordered it medium rare, it was deep red, well prepared and so delicious. Definitely recommend the Hangar Steak!! I want to go back right now and order it again. Highly recommend!! read more

The Carlile Room - Let's get happy! - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

They were accommodating to my gluten issues (celiac) but outside of that I struggle to find anything positive to say about my dining experience. The prices are outrageous for what you get, even for the area. I ordered the beets and the burger and maybe that is on me for ordering a 25 dollar burger but I didn't feel like dropping 40+ on an entree either. The beets were well cooked but just swimming in oil that made the dish unappetizing. As far as beet dishes go it ranks pretty low with places like Homer or Tavolàta having much better dishes. The burger was so basic, nothing stood out to make it even a 15 dollar burger let alone 25. It was so unremarkable I can't say much more about it. They did sub a salad for my fries because of my celiac but the salad was just swimming in dressing and grated parm to the point where I was trying to scrape dressing off the individual leaves of lettuce. I would skip this one. read more

It was our first night in Seattle, we were tired and hungry, so we decided to have dinner here since it was fairly close to our hotel. We ordered the smoked salmon pâté with kettle chips. The pâté was ok but the kettle chips were extremely salty. The Carlisle burger was pretty good but the french fries were also extremely salty. What's with the obsession with too much salt? Service was good, staff were very nice. Overall, it's overpriced and not a place we'd go back to again. 3 stars for service. read more

I've eaten here 3 times over a few years and each time I'm reminded why I should have passed on coming back. First, the menu is seriously overpriced. salmon on a Caesar salad for $38 and there is absolutely nothing special about the salad except that not a single piece of lettuce has been cut. It's a quarter head of lettuce dressing and salmon. Bucatini for $34. You can call pasta a fancy name but it's still pasta. On several occasions I've asked for simple changes to accommodate my Celiac wife. "Oh no chef won't do that." i get the sense that staff fears asking chef or that chef does not want to exercise the slightest bit of flexibility to accommodate customers. Given how little on the menu is gluten free that's disappointing. Chicken breast is pretty easy to make without making it into schnitzel for example. And before the pushback comes about how complicated life is at a restaurant yes we both have worked in restaurants and we eat at plenty - with highly reputable chefs. You can have processes, standards and be more accommodating. Location is awesome though when going to a show, which is why I've tried a few times. Until there's a change in chef, menu, and pricing, I won't be coming back. read more

The location is central and the views were incredible. The food and staff were very good. I will go back soon.

Service was a bit slow, but it was just before showtime at the Paramount across the street so was to be expected. after that crowd left we were nearly the only ones in the restaurant and service was fantastic! I must add that we were about 20 minutes late for our reservation and they were very accommodating. The food was excellent. I would certainly eat there again. read more

What here before the show for wicked the musical since the theater is right across the street, and service was so incredible - they have themed decorations up and the servers were so sweet! I would recommend the baked Cheese appetizer and the burger, with the pair and cheese was so sweet and savory while the burger was one of my favorites i've had. it was even better than the famous au cheval!! Would come back again! read more

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I came here for dinner with 5 of my coworkers! It's a perfect spot for doing family style with everyone. We ordered everything on the menu and everything was really flavorful and came out so quick. I loved the Cesar salad and flank steak. They have a huge wine list too which we loved! Servers were very tentative and were really sweet to us! Restaurant is more on the bistro moody vibe and it was easy to hold conversations. We can't wait to come back! Giving it a 4 as I've had better food in Seattle but overall a good go to spot. read more

The Carlile Room - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Good food and great management. They brought out a dish that was not to my friends liking they first was a little hesitant but then decided not to charge for it . Manager has discernment. One dish reimbursed made all the difference to have our group of 20-24 normal size come back again. We appreciated his acknowledgement and apology. Salmon did not taste as good and fresh as usual. He rectified the matter, that is the manager. Great job! read more

I wanted to like this place more than I did...the atmosphere was cozy but it was WAY too crowded and even though I had a seat at the bar I felt like I was back in college trying to dodge elbows and shoves from behind as others were vying for either a seat or to get the bartender's attention to order a drink. I didn't try the food this time out of respect for my personal space, but I think this is going to be relegated as a place to grab a quick drink before heading to the theatre if not going elsewhere beforehand for dinner or cocktails. read more

Good place to eat before a Paramount performance. Great service, nice cuisine, fun beverages. The Pavlova sweet is one I advise. read more

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I was there for Wednesday night dinner with five friends. The food was excellent. I had the best chicken schnitzel I've eaten and a really nice blueberry corn salad. (The pot of creme dessert was only so-so.) It was an excellent meal. The big downside is the noise -- it's a noisy place and it was hard to hold a conversation. read more

Popped in for a later dinner since we got in later than expected due to a flight delay. Our party of 5 was seated immediately. No wait on a Friday night?! Done! I'm there, feed me! Their burger and fries hit just the right spot after a day of traveling. Cooked medium rare, it was a juicy, classic, tasty burger. Staff were attentive and friendly, service was fast, and the place was literally a block from our hotel (the Paramount). Ambience was so relaxing and unchaotic, just the right vibe to hang out with friends on a Friday night. Simple, delicious, and relaxing. What more could we ask for on our first night to decompress? Thanks Carlile Room! read more

The Carlile Room - Short menus usually mean good food - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great pre-show dinner before anything at the Paramount. Creative, tasty, and consistent. Great service, and fun drinks. We are planning to leave room for coconut cream pie next time. read more

Grabbed a burger and fries at the bar. Good meal, excellent service. Great music that wasn't too loud. You could actually have conversations! Nice long bar and lots of tables. read more

The Carlile Room - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great food, awesome staff and service, delicious drinks, and flexible with my reservation change. I ALWAYS recommend The Carlile Room when people ask for dinner recommendations in Seattle. read more

I was wowed by my drink's container, it came in a shell. Peach salad was delicious, as was the salmon with puréed cauliflower and vegetables. I think that dish has shrimp paste. Dessert was awesome. The waitress was friendly and helpful, and we were comfortably seated on two high chairs by a high table. read more

Located right outside the famous Seattle Paramount theater, the Carlile sees it all and have it all. They ALLOW children which for me is a huge PLUS! They are friendly and attentive...and the ambiance is interesting, but not intimate. It's a great spot for before or after show eats and especially cocktails. Their menu of cocktails was impressive. We decided to go here to wait out I-5 traffic, but it was perfect. read more

The Carlile Room - My favorite!!! We ordered two of them! Mushroom appetizer...it has morels, the server will know what it is. - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I love so much about this restaurant. Tom Douglas does it again. The service is exceptional. The creative drink menu and mixology is remarkable. The menu is to my liking . Although limited, there is a great dish for everyone. I think this is how TD stays excellent. Do a selection wonderfully, and that they do. The chicken schnitzel was plentiful and perfectly cooked with a fennel- forward breading. The salmon was flavorfully charred with a smoky but not smoked flavor depth. The coconut pie - well there is a reason this Dahlia bakery star is famous . read more

This is a great place to meet with friends before seeing a show at Paramount. I arrived on a Friday around 6pm (our show started at 7:30) and found my friend seated at the bar which was pretty much empty. I was surprised to find the restaurant probably only about 50% full at this time, with no one seated at the bar. I was quickly given menus and the bartenders and servers were all so friendly and attentive. I ordered wine while chatting with my friend awhile before deciding I could use a small meal before the show. I ordered the red mole pulpo and that fit the bill! It was flavorful and tender, though I wished for a bit larger a portion for the price but it was actually the perfect amount of food for what I was looking for. I also wish there were a few more options of small plates like this or perhaps more shareable appetizers for chatting away with friends after work to make this place really perfect. Overall, cute restaurant with good vibes, great service, and tasty food. read more

The Carlile Room - Red Mole Pulpo - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The glow of the Paramount Theatre marquee, can be seen from almost any table in the restaurant. The ambiance of the Carlile Room is a casual with a kiss of sophistication with well balanced cocktails. The groovey 60s/70 chandlers, the art coat racks. The Carlile serves modern-American menu. Love the ode to the theater also with the way the check came in a play bill. My husband and I decided to skip lunch and we had a larger dinner, we order the goat cheese fondu to start, and the ahi tuna with the scallion pancake. Entree he had the flank steak and I had salmon. Cocktails: I had the sangria, hint of cinnamon from the cinnamon syrup which gave it a kiss of sweet with the red wine full bodied. Would give it an overall 4/5. The old fashion my husband ordered was well balanced only negative was. I don't believe the orange zest was the freshest as you couldn't smell it. Not all to bring out the flavors in the drink you rub the zest around the rim and drop in. 4/5 for the drink overall.. My husband had a dirty dry martini was definitely lackluster on the dirty the drink was ehh the garnish was also not very good 3/5. Last cocktail was a Manhattan was so amazing so smooth and perfectly balanced 5/5. Appetizers: goat cheese fondu was served with grill focaccia, pear, apple and fennel. The rich goat cheese fondue was cut by the garlicky, slightly charred bread and crispy tart apple. If on the menu order it's a must have 5/5 Ahi tuna with the scallion pancake was good.. the pancake was little lacking in flavor but the tuna was fresh was a solid 3/5. Entree: flank steak with cheese toast and French onion jus. Was perfectly cooked was like an upscale modern take on an awesome steak sand which 5:5. Salmon was cooked perfectly medium rare the escarole was good, the dill oil with the celery root purée was super tasty 4/5. Our server was so polite, knew the menu and made great recommendations for what to order. This place is awesome for date night, anniversary or any occasion. read more

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Comfortable room close to the Convention Center. The cocktails are creative and the food is tasty. If you're in the area this is a good option. The staff is helpful and attentive. read more

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This restaurant has a very eclectic menu. With the exception of the burger and steak, the menu items are very eclectic and unique. It works for some, but it doesn't work for me. The pluses are the service and the ambiance. The service is attentive. The location is perfect if you're attending a show nearby. However, I would highly recommend other food venues in the immediate area if you are seeking a more normal menu selection. Also, my last meal was a disappointment--the schnitzel had burnt edges and it was much too thin for the way it was prepared. The serrated knife that was provided with this dish was well used despite the thinness of the meat. I also felt the cookie was too hard. The mitake mushroom was too complicated. I felt they could have nixed the sauce and the sundry of ingredients served with it. I've been here before and had a decent meal. Sadly, this meal did not live up to my expectations. read more

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I was shown the love by Team Carlile today. Thanking all y'all. And this burger: Top Ten Reasons AI Ain't Winnin Shit. read more

The food is really delicious. We actually went here twice because it was so good! We had the pasta and some kind of chicken dish. That was delicious. They also have a really good coconut pie. The service was very efficient and friendly. I was actually surprised at how fast it was and for someone who has to work long hours, it was really nice to get a really quick little dinner and get to bed a little earlier. The ambience of this place is really cool. It kind of reminds me of the 1950s like mid century modern kind of funky very sleek at the same time I really liked it. read more

The Carlile Room - The punch bowl - New American Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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