This would be a great place, the view is nice and the location is convenient, if the food was better and the service greatly improved. Takes a long time to get service, one time waited over 40 minutes before even given a menu. like previous commenters I've also been put off by cold wait staff. All fish menu options are really skimpy on the fish part, burger for the price is also very basic. It's such an easy place to meet up with a group it's too bad it's always a bit disappointing. If you have two hours to eat you could do worse. read more

I made the mistake of bringing out-of-town guests here because they wanted a place with some interesting seafood options. The food was mediocre at best, and the service was atrocious. Our actual server was pleasant, if not particularly attentive, but the service experience when we had an issue with the food was far below what I expect from any restaurant, especially one with these prices. One of my guests got the crab ravioli. The pasta was seriously undercooked to the point of basically being inedible. We called the manager over and told him. He argued with us that it was "al dente," and that's the way it was prepared. I told him I've had al dente pasta, and this was just plain undercooked, and demonstrated how hard it was to cut through the ravioli. He asked my guest if she wanted to order something else, and my guest said she wanted this, but cooked. He finally took it back to the kitchen. A minute or two later, he returned and told us they were preparing a new one, but it would be several minutes. My other guest and myself, meanwhile, had our entrees. I asked him if she could get a small salad or something while she waited. He asked her if she would like to purchase a salad! I said that it seemed to me she should not have to pay for it. He very reluctantly offered her a choice of mixed greens or a Caesar salad. For my meal, I got the seared ahi salad. For $17.50, I expect more than a normal-sized salad bowl with 4-5 small pieces of ahi in it. The ahi was tasty and nicely prepared, and the sweet wasabi dressing was really tasty, but it was a disappointment overall, with the small portion size for an entree salad price. It was my guests' last night in town, and we normally would have ordered dessert, but I decided to take them home for ice cream instead. read more

My friends and I had great food and great service. The lime taco was tremendous! Some of the reviews were pretty old so we decided to check it out first hand. Definitely will go again! read more

Always seem way under staffed. We left after waiting ten min for sodas. Ten min to seat us. Two staff members

We went here for an office lunch-I picked the place to treat the staff. I have been here a few times and had the salmon it was pretty good but let's be honest it's a pretty basic dish.i decidedto try something new and the waitress said her favorite was coconut prawns with curry so many of us ordered it. It was awful. None of us could eat much of it-yuck. It's was not coconut prawns but just regular prawns and it was supposed to be with veggies but only stringy onions and mushy brocolli. She said the curry was really light but it was drowning in so much curry. Don't order this! Everyone else said their food wasn't very good either. Beautiful view so that gets the stars. Marginal service at best. So much potential. Need to really step it up! Avocado fries are amazing. So I'll go back for those and to support local business. Stick to fish and chips or salmon tho read more

Kick ass Diablo Burger with added bacon here. Nothing short on taste. One of the best I've ever had. The fries are top notch. Excellent atmosphere too. Friendly service to boot! read more

The Loft Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Visited the other night and was thoroughly impressed. Great location with a great view of the harbor anywhere you sit. Great clam chowder, with a solid fish and chips (I prefer my fish in a different batter, but that's a personal thing. Still tasted great.) The service was absolutely top-notch, with our servers checking in regularly without hovering or interrupting conversation. Highly recommended. read more

Don't get me wrong, I love the loft. The food is good and normally the service is too. But tonight I was really disappointed with the hosting service. Obviously they were busy since it's the first nice day in what seems like 10 years, but the girl told us our only option was to sit in the bar, (only one bar table open, covered with someone else's dishes) even though there were a few tables open in the dining area and people getting up to leave. Rather than asking if we could wait for a table she tells us, "I'm the only hostess tonight and I don't have time to clean a table." I've been a hostess and I know how hectic it can get, but that's when your staff should work as a team to keep a steady flow. Not impressed. read more

Great place to kick back, enjoy a couple drinks and good food! Happy hour is awesome, you can't beat the quality for the price. The location is also prime, overlooking the bay and marina. A "Must Go" in Bellingham. read more

Started out with two different folks telling us we could. It just sit in the bar after 6. What's with that?? Most bars are open seating so hey get with the program!! Wait staff was great though and we had a delicious meal and drinks. I had the Thai salad which was huge and delicious. My friend had the fish and chips which was awesome. Great location and we might come again if they can reduce the need for approval to sit at the bar.,,,, read more

Just had a fantastic meal and time at The Loft. Our waiter was a rock star. My friend and I had the halibut tacos.. absolutely delicious, fresh perfect. My other friend had a bowl of chowder and side salad which was pretty big for a side salad but also fresh and her chowder was "delicious ". My sis had the seafood salad, which had more seafood than salad and very flavorful. The chocolate cake is to die for, peanut butter pie light and frothy and the berry cobbler was like no other. read more

when we first went there the food was good. then its either management, a deceptive chef or lack of business but there trying to pass off halibut and chips using cod... i was a chef for 20 years and a seafood manager at haggens for 6.... halibut dont flake... well prob never go there again. read more

Great happy hour menu. Fish tacos and a Shoe toss IPA never disappoints. My one complaint is the bar stools are uncomfortable and the tables rock. read more

This place has Amazing food and the best happy hour prices in town for what you get hands down! Cant beat the view either!

Let me be the first to say that I have not had the experience that others are describing here. Yes the location is amazing (simply gorgeous views of the bay and the marina, rain or shine) and the interior is simple and stylish. I've been going to The Loft Sundays for happy hour for a few months now, and the main reasons are quite simply the staff and the food. Teresa, Jessica, Leighanna, Chelsea...really all of them...are fantastic wait staff. They've taken the time to learn my name. They ask how my week was. I get a sincere "How are you?" when I enter and an equally sincere "Have a great week" when I leave. Another couple of weeks like this and I'll have to send them all Christmas card. Your mileage may vary, but I can't believe it would vary that much. The happy hour menu has to be the best deal in town. I can get a Loft burger with a side Caesar salad and 2 Ridgetop Red beers for under $20 (including tip). The burger and salad are wonderful; the fish tacos are excellent. They've also got a great deal during Seahawks games with reduced prices on pints for each touchdowns (and plenty of screens to watch the games). Cheers! read more

The food and service was amazing. I really enjoyed my time here and I feel all the food was fresh and effort was really put in to make my experience great. read more

This place has become one of my favorite spots for dinner or lunch. Everything I've ordered has been delicious and fresh tasting, great variety on the menu for both food and drinks, great service and atmosphere. In the summer the outside area is a treat to dine on with the nice view right on the water. Great happy hour as well. My favorite thing on the menu so far has been the fish tacos and the avocado fries but everything I've tried has been spectacular. read more

The server was very nice and the view was wonderful. Good price for Happy Hr. wine Menu items were almost All spicy/or hot!! My sweet potato fries (at 3$ upcharge) were the worst I've ever eaten. I think they were old and reheated. :( read more

We go here often. Great views of the Bay. Several food and local drink choices. The clams are my favorite! SO good. Always great service.

Mediocre food at best, manager was rude and inappropriate. Bad vibe.. don't recommend!

I guess it's the first weekend but you can totally tell. I upped to 2 starts because there were some good points. + Carne asada tacos were awesome. flavorful, hot, yummy! + Bloody Mary's were excellent as well. Perfect spice and great for a warm day. + Fish & Chips: fish was excellent, a little overcooked but great flavor. (Read about chips later...) + View- fantastic. Right by the boat dock, fun viewing, outdoor seating. + Prices were okay. Less expensive than other restaurants nearby. + Music was good. - Food took way too long to come out for what it was. - Hamburger was overcooked, nothing special here. - Chips from the Fish & Chips were nasty! So greasy, basically inedible. - Waitstaff need training with communication and professionalism. They were not well organized and pretty rude. NOT a great first impression by any means. I was ready to leave before being seated, but my family insisted. - Chairs were SO uncomfortable. Just these wooden slabs that made your but fall asleep in 10 minutes. - Water pitcher they use is so heavy! (stupid thing to complain about) But a little ole lady will not be able to lift it. I MIGHT return, but after they work the kinks out. It appears that a restaurant novice designed all the details, but never tried them out themselves so it's not a very pleasurable experience. read more

Great location and terrible food. If you are looking for a great view that comes with a bowel obstruction, then look no further! Let me tell you, these ribs are dryer than Oscar Wilde, those happy hour chimichangas are what you could make at home, and if you have any questions for the wait staff just wait for the hesitation and confusion! Ive always wanted a place where I could experience a stroke and Alzheimer syndrome all in one. read more

Great drink and food at a beautiful bar and lounge. Blake and his staff will more than make you feel at home here. Catch the game or come to celebrate, this place has it. read more

Below average food in uncomfortable setting - Don't Waste your Time or $ Cons: - food not very good - menu all over the place (Asian, Mexican, pub food) - with lots of misspelling - kind of comical & highly unprofessional - seating unbelievably uncomfortable - believe the reviews - my ass hurt - limited beverages - kitchen unaccommodating - no value Pros: - lovely view and location - servers nice read more

The Loft could, one day, be the setting of a pleasant restaurant that calls you back repeatedly. But for now, food-wise, it's like Amateur Hour. It will take a committed owner -- who has the courage to invest in a well-trained chef -- if this is to change. The restaurant's marinaside location, and its handsome minimalist decor, gave us hope for a positive experience. We were greeted by a cheerful hostess, and our waitress seemed considerate and pleasant. Our expectations were further raised by a mostly appealing-sounding (albeit ambitious) menu of fusiony-type foods. Our hopes started to fade as we waited too long to be served -- no excuse, because there were only two other tables of guests. Upon our food's arrival, the kitchen's unprofessionalism (or, worse, possibly the owner's lack of caring) was immediately apparent. The under-dressed beet salad was served with greens that should have been composted two days earlier. The bisque (carrot-ginger, I think it was supposed to be) should have been silky-smooth and puréed; instead, it was crudely blended, almost chunky enough to be a stew. And where, oh where, was the intense, deeply reduced flavor that is the hallmark of a bisque? Attention, Chef: If you don't know what a bisque is, just call it a "soup." The seafood Caesar salad sounded interesting -- a sauté of prawns, salmon, halibut, and scallops on top of a Caesar salad. In fairness, this seafood mélange was the best dish of the night, but that's not saying much. Inexplicably, the dressing was mixed in with the seafood -- and the romaine lettuce itself was dry and completely undressed. Huh? What's the thinking behind that, especially since every diner will be forced to mix the plate themselves? Furthermore, the presentation of both the beet and Caesar salads showed almost no consideration for the diner: They both looked like "plate it and get it out," with little attempt to visually balance the components, or otherwise make the dishes enticing to the eye. Our children ordered the calamari, as well as the fish and chips. The squid was terribly rubbery, with a soggy batter, and tasted like it had been thawed in a fridge for a day before cooking. The fish looked like it started as a decent piece of cod, but it too was ruined by an overly greasy batter. Even the fries were greasy and limp. If I had to guess, the oil simply wasn't hot enough by 25°. Attention, Chef: Proper oil temperature (and not crowding the fryer) is essential for crisp foods that don't sag with oil. Bellingham is a fantastic place to live. But for some reason, the city tolerates an amateurish level of restaurant quality that would be driven out of business overnight in Vancouver or Seattle. Given that our sad dining experience at The Loft applied across six varied and equally disappointing dishes, it's impossible to dismiss any one dish as an unlucky pick from the menu. Attention, owner: Does this concern you? I hope so -- there's still time to turn your lovely-looking space into something great. You could do it. You could become a cherished destination for tourists and faithful locals alike. But you'll need to care enough to change, starting with more-experienced talent in the kitchen. If not, then I suppose The Loft will just be one more lousy restaurant, doomed to fail or maybe get by on the booze sales, in one of the planet's most beautiful small cities. read more

Let me start by saying that my family has dined at this establishment several times with no complaint at all. The food is great, the service is good, and the fact that they make it a kid-friendly dining experience is a huge plus. That said, we had dinner there last night again - my father-in-law, husband, toddler, and myself. Our server was great - very friendly and accommodating. However, about 10 minutes after we arrived, the lights were dimmed. A lot. And five minutes later, the lights were dimmed again. To the point where keeping an eye on my 2-yr old was challenging because it was difficult to see. I asked the hostess to turn the lights up, and was met with attitude and a flippant, "Our owner told me to turn them down," to which I gently responded that I was having a hard time seeing my child. She very grudgingly turned the lights up a bit (not enough, but a little), and I didn't want to make a huge deal about it so I went and sat down. Then I noticed that an older couple by the windows was having to use the flashlight app on their iPhone to read the menu! At this point, my husband went over to talk to the owner, a man in a gray sweatshirt sitting at the bar, to mention the issue. He was met with a very rude "Yeah? So?" This is a business...we are the customers. If they can't accommodate those of us (on a Tuesday night, no less) with a little more light - a very minor request that doesn't take away from the ambiance of the location in the slightest - they are going to start losing business, starting with my family. Which is sad, because we have loved dining there up to this point. The behavior last night on the part of the owner (and that of the hostess, who didn't have to flip me attitude for making a simple request for more light) was unacceptable. read more

Wow. What a strange place. My husband and I were told by the hostess that it would be a 10 minute wait. That's fine, we walked around outside for a bit and came back. We were seated at a dirty table that was empty when we first walked into the place 10 minutes earlier. It was another 10 minutes before we were served by anyone. I worked in the business for about 10 years, and it appeared as though the majority of the staff were either very new, or they were understaffed without a proper/efficient FOH supervisor in place. My husband noted that there was some extreme micro-managing going down by the bar. I just laughed. The room is nice, and the server was pretty good, and I realize none of the experience we had was her fault (she doesn't own the place), but like other reviewers mentioned, it lacks direction. The menu is all over the place. I ordered the Chicken Avocado Melt. It came out with undercooked fries and it was thick pieces of sourdough toast with a thin slice of chicken breast in the centre, and about 2 thin slices of a small avocado on either piece of toast. Either order small pieces of bread, or increase the portion size of the chicken. The chicken also tasted like pre-grilled chicken breast which was simply microwaved to order. I like simple food, but I'm not sure why the title of the dish had the word avocado in it considering the avocado was treated more like a slight garnish rather than a feature. I could have made it better at home, so I sent it back and ordered something different. My husband had the fish and chips. His fries were much better than mine (because they were cooked), but the fish definitely didn't have a beer batter on it. It was slightly burnt, and only covered about 3/4 of the fish pieces. Just disappointing for the cost. Again, we likely could have made better at home. We were offered a free dessert considering I had to have my meal 10 minutes after my husband had his. When I was in the industry, it was standard to comp the screwed up order. Maybe it's a cost thing, but also, try harder, and then these issues wouldn't happen. Without knowing anything about the owner of this place, or the chef, I'm going to wager that the owner is a business person with little prior exposure to running an actual restaurant so they micro manage cost, portion, and menu when they really have no business doing so. The vibe I got from this place was "Restaurant owned by accountant". Will not be back. read more

The drinks are great! The food is overpriced and disappointing. Paid $2 extra for "garlic" fries only to be served a plate of regular fries with two cloves of garlic buried underneath and cheese unnecessarily sprinkled on top. Their burgers are subpar and the szechuan chicken was basically an $18 lean cuisine. Will not go back, would rather spend the money at one of the better restaurants nearby. read more

The Loft Restaurant - "Garlic" fries (two cloves of garlic) - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

I have been going to the Loft since they opened. Most of the time I am very happy, as the setting is beautiful, and their food dishes are usually very tasty. Tonight I wanted to try the arugula beet salad, and asked the waitress about the size, as I intended it to be my meal. She said it was definitely entree size. (I hope so as it was listed for a price of $14.90.) I went ahead and ordered. When the salad came, I was shocked at the small portion. It came in a huge bowl, but only filled the lower section. It was tasty, don't get me wrong... the vinaigrette dressing was delicious, as was the goat cheese. There should have been a LOT more arugula and beets to make me happy. I can't say I cared for the cacao nibs, some type of nut would have tasted better in this salad. read more

Just went there for the third time....I know, I'm an idiot, but I was with two friends who really wanted to try this place even though I told them about my prior experience, which was really bad. We sat down at a table, and waited thirty minutes as wait staff just continually walked right by. This might just be the worst run restaurant I have ever been to. Never again. read more

The view was beautiful of the harbor. The atmosphere on the deck was very loud but cool on a hot day. The happy hour food we ate was good. Lime cilantro tacos, chile jalapeño dip, salmon cakes. Garlic fries were a bit limp but tasty. But the service?? What service? It was almost impossible to get the attention of anyone. They were understaffed and no one even looked our way. Had to even get our own water at the bar. They didn't stop back to see if we needed anything . They really need to properly train their staff better. We'll try it again when they get their act together. Hoping they are successful! read more

I want to like this place more than I did. The setting is cool--surrounded by boats in the marina. The decor is nice--a comfortable industrial vibe. The staff is super friendly. And they were totally set up for kids--coloring supplies and even a treasure chest which was a big hit. The menu had a ton of options. The downside is that the food was just okay. I had a Caesar salad and the dressing was good but wayyy too much of it. My kids ordered chicken nuggets off the kids menu and they were so hard and way too crispy, they couldn't even chew them. My moms fish tacos were a little fishy. My hope is that we ordered wrong and/or caught them on a bad night. I really want to like this place and will give it another try for sure. read more

Two stars for great decor, atmosphere and service. I saw the reviews before we went but we had a deal saver coupon so thought we would give them a chance. The decor is great, wait staff very friendly and service was fast! Unfortunately, the food left much to be desired... We started with very greasy, limp, soggy fries. I had seafood carbonara and it was chunks of a hard, rubbery seafood mix doused in way too much floury, flavorless sauce. My husband ordered the chorizo stuffed prawns. He described it as three hamburger stuffed, over cooked shrimp. No flavor in the "chorizo" at all. Sadly the food doesn't live up to the great location and new decor. Get a new chef and we'll gladly go again! read more

I really wanted to give this review one star, because the service was that terrible. But the food wasn't terrible, thus two stars. We had a party of seven drinking several bottles of wine and all ordering entrees. Our bill was large but the level of service shown was severely lacking, and it wasn't even that busy. I think our server just kept leaving the building maybe? That's the only thing I could come up with because she was never to be found. Ever. This is the third time we have been to the Loft and had such service. It must be a requirement for the job. read more

I won't be returning to the loft. Our food took over an hour because our two top was put in after a 14 top. When it arrived it was mediocre at best. The wait staff was visibly overwhelmed. My date and I we're having a good time so None of this really mattered. We had asked about the desert menu and commented that we would just pop over to Anthony's for desert. My date paid the bill in cash, leaving the waitress a 30$ tip for encouragement. Later that evening the manager showed up at Anthony's where we were getting desert with the police stating that we had shorted our waitress on the bill (!?!?) Apparently she had some personal issue with my date. We absolutely did not and would never short anyone on the bill no matter how bad the food or service. They insisted that it was short and we go back to repay for the aweful experience. I can only spececulate that the waitress pocketed the money because I watched my date put six 20s in the book before we left. This is a very bold move on her part. The manager insisted they couldn't pull up the security footage even though the restaurant is full of security cameras. Why would we say where we were going if we we're gonna short the bill? Over $30? This whole situation wasnt right. We won't be back ever. The last time I tried to eat here was mother's day, I had made a reservation that they called and cancelled an hour before stating they had trouble in their kitchen and couldn't accommodate us. Super last minute. They didn't even give me enough time to find another place to eat. Kind of puts a damper on mother's day. After both of these weird experiences, I would not recommend this place, nor will I ever go back. Hopefully nthe new location is better, I'll never know. I really hope Yelp doesn't filter this review since I have to be logged in a long time and it seems as if my other reviews have disappeared. Maybe they are hanging out wherever those other 20s are. read more

Excellent example of gourmet meals. Excellent drinks. The food and drinks are beautifully artistic displays of excellence. I had the Halibut Oscar. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked. I'm going back for the Ribeye..... read more

The happy hour is good because the food prices match the quality, otherwise you'll pay premium prices for solid mid-grade food. Its not bad, its just not great. I mean, your claim to fame on the waterfront shouldnt be avocado fries if your charging Anthony's prices. read more

I'm really struggling to find any reality to most of the reviews for this restaurant. I think it's stellar and would love to see The Loft get the attention it deserves. I've eaten at Anthony's several times, twice in the restaurant, about a dozen times for happy hour. I think The Loft is on par, and a great alternative to another wonderful restaurant.I've taken several friends and family members who have eaten at such Bellingham classics as La Fiamma, Bob's Burgers, Pho 99, Anthony's, Wasabee's, On Rice, Kyoto, Blue Fin... You get the idea. We know our Bellingham food, and believe The Loft has the potential to join the ranks of quintessential B'ham restaurants. The Good: The atmosphere is nice. There's a gentle breeze in the summer that's very pleasant, and eating outdoors in good weather is fun! They have a nice view of the bay, which turns exceptional around sunset. Food is excellent!!! The chefs at The Loft are the backbone of the restaurant.. They cook a wide variety of food, do it very well, and are able to time several different dishes to be cooked to perfect doneness at the same time. They have served us shrimp, burgers, and ribeye all at once, all perfectly done. An under-emphasized feat in many restaurants, I have found. Here's a list of what we've eaten: Ribeye Steak - Cooked rare, to perfection. Mashed potatoes were awesome. Seafood Chimichanga - The best in town, hands down. Lots of scallop and delicious sauces on top make this California style (not Tex-Mex!) a must try. Diablo Burger - Breaded jalapenos on a burger? Ghost Pepper sauce? Yes please! Burgers at The Loft are tall in part because of the patty shape. Chefs here prefer a smaller diameter and a larger height, giving more opportunity for a medium-rare grill. This is super important, thumbs up! Smash Burger - The patty is made from filet mignon. My brother-in-law and I had this for his birthday and agree that it's a life changing experience. Don't think for even a second that it's a waste of filet. One of the best burgers of my entire life. Seafood Curry - Uniquely acidic as curries go. Almost a cross between yellow and panang style curries, with enough heat to satisfy most tastes. Shrimp was extremely tender, cooked just enough to be done. As it should be! Sweet Potato Fries - They're made with yellow sweet potatoes rather than orange ones, which makes them both starchier and less sweet. Nice if that's your thing, not so much if you were expecting the par for the course. Fried Halibut & Chips - Amazing. One of the best fish & chips in town. Ahi Tuna Tacos - Lightly seared sushi grade tuna. Delicious sauce. Loved it! Their drinks are also amazing, especially the Bloody Mary/Caesar. Comes with pearl onions, olives, pickled asparagus & green bean. Get it with a side of tobasco for some real fun. Long Island Teas are smooth and yummy, and the mojito will get you tipsier than it tastes. Last, but certainly not least, they have a butterscotch pudding dessert that's ridiculously good. One of the only desserts I would ever order at a restaurant. Rich but not inundating, definitely worth the $5. The Bad: Garlic Parmesan Fries - This is where I feel a bit of criticism is needed. The fries are delicious, generous amounts of parmesan and the whole roasted garlic cloves are creamy and wonderful. However, The fries have been soggy in the middle all four times; they should really be spread out and baked on a sheet or something! There is a truffle oil mist applied at the end, but I would like it if even more oil was applied. The service - Generally quite good, but for some reason the gals working the front aren't very good at promptly seating us. There is also a discrepancy regarding whether or not The Loft takes reservations.... Two of my family members have made reservations, but when I called I was told they don't take them. Somebody needs to get them on the same page. The furniture - The booths are great, as are the outside tables. However, the seats are rigid and heavy, making eating anywhere but a booth less comfortable than some other restaurants. Then again, I've been to nice places in town with tiny metal seats that aren't really any better. Definitely room for an upgrade here. All in all, The Loft doesn't deserve its bad reviews anymore. Something has changed, and they deserve the recognition for it. I'm writing this review in hopes that others will give them a first or second chance. You won't be disappointed! read more

Gross, my wine had "gone bad" or maybe it was just bad. My $18 crab salad was anything but fresh it was disgusting and inedible. My husbands steak salad $15 was edible but barley he had to choke it down. We will never eat there Again. Gordon Ramsey would've shut it down before they made someone sick. read more

After very mediocre reviews from friends and a poor lunch a year ago, we were reluctant to return. Fortunately, their deck is such a cool place to hang we had to give it another try. We have now gone to five or six happy hours there with nothing but good results. Good munchies (Fried avocado, ceviche, ahi tacos, calamari, etc). The drinks are also well done, and not watered down tourist stuff. The staff and service have been great each time. We were afraid to return for an actual meal, but went today and were impressed. Had the verde cream enchiladas and the house salad with their raspberry vinaigrette. Very good, once again great service. read more