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The Thirsty Fish

3.9 (127 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

The Thirsty Fish Photos

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THE THIRSTY FISH ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Juke Box
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Thirsty Fish

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Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
Margot B.

Relaxing local joint. The staff was friendly and attentive but did not hover. We were encouraged to enjoy a pint for as long as we liked. On the surface, the menu was pretty standard but the food was high quality and delicious. What they do, they do WELL!

two fish tacos on a white plate
J K.

Great service. Nice outdoor area, although there's a lot of road noise - not too bad though. Great burgers and drinks.

Flip side of brunch menu has lunchy options...
Brian C.

I dig this joint. It's not a dive, but it hovers on the edge. There's a jukebox, a pool table. The bar is in the shape of a giant fishhook, and the taps and 'tails are decent. Good mid and top-shelf hard liquor selections. What keeps them hovering above divedom is the food; definitely a notch above greasy-spoon fare, with excellent salads, creative takes on traditional sandwiches, a great brunch menu with scratch made hollandaise on the Benedicts, and maybe the best tortilla soup you will EVER taste, period. I'm not kidding. You take a spoonful, and you can't stop eating until you're scraping the bottom of the bowl, making nomnom sounds. They make it to order, and IT. IS. BOMB! Missing star for chilly interior temperatures, small cleanliness details. Recommended for brunch and light dinner, and as a great off-the-beaten-path place to meet friends.

Fries
Austin W.

Every neighborhood has its local spot, a watering hole where the locals all gather night after night to shoot the shit and get away from the troubles of reality. This is one of those so called places. Small tables crowded with people, all laughing, sharing stories, and drinking away their troubles. This is by no means a young persons hipster establishment offering fancy cocktails or gourmet tasting menus. No, this is for the real Adults, for the well aged, and the seasoned. No one is gonna do you any favors here, you want something? Get it yourself. You want something to eat, drink, want a place to sit, need your check? Get it yourself. You're grown. As you walk through the place you'll come face to face with a number of signs, telling you what to do or where to go, rules of the territory that regulars need not pay any attention, but for I the uninitiated, proved to be very important. I am not a sign reader, I'm a go with the flow kinda guy and well maybe that's why I'm not the best driver in the world but usually I can navigate an eatery just fine. This time however, I found myself wandering around like a fish out of water. Eventually after reading the signs I headed to the bar where I stumbled with a couple of sticky old menus trying to decide what I wanted, while a bar tender awkwardly waited for me to make up my mind. The menu is mostly traditional bar fair. Burgers, fries, sandwiches and alike. They have a pizza section which was intriguing but not what I was looking for. I ended up going with the club. I took a seat on the patio, to enjoy the summer weather and escape the noise inside. I overheard some people saying that this was just the beginning and it was only gonna get crazier as the night went on. Now, I live near by, I have definitely heard the patrons of the heading home after last call on more than one occasion. It took a while for us to get our food, a salad and a sandwich and some fries and I wouldn't say anything was hot, maybe warm. Over all, I can't say I was impressed by the food. It had potential, flavors were mostly there. They used fresh ingredients it seemed, but it was clear that a novice chef was at the wheel of this ship. I definitely saw some major faux pas. The French fries were garnished with a mix of shredded carrots and cabbage. Useless garnish, that adds nothing to the dish, doesn't taste very good frankly and leave the plate looking like it was covered in scraps. I'll give them a pass for sprinkling parsley over the fries, because they used fresh parsley and it was nicely chopped and gave the fries a nice pop of color. The steak, while cooked to a decent medium rare was obviously cooked either too fast or from frozen. You can see the clear ring in the meat, it's the tell tale sign. A perfectly cooked steak has an even cook all the way through, a gradient of pink to brown. The bread on my sandwich was less toasted and more dried. It was like sandpaper on my mouth, it still hurts now hours later. I'm not sure what the toasting method is, but it might need some retooling. For what you get, I don't know that the price is quite right. I see what they're trying to do here, but it's not quite there yet. We didn't get any drinks, we got a salad and a sandwich and it came to almost $40. That's pretty steep for bar food in my opinion. Now, I don't like to get down on places or step on anyone's toes because I know someone worked hard on this, they're doing the best the can with what they got and I can't fault anyone for that. This is clearly a home away from home for many offering a much needed escape from the day to day grind. I can tell, everyone else in the place was having a good time. The staff were all friendly, the place is clean and decorated well to suite the theme. It wasn't tacky or outdated. There is a lot of good here, but maybe not for me. If you live near by, you're north of 25, and looking for a friendly place to have some drinks with friends, maybe some snacks, this is a place for you.

Y B.

Whoa! This pork chop was TO DIE FOR! I've driven by many times and this place is always packed! Great service for my first time ! I will definitely be back!!

Delicious/amazing/tasty/out of this world BLT breakfast sandwich.
Tiffany F.

Went to the Thirsty Fish for brunch on Saturday. I was visiting from out of town. I ordered the BLT breakfast sandwich and was definitely not disappointed. I'm a breakfast sandwich lover and this was not perfectly made, but maybe one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The sandwich was so big that I could only eat half of my sandwich and half of my crispy, salty, tasty potatoes. I ended up making my friend take my other half home and he said the leftovers were out of this world. The service was great, the mimosas were fantastic and I wish I could visit here every morning for breakfast.

I'd take a Bulleit for you.
Chris H.

Easily the best, friendliest bartenders in the neighborhood--they are all genuinely happy to see regulars and to get to know newcomers. Such a sincere sense of welcome here. Plenty of drinky stuff from the bar. Also, they serve up some good eats that aren't limited to the "hey, let's deep fry the bijiminies out of everything" style of bar food...try the ceviche, it's quite nice. Fish tacos are outstanding, and the pizzas are great too. And if some good ol' fried food is calling your name, they have the best onion rings I've had in Seattle. Try them with barbecue sauce for dipping. Several televisions with major sports, including hockey when it's in season. And the place is really clean and comfy, with a nice deck when the weather cooperates. They definitely have a good thing going here.

Delicious

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16 years ago

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9 years ago

Good bar food and they pour their Guinness from the tap with care. Great local place to watch the game and throw a few back

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12 years ago

Cool Place. Pretty standard Seattle place. Great bartender.

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13 years ago

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10 years ago

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16 years ago

Must have the fish tacos! Great atmosphere, great choices on tap, and well-stocked full bar.

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12 years ago

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16 years ago

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7 years ago

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15 years ago

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8 years ago

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

Trust me, try the pork chop! Good food, good atmosphere, friendly staff. Fun place to catch some televised sports.

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13 years ago

HANDS DOWN! best spot in the area! Staff is amazing regulars amazing! Silver cups! Amazing. Wish I had one. Steak! sooo yummy.

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10 years ago

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

Great place to come and relax. ..bartenders remember what u like to drink...would and have recommended this bar

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16 years ago

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15 years ago

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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16 years ago

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9 years ago

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9 years ago

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16 years ago

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10 years ago

Great food every single time! We have been there 3-4 times and love their food. Fish and chips(cod) is awesome!

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12 years ago

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

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10 years ago

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16 years ago

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14 years ago

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14 years ago

I like this place! it has a good atmosphere and the people that work there are very nice. The chicken wings are awesome!!

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13 years ago

Best bar ever!!! Clean great service awesome food good looking bartenders!!! Go here for a good time!

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Ask the Community - The Thirsty Fish

Is this a pet friendly restaurant? I see pups in pictures but would love to confirm :)

I haven't been there yet, but I called to ask and was told that well-behaved doggies are welcome on the deck :)

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - The Thirsty Fish

“The owner Louie is so congenial and remembers our name every time!”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

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Buckley's In Belltown - Sausage Rigatoni

Buckley's In Belltown

3.7(576 reviews)
5.7 mi•Belltown
•$$

Buckley's was within walking distance from our hotel so we decided to poke our heads in. No one…read moregreeted us so we walked up to the bar, looked around and then chose a table across from the bar. Finally a server approached us and offered drinks. We both ordered a drink. My friends ordered beer and I ordered a michelada with modelo. What I like was that not only did the server bring me a Michelada but the remainder of the modelo in a can. My friends dared me to down the modelo which I did lol We also ordered sweet potato tots and it was a huge portions enough for 3-4 ppl to share. I was eyeing the bbq ribs bucket but we were planning on going next door for dinner so I had to pass on the ribs. Dang! If only I had 2 stomachs! lol Until next time, I'll be back for the bucket of rib, Buckley's....

Not a terrible bar and the service was great (thanks Chris) but $13.50 for a bowl of chicken soup…read morewhich became $17.50 after tax and tip is honestly quite heinous even for seattle (I can get a bowl of nice ramen w/pork for less). The 3% extra charge for using a credit card, which honestly isn't advertised very well, is also pretty disgusting as well - like at least be more upfront about how you pass your costs on to your customers. Lastly, the bathrooms are kinda bleh. It's a bar though so i'm not going to be that critical.

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Buckley's In Belltown - So dark but cool with all the college flags.

So dark but cool with all the college flags.

Buckley's In Belltown - Chicken Quesadilla

Chicken Quesadilla

Buckley's In Belltown - Thai Sesame Ribs

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LOCAL Public Eatery Terry Ave - Local Fried Chicken sandwich... excellent!

LOCAL Public Eatery Terry Ave

4.0(686 reviews)
5.4 mi•South Lake Union
•$$

Hours and hours walking around Seattle, we were hungry. Locals helped satisfy the hunger…read more People enjoying the bar side of the restaurant while our family of seven enjoyed the restaurant. By the time we had dinner, although hungry, it was past 8 and we needed to eat a little lighter and mostly had apps, so not sure how light that meal really was. Everyone enjoyed their dish. Because it was a bit cold, my younger sister got the fried chicken ramen. Fried chicken was not chicken katsu but fried chicken. The chicken was a bit salty while the ramen had a good amount of spice to it. Ramen broth was really good, especially on a cold night for me being from Hawaii. The only thing that was a bit disappointing was the cheese perogies. I enjoy perogies and haven't had any while on this trip to Seattle so a bit of a bummer. It was more like cheese ravioli. However best part of dinner was having the family together. And we ended the night on a good note. And the staff, so sweet. We appreciate you all for accommodating our family. See you all on our next family trip.

Food: 10/10. This is hands-down one of the best Caesar salads I've had in Seattle. The flavor was…read morecompletely mind blowing. I do wish there were more protein added on since you pay extra for the protein but overall, this was a great salad. Definitely filling and worth it. Service: service is great very attentive customer service. Ambiance: I did not expect this eatery to be so spacious. There were people working on their computer. They were folks hanging out with friends for drinks and then there was others just so like myself reading a book or people watching.

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LOCAL Public Eatery Terry Ave
LOCAL Public Eatery Terry Ave - Shrimp Dumplings

Shrimp Dumplings

LOCAL Public Eatery Terry Ave - Hawker's Street Curry

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The Bridge - Chicken strips and Tater Tots

The Bridge

4.1(399 reviews)
10.3 mi•Seaview
•$$

For the love of God.... Bring back your happy hour!!! Please pretty please!…read more We would probably be there every few days!

If you think all you can get here is bar food, you'd be wrong. There are some amazing proper meals…read moreon the menu that will surprise and delight. Solid beer selection with rotating drafts, and if you're a soda guy, they use all Seattle Soda Company flavors (supporting local business). Had the brisket dinner tonight and that was a very pleasant surprise. Fall apart tender, amazing rich flavor, decadent sauce, with creamy mash. The seasonal veg was brussells sprouts which could have been roasted a bit more to crispy for me but that's a personal preference. This is way more satisfying than the food you'd get at your typical local bar. I've been to The Bridge a half dozen times and every time has delivered. Solid food. Good service. Great outdoor patio. Neighborhood vibes - the type of place where the bartenders know and recognize the locals, and the locals are regulars. I like that. It's a welcoming place, casual, laid back, and though I haven't been there during too many sports games, even when it's on, it doesn't seem to get too rowdy. Brunch is a must do, with options like the Benny flight. Definitely one of the less known brunch spots in my opinion, but even so, can still get busy so go early. Only reason I've done 4 stars is I've had a few times where service was a little slow. Would absolutely return again and again and have recommended to many friends. Keep up the great work team, may you be successful for many years to come.

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The Bridge - St Patrick's Day options at the bar

St Patrick's Day options at the bar

The Bridge
The Bridge - Wedge salad and pesto chicken

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Wedge salad and pesto chicken

Legion Sports Bar - Pasta

Legion Sports Bar

3.8(277 reviews)
9.8 mi
•$$

My best friend and I decided to check out Legion because we kept hearing about it and wanted to see…read morewhat the hype was about. I made a reservation ahead of time, but when we got there around 8 pm we realized we probably didn't need one because it was seat yourself and still pretty open. No complaints though, it made it easy to grab a table and settle in. The vibe was cool. Definitely a sports bar feel with TVs around, and as the night went on the DJ started getting set up which I can imagine makes it a fun spot on a Friday night for people meeting up after work or hanging out with friends. We decided to share a few things so we could try a little bit of everything. We ordered the catfish bites, lemon pepper wings, garlic parmesan wings, and macaroni and cheese. I'll start with the positives because the service was great. Everyone we interacted with was friendly and helpful, which always makes a difference. Food-wise, it just didn't totally hit for me. The catfish bites had a really tasty batter, but the texture threw me off a little. I personally like my catfish cooked a little harder, and these were a bit soft for my liking. The lemon pepper wings were a little too salty for me, and the wings themselves weren't cooked quite the way I like them. I tend to like my wings cooked a little harder, so these felt a bit soft and bulky to me (if that makes sense). The garlic parmesan wings were okay flavor-wise, but still similar in texture. The macaroni and cheese was okay. Nothing bad, just pretty standard. The menu itself has a good mix of comfort food and bar favorites like chicken and waffles, shrimp & grits, burger & fries....so there are definitely options to try. Overall, the service were great, the vibe was cool and I can definitely see this being a fun spot once the DJ gets going and the place fills up. The food just didn't quite land for me personally this time. I gave it 3 stars, but if Yelp allowed half stars it would probably be closer to a 3.5 for me. I'd still be open to coming back and trying a few other things on the menu.

Neighborhood bar that is casual and so easy-going to stop in and have casual drink if you're not in…read moremood for fancy schmancy dinner places in Lincoln / Bellevue Square. I have to admit I was pretty devastated when Pearl (previous bar in this location) closed down, but ever since I discovered Legion with my friends I have been coming here whenever I'm in the area and this is now my favorite bar. I don't know where they find servers and bartenders but they're the most nicest and funniest people exuding positive energy to customers. Honestly Bellevue crowd can be dry and dull sometimes at other restaurants and bars in the area, Not here! Always good times. If you're just in mood to grab some appetizers and drinks I recommend their wings they got them wings perfected that goes great with beer or cocktails. If you have a group and can't decide on individual drinks, get a Bammarita to share and you will be guaranteed a good time. They make it strong and delicious. As a long time Downtown Bellevue resident and now a frequent visitor, I've seen many Bellevue restaurants and bars that try to do too much and it ends up missing the mark with vibe and service with mediocre food, hefty price. Legion is doing a great job delivering good food, drinks while giving the easy, comfortable neighborhood bar in town. Park in Lincoln Square and just take the elevator or walk across from Bellevue Square!

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Legion Sports Bar - Peach tings 2/5 it was strong which is good but absolutely no peach flavor

Peach tings 2/5 it was strong which is good but absolutely no peach flavor

Legion Sports Bar - Shrimp toast 3.5/5 Thick, almost Texas style toast but just a small sliver of shrimp paste. The sauce tho, so damn good!

Shrimp toast 3.5/5 Thick, almost Texas style toast but just a small sliver of shrimp paste. The sauce tho, so damn good!

Legion Sports Bar - Chopped cheeseburger 2/5 fries were super soggy with no real flavor or seasoning. Burger was pretty good but nothing special

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Chopped cheeseburger 2/5 fries were super soggy with no real flavor or seasoning. Burger was pretty good but nothing special

Metropolitan Grill

Metropolitan Grill

4.2(2.3k reviews)
6.6 mi•Downtown
•$$$$

The Met is always on our list when we visit Seattle. We have been here for both happy hour and the…read moremain dining room. This time we went for happy hour before a concert and couldn't have made a better choice. We arrived at the beginning of happy our and were kindly greeted and directed to the bar to sit wherever we like. Once seated, we were kindly greeted and asked if we would like to start with a drink. Of course we would! We had an amazing old fashioned and white Russian (with a great reference to the Big Lebowski from the server) while we were deciding on food. The first selection was the prawn cocktail, they were HUGE and amazing. Then we went with the steak bites...all I can say is GET THEM! My goodness, they were incredibly tender, perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. My wife decided on another round she loved them so much and I went with the burger. The burger came out perfect, as expected. It was cooked and seasoned to perfection, the potatoes were crisp and tasted like the oil they were cooked in was incredibly fresh. We had a few more drinks while finishing our food and we had a different server help us who was equally as awesome. The Met is an amazing place for both happy hour and any other time. The service and food are top notch and we will always visit when we have a chance.

Best steak in town. Remains true. Our steaks were cooked perfectly to order and well presented…read more Loved the peppercorn treatment and the au jus. Wonderful baked potatoes, though I saw on the way out others had chopped bacon on theirs and we were not offered that. Bummer. We also enjoyed the ceasar salads with white anchovy and homemade croutons. The lava cake was mostly cake with little lava, but was delicious nonetheless. Loved the brussels sprouts, which were cooked perfectly (not mushy at all). We wish the service had been as good as the food. Our waiter didnt seem to have his act together. It took a long time to order drinks and finally to get them. We asked about bread when our drinks arrived and were told it would come with the salads. Sigh. Which was then more thsn 15 minutes later. It was a very leisurely meal, but more leisurely than we'd want. For example sitting way too long waiting for dishes to be cleared. We had a simple meal - drinks, salad, entree, dessert. Our meal was 3 hours. It was a birthday celebration and when the waiter asked if we wanted dessert we were pretty full, but decided we would all like a bite and we'd share one. Remembering from previous special occasions, I asked if the restaurant was going to provide a complimentary dessert. The waiter said yes, but was only going to provide it, a creme brulee, after we ordered our owns desserts. What is the restaurant thinking? Other notes - the menu has changed a lot. For example, we didn't find one starter that appealed to us, unlike past menus. The side of mushrooms were just little pieces. We were also a bit disappointed to be seated in the plain side room, which was completely empty when we were seated. Not a very festive environment. We had a good meal, just not as good as past experiences.

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Metropolitan Grill - Private Dining - Vintage Room

Private Dining - Vintage Room

Metropolitan Grill - Met "Long Bone" Ribeye

Met "Long Bone" Ribeye

Metropolitan Grill - Private Dining - Board Room

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Private Dining - Board Room

The Thirsty Fish - newamerican - Updated November 2026

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