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The Walrus and the Carpenter

4.2 (2k reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

The Walrus and the Carpenter Photos

Business Info

THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Trendy
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - The Walrus and the Carpenter

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Steak tartare with rye crisps
Tiffany P.

Best Fried Oysters I've had! They're delightfully plump and fried to crispy, golden perfection with a sweet, milky center. I couldn't stop dunking them into the herby cilantro aioli. Each bite was sooo good, an absolute crowd-pleaser! I highly recommend ordering these, maybe even two! Of course, we also tried a dozen raw oysters on the half shell. Fresh, some briny, some sweet. A splash of zing from the lemon, horseradish, or mignonette makes them go down easier. This place may be famed for its seafood, but don't skip the Steak Tartare. There weren't enough rye crisps to scoop up all the decadent, velvety smooth beef, but we still scraped that plate clean real quick. Big thank you to our knowledgeable server, who helped us pick some of the most memorable dishes we had in Seattle. Save this charming little spot for your next date or special occasion :)

Kaysha R.

The Walrus and the Carpenter is an absolute must whenever I'm in Ballard. A friend and I have made it an almost annual tradition, always returning for the oysters and a sampling of their incredible menu. We order something from each section of the menu and share (they are shareable size plates). Every visit feels indulgent in the best way and we leave feeling like we've just experienced the most decadent, perfectly balanced flavors of Seattle. The wine list is excellent, and the atmosphere is cozy but bustling--lively and a bit noisy in the best way. I'd absolutely go on a date here, just keep in mind it's energetic and intimate rather than quiet. A true standout for elevated dining in Seattle.

grilled pear
Katie M.

We came right when they opened on a saturday and were lucky to get the first seating - the restaurant fills up quicky, so come early. Love how you can try different kinds of oysters and they were all incredibly fresh, clean with the perfect sweetness. Beyond the oysters, every single dish we ordered was excellent, we enjoyed their grilled pear, scallop crudo and halibut collar. It's one of those places where you can confidently order across the menu and know it will be good. The atmosphere is lively yet intimate with attentive service. A must-visit for oyster lovers.

Once Upon a Thyme, Cigar Lounge
Netta M.

Y'all. Pricey? Yes. Delicious? Also yes. I'd do bad things for the hazelnut chili crunch situation on the halibut collar. Cocktails really unique and nicely balanced. You gotta get Abby as your server. Nice, knowledgeable, and didn't steer us wrong. 10/10 will return

Steak Tartare*
Hilary F.

This restaurant is one of my absolute go to in Seattle. I miss it so much and whenever I come to visit, I make sure we make time to eat here. The oysters are amazing and the menu has a great mix of seafood. That's also unique and always tasty. The place is definitely very busy even at 4 o'clock when it opens you have to get there right away or have a wait. We got there at 4:30 and it was already a 45 minute wait which was fine because we had a nice happy hour at their bar next-door. The drinks are fun and different and very boozy. I love the food. It's a fun vibe the service is always great. My only downside is it can be kind of expensive for not as much food. If the prices were a tad better or you got a little bit more food for what you paid for I would give her five stars. I wish I could do 4 1/2. We got way more food than this, but I was so busy eating. I forgot to stop and take photos of the rest.

Salmon
Bri H.

My friend brought me here for dinner to end my first trip to Seattle and I was underwhelmed to say the least. There really wasn't a standout dish here and I was quite disappointed after ordering close to 10 items and spending over $100 per person. To me, everything was either too little or too much. Too little salt and flavor profiles on both crudos, too much salt and heavy accompanying aioli on the fried oysters. The menu changes so maybe this on just wasn't it for me but I have no interest in going back. The best thing was the lemon curd on the pavlova and the fresh oysters, everything else was a miss and unmemorable. The staff was great though! They were very friendly and accommodating.

Diana T.

When in Seattle - oysters! oysters! oysters! We were walking around the area and searched for a few places that had oysters on their HH menu. This place popped up multiple times and I'm glad we swung by! We mapped to the restaurant and outside was completely empty. We then realized it was through a hallway in the back of the building! We were the 3rd party in line waiting for them to open. Within 10 minutes, the entire hallway was packed. We sat in the covered patio and just kept ordering oysters after oysters. Their drinks were also good!

Scallop Crudo*
Steph L.

My first time in Seattle. They do not accept reservations. We got in line at 3:50 pm before they opened at 4pm on a Saturday night. Really impressed by the decor. It was very open bright and inviting. There is a mandatory 22% service charge fyi. The staff was ever attentive. The freshest oysters I've ever had, paired with some horseradish and a pink sauce I wasn't sure what it was but it complemented the dish. My favorite were the Hama Hama clams. The white wine sauce was so good and the tomatoes & shallots were delicious & fresh. They also had unique mushrooms in the dish. Outside the restaurant the streets(2 + blocks away) were really nice to stroll around. You can either sit at the bar, outside, or at a table inside.

Albacore
Yesenia E.

Place is a bit tricky to find. The inside is very small however beautifully decorated. The service was a bit slow on a slow weekday afternoon. We ordered a dozen oysters for their happy hour special. (10 off shuckers dozen oysters) so that's about $50 for a dozen oyster. We ordered albacore crudo and the scallop crudo. And two sodas. The oysters were none impressive. The albacore tasted bland and unflavored. The scallops were delicious. At the end the total for those few items were $200 And they automatically charge a 22% service charge on all orders ( no one informed us of that. ) Over all I expected way more for what we paid. Fine dining prices for mediocre food and service. I was so disappointed my date and I went down the street to Trader Joe's for better tasting food. Save urself the trip. Save ur self the money and go elsewhere

Atmosphere
John-Carlo B.

The Walrus and the Carpenter had amazing food and great service. The atmosphere was quaint and well decorated, making it a comfortable spot to enjoy dinner. The lab grown salmon was a unique highlight (one of to four in the country) and the oysters were fresh and flavorful. It is a bit pricey at about $5 an oyster plus a 22% surcharge, but the quality and experience made it worth it.

Trilina M.

Happy hour is where it's at! We arrived 10 minute before opening and there was a line. Entrance was a little hidden as the actual restaurant is through a hallway behind the bar of the main street. We ordered the happy hour wildcat and summerstone. OMG the wildcat. Creamy and meaty. No hint of ocean flavors. I would go back and just have this. We also got their beef tartare. Also, delicious if you're looking for something else.

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The Walrus and the Carpenter Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Walrus and the Carpenter

Since they don't take reservations, how do I put myself on the waitlist?

You can go into the restaurant to put yourself on the wait list. They only seat complete parties and can text you when your table is ready.

How do I make reservations here?

They do not take reservations.

Is there happy hour?

Yes, there is happy hour from 4pm to 5pm, Monday through Thursday.

Is the sauce served with the oysters a mignonette sauce?

Yes

What time does Happy Hour start and finish? Is it daily?

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, Thursday: 4pm - 6pm

Are Reservations required?

They don't take reservations. But you can have a lovely drink ahead at their sister bar across the hall. It's called Barnacle.

What is the oyster happy hour?

They offer oysters at half the regular price. It was before 6pm.

Is it only 21+?

No, it's not but I don't recommend this restaurant for young children (teens may be ok). The layout and atmosphere lend itself to the 21+ crowd.

View All 13 Questions

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4.0(1.2k reviews)
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We had a late dinner reservation here. It wasn't too crowded and staff greeted us upon walking in…read more The inside isn't too big and we got sat at a two top table. We ordered a round of cocktails to start. I got the Loosen Mai Tai while my dining partner got The Professor. My drink was refreshingly sweet and my friend enjoyed his. For food, we shared the Burrata as our appetizer. It was creamy and everything in it paired so well. For my main, I got the Scallops and my friend got the Pappardelle. These were some of the best scallops ever. The flavor of the whole dish was wonderful and I loved the decadent mint gremolata. My friend's dish had plenty of short rib and was super tasty. Such a lovely place and I can't wait to come back.

I really did have a lovely experience here. The food was delicious and the service was fantastic,…read moreBUT I do feel like I need to set expectations correctly about the "family style" description. Coming from New York City, when I hear family style I'm picturing big shareable plates for the table to be going back for seconds (maybe even THIRDS). The dishes here were quite small and very pricey, which made it hard for them to function as true family-style portions. That said, the food itself was excellent, very unique and the service was genuinely wonderful. The staff were attentive, warm, and made the whole evening feel really welcoming. I can't say enough about the staff, just SO lovely. So if you go in expecting beautifully prepared small plates rather than true family-style dining, you'll probably have a great time. Just adjust expectations on the portion sizes!

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Black Bottle - - Pear & gorgonzola Flatbread

Black Bottle

3.9(1.2k reviews)
3.6 mi•Belltown
•$$

Decent gastropub with a small happy hour menu. I went on a Wednesday and it was not busy at all, so…read moreI was able to choose any seat I wanted. Fairly cozy restaurant with a back portion for events or more seating during busier meals. We tried the following - Karaage wings - quite umami, a hint of curry and spices, does not really look like chicken wings - Blasted broccoli - delicious with the lemon aioli on the side. A little overcooked but a nice take on the broccolini that is usually prepared in this manner - Duck breast - I liked the meat itself - very flavorful, but I didn't like the reduction and the sage leaves did not add much flavor - Pork belly - very hearty. The chimichurri kind of clashes with the flavor a bit but cuts down the heavy fat. Potato texture was a bit interesting - Sumac hummus and cucumbers - a healthy option off happy hour. Nice that it was served with flatbread - Cracked olive salad - a bit pickly, I personally do not like olives in this manner but my friend enjoyed it - Citrus Paradisi - quite a strong cocktail, but not quite well-balanced. For $13, it was satisfactory for alcohol strength, but quality could be improved Service is decent as food was brought in a timely manner and we did not need to wait long to get the bill, etc.

Eat here - that is all…read more Really good service . The food is fantastic. We say the menu and thought - well. I'm not sure . And well. They over delivered . The tacos , the beef shank - omg that beef shank was outta this world.. the staff was very nice and made us feel at home - Easy parking . You will like the decor . It's simple yet stylish. I like the open floor plan with planet of spaces to sit. The bar area is nice to eat at as well.

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Barnacle

Barnacle

4.2(136 reviews)
0.0 mi•Ballard
•$$

Stayed at an Airbnb nearby and been scoping an oyster place nearby and decided to take my wife and…read moreher parents to share a bottle of wine and have some oysters and apps. The hosts were great and flexible by means that we got here right before close and all that was left was wine and oysters from the adjacent restaurant but they let us relocate next door where they had more options in terms of food. So we ordered 2 dozen oysters (there was no advertised price), bottle of wine (62 bucks) clams, cheese, and another side dish, and a few beers. Food taste was great but very small portions for the money. I believe the steamed clams was like 30 something but barely a pound so we ordered another one. Thought the total bill for the 4 of us was going to be around $200 but was shocked to see a $510 dollar bill for some small apps and wine/beer. Turns out they up charged the oysters imho so was 120 for 2 dozen and automatically added 22% gratuity without ever disclosing any of this. We were still hungry and had to uber eat afterwards. We could have gone to Ruth Chris steak house for the price of 4. Our rental car also was smashed into off the street and window was missing as well as our son's back backpack. Very disappointing day . I seldom take the time to write up a review but this deserves disclosure to forewarn others that it is expensive

Went here for a girls' night and loved it! The oysters were absolutely delicious, easily one of my…read morefavorite spots. The bread paired perfectly with our oysters and wine. The environment was cozy, and the service was friendly and took the time to explain the oysters and drinks, which we really appreciated. Highly recommend for oyster lovers!

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RockCreek Seafood & Spirits

RockCreek Seafood & Spirits

4.4(1.4k reviews)
1.4 mi•Fremont
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The night before, I'd had oysters at an overly performative but insanely beautiful bar on 12th Ave…read more(iykyk) and they left a lot to be desired. So when I woke up still craving shellfish, RockCreek was the call. It was the right one. A dozen oysters to start: Kumamoto and Shigoku. Clean -- no grit, no sand. Whatever they're doing back there, it's working. The brine was full and present in every shell, and the mignonette hit that rare sweet spot of light but actually seasoned. The Winter Old Fashioned? Get it. It was so delicious. Then came the crab Benedict. The side salad alone was worth writing home about -- big, buttery, peppery leaves draped in one of those feather-light vinaigrettes that sounds simple until you try to replicate it at home and realize you can't. But the real star of the entire plate was the potatoes. Crispy outside, genuinely fluffy inside, seasoned with conviction. A masterpiece is not too strong a word. Closed with a glass of pink wine. Was eyeing the bottle with the piglet on the label, but it was bottle-only -- a distinction I find increasingly arbitrary as a former server and bartender. One day that policy will be a relic. Not yet, apparently. Best brunch I've had in Seattle in two years. Highly recommend.

Came in for happy hour on a quiet Tuesday night and had a great experience, as usual. Rock Creek…read morecontinues to deliver bright, flavorful food. We ordered some of our go-tos -- hamachi crudo, tuna tartare, and calamari -- and everything was spot on. The vinegar dill fries are exceptional: thin, super crispy, and loaded with seasoning (honestly hard to stop eating). We also tried the loaded fish sandwich and the cornmeal-battered lingcod -- both solid choices. Spicy margarita lived up to its name with a nice kick. It was pretty dead when we arrived around 5pm, with only one other larger table seated, which made for a relaxed, easygoing happy hour. Always a dependable spot when you're craving seafood done right.

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Joule - Garlic noodles

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4.1(1.2k reviews)
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I can't remember what brought me to booking a reservation here for our family, but boy am I glad I…read moredid. I could just tell this restaurant was going to be a great experience from the moment we arrived. Friendly staff greeted us as we arrived and quickly showed us to our table. The atmosphere was warm and energetic, full of diners eating, drinking and enjoying conversation. After a quick scan of the menu, we quickly made our decision to order as many dishes as we could and share. We went for the beef tartare, Chinese scallion pancake, smoked tofu, kimchi trio, spicy rice cake, Chinese broccoli, "that" short rib steak, Kalbi burger, and the kombu cured mackerel. Everything was #brokedamout. The standouts to me were the scallion pancake, short rib, Kalbi burger and mackerel. Parking is available on the street and in private lots. We're already trying to figure out when we can get back here again before we leave. We'll certainly be back.

I've been to Joule close to 10 times at this point and have always had a great meal. We happened to…read morebe there for the start of Restaurant Week and I greatly appreciate that they didn't phone it in - the food was awesome! Starter was bacon and shrimp dumplings with spring peas and pea vines - simply delicious. The au jus was addicting and the spring veg added such a nice contrast to the dumplings. Entree was nettle crusted halibut snd it was perfectly cooked. Again, the sauce was so addictive I could've licked the plate. Dessert was a Darjeeling panna cotta that was dairy free - so good! Our friend's Paper Cake Marion berry slice was also delicious. What makes Joule standout even more is their service - Brandy in particular. She is warm, friendly, helpful and someone you want to be friends with. I love coming when she's there. I'll come back again and again.

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Local Tide - Dover and Fries ig @snapped.by.neel

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4.6(502 reviews)
1.5 mi•Fremont
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I came here with a friend today around 2pm! There was a line to order but we didn't mind waiting,…read moreSunday afternoon on a sunny day so we expected it! I've been wanting to try this place for awhile and I am so glad I finally did! We ordered a few things to share and every single dish was delicious! Shrimp toast: this was a great appetizer to share! Very crispy and the sauces on the side gave it a more complex flavor! It came with a sweet mayo and chili sauce. The chili sauce is definitely spicy if you can't handle spice so beware on how much you're using if that's the case. I also really enjoyed the slaw that came with it, it was very refreshing and it had a bit of sweet mayo flavor to it, I think it's the same as the dipping sauce but I could be wrong! Fried oysters: these were delicious! I think fried oysters can be a hit or miss for me, sometimes the interior can feel too dry and feel kinda of mushy-like, like I'm eating bread rather than seafood. But this had great texture on the inside while being crispy on the outside! The sauce on the side tasted like a pepper aioli which gave the oyster a nice tang *the fried dishes were great but after having a few, it definitely felt heavy, so this would be something I share with someone else vs eating it on my own Smoked salmon belly dip: I really enjoyed this! It was creamy and had chunks of salmon in it. It wasn't too dense or thick so it was perfect for scooping onto the kettle chips. The kettle chips were lightly salted so it was the perfect combo with the dip. Clam chowder: wow I absolutely loved this! This is different than any other chowder I've had. While I love a white creamy chowder from your typical seafood places, the base being a fish stock definitely brought out the seafood flavor vs a white chowder feeling like a cream base. This chowder still felt creamy and rich without the seafood flavor being overpowered. Rockfish bowl: the crab rolls were sold out by the time we made it to the register so we opted for this instead and I am so glad that we did. I didn't really expect this to blow me away but this was such a refreshing dish that balanced out the fried dishes we got. It used viet flavors that you may typically find in a banh mi which made it refreshing and had great texture from all the different fresh ingredients and fried garlic. I also loved how the fish came in patty form mixed with pork, it was flavorful and moist. I love any type of fish tofu/patty, I think it really makes fish flavorful when it sometimes can have a really mild flavor. I'll definitely be back to try the crab rolls!

On the higher price-end, Local Tide has a small menu of gorgeous healthy and fresh dishes!…read more The shrimp toast is 100% in the top 3 bites I have had in Seattle, absolutely no doubt!!! Just be mindful that the portions are a little small for what you spend though

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The Walrus and the Carpenter - seafood - Updated May 2026

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