I had a lot of folks recommend Yakima Steak, saw a few good reviews on TikTok, so I went, and…read moreunfortunately, I walked away wondering what all the fuss was about. (They must have paid for the good TikTok reviews.)
Let's start with the service, or lack thereof.
When I walked in, there were three people standing at the hostess stand, and not a single one acknowledged me. I actually had to say hello first. Now, I'm not expecting anybody to kiss my ass when I walk through the door, but when you're charging the prices this place charges, a simple greeting shouldn't be too much to ask.
Since I was dining alone, I asked to sit at the bar but was told it was closed for an event. No problem. They ended up seating me in a corner by the stairs, even though there was an open table by the window.
I ain't gonna lie, that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit. Looking around at the good ol' boys crowd, I couldn't help but wonder if my complexion had something to do with where they decided to put me. I'm not saying that's what happened, but the thought definitely crossed my mind. Maybe there was another reason, but the whole interaction just felt off.
Anyway, let's talk about the food...
I ordered off the happy hour menu because there's no way I was paying those steak prices, especially when the sides are à la carte. I mean, come on now. This is Yakima, not Vegas.
Started with a glass of Pinot Gris, which was nice. The Caesar salad was actually pretty good too, although the dressing was a little heavy on the anchovies. I like a good Caesar, and I'm not gonna knock the whole salad over that.
The potato cakes were probably the first thing that made me think we might be onto something. They were seasoned well, cooked nicely, and the sauce that came with them was REALLY good. No complaints there.
The brisket sandwich, though? Just okay. The meat was a little dry, there wasn't nearly enough barbecue sauce, and the whole thing felt like somebody just threw it together. Nothing terrible, but nothing I'd order again either.
Now, the lumpia.....That's right lumpia in Yakima...
Man, what the hell was going on with those things?
Three of the five had clearly exploded in the fryer, and it looked like somebody just flipped them over so the busted, burnt sides wouldn't be showing...bush league, should have never served those.
The filling was sparse, and the seasoning was practically nonexistent. I mean, absolutely NO flavor. I've got Filipino family, and I can only imagine what they'd have to say if somebody put those in front of them. Lumpia is supposed to be flavorful, crispy and packed with a well-seasoned filling. These tasted like somebody forgot half the ingredients.
Easily the worst thing I ate that night.
Thankfully, dessert came through.
I ordered the lemon blueberry cream cake, and THAT was fantastic. Easily the best thing I had the entire meal. Great flavor, nice balance of sweet and tart, and honestly, I would've been happier just having the potato cakes and that cake for dinner.
Here's my issue with Yakima Steak. When you're charging premium prices, the food and the experience need to reflect that. I shouldn't have to greet the staff first, wonder why I'm tucked away in a corner, or sit there looking at food that clearly shouldn't have left the kitchen.
Maybe I caught them on an off night. It happens. But there were enough misses here that I can't just chalk the whole thing up to one bad dish.
I actually filmed a video of my experience for TikTok, but I've decided not to post it. It wouldn't paint the restaurant in a particularly good light, and I'd rather share my experience here than put together a video dragging the place.
At the end of the day, there were a couple of things I really enjoyed, but not nearly enough to make me want to come back.
For what Yakima Steak is charging, I expected a whole lot better.
Unfortunately, I didn't get it...