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418 Public House
Category: Restaurants American (Traditional) American (Traditional) [Edit]
418 NW 65th St(between N 4th Ave & N 5th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98117
Neighborhood: Ballard
(206) 783-0418
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
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25 reviews for 418 Public House
Review Highlights
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"Simple excellent mexican food and super affordable." In 6 reviews -
"418 not only has a pool table, but it has tons of space..." In 3 reviews -
"Very tasty tostada with tomatillo pork and make sure they..." In 3 reviews
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25 reviews in English
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Review from Opal D.
3/8/2012
Shuffle board and pool. Live music (that was a little on the loud side).
Definitely doesn't look like a place that would serve Mexican food, but they do it well - it's surprisingly tasty! Good service.
Great neighbourhood bar to meet up with friends! -
Review from Chris B.
2/27/2012
418 Public House is an interesting place. At first glance you think cool/hipster neighborhood bar, then you look at the food menu and you're like, "what?" But do not be fooled, the Mexican food is really good.
There was four of use and we ordered chips and pico, the chips are store bought but pretty good and the pico is freshly made. I ordered one taco of each of the four meats they make which are, BARBACOA DE RES: Beef braised in a red chile sauce of guajillo peppers, pulla peppers and banana leaf, MOLE DE POLLO: Chicken in our rich black mole sauce of roasted chile negro, chile ancho and toasted pumpkin seeds, TINGA DE POLLO: Chipotle chicken with tomato and carmelized onion and PUERCO EN SALSA VERDE: Pork braised in fresh tomatillo sauce with green chile and cilantro. The Verde and the Tinga were my favorite. My girlfriend ordered a tamale and a taco. The tamale was the Tinga and the thing is the size of a small license plate. It is cooked in banana leaf and has a different taste than those cooked in corn husk, but I have to tell it was pretty damn good as well. great job on authentic Mexican classics. -
Review from Ashley F.
2/19/2012
After finishing a show in Belltown, my friends and I decided to find a bar closer to home to end our evening. We headed to 65th with the intention of hitting up The Tin Hat, but a large crowd and lack of seats inspired us to go a little further to 418 Public House.
I am Irish, so when I see "public house", I have a very specific idea about what will be inside - Mexican fare is not that idea...
Ok, so after the confusing introduction to the menu, we settled into a rather large table that easily accommodated our group of 7-8 people. We were disappointed to realize that there was no late night happy hour, but we didn't want to attempt to all drive somewhere else.
The cocktail menu was relatively interesting, though some combinations just seemed silly (i.e. anytype of liquor in a "pino grigio float"). The beer menu was better, and we ultimately decided on a pitcher of Manny's and a pitcher of Bosun Black Porter. We ordered some pricey, but tasty, chips and salsa and settled into our night. It is worth mentioning that the bar was quite busy, and the bartender seemed to be very thinly spread, but it took almost 10 minutes to grab her attention, and when we did, the pitchers were sloppily filled leaving a solid 5"-6" of head floating on top. It took another 20 minutes or so to get our chips and salsa, the only food ordered due to the high prices.
Once we settled in, we were grateful to all be seated together comfortably, and we were all able to enjoy our time. Because of the length of time our first drink orders took, only one person opted for a second drink, and most of us left sooner than we had intended.
Ultimately, I would come back here for the regular happy hour for solid atmosphere, a good beer menu and cheaper food; however, the next our group of actors decides to head out for a post-show drink, we will opt for another location. -
Review from Holly T.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2012
My boyfriend and I stopped by the 418 Public House yesterday during Happy Hour. We both just loved it. They were playing nice soul music that was great for a sunny day.
They had $1 tacos! And they were good. They made me some veggie tacos that were tasty and light. My boyfriend ordered a 2 barbacoa tacos which turned into 5 soon after.
PLUS they have shuffleboard and the staff was very nice and attentive. I'll be back. -
Review from Laura P.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 1/8/2012 22 Check-ins Here
This bar is awesome when you come in for Lisa or Israel as the bartender because all the newbies leave something to be desired.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2011
Great new local bar! Great beers, comfy pub atmosphere, pool, and awesome bartenders! Lisa is legit!… Read more »
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Review from Adam P.
Seattle, WA
6/29/2011
Awesome, affordable, fresh mexican food and a nice selection of beers on tap. I love this place. The burritos and tortas are fantastic, and I've never given a tostada a second glance anywhere else, but I'd make a dinner out of a few here. I'm partial to the beef barbacoa, but the tomatillo pork and chicken tinga are both really tasty and a really nice break from the standardized taco truck format of carne asada/carnitas/pollo.
It's a bit surprising to find this sort of authentic/homemade style mexican in a pub, but honestly, there's rarely a night when I don't feel like heading down here for some food and a beer. There's almost always a Chuckanut beer on tap, plus a rotating selection of some other nice microbrews. 65th between 3rd and 8th is turning into a cool little strip. -
Review from Kelley H.
Seattle, WA
4/26/2011
I Love 418 public house!
Our bartender, Lisa was so nice!
I am vegan and didn't see anything on the menu I could eat. My husband asked the owner if he would consider putting any vegan fare on the menu. He immediately rattled off a list of ways he could make existing entrées vegan for me! He brought me out a sample of the cactus salad (which is totally vegan) to try. It was so good!
The non-vegan burritos and tacos that my friends ate were served simply, which I love, and everyone gobbled them up.
I'm a fan of 418 public house! -
Review from Melissa K.
Seattle, WA
8/2/2011
So we stopped in for some quick dinner. It wasn't crowded inside, and we felt it odd that we had to stand at the bar for more than 5 minutes, without acknowledgment. Finally, we asked the bartender if we could order food to go. She sauntered off to deliver some beers to the tables and then came back to take our order.
I tried to order two tacos, but I was told that only the burrito and torta were made to go, because the other items don't "travel well". Um, tacos should travel just fine and if they don't, then you are doing them wrong. It's that simple. So...I changed my order to the torta, which cost more than double the cost of two tacos. We also got a burrito and some chips and guac. We were told that they could put the guac. in a tinfoil packet, but that they don't have to go containers for that.
We waited while the cook prepared our food, and carried it out. There were two paper lunch bags. We drove from 4th and 65th to 22nd and 65th - about 5 minutes up the road. When we got out of the car, one of the bags had leaked juice all over the paper bag and the car. The burrito and torta broke through the bag and fell on the sidewalk. Not one to give up, we picked them up and headed inside. The guac. was hidden in the middle of the paper bag of chips. The chips were the semi tasteless grocery store variety, and not heated up. Each of the hot items was wrapped directly in a standard foil. It was not the lined foil that most places would use; thus the leakage...and the sogginess. My torta was so limp I had to eat it with a fork. If that was what they consider "travel ling well", well, we have a difference of opinion.
Okay, here's a tip 418 Public House: either offer your menu to go and get the appropriate materials to do so, or don't offer your menu to go. The entire experience was odd. My sandwich tasted good, but the experience as a whole left a bad taste in my mount. I'll get my Mexican elsewhere. -
Review from Nolan H.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2011 23 Check-ins Here
This place has a very promising future. I live relatively close to the 6sth St. strip of bars and usually I'm at the Tin Hat enjoying a cold brew, but the one thing that has kept the Tin Hat from reaching BAR DOMINANCE is the lack of a pool table.
418 not only has a pool table, but it has tons of space, great decor, surly and sociable bartenders, but most important of all they have a great beer selection.
I have not tried the food yet, but I heard that it's quite good and extremely fresh. -
Review from G T.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
My wife recommended we go here. When we got there, I asked her if she was sure this is a mexican food place? The name doesn't sound like it serves mexican food... it sounds like a name for a rest area. The outside doesn't look like it even serves food, let alone mexican food. It looks like a bar and when you walk in, the first thing that greets you... is a full bar. Nothing till the time you get your menu makes you feel like you are about to have a mexican meal. But, that's where all the generalization ceases. The food is above average. The selection of beer is good. And the prices... awesome. With all the restaurants trying to make you buy your meal with an arm and/or a leg, the pricing for the food at 418 Public House was a refreshing welcome. It's a bar like atmosphere. They have pool tables and customers drinking at the bar. But, on the whole. a great atmosphere for a affordable, casual meal. I don't need to tell you what to try. Many of the other reviewers have already given so many suggestions, a new customer might as well just order the entire menu.
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Review from Jered G.
Seattle, WA
12/13/2011
Simply put, the molé here is superior to that of La Carte de Oaxaca and Señor Moose. And it's cheaper and served in a great atmosphere by great people. Everyone here, from the wonderful owners to the employees, takes a lot of pride in what they do. Lisa might be the best bartender in town. And they serve my favorite beer, St. Bernardus 12, for less than $2 more than it costs at a specialty bottle store. I have only great things to say about the place, so don't take it from me, go see for yourself. Great food and beer at excellent prices, served by great people who care.
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Review from erin p.
Seattle, WA
12/29/2011
Love the food at this place and I'm not even a huge fan of Mexican food in general. I came with some friends and after trying a few things we actually ordered a few more tostadas because they were so damn good. I had the shrimp tacos and I was extremely happy with how fresh and yummy they were. I don't drink much beer but I really liked that they had cider on tap. I will definitely be going back again, especially since this place is new and they seem eager to improve.
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Review from Hunter O.
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
pretty cool joint!! came here with some friends and had some drinks. i need to come back and try the food it looks and smells real good.
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Review from Nora A.
Seattle, WA
9/11/2011
I had high expectations when it was opening in what used to be the Reading Gaol. But it's just a rowdy, loud pub with obnoxious clientele. I don't quite understand the atmosphere -- sort of trashy irish pub, but with mexican food? Anyhow, the food and drink are nothing to speak of, as is the atmosphere. And last night they were blasting Guns and Roses and Journey on into the night.
So if that's your scene, go for it. I'm disappointed. -
Review from Kevin B.
Seattle, WA
7/7/2011
One star for the decor. One star for the happy hour margarita. No star for not being overly friendly. No star for not serving food during their normal hours because they are "running slow". No star for not knocking my socks off.
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Review from Ruby J.
Seattle, WA
12/4/2011
I thought the bartenders were nice, the drinks affordable, and the food was awesome.. I would have given this place a better rating if they didnt have a computer glitch which prevented everyone w a tab from leaving. I waited almost 2 hours and begged to leave because I have a newborn at home and needed to relieve the sitter and they wouldn't let me leave. I even promised to come back but they kept us all there. Is it illegal to keep people at a bar? I thought it was bullish*t and I doubt I'll return.
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Review from B K.
Seattle, WA
5/5/2011
This place has undergone an amazing transformation since it used to be the Reading Gaoul. Hard to believe.
The new owners really seem to get it. The atmosphere is great, nice tunes, the drinks are strong and fresh, great pool table, and I love how the well selections aren't rot gut garbage.
Food is tasty and well priced. Give it a try - I don't think you'll be disappointed. A great addition to the neighborhood. -
Review from Jen H.
Seattle, WA
9/7/2011
Manny's on tap, always a plus in my book.
Excellent food! We split two tacos, a burrito and a torta. The torta was out of this world! Their chicken mole, so tasty! The pork and the beef are also amazing!
We will definitely be going back! :)
Going family friendly soon too, which with a 4 yr. old is great! -
Review from gretchen m.
Seattle, WA
6/2/2011
Even though they were 2 short of the right number for the name, this is a good place to go. The owner said his vision was that anyone could come in with $10 in their pocket and get a brew and some food - and its true! Very tasty tostada with tomatillo pork and make sure they add beans. Its a bit spare in decor but it works for us. And living in the neighborhood we can walk which makes it much better. I hope they succeed.
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Review from Michael A.
Seattle, WA
7/21/2011
Awesome beer, nice relaxed atmosphere, the tacos are freaking amazing! Need more and more bars like this. Hooray for Ballard.
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Review from katrina k.
Seattle, WA
6/21/2011
Great food and friendly servers. Simple excellent mexican food and super affordable.
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Review from Sarah S.
Seattle, WA
5/11/2011
I really really really want this place to be great. It's a block from my house and the Reading Gaul was a major disappointment. However, on my first visit there, I was less than impressed.
Alcohol: They have a unique collection of Liquor, I will give them that. They had one of my favorite Tequilas that not many places carry. They have a pricey specialty cocktails list, but someone put a lot of thought into them.
Food: AWFUL. They have about four selections: Burrito, Taco, Chips/Salsa, and one other I can't remember. First of all, the name 418 Public House and the general atmosphere of the bar gives me the sense of Irish theme/pub theme. Mexican food? I get the joke, but be safe and stick with a memorable theme if you're a new place. Second, the food was awful. The rice in the burrito was way overdone, almost a paste, the beans were non existent and the chicken tasted very much like chicken. The beans were the only chance for flavor, but I literally did not see one bean. And that was it, Chicken, bean, rice. No cheese, no salsa. We had some chips and salsa and the waiter let us taste the cactus salsa, as opposed to pico. This pickled cactus, in a salsa... I almost gagged. I also hate pickled anything, so that might be a matter of taste, but it did not taste like a salsa. The chips were the 2 buck chuck bag you find in the grocery store. They serve the food on mini cookie sheets, which is also strange. I made no mess with my white boy burrito, I did not need an entire platter.
Service: The guys were nice. They were trying hard, but it was pretty obvious that neither of them had worked a service job before. Confused, slow, unsure of themselves. You have to order at the bar, no matter how slow it is. They insist on it. But, like I said, they were nice, just need to work on it a bit.
Happy Hour: It's from 4-6, free pool and discounts on drinks. Okay, that's fine, but a new place opening up needs a longer happy hour, or maybe a late nighter to get the fire going.
Also, it was COLD in there. They had the door open and it was about 50 degrees outside. I had to wear a jacket the whole time. There was an outdoor seating area but it seemed to be a storage area for remodeling materials. Kinda gross.
And get a better website. I get the minimalist approach, but after seeing it I was expecting a super fancy place. You know, a place so expensive that they don't even want to list their prices online. But no. They have a simple menu and reasonable prices, why not advertise it if you're going to pay for the domain?
Like I said, I really hope this place fixes its problems and works out, but I think this location may just be cursed.. first Reading Gaul and now this! -
Review from Rodney B.
Seattle, WA
8/14/2011
New owners are restoring this place from an earlier, darker incarnation. It works. There's a nice, friendly feeling now. And the food and beers are fantastic. The cook and his sister make real Oaxacan treats for cheap. You haven't had food like this at a bar unless you've been to Oaxaca City recently. And the beer selection is good too. Be sure to check out this place if you are nearby in Ballard or Phinney Ridge.
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Review from Paul S.
Seattle, WA
5/4/2011
Just checked this place out and not bad. NW 65th is coming up w/ an array of good restaurants and bars. Good beers on tap! Didnt get to try the light mexican food on the menu, but will next time and my review may go up. Pool table, one TV playing bball, glad they moved into the neighborhood!
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Review from eyga e.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2011
wao!! i visited this place yesterday night (must have seen the other reviewer-sarah) my experience was totally the opposite except for the door being opened. i am latino and know my food because i cook it myself. don't expect to get a regular mexican food you can get at any location. the food they sell has flavors of Oaxaca (one of the best foods in mexico). i asked the owner about the food and he was so nice and informative.... by the way i loved he was there greeting people and making sure things were running well. he told me that they hired a chef that specializes in food from Oaxaca and that's why the different flavor on their food. I had the tostada with pollo tinga. OMG, it was so good. About the rice, mexican rice is supposed to be more in the moist side unless you go to Taco del Mar (awfull mexican food). My friend had the shrimp tacos and she loved it too. I had a bite of her taco and it was different-delicious. Next time i will order one taco and a tostada and a jamaican ginger beer!!!! my friend did not like to order at the bar... i guess i am not so high maintenance and did not care to walk some steps to the bar and order my food. Gone to Europe and done it that way, specially in Spain.
about the atmosphere - it's new, what can I say... it's nice and clean. I always value how clean the restrooms are, and theirs was excellent. I like the colors they chose for the walls - gives a cozy feeling to the room. the layout is nice too. we couldn't sit on the higher level because it was full but next time we will try to sit there. the bartender was very nice and the owner was doing multiple jobs at the same time, awesome!!!
Worth the visit and become a regular!!!
I will write more about this place next time i visit.
--For the owners - would you consider adding memelitas??? ask the chef for this specialty from Oaxaca and even chapulines!!! maybe to exotic but people might like it.... I do and my friends too!!!
