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- 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:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background, Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
104 reviews for A Terrible Beauty
Review Highlights
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"Live Music: great addition." In 10 reviews -
"2) Reuben with homemade salt and vinegar potato chips." In 3 reviews -
"It was the best corned beef and cabbage I'VE ever had." In 3 reviews
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104 reviews in English
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Review from Jenni L.
I've found my people.
No seriously. There's nothing like a proper Irish establishment to make you proud you are a crazy-assed redhead with a whiskey problem.
I've had this place on my to-try list for quite some time, and was more than happy to stop in when I was in town visiting Lisa G. I popped in here with her and her roomie for dinner and drinks one cold, drizzly night and we properly warmed ourselves up with some fantastic Irish food and whiskey, of course.
I stuck to a classic Jamison and Ginger (I believe the Ginger Ale is house-made) and we each ordered what we thought would be respectably light meals: Small side Caesars with chicken, and cups of the St. James Guinness Stew. What we got was a feast of epic proportions, and surely made to satisfy a Viking. Surely.
You need to check out the picture I have posted to this review because it is the only way I am going to be able to prove exactly how ginormous the size standard is at ATB. I thought there might have been a mistake when the waitress sat our food down. Surely this can't be a side salad? It is larger than most dinner salads. That can't be a cup of stew? It's literally served in its own cast-iron pot on top of a full size dinner plate. But alas, it was completely correct, and completely delicious.
The Caesar ($4) was fantastic with a light dressing and perfectly tender sliced chicken (+$4). The real star of the show, however, was the St. James Guinness Stew ($4). Wow is such an understatement, it was just plain amazing. Prime, tender chunks of beef, golden potatoes, carrots, and onions, slow-simmered and perfectly hearty; with the best Irish Soda Bread I have ever had in my life, on the side. I've tried to duplicate it at home and haven't even come near to the consistency and flavor if this bread. It must be chock full of Irish magic because it's legitimately some sort of amazing.
To cap it all off the service was absolutely superb, there was soccer on the screen (if you're into that), and the entire place radiated good Irish fun. I will be back again for sure.Listed in: You've got red on you...
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Review from Josh P.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2012
Came here for lunch last week for the first time.
Loved the food - I highly recommend the Shepherds Pie!
A great selection of beer and whiskey.
Service was so-so. Had an older lady serve our table who seemed out of it. Messed up one of our orders and wasn't very apologetic.
Reading some of the other comments I have to disagree on the outfits, i'm digging the school girl skirt and tie. tho have to agree that a few of the mature servers look a bit silly wearing a school girl uniform.
Over-all great place to gather with friends, will be coming back in the future. -
Review from Band E.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 5/11/2012
Eh... It was ok. Nice job on the interior. Prices were fair. The service seemed a little confused. We went for lunch and were served by 4 different people so it got a little confusing. They didn't have any iced tea or bloody mary mix made.
We always try 'the burger' to see how a new place handles this seemingly simple stuff. All they had were 'stuffed' burgers. Ended up being a little small but still tasty. The bread was cold and needed to be refreshed. Unfortunately, the fries were undercooked and oily (Ooooooooops.)
The back booths all were experiencing a strong vibration from something on the other side of the wall. You sit down and it feels like you've had too much coffee. We moved.
We'll give them a while to get situated. Hopefully they'll either supervise the cook or hire a new one. You really can't send out raw fries. Sometimes people are paying attention.
4/2012
Well, we tried again. "Seat yourself" and nobody around for over 5 minutes. Got one of those unbalanced tables. They just opened and the place should have been made ready to go before guests arrived. The food was a little heavy/greasy. Might be nice to get a burger that isn't stuffed with cheese. Seems like the front of house manager is non-existent. Service is very inconsistent. So food and service only so-so. Not a very refined experience. Sure it's just an Irish pub, but there are better ones in W. Seattle. Probably our last visit.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/15/2011
Eh... It was ok. Nice job on the interior. Prices were fair. The service seemed a little confused.… Read more »
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Review from Barbara M.
Seattle, WA
5/21/2012
Ever go to a restaurant and sample something that you didn't order, which makes you anxiously anticipate your next visit? Yesterday I had a cup of Guinness beef stew at A Terrible Beauty Irish Pub West Seattle as a starter for my meal of bangers and mash..which was what I thought I wanted. But that stew.....omg. It was just perfect, after a long drizzly beach walk at Lincoln Park. Next time I am for sure getting the big bowl, and nothing else. Except maybe that soda bread. And the prerequisite glass of Magners.
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Review from Peter L.
Seattle, WA
5/18/2012 7 Check-ins Here
I really want to like this place more than I do, but I'm just not feeling it. The "Irish" decor is nice, but it is over done and feels contrived. The food is heavy, fatty, and decidedly mediocre. The live music is very loud and some of the regular performers are frankly bad. All that said, what really keeps me away from here is the terrible service. It suffers from the typical Seattle problem of the employees using work as their own personal social hour. Ultimately, it's a good place for an afternoon beer if it's slow, but avoid it in the evening when it is inexplicable crowded.
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Review from Michelle D.
Seattle, WA
4/30/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Probably more like 3.5 stars here...But I liked it so round up!
I've been twice in the past month. Once was for a happy hour that stretched into a lengthy dinner, the other time was for a late dinner. Both occasions I left A Terrible Beauty feeling happy they're in West Seattle and certain I will be back.
Food: They've got a very good menu with tons of options: appetizers that include some standard and certain some unique choices, LOTS of sandwich and burgers, full entrees, salads, etc. Impressive since all I expected the first time I came was bar food. Even some very good looking vegetarian and one vegan option...nice! "A" for effort! One thing was a must try for me: the wings! Not amazing, but solid and good enough that I ordered them my second time. I highly recommend the BBQ and Buffalo options. The Whiskey sauce not so much unless you really jock whiskey (I don't). Also tried the cheese puffs (or whatever they're called). They were good and worth a few extra calories. For an entree I did the fish and chips...average at best, and I wouldn't order it again. The cod was HEAVY on batter and not very flavorful. The fries were hand cut, which I like. Next time I would get a side of fries and skip the fish. Other things: the Ruben sandwich is MASSIVE. Plan to try it if you like a good Ruben, but also plan to share! It's very fresh. I was impressed because quality definitely matched quality with respect to the pastrami.
Drinks: very stiff both times I was here. Wow! Also a good beer selection of stuff on tap. This is a good neighborhood spot to get your drink on!
Service: honestly, super attentive and friendly both times. I was impressed by the enthusiasm the staff had for the food and that they genuinely seemed to like their jobs. Nice to be somewhere casual that the servers don't act like you're a chore. The female servers do wear these little kilted dresses, and that's kind of ridic. But whatever. Just go with it. :)
Atmosphere: it's dark in there! I like it dim, but maybe they have it a little too dark. However, the pace is clean, comfy, and you can sense that they tried to give it an authentic Irish pub feel. The bar is cool, there's lots of dark wood, booths, etc. The first time I was here live music started up, and that was nice! The only thing I don't like is that the floor is concrete...not sure why, but it bugs me. Like it's unfinished in comparison to the rest of the place. But very minor detail I am sure hardly any one else cares about.
Overall, a cool and friendly addition to the neighborhood! Give 'em a shot. I will be back for sure. -
Review from Dave S.
3/30/2012 8 Check-ins Here
This place has gotten a few bad reviews but I can't really figure out why. Yes, it's busy...get over it. When you find a decent pub, it can be busy....because it's a decent pub. They have pretty good food, possibly a smidge expensive though. They have a really good list of beers on tap and quite a few whiskey's. They seem to constantly have live music, which is great.
The uniforms on the waitstaff are fine, no one is forcing them to wear them, they don't have to work there. If you don't like it, go somewhere else. And commenting on another person's post...how can you review a place without ever going inside? Crazy. Is this the best Irish pub ever, of course not. But it's a pretty good spot, with good food and a nice beer selection. Really, what else do you need? -
Review from Eric G.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2012
Yey one more place I can get a mediocre Ruben sandwich. On the same block there is Husky Deli and Eliot bay Burberry. Each Ruben sandwich from these places is made with similar styles of lean thin pastrami. What I miss it a Ruben with corned beef brisket. The old west seattle Charleston Cafe (which closed last year) made a true Ruben sandwich with thick tender Corned beef brisket.
My suggestion to these new resultant owners is to vary there recipe from mediocre to something fantastic.
At the world famous carnegie deli in manhattan they make a world famous Ruben sandwich. It is made with both both round cut pastrami (very lean, light smoked) and corned beef brisket (thicker cut). Plus cheese, Sauerkraut, dressing and marbled rye. -
Review from Ruby D.
Seattle, WA
4/9/2012
I like A Terrible Beauty, the food is awesome for the price, I usually get the Salmon Burger that has a huge salmon filet on a tasty ciabatta bun for only $10.50 and it is always delicious. The service is usually good, but somewhat inconsistent. My boyfriend and I loooove Crystal (one of the bartenders) and have always had top notch service from her when we go there so super props to her, she is great.
I hate going in there on Karaoke night, the sound system is way to loud and sharp for the space it is in, when it starts we usually leave and hop next door to Talarico's (who also does karaoke on the same night, but with a much less abrasive more balanced sound system). Please fix that somehow, it is really irritating.
I am sorry to report this, but I too can not stand the stupid skirt things. I don't really understand the point, they definitely are not mini skirts, and they are not cute or flattering. I think they are going for a school girl theme (which is a bit strange ad pedophilic for my taste). I understand the first restaurant is in Renton, a place where the clientele is more apt to respond to silly costumes perhaps, but in the opinion of myself and all of my friends that frequent the Terrible the uniforms are reminiscent of a homely Hooters knock off (without the hooters). I guess I just don't like my cool kitchy neighborhood being invaded by a restaurant with a tacky costume theme (its a bit cheesy), and out of character for my beloved hood.
If they could just polish this place up a bit more, shake off some of that South end tackiness (I know that sounds snobby, but I lived there for 15 years and we all know the drinking and dining choices down there are not so great) , and direct the concept more towards the West Seattle hood, I would give it 5 stars every time. -
Review from Angelina F.
Seattle, WA
2/21/2012
When I first saw the servers dressed in tartan miniskirts, I thought I was seeing an ill-timed Halloween costume. The servers are required to wear what looks like the miniskirt Britney Spears wore in her "Baby One More Time" video -- only supposedly "Irish" As a server, and as a woman, I think this is actually relatively demeaning. It's one thing to make it an option, it's entirely another to make it a uniform.
I don't mind their beer selection, and I haven't tried their food. I regularly see a lot of people in here during brunch, when they have live music and a LOT of families, so that's good.
I have been here on a couple separate occasions, and all of them have been largely underwhelming. I hate the fake Irish setting. I know they put a lot of effort into something that is supposed to feel like the real thing, but all it feels like is a set. (Those uniforms don't help, either.) If you want a real Irish pub, venture across the bridge and go visit The Owl 'N' Thistle, an authentic (transplanted) Irish pub.
They do have karaoke relatively often, which is a nice change of pace if I don't feel like going to Talarico's or the Rocksport. However, it isn't a good crowd for the karaoke (no one claps for people they don't know!)
All in all, I sort of wish this place would go away so we could get a less-douchey bar in here. -
Review from R W.
Seattle, WA
4/19/2012
The food is very good and quite worth the money. We've been three times and everything I've had I would happily have again.
The atmosphere, however, is lousy. The music is always incredibly loud and I have yet to understand why hipsters insist upon bringing their small children to a bar. I don't think I've ever been able to hear my dinner companion at a Terrible Beauty and most of the music isn't even Irish. It's NEVER worth it to pay cover to go in there.
Also, as someone who's been to Ireland, a real pub it ain't. Sorry guys, but throwing cheap Catholic school girl uniforms on your disgruntled waitresses doesn't make it an Irish pub.
This place ought to start a delivery service. That way you could eat the food without actually going there. Seriously, can there be one night a week when it's isn't so frickin' loud? -
Review from James R.
Seattle, WA
2/16/2012
Great place, though not for the fragile
We went to TB last night with a gang and a bunch of kids, and was really very impressed. The service was great, and the food is unreal. I was sincerely pleased, and everyone at the table loved the food (apps, salads, entrees). This place is great, and I'm a tough sell.
The service was also way above expectations. We have annoying kids when they're by themselves, and exponentially so when in a group. The staff, everyone, was really nice to them and very patient with us. No fawning over the adorable girls and no barking at the dickweed boys and no sighing at the indecisive parents. Smart, friendly, fast, precise, and all in mini skirts.
The 5th star comes when it de-Irishes. I hate all things Irish. I'm Irish myself, and I've been burnt out since boyhood. Hate it. So this place eats it for music and humor. Yay, you sing songs about whiskey. Yay, a guy drinks too much and falls off his bike. So funny, let's make a poster. Fuck that. This place needs to lose the Irish, and keep everything else in place.
Finally, the beer. Whatever you like, it's here. No problem there.
Bottom Line: I'll eat good food and drink a hundred beers anywhere, so I tolerate the lame Irish vibe. The win for West Seattle. -
Review from Dorcas B.
Seattle, WA
2/16/2012
I want to like you. I really do. The environment and beer selection are great. The stew I ate there on my first visit was excellent... so I was happy to have friends meet me there for dinner last night.
Fail Fail Fail- across the board.
Table set for 3... only 2 menus, 2 sets of silverware , no plates for the app we ordered- extremely hard to get more of whatever we needed. We were in the corner and it felt that way. A giant lamp fell on us - it was propped on the back of the neighboring booth but not secured. Someone came over to ask if we were ok- but then just propped the lamp back in it's original spot.
The Fried Zucchini app was poor- we sent it back after a couple of bites and our server had no comment other than "did we want a box". My shepherd's pie tasted heavily of canned peas and my friend's tuna melt was really lacking.
When our bill came out, we'd been double charged for our drinks- our server said "oops, I meant to fix that".....
I'll probably be back to have a beer- but I'll be sure to sit only in Matthew's section- because I know I will get great service and not feel like an afterthought. -
Review from Ken T.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/24/2012
just a minor update. It's still too loud. this drop's my review rating at this point by a notch. I can barely hear what people are saying on the same table at the very back of the restaurant when there's some kind of band playing. We have had to pick our timing better to avoid it. Or leave early and head elsewhere.
The acoustics carry that sound very well throughout the place. and yes unfortunately I got my hearing tested recently and it came out A++ which probably points to those with worse hearing might have a different review. It's a shame since everything else about the place has been a positive experience. Will re-review again in a year.
And no, I don't care if the place is super busy. The more the merrier.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2011
Been there a couple of times since opening. Expecting a couple of growing pains for a new business… Read more »
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Review from heidi l.
King, WA
4/9/2012
Love this place! If I'm looking for a Guinness poured perfectly and some yummy Irish food, I always go to this place. It has become a favorite for my fiance and I. They have a great selection of beers and whiskey. On the weekends they do get very busy and there can be a wait, but it is definitely worth it! Colleen has been our bartender there a couple times and she is always a delight.
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Review from Alex F.
Seattle, WA
4/6/2012
This place is great! Don't let the other reviews fool you. The food is outstanding (!!) and the portions are huge and at a very good price. Beer selection is awesome for those of us tired of all the Northwest IPAs. Good cocktails if beer isn't your thing. Can get crowded on certain nights. The waitresses and bartenders are in stereotypical irish gear but get over it. It's all for fun. Give it a shot. It makes Paddy Coynes seem like McDonald's.
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Review from Mack H.
Seattle, WA
1/20/2012
First time we went here it wasn't very great. Server rushed us, food wasn't tasty, it was a ghost town in there. This was right after they opened. HOWEVER; what brought me back a second time was their amazingly delectable beer selection! They have so many options and so many GOOD options!
Our server Josh was fantastic! Attentive and personable.
We came back a third time on a busier night and sat in the bar for a beer, our waiter this time was extremely rude, rushed us to order then didn't check on us again. After 2/3 bad experiences I don't know if we will go back, except that damn beer selection keeps me intrigued.
If they had a friendlier / patient staff and more vegetarian options on the menu I think business would be a little more booming! Now that porterhouse closed there's no where to get fieldroast sandwiches and good beer in west seattle! -
Review from Jason F.
1/5/2012 24 Check-ins Here
NEW. I was eager to stop into this new Irish Restaurant & Bar in West Seattle. I'm not sure when it opened, but being a lover of Irish music, had high hopes. From the moment you walk in to A Terrible Beauty, you realize that they have gone all the way with the Irish bar theme and it shows. It reminds me of a lot of my favorite Irish places, like Kells in Post Alley. There's an area in the front for live music or karaoke and the booths and seating is all very inviting and comfortable.
I was stopping in on a Thursday and was pleased to sit down to dinner with some live Irish music. After the live music, Karaoke was to start, I perused the karaoke menu which seemed to be very up to date. As we sat, a gentlemen came around to identify himself as the house magician and treated us to some masterful tricks.
There are tons of great looking items on the menu, during this stop, we had corned beef and cabbage and the peach pork chop. The portions were generous and the food was nothing short of terrific. Everything was prepared well and the service was great. The servers here wear little AC-DC skirts (AKA keltic mini-skirts) and they were eager to serve us.
I look forward to going back again soon. -
Review from Suzy K.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 3/17/2012
Ick. I just walked past this establishment and I get that they are an Irish joint but really? A $20 cover to enter just because it is St. Patrick's Day? I had to maneuver into the street to avoid the crowds of trashy smokers flooding the sidewalk from their establishment just to get by their place. They are definitely an Applebee's of Friday's type joint. Sad.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/4/2011
I have been looking forward to checking out this "vegetarian friendly" Irish pub that supposedly… Read more »
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Review from Julia M.
Puyallup, WA
1/13/2012
I met a bride and groom here for a lunch meeting, at their suggestion, to discuss their wedding flowers. Noon on a Thursday. The place was quiet with scattered groupings of patrons seated throughout the establishment. I wasn't going to order, just have water and work while the couple ate, but when Drew, our server, suggested the Reuben, I had to try it. He said it's what they do best.
He was telling the truth! I'm freakish about Reubens and it was among the best I've ever tasted. A massive amount of corned beef that was tender, thinly sliced, stringy as it fell apart while biting in. Definitely good they give cloth napkins here. I liked their hand cut salt & vinegar chips, too. I couldn't finish my meal.
I loved the look inside the place and told Drew that it looked very much like a Dublin pub, with the only difference being the age of the wood and the smell of beer and cigarettes permeating the walls.
The couple with me had Cod and Chips. (Fries). They ate up all the fish and enjoyed it-- fries were leftover, bu that's because the portion was so generous.
If you really don't plan to eat again for the rest of the day, get a lunchtime Rueben there. I was seriously not hungry for dinner at all.
This is a place I will bring my family to, which says a lot because we live 20 miles from West Seattle. -
Review from Rosalie S.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Stopped in here on New Year's eve for a little dinner. There was a gal singing and playing acoustic guitar and she sounded great. She covered Pearl Jam's
"Just Breathe." huge points from a huge PJ fan.
Loved the food. I got a the banger burger and it was so delicious! The potato salad was just okay for me. I think I'd try the homemade salt & vinegar chips next time.
One of my friends had the Reuben which I tasted and it was one of the best Reuben's I've ever had and it was HUGE. Love a good Reuben!
Definitely enjoyed this place and the decor is pretty cool too. -
Review from Dave R.
Seattle, WA
12/12/2011
All the iterations of this spot have been noisy. The legend continues. You can't hear anything, and when the howler monkey trained musicians they get start screeching, its intolerable.
Food, fair.
Beer. good
Service. OK
Ambience-younger than Elliot Bay Brewhouse, but sort of tacky/pick-up at times. meh. -
Review from Debra H.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011
Loved the decor inside, had all the makings of a great stop on a fall afternoon. Came in on a Sunday at 3pm, place was not too crowded, some nice live Jazz playing in the background.
If only the service was better, could've reached four stars.
Ordered two beers, one came...we waited for the other, and waited...waited....
Again, 3pm on a Sunday.
Orderd a starter salad, and the Reuben sandwich. The salad was really good, and pretty much got full on that.
Server never returned to see if we wanted another beer (lost revenue) or even some water.
The Reuben and chips came, I thought I'd have a bite or two and take the sandwich and chips home and eat it later. When we went to pay we asked for boxes. Server said she'd take in to the back and box it all up.
At this place you might want to box your own. Had tried a couple of chips, wanted to have the rest later with my meal.
When I got home she only boxed part of what was on my plate, and I had almost a full sandwich (not sure where that went). And none of the chips. Great, $10 for a half of sandwich. -
Review from Erica T.
Seattle, WA
1/18/2012
Cheesy atmosphere. Inattentive waitstaff. Bad mixed drinks. Decent beer list and food. Though lucky if you get what you order. Generally blah experiences each time. Doubt I will be going back.
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Review from Ricki B.
Seattle, WA
1/29/2012
Not impressed. I was charged $2.75 for one glass of Sprite. Food was okay, nothing to go back for and it was VERY LOUD. Hard to enjoy dinner conversation. We also had a large group for a birthday with folks who go there quite a bit. We had to order the Birthday boy his dessert and pay for it, thought they could of least threw that in, (I know restaurant food costs and they would of only been out about $2.00). It was dissapointing because I wanted to like it. And for some reason, even though they have three local locations, it seemed very "corporate" and the SHORT mini skirts on the ladies are horrid!
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Review from Rich S.
10/4/2011
A Terrible Beauty did a great job in redesigning this space. The place is beautiful, without being fancy or trendy. Plus they've got legit musicians playing away, even on a Tuesday night. I really digged the feel of the place.
It was cold and wet outside, so I ordered up some stew. It was 'take you back in time to great home cooking and comfort food'. It tasted the way I wanted it to taste (rich with tender beef, carrots ready to melt in your mouth). I loved the fries and the vinegary chips. The selection of beers available on draught impressed me.
Other items on the menu were a little hit and miss. While I was a little weirded out that the waitresses had to dress in Catholic school girl outfits, I'll be back. A Terrible Beauty has the feel of a relaxed place to be for some decent morsels of food and good beer and a football game (American Football or soccer). -
Review from Thaddeus G.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 1/3/2012
After several visits (10+) I can now say this with confidence: They've successfully excised the heart and soul out of what makes a pub: personality. There is none. There will never be a bartender or waitperson here who ever knows your name or is glad you came. It has that indelible franchise feel. But hey - they sure as hell turn tables quick, don't they? The owners must be up to their arses in money.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/7/2011
PLUSES: Yeats. Decor is friggin' boss. Board games. Sunday brunch isn't crowded (yet). Killer… Read more »
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Review from Casey W.
Seattle, WA
7/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sunday at 6:30 and the bartender is already plowed. First tip was that it took 10min to be acknowledged while sitting in the bar area. Beers came, order was given. 20min past and I ask a waitress nearby (as the Bartender was MIA) to check on our order, she gets the bartender and confirms it's in. Clearly it wasn't. Others sitting after us have their food. 45min from the time we ordered the Bartender explains he miss-booked our order. Different bartender comes on shift, apologizes, tells us the beers are comped. Service from that point with the new guy was fine if not a little inattentive.
Food: Bangers and Mash - ok, not great. Fresh sausage, bland mashers (not as good as Celtic Swell) and ground mustard on the side - no stout gravy, only HP sauce from the table. Ruben sandwich was huge and the corned beef was excellent. Fries were so-so.
Not sure I'll come back due to the poor service. Be forewarned: when eating at the middle high-tables in the bar area - your service may suffer. And if your server/tender is a tall guy with blood shot and dopey eyes he's probably tossed.
Update: I had an email exchange with the owner and they are very concerned and are sending us a gift card for our meal. I'll give them a second chance for sure. I think honest feedback is gold for concerned businesses and I believe they sincerely appreciated it. Good luck TB!
Second update: The bartender in question is no longer working there. -
Review from J D L.
Seattle, WA
8/21/2011
I've been to A Terrible Beauty three times now: Once during opening week, once for brunch a week ago, and again for dinner this past Friday night.
Let's start with the positives: Finally, this troubled corner of California and Edmonds, the so-called Cursed Corner, has found a tenant that serves reasonably-priced fare to keep the crowds coming. It's about bloody time!
First round: A stiff Jack & Coke for me, a large beer for her. I had the fish and chips, which consisted of two decent-sized pieces of cod in a sweet, thick batter served over somewhat bland fries alongside a cup of slaw. Solid, nothing to write home about. Her burger was delicious, if a little overdone. Service was slow (they were PACKED) but friendly and as attentive as I'd expect during the first week of service.
Second round: I ordered a Bloody Mary (no salt!) and the corned beef hash. The bloody is a keeper: good volume, tongue-clacky spice. The hash was sublime. Briny beef topped by two perfectly poached eggs, mopped up with soft, warm Irish soda bread. That's where the positives stopped. Although they weren't unduly crowded, it was all I could do to catch my server's eye. When I finally signaled her that I was parched due to a two-dozen minute gap in my Bloody Mary infusion, I got a replacement...rimmed with salt. I'd sat at the bar, and had to ask for it to be wiped down, but not before getting my forearms and newspaper sticky.
Third round: Sat at the bar after waiting for 20 minutes in one of the tallish bar area seats to put my drink order in. I ordered the daily special: $10 for a bowl of chowder and a full order of fish and chips. If that isn't the most food you can get for ten bucks on California Ave, I'd be amazed. Service was moderately more attentive, although I did wind up rolling the empty cubes in my glass far more than I should have.
Conclusion: The atmosphere is lively and the place is perfectly-suited for an evening friendly get-together provided you aren't in a rush. Stepping up a notch on service would assure that this place remains on my regular WS roster. I hope they pull it off; to see another CalEds restaurant fail would be a Terrible Shame. -
Review from DeAnne E.
7/10/2011
I expected a fight but all I heard were just F-bombs. I mean, that's what happens in an Irish pub right? Ugh, darn that Boondock Saints movie.
I tried to avoid this restaurant because of my unfortunate incident at their Renton location in January 2011. West Seattle Summer Fest was going on. Although I told my friends about that horrible experience, one of them still wanted to go. The bar was available and we sat down. I had a weird feeling the same guy that was working the bar was the same guy that worked at the one in Renton back in January. My friend realized that it was awkward keeping up a conversation so she scoped out the outside dining area. The moment she left, a customer at the bar was dropping those F-bombs. Eventually we got a table outside and sat down.
I had fish and chips but it didn't come with tartar sauce so I had to ask for it. The fish came soaking in oil. I ate it anyway...my friend paid for my lunch. I probably won't come back on my free will though.
On a positive note, our server was nice and I think the manager came out and had a quick funny chat with us. -
Review from Jenava S.
Seattle, WA
9/18/2011
The pluses - pretty close to my house. I realize that might not be helpful to you, but it is a plus for me. (-: The food is OK. It'll do when we want comfort food. The music - we were there when there was Sunday jazz brunch and we didn't find it too loud at all (clarinet and bass). We sat in a booth on the bar side and I think the ambiance will be awesome on a cold, rainy Seattle night.
The cons - I can't stand the skirts. I really cannot STAND them. They make me cringe whenever a waitress walks by and honestly I can't look any of the waitresses in the eye. They make me so uncomfortable! I probably won't go back until the owners come to their senses and realize how demeaning that skirt is to BOTH their staff AND their patrons. Hopefully they fix this soon because it really would be a nice chill bar to hang out at during the winter.
In general the fact that the waitstaff are in cheesy uniforms is a big con. This isn't Tukwila...you're not fooling us. We know that's not how they dress in Irish pubs in Ireland.
Also, we went on a Sunday around 3 and the service was not all that great. I wanted a refill on my beer but we waited so long for someone to come by that eventually we pushed our empty glasses and dishes to the edge of the table so our waiter would practically have to trip on them to pass. He finally noticed that we were done so we could ask for the check. I was afraid to ask for another beer, fearing we'd end up waiting for our check for another hour or more. -
Review from J B.
Seattle, WA
7/2/2011
Nice looking bar. Too bad it couldn't control some belligerent party-pooper patrons. This was one of the rare instances when the experience was greatly reduced by watching very rude customers rather than by poor service. Management showed no backbone in even trying to control some vulgar types. Yelp seems to think they deserve a minimum of one-star for this, I'm not so sure. Haven't seen this problem at Celtic Swell, Fado or any of the many other fun Irish pubs in town. Even the 9 LB Hammer will show a mean drunk the door.
This is my first and only one-star review. I prefer to give praise and recognition for a good experience rather than to acknowledge the unfriendly ones. Who knows, it might be worth another try some day but there are so many better spots in the area. -
Review from Ashley D.
Seattle, WA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was really excited to try this place out, as West Seattle is in dire need of a good Irish pub. Unfortunately while the decor is wonderful, I was rather underwhelmed with the other aspects of the experience.
My friend and I were seated relatively quickly, and after 20 minutes or so (our waiter forgot to put in our drink order), we finally received our drinks and put in our food orders. The appetizer came out quickly, and our orders of fish and chips soon after. I've tried quite a few versions at the Irish pubs around the city, and this rates in at a solid mediocre. The fish, while a decent cut of cod, was relatively small and completely soaked in oil. Meh. The fried camembert was good, but I'm not sure how fried cheese can ever go wrong. I might forego the dipping sauce though, because it didn't really go well with the flavor of the cheese.
What really got me was the price of their beer. Certainly, they had a decent selection of darker beers (if you want a good lager or a wheat, you are completely SOL), but I don't think that any of them were worth a $6 price tag (oh, and a beer menu with prices on it would be fantastic, btw. I'm not going to get up to look at your taps across the restaurant). I'll be heading elsewhere next time. -
Review from Brie M.
Seattle, WA
2/11/2012 2 Check-ins Here
They have Snoqualmie Falls Rootbeer on draft and it is a must try! It's odd going to a Irish pub and only raving about the rootbeer but when I went it was a lazy sunday and it sounded so good! Oh was it! The fish and chips were excellent as well. I can't wait to go back and try something different... and get the rootbeer.
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Review from Betsy B.
Seattle, WA
8/23/2011
I think A Terrible Beauty is going to overcome the infamous West Seattle "cursed corner" and be there for a good, long time. I went there last night with my partner and mom. There were singles have a Guinness, families celebrating birthday, old and young, basically the melting pot that is West Seattle. We were seated promptly and the service was fine (not great, not bad).
The menu is HUGE. What a difference from the only other Irish pub I can think of in West Seattle (the Celtic Swell on Alki) which only seems to have about six items. The menu had something for everyone including snacks (Irish Nachos...hmmm?), burgers, sandwiches, and meals. We sat near a young boy who was really enjoying his mac and cheese.
About the meal: I had the BEST reuben I have ever had in my life. Lean corned beef, mild swiss cheese, mild sauerkraut, a delicious sauce (not too much), and nicely grilled marbled rye bread. It really was very, very good. My partner had shepherd's pie which was made with more of a roast beef versus the ground beef elsewhere. The roast beef made it seem like a nicer meal and more substantial. I thought the shepherd's pie was so-so. To me, it had an odd flavor and everyone agreed that it at least needed some salt. My mom had a burger which was very juicy and nicely cooked. She also tried the salt and vinegar potato crisps which weren't too salty or too vinegar-y. Pretty good.
The band was just setting up as we left. We did not have any noise complaints like previous reviewers. I think that the energy, food, and ambiance are all spot on. Just a few menu/flavor tweaks and the curse will be broken forever. -
Review from Bert H.
Seattle, WA
7/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wife and I decided to pack up the sea monkey and walk up to check this place out. After an initial bit of wonkiness trying to bring a baby into an irish pub (what, the irish don't want babies in their pubs? thats absurd!) we managed to maneuver ourselves to a booth in the back.
Just a note. If you are underage but wheelchair or otherwise mobility handicapped or if you find yourself pushing a wee one in a stroller, the layout is a pain in the ass to navigate. The 21 and over section starts almost right at the front door. To get to the under 21 area, you have to go up some steps. Oddly, there is a ramp up to this seating area...at the back of the restaurant and you have to pass through the bar to get to it. They are very touchy about allowing pass-thrus, which is understandable considering it's the law to bar all access to anyone under 21, but highlights how poorly laid out the place is. Which is weird in light of my next point of interest.
the interior is beautifully done. The atmosphere and decor is top-notch and they really spared no expense in doing it right. The booths are comfy with both a great sense of privacy and a great view of the whole place. About the only knock they get on the 'ambiance' score is the uniforms. The men are in black with a loose tie, while the women are all in catholic school girl outfits. The place could do without the sophomoric touch and I'm sure the thirty-something waitresses would rather not do a shift stuffed into such ridiculous outfits.
But enough about the place and the people, lets get to the food. I ordered their signature beef stew and their shepherd's pie while my better half ordered a house salad and a bowl of the french onion soup. There seemed to have been a bit of a snafu with the order, as it all arrived at the same time in a bit of a trainwreck, but I chalk that up to newly opened jitters and such.
The stew was....meh. Great portions, with big juicy bits of meat and veggies, but if it had been seasoned - at all - I couldn't tell. For being a signature item, it was rather lackluster and bland.
The shepherd's pie though, that was amazing. Well seasoned, well portioned, and served steaming hot still in the cast iron skillet. It more than made up for the poor performance of the beef stew.
Sadly, wifey was not overly impressed with her french onion soup. Sweet instead of savory, with a nearly rock-hard cut of bread with cheese baked on floating on top. She had to use a knife to saw through the bread to be able to eat it with the soup, which seems like a pretty big 'oops' for making french onion soup. Her salad though was enjoyable (though, being a salad it would be rather surprising if it hadn't).
All in all, a cool place that, as of right now, is more flash than substance. Hopefully as they get things worked out the food will live up to the promise the decor and ambiance imply. -
Review from Jeffrey G.
Seattle, WA
11/17/2011
I'm a big fan of this place. Service is a bit spotty, but I think that's a result of the lack of service staff employed, rather than the quality of their service.
There's a very "home-y" feel to the place. -
Review from David G.
Seattle, WA
2/4/2012
Good food, very friendly service, excellent atmosphere... I am glad that someone finally put a worthwhile pub at this location... definitely going back...
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Review from Lauren M.
Seattle, WA
7/11/2011
Went with my husband last Saturday (during west Seattle summer fest) and had an amazing time! It was packed, but we were able to find seats at the bar and had our drinks in front of us in less than five minutes. The decor is beautiful and the band they had playing was awesome. We had a great time people watching and chatting with other patrons. My top two experience points for this place are:
1. The bar crew- they made our night. Very friendly and attentive - each of the three working checked on us at least once during our time there and offered great drink/food recommendations. (Great IPAs on tap, major thumbs up from my husband)
2. I'm gluten-free and have to be very careful when eating out. Understanding the nature of pub food, I didn't expect there to be many options for me. I told the bartender my dietary restrictions and he was not only more than happy to walk me through what I could or could not have, the meal I ended up having was delicious. As far as I know, Terrible Beauty does not have a gluten-free menu. That being said, for anyone who eats out with this type of dietary restriction, having a staff that is knowledgable and takes the time to discuss how their menu is able to be modified to accommodate a gluten-free patron is a total win.
Will definitely be going back! -
Review from Jacquie P.
Seattle, WA
A Terrible Beauty is so new you can still smell the lacquer on the recently painted booths. Everything is bright and shiny and beautiful! The long awaited remodel was done really tastefully and there is a kind of Irish countryside theme with pictures of bicycles adorning the walls, and old timey street lamps used for lighting. It creates a very cozy, comfortable feel.
In my experience, when a new restaurant opens, you usually have to allow a few weeks for the kinks to be worked out and can't expect everything to run smoothly right away. That being said, we were so pleasantly surprised with how well the restaurant was already running, and how quick the kitchen was, considering every single seat in the house was taken, and there was a line out the door. We were very impressed at how they handled the rush.
Service was great! Our Irish server was friendly - if a little rushed - but hey, it's understandable. We ordered three appetizers off the HH menu ($5 on all HH food). The potato cakes which were served with the most amazing peach chutney, and we also had the wings, and the hummus platter. We each had a guinness (beer is $1 off on HH menu). The food was great for standard HH fare. If I had to nitpick though, the wings were fried for just a little bit too long and were a little too hard on the outside, but the freaking sauce on those things will get you addicted. It was outstanding. The hummus platter was mostly bread and could have used another big spoonfull of hummus, but the abundance of veggies in its place was appreciated.
We left full and happy and are so excited to see how A Terrible Beauty grows and adapts to the West Seattle community. We'll be back for some karaoke soon :)Listed in: Cruising California
