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Balefire
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants American (Traditional) Wine Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
1801 Hewitt AveEverett, WA 98201
(425) 374-7248
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 4 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
42 reviews for Balefire
Review Highlights
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"Wednesday kill-the-keg is such a great time." In 4 reviews -
"did i mention they currently have Pliny the Elder on tap." In 2 reviews -
"...plates we tried were all very tasty yet reasonably priced." In 2 reviews
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42 reviews in English
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Review from Patrick B.
Redmond, WA
1/25/2012 4 Check-ins Here
I have gone to Balefire as a pre- and post-game location for Silvertips games for a while now. In that context, it's everything I need in a bar.
Excellent beer selection, tasty/good appetizers, prompt service that accommodates the need to get food and then the bill in short order to allow for time to get to the game. Would definitely recommend to others who want a drink and quick bite before going to the game. -
Review from Alissa S.
Bothell, WA
1/22/2012
I guess if you live in everett and don't have many options this bar is probably pretty "top notch."
However, I would disagree with that sentiment. We came in to have a few drinks and celebrate someones birthday. Our server wasn't very friendly or chatty. He took some of our orders but walked away without being sure he even had everyone's order.
They were out of pretty much every beer or wine my table requested. When served wine there was still soap (or yeast) sediment in the glass leaving disgusting white floating masses at the top of the glass. He served us two glasses that way at which point we didn't even want any wine anymore.
When we ordered they were out of something on the menu and offered us something else. Jokingly said "yeah we'll take that for half off." But he didn't respond. However, if you're out of everything ever in your bar, the least you can do is make your customer happy.
The bar is kind of cute, but it stinks. It has a stale freezer type smell to it.
There was supposed to be a band playing at 8pm on saturdays according to their website, which was most of the reason we chose to even check this place out at all. The musician strolled in around 9pm. We didn't even bother to stay for the music because we'd already been there a few hours.
Oh, and the food is HORRIBLE. Eat before you go. Our entire table ordered food, but the quality of food was not good at all and way too over priced to be what it was. I was half concerned about if I would get sick from eating it after tasting it.
Really... this bar doesn't have much to offer, other than it's cute atmosphere. You could go to any dive bar and pay less for beer and probably get better food.
The management and bartenders definitely need to do a better job here, but I wont be going back to see if it improves.
(Also, if you go on any night there is an event at Everett Event Center, expect to pay $5 for parking because there is absolutely no parking near this place AT ALL. You're better off going into Seattle. At least they have good bars.) -
Review from Darcy H.
Seattle, WA
5/11/2012
Good beer but the food....jeez. What a waste. Obviously Balefire isn't owned by someone who is very interested in or curious about food. Better to go hungry.
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Review from Kim P.
Updated - 2/11/2012
third trip to Balefire - this time I was there for the Friday night action. This place has become a beer-lover's mecca for the north end. My husband joined the local homebrewers club downstairs while I made my way through the IPAs on tap and in the bottle. The staff was friendly (but not overly chatty - yeah!) and they knew their beers.
Don't forget, you can always ask for a schooner or half pint. That way you leave room for multiple tastings.Listed in: Good Beer on Tap
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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6/5/2010
Went back to Balefire after high school graduation. Great new bartender who likes IPAs also. No… Read more »
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Review from Leah H.
8/30/2011
Balefire has a huge beer and wine list that can't be found anywhere else in Everett
Balefire is also just plain lovely. Big wood bar and great lighting.
So why the one star? Food and staff.
Balefire offers a small selection of nibbles but they are all just terrible. Soggy, previously-frozen, bland, ughk. They'd do better just having free pretzels.
And the staff, management included, are distant and strange. We've come in as the only customers and not been greeted, has the owner be really rude to us about where we were sitting when it was not crowded, and service is even worse when the place gets busy. -
Review from Amie P.
Mukilteo, WA
Had a great night out with a friend!
Stopped on a Friday, about 9:30 pm, and had no trouble finding a table. Enjoyed a flight if reds, and a flight of whites. Both of us found a new favorite. Highly recommend the 'cheese and chocolate' plate if you're tasting wines.
Despite other reviewer's comments, we found the wait staff to be friendly, knowledgable and efficient. We will be back!
10 FB check ins will earn you $5 off! -
Review from Brittany L.
Lynnwood, WA
8/28/2011
Really nice location with great ambiance and decor, even better selection of local brews, easygoing and knowledgeable bartenders and from what I sampled, decent food.
Downtown Everett is starting to come up in the world, and there's no doubt this place is helping them build that reputation! -
Review from Monica S.
Everett, WA
I have been here a few times recently. One of the last times was was for a Lagunitas Tasting night. I was actually surprised the place wasn't packed, happy, but surprised. They were having a raffle with lagunitas paraphernalia, live music and of course amazing beer. I was very satisfied with this evening, i had a great times. The next time I went in I wasn't as into it. The beer on tap was okay, good variety but nothing that really appealed to me (and I like a lot of different beers). I went with a friend and we ordered some appetizers which came out and you could tell that they didn't make them there, like thy were from Costco or something, but they were decent tasting, but then again they were a bit pricey. I will come here again, I like the atmosphere, and they usually have great beer. Recently they had Pliny the Younger on tap.... enough said.
Food: eh... ill eat before I come
Service: Hit or miss sometimes but overall okay
Cleanliness: good, I like the atmosphere
Beer: Very good! oh BTW its a wine bar too :)Listed in: Best Beer
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Review from Leeann R.
Edmonds, WA
8/26/2011
If you like wine you absolutely have to check this place out.
I have tried to find places near Comcast Arena with good wine and good food and this is the best that I have found. They serve a small selection of tapas plates but everything I tried was good. I love the wine and my husband loved the beer selections.
We've never been disappointed. -
Review from Paula M.
Everett, WA
10/10/2011
Did they ever fix the bar? My friends and I stopped in one night to check this place out. We decide to sit at the bar. I'm of average height, the bar hit me about chin level..kind of strange. From the outside it looks like a cool place but as soon as I passed through the threshold I smelled something musty and was turned off immediately. The bartender lacked any sort of personality. I would think that would be an important position in a bar? No? Food did not look appetizing so we chugged down a glass of wine and left. They could do so much better me thinks.
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Review from Ott p.
10/28/2010 25 Check-ins Here
one of the top place in DT Everett to go for a sexy date and cocktails, definitely the most classy and sophisticate atmosphere in Everett. The only bad thing about this place is that they are closing to early on the week days.
clean
great ambiance
nice staff
great beer and wines selection
street parking is always free in Everett
I'm a Fan
OTT -
Review from Sheryl C.
Seattle, WA
9/13/2011
Tzatzikii that does not resemble tzatziki. Below average hummus and service. Good location near the events center but they are not prepared for the crowds they get from it. Skip it!
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Review from Travis H.
Lynnwood, WA
9/5/2011 21 Check-ins Here
Wednesday kill-the-keg is such a great time! Thursday brewer's nights are routinely fantastic with lots of great giveaways and tasty beverages.
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Review from Rob K.
Portland, OR
2/26/2012 1 photo
Meh. Not bad, but really small menu. Ham & cheese sliders were pretty good. Adding $2 for a handful of chips or grapes seems a bad deal.
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Review from Elliotte B.
Kirkland, WA
3/18/2011
I love small bars with nice ambiance, I love a place with a quality selection of lesser known beers and a knowledgeable crew to recommend me some new type of beer that tastes awesome, I love bar food that isn't just the run of the mill soggy fries with cheese but something quality to compliment my beer. Therefore, I love Balefire!
I went here for St Patrick's day and they place was crowded but not obnoxiously packed, the place has ample seating both at the bar and a long row of tables. They had an awesome musician playing Irish drinking songs for St Pattys. The staff was very helpful in recommending new beers to try, as well as what food to try, although from the looks and samples I tasted, everything both drink and food wise is worth ordering here, you're not going to get some cheap beer here, which leads me to mention the overall crowd of the place felt just right for me, there were no packs of thick skulled Ed Hardy jocks creepin on women, nor were there a bunch of pretentious hipsters sticking their noses to the sky while sipping PBRs, just cool folks enjoying good drinks, the music and good conversations in the laid back ambiance of this place.
If any of that which I just described sounds appealing to you, you will love Balefire too. Truly a place you want to go where everybody knows your name. -
Review from Jen S.
7/15/2009
Balefire is 98% beer and wine bar and 2% snack stand. So if you are looking for a fun place to try different beers and wines with friends then this is a fine place to go.
If, on the other hand, you are looking for good happy hour food specials (like me), keep on moving. The food selection is extremely limited, mostly cold appetizers. Limted selection of non-alcoholic drinks.
The reason for the two stars is not so much the limited food and non-alcoholic drink selection, but the TERRIBLE service. The "waiter" didn't bother to take my order, I had to go to him and give him my order after waiting 10 minutes in a nearly empty bar. Ordered a ginger beer and took them five minutes to get it to me. -
Review from Ryan B.
Redmond, WA
11/25/2009
I think it's safe to say that this place is top tier for beer bars in Everett.
I recently went here to meet up with some fellow fly fishermen for a fly tying get-together, and was pleasantly surprised by the solid beer selection. It's not the hundreds of varieties like you're going to find at Seattle's top spots, but they keep their menu trimmed down to all top quality local, regional, and international craft beers. To top it all off, we were there on a wednesday, their "kill the keg" night. $2 beers! As in $2 CRAFT beers! No mega industrial swill here. -
Review from Jon W.
Philadelphia, PA
2/20/2009
Superb beers with great service...
I wrote that line two weeks ago when I came here - since then I have traveled over 3000 miles and stayed in at least a dozen different cities. You'd think I would forget about a little beer joint in Washington.... wrong.
This place is great, high-class beers in a high-class joint. Love the service, and better yet the beers.... -
Review from Regina F.
Marysville, WA
9/17/2010
Great selection of wines and beers. If you ask the owner what he recommends he will bring you exactly what you like.
Servers are attentive. The wine tastings are always good. Atmostphere is ok for a small bar.
I have been back many times. -
Review from Kristin B.
Marysville, WA
6/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've gone by this bar many, many times on my way to other establishments in the area and have always been curious. I have to say that I did enjoy myself when I was there and it's actually a pretty cute little place. We only drank and didn't try any of there food but I was happy to see on the menu that Cafe Neo provides them with all their food and that right there is a HUGE bonus!
The biggest downside for me was the white wine selection. For being a beer and wine only bar they didn't have that big of a selection. The glass of wine that I did order came to me in a dirty glass and was awfully murky. When I took it back up to the bartender, he promptly apologized for using the last of the bottle (hence the non-see-through beverage) and gave me a fresh glass on the house. You can't beat customer service like that!!!
I liked that the bar seems to be going for the "cozy" feel with the benches and cushions and couch and what not but it was pretty cold in there. (Very minor I know)
My friends and I had a good time and will go back for sure. -
Review from Paul K.
Marysville, WA
7/15/2011
Like it. Ok, love it. From the funky upside down 'V' structural supports inside, to the alluring orange light as you approach, this place is what Everett has always needed. Right now I am sitting at the bar and enjoying a glass of Michael David Petit Syrah. Heaven! How is it that on a Thursay night there is a band capable of playing The Pogues and Outcast in the same set?!?
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Review from Elizabeth E.
Mukilteo, WA
3/1/2011
I like Balefire a lot, I like the location, and the ambiance, and the selection of wine (I haven't checked out their beers yet). And the people that work there are really nice and helpful. BUT the live music kind of ruins it for me. You are attempting to have a nice conversation at your table, but the music is so loud and you can't even talk. Not like what music in a wine bar should be. Some sort of background, instrumental or jazz music would be so much nicer. And a few Saturday's ago they had some sort of guy doing rap. That was horrible. I was embarrassed for the place! I hope that was just a one time experiment. I do enjoy Balefire, I just only enjoy it before the music of the night starts up.
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Review from Brian B.
Everett, WA
7/24/2011
Balefire has a very nice laid back atmosphere with live music that is just the right volume that still allows you to enjoy a conversation.
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Review from Graham C.
Seattle, WA
8/28/2009
I am quite happy that Balefire has been able to stick it out so far... they have a great thing going in a somewhat difficult area. They are certainly a diamond in the rough up there on Hewitt.
On my last visit I tried three beers and had two items off the food menu. The beer selection was very good - the beers on tap are mostly local, yet there was a something on the menu for all of our different tastes.
The food was much better than I've come to expect from bars - the small plates we tried were all very tasty yet reasonably priced.
My bill came to about $25 after tip, which was a bargain as far as I am concerned. I look forward to returning soon. -
Review from David D.
Everett, WA
10/14/2011
The wine was great. The service was OK. Good place to go if you like wine. The food was not exactly anything outstanding. Edible but you would expect better.
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Review from Paul A.
3/24/2011 5 Check-ins Here
If you want wine, thay have it. Flights are reasonably priced for the wines you get. Nice beer selection. I suggest you go. Food=meh.
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Review from Sun L.
Kent, WA
5/1/2009
Its getting 5 stars because if you judge this place compared to any other place in Everett. Reasons are they offer a clean cozy atmosphere with unique great tasting beers and wines that pretty much puts all other places in Everett to shame. Amazing 1556 porter
My only problem is it closes at 11pm : (
Drink are great but never tried food yet -
Review from Anthony L.
Everett, WA
12/23/2010
We came here after a tips game on a Saturday night and didn't know what to expect, what we discovered was a wonderful place to sip wine and wind down the evening. There was a live guitarist playing on the couch as we walked in and the place was about 3/4 full but we were able to find a place near the back. The waitress was at our table immediatly to take orders and make suggestions(they have a modest selection of wines and micro brews), she remained attentive and engaging throughout our stay and at one point the bartender even anounced that they were tapping the last keg of some seasonal ale! The ambiance was amazing and we even had a tasty appetizer. We will definately be coming back here.
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Review from Jim B.
Everett, WA
4/9/2011
I like this place. It has an awesome atmosphere and they feature some of the best blues music around this area. Eat before you go. They do not have any food worth ordering here, but its an excellent wine bar with a great selection of beers too. The staff is really great. This is a place you will want to go back to. I only give 5 stars if a business has no room for improvement and I really wish this place would have a decent food menu. Its really non-existant. You can have a pretzel there if your hungry. That is a huge miss for me. Great place, great people, great atmosphere, but no real food to speak of.
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Review from Tom B.
6/20/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Solid little new addition to the scene. Great setting in a historic building right in downtown Everett, very near the hockey/concert arena. Cool high ceilings and crown molding. Huge windows. Makes for a great urban feel, very sophisticated by Everett standards. There are three coolers, each maybe half full, with a bunch of nice supermarket beer in them. Nothing too rare or hard to get, but all very well chosen, and kept cold. Lots of interesting and offbeat local kegs, usually from smaller or newer brewers. They have a few appetizers from Kafe Neo, and encourage you to order in pizza or whatever else you want if you're so inclined. Tons of good wine picks. Nice relaxed cool setting. I'll be back if nearby.
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Review from Amanda S.
Marysville, WA
Great beer and wine selection. The food is AMAZING! And the staff are very helpful and friendly. The place is small, but that's not necessarilly a bad thing. I enjoyed the atmosphere. The night I went they had live music which was nice, but way too loud for such a small place. I would totally go again!
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Review from Rebecca B.
Pittsburg, CA
1/16/2011
Went here with a friend for a singles Sake Tasting event. We sat at the bar. The bartender spent a lot of time with us and was very knowledgable about Sake ... super friendly. I learned a lot! It was a lot of fun and an overall great experience.
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Review from anthony c.
Everett, WA
9/11/2009 3 Check-ins Here
food/apps=4
beer selection=5
service=4
atmosphere=4
prices=3
Balefire is a jewel in Everetts beer and wine scene. Excellent rotating selection of Beer(Pliny the Elder on Tap currently), good practices on bringing in local breweries to share their product with beer lovers and novices alike, very knowledgeable staff...what more can you ask for?
People will walk by this jewel and see a warm atmosphere, killer board of brew selection and want to discover what awaits inside. happy hour is awesome...apps and all their beers drop in price...did i mention they currently have Pliny the Elder on tap?
i have been to Balefire a few times and have always left satisfied and looking forward to my next visit. Great Beer, awesome apps, experienced and friendly staff....its worth your time and your dollars
dont forget on wednesdays its kill the keg night....2.25 a pint for killer brew..... cant be beat -
Review from Teaonnie B.
San Diego, CA
5/18/2010
Best bar on Hewitt! Superb choice of wines and wonderful atmosphere. I always feel at home here!
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Review from Andre B.
6/2/2010
This place is 'the scene' in Everett. They have lambic on tap and ALWAYS have excellent suggestions for both beer and wine. They know their product as well as any bar I have ever been too.
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Review from Bill G.
Dropped in on a friday night, enjoyed a great selection of beers. Friendly staff, great snacks and clean, fresh setting. They had great live music to complete the mood. We will be back!
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Review from heather j.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
5/6/2010
This is the best place to go for good quality beer in Everett. They have a variety of microbrews on tap and by the bottle, plus a good selection of wine as well. Food is provided by kafe neo which is pretty good mediterranean as well. They have good promotions like kill the keg wednesdays where one beer is usally priced at around 2$ til it runs out. This is a great deal for beer that can usually be quite expensive. I believe they have live music and other events on a variety of nights as well. I plan to check out a brewery night sometime in the near future. This is a great place for before or after an event at Comcast Arena.
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Review from Jeanne K.
Marysville, WA
2/19/2010
After I long, stressful work day, Balefire was just what I needed. This place is pretty nice, especially for an Everett establishment. Balefire was clean, well decorated, and very well stocked with a wide variety of beer. The staff was friendly and attentive, but didn't hover which I HATE. I think the prices were reasonable too; my companion and I ordered a total of 4 drinks, and the total came to $13. This is a great place to unwind, sip on a beer, and hang out. I don't anticipate my stressful days ceasing anytime soon, so I will back here for sure.
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Review from corinna n.
Everett, WA
3/15/2009
An amazing hot spot here in Everett~ With a great selection of beers on tap and a very welcoming crew in front and behind the bar, I plan on going back. The place is set up to chill and enjoy time with your crew, and go to relax. Well worth a visit or two or many.
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Review from Judy T.
Snohomish, WA
3/16/2009
Really great beers and wines with ambiance and mood - right in little old Everett. The place is warm and inviting, great live music and events. Food is not your standard bar fare - very high quality. And the desserts are amazing.
