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Bush Garden Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Nightlife Bars Nightlife Karaoke Japanese, Sushi Bars, Bars, Karaoke [Edit]
614 Maynard Ave SSeattle, WA 98104
Neighborhood: International District
(206) 682-6830
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We are one of Seattle's premier billiards venues, come in and enjoy our excellent cocktails, or try pool on the newly re-felted Brunswick style… read more »
106 reviews for Bush Garden Restaurant
Review Highlights
"...was very surprised and satisfied with the shabu shabu here."
(in 8 reviews)
"If you sing you are met with alot of participation and..."
(in 21 reviews)
"It's always a good time at Bush Garden."
(in 5 reviews)
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106 reviews in English
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Review from Noelle H.
Seattle, WA
12/6/2011
Mind eraser, sadness eraser, or somewhere in between?
Things happen at Bush Gardens Cocktail Lounge... strange things.
This review is not about FOOD, nor is this a Fancy Location. this review is all about the time that can be had here.
It will be slow till about 9, enjoy HH and stick it out then suddenly, BAM. Packed.
The food? Passable but no one should do an expose... It sorts of slows down the Mai Thai and it is Very Cheap at Happy Hour!
The Drinks? Strong enough to remove those inhibitions - and does so quicker than acetone strips off nailpolish!
Get your booty up there and do your best cover of Pat Benatar or Journey or UB40, and every so often turn around and check out the truly weird, hilarious, mini-soap-opera videos with 80's fashion disasters playing up on the screen behind you. Then order another drinknfrom the hardest working bar staff in Chinatown. But don't drive home, those drinks are fierce!
Stay polite, don't cause trouble, be respectful of this little Seattle gem.
Make sure to see Connie if she is belting one out tgat night, and tip your hat in honor of Kenny and the other Chinatownlebrites that have passed on to that great Karaoke Bar in the sky... Much love. -
Review from Nori M.
Seattle, WA
2/4/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I can't really rate this place for the food because i haven't eaten here yet but the karaoke is AWESOME! I love coming on Wednesdays though. The hostess on Wednesdays is Sasha and she ROCKS! if you are lookin for a good place to sing some fun tunes, you have to come on Wednesdays for the best song selections.
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Review from Chaein H.
Seattle, WA
1/3/2012
Very filthy inside with bad odor :( go imagine the freshness of food *_* very disgusting!
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Review from Sades R.
Bremerton, WA
1/28/2012
Horrible customer service. There are far better Japanese restaurants in Seattle that I'd rather go to than to waste my money here.
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Review from R D.
Seattle, WA
12/23/2011
Fun karaoke venue late at night. Always packed. Try the hot sake!
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Review from Daren D.
11/28/2011
Came by one night after work for some food and sake. It's cool, casual and chill. The karaage and gyoza were good. The sake was interesting when it came in a glass within a shallow box which was also filled with sake. The karaoke was fun sitting back and listening to; this one dude was heckling his sister, hahahah, geez... that'd be cool to do sometime.
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Review from Ken L.
7/7/2011 9 photos
After talking to friends and co-workers about places to sing and drink, Bush Gardens (BG) came up a few times. I called BG and found they have Karaoke on Fri, Sat, Sun, and Tues nights(?) I dropped by 9:00 PM on a Saturday night and was surprised that a group of folks were already there in the bar area half drunk waiting for a big night of karaoke.
As 9:45 rolled around, we ordered a few appetizers and a beer each as the host passed out song books and request slips. It appears that the songs are old favorites from the 80s and 90s (Journey, Heart, etc) as well as "blast from the past" songs well before that. If you are looking for modern songs of today (e.g. Adele and Far East Movement), you are out of luck. I was able to put in for a few songs and got in a couple before midnight. I was amazed that the host still used the ancient HUGE laser discs I remember back in the late 90s. Looks as though he had both LDs as well as the modern stuff so there was no delay in moving the singers along.
The appetizers was not so amazing so if I were to order again, just give me the gyoza (pan fried dumplings) as they were the best of out of the bunch. The beers were priced only at about $3-4 bucks each and is definitely a great deal. I also read that they have 2 for 1 appetizers: Monday through Saturday 5-6:30 pm and 8:45 - 9:45 pm.
The furniture and bar lounge setup should be revisited and renovated as they are quite old and carry an "old grandma's house" smell to it. I quickly forgot about that as I settled in.
Parking is provided across the street with plenty of lighting and it felt safe. I was a bit worried reading the reviews about possibly getting shot and other crazy stories. As with any place, get out early before all the drunks get on the street!
Overall I had a fun time and glad to have left right around midnight as the crowd started to build and get rowdy. Fun times; I definitely would come back again. -
Review from Diana M.
8/2/2011
This is totally the perfect place for karaoke.
I really can't rave enough about this place. I wanted a casual laid back place filled with drunk people who couldn't carry a tune if their life depended on it. And oh boy, did I find exactly what I was looking for here.
When we arrived at 10 pm on a Friday night it was crowded but not too crowded and we found a cozy table in the back. There is a small stage with a large screen that shows the cheesy karaoke videos along with the words for everyone to see just how badly the person on the stage is screwing up the song.
We found a song selection book very easily and were able to put in a few requests and got to sing a lot despite the bar being full. I think it helped that the manager/owner took a liking to us and offered to talk to the host to get us up in the line. She was so friendly and engaging and seemed to talk to many of the groups in the place to make sure they were having a good time.
Nobody was the next American Idol and nobody cared. At one point a drunk guy decided a portable fan was acceptable as a microphone. And I will never forget the guy who sang Mambo #5 even though he had NEVER heard it before.
Best part, free parking right across the street. This place is my new karaoke home. -
Review from Katie O.
6/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm kinda on the fence with this one, so bear with me.
I had already eaten, but since my friend didn't want to eat alone I ordered salmon teriyaki. I'm not sure what she got, but it looked horrible, and she confirmed that its taste matched. The margarita I drank was extremely strong, which is not the way I like it.
However, our server was very attentive and she put some extra ice in my margarita to dilute it and kept my diet coke refilled.
The rest of the evening was one I will never (be able to) forget. We came for karaoke, and wow. The selection of songs was refreshing as they had a good variety. Of course, it would be a dream come true if they removed "Don't Stop Believing".
The best part of the evening was the drunk girl who was gyrating and dancing all over the bar. When she got up to sing "Wanted Dead or Alive", she looked like a rejected stripper. I really wish that I'd recorded it on my phone. I'm pretty sure it would have gone viral.
All in all, it was a pleasant experience and I'd definitely go back in the hopes that I could give it a higher rating. -
Review from Melissa N.
Seattle, WA
4/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here the other night to prefunk before Opening game day for the Mariners.
Staffing was pretty scarce and they are kind of pushy but I still enjoy coming here for drinks because they pour heavy and it is cheap.
$8 dollars for basically a double shot of goose is awesome. My nickname isn't goosey for nothing. My friends and I always have a good time here. They also have karaoke too soo once you get enough drinks in you, you too can become the rock star you always wanted to be. -
Review from Nick A.
Seattle, WA
4/11/2011
Bush Garden is run down, dirty and serves mediocre food (like just about every other restaurant I've visited in the International District, sadly). I'm a guy that gets right to the point. Here's the back story:
On a sunny Monday evening, the craving for beef sukiyaki hit my wife and I. One half hour and a little Yelp research later, we found ourselves seated at Bush Garden. We came for dinner, not late night karaoke like many others.
First impression - old and dirty. The decor, the carpet, everything. It smelled strongly of an aging restaurant (you know the smell). We probably should have left right then. (Speaking of smell: I stripped off my clothes the moment we got home; they reeked of old restaurant.)
We were seated (sort of) and began poring over the menus. We each chose the Beef Sukiyaki special (pretty screaming deal for $7), some rice, and a plate of sushi to share. It was a ton of food.
All in all, none of it was memorable. The sukiyaki was sweet, the beef tender, and the broth light; overall it was quite good, but I wouldn't return for it. The spicy scallop had SO MUCH spicy mayo, it was overwhelming (and overwhelmingly spicy). Some other roll we had was so forgettable, it has already escaped me.
The server was actually a bit of a fun gal, but the service in general was slow and inattentive (like most Asian restaurants I've visited - sorry if this comes across as borderline racist, but my experience is my experience).
If you absolutely must go to Bush Garden, at least get the Beef Sukiyaki. It was easily the best part of the experience. -
Review from Annie H.
Honolulu, HI
5/22/2011
Hahahahaha this place. I went here one evening with coworkers/friends, and it was a night of hilarity and debauchery. The karaoke selection is pretty good, as is the booze - cheap and decent. I wish they had some beer on tap though.
The best part was seeing two white hipster-y dudes sing "Creep" by TLC and bodyroll on stage. So great. -
Review from Jacquie L.
Seattle, WA
It's Easy on the pocket book for Sushi
The price was right on my meal. It was OK. I've had better sushi, but had to pay more for the higher quality, I guess.
Been here for Karaoke in the past. Always had been a great spot for that.
Service is fast and friendly.
The International District can be a little Sketchy after dark but there is a parking lot for Bush Garden patrons across the street; a rare treat in this neighborhood -
Review from Paul B.
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm pretty sure that this is a mafia house......
This place has been around for a looong time. They have karaoke. It looks straight up 70's inside. I'm scared. -
Review from JR P.
Seattle, WA
4/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is always fun! I don't recommend it for food, but if you want entertainment it's great!
We usually just go for drinks because they are cheap and very generous ;) They have Kareoke on the weekends wish is hilarious! It actually get pretty crowded in the bar area and it's not that large so don't do if you mind bumping elbows and such.
My last visit was last week before a Mariners game. We had a large group and met up there. Some people ate and weren't impressed, but those who drank were!
Staff is friendly, but can get a little slow when it's busy. -
Review from Kevin C.
4/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Eeeh.. The food isnt really great. If you want good sushi there are ton's of other places not too far from this place. The service is rather slow and dismal. Took awhile for someone to actually come around and grab my food. At the time we went there was only one sushi chef making food and that took forever!
I don't think I will be returning to this place anytime soon, it doesn't seem to have anything to offer me that I cant get anywhere else and in a better environment. -
Review from Be T.
Kent, WA
2/10/2011
Okay we were craving shabu-shabu, why Seattle doesn't have more shabu places I don't understand. By divine guidance of the GPS device we ended up at Bush Garden the restaurant, not amusement park. lol
Older building that's being renovated and when you walk in you see the bar which isn't so inviting, on the left side the main dining area with the sushi bar, and on the right of the bar are the tatami rooms for a more Japanese experience.
Here's the deal, they have Kobe beef shabu-shabu! Need I say more! Great find, great food, we definitely will be back for some sushi, sashimi and more shabu-shabu! Our waitress was so helpful and very knowledgeable, learned that this place was the eminent Japanese Cultural Center back in its hay day almost 60 years ago, awesome!!! =) -
Review from John E.
Seattle, WA
4/3/2011
First off- These places scare the shit out of me. I keep thinking I'll get food poisoning when I go to older restaurants in I-District.
The great news is that I didn't and the food was solid. I had the bento box lunch with salmon. It almost deserves 4 stars, but the ambiance isn't that great.
Stay safe and enjoy!
John -
Review from Sovannary O.
Seattle, WA
1/14/2011
Uhm, a bit surprised I didnt get shot here. The crowds not my type and the karaoke bites. bleh!
The place is ovreall dirty and the bathroom scares me. -
Review from Michael L.
Bellevue, WA
6/16/2010
This place is alright, the food is mediocre but their tatami mats make up for that. I had their bento box, it came with a lot of food for $18.95. Sashimi, sushi, tempura, salmon, and chicken teriyaki. I loved the presentation, it came in a large bento box. The sashmi and sushi was decent but the salmon was overcooked and hard. Also ordered a spider roll (soft shell crab) which was edible but not the best I've had. We had a large party but our server neglected us and rarely filled our water and teapot which was pretty fail.
At 9:30 they have free karaoke, the draw back though is they don't have a lot of newish songs. I didn't know half the songs people were singing, I felt young. Overall a decent place to come if you want to experience what eating at a tatami is like. -
Review from Richard U.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 6/16/2010 2 photos
Tried the food here finally! We were seated in one of the tatami rooms which was a nice experience. This place reminds of japanese restaurants circa 1960.
Solid old school Japanese fare. I went with the combo box with tuna sashimi and grilled mackrel. Nice char on the mackrel and the tuna looked fresh. I, being the gluttonous eater that I am also split the Shabu shabu to top off the tank.
Prices were reasonable for a Japanese place. About $11.95 for the combo and $15 for the shabu shabu.
Afterwards, had to hit the Karaoke bar which is always a blast. The old school laser disk format cracks me up and brings me back to the day when that was cutting edge! Our yelping crew pretty much took over the place for the first few hours making it almost another unofficial yelp event. Fun times for all and regulars that can belt out the tunes and are always entertaining!Listed in: International District chow…, Japanese eats!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2010
A fun temple for the ancient asian art of 'Kara-oke'!
This review is only for the Karaoke… Read more »
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Review from Jen S.
Updated - 7/26/2010
So I went back for to try the shabu shabu before my assignment ended. As I said before, the minumum two orders for the shabu shabu, sukiyaki, or shabu/sukiyaki mix. The waitresses were a little surprised that I was ordering two orders by myself, but I told them I would take home any unfinished protions.
Everything came out rather quickly since the restaurant was a little slow that night. A portable propane stove with a large pot of konbu and cracked pepper seasoned water came out first. This was followed by bowls of sunomono and miso soiup. The waitress was kind enough to to give me one of each instead of two bowls of sunomono. A large plate of veggies, udon, and glass noodles, and finally two plates of thinly slice wagyu beef.
The veggies consisted mostly of napa cabbage, onions, and bean sprouts. Two pieces of carrots, two pieces of bamboo shoots, straw and button mushrooms rounded out the rest. The beef seemed fresh, like it was never frozen, and well trimmed, there was very little visible fat. The was obviously well marbled though, when cooked it was extremely tender and flavorful.
Three sauces were offered for dipping: a ponzu (a little too sour), a watery sesame (sweet and good), and hoisin sauce. No additional condiments such as grated daikon, chopped green onions, or garlic were offered. I am not sure they have any available, I guess I should have asked.
The amount of meat you get with one order is a bit on the skimpy side and ordering two orders is a little overwhelming on the veggies. I wish they had the option to order extra meat. Overall, I was very surprised and satisfied with the shabu shabu here. I look forward to trying the sukiyaki.
Peter H, Julie G, John L, and Misty C you really should give this place a chance and try the shabu shabu here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/17/2010
One of the stalwart iconic restaurants of the ID. The decor and design of the restaurant is… Read more »
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Review from Jorge M.
Seattle, WA
6/21/2010
Karaoke Bar Rocks!!
Came here for one of Jennifer's UYE dinner chow downs which was all well worth it.As I walked in I felt I was somewhere back in time with all the 60's decor.We had reserved a tatami room which was just the right size for our group.I ordered the combo with shrimp tempura and beef.It was ok and with my appetite me and Richard got the shabu shabu which hit the spot with one of Jennifer's homemade deserts.
After that I was ready to get my drink on at the Karaoke lounge.Which has a real comfort feeling with the retro seats and real dark look.There waitress was pretty as well as there sexy karaoke host who was really helpful so don't forget to tip her good.
Had a great night and will definitely come back for another karaoke adventure!! -
Review from Scott K.
Honolulu, HI
7/2/2007
Everyone will tell you it's the best Karaoke in town... but what they won't tell you is why.
Let me preface this review with the simple fact that I think Karaoke is for people that are delusional.
It's silly, and painful and strange. I've never been comfortable in Karaoke bars, but that's not to say I haven't done it.
I did it once.
I was in Australia hours away from emergency services in the middle of a rain forest... and I won first place.
Apparently the trick to winning is to be so incredibly intoxicated that you can't read the words to John Lennon's Imagine.
Make up all of the lyrics using the names of the people present... if you can, tell little sorted stories about their sexual habits. Then when your accepting your award... simply... elegantly... and quite accidentally, back into the swimming pool.
Winner! And still champeeeen!
So as to why, Bush Garden is so special?
One word... INCLUSION.
Everyone comes here.
Old, young, black, white, all of the browns, hip, and square.
They all get up... they all have their moment in the sun, and for a moment they're famous.
Proving... sometimes, delusions can be as sweet as an unexpected dip in a swimming pool. -
Review from Riss J.
2/13/2009
Dropped by here Thursday evening for a little after-work Happy Hour with Delilah. She wrangled up her co-workers into getting their drink on here, and I'm glad I got to tag along.
We sat in the bar area, which couldn't accommodate a big crowd very well, but we managed to squeeze in (and pretty much overtake) one side well enough to keep everyone together. I imagine a busy night has the same level of 'sardine can' effect as a night at the Crescent, in much smaller overall space.
Being hopped up on cold meds from the Plague my children gave to me meant I didn't drink, but to ensure a fair review, I sipped a bit of Delilah's rum and coke. It's a good thing there were not candles on the table, we may have burst into flames. STRONG drinks.
With the large group, the appetizers were pretty much entirely represented on the table. Nothing spectacular and most requiring you to have a few of those strong drinks under your belt to be able to slur out the words, "wow this is awesome food".
Service was slow given we were practically the only people in the place, often times getting the bartender lady's attention took more effort than I really cared to muster, but she was nice, chatty, kept track of all the separate tabs, and oddly enough--turned out to be related to a party in the group.
I haven't experienced karaoke here.....yet...but from what I know from friends who have, and reading the reviews here... I can't wait to. Sounds like craptastic good times.Listed in: I'm not Asian...
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Review from Alison V.
8/2/2009
I did not eat any food here - I merely had some drinks and participated in karaoke. If you want to know about their food, this review is not for you.
The bar is filled with very interesting people. The karaoke singers were impressively good, save our group of yelpers who did an awful job to some Backstreet Boys. CP was amazing. I get the feeling he's a regular and you should watch out for him since he does a great job singing!
There were a few creepsters here and I thank goodness that the other yelpers with me were fabulous and we operated as a team to defend against the scary ones.
The server working was great and did a great job of keeping tabs separate and knowing who had ordered what. The bartender made good drinks. And best of all, they're not likely to cut you off here. I highly suggest coming here for a night of entertaining karaoke at some point! -
Review from Ron M.
6/5/2007 2 photos
This place hasn't changed much over the years. I don't come here as often as I used to and it's always a surprise when I see people here that I saw as regulars when I reached legal drinking age. Even the staff is the same. Talk about continuity!
I've only been here for drinking and snacking. The snacks are tasty and the drinks strong, but everyone comes here for the karaoke! It doesn't matter if you are good because the crowd here is very supportive and liquored up. It's always a good time at Bush Garden!Listed in: Best of the Best
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Review from Matt R.
Edmonds, WA
12/7/2007 1 photo
One, two, three, four, five, six, Maynard, seven.
Wait, Maynard? When did that become a number? I'm gonna have to re-learn my times tables now!! That stupid street always throws me for a loop when I'm in the ID. The best thing about Maynard? Bush Gardens, hands down.
You know when you're at karaoke with friends and you find that one song you want to sing? I love that. Then it dawns on you that ANY song can turn into a duet thanks to the miracle of modern karaoke technology. And you sing along with every song except the one you put in to sing.
That's what happened at Quani's going away party. And you know what? I didn't care that I wasn't able to sing a little Cake for the crowd. It was loads of fun. I will just have to go back and sing "Short Skirt, Long Jacket" at a later date.
WARNING: Make sure you have a place to crash afterwards or a ride home. Their bartenders are very generous with the liquor.Listed in: Places with alcohol
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Review from Heather F.
Phoenix, AZ
2/19/2008
Hello. My name is Heather F. and I am a karaoke-aholic.
I'm a singer, man. It's in my blood and this is one of my favorite places to do it in. By no means is Bush Garden a shining example of what the perfect Karaoke joint should look like (I can't tell you what the perfect place is yet, I haven't been there) but I've never had less that a good ol' fashioned tipsy time, every time. I always get the same, friendly cocktail waitress (if I hadn't killed so many brain cells, I would tell you her name) and the host! Oh don't get me started on how fascinating and fantastic he is! I have also had dinner in the restaurant and it wasn't bad. The only downside is that I've been creeped out a time or two by the eerie leering regulars that camp out at the bar. Eh, I guess that's the price I'll have to pay if I want to feed my karaoke addiction. -
Review from Ian S.
5/27/2007
The karaoke sound could be better here, but it's a pretty awesome experience.
When my pasty white ass got up there to sing Word Up straight out of the 80s, it was perfect for this place. It was ridiculous and cool at the same time, just like the staff and the atmosphere both.
Quite the unique place, Bush Gardens. I even ate the famous yakisoba. I don't imagine that people come here for the food too much, but it was better than I expected in a place that has lighting this dim.
People really turn out for karaoke here. Lots of them. I think you need to know a secret handshake for the japanese songs, not that I'm up for the challenge.
When I said "wave your hands in the ay-ah like you don't cay-ah," all the hands went up. It's a fun place. -
Review from Aaron E.
8/6/2009 1 Check-in Here
Hey sexy ladies.... do you need to meet some great, new men? Fellas, do you need a new best friend? Lucky for you, there are some amazing catches at Bush Garden that will astound you in their chivalry, modesty and overall awesomeness. I'm so happy to report that I met my new best friend last weekend and Ali and Shirley met their new boyfriend!
Anywho, check out Bush Garden if you're in the area and want some strong drinks, divey atmosphere and some wicked karaoke. Our group of 6 found a great table up close and personal with stage... next to all the action! A few rounds of strong drinks and several rounds of Scooby Snack shots later we were one loud, happy group. The whole time our amazing cocktail waitress kept our tabs in order, was constantly checking on us and providing some of the best service. Ever.
Best thing about Bush Gardens? There's lots of even, level sidwalks in the area so when you have to run away from your new best friend in a drunken stupor, there's a lesser risk of falling.
*In addition to the coolest person I've ever met, the rest of the people at Bush Gardens were friendly, and could really sing. Best of all, they didn't sit and drink with us all night and try to follow us home like my new best friend/Shirley and Ali's boyfriend =) -
Review from Will L.
3/21/2008
I don't generally consider myself a great singer.
Wait, wait, before you go and decide you're never going to come out and hear my band play because you can listen to the sweet sounds of dogs braying during the next full moon... I can sing backups just fine, and that's my job in Stay Tuned. Besides banging out the bass, jumping around, and cracking bad jokes, that is. We practice twice a week, and lately I've been sitting around at home writing and recording music, including singing lead vocals.
But I don't consider myself a great singer. A great singer is someone who can jump up and hit perfect pitch, start singing a song before the music has started and the band comes in and holy crap they're in key. How the F#$& did they do that? Me dunno.
So, regardless of the fact that I have gotten out on stage in front of two thousand people at shows and festivals and rocked their socks off (and my own), getting up and singing karaoke to songs I don't EVER practice or sing along to (and in some cases don't even know) is of concern to me. I am worried about you, dear listener, and your hearing.
However... I discovered that I can really rock the hell out of Black Crowes "Hard to Handle." Not bad at Thin Lizzy's "Boys are Back" either, though I do sing along to that one at home.
Bush Garden's pours a stiff drink. I believe our bartender's name was Gloria. She kept them coming. She kept them stiff. I had to spend some time drinking water and walking around to make sure I could drive.
The Karaoke host was awesome. I understood maybe four words out of his mouth, but he air guitared right along side me, which was awesome.
Everyone needs some good air guitar. -
Review from Betsey S.
5/31/2007 1 photo
Yeah, their food's pretty gross, and the place is a little dirty. Okay, a lot dirty. But it is karaoke mecca, and that's why we go there. Don't eat anything raw and you'll be fine. For my money, I'm not sure it gets any better than Lindsey S. doing "Jolene". Her inspiring performances, along with a healthy dose of Bush Garden Mai Tais (holy hell they are strong), usually prompt me to talk someone into being the Elton John to my Kiki Dee for a little "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart."
Some karoake places seem to have attitude, like Ozzie's, but you will find none of this at Bush Garden. We sometimes wear silly costumes (Reno 911 party anyone?) and always sing random songs badly and it's all fine and practically normal at this joint.
This place is a perfect storm for causing people to do stupid things, so I don't feel too bad about my performance of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' On Heaven's Door," which Kenny (the host) pulled the plug on less than halfway through. The mai tais, it must have been the six mai tais...Listed in: Shots and Shenanigans
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Review from Jessie R.
12/4/2007
Bush Garden will always hold a special place in my heart as the location of my Karaoke debut. I've been a Karaoke fan for years, but have never been able to pull myself out of my chair and up to the stage.
I was a little worried about this place at first, to be honest. The lights were on bright, the lone waitress seemed scared to ask to kitchen staff to make us food (during a food-only happy hour no less!), and when the food finally arrived, it was sub-par at best. But as the drinks (strong and cheap!) started kicking in, the lights dimmed, and the special charm of the waitstaff started to flow, my heart warmed up to this odd little place. Prior to having my Karaoke slip pulled, I decided to make my next drink a double. "Good idea," said the bartender. "Less trips to the bar, that way." You can't beat that logic. -
Review from Chanda I.
Updated - 3/14/2011 19 Check-ins Here
it's funny how times change as you become a regular. i absolutely love this place. it's one of the watering holes in the ID which has a special place in my heart. so much so that i don't even want to put it on facebook because i want to keep it to myself and my friends.
i've seen the most interesting characters sing karaoke and that's what it it's all about.
it has all the japanese fried bar food that goes great with drinks, chicken kaarage, tempura, gyoza, yakisoba, little wienies. plus some really good udon noodles. if you are in the bar, check the hand written signs along the wall for specials or else you'd miss it.
well drinks are nice and cheap.
you can come and go as long as you please.
** and they have their own parking lot in the ID. this makes this place super convenient.Listed in: Japanese Fun In Seattle, The I.D. (international…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2009
when i walked in, it felt like home and something i think my parents would enjoy. that being said,… Read more »
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Review from Jeff G.
8/12/2007
If Bob Hope and Bing Crosby had ever made "The Road To Seattle" this would be the divey joint where they'd meet Dorothy Lamour. With it's strange Souths Seas decor, it's long since drained pond and dark dark bar I always expect to see sailors and longshoremen cooking up schemes and selling antiques on the black market.
Back in the day this was probably a pretty glamorous night out for a family. But now it has a tired, worn look. The elderly staff does their best to keep up but it can often be an ordeal to get your drink order in or to make sure that all of your food comes at the same time.
On the other hand the food is not too shabby. They have one of the best Shabu Shabu's around. I especially like the version that has broth and Sukiyaki divided in the same bowl. They use Wagyu beef which is like an American version of Kobe and it's pretty tasty. The sushi isn't great but it's also far from the worst in town.
For some reason though, on a cold winter night I can't think of a more comforting place to come have a steaming bowl of Sukiyaki and raise a toast to the long gone days of old Seattle.Listed in: It's A Small World After All
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Review from Jessica N.
Dallas, TX
4/3/2010
We stopped off here not knowing what to expect. Walking in it looks like a hole in the hall that hasn't been updated since 1970 and there was no heat. But, the food and the service was great. They immediately serve the table a full pot of piping hot green tea and you quickly forget how chilly it was outside. The waitresses were nice and the manager dropped by several times and answered questions about the food. The menu is helpful too, with explanations describing each Japanese entrée.
Go here for the food and service, but don't expect much from the atmosphere. -
Review from Delilah R.
Seattle, WA
4/1/2009
To be honest, I don't find that the food here is above standard. There is however, variety here. You can come for HH (which btw-there are NO drink specials, just 2 for 1 appetizers), there is karaoke, a bar with ample seating and two areas for dining.
One area has a sushi bar type layout. Very enticing but haven't tried their sushi yet. The other seating area for dining is the type where you look like your sitting on the floor. Ooooh, very nostalgic. Yay.
It's worth missing but a good place to group up if you are close by and need a starting point. They also have a parking lot which is nice b/c the ID has some pretty limited street parking. -
Review from Geoff N.
Seattle, WA
9/30/2007
Bush Garden used to be a Karaoke staple of mine. The book was small, but eclectic and included unusual gems like Snoopy vs. the Red Baron and a whole lot of songs in Spanish or Japanese. Furthermore, when Kenny hosted, you were sure to be entertained.
Unfortunately, as the place grew more popular and as Kenny began to pass off his hosting duties to his less charismatic cousin, Bush Garden lost some of its appeal. Still, it is an excellent place to sing and have sushi on a less crowded night and the wait staff is always friendly.Listed in: So you want to be a…
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Review from Matthew M.
Seattle, WA
3/11/2009
THEY WILL NOT CUT YOU OFF!
Warning if you are here, you are about to black out. Prepare yourself.
I have swam raced with Alice under the tables, fallen across an intersection, gotten a huge scar, my friend received a concussion. I think I vomitted out half of my soul one night. Just to list a few of the biblical events that will take place if you happen to find yourself getting several hundred drinks there.
Family friendly environment, bring a monkey that is trained to take notes so you can recall asking the nice post office person why they need a gun to protect the mail.(police, I recalled maybe one postman(police officer) apparently it was four)
