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Categories: American (New), Seafood, Hawaiian
Neighborhood: Magnolia
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WOW, YUM, YUM and YUM!
Hubby of mine and I decided to treat ourselves to a nice dinner for our 2 year anniversary. After reading all the reviews and scoping out the menu first hand I decided this would be the place to celebrate!
Called in around 6:30 to see if we needed reservations, they said they were pretty booked for the night so it would be a good idea. They asked if we were coming to celebrate an occasion, and I told them it was our 2 year anniversary. Made reservations for 8:30pm.
Got to Palisades a lil early, took in the cool decor as we waited to be sat. There is a cool koi pond running through the whole restaurant. I didn't get the "out dated" decor the other yelpers were talking about.
We were pleasantly surprised to see rose petals and a card awaiting us at our table when we were sat. Pretty impressive so far!
The view was breath taking, the space needle and the entire Seattle skyline in all its glory. Not to mention all the boats in the marina. I would love to see this place at sunset!
We had Teriyaki Tenderloins for our appitizer, WOW, talk about a taste explosion! Not a very generous portion for $14 but that can be expected at a fine dining restaurant right?!
I had the Top Serloin, and mu hubby had the Lobster Duo. Damn good dinner, the steak... perfectly medium rare! And the au jus it came with, ummmmm... don't get me started! Potatoes, creamy and whipped to perfection.
I must say this is a great date place! Can't beat the view or the atmosphere. Absolutely divine my friends, deeeeeeevine!
Chalked this one up to an overall great experience! 5 stars!
People thought this was:
My girlfriend and I recently celebrated our 3 year anniversary! Yes...thank you! Trying to find a place to 'take her out,' I located my $100 gift to this restaurant. So, I decided to give Palisade a shot. I had heard many great things about the food and service. (And yes, she knows I paid for our anniversary dinner with a gift card, give me a break, med school apps are drying out my account!)
So, if you have read my other reviews, the service at a restaurant is EXTREMELY important to me. I was taken a back by how awesome the servers were here at Palisades. Not only did they continually check on my water level, (which I greatly appreciate) but they were entertaining, informative, and well conversed. I felt as though they truly cared that I had a great experience. They kept offering to take pictures for the two of us!
Now to the food. It was amazing! My girlfriend ordered this seafood medley with 6-7 samples of various choices including: manila clams, giant scallops, salmon, cod, and a few others! It was beautifully arranged and tasted just as great as it looked. I ordered this Dungenous crab stuff halibut! The halibut was cooked to perfection, maintaining a tender feel on my palate. Although there wasn't a whole lof of crab inside, the cream and sauce was very appetizing! Usually, I am not a huge fan of the expensive restaurant food, but I was impressed with the delivery, presentation, and taste.
I'm not sure I will come back soon, (again...not the cheapest place in the world) but if you are looking for a romantic evening with a beautiful view of the Puget Sound, Palisades will be a great choice. Especially if you enjoy great service as much as I do! Excuse me as I got back to trying to create my own crab stuffed halibut....believe me, it's harder than it sounds!
People thought this was:
It was a five star experience, with a three-star interior.
Salmon was cooked to perfection, service was excellent ("classy without being pretentious"), view is incredible, ingredients were all fresh and tasty. Lunch menu prices were pretty reasonable for a finer diner.
Minor notes: the interior feels dark and dated (ugly paint colors, exposed unfinished beams) like a resort restaurant that is well past its heyday. The self-playing piano hanging over the bar is a little too Phantom of the Opera for me. These things don't affect my rating since, once you're seated, the only thing you look at is the view, and the food and service were top-notch.
Family friendly notes: we brought baby and the hostess didn't even flinch, though I suspect it helped that we arrived very late (2 p.m.) and almost had the whole place to ourselves. I would not recommend for dinner service unless your child is perfectly behaved in public, like ours. Note that the only outdoor seating is in the lounge, so, if you have kids you will not be able to dine al fresco.
People thought this was:
Palisade is at the top of my list when I want to celebrate a special occasion. The atmosphere with the subtle lighting, well-dressed tables, comfortable seating and phenomenal view is unmatchable. Even though it has high ceilings, an overabundance of noise isn't evident. The rose petals on the tables where reservations have been made for a birthday or anniversary are a really nice, classy touch.
I manage to eat at Palisade once or twice a year typically in a large group. I've always experienced exemplary service there including smiling accommodation of one of my friend's extreme dietary restrictions. We don't often hear a sincere 'no problem' after my friend rattles off a list of entree modifications worthy of the Meg Ryan character in 'When Harry met Sally.'
I always start off with a drink like their Guava 'Rita. Yum! Then I order a salad that I split with one of the other diners at my table. (Otherwise it is too much food for me.) For my entree, I usually order a seafood dish and have never been disappointed. It always comes perfectly cooked as are the sides that accompany it.
I wasn't aware of their happy hour but after reading the other reviews, I can't wait to try it!
People thought this was:
This is a nice place for out-of-town guests, a business lunch, or a date. It's right in the Marina, so there's perfect scenery for a sunny day... try to grab a table by the water for the best spot.
The grilled salmon and Chop Salad are fresh and delicious, and they have a really great wine selection. The service is extremely attentive and courteous-- no snobby attitude you get at some upscale places.
Palisade manages to be classy without being pretentious (I've definitely rocked jeans here for lunch). Highly recommended!
We took first place in our Mini Golf League the other night and decided to go out an celebrate. The team was burned out on McCormick's semi-crappy happy hour food so we wanted to try something new and Palisade was the closest HH to the golf course. We were floored! We got there at 9:30 pm, but they have a HH from 3-6 and 9-close EVERY DAY. The HH menu is half off starters (no tiny portions, we were able to split each of them between two people easily) and PuPu Towers (The best deal!). The beers aren't a great happy hour price ($4) but the selection of mixed drinks were (also $4) plus they were very tasty.
The food is fantastic! Delicious, high quality beef and seafood. All of us that had them agreed the crab cakes were the best we've ever had. All crab, no filler. The teriyaki Tenderloins were melt-in-your-mouth bites of beef. I was giddy with food love.
This is a really swanky place, great view, big steam/water feature thing with starfish and other live fish, GREAT waitstaff all for a really reasonable price at happy hour. We all ate tons of food, got two drinks each and paid about $20 per person. The only weird thing about this place is the location. You have to drive through a kind of industrial area under the magnolia bridge to get there, but it's totally worth it. We'll be back often...maybe again tonight...
People thought this was:
Great food. Amazing view. Competent service. I think they have free town car service to downtown.
From Maui to San Francisco, from Florida to New York City, I have never had a meal like this one before.
Free valet, hosts that treated us like royalty and flower petals on our table were what greeted us on our wedding anniversary last Thursday.
This was a simply gorgeous meal, from start to finish. The wine recommendations were flawless, the starter salad with artichoke hearts, king crab, baby shrimp and citrus vinaigrette was incredible. They even brought my chilled salad fork to me on a platter! I couldn't stop eating the salad, even though I knew I had crab cakes coming. Brien got wine too with a smoked salmon bisque and crab stuffed tiger prawns for his entree.
We oohed and aah ed over the entire meal, it was romantic, well timed and the setting overlooking Elliot Bay was incredible. We sat right by the window and they honored our request to be seated in a mostly adult section. This was an excellent place for an anniversary meal and I didn't get the prom feeling from the interior of the place either.
The slightly negative reviews just don't jibe with my experience here and I thought that the surroundings were definitely more modern and chic than what you'd find at the sitting Ivar's on the waterfront.
We really want to come back but we had a gift card from my office, otherwise Palisade is technically out of our price range. With tip our meal was $120. Not something we can do everyday, but that makes it that much more special and meaningful. We'll definitely be back, as soon as I can get someone to buy my kidney for sale.
People thought this was:
Going with 5 stars here, and I gotta be honest...the last star was just the setting and the time.
We celebrated 3 birthdays with friends (pretty much family) and just had a wonderful time. There was 9 of us and all our food came out on time quickly and at the same time (a feat in itself). My steak was cooked perfectly, the finishing sauce was awesome, my water was never more than half full and everyone was just enjoying their selves.
My tip? Go early to where you can have the 3 course meal for $29. I didn't have this (everyone else did) but it's a smart thing to do!
Disappointing.
I had really high expectations from this restaurant. Its beautiful outside and it has a great reputation but when I walked in it was dingy and dated looking. The decor was somewhat tacky, like 1980 fine dining. The chairs were not comfortable, the tables seemed cheap and the layout was cramped. This place needs a total remodel. But that is not what killed it for me. It was my steak. I ordered half way between med and med well and got very well instead. It was a huge disappointment. I tried a few things from the other plates and nothing wowed me. For the money, I expected a lot better. As Gordon Ramsay would say, it seems like they have given up. I would recommend that you just skip this place and go to any number of other restaurants in downtown seattle because for the same money you can eat much better. This was blah at best and I am unforgiving on steak temperatures being that far off. You can also see it in the ambience. By 9:30pm on a sat night the place is a cemetery. I say pass.
People thought this was:
Palisade makes for a great evening; an outstanding restaurant, beautiful harbor view. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Perfect place for a special meal with a special person or to celebrate something the right way. Awesome brunch. Top quality food for any meal that will never disappoint. Here you get excellent ambiance, service, wine list and an all around showstopper of a good time. Listen, you're going to pay for it, but that's why it's for special occasions.
People thought this was:
This is one of my favorite restaurants.
The setting of the place is to die for. There is a beautiful pond and waterfall, and the chef's kitchen is right there for you to see! Not to mention the artwork, piano, view of the water surrounding you adds a nice touch to the ambiance. The lights are dimmed, but not to the point where you can't see your food (like in Cheesecake Factory).
First of all, big reminder: RESERVATIONS, RESERVATIONS, RESERVATIONS! You can NOT come here without a reservation especially on a special occasion like Valentine's day, prom season, etc. You might be able to find an open table if you're lucky, but most of the time it will be booked.
The appetizers are delicious. I came here for dinner and got the platter. You get a small bite of every tasteful item on the appetizer menu, and they are all scrumptious. The steaks and seafood dishes are amazing as well (get the prawns!).
During a certain time, I'm assuming happy hour, there is a dinner selection specialized for only that time of day. It is a full 3 (maybe it's 4..I'm not sure) course meal with everything from appetizer to dessert for a good price. Highly recommended.
The Sunday brunch is also delicious as well. The mini pancakes and chocolate dipped strawberries are good! Not to mention, the buffet set up is a plus.
On your birthday, they will sprinkle rose petals on your table, and give you a card with the restaurant's best wishes. Of course, the person who made the reservation has to notify the receptionist beforehand.
This place is perfect for a date or celebration.
People thought this was:
We've been here a few times for brunch, but it's been a while. This morning we showed up with bells and whistles all ready for Father's Day. All ready to sift through our menus for our entrée (to be added to our all-you-can-eat brunch line). It has changed. No longer does one order the entrée and then hit up the line - the entrees (i.e. the Eggs Benedict) are now part of the buffet line. However, if you still want the macadamia nut pancakes and French toast, those still have to be special ordered from the kitchen. I wasn't wild about the new set-up. A lot of things seemed sub-par compared to our previous experience - the crab cakes were dried out, saltier - which I think might have to do with the constant heating of the catering trays.
Brunch is about $35/per person. Not cheap, but not too expensive. All drinks are additional (I think we paid another $5 for my strawberry lemonade.). The spread is rather impressive - aside from the hot foods and the pork tenderloin, there's also a "cold" spread of salads, fresh fruits, and breads (croissants and bagels). There are also all you can eat oysters, crab legs, and shrimp. Outside across from the bar, there is the chocolate fountain with several other sweet desserts.
The service is always fantastic. We never feel rushed, and the employees are very attentive. I've never gone thirsty during any of our meals here. The restaurant boasts an amazing view of the water, high ceilings, and water features. There is ample parking outside, as well as valet service. There are walking trails along the waterfront, which is a nice stroll to take before or after your meal.
People thought this was:
I do love going to this place. I love the view, and the food is good also. Last time we went was last year for our anniversary. The petals on the table are always a nice touch. I didn't like where we were seated though, they were window seats, but all the way at the end by the wait station. Thought they might have put us in a quieter spot knowing it was a special occasion and all. I had Lobster, and it was really good. I had been looking at the abalone on the menu, and the waiter said I could add that (a small portion) to my plate if I wanted. I opted to do that, and it was a huge mistake. I scuba dive, and used to get abalone all of the time, and I loved it. This was awful, totally over cooked, it was like chewing on a rubber ball. I was so glad that I not ordered that as my main course. My husband had Halibut, and was very pleased. All in all it was an enjoyable evening..we will go back.
People thought this was:
Fresh seafood and great advice from the waiter on appetizer and wine choices. Ambiance beautiful as always. My favorite seafood restaurant in Seattle.
very excellent view, food, ambiance, and overall fabulous restaurant
Review for midweek lunch. Tricia took Neal and I for a surprise lunch yesterday. Yum, yum, yum.
***** for the view
**** for the service
***** for the entree
** for the desert
The "Dungeness Crab Stuffed Black Tiger Prawns" for my main course were very very very good indeed !
Neal's "Dungeness Crab Cakes", which were much better than the crab cakes we had in Dungeness last week. They were made with much more crab, much less filler.
Tricia's "Seafood Louie" was a lot of food, but not on par with the other two.
We had the "Cake and Ice Cream" for desert.... the Red Velvet cake was nicely presented, but extremely dry and disappointing. The Conocut Chocolate Bombe was nothing special.
Would definitely go back for lunch... and if there was a super-special occasion, would consider dinner.
I have went to Palisade for over 5 years and probably over a 100 times and each time the staff and food always either meet or constantly exceed my expectations. As you can see from the other reviews it's a top-notch restaurant and with a great supporting staff that provide stellar service.
I loved it so much that I proposed to my wife there. I had planned and worked with the staff for a week. They made sure to do the rose petals, seat me at a requested table, and even hunt down chocolate covered strawberries. We even created a mini-itinerary and the staff is even more attentive then normal, especially when they know it's a special event. But she never suspected it since they always are attentive and responsive to any request.
It was perfect, and we go back every year - it gets a bit harder since we have a newborn.
Service + Food are easily 5+ stars.
People thought this was:
Definitely a celebration place. Our waitress asked us if we were headed to prom, but we had to answer that we were celebrating our friend's graduation from law school.
I tried a lot of the food here. The appetizers were altogether good - there was some kind of dip that was decent, the crab cakes were excellent, and the ceviche was also very good.
I ordered the chowder, it was extremely flavorful, but the corn made it a little bit too sweet. Rogue blue cheese salad was quite tasty.
Unfortunately, the entree was a bit of a let down. Halibut stuffed with crab in a cream sauce was well cooked, but the baby bok choy side was flavorless.
Service was excellent, the decor wasn't my style, but was stunning all the same. Views of the harbor were gorgeous.
Lastly, I learned a new word, or perhaps relearned a word I should have recalled from elementary school geography: "palisades: line of cliffs alongside water: a row of high cliffs, usually rising sharply from the side of a river, stream, or lake."
People thought this was:
If you haven't figured out yet by all of the other reviews, this place is an excellent restaurant. I'm not usually one who spends 50 bucks on dinner, so of course I like this place!!
I had the 3 course dinner which was surprisingly only 33 dollars. I think it is a non Friday / Saturday night special.
What I had:
- Corn chowder - Very flavorful - excellent
- Prime rib - Cooked perfectly. Not the best prime rib I have ever had, but still very very good.
- Creme Brulee - Good as usual.
Other bonuses:
- Lemonade - Not sure what was in that stuff, but it really tasted better than any other Lemonade I've ever had. I stopped drinking my wine because it was so great!
- Koi pond running through the restaurant is cool
- Water front view a bonus
- Free valet parking is awesome. (Attendant guy was very friendly)
- Nice how they put rose petals on the table to celebrate a birthday
- Orchestrated event almost serving the food. Multiple waiters place the food on the table at the same time.
Overall, this is definitely in my top 5 if not my new favorite restaurant. Plan on seeing me here often. (I'll be the guy downing the lemonade by the window)
People thought this was:
Went to Palisade a couple years ago for grandpa's birthday. The ambiance was nice, the food was great, overall though it wasn't especially memorable and it wasn't cheap so haven't felt the urge to return. Still enjoed it though, certainly worth trying.
Went there for a birthday dinner. Arrived around 5pm w/o reservation, we got seated w/in 5 minutes w/marina view. Wait person was awesome, smiles all the way and tasty food.
We ordered fried calamari to share, there were larger than the usual ones. Very tender and tasty.
Caesar salad and house salad were very good. Hubby ordered prime rib, it was good but hubby thought it was too small a size for him. The crab cakes were fresh and delish. Desserts were sorbet and burnt cream aka creme brulee, very smooth. Good coffee too I might add.
will definitely go back again with friends and guests in town.
People thought this was:
I've only been to Palisade twice but have had the best time ever both times. The first time I went was to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and the last time I went was to celebrate out one year anniversary. They put out rose petals and wrote a nice card to wish us a happy ___ event. It's so nice of them!
I love the restaurant because it has such as a tropical feel and the food is AMAZING!!! We ordered the roasted Peking duck appetizer and seriously, the meat just falls right off the bone. Absolutely delicious. I mean, the Seattle Times recently did a happy hour piece on them and highlighted the duck... that's got to mean something, right?
I also love that they have a variety of juices like POG (Passion fruit-Orange-Guava)! My drink came in a cute tiki glass that I loved so much, I asked to purchase one and I did! But most importantly, the main course was the halibut cheeks... wow. It tasted like crab, it was so oddly delectable! The waiter had recommended the halibut cheeks with the scallops dish and that was one of the best meals I've had in a long time.
The service as superb and I love the free valet service, it's always so convenient and the view is so breath-taking. Ahh, Palisade! I also really want to try their brunch... I heard it was top-notch for sure.
Although I cannot afford to eat here that often, I'll definitely be coming back for the next special occasion.
People thought this was:
We went to Palisades for a friend's birthday, reservations made in advance.
Got lost on the way there and had to call for directions once and then again to tell them we were late for our reservations, but was greeted very warmly on the phone both times and was provided excellent directions.
I had made reservations online and requested window seating as well as letting them know it was a special occasion. When we were seated (by the window) our table had rose petals and a birthday card. It was a very nice touch. The food was delicious. Crab cakes- thumbs up. They also gave us a complimentary appetizer- calamari which was very nice of them.
I've heard great things about their brunch so I'll definitely be going back to try. Highly recommended- Excellent restaurant and service.
A friend and I were pondering a brunch place that would satisfy the tastes of a visiting friend of ours, plus the palates of the foodies which were making up our party.
After reading about the Macadamia Banana French Toast, my pal's GF decided that is where she wanted to go. *grin* I booked online at OpenTable for our party of six.
My better half and I arrived and hit up the free valet service. We were greeted so very kindly from the valet up to the hostesses. Once our party was together, we were shown our table. THANKFULLY, it was away from the music and other large parties. The music was really great and added a nice jazzy charm to the experience.
We were greeted by our waiter, who's name escapes me as he gave us a run down with drinks and how the buffet works. Apparently, they recently made a big change to it and were very happy to get feedback and see how it was going to work out for people. Oh yeah, and he did the whole napkin on the lap thing, but it wasn't pretentiously done or anything. He rocked, by the way.
He led us up to the buffet line and introduced us to a girl who's only job is to explain the buffet line and tell you what is in every dish. I started with fresh c antelope, and selections from the salami/prosciutto/cheese plate. I moved on to the pea salad (which I adored).
Next up were standard breakfast items - eggs, fried potatoes (that rocked), apple wood smoked bacon, sausage (was it chicken?). Next up was Eggs Benedict, prime rib hash, two kinds of fish and then sliced herb stuffed pork roast and sliced tenderloin.
Oh, I didn't actually eat all of this; it's just what I remember seeing on the line. Really!
Next up was the table with crab legs, oysters and boiled shrimp with all the accompaniments. I can't really tell you what else was on that table as I don't eat seafood/fish.
Oh! There was also a station for fresh macadamia pancakes with a choice of pineapple butter or regular butter. Maple syrup and some other kind (I don't eat syrup so I can't comment on what it was).
There was a friitatta making station and a nice clear list of ingredients you could get baked into said fritatta. I already was going to have too much food, so I didn't even think of getting one. I totally missed where the french toast station was, which is fine as I don't like french toast.
The last table I found was the dessert spread. There was mini-red velvet cakes with coconut(?) frosting bits, mini-cupcakes of a variety of flavors, mini blueberry muffins, almond cookies and chocolate sauce with a variety of fruits to use for dipping.
Our waiter was outstanding and the coffee was good. I never did without coffee nor water. At one point, I pointed at the black & white mini-cupcake my sweetie had and said "Damn, they were out of that when I was at the dessert table". A couple minutes later, the waiter showed up with a serving of fresh pineapple; he thought I was pointing at the pineapple instead of the cupcake. That man gets an A+ for effort and offered to find me said mini-cupcake. I didn't need it really. *chuckle*
All in all, an outstanding brunch! Food, superb. Service, fantastic. View, gorgeous. A+++ Will visit again!
People thought this was:
We love to stop by for happy hour! Great, creative drinks at good prices. Food is expertly prepared by artistic chefs. The atmosphere is just plain fun (e.g. Polynesian meets Sinatra). We've also enjoyed dinners and brunch. Parking is never a problem. Simply put, this restaurant succeeds in every way.
People thought this was:
Went here for a work lunch for my boss's birthday. The reservation process online was quick and simple and was followed up with a confirmation call the day before.
I must say, the interior of this restaurant is beautiful. It's spacious, has a great view, and the indoor pond and waterfall are really nice.
The food was quite tasty. I had the Seafood Louie, which I liked quite a bit. There were a few things I didn't like about it (the inclusion of cucumbers and kalamata olives), but overall it was very good. I also tried a bit of the Seafood Chowder, which was excellent. I liked the variety of bread that came in the bread basket with the meal as well.
Our waitress was friendly and pleasant, although she wasn't always as attentive as she could have been. We always got what we needed, but we had to track her down a couple times, which is never fun.
Overall, it was a very nice lunch. I would eat here again, but with the prices the way they are, it's not likely I would do so on my own tab.
People thought this was:
I took my new, and very food-opinionated boyfriend here for a date on a Friday night. I was anxious when we arrived 20 minutes late for our reservation because we faced a 4-lane I5 closure (and my notoriously poor time-management skills when getting ready). The hostess was so gracious, and warmly said, "It's not a problem, we're so glad you made it."
We had a drink at the bar first, where a host fetched us, carried our drinks and transferred the tab to our dinner table. My boyfriend who is always evaluating his dining experiences had some fun with the menu. The waitress (who was fabulous) helped him put together his ideal entree with the protein he wanted and the sides he wanted. I also overheard a nearby waiter telling his table, "If you want to try a few things, let me know and the kitchen will put it together for you. We have never said no to a special request."
We ordered the seafood dip, and it was delicious: not too heavy, and still creamy. He had the pork chop with special-ordered mushroom risotto on the side and proclaimed it the best pork chop he has ever had in his life. EVER. had the opakapaka (mostly because I want to be able to say I ate an opakapaka) and enjoyed the Asian flavors of the dish, and especially the yummy little pork spring roll on the side.
The ambiance is great for dates and special occasions. The waitstaff are so gracious and professional, and the food is excellent Northwest/Polynesian style (according to their menu).
A funny note: We were seated next to TWO different parties of grandparents, out with parents, and their awkward teenage sons--one was given a laser pointer as a gift then proceeded to try and fry the fish in the koi pond with it, and the other tapped away on his Sidekick the entire time. (Seriously, who orders burgers with no veggies at Palisades?!) You gotta love the rich folk who can do that kind of ish. My folks only ever took me out to Sizzler.
People thought this was:
The wifey and I go there for happy hour every week or so, and they constantly exceed our already-high expectations.
Going there is usually an afterthought, so every once in a while we're seriously under-dressed. We've shown up in clothes that would get us kicked out of a 7-11, but we never get the stink-eye from the staff. +1
The server in the bar always remembers our names. Doesn't seem like a big deal, but it's a very welcoming touch. And he always is just attentive enough that we're never left without what we want, but he doesn't hover either. +1
The Kobe beef sliders and the sauce they come with are worth killing for. Seriously. Just tell me who to kill. +1
The decor and atmosphere are perfect. Good piano music from the player piano. Just the right level of lighting (dim, but not dark). Great views from many tables. +1
People thought this was:
If there was ever a restaurant designed to make a woman feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (minus the icky ho factor of course), Palisade is it. I mean, what other place has a smiley valet open the door, a smiley hostess seat you, and a smiley waiter offer you a chilled salad fork? The staff is so smiley that I imagine they all received training on Fantasy Island ("Smiles, everyone! Smiles!")
But none of this is a bad thing. It is the happiest experience you can have while brandishing someone else's credit card, and I haven't even gotten to the food yet. Which is spectacular. To wit: Soft and salty pretzel bread with sweet butter, delicate butterfish lapped with soy and ginger and served on crispy rice - the nearest thing to french fried rice, which is a fantasy of mine - diver scallops the size of a child's hand, and fresh cobbler with just enough ice cream puddling on top. Perfection. Did I mention the great selections of wines by the glass? The little pond with starfish to watch as you wait for your table? The view of the ferries passing in the night?
Swoon. It isn't just lust I feel for you, Palisade. I think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
People thought this was:
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. The seafood is spectacular and the view is downright amazing!
The staff have been fantastic from the time I made my reservation to the time I left the building. Parking is easy and the decor is quite lovely. The interiors are pretty rustic and a refreshing change from all the modern/contemporary decor that seems to grace most restaurants these days.
The food is simply to die for. I loved every morsel One of my friends ordered the risotto and hands down it was amazing and made my knees quiver. The wine list is amazing and don't hesitate to ask the waiter for assistance, they are bound to find something amazing to match your meal!
People thought this was:
The food is good. Not amazing, but good. You will rarely have a "bad" meal here. Desserts are always tasty. Ambiance is fantastic, view is gorgeous, and service is top notch.
ALWAYS ORDER THE RISOTTO. IF there is a risotto on the menu, order it. No matter the season, it is always good.
The only problem I have is feeling like I was profiled. Yes, we are young and my date wasn't wearing a tie. Yes I'm a vegetarian in a mainly seafoody restaurant, and no I'm sorry my date and I don't drink alcohol. I know that means a smaller bill and smaller tip for you, but don't treat us like we're weirdos! I got the "oh you're THOSE kind of people" attitude. No thanks man. I'm cool, I'm sure you're cool...ease up on the hate.
People thought this was:
So many places are known for just one thing - a great dinner but you don't think of going there for breakfast or a good breakfast plate but you'd never venture there for dinner. Palisade does both equally well - they offer a fan-fricken-tastic Sunday brunch and an equally awe-frakkin-some dinner. Dinner is elegant, Sunday brunch is delectable and welcoming to couples or families. Aside from wonderful food (breakfast or dinner) the restaurant is absolutely beautiful inside with amazing views of Elliott Bay.
My only complaint...and it's not with the restaurant...but the parking spots in the marina are VERY tight. You might want to drive your SMART car if you have one!
People thought this was:
Let me say something before we start on the the actual review...People have been giving Palisade a hard time over the last few years since the departure of uber-chef John Howie for his own swank Bellevue eatery, Seastar (check my review on that later) While he did put Palisade on the culinary map, (some would argue he and Tom Douglas were most responsible for putting Seattle on the map at all), current chef Mark Randolph and his team have certainly not dropped the ball...
That said, the reason to come to Palisade is for the view. In a city full of great views, Palisade's panorama ranging from the Elliott Bay Yacht Club to Safeco Field might be the most impressive of all. As soon as you enter through their massive wood and glass doors, you are seemingly whisked away to a South Pacific isle...Take note of the saltwater pond (fed from the Sound) when you walk in, it will be hard to miss. If you are feeling adventurous, head over to the live lobster, and make your dinner selection, but more on that later.
Drinks are a highlight here. Any one of the Palisade signature cocktails is worth sampling, but their Lavender Cosmos and Mojito's are outstanding. They can run a little on the sweet side however, so be sure to keep that in mind, and have one before settling down to eat, or with an appetizer...
Speaking of the appetizers, stick to the Kalua Pork Spring Rolls. They are perfectly fried, and somehow even with the pork fat and deep frying, remain light, flaky, and delicate on your taste buds. If you are looking to share something at the table, or in the bar, you can't miss with the Oven Roasted Lobster & Crab Dip...
Salads here are very popular and with good reason. If you are a fan on bleu cheese, the Rogue River Bleu Cheese Salad w/Shrimp is a must have. It comes dressed with guava-smoked hazelnuts and freshly sliced pear, and is a great starter to meal. The salads are large enough to share if you are on a budget or are trying to save room for the main course...
As you can imagine, Palisade specializes in seafood. Most of their selections will seem familiar as you read the menu, but it's their ingredients that make them unique. Red Abalone from California, King Crab Legs from the Barents Sea in Norway, and Colossal White Prawns from Mexico are some of the highlights of the menu. Many Angus grade steaks and chops are here for the taking, but if you are coming to a seafood restaurant, EAT SEAFOOD! If you are having trouble deciding between steaks or seafood, ask the waiter for the Olympic Trio. It's a non menu item leftover from the John Howie days, and will give you a 8oz Filet Mignon, 8oz Australian Lobster Tail, and a Barent's King Crab Leg. It will only set you back about $95, and it is well worth it. Plus, it will establish you as a customer in the know, and waiters always appreciate that.
Desserts here are not to be missed, so save room!! Their Burnt Cream Trio is fantastic and features the flavors of Classic Vanilla, Rich Mocha, and Passion Fruit (to die for). If you aren't feeling like that many calories, get a scoop of whatever sorbets are on special that day. They are only made for Palisade, and cannot be purchased any place else! They are the perfect way to end a great meal...
In closing, while at Palisade, be sure to enjoy your food and drink, but don't let the view get lost on you or your date. It is something magical, and if you are smooth enough to time your dinner reservation to the sun slipping behind the mountains....Well, I will have to leave something to the imagination!!
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One of our faves. We have gone there twice for special occasions, and they will decorate your table with rose petals or write a happy birthday note.
They are pretty slow to seat you though.. Have waited for 20+ minutes even though we had a reservation (maybe our table was being petaled). Food is consistenly good, especially the seafood.
Tip: sign up for their emailing list and they will send you coupons for your b-day month, etc.
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SOLID FIVE STAR FOR THIS RESTAURANT
I had been hearing good things about it, as long as I have stayed in Seattle. I finally decided to give it a try.
It was kinda hard to find but it was so worth it!!!
When I stepped in,
I was amazed by the decor.
This is probably the best decorated restaurant in Seattle!! You have everything : the view of the water, the salt water pond with fishes & starfish.. I'm in love!!
Then the menu
We ordered a bunch of appetizer & dessert they were all so good.
Regarding the main course, the coconut friend shrimp, I usually hate that dish because it usually makes my throat feels really dry & icky. But the one in Palisade was different. I LOVED IT
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My husband and I went here last fall for our one year anniversary, and they had a secluded table with a great view and rosepetals and a Congratulations card all set up for us. I got the lobster macaroni which was AMAZING. Heavy, yes, but the flavor was out of this world. I think they put an entire lobster tail in there, too. There were also little kebabs of green apples and lobster on the side which offered a nice bit of acidity.
My husband got the plank salmon which was good, but he said his favorite things were the vegetables which were perfect.
If you do the early diner's deal you can get three courses and a drink for around $35, and they have all ways of mixing and matching other things on their menu so for this quality of a restaurant it feels like a steal. \
Would definitely recommend!
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This review is for their Sunday brunch.
I was pleasantly surprised. The buffet comes alongside an entree, which I had expected to be meager and bland. My low expectations didn't really have any basis other than a bit of skepticism that a really good dish would accompany a buffet. I'll vouch for the entrees actually being good, and quite filling themselves, making the price of the brunch a really good value.
The brunch buffet is fairly small, with a couple of shellfish options, a couple of sweets, a couple of prepared salads, pancakes, and lox/mini-bagels/fixings.
I'll admit that I pretty much go to this type of brunch to eat a shitload of shellfish. I wasn't disappointed. The oysters were abundant, as were the shrimp. Both were actually tasty, as well, which is unusual. Cold shrimp are sometimes flavorless and buffet oysters are sometimes dry and bland. Not so here. I will, though, say that I saw a few too many creamy oysters than I should have, especially in December. I don't know what type of oysters they were, but some were apparently spawning. A shame, but there were plenty of good ones to grab so the problem was easily ignored.
All in all, this is now my favorite Sunday brunch in Seattle. For me, this easily beat Six-Seven, and is quite a different beast from the indiscriminate glutton's free-for-all that is Salty's. The latter is a format that has it's virtues, but quality is really better than quantity, at least when you can fill any empty space in the belly with delicious pancakes.
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Of all ways to hear about Palisade, I heard about it from our Argosy locks boat tour guide.... and I won't ever stop thanking him! We needed something to satisfy my taste for finer food and my family's taste for simple Americanish fare and we found it!
The atmosphere is fantastic... it's a grand sweeping main room that looks out onto the marina and to Seattle around the corner. The service was high quality, beginning with the incredibly friendly hostess (who didn't even flinch at my out of town family's non business-casual attire at lunchtime due to the fact that Palisade was a semi unplanned stop on our tour day).
But it was the food that really won us all over. The calamari was the best I've ever tasted (long strips, so succulent with delicious dipping sauce). The lobster/crab dip was equally as fantastic. For entrees, we had applewood cooked salmon, seared scallops, fish & chips with house salad, and prime rib sandwich. The scallops were my choice and were delicious, as was the salmon (sweet and perfectly cooked). My family members with simpler tastes enjoyed the prime rib sandwich and fish & chips and I liked my samplings of them, but I would recommend the salmon or scallops hands down. We also enjoyed their lavender cosmo and blue hawaiian drinks and the desserts (seasonal fruit cobbler and vanilla burnt cream) were de.li.cious. :)
And that was just lunch! It wasn't crowded and we were able to have a seat right by the window with a spectacular view. I'm sure it's a fantastic atmosphere at dinner too and I'll sure be back to give it a try!
Oyster happy hour is back!
Neighborhood: Belltown
Steak & Crabfest
Seattle, WA
Neighborhood: Magnolia
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: American (New)
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