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Pine Lake Ale House
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
12 reviews for Pine Lake Ale House
There's nothing in Sammamish, so my standards are kind of low for the area.
They do have a nice beer selection. For example, some high-test standbys they had last night: Mirror Pond, Arrogant Bastard, Manny's, and Immortal IPA.
Also, we were with regulars, so our waitress was VERY nice and helpful.
Both times I've been, the food was kind of... blah. I've tried fish and chips and taquitos. The table of 6, except me, liked their over-sized onion rings.I thought they were needlessly greasy. I think I'd stick with the burger.
Upside: The food is good. Downside: Like others have said, the service has something to be desired. I rarely view service speed as an attribute of the actual servers but rather the management. Our server appeared busy, not chatty, but had a lot to do... that tells me it's not her fault. The speed wasn't overly offensive but rather mildly annoying. I don't like waiting for another drink and don't feel a restaurant should be arrogant enough to make me wait for one... isn't this the way they make their highest profit? I'll go back as I like their food and just hope some day they hire a few more people to help.
I love this place! Whether you're watching football or meeting up with the girls...there is always something to see and the food is phenomenal!
There is one server (I wish I could remember her name) that I just adore...she's great...turned me on to having ranch as a dip with my monte cristo...and jam...so good!
Lots of local beers on tap and full bar...and about 5 TVs...and kids are welcome so makes watching the big game easy and fun!
Pretty good, just about your average pub fare. Maybe even slightly below average. Don't expect greatness and you will be ok.
I stopped by again for another round and the staff was really nice. The burger was a lot better than the reuben which helps.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/6/2008
Had to make a Friday night visit to this spot as it is my local watering hole and I have mixed… Read more »
In the end, the Pine Lake Ale House is average. The low points average out the high points. I kind of shrug my shoulders when I think about eating at this place again.
What kind of place comes out this way?
This is an eating establishment in the Safeway shopping center - I've driven past it many times and never noticed it. But when you go inside, you've entered a pub and you no longer realize that you are in a grocery store strip mall in the suburbs. At luch it was crowded with business people and families alike.
There are like 15 beers on tab (including Thomas Kemper Root Beer - it has got to be better when on tab). It is a great selection, written on a chalk board. They had Racer 5 IPA, several of the Mac and Jacks and more.
They have a long menu with salads, burger and sandwiches. The lunch menu even lists their single malts (I assume it is *the* menu, though). I had a hard time picking because the food I saw on the other tables looked really good.
My wife got the spicy chicken sandwich. It was, meh.
I went with the Philly Cheese Steak. And was reminded of my rule: Don't order Philly Cheese Steaks outside of Philadelphia. It was a french dip with a little cheese.
Good beer selection. Nice bar. Nothing special in the food section. I shrug my shoulders.
PLAHouse is a serviceable pub with good bar food if you stick to burgers, wraps, maybe a salad here and there. From this day forward, I will avoid the fish tacos. Strangest fish taco I've ever eaten. No matter how hard the staff tried to explain how they make 'em, it gets right down to this: you don't get what you pay for.
Translated: there ain't much fish in the fish taco. It's a poser, babe.
I'll go back and give it another go 'round. It's right on the way home for us after we hike PooPoo Point on W.Tiger. I personally need a BEER after draggin my sorry butt up PooPoo and some nourishment. Next time, it's the burger for me.
We've been to the Ale House about five times, and it's been consistently good. Not great, maybe...but good.
If you like battered, crunchy fries, try theirs. Pretty good, but nothing classy about 'em. I tried their fried halibut sandwich today. It comes with shredded iceberg lettuce, which I'd leave out...I scraped it all off. The tartar, on the other hand, was delicious. The halibut was panko-crusted (yes!), and the bun was buttered and toasted before it was slathered with tartar. Very nice.
My husband ordered onion rings, and they were a bit...freaky. Huge, hand-cut, battered, they were just a bit much. Didn't have much flavor (usually, I peel off the batter and eat it on its own, but...this was not good), and certainly was not better than the fries.
The service is usually good, but I wouldn't say it's great, ever.
The Pine Lake Ale House is a tried and true favorite. I can't say that I've ever been disappointed and if I have, any complaint has always been surely and promptly addressed by the very friendly waitstaff who seem to know my parents and their friends by name since they go there so often.
Good burgers, good salads. Try the turkey wrap if you want something different but my favorites are the spicy chicken or teriyaki chicken burger. The plateau is in need of more good places to eat, but the Eastside in general could do with establishments of similar quality and service as that of the Ale House.
Oh, almost forgot...free wifi too. This is a popular place, so expect to wait for a table if you come during peak hours but one could always sit at the bar as well.
I'm a fan! I grew up in this area and glad to see that there is finally a successful restaurant here. It's not fancy, just a come-as-you-are place for a drink and a bite to eat. This location seems to be bad luck for most restaurants (or is it just that restaurants are a tricky business?) In any case, the burgers are great and the service makes me happy. I can't speak for the rest of the food, which is likely serviceable, but not great. You obviously wouldn't be hitting up the Sammamish Highlands shopping center if you're looking for haute cuisine, so overall, I think this place is a great fit for the neighborhood.
The only negative as I see it, is probably also something that keeps this place in business (and a good fit for the area): The kids. This place seems to be some sort of green zone for parents of the under-10 set who like to take their kids with them to restaurants. Very often, I've observed that these parents are of the "I don't notice the shrieking and crying of my own children" persuasion. I'd expect this at say, a Red Robbin, but it seems a little off-putting at an "Ale House." To these parents I humbly ask: please consider a sitter.
Other than that, I think that the Pine Lake Ale House is spot-on.
Love the monte cristo sammy. Went for lunch, great service and perfect portions. Although kind of expensive....
I haven't found many unique places to eat in and around Sammamish... but this place actually has the feel of a tried and true local establishment. Good pub fare and they have a great selection of beer on tap... 20 or so. Their fish and chips are battered in Mac & Jack's which was something out of the norm :) Our service was great and there was a good mix of people there... couples, families, and groups both young and old Overall a great neighborhood spot for drinks and grub.
