- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Russell's
Rating Details »
Categories: American (New), Caterers [Edit]
3305 Monte Villa ParkwayBothell, WA 98021
(425) 486-4072
- Hours:
Mon. 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tue-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Tue-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
16 reviews for Russell's
Yelpers,
This place was recommended by the Marriott up the road when I got in late on night last year. I must have eaten there 4 times.
When I got to go back to Bothell last week, I made a beeline shortly after I landed to Russell's to get lunch and find out about dinner.
I had a half turkey/avocado sandwich, butternut squash soup and bread pudding with a decadent caramel sauce for lunch on Monday. They do not do dinners on Monday.
Tuesday dinner was the Spinach salad Scallops with mashed potatoes ( entree around $20) and steamed veggies. Dessert: Pumpkin cheesecake. SUPER DELICIOUS!!!!
Thursday night: Seared chicken breast (around $18) with the same sides as above. I don't know how they got the chicken to be so flavorful, but it was fantastic. Even better in my jammies (I got it for takeout)
Friday night: Went with my co-worker and got the same entree again.
I don't normally eat at the same place with the same entrees, but it was just that good! I had to fight the urge not to go back Saturday night before I left!
Russell's had about 5 entrees, so it makes it less overwhelming to choose what to eat. I have not had a bad meal yet. OH..this may be a little hard to spot. It's an old barn in an office park type lot. When you get to the end of the road, go right and look for a white barn on the right with white Christmas lights. It looks like you are going into an office building, but inside is rustic and charming. Very nice place to dine. I think the most an entree costs was around $32 (Fillet Mignon)
Bottom line: You will close your eyes in yummy bliss with every bite. Make your way there and tell Ryan (server) and the manager (Matt, I think) I sent you!
Very bad service.
My husband and I were in the mood to try something new. From reading all these good reviews, we decided to give Russell's a try.
It's located within of a bunch office buildings - we almost did not see it.
Anyway, when we got in, the first impression was "hmmm what an interesting place to have a restaurant" -- you open 2 double glass doors like walking into an office building, then the restaurant is in front of you. It reminds us of the "restaurant wars" episodes on Top Chef, it almost feels like the restaurant is there temporarily.
So we got in, no host / hostess came greet us within the first 3 minutes. We then saw someone who looks like a manager walking by, we prompted him "hi", so he said something like "someone will be with you shortly". We waited for another 3-5 minutes, a lady came by to sit us down. The restaurant was only about half filled.
We ordered a glass of wine. Then the server took our dinner order which were: salad, sea scallop entree and fish of the day entree. The free amuse bouche (some kind of fish cake with bacon) which came quickly was a nice touch and tasty in flavor, though it's slightly on the salty side. The rosemary bread came with balsamic vinegar & olive oil, but there were only 3 small pieces of it in the basket, and they were cold.
From that point on, we waited for at least 35~40 minutes, still no sight of our entrees, and no one came by to tell us what's going on. Water glasses were refilled, we got hungrier & hungrier so we ate the 3rd piece of the cold bread. As I was chowing down the last bite of the bread, our server came by and told my husband something like "I'm going to give you the rock fish also, so you'll get sea scallops and fish both, because I can't give you more sea scallops". We were like "Huh...? Oh, ok." We both thought they had extra fish they wanted to just give away.
So we waited for another 8~10 minutes, the manager guy came by saying "sorry it's taking so long, we're gonna go ahead and take care of the bills tonight". We thought, hmm, nice, at least they're doing something to make it up to us. 10~15 more minutes later, the manager guy came and told us sorry, they had to re-make my entree because they forgot that I did not want onions on my plate. 3~5 min later, my husband got his scallop entree -- the plating looks fine, but there were only 3 pieces of scallops on it, and a piece of rock fish. I asked the server about it, he said, "oh yeah, we ran out of scallops so that's why I told you I was going to give you the fish also". He also told us "we're gonna go ahead and take care of the bill for you guys".
About 12 minutes later, I FINALLY got my food!! So from the time we sat down and ordered our food, IT TOOK OVER ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES to get both of our food. The food itself was actually tasty, though a bit too salty; we were just so hungry we ate almost everything.
BUT GET THIS - After the food, the server brought the desert menu. We wanted desert but we were tired of sitting in that restaurant for such a long time, so we ordered it to go - Soon after that, the server brought us A BILL - yes, A BILL!!! THEY CHARGED US for the wine, the salad and the desert! We were like "WHAT?!" They gave us a bill after we were told TWICE they were going to "take care of the bill tonight". It feels like they totally don't care if we come back or not.
We waited for another 10~15 minutes until we got our take-out desert.
It's amusing to me as that the small restaurant is not even half filled, we had to wait for such LONG time to get our food and the service was NOT good at all.
My husband and I both agree that if they honored what they said and take care of the bill entirely, we'd most likely come back for the second time to try again, because we wanted to like this restaurant.
What they did by giving us a bill after all basically told us to not come back. Oh and by the way, the desert potion was SUPER small - my husband ordered a New York Cheese Cake, for $8 you got a tiny little slice (about 1/3~ 1/2 of what you usually will get at any other restaurant).
So, NO! WE WON'T BE BACK.
I don't really think that "bad review" below is a fair review of Russell's. They complain about slow service, however, when going to an upper scale/class of restaurant, it is more of an experience with the food than just the food. It is normal to spend up to two hours in a restaurant. Russell's makes wonderful food. One of the best fillets I have ever eaten. The owner/manager is more the accomadating.
Yes, Russell's is located in an office building like thing, but isn't that a wonderful idea? Office lunches, business meetings, etc. are right next door.
Basically if you are looking for great food and a great ambiance, go to Russell's. If you are looking for a quick dinner with nonpersonal service, I suggest Applebees.
*One other thing about the review below. They complain about having to pay for their wine/salad, yet I am sure they got close to a hundred dollar bill for only 30 bucks. And maybe the restaurant was having a bit of a rough night. Before writing an accurate review they should have given Russell's a second try and I am sure they would not leave disappointed and would have written a much better review. And honestly, are you going to trust a review from someone that gave Chipolte Mexican Restaurant 4 stars?? Talk about poor service and crappy food quality.
Russels. I think they think they are higher end then they are. I work near russels so in a emergancy for food they will suffice. But I always know I will pay too much and receive pathetic portions. It will be somewhat tasty but not worth what you pay. this morning I bought a breakfast burrito. only because I was horibly hungrey and didn't have time to stop at my normal place in the morning. Not only was the thing rediculasly small, but wasn't rolled correctly AND they cut the damn thing in half! who the hell cuts a burrito in half?! this is not a sandwitch it is a burrito.
Now Rachel B's counter review of russels is simply unfair to the previous review she was commenting on. And here is why. Yeah when you go to an UPSCALE resturant that is correct. you can spend time there blah blah blah. But the fact is Russels is NOT an upscale resturant. They are a catering buisness that has a resturant front.
And frankly I get better service with MUCH more personal service at my local applebees. And My local applebees is always 20X busier then russels ever is. I mean What kind of "Upscale" resturant does not have someone to greet you at the door.
Why should I eat somewhere 2X to give an accurate review? This is a resturant. 1 time visit is all you should need to know what you are dealing with. You know the saying 1st impressions are the most important.
Russell's is casual fine dining done RIGHT. Chef Russell and his team certainly have it down. Great service, inviting atmosphere, excellent food and many personal touches...
I had heard many good things about Russell's over the last year. I'm disappointed that it took me so long to visit. Its definitely off the beaten path over on the Monte-Villa Parkway in Bothell - but worth the trip.
What drew me to the restaurant was a trip to Page Cellars. They had advertised limo service via Butler Transportation to several wineries for wine tasting, and then the shuttle would take you back to the restaurant and any bottles that you bought on your wine tasting, you could enjoy with dinner at Russell's for no corkage fee. No cost for the transportation - you only pay for your dinner!
What a genius idea!!!
I haven't taken advantage of this offer yet - but I plan on it.
I visited last Saturday evening and sat in the lounge to enjoy some heavenly Sea Scallops cooked perfectly, along with a wonderful Beef Tenderloin with risotto. I was with a group of 5 who brought in several Washington wines and we were not charged corkage.
Aside from the food being delightful, it was wonderful to be joined by Chef Russell and Rob, the restaurant manager. How refreshing, a great chef with amazing credentials who was down to earth! It was a joy talking to him for a couple of hours as we all sipped on wine until after midnight.
I observed them accomodating a large, last minute party and was impressed with their dedication to make sure this party had a wonderful time, even though it was the end of everyone's night.
I'll be back to Russell's for many reasons - the food, the wine, the hand crafted cocktails - but especially for the personal service and wonderful company. Well done Russell!
Don't judge a book by its cover!
This place doesn't look like much but if you're looking for high-quality food in a relaxed atmosphere, this is it.
The service is great and the menu is eclectic enough to make it a very memorable experience.
Each meal starts with an "amuse bouche" that is sure to make you smile.
I've been there several times and each visit has been an excellent experience.
The environment is cozy and inviting. You just feel relaxed and comfortable once you walk in. I first had dinner at Russell's with a very large party. Everyone I dined with that night still talks about how great their dinner was and it has been months ago. Everything from the amuse bouche to the appetizers, salads, and main course were so delicious. The highlight were the sea scallops that melt in your mouth. I tried them with some friends who are real foodies and they even said the scallops were one of the best they ever had. The service is spectacular too and I can't imagine anyone not feeling a little spoiled after eating there.
Really surprised at the quality of the food. I enjoyed the halibut, friends had steak, and the shrimp, all was very good. we will be back.
Bread pudding was very tasty.
I truly enjoyed my experience at Russells. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere was great. I ordered the duck and my friend ordered the Fillet Mignon which was very good but unfortunately both were overdone. The appetizer scallops were delicious and cooked to perfection. I will definitely go again however this time I think I will ordered the scallops as my entree.
The only other downside was the location and sign placement of the restaurant. We had a heck of a time finding the restaurant but overall it was worth it.
This has become the restaurant of choice for my girls night out. We came here originally because of the location and have been coming back ever since.
The waitstaff is smart and funny and the food is excellent on a good night and pretty darn good any other night. They do not anticipate large crowds during the week and are usually unprepared when it happens so service can be a bit slow - tonight they had the bartender out helping wait tables because it was so busy.
I've had the special of the day a few times and it seems to be the choice meal. Tonight I had the Crispy Duck, but as flavorful as it was, it wasn't very crispy and very well done on the outside and very rare in the middle - sort of what happens when you cook cold meat. Still yummy - the risotto is decadent. The scallops have been a favorite of our tables too.
We haven't tried many deserts because we can't get past the yummy buttery bread pudding in it's own pool of yummy caramel. We almost ordered two.
I was so impressed the first few times and maybe tonight was just an off night, but I'd still go back. It's a GREAT date place and although the attire is casual I always love to dress up a bit and don't feel out of place. I'd actually say more dressy than casual. . .
All in all you won't be disappointed if you decide to go. And yes, I think you should go.
I love food. I love people. I love eating food with great people. I love eating great food with great people that is prepared and served by great folks in a great place.
Let's talk about Russell's. Went there last night solely based on the two star review that complained of pasta that was "scalding hot". What? Two stars 'cause the food is too hot? That's like complaining about the sun being too bright. I had to go.
The place is in the middle of nowhere (which I love). We walk in and Madison our hostess is bright and sweet and introduces us to the manager who shows us to our fireside table. Awesome. Low murmurs of satisfied diners fill the space. Great lighting. Simple menu of well priced standards. Lamb (though it's leaving our waitress says, sad...) Filet, New York, Scallops, Fish of the day, greens, artisanal meats and cheeses. Great by the bottle list.
Our waitress LARA arrives and is rad. Let's me try 3 reds before I choose one with my Filet. My friend starts with Viognier and sauteed prawns. Warm fresh baked bread arrives with a nice oil, balsalmic and herb/ garlic dish. Awesome. Service was impeccable. Water filled, plates cleared. Amuse bouche arrives. What? Amazing. Main courses arrive. Scallops and Filet, both cooked to perfection. Fresh veg and great risotto with the Filet. Perfect mashed p-tates and veg with the scallops. Soooooo good.
Then Lara tells us it's her birthday. We invite her to sit with us and we exchange great stories. Then the manager comes over and he sits with us. Then Chef Russell comes out. Turns out he's an avid surfer and lived and surfed the same breaks I did before moving here to Seattle. Tells me about a hidden break up north from here. I'm sold... Gives us a tour of the restuarant and hands me a cylinder of his secret seasoning blend. I cooked my eggs with it this morning. Damn Russell, that's good stuff!
All in all an amazing night in a great "off the beaten path" restaurant. I wish it was closer to Seattle but some things are worth the extra effort. Russell's is.
Russell's is a new restaurant in Bothell, an offshoot of the excellent Lowell-Hunt catering company. It has fantastic food at an odd location. It's in Eastern Bothell, just East of 405, North of 522, South of Mill Creek. For those of you who know it, it's in the old barn-type building near the Cingular Bothell campus. Easy to find from Mapquest (true dat, double true).
Now I've been in this building before it became Lowell's, and it was a run-of-the-mill lunch cafeteria. They have done a lot with it, but still with the tile floors and no booths (just standard tables), to me it retains some of the old undesirable feel. It's nice, and they've made upgrades, don't get me wrong, and perhaps if you haven't ever been there before you'd not have noticed.
But let's talk about the food. It's truly fantastic. Our salads were both excellent and unusual, the filet with bleu cheese was excellent, as good as Daniel's, and ditto on the pan-roasted rosemary garlic chicken. Both meats had plentiful wonderful sauces/gravies. The vegetables were cooked to perfection as well. The dessert didn't impress me but I thought it was good quality, just not my cup of tea.
Service was pleasant, knowledgeable and efficient.
And the prices! I could not believe how affordable it was. Our bill was $74 before tip, though to be fair we didn't have any drinks. But still I can't think of any better (or equal) food value in this quality range. You just cannot get that quality of meat anywhere. The filet was 2" tall, and I could have cut it with a butter knife, even cooked at medium.
Lastly, parking was easy because the place is empty. If you need a last minute reservation somewhere and can't find it, this might be your ticket. There were only 4 tables full at 8pm on a Friday night. Hopefully that will change because I'd like them to stay open!
To sum up, if it were just food and prices, we'd have a 5-star here. The ambiance takes it down a notch. But maybe that's just me. Can't wait to read another review.
---
4-month update. We just went in tonight (Friday in October) and were really looking forward to it. Plus I read James' review which made me even more excited!
Unfortunately it wasn't quite as good as before, for 2 main reasons. One, the pace was too slow. For our 7:15 reservation we were seated at 7:22, and didn't get our appetizer until 8:00. They apologized, saying it was "slammed," though looking around the restaurant was only about 3/4 full. I guess compared to the last time we were there that is slammed!
The other thing is that the food just wasn't quite as good as before. I think the main reason for this was that most dishes had overly strong flavors. We ordered mostly the same food as last time we were here, but found the salad dressings to be a little too strong, and the bleu cheese on the tenderloin to be overpowering. Overall it wasn't bad, but not as good as we remembered.
The service was friendly and the prices still reasonable -- we really want to like this restaurant. I still think it's a neat place, and we'll give it one more try at least. Maybe tonight was just an off night. If the previous night was a 4.5 star night, tonight was a 3-star night.
If you think there are only deli and quiznos in/near the business park, you are so wrong!
Russell's is operated by the same food good as at Molbak's. The menu was simple, not lots of variety. I tried their prawn salad, grilled salmon sandwich and carrot soup. Their vegetables were fresh, prawn and salmon were yummy. The carrot soup was different, a little spicy and I think they put curry powder in it.
It was a very impressive dining experience and I definitely will go back and highly recommended people who work or hang out in that neighborhood.
http://www.rdlcatering...
We go to Russell's pretty often - mostly because it's the closest NICE restaurant. The food & service are always top notch, but what is up with the decor? It is a hodge podge of random decor - and not in a cool eclectic way. Russell, do yourself a favor and hire an interior decorator!
Decor aside, the food is outstanding, however I have not seen the menu change in over a year. So now I've tried everything on the menu. My favorite dish is the NY Steak with Cherry sauce....my husband loves the Lamb. But now we're bored. I'd like to see them change it up seasonally or add a fresh sheet. Not to be forgotten, the wine list is packed with local wineries and most all of the suggestions made by the wait staff have been delightful.
Also, the bread pudding is the best I've ever had...but the carmel sauce is kind of ho-hum. I would love to see the chef add bourbon to the carmel sauce to add complexity of flavor.
Tip: This is a great date place by the way as it is rarely ever crowded and you can expect the food & service to be 4-star worthy.
Wow, I'm thinking maybe Russell's just had a bad night but for my first time there it was NOT a good experience. Perhaps the chef was out of sorts or they were short staffed. I'm not gonna make excuses but they certainly should have said something to make us think it was not their "normal" night. Service was slow, my sea scallops were extremely salty, while 5 of us got served our meals two had to sit and wait (we were all pretty much done with our dinner by the time they got theirs) for the pasta which when it arrived was scalding hot. Also, had at least one ticket calculated wrong. The atmosphere is upscale casual & fun and we had a great time despite the problems. I'm not sure I will ever go back though.
Molbak's in Woodinville has a wonderful surprise for foodies. The prize for venturing into this gardener's paradise are some of the simplest (at least they make it look simple) and tastiest shrimp or salmon sandwiches on Focaccia bread. If you've been bitten by the treasure hunting bug, continue on the adventure by picking up a "buy one, get one half off" coupon/map at the deli there and make your way towards the "x", a few miles North to Bothell. Parking is free and plenty, privacy is an often added bonus, and big groups are not a problem. Best of all, you can get gourmet food for $10-$20 less than Seattle. Try the Duck Confit Risotto with Lamp Chop Special for ~$22 or Chilean Sea Bass Special for $25. Portions are healthy and they even give you a free little appetizer. If additional appetizers are your thing, you won't go feeling empty with the Steamed Penn Cove Mussels with Salmon Cream Sauce. For dessert, take your special someone for their birthday and get a free one on the house, decorated with "Happy Birthday" in chocolate. Creme Brulee, etc. are all standard greats but for something a little different, try the bread pudding.
Happy Eating!
http://www.rdlcatering...
