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Categories: Music Venues, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: West Seattle$4/$2 Happy Hour Menu 3pm-7pm nightly. $1 off all wells, draughts, bottled beer, wines. Late night happy hour Tuesday only 9pm-1am.
Tue-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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Been going here on and off for years, even played here once on new years eve. I have had the absolutely evil/tasty deep fried apple pie. I have had the tots of destiny. But until today never had brunch.
And now...the review:
*****Roger was our server, and he was stellar. Humor, speed, and checking on us was perfect.
****Food was varied. I had the chicken fried steak, which was average--not good nor bad. My wife had the crab Benedict. The crab cakes an sauce were great, but the eggs were a tad overcooked.
However, the amazing bloody mary's made up for any shortcomings.
****bang for the buck was varied, as the bloody mary's were high bang, the food low bang.
Overall 4 stars. And extra props to an excellent server!
Went here for drinks / happy hour, so my review is only on that experience; no show, no food. Some coworkers go here every week and love the place - it was actually 'nicer' than I thought it would be.
Impressed that they had cider on tap, but why Ace? In my lowly opinion, there are way too many better local (and somewhat local) ciders.
Waitstaff was fine; not too bad of an atmosphere; too bad its pretty dark and the windows are limited.
I would go back for a show and/or to try the food.
this is my official skylark remix i.e. compiled review updates. what you need to know:
perks:
-No snotty diner attitudes here only bona fide customer service- look Seattle it's not dead after all!
-Friendly faces, attentive service, and
-epic bloody marys..."wait are those.... muddled snack-sized green olives floating aimlessly in my drink?" how bloody fantastic of you
-good sized mimosa pours
-The steak omelet could feed a full grown lumberjack and tates are crispy seasoned perfection
- chicken fried steak is good here too if you like a softer version
cons:
-they seem to always be out of something (mostly hollandaise) when we are in and
-menu items can be a little inconsistent.
-stay away from the corned beef hash.
the incredible service here totally makes up for the little things overall and we will probably (most definitely) be back...
Lots of beers on tap. A really intimate venue. Parking is a little tough if you go later. It reminds me of what the genuine grunge rock places in the late 80's in Seattle would have been like. I never had a chance to see them in real life though, so i don't really know what i'm talking about. i just imagine this is what it would have been like. It might be the natural acoustics, but it seemed louder than I would have thought. Went to see a band. a friend of a friend's band. I had no food. Just beer.
A favorite for live music and a good happy hour too. I haven't eaten there much but the music and the service have been great. They can accomodate a family if needed but it's also a good late night spot to catch some live local talent.
I must say that I'm a big bloody Mary fan,and I'm always in search of the perfect Mary! So after doing a Yelp search, the Skylark came well recommended. It just so happened I had to go to the Fauntleroy ferry. Just the excuse i needed, so on the way back it's bloody Mary time! I'd read about the spicy "Bloody Empress", so gotta have one! WOW! Absolut Peppar vodka, with muddled olives, lemons, limes, and pickled beans! AWESOME! Nice and spicy, the way they should be! They are way too good! If you are a "Bloody Mary ologist" like I am, swing by the Sky for a truly memorable Mary!
This is the best brunch I've found in West Seattle and nearby. The chicken fried steak here is 10x better than the Chelan's, the potatoes are worth coming back for.
Last time I was in though, I got no service for a good bit of time and ended up walking out. I haven't been back, hence the three stars. I'm a service snob. We went steadily for probably 3 months, at least one weekend morning a week, and now I haven't been for about 3 months.
I miss it, and I'll probably go back soon and hopefully get better service.
Having signed up for Yelp forever ago with the intention of posting a thousand reviews but never being motivated to draft a single one, I recently started to wonder if I'd ever use Yelp as anything more than a lurker. After the totally perfect meal I had there yesterday, I thought it was time to break the seal and urge you all to go straight to West Seattle and experience brunch at the Skylark.
I showed up around noon and there were only a few tables occupied. A couple of low-key employees were making the rounds and we were encouraged to sit wherever we wanted (a far cry from my usual 30+ minute wait for a Sunday morning table at Linda's). The menu had enough delicious-sounding options to make ordering a little difficult, and the friendly guy who took our order helped me narrow it down to the Crab Cakes Benedict and a Bloody Mary. My friend ordered banana pancakes and an OJ. Substitutions were easy to make and we both ended up with exactly what we wanted - almost too much of it. Everything, from the eggs to the bacon to the home fries (which are more like seasoned chunks of potato than the usual fried, grated mess) to the delicious and complicated Bloody Mary, was perfect. All I can think of now is when I'll get to go back and try the Chicken Fried Steak...
I've been here to see bands a few times, too. I love their ethic - shows are always free, and they offer a variety of different nights that appeal to almost anyone with a few cool/weird open mics (spin your own records for 30 minutes!). One star off for the little things - parking is really limited, the bar setup is awkward when the place is packed, and it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. Not convenient for me but, now that I know how great the breakfast is, totally worth the drive.
I find it difficult to chose this place for a meal anymore...its really inconsistant.
The service is really a bunch of nice folks though.
I'd just go for drinks now....no meal is safe. Its really hard to fuck-up a tater-tot! But you should never serve eggs benedict with hard eggs on top....poached is poached.
Tater tots. Live music. Karaoke contests.
-1 star for being in West Seattle instead of next door to me.
It's been a while since I was at Skylark. I headed in to try Bitsy's Bloody Mary.
Who the hell is Bitsy, right? She sold t-shirts for us last time we played the Showbox, and was really cool. She also is (or was, not sure if she still is) a bartender at Skylark, and works Sundays for breakfast/brunch. She told me she did a killer Bloody Mary when we chatted at the Showbox, so I headed in to find out if she was pulling my leg or not.
She might not have been. I am unfortunately not a great judge of Bloody Marys as I actually rather despise them. I forgot about that, as it's been a long, long time since I had one. Bitsy's wasn't bad, I just am not a fan in general; I prefer my drinks sweet, not salty.
The food was awesome. I forgot what I had. I suck. But it was good.
Skylark has live music. Unfortunately, my band will never play here, as they tend to really only do indie/"original" stuff on weekends, and even though we're as original as they come (rocked out TV themes? Come on, who else does that?!), we probably won't ever qualify for the weekend shows. I speak before I act, though, we've never actually asked.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting my guitar fixed so I can go try an open mike night here. Weds nights apparently are open-mike. Cool. Looking forward to crooning and screeching and getting applause regardless. :P
I've been here half a dozen times, usually for lunch.
Food is fine. It ain't health food, but it's good bar food. If you're looking for something beyond that, you need to keep looking. But it's satisfying, fried, and pretty fast. And the staff is friendly and having some fun.
I did go in for a drink last night with a friend. My tip to Skylark: if you're going to charge $9.00 for a martini, it should be outstanding. Yours is not - it's an average smallish ol' burger bar martini with a crappy teeny little olive. Price it right, or learn how to make it right!
Next time: beer and tater tots.
Hi, I'm Mel R
I like long walks on the beach and having that feeling of sand crammed in between my toes for days
Drinking Vodka or wine by the gallon
Kissing in the rain
Snowboarding-possibly everyday
I'm also a Scorpio; look out for my stinger - OW!
I also read the bible every night before bed
And I could talk for hours on end about my two loves: children and being barefoot in the kitchen
An ideal date would be taking me to Skylark, buying me 1 or 5 of their strong drinks and sharing some amazing cheesy tatter tots. Even better would be to come during a show. That way, I can watch you try to shout over the loud PA and try to tell me something I'm sure you think is meaningful, but in actuality I really won't care about; all the while smiling...Their breakfast is pretty decent too, but don't go getting your hopes up because I don't put out before marriage.
Please do not apply if you have tattoos, my dad says they're for vagrants and hippies
Text: 1Lucy3 to reach me through my profile
XOXO
-M-
Looking for a dive bar? Want a place that you can just enjoy the hell out of? Want a great mix of people of all (legal) ages? This is it if you are across the bridge!
I went on a Friday night (Live Music) with a couple of buddies. We stood at the end of the bar and enjoyed the music, which was that "extremely-loud-enjoying-the-hell-out-of-just-play ing" sort of sound. Only had some beer, no food, but the bartenders were courteous, attentive, and quick! It helped that one of my friends was a good friend of the owner and staff, but I watched them and they did an awesome job with everyone.
I haven't been back yet, but when I go, it will be another live-music night...reminded me of the coffee house I used to frequent back in my high school days. Ah, memories!
I'm really torn between 2 and 3 stars here. I'll go 3 with the disclaimer that it's because (a) I had a good time here and (b) I wasn't here long and didn't fully experience the place, i.e., didn't eat the food or use the bathroom.
It's easy to find, but not necessarily easy to get to. I found parking no problem however. If i lived in the area, i could see this being a better spot to swing by.
A long, arduous week....Riss needed to get out, even if just for a short while. Knowing I was only having one drink, meant only one thing. LIT.
In my series of LIT testings at the past several bars I've gone to, this was by far and away the worst one I've had.
I blame Barca for ruining me on LIT's forever.
Far too much "tea", too dark, and came w/ fruit in it. Bleah. Could not get that out of my drink and into an empty glass on the table fast enough. To add insult to my injury it was $8.
Of course i drank it, don't get me wrong on that, and yes, it had alcohol in it. So it was redeemed only for that.
I'm always intrigued by how bars are really all the same, but somehow different. The space inside here is not all that unique or special, but it pulls off a good vibe w/ little effort.
I liked the decor. The lay out was ok, compared to some places I've been I think they used the space they have well. Not all bars can do that..some are a huge waste of space with how it's laid out.
Without a show to see, there is nothing to do here but sit and drink or eat. Which is fine, I just have a preference for places that give me more options. To get me to want to come back over and over I'd prefer a place that had things to do that suit my moods--of which there are many.
The show was good though. I really liked band, I didn't check them out w/ the links bunneh provided, so I had no idea what I was in for. I think I will be investigating (ie harassing bunneh) on getting a CD since I didn't plan ahead and have enough to get one last night.
It was my first time out in a little while, I needed to get out, and I had a good time. Should a HH or DYL-trip ever include another stop here, I'd be down.
A great cool somewhat new addition to the West Seattle scene. I finally made it to the Skylark the other night for a drink and a bite to eat. The place is adorable inside, so cute, or should I say tough so the boys will still want to go check it out. They have tots I don't think I need to say anything else, oh they have tots with cheese too! What's not to like about a place that has tots with cheese?
We started with the tots with cheese and than I had to try their mac n cheese. First off if you don't like crushed black pepper do not order the mac n cheese it's covered in the stuff. The mac n cheese was good but it was a little too creamy for me. I tend to like my mac n cheese to be a little thicker but it was baked and there was crispy cheese on top which was a nice crunchy extra that I loved. The bread that came with the mac n cheese was OMG to die for, it was a slice of their grilled rustic bread and I wanted more and more but I stuck to the piece I was given I didn't want to OD on carbs that night.
The service was excellent, the bathrooms were clean, the place was great. They have live music with no cover Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, they have karaoke Tuesday night, and open mic night on Wednesdays. They also have brunch Saturday and Sundays and I plan on checking it out one weekend soon.
*Update*
Finally tried the brunch and went with the Dungeness Crab Cake Benedict it was good, the crab cakes were HUGE much bigger than I ever expected and were probably 75% crab and 25% filling so a pretty good ratio if you ask me. The eggs were how should I say it, over cooked, it was like hard boiled eggs sitting on top, not a bad thing but not really a good thing either. The hollandaise was good but scarce had to ask for some extra. The home fries on the other hand were wonderful. I'll be back for brunch again maybe to try the biscuits and gravy next time.
You can go to Skylark on almost any day and anytime and have a good time. My favorite breakfast on weekends is the flapjacks. They are top notch. The food overall is really good.
Then at night you can catch smaller local bands, and enjoy the nice atmosphere that they have going on there.
****UPDATE 3/29/2008: They lose a star for being completely inattentive and not offering us water at all for brunch/breakfast. Also, some of the servers can be kind of surly. We went here 2 weekends in a row for food and the service was pretty disappointing.****END UPDATE****
Um, yes. Go here.
I had read about it on yelp and then my adorable physical therapist mentioned he had participated in the last Open Mic festivities, which translates to "giiiiiirrrrrl, you betta check this joint out".
I convinced one o' my best girls to try something new and we were both super happy with our decision.
It was Open Mic night tonight and as myself and the two ladies accompanying observed - "this is surprisingly good". Seriously, the performers don't suck - yeesssss!
The tater tots with cheese? Delicious. Hummus plate? Can't go wrong.
The crowd was diverse but not in the hipster to yuppie range you can get at a lot of the places we tend to frequent. Pretty much the 20 something to 30 something crowd ranging from "normal" to "cooler than normal".
I was complimented on my hat and my shoes AND was informed in a roundabout way that I look younger than I actually am. It's like yelp but in 3D real life!
The servers are friendly, it's a decently sized place and there is free music pretty much all the time that doesn't suck (they even played Scissor Sisters "Filthy Gorgeous" - one billion happy points from this girl).
Just so you know - parking can get a bit difficult in their lot after 8 or 9, but it's nothing like parking in downtown West Seattle or on the Hill.
Rejoice and make yo'self a regular!
You had me at All Day Happy Hour.
But the friendly service and groovy crowd really sweetened the deal.
Cheesy tots are just the thing after all those $2.50 glasses of wine.
Ditto the "surprisingly good" open mic performers.
Lowrider seating made it hard to leave.
No, really.
Last time we went there it was standing room only so we left. Beyond that all I can say is Tater Tots....cooked to perfection. Crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. I keep meaning to go back for the brunch. I have had the mac and cheese though and it was pretty decent.
I love the laid back atmosphere but I agree that when bands play the music is way too loud. Oh and last but not least they have my pic for Seattle's hottest bartender. Curly brown hair and very nice on the eyes. All and all a great place.
i love this place and do brunch every weekend here. brunches run till 3 and the food is always awesome. waitstaff is awesome and always seem to remember your previous orders.
don't forget to order a mimosa or bloody mary ;)
my only con is that open mic / live shows tend to be excessively loud (and i'm hard of hearing!) to the point of needing to leave..
Two words: Weekend Brunch.
It runs from 9:30 - 3 Saturday and Sunday and it's not unusual to see me there both days. I've looked around West Seattle and have yet to find anything that even comes close to the Skylark brunch experience.
The food is absolutely awesome, they've got something for everyone. I usually get the eggs benedict or, if I had an exceptionally rowdy evening the night before and am not ready for solid food, I go with a cup of their tomato basil and a truly inspired grilled cheese. The cooks here clearly enjoy their jobs and are always coming up with really interesting specials ... Last weekend I had the flapjacks with orange-butter syrup, which rocked.
Ahhhh yes, and then there's the alcohol. Mimosas are a favorite and are made with a splash of pomegranate juice. yum. Bloody maries are made with muddled olives, you seriously have to try them to believe how good they are.
Service is always excellent, even when the place is packed (and it does fill up).
I really just can't say enough good things about Skylark. If you haven't been down there you owe it to yourself to go check out their weekend brunch.
It's a shame that I'm of that age where I don't go to a West Seattle haunt for it's live music, Karaoke Tuesdays or the scene, anymore.
I go to Skylark for the Steak Salad.
Yes, that guy at the west end of the bar closest to the restroom, eating the steak salad, wearing the only italian made suit jacket in the room, while the next Big Thing is playing their hearts out, on a fantastic little stage. Be sure to say hello. I will certainly put the fork down and engage in conversation. Then, it will be back to my Steak Salad.
Good for groups? of course.
At my age I know these things. I may even pick up your tab after we chat, and I will finish my Steak Salad.
This place is pretty cool. I bet whatever it was before, it wasn't that great. Delridge is starting to remind me of Georgetown when the first hipsters started filtering in.
I didn't get to catch any music here tonight but a very laid back vibe, friendly patrons and staff. It's also close enough to ride my bike to, or to stop off at if I'm riding my bike home from work. I'll have to come back again to see if it's as good.
My top ten reasons the Skylark is my favorite WS bar:
1. Bloody Marys and other strong, tasty drinks.
2. The only place in West Seattle where I've never had to wait more than the time it takes for a table to be cleaned and cleared for brunch.
3. The most interesting people wind up sitting at the bar. I've been in more healthy debates and girl talk commiserations here than any other bar in my life.
4. Free music. May not always be GOOD music, but it's free. And the robust drinks ease quality standards greatly.
5. Sweet Baby Jezus, the tater tots are salvation. As for the rest of the menu,: it's bar food, and occasionally outstanding bar food. And sometimes less than outstanding.
6. Dan and Liz: Nuff said.
7. Easy to get to from the bus (120 or 125) which makes it the best place to pop into for happy hour from work if you live off Del Ridge. And my downtown peeps are still able to get here and back pretty easily.
8. Great people. The Skylark seems to attract the quirkiest yet mellow characters. I frequently come solo (see #7) and I've never been subjected to the typical "bar scene," behavior. It's nice to have a place I feel comfortable talking to the opposite sex without feeling like I've inadvertently issued an invitation.
9. Lots of neighborhood folks without that exclusive neighborhood bar feel.
10. Sweet decor. Not a pretentious place at all but still has a definite sense of itself as a hangout. The art is always...well interesting.
Okay so you can't like everything about a place. Here are a few things that are kind of annoying:
1. Where did the Reuben go? Sad me :-(
2. The sound quality is sometimes not so hot. I know the music is free, but man, somebody still has to work the board.
3. When it gets crowded, it's crowded. Not a lot of space to stand with so many two or three person round tables (often squished with five or more peeps) and the bar is almost impossible to get to.
4. Yeah yeah, so you kind of have to slingshot yourself into the parking lot from the Del Ridge freeway exit. And if it's full, well tough sh*t.
5. It can be kind of dark inside and no outdoor seating other than the smoking bench facing busy Del Ridge. Wish there was some outdoor seating.
The Skylark is one of those few places that has it all...great music, great food, great service and great cocktails. Let's start with the music. Seems every time I've been to the Skylark, it's a new experience. Lastnight, it was four (or five) dudes, dressed all in black, sporting wide-brimmed cowboy hats, with a sound like none other than...you guessed it...Johnny Cash. Following them, was a Green Day-esque sounding band, with two guys and two girls (very loud, but very good).
Breakfast here is the bomb. The eggs benedict is my fave, with fresh-made hollandaise sauce and a side of fruit (or potatoes if you prefer).
If you're in the mood for a cocktail, I highly recommend the Pom Pom. It's essentially a cosmo, but instead of cranberry, it's made with pomegranite juice and pomegranite infused vodka. Yum!
The Skylark is a great little neighborhood bar that West Seattle was in desperate need of...happy one year anniversary Skylark! Hope there are many more to come!
As soon as we walked into Skylark late Sunday night the atmosphere hit us. People were having a good time. A band was setting up. The parking lot was filled to the brim. The restaurant is in a bit of a stubby "L"-shape with, surprisingly, the biggest section being flanked simultaneously by both the bar and the stage - AKA maximum pleasure with minimum fuss.
Unfortunately for us, me and my family of six, all the tables were full in the "sweet spot," so we settled for the baby section around the corner by the door. We had to push some tables around to get ourselves settled and move some empty glasses, but all was well.
I can't say too much about the service because my Dad and I kind of spearheaded that, we both took our food and drink orders to the bar, but all of the drinks and food arrived promptly and correctly. The club sandwich that both my Dad and Stepmom ordered looked good, but I can't say the same for the burgers. They looked a little cardboardy and small, and were a little overdone for the requested medium rare.
I (foolishly) ordered the steak salad, with no blue cheese, and received basically a plate full of lettuce with some chewy steak slices, a smattering of bell pepper, and a sharp vinnaigrette. I tried to fill my craving for BEEF with admittedly diet food and ended up disappointing myself. However everyone who ordered the less diet-conscious meals looked satisfied. Their fries were fat and meaty :) Next time I'm going to order more appropriately to the venue and enjoy my indulgence!
As a previous reviewer mentioned, the music was a little loud, especially in our nook. Maybe it's the corrugated metal walls back there, but it seemed to dominate the nonexistant conversation. They did however have excellently clean bathrooms as well as fun kitschy throwback tables covered in old teen novel covers from the 1950s (She Devils!)
Overall the staff were friendly, everyone looked pretty pleased to be there, and the space is open and inviting. It is particularly impressive that they're able to fill the restaurant up on a late Sunday night. It seemed to be the perfect place to go for a casual drink alone, or with a group of people.
Holy Fuck'n Shit! I love this bar. We stopped by for the food and keep going back for the attitude :-) The owner / manager/ resident smart ass will have you laughing till you pee your pants as soon as you walk through the door. Everyone here is "honey" or "babe" because no-one knows your name and no-one really cares. Just order something fabulous to eat and chase it with a stiff one... a drink or the owner, which ever you prefer. My favorite is the steak salad with a Blue Berry Stoli and club soda with a lime.
Seriously, you must try this place at east once.
I bused out to the Skylark last night to see Murder Party play. It was much easier than I had expected to get here by bus, as the 11 that goes across capital hill from my house becomes the 125 that goes right by the skylark. Either the first or second stop as soon as the 125 gets off the west seattle bridge put you within walking distance of the place. The bus comes back until 11:30pm or so, making it a great place for dinner and starting a night of drinking, then working your way back home by way of other favorite bars.
At first it seemed a little small for where it was. Venues like the Twilight are about the same size and I would have expected something bigger "so far" out of the city. It turned out nice though, the high ceilings definitely make it feel bigger than it was.
The live music was great and the bands played right in front of you in the bar, unlike some venues like Jules Mae that put the bands in another room in the back. It wasn't crowded like a capital hill venue like the Comet always are.
We showed up early, probably around 7 and ordered food. We sat ourselves and a waitress found us on her own. The hummus appetizer place was great and I had "The Super Fresh Vegan" sandwich which was awesome. If you're down with the cheese they have a grilled cheese sandwich and appetizers such as "mozzarella logs" which sound wonderful. Check out the online menu for other wonders like the "Ghetto Platter".
All over an Awesome venue, just a bit far away for me to go to regularly.
I didn't know you could buy earplugs there else I would have. I considered trying to shove napkins in my ears. The bands were pretty good, but the sound guy was obviously already hearing impaired because he kept turning the volume up and up until it was completely distorted and painful and everytime he'd touch a knob, he give himself a self-congratulatory nod, indifferent to the wincing and grimacing on the faces around him. We didn't leave because it was a party and we all had a good time anyway, so I guess I can't say I am a victim.
However, the food was really tasty and the cocktails were delicious - enough for me to want to go back soon. I had a B.L.A.T. (Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Avocado) - some kind of really nice bacon. That, along with the tater tots, was really yummy. I can't wait to try brunch.
It's fun for a group, but no conversation can be had once the bands start unless yelling into your friend's ear on top of the sonic torture they are already enduring is your idea of conversing.
Tater Tots!!! Yes!! That's all you really want or need in life, right? Oh, you want other tasty apps and entrees, a great beer and cocktails menu, AND kickass weekend brunch featuring some of the best french toast in seattle? Well Skylark has all of those things too! Horray!
But it gets better! Skylark works hard for the money and doubles as a great music venue in the evenings. If you have a band that doesn't suck, you and said band should play Skylark. SO worth crossing the bridge.
What to say about the Skylark...?
Well, lets start off with a disclaimer that I was there to support a friend's band. Who rocked pretty hard (the Two-Twenty-Twos, end shameless plug). Then lets follow up with them having Cider on tap so points.
The place was sort of crowded, but I liked the motif. They were having some sort of punkrock photograph thingie from the 80's and LA on their walls. That was awesome. The sheet-metal with non-matching light fixtures earns points in my book.
But the rest of the place was obnoxious.
There was no waitress, per-say. We had to wander to the bar to get drinks, food, water refills, etc. Freakin' annoying. They had no chicken wings, a fact they didn't tell us till after the fact (nevermind it was on their 'specials' board)... WAY after the fact. The fries would have been good had they been a little more cooked and a little less salted (steak fries can be tricky, I grant you). The chicken itself was a breaded, sliced up chicken breast rather then 'fingers' as the menu proclaimed. What killed the dish, though, is they sliced the breast BEFORE frying it. Thusly, the exposed meat dried out something fierce. Dipping sauces from a plastic, store-bought bottle?
...You lose. Good day, sir.
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This is a neat little place. Went here for a show last night and I was a little worried it'd be hard to find but bam, there it is, right off the exit from the bridge.
Skylark's atmosphere is one thing it really has going for it. It's laid-back, without trying too hard. West Seattle isn't my native neighborhood, nor one I've had a chance to frequent, but it seems like a good fit. Some of the tables are kind of small - if you're trying to fit two people over 6' tall at one dining device, be an asshole and take one of the 4-seaters for yourself.
Food is iffy. I wanted to order some hot wings, but word came back from the kitchen about 10 minutes later. "Sacrebleu! No hot wings!" So, chicken tenders it was, and they weren't bad from an admittedly beer-bent perspective. The outsides were crunchy and the insides were more chicken, less tender, and gratefully did not lead to any "Where on the chicken is the nugget?" thoughts. I am fully convinced those tenders were from a bird. The fries were oversalted, but edible.
I'd be interested in trying some of their less-fried dining options, but it's kind of a hoof. Not a bad place for a show, but I don't know if I'd expend the effort to go back otherwise.
I am a huge skylark fan! I loved the mac and cheese with an arrogant bastard. PERFECT COMBO!! Live music in the evenings is awesome. We loved the weekend brunch and will defiantly be back to check out trivia night. I gotta get myself a skylark tank top to show my love even more. :)
Friends of mine love Skylark for brunch becuase you can usually get a table with minimal wait - a rarity on weekends. The atmosphere was great. This seems like a killer place to see some live music.
Brunch is nothing fancy - pretty standard greasy spoon fare. Don't bother if you're on a diet, or you'll end up hungry and disappointed (like me). My side of fruit was really not much more than the garnish on the plates of others. Better to wait until you can really blow the calorie bank - the hash looked really good.
I actually have played at the Skylark a few times and have really enjoyed it. But what I'm REALLY reviewing is the food. I had the most amazing and gut wrenching mac and cheese EVER while I was there. I had the mac and cheese which you can customize (yeah, seriously! how awesome is that??), so I added jalapenos. Buyer beware, man...these people are serious about their jalapenos. It was hot, bubbly, cheesy, delicious and it set my insides ON FIRE!! I would go back and have it again but if your palate is sensitive I would recommend asking for half the jalapenos. Still, it was totally worth it.
I like the Skylark a bunch. The atmosphere is chill, service is fine and the food (just the right amount of choices) is great. They have got some of the crispiest, tastiest tater tots in town! I am also a fan of the Delridge Dip which is a french dip with cheese and come with thick gravy for dipping, yum! They've got a decent beer selection too. I will most definitely have to try their weekend brunch. The brunch menu looks tantalizing.
Great place to see music, hang out with friends and have a few cocktails. Staff is friendly and atmosphere is laid back for a club and the patrons are friendly. Food is pretty good for bar food.
Try the pretty pretty cocktails - they are very tasty.
So I'm just back from the Skylark (yeah, I know, it's early, but we got things to do in the morning and we ain't 21 any more) and I'm impressed with this little spot. I meet a friend and friends of friends at 8 and order a glass of wine. So far, so good. This place is cute and small. There can't be more than 20 tables, plus the bar, and as you're getting off the Delridge exit from the West Seattle bridge you'll miss it if you sneeze, blink or take a deep breath. Hang a very quick right into the small lot, but if you get there at 8 on a Saturday night you'll still find a parking spot. Music doesn't start until 9. And it's FREE. No cover charge. Then again, you're mostly hearing emerging and new bands and you're going to take your chances.
As usual I'm the last to arrive (I really try to be on time, I really do) and we order a Ghetto Platter. How can you not order something called a Ghetto Platter? It comes with a heap of tater tots, chicken fingers and 3 enormously battered onion rings. The rings almost looked burnt, but were greasily satisfying and the tots were tots. Meaning I ate a lot of 'em, 'cause they sure don't ordinarily live in my freezer and they're perfect in the right mood. Another glass of wine and then a grilled cheese sandwich, which would have been awesome if the toasted sourdough bread hadn't been sharp enough to shred my gums. Literally. It had a couple of cheeses, tomato and fresh basil and the inside rocked. A couple of people had the veggie sandwich, with eggplant, portabello mushroom and other veggies which they liked except for the identical complaint of bread so hard they almost bled.
As we were eating, they dimmed the paper lanterned, Frank Lloyd Wrightish lights and the music started. Acoustic palace this is not. The first band was Jodi Hates the World - but frankly, the world is never going to know if they don't do a better job of promotion. I only know the name because I went to the bathroom between sets, which is the only place I saw a lineup posted on the wall. The second band, Ryewire, handed out stickers and matchbooks so we'd know who they were. They rocked. The space didn't do them any credit and I'd really like to hear them in a place with better acoustics. They have a MySpace page which lists U2 as one of their influences, which is really funny, because one girl at our table said it looked like the guitarist was channeling The Edge. I don't know if you can channel someone who is still alive, but sure enough... They don't list Blue Oyster Cult as an influence, but I heard some riffs that took me straight back to a 3 month period of 11th grade when I literally wore down the grooves of Cultosaurus Erectus. Anyway, they play the Crocodile Cafe on Sept. 10th and I'd recommend checking them out. They have to sound better there. The Skylark is just too small for great sound. It seemed like they should have turned the volume down a notch and the bass up a notch.
That said, it was still a fun place to hang and eat and listen - though when a band is playing it's too loud for much conversation. The crowd is diverse, from what looked like the mom and dad of one of the drummers to the utilikilt guy and people from the 'hood dropping by for a drink. You won't find the ultra hip or the ultra drunk. You might find a band you want to hear more of. If you go with friends, you'll find yourself a good time. I hope this place is sustainable but never too crowded because I plan to be there a lot.
This place gets a nod for kitschy-ness. They were open during the big snow storm of '08. They SHOULD get 5 stars just for that. I walked down and had a great... chunky good bloody mary and a piece of the quiche of the day. The quiche was disappointing, soggy crust, chunky, slimy, greasy filling. This dish was destined to be some kind of scramble. The crust was a total loss and quiche custard wasn't in the cook's repetoire. However! The service was friendly and great.. the drink was wonderful adn the atmosphere was just fun. I'd go back for drinks and live music. I think I saw a tater-tot dish on the menu.. someone should alert the Seattle PI food writer.. I hear she loves tater tots.
Twice Daily Happy Hour
Seattle, WA
1/2 Price Wine
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Arts & Entertainment
Neighborhood: Queen Anne
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Ballard
Category: Dive Bars
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