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Go it for the ambiance, service, and to splurge...it's a great date place. Everyone dresses up, it's one of those places that was definitely worth the effort. Service is top-notch without being pretentious in this classy and upscale waterside restaurant. Among the dinner tables, there are some cozy half moon shaped 2-seater booths on the side and the live music of the talented pianist playing tunes will add to your experience.
Don't go if you're strapped on cash. Seafood was great don't get me wrong, but you could probably find a better bargain elsewhere if you're just going for the seafood (Salmon cost $38, and nearly $60 for 2 large King Crab legs). Reason for my overall 4-star rating.
The BEST food item of the night was definitely the rich and tasty Crab Mac & Cheese with black truffle oil. A side dish for $18 that I would return for.
Fun Points: Tableside things are always amusing. Dishes that require tableside preparation are the Spinich Salad and Caesar Salad, also there was some kind of flaming tower desert that was popular (?).
Excellent service: 5-stars is respectfully due. WSG took us in with only a 30 min notice for a 2 person reservation on a Saturday night. My mom and I showed up completely underdressed and still we received SUPER service (we were headed in our comfy clothes to the Crab Pot, but were turned off because it was hellishly busy).
Note: Valet parking is $7 in the building. Or limited street parking is also available.
Conclusion: Next time I'll be sure to dress up and head to their beautiful bar, order the crab mac&cheese with a glass of wine, and check out their other side dishes. I'm sure I would be full and pleased.
This review is not likely totally fair. First, I ate here with a group that had rented the entire place out for the evening, so we only had two choices for dinner. Second, I do not like seafood at all. The group also had smartly enough limited the liquor selection, so that also was an unfair strike.
The place is nicely decorated and is in a great location by the water. The service was excellent. The salad that was served was very dry. The filet was pretty good, but not great. My friends who were with me had a much better experience, but then again they love seafood.
It is worth it to visit if you are a seafood fan. It is a bit pricey, but the combination of food and environment make it worth a go around.
Waterfront Seafood Grill was recommended to us by our concierge and then again by a good friend that I trust. Oh man did they deliver.
Be prepared to never be guaranteed seating by the window even if you have reservations with a request. Also, be open to the fact that this is old school formal. Please picture this: The crowd is older, much older, dinner jacket, piano playing tunes, formal staff, business meeting chairs, and well all around classy.
We decided it would be our splurge dinner during our time in Seattle. We dressed up ( there is a dress code, although I saw a table with tshirt and jeans and flip flops. They were in the restaurant so maybe they arent strict, to each is own). Our waiter was in a dapper uniform. We had lovely service the entire night with great recommendations. Lets just say he had his own business card. DAMNNNN I suppose this is to request to sit in his section if you loved his service. Considering he gets 20% of your bill as a tip, I think this is a superb idea.
The food. Delicious, impressive, comforting and again, CLASSY ( with a Jersey accent please).
We ordered some great wine, dungeness crab salad, a dozen oysters followed by another dozen oysters. So you think were crazy right? YES. Happy to admit to it. While buzzed and probably loopy from the first batch, we ordered another. We were glazed over from the affects. Fun and incredibly delicious. Probably the best oysters we had the entire trip.
W also ordered the platter for two which was more like a platter for four which was a great great deal. For $150 you get lobster mashed potatos, crab, scallop, salmon, clams, asparagus and mussles. We kept eating and eating but it wouldnt finish.
After 2 hours of dining, we ordered the creme brule which was good. The baked alaska is a very popular dessert which we think people order of course, just for the presentation. When everyone is ordering it right and left in the restaurant, everyone else wants it. But I think it was something like $30 so nevermind.
We left happy, tipsy, full and lighter in the wallet. It came out to about $130 per person with tax and tip which is great for an upscale restaurant. Go for the platter!
I would recommend this place for any formal occasion. Cant wait to return!
A true dining experience. Stunning interior and spectacular views of the water. Mouth-watering dishes. Spectacular service. Coming from LA, it was welcoming surprise to walk into a restaurant that was not at all trendy, but sophisticated, warm, and elegant.
The menu was fantastic -- everything sounded so delicious, so in true foodie form, we ate half the menu. Crab cocktail, variety of oysters, bisque, crab cakes, shrimp, lobster, scallops, truffle mac and cheese, and lobster mashed potatoes.
The oysters were remarkably fresh and sweet. The crab cocktail was a delight -- huge chunks of fresh crab. The bisque was excellent.
The sides of crab mac and cheese and lobster mashed potatoes were AMAZING. It sounded so perfect on the menu that the slightest mistake in execution could have easily ruined it, but they were perfect! Generous bits of crab, truffle, and lobster in each bite -- I was in heaven.
The lobster was perfectly cooked. I didn't love the scallops, but my buddy gobbled them. Throughout all of this, our waitstaff was spot on and great about refreshing utensils (I am totally neurotic about this), refilling glasses of wine, clearing plates at the right time, etc.
It wasn't a cheap meal by any means, but it was an unforgettable one. Can't WAIT to be back!
Made a return visit to Seattle, and yes the Waterfront Grille is still very good. Made dinner reservations for a Friday night. Was greeted by 2 friendly greeters and shown to our table.
I like the booths for a nice dinner and some semi-privacy, although with the nice weather, it was tempting to sit outside.
Decor is very upscale with a live person playing the piano. Very nice touch!
Server was very helpful on wine selection pairings and very good throughout the meal.
We had the dungeness crab and avocado salad with yogurt dressing that just was "over the top". So tasty!
For meals we had the fresh halibut and salmon. Both cooked to perfection. We added the corn and lobster mashed potatoes. Nice servings of each. The fish was just wonderful and flavorful, and the side dishes were prepared very nicely with just the right amount of spices.
For dessert, we did the baked Alaska for two...flaming and all! Had some nice WA state wines to compliment.
Another great meal at a restaurant right on the Sound.
Pricey for sure, but certainly worth it for a special occasion.
Still my top choice for seafood in Seattle.
This is most definitely a 5 star restaurant in Seattle. Located at the end of pier 70, the view is… Read more »
Great setting, great bar. The food and the price is above average, so it's a clean mix. The service staff is fantastic. The Ahi is always perfect. The other seasonal fish including the salmon and halibut is always prepared well. I feel that their wine selection is fairly limited, so we bring our own. This is a great place to take out of town visitors (the view is second to none) as well as business associates.
If you really want the experience, go after sunset and order the Baked Alaskan.
My husband and I love to try new, quirky places for dinner... but also love an over-the-top dinner from time to time, too. Especially when we can get a babysitter these days! Well last weekend was an over the top mood - so we decided to go back to Waterfront. We've been many times throughout the years and have honestly never been dissapointed. Once again we were treated like gold all night - and not in that 'cheeseball' way (we've all experienced that right?)
This was first class all the way. Everything cooked perfectly, wonderful wine selection which was 'guaranteed' by our server...(who was very thoughtful and engaging). This is a place for special occasions, tourists (we are local but saw many tourists having a great time), etc. The happy hour sounds great too - we'll have to try it! This is a special restaurant with amazing food and service. As good as it gets!
We spent a TON here. Which was fine, as it was our last night in town. But you cannot get a bottle of wine for less than $60 here...just a warning to the money-conscious yelpers out there. I had skimmed reviews beforehand, and nobody mentioned that, so I was a little taken aback (but then, per usual, sucked it up and took one to the pocketbook in the name of good food).
The food was solidly above-average. I had a halibut and scallop ceviche as an appetizer and it was good, but not the best I've had. Fiance loved sampling the local oysters, and thoroughly enjoyed his GIGANTIC crab legs entree. I had a steak as my entree which was decent (being from Chicago, I have no idea why I ordered a steak in Seattle, but oh well).
One suggestion - they push this lobster macaroni and cheese, but it was not very good. It was basically lobster chunks with penne pasta and a sprinkling of Parmesan on the top.
All in all, we had a lovely evening and enjoyed good food and a great view. And we really liked the piano player's sense of humor (played a funeral march for a moment after the birthday song).
Frank and I went there for our 1st wedding anniversary on last Friday, in fact we had our wedding reception there exactly 1 year ago! We love this restaurant for all aspect of the dining experience. If you want to impress someone with Seattle's beauty and great northwest cuisine, this is the place. Not only the service and seafood are great, I would rank their steak higher than The Metropolitan's.
I had dunginess crab salad with avocado to start and Frank had halibut and scallop ceviche. Then we both had steaks and shares welted spinach and lobster mashed potato. For desert, we shared a peach cobbler. Everything is outstanding, I don't really have a thing to pick on except maybe the vinegar in spinach is a little stronger than I expected (but Frank loves it) and although the ice cream on cobbler was awesome but will probably stick with the famous volcano desert next time. My absolute favor is the lobster mashed potato and my crab salad, just thinking about it makes my mouth water!
The view of the shore and sunset is amazing, and if you are on a date, take a short walk to Olympic Sculpture Park or along the waterfront after dinner,it will be the most romantic date ever! This is not a cheap place to dine, it's easily a 60-100 meal per person so make sure you go there with someone special or save it for special occassions.
I really liked this place. The decoration is very nice, plenty of parking, the bar is great, the food is memorable, the view fabulous. They have live music with a piano and even has a deck where you could eat in warm nights. So why not a five? Too loud. If you are going with friends, celebrate with coworkers and you are OK with splurging (is expensive), great choice. For a date or business meeting...too difficult to keep conversation. I would still consider it for a business meeting ONLY if I can reserve one of the rooms for private dining...in which case probably will get my "5". If on a date, well, it depends...certainly is expensive and looks upscale, but for conversation you will have to talk quite loud. You could, however, come here for the bar where you know will be loud and can still be romantic by stepping out in the deck. The bar is big and comfortable and, in my opinion, better suited for chatting. Yes, I am a woman, and I need to be able to talk :-)
While visiting friends in Seattle, I wanted to enjoy a special dinner. My friend Scott suggested the Waterfront, then said, "no wait, that's too expensive...." Which made me extremely intrigued. I looked over the menu on their website before we arrived, so that I would know exactly what to get.
We were approached by two different waiters, and I think they may have fought over getting the table, as it was a rather slow Friday evening. However, we were approached quickly upon being seated. I thought the slightly salty herb bread was delicious, as was the triple cream whipped butter. It tasted like heaven, and I really had to stop myself from licking the butter out of the container. But those are my private demons...
We each began with a soup, I had the Seafood Chowder which was creamy with a subtle flavor. But my dining companion ordered the Lobster Bisque. I wanted to trade so badly!!! It was slightly sweet with a smoky spicy tinge. Quite delicious. He ended up using some bread to wipe the bowl clean! :)
Then, I had the duck, and he had the halibut. Both were adequately cooked and served in a pleasant way. But the crowning jewel of the meal was the crab/truffle mac and cheese. It had about 4 oz of crab on top of it. Creamy and delicious!
We then finished the meal with the ice cream topped bread pudding. Very decadent without being too large.
My one complaint was that it took a full 20 minutes for us to recieve our bill. It wasn't a very busy night, so we didn't understand why that was. Also, the waiter called me "mrs." when I paid the bill, which was slightly annoying. Hey, I can pay for myself and a gentleman without him being my husband.....I have a good job....hmmm....I might be too sensitive....
It is a romantic spot with a great view of the sound. I will remember it as a great place to go on a special date with someone.
For seafood and atmosphere combined, I haven't found many better places in Seattle. The one thing to note is that it does come at a price. It is pretty tough to walk out of here without paying a lot of money, so be warned.
The fish is all fresh, and it is usually well prepared, altough I have gotten a dish or two that has been overcooked, but they are more than willing to correct any problems. The waitstaff is attentive and helpful, and they are even willing to customize your meal to make you happy.
If you are being cost concious either skip this place or try out their happy hour (every day 4-6 PM). They have a killer deal on oysters for $1 a piece and they usually have good wines for around $5 a glass.
In the summer I recommend trying to get a seat outside. If you get cold at night, they will even give you blankets, and the view is worth it.
This was my first expensive restaurant experience when I first moved to Seattle, and the bar has held high ever since. The atmosphere when you walk in, it's like royalty... Not only that, I even saw a few Sonics players dine there...
Now the food, so my favorite is the king crab leg... it's huge and yummy. Next is the scallops, nowhere else would I find scallops that tender but still feel "cooked"... Also surprisingly, the steak was really good as well, better than most other steak houses.
Not big on the volcano thing, but it's definitely cool for show. i guess if you bring a friend new in town you have to show them that, but otherwise the taste is pretty normal.
I remember I kept going back there every other week until I went almost broke and had to cut back.... now, I appreciate it even more when I only go like once a year, haha.
Lobster mashed potatoes, crab macaroni and cheese, chipotle lime corn, copper river salmon. This place blows my face off every time. The service is slavish and witty. The view is nice on the pier. The desserts can be mildly disappointing for the price but it doesn't even matter; go to Dilettante afterwards. Great martinis and the live piano choices are often surprisingly eclectic. Ambiance. I really can't think of any hyperbole that does justice to how good this place is and how excited I become thinking about it.
I have to say Waterfront Seafood Grill continues to ROCK as my favorite restaurant to drop big dining dollars in Seattle (plan on your wallet being at least a couple hundred bucks lighter for two.) I like the space, color coordination, and subtle yet creative NW decor. The Puget Sound views are to oohh and aahh over. The outside patio for warm-weather dining and drinks (oh the cantaloupe martinis!) is nice. The menu is very NW, well-prepared with fresh ingredients, and well-presented. The desserts are fabulous, especially the volcano. Oh and their oh-so-creamy-and-flavorful ice creams are made for them. The service, graciousness, and etiquette of service is *old school* and second to none. Enjoy the piano player while you dine. Romantic and intimate. Happy Hour is between 4 and 6 p.m. in the bar. Give them your email and they'll send you a $25 voucher for your birthday or anniversary.
Happy Hour: 4:00 - 6:00ish (when the piano player begins to play, HH is ova!!)
I grew up in a restaurant and have been to all kinds of restaurants for over 40 years. I'm picky… Read more »
One word...never-mind, 3 words: "Lobster Mashed Potatoes, aka LMP". These are the best I've ever had.
This is an elegant restaurant on Pier 70 with a view which will knock your socks off. The service is impeccable and the Gazpacho is a great way to start dinner. (Don't go crazy with appetizers due to the LMP-see above).
I have had seafood every time...it's hard to order steak in a setting like this, and every seafood dish has been excellent. Their wine list is a Wine Spectator recognized variety of Reds and Whites, many of which come from the Northwest.
Desserts look really good, and there's a great cheese plate. If you can eat this, you skipped the LMP, though.
Been here a few times since the Yelp Elite event -- well, once technically immediately following the YEE. We were hungry and look! It's the closest restaurant around. Sat in the bar and ordered some bar grub. First, love the view. Kind of a no brainer. During the warm season, they also open up the deck which draws a big crowd. Second, LOVE LOVE LOVE the french fries with black truffle aioli. I can put down a plate of that in about 15 minutes while chatting and drinking beer. It's awesome and it's delicious. The night of the YEE, I also ordered the lamb sliders. One of my favorite variants on sliders that I've had in recent memory. The lamb was really juicy -- it may have had some help from the feta cheese that was stuffed inside it. It may have been a little bit on the salty side especially combined with the fries. My partner in crime ordered the roasting chicken breast. She had the similar feedback about her dish -- it was also a little too salty. Otherwise the flavors were awesome and cooked really well.
I would give them 5 stars, but I haven't dined in the main dining room yet. Also it may have just been the dishes we ordered, but things were a bit on the salty side. Would I come back? Heck yeah. But only if somebody else is picking up the bill. This isn't a cheap restaurant, but I'd definitely snack out in the bar.
MINOR UPDATE: Just had the corn side dish. Holy crud is it good! I'm sitting at my desk and eating the left overs right now.
Impressive. That's the best word I can describe my experience here. The service was top notch starting from the friendly hostess to our kick-ass waiter Matt O. (I highly recommend him).
Atmosphere- Romantic and tasteful. Definitely a place for special occasions. You know you are about to have a unique experience once you walk through the front doors.
Food- WOW! Had the the "Seafood Indulgence", Lamb, and truffle mac n cheese. AMAZING! Everything was cooked and plated to perfection. The seafood was incredibly fresh with absolute perfect cuts. I knew Waterfront was owned by the same people who run El Gaucho, so I was kind of curious to see their execution of fine meats. Long story short, it was just as good if not better considering the beautiful view and setting of Waterfront.
Drinks- Do yourself a favor and come here for a few cocktails. The bartenders here are no joke and you will not be disappointed with anything you order.
The $100 appetizer is awesome.
All the seafood is so fresh and tasty.
Bring a couple friends to share the dishes.
For our last evening in Seattle, my friends and I decided to splurge and
dine at the Waterfront. We had eaten at several excellent places in the
city but wanted one with a view and the Waterfront definitely rates highly on that score. We arrived just in time for an amazing sunset display, on a beautiful warm evening as May drew to a close. We sat inside, but near a broad expanse of window so we were able to enjoy the water view while sipping out cocktails. I was a bit disappointed with my sazerac - having gone to nursing school in New Orleans, I find many places just can't duplicate the drinks of my youth...or have I just forgotten what they were like as my brain cells degenerate???
I opted for the seafood chowder which was superb- a cream based chowder replete with shrimp, salmon, halibut, clams. I then had a
yellow beet and arugula salad, with pancetta, blue cheese and walnuts. Excellent! My final dish was the seafood brochette ( though I was tempted by the Seafood Indulgence priced at $100 ). Having recently lost my job of 21 years in massive budget cuts, I restrained myself and
was more than happy with the incredible feast of halibut, salmon, prawns and scallops.
My friends shared an arugula, beet salad, halibut and garlic mashed pototatoes. While we contemplated dessert, we chose not to even look at the menu, knowing our inability to withstand temptation and the fact that we were already laying on the table, swearing off food until next week.
Literally the best service I've ever had in entire life. The food was amazing. $100 for fillet Mignon and lobster but worth every penny.
Oh and the guy playing the piano was playing Nine inch nails, Tool, Nirvana and Jane's addiction songs! I made sure we tipped him 40 bucks!
Super classy, go when you can afford it.
My first one star review comes to a place with food that is actually OK. But $36 for an 8oz piece of salmon? That isn't even cooked well?
I've never imagined that after ordering a $36 piece of fish that Id be hungry still.
No worries lets see a dessert menu, right? Ohh well if your a grey hair on a cruise to the pearly gates you may want to try the BAKED ALASKA for $25. I'm seriously not even kidding. THEY HAVE A BAKED ALASKA FOR $25. I wish I were kidding, because that would be the greatest joke I've ever told, and I'm a funny bastard. Not even joking, I wouldn't pay $10 for a baked alaska. Its a piece of chocolate cake (flour less, think brownie) and a scoop of ice cream covered in meringue. If that doesn't work for you, grab a 3oz pour of Dolce for $38...or stop at the liquor store on your way home and get a 375ml bottle for $50.
I spend way more money dining out than I should...but this place is unreal. If you work at Microsoft and still have an expense card (I'm guessing you don't considering they laid off 5000 people last week) come here and overpay for an average meal.
Ohh yeah, the bar is lame too.
Fantastic happy hour! M-F, 4-6 pm. I tried it out for the first time with my sister and our good friend Jen. Bar menu is half-price during happy hour...such delicious choices like halibut & scallop ceviche, ahi tuna and salmon tartare, greek lamb sliders. For $3.50, you can get a very generous helping of fries in black truffle aioli. It's a large space, and beautifully arranged and decorated. I ordered a Sauv Blanc and my sis and Jen ordered the HH white (a Chilean Chardonnay). Oysters on the half-shell are $1 each so many oysters were ordered, and very much enjoyed. I highly recommend the happy hour, it's affordable and satisfies the taste buds.
This restaurant is located off the pier in Puget sound. Very nice panoramic view! I order the northwest crab cakes, ahi sandwich with fires, and chicken Alfredo pasta.
Crab cakes was not bad at least its real crab not imitation lol
the ahi sandwich was ok not that appetizing.
Last but not least the pasta was much better then the rest.
Would i come here again? Yeah probably, try something else on the menu.
The view is probably the most exceptional reason why i would come again!
Waterfront is consistently disappointing. I regret not taking pictures of our food from our second return. We didn't have the best experience the first time around, but decided to give it another chance. Unfortunately the second time around was pretty much the same caliber of a dining experience as the first.
Our waiter was pushy and unattentive. We skipped an appetizer this time and went for our entrees. Last time we found that an app, two entrees and dessert was a bit overkill. This time I tried the scallops and my guy got the duck, the same exact dish as he had last. Our waiter was annoyingly cocky, and he kept trying to push me to order a side dish. I know there's nothing wrong with suggesting something else, I get that's their job, but ask once and leave it alone.
We had seats in the main dining area and had a great view, so that was nice better than my previous experience. Our food came and our waiter took off. My scallops were raw in the middle, as were my guy's duck. I know duck is supposed to be medium to medium rare, but it was so rare that it was chewy and hard to eat. The waiter's eyes about popped out of his head when he came back and saw how rare the duck was. At that point though my guy got tired of waiting for him to come back and decided to just eat it anyway. My scallops were quite delicious though, perhaps the most flavorful I've ever had. The thing that really annoyed me though was the messy and oily pile of greens in the middle of the plate. I would be hard pressed to ever call it a salad.
We decided to get dessert after we finished. Our waiter went missing for a good bit of time and then came back around. I chose the rhubarb tart, due to his recommendation. The tart was bland and flavorless. It lacked the proper amount of sugar and the ice cream was really bland as well; vanilla ice cream bland? I don't know how, but it was. My guy tasted it and wouldn't touch it again.
My main problem with Waterfront is that it's not as classy of a place as it tries to be. I feel like the decor is outdated and has a cheesy cruise ship quality to it. Also both times I've been there, I have had food that was not executed properly. Dishes that cost almost $40 each should be cooked properly, and consistently spot on. Also, just because I don't order an appetizer and two sides along with my dinner, doesn't mean I should be considered a cheap diner and be ignored by our waiter. I did order a glass of Prosecco and my guy had a couple mixed drinks. Our dinner was still pretty expensive, but I feel that we were treated as cheap customers instead of appreciated diners.
We didn't get seated until 8:35 after arriving at 8:10 for 8:15 dinner reservations. When it… Read more »
DON'T MAKE ME SLAP YOU!!!
Ambiance = Lacking. If you like the feeling of large commercial hoteliers chainsawing romance in search of profit you'll love the openness of the space like you would walking into an unfortunate Las Vegas Casino
Wine = Self-service. Don't take their recommendations seriously. Our French white was so unlike the taster's description it was laughable. It was more like a pino gris or riesling that I was pissed I didn't go for savion blanc. Whatever! I'm not a wine snob! I'll get my 2 buck Chuck from TJs ...but I know better! Don't give me a Hershey's bar and tell me it's like the best Swiss. Lies!
Food = Not close to what you pay for. It's not that it's super expensive; it's pricey. And it's not that the food is bad; it's not. It's just that IT ALL FALLS SHORT.
Staff = Feigned Snottery not seen since childhood when slightly older children infantilize those 2 years their junior. My my....
Other patrons = Older rather than younger and you don't want to stay on that train too long.
Valets are nice. Ha. I bet they're used to people wanting to leave fast, fast, fast.
I'm a huuuuuge naysayer when it comes to a place like the Waterfront. All the old rich people like it, all the out-of-towners on expense accounts frequent it, it's located in tourist-traffic utopia. It's probably like a supercharged chain restaurant with a sweet view. There's no way it's that good.
OOPS. Yo - it's that good.
In addition to the regular menu which made us salivate just to read - the new chef is running a Mushroom menu. It was like mushroom porn. We had: shiitake spring rolls, purrrrrrfectly crispy served steaming warm; a matsutake mushroom broth soup with cod and tofu (slurped the bowl dry); a creamy mushroom soup with duck confit (commence dying of pleasure); grilled salmon on black trumpet mushrooms with tiny bits of lobster thrown on just in case you need more hedonism; black cod on oyster mushrooms (?maybe? can't recall the 'shroom exactly but they were delish).
We drank the BEST bottle of white for only $68 - Nicolas Joly Les Clos Sacres. Joly is a rare find on any wine list - so we were really psyched to pair it up with the mushroom mania. The wine list is really thoughtful and not crazy overpriced. Yay
And we were either the last table, or the second to last table to leave. We would've never known it because the service was so gracious and hospitable (Sarah West!) it felt like we were welcome to stay until sunrise - which would've been awesome because the view really does showcase the height of Seattle's kickass-ness. Not a bad table in the place, btw.
It's spendy though - keep that in mind. But sometimes you just want to spend lots of money and have an over-the-top outstanding experience, ya know?
I officially hate this restaurant. I'm never going back. I have been a number of times over the past couple of years (for friends' special occasions), and the service is consistently horrendous. Here is a nit-picky list of the things that have gone wrong (and without exception, at least two of these always happen):
-soup cold
-forgotten salad
-wrong salad
-wrong entree
-failure to acknowledge the special occasion which the restaurant inquired about when reservations were being made
The list would go on if I were in a worse mood right now. The take-home here is that - while none of these complaints really is that bad - at the Waterfront, it's always paired with a server who rarely comes by the table and cares little about your dining experience. So you end up having to eat something you either don't like or didn't order in the first place.
Let me just add that I worked in the service industry throughout college; there's nothing that irks me more than a fussy, negative guest. I am not that person. Under normal circumstance, I could care less if a place accidentally brings me the wrong salad. But when the bill is $300+, my service standards are proportionally raised.
awesome view, awesome cocktails, great service.
only reason that it's not a 5 star review is that althought to food was good, it was nothing i would return for. i like more inventive and out of the box, and this is more of a classic seafood restaurant. however, everything was perfectly prepared and yummy.
a great evening out, thanks to the waterfront!
Praise the flying spaghetti monster - this is a fantastic seafood restaurant! I've been coming here since it opened, probably about once/year, and each time I'm reminded of why I like it, and that I should go more often (and that I should find a wealthy benefactor). Definitely a place you should be dressed up to go, although it's not as fancy as Canlis (no jacket/tie required). But I like getting dressed up, and so it's nice to have a place that respects my need to validate my Nordstrom purchases and east coast sensibilities.
My wife and I just went here for a sorely deserved date night, and since we had a big gift certificate we splurged on the "Seafood Bachannalia" - which is a giant plate filled with salmon, shrimp, crab, lobster tail, scallops over lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus. Yes, we were both stuffed afterwards, but each item was delicious in its own right (not just a bunch of cheap seafood thrown onto a plate) and it was definitely worth the cost. They were out of the wine that we ordered, but the Sommelier made a different recommendation, staying within the price range of the original wine we chose, which I thought was respectful. We finished off the meal with a caramel chocolate bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. My wife had to convince me to get this, but it was fantastic. Not your grandma's bread pudding (no offense bubbie).
Summing it up - Great food and drinks, great service and great atmosphere (and great big bill). The location can't be beat, on the waterfront with almost nothing between the restaurant and Puget Sound. The decor has hardly aged a day, which is more than I can say for the ultra-modern, trend-of-the-moment restaurants that seem to catch everyone's attention for a second before closing.
When I think about all the times I've been here, either just with my wife, or with groups of 8, we've always been seated on or before my reservation, never been left hanging by faulty wait staff or servers, and never once received anything less than a perfectly cooked meal. You can even go here and just hang out in the enormous bar and enjoy an appetizer and some drinks if you don't want the full meal deal.
I also have to comment on the piano player (don't know his name) who ends up burrowing into my head with his eclectic mixture of old standards and re-imagined pop classics that always has me and my dinner guests trying to "name that tune". Nice touch that adds to the atmosphere.
Tip - Try to get a reservation here for July 4th, esp. near the window. It's a great place to eat, watch the fireworks from the deck/pier, and then finish with dessert.
To celebrate my mom's birthday the two of us went out to dinner at Waterfront. We were initially planning on El Gaucho but it turned out to be a really nice day and we wanted to go somewhere with a great view and with great food. We considered Palisades and Salty's but seeing as Waterfront has the same owners as El Gaucho we figured we'd be happy here. When it comes down to it, neither of us were happy. Happy doesn't even come close to describing our moods. Ecstatic? Eh.... a little closer, but we were about 239042304 steps past happy. You will be too, seriously.
When I called last minute to make sure they had seating available we were initially told there was plenty of seating but no window seats. Sad. However, we were very pleasantly seated by the window after a short wait. Score! The menu is slightly daunting mainly because they have so many choices, but also because everything is so expensive! It took us forever to decide on what we wanted and in the meantime we had some delicious cocktails. I had an awesome mojito and my mom had a White Cosmo. They were both winners.
We finally decide to split the crab cakes as an appetizer. They're certainly some of the more expensive crab cakes in the city, but they're probably the best. I think I saw a review somewhere that was complaining about how bland they taste. Sure the crab cakes aren't seasoned like crazy, but why would they? Crab is such a mellow taste and it drives me crazy when all I taste is other flavors. Thankfully, pretty much all you taste is crab. These little beauties are light in texture and flavor and heavy on crab. They manage to be rich without being heavy. The avocado that was served alongside added an even richer, creamier taste and texture. While close to $2 a bite, these crab cakes were worth every cent!
For an entree we both ordered the filet and wanted to transform them into a surf n' turf meal. We inquired with our very friendly, professional and helpful server who basically said we could add a few of anything to our steak. My mom chose to add three scallops while I went with the 8 oz Australian Lobster. We asked about the sides and how large they were and again, our server proved his awesomeness and said any of the sides could be halved. Sweeeeeeeeet. We decided to go with a half order of the Crab Mac and Cheese and a half order of the Green Beans. The filets came out insanely tender, were cooked to perfection and just may have been some of the best steak I've ever had. The lobster tail was so buttery, slightly sweet, creamy and lobstery! I can't really tell the difference between Maine Lobster and Australian Lobster, but oh well! I enjoyed it immensely. The scallops served with my mom's steak were cooked to perfection. They were hardly seasoned, but again, overly seasoned scallops bug me because it takes away from the subtle flavors! When it came to the sides, the Green Beans were only okay. Probably the least memorable item of the night. The Mac and Cheese, however, was the best thing of the night and perhaps even the best thing I've ever eaten. I've typically noticed there's such a small amount of crab served in "crab" mac and cheese but here it is piled on. There were probably equal parts crab to noodles. Craziness. It managed to be rich without being heavy and cheesy without masking the taste of the crab and al dente without being.... well, you know.... it was just a perfect dish.
For dessert we had the Emerald Volcano which easily gets the award for most entertaining dessert. I've had the Baked Alaska at Oceanaire and other restaurants, but it was so much more dramatic here! Our server played with the flaming liquor more and really just made it a show. I was impressed. The Espresso Ice Cream and the Chocolate Grand Marnier ice creams inside were also amazing.
While I've had individual dishes that were better than the dishes here, this just may be (on a whole) the best meal I've had. The view was absolutely amazing, the service was great and the food was amazing. Everything came to our table pipping hot and cooked perfectly. I've noticed some people commenting on the "slowness" of the service... while it wasn't fast, it wasn't necessarily slow... I would say it was leisurely. Why would I want my order taken quickly or my food brought out quickly? I was having a good conversation, enjoying the amazing view and eating the delicious food. This definitely isn't a place I would go to if I was under a time constraint, but I'll definitely be coming back for special occasions in the future (and by future, I mean near future... quick! Someone find something for me to celebrate!)
This is definitely a splurge location (we came here with 3 people, and it came out to nearly $160 per person), but if you ever find yourself with some extra cash, this is one of the best restaurants that I've come across. Try to come here on a warmer day since you'll have the ability to sit outside and watch the sunset. As a fair warning, this isn't really a romantic spot, but it's a great place to go if you're just looking for some good food.
Otherwise, the food is amazing and the wait staff is entertaining. If you're with a friend, try the seafood platter which is big enough for 2.
We've been to The Waterfront Grill several times already and have never been disappointed. When in the mood for a splurge, go there! Beautiful, over the top décor, impeccable service and awesome menu
After following the raves from my fellow yelpers I made reservations for my colleague visiting from France and myself. Not sure if we ate at the same restaurant as I will not visit this restaurant again for a VERY long time. It was expensive, poor service (who has ever seen a sommelier come over, rattle off things without seeing if the customer understands or has any questions, leaves, and never returns to see if what they did order worked out?).
The salmon and lobster mashed potatoes were OK but the wine was really poor, the service was very poor, and it was expensive. Better restaurants in Seattle with better service and better wine.
Okay, guys... here we go (rolls up sleeves, cracks knuckles...).
Hunny took me here for our one year anniversary. We both have very delicate palates (or like to think so, at least) and we watch a LOT of Food Network TV. That really means nothing, but i wanted to preface this review with a little "getting to know you" before i lash out on this restaurant.
The reason he took me here is because it is one of the most expensive restaurants in Seattle -- top 3 actually. Which, we thought, meant that it was the best of the best. That's right... we passed up The Met, El Gaucho (its sister restaurant) and even Palisade and Canlis in lieu of this waterfront "gem" that boasts an Australian Lobster tail for $80, Salmon for $40, and their cheapest bottle of Gewürztraminer for a whopping $90.
Impressive.
What WASN'T impressive, however, was everything about this restaurant.
Not to be a snob, but when my Hunny is forking out over $300 for one meal, i don't want to be:
a) Sitting next to a couple who are both wearing worn jeans, flip flops and hooded sweatshirts, who look like they just moseyed in from the souvenir shop at Pike Place Market (which, in fact, they did) while hunny is in a suit, I'm in a cocktail dress, and the servers are in tuxedos. T-A-C-K-Y.
b) Trying to snuggle up to Hunny at a restaurant where there is ZERO ambiance -- this place is like a "fancy" hotel restaurant circa 1983 -- teal and magenta swirled carpet... weird acorn-type chandeliers that don't match ANY of the rest of the decor -- cheesy decor, at that - wood mixed with metal mixed with carpet mixed with @#$%*. Gordon Ramsay guy would have a field day with this place. The least cozy and romantic eatery I've ever been to... it's all very open - I can see the couple at the far end of the restaurant... probably so that everyone gets a view of the water, but this really makes for an impersonal experience.
c) Seated in a booth directly in front of the area where they sort silverware -- the entire meal, Hunny and i were having to talk over the *clink clink* of their wait staff dumping the silver onto the counter and sorting it. Really? R-U-D-E.
d) Using a bathroom that feels like i'm at the airport, or at a movie theater. I've seen some COOL bathrooms in my day, and this one just felt STALE.
e) Unenthusiastic about the flavor in the food! I couldn't believe it! For what we paid, i expected to be WAY more impressed. I didn't realize how flavorless my swordfish was until Hunny pointed it out. All i really could taste was the mango chutney on top (which was awesome - but it's mango - how could it not be?). The side vegetables were bathing in butter (who needs that much butter? corn is AWESOME just steamed and spiced up; i don't understand why people feel the need to drench everything in oil and butter to make it "good").
f) Waiting for 20 minutes for the cab they called for us after dinner. Hunny and i finally gave up and decided to walk down to Western Ave and hail one ourselves.
I know. I hate negativity (see my other posts, almost all 5 stars!) and I apologize, but I want to warn anyone looking for a really romantic restaurant, this is NOT IT. I'm very sad because we had very high hopes for this place. But much like the ambiance at El Gaucho, this place felt more like an outdated hotel restaurant. They started packing up the tables and chairs in front of us at 10pm, while Hunny and i were still enjoying our main courses. I'm shocked they didn't bring the vacuum out and start cleaning up while we were sipping our after dinner coffee at 10.30pm on a SATURDAY. To top it all off, Hunny's and my feet were SO SWOLEN at the end of the meal due to the salt, that we both had to head home and change shoes before we could continue the night. Ouch.
A couple things we loved:
The New Zealand Gewürztraminer was PHENOMENAL. Absolutely awesome, and the wine guy really knew his stuff. Was fun to see them light the flaming desserts -- Emerald City Volcano -- on fire, especially when they would catch the carpet on fire too.
I think that Hunny and I, being from the city (Queen Anne) and spoiled with restaurants like Wolf, Tango, Via Tribunali, Txori and other lovely quaint restaurants as our neighbors, this one just didn't measure up. This place just failed to meet any of our expectations. But, as I said before, I never write off a restaurant after just one visit. Perhaps we will go again and sit outside this time, or in the bar (away from the silverware station). But there's no way I'm letting my darling pay that much again for such a mediocre experience. I'd much rather spend half the amount at Tavolata and have a world-class experience.
Was out here last weekend for my girl B-day, expectation was really high simply becuz it's the sister restaurant of El Gauchos
Service = We had outside seating and a blanket was offer as the sun was setting, that was a nice touch.
Ambiance = Actually below expectation, feel a bit more open then i anticipated, could be keeping space open so everyone gets a view. A bit more attention to detail would go a long ways here.
Food = Over salted, an my steak was over cooked. Flavor was good, if you like beef jerky
Price = $$$$
Crowd = Way casual, almost surprising how casual it is
Personal Favorite = all the waiters had on sunglasses, haha
Worst = not sure, either why i chose this restaurant, or what made it so expensive
Meal for two = 210
Final Say = Stay at the bar
I wanted to get in one nice, Seattle seafood dinner in the couple days I was in the city. Wow did Waterfront Seafood Grill disappoint. At $$$$ the dishes are tasty but unremarkable, the service is sub par, and the ambiance is... well... ridiculous. Let me elaborate.
- $35+ for my fish entree (sides extra $) in a rich tasty sauce, topped with a salad of Chanterelles that the kitchen failed to wash (sandy bites, yum!)... $10 greens (drenched in olive oil because that's what a poor chef does when he wants to make anything taste good for undiscerning palates)
- The entire staff has mastered transparently false hospitality. Imagine what service is like at most Subways + grudging smiles.
- The man at the piano played hits by Nirvana and Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" along with other 90s hits. This was awesome, but totally strange for a place pretending to be upscale. The clientele did not seem to mind, probably because they were distracted by the dessert-turned Benihana fire show that the restaurant has branded the "Emerald City Volcano." I saw three tables order it... its a baked Alaska (cake/ice cream, covered in a baked meringue) that a waiter pours napalm all over, and then everyone in the dining room goes ga ga and decides they must have one for their table.
Okay....I am on a business trip and this restaurant came highly recommended by a friend. While I was there, I learned that this place was where "Real World-Seattle" was filmed at....NICE PLACE!
The area was very impressive and a great atmosphere. The Waterfront shared the feeling that was outside. The beautiful view of the waterfront (excuse the pun...) can make anyones evening!
The dishes that I ordered were the Calamari appetizer, Hawaiian Monchong Fish Dish, green beans, sweet corn, and the complimentary wine with dinner. Oh so good!
The staff is very helpful, food is wonderful and the view....breathtaking! I want to give this place a four star rating due to the high prices, but let's face it...they are not on the cheapest real estate on Pier 70. Five stars from me...WAHOO!!
DH & I disagree on the "fantastic-ness" of this restaurant.
While it is one of my favorites, I think it is over-priced for what you get (food, service, ambiance). Canlis is is not, yet its prices are in the same ballpark.
Everything is pretty great - but at the end of the night, with a $300+ bill, I have to ask myself it I was blown away...and really the answer is "no, but it was really nice."
Food is great quality, lots of options & some of the best seafood (IMHO) in Seattle. The service is friendly & prompt, but I don't put it at the same unassuming, smooth, super-experienced level of Canlis.
Two thumbs up for the piano player, we do always have something to talk about with the interesting music he plays throughout the night. And it is one of the best places I have ever been on New Years Eve & Fourth of July!
Good food.. not great.. Nice Place.. Nice View.. Way Way over priced. I guess it's a good place to go if you want to impress someone by showing them that you have no regard for your money.
The baked Alaska dessert was good but everything else was gourmet but not that impressive. I can't say the food was bad because it wasn't it just lacked that "wow" factor. I'd save my money and go to Crush instead.
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Neighborhood: Belltown
Steak & Crabfest
Seattle, WA
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Seafood
Seattle, WA
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Belltown
Category: Steakhouses
Seattle, WA
Category: Seafood
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