Ivar’s Salmon House

So I’ve been anticipating this dinner literally throughout the entire week! And it did not disappoint!
First of all, I simply LOVED the interior design of this place. It’s really spacious, classy with strong style. We got a table by the window where we get to see the stunning view when we dine… it was a real plus!
Secondly, the service was great even though tips were already included in the price. I mean they weren’t slacking off cause they don’t expect us to give extra tips: p The server was very patient with us even when I bombard him with endless questions and demands! Heehee
Most importantly — - the food was great. Well, technically speaking the bread and wine was mediocre at most, but the bread was free and comes with huge portions. So you really can’t expect too much. The seafood was pretty good! And we got really stuffed… so we didn’t order dessert. Mehh
Overally I’m pretty satisfied for the dining experience and I think it’s a great deal consider all the service, the environment and the food. So, thumbs up!

WOWZA for the Sunday brunch buffet is all I can say!!! Researching the city for a nice Sunday brunch and this place kept popping up… so glad we went.
First of all, the buffet is VERY extensive with a tier one buffet, tier two buffet and a massive dessert selection. Absolutely everything we consumed (and we put away some food) was good, great or UHmazing — like the prime rib, au jus and fresh grated horseradish!
Second, our servers were top notch and friendly — much appreciated and added to our dining experience; thanks Brett and Lindell! And the hostess Ricki rocked too.
The price per person was $ 39 which included drinks (water, tea, coffee) and gratuity — so very worth it!

Happy hour from 3pm to close every day?! Why da heck wouldn’t you come here! We got their steamed mussels (½ size for 6.50 $), steamed clams (½ size for 6.50 $), Ivar’s clam chowder bowl (5.5 $), and fried northwest platter (cod, clams, prawns, fries for 15.5 $), all from the happy hour menu. The steamed mussels and clams both were beautifully fresh and sat in a mouth-​gasm-​ing bowl of buttery sauce. You could literally see the oil circles floating on top everywhere. But that pretty much ended the happy show. The fried plate of everything was less appetizing because everything had been coated in a literal half inch of breading all the way around. It felt like eating a mini fried sandwich as you picked up each piece. The clam chowder was another letdown. Ivar’s is known for this and honestly, you can get the same Ivar’s brand chowder that somehow tastes better at Costco. The Costco version comes in a 2-​pack of a tall plastic container that has more clams and bacon in the soup. On a positive note, it was nice to remember that tipping is not expected here.

I’m not sure what keeps me coming back to this place, maybe it’s the happy hour… or maybe it’s the view, but I’m not even sure both the aforementioned can be a saving grace for me anymore.
I like the fact that happy hour goes beyond the usual 3 – 6 p.m. or 9-​close, but the service has been lukewarm for me as of late. I went there in the summer and when I asked a server if one of their drinks had dairy in it, he told me he would go find out. The server comes back later and puts the drink that I had asked about earlier on my table and says, «does that answer your question?» Uh, okay. First, I never officially ordered the drink — I had just asked what was in it. Secondly, why passive aggressive? Moreover, our drinks didn’t get to us until after the appetizers were out. Lastly, said server dropped off the check for us, slowly walked away from the table, and just looked at us like we should speak now or forever hold our peace if we wanted to order anything else; he didn’t actually ask us if we wanted to order more food or thank us for coming in. Maybe he was trying to hone his mind reading skills — I don’t know. At any rate, management was understanding and kudos to them for trying to make it right.
I try to give the benefit of the doubt, and I thought i’d give this place another try, so a large group of us came in recently, but the service was more of the same. Granted we moved from the bar to the dining area because our party was big (and we let our server know), but it doesn’t excuse the fact that an ordered appetizer didn’t come out until over an hour later. I had to be ask for condiments to be brought out twice, checks were itemized incorrectly, and at times our server was nowhere to be found.
They say the tip included in the prices now is not a motivating factor, but sometimes, I really wonder…

We had a dinner on a Saturday night at Ivar’s Salmon House on our way north from downtown. We enjoyed our meal of seafood with a nighttime view of downtown and Lake Union. The food was delicious and the service was adequate in this restaurant that is part of group that has been serving Seattle for over 75 years. The décor and atmosphere represent and definitely give you a feel of the Pacific Northwest.
We arrived 20 minutes early for our 7:15 reservation and our table wasn’t quite ready, so we grabbed a drink at the bar. The bar is not in sight of the host stand, so they’ll shoot you a text when your table is ready. We were seated at a table that wasn’t directly against the window but we still had a nice view of the area. After our server Nicole greeted us and described the menu, we were given warm cornbread muffins to start with your choice of raisin butter or lavender honey butter to spread. Nicole was busy throughout the meal, but she did a good job of not falling behind.
To start things off, we had three oysters on the half shell, three Adler grilled oysters, and three oysters Rockefeller making the NW Oyster Trio ($ 28). The trio was a nice sampling oysters and a pleasant change from our typical raw appetizer. After having king salmon for lunch, I would have loved to have more, but I could not resist the chef special halibut served over wild rice and a peach chutney ($ 38). The halibut was firm and just a tad over but the chutney helped bring out the sweetness. I paired a Maritime «Old Seattle» lager ($ 6) with the fish. My wife enjoyed and completely finished the famous fish ‘n chips ($ 20.50).
The prices may seem inflated, but as you’ll see on your receipt, the prices cover the service. I asked the bartender what percentage tip are the servers getting, and he said it was around 17%, so take that information for what its worth, but you may add to your bill at your discretion on the line at the bottom of the receipt. I’ll be back to Ivar’s, of course to have the salmon and to enjoy the Pacific Northwest atmosphere.

This is a kitschy, out-​of-​town guest crowd pleaser.
We don’t usually come here except when we are entertaining our family who live in salmon impoverished areas. We’ve never had a bad meal at Ivar’s Salmon House, and it’s usually no problem getting in with a larger group.
The good news is that though salmon is not always in season, they usually have it on the menu thanks to the amazing technology of freezing and refrigeration. This means you can still have a taste of the northwest without having to be in the right season, and usually it doesn’t suffer terribly for it. They have a host of other seafood on the menu, with different types of crab, shrimp, and other fish available. I’m sure they also have shellfish, but sadly, my allergy to bivalves means I ignore that slice of the menu.
The simple preparations of most of the seafood, and the fancy cocktails in the bar, can destress and feed a stressed family quite happily. The service has always been good, and they’re entirely kid-​friendly.
I was happy to come back just the other day with my mom, who lives closer to the Atlantic, and only gets farm-​raised salmon. She’s always pleased with what she gets at Ivar’s.
One tip, though — and this should go without saying — but stick to the seafood. This is not to say that the pasta, chicken or steak isn’t good, it just doesn’t shine as bright as the seafood entrees.

Ambience of Ivar’s Salmon House is definitely classic PNW feel and the view of South Lake Union is gorgeous. The food is just OK, I usually go during Happy Hour (3pm-​Close) in the Whalemaker Lounge (you have to be 21+ to dine here) since it’s more worth it during that time. We had fish and chips, calamari, and and a shrimp platter. The dishes were a bit salty and nothing really special. Service is good here, they check on you often. Ample parking is available, always a plus.

My cousin suggested this restaurant for the quality seafood and the beautiful view of Seattle.
I might have been more impressed with the restaurant had the weather been better and we’d been able to get a clear view of Seattle. We were seated right near the water, but this was wasted on a gloomy, rainy day.
We started off the meal with complimentary cornbread muffins. These were delicious! Especially when paired with their famous white clam chowder. I liked the bacon bits in the chowder — it definitely added a different dimension to the run-​of-​the-​mill clam chowder!
For my entrée, I ordered the salmon sampler, and wasn’t impressed. Yes, the fish was fresh, but one of my pieces of fish was really burnt on the underside. I couldn’t tell the difference between the sockeye and the coho either! All in all, it was just way too pricey for the portions.
The service was super laggy so I’m glad that we didn’t have to leave a separate tip (as written on the menu, a service charge has already been added to all the items on the menu). It was also a good thing we had a lot of catching up to do with our cousin… otherwise time would have passed by much more slowly and the slow service wouldn’t have gone by unnoticed.

Besides food, location, ambiance, views and service are excellent at this Ivar’s Salmon House. With the fish bar in the front and outdoor deck on Lake Union one can not go wrong Ina Sunny day in Seattle.

The place is fantastic with great location right by the water. Staff friendly.
Good was truly amazing, had the King Salmon.
Was a bit on the pricey side though.

There is just a few places that I like to eat fish and chips and Ivar’s is my favorite place by far!!! Oh my goodness, I cannot express in words how much I LOVE their Fish and Chips!!!
It is the only place I can think of that offers fish and chips without being extra grease and full of batter, so we cannot taste the fish.
Pros:
Fish and Chips has a very thin crust.
Cajun style is delicious
Fast fast service
They have the fancy Coke Machine, which we can choose over 50 different soda flavor.
We now can pick the sauces ourselves
Rich clam chowder
Menu is quit of big
There are grilled food choices other then fried
Cons:
Not very comfortable seats
Very few locations
Small restaurant
If you love seafood and don’t want to eat more batter them the seafood itself, you should come here and try the food. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed: D

I’m surprised I haven’t reviewed this place yet!
Anyway, I’ve been coming to Ivar’s Salmon House on and off over the years. I’ve been here for the Sunday buffet brunch, salmon dinners, and most recently I’ve been hitting up Ivar’s for their Happy Hour! HH is 7 days a week, from 3-​close in the Whalemaker’s Lounge.
If you’re lucky enough to come through on one of the warm, sunny days in Seattle, then HH at Ivar’s on the patio is a must! It’s got a great view of Seattle and it’s on the water, what more can you ask for? Actually, you can ask for a pretty generous and remarkable HH menu. They have oyster shooters for $ 1.50! The Jamaican jerk chicken spiced wings are really tasty, and don’t forget to add the mango-​habanero ketchup! I’ve also had the salmon burger, fish and chips, «Hot Damn» crunchy shrimp tacos, Bacon and Blue «knife and fork» salad, and other food items off the HH menu. Of course, I’ve also had the chowders, my favorite is the salmon chowder. There are over 20 food items on the HH menu, so you’d be hard pressed to not find something for everyone. And their liquor, wine and beer selection is nothing to miss either.

Amazing view of the Seattle skyline from the deck! We got there and it was happy hour — always a good thing!
We started out with some oyster shooters and chicken wings and shared the salmon burger and fish & chips. I got a Chuckanut Pilsner.
The shooters were good. I liked the cocktail sauce on the bottom of the shooter. The wings were decent but could have had better sauce. One was similar to an Indian yogurt sauce and the other was fruity and sweet. The salmon burger was average and I would’ve liked the patty to be less salty. Solid bun and lots of cheese. The breading on the fish was too light IMO. The fries were excellent!
There’s a place to tie up your watercraft if you’re traveling here via water vessel, as well as a walk-​up window (more causal food options) and inside seating. Also plenty of car parking nearby.
It was very crowded but service was consistent albeit a tiny bit slow. Service is included in the pricing so we paid ~$ 41 — totally worth it for the view!

We got here on a Sunday afternoon and were told that Sundays is brunch buffet only ($ 42). I did not get a chance to take a look at the options of the buffet, but I was just not that hungry to opt for it. Alternatively, we could order at the section where you order take out and eat at the patio, which is what we eventually did.
The two of us got a smoked salmon chowder and the grilled salmon dinner. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed to taste those dishes. I had such high hopes for this place, even heard about it on the Anthony Bourdain show (layover in Seattle) But, The chowder was too salty and tasted nothing like a chowder. The grilled salmon dinner was a tiny portion of salmon and brown rice and everything about it was wrong. Too dry and tasted more like cardboard than rice!!!
Reading the other reviews, I feel like it must have been a bad day for Ivar’s, although that excuse is not justified. But sitting inside the restaurant might render a different experience. So the odds are I might update this review in future.

Loved this place! Such a nice layout and open atmosphere.
The prices are so good, especially for the location! Also, they include tip in their prices which I didn’t understand at first since the happy hour is 3pm to close, the prices were already at a good range, I expected to pay 20% more naturally.
We parked our boat here as it is often easier to find a space here than the other places to dock at. Drinks were on happy hour at very reasonable prices and a good selection of a full bar. The foods were innovative and tasty. My poor vegetarian friend didn’t have much of a choice but to just sit there and drink as she watched us eat… hey, not our fault she doesn’t eat food (she’s not allergic). But it would have been nice to see a couple of options for those people in Seattle since they seem a bit abundant and still do own boats as well.
The staff was abundant, easy to summon, and helpful. Clean open architecture with a open patio seating option that seats a lot of people! two reception desks so keep that in mind when you arrive, go straight to where you are intending to seat to save time, outside, inside, or at the bar.

I don’t really get this restaurant. The quality of the food and the menu itself is literally what they serve at the seafood bars but on a shiny white plate with a reusable napkin on your lap.
Prices are HIGH. Though, normal for a chain seafood restaurant like Anthony’s, but Ivar’s food is definitely at a lower caliber and I don’t even like Anthony’s lol.
I ordered the soup and salad combo. One cup of white chowder with a side of caesar salad. $ 12.50! Their chowder is always good, but the meal was nothing special.
However, the service was much appreciated! I came with a group of over 20 people and the servers managed to stay cool and collected. They were friendly and fairly quick with orders and delivering dishes. Props to them! Also, the view of the water is very nice.

I thought about giving a 3-​star but I don’t think it was quite there, sad to say.
I think location is primarily what I paid for tonight, on the large waterfront desk with friends and the sun setting. Pretty nice. The rest of the experience… take it or leave it, I dunno.
Our server was very good but, I thought, a bit overworked. She seemed spread pretty thin. Kudos to her for splitting a bunch of checks for our big party. Ivar’s apparently has increased employee wages a lot so they don’t have to work for tips but she certainly gave full effort.
I ordered steamed clams. They tasted like metal, like each one had had a penny rubbed on it. Looking around at my friends’ plates, I noticed a lot of half-​eaten stuff too.
Oh well.

«Good food, great ambience, excellent drinks but where’s the waiter.
Ivar’s Salmon House is an iconic restaurant reflecting the history and culture of the Pacific Northwest. The restaurant is located on Lake Union and the menu features local ingredients. The food was definitely on the pricier side of the spectrum however delicious and well-​balanced portions. The service lacked and at times was non-​existent.
We tried the waterfront patio seating and the view was absolutely gorgeous. The nice summer air and the views of the boats passing by was calming and picturesque. We ordered calamari and fish chips from the happy hour menu. We also ordered a moscow mule and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from the bar while waiting for our table. The server immediately disappeared. We asked for a couple of waters from a different server, however that request never came. About 30 minutes had passed from our initial order and our food had finally arrived. We watched other tables who had just recently sat down receive waters and their food. This is was disappointing.
The fish and chips was delicious and crispy. The calamari had a wonderful spice and the dipping sauce went well with the flavor. The food seems to be the saving grace for the evening. The waiter only returned when we were ready for our check. I would not consider this establishment when deciding on group dinners as the lack of service alone deems this visit a bad experience.

Ivar’s is delicious, and the outdoor patio at this particular location is always a must when the weather is nice. Great spot to bring people from out of town — amazing view of downtown!
The clam chowder is incredible. The fish & chips items are also great (they have a few different kinds, including salmon and halibut), but my favorite meal is the salmon dinner — comes with a fresh salmon filet, served with wild rice, cornbread, and cole slaw (so good).
If you order from the seafood bar outside, remember to shout out your order, THEN get in line at the cashier to pay. Prices seem to have gone up since the last time I was here, but it’s worth it.

First impression was, this was going to be a complete «mine the pockets of tourists» restaurant. And, it is pricey.
I should know, I live near San Francisco and been to Fisherman’s Wharf.
But, holy cow! Or, I should say, holy trout!
That was the best fish dinner I have ever had. Our halibut and salmon were (of course) super-​fresh and perfectly prepared, and the sides/​vegetables were also delicious. Excellent fast service.
I’d go back again without a second thought, next time I visit Seattle.

Quelle petite phrase bouleversante au coeur d’un être?