Honestly had a very solid meal here tonight after hearing some not nice reviews of this place, which mainly came from service and partly the food. First of all, I can't remember our waiters name but he also works at Hundred North and he is fantastic, very friendly and personable and so attentive, he does an amazing job and we were a private party of about 15. We were seated upstairs at a large combination of smaller tables to the left of the bar. My main complaint of this spot is it's not by any means a private dining area, there is a constant flow of staff and patrons, either coming from the bar, going down the stairs etc. I don't know if they have another private area but this would be something to consider. With regard to food, it was all very good, with a few modifications it could be amazing. We started with the Gorgonzola cream sauce bread sticks, they were very good, the bread was fresh and crisp on the outside and topped with a creamy sauce of Gorgonzola cheese, heavy cream. My only criticism is the cheese sauce was a tad on the salty side for my liking, but everyone loved it. My partner and I opted for the crab cakes to start which were very good, very fresh and full of crab and not much filler. Could have been served with more aioli for some added creaminess and additional flavor, but they were hot and crisp and tasty. For my salad I had the grilled pear which was pretty good. They give you a very generous salad size with a few slices of grilled pears, two crostini topped with the same Gorgonzola sauce, candied pecans and a honey mustard vinaigrette over mixed greens. The greens were fresh and of a nice variety with some bitterness to balance out the sweetness of all the other components. It wasn't overly dressed and major kudos for not skimping on the candied pecans, definitely enough to lend a crunchiness to every bite and some earthy flavor. For our mains we both opted for the ribeye, both with garlic mashed potatoes and mine with the Marsala mushroom Demi glaze. The steaks were 12 oz and very good, however they were under seasoned and while mine lacked a really good sear my partner said his was a little overseared. The cooking was perfect, mine medium rare and his medium. It's served with a nice steak butter as well. The mushroom Marsala Demi glaze was also under seasoned, a bit thin needing some more emulsification and salt, but all in all it was a good steak, especially for the price, very generous. The potatoes that came with were mashed skins on with a subtle garlic flavor, could have been a little creamier, they were a bit heavy. For dessert we shared a chocolate cheesecake, wasn't anything too stellar, subtle chocolate flavor. The crust could have used more butter and sugar to hold together and be less dry and crumbly. Overall it was a very nice meal with outstanding service, I'm excited to come back again, whether for a night of apps and drinks of a full blown steak dinner. Give it a try! read more

See all

Had a hankering for prime rib and was told this was the place. Our last night in town so wanted a great meal before flying back to L.A. and all of the locals said this was the place to go for prime rib. Sat down, ordered drinks and after drinks came and we were getting ready to order dinner were told that they "ran out of prime rib". How you can be a restaurant known for prime rib and run out of it by 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night when your restaurant is about half full is beyond me. Should have let us know before we ordered drinks but I guess that's how you cover your overhead when you are a prime rib restaurant that runs out of prime rib before 7 on a Wednesday night. Had we known before we ordered drinks that the prime rib restaurant had no prime rib we would have politely left and gone to Hearthfire or one of the other restaurants in town but alas we already had our drinks and they had our money. To their credit, everyone enjoyed their meal and the service was good. read more

This was our first time here due to the postings on social media. Thank you. Great vibe to this restaurant, they really know how to utilize their space and not feel crowded. Excellent service, again excellent. We came in for the Thursday prime rib special ... The speciality drinks were very good but about 2 or 3 dollars overpriced. Steve the owner introduced himself to us and I really like that in a business.. we'll be back read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

This place is without a doubt the best place for steak in the area. The prime rib is what most people talk about, but let me tell you about the bone-in ribeye. The best compliment I can give to describe it is the cooks know what medium rare is! I've yet to get one over cooked. And the bone adds so much flavor. I also enjoy the bar area upstairs, and they have a really good happy hour. read more

It had been a few years since my last visit, and I definitely noticed differences this time...not for the better. Still a decent spot, but seems to be more family-oriented now (although pricing remains indicative of fine dining). Hardly ever eat steak anymore, but when I do I have high expectations. Unfortunately, Dirty Dan's didn't rise to the occasion. My ribeye was poorly trimmed and had some really tough sections. Sadly, it was cooked beyond medium rare as ordered. The loaded baked potato was meh; skin wasn't even salted and oiled. My partner had the New York steak, which came with an unpleasant one-inch slab of gristle. But his garlic mashed potatoes were tasty. Both meals included a side of creamed spinach. I'd honestly consider that the highlight of dinner. Service was good though! read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Ribeye with creamed spinach and loaded baked potato. - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Fantastic dinner! Sat in the cozy bar area. Good crowd - good vibe.Started with the special app of clams in a delicious broth that needed to be dipped up with bread. Perfect white wine, garlic butter clams!! Yummy. My husband got the spare ribs that fell off the bone. The broccoli had Parmesan cheese sprinkles along with the best garlic mash potatoes !!! Love those. I had the scallops that were prepared like escargot - absolutely wonderful. I wasn't starving so I just got the app size. ELI the bartender makes a great drinks! Perfect chilled stirred martini ( not shaken ). Sometime they have chilled raw oysters but clams instead tonight All in all great dinner !! Never disappoints!! read more

Two words: steak bites. With mushroom demi glace. Oh wait that's more than two words! But never mind because it's AMAZING!!! It's hard to believe I've lived in Bellingham nearly 20 years and have never been to this spot - well that all changed when the hubs and I stopped in for happy hour this week and we were blown away! First of all the bar is really dark and intimate (dare I say, romantic). No, it doesn't have the most modern decor but I think that's what adds to the charm of it. The service was very friendly and prompt, and they had great local beers on tap - which they served in this super-tall, ultra-cool pint glasses (and only $4/ea during happy hour). They also had wine and drink specials but we stuck to the beer. Hey gotta save something for next time. But back to those steak bites. They were only $7 and seriously...so perfectly cooked, so flavorful, and I could have taken a bowl of that demi glace to go! The $2 happy hour caesar salad was the deal of the day as well! Next time I'm trying the prime rib. :) read more

See all

This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. The Happy Hour is phenomenal. You have to get there early to ensure your seating, which is pretty limited. For this reason Happy Hour is probably not the best for large groups. The atmosphere is romantic and dimly lit. My fiance took me here on one of our first dates, and we have been coming back ever since. We enjoy the martinis and Manhattans, which are on the happy hour menu. Our favorite food items are the steak bites in the chili lime glaze, and calamari. Also, the happy hour menu has a $2 house salad, and it is SO delicious. I would highly recommend for anyone in the Bellingham area to visit for Happy Hour, or dinner for a special occasion. Anyone looking for a romantic dinner spot should definitely check this place out! read more

See all

Dirty Dan's! LOVE the atmosphere, cocktails are always SUPERB. I've never had an entree but I have had the pleasure of tasting just about every appetizer on the menu and was never disappointed. I usually go with a friend, sit at the quaint bar and enjoy a Danny's Dirty Martini (or two!) in the evenings. Happy hour is fun and drink specials are great. Dirty Dan's is truly a Fairhaven charm. Staff are always friendly and attentive. I also like all the historical information and artifacts they offer originating from the Dirty Dan Harris era (the man that apparently "built" Fairhaven, arrested for selling rum, great real-estate investor, and also known as a constant hygienically challenged man). They also recently discovered a map of Dan's wailing expedition that can be viewed either online or at the restaurant itself. read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Why, it's ol' Dirty Dan Harris himself! - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

From the outside, this restaurant does not seem to compare to some of the newer restaurants as far as the vibe but the inside has a nice environment. The coves with tables were cozy and more private and the lighting added to this atmosphere. We arrived around 7pm for dinner on a Tuesday. It wasn't packed, no wait but not empty either. We thought the food was the highlight of the experience, as it should be. We started with the garlic bread sticks in a Gorgonzola gravy. We really enjoyed the appetizer and would recommend it. My dad ordered the Ribeye ($36) and thought it was seasoned perfectly - no salt and pepper needed. It came with a loaded baked potato which he said tasted like it was sitting in the warmer too long. It was dry and didn't taste fresh. I ordered the salmon ($29) with the southwest orzo as my side. I loved the orzo! It was perfect with the salmon. The salmon was cooked just like it should be, medium. The salmon without the orzo would not have been as flavorful. For the price, I think the meals could have included more. It would have been nice to include a vegetable with the steak or offer a salad for a small charge. Instead, the vegetables and salads were a la cart. Our server was friendly but she could have been more attentive. She was at a disadvantage because our table had a view directly into the server station, so we could see when she was chatting rather than assisting us. Knowing that she was not busy at other tables, we waited longer than was acceptable for refills on soda or for her to offer dessert after our food was bussed. read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - A semi- private table in a cove. Lighting and environment are intimate and cozy! - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This was the mist decadent dinner we've had in Bellingham so far. Service was fantastic, food was delicious!

I hate to dock them a little, their food is still pretty good, but the service and wait time was not good. We waited about an hour for our entrees, granted, the restaurant was full, but it was longer than I have ever waited for dinner anywhere before. The waitress made a few mistakes with our order- a steak ordered medium well was brought medium rare, and an unordered asparagus side showed up at our table. I'm sad to see the reviews reflect our experience, too. Perhaps it's just communication errors, but we were not as happy as our first experience here at all. read more

This is just a good classy restaurant with those old school values! After resturant hopping all day for my boyfriends birthday, we decided on dinner at dirty dans and it did not disappoint. If you can ask for Laura as your server you most definitely should! She took such good care of us and I have not had a server like that in years! Amazing food even more amazing service! Love this place !! read more

Attentive and friendly staff serving delicious food and drinks. Very warm and classic atmosphere.

Bellingham has a surprisingly decent amount of special restaurants considering its size. Unfortunately, it has not completely escaped the Californian influenced introduction of chain-restaurant mediocrity to the area. As a result, many of the special and quirky family-owned restaurants that I recall fondly from my youth no longer exist. Dirty Dan Harris restaurant, a Fairhaven institution, has withstood the onslaught and still offers as much character as its chimerical namesake. I still have affectionate memories of Dan's from taking dates here during my college days; not much has changed. The space is split into three levels and adorned with classy wood panels and brass rails. It is also one of the few establishments in the area that I'd consider adorning myself with more than jeans and a t-shirt. As typical of most finer steakhouses, the cuisine is not exactly adventurous. The focus is on high quality ingredients and preparation. Take the garlic bread for example. The bread is not simply baked with cheese - it is draped with a lovely, fresh garlicky gorgonzola sauce. The wine selection wasn't exactly local - but recognizing Lodi as a wine region that I enjoy - I tried glasses the syrah and zinfandel from that area. The zinfandel was interesting - the syrah was fantastic for a seven dollar glass of wine! Although this is a steakhouse, I couldn't resist ordering their special - salmon oscar - a cut of salmon topped with dungeness crab. The fish was accompanied by three prawns and a baked potato. The salmon could not have been cooked more perfectly; the delicate sweetness of the crab paired perfectly with the slightly tangy yet rich bearnaise sauce. Oh but wait for the dessert! The lemon chiffon pie that they source from the Lynden Dutch Bakery was some of the best pie to have ever graced my lips! I hope that 2011 really is the year of the pie as some purport! The service was very friendly and professional - from the initial and parting experiences with the hostess, to the interactions with the waiter and other wait staff. One critique - the experience would be heightened with better bread - a toasted French baguette doesn't quite cut it. Warm, fresh, delicious bread is key! If some people say that prices are high - they are comparable to what you'd find in a steakhouse in a larger city. Admittedly, this restaurant would have a lot more competition in a larger city; however, this restaurant stands up very well compared to its local peers. read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Salmon Oscar with three prawns - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

Delish Dinners. Hane been there twice with my wife and have never had a bad experience. They are a great staff and make a great steak.

It had been a number of years since we last ate at Dirty Dan's, so my wife and I decided to try the restaurant again. The food was okay, garlic potatoes were salty and the steak had a lot of gristle. We also thought the "special" for the night was a little overpriced at $60 a plate. The service was excellent and we liked the private setting of our table. It will be awhile before we are back again. read more

AMAZING food, atmosphere, music, cocktails & service!!!! I can honestly say this is in my top picks for a fantastically enjoyable evening. The owner and the chef separately came out and introduced themselves at our table. Five stars from this girl!! read more

See all

This is probably the best value steak in Bellingham, from what I've seen. Reasonable prices, quaint location in historic Fairhaven district, and nice steaks. I had their ribeye this time, tasty and nicely prepared as per request. read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Storefront - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

Came here on a recommendation while in town on business. The restaurant is located in a really neat area with nice shops all around. The only problem is the shops all close at 6pm. So it's best to walk around then go to dinner. I loved the atmosphere of this place. It has a lot of different levels and little nook and crannies. The service was good and the food was good. I wasn't in the mood for steak so I did the chicken and it was very good. The others with me all did steaks and said they were very well cooked. Overall, a very nice meal. read more

After seeing a number of delicious looking specials on Facebook advertised I knew I wanted to go to this steakhouse to try it out. I tried calling ahead numerous times to see if they had room for a two top so I could make a reservation. No one would answer the phone. Upon arrival the front of house made a comment about being busy (which they clearly were) and hesitantly places us at a 2 person small table- which we were more than happy to take. Our waitress was wonderful, but again clearly very busy. We ordered two drinks (gin and sin as well as a house pear martini), a crab mushroom appetizer, a lamb special with chimichurri, and my husband had a steak with asparagus, and potato. Drinks were very good, a little on the sour/bitter side but I'm not a fan of sweet drinks. The stuffed crab mushrooms were supposed to be stuffed with dungenous crab, in my opinion they had too much going on... couldn't taste the crab... my husband thought they were delicious. My lamb special was cooked to perfection. The garlic potatos that accompanied them were on point. My husbands filet is what is mainly driving down this review. After a few bites he looks at me and says "this steak looks to be cooked to perfection but is so dry it makes me thirsty". Upon inspection of the steak the person cooking it had sliced into the top to inspect the temperature on it and all the juices must have leaked out. The waitress was so busy she was nowhere to be found. There are obviously other ways to confirm the doneness on a steak so I was not impressed- this being a steak house with top prices for someone to slice into a steak before it's rested is a major sin.. Not sure that we'll be back. If you can't cook a steak at a steakhouse without slicing into it you shouldn't be on the line. read more

I tried the upstairs lounge happy hour. This is definitely for a more mature crowd. The service, food, and drinks were great & the atmosphere is very cozy. You get the old speak easy feel which is perfect for a first date or private conversation with a friend. read more

Dirty Dan Harris Steakhouse - Crab cake sliders (very good and a good portion) - Seafood Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Went here for dinner recently. The lobster tails were very small, just about three bites for each one so at $30 each, I thought it was overpriced but it was tasty. I started with a margarita which was probably one of the worst margaritas I've ever had! It's not that hard to make a decent margarita so the bartender should bone up on how to make a good one.The mashed potatoes that I got with it were over salted, I don't understand restaurants putting so much salt in their food, totally unnecessary. We ordered the lobster Mac and cheese and it was quite good and was served hot and was enough for four people. The other food was basically lukewarm. Bread was decent but I don't think people should be charged for an extra basket. Not a bargain place for sure and I doubt we will be back. The crème brûlée for dessert was good but a very shallow dish soap just a few bites worth. read more

We are here a few evenings ago and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and the ambience was perfect...quiet with jazz music on in the background. We will he back! read more

Not worth the $$$$$, NY Steak was fatty and grisly, Prime rib not rare as ordered. Dry and medium well. Starch choice was potato or mashed potato will not recommend it or go back again. drunk ladies upstairs ruined atmosphere Bus boy said it was NO PROBLEM to get water , I hate it when I I pay $110 for 2 steaks and I feel like water could be a problem 2 star because Greek salad was good read more

We walked into DD's after getting a few recommendations from other businesses in the area. We were seated in a booth that had an over powering musty smell. My mother in law put her purse on the floor and picked it up to get her hand sanitizer and the bottom of her purse was completely wet. We quickly found out what the smell was. The waitress was informed but nothing was done to rectify the situation. People can get really sick from inhaling that stuff. In addition, their food is incredibly overpriced for what you get. Do yourself a favor skip and this place. read more

WHAT A PERFECT EVENING AT A PERFECT RESTAURANT! For my partner and I's 7-year anniversary, we wanted to go somewhere special. We both had never come to Dirty Dan's, so we didn't know what to expect. Early in the evening, we stopped by to see if we could be fit in for dinner. The kind woman who greeted us was able to squeeze us in without a reservation on a Saturday. AMAZING. When we arrived back later for our dinner reservation, the hostess gave us an amazing table in the bar with a nice view of the restraint. We learned from casually chatting that the hostess was one of the owners and she runs the place with her husband and daughter. After learning that this was a family business my husband and I were smitten (this was all before the food even arrived). Our server was also very attentive and sweet. From start to finish we were treated like royalty and made to feel very taken care of. We felt very much like we were on vacation. Get ready y'all cause I got some opinions. We first ordered the baked scallops that were incredible. We are the type of people that appreciate a solid steak & baked potato dinner. BOTTOM LINE: This is the place to go if you want a nice steak & seafood dinner. I ordered the prime rib special and my partner ordered the filet minion. Both of our steaks were perfect. We finished with a crème Brulee that had the perfect bake and texture. We were very impressed with the food and it made us feel very luxurious. We had such an amazing time at Dirty Dans. This will forever be our go-to special occasion place from now on. If I could give 10 stars I would. read more

This place is amazing! The manager, Ivy, has such an amazing personality and really makes you feel welcomed and at home. The art around the restaurant is great to look at while conversing with friends. The food was prefect and the atmosphere is perfection date nights! I highly recommend this place to everyone! read more

This is my go to restaurant in Whatcom County. You are always greeted with smiles and made to feel welcome at Dirty Dans. I always start with a seafood appetizer like clams or the scallops because I am trying to resist ordering the to die for Gorgonzola bread that I am convinced is why I had to throw away half of my jeans. Then a salad which depending on my mood will either be the spinach, Caesar, or a blue cheese wedge. Now for the main course - lots of options and I have tried most all of them but most consistently I choose the New York steak. I ask for it charred with a medium center and pepper corned which I highly recommend. You are never rushed out the door and often I start there late enough that we hang out till almost closing. Hard to beat dirty dans if you are in the area and want solid meal it's for you. read more

This place was amazing! My husband use to work on a cattle ranch so he knows great steaks. He also was impressed with their steaks. I can't wait to come back here! read more

See all

My partner and I decided to hit Dirty Dan Harris for our anniversary dinner. If you want the short and sweet answer - it was an amazing experience. For those that are interested in more in depth - we ordered the Stuffed Mushrooms as a starter and were very pleased. The mushrooms had that wonderful, fresh and earthy flavor and a meaty texture making them a great vehicle for the crab, cream cheese, herb, and parmesan filling which was creamy and delicious. My partner opted for the filet mignon (medium) and I opted for the prime rib (medium-rare). The filet mignon came to the table a perfect medium. I was allowed a taste and found it to be tender (as it should be) and lean. The beef flavor was a little lacking, however; this is common for this particular cut of meat (and probably a portion of why my partner prefers it). The seasoning was light and simply accentuated the flavor already there. My medium rare prime rib came out just a tad bit overcooked. I would say two - three minutes more than it should have been. The cut was tender, packed a lot of natural flavor, and again - perfectly seasoned. The horseradish sauce (if you use it - definitely wasn't necessary) was a bit bland for me. Not the sharp bite I was expecting. I intended to try it so I knew how it tasted, but left it untouched after the initial taste. A surprising gem (to me) was that the prime rib didn't have a lot of fat on it. I know, that's almost an oxymoron when it comes to prime rib. I personally prefer my prime rib lean and tend to cut off all the veins of fat that I can. I opted for the 12oz because generally I end up cutting off 1/4th - 1/3rd of the presented meal off. Maybe 1/7th? Maybe? I was super pleased that there wasn't a lot of "wasted food" on my plate. Online it said that they stayed open until 10pm (epic failure google maps). They actually closed at 9. We got there sharply at 8, so you can imagine we were a tad over 9pm. The staff there were all very pleasant, observant, patient. I was very pleased with the service. The manager came over and asked how everything was (after actually giving us a chance to try everything. A lost art in the food industry). When he found out it was our anniversary he offered to take pictures for us. The only real "bummer" we had regarded the seasonal starch. We ordered a side of the seasonal starch (brussel sprouts) and in my opinion they were undercooked. Almost crunchy and bitter to the taste. I, personally, am not a crème brulee connoisseur; however, my partner adores that often difficult to make dessert - so we ordered one to share. She did a "test" crack and the burnt sugar held up to the test. A massive smile broke out across her face as she actually cracked the top and brought a spoonful to her mouth. She was very pleased. It was a traditional vanilla custard. Nothing crazy. I had a couple spoonfuls and found the burnt toffee flavored caramel pleasing. The custard was smooth, and not so rich that I was unable to finish the dessert. read more

Dan's used to be our go-to place - for the bar, for the restaurant, for the food, the place we would take out of town visitors, have anniversary dinners, etc. But it has definitely been going downhill for quite a while. It's now pretty much off our list entirely since our last time there. Food: Love their fried oysters, they are the best! Still love their Happy Hour collection, especially the oysters & wedge salad. My husband enjoyed their burger & fries. So I can't complain about that. We haven't had a full meal in the restaurant in quite some time. Service: This is the huge turn-off. The last several times we've been here, the greeters at the door are bored, put-out or generally dismissive. The staff you pass shoulder to shoulder, walking through the restaurant, look right through you without a smile, eye contact, or any kind of recognition. Staff seem to have learned hospitality from a man who appears to be the manager - he walks around with a perpetual scowl & an attitude that seems to invite confrontation. The bar staff is usually friendly, but overwhelmed & very slow. Drinks: The drinks are small & watered down (2 V&Ts at happy hour & I don't think there was a full ounce of vodka between them). And while I understand there are regular & valued customers (rather like we used to be), saving seats at the bar was something new to us. It's a very small bar, so seats are coveted & we were happy to walk in & see 2 open seats at the bar. When we went to sit, however, the bartender told us they were being saved, so we found a table. We had our 2 drinks apiece, our happy hour meal, and as we were paying, the couple for whom the seats were being saved came in & sat. Who knows, maybe they pay extra for that service. No, we won't be back. The oysters are not worth lousy drinks, slow service, indifferent & rude staff & special service for the select 2. read more

HANDS DOWN one of my all time favorite restaurants. The most WONDERFUL ambiance. Dimly lit, friendly staff, WONDERFUL food and while a bit pricy, SO worth it. I came twice in 2 days, brought my friends here, date with my husband. Lovely. I got the 10oz filet mignon, superb. The drunken mushrooms. Omg soo good. The BAKED SCALLOPS?! Unreal. Crab cakes? To die for Zero complaints, a great location and a really lovely restaurant I feel completely comfortable bringing anyone to to give them a good impression of Bellingham. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Great service and happy hour menu. Great food. The steak salad was to die for:) We will be back!

Food was just wow Blew me away had the scallops app and fried calamari then the prime rib 12oz and ended it with cheese cake and just wow is all I can say about the food so so good. Service was the down fall and the reason it wasn't a 5 star it had to do with the fact my wife and I were sitting there for 10 mins and wasn't greeted and the hostess came up and said have y'all been helped? And we were like nope. So finally she went and got someone and after that part everything was smooth sailing. If it wasn't for that part 5 stars easily. Definitely going to come back and probably get the same thing cause it was so delicious amazing wonderful. read more

Took my girlfriend there for Valentine's Day, and will never go back. The crab stuffed mushrooms appy was dry and over cooked. The Caesar salad was nothing to be desired. The lobster main dish was overcooked, way smaller than described, and it was a scam and a sham, and left the waitress making excuses for the way it turned out. The polenta served with it was slop. The meal was way overpriced, lobster dinner was a special for the night, and was eighty dollars. The girlfriends New York steak was tough and no flavor. Our bill was over two hundred dollars, and we walked out with a very bad taste in our mouth. read more

Let me start by saying that I frequent restaurants for dinner (3-4 times per week on average) and I have NEVER sent a plate back to the kitchen at any restaurant. That all changed during our "date night" at Dirty Dan's. It was our date night and we decided that we would go to Dirty Dan's as it is somewhat known as a Bellingham staple and neither of us have been. We arrived with no reservation and were seated within 5 minutes, which was nice. We ordered the garlic bread that was topped with a gorgonzola cheese gravy. It arrived within 10 minutes and it was delicious. After another 10 minutes we were able to place our order for dinner. I ordered "Dirty Dan's Best Damn Meatloaf" with garlic mashed potatoes as my starch. My girlfriend ordered the Ribeye steak, medium rare. Our waitress warned us that the meatloaf takes approx 25 minutes and asked if we would like anything while we waited. One of the specials of the evening was clam chowder, so we ordered a couple bowls of that and requested the complimentary bread be brought out with the soup. The soup was promptly brought to our table (3-5 minutes later) and the flavor was ok, however, we both determined it to be far too thick in consistency. We both ate about half and decided we were done with that, but ready and anxious for our entrees. We waited another 15 minutes or so and our entrees were finally placed in front of us. My meatloaf looked and smelled good, the potatoes and side vegetables left a lot to be desired, but I figured that the taste would make up for that. In short, the taste did not make up for it. The meatloaf was fine, but it was very salty and lacked texture. The potatoes and side veggies were dry and overly salted and the "garlic mashed potatoes" had little to no garlic in them. Now, onto my girlfriends steak. Upon being placed in front of her, it looked fine, other than the same potatoes and vegetables that were on my plate as well. She cut into it and it was obviously not cooked to "medium-rare" as requested. It most likely sat under a head lamp for some time or was microwaved. She took her first bite, I asked how it was, she replied with "the look". We all know that look. I asked if I could try a bite, she cut me a piece and handed me her fork with the steak on the end. I took the bite and chewed and then chewed some more. The steak was not seasoned AT ALL prior to or during cooking, that was obvious. There was no flavor, the steak was stringy and tough and dry. When you spend $40-$50 on a steak you expect a tender and delicious cut of meat. Unfortunately, that experience was nowhere to be found here. We pushed our plates to the end of the table to ensure the wait staff would come to the table. Our waitress came over the next time she passed by and asked how things were going. I informed her of our opinions on the meals, she was very good about asking what specifically we didn't like about our meals. We informed her and she took the plates back to the kitchen. She returned with the bill. As she dropped off the bill, the manager walked by and smugly said "I removed the steak from your bill but we all tried it in the kitchen and it tasted fine to us". I replied to that saying that it was a "horrendous tasting steak" and encouraged him to try it again from a customers point of view. I filled out the receipt and gave a good tip and commented on the receipt that our waitress was great (which is why I tipped), but the food was not good. It's not the waitresses fault that the food was bad and I did not want to punish her by not tipping because our experience with the food left much to be desired. To sum things up, if you are looking for a good date night spot, avoid Dirty Dan's. I will not be returning. If you are wanting a nice steak, I would recommend The Steak House at Silver Reef or my new favorite date night spot, Leader Block in Ferndale. The Ribeye that I had at Leader Block was phenomenal. Great flavor, tender, and a steal of a deal at $40. I would highly recommend checking out Leader Block if you haven't already. read more

I should have read reviews before we went! We had a reservation and waited a long time for anyone to acknowledge us at the front. The waitress went by twice, and someone eating at a table had to get up and come tell us that we would be helped soon. After we were finally being seated, I mentioned we were "this close" to going somewhere else. The hostess' response was "we're a mom and pop restaurant, it takes time to seat people, I'm sorry if you thought you waited too long." WTF? I am a business owner and if my customer complained I would say "That should NOT have happened and I'm sorry". I guess they think they are so above everyone else that our opinion doesn't matter. The food was MEDIOCRE and not worth $30/plate. A plain piece of boring salmon. The sirloin meatloaf was decent because it was covered in a good BBQ sauce. Worst of all, we ordered a slice of dessert to go, it cost 8 dollars!!!! we got it home and it was the tiniest slice of pie I've ever seen. Such a rip off. It was like a final insult they sent home with us. Please note: the waiter was friendly & the food hot. Advice to owner from another "mom & pop" business owner: if your attitude sucks, at least serve good food. read more

I would give them 3 stars because my husband wanted to give them 4. However we got there and no one was at the front desk and we waited 5 minutes before someone saw us waiting. But we stayed because of the good reviews. The staff was friendly and attentive but the food was slow coming to the table, 35 minutes. The Scallops (a side to a steak dinner) was the best part of the meal. The rib eye had good flavor but the cut was fattier then most ribeye and I like fat but it was to much. My husbands steak was sent back to be cooked more but came back still rare. The veggies are "grilled" I call them burned or blackened with no flavor. The coffe with dessert was not freshly brewed and we never received more cream we asked for. For the price dinner for 2 who do not drink alcohol was $128. I wouldn't mind the price if the food was of a better quality. The couple at the next table said Thier food had complaints as well. His food came 1st and was cold, he also did not like the glaze on the meat. Her food came much later then his meal although she insisted he eat his before it got any colder. Not sure why this restaurant has high reviews? read more

Dirty Dan Harris (Bio here: http://dan-harris.info/bio.html) was the founder of the little town of Fairhaven-the historical district and tourists delight in Bellingham : My home town! This steakhouse named after him is a quaint multi leveled skinny building, packing with patrons most weekends and one of the best places to get a cut of meat in town. We went recently for one of our best friends birthdays, and were seating (without reservations although I don't recommend that) in the upper level dining section to the left of the bar at a dimly lit 4 top. The ambiance is 1 part rustic, 1 part steakhouse and 2 parts Fairhaven. It could use a little updating but they do a good job of keeping the place up. You'll have to go someday to see what I mean! The menu boasts local seafood, prime meats and all the steakhouse usual suspects. It doesn't open till 5 pm so don't bother thinking about lunch there: The happy hour (5-6:30 in the bar only) fills up super fast! Stand outs and must orders: The Jumbo Shrimp Scampi (Sauteed jumbo Tiger shrimp, garlic and herbs, lobster caviar butter 28$) has shrimp so big I couldn't finish it all. The Lobster Mac and Cheese (15$) and the Prime Rib are perfection! Our service was slow, if we hadn't been in such excellent company we might have been bothered, not the place to go if you're the type who rushes through 30$ cuts of steak. (and if you are, we can't be friends) a solid choice if you're in the area. read more