This pub was a wonderful surprise to us and I can't recommend it enough. We happened upon it on the way to our day out on the lake with visitors from out of town when it dawned on us that we were starving. The food was well above the norm for pubs - I have had hundreds of tuna melts in my life and this was easily one of the most unique and delicious ones so far. The staff was welcoming and helpful. read more

I am an idiot. I have lived 8 blocks from this place for over 4 years and last night was my first time there. And it was good! The beer selection looked really good, but we ended up w/ a pitcher of Mannys, which is like my new favorite beer, so I was happy. For food, I decided on the Chicken Sandwich because, like the Reuben, the menu said it was voted Best in Seattle. The sandwich itself is not something I thought I would have particularly liked. Joined w/ the chicken was cream cheese, melted provolone, tomatoes, and red onions on dill rye bread. I've never liked rye bread, but I said "what the hell" and have been glad ever since! It was everything it said it would be and I ate every bite. My side of Tabouleh left little to be desired. To be honest, it wasn't the tabouleh's fault, I haven't found one I liked yet, but this particular couscous contraption had a bunch of parsley and olive oil in it and it made it unusually rich in taste. I could hardly eat it. :o/ When I tasted my companion's Reuben, I was blown away as well. Not necessarily because it was amazing as a Reuben, but because I had never tried a Reuben before and I thought it was really good! The purple cabbage/rotkohl on it made a nice touch. Now that I've been here its going to be really hard not to go back, so I'm not going to fight it. Who's up for a pint? read more

Bloody hell, this place is ace. From servers who not only remember your name/drink, but also keep your snow sled in the back room for a week after you drunkingly leave it in the middle of the pub after sledding down the counterbalance in the winter - to their fantastic beer selection. Good ol' standbys like Deschutes Mirror Pond and Georgetown Manny's, to my favorite IPA's in the form of Boundary Bay and Ninkasi. Not to mention a constant rotation tap that never fails to disappoint. They also recently added a full liquor menu, so get your drink on that way if it pleases you. Is it small? Yes, that is what she said. That would also be what the architect of the Hilltop also said when he/she/it built the place. It can be right packed on the weekends. The biggest table available is a spot capable of dropping yourself and seven other friends located in the back room. Everything else = two tops for romantic bro dates, four tops for family dinners (minus the family) and bar seating. Outside, a mere two tables are situated - though the window seats offer a not too shabby location for people watching. Food has never been bad. Slightly overpriced for what it is, but always tasty. Take advantage of the cioppino if they have it on special. Burgers, salads, fish tacos - also good selections available all day, every day. In the end, this is the place me and the homies will go for a QP (quick pint, which ALWAYS turns in to two, three, four...) after a hard day of making that paper. Now if only they stayed open a bit later on the weekdays. Cheers... read more

There's something a little naughty about hanging out at a pub after church on Sunday. I know Jesus drank in his day and appreciated a good meal. So, I don't feel guilty or ashamed, but rather proud of myself for letting go and enjoying a lovely thing. Hilltop Ale House was delightful from start to finish. Attentive and friendly staff, a fine selection of brew, and a decent menu. Our table shared meals of homemade soup and salads, flat iron steak sandwiches, and a cilantro pesto chicken quesadilla worth writing home about. We said a prayer before we ate, just in case. read more

I can't speak for the food -- but I rarely come to places such as this because Im hungry. For those who know me I come to pubs like this for the beer, and I will certainly be back to Hilltop Ale house for more beer. It's your everyday pub inside -- so I like it. Small tables, long bar, dimly lit, some game or something on in the corner, brew news mags distributed throughout. It is my kind of laid back neighborhood joint. The after work crowd seems to fill this place up, but a seat at the bar shouldn't be TOO hard to come by. Pretty nice tap list -- interesting imports, higher quality local brews, and they are a couple bucks off during HH. Maybe i'll try the food, but really all I need is a pint and a window seat here at Hilltop and im more than happy. read more

Okay beer selection... better than your average bar but not so amazing as to be a significant draw. But the main factor governing my experience of this place: bar wench had a tremendously awful attitude! We sat at the bar a couple minutes before happy hour ended. Waitress waited 10 min to come by, so we missed happy hour. Beer was hastily poured and placed in front of me so quickly that the foamy head ran over the side, creating a puddle on the bar. She walks away, and I have to ask her for a rag to clean up the beer lake in front of me. We finished our drinks and asked for our tab, no desire for a second round here. I gave her my card to pay, and she goes to run it. After she swipes my card, she walks off to chat up customers (not pouring drinks or taking orders, just chewing the fat with the regulars I guess). After another 5+ minutes I have to ask her again for the tab. I don't wanna sound like a complainer, but I can't seem to talk about this place without complaining. read more

We went here the other night to grab a beer. We sat down and we happily surprised at their beer selection. We knew we wanted Manny's right away. We waited for 15 minutes before the server came over to even acknowledge our presence. I was just putting on my coat to leave but she came over, so we decided to stay. After we drank our Manny's, we decided to take off because we wanted to get food somewhere else. When we asked the server for the check, we asked if we could split it. Her response was, "You actually want to split five dollar beers?" She was SOOOOOO RUDE, I couldn't believe it. My boyfriend works in a nice restaurant and people split bills all the time, not a big deal. She came back with the bills, threw them on the table and walked away. Needless to say, this is the first time we have ever not tipped someone. read more

Been to ye olde Hilltop Ale House for drinks a few times. Friday night was my first experience with the food. It's warm and cozy, with a fireplace in the back. It can get crowded though, so maybe don't bring a bunch of large shopping bags with you. Service is usually good and efficient. They close at 11pm on weekdays, and midnight Friday & Saturday, so you may have to have a backup if you want to party all night. Dinner: Good, not amazing, and a little overpriced for pub food. I also asked for no cheese or cream cheese on my chicken sandwich, and it arrived with cheese. Between the two mozzarella is the one that can be picked off so I didn't complain, but still. I substituted the Tobouleh for a Caesar salad and that was about $4 extra! My dining companion quite enjoyed his curried lamb soup. There was a garlic bread appetizer that sounded scrumptious, but $7 is a bit steep for bread. read more

I love this place! Excellent food and service.Everything I have had is excellent.Their homemade salad dressings are soo good! I love the lemon pepper and the raspberry tarragon dressings.I have had lots of their weekly specials including chicken pot pie,herb roasted pork loin, prawn puttanesca and the oyster po boy.They were all excellent.The oyster po boy was even better than any I have ever had in New Orleans.The mashed yams that were served witthe the yummy pork loin special tasted like my mom's.I also have had the tuna melt and the blackened salmon sandwich off the regular menu both so good.It is the tastiest tuna melt I have ever had in a restaurant.Also the portions are very generous,always have leftovers for another meal.You can't go wrong with any menu item.It is way more upscale than your normal pub food.It is becoming my go to place. I had a special today the salmon Provencal with veggies.It was epic! It might have been the best salmon dish I have had anywhere.It was so good I could see it on a menu in a very fancy restaurant in France read more

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I went here last weekend and had an OK time We got there at 8pm on Saturday and it was already super packed. We had a group of about 10 people and there were no tables to sit at so we sat in this corner with barstools and asked the waitress to let us know if anything looks like it's moving. She didn't. But we eventually got something on our own. The beer was OK - I was disappointed that they didn't have any Hefeweizen or other wheat beers on tap. They did have a very tasty cider on tap though and a lot of places don't do ciders so I was good with that. We had the hummas (OK) and garlic bread (good) as finger foods to eat throughout the night. We would come back for the "best Ruben in Seattle" but didn't get to try it then. Overall - not really a bad place, but not great either. Standard bar, nothing special. read more

While Hilltop is the rare place on top of Queen Anne Hill that has a neighborhood vibe that makes you feel welcome, you still pay a pretty steep price for it. Don't get me wrong, the food is quite good, but it is not as good as the price tag they slap on it. In my first visit, I was in the mood for something light, so I ordered the soup and salad combo with gumbo. And while I expected a soup and a salad, what I got was soup and about a half a salad - for $12. So strike one: ridiculously overpriced entree combo. On my second visit, I first sampled the happy hour chicken strips, which though tasty, were pretty overdone. The exterior was overcooked, so they might have been in the pan a couple minutes too long. When I ordered my entree, I was hit with sticker shock again. While I can justify $12 for a reuben sandwich, I can't if it only comes with chips. I don't care if they're handmade - or made by cartoon elves in a treehouse kitchen - they're still chips. So I want a salad instead? An extra $3. Now we're talking $15 for a sanwich and a side salad? That's way too much in my opinion. Was the sandwich good? Yes, but was it the best ever? Nah. My other complaint, which is to be expected of the type of place, is that the bartenders spend too much time chatting up the locals and not enough time paying attention to empty glasses on the bar. The price you pay for it having a neighborhood feel though. read more

I got the (unremarkable) chicken breast sandwich ($12!?) and a seasonal hales ale (over $5??!?). My boyfriend made the one good choice with the Reuben, which was pretty tasty, but still another 12 dollars. His beer was also just over $5. We both sub'd tabbouleh salad for the chips. It tasted....at least 3 days old, and sort of dry and slimy at the same time. I was pissed. No - I'm still pissed! With the obligatory tip, we spent 46 dollars on a dinner that was (almost) entirely disappointing. I really hope this was just a fluke. I can't imagine any place having the nerve to sell meals like this for over 10 dollars. Better luck with other customers, Hilltop! read more

Great fish tacos and a good place to catch a a game and have a drink. Great location, too.

The food is way over priced. The food is generally good- but I don't see the value in their menu. Everything is north of $10 a plate and nothing is really worth north of $10 a plate. I'd rather eat somewhere else and then go here for a beer. The beer selection is pretty stagnant- pretty much hasn't changed in the 3 years I've been going there. They need to get some new brews. Service is generally OK- but the bartender has a laugh that is like nothing I have ever heard before- and I don't mean that in a good way. She had some friends visit the bar when I was there and it got so bad that we ended up leaving. Meh. read more

I have to give this one 5 stars because of their chicken sandwich, while the ale house serves ale (hence the name) I am not a beer drinker, the last time I drank a beer was when I was in a sorority. The smell of beer still reminds me of the smell of nasty arse frats the chicken sandwich keeps me coming back for more. "if food could be considered as addictive as crack this one would have me scammin a nickel from a bum just to get it. It is complimented with either tim's cascade chips or couscous with just the right amount of lemon, tomatoes, olive oil & cilantro. Slapped between two pieces of rye bread (a light barely can taste the rye bread, I don[t like rye bread so this tells you how light rye tasting it is) melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. And there you have: the "crack" voted best chicken sandwich in Seattle sandwich. I highly recommend it as a day after drinking sandwich where you muster up enough strength to leave for one meal. This one will meet all your expectations Anyone got a nickel? read more

Semantics aside, this pub is great! Consistently delicious food with rotating seasonally fresh options which are often times organic. It's a criminal injustice to try and describe the bizarre hybrid between pub food and haute cuisine on a website. Everybody we've taken to the Hilltop has called up asking if we're busy the next week, and we have yet to find a bad dish. The beer is seasonally rotating as well, with a few classic staples and an interesting selection of cask conditioned ale (not for the faint of heart... our server asked if I was sure about that and if I understood what cask conditioned was). The atmosphere is very traditional laid back bar. A couple of TVs, some outdoor seating, and some familiar faces add to the low din that never quite subsides at the Hilltop. read more

I've never been to a pub that had so many pictures of other pubs in it. I kind of mused to myself wondering if the pubs in the portraits had their walls covered with pictures of other pubs. Somehow I doubt it. The food here is kind of a yuppie upscale version of the pub food I was expecting. Seriously good chicken and broiled salmon sandwiches and soup. Not cheap, but surprisingly tasty. Better than average import brews at better than average prices. read more

And I quote: "Better than average pub fare". Are you kidding? I have been here on two occasions and the food was terrible. They dont even cook sides but rather serve bagged potato chips which in my book is a sign of crappy food. At least fry up some frozen fries you lazy bastards. Ok here are the 2 things I tried: Blackened salmon sandwhich. It I suppose was ok but it was very overcooked and the bread was not fresh. Add to that it was greasy and messy, I just think it was poorly conceptualized, prepared and delivered. And to add a side of potato chips and charge $12 for this monstrosity makes me think this is a rip off. Try #2. Hamburger. Oh my god, did you dip this in the grill grease bucket? This is the greasiest burger I think I have had in 5 years. McDonalds would be less greasy than this. I felt unclean after eating it, so bad that I needed to shower to wipe it off. This was served with onions and green peppers that were cooked to soggy and just as greasy. Again those F^$#^#$G potato chips? Why are the cooks not cooking? Cmon! This is not $5.00 fare you are serving? Conclusion: The fact that this place is consistently packed just confuses me. I hope they are coming for the beer and not the food because it is simply disgusting and I would not serve it to a dog. People need to really start expecting better rather than frequent sub par food establishments. This place ranks as shitty in my book. Move on down the street to Bricco and get the lasagna for about the same as I paid for the salmon sandwhich and you will not get food poisoning, hardened arteries, a fat ass or a grease job. BLAH! read more

I stumble in here fairly regularly. This isn't the glitziest place, but that's what I adore about Hilltop Ale House. I can pop in, grab a beer, and the wait staff is always friendly and courteous. The last couple times I've come here, my husband and I were able to snag a table outside (1 of 2) and we were happily sipping away our local brews and eating delicious food. I'm particularly fond of the chicken sandwich, which is satiating and hits the spot after a long work week. It's fun hanging out in front of it, watching all the people wander along Queen Anne Avenue to find the next hot spot to hit up. This place is a relaxing joint: not snobby or dirty, it is the perfect middle. It's near the upper Queen Anne Starbucks, so that is always entertaining people watching if you're outside. Primarily, it is the best hole in the wall that traditional Queen Anne Avenue has to offer. I recommend Hilltop Ale House when you're looking for somewhere peaceful with delicous food and beer. read more

Yay! I'm a fan... Just like my rating says! To be fair I would give Hilltop 5 stars if their Rueben had rocked my socks off... The atmosphere is great- very neighborhood drinking hole with elevated pub food. My dad and I rambled in on a holiday evening and seated ourselves. The beers on tap were tempting (locals and nationals)- my father ordered a Baron on the recommendation of our server and it came in a frothy mug. The beer was a perfect drink for his combo of house salad (looked so good- try it!) and a small mini bowl of gumbo (mini as in the bowls the manicurists stick your fingers in). My father liked the gumbo. My rueben had tender, flavorful, quality meat with purple cabbage mild tasting slaw on thin grainy bread with a bit of cheese on it. I am use to greasy-meaty-cheesy ruebens so this was a switch. I liked the sandwich- I just wish it had more meat and toppings. Maybe it was the build up of others telling me it was the best rueben that left me disappointed? The prices at Hilltop are a little higher then normal pub places- but is a little better quality. The portions can be a little on the small side- that can help with the waistline right? :) This is a Queen Anne style neighborhood pub. Try it out* read more

Ask for Lisa, Jason, Tim, or Aaron! This is a true, neighborhoody Cheers, everybody knows your name kinda place. Being from the south, it was necessary for me to find a comfy, pull up your bar stool and chill kinda spot where I could see lots of regulars. It didn't take long to figure out the Hilltop would fit this bill to a tee! I always have a cup of their fresh, homemade soup and the Jerk chicken off the Happy Hour menu! The food is fresh and always delicious, AND they do not have a deep frier. So you don't smell like french fries when you leave! Bonus! Plus, they serve Boundary Bay IPA! Life is very good in the hood at Hill Top! read more

Beer selection is fine. Sandwiches are dull, the goat cheese salad is excellent. Unfortunately that's the only thing on the menu worth going for. read more

Yes, it's expensive. It's difficult to get out of here for less than $25. But the chicken sandwich remains one of the classics in Seattle. The lean broiled burger with cheese is also fantastic, and everything here is made with quality ingredients. I'd say it's a step above ordinary pub food, and I've never been disappointed with a meal - just had the fish tacos (salmon) and it was awesome. Back in the day you could play darts at the 74th street (waaaaay back) but the chicken sandwich is the same from back then. Why mess with success? Yesterday's food at tomorrow's prices. read more

Andrew E. and his lovely wife are my new heroes. They brought Hop Along & me along with them to their local brew-ha-ha last night for dinner and drinkies galore, and I can easily see why people would often return. The menu had some original spins on the usual pub fare, making it difficult to make a choice as far as dinner went. I finally went with one of the three options on the daily specials page, a delicious black bean & goat cheese quesadilla, which also came with a side salad with the most original spicy (almost too spicy though) dressing that I've ever tasted. Splendid. The beer selection alone would have me adopting this place as a frequent hang out. Numerous local brews to choose from and detailed descriptions on each, as well as an extensive listing of bottled beers and wines to choose from as well. Our server was a sweetheart and great when she was there. Unfortunately that wasn't that often, and one time she even forgot to bring me my beer for nearly 15 minutes (she did later comp it though, very nice of her to do). Sweet woman, mediocre service, but that's forgivable when the conversation amongst pals dominates the time anyway. Light weight that I am, three frothy Pilsners over the course of three hours had me singing monster ballads in the car ride home-- a sure sign of a successful evening. read more

I came here initially intending to use a Groupon and forgot to use it, so I returned a second time to make use of it. My opinion both times was "Meh." Few vegetarian options. The salmon sandwich was all right, I guess. SO was equally "meh" on the chicken dishes. Everything felt really heavy and greasy and not in a good, satisfying way. The server on our first visit was very impatient and I felt pressured and anxious. On our second visit, service was okay but we were often ignored for extended periods. I gave up on ordering more beer. It does feel like an English pub, I s'pose. It feels like a good place for a large group of people who enjoy sportsball. read more

Walked into what looked to be a friendly bar setting. My friend and I sat down at the bar and were rudely asked by our waitress to see our ID's. "I'm going to need to see your ID's," was the way she asked. Great! We pulled them out, I ordered a beer she recommended, my friend ordered something he liked. It took probably five minutes for our beer to be served to us, even though we were looking at them sitting under the taps on the counter less than 10 feet from us. No complaints about the beer. Didn't think food was going to be part of our experience but ended up getting a little hungry so we asked if they have fries, "Nope. No deep fryer. But we have tortilla chips." Hm. No deep fryer...those must have been made in house. We asked for a menu only to find out that the cheapest snack option was oven roasted cashews...incredibly over priced..5 bucks... We finished our beers and asked for a check. The check, which was sitting right next to the register 20 feet from us, took at least five minutes to get to us. All this to say...it just wasn't everything it seemed chalked up to be. read more

I've been a patron of this place since their opening, wish I had opened it! Perfect neighborhood pub. Great beer selection, and extremely tasty food. You can't go wrong with any of their sandwiches, my personal favorites are the grilled tuna and the chicken sandwiches The fresh fish tacos are always good, fish- selection depends on what's in season. The gumbo is now somewhat famous, it's served in Spokane with credit given to the Hilltop/47th, it is however very spicy. Cool thing is the weekly special sheet. I've been to other pubs and sometimes tire of the same old offerings. The Hilltop and their sister locations, make up 3 special entrees every week, so there's always something new to try. I can always find something interesting to order. They pair the special menu item with a recommended current beer on tap. Not much to complain about here. The place can get a bit crowed and noisy, the building does not allow them to have a deep fryer, so no fries or fish and chips. read more

When I eat here I think "bar food elevated to more discriminating tastes." It'll cost you more than the average pub, but the atmosphere, menu, and service are beyond average pub. I like the warm atmosphere and *friendly social buzz*. read more

We had the steak sandwich, quesadillas, and some beer and cider on tap. Everything was delicious. Our server Lisa was super friendly and I'm happy we found this spot for dinner! read more

This review is for the only burger they have: char broiled on baguette. Super good burger! Added the bacon and chose the pasta. Completely happy with the items. Ordered Tuesday evening at 6pm - was busy but arrived in 12 mins. read more

Okay okay, my mistake! I went in sat down, happy to be out of the rain- and ordered, yes my favorite a Bloody Maria. Whoops. A beer and wine place only - whine. If I was into beer and wine only - and was a laid back kinda guy this would be my spot! I was the only girl in the room of about 35 patrons. My friend whom I came with was very fond of the place! He ordered soup, I had a bite - it was yummy. The next time I want a Guiness or wine... this place is mine! read more

Better than average pub grub (with a higher than average price). I've been here 4 times since moving to the neighborhood. The first two of those times, it was so packed we weren't able to get seats and ended up leaving but I took it as a good sign and kept trying. It was definitely worth it. Very much a neighborhood local with a good selection of beers and good food. I've tried the hummus plate (10.95) and garlic fries, both were really really garlicky and tasty. Servers have always been friendly, prompt and attentive. Best during weeknights when it's not too busy. read more

A little more than i wanted to spend, but nice place to get a pint and snack. No too loud so you can talk to the person you are with. Will go back. read more

Reuben. I should end the review there. However, I will go on! Chill place to grab lunch and a beer or two. The staff are friendly (if a bit slow at times) - like super-personable in an authentic, relaxed way. The bar is along the lines of a local pub, pretense dropped and lots of wood. I haven't been to the other locations but I've heard similar and if they're striving to be a neighborhood watering hole at each location I'd say they've at least found it for Queen Anne. The beer selection is fine (just the right size, not threateningly large nor sadly small) with good seasonal rotation (and cider for when you want it on a fall day). The sides are nothing really to write home about, with some slightly amped up options on the cashews and good-quality potato chips. The reuben however was a w e s o m e (best I've had in Seattle so far). Prices are fine, the quality is good, and the feel is awesome. read more

Hilltop is a nice, little place up on top of QA. The beer selection is pretty extensive and they seem to have a consistent selection as well as some rotating brews that keep it interesting. The food here was very good overall as well. We had a bowl of Gumbo, Curry Vegetable soup and a Steak sandwich between three of us and everyone was happy. The only downfall is that it is a little overpriced, imo. 2 pints each and food came to just shy of $70 before tip. The Gumbo that I had was around $11 and I was still hungry when I left..... read more

Nice place in upper QA, Great food and good selection of beer. I got my favorite Mac & Jack with Chicken quesadilla and my husband ordered southwestern steak sandwich which comes with potato chips or macaroni and pesto. One of the best! read more

Hilltop Ale House - CILANTRO PESTO CHICKEN QUESADILLA! - Pubs Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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So great to have a pub on top of Queen Anne. My husband loves this place. Great casual pub environment with a nice draft selection and pretty good food. Cilantro pesto chicken quesadilla is awesome. Hummus plate is great. I also love the roasted curried cashews, great snack with your beer or cider. read more

Well with the Ruben being one of my favorite sandwiches I had to check this place out. I was impressed. Most ruben's I have had were sloppy, falling apart or in general half assed. This was none of the above. Tasty on toasted bread with great pasta salad on the side. Also being a fan of good beer I tried their rotating tap which happened to be an IPA which I can't remember the name of unfortunately but it was very good. Overall I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good beer and a good sandwich. read more

This place was pretty dingy and the drinks weren't very good. The service was nice enough, but a little off. I would highly advise against ordering anything other than a beer. The food was standard bar fare. It wasn't great, but did the trick of getting sustenance in our bodies. Meh, it was fine but I wouldn't go back here unless I had a reason to. read more

Visited on a Sunday afternoon with my friends in town from New York. They wanted lunch, I wanted beer, we were both satisfied! In fact, I was well-satisfied. There were two choices of cask ale, one of them being Maritime's Imperial IPA -- my favorite Maritime offering, but I'd never had it on cask before. I love discovering little treats like this. My friends got the garlic bread between them (it was tasty). The gumbo was proclaimed delicious, the reuben was "not the best, but really good." The chicken-eater didn't really say anything about hers. Note: "chips" here means potato chips, not fries. Two of us were surprised by this discovery. Service was brisk, efficient, not unfriendly. No wait time. Good pub atmosphere overall, wish they'd ditch the television. read more