I take everyone who visits me in Olympia to this place for their burger. Hot dang, just thinking about it makes me salivate like a dog with a bone. They don't charge an arm and a leg for the 'burg, either, like SOME places do. Beer selection is good, especially the ciders. Something for everybody. There's live music pretty often too. Service is stellar. Helpful staff, friendly like. My old lady ordered a drink and was accidentally poured the wrong beverage. The 'tender apologized and offered to let us have the correct libation along with the mis-poured soldier--no charge. Now THAT'S service. I'll see you again, Ilk Lodge. read more

Mr. Crankypants and I had wanted to check this out for a while. We hit it on a Saturday evening on our way home from Bluegrass from the Forest. Aside from pizza, a burger and fries are Crankypants' favorite meal. This one he pronounced good, but not as good at his favorite (insert name of a nice casual dining restaurant in downtown Oly that opened at the height of the pandemic). I wasn't feeling all that bread, so I had a Caesar salad with a burger patty on top. If you're gonna serve a Caesar, it needs to be real (ie, at least a hint of anchovies for the umami). This one was pretty bland and the croutons needed to be crisper with more garlic and butter. They definitely deserve extra credit for sourcing local grass fed, grass finished beef. It's more expensive but it's better for you and the planet. I love really fresh cut fries with the skin on, and these would have been perfection, if they had only been served hot from the fryer. Finally, the beer: I had a pale ale that was just OK. Crankypants felt the same about his. Their glasses are really nice and enhance the pleasure of sipping. It wouldn't take much for this to move up to a 4 star destination. For that reason, we'll probably try it again sometime next year. read more

I want to give them 3.5 stars. The atmosphere here is great. Very much a local Olympia pub. Fits the theme of some sort of lodge/club. The table we sat at was on a slight slope, but not annoying enough for us to move. There was only one server working. All orders went through the bar. Great selection of beer and ciders. The menu was limited. It is pub grub. Went with a smash burger fries and onion rings. Food came out and it looked great. The fries and onion rings were lukewarm warm to cold. I have been told many times that their smash burger is the best burger in Olympia. I don't see it. It's the 2nd time I have had it, the spices are stronger than expected. Edges of my patty were burnt, and it relies on the sauce to make up for taste. It's not a bad burger, but it isn't amazing either. My wife was not impressed at all, and told me she won't be needing to go back. For me, I won't be disappointed if I end up back at this place. But I also won't be making the choice to go back. Maybe for beers... read more

Easy to miss spot in downtown Olympia. There is a private lot, but parking can be a little messy. Weird sign on door is a bit too political for our taste, may deter some patrons (but I am sure they don't care). Lots of space as you walk in. This is an order at the counter establishment. Lots of seating for both smaller and larger parties. Several arcade games in the back and what looked to be a chalkboard for kids on the wall. Also looks like maybe a little stage area for live entertainment. Menus are on the table. Lots of items that sound good. We went with an original smash burger, fish sandwich, fries, and onion rings. They came to the table in a decent amount of time. Smash burger was good, no complaints. Fish burger was good as well, big piece of fish. Fries were hand cut, so can't really go wrong. Onion ring portion for price wasnt bad, but the rings themselves were just okay. I can appreciate that the beef used is grass fed and local, as well as the buns being housemade. This would be the exception for the entree prices. Sides are more reasonably priced. Drink prices on the higher side. Food was decent, might come back to try more of the menu. Just didnt really care for the ambiance.. read more

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Whenever my husband and his dad go missing, I know I can find them here - it's they're favorite local watering hole. The beer and food is great and I love that its family friendly. Staff is always very nice too. Just an all around great spot in downtown. read more

Lovely people, unique decor. Kids loved the older arcade games. Real root beer! Don't judge it by the outside.

I have had beer from Ilk Lodge on several different occasions and we have come to the firm belief here that their beer is solid with some beers really impressing Steve and myself during these different drinking experiences. So without further ado I will dive into the different beers and what we liked best. As I already mentioned all the beers are solid with some that became favorites. After tallying it all up we have tried about seven different beers from here. One of the beers was the Fresh Kiln Mosaic which is an American IPA with bitter, biscuity flavors with a clean finish. The beer is smooth and light bodied. We gave this beer a "Solid" rating. Hounds of Helles was another beer we had. As the name of the beer suggests this is a Helles Lager and we have a serious fondness for this lager type anyway but we instantly became quite fond of this beer and it became a favorite. Flavors in this is some maltiness and biscuit and all very light and soft. We gave this beer a "Really Impressed" rating. Followed after a favorite comes another favorite and another type of lager... a dark one. Remain in Dark was the name of the dark lager we had and we enjoyed this one immensely also with it's flavor elements of smokiness, coffee and a roastiness. Another beer we rated as "Really Impressed". And yet another favorite follows. The Villarreal Mexican Lager we had. Mexican Lagers are one of my favorite types of lagers and there can be some variance in the flavor profile with them depending what ingredients are involved and if they are aged in tequila barrels and what have you. This one was not quite as intense as anything barrel aged but it was super good and refreshing with it's light body. This mellow lager has flavor elements of corn and a nice crispness. We rated this beer as "Really Impressed". Fluid Diet was another beer we had. This one was a Pale Ale and was a good one. Flavors in this are a citrusy and hoppy presence. This one we gave a "Solid " rating. Moving on we have also experienced the Zealandia IPA. This is a New England style IPA with a nice juicy and slightly woody flavor. This is a soft and smooth beer to drink and definitely falls under the Hazy IPA category. Another beer we deemed as "Solid". And then we came across one more favorite. The Lawn Darts American Light Lager. This was a really refreshing one and since I am realizing I am a total "Lager Head" these craft brewery renditions of American Light beers are always superior to what they are getting inspired from which is typically huge, corporate beer. This lager has a corn and crisp flavor to it and goes without saying is light bodied. This was rated as "Really Impressed" by us. We have also dined at Ilk Lodge and really liked their burgers but what really stuck out in our minds the most was the French Fries. They were so good with the light crispiness on the outside and that mashed potato texture on the inside. Very good! I could easy snack on a small plate of those. So after all this praise it goes without saying that Ilk is worthy of many returns for both their beer and their food! read more

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Stopped in here for lunch because I saw a famous food reviewer had liked their burgers and fries. This is a funky neighborhood bar that looks like it has live music, and other entertainment. We were almost the only people there at having a late lunch though. We enjoyed our Onion Burgers with a generous order of fries. The smashed patties were crispy and smothered in American cheese and what they call "Goop" which is basically mayo, mustard and maybe pickle relish. It was a nice addition to the burger. I was a bit disappointed in the amount of grilled onions, there were only a few. It I hadn't looked for them I wouldn't have realized this was an onion burger. The fries were pretty good, deeply browned and crispy when they came out. They got more limp they cooled. All in all, this is a solid burger joint/bar. read more

Ilk Lodge - Onion burger - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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I went to Ilk Lodge after seeing Kenji Lopez Alt's review of their smashburger. The bun is soft and slightly buttery with the perfect texture to hold up to the juicy crisp edge patties. I like the goop which seems to be a mustard and mayo combination, and the pickles are perfect to cut through the burger patties and the cheese. I added bacon which is always a good idea but the burger honestly doesn't need it. I also had the onion rings, ultra crispy and tender sweet onions. My only comment would be that the batter for the onion rings could use a little bit more salt. The background music was perfect for the gloomy day with REM playing (on vinyl, of course) and the bartender, Anya, is friendly and attentive. Looking forward to going back for their fried fish sandwich and writing an updated review. read more

Ilk Lodge - Smash burger with bacon Onion rings - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

we love coming here for burgers and veggie burgers, they have great selection of non alcoholic drinks too which is great. the staff are friendly and helpful. and they have great music read more

Can only comment on having lunch at Ilk - I expect the evening experience might be a bit different. Counter service was fast and easy, food came out quickly, and it provided a nice alternative for lunch in Olympia. And of course the beer was good. Would love to come back and hear some music. read more

Ilk Lodge - Fish sandwich - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

New brewery with the friendliest staff ever. Our bartender knew about every beer and we talked about notes and flavors. I settled on a SCHWARZ Bier. Generally, I am a serious stout fan, but this dark lager was smooth with a nice nutty end flavor. Fantastic. I will have TWO! Also grabbed some onion rings...basic bar food, it cheap and hit the spot!. read more

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The atmosphere and staff was as great as their food-- rich, bold, and nostalgic. I ordered the breakfast burger while my husband ordered the Fried Onion Burger. Both were amazing. The fries reminded me of going to the fair, but in the best way. The fried onion burger has a Smokey taste to it that brings me to the 4th of July. The breakfast burger is like a morning delight the day after. They have a good rotating tap list. read more

Ilk Lodge - Fries, Ranch, and The Breakfast Burger - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Best smash burger in town by far, that onion burger is crave worthy. Wide selection of their own beers on draft, and even offer cans of NA beer. Staff & owners are fantastic as well. read more

I heard this is the place to get a great smash burger. I have to disagree. The burger was salty and dry, their fries were ok. The wait to get our food was long (40-45 minutes for 2 burgers and 2 orders of fries). It wasn't that busy either. My overall experience was that I could have gone to a regular fast food restaurant and got the same meal for a cheaper price and faster service. The value was not there. read more

I really appreciate having an outdoor dining option with grass fed burgers and gluten-free buns in Olympia. Thank you! I always order the mushroom swiss burger and fries. Wish they had more non-beer liquor options besides a couple of cider and canned wines. read more

This place was AWESOME. First of all, they had a delicious dark beer on tap--their Ilk Beer Anniversary Imperial Stout, 11.2% ABV-- and it was SO good. My dad and I have tried a lot of beer around town, and a lot of places don't even have a real dark beer on tap, let alone one so delicious. This beer was amazingly yummy. Almost no burn, smooth, yummy, caramelly, thick goodness. We both rated the beer 5 stars. In addition to the superb beer, they were extremely dog friendly-- with a comfortable patio on a less-busy street, and they offer pup patties--burger patties without buns or accoutrements, for the dogs. Our dogs GOBBLED them up, and we were both delighted that they were so ready to accommodate our dogs' desire to eat too. Not only that, but the food was delicious. We had smash burgers to which we added onions, tomato, and lettuce. It was definitely a tasty burger. To top it off, the service was great, and among the fastest we've experienced. And they played interesting, cool music the entire time we were there. My dad and I both agree that this is now our favorite place in town. Edit: We returned the day after I wrote my original review, and this Ilk Beer Anniversary Imperial Stout is still as delicious as it was the first time we tried it. This is seriously the yummiest local stout either my dad or I have tried. If you love dark beers, this is your sign to visit Ilk Lodge and try this beauty while they have it. read more

Ilk Lodge - Smash burger with lettuce, onion, and tomato added. - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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I really miss Fish Tales. I tried out this new joint recently and was so disappointed. You can't read the menu until you are at the cash register, with people waiting behind you. I recommended moving the stack of menus from next to the register to an accessible location. My suggestion was met with a "suck up and deal" attitude. When my order finally arrived, I couldn't believe the downgrade of quality I was anticipating. The meat was almost 60% of the size of the bun and WELL DONE. There was squat for anything to make up for the overdoneness and dryness. It was disgusting. I grabbed it and went to my car, eating the 4 or 5 bites it took to eat with meat involved and donated the rest to I-5. read more

Ilk Lodge - The meat was hardly 60% of the size of the burnt bun. - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Located at the prior longtime residence of Fishtale Ale is this great place called Ilk Lodge. Ilk makes great beer and has good food. I had the special chicken sandwich with a little spice and blue cheese crumbles. The place has a similar feel to Fishtale for ambience but they are building a stage. Music to come in the future! We sat at the bar so we were quickly served. If you aren't at the bar walk up to the order here sign. Besides having a beer I also tried the root beer. Good stuff! read more

Ilk Lodge - Mmmm Beer! - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Amazing beer and our favorite burgers in Thurston County. You order at the counter, which we always prefer, but some people come here expecting sit-down service and then complain. They have a bar area, a family-friendly area, and seasonal outside seating. Overall, my favorite place to eat! read more

I go to ilk every Thursday for trivia night. This craft brewery has the perfect mix of liveliness and local feel. After you pick from a handwritten list of beers on the wall, you go to the bar to order. Whichever beer you end up ordering will be cold and refreshing. And the food is amazing. Homemade buns, smoked meat, sauces, and bacon jam fries. So good. Come join us for beers and dinner over trivia questions at 6 on Thursdays. read more

Ilk Lodge - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Love their vibe and we hit it for family smash burger take out. Love the music they play. Great local spot doing it right.

My partner and I sat at the bar on a Sunday afternoon and it was super chill! Great environment fit for events, informative and personable staff and amazing food and beer. I was very impressed! We had the fried onion burger, the Lil Pig special and an order of fries with goop and sriracha mayo. The sriracha mayo could use a little stepping up and sort of wish there was dill or something in the goop, but still good! Highly recommend the hot sauces as well. read more

Ilk Lodge - Fried onion burger on the left, Lil Pig (special) on the right. Sriracha mayo on the left and goop on the right - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Chill place to get a good sandwich, good beer and sometimes live music. The Rueben and chicken sandwich we had were both quite good, At a reasonal price as well. Decent selection of beers. I had a Mexican dark lager and my wife had a root beer, Both of which we liked. Bartenders were helpful and service was good. Off-street parking is Available in an Adjacent lot. read more

The beer was great and the burger...EPIC. They make their own buns and they are fantastic! The only downfall is the facility. It's a bit drab. But they have a gluten free bun for my honey, so I'll definitely be back! read more

Wow!! Been looking forward to tasting Pat's new brew and it amazed us! I've always enjoyed the knowledge and experience that goes into his swill. I feel confident trying brew, out of my normal range because I know it will be a quality beverage. read more

Food great, beer great, vibe GREAT. Love Ilk. Local crafts & great people behind the bar. read more

Ilk Lodge - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

First time here today & loved it! Like what they did with the interior. Hubby was pleased with the beer selection and I came to eat! Hand cut house made fries that were perfect. I'd say the best in Olympia (and I'm a fry snob). Hubby had the fish sandwich which was a hit and I had the fried onion smash burger. Locally sourced meat & very tasty! Prices were very reasonable. Good music playing. Highlight of the visit was our server. Very warm & friendly, patient answering all my questions & good at her job. Wish I had gotten her name! We were there on 2/19/25 in the afternoon. Next time I'm ordering the Caesar salad with house made dressing. read more

Smash burger is out of this world. But today we shared a BLT and, oh my, it was the best BLT I've ever had! I believe the bacon is house cured. Treat yourself to some onion rings because they're the real thing and delicious. Lastly, we've eaten here three times and have loved every single IPA so far! read more

Excellent burger, great atmosphere and a very friendly staff! Would recommend 10/10. The burger was fresh and the goup pairs well with the burger and onion rings. read more

Ilk Lodge - Beer Bar Near Me - Olympia, Washington

This place took over fish tail brewery pub; they kept it relatively the same but has games in the back. Dark mood and music was somber and somewhat depressing. There are no servers. You stand in line order and are given your beers while given a number for food. The beers selection was good although I didnt pick good ones. The burgers were "Two 1/8 lb smash patties" the patties were so thin it was burned on the edges and the overpowering pickle and goop. Fries were typical. I don't think I'll go here again as there are other options in town. read more

This place is rad! We love the atmosphere, the service was fantastic - friendly and fast - and the food is delish! The smash burger and fries were AMAAAAZING! We loved that it had a fun area for families - my daughter and I can't wait to come in for another burger!! Bonus - easy parking!! read more

Fries are delish, but portions are tiny for such an affordable product. The brisket sando was the worst. Smashburger is the only thing I'd order after such a hard fail on the brisket. It was so bad it would be impossible for them to not know if they had tried it. read more

Great beer! The burgers are addictive, especially the onion smash. The staff is super friendly & I really like the inclusive all ages vibe. Excited that they are having more live music. I'll definitely be back! read more

Bad beer , not consistent. Smashburger is 1/2 the size it was 2 months ago. Will never be back.

Great burger - love the goop & pickels!! Fun spot. Good value for a meal and drink. I'm looking forward to coming back soon.

Ate there twice. First time I had the smashed burger with grilled onion and a side of Onion Rings. Both quite delish. Second time I had the Reuben and a side of Onion Rings. Rings were great again. Reuben was a big disappointment. Bread on one side was charred black. Charcoal isn't tasty. Could be a one-time issue, but the itchen should never let burnt food hit a table. Pastrami was not good. About a third was hanging out on either end of the bread and so overcooked it was approaching jerky. Inside, the pastrami was a bit more moist, but kinda meh. Maybe the worst part was almost no discernable Russian dressing. Who wants a dry Reuben? Nice people. Good vibe. Tasty burgers and Onion Rings. But avoid the Reuben IMHO. I'm going to give them another try. read more

Excellent food. Really good beer. The staff is friendly. I will be back to eat and drink here again.

My husband and I recently checked this place out and cannot say enough good things. We tried their Reuben sandwich and smash burger. Honestly the best sandwich I've had in a very long time. The staff is super friendly, there's a family friendly area and the IPAs are incredible! So happy to have a place like this in Oly again. We will definitely be coming back! read more

This place is a disaster. The big hairy bartender is a jerk, he doesn't pay attention to his customers and could care less about customer service. The Fish was known for its friendly service and pleasant atmosphere, a bartender with an attitude. I will not be back, and none of my friends will either. read more