Low rating. Went here a couple weeks ago on a beautiful day and it was pretty empty. Took 25 min to be sat down. Our server was slow and rude, and it took very long to get our food and appetizers. I got the Cajun salmon and fries, and a plate of calamari which was good. I also like the decor inside, although it was boiling hot inside the restaurant. I'd much rather go to chinooks in fisherman's terminal. read more

This place is one of the must-try places in Seattle. Get a seat outside if you can and coming for Happy Hour is a serious deal. We ordered a ton of stuff and the service was 5/5 as well. The fried calamari- 5/5 stars. SO GOOD. Just get it. Perfectly fried with a light batter and seasoned well. Salmon steaks- 3/5 stars. Gotta do the salmon Seattle. But, personally, it was not my fave. Clams in sauce- 5/5 stars. We had both clam dishes that were on the HH and it was AMAZING. Like, get that extra bread to order so you can dip it in the sauce goodness. Fish and chips- 3/5 stars. I had high hopes, but it was OK for me. I think this would be the other place that I'd want to return to for the clams and their calamari. Solid 4.5/5 read more

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The view was wonderful but the food was overpriced for the mediocre quality and small portions!!! To add insult to injury, we had to PAY FOR BREAD!!!! The final cherry on top was as we were leaving and the manager walked up to the kitchen and yelled out to the kitchen, "Where's my fucking food"!!!! I highly doubt we'll be back after this experience!!! read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Food all over the floor, underneath our table, left over from the previous diners... or perhaps even the diners before them!!!! - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of the better bowls of chowder I've had. We got a great table outside with an awesome view. Service was fine. Don't waste your money on the baby prawns. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Caesar Salad, Clam Chowder, and Baby Prawns - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The service was very good. Our waitress was very friendly and patient with us. We had a party of 8 so getting everyone to pay attention tends to be a bit difficult sometimes. Ambience was good and we went at night so we couldn't see the view very well. For food I got the pesto penne and it was okay. I thought it was a bit bland but the salmon in it was tasty. The calamari was interesting. I got to enjoy 2 textures. I did enjoy eating it and there's a lot of it so it's easily shareable. The Hot Toddy was recommended by the waitress and I liked it. It was different because it was a warm alcoholic drink. It was kind of like a spiked apple cider in a way. If you're allergic to cinnamon I do not recommend getting it since there is a cinnamon stick inside. Overall I think this place is mostly for enjoying ambience. My friends seemed to have enjoyed the crab cakes and the salmon themselves. I'm just giving this place a 3 because the food wasn't as good as I had expected it to be but others may enjoy it more. I think this spots highlight is the view. To give you guys a heads up you would need to find street parking and walk over to this restaurant. There is a tiny parking lot for this restaurant but there's maybe around 10 available if they aren't taken. read more

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Excellent food preparation and presentation. I had not been there in probably 40 years as I am rarely in the area, obviously. I had remembered having been there and I remembered their salmon. I didn't recognize the place as they had expanded and the layout was changed from my original visit. Still as wonderful as I remembered! read more

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Go for the view! Gorgeous. The seasonal dessert was fantastic - s'more cheesecake. They should have it on the regular menu, its that good. Unfortunately, my lobster roll was not successful. The buttered and toasted bun was delicious. The lobster salad inside was not. If I didn't know it was a lobster roll, I would never have guessed there is lobster in it. There is a mayo based salad with lots of stuff (celery, egg, other?), and little shredded pieces of what I would have guessed was surimi if I didn't know it was lobster. Do NOT order the lobster roll. The fries were requested extra crispy, and they were good. My friend's salmon sandwich was good. Our service was good until we wanted the check. We didn't see our server for 20 minutes after finishing the dessert before we could ask for the check. Maybe she was on a break. read more

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This is a must if you're visiting. Fantastic view of Seattle, its right on the water, under the bridge. I'm not a salmon expert but you won't be disappointed. This place is great for a special occasion or some sort of celebration. read more

Where to start? First, let's start with my wife and I have been coming to IVAR'S SALMON HOUSE im downtown Seattle for over 38 years. Today was for lunch with less than 10 people at lunch. Service was GLACIALLY SLOW! We ordered; 2 iced teas, Coconut Shrimp as an appetizer, a (1) large Caesar Salad and Lemon Meringue pie. Over 45 minutes later our waiter brings; Shrimp Lunch (not the original order as an appetizer) and a WARM Caesar Salad! When we we pointed out the menu error, he said; "Thats why pencils have erasers" took the errant shrimp and returned 15 minutes later. Five minutes later a SECOND order of Cocktail Shrimp appetizer appeared at our table! When the LEMON MERINGUE arrived it was WARM and possibly the smallest piece of pie ever made. When our bill came, our waiter attendant to charge us for the ENTIRE MISTAKE! Upon being reminded of the errors, our waiter disagreed for 15 minutes with the corrected bill. $68.00 dollars! FOR LUNCH! God help you for dinner! For really good, generous servings of pie GO TO THR HALF WAY CAFE! AVOID IVAR'S SALMON HOUSE on Lake Washington at lunch AT ALL COST! read more

Sun-drenched at 68 degrees--Seattle's version of a heatwave--I found myself basking on Ivar's Salmon House patio, the scent of alder smoke wafting from their open-pit barbecue. The Alder Grilled Fresh Alaska Halibut arrived, adorned with pineapple salsa and a sweet chili glaze, resting on a bed of cilantro-ginger jasmine rice alongside tender asparagus . Each bite was a harmonious blend of smoky, sweet, and savory. Accompanied by a glass of rosé and a refreshing sangria, I watched seaplanes dance over Lake Union. The service? Swift and attentive, without the overbearing cheeriness. Dining in a Native American longhouse replica with panoramic skyline views, Ivar's offers a quintessentially quirky Seattle experience--where tradition meets the unexpected. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Salmon Bisque - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The fish was all super fresh tasting and not fishy at all! Both fish n chip meals were crispy and went well with the tartar sauce. The staff was very friendly. Slightly pricey for the portion size but the views of the water and city make up for it. There is a small parking lot beside the restaurant but there is also street parking. read more

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This was my first time visiting this particular Ivars, and it was a great experience overall. As a local, the dine-in experience at Ivars restaurants beats the smaller ones that exist outside the city area. That's just my personal take. The only thing I didn't like was the sticky texture on the tables. But the view was gorgeous, and glad I got to share the experience with my plus 1! The chowder was creamy and chunky with just the right amount of protein in it. I was impressed at the portions, it was filling, and didn't disappoint. The other dishes we had also did not disappoint. The fried NW platter was spot on as far as how cooked it was to the overall taste. The highlight was the spicy mayo sauce - it hit the right taste buds with the spice, being mild, and creamy consistency. The fried fish cakes were also delicious, and not too oily, soggy, or lacking any flavor. Our waiter was attentive, and made sure we were doing alright. We would certainly come back! read more

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We liked the location and service. Nice view from the table that we really enjoyed it. Food was great. Especially clam chowder. We will visit again. read more

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Wow. Very expensive. Other than that the food was cooked beautifully and had many different choices

Great place! Wonderful view, delicious food! Attentive service too. Had the sockeye salmon with strawberry rhubarb jam (yum)! Loved watching the boats come & go. Perfect spot to bring out of town guests!! A little expensive, but worth it. read more

Service was very good and we were able to get a great table with a view of Seattle. However, the food was underwhelming. The appetizer tower was very small for the price and poorly prepared. Ahi poke taco was mostly taco with not much poke to it. My crab stuffed salmon entree was tasteless and I couldn't find the crab in it. My husband was also underwhelmed with his entree also. The salmon chowder that I ordered is always great. (This is normally not on the restaurant menu but the waiter made special effort to get it for me from their excellent take out service bar.) Kudos to him. read more

Food was great, drinks were good, service was good, view was spectacular! Server was pleasant and food came out in a timely manner. Not difficult to get a reservation, either. read more

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Apparently, the manager responded to my review, saying that I had meant to review for next door. I'm pretty sure she's wrong and that I did review the bar inside of the restaurant. I went back and confirmed that I was in the right place, both by seeing the name on the Yelp service, as well as other reviews for the same place I provided my review. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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the fish was so fresh and the broccolini was very good. the halibut was juicy and tender and the plank salmon was seasoned perfectly. the crab cakes were divine. The real treat about this place is the view as it is right on the water. Beautiful view and a great meal read more

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The best Pacific Northwest salmon dinners in a restaurant takes place at this casual waterfront restaurant with a northwest native vibe. You enter through wooden doors. You will pass by the open alder wood grills where you see a group of committed restaurant workers with skills that compliment one another committed to the common mission holding each other accountable. The decor is old maps on wooden walls. You step outside to a view of downtown Seattle in the distance, Lake Union and the Space Needle. Nice umbrellas to shield you from the sun. Appetizers we chose mussels, calamari and breaded shrimp. The mussels fresh taste with a spicy citrus sauce. Calamari breaded with a thousand island like dipping sauce I found myself liking the sauce the shrimp your usual - although they were large fresh and cooked very well. My friend picked the king salmon which was served with a lobster citrus sauce. I chose the king salmon on top of purple mashed potatoes with a bacon cooked to perfection. The salmon again fresh and cooked to perfection. Also on the menu were sockeye salmon dishes and other seafood choices. The dessert was a flourless cake with raspberry sauce. This place has always had great sauces. Previous Chantelle mushroom sauce or a blackberry type sauce come to mind. Or yeah the the server that made eyes at my date one time the whole experience was off that visit. Many times the place is packed. Another time they gave us a tour of the open alder wood grill that lines the whole front part of the kitchen, a nice treat. Ivar's Salmon may not be your home grilled salmon dinner from the local natives that sell their wares by the river but it is the best indian baked salmon experience in a restaurant. Our server Zach...took care of us made sure we were happy. Two and a half hours lingering as the lights of the city came on- complimented with drink of whiskey. read more

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Having eaten here multiple times as a child I have nostalgia for it. Unfortunately that's where it ended. I wanted my family to experience it, but thought it was atrociously bad. Tried the salmon sampler- $41 was overpriced and this place was just run down. read more

Extremely sweet servers, beautiful view of Lake Union, largely mediocre food with some stand outs. The chowder was perfect: salty, creamy, warming and the chocolate raspberry cake was insanely good with just the right balance of flavors. Drinks were also good and the tawny port they had on the menu for $8 was really nice. The taste of the northwest (salmon, halibut, veggies, scallops and potatoes) was definitely not good, just absolutely overcooked into oblivion. The lighting was also super odd it felt a little hospital-ish. I think this would be a great spot to grab drinks and apps and / or dessert but I'd skip the entrees. read more

I was in Seattle recently and had seen Ivar's featured in some Youtube videos in the past, so thought I'd check it out. I was at Gas Works Park in the evening and a friend told me that there was an Ivar's nearby so I went there for dinner. This place is pretty much just a counter that you order from. There was no indoor seating but they have a few outdoor tables so I ate there. So I ordered a 3 piece piece fish and chips ($12) and a fountain drink ($3.60). Total with tax came out to $17.18. I was thinking damn, that's kind of a lot - maybe the portions here are pretty big. But I was mistaken. I got my food and my reaction was: 'damn... that's it?' My order amounted to a small container of fries and three small pieces of fried fish. Maybe that's why the reviews of this place are less than stellar. But with that aside, the food was pretty tasty. They say they use fresh fish or something (I think my stuff was cod) and it actually was quite good. The fish was super tender and delicate on the inside and fried well on the outside. It was very moist as well, in a good way. So they tasted fantastic, but each piece was so small like I mentioned. The fries were pretty good too; nothing really special but they were hot and did the job. Just wish there were more of them. And it's crazy that they charge $3.60 + tax for a fountain drink; I found that to be way too much. So that was my experience with Ivar's. Glad I tried it but I wouldn't recommend it due to it being poor value for the price. I tried another place called Emerald City Fish and Chips that I'd recommend that over Ivar's by a long shot. read more

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Ok they obviously don't read notes in making reservations and telling the hostess ahead of time. Requested a window view of the water for a birthday, instead got a view of the closed patio. Will not come here again! Food was subpar, brocollini had flowers in full bloom and cold, bulgogi was cold I was so embarrassed I need to repeat the birthday dinner elsewhere. Even if you are a tourist don't go here. There are better places for real pnw seafood like Taylors Shellfish. Anthony's , rockfish . read more

We went for the new year eve event. It was a very disorganized event. We went there at 9 pm and could not get food until 10:30 pm. We were in line for 1.5 hours on a new year night and was a horrible start to the night. The seating was very crowded and we were put on a L shaped weird table where we did not really have space to move. When we talked to the manager, he charged at us! He was taller than us and came so close to look at us in an intimidating way. He did not want to hear our feedback but just took out the frustration at us. The food was good which we appreciated. However, this is not how we wanted to spend our New Year's Eve. Do not recommend! read more

I have always enjoyed my meals at Ivar's. It's disappointing that they don't have oysters Rockefeller anymore. They made the best version ever! read more

It had been quite a few years since I have eaten here and decided to bring the family. I must begin by saying that the weight staff was excellent and very friendly even my children were impressed. I must say the clam chowder with excellent and so were the calamari. I got the fish and chips halibut and it was dry. As far as the rest of the food went, it was good. I know part of the reason coming here is for the ambience and the scenery. But once again, like I said, the waiters were excellent. read more

Disappointing experience from the service to the food, overpriced, not clean. Not what it used to be. read more

This was my first time at this place so when I walked into this place I instantly felt this coziness most restaurants would not have, and service was wonderful where my boyfriend and I were helped right away. What I got was the clam chowder and as someone who is from the Bay Area it wasn't the most impressive taste. It seemed like it was lacking flavor and missing the fresh taste a chowder would have especially when it's by the water. Other than having that, I tried the calamari and the crab cakes, those two were really good! The calamari had a nice texture and crunch to it, and the flavor had that kick to it I liked when you eat it with the dip. The crab cake also had a great taste to it, the flavor was on point and did not miss that crunch! If you're craving a good calamari and crab cake I recommend going to Ivar's for that! I will definitely be coming back for that! read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Seattle institution? Yes. Tasty food? Eh, not so much. Their famous clam chowder is awful. So much cream. Not so much clams or seafood flavor. It was basically a huge bowl of cream. So disappointing. The fish and chips are super basic. The choice of halibut or cod was nice. We tried both and had a slight preference for cod which had a more firm texture and was battered and fried nicely. On the positive side, this particular location is very family friendly. They have a kids menu and crayons to keep em busy. read more

Review of the walk up counter outside the sit down restaurant. An ideal location for the short sunny days here in the PNW. There is nothing more Seattle than pulling up in a kayak, SUP or boat, docking it on the floating dock and rolling up to the walk up counter for some grub. They offer all manner of seafood from their fryolator like clams, oysters, chicken strips and fish and chips. For fish and chips they offer a choice of Cod, halibut or salmon. Deep frying salmon seems to be not the best way to treat this fish so usually go with the cod or halibut. Ask for Cajun style which isn't spicy hot all but just has better seasoned flavor than the standard batter. It's not beer battered or anything so the breading is pretty light. Chowders: clam chowder come in red or standard white but I like the smoked salmon fish chowder better. Sizes go from a cup up to a tankard size container! One of the few places where you can order a cup of 'clam nectar' which is simply the essence released when you boil clams. It comes in a cup and is perfect for sipping on a chilly evening on the water They ordering system is still peculiar. Ordering cooked foods on the left line then moving to the right line to order drinks and side orders. There must be method to the madness but this seems to confuse 1st time customers to no end read more

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Walked in noticed the carpet was black like a pathway with seated at a table my arms probably stuck to the table, ordered lunch Caesar salad, which was watered down dressing and a seafood medley, which was coin size pieces of salmon scallop was hard and miniature, and the halibut was little tiny piecesvery hard and chewy overall pretty pathetic read more

Okay I really really want to give this place 5 stars as its simply a Seattle staple! A classic!! It's especially amazing when the weather cooperates, as they have amazing outdoor seating with an unbelievable view! They even have a place for boats to come and park. And of course they also have their more elegant indoor seating. In addition to all that they have their standard walk up window to grab a quick bite! With all of that said, the last two experiences I've had have definitely been sub par! The first time I was sitting outside and I got the watermelon, feta salad and it was wimpy to say the least! There was barely any watermelon. It's not like watermelon is some expensive commodity-so it just seemed lazy. Especially for the price, come on. The second experience, I grabbed the salmon dish from the window and the salmon was SO beyond dry. I LOVE salmon and this was easily the worst prepared salmon I've ever had. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent food, service was not the best. Not sure where his head was at but certainly not on our table. We are fairly easy to deal with, no real high demand but the basics are what we expect, when you apologize 3 times for not bringing bread you said you'd bring. Maybe a fluke on the service but the good and view was excellent, read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was very disappointing. We started boating in Lake Union and this was a perfect dinner spot. Pros: - beautiful location - bread fresh out of the oven, delish - apps - great -tower of apps - variety, flavor and right on Cons: - our dinner took way too long - couldn't find our waitress - people ordered after us, got food before us - slooooooooow Next time, I'll just buy food at front and not sit down unless I have 2 1/2 hours for food. read more

Ivar's Salmon House - Tower. Absolutely delish - Seafood Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The salmon house has an outdoor dining area on the edge of the water with umbrellas to shield diners from the sun. It's a beautiful view of the sound looking back towards the space needle into downtown. It takes a moment to get used to the traffic noise from I-5 and the Fremont bridge as it's very close to the restaurant. I was meeting friends at the salmon clubhouse for dinner. It's been a while since I had been to this establishment for dinner. We began with two drinks and hors d'oeuvres during happy hour. I had 2 cod and one salmon tacos. The tacos are prepared with grilled chunks of salmon and cod, seasoned and served on a flour tortilla with, shredded cabbage, and a thick sour cream- based topping. I love fish tacos, but faintly seasoned fish, tacos are boring. It could do without the sour cream topping, and the shredded cabbage should have a little more crunched to it, and I would've enjoyed the option of flour versus corn tortillas. For dinner, I had crabcakes on a bed of mashed red potatoes, grilled asparagus, and corn. Let me begin by saying, that over cooked corn or corn that comes out of can is a horrible idea to put on top of any dish. I am a bit of a crabcake aficionado and I love crabcakes. Heavily breaded, poorly seasoned crabcakes really take away from the experience. There were three small crabcakes on the plate, but the bulk of what was served was the heavy breading coating and a very small amount of crab meat still filled with fillers. The mashed potatoes were decent, but there was a sweet sauce that was the base of the dish that really did take away from the experience. The asparagus was perfectly cooked with a little bit of a crunch to them which I enjoyed. The servers were very delayed in taking the order, and remembering drink orders and parts of the dinner order as well. My dinner came to me after everyone else at the table had been served and the server was reminded that I had actually ordered the dinner. Additionally, I had to request, three times, the glass of sparkling water that I had ordered to have with dinner as well as the glass of white wine my friend d had ordered. For dessert we all shared one plate of the three desserts. A slice of flourless decadent chocolate cake, a slice of cheesecake, and a slice of tiramisu that was topped with caramel sauce. I am a chocoholic and have sampled chocolates from various places around the world that produce chocolate. This flourless chocolate cake that we received only a sliver of was the lightest tasting chocolate flourless cake I have ever consumed and would recommend that either they switch the recipe or take it off the menu. The cheesecake was as good as a basic cheesecake can be expected, there was nothing exceptional about it, but it was good. The tiramisu was more exotic than traditional. I had a few bites of it, and would not recommend it for those that are really looking for a true tiramisu or a new experience of tiramisu. Overall, the cost of dining for me and my spouse was about $120. There were seven of us and I could have produced a much better meal with that $120 for the seven of us then what we received for the two of us at the same price. I do understand that restaurants have overhead and cost and staff, etc., but the experience of the food as well as the company. was the main reason we were there. In my opinion, I was delighted that the company of friends made up for the lack of experience in the food at Ivar's Salmon House. read more

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Sitting outside by the water was so nice. Service was very good and the food was amazing!

I've been to Ivar's Salmon House quite a few times. We usually get there early enough to get a table by the window. What a view! We always get the crispy calamari appetizer. It was always delicious but the last time we were there we were a bit disappointed with the dish. It used to be calamari tubes and tentacles. Now it's calamari tubes and small pieces of calamari steaks and not always crispy. The crab cakes, Manila clams, coconut crusted shrimp and clam chowder are favorites. Ordering off the 'Beat The Tide' menu is a good way to have a starter, entree and dessert for a set price. Desserts are wonderful especially the burnt cream and the NY cheesecake. Service is always good. Parking is available. If you get there early enough, you can park in front of the restaurant. If not, you'll have to cross a two lane busy street to get to the other parking lot. read more

Service was amazing! Was here with the UCLA crew team. We had a large party and service was AMAZING! Food was as good as I have heard it was. I had the crab cake appetizer and for main I have the salmon trio. Truly perfection. The mashed potatoes and asparagus were just as yummy. Hubby had the halibut fired fish and it was perfect also. So happy we got a chance to eat here in our visit. read more

If you like Mrs. Paul's fish sticks from the freezer you will love this place. Even the drinks are terrible- I ordered a top shelf margarita- how can you screw up a margarita? My friends got fish and chips- the fries were limp and not cooked properly and the cod and batter tasted like it came out of a frozen food box. The calamari is an abomination. Giant dark fried hunks of calamari with no flavor other than the brown crust and dipping sauce. The sauce was good. Crab cakes- no flavor, no crab. It tasted like they took milk soaked bread and deep fried it- again, no flavor no crab that I could detect- prolly the worst crab cakes I've ever had. My husband wouldn't even eat any of it, he said it was awful. Our servers, Jeff- was excellent. I would have taken a picture of the food but it wasn't worth the time The caesar salad though was excellent. read more