Simply the best Steakhouse in the Pacific Northwest!! I've been coming for 20 years. Incredibly consistent!!

I've been coming to Melrose for YEARS and I've yet to be disappointed by anything! Yes, there is a bit of a wait, but for good reason: Ambiance: the restaurant is dimly lit which is actually preferable for me. It makes the atmosphere cozy and calm, and the other guests in the restaurant aren't talking too loudly. Food: absolutely STELLAR. In addition to their regular menu, they also have a rotating menu and it's delicious. I personally love the top sirloin, salmon, and their seafood pasta dish. During the fall season, I LOVE when they bring out their apple desserts! Everyone in this restaurant feels like family to me, and rarely, if something is undercooked or not to my liking, they are happy to fix it and pretty quickly. Hands down one of the best restaurants in the Greater Seattle Area. I wish I could afford to eat here every day! read more

It had been five years since our last visit to Melrose Grill. Getting a table here isn't easy, walk-in waits can easily exceed two hours, and reservations often need to be made a week or two in advance. This time, we actually planned ahead. The hostess was friendly and welcoming, and we were seated within about five minutes of arriving, which was a great start. The service was excellent... until it wasn't, which ultimately left a sour taste. Our server was attentive and personable early on, but as the restaurant got busier, she was clearly given more tables than she could reasonably handle. It wasn't her fault, it appeared to be a management issue. By the end of the meal, it took nearly 20 minutes to receive our check and another 10 minutes for our credit card to be run. I ordered the filet with a baked potato and added grilled shrimp, which I split with my dining partner. The filet absolutely lived up to the hype. It was like butter, perfectly cooked and incredibly tender. The shrimp were equally impressive with great seasoning and a perfect char. We both started with the blue cheese salad. It was good, but if you're expecting a bold blue cheese flavor, you may be disappointed. It was much milder than expected. The complimentary bread service consisted of two rolls that were unfortunately overbaked and rock hard. It wasn't a huge deal, but it wasn't the best first impression of the meal. I also thought charging an extra $2 for cheese and sour cream on a baked potato was a bit excessive especially for a $84 meal. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner, and the steak was excellent. However, the experience didn't quite live up to the reputation or the effort it takes to get a reservation. Between the service falling apart toward the end of the meal and a few small disappointments, I'm not sure we'll be rushing back anytime soon. read more

The Melrose Grill - Salad with blue cheese dressing - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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THE MELROSE GRILL- An icon of Renton fine dining. When you ask about some of Renton's most well known restaurants, on that list, inevitably, is the Melrose Grill. I visited the restaurant with my friend, and it's reputation definitely marks this Renton establishment as an institution. Outside of Renton, the Melrose is a must see. From its beginnings in Washington's early statehood in 1901, Melrose was a three story hotel, card room, and saloon. Melrose has stood the test of time. Since it's opening, Melrose has served, literally, generations of Renton residents as well as providing fine dining to its most esteemed guests from around the world. Operated and co-owned by Chef Franco Philips, and local restauranter and Renton Mayor, Armondo Pavone, Melrose Grill sets the bar for quality service, atmosphere and great food. Today, the Melrose Grill is colloquially known as a fine dining steak house. This restaurant would happily go toe-to-toe with other regional steak houses in terms of customer satisfaction. Admittedly, the Melrose Grill is much smaller compared to most other peer establishments in the city. However, given the glowing reviews, you must see it for yourself. The historic photos, great smells from the grill, clanking chatter from the bar, and low lighting all create a signature vibe that alerts you that you will definitely have a fun evening. For me, I had the rare ribeye steak, loaded baked potato, and fresh pan seared vegetables - all included. The meal came with a complimentary basket of fresh, house baked warm bread! Don't forget to order yourself a tasty crunchy side salad. For me, I had to have their Ceasar Salad, along with in-house made Ceasar dressing. By the way, did you need a glass of wine or a special cocktail to round out your experience? The Melrose boasts some of the best bar staff and stocked selections in the city, who work to get to know you and your preferences. It only rewards you to come back just to chat and swap stories with your bartender behind the counter. The bar is also the best view to watch the action in the semi-open kitchen. One item of note - The people at Melrose work hard to make your meal to your satisfaction. Emily, my most extraordinary Melrose bartender, noticed a slight sad-frown I had when my perfectly cooked steak was not what I expected. So, they remade it, and it was delivered by Chef Franco directly, and with pride. They cheered with me as they immediately saw the happy and astonished look of beeming joy. I was not expecting such an act of supreme customer service. It was something I never encountered, even at any of Seattle's finest establishments. With great thanks, I say "BRAVO!" If you are looking for a similar experience at the Melrose Grill, you may want to call ahead if you can. I would even go as far as asking if your favorite cut of steak will be available. Because, you never know what the heart craves from customer to customer, night after night. Especially if you have a large parties. It can get extremely packed, even on a week night! But, whatever night you choose, the wait is worth it. Especially, at a place the defines Renton's very own home-town version of hospitality. Thank you, Melrose Grill!! read more

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Updating my review after a few recent visits to give a realistic look at what you're getting into at Melrose Grill. The Logistics: Don't even think about showing up without a reservation unless you want to stare at a 1-2 hour wait. Try to book right at opening. The seating layout is tight; the bar area gets packed instantly with walk-in regulars, the front is noisy with waiting crowds & bright with door openings, and the back tables lack intimacy. Pro-tip: Come early and request a booth toward middle of restaurant for intimate experience. The Drinks: One of the first things to do is order a cocktail. If you're a whiskey or rye lover, this is the night to pivot as the Old Fashioned routinely misses the mark here. Instead, steer yourself toward their martini--it is outstanding, genuinely well-made, and they give you a fantastic pour. The Service: The kitchen speed dictates the entire rhythm of the restaurant. If you try to rush things or complain, your server will likely get defensive. Go with the flow and you'll have a great time. The Food: There's no appetizers to start it off. The steaks are where Melrose Grill shines. Go for the ribeye or filet cooked medium-rare. Only the included spinach salad is okay (the other salads are drowning in dressing). The steaks come with a massive pile of steamed veggies and a smaller baked potato that comes drenched in butter. Next time, I'm passing on the veggies and ordering the potato undressed with a side of bacon so I can control the toppings. The Bottom Line: A steak and two drinks will run you $80-$100, so a couple's date night easily hits $200. It's a solid meal, but the overall vibe depends heavily on when you arrive and the table location. read more

Solid neighborhood steakhouse in downtown Renton. True steakhouse feel and quality with a down to earth vibe Food/Menu: I had the new york strip special which was 22oz for $85. It was charred and cooked very well and came with a variety of vegetables, my choice of potatoes (crispy, mashed, or baked), and a side salad (bleu cheese or vinaigrette). They also serve a variety of other cuts, and my family enjoyed their ribeyes. They have an expansive menu with a variety of meats and the rotating specials included lobster and fish. For dessert we tried the cheesecake with marionberry syrup and the lemon tart. I personally enjoyed the lemon tart more Price: We spent about $80 per person after tax and tip, I think for the quality and quantity (steak + all the included add ons) I think the price is well worth it Service/Ambiance: The staff was very friendly and there is a true steakhouse vibe here (dark, large booths, etc.). One funny thing is that the staff helped box our food which I am thankful for, but actually handed each person the wrong box so we each took the wrong leftovers home which we discovered later. I'd highly suggest making a reservation in advance as this is a popular place! read more

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This place has a real neighborhood-staple feel to it I ordered the steak medium-rare, but unfortunately, it came out cooked to a medium instead. Even though it wasn't exactly what I asked for, it was still a good meal, just not quite great. I still enjoyed it, but for a steakhouse, you definitely hope they hit that temperature perfectly. The service here was good. The staff was super energetic, fun, and attentive throughout our dinner. As for the vibe, the place is nice and comfortable. It isn't anything glamorous or flashy, but it offers a solid, classic dining experience. We really enjoyed our time here and had a fun night being out together. While I enjoyed the meal and the good service, I don't know if I'm necessarily drawn to come back again anytime soon since the steak didn't completely blow me away. That said, if you're looking for a relaxed, classic night out with an energetic staff, it's still a nice spot to check out. read more

In my opinion, it wasn't worth what I paid. The atmosphere was dark, and everything looked old. As for the food, I ordered a Caesar salad--it wasn't very good--so I ordered a ribeye because everyone raved about it in the reviews I read. It was greasy and burnt, with cold fries that looked like they were from IHOP. I ate half of it because I was hungry, but I stopped because it tasted so bad. In the end, I spent $100.00, including tip, for nothing. Translated with DeepL.com (free version) read more

I really wanted to have a great experience here, but unfortunately it fell short. Our waitress, Emily, was friendly at first, and I made sure to show appreciation by leaving a $30 tip. However, I realized that our entire to-go order had been forgotten in addition to a few other things. What was most disappointing wasn't just the mistake, it happens.....but the lack of effort to make it right. There was no accountability or urgency to fix the situation, which left a bad impression after what had otherwise started as a decent visit. Customer service is about how you recover when things go wrong, and this was a missed opportunity. The ambiance was good and the food was great (lamb & steak). The overall service, unfortunately was just an absolute miss! read more

The Melrose Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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Great vibe and booths that allow conversation. Food is amazing and I haven't found a better steak In WA. Don't miss the scallops either! Consistently good - I've been returning for 20 years! read more

Food was alright, nothing stood out to me. I ordered the New York steak cut with a loaded potato and Caesar salad as the sides. The Caesar salad tasted like your typical Caesar salad, the sauce tasted like it came from a bottle. The loaded potato was a bit sad. Not really loaded in my opinion. I ordered my steak medium rare, it came out a bit overcooked but I feel like that's the usual when going out for a steak these days. The host was nice when greeting my party. Our server was horrible though. From the start she just seemed annoyed to be serving us. It wasn't that busy when we went too (7:30 on a Sunday). We had a party of 6 but we made sure to be ready to order to have things go by swiftly. She forgot about one of our drinks but was able to get it pretty quickly after we asked about it. When she couldn't hear us, she would let out a loud "What?!", which was annoying to deal with. I don't expect a jolly attitude but a more neutral attitude woulda been better to deal with. I wouldn't come back. read more

Make reservations ASAP! Came here with friends. Price was very reasonable for a steakhouse. Probably the best steak I have had at a restaurant. So flavorable and cooked to perfection. We also added a lobster and it was cooked just right and great portions. Caesar salad also was so good. We got all sorts of desserts and everything was delicious. Would absolutely come back again read more

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The steaks tasted delicious and were cooked perfectly! I liked that the steaks came with a salad on the side as well. I thought the additions of prawns were pretty pricey but did taste good. The slice of cheesecake was creamy and had a yummy crust! They had the original bar from when the building was built which was pretty neat! Our servers were nice and attentive as well with great recommendations. The experience was good overall and I think it's not the most overpriced steakhouse in the area. read more

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We came last week and had a delicious dinner! The price is fantastic it Includes a salad, your protein of choice, and you get to pick what type of potato and veggies! The food was all really good! We did end up sitting for a lot longer than I would have liked but the food was great! The picana and filet were both delicious! read more

Note we went New Years Eve. A notorious time to dine out. Service was pleasant though not attentive. One of us ordered the spinach salad and it was swimming in dressing. We couldn't flag anyone down to discuss. When they came to prepare our table for entrées it was too late. Though they offered to remove the charge from the bill. The Caesar salads were better. Still heavily dressed, but with enough croutons and anchovy to carry us along eating it. Those who ordered steaks were happy with their meals. Especially pleased the steaks were cooked to the doneness requested. However, I was not a fan of the beef stroganoff. The pieces of meat were full of gristle and connective tissue. They must use this dish to get rid of trimmings. Very disappointing. The flavor was bland. I do not recommend this dish. The side of sautéed spinach was lovely. We tried 3 desserts and 2 were hits. The flourless chocolate cake was luscious and the apple crisp enjoyed. The bread pudding was dry and not very sweet. I'm hoping its usually better. The best bite of the meal was the warm roll. Delicious and with great texture. Loved that roll! read more

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First off I'd like to say thank you for my wife in recommending this unbelievably great steak house to my now most go to spots in town! She raved about it after going and I finally got my taste of this well aged - 28 days - Melrose cut 15 ounce filet mignon steak that was a very thick cut and cooked to medium rare perfection. It was def melt I you mouth goodness! Each order came with a heaping pile of grilled veggies and we opted for the garlic mashed potatoes. Although you can have a Baked Potato, Crispy Parmesan Potatoes or Basmati Rice Pilaf. For starters they offer a green salad - choose between blue cheese or balsamic vinaigrette dressings - and nicely warmed buns with butter. The menu doesn't consist of just steaks and they have a variety of seafood and other main dish choices. We finished off with a coconut bread pudding and an apple crisp tart that were both yummy. Be sure to have it topped with a scoop of vanilla ice creams Our server was great and attentive to our needs. The ambiance was nice in a semi-dark setting and the three story historic building has been around since 1901. I'm sold and will for sure be back! read more

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Terrible service. We were there for our 30Th wedding anniversary and waited for 45 minutes before we flagged down the waitress. Not once did anyone stop by to say what was taking so long. The ticket was lost and she said the manager would speak to us and he didn't stop by. We waited an additional 10 minutes before we got up and asked how much the Iced tea was so we could leave. 3 people failed - the cook who lost the ticket, the waitress who never checked on us or the ticket to see after 45 minutes where the food could be and the manager who never once stopped by to let us know how they'd fix the problem. read more

Epic steakhouse in the most inconspicuous place you'll ever dine at! The Melrose in my opinion is the best steakhouse in the Pacific Northwest. Located in the heart Renton "The Melrose" provided me with the highest quality of steaks I've ever eaten and you'll probably ever dine on. From the moment you arrive I'm greeted with a smile and asked if I have a reservation, which is YES. Hopefully you've made reservations cause I doubt you'll be seated. Now if you're flying solo the bar has seating and you'll have full access to the menu. Plus it's come with a beverage architect with sommelier skills to assist you on your evening journey. Ok, my favorite meals are the rib eye steak medium. It's flame grilled to perfection with char marks for verification. Franks second option is the Beef Stroganoff which is a master piece for your pallet. The stroganoff is packed with more pieces of prime rib meat than your colon can handle but it's delicious... I'd suggest you order the stroganoff & steak and share with two or three people. One more item is the side of Sautéed onions to smother your steak with should it be available. Gave me that extra splash of flavor enhancement that I'd highly recommend. And NO STEAK SAUCE NEEDED the steak has more than enough flavor for you to handle. Few side notes for you and that's salad & bread come with the meal. A few tasty deserts also can be purchased. Each night has several specials if you look for the chalk board or your waiter can share them. As I stated before this is the best steak in town and oddly enough it's very economical to dine here. So make sure you dine, drink & tip your wait person! read more

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My husband and I made a 7:30 reservation at Melrose Grill tonight to celebrate our anniversary, the hope to keep things low-key and local. When we arrived, the lobby was absolutely packed with people standing shoulder to shoulder. We battled the chaos of the hostess stand, checked in and waited patiently, assuming they were simply running behind. But as time went on, and every single group and couple - some who arrived well after us started being seated. Then more groups. Then more. Eventually the lobby had completely emptied out while we were still sitting there wondering if we'd somehow been forgotten. After 15 minutes, 30, 45, then over an hour with zero communication, no apology, no status update, and no acknowledgement whatsoever, my husband finally asked if we had been skipped. By that point, even walk-ins had been seated while we sat there feeling honestly pretty foolish. The entire evening had been soured. We were sitting in the cobwebbed infested dusty lobby for an hour bummed out and felt completely deprioritized. We decided to just leave rather than spend $200 on a dinner experience that already felt awful before even reaching a table. What's the point of making a reservation if it isn't honored or even acknowledged? No stars. Chaos. Looked dusty, staff needs training :( Lobby area needs a deep clean. read more

The Melrose Grill - Avoiding the butt sweat on the lobby seating. - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

Great food. Great service. Nice old school dark steakhouse with high backed booths. The steak was cooked to perfection and so were those potato's ! read more

The Melrose Grill - Salmon with garlic mashed potatoes - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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We went to the Melrose Grill and brought some out of town guests. It was a fantastic dinner. We got ribeyes, filet,and the Picanha - all cool perfectly - the side salads, bread- and sides of the meal were also great. Fantastic spot for a dinner or date night! read more

Tonight we decided to try a neighborhood spot in Renton that the wife and I last visited 4 years ago. The atmosphere in the Melrose Grill screams casual and cozy, the food is anything but that. It was a real busy evening as every part of the restaurant was humming. This space is not particularly large so when our party of 4 arrived every booth, table, and bar seat was occupied. We were eventually seated a few minutes after our reservation time. The front house staff were welcoming and kept us abreast of when a booth might become available. Once seated our server quickly engaged us, deposited menus and brought water. To begin, we ordered wine and chose our entrees. Melrose Grill is one of the few restaurants where a salad comes with your entree. Imagine that!! So, regarding the food, one person chose the Ribeye Steak which included assorted broiled vegetables and a Beefstake Tomatoes and Danish Blue Cheese Salad. Another chose the Beef Stroganoff special with a Caesar Salad. My wife decided on the Grilled Prawns with rice pilaf, fresh vegetables and the Blue Cheese Salad. I went with the Lobster Tail Dinner special including a baked potato, assorted vegetables and a Caesar Salad. I seriously considered adding a second Lobster Tail, next time I probably will. We all agreed that our selections were great! A tip of the cap to the kitchen, everything was well prepared and seasoned just right. The steak and lobster tail were moist and delicious, not overcooked. The other dishes were also tasty. Oh, and Melrose does not skimp on portions either. You will definitely get your monies worth dining there. For dessert we chose the Lemon Tart with Bourbon Caramel sauce, the Coconut Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce, and the Crème Brûlée. We loved the desserts! If you are in Renton or looking for a spot for dinner outside Seattle consider the Melrose Grill. Great food, excellent service, and a cozy feel even on a very busy Thursday evening. We will not wait another 4 years to return. read more

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5/5 From the moment we stepped into Melrose Grill, we could feel the charm of this historic spot (Est. 1901!) mixed with a cozy steakhouse vibe. We started with fresh salads (included with your entree) --crisp greens with just the right amount of dressing--then moved on to the real stars of the evening: the entrées. The ribeye with sautéed mushrooms and onions was perfectly grilled, tender, and flavorful, with a generous portion size that made it impossible to leave hungry. The seafood pasta was decadent and creamy, loaded with scallops, shrimp and halibut, while the lobster tail with rice pilaf and vegetables was buttery, and cooked to perfection. Sides like the baked potato (loaded with cheese, bacon bits, and chives) and vibrant roasted vegetables rounded everything out beautifully. And the desserts? Pure indulgence--especially the crème brûlée and warm apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Service the best. Our server was personable and attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere made it easy to enjoy both great food and great company. If you're in the Renton area and craving a top-quality steakhouse experience with generous portions and spot-on execution, Melrose Grill is a must-visit. read more

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Always have great service. The ribeye steak and ceasar salad are the best ever. Wish they were open for lunc and had a large ceasar salad with grilled chicken. I'd be there for lunch at least once a week. read more

We had high expectations after reading the reviews and were pleased to see all of them exceeded. Our server, Raina, had excellent suggestions, a cheerful demeanor and everything was better than expected. The ribeye and filets were seasoned and cooked perfectly and the crème brûlée was a fantastic suggestion for dessert. We are from out of town but will make it a point to return. If you haven't been here before you won't be disappointed! read more

First time coming to this spot. Cool history and good vibe. We had reservations and it did take awhile to get seated but that wasn't on the staff. Food was really good. My steak didn't come out ideal at first but it was made right and enjoyed the meal. Would come back to try other items. read more

The Melrose Grill - Ribeye with crispy Parmesan potatoes and asparagus. - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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We spend all of our special occasions here and we came to celebrate our 28th wedding anniversary. It's a low-key, small dining space with excellent "Ruth's Chris" or "John Howie" level steaks. I love the casual ambiance. But they were very busy, and we got stuck in the back middle table. The wait staff could barely squeeze between my husband's chair and the diner seated extremely close behind him. And once the waiter walked by and cracked my husband in the head with a pepper mill. My husband is a lovely, kind person, but he looked extremely annoyed by that. The waiter apologized twice but still. We made reservations for my husband's birthday next weekend because he just loves his Delmonico. Hoping for a booth to avoid concussions. read more

Food here was amazing, the salads were nice and the service was great! I really enjoyed the ribeye I'm still thinking about days after. The bread was also very good. The tables are rather small though. read more

The Melrose Grill - Dessert - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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My boyfriend brought me there for mother's day, i can't believe I've never been there before. Food was delicious and service was great. read more

The Melrose Grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

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The food and service is great! The steaks are so good. I also l9ve the vegetables and kale cesar salad. The salad is so fresh.

Amazing food, really great atmosphere and service. Best steaks in renton! Definitely a must visit if you are visiting the area.

The redemption arc that no one saw coming. I didn't anticipate coming back here after my first experience over a year ago wasn't great. My new gf was trying to plan a "romantic" date night and picked this spot- we went in to it expecting it to either be really good or so bad it would be a funny memory. Thankfully it was super good. I ordered the top sirloin and it was seasoned so well I didn't need to do anything, the crispy potatoes were actually crispy (some with a char), the veggies were super good and the side of peppercorn sauce was sublime. The spinach salad was a little weird personally. The garlic mashed potatoes were better than the crispy ones and the filet was super good too. Great experience. read more

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My first experience at this establishment. Food was amazing but ordered steak medium rare. Came out well done. Took them 10 minutes to get me a new one. Service was extremely slow. Server was less than friendly. read more

Service is super. Staff positive and understanding when asking questions The food is worth every penny just hard to get reservations esp 4 or more read more

We ate here with family. This place was pretty good but I should've gotten the steak. I got the pork medallions. They don't have much flavor much than the sauce you use. So make sure you use that sauce! The place outside and indoors reminds of some type of pub like a Simpson Moe's Tavern. Really nice looking and the servers were really attentive. If I go again I'll assure to get the steak and those delicious garlic mashed potatoes! Those were my favorite! read more

The Melrose Grill - Pork medallions - Steakhouses Near Me - Renton, Washington

Still a solid 4 stars. Lobster shrunk by about 50% this time. Had I known I would've ordered differently. The waitress was very nice and did try to make up for the smaller somewhat dry lobster. Next time it's rib eye or lamb chops. The peach dessert is a huge miss also. Should've went with the bread pudding thing that was suggested. Again as last time some employees definitely need some polishing. Well I know what im getting next time! If you like steak and potatoes you will like it here. read more

Melrose Grill was awesome Mother's Day Dinner got seated 15 minutes before closing and still had a complete Steak Dinner With Caesar Salad, bread, Seafood Linguine and Delmonico Steak Coconut Bread, Pudding. Service was wonderful and the Atmosphere was bustling with laughter and loud noise read more

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Melrose Grill is my absolute favorite steakhouse in the greater-Seattle area. My family has been coming here for years, and we have a great experience every time. Steaks here are seasoned generously and cooked to perfection. Each entree comes with bread service, a house salad, vegetables, and a side of your choice. This visit, we ordered a ribeye and filet, both of which were excellent. The restaurant is small and dimly lit, always bustling, and has the greatest staff. May has been our server multiple times, and is always very kind and welcoming. I would definitely recommend putting The Melrose Grill on your list of places to check out in Renton, and highly suggest making a reservation. read more

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Great food, every time. Book well in advance; it's a smaller restaurant. Good for conversations.

Good food, friendly service. Tables are a bit crowded and it took awhile to get our stuff.