What an amazing date night with my husband for his birthday dinner part 1 @ the whiskey by John howie. Shoutout to our server Xavier T. Thank you so much for an amazing evening! My husband and I already have reservations tomorrow for his birthday dinner part 2 at the John howie steak house. We just wanted a little bite with a few drinks at the whiskey bar, but we didn't expect that they would have the WL Weller tasting event. All of the course foods are wonderful and tasty. Our server Xavier was very knowledgeable about the whiskey and kept checking in on us. We can't wait to go back tomorrow for dinner at the John howie steak house for his part 2 dinner! Candy pork belly was tender and bacon jam stuffed gougere was delicious! I didn't know the steel head trout was going to be juicy and melt in your mouth. The Mango sauce blended well with the tender chicken thigh. Jalapeño corn bread with beef brisket slider was on a different level. Dessert was a little dry, but popcorn was crunchy. It all blended well with whiskey. read more

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There's something so good about a steakhouse Caesar salad and this place doesn't disappoint. The old fashioned I got was pretty decent, too. I will be back to try the steak! read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Been here on date night a few times. Really nice booth seating for a date. Quieter than the bar in John howie. They have a 90 min happy hour, kinda nice setup. You can order steaks and whatnot which we shared once but the apps were nice. Brussels sprouts, the shrimp, the deviled eggs. This last time around wife got the smashburger. I had a bite, it was very good. I love the burger from Jak's and this one was in that ballpark. Really extensive whiskey collection and a few nice whiskey cocktails. We wanted one more drink and said we'd split it, and they actually chiseled an ice rock and had two small glasses. So we each got a cherry, nice! read more

Came to John Howie for dinner and chose to sit in the Whiskey bar. Same menu as the restaurant. The food is top notch. We always bring our own wine and pay a corkage fee. The fee is higher in the bar, steep at $45. We will eat in the restaurant in the future for the same good food. Service was great. Low lighting and moderate noise level. read more

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ambiance was good. good for date night. not too loud so we can talk. service was great. food was fine. good cocktails.

Went to happy hour and blown away with fantastic drinks, incredible service at the bar by Ryan and Asian fusion steak bites. We were needing a great Old Fashioned while in Bellevue and found John Howie. Not disappointed as great whisky selection, appetizers and the house happy hour drinks were both reasonably priced and tasted fantastic! Nice being in a bar where the least expensive happy hour whiskey is above average if not better! Love this place! Please don't let too many people know so we have room at the bar. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Steak bites - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Ryan really saved the day here. This birthday celebration was 100% underwhelming next door with 2 undercooked steaks and several other issues. $500 for 3 people with no alcohol and no appetizers is absolutely diabolical to begin with. Add to that several missteps and we have what one might call a total miss. Back to Ryan though. This guy gave me a hard time at first then had me cracking up. I ordered a drink i usually concoct if the bar has the ingredients. Its a proprietary mix. Well Ryan put his spin on it and made it better somehow! My friend was shocked as was I. So awesome to be able to end a very expensive mediocre evening on a high note. We will be back to see Ryan for sure. That's probably the only reason... read more

I ordered their smash burger, and it wasn't a smash burger at all. The portion of ground beef was very nice and each patty enough to make a good burger, but it was very bland and thick. The opposite of a smash burger. Put some seasoning on the patties. Smush them to create more surface area for the seasoning. The bacon was undercooked and chewy, but the onions were perfect. I took a cooking class at a respected college on onions so I appreciate good onions. Also, I ordered it without sauce. The menu described it as "drive-in" sauce, but the cook said he didn't know what was in it. Instead of no sauce, he put a bunch of mustard on my burger. I ordered no sauce! I've worked in or for restaurants my entire life so I know better than to ever do something like that to a customer. Ever. The fries were the worst part of the experience. They were so undercooked they were soggy and a little nasty oily from whatever they put on them. They were cut way too thick for how little they cooked them, but with the extra oil and being undercooked, they were pretty darn good rewarmed in my air fryer. I'm not a Brussels sprout fan, but my friend substituted them for the fries for a reasonable $4. She really liked them. The only one of us that didn't have the burger had the king salmon. It looked really good, but my friend said it was tough. The piece he gave to me might as well been from a can. Also, it had way too much acetic acid on it I guess in an attempt to make it less tough. Their selection of beer is terrible, but to be fair whiskey is in the name. The beer was $9 for a Coors Light clone. That's too much for a beer that was flat from a glass that wasn't clean enough and from lines that tasted like they weren't cleaned often enough for the beer to form bubbles. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

We had a fantastic anniversary visit and our server Xavier went above and beyond to ensure that our evening was absolutely perfect, but at the same time we could definitely tell that this is how he usually is- excellent. No complaints! We will be back! read more

Very nice whiskey collection and cocktails in this upscale bar at Bellevue, loved the manhattans that I had. Drinks tasted well and we had a very nice buzz after two drinks. Highly recommend the place. read more

We just stopped here for a quick drink and bite while waiting for our table at a different restaurant, and we left very satisfied! This is a cool place with a classy yet approachable vibe. It seems like a great place to eat solo, on a date or to catch up with a friend. This was a fantastic bread bowl! We got so many different types of bread and a nice side of whipped butter. We were expecting so much bread but were pleasantly surprised. Drinks were elegant and delicious! Service was nice and pleasant. Definitely planning to come back soon read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Bread bowl - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Had a great time on a Saturday night trying everything on the happy hour menu. The drinks were made well. Balanced. The food was excellent. Some choices for everyone. We were able to try some steak, some veggies, and the signature tempura bacon. We will be back for more. It was a little dark but I loved the little lamps on the table and the sumptuous leather booths. The waiter was attentive and so was the buss staff. The bartender was fun and knowledgeable. read more

Love this more casual version of John Howie, adjacent to John Howie. I like the cozy leather booths. Whiskey collection is impressive but I'm not a fan and still enjoyed some other cocktails and the cheeseburger was phenomenal. My husband loved the ribeye. Same great quality beef that you get at John Howie. Service was attentive, friendly and pretty fast. It was busy on a Saturday night. Free validated parking at the Bravern. Check out their food and drink happy hour Tuesday-Saturday 5-6:30pm. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Cheeseburger - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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I won two certificates at auction for both Whiskey by John Howie & John Howie Steakhouse. We decided to go to Whiskey by John Howie to start our night with some drinks. We came in right after opening so it was pretty empty, but the ambiance was nice. Service was kind of slow, we were trying to be in and out for our dinner at a John Howie Steakhouse across hall, took about 10 minutes for the waiter to cash us out after handing us the check. We got two drinks and a dessert. Which added up to about $55 with the 20% service fee added. My partner wasn't a huge fan of the rye whiskey (honestly he hated it), he got the western meadowlark and took a few sips before just letting the waiter take it away. The waiter didn't actually ask him if he liked it but he asked me if I liked mine, which was delicious. I got the passion fruit Rita. Would we return? Eh. Drinks are pretty small and I'd rather just get drinks at the John Howie steakhouse where I know the service is incredible. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Great little spot, very hidden, but definitely a gem worth visiting. The atmosphere is dark, intimate and great for dates and smaller groups. They do offer great whiskey options, nice mixed drinks and even tasting flights. The menu is smaller, but has some sharable plates and a small selection of main dishes. Definitely recommend the steak flatbread, brussel sprouts, shrimp, cheeseburger and steak frites. I wish they had a slightly larger main dish menu, but still some good options. Service was definitely great and they validate your parking for 4h down in the garage. read more

It was good times. Awesome Manhattan. Delish bites. Cozy quiet ambiance (ie adults only here). Decent service. Will return! read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Happy hour menu - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Just adjacent to John Howie Steak at the Bravern, this is a smaller space than the restaurant. A few tables and booth and stools at the bar. We got seated in a booth -- which I found the seats to be uncomfortable maybe because I'm short. It's a high-end bar so food menu is limited, but the ones we had are delicious and typical of John Howie food -- delicious, good quality, and pricey. The drinks menu can be overwhelming -- pages and pages of whiskey variety, gin, vodka, rum, agave. There are a few cocktails as well. My companion had the whiskey flights -- nothing grabbed him on the flights menu so the server suggested 3 of his choice from the whiskey menu but only served 1 oz each. Server explained the price and serving on the menu are for 2 oz, so he would get charged half the menu price for the flights. My companion chose 3 Japan Whisky -- Hibiki Harmony, Yamazaki 12 Year, Kurayoshi Sherry Cask. He liked them all, but he ended up ordering the Yamazaki 12 Year. I'm not much of a whiskey drinker, but since they specialize in this drink, I chose a cocktail from their whiskey cocktail section -- Paper Plane -- Four Roses, Aperol, Amaro Montenegro, Lemon $15. I loved this drink! It's not too sweet. For food we ordered from the Shareables: Whiskey Glazed Brussels Sprouts - deep fried, sweet whiskey glaze, dried apple, bacon, pecans $14. Yummy! Wagyu Steak Nachos - Oaxaca $ white cheddar cheese, chipotle grilled Wagyu steak, Mexican crema, spicy avocado tomatillo salsa, pickled red onion, pickled jalapeno, cotija cheese $18. This was another level of nachos! I highly recommend this dish. It was flavorful! Brisket flatbread - slow braised beef brisket, Makers Mark BBQ sauce, red onion, cilantro Monterrey Jack and gouda cheeses $19. Another great dish! I would order these 3 dishes again. We're already talking about coming back as a bigger group so we can try other dishes! Yes, we had room for dessert -- NY Style Cheesecake with huckleberry compote $12. I appreciate that they have the huckleberry compote on the side instead of pouring it on the cheesecake. The cheesecake was light. Perfect ending! Service was good -- just what you'd expect from a John Howie establishment. Server, as well as the GM, checked on us frequently. read more

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I don't see the attraction in paying a very high premium to eat mediocre food on expensive real estate.

Food was good in general, skewer was good but a bit too salty. Portion was bigger than expected so we had to take some of them to go. Service was good. They auto added 20% of tips. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Korean wagyu skewer, nachos, Brussels sprouts - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

It was our second time at Whiskey and we decided to bring my mom who was in town visiting for a quick bite and some drinks! For food, we ordered the Nashville hot chicken bites, wagyu flatbread, wagyu nachos, and the shrimp and grits. All so good!!! We fell in love with the wagyu nachos during our first visit and they were just as good as the first time. Highly recommend trying them out! I really enjoyed my Nashville hot chicken bites. I liked how it was a dry rub instead of sauce and loved the spice! I ordered the pear kamikaze for a drink and it was amazing!! I'm into sweeter drinks and it had the perfect amount of sweetness. Will definitely be ordering this again! The service was wonderful too! Our server Lisa who was our server the first time we went was very sweet and attentive with us. The kitchen messed up on one of our orders and she let us keep the incorrect pizza while the kitchen made another one. She also guided us through choosing drinks based on what we typically like in a cocktail. The ambiance at Whiskey is great - the leather booths and the dim lighting give the place an upscale and intimate vibe. Highly recommend coming here for some yummy food and drinks! Perfect place for a date night too! read more

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This is a fun spot for a happy hour in downtown Bellevue. I'm a big fan of John Howie and it's a fun and more affordable entry point. The portions for the happy hour plates were great and the food was delicious. We opted for their promotional offer of two apps and two drinks each and were quite full and happy at the end! Note they open at 5 on the dot, so don't come for a super early happy hour! read more

good ambience and service for a Friday night relaxing meal and drinks; looking forward to coming back soon read more

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Came here before dinner next door. There were very few people present and the hostess immediately greeted us. Since we were only there for drinks thought we would hang out at the mostly empty bar. I have to admit the whole experience was kinda terrible. The bar was sticky from various cocktails. It appeared it hadn't been cleaned for awhile - or there was a hellavau party we just missed because it was clearly marked with glass rings and sticky spills. No one cleaned during the 45 minutes we sat there despite the whole bar needing it and it was so slow I would have thought it would have been a welcome task to break up the boredom. The service was not good. Our waiter reminded me of a teenager who was forced to get a summer job by his parents. He couldn't have been more disinterested if he tried. Out of all the years, and all the John Howie restaurants I visited this was the worst service. The cocktail was good, but not enough to inspire me to return. read more

I'm glad to see that John Howie has taken over this beautiful spot in the Bravern and made it a more casual spot, featuring dark liquors and craft cocktails. Only open on the weekends, for any John Howie fan, this is one to check out without the crowds, in a more laidback setting. Plus, you can enjoy the entire John Howie Steak food menu here, too! My friend and I had happy hour here on a Friday, which was solid. We met around 5pm, and the place had plenty of spots open for seating, which was nice. We were able to sit in one of the large, comfy leather booths that's meant for a larger party. Service was also attentive the entire time. Though they serve the entire food menu from nearby John Howie Steak, the happy hour menu differs. And yes, they have a burger special for only $15, which is a bargain. My friend and I each ordered the burger and tried some cocktails. I had an old fashioned and Manhattan while my friend had the Current and Rye concoction. The drink menu is outta this world. They have everything you can imagine and our server was happy to make any recommendations. The burger was solid. And hearty. Like John Howie Steak, the burger comes with fries and is a 10-oz beef patty hunkered down. However, the Whiskey burger came with bleu cheese and bourbon-caramelized onions. It was definitely tasty. Comparing it to John Howie Steak, I still prefer JH's since it's a more classic flavor, but the Whiskey burger is certainly worth trying. We had a great time here. I would love to come back again for happy hour and work my way through their delicious bar food menu and try more craft cocktails, which is obvious they take pride in. read more

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This is a cute date night restaurant, a place to get drinks or just have a small bite. The service is always outstanding! We got the shrimp & grits, wagyu nachos (our favorite!!), Nashville hot chicken bites and a bbq pizza! All the food tastes very rich and flavorful. The only food we wouldn't get again was the pizza, which wasn't as good as everything else. This place does taste high quality, though. Note: They automatically add a 20% service charge to your bill, regardless of party size. They do validate your parking! They did mess up our order(put sauce on the pizza) but admitted to it when they brought it to our table. They let us keep the pizza and made us a new one. Most restaurants don't do that, so I was glad to see how nice they were, and they didn't charge us for two pizzas! Great service read more

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If there's a restaurant or bar named Whiskey you can bet I'll be there, especially if it's by John Howie. This is located right next to John Howie Steak in the Bravern mall. I came here at 4pm right when they opened for their happy hour (they call it whiskey hour and it's 4pm-6pm) and half the tables were already taken. Within the next hour all of them were occupied so make sure you get here early or make reservations. Before I was taken to my seat I was asked to take a picture of a QR code to get the menu, but of course if you don't have your phone for whatever reason they have paper menus as well. On the left is the wall of whiskey that I love and right next to that is an open kitchen. I also noticed that employees were walking in from outside bringing in food to serve to people so I'm guessing they cooked it in John Howie Steak and brought it over to serve. My first drink was the Rob Roy ($9) which was delicious, but what really caught my eye (or tastebuds I guess) was the cherry in the drink. I remember eating it and then my eyes went wide-open and I thought, "I need to know the recipe for these cherries". My second drink was the New Orleans in the Rye ($17 - not on the happy hour menu) and it was spicy, herbal, but smooth and completely balanced. My third and final drink was the Manhattan ($9) which was great as well. I was told that they use Old Forester for the bourbon and Michter's for the rye. All the drinks were amazing and I would've loved to try their other libations on the menu. For food I ordered the burger ($15) which was really a lot of food and it was damn good since the burger itself is huge and it also comes with fries. You can taste the slight bleu cheese and I love the sweetness of the caramelized onions. This isn't a place that I would go frequently because it is on the pricier side, but I'm glad I came here once because that's all I needed to know that this is a great place. read more

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WAGYU NACHOS. Hands-down, the most flavorful, interesting and delicious nachos we've ever ever had. The brussels sprouts were to die for. The cocktails were yummy! The butterscotch dessert with brittle was unreal. The booths are cozy. The ambience is a vibe and I was living for it! First time here and won't be the last. Great spot! Wonderful staff! read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Good experience, enjoyed the hospitality by Chappel, who let me stay late (closing time), and introduced me to many whiskies. Cannot say there are any bargains in terms of whiskey here, but the collection is sure deep. Overall great time and would come back to try some more of the world of whiskey. read more

Tucked away near John Howie Steaks, visited with a friend on a Saturday night. There was no wait, although there were a couple of tables occupied. Patrons of the steakhouse often stop here for a drink beforehand. Food was great; the ancho chile shrimp flavorful, brussel sprouts nicely charred with a sweet glaze, and steak well seasoned and cooked just as requested. Drinks (two Scotch cocktails) were generous. The server was wonderful, attentive and friendly. Prices on the higher side but we found it worth it. Be aware that there is a 20% service charge. Although the menu says the house is 100%, according to our waiter, it is split with the servers. Of course tip anything additional if you feel it's worth it. read more

Probably more of a 4 but the Bravern (and the general area) is in such desperate need of good places to eat and chill out that Whiskey gets elevated for this mere fact alone. At the moment you can always get a table in here, the vibe will be relaxed and calming, you won't have to yell at people to have a conversation (like happy hour at JH's joint next door) and all the food is pretty good to very good. It's bizarre that you have two giant towers of residents in this place and with plenty of other apartments/condos nearby and this luxury complex can get in more places like Whiskey. There's the Dolar Shop which is SUPER overhyped and smells like a locker room, and John Howie's main location; JH is great but the world needs more than just a steakhouse. So, they've done the location a civic good by opening up another place to have a meal and drink here. Compared to John Howie's other restaurants this one has upped the interior game by providing a space that is low light, low noise, and low key. Part of the low key unfortunately is that it's rarely even half full in here (which makes the constant "Do you have a reservation?" question they ask kind of silly) but personally I love it because I can actually have a conversation with people here. There's a lot of good stuff to drink and eat here but I'd recommend you just go straight for the burger. It's GREAT and easily the best burger in the Bellevue area next to Broiler Bay. Nachos, flatbread... all good too but just get the burger - you won't regret it. read more

Went here last week on a whim and made it just in time for happy hour. They have an extensive liquor menu, especially as you would imagine, the whiskies. I tried their Manhattan on HH that was very well balanced along with their wagyu nachos also on HH. Both solid and can't really complain. The bartender was super chill and so was everyone else there really. Plus, I really enjoyed the dark, moody atmosphere here. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - View of the bar - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

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Came here late on a Saturday and the ambience is perfect. I mean... it's in the BRAVERN. For the service. A1. Immediate attention from the server Arianna. Friendly, professional and on it. I ordered the "Call me Old Fashion", Old Fashion and it was one of the top 5 old fashions I've ever tasted. Hermán knows how to make a craft cocktail. Phenomenal. Ordered small plates. Pear Zucchini salad- Fantastic Korean BarBQ skewers- PHENOMENAL Ancho Chile Shrimp with el otes corn- PHENOMENAL Wagyu Steak Flatbread-Fantastic(not phenomenal) but fantastic. I will eat at a restaurant 5 times a week if their food food is fantastic. 5 Stars across the board. Well off part of town with down to earth vibration and A1 cuisine. Oh! One more thing... they accept the "Passport" restaurant card. Hope this review finds you well. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - "Call Me Old Fashion" fantastic craft cocktail. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

We stopped in last night for a pre-dinner cocktail and were wowed by John our bartender. He was knowledgeable and personable and fun to talk to. Oh yeah, and the drinks were amazing. The atmosphere was also cozy and sophisticated. Loved it. We will definitely go back and maybe even try the food next time. read more

Amazing experience as always. Does anyone know what glasses they use for their old fashioned? I need them.

It is an interesting feel I have towards this bar. One side feels like a sports bar and the other side with rich comfortable brown booth furnishing you may find in a cigar bar. Anyhow we sat in the booth, the waitress was nice. Good drinks and loved the wagyu nachos. So tasty and so much topping on the nachos. It was one of a kind and I would come back just for this appetizer. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Bad photo of wagyu nachos. - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

Stopped by here for a drink before dinner on a Friday and scored seats at the bar. Very comprehensive whiskey selection, one of the best I have seen. We ordered the Bravern Manhattan and the If You Smell and both were excellent and served out of coup glasses. They also serve food. Will be back for happy hour. read more

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Incredibly overpriced and terrible service. A few friends and I grabbed some drinks here the other night to celebrate a birthday in the group. The service was very slow and every time we turned around to add something else, the waitress had already disappeared. I'm guessing the servers don't really care considering they automatically add a 20% gratuity to every check. I ordered a love letter and a league traveled. The love letter was okay - my fiancé said it didn't taste like anything. The league traveled was much spicier than anticipated and overall not a good flavor to have lingering. In my opinion, this place is not worth it in terms of cost or time out of your day. read more

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Went last night and had a great experience. Extensive selection of whiskey, strong cocktail list, great (if limited) dessert menu, solid service and speakeasy decor and aesthetic. Great for date nights or a gentlemen's evening. read more

Went for happy hour at whiskey but John Howie and it was nice. Good ambiance (kind of cozy) with the booth and lighting. Drinks are plenty but we are not big whiskey drinkers so I got wine. The hamburger was a good mess so be ready for that - I did thoroughly enjoyed it. The flatbread pizza was also good with plenty of meat but we did get the bbq sauce on the side. The server was very nice so we will definitely be back to enjoy food/drink. read more

Whiskey by John Howie - Hamburger and waygu flatbread and white wine (all on HH) - Whiskey Bars Near Me - Bellevue, Washington

The former space of Chocolate Bar, is now a weekend extension of the John Howie Steak HH with a private club setting. This was one of my first hangouts since the pandemic made everything weird, and I love that JHS has gone all in on air purifiers and acrylic dividers that are hardly noticeable. Feels almost normal! The drinks are delicious and the Whiskey menu is broad biasing toward the higher end. Dare you to buy the $1000 shot! One lifehack - you can buy one 2 oz pour and split it between two people so you can taste without passing the glass around (yuck). Bonus points if you can spot the racistly-named cocktail, which is delicious, but regretably named. read more

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