Sandra and I simply love this place. The people are so kind, food is incredible - always - and comes in great portions. The only hard part is getting a seat...so show up early! The bartenders... More

Sandra and I simply love this place. The people are so kind, food is incredible - always - and comes in great portions. The only hard part is getting a seat...so show up early! The bartenders are always attentive and their drinks (even mocktails) are top of the line. Great place
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Dessert arrives. King Fish Cafe on Capital hill is one of my favorite Seattle restaurants. I give this the ultimate 5 star rating on quality of food, specialty of food, and ambiance. I have... More

Dessert arrives. King Fish Cafe on Capital hill is one of my favorite Seattle restaurants. I give this the ultimate 5 star rating on quality of food, specialty of food, and ambiance. I have ordered the fried chicken every single time I've been. Lucky for me my friends tend to branch out so I've been able to sample a few other things but I've never strayed from that perfect fried chicken, collared greens and mashed potato combo. Other favorites if you really want to know are the mac and cheese and the gumbo. The caesar is great to start as well as the crabcakes. It's impossible to save room because the portions are so big but despite how you may be feeling after dinner, you must order dessert. These change seasonally but right now they have my absolute favorite which is the strawberry shortcake. It's important to note that desserts are monstrous. Not big. Huge. 1 Dessert is more than enough for 4 and easily could please 6. If you haven't been to Kingfish cafe, you must go. Note: they don't take reservations for parties less than 6 but recently I was able to call and get my name on the wait list via the phone. It's a good way to speed up the wait.
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Others can attest to the menu better than I, but as a vegetarian, this is not exactly the BEST place for dinner. That said, I had some really interesting spicy bean cake things...and I tried the mac... More

Others can attest to the menu better than I, but as a vegetarian, this is not exactly the BEST place for dinner. That said, I had some really interesting spicy bean cake things...and I tried the mac and cheese, which was good too. I'd go again, but probably to take people who were visiting Seattle so I could prove we have other restaurants that don't serve northwest style food.
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The Kingfish cafe is a very unique dining experience for Seattle. With the majority of its menu being southern-inspired, the chef hits gold here. The catfish, as many other reviewers have stated... More

The Kingfish cafe is a very unique dining experience for Seattle. With the majority of its menu being southern-inspired, the chef hits gold here. The catfish, as many other reviewers have stated already, is the prime-rib of this soul food joint. The accompanying grits, rice, beans etc evoke the spicy, heterogeneous flavors of the South. The decor fits the menu and the surrounding neighborhood is beautiful. After your meal, take a walk around Volunteer park to walk off the tasty, greasy meal. Enjoy!
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It isn't a dessert place per say, but my favorite desserts in town are at Kingfish. They have a shortcake that will make you high!. It is so big that it can easily serve a part of four. One unique... More

It isn't a dessert place per say, but my favorite desserts in town are at Kingfish. They have a shortcake that will make you high!. It is so big that it can easily serve a part of four. One unique touch is that they put a bit of maple syrup in the whip creme. It is amazing. They also serve mammoth slices of lemon cake, and bread pudding. The strawberry shortcake has to be the best dessert in town. Period.
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Went here with some friends a few weeks ago, and walked away very impressed. The cornbread, sides, and entrées were all great, plus they have a good wine list that pairs nicely with the southern... More

Went here with some friends a few weeks ago, and walked away very impressed. The cornbread, sides, and entrées were all great, plus they have a good wine list that pairs nicely with the southern food. Great decor and atmosphere.
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I was introduced to the Kingfish by my brother, who is friends with the head chef. He had told me about it for years, but I never got around to going. Now, I regret not having gone earlier, and... More

I was introduced to the Kingfish by my brother, who is friends with the head chef. He had told me about it for years, but I never got around to going. Now, I regret not having gone earlier, and won't get those years back. Every time I have been, the food has be delicious. He doesn't live far from there, so its a great opportunity to get some family time and a great southern meal all in one shot. On the weekends, it can get very busy, and in the summer, there is often a line outside. Believe me, it's worth the wait.
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My wife and I ate at the Kingfish Cafe for the first time in a long time last week. Still darn good down home cookin'. Red beans and rice were great. Catfish was good, and the grits that came... More

My wife and I ate at the Kingfish Cafe for the first time in a long time last week. Still darn good down home cookin'. Red beans and rice were great. Catfish was good, and the grits that came with it even better. Had a piece of lemon cake for dessert that was big enough for 4 people and really tasty. Service was friendly and efficient. Atmosphere friendly and relaxed.
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The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Kingfish is the Catfish entrée - by far my favorite. It comes breaded in a cajun seasoning, and is perfectly cooked. Along that are greens and... More

The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the Kingfish is the Catfish entrée - by far my favorite. It comes breaded in a cajun seasoning, and is perfectly cooked. Along that are greens and a side of "grits" (according to my Southern friend it is really polenta). Some other favs are the fried chicken: crispy, somewhat sweet and meaty. Sometimes the chef even gives you 3+ pieces, so you'll have plenty for left overs. Along side that are mashers, and I believe some collard greens. Don't forget the macaroni and cheese! This comes fresh from a dish, and is almost 3" tall. I believe it has many different kinds of cheeses, and I remember a bell pepper taste to it. Along with the excellent mac n cheese, you get a spectacular roll - seriously, don't under estimate it. OH! Desert - wow! You better be hungry, because the desert is huge! I could say it is about 2x the normal size of most places. Average selection though - a fruity pie of sorts, and something else. As far as location, the place is on 19th, which is away from most restaurants, but in this case is a good thing. There is parking generally found within a block or two. Once inside the place, a dark ambiance surrounds. It can be rather loud, but that is only because this place is generally hoppin'. Expect wait times of up to 30 minutes, although you can typically chill at the bar for a while. All in all, definitely worth visiting at least once!
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I agree with the above poster, the Kingfish has some of the best mac and cheese that I have ever tasted. Not the best, mind you, but pretty darned good. The service is stellar, the drinks are... More

I agree with the above poster, the Kingfish has some of the best mac and cheese that I have ever tasted. Not the best, mind you, but pretty darned good. The service is stellar, the drinks are amazing and I have never had a sub-par experience there. The only problem is that they don't take reservations and have somewhat strange nights of closure (Sunday's and Tuesday's). Another great spot is The Alibi Room in The Market. They have a terrific tomato/basil mac and chesse which really sticks to your ribs. I love it. However, for the best mac and cheese plates on the planet, travel down to Portland for an evening and head to Bistro Montage under the Morrison Street Bridge in SE Portland. They specialize in no less than five types of mac and cheese not to mention the jambalay's and the frog leg and oyster shooter appetizers. Seriously, if you are really looking for an experience, what Seattle has for mac and cheese is fine, but take an overnight trip and head to Bistro Montage. You won't be dissapointed.
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