Steelhead Diner

Well, I was raised in Chesapeake Bay country, and I have to say these are the best restaurant crab cakes I've had since I left home . . . and maybe better than most of them there! But besides the crab, I think that these people have a great handle on what makes a ""diner"" a restaurant. It's relaxed and easy, but the quality of food that comes out of the kitchen is on par with any place in Seattle. I wouldn't disagree that sometimes you gotta wait for your server, but I suspect that's more a matter of the crowds of locals that fill the place . . . they must know something, huh? I'll be back . . . more

The food was good, but I don't like cold bread. This place was fully staffed but lacked service and speed. They were so slow and were not very busy. I would not recommend because it's over priced and slow. It you do want to go there the chowder and crab cake is good. more

I took a friend here for his birthday last October and have been back once since. The strange Louisiana/NW... more

I took a friend here for his birthday last October and have been back once since. The strange Louisiana/NW fusion is ... I don't know, odd. I have ... more

I really felt like we were in a club and it didn't set a great vibe for us to stay long and spend a bunch of money. The lobby was PACKED and there was barely anywhere to sit. The music is straight out of a club for young 20 somethings and loud (and I'm still in my 20s!). When we were seated we were wedged in the corner between two larger tables. I actually brushed the guy behind/beside me several times during my meal and my husband had to move the whole table so I could get out to use the restroom. Pros: Really great salmon Cons: clubby atmosphere, techno music, tables VERY close together more

Went for lunch and felt prices were too high. $10 for a bowl of soup, $8 for a cup. Disappointed in the food. When I pay $18 for fish & chips I'd like to have halibut, not cod. No view of the bay. Staff acted as if they were doing us a favor by waiting on us. Don't waste your time. Go to Elliot's for great seafood, view and staff. Cons: overpriced, no view of the water, waitstaff too good for us more

This is not a tourist trap even thought its close to the MArket. Pros: Near Pikes Place Market - easy to find more

Warning: Pros: Nothing Cons: Terrible Service and Food more

Went to Steelhead whle on vacation in Seattle based upon their menu, recommendations from co-workers and the Fairmont Hotel staff. We were looking for local flavors and were not disappointed. The appetizers and entrees definitely reflected Steelhead's proximity to Pike Place Market and we would definitly go back for the food. Now the disappointment with the evening, our waiter, Nathan. Overall, we are farily knowlegeable about wines and what we like. However, our knowledge is somewhat limited to the local boutique Washington State wineries and we always appreciate staff, at the restuarant, when they can provide some recommendations. Well, you would have thought we had asked for kool-aid to go with our meal. The attitude was rude and we were directed to the high end wines on the wine list. In the end, we made our own decision and were not disappointed with the wine but I certainly would not rely on Nathan for wine suggestions. Pros: Great Food Cons: Rude Waiter more

My wife and I had one night in Seattle after a grand tour of the West Coast. A bartender recommended Steelhead Diner. We arrived without reservations. The hostess told us she needed the table back by 7:30. Since it was 6:10, we thought it not a problem, provided the service was reasonably prompt. We told our waiter of the deal we had made with the hostess. He said not to worry. We proceeded to order and had a delightful meal. The crabcakes were outstanding. But the plot thickens. Faced with the decision whether to order dessert, we asked out waiter whether we had time. He assured us that we did. There was a delay in bringing it out. While we were in the middle of dessert, AND BEFORE WE HAD THE CHECK, the hostess (who we discovered also owned the place) came to us and rudely ousted us from the table. We had overstayed our welcome by 15 minutes. It did no good to tell her that we had emphasized to our waiter the issue of the time. I had to ask our hostess to have the check brought to us. We paid it promptly and departed. Despite the fact that we had dropped well over a hundred bucks in this place, our hostess insisted that she had done us a favor by letting us in the place. Thus I have mixed feelings about this place. If it were not for this rude treatment by no less than the owner, I would recommend the Steelhead Diner and return on my next trip to Seattle. But as it is, I cannot and will not. Pros: Good crabcakes Cons: Hostess/Owner rude more

Everything I have eaten here is supurb. I would describe it as Diner food with an upscale flair. (The fried chicken sandwich is sooo good!) although this is not the healthiest of restaurants, at least its diner food that is perfectly prepared!, not at all greasy and disgusting. SErvice is usually great, however, certain members of the waitstaff could use a reminder on politeness. The chef is friendly, as are the bartenders. Service was a little slow, but it gets quite busy at lunchtime, so I dont hold it against them too much. Mostly it was the hostess who left room for improvement. Location is right near the Pike Place Market, very convenient . Pros: high quality food, location Cons: parking, service (some), busy at lunch more

I was excited to go to this place, but they are not sure what they want to be. Upscale diner is one thing, but with the upscale must come good service. So when they tried to deliver the sides after we had finished the main course and the snarky waiter said ""Either you are going to eat it or I will"" - and then the owner tried to defend the waiter's behavior! This was just too ridiculous. For the price, I'd rather go to Etta's for seafood or any of a number of other Pike Place establishments. There was one appropriately apologetic member of the wait staff and the mains were good (just not great). With so many choices in Seattle, I'd wait a couple of years to see if this place changes into something worth trying out. more

We had reservations for a group of 12, and they set up a long table in the back corner. Nice view, the restaurant was already hoppin', the waitstaff were very good. This was my 3rd visit to Steelhead Diner, and I sure wasn't disappointed. We ordered tons of food and cocktails and wine--everything was fabulous. The trout was so good, the crispy smelt fantastic, the calf's liver pungently divine, the poutine was fun in the mouth, the mussels divine. My favorite cocktail was General Practicioner :) A really fun place for a group dinner. Great place for out of town guests as well, since the menu is quite large and varied, and the food is a bit different--a kind of Northwest/Cajun comfort food theme that really works. more

what a find. I was preparing for an important business dinner and needed to impress and this was it. The food had an interesting southern style and I was very pleased. The atmosphere was very Seattle, but not overwhelming. I will continue to return Pros: great value, very impressive for clients, very seattle Cons: long wait if you do not have a reservation more

Looking for a satisfying, healthful meal? This is not the place to go. A recent visit in which one in our party was trying to avoid added sugar, deep fried/breaded foods, and not commit to a hugely overpriced entree, was a recipe for disaster: the ""special"" non-alcoholic cocktail claiming to be nothing but apple cider and lemon juice, was actually a hideously sweet concoction of sweetened apple juice and SOUR MIX, loaded with high-fructose corn syrup. We were still cheerful when expecting our garlic sauteed greens with Pancetta, which was so salty as to be inedible, although tasty, and cooked correctly. Any chef who understands the saltiness of Pancetta, would have been much more judicious with the salt. Sadly, the potato latkes, which, if they are made traditionally, are pan sauteed, here resembled flattened out tater tots which had been deep fried in an oil with an unpleasant aftertaste. While the olive crusted halibut was tasty, the 1/2 portion was very small for the price-- shame on them! Hard to think of a reason to return. more

I think I may have walked past the steelhead a million times and didn't realize what it was - if you haven't been this is a gorgeous restaurant (diner in the front and fine dining in the back/side) on the inside with really amazing service. Our waiter was just attentive enough not to be annoying, water glass full, wine recommendations perfect, and we loved all of our menu choices. Pros: Food, service, and ambiance Cons: None! more

We made reservations on a Saturday night and were seated over 30 minutes late. By the time we got our bread we had been there an hour. Not entirely thrilled by the menu- we ordered the salmon (interesting, but not delicious) and the lamb (pretty good). If our server hadn't been so gracious in comping our appitizers, it would have been a bust of an evening. Thought it was ok, but definitely no ""wow"" factor. Pros: Nice ambiance, good location, awesome that they use Pike Place Market ingredients Cons: Food is just ok (I'm a snob!), really long wait- even with reservation more

Just had dinner at Steelhead last night and we really loved it. We sat at the chef's table, and we were given a slice of the caviar pie from the kitchen. It took our server a while to get to us, maybe 10 minutes, but he was slammed. When he did get to us, we ordered quickly and received our drinks within minutes. The owner/chef was super nice and checked in on us. Food and drinks are delicious. Burger is great, and the salmon is wonderful! Local wine list. Pros: Food, wine, chef's table Cons: They are busy, so be patient with the service! more

My girlfriend and I were enjoying the sights of Pike Place Market, saw the Steelhead Diner and decided to give it a try. Great move! Pros: Great food, great service. Cons: none! more

I've been a ""regular"" at Steelhead Diner since they first opened their doors in February of this year. I must say, as a 20+ yr veteran of the restaurant industry here in Seattle, that the charmingly affable Chef Kevin Davis (with the assistance of his lovely wife, Terresa, who oversees the front-of-the-house operations with grace and style) has been turning out some of the freshest, most creative and utterly delectable dishes this (somewhat professional) foodie has ever had the pleasure of eating. Pros: Killer Food, Great Service, Ambience, Amazing View, Charming Patio Cons: Parking can be a hassle (though they validate for the Market Garage on Western after 5pm). more