Steelhead Diner

Romantic dinner on the patio was great for my wife's birthday. Food was excellent. Service was all we could ask for. Pros: Quick seating, courteous service, excellent food. Cons: Parking crowded due to market, better after 6. more

One of the best meals I've had in Seattle in a while. Servie was a little slow for my liking, but the views... more

One of the best meals I've had in Seattle in a while. Servie was a little slow for my liking, but the views were great and I especially appreciate... more

Service is a big part of dining out and Steelhead delivers; from reception, to bartenders and wait staff. However, the direction and execution of the seafood (halibut and salmon) is overdone. I woulnd't consider it truly Northwest! Perhaps too much international or southern influence. Stylish? Absolutely; but missed it's mark for being in a prime Pike Place Market location. more

The patio at Steelhead is lovely, overlooks the market just so... The service is also wonderful, despite a lunch-hour time crush, our server masterfully got our food and check out with great timing... Not to be overlooked is the food, which was wonderful, I will definitely be back! Pros: Food, service, view... Cons: Uhhh, don't drive to the Market, and parking won't be a problem... more

I just returned to live in Seattle after 7 years away (all the while enjoying NY's finest cuisine) and stumbled into Steelhead Diner...it was love at first bite! I'm a self-proclaimed foodie, and these are the best crabcakes, best crabroll, best burger, best pork tenderloin...and all-around best casual-comfort food taken to a higher level, prepared with love and attention to detail!! The owners are attentive, the staff is friendly and highly skilled, and the food is outstanding. Everyone I introduce to this place loves it. I treat myself several times a week...the atmosphere (and the view of the Market) is as enjoyable as the flavors. I'm slowing savoring my way through the entire menu...Try everything!! more

I am a novice at writing reviews. However, with many of our friends professional chefs, my wife a serious cook, and living part of each month on the east coast in a restaurant city, I think I have an experienced and reasonably sophisticated wine and food palate. Steelhead Diner is a gem. The food is adventuresome, combining flavors, textures and temperatures expertly. And most importantly, the taste of the main ingredient, whether it be fish or pork, comes through clearly and distinctly. The fish or beef are not simply ""carriers"" for the sauce, a habit practiced by many avant-garde chefs, and something I find particularly annoying. The market ingredients, freshness, and quality shine through. I have eaten at Steelhead at least three times a month since its doors opened. (I have to admit that I am a Kevin Davis fan having enjoyed his menu at Oceanaire). His attention to detail is meticulous. I might note, for example, that as the flavor of the halibut changed, from first catch of small fish in April/May to the larger fish now, the accompanying items that went into the preparations changed as well. What a joy, and what fun for my mouth and tummy. The wine list challenges the best of Califorina and Europe, and my congratulations goes to the sommielier for presenting only wines from the Pacific northwest. The staff is remarkably well versed about just what is in each dish, and how it is prepared, and quick to ask for help if a food or wine question arises. It is obvious to even the most casual diner that both the line in the open kitchen and the servers really care about the food and your dining experience. I could go on, but I have a reservation at Steelhead tonite (with some very fussy eaters from New York) and must be on my way for what I know will be another great experience. Steelhead Diner is consistent.. Pros: The food, the food, the food Cons: No backgroung music is needed. Conversation trumps music. more

I've been twice to this great restaurant -- once with my family and another time with dear friends. On both of hte occasions the food was excellent. While my companions onboth occasions raved about their dishes, I have to say I had the most wonderful dish -- beet [yes beet, not beef] tartare. It was well enjoyed by all at the second visit. The servers were quick with the food and beverages. The chef and manager, husband wife team, were friendly and engaging. The atmosphere was great. We were neither rushed nor ignored, but cared after as if old friends. We would have stayed longer but became were simply stuffed and couldn't eat any more. I will take more family members and friends there in the future and look forward to many more great meals. The crabcakes really are outstanding. Pros: Great food, friendly service, good menu variety. Cons: Busy atmosphere, sometimes there's a wait more

This weekend my buddy and his girlfriend along with two other couples took in Sunday brunch at The Steelhead Diner. The crab cakes just ruled. And then yesterday my friend and I ate lunch at The Steelhead Diner. Based on his great weekend my buddy ordered a crab sandwich. Wow! He learned the Chef?s secret: it is the crab ? lots of fresh Dungeness crab! Pros: Out of this small kitchen is professionally served exciting innovation of traditional foods, all with love. Cons: When it rains on the patio. more

Service gets a big fat zero at this otherwise OK place. I know that servers can have an off-day, and I worked in the industry for 18 years so I'm more than forgiving, but we sat, ungreeted, for 15-20 minutes while those around us were served, fed, etc. Fine, no big deal, but when I FINALLY flagged our waitress down, she passed the buck and said she ""just assumed"" we had been served. Then she told me that I should have flagged her down sooner. So now it's my fault. Pros: nice view Cons: lunatic servers more

I read some reviews on this restaurant, I checked out the menu. I was LESS than excited to go here. I... more

I read some reviews on this restaurant, I checked out the menu. I was LESS than excited to go here. I agreed to go and was definitely impressed. ... more

I tried Steelhead Diner for the first time last night, and although the food was really quite good, the waits for service were ridiculous. It took a good 25 minutes for our server to even make contact with our table after seating, and he was generally absent most of the night. We finally had to ask another server to bring the bill, and he even acknowledged that customers sometimes get ""forgotten"" in this establishment. That said, the meals themselves were great. The decadent fried Beecher's cheese curds were enjoyed by several of us, and the beet tartare with veggie chips was unique and tasty...get a little beet and a little goat cheese on a taro chip for kind of a beety nacho. I thought my salmon with sunchoke puree was very well-prepared, and the asparagus risotto got high marks across the table. Chocolate pecan pie for dessert was just divine. Steehead Diner clearly knows how to make excellent comfort food, but unfortunately pairs its meals with very uncomfortable waits. Pros: Food is fantastic, good location in Market/near Belltown Cons: Ridiculously long waits for service more

What a miss! With all the hype and good ratings from Times & PI, I took an out of town guest down on a Saturday night with high hopes and anticipation. I knew it was going to be expensive after viewing the menu on the website, but I am hardly a price sensitive diner ? I just want good food! And we were utterly disappointed?service was terrible - our server couldn?t make any suggestion on wines to go with our food nor could he explain the cocktails on the menu. Ok, I get it, it?s a diner, so we shouldn?t expect much. Then it took over 20 minutes to get our drinks, after the appetizers arrived. I had the spring roll (which was blah), and she had the caviar pie (mostly filled with sour cream, very thin layer of caviar?) My steak was way over cooked and way too much soy sauce with brunt hashbrown, her miso cod was good in flavor, but lack of presentation (oh, ok, diner plating?) Our water glasses were never refilled and we were there for good 2 hours and each of us had 2 drinks (we ordered the same drinks both times but non of them came the same). Our bill came to about $120, so I got to ask, if we get diner food, plating and service, shouldn?t we pay diner price? Needless to say, it?ll be a while before I give it a 2nd try. more

I came to the diner on a whim and a suggestion from a friend who had wanted to try it. Overall, the meal was fabulous. It was busy, people were having fun, the food was gorgeous and delicious. Pros: Delicious Food Cons: Expensive for a diner and for the portion size more

I have been to this restaurant 3 times in 2 weeks, and each time I have gone the food has been completely different, although I ordered the same thing each time. The first night, a Sat., I was sooo happy with the food. Finally, a place that has really good food and that I could recommend to people. I was so happy with my meal that I dragged several other people there 5 nights later and had the same dish because it was just perfect the first time around. What a difference 5 days made. In that short amount of time the food went from great to awful. The poutine fries were served with fatty meat juice instead of gravy and my sandwich was different from before (less meat). Plus the fries were old. 2 people in my party, no matter what they ordered Steelhead appeared to be out of that dish or beverage. My husband's burger was cooked rare/rare instead of medium. Pros: When they get it right, it's good Cons: Can be bad, slow bartenders more

located right by the pike place market, this restaurant is a great choice to take out-of-town visitors:... more

located right by the pike place market, this restaurant is a great choice to take out-of-town visitors: conveniently located next to my favorite "t... more

I was very excited about the steelhead diner and was looking forward to a date night there. The restaurant is beautiful and a big thrill to my steelhead obsessed husband. The waitress had a spiel, very rehearsed and unnatural. ""We embrace the market!...etc"" which was recited at a hysterical pitch. Sort of an eye roller for me, a local Seattle girl. I started by ordering a bottle of wine. We then ordered our first course. The first course came but NO WINE!! I looked around for our waitress who had vanished. My husband had finished his first course by the time the waitress returned with a half bottle of a wine we had not ordered. PLEASE, if the wine is not available bring back the wine list. I was so frustrated we took the half bottle and my husband ordered a beer WHICH DID NOT COME for 15 minutes. The waitress at this point stopped even trying to be friendly. She delivered our food to the table next to us...placed it on their table..which gave our neighbors a chance to stick their faces in our entrees to determine it was not their order. My meal was great actually, a pasta risotto with asparagus, peas and truffle oil. My husband had fish and chips...unremarkable to say the least. Hate to say it but you can get better fish and chips at the local fish and chip stand. Last but not least, my fisherman husband asked at least five different staffers what river was depicted on the photo mural. He REALLY cares. He REALLY wanted to know and all those asked said, ""I'll go find out"" and then NEVER RETURNED! Booo. Pros: Fun location. Great Risotto. Cons: Truly the worst service ever. more

bah! i don't know what all the hype is about! Pros: nice location, attractive decor Cons: worst service i've ever experienced, food not worth the price more