The Barking Dog Alehouse

I've been going to the Barking Dog for years. While service has always been marginal at best, the food and drinks were usually very good. Not so anymore. Last night is the last time we will go to this restaurant. Drinks were terrible, food worse and the service is as bad as ever. Save your money. Cons: Poor service, food, drinks. more

We have a large group of people who try out new restaurants/pubs every other week and of the 50 or so restaurants we've visited so far, the Barking Dog takes the cake for worst service we've ever had. 20 people can tend to get loud so we stick to places that are good for groups. The waitress was immediately rude to us when we arrived simply because we were a large group and wanted us to sit out on the patio so we didn't 'distrub' the other patrons (it's an Alehouse!). She tried to tell us she wouldn't serve us alcohol but had no legitimate reason so she reluctantly brought us pitchers. When I called later to speak to the supervisor about being treated so poorly, I recieved the same rude treatment and neither the waitress nor supervisor could provide any justification. I'd highly recommend going somewhere else. more

My husband and I have attempted to go to Barking Dog, but always ended up there while they were closing. We finally went and ordered a pitcher of beer, goat cheese stuffed portabellas, gumbo and an ostrich burger. Our pitcher came out half full and they refilled it and left a puddle of beer on the table, our portabellas were cold with no dressing on the salad that came with, the gumbo was okay, but the ostrich burger was unseasoned and overcooked (plus the waiter forgot to ask what side I wanted, and sent it out with fries). The waiter was horrible, didn't say hardly anything, set our napkin-wrapped silverware IN the puddle of beer he left on the table from overpouring (but when the head went down, it was about 1/2 full), he asked if I wanted ketchup and mustard and didn't bring them after I told him yes, and I had to go to the bar to get them. He came by when we were nearly finished and asked how the food was. I said ""it's alright"" with a negative tone, he just walked away. He then gave us the check and proceeded to set that in the puddle of beer as well. Not to mention that the beer was extraordinarily bitter because the keg lines haven't been cleaned in forever. I will NOT be returning. Pros: Good beer selection Cons: Bad food, bad service, dirty keg lines more

The food, beverages, and atmosphere make for a home run. Unfortunately the revolving door of servers makes for frequent strike outs! The Dog is the perfect model of inconsistent personal being a recipe for disaster. Maybe management will figure it out someday. more

I have tried to like this place, really. In the beginning it was okay overall...service never seemed all there, but I kept telling myself it was fine because I wanted so desperately to like a neighborhood place with a good beer selection. I finally had to stop suspending the reality of truly awful service and mediocre food in the pursuit of a good beer selection. Because no matter how much variety there is, someone does need to come to your table to take your order since I am sure they would frown upon me drawing my own pint at the bar--assuming they would notice. One waitress in particular was so bizarrely hostile to my wife that the only conclusion we could draw was that it was a case of mistake identity. It was odd. Pros: Beer Selection Cons: Service more

Great hidden location in Ballard, excellent food and beer selection, just stay away from the seafood cakes. Unfortunately, you need to wait forever to get anything. We had to get our own menus, ask for the table to get cleaned. Walk to the bar to get more beer, and there's nothing worse than waiting half an hour to finally pay the bill so you can leave. It's too bad, only restaurant I know that serves great beers but doesn't want to stop by your table. Never going back again...... more

The beer selection is outstanding here! Although half the beers on the list were no longer available, the server did tell me what they had replaced them with and seemed very knowledgable about the rotating selection. The food on the other hand could use some improvement. It seems to have the potential to be good, but was not. My food was overcooked and my friends food was undercooked. You just can't win with the food here, but a great place for beers....expensive beers. Pros: Beers, Servers more

service for food gets slower later in the evening mostly because it gets kinda crowded. But the beer selection is huge...a great chance to try out some micro brews that you might otherwise miss Pros: neighborhood location Cons: crowded, noisy at times more

The service is awful: slow, discourteous, uptight, frumpy, and pretentiously suburban. Its a neighborhood hangout that doesn't fit in with the laid-back culture of the neighborhood. Scotch menu is good, food is ok but trying too hard, but only if you're feeling too lazy to leave the neighborhood and go to an actual restaurant downtown. Pros: Walking distance Cons: Overpriced, Uncomfortable, Bad Service more

What a great secret hideaway in Ballard! This place has an awesome selection of beers and great food to go along with it! I have been 3 times and it has always been crowded and a little loud, but if you just relax and have a beer its well worth the wait. The servers are especially friendly,although busy, they make the experience very enjoyable and well worth the wait through the crowd. Pros: Beer, Servers, Location Cons: Loud, Crowded more

What a great Ballard secret! Love the food, love the like 20 rotating beers and great scotch selection. I've been there a few times and the food has always been excellent- best fish and chips in town hands down. I love the big flat screen tv for watching games and it's no smoking too. I tell everyone I know about this place. I think they've opened up the patio for summer. too. Big thumbs up! more

Don't be fooled by the listing - this is as good a restaurant as any in town, and happens to feature a great array of beers as a wonderful bonus! Since discovering this hidden gem, I have returned at least once a month (despite a cross-town trip and lots of good places in between) to have the Fish & Chips. The beer batter is wonderful, the fish is generous and tasty, and the chips are great (either fries or their speciality - Tofu Chips) on their own or with the sauce. Not to mention an incredible array of beers, both on tap and in bottles. None brewed on premises, but they do bring in some of the best kegs, both local and from out of town. Not to be missed! No smoking, a nice array of table sizes and arrangements, and a neat little patio during the warmer months. Pros: great beer, great fish & chips, friendly more

Love the Barking Dog! Choosing from their seasonals, the rotating local taps, and their Belgian ale selection, I couldnt be happier. Pros: Beer selection, staff, Beer selection Cons: large group seatting more

The food is fabulous, and the beer and liquor selection impressive, but they just don't make up for the consistently and extremely slow service. Pros: Great food, Nice ambience Cons: , rude waitstaff more

My friends and I just love this place. The food is awesome and the beer selection out of this world. We have been many times now and are always impressed with the service and products. It is crowded most nights - but worth the wait! Pros: Food, Beer, Atmosphere Cons: , Crowded more

The crowds just indicate how badly folks in that 'hood do not want to cook for themselves. It does NOT mean the food is good. I've tried the place 3 o r 4 times to give a fair chance and each time it's a disapointment. Nobody acknowledges you at the door for a long time. People stand looking confused as to what to do. Servers just walk on by. They have this odd idea of everyone serves everyone so basically NOBODY cares about you. I ordered the lemongrass chicken satay and received what looked like giant fried corn dogs with a lemongrass stalk stuck in them! It was mostly ""filler"" and chicken flakes. Too loud to hear a thing. They say the pizza's good but who dines out for pizza? Cons: , Bad Service, Too loud more