I wandered into the Spitfire for the first time about a year ago. It was pretentious, the patrons were not particularly friendly, and the bartenders were horrible. I returned because it was the best place to catch a game on t.v. - especially the more obscure games because they have so many t.v.'s, and they are nice ones - and because the food was above average for a sports bar: soft tacos for happy hours, grilled asparagus, and everything on the brunch menu is good.
Because of the decidedly unfriendly atmosphere, I made it a practice of only going there if it's raining (it's nearby), or to say hello to a friend who works there. After a recent experience where I was basically asked to leave at noon during a Seahawks game, after rushing breakfast and only halfway through a cup of coffee, because there were some serious potential boozers who did not have a seat (call me crazy for my habit of not beginning my drunken rampage until noon)....well, even I know when enough's enough.
I really hate to say that the bartenders are snobbish and ineffective, because they have two GREAT bartenders, but they also have some very, very poor ones - snobs and posers who are too young to have figured out that there is a direct correlation between service with a smile, and tips - that's service with a smile to EVERYONE. I've seen them go out of their way to serve their friends, the people who fit their 'trendy' customer requirement, etc., so I suspect that explains the huge dichotomy in the reviews of this place.
Pros: good happy hour food, good brunch, lots of t.v.'s for varied sports viewing, a couple of great bartenders
Cons: mostly snobby poser bartenders, very pretentious and trying to be trendy and failing
more