Review Ivar's Salmon House

Larry R

Lovely interior on the lake side. Ton of space both inside and outside. Outside seating had great shades. Scallops were amazing, slightly questionable sauce what was not needed. Seafood skewer was great but rice was to buttery and fealty for my taste. Still good.

Sergio Colón

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. The food, location, view, service, everything. I love all of the Native American art and the overall theme of a traditional salmon house. This restaurant represents Seattle well. I had the stuffed halibut, soup, and some oysters, everything was prepared perfectly and tasted great.

A&S DuBoise

My husband and I came into Seattle to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary and we were served by Kaylyn. She did amazingly well navigating a full house and we were happy with her service under pressure. Thank you Kaylyn! Food was nice, hot, and delicious. Enjoy the holidays!

Leah Day

We went with a group of six people visiting the area. My mango cocktail was very good. And our scallop appetizer was delicious--so buttery and melt in your mouth. Even my five year old loved them. We all had a variety of entrees. Mine was the taste of the Northwest which had scallops, and two types of fish. So yummy! Would definitely recommend. And the views on the water were gorgeous!

Raymond Young

Watch Ship Canal Traffic enter Lake Union as you dine on Salmon and other Seafood Dishes. Lunch Specials from $20. If you rationalize Restaurant"s View with Parking value at $10-$15, the entree pricing is very reasonable. New Fall Special Menu with Grilled King and Halibut Entrees. Happy Hour Menu in Bar. Additional parking available across street from restaurant

Sheye Blaze

Service was absolutely top-notch. Our server, Paul, was amiable, pleasant, and added to the atmosphere. The view is still absolutely fantastic. The fish, chowder, and coconut prawns were perfect. The sides were good, but not at the level of the proteins. But you're really here for the seafood, the service, and the view and they 100% delivered. Added bonuses, you can boat to this location, there were ducks and geese, and a perfect view of the Space Needle.

Nawras Noorita

September 9, 2012 At Ivar's Salmon House #ivarssalmonhouse Lake Union #lakeunion #boats #dock 401 NE Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98105 with my #work #Mexican #friends We enjoyed watching their friends #fishing 🎣 and #enjoy the #view of North Passage Point Park 600 NE Northlake Way, Seattle, WA 98105 And, the view of University Bridge Also, the view of Pocock Rowing Center 3320 Fuhrman Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102

Scott Jordan Garcia

Food was great. Atmosphere is best during the summer. I recommend patio seating during the sunny days and window seating during the winter. Their calamari is our favorite appetizer.

H Cooperrider

Beautiful restaurant. Don't be fooled by carryout Ivers in front. The Salmon house is around back. Great place to take out of town guests with it's NW theme. Great view of the water and Seattle. Food a little pricey but consistently good. They also have a vegetarian menu if you request one.

Stephie Borgford

I have been a loyal customer of Ivars for over 40 years and what I appreciate most about this restaurant is its consistency. It has maintained its amazing and unique atmosphere throughout the years. The location on Lake Union with a view of the Seattle skyline adds to its charm. The food is simply delicious. I ordered the clam chowder and a burger and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty they were. The staff is friendly and accommodating. Ivars is a great place to take out-of-town guests or for a special occasion. It's also perfect for a nice lunch or dinner.

Walter Day

Ivar's Salmon House is kind of a Seattle landmark that is located on Lake Union; near Seward Park. Food is good, but the Salmon portions are kind of small IMO. I also had a bowl of Clam Chowder that was delicious. I would say it is a little pricy, but it is a Salmon restaurant in Seattle... $30 for a lunch on the water isn't a deal, but also not terribly expensive.

Phil

Recently had dinner at the Salmon House. This is always a favorite spot for a bite with views of Lake Union and Seattle. We all ordered a salmon dish, and they both came out very tasty and fresh. The view is what makes this place special, always request a window seat. Parking is ample across the street, they do have a very small lot on the west side of the restaurant.

Garrett N.

Quintessential Seattle seafood spot with the best location right on the water and views of Seattle — you can even kayak and park your kayak then have a meal! Great chowder, fish and chips, salmon… and one of the best happy hours in town!

Brian M. Demkowicz

An institution, and I'm glad it's here, but a bit pricey and both food and service are not as top-notch as it once was. It's always busy, so be sure to make reservations if you're planning to dine inside. Of course there's the famous quick-serve window too for express orders of fish 'n' chips, other fried items, and chowder. Great views from the window seats, and so nice that they have a boat dock if you feel the urge while kayaking by (or in a bigger boat).

Karthik Meiyappan

Amazing views and a hidden gem of Seattle!! I had lived here for many years and never tried it until a friend showed me. The portions are admittedly smaller than you’d expect, but the food is exceptional. Every bite was a course in perfect seafood, and service was fast and attentive. Would definitely recommend for a date night, birthday, or other special occasion!

Todd Beck

You can't beat the view from waterside seating. The bridge overhead is insanely loud. If noise outweighs the view then eat behind the massive glass windows. Our server was awesome.

Judy Citron

It was very busy as it was Father's Day but we did get a nice table by the window to watch the boats on the bay.. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable of the food choices. He recommended the white clam chowder and he was spot on. The knife and fork salad was excellent. The bread basket consisted of sourdough bread and hot cornbread muffins. Both were yummy. Our entrees were delicious (cedar plank salmon and fried seafood platter). My only complaint is that the entrees arrived as we were enjoying the soup and salad.

Robin Cassidy

Stopped for lunch on a busy Tuesday where my hubby and I were running from one appt to another. Day was heating up but we walked into Salmon House about 11:30, just before most lunch patrons. Greeted nicely and seated by the windows with a great view! Good service ... got cold drinks, then ordered meals. I had a wonderful combo Louie salad with dressing on side so it wasn’t smothered in those calories!😉 Husband had a seafood medley (don’t remember what it was called) - had cornbread, clams, mussels, shrimp, etc. He said it was really good! ... We’ve been here many times over the years (whether just two of us, a group of friends, a meal with out-of-town friends, a reunion, a post wedding rehearsal gathering) and we’ve usually been quite pleased with service and food! 😄💕 Highly recommend Ivar’s Salmon House!

Becki Brown

First time i have eaten at this Ivar's. Food was good, but nothing was over the top. View from corner window table was awesome overlooking the water. Overpriced! though �

Eric A Johnson

Come in the summer when they have Copper River Salmon...best in the world. I worked here in college and now live in Missouri, where you can't find good (let alone great) seafood. Ivar's, you turned me into a seafood snob. I love you and hate you.

Priya Oberoi

This restaurant was recommended to us by the hotel. What a great place! We got seated right away on a Sunday evening, sat near the windows so we could see the boat traffic on the water and had the best service!! We had the Crispy Calamari for appetizer and I had the Chinook Salmon for entrée. WOW!! Perfect salmon on jasmine rice! Paired with the Scuttlebutt's Night Circus Coconut Coffee Dark Ale and it was sublime!! The only negative thing is the parking. The lot connected to the restaurant is quite small, so you have to park across the street if its full. This can be tricky since its on a slight curve and oncoming traffic can be difficult to see.

Jee Pang

Came here for late lunch. The place was quite busy. The view on the outside deck of Lake Union was great. Had a chowder and slamon burger. The chowder was very good, and the salmon on the burger was tender and flavorful.

Sudeep Ralhan

Quite a legend around this place, and justifiably so. Packed to the brim with both local and tourist crowd, we got the table after some wait. The service was pleasant and efficient, the food was good (though not great) and the view from the outdoors table lovely.

Sue_qayed

Great place with so much history, and lovely view over the lake. Food were great, I had the salmon sampler and loved it so much. Staff are friendly. The place for sure is a must

Ibyung Pierce

I had great expectations for this place since it was packed on a Monday night. My wife said for me to go for the max so I ordered the salmon sample platter. 35.00 and I was going to get King, Sockeye and Coho. They all tasted exactly the same and they were dull of flavor. Flat. No seasoning and no flavor. The mashed potatoes were the driest I have ever eaten anywhere. I did not complain because I was with a group, all family members. My son got the fish and chips and the coleslaw tasted like watery cabbage, no flavor and just watery. I will never eat there again and would never recommend it. The waiter was aloof and took forever to bring us our bill, much later after he had given us to-go boxes.

The Drunken Tomato

Here are the directions, straight from the brunch menu at Ivar’s Salmon House. “Step 1: Order up your favorite vodka, tequila or gin. Step 2: Start from scratch with tomato juice or J. Wilbur Bloody Mary Mix. Step 3: Spice it up with a selection of over a dozen hot sauces, wasabi or horseradish. Step 4: Garnish away with Hickory smoked bacon, jumbo prawns, pepperoni, pickled asparagus, spicy green beans, blue cheese stuffed olives, pepperoncinis, celery, onions, citrus or whatever else you can throw at it.” In my case, that “whatever else” just happened to be an eggs benedict pulled off the buffet line.

Food Sleuth

Since I grew up in the NW this was one of the restaurants you had to dine at , one of the items on the menu that is no longer served is the Halibut poached in cream... that I still make and remember the great meals at this iconic restaurant.

Courtney Gu

I first discovered this place while working. While it doesn't look like much on the outside, the ambience is unlike any restaurant I've ever been in. I love the decor and the feel of the place. The service was quick but one member of our group didn't get his food until I had finished mine, and we also never got the cornbread that was supposed to go with every entree. First thing I had was the salmon chowder, which was much too salty for my taste. The classic clam chowder was a lot better. We also had the appetizer tower, which was mediocre, greasy and definitely not worth the money. For my main course I had the Neah Bay king salmon. It was cooked with a creamy black truffle reduction which was pretty good, but the rest of the plate was average. The broccolini was too greasy and the potatoes too dry. The portions were also not very big. Overall, the food is definitely not worth the high price. The ambience is nice but little else is.

Mindy

Amazing view, happy hour and deck seating options!. I love the whalemaker lounge - especially in the summer when the patio is a perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle and take in the beautiful view of the space needle. Lots of people park their boat close and access this gem from the water. I always get the seared rare ahi tuna and am always delighted on how fresh it is and how amazing it tastes. And I don't think I can leave without a bite of Ivar's chowder. Great place for happy hour! As a side note, I respect that Ivar's increased their wages/prices before the required time to pay folks in Seattle a living wage - I hope that business strategy pays off for them. As soon as the weather is here I will be heading here to show my support!

Edda

The restaurant was massive! And had the most interesting decor, with a lot of old wood in its structure, some antique boats and lots of wood carvings. The restaurant was pretty dark so I could not take a decent shot of the menu, so I just took them off their website. The menu is fairly short, with just enough choices for all types but not too many that it is overwhelming.

Gastrolust

Ivar’s is a Seattle institution. No doubt about that. And that institution was in the news this year, with stories about its underwater billboards. For me, the story is whether its food warrants a stop or not. This past year, I had chances to try the fish

Ronald Holden

Okay, so they closed the lounge for three months and completely remodeled. New tables, new fireplace, new chef (Steve Anderson, down from the Ivar's in Mukilteo), new menu (the salmon skewers with peach-currant chutney are da bomb). Unchanged: the deck off the lounge, where you look back at the Seattle skyline, probably the best in the city.

Chris

Thoroughly Enjoyed. Very good food, service, surroundings and location. I reccomend this establishment to everyone.

Ren

Ivar's landmark. Ivar's Salmon house is a favorite for northwest salmon or chowder. The interior décor is interesting, we had a large group gathering and enjoyed the menu choices.l

Radish Pixie

I worked here long ago, and just returned the other night with my family. The food was better than I remember it! The coho was outstanding. It was the only time I've eaten out in recent memory that the food wasn't over salted (I must be more sensitive to salt than the average person, because all restaurant food seems salty!). Overall the experience was terrific, and I was pleased that it has continued to grow and improve since I worked there. Great job, guys!

Katie Tott

The new bar is awesome.

Thetripchick

The convenience is why I am giving this Ivar's two stars. Ivar's Salmon House is on Lake Union, so it's convenient after a day of boating to stop in for dinner on the way back from the lake. The convenience is why I am giving this Ivar's location two stars. The service in the bar area is why I am only giving this place two stars. We came in on a busy weekend night around 7PM. Realizing that it was prime reservation time, we headed for the bar area and grabbed a table. The six of us then sat, shivering (it was cold on the lake and we hadn't warmed up yet), praying for a mug of hot tea to start the thawing process. We waited for 10 minutes before we managed to get the attention of someone, then another 5 minutes before he actually made it over to the table. After taking our drink order (we were all ready for food as well, but the server wanted to only get the drink order first) of several hot teas and several beers, we then waited another 20 minutes before first the beers started appearing, then some, but not all, of the hot teas. I used to be a server. I know hot tea can be a pain in the rear. But really, sometimes you just have to suck it up and give your customer what they order. We asked about the missing teas twice throughout the time we were there and they never arrived. Bad form, Mr. Server, bad form. The meal itself was typical Ivar's and good, filling warm food. In other words, the food was just fine but the service was not. Not sure if we'll bother coming back to this location.

Seeker

Coho Salmon. I had the alder smoked Coho salmon dinner and it was awesome! I don't even particularly like salmon but the way they prepared this was just amazing. The only way it could've been better was if it was bigger than the 8oz piece they served.

Jeanette

Salmon caesar salad is too pepper crusted, popcorn scallops served with mayo~ customer service so~so but the outdoor patio view of the skyline is spectacular!

L.minske

Great View!. We went there with friends. My husband was not happy with the clam chowder. He thought it was very thick and floury but I enjoyed it and the oysters shooters that we got. The view of Lake Washington is fun AND interesting!

JE Francisco

Mac & Jacks and Manny's with friends. Whenever I am up in Seattle, I try to make sure and stop by for happy hour at least once at the Salmon House. Its good food, great beer and awesome friends everytime. One of the places I miss most not living up there anymore.

Marie S Gemini

Best happy hour food! Drinks are off the chain yummy! The bartender is a major sweetheart:) and very respectful:) Ty ms bartender !!!

Sprokit

Great service and awesome happy hour deals. Happy hour runs from 3:30 to close everyday. I will definitely go back :)

Fishgrrl

As a Seattle native, I really love this place, but let's face it: the food is overpriced and merely adequate. But the view is incomparable, the staff is friendly and efficient, and my kids LOVE it. Bring your out of town guests and expect them to be impressed.

Dallas Tyler

Here's the spot that had it all. Great Food and ambiance . Enjoyed a pleasant evening with 6 family members. Everyone was pleased with the food, service and wine choices. If your looking for a pleasant dining experience this is the place to go.

VeggiesRule

Best Place for Out-of-Town Visitors. The windows give you a view of the Space Needle right down the throat of Lake Union. Boats pass by on the way to the Lake Washington cut. The interior is a fabulous NW Indian history museum. All that and the food is incredible, too. Your out of town visitors will never forget this evening.

Jamie

Great brunch - tons of selection on the brunch buffet. Good location for happy hour, too, especially in the summer. Grab a seat on the deck and enjoy the view while enjoying some great specials.

Reid B.

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover. The outside of the restaurant looks a little run down, but the inside is gorgeous. The view of the city is nice, too. I had the Mixed Grill entree' that had Salmon, Halibut, and Steak. The fish was wonderful, but the steak was dry and forgettable. The Smoked Salmon chowder was incredible. Waitress was very friendly and gave excellent service.

Tiffany

Cozy on a rainy day.... Cozy place on a rainy day, the view was great of the city, the interior comforting with the rain coming down... The food: Crab dip was delish, the chowder could use some improvement, I like Ray's better. My Halibut was a bit on the tough side, but tasty and the sides were great as well. The crab legs were very yummy, probably the best part of the meal.

Dustin

Let's start by saying that the view is spectacular. We had a table with a city view. Our waitress was challenged. She mixed things up and brought items we didn't order. Nor did she know the difference between Pinot Noir and a Rosé. Should be basic server knowledge. The heirloom tomato gazpacho with a chevre crouton was splendid. The cantaloupe, serrano ham, manchego salad with a balsamic reduction was lost in a sea of manchego. It overpowered everything else and I LOVE manchego. The halibut and chips were a huge disappointment. They should have been stellar. The halibut was barely passable. Overall, not so great.

Chris O

Awesome. Great service, the best fish and chips in Seattle and some seriously ono clam chowder.

Ms.tran

Yum!!. The best clam chowder. Seriously.

Dumbhuskie1

Sunday Brunch. We went for brunch. Gotta love the buffet. I go straight for the Dungeness crab and a small taste of other stuff that looks interesting. We have gone a few times at different times of the year. This time, late Aug, the crab was great. The cold shrimp did not taste like it has in the past and was pretty bland. You really needed the cocktail sauce for the shrimp. I don't think I tried much of anything else other than the tiramisu and a cannoli. These were good. My wife tried their sushi rolls, it was new in the buffet (for us). She thought the rice was a little off, on the mushie side and highly dense. She described it as putting too much rice in a mold and then pressing it in until it fits. Observing other patrons, I wonder why they would go to a $24 brunch at a seafood restaurant to eat bacon, sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns. This really blows my mind. Why not go to Denny's for that.

Noahtannen

Ivar's up a notch?. Is it me? This was a lot better than I remembered. Great ling cod, awesome view, and tonight it was practically empty. Nice mellow atmosphere. Cool carvings and photos for the kid. Not what I remembered.. a good night or a change for the better?

Eric Kennedy

Great seafood and crab bisque in an old Seattle building. Ivar's is an institution, and this location has some many Native American details that it could probably qualify as a museum. That works well with the authentic Northwest seafood, including my personal favorite, their crab bisque. Some items can be purchased from their drive-up window, but not the crab bisque, sadly.

Review Ivar's Salmon House - Seattle