13 Coins - Sea Tac

02/21/10

Bad service, Overpriced, and Small portions

by nicflet at Citysearch

I went to 13 coins on February 19th and I will most likely never return. I ordered the duck with blueberry sauce and some french onion soup. The top quarter of my bowl of french onion was gobbed with melted cheese, and the onions were so overdone that they were almost gelatinous, i sent it back for chili. The duck's portion size was laughable at best, with 4 tiny slivers of duck placed around a huge gob of yellowed mashed potatoes that looked like they had been made en masse and then let sit in a huge container before serving them a couple hours later. The manager who our server sent over wasn't even apologetic saying "I can't do anything about portion sizes that's corporate." Even after he said that he understood what I was complaining about. I never touched the duck plate, and he whisked it off the table and took it into the back, most likely to throw away or for someone in the back to eat. I felt bad for my dad who thought he was taking me to a nice restaurant for my birthday, and I ended up eating the chili and a little bit of his avocado Asian salad. (which was quite good) Overall, my experience was a joke for a fine dining restaurant where most of the plates cost over 20-25$. My dad doesn't make that much money, and from now on I'll just stick with a chain like Black Angus for my birthday, where I'll at least know that my portion size will be worth what I pay.

• Pros: there's a pro? open 24 hours?
• Cons: Bad service, Overpriced, and Small portions

08/17/09

Horrible Service

by ATLMom at Citysearch

My family went to 13 Coins on a Sunday night and had to wait two hours for our entree. The manager assured us that he would take care of everything including dessert but all he did was go back and get our food (which only took 5-10minutes) and then proceeded to give us a bill. He retracted the statements that were heard by the hostess and server about taking care of our bill. We paid the bill because of our principles but filed a complaint . I will not visit this restaurant again because I am a strong believer in principles and having the intestinal fortitude to keep your word even after you see the bill total. I have told my friends about the experience and they agree that the restaurant should have taken care of the bill.

• Pros: Good Food
• Cons: Untrained Management

09/01/08

A Seattle legend has died... but not gone.

by knoxwell at Citysearch

13 Coins was unlike any restaurant in town. Where could you go to get a 5 star meal, outstanding service and great variety at 11:00pm any night of the week? Only 13 Coins. And... luckily there were 2 of them. My husband and I had eaten there at least twice a month for 18 years of our marriage. Yes, it was beginning to lose it's luster and needed a good facelift... but the food was still amazing always... and the wait staff professional and enjoyable. We always had a great experience. During one of our visits we were informed that the restaurant was changing ownership and aske us to fill out a short questionaire asking us what we would like to see change and what was important to us... not to change. It was a month or so before we returned... to find things so different we were devastated. Had they not listened to their faithful customers at all? They removed items from the menu... includind my favorite all time meal... Sweatbreads 13 Coins!! Our favorite chef had left we were told, and it seemed as though the mood of the chefs as well as the wait staff was down and chilly. We had a mediocre meal and left never to return. It has been at least 18 months since we have been back. I only left my review at this time because I ran across this website while looking for a recipe and felt the need to air my opinion. Perhaps miraculously the new owners have listened to the complaints... and from talking with friends and collegues... I know there are many... and brought back the menu and the atmosphere that was 13 Coins!! Maybe we will try them again someday.

• Pros: Still some good items on the menu.
• Cons: No different than any other chain restaurant now.

07/18/07

Lying on the couch for days...

by kkmorris at Citysearch

This restaurant review guide is censored; it won't allow certain words to post, so please email me directly: kkmorris at gmail if you want to know why I was lying on the couch in extreme pain for a week after eating at this restaurant. An important note here is that this is the only place I ate out in 3 weeks and at home I eat only rice, beans, steamed veggies, fruit, etc. (not even eggs at home.) . In other words, it most definitely was this place that rendered me immobile in great pain for several days.

• Pros: Open at 5 am when waiting for an early flight to arrive at airport across the street.
• Cons: Food is actually inedible unless you fancy being knocked out on the couch for a week in pain.

04/26/07

Nothing stays the same

by lesliebaker at Citysearch

New ownership has changed the quality ingredients of the long standing entrees on the menu of the prestigious 13 Coins Restaurant at the Airport. Last night, my chicken parm was served with a sauce representing itself as alfredo sauce but so thick it stood up on the plate like a starchy paste. The cream has been deleted from the recipe, thus, no sauce existed to infuse the pasta, which was served tepid. This dish has been my favorite since the Coins opened in the 70's.and I can say we've dined at the counter a minimum of twice monthly for the last 20 years. Our favorite Chef has departed,as a result of the changes, along with some long time servers. The prices have been raised to equal El Goucho but the food is now equivilent to Olive Garden. (Actually, Olive Garden is better). The chefs no longer put on a show as they prepare your dish but if you bring ambience in the door with you, the decor will ensure you having a nice dining experience. The only reason we still dine at the Coins is because it is open after 10:00pm. Seattle desperately needs another 24 hour quality restauraunt.

A July 13, 2007 update... the new chef working the late shift is excellent and the food has improved significantly. The shocker is management has reduced the waite staff to one waiter after midnight. The 13 Coins is frequently slamed after midnight. What are they thinking?

• Pros: 24 hour availability, nice counter atmosphere
• Cons: over priced, long waits after midnight