Steelhead Diner

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wmgriffith78

Joined 8 years ago

Great food, great service. 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!

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jcmini

Joined 6 years ago

Best, Best, Best!!!. 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!!

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michaelfran

Joined 6 years ago

For a knowledgeable palate. 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..

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lreapeinna

Joined 6 years ago

Great Food & Friendly Folks. 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.

Seatting options abound -- private dining room for parties, patio for outdoor eating, tables and booths as well. Location is great near the market and close to downtown attractions.

Friendly staff and owners make this diner a real delight.

I highly recommend this restaurant to all!!

Thank you for making us so welcome on our visits to date. Yum, yum!!

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jrcbaker

Joined 6 years ago

Yesterday looked busy like Christmas shopping. Lunch there every weekday at the warm end of the counter and the Blue Plate Special rocks!. 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!



This is cooking with love: what you?d expect at the home of a fine cook, instead of commercial restaurant fare. And having eaten at The Steelhead Diner at least four or five times a week over the last six months I feel sorry for anyone who doesn?t eat here too. Even worse for me is getting to the bottom of the Chef?s bowl, where there is no more. The freshness of ingredients, Chef's awesome flavors and textures and a beautiful hot plate delivered by the runner always make me happy.

Today the sandwich was so good, dripping juice onto the fries. It was real Louisiana sandwich, plus a cool-one suggested by the helpful wait person. I am always seeing folks from the greater New Orleans area come in for Chef?s gumbo with a big smile, including Branford Marsalis in town for a concert last month, chatting about the family back home.

A lot of us from work will take a community table along the side, instead of a low booth near the Chef?s collection of steelhead flies or a small table looking over Puget Sound at the Olympics. Over time I see that colleagues show more vitality, relaxing into them selves and appreciate the more simple things in life. The Steelhead Diner is good medicine.

Tomorrow I see myself sitting on the patio overlooking Post Alley with a chilled Brutus Salad that just kills Caesar.

Doesn't Recommend

mittenkitten

Joined 7 years ago

lunatic service. 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.

I'm determined to have a good time but then the waitress started pushing strawberry lemonade on me. I thanked her but declined, but she wouldn't let up. I HAD to have it! I HAD to! It got very weird the more I refused until I was completely irritated.

Now things get surreal: The lunatic waitress suggested--out of the blue, while I was mid-chew and mid-conversation--that if I was avoiding carbs (I'm not) that I should take the top bun off my (mediocre) pork sandwich and cut it into tiny little pieces. She actually mimed this for me. Yes, mimed. So I just assumed she was completely insane and ignored her (as well as ignoring the not-so-subtle jab about watching my weight--I'm 5'8 and 140#).

I was otherwise having a great time--until one of the two moronic servers would come back, interrupt us with: "I LOVE your haircut!!" (out of the blue in sarcastic voice and while I'm eating and talking) "Someone looks like they aren't having a good time!" (said in sing-song baby voice and, yes, interrrupting my otherwise fun, laughing conversation I was having).

I'm sure there are lovely people who work at Steelhead Diner but first impressions are everything. I left feeling so disgusted (gee, I'm so sorry an over-tipper came in to spend money at your restaurant!) that I'll never, ever go back. (And no, I didn't overtip that day).

My advice: order something safe and simple (the pork sandwich was bland, fatty, and sloppy but the fries were really good ) and keep your fingers crossed about the service!

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alicianoele

Joined 10 years ago

Great food, sloooooow service!. 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.

Doesn't Recommend

wendythefoodie

Joined 6 years ago

Way Way Overrated!!. 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.

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gabers

Joined 7 years ago

Delicious upscale Diner. 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.

The service was busy so it was hard for them to keep up with demands. Our extra bread never showed up and our beers took a bit too long to arrive but, if you have a bit of patience it's nothing traumatizing at all!! On a good note, the water was always full and our meals were HOT when they got to our table(that's the most important aspect of a meal to me).

The food was superb. The crabcake was spicy and full of crab, the very fresh light salmon was surrounded by and juxtaposed by a rich sauce. The desserts that passed by our table looked incredible and their size was intimidating for someone who is very near full so we had to pass. I will go back to try one very very soon.

The only problem I can pinpoint with Steelhead is the price. For a small portion you spend atleast $20 including tip/tax. It is worth it once in a while because it's delicious but, it creates a certain kind of atmosphere. Unfortunely, because there aren't many choices that are below that price range the menu will deter a certain clientele from attending the restaurant regularly. In a place like this you have to expect a certain demographic will be eating next to you. That can be good or bad depending on your eating style but when "diner" is part of your name, you'd hope to have some less expensive options.

In all it was a fabulous meal. I'd suggest it to anyone for a nice dinner or a dessert. I'm guessing lunch is fabulous. Perhaps I will find my less expensive meal at that time?

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Mildly adventurous, deeply delicious comfort food makes the most of Pike Place Market ingredients.. The Scene
Warm colors, big windows, comfortable booths and a whole lot of hand-tied flies create a modernly idiosyncratic Seattle spot that feels spacious and welcoming. The kitchen bustles with a multitude of staff, most all of whom are entirely professional-but so many people leads to occasional timing mishaps and miscommunications.

The Food
Mixing Louisiana roots with Pike Place Market ingredients results in a long list of delicious options. From pepery fried hominy to an all-crab crab cake, the starters and sides are profoundly fresh and highly decadent. More formal entrees change with the seasons, like the tender spring lamb with asparagus. Year round, there are plenty of local brand-name stars, from Beecher's cheese to Theo chocolate to Uli's sausage. End the meal with a rich slab of chocolate pecan pie with bourbon cream. -