05/06/09

Great Place!

by mikefran03

My wife and I ate at the Icon this past Saturday, May 2nd. We were staying at a hotel across the street and after returning from the baseball game around 9:30pm, we were soaked (getting to the car) and famished. Sorry, garlic fries with 20,000 other people don't cut it so we wanted something solid but not too heavy. Well, at that hour, the hotel did not have any good options. We noticed the Icon on the way back from the game, so we thought we'd give it a try.

I must say that we were very pleased with everything. The ambiance, the food and Alfonso, our server was great. He could see that my wife wasn't feeling well and suggested some comfort foods that would be more agreeable for her. He was very personable, knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing. Knowing this was our first time there, he took great care of us and that in itself was a comfort.

She settled on the Fettuccine and I on the Flat Iron Steak. We were both very pleased with our entrees - good flavors and well prepared. However, I have to tell you that I was blown away by the Cajun sauce that accompanied the fett. Our waiter raved about it, but warned not to dump it all on the pasta at once - good advice, as it is nice and sweet up front but has a wicked back-heat that shows up after about 10 seconds! I swiped it and used it liberally on my steak. It combined very nicely with the Roquefort sauce and the natural juices of the meat. We also liked the fact that the accompaniment sauces for both dishes came on the side.

Thank you again for a great experience. We look forward to our next trip to Seattle and another chance to enjoy the Icon.

• Pros: Comfort food, comfort service

04/15/09

Love, love, love!

by urbantwentysomething

After a long day of shopping downtown my husband and I stepped in for Happy Hour then decided to stay for dinner. The best take on comfort foods I've ever had! I couldn't stop eating!! Should have ordered the mac 'n cheese, we saw every table order it and throughly enjoy it. Would definitely go back!

• Pros: Food
• Cons: Dust on all the trinkets

12/14/08

Special place to enjoy a meal during the holiday season!

by portobelloB

I took my niece and nephew for lunch here after spending the day in the city. This place is really beautifully decorated for the holidays! They have Santa Claus visiting during their lunch hour for pictures. I love their holiday wreath salad which comes served in a shape of a wreath. A great dessert that will wow anyone is their hot chocolate fudge sundae. It is a huge dessert and easily can feed 3 people. The dessert has 3 large scoops of vanilla ice cream surrounded by large cookie wafers. A cookie wafer shaped as a cone is filled with hot chocolate sauce. The server will drizzle your sundae with the cone of hot chocolate sauce and then sprinkle a generous serving of mini m&ms, nuts, and bits of chocolate chip cookie, and then top it with a dollop of whipped cream. It's quite a display for children but I was impressed myself. If you are going to indulge I would highly recommend this dessert. It is one of my favorite places to go during the holidays.

• Pros: Ambience, service, closed to downtown stores, parking,
• Cons: Music system was having problems. It was having static and skipping during our meal.

08/24/08

Save Your Money! Go some where else.

by jm90254

Where would you like me to begin? How about the sad excuse for a wine list, only two worth drinking on the entire list. My friend ordered a starter for the entire table, the Fried Mac n' cheese, apparently the chef never was taught that the frier oil needs to be change regularly. It was over done and tasted like every thing else that had been fried in there. As for the entree's, well again if you like over cooked duck breast ( way to much salt) and dried out duck confit you would have enjoyed it. Not to mention the coconut rice that was served with it, was more of a rice porridge. As for the Reiner Cherry Glace, was more a flavorless acidic water, not the reduced down traditional glace that every chef learns in culinary school.

And no it was not just one entree that was Oh so not delectable! My friends meat loaf looked and tasted as if it was made last week and left in the sun to dehydrate.

Never once did our server return to ask us if we were enjoying our meal. Never saw a manager so we could voice our concerns. Was incredibly disappointed in this restaurant, especially after we spent $181, not including tip, for dinner for three people.

I strongly urge you to seek out alternative places. You don't get what you pay for at this dump.

06/05/08

Fabulous private room for parties!

by tigsters

I recently had a party for a friend at the icon and it was fantastic. We couldn't have picked a better spot. The room is upstairs, overlooking the restaurant, and decorated in fun bright colors. Everything from the service, to the food, to the decor was perfect. Not too fancy and not too cheesy- like so many similar restaurant options in the Seattle area. The comfort food inspired menu has a little something for everyone-- I'm a total foodie, so I have pretty high standards. Brenda, who booked our party, was so accommodating and made sure all the little details, from the decorations to the cake, were taken care of. Thanks for making our party such a success!!

• Pros: Great private room, service, and food
• Cons: Have to go to a set menu if you have over 15 people

05/04/08

Uh Oh! :-(

by nicvalentine

We dined on May 2nd, early evening. Well...Let me start by saying that I've been saying that the Icon Grill is my favorite restaurant for the last 5 years. To be fair, 5 Years is how long it's been since i've ate there as well. Unfortunately I was very disappointed on this occasion. I remember the artichoke dip they used to serve in the a real artichoke with center filled with creamy goodness...gone! It's been replaced with some Red Robin type dish filled with Parmesan, canned marinated artichoke hearts with burnt hard to the roof of you mouth toast... you all know what i'm talking about. sad! The mac and cheese was decent still but just "decent". Grilled asian pear salad would have been good if the pears were ripe, tasted like chalk. (New Chef Maybe?) I'm angry and want my restaurant back.

Also, maybe the staff should start wiping the lip-stick off the glasses before serving the drinks. In professional establishments (which i'm assuming this place is trying to be) they don't miss this. Especially when the customer are capable of spending over $50.00 on a meal and appetizers and $30 in drinks each.

Also, Somebody needs to let one of the waiters know( in the bar ), that it is not ok to google over a guy's butt in front of the customers they're serving. It's very rude and not funny, No matter your sexual preference. Straighten yourselves up or you're finished.

Some professional advice,

If you change out the MR16 Halogen bulbs in the track heads on the ceiling, you can create a more inviting dramatic environment. Jump up some wattage and switch to a "Spot" beam spread. Since you have the height with your ceiling, the light will not dissipate as much and make your blown glass and food "pop" to the admirers and diners. You want that food to "pop" when you set it on the table. The Pink Glow doesn't work very well. Your Marquee is ugly as hell too. Is that laminated printer paper? c'mon! spend!

• Pros: mac and cheese
• Cons: flamboyant, cleanliness, disrespectful

04/29/08

Overrated

by HelenWS

This place is overpriced and the service I've experienced has ranged from indifferent to surly. The food is mediocre, at best.

04/07/08

Great dinner and happy hour

by jmevans

This on of my husband and I's favorite places to go. For dinner the prices are pretty reasonable. The food is great. It mostly has comfort foods, but if you like seared tuna this is the place to go! The meatloaf also rocks. The best is if you are around for happy hour. Half priced drinks AND half price food. If you dont get a drink the price is like going to mcdonalds.

• Pros: Great ambience even in the bar.
• Cons: Make a reservation on friday or saturday nights

04/01/08

Great Atmosphere!

by desireedralle

We just went to Icon Grill for the first time this weekend. The atmosphere was excellent, hard to beat. It was quiet (a Sunday night). He had the meatloaf and I had the fried chicken. The dark meat chicken was great, but the breast was so dry I couldn't even eat it. He loved his meatloaf and said it was the best he'd ever had. We will go back here, I just won't get the fried chicken. You can't beat the atmosphere.

• Pros: Atmosphere, meatloaf
• Cons: Dry chicken

02/02/08

A true Seattle ICON

by financial_foodie

If you live in Seattle or are just visiting, this is a must-dine experience!

FOOD: Take your favorite comfort food, throw in a dash of Southern flair, a heaping pile of Seattle panache, and all Northwest ingredients and you've got the Icon Grill. One of my favorite entrees (that's not a permanent resident of the menu) is their Peppercorn Flat Iron Steak w/ Roquefort Cheese Sauce. This flavor explosion of a hunk of meat is served over a bed of horseradish potato cakes. Another classic that's always around is their Molasses-Glazed, Bacon-Wrapped Meatloaf. *drool* Fabulous cocktails and other unusual items (such as their famous Mac & Cheese) make this a frequent night out for many Seattlites.

LOCATION: North-central downtown shopping district, across the street from the Westin Hotel.

ATMOSPHERE: Also very Seattle. Lots of glass art adorns the tables, walls, and is even hanging in large mesh nets from the ceiling. Some might say you have to go just to see the decor!

• Pros: Prompt seating, great bar, tasty food, decent service
• Cons: Parking, loud at times