The Hunt Club at the Sorrento

01/07/2008 Posted by rgeorgettehall

I first went to the Hunt Club in college 15 years ago. It was one of my first dates with my husband. We have returned many times for special occasions in our lives as it is the most romantic spot in Seattle. We consider it a special place just for the two of us, so we always go alone. It is our little secret. There isn't a better place to enjoy an after dinner drink than sitting on the plush seats in the bar area. The food is creative and beautifully presented. I always feel happy and pampered when I leave.

01/07/2008 Posted by lhwalker

I think that the Sorrento is a jewel in Seattle - one of the most iconic locations in the city. The staff in the Hunt Club is friendly, unpretentionious, but attentive without being overly so. I have never had a bad experience there. The food is very good, and I love the chips they serve in the bar - made in-house, and a nice change from your standard "mixed nuts." I'd recommend the hotel time and again.

12/20/2007 Posted by wwisewoman

About 6 years ago I had the most disastrous lunch I have ever experienced here. The events that unfolded were comical, involving the kitchen apparently being nonfunctional but instead of that fact being disclosed by management, myself and two guests were poured continuous glasses of wine for an hour and a half until we were finally served our 2 salads and a burger (which was raw and unedible). They tried to bill us for entire meal (including the "complimentary" wine) and one of my guests, my assistant at the time, was drunk enough that we drove her home so she could pass out in private. This year I gave the Hunt Club another chance, figuring that the previous lunch must have been a convergence of bad circumstances. I met my sister there for lunch in the festive holiday ambiance, which is undeniably elegant. The good news is that this lunch was better than the last lunch! The bad news is as follows. The prices were high so we hoped the food was worthwhile.We were very dissapointed. I had two dry, flavorless crab cakes thrown artlessly onto soggy greens ($23). My sister had approximately three pieces of beef thrown onto the same soggy greens, for $14. It seemed that maybe someone had made a run to Trader Joe's up the street a couple of days prior (the greens were a little aged as well as soggy) and also thawed out some crab cakes which had subsequently dried up. We had to request that bread or rolls be served and I'm thankful that they didn't bill us an extra charge. The waiter was inattentive but in fairness seemed to be assigned too many tables. He did charge us incorrectly and it took quite awhile for him to change our bill because it seemed that he had to run everything through management. I don't know if the lunches here are always exceptionally bad or if I am just an unlucky person. In this town of fabulous food, it is a shame that an historical location such as the Sorrento should allow this to happen.

Pros: Ambiance is great.

Cons: Valet parking is $12 and there's little parking to be found nearby. Inattentive service. Overpriced.

09/29/2006 Posted by rayyinger

Nothing bad on the menu and can even customize as you go. Actually a quiet dinner place, which is often hard to find. Large selection of wines. Pricey but good for client dinner.

09/05/2006 Posted by helen_f

The Hunt Club at the Sorrento should be visited if only for the reason that it is an absolutely beautiful place. The bar in the lounge is my favorite spot to sit: a rich, mahogany counter is perfect for leaning up against when indulging in a well-balanced glass of Syrah while checking out the bar's other patrons. Food here may be a bit overpriced, but well worth it--the heirloom tomato salad straight from the chef's garden can't be missed.

07/07/2006 Posted by johnmolloy

My wife and I came to Seattle for the Weekend. Are stay at the Sorrento was pleasant, the Staff was friendly and courteous. We dined in the Hunt club On a relaxed Friday evening, again the staff was professional and attentive, however, The Chef paced the hallway talking on his cell phone throughout our entire dinner. Strange, considering the price of an entree and the mediocrity of the presentation.

11/26/2005 Posted by bunsowh

We went here for Thanksgiving dinner and were disappointed by the service from the beginning. After waiting too long for a server he arrived with an officious attitude. We asked him to take a photo of the table and he declined saying he would do it later - later never came. The first course soup was cold. The entre food was pre-cooked and tough. Both the turkey and rack of pork dinners were tough and chewey. Service continued to be slow throughout the meal. We had to ask several times to get water! The ambience is terrific - clubby and romantic - but the service and food quality are totally lacking. We won't be back.

Pros: ambience

Cons: food, service

07/28/2005 Posted by westseattleguy

My college roommate was in town and I wanted to treat him to a great dining experience. We chose the Hunt Club from a friend's referral. IT WAS AMAZING. I'd recommend the following (exactly what we did): grab a few cocktails in the Fireside Room and enjoy the ambiance on one of the big, comfy couches. When you're ready to eat, head for the dining room and ask for Paul to be your server. Start with the Grazer's Plate, a make-your-own-creation appetizer plate including grilled tiger prawns, and cured salmon. If you're hungry, go for the crab salad before enjoying either the Filet or the King Salmon for your dinner. Our plates were so clean by the time they were done, they could've gone back on the shelf! You've gotta check it out. Perfect for a date or a special night. Easily one of Seattle's BEST.

Pros: Great service, Unbelievable food, Imtimate & cozy

Cons: A bit pricey..., but worth it!

03/24/2005 Posted by cinsilva

A group of friends and I went to the Hunt Club for dinner last night and were sorely disappointed. After we were seated, it took the waiter over 10 minutes to come over to take our drink orders (in a half-empty restaurant and no apologies for the wait). We were all interested in the "Dine Around Seattle" menu and he seemed disinterested in engaging us (that included menu recommendations, bringing us bread or refills on drinks and coffee). There were long waits between courses and no interest in asking how we liked our meals. This was an overglorified food-runner with a bad attitude and we felt cheated when the restaurant tacked on a built-in gratuity. After this experience, I would never recommend The Hunt Club. With all the excellent restaurant choices in Seattle (who don't give an attitude when you opt for the pre-fixe menu), you should skip this one!

Pros: Ambience

Cons: Service, Service, Service

11/11/2004 Posted by alicetruong

I tried this restaurant through the Dine Around Seattle, 25 for $25 promotion. I was sorely disappointed. The initial service was excellent, but the waitress's service was below average compared to what I would expect for a high-end restaurant. The tomato soup was mediocre and the salmon was dry and overcooked. Being that the first impression is the most lasting, I would not dine here again. Neither would I recommend it, even with the discounted price from the promotion.