03/26/09

Example: great place for good bread

by madamg

I've been a regular of this Restaurant since the early 80"s. Back then till the mid 90's the food was so good. I come here once in a while now for their chow mein, singapore noodles. Their soup noodles used to be good but not anymore. The broth that they use taste like salt and msg...very artifical like chicken broth stock from powder. Quality has gone down...way down except the crab. Prices are the most expensive in Chinatown and the smallest portion. Their house chow mein would only feed one person. Ridiculous!! Too bad ..will not come back. I will make sure everyone in my family and friends will not go there. There are other restaurants that serve better tasting food, bigger serving portion, and cheaper prices like V Garden. Try this one next time (they don't serve noodle soup, though). Lobster on Fridays is $9.99 a pound.

• Pros: Ridiculously Expensive!!!
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

07/28/07

Hot Spot between 11pm-2am!

by oneadvancedpallet

Its great reading the perspective of someone who writes a review just to write the review. Yes this restaurant cost a lot of money; of course... that?s why it?s so good! Good things Cost money. It?s the same people who buy clothes from Nordstrom?s and not Macy's or target, who understand this meaning. You pay for atmosphere, fresh ingredients, variety! Out of the 9 reviews I read, only the last one mentions the Chili Oil, which is great, no that?s not the right word....MINDBLOWING! thats the best I could do in a short amount of time, its huge flavors out weighs the heat, and a small amount on some steam rice its delicious all by its self!... but lets get to the good stuff, Sea Garden is busy when? Between 11pm-2am...WHY? That?s where the chefs of Seattle go after they get of work. Anthony Bourdain (now the underground sell out), was made famous because he took you behind the kitchen and told you what Chefs ate, and guess what that's what is inside the green and white book they give you when you enter the door...its called the MENU! for those of you who say its been westernized, or the food is mediocre... you keep eating the same food you order every else, broccoli and beef, or pork fried rice... but those of you who challenge your pallet, and can't recall the last time you had the same thing on two different occasions, congratulation you stopped yourself from ordering what seems to be 60% of the tables at any given time. So keep the chili oil coming and try ordering the deeo fried Minced Prawns in Chicken Skin, next time you go, not the healthies choice, but the taste are wonderful..."Garlic soaked prawns minced and seasoned wrapped up in chicken skin deep friend crispy and covered in egg gravy! there is nothing like it! its takes a while to prepare and cook, but that?s a treat worth waiting for, you might have a hard time ordering it early on in the day, because they can be conveniently out at the moment but anytime after 9pm your good to go!

• Pros: HUGE Flavors, if you know where to look!
• Cons: not being able to see how the food is made...but o well!

03/19/07

Seafood dominates the menu at this International District spot, where late hours and dependably good Chinese fare reel in crowds.

by Anna Roth

The Scene
A mainly Chinese crowd frequents this International District staple, on the prowl for its Hong Kong-style seafood dishes. The interior, with its glass-topped tables and sparse decor, is typically unadorned. The kitchen's late hours bring in a nightclub clientele in the wee hours; on weekends, the dim sum has a loyal local following.

The Food
True to its name, the restaurant's menu has pages of lobster, crab, prawn, squid, scallop, geoduck and other sea creature dishes. The crab with black bean sauce is a must-try experience: a squirming crab is carried to the orderer's table for approval and taken back to the kitchen, only to a few moments later sectioned on a tray, steamed with a delightfully complex black bean sauce. Other menu favorites include the zingy Singapore noodles, pan-fried with just the right amount of spice, and the savory, salty, crispy squid with salt and pepper.

02/16/07

Good Chinese Food, But Smaller Portions

by spankmehard

In China town, Sea Garden has the reputation of being more expensive with smaller portions. Does the quality make up for it? Not really. The portion sizes are from small to medium. The honey walnut prawns are always a winner. The rice plates, such as beef fried rice, seem a bit too small. The quality is usually consistent, but the quantity just doesn?t make Sea Garden a very attractive option. The service isn?t horrible, but isn?t attentive (on late nights). I?ve ate here at least 10 times during late night hours, and the only time the waiter checks on us is to drop off the bill. The ambiance is a little more chilled out compared to the other nearby restaurants: dim light and soft music in the background. This place is open very late on Friday and Saturday nights, closing around 4AM. Consistency is a problem in China town restaurants, and Sea Garden does stand out at making good food often. At the end of the day, however, the lower quantity and higher pricing makes Sea Garden just an OK deal.

02/14/07

OUR FAVORITE CRAB EVER!

by kristiannie

My husband and I LOVE this place. When ever we get a craving for Dungeness, it has to be two Sea Garden crabs -- one with black bean and the other with ginger sauce. YUMMY! Start off with a big bowl of won ton noodle (the only item on the menu that we have found, so far, that you cannot get without MSG) and you are in for a fabulous meal. We know most of the waiters by now and have always -- even when first visiting there -- had excellent, fast and friendly service. Bring the whole family and request one of the big, round family-size tables -- there are two or three in the back of the restuarant, but several more up the stairs.

11/23/06

Very good

by kee22

The Sea Garden is a pretty good restaurant. The atmosphere is pretty nice and busy. The service is always good. The best item definately is the crab with the black bean sauce..it is soo yummy. Can't say I liked seeing the crab before eating it, but it was good. I wasn't disappointed by the service or the food. Definately recommend.

• Pros: Good seafood, nice atmosphere
• Cons: seeing my food alive

08/25/06

good joint to eat with friends in Chinatown

by seattles_best_

First off, you don't have to wait long to be seated. There is ample room for everyone, regardless of the number of people. And the selection of food is wide...was even able to order water spinich cooked in garlic, which wasn't on the menu. So they're pretty flexible. Yes, it's "westernized" to some extent, but what do you expect? Gotta try to appeal to taste palates of all kinds, yeah?

• Pros: no waiting, food, service
• Cons: parking, prices

04/10/06

Sea Garden Still One Of The Best

by huskyduck

Sea Garden still puts out some of the best Cantonese fare you can find in Seattle after more than 20 years. Salt and pepper prawns, crab with black bean sauce, lobster with garlic sauce are done better than just about anywhere else in the ID. Meat dishes are merely ordinary, especially for the price. Prices at Sea Garden are on the upper end of the ID spectrum.

Still, when craving quality Cantonese fare late at night, there is really no place better in the ID.

• Pros: prawns, crab, lobster
• Cons: meat dishes, pricey, no parking

09/05/04

Average

by kuple

This is just another average Cantonese restaurant. The ambience is better than the other, but the food is just mediocre, overpriced, and not authentic (americanized). In many of the dishes they substitute authentic ingredients with something that are more acceptable by westerner (and obviously easier to find and cheaper).

• Pros: Good ambience
• Cons: , Mediocre food, Americanized

09/18/03

Hip and tasty!

by srkane

I've been eating at Sea Garden for over twenty years (before all of the remodels) and it just keeps getting better. Among my favorites are Live Crab with Ginger and Scallions, Geoduck or Clams in Black Bean Sauce, Hot and Sour Soup and the Cold Appetizer Plate (which includes Jellyfish). They do exotic and they do comfort food (try the Almond Fried Chicken and the Sweat and Sour Pork). They have a full bar and serve warm Shio Xing (Chinese burnt rice wine). The service is very attentive and the atmosphere is chic and inviting. Try Sea Garden tonight, you won't be disappointed.

• Pros: Very satisfying food, Efficient service, Hip Atmosphere