06/12/09

Don't bother....

by juliq

We made a reservation for 13 people after my son's graduation, for someplace that we thought would be good yet casual. We had read the "Entrees and Sandwiches" menu on line, which turned out to be only available at dinner. Service was the worst I've ever had, with no silverware or napkins on the table until we asked for them -- after our food arrived. My husband's salad came out of the kitchen wrong, and finally after 15 minutes of waiting for a replacement, I went and complained to the manager. He got it 7 minutes after that, as all of the rest of us were done eating. The manager ended up giving us $20 in gift certs (the bill was over $200) but those will go unused as none of us desired a second trip back. As I said, don't bother!

• Pros: None that we found!

06/12/09

Clears turned away!

by CSMobileUser

They won't even let you in if you have on bike or soccer cleats because they value their hardwood floors more than your business!

04/07/09

terrible management, lousy customer service

by sueinseattle

We hosted a private party at Hale's and it was a nightmare arranging it. They gave us the wrong menu the first time, changed who we had to work with mid-stream, gave us incorrect quotes, had inflexible policies, then the night of the event had the nerve to tell us and our guests who arrived there before us that we had never confirmed the event. I had to pull up my email to prove to them that I had confirmed it, so they reluctantly accommodated us. You should take your business to a place that treats you better than a pest

• Pros: cool venue
• Cons: they treat you like a pest

09/22/07

A Great Brewpub In Seattle

by lord_humongous

I ate lunch here after a trip to the zoo with my wife and parents simply to try Hale's Ales Cream Ale. I was not disappointed by the beer but I wasn't blown away by my pizza, either. However, everyone else enjoyed their lunches. My unexciting pizza aside, I will defintely go back to Hale's Ales for the great service we received and to sample more of their beers. Bottoms up!

• Pros: Great beer, Great service

06/08/07

yellow salad

by eemajin

For a lunchtime salad for $12.95 I was expecting something really great, but was very dissappointed with the Jeerk Ceasar Salad. Ceasar salads were once green and full of nutrients and fiber. Nowadays, the restaurants are serving yellow and white romaine lettuce with about as much nutrition and fiber as head lettuce, that is, almost none. To boot, it was over loaded with thick creamy dressing, and boring white bread croutons. I guess the slab of grilled chicken on top was supposed to justify the price, but all in all it was a boring salad and left me feeling like I was eating junk food. To be fair, my husband's mushroom burger was tasty and it was nice that he had the healthier choice of cole slaw rather than fries on the side. But please please, bring back GREEN romaine lettuce.

04/24/07

Great visit

by pinky77

I had a wonderful experience the other night at Hale's. I had friends visiting from out of town and wanted to show them a "northwest" kind of place. the food here was good, a different kind of "pub" fare. No greasy fries...just good homecooked food. our server was very knowledgable about the beers and suggested we try a sampler of 5 beers. It was great...I had their summer beer which was delicious. There was a little for everyone. My husband had the USA Pizza and it was great. I had the meatloaf and was surprised by how tender it was. our friends shared a couple appetizers and none of us left hungry. It was a great way to show our friends a Seattle good time

02/03/07

Good beer, disappointing service

by espelund

I came in with a larger group this Saturday afternoon. We specifically chose a time after lunch and before dinner because we knew finding a table and getting food and drinks for 9 people during a rush time was a bad idea. The place was not empty, but there were plenty of tables and the staff didn't seem terribly busy. They just took a really long time to bring us everything, forgot some things, tried to overcharge us for a beer sampler, made a big deal about splitting the check (come on, how often do 9 young people in this city all end up on one check?) and finally forced us to pay an 18% gratuity because we had a group over 6. I don't mind that policy, but when you've gotten cruddy service, being forced to leave a good tip is frustrating. I won't personally organize another outing there, but would meet others for a drink again. I've been in once before and had fine service. Maybe groups are just a problem.

Side note: I was under the impression this was a brew pub. One of the very fundamental reasons I go to bars and pubs is because they are generally 21+ and I can avoid screaming children. Not so with Hales. On a Saturday afternoon there are all sorts of little gremlins running about.

• Pros: good food, good beer, good location
• Cons: bad service, bad music, children

09/13/06

Fabulous beer!

by smilsow

I love their beer here, well the darker brews at least since those are the only ones I've tried. As for the food, the pizza is a-mazing. The baked Mac & Cheese is really tasty as well. My friends have also enjoyed the burgers as well. A bigger group can sometimes be a touch problematic if you don't make reservations first (sometimes the servers get a little grumpy about bigger groups that walk-in, which is kind of understandable). Other than that, this place is great!

• Pros: The beer!

07/05/06

An attractive pub and fitting showcase for a respected local brewer.

by Contributor

The Scene
Upon entering this handsomely sturdy facility, visitors immediately get a full view of the brewing works. The pub, meanwhile, sits sealed behind closed doors to the left. While the layout may suggest something about Hale's priorities, the pub is hardly an afterthought. Dimly lit with lots of dark wood accented by brass and porcelain fixtures, the main bar area invites lingering. A dining room and an outdoor deck are somewhat less stately, but open to guests under 21.

The Draw
Open since 1983, Hale's knows its business well; the Pale Ale and Moss Bay Extra are especially strong. The food, particularly the pizzas and appetizers, is usually tasty and reasonably priced. Unlike other local breweries with on-site pubs, liquor is available. Located between downtown Ballard and Fremont, the pub is also a convenient meeting point.

12/21/05

Lousy Service, disgusting food, poor management.

by pgcarlson

I refuse to ever eat here or buy their beer again. I had lousy service and terrible food there, so I wrote to the owners to complain. Never heard back.

So I will never go there again. I'll never buy their beer. And you all should know that.

• Cons: service, food, management