Duke's Chowder House Lake Union

08/23/09

Definetly not coming back

by Dahliada at Citysearch

Very slow service. Overpriced food. I had Lobster Pernod chowder and it was rather starchy instead of creamy. I guess they are trying to cut their costs. Also I ordered steamer clams and they were so bitter, I do not know why. I asked to take them back and ordered crab cakes. The crab cakes were good but way overpriced. The dish came with a small cup of a tartar sauce. The sauce looked like it was sitting outside for a long time and got darker outside and a little bit lighter inside. I think they might took it from somebody else's plate because it was not consumed by the previous customer. To make a long story short, I am not coming back. I love seafood but this place was very disappointing.I have read so many bad reviews about this restaurant after we went there. I wish I looked at them before our trip there. I also hope the management of this place will read all the reviews and fix their service and improve quality of food.

04/23/08

hard to find service

by jac011 at Citysearch

I've been coming to Duke's for the past 3 or so years for business and some late-night music. Don't miss the dowtown/lake location. It is a lot of fun. Some of the best service I have had. The blonde day bartender is great and there is a little guy there that seems to run the place. He waited on us for our last visit and we had a great time. The food is good but too much $$. Try happy hour clams! What happened to the cute red head? Worth a visit for sure. A Seattle icon.

• Pros: service, view and late night band
• Cons: parking and $$

11/29/07

Not the best Seattle has to offer!

by ghwinter4 at Citysearch

The clam chowder was like paste.( I had a great chowder at Pikes Market ).Duke"s was loaded with corn starch to make it too thick. Bleeech! I had the blackened salmon, that wasover cooked and dry. My waiter was nice, but rushed us through the meal. It would be ok for a restraunt at a Holiday Inn, but if it's supposed to be a decent (with these prices) seafood place, it fell way short.

• Pros: Good location
• Cons: Institutional type food

06/16/07

Outstanding service and exceptionally great food

by maggie_o at Citysearch

For a memorably good time and exceptional food, ask for "Dillon" at the Green Lake location to be your waiter. As a former chef at Duke's he can recommend the best of the menu and leave you grinning at his comments and friendliness.

Our party of 8 shared bites with each other because we each thought our dish had to be the best on the menu. Our top recommendations: the Lobster Pernod Chowder, and the Halibut Macadamia. I can't wait to return and try the Pan Seared Wild Salmon (Dillon's top pick).

• Pros: Outstanding seafood, "Dillon" at Green Lake location
• Cons: parking, can be noisy, pricy

12/12/06

Wonderful during the Summer OR Winter months!

by munny76 at Citysearch

The Lake Union location is a favorite of mine. During the Summer it's a must stop kind of place. The patio is great! During the winter it takes on a cozy element and the chowder is just the thing to warm those hard to reach cold spots!!

Seattle's classic fish-n-chip and chowderhouse remains a local favorite.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Duke Moscrip's first place was opened on Lower Queen Anne in 1976 and has since expanded to three waterfront locations (Green Lake, Alki Beach and Lake Union). The seafood-centric menu includes half a dozen interpretations of clam chowder, fish-and-chips, a salmon sandwich, salads, steaks and a rotating selection of pastas.

09/16/06

Tourist Trap -- but the chowder aint bad

by dickknows at Citysearch

I avoided Duke's for as long as I could -- but then I thought -- maybe those tourists have found a good thing! Sadly, they have not. The chowder sampler is a good choice -- but the steak was so tough and chewy -- it was like gnawing on a piece of gum. The scallops were a fright: they came out breaded, deep fried and smashed flat -- even though the menu never mentioned the fried element.

• Pros: Crab chowder, delicious sourdough bread
• Cons: the steak, the scallops, the prices

07/06/06

Sub par food

by 8food at Citysearch

It's not that good. Great atmosphere, but the food wasn't good, or even par. I had a seafood pasta that was rather bland, and only had three clams - two of which were open. My friend had fish-n'-chips which were over cooked and dry. The meal would been OK if we weren't paying premium prices. For a seafood house this doesn't boad well. But it's a fun place with a great location, maybe try happy hour, and don't waste your money on the entrees.

• Pros: Location, atmosphere
• Cons: Food

04/23/05

Excellent food, server = tyrant

by seattlechk at Citysearch

Duke's has great food at awesome prices, and the chowder is out of this world. We typically go to the Greenlake location, but visited the Lake Union restaurant once. It will be the last time. The server we had was domineering, disrespectful and interrupted our obviously romantic moments and conversations many times. When she couldn't get our attention, she raised her voice in order to talk over us. She was not terribly competent, and poorly represented Duke's. (On another note, the service at other locations has always been fairly good)

• Pros: Food, Price, Ambience
• Cons: Service

05/01/04

A Fan Suggestion

by bigjerfour at Citysearch

I have been, and will continue to be, a big fan. However, I don't understand the recent upward menu price adjustments, e,g; NY steak now $30---was in low $20s in a few months ago---kid's 1 pc. fish & chips $4.50---adult's 2 pc (the same side items) $13.99? A very small pillbox-size chowder to go $5.95? Duke: you may be getting bad advise.