Barking Dog Alehouse

11/21/09

Save Your Monday

by teacozy65 at Citysearch

I had not been to the Barking Dog in a couple of years and not sure what came over me to try it again. I think I was craving the waffle fries which while good, could not overcome what a terrible dining experience this was. You have to really wonder about a restaurant that can embarrass themselves on the salad they served me. I also recall this being a kid-friendly restaurant the last time I was in and even my son wouldn't touch his food this time. To top it off, this service was lousy with attitude. Save your money and enjoy one of the real restaurants in Ballard.

• Cons: Lousy Service, disappointing food

01/03/09

Downhill

by asb1 at Citysearch

This place has gone downhill. Gone are the days of unique menu items, now you get a barely warm piece of premarinated chicken slapped on some wilted lettuce. New ownership took over a while back and things have never been the same. The service was never spectacular, but now you have to actually jump up and down or go up to the bar yourself to get someone to help you out. This place had such potential and now I hope I never have to go back again.

• Pros: Neighborhood
• Cons: Food, Service

10/03/08

Best Neighborhood Pub

by Cascadianpan at Citysearch

The Barking Dog is a wonderful little neighborhood pub/cafe. It is open, with nice light, and usually the sound of happy children and families. The food is traditional pub fair but the variety of beers, local and foreign is inspired. Mostly, it's just a wonderful place to sit, relax, and enjoy life. It reminds me of Hemingway's A Clean, Well Lighted Place.

08/28/08

The end is near....

by dinabostock at Citysearch

We had been huge fans of the Barking Dog for many reasons; The food was always great, the service used to be excellent and the location is fabulous. Now, we have decided that we will not return. We ate there last Sunday afternoon for the last time. For some reason they have "temporarily" stopped making pizza's, which used to be great. We arrived at about 1 and there was one other party in our waitressess section. Despite that, it took her about 10 minutes to come over and bring us water, menus's etc. The funny thing was there were about 3 other employees sitting around just watching people. When we finally got our order of Nachos and a Southwestern Salad with Chicken we were VERY disappointed. Neither dish had a trace of cheese on it and the black beans were literally spooned out the can and onto a pile of lettuce/stale chips. We also had requested some salsa and napkins and finally my husband had to walk up to the bar and get the supplies. Not once did the waitress return to ask if we needed anything or how the food was (she probably already knows it's bad). I know ownership changed a year or two ago, but now I think that the inmates are running the asylum. Too bad for a place that was and could still be very cool.

• Pros: great location and parking
• Cons: indifferent service and not good food

06/27/08

This Place Has Gone Downhill

by CoriSeattle at Citysearch

I used to love this local hangout. Great food, great beer, even great wine. My biggest complaint however is the service. What happened? Please get it together.

06/21/08

Awesome fish & chips & beer selection

by classicflyer at Citysearch

This place has an awesome beer selection, along with a fantastic fish & chips basket. The seasoning they use on their fish & fries is very tasty. They also have a very good portabello mushroom burger. Cool atmosphere as well.

• Pros: Atmosphere, fish & chips

05/26/08

Not worth it

by nicole171 at Citysearch

We've been going to Barking Dog since it first opened and boy has this place gone downhill. I miss the old menu with items like the Vietnamese Sandwich, wraps and creative salads. Now each time I order I get the same horrible pre-marinated chicken slapped on some lackluster lettuce and called a salad.

The new owners should really rethink the changes they've made because at this point the only thing going for this place is that it is the only family friendly restaurant in the neighborhood.

05/15/08

maybe dogs would like it...

by BallardBoy at Citysearch

I wanted to title this "(insert another word for becoming violently ill) dog" but citysearch didn't like that... I loved this place when it first opened - the menu was fantastic, most of the sandwiches used Tall Grass breads, the beer selection was fantastic. Our last 2 visits, however (after not having been for several months, and evidently after a menu change) have been utterly disappointing. The last time I was there, I ordered a chicken sandwich and fries - pretty basic, right? I received a hamburger with cold fries - and a server who promptly disappeared for 5-10 minutes. I ended up eating the burger, which was mediocre at best. My wife, seeing the oyster special (fried oyster salad) requested if they could instead make an oyster Po' Boy, which the kitchen agreed to. She received a hot dog bun - a cheap hot dog bun - with 5 oysters in it. No sauce, no condiments, no thought - but she did get the cold fries as well! All this for the cheap, cheap price of $13. Until they get their act together again, and I hear the food has improved, I'll avoid this place like the plague. Twice burned...

• Pros: great beer list
• Cons: unbelievable decline in food quality since opening

12/14/07

Service is poor

by kenwa at Citysearch

I love a good neighborhood bar, but this isn't it. The beer selection is good, but I have always found the service to be below average, as well as the food. The main downside is the service, I must be getting different waitstaff than the other reviewers but they are usually forgetful and not well put together...

• Cons: servers

07/18/07

Long wait for mediocre food

by carmica at Citysearch

I have been to the barking dog several times now with my family since it reopened. I have experienced long wait times at the door, with a group of only four people. After finally sitting down we waited even longer for our food. The food was mediocre and a bit disappointing. I ordered a steak salad and got the tiniest piece of steak I have ever seen. My husbands fish was warm, but the chips were cold. My brother and sister in law were not terribly impressed with their dishes either. The service was decent. However, we were not impressed by the long waits, small portions, and half cold food.

• Pros: The beer selection is good, but expensive.
• Cons: The food is not worth waiting for.