06/09/08

Sad, I used to like this place.

by Madeline987

Years ago the Hopvine was a place on the hill where you could go without the pretense of some of the other places on the hill. Sadly, I have to agree with some of the other reviews on this site. The problem is that the newly found pretentious additude comes directly from the servers. It seems as if they don't even try to give the customer a good experience anymore. The food is mediocre and expensive and the service truly is probably the slowest in Seattle. After all this they lost my credit card and blamed it on me. Almost comical a few weeks later but I won't ever go there again and couldn't possibly recommend it to anyone.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Poor service, very slow, bad food, expensive

06/09/08

What happened????

by Jason4791

I grew up in the neighborhood and have been going to the Hopvine since it opened. I've probably been there 5 times in the last couple years and have had some of the worst service I've ever had in my life. The last time I was there WAS HANDS DOWN THE WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD. Let's see... not only is it slow and surprisingly expensive. $13 dollars for a hummus plate? Are they serious? More importantly the waitress was crabby and rude. She had a smug look on her face and when I asked for another beer she was sarcastic and said, "Okay fine, you want one more beer?" as if I was cut off or something. I had three beers and ordered food. Was not drunk or loud or anything. I was shocked by how obnoxious she was. What is there left if the establishment has slow service, the servers are rude, and it's expensive? I will never step in there again and would seriously recommend everyone choosing somewhere else. Sad but true.

• Pros: hmmm... still thinking. Convenient location maybe?
• Cons: Rude servers, slow as can be, very expensive

06/02/08

Sadly lacking

by jarmo

The owners of the hopvine and latona are a disgrace. They represent themselves as music lovers and are nothing but. Stale beer and bad food.

11/26/07

Good beer, pretty good food, crowded

by limonata

When I lived around hte corner, the hopvine used to be my second living room. I still go there a great deal, but it's not as great as I remember it: Maybe I used to have lower standards, or maybe it's gone slightly downhill. The food is pretty good, especially the pizzas and sometimes the soup, though it's kind of expensive for what you get. The beers rotate quite a bit and are usually mixed--but the bartenders will tell you what's worth trying and what's not. And FYI on trivia night, you should probably be at least in your mid-thirties to even attempt it--the questions are pretty catered to an older crowd.

• Pros: Good beer, neighborhood vibe, great if you can score a booth
• Cons: Often very crowded, and service can be harried

08/25/05

Tsk Tsk Tsk - SHAMEFUL TACTICTS

by hapyhapy

My friend and I sat down on a sunday afternoon/evening to have a beer, and after ordering an apptizer that took and extraordinary long time to come out of the kitchen, an accordian band started to play. Not a particularly good or interesting accordian band either, ...but after we finished our beer and appetizer, we asked for the check. the waitress returned and told us she had to charge us an additional $4 for COVER CHARGE. When we complained to the manager that you cannot charge a cover charge "after the fact", she simply said "I have to pay for the band somehow, and if you dont like it you can leave." Which, was obviously what we were trying to do....

07/07/05

Northwest brews and exemplary grub are the cornerstones of this Capitol Hill pub.

by Contributor

The Scene
Far from the flashier 15th Avenue watering holes, this luminous neighborhood stop off has an understated elegance, with a blond wood bar and plenty of natural light. The room is narrow, but inviting, featuring sturdy, solid wood fixtures that befit the bar's emphasis on quality ingredients.

The Draw
Regional craft brewers are celebrated here. Favorites from Mirror Pond, Mac & Jack's and Hales are on tap, as well as some lesser-known Northwest brews. A similar commitment applies to the strong lineup of edibles; you'll find no deep fryer here. Sandwiches are constructed out of Boar's Head meats and breads from Essential Bakery. Live music running the gamut from folk and jazz, to quieter rock acts can be heard on weekends.

11/17/04

S.O.U.P.S. delish!

by julesong

A small crowd of us go to the Hopvine about once a week, and we love the patience of the staff (putting up with our antics) and the wonderful soups! Their Southwest Pumpkin Soup is to die for! And yes, I bought the cookbook, too... :)

• Pros: great food, good ambiance, nice staff

10/12/04

s.o.u.p.s. stands for sucks?

by sfever

the allegedly best soup in seattle has been awful on the two occasions that i tried it.

i had a roasted red pepper soup with so much ancho, i could only eat a couple spoonfuls. even after the waitress brought me more than 1/2 cup of sour cream to dump in the soup, it was terrible.

• Pros: beer

04/20/04

Go for the food -- not the scene

by arielmeadow

I spent an evening at Hopvine shortly after it opened. I immediately dubbed it "Seattle's Most Boring Bar" and vowed never to return. It seemed too well lit, the clientel too dull, and the atmosphere too, well, BORING.

Years later, I heard that the food was really good, and so I went back to Hopvine for lunch. AND WAS STUNNED. Hopvine has 15th's best lunch, in my opinion, with hearty, healthy vegetarian and vegan fare that goes way WAY beyond "pub food." The seasonal wasabi spring salad is to die for, and the artichoke/gouda sandwich is fantastic.

The bar remains sort of dull, so if you want a scenester hangout -- go elsewhere. But if you're looking for really good local brews, and some amazing, carefully prepared food, head to Hopvine.

As for service? It's sometimes slow, but always friendly.

• Pros: Great food, Local brews, Moderately priced
• Cons: , Service can be slow

08/07/03

the walls are a feast for eyes

by lpjeter

This remodel of the infamous dive, The Five-Oh, is interesting to view.....the decorations, the hanging art work, the people. The craftsmanship of the curved wooden bar is magnificent. However since this is a bar and not a museum, this review should focus on the products and services. The patrons might appreciate colder beer however the rotating selection of local microbrews does encourage experimentation. The menu features fresh ingredients and daily specials. The spacious men's toilet has the smallest, albeit CLEAN, sink. The service staff tend to be absent and/or absent-minded.

• Pros: rotating beer choices, lots to look at, happy hour prices
• Cons: parking can be far, British beer temperat, apathetic service