Bake's Place Bar & Bistro

The drinks and the appetisers were delicious, but entrees such as chicken pillard and sea bass were subpar which kind of ruined the whole experience for us. They do have event nights which is a great way to enjoy the evening, therefore reservations are required. I would definitely go back for the drinks but not anything else.

Would definitely recommend this place, it was our favourite place when we visited Bellevue. From the minute we walked in we were greeted by friendly faces instantly making us feel at home. I would definitely recommend booking on an entertainment night as it can get busy, although the first time we visited they still managed to accommodate us. The food is amazing and the service is second to none. We wanted to especially mention Yuri as he went above and beyond. Thank you for making us feel so welcome, we can’t wait to return when we are next visiting.

Beautiful and refreshing lunch meal today at Bakes Place. The servers are helpful and kind. Chelsea, in particular, goes above and beyond, making guests feel taken care of. I really recommend the food, and the restaurant's space is ample and well-lit, with a stage, making it an excellent location for hosting meetings with a speaker, such as the Bellevue Rotary Club.

I recently went to Bake's Place for a night out with girlfriends and had a great experience. We had made dinner reservations and were seated right away. We were given the option to sit inside or outside and chose to sit outside. The outside eating area is huge, with string lights and heaters to keep warm. We were seated at a table right by the doors leading back into the restaurant, so it was fun to catch a bit of the sound check going on inside on the stage (there would be live music that evening). Our server was great. He offered several great recommendations for cocktails and wine. He was attentive and patient as we took our time deciding on food. Our water glasses were never empty, as someone came by frequently to give us refills. The food was delicious. We shared several appetizers, including truffle fries, heirloom tomato salad, and coconut shrimp. I ordered the Chimichurri Top Sirloin for my main meal, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. This place has great vibes for date nights or nights out with friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely phenomenal!** Bakes Place & Bistro in Bellevue is a total gem. The food is next-level—flavorful, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. The braised short ribs and seared scallops were standouts, and the truffle fries are dangerously good. Cocktails are creative and well-balanced, and the service is top-notch. Add in the live music and cozy-chic atmosphere, and you’ve got one of the best dining experiences on the Eastside. Can’t wait to go back!

Excellent live music, top rate bands/groups are booked here. Sound quality is excellent, no real dance floor is a downside. Entre and desert were excellent, however not impressed at all with appetizers. Actually the appetizers were pretty disappointing. Overall great place for a date night.

Wonderful garden music with Jennifer Rae band and the food was fantastic! It’s a hidden gem in downtown Bellevue that consistently offers high quality food and music.

Went on a Saturday night, reservations are a must because they get busy right around 6pm. A great band was playing and the food we had was perfectly prepared. Their drink selection is eclectic and delicious, and they have a large wine and beer selection as well. This is a hidden gem downtown, and after 5pm they have free garage parking, so it’s a double win!

We came specifically to see Caety Sagoian perform, and she absolutely delivered as always! We've only ever seen her acoustic sets before, so getting to see her with a full band including an amazing saxophone was such a treat. The energy was there, and it was no surprise the place was packed. Even with a full house, the service was on point. We were checked on several times throughout the night and everything came out quickly. Big props to the staff for keeping things running smoothly even during a busy show. There's a $30 food & beverage minimum per person for live performances, which we expected. We ordered: * 2x Ahi Tuna with taro crisps * Kobe Sliders * Sake-Braised Pork Belly over Fried Rice The Kobe sliders were the standout for me. The pork belly was nicely done, tender and flavorful, but the fried rice underneath didn't quite hit the mark. It was a bit hard and dry, possibly from being kept warm too long or maybe it was just the type of rice used (brown or oven-baked?). I would've preferred it with plain steamed white rice to better complement the rich pork belly. The ambiance, live music, and service make this a really special spot. Next time, I'd love to try more items on the menu and definitely catch another live set.

Went here for a team celebration and enjoyed their delicious drink menu...I recommend Pina colada and "hold the phone"... kind of like a sweet mulled wine, but made with sugar rum. We ordered several small plates- flat bread, fries, Brussel sprouts, and the wild mushroom Aracini... which was my favorite! You walk into the lobby of the building on the corner then walk down until the restaurant. They have a decent size indoor space and room for the band, but the outdoor space is even bigger! We had such a great time and will be back again

Food was very good. I had Coconut Shrimp as a starter. My dinner was a Pork Porterhouse Chop. A tasty Lemon drop. Service was very good. Entertainment was a very good jazz band. Very nice atmosphere.

This place is such a classy, well thought out, and executed experience. I went for the Boy Toy show, last night (always amazing) The food? SOO good! I wanted to try it all! Beautifully presented and served by the attentive staff.

The food was great and the position sizes are awesome, appetizers could fill you up! Went on an 80's band night and it was ELECTRIC! $40 for the band cover + $30 per person for food minimum. Go at about 6:30 for a 7pm show. The service is great and the food comes fast

I recently went to Bake's Place for a night out with girlfriends and had a great experience. We had made dinner reservations and were seated right away. We were given the option to sit inside or outside and chose to sit outside. The outside eating area is huge, with string lights and heaters to keep warm. We were seated at a table right by the doors leading back into the restaurant, so it was fun to catch a bit of the sound check going on inside on the stage (there would be live music that evening). Our server was great. He offered several great recommendations for cocktails and wine. He was attentive and patient as we took our time deciding on food. Our water glasses were never empty, as someone came by frequently to give us refills. The food was delicious. We shared several appetizers, including truffle fries, heirloom tomato salad, and coconut shrimp. I ordered the Chimichurri Top Sirloin for my main meal, which was flavorful and perfectly cooked. This place has great vibes for date nights or nights out with friends.

My date was amazing he spoiled me on my Birthday! Food was super delish! Service was even better. He made sure we were taken care off. The bar tender came to us to make sure the drinks were flowing. He even made me a Horchata Birthday drink that was sooo good! Ambience was fun. They had a live band playing and that made the vibe pretty chill. A little loud for obvious reasons but nevertheless fun. I would come back to this place and highly recommended.

Extremely Disappointed - Reservation Not Honored, Rude Management I made a reservation at Bakes in Bellevue, WA four months in advance, specifically requesting the middle booth for four people so we could enjoy the band with a clear view. I was told it was "no problem" and that the booth was reserved for us. We showed up on Saturday night, only to find out the booth had been given away. When I spoke up, the hostess admitted I had requested it months ago but said, "They're here every Saturday night and they're big tippers." Seriously? So let me get this straight: if you're a regular who tips big, you get priority -- and the rest of us? Too bad, even if we reserved months in advance. Why even bother making a reservation if it doesn't mean anything? I had to call the other two guests in our party and tell them not to come because without that booth, we couldn't see the band -- which was the entire reason for the evening. To top it off, the manager was beyond rude, offering no apology, no solution, and clearly didn't care. This isn't how you treat customers -- especially ones who plan ahead. I won't be back, and I don't recommend this place to anyone who expects their reservation to be respected or wants to be treated with even a basic level of courtesy.

The food was great, but my experience was really awful. We dined here with 8 people ordered drinks (several rounds), appetizers and meals. Then after my husband and friend were dancing to the live band. The owner asked them to sit down that we couldn't dance and the expense of the band... no idea what that means ! I'll never go back just rude!

7 words for this awesome chill eatery with attentive service out on the Eastside. Kobe-beef-sliders-AND-Bourbon-Old-Fashions.

We attended a clients event here on a Monday when it is normally closed. The capacity of this bar and bistro is excellent. Flexible seating on the central indoor space accommodates fixed seating and cocktail tables, which are later removed for a dancing space. More seats are above the main space; the outside is huge and covered, with and without heat lamps. A stage and sound systems are ready for a DJ or a live band. We sat just beyond the indoor space at the whiskey bar, with the TV in front of us. As we ate, we cheered on the Seahawks wiping the floor with the NY Giants. Given this is an event, the food is buffet style. Most items are surprisingly good. They offered an excellent spread of veggies with hummus, pasta salad, spanakopita, coconut shrimps, crab cakes, vegetable spring rolls, pizza, chicken skewers, wagyu burger sliders, and marinara meatballs. The standouts were the wagyu burger sliders, the chicken skewers, and the coconut shrimps. The event was very well staffed. Staff members regularly swooped in to collect used plates. New foods were brought out to refill the chafing dishes expeditiously. There was a very long line for food, but the line moved very smoothly. Service wise, bravo! Even though this wasn't a normal restaurant visit, I see the potential in this restaurant and event space. I hope more businesses can take advantage of what Bake's Place can offer.

Visiting from out of town and found the restaurant online. Great atmosphere and excellent food. Service was very attentive. Love the patio!

Ok so this is our new favorite date night! Wow ... words can't explain. What a hidden gem in Bellevue. I literally loved everything about our night here. Customer service was great, food was PERFECT! The flavors were just so good. And the music ... I will go back every month if BROHAMM is there!! I absolutely loved them! I mean it was exactly the night I needed with my husband. We already made reservations for May 12th to go back with friends because we told them they would love it here! Appetizers 5 Stars Food 5 Stars Entertainment 10 Stars Restaurant vibe 10 stars I'm young but have a old soul so I was heaven! Great place to check out!

This place had potential because they have a nice outdoor patio, which can be hard to find in downtown Bellevue, and they are also dog friendly! However, the service completely ruined it for me. I usually overlook mediocre service, but the attitude from one of the servers here was just disgusting. First of all, we had 3 different servers waiting on us. That would be fine if they were organized and entered orders correctly, but they did not, and somehow it was MY fault!! We came at 4 PM on a Tuesday, BTW. Initially, we got off to a really good start with the first male server we had. He was friendly and brought treats for our dogs, which was a huge plus! However, it all went downhill from there. We ordered the Summer Berry Salad almost immediately with our first round of drinks. By our second round of drinks and food being served, we inquired about it. This server said she would check into it. Finally, after we had finished our second round of drinks and main course, a third server brought out the Summer Vegetable Salad, which is topped with Prosciutto. I am a vegetarian, so I cannot eat that. I told this third server (a blonde female. Wish I had got her name!) that I ordered the Summer Berry Salad. She got argumentative and told me the "Berry Salad" did not have the word Summer in it and that I ordered it wrong. She was unapologetic and rude and basically told me it was my fault, but she'd see what she could do. At this point, I double checked their menu, and sure enough both salads have the word Summer! (See screenshots!) I was so put off by her attitude and ready to leave that we tried to cancel the salad order. They wouldn't let us. By the time I finally got my salad, I had to just box it up. (Not looking forward to leftover salad.) Had they been more apologetic and accommodating, none of this would've been a big deal, but the nasty attitude we received here has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I definitely won't be back!

Was here for a birthday dinner. Place is very nice, we sat outside and it wasn't cold at all. There was covering and heat. Service was great. Very lively, even had a live band at one point. My friend and I were so anxious we didn't really eat the food we ordered. We orders fries, Kobe beef sliders, and Chilean sea bass. We both had the slider and drank a good portion of dinner haha. It's a fun place! Will definitely have to come back with my friends.

I went to Bake's Place for a private event hosted by my company, and while the cocktails and appetizers were great, the food was very bland. Think of this more as a happy hour place. It did get really crowded, so it's best suited for small groups.

Summertime outside is an absolute hit. My food had amazing flavors and my team enjoyed it. They gave us blankets because it got chilly which was a nice touch and great service.

Great venue for live music! Food is very good as well. There's a wonderful outside space as well, which they put to good use during the Summer.

This place is perfect for those summer evenings, where you are hanging out with friends or even for a romantic date nite. Their patio seating has an awesome vibe, music, great service, awesome food and wine selection and outdoor patio heaters! I mean what else do you need ? Had such an amazing evening here bringing our out of state guest here who thoroughly enjoyed. This is located away from DT Bellevue and location is great. If you want to get away from the busyness of Bellevue. I love the vibe here and this place has always been my top choice for dinners or office events.

Easy reservations Great booking of local musical talent Get the steak. Specials also delicious When one of our friends was dared to ask if they would 'smoke' a PBR beer for us, they smiled huge and did it gladly. Surprisingly wonderful find in downtown Bellevue

Love the vide here.everything is amazing as I love it. We will come back. My only take way star is that I ask for my burger mid-rare and it was mid. I didn't send it back and ate it, was very tasty. My husband got the sea bass and it's the best he's ever had in his life. Fun place, we will be back Edit... manager came up to us and said I should've sent the burger back, which he's not wrong. But I don't like making a fuse. So I'm changing my review to 5 for the customer service and the attention to detail. Thank you

Bakes Place is a great restaurant/bar--full stop. On top of great food and a top notch bar, the live music is amazing; it's the best year-round live music venue on the Eastside. When we arrived, we were given a choice of seats based on how close we wanted to be to the stage along with advice on what to expect--what great service! So, if you can - go for a show, you won't regret it. If your schedule doesn't align with the music, then just go for a meal or a happy hour as the food is great!

Food was good, served very hot. Wine was good, service was great. Loved the band BroHamM. Fun evening with friends,

Spacious and boujee with ample seating and a delightful outdoor patio. A great place to hang out with friends, listen to local music, or hit up for drinks after work. The food is delicious and fancy, though the portions are small and rather expensive for what you get. I recommend the Kobe Beef sliders and Pork Belly! Service is decent and staff is friendly

Evenings at Bakes are always so much fun! Great cocktails, reasonable bottle pricing, and inventive food complement the FANTASTIC music lineups! #Bakesplace #buzzybooth

I'd go back here but I'm not sure I'd find it again! Pros- - fun atmosphere, pretty bar - lots of indoor and covered patio seating options - friendly service was perfect for our table- helpful and accommodating but left us alone. - mushroom arancini was tasty, best if you like mushrooms bc they are a plenty! Served with arugula and a yummy green sauce! Mid: -unique vibe with the promotional jazz decor, stage and big screens. Lots to take in and I couldn't figure out if it was a jazz club or sports bar. Maybe it's both? - I honestly wouldn't have found this place on my own so it was a good thing I was with a trusted friend. No signage in the garage, had no idea where to find the restaurant, no signage in the elevator. Located in an office building, I found myself wondering how this place stays in business. - bathrooms are down a long hallway, and around the corner. Allow time for the trek. - the Brussels sprouts were different. Sweeter than I anticipated... probably wouldn't choose them first next time but they went down just fine. - sweet potato hummus was good, pretty presentation and I liked the assortment of raw veggies... but overall it was nothing special. - the wide oval table was ideal for a club but I found it hard to catch up with friends.

Had a blast here. Food was delicious, got a mocktail slightly too sweet for me. Service was great, staff very attentive. Best part is the live jazz performance, very relaxing and great vibe. Recommended!

The food was great, the service was great, the music was outstanding. Love it at Bakes!

We had a great time. The band was great and it was nice to be able to dance. The food was good too. The service was good. The ambiance I love it.

Thanks to Yelp recommendations I've found another great place to eat. Bake's Place Bar & Bistro is a hidden gem nestled in Bellevue, for those who love really good food and possibly entertainment. I reserved a table earlier that day, and I'm happy I did as it's not traditionally a place for toddlers (no boosters/high chairs are available) the staff was extremely accommodating by sitting us at a booth verses a table. We ordered a few starters with plans to order main entrees, but found ourselves completely satisfied with the starters. My husband ordered his crispy garlic Chicken after we finished our appetizers, not knowing it is made to order and would take longer to prepare he took it to go. All of our selections were really good!!! Service from start to finish was great, I really appreciate how the entire staff (manager, and servers) work together to take care of all guests. The atmosphere provides a really nice way to end your busy workday, or week. Any restaurant that has the musical jazz icons adorning it's walls is a place I want to be, I'm looking forward to returning and highly recommend!!

Didn't realize that Bellevue had such a place like this! My friend and I was at a nearby beach and wanted to have dinner and came across this place. It located inside a building but easily accessible. There's also a parking garage underneath to park. Restaurant is I'll validate. The restaurant was so big and spacious! They also have outdoor seating which I love but the the best part is.... It's pet friendly!! It's so nice these days to have restaurants that allow you to have your pet with you! That's more of a reason I'm willing to come back to dine! There's also live music outside with great happy hour specials for drinks. For appetizers we orders the chipotle chicken tacos (order is per taco) and sake braised pork belly. For entrees we ordered the Sea scallop and gulf shrimp and vegan Thai curry. The tacos were decent. It was alittle on the bland side. Couldn't really taste the chipotle. We added hot sauce to it and it was bad. Sake braised pork belly was very good but very salty! It comes with taro chips which I appreciated! They were good by itself but also balanced out the saltiness of the pork belly. The sea scallop and gulf shrimp was very good! It has lots of flavor and portion was definitely filling. Vegan Thai curry was great! I added some vegetables and it was yummy! I would give the food 8/10 Customer service was phenomenal which I love! It was our waiters first day so another server was shadowing him but he did a wonderful job! Can't wait to come back and try more things.

We've been to Bake's Place many times. Not only is the food amazing, but the service is over the top!! Every dish we have ordered is cooked perfectly. Add in the great bartenders... and you can see with this is our goto for a nice night out! Don't forget about the live music on weekends :-)

A wonderfully unique venue for music & food. Indoor & outdoor dinning... vegie pizza was phenomenal! Drinks are tastes & staff is knowledgeable about what to do around town if ur an out of towner.

Came here on a Thursday night for Seattle Restaurant Week. We got an outdoor table due to Covid, loved the string lights above and the music. For SRW, I enjoyed the fried goat cheese balls, beef short ribs and blueberry creme brulee. Everything was delicious! My husband got the wagyu burger and fries, which was also really tasty. We were pleasantly surprised by Tiki Thursday, so we got a Painkiller cocktail which was refreshing and good. Would definitely come back again! Staff was very nice and the tables were spaced apart outside.

I have a feeling this place was really cool pre-COVID, with its large stage and live music scene. They're making the best of the situation with an awesome outdoor patio and drink specials, but the prices are steep. My friend and I visited Bake's Place Bar & Bistro for some drinks. Located in an office building, it's a hidden gem in downtown Bellevue. But once you step inside, you're transported into what looks like a jazz nightclub. The scenery is dark with a center stage as the main attraction of this place. It's also two-stories, so imagine the view from above when you're watching a show here. It's bound to make for a good time. When my friend and I arrived on a Thursday night, we were hoping to take advantage of the happy hour specials, which unfortunately, they are not doing at this time. I get businesses are struggling, but so are individuals. Bummer. However, they let us know that for this month they have a nightly cocktail special, which featured whiskey. For the night we visited, the cocktail special was a whiskey sour for $12, which is what I ended up ordering. But for those not into whiskey, they have a solid menu of different cocktails, including tiki drinks. The ambience was super cool. The outdoor patio was the place to hang out at, which was where most of the customers were. Our bartender was friendly and checked in with us throughout the two hours we were there. But my whiskey sour wasn't anything to brag about. It was fine. Not bad, but just fine. We ended up snacking on the veggie flatbread, which was also just fine. If I thought the drink prices were steep, then the food prices had me take a second glance. You're paying for the setting here. If you visit Bake's Place knowing that, then you're all good. But personally, I'd come only back for when happy hour makes a comeback or for an event.

Came in for food on a Thursday at around 6. Sat at the bar. Left after 5 minutes of not being acknowledged. Walked out and went to Seastar. Sat at the bar. Less than 10 seconds later I had a menu, placed a drink order. /shrug

1st class drinks, dining, desserts, and live music! The cocktails rival the best bars in Seattle area. Whiskey aficionados, they've got you covered here. The toffee lava cake was sooooo good! We particularly love coming to see the Mark Dufresne Band playing live blues music.

Service was wonderful. Cocktails were good and chicken was excellent. Pork chop was just ok but the vegetables it came with were great. We didn't stay for the live music however, there is an additional cover charge on the weekends if you stay past 9 for the music. Would recommend for a date night.

I came here with my mom and friends one time only, but it was fantastic. We came to watch Kalimba, the Earth Wind and Fire cover band. The band was so amazing my mom decided she wanted to have them play at her 70th birthday. Bake's Place's food, ambiance, service and drinks were amazing. I came with a group of 10 people who I would describe as hard to please. Our very mixed group ALL had such a great time! Bake's place feels really intimate and upscale without being snobby. The sound system was similar to that of a real concert. I cant wait to return to Bake's place on a regular basis with friends and family to enjoy more live music post- Covid. Bake's place was similar to attending a concert at Chateau St. Michelle, but 1000 times more intimate.

Bake's Place Bar & Bistro, Chris and Team are Amazing! We hosted my son's Rehearsal Dinner at BPBB, reserving the upper patio area for 26 for a few hours and had the best meals, drinks and service!! It was beautifully set up and our guests couldn't have been happier with the awesome vibes and whole experience, including the turf area for corn hole/connect four and the piped in music! We then expanded the party to the lower patio for a "night before welcome" for 70+ out of state family and friends from Boston to Denver, our guests where so complimentary of all the substantial appetizers/great drinks, service and lots of praise for the amazing deserts too!! Thank you Chris and team for making our Bride and Groom so happy! Months in advance we initially checked out 6 other top venues in Bellevue, all would have been okay but believe me, Bake's outdoor venue along with Chris's advice and expert planning made it stress free from beginning to end for all of us!! Thank you again for making their event so special, we are grateful for all the time, thought and care put into both different menus, the setup and service, we absolutely loved the entire night and fantastic memories were made!!

Booked this place last minute and wasn't expecting much since they had so many availabilities last minute on a Saturday but I was pleasantly surprised! The parking was pretty full but luckily I found their garage and they validate parking! They have well spaced outdoor seating and nice staff (we knocked our "how do you like them apples" on the floor while trying to swat a fly and apologized profusely and the man who helped us was so nice and even joked about all the glasses he's broken) The drinks were good we had the Cabernet Sauvignon , Cabernet Franc, How Do You Like Them Apples? , and Bed of Roses! The coconut shrimp was very coconutty which I loved (almost ordered a second one hah!) , the scallops were properly cooked and moist, and then curry was good but I'd prefer my potatoes cooked a bit more they were pretty hard still.

I would definitely say that this spot is a high 3, not yet a 4 but for Yelp's sake I'll round up haha. I came here for an early dinner with a couple friends for NYE and the ambiance and staff were great. They were prepping for a concert later that night that my friends and I did not attend, but it was pretty empty because of this (which was great for covid caution!). They had a pretty small menu that also was priced higher because it was NYE (smart of them, but unfortunate for us), but their food was very beautifully served and tasted pretty good. I tried their ravioli and shared a couple appetizers with friends, and they all were really rich of flavor and incredibly fresh. It was what you'd expect from a restaurant near Bellevue square, so that was great! What really gave them an upper hand though was the staff. Our waitress was way too nice and really made for a great experience. We also tried a couple of their mocktails because of the suggestion and we're so glad we did! Such a fun selection of drinks. If you're looking for a fun, modern ambiance-filled spot to try a couple drinks and appetizers with friends, I highly recommend!

Didn't eat there but they had great wine. The live entertainment (The Beat Project) was amazing to listen to. The service was excellent.

A really cool spot - drinks were beyond good and interesting. I personally liked the IV Therapy, but then again I needed it after a week long of a boring work conferance. Did not have any food so can't speak to that side of things, but if you have the chance stop in and support your local businesses. (They do live music too - which is a great perk!)

Thursday is Tikki Cocktail day. We got the "Painkiller" which was like a pina colada in a cool coconut shell. It was $14 so my wife and I shared one. Delicious! They had plenty of outdoor seating and heaters which was great. I got the burger and fries which was around $20. My wife got the restaurant week menu. Fried goat cheese balls, They also validate parking if you park in the garage below.

Why would anyone want to see a band here? You can't even stand up out of your chair and dance AT YOUR table. WTF Bakes? Just post a sign at the front door or just don't have live music. Your club sucks. IF YOU DONT HAVE A DANCE PERMIT- GET ONE OR DONT HAVE DANCE BANDS. Won't ever be back

We had a wonderful time! We were there early so only a few tables filled. Well before the music (we didn't even know it was a jazz bar!). Sat at the bar. Food was very good. Steak frites came with blue cheese on top and wilted spinach and roasted garlic underneath. The roasted Brussels were al dente and not greasy like so many versions are. The cranberries and other additions were just enough. Very reminiscent of a Christmas side dish. The goat cheese gnocchi had been pan seared (my favorite way) and had a good chew (also my favorite version). Fresh veggies like squash and peas and tomatoes and shaved cheese. Almost summery and wonderful. I highly recommend checking out their cocktail list. My husband had basic Old Fashioned. I had first the Five O'clock Angel (Macallan 12, ginger, sage, spiced pear, lemon, Laphroaig rinse) and then the Cutting Clouds (Applewood smoked, Carpano Antica Vermouth, Rittenhouse Rye, Averna, vanilla simple, orange bitters, angostura bitters). The latter should have been video taped. Placed in an empty Blantons bottle, smoke added, swirled, and served.

It in last minute on a Friday night. Our first 15 places we tried were booked but this new place had openings- happy to try a new place! This is a hard review for me. First of all, the venue looks really cool, like I'd love to see a concert here and I'm glad Belleuve has a place like this so I want to support it. And if I were seeing a concert, the food would be fine. But there was no live music so we were in it for the food. First of all, the parking garage below and west of the restaurant was confusing. I expected to see spots that are marked for retail or the restaurant So we drove all around the parking garage looking for the proper place to park and ended up going to the beginning spots again and choosing one. When walking to the restaurant, there were several areas, and I mean several where we wondered if that's where we should enter the restaurant. The very last possible entrance we saw had a sign with an arrow telling us to enter farther down on the street. Upon walking into the building we didn't see signage to where the restaurant was but I guess it was easy enough to find as it was straightforward on the right. When we were approaching the desk, we saw a sign that said that their bathroom was closed but there was one on the second floor. I didn't mean to but I said aloud a huge "HONESTLY?" It didn't occur to me until this moment but there were so many moments I experienced to getting into this place that were confusing that I was already stressed out upon entering . We were seated in a long "U" shaped booth. Not great for conversation but it would be great for watching some music. It faced this huge screen that was a unique feature. It would be really cool to see a screen show here, or any time or show with that screen going. The look of the place while I sat there was new and different. Our food came and we commented that if the lights were on, the food would look straight out of Applebee's. The buns from the sliders were a little cold, like as I bit into them I couldn't help but imagine the plastic Albertsons package it came out of sitting on the counter. That said, the meat in the sliders was good! Flame broiled? Mmm. The fries were thin but fluffy- average. Don't remember a sauce with it. Coconut shrimp, fine. If we got one or two more I would be happy with it. My goat cheese gnocchi was really tasty and the serving size was nice. The gnocchi was a little seared so there was an appetizing texture to it. The sauce on the Chilean Sea Bass was delicious! Didn't look that appetizing, but it was very good. The presentation of the food was lacking compared to the look of the venue, it brought the place down in my mind. So, here's the thing. Out of the four specialty drinks we tried, two were bad. The smoky tequila drink Hells Bells was yummy. The Bed of Roses tasted like Smirnoff punch. We had to send it back and we don't like doing that. The Nightcrawler tasted like aged berry syrup to the point it fermented. With such a short drink list, how could there be so many duds? I was surprised by the choice or small glasses and no garnish on the drinks. Went with a Grayhound next to be safe and that was acceptable. Not a great Grayhound which how does that even happen, it's so simple. I ended up with a Red beer which was tasty- how could that go wrong? It was good. Basically, we had a hot and cold experience here. The bad drinks are a hard stop for me. My husband used the 2nd floor bathroom. He was prepared to get lost based on the feel of parking and entering this place but said there were many hand written signs to direct him. The hand written signs sums up this place... needs polishing. The true win was our sweet waitress- friendly, helpful Asian gal who we adored. Wish I got her name,". It I hope this vague description gets her some kudos if she reads this. I want to come back for a show. I'm scared of ordering a cocktail, and I'd love a cocktail at a show so I'll have to think good and hard how to approach re-entry.

While an old friend is a part owner, this review was not solicited or influenced by anyone at the restaurant. I have been here numerous times since it opened, from lunches with clients while I worked downtown Bellevue, to evening dinners, stunning live jazz performances, interviews, and company holiday parties. It is a location that cannot be brat due to privacy, outdoor/enclosed seating and outdoor bar, in addition to club lighting, vidoe projections, stage, and subtle high end dining spaces and tables with candle lighting and ambiance. Full bar, rotating drafts, a creative chef/menu, seasonal options for fall/Christmas, etc., the premiere place for company holiday parties, I heard it is booked almost in entirety for November and December for private parties. It is really that good. In my opinion, it is the premiere live jazz club dinner destination, as evidenced by the clientele, the participation and preference by traveling jazz musicians (even over Seattle) and a setting that simply cannot be beat.