Ivar's Salmon House

My favorite place to eat in Seattle, hands down. Every visit feels special from the moment I walk in. The dining room is surrounded by stunning Pacific Northwest Coast art that celebrates Indigenous culture and creates an atmosphere that’s both elegant and deeply rooted in place. It’s the kind of space that makes you pause and take it all in before the first bite even arrives. The food is consistently outstanding. Each dish feels carefully crafted, with fresh local ingredients and beautiful presentation. I’ve tried a range of menu items over several visits and have never been disappointed. The flavors are vibrant yet balanced — true comfort food elevated by creativity and care. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the staff are knowledgeable about both the menu and potential drink pairings if you're feeling unsure. My dining partner, who has celiac disease, absolutely adores the flour-free chocolate cake. It’s rich, decadent, and perfectly portioned. It’s wonderful to see such thoughtful options for guests with dietary restrictions. The restaurant works well for all group sizes, from intimate dinners to celebratory gatherings. Noise levels can get moderate during peak hours, but conversation is still easy.

I went for a professional meeting and was reminded how gorgeous this place is. It's such a classic Seattle staple easy to pass over for something new and I'm so glad I saw the menu with new takes on classic meals. I got the salmon sampler platter but I saw the fig dish and it looked amazing too. Looking forward to planning a date night here.

From the take out window. Had the 4 piece haddock:2 regular, 2 Cajun, and the clam chowder. The haddock was small and the Cajun was weak. The fish was very hot when served. The fries were 'okay'. The clam chowder was very good.

Great recommendation!! We were in search of something delicious after visiting Seattle’s Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass. We were given this restaurant and it didn’t disappoint. Atmosphere was lovely - overlooking the lake and a peek of the Space Needle. We arrived slightly before dinner hour and wouldn’t gladly waited and had a drink at the bar but were seated promptly in the dining room. Dinner started with Ivar’s Famous White Clam Chowder and a nice tomato and Gruyère cheese salad. Meals were Northwest Crab Cakes and two of us enjoyed the Taste of the Northwest: halibut, salmon and scallops. They even took extra care to cook my food separate as I am allergic to shellfish and opted to give my scallops to my parents that were eating with me. Thank you so much for the splendid meal!

We love eating here. The staff is super friendly. The food amazing. My favorite is the crab cakes, and maybe because I love the mash potatoes. I’ve probably eaten half the menu and loved it all. They have a dock with plenty of space to tie up your boat. In the summer on good days at peak hours it does get a bit crowded. We used to love sailing over and getting take out from the front take out window. Plenty of walk up seating on the floating dock for take out plus full menu dining. Even when they parking lot is full the restaurant is so big it Diane feel that crowded.

Our party of six had what I would call a very average meal with poor service and a high price tag. I was really disappointed because I had been thinking about halibut all day long and couldn't wait to give this place a try. The food was OK, but not the high-end experience that we thought we were paying for. Note to management, tell your servers to stop making excuses. Ask what you can do to make things right and do it with urgency. Exceptional service should be your top priority. Update one month later: I want to thank the operations manager for personally reaching out after my recent visit. She listened to my concerns regarding the poor service, offered a sincere apology, and provided a full refund. I truly appreciate her professionalism and commitment to making things right. While my initial experience was disappointing, her follow-through showed genuine care for customer satisfaction. I’m hopeful that future visits will reflect the high standards she clearly values. Thank you again for taking the time to address the issue so thoughtfully.

Absolutely amazing. Food was delicious, especially the mussels. The red curry sauce they came in was perfect, adding spice and flavor. Add some of the sauce to my salmon on the Spicy Blackened Alaskan Sockeye Caesar Salad, and holy crap was that a great idea. My partner got the Cajun Salmon & Chips, also fantastic. Not very spicy, and the breading was nice and light compared to usual fish n' chips. Also shout out the service! Kind, helpful, and gave great recommendations when we asked. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. I recommend this location to any locals or visitors, you will not be disappointed.

I took the family to dinner while in Seattle and we had an excellent time. The food was amazing. Beautifully prepared and incredibly fresh. The cocktails were delicious and our server was very attentive to our needs.

My favorite place to eat in Seattle, hands down. Every visit feels special from the moment you walk in. The dining room is surrounded by stunning Pacific Northwest Coast art that celebrates Indigenous culture and creates an atmosphere that's both elegant and deeply rooted in place. It's the kind of space that makes you pause and take it all in before the first bite even arrives. The food is consistently outstanding. Each dish feels carefully crafted, with fresh local ingredients and beautiful presentation. I've tried a range of menu items over several visits and have never been disappointed. The flavors are vibrant yet balanced -- true comfort food elevated by creativity and care. Service is attentive without being intrusive, and the staff are knowledgeable about both the menu and potential drink pairings if you're feeling unsure. My dining partner, who has celiac disease, absolutely adores the flour-free chocolate cake. It's rich, decadent, and perfectly portioned. It's wonderful to see such thoughtful options for guests with dietary restrictions. The restaurant works well for all group sizes, from intimate dinners to celebratory gatherings. Noise levels can get moderate during peak hours, but conversation is still easy.

My husband and I were craving for some fish and chips and so we dropped by this place on the way home from the outlet. Given by the name, it's pretty known around the state. However, we felt so disappointed with the quality of the food we got. We ordered the northwest platter and upgraded our cod to the cajun salmon which we regretted right away. The salmon was old and very overcooked. The cajun was very salty. Same as with the halibut. Both fishes were overfried so it was very dry. With this platter included 2 small shrimp and maybe 4-5pcs of clams that we have to literally dig in since most of the crunchy small pieces (which you would think are clams), included on the plate were all just pure batter. The calamari was okay. So overall, spending almost $70+ dollars with just calamari at $18 (on happy hour) and the northwest platter which was about $30 was definitely not worth it. Will never come back for sure.

I got the seafood appetizer tower ($43) and the salmon sampler ($43). The sampler came out in about 10 minutes. I really enjoyed everything that came on it. The crab cakes, scallops, and calamari tasted very fresh! Afterwards the main dish came and I was quite happy with the relative amount of food. Out of the three salmon of king , sockeye , and coho my favorite was the king. Staff was good and the food came out in a decent time. Overall the food was super amazing! I can see why the Seattle is known for its salmon. I would highly recommend this place. Food(50%): 9.0 Staff/service(25%): 6.0 Value(25%): 7.0 Overall: 7.4/10

Met wonderful old work friends here for Happy Hour on one of those 90 degree days in Seattle and it was wonderful on the lake that day. I was the only one who ate off the Happy Hour menu but the fish and chips were wonderful and so were the two salmon dishes, too. It's been 35 years since I visited but it was just as good as I remebered. I appreciate the consistency for over three decades. I usually eat at the location on Elliott Bay downtown but this is just as good, or even better. Our waiter was both friendly and funny and I enjoyed the view of the lake from the air conditioned restaurant on a 90 degree day. And, parking was good, too, so we hit it at just the right time. 3:30 was a great time to visit and the ADA parking next to the entrance was much appreciated. I look forward to visiting again.

Happy Hour is a great time to come by and try their extensive menu. Salmon, cod, prawns, chowder, oysters and more is in their HH menu. Plus they have great cocktails and a really good dinner menu. Since I've been looks like their staff has some new faces and the service is a tiny bit slower, it still friendly. Ivar's view day or night is a special place to bring friends/family too. They will love it!

Usually, when we go on boat trips for the Boeing air show during Seafair or college football tailgating activities during the season, we always pass by this place that is always interesting because it always has a lot of people there. My friend suggested we stop by and grab something to eat. I must admit that I didn't really order anything because I'm vegetarian, so many of the options they had weren't things I would eat. I ended up getting two snacks: French fries and Caesar salad. Please take this food review with a grain of salt because it's extremely limited. I wasn't a fan of the Caesar salad or the dressing. It wasn't that I'm not a dressing person, but it didn't really have a good combination of flavor. It just seemed kind of lacking in the flavor department. The fries were okay; they weren't overcooked, but I would say they were decent. I did have a beer, which I think was the imperial oatmeal stout. It was very good and was kind of like my highlight of the meal. I do think the views are nice. The service was something that I really couldn't read because there was a lot going on, but the gentleman was very prompt and accommodating, so I will give him four stars. Overall, I don't know if I would see myself coming back here, but it's okay.

I loved this place! It wasn't too crowded - maybe cause it's pretty large. Has a great patio area to sit by the water and enjoy the views. The mussels were deliciousssss! And we did a taste of the northwest to get a lil bit of everything. Normally I like bay scallops but I was seriously impressed with how light and tender the sea scallops were. The salmon was light. The halibut was good - basic? But like it's a white fish so that's what's expected, Service was fast and friendly. I really liked that as a tourist I was able to walk from my hotel (the graduate) and quickly be seated outside. Not overwhelming at all. I could have sat there sipping my wine and snacking forever.

Great backup option if Salty's on Alki is booked out. You still have a good view of the Seattle skyline, and Lake Union is beautiful on a sunny summer afternoon (watching all the boats going back and forth is fun too). There's nice outdoor seating as well. I loved the indoor aesthetic. Really captures the historic "frontier indigenous forest" vibes of the region. Service was attentive and engaging. We came early around 4:30pm on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't busy then. Our server was fun and appreciated his recommendations. I kept it simple--king crab bisque bread bowl. Super good, but I did notice the "bowl" seemed to have *more bisque* than the "bread bowl", even though the bread bowl is more expensive. Hmmm, okay. :) Free parking across the street reserved for restaurant patrons. Pretty close to Gas Works park so you can add it before or after on your itinerary.

I had a great experience at Ivar's Salmon House. The ambience is great! The food is extremely well prepared and presented. The service is attentive. The restaurant is built thematically around Pacific Northwest indigenous people's traditions of the Longhouse. Food is largely themed around PNW seafood, but there are good salad options for vegetarians, and chicken and steak options for those who prefer something other than seafood. It's well worth heading here for lunch or dinner.

Food was terrible..... Not enough servers..... The food end up sitting on the counter for more than 30minutes. It was the first time I had fish n chips which didn't smell like fried food, no aroma, not crispy but tough, French fries are like leftovers...... The shrimps were small not prawn 40-50? I knew their service n foods are getting worse, but can't beat the view.....maybe we should looking for other restaurant seriously! Can't keep complaining every time we set a foot in there

The waitress we had was THE BEST, we thoroughly enjoyed having her wait on us- thanks Kendra S. We had a reservation and were able to get seated within 5 minutes on a Wednesday evening at 5:30pm. It's a very popular place and I had previously shown up and unable to get a place without a reservation (this was years ago). It's very fancy, right on the water with a great view. But you're paying for that ambiance! Lots of work dinners seemed to be going on around us. My pesto penne was HUGE and I have enough for a 2nd meal. It was a hefty $34. It wasn't the best penne I'd ever had. I would say you're paying more for experience and for fresh quality fish,

This is a must if you're visiting. Fantastic view of Seattle, its right on the water, under the bridge. I'm not a salmon expert but you won't be disappointed. This place is great for a special occasion or some sort of celebration.

I absolutely loved the log-cabin ambiance in this place and the beautiful view of the Seattle skyline from our seat right next to the window. Our waiter was friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our food out the bread basket, which was quite good. I enjoyed my fish and chips, but I had been hoping there would be more sub $40 options on the menu. Definitely still a very nice dinner experience

Excellent food preparation and presentation. I had not been there in probably 40 years as I am rarely in the area, obviously. I had remembered having been there and I remembered their salmon. I didn't recognize the place as they had expanded and the layout was changed from my original visit. Still as wonderful as I remembered!

Ivar's is a solid choice for a seafood spot in Seattle. Thia Salmon House location on the north side of Lake Union has great views of downtown and the space needle. If you can go during summer and get a table outside on the water, it is awesome. Even in the winter time though, the great thing about this place is how big it is and how much seating there is. While we always try to book a reservation, even when we have decided last minute to head here for dinner with a party of 4 we have never had to wait to be sat. Their menu is decent and they always have seasonal options which have never disappointed. The food always taste fresh and the service has always been great. The food is a bit pricey, but for seafood in Seattle I don't think it is unreasonable. This Ivar's continues to be one of our go to spots for group dinners or when we have folks visiting us, so definitely recommend!

A friend of ours had a dinner reservation on 12/23 with the intent of viewing the Xmas boats but had a last minute conflict. She offered her reservation to us so we decided to check it out. The last time we were at Ivars was back in March when we had a great Easter brunch. We had the opposite experience this time. Pros: Ambiance - you can't beat the Seattle skyline and Lake Union view. Interior decor was PNW quaint Service was ok although our waitress never asked how our food was $22 Crab Cakes - this was one of two items we enjoyed $12 Dessert Trio - good way to sample 3 treats Kid's clam chowder and $10 grilled chicken were not bad $17.50 Manhattan well drink was ok Cons: $20 Mussels - they were overcooked and shriveled; the curry broth was almost not bread dip-worthy $6 sourdough rolls were plain and not worth having to pay for bread $33 Chicken Saltimbocca- chicken, prosciutto, & pears were melted together into 2 dry lumps. Again way overcooked and barely edible No king crab legs so we settled for the $65 whole Dungeness crab special. The crab was so dry that my husband said it was the worst crab he has ever eaten Our tab came to $225 for 2 adults and 1 child. Due to the poor food quality and preparation, we will not be returning.

The fish was all super fresh tasting and not fishy at all! Both fish n chip meals were crispy and went well with the tartar sauce. The staff was very friendly. Slightly pricey for the portion size but the views of the water and city make up for it. There is a small parking lot beside the restaurant but there is also street parking.

I never knew that there were restaurants in Seattle that allowed boats to park outside on the lake to order food! It was a very cool experience. Saturday evening, we stopped by on our way back to return to Rainier Beach. We ordered from the outside bar that is around the corner where the main entrance is. I ordered the Salmon Fish 'n Chips (4pc) and Cup of White Clam Chowder, which was under $23 total. The chowder was SOOO GOOD. I could have definitely eaten more if I ordered a bigger size.

Service was very good and we were able to get a great table with a view of Seattle. However, the food was underwhelming. The appetizer tower was very small for the price and poorly prepared. Ahi poke taco was mostly taco with not much poke to it. My crab stuffed salmon entree was tasteless and I couldn't find the crab in it. My husband was also underwhelmed with his entree also. The salmon chowder that I ordered is always great. (This is normally not on the restaurant menu but the waiter made special effort to get it for me from their excellent take out service bar.) Kudos to him.

Came here on a business dinner. Wonderful, we can order anything we want. Loved the totem poles and the nautical sense of the restaurant. The The ambiance was really nice. Especially the wonderful view of the scenery and the Space Needle. It was a beautiful setting for a great meal, Sat down to a mostly empty restaurant. We were all hungry and eager to get appetizers and drinks,so the restaurant seemed empty. However, it took over an hour for us to receive our basic orders. Most of us ordered in ordered either fish and chips or a salad with clam chowder. Unfortunately, none of us were impressed with the food. Shouldn't take very long. We had too much to drink and no food. The fish and chips were over fried and cold. Equally, cold clam chowder with a layer of skim on it. Later, some people experienced gastrointestinal problems they linked to the clam chowder. Our server tried their best, even with a mostly empty restaurant. But still incredibly slow. We all were not happy with both our service and food. Loved the view, just a very unhappy group experience at a restaurant we expected better of.

We went for Father's day and was surprised that it was buffet only. The interior is absolutely beautiful with stunning woodwork and a surprisingly nice waterfront view. The buffet was definitely nothing to write home about and the line was surprisingly long at times. I remembered that Anthony Bourdain said that Sunday buffet should be avoided because it's an opportunity for the restaurant to get rid of the food they couldn't sell that week. It certainly felt that way. On the plus side, the best thing that I ate were the brownies and cookies. They were the only things that tasted fresh. Salty's buffet is now $90/person which means it's somewhere I would only go every 3-5 years. In that sense, Ivar's wasn't too bad of a deal at $60/person. We also walked to Gasworks park afterwards which was a nice way to end the meal. The sidewalks are narrow and nonexistent at times though so beware.

The view was wonderful but the food was overpriced for the mediocre quality and small portions!!! To add insult to injury, we had to PAY FOR BREAD!!!! The final cherry on top was as we were leaving and the manager walked up to the kitchen and yelled out to the kitchen, "Where's my fucking food"!!!! I highly doubt we'll be back after this experience!!!

One of the better bowls of chowder I've had. We got a great table outside with an awesome view. Service was fine. Don't waste your money on the baby prawns.

The service was very good. Our waitress was very friendly and patient with us. We had a party of 8 so getting everyone to pay attention tends to be a bit difficult sometimes. Ambience was good and we went at night so we couldn't see the view very well. For food I got the pesto penne and it was okay. I thought it was a bit bland but the salmon in it was tasty. The calamari was interesting. I got to enjoy 2 textures. I did enjoy eating it and there's a lot of it so it's easily shareable. The Hot Toddy was recommended by the waitress and I liked it. It was different because it was a warm alcoholic drink. It was kind of like a spiked apple cider in a way. If you're allergic to cinnamon I do not recommend getting it since there is a cinnamon stick inside. Overall I think this place is mostly for enjoying ambience. My friends seemed to have enjoyed the crab cakes and the salmon themselves. I'm just giving this place a 3 because the food wasn't as good as I had expected it to be but others may enjoy it more. I think this spots highlight is the view. To give you guys a heads up you would need to find street parking and walk over to this restaurant. There is a tiny parking lot for this restaurant but there's maybe around 10 available if they aren't taken.

Go for the view! Gorgeous. The seasonal dessert was fantastic - s'more cheesecake. They should have it on the regular menu, its that good. Unfortunately, my lobster roll was not successful. The buttered and toasted bun was delicious. The lobster salad inside was not. If I didn't know it was a lobster roll, I would never have guessed there is lobster in it. There is a mayo based salad with lots of stuff (celery, egg, other?), and little shredded pieces of what I would have guessed was surimi if I didn't know it was lobster. Do NOT order the lobster roll. The fries were requested extra crispy, and they were good. My friend's salmon sandwich was good. Our service was good until we wanted the check. We didn't see our server for 20 minutes after finishing the dessert before we could ask for the check. Maybe she was on a break.

Sun-drenched at 68 degrees--Seattle's version of a heatwave--I found myself basking on Ivar's Salmon House patio, the scent of alder smoke wafting from their open-pit barbecue. The Alder Grilled Fresh Alaska Halibut arrived, adorned with pineapple salsa and a sweet chili glaze, resting on a bed of cilantro-ginger jasmine rice alongside tender asparagus . Each bite was a harmonious blend of smoky, sweet, and savory. Accompanied by a glass of rosé and a refreshing sangria, I watched seaplanes dance over Lake Union. The service? Swift and attentive, without the overbearing cheeriness. Dining in a Native American longhouse replica with panoramic skyline views, Ivar's offers a quintessentially quirky Seattle experience--where tradition meets the unexpected.

We liked the location and service. Nice view from the table that we really enjoyed it. Food was great. Especially clam chowder. We will visit again.

Wow. Very expensive. Other than that the food was cooked beautifully and had many different choices

There were 12 of us traveling from SC, TX, MD, FL, NY who were looking for a good meal before our cruise to Alaska. Overall my clients enjoyed their meal. I expected more from Ivar's Salmon House. I ordered the Alder Grilled Salmon Sampler which was very bland and tasteless to me. Service was good but rushed. I loved the location as it sits on the water with great scenery of the Needle.

Disappointing experience from the service to the food, overpriced, not clean. Not what it used to be.

Extremely sweet servers, beautiful view of Lake Union, largely mediocre food with some stand outs. The chowder was perfect: salty, creamy, warming and the chocolate raspberry cake was insanely good with just the right balance of flavors. Drinks were also good and the tawny port they had on the menu for $8 was really nice. The taste of the northwest (salmon, halibut, veggies, scallops and potatoes) was definitely not good, just absolutely overcooked into oblivion. The lighting was also super odd it felt a little hospital-ish. I think this would be a great spot to grab drinks and apps and / or dessert but I'd skip the entrees.

We went for the new year eve event. It was a very disorganized event. We went there at 9 pm and could not get food until 10:30 pm. We were in line for 1.5 hours on a new year night and was a horrible start to the night. The seating was very crowded and we were put on a L shaped weird table where we did not really have space to move. When we talked to the manager, he charged at us! He was taller than us and came so close to look at us in an intimidating way. He did not want to hear our feedback but just took out the frustration at us. The food was good which we appreciated. However, this is not how we wanted to spend our New Year's Eve. Do not recommend!

Food I was here for a big family reunion and each person had to pay $45 for a set menu with a choice of Salad/Clam Chowder and Salmon/Fish and Chips/Chicken dish. For $45, i was expecting pretty good food. I got clam chowder and Salmon. The clam chowder was actually pretty good but the salmon was not good at all Salmon was dry and flavorless. The cornbread it came with was also not good. Considering the price we paid I was not amused at all. Service/Ambiance This is really the only thing place had going for it. A nice waterside location with good views. A nice motif to the restaurant and some nice servers. Nothing else really to say

This was my first time visiting this particular Ivars, and it was a great experience overall. As a local, the dine-in experience at Ivars restaurants beats the smaller ones that exist outside the city area. That's just my personal take. The only thing I didn't like was the sticky texture on the tables. But the view was gorgeous, and glad I got to share the experience with my plus 1! The chowder was creamy and chunky with just the right amount of protein in it. I was impressed at the portions, it was filling, and didn't disappoint. The other dishes we had also did not disappoint. The fried NW platter was spot on as far as how cooked it was to the overall taste. The highlight was the spicy mayo sauce - it hit the right taste buds with the spice, being mild, and creamy consistency. The fried fish cakes were also delicious, and not too oily, soggy, or lacking any flavor. Our waiter was attentive, and made sure we were doing alright. We would certainly come back!

Ok they obviously don't read notes in making reservations and telling the hostess ahead of time. Requested a window view of the water for a birthday, instead got a view of the closed patio. Will not come here again! Food was subpar, brocollini had flowers in full bloom and cold, bulgogi was cold I was so embarrassed I need to repeat the birthday dinner elsewhere. Even if you are a tourist don't go here. There are better places for real pnw seafood like Taylors Shellfish. Anthony's , rockfish .

It had been quite a few years since I have eaten here and decided to bring the family. I must begin by saying that the weight staff was excellent and very friendly even my children were impressed. I must say the clam chowder with excellent and so were the calamari. I got the fish and chips halibut and it was dry. As far as the rest of the food went, it was good. I know part of the reason coming here is for the ambience and the scenery. But once again, like I said, the waiters were excellent.

We recently relocated to the area and are trying restaurants. We came early and got an excellent table with amazing views. The service was very attentive, plenty of refills and drinks brought out quickly. The food was "meh." Starting with the steamed clams. Broth was okay but I got the feeling they didn't get their garlic delivery- especially after my entree came. The toast was kind of sad, puffy white bread with little substance, but the cooking broth wasn't something I wanted anyway. Hot celery broth. For dinner I had the salmon Caesar salad. It was a huge piece of fish and cooked fine- no problems there. The salad was almost inedible, but I was super hungry when we went in. I love anchovies but there was no flavor to this dressing other than mild anchovy. It was a wet, whitish (can't say creamy), flavorless situation over partially-crisp lettuce. My husband had crab cakes which he said were good. I tried his mashed potatoes and they had a crust on them. Possibly plated way in advance and reheated or sat on a warming table? I'd be back maybe if in-laws come to visit or with people who've never been to Seattle. Or, because the location and views are so dreamy, I'd come just for happy hour and have no expectations for food.

The best Pacific Northwest salmon dinners in a restaurant takes place at this casual waterfront restaurant with a northwest native vibe. You enter through wooden doors. You will pass by the open alder wood grills where you see a group of committed restaurant workers with skills that compliment one another committed to the common mission holding each other accountable. The decor is old maps on wooden walls. You step outside to a view of downtown Seattle in the distance, Lake Union and the Space Needle. Nice umbrellas to shield you from the sun. Appetizers we chose mussels, calamari and breaded shrimp. The mussels fresh taste with a spicy citrus sauce. Calamari breaded with a thousand island like dipping sauce I found myself liking the sauce the shrimp your usual - although they were large fresh and cooked very well. My friend picked the king salmon which was served with a lobster citrus sauce. I chose the king salmon on top of purple mashed potatoes with a bacon cooked to perfection. The salmon again fresh and cooked to perfection. Also on the menu were sockeye salmon dishes and other seafood choices. The dessert was a flourless cake with raspberry sauce. This place has always had great sauces. Previous Chantelle mushroom sauce or a blackberry type sauce come to mind. Or yeah the the server that made eyes at my date one time the whole experience was off that visit. Many times the place is packed. Another time they gave us a tour of the open alder wood grill that lines the whole front part of the kitchen, a nice treat. Ivar's Salmon may not be your home grilled salmon dinner from the local natives that sell their wares by the river but it is the best indian baked salmon experience in a restaurant. Our server Zach...took care of us made sure we were happy. Two and a half hours lingering as the lights of the city came on- complimented with drink of whiskey.

This place is one of the must-try places in Seattle. Get a seat outside if you can and coming for Happy Hour is a serious deal. We ordered a ton of stuff and the service was 5/5 as well. The fried calamari- 5/5 stars. SO GOOD. Just get it. Perfectly fried with a light batter and seasoned well. Salmon steaks- 3/5 stars. Gotta do the salmon Seattle. But, personally, it was not my fave. Clams in sauce- 5/5 stars. We had both clam dishes that were on the HH and it was AMAZING. Like, get that extra bread to order so you can dip it in the sauce goodness. Fish and chips- 3/5 stars. I had high hopes, but it was OK for me. I think this would be the other place that I'd want to return to for the clams and their calamari. Solid 4.5/5

Wow. What a prime location and a beautiful tribute to the local indigenous folks who were here long before us Europeans. A beautiful building on the waterfront with dozens of handcarved pieces of artwork and craftsmanship welcomed us in. The food and beverage was also excellent. We all had some sort of seafood (hey, when in Seattle), which was perfectly prepared and lightly wood smoked. The cocktails and beer were a perfect pairing for an enjoyable family reunion. My only regret was that we had to get up early the next day, and so we were unable to linger for more than a few hours. If you go to only one Ivar's location, make it this one!

Walked in noticed the carpet was black like a pathway with seated at a table my arms probably stuck to the table, ordered lunch Caesar salad, which was watered down dressing and a seafood medley, which was coin size pieces of salmon scallop was hard and miniature, and the halibut was little tiny piecesvery hard and chewy overall pretty pathetic

the fish was so fresh and the broccolini was very good. the halibut was juicy and tender and the plank salmon was seasoned perfectly. the crab cakes were divine. The real treat about this place is the view as it is right on the water. Beautiful view and a great meal

This was my first time at this place so when I walked into this place I instantly felt this coziness most restaurants would not have, and service was wonderful where my boyfriend and I were helped right away. What I got was the clam chowder and as someone who is from the Bay Area it wasn't the most impressive taste. It seemed like it was lacking flavor and missing the fresh taste a chowder would have especially when it's by the water. Other than having that, I tried the calamari and the crab cakes, those two were really good! The calamari had a nice texture and crunch to it, and the flavor had that kick to it I liked when you eat it with the dip. The crab cake also had a great taste to it, the flavor was on point and did not miss that crunch! If you're craving a good calamari and crab cake I recommend going to Ivar's for that! I will definitely be coming back for that!

I've been to Ivar's Salmon House quite a few times. We usually get there early enough to get a table by the window. What a view! We always get the crispy calamari appetizer. It was always delicious but the last time we were there we were a bit disappointed with the dish. It used to be calamari tubes and tentacles. Now it's calamari tubes and small pieces of calamari steaks and not always crispy. The crab cakes, Manila clams, coconut crusted shrimp and clam chowder are favorites. Ordering off the 'Beat The Tide' menu is a good way to have a starter, entree and dessert for a set price. Desserts are wonderful especially the burnt cream and the NY cheesecake. Service is always good. Parking is available. If you get there early enough, you can park in front of the restaurant. If not, you'll have to cross a two lane busy street to get to the other parking lot.

I was in Seattle recently and had seen Ivar's featured in some Youtube videos in the past, so thought I'd check it out. I was at Gas Works Park in the evening and a friend told me that there was an Ivar's nearby so I went there for dinner. This place is pretty much just a counter that you order from. There was no indoor seating but they have a few outdoor tables so I ate there. So I ordered a 3 piece piece fish and chips ($12) and a fountain drink ($3.60). Total with tax came out to $17.18. I was thinking damn, that's kind of a lot - maybe the portions here are pretty big. But I was mistaken. I got my food and my reaction was: 'damn... that's it?' My order amounted to a small container of fries and three small pieces of fried fish. Maybe that's why the reviews of this place are less than stellar. But with that aside, the food was pretty tasty. They say they use fresh fish or something (I think my stuff was cod) and it actually was quite good. The fish was super tender and delicate on the inside and fried well on the outside. It was very moist as well, in a good way. So they tasted fantastic, but each piece was so small like I mentioned. The fries were pretty good too; nothing really special but they were hot and did the job. Just wish there were more of them. And it's crazy that they charge $3.60 + tax for a fountain drink; I found that to be way too much. So that was my experience with Ivar's. Glad I tried it but I wouldn't recommend it due to it being poor value for the price. I tried another place called Emerald City Fish and Chips that I'd recommend that over Ivar's by a long shot.

Sitting outside by the water was so nice. Service was very good and the food was amazing!

Service was amazing! Was here with the UCLA crew team. We had a large party and service was AMAZING! Food was as good as I have heard it was. I had the crab cake appetizer and for main I have the salmon trio. Truly perfection. The mashed potatoes and asparagus were just as yummy. Hubby had the halibut fired fish and it was perfect also. So happy we got a chance to eat here in our visit.

If you like Mrs. Paul's fish sticks from the freezer you will love this place. Even the drinks are terrible- I ordered a top shelf margarita- how can you screw up a margarita? My friends got fish and chips- the fries were limp and not cooked properly and the cod and batter tasted like it came out of a frozen food box. The calamari is an abomination. Giant dark fried hunks of calamari with no flavor other than the brown crust and dipping sauce. The sauce was good. Crab cakes- no flavor, no crab. It tasted like they took milk soaked bread and deep fried it- again, no flavor no crab that I could detect- prolly the worst crab cakes I've ever had. My husband wouldn't even eat any of it, he said it was awful. Our servers, Jeff- was excellent. I would have taken a picture of the food but it wasn't worth the time The caesar salad though was excellent.

My family and I went out to Salmon House for Fathers day this year; an old favorite, we were able to make reservations earlier than their opening business hours due to the holiday and the fathers day brunch they were offering. We were a pretty big party and were able to be seated facing the water, which was beautiful. As always, the decor of a traditional Northwest Indian American Longhouse interior is always inviting. Our waiter was hilarious as well as made sure to check on us often, despite how busy it was. The food was amazing! Pictures would not do it justice; there were endless options of seafood as well as the traditional breakfast items so it made it really difficult what to choose from. The line to the customized omelette station was a little much as it went from the beginning of the buffet, down the ramp to the other side so cutting back to our table after we got our plates was a little tricky. As we went on a Sunday morning, parking is plentiful, either in their parking lots, street side, or in the open lot across the street. If you haven't tried this version of Ivars or dont have a lot of time, there is also the option to order outside from their "Seafood Bar". As the weather is beautiful out, definitely check out either !