Jude's

Phenomenal restaurant. The cocktail list is immaculate, they routinely make me like ingredients I don't with their inventive takes on classics and creative, thoughtful original cocktails. The food is awesome. The staff is everything you could want in a server or bartender knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and skilled. The space is perfectly decorated, the music matches the vibe and it all feels like every detail was considered. Easily, in my top ten if not top five favorite restaurants in Seattle.

Loveee this place! Small cozy neighborhood spot. Everything was cooked to perfection! The eggplant dip with house made focaccia is amazinggggg. Wild rice is extremely flavorful with perfect crispy bits. Even the sides from the grits plate are top notch! Drinks are great too. I will have to come back for the beignets I was too full.

Jude's is a small restaurant located in the Rainier Valley that serves southern dishes. Upon entering the restaurant it is small but was semi full. There is one waiter and one or two cooks I believe. We waited a few minutes to receive menus and was brought water. I placed an order for the shrimp po boy, hush puppies, grits plate with catfish and beignets. While waiting I decided to pay cash. The waitress/ bartender brought my change back but shorted me. When I made a comment about the short, she stated they did not have enough change and I made another comment about the short and she said, "oh" and walked away. However, the smell of the food was great and even better... the food was delicious!! Definitely worth the visit. I will be back and plan to use a card next time. Shoutout to the cook that threw down and the owner that ensures seasoned food is served. Seattle needs more owners and cooks like this restaurant has. 5/5 for food!

The first time coming was very disappointed. Ordered the grits plate with the fritters and the only good thing on the plate was the beans, and those were average. The greens had some sort of strong salty flavor that made them terrible. It was better when you had them with the grits, cause the grits had no flavor. The fritters were good by themselves, cornbread was corn bread, and the drinks looked pretty but with an average taste. I may have to give it another chance cause of all the good reviews. But if you have had homemade anything that looked like it was from this place I feel like it would be better anyway…service was kinda weird not terrible but not really good. Only really good thing was the atmosphere, clean, chill, comfortable and SAFE. If you have lived in south Seattle for at least the past 10 years being safe can really help a person out. Anyway food was 2 cause majority of it was terrible. All the good reviews makes me question life…

Fantastic neighborhood bar. Was in the area, dropped in and had great conversations with others at the bar and the bartender / owner Mark. It’s how you’d want any bar to be. Friendly people, nice atmosphere, good food and socially responsible.

I’m here for the gumbo! Excited to try Beignets Amazing grits Plate ~ the cornbread muffins are special! Dirty Rice is amazing! Cobbler is something out of this world! Sabina is Great:)

Great, local bar. Good food. Workers co-op and some of the food/drink goes to charitable causes (currently for food for South Seattle homeless, not sure if it changes). Highly recommended. If the weather is nice, the patio is wonderful.

Judes has become one of our favorite little Seattle spots. Cocktail menu is always excellent and creative. Drinks are well balanced, well executed and there's always a strong variety. Gumbo, steamed clams, Tabasco Caesar, hush puppies, crispy chicken sandwich and beignets are all excellent. Plus! It's a co-op! Folks are always friendly and it feels good to support a truly local business.

A few months ago, my partner and I visited Jude's Old Town, and though it was pretty quiet when we arrived right after they opened, we were immediately seated and treated to excellent service. The food and drinks were both incredible, even though the menu was on the smaller side. The dishes were so flavorful and well-prepared, and it felt like every option packed a punch. The spot is definitely a hidden gem--you could easily walk past it without realizing it's open. But don't let the unassuming exterior fool you; as we sat and enjoyed our meal, the place filled up quickly within the next hour or so. The vibe went from chill to buzzing, but the quality of both the food and service stayed top-notch. I'm definitely planning on coming back!

Went here on a whim to drown our Seahawks loss sorrows and boy did it do the trick. Fantastic food, service, and ambience. $70 date night meal - whaaat? Heck yeah! 2 cocktails, 2 entrees, and either dessert or an appetizer. No limited menu for this option, either. If it's on the menu, it's included in this deal. The food was superb - well flavored, balanced, with a great kick of spice. Not fake creole made for bland palates. Hubby had the grits with blackened catfish and I had the dirty rice with fried chicken. Appetizer was pineapple popcorn chicken, I could've drunk the remoulade. Dessert was beignets with a chocolate sauce. Chefs kiss. Top notch cocktails and more liquor choices than I've seen at the fanciest of spots in town. The Dreaming on a Cot in an Orchard was divine. I could've had at least 4, but then the husband would've had to carry my fat a** to the car. We will be back.

This is a hidden gem. Wow!!! Great service and the food is beyond delicious~. Drinks are so on point amazing Highly recommend

Soooooo good!! This place has been on my bookmarks for a ridiculously long time, but I'm usually in the area in the mornings while they don't open until 16:00. I was really looking for something different and decided that I'm just going to make a special trip to check out Jude's and enjoy the Japanese garden. If you haven't been in the area, this part of the neighborhood is street parking only. I've had challenges in the morning, but was able to park surprisingly close on this particular evening. I showed up a little bit after opening and there were already several people sitting outside - always a good sign! Inside was clean and had plenty of plants to help liven things up. We were greeted promptly by a lovely gentleman who was super awesome at his job; one of those people that their job really fits their personality and you can feel the passion. There were several beverages that I was interested in, but the special of the day really pulled me in - some sort of blended mango deliciousness with some heat and the alcohol of my choice. I went with rum...just seemed like the right thing to do. For dinner I went in knowing I wanted the mushroom étouffée, which was amazing. I originally wasn't going to get the NOLA fritters because they seemed a bit pricey, but I'm super glad that I did! They were fantastic and I want to figure out how to make them at home...which means I'm going to need to get more for research purposes. As a vegetarian I know that Cajun themed places are usually not very friendly, but Jude's has a lot of vegetarian and vegan options while having classic dishes that you'd expect to find. This place is a bit out of my way, but I'm definitely going to make it work so I can try all the things on the menu.

This place is fantastic and a spot that I plan on revisiting and recommending moving forward. We came during Plate of Nations (an awesome 2 week event that features diverse South Seattle restaurants) and we split their Plate of Nations Meal. The meal cane with 2 proteins, 4 sides and beignets so how can you possibly go wrong with that?! For our proteins we got fried catfish and blackened chicken and both were excellent. The catfish had a nice crispy and light fry on the outside and it was simple and full of flavor. The chicken was moist and it had a great spicy blackened flavor. For our sides we got dirty rice, grits, sautéed greens and an apple salad. My favorite of the sides was shockingly the apple salad. It was light and well dressed and it had the perfect amount of crunch and texture for a salad. I like salads but I was not expecting to enjoy this salad as much as I did as it was a top tier salad. All of the sides were good but my second favorite was probably the dirty rice but the grits were no slouch as well! For dessert we had the beignets and they came with a chocolate ganache for dipping. It was a wonderful finishing touch. I honestly can't recommend this place enough as our server was fantastic too. Reasonable prices, delicious food and great service, what more can you ask for? Very excited to go back and try some of their other options like the Louisiana Stuff Chayote or the Hot Pimento Cheese Dip in the future.

Love this place. Great neighborhood spot. I recommend . I wish they'd bring back that delicious lentil soup.

Judes is an amazing jewel for our community. I always look forward to finding an excuse to stop by. Very friendly and comfortable with amazing drinks and yummy nosh.

Nice, friendly neighborhood restaurant. Good food and ambiance. Easy takeout. Fun cocktails. If ordering takeout, place your order as early as possible to avoid a long wait time. Cheers!

I usually don't write reviews, but after this experience, I have. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. I've been to this restaurant more than a few times, and every time I've been there, the service is always delightful and the waiters are so welcoming. As for the food, it's always tasty. This is a true hidden gem. I highly recommend it.

Jude's serves great drinks and food but what sets it apart are the people who work there. I'm always warmly welcomed, kinda like Norm at Cheers. Jude's is a South End gem.

I love Jude's! Most Southern food in Seattle is objectively terrible but Jude's is genuinely delicious and always hits the spot. My personal favorite order is the grits plate with fried chicken, but the chicken sandwich and the dirty rice are also very very good. The drinks are fun and well thought out, I tried the "Tempest in a Teapot" for the first time recently and it was incredible! Definitely bring a friend so you can share things! I love that there are books that you can read and the staff are so friendly. It's a cute spot where I always feel welcome and know I can get a delicious meal!

This place is outstanding. A truly unique experience. The menu is pared down but plenty of vegan and artisanal options. A real classy and cozy feel but with reasonable prices. was suggested a beer that was incredible. Mark has a real insight for taste. Maybe the best Tofu sandwich I've ever had and definitely the best I've ever brought. It is a worker's collective so I would have had to have been served a bowl of rats to complain but I honestly haven't been to a better restaurant in a decade. Amazing place, amazing service, they do credit to an entire movement through incredible food at good prices.

We came to Jude's on a calm Sunday for dinner. When we arrived, there was only one other couple there apart from us & the sunset light was hitting the restaurant just right. If you don't pay attention you might miss this place, but we are glad we found it! Eating here transported us to somewhere that wasn't Seattle, perhaps someone's home kitchen somewhere in the south. It feels very homey with all the decor on the walls & the excellent service. Food was just what we needed. The gumbo felt like a warm hug & the sides are very reasonably priced. My favorite was the Mac, but the beans also had a very unique smokey flavor that I hadn't tasted before. Overall, the food had a very nice depth to it. Soon after we arrived, the tables started filling up & we got to see another side of the restaurant, when it's busy and alive. We enjoyed experiencing both and since this place isn't too far away from us, we will be adding it to our rotation.

We came to Jude's Old Town for Seattle Restaurant Week. My husband picked it because it was an area we haven't frequented and wanted to check it out. It's a cozy restaurant with very friendly service. We brought our toddler with us for an early dinner, and the waiter was so kind to bring a toy and book over when she was fussing. Since it was close to Halloween, the bar tender made a funny joke about my toddler when she started screaming... as a parent, we're horrified when our kid is causing a scene, but he made us feel welcomed. Our food was delicious cajun food and the portions were huge. We would definitely like to come back in the near future!

Seattle is the Disneyland of restaurants. Shiny, pricey, designer-created themes that bear a superficial resemblance to this or that place or style. Is this because we are overrun with countless tech dudes with money burning holes in their pockets? Enter Jude's Old Town. Dive? Check Seedy neighborhood? Check Employee-owned? Check Flimsy speaker shelf that fell every time someone breezed past? Check Passable Creole and Cajun food? Check Cozy, friendly, and inviting? Check Fair prices? Check From what the current owner explained he bought it from the original owner, made it employee-owned and, ironically, they have never been to Louisiana. As a former Louisianian I can testify they are delivering on that front! Except for putting bbq sauce on the catfish poboy - no Jude's no! That faux pas aside, the food touches the soul and I'll take that any day of the week.

Consistently delicious food with absolutely fantastic cocktails. Worth a trip to the south end - if you live in the neighborhood, a regular visit becomes a part of your routine. Highly recommend.

Russ is a really great neighborhood restaurant and bar. Fantastic food and great owners. Excellent service!

So yummy! The greens, the salads, the po boy, hush puppies, I love everything on their menu!

Best cocktails in south Seattle area. They are constantly innovating new cocktails with a rotating menu. Because they have multiple mixologists who work the bar, there is a very wide array of creative input and collaboration that goes into the cocktail menu. The food is consistently very good and they do well to inject new dishes based on local ingredients. Very friendly staff.

Open laid for food in the south end on a Sunday evening on a Sunday evening. Excellent food and service very pleased will be back soon.

Jude's is an oasis in South Seattle, a truly sophisticated spot to grab a sure to be good meal and an absolutely will be great cocktail or two. Staff is always warm and genuine, and almost always deeply informed and intune with regard to the food and booze menus. This is an absolute must visit spot, I strive to come at least once a month, and everytime I do, I leave feeling a little more grounded and grateful, and of course always content in belly and body.

Great addition to the neighborhood. Friendly people. Delicious food. Relaxing atmosphere.

Dined at Jude's before a class at the Rainier Beach Farm. What a great spot!! Ordered the hush puppies and fried chicken dinner, which came with collard greens, grits, red beans and a corn muffins. Everything was delicious, hush puppies were crisp and tasty, fried chicken was crisp and juicy (though could have used a little less salt) collard greens were flavorful and cooked perfectly, the beans were smoky buttery soft and delicious, as were the creamy butter grits. The other people I was with loved their dinners as well. Service was fast and friendly and I feel SO bad because I realized I miscalculated my tip by a couple of $. I'll definitely make up for this on my next visit. Seems like they might be in the middle of a refresh of their space and menu, so don't rely on the menu on Yelp as it will be a bit different than the one at the restaurant

First visit to Jude's. I love it when you meet long-time staff who know the history of a place - Jada was our bartender - hope I spelled it correctly! She knew her cocktails too! If you read up on the background of this place, wanting to be your neighborhood joint, great food and drinks and ambience, then I think they are there. We had the mushroom etouffee with Cajun prawns, fried chicken sandwich, apple salad, and the beignets! I'm sure it is a personal preference, but I thought the beignets were better than at Toulouse Petit. Can't wait to try brunch!!

Jude's is my new favorite neighborhood haunt. With friendly service, good food, local drinks, and a chill vibe, I'm very excited to have moved so close by. We started going to Jude's as part of the Monday night run club and now we are weekly regulars. The staff is very nice and quick to wait on you. So far, I've tried the fries, brussel sprouts, and grits, and all were top notch. The rotating beer/cider list combined with the wine list and interesting cocktail menu, everyone will be able to find something they like here. The interior is dim with a bit of a divey feel, but in a cool neighborhood bar kind of way. Seating is limited, but I have yet to be unable to find a seat. I'm hoping to try the brunch here soon and I'll definitely continue to join in on the weekly run club!

Every time I go here, takeout or dine in I have a great time. Food is amazing, gumbo and grits are my go-to options. It goes way beyond that though, the mixed drinks are amazing, always changing them up and the bartender really knows his stuff. The space is great too, really down to earth and love the decor too, Great work folks!

A good local spot with a well stocked bar. We've filled growlers there several times. It's small so not for a big group, but they've added outdoor seating which is a nice touch. Their gumbo and chicken sandwich are two favorite menu items.

So good, such a lovely spot. The service is kind and welcoming. The menus is great with creative options and variety. Cleaver drinks. Brunch or dinner it's a must

First time visit here at Judes. Nothing but positive vibes . This place was a full house when We arrived .We were greeted at the door by Josh and was asked if we had a reservation . We didn't know it was restaurant week. Josh was still able to find us a spot at the bar! Mark was the man behind the bar last night . Mark did his magic mixing those drinks . Mark and Josh made us feel very comfortable . They were very helpful and always checked on us even if the spot was busy . Food was amazing and Very fresh . We will definitely be back and recommending this place to others!

I love this place. Their fried catfish and dirty rice is my favorite. Salads are usually great (though one time mine had raw pumpkin seeds, which was just wrong). Terrific cocktails. Their takeout really got us through the pandemic lockdown. Love their tiny but dog friendly parking space patio. Only real complaint is I miss their long gone brunch.

Great spot in our neighborhood! Food is delicious and so are the cocktails. Our favorites are the shrimp and grits and chicken sandwich!

We first learned about Jude's a few years ago when they were hosting a bloody mary event - it did not disappoint! The bloodies were Midwest style with tons of garnishes. More recently, we got takeout bloody marys and cinnamon rolls for weekend brunch - super tasty! We'd love to try more menu items and check out their street eatery.

Good food, great cocktails and service. Cajun themed menu. Local favorite. Very homey.

I'm so bummed to write this review. But it's the truth and I feel like as a person of the neighborhood, I want to make it better so it doesn't go away. Let's face it. Rainier Beach is getting more crowded. With people that like to eat out. And unless we're going to Columbia City, Jude's is one of our few non-fast food options. But they're struggling to handle the busy-ness. Service and the kitchen are just flat overwhelmed during rush times (my experiences have been during dinner). On my last experience (which was on the house due to a conversation on FB with the owner) I was promised that it was a one-time thing. The cook was out, people hadn't showed up for work, etc. etc. But as I watched the bartender and one server scurry around like chickens with their heads cut off and folks looking around thirsty and hungry (we waited over 30 minutes for truffle fries) I knew this was the new trend at Judes. The worst part was watching the owner duck out during this all. In all my years of working in restaurants...when it gets crazy, you dive in and help. This was not the case. And ultimately the reason for this review. Really rubbed me wrong. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be back. :( Good luck keeping your head above water, Judes.

Good Gumbo! Great cocktails! 'nuff said! Nice little local spot. Beignets are a great way to end the visit.

Been trying to come here for awhile when visiting dad in the South end it was finally open when we decided to come Stonehouse was too crowded and there wasn't any parking. Luckily we found a parking lot behind Judes that we didn't know was there. Serve was good even though we could tell training was going on. Dad wasn't excited with his loco moco his grits said the gravy didn't have enough flavor. My brother and I enjoyed our dishes. My brother had the Silverado Omelet not to many people do an omelet as pretty I like that it didn't have too much cheese he had his with the grits which he really enjoyed he said you could taste the corn and it wasn't too cheesy. I went with the huevos verde verrde, black beans, basted egged and cojita over fried tortilla. I'd probably asked for poach if I ordered again egg was a little firm for me. Coffee was not very hot, but they kept the water glasses full and made a great bloody mary with lots of goodies in it

The most perfect neighborhood haunt. Totally dialed-in food, drinks, service, and atmosphere.

i think i've driven past this place a good 100 times before realizing it was a restaurant. it's easy to over look because of the area it is in but man oh man this is a hidden gem! the vibe was laid back & very casual. you seat yourself & the menus are already on the table! we started with an appetizer, got an entree then dessert. brussels sprouts 4/5: these are my favorite vegetable so i was really satisfied diggin in on these. they could've been a little softer but the flavor made up for it! yum "kiss our grits" 4/5: this was a plate that came with grits, red beans, greens, cornbread my choice of meat was fried catfish & (WOW) i'll start by saying i was extremely happy with the portion size because i have a habit of stuffing my face. it wasn't too much food & none of it was too rich. the greens were my favorite because they were not saturated in salt. the grits were also a hit because they were creamy with a hint of flavor which is how i like my grits (not too heavy or thick) creamy & savory. the catfish was good, it didn't blow me out the water but it was good enough. i personally like batter that's more crunchy n this was just really soft which is okay but ya preferred crunchy. dwayne's creole pasta: 5/5: this was so exciting to eat! the sauce is far from bland & gives you that nice creole kick. the noodles weren't drowning in sauce & there was a good amount of chicken & shrimp mixed in! the peppers were cooked nicely n the mushrooms were perfect as well. nothing bad to say about this entree at all! the toast was buttery & complimented the kick of the pasta. pleasant experience would highly recommend!! strawberry peach cobbler 3/5: bleh? this was doughy so if you like your cobblers doughy then go for it! i personally felt there was an overload of bread n not enough peaches or strawberries but the ice cream helped balance the sweetest. wouldn't recommend unless you are into doughy desserts! will definitely be coming back here to try more things off the menu yay!!!!!!

On vacation and this place looked pretty good from the reviews. And they did not disappoint. A wonderful drink menu my wife had the fritters and Hamburger with fries I had the Po-Boy with a salad and a cup of the gumbo. Let's just say the food was outstanding!!!! Even the salad was Uber fresh and delicious...... give this little place a try you won't regret it.

Took me nearly two years to return to Jude's Old Town in Rainier Beach to redeem myself as I had inadvertently violated Yelp's terms of service. I had admired it while visiting other spots on the same street and naively posted about it for a future visit. Even got flamed by another Yelper back then. After many previous attempts, finally soldiered through Friday night's commute heading down I-5 South to Rainier Beach via the Boeing Access exit. Parking was a bit of a pain, had to ditch the car along busy Rainier Avenue S and walk through a ganja haze at the corner. Entered Jude's and found an empty booth to sit with The Bearded One. Kind of loud and packed. Wasn't sure what to make of it initially, especially being the lone person of color. But it became totally chill once I interacted with our busy wait person/bartender/busser. Warm and personable. The Bearded One had a Stella Artois ($4), cup of Carrot Bisque with toasted focaccia ($4, not chili), and the Shrimp and Grits with cornbread muffin ($15). Overall impression was deemed outstanding. I had the bowl of Gumbo ($10) also with pickled okra and the cornbread muffin. Tiny scoop of rice, but plentiful meat -andouille sausage and chicken! Just wished more iced water available, but like I said our server was wearing many hats covering both the bar and dining area. Thanks Mark for making the drive down from Shoreline worthwhile. Kudos to the kitchen crew...that was a hearty gumbo and full of flavor!

We've done dine in and take out, and it's always great! Most recently we had the fried pickles, chicken sandwich, and shrimp po boy. So good!

First time being here. We got fried chicken and the Gumbo. Wow, the food was awesome and the atmosphere was great. The taste of the gumbo was amazing. Greta amount of heat and tons of flavor I have definitely found another new place to go. Fries chicken was excellent as well. Will be back for more.

Wow! What a hidden gem! After talking with our server we couldn't believe this spot has been open for over just 4 years! Great music, service and ART! We loved the spice and depth of Beaus gumbo! So delicious! We were suggested shrimp and grits (kiss our grits) by our server Marina and we were so happy with the suggestion! Can't wait to try the whole Menu!

Our new favorite restaurant. The atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. It really his a neighborhood gem with such a special menu. There are many vegan options even vegan ranch! The prices and happy hour are amazing and makes us want to keep coming back! The impossible burger, chicken sandwich, salads and mushroom étouffée are musts when ordering. The cocktails and drinks feel very authentic and good on the soul (coming from someone that doesn't drink much). The workers are very friendly and I can tell kind people, I feel like they can really be themselves and provide great customer service with their unique personalities. I hope Jude's stay around forever because we plan on coming here for a long time!

Out of the park! Outstanding shrimp po' boy, etoufée, and greens. Must come back. Only thing missing was sweet tea.

Had an awesome time here with a friend getting munchy foods. The staff were super awesome with our allergies and was great with double checking possible issue points. Luckily I had non so I got to enjoy some chicken strips and that yummy vegan ranch. I hope they keep this around as I could see myself going there just for that.

Very enjoyable brunch with attentive and friendly service. My shrimp and grits really hit the spot. The shrimp were coated densely with flavorful spices. My girlfriend was all about her blackened tofu Benedict. There was a cornucopia of unique hot sauces to choose from. I would definitely have brunch here again.

Love this place. They have it all -- friendly staff, excellent food, amazing, unique cocktails, nice atmosphere. I also love that most, if not all of the entrees come with a salad. We have started coming pretty regularly, and plan to keep doing so.

Great looking menu, sub par flavorless food. Definitely not going back. It was disappointing to see such a beautiful promise of delicious southern dishes to get food that was underwhelming. Tried to gumbo, the beignets, the greens and the grits. What was worse is that we got home and they had missed an entire entree. We had to postpone eating dinner for 45 minutes. After telling me they hadn't charged me for it... Turns out they had! And their "system didn't allow for them to" refund me for it.