Russell's Tavern

Cute little bar, and one of the few spots in the area that serves food past 9 pm. However, my main takeaway is that they're mostly a bar which also happens to serve a few food items. They have plenty of drinks, though all their non-alcoholic options are premade—no mocktails or anything. They seem to have table service, but I ended up ordering at the bar after no one came to take my order for a while. As for food, their smoked mackerel fish tin, which comes with crackers, pickled vegetables, and house-made crème fraîche, is a must-get. The salty fish and crackers balance perfectly with the sour veggies and creamy topping. Their baguette sandwich is a little disappointing. The flavor rotates weekly, so maybe some weeks are better, but mine was just some turkey, cheese, jalapeños, and mayo. It was pretty dry and chewy; I wouldn't recommend it. Luckily I came on a Wednesday which is pie night! So I got a delicious slice of blueberry plum crumble pie with homemade whipped cream. I'd definitely recommend trying to snag some pie on a Wednesday! Overall, this isn't a place I'd recommend for dinner, but it's a great spot to share some drinks and snacks with friends.

Went to this place twice with the bf. It’s the closest casual bar to our house and we were banking on it being our spot for after work drinks. Felt like as soon as we walked in the staff was annoyed to have to deal with us and the vibes were off. No one greeted us so we were awkwardly trying to figure out the protocol. Eventually we had to ask someone if we should order at the bar or just sit down or what? Definitely not a super warm and welcoming place. Figured it was probably a one time thing (and I’m from Philly so still trying to navigate the Seattle freeze thing) so we went back a few weeks later and all I can say is it was not a one time thing. Bad vibe. Fine food. Mid-upper priced drinks. Don’t expect to feel welcome. Bummer :/ could’ve been a cool spot

This place is fast becoming our favorite bar here in Wallingford. Great service, fantastic cocktails, nice ambiance. We moved here 8 months ago and have tried most of the bars on 45th, Stone Way, Tangletown, and there are other good ones, but do not sleep on Russell’s.

One of the finest neighborhood cocktail bars in the Wallingford/North Lake Union area, and perhaps the whole city. Dimly lit, lively yet relaxing vibe. Packed with the locals. Huge spirits collection, especially whiskey, for pretty decent prices!

Best bar in Seattle!!! Been coming here on the regular for about 6 months and been a regular and have never had a bad experience! Always bringing my friends to show them. Staff is friendly and genuine! Owner are so kind and it’s clear they care about their business. Both the Food and cocktails are delicious.

This is a neighborhood place that is a gem on Stone Way. It is what I call a true Seattle neighborhood bar. It seats about 45 poeple in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere that invites you in. We came on a Saturday morning for brunch and had a very good Bloody Mary. Lots of spice and flavor. The menu features biscuits that are light, fluffy and cooked to perfection. They serve brunch from 10am to 3pm on the weekends. The staff is personable and attentive. Parking is on the street. We will be coming back to try other items like the Pecan Bacon Bread Pudding with Caramel sauce and the Rubarb pie.

Great atmosphere, solid beer and snacks.

3/2/19: Had the veggie biscuit and beef biscuit. Wow, the biscuits are really good. Potatoes were very savory and delicious. Very satisfied. Staff was friendly and prompt.

Russell's is an awesome neighborhood bar. Small, cozy, friendly, homey. The Wedge Salad was awesome and the baguette sandwich special was excellent too. I got the Fire Walk With Me and it wasn't my favorite, but also tasted the Lucille Ball which was quite good. So I think they have good drinks, I just think their marg isn't their best. We came in the summer and they had the window doors open. Loves sitting at the bar with fresh air and baseball on the TVs.

Great happy hour, tasty cocktails, solid beer selection and a cozy interior make this place a winner. Our server was super friendly and made some great recommendations for food. Really enjoyed snacking on the potato chips with onion dip and their monthly special sandwich. Great spot to pop into for a drink and some food.

Cute little spot for brunch! We both really enjoyed our meals and I was very appreciative that they were able to do mine dairy free for my allergy. The mix and match plate on the menu was a great idea! They had a couple brunch cocktails but we opted for tea and coffee respectively. The server was very sweet and attentive and careful with my allergy. The only downside was that the longer we sat, the more we realized that the ventilation in the place isn't great - it seemed like maybe the cooking hood wasn't pulling the smoke out all the way and it got a little hazy. My eyes were burning a bit by the time we left. But the food and service were all great!

This bar is nothing spectacular--just a pretty basic vibe. It's a little small inside, but it's clean. However, there's nothing that really sets it apart from any other spot. Personally it was way too dim for my preference. I was literally sitting in the dark with a little natural light coming in from the windows and the ceiling lights didn't help. My Lucille ball (gin, grapefruit, st Germaine, campari, cucumber) was okay, heavily leaning on the grapefruit. If you're looking for something unique, you might want to keep exploring

Tasty morsels, served by attentive and friendly staff. It feels homey, cozy and welcoming.

Best bar. Breakfast sandwiches on the weekend are a must. You can bring a book and hang out.

This bar is quaint and charming and is obviously loved by the locals. The owners and managers chat up the customers and add their own home maid pies--so good. I recommend the craft cocktails over the wine/beer here.

Neighborhood bar energy is so strong here. I lived above Russell's when they first opened and hadn't been back for probably 7 years. The attention to detail with everything from the decor and appliances to the food menu and beers on tap is just as thoughtful as when they first opened. I was in Ballard and wanted to watch the Kraken game and thought I'd go back to the place where I had multiple existential crises in my mid-20s, and I was not disappointed. How can one go from talking shit about Malort to having two shots with the regulars? Only Joe might know the answer to this one. The food is life changing. I ordered the crab roll and it was everything I could have asked for and somehow more. I found God in that crab. This may just be my favorite bar in Seattle.

Friendly service, decent chicken pot pie, but the hummus plate was sad. $16 got me a board with about 2 tablespoons of hummus, a few carrot sticks, celery sticks, 3 slices artichoke heart, cucumber slices, marinated olives, and pita. I had to order more hummus coz the amount given was insanely small. So add $3.50. $19.50 total for the saddest hummus plate in Seattle :(

Russell's is a Seattle gem! They're selection of Mezcal is probably the most extensive in Seattle and beyond! I lost count after a hundred. Mezcal Monday is a great way to try Mezcals you've never tried. They're cocktails are top notch and they rotate their menu periodically to keep their selections unique and tasty! They have a limited menu that is made with love from the meatballs to the tacos to their House-made mixed nuts! Everything they make is with the highest standards! Many people aren't familiar with this place and some of us regulars are okay with that since it's not a large place, haha!

Food was sub par and very limited. Overpriced Cozy bar but don't plan on eating there. No bargain on the drinks either

Stopped by on a fall weeknight for a couple drinks and I'm glad I did, I love a great cocktail! The smallish bar was pretty full given that it wasn't a weekend, although I was able to get two spots on the bar top facing out the window. I'm a big fan of gin so choosing the Lucille Ball seemed like a no brainer. The refreshing, citrusy drink is comprised of gin, Campari, Giffard elderflower, grapefruit, and cucumber ($12). Naturally I got a second. I guess they use quite a bit of Mezcal here but personally I'm not a fan of its overpowering smoky nature. But hey, there are other selections! Needless to say I'd come back for another cocktail, although it would be nice if there were comfier seating options.

I've been here a handful of times now. The Breakfast sandwich during brunch on weekends might be the best in the city! Cocktail specials rotate periodically and I feel like I have a new favorite drink every time they update.

Small lively neighborhood spot! Was popping on a Tuesday night. Liked the vibe, was almost fully seated when we got there. Snagged the last two spots. Would def come again

This is the kind of place where one could easily become a regular. I've only been here 2 or 3 times but when I walk in I half expect the entire bar to shout "Norm!" like in the t.v show Cheers. ...which would be weird because my name's not Norm... ...but what I'm saying is that Russell's has all the friendliness of a dive bar-- people at the bar chatting it up with strangers, a few tv's to watch "the game", and genuine waitstaff that really seem to like where they work. (Which is why I'm so confused by all the negative reviews about service? Every time I've been here it's been nothing but smiles and 10/10 service.) ...except, it's not a dive. It's kind of trendy. There were fresh flowers tucked into old mezcal bottles, and at around 5pm on a Sunday our server went around putting tea lights on all the tables. The strength & weakness of this place is its size. It's small, or in realtor-speak "cozy". There's only a 2 booths, a small narrow 4 top table, and the rest is bar seating or counter seating. This is why all the dive bar friendliness comes into play naturally, but this isn't the place for a large group. And sometimes I've been here and have taken the last available seat. MENU-- Just enough options to cover all the bases. Gold stars & bonus points for all the house made items! They have small bites (nuts, olives, pickled things), medium bites (hummus, charcuterie, soft pretzel), and large bites (sandwich of the week, meatballs, sliders)...so, all the bites. & A few salads. Not a great place if you're gluten free, or vegan though. HAPPY HOUR-- But I don't come here for dinner. I come because they are in my neighborhood, AND their happy hour is damn good. $6 Old Fashioneds?! $5 wells?! ...IN SEATTLE?! What the what! They also knock a few dollars off draft beers and wine pours too. And for HH food--they have a select number of food items from their menu which are about $1-$2 off of the reg. food prices. Two of us came here during HH and each ordered 2 drinks, and shared the meatballs (which come with 2 hunks of bread, so yeah...in other words, make yourself a lil' meatball sub) and our bill was about $30 +tip. They have about 3 beers on draft, 6 wine options, and about 11 house cocktails. So they have something for everyone but their cocktail/sprits game is strong. I mean, they celebrate "Whiskey Wednesdays" and "Mezcal Mondays" each week, with correlating drink specials. I'm not a succinct writer. But if I were I could've just said "Russell's is a watering hole jackpot. I love this place."

If you like nice bars but don't like bars that are pretentious then Russels fits the bill. Nice wine, nice cheese board, friendly staff, decent prices. I came here on a Monday and arrived at about 5:15 but if it had been any later I probably would have struggled to find a seat. Our waitress was really nice and the drinks came out so quick I thought she'd pulled them out of a hat as we turned our backs. All in all, I had a smashing time at Russell's.

I just had a breakfast sandwich from these guys (now open yay!) and O M G. It was transformative, without a doubt the best breakfast sandwich in Wallingford. Rooting for them to make it through this. Ps the drinks are good too

I was at Russell's with a friend and we were waiting for our food, watching the Superbowl on the TV. One of the staff (I'm assuming manager or owner) turned off the captions on the TV. This person then walked by me and I asked "Why did you turn the captions off?", he replied "Do you want the captions on?" and I said "It's good for accessibility, for Deaf or Hard of Hearing". He then proceeded to shout at everyone in the tavern "Is anybody Deaf in here?!" Which, if they're Deaf, they are not going to hear you say that. I was so embarrassed. My friend and I got our pretzel (which was so delicious), but our eating experience was ruined by this same staff person sitting at the bar with friends while looking/glaring at us every now and then. From my perspective, I was not rude when asking about the captions. I just simply asked "Why?" I was hoping that maybe it would open up space for conversation about why captions and accessibility are important, but instead this person reacted rudely and lost a customer (who would have come back purely for the pretzel). I did email Russell's about this experience, but got no response.

I had a cocktail and a glass of whisky. Amazingly nice , competent and knowledgeable bar staff. Highly recommended!

Cozy bar with well-made and well-priced cocktails - Russell's has been a great find! Disclaimer: I have not tried the food here, so my review may be skewed. Drinks: My favorite cocktail is what they now call the Rag Top (used to be Garden Party I think): vodka based, citric, sweet-ish and bubbly. My friends with differing taste buds enjoyed the old fashioned (especially for $6 during happy hour, versus $11). The cocktail menu is pretty small, but they can make you any classic (e.g. Manhattan), and at very reasonable prices ($10-$11). Space: The ambience at Russell's is cozy, like your neighborhood bar, but slightly fancier. On Friday's and Saturday's it gets buzzing, but it's still at decibel levels where you can hold a conversation. We always manage to find a spot for groups of 4-6, but the place is pretty tiny, so that may be something to think about if you're a larger group.

I've gone back and forth on this review for some time. Frankly, I want to love this place. Unfortunately, its just not quite dialed in across a few fronts: Drinks - happy hour is worth targeting. And the hose Old Fashioned is amazing for $6. Do yourself a favor and get there around 5:30pm, order one of those, and recline/enjoy deciding if you'll have another... Another - a tree/shrub forward cocktail is interesting, however don't be fooled by gimmicks. Their standard offerings are made well and true. The ideal, after a few visits, seems to be reposado or gin based. Trust me on this, you'll be glad. Ambiance - somewhere between an upscale experience (amazing bar presentation, service staff) and dive bar (spent kegs and beer cans stashed in back/restrooms.) This frankly is confusing. I can't tell what to expect from them, which I think plays into my take/leave approach to returning.

Friendly bartenders and great cocktails! Cozy space that is small and intimate. Tried the Garden Party with cucumber infused vodka, thyme syrup, lemon and prosecco. On the fizzier side but light and sweet.

Cute little bar for happy hour and drinks, unfortunately I did not try any of the drinks but they looked good on other peoples tables! The food here was kind of too fancy and small plate to satisfy me and too overpriced for me to be really happy about it but the food tasted good. But really the meal balls are just meat balls, it's nothing special. That was way too expensive for me. I'm giving it four stars still even though I wasn't impressed because I do not like American food and the pie filling was good. The crust was weird.

Came here for happy hour after work. The bar wasn't busy and the bartender was very nice and knowledgeable about the whiskeys and cocktail of the day. The bar did get a little loud as more patrons filled the seats. We shared the olives which were delicious and the pretzel with cheese sauce, which wasn't great. The pretzel itself tasted bland and dry and the cheese sauce was just okay. The mustards that were served with the pretzel were the best part of the dish, but were probably likely store-bought and just spread on the plate.

Came here for brunch and it was so great! The owners served us and were so nice. All the food was delicious. I had the breakfast biscuit and it was really good. The pink mimosa is fantastic. Great vibe and great food will definitely return.

Really good comfort food and drinks! And love the window seating! It's also a small sports bar.

Great small cozy bar! Good cold beer and attentative bartenders. Parking can be tough, but if you walk to it, it has easy access. Didn't try the food but it looked good and with great portions. Forgot to add great music selection!

I came here for happy hour on the recommendation of a friend. I had absolutely the best experience. First, the happy hour is great.They have a nice selection of craft beers as well as very cheap Hamm's ($2.50 for a 16oz can!). Also, all of their happy hour appetizers sounded amazing. We ordered three and I loved them all. Plus they were all reasonably priced. Of course, one of the best parts of this bar is the atmosphere. It is cozy and has full windows that open up to the outside. This is fantastic, especially on a nice day. Next time I'm in Seattle, I'll be back!

If you don't give a damn how a real old fashioned is made, don't bother coming here. You don't even like Manhattan, why bother? This place a lot to offer. It's delightful approachable and Savvy.

This cute little spot is snuggled into the new buildings on Stone way. It's a tiny place with a few booths and a good bar. We popped in for a Happy Hour treat and got two amazing sliders. they were incredibly tasty. We also had cocktails that were very very good. What fell flat for me was the service was meh, and the other patrons were terrible. Loud, obnoxious. We ate and drank as fast as we could just to get out of there. I know, I know you are asking yourself, why blame the restaurant for Mr. Loud talker and captain squeaky voice and their merry band of obnoxiousness . Is it fair, maybe not. Why did I do it, because it seems these people are regulars. So it's part of the deal. The sliders were amazing but it's not my gig.

I love Russell's. The drinks are great. The staff is incredible. And the pretzel is my favorite pretzel of all time. I can't recommend this place enough!

Its pretty aggravating when you frequent a place that is so slow they have to heat up the stove to make your sandwich, you leave a good tip, and they still manage to leave half the order out of the bag. Fail. Next time I'll just go to pagliacci.

EMPLOYEES SHOULD WASH THEIR HANDS!!! Got a pretzel and a beer. Paid $15 or so. Got food poisoning. Spent HOURS with urgent room routine. Today is day 3. I feel like I was hit by car so I can't leave my bed and do anything. In 30 min after I visited this place, I got back home, and I was literally dying all night and the next day with all kinds of vomiting and such. But the beer was great! The issue (I think) was a pretzel with blue cheese sauce and mustard (or the way how employees treat their hygiene?). Don't risk eating out during flu seasons. It's been a while, and I'm not feeling well so I don't think I'll be back.

Love this little neighborhood bar in Wallingford/Fremont area! I stumbled upon this place with my boyfriend one afternoon, after recently moving into the area. Very nice ambiance and decor, we seated ourselves at the bar top looking out into the street. My boyfriend got the old fashioned, and I got the Lucille Ball - both really well made craft cocktails for being a "hole in the wall"-esqe establishment. We also got the pulled pork sliders to share, which were delicious. Overall, great service, food, and ambiance! I'll definitely be back.

Bologna Samie and bloody Mary's are amazing. Awesome neighborhood bar. Support local businesses!!!

PLEASE bring back the hummus plate. It was my very favorite and the only thing vegetarians can eat.

First and last time at Russell's. This review is a little overdue. I went into Russell's with my cousin for some drinks and dinner. We sat at the bar and the bartender was great, but the owner and some guy who claimed to be his brother were total jerks. My cousin and I stayed for a couple of hours and spent over $100 and by the end of our night the owner and his brother were trying to engage us in a theological argument (which we weren't about to do) and overall spoke to us very condescending, along with the brother trying to hit on my cousin. Super weird. I've never felt so disrespected by an owner of an establishment. The food was good, the bartender was good, but no thanks! There are too many great bar/restaurant options in Seattle.

This place is great! Nice vibe, fun scene and they make amazing drinks. I was surprised that a place this small served really good food too!

Love the homey small feel of this place. The menu is small but ample and well executed. Excellent desserts made in house and amazing biscuits. Service is attentive and friendly. Drinks and food are reasonably priced. Ten minutes at the bar and you'll feel like the owner and often bartender, Joe is one of your best friends! You'll want to keep coming back again and again.

Summary: Finally, exactly what Wallingford/Fremont needs, a full bar with beer and wine on tap accompanied by a small menu of filling small plates and friendly, knowlegable owners/staff. Taste: The Specials menu has an old fashoned (heavy pour :), Lucille Ball (my favorite) and Rainier and wiskey shot if you want something simple. We had the toast with salsa verde, manchego cheese and fresh fennel and it was delicious! I also watched the pot pie, and develiled eggs go out and those looked amazing too. Site: Modern meets industrial with lots of light provided by the garage door and cozier dimmer booths for romatic dates Sound: Light music and the sounds laughter shared over good drinks and great food. Smell: Orangey - yes, the bartender/owner makes his own simple syrups and elixurs for the coctails and food. Feel: A Cozy local tavern, a nice place for weekends and weeknights. Definitly my local spot from now on.

After a year of Russell's being on my radar, my boyfriend and I finally paid a visit for some Friday night drinks and apps! I knew I was going to like it, but I had no idea how much I was going to love it. I'll start with the amazing service, which was apparent as soon as we walked in the door. It was busy, but not a minute after we found a seat at the bar off to the side, we were greeted with water glasses, a bottle for refills and menus. Another two minutes later we were asked if we wanted a beverage. Food was then ordered and that came out only a few minutes after it was ordered. The server, who just so happened to be the only server working the entire restaurant with just the bartender, was always on top of our drink refills. I was seriously impressed. It set a new bar of restaurant service for me! Next, the beer selection was fantastic and they made a swift old fashioned. The happy hour food menu was petite but also full of some pretty interesting and hearty selections, like a pretzel with beer cheese and spicy mustard that we snacked on along with homemade potato chips and dip. Finally, the vibe of this place is what makes it my ideal picture of a neighborhood watering hole. It's modern and hip, yet not boojie. Because it's small and intimate, it's super approachable and inviting. I'm completely hooked on Russell's and can't wait to come back for a drink and a snack!

While they do drinks and some small plate food, I unintentionally made the owner quite mad, and due to the exchange, I can't see us going back. My girlfriend and I had friends visiting from out of town, and I referenced Russells as a great place to get a drink or some food. Our friends arrived well before me and had some drinks and a pie. I arrived after work, and grabbed a slice of pizza to-go from the Pagliacci down the street, on my walk there. I walked in, greeted them, and then turned to the bartender/owner and asked "I picked up a slice of pizza down the street, is it alright for me to eat it in here, or is that something you wouldn't prefer?" The owner then replied, "I can't think of really any restaurant where that would be allowed. I think it's pretty commonly understood you don't do that. So I would ask you eat it somewhere else and not here." I felt like an idiot (I probably am), and simply ordered a beer. Our friends remarked how I just got put in my place, and we then went having a drink and catching up. I did not eat the pizza. It wasn't my intention to frustrate the owner, and our friends said he seemed obviously frustrated by it, and they thought the response was quite rude. I don't use Yelp that often, and really avoid writing bad reviews (I don't have many), but treating someone that way, isn't really a business (or life) practice I really want to condone. I felt like the proper reply could have been 'Thanks for asking, but we do ask that no outside food is brought into our restaurant'. I now know to never bring a slice of pizza into a restaurant!

Killer food and cocktails in a modern style bar. The food is delicious (sometimes pricey but so well made I wouldn't consider it unreasonable). The staff know each ingredient of the drinks and are great at suggesting what drink or food might fit your night out best.

I've been here twice and both times I've witnessed the bar owner has throwing people out for absolutely no reason. The first time was because of an unrelated incident to the point that he actually promised a refund to us and then completely reneged on it. The second time was because an unrelated dog , tied up outside, barked literally twice and the owner threw a fucking hussy fit.

My wife really enjoyed the selection of mixed drinks as well as the presentation. We went for Happy Hour, the Hummus plate was a little too basic, but the meatball dish was much better. My wife ordered a dish composed of bread and mushrooms, which she enjoyed. To drink I ordered Hamm's and at $2.50 for a 16oz, you can't get much cheaper at a nice venue. Basically, it has a trendy, hip atmosphere, with expensive drinks, but also a few less expensive options so everyone can feel comfortable. We will most likely be back for another Happy Hour in the future. The bartender was friendly and attentive.

Luckily stumbled across Russell's while in Seattle. The drinks and small plates are awesome, and staff is friendly. Was only in town for a few days and they made us feel like regulars. Hope to stop in again if I'm ever in the area.

"Where everybody knows your name" - sums it up.. My local spot. Joe always make me happy with a little.whiskey taste and fantastic cocktail. Always has the good tunes and if you're lucky you might get to hear some DJ Quik and Joe rapping along as well. The Avocado breakfast sandwich is the best for Sundays and football.

Dark & chill. Sexy cocktails (rag top = 10/10), good music. Bring your Tinder date here.

Went to Russell's for the first time last week with some girlfriends for a glass of wine (on tap!) and small bites. We ordered the arugula salad, a pretzel, and the meatballs. All was great and the staff was very friendly. When we arrived at about 4:30pm the place was almost empty, but soon filled up with the after work crowd (it was a Wednesday I think). The only gripe we had was that it was VERY warm inside, even before the place was packed. We were practically sweating within about 5 minutes of being there. However - Definitely a fan. Luckily it's near my office so I'm sure I'll be back. :)