Ivar's was great to these Seattle tourists!
Written: Sep 01 '06
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Pros: Location, good food, kid's menu
Cons: Lunch entrees were a little pricey
The Bottom Line: A nice restaurant with a decent menu in a great location.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Ivar's Acres of Clams |
We spent a few days in Seattle prior to an Alaska cruise. The Seattle waterfront is a great tourist attraction complete with lots of t-shirt stores, great harbor views, ferry launches, an aquarium and restaurants. We asked several locals where to eat in the area and they recommended Ivar's.
THE LOCATION
Ivar's is located on Pier 54 on the Seattle waterfront. The outside of Ivar's is a bit confusing. There is a large takeout area off to the side that we initially thought was the only restaurant. However, we quickly located the entrance to the main dining room with sit down service next to the takeout area.
THE RESTAURANT
The main restaurant is long and narrow and heads off down the pier. The long restaurant is broken up into several spaces which gives it a more intimate feel and keeps the noise level down. There are picture-view windows along the side of the restaurant with fabulous views of the water, harbor and the ferry boats loading and unloading.
The interior of the restaurant is very casual. The tables are wood grain and the seating is captain-style chairs. I didn't see any booths. There are paper place mats and the decor and ambiance is definitely casual and somewhat nautical in keeping with the harbor location. There were lots of tourists and lots of families. The noise level was surprisingly low for a busy restaurant but I think that has to do mostly with how they carved out the space.
THE FOOD
I ate at Ivar's with my two kids. The kid's menu came printed on a diver's mask. The masks could be slipped over your face and secured with two rubber bands behind your ears. My six year old wore his menu during most of his meal and on into the afternoon.
We got complimentary bread and butter before our meal. The kid's menu had lots of good selections including, our family favorite, chicken fingers and french fries. The prices were reasonable - most kid's meals were under $6. The portions were more than ample for children under 10.
The regular lunch menu had lots of entree choices that included sandwiches under $10 and more sophisticated entrees under $15. Almost everything on the menu was seafood although there were a few other choices. The seafood choices included fish, crab and clams in lots of different preparations. There was also a daily specials sheet with recently-caught seafood. I ordered a salmon dish off the daily special menu. I thought the salmon was very good and cooked to perfection. The fish was obviously very fresh and, although expensive for a lunch entree, was very good and almost worth the price. It came with a seasoned rice pilaf that was also very good. My entree cost around $15. The serving was a bit large for me and I didn't quite finish the whole thing.
The food was served on plain white plates with little in the way of arrangement or garnishes. I thought this presentation suited the location and style of the restaurant but it definitely focused our attention on the other attributes of the restaurant: good views and fresh fish.
SERVICE
When we arrived, the restaurant was not full. However, we had to sit for 5 minutes while they prepared a table. The girls at the hostess stand were very nice. Our waiter was very good and efficient. He brought everything timely and kept the table clean. He kept the water glasses full and was very professional. I got the impression he was trying to cover a lot of tables because he seemed rushed. However, if he was covering a lot of tables, it didn't effect our service and it happily minimized small talk.
OTHER THOUGHTS
Ivar's was great for tourists although I thought the prices for the adult entrees were a little high for lunch.
The restaurant was very family friendly.
There were some salads on the menu but not much else for vegetarians.
The restaurant looked to be handicapped friendly as it was all on one level.
We ate at 2 on a weekday and the restaurant was hopping although there were some empty tables.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Ivar’s Acres of Clams
On the Seattle Waterfront
Pier 54 • (206) 624-6852
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I liked Ivar's. I thought the food was good and the view and location couldn't be beat for tourists. However, if I was a local, I don't think I would head downtown for a $15 salmon entree for lunch. My guess is that there are probably better deals in Seattle for fresh fish. However, if you are in town and in the pier area, I would recommend Ivar's as a good stop for lunch.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The salmon was great!
Best Suited For: Kids and Families
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modernmarvel
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