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.