McMenamins Anderson School

I really wanted to like McMenamins. The whole property is fun and well thought out but the service and food quality leave a lot to be desired. I’ve been here three times now and everything has just been underwhelming.
I will say the best service I’ve had thus far has been in the Blue Lagoon and their Cajun tater tots are the best!
I’m optimistic that once they iron out the «new property» kinks and get their bearings a bit more, things will improve!

Stayed for 3 days, 2 nights. Another McMenamins hit, we had a blast. Being tripsters, we knew what to expect, comfortable beds, big rooms, but they’ve added a TV and each room had a private bathroom. It would have been 5 stars had the pool been working, and we probably would have stayed another night. Good food at each place, highly recommend the rabbit pizza, sooo good. The fried green tomatoes were a little disappointing, good idea, poorly executed. The tomatoes were little burnt discs, little substance, but the crab was amazing. This place is definitely worth a visit.

*Went in for lunch yesterday, the service was friendly and prompt, we sat in a booth in the bar
*My buddy and I both had salads and while they were good, not great the price is insane, $ 20 for a chiken kale caesar??? I Don’t get it, all the burgers and main items were 14 – 16 bucks and it is still just pub grub
*I want to like this place and support it but am certain their prices are way out of whack for what you get

How can something that works so well in Oregon be a disaster in Bothell? McMenamins Anderson School reminds me of the Disneyland in France — a miss fit or misfit I don’t know but it’s just not the same experience.
McMenamins in Oregon are seemingly everywhere. At Strip malls. Gentrified neighborhoods. Historic old towns. Out in the country. A nice easy to access fast, casual restaurant & hotel alternative to Applebees & the Hampton Inn. A food menu that never changes, is pretty unspectacular and relatively affordable. Anchoring the experiencing are run of the mill micro brews, funky surroundings and equally funky staff. An easily accessible experience that’s normally pleasant. Appealing to the All Things Considered & Masters of Puppets & New-​Nerd demographics. McMenamins is as much a fixture to Oregon as are their liberal obscenity laws and government-​mandated full service gas stations.
Cutting & pasting McMenamins to Bothell was a genius move by their incentive compensation-​hungry MBAs. Anderson School is packed full of Prius and their passengers desperate for instant coolness within a couple blocks off I405. Reading of McDonals & Walmarts closing across the USA? Try replacing them with McMenamins! In the PNW, at least
The deal with the Bothell oasis is that there is nothing relaxed about it. It’s just a pure pain in the butt experience. To start with there is not enough parking — and this is in the suburbs! Their lot is so small you have to use the adjacent stadium lot (God forbid if there is an a event at the stadium). And even then we’ve had to park blocks away … To get to McMenamins? If I wanted crappy parking I’d go to one of my local pubs (but I could walk to those).
Once there, it’s the amusement park of bars and restaurants like you’d find at Kennedy School. But figure on 45+ minute waits for a table and long, long waits for beer and food. And none of what’s delivered of it is worth such a wait. Sure there is nice stuff to look at in this remodeled school — but yah know what, after you’ve been to 7 or so McMenamins you Notice things repeat themselves quite a bit. They’ve got the formula figured out well. But it’s looking about as faux as a chain restaurant now.
The Bothell McMenamins is the inverse of what the experience is supposed to be. Easy to drop in and have a good time in a relaxed environment. I think the lesson here is folks need to learn how to seek out and cultivate their own local pubs versus relying on the convenience of prepackaged coolness.

Packed place but they need organization. Came to visit here from Oregon. Customer service, don’t expect any they don’t care or have time for it.
Also No luck getting a seat in the restaurant as it takes 2 hours or more and it takes forever to even get your food. It took them about 45 minutes to get food in the movie theater apparently they kept losing my order ticket.
I was one of the first to order the food in the movie theaters and the last person to get the food. The food was average or above average. But customer service was horribly pathetic.
By the time the food got to me. I was full from my friends offering their food to me as I was waiting for my meal. when I asked at least 4 times about my food none of the staff cared to check and see what was going on with the order until 45 minutes later. And since I paid in cash they said they don’t receipts. Go figure.
I even brought this attention to the manager.
I would not recommend this place if you expect any customer service but if you expect to see a lot of people there then that’s about all you will get.

I had dinner at the tavern. Ugh! I ordered roasted game hen. I got half of one with 4 tablespoons of potatoes for $ 20. I did not get the vegetable so ended up with a side when I finished my very small dinner. My dinner took 40 minutes. Service lacking as I had to ask for a drink. I was still hungry so I went to the Wood Shop Pub. I sat at the bar for a minute and asked if I could watch Golden Globes on one of the TV’s. They said NO we only show sports! Two and a half men was on the TV! I ordered the hummus since I was still hungry from my dinner and it was 3 times as big as my dinner and it tasted OK at best. I live in Bothell and was really excited about it. I will not be back. I did notice most all of the good reviews are employees like Terry. Ok the more I look the only good reviews they have, are all are employees! Look at their business photos! Sneaky!

What a great addition to the North Lake Washington area. They have created such a cool vibe across an old school campus. The food was excellent, atmosphere was energetic but not too loud. There was a mistake with our order and the way they handled what unexpected and world class. Thank you!

**Update** dropping this down to 3 stars from 4 as they charged us twice for our room and we’re now having to go back to change that.
Clarification: this review is ONLY for the Anderson School/​hotel part of this property. I have separate reviews for Tavern in the Square (1 star) and Northshore Lagoon (1star).
To be honest, the only good service and interactions we had with the staff at this property was through the hotel (exception of one bartender from the Woodshop).
The hotel is adorable, and the gal that checked us in was very nice and helpful. We loved the room, it was clean and very comfortable! The concept is beyond cool, definitely a destination hotel!
We had a cocktail at the Principal’s Office (which is the old principal’s office — how cool is that??) and our bartender was wonderful and engaging. The PO bar is on the third floor and is beer, wine, whiskey and gin only. They make a killer Manhattan!
I would NOT recommend dining at the restaurant — food is poor and service is worse. Plan to head to the bars for small bites, and expect to be waiting quite a while before getting your food.

I’m bummed to see all the bad reviews. I have only been once now but I thought the property was really unique and I’m looking forward to going back and trying more of the restaurants and bars. We had lunch in the tiki bar up over the pool. I just loved the location and view. I had a noodle salad. They made some easy swaps to make it vegetarian and gluten free for me. The other folks I was with had burgers and salads. While I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite restaurant, I would eat there again for sure. Service was great and it was a good over all experience.

What an interesting spot! Unfortunately it was extremely busy and crowded; there wasn’t a single free fire pit when we arrived and some of the gas heaters were out of gas and the staff knew and had stopped refilling them for one reason or another — it’s winter!!!
Not a single wait staff came around to ask what we wanted to drink.
Later in the night, fire pit lid would’ve burned me if I wasn’t paying attention and stopped it with my foot — it wasn’t secured and someone across from me lifting the lid (to refill wood) caused the whole thing to slide off towards my legs (design issue, area not well lit enough for the person lifting the lid to see as the lid started to slide).
In the dark I couldn’t make out any clear signs for where restrooms were — the property is like a maze, which I imagine can be frustrating after a few drinks.
Pretty unique but there are definitely areas for improvement.

I went to this restaurant a Sunday around 8pm and it was busy, but we did reservations and our table was ready when we arrived. Finding a parking was challenging, I had to park by a stadium/​community area that is next to the restaurant. The service and beer were great. Food is good, not excellent. A friend told me the burger is great. I decided to order the steak and I can’t complaint, it was cooked as I asked and I just wish they had some sides in case I am not feeling like eating smashed potatoes.

I came with a large party and was definitely grateful they were able to seat us together (and promptly). Very grateful that at lunch they could squeeze us into a big table without reservations.
Regarding the food, I opted for the grass fed burger. It came out a little more done than I anticipated. I made the decision to just keep eating it because it’s not like it was well done when I asked for med-​rare. It was maybe at medium. That aside, I think something about the flavors was missing something. It was a solid burger, but nothing to really write home about.
Definitely opting to come here again in the future, but probably will get something other than the burger. Definitely need to spend more time exploring the school!

If you find yourself anywhere near downtown Bothell you owe it to yourself to check this place out. This is not like McMenamins irish bars in Seatle or Mill Creek. It’s more upscale and eclectic with a larger menu, lager space, larger everything. The live blues guitarist/​singer was a nice touch, the main bar and game room area (AKA the wood shop) was buzzing with people and energy. Outdoor dining with multiple fire pits gives this place a cool nighttime ambiance. They also have a hotel and movie theater on premises. Very cool all the way around and will likely be a big draw to revitalize the area.
My wife and I are on a billiards kick lately so we are scouting out places that are nice to shoot pool. This place has four tables I believe. It was so packed on Friday that it was difficult to play without waiting for staff and patrons to work their way around the tables to wherever they are going. The pinball machines are placed out of the way and are fun to play while you wait for a table.

Sigh.
Okay, this is a gorgeous space, I admit, but the place was SO PACKED in the oddest time (Saturday at 4pm?) and they are still clearly working out kinks as it was unclear at many junctures just how the hell this whole complex works and how to go eat or drink or whatever.
In the end, we ended up in the Woodshop (separate review to follow) after strolling the grounds for 30 minutes or so.
Granted, we drove out from Seattle and it was so, so, SO busy but other than a few places to eat (that were 30+ min waits at each, lines out the door), some nice grounds to stroll and what looks like an awesome pool (that, I’ll be back for, bring the kiddo for sure as it’s open to the public) … I say it may not be worth the drive so unless you’re already in Bothell, I’d say make a day trip to Oregon and see the other McMenamins over there.

This place is heavenly. Enjoyed a nice swim/​soak. Be sure to bring a robe, big fluffy towel and flip flops; getting out of the pool is tough as it’s freezing! Note to the childless: Very family friendly, so maybe consider going later in the evening if you want to avoid the kiddies. There are lockers but they can’t be locked so take your purses/​valuables and hang them on the hooks by the pool so you can keep an eye on them — there’s plenty of pool deck to put your things where they won’t get wet.
After a hot shower we headed upstairs to the North Shore Lagoon Tiki Bar and had burgers (which were delicious, they have veggie burgers and gluten free buns as well), the cajun tater tots had a lovely seasoning, but not spicy at all (sort of assumed they might be) and my daughter had the 3 little pigs pizza — the «small» wasn’t so small so keep that in mind; with lots of cheese, pulled pork, BBQ sauce, bacon and ham, it was filling and hearty. Our server was a little forgetful as he forgot to put in a couple things we’d ordered, but the place is new so I’m sure we can attribute any mistakes to their newness. Regardless, I loved this place and want to go back to check out the other pub, tavern and lodge. So worth a visit!

It’s…BUSY.
I’ll let the crowds die down a few months from now before returning. The layout is a bit odd as everything is centered in one hub except for the lagoon/​pool building. It would be nice if there were further space to spread out the bars & restaurants. Every restaurant we went to there was at least a 30 minute wait. There was no where to sit… anywhere…it was frustrating. We ended up grabbing a quick beer then left.

The Hubs and my sis-​in-​law and I visited the Anderson School on Saturday, their third day in business. I thought they might have ironed out the kinks by then. Nope.
Place was packed, which was expected, but there weren’t enough staff and so tables sat with dirty dishes on them, while others were set and ready to go but no one was seated at them because there was no wait staff to serve those tables.
We were sitting in an outdoor area drinking water and wishing our reservation for a table would come up (we had already waited 90 minutes!) when a nice waiter came up and asked if we wanted to order food. Did we! We ordered and he warned us that it would take 45 minutes. We still wanted the food so we agreed. He was nice and apologetic.
We were supposed to be texted when our original reservation in the main hall became ready. We thought we’d keep it open and see how long it’d take. We were finally texted 1 hour and 45 minutes later. Wow. Just wow.
Thus, this place is cool (love all the original artwork in the hotel halls!), has a hip and historical vibe, and has decent pub food and drinks, but I recommend waiting a month or so and then visiting. Give the McMenamins folks more time to polish their act.

Even though the place was packed earlier and some of the menu items were gone, and so were the signature beers, we managed to have a very nice and cozy experience after 10pm in The Tavern. The other 4 bars were full of people enjoying the many amenities which include a salt water pool and a sports bar.
The food in The Tavern is high end, very good quality and exquisite presentation, but without premium pricing. The steaks are 8 to 10oz, locally procured, and for the $ 26 to $ 3 they didn’t disappoint. The pork shank is a sight to be seen and experienced in person.
Parking can be difficult, but the intention is to either stay at their hotel or hail a cab from nearby. There is ample bicycle parking for those who want to drink and ride responsibly.
Enjoy!

Whoo Hooo!!!
Tripster Party!
This property is great — the McMenamin Bros have outdone themselves this time, and dothey know how to throw a party — AWESOME SAUSE all night long.
The property was not quite done — but it is fantastic. The painting/​artwork was not complete or hung in some areas — but the general history of the school will be fun to see when I go back.
We started with drinks at the Tavern on the Green. The Bees Knees was delish. While sitting at the bar — we invented the Ruberry Cider — ½ Ruby and ½ Blackberry Cider. Order it — it’s a thing.
Moved onto the Woodshop. It is open and comfortable — sporting all the games (pinball, pool, shuffle board — hello experience stamp). Continued with Ruberry Ciders. Got the pretzel sticks and hummas plate. tastey.
We then moved on to distillery and wine tasting. The gin is wonderful.
Walked across the lot (no drinks allowed0 to the pool. The pool was not open — but once they get that area set up and going — I can tell it will be a blast. The Tike Bar overlooking the pool was super fun to hang in — I really enjoyed the rum punch.
The icing on the cake was meeting the Bros — great down to earth dudes.
Had breakfast at the Tavern on the Green the next morning. Fantastic mushroom and goat cheese omelet.
I am really looking forward to returning to this property to see it in it’s full glory.

If you’ve always wished that the Seattle area had its own Kennedy School, the wait is over! And if you never thought there was any reason to go to Bothell, now there is. But you might want to wait until the grand-​opening hysteria dies down.
We went to the Anderson School on opening weekend and it was nuts. The parking lots were full and cars had taken over the side streets for several blocks around the property. Although there are several bars, they all had insanely long lines, and the staff seemed overwhelmed and unable to keep up with demand. They made our drinks wrong (e.g., gin and soda instead of gin and tonic), but it wasn’t worth getting back in line to have them remade. They were running out of food and beer and warning customers that food would take 45 minutes to come out of the kitchen. So I strongly suggest you wait a while to go, or at least try a weeknight instead.
But anyway! The layout will feel familiar if you’ve been to the Kennedy School, but with more buildings and outdoor space. The main hotel check-​in is centrally located, and attached to that is the large, noisy main bar/​restaurant. There’s a separate building that is just hotel rooms, so it’s quieter (though it does have the tiny Principal’s Office bar on the top floor). A small cottage has been repurposed into another bar with a few tables. Another building contains the movie theater and a large event space where live music plays. The North Lagoon, across the parking lot, has the pool and an upstairs tiki bar, although you’re not supposed to carry alcohol across the parking lot. You get the idea: there are LOTS of things going on here.
There’s a ton of outdoor seating — mostly attached to the restaurants, but some gazebos with firepits seem more casual, where you can just grab a seat and a server comes to you. It looks like a great place for weddings, music events, and big parties.
While they clearly tried to go for the same artsy, folksy feel as the Kennedy School, it’s not quite as magical. There’s a lot of wall art and history displays about local historical figures, but the art is mostly framed prints rather than original paintings and sculpture, and it doesn’t have the same psychedelic, demented surrealness of the Kennedy School’s outsider-​art style. Maybe it’s because everything is brand-​new and freshly painted — it doesn’t yet have a patina on it and so it feels more corporate and manufactured. I hope all the traffic will soon rub off that squeaky-​clean shine and give it a more charmingly shabby feel.
Bothell isn’t exactly close to Seattle, but it’s a whole lot closer than Portland. I’d definitely come back for dinner and a movie, or stay overnight and work my way through all the bars and restaurants… but I’ll wait until it’s not quite so overcrowded.