Pike’s Bar & Grill

This restaurant appears to be closed. I take that back this restaurant is closed

Right in the heart of Capitol Hill’s burgeoning restaurant district… there are so many great places within 2 blocks of this one, yet they seem to think that they can make it on a bare bones menu and mediocre food.
The first thing we noticed was that the menu seriously has only six entrees… and this isn’t one of the ubiquitous small plate restaurants with a ton of appetizers and only a few large plates. They have a few appetizers, but all things considered, you have a very limited selection.
SO…if a place offers only a very few options… one would expect that they get every one of them absolutely right. You would expect them to nail it, and we had a good feeling for the first part of our meal.
The salads were very good. Simple, but good… which works for salad. We also shared the Caprese sliders, a twist on the typical sliders… and a HUGE hit for someone who doesn’t eat meat. They were very good.
Based on the first courses, we were all excited for the entrée. Due to the limited selection, everyone in our party of four ended up ordering the Halibut. They were out of Prime Rib, and didn’t have any particularly interesting specials… so four people ordered four plates of halibut.
So, the halibut was $ 20. Not a huge price for an entrée… but a huge price compared to most of the menu. So, we expected them to nail it. But, each portion was bland and dry and crusty. We’re not talking about one bad entrée… all four of them were terrible. I mean, spit into a napkin terrible. We didn’t send them back… which continues to haunt me, but we were with friends, and enjoying a great conversation.
Service was pretty good… not great.
Wine list was abbreviated like the food menu. The only champagne was $ 20 by the glass… SERIOUSLY? In a pub?
Bottomline: If I owned a restaurant, and a table of four ordered the same thing… I would be VERY concerned. If I owned a restaurant that served six entrees, and we ran out of one of them EARLY into the dinner service, I would be very concerned.

Best part about this place is the fact that it is open late, down side is that the food is very mediocre.

I hate to be that girl giving this place only two stars, but that’s the kind of experience I had last night. My friend and I were excited to try this new place since the corner has been shuttered for so long since 1200 Bistro closed. The bar area inside was pretty busy as happy hour had just ended… and boy was it HOT inside (temperature people!) seeing that Seattle had just broken a record with a 90 degree day so we opted to sit outside on the teeny-​tiny patio (really just a few two tops separated from the sidewalk by a wrought iron fence, but I’ll take what outside seating I can get in Seattle).
Service initially was really good. Menus and waters followed us quickly, as well as the initial request for a drink order. I am usually a red wine girl, but on a hot summer evening I enjoy a nice, crisp cool white from time to time. Their wines by the glass selection isn’t overly robust, but was happy to hear that their house wine was a viognier, nice! My favorite white… my hopes for a good experience were pretty high at this point. We opened the menu and were faced with the left side selections of pub fare… many items looked really good (meatloaf sliders, buffalo chicken sandwich), but simply not feeling it on a warm summer evening. They have a few salad selections and then a range of entrees too. Again, nothing was really on the «light» side, so my friend and I opted to share a few things: calamari, caprese sliders and the field greens salad. The calamari was simply okay, the caprese sliders were as well… although I found it a bit odd that the mozzarella was melted? Maybe that is their take on a caprese? The biggest miss was the salad… dear god! The thing was drowning in dressing! Remember the old Louis the Lifeguard 80’s PSA during Saturday morning cartoons that went something like, «don’t drown your food, in mayos or ketchups or goo?» I think that Pike’s need to put that up in the kitchen area as someone was VERY heavy handed with the dressing. It was a clear reminder of why I usually order the dressing on the side. The salad was simply awful because it was so soaked.
As I mentioned, our initial service was good, but then it tapered off and the place wasn’t busy at that point. We ordered a second glass of wine and it was probably a good 20 minutes or so before it was delivered… it must have been poured and sitting out because it was warm, not chilled like I like my whites to be.
I left disappointed in my experience. But don’t worry Pike’s, I am not giving up on you, but I might not be back until Seattle loses our sunshine, the days become short and the rain falls because that’s when I think your comfort food inspired menu will be calling to me.

So I am going to go back to that whole California thing again. We are blessed in California to have the best hamburger joint around (that i have tried) In-​N-​Out. For those of you Seattleites who claim Dicks is better (so Katie gets no emails about me tomorrow I will be nice and say) you are crazy. But I have found a burger that rivals that of In-​N-​out. It is located at Pikes Bar & Grill and during happy hour it is only 5 dollars you cannot beat that. So congratulations to a Seattle establishment that got the hamburger right… Oh and one more thing for you seafood lovers I have heard that the fish and chips are amazing.
Katie this one is for you!!!

Great location on Pike and 12^th. I sat outside in the teeny tiny patio seating to enjoy the nice summer evening last night. This place has only been around one month, and last night was the first Monday they were open. The wait staff was fantastic. Very attentive, and quick with service. I had a yummy burger, and fries, both of which were more than your average pub fare. The house wine was so-​so, but overall it was a very enjoyable experience. I would go back when just wanting to sit and watch the cap. hill passer-​byers.

The service here is absolutely peerless. The staff, from the hostess straight through to our waiter and server, were incredibly personable and knowledgeable. I’m stoked to go back if only to see so many friendly faces in once place again!
Our waiter talked up the calamari so much that I, a devout squid-​avoider, was damn near drooling. My friend ordered it and I was delighted to find the GIANT OH MY GOD AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD capers garnishing the plate. While I still couldn’t bring myself to taste the tentacles, I did fall in love with the amazing capers of doom.
Overall, I had a really enjoyable meal here and I do plan to go back in the near future. I’m dropping one star, though, from an otherwise perfect meal because the mixed-​greens salad I ordered was literally the only vegetarian item available (either as an entreé or appetizer) that night. It was delicious but it would have been great to have, you know, choices.

Let me preface this review by stating my fond memories at this location of 1200 Bistro… before it turned to sh*t. So I walked in with high hopes of a phoenix rising within Pike’s Bar & Grill. Slightly over dramatic? Yes but if you know me you understand.
The menu is still growing so I will overlook the plain paper versions that were tucked into sheet protectors. Our server was pleasant with a sexy, raspy voice reminiscent of Demi Moore so we started off the experience right!
Calamari had a nice flavor and were lightly pan fried close to perfection. I ordered the roast beef au ju and was not disappointed. Currently the menu is mostly heavy items and the server indicated they’ve frequently run out of cod and chips because it was the lightest selection. She assured us there will be more to look forward to in the near future.
There is nice outdoor patio seating and the bar from 1200 remains with the same set up I fell in love with years ago. The dining area has built in high serpentine booths that add a nice touch and new look for this hip space. I will update this review after I go back, hopefully soon!

I know I’m sometimes pretty generous with my 4 to 5 star reviews, but believe me, this place truly deserves the 5 stars. It offers up a great menu that is a little different from other places up here on the Hill. I had the linguine with clams and a light cream sauce. The dish was rich yet light and finger lickin’ good. The prime rib was also fantastic, and apparently so were the potatoes… my dining companion failed to share any with me!
The staff were super friendly, and both the manager and owner checked in on us. Cocktails were top notch, and the place just had a cozy feel to it. The booths allowed you to see what was going on, but afforded a little privacy. I’ll definitely be a repeat customer with friends and clients.

WOW
Checked this place out last night for dinner, and everyone in our group of four was thoroughly impressed. The service, the food, the drinks, the value — all top notch. I had the prime rib, and it was amazing. No really, like free booze, like no pants, like points at crotch, like summer in Seattle f’ing good.
We chatted with both the manager and owner, and both were gracious and committed to ensuring we walked out happy — and we did. Not to mention that the service is the best I’ve experienced in quite a while.
I’ll definitely be back often. You should come too.

I got to come back here for dinner here last night. and now I’m REALLY in love with this place!
I had the Prime Rib and it was fantastic! It was tender and juicy and came with asparagus and cheesy scalloped potatoes. My dining companions had the fish n’ chips, which were fresh and tasty (their tartar sauce is bomb!), the linguine with clams (also very good– I tried it all!), and the Prime Rib. Everyone really enjoyed their food, the portions were large, and the service was great!
Best bang for your ‘dinner’ buck on the hill, for sure!

We went to Pike’s on its first weekend open and it was just okay. It was a hot day and we sat outside which was nice. BUT there was nothing really on the menu that struck me as good for a hot day. Pretty much all the entrees seemed like they would be better in December than July. I ended up getting a «special» prime rib sandwich. It was tasty, but I ordered medium rare but it was more well done. We also ordered the fish and chips, which were excellent and great tartar sauce.
The server was nice and attentive. I didn’t go to 1200 Bistro many times, but it didn’t look to me like they had done much to the décor but paint and change the light fixtures. We live very close by and will definitely go back, but I agree that it needs some fine-​tuning.

On my second foray into the much-​anticipated opening of the former 1200 space, I left again a pretty happy guy — not ecstatic but pretty happy. My first night in was to the bar, late, where I had a very decent Shiraz for a very reasonable price, and a nice chat with the extremely pleasant bar tender whose name now escapes me. As a fan of the 1200, I was happy to see tasteful changes to the décor without a complete reworking of the old space.
Second trip in was for a cocktail at the bar and dinner in the dining room. My friend and I had call martini’s. They were OK, if a bit of a light pour, and those fussy little tasteless olives. His gin is much more expensive than my vodka anywhere you buy it, but here they were priced the same. 7 + 2 (for ‘as martini’) plus .85 tax. $ 9.85 for an OK but not great martini. Alright for downtown, overpriced for the hill. From now on, if I want a cocktail, I’ll stop for the best martini in town at Purr ($ 9.50 tax already included) and a much, much better pour than Pike’s. (On a side note, I like including the tax in the price of the drink, rather than seeing it show up as a separate item on the bill. Of course, there is something to be said for taxing separately. At Purr, if you order food and drink you actually pay double taxes on your booze. The entire amount of the tab is taxed, not just the food. So, the drink is taxed twice. As Barbie, the owner, was overheard to say — «how do you think I bought that big Mercedes». Beware Purr patrons!!)
But I digress. We moved into the dining room where they were out of too many items, including the ones my friend and I wanted (meatloaf and prime rib — hey, I eat fish and veggies all week long!). But we had very good appetizers — the pan sauteed chicken livers and a whole leaf caesar. The livers were perfect, but were without the bacon advertised on the menu, which the perfect waitress had already told us. The caesar was fine, though not enough garlic and anchovy for my friend. His short ribs and my pork chop were quite good, no complaints at all. Not sure if the pork had been brined, but it tasted so — very moist and tender, with fantastic roasted sweet potatoes and nicely done asparagus. The ribs were served with a generous helping of pasta. Very nice dinners. With our appetizers, we both had white wine, he an overpriced chardonnay and me a sauvignon blanc for a fair price. We both had a very disappointing pinot (pale and bland) for way, way too many $$ (10) with our main courses. My buddy was served a weak Bailey’s and coffee after dinner.
At 1200, you never knew what you were going to get, but it was always fun to watch Kenny, insincere though he was, work the crowd, and a crowd there always seemed to be. Pike’s strikes me as a place more detemined to provide consistent higher quality. I only hope that’s true. The staff was wonderful through the whole evening, drinks just OK. and food very good. My rating is really 3.5, but no half stars on Unilocal.I hope to up it to 4 or 5 after a few more visits.
All in all, a welcomed addition to the rather dismal dining choices on the Pike/​Pine corridor.

If you’ve followed the chatter on the now closed 1200 Bistro entry, you know I’ve been anticipating the opening of Pike’s Bar & Grill for some time now. I will say, however, I’m somewhat bummed Katie S. beat me to «First to Review». (I blame an out-​of-​town wedding.)
But back to the good stuff… and this restaurant had plenty of it. I’ll tackle this review in three parts: the Place, the Plates, and the People.
THE PLACE:
The ambiance is warm an inviting. The climate comfortable (though on really hot days the lack of A/​C kept me from its predecessor). The updated décor is clean an welcoming. It could use some finishing touches, but in all a very cozy space. The bar and kitchen take up the front half while the dining room occupies the back half. Prime seating in two round window tables (though you may feel «on display») and cozy 4 – 5 (6 would be tight) person booths — perfect for an intimate date. The remainder of the seating in the dining room is a somewhat akward mix of 2 and 4-​top tables/​chairs, über-​flexible to accomodate parties of 6 or more for bigger gatherings. They’ve clearly made sure no seat is a «bad» seat.
THE PLATES:
The menu is admittedly a «work-​in-​progress», which frankly is half the fun of any new restaurant! Everything is simple, basic and well-​prepared. Ingredients are fresh and the food tasty. I tried the meatloaf — it had a welcome «kick» — which was served with a somewhat thick and delicious gravy and equally tasted-​bud watering mashed potatoes. I’m a huge fan of asparagus and these were likely the best I’ve ever had. My guest enjoyed the beef shortribs and especially enjoyed the pasta. I’ll figure out a way to attach the complete menu (that I camera-phone’d for your convenience) so you can check out the surprisingly inexpensive fare for yourself.
THE PEOPLE:
This is what the «old» 1200 had right — and while they’re clearly after two different objectives — PIke’s Bar & Grill definitely wins top banana in this category as well. General Manager Craig spent time to explain the concept, menu choices and future plans to two self-​described «foodies». He was excited to greet each customer, happy to take questions and clearly passionate about executing owners’ Mike and Charlie’s vision. Everyone (food runners, greeters, bartender, waiter…) clearly wanted to be there. The food will bring me back, but the people will make it feel I’m dining amongst family.
THE SUMMARY:
Stop reading and GO! Pike’s Bar & Grill continues a legacy of fabulous dining in a neighborhood space perfectly-​suited for the task. You won’t find 1200 — but you’ll find a great experience and a cozy establishment that can only go up from here… Five Stars is within reach!