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Hilltop Ale House
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants, Pubs [Edit]
2129 Queen Anne Ave NSeattle, WA 98109
Neighbourhood: Queen Anne
(206) 285-3877
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
115 reviews for Hilltop Ale House
Review Highlights
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"Great beer selection, and extremely tasty food." In 16 reviews -
"Mouth-watering goat cheese salad." In 6 reviews -
"The gumbo, blackened salmon sandwich and pesto chicken..." In 4 reviews
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115 reviews in English
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Review from David A.
Seattle, WA
5/23/2012 16 Check-ins Here
Bloody hell, this place is ace.
From servers who not only remember your name/drink, but also keep your snow sled in the back room for a week after you drunkingly leave it in the middle of the pub after sledding down the counterbalance in the winter - to their fantastic beer selection. Good ol' standbys like Deschutes Mirror Pond and Georgetown Manny's, to my favorite IPA's in the form of Boundary Bay and Ninkasi. Not to mention a constant rotation tap that never fails to disappoint.
Is it small? Yes, that is what she said. That would also be what the architect of the Hilltop also said when he/she/it built the place. It can be right packed on the weekends. The biggest table available is a spot capable of dropping yourself and seven other friends located in the back room. Everything else = two tops for romantic bro dates, four tops for family dinners (minus the family) and bar seating. Outside, a mere two tables are situated - though the window seats offer a not too shabby location for people watching.
Food has never been bad. Slightly overpriced for what it is, but always tasty. Take advantage of the cioppino if they have it on special. Burgers, salads, fish tacos - also good selections available all day, every day.
In the end, this is the place me and the homies will go for a QP (quick pint, which ALWAYS turns in to two, three, four...) after a hard day of making that paper. Now if only the stayed open a bit later on the weekdays.
Cheers... -
Review from DeAnna L.
Seattle, WA
5/10/2012
Ask for Lisa, Jason, Tim, or Aaron! This is a true, neighborhoody Cheers, everybody knows your name kinda place. Being from the south, it was necessary for me to find a comfy, pull up your bar stool and chill kinda spot where I could see lots of regulars. It didn't take long to figure out the Hilltop would fit this bill to a tee!
I always have a cup of their fresh, homemade soup and the Jerk chicken off the Happy Hour menu! The food is fresh and always delicious, AND they do not have a deep frier. So you don't smell like french fries when you leave! Bonus!
Plus, they serve Boundary Bay IPA! Life is very good in the hood at Hill Top! -
Review from Scoops M.
Seattle, WA
4/4/2012
The food is Very yummy I can't decide what to order!
The wait stuff make me laugh, I need to come more often!
Thanks for a good time:). -
Review from Peter W.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2012
The food at this place is delicious. Steak sandwich is very flavorful, reuben is awesome and the fish tacos are one of the best I've had. Everything comes with tim's chips or pasta salad but try the pasta salad it is pesto and I always make the mistake of getting chips because I'm not thinking straight. That might be because of the great beer selection that they have. Wait staff are friendly and very quick in helping you. Quality establishment!
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Review from Jennifer B.
Seattle, WA
3/26/2012
I went here last weekend and had an OK time
We got there at 8pm on Saturday and it was already super packed. We had a group of about 10 people and there were no tables to sit at so we sat in this corner with barstools and asked the waitress to let us know if anything looks like it's moving. She didn't. But we eventually got something on our own.
The beer was OK - I was disappointed that they didn't have any Hefeweizen or other wheat beers on tap. They did have a very tasty cider on tap though and a lot of places don't do ciders so I was good with that.
We had the hummas (OK) and garlic bread (good) as finger foods to eat throughout the night. We would come back for the "best Ruben in Seattle" but didn't get to try it then.
Overall - not really a bad place, but not great either. Standard bar, nothing special. -
Review from Deborah F.
Seattle, WA
3/12/2012
Came in here on Sunday to grab lunch with my mom when we found out that Mezcaleria Oaxaca was closed on Sunday's BOOOO, oh well. We shared the chicken quesadilla which came with a salad and yummy raspberry vinaigrette. Even though this item was listed on the "small plates" section of the menu, my mom assured me it would be enough food for the two of us as she's had it before. Turns out my mother is a LIAR, no but seriously this would have been enough food had I not been starving.
The food was good but I could have eaten two separate orders to myself, ugh MOM!!! I wouldn't have agreed that this menu item should be listed as a small plate - it just wasn't enough for two. You know when you go out drinking the night before and you have a complete depletion of vitamins in your body, yeah well this was then and I needed vitaminssssss, aka more food. This of course isn't the restaurants fault. Mom had a beer, and thought it was hilarious that I was not in the mood for one considering the previous nights' shenanigans. Service was quick and friendly. -
Review from Meggie C.
Seattle, WA
3/27/2012
Hilltop is one of my favorite places to go in Queen Anne. The atmosphere is casual and the food is much better than your average pub food.
Atmosphere: Cramped and causal pretty much sums up Hilltop Alehouse. They do have a good number or monitors for you sports fans. There's also additional seating in the backroom. You have to walk past the kitchen and restrooms to find it, but it does have a fireplace!
Price: Yes, it is not the cheapest place in Queen Anne, (if you're looking for that go to Targy's) but the food and atmosphere are worth the price.
Drinks: Their tap is not as diverse as some should hope, but what they do have does not leave me wanting. If you're an IPA fan the Boundary Bay IPA is especially hoppy and tasty. They do serve little half pints so take advantage of that if you don't feel like a full brew.
Don't miss:
The Reuben: Yes, all the reviews you have read about the Reuben are true - it's a rich, crispy, flavorful delight! The toasted rye bread is the perfect foundation to hold the juicy corn beef, topped with pickled cabbage, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. If you're picky about your bread being too crunchy, then I'd ask for plain break or go with another sandwich. To mix up the side request half pasta salad and half chips.
Blackened Salmon Sandwich: This is my 'go-to' choice when a good meal is needed. The salmon is perfectly cooked to Northwest standards and served on a French baguette with your standard mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The salmon is blackened so it is a bit spicy, but nothing the average person couldn't handle.
Could go without:
Fish tacos: While good intentioned the fish tacos are bland and have a poor follow through. The texture is pretty much all soft and leaves you saying, "meh." Melena's Tacos on McGraw has better fish tacos (cheaper as well).
Chicken Pot Pie (specialty item): I wanted to like this because I love chicken pot pie, but the base of the pie was broth not cream or milk. It's hard to get into a soupy thin based chicken pot pie; this was more like a stew with tomato... yes, tomato. Overall, just don't order this meal.
If you're in the area you should try this place at least one time. -
Review from Joy P.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2012
Off night for Hilltop.
My husband and I got to Hilltop periodically b/c the food and beer are reliably good, as they were once again last night. But the service stunk.
OK I know it was St. Patrick's Day - a long, tough day for the waitstaff but I don't think that is any reason for our waitress to embody the dreaded combo of forgetful, inattentive and surly.
She gave me the wrong drink. How about apologizing when I politely point that out, rather than scowling and removing it? We asked for water and 15 minutes went by. Could she have made eye contact, told us she's slammed, and would have it to us in a few minutes rather than rushing by, obviously ignoring us, and scowling? We asked for the check and offered a credit card, could she have asked how everything was and thanked us rather than just grabbing the card and scowling? Note the common theme of scowling - it's not accidental.
Will we go back to Hilltop? Absolutely. Our corned beef and guinness beef pot pie were great, and despite being St. Pat's day with soccer on the tube, the crowd was jolly but respectful (and generally older than 22). But we sure won't sit in Angela's section. -
Review from Danielle M.
Seattle, WA
3/18/2012
"Meh...I've experienced better" pretty much sums it up.
Food is Meh...service is well-intentioned but Meh...beer is beer.
I'm still trying to figure out how 74th St Ale House is so much better. It must be a service thing. And maybe that it's within walking distance from my house so I drink more here :o) -
Review from Serena S.
Seattle, WA
4/1/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I Love this place! I have lunch here almost every sunday, and it's a tradition that i can't go without. I love the goat cheese salad, and almost always get the soup and salad combo. The soups are always tasty and unique! The Chicken Breast Sandwich is also amazing, and the weekly special are great. They have a great selection of beer, and I love that they have Blackthorn Cider on tap.
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Review from Kate S.
1/4/2012
I can't speak for the food -- but I rarely come to places such as this because Im hungry. For those who know me I come to pubs like this for the beer, and I will certainly be back to Hilltop Ale house for more beer.
It's your everyday pub inside -- so I like it. Small tables, long bar, dimly lit, some game or something on in the corner, brew news mags distributed throughout. It is my kind of laid back neighborhood joint. The after work crowd seems to fill this place up, but a seat at the bar shouldn't be TOO hard to come by.
Pretty nice tap list -- interesting imports, higher quality local brews, and they are a couple bucks off during HH. Maybe i'll try the food, but really all I need is a pint and a window seat here at Hilltop and im more than happy.Listed in: Beer. Beer beer beer....
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Review from CJ C.
Seattle, WA
3/26/2012
My favorite fish tacos.
The menu has a few specials that are always changing and usually sound good. The service is also pretty good. -
Review from Dana R.
10/19/2011
I've eaten here several times over the past couple of years (the last time being this past weekend). I usually get the Reuben, which I do feel is most often among the best I've had. One time, it was less than stellar, so they do have some consistency issues (but, it's a pub for freak's sake).
The Reuben comes on delicious and most often perfectly toasted Rye bread and consists of medium slices of Boar's Head corned beef which have been house-braised in hard cider, pickled red cabbage, melted Swiss cheese, a thousand-island-type aioli and something that gives it a little heat (I think it may be in the aioli). It's crunchy, tangy, spicy, and creamy at the same time -- just lovely. It also comes with pepperoncini if you want to make it spicier and tangier. The chips are Tim's and they're fine. My foodie friend from Napa Valley also agreed that this sandwich was fantastic. However, I do tend to agree that the prices here are a bit aggressive, but apparently I don't mind too much.
Another friend had the tuna melt -- again very good, with perfectly toasted bread (sourdough) and tuna that wasn't smothered in mayo and spiced-up with roasted green chiles and pepperjack cheese. Flavorful and great texture.
My husband had the "fish" tacos -- it was one giant flour tortilla folded over and filled with spiced-up bay shrimp, slaw and cilantro. Just okay according to him.
The atmosphere is standard cute pub. It's pretty narrow in the front (there's a back room I've been in) -- so with our party of 6 we were either relegated to the back room or the very back of the front room. For some inexplicable reason there wasn't a way to combine any of the other tables in the front -- the bartender mumbled something unintelligible when I asked about this ... other than that, the service was fine but nothing special.
This is by no means a gastropub -- it's a straight up pub with some decent beer selections and good but not outstanding or creative food. Perfect place to ride out a weekend hangover ... -
Review from Yvonne R.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Unless I lived in this neighborhood and could walk here, it's not worth the drive and work to find parking. The beer selection is just ok and the food is pretty pricey for what you get. For example: $10 for a chicken quesadilla appetizer and $12 for a taco...+$2 for another taco. And what's up with Taco Monday; Margarita Tuesday; Whiskey Wednesday...they got Wednesday right, haha.
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Review from Etta T.
Updated - 9/29/2011
Was finally able to get back to Hilltop Ale House - and remain a fan! This time, we came in for lunch - and I was quite impressed with the delicious sandwiches, great service and of course... yummy brews.
I wish they had more cold sandwich options on the menu - but that is a small critique. It's not the most unique place on the planet - but it is good for what it is and I'll always consider it an option in the area for lunch or drinks with friends.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/12/2011
I loved the atmosphere at Hilltop. The service was pretty good and of course, the beer was tasty!… Read more »
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Review from wesh w.
Seattle, WA
10/17/2011 9 Check-ins Here
I have to walk past other bars to get here from my place, and often do. The nitro-poured Hale's Cream Ale is so impossibly foamy, soft, and delicious...
TVs. Decent bar grub. Solid choice. -
Review from Han O.
7/21/2011
Pretty uppity for a pub, I must say. Good beer, super poor value for food.
Their seasonal beer offering was good, but that's not really to their credit.
We got their Reuben, which was light years from the "Best in Seattle" and priced at a whopping $12 with only chips or pasta salad as a side. We opted for the $3 soup upgrade and received a decent soup but only 2 fl oz of it. Not exaggerating. They gave us soup in a freakin condiment cup.
The Reuben was very thin (a little thicker than of a deck of cards including the bread) and had some weird sauteed red cabbage instead of saurkraut. The corned beef was pretty decent but there was no tang to the sandwich.
Looking around, we should have known something was amiss since no one else had food. Next time, just beer, if there is a next time. -
Review from Andrew S.
Seattle, WA
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
The only thing that kept this from being a 4-star is the chairs, they aren't comfortable. However, the ambiance is great and they have a small but good selection of beers. This is one of the places I like to grab a drink while I'm waiting for a table at How to Cook a Wolf. They usually have a few TVs going with whatever sports are on so it's a nice chill place to just relax with a few friends. If only the chairs were more comfortable...
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Review from Lincoln A.
Seattle, WA
10/14/2011
This is one of my favorite places to stop for lunch or dinner on Queen Anne hill. Personal favs are the Fullers ESB, the chicken sandwich, and the reuben. I'm pretty hooked on the potato chips, as well.
Good:
- Food is tasty
- Good beer selection, with some interesting choices and rotating tap
- 20oz pints
- Super comfy atmosphere
- Fast and friendly service
Bad:
- Tables are a bit too close together for when it gets busy, resulting in a crowded space
Neutral,FYI:
The atmosphere is cozy, casual, and unpretentious. This is not a trendy, chic, or hip restaurant. If you are looking for an impressive "destination" bar to wow a date or client, this probably isn't the place. It's just the perfect neighborhood pub. You won't find a singles scene or throbbing music, instead it's local folks having a nice meal and/or a few drinks with their friends and family. -
Review from Morgan R.
Seattle, WA
8/29/2011
A great neighborhood pub, with a really good steak sandwich.
Sadly, they've discontinued their grilled ahi sandwich (I'm told the tuna was getting to pricey). The fish tacos and reuben are good too, and they have a good selection of beers. The stews and soups come with various names, but pretty much all taste the same - some folks like them, some don't (I'm not a fan). Sandwiches are served with potato chips (Tim's?) or tabouleh.
I go back for the steak sandwich again and again - it has a southwest seasoning and a flavorful aiole on a nice crisp baguette. -
Review from Andrew F.
Seattle, WA
1/19/2011
While Hilltop is the rare place on top of Queen Anne Hill that has a neighborhood vibe that makes you feel welcome, you still pay a pretty steep price for it. Don't get me wrong, the food is quite good, but it is not as good as the price tag they slap on it.
In my first visit, I was in the mood for something light, so I ordered the soup and salad combo with gumbo. And while I expected a soup and a salad, what I got was soup and about a half a salad - for $12. So strike one: ridiculously overpriced entree combo.
On my second visit, I first sampled the happy hour chicken strips, which though tasty, were pretty overdone. The exterior was overcooked, so they might have been in the pan a couple minutes too long. When I ordered my entree, I was hit with sticker shock again.
While I can justify $12 for a reuben sandwich, I can't if it only comes with chips. I don't care if they're handmade - or made by cartoon elves in a treehouse kitchen - they're still chips. So I want a salad instead? An extra $3. Now we're talking $15 for a sanwich and a side salad? That's way too much in my opinion. Was the sandwich good? Yes, but was it the best ever? Nah.
My other complaint, which is to be expected of the type of place, is that the bartenders spend too much time chatting up the locals and not enough time paying attention to empty glasses on the bar. The price you pay for it having a neighborhood feel though. -
Review from Matt R.
1/14/2011
The food is way over priced.
The food is generally good- but I don't see the value in their menu. Everything is north of $10 a plate and nothing is really worth north of $10 a plate. I'd rather eat somewhere else and then go here for a beer.
The beer selection is pretty stagnant- pretty much hasn't changed in the 3 years I've been going there. They need to get some new brews.
Service is generally OK- but the bartender has a laugh that is like nothing I have ever heard before- and I don't mean that in a good way. She had some friends visit the bar when I was there and it got so bad that we ended up leaving.
Meh. -
Review from Jerret S.
Seattle, WA
9/24/2011
I have been coming here on and off for 15 years. Used to love this place with the diversity of the waitstaff and clientel. This has changed however in the last year. Lately there is one person that closes every night and tends to be rude and short with customers. She closes before posted hours and turns away countless customers. I am not wanting to go there anymore when she is working (which is every night now) and many others feel the same way.
I am willing to come back when this situation changes..i.e. the other waitstaff come back to work on nights and this person is not working. So sad that my neighborhood pub is lanquishing due to one bad apple.
My review was somehow removed without my permission. Didn't know that was possible. -
Review from Megan L.
3/6/2011
This was a cute pub. The staff was friendly and we got good service!
I got the goat cheese salad and the IPA and was very happy! My friends got the fish tacos and they were equally happy.
I would go back! -
Review from Phil S.
Utah, UT
11/18/2011
I enjoyed the Blackened Salmon Sandwich while on a business trip to Seattle. I was referred to the Hilltop by a local professional. I was amazed at the excellent quality, enjoyable atmosphere, and great service. I returned for the same sandwich 2 weeks later when I returned on another business trip.
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Review from Brie M.
Seattle, WA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service was terrible and slow. Food was ok. Was not impressed. I'm huge on customer service and this place did not have it.
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Review from Alex F.
Seattle, WA
7/29/2010
Okay beer selection... better than your average bar but not so amazing as to be a significant draw. But the main factor governing my experience of this place: bar wench had a tremendously awful attitude!
We sat at the bar a couple minutes before happy hour ended. Waitress waited 10 min to come by, so we missed happy hour. Beer was hastily poured and placed in front of me so quickly that the foamy head ran over the side, creating a puddle on the bar. She walks away, and I have to ask her for a rag to clean up the beer lake in front of me. We finished our drinks and asked for our tab, no desire for a second round here. I gave her my card to pay, and she goes to run it. After she swipes my card, she walks off to chat up customers (not pouring drinks or taking orders, just chewing the fat with the regulars I guess). After another 5+ minutes I have to ask her again for the tab. I don't wanna sound like a complainer, but I can't seem to talk about this place without complaining. -
Review from Betsy H.
Seattle, WA
6/7/2008 ROTD 8/23/2008
I am an idiot.
I have lived 8 blocks from this place for over 4 years and last night was my first time there. And it was good! The beer selection looked really good, but we ended up w/ a pitcher of Mannys, which is like my new favorite beer, so I was happy.
For food, I decided on the Chicken Sandwich because, like the Reuben, the menu said it was voted Best in Seattle. The sandwich itself is not something I thought I would have particularly liked. Joined w/ the chicken was cream cheese, melted provolone, tomatoes, and red onions on dill rye bread. I've never liked rye bread, but I said "what the hell" and have been glad ever since! It was everything it said it would be and I ate every bite. My side of Tabouleh left little to be desired. To be honest, it wasn't the tabouleh's fault, I haven't found one I liked yet, but this particular couscous contraption had a bunch of parsley and olive oil in it and it made it unusually rich in taste. I could hardly eat it. :o/
When I tasted my companion's Reuben, I was blown away as well. Not necessarily because it was amazing as a Reuben, but because I had never tried a Reuben before and I thought it was really good! The purple cabbage/rotkohl on it made a nice touch.
Now that I've been here its going to be really hard not to go back, so I'm not going to fight it. Who's up for a pint?Listed in: My Home Turf, So Good I Got an Award!
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Review from Ashley R.
Seattle, WA
11/8/2011
Always a good bet.
There are tables in the back that most people don't know about. If the front is packed (which it usually is), head int he back and see if you can snag a table.
They have a good menu with the Gumbo being their staple. It's good, but spicy- so beware.
I'm a steak sandwich fan myself. Can't go wrong.
Good service, good food, close to home. Can't beat it. -
Review from mel r.
Emeryville, CA
4/30/2008
I'm rather fond of this place, even if it can be pricey. The food IS good, as I have yet to try anything bad. Baked goat cheese on a big ole plate of salad, killer. Salmon sandwich and soups, also good. They carry Rogue Dead Guy Pale Ale, which, no matter how much food I eat, I still get a buzz off of two pints.PLUS when I come here while doing my laundry, they'll watch my stuff for me while I change my loads over.
As my foul mouthed hooligan hero John S says: pain in the ass to navigate through...I can agree. As you're passing through tables or down the bar in route to the restrooms, you ask yourself a question of etiquette - as I pass, do I give you the ass or the crotch? -
Review from Ron M.
Great drinking establishment that serves one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had! I totally agree with Laura S. that it is a destination dish! Their menu describes it as: "Lightly breaded, boneless breast of chicken, seared in garlic olive oil, then topped with Mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven. Served on toasted rye bread with cream cheese, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onions, mayo and lettuce." It's also a very good deal for $10.95. Get it with a side tabouli instead of potato chips. The gumbo, blackened salmon sandwich and pesto chicken quesadilla are damn fine too!
They have an array of great beers on tap and are served in true Imperial pint glasses. These are 20 oz glasses that are the standard you would find in your typical English pub. US pint glasses are 16 oz. The obvious difference other than size is highlighted by the bulbous bulge near the top of the Imperial pint.
I may be mistaken, but I seem to remember this place used to house Queen Anne hobby way back when.
UPDATE: 07/25/07
Had a late dinner here after catching a sneak preview of Sunshine. I tried one of their sandwich specials: Caribbean Pork Loin Sandwich. This sucker was crazy tasty! It's slow roasted pork loin that's rubbed with Ancho chili, allspice and black pepper, sliced and marinated in orange juice, cilantro, habanero, green onion, garlic and fresh basil. Grilled and piled on baguette with caramelized onions, mayo, lettuce and cilantro. Served with a side salad with honey mustard/chipotle dressing. It's a little pricey at $13.75, but it's worth it!
Thank god I had my trusty Yelp notebook on me so I could record the details! Yeah, I know.....what a dork! :PListed in: Queen Anne: High on the hill,…, Make Me a Sandwich!
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Review from Trish Q.
1/28/2008
I have to give this one 5 stars because of their chicken sandwich, while the ale house serves ale (hence the name) I am not a beer drinker, the last time I drank a beer was when I was in a sorority. The smell of beer still reminds me of the smell of nasty arse frats the chicken sandwich keeps me coming back for more.
"if food could be considered as addictive as crack this one would have me scammin a nickel from a bum just to get it.
It is complimented with either tim's cascade chips or couscous with just the right amount of lemon, tomatoes, olive oil & cilantro.
Slapped between two pieces of rye bread (a light barely can taste the rye bread, I don[t like rye bread so this tells you how light rye tasting it is) melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo. And there you have:
the "crack" voted best chicken sandwich in Seattle sandwich. I highly recommend it as a day after drinking sandwich where you muster up enough strength to leave for one meal. This one will meet all your expectations
Anyone got a nickel?Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Desiree V.
Seattle, WA
2/15/2009 1 Check-in Here
We went here the other night to grab a beer. We sat down and we happily surprised at their beer selection. We knew we wanted Manny's right away.
We waited for 15 minutes before the server came over to even acknowledge our presence. I was just putting on my coat to leave but she came over, so we decided to stay.
After we drank our Manny's, we decided to take off because we wanted to get food somewhere else. When we asked the server for the check, we asked if we could split it. Her response was, "You actually want to split five dollar beers?" She was SOOOOOO RUDE, I couldn't believe it. My boyfriend works in a nice restaurant and people split bills all the time, not a big deal. She came back with the bills, threw them on the table and walked away.
Needless to say, this is the first time we have ever not tipped someone. -
Review from bri k.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2008
I got the (unremarkable) chicken breast sandwich ($12!?) and a seasonal hales ale (over $5??!?).
My boyfriend made the one good choice with the Reuben, which was pretty tasty, but still another 12 dollars. His beer was also just over $5.
We both sub'd tabbouleh salad for the chips. It tasted....at least 3 days old, and sort of dry and slimy at the same time. I was pissed. No - I'm still pissed!
With the obligatory tip, we spent 46 dollars on a dinner that was (almost) entirely disappointing.
I really hope this was just a fluke. I can't imagine any place having the nerve to sell meals like this for over 10 dollars.
Better luck with other customers, Hilltop! -
Review from Doni W.
Seattle, WA
6/3/2007
Andrew E. and his lovely wife are my new heroes.
They brought Hop Along & me along with them to their local brew-ha-ha last night for dinner and drinkies galore, and I can easily see why people would often return. The menu had some original spins on the usual pub fare, making it difficult to make a choice as far as dinner went. I finally went with one of the three options on the daily specials page, a delicious black bean & goat cheese quesadilla, which also came with a side salad with the most original spicy (almost too spicy though) dressing that I've ever tasted. Splendid.
The beer selection alone would have me adopting this place as a frequent hang out. Numerous local brews to choose from and detailed descriptions on each, as well as an extensive listing of bottled beers and wines to choose from as well. Our server was a sweetheart and great when she was there. Unfortunately that wasn't that often, and one time she even forgot to bring me my beer for nearly 15 minutes (she did later comp it though, very nice of her to do). Sweet woman, mediocre service, but that's forgivable when the conversation amongst pals dominates the time anyway.
Light weight that I am, three frothy Pilsners over the course of three hours had me singing monster ballads in the car ride home-- a sure sign of a successful evening. -
Review from Peter D.
4/30/2008
And I quote: "Better than average pub fare".
Are you kidding? I have been here on two occasions and the food was terrible. They dont even cook sides but rather serve bagged potato chips which in my book is a sign of crappy food. At least fry up some frozen fries you lazy bastards.
Ok here are the 2 things I tried:
Blackened salmon sandwhich. It I suppose was ok but it was very overcooked and the bread was not fresh. Add to that it was greasy and messy, I just think it was poorly conceptualized, prepared and delivered. And to add a side of potato chips and charge $12 for this monstrosity makes me think this is a rip off.
Try #2. Hamburger. Oh my god, did you dip this in the grill grease bucket? This is the greasiest burger I think I have had in 5 years. McDonalds would be less greasy than this. I felt unclean after eating it, so bad that I needed to shower to wipe it off. This was served with onions and green peppers that were cooked to soggy and just as greasy. Again those F^$#^#$G potato chips? Why are the cooks not cooking? Cmon! This is not $5.00 fare you are serving?
Conclusion: The fact that this place is consistently packed just confuses me. I hope they are coming for the beer and not the food because it is simply disgusting and I would not serve it to a dog. People need to really start expecting better rather than frequent sub par food establishments. This place ranks as shitty in my book. Move on down the street to Bricco and get the lasagna for about the same as I paid for the salmon sandwhich and you will not get food poisoning, hardened arteries, a fat ass or a grease job. BLAH! -
Review from Ian S.
11/25/2008
I've never been to a pub that had so many pictures of other pubs in it.
I kind of mused to myself wondering if the pubs in the portraits had their walls covered with pictures of other pubs. Somehow I doubt it.
The food here is kind of a yuppie upscale version of the pub food I was expecting. Seriously good chicken and broiled salmon sandwiches and soup. Not cheap, but surprisingly tasty.
Better than average import brews at better than average prices. -
Review from Andrew E.
Seattle, WA
9/6/2006
Semantics aside, this pub is great! Consistently delicious food with rotating seasonally fresh options which are often times organic. It's a criminal injustice to try and describe the bizarre hybrid between pub food and haute cuisine on a website. Everybody we've taken to the Hilltop has called up asking if we're busy the next week, and we have yet to find a bad dish.
The beer is seasonally rotating as well, with a few classic staples and an interesting selection of cask conditioned ale (not for the faint of heart... our server asked if I was sure about that and if I understood what cask conditioned was).
The atmosphere is very traditional laid back bar. A couple of TVs, some outdoor seating, and some familiar faces add to the low din that never quite subsides at the Hilltop.Listed in: Top of Queen Anne
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Review from Adam C.
Lynnwood, WA
6/7/2008 1 photo
Went here last night and was satisfied with my meal as well as service. The place is quaint and appealing, but the layout could stand to be revisited by someone who has a better idea of feng shui or at least traffic patterns. I felt like I was running an obstacle course while trying to get to the bathroom between dodging backs of chairs, elbows and other people heading the opposite direction; this place needs a hall monitor, like in grade school with a sash and everything. While Hilltop is wheelchair accessible, I wouldn't recommend it just because of the reason I just mentioned. I had to shimmy around folks and I'm not wheelchair bound; I could just see it being a royal pain trying to get through the place if I were in one.
While perusing the menu I noticed that their reuben sandwich was "Seattle's Best Ruben" so the decision on what to eat was predetermined for me; I must try (apparently) "Seattle's Best Ruben." The choice of sides were a little weird and took me a back. There was either a couscous concoction (I don't remember the name, something fancy-sounding) or a bag of Tim's Cascade Chips (plain chips btw; had they had sea salt and vinegar I'd have been all over it). Which for a $12.95 order I would have hoped for something more interesting than a couscous salad or a bag of chips; maybe they would take my SubClub card so I can add some points to it as well!
After getting about half-way through the couscous (they dump a pretty healthy amount on the plate) I started to get overwhelmed by something in it and actually felt a tad nauseous. Which just left me with the remainder of my sandwich to finish off as well as the rest of the pitcher we had ordered.
My co-pilot ordered their chicken sandwich which was incredible from the bite I had of it. The chicken was moist and delicious, just how I like it. Although she too felt the couscous salad was a bit overwhelming and ended up leaving most of hers on the plate.
The ruben, while good, is not what I would call Seattle's best. My absolute favorite ruben (of all times) is the one that the lovely folks at Elliott Bay Brewery in West Seattle dish up. That thing is incredible. While everyone can strive for greatness, some things simply are not meant to be. Despite all of my drawings of rocket ships and aspirations as a lad, I never had the "right stuff" and have found myself Earthbound for the foreseeable future (side-note: that game is cool). I feel that the ruben at Hilltop; while good, does not have the "right stuff" and is going to have to rely on it's corned-beef filled imagination to paint it's own picture of traveling through the endless black of our universe alongside the greats like Armstrong, Adama and 6. -
Review from Shekinah S.
Seattle, WA
11/24/2008
Been to ye olde Hilltop Ale House for drinks a few times. Friday night was my first experience with the food. It's warm and cozy, with a fireplace in the back. It can get crowded though, so maybe don't bring a bunch of large shopping bags with you. Service is usually good and efficient. They close at 11pm on weekdays, and midnight Friday & Saturday, so you may have to have a backup if you want to party all night.
Dinner: Good, not amazing, and a little overpriced for pub food. I also asked for no cheese or cream cheese on my chicken sandwich, and it arrived with cheese. Between the two mozzarella is the one that can be picked off so I didn't complain, but still. I substituted the Tobouleh for a Caesar salad and that was about $4 extra! My dining companion quite enjoyed his curried lamb soup. There was a garlic bread appetizer that sounded scrumptious, but $7 is a bit steep for bread.Listed in: Queen Anne Has It All
