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The Walrus and the Carpenter
Categories: Restaurants Canadian (New) Nightlife Bars Restaurants Seafood Canadian (New), Bars, Seafood [Edit]
4743 Ballard Ave NW(between N 17th Ave & 48th St)
Seattle, WA 98107
Neighbourhood: Ballard
(206) 395-9227
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
307 reviews for The Walrus and the Carpenter
Review Highlights
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"Oysters were absolutely perfect." In 162 reviews -
"HOWEVER the deep fried brussel sprouts may have changed my..." In 9 reviews -
"Small plates with good prices and a charming atmosphere." In 19 reviews
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307 reviews in English
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Review from Dawn G.
Santa Monica, CA
5/26/2012
The Walrus is a wonderful thing! I ate here last summer and had been thinking of the experience ever since. The second time did not disappoint! Love the vibe and ambiance of this sweet spot. Great location in Ballard with fantastic shopping just up the street. The staff is friendly and knowledgable about menu items and the food is just tops. Highlights for us;
- Oysters on half shell, fresh and tasty! I'm not an oyster aficionado so I can't really comment on the variety offered but they are awesome
- Fried oysters - YUM, the best I have eaten.
- Steak Tartare with a fresh yolk, stellar
Two MUST NOT miss items on the menu;
-Moustache Ride - amazing cocktail with bourbon, cynar, allspice liqueur, maple, lemon
- Drinking Caramel - Caramel, salt and a hint of pepper served with cream
If you find yourself in the Seattle area, it's worth a trip to the Walrus -
Review from Holland H.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2012
From the street it isn't easy to see the Walrus, but after several u-turns and finally deciding to explore the street by foot, we finally found the door in between another restaurant and a bike shop.
Refreshingly simple ambiance and friendly staff, standouts were the oysters (very fresh) and the drinking carmel. We will be back for more! -
Review from Jen C.
5/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
A shellfish lover's dream. I went here once for cocktails and once for dinner. The cocktails here are incredibly well made and well balanced. On my first visit I tried the Moscow Mule (excellent refreshing beverage) and Guiding Light (which was a swift kick in the pants due to the absinthe), and on my second visit I got a Mustache Ride twice over. I don't really prefer bourbon, but this drink is simply awesome. You have to try it, even if you don't like bourbon -- there is a nod to it but it doesn't overpower the drink. I highly recommend this cocktail.
The oysters here are their bread and butter, as well they should be because they are out of this world fresh. I think I actually felt a connection to the ocean as I was eating the different styles. Yep, that fresh.
We had a variety of other dishes -- parsnip salad, french onion soup, bread and butter, halibut carpaccio, smoked trout, grilled sardines, all of which were okay but not mind blowing (IMHO). The pork rillette was, though, and is probably my favorite menu item aside from the fresh oysters. The roasted medjool dates were delicious but make sure to dip them in the olive oil the dish comes with. -
Review from Shelly C.
Issaquah, WA
5/21/2012 2 photos
I decided to give it a try after I saw all those " best oysters in town" comments, and I found that very true after I experienced it myself.
NOTE... for those people who never been there, please don't expect to find a big sign of the restaurant or the restaurant itself. It was just a very small sign in the Ballard Ave and you cannot see the restaurant itself until you walked in the hallway after you find the sign. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Edmonds, WA
5/19/2012
Ok, after two visits, I can say that they have an AMAZING selection of fresh and delicious oysters. The rest of their menu is pretty consistently awesome as well - the speck with preserved pumpkin and ricotta is mind-blowingly clever and delicious, and the grilled sardines explode with flavor (good fish flavor, not fishy/funky).
The bad news. I am fully prepared to wait, even more than an hour, because the W&C doesn't take reservations, and their reputation as food makers is deserved. BUT I do not appreciate being told that it'll be a "30-45 min" wait, only to be told patronizingly when we check in at the 50-55 min mark that 'we're not that far over, just a few more minutes', and then to have to wait for another 30 min. So yes, we waited tonight for almost an hour and a half, which again, would have been fine if (a) we had been told that up front and (b) not been treated like we are too stupid to read our watches when we checked in after the supposed wait time.
Also, there is no real waiting area - it seems to be assumed you will go elsewhere when waiting for a table - but given the unreliable estimates, one or two chairs in the area betweenn the restaurant and the main staircase seems reasonable. As it is, I know I can't bring my handicapped mom & sis because they literally CAN NOT stand for an hour waiting for a table.
So, delicious food - I'd give the food 5 stars - but the hosting/pre-dinner service is a huge turn off. -
Review from Inna B.
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Walrus, oh Walrus, why did it take me so long to visit you? You are an oyster paradise!
If you're ordering oysters, I don't recommend getting cheese. Those two just don't seem to go well together. The fried oysters were quite good, though, and the raw oysters were fantastic. I was a little intimidated by an employee at first, but they took great care of us during our visit, so I was very pleased with the customer service experience. Another wonderful thing was that we chose to visit The Walrus on a rainy day and arrived right after they opened, so we had no trouble getting a table right away. If we had arrived later or the weather had been better, we would have probably had to wait and wouldn't have gotten to enjoy the happy hour prices for as long as we did.
Next time I need to have more raw oysters and try the steak tartare. I hear it's amazing! -
Review from Nick A.
Seattle, WA
5/9/2012
The short version:
Excellent food. Awful service. Will not return.
The long version:
I'm going by Yelp's two star description, which is: "Meh. I've experienced better." Because it's exactly how we felt as we left.
The food was borderline brilliant (save for a bit too much saffron in the halibut dish). The gnocchi with lamb ragu was savory, comforting and delicious. One of those bites where you find yourself eyes closed, saying "mmmmmm". Also, the steak tartar was probably the best we've ever had (we usually only order it in high-end steak houses). A very generous portion of meat for $12. Great value.
And yes - the oysters are as good as everyone says they are.
But man. The service was awful. And this is coming from the ultimate service apologist having worked in the food service industry for years in college.
We were seated after a 10 minute wait at the counter and the bartender was our server. She was a bit slow, but it was understandable - she's making the restaurant's drinks and it was a packed house. We weren't in a hurry, so that didn't bother us.
What bothered us was her attitude and demeanor: snooty, unsmiling, and generally unpleasant. Answering questions of ours seemed a hassle. Not sure if you noticed, miss, but your menu is slim on details. As a person with severe food allergies, I tend to play it careful. After I informed her of my allergies early on and she told me of a few things to avoid. She was definitely knowledgeable.
We put up with her snootiness for most of the meal, but the straw that broke the camel's back was a response to one question. I saw the prep cook finish our gnocchi with some kind of oil. Knowing they use a number of nut oils (hazelnut oil, etc), I asked her "what is used to finish the gnocchi?" To which she replied, first "What? Just oil". I asked what kind, to which she replied unpleasantly: "just olive oil. I already informed the kitchen of your allergy". This might not sound like a big deal - but trust me, the delivery was quite off-putting and the way she answered the question was incredibly rude.
I still left her a 15% tip. That's how much of a softy I am.
If all I want out of culinary experience is great food, I just stay home. I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but my wife and I know our way around a kitchen and we cook fantastic food all the time. Our experience at Walrus definitely lacked the other half of going to a restaurant: feeling welcome. -
Review from Emily S.
Okay, first I'm going to say I'm not that big a fan of Oysters. I came to The Walrus and the Carpenter with my friends for their awesome happy hour deal.
Since I wasn't planning on having any oysters and I wasn't too hungry I ordered a small snack which had fish, some kinda sauce, and potatos you can see it here: (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
The reason why I'm giving this place ONE star is because a few minutes after eating this, I started feeling really sick. My whole body started heating up, my face and body turned bright red. Even my friends were telling me I was extremely red. I knew immediately that it was the fish I ate.
I excused myself to the bathroom and threw up :( I felt immediately better after all the poisonous food left my body.
Weird. I don't have any food allergies either. -
Review from Tony S.
Truckee, CA
4/28/2012
Me thinks better (or differently) - that's just me. We visited Walrus last weekend and yet knowing the property does not take advance reservations - we made the trek nonetheless. We arrived, were told there would be a 2 hour wait; the host took our mobile number and we ventured off a few blocks to while-away our time.
TWO hours into the process, we had still not been called - thus we walked back to Walrus, met the same host, identified ourselves and were seated at the Bar. My quick glance of the dining room (at 9:40 pm) showed more than 4 tables empty and or waiting for patrons. SCORE - zero.
Food portions are curious small plates. Plenty of oysters yes. But my patience this evening was more than sorely worn.
I won't return. I'll leave the go to you all.
Sorry a first of only a few poorly presented Yelps by me. -
Review from Michael H.
Austin, TX
5/7/2012
Easily in my top five dinners ever. What can I say that hasn't been said?
Favorites:
-Great Touraine by the glass
-Oysters, duh. Perfectly-recommended for our party of five.
-Geoduck
-Steak tartare
-Clams
-Amazing service
The end. -
Review from Kyle T.
Seattle, WA
5/18/2012
Went for oyster happy hour, came out happy and broke. The oysters were delicious, perhaps the best I've had in town. The happy hour isn't much of a deal though. If you want to pig out on $1 oysters, don't come here. If you want some high-end shizz and a fancy drink, then get yer butt to the walrus and the carpenter.
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Review from Stacy B.
Lanham, MD
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Delicious and wide selection of local and regional oysters - this was what we came for. Also had oil poached halibut and an amazing cabbage salad. Lovely environment ...we sat at the bar but the outside patio also looked like a good time. Drinks were yummy but old school size...not necessarily bad, depending on your thirst level :) Great service.
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Review from kelly s.
Portland, OR
4/3/2012
I can't say exactly why, but sometimes it's nice to be greeted with East Coast snobbery when dining out in the Pacific Northwest. If i just wanted good oysters, a strong drink and sense of self satisfaction, I would stay home. No, when I go out, I want you to tell me it's going to take a while, you know why, because our food is good, our drinks are great, and the Oil Poached Halibut has a nice amount of Saffron you won't find in your pantry.
Of course, if I'm going honest, It sort of makes me want to fly into a Mike Tyson rage when people are punks, but what can I say, at the end of the day, our actual server (unlike the host) was proficient, kind enough, kept up a healthy speed with full tables throughout, and made sure our order was quick, accurate, piping hot (halibut), or perfectly chilled (oysters) as required by the dishes ordered.
Walrus and the Carpenter will keep you waiting up to several hours to sit, and perhaps you could make most of these provicial cured meat, an raw shelfish dishes on your own, but the ambiance is great, and you are welcomed to savor once you finally make it in. -
Review from Daniel B.
Seattle, WA
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good food but not amazing
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Review from Ef R.
3/21/2012
As much as I respect bees and what they do to preserve life on Earth, this place is *not* the bee's knees. We waited for TWO HOURS to get inside. And it was fine, but not spectacular. Coming from Boulder, which is a pretty foodie city itself, I had trouble understanding the hype over The Walrus and the Carpenter based on my experience.
The best part of our meal was the fresh oysters, and I enjoyed being able to try a variety of different types. We also ordered several of the plates for the table to share. We were aware that they are small portions, but to quote one funny lady in our party, "Sorry to burst your bubble, but the meal back there was the bread!"
It was really great bread. But I ate a lot of it to try and feel full, which isn't exactly what I had planned for a fancy, expensive seafood dinner.
The other thing that really gets my goat about places like this is that each of their dishes is very small, and is priced reasonably as an appetizer, but because of this model they are rated as an inexpensive eatery (i.e. one $ sign out of 5). That always seems to me like false advertising, because there is no way on Earth you're going to get out of here with a full stomach and a glass of wine for under $40 per person.
It was a full, boisterous, trendy kind of restaurant that gave rise to lots of spirited conversations among my dining partners, but I doubt I'll return. -
Review from Isaac P.
Seattle, WA
5/19/2012
Oh walrus, how I wanted to love you! After hearing rave reviews and with a serious love of oysters, I made the trek to Ballard on Wednesday night expecting to be impressed. After a friendly greeting and very short wait, we're seated and that's where it went downhill. Our server was downright rude to the point where we almost left without ordering anything at all. She actually SCOLDED us for moving our table over a few inches and then complained about how often that happens. Seriously. A polite request to shift the table back would have sufficed. Following that she was abrupt and made little effort to be pleasant or check on us. We did order a selection of oysters that we're really fabulous but decided to leave to get dinner elsewhere because the server was making us uncomfortable. The food at other tables looked and smelled fantastic. The view is a parking lot.
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Review from Nelson Y.
For the ambiance, price, fun factor and overall experience, The Walrus and the Carpenter really doesn't get much better. I came on a Sunday as it opened at 4 (came around 4:10) and got the last 2 seats at the bar. Lucky get. Seated right in front of the oyster shucker and had a blast learning about seafood directly from him. We also sat by a local oyster farming crew and they were awesome and friendly too. Really like the atmosphere here!
We had the:
Oysters (had about 16 total) - INCREDIBLE. Tasty, perfect, and half off on Sundays.
Steak Tartare - The best I've ever had. $12. Perfect with the crostinis. Savored it. My gf never had it before and she loved it despite knowing that it's raw beef.
Smoked Salmon Mousse - Thick, creamy, but light. Perfect.
Raw Shrimp and Roe Dish - $9. Such a cool treat. Crispy edible skin.
Garlic Kale - Had a taste of a neigbor's dish. So tasty, delectable, and garlicky. LOVED IT.
Scallops Tartare - Neighbor's dish. Very different, loved the hints of mint and grapefruit. Very good.
A bunch of food for $55 or less, no alcohol. Amazing treat, and can't wait to come back for more. -
Review from Corinne H.
Seattle, WA
4/28/2012
I love this place so much!! It has such a nice beach house feel, all white and clean. The oysters were so fresh and beautiful, served with finely shaved horseradish which is just perfect! And I had the most wonderful salad with mint and sunchoke.
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Review from Brett J.
Seattle, WA
3/23/2012
We were both very pleased!!
Knew it might be a bit of a wait. Quoted a max of an hour and they got us in, in under 30.
None of the items were anything I would normally consider ordering for myself but had heard nice things about the place so let the waiter recommend some of their most popular and went with four of them. Everything was so tasty and a few good surprises.
My only gripe might be that they didn't stagger the delivery of the items and so if being interrupted by the staff with the item as it comes out... you may take that into consideration. -
Review from Amy B.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Get over yourself. If a restaurant reliably has a wait over 30 minutes, then it should take reservations. I watched the hostess call 3 phone numbers before giving way her next table. How is that different than managing a list of reservations?
I felt like I was on a date with two other couples because the tables were so small and so close together. It was loud. It was uncomfortable. I was concerned with what was on the table and whether I might knock something off it.
After a wait longer than an hour and a half, My husband and I probably spent only 20 minutes in the restaurant.
I will not be back. I absolutely hated the experience and it had nothing to do with the food. -
Review from Orlene D.
3/19/2012
For you oyster fans, this is your palace! My fiance and I would not have usually decided to go to The Walrus and the Carpenter because we are not big oyster eaters. However, we are very glad that our friends suggested this place for dinner. It was a very fun, unique dinning experience. We even enjoyed the raw oysters! The cheese with truffle oil was very tasty. It is kind of annoying that you have to pay extra for bread & butter, but we definitely recommend the bread & butter. The bread pudding is heavenly.
They don't take reservations, but they call you when you are 10 minutes from being seated. This means you can stop in put your name on the list, and then go explore Ballard or get a drink. Our wait was about 45 minutes at 4:30pm on a Saturday.
Lastly, the server was excellent. -
Review from Emily D.
Seattle, WA
3/8/2012
Yes, you're going to wait. Get over it. They'll take your number and call you so go an enjoy some cocktails at any number of Ballard Ave bars & restaurants.
When they finally do call you, you're in for an amazing culinary experience. And yeah, the place is small, you'll be squeezed in. But if you've got good company, good wine, and delicious food, who cares?
As new parents, we just never know when we're going to have the opportunity to get out so we really take advantage of these times. And so - we went a little crazy.
Fried Brussels & Wilted Pea Vines
Smoked Trout
Grilled Sardines
White Anchovy Tartine
Escargot Gnocchi
Steak Tartare
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Everything was exceptional, but I especially recommend the pea vines, the trout, and the pudding.
Go get in line. You'll love it. -
Review from Hanna C.
Torrance, CA
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was great! My husband and I sat at the bar in front of the oyster shucker. We tried about 2 dozen oysters and they range about $2 per oyster. The only food item that we tried was the steak tartare and it was super delicious. I would definitely come back here if I am ever back in Seattle.
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Review from Kalin M.
Seattle, WA
3/13/2012
The best dinner I've eaten in Seattle was at The Walrus and the Carpenter. Will you wait in line? Yes. Is the food pricey? Yes. It is worth it? Absolutely.
The fried brussel sprouts are delicious, as are the fried oysters (ok, maybe I just like friend food). The salmon tartar was refreshing and flavorful, as was the shaved celeriac salad and the cheese... the cheese was delicious. We ordered the kurtwood farms dinah and I would eat that cheese every day of my life. So smooth and full of flavor.
My friend and I spent easily $50 each on our meal there, but we shared different items and had several cocktails. I had the Sweet Pea and it was a delicious and refreshing twist on your typical classic cocktail. I like that they are daring enough to mix a drink with some grappa!
The space is cute, the wait staff friendly, and the food incredible. It is a place I am sure to go back to time and time again. -
Review from Chelsea J.
Seattle, WA
My recent meal at The Walrus was one of my most memorable meals in a long time.
We went on Sunday for happy hour which starts at 4pm and goes till 6pm Sunday-Thursday. From 4-5pm oysters are 1/2 off and 5-6pm oysters are 25% off.
We got there around 3:45 and there was a line. This was expected as The Walrus was one of the most anticipated, buzzed about restaurant openings in Seattle.
The decor was enough to draw me in in itself, food aside. I loved the quirky atmosphere and the small size of the restaurant gives an exclusive feeling- like you're in on a secret.
I had the Mustache Ride cocktail with bourbon, cynar, allspice liqueur, maple, lemon. Funny name! I am not normally one to go for bourbon but I loved this drink. So refreshing and tasty. It was $8 during happy hour, normally $9. Cocktails are $1 off during happy hour.
For oysters the two of us ordered 2 dozen and were perfectly satisfied. I have never had better oysters and that is saying a lot! I've eaten a lot of oysters.
We had the olympia, the blue pool, the penn cove select, the hama hama, and the church point. I could clearly distinguish the flavor between each different variety and enjoyed them all. My favorites were the church point and the blue pool.
All of the oysters were harvested locally in Washington.
We also had some roasted almonds to snack on which were $3.
All in all experience was absolutely amazing. I love this place and would jump to go again. All oysters are market price so the cost varies.
Our happy hour bill came to $54 including tax for 2 dozen oysters, the almonds, and 2 cocktails. If our oysters were normal price our bill would have been around $80.
If you have out of town guests this would be a great place to take them and impress the pants off them.
Make sure to plan to wait if you're coming for happy hour. You won't regret the effort!Listed in: Favorites, Date Night!
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Review from Andrew M.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
5/18/2012
Definitely one of the best restaurants in the city. The food is simple, creative, and delicious. Very good atmosphere. There's a nice buzz in the air without it being too pretentious or loud.
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Review from James M.
Seattle, WA
2/22/2012
Great food. On food alone I would rate it 5 Stars but the service and long wait to be seated take it down a star. We waited 3.5 hours for a table and the service was not particularly friendly or attentive. I will be going back but not on a Saturday, hopefully they will accept reservations in the future.
The cod belly chowder and fried oysters were spectacular, as were the fresh oysters. I can recommend the Steak Tartare, though I have nothing to compare it to because it is my first time ordering steak tatare but it was delicious! -
Review from Loon E.
Seattle, WA
5/1/2012
THE place to get oysters in town. Everything else on their menu is delicious as well and the HH is a great deal! Great drinks, but be warned, everything on the menu starts looking too good to pass up after awhile and your bill will add up, lol. Worth the wait every time. One of my favorites in the city.
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Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
3/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
The place is hoppin' so be sure to go a little early if you want a table right away. Fortunately, I live nearby and just walked on over on a Monday afternoon around 5:30. I didn't have to wait at all, though I suspect if I walked in a few minutes later, I would have. My friend and I grabbed one of two booths that were left. The place is tiny. Overall, our waitress was pretty friendly and helped us select which raw oysters to try (since we were both pretty unfamiliar on how the local oysters taste), the food was delicious, and ambiance cute and hipster.
PROS:
1. Delicious food! We shared the fried brussel sprouts, deep fried oysters, one of the goat cheeses, and the maple bread pudding. We also sampled three different raw oysters each. The brussel sprouts were the best I've ever eaten. So crunchy and crispy with the perfect amount of charred-ness going on. The deep fried oysters were also heavenly. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The cheese was okay--a little more firm than I expected for a goat cheese. And the raw oysters were also delicious. And the bread pudding? So good! It appeared the bread was grilled first because it had grill marks. And it was served on a plate with syrup and fresh whipped cream on top, as opposed to served in a ramekin or baking dish.
2. Friendly service.
3. Cute setting. Definitely a trendy hipster vibe. The decor incorporates wooden plans, stainless steel, and lots of white paint.
CONS:
1. They don't take reservations, so you have to go early to get (or wait for) a table.
2. Super tiny space. Like maybe a few hundred square feet, if that. It's super cramped and we could hear the conversations of others around us. And if you're not watchful, someone might accidentally knock your drink over, as they squeeze into the booth next to yours.
3. Just a teensy weensy bit overpriced. $8 for a few thin strips of cheese and two pieces of crostini seemed a bit much. And $3-4 per oyster. The bill was about $70 for me and my friend, including a drink each. -
Review from Sara H.
Seattle, WA
Nothing short of phenomenal! The oysters are fresh and simple, as is the rest of the menu... My favorite combination!
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Review from Shane S.
Los Angeles, CA
4/20/2012
Little place named after a short story by Lewis Carroll (Alice in Wonderland) ! The story is a morbid tale with a Walrus eating all his oyster friends.... like one of the Grimm fairy tales . I had some excellent oysters and some chowder. Great example of farm to table quality food. My fresh local oysters were very good paired with some sparkling wine. They also had some nice wine selections to pair with the oysters. I was staring at the good selection of rye whiskey .... Yes I had an extra shot!
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Review from Elaine A.
Queen Anne, Seattle, WA
3/14/2012
The food at the Walrus and the Carpenter is worth the wait! To tide you over try grabbing a quick drink at the Dutch Bike Company.
They have an extensive selection of oysters which are delicious! If you don't like brussel sprouts, you may change your tune after eating theirs.
For a refreshing cocktail you must try the Moscow Mule served in a copper cup! -
Review from Jennifer M.
Seattle, WA
2/20/2012 7 photos
Like: Oysters and their Champagne dipping sauce is WONDERFUL. (and i don't even like oysters). Steak Tartare with farm egg yolk on toast and their Panna Cotta was delicious.
Cute little setting where you can watch them shuck the oysters right in front of you.
Nice little venue and entrance. Lots of brick. Love the brick. Very hidden, usually very packed but worth the wait. Somewhat pricey but worth the ambiance.Listed in: WEST
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Review from Dana S.
Bothell, WA
3/12/2012
Absolutely worth the wait! We are so fortunate to have such amazing restaurants in Seattle. This place is tucked away behind the Dutch Bike Co. and has an amazing ambiance. You will need to go early to get on the list, and they will call you...sometimes a while later. Go explore Ballard while you wait. Get ready to make new friends, as there will be little room between you and the next folks over!
The wait staff will let you know up front that you will receive the dishes as they are prepared, in no particular order. In addition, the drinks are fun and unique...have a few! These guys are known for their oysters, so don't hold back.. they are amazing.
Price? Very reasonable in my opinion for the amazing experience. This is one place that is a MUST for any seafood fan. -
Review from Vivian H.
Friend and I came here for drinks on a Tuesday night. It wasn't crowded at all, probably due to the snow, which is great because I was unaware that there is usually a wait.
Pretty much all of their cocktails sound delicious. I went with Porch Swing and was not disappointed.
We tried the hama hama oysters, and they were so delicious that we had to order more. I love that they come with grated horseradish and the mignonette sauce is so good.
I will definitely be back for their happy hour.
Beware that the place is pretty difficult to find because their sign is absolutely tiny, and the establishment isn't visible on the street. I drove past it twice before actually seeing it. -
Review from Geebi B.
Oakland, CA
4/25/2012
Yum, everything was excellent here! Oysters were super fresh and I loved their small dish as well! (try the fried oyster as well!)
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Review from Spike S.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
Had an excellent meal at The Walrus and the Carpenter while visiting Seattle. Some really interesting preparations and some super-fresh seafood. We had a variety of raw oysters - excellent, fried oysters - excellent, fried salmon skins - crazy and excellent, parsnip frites with harissa, steak tartare, raw shrimp, sardines, French onion soup, a cheese plate with almond honey. I love fresh sardines and was really happy with their preparation. Everything was just incredible. Good atmosphere, the totally open kitchen is fun to watch. The drinks were really well-made. My one complaint is that we had four people and most of our plates came at once, so you had to eat the hot ones quickly. It's a little pricy, but definitely a great experience.
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Review from Mildred P.
Seattle, WA
4/1/2012
This is the second time I've tried to eat here, and both times have been informed that the wait would be over an hour an a half. This ultimately ended up with us not eating there. Look, there are a lot of great restaurants that serve great food (and especially oysters) in Seattle that take reservations. Why? It really feels like they don't care.
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Review from Janelle L.
Bothell, WA
5/16/2012
I went there for a special occasion. It was my first time and after reading the reviews I was so excited to try this place. What a disappointment! The oysters were fresh and good. My biggest complaint was the SERVICE. Talk about a very unfriendly staff. Ethan is service with smile no longer on the menu?
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Review from Kate N.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2012
NEVER been treated SO poorly....
A family member was in from out of town and he was all tasted up for oysters, so we decided on dinner at The Walrus and the Carpenter after reading many great reviews and accolades, both locally and national. Realizing that reservations are not accepted, we happily put our name on the list at 7pm for a group a three and grabbed a drink at another restaurant to wait for our reservation to be called. Right at 9pm we received our prompt call and headed back to the restaurant where the hostess, Emily, had our table ready.
After a two-hour wait, we were given a table on the outside patio at a tiny side rail setting. The width of the "bar" was approximately 12 inches wide, which is barely the diameter of a dinner plate. Not to mention the "view" from the bar was an unobstructed view of a dark parking lot. Given the ledge dining, length of our wait, availability of other open tables inside the restaurant and the cold temperature outside we felt it was appropriate to inquire with Emily for improved seating options.
I walked in to talk to the hostess; I was shocked at her short responses and abrasive tone. I politely inquired about moving to another table, asking why we were seated in an outside "bar seating" after a two hour wait to which her harsh response was "well, we ARE a bar, it's all first come first serve seating". I mentioned that when we had spoken her directly two hours earlier to make our reservation, we had hoped for a more appropriate seat to the amount of time we waited and were surprised and disappointed with the table received.
Again, her response to me was delivered if a very short tone, stating that I should have known to ask for an inside seating since the establishment only had a limited number of seats, something that I apparently should have instinctively known even though it was my first trip and she never advised such information when we originally spoke directly with her. I explained that I was unaware of this, and that it WAS October in Seattle, thus a little chilly. Her incredibly rude response to me was "don't play the cold card with me, it's a tropical temperature out there and no one else had complained." It was incredibly offended to be spoken to in this manner and I have NEVER received such poor service at this caliber of restaurant, in Seattle or elsewhere. I asked her once more to please correct the situation and returned to my outdoor "bar" rail seating where I recounted the conversation to my dining group. They were incredibly upset and we canceled our drink order with our waitress. We explained what had transpired and recounted the conversation I had with the hostess to her and she too was shocked and appalled.
Upon writing to the management about this awful experience, I received no response. While I would like to believe that this was a one off event, I was SO offended by the lack of customer service and the lack of managerial response that I will NEVER return to this restaurant and have advised EVERYONE POSSIBLE to not set one foot in that establishment. I refuse to support such a low level of customer service. Seattle deserves better.
