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Canlis Seattle Reviews
I was fortunate to have dined at Canlis this summer to
I was fortunate to have dined at Canlis this summer to celebrate my brother's retirement. We had a private room and everything was impeccable. The food was fantastic as was the atmosphere. The service was perfect from greeting me at the door to bringing my car without even a valet ticket! How do they keep track of everything? I look forward to visiting again.
An exceptional restaurant - beautiful venue meets excellent
An exceptional restaurant - beautiful venue meets excellent service and delightful meals. We visited Canlis for our 15th year wedding anniversary. They offer "a multicourse dining experience" and wine pairing. We really enjoyed the albacore tuna as a starter, halibut for main and the olive cake to finish things up. All meals were made with fresh ingredients clearly carefully selected resulting in a balance tasting profile with nuanced flavors (good amount of unami notes). The staff was attentive, but not intrusive (we enjoyed hearing about the restaurant from our waitress who had been working there for 39 years - a testament to the restaurant and its management). Prices are high, but definitely worth it for special occasions.
Heaven on small plates!
When you hear about a place from a great deal of your friends, you plan your trip around it! And when you get there and it's more wonderful than anything you imagined, you immediately start figuring out how to go back. Such was the case with me and my birthday/retirement visit in August 2025. From the welcome at the door, to Sophie's excellent care during the courses, to the food (the stuff of dreams), this wonderful establishment was my introduction to Seattle's food scene and did not disappoint at all. The menu was varied and superbly delicious. The chef's creativity and inspiration shown through every course and it was truly a delight. I couldn't pick a favourite off of the menu because each one was better than the last. And be sure to get the salad as well. Can't wait to be back. Thanks to all at Canlis for such a special night.
Seattle fine dining at its best.
Service was impeccable. Michelin star worthy. Every dish was rich, thoughtfully created and flavorful. I had an amazing evening.
My cousins took us out to a memorable, wonderful dining
My cousins took us out to a memorable, wonderful dining experience last week at Canlis. Zach was our server, & was absolutely fantastic, personable, & extremely accommodating for my near- vegetarian needs, while still enjoying a fantastic meal! Remembering my aunt who passed away. We were celebrating her birthday. Her sons had taken her for her 70th birthday a few years back & she had a spectacular time! The views, meal presentation & service was top- notch.Thank you, Zach for making our dinner extra special! - Lisa H
The service was great, the views were dope, andddddd the
The service was great, the views were dope, andddddd the food was just ok. Like I get it, fine dining often times is more about paying for the experience as a whole, but sheeeesh for $600 I wish I left with a full stomach at the very least lmao. In terms of the quality of the food itself, I mean you could tell that they used top notch ingredients and the presentation was nice, but I can't say it separated itself from other restaurants in the area. When ya combine that with the fact that the quantities were tiny, idk. As a local, I'm glad I finally got to dine in the city's most famous restaurant, but at the same time, I probably won't be coming back.
During a 1:1 meeting with my boss, I asked him about his
During a 1:1 meeting with my boss, I asked him about his favorite fine dining restaurant in Seattle. Without hesitation, he said Canlis. He mentioned that reservations could be hard to get, but it was his and his wife's top choice for special occasions. I decided to make the reservation, and my husband and I got dressed up for the experience. From the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, the service is impeccable--this is truly five-star dining at its finest. The dishes are perfectly portioned, beautifully presented, and delicious. The team also surprises you with unexpected touches that elevate the entire meal. The upscale atmosphere makes it an unforgettable experience. Honestly, I feel like I need to make another reservation just writing this review! ------------------------------------------- "Because dining is more than food - it's flavor, style and elegance that should be savored one bite at a time." - AMC
Came here on a whim to grab some drinks before I took on
Came here on a whim to grab some drinks before I took on the town, and it was such a wonderful experience! Living in Seattle, you always hear the hype around Canlis, and it lives up to its reputation. The service is excellent, waiters are attentive, bartenders are skilled, and the drinks were excellent! Most notably is the pianist, Will, who played a wonderful mix of songs with his own flair to it. There's not many places these days anymore for live piano, so I'm so glad to see this is still a thing. Also, he kindly takes requests and played my favorite song! If you're in Seattle, and feel so enamored by talent, quality, and service, you won't regret coming by. Can't wait to be back!
I do t know if anyone reads the website or physical menu.
It specifically states that 20% is added to all bills and the total amount of that 20% is retained by the management, NONE GOES TO YOUR SERVER.
The service was good and ambiance lovely, especially the
The service was good and ambiance lovely, especially the view. Food, however, was at best average, not good tasting or even imaginative. Some of the dishes were just poorly made - pork belly was basically like eating bacon before it is cooked and I am not sure what they did with the poor wholesome butter but it did not taste good. We could swallow the pricing - after all the $180 per person before wine is very clearly stated at booking - but the combination of poor execution and lack of creativity made it totally not worth it. We will not be back ever if there is a free dinner coupon at stake.
I used to love coming to Canalis.
The restaurant and its view is really incredible. The last two times, my partner and I noticed a decline in the food and service but it wasn't as bad as the most recent visit. The server, while attempting to be kind, came off very inexperienced. Any questions we asked, she had to visit the back of the house every single time. She didn't know the ingredients and the lack of training when dropping off the food was evident. The overdressed "Canalis salad" was not exciting- you have to pay extra for this. We found a worm in the salad, but when we brought it up to the server she didn't give much of a reaction. She stared at the plate then took it away- no apologies, no acknowledgment. The wait time between the courses was awful too. I think after this time, we will stop coming to this establishment, no matter how iconic it is in the Seattle area. I'm disappointed as it really used to be a favorite. It's just not worth the price point anymore.
Go elsewhere
We recently dined at Canlis to celebrate a birthday. The experience overall was highly disappointing. Despite making the reservation as far in advance as possible and informing the restaurant of the celebratory occasion of our visit, we were seated in a corner outside of the main dining room. My view was of a wall that staff stood against. We let the restaurant know at the time of booking of my dietary restriction (pescatarian) and had a long chat confirming this with the server. We ordered the same first course, tuna. I was brought a pork belly dish. The server took the pork away and left the other plate of tuna. 20 minutes later, a second plate of tuna arrives, the first now cold. The 2nd plate was dropped with no explanation. A while later the server came by to apologize without any offer to adjust the bill. During the rest of the meal all we could hear was a server for the table behind us catering to every need while we felt as though we might as well be in the closet. After the giant bill arrived and was paid, a valet almost ran us over. We will not be back and do not recommend.
A Seattle tradition
Strangely I never went to Canlis during the 6 years I lived in Seattle in the 90s so recently when Ryne and were stopping in Seattle for a few nights before a cruise I wanted to have a visit. Canlis is a Seattle Tradition and very traditional. It’s located in a secluded area on a hill by the Aurora Bridge overlooking South lake Union. It’s a very nice room with a small lounge waiting area but our table was ready so we did not have a drink in advance there. Like so many restaurants it is too dimly lit. Possibly owing to this and our reservation being on the night of our cross country flight we found the pace of the meal too slow. Pacing of meals is such a finely tuned thing. No one likes to be rushed but neither do you want to think something’s been forgotten. I will say that about half-way I a mentioned to our server we’d flown across country that AM so if the pace could be picked up a bit it would be helpful. She came through with this request remarkably well. Interestingly she also became more engaged overall which helped us to be more alert. I haven’t even mentioned the food. Everything we had was excellent and they offer a tasting menu with options for the various courses. Definitely add on the Canlis Salad.
Extremely disappointing
First, we have dined at countless fine dining restaurants across the world. We were excited to try and chose Canlis for a 50th Birthday celebration while in Seattle. We called and reserved our table on the first available day three months in advance explaining the occasion and requesting a table that fit the occasion. The gentleman on the phone explained he would note the occasion and it should not be an issue. We had chosen the restaurant for the special occasion both due to the restaurant’s reputation and the views. Unfortunately, upon arrival we were seated in the corner of the restaurant with a view of some metal stairs and a grey wall. The server was very polite and professional. Our poor experience was certainly not his fault. The bread service and presentation was quite good, however, the remainder of the meal average at best. Considering the price point and reputation of the restaurant the food was very disappointing. That combined with the lack of care during a milestone special occasion it was one of the most disappointing fine dining experiences we have ever had.
Canlis
We had high hopes for Canlis, but the experience was disappointing. While the starters and dessert were solid, the main course—a Denver cut served as “American Wagyu”—was underwhelming, overly fatty, and poorly communicated. For a fine dining restaurant, not disclosing the steak cut upfront felt misleading. Presentation and flavors overall lacked the refinement we expected. Not the level of quality or transparency a place like this should offer.
A phenomenal find in Seattle!
What a great dining experience! Yes, it's not cheap. But totally worth it. My adult daughters and I went there in June 2025. Service was spot on and the food was amazing. Our servers were Sophie and Vania (I hope I did not misspell that, V!). They made the whole experience that much better. This is a fixe prix menu. The portions are made for that approach, and it completely works. Drinks are likewise phenomenal.
Wonderful Dining Experience
Superb Restaurant! Wonderful attentive service from excellent staff. The food tantalized our taste buds right from the start, from the delicious cocktails and nibbles and delicious bread and spreads. The ceremony of the famous Canlis salad… and the end result was delicious. All the courses were amazing and they left us with some wonderful after tastes. Thank you Mr C for your wonderful hospitality. Regards from the Aussies.
Take your family here for a holiday meal.
Expertly served incredible meals. A group of 14 in a private dining room feels very elegant for expanded holiday family. The view was clear and an appreciated bonus. Great restaurant.
Disappointed in Seattle
I have visited Canlis 5 times and was quite underwhelmed by my recent visit. Service and food were not up to previous standards or other restaurants of comparable cost. The venue is still lovely.
Elevated--Enchanting--Endearing = Everything
We just finished dinner at Canlis and it was amazing! My children (8 and 10) and I are visiting from Boston and this was the one restaurant I really wanted to go to. The setting is stunning, the service is impeccable and the food is exceptional. When we booked out trip, I began looking for Michelin star restaurants and learned that Michelin star ratings don't exist in Washington. From everything I could find, Canlis was one of the closest options for that type of elevated dining experience. I can now say, it 100% would have multiple Michelin stars if they existed out here. Immediately when we arrived, my children and I were made to feel valued and special. The staff was warm, kind, inviting and gave us a variety of options for the kids and I to choose from for our dining experience. Each course was served with Formal Silver Service, the expertly crafted dishes were thoughtfully described and the quality was beyond compare. Additionally, I truly appreciated how my children were incorporated into the experience in an elegant and respectful manner, rather than feeling dismissed as children are sometimes made to feel in fine dining establishments. They tasted all of my dishes and enjoyed theirs as well. My son's favorite dish was the gooey duck and my daughter's was the flourless chocolate cake. I am so thankful that I was able to give them the opportunity to experience cuisine that is unique and sophisticated while cultivating a love and respect for food that is made with those same values at it's core. When we got up the use the restroom, a gentleman complimented my children on their behavior. It was so very kind and we enjoyed chatting with him. He asked my kids if they might like to meet the chef and I kind of thought he was joking, but excitedly, we all said yes! In an effort to be polite and call him by name when (maybe later) we could meet the chef, I asked his name and he responded "Brian Canlis." We were a bit surprised. He was so friendly, warm, approachable and inviting. He was hands on and very present in making sure that everything was running smoothly. We have had many dining experiences where the owner is not on property and hires someone else to run the day to day operations, but clearly, Mr. Canlis was not entrusting his families legacy to anyone else. After we finished our meal, we inquired if it might still be possible to meet the chef. Mr. Canlis, came straight to our table, personally gave us a tour of the restaurant and shared heartwarming stories about his grandparents and the property. The one really special part was that my kids were his focus of attention. They felt like celebrities and had the largest, heartiest smiles on their faces. As a parent, this means the world to me. We ended our tour by visiting the kitchen and meeting the chefs and support kitchen staff. This may sound a bit silly, but I had tears in my eyes because it felt like such an honor and special moment. This last year was pretty challenging and to be able to share this unique experience with my children--I don't have the words to describe how valuable it is. Additionally, I felt like it was so inspirational to see a kitchen with such a diverse staff, a female head chef and an owner that is hands on, approachable and clearly values his staff and prioritizes honoring his family history. Thank you so very much Mr. Brian Canlis and staff. You have left an indelible impression on my children and I. What you have is so very special and I wish you and your family a healthy and prosperous future. Sincerely, Colleen, Cailyn (8) and Teegan (10)
Best fine dining restaurant in Seattle, hands down.
Besides the great ambience, service, and food this establishment cares about people and treats them right. In an era of constant criticism and cancel culture, I salute Canlis for their outstanding quality and unmatched integrity.
My first time, my husband's second (his previous time was
My first time, my husband's second (his previous time was with the prior head chef). I was impressed, but my husband says the portions are much smaller than last time, and less filling than Michelin star restaurants. But I was full when we left, and I'd recommend Canlis to any foodie willing to spend $180 for six courses. We went in July and tried lamb (5/5 stars), wagyu (5/5 stars), and vanilla bean parfait (3.5/5 stars), and then for the other set sablefish (4/5 stars), halibut (4/5 stars), and smoked cocoa nougatine (4/5 stars). The other three dishes were also impressive, especially the first one!
This is certainly one of the most remarkable and storied
This is certainly one of the most remarkable and storied restaurants in America. Twenty-five years ago I first visited, and was struck by the beauty of the restaurant, its view, and the food. Now, all these years later, it's great to see that it is still in the family, and has evolved with the times to an even higher level of food and service, without sacrificing the interior design that made it so striking when it was founded in 1950. We had dinner in The Caché, the intimate upstairs private room that used to be Mt. Canlis' office. It commands a striking view, and is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. A consistent winner of the Wine Spectator's Grand Award, the wine list is both broad and offers good depth of vintages, with great wines for any budget. The multi-course menu offered selections of three of the six courses, and there were actually far more than six because some courses were comprised of many small bites. We loved almost everything excepting the actual main courses we chose, which were not quite the tour de force of the fixed courses. Service was very professional yet friendly. And you can't beat the view!
My boyfriend surprised me with a birthday visit to Canlis,
My boyfriend surprised me with a birthday visit to Canlis, and it absolutely exceeded my expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were treated with exceptional service--staff were ready to open our car doors and escort us inside. The interior was stunning, with dim lighting and a beautiful view of the water. We were promptly seated and given menus to select three courses for later in the meal. My boyfriend and I chose different dishes so we could share and sample more flavors. Each of us received 6-7 courses, and despite the small portions, I was pleasantly full by the end of the meal. For my birthday, they even brought out an extra dessert with a candle, which was a lovely touch. The servers were incredibly attentive and professional, and the food was delicious. The ambiance added to an unforgettable dining experience at Canlis, making it absolutely worth the hype!
Just over a month ago, I had dinner in the Cache room with
Just over a month ago, I had dinner in the Cache room with my husband, and my sister and her husband. We were the last of two reservations in the room, so we had a bit more flexibility with our timeline and could really take our time to enjoy the meal and the beautiful view together. If I could give fractions, I would give this place a 3.7. $$$$$/$$$$$ Be prepared to drop a grand on one dinner. The pros: - The food was beautiful, well-prepared, and done thoughtfully. - The Cache room is stunning. It's quite small, but that makes it perfect for an intimate dinner. I think it was an extra $200 total, which was well spent. If you're going to reserve the room, opt for the later reservation time so the staff doesn't have to rush you through your experience. - The staff was EXTREMELY attentive, fun, kind, and engaging. You pay for top-tier service. Our waitress gave us a personally customized list of places to check out while we were staying in the area, which had some great recommendations. We had SO many different people come into the room to refill water, drop off a dish, bring in drinks, etc. Every single person who stopped in brought a great personality and could also tell you exactly what was in the dish. It's very clear this place does an incredible job training. - I also personally love that the staff get to have weekends off. That's how you know this is a successful place. And I'm sure it helps retain quality staff who are happy to go to work. - Of course, because we had a tasting menu, portions were small; correction, they were TINY. But we certainly didn't leave hungry, so the chef did a fantastic job portioning everything out so you didn't have to go grab a bite after such a fancy dinner. The room for improvement: - Given that this restaurant doesn't have any Michelin stars, it holds itself to an extremely high standard. That comes through in the decor, the staff, and the menu; however, the dinner itself didn't follow any cohesive theme or story, which makes a tasting menu much more engaging. They could have done better to explain what the chef's inspiration was or how the foods were made and take you through a journey to engage your mind as you eat rather than just explain the dishes and walk away. - Along those lines, I believe having a printed menu is important to keep guests in the know about what they are eating. I love referring back to the previous dish to compare and discuss - this would've been nice to have. - The website mentioned something in a downloadable PDF that there was a wine pairing option, but they ended up just having the sommelier speak with us, which was a cool experience, but I would've preferred an option where I could just have a conversation with her once and she could send a pairing (with a smaller ounce poor) for each dish. Alternatively, Canlis could introduce some type of pre-selection during reservations where you opt for the pairing and answer some tasting questions so the sommelier can pre-screen your preferences ahead of time to have your pairings selected before you get there. I just think personally it was too much pressure. Being on vacation, I prefer to relax and not make many decisions, and that is a potential area to get creative and try something different for them as a business. - All of the above taken into consideration, and despite the pros, I was astounded at the final bill. I have been to dinners that are a fraction of the price for a more engaging and better thought-out experience. Just for example, some of the other places we've been to have offered a complimentary glass of wine or champagne when we sat down, a hot towel at the start and end of the meal, wiped crumbs off the table in-between courses, etc. So it's not that the staff didn't do enough, but rather that the experience didn't feel as customized and intentional as it could have for that massive of a price tag.
Always wanted to try Canlis and it finally happened.
The restaurant is a big pink structure off the side of the road that boasts beautiful views in the dining area. Menu consists of 3 set menu items and your selection for the remainder of the 3 courses. There is also an option for the salad for $24/person but would prob skip this. While herbaceous and minty, I didn't feel like it was worth it. For your 1st and 2nd course, go for the lamb and wagyu - so tender, well prepared and flavorful. Desserts were unique and refreshing. My mocktail was delish. Staff was friendly and it's cute that you have the option to fill out a postcard and they'll mail it to you. For the amount of food, price was very reasonable.
Who the heck painted the exterior hot pink? Food is great
Who the heck painted the exterior hot pink? Food is great but the new color outside looks cheap
I used to go here a couple of times per year - at least
I used to go here a couple of times per year - at least once for my anniversary and once for date night. Back when I started going, the tasting menu used to be a 10-course creative ordeal. They also had a la crate or a 4-course for $160. Also, a 20% service charge wasn't automatic. Now, it's $180 for three courses of unimaginative food and then having to go to Dicks for hurlers afterwards to be satiated. Service has slipped too - on our last visit, we arrived on time but we were told to wait in the entryway for several minutes before even being acknowledged and weren't even offered a seat at the bar while they took 15 minutes to ready our table; then, they brought our food out before our wince was ready to be served. What the heck?! A 250% markup on the bottle and then an automatic 20% service charge on top of that?! Save your money, drop them a line to hire a new chef, and better train staff.
Simply the best restaurant in Seattle and could easily be a
Simply the best restaurant in Seattle and could easily be a 2 Michelin Star restaurant. The chef Aisha Ibrahim is amazing and the Canlis is at the top of their game. I recommend the lamb and the Wagyu Beef. The wine selection if massive and you can find fair deals. We had a 4/5 Barbaresco for under $100. I can't recommend this restaurant more, make sure you dress up as it is still required.
The service here is impeccable.
Above and beyond what I even expected. Honestly you could not get a better ambiance. The view is incredible and the restaurant itself is nice and open and pleasant to be in. The food is very very good. I only give it four stars because most of the seasoning was simply salt. Everything tasted amazing, but wish there was more depth of flavor with more range of spices. I would definitely come here again. All my cocktails were made absolutely perfect.
Terrific place with amazing views in an elegant setting
Beautiful place, excellent food and unpretentious, friendly staff. Loved it. Great special occasion restaurant. Pricey, but we felt it was worth it, and had a lovely evening.
Canlis is the place to create a memorable experience
Canlis does not disappoint. My wife and I enjoyed dinner for our 44th anniversary and we had a wonderful time. The atmosphere is fantastic with a sweeping view of Lake Union, the service is top-notch. The service is relaxed, attentive, and very friendly. At no point did we feel anything but relaxed and cared for. The food was fun and innovative. You the diner choose menu items for three courses and the chef will surprise you with at least three more. Each one was delicious and well prepared from the freshest ingredients. I see some reviewers that complain about the cost but I think they fail to realize that what you are really paying for is the experience and I will definitely say my wife and I got what we paid for and a very memorable experience.
Certainly the finest dining experience I have had.
I particularly like the piano and the bar in the entrance while you wait to be seated. It was nice to be greeted and offered refreshments immediately. Super spendy, but also also super nice.
Amazing place
Canlis is an amazing place to dine. The food is innovative and creative. The cocktails are amazing. Everything was delicious.
Amazing experience - delicious food, tasty cocktails and
Amazing experience - delicious food, tasty cocktails and the best wine list! Piano player adds to the ambiance and the staff's attention to detail is like no other!
Order: * Canlis Salad * Beef Short Rib * Apple
Order: * Canlis Salad * Beef Short Rib * Apple Cake Pros: * Elegant, albeit slightly dated, ambiance with friendly service. * Short Rib was cooked perfectly, super tender, moist, melted fatty and gelatinous. * The Apple Cake itself was most and flavorful. * Elegant presentations. * Fantastic views from certain spots. Cons: * The salad was a bit overdressed and chopped a bit too fine so it seemed to make the lettuce too soft/soggy. I think bigger pieces of lettuce not so overdressed might serve this dish well and make it look a bit more elegant. * The short rib had some sort of balsamic or tart citrus to the sauce that sort of overpowered the flavor of the beef. Likewise, the two accoutrements were also somewhat tart in flavor and one of the items was a bit chewy. * The whisky sauce on the Apple Cake was a bit too strong. I like a good whisky as a beverage, but I prefer the alcohol to be cooked out a bit more when combined with a food dish. * For the price point and ambiance, I would like the server to give a brief description of the dishes. Comments: * The primary reason for my score is that for the level of dining that it is, I expected a bit more refinement.
It's been too long.
..perfect espresso martini with the crown jewel of the night listening to piano live while seeing the best view in the city. The new menu is epic and the bar bites are incredible and affordable. Love it!! I'll be back soon.
Great restaurant for a special occasion! Valet parking
Great restaurant for a special occasion! Valet parking when you first get to the restaurant. The atmosphere and service is absolutely spectacular. There is live piano music, we got seated near the window and the view was beautiful, and the servers explain the drinks, menu, and each dish very thoroughly, We really loved our experience here. The food itself is pretty good too - we loved the first snacks course, the duck, the wagyu, and the ice cream dessert. Food was good, but service and the ambiance really put this restaurant over the top.
The food is good but the atmosphere is stuffy and
The food is good but the atmosphere is stuffy and uninspiring and it is soooo overpriced. In the robust Seattle restaurant world, there are just a ton of better restaurant choices.
Wow! This was my first time back to Canlis in almost 10
Wow! This was my first time back to Canlis in almost 10 years and every single part of the experience was special. The space is beautiful, and there really are no bad seats, you get a good view no matter where you are because of the huge windows. The staff are so wonderful! From the hostesses to the waitstaff and the kitchen staff we met when we were given a tour of the kitchen, everyone was so kind and thoughtful. I liked the pacing of the dinner, I didn't feel rushed but I also wasn't starving or waiting around bored between courses. This was a special occasion as we were celebrating a birthday and a divorce (for someone who was actually married at Canlis) and our delicious meal culminated in their pastry chef sending out a special banana split which you can see in the picture has "Happy Birthday & Split" (lol) written on the plate. They were extremely accommodating and smooth with handling food allergies/issues as well. It was special touches like that throughout the night that made the experience so lovely. Moving on to the food. I really can't speak highly enough! I've seen other reviews where people are worked up about the salad or the bread or the serving size of X, Y or Z. To be clear, this is a fine dining restaurant, you are not getting an Applebee's sized portion of anything (not knocking Applebee's, its just two different types of experiences, which should be expected) but you also won't leave hungry. The salad is delicious, but not revolutionary, same with the bone broth rice that came with the wagyu. I did LOVE the bread and of course I'm a sucker for locally sourced ingredients. My personal top favorites of the night were the scallop toast, the duck, the wagyu, and the calamansi sorbet. The flavors were balanced, and the contrasts with textures in all the dishes were absolutely spot on. Overall a truly special dinner.
Canlis is the gold standard in Seattle dining.
The food has been consistently excellent for decades. Amazing location and view. Top notch staff. And I'll always remember how well they reacted to the pandemic: kept their staff working making to-go meals and donating tons of time and food to charities.
I felt like I knew what to expect coming into Canlis.
I have been here so many times I can't even count them. From the moment I pulled into the drive way I felt like I was home. The valet team made me feel so good as if I were one of them. Walking into the restaurant was pure magic, the kind of magic you can only feel. Every single person coming to warm the table and make us laugh and so feel included. The menu that Chef Aisha and her incredible kitchen team brought to the table was heaven. My guest who dined with me were so grateful and most of the night were just taking about the amazing food and how incredible staff was (the tiny details definitely matter) I think every single person that works at Canlis came to our table, rolling 20 sided die, wearing a james beard awards around their necks, teaching us some pretty sweet dance moves, just saying hello and ending the evening by inviting my nephew and nieces into the kitchen to meet and greet with Chef and the kitchen team to be official ice-cream testers. Thank you for making my family feel so cared for and truly turning toward all of us. The hospitality that you all showed to me and my family made me feel so overwhelmed with love and so proud to be a part of this team. I took a part of each of you home with me last night and thought about how I can be better at my job. Thank you for showing me what we do every single night. I am so incredibly proud of all of you and to be a part of this outstanding team and show my family why I love my job. It's the all of you, each and everyone of you. I'm not crying, your crying. Let's have a good service. And always keep the promise.
We came prepared to be disappointed, based on past meals at
We came prepared to be disappointed, based on past meals at Canlis, where we left hungry and went out afterward for a second course. The menu was fixed, and the stream of amazing little delicacies was delicious. We're typically vegetarian but took a little "holiday" as we sometimes do at nice restaurants. It was a great evening, and we were definitely well satisfied in terms of palette, pacing and nourishment. If anything we were feeling kind of stuffed and happy as we left the restaurant. Nice piano music and quite the staff to attend to us!
Head to the Bar for a taste of the Canlis experience
We love Canlis. Reviews here by dinner guests are definitely mixed. For the past few times, we just go to the bar, have a couple drinks, and order off the bar menu. All the highlights are on the bar menu including fries and the Canlis salad. Still expensive, but way less than the restaurant and still the Canlis experience. I have to say that I am a bit confused about their tipping policy. 20% is added to the bill and there is no place on the CC receipt to add additional tips. I assumed their tipping policy also covered $$ to the Valet. I think my valet assumption was wrong as my wife had no doors held or closed for her. No tip to the Valet to their obvious chagrin.
Don’t waste your money, time, memories
Don’t go, don’t go! So disappointed! Mom’s 95th birthday and looking forward to a enjoying a momentous night with a wonderful meal . We needed to Google 90%of the description. When it came, underwhelmed! $180/ plate! Really- so mad! Just like the king in his new clothes! People rave, so superficial- like cold clam chowder, raw fish, etc🤷🏼 ♀️ ?heading to McDonald’s!
The Canlis Caché Experience: Chef's Kiss Emoji
Hi Forest - I hope you're having a fantastic walk with your dog this morning! The vibes were immaculate and the food was excellent. Kyle - Forest deserves a raise. Mark - Phenomenal craftsmanship on the antlers. To the entire Canlis crew: Thank you for such a phenomenal, fun, and creative evening! You folks are truly the best, thank you for sharing your art and passion.
disappointing service
The service was very disappointing. The waitperson spilt my cocktail on the table and a little on my dress. Instead of changing the wet tablecloth, additional napkins were placed on the soppy wet table. I had a damp table for my entire meal. Also, instead of replacing the spilt cocktail, ASAP, it took them good 15 mins to get it, while the rest of the table was waiting to start sipping their quaffs. Dont order the Wagyu. it was chewy.
Interesting Combinations of Flavors
We were celebrating three September birthdays and chose Canlis as it is touted as THE restaurant in Seattle. It is located on a hillside with a clear view of Union Lake and our table was at the window. The host seated us and left us with a wine menu and a cocktail menu. The serving assistant filled our water glasses and we sat. When the young man topped off our glasses for the third time, my son asked if he could send someone with menus. Not a good start. This is a fixed price menu ($175/person plus a 20% service fee) with 3 of 7 courses provided in the menu. There are 3 choices for each of the 3 listed courses, the other 4 are the chef’s choice. For my choices, I started w roast duck, 2 thin slices plus a duck dumpling in a broth, baked halibut for my entree and a strawberry rhubarb white chocolate kasu. Inserted between these was a butternut squash bisque with a few prawns in it, a mixed salad, and a sorbet. The portions are small, but add up to a full meal. The bisque was extraordinary and the halibut was baked perfectly. Everything was beautifully presented. We started with cocktails. My son had an Old Fashion and I had a perfect rye Manhattan. These were made w high end ingredients and generous amount of alcohol. The extensive wine list has a few bottles for less than $100 with prices running over $1000. Once the service got started, it rolled with a nice pace and everyone was very friendly and informative. Our waiter had asked if our visit was for an occasion and brought out our deserts with a candle on each one. Good touch. Our discussion afterwards was that the poor start was a surprise and while the food was very good, lots of interesting flavors, that it was overpriced. For 3 persons, 1 drink@, an $80 bottle of white wine and the 20% fee the total was $800. I knew going in that it would be north of $600.
Decent food. Great service. Wonderful view. Insanely expensive.
Friends of mine gave my husband and me a gift certificate for Canlis, which was quite a generous gift. We dined there last night, and we both left feeling ... underwhelmed. Before I go any further, I want to state that nothing we experienced was in any way bad. The food was good (some excellent) and the service was exemplary. The overall experience was one of underwhelming value. My husband and I are not wealthy, but we are not poor. We do well in our fields, and we enjoy dining out. We've dined in fine restaurants all over Seattle and the PNW, and in Chicago, New York City and LA as well as in Vancouver, Montréal, Québec City, Paris, Biarritz, St. Jean de Luz, San Sebastian, Madrid and Barcelona. On my own I have dined well in Lisbon, Seoul, Beijing, Tokyo, Brussels, Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, Köln and Monte Carlo. I know food, and I know fine dining. I know a good meal from a bad meal. I also have a standard of what a good value is. To me, value is derived from the enjoyment experienced balanced with the amount paid. At a certain point there is a level of diminishing returns. This experience of diminishing returns was our take-away from Canlis. What astonished me about the meal was how expensive it was. The two of us had one mocktail each (no wine) and dinner. This came to just under $500. In my world, $500 is not a small amount to drop on any experience, let alone a single meal. For $500 I would have liked to have been blown away. We just weren't. The view was incredible. The staff were gracious and attentive. The food was nice and beautifully presented (the albacore in a tangy potato emulsion, the 'mostly rye' bread and the pre-dessert Greek yogurt with blueberry reduction and olive oil were by far the stand-outs.) But we have had many more 'oh my God!' moments at other restaurants. Our first dinner at Communion in the Central District was one such meal: a never-ending parade of incredible textures, flavors and inventive combinations - a meal that has lived in our minds as one of the best we've had in our lives. We had two meals at a restaurant in Barcelona (Telèferic) that were unbelievably astonishingly delicious. One meal we had in Biarritz (Le Pimpí, which has since changed hands) is a meal we still refer to fondly, even though it happened over ten years ago. These meals were events. And while these gustatorial events were not 'cheap eats' they also did not blow huge holes in our dining budgets. As a result these meals, pricey though they may have been, were excellent values. I'm going to say something here that is going to sound crass in the context of fine dining. But here it is: the food was so tiny. So very, very tiny. I ordered duck breast as one of the courses. This was a sliver of duck breast (two bites - one for me, one for my husband) and a single dumpling in a diminutive ramekin of broth (again, one bite for me, one bite for my husband.) I know intellectually that the preparation of the duck must have taken hours. The duck itself was most likely sourced from the freshest, purest duck pond on a carefully maintained farm. I had my bite of the duck and my bite of the dumpling and it was good. But just good. Not 'oh my god.' Just ... good. The same can be said of the coulotte of beef. It was good. It was tender. But it was not 'oh my god.' It wasn't even 'oh my gosh.' It was just ... good. And tiny. So very tiny. (Let me hasten to state here that we are not Claim Jumper diners. I'd literally rather eat nothing than eat at Claim Jumper, or any other restaurant that features food whose only feature is its hugeness.) I know there are people in the world who can drop $500 on dinner and that's just a regular Tuesday. I imagine these are the same people who do not think twice about ordering a $3,000 bottle of wine to go along with one course, and another bottle to go along with another course. Perhaps Canlis is built for people who live at this kind of wealth level. For my husband and me, we will continue to visit restaurants that elicit a higher level of 'oh my god!' and represent a good value in doing so.
Nice culinary experience
We tried Canlis multi-course dining experience for a graduation celebration. Service was professional and courteous. Items in the menu comes at bite size ( sampling quantity). Each item is is brought to the table by a team of servers. All items are tasty and artistically presented. Steak bites are tender and juicy…cooked to perfection …. Dried persimmon is very good ….not too sweet. All in all is a good culinary experience (cuisine quality is excellent but not a unique one) if you have $220+ (including drinks) to spare for each person
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