Brimmer & Heeltap Reviews

Ate here while travelling through Seattle for work. It's a relatively small neighbourhood restaurant that is worth tracking down. I had a beef rib that was on special. It was fantastic. Slow cooked in a way that the meat just fell away from the bone and melted in the mouth. The staff are really friendly and the wine list is concise but interesting.

We tried this restaurant outside of downtown on the suggestion of a friend. The ambience is very nice and unsophisticated. The right place for a casual dinner with friends. The menu is offering choices beyond the usual and can be tempting and at the same time leave some perplexity. But it's worth giving it a try. The premium is the relaxed environment and the feel that it's a popular neighbourhood destination: it makes you feel part of the city rather than a simple tourist. There is a terrace but it was dark and cold: should be trying it again in summer time.

The place is cute. The food was mostly good with some dishes but some were not. Oyster shots wonderful. .The grilled fish was good and the beef dish was good but the salmon which is a cold dish didn’t hit the mark at all as a main dish. The dessert was fine. Very good service. Probably won’t come back.

Love this place great good, amazing staff and happy to help accomodate the vegans in our party. Very busy so be sure to book at the weekend.

Seattle is known for neighborhood dining gems, and this is one worth checking out. Recently our party of 5 were warmly greeted by owner Jen on a Sat. night to celebrate two birthdays. We had a delicious meal, including the homemade sausage and tapioca puff chips appetizers, beef, grilled pork shoulder, and the halibut special. The halibut with brussel sprouts was the best I've ever eaten. We also had their excellent bread w/butter. For dessert, we shared the almond panna cotta and spiced chocolate cake. In fact, we all enjoyed our meal from beginning to end and have no complaints. The place was buzzing with life, and that speaks volumes! We will definitely return. Thank you staff for making our birthdays special!

Six of us shared many small plates - appetizers, vegetables, mains, dessert. We were amazed at the quality of each dish - very fresh ingredients, textures, flavors, etc. Outstanding. Cocktails beforehand were inventive and well balanced - yummy. The interior is fresh, modern and yet cozy with heavy wood details, schoolhouse ceiling lights, and a row of bright yellow flowers dividing two small dining rooms. After two drinks and sampling so many fine dishes (we were all full believe me), I thought the cost with tip and so forth would be $80 each - it was $55. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Went on a Friday night and sat at back high top table against window while we waited for a table, were served great drinks quickly. Tres pepper Paloma wasn't very spicy (which is good), and the feni fixer was good but don't think I'd get it again. The shishito pepper and queso dish was great! Tartare was good, toast was decent for the tartar. Garden salad was ok. The pork and apple dish was pretty salty. The smoked salmon dish was great! The bread pudding was pretty good too. And the service was excellent!

This is one of the best restaurants I have EVER been to, period. First, we started with the steak tartare and lemongrass asparagus, both wonderfully prepared with great presentation. For dinner we had the broiled pork shoulder, which was the most tender piece of pork I have ever tried, and the seasonal seafood, the blackened cod with prawns. The cod was perfectly spiced and the portion was just the right size. Lastly, the only way to finish such a fantastic meal was with the chocolate bourbon layer mousse. I loved every minute I spent in this establishment, from the under spoken decor, amazing service and delicious food. I left comfortably full with a big smile on my face. I will always recommend and return to Brimmer and Heeltap whenever I am in the area. As a fun bonus you can mail the menu to someone and they cover the postage!

Took the kids right when the opened for brunch and the staff was great with them. The food was great and we enjoyed it though wouldn't say the menu was kid focused, which is fine. There is also a nice little outdoor area which would be great for lunch or a happy hour on a nice day.

Went with a party of 5 so we sampled a little bit of everything. Everything we had was delicious! If your'e going there, I'd recommend the steak tartare, the bread (this was the most delicious Texas toast I've ever had), lemongrass asparagus, pork shoulder and lamb shoulder. The roasted chuck steak was great, but the pickled mirepoix it came with was amazing. If you're looking for drinks, the hot christy is good, with just a little bit of a bite and the gotham on fire is worth the extra few bucks for an awesome twist on a manhattan.

Seven of us went to celebrate a birthday, and we were all impressed. The food is unusual, creative, and delicious. The service was stellar. They brought us drinks right away and a starter, and waited graciously, as requested for the last person to arrive before taking your order. The presentation was luscious. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for someplace where the meal is an adventure. The setting is beautiful, too. I think it may be my husband and my new favorite place for a special treat.

The cocktails here were unusual and delicious. And the food, in general, was also. In particular, the chicken asada and tagliatelle were delicious. The only dish I didn’t love was the squash with ricotta which was way too spicy which overpowered the other components. But overall the dishes were very good to outstanding

I think most of their dishes are signature. I haven't tasted those ingredient combos in too many other restaurants. The glazed prawns were cooked to perfection. They were well complimented with chili, leeks and fermented beans. The popped quinoa really made the Saur Broccoli dish. We kept trying to figure out all the wonderful ingredients there. We finished with grilled pork with daikon and Asian pear. We ordered the small plates, split them and still came out with a goodie bag. Like most people said, great date night spot, friends and foodies who are looking for unique and well balanced parings.

Brimmer & Heeltap is a really wonderful date night restaurant. Luckily our friends told us it was a pretty popular place so it really paid off to go early to avoid the crowds. Another bonus: Our server told us that they started offering their "family style" dining option as they open (until they run out) so that's another bonus. The night we went it was a lovely sounding Japanese inspired soba salad bowl with local fish for $16. We shared small plates: watermelon radish kimchee (very good), steak tartar (very delicious!), spicy squid (good), braised collard greens (not our favorite) and smoked lamb shoulder (our favorite). We sat inside the restaurant which was lovely but they have a very sexy open air "room" with its own bar at the back of the restaurant. It would be a spectacular place to dine or have a private party.

Our first visit to this old (Le Gourmand site) favorite. Dinner for 4 and a pleasant evening planned with reservations. Arrived at 5:30 and was told sit anywhere, found a nice window table and ordered drinks all is well. Our plan was to share a variety of large plates, ordered first plate, garlic bread delivered 1/4 of loaf of bread uncut and no additional butter ($5) next corn muffin crotons ($6) 6 pieces of deep fried croton served cold. Ordered seared tuna bites - fish was old and smelled, called server and told her and she went to kitchen and came back and said "the chef appreciates your comments but nothing could be done" Good things Black cod - excellent, roasted peppers excellent. This is an expensive restaurant with small portions and no since of customer service and a chef (at least that night) who does not care what came pout of the kitchen. Dinner for four with glasses of wine $300.

it's a small but very good menu. At first glance I thought there was too much going on with the dishes but I must say everything we ordered was very good. the Tartare is excellent and I'm not one for raw food. the homemade sausage was also very good. there were 4 of us and we all had something different and sampled each others plates. the panna cotta was good but would have been better without the 'candied egg yolk'.

We tried Brimmer & Heeltap following a cross country flight to visit our daughter for the weekend. It features the standard farm to table mantra, and has a kitchen that abuts the bar and dining areas. Drinks were slow to get to our table, and my cocktail was a very short pour. We started out with broccoli and pea appetizers. All good, but did not bring a wow factor. Bread was a pricey $6. We did not order it. Main courses included Smoked Lamb, Beef (sirloin on this evening) and Pork Shoulder. The flavor of the Lamb was overwhelmed by the smoke, while the Pork was served with lots of fat dangling. The sirloin was the best of the bunch, although it was barely warm when served. Total bill was over $250 for three including a bottle of wine, tax and tip. There are many options that provide more bang for your buck in the Fremont/Ballard area.

Service was pretty slow, they took their time coming to take our orders and also made a mistake on one of our drinks giving us an alcoholic drink accidentally. Also we were out of water for an hour, but they finally brought more after we asked. Overall the service would have been a little frustrating if we weren't having such a good time with our friends. Overall we were there for two and a half hours, and I don't think we could have sped the process if we did have to leave earlier. The staff was only mildly friendly. Also be prepared for an expensive bill. We paid about $40-50 per person. On the bright side the food was delicious and top class. I have no complaints whatsoever on the food. The portion sizes were very filling and the flavors were bursting from both meats and vegetable dishes. I highly recommend the veal, and creamed peas.

Expensive cuisine for at best mediocre quality. Service fine, ambience rustic. You can do much better, dine somewhere else for better food value.

We went to Brimmer & Heeltap at 10:00pm hoping they were open....They were!! It's a local neighborhood restaurant/bar with great desserts. It was my wife and my anniversary (and of course we mentioned it) and the staff gave us an anniversary card in recognition of the event. We had fabulous desserts and truly enjoyed the local neighborhood feel of the restaurant..........We highly recommend.

Maybe the best way to convey the flavor and quality of Brimmer & Heeltap's pork shoulder is to share what happened with it the next morning: After having about half a portion left over, my wife and I took it to go, put it in our hotel refrigerator, and the next morning had pork shoulder and apple kimchee baguette breakfast sandwiches -- the pork and apples retained their amazing flavor and texture and made for a wonderful morning wake up. Brimmer & Heeltap is a great value and adventurous culinary delight. We had the bread, Mizuna salad, with the salty, nearly transparent but huge bonito flakes sharing the spotlight with the huckleberries, the duck leg, and the pork shoulder. When table bread is taken to an art form, with liberal salt and pepper seasoning and appropriate butter-before-toasting, you know you're onto something special. The duck leg was moist and flavorful, but the pork shoulder remained the centerpiece of our dinner. Calling this a variation on pork and apples is like calling Led Zeppelin's Zoso (runes album) a variation on a blues record. It is mind expandingly good. Service was attentive without being over the top, and we felt welcomed from the instant we came through the door. For under $120, we shared an incredible meal in a nice, intimate setting.

I had no idea what to expect and I'm not sure if this cuisine meets the definition of fusion, but the mix of flavors was definitely interesting. We tried the rice cakes with fresh peas, the broccoli salad, and the pork. All were extremely flavorful and different from any dishes we've had other places. For dessert we tried the buttermilk fritter. That was the only thing we didn't like- the smoke flavor in the marshmallow was just too intense and overpowered all the other flavors. The drinks were very good- we tried the Peruvian Diplomacy and the B&H Mule. Both had an interesting spicy twist. The prices were also very reasonable- the portions are generous so 3 dishes and dessert left us quite full. Overall ambiance/decor quite lovely- there is a lot of light- even on a rainy day.

The hubby and I found this little place while going through the Woodland Park Zoo. We had a couple of hours to spare before our bus back to Pioneer Square and this popped up on Google maps. We were delighted in our find! Food is served family style and everything on the menu was uniquely prepared and very, very tasty. Small seating area in the main building and studio out back. We had the back studio to ourselves for most of the meal (early evening) and got to enjoy the atmosphere during a major rain storm. Staff was friendly and very knowledgeable of the food they were serving.

I almost don't want to write this review because I'd like to keep this gem a secret. OMG. This place is incredible. Although we live just 10 blocks north of here, we never made it to the previous restaurant, Le Gourmand. But B & H is really something to experience. We shared a beet and fennel dish, the English peas with crème fraiche, the pork shoulder with kimchi apples, and of course, a slice of the Texas-sized bread. Don't eat it all in one bite, although you'll want to. Use it to sop up the perfect sauces that come with the plates. We sat in the penny room, but all 3 rooms (patio included here) have a different ambience and are equally charming. We give a big thumbs up to Jen and her staff for making this a really special place. We've already reserved for next week to share it with a friend. One more thing...we finished with the key lime tart, topped with coconut whipped cream and lime slivers. Need I say more?

Just came back a few minutes ago from B&H. Excellent drinks. Outstanding service and very friendly staff. Very fresh food and interesting pairing. Going back to try more. It's a bit spendy but a great experience.

Formerly housed Le Gourmand and the owners have done a nice job making it their own space; the bar area is really classy. The dining room is open and lots of windows for exposure to the street & foot traffic. First time dining here tonight ( January 22, 2014). Some kinks need to be worked on in the kitchen as far as food; the octopus soup was lovely with the dashi but the octopus was overcooked ( crispy legs and gummy middle). My husband and I were not fans of the buns with kabocha, but glad we tried it. The winners for the night were the steak tartare with the rice crackers and the smoked potato salad. Prices were appropriate for location and amount of food. Staff is friendly. Owners were present and wanted feedback. A go back to place. Couples and small group gatherings.

I came here with a group of friends for dinner on a Friday evening with reservations - it was packed! We started outside on their small and intimate patio for some drinks and moved inside when our table opened up. We ordered one of everything on the menu except for two of the vegetable dishes. The food and drinks were all amazing except none of us really cared for the crab trifle (cold, gelatinous, and odd), the tuna with chimichurri (very fishy), or the carrot cake (frosting not creamy, cake and frosting all one texture, dense). The menu, however small, was very well picked with a great variety of foods. I would definitely come back once they've switched their menu items.

We had a marvelous meal, with lots of variety....lots to enjoy. Staff was very helpful. We ordered scallops, which were prepared and sauced just right, and lamb belly. Huh? Lamb belly? The server explained it's the meat from the abdominal wall (AKA as flank, on the chart of cuts of beef), and is somewhat fattier than the leg. It was outstanding. Good wine list. It's a small restaurant and when you have a bunch of folks really enjoying each others' company at the bar, it's very noisy. That's why I gave it only 4 stars rather than 5.

I came here for dinner with a friend. We had a very nice evening with amazing, good quality food. I don't eat meat but there were plenty options (I eat fish though). We shared some plates and everything was tasteful and of very good quality. The drinks menue has some tasty options as well and the staff was really nice. Only two minor points to criticize: No 'good' coffeemachine - only drip - and the bill was higher than I had expected. Other than that: Highly recommendable for a nice evening - but book in advance!

I love spending an evening at this cozy, warm neighborhood spot. The flavors in every dish are consistently delicious and often surprising. Wine list is good and cocktails are tasty and creative. The staff is warm , genuine, and just the right amount of friendly. The prices are great for the quality of the food and I love the small plate concept, so my friends and I get to share/sample several dishes.

We heard so much about this place from Seattle-ites that we had to come and try it. We came hungry since the restaurant is tapas-style and we wanted to try a lot and especially since we went on a Sunday which is ramen night where the chef makes his own version of ramen. They seated us outside as the weather was great and they have a really great patio area and a separate dining area apart from the main one. I could see this as a fantastic place for brunch. The ramen was decent, not a typical Japanese style ramen as it tasted a bit heavy with its chicken broth rather than having a lighter version. The noodles were also very different from the Japanese version, almost being more like linguini soup noodles. But their version was good, don't get me wrong, just not my style. As for the rest, we tried the grilled pork shoulder, spicy squid, braised mushrooms, oyster shooter, steak tartare, and a scallop dish that I believe was seasonal. All of the food was awesome and fabulously well prepared. The pork shoulder was really good although a little underwhelming, mainly because I'm Asian and the flavors and cooking style of that dish are very similar to what I would find at most Vietnamese restaurants. Even the combination with the pickled kim chi vegetables. My favorite was the steak tartare which was prepared well and served with rice crackers. The beer/wine selection was great and our server was fantastic. Each of the dishes that we recommended and tried were really great. I'd definitely come back here on a future trip.

As mentioned, food is good but it's pricey for relatively small portions. We were a large group and one has Celiac, and the restaurant staff was very attentive about this. Had the fish (tasty), pork shoulder (pretty tasty), asparagus (fine but wasn't feeling the adobo), and rabbit/pork meatballs (good but nothing special). If I come back here, I think I would prefer the brunch menu.

Finally got to try Brimmer&Heeltap, which had been recommended to me pretty much since it opened. Brunch with a friend was fantastic! Hard to decide what to order since there are so many unusual things to choose from - on a small menu. I got the Scotch Egg, since I don't often have the opportunity, and it was great! Perfect soft egg encased in fennel sausage, and nested in a giant slab of brioche toast! Pickled cabbage and mustard seeds enhanced nicely. My friend had the Traditional, with same yummy sausage and smoked potato "hash" that was chunks of potato with small onions. Loved it. Her over easy eggs had runny whites, but overall the dish was great. We also had cocktails - Bloody Mary was perfectly spicy, and her special had gin, black tea and mint - very refreshing! Service was a little slow, they seemed understaffed for a busy Sunday brunch, but pleasant and professional. I will definitely be back to try other brunch items, and hope to try dinner too! Remove review

Brimmer & Heeltap opened in January, 2014 and has been the darling of Ballard ever since. The space is divided into two rooms and an outdoor patio, with flow between all three. The rooms are light and airy, with white painted walls and in the back room a penny-covered floor. The food is inventive and delicious. It is Northwest (fresh, organic, local) meets hint of Asia. Dishes come in 1/2 or whole sizes, allowing you to mix and match to your heart's content. The menu is limited but not too much. The wine list is small but excellent. After six visits, I have not had a bad dish there, everything is just fantastically fresh and perfectly spiced. The prices are surprisingly reasonable for the quality of the food, and I hope they stay that way - my wife and I will just keep returning over and over again.

The restaurant was a great experience on our Foodie night. Great taste, well served and presented and surprisingly a reasonable price for the quality. I liked that almost all dishes came in two sizes. We generally opted for the smaller sizes so we could try most dishes. Short menu but all great. Octopus and steak tartare were my favorite

This is a hard rating to give because of the “buts”. The food was very well prepared and conceived, but the portions are very small (even for fancy restaurant dishes). They made a cozy space in a small building, but a few less tables would make things feel less cramped. The front of house was excellent, but the wait staff was uninventive. The most significant issue I had was the “restaurant fee” applied to the check. I get that things are expensive, but to first say “your dinner costs X” only to say “psyche, it actually costs Y” is, at best, a deceptive business practice. Instead of being transparent and raising menu prices, they choose to just add 5% to the entire bill at the end. The note said that “fee” (isn’t the check a fee already?) is kept by the house and not shared with staff (to think that doesn’t eat into tips may explain the unmotivated service). Everyone can make their own calls on this practice, but I can’t support it. We’re adults. We get it. Just raise your prices and the goes to four-stars. And maybe the staff feels more motivated.

Went here for brunch on a Friday. OMG everything was so good. 4 of us. 4 different breakfasts: Greens/egg and ham (Suess anyone?) outstanding; Loco Moco - a noodles breakfast - yummm; Belgian Waffle that must have been brioche dough and syrup to die for; and last but not least a Traditional Breakfast. Smoked potatoes with some dishes - raved about and side orders of the house sausage (so great). Excellent coffee (no espresso drinks). Excellent service. Friendly everyone place!! Cute brick building on a busy corner. Parking on the street.

Four of us planned on going out on a cold evening for cocktails/drinks and a little something to eat. At the last minute we decided to walk over to the Brimmer & Heeltap, this being my first time in this establishment. When we walked in the place it had a very cozy and friendly feel to it and we were greeted and seated immediately. The service was outstanding and the food (I had the lamb shoulder dish) was very good. We enjoyed a very relaxing hour eating, talking, and sipping some nice drinks. I can highly recommend this place based on my experience.

Jen Doak and Mike Whisenhunt had their work cut out when they took over the space that had previously hosted Seattle fine dining pioneer, "Le Gourmand". Have no fear, their "Brimmer & Heeltap" has been receiving rave reviews for the past three years. About a year ago I had the good fortune to be paid to film Mike cooking ... and got to taste the food! What a way to earn a living, eh? This past week I finally got around to visiting as a diner. My friend and I were hungry and, deciding to take advantage of the fact that our health-conscious better halves were absent, were in the mood for meat! Some Tapioca Puff Chips with chile-lime seasoning were a delicious snack to keep us going while we waited for the Steak Tartare and Grilled Lamb Heart to arrive. My buddy described the tartare as being the best he'd ever eaten, and the lamb heart was cooked to a deliciously delicate medium-rare, with the beet/asian pear salad a lovely accompaniment. A small plate of Lamb Shoulder Fried Rice with warm spices, pickled chiles, carrots, daikon and mint, was consumed with an Arugula & Cauliflower Salad that included black quinoa, pickled mushroom and sour garlic vinaigrette. Really great food! Last but not least Grilled Pork Shoulder with marinated fuji apples was eaten with Marinated Vegetable Salad of turnip, rainbow carrot, parsnip with a black garlic aioli. We were struggling with very full stomachs by this time but manfully managed to eat the lot! We were ordering the small plates, each of which would be enough for one person but sharing allows you to try so many more things! Great cocktails and a lovely Cote du Rhone suggested by Jen completed a great dinner in a place with great ambience. I promise I wpn't be leaving it a year before returning!

Fun new place on the corner of 5th and Market, Just opened Jan 2014. 21 The waitstaff is very friendly and helpful with menu selections. They have a very cool "Penny Floor" you have to check it out very unique. The menu has something for everyone. I am a vegetarian and didn't have an issues.

I live just a few blocks from B&H, so it was convenient to pop in and give it a try for dinner. I've already been back, and I'm going back again next week. I want to share this place with all of my good friends. Jen and her staff greet you with warmth and not an ounce of pretentiousness (which you too often get in cool new restaurants.) It feels like a neighborhood place. They have a lovely bar and I had the same cocktail twice because I liked it so much. I've sampled several of their small bites (toast special of the day, stuffed little buns), vegetable dishes (fresh spring peas), fish (halibut), and meat (lamb) and all were beautifully prepared with an Asian influence here and there, simplicity, and seasonal freshness. During my first visit, I ordered the carrot cake for dessert, which is a dense, layered version (perhaps a bit too dens for my taste), and on my second visit I ordered a lime tart which was utterly sublime - the filling was amazingly soft and delicate (you can topple it with a spoon) and the tart was topped with a soft, slightly sweet meringue. If you go and it's on the menu, you must order it.

There are so many great restaurants in Ballard, how do you choose? You can't go wrong with Brimmer &Heeltap. This small restaurant is always busy but people are friendly and the vibe is great. But, come for the food. The cauliflower was amazing as was the seasonal greens, The pork special was completely over the top. We also shared he skirt steak and the squid which were fine but not memorable But try this place, it is so worth the visit.

Brunch was among the best I've had here in Seattle. Brimmer and Heeltap is an underdog that packs a punch! The bartender makes his own bloodies, including housemaid Worcester sauce!

This place will soon become a favorite of the Seattle hipsters and locals in the north end of Seattle. Set in a renovated storefront this place has a very unique menu, very tasty food served off a nicely presented menu. We started with two items off the 'Snack' menu - buns & bread. the first was a nicely crafted slightly sweet roll, garnished with a tangy seaweed crumble. Bread was just that, but that would not do it justice! Decadently drenched in butter a two-inch slab is lightly grilled to perfection, served warm and oh so yummy! We added three other small plates (creamed spinach, rabbit crepinette and a smoked potato salad) to round out our meal. In general each item had remarkable presence, with strong and recognizable flavors. the only edge came from each having a bit too much tang or slightly acidic finish. Add in three drinks and the diner for two was $82 + tip. Not really near anything else this is definitely worthy as a destination!

A small neighborhood bar and restaurant with a reputation for excellent with the locals far beyond it humble first impressions. Looks can be deceiving and parking can be a challenge, but don’t let these keep you walking in and having a seat at the bar as you wait for a table. The bartenders were friendly and personable as you would expect in a neighborhood establishment and they seemed to make everyone welcomed. I don’t usually try house cocktails as they are usually too sweet for my taste. But on a recommendation of friends, I tried the Speckled Green with no regrets, it was near perfect. For dinner I had the Heirloom Tomato Salad and the Coriander Crusted Albacore, also excellent. There were four in our party and everyone order something different so we could all share. Absolutely loved that all entrees are offered in full and half sizes. Wonderful staff, great service and truly delicious with a quaint neighborhood feel.

A beautiful room, acceptable noise level, good service. It's the food for the price ratio that's not working for me. Two drinks, four small plates, one dessert=150.00. Not out of scope for foodie Ballard if the quality is there and it wasn't for me. Corn plate- good well balanced flavors. Peach salad- flavor was ok but the presentation was off- large hunks of greenery made impossible to share without a bunch of knife work. Fine scallops in sauce but nothing "0h my God" over the top Duck fried rice- I really really wanted to like this but it was on the dry side and overwhelmed by what tasted like "five spice" Spiced chocolate cake that tasted stale- dry lacking a dense chocolate flavor/ spiced? I couldn't taste it. However the restaurant was doing a fine business on a Thursday night so I appear to a minority opinion but the food isn't all that great for the price.

We went to Brimmer & Heeltap for brunch and it's about my 3rd time going there. I love the atmosphere both inside and out and the service is cordial. I have always felt a bit of warmth missing from the staff. This place is walking distance from my home and I just want to like it more so I can visit more often. They don't have a bar menu and they are fairly pricy so it's not a great place for just stopping by for drinks and light bite and there's no HH. The food gets rave reviews but I always find it doesn't quite live up to it, especially given the price. It's almost like they're trying too hard to be different which makes them miss the mark for just being really good.

My wife and I have been to B&H many times. We love to sit at the bar and watch the bartender mix cocktails, plus you can see right into the kitchen (that's always a great sign to me as a diner). The food is different than we've had, but comfortable and familiar at the same time. Jen (the host/owner) always makes us feel welcome and each server attentive and informative. This is a great place for a date night, business dinner, family night, or just meeting up with good friends. Plates can be shared, so family style is encouraged. Can't wait to go back again soon!

My wife and I are self proclaimed foodies who like to visit great restaurants when we travel that is a bit off the beaten path. This is clearly a winner! Though we had some difficulty in finding it initially, the trouble was well worth it as the experience was great. The owner greeted us personally when we arrived, providing us with 2 complimentary glasses of champagne to "celebrate" our arrival (albeit a bit past our reservation time). The meals we had were delicious, but best of all the owner stopped by during dessert to chat with us and, after our meal was concluded, invited us to join her and her friends on the back patio (since the hour was late and the restaurant crowd was winding down) for cocktails and conversation. We had a blast and felt right at home with folks we just met but who could not have been nicer. The tour of the restaurant took just a few minutes since it is a cozy place, but the food, service and ambiance were excellent. We cannot wait to stop by again whenever we are back in the Seattle area. Advice: If you are staying in downtown Seattle, you will need to cab it or have a car to get to Ballard where the restaurant is located. Great neighborhood place.

My son took me for Mother’s Day and from the arrival to departure the staff where welcoming and charming. Loved the ambience of the restaurant and the food was amazing. I had the Scotch Egg and my son the traditional breakfast with “slab” of bacon...I highly recommend this place and look forward to return for dinner

Well prepared and presented food in a lively atmosphere. Menu choices varied but not overwhelming. Open airy seating. Portion sizes a bit small for the pricing, still recommended.

Went for dinner on a sunny Saturday evening. We had the peas with creme fraiche and mint, grilled asparagus, tuna, and the lamb. Everything was well prepared and presented, with bright flavors. Nothing overpowering, letting the fresh ingredients shine through. We paired it with a French rose. The room reminds me of a Paris bistro - casual, kinda tight, but fun and friendly. The food was better than some Michelin starred restaurants we've been to in Paris. Another Seattle gem.

My brother took my wife and myself to dinner to this increble little restautant. Cocktails hit the spot, oyster shooters were incredible, the toast, the toast the toast! Had the black cod, sweet peppers and pork shoulder, all were incredible, and the wine was jusy perfect! And to top it off we tried all 3 deserts and couldn't decide which was best! The service wasn't the fastest, but it was friendly. And as the saying goes, good things come to those eho wait. The owner and all the staff were very nice. I highly reccomend stopping by and enjoying a great night at this wonderful restaurant!

Loved this restaurant! The food was amazing! We tried the charred octopus (fabulous) nettles, marinated veggies, crab noodle soup and the grilled pork shoulder dish. Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted great. The outdoor patio is fantastic too. Highly recommend. Thanks Jen!

Brimmer is a great neighborhood joint. Vibrant bar, excellent food, well prepared, tasty and generously proportioned. We had the chili-lime tapioca pops, the braised collards, grilled pork shoulder with kim-chi and the scallops special, all were excellent. The wine list could use a few more choices by the glass. Definitely a go-to for a casual or late-nite meal.

In truth, I wasn't an ordinary diner at this Ballard restaurant ... I was there to do some filming! But over the course of a day and an evening service I got to taste several dishes which were, without exception, of the very highest standard! Part of the assignment involved filming Head Chef Mike Whisenhunt cooking a couple of their signature dishes. We started with the Steak Tartare with daikon, sesame vinaigrette and nori rice crackers. Wow, this was my first tartare and it was worth waiting for ... a delicious Asian-oriented take on a long-standing classic. Then there was the Grilled Pork Shoulder with daikon & asian pear kimchi. Moist and flavorful, with the meat perfectly accented by the daikon and kimchi. I went back in the evening to film service and, between all the shooting, was offered the Roasted Pork Belly with petite shitake, oyster sauce and sauerkraut. OMG, it was unctuous wonderfulness! Of course, it could be argued that I was getting special treatment but the experience of the diners in the evening suggests that we were all treated the same. Listening in to regulars talking at the bar, I could tell that this is a neighborhood eatery that far exceeds the norm for such dining spots! But don't take my word for it ... just go there and try it!

Sit at the chef's bar and watch the kitchen activity while you dine on local, seasonal food. The menu has something for everyone - it's manageable and diverse at the same time. Knowledgable and efficient wait staff who work well with their customers. Terrific food in a somewhat out of the way spot. We're lucky enough to walk here but I would take anyone from out of town here because they are so dependably good.

Went for a Saturday brunch. All the food was great just a bit overpriced (which others had mentioned). Service was on the slower side but we weren't in a rush. Very out of the way if you're mostly in downtown Seattle but a good location if you're going to the Fremont Troll or the Up House (which is what we did right after). Everything was delicious except for the coffee. Glad we came here! Definitely would be helpful to have a reservation.

A friend and I checked out Brimmer & Heeltap a few weeks ago for brunch and for the moment we walked into the door, we were impressed. The space is very pretty and fun, with a penny floor and fresh bright windows. The bartender and server were particularly welcoming and helpful both answering questions and explaining the days specials (the drink specials were particularly hard to choose from) but both actual meals and drinks were amazing. I had the Ramen Loco Moco with homemade sausage and pork gravy and it was amazing! Good thing we had walked because although the portion size was perfect, it was a stick to your ribs kind of yum. Every item on the menu was equally unique and the bread, tasty! I look forward to going back and trying more on the brunch menu as well as dinner!

Referred to as a neighborhood pub. I would more call it to a bistro then the pub. They have small plates that you can share as well as a full-sized entrées food was very good. We had peach salad and duck fried rice to share. Both were excellent. The panna cotta dessert was also good. Service was fast and friendly. Atmosphere was vibrant but not noisy.

We decided to try this place because we were staying in the neighborhood. I started with a delicious spicy summer squash dish. I ordered the pork shoulder, which would come with a pear kimchi. Because I really like kimchi, I ordered the daily fresh kimchi as a side. The daily kimchi turned out to be a cucumber kimchi. Essentially it tasted like pickles with hot sauce. To me, it was an interesting but failed culinary experiment. I feel that I should have been warned that I was ordering spicy pickled cucumbers, especially after having the (rather similar) squash dish. This is my only (small) complaint about the service. My pork shoulder, on the other hand, was exquisite. The pear kimchi was the perfect complement, a very successful culinary experiment. My partner loved his octopus with cherry relish and cashew butter, another surprisingly successful innovation. While the food was (mostly) interesting and outstanding, the atmosphere was a bit too noisy for our tastes. The restaurant has a busy bar, patrons who come mainly for drinks, and hard surfaces, a combination that guarantees ambient noise. So the restaurant is more the place for a stimulating experience than a quiet and intimate one.

What a transformation for this location. Food was so diverse and full of flavor. Cocktails were creative and delicious. Atmosphere is refreshing and cozy. Owners are welcoming and fun loving - new fav spot when I am in seattle!! Cheers!

Went here for brunch at the recommendation of a local friend. The decor and vibe is adorable and the back patio/garden is very peaceful. The service was exceptionally slow and the server seemed quite confused the whole time. When the food did come, it was quite cold (eggs, sausage and potatoes). Portion servings were quite small and with exception of the sausage, everything was a bit bland and unimaginative. I would recommend spending your money elsewhere!

The food is always innovative as well as satisfying. Service attentive, informed and gracious. The wine program well chosen and quite interesting. We've eaten here many, many times and always marvel at how good everything is and how happy we are afterwords.

We were a group of 6 from Australia and enjoyed a wonderful evening here. The service was excellent, helping us with the right quantity of food to share, while providing great tips for must do things to see and do while we are in town. We enjoyed three Washington wines and would recommend them all. A dining highlight of our trip so far.

When we go out to dinner we enjoy a certain style of service, can be casual but it should be professional. We get the small plate style and we ordered a few things asking for them in a certain order-nope not happening, very random. Which is ok but a meal should have flavors and textures that compliment each other. Not happening when things hit the table one at a time with long wait times for the next dish. This restaurant reminds me of cooks who can nail it on one great dish but can't get a meal to the table all at the same time. Bar is nice.

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here. We ordered the mixed fried vegetable appetizer, and the mussel and duck main dishes. Everything was delicious, especially the mussel sauce. Our group included a toddler and the restaurant staff could not have been more accommodating. We will definitely be returning.

Cute venue. Good food. Excellent service. What is the in Seattle with warm water? Came here with family and loved the experience. The bread is to die for. You must order this. Thick slab of fresh baked bread with butter and s&p. Yum. The menu is a bit limited-the drink menu is much larger! But everyone loved what they ordered. Pork shoulder, lamb belly, beef, all delish. For dessert we had the strawberry chamomile semifreddo. Fabulous.

I was immediately impressed with the well thought out design and decorating of this restaurant, which nailed its attempt to update an old french restaurant in charming/trendy Ballard to an aesthetic that is fun, funky, modern, and eclectic. Bravo to the owners who put a lot of time and apparently elbo grease into the details. The back patio area was not the greatest as it is tight and shady, but on the hot August day we were there was a nice respite. The menu is small. And picky eaters, and typical American diners who depend on pages of offerings to accomodate their limited tastes and extensive food preference/issues may not find something that meets their exact needs - so my recommendation is to check out the menu before committing. For what is on the menu though, the dishes are inventive and exquisitely prepared. I didn't have that big of expectations for my duck leg and belgian waffle, a whimsic take on chicken and waffles, but the combination of the perfectly crispy duck, classic waffle, spicy light syrup, and garnishes was absolutely amazing, especially with the nice carafe of rose. The crab salad was classic. And the bread.... hard to put into words how good the toasted bread was. Service was fast, friendly, and efficient. Cost was about what one would expect. All in all a great meal and I highly recommend this joint.

Great Front of House service and waiting staff! Fabulous Cocktails! The Lamb and Pork Shoulder were tough. Presented as a big mess on a small serving plate. Kimchi? Really? Best of the table was the Housemade Sausage. Right, so we thought to give the desserts a try - the Chocolate Cake tasted pre-ordered from a Restaurant Supplier and the Panna Cotta was not liked at all by the party in our group. Go for Cocktails and leave. Have dinner somewhere else in the faboulous offerings of Seattle.

Very pleasant dining experience from the craft cocktails to the main course. Our server was delightful. We would definitely come back.

This is an excellent restaurant. Terrific service and amazing food in an intimate setting. We have eaten here a few times and it has always been a wonderful experience. Make sure to get the bread!

A neighborhood Bistro well patronized by locals. Love their bar, very creative house cocktails as well as a good selection of local beers and regional wines. Started with the Tapioca Puff Chips - melt in your mouth and one order for four is not enough. For dinner we ordered the halibut, beef cheek, pork shoulder, duck confit and the grilled asparagus to share. All were amazing and if you're not a fan of asparagus, you will be after this dish. Reservations suggested as they fill up fast and come early so you can sit at the bar and enjoy the experience. Only downside is the parking, but hey, it's Seattle.

I don't think this place is officially open yet. We live in the neighborhood and saw people eating in this new restaurant and decided to give it a try. We like the fact we can just walk to this place. The hostess was lovely and very welcoming, as is the wait staff. It is a small but comfortable place. We tried couple of the appetizers: the shrimp toast and cream spinach. The spinach had rice cake mixed it, a very interesting combination, one that I have not seen before. The rice cake was cooked to perfection and I know good rice cake when I see it. We also tried the steak and pork shoulder for main dishes. We ordered the smaller size and the portion was generous and so I can't imagine how big the full size would be. The meats were very tender and tasty. My husband tells me that the beer selection is excellent and he knows beer. We had a rice pudding for dessert, a refreshing way to end the meal. The prices are very competitive as our bill came to just over $50 and that included 3 beers. I think this is a very good neighborhood restaurant but I am not sure it will be good enough to be a destination for people who don't live in the area simply because there are so many great restaurants in Seattle. We will definitely frequent this new restaurant for all the aforementioned reasons.

Food was really great. L Lemon pancake was worth the wait, with caramelized sugar and raspberry syrup. Bacon slab nice and thick. Only drawback was no mention of spicy sausage on Ramem Loco Moco, which was otherwise delish.

We went with our local family for a tasting menu of very tasty plates of many items on the daily menu ..... all were great. Scallops, Oysters, Tagliatelle with a little kick, salads with a roasted carrots and the bread to start. Cocktails were spot on, only criticism would be the warm draft beer.... could be a lot colder. Great service, very knowledgable and helpful. 20% service fee automatically added which is what we usually do for good service, but know it is already included

This lively neighborhood restaurant's limited menu features fine flavors excellently prepared. One great feature is that most plates can be had it two portion sizes, making sharing lots of fun. Our threesome shared small plates of albacore tuna and pork shoulder and a large, very tasty,fresh vegetable salad. The wine selection is small, too, but of good quality and value based on the pouilly fume we drank, Prices are modest and the value based on quality and quantity is excellent.

The chef and part owner is truly a gem. His cooking is phenomenal and the nightly "family meal" is always different and always great. The menu is perfect for ordering a few items and sharing them with your friends. The other owner Jen is the sweetest person, very funny and friendly. She lights up the room, the real meaning of customer service. My favorite dishes were the pork fat, the octopus soup, and the rabbit

The variety on the menu made it hard to choose what to order. We shared two tarters, a salad and two entrees. The portions are perfect and the cocktails and wine menu were extensive as well. The staff were very friendly and the place was packed. Yum!!! Can't wait to go back!

My daughter and I visited the Brimmer & Heeltap restaurant on a Friday night, and I have to say it is the FULL PACKAGE. The customer service is fantastic, the food is delicious, the happy hour menu and prices are perfect, the music was from the '80s, and it was just excellent all the way around. We ordered the tartar, tacos, bread, and beets all were made to perfection. Even the wine on the happy hour menu is bold and flavorful. I will return my next trip to Seattle.

We found Brimmer and Heeltap on Trip Advisor and wow, the reviews were spot on. The staff is so welcoming and attentive. The food is creative and delicious. We had a Dulce de Leche Toast that was out of this world! My husband ordered the Ramen breakfast bowl and it was so yummy. The house made sausage yum! We can’t wait to go back!