Elliott's Oyster House Reviews

We had dinner here mainly because it was close to the ferris wheel. Typical tourist fare. Our meals were OK, nothing to write home about, but nothing really bad. In my opinion, the food is overpriced. The service was good, and the view was nice.

My husband and I ate at this restaurant last week and were taken aback after our waitress pointed to the bottom of the bill and told us to be sure to read this "very important information". We have traveled extensively both in the US and abroad and this is the first time we've ever encountered a 20% service charge before our expected tip. The quality of the meal cannot make up the sour taste this experience left in our mouths. Beware!

Food, drinks, and the service was less than average. There was an auto charge of 20% which wasn't the waiter's tip added to your bill. Then the restaurant has the guts to add tip lines to be filled out and signed and explain that the 20% auto charge is NOT for the waiter! I am happy to tip 20% or have it automatically added to my bill but 40%? It cost me almost $100 for one drink and one fish&chips. 40%is way too much tipping specially for mediocre food&service.

My husband and I had a lovely meal here. Properly paced, no rush nor overly waiting between courses. The food is wonderful and all of the staff are very professional. Well trained and take pride in their jobs. Highly recommend Elliots if you are looking for a dining experience.

Lovely lunch at Elliott's Oyster House on Pier 55. Great oysters, fish and chips and delicious crab cakes. Enjoyed sitting outside on the terrace tables watching the world and boats go by - perfect lunchtime stop in between sightseeing.

A wonderful dining experience for our party of 18. The event staff, the server, busser, and hostess were positive and welcoming. Each of our chosen entree choices were phenomenal. The semi-private space was a cozy area to complete our business event. The pier location was a treat for those not from Seattle.

Just arrived and some friends and I looked for a place to have lunch. This place is a Seattle Seafood place but a bit overpriced. The food was ok but nothing special. They do charge you 20% out of the gate for service but at least they are honest about it even so you have to ask for clarification. The service was friendly but a bit slow.

Very expensive for what you get. Service was inattentive and food was average and spicy. Atmosphere is fine. Nice view but too $$$$!

Great location on the sea Menu leaves a lot to be desired , a lot of fried food, they have a market serving the biggest section of seafood right next door, why not have some fruit de mer , there were choices of crabs or oysters, fine but everything else was deep fried, Dining companion ordered risotto (50 USD FOR RISOTTO, having a laugh right? For rice!) Arrived, mildly warm risotto topped with ice cold grilled prawns and scallops… not sure if they were pre cooked and meant to be heated before applying to risotto? But a VERY odd choice Fish and chips consisted of tiny bits of fish breaded and fried- why not fry one piece (sadly as from England fish and chips is a known entities) no need to chop it into tiny bits to fry fry it as one and looks more impressive Over priced, waiter was adorable, but there’s better choices

Stopped in for oysters and drinks. Could not have been happier. Our server was very knowledgeable with the variety of oysters available and the drinks were outstanding! Bit of a sticker shock on the bill but it was well worth it!

Great location, average food, expensive prices - expect to "tip" 40%! After you read the prices on their menu - over 4 dollars an oyster for some, everything else moderately high priced and dinner focused (not a lot of smaller lunch type options), you will get a bill they add a 20% surcharge on. Perhaps they disclosed that on the menu and I missed it, but it was unexpected. Then the waiter (who is know paid an over minimum wage 'living wage' due to this surcharge amongst other things, will then come and grovel for additional tip. I don't mind paying extra - if it is clear up front what it will be. There is purposeful obfuscation or deception in order to extract more money from people who visit, and I can't respect that. Well you've fooled me once and I shan't return... and am advising people on this forum to do the same.

It got off to a bad start, not sure if she was a hostess or the manager she was training someone. When they went to seat us the table next to us was a couple with a baby, she had her stroller in between the table. Instead of just moving us down one table she stop there lunch and moved the stroller, I said just seat us at the next table and she said no. After things settled down our server was great and the food was wonderful, I am glad because I was ready to walk out.

We had a great experience here. The service was excellent. I really appreciated how our server picked out oysters for us and then explained details about them and the condiments. The oysters were so fresh! Loved the crab legs too. Drinks were interesting and tasty. Would love to visit again.

Huge selection of oysters and our waitress was amazing. She even arranged them like taking a journey of the areas they were from. We were blown away and quite sad we live 4000 miles away. We shall return ..one day

I’m totally confused by the 20% surcharge, I’m used to paying that but not when I read and was pointed out that those funds go 100% to the company. So if I want to tip my server 20%, I’m paying 40% more. I was told a manager could better explain this to me, but unfortunately they were all in “meetings”. At any rate, I won’t go back.

Great location at waterfront, excellent oyster selection and quality, attentive advicing about, unfortunately salmon was too much well-done and dry, vegetables only luke-warm and skinned, definitely not as fresh as it could be, good chowder, very friendly service. In the whole, however, in my opinion not worth the price.

This place is spendy but worth it! We had a dozen oysters, crab corn chowder (a little thick for my taste but wonderful flavor) and grilled scallops with risotto. Even though I thought the red sauce overpowered the scallops a bit it was all beautiful prepared and presented. Our waiter was very attentive and professional-he knew food and wine! The setting is beautiful-right on the water. We highly recommend this restaurant. Even though it is in the middle of the tourist district we could tell there were many locals there.

We came in late but didn't feel rushed. Our server was delightful and knowledgeable about local seafood. We had oysters, crab cakes and halibut. Everything was yummy. What we didn't understand was that there was like a 50% up charge. Our server said she got paid $7.00 an hour and she didn't get any of the 50% of the mandatory service charge, so we left her $40 in cash. However, we still don't understand how that worked, who got 50%? The kitchen staff? Oyster shucker? The electric bill? Def a tourist trap that's expensive.

Way overpriced for what you get. Food was good but for what they charge is outrageous. Two people over $100 is too much even for what we got and the quality.

We were able to get an early dinner reservation at the last minute. We chose to eat inside by a window overlooking the water, but outside would have been nice as well. The food was exceptional. The prawn cocktail was incredible. We will return when back in Seattle.

Food and service were fine (just fine). But restaurant charges 20% service charge, of which the restaurant retains 100%. The server recites a spiel when bringing the check pointing out that the 20% service charge is retained by the restaurant, that he makes a reasonable hourly wage, and that added gratuity is not expected, but appreciated. Put a disgusting taste in our mouths to have this plea for more cash on top of an inexplicable extra 20% charge from the restaurant. There are plenty of other great seafood restaurants along the waterfront; I recommend avoiding Elliott's and their added fees that will jack up your price out of nowhere.

Came in from out of town, with no foreknowledge or expectations. The oysters were excellent as was the service. The meal itself—the king salmon for me—was very good. Nice atmosphere. Very pricey - fine, I looked at the menu before going in. However, they add a 20% “service charge” to the bill, which they explain—with unmitigated chutzpah—the management keeps. Server explained they get a 10% “commission.” So management is stealing half the servers’ tips and then of course the customer feels compelled to make up the difference. Exploitative, manipulative, and borderline extortionate.

We showed up last minute on a whim without a reservation and they accommodated. The food is fantastic, the service is amazing, the view is perfect. The scallops and short rib is recommended.

Stay away, it’s a predatory tourist trap. As a local, I’ve been here a couple times due to visitors in town. To note: - Prices are 3x what you’ll find a few blocks over, for better quality. $41 for four prawns! - Service is slow - asked several times for a menu, and also for drink orders. Then we had to wait over 20 minutes to get our check, causing friend to miss ferry. We asked several times. - “Service Charge” is an automatic 20% add on that goes STRAIGHT TO THE COMPANY. And then they encourage you to tip on top! The receipt states that 20% goes to owners. You can’t opt out. It’s dirty and predatory, you deserve better.

WARNING!! Be aware that this restaurant has a 20% “ServiceCharge” that the restaurant keeps the money. (This is mentioned in small print on the bottom of the menu.). The wait staff works on commission, not compensated from the service charge. So, whatever you purchase, know that it will basically cost you 40% more (20% service charge, 20% tip). Our bill went from $58.00 pre tax to $88.73 after service charge, tax, and tip. Other restaurants in the waterfront area of Seattle also have “service charges”, however this one is excessive. There are plenty of restaurants near this one. Do yourself a favor and don’t support this restaurant but look for a close competitor. The service was good, the food was just okay.

The food at Elliot's is delicious! The location on the water is perfect. Staff are friendly, knowledgeable about items on the menus and also professional.

Best seafood in town. Service outstanding!! King Salmon carpaccio is the best in kind. Really enjoyed having lunch with my family!!

Stopped by on a Wednesday around 4pm at this popular restaurant on the Seattle waterfront. Since we were willing to sit at a table in the bar area, we were seated within 5 mins of our arrival. Overall, although quite pricey, the food was very good and tasty the service was also very good. Since they already included a 20% service charge, I included no additional tip. Seafood Pasta was served hot and was quite spicy hot, almost a bit too hot but was quite good. The spicy crab and corn chowder was very tasty. The Pan-fried pacific oysters were a bit too large but were very good. The Tequila manila clams were also very good cooked in a tasty broth. The Coconut Mahi-Mahi was also tasty and quite filling. The Alaskan Ling Cod & Chips was also quite good Food and service were very good but we won't be back because prices are too high (including a mandatory 20% service charge).

I had never had raw oysters before, so decided to try them. The server was very knowledgeable and explained a lot about the different kinds. I liked them a lot. The salmon was the best I've had in long time,

Excellent fresh variety of oysters. Tasty interesting salads. Very good attentive service. Highly recommend. Over from England with good oysters but these were outstanding.

Super deli and beautiful view. The Spice clam chowder is very delicious! The incredible smoked salmon sandwich and their cocktail thyme of the season deli.

We do really enjoyed the dinner. Very fast, attentive, and quality service. Dante was superb in every aspect. Oysters should be your choice. We order 24 of them and still want some more. Then seafood pasta, traditional hut hard to make it really good, but they exceeded! Blackened ahi tuna, seared halibut were something we had in other palaces but incomparable with what we have had here. All the best quality of service and food that you can get. Highly recommended! Look for Dante!!!

We have been at this place before, but a long time ago. What can I say, they won't see us back. Hard working waiter, good service, knowledgeable and professional. However, halibut was offered - not a good quality fish ( we are from Vancouver and we know how the fish supposed to be tasted and cooked). Oysters were OK. But the most upleasant surprise was at the end. 20% of the Service Charge was automatically added to the bill. We didn't look for the policies, otherwise we would never entered the place. On the top of it, waiter said, that tips would be appreciated, because nothing goes to his pocket from 20%. Excuse me, but we work hard for our money and we have no tips. I just can't afford to pay 20% on the top + another 20% as a tip on the amount, which goes to almost 50% of the price. This is ridiculous. Ownership can do whatever they want, that's fine, but we will never go back to "Elliott's Oyster House" on Pier 56 again.

My wife and I ordered the Jubilee Platter which comes with King crab claws, bairdi crab, prawns, sea scallops and mussels, and I can confidently say, those are the best mussels I´ve eaten in my life, PERIOD! The prawns were Huge! We also had the Tequila Lime Mussels as an appetizer and they were perfect! 10/10

Visited on a recommendation and decided on here rather than our tour operators recommendation as it meant we didn't need taxi fares - prices high enough without adding taxi fares - and food was similar in price. We're not seafood people so felt a bit of a fraud going here but wanted to try Alaskan Salmon having not had any on our Alaskan cruise!. Booked a table..it was a Sunday evening - and glad we did. TripAdvisor reviews were good, except for the 20% additional charge to the bill though we've been used here to having to add 18-20% as a tip but this charge didn't necessarily cover tips? Anyway onto the food and atmosphere which were as described in previous reviews. We went from the main menu although the specials looked good..so 2 glasses of Guvertliner, 1 Caesar salad, 2 Alaskan sockeye (v good), 2 dessert wine - we got our dessert free as the original was sold out and the server hadn't realised - .that was lovely of her; despite this the bill was $190 without any additional tips. Our server Rebecca K was very helpful and friendly and we enjoyed talking to her and getting tips on oysters etc which we might just try in the future .

It was a beautiful night to eat by the water, so we were excited to try Elliott’s. We weren’t disappointed. I had the citrus marinated chicken, with roasted potatoes and a house salad and everything was delicious—the chicken had really great flavor. My friend had the Alaskan cod and chips and really enjoyed that, too. One comment, for those with allergies or who don’t like seafood—there aren’t many options for you on the menu—just know that before you go!

My daughter wanted crab so we tried out this place as it was one of the few restaurants that was open on a Sunday. We ordered the dungeness crab as we were told they were fresh and not frozen. The crab was definitely frozen as some parts of the legs were still cold. Also from the texture, we could tell it was previously frozen and not fresh. For an almost $60 plate of one dungeness crab, it did not even come with any condiments such as butter. When we asked for butter, they gave it to us in a plastic small container and was not even clarified butter. The caesar salad was way too salty and the seafood pasta was not seasoned and bland. As the other reviewers mentioned they automatically charged 20% service charge on the bill and expected us to pay another 20% for the server. We asked to have the 20% service charge taken off our bill and paid the tip as normal. If we had not, our $180 meal would have cost us $280. This was our worst meal in Seattle.

Ate there earlier this week. Wife had seafood risotto, which was awesome. I had cod & chips, which was way overcooked. I had to use a knife to cut the fish due to hard crusty breading to get to the dry fish. I love fish & chips but this really sucked.

We were a large party but it took over an hour to get food . The food was good but not great. It was fresh and reasonable size portions . My food was not hot after the long wait. The waiter returned after an additional 10 minutes having recooked the same fish and just added another layer of balsamic . In the end it was hot but not tasty or balanced. The server did not check back and moved on. They added a 20% service charge but were very overt prior to entry into the dining room. The view was beautiful but it missed the mark.

We were in Seattle for a week,and actually had dinner at Elliott's three of those nights. We had been on previous trips and always enjoyed it.The weather was beautiful all week,so we were able to be seated outside ,which was very pleasant, The fried oyster appetizers' were so good,and the house salad with strawberries and goat cheese is a keeper! I had the rockfish all 3 nights,and I usually don't repeat entrees,but the fish was exceptional. Great service each night. This doesn't feel as touristy as so many other places in the area,which was nice,too.

Asked for patio seating, but they said they weren't using the patio now, despite nice weather. Clam chowder was good, but nothing particularly special.

The food was excellent, the service was good but value for money, not so much. $90 for lunch for 2 sandwiches, and 2 drinks + 3 oysters is a bit pricey from my perspective.

Food was absolutely great and delicious. Service was impeccable. However the reason why I’m giving 3 out of 5, is that i am less than impressed by the way the management of this institution, is dealing with service charges. 20% is collected by default. Not an issue on that. But only half of that (10%) goes to the waiter! The other 10% goes is taken by the restaurant… And this is absolutely unacceptable to me! I fully recommend for management to change such tasteless practice immediately. The owner of the restaurant is making surely enough money with the actual food charges, and should leave the service charge for workers. If no correction to such behavior, I personally will never go back to this place. No matter how good the food is.

If you are in search of the perfect place to have oysters, put this on your bucket list. They have a great selection. Amazing location and easy to find. Friendly and knowledgable staff to help assist you with the perfect menu selection.

Very atmospheric place in the evening, with a good menu selection if you are an oyster lover. Place was highly recommended by the hotel I was staying at in Downtown Seattle. The usher at the front desk was ever so helpful and his recommendations were spot on. Didn't get his name to thank him for valued contribution. Wait time was not too bad despite no reservation on Thursday night. Chelsea gem and baywater sweet oysters were sweet and worth the ~$4 each. Star of the evening were the grilled plump (HUGE) oysters with garlic and cheese on top. First time for cooked oysters and they were delicate and truly sensational. Main course was a true let down (my own choice) - Pan fried (basically batter fried) Oysters with Tartar & Bourbon sauce, roasted red potatoes on a bed of raw cabbage garnish with stem broccoli. For $27++ the potatoes were burnt and bourbon sauce was not the best accompaniment with its excessive tanginess. The oysters retained texture despite being batter fried. Tartar sauce out of a bottle tastes better. My biggest issue of the evening was the waiter brought the warm grilled oysters starter BEFORE the raw ones I ordered as appertisers to go with my glass of champagne! I let it go as the grilled oyster starter were fab!! For the price you pay (which is not cheap) I would expect better value overall.

We checked out this place because it was close to our hotel and it offered oysters which my 6th grader loves. While a bit pricey for a family of four, the food was excellent and we had some of the best oysters of our life. Plus, our waiter Tim was delightful.

I was with a group of people from work on a little break and we had just gone on a harbor cruise when we happened upon this restaurant that looked fun. We made reservations and came back a while later (they never called us, but said our table was ready). The ambiance is cool, it looks like it belongs on a pier and also has nice outside seating. Our server was fantastic ( I wish I remembered his name) and we got a table in the back. We ordered a few bottles of wine for the table and for an app I got the spicy crab and corn chowder which was amazing. For the main I ordered the seafood risotto and that was also spectacular - so big I couldn't finish it. The only bad part was walking several blocks uphill from the waterfront after such an amazing dinner! I will definitely be back!

Have to shout out Elliot’s outstanding commitment to customers and quality. the meal was good as always, and always love the atmosphere inside and on the deck. but most surprising was that my wife had the mussels and when it came out, the kitchen staff detected that there may be a bad mussel in the dish and returned it to remake the whole batch. we eat mussels often and may have caught it ourselves but the kitchen staff made sure we didn’t have to. i have been to other restaurants that would either not have caught it or hoped the customer wouldn’t. 5 Star salute to Elliots! they even comp’ed the dish though the replacement took onlymimuyed.

Went on a Sunday evening around 5pm. Told the wait for a table was 45min. However if we could get an open seat at the counter/bar we were up for that. After a bout 30 min we got a place at the bar. The bartender was taking a lot of orders from people walking up and mixing drinks for the waiters to serve the tables, so it took a minute to order and keep our bartender attentive. We ordered the cioppino which is a fish stew. It was $65. We ordered soup as an appetizer for each of us and then planned on splitting the entree. It was hard to split and came with cracking utensils for the crab claws(2). It was messy and way too salty and not spicy as the menu says. The mixed drink I ordered was $15 and it came in a short sqatty glass, too much ice and probably 8oz of drink. I think it was overpriced.

The restaurant is great, we ordered several dishes and they were all spectacular, but the crab hands were to die good

The food was delicious!! Our waiter, Brad, was very attentive and friendly. He explained the menu and answered any questions we had. We will go back.

We were a party of three for a business lunch. We started out with oysters. There were dozens of varieties to choose from. We tried a sampler. They were amazing, but very very expensive. Two of us had a salmon entree and one person had the fish and chips. Both dishes were delicious, but very very expensive. We also had vanilla ice cream with orange peels. Sounds unusual, but it was delicious, but very very expensive. The service was excellent. The water view was enjoyable and the atmosphere was pleasant. Beyond the high prices, it was disappointing that they automatically added a 20% service charge. It was portrayed as not being a traditional tip. We did not provide more because 20% is already the high end of a customary tip. Did I mention that it is very very expensive? It was $350 for a party of three!

Elliott Oyster House is the nice looking place people take grandma and the visiting relative who wants seafood by the water. I know because I've been recommending it as a 30 year Seattle resident. Unfortunately, after last night's swamp salad and botched shuck job, I will never recommend this restaurant again. Service was a highlight, which is why I gave ANY stars.

Excellent service. Host allowed us to move up our reservations by 3 hours. Our server was Josh and was incredible. Our food bill wasn’t very high because we were there for a light dinner and he still treated us like valued patrons.

Our server was Francesca P. and she did a great job. She explained up front to us that there is a 20% service charge put on the bill which broke down to 12% for the server and 8% for the support team and kitchen. The service charge is taxed. Now to the important parts. We had a crab cake appetizer and the Burrata with Citrus and roasted gold and red beets. Both were good, but the Burrata and beets were the better of the two. The Halibut was served over some gigantic asparagus and was very fresh, firm and delicious. The fried oysters were the largest I have ever had and were fresh and really good. All in all a very good meal, but one of our pricier experiences on this trip.

Over the years I have traveled to Seattle several times and I always stop in for a meal. I am from the East Coast and their fresh fish is mouthwatering good. The staff is friendly and courteous and food was served in a reasonable amount of time. And again I was not disappointed. The salmon melted in my mouth,. My Grand got the scallops and cleaned her plate. Now I will go home and dream about coming back.

Service was excellent, view was great, the food was delicious, in all I had a great experience, that’s why I rate the restaurant 5 STARS😆

To be honest, if you really love seafood DO NOT GOT TO THIS PLACE !!!! It is too expensive for weak food ! A WAY TOO EXPENSIVE !!!

We stopped into Elliott’s and sat at the bar. The service was a seven out of 10. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder and deep fried oysters. The chowder was a eight out of 10. The oysters were a 10 out of 10. The location is excellent as it’s overlooking Puget Sound. There is also a mandatory 20% service charge on your bill. It does say tips are not required but welcomed. Not a fan of this type of charge.

Food was expensive for what it was, we wished we had gone back to Ivars right down the street and the restaurant adds a 20% automatic gratuity for the cooks, bus boys, and some goes to your waiter. Location is nice on the water and the bathroom was clean. The food was good, but we enjoyed the halibut at Ivar’s better and it was cheaper at Ivars.

Where Seattle goes? Hard to believe! Three of us walked in with an expectation to enjoy a great evening meal. The hostess stood behind the desk on the phone and did not even acknowledge our existence. Two additional staff stood behind her saying nothing. After literally two minutes, another hostess walked up to inquire our desire for a table. Having never even been acknowledged by the hostess, still on the phone, she rudely told the new hostess, “no walk-ins“ and went back to her phone call. The second hostess then looked at me and said, “no walk-ins“. If this is where Seattle goes for any type of food and is so rudely greeted and rejected, it’s no wonder businesses are struggling. I will certainly work to take my business elsewhere in the future. I would also recommend the owners choose to educate their welcoming committee who was far from welcoming guests to enter their establishment.

Incredible choice of Oysters, roughly 20 different kinds. Very friendly and competent service. Quite expensive but worth it

Fish and chips at the bar. We got lucky to seats at the bar instead of the 1 hour wait. Excellent service and food. The is a 20 percent service charge included so be aware. The server pointed it out Overall great cocktails food and if you get a seat outside a view

The food was mediocre at best, the bill was astronomical. Good location and very pleasant server but a complete rip-off to add a 20% service charge then ask you to add a tip as well. The nearby crab shack was much better value, nicer food and didn’t have this ridiculous additional service charge plus tip. Avoid this restaurant.

We had an exceptional dining experience here for lunch. The location on the water was great. The service and knowledge of our waitress Edie was fantastic. The oysters and other seafood were beautifully prepared and absolutely delicious. Would highly recommend the entire experience.

Visiting Seattle for a few days and wanted crab legs which were large, tender and delicious. Not a sports bar but we were able to sit at the bar and watch a playoff basketball game. The atmosphere was upbeat and lively. We paid a little more and parked conveniently across the street. We were informed there was a service fee added so it wasn’t a surprise. Would definitely go back.

After looking at Google and asking Brock and looking at some other review sites, we finally decided on this restaurant. When we first went there we saw a big sign saying Elliott's Oyster House and went into this grungy little place. It turns out that Elliott's Oyster House is around the corner. We went in and the atmosphere was very nice and the staff was great. Everything we had from the muscles to the pan fried oysters to the king salmon were excellent. The atmosphere was wonderful with a view over the Bay. It was a delightful experience and I would recommend this for anybody who wants a great seafood dinner in Seattle.

We just love this restaurant. The oysters are always top notch and my shrimp cocktail was good as well. The bar service is wonderful and attentive.

Delicious food and great location on the Pier at Seattle waterfront. An extensive selection of oysters freshly shucked from local areas was on offer. Oysters tasted very fresh and the other menu items we ordered were delicious. Wine list is plentiful with options from both regional and international. A great place to sit and have a late lunch enjoying the harbour views. Disappointingly when our bill arrived the menu items were costlier than expected. Apparently we had agreed to be upsold on the main dishes which wasn’t made very clear when ordering. I’m happy to be upsold but please make this a little more transparent whilst ordering 🙏

Great location on the pier. Our server was extremely helpful with our menu choice. Wonderful service. Food was spectacular.

You must visit here when in Seattle. Even on a rainy Seattle day the patio is a beautiful spot to sit. Gabrielle was a wonderful server. Sweet, great recommendations. The oysters if course were delicious, as well as the halibut. The seafood pasta was one of the best dishes I have ever had. I am still dreaming of Elliots!

Exploring the waterfront area I came across Elliott's. I stopped in looking for a quick lunch. Staff were friendly despite being busy. I ordered the appetizer of Oysters Rockefeller. I was not impressed and honestly couldn't finish. It was not good. I can't speak on other menu items but after trying the Oysters Rockefeller I was not going to try anything else. Don't let this deter you, just my opinion. Stop in and see for yourself. Enjoy!

Elliott's automatically adds a 20% "service charge" to the bill and it DOES NOT go the the staff. The owners keep it! In effect, the menu understates the prices by 20%. The servers then let you know they have not been tipped, and you might consider adding a tip for them. Outrageous. The City of Seattle should cite them for false pricing of their menu. Pleas don't go to this place until they put in legitimate prices.

Food was very good. I had baked oysters and then salmon Caesar salad. Beer was very good, nice local selection. My only problem and reason I won’t be back is they add on a mandatory service fee of 20 percent. The server only gets a part of that, and the 20 percent was of the total bill including tax. I won’t be back despite the great good.

This dinner was to celebrate friendship. We made a reservation and we were seated on the patio. It was a great start to a mediocre ending. We ordered our kids meals + 2 dozen oysters and drinks immediately. Kids meals and drinks arrived timely. The oysters took > 45 minutes only to be told they would arrive soon. Minimal updates provided. Kids finished their dinners well before oysters arrived. The manager circled by to shush our kids, who were laughing, seated and coloring. We explained that our appetizers had not arrived and our kids had finished dinner. She smiled and left. When the oysters arrived we cancelled the dinner portion and asked to speak with the manager. The oysters were comped. Disappointed in the lack of acceptance for our kids but further disappointed that the restaurant took nearly an hour to deliver our appetizer. There were definite opportunities for better communication and we discussed this with the manager. Do better at hospitality Elliott’s. We all visit from the deep South where hospitality reigns. We would never shush you but rather ensure that you had the best time.

We had a great lunch sitting outside in the sunshine watching the world go by. Clam chowder wonderful. Salads and shrimp very good too.

Service was a bit slow and I had to go up to the hostess stand when people without reservations were being seated before us ( same party size). The service was a bit slow but I think it’s Seattles mode in general. The food was tasty albeit overpriced but it is located right in the heart of tourist district.

Always a must-visit when coming to Seattle. Love the fresh selection of orsters. The cakey crab cakes are fantastic. The staff is friendly and efficient and the cocktails are delicious. Excellent water views and people watching if you sit outside. Also recommend heading around the corner to watch the sunset across the sound (Elliott's is on a pier)

Elliott's Oyster House has been on the Seattle waterfront for many years. The great news is the quality of food and service has stayed at a high level for all these years. Offering a wide variety of oysters (of course) provides the opportunity to mix and match different tastes. Check with your waiter for suggestions and enjoy! Lots of great menu selections and for those who do not enjoy seafood, Elliott's offers plenty of options including for those who are gluten-free and vegan. Signature cocktails are available and kind be kind of pricey! Bread for the table is recommended as are reservations (expect to wait quite awhile for a table of a weekend if you do not reserve in advance). We went there on a Friday night during the busy summer hours with a party of 6 and were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation time. Elliott's is not inexpensive, with drinks and appetizers you can expect to pay ~$50-$60/person. One thing to note, Elliott's adds a 20% "service fee" to your bill whether you like it or not. You can ask to have it taken off (we did not) and be aware of this charge in case you do not want to "double tip".

Elliott's Oyster House on the waterfront was a bit of a walk from my hotel, but that helped strengthen my appetite. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and today was just pleasant enough that a couple tables were occupied pier side. The weather people had predicted rain, but fortunately there was bright sun. Therefore I took that as a sign to try you specialty cocktail, "Rainy Sun Day." Thebpear, rosemary, elderflower, andemon flavors integrated nicely. The raw oyster menu featured 27 local varieties. I sampked two from Puget Sound, Kumatoto and Virginica. Three different sauces were served. A traditional cocktail sauce with very fresh horseradish, a cilantro laden mignonette, and a champagne based mignonette that was served as balls of shaved ice. The latter was a treat, and I almost thought if it as a savory dessert. The ceviche was packed with shrimp, avocado, tomato, and refreshing citrus juices. I chose fish, a Pacific rockfish for a main dish. The filet was flavorfully blackened and sitting atop beluga lentils and topped with a mango salsa. A creative and delicious dish. The staff were mostvhelpful in explaining the menu and different types of oysters. The delivery of each dish was timed perfectly. More oysters await tasting.

The service was fantastic and the food was outstanding. Wife got the copper river salmon and it was the highlight of the night. Oysters were large and very good. I will go back when I return to Seattle.

We arrived right in time for our 6pm reservation. We had a wait a couple of minutes. There was no place to sit. It was very loud. They didn’t offer any water. We were seated and I ordered a cocktail. It was TINY! And not well chilled. For $15 the glass should have been chilled. We ordered the crab and the halibut. The waiter came back 5 minutes later and said they were out of crab. We ordered salmon. I ordered a glass of wine. Our food came and it was tasty. The waiter had zero personality. He was a masked robot. We ordered the lemon desert and cappuccinos and an espresso martini. Once again the waiter came back with bad news. The cappuccino machine is broken. We ordered coffee and espresso martini. The martini was average as was the dessert. What really earned the 1 star rating was the 20 % service charge for 2 diners. Pay your staff a living wage. If I want to tip 20% I’ll tip 20%. There was nothing about this meal that garnered a 20 % tip. Every thing was average. The meal was good but I paid $50 for a piece of fish. It tasted like $30. And the waiter was a $30 waiter.

A tale of good & not so good, hence the 3* rating. Good - food was really nice without exception. My vegan husb enjoyed the Miso Polenta. Our server Collin was excellent. Not so good. I'd booked a table for 5pm. The maitre d' was bland. I could see some free tables outside so requested one. No response, just told to wait. A short wait then we were led to an inside table in the deepest, darkest corner possible by a hostess who really shouldn't be working in the service industry. No smile, no chat, nothing. There were multiple free tables by the windows which were never occupied during our entire meal so not sure what we'd done to be placed in a corner. Shocking service charge of 20% which is entirely "retained by the company" according to the menu/bill, so we were expected to tip our server on top of this. As a Brit, this is pretty disgusting. The food is expensive enough without having to fund wages on top. Always happy to tip for good service but this is beyond the pale & the 1st time in all my trips to the States that I've seen this.

Best part were the scallops. My partner had the fish and chips - it was not great. Stale fries. Flavorless fish. We were seated at a high top table by the bar so it was a bit noisy. Wish we would have asked for a table outside.

The views could make it pleasant. However they were they out of bread, our service was the worst I’ve experienced on an evening that wasn’t busy. Forgot to enter our order, then when my meal came it had hair in it. There was a 20% service charge and they got our complementary dessert order wrong. Hopefully this was a bad night, because overall it was a disaster.

We flew to Seattle because I wanted some fresh west coast oysters. The restaurant we originally planned on going to was closed for remodeling over Valentine’s Day, so we tried Elliot’s instead. Boy am I glad shuckers was closed because this place is amazing! They had 24 different types of oysters and they were amazing. Matthew did a fantastic job of guiding us through the growth and harvesting process and was awesome all around. The mussels were amazing also. We will go back and try more oysters for sure. Thanks to the staff at Elliot’s that made our weekend trip memorable.

Elliott's Oyster House was our favorite Seattle restaurant for oysters and seafood. It was always a must stop with family where we've taken them there multiple times pre pandemic. On Saturday early afternoon, the restaurant was only seating part of the restaurant because of limited staff. This resulted in a 30 min wait inside and an hour for outside seating. When seated, our selection of oysters were everything we had expected. They were fresh, well shucked, very well presented and tasty. However, our main dishes were only average, with their seasonal dish, Halibut, a big disappointment. When presented, the Halibut dish looked beautiful, however, it was overcooked and dry throughout. While the seared scallops were perfectly cooked, its accompanying braised short ribs were bland, lacking flavor. The saddest part of the visit was when our server presented our check, highlighting that the restaurant automatically charged a 20% service charge, of which they would only be getting half. The server then highly recommended we add extra tip so they wouldn't get shorted. Needless to say, we were very disappointed with the overall experience.

Had drinks at the bar before being seated. David looked after us at our table, he was attentive and courteous, The food is very tasty, especially the halibut is an absolute must. Prior reservation is necessary.

Great place to stop and eat while walking along the Seattle waterfront near the Ferris Wheel. Very busy, we walked in a put our name down for a table for 2. They said if we wanted to get a seat sooner to watch those at the bar, it was full, and when a seat opened we could sit there. Within 10 minutes we were able to sit at the bar. The bartender was very knowledgeable not only of the drinks but was able to explain the different menu items and gave us a few recommendations. We chose the Halibut and Coho Salmon. Excellent!! We will be back.

We fully expected this to be a touristy overated over priced restaurant. Given its location we chose this as our first (unplanned) place to eat since we just got to Seattle and didnt book anything for the first day. We had upscale, great reviews places coming up on our trip and assumed this place being in such a tourist trap location would be just that. Although it ended up being the most expensive place we ate in during our stay in Seattle, it was definitely the best. The oyster selection was unlike anything we had ever seen. It was so hard to choose, especially when you dont know what any of the names are but our server was amazing. She picked her favorites for us and she did not disappoint. Literally everything we ordered was great and the server was very friendly and quick. The drink selection was also great, we had sparkling rose which not everyone carries and it tasted amazing with all the seafood we ate. Dont let the touristy location fool you, its definitely worth the visit.

5 star experience. Best place for fresh seafood. Salmon was to die for. Oysters were scrumptious and risotto was perfection. Our waiter was awesome as well.

Tried to park in the open lot across the street. Was going to cost over $50 for 2 hours. Finally get there and not baked oysters offered like Oysters Rockefeller etc so settle for “pan fried” which really seemed deep fried to us. The cherry on top is that the restaurant adds 20% to your bill automatically. We are then asked by the waiter to consider giving him an additional tip because he works on commission. The 20% surcharge should be disclosed ahead of time or incorporated into the price on the menu. Food was average.

Staffed insufficiently for lunch. Patio and half of restaurant was closed but had about half hour wait for a table. Other wise good. Food was good. Location in the heart of the touristy area.

My wife & I ate dinner at Elliott’s on Sunday. It was a very good meal, but expensive. I’m sure you pay extra for the location — it’s right on the water. We each had the spicy crab chowder, which was excellent. I splurged and had the king salmon, which was also very good. My wife had the haddock fish & chips, which was okay. Obviously, with the name, they are known for their oysters, but we are not oyster people. But lots of people seemed to be enjoying them. No bread was served. The service was very good. The restaurant was crowded, so reservations are suggested. One warning is that there is no tipping (unless you had great service). Instead, they add 20% on top of every bill. So when you are looking at the menu, remember that everything is actually 20% more. They are very open about this and it is openly discussed on their website.

Lunch on the deck. Food was good, but the waiter got the order wrong. Three times servers brought someone else's food to our table by mistake. When we were ready to pay, the waiter didn't leave a pen. The hostess desk didn't have any pens. The mandatory 20% tip goes mostly to management.

First, the views of the sound and mountains was great, and it was entertaining to watch the boats come and go. We enjoyed the outside patio. We shared a bottle of rose on the suggestion of the server, and it was very good (a little pricey at $68, but a value when seeing the per glass price of lesser wines). Our server was knowledgable and friendly but a little slow. We had a good bread to start the meal, and the meals were very tasty. The king salmon was very tasty and had a great presentation. The scallops dish was outstanding in its combination of flavors, presentation, and freshness of the scallops. We also shared a strawberry shortcake that was just right on a hot day. Overall, it is a pricey meal, but take it slow, watch the boats, get the salmon or especially the scallops, and enjoy the view.

What a disappointment; I read other reviews and thought this would be the place to go for crab in Seattle. We paid $115 a plate for crab. The crabs were “scored” but not shelled. I left with bloody hands from the spines. For $115 a plate, those crab legs should be shelled for you. No clarified butter, just melted. Not a place for foodies, but a tourist trap. Finally, the server told us that the 20% gratuity didn’t go to him! He wanted us to pay another 20% for his tip on top of the house “service charge.” What a rip off! And honestly, the food wasn’t really particularly good.

We were having a great time. Great food and service. We’ve always loved Elliott’s. But I don’t know if we’ll ever go back. What this obnoxious 20% “Service Charge?” The receipt says it is 100% retained by the company. I asked our server if she got part of that as a tip. She quoted the exact words on the receipt: “That is retained 100% by the company.” That fee is also taxed. I am not a cheapskate. I still tipped the server 20% on the total check, including the 20% Elliott’s added to our bill. I think they are engaged in fake pricing. You look at the menu, you see the prices, and nowhere does it say all prices are actually 20% more. I’ll spend my money at businesses that have integrity.

Great oysters! And the view is unbeatable. First time here and the waiter was in training but knew plenty to help us order their oysters and make recommendations

The food freshness, taste, and selection are superb. The service is above par. This would be a 5-star review if not for the 20% service charge added to the bill. No, this is not a tip to your server, it is 100% retained by the company (see receipt) AND it is taxed as well. If you want to show appreciation to your server, it’s another 20+%. There are too many good seafood places nearby to subject yourself to this business model.

I saw the sign for the 20% service charge when I walked in and decided that I guess I was ok with it. Then when I got the check, the waiter informed me that the restaurant takes most all of it but he will get 12% plus $7 an hour. So because the service was really good I felt like I needed to tip more so my server could get 20% for himself. The next day I looked up minimum wage in Seattle and is $15.75 so I called the restaurant and asked about all of these things I've been told. I was shocked that they wouldn't pay the waiters min wage but that it's ok as long as with their 12% tips that it averages out to $15.75. All of this BS just left a bad taste in my mouth including the food....it was not worth the price either. I hate feeling ripped off. Stay away from this tourist trap. There is so many more other great seafood restaurants around.

Shuck yeah! This place is the ne plus ultra for lovers of the mollusk. Maybe the best selection of oysters I’ve seen this side of Grand Central Station. All fresh and local….and they come with a sorbet-like frozen mignonette on the plate that is absolutely unique. The hama hama (or as Ralph Kramden says, “Hominah haminah) and dabobs are my new faves. It’s like a museum of oysters, and the waiter…a super-nice guy….was my docent….walking me through the choices available. The spousal unit got the blackened salmon caesar which was pretty damn fab in its own right. Great drinks too. We were in Seattle for our first time. Elliots was a happy accident.Just kinda fell in gettin off the harbor tour at Pier 55. Gotta be one of the best restaurants in the city.

Fed up with the “usual” gastronomic offer of the US and Canada hinterland, we decide to take advantage of the sea in front of Seattle to try something different. After a quick search in the area we decided for this restaurant; the reception was great and they immediately put us at ease. The fried oysters very good, but generally all appreciable. The least appreciable thing, which is worth one star less, is the 20% mark-up intended as a flat rate “tip” to which must be added the voluntary tip. This raises the bill, already not exactly economic, to levels that cause the relationship between quality and price to get high. Certainly the fact that we find this behaviour unacceptable is influenced by the cultural rejection of the US tipping system, as it were. But this one still beats them all.

This restaurant is all about location. The food and drinks are very overpriced, but the location and resulting view cannot be beat. The service was impeccable.

Great authentic seafood restaurant on the Seattle waterfront, with absolutely delicious oysters. I popped in on my own while in Seattle for a business trip and this place absolutely hit the mark. Friendly staff (thanks Eric behind the bar), good service and tasty food. Would highly recommend

While this is a wonderful location with good food… charging a 20% service fee that specifically states “it goes 100% to the company and not the servers” and results in the servers advising customers that they don’t receive a tip unless you leave extra $$$$ is rude and offensive to both customers and servers. This is a high volume / high $$ restaurant who’s business model has been designed to increase the companies bottom line by adding a mandatory svc charge and hoping customers feel sympathetic (which they do) to leave another 20% for the servers resulting in a ridiculously inflated bill… THAT’S JUST WRONG!!!! Please select another establishment as this behavior should not be accepted!!!

Had to wait 30min to be seated with half empty restaurant and servers dragging their feet up and down the floor! Another 30 min to get drinks and apps. Server forgot to order oysters, second drink for my wife was wrong, after trying to get someone’s attention for 10 min had to raise my voice so I can be heard. Terrible service from host with an attitude to server, food-edible, but not great. 20% automated gratuity on top of all this absurd experience is absolutely ridiculous. DO NOT GO THERE !

WHERE DO I BEGIN?!!!! From beginning to end, this was one of THEE best experiences we ever had. Our waiter, wish I remembered his name, was thee best we had in a long time. He was knowledgeable, attentive and friendly! He made every menu item sound better then it was. The oysters were shucked perfectly with zero shards. They were fresh and delicious. Even the kids salmon was fantastic! It was served with broccolini and roasted potatoes. The crab cakes and seafood risotto were outstanding! The drinks were made well and paired even better with the food. This is a my top 10 restaurants to visit! CHEERS!

The food here is delicious. Our waiter, Charlie, made our experience even better with a little bit of humor and a lot of knowledge. We are from the Midwest so we had some questions about the oysters and the lemon water dish with the crab. He was a great help and didn’t let us make fools of ourselves which is appreciated. The desserts are divine! Never disappoints!

Great food, great service. The reason for 3/5 is because I find the 20% included service charge dishonest. They should rather add 20% to their listed prices and retain trust. The bartender had to explain to me that they would only get an additional tip that I had to add on top of the 20% service charge. So I have the server 20% tip and ended up paying 40% in total over my meal value.

Good food. Great variety of oysters. Tried a sampler of 3. Very good! Higher price than expected but overall a good experience as we wanted to try seafood on the west coast of the United States. Great service with flexibility!

Excellent service and food. We had prawns, clams, and halibut entrees. Topped it off with flavor of the day homemade toasted coconut ice cream (To die for) and raspberry and lemon sorbet. Took home a strawberry shortcake that reminded me of my mother’s.

Food was OK, prices were high but comparable with other restaurants serving fresh fish on a pier . We booked in advance hoping for a view table but were seated in a back area and it was very loud. We had read reviews about the 20% charge that is not a tip for the server and read about it in the website, but it is still uncomfortable at the end of the meal when the server tells you he’s not getting a tip and then guests have to decide if they will give an additional 20%, no tip, or ask for the 20% to be removed. Hope the restaurant is reading the reviewer comments and can figure out a way to take care of the servers that doesn’t create a lesser experience for the guests.

Very good seafood restaurant. I stopped and ordered their clam chowder soup and a Caesar salad while waiting for the next ferry to Bremerton. Good and tasty dishes. Will try their other dishes next time

Delicious, I had the trout with smashed potatos. Very flavoful. House salad too, which was also delicious. My friend had the pan fried oysters. Excellent service. Excellent view.

Food was not good and so overpriced but the service was actually so bad it was almost laughable. Went there after a 1 hour tour which ended next door. It was 4 pm, very few customs inside. Couldn’t get someone to even bring us waters. Crab cakes were the worst I’ve ever had. Ordered a cocktail from the menu and the waiter said they were out of it!!! All the ingredients??? Waited and waited for the bill then for him to take the payment before finally going up to the editor at the front. He said only our waiter could take the payment! Off he went to find our MIA waiter. They added a 20% service charge unbeknownst to us but he explained mgmt does that and he only gets 15% of it in case we wanted to leave him more!! We wanted to leave him less! Run from this place! There is nothing good about it!

Elliots has a a beautiful setting-with a great view of the ocean and the mountains. The service is friendly and efficient. But you pay for it...Prices were high for average food. As noted by many commentators, the 20% service charge is high, especially when you still have to tip your waiter. After all was said and done, we spent 160 on a meal that probably would be around 90-100 anywhere else.

This is the place to go for fresh oysters hence the name Elliot,s oyster house and it’s on a pier. Lucky thing we had reservations since it’s always packed. Food was fresh and very tasty. Highly recommend while I’m Seattle. We had grilled oysters, raw oysters grilled swordfish and braised short ribs. All cooked to perfection.

Wonderful food. We ate a starter which was a Spice Fried Shirimp (a wonderful spicy shrimp). In addition to this starter, we ate a dish that is a typical soup from the region and it was also very good.

Great selection of oysters. Menu items were fresh and well prepared. Great views from most of the tables. Staff was friendly and service was great. Prices are about on par with what you would expect from this type of restaurant. Overall I would definitely go back.

The Service charge that was added to the bill very inappropriate before tipping?! Very highly price! Loud! The oysters were good and the rest of the meal was average. We won’t be back!

We decided to sit at bar and wait while reservation became available. While enjoying a local beer we decided to stay and eat at the bar. Service was fast and demeanor of server attentive but not overly friendly. Ordered mussels, excellent as appetizer but the cod and other fish dish wasn’t really that impressive. We weren’t through with one dish and there was the rest of meal. Service charges of 18% added to tab kinda a turn off and waiters make commission off food and drinks. I got the impression limit your time and leave.

We had a great meal here on our last day in seattle. The team were friendly but unobtrusive. The man behind the oyster bar was very chatty but knew when to leave us be. The food was delightful, amazing chowder and coconut prawns. The stand out was the oyster experience, very tasty. The olympic oysters were “see to believe”, sooo big.

We popped in for drinks and oysters and we were not disappointed. Upscale vibes. We sat at the bar and had great conversation with the guys shucking oysters behind the bar. It was my bachelorette weekend and I got treated like a princess! The oyster selection was extensive and everything that we tried was exceptional! I will be coming back often.

Very beautiful afternoon for a late lunch overlooking Elliot bay with great service and food to enjoy. Our server, Tom was outstanding, professional and very open to recommending various food selections. We had a few local beers with the mussel appetizer which which delicious to the last bread dip in the cilantro, creamy jalapeños sauce. Then we selected the crab soup plus a salmon Reuben sandwich which again we tried to finish every bite. Only negative comment is the Resturant charges a 20% gratuity plus tax which wasn’t disclosed when we made reservation or sitting. Personally don’t like this approach and prefer tipping as we see fit for the occasion.

This was my second visit to Elliott’s, located right on Pier 56 along the Seattle waterfront. As expected, the place was packed, but we lucked out and snagged three seats at the oyster bar for our party of three. Service started a little slow since David, the oyster chef, let us know we couldn’t order directly from him and needed to go through a server. But David went above and beyond, he tracked down our server right away and made sure we were well taken care of. Big shout-out to him! He was friendly, chatty, and full of great recommendations, even giving us a list of places to check out on our next trip while we mentioned we were visiting family. The oysters, as always here, were excellent and fresh. What stood out the most were the salty little Olympia oysters which are native to Washington and hands down our favorite of the night. They had the perfect briny, salty-sweet balance that was just chef’s kiss. We loved them so much, we ended up ordering more. If you’re a seafood lover, especially an oyster fan then Elliott’s is a must! They showcase a wide variety of oysters and highlight Pacific Northwest seafood beautifully. A true seafood classic and a Seattle icon!

Celebrated a reunion with friends through this long pandemic. Wonderful server! She guided us through a selection of very fresh oysters and drink choices. Overall, the menu was classic Seattle seafood and very well prepared. A bit on the pricey side, but the view can’t be beat and that’s part of what we pay for. Only downside: the restaurant charges a 20% surcharge just for covering costs. None of that goes to the kitchen or server, so we made sure she was tipped well, but it accounted for the expense.

This place has been distributed by the super icky and beggy 20% service charge. I am local and come here often. The 20% service charge that does not go to the server is gross. Then the server begs you for more $$ after. It went from high end to yuck over this. No respectable place would ruin someone's experience with this. We asked to have it taken off and they did, but it was uncomfortable and we had to wait a long time. Our service was the worst part of the experience and we had to sit at the bar. The servers kept smashing my chair and I could hear the gossip of restaurant the entire time. So don't go throwing a useless charge on my bill after and make it more uncomfortable. The clam chowder was good. But the rest was just meh and over priced. The manager made a point to say " we will still take care of our staff even though you didn't pay full bill". Rude. Won't be back til this is removed.

This seafood restaurant by the waterfront has a great atmosphere. It serves fresh oysters and excellent seafood pasta. Another seafood dish was generally very good. Service was fine, although dinner times may require a 20+ minute wait for those without reservations. Potential diners should be aware of the mandatory 20% service charge, even for party of two, and some ambiguity as to what it's all about, causing this diner to drop the restaurant rating from what otherwise would be 5 stars. The waiter claimed to receive only a not-large portion of the service charge, but that any additional tips would 100% go to the waiter (ie diners should tip more to adequately pay the server). To add to the confusion, Elliott's receipts -- see attached photo -- state that the "service charge is 100% retained by the company" and that the restaurant is "required by law to collect tax on the service charge"!

First trip to Seattle and wanted some good seafood and was not disappointed. For apps got the spicy shrimp that were flash fried and crab &corn chowder. Both were amazing. For entrees we ordered the prawn/scallops with bacon risotto and grilled halibut. Both were ample in size and very tasty. We sat outside and watched the sailboats and ferries in the bay. The star of the show were the apps but the entrees were a close second. The meals were a bit pricey and the tipping process a bit confusing but this was definitely a restaurant we will tell others about.

The food and service was excellent. The waiter did an excellent job of curating the menu and assisting us with the food selection. He was courteous and funny. Trouble occurred when the check came with a 20% service fee that was not for the waiter. The waiter politely explained the “scan fee” -and confirmed that he did not receive any part of the service fee. That Service charge ruined the wonderful experience. The restaurant should disclose such fees upfront rather than surprising customers at the end. For a meal that included two king legs, a dozen oysters, an old fashioned, and sparkling water, totaling $330, the overall value just wasn't there.

Visiting Seattle went to bainbridge island and wanted oyster when I got offf the ferry Food was delicious Chris, my server was friendly, helpful gave great recommendations and patience I watch the sunset while enjoying a wonderful environment on the outside patio Great evening 🙌🙌🙌

We stopped by here due to the convenience, views, and seafood. We were caught off guard when we saw the posted 20% service fee at the hostess station, but we were not surprised because we had become accustomed to Seattle prices, charging for bags and the sugar tax. We were seated immediately on the indoor deck, which had clear pull-down windows and views of the docks and the water. Rebekah was a great server, and I felt bad that part of her initial greeting was explaining the complexity of the service fee, staff compensation, and tipping. I ordered something childish: a cocktail and seafood pasta. The seafood in the pasta included Pacific tin fish, prawns, mussels, and clams, and it was the best seafood pasta I’ve ever had. My son had the sweet Alaskan bairdi, which he said was wonderful. Indoor and covered deck seating. The inside was loud when I walked through to the restroom. Excellent service. My water glass was refilled several times without request and was never empty. Cloth napkins and nice silverware. Pricy. I would recommend it, but be ready to pay up.

We stopped in here because we were waiting for the next Harbor Cruise. We walked right in and sat at the bar. We wanted Oysters and they did not disappoint. There was a long list of different oysters from various Washington locations. Since we did not have any experience with Washington oysters, we let the bartender who knew it all suggest some and he delivered. They were the best oysters and the freshest I have ever had. They were pricey ($4-6 each) but the bartenders told us to come back at Happy hour and they would be $2.50. The Happy Hour in Monday through Friday 2:30-4:30. We went on our one hour cruise and come back for the Happy Hour and had more oysters. It was wonderful.

Great food. Service was pretty good. Nice ambience inside at the bar. I ate outside at sunset. The location on a nice evening is top notch.

A favorite for fresh oysters and seafood on the water. It's expensive, but worthy of a special trip when in Seattle. Definitely leave time to park a little farther to avoid the tourist trap parking across the street.

We had to wait 30 minutes to be seated although plenty of tables where free. Could not sit outside where tables where also free. Food was descent but relative expensive and 20% tips is automatically added although it does not reflect the service level.

Good experience ruined by a 20% service fee that doesn’t go to the server. I took 7 friends here that were in town. Everything was good until the bill came and the server awkwardly explained that the automatic 20% service charge goes to the restaurant and not to the server and we can tip more that will go to the server. It put us in an awkward situation with the server basically begging for an additional tip. We almost left without leaving any tip, but instead, tipped the server 20% and decided we would never return and would make sure my friends in Seattle and people online are aware of this shady and awkward tactic that takes advantage of customers. So we paid 40% on top of the $900 bill. Absolute robbery. HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT GIVE THIS ESTABLISHMENT YOUR MONEY.

Been coming here on and off for the past twelve years, whenever I visit Seattle. It’s a no-brainer. Excellent food, staff and location. The seafood risotto is exceptional.

My wife and I had a fantastic 20th Anniversary dinner here and we’ll never go back. As soon as I arrived, I saw a sign announcing a 20% service charge on all bills for all party sizes, which is essentially a 20% mandatory tip. I already don’t like that, but it’s our anniversary, I can ignore that nonsense and enjoy the night. Every course was fantastic. The oysters were incredible, the decor and view were excellent…everything was great. Until the server dropped the check. It’s a hefty bill (over $400), but it’s 20 years of marriage, so we splurged. Anyway, when the server dropped the bill he started giving me a speech about the service charge. It was a whole presentation. The guy was underlining details on the receipt that he wanted to draw my attention to. He proceeds to tell us “12 % goes to the waiter and 8 % to kitchen and support staff, but if you’re generous enough to leave more on this line, I get 100% of that.” So, you hit me with a mandatory 20% service charge/tip, then the waiter gives me a speech in front of my wife to guilt me into tipping more…on my anniversary?! I’m getting tired of the guilt and manipulation tactics from restaurants. You do it to me and I take my money elsewhere. It’s garbage and people need to stop going to these places. Restaurant owners seem to increasingly hate their patrons and their employees.

Light meal for 2 came with a hefty 20% charge on the bill described as mandatory required by city and goes to the company. Waitress said she doesn’t get it so we left another 18% tip on top feeling bad with her story. Only to find out later after reading reviewing that the automatic 20% surcharge goes to company and waitress. Why don’t they tell you first and why is it presented like a mandatory city charge? I won’t return it’s a lot of extra money but I’m mostly upset by not being told upfront about the fees

I'm sure there are plenty of rave reviews about Elliott's Oyster House - but wanted to put this alternative out there. If you don't have a reservation and you can grab a seat at the bar - and you're lucky enough to have Joshua leading the bar team of Derek, Chip, and the bar-back, Robert - you're in for a TREAT!! Joshua is a first-class mixologist and can adjust any cocktail to your preference. He made us one of the finest Black Manhattan's I've ever had! He's also a skilled gastronome and can recommend the finest combinations on the Elliott's menu. Chip and Derek are also great and round-out the terrific team. Robert - he's the bar-back and is such a hard worker and keeps the bartenders stocked with barware and supplies. It was so much fun to watch these guys work together and we had one of the best meals of our travels!

Had I idea what to expect but sure am glad I ate here. Even at 2:30 on a holiday weekend Sunday it was mobbed. Service friendly and impeccable. The two salmon specials were fantastic - Copper River and the king crab excellent. Great location

The restaurant is located right on the piers in downtown Seattle. It is very touristy and the business seems hectic. Some of the seafood was very good (oysters, Golden King crab), but some was unfortunately less so (over-salted Bairdi crab). When paying, the waiter points out that half of the tip goes to the restaurant rather than to him, in order to get an even higher tip, which seems pushy. Unfortunately, the price-performance ratio is not right (over $400 for two).

We were traveling through Seattle and stopped by Elliott’s Oyster House for dinner. When told we did not have a reservation we were rudely dismissed by a young woman with false eyelashes the size of giant spiders. I understand when a Resturant is full, but staff can be trained to be civil or replaced. Have been to Elliott’s many times over the years but never again.

No one will be disappointed with the seafood or the service at Elliot’s. Fried Oysters were perfectly prepared and the crispy rock fish (minus peppers) was exceptional. Paired with Mac & Jack’s African Amber, could not have been better. The clam chowder was not just a great starter but stood as a star on its own. Service is excellent and more than pleasant.

Pluses: Great location, competitive pricing, excellent oysters, great ambiance, nice views, good seafood menu, excellent selection of beer and drinks, cool bar. However, based on our experience, you might want to skip sitting at the bar. Minuses: We sat at the almost empty bar and were met with entitled indifference. Bartender put my wife's drink in front of me which I moved. Then a minute later he put my drink in front of her. Both times he was walking by and neither time did he look up. It went downhill from there. Never confirmed that he took our order, which was a head scratcher when it became awkward a few minutes later. We asked for oyster variety suggestions, and he walked away. But it turns out he ordered them for us. You'd think that would be good service, but we didn't know. A few minutes later when we ran him down to place the order, he was offended. Then he forgot utensils until we had to run him down and ask. Also forgot Tabasco, which we had to ask for twice, the second time we got it from another bartender who brought it immediately. We were going to order dinner, but cut our losses and left after oysters and cocktails. We felt like androgynous blobs to be minimally managed until we slithered off our stools, and because he had pre-loaded a 20% tip, he didn't really have to do anything to earn it or care because it seemed like his attitude was if it wasn't us sitting there, it would just be another tourist.. I wouldn't say this review is a condemnation of the restaurant. Rather, we just had an exceptionally poor bartender who probably shouldn't be in the hospitality industry.

The restaurant looked inviting after getting off a harbor cruise. Outside seating and nice setting next to the water. You are met with a sign that they charge a mandatory 20% service charge and that the waiters earn a 12% commission on sales. You can tip on top of the service charge and the waiters receive all of that. Ordering was easy but, twice, we were brought someone else’s food. Another time someone else’s drink was put on the table. When our order was finally delivered, one of the dishes was not what was ordered. Rather than make a fuss that person just ate the wrong food (which was more expensive). The food was tasty, no doubt about that. That was about the only redeeming quality. When it was time to pay the waiter ran my credit card and didn’t leave a pen to complete and sign. I went to the front desk to get a pen and they didn’t have one either. And the desk didn’t attempt to find one. Finally I grabbed the waiter to get a pen. At the prices charged, it seemed like too many mistakes were make, or they were just very inattentive.

Best oyster ever!!!! so fresh, so clean and delicious. If you are visiting Seattle, this is a MUST place to go. you can’t go wrong with this restaurant. I love love LOVE coming back here.

When in Seattle none MUST visit Elliott's- The view of the harbor, the caws of the sea birds and the food ! Oysters are a must and the scallops were suburb. Wife had the salmon and thought the topping needed help - we had the Creme Brûlée and a cheesecake. The wine list is superlative featuring local grapes - Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. We had an excellent experience!

Came to Seattle as a visitor with friends. Thought we were going to have a great meal. Ordered king crab legs and shellfish jubilee. Both were delicious along with a variety of other dishes. Total bill came to almost $400. Then they added a $20% service charge. Figured that’s their version of tipping. We usually tip that so wasn’t a huge deal … BUT then the waiter gives us a big sob story about how he doesn’t get paid enough and he wants an additional tip… really. It was very uncomfortable. We were enjoying our dinner with friends. Didn’t feel like being hit up like that. Just my thoughts

First of all, Elliott's has apparently made no effort to delete old web sites, suckering us into thinking they still offered an oyster happy hour. They do not. We wasted a lot of time and cab fare to get there for it in time. We'd been going there for 25 years and will not be going back. We wanted oysters, so bought them at $4@. Sadly, we also bought entrees, which were oysters in disgusting breaded mush and overpriced halibut. Top that off with a 20% COVID tax which in no way benefits servers. Then add on the tip. Then add on the menu price increase at 800 per cent of the rate of inflation. Memo to owners: if you want to recover from the pandemic, don't do it by screwing your customers. We checked in at hostess, and got a memo that we were on a waitlist for a restaurant that was 3% filled. Gee thanks. Lots of wait staff standing around. Maybe an oyster happy hour would bring in business for them, plus tips and bar. But what do I know. I just run $1,4 billion in buninesses. Elliott owners: Seattle is starting to suck with clutter, construction, street mentally ill, etc. Sell out to someone who knows how to attract customers and do the world a favor.

Possibly the best dining experience we’ve ever had, and we never left the bar! The bartenders were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about oysters. Who knew there was so much to know about oysters? Food was fabulous and I recommend going with the wait staff’s recommendations. They’ve eaten everything on the menu.

Stop in for a late lunch / early dinner and sat outside. The views of the water were nice, although my views were of the docks and unloading cargo containers. We had nice service from Strawn, and all the food was good. My wife loved the oysters, she also had the Buratta salad. I had the Caesar, which was an average restaurant Caesar. I also had the Cod and chips, the cod was nice with a light breading.

Our waiter was excellent, he made excellent recommendations. The food was very food, from the fish and chips to the lobster. I was impressed. The feeling in the restaurant was very relaxed. You were not rushed through. They allowed us to enjoy our meal in a relaxed atmosphere. I enjoyed just being able to have a great meal with my friends!

ELLIOTS OYSTER HOUSE , along the river front, has construction to be aware of while walking. The old wooden boardwalk gives you a feeling of old fashioned days… being a Jersey girl I take boardwalks seriously! The only thing missing was a Mr peanut and Salt Water Taffy, and the smell of summer, coppertone!!! As you approach the front door, you will notice plenty of outdoor seating. Also, small gas fireplaces are around. As we entered the restaurant, the beautiful polished wood is prominent. Our table had an Anniversary card welcoming us to the restaurant. The hand written card was greatly appreciated . We had a reservation for 7:30 PM… the expansive dining room was empty… there were 6 tables and a few outdoor tables with guests. One annoying point, the hostess had her computer tablet and kept walking around checking on the tables. Did she want us to rush? The chowder was very good. It was served with packaged oyster crackers. We had the cold seafood presentation. It consisted of shrimp, scallops, crab❤️ we asked for the mussels be removed. No problem. We enjoyed coffee and dessert. Our bill came. 20% was added on when I asked our server, who was EXCELLENT, if she received the entire 20% or 65% of the total… she told us Oh the servers DONT GET ANY OF THAT MONEY ITS to pay the light bill the water bill etc… And, I very politely asked for the OFFENDING addition be REMOVED… It was.

The food was great with 24 kinds of mussels to choose from. The service was exceptional in both attentiveness and explanation. There's alot of discussion about Elliot's 20% service charge which our waiter explained to us without prompting. The waiter gets 12% and any extra gratuity provided by the guest. Still unclear how the company uses the other 8%. Note that this was the only restaurant (we were at Ivers next door too) that we encountered with the practice. I would go there again because of the food and service, but understand why others are "put off" by the service charge

Quick lunch: six local Puget Sound oysters, oyster and ginger (I think) sorbet which was delicious and a jalapeño dressing and then deep fried oysters. All were excellent. Service was friendly and efficient and for USA, not bad value at all.

Having eaten at Elliots in the past the lack of crowds when we arrived should have indicated that something was different. The 20% upcharge was a shock considering that the menu prices had already been substantially raised. Food preparation was acceptable, but service has deteriorated since there seems to be an obvious attempt to bulk up prices for the 20% upcharge. Our server, who started with reasonable interest in our table, was soon much more interested in the table of drunken revelers behind us and was soon serving them endless appetizers and running up the bill. Since this seems like the future we won't be returning , since there are many other worthy seafood options to patronize.

The food was heavily salted, the fresh sourdough bread was delicious, the $36 prawn dish was overcocked and dry. The lemon cheesecake was delicious. However, our waiter was kind and let us socialize for two and half hours which made up for the poor quality in food. He earned his extra tip. Thank you for the service but the food needs work

Wow, just wow! The choices for fresh oysters here is overwhelming. Fortunately, our server-whose name escapes, but she was great-helped us out and her recommendations were spot on. After sharing half a doz oysters, my husband went for the clam chowder. I dove back in for another half doz oysters. Really delicious. Also enjoyed local beer. The staff was great, views good and food exceptional.

My wife made reservations for Elliot’s while we were visiting Seattle for the kids fall break. Atmosphere was fantastic and we waited just a few minutes before being ushered to our inside dining room table. There were also outside seating options but we weren’t very picky. We were quickly greeted by our server Jacob and off we went. He was attentive, very knowledgeable, and overall took amazing care of us. We asked for his suggestions on picking oysters to try and he picked a “tour of the Puget Sound “ variety and they were so delicious. Two of the accompanying condiments for the oysters were so refreshing and different from anything else I’ve ever been offered. My wife and I both ordered the Sturgeon (off of Jacob’s recommendation) and it was some of the best food I’ve ever had. Our sons ordered grilled cheese and the teenager got crab legs, both had no complaints on either. Desserts were also ordered and devoured. Fantastic experience with amazing food and service. We are lifetime patrons of Elliot’s and are already planning to go back!

Corporate raiders. Adding 20% to the bill WTF??? Not giving this to the servers, oh no, but pocketing for pure profit. Unscrupulous to wait to the end. What's the issue? Can't compete fairly? Looser management. Never go to an E3 owned restaurant. Unbelievable truly"

I have eaten at Elliott's every time we visit Seattle. Located on the water near the Argosy cruise dock, Seattle Aquarium and Ferris wheel, it is central to many activities. Heads up, it is popular so put your name into the reservations list even when it first opens. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The seafood is fresh and well prepared. The wait staff is attentive. It can be a bit pricey but I feel it is worth the money. Our only negative was my granddaughter ordered a "Shirley temple" which never arrived. After asking several people we were finally told they didn't have ginger ale or sprite. We would have appreciated knowing this as soon as the waiter was told about missing ingredients.

They added a 20% service charge to the bill with no warning that goes totally to the company, none to the employees!!!! How is this allowed Seattle?? I would have caused a scene if my family wasn’t there. Do not go there!