Ivar's Acres of Clams Reviews

You want to eat an excellent Fish & Chips, this is the perfect place. We recommend the special Ivar made with cod. The restaurant is very nice and there is a terrace. Perfect for dinner

When I was little, my family would come to Ivar's all the time. This new fancier sit-down Ivar's is new, but the delicious chowder remains the same. The fish and chips are amazing too. Wish we lived closer! We had an amazing server too. Overall, very happy!

The clam chowder is great. The Halibut fish and chips are average. The most disappointing is the grilled Alaska King Salmon dish at $50. The fish is dry and tasteless. The asparagus is tough to eat due to the fibrous and stringy.

We had the best lunch at Ivar’s today. The fish and chips were perfect! You will be hard pressed to find any better any where. Also, the clam chowder was delicious. Really great food!

If you're hungry for seafood, this is the place to go. We had to order the acres of clams, and yes, it's great! We also ate the clam chowder and the fish and chips. All great, but the view of the pier with the ferries coming and going is so relaxing! It's a little pricey, but you get what you pay for!

Nothing compares to the street food experience awaiting at Ivar's. It has been a long-time family tradition to stop in everytime my family visited the Seattle waterfront. It hasn't changed since I was a kid; many many years ago.

I was excited when we walked in to sit at the bar. The beer was cold and service wasa superb we had oysters on the halfshell which were excellent! We ordered a bucket of manila clams which were delicious! My wife had never had clams before and she liked them so much we were fighting over the last of them. the Salmon Chowder is too die for. We look forward to the next time we are in Seattle!

The clam chowder is still WONDERFUL! We were only in Seattle for short times before and after our cruise, but we dined at Iver's twice.

Great lunch spot and great value for money —we each had the lunch combo. I really liked all the historic pictures and info.

We called in at the last minute to Ivar's Acres of Clams and it was great. We got seated reasonably quickly and ordered a couple of Old Seattle lagers and two Ivar's World Famous True Cod Fish 'n Chips. The beers came quickly and the meals not far behind. The fish was really nice, with lovely soft batter. The chips were huge and very crispy. Lots of tartar sauce on the side too. It's a great setting, looking over the Sound, with loads of maritime memorabilia. The staff were all very pleasant although we were 'tip-shamed' when paying the bill. Which was unnecessary, so we didn't leave anything. Other than that, it was good value and we would go back: perhaps to the waterfront cafe instead, which I think serves the exact same menu.

Friendly service. Decent food. Halibut was fresh and the asparagus was yummy. Waiter gave good recommendations. Views of water and boats.

We visited the west coast from Orcas Island up and down the 101 for 9 days then into Seattle to fly home. I had fish n chips a few times at different places and they were all comparable till we stopped here. Ivars was hands down the best fish n chips I have had anywhere, and I mean anywhere! We also had the Salmon Sandwich and oh lord that was good. The service was fantastic the food was very good and the prices were good. NOT A BLEMISH ON THEM but DO NOT PARK IN THE SELF PARK ON HAWIIAN if you have things in your car. Our rental car got the window smashed and luggage stolen, and this is the city they want to de-fund the police? Park in a secure lot and go to Ivars acres of clams. It is fantastic!

This family-run restaurant has been on the Seattle Pier since around the 1930s. Great nostalgia and terrific location on the pier & the water. It is at the end of the pier itself, and is an escape from the lower rent kitch that makes up much of the area. It's about a 10 minute walk from the Seattle Aquarium. There is an excellent bar, indoor and outdoor seating with good views of Puget Sound, and food was good.

Party of 11 - we’re seated outside for a late lunch. The menu for lunch was extensive and quite reasonable. All the food was great as was the service. Can’t beat the view!

We were a party of 14, chastised numerous times by our server for needing separate checks. Food came out sporadically, if at all, a food auction at every delivery. What is the Bread and butter plate/ knife for?? Seemed as if it was everyone's 1st day on job. Please, on a Friday evening, cruise ship traffic all over, you have 1 slow bartender? 20 minutes for vodka/soda???

This place was recommended because of their clam chowder. Hands down, the best clam chowder I have ever had. You have the choice to order from a walk up counter and sit outside or go inside the restaurant for the dining experience. I think both would be good. We sat inside but think we would have enjoyed sitting outside as well for a more casual dining experience.

We always eat at Ivars for the clam chowder. The waitress was unfriendly. She accidentally spilled an entire beer when serving, three of four people had beer spilled on their clothes, shopping bags and leather purse. When the three went to the restroom to clean the beer off, two staff came to wipe the beer and one staff then sprayed cleaning product which squirted on my face and shirt. They were insincere with their apology as though I did something wrong. I asked to speak to a manager, she said she’d do something for us. When we finished our meal, there was zero discount offered from our waitress except to one of us with a Measly 15% off. The manager came back and took 15% off the rest of our bills. Overall, the lack lustre service will Unfortunately lead to a loss of loyal Ivar clients. The customer service was horrible!

We made a reservation for 14 people for July 9, 2022. We were excited to have Happy Hour before the Mariner game. Their Happy Hour runs from 3-5. We looked at the menu online and on their website. In no place did it state that there were restrictions on where you could order from the Happy Hour menu. We requested an outdoor seat as it was a sunny day and we are still avoiding Covid. Not until we were seated at the restaurant were we informed that we were 'not allowed' to order from the Happy Hour Menu as we were seated outside!!!! There is nothing on their website or menu site that states this to be the case. When I called the manager she said this is 'typical' and it is assumed. On top of that we were overcharged which they did refund. Unhappy with the false advertising for 'Happy Hour"Bait and switch- we will not go there again!

We made reservations for Ivars but I think they weren’t necessary. As expected, the food was great. My husband's entree was the grilled halibut which he said was nicely prepared. I ordered the salmon and halibut combo. The halibut was delicious but the salmon was a little dry (probably due to being a thin vs. thick piece. I ordered a glass of the Michael David Freakshow Red Blend - one of my favorite wines. The staff was gracious and respectful and the ambiance was just right.

There are two styles of Caesar dressing: one with a sour flavor and one without. This one had the sour flavor, so I was not enthusiastic. The chicken that I ordered with it was on the dry side. My wife had the white wine Manilla clams, and was unhappy that it had an herb flavoring (she said it was rosemary). Too bad, because the room and the setting on the harbor is spectacular. Service OK.

This large waterfront seafood restaurant is a great option for fresh clams, crabs, and fish. There is a spacious dining room with some interesting exhibits on the wall and ceiling. The service was friendly and efficient. The food was bland and very basic although, importantly, the seafood was very fresh. The list of specialty cocktails and wine list were both relatively limited. Good place for seafood but nothing out of the ordinary.

This is the spot where all the tourists go, but there's a reason for it, and the good news is, they have the crowds down to a science with a huge dining room and outdoor dining area. We had no trouble getting in around 6ish. Husband reports that the clam chowder was the best he's ever had (We don't live where clam chowder is common). The prawns I had were succulent and done just right. The view of the ferry terminal when dining outside was nice, service was good, drinks were good. I have no complaints. We even thought about going back again on the day we returned from Mt. Rainier to Seatac to fly out, even though it was out of our way, but didn't because we were too full from a previous meal.

Undecided to eat something after the various visits to the places of interest on the Seattle waterfront we went to this place attracted by the various boards on display with the various culinary offerings. I wanted to taste a dish of typical North American oysters, slightly smaller in size than the European ones but still good and delicate in flavor. Then I had a plate of fried food, how could it be missing, accompanied by sauces. Also tried white wine in a can  which for us Italians is practically an offense, but I was curious in the end good compared to others tasted even in the bottle. Local practically overlooking both one of the various piers and the promenade, very large, completely open and very bright Quite clean considering the amount of work and the size of the room. Service also good. Good in the context remained satisfied, average prices perhaps slightly lower than others. Feasible.

This restaurant is resting hard on it's Laurels. The decor has not changed since I first came as a child in the 1960's. The carpet is faded and worn. The smell of grease permeates. Cob webs were visible at multiple spots. Three adults had dinner and we all agree, it was very overpriced with barely edible food. The King Salmon was dry and tasteless. The Seafood Fettuccine was watery and all seafood seemed old and previously frozen. I could go on but you get the idea. The waiter was low energy and seemed disinterested. The bill was presented with a tip suggestion of 22%, 20% 18%. If you know anything about the Seattle City Council and their implementation of wage hikes for restaurant workers, you might question why a 22% tip on a hyper priced meal would be appropriate. The best things this place has going for it is location and tourists. This local does not plan on returning.

Great sunset view while dining outside. Food was fresh and good. We had fish and chips, cup of chowder and salad. The cup of chowder was delicious. Waiter was attentive and overall we had a great experience. Deducted 1 star because it took a long time for our food to arrive.

beautiful spot to enjoy the patio and views of the ferries and waterfront......had a bit of an issue getting seated out of the hot sun, but happy in the end....

The food was good but the views were better. I love the old school feel. I had the specialty clam, my husband had the halibut and son had the fish & chips.

Our dinner at Ivar's Acres of Clams was probably the best dinner we had in Seattle. It was a gorgeous evening and we sat on the deck with an incredible view of the harbor and the Great Wheel. For starters, I had the fresh strawberry salad and it was amazing--that vanilla bean vinaigrette was delicious. My friends shared the calamari and said it was also perfect. For cocktails, the watermelon martini and the pina colada sangria were both big hits at our table. Although honestly, I was filled up after the strawberry salad (it's huge, not a side salad), I had ordered the buttermilk fried chicken strips with mashed potatoes. Both were very good--the buttermilk breading was fantastic and the honey mustard was unusually good (I'm not usually a fan). One of my friends had the spicy blackened salmon Caesar salad and one had the halibut fish and chips and both were very happy. To say we left Ivar's stuffed and satisfied would be a huge understatement. I wish I could remember our server's name, as he was attentive, friendly and helpful! All in all, we were very happy diners and would highly recommend!

We had lunch here before our harbor cruise, Crowder very good, fish and clams, both good choices, dining outside by the water was nice.

The food is ok, overpriced! The service is awful the only thing that’s good is the view! It’s beautiful view especially during sunset!

Seafood was very fresh. My Wild salmon was grilled and nicely medium rare. The halibut fish and chips with panko was the best I'd ever had . Server was outstanding

I had the $46 steak and it was one of the toughest stakes I've ever eaten even though it was perfectly cooked to medium. The waiter adjusted our ticket and was great. My Brussel sprouts were the best I've ever had! My wife ordered cod and loved it. Great atmosphere and view. So everything was great except the steak which I believe was a NY strip.

We were looking for good seafood and we found it! This is a cool restaurant. Earlier we saw that there was a big lineup so we thought it must be good. When we were seated we were pleasantly surprised by the service and quality of food and drinks. I had the Seafood Cobb salad. It had generous portions of crab and shrimp, both cooked to perfection. The serving size was large and all the ingredients were fresh. My husband had D Cioppino with a 1/2 lb king crab leg. He said it was delicious. Our dinner companions shared their bread basket with us and the rolls were so soft and tasty.

This review is for Ivars - Lakewood, Wa. or have Ivars Lakewood been forgotten. Could not find revirew for Ivars Lakewood. My wife and I are seniors and enjoy Ivars Lakewood often. Fish and chips and scallops is our favorite. Quality of fish is excellent and doesnt takr second best to any fish and chips house around this area. Thank you Ivars.

Lunch at Ivor's post cruise. Menu was (in my opinion) very limited - fellow travelers really enjoyed the clam chowder saying it was excellent. Calamari and Fish & Chips were average. Service was good and waiter very accommodating to our desire to get in and out pretty quickly.

I've eaten here twice in the past with coworkers during business trips, and I was thrilled to be able to finally go again with family. We went during the dinner rush on a Friday night so we had to wait a bit to be seated. The restaurant was more crowded than I've seen it at any other time I've gone, but service was still surprisingly prompt. I ordered the Seafood Mixed Trio, though it was a tough choice because so many things on the menu sounded amazing. The dish was a little different than the last time I ordered it (hadn't been there in 5 years) but it was still delicious. The atmosphere in the restaurant is fantastic as well; it's kind of cozy and rustic, and it's great to sit there enjoying good food and watching the ferries and boats on the water just outside. Can't wait to eat here again and try something new!

Delicious light dinner at Ivers. Be sure and look at old menus and memorabilia in waiting area- some real Seattle history here!

This place was recommended as a famous, must visit restaurant on the Seattle waterfront. Great atmosphere and excellent food and service. Prices are reasonable and location great.

My father, wife, and two young kids went here for dinner. The adults ordered cioppino—which was mediocre at best. Big issue is that the food was not hot. More than that the broth was pasty and bland compared to the cioppino I’ve enjoyed elsewhere. Another criticism is that the bread they give you is not garlic bread and is just dry toast ends. One plus was that the kids menu is quite large. But even my kids meal was cold. Perhaps an off night for the kitchen? I will say the seafood itself seemed reasonably fresh but a bill of over $300 for a family dinner (with no alcohol) should provide so much more.

My husband and I ate outside on the deck at Ivar's Acres of Clams on a weekend getaway to Seattle. They had just reopened after Covid. The wait staff were great! We ate early and wanted to have a drink before ordering anything and they obliged. I had the fresh halibut with the avocado sauce, potatoes and tomatoes (which I didn't think would be good, but it was) and a house salad, which was wonderful. The dinner was excellent! And, with their limited menu, they did not have a shrimp cocktail, but at my request, they gave me one, which was wonderful. My husband had the clams and he found them very good. But go for the halibut with the avocado sauce; you won't be disappointed. Do make online reservations if you want to eat outside or you are there on a weekend. It has a wonderful view from the deck; but the weather does not always cooperate in Seattle.

Ivar’s in Seattle came highly recommended by friends and locals as one of Washington’s top seafood restaurants, so when my parents visited from Colorado, I was genuinely excited to share what I expected to be an exceptional dining experience. Unfortunately, what we received was the complete opposite, easily one of the worst restaurant experiences of our lives. From the moment we sat down, the service was disorganized and slow. We understood the restaurant was busy, but it took far too long for a server to even come to our table. When he finally did, he brought an incorrect number of water glasses and some of those glasses had nothing but ice, no water at all. We placed our food and drink orders right away since we’d already been waiting, but nearly 20 minutes later, the only drinks that arrived were two drinks we didn’t even order. When our food finally came, it was another disappointment. Our appetizer came out alongside our entrées instead of beforehand, parts of the order were completely wrong, and we had to send food back. The blackened salmon salad was unappetizing, the salmon was cold, the lettuce was limp, and parts were soggy and dark green. My husband’s soup and clam chowder weren’t any better, his salad had the same limp lettuce, and his chowder was barely room temperature. After sending back the incorrect items, it took another 20 minutes for the rest of the food to arrive, and by then, the meal was already a disaster. The final frustration came during checkout, our bill was processed on the wrong ticket, and after we’d already paid and were getting ready to leave, the server stopped us to say he needed to “fix it” and charge us more. We left feeling disappointed, frustrated, and frankly embarrassed that this was the place I had chosen to show my parents after hearing so many great things. This was not just a bad night… it was a complete failure in service, food quality, and basic organization. We won’t be returning!

We were at the harbor shops and I wanted seafood. I thought I’d try the walk up window at Ivars. Hopefully inside seated is better than the walk up fast food. I ordered the scallops and substituted coleslaw for the fries. I also ordered the red clam chowder. I took it back to the room, and discovered a big disappointment. There was my scallops, probably ten. Deep fried, tiny and seemed like it was something you would find in the freezer section of Walmart or worse. The coleslaw was fair to poor, the clam chowder… well, I suppose it was actually “clam chowder” because there were little bits of clam in it (probably from ONE clam total in the whole larger sized bowl I ordered.

Lovely meal - we sat on high seats and could see the lovely views. Nice food and drinks - fish and chips were tasty as was my blacked salmon dish. Very busy with great buzz.

Nice to have fresh fish. Prawn cocktail was good, although prawns were more like shrimp, and then bay shrimp were added for more enhancement. "Acres of clams" were definitely not acres, and broth was more like a chicken broth than clam. The clam chowder was good, but the baguette that we ordered with it was meh! Next time I think we'll go back to the MIner's Landing, had the clam chowder in a sourdough bowl and the rest was delicious.

Excellent traditional fish n’ chips; go for the halibut if it’s fresh. Great tartar sauce and the panko breadcrumbs make it light and crispy while the fish is tender and flaky!

Well Ivars may be slipping a little bit but they're still great in many ways. Their clam chowder is still outstanding even though their bowl size is not very large. I think they used to serve better sourdough bread but now you get a couple little sourdough rolls that are not great. The fish and chips with cod is just OK. they also serve a small portion of coleslaw which is OK. The best thing about the meal was the beautiful dining room and the very good waitress that took great care of us. We would eat here again but it's probably now not the best seafood on the Embarcadero

Walked in and got seated quickly. Absolutely fantastic clam chowder with little packet of crackers on the side. Fish was a little chewy but good flavour. Nice view of the water, had strong WiFi and seemed to have lots of space available. Didn’t order any drinks and bill came to around CA$45 for two people. Only awkwardness was the server bringing to bill to the table while we were halfway through dinner. He did say we could pay when we were ready, but that made us skip dessert and wander elsewhere. And there are lots of options around the piers to check out.

Good was excellent. Husband really enjoyed the clam chowder and mixed berry salad was yummy. We both had the halibut. Only thought was the tomatillo-avocado salsa was cool so it cooled the potatoes down. The downgrade was because one waiter consistently had his mask beneath his nose. As my husband says that is as protective as a conform with a hole in the top.

We were both very disappointed. We had hoped for a really good dinner, but it fell far short. First, dinner was served mildly warm. It had obviously been sitting for some time. Likely our servers fault. King salmon was not fresh(previously frozen) as it was surprisingly tough and chewy. Very unlike our fresh salmon lunch at Lowell’s the day prior, which was very good. My sons shrimp was dry and unflavored. The sourdough starter was simply sourdough buns that had been microwaved. Once at room temperature they were dry. Really let down overall and would not recommend at all. There are better choices.

Great looking place. Bread was amazing and so were the clam chowder and oysters. Ordered the fish & chips and the halibut special. The main dishes could have used a little more flavor. The crème brûlée was delicious and much bigger than expected. Definitely big enough to share.

A Seattle tradition ... we enjoyed the classic Clam Chowder and the Crab & Bay Shrimp Dip. Everything was delicious and we had a great view of the water from our table.

This entire location smelled of urine. We smelled it the minute we opened the door. We were hopeful the smell would dissipate as we were taken to our table towards the back of the large dining room, but no such luck. As a group of 8 we decided we were not comfortable eating food at a place who could not keep its premise smelling appropriate. We left before ordering.

We visited Seattle for a next-day cruise, made a reservation and were excited to go to Ivar's (based on past experiences). However, the server barely had time for us, had no personality at all, and didn't even offer any bread. I asked a lady (not our server) later about bread, and was told they only had one kind and it would be an extra charge. How cheap can this restaurant be?? We spent $100+ for mediocre food and poor service. The restaurant did reach out about how we liked our visit, and I told them, and said we will spend our money at Elliott's next time.

14 of us, including two small children and two 92-year-olds showed up for brunch on Sunday. They scrambled to put together a table big enough for all. Jason was our server. Best. Server. Ever. He loves his job, even after 30 years. We had chowder, pasta, fish and chips, seafood—all delicious. Then, he served us homemade pie we’d brought for one of the 92-year-olds. Go to Ivars. Ask for Jason. You will love it.

Visited on a recommendation from our tour operator, arrived about 745 on a Fri with no reservation but had no trouble getting a seat..the place is huge !! As you go in you can see the fryers on the right hand side yet the restaurant does not smell like a chip shop! Anyway seated, menus and water brought quickly then we waited about 10 mins for our order to be taken, not an issue for us Brits but in the USA service is usually quicker - sometimes too quick! Anyway 2 glasses of regional Sav Blanc (lovely), Margarita Prawns (abit of a kick and a lot of tortilla chips), seafood cocktail (crab, shrimp, prawn) delicious, 2 x 2 piece halibut n chips, and 2 teas (and the water was hot as it should be unlike most places where I've had so called hot drinks in Seattle!). After waiting awhile for our order the mains arrived just as we'd finished the starter which was a surprise. All food tasted lovely and was nicely presented, waiters etc were friendly. $141 Inc tips etc. same price as our dinner in the Purple Cafe the previous evening yet we had more food here. Nice to watch the ferries coming and going as you ate !

Went to Ivar’s Acres of Clams for a special lunch while visiting family. We ordered the scallops appetizer, the bacon wrapped halibut, and the salmon with crab cake. It was all delicious. The service was great and a beautiful view. We enjoyed ourselves very much.

Great spot for a quick bite while walking around. We shared the fish and chips as well as the clam strips. Both were quite good.

Ivar's Acres of Clams is a institution and tourist destination in Seattle. I ate there 10 years ago and really liked it. Some things remain the same: there are great views from almost every table, the staff is friendly, there is a great history there. Unfortunately, the food does not live up to that, at least not on my visit in December. I found the food to taste fine, but the menu to be very small and uninspired. It was also really, really expensive. Nearly $50 for a trio of their best fish dishes (salmon [meh], cod [quite good], and shrimp [also quite good]). For four people, including two who ended up ordering off the kids menu because they couldn't find anything else they wanted (good thing they were kids!), our bill was nearly $200, and that only included 1 cocktail and two beers.

Great place for a meal! First time in Seattle, so my friends brought us to Ivars for seafood. Awesome view, we were seated at a window looking out at the water. The food was even better. I had the clam chowder bowl to start and didn't regret it. Then I had the two piece halibut fish and chips. I walked out delightfully full! Highly recommend this place, can't wait to go back!

This restaurant must be an acre in size! Founded in 1938 one of the original restaurants by the pier. Casual cute environment. Think this would be a good place for large groups. Food fine——nothing to get excited about. Took my father, his wife, one teen and me. Check with tip $275. (Includes 3 glasses of average Chardonnay). Food: Manila clams: smaller than usual. Clam chowder: average. King crab legs: didn’t seem like 1# as advertised. So, reason for 3 stars besides average food. Poor service. Don’t mind spending $75 per person on dinner but should get better service. Waiter never checked on us after dropping off food. Left all the appetizer plates on the table when he dropped our main entrees and we had to stack app dishes up on table ourselves to make room. Finally asked for check——food still on our table. Took 20 min to get check. This was a Tuesdaynight and the restaurant was 25% full My guess is locals never eat here. I would never go back. Skip this place. Go to BlueAcres. Much better.

Stopped here for an early dinner/happy hour, and really loved it! Got a table on the water. The Spicy Salmon Cesear salad on the happy hour menu was very tasty! Erica B, our waiter, was awesome, very attentive!

We have gone to Ivers every chance we get when we come to the PNW. This time we were disappointed. The host was a great guy. Very welcoming and got us a nice table outside. It went downhill from there. The server was less than interested in us. We ordered what we thought would be good meals and the entrees were not the best for the price. I had Alaskan Halibut that was way over salted. My husband had Cioppino seafood. The sauce was not good at all and overpowering the seafood. Clam chowder was good but we had much better in Bremerton the night before. We never had our water refilled and we ordered 2 crème brûlées but our server only brought one. For what we paid for lunch I feel we should have had better food and service.

Fortunately, Ivar's just reopened the day before our trip to Seattle. We took a taxi from our hotel, the Hyatt House and had only a short drive here. I ate here about 22 years ago and had good memories of a delicious seafood meal. My husband and I had a short wait for a table. But unfortunately, we didn't have a good marina view. I wished that we could have been seated outside on the deck. From our booth, at least we were able to see the car ferries arriving and departing. We shared a bowl of their famous clam chowder which has a bacon flavor that we are not used to. Their hot rolls with butter were excellent. I ordered their fresh salmon with fingerling potatoes and green beans. My husband said that his halibut was amazing. For dessert I tried a scoop of "Buckleberry" ice cream which was a little melted. The cost of our dinner was a little pricey but worth it. Our server was the best and took good care of us! I wish that I could have returned to try their "Salmon and Chips".

Acres of clams is out of date and misleading. I couldn’t find 1 clam, only potatoes and fillers! What happened???

If you want a quick bite to eat the prices really cheap and the food was so fresh. I just love to go to Ivars, it's reliable and delightful. I think it's really good to feed the frenchfries to seagulls and everyting.

Went for lunch and started with appetizers. Husband and I shared a bowl of clam chowder they sell in cups too but better deal on a bowl. Calamari and the crab dip. The calamari was the star for me but my husband liked the crab dip better. Service was good. They only seat enough for the waiters to handle. We spoke to our server and they are having the same troubles with getting staff. We really did not have to wait long but I would say it would be worth the wait. Ended up only getting appitizers because we were stuffed.

My family dined here on May 12th 2019 for my daughters 30th birthday. It is a fabulous restaurant for family celebrations. There was a huge variety of entree selections. My daughter chose the lobster..I dined on A bowl of clams and seafood chowder. Exceptional food and presentation and waitstaff were very professional and knowledgeable about the menu when we had questions. there were about 15 people in our party. Great view of the ocean and yes, they have a large dining area on the deck. food prices were very affordable. a sure must when visiting seattle.

We ate here the evening we arrived in Seattle after arriving from London. Sitting on the terrace watching the sun go down was a lovely experience and seems to have been the perfect way to prevent jetlag. The food was good: I had the salmon caesar salad - lots of fresh leaves and well cooked fish, with a tasty dressing. Service was friendly, efficient and helpful. This is not fine dining. It doesn't pretend to be. It is a friendly, relaxed place on the water's edge..

It is a huge place, with nice views of the water and a plentiful menu. Clam chowder (white) is thick and lots of potatoes (more than clams!). The grilled cheese and tomato soup was a hit. Service as good.

Great location. Right on the water, nice view, near a lot of things (we had just come from the aquarium and was waiting to go on the Argosy harbor tour). But the food was just so-so. We got halibut (it was good), two cups of chowder, and crab cake sliders. And a couple of fountain drinks. Nothing was bad. It was all just ok. But it was no where worth the price.

I had Cod Fish and Chips and Clam Chowder. The three piece Fish and Chips was excellent but more than filling. The Chowder was good but had more Potato than Clam. Service was excellent and the waterfront views were stunning.

It's a huge restaurant whose internal size is not predictable while outside due to its modest entrance. The food is very good, however rolls for the whole table and more bread with the cioppino would be nice. Prices are comparable to back home, which is good in Seattle. The air in the waiting area is stale and something needs to be done to improve the ventilation; the dining area is bright and airy and the views of the Sound are superb. Our waiter was not very efficient. He showed up after we had waited for at least 5 minutes and all he did was plunk down four glasses of water and disappear. We started a timer then, and it was 6 more minutes before he appeared to take our order. The food came 35 minutes later and it was worth the wait. About half way to that time the waiter came by to say that the food would be out in two or three minutes -- which was not honest. The kitchen forgot the burnt butter sauce with the salmon. But the waiter tried to bluff about the missing sauce and we actually had to convince him by comparing the dish with that of a second person in our group. This restaurant could actually be rated as excellent but an accumulation of small things marred our experience.

Excellent table on the back patio overlooking the water, ordered Salmon Club and the Prawns. Second visit to Ivar's and great food, friendly staff, mid-range pricing.

I was unsure about this place. But the food, service and view were all great. The halibut entree' was the best I've had in a long time, anywhere. The salad was simple but delicious. And the server did everything right. Overall it was a much better experience than Elliot's...I was pleasantly surprised!

I was walking along the waterfront and it happened to be dinner time. I was lucky to get a walk up reservation. Although my wait time was over an hour, I continued to enjoy my walk. I had preferred to sit outside because of the pandemic. But where I sat, there was ample spacing between tables. My server was a bit rushed. It looked like he was covering both outside and inside dining. I had the clam chowder and cod fish & chips. I enjoyed my food. The restaurant was a bit noisy and busy. But there was a great view of the water.

Friendly hostess and waiters. Great food, great drinks (really enjoyed their Old Fashioned). Tried both types of fish and chips (substituted salad for fries); both had subtle taste differences and were delicious. The view and atmosphere were excellent as well.

Highly recommended by friends who came before, the experience was everything I hoped. Promptly greeted at the door and then provided with a history of the restaurant from the pre-war days to now, the atmosphere really set the tone. The location on the waterfront and next to the maritime fire station added other the experience. I ordered the bread basket and bowl of chowder and was thoroughly impressed. Washing it all down with a local craft beer made for a perfect lunch and helped refuel for the afternoon. When you visit Seattle, make sure to add Ivar's to the list..you won't be disappointed.

I stopped in Seattle to break up my trip to Alaska. I ordered fish & chips at the downtown location. The fish tasted like it frozen then fried and served. The service was somewhat slow although it was the middle of the week! I cannot imagine what it would be like on a busy weekend. I found the food on a scale from 1 to 5 a 2. I’m from the Midwest and we don’t have access to the freshest fish but we have fish & chips that tastes far better than what I served at Ivers downtown location.

We had such a wonderful dinner here, with stunning view to the bay. Service was professional and friendly. The seafood was well cooked and seasoned, while the salad was fresh and crunchy. Totally loved the experience!

Had the white clam chowder. It was delicious. Got take away and sat out on the pier by the water. Great food, great price, great atmosphere.

Great views and decent service. If you like clams this is for you. More of a lunch type place than dinner. Delicious scallops for snd appetizer. Clams were very flavorful with excellent broth. Fair prices.

The seating was really nice with an awesome view of the water and boats around. The food was not the same as the other Ivars next door, very bizarre. No bread bowl chowder, just a bowl and it came out lukewarm. Fish and chips needed more time to cook. Average fries, pretty shocking. I’ll go next door, and at least they won’t complain about feeding the seagulls...

We had reservations for 2:30pm. We ended up finishing up our plans for the early afternoon early and the host got us seated promptly. Our service was great! The crab and shrimp dip is so good, my husband and daughter split the famous fish and chips and I tried the bacon burger. We were satisfied with our meals and especially their seasonal lemonades!

We had a very pleasant late lunch at this restaurant. Beautiful table, next to the water and under a sun shade... Perfect. The clam chowder was delicious as was the Alaskan halibut with stir-fried vegetables, jasmine rice and mango salsa. Service was polite and efficient without being overbearing or invasive. I would definitely eat here again. Recommended...

Awesome clam chowder, but everything else was overrated. Service was slow and not friendly, especially the maitre d. View was fine, but be warned the outdoor deck is closed for construction. Entree nothing special either...too much sauce made fish hard to taste.

great location. nice views. excellent service. a restaurant with character. and the price is unbeatable. never give their clam chowder a miss.

Went twice. Servers friendly. Food good. We went into the restaurant but they also do takeout aswell. Portions huge so only had main as was too full for dessert

We went to the sit down restaurant and not the walk up window. Beautiful views of the sound. The restaurant is right on the docks. It offers great views. There are plenty of old photos to look at in the large waiting area. The dining area is huge. It is a beautiful building. Our service was good. The food was average. My fish and chips was good but nothing I could not get anyplace else in the country. The clam chowder was the stand out and was good. My partner had the salmon. It was cooked well, but had no seasoning to it, not even pepper and was bland (had better at chain restaurants). The food could use some work (seasonings and quality). It was not bad, but not the quality you would expect from a place on the dock. The bread rolls is an item you order, not complimentary. It is okay, but nothing special and I would not pay for the bread rolls again. Our service was good from the time we checked in at the door through when we left. Plenty of room in the waiting area for large groups and there are photos to look at while you wait.

I believe you're paying for the location (Pier 54) and views, because the food was just meh. I ordered the Cioppino 54 and felt the broth was just watered down and not very flavorful. Not sure the hype, but this restaurant seems to be a Seattle staple so maybe nostalgia for some Seattleites.

Service attentive. Clam chowder was hot, smokey from bacon. Plentiful clams in chowder. Crab shrimp dip was a big portion, hot with melty cheese. As it cooled off there was alot of grease pooling in dish. Very rich dip with good seafood flavor. Entrees consisted of bourbon maple glazed salmon and fried fish/seafood platter (cod, halibut, clam strips, and shrimp). Salmon entree wasn't very good. Fall vegetables tasted like they were from a frozen bag and the salmon had no flavor or, at least a weird non-salmon flavor. The maple flavor was present but not a bourbon/maple glaze (anticipating a thicker sauce). Mashed potatoes were the best thing on the plate.. Fried seafood was crispy and the tartar and cocktail sauce were tasty

Over priced fish and chips. Fish OK but chips awful like pieces of string. Visited many years ago and enjoyed so this visit was very disappointing.

I was looking for delicious fish at a good price and ended up here at happy hour. Fish and Chips are on the happy hour menu for a great price, 2 pieces of cod and fries. It was delicious and just enough food, for me at least. Happy hour drink prices are decent as well, compared to the normal $$$ of Seattle drink prices. No view at all from the bar which is a shame as this place is literally on the water and it was too cold to sit outside. Bartender was great!

Stopped in after playing tourist in Seattle. The menu is on the pricey side. The view of the harbour and the ferries is priceless. I had steamed clams they were on the small size but tasty the broth was good.

They do what they are supposed to do well at reasonable prices. Great food, particularly the Chowder and great service.

We at the Cafe and oth ordered the crab and shrimp empanadas. I doubt there was a tablet of filling between the 5 or 6 we each had. The outside was doughy We ate because we were hungry and left. Ivars used to be very good. After this I do not think Inwill go there again. Should have eaten at the fish bar instead.

Went for the Classic Cod Fish and Chips and was left disappointed... The breading was soggy and grainy, and the chips were really oily. My wife ordered the Seafood Mixed Trio and only ate the shrimp because the fish was really overcooked. The only thing I would 100% Recommend and come back for is the Clam Chowder, that was really amazing

How My Reviews Work 5 Stars - Best ever on all experiences. 4 Stars - Best In the area. 3 Stars - Above Average. 2 Stars - Average or maybe a little lower. 1 Star - Below Average. 0 Stars - Terrible to even gross. *Understand this is an individual experience and that doesn’t mean everyone will share the same experiences. We also all have different tastes in what we want and what we taste. When: My wife and I visited in September. Atmosphere: We sat outside and had an amazing view. (4 Stars) Cleanliness: Everything appeared clean. (4 Stars) Food: Chowder - Not impressed (2 Stars) Halibut - My wife really liked (4 Stars) Fish & Chips - Nothing special (3 Stars) 2 Adult beverages Service: Was good and friendly (3 Stars) Value: Terrible value - Our total was $147 including 20% tip. This is very overpriced for the quality and what you are getting. (1 Star) Wrap Up: Average stars 3 stars. Which means above average. But this is based on the view mostly. We will not go back. Way over priced and so,so food.

While we've certainly visited worse tourist traps, I'm afraid Ivars is losing it's credibility with us. I lived in Seattle 30 years ago and it was great then. Now, the food quality is just not fabulous. Don't get me wrong...it's not as though it was disgusting or made us ill! But it was just nothing special at all, either! The location if warm enough to sit outside is what you're paying for at this point. Probably would not return unless starving and no other close by options.

I have known about Ivar's for decades and I have always recommended it to anyone travelling to Seattle as a tourist or vacation destination. I am sorry to report that things have sadly changed since my last visit. We stopped there today for lunch: 2 adults and 2 teenagers. The clam chowder was the biggest disappointment, particularly as it has always been Ivar's signature dish. The chowder was tasteless, the liquid was thick, bordering on pastelike, and the bacon and clams were barely there. We inquired and learned that the chowder is not made on the premises. It is mass produced at a separate location and then shipped to all the Ivar's locations. I ordered fried clam strips. There were a few skinny short strips and many little tiny tiny pieces: very little in the way of clams and a lot of crispy batter. The other adult ordered the Manila clams. She was surprised at how tiny the clams were and lacking in flavor. One teen had the burger and fries and he enjoyed it. The other enjoyed her beet salad with goat cheese. However, neither of these items were seafood which is the whole point of going to Ivar's.

Salad was very good. View and location great. Halibut very average, thin and dryish maybe battered is better than crumbed and chips not hot at all. My partner had the cod and it was moist and tasty but his chips were pretty cool too . Normally expect chips are the easiest things to cook in a seafood restaurant

We had a great dinner on a trip with the family. The restaurant setting is very good with a good view. The menu is very good and the good employees are delicious.

Ivar's is an institution in Seattle that is rich with history. If you are looking for a restaurant that offers world famous clam chowder, delicious seafood, an open kitchen with an intimate dining room overlooking Puget Sound, Ivar's on the waterfront is for you! On a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier, ferries, and if you are really lucky, sea lions or otters! The food is second only to the ambiance. The dark wood, natural light and expansive outdoor views (and seating should you be so inclined), makes this the perfect place for lunch or dinner. Prices vary from $17 for a chowder/salad combo, all the way up towards $90 for premier items like lobster. The staff is kind, attentive and knowledgeable. We had a great dining experience.

Ivar's has numerous locations, and this one on Pier 54 is right next door to its Ivar's Fish House (which is take out only). So we made reservations at Acres of Clams and enjoyed table service, full bar, more extensive menu, and the option of indoor or outdoor dining. Good cocktails (Ivaritas -- like a cosmo but with tequila -- and Hemingway Daquiri with rum and a splash of grapefruit juice) and also Mack & Jack's unfiltered local ale. Decent selection of wines as well. Menu was not as extensive as hoped, and was shocked when waiter said he wasn't sure if salmon was available for the blackened tacos, leaving one with cod or nothing as an option. The clam chowder was quite good, although much too thickened for our taste. And the manila clams in broth were good, but not great. Overall, it was a pleasant meal in a very scenic location (overlooking the ferry dock), but not gourmet. Their less touristy locations had better food last time we were there.

The food was good both cod and chicken but the portions were a little small but fish was fresh and chicken tender fries also good

The location really sold this place for me, I came for a midweek lunch so I got a quite seat right next to the windows so I could watch the wildlife on the pier and people give their extra fries to the seagulls! The interior has beautiful fireplaces to warm up next to. As for the food, basic and a little pricey. I got the 3-piece basket. The quality of the fish was great and it was fried well but it was not seasoned at all. Crème brûlée was a good portion but very basic as well, needed some vanilla. Overall, I’d come back for a quiet lunch overlooking the water here any day, except for a busy weekend.

Ivar's seems to be a Seattle institution and this location takes up most of the pier with both indoor and outdoor seating. We went twice during our visit and had very good meals on both occasions including the Cioppino, King Salmon, and the Steak tips. Suggest making a reservation and choosing the outside seating

We ate outside and watched the ferries go about, and the place inside is huge. Food is good, although would have liked a bit more variety on the menu, especially desserts.

I brought a friend who had never dined here. She enjoyed her meal. I enjoyed my clam chowder and fish & chips. The staff is always helpful and friendly. We sat by the window and had a great view of the sound.

We made a reservation at Ivar's Acres of Clams after the restaurant being recommended to us by friends. When we first arrived at Ivar's we were a little disappointed as it appeared to be a very touristy restaurant, however, we were very impressed with the service from the get go, and once we were seated, at a window right beside the water, our impression of Ivar's improved a lot. Our waitress (I can't remember her name but she was Irish) was lovely and gave us the right amount of attention, not too little or too much. We ordered the fish and chips which were lovely but the amount of chips served was way more than we needed. We also shared a creme brûlée which was delicious. Highlights of Ivar's were the service, our seating beside the window, the crumbed fish, and dessert.

This restaurant has been around a long time. We expected it to be expensive, so close to the water, but the prices were reasonable, and the food was good. Good beer selection too.

Clean, organized and well run. All tables have a sea view. Everything on the menu is good, not spectacular though. I’m giving it a 4 out of 5 because it’s a reliably good experience.

Wow! What amazing food and location. We couldn’t choose between the clam chowder, seafood chowder or the calamari... so we had them all. The restaurant is huge and quite classy but comfortable. Our window seat added to the experience. You definitely should check out this place.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST!! We were lucky enough to catch happy hour in the bar on a very cold/rainy day. I had the steamed muscles and to say they were delicious is an understatement! They were so filling and yummy! I couldn't even order the clam chowder (which looked awesome)!! A nice setting. Do not get it confused with the Ivar's storefront/takeout next door.

This was a huge disappointment. Three young ones around the cashier’s desk either not really paying attention to customers at all or being overly effusive. Waiter was fine. Food was totally fish and chip shop average and the fries were cold. But the toilets were absolutely diabolical. Not one (of l think 6) could be used. I told staff how bad they were but it didn’t seem to motivate anyone to do anything. We will never go back. Very poor.

Really, really good claim chowder. Lots of clams, lots of potatoes, really flavorful. Had to eat in the bar because there was a 40-minute wait for a table. It was odd because there were so many tables vacant, but I'm betting that's due to staffing issues felt like all the other restaurants. A very nice gentleman was there for Veteran's Day as it is free for vets on that day and he let us share his table so we had good food and good company. Couldn't speak to any other food (though the gentleman we sat with had cioppino and he loved it and ate every bite, but if for nothing else go for the clam chowder. We'll be back.

Recommended by a friend, we went for a late lunch. It was busy but only a 20 minute wait for a waterside outside table. View was great but food & service was even better. Highly recommend the salmon. Great place to go for a relaxed meal.

One of the famous old seafood joint on the waterfront of Seattle. Amazing location and tasty food. Clam chowder and shrimp dishes were excellent. friendly service. We'll come again.

The different seafood options were impressive. Yes, they have all the traditional fish and chips options that you would expect. But they have lots of other options (scallops, salmon, etc.). Great value for the money

We both had the grilled Alaskan Halibut which was such a small piece and was not very flavourful. It came with a big portion of bland wet rice. The asparagus however was very good. The mango salsa was plain cut up mango. A very bland meal. Will not return.

Typical food very rich, restaurant with history, excellent location, prices in range, excellent service. The best: the Clam Chowder:)

Hands down the best fish I’ve ever had. Perfectly cooked, full of flavor, and beautifully presented. The service was a 10/10, attentive without being overbearing, and the atmosphere made the whole experience even better. It’s a must stop on my frequent business to Seattle! Pro tip, end the night with soft serve next door at the fish bar!

So glad we chose to eat here. We look for casual on the water dinner spots and this didn't disappoint. We had a nice outside table in the shade for dinner. We ordered and ate too much. We shared a wedge salad and cup of chowder. Being from New England we're picky about our chowder, this was excellent. We also had cod fish and chips plus halibut fish and chips. Both also excellent. Great menu, good service, great view.

The food and service were a big surprise for us because it's promoted as such a good place. Other than the kale salad, the main dishes we had were terrible. Steak overcooked, salmon so dry it was almost inedible....The waiter told us how tired he was but despite our commiserations, he was rude. He carelessly tossed the dinners on the table, walked away, and never returned to ask how we were doing. We had such a nice dinner at AppleBees the next night, including their delicious blackened salmon, that was literally 1/4 the price. I think this restaurant is a tourist trap and we will be warning others not to go there.

I had the fried salmon, which was tasty but a little on the dry side. Others in my group had the blackened Caesar salmon salad (which was dubbed "excellent"), the Pier 54 seafood cioppino ("really good"), and Alaska Fish and Chips ("really good"). Overall, we'd return to Ivar's, although there are fancier options out there, although the locations are not nearly as nice.

We went here for lunch with our Gig Harbor family, who have been here many times. We were seated at a window table inside, as all of the outside tables that had shade, were taken - and we didn't want to sit in the direct blazing sun! I'm glad we were inside, with an outside view - seating inside, I got to really admire the interior space - so historic!! And there just isn't enough time to look at and read the captions, of all of the many historic photos - really special, gives you a true sense of the nature of this restaurant and it's influence on the waterfront. We loved the cod, the salmon, the chowder. The service was excellent, friendly. Be sure to save some of your French fries, or bits of bread, to take just around the corner to Ivar's Fish Bar, directly on the waterfront, where feeding the seagulls is encouraged - and has been, for decades! SUCH FUN!!! The seagulls that are there know they're going to be fed, so they sit on the railings, squawking at you, but never rudely taking the food out of your hands, like our ill trained east coast seagulls do, LOL! There seems to be a "pecking order", ha pun intended, amongst the seagulls as only certain of them are "allowed" on the railing, whereas the main multitude of them are on the beach area behind. We fed the gulls on the railing by hand, they're very polite about it, and then threw handfuls of fries into the beach area for the "less fortunate" gulls who aren't allowed by their buddies, to come up onto the more coveted railing area. So much fun!! We'd spent the morning exploring every inch of Pike Place Market, then lunch here at Ivar's, then back to the ferry to Bremerton - what a wonderful day in Seattle!

Came here on a Wednesday night for dinner, got a beer ($5 during happy hour!) with a cup of smoked salmon chowder and fish and chips. The salmon chowder was excellent, the first salmon chowder I've ever had. This alone was worth the trek. The fish and chips were also good, but I ordered it off the bar menu so I only got two strips of fish. I'd say more fish on the platter - either another piece or thicker strips - would be an improvement. Fries were great, tartar sauce was good, but for the love of God just give me Heinz ketchup.

Good food, good view of the waterfront, service was a bit spotty. The seafood Cobb salad was excellent, as was the shrimp ceviche, but neither should have taken so long to get to us. Fortunately, the fire boats at the next pier were doing practice exercises in the water, so we had something to keep us occupied while we waited for our food. But overall, it was a good place to have a sitdown lunch at the piers.

We had a great meal at Ivar’s. Our waiter was excellent. We were looking for something on the pier that we could sit down and enjoy and this fit the bill! We had several people recommend it for Fish and chips. The beer battered fish was delicious.

4+ Stars. We were 4 people visiting Seattle looking to eat dinner outside overlooking the water. After searching other restaurants on the water and realizing that our requested dining time of 6-7:00 was not available I found Ivar's. It is located a couple of blocks down from the main restaurant area but the short distance was well worth the walk. Our server was Brent who was very friendly and professional, as was the entire staff. We all had the halibut Avocado, although 6 oz was light for my big appetite, it was delicious. The clam chowder, which it appears is the specialty at all the seafood restaurants, was excellent. Well worth the short walk and perhaps this was the reason it was so easy to get are requested time to eat.

We came from out of town and after the meal we decided not to tip for our LAST visit. Reason: The server helped himself to a tip in the amount of $18 from our credit card! I mean, a tip is not an automatic claim, you have to EARN it, at least where we live. Very low and disappointing behaviour! My tip: If you really must eat there, check the copy of your receipt immediately or give a tip for bad service.

Great, atmospheric location, on a wet and dark evening in Autumn it was a cosy place to relax over dinner and watch the weather. Service was great and portions were huge, but food very nice, and during Happy Hour too by happy coincidence. Recommendation is to order less than you think, or to share your starter with a friend!

Ivar's on the Seattle waterfront has long been our first stop when we visit family in the area. Some things never change over time; like the fish and chips, the iconic scenery from the dock and of course, the weather.

We ordered, Fish and chips, Salmon Caesar , Salmon dinner, Fish Tacos and a Caesar, and clams. Fis was over cooked, Salmon was over cooked, Caesars were super soggy and dressing tasted like it was watered down. Fish tacos just werent good , and the clams came to the table cold. Best part of the meal were the french fries and the bread. Ver disappointed.

My sister and I arrived at ivars on the Seattle waterfront around 11:30 for lunch yesterday. We were given the option of the café (attached to the bar) or restaurant, we chose the café. Our server brought water right away and took our drink and food order, but did not write or type it. As they left our table they stopped to speak to another server about a different patron leaving because they "were in a much bigger hurry" than they led the server to believe. There weren't many customers when we arrived but it filled up pretty quickly. After a half hour I had still not received my drink I ordered, asked the server and they said it would be right up. In the meantime all the people around us received their orders. We waited nearly an hour, I got my own drink and we never received food. Decided to leave, bartender apologized said drinks were on the house. I left a poor review card with the hostess.

Our table by the window in the middle of the afternoon afforded us privacy and a spectacular view of the ferries and the sunset.

This was a great spot on the water for a good lunch. The dining area is really nice with lots of windows. I had the clam chowder- would give it 5 stars. Same for the bread basket! I ordered the caesar salad with grilled salmon... the salmon was really fresh, but I didn't love the salad dressing. It was pretty bland for a caesar dressing. Also the service was a bit off. The server was nice, but wasn't very attentive... he seemed to be distracted by other duties. It took a while to place my order, get a check, and then he forgot to bring the to-go box I asked for. I got tired of waiting for the box and just left. Again, the location was great and my meal good! I would eat here again and recommend it if you like seafood!

We were seated, served and given a check in thirty minutes. We had no time to enjoy or finish the bottle of wine we ordered. The clam chowder was thick and under seasoned. The fish and chips also lacked seasoning and the coleslaw was inedible. The salmon although grilled ok was bland and the crispy potatoes were anything but crispy. There are no substitutions unless you want to pay an up charge. This is industrial cafeteria inspired dining. The chef might as well be a short order cook, maybe he is, as lacks no imagination in food preparation. This is a large restaurant and noisy. I assume they are counting on the view and tourist trade, I doubt they get many repeat customers. We tried this restaurant because it was a close walk to where we are staying. We should have researched it better. Oh and pricey as well, fine dining prices for diner food

Needed a light dinner before a downtown performance and saw that Ivar's had a Happy Hour. Great for a bowl of Calm Chowder and sourdough bread. The service was good and the view even from the bar was a nice change.

Great walk up window on the wharf. Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner( And I mean quick, like 3 minutes quick). They also have chicken for the non seafood people

I regularly eat at Ivars and love it. I visit the waterfront often with friends and family from out of town and usually eating there at least once while they are visiting.

Still the best Clam chowder I have ever had. Was fun bringing my kids up to WA to experience some of the best food I grew up with. Bummed the Red Chowder was not available due to COVID and staffing but understandable. Highly recommend if you have never been.

This is a huge place with abundant seating. We had the halibut fish and chips (very crispy and tasty), blackened salmon Caesar salad (fresh romaine and deliciously seasoned fresh salmon), burger (satisfyingly messy and so good). The staff was friendly and fast. Great view!

Great food, beautiful views! We got lucky it was a clear day so the mountains were just perfectly visible and were stunning. We got delicious wine, clams, and a very good dip we had to order twice! Don't leave Seattle without trying it!

The outside dining at his Pier 54 establishment is a nice experience. The menu is mainly focused (of course) on seafood (other items are also available). The scallops and the trio-of-fish menu items are really good. Of course not truly cheap but also not overly priced based on location and good seafood.

Decided to try one of the waterside restaurants in Seattle, to combine situation and seafood eating. Ivar’s Acres of Clams was extremely well situated, on a pier sticking out into the water, right next to the ferry terminal which gave plenty of action as we sat. There is an outside patio, with both sunny and shady portions. For dinner, probably better to go to the shady part to avoid too much sun I the eyes. We started with the beet salad: excellent. We followed with the clams (of course) and a chowder. For drinks, a local beer and some dry white wine. The chowder was good: the clams so-so. There was no lemon for the clams, which we consider essential on this dish, and had to ask for it – due to the business, we got the lemon just as we were finishing. Service was good, given the crowd, prices were reasonable given the location. We shared all dishes: a second spoon for the chowder would have been nice! Social distancing was acceptable: no information as to vaccination state of serving staff, which is not ideal. All-in-all, a good meal, but I would try another location on the piers before I return here.

My husband ordered the clam chowder, said it was creamy and the best he’s ever tasted. I am not a seafood person and ordered the grilled cheese and tomato soup. The sandwich was very crunchy. It could have had more cheese but the bacon was a nice touch. The tomato soup was outstanding. I think it had caramelized onions in it. Delicious. Best tomato soup I have ever had. Nice warm meal on a chilly rainy day.

Pretty darn good when your only dilemma was deciding between ordering a bowl of chowder or the Acres of Clams. Both are so good! A trip to Seattle is never complete without stopping here!

Just a quick grab of some chowder to enjoy out on the dock. Tasty, hot and fresh on a misty day. There is enclosed seating in the outside dock 'deck'.

Great place to sit by the water and enjoy their fish and chips as well as amazing clam chowder. High recommend sitting outdoors in nice weather.

I had been to Ivar's about 20 years ago and remembered it as being so good. I was lucky to be in town for a conference and took the opportunity to visit. Our group sat outside and had a great view. We all got clam chowder, which I recommend. Our other dishes were very good. Serving sizes were large. We had a very nice evening.

We sat at the bar a d Tina served us drinks and oysters, all was delicious!! Our table was ready promptly for our reservation and was served by Bryce. All service was amazing. We shared a casesar salad, crisp and flavorful then shared the cod. It was cooked to perfection with glazed veggies. We were too full for dessert but overall an amazing experience with a fantastic view!

I’m glad I looked at the reviews when choosing Ivar’s because walking Pat the storefront you would never guess it is as nice as it is inside. The front entrance in the main boardwalk leads to a large foyer/eating dove and hostess station then large dining area with cloth tablecloth covered tables and beautiful views of the water. The front also doubles as a cash and carry type option for things like fish and chips etc. As a large party of 8 we were looking for reservations at a sit down restaurant. And I’m so glad we chose Ivar’s. The service was perfect, the space was clean, and the food was phenomenal. This is the first time in my life I was asked how I’d like my salmon cooked (the waiter recommended medium well and it was perfect). I don’t know what the sauce was on my salmon but I would eat it with a spoon. My husband and uncle both got a Dungeness crab and both loved it. Buns also said his old fashioned was great. We would come here again without hesitation!

This is a well known and really huge place. We were seated outside by the water and got some nice views of the area and ferries. The food was also quite nice. I had Cioppino which I enjoyed a lot. Would recommend coming here.

It was a great location and view but the food and service were so-so for the price. We had the clam chowder and some salads and they were ok. Love the history of the place tho.

Wanted something light so I got an appetizer of white wine clams. Very good sauce and reasonable amount of clams

Not good. It appeared we were an inconvenience to the waiter. No refills for drinks, asked about the meal service was horrible. The food was worse. Don’t come for the fish and chips, this is over priced without flavor. The chowder tasted like bacon fish. Don’t waist your time or money.

Ordered their signature fish n chips. Not very good. Only good thing is, if you are seated on the patio you may have an opportunity to enjoy the sun set. Otherwise spend your hard earned money somewhere else.

We had dinner at Ivar's on a Thursday night. We had reservations and were seated within a few minutes. While it didn't seem crowded, guests without reservations were being given a significant wait time. The menu has a variety of items but we primarily went for crab legs. We ordered 2 pounds of King Crab legs and and order of clams (I think 2 lbs. as well). Both were very good. Our server was very good. Prices are typical for downtown Seattle. We'd go back.

Had family visiting and were spending the day in Seattle, with plans to eat on the water. So glad we found Ivar’s. Great menu, great kids menu, great drinks, extremely reasonable prices for fabulous food, and the view is beautiful. We HIGHLY suggest both the clams and the salmon. Both dishes were insane! Service was great. Great location. Highly recommend.

I went here to try the clam chowder and it was delicious! The service was quick. Didnt try the fried food but this place stayed busy.

The clam chowder was delicious, the best I have had in a while. Gorgeous views of Elliott Bay from the outside terrace.

Having traveled to Seattle five times since 2002, one of favorite stops is to have lunch at the iconic restaurant, “Ivar’s Acres of Clams.” We come early and always manage to get a table along the waterfront railing to observe Elliott Bay and watching the ferries come and go. On rainy and cold days there is inside seating too. Service has always been good and friendly. The food is tasty and has never disappointed. Our last venture in July of 2024 my wife ordered the Salmon salad and thoroughly enjoyed the dish. I like the mussel appetizer with cream. The burger was delicious with bacon. Just can’t go wrong with good bacon Along the entrance and the corridor leading to the main restaurant are historic pictures of Ivar’s. It has been a mainstay restaurant in Seattle for a long time, since 1946. In our 10 mile walk around Lake Union, we came across “Ivar’s Fish Bar.” It was early on a July 4th morning and Ivar’s Fish Bar wasn’t open as of yet. Like the Seattle waterfront establishment, both restaurants are large and can accommodate plenty of people. If you found this review “helpful” in any way, please press the “thumbs-up” icon to let me know.

Lots of history. Great food and good service. Always fun to watch the ferries in and out. Such a joy to see this part of Seattle still here after so many years.

Have lived in Seattle for 14 years, first visit to Ivar's Acres of Clams was last night (yes, with out of town company). Fantastic view of course, as the restaurant is on one of Seattle's waterfront piers. But had to wait to be seated, wait for a waiter to take our drink order, you can guess the rest. Menu is pretty limited, perhaps that's because of COVID-19...but a Seattle waterfront restaurant with no oysters and no crab? What gives? Many better places in town.

We stopped in here for lunch. Restaurant is handicap accessible, has super clean restrooms, both indoor and outdoor seating, and has a full bar. The clam chowder is wonderful so thick and tasty. We enjoyed fish and chips - they were just ok. Small pieces of fish with tons of floppy French fries. Wait staff was quite helpful. Order the kids portion of fish and chips- way cheaper.