The Walrus and the Carpenter Reviews

Friends brought us here and we loved it. You shouldn't be put off by the inconspicuous entrance. A must for any of the oysters likes. Friendly and competent staff.

The Walrus and the Carpenter is amazing. Though I came here for the fantastic oysters, the other dishes on the menu is equally fantastic. The restaurant has a nice vibe and friendly staff, and as a solo visitor I found the bar counter a good spot for that specific reason. If you’re in Seattle you should definitely make your way to this place.

This was one of those highly recommended place from someone who originated from Seattle and true to his words, a must go place with good wine and oysters. The place has a touch of modern chic but friendly and cozy. We only had oysters and wine as this was what we came for. We noted from our tables nearby that other dishes seemed also quite good. It opens at 4pm and when we got there by 4:30pm, we managed to grabbed one of last few tables.

What a shame! We were visiting the city from Maryland and were looking forward to eating at the restaurant after reading prior reviews. The food is an excellent different take on seafood. The oysters were superb and we thoroughly enjoyed the fried perch and the sardines. The bokchoy was very flavorful. I give the restaurant high marks for their food. The staff was friendly and the ambience modern and clean. The noise level of the restaurant , though , was way to loud. I asked our waiter twice to lower the volume of the music to no avail. I spent most of the evening by the parking lot and just went in periodically to have a bite since we had already ordered our food. I am a physician and it is my medical opinion that this noise level is too dangerous and could result on hearing loss at prolonged levels of exposures. I feel for the staff which is subjected to the noise level. I hope the management of the staff will take the opportunity to measure the noise level at the restaurant and reset the background music to a more healthy level. There are inexpensive iPhone applications that could give them a general sense as a guide. No matter how great the food is, when you have to leave the restaurant multiple times during dinner because your ear hurts it is not a good dinning experience.

We especially liked the grilled sardines at this cozy restaurant. Delicious flavor and sauce. We also tried three different oysters each, which were good, but we're now crazy about oysters. At Happy Hour (before 6 pm) you can save $1 on draft beer and 20% on the oysters. So, we didn't plan it this way, but were pleasantly surprised.

Local, sweet, and crisp oysters in half shell are a must have. Get the maple bread pudding is awesome!

We found this restaurant after eating at Staple and Fancy and passing by it on the way to the shared restroom. The people in Walrus and the Carpenter looked like they were having much more fun than we were, so on our next visit to Ballard we stopped in. Arrived at 3:45 and there was already a line way into the hallway. We were seated fairly quickly and served our choice of oysters, delicious fresh bread and salty butter, drinks, yummy tartare with yolk and perfectly crispy toast, beet salad, grilled bok choy, cheeses, bread pudding with espresso sauce, and more than I can remember. The only downside is the coffee - there are no espresso options and the drip is amazingly bad. So don't eat yourself sleepy like we did, there's no rescue remedy.

We arrived late on a Sunday evening and were lucky to get a spot at the bar where we could watch the cooks and check out the fresh oysters! We had a short wait to be seated but enjoyed delicious cocktails at the Barnacle bar next door until we could be seated. Tried our very first fresh Seattle oysters and they were delicious! Their halibut tartar was also so fresh and tasty. All small dishes to share and while can get a bit spendy, it's a great spot for a special night out!

No complaints about drinks, food and service. All were excellent. It was crazy crowded and hard to move around. Maybe because it was a hot summer evening, and there were tons of sweaty, drunken tourists packed like sardines, but I got the visceral sense that I was eating on a pirate ship. I guess I can check that off my bucket list!

Visited alone for Oyster Happy Hour. Got seated at the bar, and had a lovely bar tender who I asked to pick a few varieties of her favourite oysters (Disco Hama was particuarly great). She also recommended the halibut carpaccio - seriously order it. It was one the best plates of food I have ever eaten, and I've been thinking about it since. Would definitely return when next in town.

This was the worst dining experience I've had in over 20 years! Despite the high reviews online our experience was awful. We arrived at 6:30pm on Friday night knowing that they do not accept reservations. We arrived and there was no one else in line, though the restaurant was full. We waited close to 20 minutes before the host ever acknowledged us. He walked past us and a growing line of other diners at least a dozen times without so much as even making eye contact. We were all treated like he could care less that we even existed. Finally we forced the issue with him and made him take our name and estimate our time. He told us it would be 45 mins but we were welcome to have a drink at the bar and we were ushered into a nice bar located next to the dining area entrance. The drinks were good and they offered small plates for snacks. However after 30 mins something started to look strange and I started paying attention to who was getting tables in the restaurant first. When people stopped ordering drinks at the bar they got seated in about 10 mins, but other groups who were waiting before we arrived still were not being seated, but they kept ordering more drinks and more food. After 30 more minutes I figured out the scam. We stopped ordering more drinks and within 10 mins the bartender came up and told us we would be seated in about 10 mins and asked if we wanted to close our tab. What?? Long story short, the bar is not owned by the restaurant (Walrus). The bar is a completing different bar (but that is never explained when youre invited to "wait at the bar"). So as long as you keep drinking they will let you sit at the bar rather than seating you!! Its a complete scam on the part of both Walrus and Barnacle bar (drinks are very good however, if youre just there to drink). At 9pm we were finally seated at the restaurant and given a new drink menu!. We skipped drinks as I was already frustrated by the bait and switch scheme. Then we attempted to order food. They had about 10 dishes other than oysters. we picked 5 dishes to order. When we ordered the waitress informed us that 3 of the 5 dishes we wanted to order were now out of stock!! Maybe because I had to wait 90 mins?!!!! In the end the 2 dishes we got were hugely overpriced and just Meh. The oysters run about 5$ each. But I noticed not many other people were drinking in the restaurant so that explains the overpriced food. So, in close to 4 hours we drank in one restaurant and ate (badly) in the second. Total out of pocket was close to $350.00 for 2 people. And we left still hungry and had to find more food at the Hotel. Needless to say no tip and certainly never going back! Just be honest with people up front and it would change everything, but I hate being scammed and this was the biggest scam I've experienced in decades of dining. So, if you dine there, know how the system works, ask questions and don't assume they really care about you as a diner. I now understand why they don't take reservations. Maybe you'll be lucky to have a different experience, but buyer beware!

I live in the area and every time I have a visitor from out of state, I try to bring them here. The atmosphere and ambience, the friendly (though sometime harried) wait staff (due to how busy it is), and the delicious food always wow my friends. Somehow, the oysters just seem colder and fresher here than anywhere else! Everything tastes fresh and simple with the best possible ingredients. I had a plate of tomatoes here with simple seasoning and oil that may have changed my life. Oysters here plus wine plus whatever great music they're playing= pure joy. Word to the wise-- they DO have a happy hour Monday-Thursday from 4p-6p if you'd like to save a little cash (as the menu CAN add up!) Get there early-- from my memory, I believe the first hour is half off and the second hour is less than that (I'd double check with them).

We had a college reunion and my friend, who is a total foodie, requested this restaurant. It was divine! The atmosphere was chilled yet casual-chic and the food . . . each course was better than the last. The oyster sampler was perfect, and the geoduck was so good we ordered a second plate. The owner and her husband even stopped by our table and were so charming. Book in plenty of time for this treat!

Ever since The Walrus and the Carpenter opened eight years ago, I have wanted to dine there. Local and national reviews touted the casual, mostly seafood (with an emphasis on oysters) restaurant then and the accolades keep coming. But the wildly popular eatery takes no reservations. Some customers report waits of hours in their reviews. With tight schedules during our Seattle stays, it just didn’t seem a feasible place to go for a meal. On our most recent stay, however, I did some research and came up with a plan to keep waiting time to a minimum. The restaurant opens at 4 p.m. (no lunch or brunch), So we decided to arrive 15 minutes before that on a Saturday for a light dinner. We saw no line outside so we were optimistic. But a long, narrow hall confronted us when we opened the door and we could see the end of a line in the distance. Luckily, only about 15 people stood in front of us. By the time the restaurant opened, a much longer line stretched behind us. The greeter seated us at one of the high tables with stools and a banquette that line one wall of the small room. These filled quickly as did stools at the oyster bar. An attached, enclosed patio, which held the heat of the hot day, offered standard tables and soon was at capacity. By 4:15 p.m., a wait list started. Customers waited in a bar — the Barnacle — owned by the restaurant or went outside to do whatever in Ballard until notified by telephone that a table was free. Staff sprang into action, doing a great job of handling a full house. A waitress came to our table immediately and discussed the limited menu with us, explaining that the listed oysters started with sweet and progressed to briny. The focus here is on small plates for diners to share. We opted for tomato slices; blistered padron peppers prepared with olive oil and salt; grilled sardines with walnuts, parsley and shallots; and fried oysters. Most of the diners near us went for the raw oysters, which is the specialty here. Plates arrived when ready and we never sat without something in front of us. We thoroughly enjoyed the flavor and textures of everything we ordered, though my husband thought the oysters had too much batter. I was especially happy with the peppers, which were almost as good as the ones I became addicted to when living in Spain and can rarely find in the United States. Service remained topnotch throughout our stay. Everyone was upbeat and pleasant. The room we sat in was simple with one standout — an unusual metal chandelier. I found the music to be at an acceptable volume. The noise level from patrons, however, proved to be high, which was to be expected when so many people seemed to be having a good time. Our meal cost $83. That included a glass of wine and an automatic 20 percent service charge, which many restaurants in Seattle now assess. When we left at 5 p.m., the wait time for seating was 1 hour.

Genuinely could not have been more disappointed with our experience. We waited over two hours because of the incredible reviews and from the moment we walked in the waiters and waitresses were rude and incredibly degrading. I asked for a suggestion in regards to two drinks I was interested in and the bar tender responded "did you even read the menu that is why we write the descriptions". I've never been treated as poorly as I was treated at this restaurant. I used to encourage people to try this place and now, I will plead with people to spend their hard earned money elsewhere. No one deserves the uppity and self righteous nature of this restaurant. You can get better oysters at Taylor Shellfish and CONSIDERABLY better food at Westward or Manolin. Please don't waste your time at the Walrus and the Carpenter - it is way over rated.

This is a must visit when in Seattle. I recommend ordering a variety of the oysters. My group of 5 ordered four of each kind and it was perfect. Steak tartare and scallop crudo was also delicious. Our server described the scallops as “pillows in your mouth” and she was right!

They don't take reservations so be expected that there will be a long wait. We waited for about 40 minutes for our table after 6:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Enjoyed a wonderful late afternoon meal on a beautiful sunny day here. The oysters were excellent, I enjoyed the server writing out our oyster order and leaving it for us, explaining our choices were arranged from least to most briny. Our other small plates were beautiful and tasty. Beware if your kids have simple palettes - no kid food here!

I can not find enough adjectives to accurately describe The Walrus and the Carpenter.It was a perfect evening. Given, I have only been here twice, however, it was may latest experience that drove it " over the top". Five of us met here at straight up 4 O clock. For good reason, if you dont you wont get in for awhile. Trust me. Its that good. Shortly after the doors opened we were seated at a combo booth and chairs. Our waiter was lively, entertaing, helpful and completely knowledgeable about the local fare and the oysters. We were here as a meet and greet to bring two families together prior to a wedding. It could not have been any more than perfect. The place was hopping and extremely alive for a Friday afternoon. We had been advised on good authority to be early and it paid off. We were greeted and seated promptly by a friendly and enthusiastic staff. The restaurant is very well lighted and the decor is art work from the owners. An open and airy atmosphere is prevalent. Our waiter was prompt and attentive, the drink orders were placed with a few suggestions from the staff. Water with limes magically appeared. The drinks were delivered post haste and we began to order the appetizers.Oysters were high on the list and is was recommended that we try some from each region on the menu. So it was that, Hammersley, Fjordlux,Eld,Galcier Point, Disco Hamma. 4 from each region netted us 25 oysters for 5 people to start with. The drinks were top shelf and there was no shortage of pours. They were stout and on point. Kindness to the bartender was in order. We decided to make our meal family style and ordered just about one of everything on the current menu. Marinated Olives / Shaved Zucchini / Grilled Treviso / Fried Oysters / Steamed Clams / Fried Salmon Belly / Roasted Medjool Dates. And more drinks. We were completely and utterly satisfied in every way. One more round of oysters were ordered and another round of drinks and we were set for the evening. The waiter could have not been any better. He was not obtrusive nor was he absent. i requested the check to me and me only as a gift to the group. He managed to help me take care of it away from the table. By now this place was packed and hopping. The kitchen staff was awesome. part of it is open to the public eye and it was entertaining at the very least. I can not wait to visit here again. And I will. High FIVE and WELL DONE to the staff at The Walrus and the Carpenter.

GET HERE EARLY - BEFORE THEY OPEN. This Place is very small, but the food is wonderful. the oysters were wonderful, fresh and a great variety. Each had a very different taste...it was worth every penny.

Great food and wine and excellent service. Oyster selection impressive. Recommend making the effort to head out to Ballard to visit any one of the options.

This place is a gem. Busy. High energy. Cute. Great staff and food. Amazing oyster selection. I tried nine types! Great seafood (and other food) menu. Loved the roasted dates in vanilla oil for dessert. My Moscow mule had a deliciously sharp bite of ginger. A+!

The Walrus and the Carpenter deserves its accolades. For the food, obviously, including the oysters which have their own IG hashtag. But also for the servers, three of whom looked after us at different points and it was seamless. Outside of fresh oysters, I'd recommend fried oysters, grilled sardines, scallop crudo and tomatoes. Overall price : value equation for the entire meal is on the mark. What I don't love is the lack of reservations. A two hour wait on a Sunday night wouldn't cut it in NYC.

On our son's list of places to try in Seattle, and it did not disappoint. The service was a bit slow, especially later in the evening. But the food was excellent, especially the Summer Squash with sheep cheese, and the fried Sardines.

I came here on the recommendation of a friend and was not disappointed! The place was full, but we were able to get a table for 2 in under 10 minutes. Its a small place, with a nice long bar and a cozy atmosphere. We started with an assortment of oysters - AMAZING! We then shared the steak tartare and the spot prawn crudo - both of which I am still dreaming about! After that we ordered the scallop crudo and a 2nd order of the spot prawns! Our waitress was really friendly and helpful in making great recommendations. She also gave us a list of other bars and restaurants to try while we were in town! It's a little pricier that what I would normally spend on a dinner out, but all in all, well worth the trip - I will be back!

I went here with business friends and had an amazing meal. Totally chill. You walk back to the restaurant and are greeted my mounds of oysters (as anyplace called The Walrus & the Carpenter ought to be). There is also an ultimate display of breads and heaps of butter which, though an order, was well worth the price. We each ordered one of each oyster, which were all very different. My personal fave was treasure cove. The wine list was nice and while the bubbles were pricey, the cost of the cava wasn't too bad. The highlight of the meal was Billy's tomatoes. So good we ordered a second. The tartare was also quite good. Nice flavors. The spectacular desert was baked Medjool Dates in vanilla scented olive oil. I am going to start an infusion as soon as I get home. Also great was the saffron apricot jam served with the cow cheese. Overall great for foodies and a wonderful restaurant

Very nice but noisy place with good sharing food, good oysters friendly service though rather expensive price/quality wise. As a family we were divided in our opinion.

I was anticipating a good meal here. Spend $15 to get there by cab. They recommended the Sardines and the fried oysters. I have never been to a restaurant that recommends canned fish. I still cannot believe they serve canned fish. Awful really awful. If the Sardines were bad the Fried oysters were inedible. Cornmeal crust is always a bad idea with oysters, I had to spit mine out it was so foul. The waitress was very nice. Stick with foysters on the half shell. They looked good. I could not tast another oyster after the trying the fried ones. Cannot understand why this place would have good reviews.

The food is so simple yet so amazing. It's the little things they do that make the fresh ingredients stand out. We had an heirloom tomato in vanilla olive oil. Simple, but amazing. The oysters were great and our server was patient and helpful as he guided us through the options. We make this a must visit on every trip to Seattle. And, as a service industry veteran, I appreciate the clarity around their compensation policy.

The place does not accept reservations. Whatever the day of the week it is crowded. Don’t be surprise to eat after 9:00 pm. Dishes are made of fresh ingredients. The oysters were delicious, well opened and offering a good sample of different oysters. While waiting, you can seat at the bar near side in the same building

Great food, albiet pricy. very nice dining area. The big shock was the terrible state of the bathrooms. dirty and smelly, enough to put us off going back to the restaurant.

There is nothing worse than a restaurant who had an ARROGANT culture and a staff with an combined IQ of twenty. This restaurant doesn't take reservations but after a recommendation from a friend we decided to go and put our name on the list anyway. The staff person taking names told us it would be a 90 minute wait and we decided to try it. They directed us to the bar where we ordered drinks and appetizers for our party which took way too long and the food was below average. They kept forgetting to bring us an order of bagged potato chips and when they finally arrived, it was a small plate with the remnants of the bag and yet we could see they had 10 new jumbo bags available to serve. 90 minutes later the bar tender told us our seats would be 15 more minutes. After another 15 minutes they told us to hang tight and they would seat us shortly and thanked us for our patience. Finally after 2.5 hours waiting time we were getting a little frustrated and they told us that the table where they had hoped to seat us was still occupied and not looking like they were starting to move on. The manager didn't offer an apology or any accomodation. They even locked the door so no one else could enter the dining room from the bar. There are so many wonderful places in Ballard, and I don't think these guys will last another month.

We went at 5PM on a Saturday and waited 30 minutes for seats at the bar. The restaurant doesn’t take a reservation. We had a drink at an adjoining bar and then really enjoyed our dining experience. We ordered a nice Oregon Pinot recommended by the bartender. The menu has mostly French wine options but recommend having a regional Pinot. The restaurant offered 8 Oyster options that are all local and lesser known. The 6 Oysters I chose were great. We then had the grilled sardines and fried oyster. Both delicious. I like the aioli sauce for the oysters. We finished with the steamed clams with kimchi. Nice combination.

I couldn’t wait to eat here after hearing great things. The hostess was nice and put us on the wait list early on which worked well for us. The space itself is hip/casual but very noisy. The oysters were quite good as were the sardines. The fried oysters were good. I found much of the other dishes way over salted. The root vegetables, the uni pana cotra, and the steamed clams were overwhelmed by salt. At the price the food should be much more nuanced.

This is a really good place, but they should provide ear plugs upon arrival. No reservations, but the wait was half the time they quoted. Simple design, with no sound absorbing material. Painfully loud as a result. Food was quite good - simple and well made. Service was good - the server really knew the menu and explained things very well. tt would be a tough decision to return due to the noise level.

My favorite thing about this place is easily that the dishes are meant for sharing - you can try so much more of the menu that way! My husband and I ordered some oysters, the sea wolf bread and butter (OMG the bread...I'm still drooling thinking about it), Jimmy nardello peppers (our server recommended and I'm glad he did because they ended up being my favorite dish), scallop crudo, and steak tartare. Everything was amazing, not overly complicated - just simple, well made dishes that were full of flavor and texture. Our server was fantastic - friendly and attentive. I would definitely come back here on a future visit to the area!

What a great place to be taken to. The staff are very knowledgable and know whats on offer. We had oysters, sardines, porchetta, calamari, Halibut collar, baby gem & feta salad & some great bread & wine. It was all scrummylicious. Loved it

We showed up at just after 4:30 on a Saturday and were not sure if we would get seated anytime soon. Luckily we immediately got a seat at the oyster bar. This was just pre-dinner oysters. They were all delicious ( we got a dozen). The service was great too! We have been there many times over the years, it's always great.

Oysters, clams, sardines, asparagus, wine... All delicious. Small place, can be busy with a wait. Also challenging to find... It's way in the back of the building.

Quaint restaurant you wouldn’t know was there unless you were looking for it. Simple menu but executed Magnificently I love how nearly all menu items are served as if you were ordering an appetizer (American tapas). food was excellent. Seating might seem a bit cramped as you cozy up next to other diners. If you’re a foodie, go, you will love this place. Be warned, seafood forward. After all this is Seattle.

Be prepared to wait or make a reservation. It’s been awhile since I’ve had west coast oysters (live on east coast) so it was weird not recognizing the names. We got a few to split, plus an order of bread, rockfish ceviche , cheese plate & the pork sausage. All good but $$$$$. Waiter was just ok. At times he seemed nice, other times annoyed or judging us for not ordering enough like we were cheap. Couldn’t figure out if he thought he was being funny or kinda rude.

Tried to make reservations for a party of six, but was told they do not take reservations. We waited, but noticed that their was a table for six open. When we inquired, they said it was being "held." Not sure what that meant at the time it happened. Another table eventually opened up and we were seated. Shortly after we sat down we realized why this table had been held. A group cut through the long line of waiting patrons and sat beside our party of six. We learned that one member of this group was a former TV actress, All hands on deck to impress. This party was served long before our group. We had to wait quite a while to receive our drink orders. I felt the menu was limited, except they have a good variety of oysters. If this is not to your liking, there are few other options. Portion sizes are small, but you're encouraged to share small plates. Expensive. Service was non-existent. Thought the waitstaff was smug, unfriendly and not very interested in helping fulfill our orders. We asked for extra bread, but keep in mind they will charge you for it. Also, please note that gratuity is included when you receive your check. It appears that the waitstaff recognize this and therefore service is not a priority. Will not return and do not recommend. Save yourself and go elsewhere.

Stopped into this place after making a reservation. One of the best jobs of re-distributing tables in the COVID world. A lot of outdoor seating with barriers that give you privacy and separate you from other diners. Oysters are as good as advertised, as are the grilled sardines and both types of ceviche.

Got there right when it opened and so thankful we got a seat. Our server was very helpful and suggested the best oysters for our taste. We really liked the atmosphere. The music they played made the experience super fun and the food was fantastic!

My wife and I were in Seattle for a conference. We wanted to get our of downtown and decided to explore Ballard. We landed in the Walrus & the Carpenter. We ate at the bar and loved it. Great selection of oysters. Shared an appetizer of roasted root veggies. My wife had the Sardines and I ate the steak tartar. Both very good. Finished the meal with dates for desert . The wait staff was cordial and attentive. Great meal!

In the middle of an industrial area lies this gem. Great oysters , great cocktails great bread and butter and great ceviche and grilled sardines. We sat on the bar and loved it, great ambiance and friendly bartender and servers. Great happy hour prices. The bread budding was the only disappointment- more like a slice of French toast with syrup.

Excellent restaurant to have a great meal!! Their specialty are the oysters from the local areas of Washington. They have a short menu of authentic dishes. The portions are small and priced accordingly. These portions are meant to be shared. They do not take reservations so the wait is usually 1-2 hours. But it is worth the wait!. The restaurant is small and very “unique” in its location!

Happy Hour gets very crowded and seating limited so go as early as possible. The quality of the food is excellent. The atmosphere is lively and the restaurant has character. Service is excellent despite a built in 20 percent. The only downside is price. It is expensive though happy hour eases that pain somewhat.

James Beard finalist, stories about them have been filled with accolades, legendary for inventiveness— all made me want to try it so much! Finally made it there. The food was very good. Maybe not as inventive as all the hype made it out to be, but quality ingredients prepared very well. I never liked sardines and I really enjoyed their sardine appetizer. Service? Sorely lacking. I know restaurants are under great pressure to hire servers, but the total lack of making guests feel welcome, the lack of ever checking back to see if we needed anything else, and simply the lack of attention added up to a “no repeat visits.” I mean, there was simply NO service. It was a highly disappointing experience.

First of all, how could Anthony Bourdain let anyone down? Absolute blasphemy to make such a statement. Our service and experience at the bar was perfect. Oysters were unreal, food was classic and understated but beyond delicious! Great place, amazing bartender, highly recommended.

We showed up 8pm on a Monday night, the place was packed. Halfway during our 30 min wait, a spot opened up in the Barnacle bar so we sat and ordered a few beers. They were able to transfer our tab over, so that was nice. Overall, the Walrus has great food and a super cool vibe. We had the fried oysters and grilled sardines- both were perfection! However- beware when the servers ask if you want sparkling or flat water because sparkling will cost you. Also, if you are asked if you’d like bread and butter while you decide on the menu… that will cost you as well as it is not complimentary. We were not aware until we got our bill. The restrooms are downstairs and only accessible via passcode. Overall though, I’d recommend you try it at least once.

Everything amazing. Besides the best and freshest oyster imaginable. A heaping mound of amazing butter and bread. But what I remember to be as bread pudding was a desert that I’ve dreamt about everyday since. It’s was literally perfect in every way. When I’m 80 if I taste cinnamon it will take me back to the day I sat in The Walrus and the Carpenter...

Really fresh seafood Oysters were amazing Sardines were really good Great service No reservation but you can do call ahead in their website

My husband and I had plans for the evening so we arrived just before opening and were seated promptly at a table once they opened, though we had the choice of the bar as well. It didn’t take long for the place to fill, however tables turned fairly quickly. We stayed in Ballard specifically to dine here and it fully met our expectations. Our server was outstanding, very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, especially in recommending how many dishes to order and advising serving sizes. The oysters are incredible! We also enjoyed the halibut crudo, steak tartare, asparagus and halibut collars. The collars were a special usually offered on Friday, so we just lucked out going that day because that was our favorite dish. Insanely scrumptious! We’ve had fish collars before and always enjoyed them, but we’ll be craving these for a long time. We would return to Seattle just to eat this again (along with the oysters, of course). I drank a sparkling rose that was very good and complemented the various dishes well. Definitely lives up to its reputation.

Mixed bag - should have known better when we let the waitress know it was our last night in Seattle and that we found great reviews about this place online and asked for menu recommendations - her response "everything is good" Know - this is not a restaurant, in that the dishes on the menu are all small plates, very small. We ordered 4 small plates and bread to start - each tiny plate arrived in 15-20 minute intervals, one at a time. Had the plates, including the oysters we ordered arrived at the same time - it may not have seemed ridiculous for 2 couples to cut up 3 pieces of cheese and parcel out the other dishes. Know - you're in for a wait. when we arrived the waitress told us to expect a 2 hour wait (which happened to be ok because we were walking around the neighborhood taking in the various shops and bars) by the way, the wait turned out to be a little over an hour. Know - they can spot a tourist, and treat you like one. The wait staff definitely engaged patrons differently, and several times we had to flag down some one for more drinks, water, check, etc. while other tables where visited with. Know - the food is pretty good, the oysters were cold and as described in the menu, sweet to briny. We ordered the salmon crudo, dates in vanilla oil, a cheese plate, several varieties of oysters, bread and olives - all about a bite for each of the 4 of us dining. Know - the Barnacle Bar (the restaurant's bar) and the bartender there was great, he had recommendations, opinions about the pairings and cocktails - and he checked back with us to make sure we liked the drinks we had ordered. Overall a mixed bag - should have left it to the locals.

It’s beyond the best. It’s the freshest oysters you will find. It tastes as if you’re on the shoreline and you’ve just picked it up and cracked it open. Fabulous bar with amazing cocktails, extremely hip atmosphere without being pretentious. Great staff, and truly excellent food.

They don't take reservations and it is a small space. Get there early or be prepared to wait. The setting is bustling, and a bit noisy. The service was good. If you like oysters, this is the place. We were seated on the back wall and it was fine. Pan Fried Oysters, bread, wine, beet salad, and cheese. All good, with decent portions - like tapas. The atmosphere is very friendly. We struck up a conversation with the next table from Philadelphia and Texas. Adds to the experience. Street parking was easy, but it may not always be so. Like I said, I'd go back. A good evening.

Renee Erickson is a James Beard award winning chef and has a talent for creating incredible food and space to serve it. This restaurant is tiny and you have to get there a bit before 4pm if you don't want to wait in long line, but waiting is definitely worth it! Terrific wine list, fresh fabulous oysters, artisan baked breads and other wonderful offerings. Love the steak tartare and must order if you enjoy this dish.

A few friends and I are in Seattle for work and had a blast here recently. This place is packed for happy hour, but it thins out after. The entire menu is small plates, so order up a variety and taste some different things. They have an extensive beer, wine, and cocktail menu, and everything we had was excellent. I would highly recommend the geoduck ceviche, halibut carpaccio, and bread pudding. They are known for oysters but I'm not a fan, so I can't speak to them, but my coworkers enjoyed them very much.

Fortunately we did not have to trick these little jewels to follow us.The friendly and efficient staff took care of that. I did sympathize with the oysters because I "had eaten every one". My wife doesn't eat oysters but the steak tartare was at the next level and the tomato salad changed our lives; we now make our own vanilla oil.

Very interesting building. The entrance starts at a nondescript door all the way to the right of the front facade, and leads down a narrow hallway to the back of the building. There are 3 places to drink back there and of the 3, 2 have noshing. I am going back to the other 2 just to try them out. They looked intriguing. That being said, we got there 20 minutes before 4 pm opening and we were the second party. By opening time at 4 pm, the line had grown to fill the restaurant in the first 5 minutes. They don't take reservations, so plan to stand in line. At least it's inside and not in the rain. Once inside, it's a loud space from all the tile. The music mix that day was Bonobo, Glass Animals, Ariel Pink, Wild Nothing. You get the drift. As for the drink menu, we had mixed drinks. They tend to be tart and bitter just the way we like 'em. They have a decent wine list and beer on tap and in bottles, not extensive, but simple. Keep on repeating that word when you go. Simple, fresh, not extensive or complicated. The oysters are something else. What the heck! How can something that I eat all the time be so fresh tasting here. Really enjoyed the way they were presented, from sweet to salty. You can really taste the difference. And the fact that one oyster was harvested in one inlet 3 miles from another inlet in the same water way and tasted so different. Bread is excellent and served with on the side creamed butter that had crunchy salt crystals sprinkled on top. We then had marinated beet salad and grilled kale raab. Perfection. You will notice the kitchen is small and wonder how they can do it. But the dishes are small, tapa size, and much of the food is raw or pickled. The fried sardines with walnut, parsley topping was, again, perfect. The steak tartare was excellent, excellent. The octopus, the prawn crudo was also just excellent. It is expensive, and there is a 20% service charge included on the bill. Will go again, but will also try the other two tiny bars next to it.

We dined here and found the food to be really interesting - the best asparagus ever, grilled sardines were great, and wine selection very french! The casual atmosphere was backed by a fantastic soundtrack and helpful staff - but not a place for an intimate romantic dinner, notwithstanding the oysters......

First of all, great service! We had a delightful experience. Next, we loved the small plates to share. Very fun. Another real treat? The oysters. They had local oysters and some from the East Coast. All were good and fun to compare. The "sauce" that went on the oysters was fabulous. I didn't even miss the saltines and cocktail sauce I'm accustomed to in Florida! It was a wonderful experience. A bit noisy. But so were we! Nice cocktail too.

Tiny joint serves up interesting food. Great oysters, one of the best artichoke leaf salads I've had. I'll definitely go back when I'm in the Seattle area.

The Walrus and the Carpenter is one of the best oyster bars we have been to - if not THE best. The oysters are fresh and the selection is varied. The staff is extremely helpful in picking what oyster is best for your palate. The place is small and can get very crowded, especially during busy times. Get the bread also - delicious!

This is one of our favorite spots in Ballard. Pre pandemic this establishment did not take reservations. Now they do. A must visit if you love oysters, awesome Sea Wolf bread and great ambiance

Love this restaurant. They always have the freshest oysters from the Northwest. I know some folks like ordering other things on the menu (like steak tartare), but personally I would just order oysters and wine. Great place to impress your out-of-town visitors! There’s also a bar in the same building called Barnacle which is a great spot to grab a drink while you wait for a table at The Walrus and the Carpenter. Highly recommend!

I am so glad that this place was recommended to us as we had the best dinner ever! The vibe, food, and the wine list are absolutely superb! The cocktail bar next door, while you are waiting, is amazing; probably some of the best drinks ever! We sat at the counter and watched the servers preparing the food. The food is fresh, delicious, unique, and fun!

By far one of the best restaurants I have ever been too. Wine selection, oysters, beef tartar,fried oysters even the bread and butter was absolutely outstanding. We were staying at the Fairmont downtown, so the Uber ride was about 15 minutes or so, but well worth it. Skip the bread pudding dessert and go wild on the main menu.

I wish I could give this restaurant 3 1/2 stars rather than 4, as it is better than a 3 star restaurant, but there are enough negatives to lower the rating from a 4. The pluses - our server was outstanding; the small plates were the perfect size for sharing amongst group of four; the food is as described on the menu; everything we ordered was well prepared and properly seasoned; every item we had was fresh and flavorful; the presentations were attractive; our server was especially knowledgeable and helpful in describing items on the menu and making sure that one of our diners, who has a food allergy was properly advised as to what to order. The minuses-the restaurant seating is uncomfortable in the tables are so close together that it is difficult to "slide" between them; as a result of the tables being so close together it also seemed like every conversation regardless of what table someone seated at involved people at the table next to it; the chairs themselves are very uncomfortable; the pacing and the order of the delivery of the dishes to the table was somewhat erratic-some of the lighter dishes arrived after some of the heavier dishes which means that one’s tastebuds had been overwhelmed with the previous dish. If there is any way that one can ensure the server will bring your dishes in a particular order, I would encourage you to find that way. Overall, the Walrus and the Carpenter is getting a 4 star review because of the quality of the food and the excellent service we received. If we rated it on the comfort and pacing of our dining experience, the restaurant would not have been rated this high.

Really marvellous oysters. Sardines with walnuts, steak tartare [quite spicy but very well balanced flavours] really surprising and delicious. Staff very knowledgable and friendly. No reservations, so expected a wait, though we were lucky. Industrial chic decor - metal stools, white tiles, so not super comfy - and the music is rockier than my taste [no music!], though at a level where conversation was still easy. A really memorable, happy evening.

This was by far the best meal we had while we visited Seattle. We got there at the opening to get a table. From fresh oysters to bread & butter, everything was high quality made with fresh local ingredients. Great service by friendly staff, being thoughtful of our child’s food preferences. This is a dining destination worth traveling for.

Went there on a whim, hearing it was supposed to be good, but in actuality it is great. We had no reservations and spent an hour at the pub adjoining it called Barnacles, but it was well worth the wait.The food is unique, like head cheese, along with great oysters and salmon and steak tartare. Don't miss this place if you are in Seattle. It would be like going there and not seeing the Space Needle. Bring friends too! We will be back, hopefully with reservations and a bigger appetite.

My husband and I were visiting Seattle for the first time and love oysters. A friend recommended the Walrus and Carpenter but cautioned that it was difficult to get into due to popularity and no reservations. We had a rental car and drove there (it's in Ballard, near the water). It was a little difficult to locate but luckily went early 4:30 pm so got in right away and took seats at the bar. The oysters were fantastic-large, fresh and flavorful and we tried all the varieties. The cocktails were great as were the salads (try the kohlrabi salad!), crusty bread and cheese, and the maple bread pudding. Service was very friendly, food arrived promptly but we never felt rushed. The atmosphere is casual, lively, but not noisy. It's everything an oyster bar should be and we're still talking about those oysters almost 2 weeks later.

I'd heard so much about this place, so maybe there was too much hype, but nothing about this restaurant stood out to me. Service was acceptable-to-good, and so was the food. The host was a little persnickety about letting us sit down in the restaurant when our full party had not yet arrived, but it never did get busy enough to merit that exclusion. There were empty tables when we arrived, and there were empty tables when the rest of our party arrived, and no intervening interval when I didn't see empty tables. Not enough reason to make me never want to go here again, but I also never saw any reason to compel me to return either. I will note that the bar (Barnacle) attached to the W&C was *excellent*. Great service, very knowledgeable staff, excellent drinks. Would definitely go here again.

This is a casual place for (expensive) small plates of seafood. The seafood is of excellent quality. There are lots of raw items such as ceviche scallops and steak tartare. However, their fried oysters were some of the best I have had. You need to get there quite early to get in line if you don't want to wait. That was the one down side. It is very popular. The craft cocktails are excellent. The service was very attentive as well.

We got here when they opened but it fills up quickly so we had to wait for about an hour. We went to the bar next store and they came and got us when our table was ready. (The bar was great!). The food was so fresh and different. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared them. I am not an oyster fan but these were so fresh and delicious I ate a lot of them! Service was great too. We will definitely come back here on our next visit to Seattle!

Sat at the bar a couple of weeks ago when in town for a quick weekend get-away. They do not take reservations so we were there early as my girlfriend really wanted to eat here. Also note there is small cocktail bar in same building if you do have to wait. Ben who was there shucking oysters was really fun to talk with, he talked us through about 12 different oysters all from the Pac NW. really good fun, lots of animation and lively vibe. place of busy and everything on point. We also tried the beef carpaccio and some halibut all really good. Cant recommend enough and when we next return to Seattle will be top of our list.

Excellent oysters and great service. Local beers and wines. Lovely atmosphere. Hip-ish crowd — plenty of tourists like us. Cute neighborhood which is known for restaurants. Restrooms were downstairs, not sure how accessible. Fun date night for our last night in town. Bread pudding yum

A hidden gem which is really hidden, needs to walk through a long corridor before we can find it! Though the menu items are quite limited, all the dishes we tasted are good and yummy. The halibut collar is the best, so fresh! Roasted squash is spicy and soft. I like the grilled sardines, a very interested way to cook the sardines. The clams and oysters are also very delicious. The staff are very friendly. I will definitely come back or recommend my friends.

Expect a very long wait as they do not take reservations. Bring a book, sit in your car and just wait. The experience of eating many varieties of oysters will blow you away. We were lucky enough to get a seat at the oyster bar which was so much fun!

Loved the Walrus and Carpenter. We visited on Saturday March 4th and arrived 30 minutes before it opened. We were surprised to see the large line already! We managed to get in on the first seating and sat at a table adjacent the back wall and looking out on the tiny restaurant. We ordered bubbles and 2 dozen oysters to start and then dug into the scallop crudo, olives, charred leeks and grilled sardines. We paired our second course with the muscadet. Everything was amazing! This is definitely a must whenever you're visiting Seattle.

This is a place I have visited several times in the past when living in Seattle. I came back on a business trip and decided to try it out again, as I had very fond memories of the place. I went in to have quick dinner on my own at the bar. Here is what I ordered including comments on quality: - One cocktail (12$) - 6 oysters - local oysters, very good quality, but nothing that you cannot find in other oyster bars in the city (market price) - Shaved turnip salad - this was an outstanding dish, that really defines what this place is about. A surprising and very tasty salad. (13$) - Pumkin tart (10$) - an ok tart, with a merengue that lost its form. A little too sweet in my mind. - sparkling water Ok, now comes the time for you to guess the check for this meal.... 84$ I was amazed!. Turns out that they charge 20% service from all customers (not just large parties) and their oysters and water are super overpriced. To summarize - this was a really nice place to have dinner, for a reasonably high price. It is now a place serving overall very good food, but for unreasonably high prices. I think this is now a trend in Seattle - overcharge for ok food, and prices just seem to be on the rise everywhere. If you think paying 84$ for the meal above makes sense - this is your place. I for one, will not be visiting again anytime soon.

Could not wait to eat here, as I heard great things. First, the vibe may be cool, but so is just about every place in Seattle. Seating was a hard, cold wooden bench or a metal bistro chair-not at all comfortable. I know it’s a thing to buy bread here, but $5 for 6 small pieces and serving an end hard piece to boot is off putting. Olives were okay. Had all the local oysters to try one of each. Note to the shuckers, if an oyster does not look good either toss it or eat yourself-at $3.75 a piece I don’t want a bad oyster served to me! Better oysters may be found elsewhere. Watermelon salad had wilted greens, sparse feta and watermelon that I may have termed borderline (certainly not crisp and fresh) with a sprinkle of pepita. Fried oysters were good, batter however was overly salted. The salmon and cucumber was tasty. However, Nothing was served creatively or interesting. I may have critical NYC taste, but if you want the accolades you need to step it up. There are many interesting and yummy places next door and within walking distance. Wine selection was nice.

This is the best Seafood and Oyster restaurant in Seattle. Yes, I enjoy Elliott's Oyster and Seafood bar, Ivar's Salmon house, Taylor Shellfish, etc....but this place is just a notch above the main great places. If you want great seafood &/or oysters in a cool Ballard setting, then it is worth the few extra minutes to head into Ballard Seattle. Now, if you are looking for a romantic setting or view setting, then, yes - Elliott's on the waterfront may be a better spot for you. I also enjoy medium to large family group settings for the Ivar's Salmon House. You can't go wrong with any of these seafood restauarants. But if you want the best of the best and ok without a view of the water - then head over to The Walrus and Carpenter !

This restaurant is basically perfect at what it tries to be, which is an oyster bar. Other dishes are available, but you should really only brave the wait and the price if you plan to eat the oysters. Five types of oysters were available. I tried all; the disco hama oysters stood out far in front of the others for me. Standard homemade garnishes accompanied. I was impressed with the shucking, which left no grit and separated the oysters entirely from the shells. My one small plate, scallop crudo, was also exquisitely presented and had a delicate flavor not overwhelmed by the lime cream, purslane, and pickled watermelon rind it came with. Beer and wine selection is extensive; cocktails were also interesting and well-prepared. Oyster lovers can find two muscadets available. Service was prompt and impeccable. Empty dishes were whisked away by whichever server was nearest. Two caveats: 1) Really only come if you plan to eat oysters. Other options are good but limited, and the wait times at the restaurant and high prices do not justify foregoing the oysters given that you can get less expensive tapas of the same quality elsewhere with no wait. 2) The cost is $$$$, even during happy hour. Portions are small. Do not come here hungry unless you are willing to pay $70+ per person (I paid more than that solo as a splurge).

Would you like a little oyster tour? You will find this restaurant in the back of a house in the industrial area. Absolutely great oysters and you can also get some meat, but go early from 5 p.m. if you don't want to queue

I love the atmosphere of this unique small restaurant. Wonderful wine list and fabulous bread with butter is a great start to a fabulous meal. The raw oysters were fresh and perfect and the fried oysters were the best I have ever tasted! My two friends thought the same. The three of us enjoyed 6 small plates and everything was very good, the salad with shaved fennel was exceptional. I don't think I would order the Morel Mushroom Tartine again, wanted it to be warm and savory but it was cold cheese on a slice of toasted bread. Don't miss the warm dates they are scrumptious! Service was outstanding and very helpful. Thank you for a great evening W&C!

Any restaurant that has fun (and hilarious) cocktail names is good by me! We sat on their back enclosed patio on a beautiful night and enjoyed drinks and small plates before heading out for a group dinner. This is a foodie heaven. The menu is small but mighty! The atmosphere had a modern farmhouse feel and a highlight for me was the ability to sit at the bar and watch the cooks put together each order - and endless oyster shucking before grabbing a table.

7 varieties of local oysters, high quality and super fresh; The challenge of the menu is to share, tapas type, with very original dishes, we tried 7 and we all loved them; The attention of the waiters is very good and they are very friendly to explain everything in detail; Yes, be prepared to wait a long time, they do not accept reservations, they told us a 45 minute wait and it took them a little over an hour, there is a bar next door where you can wait but if you have minors, they cannot access this area.

We had happy hour oysters. Half off market price between 4pm and 6pm. We sat at the bar and watched the professionals at work, shucking 3 oysters per minute. Next we had chicken liver pate ($14) with a basil relish. Perfect. The turnip appie ($13) I could have ommited. Shaved turnips tossed in a berry vinaigrette. Had the dish of clams as well ($15). The harissa sauce it was in was delightful. We didn't order the deep fried oysters although I now wish we had. It looked like a generous portion probably 5 oysters? Ambience was cozy although sitting at the tables were close together and we had asked to move to the bar so we didn't rub elbows with the strangers next to us. Servers were knowledgeable and friendly. Will definitely return.

-not sure where to start with this review. -everything about TWATC are 5 stars -the place does not open until 16:00 which is fine, the first hour the oysters are 50% off, the second hour they are 25% off. -we were there for 16:00 and not due to the cheaper oysters but more due to the reviews to get there early etc etc etc -we were on a boys trip and also had to get to the ball game for 19:07 so was perfect timing -there was a small line up upon getting to TWATC approx 15:40-we got sat pretty quickly, Willow (like the tree) was our server, she was awesome and they are very lucky to have her working there. Thank you Willow, miss you already!!!!! -to the food, I was there for the oysters, others in our party had the steak tartar (I admit I tried it and it was delicious) -the oysters were the best I have ever had and the freshest (not that I know what a fresh oyster tastes like) but they were awesome, I had 18 of them. it comes with horse-radish and this liquid dip which was also to die for. -I also had a moscow mule which was dandy, my buddies had beer. -so what else can I say, if you are in the general Seattle area and like oysters make a point to get to this place, you will not be disappointed. (say hi to Willow) -location is off the beaten path so use GPS -I did attach two photos and sorry about my little lego buddy but you will get the jist of it. the_real_dr_a

The atmosphere of Walrus & the Carpenter and the friendly staff were its best parts. But when it came to the fresh oysters, we left underwhelmed and frustrated. We ordered a dozen, asking for a mix of salty to briney. Half of them were the smallest oysters I've ever seen (could fit inside a thimble, probably) and they were still $3.75 a piece. What a rip-off! I've had good oysters all over the world. Never have I had such tiny oysters, and never for such a ridiculous price. They may be sourced locally, which is all well and good. But if I'm paying $3.75 a pop, the oyster better be bigger than my pinky finger. We left feeling a little robbed.

So I had one of this great meals in this unpretentious restaurant in Ballard. The oysters were so delicious that I had to reorder them. Not satisfied, I had to try the sardines, which were also great. The bread and the butter, simple as this may sound, were an experience on their own. Service was friendly and warm (thanks, Kate). I will return for happy hour oysters.

I'd fly cross country again just to eat these. Great small plates, excellent food, great staff; but the seating and ambience are a bit quirky.

Whet with my family (wife and 2 in their early 20’s). Place was full but we were seated quickly. The waiter was attentive and the food came out as it was prepared. We ordered oysters, sardines, “lettuce”, Olives and the outstanding bread and butter. Good selection of locals on draft. Tucked down a hallway (don’t get confused with the resturant out front (which also look fantastic).

I came with friends, and we were seated quickly. The seating options were limited, though, and I noticed quite a few parties waiting after we were seated so you might want to try an off-time if you want to avoid that. The inside is decorated so nicely, and gives it a really warm and upscale ambiance at the same time. Our server was incredibly friendly and helpful. She helped me pick a wine I didn't recognize on the menu and it was both delicious and exactly as she described. My friends had the mussels, olives, steak tartare, and lamb/bacon dish. The only one they did not care for was the lamb/bacon. Everything else got rave reviews. I had the steamed clams and bread/butter, which were absolutely incredible. You won't get a cheap meal here, but in my opinion everything was worth what we paid for it. Definitely a special place!

This place is expensive but the food is first class and the service excellent, it’s a memorable experience. When I went at 4 30pm on a Sunday afternoon it was completely packed and really buzzing. I sat at the bar which was interesting to watch everything going on. The kitchen, bar and food preparation areas are more or less open, and the service is very much a team effort. The atmosphere is pretty noisy and fast paced, it’s not the place to go if you want a quiet relaxed experience. There is a compulsory service charge of 20% but I felt this was OK given the standard of service and the team approach - when I paid the bill I was told explicitly that the service charge has already been included. It was so busy that I would recommend checking their website and booking a place on the wait list that they use at peak times. .

We really enjoyed the food, their bread and butter was incredible too. Great oysters, wine, and location!

I've been wanting to get here, and it did not disappoint. Engaging waiter, distinctive and delicious food,and great space. Enjoyed every minute, and learned more about food.

We arrived on a Friday before they opened and stood about 10 people back in line. We were seated right away at the end 4top table which was great for us. We ordered bread, olives, squash, brussel sprouts, and 16 oysters, 2 wines and a beer. Perhaps I don't have a great enough appreciation for GOOD oysters but they were tasty I will give them that . We were there for 75 minutes and the bill was $170 for the above items plus the included gratuity. Yes, the ambience is nice. The breads are amazing and the other dishes were definitely better average but the price? I guess this is the price you pay to play with the trendsetters.

There is not doubt that the decor and ambience of this restaurant was very good The music was great and you wanted to stay. BUT they don’t tell you until you sit down that they serve ‘ small plates so you have to order several ( a bit like tapas) which was a bit dishonest really However even that might have been Ok but the plates were very mean in quantity. the halibut was around 3inch taco type disk. Very difficult to divide in two and just a mouthful each. After three plates we had to fill up on bread. The desserts where they could have made up the shortfall were very average and the sizes were average. They then wacked on Compulsory 20% service charge which was not justified and I thought they were just trying to make you pay over the odds for the atmosphere. All in all an expensive evening which was NOT value for money.

Delicious oysters. Service is terrible and needs to be rectified. They either group their tips and have no care care for attention, or every server is brand new.

First time there. I seemed to time it well because I was solo and it looked like others were waiting longer. Tried each seven oysters they had: Indigo, Baywater Sweet, Hammersley, Cliff Point, Summerston, Summer Blue and Sapphire. They forgot one at first but they corrected the mistake. Also had French Breakfast Radishes with guacamole. Good peppery taste for the radishes and the guacamole was creamy. Beer good too. Negative where plastic bar stools hurt your hindside and not the most comfortable, and counter was cramped. You were right on top of your neighbors. Not enough for space for food and drinks.

We had a sample of all oysters, fresh bread/butter, and the head cheese. Head cheese was fried. We would have preferred the non fried version. Oysters were delightfully fresh and delicious.

This place suited our group well because we are very familiar with Tapas style dining . I would encourage people to start with one per guest and then keep ordering as the night progresses, it makes the time together last longer.

The best food. The best service. The best wine. You must find your way to this hidden gem. Get there early, because it is a small French inspired restaurant in Fremont that is jammed pack on a weeknight.

We enjoyed our time there. The fried oysters were by far the best I have ever had as was the cod collar. I had visiting Norwegians there with me and it is difficult to impress someone from Norway with cod, but they were impressed! I wish the staff had explained the concept of small plates to share with them first. I think they just ended up surprised at the portion size, not knowing they needed to order everything separate

In a delightful nondescript building at the end of the historic area in downtown is a great restaurant that you will often see full with long waits due to its popularity. With a great selection of oysters, fresh seafood and other great appetizers. This is a foodie spot worth repeating often!

There is a reason why people are lined up at the door. Fresh local seafood artistically prepared by friendly people in a relaxed causal atmosphere. The scallops in blood orange with basil and fennel exploded with flavor! Pollock was outstanding ( I can’t believe I said that about pollock) so delicately prepared. And the bread and butter - wow. Oysters are the specialty- so many fresh local choices. Great job!

Hidden in an industrial building Walrus has a European seafoodbar look and feel. Great selection of oysters, scallops seasoned to die for and clamps with kimchi with a surreal taste. Only ‘but’ I can find is that Several dishes are made to clean the plate with good bread which combined with the sauce leftover is a real treat. Although they serve good bread it is $6 for a small plate (butter included) Should be free in my opinion

Our group of 6 sampled a variety of offerings and were impressed by everything - oysters, beets with a tumeric yogurt sauce, beef tartare, snapper tartare, pate, herring terrine - all on small plates. Sour beer was a special treat. Menu changes frequently so don't depend on what you see on line. Attentive wait staff and cheerful atmosphere.

This was the second visit. As a guest from out of town, the east coast, I was not as impressed the second visit. The restaurant is eclectic and somewhat charming but also cramped and noisy. The oysters are good but very overpriced. The walnuts and pesto on the sardines completely overshadow the delicate flavor of the fish. The homemade butter is wonderful but the bread is tough and difficult to eat. My son had a beet salad, however, that was fantastic! Fresh flavors and unique combination of vegetables. All in all, the prices are inflated.

Let me just begin with this, the oysters were to die for!!! We sampled all the available oysters from sweetest to briniest which was an experience all in itself. The wine suggested by our fantastic waiter was spot on. After our oyster feast we enjoyed grilled sardines and perfectly cooked scallops. We loved our meal and will return the next time we are in Seattle.

If you want oysters in Seattle, this is one of the places to go. A little out of the way but close to done town and it gets packed fast. We were there 30 minutes before they opened and were first in line, but by the time they opened there were probably 10 other groups waiting. We sat at the bar and watched oyster after oyster being shucked. They were fresh, briny, and the perfect texture. Add a few glasses of white wine or an ice cold beer and you’ve got a great meal. It’s a small place but has a bright white interior and everyone is in a good mood! Go here for delicious, perfect oysters.

Great little place with a chill atmosphere and great food and service. Very casual and friendly! Good wine selection!

With great excitement we went to the Walrus & Carpenter to try Wildtype Salmon, a lab-grown real-salmon fillet. I'll get to that later... After a wait a the bar with nice strong cocktails we were finally seated on what is reminiscent of a kids high-table. I had to be careful not to elbow my neighbor off his chair. Service was spotty. Dishes came out in a random order and some dishes were forgotten. The plates were all rather underwhelming. The salmon plate was a teaser, the zucchini salad was too rich and salty, so were the tomatoes and even the rice pudding. Oh, butter was very salty, too. $100 per person for some salads is pretty steep. The saving grace was the bread, absolutely delicious so we filled up on that. Wildtype: flavor spot on, texture way off. How off, you ask? Imagine chewing on a rice cake sponge...

We heard about this place for Oysters and Steak Tartare, and decided to give it a try before the mariners game on Tuesday June 12, The place is a little off the beaten path, but we were totally impressed. We arrived at 4:00 pm when they open , and when Oysters are 50% off till 5:00pm and 25% off from 5:00-6:00. We were seated and served by "Willow" ( like the tree). She helped us with our order , and we got 3 dozen oysters and 2 Steak Tartare , it was all fantastic and was joined by about a dozen beers. The place is very nice, and popular with regulars, who quickly pop in have some oysters , a drink and split We are from the east coast, and most likely will never be in the Seattle area again, but if so we would definitely return , have more oysters, beer and steak tartare and insist that we get served by "Willow"

This is an Oyster bar. Not too many other choices there. I believe who is coming there is aware. So indeed various type of Oysters, all were very good. Nice atmosphere. Good service. The place is small and the sitting is tight, and you cant book in advance. We came after reading so many good things about this place and indeed enjoy our time there! We also tried the sardines which were fabulous and also the steak tartar which was good. But again, come here if you plan to eat Oysters. The place for it

The restaurant has take every precaution to keep dinners and staff safe. The food here is world class exceptionally. I was amazed with the expertly blended flavors of all the dishes we tried. I look forward to a return visit my next time in the city.

I love this place! It cannot be beat for a date night. It feels intimate but kind of glamorous at the same time. Get the li’l moon and night shade oysters, they are my favorite.

Service was excellent! Team service with multiple people taking care of us. Food was excellent and tasty, very well prepared and presented. Will visit again when in Seattle!

Fantastic food, service and environment. We loved our experience. Not cheap but no surprise considering quality of food and service. When we put our names down we were told 1 hour and 45 minutes. Had a drink at the barnacle while we waited and were seated after 1 hour and 5 minutes.

I was staying in Ballard for the night during a solo trip to Seattle. A few days in advance, I booked a table at Walrus and the Carpenter. I’m so glad I did; my experience was outstanding in every way. This establishment is doing a great job with social distancing. I was able to book an outdoor table. The set-up was great, with tables distanced significantly and tenting set-up to add privacy and make it easy to enjoy a meal even with Seattle’s legendary rain! The outdoor space was dressed-up a bit with fun lights, etc.; it felt festive. My server made the evening. He was super-friendly, funny, and happy to make light conversation and recommendations. He was extremely attentive and the timing of the meal was perfect. What an appealing menu! I wanted almost everything. I settled for a dozen oysters; all were from the West Coast, and every single one was delicious. The server wrote down a little menu for me of what I was eating and the oyster were organized from sweet to briny. They offered a nice variety of tastes. I also had a tomato salad with sheep’s cheese that was the *perfect* late summer dish; the tomatoes were perfectly sweet. Great wine list, too, including outstanding by-the-glass options. A really lovely evening. Can’t wait to return, solo or with friends. Everything you want in a dine-out experience: great food, fun service, great vibe. A+.

With all the hype, I had expected so much more. Restaurant is very cramped and you're very close to other patrons.....cannot have a private conversation at all. Food is tapas/small appetizers that are very mediocre in both flavor and presentation. Bread plate was delicious, steak tartare was inedible due to salt overload, salmon spread was awful as it was more like a mashed salmon with no flavor and kind of just a smear on the plate, fried oysters were just ok, bread pudding was delish. Left there unsatisfied and still hungry. Drinks were unusual but nothing great.

Called in for a quick pint on the way home at 20.25 thought they were closing asked a member of staff on the floor if still open and he said yes iwill come in and serve you in the meantime another staff member came to serve me I asked for a pint of amstel top please which I got I said thank you on receiving the beer I paid when I got my change I said thank you the staff member never spoke one word to me during the transaction when I pointed this out to her she shrugged her shoulders I felt like an inconvenience and won't be back Nice pub shame about staff member

We saw this restaurant featured on the Food Network and immediately added it to our list. Outstanding oysters and steamed mussels. Be prepared for a wait, but it is absolutely worth it!

Small dense unique atmosphere. Professional service. High quality fresh food. Good portion size. Did not live up to our flavor expectations. It is a menu primarily of raw seafood. The clams, fried oysters and tomato salad were delicious. Grilled beans and sardines preparation we would not repeat.

"Shall we be travelling home again; But answer came there none; And this was scarcely odd, because; They'd even every one". A small restaurant in the Ballard neighbourhood of refurbished commercial buildings. A small space, crowded. Seafood was fresh, well prepared, with their own good condiments. They automatically add 20% tip for the front and back team, which is common in Seattle and fair if everyone does well - they did. Prices are higher than other similar restaurants, even ones downtown in tourist and business areas. Would I go back? No.

Unexpectedly great!!! Loved everything we tried! From oysters (that were so fresh and delicious) to every single tapas….this place is a must visit when in Seattle.

Their oysters are the best. Great selection and very fresh. Service is always very good. Great selection of beer too.

Here's why: Very loud music, uncomfortable seating, slow service, salad limp, oysters you can get anywhere, nothing really special to offer, sardines really bad, small portions/dessert not we'll presented, minimum wine pours...clams were good...not again.

What a great place - oysters, fried oysters, steak tartare, cauliflower dish, sardines and salad. Wonderfully helpful staff and service. Every recommendation by staff was spot on. For interesting, unique and delicious fare, this is a must try.

I had read about this restaurant prior to our trip! It was great as expected, definitely worth the detour even on a short Seattle trip. The oysters were great and the decor is really nice. Tapas size portion, but everything was good! No reservations, so be prepared to put your name on the list and go for a drink somewhere around while you wait.

Came here with my buddy after a gig. (We decided to treat ourselves) It's always busy here. We got lucky that we didn't have to wait very long and got a nice "view" table on the veranda (no reservations here!). The apps and oysters rotate depending on the season or what's available, but we both thought the food was amazing and worth the price of admission. It is highly rated with good reason. If you like oysters, definitely worth a special visit.

This is a very unique restaurant that is great. The mid 50s decor and the ambiance of the restaurant are great and the food is very good. the oysters are terrific and straight out of the water.

The restaurant/bar is cute, and food is good but nothing that is particularly noteworthy. Service was nice but extremely slow.

Amazing, fresh seafood (particularly oysters). It can get a bit crowded, especially if you’re sitting solo at the counter (although, great view of the kitchen!)

We arrived at The Walrus just before 5pm and were the last to get a spot at the Bar on a Thursday afternoon. The space is light and gorgeous and you feel like you are sitting at a shack on the beach. It is busy and noisy but that adds to its appeal in my opinion. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful and we ordered a selection of their oysters and a little cheese plate. There was 25% off oysters because it was happy hour and everything was delicious and fresh. I think it's a great place to stop past for a glass of wine and oysters before going to a second location for your main if you are on a tight schedule and trying to get in a few different places in one night.

If you don't like Oysters, don't go to this restaurant! The side dishes were not that appealing or appetizing and we had to send one dish back because it was too salty. We brought a guest from CA to eat here because of the high rating of the restaurant and we were thoroughly disappointed. In fact, my guest stated it was the worst food she had ever eaten.

We had a great meal here: raw oysters, fried oysters, pickled carrots, booze were all done to perfection. The music playing here was also great. Went on a Sunday at around 5PM and had no wait.

Great pub, cool decor, excellent ales range with superb quality, the Harvey’s was so delicious and can say the same about the food, all English traditional mains. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, they even offer samples of any ales you want to try. We really loved our time there.

The food is really great. Small plates designed to be shared. Great server who really cared, providing great suggestions. Not inexpensive, but the food is so worth it. They don't take reservations, so you need to go there to put your name on their list. They'll text you when a table opens up. The one issue we had was the music level, which was much too loud. Patrons had to pretty much yell, and even then it was hard to hear. Even when asking for it to be turned down, it really didn't make much of a difference. To their credit, the hostess came over and said she changed to a different play list with less loud music, explaining that turning it down was challenging with different songs having different "loudness" levels. This argument doesn't make much sens, and the difference in loudness was not that obvious.

This hidden gem in Ballard, Seattle was an outstanding discovery. Great oyster selection in a small place but full of energy. Sea food seems to be the main thing here, but I kept eating just oyster the whole night... they were so great!

The Walrus and the Carpenter is a really charming place, with its tiled floor, open kitchen, huge bowl of whipped butter sitting on the bar and well worn, lived in feel of the old building. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We had to wait for two hours to get in. It was worth it since we had nothing else to do, but I think this place is capitalizing on its good reputation. The menu is a la cart, and the prices very high. It bugs me to pay the price of a whole meal, just for a kale salad, wonderful though it may be. You can order oysters from six different varieties, by the piece, which is kind of fun. The most interesting dish was a whole, deep-fried perch. Everything was delicious.

Great selection of Oysters and knowledge staff. We tried a selection of oysters and our server wrote out lists of the types so we could keep track of our favorites. Highly recommended.

This was my second visit to The Walrus and the Carpenter. The design is awesome, and fits the space well. The food is done well, and it is fun to watch the open kitchen, with the barrels of Oysters in front of you. You have to be prepared to be crammed in either at a table or bar, as space is very limited. Overall, we would come back.

My wife and I were visiting Seattle for the first time in advance of an Alaska cruise to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We both love seafood and I was dead set on finding one of the city’s best offerings for our last dinner in town. After researching various review sites, I decided on The Walrus and the Carpenter in the historic neighborhood of Ballard. We arrived on a Thursday at 4:30 pm to take advantage of happy hour when oysters are half price. That’s not the only incentive to arrive early as reservations are not accepted and seating is not a guarantee. The restaurant is located in an unassuming weathered brick building on Ballard Avenue. After walking down a long hallway to the rear of the building, we turned a corner to discover a lively bustling space flooded with natural light that resembled a country kitchen more than a restaurant. There were some tables located in an enclosed patio, but the majority of the patrons were seated at high tables and a counter that surrounds the kitchen and bar. We were lucky enough to be seated at the corner of the counter by the shucking station where we were able to witness the well-oiled machine that is the Walrus and the Carpenter staff. If you are a fan of Hulu’s The Bear, think of Carmy and friends at their best without the constant yelling of “YES, CHEF!” Instead, everyone seamlessly and calmly interacted knowing their job and supporting each other when able. It added to the experience and provided exceptional service despite almost every seat constantly being occupied by a never ending flow of incoming customers. I wish I could mention everyone on the team by name because they all deserved to be recognized. We did get one name and that was our server, Evan. Friendly, attentive, knowledgeable and considerate; Evan was amazing. He guided us through the impressive selection of locally sourced oysters and took our drink orders. We decided on the house’s signature old fashion as our cocktail and it was stellar. Smooth, aromatic and lightly citrusy; we knew we were having more than one…two rounds. Don’t judge. For dinner, we started with a cucumber salad and a half dozen each of four different oysters ranging from sweet to slightly briny. While we had our favorites, they were all top-notch. The cucumber salad was light and refreshing served with dill, pickled onions and a creamy za’atar buttermilk dressing. Evan asked if we wanted bread and butter which we passed on. Not because it was a la carte; we just did not want to fill ourselves up. Then my wife spied a Rainier sized mountain of fluffy whipped butter that was being generously dolloped onto plates, sprinkled with sea salt and accompanied by slices of fresh hearty bread. As we mopped up the last of the buttermilk dressing with our bread, we further scanned the menu to decide how we would round out our epic feast. My wife put in an order of the tomato salad and asked our server for another standout dish. Evan shared a favorite of his was the hama hama clams. We took the suggestion under advisement as we further reviewed the menu. Then an order of the clams arrived in front of our neighbors at the counter. The sight of the steaming bowl of tiny tender mollusks in a bath of broth served with two thick slices of crusty grilled bread for dipping drove home why Evan called it out. When we were served our tomato salad, we placed an order for the clams. Being from The Garden State, I was skeptical of my wife’s choice. The Jersey tomato is legendary. Well, the sweet, firm, juicy wedges of deep red and bright yellow drizzled with vanilla infused oil and sprinkled with vanilla salt and fresh basil were so good, I found myself apologizing to my wife for doubting her choice. As we enjoyed the tomatoes and our second round of old fashions, Evan approached us. He came to apologize because the kitchen trashed our order of clams due to them being excessively sandy inside. This is the signature of superior service and quality. We would not have even noticed the passage of time as we enjoyed our cocktails while mesmerized by the action in the kitchen. When the clams did arrive we were not disappointed. They tasted every bit as savory as they looked. While capping off our amazing time at The Walrus and the Carpenter with our final round of drinks, Evan brought us a complimentary cheese plate with honey to end our dinner on a sweet note. In addition to that thoughtful gesture, we were informed the clams were removed from our check. An act that was unexpected, unnecessary and totally in line with the high level of dedication to service and class at this establishment. My wife and I have had memorable dinners, servers and experiences before but I have not made the effort to write about any of them. Thank you Evan, the rest of the team and management for an unforgettable and unmatched experience. You are the best of the best.

Absolutely worth checking this place out. We started off with plenty of oysters, letting our server choose a selection for us, and were more than happy. We shared the steak tartare as well and the fried oysters as well and were all very happy. Great selection for drinks and such a nice vibe. Price range is what I would expect for an oyster bar, and the no reservations aspect wasn't an issue for us at all, worth waiting for!

It is important to get to Walrus and Carpenter at least an hour (or two on weekends) before you want to eat to put your name on the list. This will give you ample time to wander up the street to one of many options for grabbing a cocktail or two. I like the back bar at Bastille for a pre-dinner drink. Once they text you that your table is almost ready, you will have time to walk back down the street. The space is small, and it is fairly noisy, but I find it to be a very energetic and fun atmosphere. The menu is lots of small plates best for sharing, and of course a variety of oysters. If you sit at the bar you can watch the food being prepped in the kitchen. They always have fun, seasonal craft cocktails, and the dishes are all flavorful and interesting. I have had some absolutely wonderful dishes there. The servers have always been nice, but it is definitely bustling, so don't go in if you are in a hurry to rush through a meal. I have never been disappointed by the energy, the food or the upbeat servers.

This restaurant is located in the Ballard neighborhood. Off the beaten path, it is situated behind another restaurant. You enter the restaurant by going down a long hallway only to be surprised by a bustling little restaurant with a huge bar that takes up the place. Not a lot of tables and a wait, you can only be surprised by the freshness of each dish. It is mostly seafood, with interesting dishes and fresh bread. The service is steady though you don't feel like you are being rushed out. No reservations so be prepared to wait. There is also a side room with a bar for cocktails.

I get it I guess. The last people showing up at the last reservation for dinner, but being patient makes a restaurant special. Besides the service, the best oysters I’ve honestly ever had in Seattle. No joke, I was wowed over and over again with the tastiest oysters. Hands down the king of the oyster spot. But the servers have to be more friendly, seriously....

I almost didn't go because I tend to stay away from popular places that are kind of a hassle. In this case, the hassle was worth it. I was told by my local friends that this was the best place in Seattle for seafood. Even though my expectations were high (and low due to the hassle warning), it still exceeded. Maybe it was what we ordered, but I can still taste the oysters and the anchovies. Yes you can get oysters anywhere, but the combination of the food and the drink was perfect. Seeing other reviews, I suppose it depends on your expectations and what you order. Having been to many seafood restaurants, this has to be one of the top. I see these reviews about it being loud? Yes, it's a small place with lots of people in a somewhat casual atmosphere. Expect it to be loud and not a quiet romantic dinner, even though it's priced like one. Service is laid back but professional. I liked the atmosphere more than I expected.

We had an awesome delicious dinner tonight. Waiting line less than 10 minutes, attentive service. The oysters were splendid and we shared meals, the choices seem to be made for it. Great quality and inspirational combinations. Can only recommend the tomato salad, the grilled sardines and the goat cheese. Cocktails and wine came with a good description of our server. Would love to come back again, this place is a hidden gem.

No entrees just small plates: We had the grilled asparagus, crudo, pancetta, steamed clams, and 2 orders of the awesome bread plate. All yummy. The only one disappointing was the filomena. Menu changes quite often from what I have read. Focus is wholly on oysters which is pricey but well worth it. Will definitely return on next visit to Seattle.

My business partners have always taunted me for being such a fast eater until now. The food is bursting with ocean flavor, it slowed me down. I didn’t want it to end, best raw and fried oysters I’ve ever had from coast to coast. Staff is fine, they enjoy seeing their guest enjoy!!!

Puts all other oysters I have eaten to shame. The mignonette is delicious. Favorite was the Disco Hama Hama oysters. Could eat these for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Service was excellent.

Food was incredible and the service was great. Oysters were so good and fresh. The space is a little small so you’re close to other tables but there’s still breathing room. Overall highly highly recommend!!

Great food, great atmosphere. Cocktails and great conversation. Get there early...place is very popular

Reviewers are right--this small and packed restaurant offers delicious and creatively prepared seafood but the portions are all very small and the prices high.

The decor and vibe of this place is amazing. Everything was perfect! I had sheep cheese and honey w fresh bread. The oysters were fresh

Except for the oysters, which were fresh and tasty, the food served here is inedible to my taste. And only during happy hour, which is between 4-6 p.m. on weekdays, do the oysters cost $2, or $5. And those oysters come predominantly from the region. The pieces of veal deep-fried in breadcrumbs were totally salted, the tiny pieces of meat in the dough coat barely found, let alone tasted. The herrings, a bit salty and fatty by nature, were also oversalted and swam in an oily-fat sauce. The guest room is small, densely set and nicely decorated. The noise level is quite high. The service is unobtrusive and friendly, the beverage selection good. I can't understand the good rating of this place. If anything, I would only come back during happy hour for the oysters, otherwise I will avoid this restaurant

I went here with friends visiting from Colorado! We went right at 4:00 and got our oysters 50% off! The cocktails were absolutely amazing too!

Our original plan was to arrive at the restaurant when they open at 4pm but instead arrived at 5:30pm on a Friday and were wait listed for 2hours and 30 minutes. No problem. Ballard is a cool area with lots of bars, restaurants, and shops plus the host provided us with solid recommendations for bars in the area. To kill time we went to Stoneburner and Percy's. Percy's cocktails were very unique, creative, delicious, and really take it to the next level. Stoneburner was cool too. By the time we finished we headed back to the restaurant and had some light fare in the bar area located just outside of the restaurant entrance. After a few minutes our table was ready. We ordered an assortment of raw Oysters (my friends loved them, I prefer fried oysters), Seafood Ceviche (very good) Marinated Beets (very good) Lamb and hummus dish (very good) Fried Oysters (Excellent) Grilled Sardines (Beyond Excellent!!!) Bread Pudding for dessert (average) I realize everyone is entitled to their opinion but I can't fathom how this restaurant grades anything less than very good. The wait should be expected because it is a small space and is in high demand.This was one of the first places on our list to visit as we were in Seattle for the weekend from Chicago. The food in my opinion was adequately priced. They feature small to mid sized plates, but it's perfect for sharing and tasting and most people know you have to pay for quality. If the wait frustrates you I get it, but the food and service speaks for itself. I would come back to Seattle for a weekend just to eat here again.

Great selection of raw oysters plus dinner mains and sides. Steamed clams with sausage are a unique take on this classic. Fried oysters were too heavily breaded for my taste but I know this is an accepted style. Will return next time I'm in Seattle!