Leftcraft — Restaurant in Edmonds

Our first visit to this newish restaurant/TAPHOUSE in Edmonds was really great, mostly because the physical design and decor was modern and exciting with a European beer hall feel,… Bierhalle, Wirtschaft, or Lokal, long Hofbrauhaus tables and seating etc. Sparklingly clean (except for the bathrooms). It is worth the visit for that alone. Food menu seemed creative and interesting. Our return visit and likely last, was a let down for our mid-day lunch party of six. Even if they are not a low-cost provider, there is no reason a place as nice as this should have service so poor. The bar and restaurant were not busy at 1:00 pm on a weekday, about 25% capacity, with 3-5? servers on the floor, plus 3-4? kitchen staff, but service and connection to the customer was barely phoned in to the point we felt the staff had no actual food & beverage service training or experience at all. No obvious expediter/bartender/manager present. The food portions were small for the price it seemed that the dining experience was all on the check and not on the plate. As a taphouse, with all the amazing beers on this planet we thought the large and pretentious selection of obscure and boring regional, craft beers left plenty to be desired, and everything we tried was under poured and over priced. C'mon under filled 8 ounce tulip glasses of 4.9% ABV beer for $8+, and three different $7 for 12 ounces of 0% ABV ginger beers? Prices aside, we could have overlooked all else except for the slow service and that it took forever to order our first round of beverages after we were greeted and seated, then an even longer wait for them to be delivered, and as the glasses soon sat empty for over 60 minutes we began trying to wave down any server, all of whom seemed to be averting their eyes. Food was delivered as if air dropped from a passing aircraft with no offer to add or replenish drinks. Drinks are where all the money is so we are baffled. Random servers would whisk by and grab empty dishes and glassware from the table with no offer to refill or reorder anything. 90 minutes in, some of us got a second beer, and after a long, long, long wait, a third was ordered that never arrived, and it even took too long to...

I had surgery a couple days ago and had my heart set on the ribs here as a treat during my recovery. When the server took our order, I told him I knew what I wanted before we got there. I was so excited! About five minutes later, I went to find him at the bar to add a drink to my order. He was pouring our drinks and said he was about to come let us know they were out of ribs. Which two of us were sharing.

AFTER placing the rest of our order and pouring our drinks.

So here’s the thing. Obviously, restaurants run out of food. Especially popular, delicious things like ribs. That happens. BUT, (and as a former server myself), if someone says “this item is why I’m here” and you’re out of it, TELL THEM IMMEDIATELY. As in, you need to know what’s 86’ed BEFORE people order, because that is your literal job.

If he’d told us before he started prepping our food and drinks, we would have gone somewhere else. I mean no offense, but the rest of the food Leftcraft serves is good but not great, doesn’t accommodate our dietary needs well, and also, crucially, not what I had been craving. So the three of us spent a bunch of money on “meh” food because the server couldn’t be bothered to let us know right away and locked us all into an unimpressive experience (including him, because I am not a delight when I wanted ribs and got a mediocre beef kimchi bowl, one of the only other menu items I could eat).

Now I know better. I’ll call next time to be sure they have ribs, rather than assume. That’s on me. But couldn’t we all have had a better time if he’d alerted us right away? We could have thanked him…had a beverage while we found another restaurant…tipped him handsomely for his efficiency and care…and left before I turned into a crankypants whose dearly hoped for food turned out to be Not Ribs.

Review of actual food: Roasted beet salad was fine but didn’t have enough dressing on it, beef kimchi bowl was the most disappointing beef bowl I’ve ever had (oddly lacking in flavor, which, HOW, it’s faux Korean) and gave me really bad indigestion for some reason, mother’s pot pie was good but her green salad was excellent, partner’s tofu bowl was fine but underwhelming and...

Leftcraft offers a dining experience that leaves much to be desired in several areas. While the food is decent, portions can be disappointing. Meat dishes often feature more bread or bone than actual meat, leaving you feeling shortchanged. Vegetarians will find options extremely limited, with little beyond a basic salad to choose from.

The atmosphere is passable, but several details make it less enjoyable. Seating is a significant drawback, with hard wooden benches that are far from comfortable, especially for longer meals. At the bar, the harsh lighting is unflattering—ladies, be forewarned, this isn’t the place to rely on ambient glow to enhance your evening look. If you’re looking to dine in comfort, a table away from the bar is a better choice.

Another notable downside is the lack of snack options while you wait for your meal. Unless you order an appetizer, which fills you up, adds to your bill it also arrives alongside your meal anyway. You’re left with just your drink during the wait. This oversight diminishes the overall experience, particularly during longer waits.

Takeout portions are notably smaller than dine-in servings, which could be a deal breaker for some. On the brighter side, Leftcraft does have a solid beer selection, which pairs well with the limited menu options.

Service is inconsistent—some staff members are friendly and attentive, while others appear disengaged. In summary, leftcraft is worth a visit if you’re nearby and looking for a good beer, but don’t expect a standout...