The Iron Duck Public House — Restaurant in North Bend

UPDATED VISIT BELOW*

Save your money and time and go to The Woodman in Snoqualmie. First time we came here was shortly after it opened and we weren’t impressed: appetizers came out after our meal, undercooked bacon, greasy fatty meat and overly priced. But we decided we’d try again.... Fries are great and so was pizza, everything else was not. Burgers were tasteless. My salad which boasted “candied pecans” had 4 total and to make things worse I ordered the side of shrimp which were 6 shrimp for $7 and they were over cooked in just butter (no herbs or flavor) to a perfect rubbery pink blob served on a plate with no presentation whatsoever. I ate one of the shrimp and declined the rest, server asked at the end of dinner “not a fan of the shrimp.” To which I replied, “no.” She then says, “would you like to take them home?” What? What? What?!!!!! To which I replied, “no thanks.” I used to be a server and the correct response would’ve been: “I’m so sorry let me see what I can do.” Then you get a manager to take it off of the bill and come to table to apologize. So our bill total for 4 people was $130, “yummy rubber shrimp” included and then of course we tipped because that’s just kosher (do unto others). So $160 later in regret and lessons learned. I’ll keep waiting for a restaurant worth “talking about” to come to this location, there’s so much potential it’s too bad. One day.

*UPDATE: Recently tried Iron Duck one last time last night (7/9/19) for their pizza which in the past has been good. They no longer had our favorite: Chicken Bacon Pesto because they no longer “make pesto,” it was the best pizza on the menu?! So we ordered the Bianco, the mushroom and the chorizo pizzas...three pizzas in total. The Bianco and Mushroom had a nasty white cream sauce that tasted like it was straight out of an Alfredo jarred sauce from the grocery store. The chorizo pizza which we’ve had before they no longer had the mamas little pepper’s aioli on it but a cilantro cream sauce that was overly cilantro tasting (And I love cilantro)....all three pizzas were completely undercooked, crust was soggy on bottom and throughout. My husband went out on a limb and got the steak sandwich, it was horribly bland. Very very disappointing. Husband and I have decided we’re only going to Iron Duck for sage fries, Snoqualmie root beer, ciders, beer and fried pickles as those are the only good things on the menu. Our server was great though but that’s not always the case there as noted in my previous review above. It’s too bad, really like the Black Duck in Issaquah, owner should’ve just stuck with that menu...why mess with a good thing?! What a waste of money. NB really needs a great restaurant, this is the third one in this location since we moved here 5 years ago. Very...

If I could rate 4.5 I would but I’m happy to round up

Came here with a friend after a social bike ride. They were one of the only restaurants open after 8! We were famished.

I’d say the interior of the main restaurant was lacking in character but we sat on the rear patio which was quite pleasant and cute.

Our server was so so lovely and friendly. She made recommendations and did not feel insincere whatsoever. Service was attentive and swift but not doting.

We ordered two beers and then considered a pizza each plus a side, but upon hearing the pizzas were pretty large we stuck to the pies.

We got one duck and one chorizo, both seemed very compelling options and our server applauded our choices. I noted that the menu made a point to mention a “san marzano” tomato sauce on their red pies, a kind of funny thing to point out IMO but a welcome nod to quality!

The pizzas were indeed a very reasonable size. The duck came out first. I really enjoyed it. Reminiscent of a chinese roast duck dish served with bao and hoisin sauce, this pie has duck confit, a very light aioli base, arugula, pistachios and hoisin. They really hit it out of the park! Not too busy, and not too bland. The duck and hoisin were just indulgent enough.

The second pie came out looking saucy. I don’t recall all the ingredients: chorizo, red onion, san marzano tomato base, some sort of cheese and a tangy creamy sauce drizzled throughout. I’d say it was a little saucier than I prefer on a pizza. If the whole pie had 20% less sauce I think it would be perfect. That said, it was very tasty, and I could really appreciate the fancy tomatoes.

If I ever have the pleasure of returning (I don’t make it out to North Bend much these days) I would absolutely reorder the duck pizza but likely try another red pie to see what else they’ve got cooking!

I’ll also say, the price on these pizzas was incredible for a Puget Sound suburb in 2024. $18-20 for a pie that could easily feed 2 (we both took home leftovers). Though maybe not the absolute best restaurant I’ve been to, we live in a world where people ignore restaurants with lower than a 4.5 review. I say, the Iron Duck heartily deserves your time and money. The service is genuinely friendly, the food and beer are delicious, and the prices are...

Don't waste your time eating here. Inadequately prepared food. Slow but friendly service. High prices for what you're getting.

First, it took them 35-40 minutes to serve a party of four a couple of hamburgers and a salad. Way too slow. Thought they were growing my greens and butchering the cow for the burgers?

Second, I ordered the steak salad. I got a small garden salad (iceberg heavy) with a sprinkling of walnuts, cranberries, three chucks of blue cheese and three cherry tomatoes and they called that a Steak Salad. Huge plate only 50% full. No dressing - I had to request. For what I paid for, it was barely one cup plus of greens and fixins. Not a dinner salad at all. Bait and switch.

Third, the waitress stated the steak comes medium-rare. I confirmed before I ordered. What I got was a well done thin cutlet of steak measuring 3" x 4.5" about 1/4 inch thick. No pink. thought steak salads were supposed to come rare or blue to enhance the flavor of the meat. The minuscule playing-card size of meat was about the same size of meat as in a McDonald's Value Menu hamburger. Felt like the old lady in the Wendy's commercial from the 80s - where's the beef? This would have been a fail and dismissal on "Chopped" - over-cooked and unsalted.

Fourth, there was no salt or pepper on any tables?

Fifth, the price of the steak salad was $16. The hamburgers with fries cost $17. Don't think these type of prices will fly in North Bend when you don't get well-prepared meals and poor service.

I just wish I would have a picture of the pathetic side salad with a puny piece of over-cooked meat to show you. On the way home, I stopped by McDonald's and got a Quarter Pounder for $4.89 and it was prepared medium and I felt satisfied.

No one should have to grab a bite after spending $16-17 on a plate of food at what appears to be a good restaurant. The Flat Iron Grill (allegedly owned by the same owner) in Issaquah has served me a great steak dinner. Why isn't North Bend at the same standard?

What was good? The wait staff was friendly. Well drinks were decent. The pizza looked great.

Next time, I will gladly pay $17.99 for a steak salad (the Woodsman Steak Salad) with a full blue-black cooked steak sliced on top a full salad BUT at the North Bend...