The Brick Saloon — Restaurant in Roslyn

I'm taking a virtual journey through the past today. I visited the town of Roslyn, WA around this time 25 years ago at the tail end of the summer of 1994 which I spent working in Canada. Before returning to Ireland to resume college, my friend and I travelled across the border to Seattle for a visit. My friend was flying back to Ireland a few days earlier than me so he left Seattle before me and I had a couple of days to explore on my own. I was a big Northern Exposure fan and had heard that the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska was in fact the town of Roslyn which was only a stone's throw outside of Seattle. I gained a travelling companion at the hostel in Seattle where my friend and I had been staying. My new companion was also a Paddy and, though he had never heard of Northern Exposure, he did have a spirit of adventure and he decided to join me on my expedition to seek out the town of Roslyn. We jumped on a bus from Seattle and hopped off as close as possible to Roslyn. We began walking from there into the town and stuck our thumbs out at all vehicles heading in our direction. A lovely young lady driving a pick-up truck took pity on us and offered us a lift. We jumped in the back of the pick-up and off we went. On hearing that we had no accommodation booked for the night, this very kind lady wrote down her telephone number on a piece of paper, gave it to my travelling companion and said that if we were stuck and couldn't find any place then we could phone her up and stay in her place. This was a fantastic stroke of good fortune. Anyway we hopped out of her truck in the centre of Roslyn, thanked our benefactor and said our goodbyes. We then set about exploring the town. I was in my element checking out Dr. Fleischmann's office, the KBHR radio station, and the Roslyn Cafe Oasis mural. We then made for The Brick for the evening. We had a fine time playing pool and drinking beer all night. We made no attempt to find any accommodation as we intended to rely upon the kind offer of our cute lady friend in the pick-up truck. Our plan was to phone her up and let on that we had tried everywhere to get a roof for the night but with no success. Anyway the beers were flowing all evening, and we were having great craic in The Brick. It was probably around 11pm when I suggested to my companion that now would be a good time to phone our landlady to arrange our lodgings for the night, in case she was one to go to bed early. We didn't want to leave it too late! Right so, said my companion, and started rummaging in his pocket for the slip of paper containing the lady's phone number. No sign of it in that pocket. Check other pocket. Don't panic yet. Not in that pocket either. Checked back pockets, coat pockets, and wallet. No good. Searched high and low in The Brick for it. No joy. The piece of paper was gone. On reflection I got overly cross that night with my companion for losing the phone number. I am ashamed to think of it. I should have chillaxed a bit. As it turned out, some other good samaritan offered us a floor for the night so we weren't left sleeping on the street. As a memento of our night at The Brick I "borrowed" a fine sturdy beer glass which I took back on the plane to Ireland with me. I still have it though it's no longer in active service after sustaining a crack in the dishwasher. I left Roslyn the following day as I had to make my return trip to Ireland. My companion had no such constraints and he decided to stay on in Roslyn for a few days longer. I don't know how he got on as I never saw or heard from him again after that. I can't even remember his name, though I'm sure he remembers me as the culchie with the bad temper. Anyway I'd better get on here. It was a great experience and I would highly recommend both The Brick and the town of Roslyn. I hold fond memories...

I have to amend my review of 3 years ago..... We still live close by and we still go there, not as often, probably will more now that Covshit is over..... We had a rather disappointing visit Saturday night. Arrived around 6, fairly busy but not slammed. Sat in our favorite booth up in main area. Saw several staff folks doing their thing and BS'ing behind the bar....a few of them walked right by us several times, kinda looked and kept going? After 4 maybe 5 minutes of this strange ignoring stuff, someone finally asked if we wanted beverages. It seemed to take forever. Got our beverages, and said we were ready to order food. She left and came back another 8 to 10 minutes later and took our orders. I was half done with my beer and was kinda nursing it till food arrived. So I still had a half a beer when food arrived. Food came quick enough and was very very good.....then NO ONE came back to ask "how is everything, more beverages?"....it was very strange. By the time someone came back we had finished our meals, and our beverages and we requested a box for leftovers.....still no ask about drinks!!! Some nights are just a bit off, and we understand that....but you could have sold another 12 bucks in beverages! I really hope to get a managers acknowledgement of this review. ALSO, they do NOT have fish tacos anymore??.....WTH.....those were the best. Replaced them with oily deep fried shrimp....not so good, at all. BRING BACK THE COD FISH TACOS, PLEASE!!! 3 years ago: We live 10 minutes from the Brick and frequent it often. They Burgers are stellar, but the best night is Tuesday. Taco Tuesday. If you like fresh Alaskan cod tacos.....look no further. Some of the best I have had. The rest of the menu is excellent too. No matter how busy they have very, very good...

Came for dinner and drinks with my wife it wasn’t our first choice but we tried it again haven’t been there in a long time. They need some management work and employees with certain jobs not everyone being server, bartender and buser. Too many workers doing too many jobs and not doing them well focus on hiring for certain job and fire your cook. Had burgers after waiting over and hour and it had to be one of the worst cheeseburgers I have ever had. McDonald’s is gross to me but I would eat their food for a month straight over another burger from here. . It was so dry and over cooked I couldn’t even finish it trying not to be rude. I poured tons of dry sauce and ketchup and couldn’t eat it. Looked like they threw the extra cut up salad lettuce on it and a pile of red onions you couldn’t even taste a thing besides red onions. My wife got a burger too wasn’t as bad as mine but not worth the price, but her soup was cold the sides of the bowl were luke warm. Do you not make fresh soup each day? They must warm up soup in the microwave from the fridge. Drinks were expensive and not awful but far from great. They were busy but they are lacking the training to run a bar and serve the customers they have. The place is old but it’s so dirty from not being cleaned properly. The mirrors behind the bar look like someone smeared a dirty rag across the glass once in the last couple years. Really needs some work getting this iconic bar in shape and start running it better. They are losing so much money running it the way they do. Very disappointed customer I don’t know if I would ever come back for food or drinks until it changes ownership or has an overhaul. This place could use a bar rescue from that tv show. Also put the bar chairs back up at the bar. A lot going wrong...