Lowell's Restaurant — Restaurant in Seattle

Lowell’s Restaurant Review – 3/5

Lowell’s, located in the iconic Pike Place Market in Seattle, has an undeniable charm and appeal, especially with its stunning views and bustling, vibrant atmosphere. However, while the setting is memorable, the food left much to be desired during our visit, which averaged out to an overall experience of 3/5.

Atmosphere: 4/5

The highlight of Lowell’s is easily the ambiance. The restaurant’s multi-level seating offers picturesque views of the waterfront, creating a quintessential Seattle experience. The space is lively and filled with the energy of Pike Place, making it a great spot to soak in the local vibe. For those visiting Seattle for the first time, this atmosphere might be enough to justify a stop here.

Food: 2/5

Unfortunately, the food did not live up to the setting. There were seven of us, and collectively, we all found the food to be underwhelming. While nothing was outright inedible, the dishes were disappointingly basic and lacked the wow factor you’d hope for from a restaurant with such a prime location. • Fish & Chips: This was the standout dish at the table, but even this felt only passable compared to what you’d expect in a seafood-forward city like Seattle. The fish was decent, but the fries were undercooked, which diminished the dish. • Crab Cakes: These were notably disappointing. They lacked the rich crab flavor and texture we were hoping for, leaning more on filler than quality crab meat. • Reuben Sandwich: While the sandwich itself was alright, the sauerkraut was bland and lacked tang, and the Thousand Island dressing was nothing special—honestly, it felt like a store-bought option might have been more flavorful. • Clam Chowder: Given the location, we had higher expectations for this dish, but it came out lackluster, with a flavor profile that was forgettable and a consistency that bordered on watery. • Calamari: Another miss. It was plain and lacked the seasoning or crispiness that makes fried calamari enjoyable.

Service: 3/5

The service was average—friendly but not particularly attentive. The staff was helpful enough but didn’t go out of their way to elevate the experience.

Overall

Lowell’s is worth visiting for the atmosphere, especially if you’re a tourist wanting to experience Pike Place Market’s energy and views. But if food is your priority, there are likely better options nearby. The restaurant feels more like a spot trading on its location than on its culinary merit. While we appreciated the charm of the space, the lackluster food makes it hard to justify a return visit. If you do go, stick to the fish and chips and temper your...

From the outside, Lowell’s is unassuming. You have probably walked by it a dozen times at the market and not even realized it’s there. Upon entering, you are told it’s three stories tall; the first and third stories being open seating, and the second being a more formal dining setup. We chose the third floor and grabbed a booth with spectacular views. I went down and ordered at the front counter.

They have an assortment of seafood options with a few sandwiches and burgers. I chose the blackened salmon caesar, my girlfriend went with a Beechers cheeseburger, and I got us a large bowl of clam chowder. The burger was very good, coming with fancy toppings like pickled onions and a lovely aioli. The lettuce was crisp, and the burger was juicy. Even the fries impressed, being crispy but not over done and nicely seasoned. The only thing we didn’t like was the soggy pickles that came (thankfully) on the side.

The clam chowder was disappointing for a Seattle chowder, being relatively bland and a majority potato. The blackened salmon Caesar has a good dressing and hearty amount of salmon, croutons, lettuce, and cheese. The salmon itself was a tad disappointing, however. It didn’t have much flavor considering it should have been a little “spicy” and have the blackened flavor to it. It was decently cooked, however, which was nice.

All in all, $75 for those three items and a couple fountain drinks is pretty steep, even for the views that come...

The friends we were with wanted to eat here.

ATMOSPHERE: It's not a really big restaurant despite having 3 levels. It's very cramped with servers having to carry big trays of food up and down the stairs, dodging people waiting in line. The view from the 3rd level is great. It's a mix of regular tables, bar, and booth seating.

BEVERAGE: Whistling Pig Hefeweizen Beer Similar to but better tasting than Blue Moon.

FOOD: Clam Chowder Semi-thick and creamy with chunks of clams and potatoes. Nice flavor.

Breaded Prawns & Chips (6 pcs.) They tout it as hand-breaded which I'm not dismissing, but it honestly tastes like everyone else's okay version, right out of the freezer. I'd pass on this.

I wanted some kind of steamed king or dungeness crab dish, but they only offered dungeness cocktail. Bleh.

SERVICE: Everyone was friendly and helpful. You have 2 choices when eating in. Order & pay on the 1st floor and have your food delivered to the self-seating area on the 3rd level, or wait longer for plated seating on the 2nd floor. We did the first, and luckily found a great ocean view seat. Not to worry as they bus the tables after you're done.

TIP: I didn't see any elevator access so if you or someone you're with requires one, you may be stuck with very limited seating on the first floor.

OVERALL: A bit pricey, service is good and food is average. With so many other restaurants in the area, this place really...