Palace Kitchen — Restaurant in Seattle

I went to the Palace based on a recommendation from a friend who frequents with her husband. I was going out to a show, and decided to grab a drink and a snack before hand. This was a night to myself, I do this often because self care is super important. I walked in and was escorted over to a table, but asked to sit at the bar and of course was told no problem. So I sat myself (again, just me) at the bar and waited for service. And then waited some more.... I got a menu and then again continued to wait, while the bartender talked to a couple next to me about when they would be flying out of town that night. They were paying and ready to leave, I was ready to order. While that was happening a guy came up next to me and asked if the seat next to me was taken, I said no (there were only three seats around me that were empty, and naturally I was smack dab in the middle). He sat next to me, and was IMMEDIATELY served by another bar tender. He was asked how he was, and if he needed a menu. I knew right then and there that I was disappointed. The guy tried to talk me up while we were being served and I was trying to be polite AND work on my phone, but at the same time I didn't actually want to be bothered. We did end up talking once our first drinks were gone. I ordered some chesse and when it was delived, they placed it in front of me AND him. I am NOT with him! I had gotten another drink and then decided it was time to leave so that I could get to my show on time next door. When I asked for the check my bartender asked if I wanted the checks together or separate.... I came in and sat down alone, and he saw this. I told him we were NOT together. I paid my bill and left, without finishing my cheese, which I just told the guy next to me to go ahead and finish since it was in front of him anyway. And I left. I was frustrated but I wasn't going to let it bother me, and I also was just not gonna go back to the bar. Until, the guy from the bar followed me over to the show I went to! I was so mad that I called Palace after and told them how disappointed I was and how frustrated I was. It wasn't their fault he followed me over there, BUT the safety of your guests while they are there IS your responsibility. Paying attention to single ladies at the bar and people being weird IS! The manager apologized and gave me a refund (even though I told him that wasn't what I was after). I thanked him and just let him know that perverts, and predators, and all around creepy people were all I wanted to make them aware of, they there at all times. Just be aware....

I'm not entirely certain why this place is rated so highly, but I suppose my experience may have been unique. I'll outline my reason for the low rating below.

The food: sub par and overpriced. I ordered the new York steak, and my girlfriend ordered the Idaho trout. Both were exceptionally bland and not what I would expect for paying $38 and $28 respectively. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting something to the quality of El Gaucho, but I was expecting to have a food that was better than I could have gotten from a place like Applebee's.

Atmosphere: this is a bar filled with tables. That's it. I could see myself coming to a place like this to watch a game with friends or to catch up while playing pool, if they had the equipment for either of those. Maybe even to dance, if that were my thing. This place is not what I would consider coming to in the future for a nice dinner setting, because it's not setup as a restaurant.

Service: Our server was exceptionally pleasant and exceptionally negligent. Beyond that, he was difficult to track down. My girlfriend only ate half her meal and after he dropped the food off with us it took him about 15-20 minutes to come back to our table to check in. Once he arrived, instead of asking us if we wanted anything boxed up, he began stacking the plates on top of my girlfriend's unfinished food and dropped dessert menus on our table. I was pretty irked at this and how long it had taken for him to come to our table to even check on us after food arrived, so I timed how long it would take for him to come back. We were considering getting the coconut cream pie as we'd heard so many good things about it. But he did not return until 30 full minutes later, and the entire time he was nowhere to be found. Instead of getting the pie, we asked for our check and left.

This place automatically charges a 20% gratuity, which is fine, and is what I would normally leave, but I feel it gave at least my server the feeling that he doesn't have to perform his job well.

All-in-all, I am severely disappointed and do not plan...

Palace Kitchen is an iconic Seattle bar and restaurant. It was a hangout for people in the “industry,” but as the restaurant staffers grew younger, their hangouts changed. Palace Kitchen has an old school vibe, and that’s perfect for me.

The large bar beckoned on this cold Friday night, and we were greeted with warmth and a smile as we strolled to two seats. The staff at Palace Kitchen are professionals. They take cues from the clientele. If you want to engage, they’re willing to talk up a storm. If you want to be left alone, they will respect your space. As I said, “old school.” Pretension isn’t Palace Kitchen.

The food at PK reminds me of supper club fare, so popular in my beloved Wisconsin. We shared a copious Caesar Salad, prepared in the traditional manner. I ordered the whole trout, filleted at the bar. This was the only discordant note of the evening. I always feel it wastes a server’s precious time to force them to fillet a fish in front of a patron. Let the kitchen do it! That’s just my opinion. The trout was humongous and delicious. Donna ordered their signature dish, fried turkey leg. She enjoyed it, but wondered why the kitchen crisps up the skin, only to pour gravy all over the leg, defeating the crispness. Next time, she’ll order the gravy on the side. Due to my loquacious nature, our bartender knew we were brand new residents of Seattle. The manager comped us two desserts as a welcome gift. How cool is that!

I thoroughly enjoyed the Palace Kitchen, reflecting the true soul of the city of Seattle. The transience of the dot com invasion was left outside, to stew in its own antiseptic tonic. reflecting the true soul of the city of Seattle. The transience of the dot com invasion was left outside, to stew in its own...