John Howie Steak Restaurant
11111 NE 8th St,Ste 125, Bellevue, WA, 98004
John Howie Steak Restaurant Menu
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Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
11111 NE 8th St,Ste 125
Bellevue, WA, 98004 - Phone (425) 440-0880
- Website https://www.johnhowiesteak.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street, Private Lot, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Catherine L.
The Japanese Wagyu was so tender I was able to cut it with my fork. Too bad for $180, I didn't need to cut it more than 4 times since the piece of so small. Granted, it is a "wow wow wow" piece of meat but really? ... Quite a nice price tag. Complimentary bisque was delicious, perfect portion (about 3 sips) since it is rich and filling. Crab cakes were forgettable and regretted ordering them. The mushroom risotto was delicious and rich in flavor but not overpowering. We ordered a salad but I don't remember much so it was forgettable as well. After dinner we were still hungry even after dropping over $300 for dinner.
(3)Michael E.
I'm coming back for dinner to give John a chance to get his 5th Star. Feels like Vegas, the whole Bravern does, and John doesn't let you down. I had the Philly cheese steak for lunch, preceded by a bowl of yellow tomato soup, wonderful. In retrospect, I should have gotten a steak. Steak for lunch! Excellent service, vegas-ey atmosphere. Clearly the trend in new Bellevue restaurants. El Gaucho, now John Howie, next up Purple. Keep um coming.
(4)Nam N.
After all the hype of the Braven and how great John Howie Steakhouse is... i decided to give it a shot. I booked a 5pm dinner reservation for 6: Atmosphere is pretty casual for a steak house which is nice. very friendly staff and everyone is ready and willing to help/answer questions. happy hour seemed to have had the bar packed at an early hour - so be sure to go there early! the wall decors are classy and nice. table settings were well done. however compared to Daniel's Broiler (at any location) John Howie lacked it terribly. 5pm rush hour was upon us on 405 and not the greatest view to look at while eating. our server was very knowledgable and took his time explaining the menu very throughly. Appetizers and kids meals came out first - the oysters were pretty good - a bit on the salty side and one was simply bad - tasted dead, ruined our taste on the rest of it. the pate dish was decent but nothing of great remarks. the seafood chowder was mediocre at best and the mac and cheese were a bit too al dente for my taste. they must have used some sort of bree and parmasean cheese as it lacked a bit of flavor as well. the grade A japanese Wagyu beef was good - but not quite $135 good. when paying that much for a 6 oz cut of beef i want to drool and savor every bite. given that my take on the beef is biased due to my recent visit to asia where i tasted authentic wagyu beef - but none the less for the price i want more out of it. the $120 american wagyu again same thing - an $80 NY Steak at Daniel's had more flavor and pizzaz. I also had the prime rib - 12oz cut - great size/portion for the $32 price tag. it came on a plain white dish, served with what seemed to be shredded horseradish and a small ramiken of au jus. the prime rib was cook perfectly and juicy - however it lacked flavor and character. the horseradish wasn't spicy - and the au jus was over bearingly salty. my pallet went numb from the salt after three bites. twiced baked potato was something anyone that knows how to bake a potato could easily replicate at home. the chaos of servers was real distracting as well... between the server telling us what the food was, two food runners, a drink refiller, plate clearers, and a manager trying to shmooze us with free appetizers... it was way too much going on to enjoy our "average meal" at the end of the meal, little boxes of chocolate were brought out as "a gift from john howie" and then a black envelope that read "do not open or tamper with - bring this back on ur next visit and inside could be a gift certificate worth $20 - $100 or a voucher to pay for your meal up to $500! consider this our little secret gift to you" for a high-end steak house on the east side - that had to have been the tackiest marketing lure i've seen. matter-of-fact i've seen the same methods used at a red robin. over all... i have taken into consideration the location of this establishment - however i still think it is too over priced for mediocre food. Daniel's, The Met, and Morton's are still extremely better
(2)Shirley M.
The food is exceptional! The Austrialian filet mignon is wonderful. I would highly recommend this place, but be prepared to spend some money.
(5)King E.
The restaurant's manager sent a formulaic response to my review. And when I didn't respond, John Howie wrote to me personally (am accepting in good faith that it was him, and not someone posing as him)... I haven't yet been back to use a gift certificate he sent me, but the gesture gets many gold stars for service and sensibility.
(4)Shinichi O.
[Regular Dining] price/portion ratio: Not a place to visit if you're on a tight budget. Portions can vary greatly with steaks but the cost is high for the portion. 1 star on my Budget Bites scale. location/parking: The location is easy to access with it being 1 minute off of I-405 in the Bravern with plenty of parking; although the parking lot is the most confusing parking garage ever conceived. selection/presentation: Their menu isn't the largest but the items they do have are really carefully chosen and the presentation is simple yet elegant. flavor/quality: Everything I've ever ordered off the regular dinner menu was excellent. They even had like 4 different types of salts from different parts of the world. The quality of the steak meat was amazing and cooked exactly to order. environment/ambiance: The environment is very classy, intimate and relaxing and the service is top notch. Every server I've had was polite, knowledgeable and accommodating. Although they can seat larger parties I wouldn't recommend it and children wouldn't do well there either. Overall, it's a great place to celebrate an anniversary or take a date as well as conduct a casual business meeting- be prepared to spend $50-$75 per person not including drinks. [Happy Hour Dining] price/portion ratio: price to portion is still a bit on the expensive side due to the smaller portions prepared with high quality ingredients but the burger, if you're into burgers, was one of the most impressive happy hour burgers I've ever had. 2 stars on my Budget Bites scale. location/parking: Same as above. selection/presentation: Not too great of a selection but the presentation is pretty nice. Especially on the Tempura Beacon and Steak Bites. flavor/quality: Aside from the awesome burger, the rest of the menu is just decent to good. environment/ambiance: The bar gets pretty packed and so if you've got a group you should expect to wait and get there early. Towards the end of happy hour they tend to have live piano music which is also fun but between the music and all the customers it can get pretty noisy in the bar. Still the decor and ambiance is classy with a bit of business men and women unwinding kind of feel to it. Overall I'd say, unless you're into a lively atmosphere with business professionals and or burgers, there are better happy hours. My Budget Bites scale: 5 stars $6 or less 4 stars $8 or less 3 stars $10 or less 2 stars $12 or less 1 star $12 or more
(4)Benjamin A.
Had the yearly steak dinner with the fellas last night and I must say it was the best meal that I have had in quite some time. They sat our party of 8 early and our experience started with excellent service from the start. Our waitress April was more than helpful when answering any questions our group had regarding the menu. Then came the food. The caesar salad was prepared tableside and the server was both friendly and polite. After the starters were done, the steaks came out. My kobe ribeye was spot on. Melting in my mouth I took my time with it along with my sides of potato cakes and mac n cheese. I may of been full after the main course but I had to proceed with dessert. The preparation of the bananas foster was a show to be seen. I ate it like a kid in an ice cream shop, with a huge smile on my face. Overall my buddies and I came to the conclusion that we had found our new favorite steakhouse. We will be back for more!
(5)Joysha F.
I feel like I should put two different reviews here but to average it out, I'll keep it at 3 stars. The first time I went here was for the happy hour just to try the Tempura Bacon. It was worth it! The bacon was so thick and the batter was actually flavorful from all the bacon fat. It was really filling. We also tried the escargot stuffed mushrooms, mac and cheese, calamari, and steak sliders. The mushrooms and steak sliders were superb whereas the calamari was okay. I've never really been a mac and cheese type of person so I won't be a good judge on that dish. The second time we went was for Mother's Day. Our wilted spinach salad was really good and my mom's clam chowder burst flavorful corn and bell peppers. My mom ordered the 40oz Porterhouse! Yeah she loves her steak but didn't even finish it... Out of the four orders of steak, hers was the best. It was so buttery it was like eating mashed potatoes that tasted like beef! Okay that doesn't sound appetizing but the texture was just melt-in-your-mouth kind of good! She ordered it medium cooked and it was worth it! Our sides were the mashed potatoes, roasted mushrooms, vegetable neapolitan, and creamy spinach. None of them were that special. Even the starter cheesy rolls and escargot-stuffed mushrooms we had ordered for our appetizers was more filling! For dessert, we all shared a banana foster. I felt it was missing something crunchy like nuts or maybe some pie crusts. It was an unimpressive dish to end the supposedly-extravagant meal.
(3)Lynette W.
Went to John Howie on Saturday for happy hour before seeing Moneyball. I think the value was good. We got the bacon, of course, the spicy habanero butter shrimp, crispy fried potatoes, and sirloin steak sliders. The bacon is a bit much for us. We would rather be able to order by the slice. The sliders were so, so good. Between the meat and the house baked buns, yummy! The shrimp was super good; it was a large portion and while I am a fan of super spicy, this was very tasty and non-spice people can still enjoy. The potatoes were good, although they weren't exactly what I expected and there presentation didn't match that which you saw with the other dishes. We didn't like herb aioli that came with the fries. I can't wait to come back! Oh, and the water is superb!
(5)Yujin M.
Advice: If you are in a hurry and can't have a 2 hour dinner/lunch, don't sit in the lounge as you will have to wait longer for service and food.
(3)H R.
The latest addition to the Holy Trinity of Bellevue steak houses (El Gaucho, Ruth's Chris and Daniel's and now it is a Quadruple I guess. John Howie is owned by the same guy that runs Seastar and while I love that place I always thought that Seastar's steak weren't as good as their seafood. So when John Howie opened we were looking forward to it. By now the misses and I have been there a few times alone or with friends and it's time for a review. All in all John Howie gets five stars from me but I rate them a tad below El Gaucho but above Daniel's! THE GOOD * The steaks are top-notch! The meat is a tad above Daniel's and on par with El Gaucho. Just like ElG they tend to cook a little on the "done" side, so make sure you tell them what you want. * The Chateaubriand is out of this world and better than the El Gaucho version. If you have a party of 2 or 3 the Chateaubriand is a great option, even if some like their meat more done and others like it more rare. Because of the size of this thing you get more well-done end cuts and the middle pieces stay pretty rare. * Tableside desserts are great and a nice viewing experience. Follow the presentation, it's fun and mouth-watering. * Service is usually good and never pressuring, on some busy nights things can be a bit slow, in that "I don't mind it"-slow kind of way * They will validate your parking. * They have a some options for private dining, on both occasions I have been there the experience was very nice! THE BAD * The Cesar salad while good is inferior to El Gaucho's version. They don't have Romano cheese and the anchovies come as paste instead of the grinding down by hand. A really good salad, just not as good as the ElG Cesar. The tableside wilted spinach salad is a better option and is delicious! * I also prefer the baked potato with the "El G treatment" (lots of beer cheese sauce). * No old piano lady like ElG, no corny piano man like Daniel's, at least not when I was there. * Prices are a bit high. Well, it's downtown Bellevue and the prices are on par with the other high-end steak restaurants. MAKE IT BETTER * John Howie is very good at handling special requests, they have not let me down yet. Just make sure you give them plenty of advanced notice. * The booths are the better option if you want a more private setting with your honey * The view east (over 405) towards the Cascades can be very nice, especially during summer sunsets. Not as good as Daniel's but hey, much better than the view at ElG.
(5)Juney H.
Just a quick update here, but I've been here for Happy Hour multiple times and I think it's a stellar experience. The food is solid overall. I've had the burger, the steak sliders, BLT sliders, vegetable napoleon, fries and arugula salad--all very very good. The steak frites is an amazing deal for the quality of food you get, and it's only $15 at the bar. If I thought there was only misstep from a food standpoint, I would say the mac & cheese I had during one particular HH was undercooked (way past al dente). Hard to eat due to the unappetizing texture. Overall though, food is great. The drinks are awesome as well. Many of the mixed drinks use fresh squeezed juices and they have a solid beer and wine list. Finally, the decor is nice (standard upscale steakhouse feel), but what I really appreciated was the attentive and friendly service from everyone at John Howie Steakhouse. I think this is what really sets the restaurant apart and brings people back (such as myself). Go check it out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Jule G.
I went here yesterday for happy hour. Since I was extremely hungry from not eating all day, I was fairly ravenous and pretty ready to chow down. Altogether, we ordered the tempura fried bacon, bacon cheeseburger, the fried gnocchi, the mac and cheese, and the shrimp. The cheeseburger was so enormous that someone joked I'd have to unhinge my jaw to fit my mouth around it. It was definitely a good quality beef patty...I've never had a juicier burger in my life. The only downside to the burger was that the buns weren't up to reining that kind of meat in, and about halfway through it the entire ensemble disintegrated. By the end of the meal it basically resembled something torn apart by wild dogs. Since I had my hands full (literally!) with the burger, I only had small nibbles of the other dishes. The mac and cheese was quite good, altho I think that if I'd eaten all of the entree it may have bordered on the rich side. I wasn't so much a fan of the fried gnocchi since I prefer my gnocchi to be in sauce and more on the gooey side, but it was still decent. The texture is unlike that of any other gnocchi I've had--quite fluffy and airy. I didn't try the fried fried bacon since I figured my heart had enough to handle already with the burger and fries. I did notice that of the three pieces there were still two left when we left. I'm not sure if this was more because someone said it was like eating fried salt or because no one at the table wanted to rush that much closer to a deep-fry induced heart attack.
(4)Tony L.
Note: I've only been for happy hour, and it is one of the best happy hours in the Seattle area! You cannot go wrong here for happy hour. The waitstaff is friendly, and there is a live piano during the evenings. It makes for a great atmosphere, though it can get a little loud at times. Bacon Cheeseburger: one of the best around. Always so juicy, and tasty. For $8 you can't beat it. Habenero Shrimp: very good, but depending on the kitchen staff that night, the spiciness can vary a bit. Fried Bacon: How can you not like bacon? :) It's a little too salty at times, and the teriyaki sauce can put it over the top. Gnocchi: Can be overly salty at times. Sauce can range from thick to thin. A little hard to determine due to QC on day to day basis. Fries: Mmmm, very good. Always crisp and fluffy on the inside. The aioli they serve with it is very tasty. Sliders: Decent. Average. No complaints. Crab salad: Skip - it wasn't worth the price. A little bland, and lacked acidic balance.
(5)Jarad S.
Used to come here for happy hour almost everyday last summer and still continue to go with a few friends, regardless that I definitely don't go there as much anymore. They've raised the prices on a lot of their drinks and appetizers over the course of the last year which is partially why I don't go as much anymore. Excellent lunch, and the best happy hour burger I've had so far. Comes with a lot of fries for only $9 but get the burger medium rare or it loses it's juice! Flatbreads are good also.
(4)Eric R.
Not worth the trip. Cost is typical for a high-end steakhouse, but the experience wasn't worthy of a night out. Don't need to go back. If it starts and ends with the meat, they get 4 or 5 stars - so if that's all you care about... However, just about EVERYTHING else, from the service to the side dishes, was mediocre at best. My wife asked the waitress what the difference was among the 3 different Filet Mignon offerings on the menu (28-day Nebraska, American Wagyu, Japanese) - basically, what would she notice or taste that was different. The waitress couldn't answer. She bumbled over herself with a comment like "well, we taste so many of them it's hard to remember..." with an embarrassed giggle. It was really unbelievable that she couldn't describe the differences, or at least that she didn't just go get someone who could help. The tableside Caesar salad is usually somewhat of an event at a fine restaurant, and you can just taste the freshness after it's prepared. The server who created ours could not have been more disinterested in the job, and the result showed her effort. It was soaked in dressing, a couple of gratuitous pea-sized croutons scattered around, and to top it off some of the Romaine was brown and mushy. We had to send it back. My friend pointed out that at least 4 people along the way from the kitchen to the table had to have seen the brown lettuce but still let it through. Very poor quality control. We ordered side dishes of Asparagus (just OK), Chanterelle Mushrooms (rather flavorless, and fewer than half were actually Chanterelles), and the Beecher's Flagship Reserve Mac and Cheese (did not compare to the real thing, loaded with mozzarella, too). The meat is served alone on stark white plates - this makes sense because the sides are ordered a la carte, but the execution is a bit odd looking. And to top it off, if you want some kind of sauce - peppercorn or John Howie's own steak sauce - they nickel and dime you for $3-$4. Doesn't seem right when you're paying $50+ for the steak alone. Overall, a surprisingly poor experience.
(2)Crysta L.
This review is just on Happy Hour. Love it. Will be back - again and again. Awesome deals on Gin/Vodka Martini's ($5) and glasses of cabernet ($4). We ordered: Prime Tenderloin Bites (A little disappointing - I've had better at other restaurants) Deviled eggs (Yummy!) Tempura King Crab and Asparagus (Really good!) Steak Sliders (Yummy) Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi (A must get if you like gnocchi - these were fantastic!) Tempura Fried Bacon (Have 2 orders, it's that good. SO DELICIOUS.) Want to come back and try dinner but the happy hour is a great deal for what you get.
(5)Debra E.
The food here is delicious, the seats are very plush, and the views are nice. However, I only give it three stars because even the lunch prices are very high ($17 for soup and sandwich plus 3.75 for a strawberry lemonade), the atmosphere is pretentious, and I don't recognize most of the items on the menu because they are so high-brow. At least for the price you pay the portions are generous. The staff are professional and friendly, but overly formal for my taste. It's worth trying this place once or twice, but I wouldn't make this a regular lunch spot as the food is decadent and pricey.
(3)Justine S.
I love a piece of meat still dripping with blood more than most and John Howie Steak house satisifies that innate need in me to have a good steak. The bar is deep and always serves quality Martinis. The wine list is extensive/impressive. Everything you expect for the price tag..which is the only down side. I don't mind paying for good food but it's up there with what i've paid at some of the top Seattle restaurants (canlis, campagne, rovers, etc). I guess I just wasn't expecting it - luckily my food was very good. The cesear salad (done table side) was so good and my steak was cooked perfectly. The deep fried bacon was indulgent and good (but had remorse the next day as my arteries demanded a reason for such abuse). The portion sizes are on the larger side so on my second visit I split my steak with a friend. That worked out much better - recommend doing this if you aren't able to down at least 16 oz of meat in one sitting. Finally the restaurant is beautiful it's just a bit much (like some place Don Draper would hold an important client meeting). I prefer a bit more laid back but now I'm just nitpicking... So go, enjoy and answer that inner voice that tells you to have a good steak!
(4)Kevin P.
Imagine if your arm or leg were suddenly severed from your body. For some amount of time your brain would likely be stuck in overdrive, trying to figure out what had just happened, (thankfully, I'm only guessing). My brain just experienced something similar while eating the least expensive cut, of the least expensive cow, on John Howie Steak's dinner menu. By far, the very best steak that has ever happened to my mouth.
(5)David K.
Come for the dry-aged steaks, leave the noisy ambiance. I took my sister and her friends here for her birthday. She loves the steak, and this was a place we had never been to before. I guess first thing in the layout. We went past the front desk, down what seemed like a more private (booths) dining area into a more open, crowded area. The sometimes loud room detracted somewhat from the experience, so be forewarned, if you want a quieter dining experience, it may be best to reserve a particular spot. Being our first time here, our server went through the usual explanation of the menu and such. My sister had the 42-day aged steak, her friend had the American wagyu and I ordered a top sirloin. The steaks were pretty decent, with the wagyu, 42, and sirloin being my order of preference (although I made the mistake ordering mine medium well). Even though they were tasty alone, an assortment of exotic salts accompanied them. As a non-table-salt user, I was impressed about how much these added flavor to the steaks. Definitely something to keep in mind next time. Our server did note my sister's birthday and comp'ed a dessert for her, which I thought was a nice touch. The service, which I had read about here on Yelp, seemed to be competent, if not decent. I guess they have improved themselves since opening. So, if you just want a different high-end steakhouse, you can add this one to the list. Just make sure to pack some hearing aids; you might need them.
(3)Adam B.
4.5 stars (rounded down due to price) I'm very picky with my steaks and this place was very good. I have had better for less money so no 5 stars for this place. The oysters and caesar salad were also very good. I would go back but $58 for a steak would make me think twice.
(4)Martie M.
The first time I went I took my adult daughter and used a Groupon. The food and service was stellar. The second time, over a year later, my husband and I went and the food and service was still stellar!! We live 150 miles away, so went out of our way to dine there while on a business trip. Very expensive compared to what we are used to but well worth it for a special occasion. Drinks, salad, beef, sides, and staff....it just doesn't get any better. The "background" music was a bit loud but we figured it is designed to mask business talk at the next table.
(5)James M.
Tops for service, food and atmosphere.....the steak is cooked to melt in your mouth. :-). And the salads are to die for also features an upscale bar that offers happy hour. You may run into Bill Gates here.
(5)Dawn S.
Tempura bacon was to die for :) American Wagyu was easily the best steak I've ever eaten. The only reason I have 4 instead of 5 stars ... service got a little slow as the night went on ... the place was packed ... but it wouldn't stop me from going there every time I'm in Seattle.
(4)A N.
probably my favorite steak restaurant in the seattle area. great cuts of meat, prepared perfectly. great service. pricey, but you get what you pay for. I have been many times for dinner and have always left satisfied. i wish they would bring back the kobe beef steak sampler (true A5 kobe, american wagyu, and american prime fillets). happy hour here is also great. the burger is moist (i think because they mix bacon into the hamburger). other items on the bar menu are also delicious, like the deviled eggs and tempura bacon. definitely recommend checking out john howie as a splurge dinner, or happy hour gathering.
(4)Lor B.
This review is for my HH experience -and i'm hoping to update with a dinner yelp soon. Chose to do a mtg with my restauranteur client so that he can check out the competition at this new steakhouse @ the oh so posh Bravern. Experience was delightful - wine by the glass was good - fairly OK selection. Ordered the steak appetizer (came out burnt and lacked flavor - but our server replaced it immediately when we commented on it), the crab tempura was a delight. It's obvious that the Microsoft crowd frequents this locale as there seem to be a ton of large groups throughout the bar. The dining area looked divine and the little banquets on the way to main room is clever. Service was great and i'm anxious to be back to really review the steak --hopefully it doesn't come out toasted like my app :) More to come...
(4)Jon L.
It was better this time around. =) The steak came out great. The service is somewhat lack luster.
(4)Chau L.
Food and service was great. We had the triple combo and it was well worth it. The black salt was perfect with the steak.
(4)Jeremy H.
Happy Hour!!! You've got to split the burger.
(4)Miss zoe P.
good food and professional staff!!! well worth the money spent..
(5)Tom C.
Great place for lunch. Been there several times and consistent. The price is more reasonable during lunch. The quality is good.
(5)Keane N.
This restaurant isn't open yet, but a friend of mine was asked to try the restaurant prior to the grand opening. I was lucky enough to be invited. There was no question it was still in "testing" phase, but everything went well. The service was timely and courteous. Mr. John Howie and his wife both visited our table. VERY nice people. I had a Peppercorn burger and bay shrimp salad with bleu cheese. The burger was very good. The salad was excellent. They even had exotic salts including a black salt that came from Hawaii! Another was pink and the last was white but looked more like snow than salt. Very cool. The atmosphere was fantastic. One of the best for a steak house. Much more open and friendly and less of a "Good ol' Boys" feel. In other words, much more date friendly. I can't wait to visit again when they're open!
(4)A F.
Humm... what to think? First, if you don't want to take care of a party till 11 on a week night then don't book a party of 7 at 8.30. Service was fine. I asked why they put the red wine in such small glasses and the answer was because those glasses could be run through the dishwasher so it was easier. Crab Cakes- not great, but I do know that people vary a great deal on what they like in a crab cake. I'm a Dahlia Lounge/Wild Ginger crabcake fan. These were not that good. Spinach Salad- made at the table, overkill. It was OK. Not great. Steak- I don't know if I should comment on the steak. I didn't have my usual filet so I don't have a broad basis of comparison for the meat I did have. I wasn't wowed, but maybe that is because I like a filet. Sides: Mashed potatoes a hair gummy. Twice baked potatoes- very good. But, I like baked potatoes at steak places, and that wasn't an option. They have to bake the potatoes once for the twice-baked, can't they leave a few out of the second round? Asparagus-good, Macaroni-very good, mushrooms-ok. Dessert- creme brulee, cheese cake, sorbet, banana's foster-all OK. So that is my opinion. Others in my party raved about: lamb, halibut, crab, steak. To quote one lovely 16 year old, wise beyond her years, "with every bite of this lamb I'm that much closer to heaven". Another said of her halibut "I'm not sure I've ever had such a great meal". Maybe I just wasn't in that great of a mood for dinner at 8:30 on a Tuesday, so I'll give this place the benefit of the doubt. But I think I'll stick with the Metropolitan in the future, or Ruth's Chris. (The steak salad looked awesome, i may have to go back and try it)
(3)Pat C.
First , congratulations to John Howie on taking the prize at the Int'l Seafood Chowder championship on PE Island. Second, you must have taken all your good chefs with you. We decided to try JH Steak last night for dinner. We are regulars at Seastar and love it. What a disappointment last night. We went early and servers were already stretched thin. Apparently there were many diners using Groupons. Long waits between courses but mostly the quality of the food was poor. The calamari was like jerky(overcooked) and the green beans were burnt with a heavy hand on the marsala. Steaks were not prepared as ordered. When the server came back to check in on our main, he simply stated, "Everything is perfect, right?" and walked away. We were not up for a confrontational evening. We paid our check and driving home, we both agreed on two things. One, the only memorable item all evening was the amuse bouche, a seafood bisque. That was fabulous. Second, NEVER to return to JH Steak. Apparently , they are very successful at doing Happy Hour. We will pass on that also.
(1)James N.
Great service and food. Sometimes it feels like they try a little too hard to be upscale when it is really only a moderately upscale restaurant, but the food is great. Tableside Caesar salad prepared in front of you is great. The steaks are pretty good, and it is interesting how they give you a variety of different salt options. I wish they had better views though, our window table's view of the freeway wasn't exactly all that romantic, but there isn't much you can do about that. The Met is still my favorite place to go for steak, but John Howie is still decent.
(4)John F.
A complete disappointment from the moment we walked in. I had reserved a round table for 6 and they took us to a rectangle. I asked them to move us as there was an empty round table right next to us and the women said, well, that's reserved for a reservation and unfortunately just then, another hostess came and sat peple there. She also said, we thought you would have liked the window. They tried to move us to another round (set up for 8) that was practically in the hallway and we didn't have any part of that. They did bring us some appetizers to make up for the screw up which was nice, but I would have rather had the round table. The steaks were just ho-hum. Fatty and I don't understand why John Howie has a completely different standard from the norm for doneness. The steaks weren't very warm and the sauce came on the side. I had leftovers, but they never were delivered. I would have asked for them, but I was with a client and I didn't want to do that in front of him. Will not go back and I don't say that very often.
(2)Benjamin C.
Tempura-fried bacon was all that had to be said to me to be convinced to try this place. Due to my weakness for bacon I have only been to the bar aspect of John Howie Steak cause their real fancy restaurant doesn't serve the tempura bacon. One day I will spend $100 plus for a meal there but it's hard to get past the bacon at the bar. The happy hour makes the bar even better with super cheap bacon burgers and BLT sliders and Mac & Cheese. Mind you this is top notch food not your normal bar food. The tempura-fried bacon is served with a maple ponzu sambal dipping sauce which makes the bacon pop out in your mouth. The BLT sliders were smaller than I though that they would be but at the end a perfect little snack.
(5)Ling B.
Some of the best steak I've ever had (better than El Gaucho, Met's, Daniel's, etc.). I got a NY strip and it was so juicy, fatty, salty, and soft. Mmmm... The service was good and they gave us a complementary appetizer (delectable finger sandwiches) and I always like the salt tray. I see some people gripe about being seated in the hallway, which I agree is a travesty. But if you can get them to seat you in the main area, this place should be worth it. Be warned, though, this is a steakhouse and you'll only love this place if you love steak. Other menu items can be good (like the caviar-topped hash browns), but are mainly distractions. The ambiance is good for business but not awesome for romance, and the wine pairing + service were quite good but not on par with what you might get for the same price at other "ambiance" restaurants. Nonetheless, I'm a big sucker for steak and on that front they're unrivaled in Seattle. So I'm just dying to go back again and again. Pics of our last meal there: ling.swingvine.com/view?…
(5)Aaron B.
Wow! An upscale restaurant with impeccable service and top of the line food!!! Steak, salad, asparagus, oh my! Quality is what you can expect here. I'd give this place 5 stars but the prices are over the top - shockingly. I would be back (Often) if the prices were a bit lower. Otherwise this place has become a special occasion hot spot for me (and by that I mean a once a year visit).
(4)Tracy H.
We came in for an early date night dinner. The service was great at the restaurant and there was nice attention to detail. We appreciated the amuse-bouche and the sea salt table side. The bread selection was nice as well. We needed the bread too since it took over an hour to get our steak and the restaurant was fairly empty at the time. The major disappointment was the we ordered the steak medium rare and it came out table side boarding on the well done side. It was an awkward experience. It was a big let down after a long wait and for this caliber of restaurant. For the price of the meal, they should have this spot on the first time. It is a steakhouse. The second time around the steak was perfectly cooked and tasted great, so the food was good once it was done right.
(3)Angela W.
The John Howie steak house in the Bravern buildings in downtown Bellevue was an amzing experience. We went there for our anniversary and the service was what impressed us right away. We were seated at a window table, where I had a view of Mt. Rainer! We were checked on and waited on frequently and the staff was not only knowledgeable but very friendly. I had the Fillet Oscar and my husband the Prime Rib Cap steak. Most things come ala carte, the sides are amazing. The bread basket that comes to the table has several warm and very delicious and inviting breads. The atmosphere is one of a nice eligant restaurant. We of course were dressed, me in a dress, my husband in a suit. But as is the attitude of many in WA state most people were dressed as if they were eating at McDonalds. I did however cringe a bit when I saw people there with their kids.. YOUNG kids... I felt like.. who takes their two year old to a nice steak house and buys him or her a 20.00 plate of french fries.. I wish they would DISCOURAGE children in this place... The drinks prices were reasonable and we found the whole experience to be wonderful. We will def. go there again and again. And honestly the prices were very reasonable and comparable to Mortons or El Goucho
(5)Tim P.
Food is good, but service is NOT. They fill up the restaurant, so they really do not care about the customer satisfaction. Someday maybe this will catch up to them. The waitress spilled a drink all over my girlfriend which stained her shirt. Their response was an apology "accidents happen unfortunately" and they comped ONLY the drink they spilled while ruining out date night. If you go and something like this happens to you, then expect this to be the kind of treatment that you will receive.
(1)Jenni E.
Great happy hour! Loved the March specialty drink...I think it was called a Ginger Fizz...made with ginger liqueur, lemon juice, cherry bitters and prosecco. Delish! A bit overpriced for happy hour but I loved it. Also had the burger...perfection. Bring your appetite, or she with a friend, cuz it's big but fabulous.
(4)Rachel P.
All time favorite. Anytime for happy hour or dinner. Just been here recently again to have some steak and it was heavenly, as usual. Love love love John howie. Yay!
(5)Bettina B.
A great friend of mine took me here for my birthday!! I will not lie it was the best steak I ever had in my life....it was perfect(I had the 8 oz Filet Mignon)!! The sides were great too!! We also had the table side ceaser salad...I wasnt a fan of this...but the experience of it was GREAT!! I love CHERRY everything so for dessert we had the Cherries Jubilee...it was different but very good. That was aslo made table side...which again was really cool to watch. I felt out of place but the staff was very friendly. What I did notice is that for the women of the table they sat our plates down at the same time...whoa that doesnt happen often!! But all in all it was great!! I would def go back here...just let me start saving for it now!!
(4)J Y.
Been there dozen times or more.. Never been disappointed. Great lunch menu! For steak dinner, I rather going to Ruth Chris...
(4)Howard L.
there's things that i like about this place, and there are things that could use some work. The service was excellent, everybody is on top of it and they are very alert but not too intrusive. I got a wagyu rib-eye and my date got the wagyu filet mignon. Side were parpadelle pasta with duck confit, AMAZING! and the 5 cheese baked potatoe, also AMAZING!!. The steaks were good but not great. My ribeye had great flavor, one of the best steaks i've ever tasted, unfortunately it was a little more on the chewy side. Not something that i can't put up with but if i'm paying $60 for a steak that better be as soft as butter. The filet mignon on the other hand was more tender but didnt taste as good as the ribeye. The ribeye also had a lot more marbling but surprisingly didnt have the texture. Wine by the glass was priced a little higher but it was expected. The Black Cherry Bread Pudding with Maker's Mark ice cream was soooo DELICIOUS! Overall it was a great meal. Everything tasted great. They woud have gotten a 5 star but they are too far from perfection to be priced so high.
(4)Misty V.
This review is for the BAR ONLY. Let's just say I was less than impressed with this place. First of all, the bar is microscopic. Luckily we got there pretty early and snagged the last "lounge" table. The bar menu is not like any bar I've been to in Bellevue - and I'm a seasoned Bellevue happy hour-ite. There are a handful (i.e. ten) of odd cocktails on the first page and then every single spirit they have is listed individually. It's fine if you know what you want, but I like to try different cocktails without having to think too hard. Back to the subject at hand... the service was slow and the waitress forgot about one of our drink orders. Not cool. After about an hour, she hurriedly asked if we needed our parking validated and that she'd be right back with our tab. Really? We still have drinks and food on the table. What gave you the impression we were done? We'd had about enough of this place at this point anyway, so we validated and left. The only very small glimmer of goodness in this whole experience was the wicked amazing tempura fried Kurobuta bacon with the maple sambal ponzu sauce. What's better than deep fried bacon?! Nothing. We also had the crispy fried ricotta gnocchi which were pretty good. Very creamy and the dipping sauce was yummy. And the french fries; kind of ho hum. Is the bacon enough to lure me back to this place? Sadly not. Hope they step it, but for now I'll be sticking to the restaurants on Bellevue way.
(3)Corrine C.
We came back last week to celebrate the kiddo's birthday per his request. My baby is a miniature gourmet... Or just a discerning steak lover? Our server was attentive and funny - very enjoyable and engaging. We ordered the porterhouse again to share. This time we sampled the trio of salts on the advice of our nice server. She knows what she is talking about! We had plenty of leftovers to bring home. My son asked me when I was prepping some of the leftover steak for him the next day... Mommy - did you bring home some of that black salt? Unfortunately I didn't think to pack up the salt but I sure thought that was funny that he was asking for it. Although spendy - it's a fun experience and a learning one for my little guy. Keep an eye out for occassional Groupon deals. We can't wait to snap up the next one!
(5)Maricris F.
A friend of mine loves to eat steaks and he keeps driving by in Bellevue so one day he said "let's eat here." So I said sure. Being Bellevue is an upscale area we had to dress up for this event. Pulled in at the Bravern and the atmosphere was in a high class mall. We both ordered steaks and I must say the steaks were awesome! The waitstaff were really friendly and professional. The way they served the water there were 3 types and you can choose which one you wanted. Then our server gave us this 3 tier and in it was 3 different types of salts. It was 3 different colors too. The light pinkish color was from Australia. The black was from Hawaii from their lava rocks and the whitish color was from France. I personally liked the one from Australia. It wasn't too salty it was just right. Placed it right over my steak and it was DELISH! For those who want to spend the cash or plastic must try it once. I will definately come back and try the other dishes on their menu. Someday.
(4)Jada P.
I went here last night for dinner because my friend had a groupon. We had reservations at 6:30 and then ended up changing them to 7:00 because we were running late, which was nice that they let us change at the last minute. When we got there we were seated right away. The staff was very professional and friendly. Our server helped us pick out a nice red wine, which ended up being really good. I was really excited to try the tempura fried bacon since I kept hearing from my friends that it is amazing. And it turned out to be delicious! The table side caesar salad we ordered seemed like a normal salad. Nothing too special. I guess it's cool they make it table side though? The wagyu filet minon I ordered was really tender and cooked perfectly. For dessert we ordered the table side bananas foster, mostly because we had split a full bottle of wine between the two of us and fire sounded awesome at the time. And then we also ordered two glasses of a port dessert wine which ended up being the same price as the first bottle of wine we ordered. I was so full at that point it was hard to finish the bananas foster but the caramelized bananas were hard not to eat. At the end of the night I felt like we had a pretty nice dinner. The service was really good. But it seemed like the groupon did nothing for our bill. The place seems a little over priced. Not sure if I would come back for dinner anytime soon, but I would probably come back to try their happy hour.
(4)Gabriel H.
First of all, this review is for their $9 happy hour BURGER, not their steaks which are delicious. I went in with high expectations and ravenously hungry. I'm also on a bit of a diet, so quality beats quantity and price hands down. I've had a lot of very good burgers recently in the Seattle area and thought a place that does great steaks could make an awesome burger. I ordered the happy hour burger, medium rare, which came with a side of fries. Here's my breakdown of the meal. The fries were crisp, slightly dry, ok overall. The burger came topped with bacon, cheese, pickles, raw onions, iceberg lettuce, tomatos, and some sort of sauce. The patty itself was cooked perfectly, but was loosely packed and kind of fell apart. With the toppings, the burger was difficult to eat. Also, the toppings didn't add to the burger but overpowered it and weren't very good. The tomatos were bland and mushy. The onions were strong and overpowering. The sauce tasted like nothing, and the pickles were... well pickles. The bacon was ok, and the bun was good. The cold toppings had also cooled off the cheese so it wasn't melted at all. After a few bites I decided to remove the toppings and just leave the bacon and cheese. The result really showcased how bland and underseasoned the burger was. For a quality piece of meat, the construction of the burger was dissapointingly dismal. 2.5 stars, bumped up to 3 because it was a happy hour special. Overall, the burger is bogged down by poor quality toppings and lack of seasoning. You could do way better for a few bucks more, but if the price appeals to you I'd advise asking for the lettuce, onions, and tomato on the side.
(3)Marshall G.
Unbelievably disappointed. After all the hype, a friend and I went for dinner. He ordered a rib eye and I ordered a New York Strip. For a side, we got their wild mushrooms. The waiter was pushy and a bit arrogant lecturing that their medium rare was rarer than other steak houses. That sounded good to me. What a got was a badly overcooked steak with not a trace of scorched crust. Inexcusable. The mushrooms were a mish-mash of mushroom pieces drowning in a thin sauce. We didn't bother to take the leftovers home. The check without wine or desert = $148. What a travesty. If I were the type, the steak would have been returned. It was terrible.
(1)Michael B.
I asked for a dark table, they seated us in a booth with an obnoxious compact flourescent bulb beaming on us. Service was EXTREMELY SLOW. We waited nearly 20 minutes for the sommalier to bring our bottle of wine and waited 45 minutes for our entrees to be served. The food was good, but the taste of their steaks doesn't hold a candle to The Metropolitan Grill or Daniel's Broiler. Your money is better spent at those establishments.
(2)Steve B.
Lunch at Howies Bar today. Simply awesome. Steak Frites with a beautifully tender Wagyu hanger steak. Seasoned and cooked to perfection, and accompanied by handcut fries and a simple garlic sauce on the side. Lets remember it was only $15 - better than some steaks I've had at 2x the price. Threw in a Howie Amber to wash the lot down. Friday hunger sated - done. Service was great, cheery, attentive, and discrete as always. Go here again? Without a doubt - when do they start serving breakfast?
(5)Nichole A.
Went to John Howie for dinner, having eaten there several times at lunch and once before at dinner. The service was ok - a little slow for the price range (drinks empty for a really long time, etc.). Ordered a filet and was convinced to get it a temperature above what I usually ordered, but it was super overdone and disappointing. For the amount of money I spent at the restaurant and the food and service I received, I would probably not go back.
(2)Bruce L.
Went in for happy hour and the service was very bad. Orders were screwed up and took forever and the server in the bar was not very friendly and didn't even apologize when they messed up our orders (how do you mess up an order for 5 burgers anyway?). The food was mediocre. Despite the good prices for H/H compared to their normal, exorbitant prices - you'd still do better to go to a Red Mill Burger, imho. Hit up Daniel's happy hour instead and leave John Howie to the Microsofties who are used to eating cafeteria food and have endless budgets for T&E.
(2)Jessica C.
Pros: Japanese Kobe (this stuff is amazingly good) Good sides Cons: Service is decent, but would have expected more from this price range. I prefer El Gaucho of Bellevue for service that is above-and-beyond. Never had Japanese Kobe, only heard about the marbleization of fat that makes the steak so juicy. Well, I've finally found a place that serves it and it was worthy every penny (which was a lot of pennies). The only reason I will go back is because of this meat. The sides are good too.
(4)Eveline Z.
They never disappoint... I love the atmosphere, food, service- everything. One thing: I wish everyone would dress up, well at least get rid of the fleece, when eating here.
(5)r y.
Have been here for happy hour (5 star plus) and had the opportunity for dinner. Salads were great for all 9 of us. Steaks great and scampi was superb. Issues were the 4 oz sampler of American and Australian beef was a little small (all three who ordered this were in agreement). Califlower was great. Lobster mashed was better than rivals - was extremely disappointed when I went to eat it from our take home leftovers only to find my large portion missing! Also thought since we were celebrating a special occasion (57th wedding anniversary) was told about a special dessert....none noted. Finally guess during this month there was a gift coupon suppose to be given as a gratuity.....again a no show. So guess the food's a five but the service was lacking?.......probably should be 3 1/2 stars.
(3)Melissa L.
i swear their steak here is great too, but i'm giving them 5 stars for their happy hour. an order of mac n cheese, deviled eggs, and tempura bacon and i'm good to go. what's a diet again? the burger is pretty damn good too. their lobster mashed is amazing, i don't think i've had a bad side here at all. again, i swear their steak is great too, but for some reason the sides just make me drool. i keep wanting to try the prime rib, but every time i go they're already out. bummer. so they must be doing something right there.
(5)Kevin T.
Since I specifically and finally signed up to be a Yelper (unfortunately the purpose is to give 1 star to Monsoon East), I would like to review my favorite lunch & happy hour spot! =) (1) Lunch A very wide selection of entrees and sandwiches. They also changed the menu a bit after a few months to have more choices. Being a steakhouse, they tend to be on the filling and big side, so you might be disappointed if you are looking for a light salad with granola grains. $12 soup + sandwich is a great deal. They actually give you a full-size very tasty Chowder soup instead of a tiny cup I expected. And the sandwich is fresh with high-quality ingredients. Sometimes for lunch you get Safeway-level food at fancy restaurants, I am happy that John Howie is an exception here. $15 steak frite is very good too. I love the marinated flavor from the Angus beef! I always go get one if I get a steak craving but don't want to pay $100 to satisfy it. $16 halibut is two meaty thick filet. They seem to be great with maintaining the food standard even at lunch price, though the fish is a bit on the dry side so feel free to order it medium raw. And the bread basket is freshly baked and tasty with a good variety. Again, not your straight-from-grocery-store offerings we see a lot in Bellevue. (2) Happy Hour Probably one of the best values in town, much better than Gaucho. Full-size portions, good flavors, $2 beers. One thing worth mentioning is the happy hour is also on the cheesy, heavy side, so I tend to go less frequently than lunches because I don't feel like eating that much for happy hours.
(5)Ashley T.
Well, considering their Happy hours are the bomb, hubby and I went for his b-day dinner. He'd been looking forward to try their steak for about 2 months. Folks, this place is not cheap so we felt we could justify the price for the special occasion. He ordered the aged ribeye steak and I ordered the prime rib and we shared a couple of sides, an appetizer and dessert. The moment he had been waiting for for months was finally here. And well....it was beyond a disappointment and then he got annoyed due to the hype their reputation for steaks and then the cost. The problem....first, it was not tender, nor juicy, nor tasty. I couldn't believe it so I tried a bite, then two, then three. Yep, not good! The quality was beyond subpar. We've bought steaks from QFC that was more tender. Sorry. The texture was leatherly dry, not what we expected. And the seasoning...ummm...what seasoning. We've bought steaks from Whole Food where my husband has grilled it and it came out tender, juicy and succulent. The quality was so good that I told him it's like beef "sashimi", tender and succulent. So, we know what great steak should taste like and this was not it! I will say my prime rib was very good but the dinner was a disappointment. Overall, we'll go back but only for HH.
(2)Daphne C.
Good happy hour value - not sure if that's the best steak I ever had, maybe i will go try it again but for now i like Daniel's broiler steak better.
(3)Marissa R.
John Howies happy hour is the bomb! 5.00 martinis??!!! Oh yeah, my kind of place! There happy hour menu is also delicious.
(5)Ellen W.
I absolutely love JH for steak. We have been here a few times for different occasions over the last few years. The restaurant is clean and nice, simple yet sophisticated at the same time. It is not too dark like in a lot of steak houses and I really like that. The staff from the hostess to the waiter to the captains have always been super courteous, helpful and attentive. I love the table side Caesar salad, it is simply delicious. The cocktails are always really well made. The steak is always done to perfection and I love the side corn. We brought our 18 month old daughter to dinner to celebrate my father's birthday and they accommodate kids really well. They offered to bring her food out first and that was really helpful as toddlers get hungry and don't understand the concept of waiting just yet. We always have a fantastic meal at JH and we will continue to come back for delicious steak.
(5)Josh G.
Food amazing!!! Waters empty a lot. They did not offer us pepper for salads/ soups. Very busy. I guess I expect a bit more from a place like this.
(3)Russ K.
I was a little disappointed in the service level. A bit stuffy and not friendly. The waitstaff was very specific about ordering your steak the way you want it by reading the chart on the menu. "make sure you order it the way you want it" per the description. So my wife did. Medium well, pink inside. It did not come that way. Had to send it back to cook it longer. Instead it was more medium rare (per the chart). It wouldn't be a big deal except they made it a big deal by making sure we ordered it the way we wanted. They were nice enough about it but other restaurants have offered a free dessert or more as a gesture for the kitchens mistake or maybe it as the waitstaff mistake. In any event., I wasn't impressed. The total bill was $169 for the 2 of us and they couldn't offer a dessert? Un-stuff yourself, I don't care if you are in Bellevue.
(3)Simon B.
We went to John Howie as a special treat, and were really excited to try it. We sat in the bar - busy! - and ordered a couple of steaks and sides. After a looong wait, which we passed trying to figure out what the deal was with the couple making out in behind us, the steaks arrived. My wife's top sirloin was fantastic: delicious, perfectly cooked and exactly what you'd hope for in a steakhouse of this caliber (and for this price). The potato cakes were delicious. The cauliflower was undercooked, and to balance that out, my ribeye was overcooked and frankly not very good, so I reluctantly sent it (and one of the tasty potato pancakes) back. And then ... I waited. And waited. And waited some more. Meanwhile, my wife had finished her meal. Eventually my new steak showed up ... minus my tasty potato pancake. That really annoyed me - I'd barely touched it when I sent the steak back. The new steak was cooked correctly and was better quality than the first (needed salt though, but couldn't attract the waitresses attention) but by this time, we'd been there for 2 hours and had had enough. Overall, the food was hit-or-miss, the service was acceptable (though not better than that) and the price was steep. I won't bother going back.
(2)Jon A.
John Howie Steak has a nice house vibe and a great menu, we had top sirloin and Gnocchi. Sirloin was perfect, gnocchi was a bit salty but still good. Service got to be slow it was near the end of her shift and I think she was focused on other things. Aside from slow service it was definitely worth the trip.
(3)Danielle E.
Best happy hour in Bellevue. One of my fav. steak house. The happy hour menu is awesome and it's the price is not bad at all. I went dinner there couple times,(me and my friends bought couple Groupon deals) wow! my steak was perfectly cooked and very well seasoned every time!
(5)I live to eat ..
This place is overrated. Service was great but the food was mediocre. We ordered two types of wagyu and both were not worth the money. I'd rather have the Costco filet mignon.
(3)Greg R.
I consider myself a burger expert. This is one of the best burgers on the planet. Go for happy hour. Everything is great here but the price at HH makes it the best.
(5)Bianca T.
As the recently departed Dave Niehaus would say: My. Oh. My. John Howie was outstanding. We arrived a bit early for our reservation and were offered to either be seated right away, or wait until the seating time in the bar. I liked that. Yes, we did want to relax a bit first and maybe try an app. The bar was packed with happy hour folk. And looking at the Happy Hour menu I can see why. Such great choices and prices. We'll have to come back and partake. The man and I settled in at the nicely underlit bar (marble? white onyx?). I think the only negative of the night was the inattentiveness of the bartender. We had to keep getting his attention when he really should have been checking on us. We eventualy were able to place an order of Fried Ricotta Gnocchi (with truffle oil). It came out quickly and we dug in. Heaven. They were nicely browned pillows of happiness. Truffley, but not overpowering. Our hostess came to grab us as we were still eating and she kindly offered to give us a bit more time to finish up. Classy. Eventually we made it over to our table. The room was warmly lit and filled with diners. Large windows flank the entire east side of the room, overlooking 112th and 405. Sounds tacky, but it was nice. We wanted to try so much off the menu. Here's the rundown of the meal: Complimentary Amuse Bouche: Salmon Bisque - I don't like salmon, but gave this a sip. Pleasant and utterly smooth on the palate. But I gave it over to my man to finish. Bread basket - LOVED all the breads. There was a wonderful parmesan cracker, something that resembled a gougere, a walnut bread roll, a simple roll, and a couple breadsticks. Seared Diver Scallops - meaty little morsels from the sea. These were served over yellow beet carpacio with a little arugula salad. HEAVEN! Wedge Salad - a classic with a twist. I couldn't pass this one up since it included black cerignola olives, kurabuta bacon (first time having - meaty!), and crispy shallots (aka mini onion rings). The dressing was the bomb. Tower of finishing salts - the waiter brought over a selection of salts for our meal. One was definintely black lava salt, one was from a local river (if I'm not mistaken), and the final one was I think a sea salt. Loved it. Delmonico - my man's dinner selection. I thought the meat was robust, tender, and had a nice char that enhanced the flavor. Duo of filets: USDA Prime & American Wagyu - stunning. They melted in my mouth. And the 4 oz portions were perfect considering everything else we had eaten. Side: Chanterelles with Kurabata Bacon and Shredded Brussel Sprouts - tasty non-starch addition to the steaks. It was served in a mini All-Clad gratin. Note to self: get some of those gratins. Meyer Lemon Tart - perfect ending to the meal. Sweet, tart, yum. Our waiter's service was spot on. He couldn't have been more pleasant or attentive (but not intrusive). We received a couple little boxes of truffles to go, and a certificate that contains anywhere between $20 and $500 to go towards the next meal. Believe me, every little bit helps. This was by no means a cheap meal. But it was worth every dollar. We will definintely be back, John Howie, oh yes we will.
(5)Farah F.
I came her for lunch one day to treat myself after four days of being cooped up in the lab with barely any time to eat a sandwich. I came in by myself and got a seat next to window, which is nice because of the sun but doesn't really have a view (it overlooks 405). Not really their fault. My server was very nice, very straight to the point of simply asking me if I already know what I want when she handed me the menu, which can be kinda odd but I actually already know what I wanted so it worked out OK. I know I wanted the duck prosciutto-crusted halibut with watermelon carpaccio and salad, so I ordered that. So she left and I was left wondering if I would be offered a bread basket, and just assumed that maybe there's no bread service during lunch...? Server came back and introduced me to their salts, which came in handy later. I was left there for about 15 mins before my meal came, which i spent people looking and reading a book. When my entree came out later, the person who presented it to me asked me if I wanted bread. Ah, so you DO have bread service, just not at the beginning of the meal....? I said yes, then proceeded to look at meal. Overall, I liked my dish. The fish wasn't overcooked or heavily seasoned, so I get to try the salts. In any other place, it would be annoying to get underseasoned fish, but it works here, especially against the saltier duck prosciutto. While I like the prosciutto's taste, the testure was more rubbery than I thought it would be, so cutting through the prosciutto to get to the flaky fish just ends up being messy. You get bits of fish everywhere as you try and saw through the duck pieces. I love watermelon, so I enjoyed having the watermelon slices there, and the salad actually has thin slices of a variety of melon in it. However, because watermelon is mostly, err, water, by mid meal, i had a cooked fish a quarter submerged in melon juice. I don't know if that was the effect they were looking for, like fruity gravy, but I didn't really enjoy the submerged portion of the fish as much as the top, which is a shame because halibut is my favorite. As for the bread basket, I liked all of the bread they had, especially the small, round one that was made with gruyere cheese. That alone merits a star. I want to like John Howie a lot more than I did, but with the over-juiced fish and the bread service coming at a weird time, I think 3 stars is appropriate, when comparing with other similar establishments. I might come here again, but maybe for happy hour and see how well that goes before investing in dinner.
(3)Tim R.
Been here 2 times and it is my second favorite steak house around (only behind Daniel's on lake union for the view). Both times my meals were perfectly timed and the meat was cooked just the way I like it "Blue Flame rare". The wait staff was prompt and very informative on the selections. Again I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Holly W.
This is a great place for steak. I've been to quite a few steakhouses and this place is definitely at the same level as el gaucho, met, ruth's etc. The service was great and I really enjoyed the amuse bouche. I docked one star for two reasons. My steak came out warm not hot. My husbands was hot. I know it's picky but for the price you pay I think it's warranted. Also I think they can add some better potato options maybe some kind of distinctive side that separates them from the other steakhouses. Overall I liked the place but felt like they need to do something to differentiate themselves.
(4)Emma G.
now, I've only done the happy hour here, but let me just say that IT'S AMAZING. my husband and i have date night every friday and this place is almost always my first choice. Favorites: $8 for a BOMB bacon burger & fries, and if you tell your server you're sharing it with your date, they'll split it onto different plates for you. $5 ricotta gnocchi is DELICIOUS. i'm addicted. i did, however, get one batch that was too salty. $6 baked mac n cheese is oh-SO-good and goes really well with the bacon burger & fries. yeah, if you come to john howie, you're not counting calories anyways. also love the artichoke heart calamari and habanero shrimp. yum YUM. usually they bring the food out relatively quickly considering how busy they get for HH. the "drink of the month" has also been good for the last few months that we've been going. oh, and they usually have a live pianist! well, after writing this review, i'm pretty hungry.
(4)Danielle G.
2 Words: Tempura Bacon. I was a little hesitant, but this was nothing but goodness. To top it off they have a chilli maple sauce for dipping. Its like when you have maple syrup on your bacon only better (who knew there could be better?). For my main course I had the Steak Frites, medium rare. Also a good choice if you are looking for a good steak. Warning through, if you have this for lunch they are big portions and you may have a food coma so don't plan on going back to work.
(5)Dean Y.
To start, the bread basket assortment was unlike any other we've had - and they would have brought more if not for my wife's amazing will power. Then came the wagyu filet mignon which was grilled to perfection, accompanied by a tasty twice-baked potato. Finished with a generous serving of tempura-fried pound cake with three sauces. Had I known dessert was going to be that good, I would have eaten less bread and ordered a smaller steak!
(4)Brian W.
John Howie is an amazing steakhouse. Their meat is second to none. It is very pricey, but if you're up for the cost I'd recommend this steakhouse to anyone. If you looking to enjoy their quality for less money try their happy hour. It's a really good deal and all the food is great.
(5)Lisa L.
Posting an update to my earlier review...although I haven't had the chance to go back to John Howie yet, I was extremely impressed by the very quick response I received from John Howie staff about my review. They geniunely wanted to understand my concerns, and didn't just send me a generic apology note. Because of this response, I will happily give John Howie another shot.
(4)Jimmy W.
I shared a 36 oz bone-in ribeye with a friend, and it was cooked perfectly! we ordered it medium, and the middle was nice and red. Add to that some of their specialty salts and oven-roasted vegetables, and you have a great meal in of itself. I also had the French onion soup which was excellent as well; very cheesy, and the crouton was not mushy at all...very flavorful. the twice-cooked potato was pretty good, but I would have preferred a simple baked potato. the ambiance is really nice as well; the decor is modern, and the restaurant is not noisy, so it's easy to have a conversation. Service is excellent as well...my ice tea never went empty, and I drank a lot of it! This restaurant has exceeded my expectations both times I've gone.
(5)Amanda K.
Surprisingly, the steak is not the best thing on the menu, and the service is a mixed bag. Our experience started by being seated at a table in the "hallway" to the dining room. Even worse, there was a booth of people across that hallway who had to watch us all night. Self-conscious? Be sure to avoid being seated in the hallway. Then, we were approached by a sommelier who seemed unable to see me. He took the wine list and had a conversation with my husband about wine. Nevermind that we usually pick bottles together. Nevermind that I know as much about wine as hubby. Even when I made a comment about one of the bottles the sommelier suggested, he still continued to interact only with my husband. This is 2010, and that is simply insulting. Our waitress was, as hubby described, the right mix of pretentious and fun. She was not pushy, complimented us on some of our selections, and was attentive without being overbearing. Here's a rundown of our food: bread basket - great mix, including flat bread, yummy cheese balls, and house pretzel bread beef tartare - good, but husband prefers when meat and spices come separately rather than pre-mixed crab cakes - toward the top of my list of best I've tasted Porterhouse - what you would expect from a good steakhouse, but not a great steakhouse Rib eye - definitely not even close to the best steak of my life with lots of fat and uneven cooking Beecher's mac and cheese - the best I've ever had and definitely the redeeming feature of our dinner - creamy and gooie all at once with perfectly al dente noodles Creamed spinach - fantastically creamy while maintaining crisp spinach leafs Passion fruit pana cotta - very creamy and flavorful with chopped kiwi fruit on top Chocolate volcano cake - more on the dark than milk chocolate side and certainly very yummy - wish I would have saved more room If I go back, it'll be for dessert and coffee or for that amazing mac and cheese. While they act pretentious, I don't think this is the place to go if you want to be treated specially, in service or food, because there is a certain food-mill feeling.
(3)Michael H.
John Howie Steak is a great Steakhouse. I have eaten there 4 different times now and each time I was delighted with my meals and service. After my second visit the staff remembered who I was and always made an effort to stop by and say hello. This place has one of the best deals for lunch at a high end restaurant on the eastside, no other place serves steak frites for $15. Also their soup/salad, soup/sandwich, salad/sandwich combos start at $10. Now for the food, the creamy porcini mushroom soup with the truffle cream is exquisite. Their wild greens salad with Arugula, avocados, orange, candied walnuts and tear drop tomatoes is one of the best salads I have ever had, all the flavors are in balance. Their bread is baked in house daily and your given an assortment of 4 different kinds. My favorite is the pretzel bread. When served your meal you are also presented with 3 different sea salts to season your food with, a nice touch. Try it out, you won't be sorry!
(5)Kyle W.
Excellent food, excellent service! The price was high as to be expected at the Bravern in Bellevue. I had the Porterhouse and it was amazing. We also tried the tempura fried bacon in the lounge along with the warm olive appetizer and they were both terrific. Great steakhouse we'll be back.
(4)Virna R.
We went here to celebrate our anniversary and it was a great pick! The food, service and atmosphere was great. I had the filet mignon "oscar style" and it was delicious. My husband had the 42 aged rib eye steak and said that it was definitely the best steak he's had (thick, tender, juicy and very tasty) and no need for any sauce. We had the 5 cheese twice baked potato and creamed spinach for sides and both were wonderful and good size servings. I ordered the flourless semi-sweet chocolate volcano cake and when the waiter served it, he said that it was on the house for our anniversary...nice surprise! By the way, it was yummy! It was beautifully served with cool whip on top going down the side of the cake. The cake was crusty on the outside, then warm, soft and gooey inside...totally enjoyed it! It was definitely a great and enjoyable experience for us.
(5)Chris S.
So.... happy hour. Great pricing for the happy hour menu. Got the Bacon Cheeseburger, was a good deal for the $8, but a couple of issues: first, the plate was SO FREAKING HOT that the heat transfer to the bun kind of destroyed the bun integrity before I got it. Even after cutting the burger in half, hand holding was hard to manage, so I tore that sucker apart and ate the pieces individually. Bacon was good, burger patty was good, bun was good, but it would have been nice to be able to enjoy all the parts together. Fries with the burger were good, but not the top. And then there's the tempura-fried kurobuta bacon. It's an interesting concept, battering and then deep-frying the bacon. And its probably worth a try once, but overall the execution was kind of lacking. For a "tempura" batter, the coating was too heavy, and overpowered the bacon flavor. Biting into a piece, the overwhelming taste was a kind of bland batter, leaving you unable to really savor the bacon flavor. The accompanying sauce, maple/sambal/ponzu mix, was interesting. But here the sauce has the opposite problem that the bacon batter had. There's a lot of flavor in the sauce, and it is nice and spicy, but when dipped, the bacon tempura sucks up a bunch of the sauce right into the batter. So now, you can taste the sauce, but again, not a lot of bacon flavor. You really end up with all the guilt of eating a deep fried piece of bacon, but not a lot of bacony goodness, which seems kind of criminal given that the bacon found on the cheeseburger was so good. The John Howie Steak Amber Ale was decent for the $3 Happy Hour price. Not a spectacular Amber by any measure, but it did the job. I'd go again, for the burger, but will pass on the tempura bacon in the future.
(3)Shelli N.
I recently had lunch here and ordered the Salmon. (I can't stop thinking about it.) I could eat it everyday. Most in my party ordered something different (there were 12 of us) and the presentation and creativity was impressive. There were no complaints and not a lot of conversation when the food came. I also recommend the home-made potato chips which were delicious and non-greasy. The service was good, not amazing, but I had the impression our server was new. I will go back again and again!
(4)Alice C.
This is a review for their happy hours. Portion is gigantic although appropriate since their happy hour price is more expensive than other joints in Bellevue. The quality of the happy hour food does not live up to the the restaurant's reputation. Shrimp Scampi - mediocre. Flank steak - mediocre according to my friend. Crab coleslaw - this was the highlight of the happy hour. Large chunks of crab with avocado. Flatbread - tastes like CPK pizza. Overall not a bad experience but I expected more.
(3)Sergio L.
I've been wanting to try JHS for sometime now,last night some old friends were in Bellevue on business and they wanted to dine on the Eastside. We wandered into the packed bar,the World Series was on and they also have a great Happy Hour.Got a perfect martini and wandered into the dining room.We had an excellent server who navigated us throught the extensive menu,made some suggestions and gave ideas for add ons(lobster sauce on mashed potatoes) We started with a Dungeness crab gnochi with truffle oil that was excellent. Next up was a tableside prepared wilted spinach salad with quail egg for two.We enjoyed it tremendously. I had a bone-in 26 oz. Delmonico with peppercorn sauce,my wife had a bone-in filet,someone ordered the halibut(he owns Seastar-the fish was great).All dinners were superb,the service perfect,sommelier very helpful.I desperately wanted the Bananas Foster but at this point I couldn't wiggle. The only caveat was the price.JHS is not cheap, but it's prices are in line with other premium steakhouses in Seattle and other US cities. It was a great dining experience and I would say it's now the best steakhouse in Seattle
(5)Trish M.
I love John Howie's Steakhouse!!!! You must try the American Wagyu Filet and Japanese Wagyu Filet! Simply divine! Definitely a splurge, but great for special occasions! Terrific service! I've been to some of the top steakhouses in the country and this gives CUT Steakhouse a run for its money!
(5)Hector L.
Checking out the Bravern yesterday... passed by John Howie for a quick app and some wine. Very cool lounge. Excellent staff. Had the crab cakes... real light and flavorful. The dining area is small but ideal setup. Planning on attending the Thursday night event - eastsideentrepreneurs.co… .
(4)Esther S.
I was very impressed by this restaurant! Great lunch menu, I had the Club Sandwhich with chicken, bacon and avacado. I also had the salted carmel tart for dessert and it was wonderful! Great service. Make sure to make a reservation!
(4)Glenn S.
Best happy hour on the Eastside! I would order anything off here but you have to try the fried beacon. Service is good as well.
(5)Rob C.
Really outstanding steaks and a beautiful interior. Staff was great. Really pricey, but appropriate for the total experience of a special occasion or for a true steak expert.
(4)Chet F.
Kobe, YES please! Well... at our age, our servers at these type of places usually greet us with a sighed smile. Until they see us unleash on the menu and become their favorite table of the evening. We started with a nice bottle of Soter Blanc de Blancs and the habanero shrimp and the escargot as appetizers. The shrimp had the perfect spice to them, while the flavor of the escargot seemed hidden in it's dish. Round two Le Sala': A typical wedge salad always seems to be a great lead into a fat juicy steak. It was tasty with crispy cubes of bacon drifting throughout, a little tight on the blue side though. Okay by this point, we have pounded a variety basket of bread (which was delish in it's choices), two very good size appetizers and a large salad plus a bottle of bubbles. So you can imagine the food coma that is starting to take place. *oh, by the way there is 3 at our table* Steaks! We decided to go with the 3 way combo (Prime, Wagyu, Kobe) the Prime add lobster tail, and Prime add King crab. All of which were cooked perfectly and season with great precision. Before the courses came out the server brought us a tier of volcanic salt, Australian river salt, and maybe a Mediterranean salt. She explained which was best suited for which courses and so on. Which is fun in a salty way. BUT the biggest delight to my meal was when the server (Deb- which was amazing) carried out a little wooded box that I have seen before. Not realizing what she is about to let me use. A Shun steak knife! "Pick your utensil" she says. My face lit up like a 6yr. old in a candy store. As I have been slowing adding to my collection at home for years now and these are my last to buy. So... it was a pleasure to be able to use one before dropping the grip on them. So atmosphere is your typical upscale dining establishment suited for the downtown Bellevue type. The service was great, but not the swarm affect that Canlis has down to a tee. The steaks were excellent cuts of beef. The menu was enjoyable in a comfort food style with litttle added embelishments that were not expected. Potato cakes with cavair? Sure, I'm down. I would definitely return for all the above. Thanks to the staff at John Howie for a great dining experience. Fyi: The sommelier was great, she was very friendly about sharing information and background about the wines on the list. A very approachable and kind lady, which is not always the case in the wine industry. So, use her next time you stop by and you will enjoy your bottle(s) much more! One true gripe: They are giving out secret gift certificates that you can not open until your next visit. They can range from $20-$500. Well, the waitress gave us one after diner and the manager personally came over and gave us each one on our way out. Which I thought was nice of him. Here's the complaint: I don't like to wait and said who cares. I wanna know what's in them, even if it's void since I opened it at home. GUESS WHAT?!?! All 3 of them was for $20. A measly $20. When they have a range of almost 10 different denominations, and they were all $20? I thought that was in pretty poor taste for them to lure people back to their establishment in hopes of hitting a nice little treat and then disappointed with the absolute minimum on probably the majority of these cards. Maybe we just had really bad luck but...Don't get your hopes up. Seems like a scheme devised by Steve Jobs (eww burn-Microsoft)
(4)Joy H.
I went here for happy hour and loved the swankiness of the place. Very Braven! They've got loads of comfy-looking chairs and was surprisingly (or maybe unsurprisingly since The Bravern shops are never busy), it was very easy to find a spot during the heart of HH. I sat down and scanned the happy hour menu and lo and behold . . . Pimm's is on the menu! *sigh* brings me back to my London trip! I love Pimm's! The stockpile in my cupboard says it all! I HAD to have it and it was sooo delicious! It's probably not fair to compare it to London, but it's not as tasty as how the Brits do, but this is the first time I've ever seen it on a menu in the States! We ordered the Prime Tenderloin Bites (good portion, oversauced), American Wagyu Sirloin Steak Sliders (comes with 3 teeny sliders - about a silver dollar size with 3 equally tiny pickles), Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon (yeah, it sounds bad for you and it is bad for you, but at least it was fried nicely), and Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese (good portion size). Overall the food was pretty good though pretty pricey for a happy hour menu and we were pretty stuffed at the end. HOWEVER, that night I had the worst stomachache in my life! It made me realize that I could never go through labor without an epidural!! It was soooo bad . . . it's been about a week out now and I still feel like my stomach isn't 100%. I've eaten throughout Asia (including in their alleyways!) and never had food poisoning before. I know there's a statement on the menu about eating undercooked food and blah blah blah, but they never asked how I liked my meat prepared and the sliders and tenderloins didn't look overly bloody or anything. Ahhhhhh . . . I don't know think I can bring myself to go back. Just writing this review is starting to make my stomach uncomfortable!
(2)Jason R.
for now this review is only for the happy hour....i have a plan to resist the hh here so i can save up for one of their kobe steaks....i've had this goal for like a year now and i just can't kick the habit! its like an addition =( their hh burger simply awesome. huge with a side of fries for $8 it fills your belly with its deliciousness. the burger is all i ever get now, with a side of beer. someday i'll try their kobe, but for now the kobe totally satisfies my appetite.
(5)Alex C.
I'm writing this a bit after my visit, so I will be doing as my memory permits. John Howie Steak is a great venue, as I would expect given its price range. It has wonderful waiters and waitresses. Those who help with steak selection are fabulous and very knowledgeable. Table side preparation of food is fun. The food in general was very good. Ahi tartare was delicious. Wilted spinach salad was very good. Recommended Wagyu steak was fabulous. Out of the world. I cannot approach steak in the same way again. Salt selection with the steak was really fun. There was one drawback, which was the side we ordered. Dungeness crab/truffle gnocchi is not a good combo. The truffle overpowered the crab and did not go with it. It also came out a bit hard/lukewarm. Fabulous interior, great service (though a bit slow on the bread refill), very good food. The gnocci/crab/truffle disaster was the only marring bit, as well as the dent in the checkbook. Great over all!
(4)gentry h.
This is how a great steak restaurant should be! It was relaxed, with big oversize booths, we were immediately greeted and drink orders taken. I didn't like my cocktail, (my fault, bad order) and it was replaced w/ another quickly. The steak was excellent, we shared creamed spinach as a side which was fantastic. The only item I wasn't completely impressed with was the appetizer scallop dish. The service was outstanding and made the experience really enjoyable. Will be back when I'm on the east side for sure.
(5)Brian T.
I started eating at John Howie when they first opened. The quality then is not what it is now. John Howie has taken a turn for the worst, cutting quality and providing inconsistency. Some days their happy hour burger is fresh and delicious but usually salt and grease are the most defining flavors. Look, I get it. Johnny never wanted to be a happy hour/ cheap burger joint but quality is everything and if I can't trust my $8.00 burger to be delicious how can I even think about buying a steak? The steak could be salty and oozing with bad taste and then I'm left oozing in anger over the price and disappointing product. No thanks!
(2)M D.
Simply outstanding. Everything. Food, presentation, service, ambiance, wine....everything. I ordered the 4oz Kobe steak with oysters and both were just sensational. Wow. I could go on for paragraphs describing all the details but no need - other reviews covered it. You will not be disappointed. Even the tables are spread out so you do not feel crowded. Even so, I suggest an early week (Mon, Tue) reservation to be on the safe side and avoid crowds.
(5)Antonio R.
For the prices they charge...definitely not worth it. The steaks were just okay, but I was expecting the same quality of flavor as The Metropolitan Grill. The interior was nice, but one drawback was that you had to go outside of the restaurant to use a restroom. I really wanted to like the restaurant, but unfortunately, I know I won't be back...well maybe for happy hour.
(2)Tonya N.
VERY Pleased with John Howie... Had the American Kobe Steak Frites for lunch here and it was juicy/tender, a perfect Medium Rare... Fries were crisp, nice aioli... ahhh satisfaction for a mere $15 a STEAL!. We had a birthday lunch here and i was extremely impressed with the service from the reservation to host and servers. VERY tentative, flexible and well informed staff. Our server was kind enough to split individual bills and yet create a combined bill as well as let us know of the bravern promotion so that the birthday good girl could get a $25 gc for every $200 spent. She didnt have to go out of her way but did so. We greatly appreciate it... Also the free birthday dessert (lava cake) was delish! We had a great time here and I would definitely come back for lunch anyday of the week...
(4)June B.
It's your typical, over-priced, high-end steakhouse. I find the atmosphere too dark and dreary; perfect for a rainy Seattle night, but not my scene for a social, happy gathering. The food is okay, but not fantastic, and once my salad was way too salty (sounds impossible right?). I do like the convenience of getting a quick bite at the bar/lounge area after some shopping at The Bravern, though.
(3)Howard M.
First dining experience in the new Bravern shopping mecca in Bellevue. Since I was already a fan of Chef Howie (that has a nice ring to it since it was my childhood nickname) from Seastar and Sport, I suggested JHS for a business meeting. My friends got the lunch halibut, the chicken, and I got the lunch Filet special. Not typically a Filet guy but didn't have time nor the room for a 16oz Ribeye. Needless to say, a very good dining experience. Meat quality was exceptional and I am sure the dinner portions and prices will be somewhat greater than lunch. Entire party was happy and our server did a great job.
(4)Rob S.
Decent deserts, but the steak was seriously disappointing, especially compared to chain steakhouses like Ruth's Chris or Morton's - not up to par. The service was really spotty and the pricing was just too high. Diners were wearing a coat and tie, on a Saturday. A wee bit pretentious.
(2)Dan H.
I am writing just for the Happy Hour. Had the cheeseburger with what seems like leftover 100% Prime beef - it was one of the the best meat burgers I've ever had. Other items were nice shiek and fatty, which of course can please almost any palate. Food wise I was very pleased for a Happy Hour offering. Get there early, it fills up quick. The house beer was just OK, good deal for then at $3/pint. Cheers!
(4)Colleen C.
John Howie gets an A+ all the way around. They give you a variety of homemade bread and started us out with complimentary tasting of their creamy polenta crisp fried on top of a Bolognese sauce - that was phenomenal! I had their USDA Prime Filet and American Wagyu Filet combo and my boyfriend had their American Wagyu Filet and Japanese Wagyu Filet combo. Both were cooked perfectly to our specification (med. rare). Our waitress was right - the Wagyu had very rich buttery taste. We also had the tableside Cesar salad, which had too much garlic for my taste - so much that it was very spicy, and I can take a lot of heat and garlic. Although the portion size was very generous. We also accompanied our dinner with a side of lobster mashed potatoes, which came with large chunks of lobster meat and a creamy cheese sauce - the portion size was perfect for 2 people. We finished off with the Volcano chocolate cake, which was very good, but if you get it ask for a side of vanilla ice cream. Overall, this is probably one of my top 3 steak houses (which includes Canlis and an out of state steakhouse). We were seated in the aisle area, and each table is seperate from the next with either a drape or wall. It was very private and even with the pianst, it was quiet enough to hear your convo with your guest. Go early to shop around Bravern, it's expensive but fun to window shop :)
(5)David W.
Slow service during a busy Sunday happy hour was the only downer, though it was fun people watching. The happy hour menu is pretty good, though the tempura bacon seems overrated to me. I prefer the bacon in the burger. I enjoyed the habanero shrimp. The house pale ale is not my favorite ale, but it gets the job done. What's with the mall it's in, though? Dead as dead can be...
(3)Eric S.
Fantastic Happy Hour burger. The best tasting burger and it's made with Prime meat.
(4)Casendra M.
My friend and I went there for the first time to celebrate my birthday, and ready to be "wowed" by the experience since it's supposed to be one of the best steak house in Washington. But all I have to say was that the whole dining experience was quite disappointing. :( Since we were sitting at the bar, we have decided to try the Spicy Habenero Butter Shrimp (this is pretty good), the Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi (too salty) and the warm olives (taste met expectations). Then we took the server's recommendation and ordered the Wagyu Filet Mignon, the 42 day custom aged Rib Eye steak (ordered medium rare but turned out to be very chewy and not as flavorful as a rib eye should be) and the Main Lobster mashed potatoes (the lobster was overcooked so it's chewy). When the servers brought us the food, my friend and I looked at the Rib Eye steak and knew something was not right, we then cut into the center of the steak, tasted it, turned out to be the New York Strip. The server didn't come back and check on us until 15 minutes later then we told her the cut was not the Rib Eye but New York Strip, she didn't try to fix it immediately, instead, she looked at the steak and said "it kind of look like the New York strip, I might have put in the wrong order, but let me go check what I put in the system", then she walked away. 10 minutes later she came back and said "I did put in the wrong order and the Rib Eye should be coming out shortly", When the Rib Eye finally arrived (20 minutes later), we were very much looking forward for the flavor to burst in our mouths, but when we cut thru the center, tasted it, there wasn't much flavor and it was very chewy. 30 minutes later, the server came back and asked how we liked the steak, we told her that the Rib Eye was chewy and a bit dry but the filet mignon was good, then she said "Well, at least now you know which one you like better' then walked away. ummm.. what?? Wasn't NOT expecting that type of response. So out of all the dished that we ordered, we were only satisfied by two dishes, the Wagyu Filet Mignon and the Spicy Habernero Butter Shrimp. I was expecting to share a perfect dining experience on my birthday, unfortunately I can't say that my experience at John Howie was a memorable one. However, I have to say that their bartender makes great cocktails...:) Because of the great drinks, I give it two stars...
(2)Elizabeth S.
Was having a not so great day today and decided to treat myself to this restaurant. Yes, it is a bit pricey but WELL worth it! Wendy, my server, was AMAZING. Absolutely perfect. The food (iceberg wedge was one of the best ever!), hamburger, and cheesecake were all stellar (warning - definitely enough food for bringing some home which they nicely package up for you). I am impressed and while I was having lunch (and being cheered up) I texted my friend who I am meeting tomorrow and switched our lunch tomorrow from where we were going to meet to here.
(5)Mike L.
One of the best dining experiences we could have ever hoped for. The steak was the best steak I had ever eaten and my wife agreed. From the appetizers (the crab cakes were incredible), to the salads and the deserts, everything was delicious. While the food was amazing, even more remarkable was the entire dining experience itself. From the little extras John Howie did to make the experience unique, to the gracious wait staff, mood lighting, and warm atmosphere, everything was magical. Perhaps this was due in part to a quiet Sunday evening when the establishment was not as full and there was a certain ambiance about the place. All I know is that John Howie is at the top of my list of places to eat and I can't wait to eat there again. Highly recommended!
(5)Jennifer S.
Went on a Friday at 4:30 for Happy Hour. It was pretty packed, but we found 2 seats. Between the 2 of us, we ordered the Pork Pate, Calamari, Tempura Bacon and the Wagyu beef sliders for food and a beer and glass of wine for drinks (bill came out to a very reasonable $44 pre-tip) The Pate was excellent, although I question the thinly sliced 'crackers' they provide w/it, the Calamari was slightly breaded and so soft & succulent in your mouth. The Wagyu sliders were delicious bites, but I may opt for the full cheeseburger (which comes w/a side of fries) for the same price next time. All the food was delicious and super rich.The bacon was merely slices of bacon deep fried in a tempura batter w/a maple dipping sauce, was it good? Yes, the first slice was for each of us, but the remaining 3 was overkill (I wouldn't order it next time, but a nice to have tried item). I only gave them 4 stars because the Happy Hour drink menu was lacking. Tip: They will validate 6 hour parking.
(4)Steve R.
Bar menu, The Best Burger ever!!! Friends & wife had sirloin sliders, Mac & Cheese, fries and parmesan potato chips, everyone loved the food. Great service, great atmosphere. We're going back for dinner, during the holidays.
(5)Cyndi C.
I was introduced to John Howie by Fancy's Meet Up event. The staff is so friendly. It did not feel like a steakhouse but that's okay, I'm not a steak eater. It was Happy Hour and the price was excellent. I ordered the BTL slide. Nicely made and the plate came loaded with chips which I was delighted since it gave a little more to the meal. Had a great time and really enjoyed the company. The manager, Annie, was an excellent and gracious hostess! I will bring more people by.
(4)Kyla C.
Went here for lunch with my co-workers the other day. Right when we walked in, a great smell hit us in the face and got me excited for our meal. We got the spicy shrimp with habanero sauce to share (which wasn't too spicy but just right) and also shared the deep fried bacon...yes, DEEP FRIED BACON! Awesome! It sounds like it could be really gross but it was delicious, highly recommended! I got the peppercorn burger with roquefort cheese and it was so tender that the burger just crumbled...pretty messy but definitely worth it! It's more of a knife and fork kind of burger but the taste is awesome and I took home half of it for lunch the next day. I hear that during happy hour that same burger is on the menu for $8 - totally worth it! I'll go so far as to say that it might be one of the best burgers I've ever had, so yummy! We also got the pomegranate blueberry lemonade to drink which was great too. All in all I was very pleased with the meal and left feeling more than satiated, can't wait to go back for happy hour!
(5)Simon W.
Awesome place. Don't complain about the price, its a 5 star restaurant in Bellevue.
(5)Pierre G.
Another winning happy hour: If I can assume you are hungry & need to satisfy your Burger Fix: I can highly recommend the - USDA Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger at Happy Hour [$8.00]: * its 5 inches tall [& thus suitable for sharing] & comes with a large side of Fries with Ketchup [the Carb Conscious may elect to remove the top half of the bun]; * the Burger + Kurabota Bacon+ Beecher's Cheese +Drive-In Sauce combo beats any slider dish you'll find in Bellevue; PLUS - For $2.00 extra, you can substitute a salad for the fries [big White Bread Roll + Fries = oodles of starchy carbs] & Consider asking for extra Drive-In Sauce on the side - its just darn tasty... - Prime Tenderloin Bites for $9 - Arrives in an elevated dish; Soft, moist, served in a not to-salty teriyaki sauce with orange slices- Whet my appetite for ordering a full steak... - Fried Calamari and Baby Artichokes with roasted garlic-lemon aioli [$7]: lightly-breaded [unlike most other places]; large portion & scrumptious aioli - can be shared - Spicy Habenero Butter Shrimp ($8): Wild American white shrimp meat, garlic, butter, white wine, Habenero sauce, Sliced Ciabatta bread: I counted 24 shrimp [very generous], You can certainly taste the butter and the remaining red sauce is a like a spicy soup, Perfect for eating with the ciabatta [seven pieces] - A small meal in itself. - Deviled Eggs with Truffled Bacon [3 eggs or 6 halves] for $5: Creamy whipped eggs, The Bacon topping defines this dish, Perfect to share [Take statins if you are contemplating eating this alone] - American Wagyu Sirloin Steak Sliders [3 for $8]: Scrumptious, succulent meat; deft use of onions & aioli; not too bread-y; Can be shared. - Beecher's Mac and Cheese [a 4" round serving for $6]: This is comfort food - cheesy good, al dente macaroni, an herbed gratin crust on top; "fresh ground pepper" is in order; will fill you up if you order another menu selection [also suitable for sharing]. - Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi ($5): truffle oil, truffle sweet onion crème: this is one dish you should be hesitant to reorder if dining alone; imagine gnocchi in little hot pockets, a tad too bready; the truffle crème makes it bearable; Suitable for sharing. - Tahitian Iced Tea [$2]: Similar to Passion fruit; free refills; a thirst quencher at a reasonable price. Piano music is also fun [Steve Andreason is a talented player, boater & a hoot]...
(4)Michelle B.
My friend and I are avid steak eaters so when we heard all the hype about JH we decided to check it out on her Birthday. I met her there and when I got there the hostess did not even greet me but flat out told me I could not bring an outside cake into the establishment. I asked for a piece of foil to cover the cake so I could keep it under wraps but was greeted by a very rude manager that covered it in disgust. They did not ask me if I was meeting someone or if I needed a table. I dismissed the rude encounter and entered to find my friend. She had ordered some apps the Gnocchi which was too salty, warm olives which were just ok and the Spicy Habanero Shrimp which believe it or not was not spicy. The Love Letter cocktail was a nice contrast to the lack lustre apps. We then ordered the 42 day aged Ribeye which the server raved about and the Wagyu Filet Mignon. The Filet Mignon was tender and flavorful. I have had Wagyu beef before and this in comparison was ok. However, I chuckled when the Ribeye came out. It was not a Ribeye but a NY steak. The server had mentioned she would check on the order to see if she made a mistake and sure enough she did and we then had to wait yet again for the Ribeye to show up. Expecting a deep exciting burst of flavor we bit into the meat and it was chewy and a bit bland. I took a few bites and could not eat it and told the server it had not met or exceeded what we were hoping for and she apologized and left it at that. To top it all off I did not feel well after the meal. When I pay over $180 for a meal I have a high expectation. What was supposed to be a fantastic outing turned out to be a nightmare minus the cocktail. Truly disappointed. I will stick to either making my own steak or go to Jak's for consistent fantastic service, steaks and atmosphere.
(1)U U.
We decided to do a lunch date here on a workday and had a fabulous time! The weather was perfect and we were seated in the main dining room which has a good view of the Olympics and of the greener side of Bellevue. In spite of it being a gorgeous Friday, the restaurant wasn't crowded and the service was excellent. We ordered the Hamachi as an appetizer and the steak frites and the iceberg salad as entrees and both were excellent. The volcano cake helped end the meal on a sweet note and I'll definitely come here again the next time I can sneak out for a good lunch on a weekday!
(5)K F.
Wonderful! Excellent service. Start with the calamari - it's great but it only gets better from there.
(4)Alice Y.
So we've heard mixed reviews about John Howie but decided to give it a try with their groupon. Service was much better than expected (lots of fellow yelpers commented on the not-so-great service so I was a little wary). We were greeted by a friendly hostess and seated promptly. Our server was very professional and knowledgeable, she took the time to go through the menu with us and attended to us frequently throughout. The ambience was good and the bar at the front of the restaurant looks really classy as well, although I was not too thrilled about the booth we sat in; it seems to get a lot of traffic and people tend to stare when they walk by. So the food... it's always about the food. =) We had the spicy habanero shrimp to start. It had lots of flavor but I felt it could use a little more kick to it. Habanero right? We thought about getting the tableside caesar salad but decided to pass, afraid it might be too much food. We did see the presentation for the table across from us. Spot-on! For our entree, we decided on the American and Australian wagyu combination. Yum! I enjoyed the American wagyu, nice succulent meat with the right tenderness and chewiness. The Australian was on the fatty side, melts in your mouth kind of texture but a little too tender for my taste. We picked the asparagus and lobster mashed potatoes for our sides. The asparagus was divine! it was cooked perfectly, soft with a little crunchiness and very very fresh! Thumbs up for the asparagus! But the potatoes, the potatoes... hmm ok let's just say it made us miss the lobster mashed potatoes at El Gaucho very much. John Howie's was mediocre, at best, and we found a couple pieces of lobster shells in it... not good!!! :( The desert was on the house since it was my birthday. We were both stuffed so we ordered the chocolate volcano cake to go. Our server graciously walked us through the steps to put together the desert at home. We followed her instructions (skipped the caramel) and it came out delish!!! We will return to John Howie, maybe for happy hour next time. I will come back for an update then! =)
(3)Angela K.
I eat alone a lot, so I often wind up sitting at the bar. Thus, the bartenders form a large part of my experience when dining out, and these two did not disappoint. In fact the only reason why I withheld a star is because I haven't had the full John Howie experience yet but I did want to write and say how awesome the experience was that I did have. Just stopped in for a small bite, turns out it was happy hour. YOU MUST go and try their happy hour - I left feeling extremely happy! The happy hour menu was an awesome introduction to what this place is capable of and I'm excited to come back for the full meal deal, so to speak. Delicious food, freindly and attentive service, I can't wait to return. Now my two favorite places to eat are right next to each other, what will I do?! Be grateful and full, that's what!
(4)Abhijit P.
Other than my steak being slighly on the salty side, it doesn't get any better than this. I had the American Waygu, Lobster Mash, Wild Forraged Mushrooms, and Beet Salad. Cocktails were well made and service is flawless. Wish I tried dessert, but I was too stuffed. You even get a little suprise at the end of the meal.
(5)Deborah K.
Went to dinner with a couple friends on Friday night. I had a groupon a needed to use in the next couple of weeks before it expired. We had crab cakes for appetizer. The crabcakes were great but they are a little on pricey side and come out to about $3 a bite. They also brought us a shot glass sized sample of a salmon bisque. It was awesome, so we ended up ordering a cup. They cup was a small bowl, but probably enough to share with someone if you dont want to fill up before your meal. For dinner i ordered the fillet medallions oscar style. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly and the crab portion was very generous. I could pass on the mashed potatos as they werent anything to right home about. If you sign up on John Howie's mailing list they will email you a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert. Even though John Howie was really good, i think overall Daniel's Broiler is still the better choice.
(4)Andy H.
their lunch is really good. price is decent. highly recommended.
(5)Bellevuegirl B.
I have loved this place for many months, their happy hour is fantastic, but, last Sunday, their food made me sick... :( I had 1/2 wedge salad, 1/2 burger, not sure what did it, but, I did not have a good evening after eating here...
(2)angela y.
this is my first post ever, but deservedly so. what i had: 1. combo of 4oz japanese wagyu kobe filet + 4oz american wagyu kobe filet - these were both AMAZING...the japanese filet was the BEST steak i've ever had. so buttery and rich and smooooth (a little salty on the outside) but cooked just right on the inside. 2. bananas foster - so perfect. they use the original recipe from brennan's in new orleans. i would definitely go back for the STEAK - but it's pricey. everything else (appetizers, sides, bread, service) was just ok, but not bad. oh, and if you're looking for a bottle of red wine that won't cost more than your steak, we ordered the "perfecta" and it was great!
(4)Elizabeth P.
My office recently moved to downtown Bellevue, so I have been trying out new places for lunch. I went to John Howie with a group of co-workers and we all loved it! I got a sandwich, which was really reasonable priced and the portion was huge enough to have lots of leftovers. The fries were delicious, some of the best I have had. We sat in the bar so there was no wait and the waiter was very attentive. You also get an assortment of free bread for the table to share. I will definitely go back and hope to try the steaks at dinner someday.
(4)Natalie L.
I have never been here for dinner but go here often for their happy hour! It is truly one of the best happy hour places to experience. The food is delicious and the service is great! Their burger, tempura bacon, mac&cheese, deviled eggs are a few items that I have tried and will not disappoint! Another item worth trying that is not on their happy hour menu is their poke dish.
(5)Cheryl G.
Complete dissapointment!! We went to JH for my husbands 35th birthday, total of 5 people! We got sat at our table and this is when the nightmare started!! I could probably write 5 pages of negative but instead I will give you the quick version. We waited 20 minutes before our server even acknowledged us at the table, another 15 minutes before she took our drink order, about 25 minutes before she brought back our drinks and tried to walk away without even asking us if we wanted apps or dinner for that matter....I hope they didn't have an yummy specials because we never heard them...I had to get snotty with her just so she would take our order. She never brought out the table side ceasar salad...We waited another 40 minutes from Apps to dinner...without a refill on a soda and I again had to flag her down to order more cocktails!! We had to flag another person down for horseradish sauce and to possiblly turn the air conditioning down!! I finally made a comment to one of the table captains and thats when the sudo ass kissing started. The server never apologized for the horrible service, the table captain took off a round of drinks and dessert off our bill. He then proceeded to give us a "coupon" for free salad the next time we came in. We won't be back for the next time!! We only went to Bellevue for this experience, we live in Seattle. Next time we will take our $500 dollar dinner to Canlis or El Gaucho...We know we will always get AMAZING service there!! The servers name is Deborah, the table Captain is Matt. Perhaps if you go to JH for dinner make sure you don't sit in Deborahs section.
(1)Amelia R.
Cons: 1) Bad Tomato soup. It was so sugary that I felt I was eating a desert. I could not taste the tomatoes, just the sugar. I had the server take it away and she brought me the mushroom soup. This soup was a little better, but too salty. I could not taste the mushrooms and other subtle flavors because of the amount of salt in the soup. John, if you are reading this, change your soups! A soup is a small thing, but it can set the mood for the rest of the meal. If you decide to take another look at your soups, please visit Babbling Babs in Tacoma. I have tried soups all around the world at upscale restaurants, and amazingly, this little restaurant in Tacoma beats them all. A soup should have flavors that reveal themselves as a beginning, a middle, and ending. A soup should not be overpowered with sugar or salt. 2) I ordered the soup and half sandwich. Due to the type of soup bowl, I could not easily reach my sandwich. I had to remove the bowl from my plate. At a lower-scale restaurant, this would not bother me, but at a high-scale restaurant, I should not have to rearrange my plate to simply eat. Pros: - Turkey Sandwich was delicious. Good smoky turkey and vinigrette-marinated onions. - Fries cut to order. Refreshing flavor. - Fresh bread was baked in-house. Lots of variety. The salts that came with the bread were delicious. - Halibut was juicy and fresh. -Deserts are amazing. - Pricing was good.
(4)Nick C.
The true Japanese Kobe beef steak that appeared on my plate could only have been crafted by Satan himself in some fiery netherworld kitchen. That is right - John Howie has a pact with the devil and his lost soul is your gain. Best steak in Seattle. Best. Steak. I have been everywhere around town for good steak and this place is on a whole other level. Minus a star for a couple reasons: the rest of the menu is meh. Side dishes are lazily prepared, uncreative, not well seasoned. They are also relatively cheap. But anything is relatively cheap when you are talking about a $130 cut of steak, so to be more specific: El Gaucho has better side dishes. Might as well give the knife a full twist. El Gaucho also has better decor and service. If I were trying to impress and important client or date, I'd go there. What Gaucho does not have is Kobe beef steak that makes you ponder joining the Japanese ex-pat community. Ever see that Beggin' Strips commercial where the tagline is "dogs can't believe it's not bacon". I've eaten many a fine steak at many an uppity restaurant. But, after eating at John Howie I feel like that dog who didn't realize what real food was.
(4)Shawn S.
Have been wanting to try the other Bravern restaurants besides Wild Ginger. We poked our head into the French version of Artisinal and sat @ the bar for a few minutes before any attention. There was also a funky Pinesol smell. We decided to try the bar @ Howies Steak. Tables and seats were super low..ambience was nice. Service was a joke...waitress took our drink order..Martini and a choice of 4 oz or 6 oz wine. Decided on 4 oz. Martini was thimble size..she explained that they serve 2 oz martinis...for $11?? She said I could order a double..A $22 MARTINI?? ARE YOU KIDDING? The drink prices are a joke...will never go back!! Food was good but took forever to get to the table....never saw my waitress again. Flagged down 3 other people who told me she was around somewhere but they couldnt find her...WHAT??
(2)Kathy K.
My last review of this restaurant was not good at all. In fact so bad that John Howie personally wrote me and asked me to give them another chance. Full disclosure- he did give me a gift certificate for this. Honestly, it sat on my counter for a very long time. So long in fact, that I gave up eating meat all together! What a conundrum- a vegetarian eating in a steak house! But we went on Wednesday night. No reservations but we sat in the bar. Andi, our waitress was great! Informative but not hovering. We started with the flat bread- so delicious. I managed to find more protein in the deviled eggs and they even had a vegetarian option for this. I was able to round out my meal with the roasted cauliflower and the heirloom tomato salad. All very delicious. My husband really enjoyed his hangar steak and fries! And the blueberry tart was a wonderful way to end the evening. Good thing we walked there so we could burn off some of the calories getting back to our car! I debated between 3 and 4 stars. I went with the lesser star because in all honesty, had I not been given a gift certificate I wouldn't have come back. Having said that and having a totally different experience this time, I would come back on my own dime- but would probably stay in the bar and avoid the dining room completely. It is much more relaxed!
(3)M M.
WOW! I went back to read my review and SOMEHOW IT WAS DELETED. I can understand why. This place is horrible. We frequent restaurants all over Seattle and Bellevue and I have to say I don't give this place more than 2 years of funding from his backers. Just the fact that they are deleting their bad reviews tells you wat kind of operation this is. Food not cooked properly, horrible waits and long services. Should be an embarrassment
(1)Greg T.
Typical primo steakhouse. A la carte only, and sky-high prices. Very comfortable dining room... Upscale without being stuffy. Great wine list.... especially the outstanding wine by the glass selection. Loved the Albrecht Pinot Gris. Wife liked the blue cheese salad. The Caesar Salad was good, but not great... A little blah. The steaks were fabulous, especially the Wagayagu tenderloin. Ditto the sides. The service was also top-notch... attentive and gracious.
(4)Susan H.
Went there with my husband for dinner and everything was fantastic. We had salads, Wagyu steaks (filet and new York). Asparagus and then Cherries Jubilee for dessert. The service was impeccable, food was fantastic and it doesn't get any better than table side flambé. We are relatively new in town and are thrilled to have found such a wonderful stake house.
(5)Marta D.
Impressed with freshness and uniqueness, down to the last detail. Consistantly delicious fare and the staff is very friendly!
(5)jay s.
I got to say I love the steaks here. The happy hour is really good too. I went there on a Friday and if you have more than two people, get there early because the bar area is small. But trust me the happy hour is good and fairly price. I had the Haberno Shrimp and Wagyu sliders, very tasty. Also, their drinks are decent for the price like the Gordon Gin drink.
(4)Edith R.
This place is really over rated and hollow. The meat is OK but the presentation is lack luster. The wait stuff doesn't know the difference between one cut of beef and another and when I asked the waitress about the difference between 3 different filet minon offerings, she couldn't really recall the difference. Our sommlier cracked the cork in the bottle and didn't really engage in any kind of discussion about the wine and how it might pair with our food. The sides were bland including the chanterelle mushrooms which werent' all chanterelles but a mix of wild mushrooms. And of course it is overpriced by a long shot. If Yelp had a 0 star, this place would get it. Go to El Gaucho instead!
(1)Ann S.
This was our second visit to John Howie. The first visit was great--fabulous food, excellent service. Last night, not so hot. We had reservations for 7:15. We were not seated until 7:40! And only because we reminded the hostess that we were still waiting. We didn't order much--salads first, then steak tartare, creamed spinach and crab/shrimp chowder. We waited a good 30 minutes for our salads. Once we finished those, we waited another 30 minutes for the rest. Too slow for hungry eaters!! Our waitress was friendly and knowledgeable, as are all the staff, but the overall experience this time was disappointing.
(2)Andrew W.
I give it two stars, for the number of Zantacs I had to take after dining there twice. I've had lunch in the restaurant and a happy hour dinner at the bar in the last two weeks. Both experiences weren't great and here's why... Lunch in the dining room was pricey and not good. They gave us a not great seat (and the place was half-empty) but I took it because it was a business lunch and I didn't want to make things awkward. I had the pork loin sandwich and it was smothered in some mustardy-mayo sauce... I had terrible heartburn all afternoon. Service was awkward but friendly. I thought I'd give the place a second chance and tried their happy hour. The $7 burger (a big burger, great deal in theory) gave me the worst heartburn of my life. The $5 martinis were skimpy. The seats in the bar were ABSURD! Unless you're under 5 feet, there's no way your legs can fit under the table and the lounge chairs are insanely uncomfortable!!!! I mentioned this fun fact to the manager on duty, who agreed with me, then suggested I should join them for dinner instead so I can sit at a regular-sized table made for humans. Gee! What a great idea! For them! Again, the service was awkward but friendly. Parking is a nightmare at lunchtime down below, but it is free. Ultimately, I will never go back. But I give it two stars, again, for the number of Zantacs. BTW, the Artisanal Brasserie was totally empty the weeknight I was there and their happy hour is VERY pricey.
(2)Manrui C.
We went here to celebrate our anniversary and it was well worth it. We were able to have a booth in the back and the ambiance was great without being over the top about what people wore. There was plenty of food and we didn't feel bad asking for it to be boxed up to go. The food was absolutely delicious and the service was great. I would definitely go back and also recommend it to friends and family.
(4)Amy H.
a friend of mine suggested we do a mixer of some sort to cross-pollinate our friends. a few logistical emails later, we arrive at john howie steak in bellevue. located in the new bravern building, this restaurant has a swanky bar with an illuminated marble counter, live piano, and the most extensive drink list ive seen to date in seattle. and hallelujah, they have fernet. but wait, it gets better....they also have MEXICAN COKE! nothing, and i mean NOTHING, beats fernet and pure cane sugar (corn syrup is so 1999). of course, due to the high rent location, my drink ends up costing ~$15, but hey, its all about supply and demand when it comes to the bougie eastside.
(3)William H.
Better watch out -- The Met , has some serious competition for the best steaks in Seattle. Went there Sunday night with some buddies, I ordred the 16oz bone in fillet mignon - OMG so tender and flavorful you could cut it with your fork. . The mac and cheese side so tasty, great wine list as well. The French Onion soup and the seafood chowder was amazing as well. Chef John stopped by and asked how our meal was and had to tell him it was GOOD!
(5)Jason H.
Outrageously good food and service - with a price to match. If you want to impress someone or just have a special night on the town, this is the place for you. Happy hour is excellent too - try the sliders or the deviled eggs (they converted a non-egg liker!). Go all out and try the $70 wagyu beef filet for a melt in your mouth experience (worth the price and the guilt). :-)
(5)joe v.
This was my first time in the Bravern complex......pretty nice. Maybe another day I'll try the shops......but tonight was John Howie, simply wonderful. The service was a bit cheesy, a little ditsy at the front getting us seated but nothing too bad. The dining room was amazing with a great view, even though we had a booth. The assortment of breads were wonderful, little cheesy balls or what seemed to be, piping hot, you didn't even need butter. The staple table side prepared Caesar salad.........good job on not overdoing the anchovies. Then the charred steaks came out.....a bit tough on the eyes but very deceiving, we shortly found out. I can see where some say it's too seasoned, but damn!!! COULDN'T DO IT ANY BETTER. I haven't tried the "real" wagyu but after having the American version, no need. Our accompaniments; lobster mashers, wild mushroom medley, and asparagus......all amazing. Sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Only complaint, the wait staff might want to slow down a bit........4.5 stars.
(4)C T.
We took a group of 7 family members to John Howie Steak for my sons 18th birthday. I had been told the prices were high, but since it was a special occasion I wanted it to be well, special. I had just purchased two Groupons for $60 each. The first issue I had was we were a group of 7 and they sat us at a large round table. It was odd and the arrangement appeared better suited for a business dinner and not birthday dinner which there were aware of. We arrived at 6pm on Sunday and the restaurant was completely empty. They also did not appear quite ready for patrons. It took 20 minutes to get our drinks ordered and then a bit of time for appetizers. The service was mediocre for a restaurant of this quality. After looking a the wine prices prior I decided to bring a magnum of Bookwalter from home. I was charged a $50 corkeage fee. I understand charging something, but $50? Really?? The waiter couldn't open the bottle so we had to wait for the Wine Steward and it took forever. The food was good. No complaints but nothing to knock your socks off other than the Wedge Salad is the best I have ever had. The portions of steak are huge. Easily can be shared by normal eaters making the prices more reasonable. While the restaurant is nice in appearance the ambiance is a bit boring. My father in law fell asleep at the table after dinner. I don't even think they had background music playing. Total damage to the Mastercard after groupons ($120 value) and a tip, $430 (on the cheap side because we didn't order many alchoholic beverages or wine). Let's put this in perspective. I could have bought my son a laptop for that kind of money and gotten some great steaks to grill from Costco. If the overall experience had been spectacular I wouldn't feel bad about spending the money, but I now regret it. I have been to Daniels Broiler many times and always have felt okay because the overall experience is much nicer. I have heard Happy Hour is well worth it. Won't be returning for the dinner experience.
(2)Sasha A.
Wow, great happy hour. They were awesome accomodating of a large group and multiple checks. I must say that all of the HH fare was rich (and delicious). We tried the fries, tempura bacon, fried gnocchi, mac and cheses, spicy shrimp and olives; everything was good.
(4)sofi t.
Went here for happy hour a couple days ago. The burger is excellent! We also got the fried gnocchi which we didn't like as much. It was kind of dry on the inside, and fairly tasteless. The server was nice enough to take it off of our tab since we ended up not eating most of it. Definitely will go back to try a few more items off their happy hour menu,
(4)Michael P.
Beautiful decor and great service. Definitely ask for Matt if you go there. The crab and chantrelle mushroom gnochhi was delicious, as were the crab cakes. My 14oz American Wagyu New York strip steak was outstanding. I ordered it medium-rare but Matt told me that they cook a full temperature below standard, so he would put it in as medium. The steak couldn't have been cooked more perfectly and the peppercorn sauce on the side was delicious! My girlfriend loved her king crab legs, but her parents were less than enthusiastic about their Australian lobster tails. The lobster meat was dry and overcooked and didn't have much flavor. I was also surprised that the lobster was served dry, with no sauce. We had to request sides of drawn butter to help improve the dish. Desert was excellent. The creme brulee, trio of Olympic Mountain ice creams and chocolate molten cake were all delicious and we certainly left with a smile on our faces. It didn't hurt that we enjoyed an outstanding bottle of Darioush Cabernet with dinner. All in all, I definitely enjoyed the meal and would recommend it for anyone looking for a fancy steak dinner.
(4)Malcolm A.
The setting and service are great here but there are issues with the food. We started with the Casaer salad. The tableside preperation was a very nice touch but sadly there was absolutely nothing unique about the salad itself. Any recipe off the internet would be a tastier version then what was served up here. As for the steaks. My wife had the 42 day dry aged tenderloin and I thought it was pretty decent but nothing I couldn't recreate on the grill at home considering there wasn't much of a crust on the exterior. I had the A5 Japanese Kobe and while it was a great steak its really not much better than the Snake River Farms version that you can buy at Met Market for about 1/6 the price. My bigger issue was how the steaks were served. They were served on an oversized plate making the steak look insignificant but more importantly the plate was not hot! A good steak restaurant serves you a sizzling steak on a hot plate! Come on this is steak restaurant 101 folks. This was pretty sad to see. If I am going to pay 125 bucks for a steak I want to be full on impressed and that was not the case here. Oh well.
(3)Marisa O.
Upon arriving at the Steakhouse Chef John Howie and staff were graciously greeting guests. We were having dinner with another couple who were already seated in the bar area. When requested to be seated for dinner, we were promptly seated. The ambiance was warm and inviting while entering the main dining area along with delightful music playing in the background. Our waiter Nathan offered to take our beverage order. I enjoyed a pomegranate martini while looking over the menu & extensive wine list. The wait staff & kitchen timed our dining experience perfectly. I had a Pinot Blanc along with the rack of lamb and a side of vegetables cooked to perfection, twitpic.com/jaxas . For dessert, I couldn't resist the banana foster, twitpic.com/jb7jm . It was the perfect way to end such a wonderful evening. We all had a relaxing, enjoyable dining experience and would highly recommend this restaurant for your next dining experience.
(5)Mad'sMom M.
On a whim, we decided to go over to John Howie's for dinner. My husband loves their lunches and we are die hard Seastar fans so thought we would give dinner a whirl. While I was absolutely impressed with the staff and help I do have to say when you are dropping a couple hundred dollars for dinner I would think you would leave feeling that the meal was an experience and absolutely incredible..for that is how we feel when we leave Seastar. We actually left the restaurant feeling nauseous spending that type of money for such mediocre food. Maybe it was our selections ?? My husband had the 4 +4 oz with American and Japanese Wagyu side by side and did love the American saying it was a terrific cut. However, there is something "pathetic" about two slabs of meat plopped on a white plate and nothing else. Its almost cheap looking ..and the waitress actually apologized for how "sad" it looked. I ordered the steak salad and was so disappointed. Yes, it is only a salad, however when you order a $30 entree salad I would think there would be some "wow" to it. Just some greens, steak and bleu cheese. The dressing was nothing spectacular and absolutely disappointed in it. Sadly enough my tastebuds are more awaken by a Cheesecake Factory salad than this. We also had a cauliflower side which was so-so and cheesecake for dessert ..again nothing spectacular and they literally put a teaspoon of I do believe blueberry sauce next to it. Regardless, we tried the restaurant. Definitely not an experience that we walked away from thinking, "that was an amazing meal" ..so very disappointed in choosing it for dinner.
(2)Laurie K.
Four of us ate here last night. The food was great! We decided the steak was better than the Capital Grille (which has recently been our favorite steakhouse). And their blue cheese salad was totally yummy! We sat in a nice booth and were able to visit and hear each other which was a nice change to alot of restaurants. The service was good - not great - but they are still new and feeling their way. The people were friendly, yet still a little too pretentious in my opinion. Our only real complaints were regarding the wines. They definitely need to get some more affordable wines on their wine list. Although most of their bottles were double the retail price (which is pretty much standard), the cheapest bottle of a decent red was still $90. The cheapest bottle of a decent chardonnay was $60. We were happy to see some wines that we own and love are so well thought of.... a Cayuse Bionic Frog that we paid $60 for was selling for $650. Give me a break! Also, unfortunately the sommelier was wearing cologne, which is a big no-no in my book. But overall, if you've got some bucks burning a hole in your pocket, go enjoy a lovely meal here.
(4)Shu T.
I ordered the crab legs, with fries. However, when I first looked at the menu online it said it was king crab. When I got to the restaurant, the menu said dungeness crab. I hardly ever eat dungeness crab. In fact, I find it the inferior crab compared to king crab. So yes, I was disappointed before I even got my food. Secondly, when I did get the food, it was so salty. And it wasn't even enough food because I was still hungry afterwards. My boyfriend got the burger and that was super salty too. It also took forever for them to get us the bill. This place was a huge disappointment for me.
(3)Mindy S.
Great dinner... expensive... but still great. I thoroughly enjoyed the service that we received at the restaraunt from being greeted to our waitress which was so pleasant to speak with I could have asked her to sit down and join us. Bill and Melinda Gates walked by at one point and that was the moment that I realized it was going to be an expensive dinner. Food was spot on though and my husband enjoyed having the combo of US & Australian Wagyu to try side by side. I opted for the Rib Eye and was very happy with my choice. Desert - Banana's Flambe... IT WAS BANANA's... As in must get.
(5)Brady H.
Excited to eat at John Howie and try out their fried bacon with maple syrup. I tried it and it wasn't all that good. Little disappointed
(3)Michael L.
Best steak and dining experience in the Seattle area, John Howie did almost everything right. I had the Australian wagyu and it was probably some of the best steak I've ever eaten. Some people probably would never want to pay that much for a piece of meat but it's worth it, you definitely get what you pay for. My sides however were on the salty side, the chef definitely could have toned it down a bit but the flavor of each dish was good. I really enjoyed the service too, our server was energetic and knowledgeable about their menu. John Howie is special
(5)Sisi Z.
Japanese Wagyu here is what you could die for! Steaks here has such a delicate texture and amazing tenderness level, fantastic marbled(I love fat so much). The skin part, or outside part? Whatever it's called. It's usually grilled hard cause it touches the fire or iron directly. But seriously it's crispy here and that was so impressive. The sides and starter is also tasting. Everyone was super satisfied. 5 stars!
(5)Joa K.
There are many things I pride myself on. My memory, clearly, is not one of them. Yesterday, I walked into a room obviously with some sort of intention of doing something but immediately forgot why I was in that room. Go brain! I was excited to write a shiny new review for John Howie Steak...only to find that "Hey, I have a review for this place already?!" Well look at me. Ahead of the game. Or behind the game?....Considering...hmm. My ADD or terrible memory aside - happy hour here really is the stuff! Ordered the Mac n' Cheese, habanero shrimp (which my browser/Yelp wants to correct to "Handbarrow shrimp...?" what the.....) , and bacon cheeseburger. The MAC N CHEESE is a foodgasm. My baepoo (best friend) and I were freakin' out a little over this mac n' cheese. Perfect. Goddamn perfect. Perfect blend of cheese/creams - perfectly cooked macaroni - awesome breadcrumbs on top. I want to sleep with it. I don't care if it makes me smelly. I love you Mac N' Cheese. This is a must-try! Habanero shrimp was pretty awesome. Great flavors! Warm flavors. I kind of want to learn how to make the broth. I feel that this is one of those things I can eat once a week! The bacon cheeseburger is HUGE. And delicious. Put it in my mouth any day. :P Ordered it medium-well to compromise with my dinner mate. I would have ordered it medium rare. But you know what? It was still moist and still so delicious. Am I drooling? I will be back soon...!
(4)Ronen E.
Open till 22:00. Arrived at 21:05 and they didn't let us sit. They sit till 21:00 Shame
(1)Amy W.
I came with my husband, midweek for dinner. Atmosphere was okay, had that hip trendy thing going on, it was after all downtown Bellevue. However, it was my dish that is dictating my rating. I ordered the ravioli. The dough was undercooked, I could still see the whiteness of the flour used. I sent it back to the kitchen, but whatever they did, did not work. It was still undercooked. Not wanting to send it back the second time, I'll make a note not to come back. It was clearly too pricey for what I experienced, undercooked food.
(1)M T.
For a number of years, John Howie has been one of my favorite places for a business lunch. I've been there more than 20 times in just the past year for lunch (I checked my opentable history and had 17 of my own reservations). In the past couple of months, this place has really felt like it's slipping. It's used to be consistently great, but alas, no longer. The staff is not nearly as attentive as they used to be. Water and iced tea glasses sit empty and when they are refilled, the bussers look harried. The bread is rarely piping hot like it once was. The wait staff is also slipping. Often they disappear, leaving us waiting and looking around. They no longer stop by to chat or take the time to explain the strengths of one new dish or another. Really, it feels like they're just going through the motions. The food has also struggled some lately. Rarely is the world-class prime-rib sandwich available. The fries don't seem to be as fresh, often kind of limp, like they've sat for a few minutes under a heat lamp. In general it seems like the kitchen has lost it's coordination. Some items come out cold, like they were not fired at the right time. Finally, it seems like they may be seeing the results of this slow decline, and hurting financially. Recently, I was surprised to see a $4 upcharge for substituting the garlic sauce for bernaise with the steak frites. Is $4 a big deal? No! However, the surprise was unfortunate. A good server would have told me there was now an upcharge for a substitution that has been free many times. I can't speak for dinner here, as I haven't come in a while. But, for lunch, this is sadly no longer a 5 star spot. It's just another decent restaurant. My coworkers don't even really want to go anymore when John Howie is the suggestion. Sad. I miss the good days.
(2)Annie Y.
Once in a while I allow myself an ultimate Americana Classic, the bacon cheeseburger. Once you've decided to go burger, and you're in the Eastside, head to the Bravern. John Howies serves up a pretty serious one during their happy hour. (3-6pm and 9-last call). I've tried most of their happy hour offerings and the burger fares the best bang for you buck. Other noteworthy items include the charcuterie plate, deviled eggs and the flatbread pizzas. The tempura Kurabota bacon is a total novelty but I always skip it for some reason.
(4)Mitch N.
Yup, damn good. I have to say the first time I walked in during the early evening, right after work, and it was packed, and full of 30 somethings trying to impress. I promptly walked out. But there for lunch, I got to try a few things, and was amazed at the quality of the beef, and the flavors. Their ground beef is amazing for whatever reason. Perhaps a good mixed of aged beef and fatty cuts? Will be back to sample more.
(5)Nicolle N.
Great steak restaurant! I have been here 3 times and the service & food has never disappointed me at all. The service is professional and they clearly know what they are doing...you do get high school students or college students serving you unlike at Applebees and Red Robin. So far I have only ordered the steak salad and the main reason is because it is the best steak salad I have ever had. The blue cheese mixed w/the tender juicy steak and dressing melts in your mouth. The Mac&Cheese is also delicious - it is not your Kraft mac& cheese. I first thought $31 for a steak salad was a little much but it is so good the price does not phase me any longer.
(5)Tim R.
Went here for an important business lunch. Service was formal and good to start with. Wedge salad was unusually good. Ordered halibut and asked the server to insure it wasn't overcooked. The server put up a bit of "parental" resistance to my request to be careful to not overcook the fish so I dropped it and not embarrass my guest. The halibut came out super dry and it was not appropriate to push the issue with my guest there. Won't be back.
(2)Tay D.
I don't know where to begin... 5 stars across the board! I grew up with Mr. Howie's oldest son. So there for I got to experience 1,000 stars HOME COOKED MEAL from the master chef himself. I grew up with his family while he was with Palisade, then Seastar, the Sports Bar, and now John Howie Steak. So let me break down my experience, thoughts and opinions. SERVICE: The staff here especially our waitress (Cassie) treated my party with phenomenal service, better than any 5 star restaurant I've been too. Cassie was very tentative and catered to my questions and requests. Recommended what she liked but carefully listened to what I was craving and the end result, she nailed it with what we order. Always checking up on us every 4-5 mins to make sure we were enjoying our dining experience, and that was at every table top she was in charge of. And trust me, she didn't stop one beat to take a breather to herself. FOOD: The burgers came out with great care and flavors. She was dead on with the descriptions of our entrees we ordered. Although it didn't seem like much but the gravy fries was exactly how she described it as. The burger patties were amazing. The chefs in the kitchen prepared it how she describe it and presentation looked too dang nice to even take a bite into it. Cassie convinced us to get the spicy habanero shrimp to taste the multiple flavors that chef Howie created. It melted in my mouth, LITERALLY- NO JOKE. It wasn't over powering with spice, but it had the right amount of spiciness to balance out the other flavors. Then the Ox tail Gravy Fries, where do I began? Layers of ingredients to compliment the texture of each food source. Poultry, dairy, and the crispy fries. I felt like each layers was representing different cultures of food around the world. It was that good. Ambience: The noise level wasn't too loud, lighting was adjusted appropriately to the outside sunlight to dusk. The furniture inside was dang comfortable, didn't feel like they cared much on the table top count for the day. Very comfortable to enjoy your meal. FINAL THOUGHTS: Love this place, from the bar, to the lounge, food, service, and last but not least the overall experience. Thank you to Chef Howie for laying down the foundation of what fine dinning should be like. The management staff for the training and hiring the best of the best to represent a great brand, brand John Howie.
(5)Anthony B.
John Howie excels at steak, burgers, bread, drinks, service, atmosphere, and desserts. Their side dishes fall far short which is why they only get a 4 star review. The best thing I've had here is the 60/40 Juicy Lucy Burger. It is simply phenomenal. Perfect bun, a perfectly charred, yet medium, patty stuffed with a savory cheese blend. Complimented perfectly by tomato and lettuce, with a little aioli for the hell of it. Preceded by the best bread basket I've ever had the pleasure to sample (eat all of those little dome shaped potato buns). this is quite a lunch time treat. I've also had the 42 Day Aged Ribeye, but I have to say I prefer the 28 Day Aged Ribeye simply because it is more of a steak than the 42 Day variety. Still I am very glad I got to try such an exquisitely aged cut. The sides from the Potato Cakes with Caviar to the Chanterelle Mushrooms and their Potato Salad aren't really even good enough to share a table with their entrees. I really love the old school power lunch at a steakhouse feel they have cultivated here. Strong fabrics, staff in clean pressed butcher coats. I saw a server obsessing over the place settings and glasses for a 4 top at lunch. They just are really passionate and care about your experience and convey that to you without making you uncomfortable or feel stuffy.
(4)Jane C.
More like a 4.5, but I still LOVE this place! I have been here for dinner twice and happy hour once. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I have had the USDA Prime, the Australian Wagyu, the A5 Japanese Wagyu, the foie gras..all were extremely YUMMOLICIOUS! My personal favourite is the Australian Zabuton (sp?). It has the right amount of marbling and melts in your mouth with still that beefy taste. I know the Japanese A5 is the best, but I felt that it was too fatty if there is such thing to a steak enthusiast! Just my personal opinion! Staff are very knowledgeable about the meats. Ask them about sides, but I highly recommend the lobster mash! Depending on bartender, cocktails can be a hit or miss. Most of their drinks are stronger than I expect, but I guess that makes it worth the price! If you do not want to shell out too much $$$ go for their happy hour and eat the burger...this place will not leave you hungry, but it will always leave you wanting more! Go Meat!
(5)Jessica W.
My first visit was amazing, as I had reviewed a while back .. but my last few times have been rather disappointing. This is always the spot we go for any celebration and the last few times that we've dined here, nothing was mentioned even though it had been in my reservation notes. This was very different from our first server who insisted we order a complimentary dessert since Mr. Howie wouldn't like him not taking care of us .. it was cute. The Japanese and Australian wagyu were both amazing here, but when we ordered the porterhouse .. it was terrible. Even the guy that cut the steak realized it wasn't cooked to our temperature when he cut it and kept saying to let him know and they would just put it back on the grill. After the steak was already cut we didn't want to send it back since it would just become dry and probably overcooked. The guy cutting the steak cut it rather poorly since the meat was so rare. I didn't really have any and the bf ate some and we boxed the rest & departed. I guess it just really depends on your server and only come for the wagyu meat b/c the porterhouse cut was not yummy at all.
(3)I F.
We went here for my hubby's birthday. I ordered the top sirloin steak and my husband got the ribeye steak. My top sirloin was good, but I can say that I have had better tasting steak from other places. The only thing I didn't like about john Howie steakhouse is that the sides weren't included with the steak. I have been to many steakhouses and this was the first one where the sides were extra price you had to pay. It's definitely a special occasion type of restaurant. I wouldn't go there just because I am craving steak. They did a wonderful gesture for my husbands birthday and took off the dessert amount off our check. The creme brûlée was AMAZING!
(4)Mary G.
The food was heavenly! The steak just melts in your mouth, just to die for.. Mac & cheese was divine.. The service was superb, very impressed.. The ambiance was great... Overall a wonderful experience... Favorite restaurant in Bellvue by far!!
(5)Mariko L.
Meh. Gotta be honest, I find John Howie overrated and underwhelming. I came here more when I was frequenting David Barton's (don't you judge my after gym habits) and I gotta say this is not my fave steakhouse of the "Bellevue Bigs." I have been here for both regular meals and happy hours. Here's the breakdown: I like: -The "wine" soda -A couple of the salads -Steaks on dinner menu are good -Friendly servers -Convenient location I don't like: The mysteriously stringy foie gras that was paired with honey and grapes to make a medley of flavors and textures that did not complement each other. At all. The Steak frites. I get it, you use a cheaper cut for the happy hour steak. But when I get a second arm workout trying to saw my way through my dinner, we've got a problem. Competition in the steak restaurant industry is fierce, and some of the places I've been to are impeccable for both food and service. And for the price, I'm surprised to have had some unpalatable dishes here. People seem to love this place so I'm sure I'll be back with friends at some point but I will be sticking to my wine soda and salads and trying to forget how badly one can mess up foie gras. Or worse, a steak at a steak restaurant.
(2)Terry D.
Absolutely amazing dinner with great friends. I had the 35-day aged New York Oscar, creamy spinach with bacon and egg, and tableside Cesar with grilled lobster tail. Amavi cellars Cabernet was terrific and they delivered warm chocolate truffles with the check. Topped off with a rich double-shot and the night was complete.
(5)Lee L.
Outstanding steakhouse. It's a handsome yet modern ambience. The menu has excellent steak options and is served beautifully. Specifics below: - Bring out a little taste at the beginning, and at the end they give you a cinnamon/dark chocolate truffle in a box with pistachio coating, divine - Best macaroni and cheese I've had, delicious, lobster added - The filet Oscar rivals the very best I've tasted elsewhere - Dessert cake is super rich and predictable; more enjoyable to go for the lighter creme brûlée
(5)Ashley H.
Took 50 minutes to get our meal. Had to ask repeatedly to have our bread and butter refilled because we were starving. Then I received my filet mignon and it tasted as though someone has spilled an entire box of salt on it. I asked our waiter If he has any recommendations and all he said was "all we use is garlic salt so.. I don't see how it could taste salty" then the mushroom sides tasted just as salty!!! The mashed potatoes weren't horrible but we're nothing I would ever order again due to lack of taste. At least they didn't assault my mouth like the rest of the meal did. The coffee was awful and the ice cream was alright but tasted the same as any ice cream that you could pull out of the freezer aisle at the grocery store... Only immensely more expensive. Then when we leave we are informed that they do not validated parking. I called ahead to make sure that parking was validated and then asked again when we checked in just to make sure. Honestly I would have had a much better birthday experience at chuck-e-cheese. Next time I will most certainly be headed to Ruth Chris. No thanks John Howie!!
(1)Hannah K.
Great food, HORRIBLE service. First of all, I'm convinced this place is a little racist. The back corner had 5 tables. Every table in that corner had mainland asians sitting at it. There were no other asians at other tables in the restaurant. The maître d was by far the highlight of the night. His whole demeanor was negative and ruined the whole night for me. He was very rude, terse, and pushy. He kept emphasizing that the filet and salmon didn't come with any sides and kept trying to push us to order more when we didn't want more because we had a late lunch. I almost stopped him and yelled "I know how to read a menu" but refrained and decided to be the better person. When we told him that we would be sharing a bowl of chowder he kept asking how we were going to share that and I felt pressured to order two. I don't know if he thought we couldn't afford the place or decided to treat us horribly because we weren't ordering that much but either way, it wasn't appropriate. After we were served, nobody else came by our table and asked how the food was. The bus boy eventually came by the table and asked if we would like the dessert menu but by then we were ready to get out so we just paid the check and left. Horrible experience. I was actually looking forward to our dinner here because my boyfriend comes here for lunch all of the time and he only had good things to say but after this experience neither of us will be patrons of John Howie again.
(1)Charlee S.
I love this place a lot! This is my 3rd time coming here, and never failed on their dishes and services. Got to say, John Howie is much better than Daniel's Broiler. Their service is magnificent, super friendly staff, and great view to enjoy.
(5)Amy L.
Stopped by for happy hour since we were in Bellevue area. Parking is a breeze at the braven ( make sure you take ur ticket with you for validation). We were seated immediately which was nice and received water promptly. Prime tenderloin bites: savory and delicious was my first bite. I enjoyed this dish and would recommend it though a few pieces were a bit too rare for my taste. Mac n cheese: delicious. Made perfectly this was roger's favorite. Prime beef bacon cheeseburger: huge serving the meat was really red even though we ordered medium rare. Overall a nice dining experience our total bill was about 36$ for 2. Update: I got sick less than an hour after our meal. And my boyfriend was sick the next morning. Dropping my rating to 2 stars.
(2)Kate M.
Situated inside a shopping mall, this is the Olive Garden for the upper class. Huge portions, huge menu, huge tables. The steak was tasty, but pricey. My three dinnermates and I agreed that we have had comparable steaks elsewhere. The service was friendly, but very commercial. They offer a three-step steak "program" instead of just having steaks on the menu. Are we dining or attending a self-help seminar?
(3)Ryan C.
Absolutely first class, 5 star experience start to finish. We brought the whole family (10 people), they gave us a private room, which was perfect for us. Between all of us we pretty much tried everything. Two of us split the combination of 4 filets, which was an incredible experience. The 4 filets are USDA Prime, American Wagyu, Australian Wagyu and Japanese Grade A5 Wagyu. The Japanese Wagyu was the best steak I've ever had, hands down. Far exceeded even the best steak I've had at my favorite restaurant in South Florida, Prime 112. As far as sides go, the Lobster Mash Potatoes, 5 Cheese Twice Baked Potato and Roasted Corn are absolute MUST HAVE's. All of them were large enough for sharing and delicious. I almost feel guilty for not already mentioning the service. Best service I've ever had at a steak house. Not stuffy or snobby, just amazing, timely service. Every single member of the staff we came in contact with was beyond nice and helpful. Highly recommend this place.
(5)Christopher S.
I have a difficult time warming up to high end restaurants in an office building. They just seem to lose the atmosphere aspect in the complete package equation. The service was outstanding the steak average, the price high. Now I expected the high price but I wanted a more impressive Price/value for a high end steak house. Very strange crowd ranging from suits to guys in shorts in the middle of winter. I don't get it.
(3)Sindy H.
Lots of explanation to the menu and interaction to our conversation. But that's how good their customer service is! Great food! Formal environment if you want to chill out thus isn't a recommendation:)
(4)Michael P.
My absolute favorite burger in King County. For me, it's a destination-worthy hunk of meat. A truly incredible selection of spirits, no matter your poison (SO MUCH WHISKEY). Skilled bartenders, darker atmosphere but still pretty loud. If this place had a piano, it could be another Daniel's. If you're on an expense account, come here and have a truly killer steak dinner.
(5)Mark Y.
Visited JH again last weekend.. here are some thoughts. 1. the cocktails are amazing.. again kinda goes to the 'go at happy hour' msg.. every drink is made well.. delish. wouldn't mind coming here just to drink and mingle. 2. the food is overall salty.. i know it's suppose to enhance taste, but half of my stomach is stuffed with water that i have to drink to offset the salt :) 3. Steak - ribcap again - is delish as usual. but again a bit salty. 4. Steakhouse prices just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I can source top quality cuts of meat at 1/4 the price.. i can grill it at home to perfection, salt it just right, pop any wine from my cellar, and have 4 people eat for the cost of one person at a steak house.. Still think JH is one of the better steakhouses in the city, but for me, Steakhouses in general are going to the 2-3 star range b/c it's just an atrociously experience meal for what you get (i.e. not michelin star type meals). If i gotta pay 150+ a person, sign me up for l'atelier robuchon or something.
(3)Consumer P.
So yummy and the service is so great everytime! Love my visits!
(5)Nhung T.
My friend and I had the escargot for the appetizer which was quite tasty. But the cheese blanketing the escargot was thick and had to be cut through, and then kind of pushed aside..the escargot was drowned in cheese fat and butter...Would like to try the bacon or ahi next time for appetizer. I had the Australian Wagyu new york and it was AMAZING. I mean, once you eat this steak it's hard to eat at any other place. It's fatty and offers only enough resistance to allow you to really savor the meat you're eating. My friend had the sirloin cooked the same way (med rare) but had lots more blood on his plate to show for it which makes sense since it's a thicker cut. Creme Brulee is a must! Sugar coat on top wasn't as dense as other places which I LOVE. :) The bread appetizer was okay... I didn't really like it. I kind of like my dough-y bready simple ones from Cheesecake Factory or Mortons better. Shared the twice baked/cooked potato thing. It was okay too. The one at The Keg was better. We stayed to chat for about 2 hours and didn't feel pressure to leave. That was nice. The ambiance is very romantic and everyone is so professional and proper there. You feel all fancy and shit..They even give you a black napkin if you're sporting a black dress! Awesome! The other time I went I did the more expensive option of the two of the shared tableside thing. The veggies that came with that was absolutely delicious. The steak didnt satiate my meat/steak craving though...Presentation was awesome. But I'd like to focus less on presentation and more on my date next time. You can always watch the more cool parts of other people's presentations anyways with no real commitment to the whole show. Chocolate cake has no ice cream to balance out the extremely rich dense chocolately goodness which then becomes overwhelming and comatose inducing. Dammit yelp, I'm hungry again.
(4)Henry P.
So, today was the first day I've eaten at John Howie Steak. I've been to the sister/brother Surf and Turf Restaurant SeaStar and expected a lot. Needless to say, the happy hour hamburger was a pretty good deal for $10. The meat was cooked mediium well and was spot on. The fries were pretty good in that they weren't cooked like traditional fries, but dehydrated, which I think went well with the burger. The ambiance of the bar was cool and hip for Bellevue. My companion had the lamb sliders and she told me it was delicious. The decor is more modern 90s with wood paneled walls and marble bar. Overall, I liked the place, but not enough to give it five stars, given the price. Price to value ratio here was good, but not great. Why? While the burger was good, you could get the same exact one at Five Guys Burger and Fries in Redmond.
(4)Garee B.
Went to dinner with a friend that had a $100.00 gift certificate to redeem. The Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp were delicious appetizers for certain! We had the American Wagyu Filet and the American Wagyu NY with the fried brussel sprouts and creamed spinach. We both agreed within the 1st bite that we had better steaks with better flavor/seasonings at Aqua, Daniel's and El Gaucho. Perhaps someone forgot something in the kitchen during preparation or an off night? Who knows? Service was excellent. There was just nothing that really shined food-wise in our main course selections.
(2)Alanna M.
We started out with a couple glasses of prosecco and shared a bottle of red wine. The assortment of bread was delicious, especially the crackers and bread sticks. Prior to dinner we received a couple of "spoonful" of shrimp with a cilantro pure which was refreshing. Table side Caesar salad has got to be one of the best Caesars I've experienced. Nice show and delicious flavor. For dinner we shared a huge table-side porterhouse, side of grilled vegetables and side of mushrooms. For dessert we had bourbon bread pudding, 30 year old Tawny and cappuccino. Service was impeccable and expected for this type of restaurant. The one complaint I have which is not due to the restaurant though... I noticed a lot of kids dining at this fine establishment! I don't think I'll be returning again soon for this reason. Granted most of the kids were well behaved I don't want to go to a fine steakhouse establishment and pay a significant amount for good food and be surrounded by children. It pretty much ruins the whole dining experience. I don't know if the restaurant can do anything about it unfortunately. I think all the table side cooking is an attraction.
(3)Marc R.
Hands down best steak house around. Staff and service are phenomenal. Steaks are out of this world!
(5)Yolanda C.
The service and food here are great. I especially love how they take such great care of my kids who love to dine here as well, treating them as they would an adult (if not better). Aside from dinner, Their happy hour is fantastic too with a very affordable and tasty menu. One of everything please! Because it's all good!
(5)Celine D.
Great steak, not-so-great service. We were a bunch of college kids who went in on a Thursday night for a simple dinner. I'm sorry if we don't look like we could afford this meal, but seriously, don't treat us like crap! It took so long for our server to acknowledge us, and even longer for him to take our orders. For a $100 dinner, I would expect more from John Howie. And please, change up that tiny shot glass of lobster bisque. It's been there for 3 years. Change it up! On a total side note though, if you notice the couples who go in, you'll be able to notice some older men and their high-end escorts. It's fun to people watch.
(3)Sue J.
I wasn't disappointed, not for one second. Devoured my foie gras accompanied by the creamed spinach with bacon and fried egg atop. Nothing short of heaven!
(5)Jacquelyn O.
We came here for dinner our second night while visiting Seattle. Bellevue is beautiful I love it! Dinner at John Howie was exceptional. We started w the oysters and ahi tartare. Both we amaaaazing!! We then had the table side house made caesar salad. The dressing is to die for. I wish I could made that dressing everday at home. My boyfriend and I split the Australian zabouton waygu steak. We eat waygu steak quite often and we know how rich it is so we always split one. It was cooked to perfection!! We had a few cocktails which were really tasty. Service was amazing throughout the entire night. I wish we had this at home in Hawaii!!! They ship their waygu, sooooo we had them ship some home to us :)
(5)Wei L.
5 stars for being beside Salvatore, Neiman, and all other luxurious stores therefore, it tells me that people within the vicinity are decent. Their food are all outstanding, tasty and crazily delicious where you'd jump all over for the great tasting dish. I am really happy that I found a restaurant that serves great dish. Their happy hour is awesome too!!
(5)James B.
My friend and I wanted to come here because we heard that they had Tempura Fried Bacon here. We made the journey from West Seattle to all the way here. Now some of you may think that's ridiculous to drive that far for bacon, and after my experience here, you are definitely correct. The Tempura Kurobuta Bacon itself was good quality, but the way they fried it was not right. The pieces were cooked inconsistently. The texture ranged from extremely crispy (like chips) to very soft. On one piece of bacon, the top was hard while the bottom was soft. It was really weird. This inconsistency shows me they don't know how to fry the bacon correctly or just didn't give much attention to it.
(1)Ronnie K.
This is an awesome steakhouse! My wife really likes this place and it is probably my favorite restaurant in Bellevue. I like their tableside salads and the Australian A5 Wagyu ribeye cap steak. The place has great food and a pretty extensive wine list. This place is not cheap, but I feel that you get a really good deal for the food.
(5)Ernesto L.
I really wanted to try the 60/40 Prime Juicy Lucy burger but they didn't serve it at the time I was there. Just for that I'll have to go back! I had the 6oz wagyu steak, a cesar salad and the burbon poach cherry bread pudding plus a double espresso. My partner in crime had the salmon with fries. Everything was delicious and the service outstanding. I mean, they have 3 types of salt, a box with fancy knives to choose for (only if you order wagyu) and all in all it's a great place. So you might be asking yourself, why 4 stars then? I have a rule of thumb that the ratio price/quality/satisfaction needs to make sense. And at $160 for a 6 oz steak I was expecting that would blow my shoes off and that didn't happened. But still an awesome place! Cheers
(4)Naomi B.
I've lived in the PNW for about 15 years and this was my first visit to a John Howie restaurant. I've never heard any buzz about this chain but had the opportunity to visit and wasn't disappointed but would need to try additional dishes to give a more thorough review of their food. Pros: Tempura fried bacon appetizer. Who knew frying bacon a second time would increase the flavor? I highly recommend trying this appetizer at least once. Burger was tasty, not overcooked, well seasoned and topped with beecher's cheese and more bacon. Staff were extremely polite and attentive but the atmosphere was a bit odd. Cons/Suggestions: The entire staff and the décor made it feel like this was a 4 star restaurant but because its located in an office/shopping building all the patrons were very casual which created an odd vibe in the dining room. I'm pretty sure 2 MS employees were have their 1:1 next to us during lunch so I'd recommend visiting at night.
(3)Debbie P.
It was our first time there last night. I had bookmarked it to try for happy hour, I guess that will have to wait. So, first impressions: definitely upscale. I like the booths that lined the hallway leading to the main dining room (where we dined, but I wished we had a booth). As we were seated, our water was poured, the servers placed a napkin between us and the glass so no splashes would occur (I've never witnessed that before). Our waiter, Mark, was super professional answered all our questions and made great suggestions as we made our way through the menu. Our meal: Wilted Spinach Salad: It's huge, and made tableside. It started with my Vitamin B (bacon), I stole that from the person making the salad. Then mushrooms, red onions, the vinaigrette, and almonds. That mixture was then tossed with the spinach in a bowl. He plated the spinach while the quail eggs were frying up and added last. It was completely delectable! The yolk running onto the salad as it broke gave it a creamy texture! 42-day aged rib eye, garlic mashed potatoes, and chanterelles with shaved brussels sprouts: Let's be real, the rib-eye was the true star. I'm a purist, so I didn't want any sauces competing with the flavor of the beef. They provided 3 different salts to add to the beef. And the beef had a perfect crust on it, it was marbled beautifully, it was beefy, nutty, and oh so damn good! Seriously, one the best pieces of meat I have ever had. Dessert: Sadly we had none. We were too stuffed! John Howie lived up to its reputation for being a great steakhouse. We will definitely be back, probably for happy hour, since fellow yelpers rave about it. And we are looking forward to it.
(4)Vernelle O.
We came for Happy Hour at around 5:30pm on Wednesday... We sat at the bar and both the food and service were awesome! Habanero Shrimp, Tempura Bacon, and Tenderloin Bites... Yum!
(5)Amanda N.
Love their happy hour menu. I still think they have one of the best hh burgers for the price
(5)bonnie c.
John Howie Steak Restaurant is clean and comfortable with a simple and stylish classic steakhouse feel. The wait staff is eager to please. The ambiance errs on the side of too dimly lit, in a capacity that makes it challenging to read the menu. The steak flavorful, yet too chewy, and the coffee was cold. As we looked at the menu over drinks, we enjoyed a basket of rolls, bread sticks, and some kind of flat cracker with an odd insoluble texture and lackluster flavor that made me wonder if it might be gluten free. The small multigrain roll I ate was fragrant and warm with a perfect flaky texture, but moments after taking a bite I realized it was pre-split and pre-buttered with garlic butter; normally I don't butter my bread, but as I said earlier, the table was dark. We began our meal with Cesar salad. A server entertainingly assembled the salad from scratch at our table side. The dressing that resulted lacked heft, and while I adore the heat of fresh garlic, in this case it overpowered the salad to a distracting degree. The meat presentation was austere and elegant. I am no steak connoisseur, but greatly enjoyed the flavor of the 42 Day Custom-aged Rib Eye Steak at this restaurant; texture was problematic. Too many bites of my $60+-per-plate meat simply wouldn't break down to pleasantly swallowable bits, no matter how many times I chewed them. The first time this happened, I swallowed the sinewy lump, just to be polite. Three additional times I discreetly sneaked globs of well-chewed beef gristle onto my plate, before cutting the remainder of my steak in half and giving it to fellow diners at my table. Side dishes we chose to accompany the meat were creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The spinach was flavorful with an old-school rich body made up of heavy cream, just a touch of bacon, and a mysterious hint of nutmeg, yet the taste of the spinach still shone through. The mashed potatoes were borderline runny, and unremarkable. After the entrée, we ordered coffee with dessert: cheesecake. The coffee was straight up tepid (apparently there was something wrong with their hot water source) and the cheesecake was too soft and bland with a no-bake vibe. After notifying the servers about the cold coffee, they promptly brought new coffee that was indeed hot and flavorful, however, the cold coffee interrupted desert to a degree the cheesecake was half eaten by the time of resolution . Having been a server decades ago in my younger years, it occurred to me eateries I'd worked at in the past would have (in that same situation of a food interruption that was clearly their fault) comped the coffee after a simple blunder that negated the flow of a fairly expensive meal. Such was not the case. At the conclusion of our visit, servers presented us with individually boxed truffles. The one I ate had a lovely smooth dark chocolate texture with notes of chili pepper. A lovely end to utterly perfect service at John Howie Restaurant. When all was said and done, the peaceful comfortable surroundings, good service, and delicious spinach were the shining stars in this meal. The steak? Good flavor, but too chewy.
(2)Kelli D.
When I go to a steakhouse that charges and promises what JH does, I expect the person cooking my steak to know the difference btwn rare and medium, on the first attempt... I requested the latter. When I order french fries at this kind of joint I expect them to be piping hot and fresh out of the fat. Not warm and flimsy. When I order blue cheese sauce with my steak, I don't expect salty blue cheese dressing. When the server comes and asks if everything is wonderful and I shrug my shoulders, I expect her to pause for explanation, not leave skid marks to get away. Our two appetizers were good. That said, my expectations were too high. Luckily, we had a gift certificate and will not return unless some misguided kindness offers another. I will remind my friends that while the cache' is slightly less, Ruth's Chris still offers the best steak in Bellevue.
(2)Amy B.
My husband and I had gone out to another restaurant for our anniversary and were very disappointed. In an effort to redeem the night, we headed to JH for dessert & coffee. Our waiter Dylan was amazingly attentive and kind. We sat and enjoyed amazing coffee, cappuccino & the best desserts ever (get the Bourbon Bacon Pecan Pie!!) and Dylan even lit anniversary candles for us to blow out. The night was more than redeemed. We should have started there in the first place! We'll be back.
(5)Michael G.
Came here for lunch after driving by about 100 times, glad I finally had an excuse to take the plunge (friend's recommendation). Had the cheesesteak, it was delicious. The potato salad wasn't really my taste, I like alot of mustard and a mashed constiency. The service is impeccable and on par for what I'd expect for a top notch steakhouse. I will definitely be coming back for a steak. Great quality!
(4)Stephanie E.
I've had John Howie hamburgers and other happy hour offerings several times. My husband and I decided to go for full dinner the other night because we were taking another couple out for dinner. While the service and side dishes are exceptional, the steak is bland. The bread they bring at the beginning was tasty, and our appetizers were great too. I highly recommend you try the lobster mashed potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts, and the mac and cheese. The steak, however, is mediocre. We tried rib-eye and filet mignon, both were tender but bland. They were served with 3 different types of salt, but it seemed that they didn't season the steak with salt and flavor to bring out and complement the flavor of the meet. The brazilian steakhouses, Skycity, Churchill's, Delmonico's (even Outback) all serve a better steak than this place. If I had never eaten the steak, my review would be 5 stars. But since it is a STEAKHOUSE you expect that an $80+ cut of meat be impressive.
(3)Daniel L.
*** THIS REVIEW IS FOR THEIR HAPPY HOUR *** Excellent. Just Excellent. Chicken Liver Mousse- BEST MOUSSE EVER. While this was an appetizer, this dish could easily have been a dessert. Sweet, savory, creamy- basically everything you want in a dish. Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger-AMAZING BURGER AND FOR $10 WHAT A STEAL. The quality of the meat is top-notch. A part of you will cry because you know they ground up high quality beef to make the patties, but the rest of you won't care because the burger is just that d*mn good. Beef carpaccio. Great stuff. So thin, so fresh, and just so tasty. The meat was great quality, but I probably wouldn't get this again because the dish was a bit bland for my taste. Service was great as the server was very attentive, even though our group was getting a bit riled up on drinks.
(5)Jon L.
Great atmosphere, bread basket is as advertised, steak was AMAZING! I knew it was going to be good, but it was better than I had anticipated! If you're in Bellevue, you have to stop by John Howie.
(5)Andrew H.
It was a great happy hour. I only wish there had been some kind of salad on offer since everything we ordered was either red meat or fried. The macaroni and cheese was great, the steak sliders were great, and wine was only $4/glass. I would also ask of for the asparagus in the tempura crab and asparagus to be served grilled instead of fried since they were really greasy. The prices were low and everything was high quality.
(4)M B.
Well, the wife and I went back to this restaurant after not being happy with things the first time, we wanted to give them a second chance... so this is an updated review. Again.....the ambience was great, wait staff knowledgeable and friendly, but that is really where it stopped for us. A lesson from the first time around, order your steaks with less seasoning if you don't want it to taste overly salty, we did this and the steaks were brought out as ordered and were very good. Now onto the not so good... We ordered the mac and cheese and asparagus on this side. The mac and cheese had a great flavor, would have been amazing if it were HOT! Asparagus, the SAME WAY, NOT HOT! The server was very apologetic and offered to replace them but we weren't really interested at that point. Ordered the table-side Caesar, we talked with the person making it about how we really loved anchovies in the salad, we ate the salad and noticed not a single anchovy to be found... So, disappointed yet again.... We aren't food snobs, but I know what a good meal is, and at best this meal was decent. For the money we spent it should be phenomenal, how do you spend $200 for a meal and not get your food hot? It's inexcusable and there are better places to eat if you are going to drop that kind of money. Sorry John, we REALLY wanted this to be great the second time through and it was just average. I will say going for lunch or happy hour, the burgers are excellent, but I won't be ordering a steak or a full dinner again...
(2)Chrystal C.
Awesome happy hour, especially the burger. The bar is too small, though. Fantastic lunches, too. The steak salad is my fav. The big drawback for me is the atmosphere - it's just a little too stuffy for me. The dining room doesn't feel very comfortable to me. Because of this single aspect, I choose El Gaucho or Ruth's Chris over John Howie every time now.
(3)Giang H.
I attended John Howie Steakhouse for a late lunch on a Friday and was pleased with the overall experience. I'd come back again. Thumbs Up: - Great decor and ambiance - I'd be happy to take clients there for business lunches and dinners -My appetizers did not disappoint and I was pleased with the diverse selection. My date and I ordered the crispy duck prosciutto salad and bowl of chowder. I'd come back for the tasty salad. Thumbs Down (why this is a 4, not a 5) - I ordered the steak frites lunch entree. Though tasty, I can't say the steak frites blew my mind. Frites were nice and crispy, slightly over salted. Hangar steak was cooked well, but was timid in flavor. - Though the dining room was half full, it felt like the service was a bit slow and we did not get our entrees until about a hour in. I don't mind leisurely lunches, but I spent over 2 hours eating lunch.
(4)Griffin G.
My boyfriend and I are not a fan! I do not eat steak, but went with my boyfriend who loves his steak. He was really excited to check out John Howie Steak. We didn't have to wait very long to be seated which was nice. They brought out a variety of bread and I really liked the pretzel bread and that was it. The food was way to pricey and only mediocre. The only side dishes available with vegetables was corn as well as asparagus. I couldn't even get a baked potato as it was cooked in bacon fat.. Our server was great and very accommodating. Jacks, Daniel's Broiler, and Ruth Christ, and The Keg are much better options for variety and price.
(2)William Amanda V.
No one is Washington State can compare to John Howie's Steak House! I have travelled around the world, tasted the finest steaks and no one can compare to the best of the best! I fell in love with the food at John Howie's. The appetizer of deviled truffled eggs are to die for! I suggest ordering two, eating one on locale and taking one order home to secretly eat when no one is looking. Even then, you will experience intermittent "Crave Hauntings" in your dreams at inopportune times (when they are not open or the first breath of air you take in the morning) to order a batch. Once while waiting in the dining room, we were given a salmon chowder sampler that perked every dead cell in my brain to want more . Caution: delicious, creative, friendly (not too fake staff), excellence and food addiction awaits. The bar menu is fun, playful and an excellent way for all you who think "The Red Lobster" is Seattle's best fine dining. The burger is the best you'll ever have A+++ and great after a movie on a Friday night on the after hours menu, sorry red birdie, truly the best melt in your mouth burger.
(5)Sarah S.
I finally made it to the east side to check out the Happy Hour. Everything we ordered was decadent and fantastic: * Crispy Ricotta Gnocci w/ Truffle Aioli (my favorite) * Tempura fried bacon (eating two pieces put me over the top) * Tenderloin bites * Steak sliders * Fries (huge order) * Drink special: cosmos w/ jalapeno syrup (we had to have two each) It's not a cheap happy hour, the bill was $60 before tip for the two of us but we ended up taking a lot of the food home. It was well worth it. The service is excellent. I'll definitely be back.
(5)J J.
I've had dinner there and happy hour there. Both are fantastic. Food was spot on and their servers are so attentive. Happy hour menu is one of the best I've seen. Their burgers & fries are awesome.
(5)Keegan F.
Best steak in Bellevue. And maybe some day, perhaps even Seattle. It feels more Vegas-like than traditional steakhouse. From the bread to dessert, Chef Howie nailed it on this one. The Australian Wagyu - pass. The American Wagyu - better. The Japanese Wagyu - too pricey to find out. I've enjoyed the standard steaks off the 'regular' menu than any of the others I've tried. And the not so secret Happy Hour is a fantastic value. Tempura bacon is insulting to cardiologists everywhere, but Babe is it good. And the Bananas Foster is top-notch!
(4)Dan P.
I had their late night happy hour. The cheeseburger was good as everyone said but I think they charge a little bit to split it. At least for us, all they did was cut it in half with a knife. I thought that by adding a charge, they would at least present it on different plates or something. I had a nice glass of wine and the service was good. I especially like that they are open fairly late on a weeknight so it's nice to pop in there at 9pm for a late night drink for a few hours.
(4)Melody P.
Good late night Happy Hour! After having fun time with friend doing karaoke, we decided to come here for late night HH. I ordered their burger. The burger portion was BIG. I loved that the burger pattie was juice and properly cooked. My friend and I shared Calamari together. I feel it was a bit salty. But, they dipping sauce was good. The service was good. They were able to accomendate a group of 8 plus.
(4)Subie G.
Okay so... Happy Hour. Do eet. Absolutely! Best value, friendly staff, decent food! Deviled Eggs - yes. If you like eggs then OMG. Creamy, lovely, yummy goodness. I want the recipe and I hate that my deviled eggs don't taste anything like this! Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp - an absolute delight. I could order these over and over again. Great loads of flavor. and the ever popular.... Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon - if you don't get this - something is WRONG with your life. Never would have thought double dipping bacon was a good idea but uh!!!! I will bite the hand on anyone who comes near my plate. This is good stuff. Yes. To die for. Damn flavor punch in the mouth! Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger - now this was just "okay" - after reading the reviews we HAD TO try this bad boy. but it was just a bit too greasy. soggy buns. nobody likes soggy buns. couldn't even finish it sadly... and that's why the 4 star. Staff. Awesome. Beverages - hey!? it's Happy Hour and the price is right! All in all... go. Check out one of the best happy hour scenes on the East Side. Give me a shout when you do and I may just meet you there!
(4)Mammlet M.
Worst steak I have ever been served in a restaurant, maybe ever. Had to send it back it was cold, blue, and just wrong in all regards. Avoid at all costs. If you must dine ther, the tempura bacon and a nice glass of wine.
(1)James R.
I live here in the building and I just came in with my cousin after an hour in the gym. I was waiting in line to sit down for happy hour as they are full and the manager whom I've met in the past approached to ask how we are doing. I said great I'm starving and need to get a burger, the guy looks at me and says sure but your "tweeking out" right now so I can't serve you alcohol, because your pupils look dilated.... Are you freaking kidding me? The guy says this to me in the dark back hallway as I'm standing in line. Not that I intended to order alcohol I come to this place all the time probably twice a week and eat the burgers, I bring my clients friends and family in there, show some respect or I'll be glad to take my business elsewhere. I own bellevue fitness, Eastside Bellevue Land and Green Life Organics and I would never tolerate that type of customer service from any if my employees. I'm super offended and disappointed with the sub par customer service I have been receiving from this place lately even as a regular, absolutely ridiculous.
(1)Whitney B.
I have never once walked out of John Howie and thought to myself that I just had a really good meal. When there is so much pretense clouding my dining experience, I tend to get distracted and it detracts from the pleasure of enjoying my food (if even). I am certain it was Hitler who made it tradition for women to wear skin-tight dresses and men wear body-strangling suits over a slab of steak. For John Howie, I'm on the fence and I'm not sure how I feel about it. You can dress down or dress up as I've seen both ends of the spectrum around dinner time. I prefer to stray away from the emotionally bankrupt, chewed up housewife look. I've been in here for regular lunch hours and dinner, specifically during Valentine's Day. Both times I felt underwhelmed by the food and overwhelmed by the service. In regard to upscale dining, I can see through the bullshit from here to Christmas. There's nothing genuine about the service at John Howie, it makes me yawn. One of the times, I had the 36oz Bone-In Rib Eye Steak tableside dinner for two. An old waiter will bring it to your table, carve it for you, and also divvy up the roasted vegetables among the two of you, whatever. The rib-eye steak was not as warm as I would like it to be. It was pretty much unseasoned because they brought out this tiered salt tray that came with himalayan salt, volcanic salt, sea salt, and some other crap I don't even care to remember. As if my pants will drop on its own if I use the volcanic salt over regular sea salt, with which I am perfectly content. The vegetables that are "oven-roasted" are simply root vegetables, the cheapest of the produce section, and they put zero seasoning on them. I would be more descriptive except I am getting awfully bored. The burgers here are decent and will fill up my stomach but it's just a burger and the steaks here are just steaks. I hardly regard the tempura fried bacon as a magical key to some unknown culinary temple. It's an oily, gross mess that friends will let you eat only to make sure you don't lose those love handles. I've never had their other HH plates but I hope they are more exciting than what I've experienced. Otherwise, I pity those who believe that John Howie steaks are somehow different than steaks you find at any other steakhouse, whether it was groped and serenaded by Ryan Tedder or fed organic tofu. I did not taste the secret.
(3)Dan J.
First time to John Howie's. Enjoyed a very nice lunch. Service is awesome, food was excellent. Very nice bred sampler to start nibbling on. We tried the Cajun Jambalaya Fettuccine, Angel Hair Pasta with apple wood grilled chicken and their Australian Wagyu with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Everything was great! Hope to go back again soon.
(5)Donovan T.
Lunch only - never been for Dinner. For under $20 their sandwiches are THE BEST! You really feel like you're getting something special when they serve you the mountain of a sandwich and every person on their first visit has to ask "how am I going to eat this?!" Their menu gets updated regularly and everything about this place is just tops. They could have a better beer selection, but that's not what I come for. Don't miss the bread or the fries, it really is the best upscale lunch on the East-side.
(5)Andrew L.
I've been here for both happy hour and dinner. Let's just say, I leave much happier (especially my wallet) during happy hour at John Howie. I had the ribeye, which was like $60+, medium rare. It was chewy, which was a major disappointment. It also lacked much flavor. Also ordered the beef tartare, as I had a free appetizer coupon. It was different... maybe I'm just not a tartare kind of guy, at least not with beef anyway (tuna is bomb though!). It also looked really tasty... before they mixed it all up for you lol. There were a few variety of salts that came to the table too, which I actually used on my steak, to no real avail. Whether or not this was just an "off" night... I'm not sure, but I definitely don't think I'll be back for full-priced steak anytime soon. But onto the reason why I still give John Howie 5-stars = Happy Hour! It's got a delicious burger and fries for $9 and Beecher's Mac & Cheese (sooooo goood) for $8. This is what I come for each time. I've tried the tempura bacon, sliders, and a few other small things... but nothing beats the burger and mac & cheese. Totally sharable, but they do charge $2 to split the burger.... which most of us can easily do for free! Mac & cheese may look small, but it's really filling. My only complaint, to have more of that delicious toasted bread crumble on top mixed throughout. Happy hour is pretty much every evening till 6 and then 9 til close. Beware, if you come on a Sunday evening... which I just did, they only do the 3-6 happy hour. But, the burger (which I came for anyway) is at the all-day happy hour price of $9 only. For some reason I thought it was happy hour all day Sunday... :/ Parking in the Bravern, the amber lot will get you closest to John Howie, I believe. Enjoy!
(5)tiffany s.
My husband and I decided to give john Howie a second chance after having a crappy service experience the last time we were there. It had taken awhile for us to decide to go back and we even let a Groupon expire. So we decided to give happy hour a try. Well their happy hour food is great but their drink selection is extremely limited! Their house red which should be very good as it is a mark Ryan wine and I usually adore his wines, fell very short of expectation and and it was not a wine that is nice to sip and enjoy on it's own. It should be paired with something so it is a very poor choice for a happy hour wine. So both my husband and I paid full prices for wine and beer. Beer are you kidding me? Mac and jacks was not on happy hour? Come on! Our food was very good it usually is there. Our server was attentive and friendly but when the bill came we were told they would not honor the expired amount of our Groupon which was only $30 off of a $111.00 happy hour tab? Come on! The server apologized and told us the manager on staff that night is a jerk and not very accommodating. I could understand if we were trying to use the Groupon and had to go by the rules but we were really just trying to get our money back while giving john Howie a 2nd chance. Moral of the story is that they have great food but the management proved to once again be absolutely horrible. I will be contacting Groupon to see if we can get our money back and we will stick to restaurants that are more customer service oriented like Daniels Broiler where we go quite often because you get great customer service along with great food!
(2)Jeff B.
Decent spot for business meals or with co-workers. Not a place I'd go for a romantic dinner. Excellent food. Have been here twice, most recently for a team lunch. AMBIANCE: 3.0. OK. Rather strange layout. On the edge of "upscale" but not quite there. Also, our table was rather unstable. TIP: unless you want to have much traffic passing your table, request a table away from the dining room entry "hallway". There are small booths lining each side, and anyone entering or leaving the dining room walks this hallway. FOOD: 4.0. The six of us had various items off the lunch menu, ranging from steak to vegetarian fare. All were very satisfied. Though I rarely have a burger, I chose the Truffled Wild Mushroom burger. Outstanding - the truffle and gruyere tastes made it a treat. Also had a honeycrisp salad, which was very good. SERVICE: 3.5. Professional and attentive.
(3)David P.
Great for lunch in the bar, perfect for special occasion dinner. One of my fave menu's of all time. I will be back.
(5)Neyaz N.
Hands down one of my favorite happy hour spots in Bellevue! Before I begin here are the happy hour times: Monday-Sunday 3:00-6:00pm AFTER DARK Monday-Thursday 9:00-11:00pm Friday-Saturday 9:00-12 midnight Now onto the review.. The bar area is self seating and the attire is basically whatever you want it to be. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't in a million years roll in with gym attire, but most of the time I've seen people dressed very casually or slightly dressy so albeit it is a high class steakhouse in the Bravern, the bar area doesn't enforce a strict dress code. I haven't eaten from the dinner menu but everything I've ordered from the happy hour selection has been amazing. I usually get the burger because it's absolutely delicious. The steak bites are a must have as well... After all, they're famous for their steak! The prices are great for a restaurant of it's magnitude too. When service is just as good as the food I immediately fall in love with a place and John Howie has that fully covered. Every time I've been it has been perfect. The wait staff is extremely friendly and accommodating, they have good menu knowledge, and food service is very quick for the quality of the food. This is a place I will be back to over and over again. Love it.
(5)Chibiandlemar D.
Delish! Definitely a go-to place for special occasions. The tuna tartare is so tasty! The steaks don't come with a pond of butter (like some steakhouses) which I appreciate. You can flavor it yourself with their three fancy salts. The corn side is also good. The waitstaff can come off as a little stuffy. I don't like waiters watching me eat, which I caught them doing. Other than that, it's on the top of my list!
(5)Jessica H.
OK...let's say the place is nice, service ok, food yummy but seriously 23.00 for one shot of Patron...are you friggin kidding...regular cocktails are 12.00-15.00 which is fine but 1/2 our bill was 2 shots of patron. Sad...and pathetic when they charge 100.00 for a steak lay off the price of the booze! That and it wasn't even a decent size shot... We will be back but only for food and regular cocktail...we'll go somewhere else for shots.
(3)Ema V.
This place is never a disappointment. Whether you come for happy hour or dining, the food here is always fantastic. We usually round up the ladies and come here for a girls night at least once a month. The service is generally good for the most part. The dining room here is beautiful - you will generally be sitting with lax softies who just got off of work from microsoft or swanky and often times older business folks. The restaurant often times passes around some complimentary amazing and delicate piece of steak. My favorites here are obvi the steak, the butter/hab shrimp, the wedge salad (probably the best I have ever had), the french onion soup, chicken caesar. You really can't go wrong with anything here. The happy hour pricing is fantastic, but be ready to spend at least $60 on a piece of steak.
(5)Brian C.
Went back again to John Howie since last time I went for the seafood this time we went for the steak. We had a 10oz filet mignon and the lobster mashed potatoes!!! Thier steak THE BOMB!!!!!!!!! The potatoes are great!!!!!!!!! Try the little round cheese rolls they give you they are so good. We also ordered a shot of soup and it was also great. Overall another 10 our of 5 stars!!! Great place for appetizers - great place for dinner, it is expensive but I think it is really good!
(5)Kaila A.
I love their burger for happy hour! Super yummy. I am a bit disappointed in the fact they changed their happy hour times. More happy hour the better!
(4)Andrea T.
This was the last meal in Seattle before my flight back home. We didn't make any reservations but was lucky enough to grab a table at the bar. The food was decent and the service given by our waitress was not bad. She had to make a couple trips after our entrees arrived to bring the sauces she forgot. There was a waitress who seemed to be more of a patron than a waitress by her constant dancing/laughing/chatting with other servers by the bar that seemed to take away from the ambience.
(3)Simon C.
Went here for happy hour tonight. The bacon cheeseburger was an awesome deal and the quality of burger was great. My favorite happy hour burger in the city so far. Ordered the tempura fried bacon- also really good, but I would probably share this with several people instead of trying to scarf it down by yourself (like I did). The spicy habanero butter shrimp were good but you will need some bread or something to help soak up all the butter. Bon appetit!
(5)Angela H.
I came here with my family last week, and the service was great! Steaks were also delicious, as expected for this well-known restaurant. My dad tried the $100 Japanese Wagyu steak-- protip: unless you're a steak connoisseur, it doesn't taste 5x better than the average steak which you'd pay 5x less for. But you go to John Howie mostly for either special occasions, or to impress guests, which the restaurant caters to effectively.
(4)Deb M.
Food fantastic and service impeccable!
(5)Tom B.
This is a review for sitting in the bar. What you need to know about John Howie going in is that the parking is a bit of a drag. If you're not walking or bussing, then you're spelunking the subterranean caverns of Bravern parking, and navigating the wilds of Bravern to get to the restaurant. The doors here are actually inside one of the office tower lobbies, and the bathrooms are across that lobby. This doesn't detract from the experience, but it does make it feel a bit more corporate. The bar itself is stylish and comfortable without being horribly pretentious. Padded chairs and banquettes, lot of dark wood on everything, including the huge wine racks. I'm thinking they don't serve much wine from these display racks--even in the Puget Sound area, they're getting hit with a lot of sunlight. There are crisp linen napkins, and crisp little dark chipboard menus with tidy resume-stock paper printouts inside. Everything here is nice. The staff is super friendly and pleasant, deferential and generally unobtrusive. Clearly, like many steakhouses, they've heavily emphasized hiring attractive young women, especially to cocktail. They've succeeded admirably in that regard, assembling a dazzling selection of cheerful and sweet young women who definitely know what they're doing. The prices here are not ridiculous, though they're certainly high. Scotch is a little spendy, but beers are affordable. The happy hour is great, and so is the list of bar snacks. I could see coming back here. No idea if I'll be back for a steak. We'll see.
(4)Dr.Swoo W.
Came to JHS for lunch... great salad. I also came for an Anniversary dinner... wow, it was a lot of rich foodies...afterwards, I was rolling out of the restaurant satisfied! Thanks!
(3)Lina S.
Love their pear kamikaze drink. My husband loves their steak and their burger. Always had good service here.
(5)Bill W.
It's hard to add to what everyone else is saying. The service and food are superb. But you obviously must be prepared to spend money and time on your meal. It will be a treat and a pleasure to go back some time.
(5)Dan W.
Looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion? John Howie has your classic upscale decor, dim lighting, dressed up hostesses, wait staff, and everybody else, specialty steaks, an extensive wine list, and even selectable salts for your meal. Paying this much for a meal (after a couple dinners, I'm averaging ~$80pp, but I'm not going cheap here either), one expects delicious food and fantastic service. 'Expect' is key here, because some of the food is delish, like the steaks, and some, especially the sides (ie tice baked potato, etc.), are mediocre at best. Regarding service, its ok, they're knowledgable, but like on one visit, the waiter never brought me the wine I ordered. I've only been here for dinner, so cannot complain, er, speak of lunch or happy hour. Better of my visits: Crab and shrimp chowder. American Wagyu New York strip, and a glass of Louis Latour le pinot noir :)
(4)Paul L.
Standing out Ambiance: 5 Food: 5 Value: 4 Located inside the Braven, John Howie strives to live up to its posh neighbors. With boutiques like LV and Hermes, the clientele has great expectations, and John Howie delivers. The inside is elegant and comfy with touches of style, like the artsy chandeliers, vested bar tenders, and suited waiters. Though I've never made it past the happy hour menu, the food, served in an array of artistic vessels, is excellent and top notch. From the tempura bacon strips, to the Beacher's mac and cheese, to the sesame streak strips, to the gigantic bacon burger, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. Wash it down with a John Howie special lager or a fine wine selection, John Howie delivers on expectations and is an outstanding choice.
(5)Bianca M.
The manager, Ira Mensch, was awesome. He accommodated my party of 10 for happy hour even tho that is not an easy task. He was very welcoming and did everything he could to make our time perfect. Thanks Ira!
(5)Molly S.
The food was good and worth four stars but for the price I had to do three. The service is great and over the top, more typical with fine dinning then traditional steak houses. I notice other comments complaining about stark white plates with no garnish. That's how you're supposed to plate steak at a restaurant like this...its about the meat not parsley flakes. I've been to numerous high end steakhouses back east and this place comes in average compared to them, but is actually more expensive...and its located in Bellevue WA. I'm afraid you are paying a lot of money for the rent at the Bravern then the quality of food and thats unfortunate. Two people, one bottle of low end wine, two salads, two sides and two steaks and the bill was $300 plus tip...to walk away felling blah.
(3)Mad D.
Our favorite restoration around. Great for lunch, the lunches are not as expensive as you might expect. Food is great, steaks are the best around. I just wish they would bring back the Morning after burger its amazing, unfortunately its seasonal but it should be permanent on the menu!
(5)Linda Z.
Best. happy. hour. ever. I've been to John Howie numerous times for happy hour and have never been disappointed. The prime beef bacon cheeseburger is the best burger I've had in the Seattle area, and an amazing deal at $9! The 1/2 lb. ground prime sirloin patty is really juicy (for some pink, ask for medium-rare) and it comes with a sizable portion of delicious fries. I can't resist mac and cheese on any menu, and the John Howie Beecher's cheddar mac and cheese is among the best I've ever had. The prime tenderloin bites, spicy habanero butter shrimp, kobe sliders, and fried ricotta gnocchi (I could drink the truffle sauce) are also great. I'd only caution ordering the charcuterie flat bread, which was too salty for my taste. If you want to eat in the main dining room, I would suggest going for lunch which is a pretty good deal. The dungeness crab and shrimp cobb salad is refreshing and has a lot of seafood, and their sandwiches are quite big. Dinner gets expensive but everything I've had is excellent and of the highest quality. I love the steakhouse salad and the five cheese twice baked stuffed potato. The freshly baked bread basket is a great starter, and complimentary chocolate truffles to take home at the end is a nice touch.
(5)Ken L.
**Happy Hour Review** It's all about having food with your drink than having drink with your food - an experience we call Happy Hour (HH)! Discounted drinks and cheap delicious snackies? Include me anytime! Since I was already at the Bravern, I dropped in John Howie's for HH as they have extended HH hours on Sundays[1]. The ambiance was warm and inviting with live piano playing and comfortable seats. Here's what was ordered: + $14 Garlic Butter Poached Escargot - caramelized Kurobuta [2] bacon and red onions, puff pastry, red wine and shallot bordelaise, chervil[3]. I like this version but a few shell fragments were still in a couple of them. I pointed it out to the server and they promptly acknowledged and adjusted our tab accordingly. It is pretty rare that this happens and I was impressed with how they handled the situation. + $6 Country Style Pork Pâté - composed of Kurobuta pork, chicken liver, black truffles, sage, thyme, sweet onion, eggs cream, and wrapped in Kurobuta bacon. Served chilled with pickled shallots, cornichons, and Guinness mustard. This pâté is now on my charcuterie[4] mental list and is PERFECT with the bread cracker brittle side that it comes with. Excellente'. + $8 American Wagyu Sirloin Steak Sliders - mesquite grilled sweet red onions, roasted garlic-peppercorn aioli, Cornichon, house baked buns. A bite into this soft, velvety texture and rich marbling provides a buttery, mouthwatering experience. + $8 Tempura Fried Limoncello Scented Pound Cake - served with three different wonderful dips: warm chocolate ganache, Mt. Rainier huckleberry jam, or lemon mascarpone. Basically, you have a four rectangular slices of pound cake that is battered lightly and deep fried. Surprisingly tasty as the inside cake held its moist properties and all of the sauces aren't too sweet and gave a good variety of flavors. + $2 Budweiser and Bud Lights - Ice cold and refreshing and goes good with it all! Perfectly chilled. Approximately $40 for a fun dining experience; an obligatory return trip will be necessary to experiment with the rest of the HH menu. -------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------------------------------- [1] Happy Hour: M-Sun 3pm-6pm M-Thurs 9pm-11pm Fri/Sat 9pm-12am Sun 3pm-10pm [2] Kurobuta pork is valued highly for its tenderness, juiciness and rich flavor due to its deeper hue and heavy marble. Also known as Berkshire hog/pork. This variety of pork is usually found in classy restaurants such as John Howie Steak. [3] Chervil - culinary herb similar to parsley [4] Charcuterie - culinary art of processed pork specialty products like sausage, salami, crepinettes (flattened sausage), galantines (cold, poached stuffed meat), pâté, ham etc.
(4)Grace Y.
Very expensive but it is a fancy steak place after all. The service is unparalleled and what I appreciate about John Howie is that it's not stodgy like many typical steak places. Everything is modern and chic. You don't feel like you should be in your 50's to eat at the restaurant. All the food is great. We ordered Bananas Fosters for dessert and it was prepared in all it's flaming glory at the table.
(5)Jingjing Z.
They have 5 star lunch special. I love their steak n frite! A good spend of $17. I always like my steak rare and they made it so soft and tender. Besides they have great atmosphere. A good place to have two hour lunch with coworkers. I'm going to come back for lunch again!
(5)Antony H.
My wife and I recently celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary here. John Howie is expensive so I recommend you look at the menu ahead of time and let those prices sink in. I had the grilled bone marrow and filet combo (with the corn and wild mushroom sides). The bone marrow is fatty, rich and delicious. I did find the dish a tad salty though. The steak was cooked nicely and very good. The service is great. My wife's steak came a little overcooked and they prompted prepared her another, came out with another serving of hot sides and added a complementary dessert for our troubles. I personally enjoy dining in a dimmer, quieter setting and I find the main dining area at John Howie too bright and you're a little too close to your neighbors.
(4)Emma M.
As a steak lover, I was feeling pretty disappointed by Ruth's Chris, the Capital Grille, and even El Gaucho and the Met in Seattle. This was definitely worth the drive over to Bellevue. We went here with a Groupon after seeing John Howie listed as one of the great steakhouses in the States in an airline magazine. We had high expectations and they were definitely exceeded! We had an amazing time at John Howie, from start to finish! From exchanging my white napkin for a black one to avoid lint on my dress, to the chimichurri steak bite/free taste before our meal, to double-checking that our parking had been validated, the service was spectacular. I really got the impression that EVERYONE that was working wanted to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Our server, Evan, was the perfect balance of attentive but not pushy, informative but not upselling, just a great attitude. And we got little take-home truffles as a surprise! Okay, the food: I had the American wagyu sirloin and it was awesome. It had a much smokier flavor than normal because of the wagyu marbling, and it was cooked PERFECTLY: lightly charred and medium. My boyfriend had the American Wagyu New York strip which was excellent. He also asked for lightly charred medium and was skeptical about sending it back (so often you risk getting an overcooked steak the second time around). Not the case! The staff were wonderful about fixing it and the steak was gloriously juicy and perfectly cooked the second time around. The garlic mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach were delicious complimentary sides. I also really, really enjoyed an affordable glass of 75 Wine Co. cabernet, one of the best I can remember. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for an amazing dining experience. It made for a wonderful date night for the two of us, but I could also see it as a great place for a business meeting (since the experience was so pleasant) and for larger groups (a table of about 8 was seated across the room from us and gave us the benefit of watching the bananas foster tableside demonstration from afar). The service was incredibly attentive and speedy. The food was fantastic. And they put an extra effort into presentation - a salt tower, a complimentary taster, tableside demonstrations... I really liked the effort to make it a complete dining experience. The food was fantastic but, more importantly, the service was excellent. Just an above-and-beyond experience for us... We will definitely be back!
(5)Ann W.
What's with the older man wearing a suit making us salad?? John Howie is a cold and pretentious restaurant. Our waiter was not personable or friendly. He did the bare minimum and never even asked how our food was. If he asked, I would have told him how salty the cauliflower was and that the mushrooms were luke warm.:P I think we only saw him 3x the whole evening. Most of the time we saw the guys whose job is to fill water glasses and pick up used dishes, and the salad man, who desperately needed a smile on his face. Redeeming factor: NY strip was delicious. Unfortunately, it was served on a boring rectangular plate with rounded corners that reminded me of a dish that comes in a microwavable meal. The decor is old fashioned and dark; there is no warmth or light to this place at all. It really bothers me that it's a pricey, supposedly upscale restaurant with such cold service and atmosphere. Will not return.
(2)Charles K.
A northwest favorite of mine that pushes the limit and produces the perfect steak. From table side service to a sommelier, you can expect a very special experience. Chef John Howie has an incredible eye for detail and ability to focus on fresh ingredients in his dishes. I've had the opportunity to come here on all hours from lunch, dinner and happy hour and they have been excelled on all parts. Lunch and dinner service has hit all marks, but happy hour has had a few downsides in service when it gets busy. Pricing matches well with the quality offered, and the lunch menu has surprisingly great value.
(5)AnonymousSeattle A.
Best happy hour!!
(4)Yoon H.
Great Happy Hour and best Steak Salad ever for dinner.
(5)Sara M.
We celebrated our 7th anniversary this past Friday and had THE most amazing meal & evening at this wonderful restaurant. We used a Groupon deal ($60 for $30) which they offer each year and it was truly the perfect evening. The meal, the service, the ambiance...even the water boy was spot on the entire evening. For a starter, we enjoyed the Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp in garlic, butter & white wine. This was served with toasted crostini's and we were both still talking about it 48 hours later. My husband LOVES the Delmanti with peppercorn sauce and I went with my usual...filet mignon which was OUT OF THIS WORLD great! We finished our lovely evening off with the MOST delicious dessert my lips have ever enjoyed...their Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Tart. Shortbread crust, semi-sweet chocolate, caramel, fleur de sel with vanilla-salted caramel ice cream. OMG amazing!!! We will be back and don't just take my word...you MUST try this place for yourself!
(5)Fran S.
Of course it's good with very fancy wagu and other aged steaks but very very expensive. Bring your own wine. Only $25 corkage fee vs spending 200% mark up on wine bottles. Service was great and as expected of high end restaurant.
(3)Arry Y.
Got to go check out their actual dinner menu and steaks recently since I had a Groupon that was fast expiring. Cocktails all night. Steaks were awesome!!! I wasn't even that hungry when we got there, and I still really enjoyed the steaks! We had the three-steak sampler of the something USDA Prime A5 grade, American Wagyu and the Australian Kobe (I think if I remember correctly - also, they don't have real Japanese Kobe anymore). Medium-rare, of course. Also shared a thing of mac-n-cheese and the Yukon gold potato cakes with American caviar. Potato cakes were awesome. Mac-n-cheese, not so good. Darn it - Forgot to try the tempura fried bacon! Just wow, really really expensive!
(4)Terry U.
This was one of the best dinners that I have had in many years. The service and atmosphere were spectacular. Nice work John.
(5)Rick S.
Bottom Line - Great place for steak. I'm a fan of happy hour. Would recommend. Came to dinner with a friend on 10 September 2011 for a happy hour/ dinner hybrid meal with a friend. We ordered the following: Deviled Eggs ($6.00 on hh) - The truffle oil made all the difference. It was rich but good. Would order again. Calamari ($7.00 on hh) - The calamari was excellent! Some of the better calamari I've had in Seattle. And a great price. I'd totally order it again. Lambrack ($56.00) - We shared a lamb rack dinner... it's meant for 2 people to share. Totally good. Lamb is one of my favorite meats. I'd order it again. Waygu Slider ($8.00 on hh) - We wanted some beef, so we opted for the sliders from the happy hour menu. They were good! Totally worth the price. We each had a ginger beer ($4.00 x2). Our food bill came to $87.00 + 8.70 tax + 20.00 tip = $115.70 for the both of us. Pretty cheap considering the food we got!!! We sat at the bar and the bartenders were pretty attentive.
(4)Mark M.
Incredible steaks, the A5 Japanese wagyu just melts in your mouth! This is our favorite steak restaurant in the entire area -- if you want top quality steaks. The bone marrow appetizer was fantastic as well. We get the fried bacon all the time -- come on... it's FRIED bacon! Other than the lobster mashed potato, not very impressed with the sides -- we've had much better at other steak houses around the area and country. The bananas foster is much better at El Gaucho's as well. HOWEVER, the main reason why go to John Howie is for the incredible steaks. Yes, you'll pay quite handsomely for the A5 Japanese wagyu fillet ($160), but it's so worth it -- PLEASE get it rare to medium rare at the most! My daughter calls it "heaven steak", and we tend to agree! It's cheaper than flying to Japan to get this steak, where it would cost even more!
(5)Stewart T.
Had a memorable meal here. The steak was cooked insanely perfect with a uniform coloring within the crust line. It tasted great and a notch above other steaks I've had in this price range. But after you've had numerous steaks throughout your life the deviation becomes less significant. So what made this trip memorable? The Boston cream pie - I'd come back just for this. And the exceptional service lead by Eric aka Stretch. He turned a regular night out in to a fun and exciting evening.
(4)Silvana E.
This place is on the classy and very pricy side but we love going there for special occasions. to die for: 1) Spicy pear Kamikaze (it's never just one) 2) their bread basket in combination with butter and their different salts 3) Their side of Brussels sprouts !!!
(4)Krystle B.
I've only been here for happy hour and it's great. It's definitely not the cheapest happy hour... but the food is delicious. I would recommend going if you are in the mood to be a lil fancy and pay a bit more.
(4)Judy H.
Great service. If the prices were lower it would be 5 stars! the food was good and tasty and we all enjoyed our drinks. I would recommend for a special occasion
(4)Robert S.
Let me start by saying this place is EXPENSIVE! Check out the website and menu for pricing before going or you'll be in for some sticker shock. With that said, 8 of us from work had dinner there and while the food and service were good it wasn't the best steak I've had (The Met gets that honor). Everything is a la carte. The sides start in the teen$ and were all excellent. My favorite were the fried brussell sprouts. Overall, it is a very fine restaurant and good for special occasions but we spent close to $2000, including tip, for 8 people to have 3 courses.
(4)Liz K.
We visited John Howie tonight after hearing a glowing recommendation from a coworker. We originally thought this would be a "once in a lifetime" visit based on the prices, but we found a wide range of price options and a Happy Hour that will make it an easy sell to go back. We started with the table side Caesar, which was fantastic. The dressing was light, citrusy, and had just the right amount of salt from the anchovies. There wasn't a lot of fanfare or showmanship like you might find at similar restaurants, but that was fine. The salad and the amazing bread basket (seriously, the bread basket was great!) were enough to convince me this was a worthy stop, but it kept getting better. I got the American Wagyu sirloin, which was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The salts provided at the table were fun to experiment with, and I found a few granules of the black salt was perfect on a slice of the sirloin. My husband got the Japanese Wagyu ribeye, and he thoroughly enjoyed every bite. I had a bite of his steak and it truly melts in the mouth. For sides, we enjoyed the twice baked potato, which was enormous and more than enough for the two of us to split. We also had the Brussels sprouts, which were roasted and seasoned perfectly. For dessert, we had creme brûlée and the salted caramel and chocolate ganache tart. The brûlée was perfect, and the ice cream that accompanied the tart was fantastic. The tart was a little heavy for my tastes, but was still excellent. We also had espresso and a latte, which were well done (even though they use Illy, which we don't usually care for). Aside from the food, which was outstanding, the service was great. At least 4 people took care of us and never missed a beat, whether it was refilling water, delivering dessert, taking our orders, making recommendations... it was a great experience. See you again soon, John Howie!
(5)Grace K.
The staff was super friendly and professional. The steak was the best I have ever had- it melt in my mouth. A must go restaurant if you are in Bellevue.
(5)Danielle C.
I used a Groupon here a few years ago. The staff was super nice and cordial. I guess that's to be expected at such an expensive restaurant. I don't remember too much of the food except for one standout dish. Tuna ahi ahi. I don't even like fish but I really liked this dish. They had chopped up the fish with some fruit and assembled them in a short tower. Everything was doused in some sesame oil and other flavors. I really liked this dish and still remember it to this day. The texture didn't turn me off at all and I usually hate fish.
(4)Cynthia J.
Five STARS all around!!! I came here for lunch and received AWESOME customer service at the bar. I ordered the Salmon with red/beans and rice. It comes with a sauce that is genius and mixes well with the Salmon, rice and beans to add a delicious flavor. The Chef who created this dish, knew exactly what he was doing!!!! Please keep him or her around! :-) Pros - -Awesome customer service -Free Valet - If you're traveling or going there before the airport, they have a place to store your luggage. - Lunch is comparable and reasonable prices. $21 for Salmon and rice/peas :)
(5)Vicky M.
This place. If you ever want to go and have a good steak, this is the place. Now keep in mind that I am not a steak lover AT ALL. Or a meat lover in that matter. But this place is literally one of the few places I'll even order the meat. It's delicious and literally melts in your mouth. This is definitely on the pricey side, it's a nice place to go for a romantic date or special celebration. Or you can come here every day if you'd like, trust me when you try the food you'll definitely be tempted too :)
(5)Larissa W.
This is my third time here, and I usually come here for celebrations. The thing I love most about this place is the service. We had the French onion soup, Foie Gras "Bacon & Eggs", Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Chowder, Steakhouse Salad, Fried Brussels Sprouts, Cedar Plank Roasted Jidori Chicken, Filet mignon, and carrot cake with brown butter frosting. Although the food here was salty, the menu was pretty interesting (especially the foie gras bacon and eggs). The foie gras appetizer was like breakfast for dinner. If you like rich, fatty, sweet and savory all combined in one, then I suggest you try this out. Aside from that, the poultry and steak were perfectly cooked. The only things I didn't like about this place was the brussels sprouts since they were too tangy, greasy, and salty for my taste, and the carrot cake was a little too dry...
(4)Kristen L.
This is an overdue update to this review: bit.ly/1DVsTCE After our last experience at John Howie's where my mom and sister were ignored for 20 minutes before deciding to peace out, my mom emailed John Howie's about our experience. She promptly received a response and was able to talk to one of the managers on the phone. The manager apologized and assured my mom that they had addressed this with staff and were working to ensure that something like this doesn't happen again. The manager also sent my mom a gift card for us to try John Howie's again. Now that's excellent customer service! We felt like our concerns were acted upon and the gift card was a very generous gesture. We'll be back to try happy hour again.
(5)Kimmie L.
John Howie is one of my favorite steak places (from a person that eats very little meat). I am basing my review on the things they do right, and what I almost always get. Eat the free bread, yum. #1 Tableside tuna tartare and caesar salad, YES YES YES. Need to order a minimum of 2 orders for tableside caesar, and for whatever reason, it tastes way better than when prepared in the kitchen. I love anchovy, lots of lemon, and parmesan. Its perfection for me. #2 Tempura bacon is delicious, but remember, its bacon and its fried, so don't complain that its too fattening. It is closer to heaven (after the heart attack). #3 Only wagyu for me. Doesn't matter on where it comes from as long as its wagyu (american, australian, or japanese). I have tried the regular aged and its just not the same. Increase points by adding truffle butter, MY GOODNESS. The sides are decently sized and good, but don't order too much of this. You will be full. #4 And of course, for they money you are paying, their service is awesome. There are so many people to help and they do it well. I don't think you can go wrong with my plan, but I accept every one is different. :)
(5)Ka T.
Excellent service for the price you pay. If the steak is very large, make sure to get it cooked medium or so, it tends to be too rare near the bone. I like their table side Caesar salad as well
(5)Bo H.
Perfect Birthday dinner. We eat out at a place this expensive once a year. Sometimes we feel like the experience wasn't worth they money spent. John Howie Steak was worth every penny. The bar staff was friendly and informative, the waitstaff gracious, and the meals were off the charts. All the steaks were cooked perfectly, the sides dishes were bargained over, and the sommelier helped us pick out a bottle that complemented everything perfectly. We left completely satisfied and I can't wait to dream up an excuse to go back.
(5)David M.
Disappointing experience regarding the food. I asked for medium rare on the steak and it came out well done. the asparagus was over cooked and soft. the glass of merlot was roughly 2 tablespoons of wine and was $35 dollars, unreal. I will say the atmosphere was nice and the staff were friendly and responsive but this was not enough to make up for the below standard meal. this place did not compare to other steak houses that I have been at such as metropolitan grill in Seattle, Ruth Cris, Morton's, Donovan's in san diego, or gene and geogettis in Chicago.
(2)Clint W.
HH, it does a body good. I thought this was a lot of fun and it didn't break the bank. Couple of glasses of cab, tempura bacon, shrimp cocktail, the burger and b sprouts. Pretty nice assortment of choices and no waiting. The burger is really good and it's a monster. It's super popular and we saw it on a lot of tables when we were there. The bacon was a bit different and I couldn't figure out how to keep sauce on it. I was a fan of the cocktailsauce too. One more plus...validated parking downstairs in the garage. One drawback, it was warm inside...like the air conditioning wasn'y kicking it. Oh, and their bathrooms are in another area.
(4)Doug D.
I travel more than many for business, mainly using an airline based in Seattle. I have seen the advertisements for John Howie steak for a couple of years, and today I had a chance to give it a try. I regret not doing this sooner. It truly was as good as I had hoped. My server, Karen, was what you really want in a nice restaurant; pleasant, friendly, knowledgeable with the food and preparation, and was not there too much, only at the correct times. I had the clam and crab chowder, with an eight ounce Japanese Wyagu steak. The in-house baked bread was wonderful, as were the grilled asparagus, and the potatoes. I had to test the bartender, and had my Perfect Manhattan, Makers Mark, up. The bartender held up to the very high standard that the food has. Again, wonderful. I enjoyed my trip here, and will be back, as well as recommend it. A very enjoyable visit.
(5)Matt S.
Could not have been more pleased with fantastic service and food. This is truly an experience. I love table side service and this place has many to choose from - tartar, Caesar, chateaubriand, banana's foster! for a $$$$ steakhouse, I thought it was pretty reasonable given the quality of food and service. splurge a little and treat yourself!
(5)Tammy Y.
Again, a 5-star experience. From the classy and elegant Glassy Baby candleholders, to the warm hellos from all of the staff, I thoroughly enjoyed the simple things here. My friend got here first and ordered us drinks in the bar for Happy Hour. She had wine and got me the gin martini with a twist. After fighting traffic to get to the Bravern it was a nice relaxer. We moved into the dining room for our reservation at 7:30. The food took a bit longer than usual, but we were given a nice table by the window. I've sat here before and remembered being cold - this evening started out that way, but halfway through the meal they turned the heat on and it was cozy. Today was the first time I tried the ahi tartare - a sweet modification of ahi tuna poke. The pine nuts were a nice touch. The spicy butter shrimp was similar to a New Orleans style Shrimp Diablo - just what I like! Both of these items came with bread, for that added crisp at the end of each bite. Yum. We also had the lobster mashed potatoes - oh-so-creamy and no skimping on lobster here. It was so rich that we had leftovers. Finished the meal off with the flaming banana's foster, made to order at the table. The vanilla ice cream seemed double churned and was the perfect complement to the cinnamon goodness that covered the bananas. Thanks, JH. I heart your style.
(5)Simon C.
It was our Saturday dinner for my girlfriend's birthday and we had a great time with their company. I booked this restaurant a few weeks earlier for the special night and I told them it was for my girlfriend's birthday dinner. When we arrived, we were greeted by the hostess and immediately wished my girlfriend, "Happy Birthday". I was impressed by the gesture and I am glad that I reserved this place early. A few minutes after we arrived, we were guided to our table (window table as requested) with the beautiful view of the mountains. With the great start, we ordered the Seared Sea Scallop, Zabuton Wagyu steak, 14oz Prime Rib and Sautéed Spinach. The Sea Scallop was perfectly cooked with great pan seared on both sides. I like the cauliflower cream and tomato confit as the sauce and it was a great pair with the scallops. The Zabuton Wagyu steak and the Prime Rib were high-lights for our dinner. The meats were cooked perfectly to our taste and almost melted in our mouths. At the end of our dinner, we even have a free birthday lava chocolate cake for my girlfriend, which delicious and another great gesture form this place. Overall, we had a great experience and service were wonderful.
(5)Alie G.
Fantastic Quality of food. This one is a dear friend for a sensitive palate. Their lunches are fantastic, salad sandwiches soups, and the atmosphere is sophisticated yet relaxing. Their dinners are flavorful and grand in taste and presentation.
(5)Jade L.
STK STK STK I loveeee steak and John Howie doesn't disappoint. I went for lunch and ordered the Prime Sirloin Steak with Wild Mushrooms. I requested for medium rare, but I would say it was closer to the medium side. The wild mushrooms were soaked in marsala wine, veal demi glace. This sauce was perfect and brought together the whole dish with the mashed potatoes, mushrooms and, of course, le steak. I would most definitely recommend. STK STK STK
(5)Yen D.
Awesome service! I came here early for their happy hour to get their tempura bacon with a side of sambal sauce. The tempura bacon was so crunchy and full of fatty goodness that I couldn't stop licking the crumbs off of my plate. I also got a glass of their Cabernet from Argentina that was only 4.50. Then they took us to the dining room where we noshed on the amuse bouche which was a salmon bisque with garlic cheesy fancy bread, pretzel bread and bread sticks. We had a Groupon so we got starters like the ahi tuna tartare, Maine lobster mashed potatoes, and spicy habanero shrimp. We ended the night with bananas foster which was presented well and tasted so good to the very last bite with vanilla ice cream. Customer service was great and I will definitely be back!
(5)James H.
I came here today for the Sunday happy hour and got the bacon cheeseburger that comes with fries and the gravy fries. The burger is good but not one of the best I've had. It was a 1/2 lb ground prime chuck along with kurobuta bacon and Beecher's cheddar on a house baked bun. I have to say that the bacon was unfortunately the star of this burger. It was nicely crisp with being the right amount of thickness. The house made bun tasted like a pretzel bun. The fries that came with the burger were overly salted. The gravy fries were decent but the gravy made the entire dish super salty. The shredded bits of oxtail were good but the gravy fries reminded me of chili cheese fries without the cheese. I'd give the food from my experience 3.5 stars. The service is attentive and friendly.
(3)Ron N.
I went here with my girl at night. The food is great! As well as the drinks. They cooked perfectly as i requested, i like medium. It's well cooked and juicy pink on the center. The chef also gave us a special tasty soup, it was made of lobster etc (can't remember). I tried 1/2 dozen oyster, roasted bone marrow, foei gras bacon & egg, potato gnocchi, fillet mignon. I recommend for the dessert is the donut 'bread' pudding, the flavor is fantastic, it's well mixed between sour & sweet. The view is also great from top of the building. The waitress? Don't question that! They are simply great, served us very well. My only dissapointment is on their steak, there is no garnish there. It's only plain steak on the plate.
(5)Roman T.
In terms of pure meat, this is my favorite place. They have options from prime steak to American, Australian or Japanese wagyu. Also, the chef loves using mushrooms, so in the fall, the seasonal mushrooms are amazing. Appetizers are good, but not the best. Wine selection is great.
(5)Jeff F.
was here with my wife, My son and his future wife. Food is very good and the service is best. Prices are high so expect t pay a big ticket when the bill comes. Real sticker shock. great for a special occasion. especially great for people who love red meat
(4)Dominique S.
It was pretty empty on a Saturday night during late night happy hour so I was a little surprised by that. I'm blanking on the name of the cocktail I had but it wasn't that great. It had a sparkling wine base or something. I'll probably be back at a different time to try food and a different drink.
(3)Paul Q.
One of the most amazing happy hour menu! We just ordered two dishes and both were good! My GF adored the bacon cheeseburger - from the bread, to the bacon and to the texture of the patty. I found the meat a little on the dry and overcooked side though, but the it was still flavorful! The fries were decent, not great. The tenderloin bites were fabulous! The orange/slightly Asian-flavored marinade paired well with the smaller beef cubes. The meat was well-done so we had to return it because we ordered medium. The server took the dish back without any question and brought us perfectly cooked and flavored beef goodness. I am just surprised that a famous steakhouse would overcook their meat. They have a wide variety of happy hour menu. Will definitely be back for the shrimp dishes and the bacon tempura! And when my budget allows, I will be back for the real dinner menu haha! Good food, great service, lovely ambiance.
(4)Areena M.
This is definitely a splurge, as dinner for two cost over $200 including the tip. The food was delicious and service was perfect, so no complaints, but since we're not Microsoft execs, we won't be regulars. I'd recommend it for a special occasion. Steak was great, side dishes left a bit to be desired (we tried the seasonal mushrooms & creamed spinach), soups were great (especially the salmon bisque amuse bouche), and dessert was perfect. We had the bone-in ribeye for two that comes with roasted veggies. The veggies were delicious and ample enough that we could've skipped the additional sides. I'd give 5 stars if considering the steak alone; downgrading because I've had much better creamed spinach at other steakhouses and that's a dish I think you have to get right (steakhouse classic that it is). For reference, the other steakhouses I've enjoyed are House of Prime Rib and Alfred's in San Francisco and Ruth's Chris in Kona, Bellevue, and Portland (btw, not impressed with Ruth's Chris in Seattle & SF).
(4)Chris A.
I know I know. You're saying, "But Chris, how does a a poor grad student like you afford John Howie?" ... I'm not going to lie. To be honest, there are few opportunities I can afford to wine and dine amongst the Microsoft elite... EXCEPT during happy hour. And Happy hour at John Howie is my favorite happy hour in all of Seattle. Yum yum yum. Lets break it down: Well, for starters the menu changes about every three months, so... I've decided to break down the menu into the regulars and then talk about the seasonal items __________________________________________________Â___ Regulars: Burger and Fries: WHAT A DEAL. Seriously... this has got to be the best deal in Seattle when it comes to happy hour. The burger is HUGE and comes with a side of delicious fries and it only costs 10 dollars. When I say burger though, don't think that this is a super unique burger. There's nothing crazy going on here, but the produce, the meat and the bun are really really good quality. Its a standard burger cooked up in the best way possible with some of the best ingredients. Beef Tenderloin strips: YUM. Well for I think $12... These are pretty tasty. The meat is good and the orange savory sauce the pieces are cooked in are pretty delicious. I'm personally always a little hungry after these guys though so if you're going to get them make sure you have a side as well. Kurobuta Tempura Bacon: OH YOU KNOW I like this. Shoot. We're talking 5 pieces of thick cut deep fried bacon with a DELICIOUS seasonal maple and or ponzu sauce. This one is a winner winner chicken dinner. TIP: Its going to cost you 9 dollars to get 5 pieces BUT if you want just one slice (honestly more than one is pretty fattening) you can order just one! It'll cost you $2 for once piece but you wont regret it Beecher's Mac and Cheese: Not my favorite but a popular item on the menu. In my humble opinion, the serving size is a little small, but only because the cheese is so rich. Expect this mac and cheese to be served in a small single serving 4' metal pot with a crispy bread crumb coating over the top. Don't get my wrong its good, but I usually go with the sliders or the burger before the Mac and Cheese. __________________________________________________Â__ Rotating Menu Sliders: So these guys have gone through quite a few changes and I believe that they change pretty regularly (ie twice a year?). Nevertheless, they are my staple when I go to John Howie. Lets face it whether they are lamb (current), beef (6 months ago), or pork (the pork ones from a year ago were my favorite) the sliders are tasty. While small, this 9 dollar plate will grant you 3 sliders cooked to perfection with a seasonal sauce coating. If youre a small eater like me this might be a good alternative to the burger. Philly Steak Fries: The Philly fries.... were a bust. I wasn't a fan. Sorry Mr. Howie. Gravy Fries: On the other hand... The gravy fries (not sure if they are on the menu anymore) are great. Give them a try. They are... a heart attach on a plate but hey its happy hour right? Just wash it down with a cold beer. ;) __________________________________________________Â___ Beer: Well guys... unfortunately this is the only category I am always left wanting. While Mac and Jack's is on tap... it is unfortunately NOT on the HH menu and there is no discount. Your only options are the house IPA (which is so so), a bud or miller I think (BLEH), and the Odin blonde (not really a fan but the best choice if you don't like IPAs like me). __________________________________________________Â___ So there it is guys! John Howie Happy hour. I love it here and chances are good if you're there on the weekend you'll see me ;). Come say hello haha :) Happy eating friends!
(5)Christopher A.
Went here for the first time to try out their happy hour selection and was completely satisfied with the price and the options. I ordered a burger and fries for $11 which comes topped with the usual stuff, including bacon and beecher's cheese. It was cooked just how I ordered which is always a plus. My friends and I shared a few dishes: - the tempura bacon amazing and I personally thought I would never experience a flavor such as that. The dipping sauce that accompanied it was a nice addition. Probably not the most healthy thing on the menu but definitely tasty. - The fried Brussels sprouts were alright in my opinion. Nothing too amazing. They were seasoned well. However, it did seem a little too cooked and some pieces and a slightly overlooked taste. - the tenderloin bites were very delicious and "tender". The meat was very soft and cooked accordingly. It had a very pleasing teriyaki flavor. - the applewood grilled cheese flatbread is a must here as it is topped with truffle sauce, cheese, and bacon I believe. It is definitely worth a try. Overall, the service was great and the bar atmosphere during happy hour is great for bringing groups.
(5)Tfabulous R.
Best steak in town hands down . This is fine dining and they spare not expense to make your experience memorable I will come to this steak house again and recommend this place to everyone
(5)Carmel C.
Fix the d@?#! website! The website says HH is Mon-Sun 3p-6p. Got there Sat at 2:30p to locked doors. One of the guys who works at the Bravern said a lot of ppl complain about this and JH hasn't fixed the website in over a year. So please let me re-iterate, fix yo friggin' website!
(1)Byron 'Confisio' F.
Great small place, I read a review on the internet about this place having the best burgers on the state. I came for happy hours so I just got a regular bacon cheese burger, I'm not going to lie but it was heaven, the bun was crispy and soft, the meet fresh and well seasoned, the veggies fresh and crunchy, the only bad thing I can say about my burger was the bacon, it was nothing crazy you could taste the gas on it but nothing that would interfere with the taste of the burger. It was happy hours so it was cheap, very fancy but I just walk in with a t-shirt and seat on the bar, made no reservations and the employees were very polite. I've heard the jucy Lucy burger is their signature burger so I have to come back for that during lunch time.
(4)Tiffany B.
This was a nice place and the food is pretty decent. Our group had various items. The chowder was my fave and I would order it again. Bravo to the bananas foster!
(3)Krista T.
Without a doubt, John Howie is my absolute favorite restaurant in the Seattle area. While the prices are quite expensive, I've enjoyed every meal I've had there. "Enjoyed" might be an understatement, it's more like a euphoric dance of heaven in your mouth. A few recommendations: - Filet Mignon Oscar Style - Lobster Mashed Potatoes (DIVINE!) - Bananas Foster (DOUBLE DIVINE!) If you can't afford an $80 steak, or your conscious just won't allow you, at least come for the Bananas Foster... so good, you'll slap your mama, your daddy, and maybe even your own children.
(5)Chelsea J.
I've only been to John Howie for happy hour but I have been twice now and both times have been excellent. The food is absolutely delectable and the portions are very generous. The service is great! I've had the burger which is awesome and you can't beat it during happy hour. $11 for the burger and fries? Wow. And it's huge. We went recently and tried the tenderloin bites and the gravy fries. Talk about a lot of meat! It was a task but we ate it all and enjoyed every bite. They offer a wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails which is nice. They're expensive ($6-7 each for a drink with no booze) but they are creative and very tasty. I hope to go back for dinner sometime but will try to eat in the bar whenever I'm in the area!
(5)Kim D.
Came here for my little brother's birthday! FOOD: I got the butternut squash gnocchi. It was definitely on the sweet side. I like my sweets, but this was too sweet. I ate about half and didn't touch it after. My brothers got the steak and it was the steak for two. It was a huge piece of meat and they crave and sliced it for my brothers in front of us. They enjoyed the steak but I think there was a lack of flavor among the steak. (Which is American style) There beef are ALL corn fed which was a turn off for me. I like grass fed only because it is sustainable for the environment. Cows are not suppose to be eating corn, so that is why I went with the vegetarian option which is weird at a steakhouse.... I wanted the salmon but it was Pacific Salmon which is not wild salmon.... I thought they would have better quality meats/seafood, but oh well. SERVICE: Excellent! Fine dining, so only expected the best and received the best! Our server was very knowledgable about the meats and the entire menu which was very helpful. PRESENTATION: Food presentation was outstanding. The restaurant ambience is just want you would expect at a steakhouse. We sat by the large windows and a fabulous view of the freeway... It was a fun experience. LOCATION: Braven. Parking is easy but I always tend to park in the wrong area. I always end up walking from one side to the other... Not sure if there is closer parking but it suppose it is fine. WOULD I COME BACK: Only for special occasions! Too pricy for my little wallet. Happy Hour is the exception =) ADVICE: I love their happy hour! I come once in awhile for happy hour because prices are more affordable and their burger is delicious!
(4)Daniel G.
Awesome! Had the Wagyu Japanese Zoloton that was incredible. Nice touch on the salts...it really does boost the flavor. Had the mushrooms as a side and it was absolutely perfect as well...not your typical steakhouse mushroom side. Now have to come back and have the Wagyu sampler they have on the menu. Prices are irrelevant...what are you doing here if you planned to get something cheap? Waiter was terrific as well, but that's to be expected at this kind of place.
(5)Kristel B.
I've been here for Happy Hour and it was great. But this is a review for my recent dining experience a few days ago. The BF & I enjoyed our trip the first time around (last year) so we wanted to make a trip again during the holiday season. It's VERY PRICEY but he insisted we go because he's been cwanting to go back. We figured celebrating an early Christmas dinner would be a good occassion. Just like most Bellevue restaurants in the shopping area, they validate free parking a the garage below (The Bravern). The Bravern suits John Howie well because the stores are PRICEY. Never shopped there... Anyways we got there for our 5:30pm reservation. We got seated right away. All the workers were great and our waiter was nice (we joked about how we all looked young when he asked for our IDs). We ordered the John Howie Merlot, steaks (oscar style is the way too go!), creamy spinach and the bread pudding. There is complimentary bread & butter (SO DELICIOUS) and starters on the house (is this a thing there?). Everything we had was GREAT. If I was balling I'd love to go more than once a year, but for now, once a year (or 1.5 years) would be good enough. Our tab was about $200+. We were mentally prepared for that price though so it wasn't much of a shock. We enjoyed our food and service so we gave a 25% tip.
(5)Josh S.
There is no competition to JHS when it come to steak. They do it right. I've been to many steak houses that have been on the "Top Steakhouses in US" including Metropolitan Grill, Mastros, Michaels, 3 Forks, etc., and also El Gaucho, Daniels, etc., and there is no comparison. Metropolitan Grill is number two or three for me but if you want to know just how good your steak can be, go to JHS. Get the American Wagyu Filet Mignon and it order it RARE...no exceptions...you will thank me :) Our favorite servers are Brian, Eric, and Evan...Brandon is the man as well!
(5)Jeannie S.
I went to meet a friend for a late lunch, so they we're between menus on some items. There were a couple of things I wanted that were not available, but I survived and easy found something else I wanted. The service was OK, and at times needed to get our waitress' attention to get our orders/requests, which considering it was pretty much empty at that time of day wasn't a good sign. The server was pleasant though and our dishes came out quickly, and the food was yummy and well presented. So on service: 3 stars Food: 4 stars
(3)Richard B.
Love their lunch menu. Prices are surprisingly reasonable and the food is amazing. Great lunch spot that doesn't cost and arm and a leg like you'd expect. Happy Hour is fantastic too.
(5)Dan S.
*Gosh, just. Well. El Gaucho downtown good. *Their service is impeccable, the food is def. high end and gourmet but not too snooty, you know? you know every ingredient on the menu, dont you hate when there's super crazy mystery items in a dish with exotic names? *They validate parking and the server was super attentive!
(5)Kristi H.
Happy hour is amazing. I just found out that you can order just one tempura bacon so you don't ruin your dinner. Yum yum yum. The Sunday family style dinner is great and a good deal.
(5)Serra S.
Great steak! Awesome mushroom dishes it was delicious!
(5)Anne M.
I'm not even sure how to begin to explain how delicious and amazing our experience at John Howie was. I took my husband there for his birthday, and I asked for a nice private table, and to my surprise, they really delivered on my request. Our server was utterly fantastic, completely on point with suggestions, but not overly pushy and let us make our own choices rather than shoving his opinion on his, which I respect. The breads which are served complimentary are really yummy, and there are many different varieties. I had the Clam Chowder to begin, I got the small bowl, and I didn't even finish that because it was too much. My husband had the crab cakes, which he loved (they were definitely expensive, but very tasty). I had a 6oz USDA Prime Filet, while my husband got a 4oz USDA & 4oz American Wagyu (they have a combo version for the steaks, which is awesome so you get to taste the difference between the steak). We also got sweetcorn and lobster mashed potato. Needless to say, it was TOO much food!! My husband was served a complimentary dessert of his choice, creme brulee, while I got their Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache tart - again, way too much food, but it was a special occasion! I have literally zero complaints about the food, or the staff, my water was always topped up, but not annoyingly so, our server was not obnoxious, the steak tasted awesome... the ambiance is also nice, not too loud, but it was very busy, so there was a lot of staff bustling around. Can't wait to return in the future!
(5)Sheena C.
This is in fact one out of two of Seattle's premier fine dining Steak establishments the food here is nothing but phenomenal if you are a musician and consider yourself a True taste maker see Chris Lara for wine his taste is unmatched and Chief Tykey Aniol is a true genius never before has a steak melted in my mouth like his and the one of a kind juicy Lucy burger from executive chief hipkiss is beyond any Burger expectations in the northwest my personal favorite is the bananas foster for dessert and this amazing bartender they call eric in the day time can give you the most alluring dirty martini I've ever seen in this city all top shelf of course *this place is beyond clean it's beautiful above the bar of health codes *tip if you have an issue ignore the general manager go straight to the owner the general manager only cares about the investors in the establishment everyone should be treated as equals not just investors don't get mad at the servers or the hostesses they only do what the general manager tells them to then she will blame her boss "pass the buck syndrome" if you have a concern just go to the owner! It's his brand after all *tip I'm not a fan of meat at all but if you are going to eat it do it here *tip it will be a cold day in hell when I buy a thousand dollar glass of wine just to look outside of a window that only has a view of Seattle's ugliest highway if you want a view try the canlis restaurant also another quality restaurant like the Edgewater hotel but the food is not as good at the Edgewater *tip You are some classy bitch. I bet you curtsy when you fart...don't you? *tip Plutocracy * tip Nepotism (‵)
(5)Julia G.
Service Ambience Exceptional quality food knowledgeable staff wine list - best in the city... By far! I love this place we (husband & myself) frequent this restaurant monthly. This is not a cheap meal but it shouldn't stop you. Never had anything I wasn't happy with and I have tried plenty.
(5)Sarah H.
Best restaurant I've been to in Seattle! If I'm going for dinner I always get the Oscar filet. The meat has so much flavor and just melts in your mouth. For lunch I get the steak salad. Lunch is reasonably priced and it's amazing!! I can spend 200$ here on a meal for two and feel good about it because it was worth the money for sure! The service is excellent as well. Great place for a special night out.
(5)Trent N.
Wife's birthday so instead of hauling the kids along she wanted to try the steaks to go. OMG, amazing....best steak I have ever grilled. Purchased the two 10 oz American Waygu steaks. They give you a cool box with a ice pack along with the seasoning salt. Was very careful grilling, because who wants to screw up $82 worth of steak. They came out amazing...the salt along with the tenderness of the steak was un matched. I will definitely be back again for steaks to go for that special occasion. SO WORTH IT...PLEASE TRY....Thank you John!!
(5)Lucy L.
(Happy Hour review) Best burger I've had in Seattle thus far. And gigantic too, not what you'd expect from such a fine establishment. The other bar menu items we ordered were delicious as well (deviled eggs and brussel sprouts) I got the seasonal cocktail and it had just the right amount of sweetness and bite. But this place earned that 5th star from the excellent service. Our group was in casual wear (by a fashion emergency, I actually ended up in yoga pants) and because it was late not everyone ordered food or drinks. In many highbrow places young people like us are passed over for neighboring tables of middle-aged executives in suits, but not this one. Our server was attentive and helpful with recommendations throughout the whole visit. She earned that extra tip ;)
(5)Julie H.
This restaurant is a major splurge, so expect to take your time and enjoy. Service is a deliberate, sedate pace. We were celebrating several family occasions, and took a group of 8. Dinner was close to $150 per person, including tax and tip. Service was outstanding, and the sommelier gave us great personal attention and made a wonderful recommendation that we enjoyed very much. The bread basket (usually not worth mentioning) is diverse, interesting, and tasty - there's a little cheese roll in there that was my favorite of the bunch. We had a shrimp amuse bouche that was a fantastically flavored little bite. There was not a piece of meat on the table that was less than outstanding, but of all the bites I managed to talk other people out of, I can say that next time I will probably order their 42-day aged rib eye. The flavor on that steak was out of this world. The sides were all good. I wish they'd offer their gnocchi as a side dish, though. The dessert menu is amazing, and we worked hard to save room for it. They are large, and can easily be shared - I could not finish my bread pudding, which was delicious. The chocolate caramel tart, the pecan bacon pie, and the creme brulee were all met with acclaim. At these prices, it's a treat I won't get to enjoy often, but it's worth the occasional splurge!
(5)Thomas P.
One of the best (if not THE best) steakhouse in the Seattle area. In terms of steak I would say the only other steakhouse that compares would be the Metropolitan Grill. Their appetizers and sides are equally amazing. We almost always get the Roasted Bone Marrow and it's just too bad they don't give you enough bread to soak up all the beefy goodness. The only downside is it's definitely a splurge, I don't think we've ever walked out spending less than $100/person. However, on the cheap, their happy hour bacon cheeseburger is the absolute best bacon cheeseburger in town.
(5)Phil C.
The two best burgers in Seattle aren't in Seattle. With John Howie and Lot No 3 flexing their burger might across the pond, us poor westsiders are forced to either settle for less or embark on a pilgrimage. So yeah, The Burger. They have a few types, but the real contender here is the 60/40 Juicy Lucy. That ratio is the beef/bacon split (you're welcome), and it's filled out with lettuce and fried onions (crunch), onion jam mayo and tomato (moisture), cheddar and Monterey Jack ('cause... cheese). Stuff it all between the best damn sweet roll bun you can find, and you have yourself a tasty burger. A few other notes about the overall establishment: - Service is as good as it gets, with each member of their team being professional, cordial, and courteous. - The sides are decent but forgettable. - It just feels good to eat here; things feel clean, appropriate, and important. (Nacre cutlery? Why not.)
(5)Nina T.
Fancy place, really great service. However, the food wasn't as amazing as I expected it to be. I admit that I'm not really a steak person, but my dining partner is, and he just thought his New York Strip was just okay. For $80, he expected the meat to be really, really good, and part of it wasn't really edible because of gristle. The sides were better -- really loved the mac & cheese. And the three types of fancy salt on the table were a nice touch. I often choose Seastar for nice occasions on the Eastside and my visit to John Howie isn't going to change that trend. Though maybe I'll stop by sometime and make a meal of that mac & cheese.
(3)Kim L.
I came here to eat dinner with some friends. I got the 4 oz USDA prime filet & 4 oz American Wagyu filet combination, and we split the asparagus and sautéed spinach sides. Both of the steaks tasted good, but the American Wagyu tasted a lot better. Service was good-the server always came by to refill waters promptly. My friends and I were still hungry after dinner though, so we went to the bar to do Happy Hour. At the bar, we got the spicy habanero butter shrimp, tenderloin bites, and the 6 cheese flatbread. All of the food tasted good. I heard about the HH burger and will come back to try that out sometime later on. Overall, the food here is really good, and I would highly recommend if you like steak!
(4)Nikki O.
First class restaurant. The day we went it was really warm in the lounge though, I don't know if something was broken that day or not, but all the waitresses were flushing and sweating as were other guests. We are going there again on the 21st so will see then, but I imagine it was a fluke because everything else was excellent.
(5)Michelle S.
This meal was magical. I do not have enough eloquent words for these dishes. Everything was wonderful! We had tempura-maple-sambal bacon, wedge salad, petite filet, Australian waygu rib eye, pommes puree, asparagus, and roasted sweet corn. I cannot say enough great things. This was a birthday dinner and they treated us to a dessert. We had the lemon tart and volcano cake. Add perfect cocktails, a gratis amuse bouche, and truffles to go. Perfection. Thank you, John Howie Steak!
(5)Andrew Y.
I was very well taken care of during my visit here last night. Once I got seated, I couldn't wait to eat. My glass of water was refilled often; I didn't have to wait 1 minute for refills. I was treated to complimentary bread, and that tasted great. For dinner, I ordered the Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon with maple sambal dipping sauce and Pan Seared Potato Gnocchi. The bacon by itself was tasty, but when I dipped it in the sauce, it tasted even better. Now I'm officially a fan of this appetizer. The gnocchi had a nice presentation to it, and it tasted well. For dessert I ordered a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. That was very nice. I also had two 8 ounce glasses of red Chateau La Freynelle wine. They tasted great. I'm now a fan of red wine. Brian M checked on me throughout the night to see how my meal was going and if I needed anything. He's a true professional. I highly recommend this place if you want an excellent restaurant experience.
(5)Kc H.
Okay guys. I had JH for at least 7 times for the past 3 years. I always order the Kobe Waygu to treat myself :) Right now I'm at Las Vegas. I want to say that... John Howie makes the best Kobe :) Had Gordon R****y today and my Kobe was absolutely burnt and without flavor?????!!! Good job JH! Will go back and visit yall soon :))))
(4)An T.
Had the 72day aged rib eye! Cooked on point! Great flavor great texture. The sides were great. The cream of spinach was like a spinach dip very cheesy. The gnocchi had a lot of cheese as well. Unfortunately I was a 3rd wheel but it seems the table side steaks for two are a way better deal. I was tempted to order it for just myself ! lol but i couldnt bring myself to eat the steak then next day cold. Heating it up would just over cook it so opted for just the rib eye. I will be back with a partner in crime to tackle the table side steaks.
(4)DW K.
The top steakhouse in the Seattle area. Factors that differentiate John Howie one notch above the usual suspects: 1. Beef selection - grass fed USDA aged, American wagyu, Australian A5 wagyu, Japanese A5 wagyu. 2. Salt selection - white (Flor de Sal from Algarve, Portugal), pink (Murray River Sea Salt from Australia), black (Hiwa Kai Black Lava Sea Salt from Hawaii). Everything else is pretty similar to be honest. I would recommend the Australian zabuton if you want the midpoint in tenderness and marbling, i.e. between the American and Japanese A5.
(5)Ash N J.
I just celebrated my birthday with John Howie and it was by far one of the best dinners I have had in a while. The Caesar salad made table side will ruin you to any other Caesar!! Believe me I have been craving it for the past three days!! The service is by far impeccable, napkins folded the minute you stand, water glass never emptying, and spot on recommendations. I would highly recommend for a delicious dinner
(5)Jason G.
The food might be good, the drinks might be great. I'll never know. I was never served. Left after sitting at the bar for 30 mins. --EDIT-- The management from this establishment contacted me and extended not only a heartfelt apology, but an incentive to return. This type of customer service creates lifelong patrons. From colleagues, I've been told this is a great place to have dinner and drinks and I appreciate the response from management from the somewhat less than expected experience.
(5)Vanna P.
Went here for the first time for their hh with a group of friends. Their hh was really good and large portions! Then they had a Groupon deal for dinner, so I decided to check it out with my husband and we ordered the tableside for 2. The steak was perfectly cooked, nice and juicy, and the vegetables were nicely cooked as well. Overall, everything was delicious and for dessert the creme brûlée was heaven!!
(4)Mike C.
Would like to visit again,
(4)Tina T.
My favorite steak house. The service is the best I've ever had. The food is perfect and incredible and it melts your mouth. This place is so fantastic I wish I could give it hundred stars. I love everything they prepare table side. Don't go to this restaurant on a budget. Visit on a splurge and order what they have that's terrific and see what it's really about. Live like royalty. Order red, Red, RED WINE yA make me feel so fine you keep me rockin' all of the time! The selection is supreme.
(5)Colleen R.
If I could give more than 5 stars I would! This place is really amazing. Everything I have ever ordered has been delicious. The customer service is beyond great, they are very accommodating and really make you feel like you are special as a customer. For example, the last time I went there I was wearing mostly black so instead of giving me the usual white napkin for my lap they gave me a black one. Their seasonal cocktails are always delicious. If you want to try out a few of their options without paying full price try out happy hour, it's super affordable and you get the same excellent food and customer service. If you haven't been I'd suggest you go!!!!
(5)Lindsey S.
Dined here last year and left disappointed so when a friend chose this for this birthday I was bummed but.....SO glad I gave it a second shot! Service was fantastic. The perfect amount of professional and friendly. Food was awesome! I am a tried & true Daniel's fan but have to admit this filet was better. It was perfectly cooked and the taste was unreal. A few other noteworthy items: Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp Strawberry, English Pea and Marcona Almond Salad Roasted Cauliflower with Green Olive Vinaigrette & Pistachio Nuts Classic Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee A few things that were decent not great: Tableside Caesar- VERY fishy tasting Roasted Jidori Chicken Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Tart The salt tower- she explained the salt but not what it was to be used for. We also had the treat of trying their featured Kopi Luwak coffee. It was really pricey but the occasion was for celebrating so he went for it. It didn't disappoint but not sure I would spend $45 on a cup of coffee again.
(5)Denise L.
This is a review for the Happy Hour only. BEST HAPPY HOUR EVAR. That is all. Just kidding, I'll elaborate a bit. A part of me didn't want to write this 5 star review just so there's less of a crowd to beat for a seat. No lie. I've tried almost everything on the happy hour menu (whether it's an entire burger or just bites of my friend's food). The bill will shock you after getting such large plates of food. So much food for only that much?! I'm in love. Everything is good. Nothing disappointed. A few of my favorites: -The gnocchi is so smooth and fluffy and the truffle sauce that comes with it...I'm just drooling thinking about it (so glad I have leftovers in my fridge from last night)! -The tenderloin bites are tender and the sauce is not too much of one ingredient -You can't go wrong with deviled eggs with bacon bits sprinkled on top -BEECHER'S MAC AND CHEESE. nuff said. -The burger is the best deal you can get. A giant bacon cheeseburger cooked to perfection with ample veggies and a giant load of fries for only $10? Yes, please. Great ambience, great service. I'm always on cloud 9 when I'm there.
(5)Daniel C.
My wife and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary of meeting each other (actually we met at John Howie as our first date) and our server, Chris Fiamengo was the same one when we met! Chris actually is our requested server every time we go and nothing short of perfect as always. I actually never tried the Prime Rib because I always order the Japanese A5 steak, this time, we tried Prime Rib, Austrailian Filet, Crab Legs and the Japanese A5 ribeye. On top of that we had 2 appetizers and sides, okay, we were stuffed royally. In my humble opinion, the experience of a restaurant starts with service. Chris exemplifies what service should be - professional, fun, detailed, efficient, and great attitude. I have been to John Howie more than 20 times now, this is a very special place to come.
(5)Karen H.
I really love this place and since I was visiting Seattle again, I wanted to come back here so my hubby can try the "Kiss Your Hips Goodbye." When I called the first time, the girl was really nice. She said that they don't make that no more, but if you request it the chef will make it for you. She said she will talk to the chef and he will get back to me by Monday. I called on Thursday. Monday comes and, I still don't hear from anyone, so I give them a call. I speak to another girl and explain the situation and she put me on hold to go talk to the chef. She comes back and says no we don't do it at all no more. Bye! How rude. Sooooooooooooooooo which one is it? Special request or not at all? My hubby and I were super excited and we were visiting all the way from SF, just to have this. If you don't do it anymore that's fine, but the first girl said yes we can do it with special requests and now the 2nd girl is saying no won't do it at all. I don't like flip floppers. Disappointed. =(
(2)Haeree C.
This is based on the Happy Hour menu at John Howie. The actual dinner might be different. It sucks when you're a high end restaurant that I've got these perceptions about what they should be doing because of what I'm paying. Then, they go and do happy hour, which brings the prices down, but not my expectations. So...I'm hoping to see this review go up once I go to dinner there. The decor and the ambiance of the place is what you expect at any steakhouse: everything seems made of wood, feels pricey, and almost old rich American. The bar also kind of lends to that aura and is very relaxed with a good group of professionals seated around at all times. The bar though can get pretty loud but the seating's good enough that if you've got a good group of friends, nothing interrupts. We ordered a lot off of the hh menu. Flatbread, prime tenderloin tips, fried brussel sprouts, and two hamburgers. For the price, most things were ok from what I'd expect from john howies. The only thing that really amazed me though was the burgers. I recommend the burgers as the only dish to get for the hh. Other notes and a recap: the service was ok, the food was ok, and the burgers were bomb. It somehow equaled out into a 3 star.
(3)Ryan B.
Excellent food. Just recently went for happy hour it was awesome! I got the burger with fries and the fried bacon with spicy maple syrup. Crazy good. Be sure to get there early as the bar area isn't too big.
(5)Frank L.
Australian Zambuton slighlty "below" Japananese Zambuton but no complaints here. Try it if you like your mouth to lose control of saliva. The waiter was new and overaggressively upselling which is a huge turnoff. The sides are decent not anything to write hime about. 5 star for the Zambuton -1 star for service and sides.
(4)Suie C.
The bf and I came here for our anniversary dinner and had a very satisfying time. Service was exceptional. I dropped off a bottle of wine a couple of hours before dinner (corkage fee applies, lower end i think $20 or $25) and they decanted it for us so that it was ready at our table when we arrived. They switched out the white napkins for black napkins so we wouldn't get any lint residue on our dark pants/dress and seated us at a window seat as we requested. For dinner, we started w/ the tableside beef tartare which was incredibly tasty. Waygu beef melted in your mouth. I had the trio of waygu while the bf had the filet. This was our first time trying waygu and it was extrememly tender. For sides we had lobster mashed potatoes and sauteed mushrooms. Lobster mashed potatoes were good but the mushrooms were the winner here. Buttery, creamy, perfectly seasoned. For dessert, we had the molten chocolate cake and the tempura lemon poppy seed pound cake. The molten chocolate cake was phenomenal, I couldn't stop eating it. It was large enough to share and very rich. I'd skip the tempura lemon poppy cake as it was a bit dry and didn't have much flavor, maybe b/c the molten cake overpowered it? Either way, get the chocolate molten cake!
(4)Brian G.
I love steak. Historically, Daniels has been my favorite steakhouse. When John Howie opened, my wife and I gave it a try. We loved every aspect of it but the price - it's probably 1/3 more than Daniels. So we made JH our "annual" place - we typically go once a year for our anniversary - it is that special. In only going there very occasionally, my opinion was that the food was great and the service was great - the vibe of the place is much fancier than Daniels. The service seemed much more attentive, the dining room fresher looking, always an "amuse-bouche" from the chef, etc. In terms of the food, I had a hard time deciding if Daniels was as good as JH... but had never eaten them both in a short enough time period to judge. About 2 months ago we had the good fortune to eat Daniels and JH within a few days of each other. JH wins the food contest, hands down. And until my visit yesterday, JH also won the service category. A couple weeks ago, I took my work team there for a luncheon. Everything was great until the food came out. Three people in the group ordered the same dish, but one was medium, one med-rare, and one med-well. All the food came out, and the wait staff delivering it was clearly not sure which was which. There were something like 3 switches done as the food was being presented. After the third switch, one of the staff (who appeared to be "in charge") confidently indicated he'd gotten it right this time. Well, when the team got a few bites into their food they realized they didn't get what they ordered - all the doneness levels were switched around. Since they'd each already started, they decided the food was still edible so just continued eating... but when you are paying so much for a meal don't you think you should get what you asked for? After a few minutes, our server came by and asked specifically if everyone got what they ordered. We were honest - no we didn't, but we decided to keep eating. The server kind of shrugged her shoulders - no apology, no offer to fix it. Fast forward to the check - you'd think they would have comped dessert or taken something off the bill for the food. Not at all - absolutely no acknowledgement of the issue. Great steaks. Inconsistent service. Lack of accountability. How disappointing.
(3)Dan C.
Steaks are OK, service is impeccable but it is a bit over-priced. But you are paying for the location and also the ambiance.
(4)Kristy M.
I've been coming here for many years. It's my go to steakhouse. The have one of the most wide variety of steaks than anywhere I've been to all over the U.S. (Portland, New Orleans, Chicago and even New York.) They also have one of the greatest wine selection and the staffs that really know their wines. I always ask for suggestions from their sommelier and they have never miss on that perfect taste I was looking for. The wine director Chris (well there are 2 Chris's there and they both are awesome) you can tell he love what he does and love helping out the customer with that perfect wine tasting experience . I'm never disappointed with my experience there. The staffs are very tentative and since we are regular there our servers remember what we like and what wine we had last time we came. ..I mean that's got to say something about their service. Very personable...I swear I've been there over a hundred times, that includes the bar section for hh with the girls or a low key night south my husband for a good glass of wine and dessert (banana foster and chocolate lava cake to die for) and out of those hundreds experiences only 2 did I remember not being happy with my steak ( I love their japanese cuts) and they were very quick and accommodating to fix it and I come out feeling like the queen. Which is really great who doesn't like feeling like that. Not only do they have great steaks their menu rotates and change worth seasons. So you'll always have new things to try. If you are looking for that whole package experience you have to come to this place. It's a must. And those of you who like me love seafood (copper river king salmon ) they got that here right now! So delicious! Come and try for yourself. That's all I got left to say.
(5)M N.
A solid four stars. The steaks can be insanely expensive but Marce and I split a 16 oz Rib Eye which was awesome for $64. We added a couple of sides - we split a wedge salad which was the best wedge we have ever had. The wild mushrooms were also excellent, with a mix of different mushrooms which were tasty. Sides were generously sized and at $10-$15 were good value. A "must do" is the Banana Foster dessert, where they douse this banana mixture in 150 proof alcohol which *poof* makes 2 foot tall blue flames. It tastes awesome and at $20 for two is with it for the show! Would have given 5 stars except our close out Bill was very slow - maybe 20 mins after we asked for it. There was some snafu but otherwise service and food were 5 stars.
(4)Monte H.
No bullcrap, the quality of the heifer here is udderly ridiculous. The cattlelog's selection is pretty extensive, and I was at first eying the US Wagyu NY Strip (from the famed Snake River Farms) but then was steered to the Australian Zabuton. I had never even herd of that cut before, and its marbling looked so glorious. It didn't disappoint. On my first bite, I just cried. "Waaaah, gyu are so freaking delicious." I thought the sides could've been better but honestly the point was moo-t when I put another hunk of cow in my mouth and was transported to a beefy happy place. The tuna tartar app was really great too. Cud steaknight get any better? Yes, actually. Order dessert and discover the wonderful (and huge) bread pudding. It capped steak night perfectly. What a rare treat, well done John Howie!
(5)Britt B.
We had a great experience at John Howie last Monday. Service was spot on and everyone working there was so friendly. I am pregnant and have unfortunate dietary restrictions, but had no problem finding out whether I could be accommodated or not. We asked for a private booth, and we got one. We both went for American Wagyu, one NY and one Filet...Cooked as ordered and to perfection. Served lone on a plate. Nice touch. Brussel sprouts were excellent, as were the potato cakes that were something like hashbrowns with creme fraiche. Very nice and reasonable wine selection. Loooooved the habenero shrimp appy, just wish the sauce was a little thicker so it'd stay on the shrimp better. Molten Lave Cake - Hot, rich...to die for. 5 solid stars all the way around.
(5)Ha L.
I came here for my dad's 75th birthday. The service was very attentive, and the food was enjoyed all around. I love steak, so I had to order the wagyu sampler. Since it wasn't my birthday I only splurged on the 3 sampler instead of 4. One of these days I will return and try the Japanese wagyu. So the waitress brought this box to the table like she was going to let me pick a cigar, but it was actually a box of knives. A special knife for special steak. I'm not sure if the knife made a difference, but all three cuts of meat melted in my mouth. After indulging in a few sides and dessert the waitress brought each of us a tiny box with a truffle inside. The only thing I wish I had done before dinner was put on a pair of yoga pants.
(5)Justin Z.
Really hard to top. Always a real treat when we visit Howies. The bill is always so high it's funny, but worth it every time.
(5)Andy Z.
food: we ordered many items to share from the happy hour menu. we ordered the burger, chicken pate, fried bacon, fried pork skins, sliders, mac and cheese. everything was good except for the pork skins. that was horrible. it had the feeling of eating Styrofoam. of the list, fried bacon is probably the best, followed by the mac and cheese. the burger is tasty too. ***5/5 service: happy hour time, so we had to wait a little bit for a table. nothing too bad. our server took our order pretty quickly. ***4/5 ambiance: feels like a fancy place. i had a hoody on that night...it was raining. i felt kind of out of place, but not too bad. nobody was staring. its not too loud for sitting in the bar area. ***5/5 price: happy hour pricing is definitely worth the money and the value you get is better than most happy hour food. ***5/5
(5)Heidi P.
The thing I love about happy hour is the fact I can try a new restaurant out for the fraction of the price of a normal dinner. Happy hour gives me a good idea of they type of service to expect and whether or not the food is worth paying full price for. After visiting John Howie's Happy Hour this past Saturday, I hands down would not hesitate to return! Our experience was pretty amazing. The food was so delicious, we tried four different things, and I loved them all equally. I typically don't do late night happy hour, but we went out with another couple and didn't arrive til 9 pm. It ended up being perfect though as there was an open table and we sat down right away. Our waitress was excellent and our drinks were brought out fast. I am not consuming alcohol due to being pregnant and was extremely pleased with the large selection of non-alcoholic choices they had. This is something I've come to appreciate at restaurants lately, and John Howie had the best selection I've seen thus far. The menu items we settled on were the chicken liver mousse, prime tenderloin bites, fried gnocchi, and fried brussel sprouts. All were equally delicious, which is usually not the case when I try 4 different things. The brussel sprouts were perfectly seasoned, tangy and lemony, and just so flavorful. The fried gnocchi was fluffy and tender. The truffle dipping sauce was rich not too overpowering on the truffle. The chicken liver mousse topped with a wine aspic was my choice, mainly because I love this type of thing, and don't get it often. The waiter explained the three different accompaniments on the plate, which were a raisin jam, pickled onions, and a beer mustard. The raisin jam and onions were my favorite. Probably the best part though, was the sea salt on the plate, that when dabbed on top, made it all come together perfectly. Probably my only complaint of the night would be that there was too much mousse for the amount of crostini provided. I am sure they would have provided me with more, had I asked, but I was too full to finish it anyway. My husband even loved this, and he is not a liver fan. Lastly the fllet bites were tender and perfect. The teriyaki type sauce they were in was not thick and sticky, but thin and flavorful, and the orange supremes were a yummy and light addition. I really wanted to try dessert because it really sounded delicious, but I was extremely full. I would love to come back for HH, as there were so many things on the menu that I would like to try. Normally I have a hard time picking a couple things, but with this HH menu, everything sounded so good. I definitely want to come back to treat my husband to a good steak dinner though, as our HH experience proved that it would definitely be worth the splurge!
(5)Moira B.
I went to celebrate a couple of birthdays, and both the food and customer service was great. The waiter was attentive and gave good advice when we were ordering, and they even comped us a bananas foster. The bill for a steak dinner with a couple of starters is not light, but this is a place that you go to not only for the food but to eat at what the staff really sells as a restaurant that cares about your experience.
(5)Ying K.
Steak is good!
(4)Phily B.
Best steak I ever had. The quality definitely warrants the ridiculously high price PROs: * Incredible customer service. Kind, helpful, and best of all, KNOWLEDGEABLE about all facets of the menu. * I'm sure some people aren't fans of the typical bougie people you find at the Bravern, and the clientele here is certainly made up of said people. However the customer service here will make you feel welcome! * Décor is upscale and classy. I love that! * Located in the Bravern. Parking garage located below. John Howie validates your parking... not the guy, the restaurant :p * Food is incredible! It's not often that I come to a restaurant I've never been to and love EVERY item I order. See my pictures to see everything I shoveled into my face! CONs: * Pricey! Yah there are four "$" up there for a reason. $100+ easy for 2 people for dinner * I wasn't a huge fan of the complimentary bread. I did enjoy the small medallion-esque bread.. but the other bread items in the basket were forgettable. OTHER COMMENTs: * I'm not sure if there is a dress code, (I was wearing cargo shorts and a button up :p) but people certainly come dressed to impressed here. Some people were all out in in dresses or suit and tie (no not JTimberlake).. while others looked a bit more casual.. but still a clean look. What I'm trying to say is... if you walk in here with PJs and your college hoodie, you're go to stand out haha RECOMMENDATION: * If you're getting steak, I HIGHLY recommend going with the Japanese Wagyu Beef. I tried USDA, Australian, and Japanese Wagyu.... By far the Japanese Wagyu was the best in terms of flavor and texture. Australian was my least favorite. * If things are too pricey for you, the HAPPY HOUR menu is very affordable. However the only real STEAK item for happy hour is the Tenderloin Bites. You can still get a great burger as well as the tempura bacon everyone loves, but if you came here for DAT STEAK, you're going to have to open up your wallet and check the lunch/dinner menu FINAL THOUGHTs: Is it worth the price? YES IT IS. I will be back, without a doubt!
(5)Yeelin T.
Tonight was my forth visit to John Howie, and I must say I enjoyed every one of them. More specifically, I've been there twice for lunch, and twice for dinner. Lunch is a steal, with most of their sandwiches around $15. I've tried several different sandwiches now, and they are all simply amazing. Make sure you bring your appetite though as they are huge. I usually end up with a pound of food to bring home. The lunch service is less attentive than dinner, but prompt and polite. Dinner is more expensive, but just as delicious! Unlike lunch, dinner is more special occasion-like. It's more business casual than Canlis dressy. The service is super attentive. Here's a quick summary of what I've had at John Howie, and what I think. You can't go wrong with any of them! Lunch: Roasted Porchetta and Rapini Sandwich: 4.5/5 USDA Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger: 4.5/5 Torta: 5/5 Potato salad: 6/5 (yes, it's THAT good) Fries: 4.5/5 Dinner: Tempura bacon: 6/5 Deviled eggs: 6/5 (i wanted to eat them all) Prime Chateaubriand for two: 5/5 Filet mignon: 5/5 Hedgehog mushrooms and shaved brussel sprouts: 4/5 Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache tart: 4/5 for the tart, 5/5 for the ice cream
(4)Bethany M.
I'm updating my review for one specific reason: to complain about the dessert selections, and more specifically, the ice cream. As I mentioned in my last review, we dine here pretty frequently -- in fact, often enough to be well aware of the fact that the Olympic Mountain ice cream flavors have not changed in well over a year. I can recite them from memory: KY Pie, Makers' Mark bourbon, Salted Caramel and Vanilla. The sorbets don't change that often, either. As a devotee of OM, I know that they have vastly more interesting flavors available on a seasonal basis than what is being featured at JH Steak. In addition, the other dessert selections have not changed much either in the past year. It would be nice to switch things up a bit; as a diner with a sweet tooth, I like to end a great meal on a high note; right now, I dread taking a look at that stale dessert menu. That being said: I'm still in love with the steak -- thank you for bringing back the "genuine" Japanese wagyu. It's worth every penny. I miss the domestic Mishima Ranch steaks; it would be great to see those make a return to the menu as well. Lastly: the service is always top notch; Chris Fiamengo is the height of professionalism, each and every time.
(3)Alex T.
My wife ordered the 6 oz Wagyu filet mignon. I got the new york steak, which was great, too! Other guests also were very happy with their order. We also had the crispy bacon, one of my guests recommended to me months ago, was truely great! And the dessert with banana, was prepared in front of the table. The serving waiter was pretty entertaining and we really enjoyed it. Pricy but worth it!
(5)Stephanie B.
For those wanting the John Howie experience, but not willing to shell out $48 a steak a la carte- the happy hour is a perfect option. I'm willing to go so far as to say that the burger is the best in Bellevue, and if you go during happy hour or anytime on a Sunday it's only $10! The bar staff is super friendly and personable. I make it a habit of going at least once a week.
(5)Steve K.
Took my mom here for lunch on mother's day. It is on the second floor of the Bravern shopping mall, tucked away in the back corner. I was very impressed with the service. Both the hostess and the waitress were very friendly and attentive to all our needs. I ordered the beef brisket sandwich while my mom got the filet mignon. Both were cooked medium rare perfectly as requested. Had a table near the wall of windows in the back giving you pretty nice views of Bellevue (except parts of the 405 which are not that scenic). Overall, good food and good service. It is pricey, but generally you get what you pay for with steak houses.
(5)Joleen Z.
Beyond impressed and so delicious. Yes, it's in a luxury shopping complex and yes, it's a steakhouse filled with Microsoftees in t-shirts, but I had such an enjoyable experience. The service was excellent, the food was delish, and the ambiance was lively and fun. We sat by the window, overlooking the East Side and had some yum steak, Beecher's Mac n' Cheese (a must!), and some great appetizers, too. There are many table side options which we didn't do, but for a special occasion or if you have guests or are entertaining clients, this is a great option. Why not flambé something in Courvoisier? Yes, John Howie. I will be back.
(4)Jill A.
I've only eaten there once and it was for my 2 year anniversary, I've never been more pleased! The steak was fantastic [perfectly cooked, tender, juicy, beautiful], the different salts were elegant and tasty and the atmosphere is somewhere between casual and dressy (: Perfect for an upscale Bellevue place!
(5)Yekta L.
I was here last night and it is always a fun experience. The wine is at perfect temperature Meat is no matter which one I choose always cooked to perfection Waiter was very knowledgeable and answered our questions clearly I give 4 star because the gentleman at the entrance assumed that we were there for their cheap happy hour hamburger when we walked in
(4)Darlene L.
My husband and I had the 36oz Bone-In Rib Eye Steak tableside dinner for two. A waiter brings it to your table, carves it for you, and also splits the roasted vegetables among the two of you. They also bring out this tiered salt tray that comes with himalayan salt, volcanic salt, and sea salt. The vegetables are "oven-roasted" are root vegetables like zucchini, squash and carrots. The bacon tempura was our favorite though...surprisingly! It was just fried deliciousness, but we had to restrain ourselves from eating too many. This was def. a splurge, but maybe we'll be back to check out the happy hour.
(4)Nelson Y.
This review is for their Happy Hour. I've always had a great time here (been here at least 6-8 times) but the bar area is pretty small so make sure you get to happy hour earlier. The burger is a great deal but is a bit salty in my opinion. I've had a bunch of their other dishes but the burger is the best bang for your buck. With the live music and all, John Howie is still a cool place to go- but if it was up to me, I would still prefer El Gaucho Bellevue for the complete experience during happy hour.
(4)Gina L.
We celebrated my birthday on Sept. 12th here and it was fabulous! Great steak and tempura bacon. I looooove the lobster mashed potatoes-don't pass those up!
(5)Girl D.
I've read some amusing reviews here about this restaurant. My favorite, hands down, is by the young woman who is scandalized by the casual dress of some patrons (despite her complaints that the prices are far, far higher than Denny's), and repelled by the fact that some of the Microsoft employees occupying the building might actually be having *gasp* MEETINGS during meals here, oh, the GAUCHERIE! If only we could have elite diners but Olive Garden prices, instead of the other way 'round, we might have Princess' perfect spot here. Tsk. As for me, my more-or-less casually-dressed companion and I had an excellent meal at John Howie. We started with a jamon, fig, manchego, and honey appetizer, the simple excellence of which made us envious of Spanish peasants. We split a generous wedge salad that was brightened by olives and hazelnuts. My companion found a half-bottle of Alexander Valley to be very much to his liking. Not in the mood to blow tall stacks of bills out the airlock by ordering beef from Japan, we stuck to the domestic USDA steaks from Nebraska, the filet for him, and a New York strip for me. We added lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus to complete our feast. Now indeed, though there are other steak restaurants in the area that will serve you lobster mashed potatoes, including Daniel's, I found the lobster in the John Howie version to be fresher and more tender; refreshingly absent of the briny, rubbery taste of overcooked lobster that is tired and ready to shuffle off to cat food. John Howie's lobster mash arrives in a pool of lobster bisque, and drizzling this bisque over your steak and asparagus is like the final scene in Faust. You're expecting the floor to open beneath you, smoke and steam to billow from a glowing depth, and a baritone-heavy chorus to announce that you're going to Hell for indulging yourself this much. As for the steaks, they were perfectly cooked, excellently aged, tender, enormous slabs of animal that did not die in vain. Add a sprinkling of the specialty, smoky, coarse salts that are brought to every table, and you are eating like royalty. We're not rich people, and no, we would not come to John Howie every week, and perhaps not even every year. We came, we tried, and we believe the experience, the expertise with the food, and the elegance and warmth of the service are worth every dime.
(5)Kumiko M.
My boyfriend and I went here on a nice date, and we used a groupon deal to help save a bit of moolah as we knew it would be expensive. The deal covered the steak that he bought, and I chose some cheaper dishes to share with him. The service there is very professional and memorable. There were some chicks next to us that looked a little trashed (and trashy, sorry not sorry), and were complaining about a simple chip in their glassware. To normal people, it probably wouldn't be a big problem and can be replaced. But I think they wanted a free meal out of it and were talking loud and telling us that the servers were unprofessional and all though (which they definitely weren't). The Maitre 'D handled the situation very well, but I think he thought we were worried about that so he gave us dessert on the house. We couldn't stop talking about that meal (b/c of the trashy ladies and the food) for a few weeks and are looking forward to going back! Also, go during happy hour (or all day sundays) for the $10 burgers! So yummy!
(5)Sandy N.
Absolutely, by far, the best food & service Ive experienced in a long time. Took my kids for a bday celebration. It was their first time receiving first class treatment (napkins placed in their lap, chairs pulled out, etc....). Had to have the mouth watering Deviled Eggs w/bacon truffle and of course a steak cooked to perfection! Topping it all off was the delectable chocolate & sea salt truffle!
(5)natalie n.
Celebrated my husband's birthday here. Great food, amazing service! I ordered American Wagyu ribeye cap after asking what it was (the answer is amazing). Our table also ordered the New York strip in American, Australian, and true Japanese Wagyu variants, which was really fun since we could compare the same cut of beef from different countries. If you order Australian/Japanese Wagyu, you get special shun steak knives for ordering the 100% Wagyu steaks (so you can feel just that much more special). In any case, all of our steaks were amazing in different ways. The Japanese Wagyu just disintegrated in my mouth -- it was incredibly rich and well-marbled. The Australian Wagyu was really juicy and had a unique taste. The American Wagyu was no disappointment either. We also ordered steak tartare, mac n' cheese, creamed spinach, and mushrooms. For dessert we had bananas foster, creme brulee, and bread pudding. Everything was great -- but everything we had was also extremely rich, so it was not too easy on the stomach. Next time, we'll try to order lighter side dishes!
(5)Rebecca O.
We celebrated my husband's birthday here and were very, very impressed with the steaks. They serve American, Australian, and Japanese Wagyu steaks alongside USDA prime dry-aged options. We sampled the Australian and Japanese Wagyu steaks and they were phenomenal. The bread was very good and I really liked the corn side dish. Was a bit underwhelmed with the chanterelles and brussels sprouts. Table side bananas foster was very nice. Hope to return!
(5)Chris M.
One of my favorite places for happy hour. They have a really good selection of food and drinks for happy hour and it gets full quickly. Besides happy hour, this is a nice place for dinner, too. Their steaks are amazing and I like being able to order different side dishes ala carte. Highly recommend for all occasions - happy hour, a good dinner, or special occasion.
(5)Spencer A.
The service was incredible! The steaks were amazing! The tempura bacon was awesome! The sides were...OK, I guess? Unfortunately the only blemish on an otherwise perfect meal was the quality of the side-dishes. I ordered the Mesquite Roasted Corn and my wife had the Yukon Gold Potato Cakes. The corn was obviously fresh, but unfortunately the honey-chipotle butter didn't really add anything and actually detracted from the natural flavor of the corn. The potato cakes were forgettable at best. They were very greasy and lacked flavor. They would not have been out of place had they been served as hash browns at Denny's. It was disappointing. The desserts were also nothing to write home about. Two of the sorbets on my Sorbet Sampler were extremely icy, as if they had been melted and re-frozen. The flavors of the sorbet were also lackluster. My wife had the Chocolate Ganache Tart, which was also unimaginative. I will probably go there again, but I'll steer clear of those sides and most likely go somewhere else afterward for dessert
(4)Karim V.
My mom was in town for my bday, so I chose John Howie Steak for lunch. Ummmm, AWESOME! So, walking in, the place is immaculate. Very warm and welcoming with shiny woods and marble, smiles from each staff member that crosses your path, and genuine chit-chat/conversation from the host. We sat in a booth close to the large windows in the open dining room and the spacing is great as it is easy to hold a conversation (it got loud during lunch, but the acoustics must be on point). Oh yea, the food. =) For an appetizer, we ordered the deviled eggs with truffle bacon. My entree was the 42-day aged 10oz rib eye, medium, with Yukon mashed potatoes and asparagus. My mom ordered the top sirloin steak with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and a side of asparagus. We also selected a bottle of Louis Latour 2009 pinot noir. The waiter was funny...he reminded me of Macaulay Culkin's brother Rory...no joke. The waiter brings the wine, I taste, thumbs up! Next, a three-tier sea salt display is set on the table. I can't remember the middle salt, but the top was a basic sea salt and the bottom was Hawaiian sea salt...I think Hawaiian, but don't quote me on that. The Hawaiian salt is meant for the steak, so I used a bit of the white one on the eggs and it was nice. The eggs themselves were rich and creamy and the bacon added a light, yet fatty pork flavor. The entrees arrive...a little pepper is added...and now we eat. The steak was a peeeeerfect medium, with a nice buttery crust. Great steak melts in your mouth...this was a great steak. I added a little of the Hawaiian sea salt for an extra burst of flavor, but overall, each bite was better than the previous one and that was delightful. The potatoes were thick and creamy, with light seasoning. The asparagus were GOOD and I could swear they had to have been cooked in some sort of animal fat...probably not...likely not...but I can project! Time for dessert aaaaand our server said he couldn't make me pick something, but whatever I chose would be on the house (when he said it, it was funny). Cool bday treat! I chose the macadamia nut pie with ice cream and brittle. It arrived with a lit candle, but sadly, it sucked...the pie was like the mini pecan pies you could get in a corner store...the pre-wrapped ones. It has pineapple and some other ingredients, but in the end, it is the reason this review is a 4-star and not 5. Had I not had that dessert, it would be 5, but a place that makes such an outstanding steak should not have a dessert like that. Oh well. So, out of the Met, House of Prime Rib (SF), Broadway Prime (Burlingame), Ruth's Chris (SF), and John Howie, John Howie takes the #1 spot on the (my) list. Nuff said. Extras: Parking in the downstairs garage is free with validation. The host can check jackets/coats. Woot!
(4)Dae Y.
2 of 2 visits now...service is spotty in the small bar area. they need to delineate duties. our server cleared off the table. the bus boy should have been on it. we ordered so freakin' much. and we finished every single bite. cocktails all througout the night. on the third visit the service was better. but it was the late night happy hour. the burger was great.
(4)Vishnu N.
Probably my favorite happy hour in all the lands. You cannot beat, i repeat you cannot beat the happy hour burger - it is amazing! The restaurant is amazing as well, however, because the happy hour is so good i can't really recommend dining in the restaurant when you compare the value of the happy hour. Its like $8 for the burger and fries and $3 for a draft beer - $11 and you will be completely satisfied.
(4)Young C.
Very simple ordering at the Howie. Tempura bacon, lob mashed potatoes, Wagyu or Rib eye Oscar and a couple bottles of wine. Good Game John.
(4)Stawan K.
Decent food. Great appetizers with some tasty pork dishes. Service is also decent and with a good bar. Have a good bar place as well as sit down area. Good to come with a part.
(4)Annie T.
After being contacted by the general manager regarding my communications with the bar manager, he apologized and sent me a GC to give them a try again. Food was flawless as usual at john howie's but I didn't order a cocktail again. I will be back again! I get hungry just thinking about their mac and cheese.
(5)Todd S.
Really bad. Tough steak charred on outside and raw in the middle. Over priced and pretentious. If you crave steak, try el gaucho
(1)Jay S.
I went to this place on a glowing recommendation from a friend. The decor is very nice and the service was fantastic. This is where it goes downhill. The service was too much. My wife and I could hardly have a minute to ourselves. Multiple waiters and staff filling up our wine glass, water glass, etc.. I know this sounds petty but it was to a point of being annoying. The food-- My 16 oz Wagyu steak tasted like a low end choice steak at best. The steak was unseasoned. They put a tray of 3 different salts on the side. I tasted them all and it was just still salt. REALLY The 12 dollar corn side dish sounded good but was just corn with a little cilantro in it. No great flavor. My wife got a large porterhouse that was just OK. Her twice baked potato was dry and had no flavor. Our bill for two people was 300 dollars plus This included a 60 dollar bottle of wine that resales at most stores for 20 bucks. For this price we should have walked away and said "DANG" that was a good meal. We both walked out feeling "That was it" We will not be going back. I bought Prime sirloin from Costco tonight and it tasted 5 times better than the Wagyu steak at this place. I really have doubt that their steak was even choice quality. I did not complain to the management as it was our anniversary. I will not be back. I have much better steaks at the Keg, Mortons, The Met etc..
(2)Albert C.
Be prepared to empty your wallets, this place is no bargain. I ordered a 42-day aged 16oz. Ribeye for $64, with two sides totaling $18. I would recommend only ordering 1 side to save money because it is enough to accompany a 16oz. steak. The charcoal taste on the outside of the meat is just phenomenal. During the first bite, bursts of flavor just melt in your mouth. The meat was just seasoned perfectly. I am completely OK with spending $100 for a meal that tasted like this. Outside of food, the waitress was very prompt and friendly. No issues there. The atmosphere for my experience may be different than others, but I was in the lounge area by the bar. So you will get some more noise, with a game on the TV. No big deal, I'm sure the dining area is much more tranquil. You can't compare this place to Outback or Texas Roadhouse, it's just way out of their league. I can say I had the best dinner I've ever had here at John Howie. Would love to come here again on a special occasion.
(5)Win W.
One of the best Happy Hour spots around. Their macaroni and cheese is rich and fabulous. The cheese plate is another favorite as well as the tenderloin bites. The bar can get a little crowded in the later portion of the happy hour, especially on the weekends, but it is worth the wait. The staff is always friendly and attentive.
(5)Nana O.
I have been here for lunch a couple of times and I always get the bacon cheese burger, and it is delicious!! The portion is quite big, so I always split it with a friend and a half is more than enough.
(5)Matthew P.
The service is phenomenal, the food was mind blowing. We went with our summer clothes not even dressed to impress and was treated 5 star like I'm a big wig CEO. Ordered the Bone Marrow omg was indescribable and was able to take the leftover bones back to the dog which made me a hero. If you want some of the best food in your life go here. When I make it big I will eat here once a week atleast... Oh and the desert...so good!
(5)Wyatt H.
Came here for my birthday with my wife. We ordered the "Table For Two" 26oz USDA Prime Chateaubriand steak. We had an early dinner, and were one of the first customer's seated. I ordered the steak rare, and it took a long time to come out. We also ordered some wine and side dishes. John Howie had an interesting variety of salts that were brought out in a fancy dish that we really liked. The wine and appetizer were good. We waited a long time for the steak to come out. It was rolled out on cutting board for table side slicing, and it was clear from first sight that it was cooked on the verge of well done. When you order a rare steak and it takes a long time and comes out well done, something was miscommunicated. It was an awkward situation because the table side serving was supposed to be a nice presentation and it was charred black. It was a negative birthday experience, because we had already had our glass of wine and at our appetizer, and although they gave us a second appetizer as a grace, by the time the big steak came back our stomach's were not empty enough to finish the steak and our wine was gone. It's a good steak once it comes our right. But cooking a rare steak should be perfect the first time.
(3)Vijay D.
Fantastic steak (easily compares with the best steak in town), and the best selection of whisky in a restaurant that I've ever seen (and this includes places I've visited in England and Scotland). I do consider myself to be a budding connoisseur of whisky, so take it from me - the offering here is awesome. Try the Balblair 2000! Also - a special callout on service. The last time we were there, we forgot to validate our parking ticket, and ended up paying $14 at the Bravern mall exit (ridiculous for a 2-hour stay). I called and left vm on the manager's line, asking that they remind their servers to remind their guests :). To my delight, not only did the restaurant send me a $14 check in the mail to compensate me, they also sent me a $25 gift card to make up for the inconvenience. Stellar.
(5)John L.
Easily the worst of the steak places in Bellevue. And in the bottom quartile of those in any city I've visited. Overpriced and over pretentious even by the standards of the category. And a sterile echoing space. The food was fine but I'd go to Daniels, el gaucho, or even Ruth Chris before I'd come back here.
(2)Lisa L.
The seared foie gras is AMAZING - best I've ever had.
(5)Stephanie W.
So we finally tried this place after their Groupon came out. Yes, lame, but we decided to splurge a lil and indulge, ya know? For being a carcass selling restaurant, they actually have a Vegetarian meal. But they have quite the spread for everyone here. Is it worth all da hype? Nahhhh not so much in my opinion, and don't take my opinion because i'm a nobody who has a very bland palette and a small stomach so I'm not easily persuaded to fill by belly with rich, heavy foods that leave my pockets quite empty. just sayin.
(3)Scott S.
Happy Hour is amazing! Make sure you get there at least one hour before the happy hour time ends. There is usually a wait for the bar section. Ordered the burger and Howie pale ale! Try the shrimp! Happy hour 3-6pm
(5)John V.
Best steakhouse in Seattle. Great menu! The dining room as a great atmosphere. The drink selection is great and the bartenders do a nice job with the drinks. I usually opt for the Japanese Kobe. the caesar salads and steak tartar are made tableside which is a nice treat. Happy hour is a hidden gem. It is an unbelievable deal for a great selection of food.
(5)Jason F.
Although this is really a steak restaurant, I had a bacon extravaganza. They have an appetizer here that is Tempura battered bacon. It sounds gross, but it's quite delicious with the Maple Soy dip. Just give it a try. The bacon continues.... wedge salad has large chunks o' bacon o' plenty. I think that bacon is meat, and meat is a good source of iron. I then had a great New York with bone in, AKA Delmonico. The steaks are terrific, unbelievable really. The prices are quite hefty, so make it worth the trip. The staff is pretty steak house. Betweeen Kobe, Wagyu and Prime, you'll find a delicious meaty dining experience. The only downside is, that once you've eaten steak here, you really won't be able to get anything so good anywhere else. Seriously.
(5)Eddie C.
Came for lunch when I was visiting from NYC a few weeks ago. As a party of 4, we ordered several appetizers, oysters, and drinks. They were all great; however, the name sake of this restaurant was lacking. I had the 42 Day Custom-Aged Rib Eye. The temp was perfect (as it always should be at a fine steakhouse) but the steak was lacking in taste. If I'm paying $64 for a steak, I'm expecting it to be worth every penny. It was just not of the quality of a fine steak that I was expecting. Maybe we went on an off day or maybe it was because we went for lunch.
(2)Angie W.
Was working in the Bravern this past Tuesday and a coworker and I decided to check out happy hour. After finding a table the server came over immediately. Nice to not have to wait. The happy hour drink specials were limited. Ordered a glass of wine and a shrimp appetizer (don't remember the name). Wine was nice and the shrimp had a really good flavor. The plain, untoasted bread was stale and sliced so thinly the broth from the shrimp ran right through. Bar area was nice sized and the service was good. Just not sure I want to go pay for overpriced drinks and appetizers unless they are flawless.
(2)Jamie R.
Our evening at JH was nothing short of stellar. We started off in the bar for HH and enjoyed $2 Bud lights, $6 tempura fried bacon with ponzu sauce and a $9 veggie flatbread. While the flatbread was tasty it wasn't out of this world...but the bacon....oh the bacon! It's an experience that you must try. After an hour at HH we moved to the dining room to a nice table for two. The table was pretty big for a two seater, I felt like my friend was miles away, but we ordered a lot so it worked out in the end. The meal started out with an amuse bouche which is always fun, and this little shrimpy thing was yum! For an entree I got the chicken, yes chicken at a steak joint. OMG! This is what chicken is supposed to taste like people!! We also got the Beechers mac n cheese which hands down is the best mac n cheese next to the Mets lobster mac n cheese. It was amazing, creamy, gooey, non oily! My pal got the butternut squash ravioli which was simply put, amazing. It had chunks of butternut that tasted like brown sugar. Mmmm. We also got the asparagus which was meh, it was just asparagus. Our dinner finished up with a nice little FREE chocolate in a sexy little take home box. I ate it after I got home...I almost called them to ask about it because it was so good I was hoping to relive the joy and ask to buy a big box! BTW, our server was great, she was sweet, professional, attentive, but not too attentive. We will totally be back.
(5)Karl M.
nice place, good food and service, but not quite up to Daniels or El Gaucho....steaks were a bit tough.
(3)Jason Y.
Let me preface this review by saying that my girlfriend and I are big time steakhouse lovers. El Gaucho is our absolute fav. So we certainly had high expectations for John Howie for our first visit. They were not met. Let's break down things by the areas that really matter. Service: I initially called to book a table for a very special occasion...1st year anniversary and proposing to my girlfriend. I asked for better seating in hopes of avoiding a view of I-405. The woman who took my reservation didn't really seem to care too much, but assured me she'd put us down for something nice. I should have known her disinterest in my situation wasn't going to pan out as of course we were stuck in a corner at a small table overlooking the freeway. A little irritated. You would think if there were any situation that warranted some special treatment it was ours. Restaurants that want to leave a lasting impression on customers do..John Howie did not. Service during the meal was fine. Nothing great, nothing awful. Average at best. Ambiance/Decor: Meh. Definitely feels like a restaurant designed for corporate dining. Which is probably smart for where they are located, but if you're looking for romantic, or classic, or anything along those lines look elsewhere. Another thing that I hate is John Howie says it's dress attire is dressy, yet the restaurant was filled with people in ratty t-shirts, sandals, jean shorts, etc. I kind of miss the days where a nice restaurant required you to look presentable. Especially when you advertise yourself as such. The Food: What matters most. Their pre-meal bread/butter/salt is very good. Nice variety of warm breads, and they bring out a variety of different salts which I thought was cool. They also had a complimentary salmon bisque shot that was delicious. We opted for the table side Caesar which is a standard for us at El Gaucho. Nice presentation, but the salad had way too much dressing. Very overpowering. Good flavor, but too much. We both got USDA Prime Filets. Great cuts of meat no doubt. They actually had a different scale for cooking their meat. I usually go with Medium for pink and a tad of red in the middle. With their scale, pink throughout was medium well, so had to opt for that. It came back well over cooked, pink in the center, grey throughout. Still good because the quality of the cut was high, but when you pay $60 for a steak, you want it to be cooked as advertised. I would have sent it back, but it wasn't until I got to the ends before I realized the case and honestly, we had other plans we were looking forward to. The sides were disappointing. We got the beecher's mac and cheese and it was flavorless, along with the brussel sprouts which were average as well. Nothing that blew us away. All in all, it wasn't a horrible experience by any means, but we won't be going back as we feel El Gaucho trumps them on every level. There just wasn't anything "wow" about this place and for roughly $150/person, you better do some "wowing".
(2)Sarah S.
Enjoyed a steak salad off their lunch menu -- steak was cooked to perfection, per usual. Price was pretty reasonable. If you mention your timing constraints (Ex: need to be leaving by 1:30pm) when making your reservation, they do a good job of accommodating that.
(4)Michael S.
I thought the service was outstanding. Our waiter, sommelier, busboys, etc were top notch. Their attention to detail was impeccable - from a small tray to hold the cork that was promptly removed after the wine was poured to the wonderful tableside dishes we ordered. My fiancée and I were big fans of the tableside caesar salad. The amount of parmesan in that thing was probably heart attack-inducing but boy was it good. We also ordered tableside cherries jubilee for dessert and that was a winner too. You know what though? The main course was a letdown. I ordered a combination plate of the American wagyu tenderloin and the USDA Prime tenderloin. Both were 4 oz servings. The Wagyu was cooked correctly at medium but the USDA was definitely rarer than I would have liked. You could definitely tell the difference between the two steaks and the wagyu was better. My main issue with the steaks though was that they didn't taste like they were seasoned at all, you needed to use the stack of seasoning salts they brought to the table. I wasn't a fan of this - I prefer to have my steak aggressively seasoned before cooking because it imparts the flavor throughout the meat rather than just at the end. We also weren't impressed with the potatoes - the "garlic Yukon Gold mashed potatoes" were very bland. We did like the hedgehog mushroom, brussel sprout, and bacon side! The big winners of the night were the tableside caesar and the cherries jubilee - they were truly fantastic. The main course though felt like it was lacking. Service was a 5+, and the first/last courses were 5s, but the main felt like a 3, particularly for the price paid, so I'm giving them a 4. The steaks were of outstanding quality in terms of the cuts, but honestly I felt like the preparation didn't do them justice.
(4)Christian L.
My wife and I went here for our anniversary on Dec. 30th and had an excellent dining experience. We started with the Tempura Bacon that was accompanied by a maple gyoza style dipping sauce. It was tasty but almost to the point of excess. One of those decadent dishes you feel guilty about eating afterwards. I had the Kobe Filet and my wife had the Filet Oscar for our entrees. Both were exceptional. The fried Brussel Sprouts and Wild Mushrooms were pedestrian in comparison to the rest of the meal but alas not everything can be perfect. The wait staff was top notch and the ambiance surely beats out Daniel's.
(4)Rob D.
Wow!!! I took my wife here for her birthday and we had an excellent experience. They really took care of us and we left very happy. Had the table side ceasar and a filet mignon with our own syrah that we brought. Took two hours for the meal and we loved it! Reminded us of being in europe where they don't rush you out of there. Will be back for sure. Nice work JH.
(5)Gene D.
For obvious reasons surrounding the economy, I haven't been dining like this of late. However, the Bravern property is such big news around here that I wasn't going to avoid this experience. Like any restaurant in a stratospheric price range, it's natural to look for any fault; a tableside caesar begging for more zest and anchovy, a better choice of bordeaux the Somm could have steered me into (trust me, spend the extra $25 on something that's right), three different people telling us about the trio of salts on table, a young valet who made me figure out how to break a bill in the middle of the driveway before leaving. In the end though, there isn't any slight that's going to take away this fact: these are some of the best steaks in Seattle. I'm nostalgic. sometimes I like big steaks, a shaken vodka martini, Bananas Foster. Once in awhile a little tableside food show is just civilized. Yes, a lime cilantro foam thing on top of a fish head or whatever is for today, but yesterday they had a few things right too. Highlights: Lightly smoked shrimp cocktail, lobster mash potato side, Chateaubriand. Finally, dressing for dinner and being well behaved is not a crime. (Try it sometime!) John Howie Steak is right for your inner Tab Hunter.
(5)Nick L.
Great steak, better service!!! I also had the lobster mashed potatoes and the best Caesar salad of my life, which was made table side of course... Great place for any occasion
(5)Thomas C.
So good. Expensive but good. I had the filet and lobster mashed potatoes (my favorite) and it was all excellent. But be prepared to spend.
(5)Daniel M.
Bar / Happy Hour: Best burger in Bellevue. El Gaucho used to have a good burger, but the price went up and quality down in recent visits. Daniel's has a decent bar burger. But bar none, John Howie's is the best. Even lunch box laboratory, which always looks amazing but tastes rather disappointing, can't compare to this burger. In the restaurant do not pass up the Lobster Mashed Potatoes! And finally for dessert, at either the bar or the dining room, the Flourless Semi-Sweet Chocolate Volcano Cake is absolutely amazing!
(5)Dan C.
Really disappointing. I've been to JH several times for lunch since the choices are limited in Bellevue. It seems to be going downhill each visit. This time a turkey sandwich arrived falling apart and a mess the turkey was like little bits- maybe what should have been waste. The frites, which are usually good, were cold and dry. When I told the waiter, he just said sorry but offered no fix. I left hungry and disappointed. Maybe if you go and order a $60 steak, they pay attention. I won't anymore.
(2)Raider J.
I just came back from one of my best dining experiences ever. JH is located in the beautiful, up-scale Bravern Mall. I called in the day before and reserved a table in the main dining room with a view by the window. When I arrived at 7 last night, my window table was waiitng for me as requested. After I was seated, I took marveled at the beautiful drining room. The room was decored with warm and inviting dark mapled- colored woods with spectacular detailing. I felt I was eating at the Le Cirque Resaturant in NY or at a Four Seasons Hotel. For my starters, I ordered the Tempura fried Kurobota Bacon and the Crab and Shrimp Chowder. The Bacon was outfuckingstanding! With one bite, I came in my pants....yeagh it was that good. I love the thick Bacon at Peter Luger's in Brooklyn, but this is the best bacon appetizer that I have ever had. The Crab and Shrimp Chowder was also very good....rich, creamy and full of flavor. The bread basket that was served was awesome...it was a combination of dfferent warm cheese favored breads/rolls and crackers.....very good with the chowder. For dinner, I had the 35 oz. Rib-Eye Steak and sides of the Yukon Potato Cakes (hashbrowns) with Cavier, and the Roasted Mesquite Corn. The Steak was again awesome......with plenty of marbling and flavor. One bite into the Potatos and Cavier and I came again in my pants! These are the best Hashbrowns that I have ever had. The Cavier blended perfectly with the Potatos. The corn was a perfect dish that merged with the Steak and Potatos. For desert, I had the Bourbon soaked Cherry Bread Pudding with the Maker's Mark Ice-cream.....very rich, sweet and a perfect ending of my meal. My waiter Matthew was one of the best waiters that I have ever had. His knowledge of each dish was phenomenal. John Howie has created not only an outstanding Steakhouse, but a fine-dining destination for all foodies. The food, service and beautiful dining room is begging me to return again and again. I eat at a prime Steakhouse at least once a week from CA to NY.....so I know great Steakhouses. Move over Peter Luger's, Bones, Capital Grille, Vic and Anthony's Ruth's Chris, Morton's, Smith and Wollensky, STK and the Palm. I just had one of my best steak dinners ever! After Vic and Anthony's in NY and Bone's in Atlanta, this is the 3rd best Steakhouse in the USA! 4th would be Pete Luger's in Brooklyn. But watch out, after one more visit, I may rate John Howie as the #1 Steakhouse in the USA! My business colleagues questioned whether the drive from Seattle to Bellevue and the 15% price diference (Compared to Ruths Chris, Morton's and the Capital Grille in Seattle) was worth the trip. Like Sarah Palin said: "You Betcha!"
(5)Brenda A.
The ambiance is very hip and luxurious. I always feel like rich person when I go there...and that makes sense, considering the prices. However, that is seriously the only downside of John Howie. The price is completely worth it. Their happy hour is reasonably priced also, considering the quality of food that you are consuming. Their steak here is the best steak I've ever had, hands down, period. No question. Their cheeseburger from the happy hour menu is quite memorable as well. And if you've never tried fried bacon, now is your chance. The various cocktails they concoct are delicious. They do it right here. If you are looking for fine dining experience, and want the dollars you fork out all worth it, this is the place.
(5)Kristin C.
I have been here probably a dozen times for Happy Hour. Everyone knows it's the best Happy Hour in downtown Bellevue, and it is super close to my work, so I am definitely here way too much. When a Groupon came out a few weeks back, and my boyfriend told me that he picked it up, I knew that he was going to be bringing me here for my birthday dinner. I was pretty much bragging to everyone because I was so damn excited. It definitely did not disappoint. First off: Service. Seriously, AMAZING. I kinda want our server to be my new BFF, he was knowledgeable of the menu, and an all around nice and funny guy, very personable, and did a great job with everything. All of the people were truly fantastic. He walked over to check on us at one point, and saw that we were in the middle of talking, so he walked away. That is truly remarkable. As someone whose first job consisted of busing tables at a Country Club, I can tell you they know their stuff here. We started off with a bottle of Malbec, which was fantastic. For some reason Malbec's are my favorite with steak. They had a good selection of probably 10 bottles to choose from, and honestly, were fairly decently priced. I probably drank too much, but oh well, it was yummy. We also had the French Onion Soup, which was good, but not that memorable, and I probably wouldn't order it again. I would also order it to share! We both got our own, and it was super filling, neither of us finished it. I would probably try one of the salads next time. We each ordered off the American Wagyu list of steaks. They have Australian Wagyu too, but this is AMERICA, so I got the stuff from Idaho, I like to eat locally. Also, it was cooked over mesquite coals, which I am totally down with. I am glad I asked the Server what the hell Zabuton is. I guess it's some Japanese word for pillow? Whatever, the steak was seriously amazing. Super tender, juicy, and buttery. It was a fantastic cut of meat, and they cooked it perfectly. Plus, the 8 oz was just enough. My boyfriend ordered the Eye of the Ribeye steak, which he enjoyed(not my cup of tea), but he said mine was better.... plus it was half the size, and he may have had to get up and throw up in the middle of the meal to make room to finish it all. It was really very good though. But seriously people, order the Zabuton! For our sides we decided to be complete gluttons and order not one but two starches. We got the Twice baked potato, which was huge, and delicious. It is enough to easily serve two people. They warn you that the sides are huge.... but I'm a fatty, what can I say. We also tried the potato cakes, and they were pretty flavorless, the creme fraiche was a bit bland, and they over-all were under-cooked for my liking. While I was trying to finish my bottle of wine(the boy is responsible and doesn't drink much when he has to drive my drunk ass home), our Server came by with dessert menus. Obviously everything looked delicious, but I just didn't have any room left at all. I thought about walking around a bit to move stuff around in my belly, but no go. He brought us over some dark-chocolate truffles though in celebration of my birthday, which were good. Obviously this place is expensive, and isn't an everyday place like the Red Robin, but for a treat once a year, it is totally worth it. The steaks are fantastic, and the service is phenomenal. Until the next time though, I will just have to keep myself happy with all the yummy things on the Happy Hour Menu: $4 glasses of sauvignon blanc, Bacon Cheeseburger and fries, fried ricotta gnocchi, tempura fried bacon or beechers mac n cheese.
(5)Jenny K.
Didn't have a good HH experience, mainly because the service fell far under my expectations based on my previous experience. Before ordering, the server asked us if we wanted separate checks. It was cool of her to ask we thought, but it was uncool for not doing it. I asked to sample the beer and she brought me a glass of it. Were you listening when I asked to sample it, and then followed up by saying that I would select my food based on whether I liked the beer? Nope. When my husband later joined us he ordered a martini with potato vodka, which turned out to be $13. We thought he was getting a HH martini with potato vodka substitute. She made it a point to tell us we would get charged for a mayo-truffle oil sauce he requested to go with his potato chips, but not that the martini he ordered was three times the price of HH martinis. When your customers are making it a point to order from the HH menu it would be nice if you mentioned that. His two martinis quickly added up and it was no longer an inexpensive meal, which is the whole point of us dining during happy hour. So bad service aside, we had the calamari, olives, burger, potato chips and deviled eggs. If I had to rank the food, it would be in this order: deviled eggs, potato chips, burger, calamari and olives. The olives were soaking in this lavendar oil that I felt was over-the-top and messed with the integrity of how the olives should have tasted. The burger was huge and impressive but I didn't like how it was seasoned and seemed cooked more well than I had requested. But the deviled eggs were incredible and totally raised the bar on deviled eggs. The potato chips were good too, but I was way too full by the time I tried a few. In summary, the service had much to do with how I perceived my overall experience and if I were to return I will be avoiding this server.
(2)Merry T.
Tried their wagyu and tbone steak, and i think they tasted okay. Good concepts with this huge flaming pot for one if their dishes. This restaurant has definitely reinvent their menu from the last time i was there. Will definitely come back to try some more dishes on the menu.
(3)LB D.
Came by for a Happy hour treat. Have been a couple times before. Love the food choices and the beverages too. Almost all the servers have been friendly and quick to help. Only time the service was less than expected was when I used one of the coupons i had been given. A small thing, but no one likes to feel like they are less important just because they are using a certificate or coupons put out by the company.
(4)Erica E.
I have been in the midst of planning a 49th birthday dinner celebration for my boyfriend and our close friends. We generally dine at Daniel's or the Met for a nice steak in the Seattle area but have heard great reviews about John Howie Steak and thought not a better time to dine there for our first time with our friends! After speaking with the catering host about reserving a private room for all 25+ of our guests we opted to sit in the actual dining area with two large tables next to each other (or so we were told). We chose this route primarily because we didn't want a pre selected menu with only 3 entree's to choose from had we chose the private room (as if we were at a reception or something of the like). After making the reservation (on a Wednesday evening a week and a half in advance) I was told the Manager Anne would call me back to confirm all the extra details. Once I received her call I was told I would still be limited to a 3 course pre selected menu even though we were sitting in the normal dining area. I asked her if there was a problem with a few of our guests only wanting appetizers and cocktails and she said because of the size of our group they would need everyone to order dinner. She told me it was to avoid people coming in for 'cocktail social hour'.....?! I told her we wished for the normal menu variety for all of our guests then was told they were booked and couldn't accommodate us after I had already made the reservation. I'm sure their food is fabulous but as a new customer I am shocked at the service I was given over the phone by the manager. I have never felt so blown off by such a pretentious stuffy place in my entire life!! A fun celebration turned into hoops, hurdles & inevitably the loss of our business. Fortunately for us, we will be going back to a place we know & trust where the service & food will be stellar and they will make any accommodation for our party. Unfortunately for John Howie, they lost 25+ customers and will never receive my boyfriend's nor my business in the future!!
(1)Anita G.
The guy & I went here for a pretty epic celebration dinner a bit ago. We left, thoroughly impressed & stuffed to the max, with leftovers and the cute little truffle they send you along with. Oh, and much less in the wallet but we will 100% will be back many times & have been several since when such a celebration is necessary. I love the bread selection they start you with, some of the things in there are soo delicious & I probably should have eaten a bit less of it considering what followed, but with the butter & salts they give it's kind of fun & so good. Tempura bacon with maple ponzu dipping sauce it an ultimate must. Table side Caesar was delicious. He got the waygu filet sampler & I got the aged ribeye (huge!) all had amazing marbling, melt in your mouth. Mushrooms were good. Lobster mashed potatoes I dream of (a must!). Good wine selection. Overall a great splurge if you can for dinner. We've been for happy hour & seriously one of the best values out there considering dinner prices & how cheap the hh ones are. Macallan flight was fun. Go for hh at Least I'm telling you!
(5)Yekta A.
I'm giving it a 4-star rating because the steak was good, but not as good as Bin! And of course the service was immaculate! The view here is phenomenal and pretty, the service is terrific, infact they don't leave you ALONE! Our waitress kept coming back to check on us regularly! VERY pricey but the food is good and the place is nice, in the Bravern with lots of parking and they validate your parking here too! Better look your Sunday best to be here!
(4)Jen P.
Where to start???? I've heard wonderful things about this restaurant but had never been until last night. Yes it's expensive and no, I wouldn't eat here every day BUT, it was my 10 year anniversary last night so my husband and I decided to treat ourselves and boy, we were not disappointed. From the tempura bacon app to the steak & lobster entrée-every single bite on our plates was amazing. We had a wonderfully attentive but not hovering waiter that took my husband's tree nut allergy very seriously and had no problems at all. I have eaten at a lot of steak restaurants and this by far tops them all. Outstanding experience and if you can save up the money and eat here, it's well worth it!
(5)Cola C.
Great ambiance ! Went there for lunch with coworker. The lunch menu has great selection. Foods are well prepared. Price for lunch time are reasonable. I tried prime sirloin steak lunch special for $17. Great portion for lady.
(4)Ahna B.
Awful service. Rude wait staff. Hope to see this place close down like the stores around it Was in with several Football clients and imagine that our service was bad?! Girl bartender was rude and clueless. Don't waste your time in Bellevue. Go downtown. They're used to seeing different types of people.
(1)Kayla H.
I love love LOVE John Howie. Hands down my favorite restaurant ever! Last time I was in I tried the tempura bacon and lobster mashed potatoes... Both delicious!! And of course my steak was cooked to perfection (medium rare please!) and the service was excellent as per usual!
(5)Anson H.
I've tried several places in Seattle for steak (eg. Met Grill, Daniel's, Mortons, Capital Grille, Ruth Chris, etc.) and I have to say this is hands down my favorite steak restaurant in the city. Their steak selection is massive with your traditional 28 day aged beef up to 48+ days. They also offer beef from around the world such as Japan and Australia. While pricey, its definitely something worth trying if you're willing to splurge. I recommend anything tableside for the show and it's all really tasty too. We had the charcuterie plate most recently and I just LOVED everything on the plate. My favorite was the pate with the toasted bread. For the sides, the Beecher's mac and cheese is simply classic and you can't go wrong with that. Gnocchi was also a great side, but not many to share for more than 2-3 people. Mushrooms, asparagus, and cream spinach were also really good. They always send you home with a complementary truffle made in house which is my favorite part of the night. I always go home here stuffed and with a huge smile on my face!
(5)Sami A.
Amazing food, amazing quality of meat, amazing service, amazing location. A perfect hangout for everyday in the bar area and for a special night in the dinner section. There is no doubt that this is one of the best steak houses in the nation and by far this is my favorite steak house.
(5)Margaret S.
Awesome happy hour. Great drinks, food, and service. Loved the cheese plate!
(5)Alicia b.
We had a family dine out here, to experience the famous "happy hour cheese burger". The burgers were really good! It melts in your mouth, and it is only for $9~!! It surely is a great deal~ The portion is BIG, I had a hard time finishing my burger & fries~ Con: However, this is a "traditional recipe hamburger", with iceberg lettuce, patty (although prime quality meat), raw onion, pickle, bacon and cheese. Ingredients were a bit... boring to me. If you are expecting more "trendy/ different" burger with more creative ingredients, this might not be the one for you. I kinda expected more, because this is a five star restaurant.. But it doesn't mean their burgers so mediocre. Actually burgers were really good~ This place gets extremly crowded, and you will hardly get a seat for a group of more than 5, for happy hour. And noise level is just... very very high. They put way too much raw onion... The onion smell lingered in my mouth until midnight. Also I wished their bar had an outside patio with some views, but the bar was in a closed space with no outside view at all, since it is sitting inside a building lobby. I would definately go back next time!
(4)Meegan N.
Words cannot describe the pleasure my palate goes thru EVERY TIME I stop here for Happy Hour! My visits to Bellevue are usually during those hours. Sure wished I lived closer. Absolutely love the deviled eggs and prime tenderloin bites! This time we added the little pulled pork mini sandwiches - they were divine also. Atmosphere and prices are fantastic! Service has always been outstanding! Alas - I have only been here for Happy Hour, but some day I pray my Hubby will surprise me with a late night dining experience.
(5)Jenny L.
Came here for happy hour with some friends. I was really pleased with their happy hour menu (and the prices!). We ordered the tempura bacon, hamburger and fries, deep fried ricotta gnocchi with truffle cream sauce, mac and cheese and some other stuff. Everything was good. Friends raved about the tempura bacon which I didn't try. I'd like to come back here for dinner one day.
(4)Sin T.
Man...if i die, i wanna die here! This place is awesome...so this is what it feels like to be a king for a day! The service is AWESOME! The food is SPECTACULAR! The bill not so much haha...it's true what they say you get what you pay for! TRY THE BONE MARROW PEOPLE DONT BE SKEERRD HAHA. The tempura bacon was awesome too! All the food was perfectly seasoned and aged!
(5)Jeff F.
Tried John Howie about a month ago. This is a solid option if you're stuck on the east side. Emery, the bartender, was awesome - knowledgeable and attentive without being over-bearing. Run down on the grub: - Ahi Tuna: keeper - do it - Oysters with frozen/crushed mignonette: I had not see the iced mignonette move before - I'm a huge fan - King Crab: what am I going to say it was bad? Delicious I didn't have steak, but I'm guessing the 200 other people that reviewed it for steak are onto something.
(4)Noj L.
Frankly the food was excellent, five stars for that. the service was good but a little slow so three stars for that. However the average was three stars because the prices were huge! I really did enjoy the Wagu beef but man it was an arm and a leg. Nice to try once, but not a regular place.
(3)Albert P.
This place is amazing. They have six tiers of prime beef. I didn't know there was 6 tiers of prime beef but I can't wait to try them all. They have an excellent cocktail selection that can be made table side. Any where the food can be local and organic you get it. The service has a style known as "Everything in its place at its time" and it is wonderful. I can't get enough of this place.
(5)MamaRed P.
I love it here, my steak was cooked perfectly, the staff was very helpful and knowledgeable. We get to sit next to the window and it was nice, even though you are looking at 405 but when the night get darker watching the city light in the back ground still beautiful. dinner for two= two appetizers, two entrées, three side dishes, two desserts, one Cosmo and a nice bottle of Cabernet plus tips and lots of leftover $ 500.
(5)Gary B.
Nice Place, good bar, but wow is it pricey. A little off the downtown track as well.
(3)A V.
Spend the money, you will not regret eating steak at this place. I have eaten almost every cut this place has to offer and my favorite is the American Wagyu filet. There is a HUGE difference between the USDA and the American Wagyu but I couldn't really tell the difference between American Wagyu vs. the Australian Wagyu. Be warned. They do not cook steak like your mama. This is a proper steak house so they cook steak the real way and you may want to clarify what you mean when you say "medium rare". Amazing items: Wilted Spinach Salad, ALL of the desserts, STEAK FRITES, and of course the bread basket. This is my updated review. We have been eating here since the day this place opened. Things have changed for the better over the past year. There are still some consistency problems but the owner contacted me to let me know that if that happened again I could just send the food back. I cringe at the thought because then my transformation into my mom would be complete.
(4)John S.
Dinner for 2 at John Howie last night nets them 2 stars and a B- rating. The fillet mignon was good, but not great; the Bearnaise sauce was almost tasteless; the Dungeness crab was a C-; the Amari Cabernet Sauvignon (by the glass) was just this side of "off" (drinkable, but not good); the chicken dish my wife had was an A-. Compliments to the chef, but I wish my fillet had been as good (it is a steak house after all). The service was very pleasant, but they brought my glass of wine halfway through dinner and forgot our order of Brussels sprouts and when they came they had too much dressing! High marks for ambiance. All in all a pretty big disappointment. The chicken dish helped keep my rating in the "B" range; without it, I would have given them a D+ / C-. I prefer the Metropolitan Grill.
(2)Jennifer M.
LIKE: not much. First of all, I'd like to dedicated this review to my very good friend and eating partner, Soeun. I've had their happy hour a few times, due to friends wanting to hit up swanky little restaurants for cheap happy hour bites. First of all, their happy hour is not so happy. It's actually quite expensive. Their dishes range from $5-13. Their $5 dish being a plate of "Warm Olives"... OLIVES!!!! No joke. And their $13 dish is the "Prime Tenderloin Bites".. which include navel orange supreme's, chives, and TERIYAKI. What kind of steak house adds TERIYAKI to ANY kind of beef product?!! This boggles my mind. You might as well go to Toshi's Teriyaki or some other generic teriyaki joint that will give you and entire styrofoam to-go box, FULL of beef teriyaki, rice, a salad and possibly some gyoza.. ALL for the price of $7. You can feed two with that plate! Their Prime Tenderloin Bites are JUST an appetizer that teases your taste buds into ordering MORE overpriced appetizers. Other items i've had on their menu include their Bacon Burger, Deviled Eggs, Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp, Fried Calamari and Baby Artichokes, America Wagyu Sirloin Steak Sliders, Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi, Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon and their Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese- Yes, I've obviously dropped my money here MORE than necessary because the many that I associate with actually like coming here, and no matter how many items I've had here, the only thing that I actually ENJOY eating is their Deviled Eggs with truffled bacon, which is quite sad.. because I can easily make that at home.. and I can make it better. But I guess it's nice not having to wait in the kitchen to boil my own eggs. Also, if any of you reading this review have read any of my other reviews, you'll know I have an obsession with truffle.. AND bacon. Put two and two together, it's not even fair. It's like John Howie secretly KNEW my weaknesses and created a dish specifically just for me to have a more positive experience in hopes that this little tiny truffled-bacon goodness would overcompensate for the rest of items on their menu. They were awfully mistaken.. BUT! I will continue to dine here when I must. NOW!! Let's get to the steak... The absolute first and possibly last time I've dined here for dinner was with two of my close friends. I've decided to ignore my unfortunate happy hour experiences and decide that this is a steak house so I need to give it a chance in the dining room. This is where they MUST shine!! I was fooled. At dinner, I've decided to go big or go home. I ordered the Australian "A5" 100% Wagyu Beef. Everything about the TITLE of his dish is absolutely perjury. Now let me break it down for you.. ____ Australian. First of all, we're in AMERICA. A5. Wagyu is strictly graded and sorted info five classes by professionals from the Japan Meat Grading Association from A 1 to A 5. A5 is the highest grade of Wagyu Beef. One of the most important factors for grading beef quality is "marbling", which refers to the fine white streaks of fat that run through lean beef and enhance flavor and tenderness. 100%. Self Explanatory. This steak is not 100% of anything but a joke. Wagyu. First of all, Wagyu has excellent marbling that puts it among the world's top class. Furthermore, the fat in wagyu melts at just 77F (25C), a lower temperature than any other beef. This explains why wagyu melts in your mouth for a sensational burst of flavor from the very first bite. This steak did not melt whatsoever. It was actually tough and chewy. Secondly, REAL Wagyu is ONLY from JAPAN! Beef. I suppose this can pass for beef. ____ Now here's a useful link that backs ALL of this up: forbes.com/sites/larryol… My friend Soeun sent me this link and it HIGHLY INSPIRED me to write this Yelp review because John Howie was the ABSOLUTE FIRST restaurant I thought of when reading this article. ____ Ok. Now I'm exhausted. I'm sure I will finish this post later. Till next time!! What can you take out of this review that might help you as a diner at John Howie? Go there for Happy Hour. You can get a $3 But Light. Oh wait.. What's that you say? You don't drink Bud Light? Of course you don't! What kind of idiot that spends $120 on a 6oz AUSTRALIAN A5 100% WAGYU BEEF FILET MIGNON drinks BUD LIGHT?!!! ok that's all. i apologize for my ranting. lol.
(1)Allie S.
I've had fantastic happy hour experiences here in the past, but never bothered writing about it -- everyone already knows that John Howie has the Eastside's best happy hour options. So I waited and waited 'til the day when I could write a review about the dining room. This year, our anniversary fell on a Sunday. Although after last year's fantastic experience at Canlis we intended to go back... Canlis is closed on Sundays. And our anniversary was Easter Sunday this year, just to make it a super pain. Thankfully JHS was open, so the boyfriend made reservations. We skipped valet parking, knowing that self-park equals one more drink. We were seated immediately, even though we were a few minutes early for our 7pm reservation. The dining room was not too crowded, but I was sad that there were lots of people who were wearing t-shirts and jeans. Seeing as I generally will not wear a dress unless it's celebrating a fancy occasion, I can relate... but I at least put on a nice pair of dress pants to go with my $50+ entrees if I'm not in a dress wearing mood. Thankfully, the attire of other patrons did not have much of an effect on our meal, as we had a fantastic view of the 405 -- the breathtaking beauty of Uwajimaya and Best Buy did not escape us [lol]. We started off with some of the specialty cocktails -- I had a Love Letter while my boyfriend had a Social Network. We were provided with a bread basket which contained a truly fantastic pretzel bun and some other tasty but not as noteworthy other breads, baked in-house. We opted for what can only be considered too much food. We began with the crab cakes appetizer -- Canlis' crab cake had this beat, hands down -- this was a cakey crab cake. But just because Canlis' was better doesn't mean this was without merit -- this was still the second best crab cake we've ever had... the sweet and sour sauce it came with was fantastic, and the ginger on the plate was so delicious I totally scarfed it down -- and I hate ginger, no exaggeration [unless it's in ale form!]. The amuse bouche was this fantastic smoked salmon bisque. I loved it so much I could go for a cup of it right now. We opted for the 40oz Porterhouse for two which came with roasted vegetables and a tableside carving service. The vegetables were over the top fantastic, but the meat... oh man, melt in your mouth delectable goodness! Spoilers: We had leftovers, but not many! I brought the "bony bits" home and just scarfed them down cold for breakfast. Still fantastic. The au jus it was served with was so good, I would pour it on just about anything. Or drink it from a cocktail glass. Just sayin'. Along with the steak, I ordered an Australian lobster tail. Although it was tasty -- after all, it is a frickin' gigantic lobster tail -- I would definitely pass if we came back. It was flavorful but not as satisfying as I would have hoped [not for size, but just tastewise I felt like I was missing something]. Since it was at market price, it was a little shy of $50, and I didn't feel it was worth it. But, boyfriend insisted we get it, as I had really wanted lobster for dinner. Our server was frank when I asked her if she enjoyed From Poland, With Love, one of the specialty cocktails. She said it tasted strongly of licorice, so I steered clear and continued to partake in ..a few.. Love Letters. They went well with all the meat I was eating, for sure. We also had the twice baked potato and the creamed spinach. I liked the twice baked potato, but I'd go without the creamed spinach next time -- tasty, but I could make creamed spinach of a comparable quality at home. The potato though -- I'm too lazy to recreate one of those! It was gigantic -- our server wasn't lying when she said sides were large enough to be shared. As our food was all arriving at our table, I offhandedly quipped that we had ordered so much food because an anniversary is "by definition only once a year," ha, ha, as if I wouldn't order this much food on a regular basis if it were financially viable! We couldn't skip dessert, so I had a neat glass of chambord [my favorite liquor, if you were curious!] and the chocolate ganache-salted caramel tart which was absolutely decadent and amazing, as well as the bourbon soaked bread pudding. Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts ever and this was SO good. We were full way before dessert started, but we still managed to find room for it. When the desserts came out, each had a candle and we were wished a happy anniversary. My boyfriend said he hadn't told them it was our anniversary. Which means that my dorky little comment to the gentleman carving our meat resulted in him telling our server and then them coordinating that as a surprise. That, and they gave us one of our desserts on the house! Absolutely a fantastic way to end the evening. I'll be back in for happy hour soon, but I look forward to the next time I get the opportunity to take advantage of the full John Howie Steak experience again.
(5)Amos Y.
Came here once for lunch and once for happy hour. They have separate areas for dining and happy hour / bar. The bar area is decently sized, but since the place is decently popular, and the largest tables they have are for four people, it may be hard to fit in a big group. During happy hour, the bar area only had one waitress, so service was a little spotty, but was otherwise good. At lunch I got the steak frites. Steak was excellent, extremely juicy and flavorful. It's definitely high quality steak. There's 6 or 7 mouthfuls of steak and comes with fried potatoes. May not completely fill up bigger eaters, but it's a pretty reasonable price at $17 for some quality steak. At happy hour we tried the USDA Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger and Sausage, Pickled Chanterelle and Caramelized Pear Flatbread. The burger was great, high quality juicy meat patty, and flatbread wasn't bad either. Definitely recommend the burger. Overall great food, but prices may be on the higher side though.
(4)Shirley C.
Had a great night at this place..... Our server Chris Fiamengo was excellent and took care of all our needs no matter how minor.... even made us some real english mustard (from Coleman's powder they had in the kitchen but at least it beat Dijon for a kick!). Our starter or for you Americans Appetizer was the Charcuterie plate which was sublime... great price for what you get and the chicken liver pate was to die for!.. steaks... well you can't go wrong here.... wine recommendation was so great the last time we came here that we had the same again....John Howie Bellevue..... we love you
(5)Kirstin G.
John Howie Steak is quickly becoming my "go-to" restaurant of choice, not just for a fancy steakhouse but for so many other types of nights. Their Happy Hour is great, and an opportunity to sample the menu without breaking the bank. The fried ricotta gnocchi and the deviled eggs are two items that you simply can't live without after you've had them. I am not a fan of deviled eggs, at all. But, one nibble of these beauties, drizzled with truffle oil and topped with a sprinkle of Kurbota bacon, you are hooked. The regular dining room menu is also so diverse and impressive. The steakhouse salad is a real bargain, for lunch especially at $18. Topped with warm steak cooked just to your liking and a blue cheese dressing that will knock your socks off. Of course the steaks are amazing. The variety of the choices and levels of "gourmand" is truly impressive. And oh my goodness, the desserts. If you are celebrating a special occasion, you cannot go wrong with the table side Banana's Foster. The service is what really sets John Howie over and above it's competitors. Impeccable, friendly but respectful, and totally intuitive.
(4)Good F.
Very very good steak IF you order the "eye of the ribeye". Other cuts are fine but not special. Black hawaiian salt is a great touch for the steak. Smaratly done. Low veggie options unfortunately, esp if you are on Paleo. Bacon appetizer is a must try once. Bit too dry for most though. Now desserts...the salted caramel tart thing....OOTW....out of this world. Service is just average. But great meal if you order above.
(4)Kristina L.
Reiterating from my previous review, the food is delicious. The service is pretty good but I really think El Gaucho is better. This time I did the chateubriand tableside for two. It was super delicious and the sauce was great too. I should have put a little more thought into the order first because it is served with roasted veggies, I just assumed it would be served a la carte-I'll bet when I go back it will be written somewhere completely obvious in bold print, LOL. Extra food just meant more delicious leftovers for the next day :) I also ordered the twice baked potato, two people can easily share one order. The mac&cheese was also delicious. I think my most favorite part are the cheesy breads they give you. They are smaller circular shaped rolls - super delicious. I ordered a pino noir, I forget the name, but it was also wonderful. Last time I came I ordered a pino noir and it was also super delicious. So far they are 100% on recommending wine. IF you've never been to John Howie it is worth checking out - especially if you're in the mood for some super delicious food.
(4)Jack H.
Over-the-top service; food was OK. Four of us had steaks and three were very good, but mine was tough as nails. Had to cut mine in tiny pieces to make it chewable - very disappointed. This was a business dinner and the table talk was good, but constantly interrupted by waiters making sure everything was OK, filling glasses that didn't need it - just really intrusive. For the money, it just wasn't worth it.
(3)Andrew L.
Great location, i used to work for Microsoft and ate here for lunch often. Food was amazing and service was outstanding. Drinks were always filled and server always took the time to explain the different salts or if there were other questions.
(5)Lindsay M.
The food is very good--just not as good as the pricetags promise. We had a $63 steak that tasted like a very good $23 steak. It was a little hard to cut and it didn't quite "pop." The fats could have been caramelized a little more attentively. The price-to-quality ratio made it feel more like a tourist trap than a legitimate foodie destination. To get more bang for one's buck, I recommend much more seasonally-oriented and chef-centric places like The Stone House in Redmond, WA, Nell Thorn in La Conner, WA, or Le Chat Noir in Bellingham, WA, instead. (Although rumor has it Le Chat Noir may gave gone downhill?) Still, the Beecher's mac and cheese was just as good as what you get in Beecher's Pike Place location, and the waitstaff was very attentive. I might go back for happy hour, with friends who enjoy getting posh for posh's sake.
(3)Trina H.
The Kobe cap steak was delicious!!! The fried bacon was also alarmingly good. They brought out a little shot of Butternut squash bisque and it was also very good. It is pricey but oh so worth it!
(5)Bryce B.
Seriously one of the absolute best steakhouse experiences of my life. Easily in the top 3. Every aspect of this meal was of the highest quality. We started with well-crafted cocktails in the piano lounge before being shown to our table. It was a great way to settle into the mood and prepare for the experience ahead. Once at our table, I began the laborious process of trying to decide what to order. It may have taken me 20 minutes to select an entree. Equally as difficult was choosing wine from their expansive list. Ultimately, I chose to start the evening with a 2006 Justin Isosceles meritage (followed later by a 2002 Jordan cabernet and then a 2005 Stag's Leap Artemis). Buying time, we put in our appetizer order, which consisted of a tuna tartare and (deep breath) tempura fried Kurobata bacon with ponzu dipping sauce. The tuna, as expected, was sashimi-grade and excellent. Perfect texture and bright, clean flavor. However, the bacon was the star. Think of Kurobata as the Kobe of pig and then you have an idea how amazing this might be. In addition to this, we ordered the tableside classic Caesar salad, which is a lost art and strangely fascinating to watch. The end product was the best Caesar I've ever had. Unlike the typical, overly creamy dressings at many other restaurants, this had a zing, tang and savoriness that only fresh lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and red wine vinegar bring. As good as the starters were, I was more than ready for the main event. In this case, that consisted of a trio of fillet mignon, one 28 day aged USDA Prime, one Wagyu from Snake River Farms, Idaho and one A5 Wagyu from Australia. I chose this so I could compare and contrast the different takes on this same cut. While each was fork tender and buttery, the American Wagyu was by far the best in both flavor and texture. The USDA was chewier and the Australian had an somewhat overpowering liver-ish flavor. For side dishes, we chose to share the wild mushrooms, the decadent five cheese twice baked potato, creamed spinach and the mac and cheese. All were excellent, but I was a little bit put off by the presence of a sunny side up egg on top of the spinach. I thought it an unnecessary addition that added nothing to an otherwise classic dish. I'd like to say that I'll be back, but I'm not sure I can afford to replicate this meal again. Perhaps it'll just have to live on in my memory until I win the lottery.
(5)Katie O.
This place is the bomb dot com, people! My co-workers and I made an extremely rare outing for happy hour and came here. It was super packed (not fun, but a good sign) so we ended up sitting at the little counter that faces a wall. This is definitely a seating arrangement that could use some improvement, but no biggie. The happy hour menu included nearly everything from the bar food section, and we all found yummy items to order. I chose the truffle deviled eggs and Beecher's mac & cheese. These were both amazing, and the portions were a lot bigger than I would have expected for happy hour. There was definitely plenty to share. I also sampled the tempura bacon (not gonna lie, this was a poor choice), ricotta gnocchi, and tenderloin bites. So much good food I was in heaven! I was also the only one to order a drink, but my cabernet was so light and smooth I didn't care. I am in love, and I intend to have many more very happy hours courtesy of John Howie.
(5)Ninette C.
Happy hour review only: I came here for a weekday double date recently. This place's happy hour ends at 6 and its pretty hard to get seating as it is not that big, so unless you work in the area (or have the day off), its not easy to get in. I ordered a house white wine to go with our bacon truffled deviled eggs, mac and cheese and spicy shrimp dish (sorry forgot the name). At first they accidentally brought a house red, but promptly took it away and brought me a new one. I should have asked to keep it. hehe. I took the bacon off the deviled eggs and they were delicious and truffle-y. The mac and cheese was great as well, but the shrimp was a tad bland and I felt like it could have been paired with a better bread. It just wasn't a very exciting dish. Service here is excellent and happy hour is fairly casual. There are a lot of Microsofties since their building is one floor above, so fun for people watchng/meeting guys. haha. jk jk. The Bravern is impossible to navigate but that isn't anything new. I would say overall this was a pretty good happy hour. It was much cheaper than dinner, but we spent something like $70 on the two of us, so it wasn't cheap. It wasn't my favorite happy hour ever, but I would come again once or twice.
(4)Dennis D.
Bring your THICK wallet because this place is POSH and DECADENT! So by that I mean PRICEY! ...But sooo worth it! And come on... You're in Bellevue ...eating at a joint right near "Needless Markup"... Of course it's going to be pricey! (My one appetizer and one cocktail, non happy-hour prices costed $20-$30) So if you can...get someone else to pay. ;-p Really, I need to go back to actually trade my arm or leg for a steak too, because this visit I only went for the tempura bacon and JHS Old Fashioned. ("Old Fashioned" as in THE COCKTAIL you perv!) But yes. Yes. You heard me right... DEEP... FRIED... (tempura breaded)... BACON. I'm in good shape, but I could have died of coronary failure on first bite and I'd have definitely died a happy HAPPY man. Mmmmmm. Oh and if you have vegi-friends when you visit... you won't afterwards. They'll either disown you... or join you. Because if there is ANYTHING to turn a vegi, carnivorous ... it's deep fried bacon! ;-p And that's JUST the FOOD. I mean, I've never eaten deep-fried bacon off a baby-grand piano before... but I have now! :-D (dead serious!)
(5)Henry T.
I've been here a few times, only had the steak once, but I can say this is my favorite steakhouse anywhere. It's been a while since I've had it, so I'll update my review the next time I order a steak. This review has to do with a lunch experience I had recently. My friend mentioned he wanted a good burger in the area, and after mentioning John Howie Steak, we decided to head to the Bravern. This lunch happened on the week of Christmas, and the restaurant was packed. It's a good thing we got there when we did, because we had some of the last remaining seats in the bar area. I don't think they expected that large of a crowd, and they seemed understaffed, but were friendly enough when they could stop by. After receiving the menu, I remembered that I wanted to try the "Kiss your hips goodbye burger". I mentioned to my friend what it was, and soon, two were on our way to our table (not really soon, it took a while because of the crowd). It was definitely a quality burger, though I was instantly felt guilt as soon as I took the first delicious bite. From what a remember, a 3/4 lb burger, tempura fried bacon, onion rings, and cheddar cheese, "sandwiched" between two individual grilled-cheese sandwiches... Ummmmm... I ordered a potato salad instead of fries to feel more "healthy." I'm going to upload a picture of the burger to this review as well. I could only eat half of the burger before I felt like I couldn't go anymore, but I have to say, it was a quality burger and similar to the KFC Double Down, I had to try it once. Overall, not that I'll ever order it again, I enjoyed it.
(5)Carly L.
Yum to the yum. Potato soup: YUM Steak salad: YUM vanilla ice cream with salted caramel: YUM Service was outstanding, food was amazing, and the wine we drank was fantastic. I will definitely be back.
(5)Jordan C.
A first class restaurant and an overall excellent dining experience all around. The wait staff were friendly and attentive without being at all pretentious. Even our water waiter had a good sense of humor and appeared to be genuinely pleased to refill our glasses or guide us to the rest room. The sommelier knew his stuff, and guided us to an excellent bottle of wine that wasn't ridiculously marked up. The food is quite pricey, with the cheapest 8 oz filet being around $47, with prices going up drastically from there, but the meat quality was excellent. We ordered filet mignon all around,several appetizers and a few sides to share. The steak was perfectly cooked and very tender. The sides of asparagus and lobster cooked potatoes were excellent. Notable appetizer was the tempura fried bacon. The creme brulee and lava cake desserts were also very good. Overall if you're looking for a high end, well run, well serviced steakhouse in Bellevue, this is the place to go.
(4)Tiff W.
I have only been for lunch and I must say you have get a juicy Lucy if you like burgers. The grilled cheese with tomato soup is good too. Dinner looks expensive, but lunch has been a good value for me.
(5)Kevin C.
I've been here 3 times for happy hour now, and this is probably my top 3 favorite happy hour spots. They have a piano table, which is a nice touch. The bar area is really nice, but kind of cramped. regardless though their happy hour prices are amazing, and there are a few things that you should definitely try: deviled eggs: delightful, with hint of truffle flavor these are so delicious. tempura battered bacon: definitely try this, its not greasy at all, nice crispy bacon strip with tempura crust. really really light and good, not at all what you would expect deep fried gnocchi with truffle cream sauce: these are really good gnocchi, soft, pillowy, and melts in your mouth, the cream sauce is just top notch too. great truffle flavor, creamy, and not too overpowering. the $8 burger: its 8 bucks for a GIANT burger at a steakhouse, beef is great, good grilled flavor, and juicy patty. i could only eat half. not to mention the service is great. bottom line is: BOMB happy hour, at prices that are mind blowing for a steakhouse of this caliber: Sorry Ruth's chris, theres a new sheriff in town.
(5)Cindy T.
Round two: Again, had a lovely time! Randomly we got the same waiter as last time (Eric) and he was fab. He reminded me of Bill Nye the science guy. Anyway, finished the bread platter--so soft, fresh, warm, and light! Before your entrees they give you a 'complimentary' fr the kitchen this drinkable shot-like of whatever that day they have created up. Nonetheless, its soo yummy. In fact, we got a second round ;) This time I got salmon...and my bf had the lamb. It was enough for two people, and I shared his veggies with him, since the salmon was al e carte (just the fish itself with no side dish). The fish was okay, of course delicious, but the lamb was better. For dessert we had to try the other tableside dessert-which was the tart cherries over ice cream. YUM! Although, my favorite is the banana split. Nothing can beat that! I finished my dessert, and on my last bite I was chewing something plastic-y. I spit it out of my mouth realizing its a piece of plastic, probably from a bottle wrapper or something. Eric came, and took it into the kitchen. Next thing, someone came by to apologize and comp the dessert. (Well, at a high class restaurant, they best be!) I didn't mind, but definitely had no clue how in the world that plastic wrapper got into my bowl. Especially since they demo how to make it right in front of your eyes! Take advantage of any promos/coupons they have throughout the year. We came back to use a promo they gave out in Dec and got $40 off our tab. Nice! Need to try HH next time! The piano and bar looks grand.
(5)Mark D.
Best service I've had at a restaurant. Ever. Seriously, the staff at John Howie Steak were fantastic. Service was very fast - we were seated promptly, greeted promptly, and attended to frequently throughout the two hours we spent there. Waiter(s) were very friendly, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu, both the different kinds of steaks as well as in depth information about the various wines. Water was refilled promptly. They even neatly folded my napkin for me when I got up to use the restroom. The food itself was also very good. I had the American Kobe beef ribeye. It was cooked perfectly, and the steak was very tender, and very good. The group-portioned loaded twice baked potato was also excellent. The atmosphere was good, but not outstanding. Decor was nice, nothing really sticks out that much in my mind. The table next to ours was very, very loud though...not the experience I expect at a place like this. Also, one final note...this place is expensive. Very expensive. The $$$$ Yelp rating is an understatement. However, for an occasional treat (or if you have the money to do it regularly), its definitely worth it.
(5)Shy A.
My dear John Howie, I think I may have fallen in love. Jeebus. We made reservations for 5pm and arrived a bit early, just in time for HH. Knowing that I would soon indulge in some amazing cuts, I opted for just drinks. They have a good selection for HH food and drinks-I'll look to come back and check it out. So, here's the breakdown. Bone-in Filet Mignon Prime Rib Pan Seared Filet Mignon Medallions with King Crab-Oscar Style The meats were all AMAZING! Holy cow! Worth every hard earned cent! The sides I suggest for a bit of variety: Beecher's Mac&Cheese Crispy Fried Potatoes Asparagus Spears Creamed Spinach Maine lobster Mash Potatoes Sauteed Wild Mushrooms Definitely try the Bananas Foster-it's done tableside, so a nice little show before your sweets! For wine, I suggest the Poet's Leap Reisling and the Water Witch Bordeaux inspired blend. Yum! The food and experience was everything I hoped it would be... I'll be back!
(4)Mrs. W.
This place blows Daniels out of the water! Took my husband here for his birthday. He loves steak and I am a pescatarian, but since it was his birthday I wasn't too worried about what I was going to eat, just wanted to make sure he had a great experience. Neither of us had ever been here for dinner before and we both walked away raving about how we can't wait to go back! The beef entrée selection is mind-boggling. The wait staff are impeccably trained and polished and I can't imagine any question would stump them. Since it's a steak house, I wasn't expecting much by way of non-beef options, but I was pleasantly surprised to see there were 2 fish options and a vegetarian option available. The bourbon selection was equally impressive: pages and pages of hard to find bourbons. My hubby was ecstatic to see Pappy Van Winkle on the menu since he has been on a waiting list at our local spirits store for a bottle. When it came out he said it was a "healthy pour" and he was so glad he splurged. Since I was pregnant and couldn't enjoy any cocktails the waiter offered up some fresh lemonades - pomegranate or strawberry. When I had trouble deciding, he brought both. Talk about making your guest feel special. I started with a salad with avocado and grapefruit that was just scrumptious. I cleaned my plate. The waiter offered my hubby the tempura bacon and he was just in heaven. He also enjoyed an oyster sampler plate. For dinner, hubby ordered some kind of beef from Australia and declared it the best steak he's ever eaten. I ordered the halibut with risotto. The risotto was out of this world. The halibut was a touch overdone but I was so enamored with this place by the time I got to the entrée I didn't really care. They offered to remake it, but I had already eaten a good portion of it and would have felt silly sending it back. The asparagus side was fantastic. The meyer lemon hollandaise was perfection. Not too thick, not to lemony - perfectly balanced. I have to agree with the previous poster about the potato cakes. When they came out I had to chuckle. They look exactly like diner hashbrowns. Do not order. Those definitely need an overhaul. Completely out of place at such a fine dining establishment. Bottom line: when you think fine dining steak house - this should be your GO-TO restaurant, every time. Perfect for celebrations, impressing a potential client, or just really treating yourself to an incredible dining experience. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Dave F.
I had another excellent bone-in filet, but really ordered too much. We started with a cheese plate and charcuterie, followed by entrees, sides of corn and mushrooms and and then went deep on dessert, devouring a bananas foster! Service and ambiance were also excellent!
(4)Jessie R.
John Howie is not your average wood paneled and leather boothed steak house. Well, there was a beautiful woven wood paneled wall, but what I mean is that you're not going to get the run of the mill, find in any city, generic "fancy" steak dinner here. Everything is made in house from scratch starting with the warm bread selection to the fabulous desserts. Even the charcuterie is made on premises. I enjoyed a mid week late lunch and can't recommend it highly enough. We started with the deviled eggs, which were served topped with truffled bacon, and the habanero shrimp starter, which had a lovely amount of heat. Steak isn't a normal lunch food for me, but when in Rome...., so I had to order the Oscar fillet. It is a 4 oz fillet on top of a potato pancake and topped with dungeness crab and Bearnaise sauce. It was incredible. It was a special lunch, so we had to end with the salted caramel chocolate ganache tart and meyer lemon pie. Both were amazing, but the meyer lemon pie was the standout favorite. If you're feeling like you need to do some extreme eating, try the "kiss your hips goodbye" burger. A diner a few tables over ordered it, and it is pure indulgence. A burger where the buns are grilled cheese sandwiches.
(5)Chompy C.
I went here with my best friend and not only was the service outstanding but the food was so good! The caesar salad was made fresh at our table. The steak was juicy. The lobster was to due for! If I had one thing I would say was not excellent, it would have to be the brussel sprouts which were overcooked. Our waitress complimented every meal with a perfect wine and even gave us a bit of dessert (just a bite or two) because we were too stuffed to have a full dessert. It was perfect. Highly recommed having a meal here!
(4)Craig T.
I have eaten both lunch and dinner here several times since the restaurant opened and have always had a good experience with the food and service. On my recent visit my wife and I started with their calamari appetizer and it was good, but we've certainly had better. My wife had the American Wagyu filet and I had the regular filet - both were cooked perfectly medium as we had requested. We also had the wild mushrooms and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, also excellent. For desert we shared Boston Cream Pie that was complimentary as it was my wife's birthday. Our waiter was excellent, attentive, but not overly so and very professional. He had been with the restaurant since it opened and knew the menu completely. He was probably the best waiter we've had at this restaurant and I'm sorry that I can't recall his name as I write this review. This restaurant is on par with El Gaucho and the Met Grill and in my opinion better than all the others in the greater Seattle/Bellevue area. We will not hesitate to return for another wonderful meal.
(5)Jason H.
Great food and atmosphere! Gotta love losing bets when u win by eating great food. The ribeye melts in ur mouth.. perfectly cooked and worth taking the time to eat. But not too long bc once the meat is cold, it no longer melts.. side dishes. Can't miss with creamed spinach and corn.. All in all.. just eat here. Haven't been in for happy hr but I hear it's amazing as well
(5)Emmy R.
Things I loved: - Our server, Matt, was AMAZING! He was attentive without being overbearing and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Selecting one of their many steak options can be a bit overwhelming, but he was able to make solid recommendations on steak cuts. - Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon. A must-try for any bacon lover! - Perfect seasoning and char on the ribeye cap steak. - Mesquite Roasted Corn with Honey-Chipotle Butter - Bourbon Soaked Black Cherry Bread Pudding--not for the bread pudding, but for the Maker's Mark ice cream. Yum! - the refreshing after-dinner drink our server recommended that we loved so much, we've replicated it at home I could probably pass on the Ahi Tuna Tartare and the Potato Gnocchi. They were good, just not particularly exciting. Unless you're balling out of control, you're probably not going to be dining here regularly, but it's a great place to dine for a special occasion or just to treat yourself to a spectacular meal.
(5)Sila B.
OMGDEEPFRIEDBACON. One evening my roommate David A. and I were watching a food program all about deep fried foods. Featured on the program was deep fried bacon. We looked at each other and said: we have to find that in Seattle. The search was on, and it lead us right to John Howie. I was very happy to see this crispy treat on the happy hour menu (cuz if you're going to give yourself a food-induced heart attack, why not do it as cheaply as possible?). As soon as they brought out a glass full of 5 pieces of tempura-battered, deep fried bacon, we all turned into 5 year-olds about to eat that first piece of Halloween candy. And we were not disappointed. The batter is fried to a perfect crisp, and the bacon inside is perfectly cooked. And, it came with a fabulous maple ponzu sauce for dipping. I have found food heaven. Everything else ordered from the menu was equally as delicious: tender calamari with surprising artichoke hearts, habanero butter shrimp, delectable mac 'n' cheese, prime tenderloin bites that really make you understand why it's called "tender"loin, and deep fried gnocchi that is unlike anything I've ever tasted. On top of it all, there are drink specials during happy hour as well. Definitely worth the drive to the East Side.
(5)Ryan N.
QUICKTIP: Can't get any better than live Music + Happy Hour Compared to its fellow steak restaurants...John Howie has the best Happy Hour: Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger (1 lb) & Prime Tenderloin Bites (SO TENDER AND JUICY!) are HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Happy Hour Martinis and beer under $5. A veggie (maybe asparagus??)/ salad-type entree for happy hour would be my only recommendation.
(5)Steve D.
Best happy hour in downtown Bellevue. Last time we were there it was Sunday, and they had their famous happy hour burger all day.
(5)Ashley S.
A bit overhyped. But my 4-stars go to their lobster mashed potatoes. I could easily go there and order just that... To die for!
(4)Stacey P.
I've been here twice, once for my boyfriend's birthday and once a month or so later withe the coupon in the envelope deal that they were running. It was too tempting not to return. The first time we went out we went all out. My boyfriend ordered the Japanese Kobe ribeye, and I had the American Wagyu filet mignon. We ordered the calamari appetizer, ordered a side of mushrooms and a side of twice baked potatoes. The appetizer was very good. The side dishes were ok. The steaks were amazing. The salts that they offer just makes the steaks explode with flavor. It truly was an amazing steak, so decadent and perfectly prepared. We also ordered wine, which the waiter made sure our glasses were never emptied until the bottle ran dry. I started to think that he was spying on us somewhere he was that on target about making sure our glasses stayed full. I had the ice cream for dessert and it was the most amazing ice cream I have ever eaten. The second time we went out we had the same terrific experience. The server wasn't as precise as the first we had, but he was still fantastic. He saw me pour my own wine once and apologized for not being there to do so. Then when my boyfriend ordered a French press coffee with his dessert the French press was acting up and ended up overflowing. These two things didn't effect us, we were having a great night out, but what we saw from those two incidents was a server who was passionate about his job and we admired that. I can pour my own wine without a problem and every once in awhile there's going to be problems with a French press, it happens. The service was fantastic. I have recommended this place to many people and haven't heard a complaint yet. I need to check out the happy hour some time soon!
(4)Ellen C.
John Howie is probably my favorite restaurant in "Seattle." Seattle in quotes because it's in Bellevue. And it takes A LOT to get me to go to Bellevue at all, let alone want to. This place seriously has the best steak I have ever had. I grew up in a family that viewed good steak dinner as the way to celebrate, so I've had a lot of them. This is way better than all the standard places (the Palm, Capitol Grille, Ruth's Chris, etc). My favorite thing to do is to order the Combo 4oz USDA Prime and 4oz American Waygu. I keep going back and forth on which I like better, and it's nice to be able to try both. So far, everyone I've taken has ordered this on my recommendation, so no idea on any other steaks.. I'm sure they're all excellent though! (Except that one person who ordered fish. She says it was good. I'm still judging her for ordering fish in a steakhouse. Anyway.) Other than ORDERING STEAK (which you should definitely do) - in the bread basket, I love the little round puffs that are cheese flavored. I'd highly recommend them. By the glass, I've had the Stag's Leap Petit Syrah, which was good. The sommelier is really great if you want a bottle. I'm blanking on the name, but he recommended an uncommon Malbec (not the Suzanne) that was fantastic. I wouldn't bother with dessert. It's great, but why eat dessert when you could EAT MORE STEAK?
(5)Laurie S.
Wow! I think I'm still full from dinner Saturday night. We went in to celebrate my husband's birthday. I had a groupon and thought "Why not?" Let me tell you, everyone was amazing and super friendly. Our waiter Ira was hilarious. He talked with you like you were an old friend from back in the day. I knew dinner was going to be great when they brought out the amazing bread basket. It was something like 5 different kinds of bread. My favorite was a croissant type bread with cheese on the bottom. Seriously melted in your mouth. You also get a little snack from the chef. A prawn with mango/pineapple salsa. Mmm. My husband ordered the rib eye with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. I ordered the filet medallions topped with asparagus, huge chunks of crab and the yummiest of hollandaise (or was it bernaise? I can never remember). This was on top of a potato pancake. Both of our steaks were unbelievably tender. The knife just glided right through it. We both made sure to save room for dessert after we overheard Ira talking about the 3 page dessert menu. For a birthday treat my husband chose the cherries jubilee which they make tableside. This dessert looked and smelled amazing. Mouths were watering before we even had a chance to try it. It was literally love at first bite. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice restaurant. It's surprisingly not stuffy at all for being at the Bravern.
(5)Spider W.
Loved it! Went for appetizers and drinks in the bar...very good! It was a bit noisy in the bar area, but very nice and we had excellent service! Will be back.
(4)Stef M.
Two words: happy hour! On Sundays, it's from 3-close! As much as I feel like I'm going to get kicked out of The Bravern at any moment for not being classy enough, I am a big fan of John Howie. That, and Vovito Gelator are the only reasons I come here. (OK, if you work at Microsoft you might HAVE to come here, but I'm not in that boat :) The monthly special cocktail is usually great, and only $4. So far I've tried one with rum and a housemade "fruit punch", as well as an acai martini. The regular cocktails are grea toot: The intermezzo is very herbaceous and tasty. The parmagianno reggiano potato chips are crispy, salty, and a perfect complement to a beer or cocktail. There's an extensive list of scotch, whiskey, and cocktails to chose from. Frankly, after coming here a couple of times for dinner, as well as happy hour hour, I would have to say that i enjoy happy hour in the bar more than the regular dining room, which I find to be too stuffy. I've used a groupon here for dinner in the dining room, and while the steaks are great, you can also order regular dining room stuff in the bar (and also get happy hour stuff). Must-try: * deviled eggs * tempura bacon * burger The gnocchi was OK, but I think deep-frying it was overkill. You can get up to 6 hours of parking validated at anyplace in The Bravern, including John Howie. While you're here, I'd stop by Vovito for some gelator for dessert!
(4)Cindy C.
Henry L. and I came here for happy hour the other night... Food = 3.5 stars. The reason they don't get higher ratings is because during happy hour, all they seem to have are fried foods... So, while it helps that you will end up drinking more, it doesn't help with trying to have a balanced meal. (I suppose we could have ordered a salad) Drink = 3.5 stars. My just a bit dirty martini was $5 and tasty. Nothing unique though. Company = 5 stars. Well, given that it was a fun evening with great company, of course it's 5 stars! Atmosphere = 4 stars. It reminded me of a very, very nice hotel lobby bar... Henry says he liked the liquor selection (the wall was huge). Service = 4.5 stars. Amazing service. We ordered the mac and cheese and it was, well, sub par. The pasta was too al dente, the sauce too watery. The dish overall was overly salty and lukewarm (probably out of the oven for a while and was just under the heat lamp). We only just mentioned it to our waitress and she immediately took it away and off the bill. She also split our burger on two plates without asking. Super awesome. Overall, fun place. Very Eastside. 4 stars.
(4)Jeff D.
For lunch I think this is a great place. Their Steak Frites is delicious and inexpensive. Their burgers are quite good as well. And I don't know what they do to their fries, but they are AMAZING. For dinner I think they're over priced by a tad. El Gaucho just down the street has better bang for the buck. El Guacho's Bananas Foster is also MUCH better. Service is good as expected for their prices. One meal there we ended up with a very long piece hair in my wife's salad. They apologized profusely and brought a new salad ASAP(although they didn't comp the salad. Kinda poor choice IMHO). I frequent the place for lunch, but i steer clear for dinner. I prefer Howie's other Bellevue restaurant (Seastar) for dinner.
(4)Tom C.
I have been hearing about the burger at this place for some time - finally had a chance to hit it today for lunch - wow, unbelievable! Yes, it's a bit pricey, but you should aleady know that going in - and it was worth it. If you are on a diet, the 60/40 burger is definitely worth cheating! The cheese and bacon in the middle....and its really more like a steak than burger. Try it!
(5)Active R.
We were here for dinner and I must say this place is pretty good for fine dining. The service is extremely friendly and the staff is very attentive. They also carry a vegetarian menu - though I felt it needed some more attention. We ordered sea scallops and carrot soup as starters. The scallops were very good but I found the soup to be very sweet. For the mains we ordered lamb and ravioli. The ravioli was very nice but the lamb needed some more flavor. The roasted veggies along with the lamb were awesome :D... They have a good collection of cocktails. The best one yet is the love letter. I will totally recommend this place !!!
(4)Gaurav A.
Came here for happy hour and boy, was I in for a treat! The prime beef cheeseburger is a massive, awesome, juicy feast that is a steal at 10 bucks. Come with a huge appetite, but even if you don't, you'll probably stuff your face with every morsel of goodness this is.
(5)Dior C.
My husband and I have always been a fanatic of a delicious steak! We both ordered the Waygu options and were completely satisfied with our orders! We also had the banana foster for dessert. The entire experience was worth every dollar. Without a doubt our go to place from now on!
(4)John H.
Just came here to say the French Onion soup was the worst I'd ever had. It was basically an oversalted, overfatty extremely small portion of broth with a humongous covering of melted cheese on it. Of that bowl, I think only 1/2 of that was liquid, the rest was cheese. I should have returned it. I felt it was made like what they thought French Onion at an upscale restaurant should be. Apart from that service was excellent, the waitpeople were courteous, efficient and well trained.
(3)Ben B. N.
I love steaks! Especially now that I'm on a high protein and low card diet. John Howie is a would probably rank 5th on my list of steak places. 1. Capital Grill 2. Jaks 3. The Met 4. Melrose Grill 5. John Howie/Daniels
(4)O.D. C.
Though a bit overpriced, I don't mind paying for quality. I loved everything about this place, great atmosphere, steaks, and service. Three stars because of some bad oysters...
(3)Melanie S.
Came here for happy hour! I do have the groupon to come back for a full dinner, but rumor has it they have a killer happy hour. Being a happy hour frequenter... I was excited to give it a shot. I felt a tad underdressed walking in in even slacks and a leather jacket, but who's going to dress up to throw down on a $10 burger at 10pm? Not this girl! We got the burger. The lamb sliders. And of course, the tempura bacon. The burger and fries was absolutely wonderful. They charge $1.50 for a side of ranch, which turned me off at first, but it was well worth the small fortune when the dressing hit my taste buds. I wish I could bottle it up and eat it on everything I ever eat from here on forward. That part aside, the lamb sliders weren't for me. Lamb has too "gamey" of a taste for me and they don't hold back on their game in the lamb. The bacon was wonderful. Definitely worth a try, but wouldn't eat it every time. The bartenders knew what was up and were very sweet, personable, and knew a lot about what they offer. Definitely would come back and can't wait to try the whole dinner ordeal!
(4)Jeff H.
Five star #17: This has been a long time coming. Having eaten dinner here A LOT over the last few years, I can say without question that I've never had a bad experience. Service is spot on, expansive selection of spirits, and great food. I'll keep coming back time and time again.
(5)Catherine W.
I went here for late-night happy hour after Blue Martini was unexpectedly closed. Having just eaten dinner, I wasn't up for food, but just looking at the menu, I loved the options available- and especially the variety of sizes for drinks. I will write a more thorough review when I go back for a fuller happy hour, but I definitely liked what I saw enough to know I will be back!!
(4)Tien N.
Amazing, amazing, amazing service. To be greeted at the hostess desk and brought to the bar for happy hour was already a sign of good service to come for the evening. Bartender Joe, was a pleasure to have met. From introducing us to new spirits and attending to our needs, he was a delightful entertainment while there. It was my sister's first impression of John Howie Steakhouse and she was not disappointed! The burger was cooked to perfection and the February happy hour cocktail was ever so refreshing. I appreciate the service as much as the food. Will return in the near future to try new dishes!
(5)Son N.
I took my wife here for our 6 month anniversary and yes be prepared to splurge. The food was great and the service was exceptional. The steak came out exactly how I wanted it to be and the dinning experience was what would expect from a $$$$ steakhouse. The only thing keeping them from a 5 star experience is the tables are too close to you neighbors.
(4)Michael C.
Wow, this place is incredible! The atmosphere is very relaxed with dim lighting that is perfect for dates or casual outings. The service is very polite, knowledgeable and very friendly. Here's the breakdown of the meal that I had the pleasure of enjoying: 1. Free stuff: The bread basket was pretty diverse with crackers and pretzel bread and a delicious cheese fill roll. They only one little dish of butter so if you like your butter get ready to ask for me. The server brought out a very small cup of the lobster bisque "compliments of the chef." Very tasty but only enough to whet your palette 2. Appetizer- Habenero shrimp was very good. Lots of shrimp and a sweet and spicy sauce. Really enjoyed this appetizer. 3. Entree- Ordered the "filet mignon Oscar style". It came topped with a boulangaise sauce, Dungeness crab, and steamed asparagus. The steak was tender and moist even though it was a filet. The asparagus was tender and tasty. The crab was a little over cooked and the sauce kind of takes away the flavor of the crab. Also had the sautéed mushrooms for a vegetable side and it was very flavorful with four different kinds of mushrooms. 4. Dessert- Creme brûlée was excellent. Nice crust, creamy and just enough sweet. I could've eaten three more and not batted an eye but in the end I chose not have my cholesterol hit 1000! 5. Drinks- I don't drink alcohol but the ones other were for king looked tasty! I personal had water and strawberry lemonade, top marks for both! The Lookback- great atmosphere, great food and great service. Price is high but you get what you pay for and you don't come here to get the best price on steaks, you come to get the best tasting steaks! I enjoyed the whole experience and will be back the next chance I get. Better start saving those pennies!
(5)Peter C.
Some say that when I ever since I was born, I was never that lil boy everyone imagines holding a lollipop. Instead I was that Phat Lil Azn holding a 50oz+ Ribeye!! This is where John... Last name Howie comes into my life being on my Top 10 Chautime list of best places to eat in Seattle Presenting me with a Premier Dining Experience each and every time I visit, I am always A Happy Little Camper to return for some more of these Meattastic Treats. My Favorites include: the A5 Wagu Japenese, AUSTRALIAN WAGYU, and AMERICAN WAGYU Ribeye all at once I call this the "WAGU STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN" (I wish John Howie would rename this in Dedication to Chautime! All 3 is only 28oz btw), 36oz USDA Prime Bone In Rib In Rib Eye Steak , and last the 42 Day Dry Aged Ribeye! After all it's all about the #ribeyeboyzzz baby and John Howie is one of the only reasons why I would go across the "Troll Bridge" to get some food!! Whenever I think of Bellevue I always think of the show "Desperate Housewives" for some strange reason. Maybe because it is true:0. Though I have never and will never watch an episode I feel like all the ShhhMancy Pantsy excuse me Skirtseyzz would be dining here @ John Howie while sipping on a Bottle of Wine PINKEYZ UP!!! Food: Wagu Stairway to Heaven- This is on the "Chautime Secret Menu" you order a 12oz American Wagu Eye of Ribeye, 8oz Austrailian Wagu Ribeye, and My Phav 8oz Japanese A5 Wagu Ribeye. This is total In and Out "Animal Style" Meat Porn Best in Seattle Flight Tastic Combo. Here is the Breakdown: 8oz Japenese A5 Wagu Ribeye- is deffinately the "Trophy Wife Eye Candy" of this MeatTastic Trio. I have never had Steak in my Life ranked higher than A5. I have always wanted to try A3 or A1 that is actually on my bucket list, but as far as the A5 I have tried this is the Standard which I compare all the other A5's I try too. After ordering I love to ask the server to show me my "Trophy Wife" before I put that chick on the grill. It always makes "My Heart Skip A Beat" when I see the same amount of White Marble on a piece of Meat as Red Meat. This is True Art at it's Finest the Mona Lisa is Nuffin Compared to this Dime Piece. Divine, Orgasmic, and Sex on a Plate is what this is!!! Melts in your mouth, Very tender, and Grilled to Perfection so good you can use a Cavier Spoon to cut it like Seared Foie Gras. My Complaint and Request is that they make a Ribeye as big as the 50oz+ ones like the ones I get all the time at Miller's Guild that would be WaAGgUuuin 2 Heavenin!!! If this were a purse from Desperate Housewives this would be YSL, Gucci, OR Louis Voution!!! 12oz American Wagu Ribeye- is what I like to call a "Keeper, the Main Chick" of the Relationship. Because even through thick and thin this meat is always good to have around. Very well marbled, tastes great but Number #2 in the Wagu Series compared to the Japanese A5 Wagu, and is beautiful but not Drop Dead Victoria Secret Model Gorgeous. It's nice to have this in the Trio to know what you have and to appreciate whats good which is this, how things can be better which is the Wagu A5 Japanese, and the Bottom how things can always go down like the Stock Market in life and this will be the Australian Wagu. If I had to Rank this as a purse from Desperate Housewives this would be a Valentino, Jimmy Cho or Burberry!!! 8oz Australian Wagyu Ribeye- is the Bottom Chick the one you always know will be around and be there for you when you need her. She might not be the prettiest but you can fall back on her when you have that emptiness in your life. This cut was a Rough Patch because even though being a Ribeye a Wagu one for the matter it's kinda tough. It's good to have someone tough to be by your side but not when your feasting on a Ribeye. I am looking for this one to be as flavorful, Melt in your Mouth Tenderness, and the Perfect Bite like the other too but this chick fell short. Purse wise this would for sure be a Michael Kors that you found at Ross but claim it was bought at Nordstrom or Coach Handbag which is nice and good quality but lets get real they are all made in my Home Land China!!! 36oz USDA Prime Bone In Rib In Rib Eye Steak- This is Meat On A Stick Eye Candy!! For Ribeyes having the Bone In to Me is the same as a Desperate Housewife rockin a 5 Carat VVS 1 Diamond!!! Having the Bone In Gives the Meat Richer flavor just like that Diamond the Desperate Housewife giving her more Uppity Class. One of My favorite Ribeyes I have had in Washington. 42 Day Dry Aged Ribeye- is the a Total Cougar and one Super Hot M.I.L.F!!! Dry Aged for 42 days this piece has been around the Block, Knows How To Work It and TWERK it, and has very Complex Notes, Flavors, and Tastes Like Wines! This is my number 2 favorite steak to get here it is AHHMAzing!! Get this and the A5 Wagu as a combo for the Best 3 Some Your Taste Buds will ever have!!! #RibeyeBoyZzz 4 Life
(5)Jiaqi H.
Me and my boyfriend ordered a set of 4 oz for each kind of steak, USA prime rib, American wagyu, Australian wagyu, and Japanese wagyu. It's a good choice for people who wanna try everything for some, and sweet for share with someone. Wagyu is a little bit fat for ladies, for personal, but my boyfriend love them all! I recommend the starter of bacon tempera, veggies choices that baked corns(yummy, my love ).
(4)Rona L.
***Happy Hour Review*** John Howie's has been on my "to try" list for a while now so my boyfriend and I decided to try it a few days ago. On the recommendation of our friends, we arrived early (at the start of HH) to secure a table. I ordered the November Cocktail Special and it was really well made (with vodka, a few different types of juices (see picture) and St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram) -- slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and refreshing. To eat, we shared the tempura bacon, heirloom tomato flatbread, and pork tortas. The tempura bacon was great! I thought it would be really heavy and greasy, but it was just perfect. The bacon was lightly battered so that when you bit in, you got the taste of the tempura without any of the heaviness, the bacon was perfectly crispy and salty; somehow, it wasn't the greasy mess I envisioned. The flatbread was satisfying and simple -- with just tomatoes, basil, cheese, and roasted garlic cloves -- but nothing I couldn't make at home. The pork sliders were good too. The pork was tender and the aioli added a nice flavor, but again, maybe not my favorite. For dessert, we ordered the bread pudding. Now THAT (and the tempura bacon) is the reason we'd go back again. BOURBON soaked cherries and MAKER'S MARK ice cream! Get outta here...it was really delicious. Sure enough, by the time we looked up from our bread pudding, the bar area had been completely filled with patrons and it was packed. And since John Howie is a classy establishment and won't allow the experience of diners to be ruined by over-crowding, they had someone guarding the entrance to the bar at all times -- to ensure that over-eager customers wouldn't be hovering over tables. **Apparently, we didn't order the "right" things off the menu (so says my friend), so I'd like to come back and try a few other items. That burger looked amazing (and huge), though we weren't hungry enough for it during this trip. Next time!
(3)Jonie N.
I've only come here for dinner once but for happy hour several times, so I guess my review is mainly for the happy hour. It's great because they have happy hour every day and over fifteen food items on the menu. A few of my favorites include: - Beef bacon cheeseburger. This burger is one of my favorites. It's huge (you'll want to share if you want to eat anything else on the menu) and juicy, with prime beef, Beecher's cheddar, thick and fresh tomato and lettuce, pickle and bacon, and "drive-in" sauce (the best part). I don't really know what it is, but I'd say it's a combo of honey mustard and thousand island. Whatever it is, I really like it. Also, you know the ground beef is good quality because it's a steak house! The fries, though, are no good. I don't eat them, but it's okay because the burger and other food is plenty to fill me up. Anyway, it's a great deal for $10, and the burger alone can be a substantial meal if you're not dining family style. - The Beecher's cheddar macaroni and cheese is one of the best I've had. It's really cheesy and what I appreciate most about it is that the macaroni isn't too soft and/or mushy like it is at a lot of places. It's super filling though, so don't let the "small" container of it fool you into thinking it's not much. Every time I've had this, whether sharing between two or three people, we've always had leftovers. I guess it's just pretty heavy, so I wouldn't recommend getting this just for yourself. - The tempura bacon served with maple dipping sauce is pretty awesome, because you can't go wrong with bacon and fried. I like that it's unique to John Howie and it's not served anywhere else. It's $8 for 5 slices, which isn't terrible, but probably only worth it if you're a bacon lover. Also, one order is plenty to share because with all that batter, a slice or two is plenty per person. I did notice a guy sitting next to me last time that ate all five slices by himself no problem though, guess I don't like bacon as much as he does. - Fried brussels sprouts. Surprisingly good! I'm not a fan of brussels, but I liked these! Maybe fry anything and I'll like it, but the Parmesan made a difference too - perfect for a cheese lover :) 4 stars! Besides those items, anything else might be hit or miss. I remember not liking the flatbread, but I don't think it's on the menu anymore.. and the spicy habanero butter shrimp is good, but not very spicy. I don't remember the dinner I had here too well either, besides it being fancy. Overall, won't go back for an expensive dinner, but I'll continue to come every few months for the happy hour - it's a good deal for your money. Solid four stars.
(4)Sarah M.
Deliciously overpriced. While I can easily give the service and steak itself 5 stars, I need to knock it down one because of the side dishes and odd crab cakes. I came here on Valentine's Day for the first time. The service was exceptional from the start as we walked in, were handed a rose, and escorted to our seats. Nice little touch. We were brought to a booth in a large room where the seats were obviously crammed for Valentine's Day but not quite as badly as I expected them to be. We got there for an early dinner to try to avoid the crowds as best as possible. The crowd was an odd mix...some coworkers meeting for dinner, some oddly young girls with much older guys...who were definitely not their fathers, and the rest of the room was filled with middle-aged couples. We were definitely the youngest in the room with the exception of the really young girls with their "fathers." I had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon...didn't love it. Tasted too grapefruity for me - I asked for something dry but I guess this is all they had "by the glass." We ordered the crab cakes to start...while I'm allergic, I decided to take the risk and have a few bites...quickly realized that was a bad idea and stopped eating them before I reacted too badly. But they definitely weren't worth getting - they tasted like they were frozen...not enough crispy, kind of soggy. We then had an amuse-bouche of portobello soup which was really good. Creamy and delicious. The meal got even better with the steaks. We had the American wagyu filet mignon (8 oz) and it was the perfect size and cooked perfectly. It melted in my mouth like butter...just perfect! I can't say the same about the sides though - I was disappointed with the creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. I hoped for the best but the mashed potatoes were unremarkable - not enough garlic - and the creamed spinach had an odd flavor that I wasn't expecting. I know it had some type of bacon in it but it was almost smokey. Weird. We had to pass on dessert because we were stuffed...but were happy with the handmade truffles they sent us home with. So good. For 2 steaks, 2 sides, a glass of wine, and an appetizer, minus a coupon for a free appetizer, our meal came to a total of $190 including tip. It this place WAY overpriced for what it is? Yes, but fun for a nice night out.
(4)Rosenna T.
Came here for their late night happy hour. Totally worth it. We had their duck confit, pickled chanterelle and caramelized pear flatbread, the cheeseburger, pork sausage and rapini sliders and the Fried Ricotta Gnocchi. Everything were fine, the pork sliders not worth ordering, but OMG...their Fried Gnocchi......AMAZING. it was really good...can't stop thinking about the truffle sweet onion creme that came with it!!
(5)Claudia M.
Excellent service, from the hostess to the waitress in the bar. Had the French onion soup, beet salad, and shared a ribeye steak, and artichoke. The soup and salad were delish. The steak with the different salts was tender and flavorful. Though I didn't care too much for the artichoke.
(5)Regina C.
Last night on our "date" my husband and I went to John Howie. From start to finish it was excellent. I had- "Basil Raven" to drink. Wonderful blend of basil, orange and I think vodka. Refreshing and not too sweet. Shared Caesar salad table side. Awesome and a true must order made in the classic way. BTW the sommelier made our salad as he recommended an awesome bottle of wine (from Woodinville) our very own backyard. For my entree I had the filet "Oscar Style". I have had this before and I remember not really liking it too much. However, I wanted to try again here because I love all the ingredients that make it "Oscar". Here is how it went down. A perfectly cooked medium rare filet mignon sitting atop a shredded potato almost like a hash brown. More sophisticated for sure. Brilliantly green tender spring asparagus spears. Four Dungeness crab legs sitting on top. My humbled favorite part was the the Bernaise sauce. Seriously it would make my Mom weep. Just the right amount of lemon and tarragon. Too much of either will ruin the whole thing. It is a delicate dance of flavors that really are the essence of this classic french sauce. To sum this review up is really simple for me. This morning when I awoke the first thing I did was gently heat up my leftovers and relive the whole experience again. People who know me KNOW I don't do leftovers, but I did this beautiful Saturday morning. I am a happy Mama. My husband had the NY Strip and asparagus. He, too had an awesome dinner just like mine it was executed to perfection. Only one thing...we asked our server ift the meat was treated with any kind of steroids or other bad things. He did not know. Kinda weird, but he was excellent and our service was awesome. I truly love this restaurant.
(5)Tough C.
Beautiful restaurant located at a retail/office building in downtown Bellevue. Their menu is extensive and many wonderful things to choose from. Excellent place for those who love steaks. Many different cuts and types of meat are offered. Superb wait staff. Very nice!
(4)Erik J.
Everything was perfect. Appetizers (Fried Bacon), sides, steak, wine, and dessert. Next time we will get the salted caramel dessert, twix on steroids. We will definitely be going back
(5)Ann C.
We used to love to go to the bar, listen to piano music and munch on their fried gnocchi. We hadn't been in awhile, and we tried to go this week. Wow-- no piano, and no fried gnocchi anymore. We actually got up and left to go to the other steakhouses in Bellevue that have live music.
(4)Peter L.
Fried bacon? Just when you thought that life couldn't get more decadent, you discover something that takes you to the next level. At John Howie Steak, fried strips of kurobota bacon stand upright in a glass and is served with a maple sambal ponzu sauce, and the combination is nothing short of amazing. The sambal gives a bit of spiciness to the maple sauce, which is a nice touch. I had two strips, and I could have a third strip, but thankfully, sharing in a group saved my arteries from the punishment. The rest of the happy hour bites were solid. Even the boring sounding tenderloin bites were better than expected. A generous portion of steak bites were super tender and flavorful and definitely a good deal. A bit pricier was the Dungeness Crab fresca, beautifully presented in a cocktail glass, with crab, Baby tomato, horseradish, celery root, preserved Meyer lemon, cucumber, and avocado. If it sounds like there is a lot going on, it is because there is. American Wagyu sirloin steak sliders with red onions, and aioli were solid, and the homemade Reggiano Parmigiano potato chips were freshly fried and very good. I was skeptical about John Howie at first, and skeptical about Happy Hour Eastside Style. But after a happy hour with Naury and Stephen at El Gaucho, I was willing to give John Howie a try. The place was packed out by 5PM on a Wednesday night, filled with Microsoft employees, shoppers, and Eastsiders. I will have to come back to try dinner and the Wagyu steak, but for now, I am happy with another East Side option for happy hour and a glass full of fried bacon.
(4)Dennis M.
Best happy hour on the east side. Get there early the place fills up fast. Sliders and shrimp are a must. Another totally indulgent, over the top dish is the deviled eggs Not much more to say here.... go see for yourself
(5)Steve M.
This is a great steakhouse for a chain. The steaks are delicious, the appetizers are a little hit or miss, and the one desert we tried was fantastic. I highly recommend the chateaubriand as well as the family style meals as a great value.
(4)Ane P.
Chef Howie always does a fantastic job of maintaining excellent restaurants. This is no different. The interior is fitting for the Bravern--simple yet grand, with beautiful windows and cozy booths. Their steaks are fantastic and ( as I'm not a fan of steak myself), their non-meat dishes are delicious. Try their mashed potatoes, or artichoke pasta. If you're in a bit of a rush, or just looking for a place to relax post-work, they have a great happy hour that is also worth stopping in at.
(5)Randy R.
I had the pleasure of eating at John Howie Steak two weeks ago and I am still raving about how fantastic it was! John Howie Steak is definitely an upscale classy dining experience. Its decor is modern and well-lit - which is something I like - I want to see what I am eating. (El Gaucho in Bellevue was so dark we used small flashlights to read the menu!!!) While it is a beautiful restaurant we came for the BEEF so here is a recap of our meal: We had 2 starters The 1st was one Fried Calamari and Baby Artichokes with Roasted Garlic and Lemon Aioli. This dish was the only thing that was disappointing. The Calamari was slightly soggy instead of a Fried Crispy treat. The serving size was ample enough for the 3 of us to share (we didn't even finish it all). The 2nd starter we ordered was FREAKING FANTASTIC!!! Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon with a Spicy Maple Ponzu Sauce!!! This is on their Happy Hour/Bar Menu - lucky for us our server was able to snag an order for us. The Bacon was Thick and Salty. The Tempura was fried to a beautiful golden brown, it was crunchy and light. The Spicy Maple Ponzu Sauce complimented the flavor of the bacon and the crispness to the tempura. This very well could be THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER EATEN!!! My motto when eating is "Everything is Better with Bacon!" On to the main event one of us had the Alaskan Halibut that was pan-seared with Morel Mushrooms, English Peas, White and Green Asparagus. It had a light lemon and butter sauce. The serving size was large enough for the 3 of us to share and we even had some leftover to take home. The fish was firm and tasted fresh. The Asparagus was cooked perfectly, which was a nice surprise since most of the time when eating Asparagus at a restaurant it can be overcooked. Two of us had a USDA Prime Filet and an America Wagyu Beef Filet. Both Filets were 4 ounces. They were served straight up with no sauce or vegetables. The USDA Prime Filet is Omaha raised beef and grilled over Mesquite Coals. It was cooked to medium rare and was thick and juicy. Tender is not the right word for this steak. It was more than tender. The flavor was big and bold. It was what Beef should be. The Just the right amount of fat to give it a deep taste. The American Wagyu Beef Filet was an incredible piece of meat. John Howie Steak gets their Wagyu Beef from Snake River Farms over in Boise. The meat from Wagyu Cattle is known worldwide for its marbling characteristics, increased eating quality through a naturally enhanced flavor, tenderness and juiciness. Once again tender is not the right way to describe these Filets. They were SOFT, soft like butter that has been sitting in the sunshine all afternoon. The Wagyu are equal in taste to a Kobe steak. They are rich, marbled, thick, juicy and SOFT. You will not have a better piece of meat. It was simply perfect. Cooked just right - with a warm red center. Using any sauces would have been sacrilege. Wagyu Beef should be enjoyed naked and in its purest form. We also had 2 sides for the table: Asparagus Spears with brown butter and Meyer Lemon Hollandaise. Once again the Asparagus was cooked right it was young and tender. In addition to the Asparagus we had a Five Cheese Twice Baked Stuffed Potato with Bacon. This Potato was almost as large as a Nerf Football! Again it was awesome. We didn't really need desert, but we ordered it anyway. It was a unanimous choice for getting the Flourless Semi-Sweet Chocolate Volcano Cake with warm Caramel Ganache, Vanilla Crème and two scoops of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. It was as expected - excellent! I am looking forward to trying out John Howie Steak Happy Hour (Monday - Friday 3-6 and late night Monday - Thursday 9-11 Saturday 9-Midnight and Sunday 3-10). If you would like to meet me at John Howie Steak for Happy Hour just let me know and I will be there. I want to try their Epic USDA Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger and the Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese
(5)Lauren P.
One of the nicest restaurants I've ever eaten at. The food was excellent, the service was outstanding and the atmosphere was elegant yet comfortable. My husband says his Wagyu Ribeye "cap" steak was the best he's ever eaten (and he LOVES steak). But we still love Daniel's Broiler better in comparison because of the unbeatable view and slightly more affordable price. (Also Daniels has a rewards program and you can buy certificates at Costco for a discounted price) I highly recommend JHS's Lobster Mashed Potatoes! To die for.
(4)dave n.
Not sure where to start here. This should be a five star restaurant based on price but frankly my tastes are not perfected enough to be able to judge this. I will just tell you what I know. A friend of mine told me about this place and how expensive it was. I am generally not one to spend a lot of money on dinner but I figured what the hell. It probably is a once in a lifetime thing for me. I guess I wanted to see how the well to do folk live when dining at expensive restaurants. The menu and prices are available online. The steaks are served by themselves. If you want a potato or other side dish then that is extra. Mexican Cokes in the small bottles with real sugar are about $5. Steaks start in the upper $30's to over $100 for a sampler. The rib eye was about $70. The steaks were good at the time but my wife noticed a lot of fat on her rib-eye the next day at home. I highly recommend the twice baked potato. I think that is what it is called. It is large and tasty. We had the Beechers mac and cheese and were very disappointed. I like cheese and I like macaroni and cheese. This was just lacking any flavor. It when you have a cold and can't taste anything; same thing with this macaroni. Yuppy isn't a word that is used anymore but that is the only word I can think of when I viewed the people in the bar on the way to my seat. They looked like they all had money or at least debt and of course were dressed nicely. There were also the old guys that tried to look young by wearing inappropriate clothing for their age but they also probably had money, We did have reservations for around 8:30 on a Saturday night. We arrived about 15 minutes early and were seated quickly. I was not very happy at all about the seating. We were seated in a nice private, half moon shaped booth with generally good privacy. These weird curtain things extended to the ceiling and the view in front of us was another couple seated across from each other and we were on the side of them, albeit with a wide walkway between us and them. It was just odd that throughout the entire dinner our view was the sides of two peoples heads. I am glad I wasn't them because I would have been uncomfortable. Service was great. They were very attentive. When my wife got up to use the facilities, the waiter immediately refolded her cloth napkin. They came by a few times with a little half round metal thing that they used to scrape along the table cloth and get all the crumbs. First time I have seen that. The desert I had was some sort of shortcake, chocolate, carmel thing with ice cream and it was incredible really. It was very rich though. I am not going to complain about the price since I already knew it would be costly going in. I had a few Mexican Cokes and my wife had a couple Mojitos which she said were really good. I had the cheapest steak, a potato, mac and cheese, deserts for us and a couple other things. My wife had a rib eye. The total was $270 out the door. About $40 of that was a tip. I did tip 20 percent. The one thing that that really pissed me off was the ridiculous wait time for the food. It was pretty much right over an hour for our main course to be served. I was literally laying my head on the table. I was tired, hungry and had waited a long time. I felt they should have done something a little special or had the manager come over and apologize for the wait and offer us something. Instead, our waiter kept apologizing about the kitchen being backed up. At this level of expected service, I don't think my thinking is out of line. They could have comped the deserts or something. It wouldn't have cost them much and they would have left a way better impression on me. I don't really have a lot of tips for this place. Dress code obviously would be to wear something nice. Remember that everything is separate. You pay for everything individually. I would recommend going earlier in the evening since there are many shops in this same building/shopping center and one of them is a cupcake place. It would have been nice to just walk over and get desert there but they were closed. Since we were seated in that weird booth thing I have no idea what the restaurant actually looks like
(3)Stephanie E.
SO GOOD! We went in for Happy Hour and sat in the bar on a Friday around 4pm... We got a table right away... It wasn't packed at all. Drinks: Blueberry Beret Martini - Okay... Nothing Special... Would of rather just stuck with the wine. Thomas Henry Chardonnay (on the HH menu) - SO GOOD! Highly recommend! Get the 8oz though... I mean really... why is a 4oz even on the menu? A 4oz glass of wine... I don't think so! Food: Prime Tenderloin Bites - Tasty! They are cooked perfectly! Perfect to share! Fried Brussell Sprouts - I was literally SCARED to eat something called a brussell sprout. My Dad ordered these... I tried one and they actually weren't bad. Wouldn't order them again though. Deviled Eggs - They are made with truffeled bacon... Need I say more? These were my favorite item we ordered! Tempura Fried Bacon - DELICIOUS! But never in my life should I eat that again.. Again... blame my Dad for deciding this was a good idea! Haha! The servers weren't super welcoming or friendly... but the food made up for it! YUM!
(5)Nikolai N.
This place is a joke! Came here once and will NEVER come back. I can justify spending over $70 per person for a nice dinner but it has to be worth the money. This was a waste of money. The service was terrible as we waited nearly 30 minutes to have our drink order taken. The wait for the food was even longer. I ordered a steak and it came out cold and tasted horrible. If you want to have a very nice dinner where the service and food meets the money then go to Daniel's, El Gaucho or Morton's in Seattle. But whatever you do stay away from this complete failure.
(1)Andrew K.
One of the better Steakhouse on the east-side. They probably have the best happy hour menu as well, giant burger and fries for $8! The burger is very juicy, no sauce needed. They have excellent service to match the great food. The lunch is awesome as well, however they recently got rid of the Kiss Your Hips Good-Bye burger (burger in between two grilled cheese sandwiches). The dinner is great, but get ready to pay for the quality and ambiance. They have a lot of rich foods, so if you are health conscious, don't bother coming :) + Great good and service + Awesome Happy Hour food and prices! + Validate parking in Bravern - Wish they had lunch during the weekend Tip Bar fills up fast for happy hour during the weekend after 5:00 PM.
(5)Jay F.
I moved from WA one year ago and I'm still searching for a steak as amazing as the steak I had here. This place is the best!
(5)Chau D.
FINALLY!!! I've been wanting to come here for awhile and finally got the chance to go. I was meeting a girlfriend of mine here for lunch. Upon arrival the hostess greeted me with the warmest smile and took me back to where my friend was sitting. Our waiter (I forgot his name) took special care of us and told us a few things that were on the menu. My friend that I was with actually works for John Howie so she knew what to expect. We ordered the following: Tempura fried kurobata bacon-OMG so good! Yes tempura battered bacon. Might sound nasty or it might scare you from having a clogged arterie but it was so good. Soft and not chewy. The maple sambul ponzu sauce was the perfect dipping sauce. Steakhouse salad-It was HUGE! The grilled prime sirloin steak came up medium rare and perfect just like I had asked. It had bleu cheese, marinated mushrooms, tomatoes, sweet onions, balsamic vinaigrette, and Roquefort fromage. I couldn't even finish my salad and wish I had gotten the dressing on the side so that I could have taken the uneaten portion of my salad home. My friend got the soup and sandwich combo which was a half BLT and French Onion Soup. I was too full from trying. I'll be back that's for sure and this time for dinner. :)
(4)Sanjay F.
This review is for the bar service only, we'll probably return for dinner only after we get the chateaubriand at the Met to compare. Everything started out fine, we arrived and were greeted by the bartenders and sat in the bar at the giant gleaming backlit white icy agate-like marble looking counter top. We ordered the to die for Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon, with maple sambal ponzu sauce- seriously can bacon get any better? It's like taking the finest cuts of bacon and dipping it into a deep fried donut batter from the state fair. I can literally feel my arteries coming to a halt. As if that wasn't heart attack inducing enough we chased the bacon with the Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese, elbow pasta, onion crème sauce, herbed bread crumb crust. While the food that we ordered was phenomenal but I get the feeling people in Bellevue have very little concept of demanding what good service means. Sorry guys, but after eating our bacon and mac and cheese, one would think to refill our water glasses a bit more often than once every 30 minutes. In my books that's considered a FAIL, especially since we were sitting at the bar. We did enjoy the pianist and felt that the overall experience of JH is a low key Daniels which we do appreciate.
(3)Steve P.
Best Happy hour! Best Steak! First of all I LOVE steak! Daniel Broiler, Seattle Metropolitan Steak house, El goucho, been to all of them a lot. It's good for fine dining, but I also like it for causal lunch steak or Happy hour. Ever since they got rid of the lunch time steaks at Daniel broilers, it was hard to find a good place that I like to go often, but John Howie is the place for me now! Can't really beat the "Steak Frits" they have there, $17 for a John Howie steak, yes, it isn't a new York or Filet cut, but still if you like flavorful steak this is for you! Happy hour, try the shimp, forgot the name but it's the only on there, and a crowd favorite so the server will know!
(5)Jen M.
I had purchased the Groupon and was excited to try this place out so we made reservations via Open Table on visited on a Thursday night. We were greeted immediately and taken to a table. The server was very friendly and asked if this was our first visit. She then went on to thoroughly explain the different types of steaks they offered and let us know that the sides are shareable (she wasn't kidding). We ordered the Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Corn Chowder and my boyfriend ordered the Iceberg Wedge Salad. We both raved about how delicious they were and were pleasantly surprised that before the soup and salad arrived we received a delicious soup shot of Salmon Bisque compliments of the chef. The bisque was AMAZING. I must say that the bread offerings were delicious as well. I throughly enjoyed the pretzel roll - YUM. We then chose to split the Beecher's Mac & Cheese, the Five Cheese Twice Backed Stuffed Potato and the 14 oz. American Wagyu New York Strip. All were delicious. The Mac & Cheese was amazing. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the flavor was very rich (sadly, I was so full from the soup and bread that I couldn't eat more of this). The Potato was spectacular. Great flavor, not burnt (as I have previously read) and it was huge. We both LOVED it and had leftovers of both sides to bring home. The steak was cooked perfectly, full of flavor and had a bit of a crispy edging with a soft, buttery middle. I could not have asked for a more delicious steak and we were both sad that we couldn't fit more in our stomachs. The Waygu was definitely well worth the money. They even cut the steak at our table - DELICIOUS (which is an understatement). We were really sad we had no room for dessert. The tableside Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee looked amazing. I have also heard great things about the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Tart. The dessert list was extensive and we will definitely be back to sample some in the future. I have also heard that John Howie has an amazing Happy Hour with great food, drink and dessert specials. We will be back to check this out as well. Dress code was Business Casual (saw people with jeans to suits), Service was friendly (at times took a bit longer as there was a 20 top or so near us) and the ambiance was fit for an after work meal to a fancy special occasion. The dark chocolate and sea salt individually boxed truffles they provided us after the meal were the icing on the cake. Parking validation at the Bravern is also included. All in all, a great experience! I would go all the time if it was more affordable but it is definitely well worth your money.
(5)DAVID L.
Went to their late happy hour (ie. 9pm - 12pm) and before I could even sit down, the place looks very upscale. We sat down at the bar section; hence, the happy hour special. The happy hour prices looked fairly reasonable, but I was recommended to try their USDA Bacon Burger. They have at least 20 items on their happy hour menu, so that was an immediate plus, since I dont think i've ever been to a happy hour with such a robust selection on the menu. The menu caters to both veg-etarians as well as meat-etarians. The alcohol/beverage happy hour specials did not have a huge selection, but they had some amber ale for $2 in a tall glass, which I found to be very good. The complimentary bread they brought out was very good and I would highly recommend the burger (I had it prepared 'medium'.) It was all that. :) All in all, I would recommend this place primarily for Happy Hours. It is in a very nice area and is consistent with the high end stores that surround it; however, I didnt recognize most of the stores names.
(4)Josh B.
I've been here more times than my wallet would like to admit, but the steaks are just SO GOOD I can't stay away. My wife and I would consider this our special place, and as a special place we naturally come up with as many special occasions as possible to get us back here. I've been to all the other local (and chain) top dog steak houses in Seattle, and given them all up in favor of John Howie. The service, food quality, and steak selection really set John Howie apart from the rest. From the amuse bouche to the chocolate at the end, I've always had an amazing culinary experience here. I could go on, but I'm really just writing this review to do you a favor. You know that Australian A5 Wagyu section on the menu that you want to try but have a hard time swallowing the price? Well, I tried it. And it was the BEST steak I have ever had! I chose the Zabuton cut and it was the most flavorful, tender piece of meat I've consumed. Ever. So I'm writing this review to tell you that not only is the John Howie Steakhouse the best steak restaurant in Seattle, but if you're looking to splurge try one of their Australian Wagyu steaks and your taste buds will thank you.
(5)Elaine S.
Excellent late night happy hour!!!! Food was cooked perfectly, the meat was absolutely tender and full of flavor! THis is definitely a pricey place so if you are poor like me, stick with happy hour. Trust me you will be satisfied! :D
(5)Jennifer B.
Now that I've had Kobe beef I don't think I can go back! It melts in your mouth and is how beef should be raised and treated. I would give it 5 stars but there's something about steakhouse waiters that's really annoying. He had to ask over and over for drinks, coffee, dessert, etc. I know it's a bad economy and he needs to make a buck but it's $600 for 6 of us enough? He was pushy and annoying. Maybe I'll request a woman waiter next time and see if it's better service. I had the American Wagyu Rib Cap Steak and it was fatty and delicious. My friend had the filet mignon and I wished I would've gotten that b/c it was more tender. We got Marine Lobster mashed potatoes, beecher's mac and cheese, and truffle gnocci with crab. I loved the truffle gnocci and could bathe myself in it if I could. I also tried my friend's crab legs and veggie dish and that was good. It came with a lemon butter. They also provide a selection of tasty salts to put on the steak and sides that were good. They have a wide selection of alcohol and we shared a nice wine. The boys got a fancy 12 year old scotch - suntory hibiki that they enjoyed.
(3)Tiffany T.
Disclaimer... we were out "hoppin" with my brother and sister-in-law so we only ate the bar menu. That being said we nibbled on a lot of different things and tried a few different drinks. All were fantastic. Eat the Tempura Bacon. It defies reason on the tasty scale. The bananas foster was the most mediocre thing we had. We all loved the Spiced Pear Martini...it is like apple pies evil alcoholic cousin. So cinnamony and delicious. Tenderloin bits were simple and very yummy. Habanero shrimp were way better than I expected. We were actually spooning the sauce and eating it at the end. Very garlicky and a little spicy. The whole restaurant had a nice upscale feel. Bar staff were very friendly and professional. The real tell about how high end this place is that my phone fell out of my purse and I actually got it back the next day without incident. Class act all the way.
(5)Morgan L.
Wow. I was so looking forward to finally trying John Howie. It was one of those places I had on my "to-do" list and felt stoked to get the chance to check it out. I love love love places like this. *sigh* Personally, 2 stars is pushing it, I seriously considered making this a 1 star place. I realize giving such a nice place 2 stars is maybe a little extreme but I just can't give them 3 after what we went through- especially since we are easy going, polite customers. Honestly my boyfriend and I and a horrible experience. We showed up around 11ish on a Friday night. The place was packed but our friends already grabbed a table. We quietly sat down and patiently waited to order. To start off, our waitress was horrible. She was rude and acted like she wanted nothing to do with us. She made a huge deal about us ordering drinks and then acted like she had no time to take our food order. I get that they were closing in an hour, but you work at John Howie! Service should be above average- but after reading other reviews as well, it seems to be a problem they have. -ordered deviled eggs with no bacon... Came out with bacon. I just scraped it off since she didn't check if our order was correct (dropped it off and walked away). They were the best deviled eggs I have had though. -my boyfriend caught her attention (finally) and told her he'd like one more beer before HH ended... She let out a big sigh and said "really? Ugh....okay.." -when I asked about the wines she was incredibly rude to me, she almost singled me out the whole time and made it a point to let me know I wasn't worth her time. The burger was amazing (my boyfriend said it was almost a 5star burger- rare for him to say!) but the poor service ruined it. We couldn't figure out what her deal was. We felt VERY uncomfortable the whole time. We both agree we want to come back to give them a 2nd chance, but we will NOT have Sheri (I think was her name, something close to that) serve us again. ever. Sad part for her is that we are normally VERY generous tippers.
(2)lovetoeat a.
I love Seastar, so it is only fitting I tried John Howie's steak restaurant. The steaks were superb, the appetizers were amazing, and the service here was top notch: knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. Looks like we don't have to go to Metropolitan any more for a good steak.
(5)Amy B.
I got their Sirloin and was very happy. My friend got the trio of filet mignons but ended up liking my sirloin over his three choices. We got lobster mashed potatos and that might have been my favorite item of the night! I subsequently tried lobster mash at other steakhouses and none compared to the one at JH. The servers are very professional and spend ample time with your table as needed. A bit stuffy, but I enjoyed the experience.
(4)Nick M.
We came back here for my wife's birthday and everything was truly amazing. They have their own pale ale which is really smooth and goes great with dinner, the teriyaki tenderloin bites were so tender and delicious, and of course the steak was perfect. My wife and I both got 10 OZ filet mignons, arguably the best steak I've ever had in my life. They really do have the best quality meat I've seen at a steakhouse and they always cook it perfectly. The service was top notch as well. I think John Howie Steak is by far the best place to get a steak in the Bellevue/Seattle area. It's the perfect place for a special occasion.
(5)Michael M.
Love this place. Been here a number of times. Service, food and drinks are consistently very good. Service is EXCELLENT. Yes, the steaks are a bit pricey but worth it for the overall experience. Ambiance is great. Only negative is that the best views they offer are those of I-405. Their Happy hour rocks, too.
(4)Ashley H.
Came here for lunch and I was surprised with decently priced menu. We had the prime sirloin with mushrooms and the garlic shrimp rotini with lemon cream. The sirloin was cooked perfectly and so tasty. The sauce, mushrooms, and mashed potatoes was so good with the meat. The pasta was great too and they really don't skimp out on the shrimp. I was expecting like 5 pieces, but they give you a decent amount. Great food and wish I could come to Bellevue more often for lunch during the work days.
(5)Eric S.
My wife and I decided to go to John Howie Steak for my 34th birthday dinner. I'm a huge steak fan and was excited to try JHS for the first time as I had heard many good things about the place. We got there promptly at 5pm (yes, we eat early) and were greeted by a very friendly staff. Our waiter came out and introduced himself, made a few recommendations, and overall seemed very knowledgeable. So far, so good. Then out came the bread. I'm a big bread guy. I like it, especially at upscale restaurants because it usually comes out warm and fresh. Not at JHS. Not even close. It was cold and stale. Not a good first impression. We started with the iceberg wedge and it was delicious! By far the best part of the dinner. The waiter recommended we split one because they were quite hefty and he was right. Half and half was perfect for both of us. The bite size morsels of Kurobuta bacon were still warm and made the salad delightful. After the salad I had forgotten about the bread incident. For dinner, I ordered the 42 Day Custom-Aged Rib Eye ($58), and my wife ordered the 28 Day Custom Aged Filet Mignon ($62). We also ordered a side of Maine Lobster Mashed Potatoes ($18). While there was nothing particularly wrong with the food we ordered, it most certainly didn't "Wow" us. We simply were not that impressed. The steaks were not as good of quality as you will find in some of the competing steakhouses nearby and based on the fact that JHS costs more I will most likely not be coming back. We had the Macadamia Nut Pie for desert and it was extremely good! So just to recap, horrible start with stale bread, incredible salad with bacon bits that will have you smiling, disappointing steak, good desert. Unfortunately not worth it.
(2)Francis M.
There are many ways to conclude a hard day's work. If Bellevue is the end of the road, there are many choices for expensive dining. One of the favorites for us, Zach, has to be John Howie Steak. It can be both high scale dining and a delicious happy hour, to accomodate agents of all paygrades. And steak isn't all that's good here, right Zach? After having a meal with Emily at the A&G Diner, I had to take her to John Howie. She may have strange habits, but she certainly has that charm about her, right Zach? Anyway, we came at happy hour and sat in the lounge. It's a nice space complete with a spiffy bar, a piano, and the teasings of fine meat. The happy hour menu is an extension of the bar menu, which includes options that don't all involve steak. Tempura Fried Bacon is reason enough to for the drive, right Zach? 5 hefty strips of armored bacon assembled in a wine glass, and joined by ponzu maple syrup. It is poetry that courts the heart. The cheeseburger, also adorned with bacon, is substantial as well. However, this is but a pedestal beneath the steak frites, right Zach? This steak, which I believe is their cheapest offering, is quite satisfying. This dish hits the spot, and so do the potatoes. We're partial to adding the black salt, aren't we Zach? Emily on the other hand, the pink. What a complex woman. We will have to review the main dining room later, Zach. The price difference is substantial, but then so is the caliber of steak. John Howie Steak is certainly worth investigating.
(4)Kay C.
I'm upgrading my review - since the last time I've been back multiple times for HH and that is what this place is worth going for. Where to start - Prime Tenderloin Bites - so tender and delicious. Deviled Eggs - love my deviled eggs and at $5 or $6 for 6 halves at HH, you'll stuff yourself. Burger - big and juicy, a little much for me. Escargots on mushrooms - oily but tasty. Crab Cocktail - yum! The prices for food at HH are awesome, and the drink prices are great too at HH. I might not really ever come here for dinner but I'll definitely come for HH!
(4)Sin-Yaw W.
One comes to this restaurant for its steaks. No doubt about it. But for a high-end and high-price place, the entire experience must be superb. Unfortunately, on both count, John Howie came up short. I am a steak person. The meat must be tender and flavorful. I prefer char grilled for the aroma. The waitress highly recommended the bone-in fillet mignon (I usually get prime rib or porter house). The "bone in" part added really nothing to the flavor. The meat was nicely tender, but the beef flavor was too much aged away and reduced because of the cut being fillet mignon. The escargots were big disappointment. We expected the buttery delicious signature tray. They actually came in mushrooms. Huh? There was clearly no sizzling, no buttery, and the escargos themselves became just snails. The vegetable napolean was excellent and well presented. The crab cakes were interestingly gingerly with good sauces. The french onion soup was OK not too cheesy and the onion was a bit weak, but delicious. The volcano chocolate cake was intensively chocolate with chewy outer layer. Bananas Foster was prepared table-side with great fanfare. The waitress put way too much rum into it and it over-powered all other flavors. But the show was definitely flamboyant. The best part was the wine selection. Our host order an excellent bordeaux. It was excellent and, I am certain, expensive. Why only two stars? The price! It is really a very nice restaurant all around but if I factor in the price, I would have to say, "I had better."
(2)Andrew L.
Sure they "STOLE" all the great people from the Seastar, Herbfarm and Harrah's from Las Vegas; they have advertisements stating it, and perhaps you heard of the hype, does it really live up to it? I Say YES. So if you have been reading the other reviews here, the one from Jennifer L., stands out the most to me, in that, depending on what you eat (she had two very different experiences here); and perhaps my personal reasoning, depends on who is serving you; you either get a good experience, or an amazing experience. I came here, with my now two foodie buddies; and of course, we were late getting there, they were closing their kitchen soon; but gleefully took us in. After settling in, water in our classes, the server came by and began talking to us, about the wine options, and of course the meat. Our experience was Top-Notch, considering he was the house sommelier of not only this restaurant but Seastar also. This server was very aware of the matching wines, and what was available in each price category. I felt more comfortable in terms of my order, and the process in which it was made, compared to the many other higher end steakhouses. What makes this place set apart from others in the Seattle/Bellevue area is the Japanese Wagyu "Kobe" beef. Between the three of us, we ordered slightly different cuts, as well as an American Style Wagyu. Each was as brilliant as the other, full of flavor, and exactly what you expected from the title. I wanted to savor each piece I cut was tender, and incredible. The wine matched perfectly, which my friend suggested with the sommelier's approval. The sides are sharable, without a doubt; we ordered the Sautéed Wild Mushrooms and the Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Mac & Cheese; both were incredible. We ended the evening with Bananas Foster; which they proudly mention is the recipe from Brennen's in New Orleans. I'm not really sure I care we're this version comes from, but anything with banana liquor and 151 rum served on a nice creamy vanilla Ice cream, basically wins any battle in my mind. The Foster serving is absolutely perfect per person. Did I mention it was basically the best version I have had in a long time, nothing comes close except for maybe El Gaucho? Overall, our meal of three people, when it was all said and done, was over $550+ dollars, which isn't cheap for most people, but if you just desire a different level of experience, this place is a good place to be. I don't normally call people out, but Brandon Rastok, the Sommelier, is by far one of the best reasons, besides the food, to have a steak here. He greeted us promptly, and without question in our minds became our trusted advisor in this world of steak and wine. Hats off to you sir!
(5)Dana R.
Went here recently with family and friends -- I had so highly touted the A5 steak that it's no wonder it wasn't nearly as good as the last 3 times I'd eaten it. I don't really know why it didn't knock my socks off this time except to say that it was a bit mealy, not very well marbled and the meat, itself, just didn't have a lot of flavor. Disappointing. I'd give 2 stars but the remainder of the meal was very good -- 4 stars -- so I'm averaging and heavily weighting the steak because it's so damned expensive there is no excuse for serving meat that isn't spot on from the butcher's knife onward.
(3)Shane W.
I just made reservations and am beyond excited to try it. Just curious how much does the burgers generally cost?
(5)Kaitlin F.
Just had the steak frite last night for the first time. It was awesome. 16 bucks for a nice piece of steak and fries. We also had the mac and cheese, and while i loved it the first time i had it, i found myself agreeing with the reviewer who said the pasta was undercooked. It was a little bit for my tastes, i think mac and cheese pasta should be really soft. Something else i had never had was the bananas foster. It was good, but 18 bucks is a lot, even for two people. I couldn't help comparing it to the Toasted Nona's Pound Cake at Maggiano's. The banana's foster had the bananas, the ice cream, the liquor, sure, but Nona's pound cake has all that and more. A piece of toasted pound cake, tastes almost like it's fried, with a scoop of really nice vanilla bean ice cream on top of it, caramelized bananas to the side, and chocolate sauce drizzled everywhere. One of the best things i've ever put in my mouth. And it's under ten bucks and it's more than enough for two people. Well, except for the bananas, i could eat like 10 of those by myself. So, blah on the bananas foster, but the steak frite is rocking. And the tempura fried bacon and dipping sauce are to die for as ever.
(4)Elizabeth M.
I can't believe they got my review deleted. Here it is for anyone interested and btw STILL haven't gotten our parking refund. 1/18/2012 When going here we really wanted to try Kobe Beef, we heard good things and had a positive attitude when entering. We didn't care about the price, but as the night went on, it felt like a complete rip off. First, it's REALLY NOISY!!! not good for a special date night. I nearly lost my voice by the end of the evening, i felt like I was shouting over the noise. The Food was only 3star in my opinion, which when a restaurant charges this much for food you go in expecting 5star. We paid over $350 for 2 people, and I had a problem with every single thing I ordered. -I started with the Crab Cake appetizer. It was tasty, but there were pieces of crab shell and joint in the crab cake. -Next I got the French Onion Soup. The broth tasted like a bottle of wine with a small hint of onion. Worst french onion soup I've ever had. -Entree, Zabutan Kobe Beef, but it was cooked rare when I asked for med rare. When I told the waiter he tried to argue with me without even looking at the meat. When I told him to look, he didn't admit it was rare but finally offered to cook it longer, but I don't like recooked steak after its been cut open. Honestly with my preference to med rare aside, my filet mignon(not kobe) at Daniels broiler was 10x better than this 2x expensive Kobe Steak. -Lastly we had the desert, the chocolate volcano. Which was tasty, but grainy in texture. And the icing on the cake was our waiter. He neglected us the whole night. Our meal took over 3 hrs. We often had to get other waiters/waitresses to get us things like napkins or silver ware or refills on drinks, etc because our waiter would disappear for 30+min. And at the end of the night he told us that he validated our parking($14) and he lied. We called later to let the restaurant know and they offered to send us $14, but they never did. Wow just remembering this awful night I actually changed my rating from 2 stars to 1 star. It was supposed to be a special night with good food, instead it was a waste of money.
(1)Nat And Dave C.
Hi All, We love this place. I am a vegetarian and I still love this place. The food is great and so is the service! We live across the street and stop by for drinks and a burger at the lounge often enough that we feel at home here. Anyway, the food is expensive but great and we will be coming back over and over. Peace, D&N
(5)Casey P.
I'm a big fan of the JHS hh, either after work or late night. The food is outstanding! and decently priced. The drinks used to be cheap, now they are about average. The bar is can get full on fridays at 5, but other than that i haven't really had a problem finding a seat. Try the gnocci. Try the mac and cheese. The menu rotates through different plates, but these are trusted standbys. They close at midnight so don't run out of time!
(4)Nic C.
Love this place, great food and atmosphere!
(5)Michelle N.
Great steak-house atmosphere, with prices to match. While I'm not a huge fan of paying exorbitant amounts of money for a steak (since my husband makes them just as good at home), John Howie is a good place to drop some dough if you are looking for a perfect steak. Steaks, drinks were great, lobster mashed potatoes are a must-have, and the seafood was okay, though a bit overcooked. Have heard their happy hour is the place to be, but have not yet been for that.
(4)Rachel B.
I love this place. So. Much. Went here for my birthday in the spring and had an amazing dinner. Loved it so much, my husband and I came back for our anniversary in August. Everything is top notch. I love the tableside ceasar, our steaks have been amazing both times. Sides are plentiful and delicious. The service is amazing. Somehow proper without being stuffy, not sure how they do it. I can't wait to come back again!
(5)RONALD W.
Major props for having Japanese Wagyu, Australian Wagyu, and American Wagyu steaks along with their house aged USDA Prime steaks. Feeling a bit cheap and hungry, I got the American Wagyu Ribeye. I swear it is more than 2" thick and as such the center was cold to taste when prepared medium rare which I think is a big mistake. Like many other steakhouses I wish side dishes would come in half portions because basically everything is sized to share.I had the twice baked potato which was good though leaving my wanting for butter. I would guess I would have had a better experience if I ordered the Japanese Kuroge Wagyu, though I am curious how they would prepare it as the traditional Japanese preparation is quite labor intensive.
(3)Traci J.
Sitting in a private room for a big birthday dinner, I felt like royalty every time the doors opened and a wave of servers came in to clear plates and bring in new food. The group started off with several platters of oysters and the tempura bacon. No thank you on the oysters; yes please on the bacon. Unfortunately, the bacon did not come through and all I tasted were the crispy bits. Bread basket was plentiful and tasty. The wedge salad, chopped, was delicious and I ate every bit that had dressing touching it. Pancetta cubes, hazelnuts, bleu cheese, olives and fried scallions. Yum. I ordered the New York, and had it Oscar style with bearnaise sauce, crab legs and asparagus. Was it good? Yes. It was a huge piece of meat, and perfectly cooked - pink throughout, which they call medium well. Was it $76 good? Probably not. The 5 cheese stuffed potato and other sides we ordered were good. This is definitely a special occasion restaurant and once can easily drop close to two bills per person...
(5)Samantha L.
I am giving this review based on the happy hour. My friend and I went there last night for late happy hour. It was the worse service I've ever received. The bartender was some what attentive at first but mostly listening in on our conversation and adding annoying comments to it. He disappeared after about 20 min of us being there and we were left with this woman who after an hour of being ignored I was finally able to get the check from. My wine was horrible and I didn't touch it. She just ignored that and took forever to ring our credit cards. Paired with her snarky attitude I don't think I'll ever be going back . I'll give one star because the food was good.
(1)Bill B.
Rejoice fellow apex predators! The very best steakhouse in the metro Seattle area. Period. I've been to them all and Chef Howie's venue tops the list. Yes, there are better places in Texas and Alberta but, not by much. I do have to wonder about reviewers who go to a steakhouse and order vegetarian .. WTF? Keep it simple, steak and potatoes. The sides are good, but not great (creamed spinach is a heart-attack) so, I'd suggest adding an appetizer instead of a second side. Tempura bacon. Wilted spinach salad. Filet with either Oscar or French onion style. Potato pancakes with caviar. Bananas Foster. Desserts are a bit hit and miss. The Boston cream pie is elegantly presented but, the substance doesn't quite match the style. However, the Bananas Foster rival anything I've had in New Orleans, including Commander's Palace.
(5)Jennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn M.
My steak was perfectly cooked but more importantly the bananas foster was perfectly prepared!
(5)Beau S.
So because of all the great Yelp reviews this has been on my list of places to go for awhile. I decided to show a half hour early for my reservation and sit in the bar and have drinks. I had a Sazerac and the Peach Whiskey cocktail . The Sazerac was good but the Peach Whiskey one was overloaded with honey and way too sweet. My date had the Spicy Peach Kamikaze which was good and the then a new cocktail called a Black and Tan that had strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and black pepper. This one was also ok, however overall the cocktails I would give 3 stars. We got seated for dinner and just as we sat down Russell Wilson and Sidney Rice came into the restaurant so, I took that as a good sign that I made the right choice to eat here. Before we ordered we were served a great little shot of Salmon chowder as our amuse bouche and an excellent bread basket of several types of bread goods. We ordered for dinner the Tempura Bacon, Bone in Rib Eye for 2, Fried brussels sprouts, and garlic mash. 1. Tempura Bacon!!!- Might be one of the top 10 things ever in my mouth! Perfectly crispy and breaded with a spicy Maple sauce to dip! WOW go just for that! 2. Fried brussels sprouts- were good and crispy with a zesty vinaigrette and parmesan cheese 3. The garlic mash was sub par and is not something I would recommend mostly because it tastes like it came from a box and was a little dry. They really should consider replacing it with a pomme puree. 4. The 32 OZ bone in Rib eye for 2 was really good with a lot of flavor and is accompanied with some veggies and a bernaise sauce. It was cooked perfectly which is hard to do with the size of this steak. Overall this was a great experience with really good service. I think I like Daniel's Broiler a smidge more though.
(4)erik s.
great happy hour. Reg price is pricy , especially for wagu steaks. but they are soooo good. love it.
(4)Aaron H.
Great place for a business lunch or a nice lunch date with your "boo". Great lunch menu with lots of options and a chill vibe if you want to get a bite to eat in the bar. Solid beer selection, excellent service and free valet if you have a barrier license plate holder (sweet perk). I have only been once for lunch but I would absolutely go back when I can. One of the best lunch options in Bellevue.
(4)jamie c.
This is one of my favoriting happy hour spot and top favorite restaurant with blue ginger and bai tong. Good service. I think the regular dinner is pretty pricey but they sometimes so groupon.
(5)Marshall D.
We absolutely love this place. We moved from Atlanta back un Aug 13' and immediately were on the hunt for "the" steakhouse. We got a few recommendations for El Gaucho, you can see my review for there under my profile, and knew there had to be something more comparable to Davio's in Atlanta. Well, JH is the ticket! The service, decor, quality of the ingredients, staff, etc is AWESOME! We're actually going again next weekend just because.
(5)Lauren L.
Loved this place! Large bar area, great Happy Hour food and prices, great service, very professionally dressed. If you haven't been to the Bravern in Bellevue, you must check this restaurant out as well as shop in their stores. Ample parking below. Easy to find off 4th street in Bellevue. I ordered the lamb sliders which were perfectly plated, tasty, and the mini buns were done to perfection. Not too hard from being toasted and not soft like one would get from cheap bread. My husband and daughter had their burger. HUGE burgers for the price and very, very delicious! We will tell our friends and definitely return!
(4)Rod B.
This is the go too place for steaks done right! If you love beef and good beef at that, this is where I would recommend on the east side. This is an upscale steak house and has some seating with great views of the city. My steak was cooked perfectly and seasoned expertly. Will go back as long as they keep providing a great product. Service is as expected from a fine dining establishment and the environment clean and inviting.
(5)Mary A.
LOVE LOVE the food. Chef John Howie has been in the area, and very loved for a very long time. Love the location. It's awesome to be able to sit by the fire outside before or after you go to John Howie Steak Restaurant. Love going for lunch, dinner or happy hour. Love the creative food. They are generous with validating parking too. It's a must try!
(5)T H.
Quite frankly, I am not a steak connoisseur. However, if I could eat at John Howie every day I might be. Their Steakhouse Salad is insane as is the Tempura Bacon. Delish! I have also enjoyed their American Wagyu on a couple occasions and I am in love with their Seafood Bisque! The other half doesn't do seafood so it means more for me, which I will never turn down. Have I mentioned the bread basket? I really don't know what to say about it except that it puts every other bread basket in existence to shame. In addition to incredible food, service here is impeccable. The servers are wonderfully kind, attentive, and everything else you wish every server were. Plus, they also make good wine suggestions. Love it!
(5)Alice T.
As promised, this is an updated review having now dined here for dinner. In sum, I give this place 2 stars for food and 5 stars for service, thus keeping the overall rating at 3 stars (combining it with my happy hour experience). EVAN M is my hero. He was our server and single-handedly earns the 5 stars for service. Read on to understand why, after a description of the food. The food was really just average, and for a classy place with prices such as these, I expected much much more. We ordered the seared foie for an appetizer, shared a side of sautéed wild mushrooms, my beau had the halibut which sat atop a chanterelle succotash, and I the sirloin steak salad. Seared foie gras is one of my favorite dishes of all time, and probably within my top 5 choices if I had to choose a last meal on earth. I was extremely disappointed. The foie was too seared. They kept it on heat too long and let the thing overcook. It's a very sad waste of foie, really. Only the very middle stayed soft and creamy as it should be. The rest was dry and flaky. It hurts my soul to witness this. The brioche that accompanied the foie was interesting, had a slight orange essence which was nice, but otherwise okay. The dish also came with baked grapes. This was a neat and creative addition, but in execution a bit difficult to eat because it had a sauce on it, which meant that you had to pull the grapes off the vine with a fork, making this a bit awkward to serve. They should think of a better way to present the grapes that is more practical, though keeping the vines contributed to giving the overall dish a nice visual presentation. Our main courses came next. I mushrooms. I scan menus for mushroom offerings. And really, mushrooms are easy to prepare as the deliciousness is fairly self-contained. Just add heat, a touch of butter, and a bit of salt. So, it blows my mind that a fancy steakhouse like this couldn't get the dish right. It was really oily/greasy, just drenched. And completely bland. Thank goodness they brought fancy salts to the table, but this do-it-yourself fix still didn't quite salvage the item for me. Furthermore, the menu promised wild mushrooms. Half the dish were tame mushrooms, your regular white and some baby bellas. Boo!!! My steak salad was okay. Kudos actually to them for it because the steak was prepared well - I would hope so since it is a steakhouse - and a perfect medium rare as I requested. The salad though, was disappointing for the price. Most of the greens were comprised of romaine lettuce - pretty cheap in my opinion. I would expect at least mostly mixed greens. The halibut was dry, and bland. The succotash was okay, creamy, but the chanterelles within it were sadly very bland. All in all, they need a better taster in the kitchen. Here's where service comes in to win the day. Now, unless a dish is so horrible that I can't eat it at all (see my Allium review), I wouldn't usually volunteer bad news if not solicited. Evan took the foie dish away without asking how it was, so I didn't say anything. During the main course, he stopped by to ask how things were. I told him the steak was good. When we finished eating and the dishes were cleared, Evan came back around and pried a little further on our experience. Because of this, I was candid with him and gave him the feedback above. He thanked us for being forthcoming with our experience and promised he would convey the message and mentioned his appreciation twice for the feedback. He even went further to comp the foie dish - an extremely generous move especially given that we had a groupon that he was fully aware of. I hope they get the food right. I'd be willing to come back and give it a try again, knowing through Evan's great service that they took my feedback seriously.
(3)Orlene C.
Just had happy hour here, and I already want to go back and try more items with a larger group since so much to choose from(16 items)! The portions are huge, so you really only need one item per person. We had the fried ricotta gnocchi, the cheeseburger, and the meat/cheese flat bread. The gnocci was freaking amazing, and I am not even a gnocchi fan usually!!! John Howie is such a wonderful chef! I never thought much of fish until I tried his Reggiano Parmigiano crusted fish at Seastar. The cheeseburger is a very good quality version of a drive through burger with the typical musterdy sauce. I would not say it was the best burger I had, but it was very good. It would have been better if they served it with sauteed onions instead of non cooked onion pieces. However, I noticed their sliders have grilled onions, and a lot of places use non cooked onions on their burgers, so I should not complain. If you want to get to fully taste the great quality beef, it might be better to get the sauce on the side. The flat bread was good but our least favorite of the three dishes. Server was very attentive.
(4)Jo P.
Steaks were cooked perfectly but nothing special. The highlight of the meal was the fried brussel sprouts. The service was excruciatingly slow/delayed. My father in law had made reservations far in advanced for our sister's 21st birthday at 8:45pm. We were not seated until 9:30 at a table meant for 7 when we were a party of 5. Once they noticed the awkward seating, they moved us to a more appropriate table. We were starving by the time our food was served at 11pm. No apology was ever spoken of for the delay. I was expecting better service at such an establishment. I would definitely rather visit The Met for a fancy steak meal.
(1)Sammy W.
One of the best happy hours but it gets crowded really quickly. I come here with my hubby and friends and we come here for regular dinner too. I am a red meat kind of girl so this is one of my favorite places to eat. The dessert menu is a must.
(4)Opal D.
Impeccable service, expansive wine list, deliciously prepared food. Focus here is on the steak, on which they do a great job; if you're a foodie, you may be underwhelmed by the preparations of the sides. The Wagyu steak (throw on a pinch of charcoal-salt) and the Bananas Foster are to die for! Valet parking is offered at the Bravern for $7.
(4)Steve D.
Order the deep fried bacon, yum!
(4)c l.
Came to restuarant last night. Not a great experience. Asked for a quiet booth. We were seated iin a corridor facing other patrons and a direct path to restrooms. Took 15 minutes after being seated to get our first drink. Waitress was rude (until she presented bill). At 7:15 prime rib was no longer available. Had the cherries jubilee for desert, again a waiter with no personality. Not a good experience considering there are 2 other steakhouses , ie Daniels and El Gaucho, who have excellent service and not nearly as expensive. Don't think we will be back anytime soon.
(2)Van C.
Service: Superb! We don't drink but our friend who took us here was INSISTENT ... luckily the staff picked up on it and discreetly replaced us with some non alcoholic drinks. They pay attention :) Food: I'm not a huge steak and potatoes type of person so I don't think I'll rave about steak anywhere but I am happy to report their appetizers are delicious! I really liked the deep fried bacon, which I normally wouldn't like but the sauce was sooo yummy. The grapes were a nice touch to the foie gras dish. The dishes here are definitely works of art and very unique compared to a lot of other high end steak houses. Cheers to the chef! Location: LOVE!!! Can do a little shopping before or after dinner. Come again: Yes! Like I said, I'm not a huge steak lover but if I were to get steak, I'd definitely come here. I've been wanting to try Japanese wagyu but been wanting to find a place I thought was worth spending the money for it so I'd get REAL quality wagyu. I think THIS is the place to do it! Same feeling with bone marrow.
(5)Shelly K.
Place was great! pricey for sure! It was really loud during dinner, could barely hear ourselves talking. Took FOREVER to get our food. Got there at 730 PM for dinner and had to rush through our dessert as it was already 1010 PM by the time we got it. Things that are amazing to order: The burger - their classic burger is amazing - bacon burger - must try! if you don't like bacon, ask them not to include it. Their caesar salad was amazing - I asked them not to put in the anchovies as I am picky with the meat I eat. I liked the cheese ravioli however the folks I went with did not like it so I would say it is an acquired taste. Other dish that was great, the crab cakes - amazing! a must order - also got the lobster mash potatoes - pretty good - a bit creamy for my taste, but definitely a very hearty dish. Desserts- not a fan of the gnash chocolate tart, too sweet, but their salted caramel ice cream or any ice cream at that was AMAZING. Overall love this place - great dishes, great options for seafood too! wish they had one in downtown Seattle. Ambiance is very orange county like as it's located in bellevue and service took FOREVER to get our food out. Definitely would return as the food was delic!
(4)Nathan L.
Let me start out by saying I love steaks, so this was a no brainer for me to try out. I've been here or lunch and happy hour and I loved it! But the dinner by far, is the most amazing meal I have had in a while. I got the appetizers to start out with, which was the maple bacon. OMG DELICIOUS!! If you are a fan of bacon, this is a must try. They batter their bacon to perfection, and the sauce that comes with it is to die for. For my entree I got the 8oz filet mingon American Waygu. I've tried the japanese and that was really good as well. The meat is tender and it LITERALLY MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH. ORGASMIC. I also got the sautéed mushrooms which was delcious as always. But the one thing that threw me off was this thing called golden yukon potatoes or something like that. It came out and it was literally just hashbrowns. Given that it was good...I wasn't expecting hashbrowns. Funny thing is that I asked what the crispy potatoes were and asked them if it was like french fries. The waiter told me yes it is, so I wanted to go with something else. He suggested the yukon potato thing...and it turned out to be hashbrowns. Would be nice to have known ahead of time. Sigh. Overall awesome experience and loved the food as always. P.S. if you eat lunch go for the Juicy Lucy! Most awesome burger.
(5)Shelby H.
GROAN, JOHN HOWIE. These were the exact words that punched their way into my thoughts after taking a bite of the Australian Waygu Roast Beef sandwich. Seriously. What in the actual fuck, my dude? Why has every other time I've eaten here been an absolute delight to the flavor palate (I come here often as I work in the building), then this bready monstrosity has to go and wreck the whole portrait? Why was this sandwich so saddening? - Bread to insides ratio: waaaay off. Do I want to eat a sponge with lunch meat? No. - Bizarre flavor to the grilled onion that did not taste sweet. More like onion soaked in Wesson, then thrown in a microwave - Competing flavors from the rosemary, garlic, onion, horseradish and cheddar were a confusing oral deathmatch. Hashtag hold me. The good news about John Howie is that "steak" is in the name for a reason - they do them incredibly well and in an atmosphere that makes you feel as if you've just settled into a nice Vegas establishment. The service is always stellar, the drinks are lovely and the majority of the items will not disappoint. Just stay away from the RB. Not good. P.S. Don't skip the Deviled Eggs with Truffled Bacon, Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi or Steak Frites. All a one way ticket to Flavor Town. I mean, come on, Deviled Eggs with Bacon. Why am I selling you on this?
(4)Annie F.
Took my husband here for his birthday and we had an amazing meal, extraordinary service and a memorable night. On par with The Met, John Howie at the Bravern elevate your dining experience to make you feel extra special. Steak is the star of the show but they do offer other proteins if that's what you prefer instead. The dining room opens up to ceiling to floor glass windows overlooking the freeway. Or if you prefer a little more privacy they have booths around the restaurant. The ambiance is romantic, upscale and ritzy. They show case the food as if a piece of art yet effortless. Eating with your eyes the presentation is polished and clean. Our waiter Arne, paid attention to every detail, everything from the pink sea salt to the complimentary sample taste of beef tenderloin topped with a mint sauce. We ordered the Tableside for Two 36oz USDA Prime Bone in Rib Eye Steak for $96 cooked medium and it was well worth the money. Carved right in front of us and plated, the steak was so tender and juicy. Well seasoned and flavorful, it was absolutely delicious! The sides were equally yummy and tasty. We ordered the Sautéed Wild Mushrooms for $11 and the Main Lobster Mashed Potatoes for $18. To drink, I had a 6oz glass of the John Howie by Duval-Leroy Brut from Champagne, France for $24. To end our night, our waiter graciously offered us a complimentary dessert for the birthday celebrant. We had the Flourless Semi-Sweet Chocolate Volcano Cake with ice cream and it was divinely rich and perfect. We've also dined at their bar for happy hour and it is equally good. Overall, would definitely recommend for any special occasion or when you just want to splurge a little ;-)
(5)Scott S.
If there's a better steakhouse salad in the world I don't know about it.
(5)Nicola K.
Instructions for eating at John Howie Steak: 1. Save up some money - I don't think we've ever eaten here and spent less than $400 between 2 people - but it's worth it. 2. Order the Australian Wagyu filet with the Australian Lobster 3. Sit back and enjoy the best steak you will ever eat! 4. Do not take the waiter up on his offer of Civet coffee (the one where the civet cat eats the beans and then poops them out before they're roasted and ground) at the end of the meal. This will be the most average cup of coffee you've ever had and a waste of $45 for 1 cup! 5. Next time you hear someone raving about the steak at El Gaucho or Canlis - if you like them - do them a favor and send them to JH. If not, just content yourself with feeling smug that they haven't discovered this amazingness!
(5)Julian H.
Great food, great service, decent drinks.
(5)Matthew M.
I'm a fan of the John Howie Steakhouse Happy Hour...it's almost as good as the Late Night Happy Hour at Daniels Broiler. My wife and I stopped by after eating dinner at Artisinal on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere is upscale and trendy. They have a great piano player and is just a great, cozy place for a date night. The cocktails are wonderful and is a must. Also, the John Howie Ale is delicious too. I'm planning on going back...and this time I won't have dinner beforehand.
(4)Adam T.
John Howie is a fantastic steakhouse. I've eaten there once for dinner, and several times for lunch, and their food is some of the best I've had in the Seattle area. Specifically - The bone marrow and foie gras appetizers are just to-die-for - The American Wagyu filet mignon made me proud to be an American - The mac and cheese is amazing - For lunch, the Turkey Confit Waldorf sandwich is one of the best sandwiches I've ever had The reason they get 4 stars instead of 5, however, is the service. Basically, they're just a bit slow - this has been my experience for both for dinner and lunch. Now, I get that in a restaurant this nice, you don't want to be rushed. But, a truly great restaurant needs to be responsive and hospitable to their guests in all circumstances. Both for dinner and for one of the lunches, my companions and I made it clear that we were not trying to sit around chatting for hours - but each step, from the hostess stand to the food to the check just seemed to take longer than it needed to. To be clear, though, every other aspect of their service was top-notch; friendly, expert, etc. - just don't go if you've got a plane to catch! Overall, though, I loved this place, and I will surely return - once I've lost a few pounds!
(4)Trista H.
My wife and I took our daughter here last night to celebrate her 20th birthday since she is a carnivore. Dinner reservations can be made online (same day only) or via phone for a future reservation. When I placed my reservation via phone I was asked if our dining was due to a special occasion. I advised the receptionist that we were celebrating my daughter's 20th birthday. Parking can be found in the Bravern parking garage: level 1 (Amber) or level 2 (Amethyst). Be sure to get your parking ticket validated so that you don't have to pay for parking. John Howie validates for 6 hours of parking. We were parked for 2 hours and without validation we would have been charged $19.25. We were promptly seated for our dinner reservation of 5:30. My daughter was told happy birthday by every staff person that she came in contact with. What a nice personable touch. The staff were impeccably attired in either white or black attire. The tables are all outfitted with white linens. The plate-ware is also all white to better showcase ones food choices. I don't think that there is a dress code in place since I did see one patron wearing a ball cap and Adidas running pants with white tennis shoes. This restaurant is A La Carte. After being seated a complimentary basket of five different types of bread was delivered. We were advised that the bread is made fresh daily every morning at the restaurant. Our favorite were the small warm Gruyere rolls. They almost tasted like warm cheese puffs. For our beverages my daughter ordered two glasses of Strawberry Lemonade $3.75 each. My wife ordered two glasses of Mac & Jack for $6 each. I ordered an 8oz pour of John Howie Merlot by Mark Ryan for $21. While perusing the menu our waiter brought each of us a sampling/shot of the soup of the day which happened to be Smoked Salmon Bisque. Absolutely delish. For our starter we chose the Dungeness Crab Fritters (qty 4 meatball sized crab cakes) for $18. These tasty treats were rich, creamy and extremely satisfying. The sweet & sour butter sauce was divine. Our next food choice was a cup of Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Chowder for $8. We asked for three spoons so that we could all share. I'm glad we didn't order the bowl since the cup size was ample enough for the three of us. The chowder was served piping hot throughout (I'm not a fan of lukewarm chowder). There was an abundance of sweet crab. Each of my girls had a taste of shrimp in this chowder; however, I did not. The vegetables were nice an crispy, not over-cooked at all. The cream sauce wasn't too thick or too thin. Just perfect. For our meals, my wife and I shared the Roasted Jidori Chicken: spinach and blue cheese stuffing, fresh mozzarella, pan seared potato gnocchi in a Parmesan cream sauce for $30. The kitchen plated our meal separately without us having to ask. There is no split plate charge. We both really enjoyed our meal but were unable to finish. Looking forwards to leftovers today! We also ordered a side of Cheddar Mac & Cheese for $11 since I wanted to make sure we had enough food. We each had about one bite. The one bite we did have was scrumptious. Guess our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. Guess what else is for leftovers today? Yep, Cheddar Mac & Cheese. Now for my carnivore's choice of dinner. She ordered off of the Dinner Fresh sheet and chose the Australian 100% Fullblood Wagyu Beef 6oz Filet Mignon for $110. There were three types of kosher salts to accentuate ones' steak if desired. My daughter enjoyed the black salt from Hawaii the best. There was not a single piece of fat or gristle on her steak. The steak was prepared to her liking, medium rare: a deep red color and warm center, not too bloody. She could have probably cut this steak with a spoon instead of the steak knife provided. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed her steak; however, the next time she will choose an American Wagyu Beef Filet Mignon. She enjoys the taste of steak (American is Black Angus) while the Australian and full Japanese steaks taste less and less like traditional American steaks. Nearing the end of our stay, our server brought the dessert menu. My daughter chose the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Ganache Tart which happened to be on the house since it was her birthday. What a nice surprise and treat! When asked about this dessert we were given the analogy of "a Twix Bar on steroids." There couldn't be a better analogy for this dessert! Absolutely sinful. As we were preparing to depart we were each presented with a chocolate truffle to remember our sweet experience at John Howie's steakhouse. Thank you John Howie for the sweet experience. Thank you John Howie for recognizing and making my daughter feel like royalty on her birthday. Thank you John Howie for employing a stellar staff. Thank you John Howie for setting the bar high and allowing nothing less.
(5)Gentle V.
The Happy Hour (HH) at John Howie is a definite must. The HH food is pretty different than other HH places, and it was yummy. It gets pretty packed during HH, so arrive early or go to the later HH. The staff is friendly and very nice. If you do have to wait, the waiting area set up is a little awkward (you basically line up against a wall). However, my friends went on Sunday for the late HH and the wait was not very long. Overall, I would definitely recommend HH. I haven't tried the regular menu, but it all looked delicious!
(4)Leona T.
One of the Best steaks I've ever had. Period. Table side cesaer salad was just ok. Desserts was amazing!
(5)Lindsey W.
This place is great for lunch, but I was less than impressed for dinner. Their lunch filet oscar is the perfect size, and always cooked to perfection. Oddly enough, we usually end up with the same amazing waitress whom I'm sure knows our names/ order by now. Since we have always had great lunches, I decided to take my bf their for his b-day dinner which was a disappointment. The filets were over cooked- and then when they sent out new ones they were very tough. The manager did come out to make it right by comping our meal- but that is not what we were seeking. I do commend them for their efforts, and will continue going their for lunch.
(3)Lee T.
This is our go-to spot for happy hour. Mm, the habanero butter shrimp, tempura bacon, and mac & cheese are simply delicious. Consistently good.
(5)Evan K.
John Howie is by far the best combination of food and atmosphere. It was a bit more casual than I was expecting (saw some kid in basketball shorts once), but the attire is really what you want to make of it. I have to say the Tempura Bacon was fantastic. It was extremely light for being deep fried bacon. Out of the 4 different specialty steaks, I preferred the Australian Wagyu. The American Wagyu was fantastic but compared to the Australian and the Japanese Kobe, it came across extremely tough. The Japanese Kobe melts in your mouth. They bring out a fancy knife for you to use to cut the steak but honestly with the Kobe you don't need it. You can use your fork and it cuts like butter. That being said, I felt it didn't have a "meat" bite to it which is why I preferred the Australian Wagyu. Desserts - you have got to try their desserts. I can vouch for both the banana fosters and the salted caramel and ganache tart (tastes like twix). Expect to splurge when you are at John Howie. There tend to have specials, for instance the last time we were there they had the Kopi Luwak coffee. It's really a place to experience and go all out. Tip: when the waiter/waitress asks you if you want more bread... say NO. I always seem to fall into that trap.
(5)Sharon L.
I'm a big fan on John Howie for both dinner and lunch service. The steak is a wonderful quality and cooked to perfection. Obviously, as any good steak restaurant, it's going to be a pretty penny, but it's worth it. I also especially love coming for the happy hour! They have an amazing burger for $10 -- the patty is moist and juicy and the ratio of meat to bun and toppings is just right! The Tempura Fried Bacon is unique and interesting, but not that great, as bacon is already wonderful fried in a pan. It really doesn't need the deep fry and tempura breading. Tenderloin bites, deviled eggs, brussel sprouts, and mushroom risotto bites are all delicious. The Mac & Cheese is very cheesy and decadent and seasoned well. The service is always really great and it's a nice atmosphere.
(4)Derek B.
Spicy pear kamikaze. Gotta get the tempura fried bacon. If you have room, deviled eggs eggs here and Seastar are amazing!
(5)Yuri R.
Atmosphere: More of a casual feeling that what you get from Daniel's Broiler up the street. I will say that though both are very high class restaurants. And if it is your first time patronizing, that in itself is a special event here it felt. Service: 5 of 5 Waiter: Brian *If the service was excellent, I'll remember the person's name. Dinner rating: 5 of 5 Prime rib Dessert rating: 5 of 5 Banana Fosters It's prepared in front of you and there's a lot of culinary pyrotechnics involved. Order it, you'll see why. I liked it. Highlight: Paid the tab and still was receiving service after the bill was paid! Overall, there is no lie that the happy hour here is fantastic. And I will agree the service is top dollar, what you pay for. Overall, even if the food somehow you'd give a 3 of 5, the service here is superior and that would definitely not leave a bad taste in your mouth!
(5)Breffni M.
Great steak and super grilled asparagus and all the bread rolls were wonderful but I am sorry when the bill is $116 for one person for lunch for one of the lowest USDA 8 oz fillet steaks on the menu, you loose me, Columbia valley wine by the glass omg, ?
(2)Tony L.
We stopped by on a Friday night at 9 PM, and within a few minutes, the place was packed for happy hour. I have been to the main dining room for dinner, but this was the first time for happy hour. We got: Happy hour cheeseburger ($9): this tasty burger was huge, and came with cheese, bacon, and french fries. If you are getting other dishes, this burger is big enough to share. Crab and shrimp chowder $8 for a generous cup): this soup was pretty good, although it was served in a very large bowl (luckily we finished it before the other food arrived: our table was pretty small). Charcuterie flatbread ($11): this was my least favorite: too salty. Habenero shrimp ($12): this was good, and came with bread for dipping into the sauce (not too spicy), although this app is on the pricey side. The service at John Howie is great, and the good service extends into the bar as well. Whether for dinner or for happy hour, John Howie is a good choice in the Bellevue area (free validated parking at The Bravern).
(4)Chu N.
went for lunch for gf bday. there was a serious fruit fly problem from the bar in early november 2013. The manager didnt compensate us and said they are getting somebody to look at the problem. i didnt return to howie since then. there are better alternatives in downtown Bellevue.
(2)Angela S.
This place is amazing, the food, the service, the atmosphere.. you most definitely get what you pay for here :) expect a huge bill at the end of your evening, but an amazing experience. I love the different salts and the steak, the fresh steamed veggies, Crème Brule.. what more can I say?? LOVE!!
(5)Nicholas G.
Amazing food and great customer service. We went here on a late Monday night to try and beat the heat. It's been so hot in the greater Seattle area all summer so any opportunity to having amazing food in a cool climate should not be overlooked. The drinks, food and personalities of the workers made dining here an absolutely amazing experience. I will definitely be back and I could see myself becoming a regular here.
(5)Jake M.
Let's talk quality: When looking at this restaurant from a quality perspective, it's a 5/5. This is the best steak I've eaten. It put Morton's Steakhouse in downtown Seattle to shame. I got American Wagyu and an USDA Prime filet mignon which were both prepared to perfection. Service: Our server was top notch. Extremely knowledgeable, progressional, yet personable and funny. He made zero mistakes. Price: With those points above in mind, this restaurant was not cheap. However, what do you expect? It will be on your top list of steakhouse if not your favorite steakhouse. It's not a place to dine every weekend unless you're a baller but it's a great date spot once in a while. My fiancé and I dined there and got 3 glasses of wine, a caesar salad, Brussels sprouts, the two steaks I mentioned above, and a shared dessert which amounted to about $200.
(5)Jason S.
All Praise be to John Howie. First, I want to thank El Gaucho. If you guys hadn't insisted that I remove my golf cap so you can serve me a $60+ steak, I never would have walked out and tried John Howie. Quite the improvement of the Gauch in every regard.... though I do miss the flaming sword from time to time (great buy for the $ conscience). I've been to John Howie easily 20 times in 2013, so this is a compiled review for those visits. The Quick -------------- - Go there, do not hesitate - Chef crafted Cupa Libre Cocktail (on youtube search for cupa libre john howie to see it in action) - (Dinner) American Wagyu Eye of the Rib (go medium unless you like the middle a bit chewy, it's a thick steak) - (Lunch) Juicy Lucy holds the lunch time title belt right now - (Dinner and Lunch, why not!) Bananas Foster with Makers Mark Ice Cream Let's break it down - John Howie certainly has the ambience to impress a date and/or bring business clients. At the same time, my wife and I have been bringing our daughters here since they were in high chairs and never felt uncomfortable with it. This is _NOT_ one of those places where the staff makes you feel like you need to meet their standards to eat there. They are all extremely friendly, very knowledgeable, and incredibly welcoming. - I would argue it is the best lunch on the eastside for its fare. It seems they toss a new sandwich/burger on there every month or so and its usually pretty fun to try. They had a Cuban for a bit there that was stellar and they will generally run you about $12 complimented with stellar shoestring fries. - Service in in the restaurant is second to none. The captains are great, all of them. I've had a fella named Cash the last few times and he has taken great care of us. I always look forward to seeing his smiling face and a fine wine suggestion. - If the bar isn't too packed, you'll get good service there too... otherwise, it's a packed bar, you saw what you were walking into ;) - I'm a NY Strip guy, preferably bone-in (what we on the west coast call delmonico). I've been enjoying the J.H. Delmonico for quite sometime and it is stellar. On par with the Metroplitan Grill, which is tied for 1st in my book with J.H. Then, Cash (aforementioned) suggest the Eye of the Rib. Wow! I've had it 3 times now and it's not only delicious but huge as well. Not for the feint of heart (both figuratively and physically.... you may lock up your ticker). None of the over fatty parts you can get in a rib eye, the texture of a new york, but oh so juicy and flavorful. - The wedge has bacon croutons. No, not bread sprinkled with bacon. Cubed bacon deep fried to the texture of a light crunchy crouton. Take a veteran tip, get the dressing on the side, they tend to be liberal with it and it drowns out the awesome that is this salad. - Earlier this year, they finally started carrying Mac N Jacks, which really ramped up my lunchtime visits. I really can't say enough good things about John Howie. When I'm in Seattle, the Met is my "go to" but I live on the Eastside and while I will still pop over to Daniels for the view a couple times out of the year, John Howie is my heavenly beef haven of choice.
(5)Linda G.
Worth the price. A group of friends went for dinner, and all were very happy with the steak and service. They have a great selection: wagyu, cut, aged. Recommend it. We will try the happy hour next time, I heard their bacon is heavenly")
(5)S S.
Jon Howie may have more high end steak options but when it comes to appetizers, I don't agree with most of the reviewers. We went there a few times and before I never really cared to go back but about two weeks ago I decided to go again for HH. I tried their tempura bacon and there was too much tempura on it. I didn't think it was too greasy like some people said but the overwhelming tempura turned me off. Their carpaccio was good. Their steak bites and habanero shrimp were decent but I would prefer Daniel's. Then there is also the overpriced wine, sorry, I just don't believe their wine is that good to be paying 12 bucks for a 3 oz. So 3 stars for decent food and ok service but would I prefer elsewhere (eg El gaucho or Daniel's)? I would.
(3)Beatrice L.
ive come here for their steak dishes twice, but I've frequented here for happy hour more. The best burger in town, I'd say is from here. For the price, the quality is the best. Ive had other dishes from their happy hr menu. I like the veggie flat bread- very garlicy. mac & cheese- can't go wrong since it's beecher's cheese. Their bacon dish is too much for me. From their reg menu, I get their steak salad.
(5)Nick J.
Was here for dinner with my parents for my dad's birthday celebration last night. Unbelievable experience. The staff treated my dad like royalty. Our waiter was fantastic -- I wish I would have gotten his name. The food was impeccable. We all started with salads (Iceberg, Beet and Caesar), which were presented beautifully. All were delicious. Our main course then came. We all got steaks (Porterhouse and Filet Mignon), vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. There just really aren't words for how good everything was. Oh, and for dessert? The restaurant treated the table to the volcano cake. Oh. My. Goodness. You know when you just want to close your eyes and shut out the world when you taste something unbelievable? Yeah, I wanted to do that. For about 10 minutes. But I have a sense of pride, so I didn't. But I wanted to... Anyway, phenomenal. 5 stars. Go here.
(5)Blossom K.
Service was amazing and atmosphere was so modern. I have been to metropolitan grill in downtown seattle and oh boy! This was WAAAAAYYYYYY better. I'm not going to metropolitan grill anymore. This place will be the best place in wa. * we ordered 8racks of lamb and shared.. but we could still taste the gamey flavor to it. Oh well! It is what it is. Maybe they need to change the recipe OR we shouldn't have ordered it if we didn't like the gamey lamb. Other then that, it was just perfect! I highly recommend this place!!!!
(5)Vid S.
We went for a team lunch to John Howie, and me being a vegetarian, I ordered a spaghetti pasta. Pros: - The pasta was tasting delicious sans the oil (See #1 in Cons). - The ambiance was very good. Cons: - There was way too much olive oil in the pasta. The pasta and the tomatoes were floating in the oil. I did ask the person who took my order to go easy on cheese and oil, but looks like he missed the point. - The prices are a bit expensive considering the quantity.
(3)Leona Y.
I've been here for both happy hour and for dinner and both times they were exceptional. Happy Hour - If you've heard amazing things about the cheeseburger it's true. It's huge and for only $9 super worth it. I was so full I had to take half of it home with me! Dinner: - Ahi Tartare ($18): Shareable size. You want to save room for your steak so make sure you don't fill up on appetizers! This is big enough to share with 3-4 people. - Australian Wagyu Rib Eye 8 oz. ($75): Super tender and wasn't too salty. At first the steak looks pretty small on the big white plate but when you throw a couple of the sides on, it can actually become a fairly large meal. Definitely was one of the best steaks I've had in a while. Didn't need a serrated knife in order to slice into it which means it's not tough and chewy! I usually order my steak medium-rare but I ordered this one medium and it was perfect. - Sauteed Mushrooms ($11): Make sure you order these!! They were perfect and the size is large enough to share with 2-3 people. Best side of mushrooms I've ever had at a steak restaurant! - Garlic Mashed Potatoes ($8): Nothing amazing, but goes together very well with the shallot and red wine bordelaise sauce (see below) I think there are 2 sizes of these potatoes but the larger one is plenty to share with 3 people. - Shallot and Red Wine Sauce ($6): This was definitely the best sauce out of the 3 sauces we ordered (steak sauce was too sour/vinegary and the bearnaise sauce was too thick for my taste). One order of sauce is enough for 2 people unless you really like your steak saucy then I would order 2. I would ask to have the sauce on the side in case you don't like it or want to mix and match with others. - Meyer Lemon Pie ($8): Very light and fruity. Great way to finish off your meal if you're looking for something that's not too heavy and creamy. - Hot Green Passion Tea: This tea went very well with the lemon pie. It was fruity and didn't contain much caffine so I didn't have any trouble falling asleep at night. - Sorbet Sampler ($8): Three cute scoops of sorbet (blackberry lemon, spiced cider, and raspberry pear), each placed on top of an edible shell. Not too sweet and a great choice if you want a variety of flavors. Overall the service was impeccable and our server John did an amazing job taking care of us. Since it was the first time dining here for my mom and brother, he did an awesome job of describing the different steaks as well as the different types of cuts. I will definitely be coming back again whenever my family is craving some steak!
(5)Jon B.
Wow! This is all I can say. I have never had a perfectly cooked steak I could cut with a butter knife. I am serious when I say this is exactly what I did. This place, in my opinion, beats out Canlins and Daniels Broiler for steak. The view is not as good but the food makes up for it. Kudos to the chef(s).
(5)Jonathan H.
I came here about couple of months ago with my frieds for happy hour around 9PM. The food was excellent. The burger was good. The meat was high quality. I wish they didn't put so much stuff on the burger so you can taste the meat better. Just blue cheese and some grilled onions would do. I should've asked. That was my bad. Their tenderloin bites were really delish. This is a must have. Butter shrimp was good too. Best happy hour in the Eastside!
(4)Eleanor K.
Definitely one of the best steakhouses in the area! I come here for dinner with friends or family whenever they are in town. I wouldn't say this is a kid friendly restaurant. The servers have always been very nice and attentive. Appetizers I like are the oysters and seared sea scallops though the quality has been a bit inconsistent. The salads are always fresh, though my favorite was a beet salad that I didn't see on the menu the last time I was there (I may be blind or it could be seasonal). One thing I will say is that the steak here is absolutely amazing. I haven't tried the USDA steaks, but the different cuts of Australian and Japanese wagyu I have tried are consistently spectacular and get me coming back! I actually would recommend the John Howie steak sauce as well. My favorite side is probably the mushroom dish. Never been for happy hour, although every time I go the bar always looks packed.
(4)Trinidad G.
Best steak I've had in the Seattle area! Also I have never been to a place where the service is as awesome as John Howie's Well worth what you pay for at dinner time I have also been to their lunch hour and oh my goodness it could not be better. I had the juicy Lucy and it was amazing. If I could give it 10 stars I would! Great great place to eat!
(5)Elin K.
John Howie steak house has everything I would look for in a restaurant. It has a bar, with great happy hour. They have a cozy restaurant area, with friendly staff and great menu. The location is perfect, located at the Bravern in Bellevue. Within walking distance if you live downtown, or great parking in the garage.
(4)Paul T.
Staff is delightful, and the bartenders are on their game! I've tried much of the menu and have never been disappointed. This is a steak-lover's paradise; every cut you can imagine, all cooked to perfection (shame on you if you cook past medium-rare) and served with perfect class. This is a great place to have a peaceful but lively happy hour as well. I'll be going back soon.
(4)Ku S.
They need to decorate the plate with side orders. Only ordering a steak makes the plate look plain.
(4)Caroline L.
Best happy hour place in Bellevue! I like coming here after going shopping for lunch. Love the food and the service. You can also get your parking validated if you dine here. I've been here for an anniversary dinner in the main seating area as well but I prefer coming here for happy hour since the prices are awesome for the quality of food we get. This place is the top of my list for the best happy hour places in PNW.
(4)Chris A.
I am just now starting to do Yelp Reviews and my experience at John Howie is long overdue. When my buddy relocated to Bellevue with me, we really wanted a very nice celebratory dinner. John Howie was amazing, everything was great. I had the 16oz ribeye (medium), Maine Lobster Potatoes, and creamed spinach. ''Twas so good. I can say they truly poop on Ruth's and Daniel's. Just saying lol. They are so consistent and the service is to die for. I am trapped for life.
(5)MeiSean T.
Food was excellent. We ordered the 1/2lb bacon cheese burger from the happy hour menu in the bar. It was tasty, a lil messy, & what I call a gourmet burger. Ask for the drive-in sauce on the side so you can dip your fries. Mmm :) I look forward to my next experience here.
(4)Sheng M.
Still fantastic. The bone marrow.....oh the bone marrow!!! Soooooooo good!!! Great service as always and juicy tender steaks.
(5)Aaron P.
Beef. Oh, lovely beef. I would have to say this is in the top three steaks I have ever eaten in the Greater Seattle area. They know what they are doing here. The cuts of meat are always incredible and they have perfected their cooking. You can't really go wrong with any of the cuts but my favorite is the New York. Medium-rare comes out exactly how you would expect, slight pink in the middle and an amazing sear on the outside. Very tender and delicious. The variety of sides are all great to complement the meat. The service of course is top notch as well. The staff is very accommodating to substitutions and food allergies. Of course, you are paying quite a bit to eat here, so this level of service should be expected, but it is nice they deliver on it.
(5)Jenny Y.
My favorite side to add to my steak is the five cheese twice stuffed baked potato. It's very flavorful without being too rich and cheesy. We ordered 2 sets of 36oz prime bone-in rib eye steak (tableside for two) that was accompanied by oven roasted vegetables. I never can finish my steak because there is so much meat! In other words, you'll definitely be full from this meal if you just order the tableside for two and split it with someone else. The steak melts in your mouth and if you never had good steak before, this will be a completely different experience. I didn't get the tempera bacon this time, but I remember it was very good although it's a little heavy and you might not have the appetite to finish your main course.
(4)Andrew D.
If you are looking for steak, or just delicious food in the area, LOOK NO FURTHER!!! This is THE place!! Outstanding service, and a great happy hour menu. I suggest trying one (or more) of their house cocktails. A Killer bar selection combined with the finest quality meat one could possibly obtain -- Add in the great atmosphere and friendly servers, and you've got a recipe for a 'sure-fire good time'. The staff really go the extra mile to make sure you're taken care of, and create a great atmosphere. Kudos to them!
(5)Mike S.
What great service here! If you want a great steak, come here. Better yet is the bar where the bartender, Joe, is very professional and knowledgeable of what he's serving. Ask for him when you come.
(5)Theresa D.
I've been to John Howie several times, and love my experience. The service is amazing from beginning to end, and I really can't complain about the food either. I normally get the ribeye for two to share with my husband. Medium will give you a very pink middle with even a little red, which to me is more of a medium rare. They serve this with roasted veggies, which is nice since most of the menu is a la carte. I came here last weekend with my hubs, and we got the roasted cauliflower and potato cakes on the side. They were amazing, but probably put me over the top in fullness. The tomato salad we shared was delicious, a fun take on a caprese salad with heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella. It's definitely a treat, and I'll admit the steak isn't earth shattering. I recommend getting truffle butter to put on too. But it's good, and they definitely know how to change up the menu and treat you right!
(4)Tani S.
This tends to be the spot that I head with my work colleagues for lunch quarterly but my husband and I decided to check it out for happy hour tonight. After a lackluster experience at Daniel's Broiler in Bellevue we were presently surprised. The bar atmosphere is great, yes it's loud but it does allow for intimate conversations and there was a good amount of light in the space which didn't make you feel as though you were shrouded in darkness. The service was great as well. Although the deviled eggs looked to be popular on the happy hour menu (the three tables close to us each ordered them), we had the prime tenderloin bites which were amazing, the shrimp cocktail, charcuterie plate, and Brussels sprouts which were each equally good as well. The only miss was the potato fritters which were much too heavy and cheesy. The bill did add up quickly but quite an enjoyable evening and we'll look forward to repeating the next time the little monkey children have a kind babysitter watching them.
(4)Catherine C.
My sister and I have been planning on having lunch here, and we've been going through their menu online so we'd know what to order when we get there. We were the first people inside and our reservation was at 11am. We ordered 3 appetizers and 2 orders of 42 day custom-aged ribeye steak but what I was concerned about was why it took our steak 47 minutes to come out? I didn't want to complain and have to talk to the manager. I told my sister, "lets just try to enjoy the rest of our meal." It's their job to satisfy their customers. This place is supposed to be a somewhat classy restaurant the steak costs $68 per plate. Even though we had a bad experience here, our server was nice and we still tipped him $35. Honestly, I don't know if I'll come back here again.
(3)Vincent V.
Fantastic main course, very warm and professional atmosphere. All encompassing wine selection. Attentive service as good as you may expect. After having had two cuts of their American Wagyu prepared to perfection I am very enthusiastic about John Howie Steak. Where I feel a bit shortchanged is in the side dishes and desserts. Wish they toned down the sweetness for the latter, it appears a bit of a let down after such a wonderful main course. Nice to see a good cheese selection, would love to see a raw milk based cheese in there. We like the sweeter white wines and found an excellent Riesling, Crater Rim. In terms of wine and after dinner drinks they sure have got it nailed. Because of that, I see no reason for sugary desserts, let the flavors come out folks! So while the overall picture leaves room for improvement, the foundation is as solid as it gets.
(3)Susan H.
5 stars because I LOVE THE HAPPY HOUR FOOD AND PRICES. Tenderloin bites juicy, sprouts are real good, deviled eggs (get them if you're with your friends if you're on a date skip it unless your want your breath to smell like butt), cheese plate (if you're tryna be classy and all), SHRIMP cocktail, Beecher's mac and cheese (so crispy on top and warm after you dig in so good), and last but not least the classiest thing on the menu: the burger (get it medium rare and omg those fries so good). That's all. Most of those items are like $7-$14 max. Deals!!! I'd come here with no more than 6 people, tables are a little spread out. People on dates in the corner, business meetings, pretty... chill serious classy vibe. I love.
(5)Bow C.
Outstanding food and service! From the time you walk in until the time you leave, the service is first class. Started with the tempura bacon, that was great. Caesar salad was perfected table side, crab/shrimp chowder was okay. All the sides were very tasty, we ordered the mesquite roasted corn, creamed spinach, asparagus spears, twice baked potato. The cream spinach with bacon and egg is a must! The steaks were all perfectly cooked. The bone in filet was tender and flavorful, American wagyu ribeye cap was amazingly soft, the table side bone in ribeye was thick and juicy, loaded with deliciousness in every bite. We had no room for desert, that was the only bad part of our dining experience. But that just means serving sizes were very generous. This will definitely be a must when visiting Seattle for me. The one thing that they should do is cut out that automatic 18% gratuity they include in your bill. With service this good, they definitely sell themselves short! They deserve a little more then 18% with the quality of service they provide! Truly a memorable dining experience, can't wait for my next visit to John Howie Steak!
(5)Sandy L.
I can't remember how many times we have been to John Howie since it opens. Most of the time we were satisfied regardless of lunch, dinner or HH. Went there for Saturday night HH. I always like their HH more than other meals as the service (don't know how or why) is always greater than their dining room and the waitresses are always very attentive. Don't know what happen that night: Hubby had to send back a cocktail TWICE (1st time for lack of liquor and 2nd time for moldy/bad citrus taste). Finally we gave up and had a whisky instead. The waitress seemed new and she rolled her eyes when we requested the replacement drink. Then we ordered the banana foster (it states tableside but it finally wasn't?). The sauce was so sugary that I feel way more like drinking it from a bottle of sweet syrup, the rest of it just vanilla and banana. This desserts was so lame that I can't imagine they charged $20 ? This is the 2nd time I tried their desserts and both were way too sweets and disappointing. We ended up paying $65 for this dessert + 2 drinks (mine was 4oz house wine), very expensive even we dine there often considering the food/drink quality + service.
(2)Funglin W.
Writing review based on their happy hour. The potato fries and lamb sliders are amazing! Although the prices are fairly expensive for a happy hour, it is way cheap than their regular menu price and the portions are huge! Potato Fries (4) - perfectly deep fried, great portions, only $6, and the salt that's sprinkled on top of the fries was seasoned just right Lamb Sliders (4): Never been a fan of lamb but the meat was cooked well, there were 3 great sliders size, and the sauce and zucchinis on it made it had a great texture. The happy hour here is a great alternative to spending $100 for a dinner at John Howie.
(4)Anne R.
This is a review of the John Howie happy hour. We came here on a Sunday because I had heard about the 1/2 lb bacon cheese burger and as a burger lover, I knew I needed to check it out. The burger was just OK. The bacon on top was yummy but other then that it didn't do much for me. We also ordered the poutine fries, which were HUGE and well worth the happy hour price. Our server was very friendly and attentive which I appreciated. I would come back to try their dinner menu sometime for a fancy occasion, but probably won't hit the happy hour again.
(3)Jen L.
I go to Seastar for their seafood and I come here for their steak!! *drool* It is an absolute shame that I am unable to remember the dish I ordered, which came with three different pieces of meat. The taste and texture was excellent! It was one of those moments just like in the movie where you're in slow motion as the piece of meat on your fork slowly reaches your mouth and as you chew on the food your eyes are closed and you just take in all that aroma and texture from the meat... If you haven't been, then it is an absolute must! Do it for your taste buds, bud! They will definitely thank you! The service is also great. Attentive but not annoying. Water is always filled and they can answer any question about the food. If they do not know, they will find the answer, but most of the time, the waiter or waitress knows their stuff, which I think should be a standard. Alright, time to save up and get me some steak!!
(5)Craig M.
Greatest steakhouse in Seattle, bar none! I've been to them all in Seattle (El Gaucho, The Met, Daniel's Broiler, Ruth Chris) and none hold a candle to the Wagyu at John Howie. If you are looking for a true world-class steakhouse don't miss Howie's. I strongly recommend you try the deep fried bacon - you won't be disappointed! Amazing appetizer but be warned once you've had it you'll never see bacon the same way again. Food doesn't always have to be about health! Also if you are looking for a place to have a small gathering you cannot go wrong with Howie's. I rented one of their rooms which holds about 12 people and the service/food was AMAZING. There is a minimum to book the room (I think around $1k) but it's private, beautiful, has audio/video, and is a very unique experience. The maître d' was so accommodating even printing up menus with no prices so my family wouldn't be self-conscious about the cost! It was brilliant, will do it again when the need arises.
(5)Karen L.
My BF bought a groupon here, so we finally tried this place out. This restaurant is the one a couple of our friends go to for their anniversary every year. They love this place. Unfortunately, we were unimpressed. We had the foie gras "bacon and eggs," tempura kurobuta bacon, French onion soup, and the bone-in ribeye for two. The foie gras appetizer was just ok. It was not my favorite. It was like a fancy breakfast, but I didn't like it. The bacon was good, but hey, bacon is bacon. The French onion soup was good. French onion soup is my favorite and I thought they did a pretty good job. The ribeye, though, was kind of disappointing. We ordered it medium, which is how we normally like our ribeye, but this one was kind of tough to chew, and a little too red in the middle. Even when we cook ribeye ourselves, it's juicy and tender, but I was not impressed by the ribeye. Maybe we ordered the wrong steak, but I suppose we just had high expectations. We'd definitely give John Howie another chance. Maybe next time, we'll order their filet mignon, our friend's favorite. The service here, though, was impeccable. Our server was very attentive and we felt welcomed. Probably one of my best experiences in terms of service.
(3)Mojdeh S.
How I heard of this place: My friend, Paul gave me a coupon for John Howie before he moved to southern California in the winter of 2010. I have had the voucher (non-expiring) in my wallet since November and finally had a reason to use: I was on the east side. Type of cuisine: A steak house also serving game fish grilled over an open flame applewood grill, imparting a subtle sweet smoke flavor. Local wild mushroom and truffles are foraged throughout the Pacific Northwest, when ever possible we utilize local organic farmers for our produce, dairy and cheeses...all breads and desserts are baked in house, ice creams and sorbets are created specifically to our recipe..." Ambiance: The dim-lit, high-rise restaurant feels extravagant, even after our four-hour spa excursion. Guided by pretentious hostesses through long, narrow, tall-ceilinged hallways and to a large, open dining area, with floor-to-ceiling windows making up an entire side of the restaurant, open to views of Bellevue's cityscape. Inside, high backed booths made their way through the middle of the establishment, separating chair and table seating on either side of the space. White, linen tablecloths covered the tables, and half-way down to the floor; cushioned, white, leather chairs (full-backed) at each spot. Bright red Glassy Baby votive holders set at each table. Wrought iron, Piet Mondrian style artwork take the eye upward from the booths to the cylindrical, lantern-esque lights hanging from the tall ceiling above. Dark-colored walls, in what seems a greenish version of elephant grey, with wooden trim lead to open doorways where waitstaff place orders and maintain their table setting supplies. Modern artwork by way of paintings are hung sporadically around the space, giving color and detail a place to shine. The wall behind the booth at which we are seated is textured, resembling rounded, weaved wood-paneling, filling the expanse between wall and window, from the top of the rust-orange cushioned booth seat back to the ceiling. What I ordered: We were offered a bread basket with cheddar cheese sticks, crispy, sun-dried tomato flatbread, and several tiny rolls, accompanied by a small, square-shaped dish for whipped butter, andselected a cheese plate of Humbolt Fog - California, Goat's milk, light, rich and tangy; Rogue River Blue - Oregon, Cow's milk, rich, creamy, minearal; and Mitica Sottocencere with Truffle - Italy, Cow's milk, ash rind, truffle, juniper, licorice, and ginger. The ovalesque, white plate was presented with the three cheeses, Rainier cherry jam, honeycomb, Marcona almonds, dried apricots, and fresh-baked, sliced walnut bread. After placing our order, the John Howie amuse bouche was served: mesquite grilled North America steak, topped with salsa verde. At the recommendation of our server the Meyer Lemon Pie ($8) was dessert, white chocolate drizzle over the custard in a graham cracker crust, vanilla creme and strawberry coulis. What I loved: It's hard to go wrong with cheese! But, I do have to admit that the amuse bouche of steak, on its own, was well worth the trip to Bellevue. Why I loved it: The food was delicious, the setting pristine, but our happy, friendly, gracious and professional server made the experience most enjoyable. Cost: High ($8-$18 per dessert)
(3)Uncle B.
Still trying to answer the question, "what is Seattle's best steakhouse?" John Howie is often one of the top 5 answers, but I wouldn't give it the top spot. Great staff and service (I think we had 6 different people serving us) - which were a good blend of professional/casual. Lets put it this way... we felt very comfortable asking the differences in aged steaks and table salts. I order steak well-done (i know this is frowned upon), and here their well-done still has "some pink" in the middle. I believe I had to order the extra-well-done and it still had a bit of pink. Their "crispy potatoes" aka french fries were fine, but nothing over the top memorable. And I unfortunately couldn't try the tempura bacon due to an egg allergy. Two guys, two steaks, two sides, two drinks each, and an appetizer for right around $200. Definitely one of the top steakhouses in Seattle/Bellevue...
(4)Jin Y.
Group arrived a tad after 9 PM and took our time conversing and eating.. Ordered filet, beet salad and Maine lobster mashed potatoes. Food was spectacular and generous in portions, yet we finished every single thing on each plate. Our server Brandon was spectacular. Very friendly AND professional and knowledgeable. Very patient and accommodating.. We were there well past 11 PM when the dining service normally starts shutting down around 10 PM during week days (found out later). Anyhow, I am sure there are more experts in steak and food out there, so this review is more about the great service and atmosphere.. Genuine and sincere.. Thanks to the staff that served us, but most of all Brandon.. great job and thank you!!
(5)Michael K.
I love the bar/lounge at John Howie in Bellevue, partially because my visits here have been for work and thus involved a bit more class than many of my evenings but mostly because their happy hour is simply stellar. Excellent martinis, good beers on tap, and a selection of small bites and meals that destroy their price points. The spicy habanero shrimp are incredible and I could easily put away two dozen of these if there weren't a handful of other dishes worth eating as well. The sauce is rich with a fiery kick and the shrimp are small but plentiful and perfectly prepared. The lamb sliders have been perfect every time I've had them and each time I can't help but thinking that if White Castle had sold these instead of their trademark burgers, they'd have taken over the world. Fried bacon. That makes sense right? How about tempura fried bacon. Your heart may not appreciate this delicacy but your tastebuds will build you a golden idol. True decadence. I will return for a proper dinner someday but with a happy hour like this, it's hard to come up with a good reason!
(5)Jonelle T.
Though I've eaten here numerous times, I just realized I've yet to write a review. After another delicious meal, I've decided it's time. We arrived for dinner on a Friday night, were seated promptly, and the service was impeccable. Decisions were made for the roasted bone marrow and wedge salad to start, then the 42-day aged ribeye (16oz) for me, and the 28-day aged bone-in ribeye (36oz) for him, along with the five cheese twice baked stuffed potato. We considered doing the 36oz bone-in ribeye for two, but for some stupid reason thought it wouldn't be enough. Boy, were we wrong. The wedge wasn't anything to write home about, but the roasted bone marrow was amazing. I could've eaten the whole plate on my own. The steaks were perfectly cooked with a nice char on the outside, and while we made worthy attempts, we still ended up taking home about 2lbs of food. Seriously, it was enough for steak and eggs in the morning and one lunch to finally kill everything. Also, I am now forever ruined in the steak department. 48-day aged steak blows away every other kind of steak in texture and flavor. The longer it's been hanging out, the better it tastes.
(5)Charlene L.
Working in Bellevue, and looking around to see what's near for lunch.. Spotted! the Keg! Right below my office! But wait...pay $20 for an overpriced, mediocre quality steak at the Keg? Tricks are for kids, you silly rabbit! I'm heading over to downtown Bellevue to check out John Howie's Lunch special for some quality grub a dub dub at the same, if not cheaper price than the Keg! I couldn't decide on a few lunch items.. thankfully I'm very convincing to some. I decided to opt for choice 1) Juicy Lucy Burger- 60% ground chuck, 40% kurobata bacon stuffed with 2 cheese, fixins' all on a nice buttery brioche bun! After some negotiation, I convinced a colleague to get my option 2) Duck Confit BLT... no explanation necessary! Each of these sandwiches were $15 and $16 bucks... why would anyone NOT try John Howie, especially at lunch?! The time is now people!! Run, go, grab your wallets (or your boyfriend's) and eat something tasty from JH today!
(4)Sharon R.
Superb steak and I always love the service when I come here definitely worth your money !
(5)Marcus K.
Atmosphere was typical steakhouse. Didn't care for the Japanese Kobe, cliff lede '06 is no beuno!
(2)Jacy G.
My boyfriend and I came here for his birthday and we were absolutely impressed by the quality of food and service. Our waiter was very polite and friendly, and took extra care of us knowing it was our first time here. We ordered a LOT of food; the portion sizes are very generous, but every dish was amazing. Our favorites were the chicken jidori, lobster mash potatoes, and Beechers mac and cheese. Nothing we ordered disappointed us... we will definitely be coming back!
(5)Dhawal P.
This is probably the best restaurant experience I have had in my life, which is understandable because it is also the most I have ever paid for a dinner for two. But I think you totally get what you paying for. We went in and had to wait at the bar for a bit for our table (20 mins). Great range of wines, the bartender was really professional and friendly. Also recommended a steak which I later ordered. At the table, the service and food was spectacular. I ordered the Japanese Wagyu (what the bartender recommended) NY Steak Strip, so they got me a knife, in a wooden/velvet box. The knife was handcrafted in the same way as the Ninja Swords are. I still have a photo :D The portion was small but I can overlook that since the steak was out of this world. I thought the bartender was exaggerating when he mentioned that the steak actually melts in your mouth, I can totally vouch for that, it was like freakin butter. The steak was pan simmered, "well", and all juices were locked in. Problem is I can't have a steak again for a loooong looong time, coz I am sure it can never get as good as this. All in all, if you are looking for a special occasion, this is it.
(5)Aaron C.
This is the best steakhouse in the country, period. If you're looking for apps, great, they're cheap during happy hour and you can have a few cocktails with them. If you're looking for steak on the other hand, get ready to pull out your wallet and be wowed by the taste. I had the 6 oz. Japanese Waygu and I literally said "I didn't know a cow could taste like that." That is how good it is.
(5)Leslie P.
My friend & I shared four items: - Habanero shrimp alongside sliced ciabatta bread - Duck confit, pickled chanterelle & caramelized pear flatbread with white truffle oil - Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar macaroni & cheese - Tempura fried Kurobuta bacon with maple dipping sauce Everything was so flavorful. The shrimp wasn't too spicy, and the sauce was a great dip for the bread. The duck flatbread was very memorable. There were so many different ingredients that complemented each other. The mac & cheese was rich & creamy, and had a great crunchy topping. The show stopper was the fried bacon. Surprisingly, it wasn't too heavy, and the sweet sauce balanced out the salty bacon.
(4)Cassie N.
I had been wanting to go to John Howie's for happy hour for a while, my boo finally took me on Memorial Day. That being said this review is for Happy Hour only (;. They have HH daily 3-6pm and a Late HH Mon-Thurs 9-11pm and Fri-Sun 9-12 pm. From reading a few reviews, I got the idea that parking was confusing and a mess but it really wasn't too bad. The website tells you where to park so that helps. We parked at the Amber Parking lot in level 2 and took the elevator up and the restaurant was right in the East corner. Parking is free up to 6 hours with retail validation. We arrived at the restaurant at around 4pm and it wasn't very busy at all, we were able to get seats right away. The restaurant itself is gorgeous; high ceilings, beautiful lighting, modern yet classy. We picked a seat and sat down and looked through the menu that was on the table. It took a minute for our server to come over but when she did she was efficient and friendly. The happy hour menu is quite extensive and you have to be careful not to let your eyes get bigger than your tummy. Also you can take your hh leftovers home which is nice, some places do not let you take leftovers home during hh (ex:Epulo, Azuls, etc). We ordered; Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon, the famous Bacon Cheeseburger, Country Pate, Beechers Mac and Cheese, and Kurobuta Pork Sausage and Rapini Sliders. The Tempura Bacon IMO does not live up to the hype. You couldn't really taste that great smoky bacon flavor and the sauce made it too sweet. It was okay but I would have rather eaten regular fried bacon. I LOVE sliders... One of my favorite things to eat but the Pork Sliders at JH were disappointing. The sausage patty was a little dry and the overall slider lacked flavor. I felt like I was eating a confused breakfast sandwich. The Country Pate was had good flavor but was a little on the dry side and hard to spread. It was still good though and the onion, cornichons and Guinness mustard were great accompaniments. The Beechers Mac and Cheese was delicious. The pasta was al dente and it was nice and cheesy. The crunchy little breadcrumbs on top were a nice textural contrast. A little greasy but other than that no complaints. The Bacon Cheeseburger was amazing and the best thing we ordered that day. It's on par with the Prime Burger at Wolfgang Puck in LV. The burger was juicy and full of beefy flavor. The toppings it came with went perfectly together and the bun was awesome. If you read my reviews you know I love a good bun that can hold a burger together. The buns at JH are perfect! Soft and buttery and sturdy enough to hold all that burger goodness together, I noticed that the slider buns were good too even though the slider itself wasn't. Overall we had a great time. The ambiance was nice, service was good and the food (though a little overhyped) was good. I definitely want to come back to to try other HH goodies or dinner service.
(4)Heidi M.
By far the best happy hour in Bellevue. The restaurant is okay, if you're celebrating a special occasion it's a nice atmosphere. But we usually go to the bar and enjoying happy hour, great prices on food, great prices drinks. Lately there's been a line to get in during the happy hour time.
(5)Frank S.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! EVERY single bartender is impeccable!!! I must add that I ONLY dine in the "bar area". These guys know the meaning of customer service. Hands down! Food Choice: I recommend the lamb chops and of course any steak choice!
(5)Jon K.
WOW! My new favorite lunch place on the Eastside. Prices are very reasonable at lunch...$13 to $26 for most entrees. Only open at lunch on Mondays through Fridays. They have Tempura Fried Kurobuta Bacon as a starter. And Parmigiano Reggiano potato chips...Heaven, I'm in heaven... Iceberg Wedge salad...with a wicked bleu cheese dressing and more bacon...Heaven, I'm in heaven... House Cured Pork Belly Rueben...it's BACON...Heaven, I'm in heaven... Prime Rib french dip...delicous with their au jus...Heaven, I'm in heaven... Meyer Lemon Pie or doughnut holes with ganache...Heaven, I'm in heaven... I'm looking forward to go to dinner soon...Heaven, I'm in heaven...
(5)Tracy C.
Excellent service, classy atmosphere, tasty food. The last time I was here for a business lunch, our server asked if we had any time constraints, took our order right away after recommending dishes that could be ready quickly, and reminded me when I was 10 minutes from my next meeting. Impressive. Try the beautiful wild-greens salad with your Wagyu burger at lunch, and try not to dream about the tempura-fried bacon after happy hour's over.
(4)Michael L.
Definitely one of the best steaks I've had. In my opinion, it's a slight notch above Ruth Chris, and well above the Met. I had the American Wagyu Filet, and it was cooked to perfection. Melted in my mouth and was absolutely perfect. It rivals a Kobe Filet I had in Japan. We also had the mashed potatoes, mac n cheese and asparagus. The mashed potatoes were...well, mashed potatoes. Always good, can't really screw that up. But it was pretty good. Both the mac n cheese and asparagus were some of the best I've had. Very flavorful, and cooked and seasoned excellently. Service was exquisite, and they were always very nice and checking up on you. But for the cost, I'd be hacked if it wasn't good. We had a dessert that sounded very good on the menu (fried pound cake with ganache, hucklyberry and cream - or something of the like). It was pretty good, but certainly not what we expected. We kind of expected a single dish with everything artfully done, but it was a basic plate with some friend pount cake and a little tray with the 3 sauces. Kinda odd. Overall though, excellent, excellent food if you don't mind spending a hefty penny.
(5)Vivian S.
Took a fren to celebrate his early bday. The food was great and the services was beyond expectation. Highly recommended
(5)Amy P.
For such a high class fine dining establishment, they have an amazing happy hour. 'Cause let's be real, that's the only way I'd be able to afford eating here ;) Happy HR menu: Prime Tenderloin Bites: very tasty, perfectly marinated bite size pieces. Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp: so flavorful. Must pair with the provided bread but amazing all the same. It wasn't spicy but had a nice kick. Good sized portion as well. Beecher's Flagship Mac & Cheese: who doesn't love good ol' mac & cheese that has been turned into a gourmet dish? Tempura Bacon: MUST get. So unexpectedly delicious. Considering it is bacon, being deep fried in tempura batter created this delicate and crisp bacon strip of heaven. Off the dinner menu: Lobster Mashed Potatoes: gourmet mashed potatoes covered in a delicate rich cream sauce? Can I get a hell yea?
(5)Reem A.
John Howie steakhouse is like going to the Four Seasons. It is refined, high end and very modern. He service is exceptional. There is a smile on every waiter/ess' face at all times. It feels like making you happy is their life goal. And for $100 meal, I better be elated. Uhm, so the tempura bacon??? Are you kidding me? The chef turned a simple meat into a Devine experience. The Caesar salad is prepAred table side with homemade dressing. Needless to say, it is exceptional. The steak is delicious as prepared to perfection. John Howie has perfected the steakhouse experience from food to ambiance to experience. 5 stars indeed!
(5)Linda V.
So! I love this place. Best steak there is? Maybe. Innovative, delicious food? Yes. If you'd rather not read my length review, here's what it is in a nutshell: PROS: - delicious food - a cool trio of salts - steak is awesome - lobster mashed potatoes side = amazing - perfect and knowledgeable service - plain and simple, classy decor (it's in the bravern after all) CONS: - given the location, the best you've got is an I-405 S traffic jam - everything is wildly overpriced - asparagus side was unimpressive They have a variety, which is awesome., but it's very pricey. Don't get me wrong, the steak was fantastic, but overpriced. I've had equally great steak at other places that were cheaper. Since I like my steak medium rare sans anything but salt and pepper, I can't really speak for the sauces, but it was cooked to perfection. Another thing that really stood out to me was the Maine Lobster mashed potatoes. Very innovative dish, and tastes like classic mashed potatoes with a twist. On the heavier side mind you, but if you're going out to eat at this sort of place, you've got to toss your calorie counting app and just go for it. We got some asparagus which were a little overcooked with an unimpressive sauce. I've made better asparagus myself in the kitchen so I wasn't impressed by that. While we didn't have the room for dessert, the menu certainly looked good. There's always next time..
(4)Lesley D.
The Beecher's Flagship Reserve Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese brings tears to my eyes EVERY TIME! $8 at happy hour, you simply can't go wrong! The fried brussels sprouts are pretty incredible too! Honestly, this is one of the best happy hour spots on the east side bar none! The bartenders are very friendly and attentive. I have never sat in the actual dinning area, but the bar (with live pianist) is as close to perfect as it gets! Pros: Great Happy Hour food selection John Howie Steak Amber Ale Nice atmosphere in the bar Friendly knowledgeable staff Free parking in abundance Cons: Not exactly the most affordable dinner stop, but worth the splurge!
(5)Matt E.
Best filet I've had to date. Incredible selection of meats if you've got the coin! Atmosphere was nice but not my favorite. Free self parking with validation. Reservations a must for Saturday night. I'll be going back, hopefully soon!
(5)Paige W.
I thought this place was over-rated. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't have to go back. Also, I tried to discretely take care of the bill by passing my credit card off to the hostess to had off to my waiter. Later, my waiter started talking about bill while in front of the people I was with...something I was trying to avoid. Not very smooth, dude.
(2)Mimi L.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for John Howie yet, I always thought I had, but just realized I haven't yet. I've been here twice so far, once for lunch courtesy of my company and another time I took my boyfriend here for dinner for his birthday. The lunch was nothing spectacular, I just had a sandwich, although their portions are huge so I had a lot of leftovers to take home. I always wanted to try them out for dinner because El Gaucho is hands down my favorite restaurant of all time and I've heard some people say that John Howie is even better. One of the reasons I love El Gaucho so much, besides for the amazing food of course, is the excellent service. I feel like El Gaucho has the best service out of any restaurant I've been to, at least all the times that I went. So I made reservations for dinner and let them know that it was my boyfriend's birthday and they said they would be sure to make it special. Once we got there, the hostess asked if we wanted to wait a few minutes to get a nice table with a view, so we decided to just wait. This was a big mistake, it ended up taking another 30 minutes just to get a table... and the view was of the freeway. I'm not sure why they would've even suggested it. Once we sat down, we ordered a starter but I can't even remember what it was, but I remember it was not that memorable. They also give you bread, but it doesn't even hold a candle compared to El Gaucho's garlic bread. For dinner, we ordered the tableside ribeye for two and for sides we got the mushrooms, corn, and mac n cheese. The sides were okay, but nothing to rave about. For the steak, they had someone come out and cut the entire steak in front of you. They also have 3 different kinds of salt on the table to season your steak which I really liked. I thought the steak was amazingly delicious. I was pretty disappointed with the service though. Since they told me over the phone when I made reservations that they would do something special for my boyfriend's birthday, I was expecting something a little more, but all they did was say "happy birthday" once when we sat down. The steak here is good, but everything else along with the service was pretty mediocre. I would still probably come here again though.
(4)Tiger C.
This is the spot for Thursday night bankers. Been to this spot on a bi-weekly basis for happy hour. But this time, had a banking working lunch, and you cannot get a better setting and atmosphere. If you don't get business done here, get back to your excel models. This lunch was epic, epic meaning ordering the 'hips don't lie' burger aka 'lose your hips' burger. Grilled cheese, onion rings, huge meaty stack of meat, bacon, and another grilled cheese sandwich. If you are a real banker, you better finish this one on your own. I recommend this to all people who want to close deals, because if you can close the deal on this burger, you are the man (or woman). Lunch here is about as epic as you can get, but make sure to close the deal during lunch, because you might not be functional after you are done with the hips don't lie burger.
(5)Alisa c.
We've been here 3 or 4 times now and have never had anything close to a bad experience. easily one of the best dining experiences in the Greater Seattle area. The service is phenomenal. The food is great too.
(5)Denise W.
Came here for happy hour one evening with a friend and it was packed in the bar area. There was seating by the wall but you're right behind folks that have tables about 2 feet lower than me. Sort of awkward trying to squeeze behind other folks without annoying them and invading their personal space. Almost made me feel like I was in a Chinese restaurant. We both ordered the bacon cheeseburger that is normally $15 but for happy hour it was $10. The burger came with lettuce, purple onions, 3 slices of tomatoes, and two slices of bacon, I believe. There was also a bowl of french fries to go with the burger. We both ordered it medium and it came out medium. I was happy to see a little pink in my burger as that does not always happen. The patty looked like it was about 1/3 pound. Absolutely juicy and delicious. I do have to mention that our server was excellent and came back and refilled our water as soon as it was gone or close to it. Great burger and value during happy hour. Next time I will come back and try the dinner.
(4)Joseph L.
Good...almost great...but not the greatest. Good food excellent service and enjoyable.
(4)Bruce H.
We had a small, private 16th birthday celebration for a young man at this place. I'm a bit of a steakhouse snob, and I have to tell you, this is as good as it gets. I've done the Palm, Vic & Anthony's, Mortons, Manny's, etc. This is every bit as good, with amazing service and some unusual offerings. We started by doing a piece of Kobe as an appetizer to share even though they don't list it as an app - I asked the waiter if they would do this, and he was "anything for our guests." They brought it out & carved it table-side for us to share - those were perhaps the 3 best bites of steak I've had in my life. The boys ordered Mexican Cokes (nice touch), and the adults had an amazing Glenrothes 91 - hard to find. We all had different, but equally inviting steaks, plus several sides. We did the lobster mash - it was spectacular. If you really are into your Beef - this is the place to go!
(5)Lisa T.
This review is for their happy hour only. And I was SUPER impressed. The bar area is small, but has quite a bit of seating. The service was really great too (very attentive and friendly). I HATE when you got to "upscale" restaurants for happy hour and are treated less than the full-dining customers. But this wasn't the case here. We consulted Yelp to help us determine what to order from the menu. Definitely order the burger. It was not only a great value for the portion, but absolutely delicious. Our burger was cooked perfectly and I loved the soft bun. It's so big it's hard to eat. Definitely try the tempura bacon. It's got such a yummy (bit greasy) bacon flavor - with an amazing maple dipping sauce. But let me warn you: I recommend eating one slice only. More than that - and you will feel it in the gut (but believe me, it's hard to stop at one slice!) We also tried the chicken liver mousse. Not something I'd normally try, but decided to go out on a whim. Not my thing - mainly b/c I guess I really just don't like liver flavor. But if you do like that - I bet you will like this dish. You get a TON of the mousse with three different toppings. Only problem, you don't get enough bread - I'd imagine you could ask for extra though. I definitely recommend John Howie for happy hour - even more so than El Gaucho's happy hour.
(5)Jeremy H.
Absolutely love this place. Best lunch atmosphere in Bellevue , great service, incredible food. Dinner is incredible, a little pricey but worth it. Happy hour is by far the best we have found in Bellevue, love it.
(5)Brad S.
This place is excellent. To be perfectly honest, I have only actually eaten in the dining room once. What I really enjoy about this restaurant is the happy hour. My wife and I are regulars. Everything is fantastic. The vodka martini and the burger are must haves. The friend gnocchi is another favorite. Don't miss out on this place. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, they have a piano player and the atmosphere is a lot of fun.
(5)Maple C.
I looooooved my experience at John Howie from beginning to end. Well, I'm sure paying for the bill wasn't my fiance's favorite part of the meal, but really, when is it ever fun to pay billsl? We had the New York Steak and also the Porterhouse. Both were cooked exceptionally well, and true to their description in terms of how the meat is prepared. It's also pretty cool that you get three different types of salt to try with your steak. =) To be honest though, I'd probably pass on getting sides (we had the twice baked potato and asparagus). There wasnt anything wrong with them, they just weren't amazing. Before we got our main dinner dishes, we got gazpacho with shrimp and creme fraiche on the house, and it was delcious!!! We also received chocolates with fruit at the end of the meal (yay for another freebie!). For dessert we had the ice cream sampler... it came in three edible cups that I think was pretty much like peanut britter, so watch out if you have fillings or something. =P Service was great, and no one was stuffy at all. The food came quickly (and as you can tell from above, it tasted great) so it was a pretty enjoyable dinner!
(5)Jim H.
Been there twice, once to sit in the main restaurant for our anniversary and again just recently for happy hour. It's good for both but way more affordable for happy hour. I had the HH burger and fries, which tasted great and the wife had the habanero butter shrimp. The plan was to eat half and then trade but getting some shrimp from her was like pulling teeth. Both tasted really good and would definitely order both again. Also got a taste of the tempura bacon and the Mac and cheese. I'd be happy with the shrimp and burger though. The Cabernet we were drinking was pretty good too, and the HH price wasn't bad either. I could see us hitting happy hour or happy hour after dark pretty frequently.
(4)Matt B.
I tried John Howie for the first time recently over lunch and was not impressed. The service and atmosphere were fine, but if you have "steak restaurant" in your name and can't make a decent steak to order, you don't get more than 2 stars in my book. I ordered steak medium rare and what I received was a bit more than medium; chewy and overcooked. I can spend half as much to buy a better cut of meat at Safeway and grill it myself to a perfect medium rare, so I probably won't bother going back to JH.
(2)Daren D.
It was nice meeting up with our group from karaoke here. We all perched at the very nice grand piano table! That was nice. The HH cheeseburger was stupid ridiculous. But I ate it, because that's how I do... sneaky bacon you! Nice vibe with subtle dim ambient lighting.
(4)Danielle H.
Went to John Howie with my fiance to celebrate his new job and it was, as usual, delicious. The wine list is exceptional and the staff are incredibly helpful in selecting a wine perfect for the occasion. We had so much delicious food, it is hard to pinpoint what was best, but hands down the Zabaton Wagyu beef cut with the roquefort sauce is my favorite thing there. The creamed spinach with over easy egg and bacon is also a runner up favorite. You really can't go wrong. Beautiful atmosphere and great food... I love going to John Howie!
(5)Jeff K.
"COLDBLOODED!" - Rick James 2nd time around was kinda sad. The bacon wasn't as great as before. The service was odd, not good, not fair, but not poor. It just felt cold. Our server was just cold. We felt more welcome to the restaurant by the waterboy. The food was fine, but the bacon especially was sad. It was just burnt to a crisp, not tender and chewy. We had the top sirloin, along with the bacon, succotash.
(2)Karen E.
I am a big John Howie fan. I love Seastar and until today have never had a bad meal at the Steak House. I ordered the soup & sandwich combo, tomato soup and a pastrami sandwich; my friend ordered the Lamb Burger. Sadly there were a couple of large parties ahead of our order which apparently stretched the kitchen beyond its capacity and service was very slow. My sandwich, when it finally arrived, was so greasy the bread was soggy and I was left to wonder whether to pick it up (preferred)or use a knife & fork. My friend commented that his lamb burger had so many elements to it that the lamb flavor was lost. We'll come back, but not until the memory of this experience fades.
(1)Lily L.
Went there for dinner for the 2nd time. This time I ordered the 42 day aged ribeye and the lobster mash potatoes as the side. I was very surprised that the ribeye was not very tender considering it is aged and I ordered it medium-rare. It was cooked to the right temp but just lacked tenderness. I added the sea salts they provided at the table and that gave it a good flavor but the tenderness was disappointing. I eat lots of ribeye and normally they melt in my mouth so don't know what happened this time. The lobster mashed potatoes were delicious with nice chunks of lobster and a butter-like sauce. I liked it more than my steak. The service is always excellent there (which is expected for those prices). Personally, I think the meat is better at Ruth's Chris but the service and atmosphere at John Howie's is much better. Worth trying to see if you like the flavor of their beef.
(3)Melissa C.
I've been to John Howie once before with my husband for our anniversary. We used a Groupon and the food was good, but the experience didn't incite me to write a review - either positive or negative. But I knew I wanted to give it another chance because the meal was so delicious. Soo.... My husband and I came to John Howie to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary. We typically reserve fancy restaurant outings, like John Howie, to special occasions and this experience lived up to our expectations. When making the reservation on OpenTable, I let them know we were celebrating an anniversary. Upon walking in the door and speaking with the hostess, we were greeted warmly and seated immediately. The hostess wished us a happy anniversary right off the bat. Our waiter arrived to greet us and also wished us a happy anniversary. Below are the items we ordered and specific thoughts for each: - 4 oz pours of tempranillo (me) and malbec (husband): Both were unique, but my favorite was definitely the tempranillo, which paired well with the steak and richness of the meal. - Bread basket: Free for all diners; I loved the little puff-pastry like rolls and the pretzel stick. - Amuse bouche: It was a salmon chowder. I don't like seafood, so I didn't love it. But I tried it and it wasn't bad. That's saying a lot! Now the good stuff... - 8 oz filet mignon wagyu beef: I ordered medium well and it was perfectly pink/reddish, tender and melted in my mouth. The wagyu is marbled and adds to the flavor. It was grilled over mesquite coals and you could taste the smokiness. The meat also had a nice crunch and char on the outside from the cooking. - 10 oz sirloin wagyu beef: My husband ordered this. It seemed small for 10 oz but it was flavorful, also had the nice crunch and char. I was only allowed one bite so my observations are limited. He said he would order it again, though. - Beecher's mac and cheese: Gooey, cheesy, with a browned crunchy topping to add texture. There was so much in a serving that we had more than enough to take home and enjoy the next day (still just as delicious). - Mashed potatoes with chives: These were meh. They were under-seasoned and a little dry. We got a half order which was more than enough for two people (enough to take home the next day, though I wasn't looking forward to eating them again). - Flourless chocolate volcano cake: This was my husband's dessert of choice. The cake was hard and dry, though not in a bad way. It provided a nice crunchy crust to balance the warm caramel inside. It was semi-sweet, which also helped balanced the sweetness of the caramel. This was big enough to share. - Vanilla bean creme brulee: Also big enough to share, this was just a decadent dessert. The creamy custard had just the right vanilla flavor and was not too sweet. The crunchy sugar topping was not too thin - it's my favorite part - so I appreciated the thicker layer of carmelized sugar. The steaks are served with a trio of tasting salts: Portugese fleur de sel on top, pink sea salt in the middle, and black Hawaiian volcano salt on the bottom. I tested and savored each one but my favorite was the black volcano salt. The saltiness just brings out the flavor of the beef and the volcano salt adds a smoky quality. One of our desserts was comped for our anniversary and was also served with a lit candle so we could make a wish together for our next year of marriage. It was very thoughtful. You are also given a little box at the end of the meal with a chocolate to enjoy later. Ours were salted caramel dark chocolates with a crusty piece of bread in the middle - it was delicious. The staff was attentive and welcoming. We were seated near a giant window with a view of the Cascades. Parking in the Bravern is easy and free - John Howie validates.If you have any common sense at all, parking is a cinch. Depending on where you park and which elevator you take up, it might just be a slight walk to the restaurant, past all the shops. But I find the walk builds anticipation for the meal and helps settle food afterward. The only complaint I have would be for the morons who brought an infant to the restaurant that screamed. Who does that? If you can afford John Howie, you can afford a babysitter for a couple of hours. Leave the children elsewhere. Overall, it was a delicious meal and a memorable experience. We appreciated the generosity, warmth and friendliness of the staff and will definitely return... though only on an annual basis, given the prices.
(5)Chris D.
Best hamburger on the Eastside, period. Flavorful, bun not too dense but keeps juices contained. The right mix of secret sauce, bacon and cheese. My mouth is watering as I write this. Great value during happy hour, great portion too. Fries are as i like, perfectly seasoned and hand cut. Never had a bad meal here, again, happy hour is the way to go.
(4)Soo H.
Can you ever really go wrong with a steak house like John Howie? I don't think so. And quite frankly, I think the steaks at El Gaucho & Metropolitan Grill are great too. Can't say I love all the steaks but that's more a personal preference rather than a quality issue...but the porterhouse if always a hit. Great food all around, salads, sides, desserts etc...blah blah blah. One way to die early...scoop mac and cheese using the tempura fried bacon as a spoon - a recommendation we received from one of the servers. Prices are high...no shocker there - typically spend $125 - $150pp. Service - really good, but then that's what you're paying for, right? Pros: 1) Location, I live on the East Side so Bellevue is a heck of a lot closer than downtown...and Washington drivers make me nuts. 2) Free Parking with validation...up to 6 hours. 3) Excellent Happy Hour - tho' I never make it b/c I never leave the office early enough and never make the late night b/c I refuse to hang out in Bellevue longer than I have to. Cons: 1) Excellent Happy Hour - you can't ever get in...tiniest bar ever monopolized by Microsoft. Bring your appetite and bring your wallet.
(4)Linda H.
Go to this place for Happy Hour. You will not be disappointed. Seating sucks if you are coming with a large group since it is only in the small bar area in the front. The piano that they have takes up a lot of room, but they utilized the piano top to seat people there as well. Good for small 1-4 groups, larger than that and your party will need to scatter. The food was all I thought it would be. Very satisfying. Food comma approved! Prime Tenderloin Bites - Moist Moist Moist...Tender Tender Tender! Fried Calamari and Baby Artichokes - Not chewing and all the tenderness you'd want in Squid. Crispy French Fried Potatoes - It is what the name says it is Crispy. If you order the Gnocchi's try dipping it in the truffle seet onion creme they provide. All I can say is drooling goodness! Kurobuta Pork Belly Sliders - Juicy and flavorful! Perfect finger food! Reggiano Parmigiano Potato Chips - Great freshly made chips goes perfectly with the cheese. Maybe I should start eating all my chips this way. Crispy Fried Ricotta Gnocchi - truffle oil, truffle sweet onion crème was the perfect combination to this potato of goodness in your mouth. USDA Prime Beef Bacon Cheeseburger - All I can say is this was soooo huge! Enough to share with two people if you are ordering other things besides this. It was a bit salty but it was cooked to perfection and was very filling with the half pound ground prime sirloin in your tummy.
(4)Katalina M.
I was appreciative of my experience but overall was not impressed. I expected a bit more for what I got at such a high cost. Was the food good...of course, but I expected better. Service was great. I give 3.5 stars.
(4)Calvin V.
My wife and I were really looking forward to trying this place and have heard great things. We had a wonderful experience. Our waiter, Evan was extremely knowledgable and gave excellent suggestions. We had the ribeye med well and it came out delicious! My wife's beet salad was also very good and I stole some Yummy pastacio nuts and cheese from her plate. We ordered tempura bacon for appetizer, and it was crispy and flavorful as well. (Although I'm sure my arteries are planning a revolt from this) If I had to choose a last meal, it would come from this place. I would easily choose this place over el gaucho and the met.
(5)Katy B.
I probably shouldn't review this yet as I haven't exactly done the restaurant justice..but when I heard they were introducing late night happy hour I had to try. Who doesn't love a cheap date ;) In short, a fancy menu that isn't intimidating. They have tempura fried BACON for goodness sake. My boyfriend had the bacon cheeseburger. For only $8 it comes with homemade fries and was really good. Fresh bun and perfect toppings. I had the spicy habanero butter shrimp and they were SPICY but good!! They were served with sliced ciabatta and I was FULL--- errr, not full enough to resist creme brulee. YES!! SO GOOD!! The custard and caramelized topping were perfect. I will be back for dinner. And probably happy hour too. The lounge was maybe half-full on a Friday night at 10 pm, but with live piano that was slightly awkward slash amusing.
(4)david s.
Let me start that I don't eat red meat so I am an expert on going to great steakhouses and eating seafood or chicken. I had some kind of chicken dish. It was ok. Was with 6 people total and bill was $1,400 which was a little high. Food was good but tasted exactly like every other high end steakhouse. Location is everything so I would just go to another high end place closer so basically would not travel to get there if I was passing another nice place.
(4)Ben F.
Went here with some friends for happy hour. They have good specials, lots of variety! Everything we had was good. One friend got the happy hour cheeseburger and it looked really good. I will try to get back to this place soon!
(4)Sharon C.
I had an amazing experience here last night for a Valentines dinner! We skipped the wine because I had work early the next day. So we began with crab cakes, which were decadent. They were hot and flaky with a sweet buttery crisp. I'm a major fan of crab cakes and this is now one of my favorites. My date and I shared the 36 oz rib eye. We had had it medium rare and it was deliciously tender with a good amount of pink. The ambiance to this place is very cool and serene with a hint of romance. The service was fantastic. I definitely had a great Valentines Day and am glad to have shared it here @ John Howie Steak :)
(5)James L.
Came here for my birthday dinner. (No I will not say which birthday!) Steak dinner was (as expected) great! The real surprise was the Lobster mashed potatoes...it had identifiably large chunks of lobster in it. Lots of them, not just a couple pieces sprinkled on the top! These were primarily comprised of claw meat. Delicious surprise!! I'd go back just for that!! (& I'm Low Carb!!) Great ambience. Great service. A very Nice Complete experience.
(4)Mehmet A.
John! the bartender is the best i have met in my life. He is just pure awesome dude who is trying to make sure you leave the place happy and come back again. Food is good and you can find this kind of food with this price in some places but John is truly unique. Burger is awesome and fries! With the j.h. Tap beer, perfect mix
(5)Christine Y.
I came here on Sunday when they have happy hour pretty much all day (3-10pm). It's so exciting when restaurants do this. Plus one. Walk in and I'm greeted by the friendly piano player--he didn't actually say hi, but he smiled. And whoa, his piano is also a table with high chairs on his opposite end. Plus one live music. Service was so polite and courteous here, but not in a stuffy way. In a way where I feel like I'm special and important, even in the most casual of casual summer attires. Plus one. There's plenty to choose from. We got the tenderloin bites (soo tender, nice touch on mandarin oranges), sliders (a little hard to bite into but man the peppercorn sauce is good), and a side of sauteed spinach (yum, more please!), because, the HH menu doesn't have any vegetables. Please consider adding sauteed vegetables on there, or salads. I understand you're a steakhouse but the HH menu can always be a little more well-rounded, yea? You'll get two stars once there are veggies. All in all, I had a good time here. They treat you like royalty and feed you well. 4 solid stars.
(4)Matt N.
I ended up coming back here with a friend to celebrate good work done. I had always come to the happy hour portion of the restaurant, but not the dine in section. John Howie has a nice atmosphere to it, and is dimly lit to create a classy atmosphere. I ended up getting American Waygu Rib eye, which was really delicious. Instead of using any steak sauce, the steak was served with 3 different types of sea salt. If you have high blood pressure, i would recommend going light on the salt because it's so flavorful. Our service was great as well. The service took care of about 8 people and did a great job of putting his best foot forward. I look forward to being able to come back again and trying other food from this restaurant.
(5)Rebecca D.
My rating scale is as follows: I dish our stars for 1. Atmosphere 2. Service 3. Food and Drinks 4. Overall experience 5. Extra - WOW!- factor So I went to John Howie's for a special moment. The guy I was dating, (now my boyfriend) wanted to treat me to something nice. I had heard a lot of good things so I went in with high expectations. Usually that is a bad thing because I am always let down. But this did not happen! We were given a great table and I think they are very smart with the way they seat people. We were in a nice secluded section with a few other couples while I realized that larger parties who tended to be louder and more interactive were seated at the other side. Smart move! The atmosphere and customer service was great from the moment we stepped into the restaurant till the second we left. Our parking was validated and coats checked. In regards to the service there was the perfect balance between being attentive but giving enough of space/ time alone. Now for the food. One word- scrumptious. We started off with the crab cake. It was really good. Not the best I have had but still really delicious. After hearing all the hype about the bacon tempura - I had to order it. But I just couldn't finish it...Now don't get me wrong, it tasted amazing but there were 5 pieces and to be honest, it was much too heavy to finish. For our main course, my boyfriend ordered the 42 Day Custom Aged USDA Prime Beef - Rib Eye Steak cooked rare. I was a bit surprised when the steak arrived - there were no sides. To me, the plate looked kind of bare with just the meat sitting on it. Nevertheless, he said it was the best steak he has had. I ordered the Roasted Jidori Chicken. I know! Chicken at a steakhouse - blasphemy! It was really good though. I was having so much fun that night, I hadn't read the menu clearly and didn't notice that it had blue cheese in it. So I am not a huge fan of blue cheese that's why I didn't like it as much as I think I would have if I had requested to not include it. For dessert, we ordered the cheesecake. SIGH. It was the best damn cheesecake I have ever had! I still dream about it. If you ever go to John Howie's... do yourself a favor and order the cheesecake. Overall I had an amazing experience. The food to me could have been better but the service was wonderful. Really recommend going there if you are celebrating a special occasion.
(4)Sonia C.
My bf and I had a great time celebrating our anniversary here. Service was great, space was nice, and the steaks were super! I would rank John Howie below Morton's but at the same level as Met Grill among Seattle steakhouses. We started by splitting an order of the French onion soup. It was pretty good with lots of gooey savory cheese, but there didn't seem to be much broth (this could be because we split it though). I appreciated that they split the soup in the kitchen and brought it out to us in separate bowls. It saved us the hassle of reaching over the extra-long table to drink the soup. I ordered the American Kobe ribeye steak (16 oz) and my boyfriend had his customary largest-Porterhouse-on-the-menu (in this case, 40 oz!). My steak was cooked perfectly. It was super thick, well-marbled, and amazingly tender. I enjoyed every bite and wished there was more. My boyfriend enjoyed his Porterhouse, but he found that certain parts of his steak were almost well-done while others were perfectly medium rare. I understand that this is often the case with larger steaks, but Morton's didn't have a problem delivering a perfectly cooked giant Porterhouse when we went there a couple of months ago. I enjoyed the trio of salts that they brought to our table to flavor our steaks. Our steaks didn't actually need much seasoning, but it was fun to experiment with the special salts. I liked the volcanic salt, but I think that was mostly because the granules were large and jet black. We also had a side of the succotash which was mediocre. It certainly wasn't inedible, but it was basically just mixed vegetable medley devoid of any interesting flavors. The best succotash that I've had so far in Seattle is still at RoRo's BBQ. To be fair, I've never had great sides at any steakhouse, and I'm ok with that as long as the meat is good! My boyfriend was stuffed after finishing his bruiser of a steak, so he let me choose the dessert with the understanding that I would eat 95% of it. I ordered the salted caramel and chocolate ganache tart. I loved it because it was basically a giant pool of caramel. Sure, there was also a chocolate layer on top and a shortbread container, but I only had eyes for the caramel. The salted vanilla & caramel ice cream that went along with it was also good as well. My boyfriend was not as much a fan of the intense dessert, so I really did end up eating almost all of it. I washed it down with a pot of really good coffee too. Service was great. We had a nice waitress who refilled my Coke multiple times without my having to ask. I'll definitely be up for a returning visit!
(5)Theresa C.
One of the best happy hours in Bellevue....especially for food items ranging from $5-13. We went on a Wednesday evening and there were plenty of open tables in the bar. My favorites on the happy hour menu were the Beecher's Mac and Cheese, cheesy creamy goodness =) The mac and cheese paired with the tempura fried kurobata bacon...was to die for....this may be literal...since I was worried I might have a heart attack after the 3rd piece. The bacon comes with a maple sambal dipping sauce that is very addicting. The prime tenderloin bites with a teriyaki style sauce were extremely flavorful as well. The only two items I thought were just average, the calamari and the bacon cheeseburger. The burger is ginormous and comes with fries, so definitely worth the value of $9.
(5)Darth V.
So....I recently had a birthday. I turned 31,742 (hey, the opening credits SAID the things that followed happened long ago). This is an age that officially removes me from the highly sought-after 26,889-31,741 marketing demographic. The Lady Vader, recognizing my immense discontent at this realization (and having witnessed firsthand what happens when I get really upset), decided to stem the trend of wallowing in a cesspool of my own self-pity by setting up reservations at JHS. Admittedly, this wasn't the first time we've ever dined here. The Howie battalion of restaurants has long been a favourite of the Empire, and Seastar and JHS are some of the most fantastic dining options you'll find in the area. Hell, I think Yelp has anointed me the 'Duke' of Seastar Bellevue. Anyhow, whilst this wasn't a first encounter, it was a best encounter. Typically @ JHS, we start with the tempura fried bacon. I mean come on, it's bacon...in tempura batter...served with a sauce that I swear to Palpatine is probably laced with black tar heroin, it's so addictive. Wanting to maintain my morose state of mind in spite of the gorgeous environment, obvious attention to detail, and upscale surroundings, we bypassed it for a habanero shrimp dish. It was delicious, no question, but afterwards it was agreed that we should have stuck with the bacon because...well, I mean, see above... Out comes a Grey Goose gimlet, perfectly prepared as always. Yet still, I was dour. Things were starting to get tense, as pull of my age-induced pain started to well into suffering, and you know where suffering leads. The Earth was beginning to shake under my feet, the skies began to darken as I retreated to my new Android app that lets me control the Deathstar from my phone, and I started to put it into position to detonate the entire ball of mud, doves started to fly away.... And then our entrees arrived. Hers a single filet, mine 4 pieces of filet, 3 of them Wagyu from different countries (America, Australia, and Japan), staring back up at me from their plate, glistening in the faint glow of the overhead lights. And suddenly, birthdays didn't seem so bad. The ground firmed up, I re-positioned the Deathstar in front of the Hubble telescope and broadcasted an image that made it look like the aliens from 'The Simpsons' were in front of it, the doves...OK, the doves were still scared away, but you can't have it all. This dish....this is pure genius. A Wagyu flight to go with your wine flight. Let me repeat that.....THIS PLACE OFFERS A WAGYU FILET FLIGHT. Have Erik Liedholm, their incredible sommelier, take you on a wondrous journey of a wine flight, and then you can pair it with an awesome steak flight? ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME? WHY HAS NOBODY THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE JOHN?! I feel like the last 31,000 years (give or take) of my life had all been for nothing until that point. I was so caught up in this that I didn't even strike down the blonde who tried to take a selfie with me in the background (that's a lie; I totally did....they just cleaned up the mess really quickly). I mean, can you GET any better than this setup? Actually, yeah, you can pair it with the tempura bacon! I'm not entirely certain the fabric of space and time will even be able to handle that, though. The mere mention of it as I was eating caused that blue police callbox that randomly shows up throughout the galaxy and always seems to have people with British accents in it to appear and have some Timelord come out to warn me to never attempt it. Then the dessert menu comes out, and reveals that John has removed the one advantage The Met has had to JHS all these years - cherries jubilee on the menu. I was utterly stuffed, but I complain so much when it's not on menu, I basically had to order it just to show support for it. I'd say it was utterly fabulous as well, but when you're talking about cherries, sugar, cognac, and ice cream...I mean, that's kind of cheating. It's really low-hanging fruit for a win. To be certain, this is not a cheap meal to undertake. The Wagyu flight alone was $230. Add in another regular-ish entree, 2 sides, an appetizer, some wine, some vodka and a dessert, and the $60 Groupon you can get really only helps cover a chunk of the gratuity. And, were I not so acutely aware of John's immense philanthropic efforts throughout the area and how generously and willingly he gives back to the local community, I might even dock a star for it. Taking that into consideration, however? Worth. Every. Penny. Is JHS home to a better steak than The Met? That's a heated debate that not even masters of The Force can resolve. I think, it'd be an interchangeable 1/1a scenario on that list. And a lot of dead Gungans. Oh, many Gungans would die. But make no mistake about it, it's right there, and with a superior Bellevue location. BTW, if the steaks are any indication, USA is not #1. Just sayin' 5 Deathstars
(5)Dale F.
Very expensive, but not an experience that wowed us. We have returned a few times, however, because my wife is a vegetarian and their side dishes are very good. It's on a low floor of a retail/office complex so the atmosphere is not spectacular. The service is fine, but not exceptional. The meat is good but I didn't see much difference between the steaks aged different times (they charge extra for longer aging). Maybe my palette isn't that good, but I have tasted steaks at Peter Luger in NY, Bookbinders in Phila, several places in Paris, Tokyo and LA, and even other places in exotic Bellevue. The John Howie steak is good, but I didn't feel compelled to return here the next time I wanted a fancy steak -- however, as stated, the sides are outstanding. Oh, their desserts are also great, so leave room.
(4)Lisa E.
Fantastic, amazing, wonderful, delicious, YowZaaah! Words cannot describe how much I enjoyed my steak here, but I am going to try! To put things into perspective, if I was on death row and had one last meal to choose, the main entree would be a new york strip steak...now it is a new york strip steak from John Howie's in Bellvue. We could not decide between the Wagyu beef or the Nebraska USDA Prime custom aged beef, so our server suggested we order one of each and split and compare, which we did....awesome! You really can't go wrong; I preferred the Nebraska USDA prime aged, but both were outstanding. The tempura bacon is something else! Whoever came up with breading and frying already fried bacon is officially insane and is obviously not a cardiologist, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit it was DELICIOUS! The sauce that came with it complimented it very well! I had the wild mushroom side dish and it was outstanding along with my steak. Many of the other sides looked good as well... I would like to say I will try them in the future, but I know I will probably never try another side because that compilation of fungus was simply that yummy! SERVICE: Chris, our server, along with all of his assisting staff were impeccable!!!! He knew everything there is to know about the menu and the wine list. His recommendations were outstanding and you can tell he has a genuine interest in food and knows his stuff. I am cursed with an unfortunate allergy to red wine :( He recommended a great Chardonnay to accompany my steak (yes, I know it is practically sacrilegious to pair a white wine with a New York strip, but I have no choice). Hands down, this is one of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time. The quantity and quality of food along with the impressive service make this experience more than worth the splurge!
(5)Melissa C.
Best mac n cheese ever!!! Yes, the steak was pretty amazing too; and the lamb rack was cooked perfectly each time we ordered it and the veggies that come with the lamb rack are so delicious... did I say best mac n cheese ever???
(4)M G.
Love this restaurant. If you like steak this is a place you need to go. Everything on their menu is really good. The table side Caesar salad preparation is great. The service is great. The scotch samplers are incredible. The wine selection is to die for. Happy hour in the bar is also just a fun thing to do. Valet parking is very close to the front door. I dont think I could say enough good things about this place. Dinner for two with a few drinks will be $200+ But I think well worth it.
(5)Scott W.
This is one impressive place with even more impressive food. A first rate restaurant where everything is first rate. If your one of the execs who work at Microsoft upstairs and have a business account I'd eat here every day. Expensive? yes but value? yes. Paying $75 for a steak may not seem like a value but when your talking about comparing it to Ruth's were talking about the best; a true foodie experience. Go for lunch and get the hanger steak for $20, it's perfection too. Eat well for less during happy hour. I could talk on about the service, the bread baskets, the settings but it's all the same story. Who says money can't buy happiness? You can here.
(5)A Y.
Went to John Howie Steak house over the weekend. Nice place, just right off the freeway. The service was great, we had a rib steak for 2. It was cooked a perfect medium rare. The steak was good, but not great. The flavor good, but definitely had better. The tempera bacon was great. And side dishes were great. Overall a good place to go. Will go back again. But they haven't displaced my favorite steak house quite yet.
(3)Krishna V.
JHS continues to bring it. In here at least once a week with my coworkers for lunch. One time the Bravern parking lot attendant even commented "you guys must love that place" after seeing the JHS validation from us over and over. Haven't found a bad item on the menu yet - a few things like the ravioli are "less good" in the sense that other things are strictly preferred. Went in today, and the bartender immediately asked if I wanted "the usual" - I almost always have a Roy Rogers to drink. One time they checked my coat. Coat checks are one of things I love the most - JHS, be more consistent with the coat check! It's vaguely disappointing now when no one offers to take my coat.
(5)Ms B.
Just ate here for the first time. Amazing food and amazing service. Mason was awesome with his suggestions. We will definitely go back and recommend it to our friends. Glad we have left overs to take home.
(5)Kirk D.
I love this place. The steaks are really amazing. Yes, there are plenty of places you can get a fantastic steak in the greater Seattle area, but these steaks are out of this world. Been there five times in the last year, and each time the steaks were prepared perfectly. Only possible negative is that there is seating in an area that feels like a hallway - would definitely recommend you ask to be seated in the main dining area. Great place.
(5)J G.
My new favorite restaurant....... If your looking for a good steak you must try John Howie.
(5)Tamara J.
We went here for a nice night out and it was not worth the money. El Gaucho is much better. As far as the steaks go, it rates about equal to the Outback.
(2)Aubree H.
Just went to John Howie last night for the first time (on a Groupon) and was extremely impressed! The food was amazing, service was spot-on, and they even sent us home with little chocolate truffles for dessert (we were trying to make a movie back in Redmond so did not have time to stay for dessert). Our server was very attentive, and once we explained that we were a little pressed for time at the end of the meal, he made a point to get everything boxed up and our check to us asap. We had the table-side caesar salad, and our server who made it mentioned that they have a really great happy hour so I am looking forward to trying that next. Definitely excited to go back!
(5)Kjell S.
I was under the impression the world was going to end on Saturday (whoops) so that's why I thought: what the hell let's splurge at John Howie Steak. Excellent food at very unreasonable prices! But really, that is how fancy restaurants go, no? Yes. Excellent, excellent, exquisite fare. Started with the copper river salmon appetizer and moved on to the ribeye. They say it might all end with a natural disaster anyways, so geez it was a good night to finish everything off with chocolate volcano cake. The steak and fish are both phenomenal and I highly recommend this restaurant. If you want to know more you must go there.
(5)Kelvin B.
I went there for dinner on a Saturday night so it was a bit busy. I was dining alone but I was given a spacious booth with lots of space. The downside is that my table was next to the walkway with a bit of foot traffic but I didn't mind. I had a very pleasant waiter. The guy was very nice and had a lot of good recommendations. For starters, I had their crab cake and it was really good. My main course was cream spinach and wagyu steak. The cream spinach was fantastic but the steak was heavenly. I had mine prepared medium rare and it just melted in my mouth. If it were not for the high tab even for a single person, I would eat here more often. I will be back.
(4)Lisa E. L.
tempura bacon?!? that's like a double negative, might turn into a positive for some people though. Not me. Everything else I've tried was good though.
(4)J S.
Been here a few times, bottom line is for the price El Gaucho beats this place hands down in all categories
(3)Dennis L.
Really I expected alot more from this place...I've been to alot of good steakhouses and this would have to be one of the worst. We ordered the wagyu, lobster, escargot, and banana fosters (Basically the best that the restaurant had to offer). The wagyu meat was cold, bland and nothing special. I would expect more from a great cut then what was served. The lobster cold, rubbery and not so appetizing. escargot was ok not very savory and dry. The banana foster was pretty good though. Other then that the experience was not that great. I really would rather spend my money at the met. $330 wasted.
(1)Mike S.
The food & service was great, and the atmosphere was all you could ask for. My only quibbles are that the food was a bit more expensive and not quite as good as my #1 steakhouse: El Gaucho. Somehow our meal at Howie managed to cost more than when we ate at Gaucho the week prior. While I'd certainly recommend Howie to a friend, I still hold Gaucho as a better overall taste & value - but at this level it really is splitting hairs. I would not be upset about eating at either venue!
(4)Katie V.
Very good food! If you are a fan of steak it is a place that you have to try. I really enjoyed the option of ordering the combination plate of different filet mignons so that you can compare the difference between the meats. And the cauliflower side dish is excellent!! I have been there 5 times, and sometimes the service leaves a lot to be desired. A rude waiter can put a damper on an expensive dinner. But, don't let that stop you from trying it because the food really is excellent. And the bar is a great place to meet a friend for a drink. Nice atmosphere. Also, I hate the parking garage at the Bravern. It is poorly designed.
(4)Peter H.
Hands Down best steakhouse/best dining experience I've ever had. We dined on top of the piano and it was an experience to say the least. Went with the bone-in New York and it was the most tender cut of beef I've ever had. You can't go wrong with the tempura bacon or the lobster mash, but the meat is where this place shines. Some might be turned off by the casually dressed diners, but it doesn't take away from the quality of the food. If you're in the area, definitely give it a try.
(5)Quyen Q.
Until today, I used to say that Daniel's was the best Steak in the area. But the steaks at John Howie are pretty darn good. My one complaint: Like other reviewers have written, we were also seated in the "hallway" to the dining room. So I was disappointed that I never actually got to see the dining room itself (which looked like it might have a nice view). For such a nice establishment, it seems like poor taste to have guests dining in what looks like a hallway, especially with the high prices they are paying for dinner. Our service was good. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the ingredients and their origins. They have nice little touches like a selection of 3 very different sea salts (even volcanic salt!). Appetizers - 4 stars - we had Crab Cakes and Lobster/Asparagus Tempura Salad - 3.5 stars - the Wild Greens and Arugula Salad was huge and very fresh Sides were OK - 3 stars - Five Cheese Twice Baked Stuffed Potato, Sautéed Wild Mushrooms, Asparagus Spears Steak - 5 stars - I had 2 petite fillets of Aged USDA Prime Beef and American Wagyu Kobe Beef (4 oz each) for $49. This was a great option since you get to taste the difference between 2 really high quality steaks. They were both the best beef I've had in the Seattle area (yes, better than El Gaucho and the Met). Everyone's steak was cooked perfectly to order and had a nice seasoned crust at the top. My fillets (even though they are a less fatty cut) were extremely soft and tender.. melts in your mouth. It would be a shame to put any additional sauce on beef this nice. This is a fine dining experience so expect to shell-out some cash. The appetizers/sides are pretty good but the steak is definitely worth it. I hope to go back for their steak again... and hopefully sit in the dining room next time.
(4)Joeboy A.
WOW...can you say above and beyond expectations.... i knew what i was getting myself into..plus my cousin wanted a GREAT steak dinner and i told him to try this place... - service: above and beyond, not annoying where they ask you hows everything all the time, but they know when to time it perfectly to ask "how is everything", like they knew when i was done chewing my food... -food: OH-EEM-GEE...foreals super delish!!! apptetizers:Oysters rockefeller...on point..Dinner: Combo, american wagyu & mishima wagyu...talk about melt in your mouth....dessert: plain jane classic creme brulee, which was better than most... -atmosphere: classic,upscale...i obiously didnt dress for the occasion... all in all, i would come here again...when i sell my house, it is expensive, but you do get what you pay for and more...OR...if someone else is willing to take ya out....
(5)Amy A.
Went back for my 3rd time & it was still just as amazing as my 1st time!!! Consistency is important! YUM YUM!!!!
(5)N O.
Fantastic experience. Went last night for my birthday. It was my first time but hubby had been there with his work colleagues before. Our waiter -Eric was wonderful. I have never had such great service. Food was pricey but to be honest it was delicious. Well worth it. I had chicken and it was soooo juicy and tender, I don't eat red meat. Hubby had steak and lobster, he loved it. The John Howie red wine was very good as well. It was a fab experience. We will definitely go back. Thanks Eric for making it even more wonderful!!!
(5)Galang B.
I took my wonderful boyfriend here for his birthday. I had made reservations over a month ago and was really looking forward to taking my guy out. And what a dinner it was. I was really surprised by how cozy the restaurant was. The noise level was appropriate and everyone that worked there either greeted us warmly and/or had a smile on their face. We were seated at a booth and our server, Jason, came over and explained the menu to us. Not going to lie, the menu did provide a lot of options and I was a little bit overwhelmed. Jason says a line that relieved me: "Remember, it's only cow." Okay then. I chose a mixture of cow, 4 oz. of Prime Filet and 4 oz. of American Wagyu. My boyfriend was hungry and chose the 13 oz. Filet Mignon (which he later regretted not ordering the 8 oz. because he felt pregnant with amazing cow afterwards). We started off with the charcuterie plate which was delicious. We practically finished the whole platter. Yum Our dinner arrived shortly after with our sides, Beecher's Mac and Cheese and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Carb city, right? Both were delicious with our cow. What I really liked was the little bowls of different salts that brought out the great taste of the meat. Don't you even dare ask for A1. Cause it's rude. And unnecessary. I asked my boyfriend how his filet mignon was. "Melts like butter." SO GOOD. There was no way we could squeeze dessert but was presented with two cute little boxes with truffles tucked away, awaiting to be nommed on. *Celebrity status: We were seated two tables away from Melinda Gates and her daughter who looks a lot like her dad. Jason told us that apparently Bill was at the restaurant a few days ago and was seated where we were. No wonder it smelled like computer chips and brain power. P.S. There were delicious and warm gruyeres in our bread basket. Hello?! I love gruyeres!
(4)Long P.
Uh-mazing happy hour menu! Had the BACON CHEESEBURGER ($8) and TEMPURA BACON ($6), but wanted to get one of everything on the menu. ...gotta save something for next time!
(4)Lynn C.
Have only been for Happy Hour..but it was great. Had the Steak sliders, Mac n Cheese and Calamari..all of which were excellent and to the quality I would of expected of them. Service was prompt. Why it did not get 5 stars...although service was prompt, the waitress and waiters felt..cold, no personality. I like up beat people not so stiff and formal. Also, my first 8 oz wine pour was very small compared to the other 2 that I had..I was charged for 3 8 oz wine pours so I think the bartender unintentionally poured small when I was charged for a big and shame on the waitress for not noticing.
(4)David N.
Happy Hour Review If your intentions for happy hour is the food... You could maybe look for another spot, make sure you grab the dinner menu, order the burger, or stick with only drinks ($3 amber). You would expect more tastier food from a fancy place. Only reasonable protein dish was the burger. Besides that your options are a lot of deep fried and starch dishes. I admit the Devil Eggs were decent, but everything else was too salty and just not that good. The fried Gnocchi was turning my stomach that night. My sodium intake and buyers remorse was on high. Next time I was stick to the beer.
(2)Danielle F.
I really wanted to like dinner at John Howie unfortunatley it was just okay. I came in recently to use a groupon that I had purchased. I do go to nice steak houses on occassion and love El Gaucho and The Met so wanted to give John Howie a try too. Started with the tuna tartare. It was prepared table side and was good. There was no way to consume all the tartare with the 6 toast points that we were given, I was suprised there weren't more. I really think the winner for the whole evening was the bread basket, especially the one with the grueyer they were delicious. We also had a french onion soup ( that we let them know we were spliting so we wouldn't fill up before our steak). To our pleasant suprise they split the soup for us which was awesome! My friend and I decided to do the 36oz bone in rib eye and ordered it french onion style ( i've had a steak like this at El Gaucho before and really liked it). The steak was obviously good size it came with really nice roasted vegetables ( which would have been good to know since we ordered peas with bacon as well). Honestly the steak was underseasoned. We ordered it medium rare, I feel like the steak was cooked fine but overall it just wasn't that awesome. Maybe we just got a bad cut of rib eye. Maybe the just aren't all that great but when your dinner ends up being 80 bucks a person with out liquor you want it to be great. What's the salt others are talking about. We saw little dish things on other tables and thought they may be salt. Maybe that was what was missing from our steak but if everyone is supposed to get that it sure sucks that we didn't. Like I said at earlier. Everything was okay but nothing was great. The dinning room was nice, our server was fine but I really didn't leave feeling like it was worth the money we paid. I may be back but unfortunately there are other steak houses I would pick first.
(3)Treasure H.
Last couple visits to this restaurant was excellent, I love their steak, the hamburger was good, friendly services. And professional staffs alway available to explains the menu. Pricy, but has good menu for happy hr.
(4)Betsy W.
My husband and I have dined at John Howie's many times and it has never disappointed! We love the wedge salad...it is to die for as is every piece of bread in the bread basket with these little cheese rolls that are wonderful! I always have the filet Oscar style (with crab and béarnaise sauce on it) and my husband has had the prime rib, rack of lamb and the ribeye. For sides we have had the lobster mashed potatoes, the Brussels sprouts, the Beechers Mac and Cheese, the creamed spinach, sauted spinach, potato cakes (our favorite) and the fried potatoes (which are French fries). Desserts we have had the bread pudding, crème brulee and the chocolate ganache with the salted caramel ice cream. We like to sit in what they call "the runway" which basically is the passageway to the dining room because the people watching is great. All of our servers have been top notch! I've also been there for Happy Hour many times and it is very good value for what you get. Dinner is expensive but it is so worth it!.
(5)Michael B.
My meal consisted of: the Tableside Caesar Salad, the Kobe Top Sirloin French Onion Style (medium rare), the Roasted Vegetable Napoleon as a side, and the Ice Cream in Almond Florentine Cups for dessert. This was the first time I've ever had a tableside salad, which was gimmicky, but an interesting experience none-the-less and probably my favorite part of the meal. The steak was cooked to perfection! However, if I did it again, I wouldn't order a Kobe steak with French Onion style because it over-powered the steak...Kobe steaks are probably best served plain so you can actually taste the quality of the meat. The only part I didn't like was the dessert. I did not like the Almond Florentine Cups and would not recommend it. Overall though, I had a very good dinning experience and probably will be back if I ever find myself in Downtown Bellevue looking for a great steak.
(4)Adrian W.
I really really really love this place, it has the awesome taste meat in the NW. I always get the A5 please. nowhere you can find those in seattle area. also please try the fried bacon it is wonderful taste. iwill to try soon.
(4)Sheila L.
Took my fiance here for his birthday because I wanted it to be really special. :) So John Howie it is! I first made reservations about a week out and they asked what occasion it was for, I mentioned it was the birthday boy's day. So when we arrived and all through-out our dinner, they kept mentioning "Happy Birthday" to him and how he was celebrating it later. The service was excellent! We decided to go with the table-side spinach salad which the waitress came and did it right next to our table. Bacon, macrona almonds, vingerette, and pepper was tossed altogether in a pan for warming up and poured on top of a big bowl of baby spinach. Topped then off with a sunny-side up of a quail egg. Mmm... For entree, I chose the 16oz american waygu while my fiance chose the 8oz of australian waygu which then automatically gives him a choice of a "special" knife to cut the steak with. It was THAT intense. haha... We also ordered the sides of sauteed wild mushrooms and lobster mashed potatoes. Both of our waygus was 'OMG' delicious! I couldn't get over the buttery melt-in-your-mouth tenderness of the steak and also the chunks of lobster in the mashed potatoes that compliments along with it. My eyes were bigger than my stomach because I barely touched my steak since the spinach salad filled me up along with the lobster mashed potatoes. BUT it was great as leftovers the next day.. lucky me!!! In the end, we were notified that my fiance can choose any dessert they had on menu for a 'complimentary' birthday dessert. He ended up choosing the tempura lemon pound cake with three different kinds of topping sauces. Chocolate ganache, lemon mascarpone, and marionberry compote. All was really good...! They even brought it out with a candle for him to blow out. It was sweet! Overall, really really friendly service and LOVED the atmosphere of the restaurant. Pretty romantic with the dimmed lights but I was more for the delicious waygu steaks. ;) Next time I wanna try their tempura fried bacon!!!
(5)Chad C.
Happy hour is one of the best ive been to. Top of the line food and for what you get decent prices. Not to mention one of the best burgers in town!! Oh and $3.50 for a bud lite!
(5)Alice B.
For a steakhouse, they should have really excellent steak. But they didn't. My husband ordered the 42 day aged Nebraska steak, NY cut and it came to our table room temperature, as if it had been forgotten, sitting on their counter for too long. Now he's actually from Nebraska and steak is his thing, so he can tell what's good and what isn't. The taste of the steak was off, with a strange consistency that is difficult to describe. I do have to say that their staff went out of their way to make sure he ended up with something he was pleased with. This was one of the rare occasions he sent something back to the kitchen and they brought out a different cut that was very very good. I had the Bering crab legs which were excellent. Very fresh, well prepared with a tasty side of mushrooms and veggies. Now if we had just started out with the better steak, it would have been a 4 star review. I don't think we'll choose to go back for a dinner, especially since there are several better options in Seattle where we live. But my husband will continue to go back for lunches and happy hours with his clients.
(3)Es L.
HH here is awesome for food! I'd def recommend the sliders, Mac n cheese and the shrimp. For the boys... yes, the tempura bacon IS all that you expect it to be. a must!
(5)Dennis W.
I came here on a Tuesday night for a business dinner and this place is exquisite. Broad wine selection to choose from, delightful Oysters Rockefeller and calamari appetizers. Spinach salad with a poached egg prepared on a cart in front of you. American Wagyu 8oz. Filet Mignon with sides of wonderful shells and cheese, asparagus, succulent spinach, lobster mash potatoes, and meaty mushrooms. The Bananas Foster(which was prepared on a cart in front of our table) was absolutely breathtaking. Service was exceptional. When our waiter came around to ask if we had parking validation cards he remembered the order in which he picked up the cards. He also presented us his business card and a small box containing a chocolate truffle at the end of our 4 hour dinner. Wonderful elegant atmosphere and a incredible dining experience with perfectly prepared food from start to finish.
(5)John M.
Been here maybe a dozen or so times. The food is consistently great. If you come make sure you go for the Wagyu beef. It is way worth it. My favorite cut is the Mishima Ranch Cap steak which is the most tender part of the ribeye. Simply delicious. The appetizers are good. I generally favor the deep fried bacon, or the habanero shrimp. The wedge salad is also another stand out which I always have. The deserts are also wonderful. The chocolate lava cake is to die for as is the caramel tart they have. Drinks are strong and a 3-5 hour dinner can have you consuming a goodly amount of them. Have to say I always look forward to going to John Howie. Will be going back again here in a couple weeks. Yum!
(5)Regina L.
One of my good friends brought me to eat here for my belated birthday. Yes, I am extremely spoiled - don't hate the playa, hate the game. For appetizers, we ordered the special for the day, the salmon carpacio. The carpacio was really not something that I enjoyed very much, it was really salty and had a funky taste to it. I almost wished I just ordered a raw salmon sashimi. The rib eye steak on the other hand was great. John Howie never fails with his steak. The mashed potatoes were also phenomenal (I like their mashed potatoes better than Gaucho's, I'm not hating, just being real). My friend ordered a chocolate cake as a surprise, but they didn't charge since it was for my birthday - I was extremely touched of thir generosity, kindness, and service. I love you John Howie & staff. Other things I tried on other trips: Creamed Spinach: too creamy for my tatste, but if you like creamy stuff, this side is for you. Maine lobster mashed potatoes: I prefer the regular mashed potatoes Mac N Cheese: pretty good, consider that I don't really like cheese Top sirloin: so far my favorite. Love the smokey taste.
(5)Jason P.
When it comes to steak these guys know their stuff! John Howie serves up some of the best cuts of meat, premium USDA, Wagyu, and aged cuts, to name a few. AND they serve it with class at the table side. We came here using a Groupon. Their tempura bacon is UHmazing! Save some of their delicious bread rolls to balance off the rich crispy pork fat! Their USDA porter house for two is probably enough for 3, which includes grilled veges. The cut was so tender and juicy it melts in your mouth. There was no room for dessert and we even took home a box. Their service is excellent and the give you small complimentary chocolate to thank you for dining with them. A little spendy (even with a Groupon) but well worth it. Wonderful experience!
(5)Gail G.
The worst steak ever! $46 for a small prime rib that was like leather. The only thing "prime" was the price. $11 for a lousy mac and cheese side and $6 for steak sauce!!? Even the horseradish was bad, tasted like straw. Took the leftovers home and threw them out. Even the dog couldn't stomach it. Terrible does not start to describe this food. Stay away from here unless you just want to throw away your money. Never again.
(1)A P.
Favorite restaurant of all time!! My husband and I come here about once a year for our anniversary. We do end up dropping a few hundred bucks but it is worth it. Best steak I've ever had and the rest of the menu that we've tried is amazing as well. We are low key and love how you don't have to dress up to eat here or to get good service. I would absolutely recommend eating here at least once in your life! It's worth the $$$.
(5)Barry G.
Have had the opportunity to head back to John Howie twice in the last month and the service remains the best in Bellevue: the staff is professional but relaxed, the servers aren't afraid to make critical recommendations and the sommeliers have impressive knowledge of their wine list. I love the patio and ambiance of El Gaucho but John Howie gets me on service, menu creativity and scope.
(5)Lisa N.
HAPPY HOUR REVIEW Escargot: tender mushroom caps and LARGE, chewy pieces of escargot. Great flavour and amazing texture. I'd never had escargot before because the idea of eating something that I keep in my fish tank kind of freaks me out a little bit, but I'm always open to trying new things and was so glad that I did. I'd definitely be able to finish the entire plate on my own and then some, but luckily I shared so I could eat other things :) Deviled eggs: not TERRIBLY impressive since I know that I can make good (if not better) deviled eggs on my own which is saying a whole lot since I'm terrible at kitchen-related activities that don't include eating. There's a hint of horseradish and it's topped with truffled bacon which adds a nice texture to the creamy yolk, but I prefer the vinegary paprika -y flavour of typical deviled eggs. I'd probably pass on this in the future. BURGER: gigantic, tender, cooked to perfection with the works on top. Seriously. Bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onions. And amazing fries. Definitely well worth the $8 happy hour price and probably even double that. I couldn't finish mine because it was so big. I couldn't even get a proper bite in. I eventually just gave up on trying to look cute. Seriously if you don't have to work for your food it's obviously not made right ;) The house red and the amber ale are both good. I wanted to try the November drink special (wild turkey sour), but I forgot to order it. I guess I'll have to come back! :) I recommend coming here earlier during HH because the bar fills up pretty quickly. Also, if you're looking to try a bunch of stuff then by all means you should invite a group of people and each order something different. I think it's entirely worth it to do so, even if you find something you REALLY love and want to finish for yourself. The flavours here are awesome and each thing is worth a taste!
(4)Robert B.
John Howie is one of the best places you can eat at in the Seattle area. It is expensive for dinner, but totally worth it. If you want a more affordable option, their lunch specials are amazing/ under 15 dollars; one of/if not the best lunch deals in the Seattle area. The lobster/seafood chowder is amazing and their cobb salad is one of the best I've ever had.
(4)Chris B.
This is simply the best steak dinner we've had since we've lived in the Puget Sound area. Adventurous flavors that go beyond the boring typical steakhouse fare. The selection of high quality gourmet steaks was out of this world. The staff was very knowledgeable and explained in great detail the differences between each cut of meat and where it was raised and what it was fed. We ordered filet mignon and rib eye and both of them just melted in our mouth. They didn't need any steak sauce. We loved the subtle mesquite grill flavor. The wilted spinach salad was prepared table side. Great wine tips and pairing info from the table side guy. Bravo! The wild mushroms sides were incredible! What a delight. Sure this place is pricey but the quality of the food, the impeccable service is well worth it. My only gripe is that it's a bit hard to get to from the underground parking lot but next time we'll park closer.
(5)Sarah S.
I think I must have gone here 8 times for happy hour. Well, I finally saved up enough money to eat here for dinner. While it was pricey, it was the best $230 I've ever spent. We had: -Assorted House-made breads and crackers- Delicious and free! -Oysters Rockefeller - Good, but the Pernod was a bit strong for me -Wedge Salad - Not your average wedge. Plentiful kurobuta bacon chunks. I plan on ordering this EVERY time I come in -Amuse-Bouche - Yummy little shot of soup and free! -Trio of Filet- A5, Wagyu and prime sampler. We split this and it was more then enough food for two. The Australian A5 is literally breathtaking. -English Peas with Beech Mushrooms - Decent, but not as great as everything else -Potato Gnocchi Gratin - Really good. 8/10 -Salted Caramel Tart- 10/10 This is what dreams are made of. -Bourbon Bread Pudding - Probably my least favorite of what we ate. I think it was the whole hazelnuts. I think it just overwhelmed the dessert. -Earl Grey Truffles - They boxed these up to-go for us, and we ate them later in our hotel room. Very creamy and decadent. I could definitely polish off a box of these without help.
(5)DarShanna S.
We thought we'd try John Howie out last night instead of the old stand by - El Gaucho. All I can say is DELICIOUS! Our server (Chris) was amazing. We started off with a nice Cab from their wonderful wine list. Then came the amuse bouche; sirloin with a zesty green salsa on top. The tableside Caesar came with a very friendly captain. Our steaks were cooked perfectly. We had a side dish of summer succotash which was a treat. Topped it off with some Bananas Foster and we rolled out the door! But not before receiving our truffle to-go, a yummy little mouthful that we enjoyed this morning. We will definitely be back, sorry El Gaucho, I think you have met your match!
(5)Madison L.
Came in for late night happy hour on a Friday night with a group of friends. Surprisingly we got a table! The place was packed and loud but service was good. The happy hour cheeseburger was DELICIOUS! Better than the lunchbox laboratory burgers nowadays (used to be the best before it moved its location). Fries were a bit bland but that burger was just right! Cooked the way I like it and had fresh tomatoes and lettuce inside. One of the best cheeseburgers for just 9 bucks! The tempura bacon was good. Yes, the first bite was just melt in your mouth but after a few bites, it felt like a chore to eat. Good, but don't just order this alone. This is the only place I know does this. Also had their flatbread with whatever sausage toppings on it. SUPER SALTY. It looked more like a pizza, really (it was circular). Don't really recommend this unless you really need a boost in sodium for the night. The beef bites were good. The only problem was that we ordered it medium rare but it came out to be medium well, pretty much cooked through. It was still pretty tender and soft, but too overcooked from what we ordered. Nice sauce. I would recommend this one. There was a shrimp soup dish, too, but I forget the name. Too salty. Wouldn't recommend. Overall, just get their burger if you want to be completely satisfied! If you go with a friend or two, include the tempura bacon and beef bites!!!
(4)Andrew C.
Best steak on the east side that I've tried so far. They have a super comprehensive steak list. I had a kobe filet mignon and it was heaven. Service was excellent. and the decor was nice. My one minor complaint is the atmosphere did have this pretentious feel to it that I haven't felt at other high-end steakhouses. I wasn't uncomfortable, but I wasn't as comfortable as I was at other places. If you need a place to go to celebrate a special occasion or if you're just in the mood for some yummy steak with $ to burn, you can't go wrong here.
(5)Barry C.
I have been hitting up there happy hour the last few months. Will tonight I had a change to try the main dinning room. The food was great, I started out with French Onion soup that was very good and a lot of flavor. Then the artichoke and cheese ravioli with cherry tomatoes, spinach, mushrooms in a Lemon butter sauce. I wish I could have tried the steaks, but with the batter of oral cancer I cannot not do a steak. I let the waiter know my limits on what I can eat and not eat. When they served me the one bit taste, it was a heirloom tomato soup. Very good, the tables around me was getting something else that I knew I could not eat. That tells me they listen to your needs. Then dessert, it was a Choc. and salted caramel torte and a side of salted caramel ice cream. Let just say I was super stuff afterwords. I do recommend coffee there, it comes to your table in a french press and has a lot of flavor. I would go back. Waiter - 5 stars Busboy -5 stars Food - 5 stars. Mgr's - 5 stars. This place is not a miss.
(5)Mona K.
I and my husband had a enjoyable experience our evening extended into almost close to three hours. The food was delicious & had wide choice during happy hour too. Deviled eggs , mini sliders, cheese burger & sea salted fries and Personal pizza was all worth a try and mouth watery. Its Pricey , but their happy hours are long , go make most of finest experience
(4)Jerry M.
Best piece of Prime Rib I have ever had. The creme brule was also great.
(4)Jonathan M.
296th review......does Yelp ever just say enough? I can only speak for the Happy Hour that runs ALL DAY Sunday. Excellent value and it is fairly extensive in terms of offerings. The pianist twinkles a bit better than the one at Daniel's across the way, and the service has always been good.
(4)Lena K.
I went to John Howie a few months ago for dinner but was not terribly impressed. I honestly thought the food was ok, and the service was ok. I had a kobe filet mignon, and although it was good, it was a bit overcooked for my taste. I've heard so many good things about this place, so I decided to give it a try a second time for lunch. This time I got a burger, and was blown away. Easily one of the best hamburgers I have ever had. For now it was a 3 star dinner, and 5 star lunch. Combined rating 4 stars. I will make it back soon again for dinner to see if they win me over... ;)
(4)Robi Z.
It doesn't get any better than this. We just had the best service with the best meal...ever. Period. Hands down. Bar none. Our table had several different steak combinations, all of which melted in the mouth. Side of corn, side of mushrooms and you're in heaven. End the meal with the tempura carrot cake (trust me) and you will roll out of there wondering when you can come back for your next fix. As a parting favor they sent us each home with single chocolate truffles in a box, because we hadn't had enough amazing! Go to John Howie Steak, just go.
(5)Amy K.
Just got back from dinner here with family. For a cold and rainy Sunday night, this place was bustling. Some might say the service is a little slow, but I actually found it perfect. We weren't interrupted every five minutes to chat with the waitstaff . Instead we were given time to fully take in the menu, place orders, receive teaser items, eat our starters, and then our meals. We spent two hours in the restaurant chatting and eating, which gave us plenty of time to appreciate the food, the ambiance and the service. Heather, our server, took the time to find out if this was our first visit, which it was, then educated us quickly but thoroughly on the different kinds of steak available. Plates were never allowed to accumulate; our table was always easy to navigate. The ambiance was slightly cold, but still lovely and upscale. I didn't feel crowded by the waitstaff passing by or by other tables. When I got up to find the restroom, I didn't have to shimmy between seats. Really, quite comfortable! Our steaks were delicious. I had the Eye of Rib Eye American Waygu prepared medium, which I sprinkled with the black lava salt provided. Perfection. Tender and easily cut, but with enough texture to chew and savor. Really the only downmarks I'd give the place are around the price. It just seems steep, even for the area. But if you're going out for a very special meal and you love steak, it's probably right in line.
(4)Momiko S.
I'd give it a 3.5. Parking: OK - Parking Garage at the Braven - It's a Maze so make sure you document every step. Service: Awesome! Ambiance: Romantic / Small Groups. Food: It's OK. Seems like i can make it at home but perhaps i cant get that kind of aged meat at QFC or Whole Foods. Sides are EXTRA and Pricey. I got Mash Potatoes and small bowl of corn. Bonus Feature: Lots of variety of Meats. If you like Meat its the place to go. I can say its better than the Keg, Outback, and the Black Angus. It's comparable with Daniel's, the Met and Ruth's. Service wise.. This place has the best. Enjoy!
(3)K M.
This place has THE BEST Happy Hour! I've been here several times, and only for their Happy Hour menu. The food is amazing (espeically the Tempura Fried Bacon!) Everything is priced really well. They have a "drink special" that changes ever so often and it's always a unique drink. One of the best Happy Hour's around Bellevue!
(5)Mitzi V.
Came here for lunch about a month ago,received varied bread basket, ordered caesar salad and duck pappardelle. Perfect on all counts. Service also lovely. Lunch is more reasonably priced than dinner, try it if you can. Came here for happy hour Friday night, ordered the much vaunted deviled eggs. Couldn't taste much of the egg thanks to the onion reek. That's the only reason I knocked it down one star. Why would you want to overpower the flavor of truffled bacon with a pile of onion?
(4)Alex L.
Never tried Dinner experience here yet. But I do recommend the happy hour here. Great for late night, they have a vast array of food and drink specials on the menu. Plus an amazing piano bar! Try the tempura fried bacon!
(5)Sharon H.
i got invited to dinner here with my friend and her parents woohoo! free john howie? sweeeeet! it was my first time there, and i was excited to see what all the hype was about. unfortunately, my tummy had been whack all weekend, so i didn't want to eat anything too rich, and not to mention i didn't want to take too much advantage of my friends' parents footing the bill. luckily, my friend had no problem ordering to her hearts content, and so i got to try a little bit of different stuff. the bacon: sounded soooo good. in the end, it was waaay greasier than i preferred. don't call that tempura, it's straight up plain batter fried! it was basically a deep fried slice of bacon. tempura is much lighter than what that was. the sauce that came with it, however, was really yummy. the spinach: according to my friend "it tastes like... spinach." 'nuff said. 5 cheese twice baked potato- deeelicious. fried potato side dish thing- don't get too excited, it's just french fries. good ones, but i was hoping for something more when i ordered this. i had the prime cut beef appetizer thingy wit mandarin oranges for my meal (sorry i forget what it was called, but you'll know it when you see it), and that was REALLY good. great flavor. could see the flavor being too sweet for some palettes though. others at my table had the filet mignon, prime rib, and rib eye- they all seemed fine, but nobody was really loving their food. it was good, it wasn't amazing. decor- a little bit more hotel loungy than upscale restaurant. but not terrible. i'll be back, but not on my own dime, except maybe to try the HH burgers that Jennifer L. is raving about.
(3)Jacky A.
Don't expect good service during happy hour!!!! Food is really really really great, tried couple items on their happy hour menu, devil eggs, shrimps, gnocchi, tempura.... they are all great, very unique and it taste excellent. Server never really get a chance to our table, we sat at the right hand side of the bar... It was a busy night but I totally think she can handle it better. We were in a hurry and she can told by our actions, she said she will be right back but it took her 10 mins. When we told her we need our check and she still put in order and send drinks to other table, I have to get up from my chair and ask her to give us our check. I really hate to do that . After all, if you are looking for GREAT FOOD in CHEAP PRICE and maybe don't care about the service, come during happy hour time. Enjoy with your friends that who can keep you company ;]
(4)M C.
Love it for happy hour! The gnocchi is quite tasty. Ambiance is incredibly lovely.
(4)T B.
My wife took me to John Howie for my birthday and from beginning to end they made it a special night. Top notch service, perfectly prepared food, a lovely wine flight and a complimentary dessert of our choice (bananas foster prepared tableside, natch). I'll include my "who wears baseball caps indoors" rant but that is not the restaurant's fault. Well, I guess they COULD insist patrons take them off but....
(5)Jen O.
Unfortunately, it was just OK. If there was a way to give it 2.5, I think that's more accurate. When we go out, 4 times out of 5 its for great steaks. We recently moved to the area and received a gift certificate to JHS from some super great and thoughtful friends. We decided to try it out last weekend and were totally underwhelmed. I am not sure if its because I had relatively high expectations due the reviews...but I think this may have been one of my least happy-making steakhouse experiences ever :'( Service - waiter was pretty aloof and inattentive. Didn't seem too friendly or interested in us as patrons. He seemed tired and uninterested in being there. However, the sommelier was great! Food - the bread and butter were pretty blah, bread was cold and there were cracker-like things in there with plain butter. Amuse bouche about the same... blah. Definite room for improvement. We ordered the calamari which was tough and rubbery. It didn't have much flavor. We both ordered the crab and shrimp chowder too. Nowhere in the description did it mention bell peppers, but the bowl I had was literally stoplight bell pepper chowder...red, yellow and green. Had I known this, I wouldn't have even ordered it because I hate bell peppers. I had exactly zero shrimp, one piece of crab and the corn was hardly detectable. Because of this, I accidentally ate way more yellow bell peppers than I would have liked. The server didn't seem to care about our dissatisfaction with the chowder. Steak was ok. We ordered 2 different cuts of Waygu ribeye and shared. We rarely see the cap as an available cut so we were pretty excited. The cap was far more flavorful. It was tender but it was miniature. The immense amount of fat in the cut made it hard to eat (good thing we had the eye to switch back and forth to). The trays of salt were interesting but at the end of the day, its just salt. Mushrooms were just ok... not much of a compliment to the steak but the twice-baked potato was pretty decent. Twice baked is pretty hard to screw up... who doesn't love potatoes and cheese? Dessert may have been the best part...but you don't go to a steakhouse for dessert. Ambiance - we were there while the sun was still up (7-9p) but I imagine it to be extremely romantic in the evening. It was easy to have a conversation and the seating was comfortable. I usually make it a rule to try everything twice, but I'm actually not certain when or if I will be back. I can get average food and average service at places far less expensive.
(3)Mark S.
Deep fried bacon! Need I say more? I've had work lunches and casual dinners here as well as a few meals in the bar. I've enjoyed every meal, ranging from the burger to the prime rib dip and steak. It's not cheap, but that's not why you go here.
(5)William C.
This is my go to lunch spot with vendors, if I have the time. Tempura Fried Bacon is a treat I will allow myself one piece a month. Service, product, and experience are exactly what I am paying for, and exactly what I get. There are quite a few inventive items on the menu, if you are in to exploring. If not, the steak is hard to beat.. anywhere...
(4)Julie T.
Ambience: 4 : classy professionals without the snootiness framed by modern decor Food: overall 3 : ordered the pulled pork sliders, fried bacon, shrimp in habanero sauce, duck mousse. The pulled pork was pulled and compressed into what reminded me of a tuna sandwich; it was squishy but sandwiched between toasted mini buns. It was oddly combined with small grapes (or raisins) throwing my palate off. I couldn't get passed the texture. Pork should be pulled not mushed. Fried bacon was an epic failure which is disappointing since I heart bacon. The bacon was overpowered by the tempura and all I could taste was the batter. However, my companions enjoyed it so maybe I just had an overly battered piece. Shrimp was light, surprisingly good and better yet, simple. Modest sized, the shrimp swam in a lightly creamy habanero sauce and was accompanied by fresh bread. Duck mousse was just terrible; no words to describe. I had a piece of my friend's 23oz and it was good but I'm not a meat expert so I'll defer to the carnivores. Service : 2 : our server must have been hypoglycemic because she could not remember to bring out our drinks or food. We had to repeatedly call her attention which was a bit bothersome considering the high status of the establishment; I expected high quality service. But then again we were at the Happy Hour bar area but isn't that why it's called happy hour? We're supposed to be happy (and with the service too)! Lastly, I had a Vodka 7 in which all I could taste was the 7. $8 for 7 up and cup of ice is ridiculous. That's it, I'm dropping an additional star! Update ** the manager contacted me regarding my review and offered an apology. Unexpected but appreciated.
(2)AJ R.
I would have to say this is by far the best happy hour in the Seattle/Bellevue area. We went Saturday night with our BFF's. While trying to limit ourselves to only 5 items we quickly lost control and pretty much ordered one of everything. We did pass over the warm olives and little things like that. Heres the run down: Burger- good Sliders- real good Meat flat bread pizza thingy- amazing Mac n Cheese- utter cheesy wonderful goodness Garlic Aoli dipping sauce for fries and chips- Out of this world!!!! Drinks- only had the pear one, excellent. Service- super Any complaints??? Sitting next to Mr. Rash... long story.
(5)Craig T.
This was our first visit, and it was impromptu. We sat in the bar, and were pleasantly surprised to learn that our blue jeans fit right in with the lunch crowd. Service was excellent, dittos the food. (although the fries at Sport are waaaaay better). We had a lunch steak and a steak sandwich - and neither disappointed.
(4)Linda T.
Just went back for late night happy hour on a Saturday night and man was it busy! It was about 9-10pm and we waited a good 20 minutes for a seat for 2. We sat at the piano table next to the pianist who was very friendly and provided great entertainment. She played nice melodies and sang live. We ordered the wagyu beef sliders, fried potatoes, and mac and cheese. This was the first time my bf joined me for happy hour here so I was excited for him to try the sliders. He loved it! We both loved the food, it was so satisfying, and at reasonable prices given the quality of food. i think my faves here are the wagyu beef slicers and beecher's mac and cheese...so delicious!!!
(5)Nick G.
I told you I'd write a review for the full blown dinner menu! I want to love John Howie Steak, I really do. Everything at the Bravern has inflated prices and with those prices come inflated expectations, right!?!? I'm not going to drop $500 for some shoes at Salvatore Ferragamo unless they're the best damn shoes money can buy. I started off with their tempura fried bacon strips as an appetizer and it was interesting to say the least. I liken its cholesterol levels to that of a deep fried Twinkie smothered in sugar, chocolate, and shimmering sprinkles. It was unique though, and that scores positive points in my book. After the appetizer I went in for the kill... an aged New York Strip Steak. It was $54 for this steak. Was I impressed? No, no, no. I'm not trying to be snobby but when I drop 10 Abraham Lincolns on a piece of meat it better melt in my mouth and tickle my esophagus on the way down. I couldn't tell the difference between this steak and say, something you could pick up at an Applebees. It had a semi-dry consistency and just did NOT thrill me in the slightest. For being at the Bravern, with prices comparable to El Gaucho and Canlis I am HIGHLY disappointed. Oh, and our waiter only visited us at the beginning of our meal ONE time. I've had better service at the Olive Garden. While writing my last paragraph I was so pissed off I knocked John Howie down another star. All is fair in love and snore. John Howie zZzZzzz
(2)Kate W.
My rating really is "meh. i've experienced better". 5 stars for the all-so-awesome-melt-in-your-mouth Australian Wallyu. 2 stars for the disappointing service. 1st time there in John Howie. Heard such wonderful reviews by people who went there. maybe because i went on a busy friday night 9pm which happens to be a holiday..... so here it goes: - bread not served till appetizers arrived (what's the point then) after we continuously to ask for it (at least 3 times). they say it's still baking... ok..... - ordered lobster mashed potatoes but served us plain mashed potatoes instead. we told them and they corrected the order....they took the plain mash potatoes away.... BUT in the end they charged us for it?? we have to tell them again..... - my friend ordered coffee and guess what? they didn't give a teaspoon. so we're supposed to stir the coffee with dessert spoon?? nevertheless we (or my all-so-kind friend) paid almost full tips for that day, which i still regret... i still believe that if we had went on a normal weekday on an early booking it would have been nicer.... but they should have been better prepared....
(2)Debi P.
The food gets 5 stars the serves gets 2.....a girlfriend and I sat down with minutes to spare before the end of happy hour, sadly the server announced that it was "too late", while acknowledging that we did sit down before happy hour was over. My friend and I shrugged our shoulders and ordered a glass of wine and a burger.....the burger and fries, delicious! However, the server was so indifferent that it was almost comical. She dashed by with blinders on, ignoring us completely, not easy to do as she almost had to trip over our table to get through the restaurant. I will of course go back, the food is worth it, however, I will stay clear of that servers section and be very mindful of giving yourself an added amount of time for waiting on the server to get to your table so you make the happy hour prices.
(3)Sean C.
While I may be pilloried by the cupcake fanatics or the 3 people Medina residents with no relation to Microsoft executives who shop retail at the enclosing mall, John Howie is really the only uniquely worthwhile reason to stomach the slice of extra pretension awash in a sea of moderate pretension. I've had dinner here once, and while the tender filet ($44 for 8 oz.) and the cherries jubilee ($18 for 2) strong enough to taste of alcohol were solidly executed, and my family's only compliant was the initially anemic amount of bread in the complimentary refillable breadbasket, in any particular dimension the experience was already topped: - Metropolitan Grill on all-out food - El Gaucho on service and value with B1G1 courtesy of the Prime Card - Daniel's Broiler (Bellevue) on the skyline view - JaK's on casual when casual is desired However, John Howie Steak has two not-so-secret weapons: happy hour and lunch. Since expanding the happy hours early this year to 3-6 M-F, all day Sunday and 9-close all other days, they have become a serious contender for best in the "city." I'm pretty sure the only reason they aren't packed on my semi-regular visits since then is because of the obtuse parking situation at The Shops (I still can't get over that official naming) and because the hours change hasn't been adequately advertised. Be sure to try: - Obligatory Burger ($8): 1/2 lb of omnivore-crowd pleasing beef with Beecher's cheddar, bacon and trimmings. You will probably order this on your first and most subsequent trips. Share or box half of the heart attack if going alone. - Tempura Kurobuta Bacon ($5): Worth trying for the novelty. I wasn't blown away, but I'd gladly have half a piece if divided among a large group seated in style on the functional glass piano doubling as the largest bar area table even when the pianist is performing. - Spicy Habanero Butter Shrimp ($8): The dark horse of the menu. Smooth like butter with as much of a kick as can be expected at a proudly American steakhouse. I considered drinking the sauce when the bartender wasn't looking. - Meyer Lemon Pie ($8): Not officially a happy hour item, but a crowd-pleasing closer for 2-3 to share that's smooth, refreshing and not toxic sweet. - Volcano Cake ($9): A similarly sized, similarly properly flavored and similarly unofficial highly honorable mention for when one just doesn't feel like the former. The Eastside business lunch is the other place John Howie Steak shines. With a menu less expensive and broader than its power competitors that satisfied a group including one vegaquarian and two with Halal restrictions, the ability to accommodate a sizable party and a passable mountain view, there are few reasons to look elsewhere. The real scandal of lunch is that the HH burger isn't their best. To someone who has only been here then, the surprise is that the additional lunch burger offering of juicy, melt-in-your-mouth peppercorn-encrusted wagyu with roquefort plus choice of potato ($15 vs. $13 at lunchtime) makes the HH variant look like Outback Steakhouse. With a heavy heart, I can't award the triple crown here... only bring more and more people to enjoy the mealtimes when John Howie Steak shines bright enough to overcome its overly upscale surroundings and stiff competition.
(4)Gary F.
Very nice dinner experience. Service was excellent, food was top tier. And you have to love a restaurant that has Bananas Foster.
(4)Wendy W.
This is a pricey steak house but so worth the bucks. Steak is delicious! We ordered the Kobe Wagyu ribeye : if u like it medium rare like I do remember to order it a medium. Their medium is equal to a medium rare. (got this tip from fellow yelper) The steak come out a on a hot plate and actually stays nice and warm till I finished every bit. It is made to perfection. When u cut right in half u can see the layers. I have never had such a flavorful & tender steak. One word: AMAZING! The starts u off with appetite opener called a 'mouche bouche'. It's only a mouth full of cream soup but it makes u crave for more. I wish it were on the menu! As for going back to the steak, you can also add the different salts that provide to add a kick to it. My favorite is the volcanic salt. It looks like pepper but enhances the taste to a different level. The side I choose was the corn. Very fresh & tasty. Even their bread basket was mouth watering. All their breads had it's own unique flavor. Practically bit size, but u will definitely ask for a 2nd basket. *more please! The overall service was very good. We had a busboy, a server and a waiter take care of us. And we were only a party of two. At the end of the meal they gave us these homemade truffles that has this salted Carmel in the center. Wow. I would buy some to take home if I could. I would definitely go back to the place if I'm every back in Seattle. Is worth stopping by and trying it out for yourself. Pricey but delicious.
(4)Tamara O.
Best steak salad EVER!!!!
(5)Mackie M.
Giving it only 3 stars based on two visits. I'm not a big steak fan but the bf is so we went to try John Howie. Visit 1 - We had the spinach salad, rib-eye, a fish plate, lobster gnocchi, and ice cream for dessert. Everything besides the main plates were delicious. When our steak and fish entrees came out, it was just bleh. Steak was over cooked and really salty. The fish was unimpressive. Visit 2 - We had the ceasar salad, wagyu steak, chicken, mac and cheese, seasonal vegetables, and bread pudding with ice cream. Overall, the food was much better this time. The steak was cooked just right this time. But it was probably because my bf told them exactly how he wanted it instead of just saying 'medium rare'. Chicken was really moist with a great polenta souffle side. I think our third visit might be happy hour since everybody raves about their happy hour burger.
(3)Darryl H.
Burgers are expensive, but get them at the bar after nine.
(4)Patricia C.
melts in your mouth kind of good! mmmm!!
(5)Nafisa J.
By far the BEST service I have ever had. Ira and our waitress Brittany along with the other staff met and exceeded our needs. The entire staff was attentive and sincere. I would absolutely recommend this place for families. Of course the food was great as well.
(5)Jade N.
I really wanted to like John Howie, I even came back (twice!) to triple check that they weren't just having a bad day when I was there but alas, they failed to impress each time. Half of the dining experience is service so in an upscale (and pricey) place like this I expected much better than what was shown. The server I had for both dinners was very inattentive. The busser was more attentive with refilling water and clearing up plates than the server was at serving. He charged us for a glass of wine that he did not bring because they ran out and just generally ignored our table in favor of those in suits around us. Service at happy hour in the lounge was also very slow but understandable because it was very busy. The food was hit and miss. The Prime Tenderloin Bites is similar to Daniel Broiler's Filet Steak Strips except the sauce is more watery while Fried Calimari and Artichokes were very overcooked. The steaks are good but nothing to write home (or on yelp) about. They do have very nice table-side salads and an excellent bread basket though. So, for a good time, suit up and order salad.
(2)Thomas L.
Went here on a sunday night. The place was quite busy but we were seated promptly. For a nice steakhouse, the decor and atmosphere was appropriate, warming and interesting. The food was good but it didn't excel some other steakhouses I've been to (Delmonico's, Ruth Chris, Metropolitan, El Gaucho and Daniel's Broiler). The Rib-eye was good but not as tasty as i would like from a 28-day aged rib-eye. The veggies side was quite good and you get a little bit of everything. My partner in crime had the halibut but it wasn't anything to write home about. All in all, probably won't likely come back unless they had some fantastic deal of some sort.
(3)Taylor L.
If you want excellent service, with excellent quality food, but that's different from your ordinary steak house, John Howie is the place to go. I took my girlfriend out to John Howie not long ago for her 25th birthday, and we were both impressed. This restaurant defines what a steak restaurant should be- fine dining, wine pairings, and interesting appetizers. I give it 4 stars because any meal there puts a big hole in your pocket. Be prepared to spend at least 50$ per person; if not more.
(4)gretchen m.
I have to say 5 stars. We had a great steak dining experience. First off, loved sitting in the little booth which provides some privacy and quiet. The wine manager was very friendly and helpful in finding the right wine and the service was very good. I had the bone in filet with the wine sauce on the side which was where the five stars come in. That was a truly fantastic steak. My husband had a different cut which he found to be good but on par with other steakhouses. They had a greater variety of steaks to choose from and several bone in selections. The costs were slightly higher than other steakhouses but sometimes you have to spend a little more to get beyond the usual dining experience. I'm a fan.
(5)Ed S.
I'll give this place 1-star based on it's appearance. Very chic. Great bar. Live piano music. I'm sure that the food here is great. Unfortunately we were turned off when we went in to check out the palce by having a drink in the bar. I ordered my typical steakhouse bar drink...a Makers Mark Manhattan, up with bitters. I watched as the bartender picked up a measuring cup and proceeded to measure out 2 oz. of bourbon. That's all I needed to see. What a turn off. I couldn't help but mention it. I was told that state laws prohibit more than two ounces of liquor per drink. I then told the bartender that 'many' other establishments in Seattle do not follw that "law". He then told me how he had barteneded in many of Seattle finest restaurants and I was wrong. Result - Over priced drink, based on the size. Pretensious bartender A lost customer
(1)Gina S.
Love, love love John Howie! We've went there for HH on several occasions and we decided to do dinner there for our anniversary. The service was great and the food was outstanding. We both got American Waygu for the first time and it was so good. We're working our way up to trying the Australian Waygu. A little disappointed that our server didn't acknowledge our anniversary after reading some of the reviews. The hostess did acknowledge it because my husband told them when we made the reservation.
(4)Hola A.
Oooh verrry niicce! I came here for happy hour with the sis upon hearing a friend's rave review for their happy hour and I was pleased. In terms of ambience, it was quite posh. They had a dude playing a piano, he was pretty good. Anyhoo, upon reviewing the menu, I felt that the prices were a little on the high side for happy hour prices but the quantity compensates for it. Huge portions! So yes, it was a good happy hour deal after all. Before I get started on the food, I have to rave about their drink special, spicy pear kamikaze. Delicious! I normally can't finish my drinks (I know, whatta waste) but I practically gulped the whole thang down. Sweet and spicy was balanced perfectly here. Food: cheese plate, crispy french friend potatoes, charcuterie flat bread, reggiano potato chips, crispy friend ricotta gnocchi, bacon cheeseburgers, and the mac & cheese. I felt like we got more but this is all I can remember. Get the mac & cheese, it's very good (my fave out of all we got)! The potato chips were quite tasty (homemade, I think?) with yummy cheese sprinkled on top, the bacon cheeseburger was good and my least fave was probably the flatbread. It was eh to me. Service was a little slow in the beginning but soon picked up when our food items started coming out. Def a must-go for happy hour!
(4)Sirio B.
Currently my favorite joint for happy hour by far in Downtown Bellevue. I'm waiting for a chance to have dinner here but I've made do with their bar offerings in the meantime. Their signature bacon cheeseburger is by far one of the best burgers I've had in the city. Served on a giant brioche bun with delicious Beechers Flagship cheese and thick cut bacon with secret sauce, its mind blowingly good. The fries are also handcut and made fresh, a big plus. And for only $13, think about it..Thats the same you would pay for a crappy burger at Red Robin! I also tried their Gnocchi, which were served different than I'm used to(deep fried instead of boiled). The only thing I could compare them to were gourmet tater tots, served with a delicious cream sauce as a side. The bartenders at this joint are awesome too, being extremely knowledgeable of their craft. I sat down and asked about a good scotch and was given the chance to sample at least 6 before settling for Glennfiddich. That type of service warrants a good tip. I'll be back for dinner, but I've never left their lounge dissatisfied. Highly recommended for a late night drink.
(5)Tap Sum B.
They have top quality meats for top tier prices. I have to say that the Wagyu steak I had was even better than the one I had at Craftsteak in Vegas. The only reason the place doesn't get five stars is because the table was not ready when I was there for the reservation. It is pretty annoying to pay that much and still have to wait around. Even that could have been forgivable if the Hostess was apologetic. She was not.
(4)Dan P.
Awesome place for steak, of course you pay for it. I was lucky enough to have an awesome boss who treated us. My group had the Prime Tenderloin Bites to start off with which were heavenly!! The crab cakes are good as well. For lunch I had the Steak Frites which was excellent considering it is much cheaper than their steak fillets. John Howie sure knows how to cook a tender steak. It was so juicy and tender that you could almost cut it with a fork. (I don't think I ever have said that about a steak before) Overall I would totally go again if I ever fell into a big bunch of money. Next time I might splurge on a real fillet just to see how good it can get.
(5)Sharon K.
Love this place. Wish I could afford to come here more often. The steaks are fabulous and there is nothing on the menu that I didn't like so far. Had the Japanese wagyu and it was phenomenal. The Tempura fried kurobuta bacon is always a hit and the ahi tartare is so yummy. John Howie does not disappoint in my opinion.
(5)Couple O'Critics A.
Well that was terrific! We did the happy hour with a round of drinks and appetizers. Tempura Fried Bacon with dipping sauce, Beef Carpaccio, and Habenero Shrimp. Great job. Great flavors. Great service. If I had a couple hundred bucks to blow...... I would definitely be back for a dinner experience!
(5)Marie S.
After my last review both the manager and John Howie sent me a personal email with an invitation to come back and give them another try. I think this is outstanding service and something I never expected to happen. I will be back!
(5)Maria Cristina B.
Amazing!!!! Okay it's very expensive but we had an great time being spoiled by the servers. We had oysters that were nice and fresh. Wedge salad that was crispy and bacony. The steak was perfectly cooked and Oh My God Holy Lobster Mash Potatoes!!! It's definitely for a special nite out.... it was our 13 year anniversary. Will go again sometime!
(5)Carleen P.
Everyone needs to go to John Howie during lunch to try the tempura bacon and Juicy Lucy burger! Even just listening to the steaks that they offered by the waiter was enough to make me want to come back here. For being a snazzier more expensive place, I still felt really comfortable here even though I am covered in tattoos. The staff are really nice and really knowledgeable of the food. I've told many of my friends already of how much I enjoyed my lunch there and have talked them into coming back with me. I was eye-balling orders on other tables and have to say that I have a lot of different items I will need to try.
(5)Patrick L.
Let me start by saying that the entire wait staff at John Howie does a fantastic job. Every single person, from the host to the busboys, flashed a genuine smile when I happened to make eye contact with them, whether incidentally or purposely. The Bravern location and high prices might leave some jumping to conclusions, but rest assured that there is no air of pretentiousness here, which was a very nice surprise. I dined here recently with my family to celebrate my birthday. That said, I'm not sure if I'd return for dinner, nor am I sure if I'd suggest John Howie to friends and fellow Yelpers. The reason? Considering the prices, and that everything is served a la carte, it's natural that a diner would have very high expectations. Unfortunately, the food just didn't blow me away--in fact I have to admit I was a bit letdown. I ordered a filet of Australian wagyu, and while the meat itself was great, the preparation fell short. It was cooked just the way I wanted, but the chef way overdid it with the seasoning. Basically the steak was heavily oversalted, which always makes me question the chef's palate, and I found to be quite a shame since it was a great piece of beef. Prior to the arrival of our entrees, the waitress brought a tray of 3 lovely salts to the table, but unfortunately I had absolutely no need for them, since the steak was already so salty. Because her description of each was so intriguing, I had to resort to tasting a few granules of each salt, on its own, just so I could sample them. I also ordered a single serving of garlic mashed potatoes, which were a decent portion, but I found it to be dry and not nearly as good as I've had at other local steakhouses that shall remain unnamed. My dad ordered the halibut, which was a nice looking piece of fish when it arrived, but was also overcooked and thus a bit dry. I would say that was probably the most disappointing part of our meal. In the end, the $8 burger that my sister ordered was actually the best part of the meal! It sounds a bit ridiculous, but is the truth. I'd love to return for happy hour to get that burger, but I'm not so sure I'd return for the steak or seafood, although I've heard great things and am hoping that perhaps the chef on duty that evening was just having an off day.
(3)Bert S.
Well I've eaten here twice now and forgot to review it earlier.... The first time I splurged and experienced the True Japanese 100% Wagyu Kobe beef Ribeye steak. OMFG. Yes is was expensive. But OMFG. Fatty melt in your mouth like butter incredible steak. I want to eat steak like that more often! The second time I had a burger in the bar (non-happy hour). It was a damn good burger, one of the best I've had. Highly recommended. Can be budget busting.
(5)Teek K.
Came here for a special event, and this place lived up to its billing-it is one of the best steakhouses in the Northwest. Food: Steak, steak, and more steak, cooked to perfection. I tried the American Wagyu filet and Australian, and they were both very different. After trying both, I slightly preferred the American, but it was worth trying both. The best way I could describe it is the Australian is slightly more buttery in taste to me. Server noted that the steak is prepared on the rare side and recommended that, which fit my tastes perfectly. Also good were the twice baked potatoes. The sides are a la carte and served family style for easy sharing. Interestingly, I did not see a fish entree at the restaurant, but did see one on the menu offered on the website fresh sheet. Drink: Huge wine menu and equally large drinks menu. Good selection of vintage booze if that's your thing, because there's some rare finds here. No problem finding a few different bold reds to go with the steak. If you're lost, the server will provide some good choices. Service: Attentive, helpful, but not bothersome, just how you want a good steakhouse to be. The person providing the table-side service was friendly and conversational, and very easy going. The waiter was well versed in the differences between the items and made solid recommendations. Atmosphere: Dining area is comfortable, well-spaced and relatively quiet. Easy to have a one-on-one conversation without feeling like you're completely in a library or at a sports stadium. If you are windowside, there is a slight view of snow-capped mountains. The booths appeared comfortable if you go that route. Overall, I like the lighting of my steakhouses to be on the darker side, but I'm old school and understand that doesn't appeal to everyone. Price/Value: John Howie doesn't hide his prices, they're all available on the web. I thought the value was about what I'd expect and had no qualms paying it-the food was outstanding, the service was top notch.
(5)Timothy H.
I went to the Sunday Happy Hour, and ate in the bar. The Happy Hour deals were fantastic. The rest of the menu looked a little pricey. My burger was lovely, but I felt that they tried to put too many toppings on it, and consequently it was impossible to eat without taking it apart. I'm also not completely sure that my burger was "medium" - looked a little overdone to me! The service is disjointed to say the least. Everything seemed haphazard and random. Perhaps that was because I was in the bar - I'd expect that the service in the restaurant is considerably more orderly. The atmosphere seems a little...shall we say...pretentious. Overall, I was indifferent to this place. I had expected to be blown away by the whole experience, but it just didn't quite deliver.
(3)Rachel D.
I have been to John Howie twice now and it's simply fantastic. Sure, it is expensive, but the quality and service are absolutely worth it. Both times I have ordered the USDA filet mignon and it is superb. This is a place to eat on special occasions, for sure!
(5)Marcie C.
I bought a Groupon for John Howie, which was the only way we'd be able to splurge on an expensive dinner. My Fiance and I love steak and that's usually our splurge when it comes to food. We decided to use the Groupon on our 2nd anniversary last week. I was kinda disappointed. First of all, the steaks don't come with any sides, which is just annoying. And the sides are really expensive ($18 for lobster mashed potatoes?). I ordered two small steaks that had different levels of Wagyu in them for $54. The steak with more Wagyu was unbelievable, the other one tasted like any filet mignon I've had. We also ordered the creamy polenta side, which was fine, but not amazing for $9. The mushrooms were probably the worst I've had at a steakhouse. They didn't really taste sauteed and they had no flavor. They didn't add anything, which was not good. We also ordered the twice baked potato to share and it was good, but completely overpriced. The one thing they did really well was their salted caramel chocolate ganache with shortbread crust. It was amazing! The wait staff was super nice and helpful! They really catered to us! We had a creamy salmon bisque shooter and chocolate as extras. I'm glad we tried it so we know not to go back. Or maybe we'll go back just for dessert. Our favorite steakhouse is definitely Jak's and Melrose Grill in Renton is a close second. Their sides are super yummy and you get about twice as much food for the money.
(3)Becky B.
To celebrate the end of another Open Enrollment, my favorite insurance broker took me to John Howie's for lunch. I was lured in by the promise of deep fried bacon and the claims of the best steak salad in town. Well, it wasn't the best steak salad I've ever had, that honor belongs to the steak salad at the Metropolitan Grill in downtown Seattle, or one I've made for myself at home. The bacon was different, and while I'm not one to shun grease, the combination bacon/tempura batter was a bit much for me. A dipping sauce is served with the bacon, but honestly, it didn't seem to do much to improve the dish. The steak salad was decent, but nothing to really get excited about. In fact, as I was eating it, I kept thinking "gosh, I should have tried the steak frites". it wasn't particularly generously portioned and I left the table feeling pretty hungry still. Our server, while pleasant messed up our drink order, bringing a root beer instead of a cream soda...um, really? For a free meal, this was a nice lunch, but on my own dime, I'll go somewhere else.
(3)Chris W.
Some friends and I went for an early dinner and experienced excellent service and delicious food, but came away recommending folks skip John Howie's mediocre desserts. Their pastry chef must have been out sick the day we were in, as every dessert seemed like it was purchased from Costco. And the coffee was abhorrent. In terms of the good parts, the butter nut squash ravioli and Wagyu ribeye were great hits. We found the wine list to be good in the sense that there were a variety of bottles at different price points. But what really made the experience was a very helpful/friendly sommelier. We very much appreciated his engaging style and personal service. I hear that their happy hour is fantastic -- and given what I experienced with their desserts (and pretty high prices for entrees given what you get) the only reason I'd return is for happy hour.
(4)Raina F.
My husband and I celebrated his birthday here last night and it exceeded my already high expectations. Our server Jayson was attentive and knowledgeable and made helpful recommendations. The table side ceasar salad was great but standard steakhouse fare. We both ordered the Wagyu filet mignons - we have never ordered Wagyu before so we can only compare it to the Metropolitan Grill's regular filet but this one literally melted in our mouths and was to die for! I got mine with the pepper sauce which had a hint of sweetness, very tasty. For side dishes the server suggested the half orders of garlic mash & asparagus and we added the wild forested mushrooms - all delicious. My husband was stuffed at this point but I insisted on two deserts. He got the lemon tart which is smaller, light and perfectly tart - really perfect since he was so full. I went for the Tempura fried chocolate pound cake with three dipping sauces (1) orange marscapone cream (2) rainier cherry reduction (3) a red wine honey sauce. AMAZING! One should definitely share it but I'm glad I had it all to myself :) The glasses of champagne were wonderful. As expected, even with one desert comped for his birthday, the bill was $$$$ to say the least. If price is your concern, look at the menu online first. the people next to us also had a Groupon so keep your eyes open to see if it comes up again... if it does I am buying one!
(5)Cindy H.
Finally, I'm ready to review John Howie Steakhouse now that I've eaten here for lunch and dinner, seated at bar and main dining room, and dine-in and take-out...I even got to meet Chef Howie in person! John Howie Steakhouse not only serves delicious fine dining cuisine using the best ingredients, it's surprisingly suitable for many types of occasions as it is not always as expensive as you think. It's really too bad that the restaurant does not open for lunch on weekends...because if it did, I would probably be here every weekend to take advantage of its delicious yet surprisingly economical lunch menu (which for now is only available M-F). Steak frites made with American kobe beef runs for just $15, while my favorite Kurobuta pork loin sandwich is just $13. I say that's a great deal for high end dining experience at the Bravern. And if the lunch special is Prim Rib Steak Sandwich served au jus, please please please order it, I guarantee you will not regret! While lunch is business casual, dinner in the main dining area is a bit more formal. Please save it for special events like birthdays, graduations, and anniversaries and bring your favorite people (and empty stomachs) with you to share this special experience. We ordered a side of Maine lobster mashed potatoes and Prime Chateaubriand for Two which comes with oven roasted vegetables and maitre'd sauce. The maitre'd put on quite a show when making the sauce (check out the pictures I posted on this). Everything was fabulously delicious, the Chateaubriand was perfectly prepared, the oven roasted vegetables tasted fresh and al dente (not sure if I can use this to describe veggies...), and the Lobster mashed potatoes had so much lobster meat that every single bite was a feast. And since we were celebrating a birthday, we stuffed ourselves with the complimentary Meyer lemon pie at the end of the meal...I was in food comma for the rest of the evening. I will certainly be back for more...next on my list to conquer are Prime Porterhouse for Two, Pan Seared Prime Filet Mignon Medallions "Oscar Style" and American Wagyu "Kobe Style" Rib Eye Steak!
(5)Jeremy M.
In a nutshell: Ambiance- Besides the fact the pianist was a little too loud, everything seems very nice.(our hostess had to shout to hear check in with us) Service- Busser spilled water on our table while filling our glasses. We ordered crabcakes but ended up with mushroom gnnochi. I order my steak "RARE" waiter said "WELL DONE" it is(I corrected him). Price- Very pricey Quality- Not up to expectation To be honest after months of driving by this place and trying to find a reason/occassion to come here, we finally gave in and just went anyway. To keep it simple I would say the food presentation was probably the best part of my meal. The steaks were tender but tasteless which made me think this would be a great time to ask for some ketchup but I refrained from doing so. Ironically I think the best part of the meal was the mushroom appetizer that we didn't even order. Final Thoughts: I think I would give their lunch a try, but probably not dinner again.
(2)Brandy I.
Amazing....this word summarizes the meal, service and overall experience. Its always a delight, when they bring out freshly baked bread. And even more of a bonus, we had a selection of breads - crispy lavosh, a pretzel type of roll, some sort of walnut roll (which I passed on, I'm allergic to walnuts - a sidenote, they asked if there were any nut allergies at the table so they added the walnut roll in our second basket of bread upon request) and these little cheese poppers, omg so yummy. We skipped on apps but ordered their table side wilted spinach salad. I heart when restaurants offer to do tableside presentations, lol. It just doesn't seem that many places offer the entertainment anymore. And the salad was so nice, the sherry dressing had a tinge of sweetness from the sweet onions and with the salad they presented their trio of salts- umm, let's see there was a white course salt, a yellow pinkish course salt which was very tasty on my salmon, and the last was a black course salt from the big island, which apparently is used on steaks and makes it "pop off the plate", lol according to our server....my dining companion confirmed this though as he took his first bite of his Australian Wagyu with sprinkles of this black salt and was just blown away by the flavor. Salmon, was fabulous....moist, flavorful. The Australian wagyu, was the best steak my buddy ever had. We also ordered their garlic mashed potatoes, which came out nice, fluffy and buttery goodness and their chantrelle mushrooms with shaved brussel sprouts, which had great flavor without being overly buttery. Dessert was just fabulous...salted caramel, on ganache on top of a shortbread crust accompanied by a salted caramel scoop of ice cream. WOW. What was also nice, was that since it was my friend's birthday they actually provided the dessert, complimentary on the house. Two thumbs way up!!
(5)Andrew D.
Ok, so the tempura bacon is all that is cracked up to be and then some. My wife and I went to JHS for our anniversary and I told her we HAVE to try it, she was hesitant but figured what the heck. Her first bite was "Oh My God" and then we plowed through the rest of them. The steak was fantastic, cooked exactly how I wanted it, medium rare, cool red center. The mashed potatoes were excellent - creamy and tastey with enough salt and good garlic throughout. Finally I finished off my steak with a JHW Amber Ale which I have to say had enough flavor and good body. My only complaint would be the dining area was a bit loud and the chairs in the dining area aren't all that comfortable. I would definitely recommend a booth rather than the table/chairs in the main dining hall. Excellent - on the spot - service. Fully attentive. Thanks
(4)Christine M.
Very slow service and service errors, the food is good but not consistent. I am a business professional and have come to John Howie on 3 occasions on business. On each occasion, our party was 5 or 6 guests. The last time we were there was near the Christmas holiday, so the fact that it took 40 minutes to receive our appetizers, and a full two hours start to finish was somewhat understandable. However, the waitstaff did bring other tables' orders to our table two separate times before bringing our correct entrees. The others in the party made so many comments about the slow service that it became very embarrassing. The food, however, once it arrived, was delicious. We decided to return today, hoping the service would be faster. Our waitress was very pleasant and detailed, and the slow service today was not due to her ability. I can only assume it was a problem in the kitchen. We arrived at noon, and the restaurant was not very busy- I would estimate approximately 50% full. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, our food finally arrived, after several comments from our waitress that our food would be "right out." Today, it once again took 2 hours for lunch, start to finish. I ordered the Crab and Shrimp salad, which I have had in the past, as it was very good. Today, the crab was flavorless and the vegetables soggy. A disappointment. The colleague who took us to lunch today ended the visit by cancelling a reservation he had at John Howie next week with another client due to the incredibly slow service. One note- a 2 hour leisurely dinner is likely appropriate and very enjoyable, but it seems that a fine restaurant in downtown Bellevue in the business district would be able to provide a more efficient lunch service. I recommend Sea Star or Daniel's Broiler as their food is excellent and service is far more efficient.
(2)Sandy C.
I went there for HH.. my friend and i had their burger, fried calamari, and steak sliders. calamari was soso. but their burger was delicious. its huge and comes with fries, my hands got messy but it was worth it! good price, good service and delicious food. im definitely going back.
(4)Nicolas T.
Despite charging like them, I found that John Howie does not live up to the standard set by the other Seattle-area mainstays (El Gaucho & Metropolitan Grill, and even Daniel's, The Brooklyn & Jaks). Other reviewers have hit the finer points on service & ambiance, so I'll cut to the main reason for my visit: eating a darn good steak. Unfortunately for me, my 14 oz American Wagyu New York Strip (a $74 cut!) just wasn't up to snuff. Overcooked on the first go-around (zero pinkness on a medium rare order), I reluctantly sent the steak back only to receive the second one even more well done. I was told that Wagyu doesn't color like "normal" steak; instead of waiting for a third disappointment, I decided to go with #2. Tasty as it was, no well done steak holds a candle to medium rare, regardless of the cut. I'm definitely not a high-maintenance diner, but for a place looking to define East Side haute cuisine, John Howie comes across as an also-ran. That I was part of a large group shouldn't lessen my expectation for a terrific steak, considering the price. Don't believe the hype: John Howie should stick to seafood.
(2)Riani I.
been here several time and always had great times. Once the chef cooked my steak a little to mid and the waiter took it to the kitchen and have my steak re-fired immediately. I was very pleasing. My fave is Australian Zabuton. For appetizer, the bacon tempura, arugula salad, and wagyu beef carpaccio are the best. I love them so much...
(5)David C.
Best restaurant in Bellevue. I ordered the American Wagyu and it was excellent. Need to try the Australian Wagyu next. Great creme brulee and volcano cake. A+ service also. This is also one of my favorite happy hour spots. Everything is decently priced and delicious. The burger is probably my favorite thing on the menu. The wagyu sliders are also very good.
(5)Rosie -.
Happy hour at the bar is pretty cool, nice ambiance, talented bartenders and friendly servers. Crowd is more on the older side. I don't think it's the IT place for first dates. But the upside is the amazing menu! The crab fritters and donut bread pudding are the die for!! Love it. Will be back.
(5)Carolyn H.
Not much to say about this place. It's delicious. It's expensive. Not a restaurant I would go to on a regular basis, but definitely once every few months. This is a well run restaurant with quality food. Can't go wrong with that!
(5)J C.
We went to dinner a week ago at John Howie with some friends to help them use their Groupon. I was expecting more from such a fancy well-known place. And I have been to my share of fancy steakhouses, such as Metropolitan Grill, Maestro's, Vic Stewarts, Mortons, El Gaucho (in order of descending greatness). Amongst those John Howie is average, not the best. I love rib eye steak, and there were many choices on the menu, so we asked our waiter for his recommendation. I selected the 16 oz rib eye (about $58) that was aged for the longest, hoping to reduplicate the experience of the aged rib eye at Metropolitan Grill, which was probably the best steak my hubby and I have ever eaten in our lives (review to come). My husband got the 8 oz American wagyu rib eye cap ($62). His steak was much better than mine, much more tender. Only the cap portion of my steak was tender and flavorful. He was nice enough to share his with me. So I probably should have ordered the smaller cap steak. They did cook them perfectly medium rare. I appreciated that on their wine list, they had some options for glass pours that were reasonably priced. I had a 4 oz. pour of a WA cab which was nice for $7. We also all enjoyed their amuse bouche, which was creamy lobster bisque topped with chives served in a porcelain sake cup. I think I licked the inside of my cup... Two of our friends ordered the larger porterhouse steaks, which they seemed to thoroughly enjoy, but I did not get to try any (maybe they were so good they did not want to share!) The other two ordered the halibut, which I tried and thought was average. They gave us different sea salts to try with our steaks, but my steak was already salted enough, so I couldn't try any salts even though I wanted to. And I like salty food! The most disappointing thing was the side dishes. We ordered the beech mushrooms with english peas and kurobuta bacon, about 10 bucks. It was served in a fairly tiny dish, and was incredibly salty. So salty I couldn't eat it by itself, I had to mix it with the bland mashed potatoes, which weren't good either. And the english peas tasted like little starchy clumps, bleh. The only side dish I liked was the creamed spinach, which had a poached egg broken over it, so it was creamy and delicious. We were so full we did not order dessert, and they gave us complimentary chocolates, which were salted caramel with pecan praline, those were yummy and satisfied my sweet tooth. The other thing that bothered me was that we were seated at a corner table, which was nice, but I got the chair that was outermost, and during the dinner about 7 times, waitstaff kept bumping into my chair as they walked by. Some of them apologized for it, but it started to get annoying. Overall, nice place to eat, but most food was mediocre except the wagyu beef, which comes at a price.
(3)Greg V.
We returned for a business lunch and everyone in my party loved the food, service and atmosphere. My boss even said that he wants to return with his wife. We had a window-side four-top with a nice view. They have changed the menu recently. The Roasted Vegetable Napoleon is gone. My boss is Cuban, and he just had to try the pulled pork sandwich, which he loved. Another co-worker had the special, a copper river salmon fillet that she quickly devoured. I ordered the Australian Beef burger and it melted in my mouth, especially paired with the cheddar cheese sauce, the fried shallots and the caramelized onions! Yum. We also enjoyed the bread basket (before our meals arrived) and we ALL had the tropical iced tea. Very refreshing. Prompt refills, too. I am ready to return for dinner now, as my boss said, it's a great place to celebrate a special occasion (or just to go out and not have to cook)! Thanks John Howie.
(4)Eric K.
I have not had the pleasure of eating a dinner at John Howie yet. But I have eaten happy hour at the bar. And it was, well, pretty dang good. For a drink I had their St. Germain HH cocktail. It kind of tasted like 7-up in a way and I know that's going to sound bad but it was incredible. It was sweet and so incredibly delicious I forget it had alcohol and finished it off pretty fast. I need to go have another one before it goes off the menu. For food I tried the beef carpaccio, fried bacon, burger, and donuts. I was expecting a lot from the carpaccio because the carpaccio at Palisade when John Howie was there was the best I have ever had. I have to say this was definitely great carpaccio but not quite to that level. It was still great carpaccio though. I'd only say it could have used a bit more seasoning. I'm not a huge bacon fan but the fried bacon was great and the sauce made it even better. I think if I order it again I'll get it with four people so I just have to eat one piece. More than one of those is just way too much for me. And then there is the burger. So I tasted this burger as a candidate for best burger in the area so I had high expectations. I quickly realized it wasn't going to beat the burger at Quinn's and dropped those expectations. On its own merits it is a good burger but it isn't the quality of burger where you'll want to eat it with minimal toppings. This is a burger you eat with onions, lettuce, pickle, etc. on it. There was also a piano player playing while we were there. It wasn't so loud it was obnoxious or anything and some of his renditions were pretty good. All-in-all this was a classy place, with good food, and decent happy hour pricing. I will be back but I think Daniel's (as long as you are in the lounge) might still be my favorite Bellevue happy hour. PS-As a public service annoucement I was told to stick to the meat when eating here and that definitely paid off.
(4)VeloNelo J.
Serious burger and refreshing green salad. Power lunch on the Eastside! The peppercorn and blue cheese burger was perfectly cooked - medium rare, with generous amounts of cheese and large, coarse-ground pepper corns. Flavorful and juicy burger made from quality beef, nice bun, not too bready. You'll need a handful of cocktail napkins to maintain order once you dig in to the burger. An unexpected treat was a very generous mixed green salad with avocado, red & yellow grape tomatoes, citrus fruit, caramelized walnuts, and other delights. The salad substitution was a $3 surcharge over fries, potato salad or chips, but was well worth it (fries would've led to major food coma). I washed everything down with an Arnold Palmer, though the draft beer sounded significantly more appealing. Hostesses at Friday lunch shift were super friendly and engaging, as were bartenders. Service all around was quite good, including food delivery person who artfully dodged my windmilling arm as I shared a story with the bartenders. While I've been to this building before, getting to the restaurant and back to the car was nothing short of challenging... even with the map provided at the elevator you've got to hire a guide to find the place (suite numbers listing 125 would suggest 1st floor, when in fact it's on the 2nd Floor - go figure.) Perhaps the building planners were in a burger and beer-induced food coma when they cooked up the parking set-up! Parking is free with validation from restaurant or shop.
(4)cindy g.
Steak was yummy. Atmosphere ok. Could be more lively
(4)Alice L.
One of the best happy hour spots! Eastside and Seattle! The one thing I learned is to always order what the restaurant is specialized and known for. It was a given that we order the prime beef bacon cheeseburger, the sirloin steak sliders, and the prime tenderloin bits. I'm not typically a meat person but the these 3 dishes were very, very delicious, and loved the fries!! We also order the fried gnocchi, a bit different from what I was expecting but tasty and addicting regardless. The calamari was a let down (should've known since it's seafood and not meat!), too much artichokes and breading, not enough real calamari meat. Overall a great hh place, and the price is decent for being a 4-$ restaurant in downtown Bellevue.
(4)Rrr V.
Host/ess: 4.1 Wait person: 4.3 Food; Taste, Presentation: 4.0 Property: Ambiance, Style, Decor: 4.4 The Sommelier was one of the best I have encountered in awhile, as they are very knowledgeable in their profession; the suggestion for the pairing we received was par excellence!
(4)Adrienne H.
Mr. Howie and his fabulous staff have raised the bar for what a "steak house" SHOULD be. Bravo! The BEST happy hour on the Eastside hands down...Their house ground burger has ruined me for all burgers for the REST of my life. Don't even get me started on their steaks, or the Ahi Poke that I had yesterday... If you like to people watch, the bar is where its at. I love this place and can't go a few days without stopping in. PS. I may be biased, but Gene is the hottest bartender ever! Edited: 2nd BEST Happy Hour in Bellevue... and hottest bartender is now at Cactus, just in case you missed him! ;)
(4)Joe H.
This place was great. It was pricey and prices don't include sides, but my steak was perfected cooked and they had a good wine list. Yes they take AMEX
(4)Bert H.
I've got to hand it to Mr. Howie, he takes his business very seriously. After my initial horrible experience and subsequent review, I was contacted by Mr. Howie and he asked that I give his restaurant another try now that the kinks were worked out. In fairness and disclosure, he also gave me a gift certificate to come enjoy his steaks. I'll try to not let that part sway me too much. I was impressed that Mr. Howie contacted me and decided to take him up on his offer, so Betsy K. and I headed out to the braven. This time around, I made reservations ahead of time. This seems to have made all the difference in the world. When we arrived, the maitre'd checked our coats and the hostess showed us straight back to a booth. The booth itself was interesting. long and shallow, seating two in it either put us at either end facing each other with alot of space between us, or one of us on the edge and the other sitting in the center of the booth like the godfather. I ended up taking the godfather position and enjoyed the people watching that spot afforded me. The meal started off with a small sampling of fresh shrimp and teardrop tomatoes with a light sauce "to prepare our palettes", which it did admirably. Next we enjoyed our drinks and the bread basket, which were both promptly brought to the table. Their drink selection is wide, but I do wish that the beer selection had a few more microbrews on it. This is the NW after-all and you can't throw a rock without hitting a microbrewery. I ordered the bone-in New York steak and it was amazing. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly grilled, and simply delicious. The waitress brought out a tray of different salts for us and on her recommendation I tried the black salt, which was sharp, but suited the seasoning of the steak perfectly. The steaks come ala carte , so i ordered the twice baked potato and the asparagus dish, both of which were easily enough for both betsy and I. They were also delicious and I can see having the twice baked potato by itself for lunch sometime. We finished it off with dessert, a cheesecake that was good but not exceptional. (not a knock on the cheesecake, just that the steak had set the meal's bar pretty high at this point) Overall our experience was a good one, which is night and day compared to our previous experience. We'll have to go back and try the bar to see if that section is any better than we remember it, but the restaurant itself - top notch. From both of my experiences I would recommend: Make reservations - It's a popular place and not the sort of dinner you leave to the vagaries of chance. Go for dinner or go for drinks - My experience in trying to do "full-menu" at the bar was a pretty abysmal failure, so get dinner in the restaurant or get drinks at the bar and avoid the potential for suck Skip the appetizer - Really, the entree's themselves are well-portioned and delicious that eating an appetizer is just setting yourself up to be too full to finish your actual meal and miss out on eating a delectable steak while it's hot and fresh from the grill, which would be a shame (Granted, my left over delmonico new york steak was still pretty amazing even re-heated the next day) In closing, thank you Mr. Howie for convincing me to go back and give your steak house another try. It was a memorable experience and I look forward to enjoying more steaks their in the future.
(4)Nate W.
I have been here too many times to count. In a nutshell, exemplary service, fantastic food, great ambiance. Their steaks are cooked to perfection, love the habanero shrimp! I've been here for birthdays, happy hour and intimate dinners. I've never had a bad experience, it is one of my favorite restaurants! I highly recommend JHS.
(5)S M.
One fantastic thing about this restaurant is the service at John Howie's Steak; it's definitely top notch. The steak, however, is not. When I came here with my wife for dinner I was extremely dissatisfied with the steak I ordered and was quite a bit disappointed overall with the steak experience. For a medium rib eye it was overcooked both on the outside (charred pretty much) and on the inside (simply light pink). The steak had zero flavor, even with the special pink salt from some remote town in the middle of Peru or wherever it came from. And it was an extremely fatty cut which made it worse because half of the steak wasn't really edible. And despite such a generous amount of fat, it was still tasteless overall. The lobster mash is definitely worth getting though, but this is a steak house and above all, the steak should be the main focal point regardless of its sides. In any case, if I were to offer my opinion (which I will) on the best steak joint in the greater Seattle area, I'd have to go with the Met. I've eaten there a handful of times and have never been disappointed once. Their steak is always grilled to perfection and I always leave very content despite how light my wallet is afterward. Canlis' steak is good, but their price incorporates the atmosphere of the restaurant which makes it absurdly expensive. Daniel's Broiler is also a solid place for steak whether on Lake Union or on the east side, but I'm not a huge fan of steak la carte. Ruth's Chris usually has pretty good steak as well, but again, not a fan of steak a la cart. Any of these places are leaps and bounds better than John Howie, hands down. So go to one of those places for a delicious steak dinner and save John Howie Steak for happy hour with friends or co-workers instead as their happy hour is the only thing I can recommend to people at this point in time. One star for the fantastic service, otherwise zero for food.
(1)Lee B.
My girlfriend treated me to John Howie for the first time and it was amazing. Having never been to a real nice steak house i had a lot of questions going in. The staff and especially Chris Lara were so helpful and went well out of the way to make sure our experience was exactly what we were expecting. He explained every type of steak and the differences between the USDA, the american version of the WAGYU, and the actual WAGYU from Australia. 2 thumbs up on ALL of the things we tried that he recommended. Very happy, very spendy but well worth it, The cow butt i had was the best cow butt EVER!
(4)Lily W.
Expensive and worth every penny. Having experience disappointments in the Bravern square, by Red Door spa and Wild Ginger, I expected this not to be more than another overpriced snobby restaurant. Turned out to be a great experience! The entire dinner was a great experience - very high-class service, sophisticated yet pleasant and amazing (really amazing) food. Order your steak medium-rare, this was by far the best steak I have eaten in Seattle. The only downside from five star restaurant I would say is that restrooms are located in the lobby of the building. Otherwise 5 stars!!! Hope to be back soon!
(5)Chad W.
Not only was the food amazing but the service was spectacular! I walked in and there were three people at the front desk with smiles on their faces fully focused on me as I walked in. I hate it when you walk in somewhere and the hostess or whoever job it is to great you is not paying attention, this is an easy job but has to be done every time. Anyway...the hostesses were great, walked my back to our table and the moment she sat me down to the table of friends waiting for me the server came over and introduced herself. I don't remember her name but our table was kinda difficult and everything we asked for the answer was yes or sure we can do that. We ordered some special vegetable dish and for some reason it wasn't going to come out early enough so they provided us with some complimentary asparagus to hold us over. Just an example of the amazing service we received. I have eaten at the El Gauchos and Metropolitan Grills of the world and this place was a touch above! We didn't venture away from the steaks but I had the American Kobe and the Japanese Kobe both of which were perfect!! You really couldn't ask for a better steak and to top that off with amazing service and an obviously gorgeous restaurant this place easily gets five stars. If I could afford to eat here every day I would but it is perfect for a special or semi special occasion.
(5)Kevin L.
Excellent, excellent, excellent.
(5)Andrew C.
I hadn't planned on returning to the restaurant, but Chef John Howie, had contacted me after reading my review to provide me some clarification on their aging process, etc. It was a very nice gesture and good to know that he takes the time to scope through the reviews. As even a grander gesture, he also provided me a gift certificate for my next visit. Kudos! To make sure there is consistency in the experience, I ended up going back with the same friend that came with me the first time. We went on a Monday night, so didn't expect things to be too busy. Had a reservation at 7:30 (through Opentable) but got there about 7. Decided to belly up to the bar and have a few drinks before venturing into the dining room. We had a quick drink in the bar before starting dinner. A small gaffe in the order, but won't bother getting into it. So on to the dining room... The dining room was relatively full compared to last time, so good to know the kitchen was a bit busy and already on their game to deliver some stellar fare. Upon sitting, we started with a bottle of Biale Black Chicken Zin. I am NOT a Zin fan, but my friends swears this is the good stuff. It wasn't too bad at $98 a bottle. It was a bit meatier than I expected, so okay. Our server, Jason, came with an amuse bouche of half cherry tomato topped with blue cheese and something rather crunchy. Not sure what it was, but tasted like rock salt. It was tasty.... When Jason took our order, he recognized we had been here before so didn't bother with the minutia and went straight to taking our order. He made a few suggestions for dinner and sides, but nothing that looked like up selling or pushing any particular dishes. We came famished, so we ordered: STARTERS Oysters Rockefeller Charcuterie Board MAIN Prime Rib - ordered it blackened, so standard prep but then seared with cajun/blackened seasoning Medium Rare 42 day aged Rib-eye - I wanted it Medium Rare, but Jason said that Medium was the better choice. Against my better judgment, I decided to go along with him. SIDES Creamed spinach Asparagus with hollandaise sauce Bottle 2 with the meal was an Efeste 2006 Cab Sauv. This was a BAD choice. It wasn't strong enough to stand up to the steaks and tasted more like a light table Merlot. The starters were pretty solid. Oysters as expected, but maybe a little too much spinach on top. But still good. The Charcuterie board was great. The Prosciutto was a bit dry but large shavings to give your mouth a bit to chew on. The Duck prosciutto was unique; first time having it, but nothing mind blowing. There was a pate on there that was quite nice and the star of the platter. Smearing the pate on a crostini with a touch of blueberry (not sure what kind, but tasted like) reduction was yummy. Get this if you come here. We killed the starters just as the steaks arrived. I have to say that I was a bit nervous that might run into the same issues as the first time with the steak, but tried to stay positive. When they laid them on the table, they looked great. The scent of the blackened prime rib was very strong and made my mouth water. The Rib-eye (my steak) looked like a nicely charred rib-eye. I immediately cut into the rib-eye to make sure it was cooked to order; it was. It was cooked medium; so at least I got what I ordered, but had a bit of order's remorse for not getting it medium rare like I like it. Oh well, next time, I know to go with my own preference. The steaks were good. The flavoring was nice. No funny tastes. So pleased that the steaks were living up to my expectations of how a steak should taste coming from a steakhouse. I am not sure what I mean by that, but it was definitely a good chunk of meat. It had good flavor, nice marbling and was something I enjoyed eating. The sides were a bit of a disappointment. The creamed spinach wasn't creamed. It was swimming in Soup (what happened from the last time?). The Asparagus was nicely cooked, but just drenched in Hollandaise. Overall, the experience was better than first time with a few hiccups that aren't pertinent to the food. I'm warming up to the food here and most likely will stop back again some day, but much like a lot of other reviews, for the price of the steak compared to quality, I think I would rather visit for the wine and the sides and possibly share one steak. Just a final note, want to thank Chef Howie for the certificate and the opportunity to visit again.
(3)J C.
Came here for late night happy hour (which is 9-11, but kitchen closes around 10:40ish), and also as an informal birthday celebration with some friends. Luckily, we did it on a Tuesday night, so I was pleasantly surprised that the bar was not overly packed. I am a SUCKER for piano bars, and there was a live pianist there, making the atmosphere great. You can even sit around the piano (like Daniel's Broiler). PROS: Great selection of happy hour food. Buyer beware, because this ain't no half-price Applebees. The appetizers are more pricey, but they taste good. Ordered the prime tenderloin bites and Beecher's mac 'n cheese. The mac 'n cheese was AMAZING. Also, they have a $4 house red (and white I think) for happy hour, as well as a $3.75 John Howie amber ale. Will have to partake next time. CONS: We had a very unenthusiastic and emotionless waitress. I don't know if she was just having a bad day, was tired because it was so late, or what. But she had very little facial expression and was not very engaging. At the end of the night, she just stood off to the side of our group while we were chatting and figuring out the bill, as if to say "HURRY THE @*&#**$ UP SO I CAN GET OUTTA HERE!" A little nonprofessional if you ask me, but then again, I'm not in the restaurant business. I hope to give her the benefit of the doubt. *NOTE - If someone in your group is ordering a burger, don't bother ordering fries off the menu, because the fries themselves are HUGE portions, and the burgers come with the fries and are easily sharable. Looking forward to the next happy hour to try more of the menu as well as come for lunch (which apparently is quite cheaper than their dinner).
(4)Alexander J.
When I go to a steakhouse, I want to remember the steak after I'm done. Hell, lower bar: I want to enjoy the steak while I'm eating it. Unfortunately, my prime rib was only memorable for being too salty -- and the restaurant actually puts sea salt on the table as if I'd want to add more! The fried calamari and artichoke tasted ok but felt limp, missing the crispy crunch. The salad was a mismash missing enough acid or any kind of unifying theme. Lemon Pie was ok, buried under cream, with not enough lemon flavor and unable to decide if it was trying to be sweet or tart and ending up bland and overpowered by a thick graham cracker crust. The sorbet was amazing but it was a local brand and not even made in house. As for the ambiance, I agree with other reviews. Lots of jeans and t-shirts even at night. The only touch of elegance was the amuse bouche at the beginning and the service was only OK, certainly no El Gaucho. Maybe come for lunch, when the place is packed with business people and the food is cheaper?
(2)