Crowded, average food, average taste, not cheap, not overly expensive.. sorta sounds like average right? 3 stars seemed right.. but the 'over feel' of it just isn't up to par for me.. so the bump down to 2 stars. The wait can be a bit long after you order.. the servers try their best but the food is what it is.. and that's mediocre quality. The drinks are 'ok'.. nothing special and not strong enough usually.. Happy hour makes it more palatable, but then you are limited in what you can order menu wise.. Given the choices in Bellevue, i much prefer Pearl..or Joeys even..
(2)
Regina C.
This place has some serious issues with service and food. We went last night for our annual Snowflake Lane family dinner. Service was atrocious and yet, again we were stuck in the back room with ALL the "families". Why, oh why do they insult us like this and we come back???? We have gone back because of the location and they are the ONLY restaurant that has availabilities. Go figure...even Earl's would be a better choice. Service last night was a total joke, so much so that we left a$1 tip. We have never done this before, but basically it was a disaster. Almost as bad as the food. Crudo pizza- Is this even pizza sought they use? It was so crispy it had the texture of a dry cracker. Even with the egg yolk it was dry. Yuck! Server did not know most of the questions we asked about the menu including "what is a crudite" I answered it for my family, cuz like I know what it is. No bread came until we asked 2 times, anchovies never did get on the salad as someone requested, sent back the white bean appetizer. It was inedible and the veggies were old and wilted. Daughter never got her oranges or her dessert that came with the child meal...I honestly could go on and on. The chicken parm was ok, my husband ate it unlike us, but he was starving and we weren't . Location smocation I will never go again. I hate chains...
(1)
Hanne A P.
I visit this location a couple times a year with my parents. We grab dinner and then head over for a movie. I have always had fantastic service from very friendly, knowledgeable staff. I've had the chicken parmesan and my favorite is a chicken maple salad (with pear and candied walnuts). Do yourself a favor and go for the lavender cosmo. Amazing.
(4)
Sharmel B.
I have been to this place a few times during lunch and each time the staff us ok but nothing great. The food is good but each time it has taken, not exagerwtting, 20-35 minutes to get our food. My last sandwich was soggy which means it was sitting and waiting for the rest of the food to be done. Plate was hot but not my food.
Didn't even get a glass of water served to my table. Came in at 930, and there was no front of the house. We seated ourselves and waited for a waitress. After I said loudly that this was bad service a waitress came to our table and asked if she could get us anything. We asked for menus and she asked for IDs, she left to get our waters and took after being gone for 10 minutes, we decided to walk out. First time I've walked out of a restaurant.
(1)
Betty C.
Being able to make the reservation on Open Table was such a life-saver. I literally was able to make my reservation and enjoy a cocktail next door while I waited! Had every cocktail I could get my hands on. They aren't terribly strong, but super tasty. It's a little hard to remember, but the martini with the grapes was divine. We had the mushroom and egg pizza. The mushrooms were so smokey, I think it overwhelmed. The egg was a novelty, but nothing to write home about. The sausage pizza was much more tasty. You could see pizza walking out with 6 boxes. Also the crab cakes were so tasty. But they were a tad pricey at $7 a crab cake. I'd go again.
(4)
H C.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here at the end of August and it was perfect! We used their private room in the back of the restaurant which fit 50 guests comfortably. There was no room rental fee like at other restaurants and their food and beverage minimum was very reasonable. We worked with the manager, Daniel Wilkins, and he and the staff did an amazing job of making the dinner run smoothly. We had personalized menus and they even took care of the floral arrangements for us. The food was also delicious and came out in a timely manner. We could not have been happier with the service here and would recommend Palominos for any large private dining event.
(5)
Jen W.
Came here after a horrible experience at another restaurant, We walked in to a welcoming staff. The food is consistently good. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. We were able to sit and chat and no feel hurried and the staff was attentive but not overly so. Great place to meet friends.
(4)
Nina S.
I took off one star because when I received my credit card statement, I noticed that my charge was more than the receipt I signed. The only thing I can think off was that our server added more tip than the 18% that I gave her. I disputed the charge and the card company will issue a credit and contact the merchant.
(3)
Gorman E.
***HAPPY HOUR On The EAST SIDE / BELLEVUE*** One of my favorite places in Bellevue just because of the all day happy hour at the bar. It gets busy; however, plenty of seats around the bar area with tables. We always manage to find seats even though it is always pack. I came here with two of my homies. We ordered: CRAB AND ARTICHOKE DIP - flavorful and comes with flatbread to scoop up the dip. Addicting and also goes well with the pizza if you run out of flatbread. TWO ITALIAN & MUSHROOM PIZZA - thin crust and plenty of sausage & mushroom toppings. Very good. ONE PEPPERONI PIZZA - thin crust and just amount of sauce with spicy pepperoni. Very good. TWO CRANBERRY MOJITO - Each person - Not too sweet and stiff enough to give you a buzz on the 2nd cocktail. Overall, great value including 20% tip....we each only spent $28 each and was pretty stuff with leftovers. The HH menu is limited but do offer other items like Ceviche, calamari, and sammies. Other than the three cocktail chooses, you can get beer. Our server was also very cute and friendly plus on top of getting us another drink. Legit Happy Hour specials and the thin crust pizza is very good. Recommended.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Food is consistently good and so is the service. Their menu is a really nice alternative to the generic bar food that so many nearby restaurants (Earl's, Pearl, Tavern Hall, etc.) offer. I always sit in the bar here. Their pizzas and meatballs are my favorite!
(4)
April F.
Love love love this place! Best HH! Note: They have HH in the bar area all day everyday! Woot woot! You can't beat that with a stick or a bat at that....ok ok...so this review is about their HH only (if you haven't already caught on), I have not indulged in their regular menu, because the HH is just too tempting!!! The decor is nice, the lighting low & sexy and the seats comfy. Now to the good stuff...the drinks are cheap and tasty. The Cranberry Mojito is good but on the light side, the Pomegranate Margarita is delicious but my favorite is the Candied apple drop! Best of all they are all under $10!!! Their pizzas are cheap and good I especially like the Pepperoni! The fries with the Gorgonzola spread on top is unique and delis! But my favorite thing to eat here is the Grilled Mushroom Salad!! It's like Heaven in my mouth! Also their bread pudding is the only bread pudding that I have actually wanted seconds of! If I had to say something bad about this place, I would say that the service is not that fast, but once the orders are put in the food/drinks come pretty darn fast, so I guess it makes up for lack luster waitress service. This is a great place to meet with friends or have a casual date, Hell I would even like to come here solo and have a seat at the bar. Bonus: They have two TVs in the bar area, though not big enough to enjoy a game but big enough to not miss it entirely! Over all this place is winning.
(5)
Stephen C.
Food is good. Great hang out place.Service slow.
(3)
Jenny L.
Ever since Palomino changed to all day happy hour, the quality of the menu went downhill. Portions got smaller and prices are higher. I used to love the food here...now it's just meh. While the cranberry mojito is now $1 more, it is the most delicious drink ever!
(3)
Hayden N.
Love the happy hour selection, wish there was still a Palomino in Portland, Oregon.
(4)
Kate S.
Went here for a Sunday morning breakfast. Note that their menu changes to brunch at 10am, and although it keeps many of the breakfast items, it doesn't have omelets, so we were sure to get here before 10am. It was pretty quiet until after 10am. Note that they open quite early (6:30am!), which is an advantage as a lot of brunch places don't even open until 10am. The two of us ordered coffee, orange juice, french toast, bacon & cheddar omelet, and a side of sausage, and were pretty impressed. Only negatives were the price (especially if you get any sides with breakfast, although it is to be expected for Bellevue),we had to ask for a refill of coffee, breakfast sausage wasn't very breakfasty, and the "maple" syrup wasn't all that great. Food and service was otherwise good. Especially liked the texture of the french toast, yummy orange juice, that they put a carafe of water on the table, and omelet quality. We were even allowed to substitute fruit for the breakfast potatoes. We'll be sure to return next time we stay at the Westin for the weekend, as it seems a step above Cheesecake Factory brunch.
(4)
Aimy D.
Very accommodating for large groups. Tasty sangria. Meh service and inconsistent portion sizes across entrees. I've gone a few times now and still haven't been won over. I'd much prefer HH here for more decent prices for what you're getting.
(2)
Pelin K.
Worst paella (even claiming they had the signature) ever!!! It doesnt worth the money at all..
(1)
Jon B.
I'm not much of a Mediterranean food guy but conceded to my wife's choice. It was good, I have to say. My only complaint when the general manager walked by and asked how it was was why did they not offer ranch dressing, as I love to dip my fries in it. He told me next time I came in to eat they would have it. Then, ten minutes later I was brought ranch dressing. He came by again just before we left and said as of today, they would carry ranch dressing thanks to my input and input of others the last few months. The customer service (new waitress) was exceptional. I gave it a four instead of a five due to menu selection.
(4)
Jessica H.
Greatest Paella I've ever had in my life...have had it two weeks in a row now...Meatballs, burger, turkey sandwitch, fries, pizza and soup are also all awesome. But nothing beats the service by the bartender Melissa.
(5)
Dan S.
*Like an idiot, tried the place again, keeping an open mind *We sat outside on the patio for 15 minutes before a server arrived asking us if we wanted water *Server brought us all the next tables food and was super confused *Took over 20 minutes to get our food, once again WTF is wrong with this place! It was half full, not busy at all
(1)
Nancy S.
Palomino was virtually empty on a Thursday at noon which makes our experience very difficult to understand-- we had to wait 5+ minutes to be seated because no one was around to seat us. Based on her behavior, demeanor and lack of service- our server HATED her job. Keep in mind that the restaurant was empty so it's not like she was overworked. She seemed bored, annoyed to 'help' us and, truthfully, it embarrassed me to have brought my client here. The food was good but the server's attitude ruined the meal. When it was time to check out, we waited 20 minutes for her to pick up my credit card- I ended up bringing the bill and my credit card over to the bar so that we could pay and leave. For only the 3rd time in my life I didn't leave a tip.
(2)
Kirsty K.
I love their gourmet pizzas and their happy hour menu. Because it's a little higher priced than most restaurants, it's not somewhere I'd go regularly, but it's definitely great for a treat such as date night. The atmosphere is romantic but relaxed and the service was good.
(5)
Inna B.
Wow - so busy at 5pm on a Thursday! Sure, sure... it's across the street from a mall and it was just before Christmas... but I don't think I have *ever* seen a line of about 10 people to get seating in the bar area. The wait was probably 20 minutes and they were taking drink orders for the people waiting! The weirdest part? It's not like their happy hour is for a limited time. It goes all day, every day in the bar! I was one of those that took advantage of that offer, so my wait included a nice cold beer. I'm pretty sure I had the widmer hefeweizen and was quite pleased when they carded me but not the two ladies standing behind me. What I learned after sitting down was that, even though I've been loving wheat beers lately, I definitely love their cocktails more. Their Cranberry Mojito was the first time I ever enjoyed a mojito! Sure - it was probably less boozy than other mojitos that I've tried... but for me it was just right. I loved the tall glass and the delicious drink. Plus, their happy hour beer is $4 and the (on special) cocktails are $5. The cocktails seem like a better deal to me. For our meal we enjoyed the delicious grilled wild mushroom salad - big enough for two to share - and one of the vegetarian flatbread pizzas. The pizzas are easy but the salad... that was a salad I probably wouldn't have ordered if Becca had not been there. I'm glad she was there to show me the way! Palomino - I wasn't sure what to expect from you... and I am happy to say that I was quite pleased with my experience of your Bellevue location! personal Yelpy note: FINALLY!!! Posting this review means I have ZERO review drafts hanging out on my profile. I've had 15-30 drafts for many months even though I usually finished at least a couple a week. So glad to get those cleared out before 2011!
(4)
Lauren H.
When we came to Palamino we had a table of 5, and arrived at happy hour on a Friday afternoon. The lighting was dim, and the restaurant/bar had nice seating. The place was busy but the staff found a table for our party quickly. To drink: I had a skinny pomegranate margarita. It was the perfect mix of sweet and tart. A very good size for only around $5.50. You would never know it was skinny as it tasted very sweet and had salt on the rim... Hmm... For appetizer: We had the Brussels sprouts and calamari. The Brussel sprouts were roasted and had a light lemon flavor. The calamari had a light breading. It came with pink (a little spicy) sauce, or traditional marinara. For dinner: I had the crab cakes. They were $15 and a la carte. They have very large chunks of crab meat, and a very little pan fried breading on the outside. I loved them! Some of the best crab cakes I have had. Overall, I would recommend anyone (with no kids) to go this restaurant/bar. You have to be 21 to be inside. It would be good for a date night out for two!
(4)
Desiree F.
First of all, customer service was sorely lacking. The food was also unimpressive. The only dish I really liked was the crab and artichoke dip. The chop chop salad was very ordinary.
(3)
Andrea D.
So happy with Palomino!! Food was fantastic, but what jumped this restaurant up to 5 stars was the service! I have been to the Seattle location for happy hour with friends, but never Bellevue. :( Lord I have been missing out!! Me and my husband went here for brunch, heard good things about their brunch, so wanted to try it. Right when you walk in they have a huge Bloody Mary bar with garnishes and the alcohol all spread out, really nice set up (not a Bloody Mary fan, so I passed n that one) We sat down and started to rethink breakfast, the lunch menu look great, so we decided to do lunch instead! Our waitress Kara (who rocked by the way) took our lunch orders. I ordered the turkey, bacon w/blue cheese & baby lettuce with a side Cesar salad, and Drake had sliders with a salad We started with the clams. Now, I am a die hard clams fan, so anywhere that has Manila clams, I am ordering them. Some have been good...some...ahh, SUCKED! THESE WERE DELICIOUS! Clams were not sandy at all...but what took the cake was the awesome broth...it wasn't just butter, shallots, wine and garlic. There was tiny pieces of sausage in the broth that gave it a great flavor. It also came with a great crusty bread. I asked the girl what the bread was and she said it was a sliced bagget toasted with cheese, I had to ask for some more, which she was happy to bring us. A few minutes later the head chef Jeremy arrived and personally delivered our bread to our table, we told him out much we loved the bread and the clams were incredible. He thanked us and told us how happy he was that we were happy with our food! Our lunch then arrived and those did not disappoint either. My sandwich with with blue cheese (which I was very skeptical about) was so good, great slices of turkey, bacon was nice and crispy. Salad was really good with just about a dressing and croutons! Drake loved his sliders and said his salad was great as well! The manager Beth then came and introduced herself to us, and explained to her how fantastic the service and our food was. She just her her card and told us if she could do anything to make it better, to please let her know. She then offered to get us a rewards card to earn points forward future visits there, I signed up immediately! I will frequent Palomino again and again!
(5)
Lisa R.
Excellent food, nice new menu concept. The service is phenomenal if you order alcohol. If not - prepare to be shunned by your server with a perceptible cringe of greedy disappointment.
(2)
Omar S.
Tasty food, great cocktails, and great HappyHour pricing! I stopped here for lunch one day (sitting outside), and then returned for happy hour later that week with the GF (sitting in the lounge). The baked Italian sandwich was generous, thick, tasty, with good toppings (fresh greens, oil+vinegar) on very fresh bread. Delicious. "Ultimate" Pepperoni Pizza was enjoyable, as were the mussels (plump, juicy, fresh, flavorful). All the drinks were generous and well-balanced and very tasty. The "low" lounge seating is kind of funny (the server has to crouch) but very comfortable (regular height booths available also). Happy Hour is on the weekend also (not just weekdays), and I found it to be a very decent value. The restaurant is attached to the Westin Bellevue-- sometimes hotel restaurants are awful, but Starwood is unusually good about this-- their properties usually have fun/tasty/trendy eateries attached. This one keeps up that reputation. Also, the staff is easy on the eyes. But, this is Bellevue, so not surprising. Recommended!
(5)
Brad R.
What was once our favorite restaurant, we now will not return. The only possible explanation is a change in management, who obviously isn't concerned about "the details" such as food quality, cleanliness or customer service. I'd say previously we would visit Palominos once every 2-3 months for special occasions, as mentioned earlier, tonight was our last visit. The waiter was incredibly slow and inattentive. He also lacked sincerity about the continuous delays with service. The table upon our arrival still had numerous traces of the previous patrons, the glasses and appetizer plates were dirty. Our server apologized and said he would bring out new plates immediately... It must have slipped his mind as we never saw plates (or bread for that matter, which historically was brought out). The new menu lacks imagination and our tried and true favorites. We tried to recreate the steak frites but the fries were a horrible texture and the steak ordered rare was far too chewy. Evidence pointing to defrosting, which would explain the manager coming over 45 minutes after our meal was ordered to apologize for the delay and say the steaks would be comped. I got the chop-chop salad. Shredded lettuce, garbonzo beans and a few pieces of salami for 16$. A joke. So, all in all, if you are looking forward to swinging by Palominos and ordering your favorite... you might be out of luck. Time to find a new favorite.
(1)
jamie c.
I love their happy hour and I am sad they do not do all day happy hour any more. I have not been here for a while so I will visit with my friends next week.
(4)
Joyce J.
Came here during happy hour and got to sit at the patio. The attendant was really nice to adjust the umbrella's angle for us when the sun began to set. The food was not very memorable but the price during happy hour was reasonable and the service was attentive.
(3)
Laura D.
This place is simply fantastic! My father has attended this restaurant weekly for over a year, and finally I went along! The staff here are very delightful; never do they crowd you or abandon you. Anything you could possibly need is taken care of in a timely non overbearing manner! They are all dressed impeccably, and extremely classy. Our food was extremely delicious; we ordered a pizza, chicken under a brick and a chicken salad! I will admit I packed my pizza to go because I was very content eating my fathers chicken dish! They were both however, very yummy and my mother loved her salad! Now for dessert! I wanted to marry the chef after eating my chocolate cake, it was to die for! I am one picky chocolate cake consumer and it took first place! The crème Brule is also very good; though I would never abandon my chocolate cake! So go ahead, give this place a shot!
(5)
Kristen L.
This is a decent place to get happy hour in Bellevue. You're not necessarily going to be wowed by the food, but prices on drinks and food are alright. It's also nice that it's an all day happy hour every day. Although, I do recall the HH prices to be less than they currently are.
(3)
Maria G.
I am getting disappointed at Palomino. This is my first time visiting the Palomino at Bellevue. Normally I go for the Seattle one just because it is closer for me and my friends. Now their happy hour simply does not offer great deals anymore. Pizza is now around $8 or $9 I think - where last year it was only around $6. Other side dishes prices also went up. It is very strange - I have not seen any other restaurants (that I visit often) increase their prices this year so I am not sure why the price increase is necessary. I mean, the food quality is still about the same. The service has been consistently great. However, I am re-considering this place as my regular hang-out spot.
(3)
Kellie R.
I just wanted to update that the manager of Palomino contacted me right away from this review and I felt really listened to my concerns. He sent me a gift certificate and ensured me my next experience would be different. Unfortunately I have yet to be able to use it as like I said in my first review we don't get out that often. However I do promise to update when I do. Great customer service from the manager however so they get bonus points for that.
(3)
C Y.
Came here for a Saturday dinner. My favorites are the Margarita Pizza and the Chop Chop Salad. I didn't see the Margarita Pizza on the menu, but was able to order it. I like Palomino, but my husband and I feel the food (especially the Pasta) is overpriced. So I usually go to the Cafe Palomino (in Seattle).
(3)
A M.
Best happy hour in Bellevue. Food & drinks are always on point. Service can be slow sometimes but it's expected since they get pretty busy. Great for group of friends or just one on ones.
(4)
Alex S.
I've been a couple of their locations. This one had good happy hour stuff, but each time I went the place was sort of dead and the food was just okay. Although I will say I ordered a pizza and it literally came out to our tables in 2 minutes. Still, after checking out Palomino in SF, it's hard to really really enjoy this place.
(3)
Judy K.
I've only came here for dinner a handful of times, but if you're 21+ I recommend skipping the overpriced dinner and heading over to their bar area for happy hour. If you're looking for a delicious and happy buzz, go for their cranberry mojito. I'm a huge fan of mojitos and they make it just right. Strong enough to feel a buzz, but not so overpowering that it taste like cough syrup. Their happy hour menu is alright and a bit on the pricier side, but I shouldn't complain since they offer it 24/7. Service can be bipolar. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Overall a good place to come if you want something to munch on.
(3)
Kathie s.
happy hour on a Monday! I don't usually indulge so early in the week, but met a friend here for happy hour as she mentioned it was good. We got a table right away and found out that happy hour was all day long. Good selections of draft beer for $4/pint, some speciality drinks like a pomegranate margarita for $5 and a selection of white and red wine were among the things on the Happy Hour menu. There was a good selection of flatbread pizza and some other app's for reasonable prices. Atmosphere was ok, but nothing exciting-great place to hang out and talk to friends. Pricing for happy hour was a 4 star.
(3)
Aaron Y.
Dont know how this happened but the Chicken Parmesan was pink and very under cooked. The manager apologized but that is still no excuse to have undercooked chicken and at a restaurant of this caliber. Got the meal for free but im never coming back.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
Not sure what happened to the good old Palomino I used to come to.... Seems they re-branded as Palomino Rustico and with that comes rusty food and service. This used to be one of my favorite spots for the friendly service and good food (esp. pizzas!) We came in for an early dinner and there were very few diners. The services was slow and not very friendly, didn't even say hello. We would had ordered drinks had we been asked! My food (shrimp scampi) was so oily that I couldn't finish it, may have been one of the worst dishes I ever had. My husband had the chicken parmesan and he enjoyed his food, although left much of the pasta behind as it was too crispy. Had to go ask the hostess for someone to bring us the check, as out waitress disappeared. We both left very disappointed, hungry, and do not plan on going back. So many great options in Bellevue - go elsewhere.
(2)
Nancy H.
OMG why haven't I tried ths restaurant before now? Where on earth have I been? This is my new favorite restaurant in all the eastside - and perhaps beyond! Came here recently for hubby's birthday, with our teen kids in tow. It is a rarity indeed for everyone in our party to agree on something, let alone a restaurant and all dishes ordered (yes, we tried each others' meals. I won't apologize!). To start, we can earlier than our reservation, totally expecting to wait. But they were able to seat us right away! The restaurant interior is warm and inviting in a country-esque way, with wooden planked tables and iron details and mason jar candles on the tables. I liked the thick country napkins (white bordered in red), which could practically double for a dish cloth in a countryside cottage. There is a cute patio outside (right across from the Bellevue Art Museum), and lots of light from the south-facing windows. Nice details like potted herbs in a wrought iron divider behind the hostess counter and an amazingly long chalkboard wall with all the specials and menus on it. Our server, Carolyn, was fantastic: pleasant and attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We liked how the manager or owner came by to ask how we were doing and chat a bit. It was difficult to choose what to order, as everything looked so good, but we decided on bruschetta appetizers, fennel flank steak with potatoes and artichoke-mustard puree, grilled mahi mahi with asparagus and a rustic tomato puree, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, and chicken parmesan, and a blue cheese salad. Every dish was fabulous. For desserts, we ordered the tiramisu (truly the best dessert of the lot, and they all were phenomenal! Note that this dessert easily could feed 2 or even 3 people and it was AMAZING!), the chocolate hazelnut mousse cake (very rich and delicious), and the Sicilian donuts (served warm, 7 or 8 generously sized donut "balls", chocolate rolled in sugar, presented in a white paper bag) served with dipping hazelnut sauce and mascarpone cream. Seriously, what is not to love here? It was all fabulous. So nice that they comped my hubby's dessert, as a birthday gift! I see that there's a well-reputed happy hour here. If it's half as good as its dinner foods and service, it's gotta be great! I say we have a Yelp meet-up here! Our family is already planning our next meal out here. What a super place!
(5)
Alan W.
I'm really sorry I had dinner there for a few reasons: * Somebody must have stolen all of the spices and salt from the kitchen since none of the food we ate had any taste at all. We ordered white bean dip (which came out green and in a pool of liquid) along with some flatbread with a pile of oil dumped on it, Calamari which looked like it came from the McD's fryer, and chicken flatbread pizza. * The key reason I wanted to go there was the chicken flatbread which I had in the past. I asked 2 servers about it since I didn't see something like it on the menu and they told me that the one that one the menu was "almost exactly the same but with a new name". LIES. It wasn't and tasted like a pizza I'd pull out of the freezer and heat up. * We were asked to leave the bar area after we ordered but the manager told us he'd honor the Happy hour prices. They weren't correct however our server did give a good discount on the food to make up for it. But please, get it right the first time ! So in short, if you like food with any kind of flavor, don't bother.
(1)
judy n.
came here with 5 friends. i ordered the special (beef cheeks w/pappardelle) & received chicken. i told the waiter that i was pretty sure it wasn't what i ordered but he insisted (pretty rudely) that it was. i didn't want to make a scene so i took a bite & yes, not only was it definitely chicken, it was very dry, bland chicken. i got the waiter again & let him know that, as i had suspected & told him, he gave me a plate of chicken. not only was he not apologetic, he treated me as if i was being unreasonable. half an hour later, as my friends are finishing their entrees, my special finally arrives (with absolutely no apology) i wolfed half of it down & it tasted really salty but not bad. later that night: total hurlage. i wonder if that waiter purposely tainted my food... i will never return to this place again.
(1)
Dave F.
Chain, mall-food......ok, Palomino is across the street from a mall and technically part of a huge restaurant chain. However, the food is excellent and their service excels! Happy Hour is great, but I love their mix and match lunch specials where one can have 2 of a salad, soup, sandwich or pasta. My fav is the Red King Crab, artichoke, Parmesan, sweet onions, tomato, cheddar and chop, chop salad which only costs about $14. Their pizzas are also wonderful and feature a really thin crust. This Bellevue location is consistently great and easy to get in/out due to the huge underground parking structure.
(4)
Joel Y.
Happy Hour Mojitos = Sweet and Sour Mix with a spritz of booze Grilled Prawns = Costco overcooked frozen shrimp in oil Pizza = the only thing worth mentioning about Other Drinks = weak. perhaps I am an alki, but I tasted nothing in any of the drinks- happy hour or no happy hour They were really busy and before the waitress could even greet us, she ambushed us to see identification. Rude. At least say hello. The couple behind us ordered some foul smelling dip that contained cheese. I wanted to throw up smelling that. Think fermented feet. Overall, very disappointing. There has to be better.
(2)
Cynthia C.
For the Bellevue branch and the Los Angeles (Westwood) branch: 5 stars for a never disappointing HH experience. There have been many a-buzzed afternoons spent here with my gfs. I've tried everything on their HH menu, and my favorites are always these few: sausage & mushroom pizza crab artichoke dip calamari I'm always skeptical on drinking house wine, but I've had some VERY tasty cabs here. The cranberry mojito and pomegranate margarita are great too. Never had any cheap-alcohol-induced hangovers...w00t.
(5)
Coty H.
The Palomino has fantastic foods and drinks. When I asked the waiter if he knew if a certain dish was gluten-free he came back to the table with a list of dishes and which allergens they do not contain. PERFECT IDEA! Ended up having the prawns with mushroom risotto. I'd go back just for the risotto if possible. Absolutely delightful!!!
(5)
Bob L.
Went there for HH. Enough said! $5 pizza - rotisserie chicken is great, if you like mild flavor. the crab & artichoke dip - OMG, you HAVE to try it! My wife had the Cranberry Mojito - very well made mojito. We were there at about 7pm and the far side of the bar was almost empty, so we didn't have to fight for seating. :-) Hope this continues on for a few more weeks because I want to try more of the other menu items.
(4)
Sean C.
Despite the best of intentions, in my experience few foundational changes of a restaurant end up for the better. Restaurants Unlimited' transformation of the mediocre Manzana into Palomino is a welcome exception. A friend had proclaimed that Palomino was her new boyfriend and as a result I resolved to try it for late night happy hour (9pm+) with her in tow. After easily finding a seat at the bar - a very different experience from neighboring McCormick & Schmick's - I was relieved to discover that Palomino was not the jealous type as service from the bartender was prompt and polite and I was neither challenged to a duel nor had anything spilled on me "by accident." I tried: - Mojito ($4) - Served in a tall narrow glass and the appropriate frill-less mix of strong and sweet. - Vongole Pizza ($5) - Light on the clams but the olive oil made for a pleasing if a bit heavy thin-crust pizza. Not a worthy competitor to Topolino's variation, but much more accessible. - Roasted Mussels and Chorizo ($6.50) - Excellent, in no small part due to the accompaniment of a succulent lobster-saffron broth that led to the substitution of pizza for the accompanying garlic crostini that was quickly devoured. Even if Palomino was a woman I don't think I'd be trying to win her heart nor would I come for dinner considering the pricing, but it is a reliable addition to the slowly growing Eastside happy hour scene.
(4)
N J S.
This review is just for the Happy Hour...which is every day, ALL DAY...it's just too bad you have to sit and eat at the bar. Personally, I can't stand those high seated chairs. I just don't find it comfortable, but oh, well. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere...it is a bit loud, so it tends to be difficult to have a conversation amongst your group. I've only had the flatbread with artichoke/crab dip, clams and calamari. The food isn't spectacular, but it all had a good flavor. The drinks that the bartender made tasted great. Not too strong and definitely not weak...and paying happy hour prices is a plus. True, you only have a few selections on what to eat and drink, but how much can one eat? Definitely a good place to come back. It's too bad they close at midnight on the weekends especially since when I got there the other night at 11:30pm, they had already locked the doors and I was STARVING!
(3)
Jay M.
The wife and I went here for the first time. First the good. The food was very good. The atmosphere is relaxing and encourages conversation at the table. now for the bad... The waitress was definitely lacking. She did not ask us if we wanted another cocktail, nor did she deliver any of our food (appetizers & entrees). Maybe she was new. Maybe she was overwhelmed. Regardless, she never acknowledge that she was lacking for whatever reason. Wish Yelp would allow us to rate at 1/2 stars because we would go 3 1/2. We would definitely try this restaurant again. Just hope the waitress is better.
(3)
Christina V.
Uli's pizza is SO good. The best part about Palomino's HH is that it's ALL day!
(5)
Roz H.
LOVE THEIR PIZZA! This place is great for happy hour! A little loud, but the food makes up for it. I like to meet here with friends and get quick service. Their house wines aren't bad either. The staff isn't overly friendly, but they are cool. I really reccommend Palomino.
(3)
Amy B.
Immediately following our dinner at Palomino's - Bellevue, my love and I discussed our rating of the restaurant and settled on a solid, but generous C+. It was a decent experience, they had an extensive menu, and our waitress brought us our food without problem. Basically, this was a "hey, not bad in my book, but let's not put it on the short list." As all of us do eventually, I went home. And not more than an hour after arriving home, I became sick. Sick to my stomach. I relived my entire meal and found myself rinsing it down the sink. Gross!! A day later and a wee bit lighter, I took the time to re-evaluate the evening for a more comprehensive rating: * The crab artichoke dip and the shrimp scampi were tasty- but I've had better. * The cranberry mojito was "eh" for it was too heavy on the mint. * The overall service was perfuntory but our table waitress uncomfortably aggressive and akward at times. WAITRESS: (After having the entrees at the table for several minutes, including dipping sauce) "You should try the sauce with the steak. It breaks up the monotonous taste of the meat." BOYFRIEND: *Looks at steak on his fork* "Monotonous taste?" WAITRESS: *Glares* "Yes. The monotonous taste of the steak." Wow! I don't know that customers wish to hear a word like monotonous used in reference to something they're paying a chef to cook for them. We stared at our waitress akwardly and thanked her just to end the exchange. * The entree prices were steep. $25 for shrimp scampi? * The environment uninspiring. * But what takes the cake is that I became supiciously ill after eating at Palomino's. Putting Palomino's under an entirely different light, I now generously give the restaurant a D rating and I won't be back. I'm simply not a fan at all.
(2)
Sarah M.
I had wanted to come here for happy hour for FOREVER and finally got to last night. I had seen it from the outside and the decor looked beautiful so I decided to check it out. Hot spot for happy hour! We had to wait a bit to get a seat, but we finally got a table to hang out at. The pizzas looked awesome for only $5! I got the proscuitto & asparagus bruschetta which was only $4.50! It was really good! The only thing that was kind of disappointing was that I ordered a diet coke and that ended up being almost as much as the bruschetta! I guess they do that on purpose though... The service wasn't bad in the sense that I hate servers who are overly nice and always in your face. I expected this to be one of those places but it wasn't!! I always want to tell them that their tip drops every second that they try to upsell me or suck up. The server was attentive and let us all just hang out and talk. Didn't interrupt too much which was great! It took a while for us to get service, but once we finally did, I didn't have any problems! Overall, great place for happy hour! I'd definitely come here again!
(4)
Barry G.
Whoa, has the food at this RUI stalwart gone down hill. Service is still solid with knowledgeable and eager staff - our cocktail server wrangled a special order out of the kitchen for us. The selection of red wine is diverse, interesting (a smooth French Carginan was on the menu) but most important: wine is served at the correct temperature. Even many "wine bars" in Seattle serve over heated, room temp wine (it's no wonder so many people stick with mojitos). But the food, ugh. I've been eating Palomino pizzas for... well, a long time and these were horrible. Palomino's delicious, saucy pizzas with good mozzarella were moved to the new recession/downsize menu and considerably cheapened. Flavorless, too crisp dough, bland sauce and cheap oily cheese. Other items on the bar menu were a bit better though the broccolini was too tough and the included favas over done. Bottom line: I'll be back for a glass of wine but will have to rely on my memories of better food here.
(2)
Stephanie S.
My husband and I were here a few days ago to enjoy some happy hour, and as always it did not dissapoint. Its hard to beat $4 glasses of wine and $6 pizzas. The service was fast, the food was delicious (they even customized one of the happy hour pizzas for me, thanks guys!) and the price was right. I have not been here for the regular menu, so can't speak to that but their happy hour at Palominos is constistently awesome.
(4)
Edgar M.
I've never actually been there for their dinner menu, but the All-Day Happy Hour is good enough reason for you to try this place. Great assortment of flat-bread pizzas and some seafood. The drinks are a bit on the spendy side for a happy hour, but if you're looking to get your grub on, it's not a bad place to stop by. Seating does become limited really fast. So make sure to have someone get there before 4p and you shouldn't have a problem hoarding tables.
(3)
Donna H.
Been here for happy hour before but not for dinner. This review is soley on my dinner experience. My husband and I decided to get a sitter and go out for a date night. First off, they will cancel your reservation if you are more than 15 minutes late. Fine, wish there was some warning so we had to wait an extra 5 minutes. Our waiter was an interesting guy. He had the "who cares" kind of attitude. Still somewhat attentive to our glass being half empty but always seemed to stare away when serving or chatting with us. A bit rude if yu ask me. Plus he was a bit on the slow side to get our dessert order and check. My husband and I shared a calamarie which has a light batter. It was ok but needed more flavor than the two dipping sauces that come with it. I ordered the prime rib as I was hoping for some mouth watering steak as I recently had on a cruise. To my disappointment I make a better prime rib at home. The side vegetables were pretty good. My husband enjoyed his surf n turf of prawns, filet mignon and salmon. The best part of the meal was the pear bread pudding for dessert. My husband is not a dessert fan and was stuffed from his meal but he managed to eat half of it. Wish he had left more for me! Next time I will stick with their happy hour and order their bread pudding.
(2)
Jen P.
I was just called a restaurant snob because I commented that almost all the restaurants in and around Bellevue Square are chain restaurants...... Um, well, they ARE. I don't hate chains; I just usually try to avoid them. But when I had a friend in town for business during Dine Around Seattle - this is where we picked for dinner. And it was A-ok, just as my rating states. The size of the appetizers were HUGE considering they are appetizers and you get 3-courses for $30! The salad was average at best. It sounds weird to say, but too much meat! But the meat platter with mustard and fig jam was delish!!! My scallops weren't great...... and the portion seemed tiny compared to my boyfriend's chicken parmesan - which was fairly tasty. The desserts totally made up for it though (bread pudding was really good). I felt we got an absorbent amount of food for the price. Some of it was better than others. Also liked the 25 bottles for $25. I want to mention that my friend did not order the Dine Around deal and her lamb lasagna was probably the best out of all of them! Probably won't go back, but I didn't think it was a waste of money. Best part of dinner was definitely the company and the conversation!
(3)
DIANA D.
Must come for HH to get a taste of Palomino. Great prices and delicious food. Wish we had one of these in So Cal. I'd be all over this baby. Clams, calamari, pizza, tiramisu, crab artichoke dip, and raspberry mojitos.......... need I say more? I think not - get your butt to Palomino for some good eats! Service was great, wait was non-existent (however, it was a Sunday!), and place was nice and cozy! Go, go, go!
(4)
Sonia Y.
I love going here for happy hour. King crab and artichoke dip is my favorite! We also always get a pizza or flatbread. They always cook it to perfection and the crust is always a good amount of crispiness without actually being TOO crispy (if you know what I mean). I just like going to the Bellevue location more than the Seattle one, not sure why, but the food is a bit different, even though it's supposed to be the same. The food seems to have more time put into it than the other location, atleast from the times i've visited.
(4)
A L.
One word, William. William was our server, but server is not the word to describe what he really does. From the moment we arrived, early for our reservation, they got us a great table. Once seated, William sprung into action. He is funny, knowledgeable, personable and a true professional. The drinks were strong, the food was incredible, great atmosphere and William surprised us for our anniversary with a slice of tiramisu cake. If you want a wonderful evening and you are celebrating something important, go to Palominos, and if you can, get into William's section, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Carly L.
HH is great. Betsey S and I indulged on some white bean dip ($3) and some pizza ($5) and they were great and large portions. Our HH wine ($4) was also not bad. However our service was a bit odd and we sat in chairs that made it feel like we were sitting on the floor.
(3)
Avitania B.
I've been to the Palomino several times for drinks, but today was the first time I'd actually eaten here. Or, to be more accurate, eaten something here for the pleasure of eating and not because I should get something carby in my stomach lest the mixture of alcohols swirling around in my belly make for a very unhappy morning after. Ahem! But I digress. I came in at around 11am, assuming they'd just opened for lunch. Apparently, though, they're open at 6:30AM for breakfast. Breakfast! Who knew? Anyway, the hostesses were very friendly and I was seated very quickly, and bread (from Macrina) was quickly brought out. I decided to order a combo from their lunch menu: Chop Chop Salad, and Whole Wheat Pappardelle, $14. The salad was great -- fresh lettuce and tomatoes, finely chopped with salami, cheese, garbanzo beans, smoked turkey, and balsamic vinaigrette. The pappardelle was also really good -- sauteed with broccolini, shredded chicken, and pecorino cheese. The dish was a little on the oily side and some of the chicken had skin on, which probably compounded the oiliness, but the dish was still quite good. If you're thinking, like I was, that $14 is a little on the pricey side for a typical weekday lunch, they offer lunch combos that aren't as expensive. But given the quality of my lunch, I think $14 is fair. The only detractor, and it's not Palomino's fault, is that a table of four women, each carting very small babies in strollers or car seats, were seated next to me while I was eating. I'm glad I was almost finished, because if I had to sit for an extended time around that many babies, I would not be happy. Point for next time: eat in the bar/lounge area to avoid baby gatherings. Palomino just keeps getting better in my book. Semi-perpetual happy hour? Awesome. Good food? Check. Sweet! What's next?
(4)
Laural B.
Our waiter was fantastic, the specials delish - my only complaint was that they didn't suggest splitting salads since they don't have the appetizer-sized variety. And then came dessert. Tiny little deep-fried donuts with marscapone vanilla and powdered sugar to dip? Oh, yes, please. I had a dream about these donuts last night and figured I should alert the world to their presence.
(4)
Carol W.
I have only been here for Happy Hour, and it was wonderful! It was really full at 6 p.m. but luckily got a table, and there were people waiting for our table when we left too. They offer $4 drink specials, $5 pizzas and under $10 appetizers. And to top off the great prices, the happy hour is all day!
(4)
Amy B.
We went for Breakfast. In town for a conference, staying at the Hilton and wanted a good breakfast. There arent many choices for breakfast in walking distance, but fortunately the Palomino was really good. 4 of us went and were all very happy with the food. Not an extensive menu by any means and kind of fancy but the price was quite reasonable for the amount and quality of food. I had the fresh mozzarella, fried egg, basil fritatta. It was wonderful. Came as a sandwich which was a bit of a surprise with hash browns on the side. The hash browns were disappointingly ordinary. They lacked in comparison to the quality of the other items. Good selection of hot teas too. Note: our waitress said that from Noon on its happy hour. 1/2 off drinks and bar food. I'd check it out.
(3)
Eugene C.
Dear Palomino, I don't know why people are giving you such poopy reviews. You do what you do well. You don't pretend to be a high class escort even though you located next to high class escorts on Bellevue way(ave?), when you're just a middle class escort. You're honest to yourself so good for you. I enjoy the fact that I don't need to remember all the happy hour hours for restaurants in Bellevue anymore. At any time I can be like, hey, guys, it's happy hour at Palomino's right now. Let's go get delicious prosciutto pizza, and drink some beer. You take the hassle out of deciding when my brain is too fried to think. I like that Palomino so I give you 4 slightly orangish red stars. Everyone else can skedaddle to their high class establishments. I'll stick with you, right in the middle. With Love, Eugene
(4)
Nina N.
Fantastic happy hour!!!! $5 dollar pizza's and half off app's! how can you go wrong?? A good happy hour that starts during lunch time, and so you can get a thin crust pizza for five dollars, and grab a coke with it! Now that's a slamming deal!
(4)
Eric P.
I've been to Palomino for Happy Hour nearly a dozen times now and never had anything but a great experience. Happy Hour is all day every day. Hear me? ALL DAY. Amazing. This is the place to come for cheap(er) eats and cheap(er) drinks when it's not the traditional Happy Hour time -- like 8pm on a Friday, for example. I've always and only gotten the pizzas which are insanely delicious for $6 (that's cheaper than a Red Robin burger). I love that all draft beer is $4. Four bucks? For Guinness on tap? Two please! The bartenders are very customer service oriented, kind, approachable and attentive (more so than the waitress, I think). If you want fast service, try to sit at the bar. So, to recap. Pizza: insanely delicious. Beer: good deal for imported drafts and microbrews. Service: good, especially for how busy they get.
(5)
Nick G.
What can I say about Palominos? Well... their happy hour is pretty much unparalleled in Bellevue. Come on now... their Brie Pistachio for $7??? The Cab was a phenomenal pairing and their pizzas are only $5. This is one of those rare locations that I can almost guarantee you will continue coming back to again and again.
(4)
Rrr V.
Host/ess: 3.0 Wait person: 3.3 Food; Style Presentation: 3.0 Property, ambiance, decoration, style 4.0 It's always good to stop by at this place after half a day's worth of shopping and meeting colleagues for an unusually early and prolonged happy hour. As it gets later the place gets so much louder like it's a public market of sorts. Blame it on the acoustics and bad design? It's convenient. The deep fried calamari never disappoints!
(3)
Jimmy G.
I never write reviews but after paying $30 for a subpar dish i felt the need to give some insight about Palominos. While I'm sure the happy hour food is probably good and reasonably priced, the same cant be said for the special. I ordered the Tuscan steak and chicken parm special for $23. The steak was cold and had a bitter taste and the chicken parm looked like it came from a bag and was placed on a bed of ugly cheap angel hair spaghetti noodles. The potatoes were the best thing on the plate. Disappointing.
(2)
Charlie C.
I've ate here once before, and it was mediocre, but I will never eat here again. I travel for a living, been on 85 flights this year so far, and I eat out all the time. This, by far, has been the worst meal of this year. The bread should have been a tip off. The marinara sauce was ice cold, and the bread was partially uncooked. Then the appetizers were bad, like the mozzarella tasted like it's been sitting in plastic. And my entree... the pasta was stale, and the veggies were bitter. When something is bitter, it is a sign that something is poisonous or at least not ripe (nature telling you that you're not supposed to eat it). And then get this. Between me and my colleague, the bill was $64, and we were going to split it. The waiter brought us each a bill for $37. Last time I checked, 64/2=32. Seemed to me that someone was trying to pad their own tip. We had to call him out on it, and he responded too quickly like he already knew what he did wrong. I really should have tipped him $0 (have only done this twice in my life), or maybe even negative tip. At least I wrote on the bill, "FOOD WAS TERRIBLE."
(1)
Lora H.
Oh Palomino... how I've missed you so. Why oh why did you ever leave Hawaii?! It was such a nice treat to go to Palomino while in Bellevue this past weekend! Brought back old memories of Palomino in Harbor Court in Honolulu!! Although I didn't really eat dinner as I was on my way to meet a friend, I did get to sample the food my girlfriends ordered while I was waiting! The chop chop salad, and bolognese were always my favorites! And then they had a lobster gnocchi on special, pure genius! I had to knock off a star for the Maytag Blue Cheese Salad. Um... what the heck was that about?! No taste. Just lettuce. Not enough blue cheese, and not enough dressing. All around weird. Waiter was awesome and attentive, although, he seemed to have the hots for one of the girl's sitting on our table so he got a bit distracted when he brought our orders back! Haha!! The atmosphere was nice too!
(4)
Tom L.
So I went to this restaurant last night. It's located in the Lincoln Plaza, right across the street from Bellevue Square (I stick my nose up at everyone) Shopping Mall. The interior of the restaurant was dim with a modern flair to it. Everything was nice and clean. There is a formal dining area and a bar area to the restaurant. The bar area has a couple of TV's showing whatever game is on at the moment. I order the lobster ravioli, which I'm guessing is one of there better dished since it had a little horsey symbol next to it. The food was served very quickly. There were only 2 pieces, but they were large, 4 x 4 inch pieces. They were placed in a creamy alfredo like sauce with another tomato based sauce over the top. The pasta shell was perfectly cooked as were the lobster pieces inside. The dish did not come with any sides and was priced at $28.00. The dish was good, but it's not something I would have to have as my last meal on earth. The service at Palmino's was excellent. The waiter was prompt and courteous. They didn't have any problem with the orders. The waiters also checked back several times during the meal and kept our glasses and drinks topped off. Apparently they may have a good Happy Hour, but I didn't get to experience that aspect of the resturant. Overall I'd say my experience at Palmino was good, but there is definitely better food out there for the same amount of money.
(3)
Eric K.
I wasn't too impressed with Palomino for drinks. The service was spotty despite the large quantity of drinks we ordered. And on top of that my old fashioned was filled with a ton of small pieces of ice and was definitely not a quality specimen of an old fashioned. Also the happy hour list was pretty short and didn't feature anything I was really interested in. So most of us just ended up ordering off the regular menu. On the plus side it is quite a big space so it is easy to go with groups and they had a pretty good crowd. The crowd was at least a long younger and vibrant than the crowd in the Daniel's bar where we went after. But with the level of service and drinks here I'm not very excited to try dinner here. A friend has said the happy hour food is good though so I'll have to come back to try that.
(2)
Morgan M.
Happy Hour-Every Day...All Day. Is there anything else you really need to know apart from the insanely tempting Happy Hour? Probably not but when you've got time to spare and you're outside of the PTAmobile it's fair game. I was in town for the wedding extravaganza of the year and with a few minutes to kill before the bridesmaids dinner reservation across the street at the Melting Pot Anji D., Elise and myself popped over to Palomino for a quick drinky while we waited for our chariot. Aka. PTAmobile...formerly known as the Dodge Minivan. We zeroed in on the bar and a few free seats and promptly ordered up a glass of wine each. I was still feeling the after effects from the rehearsal bingefest and opted away from the $3 margarita. Oh tequila I love you so but damn that weekend blistered a whole right through my stomach. Either we are some fine lookin' ladies or the bartender took pity on us because our drinks were up in no time and our phones were all ringing that the motorbus was parked out front and waiting for us. If there was an invisible wine bong we used it, and I must say that offhand (not the one to chug drinks) chugging is like chewing vicodin or percocet pills. It hits you immediately. Fabulous : ) Order.Drink.Pay.Jump into a moving vehicle while trying not to flash anyone my derrier. Damn you Bellevue winds. Since the Palomino is a chain I can probably check out their happy hour apart from the Bellevue location and take advantage of what is featured, that is apart from the $4 wine bong.
(3)
Tarah M.
Outdoor seating on a beautiful sunny afternoon for a reasonably priced happy hour made this place A-OK. Lack of outstanding food or HH menu options prevented me from rating this place 4*s. $4 glasses of delicious wine is ALWAYS a great thing. $6 pizzas are a good deal, but wish they had more veggie options. Artichoke and crab dip was pretty good too. Service was decent and location is central to the Lincoln/Bellevue Square area. There just wasn't anything of special note that made this place stand out. Perhaps I'll venture for dinner and try a "real" meal :).
(3)
Bianca T.
I quite enjoyed Palomino in Bellevue. We ended up going here for a sit down dinner for work rather than partake in HH. Personally, I probably would have preferred the HH scene better. The menu had some nice appetizer offerings. We tried the 5 item charcuterie for $22. What was great was that all the meats came from Salumi! I asked our fantastic server, Jerry, to pick and choose from the 4 meats as he pleased. He brought back a great plate of salami, prosciutto, capocollo, and soppresata. It came served with tons of bread (more for the asking), fig jam, pickled veggies, and whole grain mustard. Nice start. Another nice deal they had going on was a selection of 25 different bottles of wines for just $25 each. You really can't beat that price for wine at a restaurant. My boss ordered a couple bottles of a nice red that all the wine drinkers enjoyed. The rest of us had either beer or well drinks. The dinner menu seemed pretty diverse. I didn't want anything too frou-frou and couldn't decide on what to get. I ended up doing the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. It was a decent size (plenty for 2 people if you partake in an app and the bread first) and nice flavors. Everyone else's dishes seemed to be pleasing as well. I enjoyed my experience. Service was great - again, Jerry was fantastic. I'm just more at home sitting in the bar area. I'd definintely go back if asked.
(3)
Jeff K.
I've done happy hour at the Seattle location, but how can you beat All Day Happy Hour? My friends were there last week and it was Cougarville. Young guns getting torn up, rawr, rawr!! Anyways, I'm glad I had a date and there weren't many cougars around =D. Cougars do scare me. Anyways, we had the sausage and roasted mushroom pizza and Gorgonzola fries. The pizza was okay, the service was good, the fries: never again unless I'm stupid hungry for something greasy. They weren't super greasy, but I don't know, it's just odd eating that whole huge pile of fries. In any case, it's a great happy hour menu, just try and avoid the fries if you want to impress someone.
(4)
Angelina L.
Happy Hour all day Sunday through Thursday!?!? Been here a few times and just finally getting around to reviewing. Love the thin crusted pizza, no matter what one you get, they ALWAYS seem to taste good and can definitely be shared between two people. Besides how can you go wrong for $5 per pizza??? We also got the Pistachio Crusted Double Crème Brie.. YUM.. I could live on stuff like this!!! Only complaint... they don't serve Manny's or most of any of the local beers, but mainly more nationwide known beers (Bud, Corona, Heineken, etc) although they do have Mac & Jack's Amber. Service was decent... Never really waiting to order more and never really waiting to be checked in on... Nothing too spectacular though... Just doing the job. Price right, good food, service decent = Will definitely return!!!
(4)
Jamie V.
I took my family here for dinner when I got my first paycheck. The dinner was good, not my favorite, but good. I am, however, a huge fan of the happy hour! Half off some delish appetizers (highly recommend the potatoes gorgonzola!) $4 for select cocktails (try the cranberry mojito!) and $5 draft beers. If you're going to late night happy hour, plan on getting there between 9-9:45 or be prepared to lurk around until a table frees up. If you can hold off dinner til 9pm, consider sharing mutiple apps during HH instead of springing for the full dinner.
(4)
Liz S.
As others have reviewed so far, happy hour is where you're bound to get the best deals. Can't go wrong with the pizzas or the flatbread, and the potatoes are delicious as well. The dip is tasty, but I guess I would like a softer bread to accompany it instead of the baked crackers (bread?) that is served (however, once they soften up a bit it's delicious!). I'd like to give this place 5 stars as the food came out in a respectable amount of time considering how busy the holiday season is but tonight I was there with my friend, asked for change for a $10 and was short a dollar! Our waitress would have gotten a bigger tip from me but I counted that missing dollar in there. Boo! Too bad, she was really nice too all things considered.
(4)
Jesena M.
We were regulars at Palomino for quite some time an went there for lunch again this week. We didn't notice the raise in prices when we ordered, but their supposed happy hour all day just went up significantly. We were shocked when we got the bill and the tomato pizza was $8 instead of the old 6. Sure, not a bad price if you go there in the evening, but certainly not worth it anymore to walk over there for lunch. We were quite disappointed. I think if you offer happy hour all day everyday and can't afford it anymore, change the hours and still keep a good offer in place.
(2)
Kelly D.
Timing from order to arrival: appetizers: 30 minutes lunch (we all had either pizza or salad): 60 minutes getting the check/back : 30 minutes Who has the luxury of a two-hour lunch during a work day? Not me! Seriously the food is good but not good enough for that insane kitchen backup.
(2)
Katie V.
I have been here many times, and my thoughts are that this is a great spot to come to for drinks and happy hour. Sit in the bar! The bartenders are attentive, friendly, and offer great service. I would never recommend this place for dinner. Every time I sit in the restaurant I am disappointed by the food and the service. And I always see upset customers. I was there one evening last week and we sat on the patio (which is a great spot on a sunny day, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. The couple at the table next to us had to wait a VERY VERY long time to get their check. Then the couple at the table behind us ordered a steak and a seafood salad. Their waiter forgot to give them a steak knife, and that seemed to be a difficult task, and then the seafood salad had no seafood on it. So they ended up sending all their food back. I feel like this is par for the course when you eat dinner at Palomino. Be prepared for overly salted food and a loooong wait. Go to the bar, grab a seat, and try some happy hour small plates and have some wine... you can't go wrong there.
(2)
Sarah M.
Came here with a friend and sat at the bar to take advantage of their happy hour. We both chose to try the lavender cosmo and we both decided it was extremely delicious! We also both had a caesar salad that tasted like caesar salad. I've only been wowed by a caesar salad a couple of times in my life, but this one tasted just fine. We also split the roma tomato, basil, shaved garlic & mozzarella pizza (why don't they just call it a margherita pizza?) Anyways, that was pretty tasty too. I'll come back for sure.
(4)
Cindy T.
Review is for HH. Definitely one of the better choices of restaurants for happy hour. It is all day HH which is great, and the only downside of it is that you have to be seated in the bar/lounge area, which is kinda small. During 5-9pm it gets super crowded and busy, so be prepared to wait if need be. One of my favorite mix drinks is the pomegranate margarita. Tastes like a sweet starburst! The mojito is also good too, except they like to fill it with A LOT of ice and mint. Be sure to tell them to cut down on that. Food is great, tried pretty much all the food items on menu.The tomato, basil pizza ($6) is my favorite flavor-although super thin crust. artichoke dip is great-fresh and yummy with pita chips. The mushroom salad is also my favorite. Mushrooms tasted great with the feta cheese on top. Calamari is alright, could be better though. It was mostly the tentacles. The potatoes were good tasting as well, with the melted cheese on top. Tasted like a fresher version of a french fry. Crab dip is also nicely flavored, and lastly is the meatballs which are also a delicious, because of its spicy flavor that gives you that unexpected kick. Only thing on the menu that I have yet to try is the flatbread, but i'm sure it would be just as good. Waiter was decent, did her job, and would frequently come by to ask us how we are doing, and for refills. Came with a group of six the other day, and was about $95 total for our bill. Not too shabby for 2-3 rounds of drinks for everyone ($4-5) and several plates of food.
(4)
krisztina g.
Palominos.. a hidden spot at the top of the city centre. I went here with my best friend for a night night of food and conversation. We decided to split everything we ordered because we both have been eating pretty light lately. First order up- Warmed olives, how yummy does this sound? When it arrived we were suprised by how many olives there were, i would say at least 20.. They were not bad, however i don't see the point of having olives without paring it with something.. so thumbs down on that one.. but this is just my opinion. Second- Cesar salad.. we split it in half, it was nice and light.. they didn't drench the salad in dressing like most places and that was something we both appreciated. Third- Baked four cheese trenne.. Sounds pretty great yay? first off, they kindly baked smaller portions on two separate plates which was very generous. The pasta was great, it was super cheesy, great for a cheese lover) and the amount we received was just right for both of us, i didn't even finish my half! Now the disclaimer on this dish is that it is very very rich. I really liked it but it's one of those foods that after awhile it can become too much, but it also depends on your food palate- for some i assume it would be just perfect. Lastly- the service.. was great. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly, that is a big deal for me. STARS---I would say 4 star for quality but for me it wasn't anything special so 3 stars for my final rating.
(3)
Rene B.
I had dinner at this place in early February 2012. I had the steak and frites. the steak was excellent. The frites were pretty good, and the right portions. The place has a good selection of Spanish wines. Our server was very friendly and attentive. A bit pricey, but the menu is great and the service is great. Nice atmosphere as well.
(4)
Tom Y.
All day happy hour? I can dig that! I've been in Belle Square quite a bit, but for some reason never set foot in Palaminos. It's never been a place people talk about that's 'must-go', nor is it flashy, like Joeys or Earls. However, it's pretty nice for some wholesome food and beverages on a hot day; we went after a few hours of kayaking, and it was an awesome fit with what we were feeling. As mentioned above, they have an 'All Day Happy Hour' [wouldn't this be the normal price then?]. This includes some pretty nice items, like the small pizza (select toppings) as well as appetizer dishes like calamari, bruschetta, etc. It's kind of interesting, in that they put the calamari in a Chinese takeout-style container. Is that 'cause I'm Asian? The pizza is probably the best 'happy hour' menu item, as there are quite a few selections on there. I got whichever one had the most meat, and it was pretty delicious. The portion is quite large for the price, and pizza coupled with calamari is more than filling. The gf got the hummus platter, and it was actually really good as well. The one thing about that is you might want to ask for extra veggies/pita, as at the end she had a lot of hummus with nothing to dip. The bruschetta was also fairly good, although a bit on the thin side from what I recall (as compared to the bruschetta Mecca, List in Belletown). I'd definitely recommend Palaminos for the food, and the outdoor seating. You might get some lingering looks though, if you go in after kayaking wearing shorts and t-shirts, even at like 1500 hours. The strange thing was, the wait staff seemed to have no objections or even notice; it was some of the other patrons who acted unwarrantedly snobby.
(4)
Sarah C.
When they re-branded this year, they took my favorite pizza off the menu. My favorite since I was 10. RIP Four Cheese Pizza with garlic, herbs, and pepper flakes, you will be missed :( On the other hand, everything on the menu is completely delicious. The Field Greens Salad with Chevre, Pumpkin Seeds, and EVOO is so simple, but the combination of flavors is basically perfect. The Rigatoni Bolognese is out of this world. The cocktails are divine - the Lavender martini in particular. I guess I'll survive without my favorite pizza... The Bellevue location is usually packed and loud. If you're not a fan of the crowds, remember that you can always get take-out!!
(4)
Eugene H.
Warning to anybody on a low-sodium diet. This place will most likely reach your daily quota with a single dish. I ordered their Trenne Pasta and their paperbag potatoes. The Trenne pasta consisted with two flavors; salt, and cheese. Ingesting each small bite of pasta I could feel the water in my body gravitating towards each bite. The paperbag potatoes were balanced well enough, sadly it was only a side-dish and I had nothing to accompany its light toasted flavor. Since it was a birthday, the entire dinner party was also treated to one if Palomino's cheesecakes, which was nothing more than a heavy, creamier cheesecake that felt like a soggy rendition of cream cheese pate on heavily buttered graham cracker crust, topped with ripened cranberries. The ambiance of the establishment does not encourage a more intimate setting, groups are much better suited for their type of environment.
(2)
Hector L.
I tried to eat here the first week it opened but boy they had a sucky staff in the beginning... here is my first interaction: Me: Hello, I'd like to eat dinner here tonight please. Just one person. Hostess: (did not look up to acknowledge me) Sorry sir, we have no reservations for this time. Me: (looking at an EMPTY dining room) Ok but you don't have any customers. I am eating alone, I will be finished with my meal way before you fill up this dining room (which they didn't that night BTW). Hostess: (did not look up to acknowledge me still) Sorry sir Me: OK so can I eat at the bar: Hostess (still stuck on her paperwork): Sorry, we don't serve a full menu at the bar Me: OK. So you guys just opened and you're going to let a customer leave here without even making an attempt to seat him? Hostess: Sorry sir Regardless of whether the hostess was right or not for seating me... at least 1) look at your customer 2) make all possible efforts to at least show that you tried. So I did leave, and never returned for over a year. I went back twice so far for breakfast and one for lunch. They replaced the original hostess which is good. Staff is OK. Location is obviously convenient. Food... whatever. They have yet to earn my stomach :-)
(2)
Tracey W.
My boyfriend and I went there for dinner. The waitress suggested the special of Lobster Ravioli. The discription sounded great. It was awful. It came cold, there was a film on the sauce like it had been sitting there for awhile. The shrimp on top was so salty it was bad. I was hungry to ate it but will never go back. It was the second time I had been there and have been dissapointed. The Seattle one is WAY better.
(2)
Henry T.
I used to like this place, but everything seems to be going downhill. Ate here yesterday, was immediately seated by the friendly hostess, but then waited about 6 minutes for water/waiter (RJ) to come by. As soon as water was poured, was told he'd be back shortly. Waited another 5 minutes, finally placed our order, and thankfully the food came out quickly. Food was so-so: I used to really enjoy this place and used to be blown away by the friendly service and perfectly-cooked meals. The Chicken Marsala is now inconsistently cooked, and my $38 Ribeye, though cooked properly to medium-rare, had a 1/2 inch layer of rosemary and other drippings around it, masking any semblance of beef. We got checked on 2 min after our meal was served, but then didn't see our waiter for about 10 min after we were done eating, with him smelling like he just got back from a cigarette break. Disgusting... On top of this, it wasn't even busy. I doubt I'll be back.
(1)
Alan S.
This is one of my go to places for happy hour. I always loved the Cranberry Mojito. It is good and pretty cheap. It was $4 for a while, until they increased the price to $5. The bar is not big, so it does get crowded easily during peak times. Sometimes it will be hard to find seats. I dined in onced and the entree was so-so. My girlfriend had the season salmon special and I had the chicken marsala. The chicken was not bad, but the fish was not that good. The sauce had a very blend flavor and was pricey for what was given. I would not return to dine, but only for happy hour. Pro: Cranberry mojito, pizza, price, all day everyday happy hour Con: limited seating, dinner entrees not good,
(4)
Matt Y.
Saved from the one-star salute by the dessert. A good dinner this does not make. We caught "happy" hour towards the tail end, but you wouldn't know it from the spare attendance and short, cold wait staff. The flatbread pizzas, supposedly one of the stars at this restaurant, were plain and lacked flavor. I had the pappardella, completely expecting to have a nice meat sauce to enjoy my pasta in. This was absolutely dry as a bone - a dry broccoli, chicken and pappardella dish; I couldn't believe they would serve it. The only thing saving this place from a 1-star salute was the dessert. That in itself is a testament to its terrible entrees; I'm rarely hungry enough for dessert, but after this meal, I was still starving. I had homemade donuts with a ricotta and gnutella topping. These were delicious, covered with sugar and cinnamon and the sauces on the side. Thank god for stuff that's not good for you. Uh, don't go here.
(2)
Lori R.
Well, the Happy Hour might be great, but dinner on a busy Saturday night left alot to be desired. Service was super slow, the waiter kept screwing up our orders, the food presentation was poor. It was my friends birthday, and I'd confirmed that when we checked in & again with the waiter...who then forgot to bring desert for her. The frosting on the cake, so to speak, was being charged for the 'complimentary' dessert. At that point I just gave up & paid the bill. All in all, a disappointing evening & I won't be going back to this one soon. I've always had good luck at the Palomino downtown Seattle, but Bellevue leaves alot to be desired.
(2)
David A.
Came here during lunch, very crowded. I wanted the same sandwich I normally have at the Palomino in Seattle. They tell me that they have a different menu. This place is nice but I think I like the Seattle one better. The food is good but I just don't feel as comfortable.
(3)
Darnell S.
If you're looking for outdoor seating in Bellevue, try Palomino. Even better is the happy hour. Fab $5 pizzas and wine. I'm a fan of their fare and I always go back. I'm slightly jilted by the end of meal card-pushing for free points, so I ignore it.
(3)
Lilly T.
1* for All Day Happy Hour 1* for FREE parking 1* ambiance The HH food at this location is so-so. The meats used on the pizza's are different than the downtown Seattle location (lower in quality!) and the clams in the sauteed clams are fishy and sandy. Portions are smaller and the quality of the food is also downsized. Drinks aren't as strong and the cocktails taste mostly like juice (could be good or bad!). Still a steal of a deal with the usual $5 pizza's and $4 cranberry mojito's. Not a fan of this location. The bar area is cramped and the noise level is extreme! It's busy at most hours and it is nearly impossible to find a table. Stick with the downtown Seattle location. Food and atmosphere is 10x better!
(3)
Michael E.
Palomino in Bellevue is much like Palomino in Seattle only, thank goodness, it's not in a shopping mall building. So at least it's got that, and one of the very few patio's in Bellevue. And then there's the food, which is fine. It's not, stop all Italian food in it's tracks fine, but, it's fine. I enjoyed the lobster ravioli, and I'm glad I'm noting this here on the internetwork because it's a bit forgettable. So, go, enjoy that Bell-funk scene, have a happy hour drink, it's the best thing going.
(3)
Brian C.
Palomino -- how I hate you for shrinking my clothes. You have a delightful happy hour indeed with drink prices that are quite reasonable. This has become my go to location for late night munchies. This particular time, my dining companion for the night was a 6ft something Jewish Russian giant who is typically never satiated by normal portions. Oddly enough, we ended up ordering several meat laden dishes: Uli's Italian Sausage & Mushroom Pizza - I'm a huge pizza aficionado and needless to say, I have always been disappointed by thin crust styles of pizza. Don't let the word pizza fool you ... pizza here means a thin cracker that acts as a vessel for toppings. If you are sodium adverse, I recommend that you stay away from this dish. Puget Sound Clams - Eating this dish may put you at risk for hypertension. The clams are simmered in what seemed to be a wine and butter concoction with bits of tomato. Very tasty but also very salty. I wish I had a piece of bread to balance out the salinity. Pigs in Blanket - A fancy take on the classic pigs in a blanket served with a tomato based barbecue sauce. Does not come close to the classic at all. The sausages are mildly spicy and the surrounding dough is disappointingly bland. It is neither flaky or soft but rather smushy. Bring your own maple syrup. Sicilian Meatballs - I only had one of these before my partner inhaled these. They weren't memorable. Ginger and Apple Crisp - Probably the best dish of the night. The taste of ginger is very faint. Came a la mode with creme fraiche ice cream and bourbon caramel on the side. Would definitely order this again. My only complaint was there was too much 'breading' in the crisp. Russian giant thought it was bread pudding. Fail. Overall, the food is on par with most happy hours that I've been to. They are extremely busy and the service here often leaves something to be desired. Come here with friends for the drink specials.
(3)
Amie S.
There are very few reasonably priced lunch spots in Bellevue - and I'm not even going to try to claim this is one of them - BUT: they do offer soup/salad, salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combos for $12 or $13, which is pretty decent. My faves pairing is the tomato, mozz & basil sammy and the romaine hearts/bleu cheese/bacon salad. The field greens/chevre/pumpkin seed salad is also delish. And of course, I usually add a glass of wine! Today was the best because it's sunny and they have outside seating (WARNING: Get there early!)...and for some reason, I noticed the wine glasses this time were huge-ish, and appeared to be at least 6-oz. pours. Generous bartender or ploy to get the suits in Bellevue to return again and again? We may never know...
(4)
Jacquie P.
Great! I wasn't sure what to expect coming here for lunch, given the mixed yelp reviews and the fact that most of them are strictly for HH. But wow, they managed to please my entire family which, believe me, is tough. Each one of our party of six was pleased with our meals which ranged from $11-$15 and we were juggling to-go boxes as we left. The ambiance is very....Bellevue. Suits and trophy wives are out in force. Fun Fact: They print their menus on carbon-neutral, recycled paper. I'm a sucker for those little green touches. One complaint/piece of constructive criticism, if I may. We had a server, a water glass re-filler guy, a different girl who cleared our plates, several food runners, and one dude who poured coffee. If your ONLY job is to pour coffee, basic reasoning would suggest that the coffee would remain fresh and warm instead of old and tepid. Just my two cents. Anyway, despite coffee incident '09, it was a lovely time and I'm sure we'll be back.
(4)
Robby C.
Checked this place out with a friend earlier in the evening and the restaurant remains one of the better finds on Bellevue Way, but the seating issue seems to remain an issue especially during happy hours. In any case, we were lucky enough to find a small table in the corner and looking at the menu the dishes are still as low-priced as ever before. Really? Five dollars for an amazing thin crust pizza? Who could ask for more when happy hours are pretty much all day from Monday through Thursday? As for us, drinks were the topic of the night and compared to some of the other places during happy hour, Palomino drink specials are still a steal even though I wish that they had well drinks on the happy hour menu. Defaulted to my usual Mac and Jack and savored every last drop of it. Only real advice is that on Friday and weekends the place tends to fill up quickly so try to get there a few minutes before the specials start otherwise you will be left scrounging for seating.
(4)
Lisa G.
Went here for lunch yesterday, and love how its right downstairs from where I currently work. Ordered the combo, soup and sandwich (portabella mushroom soup and Bering Sea red king grab and artichoke sandwich). The soup was creamy and fitting for the weather yesterday. Sandwich was good, bursting with flavor, nothing special but perfect for lunch.
(3)
Kat L.
$4 Cranberry Mojitos that taste amazing?!?!? I am totally hooked. I came here for happy hour with friends. I was very pleased I was able to have two drinks for the price of one. And I got a nice buzz from the first one! The food is okay, it's nothing to rave about. We ordered a pistachio crusted brie. It was very good, but the crust made it hard to break though. The potato Gorgonzola were waffle fries, they tasted very good. The Gorgonzola has absolutely flavorless, but It made no difference since the potato's were so delicious. We also ordered two pizzas. Both thin crust, they were so so. Great place to hang out and get cheap GOOD drinks.
(4)
Shane H.
This is my favorite place to get a bite in Bellevue. I work for myself so I can have a late lunch or early dinner. I don't have to fight the crowds. There service has always been excellent.. I especially love the mushroom salad. Where else can you get such a treat. The place is very busy after five, but there is a good reason. The food is fabulous.
(5)
Julian H.
Previously we had a three star experience eating dinner in the bar, but more recently we've discovered breakfast and it is a FIVE STAR experience. Seriously, Palomino has the best breakfast on the Eastside and it's not terribly expensive. Bonus that they are kid-friendly in the morning.
(4)
tina k.
It was a sunny Friday, which suggested a "slow" day at MS and the clock was ticking until our release time. We owe it to ourselves, "Let's go have a Happy Hour and discuss new projects!" (The "discuss new projects" never happened!) Wish I discovered HH sooner at such a fine establishment! Please go enjoy happy hour with great selected drinks and appetizers. Try the brick oven Pizza and order the Cranberry mojito, Pomegranate margarita, & Green Apple cosmo (one after another) and you will leave one happy camper! Prompt service and friendly staff (same at the Seattle location). Overall a great place to unwind after a busy week!
(5)
Cristina J.
We have been there last night with a group of friends, what can I say? I am disappointed... we have been order fried calamari, and all of us have been felling sick on the stomach((( The service was really slow.. we have been waiting for the ticket arround 15 min...and 15 min for change back... And I hate to say, but 18% for tips out of my check... wow that was unfair for that service that we had!! Was our first and last time... we will never comeback!
(1)
Kathy N.
Today I meet my friend for happy hours at palomino in Bellevue ( my favor place for happy hour) My friend have not been here before .. And they work place is near by that area ..after all they told me "that is a best happy hours they never has .." Good price ..Good food .. good service ..Csilla who serve us she is very nice and professional ....my friend told me they will came back for lunch or after work ...and they will tell they co worker about Palomino " all day HH"
(5)
Shawn G.
Terrible service. Here's a hint for restaurants, if someone asks for iced tea, they want iced tea. Not some flavored powdered garbage for $4 a glass. If someone orders a beer, can you just substitute a hard cider? The pizza was elementary school lunch quality. The prime rib dip couldn't be called "prime" anywhere in a first world country. In addition to poor slow service, the waiter still tried to charge us for the faux iced tea.
(1)
Ron R.
During a recent trip to Bellevue I had lunch at Palomino, a self-proclaimed "Urban Italian" restaurant with a wood-fired Mediterranean flavors. The ambiance and decoration were modern, yet welcoming. The hostess - very nice - and the waiter very attentive, even while working multiple tables. After looking over the menu, I ordered from the "Chef Creations" seasonal menu. Pomegranate Salad with Grilled Prawns (Organic Mixed Greens, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Beet Chips, Chevre with a Pomegranate Vinaigrette), and a cup of Beef Barley soup. The salad was delicious - the greens were lightly dressed and the beet chips along with the toasted pumpkin seeds added a nice crunchy element. Unfortunately, the "Prawns" were in actuality medium shrimp - for $17 - you expect Prawns as the menu states. The Beef Barley soup lacked seasoning, no salt anywhere to be found in the soup. Overall service was great, however the order I placed could have been MUCH better - maybe it was an off day? Not sure if I would return...
(2)
Alice T.
I've not been very impressed with the Seattle Palomino and neither was I with its Bellevue sibling, but it still deserves a solid 3-star rating given that the food is good - though nothing ever really stands out so much that I need to come back. The service and atmosphere is what you would expect for a restaurant of this price point, so nothing to write home about here either. We started with the Pancetta and Gorgonzola scones. These came with an orange fig jam, so we ordered this since I've not seen any similar offering at any other restaurant. As you'll see being the theme of this review, it was a solid performer, and my sole and minor complaint is that the scone was a bit dry. The jam was good and the pancetta bits were noticeable (though it could have used a bit more). Then we shared the brussels sprouts, which was also a solid performer but again, nothing out of the ordinary. I love brussels sprouts so I'm usually pleased if the kitchen doesn't grandly fail there. Finally, my beau and I shared the grilled seafood pasta and the maple chicken salad. Again, good dishes. We ordered the small size of the pasta, and even expecting a small version, it seemed smaller than it should have been. Also, I only noticed two types of seafood, shrimp and scallop. The menu did not list the type of seafood to be expected in this dish. These are minor complaints, I know, and in the end it was good enough, so I was overall satisfied with the meal and the experience.
(3)
Katie O.
This placed has definitely changed recently. While it was Palomino before, it's now Palomino Rustico. It hasn't become my favorite place ever, and I do miss all-day happy hour. However, their new drink line up is fantastic, so check those out. I could have downed 5 delicious cocktails, which is something I just do not do! lol They were really that good. The food was so-so.
(3)
S S.
Bad, slow, indifferent service and mediocre food. I took relatives from out of town there and I was embarrassed and had to apologize to them repeatedly for this meal. I guess our waiter was banking on his automatic 18% gratuity for our party of 8 (which included a couple of well behaved children) because he paid minimal attention to our table. They weren't that busy. Crazy slow with no apology, waiter did not seem knowledgable or care at all. We were not demanding and would have ordered more, had we been given the chance. They just didn't care. Sad because I've been to other Palominos and generally like the concept. If you think Palomino is a safe choice for dinner (like I did, since I've eaten at the downtown one countless times), think again. Ugh, I'm still embarrassed I that took people there.
(2)
Karen J.
Last night a group of 9 of us ate/drank in the bar. The atmosphere is nice, seats are very comfortable. We ordered 7 non-alcoholic drinks, 2 cocktails -- and they got very busy while we were there, but our server did a good job of being friendly and getting us refills. We also ordered a round of 5 different appetizers from their Happy Hour menu -- and they arrived at different times over the course of about 45 minutes. Then we ordered 4 more -- and they never arrived. But we were not charged for them, so that worked out. We got our bill and it was paid -- it came to $8 each, which was great. Then when we got home, we realized they must not have charged us for everything. The hummus had Indian spices in it, so it didn't taste much like regular hummus. The calamari was deep fried and pretty good. A funny thing to add, but they offered us dinner menus. They are printed on a sheet of long paper and the typeface is like that of an old typewriter that has a ribbon that's almost worn out. So you really can't read it.
(3)
Jenny C.
I've been here several times over the last few weeks for ladies night. Great service, awesome food and fun atmosphere! I recommend the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower! Yummy!!!
(3)
MyAnne K.
Great new updated menu for the summer months! I love everything on the HH menu but my favorite is the sausage and mushroom pizza. Nice thin crust packed with a ton of flavor. You can't go wrong with the penne bolognese either! A tomato based pink sauce with creme,sausage, and fresh herbs. Real food ingredients!!! I love dining here with my boyfriend. This is our go-to spot on date night. Great wine selection and mojitos! The perfect ambiance. Just lovely.
(4)
Maryneth K.
The drinks here were a little on the sweeter side and the wait staff was a bit slow but I have to admit, there were 14 girls at our table. But with fourteen girls, only two bottles of water? There should have been at least one bottle per two people. And what were these water glasses on the table? They looked like shot glasses. Actually, first impression was a candle holder. For a place that was on the pricier end, seeing mason jars for candle holders felt a little out of place. The pizza looked like it was cooked on a tortilla. It was thin and the ends were hard and burnt. On top of everything, the bruschetta was hard as a rock and the creamy sauce that came with the calamari sauce tasted rancid. Will probably never come here again unless I was incredibly thirsty and wanted to take shots of water.
(2)
Michaela W.
Let me start off by saying I typically LOVE Palomino. I used to work by the Seattle location, and if Seattle has made the same changes as the Bellevue location... I won't be going any more... to either. First of all, they changed their bread, which was purely amazing. Now you have to pay for it, and the sauce that comes with... and it's different bread all together. It's now a loaf that you have to cut yourself and you get oil and all sorts of things all over your hands in the process. It's not easy. Then it hardens to stiff rock bread after it cools off. Not good, not free, not worth it. Next, the chop salad (which was one of the BEST chops in Seattle in my opinion)... is now awful. Instead of ham... there was super dry, gray-colored, chalky turkey or chicken... I couldn't even tell. The dressing tasted like salty water. And it was primarily lettuce and the gross turkey/chicken. I ate maybe 10 bites and decided to give up on the salad and drink more wine to wash the taste out of my mouth. My friend ordered the chop also, but no meat, sub avocado... and for some reason they left off the other ingredients... so it was lettuce, avocado and tomato... she had to request that the garbanzo beans and other ingredients be added. The bartender was helpful and sweet - no complaints about her. I didn't mention the salad because I'm not going to make her life difficult when I was on a time crunch anyway. I didn't want another version of a salad. I won't be returning and all I can really do is hope that Seattle hasn't made the same changes. The atmosphere is more trendy with their updates... but apparently they spent all their money on that and are cutting back on the food quality. SO disappointing. Go to another place near by in Bellevue... you'd probably have better luck at The Cheesecake Factory.
(1)
Lemme K.
This was an unexpected surprise. I usually come here for happy hour so didnt expect it to be good brunch place. But it was really delicious. We had the cinnamon french toast and the steak and eggs. The french toast was ok but the dipping sauce that came with it was amazing. It was mousse like and light bit goes very well with the toast and fruits. The service was good also. The inly reason for the 4 stars and not the 5 stars is because its a little pricey. I would definitely go back
(4)
Megan E.
food was good for HH and we had good service while we were there.
(4)
Tina Y.
Been here couple times with friends for happy hour drinks and food. The pizzas are really good here so make sure you try it! I mostly just get house wine, while my friends always get their mojitos and cocktails. They seem to like it, but I prefer sticking with wine. Pretty decent happy hour place, affordable, nothing too spectacular but never fails to hit the spot!
(4)
Pink P.
A little bit high price. But we had a good server and he recommend good foods we love! Server has know most menu and drink. We love to go back again.
(5)
Khanh L.
This is a nice place. I would give the food a 3.5 Stars but my over all experience on both special occasions I chose to spent here was BLEH because of the type of customer service they provide. First time was Valentine's 2013. We made reservation, did not have to wait when we arrived. Got seated and the waitress served us water, asked us what food we want, they had this special Valentine's menu, you get appetizer, soup/salad, main course then desert. So we ordered that. The food like I said was pretty good and creative, different than their regular menu. It's been awhile so I don't remember the details on our food. After we ordered the food with our waitress, for the period of 1 hour 30 minutes, we never saw her again, not even to check on how we were doing, and when my husband water was emptied for about 20 minutes, we had to wave her over to get some more. I noticed she walked up the other 2 tables around us to check on them couple of times so I don't know why she didn't check on us. And by the time we finished with our dinner, we sat there for another 30 minutes waiting on her to maybe ask if we need our check, but she was no where to be seen. (I even thought to myself maybe she went to take a break?) We couldn't wait anymore so we waved down this lady, who was in a red suit (seemed to be the manager). She couldn't find our waitress either so she ended up bringing us our bill and walked us out. Second time was my husband's birthday in April 2013. We also made reservation because we had a big group (21 people) and they didn't require us to spend a certain amount per person, which is nice. Upon our arrival, hostess told us, "Your table is almost ready, maybe another 10 minutes", our big group had to sit and wait around at the front & the bar areas for 30 minutes...... one of my friends came up to ask her again, she said the same thing, table is almost ready..... If it wasn't such a big group we had I would just leave. We waited for another 15 minutes to be seated. Only 1 waitress for 2 big tables (one table with 10 people and one with 11). I didn't mind the wait for the food BUT again, we finished dinner and sat there for awhile but nobody came by to ask if we need our check.... So one of my friends had to go find the waitress to tell her we were ready. She took all our cards and left for another 25 - 30 minutes, came back, made a mistake, so she had to re-do it. Our dinner was wayyyyyyy longer than it should be just because all of those times we were sitting around waiting for no reason. I think I will give it another try later because the food is pretty good but if I receive the same kind of service I think I will not return here ever again.
(2)
Dean H.
Went to Palomino last night for a business dinner. The good: the atmosphere is nice, they have a large outdoor seating area, and the service was good. The bad: I had the flank steak, warm potato salad, and tiramisu. The flank steak was overdone, and the potato salad pretty much just tasted like potatoes covered in mustard. The tiramisu was pretty good, and it was a healthy portion. But one of the three made me extremely sick, and I spent most of the night in the bathroom. Needless to say, I won't be going back.
(1)
Elizabeth S.
This restaurant has gone downhill quickly in the last two months. Good place to sit on the patio in the summer and have a cocktail. Other than that - pass. Have gone 3 times for brunch now and I don't know if they have different cooks in the kitchen each time but seriously, how difficult is it to make good French toast? It's a bunch of cold thick bread with no taste. The servers are always friendly but the food is bad, the whole "buy bread" is ridiculous imo (as another reviewer mentioned). I think they should forget about serving food here since it's so poor, bland, and not done well (plus expensive for what it is) and just have drinks available as their drinks/cocktails are refreshing. Definitely would suggest going elsewhere.
(1)
Chad K.
Came in and got seated very quickly, despite it being one of the busiest nights of the year in that area (Black Friday). I had gotten lucky in grabbing a reservation for 6 just hours beforehand. Steal! The ambiance of the place is low-light, relaxed, and teetering between classy and casual. Not douchey or over the top, and a good vibe overall. Not stuffy. Solid drink selection, including cocktails that include a broad array of the popular liqueurs. Tried their Dark N Stormy and loved it. Extensive menu with many options and a versatile composition. Had their prosciutto stuffed pork over potatoes. Could've been more tender, but still pretty solid and very filling. Their portion sizes are appropriate, and meals are balanced. Service was great. We had a table of six, were relatively boisterous, and he didn't mind. Likeable and informative waiter, and he didn't pester us. Larger Hispanic gentlemen that I trusted in answering my questions. Have been there many times, and will go back. Would recommend.
(4)
Mariah E.
I come here often, because their candied apple drop drinks are my favorite and it's affordable here. It has a nice vibe and love it here... The only thing I would recommend is to not go in the bar area, there was one chick who had BAD SERVICE. She ignored me the whole time. And then when she gave me the check it was the first time she smiled. My drink was not that great so I kept asking for more syrup and her COWORKER had to jump in and do it for me... Is that terrible or what? I also noticed like 5 other coworkers getting into it with her complaining. So not sure if everyone was upset with her service that day. Perhaps she was not all there and had a bad day but dang the show must go on and there's no excuse really. Anyways I would rate HER 1 star, because I'm nice. But the place overall 4 stars, because of the vibe and great prices, but I believe customer service could definitely IMPROVE a ton... So I just gave it a 3 star.
(3)
Paul V.
I think an overall rating of 3.5 stars is perfect for this place. The happy hour pricing and experience that you get when seated in the bar is a solid 4 stars and the experience in the main dining area is probably closer to a 3. What makes Palomino worth returning to is that happy hour is all day every day in the bar. Which, by definition, isn't really a happy hour. But hey, I'm not complaining. If you're going to charge less for certain menu items and do it all the time, you can call it the hokey pokey for all I care! Happy hour: We came here last Friday before seeing our movie at Lincoln Square. $6 cocktails that taste good and actually have alcohol in them? Sign me up! Most of the HH drinks tend toward the sweeter side, which is pretty typical in Bellevue. I usually opt for the whiskey sour or a $4 pint of Manny's. My lady likes the basil gimlet, the cranberry mojito, or a $5 glass of their house chardonnay. HH food items are small plates/tapas that range from $5-$11 dollars. The items that are more worthy of ordering tend to be closer to that $11 upper limit. The Crispy Calamari and the Crab & Artichoke Dip are my favorites, and they are $10 and $11, respectively. The French Onion Dip for $6 is a nice, less expensive option. But you can get $9-10 thin crust pizza too, which, for two people, is the perfect size and will leave you just a enough room for some popcorn and a box of junior mints when you go to your movie afterward. The bartenders and waitresses are always attentive and are sure that you have everything you need. Non-HH: The dining experience outside of the bar/happy hour is alright. The food is decent, but it feels a little too expensive for what you end up getting. The service has always been professional, helpful, and friendly. However when the bill shows up at my table, I usually have to try to reconcile between the number on the receipt and how full and/or buzzed I actually feel. My recommended angle of attack is to walk in, do a lap around their rectangular bar to see if any seating is available for the happy hour, and if not look for dinner elsewhere along the increasingly foodie-friendly Bellevue Way.
(4)
Sea C.
Ridiculously slow service in a half empty restaurant. Mediocre food, at best. Eggs Benedict came luke warm and eggs were practically hard boiled. No coffee refills. Had to wait for over 20 minutes for mimosa refills. Bad bad bad.
(1)
Amber R.
First timers at this restaurant. Everything we had was excellent and you could tell that it was passion at its best! Our server Erich was amazing he recommended the caramelized cauliflower and it was delicious. We also had the rotisserie lemon sage chicken and the maple marinated chicken salad. . I was in heaven. The food was superb. Ive never had such amazing attentive service. Thank you!!
(5)
Ernesto N Charina M.
My husband and I have been coming here for years including the one in Seattle. I've been bringing my team from work here too. Normally I would give this place a high score, but tonight I just got a to-go order of their tiramisu for my son and was very disappointed. The portion was so small! It also looked like they just threw it in the container, so it almost looked like someone's leftover. What a shame.
(3)
Joseph N.
Palomino Rustico gets two stars because the food was very good. But the service was absolutely bizarre. I went for lunch. The food was good. That's the only reason I didn't give this one star. 1) Went there with my kid and ordered a kids meal, which includes sliced fruit and sundae. Well the fruit and sundae never arrived. When we got the check I asked "do we get the fruit and sundae thats listed on the menu?" and the waiter seemed shocked that we actually wanted the thing we paid for. We got sliced oranges that looked like they were sitting in the sun all afternoon. The ice cream wasn't bad. 2) We paid in cash. We gave the waiter $40 for a $37 bill. The waiter never brought back our change! We waited and waited until finally I had to confirm with another waiter, "normally you are supposed to return change to the customer when they pay in cash, right?" I think the waiter decided to keep the change as his tip. Perhaps he didn't think we would tip any better? Given the service, that would be a fair assumption, but the professional thing to do is bring back the change. We ended up leaving $5 when I originally planned to leave $8. His loss. I look for small signs that tell me if a restaurant is well managed, the first sign is how happy does your waiter look to be working there. Mine looked pretty distraught. There are better places to eat in Bellevue with much better service. Take a pass on this one.
(2)
Lori D.
So wanted this to be a great experience, but it wasn't. Sat at the bar. Easter afternoon. It was just after lunch time. Not too busy. Bartender gave me a menu, I ordered off of it. Apparently he gave me the wrong menu. He told me that the kitchen probably won't make what I ordered, as it's not on the brunch menu. He didn't even check with the kitchen, then handed me a brunch menu and apologized. I found something else to order (burger and fries per his recommendation) that I wasn't really craving, but was hungry even though I was told I couldn't order the pizza I wanted. The burger was overlooked and my fries were soggy and warm. I asked for new fries and they were fresh and crispy. Lots of effort on my part for a mediocre at best expensive lunch/brunch at the bar. The Bellini was the best part.
(1)
Sue M.
Stopped in for lunch today after visiting the art museum. Everything was wonderful - server, Jackie, was attentive, food came out in good time, soup hot and salads cold and tasty. I had the mushroom soup and chop chop and my friend, the chicken salad is nut encrusted blue cheese. We were both very happy - and happy to give you a great review!!!!
(5)
Dana B.
Great food and drinks. The prawn scampi was amazing. My daughter had the prosciutto crudo pizza and love it. The pizzas can be shared as they are about med sized. Great atmosphere and service. We will be back.
(4)
Meghan G.
My parents gave my boyfriend and me a gift card to Palomino for Christmas. We planned a dinner/movie date night and headed to downtown Bellevue for a good evening. We made a reservation and were seated promptly in a booth somewhat tucked away. Our waitress came over shortly, offered us a generous taste of the wine special and took our appetizer order (the calamari). I ordered a full glass of wine and she gave me a very generous pour - it was wonderful! Dinner was tasty and very filling. Service was good. Until we received the check. I had the Palomino gift card, in addition to an American Express gift card with a balance high enough to cover most of the remaining cost of dinner. My boyfriend gave his credit card to cover the final costs. Our server took and ran the cards and returned the black book with our receipts. We realized that she didn't run the American Express and also did not offer an explanation as to why not. We also noticed that she returned immediately following a smoke break and reeked of cigarette smoke. Her service up to that moment was great. I am still quite shocked that a server would take a smoke break in the middle of her shift. That all being said, I still have to give this place a 4/5. The food was excellent, the atmosphere is fun and the location in unbeatable. I do hope next time we head over to Palomino that we have a different server.
(4)
Simon P.
Great for brunch. Would be 5 stars except espresso coffee (latte, etc.) kinda sucks. Get the coffee right and this place is a 5-star option for breakfast/brunch. Lose 2 stars for bad coffee first thing in the morning!
(3)
Gina C.
Definite winner in my book. Bloody Mary bar is AMAZING!! As are the truffle fries. Came back later in the day and had dinner -- again -- awesome!! Seafood fettuccine rocked and I had a lavender something martini:: yummy!! Wait staff a bit slow - but not bad. :-)
(4)
Irenemarie J.
What a better way to catch up with friends and talk vacation logistics? How about all day, everyday happy hour? The service was prompt, respectful and good. The food yummy! We ordered lots of food and it was all gone :)
(5)
Jesse J.
From the moment I walked in on 8-1-14 I had a horrible experience. To start the hostess tells us that we can wait or sit in the bar. Normally that's not a big deal, but the dining room was empty. So I question her comment stating I see several tables wide open. She tells me one table is reserved and another is being cleaned for a couple already waiting. I then stated I still see 4-6 tables open why can't I sit in one of those and again was told it's not available only the bar was available. I took the bar seat as I have seen several friends dine here and come back so I figured she was just an isolated issue. Sadly I was wrong... I ordered the Paella and it was very greasy and the mussels tasted like they had been thawed from the freezer. How sad when this is in the pacific northwest and there are fresh mussels at the local grocery store. I actually felt sick after eating my meal about 30 min later. There is no way I will go back sadly as there are way too many options to eat and spend my money at in Bellevue that will cater to their guests and actually cook good fresh food.
(2)
Anjelica A.
On a recent trip to Washington we stayed in Bellevue for a conference. In search for a good to place to wind down from the long day, a few coworkers and I took the hotel shuttle from the Hilton to the downtown Bellevue area. I had been to the Palomino in Los Angeles before and had enjoyed it, so I suggested we come here. Happy hour started at 9 PM. Our order: --Red sangria: Not the best I've ever had. This sangria recipe was a bit on the sour side. --White sangria: I didn't care for this either. It was more sour than the red. Cranberry mojito: Everyone loved this and we each ordered a couple rounds of these delicious cocktails. At only $6 on the happy hour menu, these were a steal. --Rigatoni bolognese: This dish was far too spicy for me. I wish the menu had indicated how spicy of a dish it was. I think they must use the same sausage that is in the Sicilian meatballs, because those were incredibly spicy too. --Sicilian meatballs: My friend loved these but I thought they were too spicy. --Brussels sprouts with pancetta: These were delicious! My favorite thing! Even people who normally don't like this bitter vegetable, were quite impressed with how buttery and yummy these were. I highly recommend! --Grilled flatbread and Moroccan hummus: Everyone else really liked the hummus but I found it rather bland and the texture was too thick. I like my hummus smooth and with a lot of garlic flavor. --Incredible pepperoni pizza: This was ok. --Portabello mushroom fries: These were a nice surprise! They were meaty and delicious and fried to perfect crispness with a nice amount of seasoning. Our server was really sweet and took great care of us. The interior of the restaurant is pretty but unpretentious. We enjoyed ourselves on this evening out in Bellevue. I recommend going to Palomino for the great happy hour menu -- you will find a variety of drinks (wine, cocktails, and draft beers ranging from $4-6) and 12 different delicious appetizers, all reasonably priced at about $3-10 apiece.
(4)
Cathleen S.
Great food. Try the Flank Steak and warm potato salad for lunch. It Rocked! Gustavo, our server, was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I wish we had this restaurant back in my home town. The atmosphere here is trendy/casual/rustic. The bread served with the meal was delicious...make sure you save some room for it. My dining companions enjoyed their meals as well. One had the Crab Louie Salad, another had the Chop Salad. Again... I wish I had one of these in my neighborhood here in New York...if you're reading this Palomino Rustico peeps... go East! Mangia, Mangia!
(4)
Debadutta D.
Being loyal to Palomino in Bellevue since 2007, I planned and reserved a table to treat my wife on Mother's Day Lunch along with my daughter and two visiting friends from India. Two of my guests including my wife were vegetarians. After not finding many vegetarian options in the menu I ordered Pasta with pesto and vegetables. The server assured me that the Chef would definitely be able to add many vegetables to the pasta dish. It took a good 45 minutes to get our food. Luckily we had ordered some bread and fries to munch on. To our utter disappointment the pasta dishes were without any vegetables. We brought this to the attention of a supervisor but she just empathized for a moment and apologized before walking away. The potato fries with Gorgonzola was great. The bread was freshly baked. The quantity of dipping sauce was too small and pricey. We ordered Cappuccino with Sicilian Doughnuts. The Cappuccino was cold and bitter. The staff including supervisors and managers need to go through a thorough service culture training for understanding customer's needs, wants and expectations. They need to understand the critical needs of service recovery to ensure that the customer's loyalty remains intact. They need to realize that there are many options out there in Bellevue. We will think twice before going back there.
(2)
Sylvia C.
I don't know why so many people don't like Palomino, I think it's a good place for family, it's not so crowded. Me and my friends like to eat here, the chicken pom and crème brulee are great !
(4)
Suzanna C.
Atmosphere is fine and service was ok but food was disappointing. Ordered the fish piccata. Way too much batter and the gnocchi was very dense and looked undercooked inside. Won't be going back.
(2)
Krista N.
TMI but this place got me and a friend incredibly sick a few months ago. It was the wild mushrooms. enough said. I called and told manager since it got two of us sick not just one, she seemed slightly sorry. Also, a experience a week or two before that, I came here for a drink and was literally treated horrible by another customer who I had never met. Instead of asking the drunk customer to be quiet, the server and manager both were very rude to me and my party. I still like this place just think there is some management issues going on. Consistency just isn't there because the food after my first review also has gone UP in price and down in taste. $5 happy hour pizza is now $8 and not as tasty?
(2)
Nina M.
There was a large group of us, we sat at a table in the back (right next to the kitchen), so it was incredibly noisy. Our server was nice and attentive. I had the chicken under a brick with asparagus and mashed potatoes. While it was cooked well, it lacked flavor. I wasn't impressed, especially considering that it was $22. I probably wouldn't come on my own volition.
(3)
Sarah R.
I've been for brunch and dinner and food was good. I heard they have a really good happy hour, but have yet to check it out. My experiences there have been good, minus the last time I went. We went with a large group and the waiter basically told us he's so busy that he's going to be slow to get to us, who says that?! After sitting for about an hour or more we had to flag some one to get our waiter so we could order our food. Not acceptable for a restaurant like that.
(4)
Emma S.
Ok,,so the food is tasty but but the bartenders are SO indifferent I want to NEVER want to go back!!!!! PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE OR MOVE ON.....
(2)
Kimm M.
The only downfall of this place? No wi-fi in the bar. Come on, every other restaurant and bar in downtown Bellevue has it, but not Palomino?! Don't make me find another favorite happy hour.
(3)
Angie W.
With all the great places to eat in and around Bellevue, this one is getting struck from the list. Had reservations for dinner last night. Got there early and hostess was really friendly and let me go to the table. Given that I was the only one in the restaurant, it wasn't a huge deal but I appreciated it. Server seemed distracted and eventually offered me a drink. Ordered a pomegranate mojito that was weak and had big mint leaves in the glass that were in no way muddled. I ordered the blue cheese salad and scallops. Salad was really good and the scallops had a nice taste but were way overcooked. The pasta they were served with was mushy and overcooked. Really dull taste. My friend ordered off the 3/30 menu. She got a chop salad which looked good and fish and chips. Fish again overcooked and dry. Chips (fries) were dead cold. When she told the waiter he took them off her plate and didn't say a word. No apology, no nothing. When he brought them back he put on the edge of the table and kept walking. A bit odd.. When she ordered desert, she asked for the ice cream on the side so they just didn't bring it. Her bread pudding was overcooked. Dry as a bone. The manager came over at the end of the meal and asked how everything was. My friend commented okay. The manager chimed in and said "oh we want everything to be great" and then walked away. Nice recovery - NOT! For the prices paid, not at all up to par.
(2)
Marie D.
We came on a Sunday for a birthday celebration. The waitress was really nice and gave the birthday celebrant free dessert. The happy hour food is only at the bar but because of our large group and one younger guest, we were seated in the main room and they allowed us to order from the happy hour menu. They gave us a discount for it, but not happy hour price so it was a good compromise.
(4)
Alexandra B.
Love the food here! Always a go to place for my boyfriend and I when we can't decide. Love the happy hour menu. However, it seemed to me that our waitress today was either completely hungover or tipsy at work. She wasn't making much sense and talking with a serious slur. And we were sitting for about 10 minutes without any service (not many people were in the bar at the time we were there). This isn't the first time we have had below par service. If the food matched the service, we would be there more.
(3)
J H.
I likely will not go back. The food was good. The service was poor and the overall value was unsatisfactory. Crab cakes appetizer was good. The family ordered filet mignon all the way around at $33 a pop and for that I expected a larger piece. They were really small compared to other restaurants and the wife and kids were still hungry after. The service was not good. It took a really long time and we didn't get the food we ordered correctly. We asked for refill on empty drinks when food arrived. The drinks arrived after we finished eating and were ready to leave. There is better out there and no reason to ever go here again.
(1)
Opal D.
Came here for lunch with girlfriends and they were out of tables in the bar area, so we settled for sitting at the bar. The food and drinks were good but nothing to write home about. I'd come back for happy hour if I happen to be in the area after shopping, but otherwise, wouldn't go out of the way to come!
(3)
Kristy S.
Oh boy, it was BAD FOOD tonight. Seriously. My server was great, but the food, not so much. I had a special fire grilled shrimp appetizer came with, I kid you not, ICE BOX COLD sun dried tomatoes. Yowwwwza. Then, the "brick grilled chicken" served with panzanella salad. Now, the salad was decent, but literally one bite of the chicken - YUCK. It was "old chicken" and you know what I mean. The meat TASTED OLD. So, I asked for a side of the salad to go - which they charged me $9 for. No worries until I OPENED THE BOX AT HOME and there might be a 1/2 cup in the box. WHATEVER! SOO SOO NOT WORTH THE CASH. Now, my server was good, so I will give it 2 stars, and I did enjoy the taste of the panzanella salad.
(2)
Brenda A.
This place is a great stop for happy hour. Their happy hour is week round, no matter what time, so you can always get a good deal on a cocktail or an appetizer. I definitely recommend one of their flat breads; all of them are delicious. There may be a wait, as it gets really busy, especially Friday and Saturday nights. I've never had a bad drink or dish here! I also recommend the doughnut holes. They are home made!
(4)
Alison G.
I really like it here! It's my go-to place for happy hour when I really can't think of anyplace else. I've gone on week days & nights and weekends and I'm never disappointed. The staff is friendly and attentive, the bartenders take notice to your presence, and I really like the food. I always order their pizzas, pastas, the spinach artichoke dip, and the chopped salad. Oh and by the way, they make the BEST mojitos!
(4)
Kay N.
Dinner review. I found the food to be just okay. I got the mushroom, goat cheese and cured ham flatbread pizza. It was good, but I found it to be a little on the salty side. Bf got the chicken marsala and he didn't like it. He felt the chicken was something they microwaved and put on the plate. He compared it to frozen dinner. ouch. My favorite dish at Palomino is the Rigatoni Bolognese. Absolutely delicious. Service here is great! Fast, friendly and attentive. I can tell they hire only experienced servers.
(3)
Kathleen M.
I visited again after a couple of years. My memory was that the food was good. The service and food on my most recent visit was absolutely terrible. I ordered the chicken parmesan which tasted like a Lean Cuisine TV dinner. The chicken was rubbery and the pasta was overdone. I couldn't believe it was $21! My friend ordered the crab cakes as an entree and they were completely burnt and black on the bottom. However the cakes were cold in the middle. A friend at the table ordered the pizza and it was drowning with so much sauce that the cheese slipped off it when she picked it up. The four cheese penne was OK but again I couldn't believe they were charging $20 for it! The waiter seems scatterbrained the entire meal. I had to remind him again and again and again for our salad (which was partially wilted) appetizer, soup, my wine etc..... The bill was over $100 and we had one glass of wine! The quality of the food and service wasn't worth more than about $40. Absolutely horrible embarrassing experience and one of the worst meals I've ever had in Bellevue. Blech!
(1)
Lisa E.
We went here for breakfast on a Saturday with friends. The place was half empty and the service was very fast, so that was good. The food was average. I got the veggie frittata which was unremarkable and it came with potatoes that were really good. All in all it was average for breakfast, nothing special. I did see a Bloody Mary station to make your own, but did not partake.
(2)
Fiz A.
Good service and ambience. But pizza was okay . I liked paggliaci pizza more . Crab dip artichokes were reasonable but not to die for . Appetizer bread and dip was really good .
(3)
Candi K.
I usually always go to the one in Seattle because I used to work in that building and now I'm right across from it but me and my gfs were going to watch a movie at Lincoln Square so came here for some pre-movie food and drinks. We came here on a Friday night around 8ish and the bar area was pretty full. We were able to snag a table after 5-10 minutes. Our server greeted us and got us all waters and our first round of drinks. It took a while to get her attention again to order some food. I love their happy hour menu. I'm so glad they brought back the seafood, potatoes and the mushroom sald. We just got all of those plus a couple pizzas to share with the 4 of us. We were kind of on a time crunch and had to hail her down again for our check. Service was lacking but the food and drinks made up for it, kind of.
(4)
Jacqueline T.
This might just be my favorite Happy Hour place. More than just bite size HH food. All for $6 or less for each dish. They have a nice variety of flatbreads, and a handful of other appies (clams, garganzola waffe fries and more). My favorites: Spicy Meatball flatbread, Garganzola waffle fries, and their mushroom and cheese salad :) Mmmm. Share between two to be up to your ears full, share with three and chug back a few drinks for a nice finish. Best of all.. Happy Hour lasts all day. Really good comfort food :) Have had dinner there a few times, but knowing how awesome the Happy Hour is, takes away the dinner's appreciation. Love the Lincoln Square location, as its right next to my beloved Bellevue Square. Nice comfy, loungy bar seating area. I always come out happy! Definitely a good happy hour or two ;)
(4)
Miranda E.
Love their all day happy hour. Best deal around in Bellevue. I wouldn't recommend this for a group of people, as it is normally packed and it's hard to find a table in the bar. Be prepared to sit real close with someone you don't know if you're not able to snag a booth. The pizza and drinks are really good. The bartenders are amazing and will check up on you often.
(4)
Alicia b.
Love their elegant food, and great ambience!! My family went there both for dinner and brunch, and was very satisfied with food & service. They have a variety of breakfast/ brunch menu. They open at 6:30 for breakfast, and serve brunch from 10 am, but you can also order lunch in the morning. You should try their "Egg Benedict with Prociutto & Truffle"!! It comes with arugula salad, and the portion is not small. "Pistachio Waffle" was also a heaven!! And... Don't forget to try "four cheese penne", "clams in soup" and "pomodoro"... These 3 dishes are Palomino's BEST ones!!!
(5)
Kristin C.
I went here for dinner on a Friday night with my boyfriend and his parents. They are more of a fancier, meat and potatoes type people than I am, so we decided somewhere in downtown Bellevue would be best. I made a reservation, but it doesn't look like we really needed it. The place is huge. It is also really loud, but you can find a table in an area that is kinda quiet. We got a bottle of wine, it was a red wine, I don't remember what it was called, but it was good. We all ordered salads too, everyone else had a Cesar, and I had the Maytag Bleu cheese salad, which was quite tasty. I also had one of their thin crust pizzas the Prosciutto Crudo with Peso, house-made mozzarella, prosciutto(from Salumi, I believe), arugula, lemon oil, Romano, and soft egg(which I had taken off). It was really quite tasty. Everyone else ordered a variety of dishes including seafood, chicken and pasta. We also all shared an order of the Sicilian donuts which came with marscapone cream and nutella. It's a nice restaurant, with tasty food, but it's a bit pricey. I doubt I would come here that often, but for a little nicer, without being too expensive meal, it's a good choice in downtown Bellevue. It looks like they have a good Happy Hour too, with a few different pizza choices, so I would definitely come back for that!
(4)
Brittany L.
I ended up here on a belated-birthday happy hour with two friends after we were turned off by the ice-cold hostess at Pearl. My instant impression was how friendly the people were when we first walked in and assisted us in finding a place in the bar even when that probably isn't their job. A+ for the welcome crew! I have been back many times since. I am a fan of their casual atmosphere (for Bellevue) and all-day happy hour, pomegranate margarita and pizzas/flatbreads. Almost every time I've been at Palomino it has been a pleasant and fun experience (minus the one time we got an extremely awkward, and for the most part, non-existent waitress who came to take our food order 30 minutes after our drinks arrived). There are almost too many good options in Bellevue to dine or drink at, but this place is always a go-to spot to hit up first.
(4)
Jackie G.
What can I say about this place other than 'Palomino Rocks!'. If you don't know, then you need to boogie your way on up to this place. Happy Hour during all hours of operation in the bar which has lot's of seating. Good food, Good drinks, Great Service, very nice interior, clean, indoor & outdoor seating, close to everything.
(5)
Kimmi C.
I like coming here for happy hour drinks and food. Happy hour is all day, which is great! Since happy hour is only offered at the bar area, it used to be more crowded (so you'd either have to wait or leave), but it's calmed down since more restaurants opened in the area. I can't judge the dinner menu. Service can be slow depending on how busy they are, but I still enjoy going there for happy hour.
(4)
Pooja V.
I've been to Palomino several times for their all-day happy hour and the reason I've given it a 1-star rating is because I've never been a fan of the happy hour food there. It's always too greasy and not very tasty. I was there last Friday with a friend and we noticed a couple of menu items we hadn't tried before so gave them a chance. We ordered the brussel sprouts with pancetta and the deviled eggs. The brussel sprouts were tasty but extremely greasy while the deviled eggs were bland. A couple hours after dining there I began to feel extremely sick and was definitely impacted by a food borne illness which lasted another day. I won't be eating there again.
(1)
Chris T.
Waited 20 minutes for 7:45pm reservation while there were clearly other tables available for 4. Never received our salads, never had our waters refilled & had a hard time getting our waitress to come back to our table. Keep in mind, this was NOT a busy night. You're better off bringing your own salt & pepper as the wait will be a long one. One more thing...... Bring EAR PLUGS!!! Waste of time & money!
(1)
Taylor M.
My husband and I came in for dinner on Saturday night (the 4th). We were seated promptly. Our servers name was Justin. I ordered a drink called the blueberry smash, recommended by our server and he ordered a glass a wine called 19 crimes. I am so glad I took my servers suggestion because it was absolutely delicious. For dinner we ordered the paella and the 4 cheese penne. It was incredible. This place is a bit pricey but completely worth it. But above all our server was absolutely OUTSTANDING. He was very friendly, knowledgable, attentive and extremely hilarious. I hope the management knows what a great employee they have working for them. Ill certainly be back and be asking for Justin's service. I recommend you do the same!
(5)
Krissy -.
-Friendly service -Food is awesome -Price is reasonable. Didn't try the happy hour yet. The tiramisu was the best part. It's REALLY good. The BEST ever!! lol.
(4)
Dorothy C.
I guess there's not much to say but I just wanted to reassure everyone that Yes, this place is still great. VERY busy though (but we had 8 people so I guess it was harder for us to grab two tables and pull them together). Service was a little slow but that's also because they were really busy and we had people arriving in a span on 30 minutes. I don't like alcohol (I know..) but the virgin Cranberry Mojito is So good. I'm not a fan of anything minty-except gum or chapstick, or any fruit/mint combination but my taste buds had a liking for this drink :) Food is good, pizzas are really good. Definitely visit if you haven't, continue to do so if you have. Enjoy!
(5)
Sonya L.
Went here for a friend's birthday last weekend. We had a pretty large group, but they had made a reservation ahead of time so that we would have a table when we arrived. My boyfriend and I arrived about 5 minutes before the reserved time and were told the table wasn't ready yet. So we hopped over to the bar and were pleased to discover they had an "every day" happy hour. My boyfriend had the house red and I had a cranberry mojito. I'm not usually a huge mojito fan, but I really liked this drink. It was super tasty! By the time we had our drinks, a few more people had arrived and the table was ready. We grabbed our drinks and headed over to the table. I proceeded to look at the menu and died a little inside - most entrees were well over 20 bucks! Not exactly what I was expecting to spend while out for a friend's birthday. I decided to wait until more people arrived before I made my choice. There was quite a bit of disconnect between the wait staff and our group at first. I will note that some of our party was late and some were unable to attend last minute, but regardless, it took them a long time to get things started after we arrived. Drinks took 15+ minutes to arrive (or were forgotten completely until a reminder was given) and we waited for bread at least 20 minutes after one of the waiter said he would bring us some. Kind of excessive, in my opinion. Service seemed to get better when, finally, we ordered. The waiter who took our order seemed pretty on top of things at that point and was able to do separate checks for different groups/couples in the party, which was helpful. I ended up ordering the Grilled Wild Forest Mushroom salad. When it arrived, I was SHOCKED - it was huge! I couldn't believe it. I enjoyed it overall - loved the mushrooms and the Gorgonzola cheese. I wasn't a huge fan of the dressing, but there wasn't a ton of it, so that was okay. I will note that, despite getting a great portion size for the money, it was too much because...salad is not exactly an item that one wants to take home because it goes bad quickly. So I ended up having at LEAST half of my salad left and I just left it on the plate, which was too bad. My boyfriend had the pepperoni pizza (the one rare item that picky boy would eat) and he said it was good - the pepperoni was great. I tried a bite of the birthday girl's tiramisu and was slightly confused - it tasted and looked like espresso-flavored chocolate cake?? Maybe this was their take on tiramisu, but it was odd. When the checks arrived, we were shocked to see how expensive our meal was. Upon closer inspection, we noticed that the two glasses of house reds that my boyfriend ordered during the meal were coming it at a total of $18.00, which seemed like a LOT for house wine (especially considering it was only $4 on the happy hour menu!). My boyfriend inquired about the high charge and a manager reduced the price to $12.00 for the two. We were unsure what the real price of the wine actually was, but it was nice that they made a change when we questioned the total. All in all, we had a good time here with friends and the food was pretty good. It's unlikely we would go here again, however, because the prices are very high, the service was a bit spotty, and it's very far away from where we live.
(3)
Sarah A.
For a friend's 30th birthday I attended a small brunch at Palomino in Bellevue with about 10 people. I had specifically requested that we go someplace with bloody marys, and boy did this place deliver! The restaurant has a huge Bloody Mary Bar which includes a choice of vodka, choice of mix, and two different types of salt for the rim. Then the bar itself has tons of assorted sauces, house prepared garnishes and pickled vegetables... I was in heaven, and my husband enjoyed the corresponding Mimosa Bar. My husband ordered Classic Eggs Benedict and I got Steak and Eggs. Although the food was delicious, the portions were quite small. So really it's a good thing that my husband found a large egg shell in his meal right at the end, because they brought him a second dish (Eggs Benedict Palomino), otherwise we would have had to stop and get fast food on the way home to fill him up. My meal was okay but I had a bite of my husband's second dish and it was probably the best eggs benedict I've ever had with brioche, prosciutto, mushroom-artichoke relish, poached eggs, truffle hollandaise, arugula, pesto, and parmesan... YUM. Really fun place to go with a group and the service was fantastic.
(4)
Alanna M.
This place is so awesome for Happy Hour. Went on a Friday night this time. Though the lychee martini is not on the HH menu, it's so flipping good and aside from Umi's in Belltown I can't seem to get it at most restaurants. All of the mixed drinks I've had so far have been really good. The service is pretty good for a busy night. Pat was our waiter and I could see he was busting his butt for all of his customers. Can't get enough of those clams, muscles, pizza and fire roasted shrimp. Had the warm chocolate cake this time. Yummy and can I just say wow?!
(5)
Adele H.
I really wanted to like this place because it was in such a convenient location. I have tried it 3 different times throughout the year and have been disappointed each time. The two times I went for breakfast, we waited for over an hour to receive our food. The restaurant was no where near packed and both times the waitress told us the reason was because our order hasn't been put in. The third time, when our order did happen to be put in, the food came to us cold. Everyone has always been more than nice, it is a beautiful space, and people do seem to like it. Perhaps my experiences are an anomaly, but they were enough to convince me to find another spot.
(1)
Hitomi S.
We (a coiplle) made a reservation via Open Table two months prior to this Valentines Day. They gave us a table surrounded by screaming kids and babies. I understand it is also family event, but why can't we have a quiet dinner on a special evening? Why can't they separate sections, quite and screaming. Foods are cold, bland and slow service. We will not come back.
(1)
Sumi A.
I'm sad to say that i'm taking my review down to a ZERO star after encountering the rudeness and obvious discrimination encountered a week ago at the bellevue palomino. we came by to watch a football game at a spot where we felt we'd get some great drinks and food, and cheer for our team. upon walking in, the restaurant was empty, so we found a spot near a tv and asked the bartender if they would put our game on. the bartender rudely told us "no" and that this establishment is for "seahawk fans only" on football days. they would exclusively play ONLY the seahawks game, despite numerous TVs, AND the fact that the restaurant was EMPTY! i've never felt as unwelcome as i did that day... and since then, and going forward, will NEVER return to palomino. there is a way to let the public know that unfortunately their program will not be played... and we have encountered a few places that weren't able to accommodate us... and they were polite about it, and offered suggestions as to where we could enjoy our game. the palomino staff, however, was rude, curt, spoke in a condescending way to us, and seemed offended that we weren't fans of the home team. what an embarrassing way to promote the palomino brand!! this is unfortunate for palomino for many reasons... and i had previously felt that palomino was a place of choice for late night happy hours with friends. they will no longer be in rotation for places to go, and i will make an effort to share this information with any and ALL that will listen. sports should be a chance to build community for restaurants, not exclude those people that happen to be the minority group of fans.
(1)
Stacey P.
I returned to Palomino wanting to try out the dining room as I have always eaten in the crowded bar and always the happy hour menu. I returned because I was made aware that this was a restaurant in the Restaurants Unlimited family and I am very fond of Palisade. I went with a friend and was immediately seated in a nice corner booth. I was impressed that unlike the bar seating area there was plenty of space between tables and booths so I never felt crowded or invading someone else's conversation. We started off with the Truffle Deviled Eggs with peppered bacon. Those disappeared in a blink of an eye. The bacon was delicious. My friend had the rigatoni bolognese and I had the baked four cheese penne with added crab. I had a bit of my friend's rigatoni and was impressed with the heat that it had. Not too spicy, but enough of a bite to make you know it was there. The baked four cheese penne, though, was pure heaven. The crab was an ideal addition to the dish and they did not skimp on the cheese. I absolutely loved it. The true highlight, though, was our waitress Crystal. I have said before that their waitresses have always provided good service, but Crystal provided exceptional service. She immediately offered us a hot beverage choice selection when we sat down, and since it was so cold outside it was amazing. She also offered the suggestion to put crab in the penne. It wasn't on the menu, but it absolutely should be. She was thoughtful, attentive, and one of the best waitresses, ever.
(4)
George S.
My family and I ate here yesterday and while the service was fantastic the food was not. What the problem was I believe that they use MSG in some of their dishes and in particular their French fries. I am very affected by MSG and I fell asleep on the way home from the restaurant. Luckily my daughter was driving.
(1)
Alexis M.
What I most enjoyed about this place was the service! The lady who helped was very nice and knew the menu well! She kept up with our table and did not give off any attitude. Also people who do not serve you are also there to help and assist The food was great! Best drink was the pomegranate mojito! Soooooo good tasting. I love the happy hour! All day everyday! The atmosphere is amazing, fun filled.
(4)
Dominick D.
Stopped in here for the first time for a late night happy hour. Very impressed! $4 beer and $6 cocktails. About average could be a buck cheaper but I won't complain. The whiskey sour was a good stiff drink. The mojito was great. The fries are also amazing. Our server was engaged and fun! I'll definitely be wanting to come back to this location. Nice place.
(4)
Marissa O.
If you had handicapped bathroom access the review would have earned more stars... My aunt had to help my grandmother off the toilet! Shame on you!
(2)
Inness P.
I've had mostly good experiences with Palomino, though the last time I went (for dinner) I was sad because they had fewer vegetarian options than I remembered, and everything looked more pricey. With so many other good places to eat in the Seattle/Bellevue area, I wasn't in any hurry to go back. But I participate in Downtown Bellevue On the Move, and because I bus so often I get rewarded with coupons to use around DT Bellevue. This month I got a "buy one get one free" lunch coupon for Palomino, so I tried to take my mom to lunch yesterday (I only say "tried" because she snatched the bill at the end, the sneak). It was after 2 pm on a weekday, so the place was mostly empty. We were allowed to seat ourselves wherever, and the sweet hostess was so patient as we wandered around, too burdened by choice to just pick a damn table. We eventually chose a booth in the bar so we could take advantage of all day happy hour (woo hoo!). We showed our coupon to our server, and next thing we knew, a gentleman came over to introduce himself and thank us for dining there (the manager?). I appreciated it. It made me feel fancy. We split a glass of (very tasty) pinot noir, a HH appetizer (chickpea fritters, yum! unique and flavorful), and we each had a pasta and salad lunch. The combo was $15, which is a little bit on the pricier side for a smallish lunch serving (two bowls, both a little larger than a big man's fist), but since once of our entrees was totally free I can't complain. Nothing special, but they were satisfying. I especially liked my salad (just the greens) - it had chevre and pumpkin seeds, and a light olive oil and lemon dressing. Usually I hate dressing but this dressing was exactly what I wanted. I was tempted by the warm pear bread pudding, but we were full enough to skip dessert. I like Palomino, and I like their happy hour, but I still can't say that it would be my first choice if I were trapped in Bellevue and I had to pick a place for lunch or dinner. It doesn't QUITE offer enough bang for the buck, at least for a vegetarian. But nice people, great service, and I'm happy I got the chance to improve my opinion of the menu.
(4)
Vlad B.
This place became substandard! The previous version of this restaurant trumps this version by a huge windfall! Came here with 12 people to celebrate a birthday. It took 45 min for the food to come, cold, and tasted below average. We couldn't even ask the servant about the food status because he was gone. Will not return! So sad that this place has gone down hill so much!!!
(1)
Gregory G.
I love Palamino! My coworkers and I frequent this location after work and we love the all day happy hour (and the new "happiest hour" isn't too bad either!) This review is for my experiences in the bar only, I've never dined in the dining room. The food is always great, waitstaff is always smiling and the cranberry mojito is to die for! (Try it, it's on Happy Hour!) One waitress in particular (I wish I could remember her name, she wears red glasses and is seemingly always working) is incredible. She always has such a presence in the bar and, after having only come in one time before, she remembered both mine, and my friends orders. We've seen how busy this place gets, that is impressive! Keep it up, Palamino! Always a favorite
(5)
Daniel K.
Nice happy hour menu but service is terrible, it's confusing because it's not like they are short staffed. They just don't know how to divide and conquer, it's like they focus more on people who look rich than give everyone the same treatment. This is my third time here and the only reason why I came this time is because this was the only happy hour at this time. It took 10 minutes to be noticed, not sure if they saw my black face but I was smiling so they can see my white teeth the whole entire time. Then our order took 30 minutes to come out and another 30 minutes to get another round of alcohol; all this is happening when we are sitting right in front of the bartender at the bar. Mason was our bartender, and to say the least he should just change careers. I have been to a lot of different bars and restaurants and this isn't the right job for him. Instead of going to a bartending school, make sure you attend a customer service school first. Thank you for ruining our night, and the drinks he made was terrible, all watery..what a waste of our time and money. Maybe Julie(other bartender) should teach you how to be attentive to and nice to your customers. Sad...
(1)
Alexandra M.
The four stars apply for HAPPY HOUR ONLY. Happy Hour is worth coming here for. Dinner is not. Pizza and cocktails during happy hour is great! For the HH price, the pizzas satisfy both in terms of quality and quantity. The crab and artichoke dip might be the best thing Palomino has on the menu. Sadly, I've had better so theirs wasn't special for me.
(4)
Lee H.
Went there for Mothers Day. Service was ok at best but all the servers acted like it was there first day on the job. Food was barely warm and the paella was extremely salty. Saw one server cleaning the knives at empty tables then wiping the table and window sill with same cloth then continue cleaning knives at other tables, ick.Our total bill was around $160. I filed an online complaint and was called by the manager who said he would send a gift card to make it up. Received a $25 gift card, this was more of an insult to me. I guess they really don't want my business back again. The Seattle location has always been spot on every time we have been there.
(1)
Lisa W.
I used to come here every week for their all day happy hour menu. The food and drinks specials were awesome! In a high-priced place like downtown Bellevue, it's nice to eat/drink with friends without splurging. Love the calamari, crab & artichoke dip, and pizzas. If you like cocktails, try their basil gimlet, it's refreshingly delicious!
(4)
Mel G.
Came here for a mini bridal shower. This place was really clean and trendy, staff was nice and accommodating, and knowledgeable. While the menu didn't have a huge variety for those who are gluten free, you are kinda limited to salads, it did seem to have some really tasty looking things. I got the caprese salad, it was kinda a bummer as it had one whole olive in the entire thing and the mozzerella was shredded and not the chunks that are really yum which was different. There was a mix of greens as well instead of just spinach. Apparently they also have happy hour specials but you have to sit at the bar.
(2)
Rish R.
The food was sub par at best and the menus looked like they dumped water on them. That's how hard to read they were the ambience was pleasuring
(3)
Dave T.
The bar looks very nice. This place looks and smells clean! The bartenders were great and attentive. I had the meatballs. They were really weird. I've lived in New Orleans and these will be way too spicy for most people. The sauce has too much hot sauce/spice added. You can't taste anything else in the sauce. I scraped the sauce off of the meat. The meatball didn't have any flavor! It was the weirdest thing. It's been about 10 mins and my tongue and lips are still burning.
(4)
CJ A.
Just got back from Mother's Day brunch and had to write this review. I have been here before for Happy Hour and this place never disappoints. The food was delicious. I had chicken parmesan and my daughter had the maple chicken salad. Server was great and again the food was delicious. Wonderful day. Can't wait to try some of the other items on the menu.
(5)
TC H.
My husband and I went there for our 15th Anniversary dinner on Wednesday. Based on mixed reviews of the restaurant, we gave it a benefit of doubt and were willing to give it try with a Groupon deal. It was a busy Wed night and quite noisy even at the dining area. Ordered food at the safe side - crab cakes, salad and a signature paella. Both crab cake and salad were OK but not the signature paella. Both clams and mussels were expired and shouldn't have served to customers. The dish doesn't smell, taste good because of the shellfish and as well as too much oil. Our waiting staff who served our table was OK, he brought us water, drinks and food all in timely manner but never asked how we were doing and have no idea it was our anniversary. Anyway, I told him how I felt about their signature paella when he dropped by to see if we would like to order some desserts. He was kind enough to bring this to his manager's attention as a result of taking the paella off our bill. If not because the manager's action to repair the problem, we wouldn't have ordered desserts and would probably give this restaurant 2 star for overall experience.
(3)
Tory M.
My husband and I had the chance to sample their new menu! We are very impressed! Their trout served with a kale salad was flavorful and nicely plated, the crab cakes were full of delicious real crab and the chicken parm was really delicious especially served with light angel hair pasta! The waitstaff is well-trained, enthusiastic and friendly. The new interior decor is fresh and clean. Put this restaurant on your 'go to' list :) We wish you much success as the new and improved Palomino Rustico!
(4)
Dan S.
Terrible service. Came for lunch. Basic food requests. Salads and such. Have been waiting for over 40 mins for food! Place is 1/2 empty. Nothing. Had to flag our server asking where our iced tea that we ordered and still waiting. No good excuse and when we mentioned it to the mgr, she said she'd comp our bill which was very nice but would've gladly paid if we didn't have to wait for an hour which is a bit too much.
(1)
Trang B.
If I can give negative review I would. We came in as a party of about 10, and didn't get food after 45mins. My friend and I were sharing a portion, and it was TINY and OVERCOOKED, and costed $26. I usually don't leave reviews, but this place is NOT WORTH GOING. Period.
(1)
Doug T.
Eat in the Bar.. it's hella cheap during happy hour for food and the menu is better than in the restaurant.. Washington State sucks in that they dont' allow kids in bars.. The fried Potatoes Gorgonzola is about perfect as is the pizza.. The restaurant is good but there are plenty of places that are equally as good. They do a good job for larger parties.
(5)
Alexandra B.
Came in for a quick happy hour snack and drink. Server Sameur (incorrect spelling) accommodated me to the best of his ability. My quick snack ended up taking 35 min., but he took the time to apologize and didn't charge me for it. This is what I call upstanding service; when a server sees what's going on and accommodates you as best he can. Thank you for such a friendly experience.
(5)
Andy Z.
food: we came here just for desserts. we ordered the creme brulee and the tiramisu. not a big fan of either. the creme brulee's shell was too thick and the sugar gets stuck to your teeth. the tiramisu was pretty bad. i think the sauce they use is way too strong and you cant taste the other flavors of the cake. just for desserts =***2/5 service: we had a big party of 7. they were able to accommodate for our seating fairly quickly and it was a pretty busy night on a saturday. our server did a good job in explaining the types of dessert they have. ***5/5 ambiance: we went to meet an old friend. it was too loud for any regular talking. plus it was a large party, big table, it was hard to hear sometimes. place is clean and right by bellevue square mall. so parking can be easy. ***3/5 price: pricing is not too bad. typical dessert pricing. under $10. but for what we ordered, i think we overpaid. ***3/5
(3)
Lab L.
Very disappointed. Great attentive servers, but the kitchen could not keep up. Three different entrees at our table were a huge disappointment. Although I enjoyed the protein of my entree, the sides were left untouched. Would not recommend. There are other good options on Bellevue Way.
(1)
Ritz p.
Even with the renovation and new look you would think their service would improve. We decided to try this place for lunch again and the service was so slow!! We got our food and there was hair in our salad. Instead of spending money on renovation they should use these funds on hygiene and improving their service levels.
(2)
Ieva K.
What's better than happy hour? All day happy hour! Palomino's has a great all day happy hour in the bar. Depending on the time of day you may have a long wait to find a table. Happy hour menu is good, food selection and variety is good, something for everyone. I am not a fan of mushrooms BUT the grilled mushroom salad is delicious and probably one of my favorites. Their pizzas are very thin and tasty. I am also a big fan of the crab & artichoke dip. Service is hit or miss. If there is a rush then good luck getting your servers attention. Once you paid the bill you are pretty much ignored. They are exceptionally fast at cleaning the tables off for the next group. I feel like drinks take longer to come out then the food.
(3)
Kay M.
I went with two girlfriends to happy hour. We ordered wine, and several appetizers, including the sausage mushroom pizza, the calamari, the homemade artisan bread, sauteed brussel sprouts. The brussell sprouts w/ pancetta were the highlight, tender and flavorful. Calamari was pretty standard. Pizza was OK, nothing special, thin crust w/ spicy sausage. The bread did NOT taste homemade, but rather like "take and bake" which was disappointing. We ordered the bengiets for dessert which were lukewarm. The food was not bad but the service was AWFUL. All of our food plates were hot from sitting under the lamp, so much that the dipping sauce from the calamari had developed a film on it. Food was served and we had no silverware so had to ask, then she left and we didn't have plates. We got them ourselves from the stack on the bar. We waited. And waited. We had to ask where our food was several times. It pained me to tip our server 15% but usually I'm a big tipper (25%). I gave her that much because I felt sorry for her as I assume she won't be in this industry long. Not going back there when there are so many places to eat in that neighborhood. No wonder it was empty.
(1)
Theresa F.
I love having Happy Hour outside in the summer with a group of friends and Palomino has a great patio, but not a good Happy Hour compared to all of the fantastic options available in Downtown Bellevue. Any place that has an "All Day Happy Hour" doesn't actually have a Happy Hour, it's just cheap food that they do not want to feature on their menu. The HH Menu is pretty small and I rarely order off of it since the food is not very good and not a good deal. I love regular Happy Hours because you are given an opportunity to experience some great items off of the menu during slow hours for a great price. If that is what you are looking for, keep walking, it won't be a long walk. I am giving Palomino three stars instead of four because I really am offended by the fake Happy Hour. If you are in the bar, you will have to ask for a full menu. The full menu has some great options, I really enjoy the Chop Chop Salad and the Chicken Under a Brick is a good choice for dinner. I always seem to receive ok service and since they ended their real Happy Hour, the wait is not very long. The last time I went in, the bar featured live music, but they do not have the appropriate space for it indoors so we ended our dinner early and left.
(3)
Richie F.
This place has the perfect happy hour. Start your dinner with shopping in the mall across the street. After 9pm the happy hour kicks in. Red wine for $5 and mushroom salad for $6.95 clearly are way to go!
(4)
Sharon C.
I was here yesterday for brunch and I enjoyed it! It was the maytag blue cheese salad that I ordered. The size of the salad was perfect and it was hearty. The ratio of the cheese to greens was good. I want to come back to try an actual brunch mean like the french toast or eggs Benedict which my friends had.
(4)
Kerri L.
O.M.G. What a waste of a dinner out. So disappointed with the menu, the food, the service... We ended up here due to not wanting to wait in line at the Cheesecake Factory. Big mistake. I always knew Palomino's was more of a seafood/pasta restaurant - which isn't really my thing since I don't like seafood. However, I figured they have pizza - so it'd be ok. Starting with the bread, we should've just left. I don't know if they have loaves of bread in the freezer/refrig and then put them in the oven to thaw/toast - but our loaf was *cold* & soggy inside. Cold?!?! OBVIOUSLY not baked fresh. I ordered their Gustoso pizza. The pizza wasn't crisp except on the edges - which I don't understand since the crust was so nice and thin. Also, I don't know what their thing about using caramelized onions on pizza - but it just doesn't go well from a texture perspective. In fact, the only thing I liked about the pizza was the pancetta. Service overall was really bad. I had to WAVE DOWN and ask our server on several occasions for: bread, steak knife. utensils for my kid, box for leftovers, the bill... and it wasn't like I was in a rush - We were there for over 1.5 hours from the time we were seated. It's just that the service was so poor. Some of this could have been avoided if our server would've done the standard courtesy check with the table after the food arrived. Nope, not even that. When I did ask for the steak knife - the server said "can I just finished what I am doing?". Sure, finish bussing that table, I'm sure the table can't wait while my $30 prime rib gets cold... Don't waste your money & evening - go somewhere else.
(1)
Anthony J.
An overdue review for Palomino - I've been here three of four times and every time the food was delicious (Good god their "bocas" are the most delicious sandwiches on earth) and the service okay (Not fantastic, just okay). They really need more consistency in their wait staff. They also tend to attract the most "Bellevue" crowd of any other restaurant downtown so if you're someone who doesn't dig that, you probably wanna stick to weekday visits here and avoid the weekends.
(4)
Maggie L.
Yesterdays service was slow, my risotto was cold, bland, runny and it totally spoiled my appetite. Sad to say this is no longer my fav restaurant.
(1)
Jillian R.
One of the best happy hours in town! I wish I could rave this way about some of the stand-alone restaurants in Bellevue (Palomino is a chain) but they really do it right. THIS IS AN ALL-DAY HAPPY HOUR! Drinks Menu: generously discounted drinks offered all day. My favorite is the basil vodka gimlet... it tastes like a garden - oh-so-refreshing. They have several other cocktail, wine, and beer options. They really don't skimp. It's not just the crummy stuff. Food menu: They have some generous appetizers on the menu, including mac'n'cheese, good-sized pizzas, and a few other options like calamari. I probably wouldn't come to Palomino for something other than happy hour... but they have great cushy chairs in the front near the windows that just make for a relaxing time after work.
(4)
Laura P.
Happy Hour all day everyday in the lounge, how awesome! I just wish they had a few more options on the menu for food because it's mostly Pizza/flat breads : - / I've always had a pleasant experience here and I've frequented this place a lot. Service means a lot to me and they have always been consistently great! Sunday they have a bloody mary & mimosa bar - 4$ each.. with literally ANY garnish you could think of.. it is pure genius and AMAZING!! Definitely a way to start a Sunday funday :)
(4)
Carolyn J.
Stopped in for drinks and appetizers on a Sunday. We used to really like Palomino. 5-7 years ago we were regulars. Not anymore. Today - awkward entry, which is an easy thing to do right and can ruin the whole experience. Hostess smiled dumbly but said nothing. There was a Bloody Mary bar right at the entrance. Not a bad idea but odd location by the door. We sat in the deserted bar and waited 8-10 minutes for service. Drinks took another 5 minutes to arrive. We eventually ordered the Sicilian meatballs, which were delivered within a good amount of time but we're unceremoniously dropped on our table by a another server. They were ok - a bit mushy, obviously frozen, careless. Had the service been more reliable we would have stayed for one more drink but now, we just won't be back. Overall the service was basic, slow and just "off" while the food mediocre.
(2)
Angela B.
The service at Palomino is just devine! This was my first time coming to Palomino Bellevue and they truly treat you like royalty here. We came for lunch, which was fantastic. I ate every little morsel, it was just that good. The servers & even the manager came by to say hello and check on us, and our water glasses were refilled at least 5 times during the 1.5 hours we were dining. It was such a fantastic experience, I hope to come back soon. I've also been told they have one of the best happy hours, so hope to try that out as well. If you want good food, a filling meal, and exceptional service, then Palomino is the place for you! Only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars, is that the price is a bit more than I would normally pay for lunch. Definitely more of a "special occasions" restaurant, as opposed to your favorite restaurant that you go to once a week.
(4)
Amos Y.
Slightly upscale restaurant. Service was good. Got the shrimp dish. Portions are slightly on the meager side, and dishes are a little on the pricey side. Food tasted fine, but not spectacular. Upsides, is during sunny days in the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the nice weather.
(3)
Mark C.
At lunch today, with the dining room only half full, the service was very subpar. I had ordered a glass of wine with the appetizers that we ordered, and had finished the glass when the entrees were served. The server did not notice my empty wine glass, so I said I would like another glass with lunch, which she acknowledged. After that, No sign of the server or the glass of wine for the next 30 minutes, by which time everyone at the table was finished eating. Also, the chopped salad I ordered was horrible (not that anyone asked or cared). I am glad I ordered grilled chicken added to the salad as it was the only thing on the plate that was edible. As she was clearing the dishes the server realized she had forgotten the second glass of wine and said that she could bring it now. I said no thanks, I didn't want it anymore since we had finished eating. Then the manager appeared and said sorry about that, there will be no charge for the wine. I said thank you, thinking she meant the first glass was free, since they had never brought the second glass and I didn't want it anymore anyway. But when the bill came, they still billed me for the first glass of wine - they deducted the second glass, which had never been served. Note to the manager: offering a complimentary glass of wine when said glass of wine is never delivered and the customer no longer wants it isn't much of a gesture. Oh, I almost forgot, as we were leaving the table another server came to the table with my second glass of wine which, needless to say, I politely declined.
(1)
Bob P.
Excellent! The service.....the food....the ambiance....all excellent! I had the seafood pasta dish and it was as good as I've had.....anywhere! You have a lot of good dinner choices in this area, but, Palomino's now ranks as one of my favorites!
(5)
Juju L.
The dinner was for my birthday with my friends. It turn out to be horrible~ it was monday night and service was bad the food was cold~ we wait it for more than 20mins to order our food and 45mins to get out food~ seriously it wasn't busy at all~ They even forgot my friend's soup~~~~ for sure i will not go back again~~~~ so disappointed~
(1)
Joy H.
I would give their happy hour 4 stars - great cheap bites: pizza, clams, flatbreads and all day, everyday! Their regular dinner on the other hand gets 2 stars from me. If you sign up for their birthday club, you get a free signature entree - so we came to claim my goodie! We got the chop salad and the bacon wrapped scallops. The chop salad looked sad and depressed and just tasted like it was just there! I mean, I can throw together a tastier salad than that! The scallops were good, but the side of veggie orzo was bland and mushy - but it was free, so I guess I can't complain. But the waitress and hostess commented about how they loved that dish! If that's their shining dish, I don't want to taste the others!
(3)
Khara S.
It was a busy Sunday evening during the Snowflake Lane parade but my group lucked out and found a seat in the bar area for Happy Hour as soon as we got in. This was my second time going to Palomino and it was enjoyable as the first. The bar area was crowded but not to the point where it was hard to walk around. Our server was attentive and our drinks and food arrived quickly. I haven't been disappointed by the service here yet. :) The cheese filled sliders were okay. I'd recommend getting the Italian sausage pizza (a little spicy) that has a thin and crispy crust, which I love. My friend got the stuffed mushrooms which were fried on the outside and came with a spicy, cheesy sauce (this was yummy!) and a creamy marinara. The food was good and my drink was perfect, not too watered down but not over-poured either.
(4)
Aly T.
Terrible!! Our server felt that he didn't have to give us great service due to the fact that he will get 18% grat at the end of the night for our party. I asked for my steak to be medium well, what came out was burnt steak so I asked to have them fix it. 40 minutes later my new steak came without any apology or comp or anything. Yes never coming back. Terrible service for mediocre food.
(1)
Betsey W.
Hello, Gluten Free Pizza. I'm glad you met my friend All Day Happy Hour. I believe $4 Chardonnay will be joining us as well.
(5)
Brian W.
We went here for lunch. They were serving Sunday brunch still @ 2pm. No problems there. The food was very high quality. However, my son didn't find the very-thin crust pizza too appetizing because they serve it on an undersized dinner plate and all of the oil from the meats/cheeses gathers in the center of the pizza. So your first bite of every slice is very greazy. There is a simple fix... Serve it on something flat. (Yes, I uzed a 'z' in greazy.) Our server "Carol" was obviously having a bad day because she was a bitch.
(1)
Ninette C.
Does anyone actually come here anymore for non-happy hour? All day happy hour everyday isn't really happy hour...its just your bar menu. I used to come a lot, but now I'm kind of sick of it because I just have had it too much. I think they also got rid of their cheese dishes too which were the best. Nonetheless, they have good pizza, crab dip and waffle fries. Also, you can't beat the $4 drink deals!
(4)
Jenny K.
3.5 stars Love HH at Palomino's. Got the usual - margherita pizza but tried the wild mushroom salad - yum! Had a glass of cab - paired wonderfully with my food. Hubby had a birthday coupon - NOTE: you must print it out to redeem. Not accepted via iPhone (lame, but there's a Westin next door so he was able to print out coupon there). Best service yet, and overall a great dining affair!
(3)
Andrew L.
I'm ever so impressed with a restaurant that knows how to accommodate a group; because of that, they are getting 3 stars from me. If there was something which surprised me, it definitely was the check, pre-separated for our group of 17. So this place is great for groups; how about the food? Taste should be what drives people into a restaurant should be the taste of the food. From the highest end joints to the fast food dives, when you it down, food should take priority. This unfortunately is not the case here. What was on my plate was the Whole Wheat Pappardelle. The presentation was nice; however it was downhill from that point on. The noodles were slightly overcooked, lacking that bite "al dente" and didn't taste seasoned from the cooking. The chicken's unique flavor was covered in a sauce which basically overwhelmed the meat. There was plenty of meat, perhaps a lighter sauce, or less sauce, would have balanced the flavor. I could tell the meals were mediocre, as we were not commenting on the food at all. A good meal should complement good conversation, we had the conversations, but the meals weren't there. Redeeming what is a poor eating experience, was the wine list, which while we didn't fully indulge in completely, their 25 for $25 list, had a few winners. So what's the recommendation? Have a group dinner? Want great service? Don't care about amazing food? Feel free to spend time here! Others wise, it might be better if you looked somewhere else.
(3)
Veronica S.
Palomino's is a chain and we do have it out in San Francisco, but I think it's definitely still a major winner for their Happy Hour selections. They have $25 bottles of wine during happy hour along with many affordable food options. Service is good and consistent, the ambiance is nice and varies around the restaurant (there's a nice bar area, an area with lots of couches, and then an area just for dining) which is good if you're looking for something casual or more formal..depending on the party you're with. Definitely highly recommend it for happy hour!
(4)
Kevin C.
I've had both good and bad experiences at this location. Sometimes the service is great, sometimes it is just terrible. I'll start with my terrible experience; A buddy and I went to the bar area around 9PM and sat down, the bar didn't seem terribly busy as most of the people have already received their food and drinks. We sat down with our ID's out and waited for one of the bartenders to take our order, he did make eye contact with us, but we sat around for 15 minutes just staring and he did not approach us at all. And the bad thing is, all he was doing was just cleaning up and stacking bottles. This seriously ticked me off. The good experiences are just OK however, the service here is nothing special, but it isn't bad. The food is decent for the price and it is all day happy hour (this makes me question why they have regular prices on their bar menu). The pizza and flatbread is good and the crab-artichoke dip is decent. Nothing really jumps out as outstanding, but it is acceptable for what it is.
(3)
Steven B.
Great food, slow and generally bad service. Been here many times and food almost always takes 30 minutes to come. Very annoying. Servers don't refill drinks unless you ask. Servers don't come back to table unless you hail them down.
(2)
Alice L.
Chances are, you probably already know Palomino is hands down one of the best places for happy hour on the Eastside. All day HH! how can you beat that? You no longer need to rush out of work to catch a seat at hh, or wait till 9 or 10 for the late night to start, it's perfect and reliable, awesome for downtown Bellevue. However, I want to review the lunch menu this time. Came here twice with big groups, easy seating and quick service. First time I got the portobello flat bread, tasted great and portions was big, but I imagined that if I was sitting a few seats over in the bar, the same dish would be half off... Second time, I tried their lunch feature menu *different than the regular lunch menu* and ordered the pork belly -- $10. Portion of this dish is perfect for lunch, they gave you 3 square pieces of meat over sweet mashed corn and several dates-shaped caramelized onions. Very delicious I have to say, though I have to admit that I liked the sides more than the pork belly itself. I was expecting the meat to melt in my mouth, it didn't, thus making the fat a bit difficult to eat, and the lean part of the meat was a bit drier than I expected. Taste is there, but the texture isn't. Also, they served this in a deep bowl (see image), which made it a bit difficult to cut anything. Lunch is a 3 star for me. Other than the pork belly, everything else seemed a bit overpriced for what they are worth -- $12+ for sandwiches, pizza/flatbreads, and 16+ for pasta. But considering the goodness of its happy hour, it deserves one more star. If you don't mind sitting at the bar (which is a pretty big area for groups of no more than 5), definitely come here for a taste.
(4)
Amanda K.
I came here with my two friends for an early dinner before cello lesson, and as a last day of summer event. It was one of my friend's first time here, and my other friend had been here several times. I have been here my fair share of times to eat lunch and dinner. They left the ordering up to me, and this is what happened. I remembered that their menu changed a bit, and a lot of the items were removed. In that case, I ordered only what I knew was good. I ended up ordering from our waiter, grilled wild forest mushroom salad and crab artichoke dip. Before our dishes arrived, we received bread & tomato relish. Thankfully it was the old bread that they served before. I strongly disliked the new bread. The tomato relish is fruity, sweet, savory and refreshing. The perfect topping for any bread or crackers. Our order came shortly after polishing off our bread. My two friends loved the bread so much, that we asked for another helping. =) We started off with the dip. The dip came with different crackers than it usually comes with. The crackers were thick, and kind of like pita chips. Still, they were drizzled with EVOO and sprinkled with herbs and cheese. The dip was AMAZING! As usual. Creamy, full of artichoke and crab meat...heaven in my mouth! I thought there were a bit too many artichokes, and a lack of crab though. Next was the salad. The mushrooms were all the same, and were different than usual. The dressing tasted like balsamic vinagrette, whicih I love! The blue cheese was tangy, rich, and flavorful. I liked the grilled French bread on the side, so crunchy and nommy. I didn't like the mushrooms very much, kind of bland, and uninteresting. They were overcooked too... Smartly, we made room for dessert. CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU. The best dessert on their dessert menu. It was a good idea to share this because the alcohol flavor may be too strong for one's mouth. The tiramisu was chocolatey, sweet, alcohol infused, creamy, and oh so delicious. I would come back just to order dessert. Seriously! I'd come back, but I liked it better before...sigh.
(3)
Gustavo M.
HH all day. I repeat, happy hour all day! I'll give you a minute for that to sink in. The location is great, but do plan for a few extra minutes so you have time to go down to the 4th or 5th parking levels. Oh, did I mention parking is free? I was there yesterday with a couple of friends to enjoy their weekend brunch. I had the equivalent of a flatbread Margherita pizza from their HH menu. I also had a superb Pomegranate Margarita and while the price isn't so great (at $5) it was yummy! The wait staff has always been nothing short of awesome and yesterday was no exception. We had a friendly and super-helpful server who always volunteered her favorite selections from the menu. Ahhh! I cannot forget to mention that they now offer a $5 Bloody Mary Brunch Bar, which my friends absolutely loved! Summary: great HH, great location, great food, great staff
(4)
YoungEm T.
I was a big fan of their happy hour years ago, but the price has gone up a bit for the calamari and the crab dip since the last revamp of their happy hour menu. The mojitos are still good, try the mango mojito. We went here for my sister's birthday dinner and the steak/seafood dish was delicious. It was a smaller steak portion but you get shrimp and salmon as well so it was a hearty dish.
(4)
Rachel V.
It seems like Palomino is a hit or miss kind of place. It was definitely a miss for me. The bar was completely full so we sat in the restaurant, which was fine, but our waiter was definitely not the friendliest. He seemed so annoyed that we were even there and anything we asked of him was such an inconvenience. The bread was tasty, the wine was good, but it was definitely loud. I ordered their chop chop salad and asked for no cheese. The waiter said sure and then took the rest of the orders, which included two pizzas and a pasta dish. When my salad arrived, there was a nice little pile of Parm on top. Ok, not that big of a deal for many people, but when you are so allergic to dairy that you will get sick the next day, uh not cool. I tried to pick it off the best I could and assumed that they didn't add the provolone. I was wrong and now I feel really sick today. I'm sure I could have sent it back, but the salad was so well mixed (and probably pre-mixed) that I'm sure they would have sent the same dang salad back to me with the cheese. I don't understand why the waiter didn't just tell me, oh the salad comes with cheese no matter what, so I would have ordered something else, but I guess that's takes too much effort. Anyways, my friends said that their pizzas were good, but too salty and greasy. My friend with the pasta dish was not impressed and ate only half, only touching one of the shrimps, demoting the rest to the side of her plate. I don't think I will go back there again for the food. Maybe the drinks, if every other restaurant around there is closed. EDIT: Oh and by doing more research, I found that they use an egg in their balsamic vinaigrette, which I'm also allergic to. The dressing was not listed on the menu as "creamy" which usually tips me off at eggs or dairy.
(1)
Stephanie E.
Such a great Happy Hour... one of the best in Bellevue! We came in for late night HH on a Friday night... found a table right away... And the waiter was great! Drink: Basil Gimlet - Yum! I love basil in any cocktail... And CHEAP! $5!! Where else do you get $5 signature cocktails? Food: Bruschetta - Nothing special here.. It was good but nothing that made me think it was out of the ordinary. Definitly come here for cheap YUMMY drinks!! Amazing HH!
(4)
Vicky L.
OMG. Where else could you find Happy Hour pricing at 11PM!? We raided their bar area and ordered up their flatbreads, steamed clams, salads, and grilled shrimp. We were famished from our flight and after checking in, it was an easy 3 block walk away from the Hyatt. Service was pleasant although slow but we were in no rush. Food came out promptly and the flatbreads were excellent. Steamed clams were tender and well flavored. I'd stay away from the grilled shrimp - it had a heavy iodine taste to it!
(3)
Clint W.
A large group of us came here for a going away party after work. I managed to grab us a spot and we crammed about 10 people around two tables that we pushed together. By 6, the place was packed. I admit we had a pretty good time and we sampled a variety of pizzas while we sipped our beverages. Pretty good landing place for HH. Two drawbacks....the noise (which you really should expect with a really busy place) and the staff. Food and beverages were timely, but the staff could have been more engaging and friendly.
(3)
B K.
Experienced the worst service I have had in a few years. We celebrated a baby shower for my friend today at the Bellevue location, with a group of 9 women. After being seated for 20 minutes, we had to get up to ask for water and then it took another 10-15 minutes for them to come and take our drink order. Waited about another 20 minutes for some of us to receive our drinks and order food. We were constantly waiting for someone to come by our table. Some of us ordered a bottle of wine and after waiting for about 30 minutes (apps were served) we asked the waitress about it and she said "oh yes, it looks like we are out of that bottle, would you like to choose another?" That bottle came AFTER we had all finished our meal! This lunch was close to 3 hrs long due to the poor service. They asked the mom to be if she would like complimentary dessert which our friend of course said yes. We waited 20 minutes for it and it didn't arrive until we had all signed our bills! --- Our waitress was not the only one to blame. The manager at times would come by our table and say nothing but look at our plates. At one point all 9 of our plates were ready to be cleared (still waiting for the wine) and the manager came by smiled at all of us and then didn't clear any of our plates. I will not be returning to this location again. Ever.
(1)
Melissa F.
I don't know what the big deal is with Palomino's. It's not that great for the price. The one in downtown Bellevue has happy hour all day every day, which softens the blow. What's the catch? SERVICE IS FREAKING SLOW.. or stupid.. or something. My order was wrong, my friend had to ask for water three times, and everything took forever. In addition, the drinks are meh. MEH. I keep coming back because my friends keep wanting to go here. That, and I really like wild mushroom anything. I recommend the wild mushroom flatbreads, the salad, and the soup/bisque thing if they have it. :)
(2)
Yekta A.
Okay so here's the thing, we made Thanksgiving dinner reservations and I was excited! My first Thanksgiving dinner in Washington state! We walked in and it was busy, given it was a busy day. I thought the hostess was a bit snooty, so I let it slide, even though your first impression should be a good one. (The hostess was nicer at Earl's, but you can read my review on them later....) So we sat at the bar and ordered a drink and waited not more than 10 minutes and sat at our table. Our waitress Meredith was SO NICE! She was very genuine nice and not the fake nice, she was so sweet and we enjoyed it when she came over to have a small chat about dinner! The busboy was nice too! "WOW" we thought, they are nice here! So I ordered the Thanksgiving dinner and my boyfriend ordered the salmon and they were both delicious. I recommend Palomino's for a group meal, not a quiet sit down meal though.
(4)
Cori L.
Fancy, pricey but good. I was at Palomino for breakfast and their yogurt and fruit parfait was really good. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)
Karen L.
Happy Hour for the win! We had a large group of 9 for happy hour, and only managed to get one table for all of us. We figured we would just wait for other customers to leave but none of them left! But, the waitresses were nice and brought over extra chairs for us. Also, I love the ambiance because it's dimly lit and the decorations are pretty fancy, creating a relaxed and romantic feeling. We ordered all of the appetizers from the happy hour menu, all 7 of them: crab and artichoke dip, white bean dip, meatballs, fried potatoes, mushroom salad, calamari, and clams. We also ordered the Italian sausage pizza, and it was so delicious that we ordered 2 of them! All of the appetizers were surprisingly delicious as well! I generally don't eat clams and shellfish of such kind, but the clams here were cooked in a yummy sauce, so it didn't taste too fishy. My favorites, however, are the mushroom salad and crab and artichoke dip. Those I will definitely order again. As for drinks, I ordered a mango mojito (which wasn't on the happy hour menu--oops) and I tried my friend's candied apple drop. Both drinks were so good! The candied apple drop was sweet, but I like my drinks sweet, so I am definitely ordering that next time!
(4)
Elizabeth T.
Great place for HH. Really cheap food. I really like their Tuscan white bean dip. They make awesome Candied Apple Drops. Definitely one of my favorite places for HH on the Eastside.
(5)
Rossana Y.
All day HH everyday at the bar?? Sounds like a pretty good deal. Although the HH selection is a little limited, I still give them credit to their crab and artichoke dip, pizzas and drink specials. This is probably the default place everyone goes to in Bellevue when there's nowhere else to eat, and I can see why some of my friends can get tired of eating here due to the limited selection on the HH menu. I do like how it's not too loud where you don't actually have to yell across the table to have a conversation. Overall, the food is mostly good/average and the service is decent, but don't expect anything too special.
(3)
Jeff H.
The happy hour is still awesome. I just wish they had more drink options, like Pearl for example. The cranberry mojitos are tasty, but they are just too sweet to have more then a couple. If that makes me an alcoholic then so be it. I'd love to see a gin or vodka based drink on the menu. Something that isn't so sweet, and isn't beer. Pizzas are still killer, and I like the clams and mussels as well. Hopefully, Palomino will add a few more drink options to match their many tasty food choices.
(3)
Yen D.
I came here with a party of about 17 people. We ordered a few appetizers like the bruschetta with shrimp and veggies. The bruschetta was hard to cut and not crispy. I enjoyed the truffled deviled egg with a sliver of salami. It had the right about of saltiness and white truffle oil mixed into the yolk. The hangar steak was a bit salty and the fries were quite decent meaning thin and crispy. Customer service was great! The waiter divvied up the 17 orders perfectly. Honestly, I would rather still come here for happy hour over dinner anytime because $5 crispy pizzas rock my socks off :-) as well as $3 mojitos.
(3)
Jacqualyn S.
Love the Basil Gimlet drink and anything that's on the all day happy hour menu. I went in the other day and it was great. I always sit in the bar area. I probably go to Palominos at least two times every month and highly recommend it. I will add that the potato Gorgonzola is to die for!
(5)
Jenny H.
My boyfriend and I went on a small get away trip to Bellevue and starving and didn't know where to go for dinner. With the help of yelp, we decided to check out Palomino. The staff here was great. Being super decisive and not sure of what to get, our waiter was super patient with us and had suggested couple of dishes. My boyfriend got the pallella or whatever you spell it and I got the 4 cheese penne and we both shared their fried calamari. All three dishes were yummy! I got grilled chicken on my dish and it made it 10xs better! I will most def come back to Palomino again and try something different the next time. Plus, they got great bread here =P.
(4)
Paul D.
Decent place to meet up at night with a cool ambiance. Hit this place up while at a conference in Bellevue and staying at the Hyatt. Came in late and grabbed a place at the bar with a colleague. Good beers on tap and the artisan pizzas are pretty decent. Can't give it higher than 3 as it just seem standard fair to me.
(3)
Matthew J.
Was only there for lunch. It was ok, nothing spectacular. My rating might go up if I get back there and get another peak. Soups were good, sandwich was ok. Service was pretty good even though the patio was packed.
(3)
Megan V.
Three and a half stars is about right for this place. We used to come here somewhat regularly when we lived in Seattle and came back here during a recent visit. The food is always reliably decent, and they make decent drinks. If you go on a Friday night, the line usually isn't too incredibly long. Actually, it should probably be more crowded than it is.
(3)
Sam H.
So we were in Seattle a week ago and a friend from our time living there took us to eat here for breakfast. The place was an all around "meh" Atmosphere? None. I was in downtown Bellevue, what can I expect? It was clean and stale, par for the course. The Food was big, but I was buried in salt. Perhaps breakfast just isn't their thing. Maybe one of these days when I am in Bellevue and Red Robin's atmosphere (perhaps the best in the area) seems to racous, I'll try their dinner...
(3)
Eddie C.
We threw a 50 person wedding rehearsal dinner here a few weekends ago. The dinner and planning couldn't have gone any smoother. We reserved the back area and had 3 large communal tables set up. Our dinner was set for 6:30PM with the majority of the guests arriving at that time. Around 3PM, my brother and I had some concerns on the menu/bar we initially had planned for the dinner. We walked in and were introduced to the 2 managers who would be working that night, I believe their names were Daniel and Rebecca? They listened to our concerns, suggested alternatives, and quickly jumped to implement our very last minute changes. Having worked in restaurants and banquets myself for years, I know that last minute changes can be such a pain. However, Daniel and Rebecca were more then gracious. As the dinner started and guests started arriving, both managers and the servers were in constant contact with me asking if they could do anything. Our guests left happy, full, and a little buzzed! Highly recommend Palomino Rustico for large group events.
(5)
Ray I.
Nothing too memorable. Just average fare. I would go somewhere else. Might be a nice environment to chill with friends and have a few drinks if you're in the area.
(2)
Tom M.
Went here with the wife and teenage daughters after Christmas shopping at the mall. We all enjoyed our meals and wondered why we'd never been before. My daughter's pizza was excellent!
(4)
Pam R.
The waiter did not acknowledge us for at least 15 minutes then when he came to the table he did not say hello just "are you ready to order". He did not bring water to the table until we asked even though the glasses were empty when he took our order. He did not bring steak knives until we asked a second time. Even though the food was good the service was terrible.
(1)
Cathy R.
Love this place!!!! Awesome cracker thin crust pizza, great prices, and awesome bar tenders..... What more could you ask for?
(5)
Olivia H.
This review is a little overdue, but I thought I would update since my last visit. We decided to make reservations here for Thanksgiving dinner because we had a small party of 4 and thought it would be nice not to cook or deal with dishes. My last meal here was awesome, so I naturally thought it was a good idea. The advertised meal sounded so yummy and gourmet and it was a bit of a let down. I'm guessing because the meal wasn't made to order and they had it all pre-made for the large amount of people that would be ordering the same dish of turkey, sausage stuffing and potatoes. I'm not sure what the other dishes were like because we all ordered the same thing. Here are my notes. Turkey was okay, but more than half was dark meat, which was disappointing since I hate dark meat. The sausage was decent, but nothing too spectacular. I have had better. The potatoes were good, but it is hard to mess them up. There were veggies, but a very small portion for what I would have expected. I think we spent $26/plate for the turkey dinner and I think it was a ripoff. I have had the turkey dinner at Claim Jumpers and it was a lot better, larger portion, white meat only and wasn't as expensive. We also got appetizers, wine and dessert, so our bill came to close to $200 bucks. We didn't complain and left a decent tip because is was Thanksgiving and I was trying to be grateful for what we had. But any other given day I would have complained. So, I'm a bit conflicted now because I had an awesome experience and a not so awesome experience. I guess the next time will be the decider.
(2)
Sandy L.
First time to this restaurant. | start to believe my 6th sense that any restaurant on the eastside i haven't never been to in the past may have some reasons to keep me away from there. This is right!! First impression walking in Palomino is nice comtemporary decor then guess what NOISY very very noisy...Not the fact i was there meeting my friend, i must have gone away. I never complaint about the price of the food. Bottom line is it is better live up with the quality. Palmino located in heart of Bellevue, $20 some for pasta is acceptable. However, presentation is lacking on my angel hair spaghetti with shrimp in tomato based sauce, forget how they called it there. Shrimps are not fresh, kind of mushy, spaghetti is overcooked, tomato sauce is tasteless. The whole dish is horrible even Healthy Choice TV dinner is better. Service is below average, pushy to order and pay the check. I will never go back, not impressed with the menu, all other food doesn't seem Italian enough for me, the biggest plus is location, decor and lot of poeple, meaning greater atmosphere maybe. Palomino just reminds me CheeseCake Factory across the street, nice decor, huge menu, lot of people waiting. But sorry quality doesn't exist.
Been here for lunch and for happy hour/snacks. Awesome happy hour - the happy hour is ALL DAY! (+points) Prices are cheap. I especially liked their grilled mushroom salad, prosciutto pizza, and crab/artichoke dip. (+points) We got a bottle of bubbly for fun too. It's close/walking distance to a bunch of stuff in Bellevue (+points). Not exactly fancy or unique - but good value and fun (especially when you're out with good friends/people). Easy, convenient, good prices, decent food, good fun.
(3)
Jaime D.
Went here on a friday night during happy hour! Parking: Great cause its in down town and no problem finding a spot in the garage and it was validated. Interior: Great ambiance with nice decor. It wasnt busy so it didnt get noisy. The booth was sticky though. Food: Was affordable, the burchetta was good, the pizza was rockin, and the drinks was delicious. The mushroom salad was also bomb. No complaints. Definitely a nice little spot to head out to during happy hour. I love bellevue.
(4)
Jack R.
Went to dinner with my family for our traditional pre-Christmas get together, just 6 of us. Between the service and the bad food that we received, I will never be back to this place. Spending $200 and getting such a louzy meal, there is no excuse for this in my opinion,Cold food, under cooked meat, overcooked pork and bad service. I have eaten at Palomino many times before, this was my last time, what a way to ruin an evening.
(1)
Allan G.
I love happy hour here, the food is pretty good and inexpensive enough to order a bunch of items to have a good time. The only problem is, it seems like everyone else knows about the happy hour too, so it's hard to find a spot during really busy times of the day (or even the weekend) The crab and artichoke dip is delicious, tasted a lot better than expected, and the pizza's were so good that we ended up ordering another round of pizzas after eating two of them. (there was five of us) The cross-cut fries were also worth mentioning, but don't expect something glorious.
(4)
Eli W.
Two star.. nah one star. This is the first time my family has decided to eat out for Thanksgiving (due to time constraints on everyone's account); and after the meal at Palomino, the last . We came here for Thanksgiving and you'd think for the $27 Turkey Dinner you'd be getting a well portioned quality meal OR a large portion of mediocre turkey and gravy. I would have been good with either, however what we got was a small serving of super dry turkey and instant mashed potatoes, yes instant. Hungry Man does a turkey dinner better than Palomino. Unfortunately, Palomino exemplifies the restaurants in downtown Bellevue, aesthetically pleasing food and restaurant venues, however definitely lacking in the quality of food e.g., Z'Tejas, Cheesecake Factory, etc. There were servers running all around, however it was a chore to flag anyone down. Also, they ran out of cranberry sauce at about 5:30pm and later came back saying "we have created a new batch," which was clearly canned cranberry sauce distinctly different from their made in-house sauce from before. Funny thing is, I liked the canned sauce more. I understand that they have a happy hour that begins early and runs on until forever, that is what the one star is for. I've been here for the happy hour and I have to say, the price is pretty good, however I have never been impressed with the food. low-end to mediocre is what comes to mind when I think about the food served during HH.
(1)
Nina H.
I'm surprised it took me so long to come here for a meal! But nevertheless, I finally made it to their happy hour. I love how it's all day happy hour from Sun-Thurs, that's really helpful for those for work full-time. I ordered the cranberry mojito and that was pretty tasty, a little on the sweet side but bearable and definitely cheap for $4. I also ordered the pepperoni pizza which I kind of regret because it ended up being SO greasy but I was starving so I needed my meat so I devoured the whole thing anyway. I'm pretty beastly when it comes to eating, I'll admit. But $5 for a pizza is pretty durn good. The service was kind of MEH. All that salt from my pizza really made me thirsty but the waitress never refilled my water at all. I mean she kept coming by to check up on things to see if everything was alright and of course we give the usual nod but she didn't fill me up! Lame. I'm normally not a huge fan of American happy hour foods because it's either fried or really greasy and this reminds me why I don't like it, unfortunately. But three stars for the cheapness of cocktails and meaty satisfaction!
(3)
KC A.
We've eaten here dozens of times. But last two experiences in the evening have been poor. Tonight one of the most disappointing dining experiences ever. Classy restaurant, not. Noisy bar scene. Had to yell for server to hear my order. They could not hold cheese off pre made salad. Menu items not available. Sticky tables. Bad service. Cackling and noisy folks in bar. Thought I was in kent for a moment. Thought about going to cheese cake factory for classier experience Two strikes.
(1)
Paul L.
I confess; I've never eaten dinner there. Why would you, when the happy hour is the best. Palominos' continued prosperity among the ferocious competition at the heart of Bellevue is a testament to the quality and the value it provides. There are four keys to its success: time, liquor, food, and ambience. Time: HH 9pm - close, every day The late night HH at most other places start later or not at all; some do not have HH during the weekend. (Time is the major drawback of the Parlor an otherwise lively places: too late and no weekend). Liquor: Wines, beers, and specialty drinks Most places do not offer liquor during happy hour or only a few choices; Palominos delivers an excellent selection of drinks. As far as I know, they are the only place to offer a Mojito for HH (it is very good), and the wine is an excellent value at $4. (Liquor is the major drawback of Blue C (1 beer), McCormick (none), and Tap House (none)) Food: thin crispy pizzas, mussels, clams, and more Their food is very good and a terrific value. The seafood's quality is better than McCormick. The other items are less greasy and generally better quality than Parlor & co. I also appreciate the wide selection. Ambience: classy, with noise at talking level This may be personal preference thing, but I dislike really loud places where you can't hear the person across from you. This is a huge problem for several places: Lucky Strikes (DJ during the weekends), 0/8 (Jazz band), Parlor (night club during weekends), even Charlie's has this problem. We can actually carry on conversations at Palominos: a big plus. The fact that it is nicely appointed (wood furniture with blown glass atop the bars) and lit just right (dark enough) are bonuses.
(5)
Kayla H.
Want a place with a LEGIT happy hour in BELLEVUE? Well look no further. I don't know what it is but the little $5 pepperoni pizza is AMAZING! I also like the veggie one with just mozzerella and tomato basil. But the soul reason I would go there is for their Raspberry Mojito. I could easily suck 3 of those babies down in 5 mins flat. This is where me and my girls always go hands down. The only bad thing is that it is just in the bar and tables are come first come first served so get there early cuz unlike the Seattle location, this one is smaller.
(5)
Peter T.
Went during happy hour on a Saturday around 730 and found seats very quickly. Drink selection for HH was rather small, but the beer was quite good. Food wise, we had the croquettes and the Italian & Mushroom pizza. The food was okay, but I've definitely had better at HH at other places. I would eat here again, if I was in the area, but it wouldn't be a place where I'd go out of my way for.
(3)
Kate Y.
I went there for "happy hour" on a sat night with a friend. I definitely loved this place. Even though it was happy hour but drinks & food quality were very great with a cheaper price. Usually I care food much more than drinks because I want it as good as it's served for dining.And they didn't disappoint me at all!And one thing I loved the most was its a place that you are able to talk and enjoy having a great time with your friends. I just liked the atmosphere at Palomino.
(4)
Jan M.
I mainly come here for happy hour. Their happy hour selection is great and it's not to hard to get sitting. I also think it's a good place to have a date because atmosphere is great. Their cranberry mojito is good :)
(4)
Erik A.
Happy hour here changed my life. So we bought a car, a car that maybe had a few problems (it was used), a few problems that lucky for me were still covered under warranty. Sadly, the closest place we could get warranty work on this car was all the way down in Bellevue (not to brag). So we take the whip down there, still reeking of "new to us" car smell, with all of it's rattles, creaks, and looming future payments for our early morning appointment. A good husband always schedules an "early appointment" two hours from his home while knowing his wife is a Night Badger(owl). We get to the dealership, they tell us it will take a while and then offer to deposit us at the mall (bell square). Being the starry eyed country hicks that we are, we nod in slack jawed amazement, so many people in one place.... wwwwwooooooowwwww Thirty minutes later i remember why i live on an Island, and after a fast trek through the Bellevue Art Gallery (or museum, whatever, this is not abotu that) we are hungry. By this time i had been on my feet for WAAAAAY too long for a guy who is effectively on vacation for half his life. I need rest, succor, and a dimly lit room, preferably with an overabundance of bamboo. SO there we were, fending off free bible books from the unwashed, nearly, NEARLY on our last legs. Neither of our semi-smart phones have chirped in the very least to notify that our car is done, and deep down inside i am bitching for a fruity drink. Enter the palomino. This place was called something equally forgettable last year when we swung by, who knows. I blindly ran to a booth and sat down, daring the server to pull me from my chair. A chair that was slowly, amoeba-like sucking me in to it's digestive tract. Maybe, MAYBE the most comfortable chair in the world, and this is from a guy who does A LOT of chair sitting. I went from near standing to a quasi-prone seating position over the course of 5 minutes or so as the chair in a comfortably glacial pace gave me just what daddy wanted. Come to find out we came in at ground zero of happy hour. Money. I freely, proudly, and shamelessly ordered something called a "cranberry mojito" i then sucked it down to the very last sugary drop and demanded another. I also had a tasty little thin crust pizza show up, with all kinds of lovely bits strewn around it. I wolfed the pizza down, and even managed to reclaim the piece i gave to my wife after she turned her nose at it (there is a joke here, but i want to not sleep on the couch tonight). The drinks: great My little happy hour pizza: effing groovy. Once i got the battery to my phone back /glare i noticed that indeed the car was fixed and we would have to make our way back. Were it not for that minor detail, i would still be there right now, drinking cranberry mojitos with my head held high.
(4)
Melissa B.
Although the food is good, the Palimino gets super busy very quick and parking can be rather difficult to find if you come passed 7pm (even on a week night). Since the resturante is so busy, its also rather loud.
(3)
Flora C.
All-Day Happy Hour (except Friday)! Nothing beats that. Service is always good. Food is good as well. The only thing I complaint about is the amount of MSG in their food, especially pizza. Why I know? I am always so thirsty after dinning there.
(4)
Annie F.
Have been here 3 times now and it is one of the best happy hours on the Eastside being that it is everyday and all day! It can get very busy in the bar area though but it has one of the largest that I've ever seen which is fitting for their happy hour. They have $4 drink specials, $5 Pizzas and 1/2 off all appetizers. We have had the Candied Apple Drop, Cranberry Mojito, Pomegranite Margarita, Calamari Fritto, Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Mushroom Sausage Pizza, and their donuts for dessert. See my photos for reference. All very yummy and a great deal for the price. Service is mixed each time we've come, great the first time, so-so the second and slow and kinda rude the third time. Overall, the drinks are great and the food is good.
(5)
Arianne R.
Forget everything else, it's really just about the happy hour here. Well, the happy hour and the incredibly adorable server who we were lucky enough to have at our table this afternoon-- I wish that I could remember her name, but I'm notoriously bad in that area. All I remember is blond, adorable, and the fact that she asked me for ID when I ordered my Cranberry Mojito (which instantly made me a fan). I think that I'll show the Mojito a bit of love here, as the food really wasn't anything that I'm looking to repeat. Sort of the 'meh' of mid-1990's fare served (unironically) in a space reminiscent of your local Crate & Barrel. Honestly, it felt as though bamboo was being stockpiled for armageddon in this place. The one thing that was awesome (although a tad bit awkward-- especially after a goodly amount of the aforementioned Mojito) was the super-plush lounge chairs. After basically falling into one, it took quite a bit to remove myself from it-- if pressed, I could probably remain comfortably in that thing through armageddon and the ensuing bamboo riots. But I digress... Mojito. Lots of fresh mint-- which made me ridiculously happy. The glasses were tall and reminded me of Bellini glasses at Milestones (minus the plastic animals, of course-- but how cool would THAT have been?) Unfortunately, the last time that I saw glasses of that description were during the days of my wild youth, which roughly places them in the late 1990's. They were not so much fun to wrestle with as I remember-- although that may have had more to do with my relative blood alcohol level rather than my advancing years. The only annoying thing was some impromptu kid-noise. Luckily they were mostly muffled by the bamboo forest, and so it wasn't overly irritating.
(3)
Linh P.
HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY, EVERYDAY? Yes please! Mussels are delicious! The creamy, buttery dipping sauce they serve with it can't be good for you...
(3)
Lauren H.
Tried Palomino for happy hour last week. The Potatoes Gorgonzola were delish as was the pepperoni pizza--and you couldn't beat those prices! My husband and I ate and drank for less than $25! The down side is that my margarita was served in a small old-fashioned style glass. Who serves blended margaritas in a glass as small as an old-fashioned?! I felt like I wasn't getting a deal on my blended drink because I was paying half of the normal price for half of the normal size. That's not necessarily a deal. :\ I'll return to happy hour for the food, but not necessarily for the mixed drinks.
(3)
Heather H.
Went here with high-hopes because of the location, the word of mouth reviews I've heard, and the price. I expected better for what I got. I went with a group of 3 other people. The Filet was delicious but pricey. I don't mind paying a higher price for an average steak if the service and ambiance makes up for it. I know it pays to look good. The service was okay, I think the girl was a little stressed. One person at the table ordered a large Caesar salad as the meal, and another person ordered a small Caesar salad to accompany the Filet entree. Both Caesars were served before the entree's and were the same size. Would've been nice to know that there is only one size of salad. Also, there is no way that salad was worth the $8 they charge for it. All that said it was just a bit below average maybe a possibility of returning again. What changed our minds about ever returning was when we saw the bartender reach for a scoop of ice cream that had fallen on his floor mat and place the scoop IN the blender to be sent to the customer. I did hope that maybe he really put the scoop in the sink which was very close to where the blender was kept. I am confident this did not happen because of the way he and a server were snickering about the situation and because he never got another scoop to put in the blender.
(2)
Richard L.
What a nice dining experience! Great service from Isaac who treated us like royalty! The truffled deviled egg appetizer was excellent, but order one for each person! They're that good! The mushroom soup was great on a cool wet evening! I had the gnocchi with braised lamb which was really rich and wholesome! The gnocchi were perfectly made. My wife had the scallops which were lighter fair of which I got one bite. It was an excellent meal with superb service! Thanks Palomino!
(4)
Jason O.
Sat in the bar and the service and food was delicious!! We went during Snowflake lane and we got a seat right away and food soon after...
(5)
Hemanth B.
Reservations are required..tends to get super busy during the weekends...Came her for dinner and we had Chicken Marsala and Lamb Shank ,both were delicious and tasty..would definitely come back
(4)
Poulina K.
Fantastic Sunday Brunch and all day HH in the bar! Brunch features $5 make your own Bloody Mary bar. So many options for sauces and garnishes I was in a bloody booze heaven! My gf and I shared a meat plate with a cheese plate. 3 choices of cured meats and 3 choices of a wide variety of cheeses. Doesn't sound like much, however portions are generous and since it's a pretty rich fair our bellies were happily satisfied. I will have to come back and try one of their egg dish or flat bread creations.
(4)
Esther S.
My husband and I went there last night because I got a free entree for my birthday from them in the mail. We started off with the crab cakes (awesome!!!) and some house made bread. Loved the bread with the Bruschetta to go on top! The prices were really reasonable. I got the Chicken Parmesan (Free) and it was delicious. Hubs got the Peperoni Pizza. It was really good as well. Thin crust but very flavorful and only $12. The waiter also brought us a complimentary dessert for my birthday. Some kind of chocolate Tiramisu that was wonderful! We ate every last bite. I think we left paying $36 (w/tip) for an appetizer, 2 entrees and dessert. Not bad at all! Will definitely go back.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Happy hour all day... must I say more? 6 dollar pizzas, 8 dollar flat breads, appetizer specials, drink specials... I'm a fan. It's probably the go-to Bellevue spot... every time I'm here the bar is jam packed full of people, but we manage to find a spot every time. Definitely can't find the prissy elitists one would find around the corner... ahem!
(4)
Sarah Z.
Great cheerful service, Every Time.
(4)
Hailee G.
I would ideally like to give this location of Palomino 5 stars for the regular restaurant, and 3 stars for happy hour. In the main area of the restaurant, you can't go wrong with what you order!! The food is so delicious! Last time I was there I had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC! Also the chop salad is wonderful... and the service is always great. The happy hour is nice too. Even when there's a line, they're very attentive and try to seat people as quickly as possible, The specialty cocktails they offer are all delicious too! My issue with the Bellevue happy hour is the lack of variety. (Seattle Palomino offers much more happy hour variety). The only things to get during happy hour that don't have any pig product are: Potatoes Gorgonzola (so amazing, but so fried and fattening!), White Bean Dip (comes with yummy crackers and veggies, extremely garlicy), the Mushroom salad (also tasty but not super filling), and the tomato basil pizza (delicious as well). All of the non-pork items are yummy, they just get old when you come here as often as I do and watch your friends eating sausage pizza, pulled pork sandwiches, meatballs, etc.... hearty and filling dishes. Also, last time I was there the server seemed to be annoyed with us.... the only time my service at Palomino hasn't been excellent. So If you want the best impression of Palomino that you can get, I suggest going to the downtown Seattle location.
(4)
Robert L.
Came in with high expectations for a Sunday brunch, but the food was clearly very mediocre. Took the server forever to get us some glasses of water. Didn't take our order until 15min later on a not so busy morning. Then when the food finally came, it was tasteless, bland, and too buttery. I've made better pancakes at home! Super disappointed to say the least.
(1)
C B.
Great ambiance out on the patio. However, the announcement -- still on Yelp as of today -- about the restaurant's happy hour on the patio is wrong. It used to be from 3 until close; now it is only until 6. This didn't help is as we showed up after 9 on the patio. But otherwise a fabulous time. Would give this four stars if the advertisement and actuality corresponded.
(3)
James T.
All day happy hour in the bar is amazing, and their food is pretty good too. Pizza's ($6) have a paper thin crust but they're big and the toppings are good. Wasn't sure if was just a fluke but I noticed that you don't need to order an alcoholic drink to get happy hour pricing on food. YMMV though.
(4)
Lisa N.
Happy hour goes on all day, everyday (bar only). This proves to be a bit of a problem during peak happy hour/dinner times as the bar fills up insanely quickly since most other Eastside happy hours end at 6. My friend and I came in to check it out and couldn't find seats anywhere, so we wandered down to Maggiano's before coming back. We finally stalked a couple of people who looked like they were ready to leave and stole their bar seats until a booth opened up. The happy hour menu is unimpressive, with prices averaging around $8 per item. They offer a variety of flatbreads and pizzas for $6 or $8 but none of them really piqued my interest. We decided on an order of clams ($9) and the potatoes and gorgonzola ($6) which turned out to just be waffle fries covered with, well, gorgonzola. Draft beers and happy hour wine glasses are $4 which isn't too different from most other bars and the selection left much to be desired (your typical Manny's, Stella, Mac & Jack's, Widmer, Guinness, etc). The fries were crispy, but felt like biting into little pockets of grease smothered in mostly unflavoured cheese. The actual chunks of gorgonzola were good, but sparse. I did enjoy the clams a lot, but the crostini(?) that it came with was soaked in oil as well-- unsatisfying to dip into the (yummy) wine sauce. With mediocre happy hour prices (it was more like somewhat-satisfied hour) and mediocre food (it beats Red Robin) paired with their apparent lack of bar seating, I'd recommend putting it a few spaces lower on your list. Although Palomino is easily accessible in its prime Lincoln Square location, there are so many other restaurants in the area that I don't see why it'd stand out.
(2)
Ponarett X.
I am so so glad I discovered that they have an all day happy hour Sun-Thurs...at least for the summer anyway. Their happy hour prices and selection are great! The pizzas are $5 and a large variety of appetizers are half off. The sausage and mushroom pizza is so tasty! I love the sausage; meaty and spicy. The sausage was plentiful, but I had to search for pieces of mushroom. For $5 this is a really good deal...it's not worth the full price. I also had the gorgonzola fries - waffle fries topped with a gorgonzola cream sauce. They were okay. The fries themselves were nothing special and the cheese sauce wasn't very gorgonzola-y. Lastly, I ordered calamari. The best part about this dish is that you get a heaping pile of deep fried squid goodness! I can't wait to go back and try the fondue and mussels and more pizzas!
(4)
EdandMel B.
Palominos deleted my review that I posted on Facebook. So I will post here. My wife and I went there on a Sunday evening a few weeks ago. The service was pretty bad and the restaurant was not overly crowded. We sat for so long with empty water glasses that I just grabbed one of the pitchers and refilled our glasess myself. Needless to say, the waitress didn't get the hint.
(1)
Mary M.
Maggiano Little Italy was booked on reservations so we decided to do girls night holiday dinner here. Prices = sucked Food = Sucked Service = Super sucked! The only good part about the night was that we had the entire back room to ourselves and enjoyed each others company. Well we could of done that elsewhere and had better food also. Never again!
(1)
Jim T.
First time at Palomino. We've passed by many a time, but thought we'd make reservations for a special occasion and give it a go. The floor and wait staff are wonderful. Everyone is friendly and the manager came over to welcome us. Nice touch. The atmosphere is very warm and comfortable. I started with a gin and tonic. Nice, tall glass with Tangueray and lime. Very tasty. I ordered a Caesar salad as a starter. The salad arrived cold and crisp, but its color was gray--not very appealing. It's flavor was worse than its appearance. The main flavor was an overwhelming taste of vinegar and black pepper. The croutons were nice and crunchy, but that's the best I can say about it. I ate about a third and set it aside. The waiter asked if I was done and took it away without asking how it was. I was surprised at that. Never got to comment on the salad. For an entree, my wife ordered the rotisserie prime rib, medium rare. I ordered the medallions of filet mignon, medium rare/medium. Our son ordered a flat bread. The entrees took a while to arrive. This was surprising given that it was Sunday night and there were very few people in the dining room. The prime rib look very unappealing. We're used to seeing a nice, pink slab of meat, but this was sort of mauve and gray, or something. It tasted like pot roast. I've never tasted a prime rib that had that sort of flavor. Odd. My wife commented that she's had better meat at Claim Jumper, at half the price. I cut into my filet and they were well done. The waiter took it back and I watched as my son and wife ate their dinners. My wife liked the cheesy mashed potatoes that she had substitued for the rustic vegetables. My son was fine with the flat bread, but at 14 he's not very discerning and will eat almost anything that resembles pizza. When my meal finally arrived again, the steaks were cooked properly, and fortunately the side dishes were freshly made, as well. The steak was tender. However, I was not a fan of this steak. First of all, I'm not sure why they would slice a filet so thin. It's no wonder they had trouble getting the temperature right. But worse, the seasoning was way over the top. (This was true of the prime rib, as well). By the time I was finished eating, I felt like someone had taken a pepper grinder and operated it over my extended tongue for some time. It was impossible to taste anything like steak because the seasoning was just overwhelming. The sauteed spinach was tasty, but had about twice as much garlic as necessary. The potatoes Lucido, which were little, baby roasted red potatoes, were perfect and delicious...the main thing I liked about the meal. The manager took my meal off the check without my asking. They also gave us a free dessert (a birthday gift). The dessert was vanilla ice cream and a chocolate cake with a melted center. The ice cream had crunchy ice crystals in it, near as I can tell. The cake was okay, but would have benefitted from being a bit sweeter. The raspberries were nice when dipped in the melted chocolate. I almost feel bad for this review because the management seems to run a nice dining room and the floor staff were lovely. However, the food just isn't to our liking and we won't return. Palomino isn't the most expensive restaurant in Bellevue, but it's not cheap, either. In this price range, we want to love our dinner, not simply endure it.
(2)
Rebecca L.
i used to call Palomino my italian stallion/my boyfriend because i loved/love this place. Their happy hour menu is great ($5 pizza, get the proscuitto and tomatoes or the sausage and fungi) their drinks are great (get the mojitos) and their ambiance is contemporary/warm and is only a five minute drive from my house. There was one week, that i came here every night and let me tell you, he delivered every time. The food is really spectacular as you can taste the freshness of the ingredients and harmony of spices. what can i say? he knows my taste! I must admit that the staff can be at times forgetful, but what can you expect at such a busy place? *sighs* to be honest, i have waited more than 6 months to write a review of this place because i didn't want to wait to get a table during happy hour... but it has/is busy now. BUT the wait staff is awesome. He really looks for a table for you and gets you seated ASAP. it's great. i love the staff, i love this place. but alas, i actually do have a real boyfriend now and i said good bye to my palomino (as i feared it would cause me to lose a real relationship from all the weight i would gain by frequenting this place). but i do go there for late night... happy hours... once in a while. ;) so if you're in bellevue or near a palomino, i suggest you go there. you will not be dissappointed.
(5)
Christina S.
It's usually always extremely packed here for happy hour but since we went a little late........on a Wednesday night it was perfect! We ordered the clams and the mussels and they were great! I was impressed by the Basil Gimlet, usually not my thing but boy was it tasty! Tasty enough to order two of them.......I would've had more but I was doing the whole responsible adult thing for the night. One of my girls got a mojito and that was delicious as well. Great selection of food and drinks for happy hour, good place to people watch too ;)
(4)
Patrick L.
I haven't yet sat down for a "real" meal here, just happy hour, which is now all day Sun-Thurs! It's still on at the usual times on Fri/Sat too. Blame it on the economy, but score for us! Their happy hour menu is great, from drafts to the selection of food. Everything from the 1/2 off appetizers to the $5 wafer thin pizzas are good. One of my favorite happy hour spots at the moment. I love that they have plenty of outdoor seating at this location. Free parking in Lincoln Square also makes it much more convenient than the dtown Seattle location.
(4)
Peter D.
Disappointing breakfast. I was uninspired here by what we were served. I ordered the Creme Brulee French Toast. Sounds good right? Well talk about disappointment when the plate showed up. 3 slices of sandwhich bread on a plate. No butter or anything else. No real sugar dusting. Nothing to make me think this is anything but shit food. I know what french toast should be. Just eat at Macrina Bakery in Belltown and you will understand. There were 5 or 6 little raspberries on the plate. What a joke. Looking around the table, omelettes were denny's like. Looked better than what I had but not amazing. I actually think I liked it better when this was Manzana. The food was better which is surprising. I say this on more than just the breakfast since this is not my first stop here but I dont think its living up to the Downtown restaurant. There is just something wrong here that for the money this is what they are serving. Coworkers have complained that this is also not very good. A restaurant has to be greater than a happy hour.
(2)
Nina C.
Well place is no e for couple drinks with friends but.... We decided to have family nice dinner and portions are very very small. I was after hard working day and was hoping to have some pasta but plate they brought had les then 20 noodles for 14$ ? Left place hungry as I was when I entered the place.
(1)
Dominique S.
I decided to try happy hour one night because I had missed most in the area that end at 6pm. I didn't try the food but the pomegranate margarita was delicious! Good balance of tart and sweet. The bartenders were fast and friendly. Will be back again!
(4)
Chrystina S.
My parents stayed at the Westin and we met them for breakfast. The hotel sent us here for breakfast. The service was slow and rude. Our food for 4 took over 45 mins on a Monday morning. We will not be returning.
(2)
Ednalyn M.
I've been here multiple times for dinner and for HH. This review is going to be for HH The staff there is nice and very attentive, they checked on my group every now and then. The drinks are great! The cranberry mojito is my favorite. It's very fresh! But sometimes it's filled with too much ice. They have a good selection for food from fries, to pizza and calamari. All awesome! The sausage and mushroom pizza is a little spicy which I like and it's a good size. The fries are thin, crispy and salty. The caramelized cauliflower is one of my favorites! It's roasted in cheese and butter, what's not to like? Best part is their happy hour is ALL DAY. Yes all day.
(4)
Chris K.
This restaurant is great. We have always come here when Joeys is booked and haven't been disappointed yet. This time we had ordered our starters, a little slow in coming out, and a communication from the waiter would have been nice, just a quick update. When the crab cakes eventually came out... uh, the worst thing, and I can't stand it and the sight of it grosses me out, is a... HAIR cooked into my crab cake. I have had this happened before at different restaurants before, HOWEVER this was the first time I have EVER been treated so nicely and courteously about it. The manager came out in under two minutes apologized offered another round of crab cakes and dessert for no charge to us. Unbelievable. Most places i have been too, and i have been to a lot of places in my time, usually stand there as if I plucked my eyebrow and placed it in their food, and falsely accuse them. It happens, restaurants aren't perfect, yet they served me right and took care of me. I know there are different angles and perspectives on this problem, however I felt they did great in the way they took care of it. They took FULL responsibility of it. Thank you and we will be back. We like the service and the atmosphere.
(5)
Jessica W.
Went for happy hour. Mushroom salad was great, service went downhill from there. Server basically ignored us after our first set of food/drinks. Artisan bread was not artisan: it is really hard to slice and I think I could make better bread. Palomino used to be great...come on guys!
(2)
Glenda J.
This place works very hard to make things right. I respect that and I'm loyal to them. I just wish that things weren't hit and miss. Charred kale salad: golden raisins, pumpkin seeds, Pecorini Romano, quinoa, truffle onion vinaigrette: sounds delicious however this did not meet my expectations. What I'd experienced was limp kale soaked in olive oil. I didn't taste the quinoa. Thought the pumpkins seeds could be roasted. All in all this salad was over powered by the dressing. Seared Ling cod: caramelized cauliflower, saffron tomato broth, arugula, pickled fennel salad- oh, delicious! Fennel crusted flank steak: warm potato salad, artichoke salad: delicious!!! Had reservations about the warm potato salad which turned out to be baby potatoes in some rich dressing. Kudos for their efforts to offering creative healthy menu items. Will return for their steak and cod. I've never had bad service, although one of the waitresses insisted I wasn't a rewards member.....but that's another story in itself....
(4)
Vivian W.
Tip: The Groupon does not work with their All Day Happy Hour Prices. I would not recommend getting the Groupon as the Happy Hour prices are already well discounted but with a Groupon, you will have to pay the full price. Happy Hour portions are just as big as the regular portions. I bought a Groupon 25 for 50 at this location. I was excited to try out their Happy Hour Menu as it is quite popular on Yelp. We came in, sat in the bar. Since our Groupon did not work for the Happy Hour Menu prices, I ordered mostly off of the regular menu. We had the Crab Artichoke dip which was amazing. Their thin crusted pizza was also pretty good. The crust was super thin to the point of crunchy. We did not realize how big their portions are, by the time we finished the appetizers, we couldn't find room for the rest of the entrees. I tried the steak. It was good but not well seasoned in my opinion. The Rustico burger looked really good but we were so full to the point that we had to pack up the whole thing to go. Overall, I believe this is a very good happy hour place as they do have a huge HH menu and the prices are great!
(4)
Catherine C.
Not so busy on a Thursday evening. I was expecting more from this place but left disappointed, even my kids didn't like it. Here are a few bullet points on what the main problem was: - Kids capellini w Alfredo sauce (not enough sauce/flavor) according to my kids - Chicken Parmesan was too sour - Calamari had too much batter and barely any squid inside - Something went wrong with my crab and artichoke dip, it was fishy Other than that, an Asian guy (who I think might be someone in charge) had offered us to sit anywhere we wanted (besides the bar of course) was very kind, even conversed with my girls and came back a couple of times to ask how things were and always had a smile on his face every time he walked by same goes with our server. Because their customer service was so great, it is one of the reasons why I didn't bother complaining about the food. Their customer service was excellent, but I probably won't be coming back. I give them 5 stars for customer service and 2 stars for the food. :(
(3)
Esther W.
I rather liked this place. Typical food range of $20-30 for dinner entrees with a killer happy hour selection, including one of the best mojitos served, and to top it off for dessert-- one of the most delicious tiramisu I have ever had. When you come in you're greeted with great smiles from very nice hostesses. If the wait time is a while you can check out their book collection to the right of recipe and food books. My friends ordered the pasta but I got the burger, which I have to admit, was juicy in every bite! I had ordered a medium, but it was more raw than it was medium (I had tasted raw meat towards the center. I wasn't too pleased, but it didn't get in the way of the flavours). But the tiramisu was absolutely mindblowingly good. I don't know what is in the cream sauce but it's simple amazing. The texture is soft and so dense at the same time. I highly recommend it. Needless to say, I would be back for a burger or happy hour eats. Or just for the tiramisu and wine to be honest.
(4)
Debra B.
I don't understand the lower-ratings in the reviews. I can't believe a restaurant can knock it out if the park for us while others find them meh. The food was amazing. We both had the fennel-crusted flank steak with warm potato salad ($18 - what a deal!) and shared a side of roasted cauliflower ($5). The steak was cooked perfectly medium-rare as ordered. The warm potato salad - amazing!!! Hubby had the old fashion (make it a double - same price?!) and I had the dark & stormy (made with Gosling's rum - not a well brand). The bar kicked it with our cocktails! Our server, Sean, was friendly, attentive and efficient. The service was great. Nothing less than an ideal dining experience for us. Better yet, we used a Groupon so we ended up paying about 40% less than menus prices, which were already very reasonable.
(5)
Katy H.
Woah Nelly! This Palomino is a total 180 from others I've visited. If you haven't been here in over a year, you owe it to yourself to come back in and enjoy the complete facelift the space has gotten. It's bright, it's light, and it's so much cozier without the dark heavy furniture and carpeting. I knew I was in for a treat when I was greeted by the hostess who's stationed just in front of a large herb garden welcomed us into the new space. Yes, that's right, there's an herb garden inside the restaurant! It's not huge but it's cute and it's a clear sign that the focus here is on local. You can't get much more local than herbs that grow 50 ft from the kitchen. Also noticeable was a gorgeous chalkboard wall that extends the entire length and height of the west facing wall of the restaurant. It's all hand drawn and there's everything on there from the menu to happy hour specials to upcoming events, and even fun facts about food, Bellevue, and the Palomino brand. It's really absolutely genius and I spent a lot of my Happy Hour here just looking at that wall. But people come here to eat/drink, right? So I'll get to that too! The HH menu (as always) is insane. You're practically robbing the restaurant if you eat here. Portions are huge and prices are tiny. The meatballs and the bruschetta were standouts for me and I'll be getting those every time I'm back in here. I also loved the Arnold Palmer I ordered but did spy the cocktails and wine and feel tempted to try something else later. The customer service was great too. All in all this was a huge breath of fresh air that I didn't expect. I'm a big fan of this Palomino.
(4)
Marc M.
Stopped in here to check out the Happy Hour menu and left more than impressed with the overall quality of the experience Palomino has to offer. As soon as I walked in the door, I could tell this place was ready to impress with a decor that somehow makes you feel like you're in an outdoor market as opposed to what you might expect from a mall based restaurant location. The staff was very friendly and made every effort to make us feel welcome while showing off some of the finer points of the decor, one example being a chalk menu wall which was created and periodically updated by a local artist. After perusing the all day happy hour menu we decided to go with the bruschetta, calamari, and meatballs which are made with locally produced Uli sausage. As a matter of fact, the bread for the bruschetta is also locally sourced from Macrina bakery and we learned that Palomino really tries to focus on bringing in local ingredients as much as possible and you could really tell the difference in the food. When our items arrived, we were at first surprised by how much food was in each dish and then again by how delicious everything was! Seriously, everything we had was so good and I am already trying to figure out when I can go back to get more of the meatballs which had a perfect balance of spicy sauciness that was just amazing. I would have to say that Palomino Rustico will now be one of my go-to happy hour spots in Bellevue and especially because their happy hour never ends! These guys have really raised their game and I would love to see their Seattle location take this big step forward as well. Great service, beautiful decor, and delicious food. What more could you want?!
(4)
Christina M.
the food here is delicious!! they have amazing service not only for you but your furry friends! came here with my dog and got to sit outside and they brought my dog a bowl of water! haha the waitresses are very nice and the prices for the food is very affordable! I ordered some pizza and garlic fried and let me tell you, it was soo delicious!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(4)
Brianna G.
Came here with a group of friends last night for a late night happy hour. First of all its Happy Hour all day EVERY DAY in the bar. My first initial thought walking into the restaurant was warm and inviting. They had a bunch of growing herbs behind the hostess desk and chalk boards with daily specials. I just order drinks, wine and a mojito. Not bad at all. I really enjoyed the Cranberry Mojito at $6. My friends got a bunch of food which i nibbled off of: calamari, fries, and bruschetta. The typical happy hour food, but all the while good. They do Paint Night here on Mondays which would be fun to try out and breakfast daily. I will have to come back for a more formal meal. Overall, rally enjoyed the environment and the staff was genuinely friendly. I would come back here.
(4)
Kim L.
I've never been to this restaurant and decided to try it with several friends. They have an all day Happy Hour menu, which is awesome! My friends got the sliders, meatballs, calamari, pizza, salad and I ordered the lemon roasted chicken. The chicken tasted really good, seasoned well and moist. The other items that our group ordered was good also. Service was great and our food didn't take too long to come out. They have this huge chalkboard wall which lists their menu and has a mini map of the Pacific NW. I love that they have happy hour all day and I will definitely be coming back here again!
Food had a nice rustic taste to it. Sat in bar, server really could have cared less about us. Manager was amazing and expedited our food wonderfully.
(3)
Suki S.
Yup, i'm writing another review for this place. Because this time I want to give praise to Ryan who served us today. He was awesome! Took the best care of us, and still very attentive to all his guest, and I love that he was knowledgeable about the menu. I love good food and even better I love great service and Palomino never disappoints on either. Whoever does the hiring and training there I should also get praise because all the staff is helpful and friendly.
(5)
Susan W.
Went here 2 weeks ago for a ladies lunch. Our hostess had made a reservation for our group of approx 30 ladies. The restaurant worked with her to setup a special lunch menu. We had a nice little area to ourselves on one side of the restaurant. Our tables were set with our special menus & lovely carafes of water. We had our choice of a delicious mushroom soup or an excellent Caesar salad. Our 3 entree choices were a vegetarian macaroni & cheese, a tender perfectly medium rare flank steak served on top of a delicious warm potato salad or the best Mahi I've ever had on creamy mashed potatoes with a tasty smoky sauce. Luckily we all shared tastes of everything so we got to experience it all. Dessert was a trio of desserts that included a warm banana bread pudding, a tiramisu & a rich chocolate torte with raspberries. Of the 3 the tiramisu was my least favorite. The bread pudding would have been better if a little warmer & moister served in a bowl. The chocolate torte by far the best. Rich & decadent. We had 2-3 fabulous servers that were spot on. Especially efficient was Justin. I made sure to email the restaurant promptly & acknowledge his good service & our pleasure dining there.
(5)
Linnea T.
This is one of my favorite places for happy hour in Bellevue! Great wine list, bar, attractive people and super food and beverage deals. I usually have impeccable service at the bar, but the dining room staff service has been hit-or-miss. I will still come back for the cauliflower or warm mushroom salad. They also feature a lovely patio with sun umbrellas off the main dining room during warmer months.
(4)
Chelsea A.
Fun little place. I didn't know it was Italian food until I started reading the menu. I asked our waiter to see the nutritional information to which he responded that they didn't have any. That was VERY surprising. I wish they would get that information for their customers. Overall, the food was good. I had the turkey panini with Caesar salad lunch combo. Very very good panini! Salty, but good. The Caesar was also very nice and fresh tasting. Nice waiter, it started to fill up so we didn't see him much but we didn't need much besides water. Lower the salt a bit and get the nutrition information menu, and it'd be perfect. The chicken parm smelled impeccable.
(3)
Jessica S.
I'm not sure if they've redone the restaurant or made other changes. What I am sure of is this: Palomino is suddenly a winner in my book. It wasn't always - I was here a couple of times several years ago for a couple of forgettable meals, and stopped visiting because there are plenty of other options in the area. Today, though, I came back, because they had the best-looking brunch menu in the area. The restaurant is now firing on all cylinders: an appealing menu at just the right price points. I had classic eggs Benedict, and they were done up right, with just enough hollandaise and a side of tiny, crispy potatoes. Delicious. The decor is, as the name implies, rustic, with a warm, comfortable interior, with noise levels that didn't inhibit conversation (which may be why we lingered so long!). All the staff we met were pleasant and helpful, making for an all around positive experience.
(5)
Chelsea J.
Palomino is okay. I had only been to the Palomino in Seattle until this visit. They have a good happy hour with many food choices and good prices. I wasn't drinking but some friends said their drinks were weak. I liked the pepperoni pizza and gorgonzola fries. Service was very very slow. We asked for our checks and it was at least 45 minutes until we actually received them. Yes, we were a group but this just seems excessive. They also didn't keep us with filled drinks. Seems like they would want to get more revenue out of a large table by checking to see if we wanted to order more items, esp. drinks. Not a place I would go out of my way for but I would return when in Bellevue.
(3)
Nicole O.
This is my third visit to Palomino and every time I'm a bit more disappointed. Today, I ordered the capellini pomodoro I was served room temperature pasta with cold slabs of mozzarella on top. I added spinach and asparagus to get some veggies in and there was so little and the pieces were so small I could barely get them in my fork. While the manager kindly comped my meal, I would just prefer to pay and have good service and good food within an hour of being seated.
(2)
Namtran V.
All day, every day happy hour in the bar. Is that a true happy hour? No. Oh well. We got an order of the truffle fries, calamari, grilled flatbread with Moroccan hummus, and pepperoni pizza. The calamari was perfect!! Nicely breaded and good dips. The shoe string truffle fries were so salty and just kept getting saltier and saltier as we reached the bottom. What was I thinking getting flat bread and hummus??? And the super thin crust pepperoni pizza was also just OK, nothing spectacular. If I were to do it again, I would have just a candied apple drop and an order of calamari.
(3)
Catherine W.
This is a review for Happy Hour only. The food- great! And good prices- we got a pepperoni pizza (big enough for 3), truffle fries (a basket that could be a meal in and of itself), artichoke crab dip (with pieces of pita bread to eat it with), and a cauliflower dip for less than $40 (not including tax/tip). And we were all stuffed by the end. Portion sizes were great- and I would get anything other than the cauliflower again (it was okay- but I would rather eat something else they have- like the brussel sprouts!). They have good beer, drink, and wine options to that are all really reasonable for happy hour. Service wasn't stellar, but it was happy hour and it was packed. A good place to go when you want something that you know is solid!
(4)
Joe L.
ATMOSPHERE: 4. Ate on the patio, dimly lit, space heating towers at the ready, quiet yet able to people watch and capture the evenings goings on in downtown Bellevue SERVICE: 4. Brought a dog and they were very accommodating and dog friendly. Brought him water in a bowl and some bacon. Made over by wait staff. Appetizers came quickly, but then things started tend to sloooow down. Had to ask for water refills FOOD: 2. Someone else mentioned "hit or miss" and they were spot on. Started with crab dip and Sicilian meatballs. Very good. Dip was rich, creamy and crab filled. Meatballs were very spicy, the pistachios added crunch and texture. And there was just a hint of citrus. Salads were the wild greens, and were so-so. They were topped with a large flatbread/cracker that I'm guessing we're supposed to be topped with seasoning or cheese, but that had spent way too much time under the broiler. Burned & inedible. Margharita pizza was a BIG disappointment. Doesn't look like their photo. Comments like " Chuck E Cheese" and "cracker with tomato sauce" were used. Turkey sandwich was ok. Large, well-dressed. Aioli was a bit odd. Pickled veggies were crisp and tasty. Garlic fries were tasty. As mentioned earlier, the biggest problem was timing. Appetizer came out quickly, but their was a 45 min wait for salads and another 40 mins for entree. PRICE: 3 Fair prices, $105 for three with a bottle of Chardonnay.
(3)
shami s.
The crab dip is always to die for and always on the happy hour menu can't beat that! This is a great place with great service.
(5)
Kathryn S.
If you think HH is good here, try breakfast... Full disclosure; I previously worked for the company that owns Palomino Rustico, but have been gone for more than a year and still frequent the traditional Seattle location and the updated "Rustico" version in Bellevue. Open early for business clientele, great French Press coffee, addictive house-made scones with Pancetta, served with fig preserves, Macrina Bakery granola and other whole grain offerings. Highly recommend an early business meeting or relaxing weekend breakfast here which would, of course, include a Mimosa or spicy Bloody Mary.
(5)
Dany P.
We came here for my friends birthday dinner. Reservations were for 8pm for a group of 20. The hostess kept telling us the they were cleaning our table and we should be seated shortly. 20 mins later we were still waiting. We were finally seated around 8:45-9 and everyone was very hungry. For some reason they only had one server for both of our tables. She was extremely overwhelmed. She took our drink orders and came back about 20 mins and took our dinner order. Appetizers came and we finally got our dinner around 10:15. We were all hungry and at this point just wanted to eat and get out. My dinner wasn't warm, I don't know if it was sitting there waiting for the rest of our orders to brought out at the same time. But cold pasta was a disappointment. Time came for our bill and some of us were charged for things we didn't order. Took awhile for them to straighten things out. I don't know if this was an off night for them or if it was because we had a large party. But our service was horrible, and everything took SO long!
(1)
Vivian T.
Items ordered: Candied apple cocktail, grilled flatbread with hummus, sicilian meatballs, four cheese penne, and prime rib dip sandwich, almond rocher gelato. The Good: the cocktail had a nice flavor with a surprising kick at the end. The sicilian meatballs were BOMB, though they probably could've been a lot better if they had been hot instead of lukewarm (approaching cold). Our server was extremely nice and had good suggestions. Another man in a suit (maybe the manager?) checked in on us several times and he was also really nice. I LOVED the almond rocher gelato dessert, not too sweet and perfect to share after a big dinner. The decorations and the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely different from the old Palomino's, but I like the change and the rustic feel. The Bad: for a quiet Sunday night, service was agonizingly SLOOOOOW. We sat around and waited for someone to serve us for like 15 minutes, and then it took about 30-45 minutes for our appetizers to show up to our table. A lot of the menu items we wanted to try were also out, which was disappointing but understandable for the day after Valentine's. The portions are also somewhat small for the price. Conclusion: To me, the dinner items are pricey in comparison to their portions. But the food is good and the people working inside are extremely friendly. Hopefully the speed of service actually picks up a lot more during the day. This place is great for their HH if you're just looking for drinks and appetizers.
(3)
Lee A.
Wanted to check out their happy hour. Maybe for drinks it would be good but I didn't think the food was a great deal. We ordered fried calamari, bread and tomato relish feta dip and two sodas and it was $24! The sodas were $3.75 each! I guess they want to make up for losses during happy hour! The calamari was not good. It was more fried bread than calamari. The bread and the dip were great though. Service was not good. It took awhile to get our drinks refilled, actually to get any attention at all. Maybe because we didn't other alcohol we weren't considered a priority. The bartender even said "fuck" I know it's a bar but I don't really think that is professional. I won't be visiting again, not with so many other great choices in the area.
(2)
Suzette H.
Dinner at Palomino last night was very disappointing. I realized immediately that there were far to many empty tables for prime time on a Saturday nights, we almost left because on it and should have . Service was slow, calamari was greasy and served cold and it didn't get any better from there.
(1)
Anjana A.
This place is huge but it's always busy on weekends due to it's location right next to Lincoln Square. It's good for large groups. There is an all day happy hour menu available which offers some appetizers if you're there just for drinks. The bread is drenched in olive oil and can be ordered as an appetizer with one complimentary dipping sauce. My bread was warm but pretty oily, and was hard to eat due to that. There are not too many specials on drinks in the all-day happy hour. The dinner entrees are fairly expensive and no so great in my opinion. I shunned the overpriced salmon this time, and ordered a wood-fired pollo spinachi pizza. The topping combination was good but the pizza was fairly dry and the rotisserie chicken too bland for me. It may have been the larger group effect as they try to bring out everything together and these pizzas are not so great cold. I ordered one bread appetizer, one glass of house red and an individual pizza and my check was still $45 with with tax. Not worth it for the quality of food but it makes a good meeting place for events around that area.
(3)
Muzamil A.
I'm not sure why this place is given three stars. I came here Friday morning for breakfast because I was staying in the Westin, compared to all the other places you can go to for breakfast in this area is probably one of the better places. I order the French toast with a side of poached eggs and it came out perfectly. flavor was really good it was sweet and the butter was pretty incredible. this place is definitely better than three stars I will give it a five
(5)
Jeff C.
Been a while since I've dined here. Had two entrees and a couple appetizers. All were disappointingly mediocre. No wonder they were running a Groupon. I'd stick with their pizza next time, if ever. Whatever change they made in the kitchen when they changed the name was definitely for the worse. Sorry chef.
(2)
Sri Divya B.
We chose this restaurant for a weekend dinner. The staff and service were reasonably good. Their crab cakes were yummy. But I gave them 3 stars because they totally burnt our rustico Burger patty which was literally bitter in taste and my husband just lost his appetite, and my pizza (pico de spinaci I think!) was also a little burnt. The manager was informed of this and he genuinely apologized and offered a free tiramisu dessert. Hmmm.. But we'd rather pay for good food and be happy rather than getting free stuff which is a little embarrassing. The Dessert was good though! We usually take a good look at the menu before choosing a restaurant and we really had high hopes on Palomino. It was indeed disappointing. I hope this wouldn't happen again. Overall, Ambience and service gets 5 but dining experience is 3 !
(3)
Edith L.
The husband and I came here with a friend for late Sunday lunch at 1pm. We were seated immediately. There was not much diners there, maybe 3 or 4 tables. We sat down and the server noticed us right away and bought us water. That was the only good service that came out of the whole entire meal. He took our orders about 15 minutes in and only after we flagged him down. The food then did not arrived until 2pm. Took them almost 45 minutes to cook our food!! During this 45 minutes, we asked for the manager/server to see what was the hold up with our food twice. Twice, a person, whom I assumed is a busgirl, says they will be over right away. Nobody ever came to the table. The food itself was okay. The fries tasted too crispy and oily. After another 30 minutes of nobody stopping by our table except to drop off the water, I gave up and asked for the check. By that point, I was so angry that we just paid and left. In fact I wrote on the receipt "service was poor. Food took a long time. Unhappy with the experience" The cherry on top of the cake was that on the way home, I had a massive stomachache from the food. Never again!!!
(1)
Kenneth N.
4 stars for overall customer service, ambience, food and even value too. Located close to the Westin, did takeout because had grown bored of room service, plus PR also allows invoicing to the hotel room, so bonus for write offs ;) Cool their POS system had me registered already. It's a nice restaurant/bar theme, though more classy, no partying here. VIP seating would be the round table in its own corner facing Red Robins/Cheesecake Factory. anyways, ordered the eggs benedict with Canadian bacon, light on the hollaidaise sauce, but what was impressived were the takeout containers; perfectly round, solid with a deep lid so sauces weren't going to be dripped anywhere. Same for the cinnamon French Toast, which came with an assortment of toppings: white chocolate, raspberry and chocolate mousse/pudding, yummy. Fresh butter too. Date worthy too.
(4)
An T.
Happy hour all the time? sweet! Good value for drinks. My fav is the sausage and mushroom pizza. The italian sausage is nice and spicy and the mushrooms add great texure and subtle flavor to the pizza.
(4)
Sean M.
My bud is crazy about this place so he drags me here every time we plan on lunch. I'm not a gourmand by any measure so we generally sit @ the bar (for obvious reasons). The drinks are good & the girls are pretty so I can't find any reason to complain, except that parking is a b!tch to find and some folks don't seem to understand what right of way means when driving down the street outside. They make a decent panini and even had a goat meat burger (seasonal menu) a few weeks back so that's definitely an A+ in my book fWiW I'm rating them as 'spendy' since their drinks are not on the dollar side of the menu and its too easy to hit a century if you start knocking them 'sugar-free potato-drinks' back like we do :)
(3)
Kristina L.
Mediocre. The food was sub par and the service was lacking. This restaurant came highly recommended from my mom's stylist across the street. We all had sandwiches and soup or salad. The service was slow. The sandwiches were less than adequate, they came out cold on the outside but hot on the inside - obviously somebody let the food sit in the window a bit too long. Our male server was a complete snob, he basically hovered over the table next to us, I wanted to tell the kid to first of all, get over himself and secondly the table of over dressed bleach blond with brown roots, big haired, too much make up with 3 inch stiletto 40 year olds will probably be more demanding and tip you less than I normally would. When he was taking our order, the lady at the table next to us actually interruped, she called him over to her table...and HE went...he left us there mid-sentence to take care of those ladies, so incredibly rude. I had spent the morning in the spa, I was relaxed, calm, 2 hours after entering the restaurant, getting my horrible meal with bad service, we finally we on our way out. One of the servers was going around the corner too fast and ran right into me. She had a small tray of about 8 drinks, it was spilled all over my shoes! Not even an apology. BAD FOOD. HORRIBLE SERVICE
(1)
Mindy H.
Some one on yelp encouraged me to give the Palomino another try in the same week that my friend chose to go here for their bday celebration. However, this time we partook of their Happy Hour. Palomino actually offers Happy Hour specials all day every day of the week. I have to increase by my rating by 1 star after trying the Happy Hour 2x in the past 2 months. Their are some very comfortable booths in the bar area and the service is much better than what I have experienced in the main dining area in the past. You can still order full menu items as well if you want. I had their chop chop salad for the first time and really enjoyed it. I am a fan of the Palomino for the salad & Happy Hour special combination. Also, they have an interesting rewards card that you can get. I suppose this would be a great deal for a frequent eater to this establishment. I posted the details of the rewards card below. Eat, Drink and Earn Rewards Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend and redeem your points for Restaurant Dining Credits, Gift Cards and Luxury Vacations... It's that simple! Here's how you can start earning rewards: -Visit your favorite Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. Restaurant and request an Eat, Drink and Earn Rewards Card. -Register your rewards card by following the link below or clicking here. -Use your card at any of our restaurants and earn points towards exciting rewards. -Receive exclusive offers, surprise gifts and learn about upcoming events and promotions through Eat, Drink and Earn emails. -Redeem your points for any of our fabulous rewards!
(3)
Aaron E.
For some reason I always get the worst service at Palomino restaurants.... I think the downtown location is the worst when it comes to service, but the Bellevue one was pretty bad too... Anywho, we dropped in for lunch this weekend. Cheesecake Factory was insanely packed and we were looking for a cheap lunch and decided to see what Palomino had to offer. For the most part I've only been here for dinner and found the prices to be a bit on the high end considering the quality but lunch prices were quite reasonable. I went with the Paella and my lunch buddy went with half a crab sandwich and the Penne Alfredo. After ordering I expected to be served bread... I was hungry and didn't want to wait after all. Unfortunately the bread didn't come until after they brought us our food which was really a shame since I love the tomato tapenade they serve with the bread. I'd also like to mention that my ice tea and water weren't refilled the entire time we were waiting for our food. The crab sandwich had an immense amount of crab and was pretty heavy. The penne which was really more mac and cheese was delicious... creamy, cheesy, flavorful and hearty. Perfect for a rainy day. My Paella was good, but I've had better. For the price ($19) I was very pleased! There was an abundance of shellfish although I can't say I saw any chicken or chorizo. The prawns were a little too salty and overcooked, but the salmon was heaven! I've never had salmon so buttery and flavorful. It wasn't at all fishy and it was cooked to perfection--perfectly flaky. The rice itself was also cooked really well, but it was missing that crunch that you get from most paellas... you know, from the crust that forms at the bottom of the pan that is so delicious! I'd also like to mention my water and ice tea weren't filled the duration of eating our entrees either despite requesting more. Our entrees were really filling, but we decided we must have dessert, so we split one of the chocolate thingys. In essence it was a generic, molten chocolate cake, but it was so much better than a normal one. It was served with creme anglaise which was tasty, but kind of useless since they also served some of the most delicious ice cream on the side. There were also fresh strawberries! Yay! I'd like to mention that after we paid our bill and left a not great tip they refilled my water and ice tea... FAIL! As far as the entrees, I've had better, but I thought they were delicious considering the portion size and price. I wasn't thrilled with the service, but the mac and cheese, the salmon in my paella and the dessert made lunch so amazing that it's hard to give less than four stars. Those few items really were that good and really did make the meal worth while. They also have an awesome Happy Hour! I can't say I'd recommend this place for dinner and I definitely wouldn't recommend either location for a special occasion because there just isn't effort put in by any of their wait staff. However, they have reasonably priced lunches and they're conveniently located which make it a good restaurant to have an impromptu meal. p.s. Everyone mentions that the servers always disappear... they just so happened to congregate right behind the booth we were sitting and chatted about their weekends and getting wasted. You stay classy Palomino.
(4)
Byung K.
I had very mixed emotion about this place. Very classy and modern interior with food that doesn't quite live up to the atmosphere. I am not saying the food was bad. I have read some other people's review and it looked very unappetizing. In scale of 1-5, I will give about 3 for the foods, but not all the menu items are 3 either. As you enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by nice young ladies who will escort you to your table. I was there at the peak hour of dinner and it was crowed. Also, there was some kind of high school dance night the same day. So the place was packed with barely dressed teenagers and loud voices. Table setting looked very good and waiter was very friendly( may be I got luck apposed to some other people here on yelp). We ordered Lamb shank, steak frites, and some unknown chess pasta with grill prawns. And here is where I was starting to have very mixed emotion about the place. Steak. The staple of all dinner restaurant. It was done very well. Seasoning was great. I didn't need any steak sauce to eat it. but the quality of meat wasn't that good. I prefer medium rare every time, and by that standard, most meat should be moist and tender. The steak tasted good, because of the seasoning, not because of the quality of the meat. I would imagine any restaurant with this magnitude will serve high quality meat. but it was short of my expectation. One short note to the chef. Just what am I supposed to do with the whole grilled garlic??? Just the smell of it will chase vampires away from miles. Or, are you trying to ruin my date with garlic breath that might last for years? No kissing tonight~~~ Or never ever~~. And there was that lamb shank. I wanted to order the lamb shank myself, but I was so glad I didn't. It was cooked to perfection. Really. The meat was falling off the bone. Great stuff... but then there was problem with the taste. Any yelpers should know that lamb is very gamy meat. However, depending on how it is prepared, lamb can be fabulous meat. This shank was a big miss by very large margin. it was like none seasoned bare lamb shank. Than there was that chess pasta. I am so glad I didn't have to pay for these meal, but that was just a glorified macaroni chess with over sized grill prawns. I liked the over sized prawn. And I had a feeling it was costing $17 for that large 3 prawns not the pasta. All in all, you will be paying for the location, more than the food itself. You want good food? I would suggest Costco. They have better meat, cheese, and prawn. However, I will not disregard the effort of the chef for making these good food. I just think it cost way too much for what you get out of here.
(2)
Anisia H.
The Lincoln Square Palomino's is a great Happy Hour place - if you get there early enough, or if you REALLY love to wait behind a velvet rope line for 15-30 minutes for a spot at the bar/lounge area. Once, while waiting in the foyer area on a crowded night, the server came to me and offered me a glass of wine - LOVE IT!!!! What else? LOVE IT: - Brick Oven Mussels with Chorizo - my favorite, always prepared well - $4 margaritas or wine; $5 pizzas; 1/2 off appetizers NOT SO MUCH:The HH menu is limited to things oily, cheesy, greasy... and Clams on pizza? Well, maybe for $5.... HATE IT: Palomino's does not serve Hangar One Vodka SERVICE: Prompt, mostly, but sincere - not always. Give me a lil' friendliness or sincerity! I know your job's tough (and its hard work looking so "Bellevue") but dang, do you know who I am? ... a customer who tips well after drinking well and enjoying cheap eats! Smile and be real!
(3)
Riss J.
I have a confession. I had a fling with Rebecca's restaurant boyfriend! Came in tonight for late happy hour with a bit of the Eastside Yelper Crew. Upon arrival right at 9pm, the bar area was full of open space. They happily agreed to let us push some tables together to ensure our Crew had enough seating. I ordered the prosciutto pizza and split the happy hour mussels and calamari with Naurry. For drinks I tried the cranberry mojito and the pomegranate margarita. The pizza is more akin to a quesadilla by the texture of the crust, at least IMO, but it was good. I would have like a bit less cheese and a little more garlic. But it was good. The mussels were fabulous. The calamari was just as Sean said, "Well they are owned by the same company as Cutter's, etc so if you like it there it's probably pretty similar". Other than incorrectly estimating what I thought the size of these items would be, I'm pretty pleased with all my choices. I came home stuffed and with 3/4 of a pizza for the kids. Service was not what I would have hoped. Our server disappeared to parts unknown for long periods of time, at one point forgetting my drink order for nearly 15 minutes. It was not a matter of getting their attention, it was a matter of someone actually being in the bar and then getting their attention. Even the bartender seemed to disappear (at least from view). Overall though, it was a good time. With good food, and at happy hour prices Naurry and my collective tab for 4 drinks (i think Naurry only had 2), 2 pizzas and two big portioned appetizers was only $40!
(4)
Tony L.
Professional staff, gorgeous dining room, great atmosphere and amazingly talented cooks in the kitchen. Need I say more???
(5)
Natty S.
I have been to Palomino 3 times. Twice at Bellevue and once at the Downtown Location. First time was happy hour in Bellevue on a Saturday night at 9. We got a great table and the food was amazing. Loved the calamari, baked brie and pizza. Had a Lavender Cosmo which are my two fave drinks rolled into one. It was flawless. Second time was for happy hour downtown Seattle on a Saturday night. I liked the lay out a bit better. There is more space and the vibe is a little more laid back in the bar. We ordered quite a bit of food and everything was amazing except the Gorgonzola waffle fries. Don't even bother with those. You can make them at home with frozen waffle fries and your own gorg. Third time was for lunch at Bellevue on a Saturday and the food was fine. I got an open faced crab sandwich. It was good but it tasted like they got crab dip from a grocery store deli and put it on a sandwich with tomato and cheddar. Once again, you could make it at home and it would taste just the same. I did have the lavender cosmo again though, as I always do every time I go to Palomino and it was once again perfection.
(3)
Tom B.
I've always thought of this place as being sort of a cynical corporate joint that didn't make much effort. But I tried the Bellevue location a few weeks ago and the food is actually really good. The service is efficient and friendly, very attentive. Solid wine list. I don't know that it's quite worth what they charge, but it's close. Great place to take a date--feels stylish and kind of private, despite a wall of windows.
(4)
Anthony B.
Went there only because I received a promotional flyer advertising for a free entree or dessert. Food was alright. Tastes is average but not exceptional. Portions are reasonable except for the Salmon. Service was good. The complimentary loaves of bread (unlimited upon request) are excellent but they are better with butter than the mariana tomato sauce they come with. Olive oil, fresh ground pepper and vinegar are also available as condiment. This place is quite kid-friendly and offer $7 kid's menu items inclluding choices such as Cheese Pizza, Salmon, Capellini, Ragotoni, Panini Grilled Cheese sandwich, etc., including a choice of drink but no refills. We ordered the Capellini Pasta with Alfredo sauce and steamed vegetables which turned out to be grilled asparagus only. They were not too bad and very flavorful. The Prawns were big and flavorful. The Capellini pasta with mariana tomato sauce was okay also. I learnt from the server that their Salmon are Farm-Raised and not Wild-Caught. The portion size was very small and they were slightly overcooked and dry. It had very little flavor and I had much moister and better Salmon cooked on a wood plank at Rain Forest Cafe. Overall, it was a very pleasant dining experience.
(3)
Linda T.
Checked out their all day, everyday, happy hour yesterday. Their happy hour food menu is different from other standard happy hours. I had the wild mushroom, cured ham, and goat cheese flatbread. It was delicious and everyone else with me enjoyed their flatbread and pizzas. The food is of good quality and are a little pricey, but worth it given the food options and quality ingredients. The service was mediocre and food took quite a while. Overall, I liked their happy hour and would definately return. I don't see any point in dining off their regular menu if happy hour is all day, everyday.
(4)
Ivan I.
A little bit pricy, but you can get most everything at the Happy Hour side of the restaurant, which makes it really affordable. A classy joint for some simple food and drink. The EVOO vegetarian pasta is great. The flatbreads and pizzas are solid. Sign me up. Wish they had one of these in LA.
(4)
Why T.
well the service hasnt changed or improved, but now they have ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR. YES this means you dont have to eat early "dinner" from 3-6 or 4-6 or starve yourself and eat after 9pm. I think this fact alone should get another star, but I tried more dishes and they were super yummy! Crab Dip (?) really good. the pizza chips to dip was a bit salty, but the dip was so good. Gorgonzola fries are my favorite Baked clams.. now i normally dont like clams unless it's clam chowder, and this was SOOOO good. so good. I also had the mussels, and i didnt think they were as good. I think i'm just bias because i like mussels even less. cranberry mojito! YUM. i got super buzzed from one :P so sooo tasty.
(3)
Abhijit P.
I have been here twice (once for a business lunch and once for dinner with friends before dinner). The food is good American fare and pretty consistent with the San Francisco version. Drinks are memorable and very well executed. Service was slow for dinner but the general manager was extremely nice to us and made it up. He gets an A+ for service recovery and deserves a call-out.
(4)
Tracy W.
A little slow getting us seated (20 minutes+ after reservation) but the awesome and funny waiter made up for it quickly. He was great and made the experience really enjoyable...his name was Roman or something like that? Anyway, food also fantastic. Overall great dinner out with the girls!
(4)
David X.
Palomino's is pretty well known by now for its extended happy hour with cheap pizzas. So what did my friends and I do? We didn't come for happy hour. For appetizers we ordered the Charcuterie (basically artisan bread+fig jam+salami), crab cakes, and calamarie. These were decent but alas nothing to write home about. For entrees we ordered the veal cutlet, chicken under a brick (half a chicken that's roasted in a brick oven), and salmon. The veal looked like typical katsu from a Japanese place and the salmon portion was tiny. The only saving grace was the chicken under a brick. Half a chicken was a lot of food and it was juicy and delicious. Unfortunately we had to wait to eat the best entree because the waiter got the order wrong and brought some tuna at first (although he did give us free ice cream at the end to atone for his mistake). All in all, the food was decent but not worth the $140 after tax and tip between the 3 of us. Maybe we should have came for happy hour and got some cheap pizzas...
(3)
Amy S.
Just went here for Christmas lunch. Thought the menu was a bit sparse or entrees, went with the soup and Caesar. Both pretty standard but tasty. Service was VERY friendly, like 'what-is-that-scent-you're-wearing' friendly. Still, can't complain! Lacked a bit of character but food was reliable and service wad great.
(3)
Chau D.
Came here for lunch and ordered their lunch combo which was the Rigatoni Bolognese with the Romaine Lettuce, Bleu Cheese, Hazelnut salad. YUM!!! The portion looked small but I was full and couldn't finish my food. Try their huckleberry lemonade. Delish!! Definitely puts Olive Garden to shame if you consider OG Italian.
(4)
Andrew B.
Staff here was not friendly at all. I wouldn't quite call them rude but it was pretty close. Happy hour food is pretty good but very heavy. It would be nice if they had not limited their happy hour to basically consist of pizza, (Which is very good), seafood, and greasy food. Also the drinks offered are pretty limited and very sweet. The seating is always a problem because they are one of the only Bellevue spots, if not the only, to have all day happy hour which is a plus. The bar is always crowded and they put too many chairs so even if your a petite woman you wont' have enough elbow room which also is a nuisance. Other than the fact you can come here midday and not worry about whether or not they have a happy hour this place is a pass as far as I am concerned.
(2)
Paul C.
All day happy hour! I've been here a few times and have always had a good time. PIzzas are super thin crust and good. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Will come back for future outings.
(4)
Zannah B.
My mother and I have lunch together every other Friday. We often choose to eat at the Palomino because they had a really good steak and frites on the menu. We are regulars there for many months now. I used to love their filet mignon- it melted in your mouth it was so good. The food was always so good which is why we always wanted to come back. Sadly this has changed. Our last lunch may well be our final meal at this Palomino. I first ordered the prime rib sandwhich- I assumed that this- being a better establishment -it would use fresh meat and the server raved about it be so great. Yick! It was clearly day old (or longer perhaps?) meat, it was dry, hard, and covered with some sort of mayo. UGH! I sent that back to the kitchen and ordered what I usually order- the steak and frites. The steak used to come out tasting like steak- this last time it came out with a thick, oil coating that ruined the flavor of the meat. We spoke to the chef who said that they were using a steak butter now versus a combination of olive oils. He seemed nonplussed that we as regulars found the taste to be so awful. To be honest I don't think he really cared. This was hands down a miserable dining experience. The manager was very polite and nice and took the prime rib sandwhich off our bill. She also comped our appetizer which we in no way expected them to do. I don't complain to get freebies- I do it when I experience something less than expected. Our server Jan has always been really wonderful and treated us well. You can't blame the waitstaff for sub par food. From a prior dining experience in the evening I also found issue with the shrinking bruschetta- it looks like a happy hour food- but not at happy hour prices. I also mentioned the fact that the noise level in the restaurant is just awful. You have to shout at your date to be heard once the bar gets going. Don't come here if you want a romantic dinner out because you will either be hoarse from shouting or sit in silence most of the meal. They need to spend a little money and put up a partition from the bar area- there used to be one- why was it removed? While they do serve breakfast here- it is nothing better than what is served at a hotel. The waffles are the exact same thing you get at a hotel buffet. They do not offer any type of salsa with their eggs- only Tabasco or this icky aioli sauce that comes with their cold bread at the lunch and dinner shifts. The steak and eggs were good- unless they are using the steak butter on that as well now. I am really saddened to see the food quality, as far as taste and portions be so diminished. I have enjoyed eating at the Palomino over the years with my husband and now with my mother for lunches. But frankly the experience is no longer something that I look forward too. I like a level of constancy in items on the menu. Perhaps they are more interested in catering to the bar scene and are letting the main portion of the dining room go. Perhaps they are cutting back on quality because of the slow economy? Needless to say I will frequent the Palomino downtown when attending the theater but otherwise for the Bellevue location I think I will not be back again for some time.
(2)
Jane L.
I came here w/ an old coworker and her family. The service was good-- the waitress was very accommodating and totally great about making sure the food tasted great. I ordered the Dungeness Crab sliders, and while they were pretty good, I was surprised to find just shredded crab meat. For some reason, I was expecting something more along the lines of a mini crab cake....but I guess they would've called it crab cake sliders.
(3)
Donna H.
Typical noisy Bellevue joint, one criticism though - waitstaff, if you HAVE to smoke on your break, please brush your teeth before you come back and serve me :)
(3)
Ronald M.
On any given Happy Hour, this probably ranks last of the Palomino locations -that is in no ways a back-handed compliment. I've been to Palomino's in Westwood, San Francisco, and now Bellevue. The king crab and artichoke dip was delectable. Mmm.. tasty mussels. San Francisco probably has the best because of the outdoor patio and SUN! Hear that Seattle? SUN! It's that fiery, orange globe up in the sky. Spongebob Awesomeness: I would not come here for a dinner, I just think they have a great HH-HV ratio. That would be my Happy Hour-to Happy-Value index. Happy-Value is comprised of $-to-alcohol ratio. And yes, I just made that rating system up.
(4)
Kath U.
Every time I go to Bellevue I have lunch here with my friend who works across the street. She likes this place & they have a rewards card program for frequent diners so this is good for locals who frequent Palomino. I have been here six times now only for lunch so I can't comment on dinner here or happy hour. The ambiance is nice & I like the different areas in the restaurant so that you have a more intimate experience rather than one big dining room. The menu has combos which are nice as in pasta & salad; soup & salad; soup & half sandwich etc... as well as lots of salads, flatbreads & pizzas, pastas but a limited number of full entrees which I am guessing is because it is a lunch menu. Their mushroom soup w/ sherry is really good as is the grilled wild forest mushroom salad. They do offer whole grain pasta which is nice and they actually have a good vegetarian selection. Last time I had the Tuna Cardo from the small bites menu instead of my usual soup & salad. It was good & had Avocado, edamame-snow pea salad, tomato aioli. The food is good but doesn't wow me as in the best. However in their defense they give you an ample serving & it's never been bad or inconsistent in quality. Service has always been good & they do get your lunch out pretty quick! My criticism has to do with how the hostess makes you wait at the front even when they are not busy. Two thirds of the restaurant is empty and they make you wait, walk away & then come back only to seat you right next to a doorway where the servers are running in & out of !! Seems we have to ask to be moved each time to a more desirable table. I don't quite understand the logic with that but okay! I know they are a chain but the food is good here! We had a birthday party here and it was great! They took care of the large group without a hitch.
(4)
Leanna B.
I love this place! The first time I went I didn't sit in the bar. The food was very good. A little overpriced, but I was in Bellevue after all. I had the mac and cheese and it was amazing. The next time I went I sat in the bar... and it was so cheap! They have an all day happy hour! Their pizza is really good and only $6. And the gorgonzola fries are to die for! My boyfriend and I had more food than we knew what to do with and we each had 2 drinks and our bill was still under $50. I love this place! Just come early because it can be hard to find a table.
(5)
Venus A.
Stumbled across this restaurant on a Saturday morning with a friend of mine. We were in town for a wedding and wanted to have a nice breakfast. Unfortunately, we didn't know of any nearby breakfast places within walking distance from our hotel (we were staying at the Hyatt Bellevue) but fortunately someone told us about this place as we walked aimlessly in downtown Bellevue. The breakfast was very yummy. The hash browns were very good - you don't need to put anything on them at all. They have a nice seasoning on them and they are not greasy. I had the Prosciutto and artichoke heart omelet - yum. The portions are sort of large though - I could have shared with my friend if we had known. I actually took out some of the prosciutto because it was too stuffed and started to get salty. But overall, it was very good. I am not a big salt fan so maybe I'm just being "weird." The service is friendly and they are very attentive. I guess they had forgotten about our order of english muffins (which we actually realized we really did not need because the portions are huge) and they comped us for that order because it was slow to come - that was a nice surprise. I can see this place adding up with the side dishes and such - so just be careful. But the food and service was really good. The omlet was $9.00 - so I consider this not too bad at all, really. I think their dinners are pricey though but I've never been to this place before so I don't know what the dinner is like.
(4)
Mike S.
We have experienced Palomino in Seattle and always had a positive experience. This was our first experience at their Bellevue location and now will add Palomino to our East side list of our favorite establishments. I had their traditional turkey dinner and my partner had the prime rib. Both meals were excellent. Prime rib was tender and not overcooked and the turkey was still moist. In addition the Calamari was excellent and the portion was HUGE! Overall a positive experience
(4)
Sarah S.
We went for happy hour. A very good deal, okay food, but not stellar. Our waitress wasn't evil, but I did not get warm-fuzzies from her and honestly, she never seemed happy to have us there. BTW we were the first people there, seems like we would have had better service? She wasn't rude, but not very pleasant. Do you know how you get that feeling when you order happy hour menu items that they treat you like you are some sort of cheapskate? That's kind of how it felt. So sue me for coming at happy hour! The pizza, however is very cheap ($5) so if you are just looking for a place for a snack and a drink, you could do worse. But with so many places in Bellevue with nice vibes, why go here? BTW, I have been to the Seattle Palomino numerous times and had great experiences. No complaints. Maybe it's just the Bellevue location, or maybe just the server we were blessed with that day.
(2)
Alli D.
Ppppbbbbbttttttthhhhhhhh! *Blows raspberry while giving a thumbs-down* -1 star (each) for: a) uber-creepy/greasy/flirtatious waiter. b) slllllooooooowwwwww. Took over an hour for our food to come. c) some weird stench (stinky-cheese-esque) kept wafting our way. d) over-priced. $7 for a vodka-tonic? Really?! +1 star for: a) delicious food. I had the chicken parmesan, which was everything it needed to be. I might go back to give this place another shot. I hear they have a good happy hour. But, really, not impressed on the first go-round.
(2)
Jennifer K.
I have never dined here for a full blown meal, but I have engaged in little Happy Hour fun here. They have a fantastic Happy Hour - Because Happy Hour is a lot better than Angry Hour! Ha, ha... The pizzas are really good & cheap - $5?!!! We usually get the prosciutto & roma tomato pizza. The crust is nice & thin so it is not too filling and there is just the right amount of sauce, cheese & toppings - no one thing overpowers the other. I have also tried the Pistachio Crusted Double Creme Brie - delicious! It comes with flat crackers (bread?). Great for sharing. The Calamari Fritto is a little on the greasy side, but still good - served with two sauces. One tastes almost like a marinara, and the other is a garlic aioli. Potatoes Gorgonzola are delicious! Kind of like waffle fries with a gorgonzola cream sauce over them. Yum. I have heard that the Hot Red King Crab & Artichoke Dip is really good too, but, I am allergic to crab, so have never gotten to indulge. As far as drinks go, I have tried the Candied Apple Drop (good for those that don't really like the taste of alcohol - a bit too sweet for me though), the Cranberry Mojito - good, but Mojitos aren't really my thing - I don't like the mint leaves getting stuck in my teeth, and I have also tried the Pomegranate Margarita - Very good, and probably my favorite out of the three that I have tried. They had all day Happy Hour Sunday-Thursday and from 3-6 & 9-Close on Fridays & Saturdays during the summer. This may have changed now though. It is definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Lindsey M.
Went to Palomino again, just to see if our last experience was an isolated incident. Again, husband and friends ordered pepperoni pizza, it was so incredibly salty and when I let the server know, she just started laughing not taking me serious and gave an excuse stating that it may have just been because of the pepperoni. Yes, pepperoni is naturally salty but does not usually permeate the ENTIRE pizza. Believe, I've had plenty of pepperoni pizza that wasn't over the top salty! Take my advice, just go for the drinks and forget the food altogether!!
(1)
Kate B.
My one and only visit was on the hottest day in Seattle history so I think they were a little more crowded than usual. We went for happy hour as it is 1) an exceptional deal and 2) offered all day long, Sunday - Thursday, in the Bellevue location. Score. Although, being in Bellevue, be prepared for lots of pretty people and plastic surgery. Excellent $4 drink options (cranberry mojito!) and they served us one while we waited in line. Very nice. We split a huge $5 pizza, the mushroom salad and the cheese fondue with apples, pears and honey. The salad had a tad too much dressing on it (will ask for it on the side next time) but it was still good. The fondue, although a bit greasy (and why did they have to put oil on the crackers they served with it???), was soooo good especially with the fruit. The pizza was an amazing deal for $5 and they didn't skimp on the prosciutto. Definite find on the Eastside for happy hour goodness.
(4)
Vicki S.
Dined in the bar area with my fiancee and enjoyed casual and attentive service from a friendly server. The specials were a huge hit with us, especially the caprese salad (best I have had anywhere). Quality without being over priced or stuffy is great for us.
(5)
Brian Y.
prices are ok typical eastside mcbar order happy hour
(3)
Kari K.
Believe me, Bellevue Palomino, I wish I could give you more stars, I really wish I could... I have fond memories of dining at the Downtown Palomino as a child with my family after our annual holiday shopping sprees. So when I came to the Bellevue Palomino to celebrate a friends birthday, I had images of big, juicy and flavorful prawns dancing in my head. However, the excellent seafood I'd remembered was not what we got. Maybe you could say the memories were my inexperienced taste buds speaking from the past, but those who know me know I was probably critiquing the ratio of formula to water in the bottles my mom fed me. I guess I will just have to head back to both locations again to officially compare! Here's how the experience went: Group of four made reservations for a birthday dinner late on New Year's Day (almost should have just waited the extra 30 minutes and ate in the bar for happy hour). Our waitress was nice, but a little bit off in some sort of non-pinpointable way, telling us stories that didn't really have an ending...awkward. She was attentive, but when we mentioned we were ready to order, she kept perfecting the way she wrapped the napkin around our champagne bottle and left--forgetting to take our orders. We thought she would just come right back, but nope. Anyhow, we finally go to order the calamari (the Birthday Girl and I had been drooling over it on the car ride there) and they are OUT! Go to order the mussels--out again. Clams, you ask? Out! There goes the thought of Paella. (Ok, maybe I wouldn't have ordered the Paella, but what if I'd wanted to?) Apparently NYE wiped them clean of seafood...excuses excuses. Appetizers we settled on: King Crab + Artichoke Dip (Would have been good, but it was pretty fishy tasting.) Pistachio Crusted Brick Oven Brie with Honey Pomegranate Glaze (Wow, what a tasty surprise! Would order again.) Main Dishes: Me - Prawn Scampi (Prawns were ok, not quite flavorful enough. Served with decent garlic crostini and not-so-decent herb capellini that was way over seasoned even for the spicy-food loving boys.) Birthday Girl - Pan Seared Scallop + Prawn Fettuccine Alfredo (Her prawns were tough and overcooked, scallops were better.) Boy - Lobster Ravioli (Eh...ok, but I'm not sure if I've ever had lobster ravioli that I've liked--maybe its me? I like my lobster in big pieces.) Other Boy - Capellini Pomodoro with Chicken added (Didn't try this one, so I can't really speak!) On the plus side, they waived the corkage fee for the champagne we brought in since they were out of our first choices. They also brought out a complimentary dessert trio (chocolate espresso cake with white ganache, biscotti, and a hot espresso drink with mascarpone cream) for the Birthday Girl. Bonus points: the cake had a cute curly corkscrew-like candle! Who couldn't like that? Overall, It was a nice celebration, mostly due to the good company, classy champagne, and swanky atmosphere. I will definitely come back sooner or later to one of the Palomino locations to try out their happy hour deals and give them a chance to redeem themselves! But until then, Bellevue Palomino, you're a semi-fail. :(
(2)
Kelly A.
Went to the Palomino in Bellevue last night with a dear friend. The food was greasy and foul. We complained and the cheerful manager told us that they were the BEST PLACE IN TOWN and too bad if we didn't like it.........wow I guess the economy is doing well after all. This morning I was so sick from the greasy flatbread that I needed a half a bottle of pepto!!
(1)
Sarah R.
Food allergies? Do NOT go here. How hard is it to keep cheese out of a salad? Apparently too hard for the staff at this overpriced restaurant which offers nothing but cool lighting and stuck-up, inattentive waiters. I have a severe allergy to dairy. I ordered a salad without any cheese after informing the waiter of this allergy, and upon inspection, found cheese in it before I even took one bite. I sent the salad back and the waiter brought a new one and said that the head chef had made it himself. After almost eating the entire salad, I found cheese at the bottom of the plate!! When I informed the waiter, he told me he didn't know how that could have happened, even as he was staring at the cheese. The least they could do was pay for the meal, which I demanded they did. I will never, ever return to this restaurant, and if I had a nut allergy, I wouldn't dare risking it to go back here. They obviously don't take food allergies seriously.
(1)
Max D.
$25 fixed priced menu. Damn worth it. field greens were fresh! Braised beef ribs were 'effin divine! tiramisu was decadent. Came early and avoided the happy hour crowd and the service was impeccable and attentive! Although, friends tell me that the happy hour menu is worth every cheap dollar! I commend them that the fixed priced menu was not small in portion or skimpy. We could have easily shared it as a light meal and been very content.
(5)
Selena B.
Um.. Is it just me or does this Palomino Suck? I've been to some other locations of this Chain "elite" restaurant and it was decent but this one that just opened in Bellevue sucked. They messed up 3 Salads!! and it wasn't like oops wrong dressing or moldy greens. It was the toppings (Chicken, Ahi and something else). The main proteins were just horrible! Everything was layered in herbs. Hey. I like herbs too, but they are too bring out flavor and add smells not be the whole meal. The decor was "hip" the service was "duh" the price wasn't really worth it. I have yet to try their happy hour.. maybe that will be better.
(2)
Kay C.
I've been here twice only for late night happy hours so that's what this is really reviewing. They have $4 mojitos and scratch margaritas during HH - I've had the margaritas and think they're appropriately strong. They look a little small b/c they're served in a martini glass but they're a decent size. I've also had the clams which were very good, and it seems that everyone I saw in the bar area had one of the $5 pizzas. It was incredibly packed on a Friday night and that's when I realized this is where everyone who lives on the east side goes on a Friday night. The service was a little slow but I think that's b/c they were so busy. I think this is probably one of the better spots in DT Bellevue for the late night happy hour.
(4)
Eleen W.
I wanted to come here for the happy hour pizza prices, but coming in at 10:30am meant that the pizza oven wasn't hot enough to make pizzas yet. Thus, we resigned to just ordering a panini and some fruit. The panini was a bit on the salty side, but that was perhaps by nature of it having salami and bacon. The waitress and hostess were SUPER friendly and accomodating. Best service ever.
(2)
Victoria T.
So my x boyfriend introduced me to this place for happy hour and I swear it was one of the best things he could have done during our time together... The atmosphere is trendy and modern (what you would expect from a Bellevue restaurant), the staff is polite, the food is delicious and super inexpensive. I was there last night with a girlfriend, we had 2 drinks each and split one of their mushroom/ sausage pizzas and clams and it came out to less than $25.00 a piece (with tax and tip). You can tell that they use quality ingredients and the house cab was pretty tasty. I will say that since I've been there last they have changed up the clams a bit and they are no longer served with the yummy garlic butter (which is probably better for me anyway:) and the broth has some sort of salami bits in it but even with the modifications I still really enjoyed them. Palomino continues to be my favorite happy hour in Bellevue and that's even after my X broke up with me there... we will always have happy hour, lol!
(5)
Joe O.
I had lunch here last week and was pretty happy with everything. Went with the lunch special of the 4-cheese pasta and salad. The reason for the mediocre 3-stars is because the portions were teeny! Compared to the massive bowl of pasta my co-worker got (he ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese) I got nothing. Salad was served in a skimpy soup cup and the pasta was served in the same bowl. The food and service was good - not sure about price since I wasn't paying! Although for $13 I think they could have given me more salad AND pasta. Anyway, this place is close to work so we might be heading back. More later...
(3)
Michael H.
Came in on a Sunday night during happy hour. Lot more people were there than I thought would be. We ended up sitting in the bar area. We had the crab & artichoke dip, grilled prawns, and roasted mussels. Two big thumbs up on the mussels. Very good and tons of fun to soak up the broth with the bread. The prawns were quite nice too actually. I'm not a huge fan of the dip (had to make the mrs happy) but it was fine. The service was fine, not very chatty or friendly for a bar but I was there with the mrs so I could assume they wanted to leave us alone. I just got kind of a weird vibe though. The food was really good overall so I could see going back here. I would totally suggest this place during happy hour though as several of the items are half price which made it a great bargain for downtown Bellevue! I would try going back again and sitting in the restaurant as well.
(3)
Kelly H.
We decided to have our monthly book club here on a Thursday night at about 7pm. There were no tables in the bar which is where you have to sit to get the happy hour. When we finally found one we tried to get another chair from another table and got dirty looks from the staff (they cold have helped). The waiting staff acted like bratty school girls like another yelper mentioned. It really made me uncomfortable. Lastly she did not let us have time to finish our book club but instead kicked us out of our table early. She also did not split the check up, which is not required but annoying. Oh and DONT CHEW GUM!
(2)
Mike F.
At least it's not Joey's. Food was pretty good, but the waitstaff seemed to think they knew a thing or two about food even though they are on average about 18 years old. Other than that, decent.
(3)
Ian H.
We have visited Palomino of Bellevue several times now, and remain impressed by both the food and the service. The waitstaff is friendly, and super helpful. As a person with a food allergy, I was really pleased by how every waiter/waitres we had was so willing to help find food choices that would work for me. The food is tasty and filling. I've had the paella, pork loin, and, last night, the rib-eye. Each were prepared to my liking and flavorful. My favorite experience was during a recent visit, I shared concerns with a waiter that my drink seemed a little anemic, like the bartender was having a hard time pouring. The waiter went out of their way to get me some more spirits, to make up for it. I like that level of service and we are certainly regulars at Palomino!
(4)
Meghann M.
i probably have to start by saying i'm just not a fan of the downtown bellevue "scene". so i know my review is probably biased because of that. on a friday night in the bar, this was definitely a see-and-be-seen spot. duh, obviously. came in specifically for the never-ending happy hour - which is very cool - and was pleased. $6 for a pizza? and i had leftovers? awesome. can't beat that and the pizza was good (tomato, basil, mozzarella). if i find myself in bellevue looking for a good, casual meal deal i would come back.
(3)
Stefanie H.
What really makes this place awesome is the Happy Hour. Their pomegranite margarita was great and the $6 pizza was even better. 3 drinks and a pizza (and even took some home) all for about $26...that's great!
(3)
Julia L.
Came here for hh by myself while doing some retail therapy on a saturday. Not sure if they were upset I was alone or if the waitstaff was just having a bad day but I really got the cold shoulder. Table was dirty (pizza crumbs?). Drinks were alright (overly sweet, premixed for hh?) and the food was just south of mediocre. There are sooo many other good places to enjoy a drink and some food alone on a weekend afternoon (heloooo john howie) that I won't be coming back here.
(2)
Carrie C.
Went here for lunch yesterday. The new decor is definitely an improvement over Manzana. They've opened up the entryway so it's not so dark. The orange curtains and lamps in the bar are a bit 60s, but I do enjoy Palomino's use of lavish hanging fabrics. Fast friendly service at the bar - a reasonably priced, well made Mojito. Our table got ready very quickly, and they were happy to transfer our drink bill over to our table. I would like to see a vegetarian soup on the menu - both their tomato and portobello mushroom soups have chicken stock in them. My dinner companions said their soups were fabulous. A generous portion of deliciously flaky bread with tomato dipping sauce was served while we waited, and refilled when we asked. Attentive service but not hovering - we were able to finish our conversations without constantly being interrupted. I had an incredibly good panini with nice light side salad. Good portion sizes - I didn't feel I was getting shorted OR wasting food by being unable to finish. Definitely looking forward to coming back to happy hour and to trying their pastas and pizzas.
(4)
Julianne T.
I like the place: good atmosphere, good food, great happy hour. I usually just go straight to the bar; they offer a pretty good selection there.
(4)
Bob D.
Wish I could give it a better review - maybe after a return trip. We were there on a Friday evening, and didn't have a horrible time, but it was just so-so (hence two stars). The drinks (apple vanilla cosmo) were great, but the dinner was really just average. Another poster has commented on the food being layered with herbs, and that's pretty much how we felt, too. The waiters and waitresses were OK and reasonably attentive, no real problems there. The decor and music was definitely Happy Hour-themed, so I can understand the raves it's getting for that, but that's just not our scene. If you're going for Happy Hour, lively music and some noise, then it's a yes. If you want something quieter and are looking for a good meal, there are better places.
(2)
David S.
If you want to go to a stuck up, self-important restaurant where they care more about how they look than how they treat a customer, this is the place. I can't comment on the food because I've actually never had the opportunity to be seated. We tried going there twice, just after lunch hour and just before 5pm. Both times they said they weren't serving food other than appetizers in the bar. Sorry, but if you're a restaurant, why in the world aren't you serving proper food in the middle of the day? I realize there are places that have the quality to specialize in certain services...but this isn't one of them. We're in Bellevue every weekend and hit up a restaurant every time. We'll never go back to Palomino.
(1)
Jill J.
the 4 stars is simply for the all night happy hour. score. not only is the wine $4, but the food they have on special is really good. my favorite has been the grilled mushroom and feta salad....super good with great flavor. The wine on special is decent and the people i have come here with who have ordered the mixed drinks on special seemed to really enjoy them. Bonus, if you get a spot in the bar on the side, the seats are ultra comfy.
(4)
Keane N.
Palomino has some decent dishes but is not my first place to pick for dining. That said, they have one of the better Happy Hour's around. Several pizza dishes and seafood. Most of the dishes are a little rich but the menu prices for happy hour are excellent. 3 stars overall, 4 stars for Happy Hour
(3)
Dane M.
Palomino is yet another in a long list of mediocre Bellevue restaurants that cater to the average Bellevue Square shopper. It's not bad, but it's just too average to be excited about. The two visits I've experienced involved full dinners with friends. The service was good on the first visit, barely passable on the second. The caesar salad is below average with very little flavor. The crusted, bacon wrapped sea scallops were overcooked, but getting 5 scallops was a pleasant surprise... too bad they weren't that good! The New York steak was decent, but Ruth's Chris and El Gaucho are minutes away if I want a good steak. The bread pudding with bourbon and caramel sauces was average but delicious nonetheless. It's bread pudding after all! Palomino = Average Bellevue = Average Bummer.
(3)
Kumiko M.
I loved how fancy the restaurant was without the wallet sucking prices. The food options weren't cheap, but they were definitely affordable for the quality of the restaurant. I went here a few days ago with a group of about 10 people and the service was great. Definitely a good place for a birthday or dinner date where formal/dressy attire is themed. Casual works too. I really liked the layout of the restaurant and how classy the decor was. Imagery can go a long ways......
(4)
Alvin M.
All day Happy Hour drink and food prices, plus and pomegranate mojitos are the only reasons you need to visit this place.
(3)
Helen M.
Not a bad place for happy hour. The $5 pizza is definitely something worth going for and it's not the greasy and gross "cheap" pizza either. I had the roma tomato pizza which has garlic and fresh basil on it, and it was quite delicious. I'll have to go back another time to try more things in order to make a more definite opinion of this place.
(3)
Philip F.
Great happy hour. Great prices. Flat bread (goat cheese, mushroom and ham) is awesome. Excellent food. Nice mix of clientele. I really like this place.
(3)
Larry R.
We had dinner last night at this place, but was just ok. No surprise at all. Food, service and ambience were just mediocre.
(3)
Eva Z.
We came for lunch on a weekend afternoon. The food was good, although the portions were on the small side. I had the turkey curry soup and the ceasar salad- both were very good! And my husband is still talking about the four cheese baked penne. The service was pretty good. The waiter was friendly and helpful and the food came quickly.
(4)
doug k.
When I worked in Seattle, Palomino was a great spot for reliable dining that offered something for everyone. The location in Bellevue carries on the things I like about the Seattle location with most of the same menu items. If you go I highly recommend the addictive Chop Chop salad...it has yummy bits of salami and a great balsamic dressing that is lighter than you would expect. Any of the dishes with the rotisserie chicken are very good as well. We took our 11 month old there and had no issues, they have high chairs.
(4)
Timoteo K.
Palomino's branch in SF is stuffy and pretentious, full of suits from the surrounding waterfront area but Palomino's in Bellevue is totally different. The staff are actually glad to see you, the food is better and the atmosphere a whole lot more relaxed. Gets really crowded at happy hour, so go right after work. Happy hour drink and food specials were great. Me and my family went several times while I was on vacation since we could catch up, have a few drinks and unwind. A good spot for happy hour in happening Bellevue!
(4)
Jason R.
this is only a review for their happy hour. 24/7 hh makes this place awesome. i always get a mac n jacks, clams, and a pizza. thats it...come eat here when all other hh's are over or in the middle of the night....
(4)
Inder S.
I'll say this again - Yelp really needs a rating between A-OK and "I'm a Fan". The ambience is great, feels lively, yet not too noisy - I feel energized coming to this place. The food varied between good to great: - We ordered the ling cod and the salmon, and they were cooked well and flavorful. Four stars. - In addition we ordered the flatbread with white bean dip - and I was a little surprised that the "flatbread" was not soft, but hard like a cracker. Three stars. - In the end we ordered the sorbet with biscotti, and it was good (but nothing to be ecstatic about. Three stars. The service started off being good, and went downhill. In the end, we ordered the mango-orange sorbet, and they brought us the guava sorbet. When I complained, the server just shrugged and said that they'd run out of the mango-orange and this was our only option. If we didn't want it, he'd take it back. I didn't like that he didn't clear this with me before bringing the guava sorbet to our table, and his attitude of "take it or leave it" when he did bring it.
(3)
Tonya N.
I'd say im amazed there is ALL day HH in downtown bellevue, how nice is that! The BEST thing here is the flat bread pizzas for $5... seriously this is amazing deal, a drink and pizza and youre set. We ordered the Gorgonzola fries and Crap Dip, both were fine, the fries didnt have even distribution of sauce, just plopped on top... The dip was good but the crackers could have been better, maybe crostini would have worked better since it was pretty salty. Overall, the service was just average, didnt have a welcoming feel at all. The hostess didnt greet anyone and i dont think i saw any of the servers/bar tenders smile. They just seemed stressed. The flat bread is a must for the price but all else is ok.
(3)
Lori S.
Happy Hour 24 x 7! I'm in heaven!
(4)
Michael R.
We had a party here with a dozen friends and the staff could not have been more fantastic. The chef worked with us ahead of time to craft a special menu and plan for the evening. We had a space in the back of the restaurant and they even blocked a couple of tables near us so we had room to spread out. I enjoyed the food tremendously - I had the tuna and it was simply prepared, exactly as it should be. Everyone loved the potatoes which were lightly fried and then shook in a paper bag with cheese for an unusual presentation. All in all we could not have had a better evening and would recommend this for any big groups!
(5)
Samantha C.
Great for a date night with your spouse. Professional service and great food.
(4)
Harper H.
I went back with some girlfriends and waited twenty minutes to be seated. We ended up leaving and going to Joey's. It is too bad their bar is not bigger. The hostess was super rude about us wanting to wait for the bar too. I will give it another chance I am sure, but not super impressed like I was.
(2)
Sherry S.
I came here expecting it to be 3 stars and walked out giving it 3 stars. I wasn't a fan of the menu, which was a bit vague in its descriptions. I also felt there wasn't much to choose from - but, that's something I went already knowing after viewing it online. My friends had a difficult time reading the menu, not knowing what 65% of the words on there meant. I think they could definitely improve their menu by adding better descriptions of what their dishes are. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful, willing to answer whatever questions we had... not to mention... very sexy ;) They start off your meal with bread and some sort of tomato dip (don't know the name). The bread was good, the dip was okay - To be honest, the bread tasted better with balsamic vinegar and olive oil What I had - the steakhouse salad with caesar dressing. It came with tomatoes, sirloin steak, gorgonzola cheese, truffled devil eggs, and crispy onions. The crispy onions and gorgonzola cheese were probably the best part of the salad to me. The onions added a crunch to the salad and bursted with onion-deliciousness and the cheese added a nice balance to the salad. It was a pretty good salad but definitely not worth $20. What I tried from friends- Calamari - came with some type of aioli and some other type of cocktail looking dip. The calamari was crisp and not too oily - I would say just right. It was pretty good. Trenne Pasta and Rigatoni Bolognese - These both were okay to me. Definitely not as yummmy as everywhere else. They tasted a bit watered down to me. Pork loin - Was more on the sweet side. I probably wouldn't recommend it. Paper bag potatoes - This had a smoky sweet taste, a little too sweet for me but rather interesting. Overall, Palomino was, as 3 stars say, a-ok. I probably wont be going back for dinner but I wouldn't mind stopping by for their all day happy hour.
(3)
Andrew H.
Menu has a nice mix of styles and levels of sophistication. The girl and I had deviled eggs, beet + burrata salad, steak frites, and duck confit + duck leg between us. Everything was exactly what I expected to see, really. Nothing was surprisingly amazing, but nothing bad either, and the portions were fairly generous. I liked the cocktail menu, too, and they had a fairly good wine selection (including some tasting flights...) One annoyance - none of the desserts were gluten free (well, the ice cream I suppose...). I was a little annoyed to see two kinds of cake AND bread pudding AND tiramisu but nothing like creme brulee or mousse or the like.
(4)
Capt k.
I went there for dinner last night. I order the Calamari Fritto and braised short rib. Calamari is pretty good severed with marinara sauce, garlic-lemon aïoli. Short rib is nice and tender. However the accompaniment needs lots of improvement. Rapini overpowered the white bean and Mascarpone polenta is a bit gooey. There are a lot of comments from previous reviewers that service is not that good. I think the management may got the message. My wait staff is very friendly, attentive and chatty. I am glad that Palomino opened in Bellevue Collection. I now do not need to travel to Seattle and deal with parking when I am craving for their food.
(3)
Jonathan Y.
Atmosphere: ***** Service: ***** Food: **** Price: ** Atmosphere: Definitely one of the best restaurants in Seattle for a 'fancy' date. Situated across from West Seattle with a nice view of Seattle (Magnolia, I think). Only view that I have seen that is better is Salty's. The restaurant feels very fancy, with a nice bridge that you walk over to get to your table. Large windows present a beautiful view of the marina + Seattle, while the curved walls make the place feel very large. Service: Our server was extremely friendly and very attentive. Not only that, but he was really busting his ass to make our meal enjoyable. When they ran out of chocolate cake for dessert, he was able to hunt a couple plates of the decadent cake down (earning him a nice tip). One of the best servers I have had, very highly recommended. Food: As a starter I had the blue cheese and jumbo prawn salad with pear shavings. The prawn was large, plump, and cooked to perfection. The pear slices offset the rich blue cheese and complimented each other well. For the main course I had the sirloin with jumbo prawns. The steak was cooked perfectly, and tasted good but was a tiny bit chewy. I definitely had a couple bites which required some ravenous chewing to swallow, a bit disappointing, but overall a nice experience. To be fair, this steak was coming off the heels of the Metropolitan Grill a week previous, so it had impossibly large shoes to fill. The chocolate cake dessert was a mouse cake + rockyroad-esque icecream on a flaky bisquit + 2 chocolate truffle balls. This was probably the highlight of the meal as it was one of the best chocolate mouse cakes i have ever tried. The icecream was good, but the flakey bisquit really brought out the taste. The chocolate truffles were made of dark chocolate and were rich but not overly sweet. My girlfriend had the banana icecream, which tasted like a cross between vanilla icecream and creme brulee with a hint of banana. One of the best scoops of ice cream i have ever had. Price: Went during Seattle Restaurant Week, so my entire meal was $25. Normally my steak is around $40, not worth it for the quality. The New York Steak that my girlfriend had was $50, and also not worth it. For that much, go to the Met. However, the seafood dishes that my friends enjoyed such as the double cooked lobster tails, were definitely worth the full menu price. Expect about $30 per dish here. Go here for seafood, not steaks. Bottom line: Palomino is a seafood restaurant, don't go there for cow. Top 3 places to bring a date IMHO. Excellent view, stupidly good desserts.
(3)
Michelle R.
My sister, mother and I decided to do an early dinner after coming to Bellevue Art Museum on a whim and finding it closed. We have enjoyed fine meals at the downtown Palomino, so that was my Mom's choice. It was 5:30ish on Saturday and already the place was hopping. The floor staff was attentive and we were seated quickly. Two of us ordered the special steel head in parchment and Mom ordered the lamb shank. All of us asked for additional vegetables instead of the carb sides and that was accommodated easily. It was uneventful but pleasant until our food arrived. Mom's lamb shank looked lovely and our trout was presented on a piece of cedar with the explanation that the parchment was already prepared and to omit the potatoes would have not been possible. The huge selection of asparagus looked beautiful as did the generous portion of fish. I was irritated not to be asked as I was looking forward to the parchment preparation and additional aromatics but even that paled when we both tasted the fish. It was just off. Our waiter, Isaac Schmid (yes, I asked!) stood while we tried to figure out why it was bad. He was terribly reluctant to let us eat it and I kept waving him off. But then we figured out that it was farmed. Definitely farmed. It doesn't help that my sister's husband was a commercial fisherman and we all have lots of great fish and hate farmed fish, even if sustainable. I am conflicted about that but that is a discussion for another day. I felt bad as the menu clearly states this. But then Isaac INSISTED that we be happy and whisked our entries away. All the while my mother is silently loving her lamb and is happily eating away. Then the Executive Chef, James Summerville, comes to our table! James was gracious and understanding - not a defensive bone or whisper. We both chose another entry - I wanted my asparagus and they re plated it for me. James visited us again, gave us a detailed explanation of the preparations of our selections and assured us that we were at the head of the line. Then it was delivered, in minutes to our table, again by the Chef James. Isaac and James continued to be attentive and kind. They comped at least half of our meal. My sister had the duck special and she ate every bite. I was temporarily off fish so I ordered the chicken Marsala, the sauce of which I shamelessly ate with the relish spoon. It was a lovely and memorable evening - in no small part because of the care that this staff showed us. Wow! I think it is funny that other reviewers compare this restaurant to the Claim Jumper - a mall chain. If you are reading these reviews, please consider the source. I think the food is lovely and competently prepared and the fact that they insist on making things right in such a skillful way is a tribute to the management and leadership of this restaurant. It is all about a good value and Palomino performs!
(4)
J J.
So we came back to have dessert again. This time we tried the pear bread pudding....to die for! I also ordered one of their happy hour specials- the clam pizza for $5! We ordered it as a snack, and three of us munched with some left over! Its about the size of a medium so if you are real hungry it will serve 1-2 perfectly. YUMMY! Definitely give this place a try. We haven't been disappointed!
(4)
Howard A.
Had the Eggs Benadict very good. Service was great. Atmosphere great. Stayed at the Westin which is almost attached.
(4)
J H.
Awesome brunch with a great server, Kaite. Loved bruschetta!
(5)
Jake R.
Great looking, swanky place with great food and great HH prices! I was here for the late night HH with some fellow Eastside Yelpers. There were 7 of us total and they let us slide a couple tables to accommodate us all, which was nice of them. We were seated in the lower "bar" area and it was a bit cramped but that didn't take away too much from the experience. The waitress was really nice and really easy on the eyes too but she did disappear quite often! The highlight of the evening was the food for sure. Sarah K. had carpooled with me and we decided to each order something different so we could share, for an only child she sure shares well, lol. Now the main thing I wanted to order was the signature brick oven clam pizza, which consisted of Clams, duh, four cheeses(Fontina, Asiago, mozzarella & Parmesan), crushed red chili peppers & extra virgin olive oil. It wasn't bad but of all the things I had that night it was my least favorite. My favorite however was the King Crab & Artichoke Dip, which Sarah ordered and I'm really glad she did, it was so good you HAVE to try it if you try nothing else! The dip was King Crab, Parmesan cheese, sliced onions, on a nice cracked pizza crust, Mm Mm Mm delicious! I also ordered the Brick oven roasted mussels with chorizo, lobster-saffron-tomato broth & lemon, they were good, but it's hard to mess up mussels. Sarah also ordered a Sausage pizza with roasted mushrooms and basil infused extra virgin olive oil, on a recommendation from the waitress and it was another great item, my second favorite food of the night! We also both had a couple drinks, Mac & Jacks for me and a couple foo foo drinks for her, the Cranberry Mojito and the Pomegranate Margarita. The food was great, the company was entertaining and the HH prices were ridiculously low, my bill was only a little over $21.00 for 2 beers, 1 appetizer and 1 pizza. Now that's a deal! I'm definitely a fan! :)
(4)
Arunkumar N.
I've been there only for happy hour, so I don't really know about their lunch and dinner items. The happy hr rocks at this place - the sausage pizza for $5 is very tasty (don't order the clams pizza) and is large enough for 2. The cocktails and beer are very good value as well. Best of all, the happy hr is all day sun-thur!
(4)
H Y.
A group of 7 guys went for happy hour. Lots of room, drink is reasonable (4 dollars), the pizza was good, and we were probably the loudest group ;) and the server was polite.
(4)
Roman M.
Awesome place, and they have amazing mojitos, seems like they are made from scratch, and thats pretty hard to find. Their $6 pizza is also amazing, big enough for 2 if you're not too hungry.
(5)
Karen F.
The food at this place is great but the service is beyond disappointing. My family came in for a Sunday lunch, and the place was not busy at all. Food: The new pizzas and the soups are great, but the soup is a bit pricey at $7 a bowl. For that price, I expect more than a little bowl of soup! The lobster ravioli dish gives you two palm-sized pieces of ravioli in a cream sauce which caught us off-guard -- we asked our server questions about our orders, this was never explained to us. Based on food alone, I'd rate Palomino 4 stars. Service: REALLY ABYSMAL. We were not asked for our drink orders, and our server was brusque in general. We had just started eating and one of our party had paused and our server offered us boxes for our pizzas. Then, even before we were halfway done, she dropped off our bill. What is this place? IHOP or some random greasy spoon? When half of our party was done with their meal, our server started collecting the empty plates and some of us were still eating. What's worse, she did it loudly and made sure to clank all the plates and silverware while she stacked them up table-side. Wow. She did not check on our table a single time during our meal and our water glasses were only refilled once. The restaurant was not busy at all so I'm not sure why we were being rushed out of there and why our presence was barely being acknowledged but boy, this experience left a lasting bad impression. Service: 1 star. Sorry, won't be coming back.
(2)
Danelle P.
A group of us went with our babies (5 total babies) on a weekend at the end of their brunch and were treated with some of the best service I've experienced since dining with an infant. They set us, up in a great spot with plenty of room and let us spread out with our strollers, high chairs, the entire works! The food was good, the waitress was attentive and totally understanding. I'd recommend this place for families, but have also enjoyed a happy hour drink with friends and no children
(4)
Jerri R.
Always a favorite when we visit the Seattle area during our annual tennis tournament. Everything we've ordered over our three year history has been delicious. I recommend sitting in the bar if you're a foodie who enjoys value pricing. Our pasta selections, salads, and pizzas have never failed to please. The front hosts could be more service-minded... they stood in a group gossiping and ignoring most of the arriving guests. Our bartender more than made up for this disconnect with his quick attention, pleasant personality, and follow through on our items.
(4)
Sharon K.
Happy hour on Friday night? Yes please! The bar area was very busy and the food looked gooood. Service was good - server checked on us once in awhile to make sure everyone had everything we needed. My friends ordered the fries (something 'gorgonzola') and the calamari. YUM! Anything fried is good haha. I really liked the sauce and cheese on the fries along with the dipping sauce for the calamari. I'd already eaten before I came here but ended up eating again because the food was so good. Definitely coming back!
(4)
jack g.
I have been going to Both Palominos for happy hour for a long time. 3 to 6 and 9 to close... Its almost always happy hour!! Lots of the menu is not suitable for one person... Eating a whole fondue by yourself is not a good idea. The pizzas work out well for a single person and at 5 bucks each, they're hard to beat. My latest favorite is a small plate of Kale. Its with Roasted Garlic, capers and Lemon. Delicious. I also get a giant dish of Mussles with Chorizo. What a combo!! Serious garlic. I sit at the bar and the service is always quick, friendly and consistent. John downtown is awesome and all the guys in Bellevue are great. I reccomend this place highly.
(5)
Hanna L.
It's pricey if you're not eating at the bar... But the food is good and The wine selection surprisingly limited. But one is not nearly as not picky when dining on happy hour fares, so make sure you come in for hh, and you and your wallet will not be a sour puss!
(3)
Calvin M.
Great place to eat and drink if you sit in the bar area. The pizzas are $5 and all the appetizers are half price. They also have a list of drinks for $3, such as mojitos. The happy hour prices last all day. The crowd tends to be the professional type. Good place to go unwind or to start off the night. If you sit in the restaurant area, it's not worth the visit. For example, the same pizza that you can get at the bar will be $12 in the restaurant section.
(3)
Philip K.
Came here after doing some shopping at the malls but didn't feel like dropping the $15 for their chop chop salad. Instead we opted for their happy hour menu and some drinks. I ordered the pepperoni pizza and a Guinness. Both came out to under $10 which is a great value. Unfortunately, I failed to realize that their pizza is super thin crusted and the pepperoni bled salt and between that and the oil, it wasn't great. The rotisserie chicken pizza my wife had was much more palatable. Overall, it was okay. Normally our visit would be in the 4 or 5 range given how much we love the chop salad but today not so much. But if you want to dine outside on a bright sunny day, the patio is a great way to go. Just keep in mind that happy hour starts on the patio after 3pm.
(3)
Cindy C.
Went here for breakfast... small but interesting b.fast menu (read: this isn't mom and pop cafe' fare), yummy food, good coffee (although I'd have tossed in another scoop or two of those delectable beans into the grinder), and to top it off, a, spacious, peaceful atmosphere for a quiet morning meal (that won't leave you smelling like griddle grease... thumbs up). Close to... well, everything. Wish our server could teach his craft in Puget Sound; this guy was fabulous to the extreme. (Also wish I'd have remembered to get his name!) Our one complaint is that there aren't more healthful options on the menu; arteries beware. I'd love to see more pricing info from fellow Yelpers - maybe some of you would, too? Breakfast here runs between $8 (oatmeal with some adds and toast) and $12 (or slightly more) here, plus drinks.
(3)
Andrew A.
Went there for brunch on Saturday; they had a bloody mary and mimosa bar with a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options. I had the prime rib sandwich and it was awesome. My fiance had the crab, artichoke, and spinach eggs benedict and it was also awesome. Nothing negative to say about this place on our one visit; great service and excellent food.
(5)
Ryan G.
I've been here for both dinner and happy hour, and I've got to say the happy hour is where it's at. The last (of many) time I was here, we had great service in the bar with a very nice young blonde lady that didn't seem irritated at all that we had come in pretty much right before close. She was happy that we were there and even offered to get us an extra drink even though we had alrady ordered becuase last call was happening. The fondue is amazing and a must if we go. Dinner was ok, but not spectacular for the price. I really enjoyed the scallops that I had gotten at the Seattle location, but haven't seen them on the Bellevue menu. Worse than that, I wasn't a fan of the scallops I had gotten at Bellevue at all. Dissappointing. Overall, I'd give the dinner 2 stars, and the happy hour 6 stars, averaging to 4.
(4)
April S.
Arrived at 6pm on a Thursday for all day happy hour. I was expecting to have to wait around for a table that would fit a party of 4 but was happy to see that the bar area is really big and they have plenty of seating in the bar and found a great booth in the corner. The food and drinks were great. $4 for a cranberry mojito and $5 for yummy rotisserie chicken pizza with red peppers and onions. My waiter was very nice and even went back to ask the chef the ingredients for the great spicy butter dip that accompanied my order of clams. I will definitely come back to Palomino for happy hour!
(4)
Jessica W.
Went to Palomino on a Friday night. We'd tried the Seattle location years ago and were disappointed by both the food and service, but so many friends and family love it that we decided to give it another shot. Service: while our waitstaff was friendly and attentive, her persistent efforts to upsell us on appetizers, cocktails, and then dessert were tiring. Apparently Palomino is part of some diners' club, and we were subjected to the spiel on how it was such a great opportunity. I'm sure it would be if we planned to eat here more often-- or ever. I felt like I was dining in Victoria's Secret-- did her job depend on how much she was able to upsell or how many diners' club memberships she sold? It was very off-putting. Food: my salad (grilled chicken with blue cheese and pecans) was wonderful, and definitely entree-sized. However, it was $18, when I would have said it was valued closer to $12 or $14-- there wasn't a ton of chicken, only about half a breast. And while it was done well, I wouldn't call it $18 worth of well. My husband had the baked penne, which was basically a huge bowl of high-end mac and cheese. It was great, and he had enough leftovers for lunch the next day, but it was almost $20-- just for noodles and cheese. We wondered if it took so long for our food to come because we'd only ordered entrees (I ordered a cocktail, the husband repeatedly said he'd stick with water, and yet was still given the "great cocktails" spiel), as we watched the parties on either side of us get both their appetizers and their entrees before we got our entrees. I would have been willing to try Palomino again, if it wasn't for the hard-selling of everything. If we're going to spend money at a nice restaurant, we expect low-key and professional service, not feeling like we walked into a time-share lecture.
(2)
Larry D.
What a surprise to find out that a very scimpy plate with a couple of shrimp on a small mound of lettuce is a $19 shrimp louie salad. Palomino needs to work on their value quotient.
(2)
Judy L.
LOVE their happy hour menu, I recommend the crab dip~ And their cocktails taste great too, at least the ones I've tried which are always sweet, sugary, or fruity. Seating is always hard to find though since it's packed so you kind of have to stake it out and run to the table to beat the competition once a table opens up. My friends and I did it once, I felt pretty ridiculous doing it but my more experienced happy hour friends said it was a must if you wanted to eat soon and not wait an hour! We ordered almost everything off the menu since our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we paid for it later when we had difficulty breathing but it was worth it! :)
(4)
Trish Q.
We went here for my nephew's birthday. The service was pretty slow but we were a group of 10, however the kids got restless because there food took over 45 minutes to arrive. I think if we would have been a smaller group we might have received our food sooner. They were out of clams which is what the bday boy wanted so he was bummed. The portions are very generous even the appetizers. The restauarant layout is odd. There are tables on the lower level that feel like they are in the lobby. The roasted tomatoes and bread with balsamic dipping sauce was fantastic. It is probably a better happy hour place I would imagine
(3)
Stephanie K.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. I've eaten there three times, and the food is consistently good. Great menu, high quality food. But the service! Oh dear. The second time I was there, I ordered a steak "medium." It came charred all the way through. I'm one who hates to call attention to myself, never send things back, but this time I had to and was pleased that the chef came out and apologized profusely and agreed (it was obvious) that the steak was grossly overcooked. But having to wait for another steak while my family finished their meals was a real bummer. I appreciate that they handled a mistake well, but my food came when every one else at the table was half done. Today I went for lunch for my birthday and the service was again amateur hour! I ordered the steakhouse salad, which lists ingredients but doesn't say anything about meat. The server asked me how I wanted my steak done (?). I told her I wasn't aware there was steak on the salad, and that I really didn't want a steak - could I just have the salad w/o the steak? She said of course and she would "negotiate" with the management to get the price down (??). The salad was fantastic - exactly what I wanted, but I have to say, the price went from $17 to $13 - I have to believe the steak was worth more than $4?? Then, my son and I ordered a Bruschetta appetizer that never came. It was never mentioned again. I would have asked about it except that once my salad came, I didn't want it anymore since it was a starter. My glass of wine came so late I was half way through my lunch by the time it arrived. I was never offered a dessert which I thought was lame - if there's one day of the year I probably would have sprung for dessert at lunch, it's my birthday... So yes, the food is really good but I'm not sure I'd go again because the service is consistently spotty.
(2)
Gretchen B.
What can I say. You are in the suburbs you are hungry. Yet another bad chain restaurant with insanely overpriced suburban chain food. Most of the dinner menu items are around $20 for very sub par pizza, pasta, and grill items. Get out of the suburbs and spend your money at a real restaurant for 1/2 the price for great food. Ugh!
(2)
Corrine C.
Came here for dinner party with friends and family on a Friday evening. We were seated promptly at 6:30pm and never felt rushed throughout a long and relaxing dinner. Started off with some calamari and bread. The bread came out with some kind of tomato sauce which is a little different. I'm on a restricted diet so passed on those carbs but tried some of the calamari and it was good. The kiddo had penne with alfredo sauce off the kids menu. For about $7 or 8 dollars a kids meal, it was alright. He ate everything in his pasta bowl. (He actually wanted more but I told him if he didn't eat his asparagus there would be no more.) I ordered the stuffed cauliflower pasta with duck confit. Pretty tasty. I love cauliflower of any kind but I would still say my fave cauliflower pasta was had at Steelhead diner. This was like 2 large half moon shaped ravioli's stuffed with a cauliflower mixture and the shredded duck was laid out down the middle on top. Like I said - it was interesting and tasty. For dessert we had the doughnut holes. mmm... loved the chocolate nutella sauce. Had to restrain myself from getting a second and third spoon... Overall the service was friendly, our waters were kept full, and we left with full tummies!
(4)
Kim O.
I love the downtown bellevue location for palominos- I'm glad RUI got rid of manzana grill. It was not good at all... I love coming here for happy hour, I always manage to get a spot in before the rush wave hits! People are always coming here for happy hour, the dining room is not as packed as the bar. I've eaten almost everything on the menu in the bar including the dinner menu and I would say their artichoke dip is pretty tasty! Along with their waffle fries with gorgonzola- which is very good even without the ketchup! Their pizzas are generous for happy hour. Their selection is tasty! Never a bland moment here. Their happy hour drink menu is quite extensive- I always try to mix it up by getting a few drinks here and there. Your wallet doesn't get a dent as much because it's all very well priced! This place is good for groups and for couples. It's well rounded where the servers are very attentive and even the managers are careful to stop by to say hi and check on you.
(4)
Holly W.
I went to the "Big Event" last Thursday night for the "Sex in the City" party. When I RSVP'd it said Drink Specials (all drinks) $7.00., and "Luxury Swag Bags". The night before the event The Palomino changed the drink price to $10.00 - FOR ALL DRINKS including Wine & Beer ( Outragious !!). The one drink I had was weak and pre-made and warm. I actually went next door to "Earls" to have a decent cocktail. The Swag Bag was a huge dissapointment it was probably one of the worst one I have ever recieved. Overall the food was good but the party, swag bags and drinks were a major dissapoitment.
(2)
Jarrod L.
Good bistro/Italian food. Kinda pricey, but the service was excellent. If you want a nice dinner out, it's a good place to try.
(3)
Denise E.
Another great place to go in Bellevue for happy hour! Service in the bar is warm and friendly. Happy hour prices are great and there is so much to choose from. I had the crab dip but it was a very difficult decision for me and I can't wait to go back and try more!
(3)
S K.
4 words: HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY 4 more words: GRILLED WILD MUSHROOM SALAD 1/2 off appetizers and $3 pizza. Grilled mushroom salad was really delicious. Tasted very 'meaty'. Good vibe in the bar, not too loud that you can't carry on a conversation. Nice, but not too upscale that your friends in jeans feel uncomfortable. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Christine N.
good priced, enjoyable happy hour eats. The mussels appetizer bastes in a lovely broth, with slices of Italian sausage as well. 5 dollar pizzas and 4 dollar mojitos make this place a good find for cheap eats. I went on a weekend, the place was pretty busy but service was not lacking.
(4)
Dawn H.
The happy hour is indeed cheap, but is it as good as everyone says? Well, yes and no. The $4 drinks, including a cranberry mojito and a pomegranite margarita, are yummy. But the food tends toward to be on the greasy side... The $5 sausage pizza was enjoyed by my 3 HH companions, but I thought it was too greasy and the crust was soggy and floppy. Also, the crab spinach dip, although tasty, was again, too greasy! Even the flatbead seems like it is brushed with a layer of olive oil. The calamari was really good though. There's not a lot of healthful options for those of us who are watching our weight, but for 4 people who had 2 drinks each, left completely full, and only paid $56 total, it's a hell of a deal.
(3)
Andrea R.
As an Italian i can tell u with certainty that the pizza of this place should *not* be called a pizza. Doe is wrong. Pepperoni is super fat. Sauce has no flavor and the Parmesan on top is disgusting. 0 stars!
(1)
Jason C.
The weekday happy hour time slot was incredibly busy. After having stood for 10 mins lurking for a spot I finally snatched one at the end of the granite bar. The bartenders were attentive and active which I sincerely appreciated. I wish the food's performance was as such, but alas it didn't come close. As heavily discounted as the sizable pizza was, it was equally as heavily drenched in oil and mediocrity. Each attempt at eating a slice came with the sudden task of stopping dripped oil from splattering on oneself. I guess compliments should be given for the beer being served cold at least, which is basically the same as complimenting a dog for licking itself.
(2)
Donald B.
They improved the space a little by opening up the entryway so it isn't as dark and stuffy as manzana was. Food: Free bread: good, but served with what I can only call pasta sauce from a bottle with some cheese thrown in. Salad: average ($9) Prawns with Pasta: good ($18) Macoroni & Cheese: very good (for the kids) Cocktail: Lousy. Couldn't taste the gin at all, or the sage. ($9.50) Service. Average, never asked why I didn't actually drink the lousy cocktail. They have a pretty extensive happy hour so I think they'll be busy, but I won't be back unless other people drag me there. Overall, more run of the mill corporate fare. ----- Damn - my review must have offended the bar tender (or someone) who took the time to send me a nice expletive laden comment. Thank you whoever you are. I'll drop it another star since excellent customer service is obviously one of your policies.
(1)
Patricia T.
In a nutshell, pricey, slow and loud. I could go on and on, but that really sums it up. Wish Manzana was back.
(2)
Tina G.
Great happy hour! Beautiful place Love it!
(5)
Kerri D.
I'm usually a fan of Palomino in Seattle but was really disappointed in the Bellevue location. My gyro burger was inedible; wrong choice of bread for the meat, the meat was tasteless, there were weird condiments on it. I paid $20+ for basically some french fries, which were also not great. Salad was wilted. The mojitos were very watered down. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is ok, but I won't be doing lunch here again.
(2)
Dan L.
I was staying at the Westin which is right next to Palimino, so I ended up going there twice for breakfast, once for dinner and once for lunch/happy hour. The service was generally quite good. The breakfast was OK, small portions and the price a little high (both times with tip and tax, around $25, with one juice, one coffee and one eggs benedict). Very slow business both Saturday and Sunday when I was there. The dinner was not good. The app of calamari was just terrible. Small pieces of tasteless calamari covered with a lot of tasteless batter. Like 2/3's batter to 1/3 calamari. The server asked how it was, and I told her, and she said she would bring it back and re do it. Then the manager came by and said yes, the pieces were smaller than usual and she brought a new dish. The pieces were larger this time, but it still just had no taste. The entree was the featured special of lobster ravioli in a special sauce. The pasta was fine, but again, the lobster sauce which should be rich and delicious was very bland. Almost flavorless. And although the ravioli which has lobster and other fish inside had little flavor. I don't what was wrong. The lunch/happy experience was better, with nice drink specials at $5 and a couple of apps priced under $10, but nothing to WOW you.
(2)
Andy W.
going out to downtown Bellevue and need food to start the night cheap best happy hour in downtown Bellevue, however worst host stand and waitresses bar tenders are good. if you can sit at the bar do it. the waitresses are not aesthetically pleasing and never smile. but the food and the drinks are really worth putting up with overweight rude waitress. if you want good service from them id say put down 15 1's not kidding. say that's there tip so long as they do there job and take a dollar away for every wrong thing they do they will be left with very little. i have worked in the restaurant business for a bit i know what I'm looking for in service and some of those girls don't have it. I'm sorry to the other girls that were doing their job there just the past 7 times i have gone there its been that bad lucky the food is worth it
(3)
J B.
Happy hour here with good prices like all the time except for the dinner hours on the weekends. Great place for good drinks and food and a nice atmosphere. $4 beers and mixed drinks. $5 pizzas (not very big, maybe feed 2) at happy hour.
(4)
David K.
Palomino's happy hour is famous because it's all day. Go anytime and get great food and drinks for half off! All their appetizers are delicious (I've tried all of them), but a big warning: DO NOT GET THEIR $5 PIZZAS. People get excited because pizza is only $5. In fact, that is often the most mentioned thing about Palomino's happy hour. But the pizzas are truly bad. I'm not joking when I say that the crust has a texture and taste of cardboard. It's like eating old pizza where the crust has hardened. Yes, it seems like a great deal, but why pay $5 for bad pizza. I love thin crust pizza (Tutta Bella, Via Tribunali, Veraci, Delancey, etc), but Palomino's is thin, bad pizza. I've ordered it three times to be sure. And yes, everytime it had tastless, hard, bad crust.
(4)
S And A D.
Great happy hour. Nice drinks, apps and bar for the price. Prompt service. Food better than average, homemade flatbread.
(4)
Paige P.
I've always been a Palmino fan... especially their happy hour menu. With $5 - $6 appetizers one really should not complain. It does get really busy and hard to find seats. Their regular menu is good too, I love the chop chop salad (dressing on the side please) and the rigatoni bolognese. Their dessert is worth trying too. Good place for first dates since their food is pretty consistent.
(4)
E. P.
I had lunch here today and it was good, but definitely not for those looking for a quick workday lunch. We were there for over an hour. Gorgonzola fries were good if not a little greasy, but they're fries so...I had the Capellini Pomodoro. It was good, but the tomatoes could have been cut a little smaller; some were the size of half a Roma tomato. OK service. I liked the look of their menu and I'd go again for lunch. They have combinations, pizzas, meats, and pastas. There were at least a few other things I'd like to try. Nice, clean, open atmosphere. Lots of windows so nice and bright during the day.
(3)
Chris D.
We tried to go to Palomino twice shortly after it opened but both times we were made to feel unwelcome. There were other customers seated inside but when we said that were there for lunch or dinner they said sorry, they weren't serving food at that time. It seemed kind of weird since it is a restaurant, isn't it? Maybe we were there between lunch and dinner but it felt very unwelcoming because they wouldn't even seat us.
(1)
ROEL X.
I've had two experiences here. First was maybe ok and second was just plain awful. The ok: Our waitress from our first visit was really great. Prompt, friendly, observant and happy to be waitressing. Gave the kind of service you don't find very often. Our steaks were red and/or bleeding, she noticed, took care of it and in the end took care of the entire bill....on Tgiving night. We were unhappy with the food but it was Tgiving after all and not her fault. Plus, she was an awesome waitress so we tipped her $50 for her service. The bad: Second experience was Christmas dinner. The Mojito's tasted like selzter with lime juice and mint leaves, steak was red and bleeding, chicken and capers was super salty and super sour and the turkey dinner came with what must have been the very last bits and pieces of the turkey. It was 7:30 and the waiter told us the kitchen closed at 8.... The super bad: The waiter was just one big jerk wad. He complained he was working on Christmas. He complained that he was a bartender, not a waiter. He complained they were crazy slammed all day. He complained they were running out of food. The only thing he didn't complain about was the kitchen closing at 8. He didn't apologize even once in the two times that he took the steak back to the kitchen. We had to physically get up to search out another waiter to find him for the bill. We had to ask him to take off the $40 steak that was uneaten and undercooked. And no, he did not receive a generous tip. The good: Is there a good? No...wait....yes...there is...WE'LL NEVER GO BACK! Bottom line? Don't waste your time, your taste buds or your hard earned cash on that over priced restaurant (and I use that term reluctantly!).
(1)
Kim N.
Last night was our third trip to this Palomino and the worse. Our waitress didn't come by (not even an acknowledgement) for a good, LONG 10 mins after we had been seated. Her service was lackluster all evening, too. My husband ordered the shrimp scampi but there were only 8 normal pieces and a huge stack of pasta that was too garlic-y. For the price that we were paying, we expected better. The only time we enjoyed our trip here was our first happy hour. The bartenders were right on and friendly. The service has always been mediocre, at least. And food during happy hour was good. It was noisy but that didn't bother us too much. It's more of a group place.
(2)
Lisa W.
The all-day happy hour at Palomino finally drew me in. We had to go to Bellevue Square to exchange something and it was my job to come up with a lunch place. All day happy hour sounded like a good deal to me. They have a few drink specials...house red, house white, all draft beers and a couple of mixed drinks. They also offer half-off selected appetizers and $5 pizzas. It's a pretty good-sized bar area, though maybe because it was lunch time, it wasn't super busy. Our server was very friendly, prompt and helpful. I had the grilled wild mushroom salad (half-off at happy hour price) and a glass of Ste Michelle Brut (not on happy hour). My BF had their half-salad/half-pasta combo, Caesar salad/Rigatoni bollognese and a Coca-cola. We were very pleased with our picks. The salad was absolutely the perfect amount of lunch for me...mixed greens, toasted walnuts, and plenty of grilled mushrooms (usually includes gorgonzola cheese but I held that off). The Caesar salad was your typical Caesar and the Rigatoni was super cheesy and filling. We walked out with a pleasantly low bill and very content. Great lunch spot.
(3)
kim i.
My husband and I just ate Christmas dinner. It was very good. The crab cakes were so big and it came with a salad. The Caesar salad was amazing! Also the scallops. The place is a little loud but we had a nice table off near the corner so it was not too bad. The pork loin was huge and cooked great. The bread pudding home cooked. Not expensive at all for such a great meal.
(5)
Pma e.
happy hour is pretty good. customer service varies. sometimes you can get really good service and other times it's alright.
(3)
Tony L.
My first time there, service's good. Food is not & very noise. We ordered Sea Bass, Crab cake, Lamb shank, & sole. The sole is good. Lamb shank is just right on average. Sea bass is just not so fresh at all....first time I had sea bass this bad...normally it's pretty hard to cook sea bass not delicious. Crab cake is way out of the line....got no patience for this dish, on the menu, it says KING crab cake, however, it's actually a mix of dunguness & king crab, I taste nothing King at all, and the dunguness wasnt fresh, it tasted like can food. The portion is so small...anyway, enough crab...I make better crab cake any time than this piece of crab...
(2)
Kristina M.
Palomino is one of my favorite happy hour spots! I would only suggest eating in the bar, as the food is the same but 1/2 the price. I love their pizza and king crab dip. The only downfall is that it can be hard to find a seat in the bar.
(4)
Rob H.
Palomino Bellevue for breakfast! We hosted a wedding at our home on Saturday. By Sunday morning, we needed to be taken care of. Palomino Bellevue did just that. The service was prompt and not imposing. We ordered the crisp pepper bacon and cheddar omelette and eggs benedict. The omette was superb with crisp bacon and sweet caramelly onions. The sauce on the Eggs Benedict was smooth and lemony. MMmmm! Both entrees were served with perfect hash browns (great balance of crispy and soft potatoes).
(4)
angela h.
Not hot on the clam or pepperoni pizzas, four cheese a little too cheesy - Other pizzas are okay. Cranberry motitos probably a better bet, the offerings are decent considering the price. Note to the twins Mike and Eric - you guys were great, don't stress! It was a busy night and we hardly waited at all! Drinks came quickly, food was prompt.. Guess I just looked grumpy?
(3)
Tila N.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner. We got put into a corner where we were ignored. Our waitress weren't attentive; never came by to check up on us. The food is terrible and way overpriced. The only good thing about it was the free bread and the sauce for it. Will not go back there again.
(1)
mamalicous M.
OMG-I went here last week with a good friend who works in Bellevue. We walked the mall and then got hungry and thirsty so decided to head out to one of his favorite hangouts. I was surprised when he said they had happy hour late on Fridays. The bar was packed and we had to stare down people at tables who already had their tabs. We eyed the other couple across the bar that was doing the same and exchanged the show down eye squints. We spotted the table reaching for their coats and it was as if the track and field gun went off in our heads. We beat them to the finish line and had ourselves placed in the seats before the cushions had a chance to get cold. Thumbs up to the waitstaff for coming in second place in our race because they were right behind us with towel in hand to clean it up before I could even take off my coat and set down my purse. We ordered the Mojitos and two appetizers. The Mojitos and conversation made this one of the happiest happy hours for me. I had to pace myself because they were so good and made me grin ridiculously. I kept saying that I was glad I didn't have to drive us home. Our drinks were served quickly from the very friendly waitress. Our food magically appeared before we were even halfway done with our first drink. We ordered the baked feta which was accompanied by a very tasty crisp pita and waffle fries. I would recommend the feta appetizer however fries were good but not extraordinary. The Mojitos were the best and well worth the trip out to the Eastside. I was really impressed by the waitstaff as they seemed to work together as team. Usually you walk into a restaurant and you get one waitress and if you need something and ask someone else for it they just flatly state they will let your waitress know. We had at least three different servers looking over us from serving our drinks to bringing me another knife when they noticed I dropped mine (that was my que to slow down on the grownup koolaid) It was inexpensive during the Happy hour our total tab which included quite a few drinks and two appetizers was under $40. Make sure you get there early so you avoid the show down.
(5)
Cara T.
I was in Bellevue over the weekend for a haircut and stumbled in here for a bite and a drink before the appointment. We had some time to kill so lounged back in the bar over a couple of drinks before ordering. I had the Ciroc Cosmo which I loved, but at $12 seemed a little high. The atmosphere was really laid back and they weren't too busy for a Saturday afternoon. The service was a little spotty but I beleive there was only 1 waitress for the whole bar area and patrons were a little spread out. I ordered the 1/2 smoked turkey sand. and a small Chop Chop salad and both were pretty good. Not spectacular but alright. The food seemed reasonably priced, although not huge portions and the drinks a little pricey. They are affiliated with one of my faves down in Tacoma so they shared alot of the same HH choices but unfortunately it wasn't HH during our visit. Overall, nice atmosphere and decent food and drinks.
(3)
Jeffrey S.
Darn good happy hour pizza.
(4)
Robert L.
i've seen both worlds of this place, dinner and happy hour, and i have nothing negative to report, the food is excellent, and it's happy hour is probably the best i've ever had, how can you complain about all day happy hour sun-thurs?! 1/2 off appetizers AND $5 pizzas! drink specials were delicious, their pistachio crusted brie and artichoke dip was amazing, we got 2 pizzas that did not disappoint, this place bitch slapped Stanford's down to #2, long live palomino :)
(5)
Carin S.
Very disappointed. Went for dinner, party of 4, on a Tuesday night. We wanted to treat our very good friends to a really nice dinner. I wouldn't say service was bad, but it certainly wasn't very good. It did not appear to be very busy, yet it took a long time to get our food (just the appetizers!) I sat with an empty wine glass for a loooong time before the waitress came by and asked if I'd like another. The one really bad thing - dinner came out and they hadn't cleared the appetizer/salad/soup plates yet, so we were all juggling plates so that they could set the dinners down. Which were cold/lukewarm. My dinner was tasty - would have been terrific hot, but my partner's sucked. Downright sucked. Was supposed to be a spicy Italian sausage stuffed ravioli with two different type sauces; not only was it cold, but the sausage had absolutely no flavor. Dessert was so-so, but again, the coffee came cold. And when someone finally came by to finally ask how things were, they seemed to want to defend "one of their most popular dishes," and not much interested in seeing that we were happy. Atmosphere was nice and folks were pleasant, but for $174 (not counting tip) for 4 (and I was the only one with wine - 2 glasses), I find that excessive. Had the food and the service been terrific, fine - don't mind paying for that. But as it was, we won't be going back.
(2)
Stacie S.
Palomino has a lot going for it--wonderful location, beautiful interiors, and an assortment of choices on the menu. It's good if you'r enot looking for a really unusual meal--one of my co-diners classified it as "not horrible". They have a nice bar menu, including cocktails, but given it's Bellevue, there's a wait list to get in the bar. The very open air design just makes it difficult to hear or talk, even with someone sitting next to you. But these are all thingsoutside of Palomino's control: my friends raved about their thin crust pizza (I opted for the rotisserie chicken, which was just kind of bland). I did enjoy my white wine sangria, and our 1 shared appetizers (a plate of hummus, and a crab and artichoke dip) were wonderful.Our server was absolutely amazing as well-despite the chaos reigning throughout the restaurant, and didn't even blink when we had to give her six different cards to split the bill. Thinking about all this, Ia ctually changed my rating up to 3 stars--Palomino isn't my kind of place, but for what it is, it does everything well. Avoid Lincoln Plaza on weekend nights if you're trying to park. Head straight to parking behind Bellvue Square or Bellevue Place!
(3)
Nick C.
Good atmosphere. Pretty good food. Never had any trouble with the waiters. Great place to go right before/after a movie at Lincoln Square.
(4)
Marla S.
I have tried Palomino twice for lunch and once for dinner and I really want to like it...but for the price, I have had much better. Staff seemed over worked but nice. Food just ok.
(2)
jamie d.
i went here for breakfast the other saturday and i was plesantly surprised. our server was really nice and the bloody marys and shots were awesome! i had the tomato basil egg sandwich and it was really good and huge! hash browns were good too. my friend got an italian omlette and he liked his as well. i'd go back
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mark Y.
Crowded, average food, average taste, not cheap, not overly expensive.. sorta sounds like average right? 3 stars seemed right.. but the 'over feel' of it just isn't up to par for me.. so the bump down to 2 stars. The wait can be a bit long after you order.. the servers try their best but the food is what it is.. and that's mediocre quality. The drinks are 'ok'.. nothing special and not strong enough usually.. Happy hour makes it more palatable, but then you are limited in what you can order menu wise.. Given the choices in Bellevue, i much prefer Pearl..or Joeys even..
(2)Regina C.
This place has some serious issues with service and food. We went last night for our annual Snowflake Lane family dinner. Service was atrocious and yet, again we were stuck in the back room with ALL the "families". Why, oh why do they insult us like this and we come back???? We have gone back because of the location and they are the ONLY restaurant that has availabilities. Go figure...even Earl's would be a better choice. Service last night was a total joke, so much so that we left a$1 tip. We have never done this before, but basically it was a disaster. Almost as bad as the food. Crudo pizza- Is this even pizza sought they use? It was so crispy it had the texture of a dry cracker. Even with the egg yolk it was dry. Yuck! Server did not know most of the questions we asked about the menu including "what is a crudite" I answered it for my family, cuz like I know what it is. No bread came until we asked 2 times, anchovies never did get on the salad as someone requested, sent back the white bean appetizer. It was inedible and the veggies were old and wilted. Daughter never got her oranges or her dessert that came with the child meal...I honestly could go on and on. The chicken parm was ok, my husband ate it unlike us, but he was starving and we weren't . Location smocation I will never go again. I hate chains...
(1)Hanne A P.
I visit this location a couple times a year with my parents. We grab dinner and then head over for a movie. I have always had fantastic service from very friendly, knowledgeable staff. I've had the chicken parmesan and my favorite is a chicken maple salad (with pear and candied walnuts). Do yourself a favor and go for the lavender cosmo. Amazing.
(4)Sharmel B.
I have been to this place a few times during lunch and each time the staff us ok but nothing great. The food is good but each time it has taken, not exagerwtting, 20-35 minutes to get our food. My last sandwich was soggy which means it was sitting and waiting for the rest of the food to be done. Plate was hot but not my food.
(2)Nancy R.
Bf and I came here for the first time on Valentine's day. We had a reservation for 9pm. We got there by 830pm. They some how lost our reservation but was able to squeeze us in. I thought that was very nice of them. For appetizer we ordered the crab and artichoke dip. I honestly took one bite. Lack of flavor. Did not like it. My bf orderd the salmon on cedar plank. He also said it was plain. Finished it because he was starving. I got the mahi tuna with rice. That was gross. Absolutely no flavor. Took one bite of fish. one appetizer, two drinks and two entrée for $100. Waste of money. Went home hungry. Never coming here again.
(2)Jerry L.
Didn't even get a glass of water served to my table. Came in at 930, and there was no front of the house. We seated ourselves and waited for a waitress. After I said loudly that this was bad service a waitress came to our table and asked if she could get us anything. We asked for menus and she asked for IDs, she left to get our waters and took after being gone for 10 minutes, we decided to walk out. First time I've walked out of a restaurant.
(1)Betty C.
Being able to make the reservation on Open Table was such a life-saver. I literally was able to make my reservation and enjoy a cocktail next door while I waited! Had every cocktail I could get my hands on. They aren't terribly strong, but super tasty. It's a little hard to remember, but the martini with the grapes was divine. We had the mushroom and egg pizza. The mushrooms were so smokey, I think it overwhelmed. The egg was a novelty, but nothing to write home about. The sausage pizza was much more tasty. You could see pizza walking out with 6 boxes. Also the crab cakes were so tasty. But they were a tad pricey at $7 a crab cake. I'd go again.
(4)H C.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here at the end of August and it was perfect! We used their private room in the back of the restaurant which fit 50 guests comfortably. There was no room rental fee like at other restaurants and their food and beverage minimum was very reasonable. We worked with the manager, Daniel Wilkins, and he and the staff did an amazing job of making the dinner run smoothly. We had personalized menus and they even took care of the floral arrangements for us. The food was also delicious and came out in a timely manner. We could not have been happier with the service here and would recommend Palominos for any large private dining event.
(5)Jen W.
Came here after a horrible experience at another restaurant, We walked in to a welcoming staff. The food is consistently good. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. We were able to sit and chat and no feel hurried and the staff was attentive but not overly so. Great place to meet friends.
(4)Nina S.
I took off one star because when I received my credit card statement, I noticed that my charge was more than the receipt I signed. The only thing I can think off was that our server added more tip than the 18% that I gave her. I disputed the charge and the card company will issue a credit and contact the merchant.
(3)Gorman E.
***HAPPY HOUR On The EAST SIDE / BELLEVUE*** One of my favorite places in Bellevue just because of the all day happy hour at the bar. It gets busy; however, plenty of seats around the bar area with tables. We always manage to find seats even though it is always pack. I came here with two of my homies. We ordered: CRAB AND ARTICHOKE DIP - flavorful and comes with flatbread to scoop up the dip. Addicting and also goes well with the pizza if you run out of flatbread. TWO ITALIAN & MUSHROOM PIZZA - thin crust and plenty of sausage & mushroom toppings. Very good. ONE PEPPERONI PIZZA - thin crust and just amount of sauce with spicy pepperoni. Very good. TWO CRANBERRY MOJITO - Each person - Not too sweet and stiff enough to give you a buzz on the 2nd cocktail. Overall, great value including 20% tip....we each only spent $28 each and was pretty stuff with leftovers. The HH menu is limited but do offer other items like Ceviche, calamari, and sammies. Other than the three cocktail chooses, you can get beer. Our server was also very cute and friendly plus on top of getting us another drink. Legit Happy Hour specials and the thin crust pizza is very good. Recommended.
(4)Stephanie C.
Food is consistently good and so is the service. Their menu is a really nice alternative to the generic bar food that so many nearby restaurants (Earl's, Pearl, Tavern Hall, etc.) offer. I always sit in the bar here. Their pizzas and meatballs are my favorite!
(4)April F.
Love love love this place! Best HH! Note: They have HH in the bar area all day everyday! Woot woot! You can't beat that with a stick or a bat at that....ok ok...so this review is about their HH only (if you haven't already caught on), I have not indulged in their regular menu, because the HH is just too tempting!!! The decor is nice, the lighting low & sexy and the seats comfy. Now to the good stuff...the drinks are cheap and tasty. The Cranberry Mojito is good but on the light side, the Pomegranate Margarita is delicious but my favorite is the Candied apple drop! Best of all they are all under $10!!! Their pizzas are cheap and good I especially like the Pepperoni! The fries with the Gorgonzola spread on top is unique and delis! But my favorite thing to eat here is the Grilled Mushroom Salad!! It's like Heaven in my mouth! Also their bread pudding is the only bread pudding that I have actually wanted seconds of! If I had to say something bad about this place, I would say that the service is not that fast, but once the orders are put in the food/drinks come pretty darn fast, so I guess it makes up for lack luster waitress service. This is a great place to meet with friends or have a casual date, Hell I would even like to come here solo and have a seat at the bar. Bonus: They have two TVs in the bar area, though not big enough to enjoy a game but big enough to not miss it entirely! Over all this place is winning.
(5)Stephen C.
Food is good. Great hang out place.Service slow.
(3)Jenny L.
Ever since Palomino changed to all day happy hour, the quality of the menu went downhill. Portions got smaller and prices are higher. I used to love the food here...now it's just meh. While the cranberry mojito is now $1 more, it is the most delicious drink ever!
(3)Hayden N.
Love the happy hour selection, wish there was still a Palomino in Portland, Oregon.
(4)Kate S.
Went here for a Sunday morning breakfast. Note that their menu changes to brunch at 10am, and although it keeps many of the breakfast items, it doesn't have omelets, so we were sure to get here before 10am. It was pretty quiet until after 10am. Note that they open quite early (6:30am!), which is an advantage as a lot of brunch places don't even open until 10am. The two of us ordered coffee, orange juice, french toast, bacon & cheddar omelet, and a side of sausage, and were pretty impressed. Only negatives were the price (especially if you get any sides with breakfast, although it is to be expected for Bellevue),we had to ask for a refill of coffee, breakfast sausage wasn't very breakfasty, and the "maple" syrup wasn't all that great. Food and service was otherwise good. Especially liked the texture of the french toast, yummy orange juice, that they put a carafe of water on the table, and omelet quality. We were even allowed to substitute fruit for the breakfast potatoes. We'll be sure to return next time we stay at the Westin for the weekend, as it seems a step above Cheesecake Factory brunch.
(4)Aimy D.
Very accommodating for large groups. Tasty sangria. Meh service and inconsistent portion sizes across entrees. I've gone a few times now and still haven't been won over. I'd much prefer HH here for more decent prices for what you're getting.
(2)Pelin K.
Worst paella (even claiming they had the signature) ever!!! It doesnt worth the money at all..
(1)Jon B.
I'm not much of a Mediterranean food guy but conceded to my wife's choice. It was good, I have to say. My only complaint when the general manager walked by and asked how it was was why did they not offer ranch dressing, as I love to dip my fries in it. He told me next time I came in to eat they would have it. Then, ten minutes later I was brought ranch dressing. He came by again just before we left and said as of today, they would carry ranch dressing thanks to my input and input of others the last few months. The customer service (new waitress) was exceptional. I gave it a four instead of a five due to menu selection.
(4)Jessica H.
Greatest Paella I've ever had in my life...have had it two weeks in a row now...Meatballs, burger, turkey sandwitch, fries, pizza and soup are also all awesome. But nothing beats the service by the bartender Melissa.
(5)Dan S.
*Like an idiot, tried the place again, keeping an open mind *We sat outside on the patio for 15 minutes before a server arrived asking us if we wanted water *Server brought us all the next tables food and was super confused *Took over 20 minutes to get our food, once again WTF is wrong with this place! It was half full, not busy at all
(1)Nancy S.
Palomino was virtually empty on a Thursday at noon which makes our experience very difficult to understand-- we had to wait 5+ minutes to be seated because no one was around to seat us. Based on her behavior, demeanor and lack of service- our server HATED her job. Keep in mind that the restaurant was empty so it's not like she was overworked. She seemed bored, annoyed to 'help' us and, truthfully, it embarrassed me to have brought my client here. The food was good but the server's attitude ruined the meal. When it was time to check out, we waited 20 minutes for her to pick up my credit card- I ended up bringing the bill and my credit card over to the bar so that we could pay and leave. For only the 3rd time in my life I didn't leave a tip.
(2)Kirsty K.
I love their gourmet pizzas and their happy hour menu. Because it's a little higher priced than most restaurants, it's not somewhere I'd go regularly, but it's definitely great for a treat such as date night. The atmosphere is romantic but relaxed and the service was good.
(5)Inna B.
Wow - so busy at 5pm on a Thursday! Sure, sure... it's across the street from a mall and it was just before Christmas... but I don't think I have *ever* seen a line of about 10 people to get seating in the bar area. The wait was probably 20 minutes and they were taking drink orders for the people waiting! The weirdest part? It's not like their happy hour is for a limited time. It goes all day, every day in the bar! I was one of those that took advantage of that offer, so my wait included a nice cold beer. I'm pretty sure I had the widmer hefeweizen and was quite pleased when they carded me but not the two ladies standing behind me. What I learned after sitting down was that, even though I've been loving wheat beers lately, I definitely love their cocktails more. Their Cranberry Mojito was the first time I ever enjoyed a mojito! Sure - it was probably less boozy than other mojitos that I've tried... but for me it was just right. I loved the tall glass and the delicious drink. Plus, their happy hour beer is $4 and the (on special) cocktails are $5. The cocktails seem like a better deal to me. For our meal we enjoyed the delicious grilled wild mushroom salad - big enough for two to share - and one of the vegetarian flatbread pizzas. The pizzas are easy but the salad... that was a salad I probably wouldn't have ordered if Becca had not been there. I'm glad she was there to show me the way! Palomino - I wasn't sure what to expect from you... and I am happy to say that I was quite pleased with my experience of your Bellevue location! personal Yelpy note: FINALLY!!! Posting this review means I have ZERO review drafts hanging out on my profile. I've had 15-30 drafts for many months even though I usually finished at least a couple a week. So glad to get those cleared out before 2011!
(4)Lauren H.
When we came to Palamino we had a table of 5, and arrived at happy hour on a Friday afternoon. The lighting was dim, and the restaurant/bar had nice seating. The place was busy but the staff found a table for our party quickly. To drink: I had a skinny pomegranate margarita. It was the perfect mix of sweet and tart. A very good size for only around $5.50. You would never know it was skinny as it tasted very sweet and had salt on the rim... Hmm... For appetizer: We had the Brussels sprouts and calamari. The Brussel sprouts were roasted and had a light lemon flavor. The calamari had a light breading. It came with pink (a little spicy) sauce, or traditional marinara. For dinner: I had the crab cakes. They were $15 and a la carte. They have very large chunks of crab meat, and a very little pan fried breading on the outside. I loved them! Some of the best crab cakes I have had. Overall, I would recommend anyone (with no kids) to go this restaurant/bar. You have to be 21 to be inside. It would be good for a date night out for two!
(4)Desiree F.
First of all, customer service was sorely lacking. The food was also unimpressive. The only dish I really liked was the crab and artichoke dip. The chop chop salad was very ordinary.
(3)Andrea D.
So happy with Palomino!! Food was fantastic, but what jumped this restaurant up to 5 stars was the service! I have been to the Seattle location for happy hour with friends, but never Bellevue. :( Lord I have been missing out!! Me and my husband went here for brunch, heard good things about their brunch, so wanted to try it. Right when you walk in they have a huge Bloody Mary bar with garnishes and the alcohol all spread out, really nice set up (not a Bloody Mary fan, so I passed n that one) We sat down and started to rethink breakfast, the lunch menu look great, so we decided to do lunch instead! Our waitress Kara (who rocked by the way) took our lunch orders. I ordered the turkey, bacon w/blue cheese & baby lettuce with a side Cesar salad, and Drake had sliders with a salad We started with the clams. Now, I am a die hard clams fan, so anywhere that has Manila clams, I am ordering them. Some have been good...some...ahh, SUCKED! THESE WERE DELICIOUS! Clams were not sandy at all...but what took the cake was the awesome broth...it wasn't just butter, shallots, wine and garlic. There was tiny pieces of sausage in the broth that gave it a great flavor. It also came with a great crusty bread. I asked the girl what the bread was and she said it was a sliced bagget toasted with cheese, I had to ask for some more, which she was happy to bring us. A few minutes later the head chef Jeremy arrived and personally delivered our bread to our table, we told him out much we loved the bread and the clams were incredible. He thanked us and told us how happy he was that we were happy with our food! Our lunch then arrived and those did not disappoint either. My sandwich with with blue cheese (which I was very skeptical about) was so good, great slices of turkey, bacon was nice and crispy. Salad was really good with just about a dressing and croutons! Drake loved his sliders and said his salad was great as well! The manager Beth then came and introduced herself to us, and explained to her how fantastic the service and our food was. She just her her card and told us if she could do anything to make it better, to please let her know. She then offered to get us a rewards card to earn points forward future visits there, I signed up immediately! I will frequent Palomino again and again!
(5)Lisa R.
Excellent food, nice new menu concept. The service is phenomenal if you order alcohol. If not - prepare to be shunned by your server with a perceptible cringe of greedy disappointment.
(2)Omar S.
Tasty food, great cocktails, and great HappyHour pricing! I stopped here for lunch one day (sitting outside), and then returned for happy hour later that week with the GF (sitting in the lounge). The baked Italian sandwich was generous, thick, tasty, with good toppings (fresh greens, oil+vinegar) on very fresh bread. Delicious. "Ultimate" Pepperoni Pizza was enjoyable, as were the mussels (plump, juicy, fresh, flavorful). All the drinks were generous and well-balanced and very tasty. The "low" lounge seating is kind of funny (the server has to crouch) but very comfortable (regular height booths available also). Happy Hour is on the weekend also (not just weekdays), and I found it to be a very decent value. The restaurant is attached to the Westin Bellevue-- sometimes hotel restaurants are awful, but Starwood is unusually good about this-- their properties usually have fun/tasty/trendy eateries attached. This one keeps up that reputation. Also, the staff is easy on the eyes. But, this is Bellevue, so not surprising. Recommended!
(5)Brad R.
What was once our favorite restaurant, we now will not return. The only possible explanation is a change in management, who obviously isn't concerned about "the details" such as food quality, cleanliness or customer service. I'd say previously we would visit Palominos once every 2-3 months for special occasions, as mentioned earlier, tonight was our last visit. The waiter was incredibly slow and inattentive. He also lacked sincerity about the continuous delays with service. The table upon our arrival still had numerous traces of the previous patrons, the glasses and appetizer plates were dirty. Our server apologized and said he would bring out new plates immediately... It must have slipped his mind as we never saw plates (or bread for that matter, which historically was brought out). The new menu lacks imagination and our tried and true favorites. We tried to recreate the steak frites but the fries were a horrible texture and the steak ordered rare was far too chewy. Evidence pointing to defrosting, which would explain the manager coming over 45 minutes after our meal was ordered to apologize for the delay and say the steaks would be comped. I got the chop-chop salad. Shredded lettuce, garbonzo beans and a few pieces of salami for 16$. A joke. So, all in all, if you are looking forward to swinging by Palominos and ordering your favorite... you might be out of luck. Time to find a new favorite.
(1)jamie c.
I love their happy hour and I am sad they do not do all day happy hour any more. I have not been here for a while so I will visit with my friends next week.
(4)Joyce J.
Came here during happy hour and got to sit at the patio. The attendant was really nice to adjust the umbrella's angle for us when the sun began to set. The food was not very memorable but the price during happy hour was reasonable and the service was attentive.
(3)Laura D.
This place is simply fantastic! My father has attended this restaurant weekly for over a year, and finally I went along! The staff here are very delightful; never do they crowd you or abandon you. Anything you could possibly need is taken care of in a timely non overbearing manner! They are all dressed impeccably, and extremely classy. Our food was extremely delicious; we ordered a pizza, chicken under a brick and a chicken salad! I will admit I packed my pizza to go because I was very content eating my fathers chicken dish! They were both however, very yummy and my mother loved her salad! Now for dessert! I wanted to marry the chef after eating my chocolate cake, it was to die for! I am one picky chocolate cake consumer and it took first place! The crème Brule is also very good; though I would never abandon my chocolate cake! So go ahead, give this place a shot!
(5)Kristen L.
This is a decent place to get happy hour in Bellevue. You're not necessarily going to be wowed by the food, but prices on drinks and food are alright. It's also nice that it's an all day happy hour every day. Although, I do recall the HH prices to be less than they currently are.
(3)Maria G.
I am getting disappointed at Palomino. This is my first time visiting the Palomino at Bellevue. Normally I go for the Seattle one just because it is closer for me and my friends. Now their happy hour simply does not offer great deals anymore. Pizza is now around $8 or $9 I think - where last year it was only around $6. Other side dishes prices also went up. It is very strange - I have not seen any other restaurants (that I visit often) increase their prices this year so I am not sure why the price increase is necessary. I mean, the food quality is still about the same. The service has been consistently great. However, I am re-considering this place as my regular hang-out spot.
(3)Kellie R.
I just wanted to update that the manager of Palomino contacted me right away from this review and I felt really listened to my concerns. He sent me a gift certificate and ensured me my next experience would be different. Unfortunately I have yet to be able to use it as like I said in my first review we don't get out that often. However I do promise to update when I do. Great customer service from the manager however so they get bonus points for that.
(3)C Y.
Came here for a Saturday dinner. My favorites are the Margarita Pizza and the Chop Chop Salad. I didn't see the Margarita Pizza on the menu, but was able to order it. I like Palomino, but my husband and I feel the food (especially the Pasta) is overpriced. So I usually go to the Cafe Palomino (in Seattle).
(3)A M.
Best happy hour in Bellevue. Food & drinks are always on point. Service can be slow sometimes but it's expected since they get pretty busy. Great for group of friends or just one on ones.
(4)Alex S.
I've been a couple of their locations. This one had good happy hour stuff, but each time I went the place was sort of dead and the food was just okay. Although I will say I ordered a pizza and it literally came out to our tables in 2 minutes. Still, after checking out Palomino in SF, it's hard to really really enjoy this place.
(3)Judy K.
I've only came here for dinner a handful of times, but if you're 21+ I recommend skipping the overpriced dinner and heading over to their bar area for happy hour. If you're looking for a delicious and happy buzz, go for their cranberry mojito. I'm a huge fan of mojitos and they make it just right. Strong enough to feel a buzz, but not so overpowering that it taste like cough syrup. Their happy hour menu is alright and a bit on the pricier side, but I shouldn't complain since they offer it 24/7. Service can be bipolar. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Overall a good place to come if you want something to munch on.
(3)Kathie s.
happy hour on a Monday! I don't usually indulge so early in the week, but met a friend here for happy hour as she mentioned it was good. We got a table right away and found out that happy hour was all day long. Good selections of draft beer for $4/pint, some speciality drinks like a pomegranate margarita for $5 and a selection of white and red wine were among the things on the Happy Hour menu. There was a good selection of flatbread pizza and some other app's for reasonable prices. Atmosphere was ok, but nothing exciting-great place to hang out and talk to friends. Pricing for happy hour was a 4 star.
(3)Aaron Y.
Dont know how this happened but the Chicken Parmesan was pink and very under cooked. The manager apologized but that is still no excuse to have undercooked chicken and at a restaurant of this caliber. Got the meal for free but im never coming back.
(1)Elizabeth S.
Not sure what happened to the good old Palomino I used to come to.... Seems they re-branded as Palomino Rustico and with that comes rusty food and service. This used to be one of my favorite spots for the friendly service and good food (esp. pizzas!) We came in for an early dinner and there were very few diners. The services was slow and not very friendly, didn't even say hello. We would had ordered drinks had we been asked! My food (shrimp scampi) was so oily that I couldn't finish it, may have been one of the worst dishes I ever had. My husband had the chicken parmesan and he enjoyed his food, although left much of the pasta behind as it was too crispy. Had to go ask the hostess for someone to bring us the check, as out waitress disappeared. We both left very disappointed, hungry, and do not plan on going back. So many great options in Bellevue - go elsewhere.
(2)Nancy H.
OMG why haven't I tried ths restaurant before now? Where on earth have I been? This is my new favorite restaurant in all the eastside - and perhaps beyond! Came here recently for hubby's birthday, with our teen kids in tow. It is a rarity indeed for everyone in our party to agree on something, let alone a restaurant and all dishes ordered (yes, we tried each others' meals. I won't apologize!). To start, we can earlier than our reservation, totally expecting to wait. But they were able to seat us right away! The restaurant interior is warm and inviting in a country-esque way, with wooden planked tables and iron details and mason jar candles on the tables. I liked the thick country napkins (white bordered in red), which could practically double for a dish cloth in a countryside cottage. There is a cute patio outside (right across from the Bellevue Art Museum), and lots of light from the south-facing windows. Nice details like potted herbs in a wrought iron divider behind the hostess counter and an amazingly long chalkboard wall with all the specials and menus on it. Our server, Carolyn, was fantastic: pleasant and attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. We liked how the manager or owner came by to ask how we were doing and chat a bit. It was difficult to choose what to order, as everything looked so good, but we decided on bruschetta appetizers, fennel flank steak with potatoes and artichoke-mustard puree, grilled mahi mahi with asparagus and a rustic tomato puree, Caesar salad with grilled chicken, and chicken parmesan, and a blue cheese salad. Every dish was fabulous. For desserts, we ordered the tiramisu (truly the best dessert of the lot, and they all were phenomenal! Note that this dessert easily could feed 2 or even 3 people and it was AMAZING!), the chocolate hazelnut mousse cake (very rich and delicious), and the Sicilian donuts (served warm, 7 or 8 generously sized donut "balls", chocolate rolled in sugar, presented in a white paper bag) served with dipping hazelnut sauce and mascarpone cream. Seriously, what is not to love here? It was all fabulous. So nice that they comped my hubby's dessert, as a birthday gift! I see that there's a well-reputed happy hour here. If it's half as good as its dinner foods and service, it's gotta be great! I say we have a Yelp meet-up here! Our family is already planning our next meal out here. What a super place!
(5)Alan W.
I'm really sorry I had dinner there for a few reasons: * Somebody must have stolen all of the spices and salt from the kitchen since none of the food we ate had any taste at all. We ordered white bean dip (which came out green and in a pool of liquid) along with some flatbread with a pile of oil dumped on it, Calamari which looked like it came from the McD's fryer, and chicken flatbread pizza. * The key reason I wanted to go there was the chicken flatbread which I had in the past. I asked 2 servers about it since I didn't see something like it on the menu and they told me that the one that one the menu was "almost exactly the same but with a new name". LIES. It wasn't and tasted like a pizza I'd pull out of the freezer and heat up. * We were asked to leave the bar area after we ordered but the manager told us he'd honor the Happy hour prices. They weren't correct however our server did give a good discount on the food to make up for it. But please, get it right the first time ! So in short, if you like food with any kind of flavor, don't bother.
(1)judy n.
came here with 5 friends. i ordered the special (beef cheeks w/pappardelle) & received chicken. i told the waiter that i was pretty sure it wasn't what i ordered but he insisted (pretty rudely) that it was. i didn't want to make a scene so i took a bite & yes, not only was it definitely chicken, it was very dry, bland chicken. i got the waiter again & let him know that, as i had suspected & told him, he gave me a plate of chicken. not only was he not apologetic, he treated me as if i was being unreasonable. half an hour later, as my friends are finishing their entrees, my special finally arrives (with absolutely no apology) i wolfed half of it down & it tasted really salty but not bad. later that night: total hurlage. i wonder if that waiter purposely tainted my food... i will never return to this place again.
(1)Dave F.
Chain, mall-food......ok, Palomino is across the street from a mall and technically part of a huge restaurant chain. However, the food is excellent and their service excels! Happy Hour is great, but I love their mix and match lunch specials where one can have 2 of a salad, soup, sandwich or pasta. My fav is the Red King Crab, artichoke, Parmesan, sweet onions, tomato, cheddar and chop, chop salad which only costs about $14. Their pizzas are also wonderful and feature a really thin crust. This Bellevue location is consistently great and easy to get in/out due to the huge underground parking structure.
(4)Joel Y.
Happy Hour Mojitos = Sweet and Sour Mix with a spritz of booze Grilled Prawns = Costco overcooked frozen shrimp in oil Pizza = the only thing worth mentioning about Other Drinks = weak. perhaps I am an alki, but I tasted nothing in any of the drinks- happy hour or no happy hour They were really busy and before the waitress could even greet us, she ambushed us to see identification. Rude. At least say hello. The couple behind us ordered some foul smelling dip that contained cheese. I wanted to throw up smelling that. Think fermented feet. Overall, very disappointing. There has to be better.
(2)Cynthia C.
For the Bellevue branch and the Los Angeles (Westwood) branch: 5 stars for a never disappointing HH experience. There have been many a-buzzed afternoons spent here with my gfs. I've tried everything on their HH menu, and my favorites are always these few: sausage & mushroom pizza crab artichoke dip calamari I'm always skeptical on drinking house wine, but I've had some VERY tasty cabs here. The cranberry mojito and pomegranate margarita are great too. Never had any cheap-alcohol-induced hangovers...w00t.
(5)Coty H.
The Palomino has fantastic foods and drinks. When I asked the waiter if he knew if a certain dish was gluten-free he came back to the table with a list of dishes and which allergens they do not contain. PERFECT IDEA! Ended up having the prawns with mushroom risotto. I'd go back just for the risotto if possible. Absolutely delightful!!!
(5)Bob L.
Went there for HH. Enough said! $5 pizza - rotisserie chicken is great, if you like mild flavor. the crab & artichoke dip - OMG, you HAVE to try it! My wife had the Cranberry Mojito - very well made mojito. We were there at about 7pm and the far side of the bar was almost empty, so we didn't have to fight for seating. :-) Hope this continues on for a few more weeks because I want to try more of the other menu items.
(4)Sean C.
Despite the best of intentions, in my experience few foundational changes of a restaurant end up for the better. Restaurants Unlimited' transformation of the mediocre Manzana into Palomino is a welcome exception. A friend had proclaimed that Palomino was her new boyfriend and as a result I resolved to try it for late night happy hour (9pm+) with her in tow. After easily finding a seat at the bar - a very different experience from neighboring McCormick & Schmick's - I was relieved to discover that Palomino was not the jealous type as service from the bartender was prompt and polite and I was neither challenged to a duel nor had anything spilled on me "by accident." I tried: - Mojito ($4) - Served in a tall narrow glass and the appropriate frill-less mix of strong and sweet. - Vongole Pizza ($5) - Light on the clams but the olive oil made for a pleasing if a bit heavy thin-crust pizza. Not a worthy competitor to Topolino's variation, but much more accessible. - Roasted Mussels and Chorizo ($6.50) - Excellent, in no small part due to the accompaniment of a succulent lobster-saffron broth that led to the substitution of pizza for the accompanying garlic crostini that was quickly devoured. Even if Palomino was a woman I don't think I'd be trying to win her heart nor would I come for dinner considering the pricing, but it is a reliable addition to the slowly growing Eastside happy hour scene.
(4)N J S.
This review is just for the Happy Hour...which is every day, ALL DAY...it's just too bad you have to sit and eat at the bar. Personally, I can't stand those high seated chairs. I just don't find it comfortable, but oh, well. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere...it is a bit loud, so it tends to be difficult to have a conversation amongst your group. I've only had the flatbread with artichoke/crab dip, clams and calamari. The food isn't spectacular, but it all had a good flavor. The drinks that the bartender made tasted great. Not too strong and definitely not weak...and paying happy hour prices is a plus. True, you only have a few selections on what to eat and drink, but how much can one eat? Definitely a good place to come back. It's too bad they close at midnight on the weekends especially since when I got there the other night at 11:30pm, they had already locked the doors and I was STARVING!
(3)Jay M.
The wife and I went here for the first time. First the good. The food was very good. The atmosphere is relaxing and encourages conversation at the table. now for the bad... The waitress was definitely lacking. She did not ask us if we wanted another cocktail, nor did she deliver any of our food (appetizers & entrees). Maybe she was new. Maybe she was overwhelmed. Regardless, she never acknowledge that she was lacking for whatever reason. Wish Yelp would allow us to rate at 1/2 stars because we would go 3 1/2. We would definitely try this restaurant again. Just hope the waitress is better.
(3)Christina V.
Uli's pizza is SO good. The best part about Palomino's HH is that it's ALL day!
(5)Roz H.
LOVE THEIR PIZZA! This place is great for happy hour! A little loud, but the food makes up for it. I like to meet here with friends and get quick service. Their house wines aren't bad either. The staff isn't overly friendly, but they are cool. I really reccommend Palomino.
(3)Amy B.
Immediately following our dinner at Palomino's - Bellevue, my love and I discussed our rating of the restaurant and settled on a solid, but generous C+. It was a decent experience, they had an extensive menu, and our waitress brought us our food without problem. Basically, this was a "hey, not bad in my book, but let's not put it on the short list." As all of us do eventually, I went home. And not more than an hour after arriving home, I became sick. Sick to my stomach. I relived my entire meal and found myself rinsing it down the sink. Gross!! A day later and a wee bit lighter, I took the time to re-evaluate the evening for a more comprehensive rating: * The crab artichoke dip and the shrimp scampi were tasty- but I've had better. * The cranberry mojito was "eh" for it was too heavy on the mint. * The overall service was perfuntory but our table waitress uncomfortably aggressive and akward at times. WAITRESS: (After having the entrees at the table for several minutes, including dipping sauce) "You should try the sauce with the steak. It breaks up the monotonous taste of the meat." BOYFRIEND: *Looks at steak on his fork* "Monotonous taste?" WAITRESS: *Glares* "Yes. The monotonous taste of the steak." Wow! I don't know that customers wish to hear a word like monotonous used in reference to something they're paying a chef to cook for them. We stared at our waitress akwardly and thanked her just to end the exchange. * The entree prices were steep. $25 for shrimp scampi? * The environment uninspiring. * But what takes the cake is that I became supiciously ill after eating at Palomino's. Putting Palomino's under an entirely different light, I now generously give the restaurant a D rating and I won't be back. I'm simply not a fan at all.
(2)Sarah M.
I had wanted to come here for happy hour for FOREVER and finally got to last night. I had seen it from the outside and the decor looked beautiful so I decided to check it out. Hot spot for happy hour! We had to wait a bit to get a seat, but we finally got a table to hang out at. The pizzas looked awesome for only $5! I got the proscuitto & asparagus bruschetta which was only $4.50! It was really good! The only thing that was kind of disappointing was that I ordered a diet coke and that ended up being almost as much as the bruschetta! I guess they do that on purpose though... The service wasn't bad in the sense that I hate servers who are overly nice and always in your face. I expected this to be one of those places but it wasn't!! I always want to tell them that their tip drops every second that they try to upsell me or suck up. The server was attentive and let us all just hang out and talk. Didn't interrupt too much which was great! It took a while for us to get service, but once we finally did, I didn't have any problems! Overall, great place for happy hour! I'd definitely come here again!
(4)Barry G.
Whoa, has the food at this RUI stalwart gone down hill. Service is still solid with knowledgeable and eager staff - our cocktail server wrangled a special order out of the kitchen for us. The selection of red wine is diverse, interesting (a smooth French Carginan was on the menu) but most important: wine is served at the correct temperature. Even many "wine bars" in Seattle serve over heated, room temp wine (it's no wonder so many people stick with mojitos). But the food, ugh. I've been eating Palomino pizzas for... well, a long time and these were horrible. Palomino's delicious, saucy pizzas with good mozzarella were moved to the new recession/downsize menu and considerably cheapened. Flavorless, too crisp dough, bland sauce and cheap oily cheese. Other items on the bar menu were a bit better though the broccolini was too tough and the included favas over done. Bottom line: I'll be back for a glass of wine but will have to rely on my memories of better food here.
(2)Stephanie S.
My husband and I were here a few days ago to enjoy some happy hour, and as always it did not dissapoint. Its hard to beat $4 glasses of wine and $6 pizzas. The service was fast, the food was delicious (they even customized one of the happy hour pizzas for me, thanks guys!) and the price was right. I have not been here for the regular menu, so can't speak to that but their happy hour at Palominos is constistently awesome.
(4)Edgar M.
I've never actually been there for their dinner menu, but the All-Day Happy Hour is good enough reason for you to try this place. Great assortment of flat-bread pizzas and some seafood. The drinks are a bit on the spendy side for a happy hour, but if you're looking to get your grub on, it's not a bad place to stop by. Seating does become limited really fast. So make sure to have someone get there before 4p and you shouldn't have a problem hoarding tables.
(3)Donna H.
Been here for happy hour before but not for dinner. This review is soley on my dinner experience. My husband and I decided to get a sitter and go out for a date night. First off, they will cancel your reservation if you are more than 15 minutes late. Fine, wish there was some warning so we had to wait an extra 5 minutes. Our waiter was an interesting guy. He had the "who cares" kind of attitude. Still somewhat attentive to our glass being half empty but always seemed to stare away when serving or chatting with us. A bit rude if yu ask me. Plus he was a bit on the slow side to get our dessert order and check. My husband and I shared a calamarie which has a light batter. It was ok but needed more flavor than the two dipping sauces that come with it. I ordered the prime rib as I was hoping for some mouth watering steak as I recently had on a cruise. To my disappointment I make a better prime rib at home. The side vegetables were pretty good. My husband enjoyed his surf n turf of prawns, filet mignon and salmon. The best part of the meal was the pear bread pudding for dessert. My husband is not a dessert fan and was stuffed from his meal but he managed to eat half of it. Wish he had left more for me! Next time I will stick with their happy hour and order their bread pudding.
(2)Jen P.
I was just called a restaurant snob because I commented that almost all the restaurants in and around Bellevue Square are chain restaurants...... Um, well, they ARE. I don't hate chains; I just usually try to avoid them. But when I had a friend in town for business during Dine Around Seattle - this is where we picked for dinner. And it was A-ok, just as my rating states. The size of the appetizers were HUGE considering they are appetizers and you get 3-courses for $30! The salad was average at best. It sounds weird to say, but too much meat! But the meat platter with mustard and fig jam was delish!!! My scallops weren't great...... and the portion seemed tiny compared to my boyfriend's chicken parmesan - which was fairly tasty. The desserts totally made up for it though (bread pudding was really good). I felt we got an absorbent amount of food for the price. Some of it was better than others. Also liked the 25 bottles for $25. I want to mention that my friend did not order the Dine Around deal and her lamb lasagna was probably the best out of all of them! Probably won't go back, but I didn't think it was a waste of money. Best part of dinner was definitely the company and the conversation!
(3)DIANA D.
Must come for HH to get a taste of Palomino. Great prices and delicious food. Wish we had one of these in So Cal. I'd be all over this baby. Clams, calamari, pizza, tiramisu, crab artichoke dip, and raspberry mojitos.......... need I say more? I think not - get your butt to Palomino for some good eats! Service was great, wait was non-existent (however, it was a Sunday!), and place was nice and cozy! Go, go, go!
(4)Sonia Y.
I love going here for happy hour. King crab and artichoke dip is my favorite! We also always get a pizza or flatbread. They always cook it to perfection and the crust is always a good amount of crispiness without actually being TOO crispy (if you know what I mean). I just like going to the Bellevue location more than the Seattle one, not sure why, but the food is a bit different, even though it's supposed to be the same. The food seems to have more time put into it than the other location, atleast from the times i've visited.
(4)A L.
One word, William. William was our server, but server is not the word to describe what he really does. From the moment we arrived, early for our reservation, they got us a great table. Once seated, William sprung into action. He is funny, knowledgeable, personable and a true professional. The drinks were strong, the food was incredible, great atmosphere and William surprised us for our anniversary with a slice of tiramisu cake. If you want a wonderful evening and you are celebrating something important, go to Palominos, and if you can, get into William's section, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Carly L.
HH is great. Betsey S and I indulged on some white bean dip ($3) and some pizza ($5) and they were great and large portions. Our HH wine ($4) was also not bad. However our service was a bit odd and we sat in chairs that made it feel like we were sitting on the floor.
(3)Avitania B.
I've been to the Palomino several times for drinks, but today was the first time I'd actually eaten here. Or, to be more accurate, eaten something here for the pleasure of eating and not because I should get something carby in my stomach lest the mixture of alcohols swirling around in my belly make for a very unhappy morning after. Ahem! But I digress. I came in at around 11am, assuming they'd just opened for lunch. Apparently, though, they're open at 6:30AM for breakfast. Breakfast! Who knew? Anyway, the hostesses were very friendly and I was seated very quickly, and bread (from Macrina) was quickly brought out. I decided to order a combo from their lunch menu: Chop Chop Salad, and Whole Wheat Pappardelle, $14. The salad was great -- fresh lettuce and tomatoes, finely chopped with salami, cheese, garbanzo beans, smoked turkey, and balsamic vinaigrette. The pappardelle was also really good -- sauteed with broccolini, shredded chicken, and pecorino cheese. The dish was a little on the oily side and some of the chicken had skin on, which probably compounded the oiliness, but the dish was still quite good. If you're thinking, like I was, that $14 is a little on the pricey side for a typical weekday lunch, they offer lunch combos that aren't as expensive. But given the quality of my lunch, I think $14 is fair. The only detractor, and it's not Palomino's fault, is that a table of four women, each carting very small babies in strollers or car seats, were seated next to me while I was eating. I'm glad I was almost finished, because if I had to sit for an extended time around that many babies, I would not be happy. Point for next time: eat in the bar/lounge area to avoid baby gatherings. Palomino just keeps getting better in my book. Semi-perpetual happy hour? Awesome. Good food? Check. Sweet! What's next?
(4)Laural B.
Our waiter was fantastic, the specials delish - my only complaint was that they didn't suggest splitting salads since they don't have the appetizer-sized variety. And then came dessert. Tiny little deep-fried donuts with marscapone vanilla and powdered sugar to dip? Oh, yes, please. I had a dream about these donuts last night and figured I should alert the world to their presence.
(4)Carol W.
I have only been here for Happy Hour, and it was wonderful! It was really full at 6 p.m. but luckily got a table, and there were people waiting for our table when we left too. They offer $4 drink specials, $5 pizzas and under $10 appetizers. And to top off the great prices, the happy hour is all day!
(4)Amy B.
We went for Breakfast. In town for a conference, staying at the Hilton and wanted a good breakfast. There arent many choices for breakfast in walking distance, but fortunately the Palomino was really good. 4 of us went and were all very happy with the food. Not an extensive menu by any means and kind of fancy but the price was quite reasonable for the amount and quality of food. I had the fresh mozzarella, fried egg, basil fritatta. It was wonderful. Came as a sandwich which was a bit of a surprise with hash browns on the side. The hash browns were disappointingly ordinary. They lacked in comparison to the quality of the other items. Good selection of hot teas too. Note: our waitress said that from Noon on its happy hour. 1/2 off drinks and bar food. I'd check it out.
(3)Eugene C.
Dear Palomino, I don't know why people are giving you such poopy reviews. You do what you do well. You don't pretend to be a high class escort even though you located next to high class escorts on Bellevue way(ave?), when you're just a middle class escort. You're honest to yourself so good for you. I enjoy the fact that I don't need to remember all the happy hour hours for restaurants in Bellevue anymore. At any time I can be like, hey, guys, it's happy hour at Palomino's right now. Let's go get delicious prosciutto pizza, and drink some beer. You take the hassle out of deciding when my brain is too fried to think. I like that Palomino so I give you 4 slightly orangish red stars. Everyone else can skedaddle to their high class establishments. I'll stick with you, right in the middle. With Love, Eugene
(4)Nina N.
Fantastic happy hour!!!! $5 dollar pizza's and half off app's! how can you go wrong?? A good happy hour that starts during lunch time, and so you can get a thin crust pizza for five dollars, and grab a coke with it! Now that's a slamming deal!
(4)Eric P.
I've been to Palomino for Happy Hour nearly a dozen times now and never had anything but a great experience. Happy Hour is all day every day. Hear me? ALL DAY. Amazing. This is the place to come for cheap(er) eats and cheap(er) drinks when it's not the traditional Happy Hour time -- like 8pm on a Friday, for example. I've always and only gotten the pizzas which are insanely delicious for $6 (that's cheaper than a Red Robin burger). I love that all draft beer is $4. Four bucks? For Guinness on tap? Two please! The bartenders are very customer service oriented, kind, approachable and attentive (more so than the waitress, I think). If you want fast service, try to sit at the bar. So, to recap. Pizza: insanely delicious. Beer: good deal for imported drafts and microbrews. Service: good, especially for how busy they get.
(5)Nick G.
What can I say about Palominos? Well... their happy hour is pretty much unparalleled in Bellevue. Come on now... their Brie Pistachio for $7??? The Cab was a phenomenal pairing and their pizzas are only $5. This is one of those rare locations that I can almost guarantee you will continue coming back to again and again.
(4)Rrr V.
Host/ess: 3.0 Wait person: 3.3 Food; Style Presentation: 3.0 Property, ambiance, decoration, style 4.0 It's always good to stop by at this place after half a day's worth of shopping and meeting colleagues for an unusually early and prolonged happy hour. As it gets later the place gets so much louder like it's a public market of sorts. Blame it on the acoustics and bad design? It's convenient. The deep fried calamari never disappoints!
(3)Jimmy G.
I never write reviews but after paying $30 for a subpar dish i felt the need to give some insight about Palominos. While I'm sure the happy hour food is probably good and reasonably priced, the same cant be said for the special. I ordered the Tuscan steak and chicken parm special for $23. The steak was cold and had a bitter taste and the chicken parm looked like it came from a bag and was placed on a bed of ugly cheap angel hair spaghetti noodles. The potatoes were the best thing on the plate. Disappointing.
(2)Charlie C.
I've ate here once before, and it was mediocre, but I will never eat here again. I travel for a living, been on 85 flights this year so far, and I eat out all the time. This, by far, has been the worst meal of this year. The bread should have been a tip off. The marinara sauce was ice cold, and the bread was partially uncooked. Then the appetizers were bad, like the mozzarella tasted like it's been sitting in plastic. And my entree... the pasta was stale, and the veggies were bitter. When something is bitter, it is a sign that something is poisonous or at least not ripe (nature telling you that you're not supposed to eat it). And then get this. Between me and my colleague, the bill was $64, and we were going to split it. The waiter brought us each a bill for $37. Last time I checked, 64/2=32. Seemed to me that someone was trying to pad their own tip. We had to call him out on it, and he responded too quickly like he already knew what he did wrong. I really should have tipped him $0 (have only done this twice in my life), or maybe even negative tip. At least I wrote on the bill, "FOOD WAS TERRIBLE."
(1)Lora H.
Oh Palomino... how I've missed you so. Why oh why did you ever leave Hawaii?! It was such a nice treat to go to Palomino while in Bellevue this past weekend! Brought back old memories of Palomino in Harbor Court in Honolulu!! Although I didn't really eat dinner as I was on my way to meet a friend, I did get to sample the food my girlfriends ordered while I was waiting! The chop chop salad, and bolognese were always my favorites! And then they had a lobster gnocchi on special, pure genius! I had to knock off a star for the Maytag Blue Cheese Salad. Um... what the heck was that about?! No taste. Just lettuce. Not enough blue cheese, and not enough dressing. All around weird. Waiter was awesome and attentive, although, he seemed to have the hots for one of the girl's sitting on our table so he got a bit distracted when he brought our orders back! Haha!! The atmosphere was nice too!
(4)Tom L.
So I went to this restaurant last night. It's located in the Lincoln Plaza, right across the street from Bellevue Square (I stick my nose up at everyone) Shopping Mall. The interior of the restaurant was dim with a modern flair to it. Everything was nice and clean. There is a formal dining area and a bar area to the restaurant. The bar area has a couple of TV's showing whatever game is on at the moment. I order the lobster ravioli, which I'm guessing is one of there better dished since it had a little horsey symbol next to it. The food was served very quickly. There were only 2 pieces, but they were large, 4 x 4 inch pieces. They were placed in a creamy alfredo like sauce with another tomato based sauce over the top. The pasta shell was perfectly cooked as were the lobster pieces inside. The dish did not come with any sides and was priced at $28.00. The dish was good, but it's not something I would have to have as my last meal on earth. The service at Palmino's was excellent. The waiter was prompt and courteous. They didn't have any problem with the orders. The waiters also checked back several times during the meal and kept our glasses and drinks topped off. Apparently they may have a good Happy Hour, but I didn't get to experience that aspect of the resturant. Overall I'd say my experience at Palmino was good, but there is definitely better food out there for the same amount of money.
(3)Eric K.
I wasn't too impressed with Palomino for drinks. The service was spotty despite the large quantity of drinks we ordered. And on top of that my old fashioned was filled with a ton of small pieces of ice and was definitely not a quality specimen of an old fashioned. Also the happy hour list was pretty short and didn't feature anything I was really interested in. So most of us just ended up ordering off the regular menu. On the plus side it is quite a big space so it is easy to go with groups and they had a pretty good crowd. The crowd was at least a long younger and vibrant than the crowd in the Daniel's bar where we went after. But with the level of service and drinks here I'm not very excited to try dinner here. A friend has said the happy hour food is good though so I'll have to come back to try that.
(2)Morgan M.
Happy Hour-Every Day...All Day. Is there anything else you really need to know apart from the insanely tempting Happy Hour? Probably not but when you've got time to spare and you're outside of the PTAmobile it's fair game. I was in town for the wedding extravaganza of the year and with a few minutes to kill before the bridesmaids dinner reservation across the street at the Melting Pot Anji D., Elise and myself popped over to Palomino for a quick drinky while we waited for our chariot. Aka. PTAmobile...formerly known as the Dodge Minivan. We zeroed in on the bar and a few free seats and promptly ordered up a glass of wine each. I was still feeling the after effects from the rehearsal bingefest and opted away from the $3 margarita. Oh tequila I love you so but damn that weekend blistered a whole right through my stomach. Either we are some fine lookin' ladies or the bartender took pity on us because our drinks were up in no time and our phones were all ringing that the motorbus was parked out front and waiting for us. If there was an invisible wine bong we used it, and I must say that offhand (not the one to chug drinks) chugging is like chewing vicodin or percocet pills. It hits you immediately. Fabulous : ) Order.Drink.Pay.Jump into a moving vehicle while trying not to flash anyone my derrier. Damn you Bellevue winds. Since the Palomino is a chain I can probably check out their happy hour apart from the Bellevue location and take advantage of what is featured, that is apart from the $4 wine bong.
(3)Tarah M.
Outdoor seating on a beautiful sunny afternoon for a reasonably priced happy hour made this place A-OK. Lack of outstanding food or HH menu options prevented me from rating this place 4*s. $4 glasses of delicious wine is ALWAYS a great thing. $6 pizzas are a good deal, but wish they had more veggie options. Artichoke and crab dip was pretty good too. Service was decent and location is central to the Lincoln/Bellevue Square area. There just wasn't anything of special note that made this place stand out. Perhaps I'll venture for dinner and try a "real" meal :).
(3)Bianca T.
I quite enjoyed Palomino in Bellevue. We ended up going here for a sit down dinner for work rather than partake in HH. Personally, I probably would have preferred the HH scene better. The menu had some nice appetizer offerings. We tried the 5 item charcuterie for $22. What was great was that all the meats came from Salumi! I asked our fantastic server, Jerry, to pick and choose from the 4 meats as he pleased. He brought back a great plate of salami, prosciutto, capocollo, and soppresata. It came served with tons of bread (more for the asking), fig jam, pickled veggies, and whole grain mustard. Nice start. Another nice deal they had going on was a selection of 25 different bottles of wines for just $25 each. You really can't beat that price for wine at a restaurant. My boss ordered a couple bottles of a nice red that all the wine drinkers enjoyed. The rest of us had either beer or well drinks. The dinner menu seemed pretty diverse. I didn't want anything too frou-frou and couldn't decide on what to get. I ended up doing the Wild Mushroom Flatbread. It was a decent size (plenty for 2 people if you partake in an app and the bread first) and nice flavors. Everyone else's dishes seemed to be pleasing as well. I enjoyed my experience. Service was great - again, Jerry was fantastic. I'm just more at home sitting in the bar area. I'd definintely go back if asked.
(3)Jeff K.
I've done happy hour at the Seattle location, but how can you beat All Day Happy Hour? My friends were there last week and it was Cougarville. Young guns getting torn up, rawr, rawr!! Anyways, I'm glad I had a date and there weren't many cougars around =D. Cougars do scare me. Anyways, we had the sausage and roasted mushroom pizza and Gorgonzola fries. The pizza was okay, the service was good, the fries: never again unless I'm stupid hungry for something greasy. They weren't super greasy, but I don't know, it's just odd eating that whole huge pile of fries. In any case, it's a great happy hour menu, just try and avoid the fries if you want to impress someone.
(4)Angelina L.
Happy Hour all day Sunday through Thursday!?!? Been here a few times and just finally getting around to reviewing. Love the thin crusted pizza, no matter what one you get, they ALWAYS seem to taste good and can definitely be shared between two people. Besides how can you go wrong for $5 per pizza??? We also got the Pistachio Crusted Double Crème Brie.. YUM.. I could live on stuff like this!!! Only complaint... they don't serve Manny's or most of any of the local beers, but mainly more nationwide known beers (Bud, Corona, Heineken, etc) although they do have Mac & Jack's Amber. Service was decent... Never really waiting to order more and never really waiting to be checked in on... Nothing too spectacular though... Just doing the job. Price right, good food, service decent = Will definitely return!!!
(4)Jamie V.
I took my family here for dinner when I got my first paycheck. The dinner was good, not my favorite, but good. I am, however, a huge fan of the happy hour! Half off some delish appetizers (highly recommend the potatoes gorgonzola!) $4 for select cocktails (try the cranberry mojito!) and $5 draft beers. If you're going to late night happy hour, plan on getting there between 9-9:45 or be prepared to lurk around until a table frees up. If you can hold off dinner til 9pm, consider sharing mutiple apps during HH instead of springing for the full dinner.
(4)Liz S.
As others have reviewed so far, happy hour is where you're bound to get the best deals. Can't go wrong with the pizzas or the flatbread, and the potatoes are delicious as well. The dip is tasty, but I guess I would like a softer bread to accompany it instead of the baked crackers (bread?) that is served (however, once they soften up a bit it's delicious!). I'd like to give this place 5 stars as the food came out in a respectable amount of time considering how busy the holiday season is but tonight I was there with my friend, asked for change for a $10 and was short a dollar! Our waitress would have gotten a bigger tip from me but I counted that missing dollar in there. Boo! Too bad, she was really nice too all things considered.
(4)Jesena M.
We were regulars at Palomino for quite some time an went there for lunch again this week. We didn't notice the raise in prices when we ordered, but their supposed happy hour all day just went up significantly. We were shocked when we got the bill and the tomato pizza was $8 instead of the old 6. Sure, not a bad price if you go there in the evening, but certainly not worth it anymore to walk over there for lunch. We were quite disappointed. I think if you offer happy hour all day everyday and can't afford it anymore, change the hours and still keep a good offer in place.
(2)Kelly D.
Timing from order to arrival: appetizers: 30 minutes lunch (we all had either pizza or salad): 60 minutes getting the check/back : 30 minutes Who has the luxury of a two-hour lunch during a work day? Not me! Seriously the food is good but not good enough for that insane kitchen backup.
(2)Katie V.
I have been here many times, and my thoughts are that this is a great spot to come to for drinks and happy hour. Sit in the bar! The bartenders are attentive, friendly, and offer great service. I would never recommend this place for dinner. Every time I sit in the restaurant I am disappointed by the food and the service. And I always see upset customers. I was there one evening last week and we sat on the patio (which is a great spot on a sunny day, but the service leaves a lot to be desired. The couple at the table next to us had to wait a VERY VERY long time to get their check. Then the couple at the table behind us ordered a steak and a seafood salad. Their waiter forgot to give them a steak knife, and that seemed to be a difficult task, and then the seafood salad had no seafood on it. So they ended up sending all their food back. I feel like this is par for the course when you eat dinner at Palomino. Be prepared for overly salted food and a loooong wait. Go to the bar, grab a seat, and try some happy hour small plates and have some wine... you can't go wrong there.
(2)Sarah M.
Came here with a friend and sat at the bar to take advantage of their happy hour. We both chose to try the lavender cosmo and we both decided it was extremely delicious! We also both had a caesar salad that tasted like caesar salad. I've only been wowed by a caesar salad a couple of times in my life, but this one tasted just fine. We also split the roma tomato, basil, shaved garlic & mozzarella pizza (why don't they just call it a margherita pizza?) Anyways, that was pretty tasty too. I'll come back for sure.
(4)Cindy T.
Review is for HH. Definitely one of the better choices of restaurants for happy hour. It is all day HH which is great, and the only downside of it is that you have to be seated in the bar/lounge area, which is kinda small. During 5-9pm it gets super crowded and busy, so be prepared to wait if need be. One of my favorite mix drinks is the pomegranate margarita. Tastes like a sweet starburst! The mojito is also good too, except they like to fill it with A LOT of ice and mint. Be sure to tell them to cut down on that. Food is great, tried pretty much all the food items on menu.The tomato, basil pizza ($6) is my favorite flavor-although super thin crust. artichoke dip is great-fresh and yummy with pita chips. The mushroom salad is also my favorite. Mushrooms tasted great with the feta cheese on top. Calamari is alright, could be better though. It was mostly the tentacles. The potatoes were good tasting as well, with the melted cheese on top. Tasted like a fresher version of a french fry. Crab dip is also nicely flavored, and lastly is the meatballs which are also a delicious, because of its spicy flavor that gives you that unexpected kick. Only thing on the menu that I have yet to try is the flatbread, but i'm sure it would be just as good. Waiter was decent, did her job, and would frequently come by to ask us how we are doing, and for refills. Came with a group of six the other day, and was about $95 total for our bill. Not too shabby for 2-3 rounds of drinks for everyone ($4-5) and several plates of food.
(4)krisztina g.
Palominos.. a hidden spot at the top of the city centre. I went here with my best friend for a night night of food and conversation. We decided to split everything we ordered because we both have been eating pretty light lately. First order up- Warmed olives, how yummy does this sound? When it arrived we were suprised by how many olives there were, i would say at least 20.. They were not bad, however i don't see the point of having olives without paring it with something.. so thumbs down on that one.. but this is just my opinion. Second- Cesar salad.. we split it in half, it was nice and light.. they didn't drench the salad in dressing like most places and that was something we both appreciated. Third- Baked four cheese trenne.. Sounds pretty great yay? first off, they kindly baked smaller portions on two separate plates which was very generous. The pasta was great, it was super cheesy, great for a cheese lover) and the amount we received was just right for both of us, i didn't even finish my half! Now the disclaimer on this dish is that it is very very rich. I really liked it but it's one of those foods that after awhile it can become too much, but it also depends on your food palate- for some i assume it would be just perfect. Lastly- the service.. was great. Our waitress was very helpful and friendly, that is a big deal for me. STARS---I would say 4 star for quality but for me it wasn't anything special so 3 stars for my final rating.
(3)Rene B.
I had dinner at this place in early February 2012. I had the steak and frites. the steak was excellent. The frites were pretty good, and the right portions. The place has a good selection of Spanish wines. Our server was very friendly and attentive. A bit pricey, but the menu is great and the service is great. Nice atmosphere as well.
(4)Tom Y.
All day happy hour? I can dig that! I've been in Belle Square quite a bit, but for some reason never set foot in Palaminos. It's never been a place people talk about that's 'must-go', nor is it flashy, like Joeys or Earls. However, it's pretty nice for some wholesome food and beverages on a hot day; we went after a few hours of kayaking, and it was an awesome fit with what we were feeling. As mentioned above, they have an 'All Day Happy Hour' [wouldn't this be the normal price then?]. This includes some pretty nice items, like the small pizza (select toppings) as well as appetizer dishes like calamari, bruschetta, etc. It's kind of interesting, in that they put the calamari in a Chinese takeout-style container. Is that 'cause I'm Asian? The pizza is probably the best 'happy hour' menu item, as there are quite a few selections on there. I got whichever one had the most meat, and it was pretty delicious. The portion is quite large for the price, and pizza coupled with calamari is more than filling. The gf got the hummus platter, and it was actually really good as well. The one thing about that is you might want to ask for extra veggies/pita, as at the end she had a lot of hummus with nothing to dip. The bruschetta was also fairly good, although a bit on the thin side from what I recall (as compared to the bruschetta Mecca, List in Belletown). I'd definitely recommend Palaminos for the food, and the outdoor seating. You might get some lingering looks though, if you go in after kayaking wearing shorts and t-shirts, even at like 1500 hours. The strange thing was, the wait staff seemed to have no objections or even notice; it was some of the other patrons who acted unwarrantedly snobby.
(4)Sarah C.
When they re-branded this year, they took my favorite pizza off the menu. My favorite since I was 10. RIP Four Cheese Pizza with garlic, herbs, and pepper flakes, you will be missed :( On the other hand, everything on the menu is completely delicious. The Field Greens Salad with Chevre, Pumpkin Seeds, and EVOO is so simple, but the combination of flavors is basically perfect. The Rigatoni Bolognese is out of this world. The cocktails are divine - the Lavender martini in particular. I guess I'll survive without my favorite pizza... The Bellevue location is usually packed and loud. If you're not a fan of the crowds, remember that you can always get take-out!!
(4)Eugene H.
Warning to anybody on a low-sodium diet. This place will most likely reach your daily quota with a single dish. I ordered their Trenne Pasta and their paperbag potatoes. The Trenne pasta consisted with two flavors; salt, and cheese. Ingesting each small bite of pasta I could feel the water in my body gravitating towards each bite. The paperbag potatoes were balanced well enough, sadly it was only a side-dish and I had nothing to accompany its light toasted flavor. Since it was a birthday, the entire dinner party was also treated to one if Palomino's cheesecakes, which was nothing more than a heavy, creamier cheesecake that felt like a soggy rendition of cream cheese pate on heavily buttered graham cracker crust, topped with ripened cranberries. The ambiance of the establishment does not encourage a more intimate setting, groups are much better suited for their type of environment.
(2)Hector L.
I tried to eat here the first week it opened but boy they had a sucky staff in the beginning... here is my first interaction: Me: Hello, I'd like to eat dinner here tonight please. Just one person. Hostess: (did not look up to acknowledge me) Sorry sir, we have no reservations for this time. Me: (looking at an EMPTY dining room) Ok but you don't have any customers. I am eating alone, I will be finished with my meal way before you fill up this dining room (which they didn't that night BTW). Hostess: (did not look up to acknowledge me still) Sorry sir Me: OK so can I eat at the bar: Hostess (still stuck on her paperwork): Sorry, we don't serve a full menu at the bar Me: OK. So you guys just opened and you're going to let a customer leave here without even making an attempt to seat him? Hostess: Sorry sir Regardless of whether the hostess was right or not for seating me... at least 1) look at your customer 2) make all possible efforts to at least show that you tried. So I did leave, and never returned for over a year. I went back twice so far for breakfast and one for lunch. They replaced the original hostess which is good. Staff is OK. Location is obviously convenient. Food... whatever. They have yet to earn my stomach :-)
(2)Tracey W.
My boyfriend and I went there for dinner. The waitress suggested the special of Lobster Ravioli. The discription sounded great. It was awful. It came cold, there was a film on the sauce like it had been sitting there for awhile. The shrimp on top was so salty it was bad. I was hungry to ate it but will never go back. It was the second time I had been there and have been dissapointed. The Seattle one is WAY better.
(2)Henry T.
I used to like this place, but everything seems to be going downhill. Ate here yesterday, was immediately seated by the friendly hostess, but then waited about 6 minutes for water/waiter (RJ) to come by. As soon as water was poured, was told he'd be back shortly. Waited another 5 minutes, finally placed our order, and thankfully the food came out quickly. Food was so-so: I used to really enjoy this place and used to be blown away by the friendly service and perfectly-cooked meals. The Chicken Marsala is now inconsistently cooked, and my $38 Ribeye, though cooked properly to medium-rare, had a 1/2 inch layer of rosemary and other drippings around it, masking any semblance of beef. We got checked on 2 min after our meal was served, but then didn't see our waiter for about 10 min after we were done eating, with him smelling like he just got back from a cigarette break. Disgusting... On top of this, it wasn't even busy. I doubt I'll be back.
(1)Alan S.
This is one of my go to places for happy hour. I always loved the Cranberry Mojito. It is good and pretty cheap. It was $4 for a while, until they increased the price to $5. The bar is not big, so it does get crowded easily during peak times. Sometimes it will be hard to find seats. I dined in onced and the entree was so-so. My girlfriend had the season salmon special and I had the chicken marsala. The chicken was not bad, but the fish was not that good. The sauce had a very blend flavor and was pricey for what was given. I would not return to dine, but only for happy hour. Pro: Cranberry mojito, pizza, price, all day everyday happy hour Con: limited seating, dinner entrees not good,
(4)Matt Y.
Saved from the one-star salute by the dessert. A good dinner this does not make. We caught "happy" hour towards the tail end, but you wouldn't know it from the spare attendance and short, cold wait staff. The flatbread pizzas, supposedly one of the stars at this restaurant, were plain and lacked flavor. I had the pappardella, completely expecting to have a nice meat sauce to enjoy my pasta in. This was absolutely dry as a bone - a dry broccoli, chicken and pappardella dish; I couldn't believe they would serve it. The only thing saving this place from a 1-star salute was the dessert. That in itself is a testament to its terrible entrees; I'm rarely hungry enough for dessert, but after this meal, I was still starving. I had homemade donuts with a ricotta and gnutella topping. These were delicious, covered with sugar and cinnamon and the sauces on the side. Thank god for stuff that's not good for you. Uh, don't go here.
(2)Lori R.
Well, the Happy Hour might be great, but dinner on a busy Saturday night left alot to be desired. Service was super slow, the waiter kept screwing up our orders, the food presentation was poor. It was my friends birthday, and I'd confirmed that when we checked in & again with the waiter...who then forgot to bring desert for her. The frosting on the cake, so to speak, was being charged for the 'complimentary' dessert. At that point I just gave up & paid the bill. All in all, a disappointing evening & I won't be going back to this one soon. I've always had good luck at the Palomino downtown Seattle, but Bellevue leaves alot to be desired.
(2)David A.
Came here during lunch, very crowded. I wanted the same sandwich I normally have at the Palomino in Seattle. They tell me that they have a different menu. This place is nice but I think I like the Seattle one better. The food is good but I just don't feel as comfortable.
(3)Darnell S.
If you're looking for outdoor seating in Bellevue, try Palomino. Even better is the happy hour. Fab $5 pizzas and wine. I'm a fan of their fare and I always go back. I'm slightly jilted by the end of meal card-pushing for free points, so I ignore it.
(3)Lilly T.
1* for All Day Happy Hour 1* for FREE parking 1* ambiance The HH food at this location is so-so. The meats used on the pizza's are different than the downtown Seattle location (lower in quality!) and the clams in the sauteed clams are fishy and sandy. Portions are smaller and the quality of the food is also downsized. Drinks aren't as strong and the cocktails taste mostly like juice (could be good or bad!). Still a steal of a deal with the usual $5 pizza's and $4 cranberry mojito's. Not a fan of this location. The bar area is cramped and the noise level is extreme! It's busy at most hours and it is nearly impossible to find a table. Stick with the downtown Seattle location. Food and atmosphere is 10x better!
(3)Michael E.
Palomino in Bellevue is much like Palomino in Seattle only, thank goodness, it's not in a shopping mall building. So at least it's got that, and one of the very few patio's in Bellevue. And then there's the food, which is fine. It's not, stop all Italian food in it's tracks fine, but, it's fine. I enjoyed the lobster ravioli, and I'm glad I'm noting this here on the internetwork because it's a bit forgettable. So, go, enjoy that Bell-funk scene, have a happy hour drink, it's the best thing going.
(3)Brian C.
Palomino -- how I hate you for shrinking my clothes. You have a delightful happy hour indeed with drink prices that are quite reasonable. This has become my go to location for late night munchies. This particular time, my dining companion for the night was a 6ft something Jewish Russian giant who is typically never satiated by normal portions. Oddly enough, we ended up ordering several meat laden dishes: Uli's Italian Sausage & Mushroom Pizza - I'm a huge pizza aficionado and needless to say, I have always been disappointed by thin crust styles of pizza. Don't let the word pizza fool you ... pizza here means a thin cracker that acts as a vessel for toppings. If you are sodium adverse, I recommend that you stay away from this dish. Puget Sound Clams - Eating this dish may put you at risk for hypertension. The clams are simmered in what seemed to be a wine and butter concoction with bits of tomato. Very tasty but also very salty. I wish I had a piece of bread to balance out the salinity. Pigs in Blanket - A fancy take on the classic pigs in a blanket served with a tomato based barbecue sauce. Does not come close to the classic at all. The sausages are mildly spicy and the surrounding dough is disappointingly bland. It is neither flaky or soft but rather smushy. Bring your own maple syrup. Sicilian Meatballs - I only had one of these before my partner inhaled these. They weren't memorable. Ginger and Apple Crisp - Probably the best dish of the night. The taste of ginger is very faint. Came a la mode with creme fraiche ice cream and bourbon caramel on the side. Would definitely order this again. My only complaint was there was too much 'breading' in the crisp. Russian giant thought it was bread pudding. Fail. Overall, the food is on par with most happy hours that I've been to. They are extremely busy and the service here often leaves something to be desired. Come here with friends for the drink specials.
(3)Amie S.
There are very few reasonably priced lunch spots in Bellevue - and I'm not even going to try to claim this is one of them - BUT: they do offer soup/salad, salad/sandwich or soup/sandwich combos for $12 or $13, which is pretty decent. My faves pairing is the tomato, mozz & basil sammy and the romaine hearts/bleu cheese/bacon salad. The field greens/chevre/pumpkin seed salad is also delish. And of course, I usually add a glass of wine! Today was the best because it's sunny and they have outside seating (WARNING: Get there early!)...and for some reason, I noticed the wine glasses this time were huge-ish, and appeared to be at least 6-oz. pours. Generous bartender or ploy to get the suits in Bellevue to return again and again? We may never know...
(4)Jacquie P.
Great! I wasn't sure what to expect coming here for lunch, given the mixed yelp reviews and the fact that most of them are strictly for HH. But wow, they managed to please my entire family which, believe me, is tough. Each one of our party of six was pleased with our meals which ranged from $11-$15 and we were juggling to-go boxes as we left. The ambiance is very....Bellevue. Suits and trophy wives are out in force. Fun Fact: They print their menus on carbon-neutral, recycled paper. I'm a sucker for those little green touches. One complaint/piece of constructive criticism, if I may. We had a server, a water glass re-filler guy, a different girl who cleared our plates, several food runners, and one dude who poured coffee. If your ONLY job is to pour coffee, basic reasoning would suggest that the coffee would remain fresh and warm instead of old and tepid. Just my two cents. Anyway, despite coffee incident '09, it was a lovely time and I'm sure we'll be back.
(4)Robby C.
Checked this place out with a friend earlier in the evening and the restaurant remains one of the better finds on Bellevue Way, but the seating issue seems to remain an issue especially during happy hours. In any case, we were lucky enough to find a small table in the corner and looking at the menu the dishes are still as low-priced as ever before. Really? Five dollars for an amazing thin crust pizza? Who could ask for more when happy hours are pretty much all day from Monday through Thursday? As for us, drinks were the topic of the night and compared to some of the other places during happy hour, Palomino drink specials are still a steal even though I wish that they had well drinks on the happy hour menu. Defaulted to my usual Mac and Jack and savored every last drop of it. Only real advice is that on Friday and weekends the place tends to fill up quickly so try to get there a few minutes before the specials start otherwise you will be left scrounging for seating.
(4)Lisa G.
Went here for lunch yesterday, and love how its right downstairs from where I currently work. Ordered the combo, soup and sandwich (portabella mushroom soup and Bering Sea red king grab and artichoke sandwich). The soup was creamy and fitting for the weather yesterday. Sandwich was good, bursting with flavor, nothing special but perfect for lunch.
(3)Kat L.
$4 Cranberry Mojitos that taste amazing?!?!? I am totally hooked. I came here for happy hour with friends. I was very pleased I was able to have two drinks for the price of one. And I got a nice buzz from the first one! The food is okay, it's nothing to rave about. We ordered a pistachio crusted brie. It was very good, but the crust made it hard to break though. The potato Gorgonzola were waffle fries, they tasted very good. The Gorgonzola has absolutely flavorless, but It made no difference since the potato's were so delicious. We also ordered two pizzas. Both thin crust, they were so so. Great place to hang out and get cheap GOOD drinks.
(4)Shane H.
This is my favorite place to get a bite in Bellevue. I work for myself so I can have a late lunch or early dinner. I don't have to fight the crowds. There service has always been excellent.. I especially love the mushroom salad. Where else can you get such a treat. The place is very busy after five, but there is a good reason. The food is fabulous.
(5)Julian H.
Previously we had a three star experience eating dinner in the bar, but more recently we've discovered breakfast and it is a FIVE STAR experience. Seriously, Palomino has the best breakfast on the Eastside and it's not terribly expensive. Bonus that they are kid-friendly in the morning.
(4)tina k.
It was a sunny Friday, which suggested a "slow" day at MS and the clock was ticking until our release time. We owe it to ourselves, "Let's go have a Happy Hour and discuss new projects!" (The "discuss new projects" never happened!) Wish I discovered HH sooner at such a fine establishment! Please go enjoy happy hour with great selected drinks and appetizers. Try the brick oven Pizza and order the Cranberry mojito, Pomegranate margarita, & Green Apple cosmo (one after another) and you will leave one happy camper! Prompt service and friendly staff (same at the Seattle location). Overall a great place to unwind after a busy week!
(5)Cristina J.
We have been there last night with a group of friends, what can I say? I am disappointed... we have been order fried calamari, and all of us have been felling sick on the stomach((( The service was really slow.. we have been waiting for the ticket arround 15 min...and 15 min for change back... And I hate to say, but 18% for tips out of my check... wow that was unfair for that service that we had!! Was our first and last time... we will never comeback!
(1)Kathy N.
Today I meet my friend for happy hours at palomino in Bellevue ( my favor place for happy hour) My friend have not been here before .. And they work place is near by that area ..after all they told me "that is a best happy hours they never has .." Good price ..Good food .. good service ..Csilla who serve us she is very nice and professional ....my friend told me they will came back for lunch or after work ...and they will tell they co worker about Palomino " all day HH"
(5)Shawn G.
Terrible service. Here's a hint for restaurants, if someone asks for iced tea, they want iced tea. Not some flavored powdered garbage for $4 a glass. If someone orders a beer, can you just substitute a hard cider? The pizza was elementary school lunch quality. The prime rib dip couldn't be called "prime" anywhere in a first world country. In addition to poor slow service, the waiter still tried to charge us for the faux iced tea.
(1)Ron R.
During a recent trip to Bellevue I had lunch at Palomino, a self-proclaimed "Urban Italian" restaurant with a wood-fired Mediterranean flavors. The ambiance and decoration were modern, yet welcoming. The hostess - very nice - and the waiter very attentive, even while working multiple tables. After looking over the menu, I ordered from the "Chef Creations" seasonal menu. Pomegranate Salad with Grilled Prawns (Organic Mixed Greens, Toasted Pumpkin Seeds, Beet Chips, Chevre with a Pomegranate Vinaigrette), and a cup of Beef Barley soup. The salad was delicious - the greens were lightly dressed and the beet chips along with the toasted pumpkin seeds added a nice crunchy element. Unfortunately, the "Prawns" were in actuality medium shrimp - for $17 - you expect Prawns as the menu states. The Beef Barley soup lacked seasoning, no salt anywhere to be found in the soup. Overall service was great, however the order I placed could have been MUCH better - maybe it was an off day? Not sure if I would return...
(2)Alice T.
I've not been very impressed with the Seattle Palomino and neither was I with its Bellevue sibling, but it still deserves a solid 3-star rating given that the food is good - though nothing ever really stands out so much that I need to come back. The service and atmosphere is what you would expect for a restaurant of this price point, so nothing to write home about here either. We started with the Pancetta and Gorgonzola scones. These came with an orange fig jam, so we ordered this since I've not seen any similar offering at any other restaurant. As you'll see being the theme of this review, it was a solid performer, and my sole and minor complaint is that the scone was a bit dry. The jam was good and the pancetta bits were noticeable (though it could have used a bit more). Then we shared the brussels sprouts, which was also a solid performer but again, nothing out of the ordinary. I love brussels sprouts so I'm usually pleased if the kitchen doesn't grandly fail there. Finally, my beau and I shared the grilled seafood pasta and the maple chicken salad. Again, good dishes. We ordered the small size of the pasta, and even expecting a small version, it seemed smaller than it should have been. Also, I only noticed two types of seafood, shrimp and scallop. The menu did not list the type of seafood to be expected in this dish. These are minor complaints, I know, and in the end it was good enough, so I was overall satisfied with the meal and the experience.
(3)Katie O.
This placed has definitely changed recently. While it was Palomino before, it's now Palomino Rustico. It hasn't become my favorite place ever, and I do miss all-day happy hour. However, their new drink line up is fantastic, so check those out. I could have downed 5 delicious cocktails, which is something I just do not do! lol They were really that good. The food was so-so.
(3)S S.
Bad, slow, indifferent service and mediocre food. I took relatives from out of town there and I was embarrassed and had to apologize to them repeatedly for this meal. I guess our waiter was banking on his automatic 18% gratuity for our party of 8 (which included a couple of well behaved children) because he paid minimal attention to our table. They weren't that busy. Crazy slow with no apology, waiter did not seem knowledgable or care at all. We were not demanding and would have ordered more, had we been given the chance. They just didn't care. Sad because I've been to other Palominos and generally like the concept. If you think Palomino is a safe choice for dinner (like I did, since I've eaten at the downtown one countless times), think again. Ugh, I'm still embarrassed I that took people there.
(2)Karen J.
Last night a group of 9 of us ate/drank in the bar. The atmosphere is nice, seats are very comfortable. We ordered 7 non-alcoholic drinks, 2 cocktails -- and they got very busy while we were there, but our server did a good job of being friendly and getting us refills. We also ordered a round of 5 different appetizers from their Happy Hour menu -- and they arrived at different times over the course of about 45 minutes. Then we ordered 4 more -- and they never arrived. But we were not charged for them, so that worked out. We got our bill and it was paid -- it came to $8 each, which was great. Then when we got home, we realized they must not have charged us for everything. The hummus had Indian spices in it, so it didn't taste much like regular hummus. The calamari was deep fried and pretty good. A funny thing to add, but they offered us dinner menus. They are printed on a sheet of long paper and the typeface is like that of an old typewriter that has a ribbon that's almost worn out. So you really can't read it.
(3)Jenny C.
I've been here several times over the last few weeks for ladies night. Great service, awesome food and fun atmosphere! I recommend the Brussels sprouts and cauliflower! Yummy!!!
(3)MyAnne K.
Great new updated menu for the summer months! I love everything on the HH menu but my favorite is the sausage and mushroom pizza. Nice thin crust packed with a ton of flavor. You can't go wrong with the penne bolognese either! A tomato based pink sauce with creme,sausage, and fresh herbs. Real food ingredients!!! I love dining here with my boyfriend. This is our go-to spot on date night. Great wine selection and mojitos! The perfect ambiance. Just lovely.
(4)Maryneth K.
The drinks here were a little on the sweeter side and the wait staff was a bit slow but I have to admit, there were 14 girls at our table. But with fourteen girls, only two bottles of water? There should have been at least one bottle per two people. And what were these water glasses on the table? They looked like shot glasses. Actually, first impression was a candle holder. For a place that was on the pricier end, seeing mason jars for candle holders felt a little out of place. The pizza looked like it was cooked on a tortilla. It was thin and the ends were hard and burnt. On top of everything, the bruschetta was hard as a rock and the creamy sauce that came with the calamari sauce tasted rancid. Will probably never come here again unless I was incredibly thirsty and wanted to take shots of water.
(2)Michaela W.
Let me start off by saying I typically LOVE Palomino. I used to work by the Seattle location, and if Seattle has made the same changes as the Bellevue location... I won't be going any more... to either. First of all, they changed their bread, which was purely amazing. Now you have to pay for it, and the sauce that comes with... and it's different bread all together. It's now a loaf that you have to cut yourself and you get oil and all sorts of things all over your hands in the process. It's not easy. Then it hardens to stiff rock bread after it cools off. Not good, not free, not worth it. Next, the chop salad (which was one of the BEST chops in Seattle in my opinion)... is now awful. Instead of ham... there was super dry, gray-colored, chalky turkey or chicken... I couldn't even tell. The dressing tasted like salty water. And it was primarily lettuce and the gross turkey/chicken. I ate maybe 10 bites and decided to give up on the salad and drink more wine to wash the taste out of my mouth. My friend ordered the chop also, but no meat, sub avocado... and for some reason they left off the other ingredients... so it was lettuce, avocado and tomato... she had to request that the garbanzo beans and other ingredients be added. The bartender was helpful and sweet - no complaints about her. I didn't mention the salad because I'm not going to make her life difficult when I was on a time crunch anyway. I didn't want another version of a salad. I won't be returning and all I can really do is hope that Seattle hasn't made the same changes. The atmosphere is more trendy with their updates... but apparently they spent all their money on that and are cutting back on the food quality. SO disappointing. Go to another place near by in Bellevue... you'd probably have better luck at The Cheesecake Factory.
(1)Lemme K.
This was an unexpected surprise. I usually come here for happy hour so didnt expect it to be good brunch place. But it was really delicious. We had the cinnamon french toast and the steak and eggs. The french toast was ok but the dipping sauce that came with it was amazing. It was mousse like and light bit goes very well with the toast and fruits. The service was good also. The inly reason for the 4 stars and not the 5 stars is because its a little pricey. I would definitely go back
(4)Megan E.
food was good for HH and we had good service while we were there.
(4)Tina Y.
Been here couple times with friends for happy hour drinks and food. The pizzas are really good here so make sure you try it! I mostly just get house wine, while my friends always get their mojitos and cocktails. They seem to like it, but I prefer sticking with wine. Pretty decent happy hour place, affordable, nothing too spectacular but never fails to hit the spot!
(4)Pink P.
A little bit high price. But we had a good server and he recommend good foods we love! Server has know most menu and drink. We love to go back again.
(5)Khanh L.
This is a nice place. I would give the food a 3.5 Stars but my over all experience on both special occasions I chose to spent here was BLEH because of the type of customer service they provide. First time was Valentine's 2013. We made reservation, did not have to wait when we arrived. Got seated and the waitress served us water, asked us what food we want, they had this special Valentine's menu, you get appetizer, soup/salad, main course then desert. So we ordered that. The food like I said was pretty good and creative, different than their regular menu. It's been awhile so I don't remember the details on our food. After we ordered the food with our waitress, for the period of 1 hour 30 minutes, we never saw her again, not even to check on how we were doing, and when my husband water was emptied for about 20 minutes, we had to wave her over to get some more. I noticed she walked up the other 2 tables around us to check on them couple of times so I don't know why she didn't check on us. And by the time we finished with our dinner, we sat there for another 30 minutes waiting on her to maybe ask if we need our check, but she was no where to be seen. (I even thought to myself maybe she went to take a break?) We couldn't wait anymore so we waved down this lady, who was in a red suit (seemed to be the manager). She couldn't find our waitress either so she ended up bringing us our bill and walked us out. Second time was my husband's birthday in April 2013. We also made reservation because we had a big group (21 people) and they didn't require us to spend a certain amount per person, which is nice. Upon our arrival, hostess told us, "Your table is almost ready, maybe another 10 minutes", our big group had to sit and wait around at the front & the bar areas for 30 minutes...... one of my friends came up to ask her again, she said the same thing, table is almost ready..... If it wasn't such a big group we had I would just leave. We waited for another 15 minutes to be seated. Only 1 waitress for 2 big tables (one table with 10 people and one with 11). I didn't mind the wait for the food BUT again, we finished dinner and sat there for awhile but nobody came by to ask if we need our check.... So one of my friends had to go find the waitress to tell her we were ready. She took all our cards and left for another 25 - 30 minutes, came back, made a mistake, so she had to re-do it. Our dinner was wayyyyyyy longer than it should be just because all of those times we were sitting around waiting for no reason. I think I will give it another try later because the food is pretty good but if I receive the same kind of service I think I will not return here ever again.
(2)Dean H.
Went to Palomino last night for a business dinner. The good: the atmosphere is nice, they have a large outdoor seating area, and the service was good. The bad: I had the flank steak, warm potato salad, and tiramisu. The flank steak was overdone, and the potato salad pretty much just tasted like potatoes covered in mustard. The tiramisu was pretty good, and it was a healthy portion. But one of the three made me extremely sick, and I spent most of the night in the bathroom. Needless to say, I won't be going back.
(1)Elizabeth S.
This restaurant has gone downhill quickly in the last two months. Good place to sit on the patio in the summer and have a cocktail. Other than that - pass. Have gone 3 times for brunch now and I don't know if they have different cooks in the kitchen each time but seriously, how difficult is it to make good French toast? It's a bunch of cold thick bread with no taste. The servers are always friendly but the food is bad, the whole "buy bread" is ridiculous imo (as another reviewer mentioned). I think they should forget about serving food here since it's so poor, bland, and not done well (plus expensive for what it is) and just have drinks available as their drinks/cocktails are refreshing. Definitely would suggest going elsewhere.
(1)Chad K.
Came in and got seated very quickly, despite it being one of the busiest nights of the year in that area (Black Friday). I had gotten lucky in grabbing a reservation for 6 just hours beforehand. Steal! The ambiance of the place is low-light, relaxed, and teetering between classy and casual. Not douchey or over the top, and a good vibe overall. Not stuffy. Solid drink selection, including cocktails that include a broad array of the popular liqueurs. Tried their Dark N Stormy and loved it. Extensive menu with many options and a versatile composition. Had their prosciutto stuffed pork over potatoes. Could've been more tender, but still pretty solid and very filling. Their portion sizes are appropriate, and meals are balanced. Service was great. We had a table of six, were relatively boisterous, and he didn't mind. Likeable and informative waiter, and he didn't pester us. Larger Hispanic gentlemen that I trusted in answering my questions. Have been there many times, and will go back. Would recommend.
(4)Mariah E.
I come here often, because their candied apple drop drinks are my favorite and it's affordable here. It has a nice vibe and love it here... The only thing I would recommend is to not go in the bar area, there was one chick who had BAD SERVICE. She ignored me the whole time. And then when she gave me the check it was the first time she smiled. My drink was not that great so I kept asking for more syrup and her COWORKER had to jump in and do it for me... Is that terrible or what? I also noticed like 5 other coworkers getting into it with her complaining. So not sure if everyone was upset with her service that day. Perhaps she was not all there and had a bad day but dang the show must go on and there's no excuse really. Anyways I would rate HER 1 star, because I'm nice. But the place overall 4 stars, because of the vibe and great prices, but I believe customer service could definitely IMPROVE a ton... So I just gave it a 3 star.
(3)Paul V.
I think an overall rating of 3.5 stars is perfect for this place. The happy hour pricing and experience that you get when seated in the bar is a solid 4 stars and the experience in the main dining area is probably closer to a 3. What makes Palomino worth returning to is that happy hour is all day every day in the bar. Which, by definition, isn't really a happy hour. But hey, I'm not complaining. If you're going to charge less for certain menu items and do it all the time, you can call it the hokey pokey for all I care! Happy hour: We came here last Friday before seeing our movie at Lincoln Square. $6 cocktails that taste good and actually have alcohol in them? Sign me up! Most of the HH drinks tend toward the sweeter side, which is pretty typical in Bellevue. I usually opt for the whiskey sour or a $4 pint of Manny's. My lady likes the basil gimlet, the cranberry mojito, or a $5 glass of their house chardonnay. HH food items are small plates/tapas that range from $5-$11 dollars. The items that are more worthy of ordering tend to be closer to that $11 upper limit. The Crispy Calamari and the Crab & Artichoke Dip are my favorites, and they are $10 and $11, respectively. The French Onion Dip for $6 is a nice, less expensive option. But you can get $9-10 thin crust pizza too, which, for two people, is the perfect size and will leave you just a enough room for some popcorn and a box of junior mints when you go to your movie afterward. The bartenders and waitresses are always attentive and are sure that you have everything you need. Non-HH: The dining experience outside of the bar/happy hour is alright. The food is decent, but it feels a little too expensive for what you end up getting. The service has always been professional, helpful, and friendly. However when the bill shows up at my table, I usually have to try to reconcile between the number on the receipt and how full and/or buzzed I actually feel. My recommended angle of attack is to walk in, do a lap around their rectangular bar to see if any seating is available for the happy hour, and if not look for dinner elsewhere along the increasingly foodie-friendly Bellevue Way.
(4)Sea C.
Ridiculously slow service in a half empty restaurant. Mediocre food, at best. Eggs Benedict came luke warm and eggs were practically hard boiled. No coffee refills. Had to wait for over 20 minutes for mimosa refills. Bad bad bad.
(1)Amber R.
First timers at this restaurant. Everything we had was excellent and you could tell that it was passion at its best! Our server Erich was amazing he recommended the caramelized cauliflower and it was delicious. We also had the rotisserie lemon sage chicken and the maple marinated chicken salad. . I was in heaven. The food was superb. Ive never had such amazing attentive service. Thank you!!
(5)Ernesto N Charina M.
My husband and I have been coming here for years including the one in Seattle. I've been bringing my team from work here too. Normally I would give this place a high score, but tonight I just got a to-go order of their tiramisu for my son and was very disappointed. The portion was so small! It also looked like they just threw it in the container, so it almost looked like someone's leftover. What a shame.
(3)Joseph N.
Palomino Rustico gets two stars because the food was very good. But the service was absolutely bizarre. I went for lunch. The food was good. That's the only reason I didn't give this one star. 1) Went there with my kid and ordered a kids meal, which includes sliced fruit and sundae. Well the fruit and sundae never arrived. When we got the check I asked "do we get the fruit and sundae thats listed on the menu?" and the waiter seemed shocked that we actually wanted the thing we paid for. We got sliced oranges that looked like they were sitting in the sun all afternoon. The ice cream wasn't bad. 2) We paid in cash. We gave the waiter $40 for a $37 bill. The waiter never brought back our change! We waited and waited until finally I had to confirm with another waiter, "normally you are supposed to return change to the customer when they pay in cash, right?" I think the waiter decided to keep the change as his tip. Perhaps he didn't think we would tip any better? Given the service, that would be a fair assumption, but the professional thing to do is bring back the change. We ended up leaving $5 when I originally planned to leave $8. His loss. I look for small signs that tell me if a restaurant is well managed, the first sign is how happy does your waiter look to be working there. Mine looked pretty distraught. There are better places to eat in Bellevue with much better service. Take a pass on this one.
(2)Lori D.
So wanted this to be a great experience, but it wasn't. Sat at the bar. Easter afternoon. It was just after lunch time. Not too busy. Bartender gave me a menu, I ordered off of it. Apparently he gave me the wrong menu. He told me that the kitchen probably won't make what I ordered, as it's not on the brunch menu. He didn't even check with the kitchen, then handed me a brunch menu and apologized. I found something else to order (burger and fries per his recommendation) that I wasn't really craving, but was hungry even though I was told I couldn't order the pizza I wanted. The burger was overlooked and my fries were soggy and warm. I asked for new fries and they were fresh and crispy. Lots of effort on my part for a mediocre at best expensive lunch/brunch at the bar. The Bellini was the best part.
(1)Sue M.
Stopped in for lunch today after visiting the art museum. Everything was wonderful - server, Jackie, was attentive, food came out in good time, soup hot and salads cold and tasty. I had the mushroom soup and chop chop and my friend, the chicken salad is nut encrusted blue cheese. We were both very happy - and happy to give you a great review!!!!
(5)Dana B.
Great food and drinks. The prawn scampi was amazing. My daughter had the prosciutto crudo pizza and love it. The pizzas can be shared as they are about med sized. Great atmosphere and service. We will be back.
(4)Meghan G.
My parents gave my boyfriend and me a gift card to Palomino for Christmas. We planned a dinner/movie date night and headed to downtown Bellevue for a good evening. We made a reservation and were seated promptly in a booth somewhat tucked away. Our waitress came over shortly, offered us a generous taste of the wine special and took our appetizer order (the calamari). I ordered a full glass of wine and she gave me a very generous pour - it was wonderful! Dinner was tasty and very filling. Service was good. Until we received the check. I had the Palomino gift card, in addition to an American Express gift card with a balance high enough to cover most of the remaining cost of dinner. My boyfriend gave his credit card to cover the final costs. Our server took and ran the cards and returned the black book with our receipts. We realized that she didn't run the American Express and also did not offer an explanation as to why not. We also noticed that she returned immediately following a smoke break and reeked of cigarette smoke. Her service up to that moment was great. I am still quite shocked that a server would take a smoke break in the middle of her shift. That all being said, I still have to give this place a 4/5. The food was excellent, the atmosphere is fun and the location in unbeatable. I do hope next time we head over to Palomino that we have a different server.
(4)Simon P.
Great for brunch. Would be 5 stars except espresso coffee (latte, etc.) kinda sucks. Get the coffee right and this place is a 5-star option for breakfast/brunch. Lose 2 stars for bad coffee first thing in the morning!
(3)Gina C.
Definite winner in my book. Bloody Mary bar is AMAZING!! As are the truffle fries. Came back later in the day and had dinner -- again -- awesome!! Seafood fettuccine rocked and I had a lavender something martini:: yummy!! Wait staff a bit slow - but not bad. :-)
(4)Irenemarie J.
What a better way to catch up with friends and talk vacation logistics? How about all day, everyday happy hour? The service was prompt, respectful and good. The food yummy! We ordered lots of food and it was all gone :)
(5)Jesse J.
From the moment I walked in on 8-1-14 I had a horrible experience. To start the hostess tells us that we can wait or sit in the bar. Normally that's not a big deal, but the dining room was empty. So I question her comment stating I see several tables wide open. She tells me one table is reserved and another is being cleaned for a couple already waiting. I then stated I still see 4-6 tables open why can't I sit in one of those and again was told it's not available only the bar was available. I took the bar seat as I have seen several friends dine here and come back so I figured she was just an isolated issue. Sadly I was wrong... I ordered the Paella and it was very greasy and the mussels tasted like they had been thawed from the freezer. How sad when this is in the pacific northwest and there are fresh mussels at the local grocery store. I actually felt sick after eating my meal about 30 min later. There is no way I will go back sadly as there are way too many options to eat and spend my money at in Bellevue that will cater to their guests and actually cook good fresh food.
(2)Anjelica A.
On a recent trip to Washington we stayed in Bellevue for a conference. In search for a good to place to wind down from the long day, a few coworkers and I took the hotel shuttle from the Hilton to the downtown Bellevue area. I had been to the Palomino in Los Angeles before and had enjoyed it, so I suggested we come here. Happy hour started at 9 PM. Our order: --Red sangria: Not the best I've ever had. This sangria recipe was a bit on the sour side. --White sangria: I didn't care for this either. It was more sour than the red. Cranberry mojito: Everyone loved this and we each ordered a couple rounds of these delicious cocktails. At only $6 on the happy hour menu, these were a steal. --Rigatoni bolognese: This dish was far too spicy for me. I wish the menu had indicated how spicy of a dish it was. I think they must use the same sausage that is in the Sicilian meatballs, because those were incredibly spicy too. --Sicilian meatballs: My friend loved these but I thought they were too spicy. --Brussels sprouts with pancetta: These were delicious! My favorite thing! Even people who normally don't like this bitter vegetable, were quite impressed with how buttery and yummy these were. I highly recommend! --Grilled flatbread and Moroccan hummus: Everyone else really liked the hummus but I found it rather bland and the texture was too thick. I like my hummus smooth and with a lot of garlic flavor. --Incredible pepperoni pizza: This was ok. --Portabello mushroom fries: These were a nice surprise! They were meaty and delicious and fried to perfect crispness with a nice amount of seasoning. Our server was really sweet and took great care of us. The interior of the restaurant is pretty but unpretentious. We enjoyed ourselves on this evening out in Bellevue. I recommend going to Palomino for the great happy hour menu -- you will find a variety of drinks (wine, cocktails, and draft beers ranging from $4-6) and 12 different delicious appetizers, all reasonably priced at about $3-10 apiece.
(4)Cathleen S.
Great food. Try the Flank Steak and warm potato salad for lunch. It Rocked! Gustavo, our server, was friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. I wish we had this restaurant back in my home town. The atmosphere here is trendy/casual/rustic. The bread served with the meal was delicious...make sure you save some room for it. My dining companions enjoyed their meals as well. One had the Crab Louie Salad, another had the Chop Salad. Again... I wish I had one of these in my neighborhood here in New York...if you're reading this Palomino Rustico peeps... go East! Mangia, Mangia!
(4)Debadutta D.
Being loyal to Palomino in Bellevue since 2007, I planned and reserved a table to treat my wife on Mother's Day Lunch along with my daughter and two visiting friends from India. Two of my guests including my wife were vegetarians. After not finding many vegetarian options in the menu I ordered Pasta with pesto and vegetables. The server assured me that the Chef would definitely be able to add many vegetables to the pasta dish. It took a good 45 minutes to get our food. Luckily we had ordered some bread and fries to munch on. To our utter disappointment the pasta dishes were without any vegetables. We brought this to the attention of a supervisor but she just empathized for a moment and apologized before walking away. The potato fries with Gorgonzola was great. The bread was freshly baked. The quantity of dipping sauce was too small and pricey. We ordered Cappuccino with Sicilian Doughnuts. The Cappuccino was cold and bitter. The staff including supervisors and managers need to go through a thorough service culture training for understanding customer's needs, wants and expectations. They need to understand the critical needs of service recovery to ensure that the customer's loyalty remains intact. They need to realize that there are many options out there in Bellevue. We will think twice before going back there.
(2)Sylvia C.
I don't know why so many people don't like Palomino, I think it's a good place for family, it's not so crowded. Me and my friends like to eat here, the chicken pom and crème brulee are great !
(4)Suzanna C.
Atmosphere is fine and service was ok but food was disappointing. Ordered the fish piccata. Way too much batter and the gnocchi was very dense and looked undercooked inside. Won't be going back.
(2)Krista N.
TMI but this place got me and a friend incredibly sick a few months ago. It was the wild mushrooms. enough said. I called and told manager since it got two of us sick not just one, she seemed slightly sorry. Also, a experience a week or two before that, I came here for a drink and was literally treated horrible by another customer who I had never met. Instead of asking the drunk customer to be quiet, the server and manager both were very rude to me and my party. I still like this place just think there is some management issues going on. Consistency just isn't there because the food after my first review also has gone UP in price and down in taste. $5 happy hour pizza is now $8 and not as tasty?
(2)Nina M.
There was a large group of us, we sat at a table in the back (right next to the kitchen), so it was incredibly noisy. Our server was nice and attentive. I had the chicken under a brick with asparagus and mashed potatoes. While it was cooked well, it lacked flavor. I wasn't impressed, especially considering that it was $22. I probably wouldn't come on my own volition.
(3)Sarah R.
I've been for brunch and dinner and food was good. I heard they have a really good happy hour, but have yet to check it out. My experiences there have been good, minus the last time I went. We went with a large group and the waiter basically told us he's so busy that he's going to be slow to get to us, who says that?! After sitting for about an hour or more we had to flag some one to get our waiter so we could order our food. Not acceptable for a restaurant like that.
(4)Emma S.
Ok,,so the food is tasty but but the bartenders are SO indifferent I want to NEVER want to go back!!!!! PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE OR MOVE ON.....
(2)Kimm M.
The only downfall of this place? No wi-fi in the bar. Come on, every other restaurant and bar in downtown Bellevue has it, but not Palomino?! Don't make me find another favorite happy hour.
(3)Angie W.
With all the great places to eat in and around Bellevue, this one is getting struck from the list. Had reservations for dinner last night. Got there early and hostess was really friendly and let me go to the table. Given that I was the only one in the restaurant, it wasn't a huge deal but I appreciated it. Server seemed distracted and eventually offered me a drink. Ordered a pomegranate mojito that was weak and had big mint leaves in the glass that were in no way muddled. I ordered the blue cheese salad and scallops. Salad was really good and the scallops had a nice taste but were way overcooked. The pasta they were served with was mushy and overcooked. Really dull taste. My friend ordered off the 3/30 menu. She got a chop salad which looked good and fish and chips. Fish again overcooked and dry. Chips (fries) were dead cold. When she told the waiter he took them off her plate and didn't say a word. No apology, no nothing. When he brought them back he put on the edge of the table and kept walking. A bit odd.. When she ordered desert, she asked for the ice cream on the side so they just didn't bring it. Her bread pudding was overcooked. Dry as a bone. The manager came over at the end of the meal and asked how everything was. My friend commented okay. The manager chimed in and said "oh we want everything to be great" and then walked away. Nice recovery - NOT! For the prices paid, not at all up to par.
(2)Marie D.
We came on a Sunday for a birthday celebration. The waitress was really nice and gave the birthday celebrant free dessert. The happy hour food is only at the bar but because of our large group and one younger guest, we were seated in the main room and they allowed us to order from the happy hour menu. They gave us a discount for it, but not happy hour price so it was a good compromise.
(4)Alexandra B.
Love the food here! Always a go to place for my boyfriend and I when we can't decide. Love the happy hour menu. However, it seemed to me that our waitress today was either completely hungover or tipsy at work. She wasn't making much sense and talking with a serious slur. And we were sitting for about 10 minutes without any service (not many people were in the bar at the time we were there). This isn't the first time we have had below par service. If the food matched the service, we would be there more.
(3)J H.
I likely will not go back. The food was good. The service was poor and the overall value was unsatisfactory. Crab cakes appetizer was good. The family ordered filet mignon all the way around at $33 a pop and for that I expected a larger piece. They were really small compared to other restaurants and the wife and kids were still hungry after. The service was not good. It took a really long time and we didn't get the food we ordered correctly. We asked for refill on empty drinks when food arrived. The drinks arrived after we finished eating and were ready to leave. There is better out there and no reason to ever go here again.
(1)Opal D.
Came here for lunch with girlfriends and they were out of tables in the bar area, so we settled for sitting at the bar. The food and drinks were good but nothing to write home about. I'd come back for happy hour if I happen to be in the area after shopping, but otherwise, wouldn't go out of the way to come!
(3)Kristy S.
Oh boy, it was BAD FOOD tonight. Seriously. My server was great, but the food, not so much. I had a special fire grilled shrimp appetizer came with, I kid you not, ICE BOX COLD sun dried tomatoes. Yowwwwza. Then, the "brick grilled chicken" served with panzanella salad. Now, the salad was decent, but literally one bite of the chicken - YUCK. It was "old chicken" and you know what I mean. The meat TASTED OLD. So, I asked for a side of the salad to go - which they charged me $9 for. No worries until I OPENED THE BOX AT HOME and there might be a 1/2 cup in the box. WHATEVER! SOO SOO NOT WORTH THE CASH. Now, my server was good, so I will give it 2 stars, and I did enjoy the taste of the panzanella salad.
(2)Brenda A.
This place is a great stop for happy hour. Their happy hour is week round, no matter what time, so you can always get a good deal on a cocktail or an appetizer. I definitely recommend one of their flat breads; all of them are delicious. There may be a wait, as it gets really busy, especially Friday and Saturday nights. I've never had a bad drink or dish here! I also recommend the doughnut holes. They are home made!
(4)Alison G.
I really like it here! It's my go-to place for happy hour when I really can't think of anyplace else. I've gone on week days & nights and weekends and I'm never disappointed. The staff is friendly and attentive, the bartenders take notice to your presence, and I really like the food. I always order their pizzas, pastas, the spinach artichoke dip, and the chopped salad. Oh and by the way, they make the BEST mojitos!
(4)Kay N.
Dinner review. I found the food to be just okay. I got the mushroom, goat cheese and cured ham flatbread pizza. It was good, but I found it to be a little on the salty side. Bf got the chicken marsala and he didn't like it. He felt the chicken was something they microwaved and put on the plate. He compared it to frozen dinner. ouch. My favorite dish at Palomino is the Rigatoni Bolognese. Absolutely delicious. Service here is great! Fast, friendly and attentive. I can tell they hire only experienced servers.
(3)Kathleen M.
I visited again after a couple of years. My memory was that the food was good. The service and food on my most recent visit was absolutely terrible. I ordered the chicken parmesan which tasted like a Lean Cuisine TV dinner. The chicken was rubbery and the pasta was overdone. I couldn't believe it was $21! My friend ordered the crab cakes as an entree and they were completely burnt and black on the bottom. However the cakes were cold in the middle. A friend at the table ordered the pizza and it was drowning with so much sauce that the cheese slipped off it when she picked it up. The four cheese penne was OK but again I couldn't believe they were charging $20 for it! The waiter seems scatterbrained the entire meal. I had to remind him again and again and again for our salad (which was partially wilted) appetizer, soup, my wine etc..... The bill was over $100 and we had one glass of wine! The quality of the food and service wasn't worth more than about $40. Absolutely horrible embarrassing experience and one of the worst meals I've ever had in Bellevue. Blech!
(1)Lisa E.
We went here for breakfast on a Saturday with friends. The place was half empty and the service was very fast, so that was good. The food was average. I got the veggie frittata which was unremarkable and it came with potatoes that were really good. All in all it was average for breakfast, nothing special. I did see a Bloody Mary station to make your own, but did not partake.
(2)Fiz A.
Good service and ambience. But pizza was okay . I liked paggliaci pizza more . Crab dip artichokes were reasonable but not to die for . Appetizer bread and dip was really good .
(3)Candi K.
I usually always go to the one in Seattle because I used to work in that building and now I'm right across from it but me and my gfs were going to watch a movie at Lincoln Square so came here for some pre-movie food and drinks. We came here on a Friday night around 8ish and the bar area was pretty full. We were able to snag a table after 5-10 minutes. Our server greeted us and got us all waters and our first round of drinks. It took a while to get her attention again to order some food. I love their happy hour menu. I'm so glad they brought back the seafood, potatoes and the mushroom sald. We just got all of those plus a couple pizzas to share with the 4 of us. We were kind of on a time crunch and had to hail her down again for our check. Service was lacking but the food and drinks made up for it, kind of.
(4)Jacqueline T.
This might just be my favorite Happy Hour place. More than just bite size HH food. All for $6 or less for each dish. They have a nice variety of flatbreads, and a handful of other appies (clams, garganzola waffe fries and more). My favorites: Spicy Meatball flatbread, Garganzola waffle fries, and their mushroom and cheese salad :) Mmmm. Share between two to be up to your ears full, share with three and chug back a few drinks for a nice finish. Best of all.. Happy Hour lasts all day. Really good comfort food :) Have had dinner there a few times, but knowing how awesome the Happy Hour is, takes away the dinner's appreciation. Love the Lincoln Square location, as its right next to my beloved Bellevue Square. Nice comfy, loungy bar seating area. I always come out happy! Definitely a good happy hour or two ;)
(4)Miranda E.
Love their all day happy hour. Best deal around in Bellevue. I wouldn't recommend this for a group of people, as it is normally packed and it's hard to find a table in the bar. Be prepared to sit real close with someone you don't know if you're not able to snag a booth. The pizza and drinks are really good. The bartenders are amazing and will check up on you often.
(4)Alicia b.
Love their elegant food, and great ambience!! My family went there both for dinner and brunch, and was very satisfied with food & service. They have a variety of breakfast/ brunch menu. They open at 6:30 for breakfast, and serve brunch from 10 am, but you can also order lunch in the morning. You should try their "Egg Benedict with Prociutto & Truffle"!! It comes with arugula salad, and the portion is not small. "Pistachio Waffle" was also a heaven!! And... Don't forget to try "four cheese penne", "clams in soup" and "pomodoro"... These 3 dishes are Palomino's BEST ones!!!
(5)Kristin C.
I went here for dinner on a Friday night with my boyfriend and his parents. They are more of a fancier, meat and potatoes type people than I am, so we decided somewhere in downtown Bellevue would be best. I made a reservation, but it doesn't look like we really needed it. The place is huge. It is also really loud, but you can find a table in an area that is kinda quiet. We got a bottle of wine, it was a red wine, I don't remember what it was called, but it was good. We all ordered salads too, everyone else had a Cesar, and I had the Maytag Bleu cheese salad, which was quite tasty. I also had one of their thin crust pizzas the Prosciutto Crudo with Peso, house-made mozzarella, prosciutto(from Salumi, I believe), arugula, lemon oil, Romano, and soft egg(which I had taken off). It was really quite tasty. Everyone else ordered a variety of dishes including seafood, chicken and pasta. We also all shared an order of the Sicilian donuts which came with marscapone cream and nutella. It's a nice restaurant, with tasty food, but it's a bit pricey. I doubt I would come here that often, but for a little nicer, without being too expensive meal, it's a good choice in downtown Bellevue. It looks like they have a good Happy Hour too, with a few different pizza choices, so I would definitely come back for that!
(4)Brittany L.
I ended up here on a belated-birthday happy hour with two friends after we were turned off by the ice-cold hostess at Pearl. My instant impression was how friendly the people were when we first walked in and assisted us in finding a place in the bar even when that probably isn't their job. A+ for the welcome crew! I have been back many times since. I am a fan of their casual atmosphere (for Bellevue) and all-day happy hour, pomegranate margarita and pizzas/flatbreads. Almost every time I've been at Palomino it has been a pleasant and fun experience (minus the one time we got an extremely awkward, and for the most part, non-existent waitress who came to take our food order 30 minutes after our drinks arrived). There are almost too many good options in Bellevue to dine or drink at, but this place is always a go-to spot to hit up first.
(4)Jackie G.
What can I say about this place other than 'Palomino Rocks!'. If you don't know, then you need to boogie your way on up to this place. Happy Hour during all hours of operation in the bar which has lot's of seating. Good food, Good drinks, Great Service, very nice interior, clean, indoor & outdoor seating, close to everything.
(5)Kimmi C.
I like coming here for happy hour drinks and food. Happy hour is all day, which is great! Since happy hour is only offered at the bar area, it used to be more crowded (so you'd either have to wait or leave), but it's calmed down since more restaurants opened in the area. I can't judge the dinner menu. Service can be slow depending on how busy they are, but I still enjoy going there for happy hour.
(4)Pooja V.
I've been to Palomino several times for their all-day happy hour and the reason I've given it a 1-star rating is because I've never been a fan of the happy hour food there. It's always too greasy and not very tasty. I was there last Friday with a friend and we noticed a couple of menu items we hadn't tried before so gave them a chance. We ordered the brussel sprouts with pancetta and the deviled eggs. The brussel sprouts were tasty but extremely greasy while the deviled eggs were bland. A couple hours after dining there I began to feel extremely sick and was definitely impacted by a food borne illness which lasted another day. I won't be eating there again.
(1)Chris T.
Waited 20 minutes for 7:45pm reservation while there were clearly other tables available for 4. Never received our salads, never had our waters refilled & had a hard time getting our waitress to come back to our table. Keep in mind, this was NOT a busy night. You're better off bringing your own salt & pepper as the wait will be a long one. One more thing...... Bring EAR PLUGS!!! Waste of time & money!
(1)Taylor M.
My husband and I came in for dinner on Saturday night (the 4th). We were seated promptly. Our servers name was Justin. I ordered a drink called the blueberry smash, recommended by our server and he ordered a glass a wine called 19 crimes. I am so glad I took my servers suggestion because it was absolutely delicious. For dinner we ordered the paella and the 4 cheese penne. It was incredible. This place is a bit pricey but completely worth it. But above all our server was absolutely OUTSTANDING. He was very friendly, knowledgable, attentive and extremely hilarious. I hope the management knows what a great employee they have working for them. Ill certainly be back and be asking for Justin's service. I recommend you do the same!
(5)Krissy -.
-Friendly service -Food is awesome -Price is reasonable. Didn't try the happy hour yet. The tiramisu was the best part. It's REALLY good. The BEST ever!! lol.
(4)Dorothy C.
I guess there's not much to say but I just wanted to reassure everyone that Yes, this place is still great. VERY busy though (but we had 8 people so I guess it was harder for us to grab two tables and pull them together). Service was a little slow but that's also because they were really busy and we had people arriving in a span on 30 minutes. I don't like alcohol (I know..) but the virgin Cranberry Mojito is So good. I'm not a fan of anything minty-except gum or chapstick, or any fruit/mint combination but my taste buds had a liking for this drink :) Food is good, pizzas are really good. Definitely visit if you haven't, continue to do so if you have. Enjoy!
(5)Sonya L.
Went here for a friend's birthday last weekend. We had a pretty large group, but they had made a reservation ahead of time so that we would have a table when we arrived. My boyfriend and I arrived about 5 minutes before the reserved time and were told the table wasn't ready yet. So we hopped over to the bar and were pleased to discover they had an "every day" happy hour. My boyfriend had the house red and I had a cranberry mojito. I'm not usually a huge mojito fan, but I really liked this drink. It was super tasty! By the time we had our drinks, a few more people had arrived and the table was ready. We grabbed our drinks and headed over to the table. I proceeded to look at the menu and died a little inside - most entrees were well over 20 bucks! Not exactly what I was expecting to spend while out for a friend's birthday. I decided to wait until more people arrived before I made my choice. There was quite a bit of disconnect between the wait staff and our group at first. I will note that some of our party was late and some were unable to attend last minute, but regardless, it took them a long time to get things started after we arrived. Drinks took 15+ minutes to arrive (or were forgotten completely until a reminder was given) and we waited for bread at least 20 minutes after one of the waiter said he would bring us some. Kind of excessive, in my opinion. Service seemed to get better when, finally, we ordered. The waiter who took our order seemed pretty on top of things at that point and was able to do separate checks for different groups/couples in the party, which was helpful. I ended up ordering the Grilled Wild Forest Mushroom salad. When it arrived, I was SHOCKED - it was huge! I couldn't believe it. I enjoyed it overall - loved the mushrooms and the Gorgonzola cheese. I wasn't a huge fan of the dressing, but there wasn't a ton of it, so that was okay. I will note that, despite getting a great portion size for the money, it was too much because...salad is not exactly an item that one wants to take home because it goes bad quickly. So I ended up having at LEAST half of my salad left and I just left it on the plate, which was too bad. My boyfriend had the pepperoni pizza (the one rare item that picky boy would eat) and he said it was good - the pepperoni was great. I tried a bite of the birthday girl's tiramisu and was slightly confused - it tasted and looked like espresso-flavored chocolate cake?? Maybe this was their take on tiramisu, but it was odd. When the checks arrived, we were shocked to see how expensive our meal was. Upon closer inspection, we noticed that the two glasses of house reds that my boyfriend ordered during the meal were coming it at a total of $18.00, which seemed like a LOT for house wine (especially considering it was only $4 on the happy hour menu!). My boyfriend inquired about the high charge and a manager reduced the price to $12.00 for the two. We were unsure what the real price of the wine actually was, but it was nice that they made a change when we questioned the total. All in all, we had a good time here with friends and the food was pretty good. It's unlikely we would go here again, however, because the prices are very high, the service was a bit spotty, and it's very far away from where we live.
(3)Sarah A.
For a friend's 30th birthday I attended a small brunch at Palomino in Bellevue with about 10 people. I had specifically requested that we go someplace with bloody marys, and boy did this place deliver! The restaurant has a huge Bloody Mary Bar which includes a choice of vodka, choice of mix, and two different types of salt for the rim. Then the bar itself has tons of assorted sauces, house prepared garnishes and pickled vegetables... I was in heaven, and my husband enjoyed the corresponding Mimosa Bar. My husband ordered Classic Eggs Benedict and I got Steak and Eggs. Although the food was delicious, the portions were quite small. So really it's a good thing that my husband found a large egg shell in his meal right at the end, because they brought him a second dish (Eggs Benedict Palomino), otherwise we would have had to stop and get fast food on the way home to fill him up. My meal was okay but I had a bite of my husband's second dish and it was probably the best eggs benedict I've ever had with brioche, prosciutto, mushroom-artichoke relish, poached eggs, truffle hollandaise, arugula, pesto, and parmesan... YUM. Really fun place to go with a group and the service was fantastic.
(4)Alanna M.
This place is so awesome for Happy Hour. Went on a Friday night this time. Though the lychee martini is not on the HH menu, it's so flipping good and aside from Umi's in Belltown I can't seem to get it at most restaurants. All of the mixed drinks I've had so far have been really good. The service is pretty good for a busy night. Pat was our waiter and I could see he was busting his butt for all of his customers. Can't get enough of those clams, muscles, pizza and fire roasted shrimp. Had the warm chocolate cake this time. Yummy and can I just say wow?!
(5)Adele H.
I really wanted to like this place because it was in such a convenient location. I have tried it 3 different times throughout the year and have been disappointed each time. The two times I went for breakfast, we waited for over an hour to receive our food. The restaurant was no where near packed and both times the waitress told us the reason was because our order hasn't been put in. The third time, when our order did happen to be put in, the food came to us cold. Everyone has always been more than nice, it is a beautiful space, and people do seem to like it. Perhaps my experiences are an anomaly, but they were enough to convince me to find another spot.
(1)Hitomi S.
We (a coiplle) made a reservation via Open Table two months prior to this Valentines Day. They gave us a table surrounded by screaming kids and babies. I understand it is also family event, but why can't we have a quiet dinner on a special evening? Why can't they separate sections, quite and screaming. Foods are cold, bland and slow service. We will not come back.
(1)Sumi A.
I'm sad to say that i'm taking my review down to a ZERO star after encountering the rudeness and obvious discrimination encountered a week ago at the bellevue palomino. we came by to watch a football game at a spot where we felt we'd get some great drinks and food, and cheer for our team. upon walking in, the restaurant was empty, so we found a spot near a tv and asked the bartender if they would put our game on. the bartender rudely told us "no" and that this establishment is for "seahawk fans only" on football days. they would exclusively play ONLY the seahawks game, despite numerous TVs, AND the fact that the restaurant was EMPTY! i've never felt as unwelcome as i did that day... and since then, and going forward, will NEVER return to palomino. there is a way to let the public know that unfortunately their program will not be played... and we have encountered a few places that weren't able to accommodate us... and they were polite about it, and offered suggestions as to where we could enjoy our game. the palomino staff, however, was rude, curt, spoke in a condescending way to us, and seemed offended that we weren't fans of the home team. what an embarrassing way to promote the palomino brand!! this is unfortunate for palomino for many reasons... and i had previously felt that palomino was a place of choice for late night happy hours with friends. they will no longer be in rotation for places to go, and i will make an effort to share this information with any and ALL that will listen. sports should be a chance to build community for restaurants, not exclude those people that happen to be the minority group of fans.
(1)Stacey P.
I returned to Palomino wanting to try out the dining room as I have always eaten in the crowded bar and always the happy hour menu. I returned because I was made aware that this was a restaurant in the Restaurants Unlimited family and I am very fond of Palisade. I went with a friend and was immediately seated in a nice corner booth. I was impressed that unlike the bar seating area there was plenty of space between tables and booths so I never felt crowded or invading someone else's conversation. We started off with the Truffle Deviled Eggs with peppered bacon. Those disappeared in a blink of an eye. The bacon was delicious. My friend had the rigatoni bolognese and I had the baked four cheese penne with added crab. I had a bit of my friend's rigatoni and was impressed with the heat that it had. Not too spicy, but enough of a bite to make you know it was there. The baked four cheese penne, though, was pure heaven. The crab was an ideal addition to the dish and they did not skimp on the cheese. I absolutely loved it. The true highlight, though, was our waitress Crystal. I have said before that their waitresses have always provided good service, but Crystal provided exceptional service. She immediately offered us a hot beverage choice selection when we sat down, and since it was so cold outside it was amazing. She also offered the suggestion to put crab in the penne. It wasn't on the menu, but it absolutely should be. She was thoughtful, attentive, and one of the best waitresses, ever.
(4)George S.
My family and I ate here yesterday and while the service was fantastic the food was not. What the problem was I believe that they use MSG in some of their dishes and in particular their French fries. I am very affected by MSG and I fell asleep on the way home from the restaurant. Luckily my daughter was driving.
(1)Alexis M.
What I most enjoyed about this place was the service! The lady who helped was very nice and knew the menu well! She kept up with our table and did not give off any attitude. Also people who do not serve you are also there to help and assist The food was great! Best drink was the pomegranate mojito! Soooooo good tasting. I love the happy hour! All day everyday! The atmosphere is amazing, fun filled.
(4)Dominick D.
Stopped in here for the first time for a late night happy hour. Very impressed! $4 beer and $6 cocktails. About average could be a buck cheaper but I won't complain. The whiskey sour was a good stiff drink. The mojito was great. The fries are also amazing. Our server was engaged and fun! I'll definitely be wanting to come back to this location. Nice place.
(4)Marissa O.
If you had handicapped bathroom access the review would have earned more stars... My aunt had to help my grandmother off the toilet! Shame on you!
(2)Inness P.
I've had mostly good experiences with Palomino, though the last time I went (for dinner) I was sad because they had fewer vegetarian options than I remembered, and everything looked more pricey. With so many other good places to eat in the Seattle/Bellevue area, I wasn't in any hurry to go back. But I participate in Downtown Bellevue On the Move, and because I bus so often I get rewarded with coupons to use around DT Bellevue. This month I got a "buy one get one free" lunch coupon for Palomino, so I tried to take my mom to lunch yesterday (I only say "tried" because she snatched the bill at the end, the sneak). It was after 2 pm on a weekday, so the place was mostly empty. We were allowed to seat ourselves wherever, and the sweet hostess was so patient as we wandered around, too burdened by choice to just pick a damn table. We eventually chose a booth in the bar so we could take advantage of all day happy hour (woo hoo!). We showed our coupon to our server, and next thing we knew, a gentleman came over to introduce himself and thank us for dining there (the manager?). I appreciated it. It made me feel fancy. We split a glass of (very tasty) pinot noir, a HH appetizer (chickpea fritters, yum! unique and flavorful), and we each had a pasta and salad lunch. The combo was $15, which is a little bit on the pricier side for a smallish lunch serving (two bowls, both a little larger than a big man's fist), but since once of our entrees was totally free I can't complain. Nothing special, but they were satisfying. I especially liked my salad (just the greens) - it had chevre and pumpkin seeds, and a light olive oil and lemon dressing. Usually I hate dressing but this dressing was exactly what I wanted. I was tempted by the warm pear bread pudding, but we were full enough to skip dessert. I like Palomino, and I like their happy hour, but I still can't say that it would be my first choice if I were trapped in Bellevue and I had to pick a place for lunch or dinner. It doesn't QUITE offer enough bang for the buck, at least for a vegetarian. But nice people, great service, and I'm happy I got the chance to improve my opinion of the menu.
(4)Vlad B.
This place became substandard! The previous version of this restaurant trumps this version by a huge windfall! Came here with 12 people to celebrate a birthday. It took 45 min for the food to come, cold, and tasted below average. We couldn't even ask the servant about the food status because he was gone. Will not return! So sad that this place has gone down hill so much!!!
(1)Gregory G.
I love Palamino! My coworkers and I frequent this location after work and we love the all day happy hour (and the new "happiest hour" isn't too bad either!) This review is for my experiences in the bar only, I've never dined in the dining room. The food is always great, waitstaff is always smiling and the cranberry mojito is to die for! (Try it, it's on Happy Hour!) One waitress in particular (I wish I could remember her name, she wears red glasses and is seemingly always working) is incredible. She always has such a presence in the bar and, after having only come in one time before, she remembered both mine, and my friends orders. We've seen how busy this place gets, that is impressive! Keep it up, Palamino! Always a favorite
(5)Daniel K.
Nice happy hour menu but service is terrible, it's confusing because it's not like they are short staffed. They just don't know how to divide and conquer, it's like they focus more on people who look rich than give everyone the same treatment. This is my third time here and the only reason why I came this time is because this was the only happy hour at this time. It took 10 minutes to be noticed, not sure if they saw my black face but I was smiling so they can see my white teeth the whole entire time. Then our order took 30 minutes to come out and another 30 minutes to get another round of alcohol; all this is happening when we are sitting right in front of the bartender at the bar. Mason was our bartender, and to say the least he should just change careers. I have been to a lot of different bars and restaurants and this isn't the right job for him. Instead of going to a bartending school, make sure you attend a customer service school first. Thank you for ruining our night, and the drinks he made was terrible, all watery..what a waste of our time and money. Maybe Julie(other bartender) should teach you how to be attentive to and nice to your customers. Sad...
(1)Alexandra M.
The four stars apply for HAPPY HOUR ONLY. Happy Hour is worth coming here for. Dinner is not. Pizza and cocktails during happy hour is great! For the HH price, the pizzas satisfy both in terms of quality and quantity. The crab and artichoke dip might be the best thing Palomino has on the menu. Sadly, I've had better so theirs wasn't special for me.
(4)Lee H.
Went there for Mothers Day. Service was ok at best but all the servers acted like it was there first day on the job. Food was barely warm and the paella was extremely salty. Saw one server cleaning the knives at empty tables then wiping the table and window sill with same cloth then continue cleaning knives at other tables, ick.Our total bill was around $160. I filed an online complaint and was called by the manager who said he would send a gift card to make it up. Received a $25 gift card, this was more of an insult to me. I guess they really don't want my business back again. The Seattle location has always been spot on every time we have been there.
(1)Lisa W.
I used to come here every week for their all day happy hour menu. The food and drinks specials were awesome! In a high-priced place like downtown Bellevue, it's nice to eat/drink with friends without splurging. Love the calamari, crab & artichoke dip, and pizzas. If you like cocktails, try their basil gimlet, it's refreshingly delicious!
(4)Mel G.
Came here for a mini bridal shower. This place was really clean and trendy, staff was nice and accommodating, and knowledgeable. While the menu didn't have a huge variety for those who are gluten free, you are kinda limited to salads, it did seem to have some really tasty looking things. I got the caprese salad, it was kinda a bummer as it had one whole olive in the entire thing and the mozzerella was shredded and not the chunks that are really yum which was different. There was a mix of greens as well instead of just spinach. Apparently they also have happy hour specials but you have to sit at the bar.
(2)Rish R.
The food was sub par at best and the menus looked like they dumped water on them. That's how hard to read they were the ambience was pleasuring
(3)Dave T.
The bar looks very nice. This place looks and smells clean! The bartenders were great and attentive. I had the meatballs. They were really weird. I've lived in New Orleans and these will be way too spicy for most people. The sauce has too much hot sauce/spice added. You can't taste anything else in the sauce. I scraped the sauce off of the meat. The meatball didn't have any flavor! It was the weirdest thing. It's been about 10 mins and my tongue and lips are still burning.
(4)CJ A.
Just got back from Mother's Day brunch and had to write this review. I have been here before for Happy Hour and this place never disappoints. The food was delicious. I had chicken parmesan and my daughter had the maple chicken salad. Server was great and again the food was delicious. Wonderful day. Can't wait to try some of the other items on the menu.
(5)TC H.
My husband and I went there for our 15th Anniversary dinner on Wednesday. Based on mixed reviews of the restaurant, we gave it a benefit of doubt and were willing to give it try with a Groupon deal. It was a busy Wed night and quite noisy even at the dining area. Ordered food at the safe side - crab cakes, salad and a signature paella. Both crab cake and salad were OK but not the signature paella. Both clams and mussels were expired and shouldn't have served to customers. The dish doesn't smell, taste good because of the shellfish and as well as too much oil. Our waiting staff who served our table was OK, he brought us water, drinks and food all in timely manner but never asked how we were doing and have no idea it was our anniversary. Anyway, I told him how I felt about their signature paella when he dropped by to see if we would like to order some desserts. He was kind enough to bring this to his manager's attention as a result of taking the paella off our bill. If not because the manager's action to repair the problem, we wouldn't have ordered desserts and would probably give this restaurant 2 star for overall experience.
(3)Tory M.
My husband and I had the chance to sample their new menu! We are very impressed! Their trout served with a kale salad was flavorful and nicely plated, the crab cakes were full of delicious real crab and the chicken parm was really delicious especially served with light angel hair pasta! The waitstaff is well-trained, enthusiastic and friendly. The new interior decor is fresh and clean. Put this restaurant on your 'go to' list :) We wish you much success as the new and improved Palomino Rustico!
(4)Dan S.
Terrible service. Came for lunch. Basic food requests. Salads and such. Have been waiting for over 40 mins for food! Place is 1/2 empty. Nothing. Had to flag our server asking where our iced tea that we ordered and still waiting. No good excuse and when we mentioned it to the mgr, she said she'd comp our bill which was very nice but would've gladly paid if we didn't have to wait for an hour which is a bit too much.
(1)Trang B.
If I can give negative review I would. We came in as a party of about 10, and didn't get food after 45mins. My friend and I were sharing a portion, and it was TINY and OVERCOOKED, and costed $26. I usually don't leave reviews, but this place is NOT WORTH GOING. Period.
(1)Doug T.
Eat in the Bar.. it's hella cheap during happy hour for food and the menu is better than in the restaurant.. Washington State sucks in that they dont' allow kids in bars.. The fried Potatoes Gorgonzola is about perfect as is the pizza.. The restaurant is good but there are plenty of places that are equally as good. They do a good job for larger parties.
(5)Alexandra B.
Came in for a quick happy hour snack and drink. Server Sameur (incorrect spelling) accommodated me to the best of his ability. My quick snack ended up taking 35 min., but he took the time to apologize and didn't charge me for it. This is what I call upstanding service; when a server sees what's going on and accommodates you as best he can. Thank you for such a friendly experience.
(5)Andy Z.
food: we came here just for desserts. we ordered the creme brulee and the tiramisu. not a big fan of either. the creme brulee's shell was too thick and the sugar gets stuck to your teeth. the tiramisu was pretty bad. i think the sauce they use is way too strong and you cant taste the other flavors of the cake. just for desserts =***2/5 service: we had a big party of 7. they were able to accommodate for our seating fairly quickly and it was a pretty busy night on a saturday. our server did a good job in explaining the types of dessert they have. ***5/5 ambiance: we went to meet an old friend. it was too loud for any regular talking. plus it was a large party, big table, it was hard to hear sometimes. place is clean and right by bellevue square mall. so parking can be easy. ***3/5 price: pricing is not too bad. typical dessert pricing. under $10. but for what we ordered, i think we overpaid. ***3/5
(3)Lab L.
Very disappointed. Great attentive servers, but the kitchen could not keep up. Three different entrees at our table were a huge disappointment. Although I enjoyed the protein of my entree, the sides were left untouched. Would not recommend. There are other good options on Bellevue Way.
(1)Ritz p.
Even with the renovation and new look you would think their service would improve. We decided to try this place for lunch again and the service was so slow!! We got our food and there was hair in our salad. Instead of spending money on renovation they should use these funds on hygiene and improving their service levels.
(2)Ieva K.
What's better than happy hour? All day happy hour! Palomino's has a great all day happy hour in the bar. Depending on the time of day you may have a long wait to find a table. Happy hour menu is good, food selection and variety is good, something for everyone. I am not a fan of mushrooms BUT the grilled mushroom salad is delicious and probably one of my favorites. Their pizzas are very thin and tasty. I am also a big fan of the crab & artichoke dip. Service is hit or miss. If there is a rush then good luck getting your servers attention. Once you paid the bill you are pretty much ignored. They are exceptionally fast at cleaning the tables off for the next group. I feel like drinks take longer to come out then the food.
(3)Kay M.
I went with two girlfriends to happy hour. We ordered wine, and several appetizers, including the sausage mushroom pizza, the calamari, the homemade artisan bread, sauteed brussel sprouts. The brussell sprouts w/ pancetta were the highlight, tender and flavorful. Calamari was pretty standard. Pizza was OK, nothing special, thin crust w/ spicy sausage. The bread did NOT taste homemade, but rather like "take and bake" which was disappointing. We ordered the bengiets for dessert which were lukewarm. The food was not bad but the service was AWFUL. All of our food plates were hot from sitting under the lamp, so much that the dipping sauce from the calamari had developed a film on it. Food was served and we had no silverware so had to ask, then she left and we didn't have plates. We got them ourselves from the stack on the bar. We waited. And waited. We had to ask where our food was several times. It pained me to tip our server 15% but usually I'm a big tipper (25%). I gave her that much because I felt sorry for her as I assume she won't be in this industry long. Not going back there when there are so many places to eat in that neighborhood. No wonder it was empty.
(1)Theresa F.
I love having Happy Hour outside in the summer with a group of friends and Palomino has a great patio, but not a good Happy Hour compared to all of the fantastic options available in Downtown Bellevue. Any place that has an "All Day Happy Hour" doesn't actually have a Happy Hour, it's just cheap food that they do not want to feature on their menu. The HH Menu is pretty small and I rarely order off of it since the food is not very good and not a good deal. I love regular Happy Hours because you are given an opportunity to experience some great items off of the menu during slow hours for a great price. If that is what you are looking for, keep walking, it won't be a long walk. I am giving Palomino three stars instead of four because I really am offended by the fake Happy Hour. If you are in the bar, you will have to ask for a full menu. The full menu has some great options, I really enjoy the Chop Chop Salad and the Chicken Under a Brick is a good choice for dinner. I always seem to receive ok service and since they ended their real Happy Hour, the wait is not very long. The last time I went in, the bar featured live music, but they do not have the appropriate space for it indoors so we ended our dinner early and left.
(3)Richie F.
This place has the perfect happy hour. Start your dinner with shopping in the mall across the street. After 9pm the happy hour kicks in. Red wine for $5 and mushroom salad for $6.95 clearly are way to go!
(4)Sharon C.
I was here yesterday for brunch and I enjoyed it! It was the maytag blue cheese salad that I ordered. The size of the salad was perfect and it was hearty. The ratio of the cheese to greens was good. I want to come back to try an actual brunch mean like the french toast or eggs Benedict which my friends had.
(4)Kerri L.
O.M.G. What a waste of a dinner out. So disappointed with the menu, the food, the service... We ended up here due to not wanting to wait in line at the Cheesecake Factory. Big mistake. I always knew Palomino's was more of a seafood/pasta restaurant - which isn't really my thing since I don't like seafood. However, I figured they have pizza - so it'd be ok. Starting with the bread, we should've just left. I don't know if they have loaves of bread in the freezer/refrig and then put them in the oven to thaw/toast - but our loaf was *cold* & soggy inside. Cold?!?! OBVIOUSLY not baked fresh. I ordered their Gustoso pizza. The pizza wasn't crisp except on the edges - which I don't understand since the crust was so nice and thin. Also, I don't know what their thing about using caramelized onions on pizza - but it just doesn't go well from a texture perspective. In fact, the only thing I liked about the pizza was the pancetta. Service overall was really bad. I had to WAVE DOWN and ask our server on several occasions for: bread, steak knife. utensils for my kid, box for leftovers, the bill... and it wasn't like I was in a rush - We were there for over 1.5 hours from the time we were seated. It's just that the service was so poor. Some of this could have been avoided if our server would've done the standard courtesy check with the table after the food arrived. Nope, not even that. When I did ask for the steak knife - the server said "can I just finished what I am doing?". Sure, finish bussing that table, I'm sure the table can't wait while my $30 prime rib gets cold... Don't waste your money & evening - go somewhere else.
(1)Anthony J.
An overdue review for Palomino - I've been here three of four times and every time the food was delicious (Good god their "bocas" are the most delicious sandwiches on earth) and the service okay (Not fantastic, just okay). They really need more consistency in their wait staff. They also tend to attract the most "Bellevue" crowd of any other restaurant downtown so if you're someone who doesn't dig that, you probably wanna stick to weekday visits here and avoid the weekends.
(4)Maggie L.
Yesterdays service was slow, my risotto was cold, bland, runny and it totally spoiled my appetite. Sad to say this is no longer my fav restaurant.
(1)Jillian R.
One of the best happy hours in town! I wish I could rave this way about some of the stand-alone restaurants in Bellevue (Palomino is a chain) but they really do it right. THIS IS AN ALL-DAY HAPPY HOUR! Drinks Menu: generously discounted drinks offered all day. My favorite is the basil vodka gimlet... it tastes like a garden - oh-so-refreshing. They have several other cocktail, wine, and beer options. They really don't skimp. It's not just the crummy stuff. Food menu: They have some generous appetizers on the menu, including mac'n'cheese, good-sized pizzas, and a few other options like calamari. I probably wouldn't come to Palomino for something other than happy hour... but they have great cushy chairs in the front near the windows that just make for a relaxing time after work.
(4)Laura P.
Happy Hour all day everyday in the lounge, how awesome! I just wish they had a few more options on the menu for food because it's mostly Pizza/flat breads : - / I've always had a pleasant experience here and I've frequented this place a lot. Service means a lot to me and they have always been consistently great! Sunday they have a bloody mary & mimosa bar - 4$ each.. with literally ANY garnish you could think of.. it is pure genius and AMAZING!! Definitely a way to start a Sunday funday :)
(4)Carolyn J.
Stopped in for drinks and appetizers on a Sunday. We used to really like Palomino. 5-7 years ago we were regulars. Not anymore. Today - awkward entry, which is an easy thing to do right and can ruin the whole experience. Hostess smiled dumbly but said nothing. There was a Bloody Mary bar right at the entrance. Not a bad idea but odd location by the door. We sat in the deserted bar and waited 8-10 minutes for service. Drinks took another 5 minutes to arrive. We eventually ordered the Sicilian meatballs, which were delivered within a good amount of time but we're unceremoniously dropped on our table by a another server. They were ok - a bit mushy, obviously frozen, careless. Had the service been more reliable we would have stayed for one more drink but now, we just won't be back. Overall the service was basic, slow and just "off" while the food mediocre.
(2)Angela B.
The service at Palomino is just devine! This was my first time coming to Palomino Bellevue and they truly treat you like royalty here. We came for lunch, which was fantastic. I ate every little morsel, it was just that good. The servers & even the manager came by to say hello and check on us, and our water glasses were refilled at least 5 times during the 1.5 hours we were dining. It was such a fantastic experience, I hope to come back soon. I've also been told they have one of the best happy hours, so hope to try that out as well. If you want good food, a filling meal, and exceptional service, then Palomino is the place for you! Only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars, is that the price is a bit more than I would normally pay for lunch. Definitely more of a "special occasions" restaurant, as opposed to your favorite restaurant that you go to once a week.
(4)Amos Y.
Slightly upscale restaurant. Service was good. Got the shrimp dish. Portions are slightly on the meager side, and dishes are a little on the pricey side. Food tasted fine, but not spectacular. Upsides, is during sunny days in the summer you can sit outside and enjoy the nice weather.
(3)Mark C.
At lunch today, with the dining room only half full, the service was very subpar. I had ordered a glass of wine with the appetizers that we ordered, and had finished the glass when the entrees were served. The server did not notice my empty wine glass, so I said I would like another glass with lunch, which she acknowledged. After that, No sign of the server or the glass of wine for the next 30 minutes, by which time everyone at the table was finished eating. Also, the chopped salad I ordered was horrible (not that anyone asked or cared). I am glad I ordered grilled chicken added to the salad as it was the only thing on the plate that was edible. As she was clearing the dishes the server realized she had forgotten the second glass of wine and said that she could bring it now. I said no thanks, I didn't want it anymore since we had finished eating. Then the manager appeared and said sorry about that, there will be no charge for the wine. I said thank you, thinking she meant the first glass was free, since they had never brought the second glass and I didn't want it anymore anyway. But when the bill came, they still billed me for the first glass of wine - they deducted the second glass, which had never been served. Note to the manager: offering a complimentary glass of wine when said glass of wine is never delivered and the customer no longer wants it isn't much of a gesture. Oh, I almost forgot, as we were leaving the table another server came to the table with my second glass of wine which, needless to say, I politely declined.
(1)Bob P.
Excellent! The service.....the food....the ambiance....all excellent! I had the seafood pasta dish and it was as good as I've had.....anywhere! You have a lot of good dinner choices in this area, but, Palomino's now ranks as one of my favorites!
(5)Juju L.
The dinner was for my birthday with my friends. It turn out to be horrible~ it was monday night and service was bad the food was cold~ we wait it for more than 20mins to order our food and 45mins to get out food~ seriously it wasn't busy at all~ They even forgot my friend's soup~~~~ for sure i will not go back again~~~~ so disappointed~
(1)Joy H.
I would give their happy hour 4 stars - great cheap bites: pizza, clams, flatbreads and all day, everyday! Their regular dinner on the other hand gets 2 stars from me. If you sign up for their birthday club, you get a free signature entree - so we came to claim my goodie! We got the chop salad and the bacon wrapped scallops. The chop salad looked sad and depressed and just tasted like it was just there! I mean, I can throw together a tastier salad than that! The scallops were good, but the side of veggie orzo was bland and mushy - but it was free, so I guess I can't complain. But the waitress and hostess commented about how they loved that dish! If that's their shining dish, I don't want to taste the others!
(3)Khara S.
It was a busy Sunday evening during the Snowflake Lane parade but my group lucked out and found a seat in the bar area for Happy Hour as soon as we got in. This was my second time going to Palomino and it was enjoyable as the first. The bar area was crowded but not to the point where it was hard to walk around. Our server was attentive and our drinks and food arrived quickly. I haven't been disappointed by the service here yet. :) The cheese filled sliders were okay. I'd recommend getting the Italian sausage pizza (a little spicy) that has a thin and crispy crust, which I love. My friend got the stuffed mushrooms which were fried on the outside and came with a spicy, cheesy sauce (this was yummy!) and a creamy marinara. The food was good and my drink was perfect, not too watered down but not over-poured either.
(4)Aly T.
Terrible!! Our server felt that he didn't have to give us great service due to the fact that he will get 18% grat at the end of the night for our party. I asked for my steak to be medium well, what came out was burnt steak so I asked to have them fix it. 40 minutes later my new steak came without any apology or comp or anything. Yes never coming back. Terrible service for mediocre food.
(1)Betsey W.
Hello, Gluten Free Pizza. I'm glad you met my friend All Day Happy Hour. I believe $4 Chardonnay will be joining us as well.
(5)Brian W.
We went here for lunch. They were serving Sunday brunch still @ 2pm. No problems there. The food was very high quality. However, my son didn't find the very-thin crust pizza too appetizing because they serve it on an undersized dinner plate and all of the oil from the meats/cheeses gathers in the center of the pizza. So your first bite of every slice is very greazy. There is a simple fix... Serve it on something flat. (Yes, I uzed a 'z' in greazy.) Our server "Carol" was obviously having a bad day because she was a bitch.
(1)Ninette C.
Does anyone actually come here anymore for non-happy hour? All day happy hour everyday isn't really happy hour...its just your bar menu. I used to come a lot, but now I'm kind of sick of it because I just have had it too much. I think they also got rid of their cheese dishes too which were the best. Nonetheless, they have good pizza, crab dip and waffle fries. Also, you can't beat the $4 drink deals!
(4)Jenny K.
3.5 stars Love HH at Palomino's. Got the usual - margherita pizza but tried the wild mushroom salad - yum! Had a glass of cab - paired wonderfully with my food. Hubby had a birthday coupon - NOTE: you must print it out to redeem. Not accepted via iPhone (lame, but there's a Westin next door so he was able to print out coupon there). Best service yet, and overall a great dining affair!
(3)Andrew L.
I'm ever so impressed with a restaurant that knows how to accommodate a group; because of that, they are getting 3 stars from me. If there was something which surprised me, it definitely was the check, pre-separated for our group of 17. So this place is great for groups; how about the food? Taste should be what drives people into a restaurant should be the taste of the food. From the highest end joints to the fast food dives, when you it down, food should take priority. This unfortunately is not the case here. What was on my plate was the Whole Wheat Pappardelle. The presentation was nice; however it was downhill from that point on. The noodles were slightly overcooked, lacking that bite "al dente" and didn't taste seasoned from the cooking. The chicken's unique flavor was covered in a sauce which basically overwhelmed the meat. There was plenty of meat, perhaps a lighter sauce, or less sauce, would have balanced the flavor. I could tell the meals were mediocre, as we were not commenting on the food at all. A good meal should complement good conversation, we had the conversations, but the meals weren't there. Redeeming what is a poor eating experience, was the wine list, which while we didn't fully indulge in completely, their 25 for $25 list, had a few winners. So what's the recommendation? Have a group dinner? Want great service? Don't care about amazing food? Feel free to spend time here! Others wise, it might be better if you looked somewhere else.
(3)Veronica S.
Palomino's is a chain and we do have it out in San Francisco, but I think it's definitely still a major winner for their Happy Hour selections. They have $25 bottles of wine during happy hour along with many affordable food options. Service is good and consistent, the ambiance is nice and varies around the restaurant (there's a nice bar area, an area with lots of couches, and then an area just for dining) which is good if you're looking for something casual or more formal..depending on the party you're with. Definitely highly recommend it for happy hour!
(4)Kevin C.
I've had both good and bad experiences at this location. Sometimes the service is great, sometimes it is just terrible. I'll start with my terrible experience; A buddy and I went to the bar area around 9PM and sat down, the bar didn't seem terribly busy as most of the people have already received their food and drinks. We sat down with our ID's out and waited for one of the bartenders to take our order, he did make eye contact with us, but we sat around for 15 minutes just staring and he did not approach us at all. And the bad thing is, all he was doing was just cleaning up and stacking bottles. This seriously ticked me off. The good experiences are just OK however, the service here is nothing special, but it isn't bad. The food is decent for the price and it is all day happy hour (this makes me question why they have regular prices on their bar menu). The pizza and flatbread is good and the crab-artichoke dip is decent. Nothing really jumps out as outstanding, but it is acceptable for what it is.
(3)Steven B.
Great food, slow and generally bad service. Been here many times and food almost always takes 30 minutes to come. Very annoying. Servers don't refill drinks unless you ask. Servers don't come back to table unless you hail them down.
(2)Alice L.
Chances are, you probably already know Palomino is hands down one of the best places for happy hour on the Eastside. All day HH! how can you beat that? You no longer need to rush out of work to catch a seat at hh, or wait till 9 or 10 for the late night to start, it's perfect and reliable, awesome for downtown Bellevue. However, I want to review the lunch menu this time. Came here twice with big groups, easy seating and quick service. First time I got the portobello flat bread, tasted great and portions was big, but I imagined that if I was sitting a few seats over in the bar, the same dish would be half off... Second time, I tried their lunch feature menu *different than the regular lunch menu* and ordered the pork belly -- $10. Portion of this dish is perfect for lunch, they gave you 3 square pieces of meat over sweet mashed corn and several dates-shaped caramelized onions. Very delicious I have to say, though I have to admit that I liked the sides more than the pork belly itself. I was expecting the meat to melt in my mouth, it didn't, thus making the fat a bit difficult to eat, and the lean part of the meat was a bit drier than I expected. Taste is there, but the texture isn't. Also, they served this in a deep bowl (see image), which made it a bit difficult to cut anything. Lunch is a 3 star for me. Other than the pork belly, everything else seemed a bit overpriced for what they are worth -- $12+ for sandwiches, pizza/flatbreads, and 16+ for pasta. But considering the goodness of its happy hour, it deserves one more star. If you don't mind sitting at the bar (which is a pretty big area for groups of no more than 5), definitely come here for a taste.
(4)Amanda K.
I came here with my two friends for an early dinner before cello lesson, and as a last day of summer event. It was one of my friend's first time here, and my other friend had been here several times. I have been here my fair share of times to eat lunch and dinner. They left the ordering up to me, and this is what happened. I remembered that their menu changed a bit, and a lot of the items were removed. In that case, I ordered only what I knew was good. I ended up ordering from our waiter, grilled wild forest mushroom salad and crab artichoke dip. Before our dishes arrived, we received bread & tomato relish. Thankfully it was the old bread that they served before. I strongly disliked the new bread. The tomato relish is fruity, sweet, savory and refreshing. The perfect topping for any bread or crackers. Our order came shortly after polishing off our bread. My two friends loved the bread so much, that we asked for another helping. =) We started off with the dip. The dip came with different crackers than it usually comes with. The crackers were thick, and kind of like pita chips. Still, they were drizzled with EVOO and sprinkled with herbs and cheese. The dip was AMAZING! As usual. Creamy, full of artichoke and crab meat...heaven in my mouth! I thought there were a bit too many artichokes, and a lack of crab though. Next was the salad. The mushrooms were all the same, and were different than usual. The dressing tasted like balsamic vinagrette, whicih I love! The blue cheese was tangy, rich, and flavorful. I liked the grilled French bread on the side, so crunchy and nommy. I didn't like the mushrooms very much, kind of bland, and uninteresting. They were overcooked too... Smartly, we made room for dessert. CHOCOLATE TIRAMISU. The best dessert on their dessert menu. It was a good idea to share this because the alcohol flavor may be too strong for one's mouth. The tiramisu was chocolatey, sweet, alcohol infused, creamy, and oh so delicious. I would come back just to order dessert. Seriously! I'd come back, but I liked it better before...sigh.
(3)Gustavo M.
HH all day. I repeat, happy hour all day! I'll give you a minute for that to sink in. The location is great, but do plan for a few extra minutes so you have time to go down to the 4th or 5th parking levels. Oh, did I mention parking is free? I was there yesterday with a couple of friends to enjoy their weekend brunch. I had the equivalent of a flatbread Margherita pizza from their HH menu. I also had a superb Pomegranate Margarita and while the price isn't so great (at $5) it was yummy! The wait staff has always been nothing short of awesome and yesterday was no exception. We had a friendly and super-helpful server who always volunteered her favorite selections from the menu. Ahhh! I cannot forget to mention that they now offer a $5 Bloody Mary Brunch Bar, which my friends absolutely loved! Summary: great HH, great location, great food, great staff
(4)YoungEm T.
I was a big fan of their happy hour years ago, but the price has gone up a bit for the calamari and the crab dip since the last revamp of their happy hour menu. The mojitos are still good, try the mango mojito. We went here for my sister's birthday dinner and the steak/seafood dish was delicious. It was a smaller steak portion but you get shrimp and salmon as well so it was a hearty dish.
(4)Rachel V.
It seems like Palomino is a hit or miss kind of place. It was definitely a miss for me. The bar was completely full so we sat in the restaurant, which was fine, but our waiter was definitely not the friendliest. He seemed so annoyed that we were even there and anything we asked of him was such an inconvenience. The bread was tasty, the wine was good, but it was definitely loud. I ordered their chop chop salad and asked for no cheese. The waiter said sure and then took the rest of the orders, which included two pizzas and a pasta dish. When my salad arrived, there was a nice little pile of Parm on top. Ok, not that big of a deal for many people, but when you are so allergic to dairy that you will get sick the next day, uh not cool. I tried to pick it off the best I could and assumed that they didn't add the provolone. I was wrong and now I feel really sick today. I'm sure I could have sent it back, but the salad was so well mixed (and probably pre-mixed) that I'm sure they would have sent the same dang salad back to me with the cheese. I don't understand why the waiter didn't just tell me, oh the salad comes with cheese no matter what, so I would have ordered something else, but I guess that's takes too much effort. Anyways, my friends said that their pizzas were good, but too salty and greasy. My friend with the pasta dish was not impressed and ate only half, only touching one of the shrimps, demoting the rest to the side of her plate. I don't think I will go back there again for the food. Maybe the drinks, if every other restaurant around there is closed. EDIT: Oh and by doing more research, I found that they use an egg in their balsamic vinaigrette, which I'm also allergic to. The dressing was not listed on the menu as "creamy" which usually tips me off at eggs or dairy.
(1)Stephanie E.
Such a great Happy Hour... one of the best in Bellevue! We came in for late night HH on a Friday night... found a table right away... And the waiter was great! Drink: Basil Gimlet - Yum! I love basil in any cocktail... And CHEAP! $5!! Where else do you get $5 signature cocktails? Food: Bruschetta - Nothing special here.. It was good but nothing that made me think it was out of the ordinary. Definitly come here for cheap YUMMY drinks!! Amazing HH!
(4)Vicky L.
OMG. Where else could you find Happy Hour pricing at 11PM!? We raided their bar area and ordered up their flatbreads, steamed clams, salads, and grilled shrimp. We were famished from our flight and after checking in, it was an easy 3 block walk away from the Hyatt. Service was pleasant although slow but we were in no rush. Food came out promptly and the flatbreads were excellent. Steamed clams were tender and well flavored. I'd stay away from the grilled shrimp - it had a heavy iodine taste to it!
(3)Clint W.
A large group of us came here for a going away party after work. I managed to grab us a spot and we crammed about 10 people around two tables that we pushed together. By 6, the place was packed. I admit we had a pretty good time and we sampled a variety of pizzas while we sipped our beverages. Pretty good landing place for HH. Two drawbacks....the noise (which you really should expect with a really busy place) and the staff. Food and beverages were timely, but the staff could have been more engaging and friendly.
(3)B K.
Experienced the worst service I have had in a few years. We celebrated a baby shower for my friend today at the Bellevue location, with a group of 9 women. After being seated for 20 minutes, we had to get up to ask for water and then it took another 10-15 minutes for them to come and take our drink order. Waited about another 20 minutes for some of us to receive our drinks and order food. We were constantly waiting for someone to come by our table. Some of us ordered a bottle of wine and after waiting for about 30 minutes (apps were served) we asked the waitress about it and she said "oh yes, it looks like we are out of that bottle, would you like to choose another?" That bottle came AFTER we had all finished our meal! This lunch was close to 3 hrs long due to the poor service. They asked the mom to be if she would like complimentary dessert which our friend of course said yes. We waited 20 minutes for it and it didn't arrive until we had all signed our bills! --- Our waitress was not the only one to blame. The manager at times would come by our table and say nothing but look at our plates. At one point all 9 of our plates were ready to be cleared (still waiting for the wine) and the manager came by smiled at all of us and then didn't clear any of our plates. I will not be returning to this location again. Ever.
(1)Melissa F.
I don't know what the big deal is with Palomino's. It's not that great for the price. The one in downtown Bellevue has happy hour all day every day, which softens the blow. What's the catch? SERVICE IS FREAKING SLOW.. or stupid.. or something. My order was wrong, my friend had to ask for water three times, and everything took forever. In addition, the drinks are meh. MEH. I keep coming back because my friends keep wanting to go here. That, and I really like wild mushroom anything. I recommend the wild mushroom flatbreads, the salad, and the soup/bisque thing if they have it. :)
(2)Yekta A.
Okay so here's the thing, we made Thanksgiving dinner reservations and I was excited! My first Thanksgiving dinner in Washington state! We walked in and it was busy, given it was a busy day. I thought the hostess was a bit snooty, so I let it slide, even though your first impression should be a good one. (The hostess was nicer at Earl's, but you can read my review on them later....) So we sat at the bar and ordered a drink and waited not more than 10 minutes and sat at our table. Our waitress Meredith was SO NICE! She was very genuine nice and not the fake nice, she was so sweet and we enjoyed it when she came over to have a small chat about dinner! The busboy was nice too! "WOW" we thought, they are nice here! So I ordered the Thanksgiving dinner and my boyfriend ordered the salmon and they were both delicious. I recommend Palomino's for a group meal, not a quiet sit down meal though.
(4)Cori L.
Fancy, pricey but good. I was at Palomino for breakfast and their yogurt and fruit parfait was really good. The service was fast and friendly.
(4)Karen L.
Happy Hour for the win! We had a large group of 9 for happy hour, and only managed to get one table for all of us. We figured we would just wait for other customers to leave but none of them left! But, the waitresses were nice and brought over extra chairs for us. Also, I love the ambiance because it's dimly lit and the decorations are pretty fancy, creating a relaxed and romantic feeling. We ordered all of the appetizers from the happy hour menu, all 7 of them: crab and artichoke dip, white bean dip, meatballs, fried potatoes, mushroom salad, calamari, and clams. We also ordered the Italian sausage pizza, and it was so delicious that we ordered 2 of them! All of the appetizers were surprisingly delicious as well! I generally don't eat clams and shellfish of such kind, but the clams here were cooked in a yummy sauce, so it didn't taste too fishy. My favorites, however, are the mushroom salad and crab and artichoke dip. Those I will definitely order again. As for drinks, I ordered a mango mojito (which wasn't on the happy hour menu--oops) and I tried my friend's candied apple drop. Both drinks were so good! The candied apple drop was sweet, but I like my drinks sweet, so I am definitely ordering that next time!
(4)Elizabeth T.
Great place for HH. Really cheap food. I really like their Tuscan white bean dip. They make awesome Candied Apple Drops. Definitely one of my favorite places for HH on the Eastside.
(5)Rossana Y.
All day HH everyday at the bar?? Sounds like a pretty good deal. Although the HH selection is a little limited, I still give them credit to their crab and artichoke dip, pizzas and drink specials. This is probably the default place everyone goes to in Bellevue when there's nowhere else to eat, and I can see why some of my friends can get tired of eating here due to the limited selection on the HH menu. I do like how it's not too loud where you don't actually have to yell across the table to have a conversation. Overall, the food is mostly good/average and the service is decent, but don't expect anything too special.
(3)Jeff H.
The happy hour is still awesome. I just wish they had more drink options, like Pearl for example. The cranberry mojitos are tasty, but they are just too sweet to have more then a couple. If that makes me an alcoholic then so be it. I'd love to see a gin or vodka based drink on the menu. Something that isn't so sweet, and isn't beer. Pizzas are still killer, and I like the clams and mussels as well. Hopefully, Palomino will add a few more drink options to match their many tasty food choices.
(3)Yen D.
I came here with a party of about 17 people. We ordered a few appetizers like the bruschetta with shrimp and veggies. The bruschetta was hard to cut and not crispy. I enjoyed the truffled deviled egg with a sliver of salami. It had the right about of saltiness and white truffle oil mixed into the yolk. The hangar steak was a bit salty and the fries were quite decent meaning thin and crispy. Customer service was great! The waiter divvied up the 17 orders perfectly. Honestly, I would rather still come here for happy hour over dinner anytime because $5 crispy pizzas rock my socks off :-) as well as $3 mojitos.
(3)Jacqualyn S.
Love the Basil Gimlet drink and anything that's on the all day happy hour menu. I went in the other day and it was great. I always sit in the bar area. I probably go to Palominos at least two times every month and highly recommend it. I will add that the potato Gorgonzola is to die for!
(5)Jenny H.
My boyfriend and I went on a small get away trip to Bellevue and starving and didn't know where to go for dinner. With the help of yelp, we decided to check out Palomino. The staff here was great. Being super decisive and not sure of what to get, our waiter was super patient with us and had suggested couple of dishes. My boyfriend got the pallella or whatever you spell it and I got the 4 cheese penne and we both shared their fried calamari. All three dishes were yummy! I got grilled chicken on my dish and it made it 10xs better! I will most def come back to Palomino again and try something different the next time. Plus, they got great bread here =P.
(4)Paul D.
Decent place to meet up at night with a cool ambiance. Hit this place up while at a conference in Bellevue and staying at the Hyatt. Came in late and grabbed a place at the bar with a colleague. Good beers on tap and the artisan pizzas are pretty decent. Can't give it higher than 3 as it just seem standard fair to me.
(3)Matthew J.
Was only there for lunch. It was ok, nothing spectacular. My rating might go up if I get back there and get another peak. Soups were good, sandwich was ok. Service was pretty good even though the patio was packed.
(3)Megan V.
Three and a half stars is about right for this place. We used to come here somewhat regularly when we lived in Seattle and came back here during a recent visit. The food is always reliably decent, and they make decent drinks. If you go on a Friday night, the line usually isn't too incredibly long. Actually, it should probably be more crowded than it is.
(3)Sam H.
So we were in Seattle a week ago and a friend from our time living there took us to eat here for breakfast. The place was an all around "meh" Atmosphere? None. I was in downtown Bellevue, what can I expect? It was clean and stale, par for the course. The Food was big, but I was buried in salt. Perhaps breakfast just isn't their thing. Maybe one of these days when I am in Bellevue and Red Robin's atmosphere (perhaps the best in the area) seems to racous, I'll try their dinner...
(3)Eddie C.
We threw a 50 person wedding rehearsal dinner here a few weekends ago. The dinner and planning couldn't have gone any smoother. We reserved the back area and had 3 large communal tables set up. Our dinner was set for 6:30PM with the majority of the guests arriving at that time. Around 3PM, my brother and I had some concerns on the menu/bar we initially had planned for the dinner. We walked in and were introduced to the 2 managers who would be working that night, I believe their names were Daniel and Rebecca? They listened to our concerns, suggested alternatives, and quickly jumped to implement our very last minute changes. Having worked in restaurants and banquets myself for years, I know that last minute changes can be such a pain. However, Daniel and Rebecca were more then gracious. As the dinner started and guests started arriving, both managers and the servers were in constant contact with me asking if they could do anything. Our guests left happy, full, and a little buzzed! Highly recommend Palomino Rustico for large group events.
(5)Ray I.
Nothing too memorable. Just average fare. I would go somewhere else. Might be a nice environment to chill with friends and have a few drinks if you're in the area.
(2)Tom M.
Went here with the wife and teenage daughters after Christmas shopping at the mall. We all enjoyed our meals and wondered why we'd never been before. My daughter's pizza was excellent!
(4)Pam R.
The waiter did not acknowledge us for at least 15 minutes then when he came to the table he did not say hello just "are you ready to order". He did not bring water to the table until we asked even though the glasses were empty when he took our order. He did not bring steak knives until we asked a second time. Even though the food was good the service was terrible.
(1)Cathy R.
Love this place!!!! Awesome cracker thin crust pizza, great prices, and awesome bar tenders..... What more could you ask for?
(5)Olivia H.
This review is a little overdue, but I thought I would update since my last visit. We decided to make reservations here for Thanksgiving dinner because we had a small party of 4 and thought it would be nice not to cook or deal with dishes. My last meal here was awesome, so I naturally thought it was a good idea. The advertised meal sounded so yummy and gourmet and it was a bit of a let down. I'm guessing because the meal wasn't made to order and they had it all pre-made for the large amount of people that would be ordering the same dish of turkey, sausage stuffing and potatoes. I'm not sure what the other dishes were like because we all ordered the same thing. Here are my notes. Turkey was okay, but more than half was dark meat, which was disappointing since I hate dark meat. The sausage was decent, but nothing too spectacular. I have had better. The potatoes were good, but it is hard to mess them up. There were veggies, but a very small portion for what I would have expected. I think we spent $26/plate for the turkey dinner and I think it was a ripoff. I have had the turkey dinner at Claim Jumpers and it was a lot better, larger portion, white meat only and wasn't as expensive. We also got appetizers, wine and dessert, so our bill came to close to $200 bucks. We didn't complain and left a decent tip because is was Thanksgiving and I was trying to be grateful for what we had. But any other given day I would have complained. So, I'm a bit conflicted now because I had an awesome experience and a not so awesome experience. I guess the next time will be the decider.
(2)Sandy L.
First time to this restaurant. | start to believe my 6th sense that any restaurant on the eastside i haven't never been to in the past may have some reasons to keep me away from there. This is right!! First impression walking in Palomino is nice comtemporary decor then guess what NOISY very very noisy...Not the fact i was there meeting my friend, i must have gone away. I never complaint about the price of the food. Bottom line is it is better live up with the quality. Palmino located in heart of Bellevue, $20 some for pasta is acceptable. However, presentation is lacking on my angel hair spaghetti with shrimp in tomato based sauce, forget how they called it there. Shrimps are not fresh, kind of mushy, spaghetti is overcooked, tomato sauce is tasteless. The whole dish is horrible even Healthy Choice TV dinner is better. Service is below average, pushy to order and pay the check. I will never go back, not impressed with the menu, all other food doesn't seem Italian enough for me, the biggest plus is location, decor and lot of poeple, meaning greater atmosphere maybe. Palomino just reminds me CheeseCake Factory across the street, nice decor, huge menu, lot of people waiting. But sorry quality doesn't exist.
(2)Emma F.
Most of the time my fiancé and I go there for their happy hour and have only been for dinner once. Seeing as those where two different experiences altogether, I will break it down into two sections. Happy Hour. Food: We basically go there for the pizza's and flatbreads. They are doing happy hour all day so you can get a great lunch for only 10 bucks (pizza and a glass of wine). The pizza's are out of this world. They are thin, and I mean really thin. The best we have had so far are the Mushroom and Goat Cheese pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza. We tend to neglect the rest of the app menu as we can't even finish our pizza but the bean dip was good the time we got it. I haven't tried the gorgonzola potatoes but I am very intrigues by them. Wine: I don't mean to sound like a snob, I like pretty much all kinds of wine, but I HATE a small or restricted wine list. I am into the local wine scene just as much as the next person. Heck I even belong to a local winery's wine club. However, I don't see why that means I can't enjoy a good Spanish wine, or three. Here I can and with their 25 bottles for $25 dollars and wine flights I can sample different wines or share a bottle with a friend. Add to this that their house wine is actually drinkable and only $4 on their happy hour menu and I am a VERY happy lady. Service: Happy hour servers can be short, busy and flat out rude as they don't expect a tip and think you are only there because you are cheap. This has NEVER been the case here. Heck we went there the other day to plan our rehearsal dinner wine choices and the waiter must have poured us 5 or 6 FREE "small pours" so we could sample the wines. Not only that, but he knew more about wine than the Sommelier at Artisanal and had less than half the attitude. Friendly and knowledgeable plus free wine = epic win. Atmosphere: The bar is actually very nice. It has energy near the bar, but not so much it spills into the seats surrounding the bar. My favorites are the low armless couch like chairs with small tables. Feels a bit like being in Ancient Rome reclining on a couch enjoying a royal feast, lol. Price: Really, you can't beat 5 and 7 dollar pizzas and 4 dollar cocktails. Hell, it's cheaper than McDonalds but it's real food... Dinner: Food: The food is usually very good. You can get the same pizzas and appetizers from the Happy Hour menu but at dinner prices. As such I went with the Lamb Shank. It was very good and the lamb just melted off the bone. I even got some marrow in the shank bone which added a great deal to the well braised dish. Wine: Same as above. Service: Again, very friendly as above. We where a large party and the server never missed a beat, professional and courteous with a fun attitude. Atmosphere: I like the dark, romantic feel of the restaurant. It has a more intimate feel than the bar but then again it doesn't have the couches. Price: The prices here are pretty good. It's moderately priced, especially for Bellevue and defiantly a good value given the quality of the food. Frankly it's not much more than you would pay at Olive Garden with food that is 100 times better. It doesn't come with free salad and breadsticks though.. which for me is good as I don't need all those extra calories or salt. All in all Palomino is one of the better restaurants in Bellevue and after Tutta Bella's tragic (ok well it was tragic for me at least) recipe change, possibly the best pizza in the Seattle area and defiantly the best priced pizza. Hell it's cheaper than Dominoes! I went for the price and keep coming back for the food, wine and ambiance.
(5)Arry Y.
Been here for lunch and for happy hour/snacks. Awesome happy hour - the happy hour is ALL DAY! (+points) Prices are cheap. I especially liked their grilled mushroom salad, prosciutto pizza, and crab/artichoke dip. (+points) We got a bottle of bubbly for fun too. It's close/walking distance to a bunch of stuff in Bellevue (+points). Not exactly fancy or unique - but good value and fun (especially when you're out with good friends/people). Easy, convenient, good prices, decent food, good fun.
(3)Jaime D.
Went here on a friday night during happy hour! Parking: Great cause its in down town and no problem finding a spot in the garage and it was validated. Interior: Great ambiance with nice decor. It wasnt busy so it didnt get noisy. The booth was sticky though. Food: Was affordable, the burchetta was good, the pizza was rockin, and the drinks was delicious. The mushroom salad was also bomb. No complaints. Definitely a nice little spot to head out to during happy hour. I love bellevue.
(4)Jack R.
Went to dinner with my family for our traditional pre-Christmas get together, just 6 of us. Between the service and the bad food that we received, I will never be back to this place. Spending $200 and getting such a louzy meal, there is no excuse for this in my opinion,Cold food, under cooked meat, overcooked pork and bad service. I have eaten at Palomino many times before, this was my last time, what a way to ruin an evening.
(1)Allan G.
I love happy hour here, the food is pretty good and inexpensive enough to order a bunch of items to have a good time. The only problem is, it seems like everyone else knows about the happy hour too, so it's hard to find a spot during really busy times of the day (or even the weekend) The crab and artichoke dip is delicious, tasted a lot better than expected, and the pizza's were so good that we ended up ordering another round of pizzas after eating two of them. (there was five of us) The cross-cut fries were also worth mentioning, but don't expect something glorious.
(4)Eli W.
Two star.. nah one star. This is the first time my family has decided to eat out for Thanksgiving (due to time constraints on everyone's account); and after the meal at Palomino, the last . We came here for Thanksgiving and you'd think for the $27 Turkey Dinner you'd be getting a well portioned quality meal OR a large portion of mediocre turkey and gravy. I would have been good with either, however what we got was a small serving of super dry turkey and instant mashed potatoes, yes instant. Hungry Man does a turkey dinner better than Palomino. Unfortunately, Palomino exemplifies the restaurants in downtown Bellevue, aesthetically pleasing food and restaurant venues, however definitely lacking in the quality of food e.g., Z'Tejas, Cheesecake Factory, etc. There were servers running all around, however it was a chore to flag anyone down. Also, they ran out of cranberry sauce at about 5:30pm and later came back saying "we have created a new batch," which was clearly canned cranberry sauce distinctly different from their made in-house sauce from before. Funny thing is, I liked the canned sauce more. I understand that they have a happy hour that begins early and runs on until forever, that is what the one star is for. I've been here for the happy hour and I have to say, the price is pretty good, however I have never been impressed with the food. low-end to mediocre is what comes to mind when I think about the food served during HH.
(1)Nina H.
I'm surprised it took me so long to come here for a meal! But nevertheless, I finally made it to their happy hour. I love how it's all day happy hour from Sun-Thurs, that's really helpful for those for work full-time. I ordered the cranberry mojito and that was pretty tasty, a little on the sweet side but bearable and definitely cheap for $4. I also ordered the pepperoni pizza which I kind of regret because it ended up being SO greasy but I was starving so I needed my meat so I devoured the whole thing anyway. I'm pretty beastly when it comes to eating, I'll admit. But $5 for a pizza is pretty durn good. The service was kind of MEH. All that salt from my pizza really made me thirsty but the waitress never refilled my water at all. I mean she kept coming by to check up on things to see if everything was alright and of course we give the usual nod but she didn't fill me up! Lame. I'm normally not a huge fan of American happy hour foods because it's either fried or really greasy and this reminds me why I don't like it, unfortunately. But three stars for the cheapness of cocktails and meaty satisfaction!
(3)KC A.
We've eaten here dozens of times. But last two experiences in the evening have been poor. Tonight one of the most disappointing dining experiences ever. Classy restaurant, not. Noisy bar scene. Had to yell for server to hear my order. They could not hold cheese off pre made salad. Menu items not available. Sticky tables. Bad service. Cackling and noisy folks in bar. Thought I was in kent for a moment. Thought about going to cheese cake factory for classier experience Two strikes.
(1)Paul L.
I confess; I've never eaten dinner there. Why would you, when the happy hour is the best. Palominos' continued prosperity among the ferocious competition at the heart of Bellevue is a testament to the quality and the value it provides. There are four keys to its success: time, liquor, food, and ambience. Time: HH 9pm - close, every day The late night HH at most other places start later or not at all; some do not have HH during the weekend. (Time is the major drawback of the Parlor an otherwise lively places: too late and no weekend). Liquor: Wines, beers, and specialty drinks Most places do not offer liquor during happy hour or only a few choices; Palominos delivers an excellent selection of drinks. As far as I know, they are the only place to offer a Mojito for HH (it is very good), and the wine is an excellent value at $4. (Liquor is the major drawback of Blue C (1 beer), McCormick (none), and Tap House (none)) Food: thin crispy pizzas, mussels, clams, and more Their food is very good and a terrific value. The seafood's quality is better than McCormick. The other items are less greasy and generally better quality than Parlor & co. I also appreciate the wide selection. Ambience: classy, with noise at talking level This may be personal preference thing, but I dislike really loud places where you can't hear the person across from you. This is a huge problem for several places: Lucky Strikes (DJ during the weekends), 0/8 (Jazz band), Parlor (night club during weekends), even Charlie's has this problem. We can actually carry on conversations at Palominos: a big plus. The fact that it is nicely appointed (wood furniture with blown glass atop the bars) and lit just right (dark enough) are bonuses.
(5)Kayla H.
Want a place with a LEGIT happy hour in BELLEVUE? Well look no further. I don't know what it is but the little $5 pepperoni pizza is AMAZING! I also like the veggie one with just mozzerella and tomato basil. But the soul reason I would go there is for their Raspberry Mojito. I could easily suck 3 of those babies down in 5 mins flat. This is where me and my girls always go hands down. The only bad thing is that it is just in the bar and tables are come first come first served so get there early cuz unlike the Seattle location, this one is smaller.
(5)Peter T.
Went during happy hour on a Saturday around 730 and found seats very quickly. Drink selection for HH was rather small, but the beer was quite good. Food wise, we had the croquettes and the Italian & Mushroom pizza. The food was okay, but I've definitely had better at HH at other places. I would eat here again, if I was in the area, but it wouldn't be a place where I'd go out of my way for.
(3)Kate Y.
I went there for "happy hour" on a sat night with a friend. I definitely loved this place. Even though it was happy hour but drinks & food quality were very great with a cheaper price. Usually I care food much more than drinks because I want it as good as it's served for dining.And they didn't disappoint me at all!And one thing I loved the most was its a place that you are able to talk and enjoy having a great time with your friends. I just liked the atmosphere at Palomino.
(4)Jan M.
I mainly come here for happy hour. Their happy hour selection is great and it's not to hard to get sitting. I also think it's a good place to have a date because atmosphere is great. Their cranberry mojito is good :)
(4)Erik A.
Happy hour here changed my life. So we bought a car, a car that maybe had a few problems (it was used), a few problems that lucky for me were still covered under warranty. Sadly, the closest place we could get warranty work on this car was all the way down in Bellevue (not to brag). So we take the whip down there, still reeking of "new to us" car smell, with all of it's rattles, creaks, and looming future payments for our early morning appointment. A good husband always schedules an "early appointment" two hours from his home while knowing his wife is a Night Badger(owl). We get to the dealership, they tell us it will take a while and then offer to deposit us at the mall (bell square). Being the starry eyed country hicks that we are, we nod in slack jawed amazement, so many people in one place.... wwwwwooooooowwwww Thirty minutes later i remember why i live on an Island, and after a fast trek through the Bellevue Art Gallery (or museum, whatever, this is not abotu that) we are hungry. By this time i had been on my feet for WAAAAAY too long for a guy who is effectively on vacation for half his life. I need rest, succor, and a dimly lit room, preferably with an overabundance of bamboo. SO there we were, fending off free bible books from the unwashed, nearly, NEARLY on our last legs. Neither of our semi-smart phones have chirped in the very least to notify that our car is done, and deep down inside i am bitching for a fruity drink. Enter the palomino. This place was called something equally forgettable last year when we swung by, who knows. I blindly ran to a booth and sat down, daring the server to pull me from my chair. A chair that was slowly, amoeba-like sucking me in to it's digestive tract. Maybe, MAYBE the most comfortable chair in the world, and this is from a guy who does A LOT of chair sitting. I went from near standing to a quasi-prone seating position over the course of 5 minutes or so as the chair in a comfortably glacial pace gave me just what daddy wanted. Come to find out we came in at ground zero of happy hour. Money. I freely, proudly, and shamelessly ordered something called a "cranberry mojito" i then sucked it down to the very last sugary drop and demanded another. I also had a tasty little thin crust pizza show up, with all kinds of lovely bits strewn around it. I wolfed the pizza down, and even managed to reclaim the piece i gave to my wife after she turned her nose at it (there is a joke here, but i want to not sleep on the couch tonight). The drinks: great My little happy hour pizza: effing groovy. Once i got the battery to my phone back /glare i noticed that indeed the car was fixed and we would have to make our way back. Were it not for that minor detail, i would still be there right now, drinking cranberry mojitos with my head held high.
(4)Melissa B.
Although the food is good, the Palimino gets super busy very quick and parking can be rather difficult to find if you come passed 7pm (even on a week night). Since the resturante is so busy, its also rather loud.
(3)Flora C.
All-Day Happy Hour (except Friday)! Nothing beats that. Service is always good. Food is good as well. The only thing I complaint about is the amount of MSG in their food, especially pizza. Why I know? I am always so thirsty after dinning there.
(4)Annie F.
Have been here 3 times now and it is one of the best happy hours on the Eastside being that it is everyday and all day! It can get very busy in the bar area though but it has one of the largest that I've ever seen which is fitting for their happy hour. They have $4 drink specials, $5 Pizzas and 1/2 off all appetizers. We have had the Candied Apple Drop, Cranberry Mojito, Pomegranite Margarita, Calamari Fritto, Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Mushroom Sausage Pizza, and their donuts for dessert. See my photos for reference. All very yummy and a great deal for the price. Service is mixed each time we've come, great the first time, so-so the second and slow and kinda rude the third time. Overall, the drinks are great and the food is good.
(5)Arianne R.
Forget everything else, it's really just about the happy hour here. Well, the happy hour and the incredibly adorable server who we were lucky enough to have at our table this afternoon-- I wish that I could remember her name, but I'm notoriously bad in that area. All I remember is blond, adorable, and the fact that she asked me for ID when I ordered my Cranberry Mojito (which instantly made me a fan). I think that I'll show the Mojito a bit of love here, as the food really wasn't anything that I'm looking to repeat. Sort of the 'meh' of mid-1990's fare served (unironically) in a space reminiscent of your local Crate & Barrel. Honestly, it felt as though bamboo was being stockpiled for armageddon in this place. The one thing that was awesome (although a tad bit awkward-- especially after a goodly amount of the aforementioned Mojito) was the super-plush lounge chairs. After basically falling into one, it took quite a bit to remove myself from it-- if pressed, I could probably remain comfortably in that thing through armageddon and the ensuing bamboo riots. But I digress... Mojito. Lots of fresh mint-- which made me ridiculously happy. The glasses were tall and reminded me of Bellini glasses at Milestones (minus the plastic animals, of course-- but how cool would THAT have been?) Unfortunately, the last time that I saw glasses of that description were during the days of my wild youth, which roughly places them in the late 1990's. They were not so much fun to wrestle with as I remember-- although that may have had more to do with my relative blood alcohol level rather than my advancing years. The only annoying thing was some impromptu kid-noise. Luckily they were mostly muffled by the bamboo forest, and so it wasn't overly irritating.
(3)Linh P.
HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY, EVERYDAY? Yes please! Mussels are delicious! The creamy, buttery dipping sauce they serve with it can't be good for you...
(3)Lauren H.
Tried Palomino for happy hour last week. The Potatoes Gorgonzola were delish as was the pepperoni pizza--and you couldn't beat those prices! My husband and I ate and drank for less than $25! The down side is that my margarita was served in a small old-fashioned style glass. Who serves blended margaritas in a glass as small as an old-fashioned?! I felt like I wasn't getting a deal on my blended drink because I was paying half of the normal price for half of the normal size. That's not necessarily a deal. :\ I'll return to happy hour for the food, but not necessarily for the mixed drinks.
(3)Heather H.
Went here with high-hopes because of the location, the word of mouth reviews I've heard, and the price. I expected better for what I got. I went with a group of 3 other people. The Filet was delicious but pricey. I don't mind paying a higher price for an average steak if the service and ambiance makes up for it. I know it pays to look good. The service was okay, I think the girl was a little stressed. One person at the table ordered a large Caesar salad as the meal, and another person ordered a small Caesar salad to accompany the Filet entree. Both Caesars were served before the entree's and were the same size. Would've been nice to know that there is only one size of salad. Also, there is no way that salad was worth the $8 they charge for it. All that said it was just a bit below average maybe a possibility of returning again. What changed our minds about ever returning was when we saw the bartender reach for a scoop of ice cream that had fallen on his floor mat and place the scoop IN the blender to be sent to the customer. I did hope that maybe he really put the scoop in the sink which was very close to where the blender was kept. I am confident this did not happen because of the way he and a server were snickering about the situation and because he never got another scoop to put in the blender.
(2)Richard L.
What a nice dining experience! Great service from Isaac who treated us like royalty! The truffled deviled egg appetizer was excellent, but order one for each person! They're that good! The mushroom soup was great on a cool wet evening! I had the gnocchi with braised lamb which was really rich and wholesome! The gnocchi were perfectly made. My wife had the scallops which were lighter fair of which I got one bite. It was an excellent meal with superb service! Thanks Palomino!
(4)Jason O.
Sat in the bar and the service and food was delicious!! We went during Snowflake lane and we got a seat right away and food soon after...
(5)Hemanth B.
Reservations are required..tends to get super busy during the weekends...Came her for dinner and we had Chicken Marsala and Lamb Shank ,both were delicious and tasty..would definitely come back
(4)Poulina K.
Fantastic Sunday Brunch and all day HH in the bar! Brunch features $5 make your own Bloody Mary bar. So many options for sauces and garnishes I was in a bloody booze heaven! My gf and I shared a meat plate with a cheese plate. 3 choices of cured meats and 3 choices of a wide variety of cheeses. Doesn't sound like much, however portions are generous and since it's a pretty rich fair our bellies were happily satisfied. I will have to come back and try one of their egg dish or flat bread creations.
(4)Esther S.
My husband and I went there last night because I got a free entree for my birthday from them in the mail. We started off with the crab cakes (awesome!!!) and some house made bread. Loved the bread with the Bruschetta to go on top! The prices were really reasonable. I got the Chicken Parmesan (Free) and it was delicious. Hubs got the Peperoni Pizza. It was really good as well. Thin crust but very flavorful and only $12. The waiter also brought us a complimentary dessert for my birthday. Some kind of chocolate Tiramisu that was wonderful! We ate every last bite. I think we left paying $36 (w/tip) for an appetizer, 2 entrees and dessert. Not bad at all! Will definitely go back.
(4)Stephanie C.
Happy hour all day... must I say more? 6 dollar pizzas, 8 dollar flat breads, appetizer specials, drink specials... I'm a fan. It's probably the go-to Bellevue spot... every time I'm here the bar is jam packed full of people, but we manage to find a spot every time. Definitely can't find the prissy elitists one would find around the corner... ahem!
(4)Sarah Z.
Great cheerful service, Every Time.
(4)Hailee G.
I would ideally like to give this location of Palomino 5 stars for the regular restaurant, and 3 stars for happy hour. In the main area of the restaurant, you can't go wrong with what you order!! The food is so delicious! Last time I was there I had the scallops and they were FANTASTIC! Also the chop salad is wonderful... and the service is always great. The happy hour is nice too. Even when there's a line, they're very attentive and try to seat people as quickly as possible, The specialty cocktails they offer are all delicious too! My issue with the Bellevue happy hour is the lack of variety. (Seattle Palomino offers much more happy hour variety). The only things to get during happy hour that don't have any pig product are: Potatoes Gorgonzola (so amazing, but so fried and fattening!), White Bean Dip (comes with yummy crackers and veggies, extremely garlicy), the Mushroom salad (also tasty but not super filling), and the tomato basil pizza (delicious as well). All of the non-pork items are yummy, they just get old when you come here as often as I do and watch your friends eating sausage pizza, pulled pork sandwiches, meatballs, etc.... hearty and filling dishes. Also, last time I was there the server seemed to be annoyed with us.... the only time my service at Palomino hasn't been excellent. So If you want the best impression of Palomino that you can get, I suggest going to the downtown Seattle location.
(4)Robert L.
Came in with high expectations for a Sunday brunch, but the food was clearly very mediocre. Took the server forever to get us some glasses of water. Didn't take our order until 15min later on a not so busy morning. Then when the food finally came, it was tasteless, bland, and too buttery. I've made better pancakes at home! Super disappointed to say the least.
(1)C B.
Great ambiance out on the patio. However, the announcement -- still on Yelp as of today -- about the restaurant's happy hour on the patio is wrong. It used to be from 3 until close; now it is only until 6. This didn't help is as we showed up after 9 on the patio. But otherwise a fabulous time. Would give this four stars if the advertisement and actuality corresponded.
(3)James T.
All day happy hour in the bar is amazing, and their food is pretty good too. Pizza's ($6) have a paper thin crust but they're big and the toppings are good. Wasn't sure if was just a fluke but I noticed that you don't need to order an alcoholic drink to get happy hour pricing on food. YMMV though.
(4)Lisa N.
Happy hour goes on all day, everyday (bar only). This proves to be a bit of a problem during peak happy hour/dinner times as the bar fills up insanely quickly since most other Eastside happy hours end at 6. My friend and I came in to check it out and couldn't find seats anywhere, so we wandered down to Maggiano's before coming back. We finally stalked a couple of people who looked like they were ready to leave and stole their bar seats until a booth opened up. The happy hour menu is unimpressive, with prices averaging around $8 per item. They offer a variety of flatbreads and pizzas for $6 or $8 but none of them really piqued my interest. We decided on an order of clams ($9) and the potatoes and gorgonzola ($6) which turned out to just be waffle fries covered with, well, gorgonzola. Draft beers and happy hour wine glasses are $4 which isn't too different from most other bars and the selection left much to be desired (your typical Manny's, Stella, Mac & Jack's, Widmer, Guinness, etc). The fries were crispy, but felt like biting into little pockets of grease smothered in mostly unflavoured cheese. The actual chunks of gorgonzola were good, but sparse. I did enjoy the clams a lot, but the crostini(?) that it came with was soaked in oil as well-- unsatisfying to dip into the (yummy) wine sauce. With mediocre happy hour prices (it was more like somewhat-satisfied hour) and mediocre food (it beats Red Robin) paired with their apparent lack of bar seating, I'd recommend putting it a few spaces lower on your list. Although Palomino is easily accessible in its prime Lincoln Square location, there are so many other restaurants in the area that I don't see why it'd stand out.
(2)Ponarett X.
I am so so glad I discovered that they have an all day happy hour Sun-Thurs...at least for the summer anyway. Their happy hour prices and selection are great! The pizzas are $5 and a large variety of appetizers are half off. The sausage and mushroom pizza is so tasty! I love the sausage; meaty and spicy. The sausage was plentiful, but I had to search for pieces of mushroom. For $5 this is a really good deal...it's not worth the full price. I also had the gorgonzola fries - waffle fries topped with a gorgonzola cream sauce. They were okay. The fries themselves were nothing special and the cheese sauce wasn't very gorgonzola-y. Lastly, I ordered calamari. The best part about this dish is that you get a heaping pile of deep fried squid goodness! I can't wait to go back and try the fondue and mussels and more pizzas!
(4)EdandMel B.
Palominos deleted my review that I posted on Facebook. So I will post here. My wife and I went there on a Sunday evening a few weeks ago. The service was pretty bad and the restaurant was not overly crowded. We sat for so long with empty water glasses that I just grabbed one of the pitchers and refilled our glasess myself. Needless to say, the waitress didn't get the hint.
(1)Mary M.
Maggiano Little Italy was booked on reservations so we decided to do girls night holiday dinner here. Prices = sucked Food = Sucked Service = Super sucked! The only good part about the night was that we had the entire back room to ourselves and enjoyed each others company. Well we could of done that elsewhere and had better food also. Never again!
(1)Jim T.
First time at Palomino. We've passed by many a time, but thought we'd make reservations for a special occasion and give it a go. The floor and wait staff are wonderful. Everyone is friendly and the manager came over to welcome us. Nice touch. The atmosphere is very warm and comfortable. I started with a gin and tonic. Nice, tall glass with Tangueray and lime. Very tasty. I ordered a Caesar salad as a starter. The salad arrived cold and crisp, but its color was gray--not very appealing. It's flavor was worse than its appearance. The main flavor was an overwhelming taste of vinegar and black pepper. The croutons were nice and crunchy, but that's the best I can say about it. I ate about a third and set it aside. The waiter asked if I was done and took it away without asking how it was. I was surprised at that. Never got to comment on the salad. For an entree, my wife ordered the rotisserie prime rib, medium rare. I ordered the medallions of filet mignon, medium rare/medium. Our son ordered a flat bread. The entrees took a while to arrive. This was surprising given that it was Sunday night and there were very few people in the dining room. The prime rib look very unappealing. We're used to seeing a nice, pink slab of meat, but this was sort of mauve and gray, or something. It tasted like pot roast. I've never tasted a prime rib that had that sort of flavor. Odd. My wife commented that she's had better meat at Claim Jumper, at half the price. I cut into my filet and they were well done. The waiter took it back and I watched as my son and wife ate their dinners. My wife liked the cheesy mashed potatoes that she had substitued for the rustic vegetables. My son was fine with the flat bread, but at 14 he's not very discerning and will eat almost anything that resembles pizza. When my meal finally arrived again, the steaks were cooked properly, and fortunately the side dishes were freshly made, as well. The steak was tender. However, I was not a fan of this steak. First of all, I'm not sure why they would slice a filet so thin. It's no wonder they had trouble getting the temperature right. But worse, the seasoning was way over the top. (This was true of the prime rib, as well). By the time I was finished eating, I felt like someone had taken a pepper grinder and operated it over my extended tongue for some time. It was impossible to taste anything like steak because the seasoning was just overwhelming. The sauteed spinach was tasty, but had about twice as much garlic as necessary. The potatoes Lucido, which were little, baby roasted red potatoes, were perfect and delicious...the main thing I liked about the meal. The manager took my meal off the check without my asking. They also gave us a free dessert (a birthday gift). The dessert was vanilla ice cream and a chocolate cake with a melted center. The ice cream had crunchy ice crystals in it, near as I can tell. The cake was okay, but would have benefitted from being a bit sweeter. The raspberries were nice when dipped in the melted chocolate. I almost feel bad for this review because the management seems to run a nice dining room and the floor staff were lovely. However, the food just isn't to our liking and we won't return. Palomino isn't the most expensive restaurant in Bellevue, but it's not cheap, either. In this price range, we want to love our dinner, not simply endure it.
(2)Rebecca L.
i used to call Palomino my italian stallion/my boyfriend because i loved/love this place. Their happy hour menu is great ($5 pizza, get the proscuitto and tomatoes or the sausage and fungi) their drinks are great (get the mojitos) and their ambiance is contemporary/warm and is only a five minute drive from my house. There was one week, that i came here every night and let me tell you, he delivered every time. The food is really spectacular as you can taste the freshness of the ingredients and harmony of spices. what can i say? he knows my taste! I must admit that the staff can be at times forgetful, but what can you expect at such a busy place? *sighs* to be honest, i have waited more than 6 months to write a review of this place because i didn't want to wait to get a table during happy hour... but it has/is busy now. BUT the wait staff is awesome. He really looks for a table for you and gets you seated ASAP. it's great. i love the staff, i love this place. but alas, i actually do have a real boyfriend now and i said good bye to my palomino (as i feared it would cause me to lose a real relationship from all the weight i would gain by frequenting this place). but i do go there for late night... happy hours... once in a while. ;) so if you're in bellevue or near a palomino, i suggest you go there. you will not be dissappointed.
(5)Christina S.
It's usually always extremely packed here for happy hour but since we went a little late........on a Wednesday night it was perfect! We ordered the clams and the mussels and they were great! I was impressed by the Basil Gimlet, usually not my thing but boy was it tasty! Tasty enough to order two of them.......I would've had more but I was doing the whole responsible adult thing for the night. One of my girls got a mojito and that was delicious as well. Great selection of food and drinks for happy hour, good place to people watch too ;)
(4)Patrick L.
I haven't yet sat down for a "real" meal here, just happy hour, which is now all day Sun-Thurs! It's still on at the usual times on Fri/Sat too. Blame it on the economy, but score for us! Their happy hour menu is great, from drafts to the selection of food. Everything from the 1/2 off appetizers to the $5 wafer thin pizzas are good. One of my favorite happy hour spots at the moment. I love that they have plenty of outdoor seating at this location. Free parking in Lincoln Square also makes it much more convenient than the dtown Seattle location.
(4)Peter D.
Disappointing breakfast. I was uninspired here by what we were served. I ordered the Creme Brulee French Toast. Sounds good right? Well talk about disappointment when the plate showed up. 3 slices of sandwhich bread on a plate. No butter or anything else. No real sugar dusting. Nothing to make me think this is anything but shit food. I know what french toast should be. Just eat at Macrina Bakery in Belltown and you will understand. There were 5 or 6 little raspberries on the plate. What a joke. Looking around the table, omelettes were denny's like. Looked better than what I had but not amazing. I actually think I liked it better when this was Manzana. The food was better which is surprising. I say this on more than just the breakfast since this is not my first stop here but I dont think its living up to the Downtown restaurant. There is just something wrong here that for the money this is what they are serving. Coworkers have complained that this is also not very good. A restaurant has to be greater than a happy hour.
(2)Nina C.
Well place is no e for couple drinks with friends but.... We decided to have family nice dinner and portions are very very small. I was after hard working day and was hoping to have some pasta but plate they brought had les then 20 noodles for 14$ ? Left place hungry as I was when I entered the place.
(1)Dominique S.
I decided to try happy hour one night because I had missed most in the area that end at 6pm. I didn't try the food but the pomegranate margarita was delicious! Good balance of tart and sweet. The bartenders were fast and friendly. Will be back again!
(4)Chrystina S.
My parents stayed at the Westin and we met them for breakfast. The hotel sent us here for breakfast. The service was slow and rude. Our food for 4 took over 45 mins on a Monday morning. We will not be returning.
(2)Ednalyn M.
I've been here multiple times for dinner and for HH. This review is going to be for HH The staff there is nice and very attentive, they checked on my group every now and then. The drinks are great! The cranberry mojito is my favorite. It's very fresh! But sometimes it's filled with too much ice. They have a good selection for food from fries, to pizza and calamari. All awesome! The sausage and mushroom pizza is a little spicy which I like and it's a good size. The fries are thin, crispy and salty. The caramelized cauliflower is one of my favorites! It's roasted in cheese and butter, what's not to like? Best part is their happy hour is ALL DAY. Yes all day.
(4)Chris K.
This restaurant is great. We have always come here when Joeys is booked and haven't been disappointed yet. This time we had ordered our starters, a little slow in coming out, and a communication from the waiter would have been nice, just a quick update. When the crab cakes eventually came out... uh, the worst thing, and I can't stand it and the sight of it grosses me out, is a... HAIR cooked into my crab cake. I have had this happened before at different restaurants before, HOWEVER this was the first time I have EVER been treated so nicely and courteously about it. The manager came out in under two minutes apologized offered another round of crab cakes and dessert for no charge to us. Unbelievable. Most places i have been too, and i have been to a lot of places in my time, usually stand there as if I plucked my eyebrow and placed it in their food, and falsely accuse them. It happens, restaurants aren't perfect, yet they served me right and took care of me. I know there are different angles and perspectives on this problem, however I felt they did great in the way they took care of it. They took FULL responsibility of it. Thank you and we will be back. We like the service and the atmosphere.
(5)Jessica W.
Went for happy hour. Mushroom salad was great, service went downhill from there. Server basically ignored us after our first set of food/drinks. Artisan bread was not artisan: it is really hard to slice and I think I could make better bread. Palomino used to be great...come on guys!
(2)Glenda J.
This place works very hard to make things right. I respect that and I'm loyal to them. I just wish that things weren't hit and miss. Charred kale salad: golden raisins, pumpkin seeds, Pecorini Romano, quinoa, truffle onion vinaigrette: sounds delicious however this did not meet my expectations. What I'd experienced was limp kale soaked in olive oil. I didn't taste the quinoa. Thought the pumpkins seeds could be roasted. All in all this salad was over powered by the dressing. Seared Ling cod: caramelized cauliflower, saffron tomato broth, arugula, pickled fennel salad- oh, delicious! Fennel crusted flank steak: warm potato salad, artichoke salad: delicious!!! Had reservations about the warm potato salad which turned out to be baby potatoes in some rich dressing. Kudos for their efforts to offering creative healthy menu items. Will return for their steak and cod. I've never had bad service, although one of the waitresses insisted I wasn't a rewards member.....but that's another story in itself....
(4)Vivian W.
Tip: The Groupon does not work with their All Day Happy Hour Prices. I would not recommend getting the Groupon as the Happy Hour prices are already well discounted but with a Groupon, you will have to pay the full price. Happy Hour portions are just as big as the regular portions. I bought a Groupon 25 for 50 at this location. I was excited to try out their Happy Hour Menu as it is quite popular on Yelp. We came in, sat in the bar. Since our Groupon did not work for the Happy Hour Menu prices, I ordered mostly off of the regular menu. We had the Crab Artichoke dip which was amazing. Their thin crusted pizza was also pretty good. The crust was super thin to the point of crunchy. We did not realize how big their portions are, by the time we finished the appetizers, we couldn't find room for the rest of the entrees. I tried the steak. It was good but not well seasoned in my opinion. The Rustico burger looked really good but we were so full to the point that we had to pack up the whole thing to go. Overall, I believe this is a very good happy hour place as they do have a huge HH menu and the prices are great!
(4)Catherine C.
Not so busy on a Thursday evening. I was expecting more from this place but left disappointed, even my kids didn't like it. Here are a few bullet points on what the main problem was: - Kids capellini w Alfredo sauce (not enough sauce/flavor) according to my kids - Chicken Parmesan was too sour - Calamari had too much batter and barely any squid inside - Something went wrong with my crab and artichoke dip, it was fishy Other than that, an Asian guy (who I think might be someone in charge) had offered us to sit anywhere we wanted (besides the bar of course) was very kind, even conversed with my girls and came back a couple of times to ask how things were and always had a smile on his face every time he walked by same goes with our server. Because their customer service was so great, it is one of the reasons why I didn't bother complaining about the food. Their customer service was excellent, but I probably won't be coming back. I give them 5 stars for customer service and 2 stars for the food. :(
(3)Esther W.
I rather liked this place. Typical food range of $20-30 for dinner entrees with a killer happy hour selection, including one of the best mojitos served, and to top it off for dessert-- one of the most delicious tiramisu I have ever had. When you come in you're greeted with great smiles from very nice hostesses. If the wait time is a while you can check out their book collection to the right of recipe and food books. My friends ordered the pasta but I got the burger, which I have to admit, was juicy in every bite! I had ordered a medium, but it was more raw than it was medium (I had tasted raw meat towards the center. I wasn't too pleased, but it didn't get in the way of the flavours). But the tiramisu was absolutely mindblowingly good. I don't know what is in the cream sauce but it's simple amazing. The texture is soft and so dense at the same time. I highly recommend it. Needless to say, I would be back for a burger or happy hour eats. Or just for the tiramisu and wine to be honest.
(4)Debra B.
I don't understand the lower-ratings in the reviews. I can't believe a restaurant can knock it out if the park for us while others find them meh. The food was amazing. We both had the fennel-crusted flank steak with warm potato salad ($18 - what a deal!) and shared a side of roasted cauliflower ($5). The steak was cooked perfectly medium-rare as ordered. The warm potato salad - amazing!!! Hubby had the old fashion (make it a double - same price?!) and I had the dark & stormy (made with Gosling's rum - not a well brand). The bar kicked it with our cocktails! Our server, Sean, was friendly, attentive and efficient. The service was great. Nothing less than an ideal dining experience for us. Better yet, we used a Groupon so we ended up paying about 40% less than menus prices, which were already very reasonable.
(5)Katy H.
Woah Nelly! This Palomino is a total 180 from others I've visited. If you haven't been here in over a year, you owe it to yourself to come back in and enjoy the complete facelift the space has gotten. It's bright, it's light, and it's so much cozier without the dark heavy furniture and carpeting. I knew I was in for a treat when I was greeted by the hostess who's stationed just in front of a large herb garden welcomed us into the new space. Yes, that's right, there's an herb garden inside the restaurant! It's not huge but it's cute and it's a clear sign that the focus here is on local. You can't get much more local than herbs that grow 50 ft from the kitchen. Also noticeable was a gorgeous chalkboard wall that extends the entire length and height of the west facing wall of the restaurant. It's all hand drawn and there's everything on there from the menu to happy hour specials to upcoming events, and even fun facts about food, Bellevue, and the Palomino brand. It's really absolutely genius and I spent a lot of my Happy Hour here just looking at that wall. But people come here to eat/drink, right? So I'll get to that too! The HH menu (as always) is insane. You're practically robbing the restaurant if you eat here. Portions are huge and prices are tiny. The meatballs and the bruschetta were standouts for me and I'll be getting those every time I'm back in here. I also loved the Arnold Palmer I ordered but did spy the cocktails and wine and feel tempted to try something else later. The customer service was great too. All in all this was a huge breath of fresh air that I didn't expect. I'm a big fan of this Palomino.
(4)Marc M.
Stopped in here to check out the Happy Hour menu and left more than impressed with the overall quality of the experience Palomino has to offer. As soon as I walked in the door, I could tell this place was ready to impress with a decor that somehow makes you feel like you're in an outdoor market as opposed to what you might expect from a mall based restaurant location. The staff was very friendly and made every effort to make us feel welcome while showing off some of the finer points of the decor, one example being a chalk menu wall which was created and periodically updated by a local artist. After perusing the all day happy hour menu we decided to go with the bruschetta, calamari, and meatballs which are made with locally produced Uli sausage. As a matter of fact, the bread for the bruschetta is also locally sourced from Macrina bakery and we learned that Palomino really tries to focus on bringing in local ingredients as much as possible and you could really tell the difference in the food. When our items arrived, we were at first surprised by how much food was in each dish and then again by how delicious everything was! Seriously, everything we had was so good and I am already trying to figure out when I can go back to get more of the meatballs which had a perfect balance of spicy sauciness that was just amazing. I would have to say that Palomino Rustico will now be one of my go-to happy hour spots in Bellevue and especially because their happy hour never ends! These guys have really raised their game and I would love to see their Seattle location take this big step forward as well. Great service, beautiful decor, and delicious food. What more could you want?!
(4)Christina M.
the food here is delicious!! they have amazing service not only for you but your furry friends! came here with my dog and got to sit outside and they brought my dog a bowl of water! haha the waitresses are very nice and the prices for the food is very affordable! I ordered some pizza and garlic fried and let me tell you, it was soo delicious!!! I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Brianna G.
Came here with a group of friends last night for a late night happy hour. First of all its Happy Hour all day EVERY DAY in the bar. My first initial thought walking into the restaurant was warm and inviting. They had a bunch of growing herbs behind the hostess desk and chalk boards with daily specials. I just order drinks, wine and a mojito. Not bad at all. I really enjoyed the Cranberry Mojito at $6. My friends got a bunch of food which i nibbled off of: calamari, fries, and bruschetta. The typical happy hour food, but all the while good. They do Paint Night here on Mondays which would be fun to try out and breakfast daily. I will have to come back for a more formal meal. Overall, rally enjoyed the environment and the staff was genuinely friendly. I would come back here.
(4)Kim L.
I've never been to this restaurant and decided to try it with several friends. They have an all day Happy Hour menu, which is awesome! My friends got the sliders, meatballs, calamari, pizza, salad and I ordered the lemon roasted chicken. The chicken tasted really good, seasoned well and moist. The other items that our group ordered was good also. Service was great and our food didn't take too long to come out. They have this huge chalkboard wall which lists their menu and has a mini map of the Pacific NW. I love that they have happy hour all day and I will definitely be coming back here again!
(4)Victoria M.
Happy hour all day! I've been here a couple times for dinner, but I'd rather come here for the happy hour. Everything on the happy hour menu ranges from about $4-10 which isn't that bad. The food is a little in the greasy side but that's typical. They also have decent pizzas. I wasn't that hungry so I just ordered the Brussels sprouts and pancetta that had little bits of bacon. I would've liked it better if it wasn't burnt or drenched in oil, but the bacon bits made up for it. We also ordered a creme brûlée to share which really good and had fruits on top. My girlfriends and I mainly go for their drinks and cocktails which are fairly good. My friend had the candied apple drop which was a little too sweet and my other friend had the basil gimlet which was a little too sour in my opinion. I had a cranberry mojito which was my favorite out of the three. It was one of the better mojitos I've had that wasn't overpowered by too much mint and alcohol, but tasty and refreshing. They have a big selection of drinks to choose from outside of the happy hour menu too.
(4)Amy L.
Food had a nice rustic taste to it. Sat in bar, server really could have cared less about us. Manager was amazing and expedited our food wonderfully.
(3)Suki S.
Yup, i'm writing another review for this place. Because this time I want to give praise to Ryan who served us today. He was awesome! Took the best care of us, and still very attentive to all his guest, and I love that he was knowledgeable about the menu. I love good food and even better I love great service and Palomino never disappoints on either. Whoever does the hiring and training there I should also get praise because all the staff is helpful and friendly.
(5)Susan W.
Went here 2 weeks ago for a ladies lunch. Our hostess had made a reservation for our group of approx 30 ladies. The restaurant worked with her to setup a special lunch menu. We had a nice little area to ourselves on one side of the restaurant. Our tables were set with our special menus & lovely carafes of water. We had our choice of a delicious mushroom soup or an excellent Caesar salad. Our 3 entree choices were a vegetarian macaroni & cheese, a tender perfectly medium rare flank steak served on top of a delicious warm potato salad or the best Mahi I've ever had on creamy mashed potatoes with a tasty smoky sauce. Luckily we all shared tastes of everything so we got to experience it all. Dessert was a trio of desserts that included a warm banana bread pudding, a tiramisu & a rich chocolate torte with raspberries. Of the 3 the tiramisu was my least favorite. The bread pudding would have been better if a little warmer & moister served in a bowl. The chocolate torte by far the best. Rich & decadent. We had 2-3 fabulous servers that were spot on. Especially efficient was Justin. I made sure to email the restaurant promptly & acknowledge his good service & our pleasure dining there.
(5)Linnea T.
This is one of my favorite places for happy hour in Bellevue! Great wine list, bar, attractive people and super food and beverage deals. I usually have impeccable service at the bar, but the dining room staff service has been hit-or-miss. I will still come back for the cauliflower or warm mushroom salad. They also feature a lovely patio with sun umbrellas off the main dining room during warmer months.
(4)Chelsea A.
Fun little place. I didn't know it was Italian food until I started reading the menu. I asked our waiter to see the nutritional information to which he responded that they didn't have any. That was VERY surprising. I wish they would get that information for their customers. Overall, the food was good. I had the turkey panini with Caesar salad lunch combo. Very very good panini! Salty, but good. The Caesar was also very nice and fresh tasting. Nice waiter, it started to fill up so we didn't see him much but we didn't need much besides water. Lower the salt a bit and get the nutrition information menu, and it'd be perfect. The chicken parm smelled impeccable.
(3)Jessica S.
I'm not sure if they've redone the restaurant or made other changes. What I am sure of is this: Palomino is suddenly a winner in my book. It wasn't always - I was here a couple of times several years ago for a couple of forgettable meals, and stopped visiting because there are plenty of other options in the area. Today, though, I came back, because they had the best-looking brunch menu in the area. The restaurant is now firing on all cylinders: an appealing menu at just the right price points. I had classic eggs Benedict, and they were done up right, with just enough hollandaise and a side of tiny, crispy potatoes. Delicious. The decor is, as the name implies, rustic, with a warm, comfortable interior, with noise levels that didn't inhibit conversation (which may be why we lingered so long!). All the staff we met were pleasant and helpful, making for an all around positive experience.
(5)Chelsea J.
Palomino is okay. I had only been to the Palomino in Seattle until this visit. They have a good happy hour with many food choices and good prices. I wasn't drinking but some friends said their drinks were weak. I liked the pepperoni pizza and gorgonzola fries. Service was very very slow. We asked for our checks and it was at least 45 minutes until we actually received them. Yes, we were a group but this just seems excessive. They also didn't keep us with filled drinks. Seems like they would want to get more revenue out of a large table by checking to see if we wanted to order more items, esp. drinks. Not a place I would go out of my way for but I would return when in Bellevue.
(3)Nicole O.
This is my third visit to Palomino and every time I'm a bit more disappointed. Today, I ordered the capellini pomodoro I was served room temperature pasta with cold slabs of mozzarella on top. I added spinach and asparagus to get some veggies in and there was so little and the pieces were so small I could barely get them in my fork. While the manager kindly comped my meal, I would just prefer to pay and have good service and good food within an hour of being seated.
(2)Namtran V.
All day, every day happy hour in the bar. Is that a true happy hour? No. Oh well. We got an order of the truffle fries, calamari, grilled flatbread with Moroccan hummus, and pepperoni pizza. The calamari was perfect!! Nicely breaded and good dips. The shoe string truffle fries were so salty and just kept getting saltier and saltier as we reached the bottom. What was I thinking getting flat bread and hummus??? And the super thin crust pepperoni pizza was also just OK, nothing spectacular. If I were to do it again, I would have just a candied apple drop and an order of calamari.
(3)Catherine W.
This is a review for Happy Hour only. The food- great! And good prices- we got a pepperoni pizza (big enough for 3), truffle fries (a basket that could be a meal in and of itself), artichoke crab dip (with pieces of pita bread to eat it with), and a cauliflower dip for less than $40 (not including tax/tip). And we were all stuffed by the end. Portion sizes were great- and I would get anything other than the cauliflower again (it was okay- but I would rather eat something else they have- like the brussel sprouts!). They have good beer, drink, and wine options to that are all really reasonable for happy hour. Service wasn't stellar, but it was happy hour and it was packed. A good place to go when you want something that you know is solid!
(4)Joe L.
ATMOSPHERE: 4. Ate on the patio, dimly lit, space heating towers at the ready, quiet yet able to people watch and capture the evenings goings on in downtown Bellevue SERVICE: 4. Brought a dog and they were very accommodating and dog friendly. Brought him water in a bowl and some bacon. Made over by wait staff. Appetizers came quickly, but then things started tend to sloooow down. Had to ask for water refills FOOD: 2. Someone else mentioned "hit or miss" and they were spot on. Started with crab dip and Sicilian meatballs. Very good. Dip was rich, creamy and crab filled. Meatballs were very spicy, the pistachios added crunch and texture. And there was just a hint of citrus. Salads were the wild greens, and were so-so. They were topped with a large flatbread/cracker that I'm guessing we're supposed to be topped with seasoning or cheese, but that had spent way too much time under the broiler. Burned & inedible. Margharita pizza was a BIG disappointment. Doesn't look like their photo. Comments like " Chuck E Cheese" and "cracker with tomato sauce" were used. Turkey sandwich was ok. Large, well-dressed. Aioli was a bit odd. Pickled veggies were crisp and tasty. Garlic fries were tasty. As mentioned earlier, the biggest problem was timing. Appetizer came out quickly, but their was a 45 min wait for salads and another 40 mins for entree. PRICE: 3 Fair prices, $105 for three with a bottle of Chardonnay.
(3)shami s.
The crab dip is always to die for and always on the happy hour menu can't beat that! This is a great place with great service.
(5)Kathryn S.
If you think HH is good here, try breakfast... Full disclosure; I previously worked for the company that owns Palomino Rustico, but have been gone for more than a year and still frequent the traditional Seattle location and the updated "Rustico" version in Bellevue. Open early for business clientele, great French Press coffee, addictive house-made scones with Pancetta, served with fig preserves, Macrina Bakery granola and other whole grain offerings. Highly recommend an early business meeting or relaxing weekend breakfast here which would, of course, include a Mimosa or spicy Bloody Mary.
(5)Dany P.
We came here for my friends birthday dinner. Reservations were for 8pm for a group of 20. The hostess kept telling us the they were cleaning our table and we should be seated shortly. 20 mins later we were still waiting. We were finally seated around 8:45-9 and everyone was very hungry. For some reason they only had one server for both of our tables. She was extremely overwhelmed. She took our drink orders and came back about 20 mins and took our dinner order. Appetizers came and we finally got our dinner around 10:15. We were all hungry and at this point just wanted to eat and get out. My dinner wasn't warm, I don't know if it was sitting there waiting for the rest of our orders to brought out at the same time. But cold pasta was a disappointment. Time came for our bill and some of us were charged for things we didn't order. Took awhile for them to straighten things out. I don't know if this was an off night for them or if it was because we had a large party. But our service was horrible, and everything took SO long!
(1)Vivian T.
Items ordered: Candied apple cocktail, grilled flatbread with hummus, sicilian meatballs, four cheese penne, and prime rib dip sandwich, almond rocher gelato. The Good: the cocktail had a nice flavor with a surprising kick at the end. The sicilian meatballs were BOMB, though they probably could've been a lot better if they had been hot instead of lukewarm (approaching cold). Our server was extremely nice and had good suggestions. Another man in a suit (maybe the manager?) checked in on us several times and he was also really nice. I LOVED the almond rocher gelato dessert, not too sweet and perfect to share after a big dinner. The decorations and the atmosphere of the restaurant is completely different from the old Palomino's, but I like the change and the rustic feel. The Bad: for a quiet Sunday night, service was agonizingly SLOOOOOW. We sat around and waited for someone to serve us for like 15 minutes, and then it took about 30-45 minutes for our appetizers to show up to our table. A lot of the menu items we wanted to try were also out, which was disappointing but understandable for the day after Valentine's. The portions are also somewhat small for the price. Conclusion: To me, the dinner items are pricey in comparison to their portions. But the food is good and the people working inside are extremely friendly. Hopefully the speed of service actually picks up a lot more during the day. This place is great for their HH if you're just looking for drinks and appetizers.
(3)Lee A.
Wanted to check out their happy hour. Maybe for drinks it would be good but I didn't think the food was a great deal. We ordered fried calamari, bread and tomato relish feta dip and two sodas and it was $24! The sodas were $3.75 each! I guess they want to make up for losses during happy hour! The calamari was not good. It was more fried bread than calamari. The bread and the dip were great though. Service was not good. It took awhile to get our drinks refilled, actually to get any attention at all. Maybe because we didn't other alcohol we weren't considered a priority. The bartender even said "fuck" I know it's a bar but I don't really think that is professional. I won't be visiting again, not with so many other great choices in the area.
(2)Suzette H.
Dinner at Palomino last night was very disappointing. I realized immediately that there were far to many empty tables for prime time on a Saturday nights, we almost left because on it and should have . Service was slow, calamari was greasy and served cold and it didn't get any better from there.
(1)Anjana A.
This place is huge but it's always busy on weekends due to it's location right next to Lincoln Square. It's good for large groups. There is an all day happy hour menu available which offers some appetizers if you're there just for drinks. The bread is drenched in olive oil and can be ordered as an appetizer with one complimentary dipping sauce. My bread was warm but pretty oily, and was hard to eat due to that. There are not too many specials on drinks in the all-day happy hour. The dinner entrees are fairly expensive and no so great in my opinion. I shunned the overpriced salmon this time, and ordered a wood-fired pollo spinachi pizza. The topping combination was good but the pizza was fairly dry and the rotisserie chicken too bland for me. It may have been the larger group effect as they try to bring out everything together and these pizzas are not so great cold. I ordered one bread appetizer, one glass of house red and an individual pizza and my check was still $45 with with tax. Not worth it for the quality of food but it makes a good meeting place for events around that area.
(3)Muzamil A.
I'm not sure why this place is given three stars. I came here Friday morning for breakfast because I was staying in the Westin, compared to all the other places you can go to for breakfast in this area is probably one of the better places. I order the French toast with a side of poached eggs and it came out perfectly. flavor was really good it was sweet and the butter was pretty incredible. this place is definitely better than three stars I will give it a five
(5)Jeff C.
Been a while since I've dined here. Had two entrees and a couple appetizers. All were disappointingly mediocre. No wonder they were running a Groupon. I'd stick with their pizza next time, if ever. Whatever change they made in the kitchen when they changed the name was definitely for the worse. Sorry chef.
(2)Sri Divya B.
We chose this restaurant for a weekend dinner. The staff and service were reasonably good. Their crab cakes were yummy. But I gave them 3 stars because they totally burnt our rustico Burger patty which was literally bitter in taste and my husband just lost his appetite, and my pizza (pico de spinaci I think!) was also a little burnt. The manager was informed of this and he genuinely apologized and offered a free tiramisu dessert. Hmmm.. But we'd rather pay for good food and be happy rather than getting free stuff which is a little embarrassing. The Dessert was good though! We usually take a good look at the menu before choosing a restaurant and we really had high hopes on Palomino. It was indeed disappointing. I hope this wouldn't happen again. Overall, Ambience and service gets 5 but dining experience is 3 !
(3)Edith L.
The husband and I came here with a friend for late Sunday lunch at 1pm. We were seated immediately. There was not much diners there, maybe 3 or 4 tables. We sat down and the server noticed us right away and bought us water. That was the only good service that came out of the whole entire meal. He took our orders about 15 minutes in and only after we flagged him down. The food then did not arrived until 2pm. Took them almost 45 minutes to cook our food!! During this 45 minutes, we asked for the manager/server to see what was the hold up with our food twice. Twice, a person, whom I assumed is a busgirl, says they will be over right away. Nobody ever came to the table. The food itself was okay. The fries tasted too crispy and oily. After another 30 minutes of nobody stopping by our table except to drop off the water, I gave up and asked for the check. By that point, I was so angry that we just paid and left. In fact I wrote on the receipt "service was poor. Food took a long time. Unhappy with the experience" The cherry on top of the cake was that on the way home, I had a massive stomachache from the food. Never again!!!
(1)Kenneth N.
4 stars for overall customer service, ambience, food and even value too. Located close to the Westin, did takeout because had grown bored of room service, plus PR also allows invoicing to the hotel room, so bonus for write offs ;) Cool their POS system had me registered already. It's a nice restaurant/bar theme, though more classy, no partying here. VIP seating would be the round table in its own corner facing Red Robins/Cheesecake Factory. anyways, ordered the eggs benedict with Canadian bacon, light on the hollaidaise sauce, but what was impressived were the takeout containers; perfectly round, solid with a deep lid so sauces weren't going to be dripped anywhere. Same for the cinnamon French Toast, which came with an assortment of toppings: white chocolate, raspberry and chocolate mousse/pudding, yummy. Fresh butter too. Date worthy too.
(4)An T.
Happy hour all the time? sweet! Good value for drinks. My fav is the sausage and mushroom pizza. The italian sausage is nice and spicy and the mushrooms add great texure and subtle flavor to the pizza.
(4)Sean M.
My bud is crazy about this place so he drags me here every time we plan on lunch. I'm not a gourmand by any measure so we generally sit @ the bar (for obvious reasons). The drinks are good & the girls are pretty so I can't find any reason to complain, except that parking is a b!tch to find and some folks don't seem to understand what right of way means when driving down the street outside. They make a decent panini and even had a goat meat burger (seasonal menu) a few weeks back so that's definitely an A+ in my book fWiW I'm rating them as 'spendy' since their drinks are not on the dollar side of the menu and its too easy to hit a century if you start knocking them 'sugar-free potato-drinks' back like we do :)
(3)Kristina L.
Mediocre. The food was sub par and the service was lacking. This restaurant came highly recommended from my mom's stylist across the street. We all had sandwiches and soup or salad. The service was slow. The sandwiches were less than adequate, they came out cold on the outside but hot on the inside - obviously somebody let the food sit in the window a bit too long. Our male server was a complete snob, he basically hovered over the table next to us, I wanted to tell the kid to first of all, get over himself and secondly the table of over dressed bleach blond with brown roots, big haired, too much make up with 3 inch stiletto 40 year olds will probably be more demanding and tip you less than I normally would. When he was taking our order, the lady at the table next to us actually interruped, she called him over to her table...and HE went...he left us there mid-sentence to take care of those ladies, so incredibly rude. I had spent the morning in the spa, I was relaxed, calm, 2 hours after entering the restaurant, getting my horrible meal with bad service, we finally we on our way out. One of the servers was going around the corner too fast and ran right into me. She had a small tray of about 8 drinks, it was spilled all over my shoes! Not even an apology. BAD FOOD. HORRIBLE SERVICE
(1)Mindy H.
Some one on yelp encouraged me to give the Palomino another try in the same week that my friend chose to go here for their bday celebration. However, this time we partook of their Happy Hour. Palomino actually offers Happy Hour specials all day every day of the week. I have to increase by my rating by 1 star after trying the Happy Hour 2x in the past 2 months. Their are some very comfortable booths in the bar area and the service is much better than what I have experienced in the main dining area in the past. You can still order full menu items as well if you want. I had their chop chop salad for the first time and really enjoyed it. I am a fan of the Palomino for the salad & Happy Hour special combination. Also, they have an interesting rewards card that you can get. I suppose this would be a great deal for a frequent eater to this establishment. I posted the details of the rewards card below. Eat, Drink and Earn Rewards Earn 1 point for every $1 you spend and redeem your points for Restaurant Dining Credits, Gift Cards and Luxury Vacations... It's that simple! Here's how you can start earning rewards: -Visit your favorite Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. Restaurant and request an Eat, Drink and Earn Rewards Card. -Register your rewards card by following the link below or clicking here. -Use your card at any of our restaurants and earn points towards exciting rewards. -Receive exclusive offers, surprise gifts and learn about upcoming events and promotions through Eat, Drink and Earn emails. -Redeem your points for any of our fabulous rewards!
(3)Aaron E.
For some reason I always get the worst service at Palomino restaurants.... I think the downtown location is the worst when it comes to service, but the Bellevue one was pretty bad too... Anywho, we dropped in for lunch this weekend. Cheesecake Factory was insanely packed and we were looking for a cheap lunch and decided to see what Palomino had to offer. For the most part I've only been here for dinner and found the prices to be a bit on the high end considering the quality but lunch prices were quite reasonable. I went with the Paella and my lunch buddy went with half a crab sandwich and the Penne Alfredo. After ordering I expected to be served bread... I was hungry and didn't want to wait after all. Unfortunately the bread didn't come until after they brought us our food which was really a shame since I love the tomato tapenade they serve with the bread. I'd also like to mention that my ice tea and water weren't refilled the entire time we were waiting for our food. The crab sandwich had an immense amount of crab and was pretty heavy. The penne which was really more mac and cheese was delicious... creamy, cheesy, flavorful and hearty. Perfect for a rainy day. My Paella was good, but I've had better. For the price ($19) I was very pleased! There was an abundance of shellfish although I can't say I saw any chicken or chorizo. The prawns were a little too salty and overcooked, but the salmon was heaven! I've never had salmon so buttery and flavorful. It wasn't at all fishy and it was cooked to perfection--perfectly flaky. The rice itself was also cooked really well, but it was missing that crunch that you get from most paellas... you know, from the crust that forms at the bottom of the pan that is so delicious! I'd also like to mention my water and ice tea weren't filled the duration of eating our entrees either despite requesting more. Our entrees were really filling, but we decided we must have dessert, so we split one of the chocolate thingys. In essence it was a generic, molten chocolate cake, but it was so much better than a normal one. It was served with creme anglaise which was tasty, but kind of useless since they also served some of the most delicious ice cream on the side. There were also fresh strawberries! Yay! I'd like to mention that after we paid our bill and left a not great tip they refilled my water and ice tea... FAIL! As far as the entrees, I've had better, but I thought they were delicious considering the portion size and price. I wasn't thrilled with the service, but the mac and cheese, the salmon in my paella and the dessert made lunch so amazing that it's hard to give less than four stars. Those few items really were that good and really did make the meal worth while. They also have an awesome Happy Hour! I can't say I'd recommend this place for dinner and I definitely wouldn't recommend either location for a special occasion because there just isn't effort put in by any of their wait staff. However, they have reasonably priced lunches and they're conveniently located which make it a good restaurant to have an impromptu meal. p.s. Everyone mentions that the servers always disappear... they just so happened to congregate right behind the booth we were sitting and chatted about their weekends and getting wasted. You stay classy Palomino.
(4)Byung K.
I had very mixed emotion about this place. Very classy and modern interior with food that doesn't quite live up to the atmosphere. I am not saying the food was bad. I have read some other people's review and it looked very unappetizing. In scale of 1-5, I will give about 3 for the foods, but not all the menu items are 3 either. As you enter the restaurant, you will be greeted by nice young ladies who will escort you to your table. I was there at the peak hour of dinner and it was crowed. Also, there was some kind of high school dance night the same day. So the place was packed with barely dressed teenagers and loud voices. Table setting looked very good and waiter was very friendly( may be I got luck apposed to some other people here on yelp). We ordered Lamb shank, steak frites, and some unknown chess pasta with grill prawns. And here is where I was starting to have very mixed emotion about the place. Steak. The staple of all dinner restaurant. It was done very well. Seasoning was great. I didn't need any steak sauce to eat it. but the quality of meat wasn't that good. I prefer medium rare every time, and by that standard, most meat should be moist and tender. The steak tasted good, because of the seasoning, not because of the quality of the meat. I would imagine any restaurant with this magnitude will serve high quality meat. but it was short of my expectation. One short note to the chef. Just what am I supposed to do with the whole grilled garlic??? Just the smell of it will chase vampires away from miles. Or, are you trying to ruin my date with garlic breath that might last for years? No kissing tonight~~~ Or never ever~~. And there was that lamb shank. I wanted to order the lamb shank myself, but I was so glad I didn't. It was cooked to perfection. Really. The meat was falling off the bone. Great stuff... but then there was problem with the taste. Any yelpers should know that lamb is very gamy meat. However, depending on how it is prepared, lamb can be fabulous meat. This shank was a big miss by very large margin. it was like none seasoned bare lamb shank. Than there was that chess pasta. I am so glad I didn't have to pay for these meal, but that was just a glorified macaroni chess with over sized grill prawns. I liked the over sized prawn. And I had a feeling it was costing $17 for that large 3 prawns not the pasta. All in all, you will be paying for the location, more than the food itself. You want good food? I would suggest Costco. They have better meat, cheese, and prawn. However, I will not disregard the effort of the chef for making these good food. I just think it cost way too much for what you get out of here.
(2)Anisia H.
The Lincoln Square Palomino's is a great Happy Hour place - if you get there early enough, or if you REALLY love to wait behind a velvet rope line for 15-30 minutes for a spot at the bar/lounge area. Once, while waiting in the foyer area on a crowded night, the server came to me and offered me a glass of wine - LOVE IT!!!! What else? LOVE IT: - Brick Oven Mussels with Chorizo - my favorite, always prepared well - $4 margaritas or wine; $5 pizzas; 1/2 off appetizers NOT SO MUCH:The HH menu is limited to things oily, cheesy, greasy... and Clams on pizza? Well, maybe for $5.... HATE IT: Palomino's does not serve Hangar One Vodka SERVICE: Prompt, mostly, but sincere - not always. Give me a lil' friendliness or sincerity! I know your job's tough (and its hard work looking so "Bellevue") but dang, do you know who I am? ... a customer who tips well after drinking well and enjoying cheap eats! Smile and be real!
(3)Riss J.
I have a confession. I had a fling with Rebecca's restaurant boyfriend! Came in tonight for late happy hour with a bit of the Eastside Yelper Crew. Upon arrival right at 9pm, the bar area was full of open space. They happily agreed to let us push some tables together to ensure our Crew had enough seating. I ordered the prosciutto pizza and split the happy hour mussels and calamari with Naurry. For drinks I tried the cranberry mojito and the pomegranate margarita. The pizza is more akin to a quesadilla by the texture of the crust, at least IMO, but it was good. I would have like a bit less cheese and a little more garlic. But it was good. The mussels were fabulous. The calamari was just as Sean said, "Well they are owned by the same company as Cutter's, etc so if you like it there it's probably pretty similar". Other than incorrectly estimating what I thought the size of these items would be, I'm pretty pleased with all my choices. I came home stuffed and with 3/4 of a pizza for the kids. Service was not what I would have hoped. Our server disappeared to parts unknown for long periods of time, at one point forgetting my drink order for nearly 15 minutes. It was not a matter of getting their attention, it was a matter of someone actually being in the bar and then getting their attention. Even the bartender seemed to disappear (at least from view). Overall though, it was a good time. With good food, and at happy hour prices Naurry and my collective tab for 4 drinks (i think Naurry only had 2), 2 pizzas and two big portioned appetizers was only $40!
(4)Tony L.
Professional staff, gorgeous dining room, great atmosphere and amazingly talented cooks in the kitchen. Need I say more???
(5)Natty S.
I have been to Palomino 3 times. Twice at Bellevue and once at the Downtown Location. First time was happy hour in Bellevue on a Saturday night at 9. We got a great table and the food was amazing. Loved the calamari, baked brie and pizza. Had a Lavender Cosmo which are my two fave drinks rolled into one. It was flawless. Second time was for happy hour downtown Seattle on a Saturday night. I liked the lay out a bit better. There is more space and the vibe is a little more laid back in the bar. We ordered quite a bit of food and everything was amazing except the Gorgonzola waffle fries. Don't even bother with those. You can make them at home with frozen waffle fries and your own gorg. Third time was for lunch at Bellevue on a Saturday and the food was fine. I got an open faced crab sandwich. It was good but it tasted like they got crab dip from a grocery store deli and put it on a sandwich with tomato and cheddar. Once again, you could make it at home and it would taste just the same. I did have the lavender cosmo again though, as I always do every time I go to Palomino and it was once again perfection.
(3)Tom B.
I've always thought of this place as being sort of a cynical corporate joint that didn't make much effort. But I tried the Bellevue location a few weeks ago and the food is actually really good. The service is efficient and friendly, very attentive. Solid wine list. I don't know that it's quite worth what they charge, but it's close. Great place to take a date--feels stylish and kind of private, despite a wall of windows.
(4)Anthony B.
Went there only because I received a promotional flyer advertising for a free entree or dessert. Food was alright. Tastes is average but not exceptional. Portions are reasonable except for the Salmon. Service was good. The complimentary loaves of bread (unlimited upon request) are excellent but they are better with butter than the mariana tomato sauce they come with. Olive oil, fresh ground pepper and vinegar are also available as condiment. This place is quite kid-friendly and offer $7 kid's menu items inclluding choices such as Cheese Pizza, Salmon, Capellini, Ragotoni, Panini Grilled Cheese sandwich, etc., including a choice of drink but no refills. We ordered the Capellini Pasta with Alfredo sauce and steamed vegetables which turned out to be grilled asparagus only. They were not too bad and very flavorful. The Prawns were big and flavorful. The Capellini pasta with mariana tomato sauce was okay also. I learnt from the server that their Salmon are Farm-Raised and not Wild-Caught. The portion size was very small and they were slightly overcooked and dry. It had very little flavor and I had much moister and better Salmon cooked on a wood plank at Rain Forest Cafe. Overall, it was a very pleasant dining experience.
(3)Linda T.
Checked out their all day, everyday, happy hour yesterday. Their happy hour food menu is different from other standard happy hours. I had the wild mushroom, cured ham, and goat cheese flatbread. It was delicious and everyone else with me enjoyed their flatbread and pizzas. The food is of good quality and are a little pricey, but worth it given the food options and quality ingredients. The service was mediocre and food took quite a while. Overall, I liked their happy hour and would definately return. I don't see any point in dining off their regular menu if happy hour is all day, everyday.
(4)Ivan I.
A little bit pricy, but you can get most everything at the Happy Hour side of the restaurant, which makes it really affordable. A classy joint for some simple food and drink. The EVOO vegetarian pasta is great. The flatbreads and pizzas are solid. Sign me up. Wish they had one of these in LA.
(4)Why T.
well the service hasnt changed or improved, but now they have ALL DAY HAPPY HOUR. YES this means you dont have to eat early "dinner" from 3-6 or 4-6 or starve yourself and eat after 9pm. I think this fact alone should get another star, but I tried more dishes and they were super yummy! Crab Dip (?) really good. the pizza chips to dip was a bit salty, but the dip was so good. Gorgonzola fries are my favorite Baked clams.. now i normally dont like clams unless it's clam chowder, and this was SOOOO good. so good. I also had the mussels, and i didnt think they were as good. I think i'm just bias because i like mussels even less. cranberry mojito! YUM. i got super buzzed from one :P so sooo tasty.
(3)Abhijit P.
I have been here twice (once for a business lunch and once for dinner with friends before dinner). The food is good American fare and pretty consistent with the San Francisco version. Drinks are memorable and very well executed. Service was slow for dinner but the general manager was extremely nice to us and made it up. He gets an A+ for service recovery and deserves a call-out.
(4)Tracy W.
A little slow getting us seated (20 minutes+ after reservation) but the awesome and funny waiter made up for it quickly. He was great and made the experience really enjoyable...his name was Roman or something like that? Anyway, food also fantastic. Overall great dinner out with the girls!
(4)David X.
Palomino's is pretty well known by now for its extended happy hour with cheap pizzas. So what did my friends and I do? We didn't come for happy hour. For appetizers we ordered the Charcuterie (basically artisan bread+fig jam+salami), crab cakes, and calamarie. These were decent but alas nothing to write home about. For entrees we ordered the veal cutlet, chicken under a brick (half a chicken that's roasted in a brick oven), and salmon. The veal looked like typical katsu from a Japanese place and the salmon portion was tiny. The only saving grace was the chicken under a brick. Half a chicken was a lot of food and it was juicy and delicious. Unfortunately we had to wait to eat the best entree because the waiter got the order wrong and brought some tuna at first (although he did give us free ice cream at the end to atone for his mistake). All in all, the food was decent but not worth the $140 after tax and tip between the 3 of us. Maybe we should have came for happy hour and got some cheap pizzas...
(3)Amy S.
Just went here for Christmas lunch. Thought the menu was a bit sparse or entrees, went with the soup and Caesar. Both pretty standard but tasty. Service was VERY friendly, like 'what-is-that-scent-you're-wearing' friendly. Still, can't complain! Lacked a bit of character but food was reliable and service wad great.
(3)Chau D.
Came here for lunch and ordered their lunch combo which was the Rigatoni Bolognese with the Romaine Lettuce, Bleu Cheese, Hazelnut salad. YUM!!! The portion looked small but I was full and couldn't finish my food. Try their huckleberry lemonade. Delish!! Definitely puts Olive Garden to shame if you consider OG Italian.
(4)Andrew B.
Staff here was not friendly at all. I wouldn't quite call them rude but it was pretty close. Happy hour food is pretty good but very heavy. It would be nice if they had not limited their happy hour to basically consist of pizza, (Which is very good), seafood, and greasy food. Also the drinks offered are pretty limited and very sweet. The seating is always a problem because they are one of the only Bellevue spots, if not the only, to have all day happy hour which is a plus. The bar is always crowded and they put too many chairs so even if your a petite woman you wont' have enough elbow room which also is a nuisance. Other than the fact you can come here midday and not worry about whether or not they have a happy hour this place is a pass as far as I am concerned.
(2)Paul C.
All day happy hour! I've been here a few times and have always had a good time. PIzzas are super thin crust and good. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. Will come back for future outings.
(4)Zannah B.
My mother and I have lunch together every other Friday. We often choose to eat at the Palomino because they had a really good steak and frites on the menu. We are regulars there for many months now. I used to love their filet mignon- it melted in your mouth it was so good. The food was always so good which is why we always wanted to come back. Sadly this has changed. Our last lunch may well be our final meal at this Palomino. I first ordered the prime rib sandwhich- I assumed that this- being a better establishment -it would use fresh meat and the server raved about it be so great. Yick! It was clearly day old (or longer perhaps?) meat, it was dry, hard, and covered with some sort of mayo. UGH! I sent that back to the kitchen and ordered what I usually order- the steak and frites. The steak used to come out tasting like steak- this last time it came out with a thick, oil coating that ruined the flavor of the meat. We spoke to the chef who said that they were using a steak butter now versus a combination of olive oils. He seemed nonplussed that we as regulars found the taste to be so awful. To be honest I don't think he really cared. This was hands down a miserable dining experience. The manager was very polite and nice and took the prime rib sandwhich off our bill. She also comped our appetizer which we in no way expected them to do. I don't complain to get freebies- I do it when I experience something less than expected. Our server Jan has always been really wonderful and treated us well. You can't blame the waitstaff for sub par food. From a prior dining experience in the evening I also found issue with the shrinking bruschetta- it looks like a happy hour food- but not at happy hour prices. I also mentioned the fact that the noise level in the restaurant is just awful. You have to shout at your date to be heard once the bar gets going. Don't come here if you want a romantic dinner out because you will either be hoarse from shouting or sit in silence most of the meal. They need to spend a little money and put up a partition from the bar area- there used to be one- why was it removed? While they do serve breakfast here- it is nothing better than what is served at a hotel. The waffles are the exact same thing you get at a hotel buffet. They do not offer any type of salsa with their eggs- only Tabasco or this icky aioli sauce that comes with their cold bread at the lunch and dinner shifts. The steak and eggs were good- unless they are using the steak butter on that as well now. I am really saddened to see the food quality, as far as taste and portions be so diminished. I have enjoyed eating at the Palomino over the years with my husband and now with my mother for lunches. But frankly the experience is no longer something that I look forward too. I like a level of constancy in items on the menu. Perhaps they are more interested in catering to the bar scene and are letting the main portion of the dining room go. Perhaps they are cutting back on quality because of the slow economy? Needless to say I will frequent the Palomino downtown when attending the theater but otherwise for the Bellevue location I think I will not be back again for some time.
(2)Jane L.
I came here w/ an old coworker and her family. The service was good-- the waitress was very accommodating and totally great about making sure the food tasted great. I ordered the Dungeness Crab sliders, and while they were pretty good, I was surprised to find just shredded crab meat. For some reason, I was expecting something more along the lines of a mini crab cake....but I guess they would've called it crab cake sliders.
(3)Donna H.
Typical noisy Bellevue joint, one criticism though - waitstaff, if you HAVE to smoke on your break, please brush your teeth before you come back and serve me :)
(3)Ronald M.
On any given Happy Hour, this probably ranks last of the Palomino locations -that is in no ways a back-handed compliment. I've been to Palomino's in Westwood, San Francisco, and now Bellevue. The king crab and artichoke dip was delectable. Mmm.. tasty mussels. San Francisco probably has the best because of the outdoor patio and SUN! Hear that Seattle? SUN! It's that fiery, orange globe up in the sky. Spongebob Awesomeness: I would not come here for a dinner, I just think they have a great HH-HV ratio. That would be my Happy Hour-to Happy-Value index. Happy-Value is comprised of $-to-alcohol ratio. And yes, I just made that rating system up.
(4)Kath U.
Every time I go to Bellevue I have lunch here with my friend who works across the street. She likes this place & they have a rewards card program for frequent diners so this is good for locals who frequent Palomino. I have been here six times now only for lunch so I can't comment on dinner here or happy hour. The ambiance is nice & I like the different areas in the restaurant so that you have a more intimate experience rather than one big dining room. The menu has combos which are nice as in pasta & salad; soup & salad; soup & half sandwich etc... as well as lots of salads, flatbreads & pizzas, pastas but a limited number of full entrees which I am guessing is because it is a lunch menu. Their mushroom soup w/ sherry is really good as is the grilled wild forest mushroom salad. They do offer whole grain pasta which is nice and they actually have a good vegetarian selection. Last time I had the Tuna Cardo from the small bites menu instead of my usual soup & salad. It was good & had Avocado, edamame-snow pea salad, tomato aioli. The food is good but doesn't wow me as in the best. However in their defense they give you an ample serving & it's never been bad or inconsistent in quality. Service has always been good & they do get your lunch out pretty quick! My criticism has to do with how the hostess makes you wait at the front even when they are not busy. Two thirds of the restaurant is empty and they make you wait, walk away & then come back only to seat you right next to a doorway where the servers are running in & out of !! Seems we have to ask to be moved each time to a more desirable table. I don't quite understand the logic with that but okay! I know they are a chain but the food is good here! We had a birthday party here and it was great! They took care of the large group without a hitch.
(4)Leanna B.
I love this place! The first time I went I didn't sit in the bar. The food was very good. A little overpriced, but I was in Bellevue after all. I had the mac and cheese and it was amazing. The next time I went I sat in the bar... and it was so cheap! They have an all day happy hour! Their pizza is really good and only $6. And the gorgonzola fries are to die for! My boyfriend and I had more food than we knew what to do with and we each had 2 drinks and our bill was still under $50. I love this place! Just come early because it can be hard to find a table.
(5)Venus A.
Stumbled across this restaurant on a Saturday morning with a friend of mine. We were in town for a wedding and wanted to have a nice breakfast. Unfortunately, we didn't know of any nearby breakfast places within walking distance from our hotel (we were staying at the Hyatt Bellevue) but fortunately someone told us about this place as we walked aimlessly in downtown Bellevue. The breakfast was very yummy. The hash browns were very good - you don't need to put anything on them at all. They have a nice seasoning on them and they are not greasy. I had the Prosciutto and artichoke heart omelet - yum. The portions are sort of large though - I could have shared with my friend if we had known. I actually took out some of the prosciutto because it was too stuffed and started to get salty. But overall, it was very good. I am not a big salt fan so maybe I'm just being "weird." The service is friendly and they are very attentive. I guess they had forgotten about our order of english muffins (which we actually realized we really did not need because the portions are huge) and they comped us for that order because it was slow to come - that was a nice surprise. I can see this place adding up with the side dishes and such - so just be careful. But the food and service was really good. The omlet was $9.00 - so I consider this not too bad at all, really. I think their dinners are pricey though but I've never been to this place before so I don't know what the dinner is like.
(4)Mike S.
We have experienced Palomino in Seattle and always had a positive experience. This was our first experience at their Bellevue location and now will add Palomino to our East side list of our favorite establishments. I had their traditional turkey dinner and my partner had the prime rib. Both meals were excellent. Prime rib was tender and not overcooked and the turkey was still moist. In addition the Calamari was excellent and the portion was HUGE! Overall a positive experience
(4)Sarah S.
We went for happy hour. A very good deal, okay food, but not stellar. Our waitress wasn't evil, but I did not get warm-fuzzies from her and honestly, she never seemed happy to have us there. BTW we were the first people there, seems like we would have had better service? She wasn't rude, but not very pleasant. Do you know how you get that feeling when you order happy hour menu items that they treat you like you are some sort of cheapskate? That's kind of how it felt. So sue me for coming at happy hour! The pizza, however is very cheap ($5) so if you are just looking for a place for a snack and a drink, you could do worse. But with so many places in Bellevue with nice vibes, why go here? BTW, I have been to the Seattle Palomino numerous times and had great experiences. No complaints. Maybe it's just the Bellevue location, or maybe just the server we were blessed with that day.
(2)Alli D.
Ppppbbbbbttttttthhhhhhhh! *Blows raspberry while giving a thumbs-down* -1 star (each) for: a) uber-creepy/greasy/flirtatious waiter. b) slllllooooooowwwwww. Took over an hour for our food to come. c) some weird stench (stinky-cheese-esque) kept wafting our way. d) over-priced. $7 for a vodka-tonic? Really?! +1 star for: a) delicious food. I had the chicken parmesan, which was everything it needed to be. I might go back to give this place another shot. I hear they have a good happy hour. But, really, not impressed on the first go-round.
(2)Jennifer K.
I have never dined here for a full blown meal, but I have engaged in little Happy Hour fun here. They have a fantastic Happy Hour - Because Happy Hour is a lot better than Angry Hour! Ha, ha... The pizzas are really good & cheap - $5?!!! We usually get the prosciutto & roma tomato pizza. The crust is nice & thin so it is not too filling and there is just the right amount of sauce, cheese & toppings - no one thing overpowers the other. I have also tried the Pistachio Crusted Double Creme Brie - delicious! It comes with flat crackers (bread?). Great for sharing. The Calamari Fritto is a little on the greasy side, but still good - served with two sauces. One tastes almost like a marinara, and the other is a garlic aioli. Potatoes Gorgonzola are delicious! Kind of like waffle fries with a gorgonzola cream sauce over them. Yum. I have heard that the Hot Red King Crab & Artichoke Dip is really good too, but, I am allergic to crab, so have never gotten to indulge. As far as drinks go, I have tried the Candied Apple Drop (good for those that don't really like the taste of alcohol - a bit too sweet for me though), the Cranberry Mojito - good, but Mojitos aren't really my thing - I don't like the mint leaves getting stuck in my teeth, and I have also tried the Pomegranate Margarita - Very good, and probably my favorite out of the three that I have tried. They had all day Happy Hour Sunday-Thursday and from 3-6 & 9-Close on Fridays & Saturdays during the summer. This may have changed now though. It is definitely worth checking out!
(4)Lindsey M.
Went to Palomino again, just to see if our last experience was an isolated incident. Again, husband and friends ordered pepperoni pizza, it was so incredibly salty and when I let the server know, she just started laughing not taking me serious and gave an excuse stating that it may have just been because of the pepperoni. Yes, pepperoni is naturally salty but does not usually permeate the ENTIRE pizza. Believe, I've had plenty of pepperoni pizza that wasn't over the top salty! Take my advice, just go for the drinks and forget the food altogether!!
(1)Kate B.
My one and only visit was on the hottest day in Seattle history so I think they were a little more crowded than usual. We went for happy hour as it is 1) an exceptional deal and 2) offered all day long, Sunday - Thursday, in the Bellevue location. Score. Although, being in Bellevue, be prepared for lots of pretty people and plastic surgery. Excellent $4 drink options (cranberry mojito!) and they served us one while we waited in line. Very nice. We split a huge $5 pizza, the mushroom salad and the cheese fondue with apples, pears and honey. The salad had a tad too much dressing on it (will ask for it on the side next time) but it was still good. The fondue, although a bit greasy (and why did they have to put oil on the crackers they served with it???), was soooo good especially with the fruit. The pizza was an amazing deal for $5 and they didn't skimp on the prosciutto. Definite find on the Eastside for happy hour goodness.
(4)Vicki S.
Dined in the bar area with my fiancee and enjoyed casual and attentive service from a friendly server. The specials were a huge hit with us, especially the caprese salad (best I have had anywhere). Quality without being over priced or stuffy is great for us.
(5)Brian Y.
prices are ok typical eastside mcbar order happy hour
(3)Kari K.
Believe me, Bellevue Palomino, I wish I could give you more stars, I really wish I could... I have fond memories of dining at the Downtown Palomino as a child with my family after our annual holiday shopping sprees. So when I came to the Bellevue Palomino to celebrate a friends birthday, I had images of big, juicy and flavorful prawns dancing in my head. However, the excellent seafood I'd remembered was not what we got. Maybe you could say the memories were my inexperienced taste buds speaking from the past, but those who know me know I was probably critiquing the ratio of formula to water in the bottles my mom fed me. I guess I will just have to head back to both locations again to officially compare! Here's how the experience went: Group of four made reservations for a birthday dinner late on New Year's Day (almost should have just waited the extra 30 minutes and ate in the bar for happy hour). Our waitress was nice, but a little bit off in some sort of non-pinpointable way, telling us stories that didn't really have an ending...awkward. She was attentive, but when we mentioned we were ready to order, she kept perfecting the way she wrapped the napkin around our champagne bottle and left--forgetting to take our orders. We thought she would just come right back, but nope. Anyhow, we finally go to order the calamari (the Birthday Girl and I had been drooling over it on the car ride there) and they are OUT! Go to order the mussels--out again. Clams, you ask? Out! There goes the thought of Paella. (Ok, maybe I wouldn't have ordered the Paella, but what if I'd wanted to?) Apparently NYE wiped them clean of seafood...excuses excuses. Appetizers we settled on: King Crab + Artichoke Dip (Would have been good, but it was pretty fishy tasting.) Pistachio Crusted Brick Oven Brie with Honey Pomegranate Glaze (Wow, what a tasty surprise! Would order again.) Main Dishes: Me - Prawn Scampi (Prawns were ok, not quite flavorful enough. Served with decent garlic crostini and not-so-decent herb capellini that was way over seasoned even for the spicy-food loving boys.) Birthday Girl - Pan Seared Scallop + Prawn Fettuccine Alfredo (Her prawns were tough and overcooked, scallops were better.) Boy - Lobster Ravioli (Eh...ok, but I'm not sure if I've ever had lobster ravioli that I've liked--maybe its me? I like my lobster in big pieces.) Other Boy - Capellini Pomodoro with Chicken added (Didn't try this one, so I can't really speak!) On the plus side, they waived the corkage fee for the champagne we brought in since they were out of our first choices. They also brought out a complimentary dessert trio (chocolate espresso cake with white ganache, biscotti, and a hot espresso drink with mascarpone cream) for the Birthday Girl. Bonus points: the cake had a cute curly corkscrew-like candle! Who couldn't like that? Overall, It was a nice celebration, mostly due to the good company, classy champagne, and swanky atmosphere. I will definitely come back sooner or later to one of the Palomino locations to try out their happy hour deals and give them a chance to redeem themselves! But until then, Bellevue Palomino, you're a semi-fail. :(
(2)Kelly A.
Went to the Palomino in Bellevue last night with a dear friend. The food was greasy and foul. We complained and the cheerful manager told us that they were the BEST PLACE IN TOWN and too bad if we didn't like it.........wow I guess the economy is doing well after all. This morning I was so sick from the greasy flatbread that I needed a half a bottle of pepto!!
(1)Sarah R.
Food allergies? Do NOT go here. How hard is it to keep cheese out of a salad? Apparently too hard for the staff at this overpriced restaurant which offers nothing but cool lighting and stuck-up, inattentive waiters. I have a severe allergy to dairy. I ordered a salad without any cheese after informing the waiter of this allergy, and upon inspection, found cheese in it before I even took one bite. I sent the salad back and the waiter brought a new one and said that the head chef had made it himself. After almost eating the entire salad, I found cheese at the bottom of the plate!! When I informed the waiter, he told me he didn't know how that could have happened, even as he was staring at the cheese. The least they could do was pay for the meal, which I demanded they did. I will never, ever return to this restaurant, and if I had a nut allergy, I wouldn't dare risking it to go back here. They obviously don't take food allergies seriously.
(1)Max D.
$25 fixed priced menu. Damn worth it. field greens were fresh! Braised beef ribs were 'effin divine! tiramisu was decadent. Came early and avoided the happy hour crowd and the service was impeccable and attentive! Although, friends tell me that the happy hour menu is worth every cheap dollar! I commend them that the fixed priced menu was not small in portion or skimpy. We could have easily shared it as a light meal and been very content.
(5)Selena B.
Um.. Is it just me or does this Palomino Suck? I've been to some other locations of this Chain "elite" restaurant and it was decent but this one that just opened in Bellevue sucked. They messed up 3 Salads!! and it wasn't like oops wrong dressing or moldy greens. It was the toppings (Chicken, Ahi and something else). The main proteins were just horrible! Everything was layered in herbs. Hey. I like herbs too, but they are too bring out flavor and add smells not be the whole meal. The decor was "hip" the service was "duh" the price wasn't really worth it. I have yet to try their happy hour.. maybe that will be better.
(2)Kay C.
I've been here twice only for late night happy hours so that's what this is really reviewing. They have $4 mojitos and scratch margaritas during HH - I've had the margaritas and think they're appropriately strong. They look a little small b/c they're served in a martini glass but they're a decent size. I've also had the clams which were very good, and it seems that everyone I saw in the bar area had one of the $5 pizzas. It was incredibly packed on a Friday night and that's when I realized this is where everyone who lives on the east side goes on a Friday night. The service was a little slow but I think that's b/c they were so busy. I think this is probably one of the better spots in DT Bellevue for the late night happy hour.
(4)Eleen W.
I wanted to come here for the happy hour pizza prices, but coming in at 10:30am meant that the pizza oven wasn't hot enough to make pizzas yet. Thus, we resigned to just ordering a panini and some fruit. The panini was a bit on the salty side, but that was perhaps by nature of it having salami and bacon. The waitress and hostess were SUPER friendly and accomodating. Best service ever.
(2)Victoria T.
So my x boyfriend introduced me to this place for happy hour and I swear it was one of the best things he could have done during our time together... The atmosphere is trendy and modern (what you would expect from a Bellevue restaurant), the staff is polite, the food is delicious and super inexpensive. I was there last night with a girlfriend, we had 2 drinks each and split one of their mushroom/ sausage pizzas and clams and it came out to less than $25.00 a piece (with tax and tip). You can tell that they use quality ingredients and the house cab was pretty tasty. I will say that since I've been there last they have changed up the clams a bit and they are no longer served with the yummy garlic butter (which is probably better for me anyway:) and the broth has some sort of salami bits in it but even with the modifications I still really enjoyed them. Palomino continues to be my favorite happy hour in Bellevue and that's even after my X broke up with me there... we will always have happy hour, lol!
(5)Joe O.
I had lunch here last week and was pretty happy with everything. Went with the lunch special of the 4-cheese pasta and salad. The reason for the mediocre 3-stars is because the portions were teeny! Compared to the massive bowl of pasta my co-worker got (he ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese) I got nothing. Salad was served in a skimpy soup cup and the pasta was served in the same bowl. The food and service was good - not sure about price since I wasn't paying! Although for $13 I think they could have given me more salad AND pasta. Anyway, this place is close to work so we might be heading back. More later...
(3)Michael H.
Came in on a Sunday night during happy hour. Lot more people were there than I thought would be. We ended up sitting in the bar area. We had the crab & artichoke dip, grilled prawns, and roasted mussels. Two big thumbs up on the mussels. Very good and tons of fun to soak up the broth with the bread. The prawns were quite nice too actually. I'm not a huge fan of the dip (had to make the mrs happy) but it was fine. The service was fine, not very chatty or friendly for a bar but I was there with the mrs so I could assume they wanted to leave us alone. I just got kind of a weird vibe though. The food was really good overall so I could see going back here. I would totally suggest this place during happy hour though as several of the items are half price which made it a great bargain for downtown Bellevue! I would try going back again and sitting in the restaurant as well.
(3)Kelly H.
We decided to have our monthly book club here on a Thursday night at about 7pm. There were no tables in the bar which is where you have to sit to get the happy hour. When we finally found one we tried to get another chair from another table and got dirty looks from the staff (they cold have helped). The waiting staff acted like bratty school girls like another yelper mentioned. It really made me uncomfortable. Lastly she did not let us have time to finish our book club but instead kicked us out of our table early. She also did not split the check up, which is not required but annoying. Oh and DONT CHEW GUM!
(2)Mike F.
At least it's not Joey's. Food was pretty good, but the waitstaff seemed to think they knew a thing or two about food even though they are on average about 18 years old. Other than that, decent.
(3)Ian H.
We have visited Palomino of Bellevue several times now, and remain impressed by both the food and the service. The waitstaff is friendly, and super helpful. As a person with a food allergy, I was really pleased by how every waiter/waitres we had was so willing to help find food choices that would work for me. The food is tasty and filling. I've had the paella, pork loin, and, last night, the rib-eye. Each were prepared to my liking and flavorful. My favorite experience was during a recent visit, I shared concerns with a waiter that my drink seemed a little anemic, like the bartender was having a hard time pouring. The waiter went out of their way to get me some more spirits, to make up for it. I like that level of service and we are certainly regulars at Palomino!
(4)Meghann M.
i probably have to start by saying i'm just not a fan of the downtown bellevue "scene". so i know my review is probably biased because of that. on a friday night in the bar, this was definitely a see-and-be-seen spot. duh, obviously. came in specifically for the never-ending happy hour - which is very cool - and was pleased. $6 for a pizza? and i had leftovers? awesome. can't beat that and the pizza was good (tomato, basil, mozzarella). if i find myself in bellevue looking for a good, casual meal deal i would come back.
(3)Stefanie H.
What really makes this place awesome is the Happy Hour. Their pomegranite margarita was great and the $6 pizza was even better. 3 drinks and a pizza (and even took some home) all for about $26...that's great!
(3)Julia L.
Came here for hh by myself while doing some retail therapy on a saturday. Not sure if they were upset I was alone or if the waitstaff was just having a bad day but I really got the cold shoulder. Table was dirty (pizza crumbs?). Drinks were alright (overly sweet, premixed for hh?) and the food was just south of mediocre. There are sooo many other good places to enjoy a drink and some food alone on a weekend afternoon (heloooo john howie) that I won't be coming back here.
(2)Carrie C.
Went here for lunch yesterday. The new decor is definitely an improvement over Manzana. They've opened up the entryway so it's not so dark. The orange curtains and lamps in the bar are a bit 60s, but I do enjoy Palomino's use of lavish hanging fabrics. Fast friendly service at the bar - a reasonably priced, well made Mojito. Our table got ready very quickly, and they were happy to transfer our drink bill over to our table. I would like to see a vegetarian soup on the menu - both their tomato and portobello mushroom soups have chicken stock in them. My dinner companions said their soups were fabulous. A generous portion of deliciously flaky bread with tomato dipping sauce was served while we waited, and refilled when we asked. Attentive service but not hovering - we were able to finish our conversations without constantly being interrupted. I had an incredibly good panini with nice light side salad. Good portion sizes - I didn't feel I was getting shorted OR wasting food by being unable to finish. Definitely looking forward to coming back to happy hour and to trying their pastas and pizzas.
(4)Julianne T.
I like the place: good atmosphere, good food, great happy hour. I usually just go straight to the bar; they offer a pretty good selection there.
(4)Bob D.
Wish I could give it a better review - maybe after a return trip. We were there on a Friday evening, and didn't have a horrible time, but it was just so-so (hence two stars). The drinks (apple vanilla cosmo) were great, but the dinner was really just average. Another poster has commented on the food being layered with herbs, and that's pretty much how we felt, too. The waiters and waitresses were OK and reasonably attentive, no real problems there. The decor and music was definitely Happy Hour-themed, so I can understand the raves it's getting for that, but that's just not our scene. If you're going for Happy Hour, lively music and some noise, then it's a yes. If you want something quieter and are looking for a good meal, there are better places.
(2)David S.
If you want to go to a stuck up, self-important restaurant where they care more about how they look than how they treat a customer, this is the place. I can't comment on the food because I've actually never had the opportunity to be seated. We tried going there twice, just after lunch hour and just before 5pm. Both times they said they weren't serving food other than appetizers in the bar. Sorry, but if you're a restaurant, why in the world aren't you serving proper food in the middle of the day? I realize there are places that have the quality to specialize in certain services...but this isn't one of them. We're in Bellevue every weekend and hit up a restaurant every time. We'll never go back to Palomino.
(1)Jill J.
the 4 stars is simply for the all night happy hour. score. not only is the wine $4, but the food they have on special is really good. my favorite has been the grilled mushroom and feta salad....super good with great flavor. The wine on special is decent and the people i have come here with who have ordered the mixed drinks on special seemed to really enjoy them. Bonus, if you get a spot in the bar on the side, the seats are ultra comfy.
(4)Keane N.
Palomino has some decent dishes but is not my first place to pick for dining. That said, they have one of the better Happy Hour's around. Several pizza dishes and seafood. Most of the dishes are a little rich but the menu prices for happy hour are excellent. 3 stars overall, 4 stars for Happy Hour
(3)Dane M.
Palomino is yet another in a long list of mediocre Bellevue restaurants that cater to the average Bellevue Square shopper. It's not bad, but it's just too average to be excited about. The two visits I've experienced involved full dinners with friends. The service was good on the first visit, barely passable on the second. The caesar salad is below average with very little flavor. The crusted, bacon wrapped sea scallops were overcooked, but getting 5 scallops was a pleasant surprise... too bad they weren't that good! The New York steak was decent, but Ruth's Chris and El Gaucho are minutes away if I want a good steak. The bread pudding with bourbon and caramel sauces was average but delicious nonetheless. It's bread pudding after all! Palomino = Average Bellevue = Average Bummer.
(3)Kumiko M.
I loved how fancy the restaurant was without the wallet sucking prices. The food options weren't cheap, but they were definitely affordable for the quality of the restaurant. I went here a few days ago with a group of about 10 people and the service was great. Definitely a good place for a birthday or dinner date where formal/dressy attire is themed. Casual works too. I really liked the layout of the restaurant and how classy the decor was. Imagery can go a long ways......
(4)Alvin M.
All day Happy Hour drink and food prices, plus and pomegranate mojitos are the only reasons you need to visit this place.
(3)Helen M.
Not a bad place for happy hour. The $5 pizza is definitely something worth going for and it's not the greasy and gross "cheap" pizza either. I had the roma tomato pizza which has garlic and fresh basil on it, and it was quite delicious. I'll have to go back another time to try more things in order to make a more definite opinion of this place.
(3)Philip F.
Great happy hour. Great prices. Flat bread (goat cheese, mushroom and ham) is awesome. Excellent food. Nice mix of clientele. I really like this place.
(3)Larry R.
We had dinner last night at this place, but was just ok. No surprise at all. Food, service and ambience were just mediocre.
(3)Eva Z.
We came for lunch on a weekend afternoon. The food was good, although the portions were on the small side. I had the turkey curry soup and the ceasar salad- both were very good! And my husband is still talking about the four cheese baked penne. The service was pretty good. The waiter was friendly and helpful and the food came quickly.
(4)doug k.
When I worked in Seattle, Palomino was a great spot for reliable dining that offered something for everyone. The location in Bellevue carries on the things I like about the Seattle location with most of the same menu items. If you go I highly recommend the addictive Chop Chop salad...it has yummy bits of salami and a great balsamic dressing that is lighter than you would expect. Any of the dishes with the rotisserie chicken are very good as well. We took our 11 month old there and had no issues, they have high chairs.
(4)Timoteo K.
Palomino's branch in SF is stuffy and pretentious, full of suits from the surrounding waterfront area but Palomino's in Bellevue is totally different. The staff are actually glad to see you, the food is better and the atmosphere a whole lot more relaxed. Gets really crowded at happy hour, so go right after work. Happy hour drink and food specials were great. Me and my family went several times while I was on vacation since we could catch up, have a few drinks and unwind. A good spot for happy hour in happening Bellevue!
(4)Jason R.
this is only a review for their happy hour. 24/7 hh makes this place awesome. i always get a mac n jacks, clams, and a pizza. thats it...come eat here when all other hh's are over or in the middle of the night....
(4)Inder S.
I'll say this again - Yelp really needs a rating between A-OK and "I'm a Fan". The ambience is great, feels lively, yet not too noisy - I feel energized coming to this place. The food varied between good to great: - We ordered the ling cod and the salmon, and they were cooked well and flavorful. Four stars. - In addition we ordered the flatbread with white bean dip - and I was a little surprised that the "flatbread" was not soft, but hard like a cracker. Three stars. - In the end we ordered the sorbet with biscotti, and it was good (but nothing to be ecstatic about. Three stars. The service started off being good, and went downhill. In the end, we ordered the mango-orange sorbet, and they brought us the guava sorbet. When I complained, the server just shrugged and said that they'd run out of the mango-orange and this was our only option. If we didn't want it, he'd take it back. I didn't like that he didn't clear this with me before bringing the guava sorbet to our table, and his attitude of "take it or leave it" when he did bring it.
(3)Tonya N.
I'd say im amazed there is ALL day HH in downtown bellevue, how nice is that! The BEST thing here is the flat bread pizzas for $5... seriously this is amazing deal, a drink and pizza and youre set. We ordered the Gorgonzola fries and Crap Dip, both were fine, the fries didnt have even distribution of sauce, just plopped on top... The dip was good but the crackers could have been better, maybe crostini would have worked better since it was pretty salty. Overall, the service was just average, didnt have a welcoming feel at all. The hostess didnt greet anyone and i dont think i saw any of the servers/bar tenders smile. They just seemed stressed. The flat bread is a must for the price but all else is ok.
(3)Lori S.
Happy Hour 24 x 7! I'm in heaven!
(4)Michael R.
We had a party here with a dozen friends and the staff could not have been more fantastic. The chef worked with us ahead of time to craft a special menu and plan for the evening. We had a space in the back of the restaurant and they even blocked a couple of tables near us so we had room to spread out. I enjoyed the food tremendously - I had the tuna and it was simply prepared, exactly as it should be. Everyone loved the potatoes which were lightly fried and then shook in a paper bag with cheese for an unusual presentation. All in all we could not have had a better evening and would recommend this for any big groups!
(5)Samantha C.
Great for a date night with your spouse. Professional service and great food.
(4)Harper H.
I went back with some girlfriends and waited twenty minutes to be seated. We ended up leaving and going to Joey's. It is too bad their bar is not bigger. The hostess was super rude about us wanting to wait for the bar too. I will give it another chance I am sure, but not super impressed like I was.
(2)Sherry S.
I came here expecting it to be 3 stars and walked out giving it 3 stars. I wasn't a fan of the menu, which was a bit vague in its descriptions. I also felt there wasn't much to choose from - but, that's something I went already knowing after viewing it online. My friends had a difficult time reading the menu, not knowing what 65% of the words on there meant. I think they could definitely improve their menu by adding better descriptions of what their dishes are. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful, willing to answer whatever questions we had... not to mention... very sexy ;) They start off your meal with bread and some sort of tomato dip (don't know the name). The bread was good, the dip was okay - To be honest, the bread tasted better with balsamic vinegar and olive oil What I had - the steakhouse salad with caesar dressing. It came with tomatoes, sirloin steak, gorgonzola cheese, truffled devil eggs, and crispy onions. The crispy onions and gorgonzola cheese were probably the best part of the salad to me. The onions added a crunch to the salad and bursted with onion-deliciousness and the cheese added a nice balance to the salad. It was a pretty good salad but definitely not worth $20. What I tried from friends- Calamari - came with some type of aioli and some other type of cocktail looking dip. The calamari was crisp and not too oily - I would say just right. It was pretty good. Trenne Pasta and Rigatoni Bolognese - These both were okay to me. Definitely not as yummmy as everywhere else. They tasted a bit watered down to me. Pork loin - Was more on the sweet side. I probably wouldn't recommend it. Paper bag potatoes - This had a smoky sweet taste, a little too sweet for me but rather interesting. Overall, Palomino was, as 3 stars say, a-ok. I probably wont be going back for dinner but I wouldn't mind stopping by for their all day happy hour.
(3)Andrew H.
Menu has a nice mix of styles and levels of sophistication. The girl and I had deviled eggs, beet + burrata salad, steak frites, and duck confit + duck leg between us. Everything was exactly what I expected to see, really. Nothing was surprisingly amazing, but nothing bad either, and the portions were fairly generous. I liked the cocktail menu, too, and they had a fairly good wine selection (including some tasting flights...) One annoyance - none of the desserts were gluten free (well, the ice cream I suppose...). I was a little annoyed to see two kinds of cake AND bread pudding AND tiramisu but nothing like creme brulee or mousse or the like.
(4)Capt k.
I went there for dinner last night. I order the Calamari Fritto and braised short rib. Calamari is pretty good severed with marinara sauce, garlic-lemon aïoli. Short rib is nice and tender. However the accompaniment needs lots of improvement. Rapini overpowered the white bean and Mascarpone polenta is a bit gooey. There are a lot of comments from previous reviewers that service is not that good. I think the management may got the message. My wait staff is very friendly, attentive and chatty. I am glad that Palomino opened in Bellevue Collection. I now do not need to travel to Seattle and deal with parking when I am craving for their food.
(3)Jonathan Y.
Atmosphere: ***** Service: ***** Food: **** Price: ** Atmosphere: Definitely one of the best restaurants in Seattle for a 'fancy' date. Situated across from West Seattle with a nice view of Seattle (Magnolia, I think). Only view that I have seen that is better is Salty's. The restaurant feels very fancy, with a nice bridge that you walk over to get to your table. Large windows present a beautiful view of the marina + Seattle, while the curved walls make the place feel very large. Service: Our server was extremely friendly and very attentive. Not only that, but he was really busting his ass to make our meal enjoyable. When they ran out of chocolate cake for dessert, he was able to hunt a couple plates of the decadent cake down (earning him a nice tip). One of the best servers I have had, very highly recommended. Food: As a starter I had the blue cheese and jumbo prawn salad with pear shavings. The prawn was large, plump, and cooked to perfection. The pear slices offset the rich blue cheese and complimented each other well. For the main course I had the sirloin with jumbo prawns. The steak was cooked perfectly, and tasted good but was a tiny bit chewy. I definitely had a couple bites which required some ravenous chewing to swallow, a bit disappointing, but overall a nice experience. To be fair, this steak was coming off the heels of the Metropolitan Grill a week previous, so it had impossibly large shoes to fill. The chocolate cake dessert was a mouse cake + rockyroad-esque icecream on a flaky bisquit + 2 chocolate truffle balls. This was probably the highlight of the meal as it was one of the best chocolate mouse cakes i have ever tried. The icecream was good, but the flakey bisquit really brought out the taste. The chocolate truffles were made of dark chocolate and were rich but not overly sweet. My girlfriend had the banana icecream, which tasted like a cross between vanilla icecream and creme brulee with a hint of banana. One of the best scoops of ice cream i have ever had. Price: Went during Seattle Restaurant Week, so my entire meal was $25. Normally my steak is around $40, not worth it for the quality. The New York Steak that my girlfriend had was $50, and also not worth it. For that much, go to the Met. However, the seafood dishes that my friends enjoyed such as the double cooked lobster tails, were definitely worth the full menu price. Expect about $30 per dish here. Go here for seafood, not steaks. Bottom line: Palomino is a seafood restaurant, don't go there for cow. Top 3 places to bring a date IMHO. Excellent view, stupidly good desserts.
(3)Michelle R.
My sister, mother and I decided to do an early dinner after coming to Bellevue Art Museum on a whim and finding it closed. We have enjoyed fine meals at the downtown Palomino, so that was my Mom's choice. It was 5:30ish on Saturday and already the place was hopping. The floor staff was attentive and we were seated quickly. Two of us ordered the special steel head in parchment and Mom ordered the lamb shank. All of us asked for additional vegetables instead of the carb sides and that was accommodated easily. It was uneventful but pleasant until our food arrived. Mom's lamb shank looked lovely and our trout was presented on a piece of cedar with the explanation that the parchment was already prepared and to omit the potatoes would have not been possible. The huge selection of asparagus looked beautiful as did the generous portion of fish. I was irritated not to be asked as I was looking forward to the parchment preparation and additional aromatics but even that paled when we both tasted the fish. It was just off. Our waiter, Isaac Schmid (yes, I asked!) stood while we tried to figure out why it was bad. He was terribly reluctant to let us eat it and I kept waving him off. But then we figured out that it was farmed. Definitely farmed. It doesn't help that my sister's husband was a commercial fisherman and we all have lots of great fish and hate farmed fish, even if sustainable. I am conflicted about that but that is a discussion for another day. I felt bad as the menu clearly states this. But then Isaac INSISTED that we be happy and whisked our entries away. All the while my mother is silently loving her lamb and is happily eating away. Then the Executive Chef, James Summerville, comes to our table! James was gracious and understanding - not a defensive bone or whisper. We both chose another entry - I wanted my asparagus and they re plated it for me. James visited us again, gave us a detailed explanation of the preparations of our selections and assured us that we were at the head of the line. Then it was delivered, in minutes to our table, again by the Chef James. Isaac and James continued to be attentive and kind. They comped at least half of our meal. My sister had the duck special and she ate every bite. I was temporarily off fish so I ordered the chicken Marsala, the sauce of which I shamelessly ate with the relish spoon. It was a lovely and memorable evening - in no small part because of the care that this staff showed us. Wow! I think it is funny that other reviewers compare this restaurant to the Claim Jumper - a mall chain. If you are reading these reviews, please consider the source. I think the food is lovely and competently prepared and the fact that they insist on making things right in such a skillful way is a tribute to the management and leadership of this restaurant. It is all about a good value and Palomino performs!
(4)J J.
So we came back to have dessert again. This time we tried the pear bread pudding....to die for! I also ordered one of their happy hour specials- the clam pizza for $5! We ordered it as a snack, and three of us munched with some left over! Its about the size of a medium so if you are real hungry it will serve 1-2 perfectly. YUMMY! Definitely give this place a try. We haven't been disappointed!
(4)Howard A.
Had the Eggs Benadict very good. Service was great. Atmosphere great. Stayed at the Westin which is almost attached.
(4)J H.
Awesome brunch with a great server, Kaite. Loved bruschetta!
(5)Jake R.
Great looking, swanky place with great food and great HH prices! I was here for the late night HH with some fellow Eastside Yelpers. There were 7 of us total and they let us slide a couple tables to accommodate us all, which was nice of them. We were seated in the lower "bar" area and it was a bit cramped but that didn't take away too much from the experience. The waitress was really nice and really easy on the eyes too but she did disappear quite often! The highlight of the evening was the food for sure. Sarah K. had carpooled with me and we decided to each order something different so we could share, for an only child she sure shares well, lol. Now the main thing I wanted to order was the signature brick oven clam pizza, which consisted of Clams, duh, four cheeses(Fontina, Asiago, mozzarella & Parmesan), crushed red chili peppers & extra virgin olive oil. It wasn't bad but of all the things I had that night it was my least favorite. My favorite however was the King Crab & Artichoke Dip, which Sarah ordered and I'm really glad she did, it was so good you HAVE to try it if you try nothing else! The dip was King Crab, Parmesan cheese, sliced onions, on a nice cracked pizza crust, Mm Mm Mm delicious! I also ordered the Brick oven roasted mussels with chorizo, lobster-saffron-tomato broth & lemon, they were good, but it's hard to mess up mussels. Sarah also ordered a Sausage pizza with roasted mushrooms and basil infused extra virgin olive oil, on a recommendation from the waitress and it was another great item, my second favorite food of the night! We also both had a couple drinks, Mac & Jacks for me and a couple foo foo drinks for her, the Cranberry Mojito and the Pomegranate Margarita. The food was great, the company was entertaining and the HH prices were ridiculously low, my bill was only a little over $21.00 for 2 beers, 1 appetizer and 1 pizza. Now that's a deal! I'm definitely a fan! :)
(4)Arunkumar N.
I've been there only for happy hour, so I don't really know about their lunch and dinner items. The happy hr rocks at this place - the sausage pizza for $5 is very tasty (don't order the clams pizza) and is large enough for 2. The cocktails and beer are very good value as well. Best of all, the happy hr is all day sun-thur!
(4)H Y.
A group of 7 guys went for happy hour. Lots of room, drink is reasonable (4 dollars), the pizza was good, and we were probably the loudest group ;) and the server was polite.
(4)Roman M.
Awesome place, and they have amazing mojitos, seems like they are made from scratch, and thats pretty hard to find. Their $6 pizza is also amazing, big enough for 2 if you're not too hungry.
(5)Karen F.
The food at this place is great but the service is beyond disappointing. My family came in for a Sunday lunch, and the place was not busy at all. Food: The new pizzas and the soups are great, but the soup is a bit pricey at $7 a bowl. For that price, I expect more than a little bowl of soup! The lobster ravioli dish gives you two palm-sized pieces of ravioli in a cream sauce which caught us off-guard -- we asked our server questions about our orders, this was never explained to us. Based on food alone, I'd rate Palomino 4 stars. Service: REALLY ABYSMAL. We were not asked for our drink orders, and our server was brusque in general. We had just started eating and one of our party had paused and our server offered us boxes for our pizzas. Then, even before we were halfway done, she dropped off our bill. What is this place? IHOP or some random greasy spoon? When half of our party was done with their meal, our server started collecting the empty plates and some of us were still eating. What's worse, she did it loudly and made sure to clank all the plates and silverware while she stacked them up table-side. Wow. She did not check on our table a single time during our meal and our water glasses were only refilled once. The restaurant was not busy at all so I'm not sure why we were being rushed out of there and why our presence was barely being acknowledged but boy, this experience left a lasting bad impression. Service: 1 star. Sorry, won't be coming back.
(2)Danelle P.
A group of us went with our babies (5 total babies) on a weekend at the end of their brunch and were treated with some of the best service I've experienced since dining with an infant. They set us, up in a great spot with plenty of room and let us spread out with our strollers, high chairs, the entire works! The food was good, the waitress was attentive and totally understanding. I'd recommend this place for families, but have also enjoyed a happy hour drink with friends and no children
(4)Jerri R.
Always a favorite when we visit the Seattle area during our annual tennis tournament. Everything we've ordered over our three year history has been delicious. I recommend sitting in the bar if you're a foodie who enjoys value pricing. Our pasta selections, salads, and pizzas have never failed to please. The front hosts could be more service-minded... they stood in a group gossiping and ignoring most of the arriving guests. Our bartender more than made up for this disconnect with his quick attention, pleasant personality, and follow through on our items.
(4)Sharon K.
Happy hour on Friday night? Yes please! The bar area was very busy and the food looked gooood. Service was good - server checked on us once in awhile to make sure everyone had everything we needed. My friends ordered the fries (something 'gorgonzola') and the calamari. YUM! Anything fried is good haha. I really liked the sauce and cheese on the fries along with the dipping sauce for the calamari. I'd already eaten before I came here but ended up eating again because the food was so good. Definitely coming back!
(4)jack g.
I have been going to Both Palominos for happy hour for a long time. 3 to 6 and 9 to close... Its almost always happy hour!! Lots of the menu is not suitable for one person... Eating a whole fondue by yourself is not a good idea. The pizzas work out well for a single person and at 5 bucks each, they're hard to beat. My latest favorite is a small plate of Kale. Its with Roasted Garlic, capers and Lemon. Delicious. I also get a giant dish of Mussles with Chorizo. What a combo!! Serious garlic. I sit at the bar and the service is always quick, friendly and consistent. John downtown is awesome and all the guys in Bellevue are great. I reccomend this place highly.
(5)Hanna L.
It's pricey if you're not eating at the bar... But the food is good and The wine selection surprisingly limited. But one is not nearly as not picky when dining on happy hour fares, so make sure you come in for hh, and you and your wallet will not be a sour puss!
(3)Calvin M.
Great place to eat and drink if you sit in the bar area. The pizzas are $5 and all the appetizers are half price. They also have a list of drinks for $3, such as mojitos. The happy hour prices last all day. The crowd tends to be the professional type. Good place to go unwind or to start off the night. If you sit in the restaurant area, it's not worth the visit. For example, the same pizza that you can get at the bar will be $12 in the restaurant section.
(3)Philip K.
Came here after doing some shopping at the malls but didn't feel like dropping the $15 for their chop chop salad. Instead we opted for their happy hour menu and some drinks. I ordered the pepperoni pizza and a Guinness. Both came out to under $10 which is a great value. Unfortunately, I failed to realize that their pizza is super thin crusted and the pepperoni bled salt and between that and the oil, it wasn't great. The rotisserie chicken pizza my wife had was much more palatable. Overall, it was okay. Normally our visit would be in the 4 or 5 range given how much we love the chop salad but today not so much. But if you want to dine outside on a bright sunny day, the patio is a great way to go. Just keep in mind that happy hour starts on the patio after 3pm.
(3)Cindy C.
Went here for breakfast... small but interesting b.fast menu (read: this isn't mom and pop cafe' fare), yummy food, good coffee (although I'd have tossed in another scoop or two of those delectable beans into the grinder), and to top it off, a, spacious, peaceful atmosphere for a quiet morning meal (that won't leave you smelling like griddle grease... thumbs up). Close to... well, everything. Wish our server could teach his craft in Puget Sound; this guy was fabulous to the extreme. (Also wish I'd have remembered to get his name!) Our one complaint is that there aren't more healthful options on the menu; arteries beware. I'd love to see more pricing info from fellow Yelpers - maybe some of you would, too? Breakfast here runs between $8 (oatmeal with some adds and toast) and $12 (or slightly more) here, plus drinks.
(3)Andrew A.
Went there for brunch on Saturday; they had a bloody mary and mimosa bar with a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options. I had the prime rib sandwich and it was awesome. My fiance had the crab, artichoke, and spinach eggs benedict and it was also awesome. Nothing negative to say about this place on our one visit; great service and excellent food.
(5)Ryan G.
I've been here for both dinner and happy hour, and I've got to say the happy hour is where it's at. The last (of many) time I was here, we had great service in the bar with a very nice young blonde lady that didn't seem irritated at all that we had come in pretty much right before close. She was happy that we were there and even offered to get us an extra drink even though we had alrady ordered becuase last call was happening. The fondue is amazing and a must if we go. Dinner was ok, but not spectacular for the price. I really enjoyed the scallops that I had gotten at the Seattle location, but haven't seen them on the Bellevue menu. Worse than that, I wasn't a fan of the scallops I had gotten at Bellevue at all. Dissappointing. Overall, I'd give the dinner 2 stars, and the happy hour 6 stars, averaging to 4.
(4)April S.
Arrived at 6pm on a Thursday for all day happy hour. I was expecting to have to wait around for a table that would fit a party of 4 but was happy to see that the bar area is really big and they have plenty of seating in the bar and found a great booth in the corner. The food and drinks were great. $4 for a cranberry mojito and $5 for yummy rotisserie chicken pizza with red peppers and onions. My waiter was very nice and even went back to ask the chef the ingredients for the great spicy butter dip that accompanied my order of clams. I will definitely come back to Palomino for happy hour!
(4)Jessica W.
Went to Palomino on a Friday night. We'd tried the Seattle location years ago and were disappointed by both the food and service, but so many friends and family love it that we decided to give it another shot. Service: while our waitstaff was friendly and attentive, her persistent efforts to upsell us on appetizers, cocktails, and then dessert were tiring. Apparently Palomino is part of some diners' club, and we were subjected to the spiel on how it was such a great opportunity. I'm sure it would be if we planned to eat here more often-- or ever. I felt like I was dining in Victoria's Secret-- did her job depend on how much she was able to upsell or how many diners' club memberships she sold? It was very off-putting. Food: my salad (grilled chicken with blue cheese and pecans) was wonderful, and definitely entree-sized. However, it was $18, when I would have said it was valued closer to $12 or $14-- there wasn't a ton of chicken, only about half a breast. And while it was done well, I wouldn't call it $18 worth of well. My husband had the baked penne, which was basically a huge bowl of high-end mac and cheese. It was great, and he had enough leftovers for lunch the next day, but it was almost $20-- just for noodles and cheese. We wondered if it took so long for our food to come because we'd only ordered entrees (I ordered a cocktail, the husband repeatedly said he'd stick with water, and yet was still given the "great cocktails" spiel), as we watched the parties on either side of us get both their appetizers and their entrees before we got our entrees. I would have been willing to try Palomino again, if it wasn't for the hard-selling of everything. If we're going to spend money at a nice restaurant, we expect low-key and professional service, not feeling like we walked into a time-share lecture.
(2)Larry D.
What a surprise to find out that a very scimpy plate with a couple of shrimp on a small mound of lettuce is a $19 shrimp louie salad. Palomino needs to work on their value quotient.
(2)Judy L.
LOVE their happy hour menu, I recommend the crab dip~ And their cocktails taste great too, at least the ones I've tried which are always sweet, sugary, or fruity. Seating is always hard to find though since it's packed so you kind of have to stake it out and run to the table to beat the competition once a table opens up. My friends and I did it once, I felt pretty ridiculous doing it but my more experienced happy hour friends said it was a must if you wanted to eat soon and not wait an hour! We ordered almost everything off the menu since our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we paid for it later when we had difficulty breathing but it was worth it! :)
(4)Trish Q.
We went here for my nephew's birthday. The service was pretty slow but we were a group of 10, however the kids got restless because there food took over 45 minutes to arrive. I think if we would have been a smaller group we might have received our food sooner. They were out of clams which is what the bday boy wanted so he was bummed. The portions are very generous even the appetizers. The restauarant layout is odd. There are tables on the lower level that feel like they are in the lobby. The roasted tomatoes and bread with balsamic dipping sauce was fantastic. It is probably a better happy hour place I would imagine
(3)Stephanie K.
I have mixed feelings about this restaurant. I've eaten there three times, and the food is consistently good. Great menu, high quality food. But the service! Oh dear. The second time I was there, I ordered a steak "medium." It came charred all the way through. I'm one who hates to call attention to myself, never send things back, but this time I had to and was pleased that the chef came out and apologized profusely and agreed (it was obvious) that the steak was grossly overcooked. But having to wait for another steak while my family finished their meals was a real bummer. I appreciate that they handled a mistake well, but my food came when every one else at the table was half done. Today I went for lunch for my birthday and the service was again amateur hour! I ordered the steakhouse salad, which lists ingredients but doesn't say anything about meat. The server asked me how I wanted my steak done (?). I told her I wasn't aware there was steak on the salad, and that I really didn't want a steak - could I just have the salad w/o the steak? She said of course and she would "negotiate" with the management to get the price down (??). The salad was fantastic - exactly what I wanted, but I have to say, the price went from $17 to $13 - I have to believe the steak was worth more than $4?? Then, my son and I ordered a Bruschetta appetizer that never came. It was never mentioned again. I would have asked about it except that once my salad came, I didn't want it anymore since it was a starter. My glass of wine came so late I was half way through my lunch by the time it arrived. I was never offered a dessert which I thought was lame - if there's one day of the year I probably would have sprung for dessert at lunch, it's my birthday... So yes, the food is really good but I'm not sure I'd go again because the service is consistently spotty.
(2)Gretchen B.
What can I say. You are in the suburbs you are hungry. Yet another bad chain restaurant with insanely overpriced suburban chain food. Most of the dinner menu items are around $20 for very sub par pizza, pasta, and grill items. Get out of the suburbs and spend your money at a real restaurant for 1/2 the price for great food. Ugh!
(2)Corrine C.
Came here for dinner party with friends and family on a Friday evening. We were seated promptly at 6:30pm and never felt rushed throughout a long and relaxing dinner. Started off with some calamari and bread. The bread came out with some kind of tomato sauce which is a little different. I'm on a restricted diet so passed on those carbs but tried some of the calamari and it was good. The kiddo had penne with alfredo sauce off the kids menu. For about $7 or 8 dollars a kids meal, it was alright. He ate everything in his pasta bowl. (He actually wanted more but I told him if he didn't eat his asparagus there would be no more.) I ordered the stuffed cauliflower pasta with duck confit. Pretty tasty. I love cauliflower of any kind but I would still say my fave cauliflower pasta was had at Steelhead diner. This was like 2 large half moon shaped ravioli's stuffed with a cauliflower mixture and the shredded duck was laid out down the middle on top. Like I said - it was interesting and tasty. For dessert we had the doughnut holes. mmm... loved the chocolate nutella sauce. Had to restrain myself from getting a second and third spoon... Overall the service was friendly, our waters were kept full, and we left with full tummies!
(4)Kim O.
I love the downtown bellevue location for palominos- I'm glad RUI got rid of manzana grill. It was not good at all... I love coming here for happy hour, I always manage to get a spot in before the rush wave hits! People are always coming here for happy hour, the dining room is not as packed as the bar. I've eaten almost everything on the menu in the bar including the dinner menu and I would say their artichoke dip is pretty tasty! Along with their waffle fries with gorgonzola- which is very good even without the ketchup! Their pizzas are generous for happy hour. Their selection is tasty! Never a bland moment here. Their happy hour drink menu is quite extensive- I always try to mix it up by getting a few drinks here and there. Your wallet doesn't get a dent as much because it's all very well priced! This place is good for groups and for couples. It's well rounded where the servers are very attentive and even the managers are careful to stop by to say hi and check on you.
(4)Holly W.
I went to the "Big Event" last Thursday night for the "Sex in the City" party. When I RSVP'd it said Drink Specials (all drinks) $7.00., and "Luxury Swag Bags". The night before the event The Palomino changed the drink price to $10.00 - FOR ALL DRINKS including Wine & Beer ( Outragious !!). The one drink I had was weak and pre-made and warm. I actually went next door to "Earls" to have a decent cocktail. The Swag Bag was a huge dissapointment it was probably one of the worst one I have ever recieved. Overall the food was good but the party, swag bags and drinks were a major dissapoitment.
(2)Jarrod L.
Good bistro/Italian food. Kinda pricey, but the service was excellent. If you want a nice dinner out, it's a good place to try.
(3)Denise E.
Another great place to go in Bellevue for happy hour! Service in the bar is warm and friendly. Happy hour prices are great and there is so much to choose from. I had the crab dip but it was a very difficult decision for me and I can't wait to go back and try more!
(3)S K.
4 words: HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY 4 more words: GRILLED WILD MUSHROOM SALAD 1/2 off appetizers and $3 pizza. Grilled mushroom salad was really delicious. Tasted very 'meaty'. Good vibe in the bar, not too loud that you can't carry on a conversation. Nice, but not too upscale that your friends in jeans feel uncomfortable. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Christine N.
good priced, enjoyable happy hour eats. The mussels appetizer bastes in a lovely broth, with slices of Italian sausage as well. 5 dollar pizzas and 4 dollar mojitos make this place a good find for cheap eats. I went on a weekend, the place was pretty busy but service was not lacking.
(4)Dawn H.
The happy hour is indeed cheap, but is it as good as everyone says? Well, yes and no. The $4 drinks, including a cranberry mojito and a pomegranite margarita, are yummy. But the food tends toward to be on the greasy side... The $5 sausage pizza was enjoyed by my 3 HH companions, but I thought it was too greasy and the crust was soggy and floppy. Also, the crab spinach dip, although tasty, was again, too greasy! Even the flatbead seems like it is brushed with a layer of olive oil. The calamari was really good though. There's not a lot of healthful options for those of us who are watching our weight, but for 4 people who had 2 drinks each, left completely full, and only paid $56 total, it's a hell of a deal.
(3)Andrea R.
As an Italian i can tell u with certainty that the pizza of this place should *not* be called a pizza. Doe is wrong. Pepperoni is super fat. Sauce has no flavor and the Parmesan on top is disgusting. 0 stars!
(1)Jason C.
The weekday happy hour time slot was incredibly busy. After having stood for 10 mins lurking for a spot I finally snatched one at the end of the granite bar. The bartenders were attentive and active which I sincerely appreciated. I wish the food's performance was as such, but alas it didn't come close. As heavily discounted as the sizable pizza was, it was equally as heavily drenched in oil and mediocrity. Each attempt at eating a slice came with the sudden task of stopping dripped oil from splattering on oneself. I guess compliments should be given for the beer being served cold at least, which is basically the same as complimenting a dog for licking itself.
(2)Donald B.
They improved the space a little by opening up the entryway so it isn't as dark and stuffy as manzana was. Food: Free bread: good, but served with what I can only call pasta sauce from a bottle with some cheese thrown in. Salad: average ($9) Prawns with Pasta: good ($18) Macoroni & Cheese: very good (for the kids) Cocktail: Lousy. Couldn't taste the gin at all, or the sage. ($9.50) Service. Average, never asked why I didn't actually drink the lousy cocktail. They have a pretty extensive happy hour so I think they'll be busy, but I won't be back unless other people drag me there. Overall, more run of the mill corporate fare. ----- Damn - my review must have offended the bar tender (or someone) who took the time to send me a nice expletive laden comment. Thank you whoever you are. I'll drop it another star since excellent customer service is obviously one of your policies.
(1)Patricia T.
In a nutshell, pricey, slow and loud. I could go on and on, but that really sums it up. Wish Manzana was back.
(2)Tina G.
Great happy hour! Beautiful place Love it!
(5)Kerri D.
I'm usually a fan of Palomino in Seattle but was really disappointed in the Bellevue location. My gyro burger was inedible; wrong choice of bread for the meat, the meat was tasteless, there were weird condiments on it. I paid $20+ for basically some french fries, which were also not great. Salad was wilted. The mojitos were very watered down. The staff is super friendly and the atmosphere is ok, but I won't be doing lunch here again.
(2)Dan L.
I was staying at the Westin which is right next to Palimino, so I ended up going there twice for breakfast, once for dinner and once for lunch/happy hour. The service was generally quite good. The breakfast was OK, small portions and the price a little high (both times with tip and tax, around $25, with one juice, one coffee and one eggs benedict). Very slow business both Saturday and Sunday when I was there. The dinner was not good. The app of calamari was just terrible. Small pieces of tasteless calamari covered with a lot of tasteless batter. Like 2/3's batter to 1/3 calamari. The server asked how it was, and I told her, and she said she would bring it back and re do it. Then the manager came by and said yes, the pieces were smaller than usual and she brought a new dish. The pieces were larger this time, but it still just had no taste. The entree was the featured special of lobster ravioli in a special sauce. The pasta was fine, but again, the lobster sauce which should be rich and delicious was very bland. Almost flavorless. And although the ravioli which has lobster and other fish inside had little flavor. I don't what was wrong. The lunch/happy experience was better, with nice drink specials at $5 and a couple of apps priced under $10, but nothing to WOW you.
(2)Andy W.
going out to downtown Bellevue and need food to start the night cheap best happy hour in downtown Bellevue, however worst host stand and waitresses bar tenders are good. if you can sit at the bar do it. the waitresses are not aesthetically pleasing and never smile. but the food and the drinks are really worth putting up with overweight rude waitress. if you want good service from them id say put down 15 1's not kidding. say that's there tip so long as they do there job and take a dollar away for every wrong thing they do they will be left with very little. i have worked in the restaurant business for a bit i know what I'm looking for in service and some of those girls don't have it. I'm sorry to the other girls that were doing their job there just the past 7 times i have gone there its been that bad lucky the food is worth it
(3)J B.
Happy hour here with good prices like all the time except for the dinner hours on the weekends. Great place for good drinks and food and a nice atmosphere. $4 beers and mixed drinks. $5 pizzas (not very big, maybe feed 2) at happy hour.
(4)David K.
Palomino's happy hour is famous because it's all day. Go anytime and get great food and drinks for half off! All their appetizers are delicious (I've tried all of them), but a big warning: DO NOT GET THEIR $5 PIZZAS. People get excited because pizza is only $5. In fact, that is often the most mentioned thing about Palomino's happy hour. But the pizzas are truly bad. I'm not joking when I say that the crust has a texture and taste of cardboard. It's like eating old pizza where the crust has hardened. Yes, it seems like a great deal, but why pay $5 for bad pizza. I love thin crust pizza (Tutta Bella, Via Tribunali, Veraci, Delancey, etc), but Palomino's is thin, bad pizza. I've ordered it three times to be sure. And yes, everytime it had tastless, hard, bad crust.
(4)S And A D.
Great happy hour. Nice drinks, apps and bar for the price. Prompt service. Food better than average, homemade flatbread.
(4)Paige P.
I've always been a Palmino fan... especially their happy hour menu. With $5 - $6 appetizers one really should not complain. It does get really busy and hard to find seats. Their regular menu is good too, I love the chop chop salad (dressing on the side please) and the rigatoni bolognese. Their dessert is worth trying too. Good place for first dates since their food is pretty consistent.
(4)E. P.
I had lunch here today and it was good, but definitely not for those looking for a quick workday lunch. We were there for over an hour. Gorgonzola fries were good if not a little greasy, but they're fries so...I had the Capellini Pomodoro. It was good, but the tomatoes could have been cut a little smaller; some were the size of half a Roma tomato. OK service. I liked the look of their menu and I'd go again for lunch. They have combinations, pizzas, meats, and pastas. There were at least a few other things I'd like to try. Nice, clean, open atmosphere. Lots of windows so nice and bright during the day.
(3)Chris D.
We tried to go to Palomino twice shortly after it opened but both times we were made to feel unwelcome. There were other customers seated inside but when we said that were there for lunch or dinner they said sorry, they weren't serving food at that time. It seemed kind of weird since it is a restaurant, isn't it? Maybe we were there between lunch and dinner but it felt very unwelcoming because they wouldn't even seat us.
(1)ROEL X.
I've had two experiences here. First was maybe ok and second was just plain awful. The ok: Our waitress from our first visit was really great. Prompt, friendly, observant and happy to be waitressing. Gave the kind of service you don't find very often. Our steaks were red and/or bleeding, she noticed, took care of it and in the end took care of the entire bill....on Tgiving night. We were unhappy with the food but it was Tgiving after all and not her fault. Plus, she was an awesome waitress so we tipped her $50 for her service. The bad: Second experience was Christmas dinner. The Mojito's tasted like selzter with lime juice and mint leaves, steak was red and bleeding, chicken and capers was super salty and super sour and the turkey dinner came with what must have been the very last bits and pieces of the turkey. It was 7:30 and the waiter told us the kitchen closed at 8.... The super bad: The waiter was just one big jerk wad. He complained he was working on Christmas. He complained that he was a bartender, not a waiter. He complained they were crazy slammed all day. He complained they were running out of food. The only thing he didn't complain about was the kitchen closing at 8. He didn't apologize even once in the two times that he took the steak back to the kitchen. We had to physically get up to search out another waiter to find him for the bill. We had to ask him to take off the $40 steak that was uneaten and undercooked. And no, he did not receive a generous tip. The good: Is there a good? No...wait....yes...there is...WE'LL NEVER GO BACK! Bottom line? Don't waste your time, your taste buds or your hard earned cash on that over priced restaurant (and I use that term reluctantly!).
(1)Kim N.
Last night was our third trip to this Palomino and the worse. Our waitress didn't come by (not even an acknowledgement) for a good, LONG 10 mins after we had been seated. Her service was lackluster all evening, too. My husband ordered the shrimp scampi but there were only 8 normal pieces and a huge stack of pasta that was too garlic-y. For the price that we were paying, we expected better. The only time we enjoyed our trip here was our first happy hour. The bartenders were right on and friendly. The service has always been mediocre, at least. And food during happy hour was good. It was noisy but that didn't bother us too much. It's more of a group place.
(2)Lisa W.
The all-day happy hour at Palomino finally drew me in. We had to go to Bellevue Square to exchange something and it was my job to come up with a lunch place. All day happy hour sounded like a good deal to me. They have a few drink specials...house red, house white, all draft beers and a couple of mixed drinks. They also offer half-off selected appetizers and $5 pizzas. It's a pretty good-sized bar area, though maybe because it was lunch time, it wasn't super busy. Our server was very friendly, prompt and helpful. I had the grilled wild mushroom salad (half-off at happy hour price) and a glass of Ste Michelle Brut (not on happy hour). My BF had their half-salad/half-pasta combo, Caesar salad/Rigatoni bollognese and a Coca-cola. We were very pleased with our picks. The salad was absolutely the perfect amount of lunch for me...mixed greens, toasted walnuts, and plenty of grilled mushrooms (usually includes gorgonzola cheese but I held that off). The Caesar salad was your typical Caesar and the Rigatoni was super cheesy and filling. We walked out with a pleasantly low bill and very content. Great lunch spot.
(3)kim i.
My husband and I just ate Christmas dinner. It was very good. The crab cakes were so big and it came with a salad. The Caesar salad was amazing! Also the scallops. The place is a little loud but we had a nice table off near the corner so it was not too bad. The pork loin was huge and cooked great. The bread pudding home cooked. Not expensive at all for such a great meal.
(5)Pma e.
happy hour is pretty good. customer service varies. sometimes you can get really good service and other times it's alright.
(3)Tony L.
My first time there, service's good. Food is not & very noise. We ordered Sea Bass, Crab cake, Lamb shank, & sole. The sole is good. Lamb shank is just right on average. Sea bass is just not so fresh at all....first time I had sea bass this bad...normally it's pretty hard to cook sea bass not delicious. Crab cake is way out of the line....got no patience for this dish, on the menu, it says KING crab cake, however, it's actually a mix of dunguness & king crab, I taste nothing King at all, and the dunguness wasnt fresh, it tasted like can food. The portion is so small...anyway, enough crab...I make better crab cake any time than this piece of crab...
(2)Kristina M.
Palomino is one of my favorite happy hour spots! I would only suggest eating in the bar, as the food is the same but 1/2 the price. I love their pizza and king crab dip. The only downfall is that it can be hard to find a seat in the bar.
(4)Rob H.
Palomino Bellevue for breakfast! We hosted a wedding at our home on Saturday. By Sunday morning, we needed to be taken care of. Palomino Bellevue did just that. The service was prompt and not imposing. We ordered the crisp pepper bacon and cheddar omelette and eggs benedict. The omette was superb with crisp bacon and sweet caramelly onions. The sauce on the Eggs Benedict was smooth and lemony. MMmmm! Both entrees were served with perfect hash browns (great balance of crispy and soft potatoes).
(4)angela h.
Not hot on the clam or pepperoni pizzas, four cheese a little too cheesy - Other pizzas are okay. Cranberry motitos probably a better bet, the offerings are decent considering the price. Note to the twins Mike and Eric - you guys were great, don't stress! It was a busy night and we hardly waited at all! Drinks came quickly, food was prompt.. Guess I just looked grumpy?
(3)Tila N.
My boyfriend and I went here for dinner. We got put into a corner where we were ignored. Our waitress weren't attentive; never came by to check up on us. The food is terrible and way overpriced. The only good thing about it was the free bread and the sauce for it. Will not go back there again.
(1)mamalicous M.
OMG-I went here last week with a good friend who works in Bellevue. We walked the mall and then got hungry and thirsty so decided to head out to one of his favorite hangouts. I was surprised when he said they had happy hour late on Fridays. The bar was packed and we had to stare down people at tables who already had their tabs. We eyed the other couple across the bar that was doing the same and exchanged the show down eye squints. We spotted the table reaching for their coats and it was as if the track and field gun went off in our heads. We beat them to the finish line and had ourselves placed in the seats before the cushions had a chance to get cold. Thumbs up to the waitstaff for coming in second place in our race because they were right behind us with towel in hand to clean it up before I could even take off my coat and set down my purse. We ordered the Mojitos and two appetizers. The Mojitos and conversation made this one of the happiest happy hours for me. I had to pace myself because they were so good and made me grin ridiculously. I kept saying that I was glad I didn't have to drive us home. Our drinks were served quickly from the very friendly waitress. Our food magically appeared before we were even halfway done with our first drink. We ordered the baked feta which was accompanied by a very tasty crisp pita and waffle fries. I would recommend the feta appetizer however fries were good but not extraordinary. The Mojitos were the best and well worth the trip out to the Eastside. I was really impressed by the waitstaff as they seemed to work together as team. Usually you walk into a restaurant and you get one waitress and if you need something and ask someone else for it they just flatly state they will let your waitress know. We had at least three different servers looking over us from serving our drinks to bringing me another knife when they noticed I dropped mine (that was my que to slow down on the grownup koolaid) It was inexpensive during the Happy hour our total tab which included quite a few drinks and two appetizers was under $40. Make sure you get there early so you avoid the show down.
(5)Cara T.
I was in Bellevue over the weekend for a haircut and stumbled in here for a bite and a drink before the appointment. We had some time to kill so lounged back in the bar over a couple of drinks before ordering. I had the Ciroc Cosmo which I loved, but at $12 seemed a little high. The atmosphere was really laid back and they weren't too busy for a Saturday afternoon. The service was a little spotty but I beleive there was only 1 waitress for the whole bar area and patrons were a little spread out. I ordered the 1/2 smoked turkey sand. and a small Chop Chop salad and both were pretty good. Not spectacular but alright. The food seemed reasonably priced, although not huge portions and the drinks a little pricey. They are affiliated with one of my faves down in Tacoma so they shared alot of the same HH choices but unfortunately it wasn't HH during our visit. Overall, nice atmosphere and decent food and drinks.
(3)Jeffrey S.
Darn good happy hour pizza.
(4)Robert L.
i've seen both worlds of this place, dinner and happy hour, and i have nothing negative to report, the food is excellent, and it's happy hour is probably the best i've ever had, how can you complain about all day happy hour sun-thurs?! 1/2 off appetizers AND $5 pizzas! drink specials were delicious, their pistachio crusted brie and artichoke dip was amazing, we got 2 pizzas that did not disappoint, this place bitch slapped Stanford's down to #2, long live palomino :)
(5)Carin S.
Very disappointed. Went for dinner, party of 4, on a Tuesday night. We wanted to treat our very good friends to a really nice dinner. I wouldn't say service was bad, but it certainly wasn't very good. It did not appear to be very busy, yet it took a long time to get our food (just the appetizers!) I sat with an empty wine glass for a loooong time before the waitress came by and asked if I'd like another. The one really bad thing - dinner came out and they hadn't cleared the appetizer/salad/soup plates yet, so we were all juggling plates so that they could set the dinners down. Which were cold/lukewarm. My dinner was tasty - would have been terrific hot, but my partner's sucked. Downright sucked. Was supposed to be a spicy Italian sausage stuffed ravioli with two different type sauces; not only was it cold, but the sausage had absolutely no flavor. Dessert was so-so, but again, the coffee came cold. And when someone finally came by to finally ask how things were, they seemed to want to defend "one of their most popular dishes," and not much interested in seeing that we were happy. Atmosphere was nice and folks were pleasant, but for $174 (not counting tip) for 4 (and I was the only one with wine - 2 glasses), I find that excessive. Had the food and the service been terrific, fine - don't mind paying for that. But as it was, we won't be going back.
(2)Stacie S.
Palomino has a lot going for it--wonderful location, beautiful interiors, and an assortment of choices on the menu. It's good if you'r enot looking for a really unusual meal--one of my co-diners classified it as "not horrible". They have a nice bar menu, including cocktails, but given it's Bellevue, there's a wait list to get in the bar. The very open air design just makes it difficult to hear or talk, even with someone sitting next to you. But these are all thingsoutside of Palomino's control: my friends raved about their thin crust pizza (I opted for the rotisserie chicken, which was just kind of bland). I did enjoy my white wine sangria, and our 1 shared appetizers (a plate of hummus, and a crab and artichoke dip) were wonderful.Our server was absolutely amazing as well-despite the chaos reigning throughout the restaurant, and didn't even blink when we had to give her six different cards to split the bill. Thinking about all this, Ia ctually changed my rating up to 3 stars--Palomino isn't my kind of place, but for what it is, it does everything well. Avoid Lincoln Plaza on weekend nights if you're trying to park. Head straight to parking behind Bellvue Square or Bellevue Place!
(3)Nick C.
Good atmosphere. Pretty good food. Never had any trouble with the waiters. Great place to go right before/after a movie at Lincoln Square.
(4)Marla S.
I have tried Palomino twice for lunch and once for dinner and I really want to like it...but for the price, I have had much better. Staff seemed over worked but nice. Food just ok.
(2)jamie d.
i went here for breakfast the other saturday and i was plesantly surprised. our server was really nice and the bloody marys and shots were awesome! i had the tomato basil egg sandwich and it was really good and huge! hash browns were good too. my friend got an italian omlette and he liked his as well. i'd go back
(4)