Once you go black, you never go back... Truer words... I really, really love this place. The food is great... not excellent... but as great as it should be for the perfectly reasonable price and style. LOVE the blasted broccoli and the curried cauliflower is to die for. The spicy peel and eat shrimp are mm mm good. The flatbread flavors a scrumptious but I would request them to be... well... flat. They are a little doughy. Atmosphere is dark, cozy, and perfect for socializing. Fun servers, fun crowd.
(4)
Stephanie Y.
This is a great trendy place to grab dinner and catchup with friends! Those under 21 aren't even allowed to dine in the restaurant though, and they do check IDs. They serve small plates -- perfect for sharing! Not sure how crowded they get, so we made reservations for dinner around 6pm. Seated in a more private part of the restaurant, which was nice for conversation. The restaurant itself is a little more dimly lit than I would've liked, but the food made up for it! We ordered the arugula tomato basil pesto flatbread, boar ribs, seared scallops, and steamed clams in white wine. The flatbread was a nicely crisp, toasty vehicle for the fresh arugula and tomato. It was simple and it really let the fresh ingredients shine. The seared scallops seemed overcooked, but the bed of "frizzled" kale it was served on was to die for. The highlight of my meal might have to be that: the "frizzled" garlicky lemony sauteed kale. I might've licked that plate clean. No judgesies. The boar ribs and clams in white wine were yummy, but nothing too extraordinary. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here and would love to come back someday. But there's so many other food places in Seattle to try, I don't know if I ever will..! ):
(4)
Amberli P.
I was between a 3 and 4 stars here... This place is a solid 3.5. We ordered the wild boar ribs, 1/2 dozen oysters, some flat bread dish, and the Pork belly with kimchee. To be honest I was really excited to try the food it all sounds soooo good but I have to say I was pretty disappointed. The oysters were not great and the ribs were waaaay too dry. I get that they are supposed to be smoked but like it was bone dry. My boyfriend liked the flat bread, while I didn't care for it at all. The pork belly was delicious though and so worth ordering. The service was really good and the atmosphere was pretty cool. Maybe we ordered the wrong things... If I lived in Seattle I would possibly give it another try.
(3)
Andy V.
I suppose a 3 star rating is slightly unfair, because I ate here with a vegetarian and thus was forced to only eat vegetarian things. That's unfortunate. Even then it wasn't that superb, but then again, wasn't that bad either. They have a nice selection of beer though. Just don't expect a bang for your buck.
(3)
Joel R.
"We don't allow minors" said the snotty hostess at the door. Zero stars, Black Bottle.
(1)
Lesley M.
Wonderful food and awesome service. I would have liked it to be a bit better lit. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant away from the windows and it was dark enough that we were almost eating by candlelight (not my preference). Otherwise a great experience start to finish.
(5)
Diane S.
I have always heard great things about black bottle, and I see why. They have a great location, yummy dishes, and good wine. Perfect for a dinner date with a friend. I had the artichoke, I highly recommended, or the hummus and pita. Its a lot a little plates. I recommend getting a few small plates and splitting them between friends. Either way great place!
Do not get the calamari! I wanted to update saying that we tried the calamari (labeled as squid on the menu, I believe) and it was terrible. There was some sort of rubbery stuff on the outside of the meat which was old and hard, and the taste was awful. Upon second thought, I really wished we would have said something, but we definitely will not order it again.
(4)
Jon L.
Really really delicious food here with very reasonable (by NY standards) prices and good portion sizes. The three of us split four dishes (oxtail, octupus salad, wilted kale and goat cheese salad, 7 spice shrimp) and were definitely satisfied. Everything was tasty, but my favorite by far was the oxtail..tender, falling off the bone, and extremely flavorful! We passed people eating flatbreads and those also looked delicious. If this were in NY, it'd be one of my go-to places; as it is, this will have to just be one of the places that I frequent on my sporadic trips to Seattle.
(4)
Alexiis M.
Amazing food, they are small plates so great for sharing you may need a couple to get full. The duck was amazing, I wish I had an entire entree of it! Fabulous. So we sat outside and the only negative thing is it became extremely dark and there is no outside lightening, they should have brought out candles earlier in the night. I would recommend eating inside if your going later, also try the BROCCOLI delicious!
(4)
Kara G.
We were a little disappointed to say the least when we went here for date night last night. Found Black Bottle on Yelp and put our name on the wait list. 30 minute wait for 2 on a Friday, not bad! So, we went to the Innkeeper for a drink while we waited. Came back, waited about 15 minutes for a host to come to the front of the restaurant, and then were immediately seated. This place is DARK! Even with the candle on our table, we found it hard to read the menu. We were brought water, and then waited about 15 more minutes for our server to reappear, at which time she took our drink order, and then left immediately. When she came back to take our order, she was short on suggestions, so we winged it, getting lamb meatballs, wild boar ribs, and a crunchy Greek salad. Lamb meatballs were good, they came with a tzaziki sauce, humus, and pita bread. The salad had potential, but it was a cold salad, served with piping hot artichoke hearts on top, kind of throwing of the balance. It had watermelon on place of tomatoes, olives, feta (or goat cheese), onion, and the artichoke hearts. All were a good flavor combination, just executed poorly. The dish most interesting was the wild boar ribs. I would like to know what kind/where this boar came from. The ribs were a little less than 2 inches long (baby boar?), and several of them were just fat. All in all, the service was bad, the food was pushing just OK, and the bathrooms were filthy. I can't say I would recommend, and I know I won't go back. We found ourselves wishing we would have eaten at The Innkeeper.
(2)
Angela E.
Awesome place to come and relax. It's only Monday and I've already had a rough week. The food is awesome. Everything was perfect and most of all the bottle of wine was exactly what was needed. Finished the evening with the lemon curd, lavender, cheesecake and I could honestly die in compete bliss right now.
(5)
Callie C.
This place had amazing food. It is a little expensive but worth it for a special occasion. The blasted broccoli is a must try! Soooo good. I am due for another visit.
(5)
Sean C.
I love happy hour! And Black Bottle is one of my favorite go-to spots in Belltown. The korean BBQ tacos were wonderful, and everyone in my group had a great experience with great drinks. This is one of the places you should definitely go to in Seattle.
(5)
Laura B.
Black Bottle was the best dining experience I had on a recent trip to Seattle. The small plates offered are incredibly reasonably priced (almost all under $15) and portion sizes are decent. We only needed 3 dishes for 2 people and felt we had more than enough. The ceviche was an absolute standout dish. We also tried hanger steak and roasted vegetables which were good as well. The restaurant is small and somewhat on the loud side, but has a cool atmosphere with hanging industrial lights. Our waiter was fantastic; polite and attentive, but never rushed us. Overall, a great spot for dinner with reasonable prices.
(4)
King C.
Ugh. 3 stars for food. 1 star for service. Average them out, and you get 2 stars. The food is solid, but nothing to be impressed with. All the faddish favorites: beet salad, roasted cauliflower, and aritchoke hearts. The service, however, is bleh. Came in on one of the coldest nights in Seattle. Wanted a seat that was away from the door. Asked a server, didn't know if there was a better seat available. Asked person #2, #3, #4...and finally person #5, and 8 minutes later, finally said we could seat in an empty booth. So disorganized. Add to Black Bottle's service woes was that they shooed us away. They hurried us up, and they really wanted us to leave. It's one thing to ask politely to free up the table, but to be so brusque in their treatment of customers, hmpf. Not sure I would want to come here again (at least willingly).
(2)
Mike H.
The atmosphere was dope. I liked it, tight and intimate. I had the Fried chicken and greens. The fried chicken was actually like chicken strips but they were good and the greens were good also. Smaller portion but it was only $8.00. I would go again next time I need to order more food.
(4)
Brandon F.
Great place, good food, great for sharing and not crazy expensive. One word: broccoli.
(5)
Richard T.
First time here to help celebrate a birthday and I have to admit that it is more like an upscale bar than anything else. Granted their food selection is more of an upscale quality with blasted broccoli, braised pork belly and large scallops. I wasn't very happy that even though they have happy hour on the weekends the only thing offered for food was a $2 taco that was so small that it was not even close to what it was worth. I would have been much happier with a $1 taco from Taco Bell. The drinks they serve here are pretty strong especially the Manhatten which my gf got and the Hottie Tottie which my friend had ordered. The drink prices are still pricy even during HH and they average between $6 to $8. The service here was great with our server coming around quite a few times and asking if everything was fine or if we wanted to order another drink. They also come around to refill our water pitcher and glasses since we were there for awhile chatting. Good atmosphere to just chill and hand out with the dark lighting, but not worth it if you are having a meal.
(3)
Soenke W.
unexpected great place to eat - menu small but good selection of meat, seafood and veggies. can highly recommend the place.
(4)
George M.
Good local beers and great wine at some decent prices.. Came here for a friends wedding rehearsal and had some great food as well.. Really good!!
(5)
Jen L.
OMG! If you are a wine lover...you have to try their Red Ghost Blend! It's a mystery blend and fabulous reds. I wish I was able to grab a bottle before I left. The Broccoli is also a great dish here, perfect for those of us that are trying to stick to healthy meals. This is a very unique wine bar. Most wine bars that have food only have tapas portions. This place has varying sizes of portions when you order them. It is best to ask the waitress when she takes your order so that you order enough to satisfy the hungry in you. Every dish was excellent, the broccoli, the calamari and the coffee here is excellent. The waitress even took a special order iced coffee from one of my friends. You can't get better service than that. The ambiance is very cozy and somewhat romantic. If I lived in Seattle, I'd be here all the time!
(5)
Kelsey W.
Amazing! Spent my entire weekend trip in Seattle on the hunt for the best scallops, and this place pretty much nailed it. The bacon lemon scallops with kale was off the charts. I happened to come during happy hour so ordered a few tacos as well, and at $2 a pop, I could eat them all day! They too, were better than most, maybe the best I have ever had. All around a great place, wish it was in my city so I could come here for dinner all the time.
(4)
Ann W.
I love Black Bottle and am so impressed! It is a cozy, fun, and chill place to be, especially for a fun and low key girls night out. It is open from 4pm to 2am everyday, so it is a wonderful option for a late night bite on a weeknight. The prices are very reasonable and the drinks are fabulous. My favorite so far is their white sangria...$6/glass and $24/pitcher. Might as well get the whole pitcher. ;) As for the food, there is plenty of delicious choices. I love the roasted vegetables--a yummy medley of carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, parsnip, potatoes, and asparagus. The arugula and tomato flatbread is just perfect. The roasted beet gratin is creative and delicious...pure carnivores will not miss the meat. The plates are great for sharing and won't burn a hole in your wallet. Don't forget the dessert--the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato is a MUST, though I'm not sure you will want to share!
(5)
John G.
Visited on 9/10/2014, late Wednesday, around 9 pm. It was busy and there were a few open tables but I was on my own so I sat at the bar. The bartender was right there but didn't hover and gave me time to think. Lots of good stuff on the menu. I went with: -Glass of Merlot-Cab-Malbec Gifford Hirlinger 08 WA (excellent) -Columbia river steelhead trout house-smoked (Great, would have liked a little more smoke) -Glass of Petite Sirah Petit Verdot Petite Petit 09 CA (Great pick by the bartender for the steak) -Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso (Could have ordered seconds but saved room for dessert) -Cacao nib mousse torte and chili pistachio brittle (Wow that was good. Pistachio brittle!) Service was prompt. Everything was clean. Noise level was low. Two plates and the dessert were perfect. Three plates would easily feed a couple. Would love to come back and try more from the menu.
(4)
Chelsea S.
Came here with a rather large group on an early Sunday evening. We all ordered drinks which were quite good and well priced. We split a whole bunch of items off of their menu and shared and tried them all. I thought they were all quite delicious. We tried: Blasted Broccoli (delicious and plentiful) Bacon Wrapped Scallops (possibly my favorite, perfectly cooked) Wild Boar Ribs (really delicious) Lamb Meatballs with Sumac Hummus (pretty good but not my favorite) Roasted Vegetables (delicious and plentiful) Hangar Steak with Daikon (well cooked steak and flavorful) Two Different Flatbreads (did not try but the table liked them) Greek Cheese with Mushroom Topping (tasty) It was a lot of food for our table of six but we cleaned all of our plates. I wouldn't have ordered any more or any less. I would definitely come back for any of the above items.
(5)
Adam H.
I attempted to take my wife to the Bellevue Black Bottle this evening for her first time and was rudely turned away before I could get to the hostess booth... In the most obnoxious, untactful way she yelled "You Cannot come in here, you must be 21." Suddenly I realized I was holding onto a car Seat with my sleeping 5 month year old. Rules are Rules... But her undertone and tact was Heinous!! Black Bottle.. They may want to revamp their customer service protocol and talk track, because they've certainly lost my Companies lunch and afterwork business!
(1)
Michelle L.
Wow. The food. It's so amazing. Get the oxtail, scallops wrapped in bacon, oh and the broccoli...the broccoli. The bee's knee's is an amazing drink.
(5)
Erica B.
Blasted broccoli is a must try! This was a great place to go. The service was wonderful and the waitress was very knowledgeable and explained menu items as it was my first time to the restaurant. I will go again and certainly recommend it to anyone looking to try something new.
(4)
Quinn I.
My friends and I stopped into Black Bottle before the JoJo concert this week (judge me all you want, you know she was everything that was good about high school) and we had a lovely time. A party of five being able to walk in and be seated almost immediately without a reservation or an eye roll was a good indicator that this was a solid choice for our pre-concert dinner and drinks. The space is beautiful, like something ripped out of Restoration Hardware where Diane Keaton comes around the corner with a bottle of wine and an inside joke and you just can't wait to stay there all night. The food, although delicious, should come with a warning.There is no indicator as to the portion size, and there didn't seem to be consistency one way or another. We were given the impression that things were "small plates/tapas style" from the menu and server, and ended up ordering WAY too much food. The fried chicken was two pieces on a small bed of collard greens, the cauliflower and potatoes was a massive platter we couldn't make a dent in, and both were similarly priced. So fair warning, don't feel bad asking "plate or platter" Lucille Bluth style before placing your order. We also ordered the obligatory "Blasted Broccoli" which might as well have been called "Blasted With Salt Broccoli" but, granted, delicious. The two Dark and Stormys I had hit the spot, and all in all we had a good time with a ton of food and a bill that wasn't totally out of this world.
(4)
Vibhor C.
My favorite tapas bar in Seattle for the entire 3 years I lived there :) Order anything on the menu and you can't go wrong. Good for groups too. My all time favorites - masala chicken drums - kushi oyster on the half shell - seven spice shrimp - spice-seared sashimi yellowfin tuna - potatoes and cauliflower curried - house-smoked wild boar ribs - prosciutto and bechamel flatbread - cocktails (especially Mojitos) are awesome too, and so is the wine selection. - The only thing they could improve upon is desserts. Food Quality - Excellent Food Taste - Excellent Food Originality - Excellent Price - Excellent Customer Service - Excellent. Ambiance - Excellent
(5)
Greg V.
My first time in Seattle in an epoch, and I came to Black Bottle solely on the recommendations of fellow Yelpers -- and was not disappointed! The food: yummm! Trust me next time you're in town and try the dry rub house-smoked wild boar ribs (winner for the evening!), spice-seared yellowfin tuna, and Spanish fried olives (I wanted to try the broccoli blasted, but was waived off by my waiter as being too much, even for my famished party of one) -- complemented with a glass of Austin Hope 'Troublemaker' (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre) -- and finished with the peach-blueberry kettle tart (with fresh cream) -- good as it sounds!) The service: granted it was a quiet Sunday night, and my server was excellent.
(4)
Stev E.
The following is based on my experience dining here on the Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 8pm. I had a bad experience with the food (pork belly and blasted broccoli) but everything else was excellent. Details follow: Pork Belly: This dish includes 3 skewers with a substantial amount of "pork belly." Unfortunately it was overcooked resulting in the taste and texture of a dry pork chop. If the menu is correct and this is truly pork-belly, it seems as though Black Bottle is using a low-grade cut; the typical succulence of pork belly was surprisingly absent. Equally surprising was the lack of effort placed in the sauce that bathed the pork; it tasted similar to the sauce that comes from sweet thai chili sauce packets one would expect to accompany chinese take-out. Blasted Broccoli: This dish comes in an oval plate about 1 foot long and piled 3 inches high with broccoli. I remember this dish tasting like vegetable-crack; however, this time it tasted like taking a bite out of a broccoli-flavored chunk of salt. It takes culinary negligence for me to actually send a dish back to the kitchen, and I do not take that action lightly. I deferred a replacement dish and this was comped accordingly on the bill. I will be back to give them another shot. Environment I recommend Black Bottle for a date including a first-date. The lighting is dim yet one can clearly see the person with whom you are dining. The music is pleasant, if not slightly upbeat, yet never too loud. The dishes are designed to be shared, fostering companionship, and the food is not messy or sticky. If you are trying to impress someone, however, check the reviews dated after October 2013 to ensure the quality of the food on my visit was simply a fluke, as I expect it was. If there is a long wait I advise finding an alternative dining location (such as List down the street). The issue is that the entrance area is awkwardly small and you or your date will inevitably feel like you are encroaching on someone else's dining space. There is also a cold breeze coming in through the door that is difficult to avoid.
(2)
Wes S.
The food here is great. .. The sausages were good, lamb meatball plate was excellent. .. service was terrible. Literally had to flag down or waitress and we almost walked out before ordering.
(3)
Sean S.
The food here is good, tapas plates so order a few and enjoy. We ordered the Ox tail, Broccoli blasted, 7 spice shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, and flat bread. The broccoli was as good as others stated, the shrimp were good, and the scallops were great. The Ox tail was good but hard to eat, I probably wouldn't order it again. They have a decent selection of wine to pair with your meal as well. We had a good meal and enjoyed ourselves, I'm sure you will too.
(4)
Syah A.
The food was okay but the waitresses are too lazy. I'm having a hard time to ask for a simple check. The waitresses spending more time talking to each other. Not really a recommended place to chill out.
(2)
Suie C.
Stopped by on a friday night and was suprised when the hostess asked if I had a reservation. Note to self: call ahead for reservations. Fortunately, I was seated quickly as there would be only 2 of us. I had to wait a bit for my friend as she had trouble finding parking, but I didn't get any of that weird icky feeling of being rushed to order before she got there. We split a bottle of wine $30, but didn't order any food. I noticed that the wine prices (glass and bottles) are very reasonable. The ambiance of this place is right up my alley, perfect for a girls chat, groups, or a nice date spot. Service was efficient and curteous. I'll have to come back and try the food here.
(4)
Alrick F.
Yum! I come here probably 6x a year. They have added some new items to the menu and made the menu more reusable with a hardcover and pages tied together. It used to be just a piece of paper they probably threw away at the end of the night. My friends and I find this the PERFECT gathering spot for a table of 4 because you can order 5-6 tables and everyone can try enough of everything and be comfortably full. My faves are the flatbreads - any of them - as they are not completely thin and crispy but has a perfect amount of crunch at the edges. The 7 spiced shrimp and the malbec braised oxtail are always must haves and the other dishes are just good comfort food that's relatively healthy - Ex: the fried chicken is made out of breast meat and served on top of collard greens. This place is what a restaurant should be: good food, drinks, and ambiance.
(5)
Brandon F.
Reasonably priced when you share with at least 4 people! I think the grilled veggies, the basted broccoli, and the scallops made my jimmy hard for like an hour afterward. Great stuff!
(5)
Ravi G.
Amazing food and the servings are just the size I like them. Service was great. This place served hands down the best salad I have ever had. Definitely coming back for more.
(4)
Darrah C.
Beware. My friend and I just got food poisoning from this place last night! We had the broccoli blasted, arugula tomato pesto flat bread, pork belly kimchi, a waiter-recommended replacement for the oxtail, and seven spice shrimp for your reference. Another person on Facebook said the same thing so it's been affecting multiple people over the past few days, which is disturbing. If you don't want to throw up your entire dinner and everything else in your stomach until the wee hours of the morning, I wouldn't recommend eating at Black Bottle. This one experience was enough to make me not want to go ever again.
(1)
Lyn D.
The food here is great, a bit pricey for Tapas but the portions are slightly bigger than your normal tapas bar. We also really enjoyed our specialty cocktails here. All together we had the kale and nuts salad, chorizo hash, pork belly, and scallops. Everything was tasty and prompt. Definitely recommend eating here.
(4)
Ciera H.
We were really excited to try this "hip" place near our hotel. We ended up sitting at the bar, which wasn't bad, but our food came out about 20 minutes apart and our dessert took about 30 minutes to come out after we ordered it. The bar tender was good, but the service (speed of food) was not so great. However, the kale bed with the scallops was delicious. The scallops were decent. We also ordered the pork shank, which was very tender, but needed more flavor. The dessert we ordered was the peach blueberry tart. It seemed a little burnt, but tasted good. We probably wouldn't go back as we want to try other places.
(3)
Jenny K.
After frequenting the Bellevue location for some months I finally had the chance to check out the "flagship" location. It's right on 1st, on the corner, very easy to find with lots of nearby street parking. Also conveniently located in the heart of Belltown, aka easy to bar hop afterwards. The interior is cute! Good mix of seating and table sizes. Great service, come-to-expect-from-Black-Bottle inexpensive yet delicious food menu, and of course fabulous drinks. The menus were different between location so I tried something that wasn't at the Bellevue location - fried chicken and collard greens. Skinless, boneless, breaded, and fried - amazing! Collard greens? Seasoned to perfection. Also got a side of green beans and tofu. It was pretty bland, so next time I will stick to my usual - the blasted broccoli. Also had some beer and wine - the wine I got was $8.50/glass - ouch! But complemented the German chocolate cake I had well. We brought in the cake for a friend's birthday - just a heads up there's a $20 cake cutting fee. Service was prompt, friendly, and frequent. Checks were split with gratuity added. Appreciated how there was no tip line on the receipt so there was no confusion that we had gratuity built-in. I officially love Black Bottle.
(5)
Nam N.
a great change of pace if you're tired of the same ol' people in the same ol' scenes of belltown. located just an extra two blocks from the main stretch of belltown you'll find black bottle nestled on the corner 1st and Vine. Plenty of parking around the area as well as its further from the rest of the crowds. the setting and decor is simple. i wouldn't go as far as say "elegant" but simple yet... cozy. its a place that you can feel comfortable walking in wearing sweats and a hoodie or a 3 piece suit and bowtie. the front section can get rather crowded and the noise levels at a solid 7 out of 10 at times but you can also sneak out back where there are additional dining tables in a more intimate setting and more quiet atmosphere. i do believe there is one more separate room that holds large parties as well as we heard music and saw a plentiful amount of folks come in and out of the back section. i had stopped by here for a few snacks and a cocktail with some friends and we were not disappointed by the menu selection. we dined on some broccoli blasted: great texture and decent flavor. it was a bit on the dry side until we squeezed some lemon juice to set it off. gold creek oysters: very similar to kumomoto oysters. a great beginners oyster. not overly sweet, a silky texture, with a very smooth finish. arugula and mozzarella flat bread: a very fresh taste, the balsamic vinegar a great balance to all the flavors of the arugula and cheese. i only had a hanger one tonic with a lime wedge so i couldn't comment much on that. overall a great cozy place. a nice lounge feel to sit around with some friends and have a few snacks and drinks to enjoy the cold seattle nights.
(4)
Rose T.
We made a good decision coming here over the seafood restaurants! It's not disappointed at all, it's IMPRESSIVE!! We started with house smoked trout, not that smokey, but the flavor is there. Continued with the oxtail, very unique flavor, not how Asian usually would cook or eat. Oh..forgot to mention their broccoli blasted..a must have!!! Was gonna ordered another plate, but decided to have the portobello instead...surprising!! A combination of fried garlic, garbanzo bean w balsamic vinegratte, and juicy portobello...omg!! HEAVEN!!
(5)
Inna B.
I love the Bellevue location, so I thought I would love the Belltown location. So I came, I ordered the same menu items, and I learned that I do not love this location. The employees were not as friendly or welcoming, so things didn't start off on a great note. Then the food arrived, and I got disappointed by the messy oysters (seemed like they rushed) and the overcooked hanger steak. I can't really tell how overcooked, but I know I like and order my steak rare, and that steak was not rare. The same plate is so much more perfect at their other location! I guess this BB can satisfy the craving for hanger steak with daikon and some greens, but I'd rather go to the Bellevue location, or find a similar dish elsewhere. I was definitely disappointed when I left, and immediately stopped thinking about getting friends to meet me here for dinner.
(3)
Jay T.
I love this place. It's the only place in the world where I go "Yes, I want to eat broccoli." The dishes are great (some better than others, the wild boar is interesting but I wouldn't get it again). The food is definitely made with love. It's GOOD without trying (you know, how some places try to be fancy or high quality but you can tell they're trying real hard...).
(5)
Kate S.
Potential, potential, potential... That is all I can really think of when I think of Black Bottle. There is a lot of good here certainly, but there is also a lot of room for improvement here as well. I should mention our group was a little chaotic -- the reservation was made for 12 and I think we ended up squeezing 16 people in at our table. I can understand a server's annoyance at this, but to have it so readily apparent in their attitude and face really turned me off. She was however lovely enough to ask up front if the check were to be split and I appreciated that considering we never would have gotten out of there if we tried figuring out finances after the fact. Drinks were ordered and were slow coming. The price on beer was decent though and I was happy to see Fremont Brewing as their seasonal rotating tap. Food orders were then placed and we waited... and waited...and waited. Parts of orders came out, parts didn't. I had ordered the oxtail and broccoli to share and I never got my broccoli. I know other members of the table had to remind the waitress several times of the food they ordered which either didn't come or came extremely late. The oxtail I had however really quite good and tender. I stole nibbles of fried chicken, beats, flatbread, and then help polish off another diners plate of broccoli (since he DID get his, and the portions on the veg here are insanely large). Confusion ensued a bit when checks came. I had to make sure they took my broccoli was taken off -- and other member of the party didn't get their checks until I had already closed out and was ready to walk out the door. Overall: Good food, cute & cozy accommodations, large veg portions, spacey to annoyed service which then leads to far too much table confusion and annoyance of the diners themselves. For the prices you are paying (for rather small plates) I feel like BB needs to step up their game to make the rest of the experience worth it.
(3)
Peter S.
Followed the Yelp recommendations down to a tee. Cerviche. Pork belly Kimchi skewers. Blasted broccoli. Chicken cherry flatbread And a couple of lovely pints of Freemont harvest ale. Pure gluttony minus the need for the post pig-out garden hose wash down. What a wonderful evening. I ate the rest of the flat-breads and broccoli in my lap driving to the border the next morning. Nothing to declare here~!
(5)
Scott H.
When I die, I want to be cremated with an order of pork belly and kimchi from Black Bottle. Incredible food at a very reasonable price. I found this place via Yelp and I was not disappointed, After a long day of traveling we walked in here on a Wednesday night with no reservation and we were immediately seated. We started with the oysters. Although I'd prefer them lightly steamed they were still delicious raw. Next up was seared tuna. though the portion was small, it was bursting with flavor. Next up was truly the best thing I have ever tasted, pork belly with kimchi. We raved about this for days, in fact we are still raving. So tender and delicious with just a bit of heat. For dessert we got a lemon curd tart with a lavender crust. Very tasty, I couldn't taste the lavender but my wife could. I would have given Black Bottle 5 stars but the service was a bit spotty. Not terrible, just not exactly on point, as if they were overwhelmed even though it was not too busy. Still, don't let that deter you. This is definitely a spot you want to try.
(4)
Henry S.
Flash baked broccoli is insanely delicious. I would never just order vegetables but this dish is one of a kind. Would highly recommend it to everyone
(4)
Molly T.
This was an incredible find! Was just driving around looking for parking & noticed this corner restaurant. It looked dark from the outside but crazy packed on the inside! We walked in and host told us there was an hour and 45 minute wait for a table for 2. Almost 2 hours!? No thanks. Then we saw 2 bar seats opened up & we were told that they were first come first served. Jackpot! We got to know the bartender, JP. He was super helpful & nice. Gave us ton of recommendations for places to eat in Seattle & Vancouver. (I was going there the next day). We ordered 3 small plates. Ceviche & tortilla chips were refreshing. Pork belly with kimchi was out of this world! It was super tender & sweet with a kimchi kick! Blasted broccoli was recommended but i thought it was just ok. However this dish is not small! Lots & lots of broccoli!! Seasonal sangria was good. I definitely would come back if I return to Seattle. It's a local spot. Great for small groups. Make reservations. However I think the bar seats are the best. It can get really loud in there. Will be back!
(4)
Christopher H.
While not our first choice for dinner this particular night, Black Bottle was a convenient choice for us as we were just down the street enjoying cocktails at Tini Bigs. And, in all, it worked. The first thing about Black Bottle that appealed to us was that it's a wine bar and then restaurant. Although what did surprise me was the wine list didn't feature much of anything local and wasn't quite as extensive as I would have expected. The selection was good, but not what I'd call a "wine bar". The food is, as our waiter described it, "large tapas". We ordered the blasted broccoli, which was good but way too big for two people. We ordered the lamb and hummus, which was just fantastic. And then, well, then we ordered the wild boar ribs.... I don't know what they'll be serving in heaven, and I don't know if I'll make it, but if I do I know I'll want them to serve these ribs. I've had ribs in many, many places - wet ribs, dry ribs, good ribs, bad ribs... These were in a league all of their own. They don't come out sauced or doused with rub as so many others are - and they don't need it. They carry a ton of flavor on their own - a smoky, meaty, hickory, yummy, ... (Sorry - I just had to wipe off my keyboard I was drooling too much). We loved them so much we ordered a second order - for dessert. I did want to give this place 5 stars. Their food deserved it. Everything we had was great (oh - and did I mention the ribs?) You might be wondering now, why only 4 stars. Well - the service was a bit spotty. Trying to track someone down so we could order our dessert ribs proved a challenge (but we persevered). And, as I mentioned, the wine selection wasn't quite what I was expecting. The wine and the service are worthy of about 3 stars. The food is worthy of 5. The total - 4 stars.
(4)
Neel B.
Saw Fred Armisen eating there the other night! That shows how legit this place is...
(4)
Errin P.
After previous review, staff was kind enough to send some gift certificates to make up for the unpleasant surprise. Returned with some friends a few months later, and had a great experience - no unwanted table guests this time. Don't know if the problem is fixed or not, but I really enjoyed the ambiance and food a second time, so here's hoping they got the situation under control.
(4)
Laura B.
Food is really great and just different enough - exactly what you would hope for for a cool gastropub. Service is just OK. Not so bad I wouldn't go there, but nothing to write home about. Once or twice they've completely forgotten a dish we've ordered, but the food is good enough (and decently priced enough) that we'll keep going back. Oxtail, flat bread, scallops, braised artichoke salad and fried chicken are all really excellent.
(4)
Nguyen T.
When I was living overseas I've heard such great things about this place from my bf at the time. When I came back he took me there for our anniversary and to celebrate my homecoming. I've been to this location and the Bellevue location numerous times since then, so I can honestly say that would definitely recommend this place. I love the ambiance, it was very cozy and it epitomizes the whole Belltown vibe. The service is always great here. The staff is always friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. The food is delicious. What keeps me from giving them 5 stars, is the price that you pay for the food. The portions are smaller and meant to be shared, and the good while good is nothing spectacular. Overall, Black Bottle is a great restaurant and one worth checking out.
(4)
Farz D.
I was very excited to try Black Bottle but was left sorely disappointed. We arrived and were promptly given a table. The inside is quite nice and definitely gives you that "A glass of red would do me good right about now" feel. I like to review menus before going in and had my order ready: the pork belly and kimchi, wild boar ribs and (2) oysters while my friend chose the brie leek pesto flatbread and the lamb meatballs. Everything was great until the food arrived. The pork belly was drenched in its sauce and had the consistency of that slime from that Nickelodeon TV show and the boar ribs were dry and flakey. I picked at my friend's flat bread but had no desire to try a piece and by then I was left totally uninterested in the lamb meatballs. The oysters were good, though! One star for courteous staff and one more for the interior.
(2)
Lisa B.
This place is my Belltown standby. Reliably good food, not overly expensive, and a good time atmosphere. Hipster yes, trendy yes, but not pretentious. They stock good whiskey too! It does get loud here, and you probably have to wait for a table if it's after 7:00 on a weekend.
(4)
Christine B.
I love the ambiance. The music was on point as well - played some great 90's hip hop. We had just eaten sushi so I didn't get to try any of the food but I got the doppleganger and it is literally the best cocktail I've ever had.
(5)
Jay H.
Came here for the first time for a first date and really enjoyed the vibe of the place. It does have outdoor seating although the weather didn't permit us to enjoy that. The drinks were mixed well and all the food I tried was pretty awesome. Sadly I didn't try the famous blasted broccoli so I'll save that for my next trip. The servers were friendly and came by just enough to make sure our drinks were full and our table clean without being a nuisance. I'm definitely looking forward to coming here again.
(4)
Samantha R.
We were wandering around looking for a place to eat close to our hotel as it was very cold. We happened upon the Black Bottle, read yelp and grabbed a table. Pretty busy for a Tuesday night. I had a clemency cocktail, very good. The server told us she had been there 8 years, quite something in the restaurant biz and that fact says to me that the management must be the decent sort who treat their employees well and care about serving me a quality plate of food.And the food was fantastic. Believe all the good reviews here. The surprising thing is how inexpensive it is for the quality. Really a great value. There are so many places to try just within eyeballing distance from our room, but I'm seriously thinking about the Black Bottle again tomorrow. Bonus is that there will be no screaming food spitting kids to ever marr your time here. Minus a star for not as clean as could be bathrooms that smelled of urine.
(4)
Ieva G.
One of my favorite eateries downtown. Not only a great date spot, but a great place for medium sized groups. I've been to numerous parties here and the staff always do what they can to accomadate your group. Be sure to make a reservation. The food is great as well. I always order the boar ribs-which are out of this world, as well as their staple, the blasted broccoli.
(4)
Victoria W.
This restaurant seemed really promising due to their unique menu. Sadly, we never got to try it. When we entered this place, there was no hostess and it wasn't the sort of place where you would seat yourself. We stood around for 5 minutes trying to get the attention of the servers bustling around us. We were invisible to them! Finally, it was getting really awkward, so we left. We've been to many trendy and even snooty restaurants in several different cities and have never had an experience as bad as this.
(1)
Chi D.
I have been wanting to try Black Bottle for a while but not until last Friday I got a chance to come by for a friend's going away party. The food was surprisingly good. I've heard about the broccoli and it was indeed very tasty. We also tried the scallop/bacon wrap and the pork belly/kimchi combo. All were good choices. The ambiance is great for friends gathering, not so much for romantic dates. They accommodated our big party of 20 and everyone was well taken care of. I understand there should be service charge for a big group, but 20% is not the standard around Seattle - not that I would tip any less!
(4)
Tracee D.
we had a real good time here. sat in the back- cute comfortable seating. you should go with a bunch of people so you can try lot's of stuff. we had the chicken & cherry flat breads, ceviche, steak, pork belly!!! being the standout. good place with good food & drinks.
(4)
Melissa L.
A dark, moody, sexy, stylish place to have drinks & quality small plates. I can't emphasize the sex factor of this place enough. I mean, if you bring a date here and DON'T get lucky that night, you fucked up somewhere, my friend. I don't recommend coming here alone like I did, especially if you're feeling lonely, because you are going to be surrounded by couples and groups of gorgeous people, all of whom are having a great time. That being said, I did end up chatting with the couple next to me at the bar, and they were as friendly as anyone you'll meet in such a setting in Seattle, so it wasn't like I felt like a ghost. As for the food, it was all delicious, but sadly not sized for those dining alone. I only ordered two plates, the braised wild boar ribs and the blasted broccoli, and I couldn't finish the broccoli, such a massive pile of it was served to me. I gave it a damn good try, though, because that broccoli was FIERCE. They toss it in some kind of savory, garlicky topping and then roast the bejeezus out of it, until it takes on a spicy, tangy, nutty flavor. Even if you think you hate broccoli, you really need to try this. The ribs? They were falling-apart tender, and required only a fork to eat. I did add a bit of cracked pepper to them, though, and that really spiked the flavor immensely. I chased this food with a couple of glasses of a California petite sirah, which was perfect. Even though I couldn't finish the broccoli, I did manage to find the space for the peach sorbetto they had on the dessert menu, which was OMFG, eyes-roll-back-in-your-head delicious. The peach flavor was insanely close to the actual fruit. The service could have been a touch more attentive, especially given that I was sitting at the bar, but I wasn't really in a hurry, and honestly, Black Bottle is the kind of place that you want to linger.
(5)
Christine G.
Great ambiance and great food!! My fav is the pork belly and kim-chee! Whenever friends are in town I love to bring them here!
(4)
Wyatt H.
I enjoyed the darker atmosphere. Maybe if you have old eyes? Not sure why that bothered other folks. Flat bread was more like a pizza. Nice place to get a glass of wine before going to dinner or wherever you have to go. Wait staff was fine, no complaints. Seattle location feels more like a hole in the wall art studio, compared to the fancier black bottle in Bellevue. They are different vibes. I'd go back.
(4)
Ale F.
The food was really good. Came with a group of four and order about 8 items on the menu. My favorite was the chicken flat bread with some dried cranberries, I think. I would agree that it's pretty dark, especially the restroom. The waitstaff were awesome, super helpful and friendly. Overall, I liked it so much I would go back next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)
Luca T.
I was around today and I decided to give this place another chance. There is still a bad odor when you walk in. Service is fast, although on Tuesday night there is not much traffic around. Food is very inexpensive and the portions are very generous but the quality is just average. I personally ate cold meat and both plates I ordered were lukewarm. Nothing special about this place
(3)
Michael A.
Black Bottle is one of those restaurants that I have frequented for the past 4-5 years, yet I always forget it's there (it's tucked away on the corner of 1st Ave and Vine in north Belltown) until I drive or walk by it or like today ...when I saw a couple of friends review it here. Black Bottle's concept is a wine gastropub with a various selection of tapas in four main categories - meats, seafood, veggies, and flatbread. Faves: the broccoli blasted (I liked this dish so much that I even tried to make it at home, but nowhere near as good. The broccoli is mixed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon and then charred to deliciousness), the tender and juicy pork belly and kimchi, and the crispy fried chicken and collard greens. So-sos: the flatbreads. They are a little thick and too doughy for my taste. All of the waitstaff are excellent at recommending wines to complement your meal, but if you still aren't feeling wine, try one of their specialty cocktails or drafts. The service is really solid, and the atmosphere makes for a good date spot or place to catch up with a couple of friends (I wouldn't bring a group more than 4 here). Black Bottle is cozy with low lit lighting with an average noise level so you can actually here your conversation.
(4)
Jenni D.
Dear Black Bottle Eggplant Foccacia, Thank you for saving me from my tourist hunger pangs last weekend! I had been searching 1st Avenue for a viable late night option with a great wine list... and 15 blocks later I found Black Bottle. My friends and I were so happy with the service that we stayed until closing. Broccoli Florets - you are also my saviors. I could not have fallen asleep as happily without you that night. A little on the pricey side for veggies, but worth every penny!
(4)
Marissa M.
Perfect definition of a gastropub - high end beer and food without being pretentious (thank you wikipedia). Perfect atmosphere for either a date night or a night out with friends. The menu is more geared towards family style sharing/ everything is a la carte. You order the meats, seafood, veggies, and flatbreads all seperately. Everything I ordered food wise was great - seven spice shrimp, smoked chicken and sundried cherries flatbread, and the BROCCOLI BLASTED. (In all CAPS for a good reason). Anyone that goes here should get the Broccoli Blasted.
(4)
Libby Q.
It's ok. The food isn't bad, but it isn't mind blowing and it was a little overpriced. Drinks were amazing and the service was pretty good too. I wouldn't eat here again, though. The location is a little hard for me to get to/parking is horrible in Belltown. I wouldn't say they're the worst, but I just wasn't blown away by prices that are supposed to blow you away.
(3)
Shannon R.
Blasted broccoli, succulent masala chicken drums falling off the bone, gruyere emmentaler beet gratin with mache. Definitely come here for the food. Each plate around $10, they won't disappoint. The doppelgänger and white sangria were fantastic as well. On the other hand, the allusion of romance and glamour from the outside windows quickly disappear as you realize the simplicity of the decor and the informality of the service. Nonchalant, laid-back, laissez faire? Just didn't go with my notion that this was an upscale gastro-tavern. A bit confused on whether or not I would go back. I guess the answer is hanging in the balance.
(4)
Jeanny M.
MMm...quite nice. We made reservations for our party of 4, which wasn't needed. But c'est la vie. We sat in the back room where we were the only ones there for some time. The servers wore regular street clothes, so we weren't sure who worked here and who didn't. That was a bit confusing. Brought our own wine ($20 corkage fee) and ordered a ton of food (I skipped lunch), copied from their site: braised artichoke heart and greens bacon lemon scallops and frizzled kale natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso brie leek french-country pesto smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries broccoli blasted coconut plantain cup lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust Um, yeah..all that. We ate and ate and ate. It was the right amount of food for 4 hungry people. Laurie B. was spot on with how awesome the broccoli was and the kale (that came with the scallops) was REALLY good. Like, REALLY. I would say that the kale was the best tasting thing that night, followed by the broccoli, the chicken/cherry flatbread, then the lemon curd cake. The steak wasn't as good as I hoped, but it was very tender. Service was good (I was worried after reading some reviews). We were tucked in back until more and more people joined. I think this back area was quieter than the front. They kept the plates coming out at regular intervals. Water refills a little slow (but I'm always thirsty). And we were given a couple chances to order more food if we wanted. It was a weekday night though, so maybe when they are busier the service goes down. The cool thing was the check was just over $100, and that included the $20 corkage, so the food was $80. At $20/pp for a nice dinner with many different tastes, I'd say it's a quite a deal.
(4)
J T.
Following a day long commitment to whale watching, we sought refuge from the motion of our Clipper. One of my shipmates went for the kimchi and bacon while I had boar ribs and fried tofu with peanut sauce. Very well done. I will return if ever in the neighborhood again.
(5)
Corey G.
Yeah, yeah, this is in Belltown, and I always hear the comments about all the hoochies and douche-baggery down in this area, but hey, I had a nice time at this place. What am I sayin', I generally have a nice place at most places I go to in Seattle (it's the whole "country mouse" in the city effect! I'm always wide-eyed and liking it--even the traffic & lack of parking spaces!). So yeah, this spot strikes me as a swanky place with an intimidating row of wine bottles set back behind and above the bar keeps. A fellow Yelper and I saddled up to the bar, and looked at all the "good ideas" Black Bottle had to offer. My friend didn't know what sort of wine she wanted so, this didn't phase the bartender at all. "Ok, what are you feeling like? Dry, fruity? How are we feeling tonight?" the wine steward asked. My friend gave some suggestions, he whipped around with a finger scanning the bottles, and then one glowed. He pulled it, and poured a splash in a glass and let us both taste it. He was magic, and a master. That alone was worth the price of admission.
(4)
Ss S.
After I wrote my previous review, the owners personally contacted me and apologized for the problems that I had on my previous visit. I was really pleased with their thoughtfulness and customer service and therefore we decided to try the restaurant again. We went on a sunday night this time and it was not as crowded as before. We promptly got a seat, and the service was much better. The food as noted before was really good(we tried the fried chicken, lamb meat balls, chocolate cake with the vanilla gelato this time). Still wouldn't give the place 5 stars as the service was really slow even though it was not crowded....but 4 stars as they were really polite and made you feel comfortable. We will be back.
(4)
Holly J.
My boyfriend and I have been looking forward to coming here for a while now. We finally stopped in tonight and to be perfectly honest, they far exceeded my expectations! I was expecting the area to be sketchy, the food to be mediocre, and the service to be crappy. Well, in my experience, absolutely none of that was true! I liked the area, especially with the water and Space Needle nearby. The food was excellent (and we tried a ton of stuff). The service was fantastic! Our waitress Gillian was very attentive and friendly. There was another waitress that often stopped by to refill our water glasses and chat with us, her name was Emenet. She is the sweetest young woman! She was wonderful to chat with and recommended a few places in the area to visit that we've never been to (such as the Seattle Art Museum when admission is free on Thursdays and Sculpture Park). We spoke to the manager (Hannah), who was a total sweetheart as well, about the awesome food and service we received. We ended up trying a ton of dishes because we were starving and just couldn't decide on just a few things. So we ended up splitting: the fried chicken and collard greens (my favorite), oysters on the half shell, wild boar ribs, local sausages, pork belly, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flatbread, lemon curd ricotta cake with lavender crust, and peach and blueberry tart. Everything was absolutely perfect and delicious. We walked a few blocks when we left because we've never eaten that much in one sitting, lol. So I would say... give it a try. I personally can't wait to go back there again!
(5)
L C.
One of my favorites in Seattle. The Broccoli is a must, not sure what they put in it but it blows my mind every time! I also like the curried cauliflower/potatoes & arugala flatbread.
(5)
Andy D.
Came here for restaurant week since we heard good things, only to be terribly let down. Our waiter was no where to be found after we had ordered. Our food runner waited on us more than he did. He never even checked in to see if we wanted another drink or if our food was alright. Well, the food wasn't alright. The beet dish with gruyere cheese tasted like overlooked beets with cheese on top and was not appealing one bit. The broccoli blast was like charred broccoli - I didn't know charcoal was a spice nowadays. It was so burned that we couldn't eat it. The complimentary desert drink tasted like black licorice and was the last thing we needed to seal the deal that we would never be returning to this restaurant. I will never be back and will tell all my friends.
(1)
Connie C.
My fiance and I met our friend up at this restaurant. This is a "tapas" place, but the dishes are huge compared to the tapa restaurants that we've been to. We made reservations...Phew!! because it got crazy crowded! We ordered abour 5 dishes for 3 people... 1. blazed broccoli-- I'm not sure what they do to this dish but it's freaking delicious! 2. Roasted vegetables-- a wide assortment of fresh veggies..very flavorful. 3. Pork Belly with Kimchi--not my fav, but the guys loved it. 4. Flank Steak---again, not my fav bu the guys loved it. 5. steamed clams- my fav! the broth was so delicious and the bread was super yum. A lil pricier--but that's what you get for tapas. Overall, worth checking out! They have a huge wine and beer list as well--great hang out spot.
(4)
Alaina G.
Perfect place for girl's nights, intimate setting... great for chit chat over a glass of wine, or two, or three! We always order the Broccoli Blasted, my fav little snack... goes great with wine too! I have even tried making it at home... the recipe is simple, delicious & healthy! Other than that, haven't really been there for dinner but I'm guessing the rest of their menu is pretty tasty. The place is always packed, so I'd recommend making a reservation. They also have a room in the back that can be rented out for private parties, which is pretty handy dandy!
(4)
Whitney W.
One of my absolute favorites! The food is modern, delicious and well put together. The prices are extremely reasonable and the wine list is to die for! Highly recommend.
(5)
Victoria C.
PROS: 1. SELECTION. Awesome selection and variety of wine. The beers are a little scarce, but it IS called Black Bottle, hence it's intended to be more of a wine place than bar. 2. AMBIANCE. Classy, sleek, kinda romantic. 3. SERVICE. Speedy! CONS: 1. Prices are on the up side, but you're paying for the environment as well. $5 for well drinks for happy hour, but such is life.
(4)
Jessie D.
"Meh. I've experienced better" pretty much sums Black Bottle up for me. The service was pretty blah, our food came out at really different times, my wine glass was chipped, and the scallops were a bit overcooked for my taste.
(2)
Qui B.
Must try the Oxtail (melts in your mouth, slow cooked for 12hrs, falls off the bone! It's glazed with malbec), bacon wrapped scallops is yum and chocolate mousse cake is perfect. Pork belly with kimchi was tender but too sweet, broccoli blasted wasn't too impressive. Fried tofu with peanut sauce is tasty. Crispy squid has a spicy kick to it, but I can only taste the batter. Ginger beer (non alcoholic) is awesome, so is their moscato. Great service. The place to go after a long day at work.
(5)
Paul C.
This place is amazing. Probably one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Came here for the first time a few weeks ago and I've been craving it ever since. Everything I ordered was to die for. The pork belly with kimchi and bacon wrapped scallops were my favorite. However, the boar ribs were nothing to sneer at either. I ate so much, I had food coma for hours afterwards. Small price to pay. :) The drinks were really good too. Service was great and the wait staff took care of our large sized group with ease. Will definitely come back here.
(5)
Matt R.
The wait is terrible.... but oh-so worth it. The small plates the offer are great. I had the smoked boar ribs (my favorite thing by far), the Oysters on the half shell, and the sardines (very tasty and a huge portion for $6). All the food is on the $5-$10 range and the wine is $28-36 a bottle. Wifey has chicken masala, fried olives, and friends had flat bread, spicy shrimp. All the food was great. They do take reservations- but good luck getting them to pick up the phone past 6pm- they're usually slammed. Good wine list and I'm told their cocktails are good too- although they only have 4 on the menu. I had a very tasty white wine from Spain- $32. I think this place is great. I will be back for sure........
(4)
J. M.
Yummy food! I love their broccoli, bacon wrapped lemon scallops and pork tacos. Their Happy Hour white wine was great also.
(5)
Aaron E.
Despite being so excited to finally make it to Black Bottle I have to say I was pretty disappointed. For starters, service was really dismal. A few people have mentioned that the servers have attitude... and wow... that's an understatement. Service was spotty, generally inattentive, and incredibly unfriendly. Service was also kind if incompetent. They kept on bringing random dishes to the table because orders were going on the wrong tickets and were sent to wrong tables. Considering there were so few people I'm not very understanding to mix ups like this. The food we did order was pretty tasty although incredibly salty. I think I'm still partially dehydrated from the copious amounts of sodium in the food. The first thing we had was the crispy chicken and collard greens. This is one of the more reasonably priced items and was cooked very well. The chicken was super tender and juicy but fried very nicely. The greens were also cooked well. The Spanish fried olives were one of the more salty items we had but paired really nicely with the dirty martini I was drinking at the time. The prosciutto flat bread was very delicious as well but had a lot of salt. The prosciutto was nice and crispy and I loved the creaminess of the bechamel. The pork belly and kimchee was also salty (big surprise, eh) but the pork belly was super tender and I really liked the combination. Drinks were pretty decent. The Manhattan I ordered was made well but they insisted on adding a maraschino cherry (something I despise with a passion and always ask that they NOT give me one). The dirty martini I ordered wasn't very dirty in the traditional martini sense... very little olive juice. However, it was plenty dirty what with the FLY in it. They replaced it, but were pretty unapologetic about it. I'm willing to give this place another shot but I have to say I was pretty disappointed.
(2)
Skylar L.
duck breast was my favorite. flat bread could be better.
(3)
Billie M.
The ox tail changed my life, and the pork belly kimchi was one of the most creative, exciting dishes I've eaten in recent memory. The wait staff was really nice and helpful, and they expect sharing, so they gave us plenty of empty plates. I wasn't crazy about the lighting (seriously, are there any bright, airy pubs in Seattle?), but that is my only complaint. Loved everything else.
(5)
James W.
Black Bottle is just fantastic. They have a great selection of small plates, good cocktails, and great service. The price is on the moderate to high side, but the quality is outstanding. Try the blasted broccoli, which is a simple dish with olive oil and spices cooked in a convection oven. Also awesome: bacon wrapped scallops. I know bacon wrapped scallops have been done before, but these were probably the most tender and fresh scallops I've ever had in Seattle. For a bigger staple dish, try one of the flatbreads. My favorite thing on the menu? The pork belly and kimchi. I've never experienced such tender, juicy pork belly anywhere. Ever. For a cocktail, get a pitcher of sangria. For $24/pitcher, it's a great deal. I will definitely be back.
(4)
Elaine K.
This restaurant came highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a try. I went back for a second time last night to try all the dishes I didn't get to the first time! Black Bottle is the perfect date place - stylishly dark & romantic, amazing food, sharable plates, great vibe, good music. Personal favorites from the menu include: *bacon scallops and kale - the scallops are HUGE and the kale is oh-so flavorful *oxtail - the waitress warned us that this is a bit on the "saltier" side and although it is, it was still very tender and succulent. This dish would be perfect if it were served with rice or some sort of carb...but we ordered a side of flat bread *broccoli - perhaps the tastiest broccoli ever! And this dish is especially big so that's a plus. *peach/blueberry tart w/ cream - admittedly, this is the only dessert I have tried on the menu but it was too good to try something else the second time! The cream is a nice touch. They'll definitely see me back so that I can try the remainder of the menu!
(5)
Maddie S.
Yum! Was here last night for late dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Was a little intimidated by the menu (I'm a burger girl) at first but I am definitely glad I decided to try a few new things! Don't miss the "Broccoli blasted"--no idea what was on it but imagine a heaping plate of Broccoli dusted with what tastes like montreal steak seasoning and then treated with a few passes from a blow torch. Sound gross? It's not. It's a crispy, salty, crunchy, amazing veggie plate! Go for it. The steak plate was yummy too, but my steak was a little too well-done for my medium-rare liking. Oh well. Minus one star for the snotty hostess but all said and done a great Belltown spot: Delicious menu, cool atmosphere, great for dates!
(4)
Rayelle B.
A great ambiance, but only so so food. Went last night with a party of 3. We all loved the interior and the great big space. Wine recommend was perfect, now onto the food... Not as good as we hoped. We had 7 different dishes and they were all just ok. We didn't try the flatbread or broccoli blasted, which might have been our mistake...though we did have the oxtail, bison ribs (too smoky/salty), ceviche (looked and tasted like it had been in a fridge for a couple of days too many), caprese salad (unimpressive, soggy tomatoes), pork tenderloin (weird texture and kind of bland), lamb (ok) and the roasted veggies - which were actually the very best part, they were delicious! Anyhow, I hope you have a better time, but just had to let some of you know that I don't think this place is 5 star worthy.
(2)
Geoffrey B.
Anyone friends with me knows that Black Bottle is my go to restaurant/wine bar for just about any night of the week. Being three block from my house makes it attractive place to down a bottle of wine with clams, mussels, flatbread pizzas or a vegetable dish, just before stumbling home. For many years I have been coming here trying to figure out what my favorite dish is. Finally, two weeks ago, I went with my friend Jennifer to enjoy a bottle of Rioja coupled with some delicatessens. She suggested the malbec demi-glazed oxtail, an item I must have "glazed" over every other time. The waitress was excited when we ordered this dish, exclaiming it was her favorite dish. We waited patiently, indulging in conversation over a 2007 bottle of Rioja, taking me back to my Barcelona youth. When the oxtail arrived, I was dumbstruck. There sat three large pieces of bony gelatinous meat, slow cooked with a delicious Malbec. At first I began eating with a fork and knife, lightly carving the fatty meat from the bones then dipping it back into the sauce. The meat fell off so easily from the bone that a knife was no longer necessary. Next came the bone marrow. Within each of the three bones was a succulent, sweet bone marrow, waiting to be sucked out. Growing up, we frequented on bone marrow from turkey necks in soup, but nothing compared to this. The marrow was perhaps the best part of the whole meal. My friend from Shanghai further encouraged me to suck all the marrow out of the bones, an experience best left unwritten. All I can say is that I can't wait to make it back to Black Bottle for another oxtail throwdown.
(5)
Leah M.
4 of us went on a Thursday night and had made reservations in advance. Great looking place. They got us seated right away and took our drink orders. They had a great drink selection with good prices. The food was great! I was pleasantly surprised by the broccoli blasted, ordered it because of the reviews. We also had two different flatbreads, both amazing (one was the sun-dried tomato and the other tomato basil pesto) and it came out right away. We also ordered the duck confit and the masala chicken drums which took a while to get out. Granted the night looked busy. But we got all our other food very quickly, finished, and sat there for over 30 minutes for the chicken. This prompted our second order of flatbread. The service ... was a little lacking. I don't know if she was just having a bad day or what. We were super nice about the delay of the chicken and she came by twice to assure us it was coming. She was pleasant enough with a little attitude, but when we asked her to separate our check, there were 4 of us, it pushed her over the edge. She was talking about us to the other wait staff and they would glare and shake their heads in our direction. I felt as if we committed the unthinkable ... don't dare ask for them to separate your check. I'll go back for the food, but next time as a courtesy I'll tell them how to separate in advance and maybe they will be more obliging. We will see.
(3)
Nita M.
I give Black Bottle 3.5 stars. Really, the only real negative I have for them is that the menu lacks real dinner options - it's more snacking/grazing kind of food. Had I not been starving when I went there, expecting a real meal, Black Bottle would easily get a "Yay!" from me. Black Bottle seems like a good place to bring a date or a small group of friends for intimate conversations (no loud music playing). The decor is very industrial/hip/modern/trendy if you're into that sort of thing. I had the brie leek country pesto flatbread. It was ok - brie is always good & it was plentiful, but the crust was really hard so I couldn't cut it without shaking the entire table & while eating without cut up bites, the leeks had an unfortunant tendency to want to stick in my teeth (not so cute). It had nice hints of rosemary & lots of garlic. Again, more of a snack to be shared and not really a dinner for someone. The drink menu seems kind of small for being a wine bar - there are a total of 7 white wines listed. Perhaps they had more that weren't on the list? I had the champagne cocktail pomosa, which was delicious but very light on alcohol, and a glass of Moscato d'Asti which was really freaking delicious (if you like sweet wine, go for it...and if you like getting tipsy really easily, this is something 1 person could easily put down an entire bottle of for less than $30).
(3)
Sabrina O.
It's a must!!! Such a fantastic spot!!! Cute, funky..trendy, laid back yet very posh! It's a great place to go with a group and order a bunch of platse to share! That's what we did! The chicken laab gai is to die for!!! So is the braised broccoli that you read about! Everything that we had was fantastic....well almost everything...the fried tofu with homemade peanut sauce I'd have to say, not a hit...the order is a bit big...the tofu a bit blah & the peanut sauce was just ok....some of my other friends that I was there with has the tuna....amazing ...and the steak!!! WOW!! Go...just go!! Make a reservation...dress up...have a great night!!!
(5)
Tracy I.
One of my favorite spots in Belltown to grab a bite and drink. I have been coming here for years and it has never failed me. Its a great place to just grab a small bite and drinks with friends or have a cute little dinner with your significant other without having to shell out a lot of $$$. I'm a huge fan of the seven spiced shrimp, broccoli blasted, and the grilled lamb.
(5)
Olivia S.
I was really impressed going to black bottle. I was nervous of how busy it was when we went in, thinking we weren't going to get attentive service, but our server was extremely nice and offered great suggestions when being indecisive with what to order. We opted to try the bacon wrapped scallops over lemon salad, and the malbec braised oxtail. It was superb!!! I could go back again and again just to order those two items and would leave happy every time. If you've never been, order those items!!! You won't be disappointed. The only downfall is the atmosphere is extremely loud considering how cute and intimate this place is.
(4)
Deirdre B.
Great service for a large group. All the food was amazing and service super. Waiter was helpful, patient, and tentative. Kitchen rocks the food out impressively as the plates just kept coming. Try the Dark and Stormy with the ginger beer for a new beverage.
(5)
Rhienn D.
These guys helped me pull off a surprise party for my husband's birthday and I couldn't have asked for things to have gone better. The private event room is great. It's private (check), has some great funky angled walls that add visual interest, the right ratio of standing/dancing room to cocktail table seating, a well stocked bar and lighting that let us show off our fancy clothes without feeling like we were standing in the mid-day sun. We loaded up an mp3 player and the sound was great (one of the guys in our group noticed that they have Bose speakers, for whatever that's worth.) Our bartender, Jeff, was a champ. He happily mixed up every request we threw at him, made sure the food table was constantly stocked (and also that nothing came out too early... nobody wants cheviche that's been hanging around for hours) and managed separate bar tabs for 20+ people without a hitch. The food was more than solid. I ordered plates of the fried chicken & greens, several varieties of flatbread (holy smoked chicken & sun-dried cherries, Batman!,) the cheviche and the tomato caprese. We ate it all. My husband and his Southern family took down the fried chicken & collard greens in one pass. That's quite an endorsement. Everything was coordinated via email. I dealt with Paul who was helpful, prompt with replies, had great suggestions and followed up to confirm details. (I kind of thought people with those customer service skills were an urban legend..) Thank you, Black Bottle!
(5)
Sherry C.
This is the perfect place for a date. Dim lights, awesome indie music, good prices on wines (some on tap for just $5/glass) and delicious food really sets the mood. BF and I had 2 glasses of red and the ricotta cake with Meyer lemon and a lavender crust. The cake was awesome-- think cheesecake but lighter and with more texture. Usually I hate lavender in food but it wasn't overpowering in the crust. Black Bottle reminds me of Beretta in SF. Love this place!
I came here the other night for my co worker's Birthday. Surprisingly, it was kind of busy (we made reservations ahead of time though) it's cute little place, not overly decorative, dim lighting, and spacious. There's two seating areas in the restaurant. This place isn't like your typical restaurant with entrees and appetizers. More like an casual bar with small plates and desserts. Our group tried a little bit of everything. We loved everything we ordered except for one dish. . . Which were the ribs. -Pork belly kimchi: so tender and literally melts in your mouth! Just enough meat and not too much fat. Not as spicy as you would think, and it's a little sweet. Comes on a skewers with kimchi cabbage in between. -Seven spice shrimp: seasoned very well and a lot of great flavors!! One of my favorite items. Shells and heads are fried crispy and the meat was soft. -House wild smoked boar ribs: tender, fall off the bone, but unfortunately my least favorite dish. It was just a little too smokey for my taste. -Lamb meatball and hummus plate: hummus and some kind of Greek yogurt dipping sauce was really good, the pita bread was good as well. Meatballs were okay. The broccoli and roasted vegetables were great as well, and we tried two of their flat breads which weren't disappointing at all! We've tried various items on the dessert menu, and I loved all of them! You have to try the cheesecake, the lavender graham cracker crust is amazing. I'm craving their shrimp and pork belly as I write this review. Service was good! Will definitely come back in the future.
(5)
Jerome T.
The remix. First dinner on my first night back in the emerald city. Everything was ok. I've come to realize that this joint is a neighborhood spot. I gave the 7 spiced skrimps a 2nd look, and it was the same as the first go around The Wilted Kale exactly the same, very good. The pork belly w/kim chi was very tasty, slightly spicy and braised, so it was super duper tender. Winner. Drinks were strong but just ok. I hate when the proper iced cube isn't served w/a Manhattan even if it is a remix Sit outside if you can
(3)
Paul C.
We had 4 different plates in Black Bottle last night and all were disappointing. The octopus was so chewy that it was almost inedible. The duck breast was over salted and again way too chewy. The pork belly was dry and tasteless. For desert we got a Panna cotta which was decent, but nothing special. I wasn't too impressed with the service either, it was almost like our server was trying too hard to act like she didn't care... The only plus side of the night was that we got a fantastic bottle of wine!
(1)
Leighanna K.
Love the ambiance here. We sat at the bar for dinner on our most recent visit. We had the blasted broccoli, shishito peppers, and a flat bread - all very good. No complaints - service was very responsive and the food came out quickly. Love their healthier options and delicious take on vegetables.
(5)
Elaine N.
Reservation for for 16, seated at 8pm on a Saturday night. Here are the 9 dishes we tried in my personal order of preference. Meat: [8] Crispy Fried Chicken and Collard Greens - the collard greens were great, fried chicken had some flavor, but the dish was overall lack-luster. [2] House-Smoked Wild Boar Ribs - tender and fell right off the bone, bomb savory flavor, one of my favorites of the night. [6] Malbec demi-glazed painted hills farm oxtail - really tender meat (as oxtail always is) good flavor. Seafood: [5] Miranda Oyster on the Half Shell - so fresh so clean. [3] Calamari fra diavolo w hen-of-the-woods mushrooms - well cooked, saucy, with an unexpected spicy kick. [9] Spicy coconut lemon-ginger ceviche & taro crisps - taro chips, bell peppers, and cucumber outnumbered the ceviche about 5:1. Taste was good, but I wish there was more ceviche! Veggies: [7] Roasted Artichoke Hearts Crispy Farro & Garlic - pretty good dish, farro was super duper crunchy (as the title implies) and the artichoke hearts were delicious. [1] Broccoli Blasted - easily my favorite dish of the night. The dish seemed so simple yet it was so sophisticated and well done. We weren't planning on ordering it until the waiter highly recommended it. [4] Cauliflower Fritters & Raita - loved the fritters, they went well with the raita dip on the side. Everything was great, service was really nice, and the drinks were good. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon Black Bottle on Yelp because finding a last minute reservation for 12 on a Saturday night is a daunting task! Until next time!
(4)
Monica S.
A solid 4.5 stars! I came here on Thursday evening for my birthday dinner and came with 9 friends, who could thankfully accomodate us all! We started out with a round of drinks - I ordered the Doppleganger and another drink (which I forgot the name of, but had Tequila in it). For food, my friends and I shared amongst ourselves. We ordered: Crispy Fried Chicken & Collard Greens: beautifully breaded and juicy chicken! the collard greens were delicious as well! Lamb Meatballs and Sumac Hummus: a jam packed plate of mediterranean spices infused into lamb, hummus, tzatziki, and pita bread. Pork Belly & Kimchi: Tender pork and flavorful kimchi. Bacon Lemon Scallops: So good! definitely recommend them. Broccoli Blasted: BEST THING EVER! Crispy, garlicky, and oh so delicious! Brie Leek French-Country Pesto flatbread: a little bland, but the crust was great! Caprese Salad: I did not eat this, but I heard it was forgettable. Smoked Chicken and Sun-dried Cherries: best flatbread i've had in a while! potentially too many onions on it and the chicken was hiding! good flavors overall I'd definitely recommend visiting this establishment! Although, one annoying thing was how dang hot it was in the restaurant! The fans were turning literally 2 miles per hour. I know this is an old building, but that needs to be fixed so your customers can enjoy the full experience! Overall, good service, mediocre ambiance, and awesome food. I did not eat one bad thing!
(4)
Priya C.
This place has the most fantastic small plates! I recommend 3-4 for 2 people. The grilled halluomi with dates, enoki mushrooms and red peppers was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Savory with the light sweetness, and rich flavor profiles - it was amazing! Also ordered the malbec glazed short ribs which were beyond tender and melt in your mouth delicious (only complaint is that the sauce wasn't reduced enough, but the flavor was definitely there). The interior is really spacious (more tables than you'd expect) with a few tables lining the sidewalk outdoors. Servers are great, as is the beer/cocktail selection.
(5)
Sarah R.
This place was delicious! My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and I was not disappointed. The champagne cocktail was a perfect start to the meal. What we ordered (all were great!): - Flank steak - Blasted broccoli - Bacon wrapped scallops - Sausage plate - Chocolate cake (omg yum!) They are all small plates so order a few and try several things! The only thing we disliked about this place was the waitress we had. She was kind of cold. She didn't really have any expression and didn't really seem like she enjoyed her job.
(4)
Ron N.
The food are great! I love this place, it's good for hangout and they have some drinks too.
(5)
Paula C.
The food here is really, really good. The Wild boar ribs are AMAZING. they are so good, these are one of the first items on the menu to run out daily. Black Bottle is small and cozy - not too small mind you, just sizeable enough to not get overwhelming. The staff are very attentive and the service is great, the food is ALWAYS good and they have really good wines as well. I will definitely recommend to anyone looking for tapas or a group of people wanting the option to eat a little bit of everything. their small plates usually have enough food for 2 people to get a healthy taste of each selection.
(4)
Lauren S.
I visited last night with my boyfriend and had the most incredible experience. Pros: + VEGAN OPTIONS HALLELUJAH + The tofu nuggets with peanut sauce did not disappoint. + It was not stated on the menu, but the tofu nuggets came with a small salad that was totally unique and unlike anything I had ever experienced. It incorporated many Asian flavors and complemented my tofu/peanut sauce perfectly. + Host was friendly and greeted us immediately. + Our server was very helpful and friendly and totally willing to answer all my questions, like, "What is this on my salad? It's really good. Can you find out what it is?" Answer: it was pickled daikon. + Best part: I ordered a cocktail (The D.H., and it was delicious). My server brought me an empty cocktail glass with a lemon peel, and then poured the drink from the cocktail shaker into my glass right in front of me. Then he set the cocktail shaker to the side at my table. Thus, when I emptied my glass, I got to "refill" from the remainders in the shaker for a SECOND DRINK. No joke, this was the highlight of my day. Very unique and charming idea. + Good music that's not too loud (we were there around 8:30ish; it might get louder as the evening progresses) + Boyfriend said it was the best fried chicken he had ever had. + It looks like they have great happy hour deals, but we didn't get to take advantage of them. Cons: - Small thing: some dishes are larger than others, which makes ordering a little confusing. My tofu nuggets easily made a (large) meal for myself, but my boyfriend's fried chicken was much smaller. Since this is a tapas-style restaurant, that makes sense, but since we were two people and on different diets (I'm vegan; he's not), we weren't sharing. I could imagine this being an awesome experience for larger groups who are sharing plates, but the size discrepancy is a little confusing to order if you are selecting individual plates in a small group/couple.
(5)
Alison A.
A fantastic gastropub with phenomenal food, this place is great to frequent for everything from a post-work happy hour, a quick drink and a few appetizers, or even a full meal with just a few to a group--better for a group since the "tapas" plates are absolutely huge. Think a standard tapas price ($6-$14) for huge platter-sized helpings so be wary of ordering too many plates, best to order a few at a time and see how you feel along the way. The blasted broccoli for example, could easily feed 4-5 people. A menu highlight, they flash-roast tender florets in their pizza oven so the usually boring veggie comes out super crispy, almost a deep-fried consistency without the grease. Lamb meat balls and hummus platter is great for sharing as well. Another must-have are the bacon-wrapped scallops on a bed of kale. Cooked to perfection and seasoned well without overpowering the scallop. Venue space is eccentric as well, and I adore the rustic tables. Does help to go during off hours or otherwise wait quite a long time for a table.
(5)
Aruna P.
Awesome food .. Lots of vegetarian options Service is great too ..
(5)
Amy M.
This place is consistently good, great and accommodating for big groups. The ceviche, blasted broccoli (always), cauliflower, fried chicken and greens - awesome! The butter chicken was meh, the pappadon had a strange taste. Worth comment, and worth the downgrade in stars... The redone women's bathroom has a picture of a cow in place of a mirror. Really? A blank brick wall in the men's and an ole cow in the ladies? Poor taste. This stuff matters.
(3)
Karen R.
LOVE this place!!! Very inventive menu, cool drinks, amazing food!!! They call themselves a "Gastrotavern" Yeah the emphasis is on the right things, the food & drinks!!!! I also loved the vibe & decor. It's a menu of small plates with generous portions that can be shared and enjoyed by all. Hey I love the whole tapas small plates concept but sometimes you feel like you can only get taste and there's not really enough to go around, not here!!! The menu is varied enough that there's something for everyone. I especially loved the drinks, but of course that's a given :) and the crispy fried chicken & collard greens, oh yeah they were really, really good, as was everything we tried actually. If you are in Seattle you and you love food & drink, this is your place!!!!
(5)
Guy V.
Black Bottle is the perfect place to get fun drinks and share some downright delicious small plates with friends. The rooms are dark and candlelit, providing an ambiance that's both relaxed and sexy. Seating ranges in every size including bar seating, tables-for-two, four-tops, and long dining tables, making it perfect for any size get-together. Let me start by saying that everything is absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. I came with three other people and we tried about ten dishes (not including desserts), which all had such varieties of flavor and culinary style but not one plate failed to amaze us. Everything was just damn good. Simple as that. This is a place that has something for everyone. The plates are so easily shareable, and service was perfect - highly attentive but still laid back. Highly recommend Black Bottle for happy hours, dates, dinners, and everything in between.
(5)
Megan J.
I've been here twice with groups - once everyone ordered a small plate for themselves or to share with their partner and that seemed to do the trick, the other time, our small group ordered a few plates to share and that also was great, so however you want to work this tapas place, know you will be happy and well-fed! They also have a great wine list and cocktail menu. Black Bottle is an intimate spot, quiet so you can actually talk to your friends! Servers were great, split up the bills as necessary, once without even being asked and made great recommendations!
(4)
Stephen S.
Solid. Of the two dishes I had, I'd only order one again (maybe). The seared ahi with asparagus salad was nicely spiced with great texture and balance. Delish. The beet gratin: not so much. It was beautiful ... Tasted like beets and Gruyere (which it was) ... But no other spice or seasoning to be found. Disappointing ('cuz I am a beet fiend). Oh well. Wine list is great variety by the glass, but why such strong French influence? There are two many fabulous local Pinots to have only one Willamette Valley feature but two French. Come on now!
(3)
Alison V.
This place is a great dinner place or first date spot. I went with a party of 8 girls. The service was good, wasn't too loud, and overall good atmosphere. I'd recommend this place. It was a little spendy if you want a veggie and meat entree for dinner. It would've been nice if they had a small side salad for cheaper. I got a flat bread, and everyone who got one said they were great. Actually all 8 girls enjoyed their food. Try the sangria!
(4)
Patrick B.
What a great place. Was in Seattle for a long weekend and didn't get into the city until after 10pm but was still starving. Decided to listen to the yelp reviews and go hear for a late dinner. What a great choice, the plates were fantastic (especially the pork belly), the wine was delicious and the service was great. Made for a wonderful introduction to Seattle.
(5)
Jennifer S.
Quaint bar in Belltown that makes you want to come in and stay! We stopped in today for drinks and had a great experience...so much so that we booked a reservation for Saturday night. More details on the food to follow soon...
Food in general is good , bartender was super nice, but the lemon ricotta cake with lavender crust is one of the best things I have ever eaten . Do not go here and miss out on this . the flavors are absolutely perfect. One of the highlights of my trip to Seattle.
(5)
Darcy H.
I was there as a guest for a happy hour, sponsored by an out-of-town organization. This is a review for that evening. The event was in a separate room in the front of the restaurant. The drinks were good. Though unlabeled (is that meat? not meat?), the snacks were good. Other than that....it wasn't a great experience. Mostly because nobody seemed to be managing the space. It was SO LOUD that my boss left within 15 mins. (not good) That speaks not only to the hard cement floor, no tablecloths, and no sound-absorbing ceiling tiles (typical industrial chic problems) BUT to the fact that they were playing loud music on top of the din. Huh? Why? Keep in mind this was a professional networking event. Also, it was hot in there. Like, really hot. And it took a guest to finally stand up and open the huge window so that we could have some fresh air. "Where is the staff?" I kept wondering. "Why are we in charge of the environment and comfort?" I mean, there was a bartender...young guy....and someone collecting the dirty glasses, but they weren't exactly being ambience-sensitive.
(2)
Aneeka O.
We were under the impression that this was a restaurant, but it's more like alcohol and small plates/ appetizers and desserts. They say 2 small plates per person is like a meal for 1. I came with my husband and we ordered 3 small plates: the pork belly (awesome! I loved it!), the boar ribs (which I didn't really care for, but my husband rates it 4/5), and the roasted vegetables (which was huge! Great variety! Interesting spices!). Then we ate the chocolate cake (which was good but I'll warn you that it is not fluffy or light or airy but you should get it). Service was fantastic! The look of the place was very nice! I love their hanging light bulbs.
(4)
Kim B.
I pay hard-earned dollars for a plate of broccoli. That sounds ridiculous when I type it, but it's true. The broccoli tastes good, folks. I love that they have a vegan menu, which makes my ordering super easy. Their location is also just outside of asshole-ville, which is also great.
(4)
Tree P.
It's a decent Seattle option. Nearby Spur is much better but it isn't bad. we ordered 6 items, 2 were great, 2 were decent and 2 were poor. The service was lacklustre, the waiter exhumed the feeling that we were being done a great favour by him. The 2 great dishes were the duck breast and the calamari, they were excellent. Duck was cooked perfectly. The 2 dishes that were mediocre were the oxtail and the cauliflower. The 2 dishes I would be embarrassed to serve at home were the ceviche and the halloumi. The Ceviche tasted as if it was made to order rather than stored in juices and acid for 24 hours as is done when ceviche is made. It made it bland and of very bad quality. The halloumi and date dish was not executed well and was far too sweet rather than having a balance between sweet and sour.
(3)
Sin-Yaw W.
A cocktail, a draft "honest" beer, followed by a shot of whiskey. Have to say, this Washingtonian single malt is not as good as those Scotch ones. The foods are tapa style, small portion and very well prepared. This is the perfect bar: good drinks and excellent foods. Also, whatever Kate H rated 5 stars will be good for me. :-)
(5)
BettyLou H.
We had dinner here and were a bit disappointed in the consistency of quality across the small bites. The boar ribs and pulled pork tacos were delicious. The flatbread with lamb sausage and baba gannoush was a failure. The lamb and flatbread was overcooked and I could not taste or find the baba gannoush. The roasted peppers with sea salt had too little salt and too much oil. Our server was pleasant, but overall we were disappointed.
(3)
Jason C.
I was very surprised by how good the food was.. I though of Black Bottle more as a place to get wine with friends, but the was impressive. I ordered the blasted broccoli, ribs, and scallops.. All the dishes were fantastic!
(4)
S. J.
Fried Chicken. :)
(5)
Makenzie G.
I know this is a wine bar, but the food alone is enough to bring me back again and again. It's all small plates to be shared, or one or two to fill yourself up. Each dish is unique and delectable. I've been going for years and have yet to get tired of it -- they change up the menu and the new dishes never disappoint. Must try: blasted broccoli, flatbreads, any of the meats, house wine Skip: happy hour tacos...teeny-tiny and not worth it
(5)
John M.
Great cocktail / dinner spot with farm fresh tapas and great seafood creations. Been here three times with friends and alone - always a good choice!
(4)
Kristi R.
Enjoyed sitting outside tonight at Black Bottle and sharing small plates with my sweetie. The blasted broccoli is to die for! I'm not normally a broccoli lover, but this has made me a believer. We also had the seared scallops wrapped in bacon, the wilted kale salad and the oxtail. Fun place and I look forward to going back and sampling some other dishes.
(4)
Angela Y.
(Date of visit: 11/11/2012) I wish I could rave about this place because the food and drinks were absolutely to die for - however, the service or lack thereof was beyond terrible it left the most disgusting taste in my mouth. Lets start from the beginning of the night, before even stepping foot in the restaurant. We called in hours ahead to make reservations for 9pm on a Saturday night. Seems like an impossible mission right? But they were quick to take our request for a table of 3 and assured us of a pleasant evening. When we got there however, we waited 20 minutes for them to scurry and put together the tiniest table right in front of the window which also was right in front of the front entrance. What a way to make a girl feel special huh? (Here's a tip: when people make reservations for a table, people expect an actual table - and not the "crap" table. And a second tip: When your customers ask if there's another table available - at least pretend to glance around and check the back instead of saying that you're slammed and this is all you have right now. IT'S CALLED A RESERVATION - A TABLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRE-RESERVED.) This "reserved" table, I kid you not - was no bigger than one of those one seat tables that they made you sit in throughout high school. Which would have been fine for one, but for a party of three? And my sister's husband is nearly 7'' man. This table arrangement was ridiculous. Of course we ordered just about every appetizer and what do you know? There wasn't enough room on the child sized table. It's not rocket science people. If a party of three (sitting at what I'm assuming was an side table) orders 20 dishes - DO NOT TRY TO BRING THEM ALL AT ONCE. I mean, really, come on. I've been in this industry long enough to know, hey - sometimes the kitchen works at its own speed, but if you're the server of this ridiculous table, you should think "HEY, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO ALL FIT ON THERE." Again, not rocket science. We had to settle our little conundrum by setting dishes on the railing of the window and scarfing down the dishes as rapidly as they were being sent to our table. Half of the time I had to hold my drink in my other hand because there simply was no room. I mean, really, this isn't even about the personality of the server, or anything ridiculous. THIS IS ABOUT BASIC HUMAN UNDERSTANDING: 3 people, 1 tiny ass table, 20 dishes, 1 bottle of wine, 2 beers, STOP BRINGING OUT DISHES SO FAST! I MEAN REALLY, COME ONE GUYS - GET IT TOGETHER. Aside from the lack of basic customer service and mental capacity, the food was very delicious. The wine list and beer list tickled my tongue ever so delectably, and I wish I had enough courage to go back. But why stick your hand in the fire again when you know you'll just get burnt?
(1)
Lauren R.
Came here for my birthday . The drinks were great but 2 of the five plates we ordered were horrible , the hanger steak was drenched in kikoman soy sauce and when we told the waitress there was hair on our flat bread she looked at us like we were bothering here and instead of just taking It off the bill she gave it to us for 50% off . Thanks for a great birthday meal , I won't be back .
(3)
Shin Yi L.
Been here multiple times for happy hour, late night drinks and a food tour. Love the broccoli blasted (I'm a big fan!) and yummy cocktails (doppelganger, throwback manhattan).
(4)
Stan L.
we came here for happy hour.. they do seem to have quite a few different alcoholic beverage options to cure your ailments as for the food.. their fried chicken strips were ok.. it was crispy.. but don't expect great southern fried chicken.. their oxtail is awesome.. i wish it was served with a mashed potatoes or a cheesy polenta to round out the dish.. the artichoke salad was unforgettable in a bad way.. the artichoke was undercooked and nearly inedible.. their octopus salad was more salad than anything else.. there were some small slices of octopus.. but it was a bit underwhelming.. i'll come back to try some of the other dishes (e.g masala drumsticks or their pork belly) as well as for their oxtail
(3)
Ninette C.
My friend wanted to go to a trendy, up-and-coming and well-liked restaurant so off we went to Black Bottle. It looks small but it isn't that tiny which is nice. They have several rooms and the ambiance is trendy, group-friendly and not stuffy. This would make a nice date place without being too "sappy" or overly romantic too. I ordered the grilled octopus fava with pesto beans and he ordered the bacon wrapped scallops. We had the brie-leek-pesto flat bread to share as well. Everything was delicious. I wished we ordered the blasted broccoli as I have heard great things about it, but next time, next time. For dessert, we had the two desserts I'm pictured with in my profile photo: pineapple baba rum and mascarpone and lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust. I thought the pineapple baba rum was great. My fiend thought it was a little strong. I thought the lemon curd ricotta was kind of eh. My friend liked it, so its all opinion? The lavender crust smelled great though! All in all, this was a great meal. I would skip the ricotta next time, but everything else was excellent. Writing this review only makes me wonder, why haven't I been back since?!
(5)
David S.
Food was fantastic. Shishito peppers were awesome. Wine list was a little light for a wine bar but what they had was great. Don't be expecting a real upscale environment. Very chill and really good service.
(4)
Yukari T.
15 of us shared about 20 dishes. All of them were impressive, very creative and delicious.
(5)
Frenchie B.
Second time I've been here with friends while visitng Seattle. Went Columbus Day for happy hour. Their tacos I'd pass on. The Carne Asada HH taco was tasty but the other 2 are definite misses. The seared tuna is fantastic. I'm not a collard greens fan but it's pretty tasty paired with the fried chicken. HH wine is prettu good for a HH wine but if you don't like those options have a decent wine selection. If you sit near the windows great Belltown people watching
(4)
Bread Man S.
Great dessert, the peach and blueberry dessert is awesome. The chocolate with ice cream is great too. We just did not get napkins, service was ok. Good place overall.
(4)
Kiyo T.
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. Overall: - The food is amazing, but go to the Black Bottle in Bellevue for it - The staff is extremely unprofessional, rude, disrespectful, and pretentious The whole story: I went here for the first time despite my friends urging against it due to the rude wait staff. Unfortunately, I wasn't surprised to find their remarks true. We were seated in the back area and hardly given the time of day. After we finished our meal, a good 30 minutes passed of us trying to ask for the check but not being acknowledged. I decided to give it another chance the following day, but the same server (Lindsay) was there and I could audibly hear her tell the other staff members that I was a horrible customer because I mentioned the night before that we had been waiting for a while with no service. We were once again seated in the back section and the server went on a smoke break with the manager. Another 20 minutes passed and no one had even checked to see if we were ready to order. The hostess would peak around to the corner to see if we were still there but never approached us. I got up to leave and asked to speak with the manager. She is the one with short hair and tattoos who didn't give a shit about what I had to say. I told her I had been in twice now and not received service. She tried to explain that the back area doesn't open up until 6pm, and since I got there at 5:30pm I was expected to wait another 30 minutes before she assigned a server to that section, I WAS PUT THERE NOT BY MY CHOICE! The staff obviously gossips about their customers while they are there (will do it so you can hear it) and seemingly make a pact to not serve those they do not want to. Needless to say, I will never go there again and highly recommend choosing a different restaurant if you don't want your day ruined by bitches.
(1)
Courtnee P.
Holy shitballs amazing! I just had a spectacular experience at this place after eyeballing it occasionally for a few years. So glad I finally tired it. We ordered: Crispy chicken and collards: The chicken was cooked to perfection and the collards were surprisingly sweet and subtle and had corned beef! Oxtail was unbelievably tender and flavorful. Bacon wrapped lemon scallops and kale: Amazing! Roasted Broccoli: HOLY SHIT I CAN'T STOP EATING THIS GIANT PLATE OF EFFING BROCCOLI, DAWG! Try it dredged in the Oxtail sauce leftovers! The artichoke and goat cheese was ok, bit heavy on the cheese and not particularly impressive, and the flatbread I got was similar - but still good! Everything came fast, service was GREAT, especially for Seattle. Attentive even though they're busy, portions are large and food at the correct temperature. A+++++++ Will buy from again!!
(5)
Barry K.
Loved the version of this in Bellevue. Food is a bit different here. Service is not so good - food was still great.
(3)
Hande O.
This used to be my fave go to place for great happy hour and drinks. The ambiance is sexy and chill, albeit a bit pretentious. HOWEVER, the main reason I decided to write this is because on my last visit we noticed not one but 2 cockroaches climbing up the wall by our table. This is absolutely not ok...I just saw some other reviews that mentioned the same thing. BB, you have got to do something about this. 'Construction nearby' is not a good excuse for having critters in your upscale restaurant.
(3)
Tiffany S.
I love this place . great food great server
(5)
Charlie G.
The menu looks so good. The space looks lovely from the street. My hopes were high. The food was seriously disappointing. (And the service was pretty lame too.) We had the ceviche, the gruyere and emmentaler beet gratin, and the kale and spinach salad. The gratin was ...ok, but it only gets that rating because I absolutely love each of the ingredients. The other two dishes were pretty terrible. We would have ordered more but we decided to leave to find better food elsewhere. The ceviche was very probably the worst I've ever had. The very first time I tried making ceviche at home it blew this completely out of the water. Black Bottle's was bland as could be and pretty much just consisted of overcooked (in acid that could no longer be tasted) fish and a bunch of diced, winter-bland tomato. Nothing else going on at all. Just tough, tastless fish and tomatoes. Booooooooo! Despite being made with either slightly woody or undercooked beets, the beet gratin was pretty tasty for the few bites that actually contained any cheese. But the majority of the dish was just unadorned, tough beet slivers. I like beets, but (a) these weren't very good ones, and (b) that's not what I ordered. The kale salad was a joke. Not only did it barely have more than about 5 baby kale leaves in it, but it hardly had any more spinach. It was pretty much a pile of hazelnuts in goat cheese with a few flecks of pancetta and a few errant greens. The flavors were honestly just fine, but the ratios were all fucked. It wasn't a salad at all. It was a pile of cheesy nuts. Oh yeah, and while we were attended to quickly and regularly, our waitress couldn't have been much more apathetic or withholding of all but the most basic pieces of information about the offerings. The person refilling our water rocked though, haha. And, I will say that the very bizarrely-casually-dressed bartender did make me a hell of a Manhattan. But that's about the best I can say about Black Bottle. If I ever go back, I won't be eating there.
(2)
Addie R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! but.... Two stars off for the fruit fly problem. It was gross to see the flies buzzing around our food, and worse to see a ton of them perched on the wall next to our table, literally all up the wall, from floor to ceiling. I kept swatting at them until I noticed there were a LOT and then I felt uncomfortable. Flies aside, I thought the service was exceptionally attentive and the atmosphere classy. Our group of 6 was in the back room which we had to ourselves even though there was more seating there. We came for Thursday happy hour and had $4 well drinks and the $2 tacos. However, the tacos are really small, like miniature tacos, so you need at least 2 to have a proper appetizer for yourself. During our meal, they accidentally made extra tacos and we got 6 extra tacos, which was awesome and they didn't charge us for it. The decor is pretty minimal but what they do have are interesting conversation starters. I liked that about the space, and that it wasn't too dim or too brightly lit. p.s. They automatically include gratuity in the bill. Convenient! I'm not a math person.
(3)
Clover A.
This is what happen when I don't review right after going somewhere. It gets fuzzy. I don't think the delicious cocktails helped keep my memory intact, so it could be that to blame as well. Other reviewers have covered most of the info you'd need but in short: It's a bit disjointed in the way the food comes out, but don't worry though, just eat what they bring and relax, if yours comes and theirs doesn't, just share. Order one of the flatbreads to share between at LEAST 2 but likely 3-4 people. They're big and take up lots of room on the table. Order the broccoli, trust me, yes, it really is that good. As you can see in the pics, the pork belly and kimchi are really more pork belly (not too much fat either) with the essence of kimchi, so don't let that scare you off, it's truly fantastic even if you're not a kimchi fan. Even if you are starving, 2-3 plates between two of you should be enough. Order the specialty cocktails, they're great and strong enough that I can't honestly tell you how good (or not good) dessert was. Don't be concerned that you can't tell the waitstaff from the patrons. Seriously, just relax, it's going to be a great night.
(4)
Chelsea J.
I went to Black Bottle this weekend with a friend and the food was really good! We shared the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flat bread which was very sizable for $9 and the blasted broccoli for $8. The portions were very generous, especially for the price. Both dishes were superb. The place was bustling and very noisy in the back room. I felt like we had to talk very loudly (almost yell) to hear each other across the table. It was also very hot in that room, not very good circulation back there. The bar is very cute and the food is fantastic. Service was friendly and prompt. I had the rising sun-rita drink which was made with sake, blood orange puree, and lime for $8. I thought it was okay. It was refreshing but I could barely taste any alcohol. Pretty much tasted like punch. I would stick to wine next time. I look forward to returning. Don't miss the food!
(4)
Christopher S.
When I was youthful and exuberant I used to love going to the Black Bottle to people watch, drink, eat, and even get shot down occasionally. Well, now that I'm old and wise I guess my tastes have changed. Four to five years ago I would have given this place a 4.5 star rating. Today I have to issue a 3 - a solid 3. The lady and I ordered the hangar steak, the seared ahi, a flatbread and of course a couple IPA's. The seared ahi was ok, a bit too seared actually, and the hangar while good was swimming in soy sauce - I suppose to balance out the bitter daikon? Anyway, this leaves us with the flatbread. Oi. The amount of prosciutto on the flatbread was absolutely pathetic. It was amazingly annoying. Something I'd expect at some chain restaurant in the burbs trying to catch on to the latest food fad. Anyway, it was without a doubt super duper craptacular. Service was good, drinks (IPA's) were solid as expected. I've either outgrown this place or it's outgrown me.........
(3)
Erica W.
First off let me say the food and ambiance was fabulous... the downfall was our server. The goods: We had a group of 8 people, so we got a big variety of plates to share. Out of everything we ordered, I tried Wild Boar Short Ribs (FALL OFF THE BONE tender! Rubbed in spices & herbs ... delicious!) Crispy Fried Chicken & Collard Greens (I'm picky, didn't touch the greens [everyone else RAVED about them BTW]) The Chicken was decent. I think if it was partnered with some potatoes & gravy it would've been dynamite! Prosciutto & Bechamel (Flatbread) It was great, perfect amount of all ingredients combined. The BAD: We had a reservation for 8pm for 8 of us. 4 of us decided to go get our "drink on" earlier and went at 7. We sat at a 4-top table until our server told us the table for 8 was ready and we could move over if we wanted to. We moved over about 7:30 when we had 6 of our group there... The server was very spiratic at coming over to check on us. I will tell you, if he would've consistently checked on us like a GOOD server would, our bill would have been over $300... Just sayin! I think the cardinal rule as a server, you don't let your customer's drink get below half before asking if they want another. We shouldn't have to flag the kid down everytime we want another drink. My husband got a total of 2 beers in the 3 hours we were there. That's ridiculous!! If the server would have come by to see if we wanted every 15 minutes or so, my husband probably would have had at least 5 beers. And think of that on a grand scheme of things, 2-3 extra drinks per person, would have added at least $100 on to our tab. He failed MAJORLY. I also feel like he figured he was getting an 18% gratuity off of us anyhow, he did'nt have to work for that tip! Our bill was $271 with tax and tip. If he would have came by to refill drinks he could have gotten a heck of a lot more money out of us.
(3)
Katy H.
I was so incredibly impressed with Black Bottle. This is totally what the 5 star review system is all about! Typically I shell out 4 stars for a place I really liked, but 5 only goes to places that surpass each and every expectation. I will warn however that the more crowded this cozo spot gets, the slower the service. But being such a great hangout with such fabulous food and drinks, it wasn't terribly bothersome to take my time anyway. A friend and I popped in for some food and drinks and after hearing such great things about Black Bottle, we made our way to Belltown to see for ourselves. There's loca beer on tap, a fabulous wine selection, and some creative cocktails to boot. The best part though? The food! Some folks have told me Black Bottle was expensive... and perhaps they were comparing this spot to a place like List? Also in Belltown, List has insane happy hour prices. But that's because they have to sell food for cheap in order to sell it at all. I've had decent experiences there but nothing magical like Black Bottle. In fact, even though you'll pay $1-2 more per dish here, it's well worth it! The wild boar ribs were crazy good and the portion was too much for just one person. Same with the broccoli blasted! This dish could easily feed three and came highly recommended by a friend. Good thing we got it too, it was delicious. In fact, it's by far the best broccoli dish I've ever had. And I love broccoli! We also tried a number of other dishes but I'm quickly forgetting their names. Point is, you'll find plenty to order if you're a vegetarian, pescatarian or meat eater. I actually had a helluva time deciding what to eat because everything sounded amazing. 3-4 plates feed two easily but remember to save room for dessert! They're just as tasty as the shared plates and entrees.
(5)
Dean K.
We had a very disappointing experience here when visiting Seattle in February. Huge letdown after reading the glowing reviews. The raved-about broccoli blasted and the pork belly and kimchi were pretty good, but everything else was ordinary or worse. I'm a huge pork fan, so the dry and flavorless house smoked wild boar ribs were received as an insult to all of swinedom. Service was poor. I guess other tables were much more interesting, because we could hardly get our server to notice us. The room was uncomfortably crowded and loud, and we were seated near the entrance and got blasted with cold air whenever the door opened. We bailed and went to Spur Gastropub for desert, which was the best decision of the night. Why anyone would go to Black Bottle when the wonderful Spur Gastropub is nearby is a mystery to me.
(2)
Sapna D.
Amazing veg options, yumm!
(5)
Brittany L.
After some thought and deliberation over many tapas and small plate joints in the area, we settled on Black Bottle in Belltown for one of my bestie's birthday. The ambiance is nice, but it can get really noisy so bring your outside voice! Because of the size of our group we were able to sample a lot of different dishes -- crispy fried chicken, boar ribs, chicken laab gai, hanger steak, pork belly and kimchi, the infamous broccoli blasted, prosciutto flatbread and chicken flatbread, and fried tofu and peanut sauce. Upon arriving, I was most excited to try the broccoli blasted since everyone on Yelp (and beyond) raved about it. I honestly didn't get the hype. And I'm not sure most of us in the party did either. It's basically burnt broccoli with a little oil, lemon, salt & pepper but the other flavors were hardly noticeable. I do however, really like the flatbread, the hanger steak and the fried chicken. The laab gai was decent but if you're expecting what you get at a Thai restaurant, you'll be disappointed. Service was spotty, but luckily in larger groups you don't notice it as much. I'd like to come back and size up the last half of the menu!
(4)
Seattle F.
I've taken large groups here and also just one other person or myself. It's always great. Really good food. The service is kind of spartan teamwork, yet you get whatever you need. Nobody is overbearing and it's very casual and fun. My only criticism is the wines. They should have at least a few fancy wines available and by the glass as well. I brought some folks here from wine country in CA. I warned them that there'd be nothing great by the class there, but they were still unhappy though too polite to say. I love everything else about this place.
(5)
Nicole Y.
I had dinner here last night with my boyfriend and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. It is definitely a popular place, but only took a few minutes to get seated. The ambience was great ... not too loud, a little bit dark (but you could still see) and a nice atmosphere. The service is outstanding. The food was amazing. It's sort of "tapas" style, but the portions are way too big for one person if you order more than one dish. My boyfriend and I shared three dishes and a dessert and were definitely happy and full by the time we left. I will definitely be a returning customer, can't wait to try all of the other dishes on the menu :)
(5)
mandy m.
Is this how Seattle does tapas? Dishes were unimpressive. Pork belly is dried out and awkward when doused in sweet x sour sauce. There was hardly any kale in the kale and spinach salad but there was an ample amount of unwanted nuts and goat cheese to salt it all out so you don't even know what you're eating. Rail thin chips aren't very functional for ceviche. I was hoping the food will win us over after being assaulted with forgetting to bring an ID when ordering wine... To which my friend said 'ok I don't want to drink then'... But then was impolitely escorted out of the establishment and only allowed in once she went back to the hotel to get her ID. It took 20 minutes to get our drinks, they got our food order wrong and the check took 15 minutes. Chris Finley, I cannot believe you liked this place! Maybe it was better in 2010.
(2)
John Z.
Decent atmosphere, well-crafted, reasonably priced cocktails, and good food. I've been here twice. Their portion sizes have increased, which is a good thing. On this visit, we had the blasted broccoli, the smoked boar ribs, the proscuitto flatbread, the masala chicken drumettes, and the fried chicken with collard greens. All in all we ordered too much food for 2 people, but it was all reasonably good. The broccoli was a bit too salty, the boar ribs were somewhat dry, and the flatbread was covered in cheese (despite the menu saying it would have bechamel sauce). On our first visit, the service was abysmal, in that we were treated very callously by the staff. However, the second visit made up for that incredibly, since our waiter was very nice. Due to the hit/miss experience I'm only giving them 3 stars, but they've been improving. To end on a positive note, their cocktails are fantastic and very cost-effective.
(3)
heidi p.
I don't like giving bad reviews and I sat on this one for a while but here goes. First off terrible service.... The waitress was "too cool" of a hipster to try and provide any good service. Midway through the meal, when questioned why she didn't bring out an item I ordered (a cheese plate) she stated that they were out of the bread they use for it. At what point was she going to tell me that I wasn't going to get an item that I ordered? Apparently never. Here is the kicker... as she was cleared a plate that was in front of me, a cockroach scurried across the table. W T F. Then she squished it and asked me if I wanted to take my leftovers home. F - NO. Thank god for them the place is so dark inside, that way you can't see the roaches. Now I'm questioning anything crunchy that was in my food. (blasted broccoli) The waitress was barely apologetic. Needless to say, I will not be going back.
(1)
Shauna M.
Good location in downtown Seattle, food is tasty, although it lost stars with me for having really loud music and a bit too dark for my taste.
(3)
Mariel M.
Came for happy hour and kept the $2 tacos going. They are delicious, especially the soyrizzo and potato one! Great atmosphere. It's a cute joint. Will definitely be back here!
(5)
Minji L.
I LOVE this place. Every item on the menu is great. Literally! Go once a month and try everything. I didn't like the red wine but did enjoy a glass of sparkling rose recently. They also provide the same yummy framboise found at Fred Meyer's.
Probably one of my favorite spots in Seattle. I've tried most of the things on the menu, and nothing was disappointing. I recommend the blasted broccoli, it is amazing, and my personal favorite, the oxtail. It is divine! My only advice would be to order something else besides the seared ahi tuna and the larb gai (a traditional thai dish). If you want to eat authentic Asian food, go somewhere that does it better. Oh, and the joint does get packed and the service tends to slow down during the weekend, but just have a couple drinks and enjoy the experience!
Rude service, overpriced food. I wanted to split desert and had to beg for an extra plate. They sure like taking your money, but they don't give you good service. The owner is rude too. Good luck! I'll never go back in a million years.
(1)
Rix G.
Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Upscale and Fantastic Staff!! I do not usually rate a high 5 on many places unless they truly deserve it. Black Bottle has made the grade. Great for Groups or Solo. Fantastic place to kick back, enjoy a modern environment and some good food. Not to mention a great selection of drinks! I will be back soon!
(5)
Rocky E.
I like the food here. Everyone knows the Blasted Brocoli is terrific and by all accounts the rest of the menu is really good. There are three areas they could really improve. 1. The staff needs to have a dress code. They look sloppy in their hipster wear and baseball caps. It is a nice place and the staff should look like they work in a nice place not a bus station lunch counter. 2. The staff needs to up their professionalism game a lot. I found them to be arrogant and not very attentive. 3. Improve your wine glasses. I ordered some nice red wines but was served in glassware that were not red wine glasses. Give me a bigger glass that allows the wine to breathe better. I think this comes down to the fact that the management probably doesn't know much about wine, they just sell a lot of it.
(3)
Greyson S.
We've been back to Black Bottle multiple times now, and the service is way better than our first interaction indicated. They're friendly but hands off, and the food is still deliscious. They've updated their menu to allow for the variability of the wild boar ribs, which we finally were able to try. My partner loved them, but I didn't. But the sausages! Holy bajoles! Best Sausages Ever. I don't even care that they aren't gluten free (they're beer braised), they are worth the IBS.
(5)
William S.
Nice tapas food place. Great Service. Run like a west coast offense, with dinks and dunks and quick short passes. the food comes just like that, and before you know it, boom your full.
(4)
Jennifer H.
G R E A T small plates. They took affordable ingredients and cooked it with thought and charm. The portions were well rationed, the food well seasoned, and the menu was pleasantly diverse. Great interior design, especially the lighting, the only thing I didn't get is the sculpture towards the Rey end of the bar area. Our server was a nice young girl, she was fully attentive and pleasant. I hope it's consistent!
(5)
Kari L.
I really love the atmosphere of this restaurant. The drinks are great and the food is one of a kind. I recommend the flat bread or the blasted broccoli. Who knew broccoli could taste so good! Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Francesca S.
This place is fantastic. I've been here many times for birthday events and hosting my own birthday. They have a wonderful room in the back you can rent out for a small fee and a very reasonalbe food/beverage limit. The food is always good, their blasted broccoli is so tasty and an unexpected surprise. There's a variety of flatbreads, all will leave you wanting more. I have also been to the Bellevue location, the food tastes the same, but I do prefer the ambience of the Seattle locale better. Word of advice, if you rent out the back room, do not do it during the early slot during the summer (4pm). While they have a fan and a window, the ventilation isn't the best, so you and your party will literally be dripping sweat, which isn't the sexiest during a celebration!
(4)
Trupti K.
my fav - broccoli blast! It is a guaranteed hit! If you hate veggies and need a doze of fiber - go for it! I don't eat beets - but loved what they have done with the beetroot... they have a chole bhatura which is flavorful. I have had no issues with the food here - everything that I have ordered has always tasted good. Drinks are also great and service is also pretty much upto the mark. Whenever I visit Seattle - I HAVE TO GO HERE!
(5)
Cindy C.
Detail-wise, I can't really add anything to what's been said, but seriously... if you love heavenly food, good wine, and warm, sophisticated (yet unpretentious) ambiance, you MUST get in here. This is food so good it romances you. (Ok, it gets a little frisky.) And we found the prices more than reasonable for the offerings; these are exceptionally prepared small plates. Service wasn't perfect for us (fairly absent unfortunately... we wanted to send our compliments to the chef, but our server never stopped by except to grab empty plates on her way past), but seriously... this was so good, no way I'm docking a star for that on my first pass. SO good.
(5)
E B.
I've never eaten or drunk anything here that hasn't been beyond amazing!!! Favs: Bacon-wrapped scallops Clams marniere The Clemency cocktail Yum!
(5)
Olga K.
One of my favorite places in Belltown. Great, affordable food, and a great atmosphere. A great place to take your first date.
(5)
Doug G.
My wife and I stopped in for light dinner and a drink. It's a Tapas style menu. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and drinks (wine). We had the Tomato Caprese (excellent), scallops with bacon (excellent), and one of their flat breads (very good). We ate outdoors on a lovely Seattle afternoon. Service was good. If you are looking for Tapas style dinner (lighter meal) this is a very nice place to dine.
(4)
Raina B.
Fun spot for tapas and a drink - upgraded to great spot when you have a private room and some time to chill. They keep it a bit dark in here for my taste, I'm always pulling candles over to the menu or stumbling around bags and chairs on the way to the bathroom. Perhaps this is a personal problem, but I wish they'd kick a little more candle power into the room. The tapas are mighty tasty, creative veggies, flatbreads, and tiny forkables. I'll put it in my face if they put it in front of me! The drinks are a bit of a downer if you're looking for draughts and they didn't have my favorite gin, though they provide a nice selection of wine. Definitely get a gaggle together and reserve a block of tables or a room, it's always been a way better experience when we can carve out a space and a server. And go for the bacon wrapped scallops. Bacon - wrapped - scallops!
(4)
Yvonne D.
This place is freaking cool, we ordered the broccoli, the crispy squid, the pork belly, the clams in white wine sauce and the flat break with chicken. Everything was very good, the squid was a bit soggy for our taste but it was ok. The drinks were good and our server was very friendly, I would definitely come back!
(4)
Mara D.
I really liked the greek salad and the many vegetarian options. I might go back, but I'm in no rush. The ambiance is dark and nice, which I like, the service wasn't noticeably bad nor cheery.
(3)
Beatrice L.
Went here for a friend's birthday. It was right before nye and so the place was quite packed. I don't really remember everything i had, but I remember being pretty content with my experience. Their portions are small if sharing with 2grown men.
(4)
Samantha G.
Looking for a place for a first date? Look no further than Black Bottle! It's a small restaurant but the ambiance of this place is warm and comfy (meaning = less nerves!). Also, I thought the noise level was fine. I didn't feel like I had to yell a conversation to the person sitting across from me. I'm glad I slyly looked through the reviews of this place because I stumbled upon Geoffrey B.'s review regarding their oxtail. After reading his review, I knew I had to order that! Just like what Geoffrey B. stated, The oxtail was "large pieces of bony gelatinous meat, slow cooked with a delicious Malbec." Our server insisted to order some flat bread to soak up the sauce. It was a good call because the sauce was so tasty. Along with the oxtail, we tried their roasted tomato caprese (wonderful starter dish) and their chocolate mousse torte with pistachio brittle (the brittle had a nice kick to it). Thanks to this place, I have to say this is one of the best date spots I've been to so far. However, I would like to come back here to check out more of their drinks with a friend or two.
(5)
Patricia C.
This place is for real a tapas joint. Small plates, large bill. But it's delicious worth every bite.
(5)
Cassidy R.
Black Bottle is delicious. My boyfriend & I went there on a Friday night, no wait. We ordered the oysters and broccoli. Food was great, the service was too. My favorite part was the cozy atmosphere. I would certainly eat there again.
(4)
Emmy R.
Happy hour WIN! This is a place we like to go when we have no particular cravings, but just want a sample of many delicious dishes. I love the crispy fried chicken, the clams in white wine broth, and the pork belly with kimchi. My mom makes a Filipino dish with oxtail in a peanut sauce. It's one of my faves and I always wondered why I hardly see oxtail on restaurant menus. When done right, it can be so tender and rich. Black Bottle's oxtail dish definitely encompasses different flavors than my mother's dish, but their version is just as tasty! And for the record, we consistently order 5 or more things and clean our plates every time! No shame.
(4)
Pradeep K.
I have been to this place, like a million times and the food is amazing every single time. Its hard to pick a favorite - 7 Spice Shrimp/Pork belly/Ox tail are all amazing. I kinda wish they had a bigger selection of beer, but as long as the food is this good i will keep going.
(5)
Jandi L.
This is hands-down my favorite tapas restaurant in Seattle. The spanish fried olives are to die for. Great wine selection, awesome atmosphere, cool staff. What more can you ask for?
(5)
Jenn O.
I had picked up my parents from the airport and wanted them to have a Seattle food experience. Not touristy stuff like Ivars or the Crab Pot. Something that the locals enjoy. They asked me what kind of food is served there and I said.... "uh, Seattle... food. Small plates to share. Trust me, you'll like it" According to Foursquare it's listed as a Gastropub. Sounds about right! The food was outstanding but the service was terrible the night we went. It took ages before someone came too greet and seat us. It was a Saturday night but still pretty early and a lot of tables were open. After we were seated we noticed people who were seated after us get their drink orders taken and received drinks while our waiter had yet to make an appearance. We finally flagged the hostess down to get drinks. Another person in our section was finished and wanted to pay but got up to hunt down the waiter so they could get going. Since all of the workers just wear casual street clothes it was tricky to tell who was working there and who was just coming back from the bathroom. The corner we were in was *really* dark. One little oil light on the table wasn't cutting it. We used our lighters to read the menu. A couple at the table behind us were using light off of their cell phones. The hostess brought us our drinks and even took our food order, apologizing profusely for the long wait. My mom adored the cocktail she ordered. The Clemency has vodka, lemon, rose, geranium, blood orange. A slightly sour cocktail with just a hint of sweetness. I love how they bring you the shaker along with your glass. The tables sat after us were already eating. Finally our waiter arrives and asks if we'd like something to drink. We told him we were already taken care of. He was really nice but moving at a snail's pace while the other servers were busting their butts. The bartenders were flying, putting out tons of drinks and serving people at the bar. Major props to them. I think if we had been sat in another section my rating would be much higher. Food started to arrive from the kitchen and it was so delicious. Blasted Broccoli, Beet Gratin, Smoked Wild Boar Ribs, Chicken Laab and flatbread. Amazing! Everything tasted so good and came out fairly quickly. We had to move our little oil light to fit the plates on the table putting us in the dark. It would've been nice to see the food a little better. I also think the prices are just right. Our waiter was standing and talking to folks at another table for several minutes. Our drinks were empty and we really wanted another beer. Again we had to flag him down. He was so nice, just perhaps not in the right profession? My previous experience at Black Bottle Postern in Bellevue was much better. I think the next time I'm craving those smoky ribs, we'll stay Eastside.
(3)
Yasmin B.
I booked the private room for my wife's surprise birthday party and it was amazing! Paul did such a great job of making sure the food flowed so that it was warm and on time and that the drinks were served promptly. Everyone had such an awesome time and this venue was certainly the ideal spot to hold this event. The price was quite reasonable too all things considered.
(5)
Carmen K.
Went here for my 30th bday with a small group of friends. I really liked the atmosphere - dim lighting, good sturdy furniture, and a nice energy from the people in the restaurant who were clearly having a good time. While I had a good time, there were a couple of gripes I had: - We were put at a round table. Everyone had a "normal" chair. I had a chair that was tiny with no arms and was pretty uncomfortable. What's with the black sheep chair guys? - Took the wait staff a REALLY long time to even greet us and get a drink order - We had food that we didn't order or had already received sent to us multiple times. The food runners in general seemed very confused. - We had some food come out VERY quickly and others come out wayyyyy later. The flow of service was definitely lacking. What DID I like? THE FOOD: - Had the Blasted Broccoli.. holy schmoly. It was SO good. I'm not one of those skinny bitches who is like "Yum! Broccoli! VEGETABLES!" but I loved it. A must get. I've never had anything like it. - Malbec Demi-Glazed Oxtail - cooked so it was pretty much falling off the bone. Delicious and flavorful. Don't be grossed out by the name - trust me, you'll like it. - Brie Leek Flatbread - so good. They put a tapenade on top that made it have a little extra kick to it. If you're looking for Michelin food and service, you're not gonna get it here. If you're looking for a reliable spot for food and nibbles, look no further. They really gotta work on their service though..
(3)
Mel Z.
We loved this place! Their rachel's #3 ginger beer was so delicious that I am curious to try the #1 and #2 if I ever find them. The blasted broccoli taste just as awesome as the name sounds. We also really liked the hanger steak. Some places overcook their hanger steaks and it may taste very tendon-y and hard to chew, but this place cooked it right and it was good paired with the daikon and sprouts/cucumber. The ambience was relaxed and mellow. The waitress was so graceful and courteous that she reminded me of a museum curator. Overall, I had a great time here.
(4)
Johnny W.
One of many long overdue reviews, Black Bottle was the first stop of my birthday celebration last year. With a somewhat large group of many tentatives showing, I didn't actually book the back room (as a minimum food and drink dollar amount was required) - fortunately, since things were a bit slower that day, we ended up taking over the back room anyway. We ordered a fairly wide variety of their food, most of which was decent, but mostly overpriced for what they were (no HH specials). Desserts, likewise, were decent, though their tart was notably tastier than the others. Service was pretty good as well - there was a spit of inattentiveness at the beginning, but it got much better halfway in.
(3)
Aaron H.
Walked in around 530pm on a Saturday night with a large party looking for food and drinks and that is exactly what was delivered. Great service (which meant putting up with some needy individuals in the group), strong drinks, and some excellent tapas style shared plates. I especially liked the fried chicken dish, the lamb kebabs, and the oxtail. We ate, and ate, and then ate some more for the better part of an hour and a half. I was also stoked to find that their rotating tap was the seasonal Elysian Pumpkin brew at the time. Overall experience was a victory and I would absolutely come back with a group or to start a nice evening out with your boo.
(4)
Lawrence W.
Hip atmosphere and servers, wonderful bar and drinks, tasty finger food. The food here is good, but small portions. You can probably tell from the price of the dishes. We ordered quite a lot of food, six dishes for three people since we hadn't eaten dinner before hitting this place. We ordered the Wild Boar Ribs (a bit dry), Ceviche, Shank Steak (incredibly yummy!), Prosciutto Flatbread, Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Carrots'n String Beans. So you see, pretty sophistaced finger food or tapas to go with your drinks. The only awkward moment came in the beginning, when one server said that the restaurant was self-seating so just find a table... but another server told us to go back to the front and a host would seat us... then a third server took our orders much later. We also had to find our own menus from a nearby table. But that seating confusion aside, that night was actually an enjoyable experience.
(4)
Sandeep P.
I loved this place so much that I had my birthday dinner here! Black Bottle is the perfect gastropub for me- a combination of refreshing cocktails and succulent dishes. The plates are small enough that I practically call this an American tapas- but you know what? They also encourage that mentality and make it super easy to share most portions. We were able to book a table for about 10 and they held it for us without qualm on a Wednesday. YMMV for a weekend dinner. My particular favorites include the kimchi pork belly (mmm getting hungry just writing about it) and the blasted broccoli is to die for, even if you normally hate your green veggies. Definitely a must-try for anyone in the neighborhood, or frankly, in Seattle
(5)
Tuyet N.
5 Stars for having the best service given to us during our trip to Seattle. Oh and the food wasn't too shabby either ;) Our wonderful waitress suggested things to us since it was our first time and she was spot on with her recommendations on the pork belly-It was to DIE for! So much flavors drippin' inside and outside of your mouth. We tried the blasted broccoli. It was just okay to us. I don't know if it was the hype that killed it or maybe it just wasn't done as well that night? but it is still something I'd recommend to my friends if they go there because it is a new twist and take on the Broccoli. I wish I remembered my waitresses name so I can give her recognition.We called her a nomad because she lived everywhere, and maybe that's why she had such a great attitude. She made our last dinner in Seattle memorable and enjoyable!
(5)
Craig B.
Been here way too many times....try the bacon wrapped scallops! I wish their bar chairs had backs to them so I could lean back and stay for awhile.
(5)
Jessica K.
Pretty solid menu here at reasonable prices, though there is less affordable wine than there used to be. Broccoli Blasted(generous portion), Chicken and greens, oxtail and ribs all great. The chocolate desert as well.
(4)
Y F.
I love Black Bottle. It never fails to turn a bad night around. I've been coming here for almost two years. Black Bottle is one of the few establishments in Seattle that does everything right, from decor to food to service, everything is spot-on. Service is probably the first thing you'll notice when you go. Each time I've been there, the service people have blown me away with their attentiveness and friendliness. They have a strong selection of wines and the bartenders are full of recommendations. I love the unpretentious atmosphere and prices are very reasonable. The food here is superb with a great mix of anything you could want and anything you feel like having. Great place to bring your picky vegetarian friends too! They have a delicious selection of vegetarian dishes. I wouldn't call it small plates because the portions are larger. Medium plates would be a better way to describe the food portions here. Ambiance is perfect. Great for dates. I suggest getting a bottle of wine to split if you're with someone. Buying by the glass is alright but Black Bottle's wine prices by bottle are low compared to other places. Love love love! I always make sure I stop by here whenever I'm in town.
(5)
Jaclyn C.
Food was great, of what we were able to eat. Unfortunately for us my husband had to use his napkin to kill a cockroach that was crawling up the wall at our table. Turns out there's some construction going on a few blocks away creating some issues with critters. Not the restaurants fault but gross nonetheless. Obviously after seeing the roach the food suddenly became less than appetizing. Would have been nice if our drink or our food or all the above was comped but no such luck. Instead we paid full price for a meal that was half eaten.
(3)
Sarah M.
My husband and I swung by here after work on a Wednesday for an early dinner - and this place reminded me of the restaurant "List" that we tried in Seattle not too long ago with its interesting menu and trendy space. Additionally, this place is deceptively large - I didn't notice until right before I left that there was a giant back room which was also part of the restaurant. We ordered the wild boar, shrimp with 5 spices, green beans and tofu, and masala drum sticks. My favorite was the masala drum sticks...I expected, well, regular drumsticks but these were SO much better than I anticipated. There were three pieces of chicken, plump with tons of meat and lots of flavor. I was very impressed. I especially loved hoe they sat on a bed of chickpeas and spices. The green beans were very good, crisp, crunchy, and LARGE. The actual beans were HUGE! They could have used a little more flavor but were still one of my favorites. The tofu was a mix between soft and hard tofu...so I guess medium? The texture was unusual compared to most tofu that I've had...maybe I'm not used to it being so hard. But like I said, I still liked it! While I didn't love the wild boar, my husband devoured it in 30 seconds. He said that the shrimp was really spicy...too spicy, but still managed to eat most of it. We sat at the bar and while the bartender was quiet, he was very efficient and on top of things. He was quick to replenish my husband's water for the 15 million glasses he went through. Fairly reasonably priced...for a glass of wine and 4 small plates, it was about $40 which could have been much worse. I would definitely recommend this place to others!
(4)
Tom B.
In short: A fantastic, fairly relaxed downtown place for small plates and drinks. In long: An interesting combination of contradictions. What jumps out most might not be so much a contradiction as it is a rare combination--the front of the house seems breathlessly hipster, but the kitchen is earnestly sincere about cranking out great food. Not necessarily a paradox, and maybe more common than I realize, but it just struck me funny having every color of the hipster rainbow reflected in the waitstaff (fedora guy, zip-up tracksuit guy, ringer t girl, slightly overdressed girl) with such tender loving care showing on the menu. To be clear, the waitstaff were all super nice to everybody, and great at their jobs, but their sartorial approach was nothing if not drenched in irony, where the kitchen seemed more intent to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Every dish on the list showed creative flair and a desire to put together a broad selection that would appeal to everybody, particularly those who are not easily wowed. Not an easy feat, especially when focusing on smaller portions and (relatively) lower prices. They do a great job of getting entrees onto small plates--the oxtails are three rounds alone on a plate, the pork belly is 4 satays, and so on. No side dishes. And virtually everything out of the kitchen was exceptional. Aside from some surprisingly understated kimchee (with the pork belly), everything was explosively flavored and arrived at the table in perfect shape. You order a passel of small plates and they just start showing up when they're ready, which helps assure that you see them at their best. We had cumin lamb, house sausage, oysters on the half shell, flatbread, and a couple other dishes I can't remember, in addition to the ones already named. Everything was worth ordering again and again, and five of us didn't even get halfway through the menu. They make a show--from the name to the prominence of the rather utilitarian bar--of emphasizing the drinks here. The menu shows that too, listing specialty cocktails, wine, and beer before food. Maybe that's where the hipster thing comes in, via the specialty cocktail angle. I dunno. Anyway, the drinks get lots of the spotlight here. We had cocktails on the table as well as beers; the beer list is nice but very short. The wines looked pretty interesting. But for my money the real stars here are the small plates. They're very conscientious about combining a welcoming atmosphere with a minimalist design aesthetic. Plain painted wall, plain brick wall, plain painted wall painted a different color. Little niches and shelves with little candles. Very clean, contemporary, and spare, but oddly homey at the same time, as it goes. Maybe it's the lighting. Take, for example, the stall in the men's room. Nice privacy door with good height to block unwelcome prying eyes, and a nice warm amber bulb set about knee level. So, if you happen to be standing while in the stall, your junk is backlit and thrown into relief. A Hollywood moment, for some of us. Bottom line? A very well-run and welcoming place that's serious about the pleasures of casual drinking and dining.
(5)
Joy T.
Black Bottle is such a fabulous gastropub that we dined here TWICE during our weeklong visit to Seattle and the San Juan Islands. In fact we took a huge detour on our last night in the Pacific NW to have dinner here. Food, drink, and ambience. The ultimate trifecta! Black Bottle is the perfect combo of foodie tastebuds meets hipster brewmaster (and not in the insufferable ironic Brooklyn kind of way). From the flatbreads to generous and delicious small plates to to-die-for desserts, you will delight in great food and flavor combinations. If we were ever to relocate to Seattle, we'd make this our go-to gastropub.
(4)
Finer T.
I'll first start off by saying, I myself would probably give Black Bottle a 3.5 to 4 stars, but here at the Finer Things Club, we believe in a democratic process when it comes to our ratings. Let's begin, shall we? Let me first start by saying I picked Black Bottle for our monthly outing, but forgot to call for a reservation on a Thurs night. I tried, "Don't you know who I am?" to get a table. Since I'm nobody that didn't work and our reservation was for the next available slot at 7:00pm. I admit my first reaction a few years ago, would be to stick out my lip, cross my arms, and stomp my little foot, but I've since outgrown doing that so I went to The Innkeeper down the street for a beer. No problem, it was my fault. At 7:00, the Finer Things Club reconvened at Black Bottle. Myself and three other ladies were seated right away. We decided on the Broccoli Blaster, Pork Belly and Kimchi, Crispy Fried Chicken and collard greens, a glass of wine and later 2 desserts. Our opinions varied, but we agreed the food in its totality was average to above average and in some cases above above average. The food was not the issue here. Remember that scene from Frankenstein where all the villagers are wiggin' out and grabbing their pitchforks and torches to go after the monster, that's the scene that almost took place at Black Bottle against our waiter. Generally a forgiving and tender lot, my co-diners were really put off by our waiter's impatience with the speed of our ordering, bad mood and aloof attitude. There was an "I've got better things to do than make your experience at Black Bottle enjoyable" attitude. For example-"Are you ready to order?" Admittedly, we were still perusing the menu(there are a lot of interesting choices). "Obviously not, so I'll come back". Why not instead, "I can see you're still deciding, I'll give you a few minutes to decide. I'd be happy to answer any questions or give suggestions if you'd like?" Is that so hard? Example #2-"Are you interested in dessert?" Less than 1 second before anybody can answer-"No, well I'll get your check". Us-"Whoa, whoa...yes, we want dessert". People call me a looker. I don't mean that as in, "wow, that guy's a looker!" but more like "wow, that guy likes to look at things a lot." As a frequent patron of Seattle restaurants, a member of the customer service industry, and observer of human behavior, I normally have sympathy for an understaffed crew that causes service to fall short, but this was not the case here. It had more to do with an individual who just didn't want to be at work on this particular day. I would be willing to give this place another shot due to the food, but the rest of the Finer Things Club would say to avoid this place like vampires avoid the sun. Note: I was kidding about the "Don't you know who I am" tactic. Maybe next time.
(2)
Captain G.
We didn't eat here. Just had a few drinks and a bottle of wine. Server was so so. We were there at around 4:30PM and sat outside. Server came by to take our order and didn't return for follow up. We ordered a bottle of wine and a few beers. We actually wanted more beers but actually left due to lack of service. I'd have to say they've pretty good beer and wine selections. Maybe service would have been better if we'd sat inside.
(3)
Stu H.
The food here is just spectacular; simple yet refined. I can't think of a better setting to take a group of friends for great conversation and drinks while sharing a wonderful meal. We had many amazing dishes, but the one I still remember is the plate of broccoli. Yes, broccoli! It was seasoned and cooked perfectly. There was also a tofu plate and hummus platter that were amazing.
(5)
Raymund S.
i was really hyped up to come here after seeing the menu and yelp rating. Frankly, I was quite disappointed. The ambience was actually really great and so was the service, but the dishes we had were not very memorable. 1. House Smoked Wild Boar Ribs: The ribs were ok. They were not bad, but I have had so much better. They were fall off the bone, but seemed really dry. The meat itself did have a great taste. They ran out of malbec demi glazed oxtail..... 2. Chicken Masala Drums: To my surprise, this was the best dish of the night. I've had better Masala, but this to me was the star. didn't feel so heavy either. 3. Spice Seared Sahiimi Yellow Fin Tuna: AVOID! I jsut don't have anyting good to say about it. 4. Blasted Brocolli: It was good for the first couple of bits, then it got really heavy and "oily" after it started to cool down a little. I felt like a ate a whole bcuket of french fries after. 5. Oysters: I don't eat oysters, so I cannot really comment. We ordered a bottle of some sort of local red, I can't remember the type. I know it was a local washington red. It was actually a great bottle of wine. I wish the food to go along with it was as good. Save yourself the $100 and go to List instead......for half the price, you get twice the quality of food IMO.
(2)
Emily-Anne P.
This is on my top of Seattle list. I couldn't believe how great it was. I was in Seattle for the weekend and was traveling alone so I asked the hotel where to eat, they suggested Black Bottle and seeing as how it was pouring out and this place was kitty corner, I figured why not. I ordered a glass of wine and a nice flat bread. It was $9 for the flatbread so I figured I'd have a little bit and then go find something else somewhere else if it wasn't enough, well boy was I pleasantly surprised. It was both delicious and more than enough food for one person. I had a glass of wine, which was topped up half way through my meal and it all was delicious. The interior is very dark and cosy with big windows facing the street and a lot of soft light through out. I'd recommend going back and I will, that's for sure!
(5)
Julie B.
My adventure here almost made me lose faith in Yelp. I stopped here while traveling for business in Seattle. I went purely on the faith of the reviews of Yelpers. I don't get it. For the all the hype, the place totally under delivered. OMG, blasted broccoli! It tasted fine, but for all the "must try" recommendations, really just okay. It's roasted broccoli. Yes, you will get about 2 lbs. of it, but it tastes the broccoli I make at home. Beer selection was average. Service was average. Space was average. I would not go back next time I'm in town.
(2)
Clarissa L.
Recommended by a local friend, delicious!! Bacon lemon scallops were amazing.. with the frizzed kale. 4 scallops! Portobello mushrooms with butter beans were also pretty good. Oxtail needed more sauce! Flatbread side was yummy and crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. mm :) Of course, blasted broccoli was great. A little too blasted (and hence salty) for some pieces, but delicious overall. The plate was quite huge... Fairly generous portions. Definitely make reservations.. Originally on a Friday night, the wait for a party of 3 was 40mins. Thankfully we got seated within 20-30! Service is definitely a bit slow since they're so busy.
(4)
Kyoni R.
Came here to meet up with the Food X crew. Thrill, Aaron, Peter. I arrived late from Melody's UYE and met up with Food X and Aaron outside. We had some small talk about the day while they smoked their cigarettes. As we entered in I shake hands with Peter and Thrill. Everyone looks kind of pissed off. Then the waiter shows up and asks for more drinks. We all decline and when he leaves. All the complaints start spilling. Wrong orders arriving in, Flies in drinks, Salty foods. I just sit and listen. He shows up another 15 minutes and tries to push more drinks. Thinking..."Dude didn't you just ask a while back??" The guys offered me some of their appetizers as I was still stuffed by lunch. Flat bread was flat..bad..Kimchee Pork Belly..smothered with thai sweet and sour sauce.. They need to crisp the pork...was to soggy..Bad.. When we asked for the check. It took a while . As we tried to divide the bill. The waiter comes back to see if we can pay quickly. It was not even 5 minutes. My guess was to rush the table to pay the check and add a tip. Because when I checked the bill, the gratuity was already included. So if you rushed to pay, you would have tipped twice .. Bad service Bad food...Bad Karma
(1)
Pants P.
Was up in Seattle for a visit, and, while I've seen some reviews about bad service on this old yelper, I have to dispute. But first, the food was overall pretty great. The bacon-wrapped scallops with frizzled kale, a hanger steak with shiso leaf and daikon, and, of course, the blasted broccoli, were the standouts. Got there in time for happy hour and was pleased to get a tasty $5 martini with extra in the shaker glass! Now here's where they get the minus-two stars, but then a plus-one. The oxtail with malbec reduction was too salty to finish. The blasted broccoli (which takes about 10 minutes, I've made it myself) came about an hour after we ordered it. But without our griping at all, they took both those items off our tab. EATERS, we are not in Kansas (Portland, really) anymore. In my homeland, the servers would've been like: Salty? Psh. Get a better palate. Took too long? Eff you. But not here. We were blown away. Black bottle win.
(4)
shopaholic v.
Met up with a friend at Black Bottle while visiting Seattle! Great urban neighborhood scene! Trendy, yet low-key. Cozy enough to have conversations, ample wine list, and tasty tapas! What else can girls ask for? I had 2 glasses of the Prosecco Rose to keep me fizzy and happy! We shared the Crisy Chicken and Collard Greens, the Goat Cheese Flatbread, and the Braised Artichoke Salad. They were all delicious, but the Artichoke Salad was not what we expected - it was literally half an artichoke on top of a bed of salad. The service was good - frequent enough to keep us refilled and discreet for us to never notice! Definitely a great place to unwind and relax with friends!
(4)
Stephanie T.
When I first visited this restaurant, I was not particularly impressed. The food seemed overhyped, the staff seemed too numerous and cool to actually be helpful, the cocktail list leaves quite a bit to desired...but I digress - Black Bottle has won my love over time with great food, great service, and just being an all-around great fit for any kind of dinner outing need. Versatility, in this case, gets Black Bottle an extra star. This is a worldwide-type restaurant where you really should be sharing dishes with your cohorts. It's a fantastic place for large groups (my last visit I found out they will accommodate groups of 15), but whatever size your large-r party I recommend ordering in smaller groups of 2-4, since most of the dishes are better sized to be shared by this many people. One of the best things about this place is being able to go from the Mediterranean to Thai to Italian to French inspired American over the course of your meal - order eclectically! Food recommendations: -Broccoli blasted. You might think you don't like broccoli but you should try this anyway. This *giant* pile of broccoli is blow torched (we think it's blow torched anyway) to a crispy, salty, buttery perfection that I have never seen anywhere else. (It's taken several friends awhile to get past the whole adjective-following-noun setup of this dish's title) -Laab gai. Spicy chicken lettuce wraps, and they are delicious. -The Flatbreads. We particularly favor the chicken and cherries, served with caramelized onions. What's not to like about that combo! Bechamel and prosciutto - also fabulous, as the Bechamel sauce adds a complex and enriching texture/flavor to an already very solid pizza-like dish. -Fried tofu. This is absolutely all about the peanut sauce. This restaurant has taught me that the wine selection does not need to be extensive to be great. Don't make the mistake of ordering the plantain-themed dessert. It's not good. In any event, giant group dinner, special occasion restaurant, date, dinner with parents, light dinner pre-going-out -- I'd recommend Black Bottle for any of them.
(5)
Tina A.
My host in Seattle took me here for dinner the first night I arrived. Fun, intimate ambiance with delicious, reasonably priced plates. We ordered the caprese skewer, beet gratin, arugula & pesto flatbread, and seven spice shrimp. The caprese was nothing special (although I'm generally not a fan), but the rest of the dishes were exceptionally delicious. The staff was attentive and there was no wait when we went around 9:30 p.m.
(4)
Rena G.
Four str cocktails. Three star food. great ambiance. Diverse menu. Would not recommend the boar. The roasted veggies were amazing.
(4)
Christopher G.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite establishments in Belltown. The wine selection is fantastic. The servers and bartenders are knowledgeable and make great recommendations without being pretentious. The selection is always changing, so there's always something delicious to try. If you go, you've gotta try any of the Flat Breads (the Brie-Leek-Pesto is my fave), the Prosciutto and Potato Wheels, Broccoli Blasted, Potatoes and Cauliflower Curried, Crispy Fried Chicken and Collard Greens, and the Peach and Blueberry Kettle Tart. The service is always spot on. I'm consistently impressed at how attentive the staff is, even when they're crazy busy. I don't feel over dressed wearing a suit and I don't feel under dressed in jeans. Great drinks, awesome food, terrific service, relaxed atmosphere - all the reasons I've spent more paychecks than I'd care to admit at Black Bottle.
(5)
Ian L.
This is my go-to place whenever I'm in a bind to find a restaurant for a group at the last moment. It's got tasty dishes, big portions, and very reasonable prices, which makes it perfect to share a bunch of plates. The one dish I must recommend is the house-smoked wild boar ribs: I always order at least a plate or two of these. They're very smokey, and so tender that they fall right off the bone. Aside from the ribs, all of the flatbreads are good. The clams are tasty in their white wine broth. Also, A lot of people like the blasted broccoli, but I find it to be a bit too salty after a few bites. It's a novelty though, and you should definitely try it even if you aren't a big broccoli fan, since it's very different from any other preparation you've tried. I used to prefer the roasted root vegetables dish, which was much more mildly seasoned, although it seems like that it may no longer be offered. The atmosphere is nice, as it's dimly lit, which gives the place a bit of class. The high ceilings do a little bit to absorb all the chatter in the restaurant, although it can still get pretty noisy at dinner. If you haven't tried this place yet, you definitely should. I put off checking it out for a couple of years, and it's definitely a place that I have returned to time and time again.
(4)
Mark G.
The blasted broccoli and the ox tail are the two dishes on the menu here that make me keep coming back to this place. Great atmosphere and friendly people. I would recommend this spot to anyone.
(5)
Corey G.
Great food, great portion, great drinks, great price, great service. The flatbread is a must, and the sangria is baller! The waitstaff seated us right away, made awesome suggestions, and instructed us on how to order the right amount of food. We really got a bang for our buck here! All of the dishes were superb: Arugula, tomato, and basil pesto flatbread. Potatoes with bruschetta wrapped around them with vinaigrette. Lamb skewers with hummus, tsatziki, and olives/veggie salad. Plus the wine and sangria, we made it out at $50 even (not including tax and tip). A+, Black Bottle.
(5)
Wendy Y.
Went here to celebrate my birthday. LOVE this place. The service was great, the food was great, and of course the friends I had were the best. I'd definately come back again and again. Now, the most important part. Food. Their plates are pretty big and I think the price is reasonable for belltown. With five stars being the best, here's how the dishes broke down with our group... Lamb and Hummas * * * * (the hummas and pita were definately spot on, the lamb was a little dry, but dip it in the hummas and the tsitziki sauce, still yummy!!) Blasted Broc. * * * * * (HUGE plate. but then again you're paying $9 for broc. YUMMY broc. though lol) Pork Belly with kimchi * * * * (A little oily, but the flavor was good!) Oxtail * * * * (It was cooked perfect, like falling off the bone meat) Chicken and sun dried cherry flatbread * * * * (I didn't try it, but my friend that ordered it, finished it all by herself. good sign) Hanger Steak * * * (The steak was good, but the salad that came with it was not. TOO MUCH ONIONS!) Portobello * * (My friend did not enjoy this dish. She said it was a little salty and it seemed a little burnt.) And there you have it... yummy good times :)
(5)
Robyn P.
If I were playing the word association game, and someone said "Black Bottle," I would, without hesitation, exclaim: "BROCCOLI BLASTED!!!" What a dish! Proof that less is more, simple is beautiful, the more garlic the better, etc., etc. At first blush, it looks like a disaster. Singed broccoli--and lots of it. But once you taste it, you'll know. You'll just know. I also tried: * laab gai: good, not great; would've liked more spice * Crispy fried chicken & collard greens: chicken was good, definitely crispy, but collard greens lacked acidity * Lemon caper squid salad: fresh and clean flavors; squid was cooked well, and the frisee countered the chewiness like a champ * smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread: cute presentation in a fluted oblong tart pan (a la List), but just okay - cheese was bland, and the chicken lacked a pronounced smoky flavor Overall, a good experience elevated to greatness by their signature dish. Next time, I'm getting a plate all to myself.
(4)
Eric M.
This bar reminds me of a Keith Richards guitar, it's worn, frayed, a bit unkept in an artful, devil may care way, but it sounds tasty, has a great pedigree, and is a work of art in the right hands. Black Bottle is all of these things. I love the small plates. I have spent many hours deconstructing the blasted broccoli recipe and I think I finally have it. The wine list is superb. I always find a new wine to enjoy there. The flat breads and roasted vegetables are baked to perfection. The decor is kind of a New York, NOHO vibe. Understated and raw. You can really see what they are after if you go to the Bellevue location. It's also well done especially if you consider it's in a new building. The room can get crowded but it's hard to complain because it's usually crowed with beautiful people. Just sit at the bar and enjoy the show.
(4)
Elisabeth Y.
Our meal was excellent, and even though there was a gigantic group of possibly French exchange students (our best guess) next to us, and a private party going on in the back room, we were still very well taken care of. Everything we ate was delicious, especially the beet gratin and (according to my husband) the sausages. Even better, the prices are super reasonable!
(5)
Wickerlady V.
I've been to their Bellevue location a few times, which I like for being earthier than the normally dressy Bellevue restaurants. On the contrary, Black Bottle in Seattle has dressier people than the rest of belltown. The ambience is still earthy and warm, and there's plenty of space. I like it that they have a special menu for dietary restrictions- so for all the vegetarians/vegans/gluten free/ nut free people, you have as custom made menu. I absolutely love their fire roasted broccoli. I used to love their choley too, but I found out tonight they don't have it anymore. My husband ordered the lamb meatballs, which was a big meal and delicious. I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and while the taste was okay and needed some zest and some salt, I wish they'd given a dip or raita along with it as it was too dry. I could barely have a few pieces. Service is good, the drinks are good, and their seasonal taps are normally a good choice. They have a nice selection of scotch and bourbon too.
(3)
Paria R.
One of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Seattle. Love the Broccoli dish, and love the cocktails. Great place to meet up with old friends.
(5)
Karen V.
Tapas done right. When someone suggests a tapas place, I always groan. These places always charge $14 for a portion that couldn't serve one person, let alone a table of people sharing. Even if you do order 10 dishes, people are still left hungry. Black Bottle has nailed the formula. Huge portions (almost embarrassingly so- when the waiter tells you and your friend that a dish is meant for sharing with a group and maybe you are over-ordering, don't take it as a suggestion- take it as a warning), good pours for the wine and a nice vibe. It was a little "coupley" for two girl friends, but maybe I'm just bitter.
(4)
Sarah M.
I went here with a friend for drinks and dessert on a Friday night. It was packed when we arrived, so we hung out by the bar for 10-15 minutes, while we waited for a table. The hostess kept coming by to check in and to let us know that she was still working on getting us a table; she was super friendly. I had a doppelgänger (pear vodka, passion fruit rum, oj, cran) and a lemon curd ricotta cake with lavender crust. Both items were fabulous, especially the dessert and my friend and I had a great time catching up.
(5)
Robin W.
This place had extraordinary food and good service at a great price. It was an excellent recommendation from the cute girls from Free People. The perfect food experience for out of towners. Well done & thank you!
(5)
Nash M.
i guess i'm not the only one who was impressed by the broccoli! the food was great, as was the ambiance...can't wait to go back.
(5)
Lori B.
Our server, Jill, was amazing! Great service. The broccoli was so good! Loved the bacon wrapped scallops, and the oxtail. We'll be back to try more items!
(4)
Dhavi R.
Came here for my best friend's bday, our first stop before the club. My friend made reservations for 6 and we arrived way later than our expected time and there was no fuss/issues. We got seated right away and ordered our drinks. My friend ordered the doppelganger drink and no where on the menu did it state that it was champagne and my friend was not able to drink it, so I took it ,of course, and gave her my G/T. Well, we expressed our disappointment and at the end of the night, our waiter took it off the bill. Great service. The food was great - had the fried chicken/greens, kimchi/pork, flatbread - everything was good and reasonably priced. Saw other menu items that I am looking forward to trying on my next visit. Most definitely will go back again! Hopefully soon!
(5)
Lorrie M.
I came here on a cold, rainy, November night. Actually, not really, surprisingly my visit to Seattle in late November managed to capture three of like fifty days that they have where it's actually clear, warm and well tempered. This night was no different, it was 60 degrees out! Parking is a pain, but once you do park, the wait is even more painful. However, the food and the kind of atmosphere here is unparalleled. Their small dishes are great portioned for the price and very tasty regardless. Their drink menu is large and varied, and their servers are quick on their feet whether it's another drink or just a re-fill of your water. I would love to come hang out here and eat the delicious desserts I didn't get to next time!
(5)
Clint W.
Popped in here on a Sunday evening and we're there early....and I found another place that I really like. Even though there were just two of us, we shocked the staff by hammering down about 5-6 dishes. Loved the blasted broccoli, which was a huge plate. We had the chicken larb, which was messy as hell and made us look like drooling idiots (I tend to sport that look naturally but at least it's not douchbaggish). The little medallions of beef on a bed of daikon were great, too. The shrimp had a little heat and might have been the least tasty of our dishes and since we were still hongry, we had to order the rosemary and tomato bread. Oh, and we needed to something to dip the bread in, so we got some clams too! (Actually, I think the clams were the least favorite. She loved the broccoli and I thought the beef was the best.) A bottle of albarino and we were set to go. We did a little waddling out the door about 2 hrs later. Luckily, my friend was just parked around the corner and we did like penquins down the street. I'm coming here again!
(4)
Maddie O.
A hip interior full of hip people sharing hip small plates. We enjoyed a few craft brews and shared the sashimi, a prociutto flatbread, and some kind of crazy beet creation. Everything was tasty but the beets definitely stood out with the huge portion, quirky presentation, and unique flavor. It was kind of like a scalloped potato dish... only purple. Weird and wonderful.
(4)
Sarah R.
I must say, my 2nd experience was very disappointing. My good friend was visiting from out of town and I mentioned eating at Black Bottle. She is a HUGE fan of broccoli and was immediately sold on going. We arrived early on Monday evening and started with a couple of glasses of wine. We were relaxed and enjoying the quiet environment. There were only a few other patrons at the bar/restaraunt. We ordered the broccoli blasted & curried potatoes and cauliflower. (The same 2 dished I had loved before) The curry dish was exactly as I remembered. The flavors were strong but tasty. The brocolli tasted burnt. We started eating the peices at the bottom and trying to avoid the crisper, char peices. My friend said she could tell it is a good dish, but it was hard to get past the overcooked flavor. I agreed and honestly couldn't eat any more of it. We flagged the server and calmly let her know that we we felt the brocolli was overcooked. she was argumentative about it. She said it is supposed to be crispy & if it was not the same as last time, it's because some cooks make it differently. She then offered to take it away and have them re-make it. We appreciated that, but at this point we really wanted nothing to do with it. So we just asked her to box up the other dish, paid the bill, & left. I've gotta say, I have zero desire to return.
(2)
M. C.
Great service, good drinks and good food! Really liked their flat breads and smoked boar ribs...mmmm boar.... Atmosphere can be a little loud for dinner though. Really good music when we were there (random 90s and contemporary mix). Fun place for small bites and good drinks with friends.
(5)
Kevin P.
One of my favorites. Some places are built as much on atmosphere as anything else. Sure you can grab a drink or a light appetizer in a lot of places, but how many of those places seem to change your mood just be being there? This is one of those locations. The building that Black Bottle is in looks like it will fall apart any minute from certain angles. Of course, that really just adds to the charm. Inside, everything is nicely and simply laid out. There are tables and chairs outside when the weather is good, and a good assortment of seating inside. Usually the bar area, and possibley the entire place will fill up around 6, so if you want to hang out be prepared to potentially hunt for a spot. The bar is long and offers space, with seating at tables in front, and some rooms through the back. There is also a general hangout area walking through the place, where you can stand and chat it up. Yes, there is of course food here, and it is good. What dishes are best? I don't remember, I just went for the drinks this time around. I can tell you I remember being good, and hey, that should be enough. One of the prime hang out spots during the early evening hours.
(4)
Stef H.
Great food, great atmosphere and I was with great company. The prosciutto flatbread was amazing! You must also try the peach/blueberry kettle tart! The blasted broccoli is also good, but unless you're with a party of at least 4, I'd hold off on ordering it--it's a rather generous portion for a tapas place and you might get full before you even give anything else a shot!
(4)
Eugene C.
This is one of my favorite places in Belltown. The ambience is modern, casual, but intimate (dimly lit). Great place for a date. There is a rotating selection of wines on tap (all of which I have liked), in addition to by bottle or by the glass. I have really enjoyed most of the food I have had here, with few exceptions. There is quite an interesting variety--everything from Americanized comfort food to Asian inspired. Most of the plates are on the larger side and easily shared. One of my favorites is the smoked chicken with dried cherries flatbread. It is the perfect combination between sweet tart and savory. Another favorite is the bacon wrapped scallops. This one is self explanatory. I even liked the wilted greens/lemon zest that come with it. Yet another favorite of mine is the hanger steak with daikon/shiso. The steak is juicy/tender and the shiso adds a nice pungency and unique flavor to the dish. I have also had the pork belly with kimchi. I really liked it, but felt it was a bit on the sweet side. The kimchi is not as ripe/sour as I like it, but that could just be my personal quirk. Two dishes which I don't care for are the blasted brocolli and the masala drumsticks. The blasted brocolli is the dish that everyone raves about, but I just don't get. To me it tastes like dry, burnt brocolli. Not sure what the fuss has been about. The masala drumsticks are gigantic underflavored/undersalted hunks of meat, although the sauce that comes on the side is not bad. So, for the most part I really like this gastropub for the variety of interesting and well executed dishes and the atmosphere.
(4)
rk t.
Came from out of town to see if Seattle cuisine was any good... Verdict? It is. Definitely do this family style. And if you order nothing else: order the blasted broccoli (i think it sounds better this way) and the boar. Soooo yummy. I knocked down a star because i'm picky about my beer and I feel that being Seattle, they could have had a better selection.
(4)
Brooke A.
My husband and I visited Seattle for our anniversary this year. We had dinner the first night at a stuffier downtown place and enjoyed it but the next night we decided to just go walking and see what we'd find. We walked by Black Bottle and decided to cross the street for it. As we approached, two guys came walking out saying, "That was a good find!", so we felt encouraged. We got a table in the front window and ordered drinks fairly quickly. Took a little while for our drinks to come, to place an initial food order, and then for our food to come. We were pretty hungry so were prepared to be a little disappointed and just leave once we got our food (instead of ordering more, tapas-style). Once we got our fried chicken with greens, we were blown away. We are from Atlanta, and both items on this plate were outstanding! The bacon wrapped scallops were cooked perfectly and the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread was AMAZING! SO VERY GOOD! My husband loved the gruyere emmentaler beet gratin with mache/rocket but I was getting pretty full by that time (it was quite good though). We decided to order a desert and loved the peach/blueberry kettle tart. As good a fruit tart/pie I've almost ever had. And huge serving! We had a scoop of the vanilla gelato on top instead of the cream and it was fantastic. An incredibly rich vanilla taste. The only reason that I didn't lick the cast iron pan was that I was full to the brim. Excellent meal at a fantastic price. Certainly one of our highlights during our Seattle trip.
(5)
Amado L.
If it weren't for the piss-poor service, I would definitely be a fan of this place. And, despite the fantastic dish that is Kim Chi Pork Belly, my first visit may very well be the last. They earned their first star because of the decor. It is hip without being too trendy. They earned their second and third stars because of the food. The aforementioned Kim Chi Pork Belly was simply orgasmic. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, with just the right consistency of crunch and tenderness. And, although a couple in my party thought the Broccoli Blast was a bit too salty, what I did have was purely divine. It's how I'm going to prepare broccoli from now on. If I decide to cook at home, that is. The other stars could've been earned had the service been a tad above 'suck.' The place was busy, but guess what, so is every other 'popular' restaurant in the world. You staff for it. Thirty minutes to get your drink after ordering it is never good. And the owner/hostess scolded us for seating ourselves despite earlier conversations with her never alluded to there being a seating rule. Oh, and it was louder than a Morrocan marketplace in there. It's never good when nearly 50% of the conversation with people at your table comprised of "Say that again?" Maybe they had a bad night, or maybe I just wasn't being my usually forgiving self, but there are many, many restaurants struggling to keep customers, and the Black Bottle should really keep that in mind.
(3)
Peter K.
My reviews are rare so when I have to update please take heed. Black bottle must be stricken with ye plague of black death. On a recent visit with a group of 8 our lumber jacked waiters brought us the wrong drinks and feigned indifference. i felt we were bothering them by being there, 20% auto gratuity for gorups? Can you at least bring me the right drink and not lie about it later.
(1)
Adela J.
Black bottle was fine. It's true - the food is tasty. But maybe I'd enjoy it more on a weekday when it's a tad slower, quieter, and the wait staff is more attentive. I enjoyed it, but it's forgettable, and I can think of places I like more.
(3)
Sarah B.
Hummus and lamb plate = lovely plate of food! This is one of my favorite dishes of theirs! It comes with cucumber slices, 2 skewers of lamb, hummus, tatziki, flat bread and a salad of pepperoncinis, kalamatas, fennel and tomotoes with feta sprinkled on top. The hummus is probably the best I have had. Nice and creamy and fresh tasting with pine nuts resting on top. Absolutely delish! The flat bread pizza is of course a must. I have had several and the prosciutto with bechamel is great. (but you won't go wrong with any of them!) $4 house wine during happy hour is very nice and if you get here early you should hop into a table or a place at the bar no problem. This place is great for all occasions. I have been here on a first date, with guests from out of town, happy hour and a starting point for a night downtown. With the large windows and small outdoor (very small with just a few tables) area you can get some sun when the weather is nice too!
(4)
Pamela H.
So good. We ate so much I'm almost too embarrassed to list everything we ate. Almost. Blasted broccoli, smoked ribs, bacon wrapped scallops, hangar steak, proscuitto and bechamel flatbread, and finally, *phew* curried potatoes & cauliflower. Everything was amazing. And not too spendy. A bit scene-ster, but whatever. The food is worth it. Make sure you get the flatbread.
(4)
Soo O.
Went for a birthday bash with an entourage and got seated promptly (I think someone made a reservation??). We were in pairs for tabs, but the servers were very accomodating. Tried almost everything on the menu, family style. The Squid salad was DELICIOUS. I would go back time and time again for that alone. Light, crisp, tangy and fresh... mmm... so good. The grilled lamb and hummus was tender and surprisingly quite a lavish spread. Two hearty lamb skewers, cucumbers, mixed olives, taiziki sauce, and pita triangles. Cumin Pork was dry but the frisee salad that it was accompanied with was great. Hanger steak was moist and yummy. Developed a weird allergy to raw oysters (can't have more than a couple) but still ventured for one. Fresh and saucy, just the way I like it. Broccoli blasted was good but not as amazing as I thought it would be compared to all the reviews. It was not over cooked and well seasoned but nothing spectacular. On to the flatbread... brie and leek, was... eh. Not spread evenly over the flatbread and the leek was too salty and clumpy. Fresh arugula tasted like a regular pizza. Decor and atmosphere.. it was an odd, but good, mix of romantic candlelit couples and large but intimate groups. The wine list was great as well as the cocktails. Next time, a date night here or a girl's night seems to be in order...
(4)
Sally C.
They make brocolli hip AND delicious! A little spendy... but, plates are share-able and big! And... make sure to call ahead for reservations on the weekends.
(4)
Connie W.
I came to Black Bottle due to the rave reviews it received on Yelp, but I think this place is a little overrated. The atmosphere is nice, comfortable and simple. However, the food and service was mediocre. Our waitress was a little cold, borderline awkward. It was a little strange... but maybe she was just having an awkward day haha. The food: I can tell they use fresh ingredients, which I love. However, the flavors just weren't translating well to me. I had some pork that was a little over cooked, and salad that just wasn't right in texture and taste. Maybe by probability I've just picked 5 of their poorest dishes that day? I don't know. One thing I know for sure: This place is okay, but not worth what you're paying for.
(3)
Anca S.
As Danielle G. points out, Black Bottle has a super-secret "'special' menu for people with dietary restrictions (dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan)". (It's simply their regular menu items reorganized into more-useful categories.) And as someone who wants to be able to eat out with her non-vegan friends with relative ease, *thank you, Black Bottle!*. (Please consider making this special menu less top-secret.) On to the food... Roasted vegetables: yummy (with the exception of the parsnip-like things, of which I am not a fan), could use a touch less oil. Portobello and butter beans: I am not a mushroom fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I really liked this (though I can't say I like butter beans). Miracle, perhaps? Blasted broccoli: quite large, and enjoyable (assuming you don't have anything against broccoli or charred food).
(4)
Misty C.
With all the crap going down in Belltown recently, it was nice to escape into Black Bottle. This place is perfect for an intimate date or a bright lunch with friends. We cozied up toward the back and settled in for a nice candlelit dinner. I couldn't decide between sitting at the neat bright window seat for people watching or the shadowy back tables. It was interesting seeing how the restaurant could successfully produce both environments at the same time. There was a big room in the back that you cannot see form the front, and it looked like a baby shower was heading in for a private party. Now onto the fun stuff! I ordered a refreshing glass of Chardonnay and it delivered. The price was very reasonable ($7.5 a glass) for the excellent flavor! The restaurant serves food in a tapas style manner, but we were very full with our two flat breads. We could not even finish, but it was not because of the flavor. We shared the smoked chicken cherry and eggplant flat breads. The flavor was savory and rich and the toppings were hearty while still being easy to eat. This place can definitely add up to be a pricey meal, but I managed to stay under $20 with my flat bread and glass of wine. I can't wait to come back and try dessert!
(4)
Crystal S.
I received a gift card here so we decided to try it out before a concert at Benaroya Hall and were presently surprised! Its a bit dark, but has a clean simple decor. They have a good wine list (obviously!) and the food was good. They didn't offer any description of the items, but the server was very knowledgable about the menu so that helps. We had the tofu green beans (yum!), pita with arugula and pesto (ok), and scallops (amazing!!). We also had the cheesecake for desert which was good, but nothing to write home about! As far as service goes, our server was very nice and knew the menu well. She was not exactly efficient (slow with ordering and tickets, forgot my wine order twice) but it was apparent that she was trying, so I didn't hold it against her :) Overall though the service was really great, they seemed to have teamwork down really well, our water glasses were never empty and dirty plates didn't linger! Overall, it was a good place and I would recommend it. I probably won't become a regular, but Im glad I tried it out!!
(4)
Lisa G.
All I have to say is try the blasted broccoli! It is the best, and my favorite happy hour side anywhere in Seattle. Even my friend who doesn't like broccoli liked it. However you can easily make it at home, its still a great side. It pairs well with the flat bread and a glass of wine or a cocktail. My girlfriends and I try and hit up Black Bottle at least once a month or so, it's become one of our main spots for HH. It is also great for a gathering of friends for a bday or large group. I also enjoy the modern decor and feel of it, and it attracts a range of different people but I would say definitely skus late 20's/ 30's young professional types. Pros: blasted broccoli, good for large groups, takes reservations, atmosphere Cons: there are cheaper HHs in Belltown and service can be on the slower side at peak times
(4)
Eugene O.
I must warn anyone who hasn't been here: don't be picky, or be in the company of picky people. The nature of Black Bottle's food is that it's eclectic. There are going to be dishes with spices, with onions, with garlic, etc. If you come with an open mind and empty stomach, you'll be in for a great experience. If not, then get outta here. I've had a lot of memories here over the past two years I've patroned Black Bottle, and the food is solidly stellar, consistent and satiating. Must try dishes include the pork belly with kimchi, blasted broccoli (it's better than bacon, almost), mahi mahi ceviche, any of the flatbread pizzas and the mediterranean plate. Yum. The selections of wine are very reasonable, both in quality and price. As is the food. Black Bottle is versatile. Great for outings with co-workers, great for dates, great for a night out on the town. I'll keep coming back because it has my heart. P.S. Call ahead to make a reservation. It's so worth it.
(5)
Uhura J.
Do you like broccoli? Then don't order the broccoli blasted. This is the first time Yelp reviews have let me down so I'm going to try and be gentle here. Or heck, maybe we just had a bad plate since they seemed to be making quite a few of them. But this is probably one of the worst broccoli dishes I've ever had. Blasted = burnt. Blasted = charred. Blasted = gritty smoke flavor. If there was garlic or any other spices in this dish, I sure as heck couldn't taste any. The atmosphere and interior is beautiful. Looking around, it felt like a night out you'd see on television in a nice, trendy hotspot. Lots of groups dressed to the nines, animated conversation, and a nice background music. Our bruschetta-type appetizer was only okay; it felt as if we were definitely paying for presentation. My companion had the clams, and we agreed that it's the perfect dish for people who don't like clams. The broth was delicious but a tad too spicy and overseasoned so that it completely overpowered the clams. It's probably bad that I'm having trouble remembering what entree I had. I remember that it was fine? I liked the wines we had, although it's a better deal if you have one you enjoy and go with the bottle instead. Overall for the money spent it was definitely below average, but I'm willing to try again on a slower night versus 8pm on a Saturday.
(2)
Alanna M.
A little further north than the hustle and bustle of Belltown is but the food was good and it just means parking was easy to find. Had the masala chicken drumsticks, potatoes and cauliflower curried and chickpeas. It was all very delicious.
(4)
Angela S.
I love this place. I've been here twice, and both times it's been totally excellent. The atmosphere is great, and it's always busy but never too packed. The wines are fantastic, and the food is delicious. I've had a couple different flat breads that have all been great, and my friends have enjoyed all the other various foods that they've ordered--ribs, scallops, etc. It's a great place to come for happy hour and then hang out for a while. Fancy food, but not for a ridiculous price. Love it.
(5)
Matthew Z.
The wife and I were in Seattle for one evening and decided to try Black Bottle based on a recommendation from a guidebook and cross-checking with Yelp!, Trip Advisor and the like. We left pretty bummed out after some awful service (the worst we've encountered on a week-long trip throughout the Northwest). If the food is good enough, I can deal with some below-average service, but that was not the case here. The waiter was M.I.A when we wanted another glass of wine or some bread to accompany our saucy dishes, which weren't bad (the oxtail stood out), though nothing to write home about. That blasted broccoli is a massive bushel of wee trees and we ended up using them (in lieu of the bread we ordered that never came) to sop up our oxtail juice and as a substitute for dessert since it was clear our waiter wasn't going to come by to ask if we wanted anything else. So yeah: meh...and at a hundred bucks for two, yuck.
(2)
Kimber R.
After coming here so many times I can't count, I guess I'll write a review. We usually sit at the bar but certainly not always. The service is so casual yet completely competent, full of information and magical charm that I just can't stay away! That said, the food and wine and beer and cocktails, and fellow patrons are delicious in every way possible. What we nearly always order: all the vegetarian flat breads which are amazing. I get the eggplant if I feel like a tomato sauce and vegetable mess of a good time or the brie and leek with pesto if I feel more civilized. We always get the broccoli blasted because it's just so dang fantastic! A couple of times it was a bit salty so we just say something to the server when we order it and it's A-OK. The fried tofu with peanut sauce is heavenly, never greasy. It comes with a salad that is so fresh and flavorful I almost can't stand it! I don't know the wine I love so much but I can spot it on the wall to the left, an Oregon Pinot Noir from the Willamette valley. I think there's a rolling hillside on the label. Or vodka!!!! My guy gets the Guinness. Do come and have a good time!
(5)
Josh P.
I've been here multiple times but never wrote a review. Well they have a few things that no other restaurant has that you should definitely try out. Basically a wine bar/lounge like Purple, Black Bottle has the usual assortment of wine by the glass and 4-5 cocktails. They do have quite an extensive food menu with flatbreads, seafood, veggie dishes and some 'other' dishes. Two of my favorites are the broccoli blasted and the pork belly w/kimchi. For the broccoli, imagine broccoli that is still al dente but flash fried with garlic, salt and pepper. You feel health when you eat it but you still get some deep fried goodness. Just remember to ask they to go easy on the salt or else you'll be drinking a gallon of water later on. The pork belly here is quite different than the traditional Korean style, but done more in skewer fashion with the kimchi. The sauce that comes with it is spicy and sweet and delicious. In addition the clams in white wine are also a highlight; you get a huge bowl of clams swimming in a delicious broth, be sure to ask for extra bread! Go with friends and a long table in the back or go with a date and get an intimate table in the corner. Be prepared to wait 20+ min on a weekend night but around 11 its easy to find a table. Oh and if you see Jennifer L. there be careful...she'll swoop by and grab your broccoli :)
(4)
Z A.
The best flatbreads I have ever eaten - hands down! Goat chese, pears, gorgonzola - the most savory ingredients. Brocolli lovers, if you haven't eaten their "blasted brocolli" you haven't eaten brocolli the way its meant to be eaten.
(5)
Karen A.
I love coming here with a girlfriend. It's so great to snuggle up to the bar, order some wine and foodies, and chat it up. This is a great place for that. I ordered the scallops w/kale. The kale was fabulous. I loved the lemon juice added to it. The scallops were delish as well however they were cooked a little too long in my opinion. My girlfriend got the calamari salad. It was very light and refreshing. The calamari seemed fresh but a little chewy and therefore gave the jaws a good workout. We also shared the Brie and pesto flatbread. That was yummy. I would have liked a little more Brie and I didn't taste any pesto. But the Rosemary on it was sooooo good. We ended with the peach and blueberry tart w/cream. OMG! SO AMAZING!!!! they made it from scratch when we ordered it. it took a teenst longer! but it was soooooo worth it. GET IT. GET IT NOW!
I discovered Black Bottle on a weekend trip about four years ago and became a devout follower. At the time nothing was more than $8 on the menu. So recently when I only had 24 hours in Seattle it was easy to choose my one dinner destination. In fact, I had the cab take me straight to the restaurant from the airport (I could always check in at midnight) I was not disappointed. The menu prices have crept up slightly topping out at $12. But the portions are still huge and the food is spectacular. I started with the fried Spanish olives and romesco sauce. Let's just say that I am a sucker for romesco and this is a divine bar snack. Second course was onto the Marsala chicken drums--three huge pieces of moist chicken on the bone atop a fragrant chickpea and tomato stew. I finished with the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread. This is so rich and decadent that the Book of Mormon's probably forbids it. Seattle is fortunate to have such an amazing neighborhood gastro-pub with tremendously flavorful food. Bravo!
(5)
Marie B.
We just had a special event at the back room of Black Bottle and were treated magnificently! Paul, helped us organize the event, pick dates and everything in between and made sure everything was perfect!!!
(5)
James C.
Came here for a party and had a great time. It's a cool space but VERY crowded. High energy. We tried several appetizers along with our drinks. I think my favorites were the shrimp and pork. I'd recommend reservations or you'll get jostled all night. Not the most in depth review I've ever written but you get the gist, right? Crowded, food, drinks, A-OK.
(3)
Stephy S.
Clams. Clams in broth. Clams in broth made of sex and sin. Yes, oh dear Foodie Gods, yes! After hearing about the yumminess that was Black Bottle from the Hostess with the Mostess that's been letting me inhabit her couch to write my future New York Times Bestseller of a novel for the last week and half, she finally secured an early night off and with dueling cute outfits galore, we traveled up to Belltown to see what this bottle of lovely had to offer. As we walked in, I instantly liked the place. It's simple, chic, stylish and inviting and with the large windows that offer a peek out to the setting Seattle sun around Sunday at sunset, it really was the perfect locale to begin our night. We perused the menu and I instantly spotted the hanger steak with daikon radish mash and an assortment of perfectly marinated thinly sliced cucumbers and herbs that exploded in my mouth. I say my mouth, because my dining companion of choice is a veggietarian and sadly she missed out on the amazing. After consulting bartender extraordinaire, Patrick, for some wine and oh so yummy culinary recommends, we ordered the mind-blowing clams in a heavenly broth and the brie and leek flat bread with pesto. Both were truly a palatal treat to put it mildly. While the highlights of the evening were the handpicked wines and amazing food, they were only slightly shadowed by the amazing marital couple fight that we witnessed while sitting at the bar. Female party stormed out, male party slammed fist and the combo of the two was enough to make you wanna believe in... well, nothing. But I do believe. I believe that Black Bottle was for certain, one of the true highlights of my Seattle visit and I will most certainly revisit this peach of a venue again on my next escapade.
(4)
Kat F.
I went here with a friend for dinner and drinks when we were feeling swanky. We had a reservation for 8:30 on a weekend night and got a table instantly. The broccoli is as good as everyone says it is, and the eggplant rolatini is tasty too. They have a nice wine list with varying prices and the servers seem pretty knowledgeable about the food and drink. My one complaint was that everyone working was too eager to take away our plates! I repeatedly had to ask various people to "please put that back down - I'm still eating it!"
(4)
d d.
Blasted barf. I went on the many raves about the blasted broccoli....really they either did something really different or seattleites have really eclectic tastebuds because this dish is gross...I love broccoli so was excited to find a place whose reputation was somewhat built on this dish. What we ate tasted like 2-3 heads of broccoli were soaked for hours in vinegar and salt with some extra salty soy sauce then left to sit on a salt-lick, then grilled until slightly burnt. The taste was sour vinegar with salt. The chicken larb gai was mushy and wet and tough to eat since lettuce wraps were romaine rather than iceberg which folds nicely into rolls. Tacos were tasty but not very hot.
(2)
Jason T.
It's easy to forget about this place when you're in the middle of a rant dismissing Belltown restaurants as overpriced alcohol delivery joints with mediocre food and bad service. But I came here for an early dinner the Sunday after Thanksgiving, weary from three consecutive days of meals served with copious amounts of wine, homemade eggnog, and cocktails, and was delighted to rediscover a perfectly respectable dinner place in Belltown, where most items we ordered were winners, including the leek and camembert flatbread and roasted vegetables with verjuice. Even on a night when all four of us were practicing teetotalers. Prices without drinks were quite reasonable. We ordered a bit more food than we needed and ended up with a roughly $22/person bill. A couple of drinks would have probably brought that up to a more conventionally post-dotcom-bubble-Belltown $32-42. Service: friendly, occasionally distracted, but thoughtful and efficient. Warned us that we had plenty of food, and gentle about the obligatory drink upsell. Atmosphere: Casual yet slightly refined, what most of the rest of new Belltown more awkwardly aspires to.
(4)
Prabhjot S.
This place is too good to resist . One of the finest wine selections u can get in belltown The food is just delicious too . I have been here only once but damn right i am already planning to revisit soon I have heard from people that service is spotty but my experience was not that bad with service . I think we tried Bridlewood Estate Central Coast Syrah and its really good wine considering i usually like cabernet
(4)
Alana F.
I dined alone being on a business trip so I wasn't able to share a bunch of stuff which really bummed me out given the other reviews. Seven spice shrimp - yum. Be prepared for some of the shrimp being "whole" which they don't mention on the menu. Not a big deal just for me, couldn't eat them. Green beans and tofu rocks. Great cocktail before dinner and decent wine list. Mousse torte with brittle was amazing. I ate at the bar and the service was attentive without being overbearing and it was busy. Great experience.
(4)
Vivian N.
There are two main reasons why I love returning to Black Bottle: the bacon scallops and the arugula / fresh mozz flatbread. While other parts of their menu, such as the lamb and steak, are rather subpar, the aforementioned plates are tasty things! The scallops are especially special as they're panfried to perfection -- just burnt enough on the outside to be crispy, but soft and tender on the inside. The ambiance is also to be noted. It's a cozy place for a date or a dinner with a small group of friends (I once witnessed four separate bachelorette parties thrown here in one night!). The seductive lighting and the rotating indie / hip-hop soundtrack are right up my alley... and I'm digging their brick walls and chandeliers. My only qualm is their service. Sometimes it's decent, other times it's lacking. During my last visit, our waitress seemed less than enthused to be around us because heaven forbid we'd want to place an order for food! She never smiled and seemed to resent everything we asked about the menu - maybe she was having an off day? When we got our bill, our receipt told us that our "server was [named] 'Sweet Sweet Gillian.'" Hm. Not quite. Perhaps, if anything, our Black Bottle server should consider a name change?
(5)
Mr. M.
Had a great trip to Seattle. We had a great time at the Black Bottle. Washington state red wine on tap! Cool! Very good and great value. We sat at the bar and had bar a series of appetizers to get a full flavor of the place.,,, must have the beats!
(4)
Sharona T.
I'm sorry, but I didn't feel this place lived up to all the hype surrounding it. While the atmosphere was very nice, the service was only average. The dishes which seemed so lauded on here and by friends were not by any means as legendary as I expected. While the shrimp were tasty and well plated, I was left feeling like there should have been more to it. And the brocolli? Um, yea, it's just a veg. Not impressed, especially since there's better gastropub in town...
(2)
Angelina L.
Third time is the charm??? I think NOT!!! I'm normally a patient person and understand there are other tables and patrons to attend to. Seriously though... I wonder if I'll ever go back, only because the service and attitude has not improved. 2 out of 3 times I've been there, I have been put off by either the waitress or bartender. We were sitting at the bar this time and I had to stare at the bartender for what felt like 3 minutes while he was chatting with a couple other patrons at the end of the bar... I finally spoke up to get his attention for salt and pepper. Then he gave me this attitude of it was such a hassle for him to get it for me. Never did he once ask how things were. IT WAS NOT THAT BUSY WHEN WE WERE THERE AND HE DEFINITELY HAD TIME TO TALK TO THE OTHER TWO PATRONS FOR 5 OR MORE MINUTES!!! We were there around 5:30pm... I know it's a popular place later in the evening, but seriously... how long is that going to last with poor service and attitude... The food isn't THAT great... In fact, the one time I did have good service was later in the evening when it was packed... HMMM
(3)
Rachel S.
I did like the atmosphere when I was here for dinner with my boyfriend. I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time for a weekend night. If we hadn't done so, we probably would not have been seated right away as it was very crowded when we arrived. We asked before ordering how big the plates were. We were told it was plenty of food for two people to share - not so. We ended up ordering a few more dishes after our intial order because we were still hungry. We aren't huge eaters, but we definitely expected the plates to have more food. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that the food could be upgraded. Some of the dishes were pretty good, others I would've preferred to not spend my $10 on.
(3)
Mindy C.
I really wanted to like Black Bottle . . . I live about two blocks away and it would be really convenient to be able to stroll on down there and throw back a pinot every now and then (not that I'm at all sure it's advisable to throw back wine). Basically, I'm not cool enough to be there. You walk in and there's no obvious place for you to take a breath and survey the room, so you're IMMEDIATELY propelled forward even though you have no clue where you're going (do I seat myself . . . ?) Just as I was about to snag a table I get body-checked by a 95-pound pixie who tells me to wait for her to seat me. Oops. Embarrassing. Luckily the people I'm with have seen much more extreme Mindy dorkiness. Food - good. Drinks - good. Service - meh. Loud - I'm a listener so I like to hear myself listen. I might try it again if I am feeling particularly cool or hip one night!
(2)
Adam C.
Really unfortunate location for the urinal. But that aside, the food was amazing and the eye candy entertaining. We hit the Prosciutto flatbread, the lamb & hummus, the shrimp, some other amazing flatbread, the MF'ing cumin pork loin, the cauliflower, and more, I am sure. The only thing we didn't finish was the cauliflower which, although very tasty, was a much larger plate than the others and we were running out of room. It's a bit dry, but the curry was good. We also got the banana flambe thing and the chocolate cake thing. Both were good. Every single dish was good in its own way. The music ranged from Peter Bjorn & John to Kruder & Dorfmesiter. Very fitting. Only downside, other than the urinal, was the waiter who rarely attended to us. Overall, I'd return. They do take reservations, but only for like 3 tables per hour.
(5)
Jason W.
I really enjoy the wine selection and excellent variety of small plates. The Blasted Broccoli and the ribs are must haves. The atmosphere is pretty loud as this is a favorite hang out of trendy Belltown socialites. The service is usually good. They keep a drink in your hand and the kitchen does a nice job of keeping up even during the rush. The negative about Black Bottle is the space is soooo cramped. As soon as you walk in the door you're instantly in the path of people exiting, waiting at the bar or waiters serving tables. I always feel like I'm in someone's way. Even when we got seated last night the table was right in the middle of walking path so we had people kicking our chairs when they walked by, other guests leaning on the back of our chair to talk with their friends at their table and people standing around us, chatting, before they left the restaurant. This place would be much more enjoyable if there was more room but other than that I'm a big fan.
(4)
Steve L.
An out-of-towners' review, recommended by our hotel concierge and proximate to later-in-the-evening dining in the Belltown area. All we wanted was a cocktail/wine pre-dinner opp. We got just that. We did not linger for tapas or other food offerings (no comment/no recommendation, thusly.) A busy place on a Thursday evening in April. Likely - busy often. The interior decor is striking (and likely a major investment by the owners.) Novel. Inspiring. Provoking. Wine prices (by the glass); moderate; a nice list to select from. Staff was attentive; we were seated and offered menus almost immediately. Recommended for a pre-dinner stop-over? Yes. Recommended for dining (no clew from this yelper). See for yourself. Attire: simple/Seattle/chic.
(3)
Ryan P.
Love the atmosphere.. Laid back and cozy... Excellent selection of wines... Will be coming back soon!
(4)
Eloy T.
The service and drinks here are excellent. Stopped in for a Sunday evening dinner on a recent business trip and enjoyed a healthy sample of the menu. Maybe it was an off night, but I offer a humble suggestion: less equals more in the salt department.
(3)
Julian G.
Every time i'm here theres some overdressed woman who looks like she's going to vomit. I love this place
(4)
Karin O.
This place rules! When I'm visiting Seattle and need late-night food, this is my place. Their veggie dishes are so fresh and flavorful- I definitely recommend the portabello with butter beans and the curried potato and cauliflower dish. My boyfriend is a huge broccoli fan and swears by the blasted broccoli- which is a huge serving. Also, this place uses local and sustainable ingredients and only cage-free eggs, which earns them 5 stars from me!
(5)
Greg G.
I guess one more review is mildly superfluous at this point, but sure, why not. A bunch of friends who live down the street took us here. You order little plates for food, not unlike tapas. Wine selection was pretty nice. I had a rather good glass of sauvignon blanc; someone else got the sangria, which was rather chick-ish. I got the fried olives, which were excellent. Little salty olive bites stuffed with mozzarella and then fried? I can dig that. I also got the wild boar ribs, which were good, but almost overly smoky. Could just be my personal taste, though. Other plates on the table were the laab gai which had a nice flavor to it; the roasted vegetables which were well seasoned and tasty; and the tofu and green beans, which I think I want to learn to make on my own. Alas, I wish we had gotten the broccoli. Maybe next time I'm in town. Five people, just around $75. Good deal. Oh, but everyone, bring your IDs.
(5)
Thigh C.
First of all, the waiters here have an ATTITUDE. It's such a BIG turn off. It's our 1st time here and ofcourse, we are not sure if you have to wait to be seated or find your own seats. Nobody gave us a holler for at least a minute so we just went inside and claimed an empty table. I saw these waiters trying to be "cool" and pretending they didn't see us? SERVICE is REALLY BAD. Enough said. Bleh. On the positive side, the food that's served is really good. Good portions (maybe tiny for others). I think the idea here is tapa style. Small portions that is meant to be shared. I really like the interior. Dark and cozy. Dark wood floor and thick wooden slab table. Nice lamps. I'm not really a dessert person but somebody in my group ordered one and it's really fantastic. One of the best so far.
(3)
Paul F.
Came in with a group of about 15 people and got to sample a lot of the menu. Overall, the food was pretty good. Desserts were about average. The biggest disappointment was the service. If you want an honest view of the service in a restaurant, come in with a party size that means an automatic gratuity. The staff was mostly rude and it was pretty clear our waiter really didn't want to be serving us.
(3)
Nichole H.
I went to Black Bottle last night with my girlfriends for a little happy hour before heading to a movie at the Big Picture. We had all heard so many great things about this place but had never been. We arrived at 4:30 and all 3 of us found parking with ease..which is great for Belltown! The waitress was really nice and on top of it. The drinks were good/normal but the food was amazing. We shared 2 of the flatbreads...chicken & basil. Perfect serving size for 3 girls and after 2 drinks each plus the food our bills were less than $20 bucks each. I'll be back for sure!
(4)
Lisa C.
Synopsis: great food, great wine, sucky service and musically-challenged. Mitchell suggested we head here last Friday night and we met up with our friend Scottie who was visiting. I liked the look and location, like many a wine bar I've been to it was all about clean lines and a modern look. The tables were low with comfortable chairs. It was a nice day to be outside but all the tables were taken so Mitchell and I decided to sit at a table inside at the front so we could see the sliver of water. This is when the service started to break down. One woman sat us and gave us 3 menus ( we were waiting for Scottie), then another woman came by to try to take the 3rd menu, then we were left alone, for an eternity, while everyone who worked there seemed to be fighting over the music. A part of a song would play and then would be cut off abruptly and a new song would start. Eventually I went to the bar to order drinks and an app while we were waiting. Delivered by 2 different waitresses who again tried to take our 3rd party's stuff. Finally he arrived and we waited for a long time again for him to be able to order a drink. Eventually we all got drinks and food. I had the viognier which was so good. It tasted of pears with a lightly sweet yet crisp taste. Mitchell had a rose cava and Scottie tried the malbec. We started with the flatbread with tomato, balsamic vinegar and argula. Extremely good and satisfying on a warm summer evening. We shared a round of a half dozen oysters on the half shell that came with a yummy shallot, herb vinegarette. Mitchell and I shared the lamb kebab and hummus plate. The lamb was done perfectly with really good flavor and the hummus was dotted with pine nuts and olive oil. The pita bread was toasted and I was a happy happy girl. Scottie ordered the yellow fin, which was very spicy, and I thought it was good, but I would only order it to share with a group. The tab was about $100 (6-7 glasses of wine with 4 plates), which was reasonable, but it took us over 10 minutes to flag down a waitress to give us the check. Meanwhile a line had formed going out the door for people who wanted to be seated. This place could be awesome if the waitresses could get their shit together. They were terrible, I don't know if this was some new kind of communal waitressing or if they were trying to channel some San Francisco snooty restaurant where you pay to be treated badly... but it put a damper on our dinner. The music also needs to be worked out, it was way too loud where we were sitting, the music choices were clearly being debated and the songs that were allowed to play all the way through were ok. I'll try this place again, but if the service continues to suck I'll go enjoy my dinner at one of the million other wine bars in Belltown.
(3)
David S.
Amazing! The place is always packed and my boyfriend and I have been meaning to go and finally decided to go. It was so worth it! The portions are surprisingly large for a "tasting menu" and we were full by the time we left. We had the fried chicken/collard greens, scallops, brie flatbread, pork belly. All amazing, but the frizzled kale that came with the scallops was the highlight of the meal! We finished it with the ricotta lemon cheescake (fantastic!) and the cream puffs which were good as well. The food was great and left you wanting more and we are already planning on coming back next week to get all of the other items on the menu we didn't get to try...definetely check it out!
(4)
Caliope S.
My friend chose this place, as I never would have thought to come here; it blends in with the hundreds of other places that line Belltown's streets. Thank goodness she did, because this place is awesome and a new fave of mine! Though these dishes are absolutely big enough to share, my friend and I didn't share because she's a vegetarian and I make a point of eating non-soy protein (read: meat) at every meal. I ordered the chicken laab gai and the smoked chicken and dried cherry flatbread. Both were out-of-this-world outstanding! I ended up eating way too much because it was so good, when I really should have brought half of each dish home. Each was priced at $9 which I thought was exactly what they were worth given how much food there was. I also had a couple of draft beers which were pretty good- they were $5 each. Service was good; they checked on us often, yet didn't pester us or linger trying to upsell, and they cleared our dishes without interrupting the flow of the conversation my friend and I were carrying on. I took one star away because it was really dark in there, which means I can't bring my parents when they visit because they won't be able to read the menu or see my face across the table. The bathroom is also incredibly small which was uncomfortable when five women tried to squeeze in there with me. Lastly, even though we had a reservation (recommended), our table wasn't ready when we arrived a few minutes after the time we scheduled for. It took another ten minutes or so for them to kick out the patrons from our table, which I thought was rude-- for the patrons they kicked out. I would hate to be them after having spent so much money at a place. Seems they could have just left a table empty for us, but I don't know how they operate, so I'll leave that up to them. All I'll say is if I get kicked out the next time I go back after dropping over $40 on a meal, I will rant about it on Yelp! LOL. This place is definitely a place to check out if you're in Belltown. You won't be sorry.
Hit this joint on a Sunday evening. The front section was a little loud but we managed to score the back dining room and had it all to ourselves. Fun menu made for sharing. Fried chicken and the oxtail were my favs. Kylee was our server and she made great recommendations for both cocktails and food!
(5)
Jen B.
I really liked this place even though it was really loud and packed. The service was professional and friendly and the food was tasty. Oh and the wine was fantastic. My friend asked for suggestions and we tasted some great wines. Of course, I drank too much & can't remember what those names were....but maybe next time I will!
(4)
Arianne M.
Delicious flavors and generous plates! We ordered 4 plates to share (for 2 people - one of them a very hungry man) and ended up with a full takeout container of leftovers. On our menu: artichoke salad (delish!!), local sausages with homemade mustard, proscuitto & bechamel flatbread and masala chicken thighs. The sausages were a little gamey but good for a meat lover, the flatbread hearty and gooey and the chicken (accompanied by a beautiful indian sauce & chickpeas) divine. One thing I could not get over: the music. It was like a soundtrack to spring break 2004. When we walked in Usher's "Yeah" was blasting through the otherwise subdued atmosphere. The service was friendly but I get what other reviewers are saying too. Our waiter took a while to make his first appearance and when he did arrive he thanked us for our patience. Ok, fine. But then he pulled an identical routine at the table next to ours, thanking them for their patience. A lot of patient diners in the room. But still, he was nice and we were relaxed and our food came quickly so I really felt satisfied. I want to return for the broccoli!
(4)
Kristin C.
While visiting Seattle on business, I tried Black Bottle with a friend (a new transplant to Seattle who had it recommended to her) and one of her colleagues. We arrived early on a Monday (MLK Day) evening so the place wasn't too busy. It's dim, but warm and inviting. I hadn't known until we arrived that it was a small plate type of joint. At first, the disappointed me a bit since I was really quite hungry, but my initial impression quickly changed. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass with some very reasonably priced. And there are a number of choices from Washington and other west coast wineries. Complimentary (and quite tasty) flat bread came out with the wine. Someone below commented negatively about the price/portion size ratio (and I think mentioned that an item for $14 didn't even fit two for sharing; I have no clue where that came from as I didn't see any items that high and everything we got was easily shared, in combination with other plates). Of the items we ordered (and I am sure I am forgetting some): - crispy fried chicken and collard greens - Juicy, well-cooked chicken and very solid collards - house smoked wild boar ribs - This was perhaps my favorite, with the meat just falling off the bone. - ceviche and scratch tortillas - It's a good and solid (if not the most remarkable) ceviche. However, it was very fresh and light. - grilled octopus fava and pesto greens - This was my least favorite. There was not much octopus and it wasn't that flavorful. - broccoli blasted - Hands down, amazing and the best broccoli I think I've ever had. And the portion is HUGE. - Sicilian eggplant and fresh mozzarella flatbread - Gooey and yummy with great balance of flavors - prosciutto and potato wheels - This was a favorite of one of my friends. They were indeed tasty, if a bit starchy for my taste (or perhaps I'd just eaten too much of everything else). I may have missed one item in my recollection, but it was definitely yummy. I didn't even notice until now that there are dessert options. I'm a bit sad about that since considering how much I loved some of the other items, dessert could have been mighty tasty too (but there was no way I had room). And if I looked back at the menu, I know that there are other things that I wish I could have tried. Service was lovely. It was prompt and efficient, but not overly intrusive. And I was surprised at how quickly some of those items came out. And or server was honest and accurate in letting us know about the correctness of the amount of food we ordered when we asked her. After two glasses of wine each and all of that shared food, we were quite full (I think my friend even took some of the remaining broccoli home). Perhaps it is my New Yorker sense of inflated pricing. But our total bill came to $113.30 (inclusive of tax). That's six glasses of wine and seven plates. And we were, as I mentioned, FULL. Per person, my total was $37.76 (before tip). I find that quite reasonable for the quality and amount we were given (and with the wine). No, it's not an every day thing. But that's very reasonable and the bill will definitely not kill you. Like I said, there are other things on the menu that I'd like to try as I recall. I will definitely be back...as soon as I get back to Seattle. In the meantime, I will simply lament the lack of comparably priced small plate places of such quality in NYC (though, I'm sure one might be around here somewhere. Perhaps Black Bottle will spark a search until I can return).
(4)
Aimee R.
I love this place. It is one of my favorite places to meet up for an informal sip n snack or even to grab a few before heading out for a big night. I love the atmosphere and the food options are my favorite. For those with food sensitivities or special diets, they even have a menu that specifies their gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian options. It seems a strange thing to do, but I'm going to rave a little about their broccoli. Yes, broccoli. The blasted broccoli is awesome. Even if you're not a cruciferous fan, it's worth a try. Well seasoned and not over-cooked, it is unexpectedly awesome bar food. I'm also a pretty big fan of the curried cauliflower and potatoes. It is really nice to snack on real food while sipping drinks in a bar setting with friends. The service has always been decent enough, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. It can be sub-par at times, never something that would keep me from returning. You may want to make reservations as it can get quite crowded and the wait can get long. By "quite crowded," I really mean super crowded. It can be difficult at times to weave your way through the restaurant just to get to your table or the bathroom. They've truly utilized every inch of space to accommodate (i.e. jam in) as many people as humanly possible. It can feel a pretty tight when it gets busy, but it is a bar and that's what they're like. Overall, I'm a pretty big Black Bottle fan. Drinks are good, wine is great, food is inventive and delicious and the atmosphere is fun and enjoyable.
(4)
Ryan P.
I loved this place. We had the ox-tail, the broccoli, the pork belly, and the artichokes. All were fantastic (especially the ox-tail). Portion sizes were good, being larger than tapas, but without the sides of a typical entree. The negatives are the service is a bit slow and they're not very well organized as far as seating. Bottom Line: Great food, good portions, good prices.
(5)
Sandra K.
Came here after a rough flight from LA but boy did this place cheer me up. Yes, it's really loud and very busy/crowded but it's also a bar so what do you expect? My friend and I ordered a bunch of things off the menu like the root veggies, flatbread, fried chicken, some seafood and I don't remember much else but I do recall everything was really just delicious and hit the spot. I suppose the service started out great but ended up a bit disappointing because it was a busy Friday night but we were in the back room so I couldn't help but feel kind of neglected. Overall, highly recommended.
(3)
H T.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Sure parking can be a challenge and sometimes there's a wait but for their great wine selection and their oh so yummy blasted broccoli, I think it's worth it. Their blasted broccoli can bring a smile to even the vegetable haters out there - it's so deliciously good and the plate is huge so you can eat your heart out! Crispy, warm, and lightly seasoned, just how I like my veggies. They also have tons of other tapas style small bites (flatbreads are yummy), vegetarian options, and desserts, but to be honest, I'm just enamored by the broccoli! Bottom line, whether it's a group dinner or a special date, Black Bottle is a fun little wine bar that is sure to leave you with a smile.
(4)
Shelly C.
I had been giving it a good 5 times of tries, still nothing really impressed me or made me to go back.
(2)
Lesley G.
I really, really enjoyed this place on my visit to Seattle. It was suggested by friends and I am so glad I followed their advice. Atmosphere: Went fairly late on a Saturday night and this place was hopping. It was a trendy crowd in a trendy space, but still totally chill and laid back. And while there was a lot of people and chatter and all that, it wasn't so loud you couldn't hear whoever you were with. Service: Was pretty good. Our waiter was super nice and helpful and very much not rushing us to turn over the table, even though there were people waiting, which I really appreciated it. If anything, he went slightly too far on the not rushing us and we would have liked to see him come by slightly more frequently. Wine: I don't know what bottle we got in the end, but I do know that it was good and very reasonable pricing. Food: Started with the arugala, tomato, basil pesto flatbread. It was delightful. Really interesting flavors and the right amount of everything. Nothing was overpowered, every bite was tasty. Then we got the wild boar ribs and the broccoli blasted because, when in Rome. The wild boar was disappointing, definitely the lowlight of the meal. They were fine, but nothing special and just not really that flavorful or great. The broccoli was tasty and interesting and def worth trying, but not something I would need to order again if I went back. We had two people and those three things were more than enough food for us. Price: Totally unbelievably reasonable. For a full meal for each of us and a bottle of wine which we happily finished it was only 60something dollars. For food this interesting and this quality and a bottle of good wine, you'd pay a whole lot more than that any where else I've been (though I guess I don't really know what pricing is generally like in Seattle). Overall: Would def suggest this place to others and would go back if I ever find myself in Seattle again.
(4)
William H.
Every time I walk by this place it's always busy. If you're looking for a place to go any night of the week and have a few folks around to mingle with this is your spot. The wait is never very long and they were prompt to greet us and checked on us until our table was ready. Portions are smaller and for sharing. It's best to come with a few people and share a few different dishes. Definitely have to try the flat bread, the ribs are a must have. I'd recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood and don't mind waiting for a table.
(4)
Cindy C.
I've only been here once, but it was a great time! Not to mention we closed this place out that night. :) This was our night cap after an amazing dinner at Mistral (now closed I hear, still very sad about that!) with a group of 16 (yay for company expense, back in the good economy days!). Joanne P. and I and a few other people decided that the night was still young and joined the chef and his head waiter at Black Bottle to celebrate the tasty 8+ course dinner we just had with a few more glasses of wine! Wow, writing this review just brought back so many memories!!!
This place was not on our Seattle radar, but we drove by it numerous times en route to other dining adventures and it always appeared busy. Based on this, Yelp, and what seemed like a nice atmosphere we gave it a try. Meh, I regret this. Food was just okay. Many items on the menu looked great, but concept far exceeded execution. Went on a Sunday so maybe the chef was off and the kitchen was in Sunday mode, but the food was lackluster. Furthermore, although we ate lightly the food just sat heavily in our bellys - such that when we went to dinner spot #2 we didn't have much gusto to eat more. I wishe I had not used up one of my Seattle meals here. Anyway, I did enjoy the atmosphere and the bar / wine options seem excellent. The special cocktail recommended by our waitress was delicious. Service was a bit disjointed, but I think just because servers were a bit over extended when we sat down even though the place was not overly busy (it looked like a bunch of other tables sat right before us). Bottom line - if in Seattle this place seems good for drinks and a snack, but there are better options for dinner.
(3)
Patrick L.
Expect a very long wait here, so it's best to have reservations.The food is pretty good, and I really have no complaints with anything we ate here. I was rather disappointed that they always seem to be out of certain items, so after a couple visits, there are still items I was unable to try.. It's a good atmosphere in here, trendy and young, although a bit noisy if you're really trying to have a serious conversation. Overall it's a decent restaurant with a good location on the outskirts of Belltown, so you actually have some chance of finding street parking nearby and avoiding the crowds in the heart of Belltown on Thurs-Sat nights.
(3)
Christina S.
Great place. Blasted broccoli was incredible. Wild boar rib and Bacon Scallops were delish. For a starter we had procuitto on the flatbead. It was all really good.
(5)
Edward C.
Pros: -Tasty food -Secret menu with vegan options! (and options for all sorts of dietary restrictions) -Shareable food Cons: -A bit pricey for what the food actually is. I mean, how much does a plate of broccoli really cost? It'd be much cheaper to make at home.
(4)
Erika A.
I've been here twice. First time at night and sat inside, the second time during the day and sat outside. Both times I had a good time. I haven't gotten food here, only wine! At night it has a nice atmosphere inside with the lights low, a good place for date night or to go out with friends. During the day - it's nice to sit outside and people watch. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Jessica B.
I went here with a friend of mine on a Friday night. My friend has frequented this place, but it was my first time. She told me as we walked in that it was a place for "pretty people" and she wasn't kidding! We didn't fit in exactly as mid-thirty moms. We were seated right away in the very front table by the door and window. Our server was prompt and friendly. We ordered several items but of them only the curried cauliflower stood out for me. The "broccoli blasted" was burnt and not to my taste but my friend enjoyed it. The wine selection was excellent as was the glass I had. The prices seemed reasonable especially for a hip Belltown place. I might come here again on a date, but it's not top of my list of places to revisit.
(3)
Alessandra C.
The Black Bottle atmosphere is clearly alluring. People flock to it -- the ambiance can be felt from a mile away... and so one is tempted to visit it. However, after visiting it, I can confidently state that there is no real reason for me to return. As far as my meal was concerned, I ordered a pizzaesque flatbread with eggplant that was delicious, and quite frankly quite a deal for the price. The octopus salad was flavorful as well -- though heavy on the greens and very light on the octopus -- and the server was very helpful and had a great tempranillo wine recommendation. Overall, a good gastronomical experience. I had made a reservation to the establishment a week prior. Before our party of 5 had finished its drinks or all of its flatbread, we were asked by another server whether we minded moving to the bar. Our table was adjacent to another empty table and a "really large group" was on its way in within the next 15 minutes. OK, that's fine, I understand, I won't be rude about moving... but that the same server inspected us consistently every minute or so, urging us to leave, was unnecessary. It's one of those "probably won't happen again if I went there again" experiences, but with so many great gastropubs to choose from, I need not risk another unpleasantly rushed evening at this enoteca again.
(2)
tim m.
after all these years (it's been about 6 that I have known you blackbottle) I still love your atmosphere, decor, wine, food and music. for whatever reason, you have a spectacular place in my heart, so thanks decor is cool and dark but not morose crowd are young but interesting food brilliant comfort without the bullshit of a restaurant wines are solid the blasted broccoli is magic, scallops awesome, leek flatbread tops many restaurants to love in seatle, but this is one of my faves only negative. the menu says prosciutto but you practically had bacon on there. stop that please!
(4)
Hayley V.
Black Bottle is an ideal spot for lady dates, bday bashes, and pre-funk sessions before making your way downtown. It's swanky enough for a sexy outing with your sweetie and hip enough to use as ammunition to coerce your newly singled/ grieving friends back into the wild again because everyone here is ultra handsome. I really love that they bring me my martini remnants in a side shaker. True the martini glass is small but I used to tend bar and I figure the average ounceage on one of these pours equates to about 1.5 martinis for the price of one. Booze appreciators rejoice! Pretty much everything on the menu here is delectable. I love the hanger steak, seven spice shrimp, and green beans but the prices are even sweeter. I'm a fan of your Gastro-tavern Black Bottle.
(4)
Crystal L.
Lucky for me this is one of the closest bars to my work because it is damn good. Black Bottle is perfect for after work drinks or a dinner with friends and drinks. It's also better since the gross, dilapidated convenient store next to it closed. The wine list is well selected, and the food is amazing. As others have mentioned- You must try the seared broccoli- it doesn't sound appetizing, but even my most carnivorous friends have finished the plate. The flatbreads and fried tofu are also some of my favorites. I'm glad they finally added happy hour- although limited to drinks, it is something, right? Service has always been fantastic. I've also had lots of parties in the back room for work related events. Paul, the event coordinator and bartender is great to work with.
(5)
Beatrice T.
Everything was delicious and even with a large party, dishes came out fast. The broccoli side order is huge and charred with savory juices. It was amazing. I've never eaten so much broccoli in one sitting. I also had the prosciutto flatbread which was decadent without being too heavy or greasy. Their bechamel is lovely. The bacon wrapped scallops were cooked in a light sweet broth-like sauce over a bed of kale, and it was just perfection. Reasonable prices and great dark tavern atmosphere. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Etta H.
Yum! We came in early - right when they opened at 4pm on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We were one of only a couple parties there... so everything felt very casual. Our server was attentive - the drinks were great and the food (which we ordered A LOT of) was all very good (save for one item). We ordered 2 different flatbreads (prosciutto and arugula - both great, though a bit too salty), the caprese (YUM!!!), the broccoli (fantastic!), and the lamb and hummus. The hummus and tzaziki were both very good - but the lamb itself was very disappointing. It was so tough I couldn't chew it, nor could my friend. As a big lamb-eater - I was pretty bummed out about this part of it - but truthfully, everything else was so great I couldn't even justify taking a star off for it. I'll definitely be returning! And I might even give that lamb another shot. The atmosphere and decor are great. Definitely quiet enough for conversation - but not awkwardly so. My friend, who had been there at night for dinner, says it's a great date spot as the lighting and ambiance is kind of romantic... I could definitely see that - and am looking forward to having a date night here at some point.
(4)
Henry L.
For a wine bar, they don't really have a particularly large selection. For a tapas bar, their portions are ridiculously large. For a bar, they don't seem to have a large selection of liquors. But some how, all these things can still make it a good place to grab a bite to eat and to get your drink on. I walked in on a Thursday night at 7:00. It was about 30 minutes before we got to a spot where we can order some food: laab gai, blasted broccoli, and grilled mixed vegetables. The laab gai was quite good. It's basically a light curry chicken on lettuce leaves. It can be messy, so watch out. The broccoli is as good as everybody else says it is. I think I ate most of the plate. The mixed veggies were just so-so. Not bad, but not terribly exciting either. I think this meal ended up being the healthiest meal I ate all weekend when I was visiting. For my boozing, I had a glass of champagne and a couple of glasses of mojito. While not the best mojito in town, it wasn't a slouch either. Overall, not bad. I'd come back if somebody proposes this place. But I'd probably try harder to get a reservation. This place can get packed!
(4)
L H.
The staff and restaurant itself highly exceed my expectations and I can't rave about them enough. I held a 30th birthday party for my boyfriend recently and was able to reserve the private room in the back (complete with a bartender and food service) for the full evening. The requirements to reserve the room were completely affordable to me and i love that they were also willing to keep separate tabs so I didn't have to foot it all. Paul was extremely helpful throughout the planning process - from the moment I initially inquirred months before to the day before the actual party. The helpful staff lent a hand to carry in the cake right when they saw my friend and i walking towards the restaurant w/our hands full of balloons and decorations. All the great service was topped off with the delicious food they served. I think our group individually ordered something different on the menu and everyone LOVED EVERYTHING -- i personally couldn't get over the pork belly and fried chicken. I will make it a point to go back for more. Now there is a downside, which I can't really put blame on them, is that I wish Black bottle was not located in Belltown - with all the recent crime happening around there lately, i was really afraid something would happen to someone - and unfortunately, two of my friends had their cars broken into :( Just beware where you park and maybe spend the extra money to park in a paid lot for extra caution. If you ever want to have a private party, I so recommend going with Black Bottle. I've never experienced any other place that has been able to operate in such a sophisticated and humble way.
(5)
Lily S.
Ok Ok. So originally I didn't so much dig on this place...but then I ate here. And then I liked it. Flatbread is my new best friend. It's still a bit of a scene for me, but gimme a plate of flatbread and I could give a shit. For reals.
(4)
Hannah C.
My absolute favorite wine bar in town. It doesn't hurt that it's right across from where I live. They've got a great menu that caters perfectly to their list of wine. Their wine selection is never dull, and I always end up taking forever to pick what I should order because their food is nothing short of perfection. My favorites are pork belly and blasted broccoli.
(5)
Anon M.
Very very solid choice for dinner. The majority of the dishes were quite large for the price (it's not tapas, as was indicated by our hard-working, quick-witted, and stunningly beautiful lead server Lindsey) and our large group received excellent service all night, even when we ordered a birthday cake very last minute. The dishes were on the whole very tasty--the kimchi pork was really excellent as was the bacon-wrapped shrimp on kale. I was a tad disappointed in the flatbreads. The ingredients were all there but on execution both the look and taste of the flatbreads wasn't that special, particularly relative to the other dishes. I would recommend a truly flat and rounder crust with more cheese and sauce. That being said, that was a minor flaw in overall a great place. I felt more "Seattle hip" just from the ambiance--even if I was wearing non-prescription glasses ;) This is a great choice for a date night, friends, or even a large group like we had. I will certainly be back.
(4)
Mitch N.
What can be said for a place with over 450 reviews, and already 4 stars? Great dishes, that are made to share! The fired broccoli comes to mind, the pork belly and kim chee, and steak. All wonderful. I do think it's a bit dark, and a bit on the noisy side that a little noise treatments could help with. But it's rather large and they staff are extremely accommodating.
(4)
Aimee T.
We came here for my birthday dinner during Seattle's Restaurant Week. We each ordered a 3-course meal, and a glass of red wine. I had the Gruyere Emmentaler Beet Gratin with Mâche/Rocket, which was excellent (but had a LOT more beets than you can handle in an appetizer), the Bacon Lemon Scallops with Frizzled Kale (perfectly cooked scallops with a light hint of lemon, mm!), and the Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake with Lavender Crust which was divine..I could eat that every day. My boyfriend had the Wilted Baby Kale and Spinach Salad with Pancetta (scrumptious), the Malbec Demi-glazed Oxtail (our first try at oxtail...absolutely fall-off-the-bone moist and flavorful, couldn't get enough), and the Cacao Nib Mouse Torte and Chili Pistachio Brittle (perfect for chocolate lovers who like a light kick to their desserts). We also received plates of Broccoli Blasted (complementary to all Restaurant Week attendees) which tasted like a combo of baked kale chips and seasoned broccoli, fabulous. The only negative thing I have to say about the Black Bottle was the manner on which all the food came out. First came 2 plates with two sets of knives and forks in prep for the appetizers. Then only my appetizer arrived, then my boyfriend's 3 minutes later. Each plate of appetizers came with a fork and spoon (for salads?). Then halfway through appetizers came our entrees, each with another fork and spoon!, which crowded the table immensely. We had finished both the appetizers and entrees, and waited 10 minutes before receiving our broccoli (with a set of spoons...), which was a moot side dish AFTER the meal, so we boxed it to take home. We also didn't get water refills until halfway through dessert. Great little spot, great ambience, and fabulous food. Could use better service and attention to detail.
(4)
Nina H.
All my friends raved about this place so I finally decided to schedule a ladies' night here. I was very satisfied but I thought the experience could have been a little better... which is why I didn't give 5 stars. The food was absolutely delicious!!! I don't even know how to describe the type of food it was but it was definitely some kind of European, American, and Asian fusion. I especially enjoyed the kimchee pork dish (I forgot the real name) and the atmosphere. The service felt mediocre but I definitely loved the atmosphere, it felt formal but casual at the same time. Does that make sense? My lady friend and I sat at the bar and we actually didn't wait too long on a Friday night which was nice because we had five people and only had to wait like 20 minutes. The location was a little further down than most of the restaurants on 1st Avenue but that was kind of nice too.
(4)
Appy R.
Love the food and decently priced drinks.Nothing particularly healthy on the menu, so don't come here looking for that. I've been here 4 or 5 times and the ambiance has been very different - it can go from comfortable to extremely loud. Today we had the following - Oxtail (awesome) - Fried Chicken and Collards - Chicken (stir fry with lettuce) - Pesto/arugula Flatbread - Ribs - seared tuna...that was disappointing.
(4)
Katie B.
Famished after a day of traveling and lack of solid food left my mom, sister, and I wandering the streets of Seattle dying for a diamond in the rough. Low and behold the trusty Yelp App led us to Black Bottle. It was dimly lit, romantic, and had a drool-worthy menu. Minus the romantic feel, it was exactly what we needed! It's as is if it was stripped from a New York or LA moment and plopped right in front of us. I didn't get a good look at the surrounding neighborhood, but it did seem a little misplaced. Back to the food. I don't know what came over me, but I insisted on throwing out menu items that should never share table real estate. Pork belly and kimchi, broccoli, ceviche, and sausage. It was delicious while I was devouring it but I did get a little sick after the fact, not because of the quality of the food but the sheer cornucopia did not settle nicely, so don't make my mistake. The broccoli was definitely the superstar of the evening (besides the ambiance), but know ahead of time that they pile that plate high, so it's enough to share with at least 6 people. Topped the whole experience off with a couple of glasses of wine for a mighty fine first night in Seattle. I also spied a private room in the back. Sexy.
(4)
Alison V.
So I've never actually eaten in the restaurant part of this place. I have, however, been to several private events in their backroom area. I get excited every time I see an event hosted here. I just love the event space. The bartender who has been working every event I've attended in the past year and a half is nothing but friendly and knowledgeable. He impressed me at the last event I was at in personally delivering my food. The group ordered several of the flat breads (unbeknown to me) and I ordered a separate one. He made sure to bring it over to me and let me know it was the type I ordered and didn't set it with the other 5 getting brought out at the same time. The menu is good for their space as there is limited seating. However, if you do have some food brought out they don't mind if you rearrange the tables and such. They are also incredibly polite when kicking you out. Usually there is an "early" and a "later" slot for booking the room. I seem to go to events in the early slot and they're always tactful when asking people to leave and never rude about it. If you're looking for a nice place to host a soiree I'd definitely suggest considering Black Bottle!
(4)
Chelsea H.
Black Bottle was awesome! My girlfriend and I sat at the bar and started with a couple glasses of wine. We shared the Fried Chicken with Collard Greens. Perfect little app to share! I had never tried collard greens and was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness, and partnered with the fried chicken- it was amazing! We then shared a flatbread, with brie, leeks, pesto, balsamic drizzle, and piled high with fresh arugula. DELICIOUS and wonderful little place!
(5)
Amit P.
Black bottle is a nice and comfy place to hangout in Belltown. More so I like to hang out here because I live around the corner from it. I would rate it at a 3.5. The current menu is good, however previous menus were much better. I like the flat breads particularly the eggplant and mozz one. Chicken drumsticks and grilled lamb are good as well. Most of the seafood selections are off the ordinary. Drinks and desserts are the best part of the experience with the brownie and ice cream taking the cake!
(3)
Richard U.
I recently came to Black Bottle for a get together with several of my collegues from work. They feature a small plate format menu. Like most 'tapas' style restaurants, the prices can be all over the place. This place is no different as prices range from $5-$13. 3 small dishes at over 30 bucks is what I was hit with but I think I got some of the more expensive items on the menu. . It was all pretty tasty though so I was not disappointed. stuff I tried: pork belly w/ kimchi skewers ($11): oh dear! where has this been all my life! two of my fondest foods on one skewer! bacon lemon scallops($13): can't really go wrong with bacon and scallops. fried chicken with collard greens ($5): Classic soul food taste combination that really hit the spot! Also one of the more affordable items on menu The reserved back room area that we had was small and intimate. The bartender working was very nice and also served to take the food orders. I will definitley be back to try more of the menu!
(4)
Kristen A.
Came here a few years ago for happy hour with some coworkers and we had the blasted broccoli. I remember thinking it was the best broccoli I had ever had, which is a strange thought in itself. Then I saw they were participating in Seattle Restaurant Week and their three course menu came with a complimentary serving of the blasted broccoli and I couldn't say no! They are unorthodox with the way they serve the food. My friend got his drink a good 15 minutes before they brought mine. Then his first dish came 10 minutes earlier than mine. So they don't bring everything out together, like most restaurants do. But I will give it to them, it does state on the menu that once the food is ready it's brought to you and they suggest ordering what ever sounds good and just sharing it as it comes. So the best dishes we ordered were this delicious cheese crusted beet thing, bacon wrapped scallops, and a chocolate mousse that I would go to jail for. HOLY CRAP it was amazing. The best dessert I have EVER had! $100 including tax and tip for the both of us, was a heafty price to pay for a casual dinner, but the food was delicious. They would have gotten 5 stars, but I can't get over the food not coming all together, my drink taking so long to arrive, and the cost of the meal. Oh and it was REALLY REALLY dark. Like I needed a flashlight to read the menu. That takes a star away for sure. But I will totally come back. For the broccoli, scallops, and mousse.
(4)
Kevin C.
We went here after the Usher concert in Seattle. The atmosphere is amazing! The dining area is really open and expansive, it doesn't feel like you are trapped in a room. We ordered a couple flat breads, and the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flat bread blew me away. If you get one flat bread, get that.
(4)
Michael E.
This is the place you've been looking for. You should have a staple "any night of the week place," and friends, Black Bottle should probably be yours if you live in Belltown. Empower the staff to pick the wine and throw a proverbial dart at the menu and eat what you hit. It'll be great. And now that you've sampled a glass of that wine, you might as well order the bottle, it's just going to make sense at that point. Eat any of the deserts and the flat bread. And as you near the end of the bottle you've been consuming make a friend, good people are found here.
(5)
Yiling W.
Excellent spot for sitting on the sidewalk tables people-watching and sipping wine, with tasty food options and a hip but classy vibe. My friend and I split the delicious: glazed green beans with fried tofu cubes, bacon-wrapped scallops atop kale, and steak with daikon. Service was good -but not pushy or unctuous, and I suspect they covered (well) for a delay in the latent steak order well, so we were still able to get to a movie showtime (without having to tell them). Obviously, the wine selection is quite good, and per Seattle Magazine, this is one of the few places around town that have started stocking keg wine -cheaper but still delicious (and oh so trendy). I vouch for the draft chardonnay, and my sweet-toothed friend seemed to enjoy the moscato. Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes. 10/9/11: Went back again recently on a Thursday night, and I'm taking away 1 star. I went with a few friends, and the waiter was not very attentive mid-way through. We had a very hard time trying to catch some one, to the point where we decided nevermind, we would not order more, and just wanted the check (which then took a while). The place was full, but every time the waiter walked near our table, he seemed to veer away, or be blind to our existence. This was pretty frustrating, despite the delicious food and drink.
(3)
Heather H.
Black Bottle is a symphony of perfection in Seattle wine and food. There is one thing one absolutely must try its: the blasted broccoli!! I have never had broccoli as savory and crispy before - not only that but the serving is a huge plateful that I could easily eaten all to myself. Unfortunately there were other people at the table - sharing wasn't the option that night. The wine list is lengthy, but fear not because the waitstaff is excellent for suggestions and very prompt in serving the food. I really enjoyed the ambiance and crowd - there is always a consistent energy flowing (probably due to the wine). There are also smaller table in the back for a more date-like setting that are perfect. Sweet wines, savory foods, classy crowd, its all top notch!
(5)
David M.
The Ox Tail has us coming back several times, the rest of the menu is a bonus.
(5)
Tan Lo S.
I like this place. Seems more upscale. I came for HH and ordered the doppleganger, which has: " pear vodka passion fruit rum oj cran." It was something new for me, and I sorta liked it. I like the service though and the food looked good. I'll probably be back. My boss had a rising sun-rita which looked pretty cool & it was something new to me too. I enjoyed both though. Good quality service and drinks. I want to come back for the food :)
(4)
christine c.
YUM Black Bottle!! Only a few blocks from our place, this is one of our 'go to' restaurants when we want a no-fuss evening that's reasonably priced and consistently good. We also send friends from out of town there - and everyone has always loved it! Highly recommened.
(4)
Jonathan B.
I've been to Black Bottle a number of times over the last couple years and finally getting around to Yelping it. This is a great place with some amazing little dishes. This is one place that is on my "list" of places to bring friends when they come visit Seattle for the first time. It quaint, unique, can be romantic and the food is good... what's not to like. Their signature dish is the Broccoli Blasted... everybody at first is like, "why did you just order a big ol' side of broccoli?" and then they taste it and see why. I think it is covered with olive oil, salt and pepper and a little garlic and then it's baked or something such that the "tree end" parts of the broccoli are slightly burned/singed (but no burnt taste whatsoever). (Tip: put an order of this in as soon as you can, even before drinks as it takes a little longer to cook.) So I went last night, and introduced some out of town colleagues to the broccoli but also another fav of mine, the smoked chicken and dried cherry flatbread, which also has sweet caramelized onions on it. Another winner. I also tried a couple new things... the chicken laab gai which was like their version of lettuce wraps... a little spicy but definitely worth trying, I'd get it again. Lastly, we had the house smoked wild boar ribs... these were very interesting... VERY smoky flavor, like the smell of your clothes after hanging around a campfire all night... sounds weird, but I actually really liked it. The smokiness did kind of mask any flavor the meat would have had... but the meat literally was falling off the bone... I'd get this again as well. I had a couple glasses of the house wine, which is fine, I am not a wine snob. Service is good, nothing out of the ordinary, but good; friendly and efficient.
(5)
Jackie T.
The menu piqued my interest, so I had to check this place out. I was not disappointed! Service was really good - never an empty glass, our table was happy. We came here with a small group and ordered a bunch of small plates. My favorites were the crispy fried chicken and collard greens, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread and dessert - peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream. The wine (a pinot noir) was absolutely delicious and a great pairing with many of the plates. We only sampled a a tiny slice of the menu, so I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Becky G.
Wow....so glad we decided to try this place. Came on a Friday night with a group of four....TIP- Make a reservation!! This place is packed, and we did not have a reservation, so we ended up waiting over an hour for a table. (Ducked into C.S. Finnegan's next door for some excellent wine and beer while waiting!) Anyway, the wait was well worth it, because the food and ambiance were great. It is really dark, so be prepared to squint. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with suggestions. Between the four of us we ordered seven dishes...shared family style. Great progression of food throughout the night, as we finished one dish another was brought out. The Excellent: * Madeira saute and grilled halloumi cheese * Bacon lemon scallops with frizzled kale * Malbec demi glazed oxtail * Clemency (cocktail...so good) The Good: * Grilled octopus and fava beans cilantro pesto salad * Brie leek French country pesto flatbread * Seven spice shrimp The Okay: * Braised artichoke heart and greens
(4)
David X.
In the time since my last review, they've improved service considerably. Wait times now feel manageable to me and they seem to have put in place a system to make sure people aren't waiting in the cramped entryway interminably. Great food and cheap prices means that this is gets 4-stars in my book. My original update follows below. ** Subsequent visits to this restaurant have only reinforced my original review and rating. The service here is atrocious. The waiters/servers all seem like they have better things to do than provide even a modicum of consideration to its willing customers. One time I arrived to find literally 8 other people standing at the front of the restaurant, waiting near the "Please Wait to Be Seated" sign with no host/ess in sight and seemingly no employees concerned with this accruing mass of humanity. It's sad that the crappy service mars what is otherwise decent food at a good value.
(4)
Sarah A.
My husband and I went to Black Bottle once years ago for my company Christmas party, and we remembered that the food was delicious, so we decided to head there with some friends for dinner after the Husky game. We ordered four dishes between us and although they weren't quite as amazing as we remembered, we still enjoyed the food and especially the company. Here's what we got... Steamed clams in white wine broth - Unfortunately this dish was too spicy as well as bland at the same time... hard to explain. Smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread - A great choice... we loved this one! Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso - This is the dish my husband and I were drooling over the last time we came here... it was still amazing! Broccoli blasted - Previously one of my favorite dishes, this time it seemed a little overdone and had a burnt flavor we didn't love. But the best part was when the waitress brought all four of us very strong complimentary shots to celebrate my friend's birthday! That absolutely made up for any imperfections in the food... We would definitely go back!
(3)
Joe O.
Having a brother in law as a winemaker is really no help to the wine bars of Seattle. Having a wife 8 months pregnant doesn't help very much either. I have no issues with wine bars per-se but seeing that most bottles have been opened for at least 24 hours doesn't lend well to my ever improving palate. Now that's not to say I can't get a decent glass of wine from a number of restaurants in the city, I have just been forewarned that it's typically never worth it. But I digress, the food here is wonderful, the wine list is decent, service good and the fact that this place is literally half-a-block from my office certainly doesn't hurt. I guess the only reason for the three stars is because for a wine bar, the list isn't all the impressive. No Bordeaux's? What about a nice, reasonably priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape? I don't know the owners philosophy nor do I think the list is entirely awful but to call yourself a wine bar without some staples makes me wonder. Please note that this review could easily change when I come back here after the baby is born and my wife can go back to her wine guzzling self AND I see the list that has changed. But until then, this review stands.
(3)
Akio S.
Was in town for business and stumbled upon this place. The menu looked awesome so we gave it a shot. The place was pretty busy later at night which is usually a good sign. Anyways, to cut to the chase... the food wasn't bad. The Ox Tail was quite good. Oh and they charged $2 for a couple little pieces of bread... but the reason this place gets 2 stars instead of a 3 or maybe even a 4 is because the waiter was an asshole. He had a totally condescending attitude and was being a total prick. I went outside to smoke and some other customer was ranting about the same guy and how he will never be back! He had a stupid little beanie on and was wearing a plaid flannel shirt. What a bitch..... If you can put up with the bad service from that ass then give the food a shot...
(2)
Kimmy C.
I came with a group of people yesterday. Sadly I came on a full stomach and wish that I didn't. I was able to sample other people's food. Flat bread was amazing! I at least saved my stomach for dessert. I was debating between the the lemon ricotta cheesecake and the kettle tart. My friend Alice told me to get the tart because she doesn't like lemon desserts. I had the peach and blueberry kettle tart. It came with a bottle of fresh cream. The dessert was delicious! I didn't care much for the fresh cream that came with it. Not that I needed the extra calories anyways. Later I discovered that everyone was getting the kettle tart. It had this buttery crust that complemented the fruit. I probably think I just had more than 500 calories from this dessert. T_T I felt so bad after eating the dessert that I went to 24 hour fitness to work out in the morning. Tip 1: Don't skip out on the kettle tart! Its a must! Tip 2: Any flat bread!
(4)
Julie G.
I considered lowering my rating because of recent experience here. I think I'll leave it at a four for now... We ordered a big variety of dishes, every person picked one, and then we threw in a few more. I really liked the scallops, the seared tuna, and the lamb. The artichoke, however, was terrible. We didn't see cheese mentioned on the menu, but it was stuffed full of pungent cheese. Since I don't eat cheese, but love artichokes, I thought I could scape the cheese out and still enjoy it. Cheese was pungent enough to leave flavor behind, and the artichoke itself wasn't seasoned or flavored in any other way. Very disappointing. I continue to appreciate that there is a little something for everyone, although I would love for there to be full cheese-content disclosure.
(4)
Mark D.
Black Bottle is a nice place. They've got a pretty good selection of wine, I had several of the appetizers, they're decent, not great, not bad. I like the decor and the location - still close to everything in Belltown, but a little off the path from the crowded bar scene. Service was pretty snappy. My biggest complaint was the noise. For a nice, classy, fairly small wine bar, the music was blaring. Which caused the patrons to have to talk louder to hear themselves over it, which in turn made it even louder. If I want loud, I'll go a few blocks to Amber. Not really what I'm looking for in a place like this.
(3)
Laura W.
Last night my fiance and I ate at the Black Bottle before a concert at the Crocodile. I think it's a great pre-concert dinner choice, as it's close to the venue, nice but still casual, and you can get as little or as much food as you'd like. Plus, on a Wednesday night at 6:30pm we had no problem getting a table. I was actually considering coming to this place for my fiance's birthday a couple of weeks ago but decided not to, as I saw some mixed reviews on yelp with respect to both the service and the food. In my experience the service was outstanding- in addition to our own waiter there were several other people keeping an eye on the needs of our table. Everyone was very friendly and on top of making sure that we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I thought they did a great job. I also thought the food was good. We obviously had to order the blasted broccoli, as that seems to be the dish this place is known for. I thought it was incredibly good- I don't think I've ever eaten so much broccoli in one sitting. Both flavor and texture knock it out of the park. We also ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops and one of the flatbreads, which didn't blow my mind but I thought were solidly good. Finally, we ordered the calamari, which was a little too spicy for me. When I asked the waiter to bring a sauce to cut the spice he suggested sweet and sour. I thought that sounded a little weird but it was actually super good. Even if you don't need something to cut the spicy, I'd recommend asking for the sauce if you order the calamari. My fiance likes really spicy food and still thought it enhanced the flavor. Score another point for the wait staff for the suggestion. These four dishes were more than enough food for the two of us, even though we were hungry after working out. I liked the dark, pubby atmosphere as well, especially on a rainy night. Overall, I think the food is a good value for your money and this place seemed to me to be a safe casual go-to before any big night out in Belltown.
(4)
Jean Y.
Still keeping the same rating, but adding more information. When I wrote my original review, I'd been here for dinner several times. Since then, I've been back a few more times for dinner as well as private events and happy hour. The dinner menu is still strong, especially the flatbreads. What I thought was the weakest dish, the blasted broccoli, has improved. The portion size has decreased, which is good for this dish since when I'd had it in the past, there was always too much broccoli even for six people. The flavor seems to have improved as well, with the broccoli being less charred. (I used to describe it to friends as broccoli thrown into the oven with some sea salt and not enough olive oil and allowed to burn.) For private events, I recommend the back room. I've been here for both a private happy hour and an engagement party in the back room, and having the secluded area for a large group was good. I believe there is a food and beverage minimum to reserve the space, but check with the restaurant. Happy hour here isn't great. Well drinks and house wines are $4-5, but there are no food specials or discounts for drinks on the regular menu. The kitchen doesn't fully operate until 5pm, so if you come here at 4pm when Black Bottle opens, you may wait an hour for food. Still a great go-to place, especially if you live in the area.
(4)
Alyssa A.
I went here last week for Ladies Night, just to get away from the college scene. Black Bottle did not disappoint! But my wallet definitely took a hit... The taco flight for happy hour was acceptable. I don't think it was anything to get too excited about, and the carne asada one was so spicy! I had to take a break because it was seriously heated. I was disappointed with the size of the crispy fried chicken and collard greens - only two 'sticks' of chicken! A friend of mine ordered the house-smoked wild boar ribs, which was excellent. The meat just fell right off the bone! I'm a whiskey girl, and I've had whiskey sours at nearly every bar I've been to. The drink here was...okay. Not the best I've had. On a scale of 1 to "changed my life", I'd give it a solid 5. Just kind of ehh. For the happy hour price though, not too shabby. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're looking for a cozy and casual place to just chill with your friends. The ambiance is chill/mellow, and the staff are cheerful and helpful.
(3)
Henry Y.
I'm not sure why I forgot to yelp the Black Bottle, cos it was one of our very favorites on our seattle trip. (I think i wanted to write up something that did them justice, then just plain forgot. Here's my chance to redeem myself.) When we stumbled across this place a couple months ago, I think this place had three or maybe three and a half stars. People seemed to review it for the spotty service. We thought it was just a bar from the peek through the window). But we noticed the menu posted in the window, the place looked warm and inviting, and we were famished so we decided to give it a shot. We came in for a late dinner. First of all, our server was beyond fantastic and was not only attentive but not intrusive throughout our meal, but gave us sincere and well thought out suggestions for the food. The hangar steak was perfect. My gal had the sea scallops wrapped in bacon. The place was pleasantly buzzing, and we had just the most enjoyable time. I notice now their review has gone up to a four star average, so kudos to them! They probably listened and responded to the poor service complaints. We for one had the best service of all the places we tried in seattle, so count us big fans. We gotta give'em the big 5!
(5)
A.J. S.
Another place slipped by and I could have sworn I wrote a review here! Let's make it easy for the readers and bulletpoint a list of things I agree with the hundreds of people that have waxed poetic about the place before: 1. The blasted broccoli. It's the first thing I think of at this wine bar. Yes. It's that good. You get a buttload off it, and no, it doesn't make good leftovers, fyi. 2. Ohh yeah the wine is great too. Here's a chance to find something unique. 3. Small plates of greatness, flatbreads. All worth trying. 4. It's loud and crowded, servers are busy. This is not their fault. Deal with it. A definite must in the Cracktown area to try.
(4)
Brooke K.
We had a really good dinner here with friends. Easy to share and taste lots of great plates. My husband ordered 3 of their fried chicken. They worked hard to seat us as walk-in's and the drinks were all really good.
(4)
Mo M.
First off, I favor the bartenders to the wait staff on the last couple visits. If you bring a large party, be prepared to chase your service friends down. You must try the ox tail, the port selection, the martinis and the wild boar. The flavors rarely fail here - only once did I get something insanely bitter with endive that had a not-so-fresh moment, but it was replaced after a brief hunt for a missing server. Maybe it's the faucets, or the fact it's always clean (rare in Belltown establishments)...but it's impressive when I don't choose to hold it for fear of water closet nightmares. So yeah, I love the bathroom here. Black bottle is reliable, a great stand by when friends stop in from out of town on any given night of the week.
(4)
Dave L.
Great food, drinks, and atmosphere! The wild boar ribs were the best I've ever had! We also tried the caprese salad and the collard greens, they were all great. Highly recommended!
(5)
Curt R.
Had a late dinner here, on a Monday night. One of the few couples in the joint. Good mix of hip-hop over the house system. The service was attentive and didn't act like they wanted us out so they could go home even though it was pretty late. Wine on tap! That's fun. We got the oysters, wild boar short ribs (which tasted a lot like 'lil smokies oddly enough), seared yellowfin, and the grilled portobello on a bean salad. Everything was delicious and well sized. Tapas style small plates, but nothing too tiny.
(4)
Joyce T.
5 stars just for the broccoli!! This is the broccoli of my dreams! Fried chicken was divine, flatbread was excellent (though not as flat as typical flatbread), ribs were too smokey, cauliflower was over-seasoned. The vegetable portions are ginormous - similar to dish sizes at traditional Chinese family style restaurants. Feels industrial, but warm. Friendly staff. Would love to return.
(4)
Mark M.
Starting coming here since we moved to Belltown. Its about a block a way from our place. This is a great place for happy hour. They have reasonable drink prices, and their happy hour tacos are cheap and taste very good. A perfect snack for an afternoon. Their beer menu is small, they only have a few on tap. However, they have a good enough selection, that you'll find something you like. I've tried some of the brews I wasn't familiar with, and they all tasted great. For happy hour, you should be able to show up and find a table. Service was prompt, and we never had to wait much.
(4)
Kait R.
Came here for a private party. The food was very good and Paul the bartender created amazing cocktails, including a very minty mojito. Things to order: Wild Boar Ribs Hanger Steak Clams Broccoli Pork Belly Pesto Flat Bread Prosciutto Flat Bread
(4)
Sonya L.
I'd been meaning to get to Black Bottle for a long time, but somehow had never managed to eat here despite all the great reviews I'd heard. I finally went here for dinner with my friend last night and we had a GREAT time! I really dug the ambiance of the place. The dark lighting, the dark wood and brick interior, the style of the lighting - it was all very nice. The food was EXCELLENT. We split the Seven Spice Shrimp, the Green Beans & Tofu, and the arugula/tomato/basil/pesto flatbread. The shrimp were very good and had just the right amount of spice. I will note I was a little thrown off by the fried shrimp heads that were also on the plate, but they tasted just fine. I was a big fan of the green beans and tofu, though I wish the accompanying sauce had been drizzled more over the beans (and not just under the beans) because it was delicious. The flatbread was likely the best part of the meal - an excellent combination of flavors and I almost wanted to eat the entire thing myself! I also had the house pinot grigio ($4 at happy hour) and it was quite good. Our waitress was attentive but not intrusive. Our water glasses were constantly being refilled. The food came out very promptly. We were able to have a nice, long, two-hour dinner without being rushed along or pressured in any way. It was a very nice experience. I'd definitely like to go here again and I would, without a doubt, recommend Black Bottle to others!
(5)
Courtney T.
I had an excellent experience at the Black Bottle last night. I made a reservation for 6pm for 4 people and we ended up being a bit late because of traffic. No matter, one of the people from our party was able to secure the table and they went ahead and sat him even though we all were not there yet, which I thought was nice. The ambiance of this place was really cool, yet casual. It is dimly lit with exposed brick walls. Classy without being overwraught. I ordered a wine "on tap," which was a really interesting drink. It was a Pinot Grigio that was tapped like beer and had a little fizz to it. My sister in law ordered one as well and we both agreed that it was very refreshing and crispy. In general, they had a good drink menu and I think anyone could find something for them. The menu is setup so that it is easy to share a few dishes. We started off with the clams in white wine sauce. My sister in law told me she thought they were the best clams that she has ever ordered in a restaurant, and my brother in law said he thought they were good but just ever so slightly overcooked. My husband and I both agreed they were delicious. The second thing to come out was the spicy shrimp, which was amazing. The shrimp tails were meaty and prepared with a little kick, and then the heads were fried up and super tasty. We also ended up getting the oxtail ribs, which were VERY good because they had a great smoked flavor and just fell off the bone. We also got two of their flatbreads, the smoked chicken cherry and the mozzarella argula, and we really enjoyed those as well. I wish we could have stayed for dessert. The service was very fast and we will be back again. Great evening, great food. great place.
(5)
ramiro t.
I love this place.. One of my favorites in Seattle. I been here so many times and i am always happy to come back.. Great small dishes and solid drinks. Can recommend everything here. My favorites are the Hanger Steak, Spicy shrimp, Ceviche, Octopus salad, fried olives and many others. Can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Megan G.
Simply put, this place is a must! The menu is inspired, and the cocktails change up every season, so there is always something new to try (and they'll still make your old favorites). Every single item on the menu is devine, crafted with care daily from fresh and local ingredients. You will not go wrong by coming here, the service, the lighting, the simple yet tasteful decor. People of all ages, and of all kinds eat here. This is a great date spot. You can wear jeans, or be fancy. This place is amazing, and shame on you if you don't try it. You're the one missing out. My favorites on the menu include wild boar ribs, hummus and sumac, chicken and cherry flatbread, blasted broccoli, and bacon lemon scallops. Also quite popular is the oxtail. Please eat here, it shall not disappoint.
(5)
Lisa M.
I have been here at least a dozen times over the years but don't come here that often because it's in the heart of Belltown and I'm a Cap Hill gal, but when I do I'm always treated to good food, service & a good selection of wine to accompany it. Black Bottle is better with friends who like to share or even a small group because then you can try more of their small plates. If you come with a group I would try to make reservations. But I was here on a Saturday at 5pm and had no problems getting seated right away. Try the mussels marseille. I always order one of the flatbreads as well because it's great for sopping up the delicious broth from the mussels. The mussels come with some bread, but it goes quickly. Today we had the flatbread with brie and leaks, so delicious! Another good one on the menu is the crispy fried chicken and collard greens. You get two skewered fried chicken pieces with really delicious collard greens. Just enough to wet your appetite. I think the last time I went with friends we ordered extra rounds of this one. I recommend checking it out for happy hour or in the earlier hours before it gets really busy.
(4)
Ritika V.
Alrite - by far black bottle is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. no wonder i decided to get a place a block away or maybe it was just destiny. ;) Their menu is so diverse that i want to almost eat everything on the menu. Their masala chicken drumsticks and my boyfriend's (and my) all time favorite - soft slow roasted chicken in lovely warm spices! Their mustard sausages - succulent! Their smoked pork - best smoked flavor in the area! The laab gai has an amazing spicy kick.. juicy meat in crisp lettuce. Get's my mouth watering every time i think about it. for the price - this place has an amazing menu. Contemporary and eclectic! And - it just always hits the spot!
(5)
Demonica M.
Great place to share a bunch of plates with friends. I was most impressed with the lemon ricotta cheesecake with lavender crust. TO DIE FOR! I love lemon desserts but don't like them too tart or sour. The cheesecake had just a hint of lemon and lavender was just enough to make this dessert taste very "fresh" and light. The steak is tasty and the veggies are not doused in salty sauces. I'd love to go back a few more times and see if I can revise this review and give it 5 stars. We were seated next to a very loud customer who was literally yelling to friends during dinner - and the acoustics are conducive to bouncing that sound straight to us. Maybe next time it'll be a bit more quiet.
(4)
Christian M.
Really need to be able to separate the difference between the food, atmosphere and service here. The latter is the only thing holding this review down. One of the more comfortable restaurants in town that has a good vibe but still allows you to have conversations with your group. However the service in my visits here is always off. I've never been in food service but i would think when a table has no drinks and no food on it, with my tips based largely on what diners consume, that i might want to stop and see what they want. Definitely room for better service but the reason to come back despite the dice roll on service is the food. When you have the attention of your server they are phenomenal so it may be an issue of simply being understaffed. The kitchen at this place has it together even if the people you see out front don't. Blasted broccoli is amazing my only issue is that you can't get a half order. I like broccoli but you need four people to even attempt to eat this dish with anything else. Every flat bread i've had here has been good but the real reason to order them is to soak up sauces from other dishes. The star of the menu to me is the malbec demi-glazed oxtail. So tender you only need your fork. The savory reduction of a sauce i would lick of the plate if it wasn't for the roomful of diners around the restaurant. All in all solid but better service would easily take this place to four star. If you've never been here, happy hour is a great idea as they have smaller portions of a number of items on the full menu. Wine menu is tremendous as well.
(3)
Lindsey T.
I have a love/hate relationship with Black Bottle - I love the food, I hate the service. Time and time again I have received horrible service here and yet I continue to return because the food is quite good at the price point. If your able to sit at the bar I highly recommend it as the service you'll get will be much better then at a table. Favorite dish: blasted broccoli (don't let the fact that it's a vegetable deter you) Favorite drink: Ketle martini w/ a twist
(3)
Jeff F.
why five stars??? fresh sardines namban, great atmosphere, mussels marseille-style, small shared plates that aren't too small, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries and great drinks. This is the kind of place you can go and have a drink, couple apps and springboard to dinner somewhere else or you can come in keep ordering throughout the night because the food and atmosphere is that good; and be two bottles deep before you know it
(5)
Amanda P.
This place is great. My bf had eaten here before with friends and told us it was great. We went with a group of 6, each person ordering about 2 dishes. I loved that they came out one at a time or a couple at a time so everyone could share. I would say my favorite was the lamb dish and the broccoli blast. The clams were awesome and the flatbread was crazy good too. We also ordered the ox tail which I had never had before and I'll just say this; my expectations are now REALLY high for ox tail. I don't think I will be able to order it anywhere else. Prices are reasonable for what you get and the atmosphere is fun and funky. Giving this an A+!
(5)
ruthy g.
I came here with a large group so we were able to try a lot of the menu options...none of them dissapointed! Everything was SO flavorful. The place was PACT so I'd suggest getting there early or making reservations!
(5)
Mailani W.
Located fittingly on Vine and 1st, the space is suave, urban, and almost sultry. Open only for dinner, and curiously have quite a bit of seating, and more in the back where larger groups gather. No hostess, and by default, turns into a lounge-type self-seating policy. So you meander through the restaurant and stake claim at a table of your choice, but getting a server to notice your party is another story. I'll get back to that. Let's talk food. I was getting dreamy visions of the crunchy fried chicken n collard greens, house smoked ribs. It was disastrous. Over-breaded chicken turned soggy and collard greens with no jazz. Oh and the ribs? It was smoky alright and dry as hell. Oprah and her team would have filed a defamation lawsuit for that BS. The flat bread gave all of us sad-face for how uninspiring it was. Think oblong, thick crust pizza w/dried cherries on top. The fried tofu w/peanut sauce (wtf ugh..) Only could get away with that kinda bull in Belltown with reeally dim lighting. PERHAPS chef could use: Nuoc cham, sweet chili sauce, plum+peanut sauce combo would have complimented the marvelous, fluffy fried tofu. The ever popular Broccoli on blast. I ate this after the ribs, and they share the same exact seasoning rub on the broccoli as well. The concept is wonderful, but like many dishes the broccoli gets dumbed down. Why does it need to be so goddamn salty!?! Glass of Pinot Gris wine I had was pleasant. Bacon wrapped in scallops were a safe bet. The waitstaff, leaves much to be desired (seriously). If you're not an attractive server, at least be competent, and if that is a stretch please be charming and wear something that covers the armpit area. Thank you.
(3)
Sabrina F.
Wine bar with Eurasian fusion tapas-style plates. Portions are generous. Rocky and I shared four plates between the two of us and were very full. Everything was pretty delicious. Lots of fresh spice and tasty garnishes. The grilled portabella and butter bean salad was my favorite - tossed with lots of roasted garlic and fresh dill; light but very flavorful. Dark, industrial interior was cool. Atmosphere is intimate and casual. Staff was friendly. Only dislike was the weird cyclops-ish light display on the back wall. A little tacky and trying-to-hard, but really, I'm just being a snob. Overall, this was a really nice spot for dinner and drinks.
(4)
Blake D.
Last night, a few friends and I were in need of a nice, loungish venue to grab a drink in the Belltown area. We arrived around 11:30 PM and had no trouble getting a table in the 3/4 full dinning area. We tried a bit of everything (Gin Martini, Scotch on the Rocks, Rioja, and Espresso) and it all turned out great! Now all I need to do is try the food!
(4)
Justin P.
Broccoli. Might not be the marketing juggernaut the people at Black Bottle expected, but DAMN the $8 broccoli dish they have is amazing! Overall I really enjoy this place. It's got a nice vibe to it- not overly trendy, rather subtlety hip with a touch of class : ) Food is pretty good. Lots of great dishes to share with your friends, good wine selection and pretty good service. The only cons are parking and trying to actually get into the restaurant past 6pm (always busy!).
(4)
Catrina N.
I have to give Black Bottle 3 stars for two reasons. I do love their food and ambiance, but they have messed up TWICE when I was going there with large groups. So, a friend wanted to have her bachelorette party at Black Bottle this past summer. Some of her guests were under age. Fine, we called ahead and booked the special room, and the restaurant was responsible for getting the permit to allow the minors in. No problem, this all took place months in advance. They called THE DAY of the bachelorette party to tell us that they had neglected to get the permit. So, we had to relocate. NOT COOL. Next, we were going back for a friends birthday with a reservation for 19, and the woman over the phone assured my friend that everything was going to be fine the day before. They call back the day of and tell her that they MAY NOT be able to accommodate our party. They ended up being able to do it, but that was after a great deal of stress about trying to relocate our party of nearly 20. It ended up being a great meal. They say it is "tapas style"....but it is more like really, really large portion tapas. Tapas are supposed to be 3-4 bites, these dishes come out full. Another girl and I ordered three of them...and there was more than enough to share! The wine list was pretty good, it was inclusive of most types of wine (varietals, if you're a wino). The food highlights were: *broccoli blasted: don't kid yourselves, folks, this broccoli is delicious, but blasted in butter or oil! but delish! * potato wrapped in prosciutto. OMG. comfort food at its finest! *sashimi grade tuna served with heaping scoops of edamame. It was thinly sliced and seasoned just right. all and all, i would visit again, but not with a big group!
(3)
Sarah C.
Black Bottle is pretty sexy. Dark, mysterious, candle lit ambience. Great selection of red wine- CHECK Diverse menu of small plates- CHECK Affordable- CHECK Handsome, attentive waiter- CHECK Great time catching up with girl friends- CHECK One of Sarah's favorites- CHECK Notes: Belltown parking is always tough. Comes with the territory. Also, this place is pretty busy- plan ahead. and if you want a quiet setting, may not be your place. Lots of laughter & banter. GOOD TIMES. :)
(5)
Jonathan R.
To get the best experience, go during the week. Although this place is very popular it is way too damned loud and has too many greasers during the weekend. If its a calm evening, the night can be fantastic and I've had too many good times here to give it anything less than 4 stars. Pros: Great Wine, Great Food, Nice Staff Cons: Too much wine + too much food = large bill I've gotten quite a few glasses of wine and desserts on the house here, and they didn't even have to screw anything up for them to do so. Black Bottle is always a place to go to when you need a solid night out where you won't feel over-dressed or under-dressed.
(4)
Marc U.
3.5 Stars Service was pretty good, our waitress gave good recommendations and I appreciate that she had an opinion - I think the best things we had were the flatbreads and the Pork Belly.
(3)
Nick G.
I've seen Black Bottle packed out from the stack out pretty much every Saturday night since I was born. Jolly people laughing through the window made me wonder if I too, would ever be as merry as the select few I saw wining, dining, and refining their dates. So I figured I'd take the plunge during their happy hour. I tried their house red which was a little too fruity for my taste at $4/pop. My friend tried a cocktail and it was surprisingly strong which was a big thumbs up for $5. Unfortunately none of their food was on the happy hour menu. We tried the Seven Spice Shrimp (which paired well with my fruity house wine), the steak, and the brie flatbread. The food was actually pretty good but when it comes to a full blown meal I'd probably go elsewhere as we spent about $50 total (you can usually get a little more bang for your buck). On the upside, it's a good establishment that had some good vibes on rotation - 90's R&B and Rap. I'll probably return for wine only and another taste of the Brie Flatbread. Cheers!
(4)
Amber H.
I just held my graduation party in their backroom. Paul, the event coordinator bartended himself and was delightful. He quietly placed champagne in everyone's hands just in time for a lovely toast by my sweet. The space is sparse and bright with little tables that kept most comfortable. The menu? Delectable! My sweet arranged for food to be brought in at intervals so that the munching continued all night. There were so many good things, I couldn't list them all but you MUST try the broccoli and the cheesecake! I'll be looking for more occasions to rent the space...
(5)
Brandon C.
Great food incognito. The natural soy marinated hangar steak with daikon radish and shiso leaf is an amazing play on Japanese flavors. The mussels are out of this world and the broccoli and vegetable verjus dishes tempt me to go vegetarian... but no. The bartenders are good guys and they know their stuff. All in all great place. Occasionally there are inconsistencies in the food preparation, but we're talking a variance between OMFG that's awesome and holy shit that's good. Bravo black bottle, bravo.
(5)
Michelle B.
Generally when I go out to a dinner I have a strict "you must share your food with me" policy. It is a reciprocal policy. It requires a certain amount of discussion to take place before ordering to ensure the perfect combination of food is ordered and that everyone at the table is happy. This does not happen at Black Bottle Bistro. I am ordering the Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce and I am not sharing with you. Not even a bite. Forget it. Order your own! The rest of the menu is tasty, but nothing that makes me forget my manners, and horde my food. They offer a comprehensive wine list, and if that's not your thing, the bartenders are more than competent. Black Bottle is simply beautiful. And I'm not just saying that, it's simple, and therefor it's beautiful. It's also a touch industrial without being cold. A great overall atmosphere that couldn't have been easy to put together - bravo to them. Pull together a group, order some small plates, and stay away from my Flat Bread or I'll cut you!
(4)
Stefanie H.
This was our first time here, meeting up with some friends from out of town and planning on having a good time. We all ordered drinks, some grub and shared some laughs. Here's where it gets bad. The food comes out sporatically...I realize there were 8 of us, but there had to be a better way to plan on how the food came out. The portion sizes were small small small. Don't get me wrong the sausages we had were delish, but really you only serve 3 small sausages, an undressed side salad and thats it?! No bread or anything else? Not a meal. We ordered the broccoli which is highly recommended here on Yelp...uhh I think I'll pass the next time. It's really not all that great, ours seemed burnt and over seasoned. have I mentioned yet how expensive they are? Uhh...for 4 beers (2 of which were gross), the 3 tiny sausages and the broccoli added up to a whopping $52!!! WHAT?!! That was including gratuity since we had a bigger group, but still...not worth that amount at all. Needless to say, I will never go back there ever again. I'd prefer the $5 hotdog stands over this place anyday.
(1)
Pauline L.
3.5 Great trendy ambiance - dim lights, minimal decor, and loud music. Fun, if not exactly intimate. I was looking forward to the food and drinks here, given the stellar reviews both on Yelp and in the Lonely Planet guide. I was mildly disappointed with the food we ordered - definitely good, but not great. We got the highly recommended broccoli blasted, the hanger steak, and the chicken & dried cherry flatbread. I don't think I knew what the expect regarding the broccoli, but when I saw an enormous plate of broccoli arrive, I thought "Dear God, how are we ever going to finish this?" At first bite, I felt like I was chewing on crispy broccoli soaked in salt & garlic. I could see it as sort of a salty snack to munch on, but not something I'd want to scarf down as an entree. "Salt" was the theme of the evening; not to be confused with flavor. It tasted like there was too much salt in the food - even in the hanger steak, which actually had a very nice tender texture to it. The red sauce (wine?) it came in didn't quite mask its saltiness either. I liked the sweet and tartness of the chicken and cherry flatbread, which offset our other courses. We finished the dinner with a peach and blueberry kettle tart, which comes to you exactly as it's stated: in a kettle. And it's tart. I ordered the sweet plum vodka drink, while my friend sipped a Pinot Noir, which was surprisingly quite strong. Though not the "gourmet" and eclectic dining experience I had hoped for, Black Bottle is a cool place to relax for some casual dining or bar/lounge food. Fun drinks and food that won't break the bank; you definitely get more than you can handle with that broccoli dish!
(3)
Marina H.
I have been here on dates, I have been here on business dinners - equally delicious and pleasant! Black Bottle is a hip, loud and packed venue, so, unless you have reservations, skip it past 9pm on weekends. The menu of small plates is carefully selected and paired with wine - just ask your server for pairing advice! Like a true wine bar they have fried olives and roasted veggies on the menu, which makes me all nostalgic about wine bars in Bilbao.
(4)
Allie W.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend who lives in the area, and was not disappointed! The hostess quickly found space in the back room for our "no reservations" party of six, and our waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. Our group ordered 11 dishes (including two desserts), and our stand out items were: - Blasted Broccoli (seriously, quite possibly the tastiest broccoli I've ever had) - Wild Boar ribs: men folk in the group were raving - Fried chicken and collard greens - Lemon curd ricotta cheesecake with lavender crust Wouldn't order again: - Chicken flat bread with dried cherries - too much bread - Cumin pork tenderloin - dry - Lamb kepab/skewer - not much lamb, and too much hummus/olives/pita Overall, a very tasty and reasonably priced place. I read some comments about waiter attitude, but that wasn't our experience yesterday. Friendly, low-key, helpful. Recommend!
(4)
Garret A.
This might not be Kosher, but I am going to put a 4 star review up here not based so much on the two times I have dined here, (during which it earned the 4 starts) but rather because I have come in here after getting completely sauced at other establishments and been a complete douche bag. 4 stars to the bar tender for serving me and not tossing my ass out when I slammed my fist on your zesting lime at the bar. Jesus, i'm still embarrassed.. :-(
(4)
Kay C.
I've been here many times - for food, just drinks, or both and I've been impressed overall. The food is still good, very reasonably priced and good sizes to share. I liked the chicken drumsticks (very tender and flavorful), flank steak, chicken larb gai, etc. The flatbreads are decnet too and very big. 2 people can get 3 dishes and be very full. I like the list of wine but I am not a wine connoisseur by any means. The only con is the place is always super packed - make sure to sit at the bar, the service is much faster there if you are eating.
(5)
Reese C.
I went there last night with a friend and it was so yummy! :) The prices are very reasonable and we ordered the olive flatbread with brie.....Fried tofu with peanut dipping sauce, potatoes and cauliflower curry and the ceviche (wasn't my favorite dish, too many tomatoes and the fish was barely visible).....I ordered a delicious IPA and my friend had a lovely red wine....The lighting is nice and dim and relaxing and the waitstaff is really on top of it without being overbearing......My only recommendation would be if they added some pomme frites with dipping sauces on the menu....I was craving that last night and it would have been a nice addition.....I would go back there for sure, maybe next time on a date!!!! :)
(4)
J C.
I'll be returning to Black Bottle soon enough, but I wanted to let everyone know that Black Bottle has since remedied the situation I spoke of in my last review. Good for you, B.B.
This is by far the only place in Belltown that I actually miss, if you've read my review of Amber you'll know that I'm not a fan of the places that are basically venues for sword fights. Black Bottle is ahead of the rest since you can have a great meal, chill at the bar and dive into an extensive wine selection. I'd highly recommend getting here around 7 on a Saturday evening, snagging a spot at the bar and spending the evening having good drinks in a trendy but not douche baggy (is that even a word?) atmosphere. The flat bread selection is really good and I thought the bottle of Malbec my friend and I got was excellent.
(4)
S. Alicia S.
Pinot gris', lamb with hummus and mini choux pastries for dinner. Excellent presentation and portions. Great music and service. And no long lines to wait in on a Monday night. I may have to become brand loyal.
(5)
Micky B.
Ok that place have great food but I saw a cockroach once so that turn me off but the staff were great and paid the meal
(4)
Jonathan T.
Rarely do I go for places that are offering a 'fusion' version of a kinda traditional cuisine concept---9 times outta 10 it's overpriced dog slop paraded out on reduction and demiglace bullshit with some self-absorbed self-congratulatory pretentious crowd that seems to quite enjoy this mediocre experience. So, 'Fusion Tapas?' Upon my first visit here, I was skeptical. Now, virtually every time I'm in Sea-town, I come here. Last nite was another visit, and as usual, this place delivered. VERY CROWDED on a Tues nite, but I managed to squeeze into the last lone bar spot for some drink and grub. By 11 pm or so, the place had started to clear out a bit, which made for a more chill vibe until closing....NO, I had no intention to stay til closing, but sometime, yah know, one just gets engrossed in one of those rare once-in-a-long-while discussions. Luckily, I ordered up 2 excellent dishes to pass the time and feed the gullet-- The Bacon Lemon Scallops with Kale and the Roasted Veggies Verjus. Obviously the dishes are better shared, b/c when the food came out, I was astounded at how much you get, at $12 and $9 respectively, dang this is alot o' fuggin' food! The veggies were a varied collection of turnips, asparagus, squash, peppers, etc...a huge heaping mound of goodness that I somehow devoured, not thinking myself THAT hungry. Quick work was also made of the perfectly cooked scallops and tender bacon, given some good cover under the kale pillows. Friendly staff behind the bar made it a really great experience, and reminded me why a stop here whenever I'm in town is most excellently worthwhile! DONE.
(5)
Brandon G.
I pick my wife up from work at 9 pm all week, and every time I drive by here, even on say a Monday or Tuesday night, it is packed, so we stopped in to check it out. As mentioned in other reviews, its unclear whether you seat yourself or wait. They should stick up a sign or something to clarify. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced. She offered detailed descriptions of items we were interested in and good suggestions. We had several dishes but the flatbread with the tomatoes, pesto, and arugula really stood out for me. In a way where I couldn't stop thinking about it for a week and needed to go back and get to-go orders to keep me right in the head. We got some funky lemon/cheesecakish/lavender crust desert thing that was unique and tasty. My wife became a little obsessed with this one. Good times, decent food, great service, open late, reasonable prices. We'll be back... Cheers!
(4)
Katy B.
Came here on my anniversary and had some wine and shared many of the veggie dishes which where all very good and has so much flavor.
(4)
Christina S.
Love this place....and miss it. I moved up to Seattle for 2 years(2006-2008 )and during my time a local introduced me to Black Bottle. I frequented this establishment due to the intoxicating atmosphere and I brought every visitor to Seattle here as 1st destination. I am recommending Black Bottle to all who visit Seattle...wine list fabulous, the cherry chicken flat bread...:) and the service was above& beyond..
(5)
Danielle C.
For my first dinner in Seattle, I was very pleased with Black Bottle. Arrived around 6:30 on a Friday night and the front bar area was pretty packed. I had a drink and chatted up a nice stranger for a bit until my friends arrived. My party of 3 was seated promptly and our gluten free buddy was given a special menu (+1 for dietary diversity!) We ordered a arugula and tomato basil pesto flatbread pizza, crispy fried chicken and collard greens, chilled beet gratin, pork tenderloin, and the blasted broccoli. The Good: The flatbread pizza was awesome very fresh with a touch of sweetness. The chicken and collard greens were a southerner's delight, but a the greens were slightly over cooked. The OK: The beets were well spiced and cooked, but the sauce was a bit heavy. The pork was a tad dry. The Missing: Dude, our blasted broccoli NEVER CAME! As in, during the entirety of our 2 and a half hour meal, it never appeared! Our waitress didn't notice until we asked her about 20 minutes after the rest of our food was served, and then she "put in a rush order", but it still never came. Super disappointed as this was supposed to be the signature dish :( 3 stars for good food, could have been 4 or more if the blasted broccoli showed up to the party.
(3)
Stacy Y.
Black Bottle never failed us - Tonight was 5th visit to this awesome belltown restaurant and the food, atmosphere, and wine are just exactly what we expected. Consistency makes them a great restaurant choice for any night or occasion. Our usual dishes are hanger steak (Asian flavor - with daikon and soy sauce, this is Frank's favorite dish all time) , pork belly with kimchi (slightly sweet sauce with fatty pork on sticks, very flavorful), grilled portabella (my favorite, grill to perfection and served with butter bean salad... mushroom is chewy and juicy), smoke chicken and sun dried cherry flat bread (again: yum-o). All of them are delicious - not a thing to complain. Dishes are bigger than the usual tapas so it's great to share. 3 of us shared 5 dishes (we also tried cumin pork tenderloin tonight) and a bottle of red, the bill comes to 90.00 which is reasonable. One thing I do like to see some improvement on is the service. Service tonight is prompt but not memorable. Fortunately the food is outstanding so it doesn't bother us as much. Great place for date and gathering. Tip - make reservation and request to sit in the outer room (inner room is hot) and a bigger table so you have room for all the plates to share.
(5)
Swim K.
I once held a party at the Black Bottle. I was treated fine and space was the right size for the event. The only down part was that the food was just okay and the lighting was a wee bit dark for my event. Again, that's a me problem, not a Black Bottle problem. This is a super Belltown type place and great for the atmosphere. I will return.
(4)
Mallorie S.
The ambiance is a 5, but the execution of the food is lacking. A friend and I ordered the clams in the white wine sauce they were bland and got cold very quickly, we also ordered the Prosciutto and potato pinwheels were so unfavorably salty. Yes prosciutto is supposed to have a salty flavor being that it is a cured meat however I felt like I ordered a salt lick with the light flavor of potatoes. The drinks were yummy, we ordered the clemency ( vodka with blood orange) and the house sangria. I don't think I would go for the food ever again. But the drink menu was innovative and delicious.
(3)
Andrew C.
Hey... You just HAVE to try the Broccoli Blasted here!! JFK! cause a million other people already wrote about this dish. In fact I think I feel a relapse of my childhood broccoli-hate coming on just from reading these reviews! And I love broccoli! On that note... the Broccoli Blasted was delicious... So was the chicken / cherries flatbread. I regret that i did not get to try everything else on the menu. It is definitely one of the best-looking menus I have ever read. Anyway, get there early if you want good service, and drink fast... before the place fills up. And if you are not in the mood to go to a fancy, dark place like this, I still recommend walking past it at some point during your evening and staring at / otherwise distracting people sitting outside and having romantic evenings. UPDATE: Just gave this place an extra star for a few reasons. One is the awesome sangria. The other is the awesome people watching potential. I went here on Saturday night, and saw some hilarious stuff. There was a group of about 20 kind that tried to get in but there wasn't enough room for all of them, so 2 of them drank at the bar for about 45 minutes while the rest stood outside and huddled and got rowdy. This was fun to watch. About half an hour later, we saw four tiny asian girls in really short skirts almost get run over by a douchbag trying to turn down a one way street going the wrong way. The girls all preceded to scream at the top of their lungs and curse at the douche. Never a dull moment in BellTown.
(4)
Gabe B.
This place oozes class and sophistication and has a sexy steam punk feel to it. The heavy tables and furniture, the fusion menu of cultures on the menu and more importantly the wonderful happy hour till 6pm! Do: Get there before 6pm for happy hour and take a date here! You'll get nice brownie points! Don't: Expect to get away with a small tab, this place is swanky and has a price to go with it.
(5)
Andrew B.
OMG extremely disappointing. Food = bland. Service = error-fraught. Crowd = doughy and dull. The only saving grace was the cognac-based mixed drink. Not going back. BB has lost the luster it used to have.
(1)
A B H.
Six stars? Their food is GREAT, surprising because they have so many different varieties of food. AND they have a "food allergy" menu, so all the goodies are sorted by lactose free, or wheat free, or gluten free. AND the plates are BIG. Order the curried potatoes and cauliflower. Fabulous. I also love love their drinkies. Luksosowa vodka martini. Delish. The service is always great, and the atmosphere is fun too.
(5)
Veruca S.
The one and only experience I had at Black Bottle was... my friend and I were out for a fun evening. After El Gaucho we stopped across the street at Black Bottle...where we sat for 20 minutes at the bar without so much as being acknowledged. No matter how long we looked directly at the bartenders; nothing.
(1)
Liz L.
Went there again recently-after being in the neighborhood! and completely different...Service was better than last time our server was awsome! ! This time around I would go back again and again :)
(5)
Lor B.
Still loving the BB! Had a "vino, apps, and dessert "night for my bday yesterday and our experience was still 4 stars. Still can't get over my favorite apps: Eggplant & Mozarella flatbread & Kim Chee Pork (awesome)! The warm chocolate cake with vanilla (complete with bday candles) was just as good as my last visit. Vino pricing is so affordable (good bottles $34 -$36 each) that we were able to order several bottles of Malbecs & Moscati Di Asti for our party. Definitely a better option than the belltown bar hop scene. Still unsure if this is a dinner destination. But drinks and apps are definitely a "must' here. Here's another tip: For our party of 20 there was no minimum and we were able to take up half of the back room. They also just opened another section if you want an event that is more private.
(4)
Mike J.
Went and had a fun night out. Service and food were OK on a hectic night. However, our server, Megan, added some extra $$$ on to our credit card after we signed and left (an 18% tip was left). bad, bad, bad...
(3)
Joysha F.
I'm not a wine drinker but I went here a few times with friends and a friend's birthday so I'm solely reviewing the food which is why it's only 4 stars... We tried the mussels marseille-style, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread, and portobello grilled and butter bean salad. Mussels were cooked just right and the sauce was so delicate. The flatbread reminded me of Neapolitan-style pizzas but with cherries?! Nice sweet/tart touch! Portobellos are great own and so grilling it with some more veggies was a light way to end a meal :) I didn't have wine but I did have a cocktail. Plum Vodka?! Surprisingly good!!!
(4)
John H.
The octopus is SO tasty but the bacon scallops are THE best. The wine list is superb. And the candle lighting makes for a killer atmosphere. If the service was a bit more friendly this would be a five star. Still highly recommended!
(4)
Liz R.
I've been wanting to come here for a long time, probably since I walked by the place the first week I was in Seattle (2 years ago...). Well, I finally made it, and now I'm hitting myself over the head for not walking in sooner. The place just looks like it's going to have good food (particularly if you look at the food, it also happens to be beautifully presented). It's one of those sparsely decorated places where the food really stands out. It's bright and colorful, and smells great. It's also a fun place to eat. We ordered food to share, and I'd say each portion was about the right amount for 4 people each to get a decent taste. They're larger than tapas, but still large enough that you probably want to order more than one per person. Our table of 5 (4 of which were men, yes, it was a good night) ordered 8 dishes which seemed about right (actually, we ordered 7, but there was a mix-up with the order so we also received a chicken dish they thought we ordered on the house). All of the food we ordered was good, some of it was very good and inventive. The blasted broccoli which looked like someone went at it with a blowtorch was fabulous. Our mussels were perfectly cooked, but the sauce was just alright. I would have liked to see more bread served with the dishes, particularly the ones with sauces and dips. Things you should order: Wine (it is a wine bar after all), blasted broccoli, and at least one of the flatbreads.
(4)
Chris P.
Great for the crowd and the style of restaurant. I would give it 4 or maybe 5 stars for that. It is always busy and it would be my favorite social wine bar if they would improve the food a bit. The food varies from 4-star to 2-star quality. The portion sizes are perfect I think. The flatbread dishes are good if the bread was not rock hard and stale. They should supply a hammer and chisel to cut into it. I think they cook the bread days in advance and let it sit unwrapped for a long time. I know it's supposed to be a bit dense, but it's just not right. The combinations are not bad however. If they would fix the bread issue, or use a different type of bread altogether that's fresher and tastier instead of stale cracker bread, I would like it a lot more. The shrimp is decent - has a nice spice to it, and the blasted broccoli is quite good.
(3)
Julia L.
New favorite restaurant...amazing food with a lot of depth of flavor and great atmosphere
(5)
Aubrey A.
bacon wrapped scallops with wilted kale. very good flavors. side of flatbread. nothing to complain about. chocolate mouse torte with pistachio chili brittle. rich but not overly so. local beer. good atmosphere. not too noisy. worth future visits.
(4)
Tasha W.
I don't often have an orgasmic response to grilled vegetables. However the parchment baked herbed veggies here are truly amazing. Among my other favorites: prosciutto flatbread, clams, fried tofu. I have never disliked anything here. Sure the service can be slightly slow and there is almost always a wait but that's to be expected in belltown. I did once come here in the summer when the air conditioning was broken. It's a testament to how much I love this place that as I was willing to sweat through my meal.
(5)
Judith S.
6 months later, my friends and i still talk about the Black Bottle fondly. I reserved a long booth/table in the back room for my birthday party and had a great time. Actually, we had such a great time (wine and all) that I managed to forget one of my presents on the table! The next day, I withstood the rain to make it back to the restaurant because one of the servers actually dug through the trash to find it for me! After I called to see if my earrings were left on the table, they offered to get their hands dirty in search for my lost treasure and actually found them in the little box they came in. *Sigh of relief.* Black Bottle has a classy & comfortable ambiance with zesty, interesting plates to share tapas-style. This is a great place to come with a group. We were about 10 people, which made for a fun variety of dishes to share. Everyone found several dishes they liked and many commented on the surprising lack of unlikable food. Yes, the blasted broccoli was exciting (garlic is always exciting).
(4)
candice s.
Food was good. Service was polite and present. Had fun and liked the atmosphere. Very typical Seattle spot.
(4)
Shoshana D.
On my recent visit to Seattle I liked the food at Black Bottle so much I went twice (each time to a different location). Everyone raves about the broccoli blasted, and I agree it's very good, but what I found the most amazing was the roasted veggie platter and the 7 minute eggs with spicy tobiko.
(4)
Tiffany M.
Stuffed full of sushi and looking for a place to grab a glass of wine + dessert, I found Black Bottle using Yelp Mobile. I'm so glad we bucked up to the challenge to go for dessert despite us having to roll ourselves down the street, 'cuz this was a great find! The vibe of the place is clean & modern w/ dark wood & high ceilings throughout. The back room's wall decorations were a little rando, but the overall space was nice. 3 of us ordered the Chocolate Cake & Vanilla Gelato and love, love, LOVED it. I was in heaven! The other 2 girls went for the Pear Sorbeto and Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake w/ Lavender Crust and left their plates spotless. My Lunetta Prosecco was just right and had me set for the rest of the night. Doing a once over on the dinner menu had me wishing I hadn't had dinner (for ex: Smoked Chicken & Sun-Dried Cherry flatbread, Caprese Skewers w/ fresh Oregano). I'd love to come back here again.
(4)
Koriann B.
Okay Black Bottle. You've redeemed yourself. After a disastrous birthday party (see previous reviews) I was hesitant to return. But, with a friend in town and armed with the gift certificate, we gave it a shot. It started off shaky... We had reservations at 7:45 and when we showed up, the host told us it would be about five minutes before we got out table. That's fine... five minutes isn't a big deal. But when we hadn't been seated after 20 minutes, I ask about our table. The host had forgotten us and seated people ahead of us. I was... irritated, to say the least. My boyfriend and my visiting friend tried to keep me calm. After all, as far as I was concerned this was the make or break experience. But finally we were seated and handed off to our waiter. Our waiter made up for it. He was extremely nice and well informed. When we asked questions, he made sure to answer them to the fullest. He made us laugh and was very attentive without being obtrusive. I thanked him as we were leaving (his name is Noah, in case you're interested). His service and Black Bottle's effort to make up for the bad service I'd gotten before made me feel better. There's a reason why i like Black Bottle and now I remember why. We had: McLaren Australian Shiraz (very yummy, a nice jammy flavor and soft right out of the bottle) Lemon and Bacon Scallops with Frizzled Kale The scallops were overcooked, but the kale was good. Seven Spice Shrimp Spicy and nice, a good flavor Prosciutto and Potato Pinwheels Creamy, salty, and very nice Blasted Broccoli Delicious. Subtle flavors. When I asked about the flavors, Noah was nice enough to explain how it was made.
(4)
Manuela G.
I just hosted an event at Black Bottle, and it was absolutely fantastic. The owner, Paul, was a huge help and provided great service and fantastic food. The event went off without a hitch, and I couldn't have chosen a better venue. Beautiful space, beautiful food, and impeccable service.
(5)
sara g.
I've been to Black Bottle a few times but only for drinks. This time I was determined to sample some of their small plates. We had the hummus, the French Country flatbread, and the Lemon Bacon Scallops with delicious kale! A. M. A. Z. I. N. G. It even turned a non-kale eater into a fan. Food was tasty and quick. Bottles were priced nicely so we got a bottle to split. Neither of us are wine snobs so we'll drink almost anything. Our waitress was amused and not at all condescending. Looking forward to another visit.
(4)
Shen L.
Definitely one of my go-to places in Belltown! I almost always order the mussels marseille-style or steamed clams; both are delicious and perfect for bread-dipping. Masala chicken drums are well-seasoned, and the chick-peas certainly pick up the flavor (in case you missed it in the chicken). Of the flatbreads, I like the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries, but that's because I'm a sucker for fruit-with-meat dishes (so you're forewarned that this is sweet-and-savory). Perhaps one of the reasons this place isn't getting 5-stars is because sometimes, the desserts aren't up-to-par (e.g. the tiramisu, when it's in-season). I'd say this place is suitable for every occasion from birthday parties with 20+ people, to romantic dates, to late-night dinners with best girl friends, to break-up fights (hey, if it's gotta happen...might as well have good food =)
(4)
Angel W.
I used to love Black Bottle.. and saying that, I still really love their food and their prices, even after a few years being open, are really reasonable for the portions and quality of food. But they've gone thru a few bartenders and servers now and I don't find the service nearly as good. I went there last night w/ a date and I usually love sitting at the bar. In my experience just about anywhere, you get better service. When we got attention, the bartender was nice - but that's when we got attention. Getting his attention after our first drink was dropped was a bit difficult. The drink I got, the dark and stormy, was probably one of the best I've ever had though. We sat at the far corner of the bar and at one point there were 4 or 5 employees just standing there tasting drinks. I watched them for at least a couple of minutes because we were trying to get someone to just give us some eye contact for service, but not once did they look up. They were a bit wrapped up in themselves. They had a couple of bigger and rambunctious parties so I can kind of understand.. but the bartender didn't have a full bar to look after either. When plates were dropped off, the expediter didn't ask if we wanted anything else - like silverware or plates. Again we had to get the bartender's attention and that took a couple of minutes. At one point, our 3rd item had taken so long to arrive both the other plates were gone and we had to ask if they'd forgotten or missed it and it arrived right then. No big deal - but again, he hadn't noticed we were still missing a plate of food. The food we ordered - the hangar steak medium rare, the chicken laab gai and the blasted broccoli were awesome. I love their flatbread but my date is gluten-intolerant or I would've gotten some of that too. It's still a great date spot, I've had a small group there for a birthday, the food is fantastic, but I think they could really do better in paying attention to their guests.
(3)
Jonas B.
The food is all right (but what's up with that weird curried cauliflower and potatoes dish) and the wine options are all right but there's nothing really kicking butt in either category. The location is good, near Big Picture, so we often go here to eat before a show, and the prices aren't bad. Very noisy. Fairly efficient service.
(3)
AxeMe A.
DISAPPOINTING. Let me say that the word came to me as I was leaving and just knew I had to Yelp, but it got worse when I ended up on the toilet and started to feel like WAR. You know the feeling. No, I didn't see any cockroaches, but the food was so-so, ill-prepared and underwhelming. Worst than the preparation was the sub-par quality of the food...like it was old or something....The server, if you could call him that, seemed more like a detached owner who merely took an order, never checking back. Oh and the plates were dirty. The dessert really pushed me down from 1.5 / 2 STARS to 1 STAR...I just lost all hope, damn it. I've only heard good things about this place and always avoided the happy hour hipsters, alas here's my summation: Prawns: F (YUCK) Steak: F (Gooey) Prosciutto Flatbread: D- (Like really bad pizza) Broccoli: C- (not great) Chocolate cake: F (I've had better from fast food establishments)
(1)
sarah c.
eh. twas alright. i would only go back to have their brie and leek flatbread. oxtail was too salty. hangar steak was just ok. their ipa beer was nice.
(3)
Melinda M.
I still love Black Bottle. It may be a scene at times, but as far as Belltown goes, it's one of my favorites. Bring friends who like to share food, drink wine and pass the hours talking and you'll be set. I've enjoyed the chicken laab gai, ceviche, broccoli blasted (only order this if you have plenty of people to share it with), flatbreads (the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries is particularly good), and prosciutto and potato wheels. I also LOVE the peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream--it's baked and served in a little cast iron skillet, which I think is adorable and probably makes it taste better.
(4)
Tin N.
After flying in a late evening into Seattle, this was the first place that my friend took me to. From the outside it seemed like a pretty hip place, a little on the cozy side but inviting none the less. It was past dinner time so we were just there for something to snack on and more importantly something to drink! Bottom line... Its not that expensive, but it could be cheaper. The food is good enough but could be better. I'd have no complaints coming back here again, but not a place I would be bragging about to my friends. Oh and also I'm ignoring the fact that the waitress spilled red wine on all of us and only gave us a replacement glass, I mean, come on!
(3)
Bryan C.
I visited Black Bottle on a late Saturday night just for drinks and was very impressed. I can't speak for food but from what I saw, it looked great. The ambiance in Black Bottle might be its greatest strength. It's dark but still light enough that you won't need a MagLite to read the menu. The music is modern but soothing with a new age lounge feel to it. The drinks were excellent and fairly priced. The service was remarkable; generally late night is a time for poor service but this was not the case. I'm looking forward to eating next time at Black Bottle. I highly recommend it.
(4)
Tyler J.
I've been to Black Bottle several times and it never fails to please. Yesterday however was the first time sitting outside in their roped "patio". Thank god for the metal rope, had it not be there I would have been easily tempted to give my bottle of wine to a passing toddler. As always, I had to order the blasted broccoli. It's a must have if you've never tried. The flatbreads are always a good choice however they were very chintzy on the prosciutto yesterday. I also experimented with the fresh sardines namban and was pleasantly surprised. Lightly breaded and pan fried topped with sliced, roasted vegetables. Yum! Oh, and the men's bathroom is crazy dark... like gay bar bathroom lighting. Just an observation.
(4)
Tom A.
Black Bottle is so distinctive in appearance, even on a drive-by, that I had to hit the brakes and check it out. I called my buddy in town who was on his way to meet me elsewhere. Change of venue: we're going to Black Bottle. There are outside tables, which were appealing, but those have no service - you have to go get your drinks at the bar. To order food, as I was planning, you need to sit inside. The inside is cool, with deep contrasts and a spare look to it, somehow rustic and modern at the same time. And loud. Really, deafeningly loud. But that's just the sound of a lot of pretty folks have a good time simultaneously. And the people watching was about as good as it gets in Belltown, which isn't bad at all. Many taxis full of shiny happy couples came and went and several tables seemed dedicated to Girls' Night Out gatherings. I felt bad that I didn't have designer jeans and a button-up shirt as seemed to be dress code for the guys, but I wasn't turned away in my cargo shorts and tee shirt. I was shocked that for all the attention given to appearance, the bathroom -- at least the men's -- had no mirror whatsoever. There's a vast wine selection and I heard the cocktails are great but I was in a beer mood. The beer list is short: Guinness, Manny's, Maritime, Hoegaarden and Stella. Of course what I was hankering for was a Pilsner, just 'cause I'm like that. Understanding that it's 'small plates', I ordered two for myself, the roasted veggies and the mussels Marseilles. I had to take a deep breath when said 'small plates' arrived. The mussels alone would be more than I could consume and the veggie plate was overloaded with delicious roasted morsels. I did my level best but I'm afraid I only made a moderate dent in the volume when I was finished. I just kept marveling that this amount of food totaled only $20 and I easily had twice what I needed. It kind of negates those happy hour deals we work so hard to track down. The service was attentive and not effusive. Just to be heard over the din requires enough effort from the servers, the less said, the better. A little sound-deadening and a Pilsner on the taps and I'd have had a five-star experience for sure.
(4)
Anju R.
Black Bottle definitely surprised me in more ways than one. We did not have reservations for the 4 of us and were able to get a table within 5 minutes of walking in the door. As soon as the wine started flowing and we started to order the food, I knew this was going to be a great meal. The service was very good and the dishes were very well prepared. The Squid and the Antipasti were extremely well prepared. By far the best entree that we shared was the grilled vegetables. The Jicama, zucchini and basically everything on the plate was outstanding. I would honestly go back to Black Bottle just for that. All in all a great experience for dinner and a fun place to bring friends and share.
(4)
Laurie B.
I have been to Black Bottle a total of 5 times and EVERY time, the food is fantastic. The menu changes a bit from time to time, but you kind of forget what the old items were because the new ones that they replace them with are also very good! They NEVER take away my favorite dish...... Broccoli Blasted...... this dish is the best! I'm not even a huge veggie fan either so this is saying a lot! To describe it would not do it justice. Trust me, just go and GET some and you'll understand! On my last visit, I tried the bacon-wrapped scallops on frizzled kale and to my great amazement, I actually liked the kale more than the protein part of the dish. This says a TON considering that until that night, I thought the best use of kale was for covering up ice on a chilled buffet! My only wish is that the service was a wee bit more attentive. It is always better than decent, friendly and genuine but sometimes you feel like you'd like to see more of your server. Granted, they are busy but maybe there is enough business on certain nights to warrant an additional server? By all means.... GO! Its delicious, inventive and fairly affordable and a great place to go with a group because all of the plates are perfect for sharing! Kudos to you Black Bottle!
(4)
Stephen B.
Went here before heading out to see the Holiday Pops at Benaroya Hall. Had an absolutely delicious and affordable meal! The decor was awesome, simultaneously homey and modern somehow, in a tasteful way. The music was slightly electronic, but in a classy/hip and very enjoyable way. The portions of food are slightly bigger than tapas and smaller than normal entrees, but priced very reasonably for what you get. We started with the seven spice shrimp which was one of the more unique shrimp dishes I've ever had. The presentation was interesting, they plated the whole shrimp, tentacles and all. The spices were great though. We also had the Blasted Broccoli which is a must-try. So simple and amazingly delicious way to serve a vegetable that I don't particular even care for, but could not stop eating and have tried to duplicate myself twice since then. Cumin Pork Tenderloin was phenomenal as was the French country flatbread. Both dishes knocked it out of the park completely. I've ordered the flatbread as takeout several times since then, I cannot get enough of it. Also tried a scallop dish takeout another time, though I wasn't incredibly impressed with it. Great atmosphere. Romantic couples and large groups of friends seem to be side by side and both equally at home here. Again, the quality/value ratio on the food here is simply off the charts. Enjoy!
(5)
Phil H.
This place is a complete contrast. The food is excellent and might even be described as unique for Seattle. Lots of yummy and tasteful small plates that make perfect for sharing or on your own to sample different tastes. The broccoli, the hanger stake, the veggie curry all simply amazing. The cocktails are always well made and they have a great wine list too, by the glad or bottle. This would leave you with the impression of a great place to visit and make a local destination when you are in Belltown. Now comes the contrast, the customer service is mediocre at the best of times and at times many of the staff have this 'I'm too good for this attitude'. Does that mean don't visit - no. Go there and expect wonderful food with great tastes. Just don't expect great service, and should you get staff that actually do a great job - reward them and remember their name and ask for them the next time.
(3)
E A.
For a summertime, "let's have drinks and see what happens" date, I love Black Bottle in Belltown. My date and I snagged a table by the wide-open doors. Warm air floated in, and beyond the sidewalk you could see the water of Elliott Bay. The setting has a subtle romance to it that is great for a casual date. Belltown can be hit or miss, and I think this place is a hit. Service may not always be impeccable, and it unfortunately attracts the usual Belltown crowd. But these things aren't so important when you're getting to know someone over cocktails. Our drinks (his was a Maker's Manhattan, mine a Cosmopolitan) were served milkshake style with the extra drink served on the side. The atmosphere was fun, sophisticated and easy. It's the kind of place where you can wear flats or heels, do drinks or dinner. You can sit and enjoy the view, or (if you're really into the guy/girl) walk to the nearby Lava Lounge for a shuffleboard match and cozy back booths.
(4)
Tim E.
Great restaurant, but if you have food allergies, be very careful. Every dish, even the cocktails, had a surprise ingredient, in some cases, cheese. The interesting menu leads you to believe you are seeing all of the ingredients. Enjoy, but ask for the allergen menu (no notation is made that it exists in the regular menu).
(3)
Reyhaneh S.
this place is sexy. i loved it. the bar was social and live. The food was decent..not the best, but I would go back just to walk through the tall black curtains again....
(4)
Tam H.
I have to admit that this is my spot. My friend introduced BB to me about 2 years ago and I continue to be a regular. The atmosphere reminds me of being in NYC. That could be the reason why I love this spot so much. In addition, they serve my favorite Vodka 44 North. You can't beat that. Sometimes, the wait staff can be a bit iffy but the night of my going away party they really did an awesome job. They will work to accomodate your party of more than 6. Make sure you check out the broccoli, flatbread pizza, or skirt steak. Its awesome. Everyone thinks of regular broccoli BUT TRUST ME it's not! Enjoy it as much as I have...BB will surely be missed!
(4)
Malia M.
We discovered black bottle one monday afternoon when we were walking around with the dogs. It was gorgeous outside and they allowed us to sit out there with the dogs. Our waitress, Laura, was increadible. She knew exactly what wines to recommend based on what we told her we liked and she had the most appropriate level of friendliness without being fake. Since that day we have come back to BB so many times I've lost count. Laura is still amazing and several of the other staff has come to remember us and greet us, even when we pass them on the streets. My only complaint is a while back they switched chef's and I'm not as enthralled with the new chef as I was with the old one. He took away the BEST dessert on the menu, the Banana Flambe, but added a couple decent ones so I guess it evens out. All in all, my favorite place in Belltown. Try the French Country Flatbread, the Broccoli Blasted, the Braised Artichoke, and the Berry Tart. All to die for!
(5)
N-P H.
food..good; great mix of flavors.. service..good, then went downhill as the night went on and the joint got busier. they forgot our broccoli; i had to ask for my flat bread and cauliflower three times..by the time we got it, we were ready to leave and I didn't want it anymore.
(3)
Andrea J.
Clams were very fresh and had a zesty, peppery broth. The cracked olive "salad" was more like a chunky tapenade with feta, but it was very tasty. The blasted broccoli was a delicious way to prepare broccoli, but I thought that it had an excess of olive oil. I didn't like the sausage dish, but then again, I don't really like sausage. I enjoyed the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread, but it wasn't really a stand out dish. The hostess was really annoying; she refused to give us an estimated time for a table. About 30 minutes into our wait time, she told us that our table was being prepared, and we continued to wait another 15 minutes. I then asked her when our table would be ready, and she told us she had no idea. We were finally seated about 20 minutes after she told us our table was being prepared. I realize that she has no little control over wait time, but she was just crappy about it. I kind of got the feeling that she was annoyed with me for asking for the wait time in the first place, and was intentionally taking it out on us, but perhaps I'm being a little paranoid? In contrast to the hostess, the waiter and bartender were nice and good at their jobs. Our waiter even informed us that the food came out when it was ready, and not all at the same time. I would definitely go here again.
(4)
Shawn B.
When you step into Black Bottle it doesn't look like your normal, run of the mill restaurant. I was actually a little confused how much of a restaurant it was considering how large and long the bar was. We weren't greeted when we walked in, so we were a little confused as to whether or not we would just seat ourselves. We ended up just sitting at a table we liked, and then waited to be served on. So that could use some improvement. The menu itself it very eclectic, but rediculously delicious. You HAVE to try the pork belly, portabello mushrooms, and lamb. The broccoli is something is apparently raved amount, but I actually thought it was terrible. Don't let that comment deter you from the other food, because everything else I had that night was rediculously delicious. As far as price goes, it is all very moderately priced. You get a good amount of portions for what you pay, and everyone can get a taste of something that is ordered which is really cool.
(4)
Michael B.
This is a pretty typically gastro-tavern. Service is great when it's empty, but spotty when it's crowded. I've probably been here a half dozen times and several of those times the waitress has not brought us out food that we ordered. Positives: Opens earlier than other bars in Belltown Best broccoli I've ever had Negatives: Service Pretentious crowd
(3)
John S.
I must have gotten a decent server based on other reviews here. Pretty good balance between getting a bit of attention but not being rushed. Not super service, but it was later on a Saturday night so I didn't expect super service. The food was decent. Not overwhelmingly awesome, but definitely edible. I recommend the stuffed artichoke and greens. The wine was also good and I feel like they have a decent bottle selection that doesn't require a second mortgage to enjoy. I'd come back here for a snack and some wine.
(3)
Kenny R.
Good food with unique flavors. As simple as it may be the brockle blast is a must try. Mood and setting is dark but great for socializing with friends. Friendly staff.
(4)
Michelle Z.
This little nook of Belltown serves some surprisingly good fare. The place itself is cozy in spite of it's taupe and black, nondescript decor. Characterized by enormous street-facing windows, a friendly front room bar, plus a handful of tables for 4, this place felt very inviting upon entry. Also contributing to this feeling was the low lighting, warm candlelight, and a decent sized after-work crowd. After all, a good crowd on a weeknight, while occasionally annoying, is usually an indicator of a great place, right? The dining style here follows the trend of small plates (though considerably larger than most tapas-esque places). Many dishes with an infusion of uniquely foreign flavors. Take the natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso; juicy and flavorful with a Japanese twist. The grilled portobello and butter bean salad was meaty and delicious, topped with a rosemary compote that really packed a punch. We also ordered the bacon lemon scallops and and eggplant caponata flatbread - both dishes also unusual, but delicious. Overall I was really impressed by the quality and creativity of the food. Nothing was "just okay," everything was dressed to impress, both in presentation and in flavor. We finished our meal with two desserts split amongst three people which might have been a little much (considering I had definitely eaten my fill from dinner), I just couldn't help seeing what else this little gem had to offer.
(4)
Colleen W.
Good drink prices and attentive service at the bar. There are many great plates here but the flatbreads are exceptionally outstanding (especially the prosciutto and bechamel and the smoked chicken and cherry) and a good value. The broccoli blasted is crunchy, salty green goodness...but it shouldn't be $8. Notes: Try not to get a table by the inferno that is the kitchen/oven. It's hotter than a mofo over there. You will sweat. A lot. There are candles in the restrooms. Don't get too drunk. You will catch fire. It gets a little loud and meat market-esque on Saturday nights...but I guess that's Belltown for you.
(4)
Lindsay A.
Drinks are strong and delicious. Food is yummy and unique. What more do I need? Besides a parking lot that is. Truth is, I would be here every weekend if it weren't hell to find parking. I tend to hit this spot around 9 so that I have a chance to score parking and my friends and I chat as we eat and pre-funk or just eat, drink, and enjoy the people watching. The seven spice shrimp is to die for (make sure water is available), and there is always mussels and prosciutto and bechamel flatbread on our table. Waiters are pretty attentive and even though some of the guests can be obnoxious and pretentious they are also easy to ignore. The music is usually pretty chill, if a bit too loud and I love the lighting. Bright in the back and dark in the front. Two totally different moods. Another plus is it's far away enough from the central heart of Belltown nightlife to be sort of calm.
(5)
Damien H.
I went here with a group of 8 @ pm. The atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for, candlelight, good sound level to feel comfortable, but not so loud that we couldn't hold a conversation. There were a few guys that politely hit on some of the girls in our group, enough to keep them entertained, not so bad that it was annoying or awkward for anyone, just perfect. We ordered something from every section on the menu, the raves about the broccoli blasted are warranted, its amazing, so much so that I figured out the recipe and it's now in my weekly menu rotation. The only thing that we tried that I wasn't crazy about was the tofu, it wasn't bad, but I feel like I could have had the exact same thing at any place in Seattle with a fry daddy. Even the sauce tasted like the bottled variety from the local asian foods store. Service was decent, I did have reservations at 8pm and was still forced to wait about 45 minutes to be seated, this combined with the lackluster tofu was not nearly enough to rain on our party parade, it was a great time!
(4)
Linda T.
Great place for a night out with friends! I love the idea of small, shared plates. They have a great variety of dishes on their menu and the food is tasty. Service was good, but nothing spectacular. They did a pretty good job of accomodating our large party. The atmosphere is cool with a little hipster feel. We were there on a Saturday night and it got pretty tight inside. The floor here was kind of slippery...so be careful in your high heels ladies! The only bad part of this restaurant was the restroom. It was tiny with only 2 stalls and barely any waiting room. I witnessed a woman get smacked behind the head because the restroom door swings open inwards and takes up half of the restroom itself. Luckily it didn't cause any major damage, but that is not a pleasant experience. Overall, I liked this place for the small plates and atmosphere. I'd definitely return with a group of friends.
(4)
Jerry L.
Go to the gym and workout (gotta be able to fit in my speedo) or a free dinner with my dad and sister at the Black Bottle. Hmmm... Tough choice.. NOT! I've been meaning to try Black Bottle and has been on my list of places to try. Went on a Thursday night (6:30pm) and was able to get a table right away. The service was sloooow and was a little annoyed that the hostess passed us over for the next group in line. Also, I couldn't tell the staff from the urban hipsters that reside on Capital Hill. Very confusing when your trying to get the wait staffs attention. On to the important stuff.. the food. *drum roll* We ordered the... 1. Danger steak and daikon/shiso $11 - This was very good and flavorful. I could have ordered more. YUMMY! 2. Seven spice shrimp $11 - My favorite dish. It was indeed very spicy. 3. Braised artichoke heart and greens $9 - So-so. I'd try something else. Overall, I'd say it was alright. I don't know if I'd go again. At least I can check it off my list.
(3)
Tina P.
I have only visited this restaurant once. But loved every moment of it. It was a friday night jammed packed with patrons but somehow we got a three person table with no fuss. Not sure how that happened... no complaints though. I had a white fish stew type dish (forgive my memory loss... it was about 6 months ago I visited this restaurant) and it was light and delectable. My friend had pork, which she enjoyed very much as well. And to top it off we had a delicious antipasto plate, which was just right. I had my usual hendricks and tonic which is hard to screw up at any bar... so I can't say how the drinks compare to other establishments. But this is a great place to people watch, hang out with friends, and enjoy great food.
(4)
Steven P.
Exceptionally poor service. The food looked great, but in 30 minutes we had no drinks and the server had not taken our order. When she finally brought us our wine glasses, she broke one on the floor, and then didn't clean it up. The couple sitting next to us said they got 60% of what they ordered, and had to ask for their scallops 3 times...maybe just a bad night?
(1)
Beth G.
Perfect date spot, warm, intimate setting for good conversation, enjoyable happy hour, good place for groups/events. Eclectic menu selections, great customer service, confirmed addict. Wine selection is okay.
(4)
Bob B.
Well, really didn't know what to think of this place. My girlfriend loves it, and from my first visit I though it was a chick place. Loads of tables with women sipping wine and eating tidbit plates. So, she's dragged me there several times, and I must admit I've become a fan. Drinks are good and not expensive, tidbit plates are good, if small. Really not a bad hang out. I do notice that single guys seem to have found this place on Fridays and Saturdays....it can be that great place to meet the right gal.
(4)
Megan M.
I have been to Black Bottle numerous times and I'm upgrading my review to 5 stars. Our server was excellent and super-friendly! All the food arrived in a timely fashion and was delicious as usual. The only thing I didn't like was the potato and cauliflower dish, as it was a bit dry. But everything else is fabulous! The ambience is great - very upbeat. We had a bottle of wine which was very yummy and reasonably priced. Bonus points for music: Digital Underground's "Sex Packets" = AWESOME
(5)
Chau D.
YUM!! I was very impressed with the food we had ordered. 4 girls pigged out on the mahi mahi ceviche, steamed clams, broccoli blasted, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread, coconut plantain cup, pear sorbeto and candied lavender, tiramisu, and chocolate cake and vanilla gelato. We killed it all too. No complaints except for the fact we were full and wanted to roll out of the restaurant. This place is definitely a must try. Our server was cool, wasn't fast but we didn't care either. If you're in a hurry this probably isn't the place for you.
(5)
Andrea W.
I went to Black Bottle for the first time 2 weeks ago, and had a pleasant experience. My companion and I had a stuffed artichoke, which was served over greens, and a flatbread with grilled chicken and dried cherries. The food was delightful, perfect to share at the table. The flavor profiles were strong and everything was cooked well. The atmosphere was very nice, although the music choice seemed a little out of place. The service was okay, but not great. They were out of the pinot noir I ordered, and the replacement the server brought me was extremely sweet- the sweetest pinot noir I've ever tasted. Not a huge issue, but I did think that if you're going to replace a wine it should be with something similar, or at least it should be mentioned to the customer that the replacement being offered is atypical for the varietal. We waited a long time for drinks, but I don't want to place blame on anyone because it was fairly busy and there was only one bartender on, so that was understandable. Overall it was a good experience and I will be back to eat there again.
(4)
reese w.
The food was good, but it was a little bit loud inside. Of course, we were there at 10pm on a Friday night, so it makes sense there were lots of people there drinking it up. We had the lamb and hummus dish, but they completely did not mention that baba gannoush is included as well, which is a goddamn disaster for me because I'm allergic to eggplant, which was a big huge disappointment. Goddamn it. I know it's a weird allergy, but I was NOT expecting a big glob of eggplant on the plate, so that was really disappointing. The rest of the food was good, but when we paid, the server just assumed that the cash we left included his oh-so-generous tip and didn't bother to give us change, which really pissed us off. It was something like a 25% tip. Now, we're not cheap people, but goddamn the guy should at least be decent enough to give us the goddamn change back and let US decide how much his goddamn tip was going to be. Yeah. The tasty flatbread and broccoli blasted are the only things not taking this review down to 1 star.
(3)
Laura L.
For a lot of reasons this place is unappetizing to me. The top two: 1. Rude pretentious service. When we asked why one of the entrees had not come out for 20 minutes, the waitress said, "We kind of bring food whenever, not in courses, you know." Oh, so one of us eats while the other one of us watches. Strange. 2. I got way sick and deathly ill after my meal here. The Blasted Broccoli tasted like it had been cooked with a blow torch or something. Like propane or exhaust fumes and butter. I was sick from that night for the next 48 hours, and you do not want the details. While I have no proof it was them that made me sick, it's my gut (pun intended) instinct that it was. I still can't even think about Black Bottle or broccoli without my stomach turning.
(1)
Jonathan H.
Food was great. Defiantly try the broccoli, as well as a dessert! The bill was vey reasonable all in.
(4)
Sharon K.
Tried a vegetable dish, lamb & hummus dish and a flatbread. Didn't care too much for the lamb & hummus but the other two were tasty!
(3)
Peter D.
Its been some time since I have been here, so I hope the charm of this place has not been lost with the inevitable trendiness of belltown and the douches that invariably invade every bar looking to score. That said, this review goes back to when this was open a few months so keep that in mind that I need to go back and update. I like that this place is quaint enough to be able to sit and chat with friends and order decent food that is adequately portioned for 2. Maybe not a large dinner but certainly fine for drinks and snacking. I like the fact that you can get food late and hang in an environment to be with your friends rather than be scene. I am sure that sadly will change but for now I really like that aspect. Everyone was friendly and the place was clean. I look forward to returning to it.
(4)
Brian N.
One of the few Seattle spots that gets it right with both ambience and food quality. As all reviews mention, the idea here is sharing - go with a group and get a bunch of small plates, all of which are reasonably priced at 9-12 bucks. My group got the pork belly and kimchi, cumin pork tenderloin, hangar steak, and two different kinds of flatbreads (forget which ones). All dishes were excellent - can't really say which one was my favorite, although, as a meat lover, i naturally I prefer the meat dishes over the flatbreads. The space is great - classy minimalist, low lighting, brick walls and nice wood tables - can't remember what kind of music they were playing, but it wasn't high volume. not to say it isn't loud here, b/c it is. Nothing stood out about the service, but i have no qualms either - pretty much what i expect at a place like this. All in all, it's a great place to dine and drink with a group of friends.
(5)
Anna B.
Black Bottle rocks! Cozy neighborhood restaurant with delicious food, nice wine selection, and a great value. We had the blasted broccoli, grilled lamb w/ hummus and seven spice shrimp. It was all delicious - especially the lamb! The shrimp is slightly difficult to get out of their little shells so it wouldn't be ideal for a date or business dinner. For a good size dinner get 1.5 plates per person, for a lighter meal just get one.
(5)
Alejandra E.
I've never been a cheerleader for Belltown, but thought I would give Black Bottle a try as the menu choices looked yummy.The food was mediocre for the price you pay. I was with a few friends so we did the tapas thing and just ordered a bunch of different plates. The calamari was great-tender, had great flavor- however, there were more croutons than calamari and lots of sauce. Would have liked to have had more calamari since that's what's displayed on the menu and not "croutons with calamari and red sauce". The clams were so delicious we ordered 2 plates. The flat bread was delicious as well. The cauliflower was okay, but very dry. Where I was definitely not pleased was with the service. It took almost 20 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order, over 10min to bring our drinks and then another 15min to take our food order. He kept joking about how slow he was that night but it really wasn't a joke as it was taking a very long time. The restaurant wasn't even full. Even the girls sitting next to us made a comment about it and said "oh your service is fast when you're bringing us our bill because you know you're taking our money". It was just overall bad service and the food was mediocre/overpriced. Just another trendy hipster spot...if you're going to do that at least make it worth the money.
(3)
Aaron S.
Some really craft food. The wild boar ribs are so good. Don't come here hungry or you will be disappointed but it's a great place to go if you want to catch up with a friend. Oh and good luck finding a spot Friday and Saturday night
(4)
Amy G.
Pretty good broccoli and even better ox tail. This place serves some awesome eats here, the whole full shrimp I am not so sure about (I was not really interested in something that looked almost alive when eaten). Regardless, everything is full of flavor and they have great drinks here as well, I would recommend.
(4)
Rachelle H.
Amazing place to eat with a group of friends, especially if everyone is down to share. That is the beat way to get bang for your buck and get to taste all their delicious wares. Calamari, fried chicken, broccoli (!), and prochutto and bechamel flat breads were especially stand outs. Great cocktails and decent wine selection. Good friendly service, well spaced out timing between dishes. Wasn't too impressed with the desserts we tried (chocolate cake and fruit torte). They weren't terrible, bit nothing too special.
(4)
Kristina P.
This is easily one of my favorite places to go in Seattle. Almost every dish is delicious and a very fair amount of food considering it is a tapas bar. My personal favorites are the pancetta spinach & kale salad (I get this almost every visit I love it so much), the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread and the house smoked wild boar ribs. As a wine lover I also love that they have a solid selection that seems to rotate fairly often. If you get a chance, hit up their happy hour. Their street tacos are tasty and you can't go wrong with 5 dollar glasses of wine. Fabulous place!
(4)
Jen G.
Don't be misled by Black Bottle's $8 menu ploy. No matter how great it seems that everything on the food menu is just $8, you can still wind up spending a small fortune for appetizers and drinks. Especially if you go there with more than two people. As we did not so long ago. Don't get me wrong - the food was decent. Our group of 15 or so tried a little of everything, from the chicken laab gai (fancy name for lettuce wraps), seven spice shrimp (TOO many spices going on in one dish to be enjoyable), prosciutto and bechamel flatbread (my favorite of the night), to the infamous blasted broccoli (a quick dip in the deep fryer is what makes this dish). All of it was tasty. And pretty good-sized portions, too. However, everyone kept reveling in the fact that each item only cost $8. Like, oh my god, it's only $8! Here's the thing: the reason this place can stay in business charging $8 for shrimp and steak appetizers is because they are also charging $8 for 50 cents worth of broccoli and potatoes and cauliflower. Somehow it all evens out in the end. Not to mention that a lot of their signature mixed drinks, namely the Kir Royale which most of us ladies partook, cost $8.50 each! In the end, our bill was more than $350. Divided up among the group, my husband and I spent $45 for a drink each (he was smart, he ordered a $4 beer) and a few bites of the dishes mentioned above. Black Bottle CAN be a bargain, if you go with a small group, stay focused, and order smartly. Don't be distracted by the hipster ambiance. Or else you'll need to finance your tab at the end of the night.
(3)
Nicolette S.
Underwhelming. Service was just okay, bordering on inattentive. Food was immensely disappointing. Things were at odd temperatures, usually too cold like it had just been sitting in a fridge or lukewarm like it had been sitting around for a while after being cooked. Nothing tasted very fresh. Some items had ingredients that I didn't like, and they made me wish that they had been listed in the menu so I could have made a better informed choice. The caprese was not very good; I wish the tomatoes had been fresh or that the menu had mentioned that they were sun-dried so I could've chosen something else. Would not come back or recommend.
(2)
Tim O.
Nice wine selection, delicious desserts and food for everyone to share. What a concept to have all of this under one roof. One warning: when it's full, it's hella loud. But that's part of the charm, right?
(5)
Carly L.
It pains me not to give this place more stars, but there is a reason, but I will save it for the end. I went for a surprise bday dinner, and they do have great big tables to accommodate the big groups. The menu is extensive, and it was hard to make a choice. I settled on the flatbread of prosciutto and bechamel. I'm glad I did as it was amazing. Cooked to perfection, nice and rich sauce. I just stuck to beer and did like the wine selection as well. Everyone enjoyed their food, although our table ordered a few orders of the blasted broccoli and never received them. Our server was very attentive to our large group which got a little loud towards the end. Here is the reason why I have to give it less stars than I would like to. Looking at the wall while talking to a friend of mine, I noticed a nice size roach climbing up it. It was kind of hard to miss on the white wall.
(3)
Kevin S.
Great little place in belltown. They've got great appetizers and a decent wine list (around 40 wines - lots of european wines). My personal favorite foods are the flat breads. My only real complaint about this place is that its sooo tough to get a table at unless its after 10 pm on a weekend. I should mention though it is a bit of an older belltown crowd - mid 30's type crowd.
(4)
steve k.
Pros: Good food for the money. Really like the Hanger Steak. Convenient to Belltown and downtown residents. The staff are friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable about their offerings. Have always received good wine/food pairing advice. Nice, clean restaurant. Cons: Way too loud. Which means it's a typical Belltown joint. The volume knob on the music is set for twenty- and thirty-somethings who've blown their eardrums with their iPods. Would be nice if restaurant was separate. Too often the bar is filled with booze-swilling hipsters who still think shouting f**k every few seconds is cool. Which, again, means it's a typical Belltown joint. Go, but try to avoid the peak hours.
(3)
John H.
Another "I never would have heard of this place if not for Yelp", and a great experience. Roomy for just a bistro when you take in to account the spacious backroom, and the waitress stayed on top of things The salads were a little on the generic side, but the seafood dishes were great, especially the mussels. Great pork tenderloin too, with unexpected spice. It's a real fun date spot, since the dishes are served in sequence and perfect for splitting.
(5)
Denice M.
The reviews are plentiful, so I will just add that this is a great place to take a large group (of course, make reservations). I had a group of 10 out of town guests, and Black Bottle did not disappoint. We all picked 1-2 things and shared. It was wonderful because they brought out dishes as they were ready, so we basically continued to eat and drink the entire time. The atmosphere was lovely and the wine list provided a great selection. The menu showcased some of the greatest offerings of the Northwest and was a hit for my guests who had traveled from Texas, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, DC and LA. Great way to show off your city to newbies.
(5)
Moira H.
I went here on a recent Thursday night for dinner with friends; we got there early (6ish) and the place was already pretty full. The space is nice; smallish, lots of window in the front, lively, and comfortable. The decor seemed muted and spartan, but it was busy enough that I couldn't really tell. The food was good, well portioned and well priced. We had the flatbread/eggplant-OK; hanger steak-really good; lemon/scallops-good; portabella mushroom-really good; dessert/tart-pie type thing with cream-OK; tiaramisu-really good. Wines by the glass were interesting in a good way. I look forward to going back even though our server, who was very nice, was a little spacey.
It was a dark and Stormy night sort of. Any way typical Seattle weather but the Black Bottle hit the spot. This place really did live up to expectations and more. The wine on hand was very good and the appetizers / tappas were just as good. The atmosphere was just right for a small group or if you are on a date. Although I had to say it was a bit chilly not sure if they just did not have the heat on or what but overall still tolerable. The staff seem very friendly and ready help. So bottom line take a chance and hit this wine bar you shouldn't be disappointed.
(4)
KK Y.
You need to make a reservation on the weekend, otherwise, you should expect a wait. If you like a little spicy, the kimchi pork belly is a must try. I also tried the prosciutto flat bread, smoked chicken & cherry flat bread, and the hanger steak, they all have reasonable size. We had three girls, and it was well enough for us. The wine selection are also reasonably priced too. You can go by glass, but it was more cost effective to order a bottle if your party can share. The coconut plantain had sale, definitely not what we expected. If you like the salt, you might like it. Otherwise, I advise other dessert. I would definitely go again! Especially the server let us continue to chat even though we have paid and finished our dinner! Also, definitely a great place to hit for dinner before bar hopping around Belltown!
(5)
Bryan J.
Great place to go the atmosphere is fantastic the food is good I highly recommend the flat bread it is to die for!! Great selection of wine and the staff is very helpful and always in good spirits!!
(3)
aaron k.
Just a quick comment... the Herb encrusted Broccoli is awsome! I've only been here after 9p on fridays/saturdays, but the service has been good, atmoshpere was good, music was a variety of acid jazz, indy music, hard to hear over roar of the crowd. This place doesn't have a huge front room, but there are more tables in back. Great spot to get a healthy dish, mid-evening
(5)
Lily P.
Per a suggestion, tried Black Bottle when visiting Seattle. Despite our awkward waitress, the experience was excellent. The wine and beer were great. We chose to slit a variety of small plates. My favorite were the fried olives. Amazing. We also had the steamed clams, 7 spice shrimp, and the brie leek french-country pesto flatbread. Also ordered the lemon ricotta cake to go. The shrimp, olives & beer were fantastic. Big portions, good scene, friendly patrons. Would totally go back.
(4)
E S.
I'm giving Black Bottle the benefit of the doubt. I'm not a wine person, really. I like alcohol and all, and I don't _not_ like wine, but it isn't my first choice when I go out drinking. Black Bottle is a wine bar. There are some beers there (Mac and Jacks is always a win), but expect to drink some vino. My girlfriend got the house red, which wasn't bad at all. I had a preconceived notion about the atmosphere of the place. I expected dudes in tight black turtlenecks and girls in slinky black dresses. Well, there were those types, but also a lot more laid back folk. I was pleasantly surprised. I would have given this place a 3.5 for being a decent bar, just not my style bar. But without half stars, I can't justify rounding up for a place that just doesn't appeal to me.
(3)
Jenny N.
I wish I could give it 3.5 stars here. I have been twice this year. Once, I sat at the bar with a friend where we shared 3 plates. (Almost too much food for two people, actually.) Then, I visited to celebrate a friend's birthday party. Some of the dishes are quite good, while others are uninspired. Service is attentive enough, though I was surprised at the lack of wine knowledge of the service staff. The bartender knew more than the servers about some of the wines. I guess I expect a little more at a place that puts in the effort to have a decent list. Good spot for meeting folks for a nosh and a glass. Not a spot I'd go to dine.
(3)
Kristn K.
Location, atmosphere, wine, tapas, desert-- the Black Bottle does it all really well. The first time I was there, I had a banana desert that tasted like Jamaica-- it was not heavy or overpowering, and it was unique. The servers are helpful if you aren't sure what to order, and the interior is woody and dark...romantic, not pretentious.
(4)
alexander s.
another one of my favorite gastrobars in seattle. Varied menu, good vegetarian choices. Like the vibe. Rent the back room out for a party, bring your own ipod and play DJ for the night. Yes. the broccoli is as good as everyone says.
(5)
james w.
Pleasantly surprised :) What didn't we try? Flatbreads= both great, Broccoli= oh my god good, curry potato/cauliflower = good, Pork and Beef both good, Risotto = awesome, Tofu = good I had the premonition this place was going to be another trendy and snobby joint like others in Belltown. I was wrong! The service was excellent, drinks (sidecar) great and excellent wine selection. Most important though was the food. I will definitely be back to try the other half of the menu. Most dishes were $9 Take 3-6 people who are all into sharing.
(5)
Pierre Trudeau I.
I don't really know how to write the 126th review of a place, but grabbing a few drinks at Black Bottle on a Saturday afternoon in Seattle was a cool experience.
(4)
Mo B.
Amazing. I've consistantly have had great service there. Great food, I drumsticks and flat bread are delicious. I've reserved the private room and its a good size for small-medium sized birthday party. It has a nice vibe to it, not overly trendy but very neighborhoody. Staff is friendly. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jeff S.
Went to Black Bottle last Friday night. They were full but found us a table very quickly. Service was friendly and fast. The menu is great and the food was fantastic. Defiantly will go back soon.
(4)
Jason M.
What the heck is ceviche? It is darn good that is what it is. This place is really good and has an upscale hip atmosphere. We tried four different items: ceviche, cherry and chicken flatbread, lamb and hummus and the roasted vegetables. Every one was damn good and so were the desserts we got, fruit tart and chocolate cake. Highly recommended.
(4)
Clayton B.
I like this spot. Great place for friends, you have to be with the tapas style. Good wine, in my personal opinion, better tapas. It's a wine bar but don't let the name fool you, good food is definitely on its radar.
(4)
Jose G.
One of my favorite restaurant / wine bars in Belltown. Great food, reasonable prices, very good wine selection, nice deco and crowd. Its a bit hard to find a table, but it's worth the wait. Favorite dishes: chicken lab gai, the portobello, the broccoli and the flat breads
(4)
Julia C.
My review is closer to three and a half stars. The food is good, but not great. The portions are relatively large for a small plate restaurant, but not large enough to provide a substantial portion to more than one person. Personally, I don't think small plates warrant entree-size prices; I hate leaving a restaurant hungry after spending lotsa dollars.
(3)
Christine D.
Black Bottle has a NY vibe but that's about it. From an acoustics stand point it- if it's a packed house and you're on a date, you can forget about having a private conversation. It gets loud, very loud. I've had a few items on their menu but so far nothing's stood out from what I can recall.
(3)
Anna S.
Not quite a bar and not quite a restaurant, but a 'gastro-tavern', the Black Bottle is wonderful! A little crowded, a little loud, but a lot yummy, and a lot of fun. If you're in the mood for a light dinner and some drinks after work, this is a great place to do it. None of the dishes are over 8 dollars, and the portions actually lean toward the generous side. Upon recommendation, my friend and I tried the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread (as I see someone else also did) and it was SO GOOD! We weren't expecting anything resembling a small, rectangular-shaped pizza to arrive at our table, but that's what showed up, and we were not disappointed. The stuffed artichoke salad was also a hit, although it did have a lot of garlic, so if you're going for a first date, steer clear of that one. The ambiance is somewhere between modern and industrial, what with the giant fan slowly rotating up above, which is nice because you aren't distracted while you're schmoozing and boozing. It was unbelievably crowded when I got there, and we had a short wait for a table, but it was around 7 o'clock, so I guess that's to be expected. The place seemed to clear out around 8:30, so if you're a late diner like me, be patient and let all the early birds get their worms in first.
(5)
Sarah S.
Attended a surprise birthday party in the private room. It was comfortable with about 30 people. Two great bartenders, amazing food (but I should have eaten more of it because there was an open bar and that was dangerous), and about a $500 minimum, which was easily surpassed. Helpful staff- my only complaint was that the rest of the restaurant was so packed it was hard to move through the crowd.
(4)
Richard C.
The place is a bit noisy and cramped. The food is brought out as it's prepared, so the waiting is minimal. However, it's hard to figure out they forgot your food at the same time. We were waiting on our pork belly for the longest time. One waiter said it was the slowest dish and not to worry, but a second waiter told us they had run out! This was 15-20 minutes after we had ordered. They made it up to us by making one of our desserts complimentary. Nice save! Other than that, the food was pretty good and the dessert delicious.
(4)
Brandy H.
I just have to say it: I have had way too much fun here. Decent wine list, great food at reasonable prices, and a neighborhood crowd to keep things interesting. The weekends here are slammin' but during the week, you can belly up to bar no problem and just hang out. I'm addicted to Broccoli Blasted and the Peach and Blueberry Kettle tart, but there isn't a bad item on the menu. I highly recommend this place, and not just because it's three blocks away from where I live (I could practically roll home if I had to!).
(4)
jil r.
I was very impressed with the food, portion sizes, and price. I adored the mussels in a tomato, garlicy wine sauce with bread. When everyone turned their head, I picked up the spoon and was eating the sauce out of the bowl! I wanted to take it home with me....so good... the blasted broccoli was pretty interesting, and the pork belly kimchee fell off the skewer, but had a lot of fat on it, but when you found the meat, it was very good. Cons: crowded and loud (on a Wed at 8pm), staff a little stuffy.
(4)
Yana K.
What a way to celebrate the end of finals for the quarter! I've always wanted to come and eat here with my girlfriends, but it's a tight squeeze on the weekends. So, I picked up my friend Tanya yesterday (Tuesday), and we decided to try this place out. Tuesday night, and look at that, no problem getting a table at the bar. I also noticed that they added space in the back of the restaurant, mainly as a dining area. The room inside was all wood and pretty bare, but in a good way. Candles were used as lighting, and come on, who doesn't look amazing lit by candlelight? We sat down right away, and the bartender (I could kick myself now because I never got his name), welcomed us right away and took our drink orders. Tanya had a gin and tonic (very good), and I got a pomegranate martini. Can I just say that any place that gives you a martini as well as an extra container with more martini in it is a place that I would recommend to anybody! The flavors of the vodka and pomegranate mix blended beautifully and completemented the meal very well. Now onto the food. We decided we wanted to go with the flat bread right away. We wanted to get the roasted tomato and spinach, but they ran out in the kitchen so we went for the new item on the menu, it was a flat bread with scalions, black olives, and cheese (sorry, can't remember the kind). Very good and it came in a long serving dish cut into pieces, 6 in all. Per the bartenders recommendations, we also ordered the grilled portobello, which came sliced and on a bed of a butter bean salad. Everything was absolutely delicious! The portobello was grilled to perfection and is definetly something you should try even if you're not a vegetarian. Very meaty texture and the seasoning didn't overpower the flavor of the mushroom. The bean salad added just the right amount of smoothness and was an interesting cool contrast to the hot portobello. The flatbread was inredible! There was just the right amount of cheese, and the flavors of the scalions and olives fused wonderfully together. The best part of all of this is that all the plates are $8, which gives you enough of an incentives to sample a bite of everything. BE WARNED! The amount of food that you get for the price is a LOT! We were pretty full after the bread. Final word - please check this place out. And since everything on the menu looks good, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. Our bartender described his favourite dishes, and listening to him made my mouth water. This guy needs his own radio show just painting tastes with words.
(5)
Ann M.
Drinks and food are great. I had this rib dish that was to die for. The meat fell off the bone!!! And my cocktail was sooooo refreshing and good. It was a sakejito.
(4)
Rebecca S.
I went here for dinner, but based on the prices ($9-13) was unsure if I would need 1-2 plates for a meal. I got two, the sausages and the beet au gratin, and definitely should have stuck with one. Both were full sized. I only ate the beets, and took the sausages to go, but the beets were fantastic. Overall, a great and well priced dining experience.
(4)
RowerRob C.
Never had food here... but I've had my share of boozing here on numerous happy hours with colleagues. Good place to chill in the summer right after work.
(4)
Dr. B.
This is another fantastic Seattle wine bar. The combination of cheap, high-quality food and a good and somewhat reasonably priced wine selection gives it a big thumbs up. The ambiance has a real industrial, European bar feel. This place is super busy on the weekends so you might want to get reservations if you're visiting on a Friday or Sat. I am somewhat of a regular here because of the food, rather than the wine. You would be hard pressed to find a better value for good food in Belltown. The place is consistent as I have been here 20 plus times and have never had a bad meal. Big winners include the steak, mussles provencale, smoked chicken/cherry flatbread and the hummus plate with lamb. My main complaint is that the wine selection is not very large. This is a wine bar and there should be more options by the bottle. The ones they have usually are very good but I think that they could improve in wine selection. The bottle markup isn't too bad and is usually about twice what it retails for. If you haven't been to this place, it is definitely worth a visit. If nothing else for the food.
(4)
Jen K.
Excellent wine selection, delicious food (except the seven spice shrimp, ick), with a pleasant atmosphere. . . We ordered several small plates to share and a bottle of prosecco. The chicken laab gai, the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread, and the broccoli blasted were all fabulous. The service was alright, but could have been better. When it came time to get the bill, we weren't sure who to ask, as everything we ordered was delivered by a different person, and our orders were taken the same way.
(4)
Art S.
I must admit that I was not drinking wine this night, so maybe this review is not fair since they specialize in wine, but I tasted a bunch of the food. I would have to say my review is mixed. I wrote a complete review at exploringseattle.com/201… . Check it out and see if you agree.
(3)
Jim C.
Despite the long waits, limited parking, crowded seating area, dim lighting, and ear pounding music, Black Bottle is still one of our favorite places to visit in Seattle. Great food, great music, great ambiance.
(4)
Jenna B.
What a great place!! After driving for half an hour in the pouring rain, we decided to dine at a modern and fun restaurant, and around the corner there was the Black Bottle. The portions are great for sharing, the service was fine, and the candlelit ambiance was perfect for the cold and rainy day. For dessert we shared the lemon curd ricotta cake. If you LOVE lemons then this is the dessert for you. It was tasty but after a few bites I felt like I was eating a bottle of Glade air freshner. Oh and the lavender crust..I'm personally not a fan of lavender. My taste buds experienced a Glade explosion!
(4)
Sunil R.
Black Bottle is a great place to grab a drink and a light meal with friends, but if you're looking for a satisfying meal, this is definitely not the place. The appetizers are very tasty, and the wine menu is comprehensive. I would recommend this outing for a group of 4-6 or for a very casual, fun type of date.
(3)
Mingalaba C.
A few reviewers have described the service as "rude and pretentious" - and I 100% agree. We arrived early (so no crowd) and the servers just stood around talking. We weren't greeted at our table until we were looking around to see if we were ever going to get served. While the drinks were great, the food was mixed. One plate came out frozen - with visible icicles on it. I literally bit into a block of ice. I had a sore tooth for a day. No apologies. No offer for a different appetizer. I expect it was nuked and re-plated. Service was typical Seattle service - so mediocre, but forgivable. But serving frozen food at a "gastro-tavern" is pretty much unacceptable. 2 stars only because the drinks saved the evening from being a disaster.
(2)
Anna L.
One star off because the shrimp had legs. I usually like to be forewarned of such things since I can't bear to eat shrimp if I have to peel it or pull legs off. Otherwise the place was great and a really enjoyable dinner. We loved the fried tofu and the peanut sauce was excellent. I usually don't like places that are this crowded but we were able to get in without reservations and had a table right away. It was really lovely after just getting into the city and we appreciated the recommendation that we received from the Ace Hotel.
(4)
Johnny P.
I'm going to limit myself to a paragraph. Service was awkward and unwelcoming; we had 3 different servers and all of them were awkward and stilted. The beer (the local lager) was a diacetyl bomb, which was completely uncalled for because it was a local brew, you think they would get the keg changed out every once and awhile. Finally, whoever chose the music was obsessed with Amy Winehouse and Aerosmith. Go to Toulouse Petit instead.
(2)
Laura W.
Starting point 3 stars- which is akin to neutral ground. Earn one star for super friendly staff: bartender made a great impromptu Canton cocktail; the hostess gave a great recommendation. Earn one more star for excessive value (although my POV has been called skewed thanks to 4 years in Manhattan). However- we got food from each section of the menu: friend chicken, eggplant rollitini, fried olives, 7-spice shrimp and a brie & leek flatbread in addition to 2 cocktails for $56 (not including tip), which was an excessive amount of food for 2 girls. Sadly, I have to take a point off because quite a few of the food items were very salted (and I like salty). This is also a product of poor ordering on my part though: it's a given that collard greens with ham hock (comes with fried chicken) will be salty due to the ham! Olives are salty by nature, as is brie cheese. Thus it comes out to a very strong four stars though~ thanks to the people, the price points and the merits of the fried chicken which was the stand out favorite of the evening.
(4)
Chris G.
I really enjoyed the food and ambiance at this place. I like restaurants that have great ambiance, good food at a reasonable price, a lively crowd and good service, and this place had it all. My favorite dish off of the menu was the broccoli blasted. Who knew that broccoli could taste so good, damn!!! Oh yeah, the eggplant caponata mozz flat bread and the Spanish fried oliver were tasty too.
(4)
Danielle G.
LOVE this place. Yeah, it's usually always busy, but the food is always spot-on. They also have a "special" menu for people with dietary restrictions (dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan) which makes me especially happy.
(5)
Britni L.
I ate here the weekend we moved down to belltown! We where starving, tired & wanted to get some food to go from somewhere nearby. We live about 5 min walking distance & my partner had suggested the restaurant, so we called in & left within a few minutes & food was ready to go by the time we go there! We got quite a bit of items that where all tasty, it's not too pricey unless you start going bananas & want one of everything lol!
(4)
Julie S.
OMG. Black bottle is hands down my favorite restaurant in Belltown! I have come here multiple times and have always been so happy with both the food and service! They also get major points because they have a gluten-free menu (as well as lists of dishes for other allergies/dietary restrictions). My favorites are the fried tofu with peanut sauce and broccoli. They have a great selection of wine and cocktails. Black bottle is perfect for any occasion. Seriously! Dinner, snack, hot date, birthday party. YUM.
(5)
Tarryn J.
I cannot fault Black Bottle's service, food, wine and overall dining experience. I've eaten there once, which then inspired me to go ahead and book the private bar for my husband's 30th birthday party in June. Our first dining experience saw us enjoying great wine, amazing service, fabulous sample of food (their pork belly is to die for!). When we mentioned we were thinking of hosting a party here, our waiter promptly took us on a tour of the private room and discussed all of the options with us. In the months leading up and on the day of the party, Paul was very organized, customer focused and wanted to ensure our party went off without a hitch. Similar to another reviewer's experience, I showed up the afternoon of the party with my hands full of balloons, decorations and a huge cake and the staff were very quick to help me. Then, at the party, we were given the most amazing, friendly, fun server who was all ours for the whole night! Her name escapes me now, but she was from Hawaii and made the most amazing margaritas for our guests (you know who you are!). Everyone loved her and her flexibility and willingness to ensure we all had a great night. The food that was served throughout the night was ALL AMAZING and our guests were all really happy with the selection we (and Paul helped) had chosen to serve. My favorites were definitely the hanger steak, brocolli blasted and of course my number 1 fave - pork belly! I would highly recommend Black Bottle as a casual dining restaurant for two, a place to meet and drink wtih friends and of course an amazing private function location for large groups. They are well set up for all and it's obvious everyone who works there is passionate about the food, wine, cocktails and of course their customers. Keep it up Black Bottle, we will be back for more soon!
(5)
Mark K.
We waited about 10 minutes to be seated, then order 3 of the large Tapas orders. Two that stuck out were the Prosciutto wrapped potatoes and the chicken/cherry bread - fantastic food. The atmosphere reminded me of The Bin 182 Tapas bar in Vancouver, BC, very loud and energetic. I was in the mood for some high energy and had a great time. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax this is probably not a good scene. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the seating/waiting can be confusing, but in my opinion should not deter you from enjoying this fantastic restaurant/bar.
(4)
Shannon W.
I've ended many a nasty belltown night at black bottle but that certainly does not win the stars here. The highlight of my black bottle experience is dinner... DELICIOUS! We had some sort of antipasti deal with olives, fried cheese balls, etc. Pretty much pure deliciousness on a platter. I had the cumin pork tenderloin, VERY good. They also have Hoegaarden which wins me over any day. To top this off, it costs about the same as a nasty burger at red robin. If your only experience with this place is the bar (typical belltown blah) then you should definitely try dinner sometime.
(4)
Michele L.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Not a single thing passed through my lips that was not delicious bordering on divine. And there are orchids in the bathroom. Just sayin'. We started off with cocktails: I had the crimson drop (blood orange, lemon, and vodka) and my boyfriend got the Saint Sake (which I thought taste lichi-ish..mm). Next we started with the small plates, which are actually of decent size - enough for a really satisfying helping, with plenty to share around. Who would have thought edamame, capers, and squid would make a great salad? GREAT salad. We sampled the wild roasted boar ribs (mainly because it sounded sort of awesome to eat wild boar). And don't miss the flatbreads... we had brie, leeks, and olives on top and it was divine, and very filling. At one point my friend on the other side of the table said "Are you enjoying that?" (sarcastically) because I couldn't stop exclaiming every time I took a bite. And after all that deliciousness, we couldn't pass up on the desserts... Highly recommend the fried plaintains with coconut ice cream and the ricotta lemon curd with lavendar crust cheesecake. Wow. Wow. and Wow. And the bathroom has orchids. The service was understated and great - no rushing us out, they were great about our big group, and the food was made to order but didn't take excessively long to arrive. Also many gluten free options - that was the reason this spot was picked.
(5)
helen t.
Another one of my Belltown favorites. The menu is interesting and in-expensive, even though they did raise some prices in the last year. My favorite is that portella dish with broad beans. I'm drooling just thinking about it!
(5)
Dae Y.
the company was great, the drinks were great, the blackened broccoli was very tasty. lucky for me my friends got there earlier and had a table already.
(4)
Kristin J.
Freaking AWESOME. Everything was rich and tasty, even surprising at times. Had the blasted broccoli, prosciutto wrapped potato cakes, fried chicken and greens, flatbread with greens and the meatball/hummus dish- all wonderfully tasty. Loved being able to share the food because they were all small plates - genius idea. It was totally crazy, loud and busy, but worth the wait and noise. AND wont break the bank, such a reasonable price for a fantastic dinner. Bravo.
(5)
Geoff T.
Such tasty food - love the flatbreads in particular. It's a comfy place to sit in, people watch, and just order at random off the menu. The wines are always terrific. As noted by others, though, the staff needs to learn how to pay attention to its customers. They're friendly enough but seem distracted by hanging out in the back to chit chat with one another. Remember, waiters/waitresses: pay the right amount of attention and your tip from me will show it.
(4)
Christopher F.
Well executed interior design. Solid food with perfect portions. The flavors were excellent but could have been carried furthered. The chef really needs to go all the way and it will be a big winner. Wait staff was attentive and friendly even on a Sunday night. Great place to meet for a drink or go on a date.
(4)
Mandy C.
As a further yelp-speriment, I walked into Black Bottle with no idea what to find. I had a glass of the shiraz-malbec and the menu was as follows: (1) pork belly with kimchi - really delicious. Tender. The kimchi had a tiny kick to balance out the sauce the belly skewers were laid upon; I thought it was sweet, maybe orange/marmaladey, something orange color and glaze-y. I clearly had no idea but it was sweet and the kimchi was hot. Nice balance. (2) prosciutto & bechamel flatbread - Good. Quite crunchy, almost too much so, but still tasty. The bechamel, to me, tasted like quite rich alfredo so that's something to keep in mind. (3) broccoli blasted - I hear this is a hit at the place but I would describe this was 'crunchy dustbunnies.' The poor broccoli was charred and lacking any of its original joie de vivre (and moisture).. I tried at least a dozen florets but could not get my head around it. Apparently it's seasoned with salt, pepper & garlic salt but I didn't taste anything but charred, dried-out broccoli. If you love it, keep on loving it. I mean it. As for me, I prefer my broccoli steamed and have some life left in it... (4) ceviche mahi mahi - I don't care for raw red onion OR cilantro so you can guess how I felt about this dish. The fish was fine but all I could taste was the overpowering taste of two things I don't care for. (5) coconut plaintain cup - The coconut ice cream (or gelato, I forget which), was extreeeeemely flavorful and I found myself quite fond of it when I don't really grab for anything coconut-flavored usually. The plantain 'chips,' in a complete reversal, were flaaaay-vo-less. No taste. Not inspiring. You had to dip it in the ice cream to give them some life. (I heard the pear sorbet was bad so I steered completely clear of it. Sad day.) I will go back again and try all new dishes while asking for more descriptions. I like the atmosphere; full of people drinking wine and trying new food combinations. I enjoyed that part a lot. Sometimes yelp-speriments are successful and sometimes they hit a bit of a wall. All in all, this place was a creative twist on tapas and I will be back for another review in a few month's time.
(3)
Ryan K.
This place has a great ambiance. It's a dark place that almost feels like a speakeasy. The food is great and the drinks are nice. On the weekends it can be crowded and a little noisy inside.
(4)
dave m.
Great place for drinks and some food. Everything I've had is excellent, but the oxtail is one you can't pass up. Small plates that are perfect for sharing.
(4)
Karen Y.
Just off the main strip of belltown on the first avenue sits the Black Bottle. The Black bottle only has one downside it can take a long time to be seated and serve. However once you battle this experience the food is very good. My favourite is the natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso which is very clean on the taste buds and of course their famous blasted broccoli. This is the only place in Seattle where people will order broccoli and feel very happy with themselves because they are raving fans of this dish. Another favourite of my friends is the flat breads - filling fun and scrummy - the most popular is the prosciutto and bechamel. If you are going to have one dessert then let me save you some time the best one is peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream. If you want a decent chocolate experience don't come here go to Tango; however if you want buttery pastry and lashing of real cream ( you pour not them ) and fresh fruit then it doesn't get better than this.
(4)
Kaitlyn M.
This place was on my list. I keep a list of places I need to try- if only for the satisfaction of checking them off once I am done. I am freakishly organized like that. Anyways, too much information? Whatever, I finally made it to Black Bottle. I loved it. Great ambiance. It's dark but the candles give the place a warm glow and its got great energy. For some that may translate into, this place is loud, but for me that brings a place to life. The food was fabulous too- shared an assortment of small plates, the most memorable of which was the hangar steak and the french country flatbread. Oh my god the flatbread! So good! Enjoyed a cocktail, or two, and I can't in good conscience say I was that impressed by them. And still being impressed that not everything is served in red plastic cups- that kind of says a lot. Perhaps I should've gone with the wine? Our server was so-so, one of our dishes wasn't brought out until at least 30 minutes after our others were nearly finished- which is just poor form. The ambiance and quality of the food made up for his general disinterest in actually serving us though. Great place to go with a friend, a group, a date- hell, maybe even by yourself! I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Jeremy W.
Belltown's Hot Spot. This place is always bustling and it can get pretty crouded and loud. They have a decent wine list, and a tapas menu that ranges from $9-$12 per plate. I expected small portions, but saw a couple nearby with the biggest plate of brocolli I have ever seen. The menu is interesting, ranging from chicken with sun-dried cherries to "french country" bread covered with cheeses, spinach, and olives. Our plate was overcooked making portions of the bread hard as a rock, but the server noticed before we did, and notified us without prompt that we would only be charged half-price for the food. Great atmosphere, service, and prices. Somewhat limited and unusual selecton, but overall pretty good food. It's a great date spot, and I will return.
(4)
Amber P.
Don't be intimidated by all of the trendy, dressed-to-the-nines diners crowding the bar, Black Bottle is just as relaxed as any Seattle eatery, but the food is AMAZING! The interior is sparse, yet posh, yet romantic. Don't go alone, the food is served family style and it would be a shame to miss out on sampling from several dishes. My favorite dish is the chicken laab gai; it's a zesty dish eaten in romaine lettuce wraps- SO yummy!! The flat breads are worth it. If you like dessert, try the chocolate cake with gelatto; it's a warm chocolate cake, drizzled with caramel sauce, and vanilla gelatto served inside. While Black Bottle is technically a wine bar, they also have really skilled bartenders and a great selection of alcohol.
(5)
Mario S.
Fried olives. Breaded, filled with cheese. Mind blowing. The "blasted broccoli" and brie/foccacia/spinach/dried cherry thing are super awesome, too. The restaurant has a good, candle-lit vibe and a natural feel from all the wood and metal. It's in Belltown without being too Belltown-y.
(4)
Bigdog T.
Excellent Meal! The Gold Creek oysters, seven spice shrimp and broccoli blasted were all awesome.
(5)
Matt Y.
Oh my. It might consider itself a wine bar, but Black Bottle certainly has the food to match their great wines. Bonnie and I felt like hitting up a loungey-type place, so we took the oh-so-lovely 520 down into Belltown and sat at the bar. By 5:30pm, pretty much all the tables were taken or reserved. Good to know for future trips. Of which there will be many. The wine list was solid; we ended up settling on an Argentinian Malbec that we were very satisfied with. The bartender was super friendly and engaged us in conversation most of the night, but not too much where we weren't able to dig in. And dig in we did! The food is tapas-style. The Smoked Boar Ribs were incredible - deliciously....smoky! Half dozen oysters? They actually gave me 7 since a couple were smallish, and they were clean and meaty. The potato and prosciutto wheels were a nice twist on the classic potato appetizer...think bacon-wrapped scallops, but with prosciutto and mashed potatoes instead! They were great, and served with a balsamic reduction dip that I loved. But the highlight? The Laab Gai. I've had a lot of different takes on this dish, and as anyone who's had it before knows, it can be ruined very easily, as it requires a very delicate balance of its ingredients. One misstep can overwhelm you with one specific taste and ruin the plate. This was absolutely perfect. Delicious, served with fresh romaine sleeves...I finished it all. Not a drop left. The best I've ever had! And speaking of the good service, and talking dessert wines with the bartender, out of the blue he offered us a sampling of their ice wine and a vigioner dessert wine at the end of our meals. Super nice gesture, and we loved the samplings so much, we each had a couple glasses of each wine. What a great way to top off such an enjoyable meal! The atmosphere, the service, the food, the wine. Amazing! Can't wait to go back.
(5)
G P.
This place is just 'fine.' Since their name was 'black bottle,' I thought they would have more of a wine selection, but the ones that we decided to order were good. The food was alright, nothing memorable. We tried 4 dishes, laab gai, flatbread, hanger steak and the ceviche. The laab gai tasted like mooshy chicken w/some citrus. Hanger steak was decent, and I digged how they served it w/daikon. After talking to some friends, I have decided I will have to come back and try couple more dishes. Perhaps, I ordered the wrong dishes? But...shouldnt all the dishes be fab? As for the space, tight but cute/cozy space - and the bartenders were friendly and helpful.
(3)
Andrew H.
Great food. A bit pricy ($60 for two with tip; one drink between the two of us) but not bad for a nice date. Service could use a little work, as it seemed one hand didn't know what the other's doing and a few orders almost got lost, but I like the menu enough to not care. The tapas-esque approach is good, and the portions were much bigger than I had expected. I especially like their seafood...the mussels and scallops were fantastic, highly recommended. We had a chocolate cake for dessert which was good but too sweet.
(4)
Jeremy S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Great food, healthy alternatives, brilliant atmosphere and a very unique menu. Most everything on the menu is $8.
(5)
Tony S.
If you can bear the wait for a table your taste buds will thank you. The Black Bottle is what I can only describe as a Seattle interpretation of a tapas bar. The menu isn't split into entrees, main course etc. but into meat, fish, vegetables, flatbreads and other assorted goodies. First let's get some things cleared up. I hate to break it to you but the flatbreads are actually pizzas, somewhat reminiscent in shape to the Findus French Bread Pizza of my childhood but far far tastier. Secondly Cava and Processco are not champagne, nor is Cremant. If I ask the bar person what champagnes they have I do not expect to be given a list of imposters. But you know me, I'm funny like that. So to the food, you may think from my somewhat prickly opening that I don't like this place but this is far from the truth. The wait staff do a great job of explaining how it works and will recommend you order a few plates and add to the order if you are still hungry. The food turns up very quickly so you are never waiting that long to fill your belly. We ordered up a saffron risotto cake, prosciutto pizza, sorry flatbread, some home made sausages braised with mustard and the mahi mahi ceviche. Well lubricated by a couple of G&Ts each we started off with the ceviche. It was lacking sharp notes from the citrus and was very orangey, overall this dish didn't work. I love the fact they partner the mahi with orange but it needed a big dollop of sharpness to prevent it from tasting too desserty. The flatbread was everything you would not expect it to be, the dough was crisp on the outside, soft and unctuous on the inside. The tomato sauce and proscuitto married well with a rich creamy bechamel and really made this dish a success, if not a flatbread. The saffron risotto cake was very tasty, if a little unremarkable with the rice being a tad on the soft side for my tastes but the highlight of the meal were the house made sausages. Braised gently in a beer and mustard broth it hit every button. To make a sausage impressive to an Englishman is a rare feat indeed but they managed to pull of a meaty yet soft and succulent sausage dish. The mustard did not overpower and all the flavours got equal billing. I am still sitting here and thinking of those sausages and I am salivating.
(4)
Michael D.
I came here out of a suggestion from the concierge. I needed a place to go to detox after client drinks where I could get bar food. This totally fit the bill. I was a little inebriated so I don't remember everything I ordered but the wild boar ribs stood out - they were succulent with tons of meet! Great ambiance, great food, great price. I'd come back and suggest it to a friend!
(4)
Rick L.
Pork Belly...Kim Chi....Mae Ploy...TOGETHER AT LAST!!! Who knew the three would play together so famously :D You must try this dish, yes I know...Pork Belly is on every menu now, but seriously, the dish delivers. The richness of the pork belly is offset by the tart, spicy kim chi...mmm... * mouth waters* Larger than I expected, Black Bottle still manages to feel comfy. The Flatbreads are of good portion and very tasty. My friend told me his fav dish was the blasted broccoli...in his own words, "it's a HUGE plate of broccoli!!" well...we passed only to notice the table next to us with a HUGE plate of broccoli being delivered. The two said out loud, "WOW, That's a LOT of broccoli!!" When asked, they weren't impressed. Hey, if you choose to order broccoli blasted in salt I'm not sure what you expect. That aside, I really enjoyed my meal at Black Bottle. My only warning is even with reservations, you may wait on busy nights.
(4)
Callie K.
My least favorite overall meal experience during our trip to Seattle and sadly, per all the rave reviews, the one meal I had been looking the most forward to. My boyfriend said it perfectly when he whispered to me, "Man, does this place think highly of itself or what?... maybe it should be a little humbler?" Very true. It's pretty obvious this is a very trendy and hot spot right now. Ladies & gents were dressed to the nines and there was a strong feeling of eating there to be seen there or to be able to tell your friends "Oh yeah, we dined at Black Bottle over the weekend, it was divine..." blah, blah, blah. We arrived 10 minutes before our reservation and were sat 30 minutes later at one of the more awkward tables near the back of the front room, right next to the kitchen where waiters kept swishing by, knocking my purse off of my chair repeatedly while doing so. Food: We shared 4 plates which was actually too much food. I suggest sharing 2-3 plates between two people. We had the shrimp (for BF of course, complete with eyes and all! yikes!), blasted broccoli (not great as previously raved about- a little on the salty, crunchy over done side), curried potato & cauliflower, and fried tofu w/peanut sauce(my favorite, basically deconstructed spring rolls). We also shared the tiramisu which was a little dry but I loved that it was drenched in a whip cream foamy substance- mmmmm...... Strengths: Reasonably priced tapas as well as affordable wines to choose from. We got a delicious bottle of bubbly for under $40. Weaknesses: Obnoxious trying too hard crowd, annoying wordless mood music playing, and a little holier than thou vibe being projected by all employees as in "You should feel lucky just for eating here cause we are where it's at". And not to nitpick, but they may think about losing the cheesy giant metal revolving thing that projects a shadow on what could be just a cool exposed brick wall. Clearly over hyped, I'd skip it.
(2)
Walter E.
Nice wine list and a decent but small beer selection The blasted broccoli is so tasty! Tried the scallops wrapped in bacon, very good. The waitress gave us for free to try a cauliflower dish that was a mistake. Not a fan, kind of bland but looked nice and hey...it was free! Il'l be back.
(4)
Jeff W.
- flat breads - good red meat - blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... - bring friends - reasonably priced wine selection I think more highly of this place than I should. The Belltown crowd can be out in full f
(4)
Z Z.
I live across the street from this little gem, so I consider it to be my Kitchen. Afterall, if I lived in a mansion, it would be. I thought the Chicken and Cherry flatbread was dope, until I had the French Country flatbread and died. So good, and a great price. The Broccoli is amazing- don't laugh, I don't know what they do to it, but it starts out as broccoli and ends up being a little bite of heaven. The curried potatoes are excellent, as well as the Ahi. I happen to like the crowd here- especially compared to the rest of the 1st Avenue set. If Amber or Tia Lou's is the Yin, then Black Bottle is the Yang. Somehow all of the meat heads and over-cologned guys and their poorly dressed, over done girlfriends couldn't walk far enough in their impractical shoes to get to Black Bottle. Thank God.
(5)
Frederick G.
The only reason for 4 stars is no parking and was a little chaos...we were there with a big group of 40 ppl and we were all over the place ...and the whole back room was free except for 1 table of out group...but the food was awesome...i mean awesome...i am a foodie and love to eat and this was such a great place to eat (not large groups) but the brocolli was great and kim chee with pork belly was tasty all the flat breads (we tried them all My fav was the french country) the service was good...so get there early and have fun ...if you are in a rush not the place to go ...go when you have the time to enjoy the space and spent good times with good people ... Lunch will be starting soon from what the owner told us BTW
(4)
Joe F.
very dark, very noisy, great good, great service
(4)
Mitch M.
If you can get into this place you won't go wrong! I go often and I haven't had a thing I didn't like. Busy busy busy... You can barely hear yourself think! Great staff, great food, great prices. Oh yeah, parking is a major pain in the ass, but it is Belltown after all.
(5)
Raquel F.
Off tha heezy for sheezy! I love this place..the food is great, ambience is great, and the bartenders are fabulous! Great wine selection and variety of food. Not your typical pretentious belltown digs.
(5)
Amy F.
What a great place, this is my favorite joint in Belltown and has the least "Belltown-ey vibe" that you can get on 1st Ave. Though if you're looking for an over crowded meat market with over priced drinks that stinks like sweat and stale booze and 12 different types of cheap cologne then Amber is just up the street and just what you're looking for. However if you're looking for delicious and affordable and creative food and a nice glass of wine and a warm and comforting atmosphere then this is your spot. The hanger steak is classic and always delicious but I dare you to try the pork belly with kimchi and the broccoli as a side, this is my go to dish every time I go to BB now. I used to come here way back when I wasn't completely familiar with the menu and order things at random just to see what I would get and I was never disappointed. They keep me coming back, and the larger than usual glass pour selection of bubbly doesn't hurt either.
(5)
Kasey H.
Nice atmosphere and the food is always good and while It's rare for me to gush about a vegetable - but try the blasted broccoli, it will forever change your feelings about broccoli.
(4)
Vincent V.
appetizers amazing + waiter was amazing + wine was amazing = im coming in again and again.
(5)
mamalicous M.
A coworker and I went here after work for some tension release. This place has a definite "mood" to it. It is warm,dark and cozy . Perfect place to relax. It barely has anything in the way of decor. Their walls are as bare as people who just move into apartments and are afraid to put up any artwork so they don't lose their deposit. What they did have in way of decor is very natural like driftwood. They have a nice selection of wines and surprisingly they were reasonably priced. We also split the curried vegetables and potatoes. It was good, little on the dry side but that could be the spices they used in preparation. Even though we were there during a week night they seemed to be doing good business. The crowd was more of the professional/executive variety. Not the type of guys that call each other Brah, or girls that out-drunk each other. If you have attended at least one of your high school reunions and another could be approaching and you are looking for a place to feel at ease and blend with others that have done the same then I would recommend coming here. If that isn't a good enough hint-great place for thirty-somethings to meet.
(4)
Kylene A.
Recently celebrated a friend's birthday here and LOVED it. Between the Pinot Noir and the great food, I will have to come back. We tried the portobello mushrooms, hanger steak and fried tofu. Each dish was better than the last. I can't wait to try the desserts next time.
(4)
Joshua M.
I really like the minimalist design of the place, but the food wasn't memorable and it was extremely crowded and noisy. I'd probably give it a second chance, but all of my friends hated it more than I did so I guess we won't be back anytime soon.
(3)
Sara E.
I love this place. It looks great down to every little detail - the industrial feel of the light fixtures, the big sliding door separating the dining room and the bar, even the warning against drinking to pregnant women is cool (check it out, it's right above the toilet tank in the ladies room). Plus, it feels good in there whether it's packed full or totally empty. Black Bottle is far enough North that it avoids the meat-market, Belltown feel (although I've heard that that crowd is starting to spill over on Friday and Saturday nights, unfortunately). Plus, the staff is great. They are all really friendly and sweet. Armin is, I think, one of the best bartenders that I have ever met, simply by constitution. He is so gracious, and friendly, and really makes everyone feel that they are genuinely welcomed at his bar. He's a sweetheart. The food is great too, and pretty cheap. Yes, everything is $8. I'm obsessed with the lemon squid salad - juicy squid mixed with sweet, crisp frisee, lemon, capers, and crunchy croutons. It's perfect and I order it every time I go there. I am now adding a star after watching the bartender throw out a certain former GM of McCormick and Schmick's who uses the word "fuckin" as often as most people use "and" or "the" and has an uncanny ability to hear a woman coming from miles away in order to harass her who shall unfortunately remain nameless. The best part was that as soon as the altercation began, his friend silently walked around to the other end of the bar, downed his beer, and left, instead of sticking around to back him up. Looks like even his "friends" know he's insufferable. My friends and I actually applauded after this joker finally left. I love Black Bottle.
(5)
Lydia P.
We went here recently to have a reunion of sorts with a dear friend who was visiting from the UK. Having never been here before, I was a little concerned that this place looked a little small for what was sure to turn into a rather large/boisterous group of 12-15 people, but oh joy... there's a back room with a huge table... and it was available!!! First, we dealt with the important stuff... ordering wine and beer for the whole table. Then I opened the menu. Nothing on it was over $8!!! I couldn't believe it!! A bar/restaurant in Belltown with reasonable prices??!?!? Unheard of. And the offerings actually sounded very appealing. Here's what we ordered: -Cumin Pork Tenderloin: Over seasoned and a little dry.. least popular dish at our table. I don't think we even finished it. - Fresh Sardines Namban: Ooooohhhhh!!! Yummy! I love sardines, and these had what I think was some sort of citrusy sauce with thin slices of fennel. Very popular with our gang... finished 2 orders in no time. -Seven Spice Shrimp: Good simple dish. A little spicy (as the name might lead you to conclude), but nice. And the shrimp weren't overcooked... hate that! -Curried Potatoes and Cauliflower: We ordered this for our token vegetarian... but we all wound up snarfing it down. Tasty!... Though it took wayyyyy longer for this to get to the table than the other items. -Prosciutto and Bechamel Flat bread: A thing of simple beauty, served up in a pretty rectangular fluted tart tin. -Roasted Tomato and Spinach Flat bread: It was wayyyy at the other end of the table, so I didn't get to try it, but it seemed to have gone over really well. My two favorites of the evening were the sardines and prosciutto flat bread. The wine was good, and the boys seemed content with their pints. All in all a nice change from the dive bars we used to frequent on a frighteningly regular basis.... not that I don't enjoy a good dive bar!!! But this was surprisingly civilized for our gang... we must be growing up. Awwwww...... :-)
(4)
Kristin S.
This was pretty good. I like ordering lots of small foods, and things that you can share (this way I can sample more things!). I particularly liked the flat breads here. The aura here is quite nice as well.
(4)
Julie Z.
The small plates were well prepared, I had the chicken drumsticks, pizzas, artichoke dip and satays. The chocolate cake was very moist and served warm. Service was attentive without being overbearing. For private dining, I think they need to check how big the party is before setting the place up. Our company booked the backroom and stuffed it with almost 30 people, it was so crowded I couldn't enjoy the food.
(4)
Bob L.
GREAT FOOD. Four of us had 5 dishes and ate family style and I loved everything. Bruschetta was fantastic, the Curry potatoes as well -- the vegetarian at the table was in heavan. Major singles spot though, everyone had the moves down -- eye contact, then check for the ring....positive ring test, turn away and resume drink. Repeat.
(4)
Lani A.
Pretentious and inattentive. Food was good, the setting is stylish but very dark (and I was there during lunch in the summer) but nothing really wowed me here. Prices for salads and lunch fare were about mid-range. Seriously, if I'm downtown and I want lunch, there's a million other places to go nearby that are just as fine with more responsive servers. I literally had to stand up and wave to get some attention. They get a big fat *yawn* from me.
(3)
J J.
Maybe because we went on a Friday night, the service could've been better. They weren't attentive and I felt ignored half the time. Total hipster hangout - reminded me of NY for some reason. The appetizer we ordered was good, but it is really hard to have a conversation bc It is really loud and packed.
(4)
Hong D.
Amazing food. You have to try the broccoli orgasm thing. Absolutely wonderful.
(4)
sasaw A.
Stopped by for a really late dinner/snack and had a wonderful visit despite the shenanigans at the bar! There are just some things better out of my line of vision while I'm eating (i.e. seeing a girl lip lock from girl to girl to guy). I had samplings of various appetizers and I really loved the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries. Who would have guessed how well chicken, cherries, and cheese are together??! I also thoroughly enjoyed my sakejito-lemongrass, mint, and lime are the perfect combo! All in all, the ambience was great and food was tasty to boot!
(4)
Cassie L.
I never thought I would recommend broccoli in a review, but there it is. If you're a broccoli lover, go to Black Bottle and order it immediately. It's fab. Also, the mussels are good too. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes I've had there lacked flavor, but the wine list and the bartenders more than make up for it. It's got a great vibe and I adore the decor. If the food weren't so blah, I'd give it more stars!
(3)
Laural B.
Delicious dishes. Decent wine.
(4)
Melissa F.
Sad to admit I'm becoming a regular, but this has become my favorite bar in Seattle! I love the space and the food is outstanding and affordable. The prosciutto/bechamel flatbread is yummy, as is the steak. But really, haven't tried any food I don't like there. The bartenders are really friendly and take good care of the customers. The last couple of times we've sat at the bar and people have been really friendly as well, which is refreshing in Seattle. The crowd is more of a 30s+ crowd which is also a refreshing change from the belltown scene.
(5)
WilJim T.
Great food, good prices. Make sure you get there early on the friday and saturday night, it fills up really fast. Where's the banana flam bay? They took away my favorite dessert there. But nonetheless their great food trumps the bad decision to cut the flam bay
(4)
Shanelle D.
I would have given Black Bottle 5 stars, but today's service was horrible. I have been here 3 other times and have always had rad service and yummy food, so I organized a group of work friends to go for some well deserved drinks. When we got there, the hostess was very rude and kind of pushed us towards our table. The worst part was our server! I understand that we were a little disorganized and added 2 more people than originally planned, but our server punished us for it. She rolled her eyes, walked away while we were ordering, and was obviously talking about us to other servers. I have worked in the restaurant business for many years and I would never treat a table that way. That server ruined the experience, but I will go back and just make sure I don't get her! Make sure you get the broccoli! It's the main reason I keep going back!
(4)
eve l.
4.5 stars. the chicken and cherry flatbread was insane! i disagree with other reviewers who thought this place was expensive with their $9 dishes. quantities are very large for a "design-y" restaurant such as this, and the quality of the food was excellent. this place was a bargain.
(4)
Nina N.
Great ambiance.. reminds me of SF!!! great looking people... great food.... great drinks.. So my favorite spot!!!! word of advice : get there early!! or make reservations!!
(5)
Winona R.
Black Bottle is actually one of my favorite restaurants, and here's why... I LOVE wine. They have a great wine list and the price for a bottle of wine is not bad at all because they don't mark it up as much as some other places. This is actually where I discovered my favorite Pinot Noir- Cooper Mountain pinot noir, which is organic and frankly, amazing. The food is also very, very good. I've had the curried potatoes and cauliflower (suprisingly, amazing and one of my new favorites), the grilled portobello with butterbean salad (the butterbeans are a perfect complement to the portobello), proscuitto and bechamel flatbread (I love this with the pinot noir, even if I feel like a tool because I can't say bechamel), chicken laab gai (not too spicy, a bit gingery if I remember), and the hanger steak/daikon shiso (continued awesomeness). Between two people, ordering two of the small plates is probably enough, but it's hard not to order three so you can taste more things, which I definitely encourage! Also, the pear sorbeto with candied lavendar is very refreshing. I loved it. I think this is a great place for a romantic date, by the way. Love the lighting, the bartenders are great, and did I mention the great wine?
(5)
Aimee H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in downtown Seattle. I like the atmosphere, the small plates you can share with friends and the French Country Flatbread which is delicious!
(5)
Stephanie P.
Blasted broccoli....do I need to say anymore?
(4)
Natala M.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite places in Seattle because it has a hip but not pretentious atmosphere. I originally thought that "black bottle" meant it was a whiskey / scotch bar. but it's not, its more of a winebar with a great selection. But i always seem to order a martini. The food is great -- particularly if you have a larger group. It's all small plates. I also love the lighting -- kinda romantic but not so romantic you can't go with friends. I've done a bunch of birthday dinners there -- and they have always worked so well with the eb and flow of people arriving and leaving the table. The bartenders are always cute too, which they should be in a bar like this. If you have some time in seattle, or you live here and just want to get out, go here! i
(4)
Emily C.
I ate here for lunch with a friend. He ordered the carne asada tacos and I ordered the beef pho. You're probably thinking "Why the hell would you order pho outside of a Vietnamese restaurant?" and you would be correct in your criticism. It tasted nothing like the pho I'm used to: bland and flavorless, the sriracha couldn't save it. The tacos were pretty good and came with a generous serving of chips and guacamole and my friend was kind enough to share. I have to give credit to the waitstaff though, I had enough pho left in my bowl that the server came over and asked if I had liked it. I answered honestly and she apologized saying "We make it differently here." and removed it from the check. Big thanks to her because it's rare that I get up the courage to send something back.
(3)
John S.
Normally I avoid the whole Belltown scene these days but I really like the atmosphere at Black Bottle - dark, simple, comfortable. The Broccoli Blasted is fucking awesome, wish I knew how they did it! We also tried the lamb/med plate and the hanger steak - both were good. Still on my ultimate ceviche quest, I had to try the Bottle's version. It was actually pretty good but they went a little overboard on the presentation which made it a bit awkward to eat, should have just taken what they had, chopped it up and put it in a bowl. That would have been the shit. When we asked our server for a wine recommendation, Story didn't even hesitate and hooked us up with a great Spanish rioja. Service was great, I'll definitely return to the Bottle.
(3)
Leslie H.
On a recent flight to Seattle, my boyfriend and I happened to be seated next to a professional chef, who recommended a handful of restaurants in the area. Black Bottle was one of the first she mentioned, and we're so glad we decided to stop by. The food was delicious, the service was great, and the prices were pretty reasonable. We ordered the arugula pesto flatbread, the spicy shrimp, tofu with peanut sauce, and fried olives. Everything was great, and the flatbread really stood out. The tofu was beautifully cooked. We are pescetarians (the only meat we eat is seafood), so we have had our fair share of totally shit tofu. Hey Black Bottle chefs, could you do some sort of crash course in tofu cooking, or perhaps a YouTube video? Not for me, (though my tofu isn't close as to delicious as yours). For the billions of chefs out there who couldn't cook some decent tofu even if their lives depend on it. Please!
(4)
eli e.
Black Bottle Bistro is one sexy restaurant. I clean up OK, I'm by no means a hipster, but I felt perfectly at home sitting at the bar with the fabulous people sipping martinis. The bar tender was a friendly and refined fellow and the food felt just as welcoming. So far I've only had the dried cherry and smoked chicken flatbread, I say so far because everything here looked fabulous coming out of the kitchen and smelled great too so I intend on returning soon. I had to restrain myself from stealing morsels from my neighbors at the bar. I've actually made flatbreads at a fancy restaurant in Chicago under the direction of an Iron Chef contestant, so it's no light recommendation that I say the flatbreads here are worth a trip for. I did request some salt, but that's pretty standard with me. The balance of meat to cheese with the earthy sweetness of the cherries and occasional hint of rosemarie was spot on, very close to perfection, my hats off to the chef!
(5)
jama b.
This is absolutely my favorite place to go in Belltown downtown Seattle. The ambiance is relaxing, the food is excellent and well priced and their wine list is wonderful. I celebrated my birthday at the Black Bottle. They have a big room in the back with a large table that fits 12.
(5)
Anthony D.
Great space. Minimalist design, dark, and very comfortable. Hip but not too hip. Went early so it wasn't too busy or loud (like other reviewers mentioned) but i can definitely imagine this place getting crowded and noisy. Drinks: Had two pints--first the IPA then the pilsner (both $5). They might keep their kegs at a slightly warmer temperature than other bars which is something i don't mind but some might. My date had two glasses of wine--the hedges blend ($10) and a temperanillo ($8). Both were decent but nothing too memorable. Overall a straightforward drink list that should put smiles on most faces. Food: Dishes are large and -i think- meant to be shared...they're kinda like large tapas. We had the chicken drumsticks which are marinated in red wine and soy and served over a small bed of chilis and scallions. Juicy, great taste, and a perfectly sized portion. We also had the roasted vegetables. As someone who often roasts vegetables and thinks he's good at it, boy was i in for a shock. These blew me away!! First of all it was a very generous portion which is always great when it's a healthy dish. Second, nothing was under or overcooked. There were potatoes, carrots, turnips, zucc, red onion, and tons of garlic. The woman told us they were roasted with oil, herbs, and a little white wine. They might seem basic but trust me when i tell you that you NEED to order these vegetables. For dessert we had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and slivered almonds. Very basic but tasty. Definitely worthy of a good cup of coffee. Unfortunately i didn't order one. Overall a great experience. Mainly for the atmosphere but the food was a very pleasant surprise. While the space and atmosphere is what i was interested in, the food is what will bring me back.
(5)
anne c.
Don't read this if you don't like cockroaches! I went there a few months ago with some friends for a girls night out. The food was great and the atmosphere was great. Then on the wall next to my friend, a cockroach climbs up above the head. I live in Seattle, and I know there are cockroaches and rats in many restaurants, and I can live with the fact that the restaurants are trying to manage it as well as they can. Definitely a don't ask, don't care policy unfortunately. The awful part is when the server comes up behind my friend, tries to kill the bug with their bare hands and walked away without another word. Instead of a squished cockroach on the wall near us, he accidently brushed the cockroach and it fell in my friends's hair. We all stood up and watched the cockroach scurry away. Anything that server could have done would have been so much better. We really hope he washed his hands at the very least.
(1)
Risey P.
i've only sat at the bar so I cannot give a full review. but here goes on my impressions so far: really sweet place. relaxed ambiance with great mood lighting. good for people watching. wide-ranging wine list and the bartenders are friendly. i'll also go out on a limb and say that it's a good place to meet someone new, as no less than three guys here struck up conversations with me while i was waiting for my companion to arrive. and honestly, i'm not a yuppie, nor am i a stunning stone cold fox. admittedly, i do work in tech and i have an iPhone, and I was playing with it to pass the time while waiting for my friend... so i'm sure that could have had something to do with me being quasi-hit on by three guys ;-) hehehe
(4)
Ronnie M.
I've been to Black Bottle 4-5 times and I'll write a review of last Tuesday's experience. Met my friend there for dinner and ordered the following: bottle of Rioja ($34...reasonably priced), hangar steak, lamb kabobs with cous cous and either hummus or baba ganouj, blasted broccoli, an order of roasted vegetables and the berry tart with a little pot of creme for dessert. The steak and the lamb were delish...and so was the broccoli dish. Could have passed on the roasted veggies. For two people, the blasted broccoli was enough for us. In fact, four people could have shared it easily. The berry tart was to-die-for!!! Not too sweet but enough to satisy my sweet tooth! Yummy! It was served in a mini cast iron skillet with a small pot of creme. Our server was very pleasant and I wish I could remember her name. Overall, we had a great meal and for two people, two entrees and a side of veggies were plentiful! For a Tuesday night, the restaurant wasn't so packed but still busy...and parking was easy to find.
(4)
mrs and mrs d.
Love it, always have. The food is fabulous - the roasted veggies and the chicken/sour cherry flad bread are favorites. But the drinks are really the secret weapon here - the best vodka sour in the city and a white wine selection you cannot go wrong with. For a date, the front room is candle lit and romantic. And in the summer nothing beats a cool glass of Prosecco and some people watching at the outdoor seating.
(4)
Drew R.
This place is solid all around. The Mussels are hands down the best in the city. My wife hounded me for months to try it out but I thought it would be too trendy with yuppies and too my mouthwatering surprise it was the complete opposite. Good crowd, loud, polite and funny. Great date spot.
(5)
Lisa I.
Loved the octopus and fava bean salad, and the kimcher and pork belly skewers. Good vibe - lively but not too loud-and decent service
(4)
Karyn G.
The fact that two graduate students could afford this place every 4 months or so is a testament to its affordability. It's the perfect place to wind down after dinner with the candied lavendar and pear sorbet. Or, go earlier and spend the evening dining and watch the sun set over the buildings. One of my favorite "fancy-schmancy but not really" places in Belltown.
(4)
Bridget W.
Great spot to go, sit outside with your peeps, have a few drinks, and chill. If you order some eats, I recommend trying the Broccoli Blast - this super simple dish is super amazing: olive oil, salt, and garlic + baking time = de-lish. Be prepared that the service can be a bit slow, but very, very friendly.
(4)
jenny w.
They have recently updated sound proofing and added more menu items. The black cake is worth eating after you have had the 7 spice shrimp and the hanger steak. Very flavorful items. Broccli blasted is a new take on vegtables and the salmon fontine cheese balls are tasty. A dim lit space with a brick wall and candles, it does get crowded but was still a romantic space to share plates. The wine selection rotates and it amazing!
(5)
Mariani A.
Black Bottle is my favorite place to hang out with a large group of friends. It's hip and lively, with plenty of great small plates to share. Considering the Belltown location, the prices are reasonable. Last time I went with friends, we ordered most of the items in the menu, and they were all quite good. I especially liked the grilled lamb and hummus, the hanger steak and daikon, and the smoked chicken flatbread. I haven't tried any of the dessert items, though.
(4)
Matt C.
The food here is great, though a bit of the foodyfood side, the wine selection is interesting and the waitstaff has always been helpful in picking things out. Nice place, but be careful sitting outside -- I got tagged by a bird sitting on the ledge high above the tables. Yuk!
(4)
Beth F.
Broccoli blasted. Amen.
(5)
Sheila Y.
I made a list of places I wanted to go back to and I just found it a few days ago. On the top was Black Bottle. I went once with an ex who hated Belltown so it was like pulling teeth to get him to come here. We had driven by on multiple occasions and the space was speaking to me. It was well worth the negotiations because I love this place. We sat in one of the front tables by the door and it was a bit drafty (I imagine this not being a problem in the summer months). If it wasn't for the draft however I think we could have killed the rest of the night vegging, but instead headed out after eating for more bar hopping. We ordered a bottle of Castiglion del Bosco and one of their French country flatbreads. It was delectable, so much so that we ordered another. The wine was great and the food to go with it was as well. There was a crisp buttery taste to the flatbread, along with gooey brie that made it finger licking worthy. The ambiance and energy in this place is great and I think it would be perfect for a large gathering. I may plan on having my belated birthday party here to dawn in my last year as a Seattleite! What an idea.
(4)
Aggie M.
I love everything about this place - the drinks, the bar menu (chicken and cherry flatbread!), the atmosphere, the interior design - it's my favorite bar/lounge in Belltown. Plus I live a couple blocks away so it's gets bonus points for that :)
(5)
Mr. Q.
This place is money! You'd be hard pressed to find complaints on the food, the Bechemal and Prosciutto is OUT OF THIS WORLD as is everything else on the menu. The drinks aren't half bad either, I wouldn't call them fantastic but they get the job done. The five stars is for the food, ambiance and location. Stop hating on Belltown, it's a brilliant place for food, bars and other nightlife! There's some good ol fashioned irony for you, you don't like Belltown because you are afraid of being judged by "d-bags" because you don't have that 'look' and yet, aren't you being a judgemental "d-bag" by dismissing a whole area based on... looks?
I really like this place...besides it being right down the street from me. I didn't get a chance to eat, but what I saw of the food looked amazing. They have a great variety of wines and desserts too!!! I definitely recommend it!
(4)
Tom A.
Armin rules, food mediocre.
(3)
Bryan M.
Great food. Cool vibe! Small plates are perfect for foodie friends. We enjoyed every dish that came our way. Even the wine recommendations were good. We loved the mussels marseille-style, french country flatbread, tofu and house-made dipping sauce was hearty and tasty. Be sure to leave room for dessert. The kettle tart with fresh cream was amazing!!
(4)
Barry P.
This is an excellent late-night bar. The food, decor, and beer selections are all great. I particularly enjoy the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread, and the olive salad is fantastic as well. They have Hoegaarden on tap, which makes the beer selection very easy. The best way to enjoy the Black Bottle is to go with friends and share small plates, as Brian N. mentioned below. The only downside to the place is that it attracts a lot of "triers," so the place can be a bit pretentious and filled with people dressed to impress. That's not my scene (Belltown, for that matter, isn't my scene), so the place isn't a regular stop for me. But when I'm down that way it's nice to know the Black Bottle, with its great food and good beer selections exists.
(4)
Maus Y.
A definite favorite when I want a good pairing of food and wine. Many rave about the flatbread and I would have to agree. I've had the anchovy plate (a bit salty, but still very good), potato wrapped with bacon (good), and the steak (amazing). The ambiance is very fitting- simple rustic and the crowd is usually quite fashionable. I'd recommend also a good spot for dates...saw quite of few first dates.
(5)
Amanda B.
If you are in Belltown and wanting some good food and fun atmosphere, this is a great choice. I love their small plates, which allow you to try a good variety of wonderful dishes. For that reason, it's especially fun to go with more than just 2 people.
(4)
Thaddeus G.
I will go back to try more of the vegetarian items on the menu, but I must say right now that the taters and cauliflower with the garam masala all over 'em are pretty bitchen. The whole minimalist vibe is not particularly my bag of donuts, but hey - that's just me.
(4)
Kimberley D.
When a classmate who lives in Belltown suggested stopping here for dinner, I remembered the positive Yelp reviews and the mention of the (relatively, for Belltown) low prices and said sure. Unfortunately, her suggestion took place on a Saturday night, and the place was predictably packed. That wasn't surprising, and I was willing to wait. We added our names to the list. About an hour passed with me standing in the doorway chainsmoking. It was pretty cold and wet, and I was pretty hungry. She suggested we place our order to go. She went in and let them know. A moment later my name was called. We went to sit down, and she explained that we'd just ordered to go, but now that we'd been called, we'd like to sit and have a drink. The greeter said no, we would not be allowed to sit down. I was pretty unhappy about that. I could understand if we'd just walked in and placed an order, etc.. but we'd been waiting already for nearly an hour. If we'd been allowed to sit down, we would've inevitably ordered drinks and probably additional food, so it's not like we would've just eaten what we ordered and then bid adieu. Plus, she lives in the neighborhood and is a regular at the restaurant, always tips well, knows the bartenders at this point, etc. I was pretty unhappy about that situation and will not be going back. But the broccoli/cauliflower curry *was* good.
(2)
Daisy K.
Black Bottle has been my favorite restaurant for a long time now. The plates are meant to be shared, and usually cost around 7-15$-- two people can usually split two or three of them. I also love their selection of dessert wines... and desserts. When it's busy, service tends to get slow and unpredictable. I usually love the ambience there; on the weekdays when it's not as busy, it's quiet and dimly lit (except when they blast the hip hop.. one of my flew complaints), and on the weekends it's really bustling and upbeat.
(5)
Matthew C.
Very sophisticated place, dark and candle lit, gentle ceiling fans a-blowing, and large, clean, whitewood tables. Beware with the menu because oftentimes the usualness of a left-justified piece of literature did not occur: The menu was right-justified and three of us tried reading the menu upside-down! The menu seems conservative, but each that we orded came out wondrously presented. Since I already ate dinner, I didn't get a chance to sample more of the menu but the desserts and bread dishes we did manage to get impressed me a great deal. The flat bread selections were $100 pizzas: soft flat bread topped with cheese and fresh gourmet toppings. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato in the middle of it; my friend had a banana dish on fire, and my other friend got the blueberry and peach kettle tart. The place has a small great selection of desserts and each would probably be a fine choice. Also, since it's a wine bar, you cannot miss out on those, selections from Chile, France, Spain, and California. I missed my chance to try Manny's, a local beer, but I will save it for my next visit. It was a Saturday night, and not too busy, so completely a pleasant after dinner dining experience before you can hit out to the clubs. This place was sooo cool that Santa Claus decided to take a load and his beard off and sit at the bar for a glass of beer! -Matt
(5)
MM R.
Hmmmm. Way too loud. This was not a great choice. Is it restaurant? Is it bar? Definitely more bar than bistro. Menu is a good idea, however, the minimalism (or lack) of description is a mistake. Food was pretty good, bartender was friendly though more interested in pouring shots of Jagermeister for a crowd that should have given that up long ago. Full of oddball 30 somethings who, at this point, should grow up a bit and DEFINITELY ditch the icelandic wool sweaters when heading out to chic Belltown. I'm a Capitol Hill girl....if this is what Belltown has come to, it will be a long time before I had back down there. No thanks.
(2)
Pei L.
reservation - [rez er vey shuh] - noun * an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc. * the record kept or assurance given of such an arrangement: Have you ever waited over an hour and a half for a reservation? Apparently, Black Bottle doesn't know what reservation means. I was visiting a friend who was really excited to try Black Bottle. She made reservations and organized a group for a fun night out and for me to see Belltown. We arrived at the restaurant in time for our 9 p.m. reservation and were told that we'd have to wait a little bit because the large party before us was still finishing. We got the impression that it would be 5, 10, maybe 15 minutes. 15 minutes passed and still no table. You could tell the hostess was getting antsy. She was pretty apologetic. But as more time passed, she came out less to reassure us that our table would be ready soon. Concerned and hungry, we had to seek them out to ask the situation. "Should be soon." After an hour, still nothing. We saw a table open, but before we could catch anyone's eye, a gaggle of emaciated girls who showed up after we did managed to get seated first. And then we waited some more. When we were finally shown our "table" 90 minutes after our reservation, we were seated at a square table and round table pushed together (they obviously didn't pass geometry) with 4 chairs for our 8 person reservation. Umm....okay? After we stood around awkwardly for 5 minutes, they brought us patio chairs to seat the rest of our party. Lovely. The hostess had told us that they would do something for us for our ridiculous wait, but when we asked our waitress about it. She said, "Yeah, well, this is a very popular restaurant." Um, I have been to lots of "popular" restaurants in SF, NYC, LA, and had reservations and have never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to be seated. And I waited tables back in the day and um...that's not how you speak to a patron. You think we are going to tip you now? Oh wait, because our party is big, we have to. Ugh. Finally, a manager did "okay" a $30 bottle of wine, which honestly, wasn't satisfactory. We were all really pissy, hungry, and annoyed - rare for a normally happy-go-lucky group of people. Oh yeah...food. We ordered the grilled lamb, local sausages, mussels, clams, fresh ling cod, potatoes and cauliflower curried, blasted broccoli, portobello grilled and butter bean salad, flatbread, Generous portions and pretty good flavor, particularly the sausages. The lamb was tough and chewy. The potatoes and cauliflower curried were a bit salty. The blasted broccoli was really interesting and good. I would have given more stars for the food. It's a pity poor service can leave a really bad taste in your mouth. I was glad to come back to San Francisco where they know what "reservation" and good service mean.
(2)
Diana C.
I'm a fan! I usually go to the Bellevue location because my friends and I like to kill traffic hour here, but I went for a little dinner last week in Seattle and this place rocks it just like I had hoped. Got my large party in on a reservation and everything was ready when we got there. Food is on par, coupled with delicious and strong drinks, the atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the servers are pretty friendly and helpful. It was my birthday and my boyfriend asked for something with a candle but told them I don't like sweets. They brought out a piece of fried chicken with a candle in it along with my glass of scotch. What an awesome server! Love it! Thanks for making it memorable!
(5)
Elizabeth C.
What a great place! We came with friends for a birthday dinner yesterday, and decided to order a bunch of plates to share. Honestly, EVERYTHING we ordered was top-notch delicious. They're "small plates" but more than you'd expect. It's almost impossible for me to even pick out favorites because everything was awesome. Sooo I'm just gonna go through everything. -The broccoli blasted is one of their most famous dishes. And it was really delicious! Roasted broccoli is the bomb. -Wild boar ribs: Just get them. They fall off the bone, are perfectly spiced and SO tender. They look small but they pack a punch. Probably my favorite, if I had to choose. -Prosciutto flatbread: So cheesy. So delicious. Could taste a little rosemary in there which I LOVE. Mmmm. -Artichoke hearts: Crispy farro with flavorful artichoke hearts--even my friends who don't like artichoke hearts that much were dying. -Pork belly/kimchi skewers: Holy crap, melt-in-your-mouth with a bit of a kick. 100% would order again. -Calamari: Nicely cooked, unexpectedly spicy! -Hanger steak with daikon: Steak was good, mashed daikon was an interesting texture but I can dig it. Sauce was a liiiittle salty but it wasn't swimming in it. -Lamb meatballs: The meatballs were well seasoned with a bit of a kick, the yogurt sauce was on point, and the hummus (covered in delicious toasted pine nuts) was insane as well. -I also got their cider of the day which was a pineapple cider. Pretty nice! The space is unexpectedly big, and attractive in that standard Belltown way. Service was great as well. I totally fell in love with this place, although it is definitely spendy enough to be a special-occasions-only place for me. The only real complaint I had was probably due to miscommunication between the staff. I called the restaurant earlier in the day and asked them if they could bring out their chocolate cake later in the meal as a surprise for my boyfriend's birthday. The guy on the phone said they could totally do it, they could put a candle in it, and he'd make a note under our reservation and make sure to tell the servers. Great, I was psyched. Well, as we were eating our meal, it got later and later until all our plates were cleared, and I was wondering where the heck the cake was...So I eventually gave up on waiting and got up to talk to our server. He had no idea that we had that request, apologized and said they'd have the kitchen bring one out real quick. It was still a surprise and it worked out in the end, but they actually didn't have candles and it was a bummer that they said they'd take care of it when I called ahead, but then totally didn't deliver. That being said, though, our experience was impeccable otherwise and I would definitely come back here again. Almost forgot--their playlist was on point! Great music can really make a difference.
(5)
Stefanie S.
We held a holiday event here in the private room. Black Bottle was easy to work with and it was my first time there! The food was delicious... I loved the blasted broccoli and the hangar steak. They even accommodated us with vegan friendly options! I definitely want to come back and try other items from the menu ... or just have 3 orders of broccoli.
(4)
Killerapp T.
Nice outdoor seating on summer nights. One of the few places to have halloumi grilled cheese. Meat ball with clams are also good.
(5)
Krizia C.
We went there just for dessert, and it was amazing. We had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. When it comes it looks like a tiny layer cake, but they actually take the middle of the cake off, put the gelato and then the cake on top. The only thing that could of made this dessert better would of be if the cake was warm or hot like a lava cake. Great price, small space.
(4)
CaseyJames H.
I'm very casual when it comes to dining, not a huge foodie, to start off everything was too eclectic for me. Bison, and other types of game just don't interest me...I wanted chicken-there was no fried chicken when we were there... But I was reuniting with a bunch of high school friends & it was the picked location. Me being from Texas, I was hoping to find something I could relate to...thank God we were at happy-hour, because I wanted to just have a few drinks after realizing I was going to eat a shish-kabob...I felt like I was in the late 80's early 90's lol. Overall it was ok, but I don't think I'll be going back there again. It wasn't too far from Kurt Cobain's old house-so that's the real only perk. I did however, enjoy the service and the interior decor-very sharp and clean,
(3)
Joke D.
So many vegetarian options! Broccoli was amazing! Loved the halloumi! Mixed veggies was large! Mediterranean hummus plate was delicious and huge. Portions are big, so it's actually pretty cheap! You need +/-1.5 plates (vegetarian around 10-12$). We were with a large group which made sharing easy. GREAT MUSIC PLAYLIST!!! I almost asked if I could have it :). And the wine was also a winner. I am going to recommend this place!
(5)
Simone S.
Black Bottle has been a favorite of mine since I first moved to Seattle. The food is excellent in its simplicity and execution, flavor-forward and always great for sharing. The drinks, from wines to cocktails, are always well-done and the selection is broad but refined. The atmosphere is very approachable - perfect for date night, a simple happy hour, or Tuesday night dinner with friends. I most recently came to Black Bottle to host a surprise birthday for my boyfriend. We booked the back room - the fees for which were VERY reasonable - and the space was superb! The room has a private bar that is staffed the whole event, sound system, set up for a projector if you want to bring one, and the ability to arrange tables/chairs and decorate however you like, so long as you're not punching holes in the walls. Our bartender, Chad, was awesome! He handled our group of about 25-30 with poise and personality, and didn't miss a beat! The whole staff made it perfect for a surprise party. When we arrived, we were told they were checking on our table (while actually notifying our guests that we had arrived), and led us back to the private room without dropping any hint of what was to come! The boyfriend, who is incredibly skeptical and famously difficult to surprise, was duly taken aback and had a great time. Food was brought out in waves (which you can pre-order or let people order as they like), and everything went off without a hitch! Highly recommend Black Bottle for any occasion, but if you are planning a private party this place is not to be overlooked!
(5)
Erica M.
Came here for dinner on a Sunday evening and fell in love~ This would be be a great for drinks or a first date. Although it is a little more expensive ($1-2 more/dish) compared to other restaurants, the food is well worth it! We ordered the Blasted Broccoli, Malbec Demi-glazed Oxtail and Bacon Lemon Scallops over Frizzled Kale. The portions were great, the flavors were so savory, and the dishes were too much for one person. The Blasted Broccoli could easily feed three people and was delicious! By far one of the best broccoli dishes I've had so far! It was seasoned well and had the perfect amount of char to bring out the flavors. The Oxtail was so tender and delicious, I kind of wish I had a side of bread to dip into the Malbec Demi-glaze. The Bacon Lemon Scallops were definitely one of my favorites as well. For $15, four bacon-wrapped scallops are served on top of kale. The citrus in the lemon on the kale helped bring out the buttery flavors of the scallop and bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I've heard wonderful things about their wild boar ribs and desserts too... I'll just have to come back to try them as well!
(4)
Eileen J.
I love love love this place. Similar to a tapas bar, this gastro pub offers small plates meant to be shared. I like going out to eat with friends and we usually pick places with a good happy hour or good appetizer menu. Black Bottle offers decadent dishes and they bring them out as they are ready, you are constantly peaking around the corner with excitement for the next dish. The cocktails are amazing and the vibe is great. This is exactly what I look for in a restaurant experience! As for service, it's casual but appropriate. I've never had bad service here. Try the fried chicken and the roasted veggies! I forget what my drink was call but it had strawberry and basil and it tasted phenomenal. A little pricy, a little hard to find parking.
(5)
Grace W.
Solid food, but in the sense of nothing to write home about. My whole experience reminded me of being in the kitchen trying to follow a host of Food Network recipes - some are winners, some are losers, but because you've been cooking for so long, everything tastes good. It really didn't help that everything took SO LONG. It took forever to get the menu and all of our dishes came out one by one. Most of the staff was nice - they apologized for the wait. The ribs were really soft and tasty. The brocolli was bountiful and healthy-tasting. But pork belly was chewy and overcooked, which were returned. And since when was pouring your own drink a thing??
(3)
Eric L.
Black Bottle serves heavy gastropub food, such as popsicle-status fried chicken, braised oxtail, and quality seafood. When I ate here, they were out of boar ribs. Disappointment. It's good for groups due to a large dining room and spacious bar.
(4)
Megan J.
My husband and I were looking for scallops to cush a craving, and we ended up getting four plated to share; tofu, scallops, broccoli, and pork shank. Everything was absolutely delicious! They've got a very creative chef working for them and they are doing a great job. In addition to the food being amazing, the atmosphere and FOH staff were nothing but great. It's not very loud, and not pitch black. They keep ambient music playing so there is none of that shitty top 40's music you try to ignore. Our bartender (the gentleman with a top-knot) gave us the right amount of attention, and was knowledgeable about the food. Would definitely come back.
(5)
Rona L.
I know I just reviewed Black Bottle two weeks ago, but my boyfriend surprised me with a birthday dinner, with some of our friends, and I finally got to try some savory dishes. Figured I'd share my two cents. I was a little disappointed with the overall flow of the evening; there were some highs and lows, so I decided not to change my rating. We had a group of 10. Our server was friendly and got our drink orders in right away. A few minutes after our drinks arrived, we ordered food, and that's when we hit our first low. It took more than 30 minutes from the first plate being served to the last person getting their order. Not wanting to be rude, my friends tried to wait for everyone to get their food before digging in, but after a while, we realized we couldn't let our plates get cold. Luckily, our server comped one of the dishes (the last one to come out) but regardless, our party had to wait quite a while before we could eat. The second low came when we got our Blasted Broccoli. I had been raving at the table about this delectable vegetable dish, and I'm not sure if the kitchen was just overwhelmed, but the broccoli was not what I had promised my friends. I felt like a liar. The broccoli came out well seasoned, but there was no crunch to the vegetables from the roasting, and we basically ate "steamed" broccoli. I was incredibly disappointed. As low as our lows were, the highs were just as high. My pork belly and kimchee plate was divine. I'm always weary of eating kimchee from non-Korean restaurants, but Black Bottle did it justice and their preparation was great. The pork belly was nice and succulent and I devoured the dish. My boyfriend's lamb meatball platter was also good. I ordered a few cocktails with dinner (the dark & stormy with Rachel's Ginger Beer, the Bee's Knees, and the Doppelgänger). All of the drinks were delicious and I don't think I could have picked a favorite. At the end of dinner, my friends had arranged for our server to bring out a cake they had brought. They weren't told (when they called or even at the door) that there was a cake service fee (of $20). Again, our server was wonderful and took it off their bill since they hadn't been informed about the fee. Our check was split easily, and surprisingly, no gratuity was automatically to our bill. Overall, I enjoyed Black Bottle. I was just a bit disappointed with the inconsistency.
(4)
Kathrina L.
*I am writing this review based on their private dining option* I was looking for a place to throw my fiance's 30th birthday bash. I was looking for an open space that was posh, simple and would set a good party vibe. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Black Bottle Seattle offered a Private Room, completely separate from the common dining areas. The private room had an aux cord so you can play music from your iPhone or iPad, and the floor plan or the room allowed for flexible setup. Patrick was unbelievably easy to work with in setting up the party, pre-ordering the food and answering any questions I had. We ended up with about 40 people and we hosted several appetizers (served in waves). BB allowed guests to have their own tabs for anything additional they wanted. Everyone had a great time and loved the venue! I would absolutely recommend this to folks looking to throw a small to mid-sized event.
(5)
Morgan M.
Black Bottle is cool, chic and yet is as comfortable as sitting at any 5 star restaurant or candle lit table in your home. My friend wanted to come here because of the inviting nature of the front windows. Dimly lit room, dark oak tables, the place is just about always busy. There is typically a wait to get in but it is well worth it, there's shops through out Bell Town if the wait is over 30 minutes to carouse. When we were finally seated (and after a huge splurge of shopping at Endless Knot...mind you the dress is gorgeous and not really that big of a splurge) at a table mid way through the room, we were quickly greeted by our sever. She was very friendly and gave us good suggestions on which wine to get. My foodie partner ordering some kind of Sparkling Wine and I staying safe started with a Chardonnay. Being with a picky eater can be a challenge in ordering from places that serve small tapas style plates. We skimmed over the menu and ordered a few items (mainly stearing clear of seafood though the bacon lemon scallops and frizzled kale sounded heavenly). Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso *A little on the salty side, Most cuts were rare to medium rare and almost melted in your mouth Roasted vegetables verjus *Seasonal veg. with a nice flavor Broccoli blasted *Salty as well but blanched perfectly Potato and prosciutto wheels *Unique combination, the potato calms the powerful taste of prosciutto, delicious Our sever was extremely attentive and gave great suggestions on the food and told us what was the most popular dish and what was the best dish overall on the menu despite customer opinion. Some of the plates were higher on the salty side, however I do not cook with salt much so whenever I eat out that's the first seasoning I pick up on. My foodie partner had no complaints and loved her food from start to finish...plus 3 sparkling wines.
(4)
Nathalie F.
We were staying at the Ace Hotel which is one block away... and on a rainy night the hotel staff recommended us to go there... we definitely did not regret! The food and drinks are great. And the staff super friendly. Don't leave before trying the lemon cheesecake, to die for!
(5)
Dawn G.
Great food and reasonably priced. My only complaint is that it was really loud. I would definitely go there again!
The food here is great. Love the hanger steak with daikon and the flatbread. I'd go on about the plus side, but I think there's enough of that on the site. Instead, I'll spend some time writing about the downside of Black Bottle. (1) It's crowded. All the time. I've been there at 10PM on a Thursday and there was still no indoor seating. (2) Noisy. It's loud in there due to a combination of the crowding and building material / layout. Watch out if you're going with an older crowd or a more serious audience. (3) Dirty bathroom. I can only speak to the men's room, but it's a little raw in there. Plus the urinal is right next to the door with no divider in between. Not that I mind, but it kind of spoils the mood when you're wearing a $500 suit while pissing in front of an audience. Despite all of this, I still like the place. I just wanted to balance out all the unmitigated hype about this place.
(4)
Amy S.
If Black Bottle were human I'd marry her. Consistently good food and drink. Reasonably priced. Great for dates and for groups. She's just a versatile lass. Did I mention consistent? The flatbread at the Bottle is crazy good. I think it is some sort of bacon in a bread costume. Bottle's broccoli blasted brings tears to my eyes (and not from the smoke that it surely generated). She can be loud and she can be harsh (in a minimalist, industrial kind of way), but Black Bottle's the apple of my dining-out eye these days.
(5)
Veronica S.
Easy to get to and get in. Laid back atmosphere, both in daylight and candle light. Love the hanger steak, medium rare. Flat breads were decent. Good wine selection. No HH prices. Service can be spotty.
(4)
Sonya P.
I'm quite disappointed at this place. I went with a group of six for some wine and birthday desserts on a Tuesday. Upon arrival the waitress tried to give us a hard time about making reservations even though the place was empty and it was a Tuesday night. After we placed our orders we each got our dishes at different times. The birthday boy order a berry tart that was a disaster. After waiting 30 mins we asked the waiter if the dish was almost ready... He said that the tart normally takes time. An hour later still no tart but the check arrived. We got charged for a tart we never received. When we kindly reminded the waiter of our order he brought promptly over a burnt cold pie tart. Not appealing at all. Happy not-so birthday enjoy!!! No thanks.
(2)
Kris R.
I went once for lunch, once for dinner. My mid-afternoon lunch experience was great; we arrived at 2pm to discover that a new lunch menu had come in to effect, but the dinner menu switched over at 2:30pm. They have flatbread dishes that's only available on the dinner menu, which I really wanted to try, so we ordered from the lunch menu (tasty) then tried the flatbread (tasty! If you order nothing else, get this). I would highly recommend doing what we did, although I think the chef out back didn't appreciate us doing it... we left a nice tip compensating them for their troubles. Late night food on the other hand was dismal. Small, cramped, noisy, crappy service. We ate and left straight away. Still great food. If there was a way to give it 3.5 stars I would give it that instead, since the first time really was a 5 star experience and the second was a 2 star experience.
(3)
Anna Marie C.
love it! was just in seattle for a convention and had to find a place that seated over 20 with good food and lots of alcohol. black bottle fit that bill to a t. we had the private room in the back, the deal they gave us was affordable, and did i mention the food was tasty? the staff was uber-nice and helpful (and kept us from costing too much!) hits: hanger steak, prosciutto flatbread (or any of the flatbreads, for that matter)...the wines, tiramisu, and the berry tart misses: the artichoke, shrimp. will definitely be going back.
(4)
Abe N.
I was straight up whelmed. Every good aspect seemed to have a bad one to balance it out. The (pretty good!) food came out sporadicly- mussels at one end of the table, then nothing for ten minutes, then pork belly to the other end, then nothing for a while, then a barrage of the last 5 plates. Too cramped at the table to really do the tapas thing, and jeezus, the men's bathroom! It's a two banger and smaller than my TV. Parking's not their fault, but the lukewarm techno was loud enough that everyone's yelling over it. Woulda been three stars, but we were auto-grat-ed on a 5 top by a server who was barely there. For a self-proclaimed "gastro-tavern" I didn't see anything taverny.
(2)
Jacquie P.
Small, tasty plates, good value, LOUD! music and patrons. Full to the brim on a Monday night at 7:00, but managed to get good (if not a little aloof) service at the bar. Mussels were outstanding, so was the artichoke salad. The mood lighting and dark corners would make for a great date night if you didn't have to scream across the table at your partner...I'd recommend going a little earlier to avoid the noise.
(4)
Meredith G.
All around great gastropub. Has a minimalistic, dimly lit, romantic atmoshere. Can get really crowded and rather loud, but it is always worth it. Delectable eats on small plates, great wine list, and decent prices, make Black Bottle one of my faves. They have a backroom that is great for larger parties/gatherings.
(4)
Wanee S.
Never ever let me down. I can eat here everyday!
(5)
John W.
As a wine bar, I really enjoyed this place. There are plenty of places in Belltown to go crazy, but I kept it classy here. They have a good wine list and a good selection of food items. Its more a wine lounge, but a restaurant setting. I ordered one of the flatbread dishes and was not so impressed, but the place has a great atmosphere so I will definitely return.
(4)
Nichole E.
The food, for the most part, is delicious at Black Bottle, but some (and granted, since I don't eat meat, I haven't tried them all) can lack flavor. The roasted vegetables are crisp and have that black char on them that may sound gross but is actually really wonderful - think summertime BBQs. I was less than impressed with the octopus in cilantro pesto, but ate so much French country flatbread I think I embarrassed my date. What is really great about Black Bottle, though, is how they have thoughtfully chosen their glasses of wine. In case you don't feel like downing an entire bottle, the selections of glasses are really, really good. The service has been good.
(4)
Sean F.
I came across this place on the recommendation of a bartender at the Monaco Hotel. Some co-workers and I were looking for a good place in Belltown (or nearby) to grab some wine and dinner, and she tipped us to this place. It's a "small plate" restaurant (and the aforementioned bartender did qualify her recommendation by saying, "Yeah, I know -- small plates are the thing right now -- but it's really pretty good), but totally lacks most of the culinary pretension you'd expect from a restaurant grabbing onto a trend. The plates are actually quite fulsome -- definitely meant for sharing -- and tend to fall more on the comfort food side of the fence than on the fusion or experimental side (although they DO take a few risks). The vibe is VERY relaxed (maybe it's uptight for Seattle, but I'm used to Orange County, so these folks all seemed intensely down-to-earth), and the wine list excellent (go on, try a Malbec!). Looking forward to returning. Awesome date place, I imagine -- safe food choices all over the menu, great booze, low-key music and dim lighting.
(4)
Quynh-An P.
I can only comment on the desserts, as I haven't tried any of the food here yet...although I've been with people who have ordered food here. I ordered the peach/blueberry kettle tart and had them substitute the cream with pear sorbetto. YUM! It was nice and tasty and just felt homey. The pear sorbetto had this creaminess to it that was unexpected for a sorbet and such a light and delicate flavor to it. I got to sample the profiteroles and felt there was a smokiness to it (which my friend loved) but we all agreed the chocolate one was just only eh...the others were better. I also got a taste of the lemon curd ricotta and lavender crust. Wow that was pretty amazing. I'm usually not a huge fan of lavender, as it can often be overwhelming, but it was just the essence of it and the right amount. We were all impressed. Lastly, we tried the plantain "fries" with coconut gelato. This dish came out and the first thing my friend says is "I usually like my plantains salty and I don't see any salt." She then proceeded to dip the plantain into the gelato and BOOM there was salt in the gelato. She was pleasantly surprised and stated that she felt like she was on a Caribbean vacation. I, however, did not really enjoy this dish. Overall, it's a nice place and the service is good. It's certainly not the best desserts in the world, but it definitely is sufficient to satisfy a sweet tooth.
(3)
Julie C.
Love it... I could eat tapas and drink wine all day and I would be a happy camper. This place is one of my top choices for dinner in Seattle, great location in Bell Town, nice ambiance, great wine list and a good cocktail menu to boot and more broccoli than a person would ever need to eat in one sitting. That would be the blasted broccoli, a bit salty but so good. Something I have tried to recreate in my own kitchen with very limited success. Other than sharing a plate of broccoli (and please bring at least three friends since it really is a lot of broccoli), grab one of each of the flatbreads. They are so delish... If you can't get them all, don't miss the french country (brie... yum). The cracked olive salad and the hanger steaks were also favorites but really everything was great. I highly recommended, get you some!
(5)
John C.
There is something about lookin down Vine w/ a cocktail and a couple huge plates of food in front of you...Ferry going out, liquor going down. The service I experienced indifferent, the food extremely tasty. I would love to chalk up the service to the time I went here (5ish, you know, Its Wednesday nobody has been here yet, we've been open an hour grouchiness)...I did see the staff's mood change when they started getting pummeled at 5:30...so maybe I will revisit to upgrade to the full Monty... But seriously for the price the portions are huge, and the drinks strong....Yes, Edgewater....I have stayed at you and I love your little stuffed bear ottoman, Don't mock me with your glowing E.
(4)
Bansi P.
Excellent food and drinks time and time again. My favorite place for dinner in Seattle. The reason i'm not giving it five stars is because the service has never blown me away, however its a very diverse place to go... a date, family event, birthday celebration... The place works for all events....
(4)
Katie G.
I'm surprised that this little gem doesn't have more reviews! I don't frequent Bell Town that often, but when I do... Black Bottle is more often than not the reason for my venturing into the uber-hip parts of Seattle that I usually skirt around. This place was JAM PACKED on a Tuesday evening. I arrived around 8:30, and left around 10pm and there were wall-to-wall folks, all of them well decked-out in their little black dresses and adorable pointy shoes (men & women alike). We sat at the bar this time, though I'd strongly recommend getting reservations if you're going with a group. If we were going to wait for a table (only for 2 even!), the wait would have been more than a 1/2 hour. The bar scene was lovely. The bartender (wish I had gotten his name so that I could sing his praises on yelp) had a sweet, lovable, teddy-bearishness about him, but he was also incredibly efficient, talkative to those who obviously needed a few jokes for the evening, and seemed very knowledgeable about the wine and booze he was pouring. This place has only small plates (seafood, beef/pork, chicken, all-veg, and sweets) which is not only adorable in concept, but very nicely presented and quite tasty to boot. The service (once you finally get to order) is very prompt, and everything I've tried there is quite good. If the blasted broccoli doesn't make you a green veggie lover, I don't know what will. Best of all... the price is right. Prices range (per plate) from $6 - $9, so you can easily have a lovely multi-course for 2 for less than $50 (with drinks) no prob. My only negative comment about the menu is that it's pretty static. After a few trips to the BB, you get a little tired of the same 'ol, same ol'. (PLEASE change up your menu Black Bottle... there are many more delicious small plates out there... I promise I'll try them all.) Atmosphere -- like I said, a little high brow for me generally... but it's the kind of place where you wouldn't feel totally out of place wearing your dress fleece to. On the other hand, if you're looking for a place to wear those new tight jeans and some chandelier earrings... this is your spot! It's dark wood interior, and candle-only lights make it quite romantic and cozy. The back room is also quite nice. Great date spot, or place to grab drinks with your girls. Not really a spot for (dudes especially) a beer-drinking evening, so avoid if that's what you're in the mood for. Only other downsides about BB are that parking can be a real pain in the ass on Fri, Sat nights etc., and it does get super crowded in the evenings. Give it a whirl... I think you'll like it.
(4)
Ninja S.
I don't know what it is, really. I just don't seem to like the places I go in Belltown much. I tend not to remember the names of places that aren't music venues. Take this place for instance. I can see the appeal. The stylish little plates of designer chow, the expensive (and possibly worthwhile) wines, the general snootiness, the fashion victims, and the list goes on, I'm sure. Don't order anything in a traditional beverage, or you'll end up with some watery mess in a glass. They hate anyone that doesn't want to drink wine. I might return here sometime if I'm with a group of people and are in a "lets spend lots of money" mood, but that isn't usually my style unless I'm feeling it. This place didn't do it for me.
(3)
Deann M.
Yum Yum Yum! I recently made a 12 hour work trip to Seattle and the highlight of my visit was a late dinner here. I arrived pretty much straight from the airport, full from cheap chinese food from the SFO airport - but a colleague told me that we HAD to go here even at 11 pm at night. I was not disappointed. The ambiance reminds me of a cool SOMA or Mission restaurant/bar - kind of Oola-ish. Very diverse crowd - but mostly "hip" folks wearing printed tees and blazers, funky hats and that sort of stuff. So this is what we had - all under $10 bucks each (yes, just 2 of us!): hanger steak and daikon/shiso - yummmmy, good for the meat eater, but don't mistake the daikon (japanese for radish) for potatoes! braised artichoke heart and greens - the most delicious salad I've had in a while. very tasty artichokes on top of a variety of greens french country - hell yah, can't go wrong with brie on bread with lots of other yummy stuff. kind of like a fancy pizza. highly recommended. racked olive salad | hot coppa | soprasatta - very tasty as well. you gotta like olives. served with some pita like bread and some thinly sliced meat that reminded me of proscuitto and salami. I'd recommend all of the above with a bottle of wine. We had a pinot which was excellent. Our bill came out to 70 bucks or so which wasn't bad at all given the excellent experience. Great for a night out with friends or a date (or a late night dinner with a colleague!). I'll definitely be back...
(5)
Bunneh L.
I very much enjoyed my dining experience at Black Bottle. They must have raised their prices though, as the majority of their menu items cost $9, not $8. I really dug the interior. The elegantly industrial look reminded me of Portland's Pearl District. The blasted brocolli is awesome, but a tad too salty. Who knew broccoli could be so yummy? The butterflied seven spice shrimp was delicious. I couldn't quite identify which seven spices, but it was quite tasty. I wish they had come without the shell on though. It required a bit of knife work to get to the meat, but I dealt. The sliced hangar steak was also outstanding. It was served perfectly medium rare with a soy-teriyaki glaze and grated daikon radish. Avoid the jagged green leaves that accompany this dish (I think it's called chiso). It has a really strong, unpleasant, medicinal flavor. The curried cauliflower & potato dish was another winner. The seasonings were amazing and the vegetables had a crispy exterior layer full of flavor. I hate potatoes (yes, I'm a freak), so I wish it had been all cauliflower. :( The only dish I didn't care for at all was the lemon squid salad, served with capers, edamame, croutons, and frisee. It sounded delicious and it has so much potential, but the execution was poor. It was SO bland I wanted to kill myself. I could detect a faint hint of lemon, but that's it. Even after salting it rather heavily and adding the juice of several lemon wedges, it still had little to no flavor. Also, the squid wasn't very tender. Perhaps the result of overcooking. Or maybe the quality of the squid wasn't the best. In any case, I wouldn't recommend this dish. Unless you like bland, rubbery food. Four dishes between two people was the perfect amount of food. Any less and I would have left hungry. The restaurant filled up very quickly and we felt lucky to have arrived early enough to procure a table. The host was very friendly (and cute, to boot) and promptly seated us. Service started out flawless, but as the restaurant filled up, went slightly downhill. Overall, a positive dining experience. I gotta come back to try that proscuito flat bread everyone keeps raving about!
(4)
Darwin Y.
This is one of the coolest places I've ever eaten. I lived down the street when it opened and have loved it and recomended it ever since. The menu is so creative, suprising and delicious. And the bartenders make fantastic drinks (one of the best brandy alexander's i've ever tasted). The place is a perfect 5 stars on service, menu and style. I wish I could buy stock in this place (or whoever the owner is) because this guy knows how to do it right.
(5)
Super M.
Just went here last night. Completely agree with previous posters. Completely unpretentious, but still having a cool ambiance and atmosphere. Good wine selection, although I wish there were more options by the glass. Their dishes are tapas style, albeit large portions (unlike traditional tapas). Their flat breads were divine. I went as part of a business "drink thing", and it was completely appropriate, even with the terribly romantic candle lights and smooth music.
(4)
Alex L.
Really great food, service and atmosphere. Loved the hanger steak and the arugula flat bread (amazing!). The only thing that was not amazing, although still definitely good, is the chocolate cake - thus the 4 stars.
(4)
Maya H.
Fun though loud atmosphere. We lucked out, getting a window table on Friday night:) ordered the Brie leek... Flatbread with the Gruner Vetliner, yum. The broccoli which received many accolades was a VERYsalty and oily though quite tasty. The hangar steak, again too salty, was tasty especially when you combined radish and greens with each bite of steak. Overall a nice if loud experience.
(4)
Picky P.
My friends and I LOVE this place. Blasted broccoli. Lots of candles/flattering lighting. Great bartender. More men than women on any given night. No Belltown bullshit (at least not during the week). Somehow this place has gotten it exactly right - it's totally comfortable but still feels festive and sexy....again, I think it's the lighting. The crowd is sociable and friendly, but not aggressive. We almost always meet someone new and interesting when we go there. Note: I am subtracting 1 star, because when we went there this past Wednesday we met two total assholes, it took me 20 minutes to get a cocktail, my friends had a rude waitress in the dining room, and they were playing the most god-awful mix of 70's/80's music...WTF...I'm hoping this was just a freak accident.
(4)
Jeanne L.
The portions are huge, but the food was lackluster. We had the seven spice shrimp, fried tofu w/ peanut sauce, and smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread. Only the shrimp was up to par. The other two dishes left much to be desired. The service staff was nonchalant. I'm one for setting the mood, but the restaurant was simply too dim. Crowded and loud, this is not a good choice for date night. The cocktails were surprisingly cheap. The food was reasonably priced. Yet we left less than satisfied.
(2)
Danielle C.
The food here is great, and for under $10 per plate you can try a lot of tasty things without much financial heartache if you're not satisfied. The flank steak has a nice Asian twist, and combined with the French country flatbread (kalamata olives, spinach, brie, olive oil) it is the perfect light dinner for two. The real attraction to this place is the ambiance. Exposed filament lighting, intimate tables, unique sensual music, and a crowd of interesting people make this a delightful hang out / people watching spot as well as a good place for dates. I wish there were more places like this in Belltown.
(4)
Marianne s.
I know Seattle isn't always sunny. But it happened to be the evening we were at Black Bottle. The experience was amazing. We were seated right away outside and even had a view of the water. Who knew?! The scallops, the flat bread and even the manhatten was amazing. Extra points for bringing the shaker with the rest of the drink! The draw back here is we had to wait a long time- even though we didn't order that much food. I would for sure reccomend it. Maybe it was just a busy night? They were turning people away. Might wanna make a reservation- esp. on a weekend.
(3)
Y L.
This is more of a 4.5. I am not a hip man, Jenny, but I know what hipness is. And Black Bottle has a good, hip vibe, while at the same time offering a selection of food that is eminently edible on a daily basis (hence, a good contingent of the local denizens stopping by for supper). I can't remember everything that I've consumed, but the things that really jump to mind are the blasted broccoli, and the flash-fried sardines. The blasted broccoli tastes like it's been under the broiler, which gives it a great charred, nutty taste. And the sardines are big, meaty, and not greasy at all, while offset well with a citrusy, tangy sauce and some raw vegetables (fennel? cabbage?) on top. (If you don't like fishy-tasting fish, then these would definitely be an adventure, as sardines are definitely assertive in flavor.) Some of the other items which looked great on paper were just OK for me -- perhaps because other places do such things fairly nicely as well. That's why the broccoli and the sardines really stand out, because these things ARE hard to find done well. I wish I could write more details about the wine, but I'm a novice here, and will defer to yelpers more knowledgeable than I.
(4)
Jessica Y.
This place is great! Accommodates many different "issue" people, vegetarians, wheat free, and the like. Great prices, and efficient wait staff, and pretty much bitchen' snacks. Not too fancy, but good enough for a proper dinner. Generally awesome.
(5)
Meggles C.
food- low/average service-sub-par clientele- "high class" escorts fresh from hugh heffner's NW location further details: we were ignored most of the night. When we spilled our peanut tofu sauce, they scowled at us and made us use our our soiled napkins the entire night/ this place is horrible.
(2)
Sunny K.
Me and my sister read all the reviews here on yelp before we went in. With my friend's and yelp's recommendation, we decided to order the following: Pork belly and kimchi (5 stars) - size was small but it was amazingly good~ Very tender pork with awesome added taste of enough marinated Kimchi. sweet-and-sour taste of the sauce made the dish not too spicy, but it kept the taste of kimchi very well Smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries (5 stars) - Very large portion, very reasonable price and delicious~ Broccoli blasted (1 star) - huge disappointment. Why do people recommend this dish? I would be able to make dish at home easily. It was a huge dish, full of just broccoli. What is so special about this dish? I really didn't get it. It was really salty, burned, and ... I just didn't like it.. With the disappointment, we decided to order one more dish to make ourselves happy. We were pretty full, but we didn't want to get disappointed on our way out by the broccoli. So we ordered, Mussels marseille-style (3 stars) - I like mussels.. I like hot soup.. only reason I liked it, but nothing special. I can find this kind of dish in any italian restaurant, I think... Overall, I liked the place. If I lived near Seattle, I would want to visit this restaurant again to try other dishes as well. Both of us are petite size 0 and we were so full after eating all of the dishes we ordered... except broccoli.
(4)
Dawn A.
We really enjoyed our dinner out at Black Bottle. It's a really neat little atmosphere - cozy and romantic. We enjoyed the wine and the food. My husband loved the fried spanish olives and we both enjoyed a flatbread pizza with brie, lamb and hummus plate, and bacon wrapped scallops. Three plates were definitely enough for the two of us, which we appreciated with the pricing. Service was well-timed and friendly. We'll definitely be back at some point with friends to try the rest of the menu.
(4)
Eva G.
Twice in one week..need I say more? Ok..you know you want me to elaborate. Saying I've been there doesn't really justify you going there. Ain't like I"m an A-Lister. Oh wait...this is Seattle...being a celeb doesn't mean anything..it's LA where places get hype with that kind of marketing. Soooooo..Black Bottle... I wasn't impressed with their menu online but somehow, when I got there and saw the small plates being brought out, I tried matching the items that walked past me with the descriptions on the menu. I got 7 out of 10. Not a bad score. My prize for guessing right was the Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce. I hear the local celebs like Michelle B. loved it as well. Oh and make sure you get a spot in the front rather than the 2nd back room. Seats are always better in the front of anything!! Duh!
(5)
Sarah B.
I love Black Bottle. Went for a late bite to eat and stayed for hours for the wine. The octopus salad was pretty good with standout dressing. We also had a sub-par chicken wings dish. The flatbread was amazing. The atmosphere is cozy but chic and a little dark. Enjoyed it very much.
(4)
R. C.
Absolutely wonderful...you wouldn't think a place this hip, modern and stylish would have such an array of not just amazing and affordable food, but in significant portions--oh yes, well prepared and really filling. I expected something a bit more veggie friendly, but thank goodness I was wrong: they get their meat on here, folks..and get it on so so well. Great for sharing because the plates are substantial. The place is also very comfortable and spacious, a pleasure to be in and great fun even when its crowded. Service was very good, though for a place this attractive you'd have thought the wait staff would seem a bit less "just wandered in from a bike ride"; but perhaps that's their way of making the place seem approachable. For those looking for a good night out, there's lots of eye candy here. Its on the edge of Belltown so the crowd is hip though a tad older, a bit more sophisticated and/or far more mixed than it would be just a block away (of course, if you go on Friday or Saturday nights the crowd will definitely be more 20-something). We are definitely regulars now.
(4)
Keridwyn D.
It felt like the wait staff were recovering from concussions or something - their communication was really poor, they were pretty inattentive and just made us feel uneasy. I sat down and joined my group - it was during happy hour but the waiter didn't point out that fact, no happy hour menu was brought to me, I found out there were specials after the fact. Really no incentive to go back here.
(2)
Shannon S.
Black Bottle automatically get a star for taking over the space from the previous restaurant/bar, Two Dagos from Texas. I lived above this place in a little crap ass efficiency studio before I turned into a grown up and realized adults dont live in places where you have to share a bathroom with a whole floor of people. ANYWAYS... Two Dagos was a hole in the wall where you could walk in order a drink and hope to god a rat wasn't floating in it. Thank Jesus and Baby Jesus Black Bottle moved in. By the time they had I was long gone, but I always make the trek back into the abyss of Belltown to visit this gastro-tavern. Must haves are the hanger steak, potato and prosciutto wheels and the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato which can make you forget all your worries. Creative food, creative atmosphere. Can be pricey but c'mon people we live in Seattle, I know you've all got the money.
(5)
Maria C.
I'm in Seattle for the weekend and I know what I'm having for dinner tonight. Blasted Broccoli. I know- how great can broccoli be??? Pretty freakin' amazing at Black Bottle.
(4)
Heather F.
Fantastic. There were about 8 of us and I'm pretty sure we came close to ordering a little of everything off of the menu (ok, not that close but it seemed like it!) and every morsel of food was really delicious. The wines we picked were very good and our server was super patient and knowledgeable. Oh, I should also mention that everything on the menu is pretty reasonably priced. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed (thank goodness for reservations) but still comfortable. I like how this place can be both a perfect first date spot or a cozy little spot to have dinner with a few close friends.
(5)
Audrey W.
It is challenging to find great spots around Seattle where you can get lost in conversation while being tantalized by a delicious menu. Black Bottle is one of the few establishments paving the way for better options for an entertaining night out. The small plate revolution is a good thing. Black Bottle's selection covers a nice range of variety in cuisines. However, some cuisinal (making up my own adj. here - work with me...) attempts are trumped by others. Possibly a result of misnomers for dishes that lead to unforeseen perplexion (this one is cited on urbandictionary.com , thank you): 1) The french country flatbread: it isn't flat. It has enough yeast in it to be categorized as a focaccia... should be renamed the tuscan italian focaccia!? 2) The chocolate cake with vanilla gelato: I think we decided it wasn't really a cake but resembled a chocolate fort but my afterthought was chocolat chateau!... a fancier way to say, hostess ding dong. Since I had a charming night at Black Bottle, I am quite forgiving. Good conversation, happy drinks, and entertaining food. Before I forget, if you do get the grilled lamb, be sure to not get too caught up in your conversation and enjoy it while it's still warm. I noticed that it lost some sparks of flavor once cooled. So all in all, Black Bottle definitely has the potential to host an enjoyable time. * Dedicated to EW *
(3)
Will S.
After having a bold red wine in a tiny wine glass. ( you would think a wine bar would have appropriate wine glasses). I check my bank statement because I paid with my debit card and I found a charge for the total and a second charge for a total plus tip. I called Black Bottle to have them credit the mistake and was told that this stuff happens sometimes and that an automatic credit would happen. Check for it on Monday. What kind of crap is that?? Check your bank statements if you pay by credit card.
(1)
Ramo N.
I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could, but not quite the 5. To get a 5 from me, the place has to do something novel to teach and impress me. Went for dinner on a Sunday night with a large group of people. Ambiance: Reminds me of some of the winebars of Manhattan's lower east side. I enjoyed the black on brick/concrete with the candlelight. The clientelle were cool. Food & Wine: My recommendations are the Mussels Marseillaise, Hangar Steak, and the Flatbread Prosciutto & Bechamel. These were tasty treats, and worked extremely well with the wines and ambiance. Tip: If you like the Canaletto Pinot Grigio served here, you can buy a bottle of it retail for $5. Service: Very good. Good place for a date. I like how it is crowded with the hustle & bustle; others may not.
(4)
cheng k.
The bartender at my hotel suggested belltown as a means of escape from the sausagefest that the w bar was that particular night. This place was recommended and it turned out to be a funny evening. Nice place, really good food, nice people. If i get the chance to come back to Seattle, I'll be making my way back here for sure
(4)
Josh B.
Forget the wine; the broccoli here will blow your mind!!!!! This is not a joke. Eat the broccoli. It is amazing. To elaborate a little further, this is a great place to take a group of people and order a bunch of stuff (Tapas style).
(5)
Austin K.
How about desert? The blueberry peach kettle cobbler is fantastic. The crust is well made and perfectly cooked. You get a cute serving in a cast-iron skillet with a tiny bottle of creme to douse the deliciousness. The crowd is the beautiful people, and be ready for a wait. It's not hard to improve on The Two Dagos, but Black Bottle steps it up level.
(4)
Robin S.
Who says black bottle is expensive? Try the eggplant rolatini. $5 for lemony ricotta goodness wrapped in crispy eggplant. Also the roasted veggies are inexpensive and can feed the whole table. Another one of my favs is the squid salad... delish. Stick with Mediterranean dishes on their menu - where their chef is from. Other options are good but the standout items are Italian inspired. Black Bottle is my favorite standby in Belltown when I want some solid cuisine and good atmosphere.
(4)
Jason L.
Love this place. We weren't thrilled by the menu ahead of time but we went by the other reviews here and are glad we did. Maybe we were lucky, but the two of us arrived at 8:30pm on Saturday and were promptly seated at a nice table in the front room. And we were prepared to wait! Cool. So... The food was overall just scrumptious. The Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce is f'in amazing. We also liked the hangar steak. The cauliflower and potatoes were really yummy (this coming from a guy who hates cauliflower), though they give you way too much on the plate. We also had the 7-spice shrimp, and that was, eh, okay. OMG we loved the dessert. We had was was basically a peach and blueberry cobbler. OhSoGood. The atmosphere was pretty cool. Makes me think of the trendy industrial/lounge-y places we have in San Francisco, but without being pretentious. And our server was cool--she was friendly and chatty (but not when my girlfriend and I were having our own intimate moments), and helped make the meal really wonderful. Go here!
(4)
jeffrey T.
Ate here 2x. Both times I dont remember really noticing the food much, and the bil wasnt bad either. The dessert was awesome, however. Way way way way too overcrowded and noisy however.
(3)
Claire W.
Stopped for a beverage with friends while walking back to the hotel. The music was a touch loud, but the bartender was a delight. He was charming and helpful. The plum martini was incredible. The tequila grapefruit cocktail was refreshing. The bartender recommended a fantastic grassy white wine. We all enjoyed our drinks.
(4)
Kelly B.
Wow. I guess I was thinking that since this was a wine bar, there wouldn't be much of a menu beyond a few casual apps, lotsa cheese and bread, that sort of thing. Wrong, wrong, and wrong! This place is a TOTAL food destination. Having dined at many a restaurant that serves up small plates, I was a bit nervous that I would leave hungry. Wrong again. They basically serve you family still side dishes...lotta eats...tons of flavor. Since I'm a broccoli fanatic, seeing that heaping portion of green, crunchy florets arrive at my table, crikeys, I just about died. The pork belly was the best cut I've had ever - solid and meaty with that fatty flavor, oh my. Our table was mildy distracted by a bunch of twenty and thirty-somethings modeling school girl outfits one table over but other than that, great experience!
(5)
Emily A.
We went back to Black Bottle to try out the food. It was decent, nothing fantastic, but nothing to complain about (except, perhaps, the price again). Good bites included the sauteed broccoli, the bacon lemon scallops, the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flatbread, and the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato (really yummy caramel sauce on this one). The civiche, spanish fried olives, and the yellowfin sashimi were average. Didn't like the wild boar ribs (way too tough - almost inedible), the brie and leek pesto flatbread (far too many leeks for me. couldn't taste the brie!), or the baba rum cake (the cream inside was tasty, but the cake itself was dry and had a weird texture). Probably wouldn't go back there on my next trip to Seattle, but I'm glad we tried the food.
(3)
kaitlyn k.
This is my favorite place to eat in Seattle. I have never been disappointed, and they have a ton of vegetarian options that I really enjoy. Blasted Broccoli is a must if you go, I think I could eat a whole dish to myself. I would recommend getting a French 75 here, it is definitely the best one I have had in Seattle. Love the ambiance, staff, food and the price.
(5)
Travis M.
Just moved to the neighborhood, saw the restaurant from the outside and came back with my girlfriend. Atmosphere is nice, very clean and organized. All of the food was very good. We ordered as much as we possibly could eat. The happy hour taco's were a great start, tried all three, chicken, steak, and pork. Neither of us liked the steak but we got two more orders of the pork and chicken. The kale is the most AMAZING thing on the menu. I have never had kale so well seasoned and cooked, and I hate the stuff normally. Hummus plate was pretty average as well as the lamb, but the portions were huge for an $8 plate. Service was great and I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Kim M.
Great food. Fun crowd. Reminds me of BK! Crowded on weekends so make a reservation.
(4)
Princess J.
Delicious!!! Met some friends at Black Bottle while in town for work and was a little skeptical of their menu. Atmosphere is hip and kind of dark. Servings of food bigger than I expected and everything delicious! Though Kimichi/Pork Belly was not as spicy as I wanted. Over all a great experience and I would go back.
(4)
Gretchen B.
It has been nearly a year and a half since my last review and I have to say I am throwing them the final star. I love this place. Last night we went with a friend and ordered about 7 or more dishes. Every single plate was better than the next. Spectacular. The tuna, the pork, the steak, the mushrooms, the clams, the scallops-all perfect. Not to mention that every dish seems to come with a side of greens or something. I also had dessert for the first time, the lemon ricotta cake. Like a delicious cheesecake with lemon curd on top. Fabulous. We also had the Summer drink with the grapefruit juice, it could be my new favorite summertime drink. The sake mojito was delicious too. I need to be eating here way more often!
(5)
Faith E.
We arrived at 7:20 pm on a Friday the place was packed. After putting our name on the waiting list, the nice-clipboard-holding-guy quickly told us that with all of the reservations our estimated wait would be one hour and forty-five minutes. (Oddly enough, the website claims they do not take reservations!) We bit the bullet and waited. I assumed with other people storming out because of the wait we would be in our seats sooner. I was wrong Exactly One hour and forty-five minutes (and two Margaritas) later our table is ready. (Man is that nice-clipboard-holding-guy accurate at estimating). Since we were famished, we ordered away. I loved everything they had. The Margaritas were nice and strong. The flatbread was very good; it almost justified the $9 price tag. The pork belly was lean and tender, and the seviche was very good as well. Unfortunately, I had arrived at the restaurant famished, after waiting so long I was insatiable. I knew that I would need to order half of the menu to be satisfied and frankly, we didn't want to shell out that sort of cash. Our table was also precious real estate and it didn't seem fair to hold up the table when other people were waiting so long so we decided to head out for pizza next. To sum it up, great place to eat something light. Skip it if you don't have reservations, and it's packed
(3)
Claire S.
This was our first meal upon arriving in Seattle, and certainly one of the best. They focus on serving small plates of delicious creations, and the price points are fairly reasonable. It's listed as a gastropub, but feels a little classier than that, in my opinion. + HOUSE-SMOKED WILD BOAR RIBS. I didn't realize wild boar had such small ribs, but regardless, get this - awesome flavor, a unique dish, and worth having at least once. + OREGON PORK SHANK w/APPLE BRANDY & HAZELNUTS. This was just fantastic, the pork was cooked to perfection, soft and falling apart, and was a nice, meat-heavy addition to our meal. ~ SPICY COCONUT LEMON-GINGER CEVICHE w/TARO CHIPS. Not a huge amount of ceviche came with this dish, but it was good. The taro chips far outnumbered the fish, though. ++SEVEN SPICE SHRIMP. I'm used to getting this sort of dish at Japanese restaurants (whole shrimp, including the heads, fried and served), and this was quite similar, but with a nice kick. A table favorite, but it doesn't really travel or reheat well. ++BROCCOLI BLASTED. Weird that such a simple dish could be so impressive. Still no idea how they cooked the broccoli so that the heads were crunchy without being deep-fried, but we were fans of this. It's a HUGE serving, be warned. - CHOCOLATE CAKE w/VANILLA GELATO. This was in lieu of a real birthday cake, and I gotta say, it was pretty unmemorable. The cake was dry, and the gelato was the only good part, really. Other than a few hiccups, this place is fantastic, and worth checking out if you're in the area!
(4)
Dave W.
Everything was great - plenty of options for those with diet restrictions. Perfect for family style! Lamb meatballs, pork belly, and the roasted vegetables were our favorites
(5)
Jay L.
Try the blasted broccoli. Fun place for a tapas style dinner out with friends. Cocktails are good. Flatbread is also really yummy.
(4)
Brooke H.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Belltown. Moving to the area it's been hard to find a nice dining option. Most restaurants down here are divey bars, unless you want to eat sushi. Black Bottle had been recommended to me for awhile and when I finally convinced the boyfriend to go it was definitely worth the wait. I've been to Quinn's in capitol hill featuring an assortment of unique food, but in truth it was poorly executed and seemed to be trying a bit too hard. Black Bottle is the opposite. A candlelit romantic dinner setting, although a bit tight (we could hear all of the discussion at the next table over) featuring truly delicious food to share. We had the boar ribs and the greek hummus plate, paired with some nice wine and it was more than enough for two people. I had planned to get the chocolate cake too but was too stuffed to even consider. The ribs fell apart as you ate them and the greek plate was filled with an assortment of cheese, olives, bread, and hummus that was delectable. The ambiance is nice, the server friendly and informative and the crowd respectable. We'll defintely be back for another visit.
(4)
Kim K.
Any place with a menu item titled "broccoli blasted" is already a win in my book. We ordered 3 items which was more than enough for for two people. Broccoli, lamb meatballs and hummus and the brie leek french-country pesto. Dear sweet heavens, they were all incredible. Great ambiance and would make a great spot for a romantic date night. The service could have been a bit better but otherwise, a great experience and I'd love to come here again for round 2...
(4)
Gregg H.
Black Bottle is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in the city. I'm not sure I've ever been turned away without a reservation, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to call ahead. There's plenty of seating without feeling cramped, and the back room doesn't feel closed off even though there's no windows. It's tapas, so depending how hungry you are, I'd say either 1.5 or 2 dishes per person for the main course should suffice. The lamb balls are a must, but honestly it's hard to go wrong. There's usually a couple decent beers on tap, mostly local stuff. I've never done a cocktail here, but I've heard mixed reviews; the menu looks decent enough. $2 tacos during happy hour, so, y'know. Go.
(5)
Vivian N.
Best meal of our trip! Summary: Moscato and pork belly!! Crowded but great atmosphere. Pricy though but what isn't in Seattle right??
(5)
Beau R.
I met my parents for dinner here and a really delicious meal. The food will not disappoint. My parents had recently arrived in Seattle for a visit and this was my first time meeting up with them, so you can imagine that we wanted to do some chatting and catching up. Our server was patient with us, as we were more interested in talking than the menu, but the restaurant was on the loud side for conversation. We shared some small plates: a flatbread, boar's ribs and halloumi cheese. The dry rubbed boars ribs were superb; the meat would just fall off the bones. All of them were excellent, but the ribs really were memorable. As I wrote this review, I was trying to reference the menu online. It seems that the menu keeps changing, so I've got plenty of reasons to go back!
(4)
Ken N.
Everything was prepared perfectly. Portion sizes/prices were very fair, and the food tasted incredible. Highly recommend the roasted veggies, scallops, and the wild boar ribs couldn't have been more savory. The cacao mousse/pistachio brittle dessert - you will finish it, even if you think you can't. It's that good. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Sheng M.
I've always liked Black Bottle. They have really good food and really good service. The flat bread pizzas are delish... The spicy prawns...the salads...yum! This particular location has a private room you can rent out (capacity of ~50 people and I think it was $200 for like 6+ hours given that you rack up a couple hundred bucks in food and drinks). My friend hosted her 30th birthday party which was 1920's/flapper-themed and it was such a cool little venue. The rental came with a full bar and bartender....totally cool! And the appetizers were refreshed as necessary. Another fantastical experience! The restaurant itself has exposed brick throughout and really old hardwood floors. Only gripe is parking...but you're in Belltown...what are you gonna do. :)
(5)
Deborah S.
Fried Chicken with collard greens. Slap my mama! I love this place. Friendly, warm and casual with a little edge. Great South American wine selection and tasty food. Cocktails are inventive without being pretentious.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Delicious food with beautiful presentation. I have yet to find something I do not enjoy here. The ambiance is dark glam, and you almost feel like a celebrity walking in. The price is higher than I prefer, but reasonable when you consider quality. All menu items are small plates (not dinner entrees).
(4)
Neil W.
I really enjoyed my last visit; Sundays are not as crazy. The drinks were dynamite; the Vesper and the Martinez that my wife ordered were tops. The food was good overall with a few missteps, but nothing major. The fried olives and shishito peppers are a must. The beet au gratin was unique. It had that earthy sweet beet flavor with a pleasantly odd creamy texture with the cheese. I like the fried chicken, but I wish there was more of the chicken and less of the greens. I loved the greens, but the two small nuggets were a bit disappointing. I also would have like a lighter, crispier batter. The seared tuna lacked seasoning and was a bit over cooked in my book. I know it came with a soy sauce concoction on the side, but it needed more. The salad with edemame, green beans and asparagus was excellent. Service was prompt and attentive as always.
(4)
Madison G.
The food here was great. The food we were able to order, that is. We must have came on an off night because after sitting down and ordering our drinks, the waitress came back to let us know they were out of "some of the items" on the menu. She proceeded to tell us which items weren't available and it was literally everything we already had picked out to be ordered. They were completely out of everything under the meat section, no scallops, no this and no that. I was able to get the chicken and roasted cherry flat bread, which was beyond amazing. I was able to get pretty full off of it and shared with my friends too. I also had ceviche which was very fresh, it was just surprising at the small amount of chips I was given with it. I made it work though. :) This really is a cute place and has a good amount of things to choose from, when actually available and not out. The prices are even better, so I will most likely be back to try out the items that were unavailable the night we went. However, I would suggest to anyone working at Black Bottle reading this that if you're out of almost everything on the menu, you say that before seating a table and taking our drink orders. We would have gone else where, but we already waited there for so long and were late to our other night activities.
(3)
Kristin P.
I can't say enough good things about this place...love the food, the rotating menu, the drink selection & the dim lighting! Staff has always been extremely friendly too. It's good to have a reservation if you're going on the weekend! Perfect for a date night!
(5)
Denise L.
The broccoli blasted from Black Bottle is BOMBDIGGITY! Ok, having a little too much fun with alliteration. Anyway, we came here on the first night of our trip to Seattle because our friends in town made reservations here after hearing many good things about Black Bottle. The service was excellent and our waitress was quick to inform our party of four that we would need around 6 dishes in order for everyone to be full (most dishes are served in medium portions). We ordered: lamb meatballs, pork belly and kimchee, BROCCOLI BLASTED, duck breast, ribs, and a vegetable medley dish ("verjus" is written on our receipt). The best dish was definitely a three-way tie among the broccoli blasted, duck breast, and pork belly kimchee. The broccoli blasted is so good that everyone agreed that we should have doubled up on that order, I'm not sure how it is prepared but I think it might have to do with being baked because it's a really deliciously crunchy dehydrated texture. I've never had anything even remotely close to this broccoli blasted dish in my life before! The duck breast was really good and the pork belly kimchee had great unique flavor with actual pieces of kimchee in the skewers. I am not a fan of lamb so the lamb meatballs were a little bit gamey for my likings, however, the hummus and flat bread that came with the dish was spectacular. The ribs did not have as much flavor as I would have wanted but it was cooked go perfection, the meat just slid off the bones. The vegetable medley farm fresh dish or whatever it was called was a total disaster because the string beans were so burnt that it just tasted like burnt char which made it very bitter. For drinks we got the doppelgänger, the mixed drink with Rachel's ginger beer, and a diamond knot blonde. A+ for the bartender at Black Bottle! The ambience was very chic with a spinning planet silhouette, intimate and dark, and just an overall amazing place for a date or a get together with friends. For music they even played a few of my favorite songs from Lana Del Rey (who I absolutely love). The night was just perfect, and I would absolutely come here again. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. I apologize for the lack of photos but we were having too much fun enjoying ourselves and devouring the food. But there will definitely be a next time! ;)
(5)
Christiana A.
Went here recently for dinner. It was delicious, and service was nice. I can't eat gluten, and the waiter brought out an allergen-friendly menu. The shishito peppers were tasty. Nice vibe inside, though I'd suggest you make a reservation as the wait times for walk-ins is l-o-n-g. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant.
(4)
Bethany M.
We dined here on a Friday late night dinner with friends after a Seahawks game. We thoroughly enjoyed the service, atmosphere and most especially the food. We ordered the tomato caprese, scallops, lamb meatballs, blasted broccoli and fried chicken with collard greens. They were all wonderful. The lamb meatballs served with hummus, pita, tzatziki, cucumbers and olives plate was a special treat. The fried chicken was AMAZING. These 5 plates were delicious and more than enough to satisfy 4 adults. I would definitely return again to have the opportunity to sample the other 15 items on the menu we didn't have the room to enjoy last night!
(5)
Rafi R.
We arrived in a large group of 12. The decor and ambience are great and our table was ready and set for us. The waiter was quick to get our first drink order in and the drinks arrived promptly. The food was hit or miss. The cauliflower fritters were horrible. They looked delicious with a nice crispy brown outside. Inside they were mostly undercooked breading with ground up cauliflower in them (I think - hard to tell). These could have been so good - batter and fry chunks of recognizable cauliflower. But instead they processed them to a point they were unrecognizable. And the batter was mealy and not cooked through. This opinion was universal at the table. We ordered three servings of this. The deep-fried octopus was inedible. So hard and chewy it resembled jerky. Several guests commented that octopus is always like that. But I've had it a couple times recently where it's been delicious. The octopus requires some extra steps to soften it up before the final cook - whether frying or grilling. We left most of it. The fried chicken and collard greens were a hit. Two southerners at the table noted the greens weren't vinegary but savory and definitely above average. The chicken on skewers had a great crust and the portion size was perfect. They use white meat which was a tiny bit dry for a few but overall delicious dish. The coconut lime-ginger ceviche with taro chips was also a hit. Only one order of it, but got passed around and everyone was pleased with it. Some even surprised. The flavor was balanced. You could taste all the ingredients but none out-shined the others or the seafood which was a mixture of tender calamari and fish and, we think, shrimp. The chips were light as a feather and not greasy at all. The pork belly could have used some more rendering but was really tasty with the kimchi. The kimchi could have been spicier - it was pretty mild and didn't stand up to the sweet syrupy sauce. The cocktails were kept flowing all night and the waiter made a valiant effort to give us all personalized checks.
(2)
Tanya P.
Really classy spot, great for cocktails with girlfriends or a first date that's romantic but not too romantic. Ordered the oxtail, which was delicious. But it was only meat, no veggies or anything on the side. When they segregate the menu by meat, seafood, veggies they mean it. I asked for rice (of course) or even a potato side, but they don't have any! What. Got a side of flatbread instead. This was delicious too! But just this for $17? Ehhh, come here for cocktails and a cool vibe. Go somewhere else for dinner.
(4)
Tori N.
Came here for drinks. Service was very attentive and friendly. Overall decor, atmosphere, and theme is clearly french influenced. A little bit on the sophisticated, hipster, trendy vibe going on in this restaurant if comparing this to other happy hour spots in Belltown. Will be back again for Happy Hour to try the food next time.
(3)
Johnny N.
One of my favorite wine bars/gastropubs and tapas place in Seattle. Their wine list is not as extensive as a true wine bar, but their selection is excellente. However, you have to definitely try their specialty cocktails; try the Barrel-Aged. As far as food goes, again it is tapas. You definitely have to try their Bacon Lemon Scallops with frizzled kale. Wow it is just an explosion of different flavors! There are other hidden gems that you must try at least once such as the Spanish Chorizo and Octopus Hash with Marcona Almonds. The entree has a lot of flavorful bursts and interesting textures.
(4)
Christina N.
This place is the sole reason why I now love eating brussel sprouts and green beans. My first visit was a few months ago in a large group of 8. I was very thrilled that they could accommodate a larger group and even more so when they were willing to split our checks. Usually not a huge deal but it certainly eliminates the complications of figuring out who owes who what. The staff is super friendly and service is very speedy, two great recipes for a 5 star review :D. Buttttt lemme tell you bout their Farmer's Market Roasted Veggies dish...it is incredible. I'm usually not a veggie fan, especially as the main dish. I like some savory aspect in my meals, but the way these veggies are seasoned provides just that. I first tried the dish when a vegetarian friend of mine ordered it, but I literally just got back from Black Bottle and could wait to share that I ordered it again and it was just as amazing the second time. I don't recall the other dishes that I tried during my first visit, but I can tell you that I left a very happy camper lol. I must say, I wasn't too impressed with their HH food selection, which is just a selection of 3 tacos for $2. They're pretty tiny and not amazing...but still good. I'll just say I don't visit for the happy hour, the rest of the menu blows tacos out of the water ;). Stop by, it's definitely worth a visit!
(5)
Kyle W.
Adding one more star to my review as a thank-you to one of the managers at Black Bottle for calling me to apologize for the negative experience. They tried to see if they could make things better, but I had already found a restaurant for my company party. Will be happy to give them another shot in the future to make my review a four or five star :)
(3)
Toby C.
This place just struck me as weird. We arrived at 8:30pm for an 8:30pm reservation, and no one greeted us for about 5 minutes. Three groups of two came in and we're waiting just like us; just odd because it was clear this place did not have a hostess. Later, one of the waitresses sat us down, clearly not caring whether we had a reservation or not. The entire dinner just seemed really unorganized. We never got menus; we just had shared the one we picked up from the front of the restaurant while waiting... The waitresses were clearly overworked/understaffed... The waitress got one of our entrees wrong, which wasn't a big deal. The waitress ended up taking some $$ off the bill, but it all just seemed unorganized. They even forgot to add our two cocktails onto the bill. Just seemed like the workers were under-trained. The food was pretty good... Oxtail seemed a bit over cooked.
(3)
Lemme K.
This place was amazing!!!!' We came with a very large group of friends and so were able to order the majority of the food on their menu. The favorites were the beet gratin, the wild boar ribs, pork shank, skillet vegetables, panna cotta and the pie. Everything was amazing and delicious. We were so full at the end but couldn't stop eating. Would definitely come back to try the things we didn't order this time. Service was also awesome. Our waiter was very nice and helpful and super informative about things.
(5)
Tamiko T.
I've been here over 20 times and have a very good grasp on their menu. It is a great place to come with a group of people or a date but keep in mind that it's one of the most sought after places in Belltown these days - the wait can be pretty long and the service can be quite slow at times. The food, drinks and atmosphere make it all worth it!! Things you don't want to miss. In order of importance: 1. Blasted broccoli! They do something to each floret to make them addictive like crack. They give you a heaping plate. Enough to theoretically share with 3 - 4 but you may find yourself ordering another plate... 2. Wild boar ribs. They will make you lick your fingers and the plate. 3. Braised oxtail. (3 pieces.) You don't get that much meat on the bone but the flavor is amazing. 4. Pork shank with hazelnuts. Cooked to perfection with great flavors. 5. Farmers market vegetables. An assortment of veggies in a cast iron skillet cooked to perfection with a squeeze of citrus. Often find things like carrots, parsnips, asparagus, Brussel sprouts, but it really depends on the day. Like the broccoli there's enough to share. 6. Pork belly and kimchi. In the mood for some good pork fat? Get these delicious skewers of meat. It's not very spicy at all. 7. Bacon wrapped scallops. Can't go wrong with that combo! Lower priority but still good: 1. Tacos. They are good but you can get better tacos elsewhere, and there's plenty of other things you want to try first. 2. Fried chicken. It's good but again you can get better elsewhere. Order it by all means if you're craving friend chicken though! It's two pieces of white meat on a bed of collard greens. 3. Hanger steak. This used to be one of my favorites until they changed the sauce... Now it's a bit too salty for my taste. It's an Asian-style steak that used to have a delicate citrusy soy sauce but now it tastes like it's doused in straight up soy sauce.
(5)
Whitney B.
A prime spot for awkward first dates. Black Bottle is a classy enough option to have dinner to conceal the fact that you stopped shaving your pits months ago, can recite every episode of Cake Boss verbatim, and your sofa has been collecting Flaming Hot Cheetos' crumbs during your year long dating hiatus. You start yearning longingly for a warm penis, so you agree to get set-up on blind dates. Where do you plan to meet? Black Bottle. Awkward couples were all I saw that night. It's moody, mildly upscale, and it's in Belltown so it's convenient if you need a quick and painless escape plan when there's nothing left to keep you interested. That's about as good as Black Bottle gets. The food is completely forgettable. I came here when they also had their taco happy hour and ordered the carne asada taco for $2.00. I think the cow was traumatized in the womb. It was incredibly tough and chewy that marinated, elastic waistbands would have better texture. The only two things I mildly enjoyed were the lamb meatballs and the bacon-wrapped scallops on top of kale. The lamb meatballs came with a side of a thick ass tzatziki sauce, toasted pita bread, a generous helping of hummus, and a Mediterranean salad. It was my favorite thing, simple and well done. The bacon-wrapped scallop is a standard gastropub food that neither excites nor bores me; the balsamic dressing over the kale leaves was far more interesting than anything else. It's still a far better choice than any of their boring flatbreads, the vile and reprehensibly overpriced broccoli blasted, and unflavored, chimney smoked wild boar ribs. Black Bottle isn't for people who are legitimately hungry. It's when you've been reduced to going out with Syphilis Steve who is looking for a willing, wet hole and Twice Divorced Tim who cries midway while drinking his Jameson on the rocks.
(3)
Brodie O.
Food is wonderful, service was great (sat at the bar but the tender was personable, made Seattle recommendations and made us feel at home). Would probably frequent this place if I lived in the Seattle area.
(4)
Ana S.
The broccoli everyone is talking about is as good as they say. It's nothing complicated--olive oil, salt, pepper, roasted--but it's realllly tasty. And the serving is huge. Boyf and I shared the broccoli and brie leek french-country pesto flatbread (which is also large) and we were satisfied. Those two items made this place reasonably priced. My cocktail was pretty great, too--Bee's Knees it's called. I like the dark, sexy atmosphere.
(4)
fank l.
A hip little tapas-like place. Inside the lighting is pretty dark so if you're self-conscious about your looks or just want to pig out and not be judge, it's perfect. The food is delicious with different range of items from duck to humus. I was there with a party of 10. Call in advance for a large party, because it gets busier than Zach Efron's underpants. Portions: Feeds about a person per plate. Some plates have more food than others. The food is meant to be shared, so expect to order several plates if your party is more than four. Plates were mostly $10-$13 per dish. Environment: It's loud during peak hours. I think having a party of 4 is just right. Larger parties make it different to interact with one another. I didn't see any circular tables. Yumminess: Pretty much on point. The broccoli was amazing- I know it doesn't make sense but just get it man. The duck breast was so tender like Ryan Gosling's heart in the Notebook. The pork shank falls off the bone and so most- you'll remember it like your first love. The wild boar ribs was meh- a little dry. If you want to have a good time or show your out of towner friends a good place to dine. This is the spot.
(4)
Marlon G.
My boyfriend and I decided to try something new and exciting while I'm staying up here (From California). First lets talk about the ambiance. It's perfect for a date, reasonable pricing and location is great. Service was great as well. Went during dinner time. Our server had a smile the entire time. The time it took from ordering and receiving our plates was actually the only down side. It was quite the wait. I'd say at most 45 minutes so enjoy the time with a drink or converse with that special someone. Once the food was served, then the sparks lit and then we knew why this place was great. The food was outstanding! I eat at a lot of high end places and for the price, most excellent. We ordered Brie Flatbread, duck, ceviche and for dessert the panna cotta.
(4)
Amaresh S.
I found this place kind of disappointing, as it looks really fancy. It's hard to know how big the plates will be, as some dishes are huge and others barely fill you up. The food also wasn't that spectacular, I ended up wondering why it was as busy as it was. Probably not worth revisiting
(3)
Kendra Y.
Wow halloumi cheese with dates was amazing!! Also had the wilted kale, spinach salad with goat cheese and pancetta. It was more spinach and arugula but so delish. I also recommend the doppelgänger cocktail. The pear component was very crisp and refreshing. I will definitely be back. They also are great for big groups, they have a separate dining area with a private bar. Also there is no mandatory gratuity for large groups which is a nice option.
Inventive pairings that really work. The service was impeccable- the servers were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth it- we had a fantastic experience.
(5)
Emily K.
A group of 6 of us dined here last night. Such a great spot for groups with all the shared plates. The Blasted Broccoli and the Fried Chicken were my two favorites of the appoximately 12 plates we ordered. Great wine list, affordable prices and lots of street parking. What's not to love!
(5)
Jill C.
The food is overrated. Was here for dinner with my 2 sisters and we felt that it was just an ok restaurant. We ordered: 1. Scallop wrapped in bacon: good but not the best I've had 2. Flat bread with prosciutto: tasted like pizza, nothing special 3. Pork belly with kimchi: not bad 4. Hangar steak: my favorite of the night! the steak was super tender and I loved the sauce 5. blasted broccoli: this dish was the worst in my opinion. From looking at the pictures, our broccoli was definitely over-blasted. When put under light, the broccoli was essentially all burnt and black. 6. ox tail: delicious, second favorite dish! 7. choco cake with vanilla gelato: only the gelato was good, cake was dry 8. Lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust: disliked the texture of the ricotta All in all, it was a decent restaurant with some great dishes. However, considering the price and my dislike on some dishes, I won't be visiting again.
(3)
Liana H.
Loved the atmosphere, the menu, the gluten free menu available, and most of the food. It should've been all around really awesome. However, my boyfriend and I ordered the scallops as one of our dishes and I ate half of one and was blown away by ammonia. The scallops reeked of ammonia and tasted awful. When we told the waiter, he seemed less than concerned and asked if he should take them away for us. Yes, the answer is yes. Your scallops have gone bad, please take them away. I was just disappointed that nobody seemed at all concerned, or apologetic, or asked if we'd like to order something else instead. We mentioned it to three different servers, and no one was concerned. Finally, we asked to order something else to replace them. They comped the scallops off of our bill, but it was really bizarre to me that nobody apologized once. Cut to...I got food poisoning later that night and was up all night sick. So....our experience could have been really awesome, but unfortunately was less than worth it.
(2)
Jenny S.
Cry babies. They do a great business, in a great location and whine about actually paying their staff a decent wage. It is hard to feel sorry for them. Actually, it is impossible. Well they are going to take the surcharge off the receipts. Bravo! I will amend my review. But they will get only an okay, because they had the stupid idea in the first place. But we all can grow.
(3)
John I.
Pretty legit place right here - definitely recommend making a stop! A pretty cool cocktail list... dozens upon dozens of beer and wine choices - really dope atmosphere! No complaints about the Black Bottle whatsoever
(5)
Wendy V.
Highly overpriced for the portion. I make better food at home. Ordered three things and split with a friend. After we left we went to Dick's because we were still hungry. For a place called Black Bottle, I expected a big wine list - no. Everything for our table of 11 was brought out one dish at a time. It took two hours before we got all our food. There was a lot of sitting and watching someone else eat, waiting and hoping you might get something to eat soon. It was also so loud you couldn't hear the server announcing the next dish they brought out. I ordered calamari with hen of the woods mushrooms, there were no mushrooms at all. Broccoli was just roasted broccoli. The short ribs were good. The butter chicken was alright but I've had better for far less money. I'd never go back.
(2)
Elizabeth L.
Still a fan after 3 yrs. in Seattle. Black Bottle has maintained its lustre and remains a trusty standby. Love its versatility - great date spot, good for hosting parties, or just quick drinks at the bar. All-around solid menu with something for everyone. Vegetarian-friendly, but carnivores won't be disappointed, nor your sweet tooth. Small plates are more like large plates, priced $7-13, good for sharing 3-4 ways. Hosted a party of 9 on a Monday evening. MEATS - Pork belly & kimchi skewers - liked the fun skewer presentation (4 skewers). Easy to share and kimchi was a nice, strong note against the pork belly - Malbec-glazed oxtail - this was delicious, will order again. Braised to tenderness. Just a note - since oxtail is bone-in, this is probably better for those accustomed with cutting close to bone/marrow to really get at the oxtail. Can be slightly daunting, but well worth it. - Sliced hanger steak and daikon/shiso was nicely pan-seared. The daikon and shiso provide a clean, refreshing balance to the steak. Generously portioned - Masala chicken drums - yum! Juicy, falling off the bone and well-flavored, sweet and savory with plump golden raisins - Chicken laab-gai - Thai chicken lettuce wraps, a bit on the salty side, but tasty nonetheless. Great for sharing. - Flash-fried sardines - very fresh and a lighter preparation. This is more of a small plate than the rest. VEGGIES: Black Bottle does a killer job on its veg dishes. - Curried roasted potatoes and cauliflower - deliciously fragrant. This was an unexpected star. - Gruyere beet gratin - while everyone does roasted beets, loved this gratin preparation. - Broccoli blasted - flavorful and perfectly seared - Brie leek french-country pesto - probably my favorite flatbread at Black Bottle. Brie and leek are an outstanding combo. - Fried tofu and house made peanut sauce - a guilty snack, tasty and satisfying SWEETS: Save room! - Lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust - made of angels' smiles. Airy and refreshing - one of my favorite desserts in Seattle - Peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream: comfort food at its finest. Tastes like Grandma's kitchen SEATING While front room has the bar and excellent ambiance, would recommend back room for hosting parties - was frigid in the front room during my visit (Feb. 3). All in all, tried and true - will be back!
(4)
Danika A.
Terrible service. Our server was very inattentive. However, no complaint about the drinks and food. The awful experience began when my girls and I (4 total) walked through the door. My local friend was celebrating her birthday and had been to Black Bottle once before. The bartender told us to sit anywhere we like. It was 10:45 pm and it seemed like the parties in the restaurant were already wrapping up as we entered. So, we sat down ordered waters as we decided which drinks to order. We ordered 2 painted palomas, a sweet prosecco drink, and beer. Maybe 20 minutes later we are served our drinks from the bartender (who I later realized was our dedicated server from another server just helping out). Our food order took way too long. We ordered desserts (2 Panna cottas and chocolate cake), ribs, artichokes, and 2 orders of butter chicken. The desserts were served first. This was odd, but we were hungry so we went with it. After we had already finished the dessert. The bartender came over to verify the rest of our order since our ticket had been "lost." It took another 30 minutes to receive 2 orders of ribs (one of which we didn't order but kept because we were again very hungry) and 2 butter chicken orders. We were nearly done with the food and another round of drinks before the artichoke order even came to the table. We had to nearly flag the bartender every time we needed something as his position was fixed there and having conversation with his coworkers. I understand that we were dining late night. However, there was no excuse for the poor service. When we wanted to settle the bill, we had cash and credit card payments. We did not ask to have the bill split because we attempted to consider the time (now 1 am). So, we wrote the amount to be settled for each card and cash on the back of the receipt. The bartender came back with no change in cash and the bill just split three ways. When we asked him about it, he said that he assumed we wanted the cash amount off then spilt the rest between the cards. We were very frustrated but made no remark about his disregard for the math done for him on the back of the bill, paid, and left. We were just done with this Black Bottle experience. I will not recommend this place to anyone traveling as I did to Seattle nor are my local friends.
(2)
Ati B.
$2 tacos for happy hour?! Sign me up! Unfortunately, you absolutely get what you pay for. I ordered two carne asada and two Korean BBQ pork tacos. The pork tacos came out first and they weren't half bad. The pork was cool to the touch but very flavorful. I can handle a lot heat but these were unbearable. If they were a little less on the heat side I'd say they were delicious. We then we got our carne asada tacos and they were horrible. They had zero flavor, zero heat and were so tough and dry I thought I was gonna break a tooth. Our server came over and we decided to order the fried chicken because these tacos were on a single 3 inch tortilla...not enough food for an ant. We also asked for some hot sauce an salt and pepper...because the tacos were that bad. Well we sat and sat and watched our server chatting (again) at the bar with a female employee. I had to get up and ask for the hot sauce. Hoping the chicken would be good; I ordered another glass of wine. Chicken comes out and for $8 you get three chicken nuggets so over cooked and dry you could play shuffle board with them (see pics below). We sent those back and they were removed from our bill. We just wanted to get the hell out of there. Maybe the rest of the food on the menu is good but the service sucked...another couple got up and left because they weren't being served. The food we ordered was 98% nasty. We will probably never be back.
(2)
Shaylene A.
Black Bottle ranks as one of my favorite places in Seattle. They are great with gluten and dairy allergies and accommodations. The broccoli blasted is the perfect texture with a strong butter flavor which you rarely enjoy dairy-free.
(5)
Trang N.
Best meal while visiting Seattle! A friend we know who had recently visited highly recommended this place. With that and the great reviews, it was a must-go. We ordered the lamb meatballs and sumac hummus, scallop crudo cucumber mango blood orange, and spice-seared sashimi yellowfin tuna. Um, I don't even know where to begin. Words can't describe how good everything was!!! The sashimi was served with an asparagus salad which was a pairing that could only be put together by Chef Gods. The tuna was like butter! Definitely high quality fish! I was sad when I ate it all and had no more. Now THAT's how you know a dish is good! The scallop mixture was an explosion of flavor. I'm a huge fan of blood orange and I was happy I could really taste it in this dish. Oh man, and then the lamb meatballs. THE LAMB MEATBALLS. The texture and fullness of the taste of lamb was incredible. In addition to the sumac hummus, a thick creamy yogurt (tzatziki) sauce was also served. OMG, the richness of the yogurt was amazing paired with the meatballs. I was honestly eating dabs of it alone, heh. Ordinary yogurt sauce after having this will be crap to me. Don't have much to say about the service, it wasn't very memorable. But if you love food, you must go here!
(5)
Michelle H.
Our friends have been here before, but we don't get downtown a lot. So I was excited to eat at a swanky place. When we got there it was very crowded, it is kinda awkward they there is no waiting space, we had a reservation but were about 20 min early. We did not get seated which was fine since we were early; the decor is nice, a little dark but that it's the whole point. We ordered a little bit of everything I am sure. But my fave was the steak and the artichokes. And the lemon curd was delicious! Overall good experience, would most likely go back.
(4)
Sydney M.
Varied menu: Get 4 things... The local beers are extraordinary. I had the oxtails (amazing and flavorful) and hubby had lamb sausages with arugula. So dang good! The tuna sashimi didn't have a great texture or much flavor and the shrimps were fried, so you eat the heads and skin... Why would you offer "fresh shrimp" and then fry them crispy? Didn't get that... Food came before drinks, get that sorted out guys, this is your second restaurant, no excuses for poor execution.
(3)
KT E.
This would have been a 5 star review. All the previous times I've been here (and I swear I reviewed them before .. but I guess I haven't) I had amazing service! Amazing food and I just and a wonderful time - especially when I get to sit outside on a sunny day! However, I took 2 friends here for their birthday last week and we had the worst server ever! I can't think of a worse experience with a server ever. She seemed like she was annoyed with us and when I asked for suggestions on desserts, she completely blew me off. Anyway ... I've been here numerous times and she was the only bad apple. I'll definitely be back because I love the food and I love the restaurant!
(4)
Sarah R.
My friends and I wanted to get dessert and they suggested Black Bottle since we were in the area (they said their desserts were the bomb dot com lol). It was almost 9 PM and they stay open late so that was really great. At first it looks like small place, but there was actually more seating towards the back off to the side. Service was great! We didn't have to wait around or anything to get seated or order. I ordered the two desserts suggested by my friend: 1) Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake Lavender Crust: Whenever I want something sweet and refreshing I always go for something with lemon, and this was perfect! The hint of lavender was also subtle and went great with the lemon which wasn't an overpowering flavor. Also I was surprised with the ricotta because I'm not a big cheese person and that was really good as a dessert! I would definitely order this again! 2) Cacao Nib Mousse Torte and Chili Pistachio Brittle: I LOVE chocolate anything for dessert. This was delicious, I enjoyed the nibs, it added texture to the mousse. The brittle was good, with a subtle kick. Other items my friends ordered that I tried and liked were their House-Smoked Wild Boar Ribs which had a good flavor and it just slid right off the bone, mMmMmm! Also their Broccoli Blasted, I'm in awe, I want to know how they make this! The broccoli held it shaped but had a crunch as if you were eating kale chips or something. The flavor was also very good, hint of garlic I think! UPDATE: My review changed from a 5 star to a 4 star. *LARGE PARTIES: I came here a 2nd time for a birthday dinner. It was great they could accommodate our large party of about 12 people. The DOWN SIDE to all of this, all of our dishes came at various times, I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I was one of the first to get my dish, I was waiting for the birthday girl to get hers before eating. My BF however was the very last to get his dish and had to waive down the waitress to tell her when he was still waiting. Honestly she should have been checking on her own in the first place. Basically EVERYONE was done eating by the time his dish came. I had slowly nibbled on my dinner so that he wasn't the only one eating when he got his dish. I ordered the BACON LEMON WILD ALASKAN SCALLOPS WITH FRIZZLED KALE which were soo delicious, BUT they were COLD by the time he got his dish, it would've been more enjoyable had I been able to eat them right away. He had ordered their MALBEC DEMI-GLAZED OXTAIL, although he said it was good, it wasn't really worth the wait and would not order that again. Black Bottle HOWEVER did comp his dish which was appropriate. On top of this - I was slapped with a $20 cake fee for bringing a cake! I talked to our waitress about this and she said someone should have told me at the door, which no one did. Our waitress however removed the fee. This ordeal for us totally ruined our dinner time that should have been a happy, relaxing gathering with friends. I would never come here with a large party.
(4)
Gerald C.
We were just getting back from a late visit to the Space Needle. Not many places were still open, but this was a welcome exception. They seated us promptly as the place was still hopping, amazingly, at 10pm. Service was friendly, if just a bit casual. The bacon-wrapped scallops were amazing! Too bad we didn't really pick dishes that could follow it - the bbq chicken pizza (just what you'd expect) and the roasted vegetables (too much for us two, even).
(4)
Chris H.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion sizes somewhere between typical and tapas. Got 4 things for 3 people, and that worked out well. The broccoli was a highlight. Their Manhattan is good.
(4)
C J.
Avoid this establishment! We visited this place during our recent visit to Seattle and regret it! We walked in and were greeted by a sign that said to seat yourself. That is the only greeting we got. We sat down at a table near the bar and waited AND WAITED. We finally asked the bartender if the waiter would be coming over and were told he will be right over, as he handed my hubby menus. We sat and observed the waiter chatting with his buddies at another table and with the bartender. We waited 5 more minutes and got up and left! This place is poorly managed. Perhaps management should invest in a host/hostess. As we were leaving, we saw a couple reading the menu outside and advised them to go elsewhere, as the service stinks! I only hope they listened. If not, their loss. There are so many restaurants and bars in the area, I would expect management to insist upon providing some, any level of customer service!
(1)
Jesus S.
It was around 7pm on a cool rainy Thursday night in Seattle when my date and I stepped inside. Our clothes were wet from the recent downpour and popped in for dinner. As soon as we stepped in we could smell the rich smokiness of the ribs permeating the air. The lighting was subdued providing a gentle warmth that complimented the aroma. The crowd was mainly groups of friends enjoying drinks, food, and good conversation. We were seated within minutes and even with a full house we were still able to enjoy conversing with one another. After ordering the food each plate came out one after the other with clean plates being provided between entrees. It was exquisite to say the least, the seasoning was perfection, the meat from the ribs was so soft it practically melted in my mouth. My date was thoroughly impressed by the food and her drink. Everything we had was over the top and honestly for the quality of the food and the fantastic service the price is incredibly reasonable.
(5)
Shelby W.
Jesus rollerblading Christ I haven't had a bad dish here ever. This is my favorite place for food in Belltown, maybe all of downtown! You can't go wrong and you should order something from every category to share.
(5)
Nermeen W.
Managed to make reservations on Friday for a group of 7 for that same night. They were very accommodating and friendly, the service was great and the food was excellent. This was my second time there and I will definitely be going again
(5)
Guillaume G.
Great wine (although a bit pricey). The food is perfectly cooked, respectable portions, classy presentation and good ingenuity. Highly recommend the pork bellies with kimchi. Wow. Service was kind but not rushed. Made it possible to enjoy everything, including the well chosen music. I will definitely be back to dissect both the food and drink lists.
OMG the chocolate cake! The bartender was fabulous and gave me brandied cherries with it. My new favorite dessert. Love the ambiance and the chocolate cake. We will definitely return. 10/10 on the yum factor.
(5)
Darren A.
I've been to Black Bottle and Black Bottle Postern several times now as friends seem to like the place... I'm just not that big a fan. The food is consistently mediocre and the drinks generally don't seem that interesting or tasty. It's a great atmosphere. I just wish their menu and cocktail list was much better.
(2)
Aimee D.
This place would have been incredible and amazing...if someone had told us it was tapas. The hostess and server never asked if we had been there before and just assumed we understood the concept...we however did not, and left hungry and angry when I figured out what the concept was. We would've spent more money on food and drinks, would have tipped the server more and the Black bottle would have made another $30 from us easy. The food was delicious, but how hard is it to explain your restaurant's concept? It's not. Maybe enough people know and they don't have a problem with business, but I'm incredibly upset with my experience. Also, the service could use a friendliness boost. If you like the nonchalant "we're too cool" hipster attitude you'll, love this place. If you like nice friendly competent service, you will not.
(1)
Wenxi Y.
Oh!!!!! Such a nice little place as our Seattle's first meal! Bacon wrapped scallop with kale was my fav; scallop and kale, when they r together, srsly????? Gosh. Also their drinks are very down to earth and candid - referring the proportion and price. And decoration of the place is a plus. Huge plus. Love it. Seattle ppl are lucky!!'
(5)
Rhia G.
We were in Seattle for my birthday and looking for a good birthday dinner. We were so not disappointed. We started with cocktails at the bar, the bartender's service was good, and the drinks were delicious. An order of blasted broccoli was absolutely fantastic. We were seated and had pork belly and kimchi, ox tail, bacon-wrapped scallops and kale, and artichokes. Everything was phenomenally delicious. We finished with a panna cotta with drunken strawberries, complete with a cute birthday candle, for dessert. We were incredibly impressed with the food and drinks. The only reason this isn't a five star review is the waitress was not educated enough and her advice was mediocre at best, and empty dishes weren't cleared promptly. She was obviously trying to do well though, she had a good attitude, and we didn't dislike her. She did a disservice to the delicious food and drink, but all-in-all, we loved our experience here. Regardless of service, the food is epically worth it and even affordable, on top of that. I would recommend this place to anyone with a true love and appreciation for a gastro pup.
(4)
peter c.
So I went on one of those awkward first blind dates here as I needed to check it off my list. I live down the block for peet sake. Anyways the food is of good quality and the service is good. We ordered the Blasted Broccoli, Ceviche, Mozarella and Tomatoes and something with ribs. Can't remember exactly since it was awhile ago. Everything came out well and like the other reviews said the Brocolli was particularly tasty. I wasn't wowed by anything though and never pictured myself returning to experience the food again.
(3)
Rebeccah M.
Black Bottle is an upscale wine bar / restaurant in Belltown, with a modern, open interior and friendly, attentive staff. The experience as a whole, though, was just ok, not great, because of the following: 1) the music was too loud (maybe that means I'm too old, but it seems like the atmosphere in wine bar should be more conducive to conversation), 2) the bottle of wine suggested by the waiter didn't wow us - we asked for something unique and indicated we were willing to pay more for a bottle of something special, but what we got was a barely decent cab-syrah blend, and 3) the food options looked good, and the Blasted Broccoli we ordered was ok, but it was a bit under-seasoned and over-oiled. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but with the plethora of other options in Belltown, there's no reason to settle for an experience that's just "not bad."
(3)
Cat Y.
Black Bottle serves some pretty tasty beverages and a variety of tapas style plates. I'd actually say slightly larger than normal tapas - 3 are good for 2 people. Some of my husband and my favorites are their flatbreads, the lamb meatballs, and the fried chicken with okra. I've also had the pork belly with kimchee and it's good but being a korean, it's not REALLY kimchee..ya know? The service can be slightly spotty depending on the time of day you go. I've had better luck during happy hour on a weekday versus dinner on a Friday or Saturday night. At the end of your time there, you walk out feeling full but not too full and you didn't have to pay a ton for the experience.
(4)
Adam D.
Two times I have come to this restaurant and been turned away! The first time I came, they said the wait was just too long and I might as well go somewhere else. The second time, was last night. I was with a group of friends who wanted to grab a drink after dinner so we stopped here. We were boisterous and having a good time, but in no way were we drunk. They told us that they would not serve us and we had to leave! I was shocked! This business seems to have so many good reviews, and the few times other than these two times, I have been pleased with service, wine, and food. Perhaps, they were just having a bad night? I will give it one more shot and then I am done.
(2)
Georgie M.
Black bottle is a solid wine, and small plates place to chill out with friends. I have been here a few times and it has always been fun. The things that worked: In the meat tapas I really like the - pork belly and kimchi, demi glazed oxtail the wine selection that the place offers is great and the hosts are good with their recommendations From the flatbreads options - brie leek french-country pesto, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries In the veggies definitely try the - blasted broccoli (it is very different and has a middle-eastern flavor side note to it) The ambiance of the place is great with muted lights, cute corner street location, open bar, not so loud mostly indie music, the place is easy to have a good conversation at The things that did not work: In the meat tapas - lamb meatballs with hummus (the plate was overbearing and there was a lot of ingredients that were kind of oddly made to fit on one plate), crispy fried chicken and collard greens (just the crispy chicken would have been acceptable but there was too much going on with the collared greens), wild boar ribs (I got them a little too over smoked though the not too smoked ones tasted great!) So overall a good place to relax, have good food and great conversations at... :)
(4)
Kelsey H.
Fun, cute little place. We went for drinks and it was perfect. Great location and music. They had The Weeknd on and he's my favorite so this place automatically made its mark in my book.
(5)
Janice Y.
Yum. The bacon lemon scallops over frizzled kale was my favorite dish, followed by the seared duck. The flavors are perfectly balanced and the dishes are beautifully presented. Great restaurant for catching up with old friends.
(4)
Mark I.
The kim-chi and pork belly skewers. Simply amazing. That is all. - Mark Inocentesâ„¢
(5)
Kelly T.
I can't quite remember exactly what I ordered here but I think I got one of the flatbreads, the hangar steak, the 5spice shrimp and one other item. The seasonal sangria was delicious. Though all the foods ordered weren't excellent, there was something about this place that I enjoyed very much. It could do with the atmosphere and our waitress. Wish I could remember her name but I don't. Sorry!
(4)
Lauren H.
Came here for the first time for my birthday a few weeks ago. Dark lighting, intimate setting...this would be a great date spot. Our server was very friendly (even comped something that took a bit longer than expected, which was a really nice gesture, especially since we didn't even complain). Can't comment on the cocktails, as I only got a glass of wine, but the menu looked good (a few strong staples/classics). The food was hit & miss. The ceviche was unseasoned and boring. Octopus was too chewy, even the chips didn't have enough salt. Could have used a lot more lime, salt, and spice overall. Hangar steak was...well...hangar steak. Not the best steak I've had but it was cooked right and the accompanying veggies went nicely. The fried sardines were pretty good, but for someone who loves anchovy/sardines, you might find these lack that distinct, strong flavor. Still would recommend, though. Even my non-sardine loving friend (who is a very picky eater, I should add) was a fan. Best part of the meal was, interestingly enough, the broccoli. GET THE BROCCOLI. It's a HUGE portion and so good. Seriously, I could have just eaten that. Overall, I think the prices are fair and atmosphere is cool. I wasn't blown away by the food, but there were some stand-out options. I'll have to come back and try more.
(4)
Lawrence L.
My second trip to this Belltown broccoli mecca. The Broccoli Blasted is one of simplest, yet tastiest veggie dishes I've had the pleasure of enjoying. Always a good small plates menu. Intimate space with knowledgeable staff and a good selection of local beverages. It's good for two or small groups. Would love to see a tasting menu here. Give it a try!
(4)
Sean M.
Ok I hang out in bell town too much. I really enjoy the plates at black bottle. If your just by yourself or with group definitely recommend coming here. Wine collection is good but hit or miss
(3)
S L.
Really great drinks but the food was not as much of a hit. I had the summer martini which is vodka and elderflower - not too strong and not too sweet, and it came with the small shaker on the side so you felt as though you got your money's worth (even though it's probably all ice). For the food, we had cauliflower fritters with raita sauce and the "flat bread". The cauliflower fritters were extremely dry, not worth getting and the flat bread was not flat.... OK but not what I was expecting. Next time I'll stick to drinks here.
(3)
Chris D.
We've been the Black Bottle a handful more times since our initial visit and have had a very good experience each time. Both times we've ended up here, it was after attending another events with a group of friends. We were in the area, wanted some food and additional beverages and BB fit the bill. So, as an intimate couples dinner? Eh. As an after-party with friends? Awesome.
(4)
Andy H.
I came here because my friend recommended this place when in seattle. This restaurant is pretty hipster, from the decor to the servers, but my experience here was fantastic. My friend had warned me that the service can be a little slow and downright rude, but i didn't run into that problem at all. We ordered: 1. pork belly with kimchi - best dish on the menu 2. flat bread w/ prosciutto - soft and cheesy 3. lots of alcohol I'd recommend this spot to anyone visiting seattle or want a chill place to drink/eat. They also played the entire kendrick lamar CD. A+++
(4)
D T.
no one took my order or brought water despite sitting at a table with wine in front of me for 40 minutes straight. i arrived there at 6.20 pm earlier this evening. i was seated, luckily right away. the waiter came over to ask me what i'd like for a drink, said he will come back with water. he came back with wine, disappeared, and no one looked my way or took my order for 40 minutes straight, they were just passing by me serving other people, not even looking my way, until i walked inside and asked if anyone will take my order. the waiter finally came back, i ordered a flatbread, 30 minutes later, still nothing! i finally walked away and went home to heat myself up some food, since they destroyed my joy as well. i am at home right now eating the food i heated up for myself. the most horrible service i have ever experienced anywhere!!! do we have to be more than 1 person to be considered worthy of service??? clowns. you had one job: ask what i was going to f...g eat and you could not accomplish it.
(1)
Nena P.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! Music was way too loud to hold a decent conversation without yelling, but the food was good. Just try everything, I had the Kimchi Pork Belly and Korean Taco, delicious.
(4)
Kailee B.
My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day. We're from San Francisco, but came here on a recommendation from a friend. Cauliflower fritters - They were good, nothing to write home about. Fried chicken - My boyfriend thought they were pretty good (I'm a vegetarian). Artichoke and farro - The farro was so hard, you could chip a tooth on it. When I told the server, she nodded and walked away. Doesn't seem like the best way to handle the situation. Service - We had to ask the host after he sat us to find our server because we sat there for at least 10 min without being greeted. She got our order wrong and only checked on us once without being flagged down through the whole dinner. Overall, sorry Seattle, but this place is no where near good enough to have such poor service. Could've gotten 3 stars if the service was better. (I realize SF has probably spoiled me just a bit )
(2)
T Rosa I.
I went here tonight with my 4 girlfriends for the first time. The place is a typical belltown restaurant meaning it's very cozy. It was like walking through a maze trying to walk to our table and then to the front door. It definitely has that hipster feel to it when it comes to the decor and the people who work there. They weren't mean by any means but they weren't overly friendly either. We ended up ordering like 9 dishes bc we couldn't decide. So, we ended up sharing it like family style. I didn't like that they brought out our veggie dishes first and then our meat dishes. And it seemed like the dishes took forever to come out. Good thing we had some good conversation going that it made the wait bearable. I was really excited about this place and expected the food to be better than it was. The porkbelly kimchee, oxtail, and the artichoke appetizer was my favorite. Sadly we heard great things about the blasted broccoli so we ordered it. Unfortunately, the cook must have been off tonight because it was overly burnt. Our waiter noticed that we didn't even eat half of it so he ended up taking it off our ticket. Which was nice and greatly appreciated. Glad we tried this place but I doubt I will go out of my way to come back.
(3)
Cucteen V.
Four stars because our server took forever to acknowledge us after we were seated. The hostess, on the other hand, was extremely friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself appears small when you first enter, but there's additional seating in the back. The ambiance was enjoyable, though, the crowd and music combined made it too loud to simply relax. I saw a few couples that appeared to be on dates. I can't imagine going on an intimate date with all that noise in the background. Aside from that, the food was definitely worth the 30-minute wait. We ordered the kimchi pork belly, broccoli blasted, and fried chicken with collard greens. The fried chicken was okay, but the other two dishes. OMG. I savored every last bite. The broccoli was such a simple and basic dish but had my taste buds flipping with joy. I think I gave a compliment after each bite. In hindsight, my friend must've been annoyed. Oops. I was excited to try the boar.ribs, but they were sadly out of it. Boooo. The dishes are served tapa style. I don't recommend anyone coming if you're starving, but it's definitely a great spot for a night cap or to wind down.
(4)
Troy M.
This was our first time here. It was walking distance from our hotel and looked hip. It took a bit too long to get our drinks but the waiter was attentive throughout the evening. The food was priced and tasted great. Order a few plates since they are a bit smaller and you can try more. Decent drink selection and cozy atmosphere. Good spot to go for drinks or dinner or both
Yum! It was pouring rain. Duh. It's Seattle. When does it not pour rain? Anyway, that's beside the point. We were hungry and had gone to a place prior to this that offered me one delightful option of beefsteak tomatoes with seasonings. While the tomatoes were flavorful, I was still starving. Our friend recommended Black Bottle as a place where there were options for everyone. So true. Nice size portions and plenty of choices for me (the difficult one) and everyone else (not so difficult). I got a butter bean salad with grilled mushroom, someone else got carne tacos. Obviously it fit the vegan, gluten free, fun free person, and it worked for the meatatarian too. Only complaint was the service. It took a while to be noticed once we sat down and had menus. Other than that, it was a good experience. Props for the cool bathrooms too.
(4)
L H.
Went for a late night bite and drink around 10pm. Table service, but had to go to the bar to get our presence acknowledged and even then took about 10 minutes to get service. Took a while to get the drinks once they were ordered despite it being pretty slow in there. Had the fried chicken which was delicious, but the collards had a lot going on and were SUPER sweet - needed a hit of vinegar. Hot sauce helped but still, shouldn't need condiments to make the food good. The muffaletta flat bread was great - pretty crispy. The artichoke hearts with toasted farro were very good - there was a LOT of farro masking the artichoke hearts, though. I didn't try the scallops we ordered, but the kale served alongside them was perfect.
(3)
Karen L.
I love Black Bottle. Our favorites are the kimchi pork belly, duck breast, bacon wrapped scallops (my personal fave), broccoli blasted, and hanger steak. I also like their flatbreads. What more can I say? Their food is consistent and delicious. It's a great place to have an amazing meal with some friends.
(5)
Willa S.
Duck dish was awesome. Sit at the bar for gracious service by handsome bartenders :)
(5)
Jane A.
I LOVE (UNIQUE) TAPAS, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! (4.5 stars) The reviews and pictures on yelp just does not do justice. SO much to choose from and everything looks good. This is thus far my new favorite place to eat in the 206. - FOOD, good - PRICES, decent - SERVICE, fair - AMBIANCE, it looks small on the outside but spacious on the inside Heard good things about this place through friends. Tapas are great size for individuals or to share. Great for dinner dates, etc. Saturday festivities was to eat dinner at BlackBottle and the birthday party at Ohana. I made it fair so we only have to walk 2 blocks. BlackBottle accommodated and saved the backroom for my large party. We had reservations for 9PM, however the stupid TorchLight parade went from the needle to chinatown and traffic from the Capital Hill blockparty screwed us up. BlackBottle still held my reservations and said kitchen doesnt close til Midnight. Since the party was very large, the waitress was so kind to do individual billing to make it easier for everyone. HEFFER STATUS (items I remember) - crispy fried chicken and collard greens ($8) - ceviche* and hand made tortillas ($11) - house-smoked wild boar ribs ($7) - seven spice shrimp ($11) - crispy squid with salt + szechuan pepper ($9) - steamed clams in white wine broth or marseilles-style ($13) - broccoli blasted ($8) - wilted baby kale and spinach pancetta goat cheese hazelnuts ($11) - fresh arugula fresh tomato basil pesto ($9) - smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries ($9) - chocolate cake and vanilla gelato ($8) - doppelgänger ...pear vodka passion fruit rum oj cran ($7) - clemency ...vodka lemon rose geranium blood orange ($8) - Malbec Alta Vista 11 AR ($30/bottle) Will I be back? HELL YAH!!! You don't have to ask me twice. JABA APPROVED. Until the next review.....
(5)
Jenn B.
Overwhelmingly underwhelming & the worst service in Seattle during our week long trip. This was a restaurant that I had bookmarked to try on a recent trip to Seattle with my mom. We had been bookmarking & trying some of the higher rated restaurants in & around Seattle. The good news is that out of all of the restaurants we tried, this one was the most disappointing. 1 out of a half dozen or so ain't too shabby! Unfortunately, it was a bad experience from the moment we walked in. The sign at the front told us to seat ourselves & since there were no free tables in the front of the restaurant save for one table that was obviously set up for a group of 8 or 10, we made our way to the back of the restaurant in search of a free table. We were standing at the entrance to the almost empty rear-dining room deciding on which table we wanted when a lady (waitress, hostess??) came up behind me & said, for a party of 4? When I turned to look at who was talking to the back of my head & to explain that it was just 2 of us, I was greeted by a very unfriendly, unwelcoming & confused face. I in turn was so confused by her expression & started feeing like we were doing something wrong, so apologetically I mentioned the sign at the front saying to seat ourselves & asked if that was still correct. I thought that maybe someone had forgotten to change the card to "please wait to be seated" She said no, that's correct but I just want to make sure there's no tables up front. I told her there wasn't, just one big one. She said ok & walked away with an annoyed look on her face. Weird. I used the restroom while my mom went & sat down at the table. Upon joining my mom, I realized that the previously unknown woman was our waitress. We ordered water with our meal much to her very obvious disappointment. I also asked for ice water with lemon instead of the tiny glass of still water that seems to grace every restaurant table in Seattle! This was like the nail in the coffin for her & her annoyance at my request was palpable. She left us alone for quite a while to look over the menu & once we had decided on what we wanted, we sat waiting while she made her way to the tables surrounding us answering questions & making pleasant conversation. She finally came to take our order. We had a couple of questions but it felt like pulling teeth to get any info out of her & she acted almost annoyed when she had to explain a couple of the dishes to us. We decided on the Bacon wrapped scallops, lamb meatballs, cauliflower fritters & the much reviewed broccoli. The fritters came out 1st. They weren't nearly as hot as I would have liked them to be & since it was about 10 mins before the next item came out, they got much colder. It would have been nice to have things served a bit closer together. The next dish out was the scallops which were incredible. Def the best dish out of all of them. Then about 10 mins later, the lamb & broccoli came out. The lamb was good although a little on the spicy side which although fine for me, was a bit much for my mom. It would have been nice if that had been mentioned somewhere in the description. The broccoli was just broccoli. Nothing special. Maybe people up in the PA NW don't normally prepare their broccoli this way, but this is the only way I cook my broccoli so I was surprised by the number of reviewers raving about this "amazing" dish lol After taking our order, our waitress never came back to our table again until right before we were finishing up when I had to practically yell to get her attention as she was leaving the table right next to us!! We had needed water refills for most of the meal so I said if we would get some more water, that would be great. During our meal, she had been visiting all the tables around us, refilling waters, making conversation & asking how the food was, so my mom & I really started feeling like her attitude towards us was personal. It was very odd & I've never experienced anything like this before. We had a very pleasant woman that delivered our dishes to us that I wish had been our waitress. The bill came out to $46 & change. I left a $50 bill. I have never tipped that poorly in my life but this was service that didn't even deserve that much to be perfectly honest.
(1)
James L.
Worst restaurant in Seattle. Menu way too cute for its own good. Forest Gump our waiter was so slow it was comical. Bad wine bad food, bad service. Not a keeper! Black Bottle should have known it was a warning!
(1)
Sonia C.
I came here expecting a tapas type of place, with small portions and relatively high prices. I was pleasantly surprised to find that each dish was substantial. This is a great place to go to with a group (like I did) because tables of two would probably only be able to manage 2-3 plates before crying uncle. Here's what we had: - broccoli blasted: This was roasted broccoli, salty and just slightly greasy-crispy. Pretty good. - portobello and butter bean salad: I'm not used to eating beans so large. The portabello was also very meaty. Pretty good for a salad. - ceviche and chips: Lots of squid but could have used more acid. Ok, probably wouldn't order again. - lamb meatballs: This was a platter full of food. The meatballs were quite lamb-y (but well-received by the rest of the table). There was also lots of warm pita, olives, cucumbers, and an ice cream-sized scoop of hummus. - braised oxtail: Sweet and savory. I liked this a lot. - smoked chicken flatbread: Lots of sweet onion on very soft bread. Tasty. - arugula and tomato flatbread: Loved the sweet balsamic dressing on this. - chocolate cake & ice cream: The cake was hot (yay!) but dry (no!). I didn't love this. - blueberry/peach kettle tart: The tart was super hot and the crust was buttery, but the overall tart wasn't sweet enough and I wish there had been a top crust to it. Also, the fresh cream that they served for topping was a bit weird. It had neither taste nor texture, like adding half & half to your pie - whyyyy? Despite the #dessertfails, I'd probably come here again. Great value, lots of variety.
(4)
Just S.
The best tapas place around! Went there for date night on a patio for a warm summer night. Had the view of the water, sipped white summer sangria which tasted like white wine and pineapple juice! Not typical but I now think all sangria should be made this way! Oh and ladies they're not only delish but super sweet AND strong as well. We ordered seven spiced shrimps which was simply to die for. It was a little bit spicy but when you eat some of the shrimps with the crispy heads? Oh boy sooooo good. Who knew the heads were not only edible but soooooo soooo good. Can't emphasize enough! Also had sardine namban which was nice and crunchy. Not the best but more than edible! The pickled veggies on the side were yummy. Also had the oxtail which I read about on yelp before visiting. It was overly sweet and not my favorite. Pricy too. Could probably go without but saw the reviews and thought I had to try it. Be warned: it's a tapas place so the portions are quite small. We order 3 dishes between 2 people cuz we weren't extremely hungry and the server recommended us to start with 3 as it can be a bit much. Honestly if we were there more a real meal we would probably need to order at least 2 more dishes!! Everything on the menu look great!! Can't wait to go back to try everything!
(5)
Logan B.
Apparently this restaurant would like to make a political statement about the attempt to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. The owners can feel however they want but I don't like seeing political discourse on my bill. Remove the stupid 2% surcharge from the bill. Figure out another way to incorporate the increase.
(1)
David A.
My friends local neighborhood restaurant that she swears by and I am now a believer. Good mix of global food from meat that will stick to your bones to some sort of middle eastern Lebanese food. Wine list is good as well with lots of stuff to try. Even had some Washington Whisky
(4)
Robert F.
Black Bottle is/was one of our top 5 Seattle restaurants... until last night. I've never sat in the back room, so perhaps that was part of the issue. The food is typically phenomenal, but last night it was mediocre-- borderline bad. We had several raw vegetables that were inedible since we could not even chew them. It was kind of odd for a plate of cooked vegetables to not be fully cooked since it's something so simple to prepare. Then the scallops were overcooked and rubbery. This I sort of understand since it does take a little skill to know how to sear scallops properly. Beyond the lackluster food, the service was pretty bad. We ordered 3 plates and told our server to bring it out all together. The vegetables arrived first, followed by the steak 10 minutes later. To top it off, the overcooked scallops took over 20 minutes to find their way to the table. The vegetables were meant to be shared whereas the steak was my dinner and the scallops were my Fiance's dinner. Therefore, due to the bad timing, it was an awkward meal where I had to eat before her and then sat watching her eat once the scallops finally arrived. One thing that is so basic to customer happiness is to make sure there are drinks on the table. I had both an empty water glass and beer glass for well over 15 minutes. We received our 2nd round of beer and wine after our meal was almost done. If I had known it was going to take so long, we would've ordered drinks at another bar and gotten out of the hot back room of Black Bottle. What was truly disappointing was that the server didn't seem all that apologetic even though I'm pretty sure he forgot to place the scallop order since we had to remind him that we were still waiting for them. This was one of our worse dining experiences in a long long time. This place has gone down hill regretfully. I can no longer rave to acquaintances about the food and service. I'm hoping it was just an off night for this establishment.
(1)
Stephanie P.
How come no one really mentions just how massive the portions are?! I came here hungry and thinking that Black Bottle was like any other gastropub where the plate sizes were relatively small and tapas style. What a (glorious) mistake! There was only two of us and it was really just me that was very hungry so I ordered the prosciutto flatbread, the blasted broccoli, and the kimchi pork belly skewers. And as the plates came to our table one by one my eyes got bigger and bigger. How the heck was I supposed to eat all of this myself? That blasted broccoli plate could easily feed 6 people! And yes I thought $11 was expensive for some skewers of pork belly but each piece was also very big! I dug in eagerly and after I was stuffed to the brim it didn't even look like I put a dent into the blasted broccoli. Now onto each item... Prosciutto Flatbread: Also very big but I really wouldn't call it a flatbread as it was quite thick. It was tasty but nothing amazing. Lotsss of cheese if that's your thing. Pork Belly Skewers: Pork Belly must be like the golden chalice of meat-cuts because there is no way you can prepare it to make it taste bad. As always it was very very juicy and soooo flavorful with that little kick of kimchi. They come on skewers with actual pieces kimchi as well. Blasted Broccoli: I have now made it my life goal to perfect this simple recipe. Perfectly seasoned (although i can see how it can get a bit salty after a while if you are eating it with other salty dishes) and "blasted" to a crisp perfection on the tips of each little broccoli hair. Best of all? I'm sure it's pretty good for you minus the high sodium intake. Who knew eating veggies could be so fun! Definitely best gastropub I visited in Seattle and for a very reasonable price for all the food that you get!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street 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 : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Starla S.
Once you go black, you never go back... Truer words... I really, really love this place. The food is great... not excellent... but as great as it should be for the perfectly reasonable price and style. LOVE the blasted broccoli and the curried cauliflower is to die for. The spicy peel and eat shrimp are mm mm good. The flatbread flavors a scrumptious but I would request them to be... well... flat. They are a little doughy. Atmosphere is dark, cozy, and perfect for socializing. Fun servers, fun crowd.
(4)Stephanie Y.
This is a great trendy place to grab dinner and catchup with friends! Those under 21 aren't even allowed to dine in the restaurant though, and they do check IDs. They serve small plates -- perfect for sharing! Not sure how crowded they get, so we made reservations for dinner around 6pm. Seated in a more private part of the restaurant, which was nice for conversation. The restaurant itself is a little more dimly lit than I would've liked, but the food made up for it! We ordered the arugula tomato basil pesto flatbread, boar ribs, seared scallops, and steamed clams in white wine. The flatbread was a nicely crisp, toasty vehicle for the fresh arugula and tomato. It was simple and it really let the fresh ingredients shine. The seared scallops seemed overcooked, but the bed of "frizzled" kale it was served on was to die for. The highlight of my meal might have to be that: the "frizzled" garlicky lemony sauteed kale. I might've licked that plate clean. No judgesies. The boar ribs and clams in white wine were yummy, but nothing too extraordinary. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal here and would love to come back someday. But there's so many other food places in Seattle to try, I don't know if I ever will..! ):
(4)Amberli P.
I was between a 3 and 4 stars here... This place is a solid 3.5. We ordered the wild boar ribs, 1/2 dozen oysters, some flat bread dish, and the Pork belly with kimchee. To be honest I was really excited to try the food it all sounds soooo good but I have to say I was pretty disappointed. The oysters were not great and the ribs were waaaay too dry. I get that they are supposed to be smoked but like it was bone dry. My boyfriend liked the flat bread, while I didn't care for it at all. The pork belly was delicious though and so worth ordering. The service was really good and the atmosphere was pretty cool. Maybe we ordered the wrong things... If I lived in Seattle I would possibly give it another try.
(3)Andy V.
I suppose a 3 star rating is slightly unfair, because I ate here with a vegetarian and thus was forced to only eat vegetarian things. That's unfortunate. Even then it wasn't that superb, but then again, wasn't that bad either. They have a nice selection of beer though. Just don't expect a bang for your buck.
(3)Joel R.
"We don't allow minors" said the snotty hostess at the door. Zero stars, Black Bottle.
(1)Lesley M.
Wonderful food and awesome service. I would have liked it to be a bit better lit. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant away from the windows and it was dark enough that we were almost eating by candlelight (not my preference). Otherwise a great experience start to finish.
(5)Diane S.
I have always heard great things about black bottle, and I see why. They have a great location, yummy dishes, and good wine. Perfect for a dinner date with a friend. I had the artichoke, I highly recommended, or the hummus and pita. Its a lot a little plates. I recommend getting a few small plates and splitting them between friends. Either way great place!
(4)Debbie P.
We've been here a few times and this last time we had an unappealing experience. We had reservations and our table was in the back corner (like we were in time out). Admittedly some of our party arrived late (more like trickled in), but we're a pretty easy going bunch. And by the time the entire party was there, the restaurant wasn't too busy. Our server was MIA A LOT and it seemed she was doing us a favor by attending to us. We had to ask the food servers for assistance on some additions of our items since our server was non-existent... She spilled some of the wine, apologized, but seriously did not offer to "comp'' us for the spilled wine or at least replenish what was spilled. Empty dishes were left for long periods of time (even with a few passes) and were not picked up until we piled them and moved them so she can access it. Let's just say we were acutely tuned in that she DID NOT want to be there (or at least help us). We're not a rowdy, obnoxious crowd. And we've had great service here before...this time was an utter failure. Now about the food! We ordered the broccoli, (it was good, but a little salty), pork belly & kim chee delish), hanger steak (done to a perfect medium rare), fried chicken (meh) & collard greens (the best half of that plate), grilled octopus salad (the octopus was super tender), kale & spinach salad (refreshing), prosciutto & béchamel flatbread (OMG!!!), arugula tomato basil pesto flatbread (OK), and chocolate cake with vanilla gelato inside (heaven sent). Overall, I love Black Bottle, and will return despite this past experience.
(3)Stacy K.
Do not get the calamari! I wanted to update saying that we tried the calamari (labeled as squid on the menu, I believe) and it was terrible. There was some sort of rubbery stuff on the outside of the meat which was old and hard, and the taste was awful. Upon second thought, I really wished we would have said something, but we definitely will not order it again.
(4)Jon L.
Really really delicious food here with very reasonable (by NY standards) prices and good portion sizes. The three of us split four dishes (oxtail, octupus salad, wilted kale and goat cheese salad, 7 spice shrimp) and were definitely satisfied. Everything was tasty, but my favorite by far was the oxtail..tender, falling off the bone, and extremely flavorful! We passed people eating flatbreads and those also looked delicious. If this were in NY, it'd be one of my go-to places; as it is, this will have to just be one of the places that I frequent on my sporadic trips to Seattle.
(4)Alexiis M.
Amazing food, they are small plates so great for sharing you may need a couple to get full. The duck was amazing, I wish I had an entire entree of it! Fabulous. So we sat outside and the only negative thing is it became extremely dark and there is no outside lightening, they should have brought out candles earlier in the night. I would recommend eating inside if your going later, also try the BROCCOLI delicious!
(4)Kara G.
We were a little disappointed to say the least when we went here for date night last night. Found Black Bottle on Yelp and put our name on the wait list. 30 minute wait for 2 on a Friday, not bad! So, we went to the Innkeeper for a drink while we waited. Came back, waited about 15 minutes for a host to come to the front of the restaurant, and then were immediately seated. This place is DARK! Even with the candle on our table, we found it hard to read the menu. We were brought water, and then waited about 15 more minutes for our server to reappear, at which time she took our drink order, and then left immediately. When she came back to take our order, she was short on suggestions, so we winged it, getting lamb meatballs, wild boar ribs, and a crunchy Greek salad. Lamb meatballs were good, they came with a tzaziki sauce, humus, and pita bread. The salad had potential, but it was a cold salad, served with piping hot artichoke hearts on top, kind of throwing of the balance. It had watermelon on place of tomatoes, olives, feta (or goat cheese), onion, and the artichoke hearts. All were a good flavor combination, just executed poorly. The dish most interesting was the wild boar ribs. I would like to know what kind/where this boar came from. The ribs were a little less than 2 inches long (baby boar?), and several of them were just fat. All in all, the service was bad, the food was pushing just OK, and the bathrooms were filthy. I can't say I would recommend, and I know I won't go back. We found ourselves wishing we would have eaten at The Innkeeper.
(2)Angela E.
Awesome place to come and relax. It's only Monday and I've already had a rough week. The food is awesome. Everything was perfect and most of all the bottle of wine was exactly what was needed. Finished the evening with the lemon curd, lavender, cheesecake and I could honestly die in compete bliss right now.
(5)Callie C.
This place had amazing food. It is a little expensive but worth it for a special occasion. The blasted broccoli is a must try! Soooo good. I am due for another visit.
(5)Sean C.
I love happy hour! And Black Bottle is one of my favorite go-to spots in Belltown. The korean BBQ tacos were wonderful, and everyone in my group had a great experience with great drinks. This is one of the places you should definitely go to in Seattle.
(5)Laura B.
Black Bottle was the best dining experience I had on a recent trip to Seattle. The small plates offered are incredibly reasonably priced (almost all under $15) and portion sizes are decent. We only needed 3 dishes for 2 people and felt we had more than enough. The ceviche was an absolute standout dish. We also tried hanger steak and roasted vegetables which were good as well. The restaurant is small and somewhat on the loud side, but has a cool atmosphere with hanging industrial lights. Our waiter was fantastic; polite and attentive, but never rushed us. Overall, a great spot for dinner with reasonable prices.
(4)King C.
Ugh. 3 stars for food. 1 star for service. Average them out, and you get 2 stars. The food is solid, but nothing to be impressed with. All the faddish favorites: beet salad, roasted cauliflower, and aritchoke hearts. The service, however, is bleh. Came in on one of the coldest nights in Seattle. Wanted a seat that was away from the door. Asked a server, didn't know if there was a better seat available. Asked person #2, #3, #4...and finally person #5, and 8 minutes later, finally said we could seat in an empty booth. So disorganized. Add to Black Bottle's service woes was that they shooed us away. They hurried us up, and they really wanted us to leave. It's one thing to ask politely to free up the table, but to be so brusque in their treatment of customers, hmpf. Not sure I would want to come here again (at least willingly).
(2)Mike H.
The atmosphere was dope. I liked it, tight and intimate. I had the Fried chicken and greens. The fried chicken was actually like chicken strips but they were good and the greens were good also. Smaller portion but it was only $8.00. I would go again next time I need to order more food.
(4)Brandon F.
Great place, good food, great for sharing and not crazy expensive. One word: broccoli.
(5)Richard T.
First time here to help celebrate a birthday and I have to admit that it is more like an upscale bar than anything else. Granted their food selection is more of an upscale quality with blasted broccoli, braised pork belly and large scallops. I wasn't very happy that even though they have happy hour on the weekends the only thing offered for food was a $2 taco that was so small that it was not even close to what it was worth. I would have been much happier with a $1 taco from Taco Bell. The drinks they serve here are pretty strong especially the Manhatten which my gf got and the Hottie Tottie which my friend had ordered. The drink prices are still pricy even during HH and they average between $6 to $8. The service here was great with our server coming around quite a few times and asking if everything was fine or if we wanted to order another drink. They also come around to refill our water pitcher and glasses since we were there for awhile chatting. Good atmosphere to just chill and hand out with the dark lighting, but not worth it if you are having a meal.
(3)Soenke W.
unexpected great place to eat - menu small but good selection of meat, seafood and veggies. can highly recommend the place.
(4)George M.
Good local beers and great wine at some decent prices.. Came here for a friends wedding rehearsal and had some great food as well.. Really good!!
(5)Jen L.
OMG! If you are a wine lover...you have to try their Red Ghost Blend! It's a mystery blend and fabulous reds. I wish I was able to grab a bottle before I left. The Broccoli is also a great dish here, perfect for those of us that are trying to stick to healthy meals. This is a very unique wine bar. Most wine bars that have food only have tapas portions. This place has varying sizes of portions when you order them. It is best to ask the waitress when she takes your order so that you order enough to satisfy the hungry in you. Every dish was excellent, the broccoli, the calamari and the coffee here is excellent. The waitress even took a special order iced coffee from one of my friends. You can't get better service than that. The ambiance is very cozy and somewhat romantic. If I lived in Seattle, I'd be here all the time!
(5)Kelsey W.
Amazing! Spent my entire weekend trip in Seattle on the hunt for the best scallops, and this place pretty much nailed it. The bacon lemon scallops with kale was off the charts. I happened to come during happy hour so ordered a few tacos as well, and at $2 a pop, I could eat them all day! They too, were better than most, maybe the best I have ever had. All around a great place, wish it was in my city so I could come here for dinner all the time.
(4)Ann W.
I love Black Bottle and am so impressed! It is a cozy, fun, and chill place to be, especially for a fun and low key girls night out. It is open from 4pm to 2am everyday, so it is a wonderful option for a late night bite on a weeknight. The prices are very reasonable and the drinks are fabulous. My favorite so far is their white sangria...$6/glass and $24/pitcher. Might as well get the whole pitcher. ;) As for the food, there is plenty of delicious choices. I love the roasted vegetables--a yummy medley of carrots, yellow squash, zucchini, parsnip, potatoes, and asparagus. The arugula and tomato flatbread is just perfect. The roasted beet gratin is creative and delicious...pure carnivores will not miss the meat. The plates are great for sharing and won't burn a hole in your wallet. Don't forget the dessert--the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato is a MUST, though I'm not sure you will want to share!
(5)John G.
Visited on 9/10/2014, late Wednesday, around 9 pm. It was busy and there were a few open tables but I was on my own so I sat at the bar. The bartender was right there but didn't hover and gave me time to think. Lots of good stuff on the menu. I went with: -Glass of Merlot-Cab-Malbec Gifford Hirlinger 08 WA (excellent) -Columbia river steelhead trout house-smoked (Great, would have liked a little more smoke) -Glass of Petite Sirah Petit Verdot Petite Petit 09 CA (Great pick by the bartender for the steak) -Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso (Could have ordered seconds but saved room for dessert) -Cacao nib mousse torte and chili pistachio brittle (Wow that was good. Pistachio brittle!) Service was prompt. Everything was clean. Noise level was low. Two plates and the dessert were perfect. Three plates would easily feed a couple. Would love to come back and try more from the menu.
(4)Chelsea S.
Came here with a rather large group on an early Sunday evening. We all ordered drinks which were quite good and well priced. We split a whole bunch of items off of their menu and shared and tried them all. I thought they were all quite delicious. We tried: Blasted Broccoli (delicious and plentiful) Bacon Wrapped Scallops (possibly my favorite, perfectly cooked) Wild Boar Ribs (really delicious) Lamb Meatballs with Sumac Hummus (pretty good but not my favorite) Roasted Vegetables (delicious and plentiful) Hangar Steak with Daikon (well cooked steak and flavorful) Two Different Flatbreads (did not try but the table liked them) Greek Cheese with Mushroom Topping (tasty) It was a lot of food for our table of six but we cleaned all of our plates. I wouldn't have ordered any more or any less. I would definitely come back for any of the above items.
(5)Adam H.
I attempted to take my wife to the Bellevue Black Bottle this evening for her first time and was rudely turned away before I could get to the hostess booth... In the most obnoxious, untactful way she yelled "You Cannot come in here, you must be 21." Suddenly I realized I was holding onto a car Seat with my sleeping 5 month year old. Rules are Rules... But her undertone and tact was Heinous!! Black Bottle.. They may want to revamp their customer service protocol and talk track, because they've certainly lost my Companies lunch and afterwork business!
(1)Michelle L.
Wow. The food. It's so amazing. Get the oxtail, scallops wrapped in bacon, oh and the broccoli...the broccoli. The bee's knee's is an amazing drink.
(5)Erica B.
Blasted broccoli is a must try! This was a great place to go. The service was wonderful and the waitress was very knowledgeable and explained menu items as it was my first time to the restaurant. I will go again and certainly recommend it to anyone looking to try something new.
(4)Quinn I.
My friends and I stopped into Black Bottle before the JoJo concert this week (judge me all you want, you know she was everything that was good about high school) and we had a lovely time. A party of five being able to walk in and be seated almost immediately without a reservation or an eye roll was a good indicator that this was a solid choice for our pre-concert dinner and drinks. The space is beautiful, like something ripped out of Restoration Hardware where Diane Keaton comes around the corner with a bottle of wine and an inside joke and you just can't wait to stay there all night. The food, although delicious, should come with a warning.There is no indicator as to the portion size, and there didn't seem to be consistency one way or another. We were given the impression that things were "small plates/tapas style" from the menu and server, and ended up ordering WAY too much food. The fried chicken was two pieces on a small bed of collard greens, the cauliflower and potatoes was a massive platter we couldn't make a dent in, and both were similarly priced. So fair warning, don't feel bad asking "plate or platter" Lucille Bluth style before placing your order. We also ordered the obligatory "Blasted Broccoli" which might as well have been called "Blasted With Salt Broccoli" but, granted, delicious. The two Dark and Stormys I had hit the spot, and all in all we had a good time with a ton of food and a bill that wasn't totally out of this world.
(4)Vibhor C.
My favorite tapas bar in Seattle for the entire 3 years I lived there :) Order anything on the menu and you can't go wrong. Good for groups too. My all time favorites - masala chicken drums - kushi oyster on the half shell - seven spice shrimp - spice-seared sashimi yellowfin tuna - potatoes and cauliflower curried - house-smoked wild boar ribs - prosciutto and bechamel flatbread - cocktails (especially Mojitos) are awesome too, and so is the wine selection. - The only thing they could improve upon is desserts. Food Quality - Excellent Food Taste - Excellent Food Originality - Excellent Price - Excellent Customer Service - Excellent. Ambiance - Excellent
(5)Greg V.
My first time in Seattle in an epoch, and I came to Black Bottle solely on the recommendations of fellow Yelpers -- and was not disappointed! The food: yummm! Trust me next time you're in town and try the dry rub house-smoked wild boar ribs (winner for the evening!), spice-seared yellowfin tuna, and Spanish fried olives (I wanted to try the broccoli blasted, but was waived off by my waiter as being too much, even for my famished party of one) -- complemented with a glass of Austin Hope 'Troublemaker' (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre) -- and finished with the peach-blueberry kettle tart (with fresh cream) -- good as it sounds!) The service: granted it was a quiet Sunday night, and my server was excellent.
(4)Stev E.
The following is based on my experience dining here on the Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 8pm. I had a bad experience with the food (pork belly and blasted broccoli) but everything else was excellent. Details follow: Pork Belly: This dish includes 3 skewers with a substantial amount of "pork belly." Unfortunately it was overcooked resulting in the taste and texture of a dry pork chop. If the menu is correct and this is truly pork-belly, it seems as though Black Bottle is using a low-grade cut; the typical succulence of pork belly was surprisingly absent. Equally surprising was the lack of effort placed in the sauce that bathed the pork; it tasted similar to the sauce that comes from sweet thai chili sauce packets one would expect to accompany chinese take-out. Blasted Broccoli: This dish comes in an oval plate about 1 foot long and piled 3 inches high with broccoli. I remember this dish tasting like vegetable-crack; however, this time it tasted like taking a bite out of a broccoli-flavored chunk of salt. It takes culinary negligence for me to actually send a dish back to the kitchen, and I do not take that action lightly. I deferred a replacement dish and this was comped accordingly on the bill. I will be back to give them another shot. Environment I recommend Black Bottle for a date including a first-date. The lighting is dim yet one can clearly see the person with whom you are dining. The music is pleasant, if not slightly upbeat, yet never too loud. The dishes are designed to be shared, fostering companionship, and the food is not messy or sticky. If you are trying to impress someone, however, check the reviews dated after October 2013 to ensure the quality of the food on my visit was simply a fluke, as I expect it was. If there is a long wait I advise finding an alternative dining location (such as List down the street). The issue is that the entrance area is awkwardly small and you or your date will inevitably feel like you are encroaching on someone else's dining space. There is also a cold breeze coming in through the door that is difficult to avoid.
(2)Wes S.
The food here is great. .. The sausages were good, lamb meatball plate was excellent. .. service was terrible. Literally had to flag down or waitress and we almost walked out before ordering.
(3)Sean S.
The food here is good, tapas plates so order a few and enjoy. We ordered the Ox tail, Broccoli blasted, 7 spice shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops, and flat bread. The broccoli was as good as others stated, the shrimp were good, and the scallops were great. The Ox tail was good but hard to eat, I probably wouldn't order it again. They have a decent selection of wine to pair with your meal as well. We had a good meal and enjoyed ourselves, I'm sure you will too.
(4)Syah A.
The food was okay but the waitresses are too lazy. I'm having a hard time to ask for a simple check. The waitresses spending more time talking to each other. Not really a recommended place to chill out.
(2)Suie C.
Stopped by on a friday night and was suprised when the hostess asked if I had a reservation. Note to self: call ahead for reservations. Fortunately, I was seated quickly as there would be only 2 of us. I had to wait a bit for my friend as she had trouble finding parking, but I didn't get any of that weird icky feeling of being rushed to order before she got there. We split a bottle of wine $30, but didn't order any food. I noticed that the wine prices (glass and bottles) are very reasonable. The ambiance of this place is right up my alley, perfect for a girls chat, groups, or a nice date spot. Service was efficient and curteous. I'll have to come back and try the food here.
(4)Alrick F.
Yum! I come here probably 6x a year. They have added some new items to the menu and made the menu more reusable with a hardcover and pages tied together. It used to be just a piece of paper they probably threw away at the end of the night. My friends and I find this the PERFECT gathering spot for a table of 4 because you can order 5-6 tables and everyone can try enough of everything and be comfortably full. My faves are the flatbreads - any of them - as they are not completely thin and crispy but has a perfect amount of crunch at the edges. The 7 spiced shrimp and the malbec braised oxtail are always must haves and the other dishes are just good comfort food that's relatively healthy - Ex: the fried chicken is made out of breast meat and served on top of collard greens. This place is what a restaurant should be: good food, drinks, and ambiance.
(5)Brandon F.
Reasonably priced when you share with at least 4 people! I think the grilled veggies, the basted broccoli, and the scallops made my jimmy hard for like an hour afterward. Great stuff!
(5)Ravi G.
Amazing food and the servings are just the size I like them. Service was great. This place served hands down the best salad I have ever had. Definitely coming back for more.
(4)Darrah C.
Beware. My friend and I just got food poisoning from this place last night! We had the broccoli blasted, arugula tomato pesto flat bread, pork belly kimchi, a waiter-recommended replacement for the oxtail, and seven spice shrimp for your reference. Another person on Facebook said the same thing so it's been affecting multiple people over the past few days, which is disturbing. If you don't want to throw up your entire dinner and everything else in your stomach until the wee hours of the morning, I wouldn't recommend eating at Black Bottle. This one experience was enough to make me not want to go ever again.
(1)Lyn D.
The food here is great, a bit pricey for Tapas but the portions are slightly bigger than your normal tapas bar. We also really enjoyed our specialty cocktails here. All together we had the kale and nuts salad, chorizo hash, pork belly, and scallops. Everything was tasty and prompt. Definitely recommend eating here.
(4)Ciera H.
We were really excited to try this "hip" place near our hotel. We ended up sitting at the bar, which wasn't bad, but our food came out about 20 minutes apart and our dessert took about 30 minutes to come out after we ordered it. The bar tender was good, but the service (speed of food) was not so great. However, the kale bed with the scallops was delicious. The scallops were decent. We also ordered the pork shank, which was very tender, but needed more flavor. The dessert we ordered was the peach blueberry tart. It seemed a little burnt, but tasted good. We probably wouldn't go back as we want to try other places.
(3)Jenny K.
After frequenting the Bellevue location for some months I finally had the chance to check out the "flagship" location. It's right on 1st, on the corner, very easy to find with lots of nearby street parking. Also conveniently located in the heart of Belltown, aka easy to bar hop afterwards. The interior is cute! Good mix of seating and table sizes. Great service, come-to-expect-from-Black-Bottle inexpensive yet delicious food menu, and of course fabulous drinks. The menus were different between location so I tried something that wasn't at the Bellevue location - fried chicken and collard greens. Skinless, boneless, breaded, and fried - amazing! Collard greens? Seasoned to perfection. Also got a side of green beans and tofu. It was pretty bland, so next time I will stick to my usual - the blasted broccoli. Also had some beer and wine - the wine I got was $8.50/glass - ouch! But complemented the German chocolate cake I had well. We brought in the cake for a friend's birthday - just a heads up there's a $20 cake cutting fee. Service was prompt, friendly, and frequent. Checks were split with gratuity added. Appreciated how there was no tip line on the receipt so there was no confusion that we had gratuity built-in. I officially love Black Bottle.
(5)Nam N.
a great change of pace if you're tired of the same ol' people in the same ol' scenes of belltown. located just an extra two blocks from the main stretch of belltown you'll find black bottle nestled on the corner 1st and Vine. Plenty of parking around the area as well as its further from the rest of the crowds. the setting and decor is simple. i wouldn't go as far as say "elegant" but simple yet... cozy. its a place that you can feel comfortable walking in wearing sweats and a hoodie or a 3 piece suit and bowtie. the front section can get rather crowded and the noise levels at a solid 7 out of 10 at times but you can also sneak out back where there are additional dining tables in a more intimate setting and more quiet atmosphere. i do believe there is one more separate room that holds large parties as well as we heard music and saw a plentiful amount of folks come in and out of the back section. i had stopped by here for a few snacks and a cocktail with some friends and we were not disappointed by the menu selection. we dined on some broccoli blasted: great texture and decent flavor. it was a bit on the dry side until we squeezed some lemon juice to set it off. gold creek oysters: very similar to kumomoto oysters. a great beginners oyster. not overly sweet, a silky texture, with a very smooth finish. arugula and mozzarella flat bread: a very fresh taste, the balsamic vinegar a great balance to all the flavors of the arugula and cheese. i only had a hanger one tonic with a lime wedge so i couldn't comment much on that. overall a great cozy place. a nice lounge feel to sit around with some friends and have a few snacks and drinks to enjoy the cold seattle nights.
(4)Rose T.
We made a good decision coming here over the seafood restaurants! It's not disappointed at all, it's IMPRESSIVE!! We started with house smoked trout, not that smokey, but the flavor is there. Continued with the oxtail, very unique flavor, not how Asian usually would cook or eat. Oh..forgot to mention their broccoli blasted..a must have!!! Was gonna ordered another plate, but decided to have the portobello instead...surprising!! A combination of fried garlic, garbanzo bean w balsamic vinegratte, and juicy portobello...omg!! HEAVEN!!
(5)Inna B.
I love the Bellevue location, so I thought I would love the Belltown location. So I came, I ordered the same menu items, and I learned that I do not love this location. The employees were not as friendly or welcoming, so things didn't start off on a great note. Then the food arrived, and I got disappointed by the messy oysters (seemed like they rushed) and the overcooked hanger steak. I can't really tell how overcooked, but I know I like and order my steak rare, and that steak was not rare. The same plate is so much more perfect at their other location! I guess this BB can satisfy the craving for hanger steak with daikon and some greens, but I'd rather go to the Bellevue location, or find a similar dish elsewhere. I was definitely disappointed when I left, and immediately stopped thinking about getting friends to meet me here for dinner.
(3)Jay T.
I love this place. It's the only place in the world where I go "Yes, I want to eat broccoli." The dishes are great (some better than others, the wild boar is interesting but I wouldn't get it again). The food is definitely made with love. It's GOOD without trying (you know, how some places try to be fancy or high quality but you can tell they're trying real hard...).
(5)Kate S.
Potential, potential, potential... That is all I can really think of when I think of Black Bottle. There is a lot of good here certainly, but there is also a lot of room for improvement here as well. I should mention our group was a little chaotic -- the reservation was made for 12 and I think we ended up squeezing 16 people in at our table. I can understand a server's annoyance at this, but to have it so readily apparent in their attitude and face really turned me off. She was however lovely enough to ask up front if the check were to be split and I appreciated that considering we never would have gotten out of there if we tried figuring out finances after the fact. Drinks were ordered and were slow coming. The price on beer was decent though and I was happy to see Fremont Brewing as their seasonal rotating tap. Food orders were then placed and we waited... and waited...and waited. Parts of orders came out, parts didn't. I had ordered the oxtail and broccoli to share and I never got my broccoli. I know other members of the table had to remind the waitress several times of the food they ordered which either didn't come or came extremely late. The oxtail I had however really quite good and tender. I stole nibbles of fried chicken, beats, flatbread, and then help polish off another diners plate of broccoli (since he DID get his, and the portions on the veg here are insanely large). Confusion ensued a bit when checks came. I had to make sure they took my broccoli was taken off -- and other member of the party didn't get their checks until I had already closed out and was ready to walk out the door. Overall: Good food, cute & cozy accommodations, large veg portions, spacey to annoyed service which then leads to far too much table confusion and annoyance of the diners themselves. For the prices you are paying (for rather small plates) I feel like BB needs to step up their game to make the rest of the experience worth it.
(3)Peter S.
Followed the Yelp recommendations down to a tee. Cerviche. Pork belly Kimchi skewers. Blasted broccoli. Chicken cherry flatbread And a couple of lovely pints of Freemont harvest ale. Pure gluttony minus the need for the post pig-out garden hose wash down. What a wonderful evening. I ate the rest of the flat-breads and broccoli in my lap driving to the border the next morning. Nothing to declare here~!
(5)Scott H.
When I die, I want to be cremated with an order of pork belly and kimchi from Black Bottle. Incredible food at a very reasonable price. I found this place via Yelp and I was not disappointed, After a long day of traveling we walked in here on a Wednesday night with no reservation and we were immediately seated. We started with the oysters. Although I'd prefer them lightly steamed they were still delicious raw. Next up was seared tuna. though the portion was small, it was bursting with flavor. Next up was truly the best thing I have ever tasted, pork belly with kimchi. We raved about this for days, in fact we are still raving. So tender and delicious with just a bit of heat. For dessert we got a lemon curd tart with a lavender crust. Very tasty, I couldn't taste the lavender but my wife could. I would have given Black Bottle 5 stars but the service was a bit spotty. Not terrible, just not exactly on point, as if they were overwhelmed even though it was not too busy. Still, don't let that deter you. This is definitely a spot you want to try.
(4)Henry S.
Flash baked broccoli is insanely delicious. I would never just order vegetables but this dish is one of a kind. Would highly recommend it to everyone
(4)Molly T.
This was an incredible find! Was just driving around looking for parking & noticed this corner restaurant. It looked dark from the outside but crazy packed on the inside! We walked in and host told us there was an hour and 45 minute wait for a table for 2. Almost 2 hours!? No thanks. Then we saw 2 bar seats opened up & we were told that they were first come first served. Jackpot! We got to know the bartender, JP. He was super helpful & nice. Gave us ton of recommendations for places to eat in Seattle & Vancouver. (I was going there the next day). We ordered 3 small plates. Ceviche & tortilla chips were refreshing. Pork belly with kimchi was out of this world! It was super tender & sweet with a kimchi kick! Blasted broccoli was recommended but i thought it was just ok. However this dish is not small! Lots & lots of broccoli!! Seasonal sangria was good. I definitely would come back if I return to Seattle. It's a local spot. Great for small groups. Make reservations. However I think the bar seats are the best. It can get really loud in there. Will be back!
(4)Christopher H.
While not our first choice for dinner this particular night, Black Bottle was a convenient choice for us as we were just down the street enjoying cocktails at Tini Bigs. And, in all, it worked. The first thing about Black Bottle that appealed to us was that it's a wine bar and then restaurant. Although what did surprise me was the wine list didn't feature much of anything local and wasn't quite as extensive as I would have expected. The selection was good, but not what I'd call a "wine bar". The food is, as our waiter described it, "large tapas". We ordered the blasted broccoli, which was good but way too big for two people. We ordered the lamb and hummus, which was just fantastic. And then, well, then we ordered the wild boar ribs.... I don't know what they'll be serving in heaven, and I don't know if I'll make it, but if I do I know I'll want them to serve these ribs. I've had ribs in many, many places - wet ribs, dry ribs, good ribs, bad ribs... These were in a league all of their own. They don't come out sauced or doused with rub as so many others are - and they don't need it. They carry a ton of flavor on their own - a smoky, meaty, hickory, yummy, ... (Sorry - I just had to wipe off my keyboard I was drooling too much). We loved them so much we ordered a second order - for dessert. I did want to give this place 5 stars. Their food deserved it. Everything we had was great (oh - and did I mention the ribs?) You might be wondering now, why only 4 stars. Well - the service was a bit spotty. Trying to track someone down so we could order our dessert ribs proved a challenge (but we persevered). And, as I mentioned, the wine selection wasn't quite what I was expecting. The wine and the service are worthy of about 3 stars. The food is worthy of 5. The total - 4 stars.
(4)Neel B.
Saw Fred Armisen eating there the other night! That shows how legit this place is...
(4)Errin P.
After previous review, staff was kind enough to send some gift certificates to make up for the unpleasant surprise. Returned with some friends a few months later, and had a great experience - no unwanted table guests this time. Don't know if the problem is fixed or not, but I really enjoyed the ambiance and food a second time, so here's hoping they got the situation under control.
(4)Laura B.
Food is really great and just different enough - exactly what you would hope for for a cool gastropub. Service is just OK. Not so bad I wouldn't go there, but nothing to write home about. Once or twice they've completely forgotten a dish we've ordered, but the food is good enough (and decently priced enough) that we'll keep going back. Oxtail, flat bread, scallops, braised artichoke salad and fried chicken are all really excellent.
(4)Nguyen T.
When I was living overseas I've heard such great things about this place from my bf at the time. When I came back he took me there for our anniversary and to celebrate my homecoming. I've been to this location and the Bellevue location numerous times since then, so I can honestly say that would definitely recommend this place. I love the ambiance, it was very cozy and it epitomizes the whole Belltown vibe. The service is always great here. The staff is always friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. The food is delicious. What keeps me from giving them 5 stars, is the price that you pay for the food. The portions are smaller and meant to be shared, and the good while good is nothing spectacular. Overall, Black Bottle is a great restaurant and one worth checking out.
(4)Farz D.
I was very excited to try Black Bottle but was left sorely disappointed. We arrived and were promptly given a table. The inside is quite nice and definitely gives you that "A glass of red would do me good right about now" feel. I like to review menus before going in and had my order ready: the pork belly and kimchi, wild boar ribs and (2) oysters while my friend chose the brie leek pesto flatbread and the lamb meatballs. Everything was great until the food arrived. The pork belly was drenched in its sauce and had the consistency of that slime from that Nickelodeon TV show and the boar ribs were dry and flakey. I picked at my friend's flat bread but had no desire to try a piece and by then I was left totally uninterested in the lamb meatballs. The oysters were good, though! One star for courteous staff and one more for the interior.
(2)Lisa B.
This place is my Belltown standby. Reliably good food, not overly expensive, and a good time atmosphere. Hipster yes, trendy yes, but not pretentious. They stock good whiskey too! It does get loud here, and you probably have to wait for a table if it's after 7:00 on a weekend.
(4)Christine B.
I love the ambiance. The music was on point as well - played some great 90's hip hop. We had just eaten sushi so I didn't get to try any of the food but I got the doppleganger and it is literally the best cocktail I've ever had.
(5)Jay H.
Came here for the first time for a first date and really enjoyed the vibe of the place. It does have outdoor seating although the weather didn't permit us to enjoy that. The drinks were mixed well and all the food I tried was pretty awesome. Sadly I didn't try the famous blasted broccoli so I'll save that for my next trip. The servers were friendly and came by just enough to make sure our drinks were full and our table clean without being a nuisance. I'm definitely looking forward to coming here again.
(4)Samantha R.
We were wandering around looking for a place to eat close to our hotel as it was very cold. We happened upon the Black Bottle, read yelp and grabbed a table. Pretty busy for a Tuesday night. I had a clemency cocktail, very good. The server told us she had been there 8 years, quite something in the restaurant biz and that fact says to me that the management must be the decent sort who treat their employees well and care about serving me a quality plate of food.And the food was fantastic. Believe all the good reviews here. The surprising thing is how inexpensive it is for the quality. Really a great value. There are so many places to try just within eyeballing distance from our room, but I'm seriously thinking about the Black Bottle again tomorrow. Bonus is that there will be no screaming food spitting kids to ever marr your time here. Minus a star for not as clean as could be bathrooms that smelled of urine.
(4)Ieva G.
One of my favorite eateries downtown. Not only a great date spot, but a great place for medium sized groups. I've been to numerous parties here and the staff always do what they can to accomadate your group. Be sure to make a reservation. The food is great as well. I always order the boar ribs-which are out of this world, as well as their staple, the blasted broccoli.
(4)Victoria W.
This restaurant seemed really promising due to their unique menu. Sadly, we never got to try it. When we entered this place, there was no hostess and it wasn't the sort of place where you would seat yourself. We stood around for 5 minutes trying to get the attention of the servers bustling around us. We were invisible to them! Finally, it was getting really awkward, so we left. We've been to many trendy and even snooty restaurants in several different cities and have never had an experience as bad as this.
(1)Chi D.
I have been wanting to try Black Bottle for a while but not until last Friday I got a chance to come by for a friend's going away party. The food was surprisingly good. I've heard about the broccoli and it was indeed very tasty. We also tried the scallop/bacon wrap and the pork belly/kimchi combo. All were good choices. The ambiance is great for friends gathering, not so much for romantic dates. They accommodated our big party of 20 and everyone was well taken care of. I understand there should be service charge for a big group, but 20% is not the standard around Seattle - not that I would tip any less!
(4)Tracee D.
we had a real good time here. sat in the back- cute comfortable seating. you should go with a bunch of people so you can try lot's of stuff. we had the chicken & cherry flat breads, ceviche, steak, pork belly!!! being the standout. good place with good food & drinks.
(4)Melissa L.
A dark, moody, sexy, stylish place to have drinks & quality small plates. I can't emphasize the sex factor of this place enough. I mean, if you bring a date here and DON'T get lucky that night, you fucked up somewhere, my friend. I don't recommend coming here alone like I did, especially if you're feeling lonely, because you are going to be surrounded by couples and groups of gorgeous people, all of whom are having a great time. That being said, I did end up chatting with the couple next to me at the bar, and they were as friendly as anyone you'll meet in such a setting in Seattle, so it wasn't like I felt like a ghost. As for the food, it was all delicious, but sadly not sized for those dining alone. I only ordered two plates, the braised wild boar ribs and the blasted broccoli, and I couldn't finish the broccoli, such a massive pile of it was served to me. I gave it a damn good try, though, because that broccoli was FIERCE. They toss it in some kind of savory, garlicky topping and then roast the bejeezus out of it, until it takes on a spicy, tangy, nutty flavor. Even if you think you hate broccoli, you really need to try this. The ribs? They were falling-apart tender, and required only a fork to eat. I did add a bit of cracked pepper to them, though, and that really spiked the flavor immensely. I chased this food with a couple of glasses of a California petite sirah, which was perfect. Even though I couldn't finish the broccoli, I did manage to find the space for the peach sorbetto they had on the dessert menu, which was OMFG, eyes-roll-back-in-your-head delicious. The peach flavor was insanely close to the actual fruit. The service could have been a touch more attentive, especially given that I was sitting at the bar, but I wasn't really in a hurry, and honestly, Black Bottle is the kind of place that you want to linger.
(5)Christine G.
Great ambiance and great food!! My fav is the pork belly and kim-chee! Whenever friends are in town I love to bring them here!
(4)Wyatt H.
I enjoyed the darker atmosphere. Maybe if you have old eyes? Not sure why that bothered other folks. Flat bread was more like a pizza. Nice place to get a glass of wine before going to dinner or wherever you have to go. Wait staff was fine, no complaints. Seattle location feels more like a hole in the wall art studio, compared to the fancier black bottle in Bellevue. They are different vibes. I'd go back.
(4)Ale F.
The food was really good. Came with a group of four and order about 8 items on the menu. My favorite was the chicken flat bread with some dried cranberries, I think. I would agree that it's pretty dark, especially the restroom. The waitstaff were awesome, super helpful and friendly. Overall, I liked it so much I would go back next time I'm in Seattle.
(4)Luca T.
I was around today and I decided to give this place another chance. There is still a bad odor when you walk in. Service is fast, although on Tuesday night there is not much traffic around. Food is very inexpensive and the portions are very generous but the quality is just average. I personally ate cold meat and both plates I ordered were lukewarm. Nothing special about this place
(3)Michael A.
Black Bottle is one of those restaurants that I have frequented for the past 4-5 years, yet I always forget it's there (it's tucked away on the corner of 1st Ave and Vine in north Belltown) until I drive or walk by it or like today ...when I saw a couple of friends review it here. Black Bottle's concept is a wine gastropub with a various selection of tapas in four main categories - meats, seafood, veggies, and flatbread. Faves: the broccoli blasted (I liked this dish so much that I even tried to make it at home, but nowhere near as good. The broccoli is mixed with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon and then charred to deliciousness), the tender and juicy pork belly and kimchi, and the crispy fried chicken and collard greens. So-sos: the flatbreads. They are a little thick and too doughy for my taste. All of the waitstaff are excellent at recommending wines to complement your meal, but if you still aren't feeling wine, try one of their specialty cocktails or drafts. The service is really solid, and the atmosphere makes for a good date spot or place to catch up with a couple of friends (I wouldn't bring a group more than 4 here). Black Bottle is cozy with low lit lighting with an average noise level so you can actually here your conversation.
(4)Jenni D.
Dear Black Bottle Eggplant Foccacia, Thank you for saving me from my tourist hunger pangs last weekend! I had been searching 1st Avenue for a viable late night option with a great wine list... and 15 blocks later I found Black Bottle. My friends and I were so happy with the service that we stayed until closing. Broccoli Florets - you are also my saviors. I could not have fallen asleep as happily without you that night. A little on the pricey side for veggies, but worth every penny!
(4)Marissa M.
Perfect definition of a gastropub - high end beer and food without being pretentious (thank you wikipedia). Perfect atmosphere for either a date night or a night out with friends. The menu is more geared towards family style sharing/ everything is a la carte. You order the meats, seafood, veggies, and flatbreads all seperately. Everything I ordered food wise was great - seven spice shrimp, smoked chicken and sundried cherries flatbread, and the BROCCOLI BLASTED. (In all CAPS for a good reason). Anyone that goes here should get the Broccoli Blasted.
(4)Libby Q.
It's ok. The food isn't bad, but it isn't mind blowing and it was a little overpriced. Drinks were amazing and the service was pretty good too. I wouldn't eat here again, though. The location is a little hard for me to get to/parking is horrible in Belltown. I wouldn't say they're the worst, but I just wasn't blown away by prices that are supposed to blow you away.
(3)Shannon R.
Blasted broccoli, succulent masala chicken drums falling off the bone, gruyere emmentaler beet gratin with mache. Definitely come here for the food. Each plate around $10, they won't disappoint. The doppelgänger and white sangria were fantastic as well. On the other hand, the allusion of romance and glamour from the outside windows quickly disappear as you realize the simplicity of the decor and the informality of the service. Nonchalant, laid-back, laissez faire? Just didn't go with my notion that this was an upscale gastro-tavern. A bit confused on whether or not I would go back. I guess the answer is hanging in the balance.
(4)Jeanny M.
MMm...quite nice. We made reservations for our party of 4, which wasn't needed. But c'est la vie. We sat in the back room where we were the only ones there for some time. The servers wore regular street clothes, so we weren't sure who worked here and who didn't. That was a bit confusing. Brought our own wine ($20 corkage fee) and ordered a ton of food (I skipped lunch), copied from their site: braised artichoke heart and greens bacon lemon scallops and frizzled kale natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso brie leek french-country pesto smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries broccoli blasted coconut plantain cup lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust Um, yeah..all that. We ate and ate and ate. It was the right amount of food for 4 hungry people. Laurie B. was spot on with how awesome the broccoli was and the kale (that came with the scallops) was REALLY good. Like, REALLY. I would say that the kale was the best tasting thing that night, followed by the broccoli, the chicken/cherry flatbread, then the lemon curd cake. The steak wasn't as good as I hoped, but it was very tender. Service was good (I was worried after reading some reviews). We were tucked in back until more and more people joined. I think this back area was quieter than the front. They kept the plates coming out at regular intervals. Water refills a little slow (but I'm always thirsty). And we were given a couple chances to order more food if we wanted. It was a weekday night though, so maybe when they are busier the service goes down. The cool thing was the check was just over $100, and that included the $20 corkage, so the food was $80. At $20/pp for a nice dinner with many different tastes, I'd say it's a quite a deal.
(4)J T.
Following a day long commitment to whale watching, we sought refuge from the motion of our Clipper. One of my shipmates went for the kimchi and bacon while I had boar ribs and fried tofu with peanut sauce. Very well done. I will return if ever in the neighborhood again.
(5)Corey G.
Yeah, yeah, this is in Belltown, and I always hear the comments about all the hoochies and douche-baggery down in this area, but hey, I had a nice time at this place. What am I sayin', I generally have a nice place at most places I go to in Seattle (it's the whole "country mouse" in the city effect! I'm always wide-eyed and liking it--even the traffic & lack of parking spaces!). So yeah, this spot strikes me as a swanky place with an intimidating row of wine bottles set back behind and above the bar keeps. A fellow Yelper and I saddled up to the bar, and looked at all the "good ideas" Black Bottle had to offer. My friend didn't know what sort of wine she wanted so, this didn't phase the bartender at all. "Ok, what are you feeling like? Dry, fruity? How are we feeling tonight?" the wine steward asked. My friend gave some suggestions, he whipped around with a finger scanning the bottles, and then one glowed. He pulled it, and poured a splash in a glass and let us both taste it. He was magic, and a master. That alone was worth the price of admission.
(4)Ss S.
After I wrote my previous review, the owners personally contacted me and apologized for the problems that I had on my previous visit. I was really pleased with their thoughtfulness and customer service and therefore we decided to try the restaurant again. We went on a sunday night this time and it was not as crowded as before. We promptly got a seat, and the service was much better. The food as noted before was really good(we tried the fried chicken, lamb meat balls, chocolate cake with the vanilla gelato this time). Still wouldn't give the place 5 stars as the service was really slow even though it was not crowded....but 4 stars as they were really polite and made you feel comfortable. We will be back.
(4)Holly J.
My boyfriend and I have been looking forward to coming here for a while now. We finally stopped in tonight and to be perfectly honest, they far exceeded my expectations! I was expecting the area to be sketchy, the food to be mediocre, and the service to be crappy. Well, in my experience, absolutely none of that was true! I liked the area, especially with the water and Space Needle nearby. The food was excellent (and we tried a ton of stuff). The service was fantastic! Our waitress Gillian was very attentive and friendly. There was another waitress that often stopped by to refill our water glasses and chat with us, her name was Emenet. She is the sweetest young woman! She was wonderful to chat with and recommended a few places in the area to visit that we've never been to (such as the Seattle Art Museum when admission is free on Thursdays and Sculpture Park). We spoke to the manager (Hannah), who was a total sweetheart as well, about the awesome food and service we received. We ended up trying a ton of dishes because we were starving and just couldn't decide on just a few things. So we ended up splitting: the fried chicken and collard greens (my favorite), oysters on the half shell, wild boar ribs, local sausages, pork belly, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flatbread, lemon curd ricotta cake with lavender crust, and peach and blueberry tart. Everything was absolutely perfect and delicious. We walked a few blocks when we left because we've never eaten that much in one sitting, lol. So I would say... give it a try. I personally can't wait to go back there again!
(5)L C.
One of my favorites in Seattle. The Broccoli is a must, not sure what they put in it but it blows my mind every time! I also like the curried cauliflower/potatoes & arugala flatbread.
(5)Andy D.
Came here for restaurant week since we heard good things, only to be terribly let down. Our waiter was no where to be found after we had ordered. Our food runner waited on us more than he did. He never even checked in to see if we wanted another drink or if our food was alright. Well, the food wasn't alright. The beet dish with gruyere cheese tasted like overlooked beets with cheese on top and was not appealing one bit. The broccoli blast was like charred broccoli - I didn't know charcoal was a spice nowadays. It was so burned that we couldn't eat it. The complimentary desert drink tasted like black licorice and was the last thing we needed to seal the deal that we would never be returning to this restaurant. I will never be back and will tell all my friends.
(1)Connie C.
My fiance and I met our friend up at this restaurant. This is a "tapas" place, but the dishes are huge compared to the tapa restaurants that we've been to. We made reservations...Phew!! because it got crazy crowded! We ordered abour 5 dishes for 3 people... 1. blazed broccoli-- I'm not sure what they do to this dish but it's freaking delicious! 2. Roasted vegetables-- a wide assortment of fresh veggies..very flavorful. 3. Pork Belly with Kimchi--not my fav, but the guys loved it. 4. Flank Steak---again, not my fav bu the guys loved it. 5. steamed clams- my fav! the broth was so delicious and the bread was super yum. A lil pricier--but that's what you get for tapas. Overall, worth checking out! They have a huge wine and beer list as well--great hang out spot.
(4)Alaina G.
Perfect place for girl's nights, intimate setting... great for chit chat over a glass of wine, or two, or three! We always order the Broccoli Blasted, my fav little snack... goes great with wine too! I have even tried making it at home... the recipe is simple, delicious & healthy! Other than that, haven't really been there for dinner but I'm guessing the rest of their menu is pretty tasty. The place is always packed, so I'd recommend making a reservation. They also have a room in the back that can be rented out for private parties, which is pretty handy dandy!
(4)Whitney W.
One of my absolute favorites! The food is modern, delicious and well put together. The prices are extremely reasonable and the wine list is to die for! Highly recommend.
(5)Victoria C.
PROS: 1. SELECTION. Awesome selection and variety of wine. The beers are a little scarce, but it IS called Black Bottle, hence it's intended to be more of a wine place than bar. 2. AMBIANCE. Classy, sleek, kinda romantic. 3. SERVICE. Speedy! CONS: 1. Prices are on the up side, but you're paying for the environment as well. $5 for well drinks for happy hour, but such is life.
(4)Jessie D.
"Meh. I've experienced better" pretty much sums Black Bottle up for me. The service was pretty blah, our food came out at really different times, my wine glass was chipped, and the scallops were a bit overcooked for my taste.
(2)Qui B.
Must try the Oxtail (melts in your mouth, slow cooked for 12hrs, falls off the bone! It's glazed with malbec), bacon wrapped scallops is yum and chocolate mousse cake is perfect. Pork belly with kimchi was tender but too sweet, broccoli blasted wasn't too impressive. Fried tofu with peanut sauce is tasty. Crispy squid has a spicy kick to it, but I can only taste the batter. Ginger beer (non alcoholic) is awesome, so is their moscato. Great service. The place to go after a long day at work.
(5)Paul C.
This place is amazing. Probably one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Came here for the first time a few weeks ago and I've been craving it ever since. Everything I ordered was to die for. The pork belly with kimchi and bacon wrapped scallops were my favorite. However, the boar ribs were nothing to sneer at either. I ate so much, I had food coma for hours afterwards. Small price to pay. :) The drinks were really good too. Service was great and the wait staff took care of our large sized group with ease. Will definitely come back here.
(5)Matt R.
The wait is terrible.... but oh-so worth it. The small plates the offer are great. I had the smoked boar ribs (my favorite thing by far), the Oysters on the half shell, and the sardines (very tasty and a huge portion for $6). All the food is on the $5-$10 range and the wine is $28-36 a bottle. Wifey has chicken masala, fried olives, and friends had flat bread, spicy shrimp. All the food was great. They do take reservations- but good luck getting them to pick up the phone past 6pm- they're usually slammed. Good wine list and I'm told their cocktails are good too- although they only have 4 on the menu. I had a very tasty white wine from Spain- $32. I think this place is great. I will be back for sure........
(4)J. M.
Yummy food! I love their broccoli, bacon wrapped lemon scallops and pork tacos. Their Happy Hour white wine was great also.
(5)Aaron E.
Despite being so excited to finally make it to Black Bottle I have to say I was pretty disappointed. For starters, service was really dismal. A few people have mentioned that the servers have attitude... and wow... that's an understatement. Service was spotty, generally inattentive, and incredibly unfriendly. Service was also kind if incompetent. They kept on bringing random dishes to the table because orders were going on the wrong tickets and were sent to wrong tables. Considering there were so few people I'm not very understanding to mix ups like this. The food we did order was pretty tasty although incredibly salty. I think I'm still partially dehydrated from the copious amounts of sodium in the food. The first thing we had was the crispy chicken and collard greens. This is one of the more reasonably priced items and was cooked very well. The chicken was super tender and juicy but fried very nicely. The greens were also cooked well. The Spanish fried olives were one of the more salty items we had but paired really nicely with the dirty martini I was drinking at the time. The prosciutto flat bread was very delicious as well but had a lot of salt. The prosciutto was nice and crispy and I loved the creaminess of the bechamel. The pork belly and kimchee was also salty (big surprise, eh) but the pork belly was super tender and I really liked the combination. Drinks were pretty decent. The Manhattan I ordered was made well but they insisted on adding a maraschino cherry (something I despise with a passion and always ask that they NOT give me one). The dirty martini I ordered wasn't very dirty in the traditional martini sense... very little olive juice. However, it was plenty dirty what with the FLY in it. They replaced it, but were pretty unapologetic about it. I'm willing to give this place another shot but I have to say I was pretty disappointed.
(2)Skylar L.
duck breast was my favorite. flat bread could be better.
(3)Billie M.
The ox tail changed my life, and the pork belly kimchi was one of the most creative, exciting dishes I've eaten in recent memory. The wait staff was really nice and helpful, and they expect sharing, so they gave us plenty of empty plates. I wasn't crazy about the lighting (seriously, are there any bright, airy pubs in Seattle?), but that is my only complaint. Loved everything else.
(5)James W.
Black Bottle is just fantastic. They have a great selection of small plates, good cocktails, and great service. The price is on the moderate to high side, but the quality is outstanding. Try the blasted broccoli, which is a simple dish with olive oil and spices cooked in a convection oven. Also awesome: bacon wrapped scallops. I know bacon wrapped scallops have been done before, but these were probably the most tender and fresh scallops I've ever had in Seattle. For a bigger staple dish, try one of the flatbreads. My favorite thing on the menu? The pork belly and kimchi. I've never experienced such tender, juicy pork belly anywhere. Ever. For a cocktail, get a pitcher of sangria. For $24/pitcher, it's a great deal. I will definitely be back.
(4)Elaine K.
This restaurant came highly recommended so I thought I'd give it a try. I went back for a second time last night to try all the dishes I didn't get to the first time! Black Bottle is the perfect date place - stylishly dark & romantic, amazing food, sharable plates, great vibe, good music. Personal favorites from the menu include: *bacon scallops and kale - the scallops are HUGE and the kale is oh-so flavorful *oxtail - the waitress warned us that this is a bit on the "saltier" side and although it is, it was still very tender and succulent. This dish would be perfect if it were served with rice or some sort of carb...but we ordered a side of flat bread *broccoli - perhaps the tastiest broccoli ever! And this dish is especially big so that's a plus. *peach/blueberry tart w/ cream - admittedly, this is the only dessert I have tried on the menu but it was too good to try something else the second time! The cream is a nice touch. They'll definitely see me back so that I can try the remainder of the menu!
(5)Maddie S.
Yum! Was here last night for late dinner and was pleasantly surprised. Was a little intimidated by the menu (I'm a burger girl) at first but I am definitely glad I decided to try a few new things! Don't miss the "Broccoli blasted"--no idea what was on it but imagine a heaping plate of Broccoli dusted with what tastes like montreal steak seasoning and then treated with a few passes from a blow torch. Sound gross? It's not. It's a crispy, salty, crunchy, amazing veggie plate! Go for it. The steak plate was yummy too, but my steak was a little too well-done for my medium-rare liking. Oh well. Minus one star for the snotty hostess but all said and done a great Belltown spot: Delicious menu, cool atmosphere, great for dates!
(4)Rayelle B.
A great ambiance, but only so so food. Went last night with a party of 3. We all loved the interior and the great big space. Wine recommend was perfect, now onto the food... Not as good as we hoped. We had 7 different dishes and they were all just ok. We didn't try the flatbread or broccoli blasted, which might have been our mistake...though we did have the oxtail, bison ribs (too smoky/salty), ceviche (looked and tasted like it had been in a fridge for a couple of days too many), caprese salad (unimpressive, soggy tomatoes), pork tenderloin (weird texture and kind of bland), lamb (ok) and the roasted veggies - which were actually the very best part, they were delicious! Anyhow, I hope you have a better time, but just had to let some of you know that I don't think this place is 5 star worthy.
(2)Geoffrey B.
Anyone friends with me knows that Black Bottle is my go to restaurant/wine bar for just about any night of the week. Being three block from my house makes it attractive place to down a bottle of wine with clams, mussels, flatbread pizzas or a vegetable dish, just before stumbling home. For many years I have been coming here trying to figure out what my favorite dish is. Finally, two weeks ago, I went with my friend Jennifer to enjoy a bottle of Rioja coupled with some delicatessens. She suggested the malbec demi-glazed oxtail, an item I must have "glazed" over every other time. The waitress was excited when we ordered this dish, exclaiming it was her favorite dish. We waited patiently, indulging in conversation over a 2007 bottle of Rioja, taking me back to my Barcelona youth. When the oxtail arrived, I was dumbstruck. There sat three large pieces of bony gelatinous meat, slow cooked with a delicious Malbec. At first I began eating with a fork and knife, lightly carving the fatty meat from the bones then dipping it back into the sauce. The meat fell off so easily from the bone that a knife was no longer necessary. Next came the bone marrow. Within each of the three bones was a succulent, sweet bone marrow, waiting to be sucked out. Growing up, we frequented on bone marrow from turkey necks in soup, but nothing compared to this. The marrow was perhaps the best part of the whole meal. My friend from Shanghai further encouraged me to suck all the marrow out of the bones, an experience best left unwritten. All I can say is that I can't wait to make it back to Black Bottle for another oxtail throwdown.
(5)Leah M.
4 of us went on a Thursday night and had made reservations in advance. Great looking place. They got us seated right away and took our drink orders. They had a great drink selection with good prices. The food was great! I was pleasantly surprised by the broccoli blasted, ordered it because of the reviews. We also had two different flatbreads, both amazing (one was the sun-dried tomato and the other tomato basil pesto) and it came out right away. We also ordered the duck confit and the masala chicken drums which took a while to get out. Granted the night looked busy. But we got all our other food very quickly, finished, and sat there for over 30 minutes for the chicken. This prompted our second order of flatbread. The service ... was a little lacking. I don't know if she was just having a bad day or what. We were super nice about the delay of the chicken and she came by twice to assure us it was coming. She was pleasant enough with a little attitude, but when we asked her to separate our check, there were 4 of us, it pushed her over the edge. She was talking about us to the other wait staff and they would glare and shake their heads in our direction. I felt as if we committed the unthinkable ... don't dare ask for them to separate your check. I'll go back for the food, but next time as a courtesy I'll tell them how to separate in advance and maybe they will be more obliging. We will see.
(3)Nita M.
I give Black Bottle 3.5 stars. Really, the only real negative I have for them is that the menu lacks real dinner options - it's more snacking/grazing kind of food. Had I not been starving when I went there, expecting a real meal, Black Bottle would easily get a "Yay!" from me. Black Bottle seems like a good place to bring a date or a small group of friends for intimate conversations (no loud music playing). The decor is very industrial/hip/modern/trendy if you're into that sort of thing. I had the brie leek country pesto flatbread. It was ok - brie is always good & it was plentiful, but the crust was really hard so I couldn't cut it without shaking the entire table & while eating without cut up bites, the leeks had an unfortunant tendency to want to stick in my teeth (not so cute). It had nice hints of rosemary & lots of garlic. Again, more of a snack to be shared and not really a dinner for someone. The drink menu seems kind of small for being a wine bar - there are a total of 7 white wines listed. Perhaps they had more that weren't on the list? I had the champagne cocktail pomosa, which was delicious but very light on alcohol, and a glass of Moscato d'Asti which was really freaking delicious (if you like sweet wine, go for it...and if you like getting tipsy really easily, this is something 1 person could easily put down an entire bottle of for less than $30).
(3)Sabrina O.
It's a must!!! Such a fantastic spot!!! Cute, funky..trendy, laid back yet very posh! It's a great place to go with a group and order a bunch of platse to share! That's what we did! The chicken laab gai is to die for!!! So is the braised broccoli that you read about! Everything that we had was fantastic....well almost everything...the fried tofu with homemade peanut sauce I'd have to say, not a hit...the order is a bit big...the tofu a bit blah & the peanut sauce was just ok....some of my other friends that I was there with has the tuna....amazing ...and the steak!!! WOW!! Go...just go!! Make a reservation...dress up...have a great night!!!
(5)Tracy I.
One of my favorite spots in Belltown to grab a bite and drink. I have been coming here for years and it has never failed me. Its a great place to just grab a small bite and drinks with friends or have a cute little dinner with your significant other without having to shell out a lot of $$$. I'm a huge fan of the seven spiced shrimp, broccoli blasted, and the grilled lamb.
(5)Olivia S.
I was really impressed going to black bottle. I was nervous of how busy it was when we went in, thinking we weren't going to get attentive service, but our server was extremely nice and offered great suggestions when being indecisive with what to order. We opted to try the bacon wrapped scallops over lemon salad, and the malbec braised oxtail. It was superb!!! I could go back again and again just to order those two items and would leave happy every time. If you've never been, order those items!!! You won't be disappointed. The only downfall is the atmosphere is extremely loud considering how cute and intimate this place is.
(4)Deirdre B.
Great service for a large group. All the food was amazing and service super. Waiter was helpful, patient, and tentative. Kitchen rocks the food out impressively as the plates just kept coming. Try the Dark and Stormy with the ginger beer for a new beverage.
(5)Rhienn D.
These guys helped me pull off a surprise party for my husband's birthday and I couldn't have asked for things to have gone better. The private event room is great. It's private (check), has some great funky angled walls that add visual interest, the right ratio of standing/dancing room to cocktail table seating, a well stocked bar and lighting that let us show off our fancy clothes without feeling like we were standing in the mid-day sun. We loaded up an mp3 player and the sound was great (one of the guys in our group noticed that they have Bose speakers, for whatever that's worth.) Our bartender, Jeff, was a champ. He happily mixed up every request we threw at him, made sure the food table was constantly stocked (and also that nothing came out too early... nobody wants cheviche that's been hanging around for hours) and managed separate bar tabs for 20+ people without a hitch. The food was more than solid. I ordered plates of the fried chicken & greens, several varieties of flatbread (holy smoked chicken & sun-dried cherries, Batman!,) the cheviche and the tomato caprese. We ate it all. My husband and his Southern family took down the fried chicken & collard greens in one pass. That's quite an endorsement. Everything was coordinated via email. I dealt with Paul who was helpful, prompt with replies, had great suggestions and followed up to confirm details. (I kind of thought people with those customer service skills were an urban legend..) Thank you, Black Bottle!
(5)Sherry C.
This is the perfect place for a date. Dim lights, awesome indie music, good prices on wines (some on tap for just $5/glass) and delicious food really sets the mood. BF and I had 2 glasses of red and the ricotta cake with Meyer lemon and a lavender crust. The cake was awesome-- think cheesecake but lighter and with more texture. Usually I hate lavender in food but it wasn't overpowering in the crust. Black Bottle reminds me of Beretta in SF. Love this place!
(5)Kelsey F.
It's been awhile since I've been to Black Bottle, but I was in the area on a Friday evening before a holiday party and I needed a drink. Not because of the holiday party but because of the epic disaster of a week I'd just suffered through. Two of my coworkers (it was a work party) came along with me, and we each had a drink - something of the fruity and rum variety, a gin martini, and a vodka martini. (The two of us who had the martinis were rockin' the $5 well drink happy hour price.) The feel of the place has changed a bit...for the better, I think. It used to be a super trendy spot and now it seemed like the venue was a little more laid back. Or maybe I've changed. I can't tell anymore, but either way I got a welcoming vibe that was nice. Service was pleasant and friendly, our water was refilled promptly...it was nice. Downside: the drink comes in a small glass with a little shaker for refilling. (At least the martinis.) The alcohol in the shaker winds up getting diluted by ice cubes melting, unless you chug. And I am not a girl who chugs her martinis. Even after epic disasters of weeks. I think I'll be returning soon, this time with the fiancé...especially because we never go the chance to try the ceviche. (Wonder if they still have that...)
(4)Hannah L.
I came here the other night for my co worker's Birthday. Surprisingly, it was kind of busy (we made reservations ahead of time though) it's cute little place, not overly decorative, dim lighting, and spacious. There's two seating areas in the restaurant. This place isn't like your typical restaurant with entrees and appetizers. More like an casual bar with small plates and desserts. Our group tried a little bit of everything. We loved everything we ordered except for one dish. . . Which were the ribs. -Pork belly kimchi: so tender and literally melts in your mouth! Just enough meat and not too much fat. Not as spicy as you would think, and it's a little sweet. Comes on a skewers with kimchi cabbage in between. -Seven spice shrimp: seasoned very well and a lot of great flavors!! One of my favorite items. Shells and heads are fried crispy and the meat was soft. -House wild smoked boar ribs: tender, fall off the bone, but unfortunately my least favorite dish. It was just a little too smokey for my taste. -Lamb meatball and hummus plate: hummus and some kind of Greek yogurt dipping sauce was really good, the pita bread was good as well. Meatballs were okay. The broccoli and roasted vegetables were great as well, and we tried two of their flat breads which weren't disappointing at all! We've tried various items on the dessert menu, and I loved all of them! You have to try the cheesecake, the lavender graham cracker crust is amazing. I'm craving their shrimp and pork belly as I write this review. Service was good! Will definitely come back in the future.
(5)Jerome T.
The remix. First dinner on my first night back in the emerald city. Everything was ok. I've come to realize that this joint is a neighborhood spot. I gave the 7 spiced skrimps a 2nd look, and it was the same as the first go around The Wilted Kale exactly the same, very good. The pork belly w/kim chi was very tasty, slightly spicy and braised, so it was super duper tender. Winner. Drinks were strong but just ok. I hate when the proper iced cube isn't served w/a Manhattan even if it is a remix Sit outside if you can
(3)Paul C.
We had 4 different plates in Black Bottle last night and all were disappointing. The octopus was so chewy that it was almost inedible. The duck breast was over salted and again way too chewy. The pork belly was dry and tasteless. For desert we got a Panna cotta which was decent, but nothing special. I wasn't too impressed with the service either, it was almost like our server was trying too hard to act like she didn't care... The only plus side of the night was that we got a fantastic bottle of wine!
(1)Leighanna K.
Love the ambiance here. We sat at the bar for dinner on our most recent visit. We had the blasted broccoli, shishito peppers, and a flat bread - all very good. No complaints - service was very responsive and the food came out quickly. Love their healthier options and delicious take on vegetables.
(5)Elaine N.
Reservation for for 16, seated at 8pm on a Saturday night. Here are the 9 dishes we tried in my personal order of preference. Meat: [8] Crispy Fried Chicken and Collard Greens - the collard greens were great, fried chicken had some flavor, but the dish was overall lack-luster. [2] House-Smoked Wild Boar Ribs - tender and fell right off the bone, bomb savory flavor, one of my favorites of the night. [6] Malbec demi-glazed painted hills farm oxtail - really tender meat (as oxtail always is) good flavor. Seafood: [5] Miranda Oyster on the Half Shell - so fresh so clean. [3] Calamari fra diavolo w hen-of-the-woods mushrooms - well cooked, saucy, with an unexpected spicy kick. [9] Spicy coconut lemon-ginger ceviche & taro crisps - taro chips, bell peppers, and cucumber outnumbered the ceviche about 5:1. Taste was good, but I wish there was more ceviche! Veggies: [7] Roasted Artichoke Hearts Crispy Farro & Garlic - pretty good dish, farro was super duper crunchy (as the title implies) and the artichoke hearts were delicious. [1] Broccoli Blasted - easily my favorite dish of the night. The dish seemed so simple yet it was so sophisticated and well done. We weren't planning on ordering it until the waiter highly recommended it. [4] Cauliflower Fritters & Raita - loved the fritters, they went well with the raita dip on the side. Everything was great, service was really nice, and the drinks were good. I'm so happy to have stumbled upon Black Bottle on Yelp because finding a last minute reservation for 12 on a Saturday night is a daunting task! Until next time!
(4)Monica S.
A solid 4.5 stars! I came here on Thursday evening for my birthday dinner and came with 9 friends, who could thankfully accomodate us all! We started out with a round of drinks - I ordered the Doppleganger and another drink (which I forgot the name of, but had Tequila in it). For food, my friends and I shared amongst ourselves. We ordered: Crispy Fried Chicken & Collard Greens: beautifully breaded and juicy chicken! the collard greens were delicious as well! Lamb Meatballs and Sumac Hummus: a jam packed plate of mediterranean spices infused into lamb, hummus, tzatziki, and pita bread. Pork Belly & Kimchi: Tender pork and flavorful kimchi. Bacon Lemon Scallops: So good! definitely recommend them. Broccoli Blasted: BEST THING EVER! Crispy, garlicky, and oh so delicious! Brie Leek French-Country Pesto flatbread: a little bland, but the crust was great! Caprese Salad: I did not eat this, but I heard it was forgettable. Smoked Chicken and Sun-dried Cherries: best flatbread i've had in a while! potentially too many onions on it and the chicken was hiding! good flavors overall I'd definitely recommend visiting this establishment! Although, one annoying thing was how dang hot it was in the restaurant! The fans were turning literally 2 miles per hour. I know this is an old building, but that needs to be fixed so your customers can enjoy the full experience! Overall, good service, mediocre ambiance, and awesome food. I did not eat one bad thing!
(4)Priya C.
This place has the most fantastic small plates! I recommend 3-4 for 2 people. The grilled halluomi with dates, enoki mushrooms and red peppers was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Savory with the light sweetness, and rich flavor profiles - it was amazing! Also ordered the malbec glazed short ribs which were beyond tender and melt in your mouth delicious (only complaint is that the sauce wasn't reduced enough, but the flavor was definitely there). The interior is really spacious (more tables than you'd expect) with a few tables lining the sidewalk outdoors. Servers are great, as is the beer/cocktail selection.
(5)Sarah R.
This place was delicious! My boyfriend brought me here for my birthday and I was not disappointed. The champagne cocktail was a perfect start to the meal. What we ordered (all were great!): - Flank steak - Blasted broccoli - Bacon wrapped scallops - Sausage plate - Chocolate cake (omg yum!) They are all small plates so order a few and try several things! The only thing we disliked about this place was the waitress we had. She was kind of cold. She didn't really have any expression and didn't really seem like she enjoyed her job.
(4)Ron N.
The food are great! I love this place, it's good for hangout and they have some drinks too.
(5)Paula C.
The food here is really, really good. The Wild boar ribs are AMAZING. they are so good, these are one of the first items on the menu to run out daily. Black Bottle is small and cozy - not too small mind you, just sizeable enough to not get overwhelming. The staff are very attentive and the service is great, the food is ALWAYS good and they have really good wines as well. I will definitely recommend to anyone looking for tapas or a group of people wanting the option to eat a little bit of everything. their small plates usually have enough food for 2 people to get a healthy taste of each selection.
(4)Lauren S.
I visited last night with my boyfriend and had the most incredible experience. Pros: + VEGAN OPTIONS HALLELUJAH + The tofu nuggets with peanut sauce did not disappoint. + It was not stated on the menu, but the tofu nuggets came with a small salad that was totally unique and unlike anything I had ever experienced. It incorporated many Asian flavors and complemented my tofu/peanut sauce perfectly. + Host was friendly and greeted us immediately. + Our server was very helpful and friendly and totally willing to answer all my questions, like, "What is this on my salad? It's really good. Can you find out what it is?" Answer: it was pickled daikon. + Best part: I ordered a cocktail (The D.H., and it was delicious). My server brought me an empty cocktail glass with a lemon peel, and then poured the drink from the cocktail shaker into my glass right in front of me. Then he set the cocktail shaker to the side at my table. Thus, when I emptied my glass, I got to "refill" from the remainders in the shaker for a SECOND DRINK. No joke, this was the highlight of my day. Very unique and charming idea. + Good music that's not too loud (we were there around 8:30ish; it might get louder as the evening progresses) + Boyfriend said it was the best fried chicken he had ever had. + It looks like they have great happy hour deals, but we didn't get to take advantage of them. Cons: - Small thing: some dishes are larger than others, which makes ordering a little confusing. My tofu nuggets easily made a (large) meal for myself, but my boyfriend's fried chicken was much smaller. Since this is a tapas-style restaurant, that makes sense, but since we were two people and on different diets (I'm vegan; he's not), we weren't sharing. I could imagine this being an awesome experience for larger groups who are sharing plates, but the size discrepancy is a little confusing to order if you are selecting individual plates in a small group/couple.
(5)Alison A.
A fantastic gastropub with phenomenal food, this place is great to frequent for everything from a post-work happy hour, a quick drink and a few appetizers, or even a full meal with just a few to a group--better for a group since the "tapas" plates are absolutely huge. Think a standard tapas price ($6-$14) for huge platter-sized helpings so be wary of ordering too many plates, best to order a few at a time and see how you feel along the way. The blasted broccoli for example, could easily feed 4-5 people. A menu highlight, they flash-roast tender florets in their pizza oven so the usually boring veggie comes out super crispy, almost a deep-fried consistency without the grease. Lamb meat balls and hummus platter is great for sharing as well. Another must-have are the bacon-wrapped scallops on a bed of kale. Cooked to perfection and seasoned well without overpowering the scallop. Venue space is eccentric as well, and I adore the rustic tables. Does help to go during off hours or otherwise wait quite a long time for a table.
(5)Aruna P.
Awesome food .. Lots of vegetarian options Service is great too ..
(5)Amy M.
This place is consistently good, great and accommodating for big groups. The ceviche, blasted broccoli (always), cauliflower, fried chicken and greens - awesome! The butter chicken was meh, the pappadon had a strange taste. Worth comment, and worth the downgrade in stars... The redone women's bathroom has a picture of a cow in place of a mirror. Really? A blank brick wall in the men's and an ole cow in the ladies? Poor taste. This stuff matters.
(3)Karen R.
LOVE this place!!! Very inventive menu, cool drinks, amazing food!!! They call themselves a "Gastrotavern" Yeah the emphasis is on the right things, the food & drinks!!!! I also loved the vibe & decor. It's a menu of small plates with generous portions that can be shared and enjoyed by all. Hey I love the whole tapas small plates concept but sometimes you feel like you can only get taste and there's not really enough to go around, not here!!! The menu is varied enough that there's something for everyone. I especially loved the drinks, but of course that's a given :) and the crispy fried chicken & collard greens, oh yeah they were really, really good, as was everything we tried actually. If you are in Seattle you and you love food & drink, this is your place!!!!
(5)Guy V.
Black Bottle is the perfect place to get fun drinks and share some downright delicious small plates with friends. The rooms are dark and candlelit, providing an ambiance that's both relaxed and sexy. Seating ranges in every size including bar seating, tables-for-two, four-tops, and long dining tables, making it perfect for any size get-together. Let me start by saying that everything is absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. I came with three other people and we tried about ten dishes (not including desserts), which all had such varieties of flavor and culinary style but not one plate failed to amaze us. Everything was just damn good. Simple as that. This is a place that has something for everyone. The plates are so easily shareable, and service was perfect - highly attentive but still laid back. Highly recommend Black Bottle for happy hours, dates, dinners, and everything in between.
(5)Megan J.
I've been here twice with groups - once everyone ordered a small plate for themselves or to share with their partner and that seemed to do the trick, the other time, our small group ordered a few plates to share and that also was great, so however you want to work this tapas place, know you will be happy and well-fed! They also have a great wine list and cocktail menu. Black Bottle is an intimate spot, quiet so you can actually talk to your friends! Servers were great, split up the bills as necessary, once without even being asked and made great recommendations!
(4)Stephen S.
Solid. Of the two dishes I had, I'd only order one again (maybe). The seared ahi with asparagus salad was nicely spiced with great texture and balance. Delish. The beet gratin: not so much. It was beautiful ... Tasted like beets and Gruyere (which it was) ... But no other spice or seasoning to be found. Disappointing ('cuz I am a beet fiend). Oh well. Wine list is great variety by the glass, but why such strong French influence? There are two many fabulous local Pinots to have only one Willamette Valley feature but two French. Come on now!
(3)Alison V.
This place is a great dinner place or first date spot. I went with a party of 8 girls. The service was good, wasn't too loud, and overall good atmosphere. I'd recommend this place. It was a little spendy if you want a veggie and meat entree for dinner. It would've been nice if they had a small side salad for cheaper. I got a flat bread, and everyone who got one said they were great. Actually all 8 girls enjoyed their food. Try the sangria!
(4)Patrick B.
What a great place. Was in Seattle for a long weekend and didn't get into the city until after 10pm but was still starving. Decided to listen to the yelp reviews and go hear for a late dinner. What a great choice, the plates were fantastic (especially the pork belly), the wine was delicious and the service was great. Made for a wonderful introduction to Seattle.
(5)Jennifer S.
Quaint bar in Belltown that makes you want to come in and stay! We stopped in today for drinks and had a great experience...so much so that we booked a reservation for Saturday night. More details on the food to follow soon...
(4)Julian F.
Really great food, and their happy hour is killer. The béchamel flatbread, halloumi, and clam bowl are my favorites. Can get busy on Friday/weekends, but is always worth the wait.
(5)Alyssa L.
Food in general is good , bartender was super nice, but the lemon ricotta cake with lavender crust is one of the best things I have ever eaten . Do not go here and miss out on this . the flavors are absolutely perfect. One of the highlights of my trip to Seattle.
(5)Darcy H.
I was there as a guest for a happy hour, sponsored by an out-of-town organization. This is a review for that evening. The event was in a separate room in the front of the restaurant. The drinks were good. Though unlabeled (is that meat? not meat?), the snacks were good. Other than that....it wasn't a great experience. Mostly because nobody seemed to be managing the space. It was SO LOUD that my boss left within 15 mins. (not good) That speaks not only to the hard cement floor, no tablecloths, and no sound-absorbing ceiling tiles (typical industrial chic problems) BUT to the fact that they were playing loud music on top of the din. Huh? Why? Keep in mind this was a professional networking event. Also, it was hot in there. Like, really hot. And it took a guest to finally stand up and open the huge window so that we could have some fresh air. "Where is the staff?" I kept wondering. "Why are we in charge of the environment and comfort?" I mean, there was a bartender...young guy....and someone collecting the dirty glasses, but they weren't exactly being ambience-sensitive.
(2)Aneeka O.
We were under the impression that this was a restaurant, but it's more like alcohol and small plates/ appetizers and desserts. They say 2 small plates per person is like a meal for 1. I came with my husband and we ordered 3 small plates: the pork belly (awesome! I loved it!), the boar ribs (which I didn't really care for, but my husband rates it 4/5), and the roasted vegetables (which was huge! Great variety! Interesting spices!). Then we ate the chocolate cake (which was good but I'll warn you that it is not fluffy or light or airy but you should get it). Service was fantastic! The look of the place was very nice! I love their hanging light bulbs.
(4)Kim B.
I pay hard-earned dollars for a plate of broccoli. That sounds ridiculous when I type it, but it's true. The broccoli tastes good, folks. I love that they have a vegan menu, which makes my ordering super easy. Their location is also just outside of asshole-ville, which is also great.
(4)Tree P.
It's a decent Seattle option. Nearby Spur is much better but it isn't bad. we ordered 6 items, 2 were great, 2 were decent and 2 were poor. The service was lacklustre, the waiter exhumed the feeling that we were being done a great favour by him. The 2 great dishes were the duck breast and the calamari, they were excellent. Duck was cooked perfectly. The 2 dishes that were mediocre were the oxtail and the cauliflower. The 2 dishes I would be embarrassed to serve at home were the ceviche and the halloumi. The Ceviche tasted as if it was made to order rather than stored in juices and acid for 24 hours as is done when ceviche is made. It made it bland and of very bad quality. The halloumi and date dish was not executed well and was far too sweet rather than having a balance between sweet and sour.
(3)Sin-Yaw W.
A cocktail, a draft "honest" beer, followed by a shot of whiskey. Have to say, this Washingtonian single malt is not as good as those Scotch ones. The foods are tapa style, small portion and very well prepared. This is the perfect bar: good drinks and excellent foods. Also, whatever Kate H rated 5 stars will be good for me. :-)
(5)BettyLou H.
We had dinner here and were a bit disappointed in the consistency of quality across the small bites. The boar ribs and pulled pork tacos were delicious. The flatbread with lamb sausage and baba gannoush was a failure. The lamb and flatbread was overcooked and I could not taste or find the baba gannoush. The roasted peppers with sea salt had too little salt and too much oil. Our server was pleasant, but overall we were disappointed.
(3)Jason C.
I was very surprised by how good the food was.. I though of Black Bottle more as a place to get wine with friends, but the was impressive. I ordered the blasted broccoli, ribs, and scallops.. All the dishes were fantastic!
(4)S. J.
Fried Chicken. :)
(5)Makenzie G.
I know this is a wine bar, but the food alone is enough to bring me back again and again. It's all small plates to be shared, or one or two to fill yourself up. Each dish is unique and delectable. I've been going for years and have yet to get tired of it -- they change up the menu and the new dishes never disappoint. Must try: blasted broccoli, flatbreads, any of the meats, house wine Skip: happy hour tacos...teeny-tiny and not worth it
(5)John M.
Great cocktail / dinner spot with farm fresh tapas and great seafood creations. Been here three times with friends and alone - always a good choice!
(4)Kristi R.
Enjoyed sitting outside tonight at Black Bottle and sharing small plates with my sweetie. The blasted broccoli is to die for! I'm not normally a broccoli lover, but this has made me a believer. We also had the seared scallops wrapped in bacon, the wilted kale salad and the oxtail. Fun place and I look forward to going back and sampling some other dishes.
(4)Angela Y.
(Date of visit: 11/11/2012) I wish I could rave about this place because the food and drinks were absolutely to die for - however, the service or lack thereof was beyond terrible it left the most disgusting taste in my mouth. Lets start from the beginning of the night, before even stepping foot in the restaurant. We called in hours ahead to make reservations for 9pm on a Saturday night. Seems like an impossible mission right? But they were quick to take our request for a table of 3 and assured us of a pleasant evening. When we got there however, we waited 20 minutes for them to scurry and put together the tiniest table right in front of the window which also was right in front of the front entrance. What a way to make a girl feel special huh? (Here's a tip: when people make reservations for a table, people expect an actual table - and not the "crap" table. And a second tip: When your customers ask if there's another table available - at least pretend to glance around and check the back instead of saying that you're slammed and this is all you have right now. IT'S CALLED A RESERVATION - A TABLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRE-RESERVED.) This "reserved" table, I kid you not - was no bigger than one of those one seat tables that they made you sit in throughout high school. Which would have been fine for one, but for a party of three? And my sister's husband is nearly 7'' man. This table arrangement was ridiculous. Of course we ordered just about every appetizer and what do you know? There wasn't enough room on the child sized table. It's not rocket science people. If a party of three (sitting at what I'm assuming was an side table) orders 20 dishes - DO NOT TRY TO BRING THEM ALL AT ONCE. I mean, really, come on. I've been in this industry long enough to know, hey - sometimes the kitchen works at its own speed, but if you're the server of this ridiculous table, you should think "HEY, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO ALL FIT ON THERE." Again, not rocket science. We had to settle our little conundrum by setting dishes on the railing of the window and scarfing down the dishes as rapidly as they were being sent to our table. Half of the time I had to hold my drink in my other hand because there simply was no room. I mean, really, this isn't even about the personality of the server, or anything ridiculous. THIS IS ABOUT BASIC HUMAN UNDERSTANDING: 3 people, 1 tiny ass table, 20 dishes, 1 bottle of wine, 2 beers, STOP BRINGING OUT DISHES SO FAST! I MEAN REALLY, COME ONE GUYS - GET IT TOGETHER. Aside from the lack of basic customer service and mental capacity, the food was very delicious. The wine list and beer list tickled my tongue ever so delectably, and I wish I had enough courage to go back. But why stick your hand in the fire again when you know you'll just get burnt?
(1)Lauren R.
Came here for my birthday . The drinks were great but 2 of the five plates we ordered were horrible , the hanger steak was drenched in kikoman soy sauce and when we told the waitress there was hair on our flat bread she looked at us like we were bothering here and instead of just taking It off the bill she gave it to us for 50% off . Thanks for a great birthday meal , I won't be back .
(3)Shin Yi L.
Been here multiple times for happy hour, late night drinks and a food tour. Love the broccoli blasted (I'm a big fan!) and yummy cocktails (doppelganger, throwback manhattan).
(4)Stan L.
we came here for happy hour.. they do seem to have quite a few different alcoholic beverage options to cure your ailments as for the food.. their fried chicken strips were ok.. it was crispy.. but don't expect great southern fried chicken.. their oxtail is awesome.. i wish it was served with a mashed potatoes or a cheesy polenta to round out the dish.. the artichoke salad was unforgettable in a bad way.. the artichoke was undercooked and nearly inedible.. their octopus salad was more salad than anything else.. there were some small slices of octopus.. but it was a bit underwhelming.. i'll come back to try some of the other dishes (e.g masala drumsticks or their pork belly) as well as for their oxtail
(3)Ninette C.
My friend wanted to go to a trendy, up-and-coming and well-liked restaurant so off we went to Black Bottle. It looks small but it isn't that tiny which is nice. They have several rooms and the ambiance is trendy, group-friendly and not stuffy. This would make a nice date place without being too "sappy" or overly romantic too. I ordered the grilled octopus fava with pesto beans and he ordered the bacon wrapped scallops. We had the brie-leek-pesto flat bread to share as well. Everything was delicious. I wished we ordered the blasted broccoli as I have heard great things about it, but next time, next time. For dessert, we had the two desserts I'm pictured with in my profile photo: pineapple baba rum and mascarpone and lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust. I thought the pineapple baba rum was great. My fiend thought it was a little strong. I thought the lemon curd ricotta was kind of eh. My friend liked it, so its all opinion? The lavender crust smelled great though! All in all, this was a great meal. I would skip the ricotta next time, but everything else was excellent. Writing this review only makes me wonder, why haven't I been back since?!
(5)David S.
Food was fantastic. Shishito peppers were awesome. Wine list was a little light for a wine bar but what they had was great. Don't be expecting a real upscale environment. Very chill and really good service.
(4)Yukari T.
15 of us shared about 20 dishes. All of them were impressive, very creative and delicious.
(5)Frenchie B.
Second time I've been here with friends while visitng Seattle. Went Columbus Day for happy hour. Their tacos I'd pass on. The Carne Asada HH taco was tasty but the other 2 are definite misses. The seared tuna is fantastic. I'm not a collard greens fan but it's pretty tasty paired with the fried chicken. HH wine is prettu good for a HH wine but if you don't like those options have a decent wine selection. If you sit near the windows great Belltown people watching
(4)Bread Man S.
Great dessert, the peach and blueberry dessert is awesome. The chocolate with ice cream is great too. We just did not get napkins, service was ok. Good place overall.
(4)Kiyo T.
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. Overall: - The food is amazing, but go to the Black Bottle in Bellevue for it - The staff is extremely unprofessional, rude, disrespectful, and pretentious The whole story: I went here for the first time despite my friends urging against it due to the rude wait staff. Unfortunately, I wasn't surprised to find their remarks true. We were seated in the back area and hardly given the time of day. After we finished our meal, a good 30 minutes passed of us trying to ask for the check but not being acknowledged. I decided to give it another chance the following day, but the same server (Lindsay) was there and I could audibly hear her tell the other staff members that I was a horrible customer because I mentioned the night before that we had been waiting for a while with no service. We were once again seated in the back section and the server went on a smoke break with the manager. Another 20 minutes passed and no one had even checked to see if we were ready to order. The hostess would peak around to the corner to see if we were still there but never approached us. I got up to leave and asked to speak with the manager. She is the one with short hair and tattoos who didn't give a shit about what I had to say. I told her I had been in twice now and not received service. She tried to explain that the back area doesn't open up until 6pm, and since I got there at 5:30pm I was expected to wait another 30 minutes before she assigned a server to that section, I WAS PUT THERE NOT BY MY CHOICE! The staff obviously gossips about their customers while they are there (will do it so you can hear it) and seemingly make a pact to not serve those they do not want to. Needless to say, I will never go there again and highly recommend choosing a different restaurant if you don't want your day ruined by bitches.
(1)Courtnee P.
Holy shitballs amazing! I just had a spectacular experience at this place after eyeballing it occasionally for a few years. So glad I finally tired it. We ordered: Crispy chicken and collards: The chicken was cooked to perfection and the collards were surprisingly sweet and subtle and had corned beef! Oxtail was unbelievably tender and flavorful. Bacon wrapped lemon scallops and kale: Amazing! Roasted Broccoli: HOLY SHIT I CAN'T STOP EATING THIS GIANT PLATE OF EFFING BROCCOLI, DAWG! Try it dredged in the Oxtail sauce leftovers! The artichoke and goat cheese was ok, bit heavy on the cheese and not particularly impressive, and the flatbread I got was similar - but still good! Everything came fast, service was GREAT, especially for Seattle. Attentive even though they're busy, portions are large and food at the correct temperature. A+++++++ Will buy from again!!
(5)Barry K.
Loved the version of this in Bellevue. Food is a bit different here. Service is not so good - food was still great.
(3)Hande O.
This used to be my fave go to place for great happy hour and drinks. The ambiance is sexy and chill, albeit a bit pretentious. HOWEVER, the main reason I decided to write this is because on my last visit we noticed not one but 2 cockroaches climbing up the wall by our table. This is absolutely not ok...I just saw some other reviews that mentioned the same thing. BB, you have got to do something about this. 'Construction nearby' is not a good excuse for having critters in your upscale restaurant.
(3)Tiffany S.
I love this place . great food great server
(5)Charlie G.
The menu looks so good. The space looks lovely from the street. My hopes were high. The food was seriously disappointing. (And the service was pretty lame too.) We had the ceviche, the gruyere and emmentaler beet gratin, and the kale and spinach salad. The gratin was ...ok, but it only gets that rating because I absolutely love each of the ingredients. The other two dishes were pretty terrible. We would have ordered more but we decided to leave to find better food elsewhere. The ceviche was very probably the worst I've ever had. The very first time I tried making ceviche at home it blew this completely out of the water. Black Bottle's was bland as could be and pretty much just consisted of overcooked (in acid that could no longer be tasted) fish and a bunch of diced, winter-bland tomato. Nothing else going on at all. Just tough, tastless fish and tomatoes. Booooooooo! Despite being made with either slightly woody or undercooked beets, the beet gratin was pretty tasty for the few bites that actually contained any cheese. But the majority of the dish was just unadorned, tough beet slivers. I like beets, but (a) these weren't very good ones, and (b) that's not what I ordered. The kale salad was a joke. Not only did it barely have more than about 5 baby kale leaves in it, but it hardly had any more spinach. It was pretty much a pile of hazelnuts in goat cheese with a few flecks of pancetta and a few errant greens. The flavors were honestly just fine, but the ratios were all fucked. It wasn't a salad at all. It was a pile of cheesy nuts. Oh yeah, and while we were attended to quickly and regularly, our waitress couldn't have been much more apathetic or withholding of all but the most basic pieces of information about the offerings. The person refilling our water rocked though, haha. And, I will say that the very bizarrely-casually-dressed bartender did make me a hell of a Manhattan. But that's about the best I can say about Black Bottle. If I ever go back, I won't be eating there.
(2)Addie R.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!! but.... Two stars off for the fruit fly problem. It was gross to see the flies buzzing around our food, and worse to see a ton of them perched on the wall next to our table, literally all up the wall, from floor to ceiling. I kept swatting at them until I noticed there were a LOT and then I felt uncomfortable. Flies aside, I thought the service was exceptionally attentive and the atmosphere classy. Our group of 6 was in the back room which we had to ourselves even though there was more seating there. We came for Thursday happy hour and had $4 well drinks and the $2 tacos. However, the tacos are really small, like miniature tacos, so you need at least 2 to have a proper appetizer for yourself. During our meal, they accidentally made extra tacos and we got 6 extra tacos, which was awesome and they didn't charge us for it. The decor is pretty minimal but what they do have are interesting conversation starters. I liked that about the space, and that it wasn't too dim or too brightly lit. p.s. They automatically include gratuity in the bill. Convenient! I'm not a math person.
(3)Clover A.
This is what happen when I don't review right after going somewhere. It gets fuzzy. I don't think the delicious cocktails helped keep my memory intact, so it could be that to blame as well. Other reviewers have covered most of the info you'd need but in short: It's a bit disjointed in the way the food comes out, but don't worry though, just eat what they bring and relax, if yours comes and theirs doesn't, just share. Order one of the flatbreads to share between at LEAST 2 but likely 3-4 people. They're big and take up lots of room on the table. Order the broccoli, trust me, yes, it really is that good. As you can see in the pics, the pork belly and kimchi are really more pork belly (not too much fat either) with the essence of kimchi, so don't let that scare you off, it's truly fantastic even if you're not a kimchi fan. Even if you are starving, 2-3 plates between two of you should be enough. Order the specialty cocktails, they're great and strong enough that I can't honestly tell you how good (or not good) dessert was. Don't be concerned that you can't tell the waitstaff from the patrons. Seriously, just relax, it's going to be a great night.
(4)Chelsea J.
I went to Black Bottle this weekend with a friend and the food was really good! We shared the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flat bread which was very sizable for $9 and the blasted broccoli for $8. The portions were very generous, especially for the price. Both dishes were superb. The place was bustling and very noisy in the back room. I felt like we had to talk very loudly (almost yell) to hear each other across the table. It was also very hot in that room, not very good circulation back there. The bar is very cute and the food is fantastic. Service was friendly and prompt. I had the rising sun-rita drink which was made with sake, blood orange puree, and lime for $8. I thought it was okay. It was refreshing but I could barely taste any alcohol. Pretty much tasted like punch. I would stick to wine next time. I look forward to returning. Don't miss the food!
(4)Christopher S.
When I was youthful and exuberant I used to love going to the Black Bottle to people watch, drink, eat, and even get shot down occasionally. Well, now that I'm old and wise I guess my tastes have changed. Four to five years ago I would have given this place a 4.5 star rating. Today I have to issue a 3 - a solid 3. The lady and I ordered the hangar steak, the seared ahi, a flatbread and of course a couple IPA's. The seared ahi was ok, a bit too seared actually, and the hangar while good was swimming in soy sauce - I suppose to balance out the bitter daikon? Anyway, this leaves us with the flatbread. Oi. The amount of prosciutto on the flatbread was absolutely pathetic. It was amazingly annoying. Something I'd expect at some chain restaurant in the burbs trying to catch on to the latest food fad. Anyway, it was without a doubt super duper craptacular. Service was good, drinks (IPA's) were solid as expected. I've either outgrown this place or it's outgrown me.........
(3)Erica W.
First off let me say the food and ambiance was fabulous... the downfall was our server. The goods: We had a group of 8 people, so we got a big variety of plates to share. Out of everything we ordered, I tried Wild Boar Short Ribs (FALL OFF THE BONE tender! Rubbed in spices & herbs ... delicious!) Crispy Fried Chicken & Collard Greens (I'm picky, didn't touch the greens [everyone else RAVED about them BTW]) The Chicken was decent. I think if it was partnered with some potatoes & gravy it would've been dynamite! Prosciutto & Bechamel (Flatbread) It was great, perfect amount of all ingredients combined. The BAD: We had a reservation for 8pm for 8 of us. 4 of us decided to go get our "drink on" earlier and went at 7. We sat at a 4-top table until our server told us the table for 8 was ready and we could move over if we wanted to. We moved over about 7:30 when we had 6 of our group there... The server was very spiratic at coming over to check on us. I will tell you, if he would've consistently checked on us like a GOOD server would, our bill would have been over $300... Just sayin! I think the cardinal rule as a server, you don't let your customer's drink get below half before asking if they want another. We shouldn't have to flag the kid down everytime we want another drink. My husband got a total of 2 beers in the 3 hours we were there. That's ridiculous!! If the server would have come by to see if we wanted every 15 minutes or so, my husband probably would have had at least 5 beers. And think of that on a grand scheme of things, 2-3 extra drinks per person, would have added at least $100 on to our tab. He failed MAJORLY. I also feel like he figured he was getting an 18% gratuity off of us anyhow, he did'nt have to work for that tip! Our bill was $271 with tax and tip. If he would have came by to refill drinks he could have gotten a heck of a lot more money out of us.
(3)Katy H.
I was so incredibly impressed with Black Bottle. This is totally what the 5 star review system is all about! Typically I shell out 4 stars for a place I really liked, but 5 only goes to places that surpass each and every expectation. I will warn however that the more crowded this cozo spot gets, the slower the service. But being such a great hangout with such fabulous food and drinks, it wasn't terribly bothersome to take my time anyway. A friend and I popped in for some food and drinks and after hearing such great things about Black Bottle, we made our way to Belltown to see for ourselves. There's loca beer on tap, a fabulous wine selection, and some creative cocktails to boot. The best part though? The food! Some folks have told me Black Bottle was expensive... and perhaps they were comparing this spot to a place like List? Also in Belltown, List has insane happy hour prices. But that's because they have to sell food for cheap in order to sell it at all. I've had decent experiences there but nothing magical like Black Bottle. In fact, even though you'll pay $1-2 more per dish here, it's well worth it! The wild boar ribs were crazy good and the portion was too much for just one person. Same with the broccoli blasted! This dish could easily feed three and came highly recommended by a friend. Good thing we got it too, it was delicious. In fact, it's by far the best broccoli dish I've ever had. And I love broccoli! We also tried a number of other dishes but I'm quickly forgetting their names. Point is, you'll find plenty to order if you're a vegetarian, pescatarian or meat eater. I actually had a helluva time deciding what to eat because everything sounded amazing. 3-4 plates feed two easily but remember to save room for dessert! They're just as tasty as the shared plates and entrees.
(5)Dean K.
We had a very disappointing experience here when visiting Seattle in February. Huge letdown after reading the glowing reviews. The raved-about broccoli blasted and the pork belly and kimchi were pretty good, but everything else was ordinary or worse. I'm a huge pork fan, so the dry and flavorless house smoked wild boar ribs were received as an insult to all of swinedom. Service was poor. I guess other tables were much more interesting, because we could hardly get our server to notice us. The room was uncomfortably crowded and loud, and we were seated near the entrance and got blasted with cold air whenever the door opened. We bailed and went to Spur Gastropub for desert, which was the best decision of the night. Why anyone would go to Black Bottle when the wonderful Spur Gastropub is nearby is a mystery to me.
(2)Sapna D.
Amazing veg options, yumm!
(5)Brittany L.
After some thought and deliberation over many tapas and small plate joints in the area, we settled on Black Bottle in Belltown for one of my bestie's birthday. The ambiance is nice, but it can get really noisy so bring your outside voice! Because of the size of our group we were able to sample a lot of different dishes -- crispy fried chicken, boar ribs, chicken laab gai, hanger steak, pork belly and kimchi, the infamous broccoli blasted, prosciutto flatbread and chicken flatbread, and fried tofu and peanut sauce. Upon arriving, I was most excited to try the broccoli blasted since everyone on Yelp (and beyond) raved about it. I honestly didn't get the hype. And I'm not sure most of us in the party did either. It's basically burnt broccoli with a little oil, lemon, salt & pepper but the other flavors were hardly noticeable. I do however, really like the flatbread, the hanger steak and the fried chicken. The laab gai was decent but if you're expecting what you get at a Thai restaurant, you'll be disappointed. Service was spotty, but luckily in larger groups you don't notice it as much. I'd like to come back and size up the last half of the menu!
(4)Seattle F.
I've taken large groups here and also just one other person or myself. It's always great. Really good food. The service is kind of spartan teamwork, yet you get whatever you need. Nobody is overbearing and it's very casual and fun. My only criticism is the wines. They should have at least a few fancy wines available and by the glass as well. I brought some folks here from wine country in CA. I warned them that there'd be nothing great by the class there, but they were still unhappy though too polite to say. I love everything else about this place.
(5)Nicole Y.
I had dinner here last night with my boyfriend and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. It is definitely a popular place, but only took a few minutes to get seated. The ambience was great ... not too loud, a little bit dark (but you could still see) and a nice atmosphere. The service is outstanding. The food was amazing. It's sort of "tapas" style, but the portions are way too big for one person if you order more than one dish. My boyfriend and I shared three dishes and a dessert and were definitely happy and full by the time we left. I will definitely be a returning customer, can't wait to try all of the other dishes on the menu :)
(5)mandy m.
Is this how Seattle does tapas? Dishes were unimpressive. Pork belly is dried out and awkward when doused in sweet x sour sauce. There was hardly any kale in the kale and spinach salad but there was an ample amount of unwanted nuts and goat cheese to salt it all out so you don't even know what you're eating. Rail thin chips aren't very functional for ceviche. I was hoping the food will win us over after being assaulted with forgetting to bring an ID when ordering wine... To which my friend said 'ok I don't want to drink then'... But then was impolitely escorted out of the establishment and only allowed in once she went back to the hotel to get her ID. It took 20 minutes to get our drinks, they got our food order wrong and the check took 15 minutes. Chris Finley, I cannot believe you liked this place! Maybe it was better in 2010.
(2)John Z.
Decent atmosphere, well-crafted, reasonably priced cocktails, and good food. I've been here twice. Their portion sizes have increased, which is a good thing. On this visit, we had the blasted broccoli, the smoked boar ribs, the proscuitto flatbread, the masala chicken drumettes, and the fried chicken with collard greens. All in all we ordered too much food for 2 people, but it was all reasonably good. The broccoli was a bit too salty, the boar ribs were somewhat dry, and the flatbread was covered in cheese (despite the menu saying it would have bechamel sauce). On our first visit, the service was abysmal, in that we were treated very callously by the staff. However, the second visit made up for that incredibly, since our waiter was very nice. Due to the hit/miss experience I'm only giving them 3 stars, but they've been improving. To end on a positive note, their cocktails are fantastic and very cost-effective.
(3)heidi p.
I don't like giving bad reviews and I sat on this one for a while but here goes. First off terrible service.... The waitress was "too cool" of a hipster to try and provide any good service. Midway through the meal, when questioned why she didn't bring out an item I ordered (a cheese plate) she stated that they were out of the bread they use for it. At what point was she going to tell me that I wasn't going to get an item that I ordered? Apparently never. Here is the kicker... as she was cleared a plate that was in front of me, a cockroach scurried across the table. W T F. Then she squished it and asked me if I wanted to take my leftovers home. F - NO. Thank god for them the place is so dark inside, that way you can't see the roaches. Now I'm questioning anything crunchy that was in my food. (blasted broccoli) The waitress was barely apologetic. Needless to say, I will not be going back.
(1)Shauna M.
Good location in downtown Seattle, food is tasty, although it lost stars with me for having really loud music and a bit too dark for my taste.
(3)Mariel M.
Came for happy hour and kept the $2 tacos going. They are delicious, especially the soyrizzo and potato one! Great atmosphere. It's a cute joint. Will definitely be back here!
(5)Minji L.
I LOVE this place. Every item on the menu is great. Literally! Go once a month and try everything. I didn't like the red wine but did enjoy a glass of sparkling rose recently. They also provide the same yummy framboise found at Fred Meyer's.
(5)Christine C.
Nice quiet atmosphere when we went. A bit dark for my taste but its all good. Just watch out for the small table right when you walk in, it's their way of welcoming you I guess. The server was great, nice, informative. Food comes out as its made, sharing is a recommendation for place. Portions are pretty good. They have a really great selection of all sorts of meats made perfectly. Must try: house-smoked wild boar ribs 7 *lamb meatballs and sumac hummus 12 chicken laab gai 9 (SPICY) *cumin pork tenderloin and frisée 10 natural hanger steak* and daikon/shiso 12 malbec demi-glazed oxtail 12 pork belly and kimchi 12 *bacon lemon scallops | frizzled kale 13 ceviche* and hand made tortillas 11 Blasted Broccoli yum! At least... thats all that we got ;) Money well spent.
(5)Leo K.
Probably one of my favorite spots in Seattle. I've tried most of the things on the menu, and nothing was disappointing. I recommend the blasted broccoli, it is amazing, and my personal favorite, the oxtail. It is divine! My only advice would be to order something else besides the seared ahi tuna and the larb gai (a traditional thai dish). If you want to eat authentic Asian food, go somewhere that does it better. Oh, and the joint does get packed and the service tends to slow down during the weekend, but just have a couple drinks and enjoy the experience!
(5)Kazar L.
Black bottle is one of those places I struggle to review. Not because they do anything extremely bad or extremely good, but because they do everything well enough that it's hard for me to put any real spin on my opinion about the place when nothing really stands out. Are they bad? No. Are they good? Yes. Are they great? Maybe. Given the size of our party, I had an opportunity to sample extensively from their tapas menu. The blasted broccoli was simple yet tasty, easily made at home by seasoning broccoli with olive oil, salt, and pepper and broiled in the oven. The kimchi pork belly, while seasoned and cooked well, came off rather gamey. The ox tail was a good dish, braised until tender and had adobo-like flavor to it. The fried chicken and bacon scallop dishes were....well...fried chicken and bacon scallop dishes. The masala chicken drums were nicely spiced with the masala flavor not completely overbearing. The one thing I was not a fan of was the curried cauliflower. It felt over-seasoned with cinnamon and under-seasoned with curry. For the price, the portion size could stand to be bigger, but the flavors were spot on enough to warrant a return visit. Just about the most standard review you'll get out of me, but I promise the next ones will be a return back to form. Purple monkey dishwasher. Service: 3/5 Décor: 4/5 Food: 4/5 TL;DR Tapas done right.
(4)Brian W.
Rude service, overpriced food. I wanted to split desert and had to beg for an extra plate. They sure like taking your money, but they don't give you good service. The owner is rude too. Good luck! I'll never go back in a million years.
(1)Rix G.
Great Food, Great Atmosphere, Upscale and Fantastic Staff!! I do not usually rate a high 5 on many places unless they truly deserve it. Black Bottle has made the grade. Great for Groups or Solo. Fantastic place to kick back, enjoy a modern environment and some good food. Not to mention a great selection of drinks! I will be back soon!
(5)Rocky E.
I like the food here. Everyone knows the Blasted Brocoli is terrific and by all accounts the rest of the menu is really good. There are three areas they could really improve. 1. The staff needs to have a dress code. They look sloppy in their hipster wear and baseball caps. It is a nice place and the staff should look like they work in a nice place not a bus station lunch counter. 2. The staff needs to up their professionalism game a lot. I found them to be arrogant and not very attentive. 3. Improve your wine glasses. I ordered some nice red wines but was served in glassware that were not red wine glasses. Give me a bigger glass that allows the wine to breathe better. I think this comes down to the fact that the management probably doesn't know much about wine, they just sell a lot of it.
(3)Greyson S.
We've been back to Black Bottle multiple times now, and the service is way better than our first interaction indicated. They're friendly but hands off, and the food is still deliscious. They've updated their menu to allow for the variability of the wild boar ribs, which we finally were able to try. My partner loved them, but I didn't. But the sausages! Holy bajoles! Best Sausages Ever. I don't even care that they aren't gluten free (they're beer braised), they are worth the IBS.
(5)William S.
Nice tapas food place. Great Service. Run like a west coast offense, with dinks and dunks and quick short passes. the food comes just like that, and before you know it, boom your full.
(4)Jennifer H.
G R E A T small plates. They took affordable ingredients and cooked it with thought and charm. The portions were well rationed, the food well seasoned, and the menu was pleasantly diverse. Great interior design, especially the lighting, the only thing I didn't get is the sculpture towards the Rey end of the bar area. Our server was a nice young girl, she was fully attentive and pleasant. I hope it's consistent!
(5)Kari L.
I really love the atmosphere of this restaurant. The drinks are great and the food is one of a kind. I recommend the flat bread or the blasted broccoli. Who knew broccoli could taste so good! Highly recommend this place.
(5)Francesca S.
This place is fantastic. I've been here many times for birthday events and hosting my own birthday. They have a wonderful room in the back you can rent out for a small fee and a very reasonalbe food/beverage limit. The food is always good, their blasted broccoli is so tasty and an unexpected surprise. There's a variety of flatbreads, all will leave you wanting more. I have also been to the Bellevue location, the food tastes the same, but I do prefer the ambience of the Seattle locale better. Word of advice, if you rent out the back room, do not do it during the early slot during the summer (4pm). While they have a fan and a window, the ventilation isn't the best, so you and your party will literally be dripping sweat, which isn't the sexiest during a celebration!
(4)Trupti K.
my fav - broccoli blast! It is a guaranteed hit! If you hate veggies and need a doze of fiber - go for it! I don't eat beets - but loved what they have done with the beetroot... they have a chole bhatura which is flavorful. I have had no issues with the food here - everything that I have ordered has always tasted good. Drinks are also great and service is also pretty much upto the mark. Whenever I visit Seattle - I HAVE TO GO HERE!
(5)Cindy C.
Detail-wise, I can't really add anything to what's been said, but seriously... if you love heavenly food, good wine, and warm, sophisticated (yet unpretentious) ambiance, you MUST get in here. This is food so good it romances you. (Ok, it gets a little frisky.) And we found the prices more than reasonable for the offerings; these are exceptionally prepared small plates. Service wasn't perfect for us (fairly absent unfortunately... we wanted to send our compliments to the chef, but our server never stopped by except to grab empty plates on her way past), but seriously... this was so good, no way I'm docking a star for that on my first pass. SO good.
(5)E B.
I've never eaten or drunk anything here that hasn't been beyond amazing!!! Favs: Bacon-wrapped scallops Clams marniere The Clemency cocktail Yum!
(5)Olga K.
One of my favorite places in Belltown. Great, affordable food, and a great atmosphere. A great place to take your first date.
(5)Doug G.
My wife and I stopped in for light dinner and a drink. It's a Tapas style menu. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and drinks (wine). We had the Tomato Caprese (excellent), scallops with bacon (excellent), and one of their flat breads (very good). We ate outdoors on a lovely Seattle afternoon. Service was good. If you are looking for Tapas style dinner (lighter meal) this is a very nice place to dine.
(4)Raina B.
Fun spot for tapas and a drink - upgraded to great spot when you have a private room and some time to chill. They keep it a bit dark in here for my taste, I'm always pulling candles over to the menu or stumbling around bags and chairs on the way to the bathroom. Perhaps this is a personal problem, but I wish they'd kick a little more candle power into the room. The tapas are mighty tasty, creative veggies, flatbreads, and tiny forkables. I'll put it in my face if they put it in front of me! The drinks are a bit of a downer if you're looking for draughts and they didn't have my favorite gin, though they provide a nice selection of wine. Definitely get a gaggle together and reserve a block of tables or a room, it's always been a way better experience when we can carve out a space and a server. And go for the bacon wrapped scallops. Bacon - wrapped - scallops!
(4)Yvonne D.
This place is freaking cool, we ordered the broccoli, the crispy squid, the pork belly, the clams in white wine sauce and the flat break with chicken. Everything was very good, the squid was a bit soggy for our taste but it was ok. The drinks were good and our server was very friendly, I would definitely come back!
(4)Mara D.
I really liked the greek salad and the many vegetarian options. I might go back, but I'm in no rush. The ambiance is dark and nice, which I like, the service wasn't noticeably bad nor cheery.
(3)Beatrice L.
Went here for a friend's birthday. It was right before nye and so the place was quite packed. I don't really remember everything i had, but I remember being pretty content with my experience. Their portions are small if sharing with 2grown men.
(4)Samantha G.
Looking for a place for a first date? Look no further than Black Bottle! It's a small restaurant but the ambiance of this place is warm and comfy (meaning = less nerves!). Also, I thought the noise level was fine. I didn't feel like I had to yell a conversation to the person sitting across from me. I'm glad I slyly looked through the reviews of this place because I stumbled upon Geoffrey B.'s review regarding their oxtail. After reading his review, I knew I had to order that! Just like what Geoffrey B. stated, The oxtail was "large pieces of bony gelatinous meat, slow cooked with a delicious Malbec." Our server insisted to order some flat bread to soak up the sauce. It was a good call because the sauce was so tasty. Along with the oxtail, we tried their roasted tomato caprese (wonderful starter dish) and their chocolate mousse torte with pistachio brittle (the brittle had a nice kick to it). Thanks to this place, I have to say this is one of the best date spots I've been to so far. However, I would like to come back here to check out more of their drinks with a friend or two.
(5)Patricia C.
This place is for real a tapas joint. Small plates, large bill. But it's delicious worth every bite.
(5)Cassidy R.
Black Bottle is delicious. My boyfriend & I went there on a Friday night, no wait. We ordered the oysters and broccoli. Food was great, the service was too. My favorite part was the cozy atmosphere. I would certainly eat there again.
(4)Emmy R.
Happy hour WIN! This is a place we like to go when we have no particular cravings, but just want a sample of many delicious dishes. I love the crispy fried chicken, the clams in white wine broth, and the pork belly with kimchi. My mom makes a Filipino dish with oxtail in a peanut sauce. It's one of my faves and I always wondered why I hardly see oxtail on restaurant menus. When done right, it can be so tender and rich. Black Bottle's oxtail dish definitely encompasses different flavors than my mother's dish, but their version is just as tasty! And for the record, we consistently order 5 or more things and clean our plates every time! No shame.
(4)Pradeep K.
I have been to this place, like a million times and the food is amazing every single time. Its hard to pick a favorite - 7 Spice Shrimp/Pork belly/Ox tail are all amazing. I kinda wish they had a bigger selection of beer, but as long as the food is this good i will keep going.
(5)Jandi L.
This is hands-down my favorite tapas restaurant in Seattle. The spanish fried olives are to die for. Great wine selection, awesome atmosphere, cool staff. What more can you ask for?
(5)Jenn O.
I had picked up my parents from the airport and wanted them to have a Seattle food experience. Not touristy stuff like Ivars or the Crab Pot. Something that the locals enjoy. They asked me what kind of food is served there and I said.... "uh, Seattle... food. Small plates to share. Trust me, you'll like it" According to Foursquare it's listed as a Gastropub. Sounds about right! The food was outstanding but the service was terrible the night we went. It took ages before someone came too greet and seat us. It was a Saturday night but still pretty early and a lot of tables were open. After we were seated we noticed people who were seated after us get their drink orders taken and received drinks while our waiter had yet to make an appearance. We finally flagged the hostess down to get drinks. Another person in our section was finished and wanted to pay but got up to hunt down the waiter so they could get going. Since all of the workers just wear casual street clothes it was tricky to tell who was working there and who was just coming back from the bathroom. The corner we were in was *really* dark. One little oil light on the table wasn't cutting it. We used our lighters to read the menu. A couple at the table behind us were using light off of their cell phones. The hostess brought us our drinks and even took our food order, apologizing profusely for the long wait. My mom adored the cocktail she ordered. The Clemency has vodka, lemon, rose, geranium, blood orange. A slightly sour cocktail with just a hint of sweetness. I love how they bring you the shaker along with your glass. The tables sat after us were already eating. Finally our waiter arrives and asks if we'd like something to drink. We told him we were already taken care of. He was really nice but moving at a snail's pace while the other servers were busting their butts. The bartenders were flying, putting out tons of drinks and serving people at the bar. Major props to them. I think if we had been sat in another section my rating would be much higher. Food started to arrive from the kitchen and it was so delicious. Blasted Broccoli, Beet Gratin, Smoked Wild Boar Ribs, Chicken Laab and flatbread. Amazing! Everything tasted so good and came out fairly quickly. We had to move our little oil light to fit the plates on the table putting us in the dark. It would've been nice to see the food a little better. I also think the prices are just right. Our waiter was standing and talking to folks at another table for several minutes. Our drinks were empty and we really wanted another beer. Again we had to flag him down. He was so nice, just perhaps not in the right profession? My previous experience at Black Bottle Postern in Bellevue was much better. I think the next time I'm craving those smoky ribs, we'll stay Eastside.
(3)Yasmin B.
I booked the private room for my wife's surprise birthday party and it was amazing! Paul did such a great job of making sure the food flowed so that it was warm and on time and that the drinks were served promptly. Everyone had such an awesome time and this venue was certainly the ideal spot to hold this event. The price was quite reasonable too all things considered.
(5)Carmen K.
Went here for my 30th bday with a small group of friends. I really liked the atmosphere - dim lighting, good sturdy furniture, and a nice energy from the people in the restaurant who were clearly having a good time. While I had a good time, there were a couple of gripes I had: - We were put at a round table. Everyone had a "normal" chair. I had a chair that was tiny with no arms and was pretty uncomfortable. What's with the black sheep chair guys? - Took the wait staff a REALLY long time to even greet us and get a drink order - We had food that we didn't order or had already received sent to us multiple times. The food runners in general seemed very confused. - We had some food come out VERY quickly and others come out wayyyyy later. The flow of service was definitely lacking. What DID I like? THE FOOD: - Had the Blasted Broccoli.. holy schmoly. It was SO good. I'm not one of those skinny bitches who is like "Yum! Broccoli! VEGETABLES!" but I loved it. A must get. I've never had anything like it. - Malbec Demi-Glazed Oxtail - cooked so it was pretty much falling off the bone. Delicious and flavorful. Don't be grossed out by the name - trust me, you'll like it. - Brie Leek Flatbread - so good. They put a tapenade on top that made it have a little extra kick to it. If you're looking for Michelin food and service, you're not gonna get it here. If you're looking for a reliable spot for food and nibbles, look no further. They really gotta work on their service though..
(3)Mel Z.
We loved this place! Their rachel's #3 ginger beer was so delicious that I am curious to try the #1 and #2 if I ever find them. The blasted broccoli taste just as awesome as the name sounds. We also really liked the hanger steak. Some places overcook their hanger steaks and it may taste very tendon-y and hard to chew, but this place cooked it right and it was good paired with the daikon and sprouts/cucumber. The ambience was relaxed and mellow. The waitress was so graceful and courteous that she reminded me of a museum curator. Overall, I had a great time here.
(4)Johnny W.
One of many long overdue reviews, Black Bottle was the first stop of my birthday celebration last year. With a somewhat large group of many tentatives showing, I didn't actually book the back room (as a minimum food and drink dollar amount was required) - fortunately, since things were a bit slower that day, we ended up taking over the back room anyway. We ordered a fairly wide variety of their food, most of which was decent, but mostly overpriced for what they were (no HH specials). Desserts, likewise, were decent, though their tart was notably tastier than the others. Service was pretty good as well - there was a spit of inattentiveness at the beginning, but it got much better halfway in.
(3)Aaron H.
Walked in around 530pm on a Saturday night with a large party looking for food and drinks and that is exactly what was delivered. Great service (which meant putting up with some needy individuals in the group), strong drinks, and some excellent tapas style shared plates. I especially liked the fried chicken dish, the lamb kebabs, and the oxtail. We ate, and ate, and then ate some more for the better part of an hour and a half. I was also stoked to find that their rotating tap was the seasonal Elysian Pumpkin brew at the time. Overall experience was a victory and I would absolutely come back with a group or to start a nice evening out with your boo.
(4)Lawrence W.
Hip atmosphere and servers, wonderful bar and drinks, tasty finger food. The food here is good, but small portions. You can probably tell from the price of the dishes. We ordered quite a lot of food, six dishes for three people since we hadn't eaten dinner before hitting this place. We ordered the Wild Boar Ribs (a bit dry), Ceviche, Shank Steak (incredibly yummy!), Prosciutto Flatbread, Bacon-wrapped Scallops, Carrots'n String Beans. So you see, pretty sophistaced finger food or tapas to go with your drinks. The only awkward moment came in the beginning, when one server said that the restaurant was self-seating so just find a table... but another server told us to go back to the front and a host would seat us... then a third server took our orders much later. We also had to find our own menus from a nearby table. But that seating confusion aside, that night was actually an enjoyable experience.
(4)Sandeep P.
I loved this place so much that I had my birthday dinner here! Black Bottle is the perfect gastropub for me- a combination of refreshing cocktails and succulent dishes. The plates are small enough that I practically call this an American tapas- but you know what? They also encourage that mentality and make it super easy to share most portions. We were able to book a table for about 10 and they held it for us without qualm on a Wednesday. YMMV for a weekend dinner. My particular favorites include the kimchi pork belly (mmm getting hungry just writing about it) and the blasted broccoli is to die for, even if you normally hate your green veggies. Definitely a must-try for anyone in the neighborhood, or frankly, in Seattle
(5)Tuyet N.
5 Stars for having the best service given to us during our trip to Seattle. Oh and the food wasn't too shabby either ;) Our wonderful waitress suggested things to us since it was our first time and she was spot on with her recommendations on the pork belly-It was to DIE for! So much flavors drippin' inside and outside of your mouth. We tried the blasted broccoli. It was just okay to us. I don't know if it was the hype that killed it or maybe it just wasn't done as well that night? but it is still something I'd recommend to my friends if they go there because it is a new twist and take on the Broccoli. I wish I remembered my waitresses name so I can give her recognition.We called her a nomad because she lived everywhere, and maybe that's why she had such a great attitude. She made our last dinner in Seattle memorable and enjoyable!
(5)Craig B.
Been here way too many times....try the bacon wrapped scallops! I wish their bar chairs had backs to them so I could lean back and stay for awhile.
(5)Jessica K.
Pretty solid menu here at reasonable prices, though there is less affordable wine than there used to be. Broccoli Blasted(generous portion), Chicken and greens, oxtail and ribs all great. The chocolate desert as well.
(4)Y F.
I love Black Bottle. It never fails to turn a bad night around. I've been coming here for almost two years. Black Bottle is one of the few establishments in Seattle that does everything right, from decor to food to service, everything is spot-on. Service is probably the first thing you'll notice when you go. Each time I've been there, the service people have blown me away with their attentiveness and friendliness. They have a strong selection of wines and the bartenders are full of recommendations. I love the unpretentious atmosphere and prices are very reasonable. The food here is superb with a great mix of anything you could want and anything you feel like having. Great place to bring your picky vegetarian friends too! They have a delicious selection of vegetarian dishes. I wouldn't call it small plates because the portions are larger. Medium plates would be a better way to describe the food portions here. Ambiance is perfect. Great for dates. I suggest getting a bottle of wine to split if you're with someone. Buying by the glass is alright but Black Bottle's wine prices by bottle are low compared to other places. Love love love! I always make sure I stop by here whenever I'm in town.
(5)Jaclyn C.
Food was great, of what we were able to eat. Unfortunately for us my husband had to use his napkin to kill a cockroach that was crawling up the wall at our table. Turns out there's some construction going on a few blocks away creating some issues with critters. Not the restaurants fault but gross nonetheless. Obviously after seeing the roach the food suddenly became less than appetizing. Would have been nice if our drink or our food or all the above was comped but no such luck. Instead we paid full price for a meal that was half eaten.
(3)Sarah M.
My husband and I swung by here after work on a Wednesday for an early dinner - and this place reminded me of the restaurant "List" that we tried in Seattle not too long ago with its interesting menu and trendy space. Additionally, this place is deceptively large - I didn't notice until right before I left that there was a giant back room which was also part of the restaurant. We ordered the wild boar, shrimp with 5 spices, green beans and tofu, and masala drum sticks. My favorite was the masala drum sticks...I expected, well, regular drumsticks but these were SO much better than I anticipated. There were three pieces of chicken, plump with tons of meat and lots of flavor. I was very impressed. I especially loved hoe they sat on a bed of chickpeas and spices. The green beans were very good, crisp, crunchy, and LARGE. The actual beans were HUGE! They could have used a little more flavor but were still one of my favorites. The tofu was a mix between soft and hard tofu...so I guess medium? The texture was unusual compared to most tofu that I've had...maybe I'm not used to it being so hard. But like I said, I still liked it! While I didn't love the wild boar, my husband devoured it in 30 seconds. He said that the shrimp was really spicy...too spicy, but still managed to eat most of it. We sat at the bar and while the bartender was quiet, he was very efficient and on top of things. He was quick to replenish my husband's water for the 15 million glasses he went through. Fairly reasonably priced...for a glass of wine and 4 small plates, it was about $40 which could have been much worse. I would definitely recommend this place to others!
(4)Tom B.
In short: A fantastic, fairly relaxed downtown place for small plates and drinks. In long: An interesting combination of contradictions. What jumps out most might not be so much a contradiction as it is a rare combination--the front of the house seems breathlessly hipster, but the kitchen is earnestly sincere about cranking out great food. Not necessarily a paradox, and maybe more common than I realize, but it just struck me funny having every color of the hipster rainbow reflected in the waitstaff (fedora guy, zip-up tracksuit guy, ringer t girl, slightly overdressed girl) with such tender loving care showing on the menu. To be clear, the waitstaff were all super nice to everybody, and great at their jobs, but their sartorial approach was nothing if not drenched in irony, where the kitchen seemed more intent to wear their hearts on their sleeves. Every dish on the list showed creative flair and a desire to put together a broad selection that would appeal to everybody, particularly those who are not easily wowed. Not an easy feat, especially when focusing on smaller portions and (relatively) lower prices. They do a great job of getting entrees onto small plates--the oxtails are three rounds alone on a plate, the pork belly is 4 satays, and so on. No side dishes. And virtually everything out of the kitchen was exceptional. Aside from some surprisingly understated kimchee (with the pork belly), everything was explosively flavored and arrived at the table in perfect shape. You order a passel of small plates and they just start showing up when they're ready, which helps assure that you see them at their best. We had cumin lamb, house sausage, oysters on the half shell, flatbread, and a couple other dishes I can't remember, in addition to the ones already named. Everything was worth ordering again and again, and five of us didn't even get halfway through the menu. They make a show--from the name to the prominence of the rather utilitarian bar--of emphasizing the drinks here. The menu shows that too, listing specialty cocktails, wine, and beer before food. Maybe that's where the hipster thing comes in, via the specialty cocktail angle. I dunno. Anyway, the drinks get lots of the spotlight here. We had cocktails on the table as well as beers; the beer list is nice but very short. The wines looked pretty interesting. But for my money the real stars here are the small plates. They're very conscientious about combining a welcoming atmosphere with a minimalist design aesthetic. Plain painted wall, plain brick wall, plain painted wall painted a different color. Little niches and shelves with little candles. Very clean, contemporary, and spare, but oddly homey at the same time, as it goes. Maybe it's the lighting. Take, for example, the stall in the men's room. Nice privacy door with good height to block unwelcome prying eyes, and a nice warm amber bulb set about knee level. So, if you happen to be standing while in the stall, your junk is backlit and thrown into relief. A Hollywood moment, for some of us. Bottom line? A very well-run and welcoming place that's serious about the pleasures of casual drinking and dining.
(5)Joy T.
Black Bottle is such a fabulous gastropub that we dined here TWICE during our weeklong visit to Seattle and the San Juan Islands. In fact we took a huge detour on our last night in the Pacific NW to have dinner here. Food, drink, and ambience. The ultimate trifecta! Black Bottle is the perfect combo of foodie tastebuds meets hipster brewmaster (and not in the insufferable ironic Brooklyn kind of way). From the flatbreads to generous and delicious small plates to to-die-for desserts, you will delight in great food and flavor combinations. If we were ever to relocate to Seattle, we'd make this our go-to gastropub.
(4)Finer T.
I'll first start off by saying, I myself would probably give Black Bottle a 3.5 to 4 stars, but here at the Finer Things Club, we believe in a democratic process when it comes to our ratings. Let's begin, shall we? Let me first start by saying I picked Black Bottle for our monthly outing, but forgot to call for a reservation on a Thurs night. I tried, "Don't you know who I am?" to get a table. Since I'm nobody that didn't work and our reservation was for the next available slot at 7:00pm. I admit my first reaction a few years ago, would be to stick out my lip, cross my arms, and stomp my little foot, but I've since outgrown doing that so I went to The Innkeeper down the street for a beer. No problem, it was my fault. At 7:00, the Finer Things Club reconvened at Black Bottle. Myself and three other ladies were seated right away. We decided on the Broccoli Blaster, Pork Belly and Kimchi, Crispy Fried Chicken and collard greens, a glass of wine and later 2 desserts. Our opinions varied, but we agreed the food in its totality was average to above average and in some cases above above average. The food was not the issue here. Remember that scene from Frankenstein where all the villagers are wiggin' out and grabbing their pitchforks and torches to go after the monster, that's the scene that almost took place at Black Bottle against our waiter. Generally a forgiving and tender lot, my co-diners were really put off by our waiter's impatience with the speed of our ordering, bad mood and aloof attitude. There was an "I've got better things to do than make your experience at Black Bottle enjoyable" attitude. For example-"Are you ready to order?" Admittedly, we were still perusing the menu(there are a lot of interesting choices). "Obviously not, so I'll come back". Why not instead, "I can see you're still deciding, I'll give you a few minutes to decide. I'd be happy to answer any questions or give suggestions if you'd like?" Is that so hard? Example #2-"Are you interested in dessert?" Less than 1 second before anybody can answer-"No, well I'll get your check". Us-"Whoa, whoa...yes, we want dessert". People call me a looker. I don't mean that as in, "wow, that guy's a looker!" but more like "wow, that guy likes to look at things a lot." As a frequent patron of Seattle restaurants, a member of the customer service industry, and observer of human behavior, I normally have sympathy for an understaffed crew that causes service to fall short, but this was not the case here. It had more to do with an individual who just didn't want to be at work on this particular day. I would be willing to give this place another shot due to the food, but the rest of the Finer Things Club would say to avoid this place like vampires avoid the sun. Note: I was kidding about the "Don't you know who I am" tactic. Maybe next time.
(2)Captain G.
We didn't eat here. Just had a few drinks and a bottle of wine. Server was so so. We were there at around 4:30PM and sat outside. Server came by to take our order and didn't return for follow up. We ordered a bottle of wine and a few beers. We actually wanted more beers but actually left due to lack of service. I'd have to say they've pretty good beer and wine selections. Maybe service would have been better if we'd sat inside.
(3)Stu H.
The food here is just spectacular; simple yet refined. I can't think of a better setting to take a group of friends for great conversation and drinks while sharing a wonderful meal. We had many amazing dishes, but the one I still remember is the plate of broccoli. Yes, broccoli! It was seasoned and cooked perfectly. There was also a tofu plate and hummus platter that were amazing.
(5)Raymund S.
i was really hyped up to come here after seeing the menu and yelp rating. Frankly, I was quite disappointed. The ambience was actually really great and so was the service, but the dishes we had were not very memorable. 1. House Smoked Wild Boar Ribs: The ribs were ok. They were not bad, but I have had so much better. They were fall off the bone, but seemed really dry. The meat itself did have a great taste. They ran out of malbec demi glazed oxtail..... 2. Chicken Masala Drums: To my surprise, this was the best dish of the night. I've had better Masala, but this to me was the star. didn't feel so heavy either. 3. Spice Seared Sahiimi Yellow Fin Tuna: AVOID! I jsut don't have anyting good to say about it. 4. Blasted Brocolli: It was good for the first couple of bits, then it got really heavy and "oily" after it started to cool down a little. I felt like a ate a whole bcuket of french fries after. 5. Oysters: I don't eat oysters, so I cannot really comment. We ordered a bottle of some sort of local red, I can't remember the type. I know it was a local washington red. It was actually a great bottle of wine. I wish the food to go along with it was as good. Save yourself the $100 and go to List instead......for half the price, you get twice the quality of food IMO.
(2)Emily-Anne P.
This is on my top of Seattle list. I couldn't believe how great it was. I was in Seattle for the weekend and was traveling alone so I asked the hotel where to eat, they suggested Black Bottle and seeing as how it was pouring out and this place was kitty corner, I figured why not. I ordered a glass of wine and a nice flat bread. It was $9 for the flatbread so I figured I'd have a little bit and then go find something else somewhere else if it wasn't enough, well boy was I pleasantly surprised. It was both delicious and more than enough food for one person. I had a glass of wine, which was topped up half way through my meal and it all was delicious. The interior is very dark and cosy with big windows facing the street and a lot of soft light through out. I'd recommend going back and I will, that's for sure!
(5)Julie B.
My adventure here almost made me lose faith in Yelp. I stopped here while traveling for business in Seattle. I went purely on the faith of the reviews of Yelpers. I don't get it. For the all the hype, the place totally under delivered. OMG, blasted broccoli! It tasted fine, but for all the "must try" recommendations, really just okay. It's roasted broccoli. Yes, you will get about 2 lbs. of it, but it tastes the broccoli I make at home. Beer selection was average. Service was average. Space was average. I would not go back next time I'm in town.
(2)Clarissa L.
Recommended by a local friend, delicious!! Bacon lemon scallops were amazing.. with the frizzed kale. 4 scallops! Portobello mushrooms with butter beans were also pretty good. Oxtail needed more sauce! Flatbread side was yummy and crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. mm :) Of course, blasted broccoli was great. A little too blasted (and hence salty) for some pieces, but delicious overall. The plate was quite huge... Fairly generous portions. Definitely make reservations.. Originally on a Friday night, the wait for a party of 3 was 40mins. Thankfully we got seated within 20-30! Service is definitely a bit slow since they're so busy.
(4)Kyoni R.
Came here to meet up with the Food X crew. Thrill, Aaron, Peter. I arrived late from Melody's UYE and met up with Food X and Aaron outside. We had some small talk about the day while they smoked their cigarettes. As we entered in I shake hands with Peter and Thrill. Everyone looks kind of pissed off. Then the waiter shows up and asks for more drinks. We all decline and when he leaves. All the complaints start spilling. Wrong orders arriving in, Flies in drinks, Salty foods. I just sit and listen. He shows up another 15 minutes and tries to push more drinks. Thinking..."Dude didn't you just ask a while back??" The guys offered me some of their appetizers as I was still stuffed by lunch. Flat bread was flat..bad..Kimchee Pork Belly..smothered with thai sweet and sour sauce.. They need to crisp the pork...was to soggy..Bad.. When we asked for the check. It took a while . As we tried to divide the bill. The waiter comes back to see if we can pay quickly. It was not even 5 minutes. My guess was to rush the table to pay the check and add a tip. Because when I checked the bill, the gratuity was already included. So if you rushed to pay, you would have tipped twice .. Bad service Bad food...Bad Karma
(1)Pants P.
Was up in Seattle for a visit, and, while I've seen some reviews about bad service on this old yelper, I have to dispute. But first, the food was overall pretty great. The bacon-wrapped scallops with frizzled kale, a hanger steak with shiso leaf and daikon, and, of course, the blasted broccoli, were the standouts. Got there in time for happy hour and was pleased to get a tasty $5 martini with extra in the shaker glass! Now here's where they get the minus-two stars, but then a plus-one. The oxtail with malbec reduction was too salty to finish. The blasted broccoli (which takes about 10 minutes, I've made it myself) came about an hour after we ordered it. But without our griping at all, they took both those items off our tab. EATERS, we are not in Kansas (Portland, really) anymore. In my homeland, the servers would've been like: Salty? Psh. Get a better palate. Took too long? Eff you. But not here. We were blown away. Black bottle win.
(4)shopaholic v.
Met up with a friend at Black Bottle while visiting Seattle! Great urban neighborhood scene! Trendy, yet low-key. Cozy enough to have conversations, ample wine list, and tasty tapas! What else can girls ask for? I had 2 glasses of the Prosecco Rose to keep me fizzy and happy! We shared the Crisy Chicken and Collard Greens, the Goat Cheese Flatbread, and the Braised Artichoke Salad. They were all delicious, but the Artichoke Salad was not what we expected - it was literally half an artichoke on top of a bed of salad. The service was good - frequent enough to keep us refilled and discreet for us to never notice! Definitely a great place to unwind and relax with friends!
(4)Stephanie T.
When I first visited this restaurant, I was not particularly impressed. The food seemed overhyped, the staff seemed too numerous and cool to actually be helpful, the cocktail list leaves quite a bit to desired...but I digress - Black Bottle has won my love over time with great food, great service, and just being an all-around great fit for any kind of dinner outing need. Versatility, in this case, gets Black Bottle an extra star. This is a worldwide-type restaurant where you really should be sharing dishes with your cohorts. It's a fantastic place for large groups (my last visit I found out they will accommodate groups of 15), but whatever size your large-r party I recommend ordering in smaller groups of 2-4, since most of the dishes are better sized to be shared by this many people. One of the best things about this place is being able to go from the Mediterranean to Thai to Italian to French inspired American over the course of your meal - order eclectically! Food recommendations: -Broccoli blasted. You might think you don't like broccoli but you should try this anyway. This *giant* pile of broccoli is blow torched (we think it's blow torched anyway) to a crispy, salty, buttery perfection that I have never seen anywhere else. (It's taken several friends awhile to get past the whole adjective-following-noun setup of this dish's title) -Laab gai. Spicy chicken lettuce wraps, and they are delicious. -The Flatbreads. We particularly favor the chicken and cherries, served with caramelized onions. What's not to like about that combo! Bechamel and prosciutto - also fabulous, as the Bechamel sauce adds a complex and enriching texture/flavor to an already very solid pizza-like dish. -Fried tofu. This is absolutely all about the peanut sauce. This restaurant has taught me that the wine selection does not need to be extensive to be great. Don't make the mistake of ordering the plantain-themed dessert. It's not good. In any event, giant group dinner, special occasion restaurant, date, dinner with parents, light dinner pre-going-out -- I'd recommend Black Bottle for any of them.
(5)Tina A.
My host in Seattle took me here for dinner the first night I arrived. Fun, intimate ambiance with delicious, reasonably priced plates. We ordered the caprese skewer, beet gratin, arugula & pesto flatbread, and seven spice shrimp. The caprese was nothing special (although I'm generally not a fan), but the rest of the dishes were exceptionally delicious. The staff was attentive and there was no wait when we went around 9:30 p.m.
(4)Rena G.
Four str cocktails. Three star food. great ambiance. Diverse menu. Would not recommend the boar. The roasted veggies were amazing.
(4)Christopher G.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite establishments in Belltown. The wine selection is fantastic. The servers and bartenders are knowledgeable and make great recommendations without being pretentious. The selection is always changing, so there's always something delicious to try. If you go, you've gotta try any of the Flat Breads (the Brie-Leek-Pesto is my fave), the Prosciutto and Potato Wheels, Broccoli Blasted, Potatoes and Cauliflower Curried, Crispy Fried Chicken and Collard Greens, and the Peach and Blueberry Kettle Tart. The service is always spot on. I'm consistently impressed at how attentive the staff is, even when they're crazy busy. I don't feel over dressed wearing a suit and I don't feel under dressed in jeans. Great drinks, awesome food, terrific service, relaxed atmosphere - all the reasons I've spent more paychecks than I'd care to admit at Black Bottle.
(5)Ian L.
This is my go-to place whenever I'm in a bind to find a restaurant for a group at the last moment. It's got tasty dishes, big portions, and very reasonable prices, which makes it perfect to share a bunch of plates. The one dish I must recommend is the house-smoked wild boar ribs: I always order at least a plate or two of these. They're very smokey, and so tender that they fall right off the bone. Aside from the ribs, all of the flatbreads are good. The clams are tasty in their white wine broth. Also, A lot of people like the blasted broccoli, but I find it to be a bit too salty after a few bites. It's a novelty though, and you should definitely try it even if you aren't a big broccoli fan, since it's very different from any other preparation you've tried. I used to prefer the roasted root vegetables dish, which was much more mildly seasoned, although it seems like that it may no longer be offered. The atmosphere is nice, as it's dimly lit, which gives the place a bit of class. The high ceilings do a little bit to absorb all the chatter in the restaurant, although it can still get pretty noisy at dinner. If you haven't tried this place yet, you definitely should. I put off checking it out for a couple of years, and it's definitely a place that I have returned to time and time again.
(4)Mark G.
The blasted broccoli and the ox tail are the two dishes on the menu here that make me keep coming back to this place. Great atmosphere and friendly people. I would recommend this spot to anyone.
(5)Corey G.
Great food, great portion, great drinks, great price, great service. The flatbread is a must, and the sangria is baller! The waitstaff seated us right away, made awesome suggestions, and instructed us on how to order the right amount of food. We really got a bang for our buck here! All of the dishes were superb: Arugula, tomato, and basil pesto flatbread. Potatoes with bruschetta wrapped around them with vinaigrette. Lamb skewers with hummus, tsatziki, and olives/veggie salad. Plus the wine and sangria, we made it out at $50 even (not including tax and tip). A+, Black Bottle.
(5)Wendy Y.
Went here to celebrate my birthday. LOVE this place. The service was great, the food was great, and of course the friends I had were the best. I'd definately come back again and again. Now, the most important part. Food. Their plates are pretty big and I think the price is reasonable for belltown. With five stars being the best, here's how the dishes broke down with our group... Lamb and Hummas * * * * (the hummas and pita were definately spot on, the lamb was a little dry, but dip it in the hummas and the tsitziki sauce, still yummy!!) Blasted Broc. * * * * * (HUGE plate. but then again you're paying $9 for broc. YUMMY broc. though lol) Pork Belly with kimchi * * * * (A little oily, but the flavor was good!) Oxtail * * * * (It was cooked perfect, like falling off the bone meat) Chicken and sun dried cherry flatbread * * * * (I didn't try it, but my friend that ordered it, finished it all by herself. good sign) Hanger Steak * * * (The steak was good, but the salad that came with it was not. TOO MUCH ONIONS!) Portobello * * (My friend did not enjoy this dish. She said it was a little salty and it seemed a little burnt.) And there you have it... yummy good times :)
(5)Robyn P.
If I were playing the word association game, and someone said "Black Bottle," I would, without hesitation, exclaim: "BROCCOLI BLASTED!!!" What a dish! Proof that less is more, simple is beautiful, the more garlic the better, etc., etc. At first blush, it looks like a disaster. Singed broccoli--and lots of it. But once you taste it, you'll know. You'll just know. I also tried: * laab gai: good, not great; would've liked more spice * Crispy fried chicken & collard greens: chicken was good, definitely crispy, but collard greens lacked acidity * Lemon caper squid salad: fresh and clean flavors; squid was cooked well, and the frisee countered the chewiness like a champ * smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread: cute presentation in a fluted oblong tart pan (a la List), but just okay - cheese was bland, and the chicken lacked a pronounced smoky flavor Overall, a good experience elevated to greatness by their signature dish. Next time, I'm getting a plate all to myself.
(4)Eric M.
This bar reminds me of a Keith Richards guitar, it's worn, frayed, a bit unkept in an artful, devil may care way, but it sounds tasty, has a great pedigree, and is a work of art in the right hands. Black Bottle is all of these things. I love the small plates. I have spent many hours deconstructing the blasted broccoli recipe and I think I finally have it. The wine list is superb. I always find a new wine to enjoy there. The flat breads and roasted vegetables are baked to perfection. The decor is kind of a New York, NOHO vibe. Understated and raw. You can really see what they are after if you go to the Bellevue location. It's also well done especially if you consider it's in a new building. The room can get crowded but it's hard to complain because it's usually crowed with beautiful people. Just sit at the bar and enjoy the show.
(4)Elisabeth Y.
Our meal was excellent, and even though there was a gigantic group of possibly French exchange students (our best guess) next to us, and a private party going on in the back room, we were still very well taken care of. Everything we ate was delicious, especially the beet gratin and (according to my husband) the sausages. Even better, the prices are super reasonable!
(5)Wickerlady V.
I've been to their Bellevue location a few times, which I like for being earthier than the normally dressy Bellevue restaurants. On the contrary, Black Bottle in Seattle has dressier people than the rest of belltown. The ambience is still earthy and warm, and there's plenty of space. I like it that they have a special menu for dietary restrictions- so for all the vegetarians/vegans/gluten free/ nut free people, you have as custom made menu. I absolutely love their fire roasted broccoli. I used to love their choley too, but I found out tonight they don't have it anymore. My husband ordered the lamb meatballs, which was a big meal and delicious. I ordered the potato and cauliflower curry and while the taste was okay and needed some zest and some salt, I wish they'd given a dip or raita along with it as it was too dry. I could barely have a few pieces. Service is good, the drinks are good, and their seasonal taps are normally a good choice. They have a nice selection of scotch and bourbon too.
(3)Paria R.
One of my favorite places to visit when I'm in Seattle. Love the Broccoli dish, and love the cocktails. Great place to meet up with old friends.
(5)Karen V.
Tapas done right. When someone suggests a tapas place, I always groan. These places always charge $14 for a portion that couldn't serve one person, let alone a table of people sharing. Even if you do order 10 dishes, people are still left hungry. Black Bottle has nailed the formula. Huge portions (almost embarrassingly so- when the waiter tells you and your friend that a dish is meant for sharing with a group and maybe you are over-ordering, don't take it as a suggestion- take it as a warning), good pours for the wine and a nice vibe. It was a little "coupley" for two girl friends, but maybe I'm just bitter.
(4)Sarah M.
I went here with a friend for drinks and dessert on a Friday night. It was packed when we arrived, so we hung out by the bar for 10-15 minutes, while we waited for a table. The hostess kept coming by to check in and to let us know that she was still working on getting us a table; she was super friendly. I had a doppelgänger (pear vodka, passion fruit rum, oj, cran) and a lemon curd ricotta cake with lavender crust. Both items were fabulous, especially the dessert and my friend and I had a great time catching up.
(5)Robin W.
This place had extraordinary food and good service at a great price. It was an excellent recommendation from the cute girls from Free People. The perfect food experience for out of towners. Well done & thank you!
(5)Nash M.
i guess i'm not the only one who was impressed by the broccoli! the food was great, as was the ambiance...can't wait to go back.
(5)Lori B.
Our server, Jill, was amazing! Great service. The broccoli was so good! Loved the bacon wrapped scallops, and the oxtail. We'll be back to try more items!
(4)Dhavi R.
Came here for my best friend's bday, our first stop before the club. My friend made reservations for 6 and we arrived way later than our expected time and there was no fuss/issues. We got seated right away and ordered our drinks. My friend ordered the doppelganger drink and no where on the menu did it state that it was champagne and my friend was not able to drink it, so I took it ,of course, and gave her my G/T. Well, we expressed our disappointment and at the end of the night, our waiter took it off the bill. Great service. The food was great - had the fried chicken/greens, kimchi/pork, flatbread - everything was good and reasonably priced. Saw other menu items that I am looking forward to trying on my next visit. Most definitely will go back again! Hopefully soon!
(5)Lorrie M.
I came here on a cold, rainy, November night. Actually, not really, surprisingly my visit to Seattle in late November managed to capture three of like fifty days that they have where it's actually clear, warm and well tempered. This night was no different, it was 60 degrees out! Parking is a pain, but once you do park, the wait is even more painful. However, the food and the kind of atmosphere here is unparalleled. Their small dishes are great portioned for the price and very tasty regardless. Their drink menu is large and varied, and their servers are quick on their feet whether it's another drink or just a re-fill of your water. I would love to come hang out here and eat the delicious desserts I didn't get to next time!
(5)Clint W.
Popped in here on a Sunday evening and we're there early....and I found another place that I really like. Even though there were just two of us, we shocked the staff by hammering down about 5-6 dishes. Loved the blasted broccoli, which was a huge plate. We had the chicken larb, which was messy as hell and made us look like drooling idiots (I tend to sport that look naturally but at least it's not douchbaggish). The little medallions of beef on a bed of daikon were great, too. The shrimp had a little heat and might have been the least tasty of our dishes and since we were still hongry, we had to order the rosemary and tomato bread. Oh, and we needed to something to dip the bread in, so we got some clams too! (Actually, I think the clams were the least favorite. She loved the broccoli and I thought the beef was the best.) A bottle of albarino and we were set to go. We did a little waddling out the door about 2 hrs later. Luckily, my friend was just parked around the corner and we did like penquins down the street. I'm coming here again!
(4)Maddie O.
A hip interior full of hip people sharing hip small plates. We enjoyed a few craft brews and shared the sashimi, a prociutto flatbread, and some kind of crazy beet creation. Everything was tasty but the beets definitely stood out with the huge portion, quirky presentation, and unique flavor. It was kind of like a scalloped potato dish... only purple. Weird and wonderful.
(4)Sarah R.
I must say, my 2nd experience was very disappointing. My good friend was visiting from out of town and I mentioned eating at Black Bottle. She is a HUGE fan of broccoli and was immediately sold on going. We arrived early on Monday evening and started with a couple of glasses of wine. We were relaxed and enjoying the quiet environment. There were only a few other patrons at the bar/restaraunt. We ordered the broccoli blasted & curried potatoes and cauliflower. (The same 2 dished I had loved before) The curry dish was exactly as I remembered. The flavors were strong but tasty. The brocolli tasted burnt. We started eating the peices at the bottom and trying to avoid the crisper, char peices. My friend said she could tell it is a good dish, but it was hard to get past the overcooked flavor. I agreed and honestly couldn't eat any more of it. We flagged the server and calmly let her know that we we felt the brocolli was overcooked. she was argumentative about it. She said it is supposed to be crispy & if it was not the same as last time, it's because some cooks make it differently. She then offered to take it away and have them re-make it. We appreciated that, but at this point we really wanted nothing to do with it. So we just asked her to box up the other dish, paid the bill, & left. I've gotta say, I have zero desire to return.
(2)M. C.
Great service, good drinks and good food! Really liked their flat breads and smoked boar ribs...mmmm boar.... Atmosphere can be a little loud for dinner though. Really good music when we were there (random 90s and contemporary mix). Fun place for small bites and good drinks with friends.
(5)Kevin P.
One of my favorites. Some places are built as much on atmosphere as anything else. Sure you can grab a drink or a light appetizer in a lot of places, but how many of those places seem to change your mood just be being there? This is one of those locations. The building that Black Bottle is in looks like it will fall apart any minute from certain angles. Of course, that really just adds to the charm. Inside, everything is nicely and simply laid out. There are tables and chairs outside when the weather is good, and a good assortment of seating inside. Usually the bar area, and possibley the entire place will fill up around 6, so if you want to hang out be prepared to potentially hunt for a spot. The bar is long and offers space, with seating at tables in front, and some rooms through the back. There is also a general hangout area walking through the place, where you can stand and chat it up. Yes, there is of course food here, and it is good. What dishes are best? I don't remember, I just went for the drinks this time around. I can tell you I remember being good, and hey, that should be enough. One of the prime hang out spots during the early evening hours.
(4)Stef H.
Great food, great atmosphere and I was with great company. The prosciutto flatbread was amazing! You must also try the peach/blueberry kettle tart! The blasted broccoli is also good, but unless you're with a party of at least 4, I'd hold off on ordering it--it's a rather generous portion for a tapas place and you might get full before you even give anything else a shot!
(4)Eugene C.
This is one of my favorite places in Belltown. The ambience is modern, casual, but intimate (dimly lit). Great place for a date. There is a rotating selection of wines on tap (all of which I have liked), in addition to by bottle or by the glass. I have really enjoyed most of the food I have had here, with few exceptions. There is quite an interesting variety--everything from Americanized comfort food to Asian inspired. Most of the plates are on the larger side and easily shared. One of my favorites is the smoked chicken with dried cherries flatbread. It is the perfect combination between sweet tart and savory. Another favorite is the bacon wrapped scallops. This one is self explanatory. I even liked the wilted greens/lemon zest that come with it. Yet another favorite of mine is the hanger steak with daikon/shiso. The steak is juicy/tender and the shiso adds a nice pungency and unique flavor to the dish. I have also had the pork belly with kimchi. I really liked it, but felt it was a bit on the sweet side. The kimchi is not as ripe/sour as I like it, but that could just be my personal quirk. Two dishes which I don't care for are the blasted brocolli and the masala drumsticks. The blasted brocolli is the dish that everyone raves about, but I just don't get. To me it tastes like dry, burnt brocolli. Not sure what the fuss has been about. The masala drumsticks are gigantic underflavored/undersalted hunks of meat, although the sauce that comes on the side is not bad. So, for the most part I really like this gastropub for the variety of interesting and well executed dishes and the atmosphere.
(4)rk t.
Came from out of town to see if Seattle cuisine was any good... Verdict? It is. Definitely do this family style. And if you order nothing else: order the blasted broccoli (i think it sounds better this way) and the boar. Soooo yummy. I knocked down a star because i'm picky about my beer and I feel that being Seattle, they could have had a better selection.
(4)Brooke A.
My husband and I visited Seattle for our anniversary this year. We had dinner the first night at a stuffier downtown place and enjoyed it but the next night we decided to just go walking and see what we'd find. We walked by Black Bottle and decided to cross the street for it. As we approached, two guys came walking out saying, "That was a good find!", so we felt encouraged. We got a table in the front window and ordered drinks fairly quickly. Took a little while for our drinks to come, to place an initial food order, and then for our food to come. We were pretty hungry so were prepared to be a little disappointed and just leave once we got our food (instead of ordering more, tapas-style). Once we got our fried chicken with greens, we were blown away. We are from Atlanta, and both items on this plate were outstanding! The bacon wrapped scallops were cooked perfectly and the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread was AMAZING! SO VERY GOOD! My husband loved the gruyere emmentaler beet gratin with mache/rocket but I was getting pretty full by that time (it was quite good though). We decided to order a desert and loved the peach/blueberry kettle tart. As good a fruit tart/pie I've almost ever had. And huge serving! We had a scoop of the vanilla gelato on top instead of the cream and it was fantastic. An incredibly rich vanilla taste. The only reason that I didn't lick the cast iron pan was that I was full to the brim. Excellent meal at a fantastic price. Certainly one of our highlights during our Seattle trip.
(5)Amado L.
If it weren't for the piss-poor service, I would definitely be a fan of this place. And, despite the fantastic dish that is Kim Chi Pork Belly, my first visit may very well be the last. They earned their first star because of the decor. It is hip without being too trendy. They earned their second and third stars because of the food. The aforementioned Kim Chi Pork Belly was simply orgasmic. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, with just the right consistency of crunch and tenderness. And, although a couple in my party thought the Broccoli Blast was a bit too salty, what I did have was purely divine. It's how I'm going to prepare broccoli from now on. If I decide to cook at home, that is. The other stars could've been earned had the service been a tad above 'suck.' The place was busy, but guess what, so is every other 'popular' restaurant in the world. You staff for it. Thirty minutes to get your drink after ordering it is never good. And the owner/hostess scolded us for seating ourselves despite earlier conversations with her never alluded to there being a seating rule. Oh, and it was louder than a Morrocan marketplace in there. It's never good when nearly 50% of the conversation with people at your table comprised of "Say that again?" Maybe they had a bad night, or maybe I just wasn't being my usually forgiving self, but there are many, many restaurants struggling to keep customers, and the Black Bottle should really keep that in mind.
(3)Peter K.
My reviews are rare so when I have to update please take heed. Black bottle must be stricken with ye plague of black death. On a recent visit with a group of 8 our lumber jacked waiters brought us the wrong drinks and feigned indifference. i felt we were bothering them by being there, 20% auto gratuity for gorups? Can you at least bring me the right drink and not lie about it later.
(1)Adela J.
Black bottle was fine. It's true - the food is tasty. But maybe I'd enjoy it more on a weekday when it's a tad slower, quieter, and the wait staff is more attentive. I enjoyed it, but it's forgettable, and I can think of places I like more.
(3)Sarah B.
Hummus and lamb plate = lovely plate of food! This is one of my favorite dishes of theirs! It comes with cucumber slices, 2 skewers of lamb, hummus, tatziki, flat bread and a salad of pepperoncinis, kalamatas, fennel and tomotoes with feta sprinkled on top. The hummus is probably the best I have had. Nice and creamy and fresh tasting with pine nuts resting on top. Absolutely delish! The flat bread pizza is of course a must. I have had several and the prosciutto with bechamel is great. (but you won't go wrong with any of them!) $4 house wine during happy hour is very nice and if you get here early you should hop into a table or a place at the bar no problem. This place is great for all occasions. I have been here on a first date, with guests from out of town, happy hour and a starting point for a night downtown. With the large windows and small outdoor (very small with just a few tables) area you can get some sun when the weather is nice too!
(4)Pamela H.
So good. We ate so much I'm almost too embarrassed to list everything we ate. Almost. Blasted broccoli, smoked ribs, bacon wrapped scallops, hangar steak, proscuitto and bechamel flatbread, and finally, *phew* curried potatoes & cauliflower. Everything was amazing. And not too spendy. A bit scene-ster, but whatever. The food is worth it. Make sure you get the flatbread.
(4)Soo O.
Went for a birthday bash with an entourage and got seated promptly (I think someone made a reservation??). We were in pairs for tabs, but the servers were very accomodating. Tried almost everything on the menu, family style. The Squid salad was DELICIOUS. I would go back time and time again for that alone. Light, crisp, tangy and fresh... mmm... so good. The grilled lamb and hummus was tender and surprisingly quite a lavish spread. Two hearty lamb skewers, cucumbers, mixed olives, taiziki sauce, and pita triangles. Cumin Pork was dry but the frisee salad that it was accompanied with was great. Hanger steak was moist and yummy. Developed a weird allergy to raw oysters (can't have more than a couple) but still ventured for one. Fresh and saucy, just the way I like it. Broccoli blasted was good but not as amazing as I thought it would be compared to all the reviews. It was not over cooked and well seasoned but nothing spectacular. On to the flatbread... brie and leek, was... eh. Not spread evenly over the flatbread and the leek was too salty and clumpy. Fresh arugula tasted like a regular pizza. Decor and atmosphere.. it was an odd, but good, mix of romantic candlelit couples and large but intimate groups. The wine list was great as well as the cocktails. Next time, a date night here or a girl's night seems to be in order...
(4)Sally C.
They make brocolli hip AND delicious! A little spendy... but, plates are share-able and big! And... make sure to call ahead for reservations on the weekends.
(4)Connie W.
I came to Black Bottle due to the rave reviews it received on Yelp, but I think this place is a little overrated. The atmosphere is nice, comfortable and simple. However, the food and service was mediocre. Our waitress was a little cold, borderline awkward. It was a little strange... but maybe she was just having an awkward day haha. The food: I can tell they use fresh ingredients, which I love. However, the flavors just weren't translating well to me. I had some pork that was a little over cooked, and salad that just wasn't right in texture and taste. Maybe by probability I've just picked 5 of their poorest dishes that day? I don't know. One thing I know for sure: This place is okay, but not worth what you're paying for.
(3)Anca S.
As Danielle G. points out, Black Bottle has a super-secret "'special' menu for people with dietary restrictions (dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan)". (It's simply their regular menu items reorganized into more-useful categories.) And as someone who wants to be able to eat out with her non-vegan friends with relative ease, *thank you, Black Bottle!*. (Please consider making this special menu less top-secret.) On to the food... Roasted vegetables: yummy (with the exception of the parsnip-like things, of which I am not a fan), could use a touch less oil. Portobello and butter beans: I am not a mushroom fan by any stretch of the imagination, but I really liked this (though I can't say I like butter beans). Miracle, perhaps? Blasted broccoli: quite large, and enjoyable (assuming you don't have anything against broccoli or charred food).
(4)Misty C.
With all the crap going down in Belltown recently, it was nice to escape into Black Bottle. This place is perfect for an intimate date or a bright lunch with friends. We cozied up toward the back and settled in for a nice candlelit dinner. I couldn't decide between sitting at the neat bright window seat for people watching or the shadowy back tables. It was interesting seeing how the restaurant could successfully produce both environments at the same time. There was a big room in the back that you cannot see form the front, and it looked like a baby shower was heading in for a private party. Now onto the fun stuff! I ordered a refreshing glass of Chardonnay and it delivered. The price was very reasonable ($7.5 a glass) for the excellent flavor! The restaurant serves food in a tapas style manner, but we were very full with our two flat breads. We could not even finish, but it was not because of the flavor. We shared the smoked chicken cherry and eggplant flat breads. The flavor was savory and rich and the toppings were hearty while still being easy to eat. This place can definitely add up to be a pricey meal, but I managed to stay under $20 with my flat bread and glass of wine. I can't wait to come back and try dessert!
(4)Crystal S.
I received a gift card here so we decided to try it out before a concert at Benaroya Hall and were presently surprised! Its a bit dark, but has a clean simple decor. They have a good wine list (obviously!) and the food was good. They didn't offer any description of the items, but the server was very knowledgable about the menu so that helps. We had the tofu green beans (yum!), pita with arugula and pesto (ok), and scallops (amazing!!). We also had the cheesecake for desert which was good, but nothing to write home about! As far as service goes, our server was very nice and knew the menu well. She was not exactly efficient (slow with ordering and tickets, forgot my wine order twice) but it was apparent that she was trying, so I didn't hold it against her :) Overall though the service was really great, they seemed to have teamwork down really well, our water glasses were never empty and dirty plates didn't linger! Overall, it was a good place and I would recommend it. I probably won't become a regular, but Im glad I tried it out!!
(4)Lisa G.
All I have to say is try the blasted broccoli! It is the best, and my favorite happy hour side anywhere in Seattle. Even my friend who doesn't like broccoli liked it. However you can easily make it at home, its still a great side. It pairs well with the flat bread and a glass of wine or a cocktail. My girlfriends and I try and hit up Black Bottle at least once a month or so, it's become one of our main spots for HH. It is also great for a gathering of friends for a bday or large group. I also enjoy the modern decor and feel of it, and it attracts a range of different people but I would say definitely skus late 20's/ 30's young professional types. Pros: blasted broccoli, good for large groups, takes reservations, atmosphere Cons: there are cheaper HHs in Belltown and service can be on the slower side at peak times
(4)Eugene O.
I must warn anyone who hasn't been here: don't be picky, or be in the company of picky people. The nature of Black Bottle's food is that it's eclectic. There are going to be dishes with spices, with onions, with garlic, etc. If you come with an open mind and empty stomach, you'll be in for a great experience. If not, then get outta here. I've had a lot of memories here over the past two years I've patroned Black Bottle, and the food is solidly stellar, consistent and satiating. Must try dishes include the pork belly with kimchi, blasted broccoli (it's better than bacon, almost), mahi mahi ceviche, any of the flatbread pizzas and the mediterranean plate. Yum. The selections of wine are very reasonable, both in quality and price. As is the food. Black Bottle is versatile. Great for outings with co-workers, great for dates, great for a night out on the town. I'll keep coming back because it has my heart. P.S. Call ahead to make a reservation. It's so worth it.
(5)Uhura J.
Do you like broccoli? Then don't order the broccoli blasted. This is the first time Yelp reviews have let me down so I'm going to try and be gentle here. Or heck, maybe we just had a bad plate since they seemed to be making quite a few of them. But this is probably one of the worst broccoli dishes I've ever had. Blasted = burnt. Blasted = charred. Blasted = gritty smoke flavor. If there was garlic or any other spices in this dish, I sure as heck couldn't taste any. The atmosphere and interior is beautiful. Looking around, it felt like a night out you'd see on television in a nice, trendy hotspot. Lots of groups dressed to the nines, animated conversation, and a nice background music. Our bruschetta-type appetizer was only okay; it felt as if we were definitely paying for presentation. My companion had the clams, and we agreed that it's the perfect dish for people who don't like clams. The broth was delicious but a tad too spicy and overseasoned so that it completely overpowered the clams. It's probably bad that I'm having trouble remembering what entree I had. I remember that it was fine? I liked the wines we had, although it's a better deal if you have one you enjoy and go with the bottle instead. Overall for the money spent it was definitely below average, but I'm willing to try again on a slower night versus 8pm on a Saturday.
(2)Alanna M.
A little further north than the hustle and bustle of Belltown is but the food was good and it just means parking was easy to find. Had the masala chicken drumsticks, potatoes and cauliflower curried and chickpeas. It was all very delicious.
(4)Angela S.
I love this place. I've been here twice, and both times it's been totally excellent. The atmosphere is great, and it's always busy but never too packed. The wines are fantastic, and the food is delicious. I've had a couple different flat breads that have all been great, and my friends have enjoyed all the other various foods that they've ordered--ribs, scallops, etc. It's a great place to come for happy hour and then hang out for a while. Fancy food, but not for a ridiculous price. Love it.
(5)Matthew Z.
The wife and I were in Seattle for one evening and decided to try Black Bottle based on a recommendation from a guidebook and cross-checking with Yelp!, Trip Advisor and the like. We left pretty bummed out after some awful service (the worst we've encountered on a week-long trip throughout the Northwest). If the food is good enough, I can deal with some below-average service, but that was not the case here. The waiter was M.I.A when we wanted another glass of wine or some bread to accompany our saucy dishes, which weren't bad (the oxtail stood out), though nothing to write home about. That blasted broccoli is a massive bushel of wee trees and we ended up using them (in lieu of the bread we ordered that never came) to sop up our oxtail juice and as a substitute for dessert since it was clear our waiter wasn't going to come by to ask if we wanted anything else. So yeah: meh...and at a hundred bucks for two, yuck.
(2)Kimber R.
After coming here so many times I can't count, I guess I'll write a review. We usually sit at the bar but certainly not always. The service is so casual yet completely competent, full of information and magical charm that I just can't stay away! That said, the food and wine and beer and cocktails, and fellow patrons are delicious in every way possible. What we nearly always order: all the vegetarian flat breads which are amazing. I get the eggplant if I feel like a tomato sauce and vegetable mess of a good time or the brie and leek with pesto if I feel more civilized. We always get the broccoli blasted because it's just so dang fantastic! A couple of times it was a bit salty so we just say something to the server when we order it and it's A-OK. The fried tofu with peanut sauce is heavenly, never greasy. It comes with a salad that is so fresh and flavorful I almost can't stand it! I don't know the wine I love so much but I can spot it on the wall to the left, an Oregon Pinot Noir from the Willamette valley. I think there's a rolling hillside on the label. Or vodka!!!! My guy gets the Guinness. Do come and have a good time!
(5)Josh P.
I've been here multiple times but never wrote a review. Well they have a few things that no other restaurant has that you should definitely try out. Basically a wine bar/lounge like Purple, Black Bottle has the usual assortment of wine by the glass and 4-5 cocktails. They do have quite an extensive food menu with flatbreads, seafood, veggie dishes and some 'other' dishes. Two of my favorites are the broccoli blasted and the pork belly w/kimchi. For the broccoli, imagine broccoli that is still al dente but flash fried with garlic, salt and pepper. You feel health when you eat it but you still get some deep fried goodness. Just remember to ask they to go easy on the salt or else you'll be drinking a gallon of water later on. The pork belly here is quite different than the traditional Korean style, but done more in skewer fashion with the kimchi. The sauce that comes with it is spicy and sweet and delicious. In addition the clams in white wine are also a highlight; you get a huge bowl of clams swimming in a delicious broth, be sure to ask for extra bread! Go with friends and a long table in the back or go with a date and get an intimate table in the corner. Be prepared to wait 20+ min on a weekend night but around 11 its easy to find a table. Oh and if you see Jennifer L. there be careful...she'll swoop by and grab your broccoli :)
(4)Z A.
The best flatbreads I have ever eaten - hands down! Goat chese, pears, gorgonzola - the most savory ingredients. Brocolli lovers, if you haven't eaten their "blasted brocolli" you haven't eaten brocolli the way its meant to be eaten.
(5)Karen A.
I love coming here with a girlfriend. It's so great to snuggle up to the bar, order some wine and foodies, and chat it up. This is a great place for that. I ordered the scallops w/kale. The kale was fabulous. I loved the lemon juice added to it. The scallops were delish as well however they were cooked a little too long in my opinion. My girlfriend got the calamari salad. It was very light and refreshing. The calamari seemed fresh but a little chewy and therefore gave the jaws a good workout. We also shared the Brie and pesto flatbread. That was yummy. I would have liked a little more Brie and I didn't taste any pesto. But the Rosemary on it was sooooo good. We ended with the peach and blueberry tart w/cream. OMG! SO AMAZING!!!! they made it from scratch when we ordered it. it took a teenst longer! but it was soooooo worth it. GET IT. GET IT NOW!
(4)Courtney L.
This is a great place to grab drinks and food. I went with a few friends and we ended up with way too much food. The plates aren't entrée sized but they are good sized appetizers, and much larger than I expected. Love their flatbread! I have been back a few times and haven't been disappointed. If you're in the neighborhood check it out.
(4)Green Devil W.
I discovered Black Bottle on a weekend trip about four years ago and became a devout follower. At the time nothing was more than $8 on the menu. So recently when I only had 24 hours in Seattle it was easy to choose my one dinner destination. In fact, I had the cab take me straight to the restaurant from the airport (I could always check in at midnight) I was not disappointed. The menu prices have crept up slightly topping out at $12. But the portions are still huge and the food is spectacular. I started with the fried Spanish olives and romesco sauce. Let's just say that I am a sucker for romesco and this is a divine bar snack. Second course was onto the Marsala chicken drums--three huge pieces of moist chicken on the bone atop a fragrant chickpea and tomato stew. I finished with the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread. This is so rich and decadent that the Book of Mormon's probably forbids it. Seattle is fortunate to have such an amazing neighborhood gastro-pub with tremendously flavorful food. Bravo!
(5)Marie B.
We just had a special event at the back room of Black Bottle and were treated magnificently! Paul, helped us organize the event, pick dates and everything in between and made sure everything was perfect!!!
(5)James C.
Came here for a party and had a great time. It's a cool space but VERY crowded. High energy. We tried several appetizers along with our drinks. I think my favorites were the shrimp and pork. I'd recommend reservations or you'll get jostled all night. Not the most in depth review I've ever written but you get the gist, right? Crowded, food, drinks, A-OK.
(3)Stephy S.
Clams. Clams in broth. Clams in broth made of sex and sin. Yes, oh dear Foodie Gods, yes! After hearing about the yumminess that was Black Bottle from the Hostess with the Mostess that's been letting me inhabit her couch to write my future New York Times Bestseller of a novel for the last week and half, she finally secured an early night off and with dueling cute outfits galore, we traveled up to Belltown to see what this bottle of lovely had to offer. As we walked in, I instantly liked the place. It's simple, chic, stylish and inviting and with the large windows that offer a peek out to the setting Seattle sun around Sunday at sunset, it really was the perfect locale to begin our night. We perused the menu and I instantly spotted the hanger steak with daikon radish mash and an assortment of perfectly marinated thinly sliced cucumbers and herbs that exploded in my mouth. I say my mouth, because my dining companion of choice is a veggietarian and sadly she missed out on the amazing. After consulting bartender extraordinaire, Patrick, for some wine and oh so yummy culinary recommends, we ordered the mind-blowing clams in a heavenly broth and the brie and leek flat bread with pesto. Both were truly a palatal treat to put it mildly. While the highlights of the evening were the handpicked wines and amazing food, they were only slightly shadowed by the amazing marital couple fight that we witnessed while sitting at the bar. Female party stormed out, male party slammed fist and the combo of the two was enough to make you wanna believe in... well, nothing. But I do believe. I believe that Black Bottle was for certain, one of the true highlights of my Seattle visit and I will most certainly revisit this peach of a venue again on my next escapade.
(4)Kat F.
I went here with a friend for dinner and drinks when we were feeling swanky. We had a reservation for 8:30 on a weekend night and got a table instantly. The broccoli is as good as everyone says it is, and the eggplant rolatini is tasty too. They have a nice wine list with varying prices and the servers seem pretty knowledgeable about the food and drink. My one complaint was that everyone working was too eager to take away our plates! I repeatedly had to ask various people to "please put that back down - I'm still eating it!"
(4)d d.
Blasted barf. I went on the many raves about the blasted broccoli....really they either did something really different or seattleites have really eclectic tastebuds because this dish is gross...I love broccoli so was excited to find a place whose reputation was somewhat built on this dish. What we ate tasted like 2-3 heads of broccoli were soaked for hours in vinegar and salt with some extra salty soy sauce then left to sit on a salt-lick, then grilled until slightly burnt. The taste was sour vinegar with salt. The chicken larb gai was mushy and wet and tough to eat since lettuce wraps were romaine rather than iceberg which folds nicely into rolls. Tacos were tasty but not very hot.
(2)Jason T.
It's easy to forget about this place when you're in the middle of a rant dismissing Belltown restaurants as overpriced alcohol delivery joints with mediocre food and bad service. But I came here for an early dinner the Sunday after Thanksgiving, weary from three consecutive days of meals served with copious amounts of wine, homemade eggnog, and cocktails, and was delighted to rediscover a perfectly respectable dinner place in Belltown, where most items we ordered were winners, including the leek and camembert flatbread and roasted vegetables with verjuice. Even on a night when all four of us were practicing teetotalers. Prices without drinks were quite reasonable. We ordered a bit more food than we needed and ended up with a roughly $22/person bill. A couple of drinks would have probably brought that up to a more conventionally post-dotcom-bubble-Belltown $32-42. Service: friendly, occasionally distracted, but thoughtful and efficient. Warned us that we had plenty of food, and gentle about the obligatory drink upsell. Atmosphere: Casual yet slightly refined, what most of the rest of new Belltown more awkwardly aspires to.
(4)Prabhjot S.
This place is too good to resist . One of the finest wine selections u can get in belltown The food is just delicious too . I have been here only once but damn right i am already planning to revisit soon I have heard from people that service is spotty but my experience was not that bad with service . I think we tried Bridlewood Estate Central Coast Syrah and its really good wine considering i usually like cabernet
(4)Alana F.
I dined alone being on a business trip so I wasn't able to share a bunch of stuff which really bummed me out given the other reviews. Seven spice shrimp - yum. Be prepared for some of the shrimp being "whole" which they don't mention on the menu. Not a big deal just for me, couldn't eat them. Green beans and tofu rocks. Great cocktail before dinner and decent wine list. Mousse torte with brittle was amazing. I ate at the bar and the service was attentive without being overbearing and it was busy. Great experience.
(4)Vivian N.
There are two main reasons why I love returning to Black Bottle: the bacon scallops and the arugula / fresh mozz flatbread. While other parts of their menu, such as the lamb and steak, are rather subpar, the aforementioned plates are tasty things! The scallops are especially special as they're panfried to perfection -- just burnt enough on the outside to be crispy, but soft and tender on the inside. The ambiance is also to be noted. It's a cozy place for a date or a dinner with a small group of friends (I once witnessed four separate bachelorette parties thrown here in one night!). The seductive lighting and the rotating indie / hip-hop soundtrack are right up my alley... and I'm digging their brick walls and chandeliers. My only qualm is their service. Sometimes it's decent, other times it's lacking. During my last visit, our waitress seemed less than enthused to be around us because heaven forbid we'd want to place an order for food! She never smiled and seemed to resent everything we asked about the menu - maybe she was having an off day? When we got our bill, our receipt told us that our "server was [named] 'Sweet Sweet Gillian.'" Hm. Not quite. Perhaps, if anything, our Black Bottle server should consider a name change?
(5)Mr. M.
Had a great trip to Seattle. We had a great time at the Black Bottle. Washington state red wine on tap! Cool! Very good and great value. We sat at the bar and had bar a series of appetizers to get a full flavor of the place.,,, must have the beats!
(4)Sharona T.
I'm sorry, but I didn't feel this place lived up to all the hype surrounding it. While the atmosphere was very nice, the service was only average. The dishes which seemed so lauded on here and by friends were not by any means as legendary as I expected. While the shrimp were tasty and well plated, I was left feeling like there should have been more to it. And the brocolli? Um, yea, it's just a veg. Not impressed, especially since there's better gastropub in town...
(2)Angelina L.
Third time is the charm??? I think NOT!!! I'm normally a patient person and understand there are other tables and patrons to attend to. Seriously though... I wonder if I'll ever go back, only because the service and attitude has not improved. 2 out of 3 times I've been there, I have been put off by either the waitress or bartender. We were sitting at the bar this time and I had to stare at the bartender for what felt like 3 minutes while he was chatting with a couple other patrons at the end of the bar... I finally spoke up to get his attention for salt and pepper. Then he gave me this attitude of it was such a hassle for him to get it for me. Never did he once ask how things were. IT WAS NOT THAT BUSY WHEN WE WERE THERE AND HE DEFINITELY HAD TIME TO TALK TO THE OTHER TWO PATRONS FOR 5 OR MORE MINUTES!!! We were there around 5:30pm... I know it's a popular place later in the evening, but seriously... how long is that going to last with poor service and attitude... The food isn't THAT great... In fact, the one time I did have good service was later in the evening when it was packed... HMMM
(3)Rachel S.
I did like the atmosphere when I was here for dinner with my boyfriend. I would recommend making a reservation ahead of time for a weekend night. If we hadn't done so, we probably would not have been seated right away as it was very crowded when we arrived. We asked before ordering how big the plates were. We were told it was plenty of food for two people to share - not so. We ended up ordering a few more dishes after our intial order because we were still hungry. We aren't huge eaters, but we definitely expected the plates to have more food. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that the food could be upgraded. Some of the dishes were pretty good, others I would've preferred to not spend my $10 on.
(3)Mindy C.
I really wanted to like Black Bottle . . . I live about two blocks away and it would be really convenient to be able to stroll on down there and throw back a pinot every now and then (not that I'm at all sure it's advisable to throw back wine). Basically, I'm not cool enough to be there. You walk in and there's no obvious place for you to take a breath and survey the room, so you're IMMEDIATELY propelled forward even though you have no clue where you're going (do I seat myself . . . ?) Just as I was about to snag a table I get body-checked by a 95-pound pixie who tells me to wait for her to seat me. Oops. Embarrassing. Luckily the people I'm with have seen much more extreme Mindy dorkiness. Food - good. Drinks - good. Service - meh. Loud - I'm a listener so I like to hear myself listen. I might try it again if I am feeling particularly cool or hip one night!
(2)Adam C.
Really unfortunate location for the urinal. But that aside, the food was amazing and the eye candy entertaining. We hit the Prosciutto flatbread, the lamb & hummus, the shrimp, some other amazing flatbread, the MF'ing cumin pork loin, the cauliflower, and more, I am sure. The only thing we didn't finish was the cauliflower which, although very tasty, was a much larger plate than the others and we were running out of room. It's a bit dry, but the curry was good. We also got the banana flambe thing and the chocolate cake thing. Both were good. Every single dish was good in its own way. The music ranged from Peter Bjorn & John to Kruder & Dorfmesiter. Very fitting. Only downside, other than the urinal, was the waiter who rarely attended to us. Overall, I'd return. They do take reservations, but only for like 3 tables per hour.
(5)Jason W.
I really enjoy the wine selection and excellent variety of small plates. The Blasted Broccoli and the ribs are must haves. The atmosphere is pretty loud as this is a favorite hang out of trendy Belltown socialites. The service is usually good. They keep a drink in your hand and the kitchen does a nice job of keeping up even during the rush. The negative about Black Bottle is the space is soooo cramped. As soon as you walk in the door you're instantly in the path of people exiting, waiting at the bar or waiters serving tables. I always feel like I'm in someone's way. Even when we got seated last night the table was right in the middle of walking path so we had people kicking our chairs when they walked by, other guests leaning on the back of our chair to talk with their friends at their table and people standing around us, chatting, before they left the restaurant. This place would be much more enjoyable if there was more room but other than that I'm a big fan.
(4)Steve L.
An out-of-towners' review, recommended by our hotel concierge and proximate to later-in-the-evening dining in the Belltown area. All we wanted was a cocktail/wine pre-dinner opp. We got just that. We did not linger for tapas or other food offerings (no comment/no recommendation, thusly.) A busy place on a Thursday evening in April. Likely - busy often. The interior decor is striking (and likely a major investment by the owners.) Novel. Inspiring. Provoking. Wine prices (by the glass); moderate; a nice list to select from. Staff was attentive; we were seated and offered menus almost immediately. Recommended for a pre-dinner stop-over? Yes. Recommended for dining (no clew from this yelper). See for yourself. Attire: simple/Seattle/chic.
(3)Ryan P.
Love the atmosphere.. Laid back and cozy... Excellent selection of wines... Will be coming back soon!
(4)Eloy T.
The service and drinks here are excellent. Stopped in for a Sunday evening dinner on a recent business trip and enjoyed a healthy sample of the menu. Maybe it was an off night, but I offer a humble suggestion: less equals more in the salt department.
(3)Julian G.
Every time i'm here theres some overdressed woman who looks like she's going to vomit. I love this place
(4)Karin O.
This place rules! When I'm visiting Seattle and need late-night food, this is my place. Their veggie dishes are so fresh and flavorful- I definitely recommend the portabello with butter beans and the curried potato and cauliflower dish. My boyfriend is a huge broccoli fan and swears by the blasted broccoli- which is a huge serving. Also, this place uses local and sustainable ingredients and only cage-free eggs, which earns them 5 stars from me!
(5)Greg G.
I guess one more review is mildly superfluous at this point, but sure, why not. A bunch of friends who live down the street took us here. You order little plates for food, not unlike tapas. Wine selection was pretty nice. I had a rather good glass of sauvignon blanc; someone else got the sangria, which was rather chick-ish. I got the fried olives, which were excellent. Little salty olive bites stuffed with mozzarella and then fried? I can dig that. I also got the wild boar ribs, which were good, but almost overly smoky. Could just be my personal taste, though. Other plates on the table were the laab gai which had a nice flavor to it; the roasted vegetables which were well seasoned and tasty; and the tofu and green beans, which I think I want to learn to make on my own. Alas, I wish we had gotten the broccoli. Maybe next time I'm in town. Five people, just around $75. Good deal. Oh, but everyone, bring your IDs.
(5)Thigh C.
First of all, the waiters here have an ATTITUDE. It's such a BIG turn off. It's our 1st time here and ofcourse, we are not sure if you have to wait to be seated or find your own seats. Nobody gave us a holler for at least a minute so we just went inside and claimed an empty table. I saw these waiters trying to be "cool" and pretending they didn't see us? SERVICE is REALLY BAD. Enough said. Bleh. On the positive side, the food that's served is really good. Good portions (maybe tiny for others). I think the idea here is tapa style. Small portions that is meant to be shared. I really like the interior. Dark and cozy. Dark wood floor and thick wooden slab table. Nice lamps. I'm not really a dessert person but somebody in my group ordered one and it's really fantastic. One of the best so far.
(3)Paul F.
Came in with a group of about 15 people and got to sample a lot of the menu. Overall, the food was pretty good. Desserts were about average. The biggest disappointment was the service. If you want an honest view of the service in a restaurant, come in with a party size that means an automatic gratuity. The staff was mostly rude and it was pretty clear our waiter really didn't want to be serving us.
(3)Nichole H.
I went to Black Bottle last night with my girlfriends for a little happy hour before heading to a movie at the Big Picture. We had all heard so many great things about this place but had never been. We arrived at 4:30 and all 3 of us found parking with ease..which is great for Belltown! The waitress was really nice and on top of it. The drinks were good/normal but the food was amazing. We shared 2 of the flatbreads...chicken & basil. Perfect serving size for 3 girls and after 2 drinks each plus the food our bills were less than $20 bucks each. I'll be back for sure!
(4)Lisa C.
Synopsis: great food, great wine, sucky service and musically-challenged. Mitchell suggested we head here last Friday night and we met up with our friend Scottie who was visiting. I liked the look and location, like many a wine bar I've been to it was all about clean lines and a modern look. The tables were low with comfortable chairs. It was a nice day to be outside but all the tables were taken so Mitchell and I decided to sit at a table inside at the front so we could see the sliver of water. This is when the service started to break down. One woman sat us and gave us 3 menus ( we were waiting for Scottie), then another woman came by to try to take the 3rd menu, then we were left alone, for an eternity, while everyone who worked there seemed to be fighting over the music. A part of a song would play and then would be cut off abruptly and a new song would start. Eventually I went to the bar to order drinks and an app while we were waiting. Delivered by 2 different waitresses who again tried to take our 3rd party's stuff. Finally he arrived and we waited for a long time again for him to be able to order a drink. Eventually we all got drinks and food. I had the viognier which was so good. It tasted of pears with a lightly sweet yet crisp taste. Mitchell had a rose cava and Scottie tried the malbec. We started with the flatbread with tomato, balsamic vinegar and argula. Extremely good and satisfying on a warm summer evening. We shared a round of a half dozen oysters on the half shell that came with a yummy shallot, herb vinegarette. Mitchell and I shared the lamb kebab and hummus plate. The lamb was done perfectly with really good flavor and the hummus was dotted with pine nuts and olive oil. The pita bread was toasted and I was a happy happy girl. Scottie ordered the yellow fin, which was very spicy, and I thought it was good, but I would only order it to share with a group. The tab was about $100 (6-7 glasses of wine with 4 plates), which was reasonable, but it took us over 10 minutes to flag down a waitress to give us the check. Meanwhile a line had formed going out the door for people who wanted to be seated. This place could be awesome if the waitresses could get their shit together. They were terrible, I don't know if this was some new kind of communal waitressing or if they were trying to channel some San Francisco snooty restaurant where you pay to be treated badly... but it put a damper on our dinner. The music also needs to be worked out, it was way too loud where we were sitting, the music choices were clearly being debated and the songs that were allowed to play all the way through were ok. I'll try this place again, but if the service continues to suck I'll go enjoy my dinner at one of the million other wine bars in Belltown.
(3)David S.
Amazing! The place is always packed and my boyfriend and I have been meaning to go and finally decided to go. It was so worth it! The portions are surprisingly large for a "tasting menu" and we were full by the time we left. We had the fried chicken/collard greens, scallops, brie flatbread, pork belly. All amazing, but the frizzled kale that came with the scallops was the highlight of the meal! We finished it with the ricotta lemon cheescake (fantastic!) and the cream puffs which were good as well. The food was great and left you wanting more and we are already planning on coming back next week to get all of the other items on the menu we didn't get to try...definetely check it out!
(4)Caliope S.
My friend chose this place, as I never would have thought to come here; it blends in with the hundreds of other places that line Belltown's streets. Thank goodness she did, because this place is awesome and a new fave of mine! Though these dishes are absolutely big enough to share, my friend and I didn't share because she's a vegetarian and I make a point of eating non-soy protein (read: meat) at every meal. I ordered the chicken laab gai and the smoked chicken and dried cherry flatbread. Both were out-of-this-world outstanding! I ended up eating way too much because it was so good, when I really should have brought half of each dish home. Each was priced at $9 which I thought was exactly what they were worth given how much food there was. I also had a couple of draft beers which were pretty good- they were $5 each. Service was good; they checked on us often, yet didn't pester us or linger trying to upsell, and they cleared our dishes without interrupting the flow of the conversation my friend and I were carrying on. I took one star away because it was really dark in there, which means I can't bring my parents when they visit because they won't be able to read the menu or see my face across the table. The bathroom is also incredibly small which was uncomfortable when five women tried to squeeze in there with me. Lastly, even though we had a reservation (recommended), our table wasn't ready when we arrived a few minutes after the time we scheduled for. It took another ten minutes or so for them to kick out the patrons from our table, which I thought was rude-- for the patrons they kicked out. I would hate to be them after having spent so much money at a place. Seems they could have just left a table empty for us, but I don't know how they operate, so I'll leave that up to them. All I'll say is if I get kicked out the next time I go back after dropping over $40 on a meal, I will rant about it on Yelp! LOL. This place is definitely a place to check out if you're in Belltown. You won't be sorry.
(4)Lee A.
Blasted Broccoli, seriously? I mean it's totally awesome and an inspiration but do you have to call it that? and do you have to put so much of it on a plate? I just ate a piece from the box after going home from a date at your restaurant and it was just as delicious as when I was at the table but it was totally too big for my mouth. Why do you make stuff that's too big for your customer's mouths despite it's deliciousness? Hippies. Oh yeah and your music sucks, really. New Jack Swing is only cool if it's Tony! Toni! Toné!. And that "rings of Saturn" sculpture thing is so elementary school science class.
(4)J S.
Hit this joint on a Sunday evening. The front section was a little loud but we managed to score the back dining room and had it all to ourselves. Fun menu made for sharing. Fried chicken and the oxtail were my favs. Kylee was our server and she made great recommendations for both cocktails and food!
(5)Jen B.
I really liked this place even though it was really loud and packed. The service was professional and friendly and the food was tasty. Oh and the wine was fantastic. My friend asked for suggestions and we tasted some great wines. Of course, I drank too much & can't remember what those names were....but maybe next time I will!
(4)Arianne M.
Delicious flavors and generous plates! We ordered 4 plates to share (for 2 people - one of them a very hungry man) and ended up with a full takeout container of leftovers. On our menu: artichoke salad (delish!!), local sausages with homemade mustard, proscuitto & bechamel flatbread and masala chicken thighs. The sausages were a little gamey but good for a meat lover, the flatbread hearty and gooey and the chicken (accompanied by a beautiful indian sauce & chickpeas) divine. One thing I could not get over: the music. It was like a soundtrack to spring break 2004. When we walked in Usher's "Yeah" was blasting through the otherwise subdued atmosphere. The service was friendly but I get what other reviewers are saying too. Our waiter took a while to make his first appearance and when he did arrive he thanked us for our patience. Ok, fine. But then he pulled an identical routine at the table next to ours, thanking them for their patience. A lot of patient diners in the room. But still, he was nice and we were relaxed and our food came quickly so I really felt satisfied. I want to return for the broccoli!
(4)Kristin C.
While visiting Seattle on business, I tried Black Bottle with a friend (a new transplant to Seattle who had it recommended to her) and one of her colleagues. We arrived early on a Monday (MLK Day) evening so the place wasn't too busy. It's dim, but warm and inviting. I hadn't known until we arrived that it was a small plate type of joint. At first, the disappointed me a bit since I was really quite hungry, but my initial impression quickly changed. They have a nice selection of wines by the glass with some very reasonably priced. And there are a number of choices from Washington and other west coast wineries. Complimentary (and quite tasty) flat bread came out with the wine. Someone below commented negatively about the price/portion size ratio (and I think mentioned that an item for $14 didn't even fit two for sharing; I have no clue where that came from as I didn't see any items that high and everything we got was easily shared, in combination with other plates). Of the items we ordered (and I am sure I am forgetting some): - crispy fried chicken and collard greens - Juicy, well-cooked chicken and very solid collards - house smoked wild boar ribs - This was perhaps my favorite, with the meat just falling off the bone. - ceviche and scratch tortillas - It's a good and solid (if not the most remarkable) ceviche. However, it was very fresh and light. - grilled octopus fava and pesto greens - This was my least favorite. There was not much octopus and it wasn't that flavorful. - broccoli blasted - Hands down, amazing and the best broccoli I think I've ever had. And the portion is HUGE. - Sicilian eggplant and fresh mozzarella flatbread - Gooey and yummy with great balance of flavors - prosciutto and potato wheels - This was a favorite of one of my friends. They were indeed tasty, if a bit starchy for my taste (or perhaps I'd just eaten too much of everything else). I may have missed one item in my recollection, but it was definitely yummy. I didn't even notice until now that there are dessert options. I'm a bit sad about that since considering how much I loved some of the other items, dessert could have been mighty tasty too (but there was no way I had room). And if I looked back at the menu, I know that there are other things that I wish I could have tried. Service was lovely. It was prompt and efficient, but not overly intrusive. And I was surprised at how quickly some of those items came out. And or server was honest and accurate in letting us know about the correctness of the amount of food we ordered when we asked her. After two glasses of wine each and all of that shared food, we were quite full (I think my friend even took some of the remaining broccoli home). Perhaps it is my New Yorker sense of inflated pricing. But our total bill came to $113.30 (inclusive of tax). That's six glasses of wine and seven plates. And we were, as I mentioned, FULL. Per person, my total was $37.76 (before tip). I find that quite reasonable for the quality and amount we were given (and with the wine). No, it's not an every day thing. But that's very reasonable and the bill will definitely not kill you. Like I said, there are other things on the menu that I'd like to try as I recall. I will definitely be back...as soon as I get back to Seattle. In the meantime, I will simply lament the lack of comparably priced small plate places of such quality in NYC (though, I'm sure one might be around here somewhere. Perhaps Black Bottle will spark a search until I can return).
(4)Aimee R.
I love this place. It is one of my favorite places to meet up for an informal sip n snack or even to grab a few before heading out for a big night. I love the atmosphere and the food options are my favorite. For those with food sensitivities or special diets, they even have a menu that specifies their gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan or vegetarian options. It seems a strange thing to do, but I'm going to rave a little about their broccoli. Yes, broccoli. The blasted broccoli is awesome. Even if you're not a cruciferous fan, it's worth a try. Well seasoned and not over-cooked, it is unexpectedly awesome bar food. I'm also a pretty big fan of the curried cauliflower and potatoes. It is really nice to snack on real food while sipping drinks in a bar setting with friends. The service has always been decent enough, nothing to complain about, but nothing to rave about either. It can be sub-par at times, never something that would keep me from returning. You may want to make reservations as it can get quite crowded and the wait can get long. By "quite crowded," I really mean super crowded. It can be difficult at times to weave your way through the restaurant just to get to your table or the bathroom. They've truly utilized every inch of space to accommodate (i.e. jam in) as many people as humanly possible. It can feel a pretty tight when it gets busy, but it is a bar and that's what they're like. Overall, I'm a pretty big Black Bottle fan. Drinks are good, wine is great, food is inventive and delicious and the atmosphere is fun and enjoyable.
(4)Ryan P.
I loved this place. We had the ox-tail, the broccoli, the pork belly, and the artichokes. All were fantastic (especially the ox-tail). Portion sizes were good, being larger than tapas, but without the sides of a typical entree. The negatives are the service is a bit slow and they're not very well organized as far as seating. Bottom Line: Great food, good portions, good prices.
(5)Sandra K.
Came here after a rough flight from LA but boy did this place cheer me up. Yes, it's really loud and very busy/crowded but it's also a bar so what do you expect? My friend and I ordered a bunch of things off the menu like the root veggies, flatbread, fried chicken, some seafood and I don't remember much else but I do recall everything was really just delicious and hit the spot. I suppose the service started out great but ended up a bit disappointing because it was a busy Friday night but we were in the back room so I couldn't help but feel kind of neglected. Overall, highly recommended.
(3)H T.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite spots in Seattle. Sure parking can be a challenge and sometimes there's a wait but for their great wine selection and their oh so yummy blasted broccoli, I think it's worth it. Their blasted broccoli can bring a smile to even the vegetable haters out there - it's so deliciously good and the plate is huge so you can eat your heart out! Crispy, warm, and lightly seasoned, just how I like my veggies. They also have tons of other tapas style small bites (flatbreads are yummy), vegetarian options, and desserts, but to be honest, I'm just enamored by the broccoli! Bottom line, whether it's a group dinner or a special date, Black Bottle is a fun little wine bar that is sure to leave you with a smile.
(4)Shelly C.
I had been giving it a good 5 times of tries, still nothing really impressed me or made me to go back.
(2)Lesley G.
I really, really enjoyed this place on my visit to Seattle. It was suggested by friends and I am so glad I followed their advice. Atmosphere: Went fairly late on a Saturday night and this place was hopping. It was a trendy crowd in a trendy space, but still totally chill and laid back. And while there was a lot of people and chatter and all that, it wasn't so loud you couldn't hear whoever you were with. Service: Was pretty good. Our waiter was super nice and helpful and very much not rushing us to turn over the table, even though there were people waiting, which I really appreciated it. If anything, he went slightly too far on the not rushing us and we would have liked to see him come by slightly more frequently. Wine: I don't know what bottle we got in the end, but I do know that it was good and very reasonable pricing. Food: Started with the arugala, tomato, basil pesto flatbread. It was delightful. Really interesting flavors and the right amount of everything. Nothing was overpowered, every bite was tasty. Then we got the wild boar ribs and the broccoli blasted because, when in Rome. The wild boar was disappointing, definitely the lowlight of the meal. They were fine, but nothing special and just not really that flavorful or great. The broccoli was tasty and interesting and def worth trying, but not something I would need to order again if I went back. We had two people and those three things were more than enough food for us. Price: Totally unbelievably reasonable. For a full meal for each of us and a bottle of wine which we happily finished it was only 60something dollars. For food this interesting and this quality and a bottle of good wine, you'd pay a whole lot more than that any where else I've been (though I guess I don't really know what pricing is generally like in Seattle). Overall: Would def suggest this place to others and would go back if I ever find myself in Seattle again.
(4)William H.
Every time I walk by this place it's always busy. If you're looking for a place to go any night of the week and have a few folks around to mingle with this is your spot. The wait is never very long and they were prompt to greet us and checked on us until our table was ready. Portions are smaller and for sharing. It's best to come with a few people and share a few different dishes. Definitely have to try the flat bread, the ribs are a must have. I'd recommend this place if you're in the neighborhood and don't mind waiting for a table.
(4)Cindy C.
I've only been here once, but it was a great time! Not to mention we closed this place out that night. :) This was our night cap after an amazing dinner at Mistral (now closed I hear, still very sad about that!) with a group of 16 (yay for company expense, back in the good economy days!). Joanne P. and I and a few other people decided that the night was still young and joined the chef and his head waiter at Black Bottle to celebrate the tasty 8+ course dinner we just had with a few more glasses of wine! Wow, writing this review just brought back so many memories!!!
(4)Beth F.
This is an update to my previous review. When the management read my review about what had happened with my order, they went ahead and mailed me a gift card to try again - this is the kind of customer service you can't help but appreciate. So, I went back: New to my review - they don't have much of a happy hour anymore (they call some of their specials happy hour but the prices stay the same all night). The rest of my review holds true: "The food here is delicious! This is the kind of place where you go and share. I ordered four dishes to share with two other people: cumin pork tenderloin and frisée ($9), broccoli blasted ($8), seared spiced sashimi yellowfin tuna ($12), and chilled beet gratin ($8). "The pork tenderloin was cooked perfectly. It was just moist enough, just pink enough, full of flavor. The tuna was also perfect - I really enjoyed the mix of spices they used - yum! "One of the cool things is that they bring the plates out as they're ready, not at the same time. This means everything is fresh and doesn't make you feel like they're trying to push you out the door. "Great ambiance - cool fixtures, just-right lighting, and so on. Prices are reasonable." Again, props to the management for caring for their customers after they've left.
(4)Lisa M J.
This place was not on our Seattle radar, but we drove by it numerous times en route to other dining adventures and it always appeared busy. Based on this, Yelp, and what seemed like a nice atmosphere we gave it a try. Meh, I regret this. Food was just okay. Many items on the menu looked great, but concept far exceeded execution. Went on a Sunday so maybe the chef was off and the kitchen was in Sunday mode, but the food was lackluster. Furthermore, although we ate lightly the food just sat heavily in our bellys - such that when we went to dinner spot #2 we didn't have much gusto to eat more. I wishe I had not used up one of my Seattle meals here. Anyway, I did enjoy the atmosphere and the bar / wine options seem excellent. The special cocktail recommended by our waitress was delicious. Service was a bit disjointed, but I think just because servers were a bit over extended when we sat down even though the place was not overly busy (it looked like a bunch of other tables sat right before us). Bottom line - if in Seattle this place seems good for drinks and a snack, but there are better options for dinner.
(3)Patrick L.
Expect a very long wait here, so it's best to have reservations.The food is pretty good, and I really have no complaints with anything we ate here. I was rather disappointed that they always seem to be out of certain items, so after a couple visits, there are still items I was unable to try.. It's a good atmosphere in here, trendy and young, although a bit noisy if you're really trying to have a serious conversation. Overall it's a decent restaurant with a good location on the outskirts of Belltown, so you actually have some chance of finding street parking nearby and avoiding the crowds in the heart of Belltown on Thurs-Sat nights.
(3)Christina S.
Great place. Blasted broccoli was incredible. Wild boar rib and Bacon Scallops were delish. For a starter we had procuitto on the flatbead. It was all really good.
(5)Edward C.
Pros: -Tasty food -Secret menu with vegan options! (and options for all sorts of dietary restrictions) -Shareable food Cons: -A bit pricey for what the food actually is. I mean, how much does a plate of broccoli really cost? It'd be much cheaper to make at home.
(4)Erika A.
I've been here twice. First time at night and sat inside, the second time during the day and sat outside. Both times I had a good time. I haven't gotten food here, only wine! At night it has a nice atmosphere inside with the lights low, a good place for date night or to go out with friends. During the day - it's nice to sit outside and people watch. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Jessica B.
I went here with a friend of mine on a Friday night. My friend has frequented this place, but it was my first time. She told me as we walked in that it was a place for "pretty people" and she wasn't kidding! We didn't fit in exactly as mid-thirty moms. We were seated right away in the very front table by the door and window. Our server was prompt and friendly. We ordered several items but of them only the curried cauliflower stood out for me. The "broccoli blasted" was burnt and not to my taste but my friend enjoyed it. The wine selection was excellent as was the glass I had. The prices seemed reasonable especially for a hip Belltown place. I might come here again on a date, but it's not top of my list of places to revisit.
(3)Alessandra C.
The Black Bottle atmosphere is clearly alluring. People flock to it -- the ambiance can be felt from a mile away... and so one is tempted to visit it. However, after visiting it, I can confidently state that there is no real reason for me to return. As far as my meal was concerned, I ordered a pizzaesque flatbread with eggplant that was delicious, and quite frankly quite a deal for the price. The octopus salad was flavorful as well -- though heavy on the greens and very light on the octopus -- and the server was very helpful and had a great tempranillo wine recommendation. Overall, a good gastronomical experience. I had made a reservation to the establishment a week prior. Before our party of 5 had finished its drinks or all of its flatbread, we were asked by another server whether we minded moving to the bar. Our table was adjacent to another empty table and a "really large group" was on its way in within the next 15 minutes. OK, that's fine, I understand, I won't be rude about moving... but that the same server inspected us consistently every minute or so, urging us to leave, was unnecessary. It's one of those "probably won't happen again if I went there again" experiences, but with so many great gastropubs to choose from, I need not risk another unpleasantly rushed evening at this enoteca again.
(2)tim m.
after all these years (it's been about 6 that I have known you blackbottle) I still love your atmosphere, decor, wine, food and music. for whatever reason, you have a spectacular place in my heart, so thanks decor is cool and dark but not morose crowd are young but interesting food brilliant comfort without the bullshit of a restaurant wines are solid the blasted broccoli is magic, scallops awesome, leek flatbread tops many restaurants to love in seatle, but this is one of my faves only negative. the menu says prosciutto but you practically had bacon on there. stop that please!
(4)Hayley V.
Black Bottle is an ideal spot for lady dates, bday bashes, and pre-funk sessions before making your way downtown. It's swanky enough for a sexy outing with your sweetie and hip enough to use as ammunition to coerce your newly singled/ grieving friends back into the wild again because everyone here is ultra handsome. I really love that they bring me my martini remnants in a side shaker. True the martini glass is small but I used to tend bar and I figure the average ounceage on one of these pours equates to about 1.5 martinis for the price of one. Booze appreciators rejoice! Pretty much everything on the menu here is delectable. I love the hanger steak, seven spice shrimp, and green beans but the prices are even sweeter. I'm a fan of your Gastro-tavern Black Bottle.
(4)Crystal L.
Lucky for me this is one of the closest bars to my work because it is damn good. Black Bottle is perfect for after work drinks or a dinner with friends and drinks. It's also better since the gross, dilapidated convenient store next to it closed. The wine list is well selected, and the food is amazing. As others have mentioned- You must try the seared broccoli- it doesn't sound appetizing, but even my most carnivorous friends have finished the plate. The flatbreads and fried tofu are also some of my favorites. I'm glad they finally added happy hour- although limited to drinks, it is something, right? Service has always been fantastic. I've also had lots of parties in the back room for work related events. Paul, the event coordinator and bartender is great to work with.
(5)Beatrice T.
Everything was delicious and even with a large party, dishes came out fast. The broccoli side order is huge and charred with savory juices. It was amazing. I've never eaten so much broccoli in one sitting. I also had the prosciutto flatbread which was decadent without being too heavy or greasy. Their bechamel is lovely. The bacon wrapped scallops were cooked in a light sweet broth-like sauce over a bed of kale, and it was just perfection. Reasonable prices and great dark tavern atmosphere. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in town.
(4)Etta H.
Yum! We came in early - right when they opened at 4pm on a lazy Sunday afternoon. We were one of only a couple parties there... so everything felt very casual. Our server was attentive - the drinks were great and the food (which we ordered A LOT of) was all very good (save for one item). We ordered 2 different flatbreads (prosciutto and arugula - both great, though a bit too salty), the caprese (YUM!!!), the broccoli (fantastic!), and the lamb and hummus. The hummus and tzaziki were both very good - but the lamb itself was very disappointing. It was so tough I couldn't chew it, nor could my friend. As a big lamb-eater - I was pretty bummed out about this part of it - but truthfully, everything else was so great I couldn't even justify taking a star off for it. I'll definitely be returning! And I might even give that lamb another shot. The atmosphere and decor are great. Definitely quiet enough for conversation - but not awkwardly so. My friend, who had been there at night for dinner, says it's a great date spot as the lighting and ambiance is kind of romantic... I could definitely see that - and am looking forward to having a date night here at some point.
(4)Henry L.
For a wine bar, they don't really have a particularly large selection. For a tapas bar, their portions are ridiculously large. For a bar, they don't seem to have a large selection of liquors. But some how, all these things can still make it a good place to grab a bite to eat and to get your drink on. I walked in on a Thursday night at 7:00. It was about 30 minutes before we got to a spot where we can order some food: laab gai, blasted broccoli, and grilled mixed vegetables. The laab gai was quite good. It's basically a light curry chicken on lettuce leaves. It can be messy, so watch out. The broccoli is as good as everybody else says it is. I think I ate most of the plate. The mixed veggies were just so-so. Not bad, but not terribly exciting either. I think this meal ended up being the healthiest meal I ate all weekend when I was visiting. For my boozing, I had a glass of champagne and a couple of glasses of mojito. While not the best mojito in town, it wasn't a slouch either. Overall, not bad. I'd come back if somebody proposes this place. But I'd probably try harder to get a reservation. This place can get packed!
(4)L H.
The staff and restaurant itself highly exceed my expectations and I can't rave about them enough. I held a 30th birthday party for my boyfriend recently and was able to reserve the private room in the back (complete with a bartender and food service) for the full evening. The requirements to reserve the room were completely affordable to me and i love that they were also willing to keep separate tabs so I didn't have to foot it all. Paul was extremely helpful throughout the planning process - from the moment I initially inquirred months before to the day before the actual party. The helpful staff lent a hand to carry in the cake right when they saw my friend and i walking towards the restaurant w/our hands full of balloons and decorations. All the great service was topped off with the delicious food they served. I think our group individually ordered something different on the menu and everyone LOVED EVERYTHING -- i personally couldn't get over the pork belly and fried chicken. I will make it a point to go back for more. Now there is a downside, which I can't really put blame on them, is that I wish Black bottle was not located in Belltown - with all the recent crime happening around there lately, i was really afraid something would happen to someone - and unfortunately, two of my friends had their cars broken into :( Just beware where you park and maybe spend the extra money to park in a paid lot for extra caution. If you ever want to have a private party, I so recommend going with Black Bottle. I've never experienced any other place that has been able to operate in such a sophisticated and humble way.
(5)Lily S.
Ok Ok. So originally I didn't so much dig on this place...but then I ate here. And then I liked it. Flatbread is my new best friend. It's still a bit of a scene for me, but gimme a plate of flatbread and I could give a shit. For reals.
(4)Hannah C.
My absolute favorite wine bar in town. It doesn't hurt that it's right across from where I live. They've got a great menu that caters perfectly to their list of wine. Their wine selection is never dull, and I always end up taking forever to pick what I should order because their food is nothing short of perfection. My favorites are pork belly and blasted broccoli.
(5)Anon M.
Very very solid choice for dinner. The majority of the dishes were quite large for the price (it's not tapas, as was indicated by our hard-working, quick-witted, and stunningly beautiful lead server Lindsey) and our large group received excellent service all night, even when we ordered a birthday cake very last minute. The dishes were on the whole very tasty--the kimchi pork was really excellent as was the bacon-wrapped shrimp on kale. I was a tad disappointed in the flatbreads. The ingredients were all there but on execution both the look and taste of the flatbreads wasn't that special, particularly relative to the other dishes. I would recommend a truly flat and rounder crust with more cheese and sauce. That being said, that was a minor flaw in overall a great place. I felt more "Seattle hip" just from the ambiance--even if I was wearing non-prescription glasses ;) This is a great choice for a date night, friends, or even a large group like we had. I will certainly be back.
(4)Mitch N.
What can be said for a place with over 450 reviews, and already 4 stars? Great dishes, that are made to share! The fired broccoli comes to mind, the pork belly and kim chee, and steak. All wonderful. I do think it's a bit dark, and a bit on the noisy side that a little noise treatments could help with. But it's rather large and they staff are extremely accommodating.
(4)Aimee T.
We came here for my birthday dinner during Seattle's Restaurant Week. We each ordered a 3-course meal, and a glass of red wine. I had the Gruyere Emmentaler Beet Gratin with Mâche/Rocket, which was excellent (but had a LOT more beets than you can handle in an appetizer), the Bacon Lemon Scallops with Frizzled Kale (perfectly cooked scallops with a light hint of lemon, mm!), and the Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake with Lavender Crust which was divine..I could eat that every day. My boyfriend had the Wilted Baby Kale and Spinach Salad with Pancetta (scrumptious), the Malbec Demi-glazed Oxtail (our first try at oxtail...absolutely fall-off-the-bone moist and flavorful, couldn't get enough), and the Cacao Nib Mouse Torte and Chili Pistachio Brittle (perfect for chocolate lovers who like a light kick to their desserts). We also received plates of Broccoli Blasted (complementary to all Restaurant Week attendees) which tasted like a combo of baked kale chips and seasoned broccoli, fabulous. The only negative thing I have to say about the Black Bottle was the manner on which all the food came out. First came 2 plates with two sets of knives and forks in prep for the appetizers. Then only my appetizer arrived, then my boyfriend's 3 minutes later. Each plate of appetizers came with a fork and spoon (for salads?). Then halfway through appetizers came our entrees, each with another fork and spoon!, which crowded the table immensely. We had finished both the appetizers and entrees, and waited 10 minutes before receiving our broccoli (with a set of spoons...), which was a moot side dish AFTER the meal, so we boxed it to take home. We also didn't get water refills until halfway through dessert. Great little spot, great ambience, and fabulous food. Could use better service and attention to detail.
(4)Nina H.
All my friends raved about this place so I finally decided to schedule a ladies' night here. I was very satisfied but I thought the experience could have been a little better... which is why I didn't give 5 stars. The food was absolutely delicious!!! I don't even know how to describe the type of food it was but it was definitely some kind of European, American, and Asian fusion. I especially enjoyed the kimchee pork dish (I forgot the real name) and the atmosphere. The service felt mediocre but I definitely loved the atmosphere, it felt formal but casual at the same time. Does that make sense? My lady friend and I sat at the bar and we actually didn't wait too long on a Friday night which was nice because we had five people and only had to wait like 20 minutes. The location was a little further down than most of the restaurants on 1st Avenue but that was kind of nice too.
(4)Appy R.
Love the food and decently priced drinks.Nothing particularly healthy on the menu, so don't come here looking for that. I've been here 4 or 5 times and the ambiance has been very different - it can go from comfortable to extremely loud. Today we had the following - Oxtail (awesome) - Fried Chicken and Collards - Chicken (stir fry with lettuce) - Pesto/arugula Flatbread - Ribs - seared tuna...that was disappointing.
(4)Katie B.
Famished after a day of traveling and lack of solid food left my mom, sister, and I wandering the streets of Seattle dying for a diamond in the rough. Low and behold the trusty Yelp App led us to Black Bottle. It was dimly lit, romantic, and had a drool-worthy menu. Minus the romantic feel, it was exactly what we needed! It's as is if it was stripped from a New York or LA moment and plopped right in front of us. I didn't get a good look at the surrounding neighborhood, but it did seem a little misplaced. Back to the food. I don't know what came over me, but I insisted on throwing out menu items that should never share table real estate. Pork belly and kimchi, broccoli, ceviche, and sausage. It was delicious while I was devouring it but I did get a little sick after the fact, not because of the quality of the food but the sheer cornucopia did not settle nicely, so don't make my mistake. The broccoli was definitely the superstar of the evening (besides the ambiance), but know ahead of time that they pile that plate high, so it's enough to share with at least 6 people. Topped the whole experience off with a couple of glasses of wine for a mighty fine first night in Seattle. I also spied a private room in the back. Sexy.
(4)Alison V.
So I've never actually eaten in the restaurant part of this place. I have, however, been to several private events in their backroom area. I get excited every time I see an event hosted here. I just love the event space. The bartender who has been working every event I've attended in the past year and a half is nothing but friendly and knowledgeable. He impressed me at the last event I was at in personally delivering my food. The group ordered several of the flat breads (unbeknown to me) and I ordered a separate one. He made sure to bring it over to me and let me know it was the type I ordered and didn't set it with the other 5 getting brought out at the same time. The menu is good for their space as there is limited seating. However, if you do have some food brought out they don't mind if you rearrange the tables and such. They are also incredibly polite when kicking you out. Usually there is an "early" and a "later" slot for booking the room. I seem to go to events in the early slot and they're always tactful when asking people to leave and never rude about it. If you're looking for a nice place to host a soiree I'd definitely suggest considering Black Bottle!
(4)Chelsea H.
Black Bottle was awesome! My girlfriend and I sat at the bar and started with a couple glasses of wine. We shared the Fried Chicken with Collard Greens. Perfect little app to share! I had never tried collard greens and was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness, and partnered with the fried chicken- it was amazing! We then shared a flatbread, with brie, leeks, pesto, balsamic drizzle, and piled high with fresh arugula. DELICIOUS and wonderful little place!
(5)Amit P.
Black bottle is a nice and comfy place to hangout in Belltown. More so I like to hang out here because I live around the corner from it. I would rate it at a 3.5. The current menu is good, however previous menus were much better. I like the flat breads particularly the eggplant and mozz one. Chicken drumsticks and grilled lamb are good as well. Most of the seafood selections are off the ordinary. Drinks and desserts are the best part of the experience with the brownie and ice cream taking the cake!
(3)Richard U.
I recently came to Black Bottle for a get together with several of my collegues from work. They feature a small plate format menu. Like most 'tapas' style restaurants, the prices can be all over the place. This place is no different as prices range from $5-$13. 3 small dishes at over 30 bucks is what I was hit with but I think I got some of the more expensive items on the menu. . It was all pretty tasty though so I was not disappointed. stuff I tried: pork belly w/ kimchi skewers ($11): oh dear! where has this been all my life! two of my fondest foods on one skewer! bacon lemon scallops($13): can't really go wrong with bacon and scallops. fried chicken with collard greens ($5): Classic soul food taste combination that really hit the spot! Also one of the more affordable items on menu The reserved back room area that we had was small and intimate. The bartender working was very nice and also served to take the food orders. I will definitley be back to try more of the menu!
(4)Kristen A.
Came here a few years ago for happy hour with some coworkers and we had the blasted broccoli. I remember thinking it was the best broccoli I had ever had, which is a strange thought in itself. Then I saw they were participating in Seattle Restaurant Week and their three course menu came with a complimentary serving of the blasted broccoli and I couldn't say no! They are unorthodox with the way they serve the food. My friend got his drink a good 15 minutes before they brought mine. Then his first dish came 10 minutes earlier than mine. So they don't bring everything out together, like most restaurants do. But I will give it to them, it does state on the menu that once the food is ready it's brought to you and they suggest ordering what ever sounds good and just sharing it as it comes. So the best dishes we ordered were this delicious cheese crusted beet thing, bacon wrapped scallops, and a chocolate mousse that I would go to jail for. HOLY CRAP it was amazing. The best dessert I have EVER had! $100 including tax and tip for the both of us, was a heafty price to pay for a casual dinner, but the food was delicious. They would have gotten 5 stars, but I can't get over the food not coming all together, my drink taking so long to arrive, and the cost of the meal. Oh and it was REALLY REALLY dark. Like I needed a flashlight to read the menu. That takes a star away for sure. But I will totally come back. For the broccoli, scallops, and mousse.
(4)Kevin C.
We went here after the Usher concert in Seattle. The atmosphere is amazing! The dining area is really open and expansive, it doesn't feel like you are trapped in a room. We ordered a couple flat breads, and the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flat bread blew me away. If you get one flat bread, get that.
(4)Michael E.
This is the place you've been looking for. You should have a staple "any night of the week place," and friends, Black Bottle should probably be yours if you live in Belltown. Empower the staff to pick the wine and throw a proverbial dart at the menu and eat what you hit. It'll be great. And now that you've sampled a glass of that wine, you might as well order the bottle, it's just going to make sense at that point. Eat any of the deserts and the flat bread. And as you near the end of the bottle you've been consuming make a friend, good people are found here.
(5)Yiling W.
Excellent spot for sitting on the sidewalk tables people-watching and sipping wine, with tasty food options and a hip but classy vibe. My friend and I split the delicious: glazed green beans with fried tofu cubes, bacon-wrapped scallops atop kale, and steak with daikon. Service was good -but not pushy or unctuous, and I suspect they covered (well) for a delay in the latent steak order well, so we were still able to get to a movie showtime (without having to tell them). Obviously, the wine selection is quite good, and per Seattle Magazine, this is one of the few places around town that have started stocking keg wine -cheaper but still delicious (and oh so trendy). I vouch for the draft chardonnay, and my sweet-toothed friend seemed to enjoy the moscato. Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes. 10/9/11: Went back again recently on a Thursday night, and I'm taking away 1 star. I went with a few friends, and the waiter was not very attentive mid-way through. We had a very hard time trying to catch some one, to the point where we decided nevermind, we would not order more, and just wanted the check (which then took a while). The place was full, but every time the waiter walked near our table, he seemed to veer away, or be blind to our existence. This was pretty frustrating, despite the delicious food and drink.
(3)Heather H.
Black Bottle is a symphony of perfection in Seattle wine and food. There is one thing one absolutely must try its: the blasted broccoli!! I have never had broccoli as savory and crispy before - not only that but the serving is a huge plateful that I could easily eaten all to myself. Unfortunately there were other people at the table - sharing wasn't the option that night. The wine list is lengthy, but fear not because the waitstaff is excellent for suggestions and very prompt in serving the food. I really enjoyed the ambiance and crowd - there is always a consistent energy flowing (probably due to the wine). There are also smaller table in the back for a more date-like setting that are perfect. Sweet wines, savory foods, classy crowd, its all top notch!
(5)David M.
The Ox Tail has us coming back several times, the rest of the menu is a bonus.
(5)Tan Lo S.
I like this place. Seems more upscale. I came for HH and ordered the doppleganger, which has: " pear vodka passion fruit rum oj cran." It was something new for me, and I sorta liked it. I like the service though and the food looked good. I'll probably be back. My boss had a rising sun-rita which looked pretty cool & it was something new to me too. I enjoyed both though. Good quality service and drinks. I want to come back for the food :)
(4)christine c.
YUM Black Bottle!! Only a few blocks from our place, this is one of our 'go to' restaurants when we want a no-fuss evening that's reasonably priced and consistently good. We also send friends from out of town there - and everyone has always loved it! Highly recommened.
(4)Jonathan B.
I've been to Black Bottle a number of times over the last couple years and finally getting around to Yelping it. This is a great place with some amazing little dishes. This is one place that is on my "list" of places to bring friends when they come visit Seattle for the first time. It quaint, unique, can be romantic and the food is good... what's not to like. Their signature dish is the Broccoli Blasted... everybody at first is like, "why did you just order a big ol' side of broccoli?" and then they taste it and see why. I think it is covered with olive oil, salt and pepper and a little garlic and then it's baked or something such that the "tree end" parts of the broccoli are slightly burned/singed (but no burnt taste whatsoever). (Tip: put an order of this in as soon as you can, even before drinks as it takes a little longer to cook.) So I went last night, and introduced some out of town colleagues to the broccoli but also another fav of mine, the smoked chicken and dried cherry flatbread, which also has sweet caramelized onions on it. Another winner. I also tried a couple new things... the chicken laab gai which was like their version of lettuce wraps... a little spicy but definitely worth trying, I'd get it again. Lastly, we had the house smoked wild boar ribs... these were very interesting... VERY smoky flavor, like the smell of your clothes after hanging around a campfire all night... sounds weird, but I actually really liked it. The smokiness did kind of mask any flavor the meat would have had... but the meat literally was falling off the bone... I'd get this again as well. I had a couple glasses of the house wine, which is fine, I am not a wine snob. Service is good, nothing out of the ordinary, but good; friendly and efficient.
(5)Jackie T.
The menu piqued my interest, so I had to check this place out. I was not disappointed! Service was really good - never an empty glass, our table was happy. We came here with a small group and ordered a bunch of small plates. My favorites were the crispy fried chicken and collard greens, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread and dessert - peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream. The wine (a pinot noir) was absolutely delicious and a great pairing with many of the plates. We only sampled a a tiny slice of the menu, so I'll definitely be back.
(4)Becky G.
Wow....so glad we decided to try this place. Came on a Friday night with a group of four....TIP- Make a reservation!! This place is packed, and we did not have a reservation, so we ended up waiting over an hour for a table. (Ducked into C.S. Finnegan's next door for some excellent wine and beer while waiting!) Anyway, the wait was well worth it, because the food and ambiance were great. It is really dark, so be prepared to squint. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with suggestions. Between the four of us we ordered seven dishes...shared family style. Great progression of food throughout the night, as we finished one dish another was brought out. The Excellent: * Madeira saute and grilled halloumi cheese * Bacon lemon scallops with frizzled kale * Malbec demi glazed oxtail * Clemency (cocktail...so good) The Good: * Grilled octopus and fava beans cilantro pesto salad * Brie leek French country pesto flatbread * Seven spice shrimp The Okay: * Braised artichoke heart and greens
(4)David X.
In the time since my last review, they've improved service considerably. Wait times now feel manageable to me and they seem to have put in place a system to make sure people aren't waiting in the cramped entryway interminably. Great food and cheap prices means that this is gets 4-stars in my book. My original update follows below. ** Subsequent visits to this restaurant have only reinforced my original review and rating. The service here is atrocious. The waiters/servers all seem like they have better things to do than provide even a modicum of consideration to its willing customers. One time I arrived to find literally 8 other people standing at the front of the restaurant, waiting near the "Please Wait to Be Seated" sign with no host/ess in sight and seemingly no employees concerned with this accruing mass of humanity. It's sad that the crappy service mars what is otherwise decent food at a good value.
(4)Sarah A.
My husband and I went to Black Bottle once years ago for my company Christmas party, and we remembered that the food was delicious, so we decided to head there with some friends for dinner after the Husky game. We ordered four dishes between us and although they weren't quite as amazing as we remembered, we still enjoyed the food and especially the company. Here's what we got... Steamed clams in white wine broth - Unfortunately this dish was too spicy as well as bland at the same time... hard to explain. Smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread - A great choice... we loved this one! Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso - This is the dish my husband and I were drooling over the last time we came here... it was still amazing! Broccoli blasted - Previously one of my favorite dishes, this time it seemed a little overdone and had a burnt flavor we didn't love. But the best part was when the waitress brought all four of us very strong complimentary shots to celebrate my friend's birthday! That absolutely made up for any imperfections in the food... We would definitely go back!
(3)Joe O.
Having a brother in law as a winemaker is really no help to the wine bars of Seattle. Having a wife 8 months pregnant doesn't help very much either. I have no issues with wine bars per-se but seeing that most bottles have been opened for at least 24 hours doesn't lend well to my ever improving palate. Now that's not to say I can't get a decent glass of wine from a number of restaurants in the city, I have just been forewarned that it's typically never worth it. But I digress, the food here is wonderful, the wine list is decent, service good and the fact that this place is literally half-a-block from my office certainly doesn't hurt. I guess the only reason for the three stars is because for a wine bar, the list isn't all the impressive. No Bordeaux's? What about a nice, reasonably priced Châteauneuf-du-Pape? I don't know the owners philosophy nor do I think the list is entirely awful but to call yourself a wine bar without some staples makes me wonder. Please note that this review could easily change when I come back here after the baby is born and my wife can go back to her wine guzzling self AND I see the list that has changed. But until then, this review stands.
(3)Akio S.
Was in town for business and stumbled upon this place. The menu looked awesome so we gave it a shot. The place was pretty busy later at night which is usually a good sign. Anyways, to cut to the chase... the food wasn't bad. The Ox Tail was quite good. Oh and they charged $2 for a couple little pieces of bread... but the reason this place gets 2 stars instead of a 3 or maybe even a 4 is because the waiter was an asshole. He had a totally condescending attitude and was being a total prick. I went outside to smoke and some other customer was ranting about the same guy and how he will never be back! He had a stupid little beanie on and was wearing a plaid flannel shirt. What a bitch..... If you can put up with the bad service from that ass then give the food a shot...
(2)Kimmy C.
I came with a group of people yesterday. Sadly I came on a full stomach and wish that I didn't. I was able to sample other people's food. Flat bread was amazing! I at least saved my stomach for dessert. I was debating between the the lemon ricotta cheesecake and the kettle tart. My friend Alice told me to get the tart because she doesn't like lemon desserts. I had the peach and blueberry kettle tart. It came with a bottle of fresh cream. The dessert was delicious! I didn't care much for the fresh cream that came with it. Not that I needed the extra calories anyways. Later I discovered that everyone was getting the kettle tart. It had this buttery crust that complemented the fruit. I probably think I just had more than 500 calories from this dessert. T_T I felt so bad after eating the dessert that I went to 24 hour fitness to work out in the morning. Tip 1: Don't skip out on the kettle tart! Its a must! Tip 2: Any flat bread!
(4)Julie G.
I considered lowering my rating because of recent experience here. I think I'll leave it at a four for now... We ordered a big variety of dishes, every person picked one, and then we threw in a few more. I really liked the scallops, the seared tuna, and the lamb. The artichoke, however, was terrible. We didn't see cheese mentioned on the menu, but it was stuffed full of pungent cheese. Since I don't eat cheese, but love artichokes, I thought I could scape the cheese out and still enjoy it. Cheese was pungent enough to leave flavor behind, and the artichoke itself wasn't seasoned or flavored in any other way. Very disappointing. I continue to appreciate that there is a little something for everyone, although I would love for there to be full cheese-content disclosure.
(4)Mark D.
Black Bottle is a nice place. They've got a pretty good selection of wine, I had several of the appetizers, they're decent, not great, not bad. I like the decor and the location - still close to everything in Belltown, but a little off the path from the crowded bar scene. Service was pretty snappy. My biggest complaint was the noise. For a nice, classy, fairly small wine bar, the music was blaring. Which caused the patrons to have to talk louder to hear themselves over it, which in turn made it even louder. If I want loud, I'll go a few blocks to Amber. Not really what I'm looking for in a place like this.
(3)Laura W.
Last night my fiance and I ate at the Black Bottle before a concert at the Crocodile. I think it's a great pre-concert dinner choice, as it's close to the venue, nice but still casual, and you can get as little or as much food as you'd like. Plus, on a Wednesday night at 6:30pm we had no problem getting a table. I was actually considering coming to this place for my fiance's birthday a couple of weeks ago but decided not to, as I saw some mixed reviews on yelp with respect to both the service and the food. In my experience the service was outstanding- in addition to our own waiter there were several other people keeping an eye on the needs of our table. Everyone was very friendly and on top of making sure that we had everything we needed without being overbearing. I thought they did a great job. I also thought the food was good. We obviously had to order the blasted broccoli, as that seems to be the dish this place is known for. I thought it was incredibly good- I don't think I've ever eaten so much broccoli in one sitting. Both flavor and texture knock it out of the park. We also ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops and one of the flatbreads, which didn't blow my mind but I thought were solidly good. Finally, we ordered the calamari, which was a little too spicy for me. When I asked the waiter to bring a sauce to cut the spice he suggested sweet and sour. I thought that sounded a little weird but it was actually super good. Even if you don't need something to cut the spicy, I'd recommend asking for the sauce if you order the calamari. My fiance likes really spicy food and still thought it enhanced the flavor. Score another point for the wait staff for the suggestion. These four dishes were more than enough food for the two of us, even though we were hungry after working out. I liked the dark, pubby atmosphere as well, especially on a rainy night. Overall, I think the food is a good value for your money and this place seemed to me to be a safe casual go-to before any big night out in Belltown.
(4)Jean Y.
Still keeping the same rating, but adding more information. When I wrote my original review, I'd been here for dinner several times. Since then, I've been back a few more times for dinner as well as private events and happy hour. The dinner menu is still strong, especially the flatbreads. What I thought was the weakest dish, the blasted broccoli, has improved. The portion size has decreased, which is good for this dish since when I'd had it in the past, there was always too much broccoli even for six people. The flavor seems to have improved as well, with the broccoli being less charred. (I used to describe it to friends as broccoli thrown into the oven with some sea salt and not enough olive oil and allowed to burn.) For private events, I recommend the back room. I've been here for both a private happy hour and an engagement party in the back room, and having the secluded area for a large group was good. I believe there is a food and beverage minimum to reserve the space, but check with the restaurant. Happy hour here isn't great. Well drinks and house wines are $4-5, but there are no food specials or discounts for drinks on the regular menu. The kitchen doesn't fully operate until 5pm, so if you come here at 4pm when Black Bottle opens, you may wait an hour for food. Still a great go-to place, especially if you live in the area.
(4)Alyssa A.
I went here last week for Ladies Night, just to get away from the college scene. Black Bottle did not disappoint! But my wallet definitely took a hit... The taco flight for happy hour was acceptable. I don't think it was anything to get too excited about, and the carne asada one was so spicy! I had to take a break because it was seriously heated. I was disappointed with the size of the crispy fried chicken and collard greens - only two 'sticks' of chicken! A friend of mine ordered the house-smoked wild boar ribs, which was excellent. The meat just fell right off the bone! I'm a whiskey girl, and I've had whiskey sours at nearly every bar I've been to. The drink here was...okay. Not the best I've had. On a scale of 1 to "changed my life", I'd give it a solid 5. Just kind of ehh. For the happy hour price though, not too shabby. Overall, I would recommend this place if you're looking for a cozy and casual place to just chill with your friends. The ambiance is chill/mellow, and the staff are cheerful and helpful.
(3)Henry Y.
I'm not sure why I forgot to yelp the Black Bottle, cos it was one of our very favorites on our seattle trip. (I think i wanted to write up something that did them justice, then just plain forgot. Here's my chance to redeem myself.) When we stumbled across this place a couple months ago, I think this place had three or maybe three and a half stars. People seemed to review it for the spotty service. We thought it was just a bar from the peek through the window). But we noticed the menu posted in the window, the place looked warm and inviting, and we were famished so we decided to give it a shot. We came in for a late dinner. First of all, our server was beyond fantastic and was not only attentive but not intrusive throughout our meal, but gave us sincere and well thought out suggestions for the food. The hangar steak was perfect. My gal had the sea scallops wrapped in bacon. The place was pleasantly buzzing, and we had just the most enjoyable time. I notice now their review has gone up to a four star average, so kudos to them! They probably listened and responded to the poor service complaints. We for one had the best service of all the places we tried in seattle, so count us big fans. We gotta give'em the big 5!
(5)A.J. S.
Another place slipped by and I could have sworn I wrote a review here! Let's make it easy for the readers and bulletpoint a list of things I agree with the hundreds of people that have waxed poetic about the place before: 1. The blasted broccoli. It's the first thing I think of at this wine bar. Yes. It's that good. You get a buttload off it, and no, it doesn't make good leftovers, fyi. 2. Ohh yeah the wine is great too. Here's a chance to find something unique. 3. Small plates of greatness, flatbreads. All worth trying. 4. It's loud and crowded, servers are busy. This is not their fault. Deal with it. A definite must in the Cracktown area to try.
(4)Brooke K.
We had a really good dinner here with friends. Easy to share and taste lots of great plates. My husband ordered 3 of their fried chicken. They worked hard to seat us as walk-in's and the drinks were all really good.
(4)Mo M.
First off, I favor the bartenders to the wait staff on the last couple visits. If you bring a large party, be prepared to chase your service friends down. You must try the ox tail, the port selection, the martinis and the wild boar. The flavors rarely fail here - only once did I get something insanely bitter with endive that had a not-so-fresh moment, but it was replaced after a brief hunt for a missing server. Maybe it's the faucets, or the fact it's always clean (rare in Belltown establishments)...but it's impressive when I don't choose to hold it for fear of water closet nightmares. So yeah, I love the bathroom here. Black bottle is reliable, a great stand by when friends stop in from out of town on any given night of the week.
(4)Dave L.
Great food, drinks, and atmosphere! The wild boar ribs were the best I've ever had! We also tried the caprese salad and the collard greens, they were all great. Highly recommended!
(5)Curt R.
Had a late dinner here, on a Monday night. One of the few couples in the joint. Good mix of hip-hop over the house system. The service was attentive and didn't act like they wanted us out so they could go home even though it was pretty late. Wine on tap! That's fun. We got the oysters, wild boar short ribs (which tasted a lot like 'lil smokies oddly enough), seared yellowfin, and the grilled portobello on a bean salad. Everything was delicious and well sized. Tapas style small plates, but nothing too tiny.
(4)Joyce T.
5 stars just for the broccoli!! This is the broccoli of my dreams! Fried chicken was divine, flatbread was excellent (though not as flat as typical flatbread), ribs were too smokey, cauliflower was over-seasoned. The vegetable portions are ginormous - similar to dish sizes at traditional Chinese family style restaurants. Feels industrial, but warm. Friendly staff. Would love to return.
(4)Mark M.
Starting coming here since we moved to Belltown. Its about a block a way from our place. This is a great place for happy hour. They have reasonable drink prices, and their happy hour tacos are cheap and taste very good. A perfect snack for an afternoon. Their beer menu is small, they only have a few on tap. However, they have a good enough selection, that you'll find something you like. I've tried some of the brews I wasn't familiar with, and they all tasted great. For happy hour, you should be able to show up and find a table. Service was prompt, and we never had to wait much.
(4)Kait R.
Came here for a private party. The food was very good and Paul the bartender created amazing cocktails, including a very minty mojito. Things to order: Wild Boar Ribs Hanger Steak Clams Broccoli Pork Belly Pesto Flat Bread Prosciutto Flat Bread
(4)Sonya L.
I'd been meaning to get to Black Bottle for a long time, but somehow had never managed to eat here despite all the great reviews I'd heard. I finally went here for dinner with my friend last night and we had a GREAT time! I really dug the ambiance of the place. The dark lighting, the dark wood and brick interior, the style of the lighting - it was all very nice. The food was EXCELLENT. We split the Seven Spice Shrimp, the Green Beans & Tofu, and the arugula/tomato/basil/pesto flatbread. The shrimp were very good and had just the right amount of spice. I will note I was a little thrown off by the fried shrimp heads that were also on the plate, but they tasted just fine. I was a big fan of the green beans and tofu, though I wish the accompanying sauce had been drizzled more over the beans (and not just under the beans) because it was delicious. The flatbread was likely the best part of the meal - an excellent combination of flavors and I almost wanted to eat the entire thing myself! I also had the house pinot grigio ($4 at happy hour) and it was quite good. Our waitress was attentive but not intrusive. Our water glasses were constantly being refilled. The food came out very promptly. We were able to have a nice, long, two-hour dinner without being rushed along or pressured in any way. It was a very nice experience. I'd definitely like to go here again and I would, without a doubt, recommend Black Bottle to others!
(5)Courtney T.
I had an excellent experience at the Black Bottle last night. I made a reservation for 6pm for 4 people and we ended up being a bit late because of traffic. No matter, one of the people from our party was able to secure the table and they went ahead and sat him even though we all were not there yet, which I thought was nice. The ambiance of this place was really cool, yet casual. It is dimly lit with exposed brick walls. Classy without being overwraught. I ordered a wine "on tap," which was a really interesting drink. It was a Pinot Grigio that was tapped like beer and had a little fizz to it. My sister in law ordered one as well and we both agreed that it was very refreshing and crispy. In general, they had a good drink menu and I think anyone could find something for them. The menu is setup so that it is easy to share a few dishes. We started off with the clams in white wine sauce. My sister in law told me she thought they were the best clams that she has ever ordered in a restaurant, and my brother in law said he thought they were good but just ever so slightly overcooked. My husband and I both agreed they were delicious. The second thing to come out was the spicy shrimp, which was amazing. The shrimp tails were meaty and prepared with a little kick, and then the heads were fried up and super tasty. We also ended up getting the oxtail ribs, which were VERY good because they had a great smoked flavor and just fell off the bone. We also got two of their flatbreads, the smoked chicken cherry and the mozzarella argula, and we really enjoyed those as well. I wish we could have stayed for dessert. The service was very fast and we will be back again. Great evening, great food. great place.
(5)ramiro t.
I love this place.. One of my favorites in Seattle. I been here so many times and i am always happy to come back.. Great small dishes and solid drinks. Can recommend everything here. My favorites are the Hanger Steak, Spicy shrimp, Ceviche, Octopus salad, fried olives and many others. Can't recommend this place enough.
(5)Megan G.
Simply put, this place is a must! The menu is inspired, and the cocktails change up every season, so there is always something new to try (and they'll still make your old favorites). Every single item on the menu is devine, crafted with care daily from fresh and local ingredients. You will not go wrong by coming here, the service, the lighting, the simple yet tasteful decor. People of all ages, and of all kinds eat here. This is a great date spot. You can wear jeans, or be fancy. This place is amazing, and shame on you if you don't try it. You're the one missing out. My favorites on the menu include wild boar ribs, hummus and sumac, chicken and cherry flatbread, blasted broccoli, and bacon lemon scallops. Also quite popular is the oxtail. Please eat here, it shall not disappoint.
(5)Lisa M.
I have been here at least a dozen times over the years but don't come here that often because it's in the heart of Belltown and I'm a Cap Hill gal, but when I do I'm always treated to good food, service & a good selection of wine to accompany it. Black Bottle is better with friends who like to share or even a small group because then you can try more of their small plates. If you come with a group I would try to make reservations. But I was here on a Saturday at 5pm and had no problems getting seated right away. Try the mussels marseille. I always order one of the flatbreads as well because it's great for sopping up the delicious broth from the mussels. The mussels come with some bread, but it goes quickly. Today we had the flatbread with brie and leaks, so delicious! Another good one on the menu is the crispy fried chicken and collard greens. You get two skewered fried chicken pieces with really delicious collard greens. Just enough to wet your appetite. I think the last time I went with friends we ordered extra rounds of this one. I recommend checking it out for happy hour or in the earlier hours before it gets really busy.
(4)Ritika V.
Alrite - by far black bottle is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. no wonder i decided to get a place a block away or maybe it was just destiny. ;) Their menu is so diverse that i want to almost eat everything on the menu. Their masala chicken drumsticks and my boyfriend's (and my) all time favorite - soft slow roasted chicken in lovely warm spices! Their mustard sausages - succulent! Their smoked pork - best smoked flavor in the area! The laab gai has an amazing spicy kick.. juicy meat in crisp lettuce. Get's my mouth watering every time i think about it. for the price - this place has an amazing menu. Contemporary and eclectic! And - it just always hits the spot!
(5)Demonica M.
Great place to share a bunch of plates with friends. I was most impressed with the lemon ricotta cheesecake with lavender crust. TO DIE FOR! I love lemon desserts but don't like them too tart or sour. The cheesecake had just a hint of lemon and lavender was just enough to make this dessert taste very "fresh" and light. The steak is tasty and the veggies are not doused in salty sauces. I'd love to go back a few more times and see if I can revise this review and give it 5 stars. We were seated next to a very loud customer who was literally yelling to friends during dinner - and the acoustics are conducive to bouncing that sound straight to us. Maybe next time it'll be a bit more quiet.
(4)Christian M.
Really need to be able to separate the difference between the food, atmosphere and service here. The latter is the only thing holding this review down. One of the more comfortable restaurants in town that has a good vibe but still allows you to have conversations with your group. However the service in my visits here is always off. I've never been in food service but i would think when a table has no drinks and no food on it, with my tips based largely on what diners consume, that i might want to stop and see what they want. Definitely room for better service but the reason to come back despite the dice roll on service is the food. When you have the attention of your server they are phenomenal so it may be an issue of simply being understaffed. The kitchen at this place has it together even if the people you see out front don't. Blasted broccoli is amazing my only issue is that you can't get a half order. I like broccoli but you need four people to even attempt to eat this dish with anything else. Every flat bread i've had here has been good but the real reason to order them is to soak up sauces from other dishes. The star of the menu to me is the malbec demi-glazed oxtail. So tender you only need your fork. The savory reduction of a sauce i would lick of the plate if it wasn't for the roomful of diners around the restaurant. All in all solid but better service would easily take this place to four star. If you've never been here, happy hour is a great idea as they have smaller portions of a number of items on the full menu. Wine menu is tremendous as well.
(3)Lindsey T.
I have a love/hate relationship with Black Bottle - I love the food, I hate the service. Time and time again I have received horrible service here and yet I continue to return because the food is quite good at the price point. If your able to sit at the bar I highly recommend it as the service you'll get will be much better then at a table. Favorite dish: blasted broccoli (don't let the fact that it's a vegetable deter you) Favorite drink: Ketle martini w/ a twist
(3)Jeff F.
why five stars??? fresh sardines namban, great atmosphere, mussels marseille-style, small shared plates that aren't too small, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries and great drinks. This is the kind of place you can go and have a drink, couple apps and springboard to dinner somewhere else or you can come in keep ordering throughout the night because the food and atmosphere is that good; and be two bottles deep before you know it
(5)Amanda P.
This place is great. My bf had eaten here before with friends and told us it was great. We went with a group of 6, each person ordering about 2 dishes. I loved that they came out one at a time or a couple at a time so everyone could share. I would say my favorite was the lamb dish and the broccoli blast. The clams were awesome and the flatbread was crazy good too. We also ordered the ox tail which I had never had before and I'll just say this; my expectations are now REALLY high for ox tail. I don't think I will be able to order it anywhere else. Prices are reasonable for what you get and the atmosphere is fun and funky. Giving this an A+!
(5)ruthy g.
I came here with a large group so we were able to try a lot of the menu options...none of them dissapointed! Everything was SO flavorful. The place was PACT so I'd suggest getting there early or making reservations!
(5)Mailani W.
Located fittingly on Vine and 1st, the space is suave, urban, and almost sultry. Open only for dinner, and curiously have quite a bit of seating, and more in the back where larger groups gather. No hostess, and by default, turns into a lounge-type self-seating policy. So you meander through the restaurant and stake claim at a table of your choice, but getting a server to notice your party is another story. I'll get back to that. Let's talk food. I was getting dreamy visions of the crunchy fried chicken n collard greens, house smoked ribs. It was disastrous. Over-breaded chicken turned soggy and collard greens with no jazz. Oh and the ribs? It was smoky alright and dry as hell. Oprah and her team would have filed a defamation lawsuit for that BS. The flat bread gave all of us sad-face for how uninspiring it was. Think oblong, thick crust pizza w/dried cherries on top. The fried tofu w/peanut sauce (wtf ugh..) Only could get away with that kinda bull in Belltown with reeally dim lighting. PERHAPS chef could use: Nuoc cham, sweet chili sauce, plum+peanut sauce combo would have complimented the marvelous, fluffy fried tofu. The ever popular Broccoli on blast. I ate this after the ribs, and they share the same exact seasoning rub on the broccoli as well. The concept is wonderful, but like many dishes the broccoli gets dumbed down. Why does it need to be so goddamn salty!?! Glass of Pinot Gris wine I had was pleasant. Bacon wrapped in scallops were a safe bet. The waitstaff, leaves much to be desired (seriously). If you're not an attractive server, at least be competent, and if that is a stretch please be charming and wear something that covers the armpit area. Thank you.
(3)Sabrina F.
Wine bar with Eurasian fusion tapas-style plates. Portions are generous. Rocky and I shared four plates between the two of us and were very full. Everything was pretty delicious. Lots of fresh spice and tasty garnishes. The grilled portabella and butter bean salad was my favorite - tossed with lots of roasted garlic and fresh dill; light but very flavorful. Dark, industrial interior was cool. Atmosphere is intimate and casual. Staff was friendly. Only dislike was the weird cyclops-ish light display on the back wall. A little tacky and trying-to-hard, but really, I'm just being a snob. Overall, this was a really nice spot for dinner and drinks.
(4)Blake D.
Last night, a few friends and I were in need of a nice, loungish venue to grab a drink in the Belltown area. We arrived around 11:30 PM and had no trouble getting a table in the 3/4 full dinning area. We tried a bit of everything (Gin Martini, Scotch on the Rocks, Rioja, and Espresso) and it all turned out great! Now all I need to do is try the food!
(4)Justin P.
Broccoli. Might not be the marketing juggernaut the people at Black Bottle expected, but DAMN the $8 broccoli dish they have is amazing! Overall I really enjoy this place. It's got a nice vibe to it- not overly trendy, rather subtlety hip with a touch of class : ) Food is pretty good. Lots of great dishes to share with your friends, good wine selection and pretty good service. The only cons are parking and trying to actually get into the restaurant past 6pm (always busy!).
(4)Catrina N.
I have to give Black Bottle 3 stars for two reasons. I do love their food and ambiance, but they have messed up TWICE when I was going there with large groups. So, a friend wanted to have her bachelorette party at Black Bottle this past summer. Some of her guests were under age. Fine, we called ahead and booked the special room, and the restaurant was responsible for getting the permit to allow the minors in. No problem, this all took place months in advance. They called THE DAY of the bachelorette party to tell us that they had neglected to get the permit. So, we had to relocate. NOT COOL. Next, we were going back for a friends birthday with a reservation for 19, and the woman over the phone assured my friend that everything was going to be fine the day before. They call back the day of and tell her that they MAY NOT be able to accommodate our party. They ended up being able to do it, but that was after a great deal of stress about trying to relocate our party of nearly 20. It ended up being a great meal. They say it is "tapas style"....but it is more like really, really large portion tapas. Tapas are supposed to be 3-4 bites, these dishes come out full. Another girl and I ordered three of them...and there was more than enough to share! The wine list was pretty good, it was inclusive of most types of wine (varietals, if you're a wino). The food highlights were: *broccoli blasted: don't kid yourselves, folks, this broccoli is delicious, but blasted in butter or oil! but delish! * potato wrapped in prosciutto. OMG. comfort food at its finest! *sashimi grade tuna served with heaping scoops of edamame. It was thinly sliced and seasoned just right. all and all, i would visit again, but not with a big group!
(3)Sarah C.
Black Bottle is pretty sexy. Dark, mysterious, candle lit ambience. Great selection of red wine- CHECK Diverse menu of small plates- CHECK Affordable- CHECK Handsome, attentive waiter- CHECK Great time catching up with girl friends- CHECK One of Sarah's favorites- CHECK Notes: Belltown parking is always tough. Comes with the territory. Also, this place is pretty busy- plan ahead. and if you want a quiet setting, may not be your place. Lots of laughter & banter. GOOD TIMES. :)
(5)Jonathan R.
To get the best experience, go during the week. Although this place is very popular it is way too damned loud and has too many greasers during the weekend. If its a calm evening, the night can be fantastic and I've had too many good times here to give it anything less than 4 stars. Pros: Great Wine, Great Food, Nice Staff Cons: Too much wine + too much food = large bill I've gotten quite a few glasses of wine and desserts on the house here, and they didn't even have to screw anything up for them to do so. Black Bottle is always a place to go to when you need a solid night out where you won't feel over-dressed or under-dressed.
(4)Marc U.
3.5 Stars Service was pretty good, our waitress gave good recommendations and I appreciate that she had an opinion - I think the best things we had were the flatbreads and the Pork Belly.
(3)Nick G.
I've seen Black Bottle packed out from the stack out pretty much every Saturday night since I was born. Jolly people laughing through the window made me wonder if I too, would ever be as merry as the select few I saw wining, dining, and refining their dates. So I figured I'd take the plunge during their happy hour. I tried their house red which was a little too fruity for my taste at $4/pop. My friend tried a cocktail and it was surprisingly strong which was a big thumbs up for $5. Unfortunately none of their food was on the happy hour menu. We tried the Seven Spice Shrimp (which paired well with my fruity house wine), the steak, and the brie flatbread. The food was actually pretty good but when it comes to a full blown meal I'd probably go elsewhere as we spent about $50 total (you can usually get a little more bang for your buck). On the upside, it's a good establishment that had some good vibes on rotation - 90's R&B and Rap. I'll probably return for wine only and another taste of the Brie Flatbread. Cheers!
(4)Amber H.
I just held my graduation party in their backroom. Paul, the event coordinator bartended himself and was delightful. He quietly placed champagne in everyone's hands just in time for a lovely toast by my sweet. The space is sparse and bright with little tables that kept most comfortable. The menu? Delectable! My sweet arranged for food to be brought in at intervals so that the munching continued all night. There were so many good things, I couldn't list them all but you MUST try the broccoli and the cheesecake! I'll be looking for more occasions to rent the space...
(5)Brandon C.
Great food incognito. The natural soy marinated hangar steak with daikon radish and shiso leaf is an amazing play on Japanese flavors. The mussels are out of this world and the broccoli and vegetable verjus dishes tempt me to go vegetarian... but no. The bartenders are good guys and they know their stuff. All in all great place. Occasionally there are inconsistencies in the food preparation, but we're talking a variance between OMFG that's awesome and holy shit that's good. Bravo black bottle, bravo.
(5)Michelle B.
Generally when I go out to a dinner I have a strict "you must share your food with me" policy. It is a reciprocal policy. It requires a certain amount of discussion to take place before ordering to ensure the perfect combination of food is ordered and that everyone at the table is happy. This does not happen at Black Bottle Bistro. I am ordering the Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce and I am not sharing with you. Not even a bite. Forget it. Order your own! The rest of the menu is tasty, but nothing that makes me forget my manners, and horde my food. They offer a comprehensive wine list, and if that's not your thing, the bartenders are more than competent. Black Bottle is simply beautiful. And I'm not just saying that, it's simple, and therefor it's beautiful. It's also a touch industrial without being cold. A great overall atmosphere that couldn't have been easy to put together - bravo to them. Pull together a group, order some small plates, and stay away from my Flat Bread or I'll cut you!
(4)Stefanie H.
This was our first time here, meeting up with some friends from out of town and planning on having a good time. We all ordered drinks, some grub and shared some laughs. Here's where it gets bad. The food comes out sporatically...I realize there were 8 of us, but there had to be a better way to plan on how the food came out. The portion sizes were small small small. Don't get me wrong the sausages we had were delish, but really you only serve 3 small sausages, an undressed side salad and thats it?! No bread or anything else? Not a meal. We ordered the broccoli which is highly recommended here on Yelp...uhh I think I'll pass the next time. It's really not all that great, ours seemed burnt and over seasoned. have I mentioned yet how expensive they are? Uhh...for 4 beers (2 of which were gross), the 3 tiny sausages and the broccoli added up to a whopping $52!!! WHAT?!! That was including gratuity since we had a bigger group, but still...not worth that amount at all. Needless to say, I will never go back there ever again. I'd prefer the $5 hotdog stands over this place anyday.
(1)Pauline L.
3.5 Great trendy ambiance - dim lights, minimal decor, and loud music. Fun, if not exactly intimate. I was looking forward to the food and drinks here, given the stellar reviews both on Yelp and in the Lonely Planet guide. I was mildly disappointed with the food we ordered - definitely good, but not great. We got the highly recommended broccoli blasted, the hanger steak, and the chicken & dried cherry flatbread. I don't think I knew what the expect regarding the broccoli, but when I saw an enormous plate of broccoli arrive, I thought "Dear God, how are we ever going to finish this?" At first bite, I felt like I was chewing on crispy broccoli soaked in salt & garlic. I could see it as sort of a salty snack to munch on, but not something I'd want to scarf down as an entree. "Salt" was the theme of the evening; not to be confused with flavor. It tasted like there was too much salt in the food - even in the hanger steak, which actually had a very nice tender texture to it. The red sauce (wine?) it came in didn't quite mask its saltiness either. I liked the sweet and tartness of the chicken and cherry flatbread, which offset our other courses. We finished the dinner with a peach and blueberry kettle tart, which comes to you exactly as it's stated: in a kettle. And it's tart. I ordered the sweet plum vodka drink, while my friend sipped a Pinot Noir, which was surprisingly quite strong. Though not the "gourmet" and eclectic dining experience I had hoped for, Black Bottle is a cool place to relax for some casual dining or bar/lounge food. Fun drinks and food that won't break the bank; you definitely get more than you can handle with that broccoli dish!
(3)Marina H.
I have been here on dates, I have been here on business dinners - equally delicious and pleasant! Black Bottle is a hip, loud and packed venue, so, unless you have reservations, skip it past 9pm on weekends. The menu of small plates is carefully selected and paired with wine - just ask your server for pairing advice! Like a true wine bar they have fried olives and roasted veggies on the menu, which makes me all nostalgic about wine bars in Bilbao.
(4)Allie W.
Went here on the recommendation of a friend who lives in the area, and was not disappointed! The hostess quickly found space in the back room for our "no reservations" party of six, and our waitress was incredibly friendly and attentive. Our group ordered 11 dishes (including two desserts), and our stand out items were: - Blasted Broccoli (seriously, quite possibly the tastiest broccoli I've ever had) - Wild Boar ribs: men folk in the group were raving - Fried chicken and collard greens - Lemon curd ricotta cheesecake with lavender crust Wouldn't order again: - Chicken flat bread with dried cherries - too much bread - Cumin pork tenderloin - dry - Lamb kepab/skewer - not much lamb, and too much hummus/olives/pita Overall, a very tasty and reasonably priced place. I read some comments about waiter attitude, but that wasn't our experience yesterday. Friendly, low-key, helpful. Recommend!
(4)Garret A.
This might not be Kosher, but I am going to put a 4 star review up here not based so much on the two times I have dined here, (during which it earned the 4 starts) but rather because I have come in here after getting completely sauced at other establishments and been a complete douche bag. 4 stars to the bar tender for serving me and not tossing my ass out when I slammed my fist on your zesting lime at the bar. Jesus, i'm still embarrassed.. :-(
(4)Kay C.
I've been here many times - for food, just drinks, or both and I've been impressed overall. The food is still good, very reasonably priced and good sizes to share. I liked the chicken drumsticks (very tender and flavorful), flank steak, chicken larb gai, etc. The flatbreads are decnet too and very big. 2 people can get 3 dishes and be very full. I like the list of wine but I am not a wine connoisseur by any means. The only con is the place is always super packed - make sure to sit at the bar, the service is much faster there if you are eating.
(5)Reese C.
I went there last night with a friend and it was so yummy! :) The prices are very reasonable and we ordered the olive flatbread with brie.....Fried tofu with peanut dipping sauce, potatoes and cauliflower curry and the ceviche (wasn't my favorite dish, too many tomatoes and the fish was barely visible).....I ordered a delicious IPA and my friend had a lovely red wine....The lighting is nice and dim and relaxing and the waitstaff is really on top of it without being overbearing......My only recommendation would be if they added some pomme frites with dipping sauces on the menu....I was craving that last night and it would have been a nice addition.....I would go back there for sure, maybe next time on a date!!!! :)
(4)J C.
I'll be returning to Black Bottle soon enough, but I wanted to let everyone know that Black Bottle has since remedied the situation I spoke of in my last review. Good for you, B.B.
(4)Teresa Z.
We've all received that text, email, or facebook message at the beginning of a busy work day from our significant other, or good friend, wanting to make plans for an impromptu get together after work. Sure it seems like a great idea at 10:30am, but come 3:30pm when your caffeine high has worn off and all you can think about is going home, jumping into your PJ's, and ordering take out, going to some crowded, noisy bar moonlighting as a restaurant is about as appealing as an industrial strength ice cream headache right after an IRS audit. That is, unless of course, your chosen meeting spot for the evening is the sinfully, delightful Gastro-Tavern, Black Bottle. From the moment you walk into Black Bottle's beautifully, simplistic space, you know right away that this isn't your usual after work watering hole. You're in a place where Armani power suits, ambitious Chanel pumps, and hard working folks can all gather together to dine on deliciously delectable food. From the savory grilled lamb and sumac humus platter, to the seared sashimi yellowfin tuna, it's clear this place has something for most everyone. Yes, they have a gorgeous full service bar that offers a wide array of enticing house specialty cocktails, but I've got to say, it's the menu that sets this Belltown gem ahead of the pack. It offers a large selection of small plates at incredibly reasonable prices. My personal favorite, the collard greens served with succulent crispy chicken, this tasty dish strikes the perfect balance between traditional, bold southern flavors and refinement. As a general rule, I usually tend to stay away from flatbread, but Black Bottle doesn't offer you "regular, bar flatbread", which in my opinion can be insulting. Their prosciutto and béchamel creation is heavenly with a warm flaky crust, smothered in creamy, cheesy béchamel decadence. Why dine on the usual happy hour faire of mini burgers and nachos, when for the same price you can enjoy glorious masala chicken drums or bacon lemon scallops. It's clear that this is definitely a four star tapas restaurant moonlighting as a bar. Black Bottle proves that if you cook it well, they will come. It respects your palate, delights the senses, and is easy on your wallet.
(4)Bryan B.
This is by far the only place in Belltown that I actually miss, if you've read my review of Amber you'll know that I'm not a fan of the places that are basically venues for sword fights. Black Bottle is ahead of the rest since you can have a great meal, chill at the bar and dive into an extensive wine selection. I'd highly recommend getting here around 7 on a Saturday evening, snagging a spot at the bar and spending the evening having good drinks in a trendy but not douche baggy (is that even a word?) atmosphere. The flat bread selection is really good and I thought the bottle of Malbec my friend and I got was excellent.
(4)S. Alicia S.
Pinot gris', lamb with hummus and mini choux pastries for dinner. Excellent presentation and portions. Great music and service. And no long lines to wait in on a Monday night. I may have to become brand loyal.
(5)Micky B.
Ok that place have great food but I saw a cockroach once so that turn me off but the staff were great and paid the meal
(4)Jonathan T.
Rarely do I go for places that are offering a 'fusion' version of a kinda traditional cuisine concept---9 times outta 10 it's overpriced dog slop paraded out on reduction and demiglace bullshit with some self-absorbed self-congratulatory pretentious crowd that seems to quite enjoy this mediocre experience. So, 'Fusion Tapas?' Upon my first visit here, I was skeptical. Now, virtually every time I'm in Sea-town, I come here. Last nite was another visit, and as usual, this place delivered. VERY CROWDED on a Tues nite, but I managed to squeeze into the last lone bar spot for some drink and grub. By 11 pm or so, the place had started to clear out a bit, which made for a more chill vibe until closing....NO, I had no intention to stay til closing, but sometime, yah know, one just gets engrossed in one of those rare once-in-a-long-while discussions. Luckily, I ordered up 2 excellent dishes to pass the time and feed the gullet-- The Bacon Lemon Scallops with Kale and the Roasted Veggies Verjus. Obviously the dishes are better shared, b/c when the food came out, I was astounded at how much you get, at $12 and $9 respectively, dang this is alot o' fuggin' food! The veggies were a varied collection of turnips, asparagus, squash, peppers, etc...a huge heaping mound of goodness that I somehow devoured, not thinking myself THAT hungry. Quick work was also made of the perfectly cooked scallops and tender bacon, given some good cover under the kale pillows. Friendly staff behind the bar made it a really great experience, and reminded me why a stop here whenever I'm in town is most excellently worthwhile! DONE.
(5)Brandon G.
I pick my wife up from work at 9 pm all week, and every time I drive by here, even on say a Monday or Tuesday night, it is packed, so we stopped in to check it out. As mentioned in other reviews, its unclear whether you seat yourself or wait. They should stick up a sign or something to clarify. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced. She offered detailed descriptions of items we were interested in and good suggestions. We had several dishes but the flatbread with the tomatoes, pesto, and arugula really stood out for me. In a way where I couldn't stop thinking about it for a week and needed to go back and get to-go orders to keep me right in the head. We got some funky lemon/cheesecakish/lavender crust desert thing that was unique and tasty. My wife became a little obsessed with this one. Good times, decent food, great service, open late, reasonable prices. We'll be back... Cheers!
(4)Katy B.
Came here on my anniversary and had some wine and shared many of the veggie dishes which where all very good and has so much flavor.
(4)Christina S.
Love this place....and miss it. I moved up to Seattle for 2 years(2006-2008 )and during my time a local introduced me to Black Bottle. I frequented this establishment due to the intoxicating atmosphere and I brought every visitor to Seattle here as 1st destination. I am recommending Black Bottle to all who visit Seattle...wine list fabulous, the cherry chicken flat bread...:) and the service was above& beyond..
(5)Danielle C.
For my first dinner in Seattle, I was very pleased with Black Bottle. Arrived around 6:30 on a Friday night and the front bar area was pretty packed. I had a drink and chatted up a nice stranger for a bit until my friends arrived. My party of 3 was seated promptly and our gluten free buddy was given a special menu (+1 for dietary diversity!) We ordered a arugula and tomato basil pesto flatbread pizza, crispy fried chicken and collard greens, chilled beet gratin, pork tenderloin, and the blasted broccoli. The Good: The flatbread pizza was awesome very fresh with a touch of sweetness. The chicken and collard greens were a southerner's delight, but a the greens were slightly over cooked. The OK: The beets were well spiced and cooked, but the sauce was a bit heavy. The pork was a tad dry. The Missing: Dude, our blasted broccoli NEVER CAME! As in, during the entirety of our 2 and a half hour meal, it never appeared! Our waitress didn't notice until we asked her about 20 minutes after the rest of our food was served, and then she "put in a rush order", but it still never came. Super disappointed as this was supposed to be the signature dish :( 3 stars for good food, could have been 4 or more if the blasted broccoli showed up to the party.
(3)Stacy Y.
Black Bottle never failed us - Tonight was 5th visit to this awesome belltown restaurant and the food, atmosphere, and wine are just exactly what we expected. Consistency makes them a great restaurant choice for any night or occasion. Our usual dishes are hanger steak (Asian flavor - with daikon and soy sauce, this is Frank's favorite dish all time) , pork belly with kimchi (slightly sweet sauce with fatty pork on sticks, very flavorful), grilled portabella (my favorite, grill to perfection and served with butter bean salad... mushroom is chewy and juicy), smoke chicken and sun dried cherry flat bread (again: yum-o). All of them are delicious - not a thing to complain. Dishes are bigger than the usual tapas so it's great to share. 3 of us shared 5 dishes (we also tried cumin pork tenderloin tonight) and a bottle of red, the bill comes to 90.00 which is reasonable. One thing I do like to see some improvement on is the service. Service tonight is prompt but not memorable. Fortunately the food is outstanding so it doesn't bother us as much. Great place for date and gathering. Tip - make reservation and request to sit in the outer room (inner room is hot) and a bigger table so you have room for all the plates to share.
(5)Swim K.
I once held a party at the Black Bottle. I was treated fine and space was the right size for the event. The only down part was that the food was just okay and the lighting was a wee bit dark for my event. Again, that's a me problem, not a Black Bottle problem. This is a super Belltown type place and great for the atmosphere. I will return.
(4)Mallorie S.
The ambiance is a 5, but the execution of the food is lacking. A friend and I ordered the clams in the white wine sauce they were bland and got cold very quickly, we also ordered the Prosciutto and potato pinwheels were so unfavorably salty. Yes prosciutto is supposed to have a salty flavor being that it is a cured meat however I felt like I ordered a salt lick with the light flavor of potatoes. The drinks were yummy, we ordered the clemency ( vodka with blood orange) and the house sangria. I don't think I would go for the food ever again. But the drink menu was innovative and delicious.
(3)Andrew C.
Hey... You just HAVE to try the Broccoli Blasted here!! JFK! cause a million other people already wrote about this dish. In fact I think I feel a relapse of my childhood broccoli-hate coming on just from reading these reviews! And I love broccoli! On that note... the Broccoli Blasted was delicious... So was the chicken / cherries flatbread. I regret that i did not get to try everything else on the menu. It is definitely one of the best-looking menus I have ever read. Anyway, get there early if you want good service, and drink fast... before the place fills up. And if you are not in the mood to go to a fancy, dark place like this, I still recommend walking past it at some point during your evening and staring at / otherwise distracting people sitting outside and having romantic evenings. UPDATE: Just gave this place an extra star for a few reasons. One is the awesome sangria. The other is the awesome people watching potential. I went here on Saturday night, and saw some hilarious stuff. There was a group of about 20 kind that tried to get in but there wasn't enough room for all of them, so 2 of them drank at the bar for about 45 minutes while the rest stood outside and huddled and got rowdy. This was fun to watch. About half an hour later, we saw four tiny asian girls in really short skirts almost get run over by a douchbag trying to turn down a one way street going the wrong way. The girls all preceded to scream at the top of their lungs and curse at the douche. Never a dull moment in BellTown.
(4)Gabe B.
This place oozes class and sophistication and has a sexy steam punk feel to it. The heavy tables and furniture, the fusion menu of cultures on the menu and more importantly the wonderful happy hour till 6pm! Do: Get there before 6pm for happy hour and take a date here! You'll get nice brownie points! Don't: Expect to get away with a small tab, this place is swanky and has a price to go with it.
(5)Andrew B.
OMG extremely disappointing. Food = bland. Service = error-fraught. Crowd = doughy and dull. The only saving grace was the cognac-based mixed drink. Not going back. BB has lost the luster it used to have.
(1)A B H.
Six stars? Their food is GREAT, surprising because they have so many different varieties of food. AND they have a "food allergy" menu, so all the goodies are sorted by lactose free, or wheat free, or gluten free. AND the plates are BIG. Order the curried potatoes and cauliflower. Fabulous. I also love love their drinkies. Luksosowa vodka martini. Delish. The service is always great, and the atmosphere is fun too.
(5)Veruca S.
The one and only experience I had at Black Bottle was... my friend and I were out for a fun evening. After El Gaucho we stopped across the street at Black Bottle...where we sat for 20 minutes at the bar without so much as being acknowledged. No matter how long we looked directly at the bartenders; nothing.
(1)Liz L.
Went there again recently-after being in the neighborhood! and completely different...Service was better than last time our server was awsome! ! This time around I would go back again and again :)
(5)Lor B.
Still loving the BB! Had a "vino, apps, and dessert "night for my bday yesterday and our experience was still 4 stars. Still can't get over my favorite apps: Eggplant & Mozarella flatbread & Kim Chee Pork (awesome)! The warm chocolate cake with vanilla (complete with bday candles) was just as good as my last visit. Vino pricing is so affordable (good bottles $34 -$36 each) that we were able to order several bottles of Malbecs & Moscati Di Asti for our party. Definitely a better option than the belltown bar hop scene. Still unsure if this is a dinner destination. But drinks and apps are definitely a "must' here. Here's another tip: For our party of 20 there was no minimum and we were able to take up half of the back room. They also just opened another section if you want an event that is more private.
(4)Mike J.
Went and had a fun night out. Service and food were OK on a hectic night. However, our server, Megan, added some extra $$$ on to our credit card after we signed and left (an 18% tip was left). bad, bad, bad...
(3)Joysha F.
I'm not a wine drinker but I went here a few times with friends and a friend's birthday so I'm solely reviewing the food which is why it's only 4 stars... We tried the mussels marseille-style, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread, and portobello grilled and butter bean salad. Mussels were cooked just right and the sauce was so delicate. The flatbread reminded me of Neapolitan-style pizzas but with cherries?! Nice sweet/tart touch! Portobellos are great own and so grilling it with some more veggies was a light way to end a meal :) I didn't have wine but I did have a cocktail. Plum Vodka?! Surprisingly good!!!
(4)John H.
The octopus is SO tasty but the bacon scallops are THE best. The wine list is superb. And the candle lighting makes for a killer atmosphere. If the service was a bit more friendly this would be a five star. Still highly recommended!
(4)Liz R.
I've been wanting to come here for a long time, probably since I walked by the place the first week I was in Seattle (2 years ago...). Well, I finally made it, and now I'm hitting myself over the head for not walking in sooner. The place just looks like it's going to have good food (particularly if you look at the food, it also happens to be beautifully presented). It's one of those sparsely decorated places where the food really stands out. It's bright and colorful, and smells great. It's also a fun place to eat. We ordered food to share, and I'd say each portion was about the right amount for 4 people each to get a decent taste. They're larger than tapas, but still large enough that you probably want to order more than one per person. Our table of 5 (4 of which were men, yes, it was a good night) ordered 8 dishes which seemed about right (actually, we ordered 7, but there was a mix-up with the order so we also received a chicken dish they thought we ordered on the house). All of the food we ordered was good, some of it was very good and inventive. The blasted broccoli which looked like someone went at it with a blowtorch was fabulous. Our mussels were perfectly cooked, but the sauce was just alright. I would have liked to see more bread served with the dishes, particularly the ones with sauces and dips. Things you should order: Wine (it is a wine bar after all), blasted broccoli, and at least one of the flatbreads.
(4)Chris P.
Great for the crowd and the style of restaurant. I would give it 4 or maybe 5 stars for that. It is always busy and it would be my favorite social wine bar if they would improve the food a bit. The food varies from 4-star to 2-star quality. The portion sizes are perfect I think. The flatbread dishes are good if the bread was not rock hard and stale. They should supply a hammer and chisel to cut into it. I think they cook the bread days in advance and let it sit unwrapped for a long time. I know it's supposed to be a bit dense, but it's just not right. The combinations are not bad however. If they would fix the bread issue, or use a different type of bread altogether that's fresher and tastier instead of stale cracker bread, I would like it a lot more. The shrimp is decent - has a nice spice to it, and the blasted broccoli is quite good.
(3)Julia L.
New favorite restaurant...amazing food with a lot of depth of flavor and great atmosphere
(5)Aubrey A.
bacon wrapped scallops with wilted kale. very good flavors. side of flatbread. nothing to complain about. chocolate mouse torte with pistachio chili brittle. rich but not overly so. local beer. good atmosphere. not too noisy. worth future visits.
(4)Tasha W.
I don't often have an orgasmic response to grilled vegetables. However the parchment baked herbed veggies here are truly amazing. Among my other favorites: prosciutto flatbread, clams, fried tofu. I have never disliked anything here. Sure the service can be slightly slow and there is almost always a wait but that's to be expected in belltown. I did once come here in the summer when the air conditioning was broken. It's a testament to how much I love this place that as I was willing to sweat through my meal.
(5)Judith S.
6 months later, my friends and i still talk about the Black Bottle fondly. I reserved a long booth/table in the back room for my birthday party and had a great time. Actually, we had such a great time (wine and all) that I managed to forget one of my presents on the table! The next day, I withstood the rain to make it back to the restaurant because one of the servers actually dug through the trash to find it for me! After I called to see if my earrings were left on the table, they offered to get their hands dirty in search for my lost treasure and actually found them in the little box they came in. *Sigh of relief.* Black Bottle has a classy & comfortable ambiance with zesty, interesting plates to share tapas-style. This is a great place to come with a group. We were about 10 people, which made for a fun variety of dishes to share. Everyone found several dishes they liked and many commented on the surprising lack of unlikable food. Yes, the blasted broccoli was exciting (garlic is always exciting).
(4)candice s.
Food was good. Service was polite and present. Had fun and liked the atmosphere. Very typical Seattle spot.
(4)Shoshana D.
On my recent visit to Seattle I liked the food at Black Bottle so much I went twice (each time to a different location). Everyone raves about the broccoli blasted, and I agree it's very good, but what I found the most amazing was the roasted veggie platter and the 7 minute eggs with spicy tobiko.
(4)Tiffany M.
Stuffed full of sushi and looking for a place to grab a glass of wine + dessert, I found Black Bottle using Yelp Mobile. I'm so glad we bucked up to the challenge to go for dessert despite us having to roll ourselves down the street, 'cuz this was a great find! The vibe of the place is clean & modern w/ dark wood & high ceilings throughout. The back room's wall decorations were a little rando, but the overall space was nice. 3 of us ordered the Chocolate Cake & Vanilla Gelato and love, love, LOVED it. I was in heaven! The other 2 girls went for the Pear Sorbeto and Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake w/ Lavender Crust and left their plates spotless. My Lunetta Prosecco was just right and had me set for the rest of the night. Doing a once over on the dinner menu had me wishing I hadn't had dinner (for ex: Smoked Chicken & Sun-Dried Cherry flatbread, Caprese Skewers w/ fresh Oregano). I'd love to come back here again.
(4)Koriann B.
Okay Black Bottle. You've redeemed yourself. After a disastrous birthday party (see previous reviews) I was hesitant to return. But, with a friend in town and armed with the gift certificate, we gave it a shot. It started off shaky... We had reservations at 7:45 and when we showed up, the host told us it would be about five minutes before we got out table. That's fine... five minutes isn't a big deal. But when we hadn't been seated after 20 minutes, I ask about our table. The host had forgotten us and seated people ahead of us. I was... irritated, to say the least. My boyfriend and my visiting friend tried to keep me calm. After all, as far as I was concerned this was the make or break experience. But finally we were seated and handed off to our waiter. Our waiter made up for it. He was extremely nice and well informed. When we asked questions, he made sure to answer them to the fullest. He made us laugh and was very attentive without being obtrusive. I thanked him as we were leaving (his name is Noah, in case you're interested). His service and Black Bottle's effort to make up for the bad service I'd gotten before made me feel better. There's a reason why i like Black Bottle and now I remember why. We had: McLaren Australian Shiraz (very yummy, a nice jammy flavor and soft right out of the bottle) Lemon and Bacon Scallops with Frizzled Kale The scallops were overcooked, but the kale was good. Seven Spice Shrimp Spicy and nice, a good flavor Prosciutto and Potato Pinwheels Creamy, salty, and very nice Blasted Broccoli Delicious. Subtle flavors. When I asked about the flavors, Noah was nice enough to explain how it was made.
(4)Manuela G.
I just hosted an event at Black Bottle, and it was absolutely fantastic. The owner, Paul, was a huge help and provided great service and fantastic food. The event went off without a hitch, and I couldn't have chosen a better venue. Beautiful space, beautiful food, and impeccable service.
(5)sara g.
I've been to Black Bottle a few times but only for drinks. This time I was determined to sample some of their small plates. We had the hummus, the French Country flatbread, and the Lemon Bacon Scallops with delicious kale! A. M. A. Z. I. N. G. It even turned a non-kale eater into a fan. Food was tasty and quick. Bottles were priced nicely so we got a bottle to split. Neither of us are wine snobs so we'll drink almost anything. Our waitress was amused and not at all condescending. Looking forward to another visit.
(4)Shen L.
Definitely one of my go-to places in Belltown! I almost always order the mussels marseille-style or steamed clams; both are delicious and perfect for bread-dipping. Masala chicken drums are well-seasoned, and the chick-peas certainly pick up the flavor (in case you missed it in the chicken). Of the flatbreads, I like the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries, but that's because I'm a sucker for fruit-with-meat dishes (so you're forewarned that this is sweet-and-savory). Perhaps one of the reasons this place isn't getting 5-stars is because sometimes, the desserts aren't up-to-par (e.g. the tiramisu, when it's in-season). I'd say this place is suitable for every occasion from birthday parties with 20+ people, to romantic dates, to late-night dinners with best girl friends, to break-up fights (hey, if it's gotta happen...might as well have good food =)
(4)Angel W.
I used to love Black Bottle.. and saying that, I still really love their food and their prices, even after a few years being open, are really reasonable for the portions and quality of food. But they've gone thru a few bartenders and servers now and I don't find the service nearly as good. I went there last night w/ a date and I usually love sitting at the bar. In my experience just about anywhere, you get better service. When we got attention, the bartender was nice - but that's when we got attention. Getting his attention after our first drink was dropped was a bit difficult. The drink I got, the dark and stormy, was probably one of the best I've ever had though. We sat at the far corner of the bar and at one point there were 4 or 5 employees just standing there tasting drinks. I watched them for at least a couple of minutes because we were trying to get someone to just give us some eye contact for service, but not once did they look up. They were a bit wrapped up in themselves. They had a couple of bigger and rambunctious parties so I can kind of understand.. but the bartender didn't have a full bar to look after either. When plates were dropped off, the expediter didn't ask if we wanted anything else - like silverware or plates. Again we had to get the bartender's attention and that took a couple of minutes. At one point, our 3rd item had taken so long to arrive both the other plates were gone and we had to ask if they'd forgotten or missed it and it arrived right then. No big deal - but again, he hadn't noticed we were still missing a plate of food. The food we ordered - the hangar steak medium rare, the chicken laab gai and the blasted broccoli were awesome. I love their flatbread but my date is gluten-intolerant or I would've gotten some of that too. It's still a great date spot, I've had a small group there for a birthday, the food is fantastic, but I think they could really do better in paying attention to their guests.
(3)Jonas B.
The food is all right (but what's up with that weird curried cauliflower and potatoes dish) and the wine options are all right but there's nothing really kicking butt in either category. The location is good, near Big Picture, so we often go here to eat before a show, and the prices aren't bad. Very noisy. Fairly efficient service.
(3)AxeMe A.
DISAPPOINTING. Let me say that the word came to me as I was leaving and just knew I had to Yelp, but it got worse when I ended up on the toilet and started to feel like WAR. You know the feeling. No, I didn't see any cockroaches, but the food was so-so, ill-prepared and underwhelming. Worst than the preparation was the sub-par quality of the food...like it was old or something....The server, if you could call him that, seemed more like a detached owner who merely took an order, never checking back. Oh and the plates were dirty. The dessert really pushed me down from 1.5 / 2 STARS to 1 STAR...I just lost all hope, damn it. I've only heard good things about this place and always avoided the happy hour hipsters, alas here's my summation: Prawns: F (YUCK) Steak: F (Gooey) Prosciutto Flatbread: D- (Like really bad pizza) Broccoli: C- (not great) Chocolate cake: F (I've had better from fast food establishments)
(1)sarah c.
eh. twas alright. i would only go back to have their brie and leek flatbread. oxtail was too salty. hangar steak was just ok. their ipa beer was nice.
(3)Melinda M.
I still love Black Bottle. It may be a scene at times, but as far as Belltown goes, it's one of my favorites. Bring friends who like to share food, drink wine and pass the hours talking and you'll be set. I've enjoyed the chicken laab gai, ceviche, broccoli blasted (only order this if you have plenty of people to share it with), flatbreads (the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries is particularly good), and prosciutto and potato wheels. I also LOVE the peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream--it's baked and served in a little cast iron skillet, which I think is adorable and probably makes it taste better.
(4)Tin N.
After flying in a late evening into Seattle, this was the first place that my friend took me to. From the outside it seemed like a pretty hip place, a little on the cozy side but inviting none the less. It was past dinner time so we were just there for something to snack on and more importantly something to drink! Bottom line... Its not that expensive, but it could be cheaper. The food is good enough but could be better. I'd have no complaints coming back here again, but not a place I would be bragging about to my friends. Oh and also I'm ignoring the fact that the waitress spilled red wine on all of us and only gave us a replacement glass, I mean, come on!
(3)Bryan C.
I visited Black Bottle on a late Saturday night just for drinks and was very impressed. I can't speak for food but from what I saw, it looked great. The ambiance in Black Bottle might be its greatest strength. It's dark but still light enough that you won't need a MagLite to read the menu. The music is modern but soothing with a new age lounge feel to it. The drinks were excellent and fairly priced. The service was remarkable; generally late night is a time for poor service but this was not the case. I'm looking forward to eating next time at Black Bottle. I highly recommend it.
(4)Tyler J.
I've been to Black Bottle several times and it never fails to please. Yesterday however was the first time sitting outside in their roped "patio". Thank god for the metal rope, had it not be there I would have been easily tempted to give my bottle of wine to a passing toddler. As always, I had to order the blasted broccoli. It's a must have if you've never tried. The flatbreads are always a good choice however they were very chintzy on the prosciutto yesterday. I also experimented with the fresh sardines namban and was pleasantly surprised. Lightly breaded and pan fried topped with sliced, roasted vegetables. Yum! Oh, and the men's bathroom is crazy dark... like gay bar bathroom lighting. Just an observation.
(4)Tom A.
Black Bottle is so distinctive in appearance, even on a drive-by, that I had to hit the brakes and check it out. I called my buddy in town who was on his way to meet me elsewhere. Change of venue: we're going to Black Bottle. There are outside tables, which were appealing, but those have no service - you have to go get your drinks at the bar. To order food, as I was planning, you need to sit inside. The inside is cool, with deep contrasts and a spare look to it, somehow rustic and modern at the same time. And loud. Really, deafeningly loud. But that's just the sound of a lot of pretty folks have a good time simultaneously. And the people watching was about as good as it gets in Belltown, which isn't bad at all. Many taxis full of shiny happy couples came and went and several tables seemed dedicated to Girls' Night Out gatherings. I felt bad that I didn't have designer jeans and a button-up shirt as seemed to be dress code for the guys, but I wasn't turned away in my cargo shorts and tee shirt. I was shocked that for all the attention given to appearance, the bathroom -- at least the men's -- had no mirror whatsoever. There's a vast wine selection and I heard the cocktails are great but I was in a beer mood. The beer list is short: Guinness, Manny's, Maritime, Hoegaarden and Stella. Of course what I was hankering for was a Pilsner, just 'cause I'm like that. Understanding that it's 'small plates', I ordered two for myself, the roasted veggies and the mussels Marseilles. I had to take a deep breath when said 'small plates' arrived. The mussels alone would be more than I could consume and the veggie plate was overloaded with delicious roasted morsels. I did my level best but I'm afraid I only made a moderate dent in the volume when I was finished. I just kept marveling that this amount of food totaled only $20 and I easily had twice what I needed. It kind of negates those happy hour deals we work so hard to track down. The service was attentive and not effusive. Just to be heard over the din requires enough effort from the servers, the less said, the better. A little sound-deadening and a Pilsner on the taps and I'd have had a five-star experience for sure.
(4)Anju R.
Black Bottle definitely surprised me in more ways than one. We did not have reservations for the 4 of us and were able to get a table within 5 minutes of walking in the door. As soon as the wine started flowing and we started to order the food, I knew this was going to be a great meal. The service was very good and the dishes were very well prepared. The Squid and the Antipasti were extremely well prepared. By far the best entree that we shared was the grilled vegetables. The Jicama, zucchini and basically everything on the plate was outstanding. I would honestly go back to Black Bottle just for that. All in all a great experience for dinner and a fun place to bring friends and share.
(4)Laurie B.
I have been to Black Bottle a total of 5 times and EVERY time, the food is fantastic. The menu changes a bit from time to time, but you kind of forget what the old items were because the new ones that they replace them with are also very good! They NEVER take away my favorite dish...... Broccoli Blasted...... this dish is the best! I'm not even a huge veggie fan either so this is saying a lot! To describe it would not do it justice. Trust me, just go and GET some and you'll understand! On my last visit, I tried the bacon-wrapped scallops on frizzled kale and to my great amazement, I actually liked the kale more than the protein part of the dish. This says a TON considering that until that night, I thought the best use of kale was for covering up ice on a chilled buffet! My only wish is that the service was a wee bit more attentive. It is always better than decent, friendly and genuine but sometimes you feel like you'd like to see more of your server. Granted, they are busy but maybe there is enough business on certain nights to warrant an additional server? By all means.... GO! Its delicious, inventive and fairly affordable and a great place to go with a group because all of the plates are perfect for sharing! Kudos to you Black Bottle!
(4)Stephen B.
Went here before heading out to see the Holiday Pops at Benaroya Hall. Had an absolutely delicious and affordable meal! The decor was awesome, simultaneously homey and modern somehow, in a tasteful way. The music was slightly electronic, but in a classy/hip and very enjoyable way. The portions of food are slightly bigger than tapas and smaller than normal entrees, but priced very reasonably for what you get. We started with the seven spice shrimp which was one of the more unique shrimp dishes I've ever had. The presentation was interesting, they plated the whole shrimp, tentacles and all. The spices were great though. We also had the Blasted Broccoli which is a must-try. So simple and amazingly delicious way to serve a vegetable that I don't particular even care for, but could not stop eating and have tried to duplicate myself twice since then. Cumin Pork Tenderloin was phenomenal as was the French country flatbread. Both dishes knocked it out of the park completely. I've ordered the flatbread as takeout several times since then, I cannot get enough of it. Also tried a scallop dish takeout another time, though I wasn't incredibly impressed with it. Great atmosphere. Romantic couples and large groups of friends seem to be side by side and both equally at home here. Again, the quality/value ratio on the food here is simply off the charts. Enjoy!
(5)Phil H.
This place is a complete contrast. The food is excellent and might even be described as unique for Seattle. Lots of yummy and tasteful small plates that make perfect for sharing or on your own to sample different tastes. The broccoli, the hanger stake, the veggie curry all simply amazing. The cocktails are always well made and they have a great wine list too, by the glad or bottle. This would leave you with the impression of a great place to visit and make a local destination when you are in Belltown. Now comes the contrast, the customer service is mediocre at the best of times and at times many of the staff have this 'I'm too good for this attitude'. Does that mean don't visit - no. Go there and expect wonderful food with great tastes. Just don't expect great service, and should you get staff that actually do a great job - reward them and remember their name and ask for them the next time.
(3)E A.
For a summertime, "let's have drinks and see what happens" date, I love Black Bottle in Belltown. My date and I snagged a table by the wide-open doors. Warm air floated in, and beyond the sidewalk you could see the water of Elliott Bay. The setting has a subtle romance to it that is great for a casual date. Belltown can be hit or miss, and I think this place is a hit. Service may not always be impeccable, and it unfortunately attracts the usual Belltown crowd. But these things aren't so important when you're getting to know someone over cocktails. Our drinks (his was a Maker's Manhattan, mine a Cosmopolitan) were served milkshake style with the extra drink served on the side. The atmosphere was fun, sophisticated and easy. It's the kind of place where you can wear flats or heels, do drinks or dinner. You can sit and enjoy the view, or (if you're really into the guy/girl) walk to the nearby Lava Lounge for a shuffleboard match and cozy back booths.
(4)Tim E.
Great restaurant, but if you have food allergies, be very careful. Every dish, even the cocktails, had a surprise ingredient, in some cases, cheese. The interesting menu leads you to believe you are seeing all of the ingredients. Enjoy, but ask for the allergen menu (no notation is made that it exists in the regular menu).
(3)Reyhaneh S.
this place is sexy. i loved it. the bar was social and live. The food was decent..not the best, but I would go back just to walk through the tall black curtains again....
(4)Tam H.
I have to admit that this is my spot. My friend introduced BB to me about 2 years ago and I continue to be a regular. The atmosphere reminds me of being in NYC. That could be the reason why I love this spot so much. In addition, they serve my favorite Vodka 44 North. You can't beat that. Sometimes, the wait staff can be a bit iffy but the night of my going away party they really did an awesome job. They will work to accomodate your party of more than 6. Make sure you check out the broccoli, flatbread pizza, or skirt steak. Its awesome. Everyone thinks of regular broccoli BUT TRUST ME it's not! Enjoy it as much as I have...BB will surely be missed!
(4)Malia M.
We discovered black bottle one monday afternoon when we were walking around with the dogs. It was gorgeous outside and they allowed us to sit out there with the dogs. Our waitress, Laura, was increadible. She knew exactly what wines to recommend based on what we told her we liked and she had the most appropriate level of friendliness without being fake. Since that day we have come back to BB so many times I've lost count. Laura is still amazing and several of the other staff has come to remember us and greet us, even when we pass them on the streets. My only complaint is a while back they switched chef's and I'm not as enthralled with the new chef as I was with the old one. He took away the BEST dessert on the menu, the Banana Flambe, but added a couple decent ones so I guess it evens out. All in all, my favorite place in Belltown. Try the French Country Flatbread, the Broccoli Blasted, the Braised Artichoke, and the Berry Tart. All to die for!
(5)N-P H.
food..good; great mix of flavors.. service..good, then went downhill as the night went on and the joint got busier. they forgot our broccoli; i had to ask for my flat bread and cauliflower three times..by the time we got it, we were ready to leave and I didn't want it anymore.
(3)Andrea J.
Clams were very fresh and had a zesty, peppery broth. The cracked olive "salad" was more like a chunky tapenade with feta, but it was very tasty. The blasted broccoli was a delicious way to prepare broccoli, but I thought that it had an excess of olive oil. I didn't like the sausage dish, but then again, I don't really like sausage. I enjoyed the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread, but it wasn't really a stand out dish. The hostess was really annoying; she refused to give us an estimated time for a table. About 30 minutes into our wait time, she told us that our table was being prepared, and we continued to wait another 15 minutes. I then asked her when our table would be ready, and she told us she had no idea. We were finally seated about 20 minutes after she told us our table was being prepared. I realize that she has no little control over wait time, but she was just crappy about it. I kind of got the feeling that she was annoyed with me for asking for the wait time in the first place, and was intentionally taking it out on us, but perhaps I'm being a little paranoid? In contrast to the hostess, the waiter and bartender were nice and good at their jobs. Our waiter even informed us that the food came out when it was ready, and not all at the same time. I would definitely go here again.
(4)Shawn B.
When you step into Black Bottle it doesn't look like your normal, run of the mill restaurant. I was actually a little confused how much of a restaurant it was considering how large and long the bar was. We weren't greeted when we walked in, so we were a little confused as to whether or not we would just seat ourselves. We ended up just sitting at a table we liked, and then waited to be served on. So that could use some improvement. The menu itself it very eclectic, but rediculously delicious. You HAVE to try the pork belly, portabello mushrooms, and lamb. The broccoli is something is apparently raved amount, but I actually thought it was terrible. Don't let that comment deter you from the other food, because everything else I had that night was rediculously delicious. As far as price goes, it is all very moderately priced. You get a good amount of portions for what you pay, and everyone can get a taste of something that is ordered which is really cool.
(4)Michael B.
This is a pretty typically gastro-tavern. Service is great when it's empty, but spotty when it's crowded. I've probably been here a half dozen times and several of those times the waitress has not brought us out food that we ordered. Positives: Opens earlier than other bars in Belltown Best broccoli I've ever had Negatives: Service Pretentious crowd
(3)John S.
I must have gotten a decent server based on other reviews here. Pretty good balance between getting a bit of attention but not being rushed. Not super service, but it was later on a Saturday night so I didn't expect super service. The food was decent. Not overwhelmingly awesome, but definitely edible. I recommend the stuffed artichoke and greens. The wine was also good and I feel like they have a decent bottle selection that doesn't require a second mortgage to enjoy. I'd come back here for a snack and some wine.
(3)Kenny R.
Good food with unique flavors. As simple as it may be the brockle blast is a must try. Mood and setting is dark but great for socializing with friends. Friendly staff.
(4)Michelle Z.
This little nook of Belltown serves some surprisingly good fare. The place itself is cozy in spite of it's taupe and black, nondescript decor. Characterized by enormous street-facing windows, a friendly front room bar, plus a handful of tables for 4, this place felt very inviting upon entry. Also contributing to this feeling was the low lighting, warm candlelight, and a decent sized after-work crowd. After all, a good crowd on a weeknight, while occasionally annoying, is usually an indicator of a great place, right? The dining style here follows the trend of small plates (though considerably larger than most tapas-esque places). Many dishes with an infusion of uniquely foreign flavors. Take the natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso; juicy and flavorful with a Japanese twist. The grilled portobello and butter bean salad was meaty and delicious, topped with a rosemary compote that really packed a punch. We also ordered the bacon lemon scallops and and eggplant caponata flatbread - both dishes also unusual, but delicious. Overall I was really impressed by the quality and creativity of the food. Nothing was "just okay," everything was dressed to impress, both in presentation and in flavor. We finished our meal with two desserts split amongst three people which might have been a little much (considering I had definitely eaten my fill from dinner), I just couldn't help seeing what else this little gem had to offer.
(4)Colleen W.
Good drink prices and attentive service at the bar. There are many great plates here but the flatbreads are exceptionally outstanding (especially the prosciutto and bechamel and the smoked chicken and cherry) and a good value. The broccoli blasted is crunchy, salty green goodness...but it shouldn't be $8. Notes: Try not to get a table by the inferno that is the kitchen/oven. It's hotter than a mofo over there. You will sweat. A lot. There are candles in the restrooms. Don't get too drunk. You will catch fire. It gets a little loud and meat market-esque on Saturday nights...but I guess that's Belltown for you.
(4)Lindsay A.
Drinks are strong and delicious. Food is yummy and unique. What more do I need? Besides a parking lot that is. Truth is, I would be here every weekend if it weren't hell to find parking. I tend to hit this spot around 9 so that I have a chance to score parking and my friends and I chat as we eat and pre-funk or just eat, drink, and enjoy the people watching. The seven spice shrimp is to die for (make sure water is available), and there is always mussels and prosciutto and bechamel flatbread on our table. Waiters are pretty attentive and even though some of the guests can be obnoxious and pretentious they are also easy to ignore. The music is usually pretty chill, if a bit too loud and I love the lighting. Bright in the back and dark in the front. Two totally different moods. Another plus is it's far away enough from the central heart of Belltown nightlife to be sort of calm.
(5)Damien H.
I went here with a group of 8 @ pm. The atmosphere was exactly what I was looking for, candlelight, good sound level to feel comfortable, but not so loud that we couldn't hold a conversation. There were a few guys that politely hit on some of the girls in our group, enough to keep them entertained, not so bad that it was annoying or awkward for anyone, just perfect. We ordered something from every section on the menu, the raves about the broccoli blasted are warranted, its amazing, so much so that I figured out the recipe and it's now in my weekly menu rotation. The only thing that we tried that I wasn't crazy about was the tofu, it wasn't bad, but I feel like I could have had the exact same thing at any place in Seattle with a fry daddy. Even the sauce tasted like the bottled variety from the local asian foods store. Service was decent, I did have reservations at 8pm and was still forced to wait about 45 minutes to be seated, this combined with the lackluster tofu was not nearly enough to rain on our party parade, it was a great time!
(4)Linda T.
Great place for a night out with friends! I love the idea of small, shared plates. They have a great variety of dishes on their menu and the food is tasty. Service was good, but nothing spectacular. They did a pretty good job of accomodating our large party. The atmosphere is cool with a little hipster feel. We were there on a Saturday night and it got pretty tight inside. The floor here was kind of slippery...so be careful in your high heels ladies! The only bad part of this restaurant was the restroom. It was tiny with only 2 stalls and barely any waiting room. I witnessed a woman get smacked behind the head because the restroom door swings open inwards and takes up half of the restroom itself. Luckily it didn't cause any major damage, but that is not a pleasant experience. Overall, I liked this place for the small plates and atmosphere. I'd definitely return with a group of friends.
(4)Jerry L.
Go to the gym and workout (gotta be able to fit in my speedo) or a free dinner with my dad and sister at the Black Bottle. Hmmm... Tough choice.. NOT! I've been meaning to try Black Bottle and has been on my list of places to try. Went on a Thursday night (6:30pm) and was able to get a table right away. The service was sloooow and was a little annoyed that the hostess passed us over for the next group in line. Also, I couldn't tell the staff from the urban hipsters that reside on Capital Hill. Very confusing when your trying to get the wait staffs attention. On to the important stuff.. the food. *drum roll* We ordered the... 1. Danger steak and daikon/shiso $11 - This was very good and flavorful. I could have ordered more. YUMMY! 2. Seven spice shrimp $11 - My favorite dish. It was indeed very spicy. 3. Braised artichoke heart and greens $9 - So-so. I'd try something else. Overall, I'd say it was alright. I don't know if I'd go again. At least I can check it off my list.
(3)Tina P.
I have only visited this restaurant once. But loved every moment of it. It was a friday night jammed packed with patrons but somehow we got a three person table with no fuss. Not sure how that happened... no complaints though. I had a white fish stew type dish (forgive my memory loss... it was about 6 months ago I visited this restaurant) and it was light and delectable. My friend had pork, which she enjoyed very much as well. And to top it off we had a delicious antipasto plate, which was just right. I had my usual hendricks and tonic which is hard to screw up at any bar... so I can't say how the drinks compare to other establishments. But this is a great place to people watch, hang out with friends, and enjoy great food.
(4)Steven P.
Exceptionally poor service. The food looked great, but in 30 minutes we had no drinks and the server had not taken our order. When she finally brought us our wine glasses, she broke one on the floor, and then didn't clean it up. The couple sitting next to us said they got 60% of what they ordered, and had to ask for their scallops 3 times...maybe just a bad night?
(1)Beth G.
Perfect date spot, warm, intimate setting for good conversation, enjoyable happy hour, good place for groups/events. Eclectic menu selections, great customer service, confirmed addict. Wine selection is okay.
(4)Bob B.
Well, really didn't know what to think of this place. My girlfriend loves it, and from my first visit I though it was a chick place. Loads of tables with women sipping wine and eating tidbit plates. So, she's dragged me there several times, and I must admit I've become a fan. Drinks are good and not expensive, tidbit plates are good, if small. Really not a bad hang out. I do notice that single guys seem to have found this place on Fridays and Saturdays....it can be that great place to meet the right gal.
(4)Megan M.
I have been to Black Bottle numerous times and I'm upgrading my review to 5 stars. Our server was excellent and super-friendly! All the food arrived in a timely fashion and was delicious as usual. The only thing I didn't like was the potato and cauliflower dish, as it was a bit dry. But everything else is fabulous! The ambience is great - very upbeat. We had a bottle of wine which was very yummy and reasonably priced. Bonus points for music: Digital Underground's "Sex Packets" = AWESOME
(5)Chau D.
YUM!! I was very impressed with the food we had ordered. 4 girls pigged out on the mahi mahi ceviche, steamed clams, broccoli blasted, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread, coconut plantain cup, pear sorbeto and candied lavender, tiramisu, and chocolate cake and vanilla gelato. We killed it all too. No complaints except for the fact we were full and wanted to roll out of the restaurant. This place is definitely a must try. Our server was cool, wasn't fast but we didn't care either. If you're in a hurry this probably isn't the place for you.
(5)Andrea W.
I went to Black Bottle for the first time 2 weeks ago, and had a pleasant experience. My companion and I had a stuffed artichoke, which was served over greens, and a flatbread with grilled chicken and dried cherries. The food was delightful, perfect to share at the table. The flavor profiles were strong and everything was cooked well. The atmosphere was very nice, although the music choice seemed a little out of place. The service was okay, but not great. They were out of the pinot noir I ordered, and the replacement the server brought me was extremely sweet- the sweetest pinot noir I've ever tasted. Not a huge issue, but I did think that if you're going to replace a wine it should be with something similar, or at least it should be mentioned to the customer that the replacement being offered is atypical for the varietal. We waited a long time for drinks, but I don't want to place blame on anyone because it was fairly busy and there was only one bartender on, so that was understandable. Overall it was a good experience and I will be back to eat there again.
(4)reese w.
The food was good, but it was a little bit loud inside. Of course, we were there at 10pm on a Friday night, so it makes sense there were lots of people there drinking it up. We had the lamb and hummus dish, but they completely did not mention that baba gannoush is included as well, which is a goddamn disaster for me because I'm allergic to eggplant, which was a big huge disappointment. Goddamn it. I know it's a weird allergy, but I was NOT expecting a big glob of eggplant on the plate, so that was really disappointing. The rest of the food was good, but when we paid, the server just assumed that the cash we left included his oh-so-generous tip and didn't bother to give us change, which really pissed us off. It was something like a 25% tip. Now, we're not cheap people, but goddamn the guy should at least be decent enough to give us the goddamn change back and let US decide how much his goddamn tip was going to be. Yeah. The tasty flatbread and broccoli blasted are the only things not taking this review down to 1 star.
(3)Laura L.
For a lot of reasons this place is unappetizing to me. The top two: 1. Rude pretentious service. When we asked why one of the entrees had not come out for 20 minutes, the waitress said, "We kind of bring food whenever, not in courses, you know." Oh, so one of us eats while the other one of us watches. Strange. 2. I got way sick and deathly ill after my meal here. The Blasted Broccoli tasted like it had been cooked with a blow torch or something. Like propane or exhaust fumes and butter. I was sick from that night for the next 48 hours, and you do not want the details. While I have no proof it was them that made me sick, it's my gut (pun intended) instinct that it was. I still can't even think about Black Bottle or broccoli without my stomach turning.
(1)Jonathan H.
Food was great. Defiantly try the broccoli, as well as a dessert! The bill was vey reasonable all in.
(4)Sharon K.
Tried a vegetable dish, lamb & hummus dish and a flatbread. Didn't care too much for the lamb & hummus but the other two were tasty!
(3)Peter D.
Its been some time since I have been here, so I hope the charm of this place has not been lost with the inevitable trendiness of belltown and the douches that invariably invade every bar looking to score. That said, this review goes back to when this was open a few months so keep that in mind that I need to go back and update. I like that this place is quaint enough to be able to sit and chat with friends and order decent food that is adequately portioned for 2. Maybe not a large dinner but certainly fine for drinks and snacking. I like the fact that you can get food late and hang in an environment to be with your friends rather than be scene. I am sure that sadly will change but for now I really like that aspect. Everyone was friendly and the place was clean. I look forward to returning to it.
(4)Brian N.
One of the few Seattle spots that gets it right with both ambience and food quality. As all reviews mention, the idea here is sharing - go with a group and get a bunch of small plates, all of which are reasonably priced at 9-12 bucks. My group got the pork belly and kimchi, cumin pork tenderloin, hangar steak, and two different kinds of flatbreads (forget which ones). All dishes were excellent - can't really say which one was my favorite, although, as a meat lover, i naturally I prefer the meat dishes over the flatbreads. The space is great - classy minimalist, low lighting, brick walls and nice wood tables - can't remember what kind of music they were playing, but it wasn't high volume. not to say it isn't loud here, b/c it is. Nothing stood out about the service, but i have no qualms either - pretty much what i expect at a place like this. All in all, it's a great place to dine and drink with a group of friends.
(5)Anna B.
Black Bottle rocks! Cozy neighborhood restaurant with delicious food, nice wine selection, and a great value. We had the blasted broccoli, grilled lamb w/ hummus and seven spice shrimp. It was all delicious - especially the lamb! The shrimp is slightly difficult to get out of their little shells so it wouldn't be ideal for a date or business dinner. For a good size dinner get 1.5 plates per person, for a lighter meal just get one.
(5)Alejandra E.
I've never been a cheerleader for Belltown, but thought I would give Black Bottle a try as the menu choices looked yummy.The food was mediocre for the price you pay. I was with a few friends so we did the tapas thing and just ordered a bunch of different plates. The calamari was great-tender, had great flavor- however, there were more croutons than calamari and lots of sauce. Would have liked to have had more calamari since that's what's displayed on the menu and not "croutons with calamari and red sauce". The clams were so delicious we ordered 2 plates. The flat bread was delicious as well. The cauliflower was okay, but very dry. Where I was definitely not pleased was with the service. It took almost 20 minutes for the waiter to take our drink order, over 10min to bring our drinks and then another 15min to take our food order. He kept joking about how slow he was that night but it really wasn't a joke as it was taking a very long time. The restaurant wasn't even full. Even the girls sitting next to us made a comment about it and said "oh your service is fast when you're bringing us our bill because you know you're taking our money". It was just overall bad service and the food was mediocre/overpriced. Just another trendy hipster spot...if you're going to do that at least make it worth the money.
(3)Aaron S.
Some really craft food. The wild boar ribs are so good. Don't come here hungry or you will be disappointed but it's a great place to go if you want to catch up with a friend. Oh and good luck finding a spot Friday and Saturday night
(4)Amy G.
Pretty good broccoli and even better ox tail. This place serves some awesome eats here, the whole full shrimp I am not so sure about (I was not really interested in something that looked almost alive when eaten). Regardless, everything is full of flavor and they have great drinks here as well, I would recommend.
(4)Rachelle H.
Amazing place to eat with a group of friends, especially if everyone is down to share. That is the beat way to get bang for your buck and get to taste all their delicious wares. Calamari, fried chicken, broccoli (!), and prochutto and bechamel flat breads were especially stand outs. Great cocktails and decent wine selection. Good friendly service, well spaced out timing between dishes. Wasn't too impressed with the desserts we tried (chocolate cake and fruit torte). They weren't terrible, bit nothing too special.
(4)Kristina P.
This is easily one of my favorite places to go in Seattle. Almost every dish is delicious and a very fair amount of food considering it is a tapas bar. My personal favorites are the pancetta spinach & kale salad (I get this almost every visit I love it so much), the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread and the house smoked wild boar ribs. As a wine lover I also love that they have a solid selection that seems to rotate fairly often. If you get a chance, hit up their happy hour. Their street tacos are tasty and you can't go wrong with 5 dollar glasses of wine. Fabulous place!
(4)Jen G.
Don't be misled by Black Bottle's $8 menu ploy. No matter how great it seems that everything on the food menu is just $8, you can still wind up spending a small fortune for appetizers and drinks. Especially if you go there with more than two people. As we did not so long ago. Don't get me wrong - the food was decent. Our group of 15 or so tried a little of everything, from the chicken laab gai (fancy name for lettuce wraps), seven spice shrimp (TOO many spices going on in one dish to be enjoyable), prosciutto and bechamel flatbread (my favorite of the night), to the infamous blasted broccoli (a quick dip in the deep fryer is what makes this dish). All of it was tasty. And pretty good-sized portions, too. However, everyone kept reveling in the fact that each item only cost $8. Like, oh my god, it's only $8! Here's the thing: the reason this place can stay in business charging $8 for shrimp and steak appetizers is because they are also charging $8 for 50 cents worth of broccoli and potatoes and cauliflower. Somehow it all evens out in the end. Not to mention that a lot of their signature mixed drinks, namely the Kir Royale which most of us ladies partook, cost $8.50 each! In the end, our bill was more than $350. Divided up among the group, my husband and I spent $45 for a drink each (he was smart, he ordered a $4 beer) and a few bites of the dishes mentioned above. Black Bottle CAN be a bargain, if you go with a small group, stay focused, and order smartly. Don't be distracted by the hipster ambiance. Or else you'll need to finance your tab at the end of the night.
(3)Nicolette S.
Underwhelming. Service was just okay, bordering on inattentive. Food was immensely disappointing. Things were at odd temperatures, usually too cold like it had just been sitting in a fridge or lukewarm like it had been sitting around for a while after being cooked. Nothing tasted very fresh. Some items had ingredients that I didn't like, and they made me wish that they had been listed in the menu so I could have made a better informed choice. The caprese was not very good; I wish the tomatoes had been fresh or that the menu had mentioned that they were sun-dried so I could've chosen something else. Would not come back or recommend.
(2)Tim O.
Nice wine selection, delicious desserts and food for everyone to share. What a concept to have all of this under one roof. One warning: when it's full, it's hella loud. But that's part of the charm, right?
(5)Carly L.
It pains me not to give this place more stars, but there is a reason, but I will save it for the end. I went for a surprise bday dinner, and they do have great big tables to accommodate the big groups. The menu is extensive, and it was hard to make a choice. I settled on the flatbread of prosciutto and bechamel. I'm glad I did as it was amazing. Cooked to perfection, nice and rich sauce. I just stuck to beer and did like the wine selection as well. Everyone enjoyed their food, although our table ordered a few orders of the blasted broccoli and never received them. Our server was very attentive to our large group which got a little loud towards the end. Here is the reason why I have to give it less stars than I would like to. Looking at the wall while talking to a friend of mine, I noticed a nice size roach climbing up it. It was kind of hard to miss on the white wall.
(3)Kevin S.
Great little place in belltown. They've got great appetizers and a decent wine list (around 40 wines - lots of european wines). My personal favorite foods are the flat breads. My only real complaint about this place is that its sooo tough to get a table at unless its after 10 pm on a weekend. I should mention though it is a bit of an older belltown crowd - mid 30's type crowd.
(4)steve k.
Pros: Good food for the money. Really like the Hanger Steak. Convenient to Belltown and downtown residents. The staff are friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable about their offerings. Have always received good wine/food pairing advice. Nice, clean restaurant. Cons: Way too loud. Which means it's a typical Belltown joint. The volume knob on the music is set for twenty- and thirty-somethings who've blown their eardrums with their iPods. Would be nice if restaurant was separate. Too often the bar is filled with booze-swilling hipsters who still think shouting f**k every few seconds is cool. Which, again, means it's a typical Belltown joint. Go, but try to avoid the peak hours.
(3)John H.
Another "I never would have heard of this place if not for Yelp", and a great experience. Roomy for just a bistro when you take in to account the spacious backroom, and the waitress stayed on top of things The salads were a little on the generic side, but the seafood dishes were great, especially the mussels. Great pork tenderloin too, with unexpected spice. It's a real fun date spot, since the dishes are served in sequence and perfect for splitting.
(5)Denice M.
The reviews are plentiful, so I will just add that this is a great place to take a large group (of course, make reservations). I had a group of 10 out of town guests, and Black Bottle did not disappoint. We all picked 1-2 things and shared. It was wonderful because they brought out dishes as they were ready, so we basically continued to eat and drink the entire time. The atmosphere was lovely and the wine list provided a great selection. The menu showcased some of the greatest offerings of the Northwest and was a hit for my guests who had traveled from Texas, Puerto Rico, North Carolina, DC and LA. Great way to show off your city to newbies.
(5)Moira H.
I went here on a recent Thursday night for dinner with friends; we got there early (6ish) and the place was already pretty full. The space is nice; smallish, lots of window in the front, lively, and comfortable. The decor seemed muted and spartan, but it was busy enough that I couldn't really tell. The food was good, well portioned and well priced. We had the flatbread/eggplant-OK; hanger steak-really good; lemon/scallops-good; portabella mushroom-really good; dessert/tart-pie type thing with cream-OK; tiaramisu-really good. Wines by the glass were interesting in a good way. I look forward to going back even though our server, who was very nice, was a little spacey.
(4)Jason C.
Instantly one of my top 5 places to wine and dine in Seattle. Entrees hover between $9-12 and are generously portioned. My palate has always enjoyed the seasoning from a heavy hand, and this place did not disappoint. I'll admit the hanger steak was on the salty side, but it was delicious and perfectly cooked nonetheless. The popular kimchi pork belly was as breathtaking as it was innovative. I would also highly recommend the prosciutto and béchamel. It was one of those dishes that tasted phenomenally good piping hot and right out of the oven, but would taste just as good when stumbled upon on the kitchen counter after a night of drinking. I've always thought that the mark of a great meal was if it could be eaten after having been left for a few hours at room temperature. This way once the flavors have all had a chance to really get intimate, we'll have a chance to see how well they actually are together. It's kind of like my own little gastro-Real World episode. The service was quick and efficient. A glance at the cuisine and plate presentation will announce "fancy" and "pretentious". But the Afro-headed, Iron Man T-shirt wearing server will tell you instead "Yo, relax. And please enjoy". Thanks Afro-Iron Man, I did relax. And I really did enjoy.
(5)Charles D.
It was a dark and Stormy night sort of. Any way typical Seattle weather but the Black Bottle hit the spot. This place really did live up to expectations and more. The wine on hand was very good and the appetizers / tappas were just as good. The atmosphere was just right for a small group or if you are on a date. Although I had to say it was a bit chilly not sure if they just did not have the heat on or what but overall still tolerable. The staff seem very friendly and ready help. So bottom line take a chance and hit this wine bar you shouldn't be disappointed.
(4)KK Y.
You need to make a reservation on the weekend, otherwise, you should expect a wait. If you like a little spicy, the kimchi pork belly is a must try. I also tried the prosciutto flat bread, smoked chicken & cherry flat bread, and the hanger steak, they all have reasonable size. We had three girls, and it was well enough for us. The wine selection are also reasonably priced too. You can go by glass, but it was more cost effective to order a bottle if your party can share. The coconut plantain had sale, definitely not what we expected. If you like the salt, you might like it. Otherwise, I advise other dessert. I would definitely go again! Especially the server let us continue to chat even though we have paid and finished our dinner! Also, definitely a great place to hit for dinner before bar hopping around Belltown!
(5)Bryan J.
Great place to go the atmosphere is fantastic the food is good I highly recommend the flat bread it is to die for!! Great selection of wine and the staff is very helpful and always in good spirits!!
(3)aaron k.
Just a quick comment... the Herb encrusted Broccoli is awsome! I've only been here after 9p on fridays/saturdays, but the service has been good, atmoshpere was good, music was a variety of acid jazz, indy music, hard to hear over roar of the crowd. This place doesn't have a huge front room, but there are more tables in back. Great spot to get a healthy dish, mid-evening
(5)Lily P.
Per a suggestion, tried Black Bottle when visiting Seattle. Despite our awkward waitress, the experience was excellent. The wine and beer were great. We chose to slit a variety of small plates. My favorite were the fried olives. Amazing. We also had the steamed clams, 7 spice shrimp, and the brie leek french-country pesto flatbread. Also ordered the lemon ricotta cake to go. The shrimp, olives & beer were fantastic. Big portions, good scene, friendly patrons. Would totally go back.
(4)E S.
I'm giving Black Bottle the benefit of the doubt. I'm not a wine person, really. I like alcohol and all, and I don't _not_ like wine, but it isn't my first choice when I go out drinking. Black Bottle is a wine bar. There are some beers there (Mac and Jacks is always a win), but expect to drink some vino. My girlfriend got the house red, which wasn't bad at all. I had a preconceived notion about the atmosphere of the place. I expected dudes in tight black turtlenecks and girls in slinky black dresses. Well, there were those types, but also a lot more laid back folk. I was pleasantly surprised. I would have given this place a 3.5 for being a decent bar, just not my style bar. But without half stars, I can't justify rounding up for a place that just doesn't appeal to me.
(3)Jenny N.
I wish I could give it 3.5 stars here. I have been twice this year. Once, I sat at the bar with a friend where we shared 3 plates. (Almost too much food for two people, actually.) Then, I visited to celebrate a friend's birthday party. Some of the dishes are quite good, while others are uninspired. Service is attentive enough, though I was surprised at the lack of wine knowledge of the service staff. The bartender knew more than the servers about some of the wines. I guess I expect a little more at a place that puts in the effort to have a decent list. Good spot for meeting folks for a nosh and a glass. Not a spot I'd go to dine.
(3)Kristn K.
Location, atmosphere, wine, tapas, desert-- the Black Bottle does it all really well. The first time I was there, I had a banana desert that tasted like Jamaica-- it was not heavy or overpowering, and it was unique. The servers are helpful if you aren't sure what to order, and the interior is woody and dark...romantic, not pretentious.
(4)alexander s.
another one of my favorite gastrobars in seattle. Varied menu, good vegetarian choices. Like the vibe. Rent the back room out for a party, bring your own ipod and play DJ for the night. Yes. the broccoli is as good as everyone says.
(5)james w.
Pleasantly surprised :) What didn't we try? Flatbreads= both great, Broccoli= oh my god good, curry potato/cauliflower = good, Pork and Beef both good, Risotto = awesome, Tofu = good I had the premonition this place was going to be another trendy and snobby joint like others in Belltown. I was wrong! The service was excellent, drinks (sidecar) great and excellent wine selection. Most important though was the food. I will definitely be back to try the other half of the menu. Most dishes were $9 Take 3-6 people who are all into sharing.
(5)Pierre Trudeau I.
I don't really know how to write the 126th review of a place, but grabbing a few drinks at Black Bottle on a Saturday afternoon in Seattle was a cool experience.
(4)Mo B.
Amazing. I've consistantly have had great service there. Great food, I drumsticks and flat bread are delicious. I've reserved the private room and its a good size for small-medium sized birthday party. It has a nice vibe to it, not overly trendy but very neighborhoody. Staff is friendly. Highly recommended.
(5)Jeff S.
Went to Black Bottle last Friday night. They were full but found us a table very quickly. Service was friendly and fast. The menu is great and the food was fantastic. Defiantly will go back soon.
(4)Jason M.
What the heck is ceviche? It is darn good that is what it is. This place is really good and has an upscale hip atmosphere. We tried four different items: ceviche, cherry and chicken flatbread, lamb and hummus and the roasted vegetables. Every one was damn good and so were the desserts we got, fruit tart and chocolate cake. Highly recommended.
(4)Clayton B.
I like this spot. Great place for friends, you have to be with the tapas style. Good wine, in my personal opinion, better tapas. It's a wine bar but don't let the name fool you, good food is definitely on its radar.
(4)Jose G.
One of my favorite restaurant / wine bars in Belltown. Great food, reasonable prices, very good wine selection, nice deco and crowd. Its a bit hard to find a table, but it's worth the wait. Favorite dishes: chicken lab gai, the portobello, the broccoli and the flat breads
(4)Julia C.
My review is closer to three and a half stars. The food is good, but not great. The portions are relatively large for a small plate restaurant, but not large enough to provide a substantial portion to more than one person. Personally, I don't think small plates warrant entree-size prices; I hate leaving a restaurant hungry after spending lotsa dollars.
(3)Christine D.
Black Bottle has a NY vibe but that's about it. From an acoustics stand point it- if it's a packed house and you're on a date, you can forget about having a private conversation. It gets loud, very loud. I've had a few items on their menu but so far nothing's stood out from what I can recall.
(3)Anna S.
Not quite a bar and not quite a restaurant, but a 'gastro-tavern', the Black Bottle is wonderful! A little crowded, a little loud, but a lot yummy, and a lot of fun. If you're in the mood for a light dinner and some drinks after work, this is a great place to do it. None of the dishes are over 8 dollars, and the portions actually lean toward the generous side. Upon recommendation, my friend and I tried the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread (as I see someone else also did) and it was SO GOOD! We weren't expecting anything resembling a small, rectangular-shaped pizza to arrive at our table, but that's what showed up, and we were not disappointed. The stuffed artichoke salad was also a hit, although it did have a lot of garlic, so if you're going for a first date, steer clear of that one. The ambiance is somewhere between modern and industrial, what with the giant fan slowly rotating up above, which is nice because you aren't distracted while you're schmoozing and boozing. It was unbelievably crowded when I got there, and we had a short wait for a table, but it was around 7 o'clock, so I guess that's to be expected. The place seemed to clear out around 8:30, so if you're a late diner like me, be patient and let all the early birds get their worms in first.
(5)Sarah S.
Attended a surprise birthday party in the private room. It was comfortable with about 30 people. Two great bartenders, amazing food (but I should have eaten more of it because there was an open bar and that was dangerous), and about a $500 minimum, which was easily surpassed. Helpful staff- my only complaint was that the rest of the restaurant was so packed it was hard to move through the crowd.
(4)Richard C.
The place is a bit noisy and cramped. The food is brought out as it's prepared, so the waiting is minimal. However, it's hard to figure out they forgot your food at the same time. We were waiting on our pork belly for the longest time. One waiter said it was the slowest dish and not to worry, but a second waiter told us they had run out! This was 15-20 minutes after we had ordered. They made it up to us by making one of our desserts complimentary. Nice save! Other than that, the food was pretty good and the dessert delicious.
(4)Brandy H.
I just have to say it: I have had way too much fun here. Decent wine list, great food at reasonable prices, and a neighborhood crowd to keep things interesting. The weekends here are slammin' but during the week, you can belly up to bar no problem and just hang out. I'm addicted to Broccoli Blasted and the Peach and Blueberry Kettle tart, but there isn't a bad item on the menu. I highly recommend this place, and not just because it's three blocks away from where I live (I could practically roll home if I had to!).
(4)jil r.
I was very impressed with the food, portion sizes, and price. I adored the mussels in a tomato, garlicy wine sauce with bread. When everyone turned their head, I picked up the spoon and was eating the sauce out of the bowl! I wanted to take it home with me....so good... the blasted broccoli was pretty interesting, and the pork belly kimchee fell off the skewer, but had a lot of fat on it, but when you found the meat, it was very good. Cons: crowded and loud (on a Wed at 8pm), staff a little stuffy.
(4)Yana K.
What a way to celebrate the end of finals for the quarter! I've always wanted to come and eat here with my girlfriends, but it's a tight squeeze on the weekends. So, I picked up my friend Tanya yesterday (Tuesday), and we decided to try this place out. Tuesday night, and look at that, no problem getting a table at the bar. I also noticed that they added space in the back of the restaurant, mainly as a dining area. The room inside was all wood and pretty bare, but in a good way. Candles were used as lighting, and come on, who doesn't look amazing lit by candlelight? We sat down right away, and the bartender (I could kick myself now because I never got his name), welcomed us right away and took our drink orders. Tanya had a gin and tonic (very good), and I got a pomegranate martini. Can I just say that any place that gives you a martini as well as an extra container with more martini in it is a place that I would recommend to anybody! The flavors of the vodka and pomegranate mix blended beautifully and completemented the meal very well. Now onto the food. We decided we wanted to go with the flat bread right away. We wanted to get the roasted tomato and spinach, but they ran out in the kitchen so we went for the new item on the menu, it was a flat bread with scalions, black olives, and cheese (sorry, can't remember the kind). Very good and it came in a long serving dish cut into pieces, 6 in all. Per the bartenders recommendations, we also ordered the grilled portobello, which came sliced and on a bed of a butter bean salad. Everything was absolutely delicious! The portobello was grilled to perfection and is definetly something you should try even if you're not a vegetarian. Very meaty texture and the seasoning didn't overpower the flavor of the mushroom. The bean salad added just the right amount of smoothness and was an interesting cool contrast to the hot portobello. The flatbread was inredible! There was just the right amount of cheese, and the flavors of the scalions and olives fused wonderfully together. The best part of all of this is that all the plates are $8, which gives you enough of an incentives to sample a bite of everything. BE WARNED! The amount of food that you get for the price is a LOT! We were pretty full after the bread. Final word - please check this place out. And since everything on the menu looks good, don't be afraid to ask for recommendations. Our bartender described his favourite dishes, and listening to him made my mouth water. This guy needs his own radio show just painting tastes with words.
(5)Ann M.
Drinks and food are great. I had this rib dish that was to die for. The meat fell off the bone!!! And my cocktail was sooooo refreshing and good. It was a sakejito.
(4)Rebecca S.
I went here for dinner, but based on the prices ($9-13) was unsure if I would need 1-2 plates for a meal. I got two, the sausages and the beet au gratin, and definitely should have stuck with one. Both were full sized. I only ate the beets, and took the sausages to go, but the beets were fantastic. Overall, a great and well priced dining experience.
(4)RowerRob C.
Never had food here... but I've had my share of boozing here on numerous happy hours with colleagues. Good place to chill in the summer right after work.
(4)Dr. B.
This is another fantastic Seattle wine bar. The combination of cheap, high-quality food and a good and somewhat reasonably priced wine selection gives it a big thumbs up. The ambiance has a real industrial, European bar feel. This place is super busy on the weekends so you might want to get reservations if you're visiting on a Friday or Sat. I am somewhat of a regular here because of the food, rather than the wine. You would be hard pressed to find a better value for good food in Belltown. The place is consistent as I have been here 20 plus times and have never had a bad meal. Big winners include the steak, mussles provencale, smoked chicken/cherry flatbread and the hummus plate with lamb. My main complaint is that the wine selection is not very large. This is a wine bar and there should be more options by the bottle. The ones they have usually are very good but I think that they could improve in wine selection. The bottle markup isn't too bad and is usually about twice what it retails for. If you haven't been to this place, it is definitely worth a visit. If nothing else for the food.
(4)Jen K.
Excellent wine selection, delicious food (except the seven spice shrimp, ick), with a pleasant atmosphere. . . We ordered several small plates to share and a bottle of prosecco. The chicken laab gai, the prosciutto and bechamel flatbread, and the broccoli blasted were all fabulous. The service was alright, but could have been better. When it came time to get the bill, we weren't sure who to ask, as everything we ordered was delivered by a different person, and our orders were taken the same way.
(4)Art S.
I must admit that I was not drinking wine this night, so maybe this review is not fair since they specialize in wine, but I tasted a bunch of the food. I would have to say my review is mixed. I wrote a complete review at exploringseattle.com/201… . Check it out and see if you agree.
(3)Jim C.
Despite the long waits, limited parking, crowded seating area, dim lighting, and ear pounding music, Black Bottle is still one of our favorite places to visit in Seattle. Great food, great music, great ambiance.
(4)Jenna B.
What a great place!! After driving for half an hour in the pouring rain, we decided to dine at a modern and fun restaurant, and around the corner there was the Black Bottle. The portions are great for sharing, the service was fine, and the candlelit ambiance was perfect for the cold and rainy day. For dessert we shared the lemon curd ricotta cake. If you LOVE lemons then this is the dessert for you. It was tasty but after a few bites I felt like I was eating a bottle of Glade air freshner. Oh and the lavender crust..I'm personally not a fan of lavender. My taste buds experienced a Glade explosion!
(4)Sunil R.
Black Bottle is a great place to grab a drink and a light meal with friends, but if you're looking for a satisfying meal, this is definitely not the place. The appetizers are very tasty, and the wine menu is comprehensive. I would recommend this outing for a group of 4-6 or for a very casual, fun type of date.
(3)Mingalaba C.
A few reviewers have described the service as "rude and pretentious" - and I 100% agree. We arrived early (so no crowd) and the servers just stood around talking. We weren't greeted at our table until we were looking around to see if we were ever going to get served. While the drinks were great, the food was mixed. One plate came out frozen - with visible icicles on it. I literally bit into a block of ice. I had a sore tooth for a day. No apologies. No offer for a different appetizer. I expect it was nuked and re-plated. Service was typical Seattle service - so mediocre, but forgivable. But serving frozen food at a "gastro-tavern" is pretty much unacceptable. 2 stars only because the drinks saved the evening from being a disaster.
(2)Anna L.
One star off because the shrimp had legs. I usually like to be forewarned of such things since I can't bear to eat shrimp if I have to peel it or pull legs off. Otherwise the place was great and a really enjoyable dinner. We loved the fried tofu and the peanut sauce was excellent. I usually don't like places that are this crowded but we were able to get in without reservations and had a table right away. It was really lovely after just getting into the city and we appreciated the recommendation that we received from the Ace Hotel.
(4)Johnny P.
I'm going to limit myself to a paragraph. Service was awkward and unwelcoming; we had 3 different servers and all of them were awkward and stilted. The beer (the local lager) was a diacetyl bomb, which was completely uncalled for because it was a local brew, you think they would get the keg changed out every once and awhile. Finally, whoever chose the music was obsessed with Amy Winehouse and Aerosmith. Go to Toulouse Petit instead.
(2)Laura W.
Starting point 3 stars- which is akin to neutral ground. Earn one star for super friendly staff: bartender made a great impromptu Canton cocktail; the hostess gave a great recommendation. Earn one more star for excessive value (although my POV has been called skewed thanks to 4 years in Manhattan). However- we got food from each section of the menu: friend chicken, eggplant rollitini, fried olives, 7-spice shrimp and a brie & leek flatbread in addition to 2 cocktails for $56 (not including tip), which was an excessive amount of food for 2 girls. Sadly, I have to take a point off because quite a few of the food items were very salted (and I like salty). This is also a product of poor ordering on my part though: it's a given that collard greens with ham hock (comes with fried chicken) will be salty due to the ham! Olives are salty by nature, as is brie cheese. Thus it comes out to a very strong four stars though~ thanks to the people, the price points and the merits of the fried chicken which was the stand out favorite of the evening.
(4)Chris G.
I really enjoyed the food and ambiance at this place. I like restaurants that have great ambiance, good food at a reasonable price, a lively crowd and good service, and this place had it all. My favorite dish off of the menu was the broccoli blasted. Who knew that broccoli could taste so good, damn!!! Oh yeah, the eggplant caponata mozz flat bread and the Spanish fried oliver were tasty too.
(4)Danielle G.
LOVE this place. Yeah, it's usually always busy, but the food is always spot-on. They also have a "special" menu for people with dietary restrictions (dairy-free, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan) which makes me especially happy.
(5)Britni L.
I ate here the weekend we moved down to belltown! We where starving, tired & wanted to get some food to go from somewhere nearby. We live about 5 min walking distance & my partner had suggested the restaurant, so we called in & left within a few minutes & food was ready to go by the time we go there! We got quite a bit of items that where all tasty, it's not too pricey unless you start going bananas & want one of everything lol!
(4)Julie S.
OMG. Black bottle is hands down my favorite restaurant in Belltown! I have come here multiple times and have always been so happy with both the food and service! They also get major points because they have a gluten-free menu (as well as lists of dishes for other allergies/dietary restrictions). My favorites are the fried tofu with peanut sauce and broccoli. They have a great selection of wine and cocktails. Black bottle is perfect for any occasion. Seriously! Dinner, snack, hot date, birthday party. YUM.
(5)Tarryn J.
I cannot fault Black Bottle's service, food, wine and overall dining experience. I've eaten there once, which then inspired me to go ahead and book the private bar for my husband's 30th birthday party in June. Our first dining experience saw us enjoying great wine, amazing service, fabulous sample of food (their pork belly is to die for!). When we mentioned we were thinking of hosting a party here, our waiter promptly took us on a tour of the private room and discussed all of the options with us. In the months leading up and on the day of the party, Paul was very organized, customer focused and wanted to ensure our party went off without a hitch. Similar to another reviewer's experience, I showed up the afternoon of the party with my hands full of balloons, decorations and a huge cake and the staff were very quick to help me. Then, at the party, we were given the most amazing, friendly, fun server who was all ours for the whole night! Her name escapes me now, but she was from Hawaii and made the most amazing margaritas for our guests (you know who you are!). Everyone loved her and her flexibility and willingness to ensure we all had a great night. The food that was served throughout the night was ALL AMAZING and our guests were all really happy with the selection we (and Paul helped) had chosen to serve. My favorites were definitely the hanger steak, brocolli blasted and of course my number 1 fave - pork belly! I would highly recommend Black Bottle as a casual dining restaurant for two, a place to meet and drink wtih friends and of course an amazing private function location for large groups. They are well set up for all and it's obvious everyone who works there is passionate about the food, wine, cocktails and of course their customers. Keep it up Black Bottle, we will be back for more soon!
(5)Mark K.
We waited about 10 minutes to be seated, then order 3 of the large Tapas orders. Two that stuck out were the Prosciutto wrapped potatoes and the chicken/cherry bread - fantastic food. The atmosphere reminded me of The Bin 182 Tapas bar in Vancouver, BC, very loud and energetic. I was in the mood for some high energy and had a great time. If you are looking for a quiet place to relax this is probably not a good scene. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because the seating/waiting can be confusing, but in my opinion should not deter you from enjoying this fantastic restaurant/bar.
(4)Shannon W.
I've ended many a nasty belltown night at black bottle but that certainly does not win the stars here. The highlight of my black bottle experience is dinner... DELICIOUS! We had some sort of antipasti deal with olives, fried cheese balls, etc. Pretty much pure deliciousness on a platter. I had the cumin pork tenderloin, VERY good. They also have Hoegaarden which wins me over any day. To top this off, it costs about the same as a nasty burger at red robin. If your only experience with this place is the bar (typical belltown blah) then you should definitely try dinner sometime.
(4)Michele L.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Not a single thing passed through my lips that was not delicious bordering on divine. And there are orchids in the bathroom. Just sayin'. We started off with cocktails: I had the crimson drop (blood orange, lemon, and vodka) and my boyfriend got the Saint Sake (which I thought taste lichi-ish..mm). Next we started with the small plates, which are actually of decent size - enough for a really satisfying helping, with plenty to share around. Who would have thought edamame, capers, and squid would make a great salad? GREAT salad. We sampled the wild roasted boar ribs (mainly because it sounded sort of awesome to eat wild boar). And don't miss the flatbreads... we had brie, leeks, and olives on top and it was divine, and very filling. At one point my friend on the other side of the table said "Are you enjoying that?" (sarcastically) because I couldn't stop exclaiming every time I took a bite. And after all that deliciousness, we couldn't pass up on the desserts... Highly recommend the fried plaintains with coconut ice cream and the ricotta lemon curd with lavendar crust cheesecake. Wow. Wow. and Wow. And the bathroom has orchids. The service was understated and great - no rushing us out, they were great about our big group, and the food was made to order but didn't take excessively long to arrive. Also many gluten free options - that was the reason this spot was picked.
(5)helen t.
Another one of my Belltown favorites. The menu is interesting and in-expensive, even though they did raise some prices in the last year. My favorite is that portella dish with broad beans. I'm drooling just thinking about it!
(5)Dae Y.
the company was great, the drinks were great, the blackened broccoli was very tasty. lucky for me my friends got there earlier and had a table already.
(4)Kristin J.
Freaking AWESOME. Everything was rich and tasty, even surprising at times. Had the blasted broccoli, prosciutto wrapped potato cakes, fried chicken and greens, flatbread with greens and the meatball/hummus dish- all wonderfully tasty. Loved being able to share the food because they were all small plates - genius idea. It was totally crazy, loud and busy, but worth the wait and noise. AND wont break the bank, such a reasonable price for a fantastic dinner. Bravo.
(5)Geoff T.
Such tasty food - love the flatbreads in particular. It's a comfy place to sit in, people watch, and just order at random off the menu. The wines are always terrific. As noted by others, though, the staff needs to learn how to pay attention to its customers. They're friendly enough but seem distracted by hanging out in the back to chit chat with one another. Remember, waiters/waitresses: pay the right amount of attention and your tip from me will show it.
(4)Christopher F.
Well executed interior design. Solid food with perfect portions. The flavors were excellent but could have been carried furthered. The chef really needs to go all the way and it will be a big winner. Wait staff was attentive and friendly even on a Sunday night. Great place to meet for a drink or go on a date.
(4)Mandy C.
As a further yelp-speriment, I walked into Black Bottle with no idea what to find. I had a glass of the shiraz-malbec and the menu was as follows: (1) pork belly with kimchi - really delicious. Tender. The kimchi had a tiny kick to balance out the sauce the belly skewers were laid upon; I thought it was sweet, maybe orange/marmaladey, something orange color and glaze-y. I clearly had no idea but it was sweet and the kimchi was hot. Nice balance. (2) prosciutto & bechamel flatbread - Good. Quite crunchy, almost too much so, but still tasty. The bechamel, to me, tasted like quite rich alfredo so that's something to keep in mind. (3) broccoli blasted - I hear this is a hit at the place but I would describe this was 'crunchy dustbunnies.' The poor broccoli was charred and lacking any of its original joie de vivre (and moisture).. I tried at least a dozen florets but could not get my head around it. Apparently it's seasoned with salt, pepper & garlic salt but I didn't taste anything but charred, dried-out broccoli. If you love it, keep on loving it. I mean it. As for me, I prefer my broccoli steamed and have some life left in it... (4) ceviche mahi mahi - I don't care for raw red onion OR cilantro so you can guess how I felt about this dish. The fish was fine but all I could taste was the overpowering taste of two things I don't care for. (5) coconut plaintain cup - The coconut ice cream (or gelato, I forget which), was extreeeeemely flavorful and I found myself quite fond of it when I don't really grab for anything coconut-flavored usually. The plantain 'chips,' in a complete reversal, were flaaaay-vo-less. No taste. Not inspiring. You had to dip it in the ice cream to give them some life. (I heard the pear sorbet was bad so I steered completely clear of it. Sad day.) I will go back again and try all new dishes while asking for more descriptions. I like the atmosphere; full of people drinking wine and trying new food combinations. I enjoyed that part a lot. Sometimes yelp-speriments are successful and sometimes they hit a bit of a wall. All in all, this place was a creative twist on tapas and I will be back for another review in a few month's time.
(3)Ryan K.
This place has a great ambiance. It's a dark place that almost feels like a speakeasy. The food is great and the drinks are nice. On the weekends it can be crowded and a little noisy inside.
(4)dave m.
Great place for drinks and some food. Everything I've had is excellent, but the oxtail is one you can't pass up. Small plates that are perfect for sharing.
(4)Karen Y.
Just off the main strip of belltown on the first avenue sits the Black Bottle. The Black bottle only has one downside it can take a long time to be seated and serve. However once you battle this experience the food is very good. My favourite is the natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso which is very clean on the taste buds and of course their famous blasted broccoli. This is the only place in Seattle where people will order broccoli and feel very happy with themselves because they are raving fans of this dish. Another favourite of my friends is the flat breads - filling fun and scrummy - the most popular is the prosciutto and bechamel. If you are going to have one dessert then let me save you some time the best one is peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream. If you want a decent chocolate experience don't come here go to Tango; however if you want buttery pastry and lashing of real cream ( you pour not them ) and fresh fruit then it doesn't get better than this.
(4)Kaitlyn M.
This place was on my list. I keep a list of places I need to try- if only for the satisfaction of checking them off once I am done. I am freakishly organized like that. Anyways, too much information? Whatever, I finally made it to Black Bottle. I loved it. Great ambiance. It's dark but the candles give the place a warm glow and its got great energy. For some that may translate into, this place is loud, but for me that brings a place to life. The food was fabulous too- shared an assortment of small plates, the most memorable of which was the hangar steak and the french country flatbread. Oh my god the flatbread! So good! Enjoyed a cocktail, or two, and I can't in good conscience say I was that impressed by them. And still being impressed that not everything is served in red plastic cups- that kind of says a lot. Perhaps I should've gone with the wine? Our server was so-so, one of our dishes wasn't brought out until at least 30 minutes after our others were nearly finished- which is just poor form. The ambiance and quality of the food made up for his general disinterest in actually serving us though. Great place to go with a friend, a group, a date- hell, maybe even by yourself! I'll definitely be back.
(4)Jeremy W.
Belltown's Hot Spot. This place is always bustling and it can get pretty crouded and loud. They have a decent wine list, and a tapas menu that ranges from $9-$12 per plate. I expected small portions, but saw a couple nearby with the biggest plate of brocolli I have ever seen. The menu is interesting, ranging from chicken with sun-dried cherries to "french country" bread covered with cheeses, spinach, and olives. Our plate was overcooked making portions of the bread hard as a rock, but the server noticed before we did, and notified us without prompt that we would only be charged half-price for the food. Great atmosphere, service, and prices. Somewhat limited and unusual selecton, but overall pretty good food. It's a great date spot, and I will return.
(4)Amber P.
Don't be intimidated by all of the trendy, dressed-to-the-nines diners crowding the bar, Black Bottle is just as relaxed as any Seattle eatery, but the food is AMAZING! The interior is sparse, yet posh, yet romantic. Don't go alone, the food is served family style and it would be a shame to miss out on sampling from several dishes. My favorite dish is the chicken laab gai; it's a zesty dish eaten in romaine lettuce wraps- SO yummy!! The flat breads are worth it. If you like dessert, try the chocolate cake with gelatto; it's a warm chocolate cake, drizzled with caramel sauce, and vanilla gelatto served inside. While Black Bottle is technically a wine bar, they also have really skilled bartenders and a great selection of alcohol.
(5)Mario S.
Fried olives. Breaded, filled with cheese. Mind blowing. The "blasted broccoli" and brie/foccacia/spinach/dried cherry thing are super awesome, too. The restaurant has a good, candle-lit vibe and a natural feel from all the wood and metal. It's in Belltown without being too Belltown-y.
(4)Bigdog T.
Excellent Meal! The Gold Creek oysters, seven spice shrimp and broccoli blasted were all awesome.
(5)Matt Y.
Oh my. It might consider itself a wine bar, but Black Bottle certainly has the food to match their great wines. Bonnie and I felt like hitting up a loungey-type place, so we took the oh-so-lovely 520 down into Belltown and sat at the bar. By 5:30pm, pretty much all the tables were taken or reserved. Good to know for future trips. Of which there will be many. The wine list was solid; we ended up settling on an Argentinian Malbec that we were very satisfied with. The bartender was super friendly and engaged us in conversation most of the night, but not too much where we weren't able to dig in. And dig in we did! The food is tapas-style. The Smoked Boar Ribs were incredible - deliciously....smoky! Half dozen oysters? They actually gave me 7 since a couple were smallish, and they were clean and meaty. The potato and prosciutto wheels were a nice twist on the classic potato appetizer...think bacon-wrapped scallops, but with prosciutto and mashed potatoes instead! They were great, and served with a balsamic reduction dip that I loved. But the highlight? The Laab Gai. I've had a lot of different takes on this dish, and as anyone who's had it before knows, it can be ruined very easily, as it requires a very delicate balance of its ingredients. One misstep can overwhelm you with one specific taste and ruin the plate. This was absolutely perfect. Delicious, served with fresh romaine sleeves...I finished it all. Not a drop left. The best I've ever had! And speaking of the good service, and talking dessert wines with the bartender, out of the blue he offered us a sampling of their ice wine and a vigioner dessert wine at the end of our meals. Super nice gesture, and we loved the samplings so much, we each had a couple glasses of each wine. What a great way to top off such an enjoyable meal! The atmosphere, the service, the food, the wine. Amazing! Can't wait to go back.
(5)G P.
This place is just 'fine.' Since their name was 'black bottle,' I thought they would have more of a wine selection, but the ones that we decided to order were good. The food was alright, nothing memorable. We tried 4 dishes, laab gai, flatbread, hanger steak and the ceviche. The laab gai tasted like mooshy chicken w/some citrus. Hanger steak was decent, and I digged how they served it w/daikon. After talking to some friends, I have decided I will have to come back and try couple more dishes. Perhaps, I ordered the wrong dishes? But...shouldnt all the dishes be fab? As for the space, tight but cute/cozy space - and the bartenders were friendly and helpful.
(3)Andrew H.
Great food. A bit pricy ($60 for two with tip; one drink between the two of us) but not bad for a nice date. Service could use a little work, as it seemed one hand didn't know what the other's doing and a few orders almost got lost, but I like the menu enough to not care. The tapas-esque approach is good, and the portions were much bigger than I had expected. I especially like their seafood...the mussels and scallops were fantastic, highly recommended. We had a chocolate cake for dessert which was good but too sweet.
(4)Jeremy S.
This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Great food, healthy alternatives, brilliant atmosphere and a very unique menu. Most everything on the menu is $8.
(5)Tony S.
If you can bear the wait for a table your taste buds will thank you. The Black Bottle is what I can only describe as a Seattle interpretation of a tapas bar. The menu isn't split into entrees, main course etc. but into meat, fish, vegetables, flatbreads and other assorted goodies. First let's get some things cleared up. I hate to break it to you but the flatbreads are actually pizzas, somewhat reminiscent in shape to the Findus French Bread Pizza of my childhood but far far tastier. Secondly Cava and Processco are not champagne, nor is Cremant. If I ask the bar person what champagnes they have I do not expect to be given a list of imposters. But you know me, I'm funny like that. So to the food, you may think from my somewhat prickly opening that I don't like this place but this is far from the truth. The wait staff do a great job of explaining how it works and will recommend you order a few plates and add to the order if you are still hungry. The food turns up very quickly so you are never waiting that long to fill your belly. We ordered up a saffron risotto cake, prosciutto pizza, sorry flatbread, some home made sausages braised with mustard and the mahi mahi ceviche. Well lubricated by a couple of G&Ts each we started off with the ceviche. It was lacking sharp notes from the citrus and was very orangey, overall this dish didn't work. I love the fact they partner the mahi with orange but it needed a big dollop of sharpness to prevent it from tasting too desserty. The flatbread was everything you would not expect it to be, the dough was crisp on the outside, soft and unctuous on the inside. The tomato sauce and proscuitto married well with a rich creamy bechamel and really made this dish a success, if not a flatbread. The saffron risotto cake was very tasty, if a little unremarkable with the rice being a tad on the soft side for my tastes but the highlight of the meal were the house made sausages. Braised gently in a beer and mustard broth it hit every button. To make a sausage impressive to an Englishman is a rare feat indeed but they managed to pull of a meaty yet soft and succulent sausage dish. The mustard did not overpower and all the flavours got equal billing. I am still sitting here and thinking of those sausages and I am salivating.
(4)Michael D.
I came here out of a suggestion from the concierge. I needed a place to go to detox after client drinks where I could get bar food. This totally fit the bill. I was a little inebriated so I don't remember everything I ordered but the wild boar ribs stood out - they were succulent with tons of meet! Great ambiance, great food, great price. I'd come back and suggest it to a friend!
(4)Rick L.
Pork Belly...Kim Chi....Mae Ploy...TOGETHER AT LAST!!! Who knew the three would play together so famously :D You must try this dish, yes I know...Pork Belly is on every menu now, but seriously, the dish delivers. The richness of the pork belly is offset by the tart, spicy kim chi...mmm... * mouth waters* Larger than I expected, Black Bottle still manages to feel comfy. The Flatbreads are of good portion and very tasty. My friend told me his fav dish was the blasted broccoli...in his own words, "it's a HUGE plate of broccoli!!" well...we passed only to notice the table next to us with a HUGE plate of broccoli being delivered. The two said out loud, "WOW, That's a LOT of broccoli!!" When asked, they weren't impressed. Hey, if you choose to order broccoli blasted in salt I'm not sure what you expect. That aside, I really enjoyed my meal at Black Bottle. My only warning is even with reservations, you may wait on busy nights.
(4)Callie K.
My least favorite overall meal experience during our trip to Seattle and sadly, per all the rave reviews, the one meal I had been looking the most forward to. My boyfriend said it perfectly when he whispered to me, "Man, does this place think highly of itself or what?... maybe it should be a little humbler?" Very true. It's pretty obvious this is a very trendy and hot spot right now. Ladies & gents were dressed to the nines and there was a strong feeling of eating there to be seen there or to be able to tell your friends "Oh yeah, we dined at Black Bottle over the weekend, it was divine..." blah, blah, blah. We arrived 10 minutes before our reservation and were sat 30 minutes later at one of the more awkward tables near the back of the front room, right next to the kitchen where waiters kept swishing by, knocking my purse off of my chair repeatedly while doing so. Food: We shared 4 plates which was actually too much food. I suggest sharing 2-3 plates between two people. We had the shrimp (for BF of course, complete with eyes and all! yikes!), blasted broccoli (not great as previously raved about- a little on the salty, crunchy over done side), curried potato & cauliflower, and fried tofu w/peanut sauce(my favorite, basically deconstructed spring rolls). We also shared the tiramisu which was a little dry but I loved that it was drenched in a whip cream foamy substance- mmmmm...... Strengths: Reasonably priced tapas as well as affordable wines to choose from. We got a delicious bottle of bubbly for under $40. Weaknesses: Obnoxious trying too hard crowd, annoying wordless mood music playing, and a little holier than thou vibe being projected by all employees as in "You should feel lucky just for eating here cause we are where it's at". And not to nitpick, but they may think about losing the cheesy giant metal revolving thing that projects a shadow on what could be just a cool exposed brick wall. Clearly over hyped, I'd skip it.
(2)Walter E.
Nice wine list and a decent but small beer selection The blasted broccoli is so tasty! Tried the scallops wrapped in bacon, very good. The waitress gave us for free to try a cauliflower dish that was a mistake. Not a fan, kind of bland but looked nice and hey...it was free! Il'l be back.
(4)Jeff W.
- flat breads - good red meat - blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... blasted broccoli ... - bring friends - reasonably priced wine selection I think more highly of this place than I should. The Belltown crowd can be out in full f
(4)Z Z.
I live across the street from this little gem, so I consider it to be my Kitchen. Afterall, if I lived in a mansion, it would be. I thought the Chicken and Cherry flatbread was dope, until I had the French Country flatbread and died. So good, and a great price. The Broccoli is amazing- don't laugh, I don't know what they do to it, but it starts out as broccoli and ends up being a little bite of heaven. The curried potatoes are excellent, as well as the Ahi. I happen to like the crowd here- especially compared to the rest of the 1st Avenue set. If Amber or Tia Lou's is the Yin, then Black Bottle is the Yang. Somehow all of the meat heads and over-cologned guys and their poorly dressed, over done girlfriends couldn't walk far enough in their impractical shoes to get to Black Bottle. Thank God.
(5)Frederick G.
The only reason for 4 stars is no parking and was a little chaos...we were there with a big group of 40 ppl and we were all over the place ...and the whole back room was free except for 1 table of out group...but the food was awesome...i mean awesome...i am a foodie and love to eat and this was such a great place to eat (not large groups) but the brocolli was great and kim chee with pork belly was tasty all the flat breads (we tried them all My fav was the french country) the service was good...so get there early and have fun ...if you are in a rush not the place to go ...go when you have the time to enjoy the space and spent good times with good people ... Lunch will be starting soon from what the owner told us BTW
(4)Joe F.
very dark, very noisy, great good, great service
(4)Mitch M.
If you can get into this place you won't go wrong! I go often and I haven't had a thing I didn't like. Busy busy busy... You can barely hear yourself think! Great staff, great food, great prices. Oh yeah, parking is a major pain in the ass, but it is Belltown after all.
(5)Raquel F.
Off tha heezy for sheezy! I love this place..the food is great, ambience is great, and the bartenders are fabulous! Great wine selection and variety of food. Not your typical pretentious belltown digs.
(5)Amy F.
What a great place, this is my favorite joint in Belltown and has the least "Belltown-ey vibe" that you can get on 1st Ave. Though if you're looking for an over crowded meat market with over priced drinks that stinks like sweat and stale booze and 12 different types of cheap cologne then Amber is just up the street and just what you're looking for. However if you're looking for delicious and affordable and creative food and a nice glass of wine and a warm and comforting atmosphere then this is your spot. The hanger steak is classic and always delicious but I dare you to try the pork belly with kimchi and the broccoli as a side, this is my go to dish every time I go to BB now. I used to come here way back when I wasn't completely familiar with the menu and order things at random just to see what I would get and I was never disappointed. They keep me coming back, and the larger than usual glass pour selection of bubbly doesn't hurt either.
(5)Kasey H.
Nice atmosphere and the food is always good and while It's rare for me to gush about a vegetable - but try the blasted broccoli, it will forever change your feelings about broccoli.
(4)Vincent V.
appetizers amazing + waiter was amazing + wine was amazing = im coming in again and again.
(5)mamalicous M.
A coworker and I went here after work for some tension release. This place has a definite "mood" to it. It is warm,dark and cozy . Perfect place to relax. It barely has anything in the way of decor. Their walls are as bare as people who just move into apartments and are afraid to put up any artwork so they don't lose their deposit. What they did have in way of decor is very natural like driftwood. They have a nice selection of wines and surprisingly they were reasonably priced. We also split the curried vegetables and potatoes. It was good, little on the dry side but that could be the spices they used in preparation. Even though we were there during a week night they seemed to be doing good business. The crowd was more of the professional/executive variety. Not the type of guys that call each other Brah, or girls that out-drunk each other. If you have attended at least one of your high school reunions and another could be approaching and you are looking for a place to feel at ease and blend with others that have done the same then I would recommend coming here. If that isn't a good enough hint-great place for thirty-somethings to meet.
(4)Kylene A.
Recently celebrated a friend's birthday here and LOVED it. Between the Pinot Noir and the great food, I will have to come back. We tried the portobello mushrooms, hanger steak and fried tofu. Each dish was better than the last. I can't wait to try the desserts next time.
(4)Joshua M.
I really like the minimalist design of the place, but the food wasn't memorable and it was extremely crowded and noisy. I'd probably give it a second chance, but all of my friends hated it more than I did so I guess we won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Sara E.
I love this place. It looks great down to every little detail - the industrial feel of the light fixtures, the big sliding door separating the dining room and the bar, even the warning against drinking to pregnant women is cool (check it out, it's right above the toilet tank in the ladies room). Plus, it feels good in there whether it's packed full or totally empty. Black Bottle is far enough North that it avoids the meat-market, Belltown feel (although I've heard that that crowd is starting to spill over on Friday and Saturday nights, unfortunately). Plus, the staff is great. They are all really friendly and sweet. Armin is, I think, one of the best bartenders that I have ever met, simply by constitution. He is so gracious, and friendly, and really makes everyone feel that they are genuinely welcomed at his bar. He's a sweetheart. The food is great too, and pretty cheap. Yes, everything is $8. I'm obsessed with the lemon squid salad - juicy squid mixed with sweet, crisp frisee, lemon, capers, and crunchy croutons. It's perfect and I order it every time I go there. I am now adding a star after watching the bartender throw out a certain former GM of McCormick and Schmick's who uses the word "fuckin" as often as most people use "and" or "the" and has an uncanny ability to hear a woman coming from miles away in order to harass her who shall unfortunately remain nameless. The best part was that as soon as the altercation began, his friend silently walked around to the other end of the bar, downed his beer, and left, instead of sticking around to back him up. Looks like even his "friends" know he's insufferable. My friends and I actually applauded after this joker finally left. I love Black Bottle.
(5)Lydia P.
We went here recently to have a reunion of sorts with a dear friend who was visiting from the UK. Having never been here before, I was a little concerned that this place looked a little small for what was sure to turn into a rather large/boisterous group of 12-15 people, but oh joy... there's a back room with a huge table... and it was available!!! First, we dealt with the important stuff... ordering wine and beer for the whole table. Then I opened the menu. Nothing on it was over $8!!! I couldn't believe it!! A bar/restaurant in Belltown with reasonable prices??!?!? Unheard of. And the offerings actually sounded very appealing. Here's what we ordered: -Cumin Pork Tenderloin: Over seasoned and a little dry.. least popular dish at our table. I don't think we even finished it. - Fresh Sardines Namban: Ooooohhhhh!!! Yummy! I love sardines, and these had what I think was some sort of citrusy sauce with thin slices of fennel. Very popular with our gang... finished 2 orders in no time. -Seven Spice Shrimp: Good simple dish. A little spicy (as the name might lead you to conclude), but nice. And the shrimp weren't overcooked... hate that! -Curried Potatoes and Cauliflower: We ordered this for our token vegetarian... but we all wound up snarfing it down. Tasty!... Though it took wayyyyy longer for this to get to the table than the other items. -Prosciutto and Bechamel Flat bread: A thing of simple beauty, served up in a pretty rectangular fluted tart tin. -Roasted Tomato and Spinach Flat bread: It was wayyyy at the other end of the table, so I didn't get to try it, but it seemed to have gone over really well. My two favorites of the evening were the sardines and prosciutto flat bread. The wine was good, and the boys seemed content with their pints. All in all a nice change from the dive bars we used to frequent on a frighteningly regular basis.... not that I don't enjoy a good dive bar!!! But this was surprisingly civilized for our gang... we must be growing up. Awwwww...... :-)
(4)Kristin S.
This was pretty good. I like ordering lots of small foods, and things that you can share (this way I can sample more things!). I particularly liked the flat breads here. The aura here is quite nice as well.
(4)Julie Z.
The small plates were well prepared, I had the chicken drumsticks, pizzas, artichoke dip and satays. The chocolate cake was very moist and served warm. Service was attentive without being overbearing. For private dining, I think they need to check how big the party is before setting the place up. Our company booked the backroom and stuffed it with almost 30 people, it was so crowded I couldn't enjoy the food.
(4)Bob L.
GREAT FOOD. Four of us had 5 dishes and ate family style and I loved everything. Bruschetta was fantastic, the Curry potatoes as well -- the vegetarian at the table was in heavan. Major singles spot though, everyone had the moves down -- eye contact, then check for the ring....positive ring test, turn away and resume drink. Repeat.
(4)Lani A.
Pretentious and inattentive. Food was good, the setting is stylish but very dark (and I was there during lunch in the summer) but nothing really wowed me here. Prices for salads and lunch fare were about mid-range. Seriously, if I'm downtown and I want lunch, there's a million other places to go nearby that are just as fine with more responsive servers. I literally had to stand up and wave to get some attention. They get a big fat *yawn* from me.
(3)J J.
Maybe because we went on a Friday night, the service could've been better. They weren't attentive and I felt ignored half the time. Total hipster hangout - reminded me of NY for some reason. The appetizer we ordered was good, but it is really hard to have a conversation bc It is really loud and packed.
(4)Hong D.
Amazing food. You have to try the broccoli orgasm thing. Absolutely wonderful.
(4)sasaw A.
Stopped by for a really late dinner/snack and had a wonderful visit despite the shenanigans at the bar! There are just some things better out of my line of vision while I'm eating (i.e. seeing a girl lip lock from girl to girl to guy). I had samplings of various appetizers and I really loved the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries. Who would have guessed how well chicken, cherries, and cheese are together??! I also thoroughly enjoyed my sakejito-lemongrass, mint, and lime are the perfect combo! All in all, the ambience was great and food was tasty to boot!
(4)Cassie L.
I never thought I would recommend broccoli in a review, but there it is. If you're a broccoli lover, go to Black Bottle and order it immediately. It's fab. Also, the mussels are good too. Unfortunately, the rest of the dishes I've had there lacked flavor, but the wine list and the bartenders more than make up for it. It's got a great vibe and I adore the decor. If the food weren't so blah, I'd give it more stars!
(3)Laural B.
Delicious dishes. Decent wine.
(4)Melissa F.
Sad to admit I'm becoming a regular, but this has become my favorite bar in Seattle! I love the space and the food is outstanding and affordable. The prosciutto/bechamel flatbread is yummy, as is the steak. But really, haven't tried any food I don't like there. The bartenders are really friendly and take good care of the customers. The last couple of times we've sat at the bar and people have been really friendly as well, which is refreshing in Seattle. The crowd is more of a 30s+ crowd which is also a refreshing change from the belltown scene.
(5)WilJim T.
Great food, good prices. Make sure you get there early on the friday and saturday night, it fills up really fast. Where's the banana flam bay? They took away my favorite dessert there. But nonetheless their great food trumps the bad decision to cut the flam bay
(4)Shanelle D.
I would have given Black Bottle 5 stars, but today's service was horrible. I have been here 3 other times and have always had rad service and yummy food, so I organized a group of work friends to go for some well deserved drinks. When we got there, the hostess was very rude and kind of pushed us towards our table. The worst part was our server! I understand that we were a little disorganized and added 2 more people than originally planned, but our server punished us for it. She rolled her eyes, walked away while we were ordering, and was obviously talking about us to other servers. I have worked in the restaurant business for many years and I would never treat a table that way. That server ruined the experience, but I will go back and just make sure I don't get her! Make sure you get the broccoli! It's the main reason I keep going back!
(4)eve l.
4.5 stars. the chicken and cherry flatbread was insane! i disagree with other reviewers who thought this place was expensive with their $9 dishes. quantities are very large for a "design-y" restaurant such as this, and the quality of the food was excellent. this place was a bargain.
(4)Nina N.
Great ambiance.. reminds me of SF!!! great looking people... great food.... great drinks.. So my favorite spot!!!! word of advice : get there early!! or make reservations!!
(5)Winona R.
Black Bottle is actually one of my favorite restaurants, and here's why... I LOVE wine. They have a great wine list and the price for a bottle of wine is not bad at all because they don't mark it up as much as some other places. This is actually where I discovered my favorite Pinot Noir- Cooper Mountain pinot noir, which is organic and frankly, amazing. The food is also very, very good. I've had the curried potatoes and cauliflower (suprisingly, amazing and one of my new favorites), the grilled portobello with butterbean salad (the butterbeans are a perfect complement to the portobello), proscuitto and bechamel flatbread (I love this with the pinot noir, even if I feel like a tool because I can't say bechamel), chicken laab gai (not too spicy, a bit gingery if I remember), and the hanger steak/daikon shiso (continued awesomeness). Between two people, ordering two of the small plates is probably enough, but it's hard not to order three so you can taste more things, which I definitely encourage! Also, the pear sorbeto with candied lavendar is very refreshing. I loved it. I think this is a great place for a romantic date, by the way. Love the lighting, the bartenders are great, and did I mention the great wine?
(5)Aimee H.
This is probably my favorite restaurant in downtown Seattle. I like the atmosphere, the small plates you can share with friends and the French Country Flatbread which is delicious!
(5)Stephanie P.
Blasted broccoli....do I need to say anymore?
(4)Natala M.
Black Bottle is one of my favorite places in Seattle because it has a hip but not pretentious atmosphere. I originally thought that "black bottle" meant it was a whiskey / scotch bar. but it's not, its more of a winebar with a great selection. But i always seem to order a martini. The food is great -- particularly if you have a larger group. It's all small plates. I also love the lighting -- kinda romantic but not so romantic you can't go with friends. I've done a bunch of birthday dinners there -- and they have always worked so well with the eb and flow of people arriving and leaving the table. The bartenders are always cute too, which they should be in a bar like this. If you have some time in seattle, or you live here and just want to get out, go here! i
(4)Emily C.
I ate here for lunch with a friend. He ordered the carne asada tacos and I ordered the beef pho. You're probably thinking "Why the hell would you order pho outside of a Vietnamese restaurant?" and you would be correct in your criticism. It tasted nothing like the pho I'm used to: bland and flavorless, the sriracha couldn't save it. The tacos were pretty good and came with a generous serving of chips and guacamole and my friend was kind enough to share. I have to give credit to the waitstaff though, I had enough pho left in my bowl that the server came over and asked if I had liked it. I answered honestly and she apologized saying "We make it differently here." and removed it from the check. Big thanks to her because it's rare that I get up the courage to send something back.
(3)John S.
Normally I avoid the whole Belltown scene these days but I really like the atmosphere at Black Bottle - dark, simple, comfortable. The Broccoli Blasted is fucking awesome, wish I knew how they did it! We also tried the lamb/med plate and the hanger steak - both were good. Still on my ultimate ceviche quest, I had to try the Bottle's version. It was actually pretty good but they went a little overboard on the presentation which made it a bit awkward to eat, should have just taken what they had, chopped it up and put it in a bowl. That would have been the shit. When we asked our server for a wine recommendation, Story didn't even hesitate and hooked us up with a great Spanish rioja. Service was great, I'll definitely return to the Bottle.
(3)Leslie H.
On a recent flight to Seattle, my boyfriend and I happened to be seated next to a professional chef, who recommended a handful of restaurants in the area. Black Bottle was one of the first she mentioned, and we're so glad we decided to stop by. The food was delicious, the service was great, and the prices were pretty reasonable. We ordered the arugula pesto flatbread, the spicy shrimp, tofu with peanut sauce, and fried olives. Everything was great, and the flatbread really stood out. The tofu was beautifully cooked. We are pescetarians (the only meat we eat is seafood), so we have had our fair share of totally shit tofu. Hey Black Bottle chefs, could you do some sort of crash course in tofu cooking, or perhaps a YouTube video? Not for me, (though my tofu isn't close as to delicious as yours). For the billions of chefs out there who couldn't cook some decent tofu even if their lives depend on it. Please!
(4)eli e.
Black Bottle Bistro is one sexy restaurant. I clean up OK, I'm by no means a hipster, but I felt perfectly at home sitting at the bar with the fabulous people sipping martinis. The bar tender was a friendly and refined fellow and the food felt just as welcoming. So far I've only had the dried cherry and smoked chicken flatbread, I say so far because everything here looked fabulous coming out of the kitchen and smelled great too so I intend on returning soon. I had to restrain myself from stealing morsels from my neighbors at the bar. I've actually made flatbreads at a fancy restaurant in Chicago under the direction of an Iron Chef contestant, so it's no light recommendation that I say the flatbreads here are worth a trip for. I did request some salt, but that's pretty standard with me. The balance of meat to cheese with the earthy sweetness of the cherries and occasional hint of rosemarie was spot on, very close to perfection, my hats off to the chef!
(5)jama b.
This is absolutely my favorite place to go in Belltown downtown Seattle. The ambiance is relaxing, the food is excellent and well priced and their wine list is wonderful. I celebrated my birthday at the Black Bottle. They have a big room in the back with a large table that fits 12.
(5)Anthony D.
Great space. Minimalist design, dark, and very comfortable. Hip but not too hip. Went early so it wasn't too busy or loud (like other reviewers mentioned) but i can definitely imagine this place getting crowded and noisy. Drinks: Had two pints--first the IPA then the pilsner (both $5). They might keep their kegs at a slightly warmer temperature than other bars which is something i don't mind but some might. My date had two glasses of wine--the hedges blend ($10) and a temperanillo ($8). Both were decent but nothing too memorable. Overall a straightforward drink list that should put smiles on most faces. Food: Dishes are large and -i think- meant to be shared...they're kinda like large tapas. We had the chicken drumsticks which are marinated in red wine and soy and served over a small bed of chilis and scallions. Juicy, great taste, and a perfectly sized portion. We also had the roasted vegetables. As someone who often roasts vegetables and thinks he's good at it, boy was i in for a shock. These blew me away!! First of all it was a very generous portion which is always great when it's a healthy dish. Second, nothing was under or overcooked. There were potatoes, carrots, turnips, zucc, red onion, and tons of garlic. The woman told us they were roasted with oil, herbs, and a little white wine. They might seem basic but trust me when i tell you that you NEED to order these vegetables. For dessert we had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato and slivered almonds. Very basic but tasty. Definitely worthy of a good cup of coffee. Unfortunately i didn't order one. Overall a great experience. Mainly for the atmosphere but the food was a very pleasant surprise. While the space and atmosphere is what i was interested in, the food is what will bring me back.
(5)anne c.
Don't read this if you don't like cockroaches! I went there a few months ago with some friends for a girls night out. The food was great and the atmosphere was great. Then on the wall next to my friend, a cockroach climbs up above the head. I live in Seattle, and I know there are cockroaches and rats in many restaurants, and I can live with the fact that the restaurants are trying to manage it as well as they can. Definitely a don't ask, don't care policy unfortunately. The awful part is when the server comes up behind my friend, tries to kill the bug with their bare hands and walked away without another word. Instead of a squished cockroach on the wall near us, he accidently brushed the cockroach and it fell in my friends's hair. We all stood up and watched the cockroach scurry away. Anything that server could have done would have been so much better. We really hope he washed his hands at the very least.
(1)Risey P.
i've only sat at the bar so I cannot give a full review. but here goes on my impressions so far: really sweet place. relaxed ambiance with great mood lighting. good for people watching. wide-ranging wine list and the bartenders are friendly. i'll also go out on a limb and say that it's a good place to meet someone new, as no less than three guys here struck up conversations with me while i was waiting for my companion to arrive. and honestly, i'm not a yuppie, nor am i a stunning stone cold fox. admittedly, i do work in tech and i have an iPhone, and I was playing with it to pass the time while waiting for my friend... so i'm sure that could have had something to do with me being quasi-hit on by three guys ;-) hehehe
(4)Ronnie M.
I've been to Black Bottle 4-5 times and I'll write a review of last Tuesday's experience. Met my friend there for dinner and ordered the following: bottle of Rioja ($34...reasonably priced), hangar steak, lamb kabobs with cous cous and either hummus or baba ganouj, blasted broccoli, an order of roasted vegetables and the berry tart with a little pot of creme for dessert. The steak and the lamb were delish...and so was the broccoli dish. Could have passed on the roasted veggies. For two people, the blasted broccoli was enough for us. In fact, four people could have shared it easily. The berry tart was to-die-for!!! Not too sweet but enough to satisy my sweet tooth! Yummy! It was served in a mini cast iron skillet with a small pot of creme. Our server was very pleasant and I wish I could remember her name. Overall, we had a great meal and for two people, two entrees and a side of veggies were plentiful! For a Tuesday night, the restaurant wasn't so packed but still busy...and parking was easy to find.
(4)mrs and mrs d.
Love it, always have. The food is fabulous - the roasted veggies and the chicken/sour cherry flad bread are favorites. But the drinks are really the secret weapon here - the best vodka sour in the city and a white wine selection you cannot go wrong with. For a date, the front room is candle lit and romantic. And in the summer nothing beats a cool glass of Prosecco and some people watching at the outdoor seating.
(4)Drew R.
This place is solid all around. The Mussels are hands down the best in the city. My wife hounded me for months to try it out but I thought it would be too trendy with yuppies and too my mouthwatering surprise it was the complete opposite. Good crowd, loud, polite and funny. Great date spot.
(5)Lisa I.
Loved the octopus and fava bean salad, and the kimcher and pork belly skewers. Good vibe - lively but not too loud-and decent service
(4)Karyn G.
The fact that two graduate students could afford this place every 4 months or so is a testament to its affordability. It's the perfect place to wind down after dinner with the candied lavendar and pear sorbet. Or, go earlier and spend the evening dining and watch the sun set over the buildings. One of my favorite "fancy-schmancy but not really" places in Belltown.
(4)Bridget W.
Great spot to go, sit outside with your peeps, have a few drinks, and chill. If you order some eats, I recommend trying the Broccoli Blast - this super simple dish is super amazing: olive oil, salt, and garlic + baking time = de-lish. Be prepared that the service can be a bit slow, but very, very friendly.
(4)jenny w.
They have recently updated sound proofing and added more menu items. The black cake is worth eating after you have had the 7 spice shrimp and the hanger steak. Very flavorful items. Broccli blasted is a new take on vegtables and the salmon fontine cheese balls are tasty. A dim lit space with a brick wall and candles, it does get crowded but was still a romantic space to share plates. The wine selection rotates and it amazing!
(5)Mariani A.
Black Bottle is my favorite place to hang out with a large group of friends. It's hip and lively, with plenty of great small plates to share. Considering the Belltown location, the prices are reasonable. Last time I went with friends, we ordered most of the items in the menu, and they were all quite good. I especially liked the grilled lamb and hummus, the hanger steak and daikon, and the smoked chicken flatbread. I haven't tried any of the dessert items, though.
(4)Matt C.
The food here is great, though a bit of the foodyfood side, the wine selection is interesting and the waitstaff has always been helpful in picking things out. Nice place, but be careful sitting outside -- I got tagged by a bird sitting on the ledge high above the tables. Yuk!
(4)Beth F.
Broccoli blasted. Amen.
(5)Sheila Y.
I made a list of places I wanted to go back to and I just found it a few days ago. On the top was Black Bottle. I went once with an ex who hated Belltown so it was like pulling teeth to get him to come here. We had driven by on multiple occasions and the space was speaking to me. It was well worth the negotiations because I love this place. We sat in one of the front tables by the door and it was a bit drafty (I imagine this not being a problem in the summer months). If it wasn't for the draft however I think we could have killed the rest of the night vegging, but instead headed out after eating for more bar hopping. We ordered a bottle of Castiglion del Bosco and one of their French country flatbreads. It was delectable, so much so that we ordered another. The wine was great and the food to go with it was as well. There was a crisp buttery taste to the flatbread, along with gooey brie that made it finger licking worthy. The ambiance and energy in this place is great and I think it would be perfect for a large gathering. I may plan on having my belated birthday party here to dawn in my last year as a Seattleite! What an idea.
(4)Aggie M.
I love everything about this place - the drinks, the bar menu (chicken and cherry flatbread!), the atmosphere, the interior design - it's my favorite bar/lounge in Belltown. Plus I live a couple blocks away so it's gets bonus points for that :)
(5)Mr. Q.
This place is money! You'd be hard pressed to find complaints on the food, the Bechemal and Prosciutto is OUT OF THIS WORLD as is everything else on the menu. The drinks aren't half bad either, I wouldn't call them fantastic but they get the job done. The five stars is for the food, ambiance and location. Stop hating on Belltown, it's a brilliant place for food, bars and other nightlife! There's some good ol fashioned irony for you, you don't like Belltown because you are afraid of being judged by "d-bags" because you don't have that 'look' and yet, aren't you being a judgemental "d-bag" by dismissing a whole area based on... looks?
(5)Erin M.
We have been here twice and have loved it both times. The service and food were great both times. A lot of tapas places recommend two to three items per person, but I think the portions here are larger than most tapas places so we max out at two per person with leftovers. I would recommend the prosciutto and béchamel flatbread, broccoli blasted, bacon lemon scallops and seven spice shrimp. A lot of tapas places recommend two to three items per person, but I think the portions here are larger than most tapas places. If you still have enough room after eating all that the peach blueberry tart comes out hot, gooey and delish.
(4)Amy L.
I really like this place...besides it being right down the street from me. I didn't get a chance to eat, but what I saw of the food looked amazing. They have a great variety of wines and desserts too!!! I definitely recommend it!
(4)Tom A.
Armin rules, food mediocre.
(3)Bryan M.
Great food. Cool vibe! Small plates are perfect for foodie friends. We enjoyed every dish that came our way. Even the wine recommendations were good. We loved the mussels marseille-style, french country flatbread, tofu and house-made dipping sauce was hearty and tasty. Be sure to leave room for dessert. The kettle tart with fresh cream was amazing!!
(4)Barry P.
This is an excellent late-night bar. The food, decor, and beer selections are all great. I particularly enjoy the prosciutto and bechamel flat bread, and the olive salad is fantastic as well. They have Hoegaarden on tap, which makes the beer selection very easy. The best way to enjoy the Black Bottle is to go with friends and share small plates, as Brian N. mentioned below. The only downside to the place is that it attracts a lot of "triers," so the place can be a bit pretentious and filled with people dressed to impress. That's not my scene (Belltown, for that matter, isn't my scene), so the place isn't a regular stop for me. But when I'm down that way it's nice to know the Black Bottle, with its great food and good beer selections exists.
(4)Maus Y.
A definite favorite when I want a good pairing of food and wine. Many rave about the flatbread and I would have to agree. I've had the anchovy plate (a bit salty, but still very good), potato wrapped with bacon (good), and the steak (amazing). The ambiance is very fitting- simple rustic and the crowd is usually quite fashionable. I'd recommend also a good spot for dates...saw quite of few first dates.
(5)Amanda B.
If you are in Belltown and wanting some good food and fun atmosphere, this is a great choice. I love their small plates, which allow you to try a good variety of wonderful dishes. For that reason, it's especially fun to go with more than just 2 people.
(4)Thaddeus G.
I will go back to try more of the vegetarian items on the menu, but I must say right now that the taters and cauliflower with the garam masala all over 'em are pretty bitchen. The whole minimalist vibe is not particularly my bag of donuts, but hey - that's just me.
(4)Kimberley D.
When a classmate who lives in Belltown suggested stopping here for dinner, I remembered the positive Yelp reviews and the mention of the (relatively, for Belltown) low prices and said sure. Unfortunately, her suggestion took place on a Saturday night, and the place was predictably packed. That wasn't surprising, and I was willing to wait. We added our names to the list. About an hour passed with me standing in the doorway chainsmoking. It was pretty cold and wet, and I was pretty hungry. She suggested we place our order to go. She went in and let them know. A moment later my name was called. We went to sit down, and she explained that we'd just ordered to go, but now that we'd been called, we'd like to sit and have a drink. The greeter said no, we would not be allowed to sit down. I was pretty unhappy about that. I could understand if we'd just walked in and placed an order, etc.. but we'd been waiting already for nearly an hour. If we'd been allowed to sit down, we would've inevitably ordered drinks and probably additional food, so it's not like we would've just eaten what we ordered and then bid adieu. Plus, she lives in the neighborhood and is a regular at the restaurant, always tips well, knows the bartenders at this point, etc. I was pretty unhappy about that situation and will not be going back. But the broccoli/cauliflower curry *was* good.
(2)Daisy K.
Black Bottle has been my favorite restaurant for a long time now. The plates are meant to be shared, and usually cost around 7-15$-- two people can usually split two or three of them. I also love their selection of dessert wines... and desserts. When it's busy, service tends to get slow and unpredictable. I usually love the ambience there; on the weekdays when it's not as busy, it's quiet and dimly lit (except when they blast the hip hop.. one of my flew complaints), and on the weekends it's really bustling and upbeat.
(5)Matthew C.
Very sophisticated place, dark and candle lit, gentle ceiling fans a-blowing, and large, clean, whitewood tables. Beware with the menu because oftentimes the usualness of a left-justified piece of literature did not occur: The menu was right-justified and three of us tried reading the menu upside-down! The menu seems conservative, but each that we orded came out wondrously presented. Since I already ate dinner, I didn't get a chance to sample more of the menu but the desserts and bread dishes we did manage to get impressed me a great deal. The flat bread selections were $100 pizzas: soft flat bread topped with cheese and fresh gourmet toppings. For dessert, I had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato in the middle of it; my friend had a banana dish on fire, and my other friend got the blueberry and peach kettle tart. The place has a small great selection of desserts and each would probably be a fine choice. Also, since it's a wine bar, you cannot miss out on those, selections from Chile, France, Spain, and California. I missed my chance to try Manny's, a local beer, but I will save it for my next visit. It was a Saturday night, and not too busy, so completely a pleasant after dinner dining experience before you can hit out to the clubs. This place was sooo cool that Santa Claus decided to take a load and his beard off and sit at the bar for a glass of beer! -Matt
(5)MM R.
Hmmmm. Way too loud. This was not a great choice. Is it restaurant? Is it bar? Definitely more bar than bistro. Menu is a good idea, however, the minimalism (or lack) of description is a mistake. Food was pretty good, bartender was friendly though more interested in pouring shots of Jagermeister for a crowd that should have given that up long ago. Full of oddball 30 somethings who, at this point, should grow up a bit and DEFINITELY ditch the icelandic wool sweaters when heading out to chic Belltown. I'm a Capitol Hill girl....if this is what Belltown has come to, it will be a long time before I had back down there. No thanks.
(2)Pei L.
reservation - [rez er vey shuh] - noun * an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc. * the record kept or assurance given of such an arrangement: Have you ever waited over an hour and a half for a reservation? Apparently, Black Bottle doesn't know what reservation means. I was visiting a friend who was really excited to try Black Bottle. She made reservations and organized a group for a fun night out and for me to see Belltown. We arrived at the restaurant in time for our 9 p.m. reservation and were told that we'd have to wait a little bit because the large party before us was still finishing. We got the impression that it would be 5, 10, maybe 15 minutes. 15 minutes passed and still no table. You could tell the hostess was getting antsy. She was pretty apologetic. But as more time passed, she came out less to reassure us that our table would be ready soon. Concerned and hungry, we had to seek them out to ask the situation. "Should be soon." After an hour, still nothing. We saw a table open, but before we could catch anyone's eye, a gaggle of emaciated girls who showed up after we did managed to get seated first. And then we waited some more. When we were finally shown our "table" 90 minutes after our reservation, we were seated at a square table and round table pushed together (they obviously didn't pass geometry) with 4 chairs for our 8 person reservation. Umm....okay? After we stood around awkwardly for 5 minutes, they brought us patio chairs to seat the rest of our party. Lovely. The hostess had told us that they would do something for us for our ridiculous wait, but when we asked our waitress about it. She said, "Yeah, well, this is a very popular restaurant." Um, I have been to lots of "popular" restaurants in SF, NYC, LA, and had reservations and have never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes to be seated. And I waited tables back in the day and um...that's not how you speak to a patron. You think we are going to tip you now? Oh wait, because our party is big, we have to. Ugh. Finally, a manager did "okay" a $30 bottle of wine, which honestly, wasn't satisfactory. We were all really pissy, hungry, and annoyed - rare for a normally happy-go-lucky group of people. Oh yeah...food. We ordered the grilled lamb, local sausages, mussels, clams, fresh ling cod, potatoes and cauliflower curried, blasted broccoli, portobello grilled and butter bean salad, flatbread, Generous portions and pretty good flavor, particularly the sausages. The lamb was tough and chewy. The potatoes and cauliflower curried were a bit salty. The blasted broccoli was really interesting and good. I would have given more stars for the food. It's a pity poor service can leave a really bad taste in your mouth. I was glad to come back to San Francisco where they know what "reservation" and good service mean.
(2)Diana C.
I'm a fan! I usually go to the Bellevue location because my friends and I like to kill traffic hour here, but I went for a little dinner last week in Seattle and this place rocks it just like I had hoped. Got my large party in on a reservation and everything was ready when we got there. Food is on par, coupled with delicious and strong drinks, the atmosphere is cozy and warm, and the servers are pretty friendly and helpful. It was my birthday and my boyfriend asked for something with a candle but told them I don't like sweets. They brought out a piece of fried chicken with a candle in it along with my glass of scotch. What an awesome server! Love it! Thanks for making it memorable!
(5)Elizabeth C.
What a great place! We came with friends for a birthday dinner yesterday, and decided to order a bunch of plates to share. Honestly, EVERYTHING we ordered was top-notch delicious. They're "small plates" but more than you'd expect. It's almost impossible for me to even pick out favorites because everything was awesome. Sooo I'm just gonna go through everything. -The broccoli blasted is one of their most famous dishes. And it was really delicious! Roasted broccoli is the bomb. -Wild boar ribs: Just get them. They fall off the bone, are perfectly spiced and SO tender. They look small but they pack a punch. Probably my favorite, if I had to choose. -Prosciutto flatbread: So cheesy. So delicious. Could taste a little rosemary in there which I LOVE. Mmmm. -Artichoke hearts: Crispy farro with flavorful artichoke hearts--even my friends who don't like artichoke hearts that much were dying. -Pork belly/kimchi skewers: Holy crap, melt-in-your-mouth with a bit of a kick. 100% would order again. -Calamari: Nicely cooked, unexpectedly spicy! -Hanger steak with daikon: Steak was good, mashed daikon was an interesting texture but I can dig it. Sauce was a liiiittle salty but it wasn't swimming in it. -Lamb meatballs: The meatballs were well seasoned with a bit of a kick, the yogurt sauce was on point, and the hummus (covered in delicious toasted pine nuts) was insane as well. -I also got their cider of the day which was a pineapple cider. Pretty nice! The space is unexpectedly big, and attractive in that standard Belltown way. Service was great as well. I totally fell in love with this place, although it is definitely spendy enough to be a special-occasions-only place for me. The only real complaint I had was probably due to miscommunication between the staff. I called the restaurant earlier in the day and asked them if they could bring out their chocolate cake later in the meal as a surprise for my boyfriend's birthday. The guy on the phone said they could totally do it, they could put a candle in it, and he'd make a note under our reservation and make sure to tell the servers. Great, I was psyched. Well, as we were eating our meal, it got later and later until all our plates were cleared, and I was wondering where the heck the cake was...So I eventually gave up on waiting and got up to talk to our server. He had no idea that we had that request, apologized and said they'd have the kitchen bring one out real quick. It was still a surprise and it worked out in the end, but they actually didn't have candles and it was a bummer that they said they'd take care of it when I called ahead, but then totally didn't deliver. That being said, though, our experience was impeccable otherwise and I would definitely come back here again. Almost forgot--their playlist was on point! Great music can really make a difference.
(5)Stefanie S.
We held a holiday event here in the private room. Black Bottle was easy to work with and it was my first time there! The food was delicious... I loved the blasted broccoli and the hangar steak. They even accommodated us with vegan friendly options! I definitely want to come back and try other items from the menu ... or just have 3 orders of broccoli.
(4)Killerapp T.
Nice outdoor seating on summer nights. One of the few places to have halloumi grilled cheese. Meat ball with clams are also good.
(5)Krizia C.
We went there just for dessert, and it was amazing. We had the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato. When it comes it looks like a tiny layer cake, but they actually take the middle of the cake off, put the gelato and then the cake on top. The only thing that could of made this dessert better would of be if the cake was warm or hot like a lava cake. Great price, small space.
(4)CaseyJames H.
I'm very casual when it comes to dining, not a huge foodie, to start off everything was too eclectic for me. Bison, and other types of game just don't interest me...I wanted chicken-there was no fried chicken when we were there... But I was reuniting with a bunch of high school friends & it was the picked location. Me being from Texas, I was hoping to find something I could relate to...thank God we were at happy-hour, because I wanted to just have a few drinks after realizing I was going to eat a shish-kabob...I felt like I was in the late 80's early 90's lol. Overall it was ok, but I don't think I'll be going back there again. It wasn't too far from Kurt Cobain's old house-so that's the real only perk. I did however, enjoy the service and the interior decor-very sharp and clean,
(3)Joke D.
So many vegetarian options! Broccoli was amazing! Loved the halloumi! Mixed veggies was large! Mediterranean hummus plate was delicious and huge. Portions are big, so it's actually pretty cheap! You need +/-1.5 plates (vegetarian around 10-12$). We were with a large group which made sharing easy. GREAT MUSIC PLAYLIST!!! I almost asked if I could have it :). And the wine was also a winner. I am going to recommend this place!
(5)Simone S.
Black Bottle has been a favorite of mine since I first moved to Seattle. The food is excellent in its simplicity and execution, flavor-forward and always great for sharing. The drinks, from wines to cocktails, are always well-done and the selection is broad but refined. The atmosphere is very approachable - perfect for date night, a simple happy hour, or Tuesday night dinner with friends. I most recently came to Black Bottle to host a surprise birthday for my boyfriend. We booked the back room - the fees for which were VERY reasonable - and the space was superb! The room has a private bar that is staffed the whole event, sound system, set up for a projector if you want to bring one, and the ability to arrange tables/chairs and decorate however you like, so long as you're not punching holes in the walls. Our bartender, Chad, was awesome! He handled our group of about 25-30 with poise and personality, and didn't miss a beat! The whole staff made it perfect for a surprise party. When we arrived, we were told they were checking on our table (while actually notifying our guests that we had arrived), and led us back to the private room without dropping any hint of what was to come! The boyfriend, who is incredibly skeptical and famously difficult to surprise, was duly taken aback and had a great time. Food was brought out in waves (which you can pre-order or let people order as they like), and everything went off without a hitch! Highly recommend Black Bottle for any occasion, but if you are planning a private party this place is not to be overlooked!
(5)Erica M.
Came here for dinner on a Sunday evening and fell in love~ This would be be a great for drinks or a first date. Although it is a little more expensive ($1-2 more/dish) compared to other restaurants, the food is well worth it! We ordered the Blasted Broccoli, Malbec Demi-glazed Oxtail and Bacon Lemon Scallops over Frizzled Kale. The portions were great, the flavors were so savory, and the dishes were too much for one person. The Blasted Broccoli could easily feed three people and was delicious! By far one of the best broccoli dishes I've had so far! It was seasoned well and had the perfect amount of char to bring out the flavors. The Oxtail was so tender and delicious, I kind of wish I had a side of bread to dip into the Malbec Demi-glaze. The Bacon Lemon Scallops were definitely one of my favorites as well. For $15, four bacon-wrapped scallops are served on top of kale. The citrus in the lemon on the kale helped bring out the buttery flavors of the scallop and bacon. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I've heard wonderful things about their wild boar ribs and desserts too... I'll just have to come back to try them as well!
(4)Eileen J.
I love love love this place. Similar to a tapas bar, this gastro pub offers small plates meant to be shared. I like going out to eat with friends and we usually pick places with a good happy hour or good appetizer menu. Black Bottle offers decadent dishes and they bring them out as they are ready, you are constantly peaking around the corner with excitement for the next dish. The cocktails are amazing and the vibe is great. This is exactly what I look for in a restaurant experience! As for service, it's casual but appropriate. I've never had bad service here. Try the fried chicken and the roasted veggies! I forget what my drink was call but it had strawberry and basil and it tasted phenomenal. A little pricy, a little hard to find parking.
(5)Grace W.
Solid food, but in the sense of nothing to write home about. My whole experience reminded me of being in the kitchen trying to follow a host of Food Network recipes - some are winners, some are losers, but because you've been cooking for so long, everything tastes good. It really didn't help that everything took SO LONG. It took forever to get the menu and all of our dishes came out one by one. Most of the staff was nice - they apologized for the wait. The ribs were really soft and tasty. The brocolli was bountiful and healthy-tasting. But pork belly was chewy and overcooked, which were returned. And since when was pouring your own drink a thing??
(3)Eric L.
Black Bottle serves heavy gastropub food, such as popsicle-status fried chicken, braised oxtail, and quality seafood. When I ate here, they were out of boar ribs. Disappointment. It's good for groups due to a large dining room and spacious bar.
(4)Megan J.
My husband and I were looking for scallops to cush a craving, and we ended up getting four plated to share; tofu, scallops, broccoli, and pork shank. Everything was absolutely delicious! They've got a very creative chef working for them and they are doing a great job. In addition to the food being amazing, the atmosphere and FOH staff were nothing but great. It's not very loud, and not pitch black. They keep ambient music playing so there is none of that shitty top 40's music you try to ignore. Our bartender (the gentleman with a top-knot) gave us the right amount of attention, and was knowledgeable about the food. Would definitely come back.
(5)Rona L.
I know I just reviewed Black Bottle two weeks ago, but my boyfriend surprised me with a birthday dinner, with some of our friends, and I finally got to try some savory dishes. Figured I'd share my two cents. I was a little disappointed with the overall flow of the evening; there were some highs and lows, so I decided not to change my rating. We had a group of 10. Our server was friendly and got our drink orders in right away. A few minutes after our drinks arrived, we ordered food, and that's when we hit our first low. It took more than 30 minutes from the first plate being served to the last person getting their order. Not wanting to be rude, my friends tried to wait for everyone to get their food before digging in, but after a while, we realized we couldn't let our plates get cold. Luckily, our server comped one of the dishes (the last one to come out) but regardless, our party had to wait quite a while before we could eat. The second low came when we got our Blasted Broccoli. I had been raving at the table about this delectable vegetable dish, and I'm not sure if the kitchen was just overwhelmed, but the broccoli was not what I had promised my friends. I felt like a liar. The broccoli came out well seasoned, but there was no crunch to the vegetables from the roasting, and we basically ate "steamed" broccoli. I was incredibly disappointed. As low as our lows were, the highs were just as high. My pork belly and kimchee plate was divine. I'm always weary of eating kimchee from non-Korean restaurants, but Black Bottle did it justice and their preparation was great. The pork belly was nice and succulent and I devoured the dish. My boyfriend's lamb meatball platter was also good. I ordered a few cocktails with dinner (the dark & stormy with Rachel's Ginger Beer, the Bee's Knees, and the Doppelgänger). All of the drinks were delicious and I don't think I could have picked a favorite. At the end of dinner, my friends had arranged for our server to bring out a cake they had brought. They weren't told (when they called or even at the door) that there was a cake service fee (of $20). Again, our server was wonderful and took it off their bill since they hadn't been informed about the fee. Our check was split easily, and surprisingly, no gratuity was automatically to our bill. Overall, I enjoyed Black Bottle. I was just a bit disappointed with the inconsistency.
(4)Kathrina L.
*I am writing this review based on their private dining option* I was looking for a place to throw my fiance's 30th birthday bash. I was looking for an open space that was posh, simple and would set a good party vibe. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Black Bottle Seattle offered a Private Room, completely separate from the common dining areas. The private room had an aux cord so you can play music from your iPhone or iPad, and the floor plan or the room allowed for flexible setup. Patrick was unbelievably easy to work with in setting up the party, pre-ordering the food and answering any questions I had. We ended up with about 40 people and we hosted several appetizers (served in waves). BB allowed guests to have their own tabs for anything additional they wanted. Everyone had a great time and loved the venue! I would absolutely recommend this to folks looking to throw a small to mid-sized event.
(5)Morgan M.
Black Bottle is cool, chic and yet is as comfortable as sitting at any 5 star restaurant or candle lit table in your home. My friend wanted to come here because of the inviting nature of the front windows. Dimly lit room, dark oak tables, the place is just about always busy. There is typically a wait to get in but it is well worth it, there's shops through out Bell Town if the wait is over 30 minutes to carouse. When we were finally seated (and after a huge splurge of shopping at Endless Knot...mind you the dress is gorgeous and not really that big of a splurge) at a table mid way through the room, we were quickly greeted by our sever. She was very friendly and gave us good suggestions on which wine to get. My foodie partner ordering some kind of Sparkling Wine and I staying safe started with a Chardonnay. Being with a picky eater can be a challenge in ordering from places that serve small tapas style plates. We skimmed over the menu and ordered a few items (mainly stearing clear of seafood though the bacon lemon scallops and frizzled kale sounded heavenly). Natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso *A little on the salty side, Most cuts were rare to medium rare and almost melted in your mouth Roasted vegetables verjus *Seasonal veg. with a nice flavor Broccoli blasted *Salty as well but blanched perfectly Potato and prosciutto wheels *Unique combination, the potato calms the powerful taste of prosciutto, delicious Our sever was extremely attentive and gave great suggestions on the food and told us what was the most popular dish and what was the best dish overall on the menu despite customer opinion. Some of the plates were higher on the salty side, however I do not cook with salt much so whenever I eat out that's the first seasoning I pick up on. My foodie partner had no complaints and loved her food from start to finish...plus 3 sparkling wines.
(4)Nathalie F.
We were staying at the Ace Hotel which is one block away... and on a rainy night the hotel staff recommended us to go there... we definitely did not regret! The food and drinks are great. And the staff super friendly. Don't leave before trying the lemon cheesecake, to die for!
(5)Dawn G.
Great food and reasonably priced. My only complaint is that it was really loud. I would definitely go there again!
(4)Jeanna B.
I first went to Black Bottle a little over a year ago, and since that first experience, it has become a staple for me for date night or a nice dinner out with friends. I even threw my birthday party here! The private back room is too fabulous for words and only cost a bar minimum of $500. The room is a perfect size for a formal, sit-down dinner or small tables and dancing room. Black Bottle management was super friendly and easy to work with on the reservation - and they even let me bring in my own iPod music, cupcakes, decorations and created a signature drink for my party! Since then, I have been back a number of times for dinner. I have tried everything from the Masala chicken drums (even more fabulous than some Indian restaurant dishes I've had), blasted broccoli (an infamous dish of theirs), cumin pork tenderloin and frisée (would order it again), natural hanger steak and daikon/shiso (one of my very favorites), fried tofu and house made dipping sauce (some of my friends are super crazy about this), and the potato and prosciutto wheels (do NOT miss this dish)! But my all time favorite dish that I literally dream about is their chocolate cake and vanilla gelato. It is much more heavenly than the description - the gelato is hidden within a chocolate lava type cake, and the plate is drizzled with caramel. I'm not usually a dessert person, but I save room for this every time I'm there! The best thing about Black Bottle - the small plate prices make it totally affordable for a small bite or dessert and a drink, but you can still go all out for a fancy celebration dinner or date night. In my opinion, it's one of the best locations in the city!
(5)Ling B.
The food here is great. Love the hanger steak with daikon and the flatbread. I'd go on about the plus side, but I think there's enough of that on the site. Instead, I'll spend some time writing about the downside of Black Bottle. (1) It's crowded. All the time. I've been there at 10PM on a Thursday and there was still no indoor seating. (2) Noisy. It's loud in there due to a combination of the crowding and building material / layout. Watch out if you're going with an older crowd or a more serious audience. (3) Dirty bathroom. I can only speak to the men's room, but it's a little raw in there. Plus the urinal is right next to the door with no divider in between. Not that I mind, but it kind of spoils the mood when you're wearing a $500 suit while pissing in front of an audience. Despite all of this, I still like the place. I just wanted to balance out all the unmitigated hype about this place.
(4)Amy S.
If Black Bottle were human I'd marry her. Consistently good food and drink. Reasonably priced. Great for dates and for groups. She's just a versatile lass. Did I mention consistent? The flatbread at the Bottle is crazy good. I think it is some sort of bacon in a bread costume. Bottle's broccoli blasted brings tears to my eyes (and not from the smoke that it surely generated). She can be loud and she can be harsh (in a minimalist, industrial kind of way), but Black Bottle's the apple of my dining-out eye these days.
(5)Veronica S.
Easy to get to and get in. Laid back atmosphere, both in daylight and candle light. Love the hanger steak, medium rare. Flat breads were decent. Good wine selection. No HH prices. Service can be spotty.
(4)Sonya P.
I'm quite disappointed at this place. I went with a group of six for some wine and birthday desserts on a Tuesday. Upon arrival the waitress tried to give us a hard time about making reservations even though the place was empty and it was a Tuesday night. After we placed our orders we each got our dishes at different times. The birthday boy order a berry tart that was a disaster. After waiting 30 mins we asked the waiter if the dish was almost ready... He said that the tart normally takes time. An hour later still no tart but the check arrived. We got charged for a tart we never received. When we kindly reminded the waiter of our order he brought promptly over a burnt cold pie tart. Not appealing at all. Happy not-so birthday enjoy!!! No thanks.
(2)Kris R.
I went once for lunch, once for dinner. My mid-afternoon lunch experience was great; we arrived at 2pm to discover that a new lunch menu had come in to effect, but the dinner menu switched over at 2:30pm. They have flatbread dishes that's only available on the dinner menu, which I really wanted to try, so we ordered from the lunch menu (tasty) then tried the flatbread (tasty! If you order nothing else, get this). I would highly recommend doing what we did, although I think the chef out back didn't appreciate us doing it... we left a nice tip compensating them for their troubles. Late night food on the other hand was dismal. Small, cramped, noisy, crappy service. We ate and left straight away. Still great food. If there was a way to give it 3.5 stars I would give it that instead, since the first time really was a 5 star experience and the second was a 2 star experience.
(3)Anna Marie C.
love it! was just in seattle for a convention and had to find a place that seated over 20 with good food and lots of alcohol. black bottle fit that bill to a t. we had the private room in the back, the deal they gave us was affordable, and did i mention the food was tasty? the staff was uber-nice and helpful (and kept us from costing too much!) hits: hanger steak, prosciutto flatbread (or any of the flatbreads, for that matter)...the wines, tiramisu, and the berry tart misses: the artichoke, shrimp. will definitely be going back.
(4)Abe N.
I was straight up whelmed. Every good aspect seemed to have a bad one to balance it out. The (pretty good!) food came out sporadicly- mussels at one end of the table, then nothing for ten minutes, then pork belly to the other end, then nothing for a while, then a barrage of the last 5 plates. Too cramped at the table to really do the tapas thing, and jeezus, the men's bathroom! It's a two banger and smaller than my TV. Parking's not their fault, but the lukewarm techno was loud enough that everyone's yelling over it. Woulda been three stars, but we were auto-grat-ed on a 5 top by a server who was barely there. For a self-proclaimed "gastro-tavern" I didn't see anything taverny.
(2)Jacquie P.
Small, tasty plates, good value, LOUD! music and patrons. Full to the brim on a Monday night at 7:00, but managed to get good (if not a little aloof) service at the bar. Mussels were outstanding, so was the artichoke salad. The mood lighting and dark corners would make for a great date night if you didn't have to scream across the table at your partner...I'd recommend going a little earlier to avoid the noise.
(4)Meredith G.
All around great gastropub. Has a minimalistic, dimly lit, romantic atmoshere. Can get really crowded and rather loud, but it is always worth it. Delectable eats on small plates, great wine list, and decent prices, make Black Bottle one of my faves. They have a backroom that is great for larger parties/gatherings.
(4)Wanee S.
Never ever let me down. I can eat here everyday!
(5)John W.
As a wine bar, I really enjoyed this place. There are plenty of places in Belltown to go crazy, but I kept it classy here. They have a good wine list and a good selection of food items. Its more a wine lounge, but a restaurant setting. I ordered one of the flatbread dishes and was not so impressed, but the place has a great atmosphere so I will definitely return.
(4)Nichole E.
The food, for the most part, is delicious at Black Bottle, but some (and granted, since I don't eat meat, I haven't tried them all) can lack flavor. The roasted vegetables are crisp and have that black char on them that may sound gross but is actually really wonderful - think summertime BBQs. I was less than impressed with the octopus in cilantro pesto, but ate so much French country flatbread I think I embarrassed my date. What is really great about Black Bottle, though, is how they have thoughtfully chosen their glasses of wine. In case you don't feel like downing an entire bottle, the selections of glasses are really, really good. The service has been good.
(4)Sean F.
I came across this place on the recommendation of a bartender at the Monaco Hotel. Some co-workers and I were looking for a good place in Belltown (or nearby) to grab some wine and dinner, and she tipped us to this place. It's a "small plate" restaurant (and the aforementioned bartender did qualify her recommendation by saying, "Yeah, I know -- small plates are the thing right now -- but it's really pretty good), but totally lacks most of the culinary pretension you'd expect from a restaurant grabbing onto a trend. The plates are actually quite fulsome -- definitely meant for sharing -- and tend to fall more on the comfort food side of the fence than on the fusion or experimental side (although they DO take a few risks). The vibe is VERY relaxed (maybe it's uptight for Seattle, but I'm used to Orange County, so these folks all seemed intensely down-to-earth), and the wine list excellent (go on, try a Malbec!). Looking forward to returning. Awesome date place, I imagine -- safe food choices all over the menu, great booze, low-key music and dim lighting.
(4)Quynh-An P.
I can only comment on the desserts, as I haven't tried any of the food here yet...although I've been with people who have ordered food here. I ordered the peach/blueberry kettle tart and had them substitute the cream with pear sorbetto. YUM! It was nice and tasty and just felt homey. The pear sorbetto had this creaminess to it that was unexpected for a sorbet and such a light and delicate flavor to it. I got to sample the profiteroles and felt there was a smokiness to it (which my friend loved) but we all agreed the chocolate one was just only eh...the others were better. I also got a taste of the lemon curd ricotta and lavender crust. Wow that was pretty amazing. I'm usually not a huge fan of lavender, as it can often be overwhelming, but it was just the essence of it and the right amount. We were all impressed. Lastly, we tried the plantain "fries" with coconut gelato. This dish came out and the first thing my friend says is "I usually like my plantains salty and I don't see any salt." She then proceeded to dip the plantain into the gelato and BOOM there was salt in the gelato. She was pleasantly surprised and stated that she felt like she was on a Caribbean vacation. I, however, did not really enjoy this dish. Overall, it's a nice place and the service is good. It's certainly not the best desserts in the world, but it definitely is sufficient to satisfy a sweet tooth.
(3)Julie C.
Love it... I could eat tapas and drink wine all day and I would be a happy camper. This place is one of my top choices for dinner in Seattle, great location in Bell Town, nice ambiance, great wine list and a good cocktail menu to boot and more broccoli than a person would ever need to eat in one sitting. That would be the blasted broccoli, a bit salty but so good. Something I have tried to recreate in my own kitchen with very limited success. Other than sharing a plate of broccoli (and please bring at least three friends since it really is a lot of broccoli), grab one of each of the flatbreads. They are so delish... If you can't get them all, don't miss the french country (brie... yum). The cracked olive salad and the hanger steaks were also favorites but really everything was great. I highly recommended, get you some!
(5)John C.
There is something about lookin down Vine w/ a cocktail and a couple huge plates of food in front of you...Ferry going out, liquor going down. The service I experienced indifferent, the food extremely tasty. I would love to chalk up the service to the time I went here (5ish, you know, Its Wednesday nobody has been here yet, we've been open an hour grouchiness)...I did see the staff's mood change when they started getting pummeled at 5:30...so maybe I will revisit to upgrade to the full Monty... But seriously for the price the portions are huge, and the drinks strong....Yes, Edgewater....I have stayed at you and I love your little stuffed bear ottoman, Don't mock me with your glowing E.
(4)Bansi P.
Excellent food and drinks time and time again. My favorite place for dinner in Seattle. The reason i'm not giving it five stars is because the service has never blown me away, however its a very diverse place to go... a date, family event, birthday celebration... The place works for all events....
(4)Katie G.
I'm surprised that this little gem doesn't have more reviews! I don't frequent Bell Town that often, but when I do... Black Bottle is more often than not the reason for my venturing into the uber-hip parts of Seattle that I usually skirt around. This place was JAM PACKED on a Tuesday evening. I arrived around 8:30, and left around 10pm and there were wall-to-wall folks, all of them well decked-out in their little black dresses and adorable pointy shoes (men & women alike). We sat at the bar this time, though I'd strongly recommend getting reservations if you're going with a group. If we were going to wait for a table (only for 2 even!), the wait would have been more than a 1/2 hour. The bar scene was lovely. The bartender (wish I had gotten his name so that I could sing his praises on yelp) had a sweet, lovable, teddy-bearishness about him, but he was also incredibly efficient, talkative to those who obviously needed a few jokes for the evening, and seemed very knowledgeable about the wine and booze he was pouring. This place has only small plates (seafood, beef/pork, chicken, all-veg, and sweets) which is not only adorable in concept, but very nicely presented and quite tasty to boot. The service (once you finally get to order) is very prompt, and everything I've tried there is quite good. If the blasted broccoli doesn't make you a green veggie lover, I don't know what will. Best of all... the price is right. Prices range (per plate) from $6 - $9, so you can easily have a lovely multi-course for 2 for less than $50 (with drinks) no prob. My only negative comment about the menu is that it's pretty static. After a few trips to the BB, you get a little tired of the same 'ol, same ol'. (PLEASE change up your menu Black Bottle... there are many more delicious small plates out there... I promise I'll try them all.) Atmosphere -- like I said, a little high brow for me generally... but it's the kind of place where you wouldn't feel totally out of place wearing your dress fleece to. On the other hand, if you're looking for a place to wear those new tight jeans and some chandelier earrings... this is your spot! It's dark wood interior, and candle-only lights make it quite romantic and cozy. The back room is also quite nice. Great date spot, or place to grab drinks with your girls. Not really a spot for (dudes especially) a beer-drinking evening, so avoid if that's what you're in the mood for. Only other downsides about BB are that parking can be a real pain in the ass on Fri, Sat nights etc., and it does get super crowded in the evenings. Give it a whirl... I think you'll like it.
(4)Ninja S.
I don't know what it is, really. I just don't seem to like the places I go in Belltown much. I tend not to remember the names of places that aren't music venues. Take this place for instance. I can see the appeal. The stylish little plates of designer chow, the expensive (and possibly worthwhile) wines, the general snootiness, the fashion victims, and the list goes on, I'm sure. Don't order anything in a traditional beverage, or you'll end up with some watery mess in a glass. They hate anyone that doesn't want to drink wine. I might return here sometime if I'm with a group of people and are in a "lets spend lots of money" mood, but that isn't usually my style unless I'm feeling it. This place didn't do it for me.
(3)Deann M.
Yum Yum Yum! I recently made a 12 hour work trip to Seattle and the highlight of my visit was a late dinner here. I arrived pretty much straight from the airport, full from cheap chinese food from the SFO airport - but a colleague told me that we HAD to go here even at 11 pm at night. I was not disappointed. The ambiance reminds me of a cool SOMA or Mission restaurant/bar - kind of Oola-ish. Very diverse crowd - but mostly "hip" folks wearing printed tees and blazers, funky hats and that sort of stuff. So this is what we had - all under $10 bucks each (yes, just 2 of us!): hanger steak and daikon/shiso - yummmmy, good for the meat eater, but don't mistake the daikon (japanese for radish) for potatoes! braised artichoke heart and greens - the most delicious salad I've had in a while. very tasty artichokes on top of a variety of greens french country - hell yah, can't go wrong with brie on bread with lots of other yummy stuff. kind of like a fancy pizza. highly recommended. racked olive salad | hot coppa | soprasatta - very tasty as well. you gotta like olives. served with some pita like bread and some thinly sliced meat that reminded me of proscuitto and salami. I'd recommend all of the above with a bottle of wine. We had a pinot which was excellent. Our bill came out to 70 bucks or so which wasn't bad at all given the excellent experience. Great for a night out with friends or a date (or a late night dinner with a colleague!). I'll definitely be back...
(5)Bunneh L.
I very much enjoyed my dining experience at Black Bottle. They must have raised their prices though, as the majority of their menu items cost $9, not $8. I really dug the interior. The elegantly industrial look reminded me of Portland's Pearl District. The blasted brocolli is awesome, but a tad too salty. Who knew broccoli could be so yummy? The butterflied seven spice shrimp was delicious. I couldn't quite identify which seven spices, but it was quite tasty. I wish they had come without the shell on though. It required a bit of knife work to get to the meat, but I dealt. The sliced hangar steak was also outstanding. It was served perfectly medium rare with a soy-teriyaki glaze and grated daikon radish. Avoid the jagged green leaves that accompany this dish (I think it's called chiso). It has a really strong, unpleasant, medicinal flavor. The curried cauliflower & potato dish was another winner. The seasonings were amazing and the vegetables had a crispy exterior layer full of flavor. I hate potatoes (yes, I'm a freak), so I wish it had been all cauliflower. :( The only dish I didn't care for at all was the lemon squid salad, served with capers, edamame, croutons, and frisee. It sounded delicious and it has so much potential, but the execution was poor. It was SO bland I wanted to kill myself. I could detect a faint hint of lemon, but that's it. Even after salting it rather heavily and adding the juice of several lemon wedges, it still had little to no flavor. Also, the squid wasn't very tender. Perhaps the result of overcooking. Or maybe the quality of the squid wasn't the best. In any case, I wouldn't recommend this dish. Unless you like bland, rubbery food. Four dishes between two people was the perfect amount of food. Any less and I would have left hungry. The restaurant filled up very quickly and we felt lucky to have arrived early enough to procure a table. The host was very friendly (and cute, to boot) and promptly seated us. Service started out flawless, but as the restaurant filled up, went slightly downhill. Overall, a positive dining experience. I gotta come back to try that proscuito flat bread everyone keeps raving about!
(4)Darwin Y.
This is one of the coolest places I've ever eaten. I lived down the street when it opened and have loved it and recomended it ever since. The menu is so creative, suprising and delicious. And the bartenders make fantastic drinks (one of the best brandy alexander's i've ever tasted). The place is a perfect 5 stars on service, menu and style. I wish I could buy stock in this place (or whoever the owner is) because this guy knows how to do it right.
(5)Super M.
Just went here last night. Completely agree with previous posters. Completely unpretentious, but still having a cool ambiance and atmosphere. Good wine selection, although I wish there were more options by the glass. Their dishes are tapas style, albeit large portions (unlike traditional tapas). Their flat breads were divine. I went as part of a business "drink thing", and it was completely appropriate, even with the terribly romantic candle lights and smooth music.
(4)Alex L.
Really great food, service and atmosphere. Loved the hanger steak and the arugula flat bread (amazing!). The only thing that was not amazing, although still definitely good, is the chocolate cake - thus the 4 stars.
(4)Maya H.
Fun though loud atmosphere. We lucked out, getting a window table on Friday night:) ordered the Brie leek... Flatbread with the Gruner Vetliner, yum. The broccoli which received many accolades was a VERYsalty and oily though quite tasty. The hangar steak, again too salty, was tasty especially when you combined radish and greens with each bite of steak. Overall a nice if loud experience.
(4)Picky P.
My friends and I LOVE this place. Blasted broccoli. Lots of candles/flattering lighting. Great bartender. More men than women on any given night. No Belltown bullshit (at least not during the week). Somehow this place has gotten it exactly right - it's totally comfortable but still feels festive and sexy....again, I think it's the lighting. The crowd is sociable and friendly, but not aggressive. We almost always meet someone new and interesting when we go there. Note: I am subtracting 1 star, because when we went there this past Wednesday we met two total assholes, it took me 20 minutes to get a cocktail, my friends had a rude waitress in the dining room, and they were playing the most god-awful mix of 70's/80's music...WTF...I'm hoping this was just a freak accident.
(4)Jeanne L.
The portions are huge, but the food was lackluster. We had the seven spice shrimp, fried tofu w/ peanut sauce, and smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread. Only the shrimp was up to par. The other two dishes left much to be desired. The service staff was nonchalant. I'm one for setting the mood, but the restaurant was simply too dim. Crowded and loud, this is not a good choice for date night. The cocktails were surprisingly cheap. The food was reasonably priced. Yet we left less than satisfied.
(2)Danielle C.
The food here is great, and for under $10 per plate you can try a lot of tasty things without much financial heartache if you're not satisfied. The flank steak has a nice Asian twist, and combined with the French country flatbread (kalamata olives, spinach, brie, olive oil) it is the perfect light dinner for two. The real attraction to this place is the ambiance. Exposed filament lighting, intimate tables, unique sensual music, and a crowd of interesting people make this a delightful hang out / people watching spot as well as a good place for dates. I wish there were more places like this in Belltown.
(4)Marianne s.
I know Seattle isn't always sunny. But it happened to be the evening we were at Black Bottle. The experience was amazing. We were seated right away outside and even had a view of the water. Who knew?! The scallops, the flat bread and even the manhatten was amazing. Extra points for bringing the shaker with the rest of the drink! The draw back here is we had to wait a long time- even though we didn't order that much food. I would for sure reccomend it. Maybe it was just a busy night? They were turning people away. Might wanna make a reservation- esp. on a weekend.
(3)Y L.
This is more of a 4.5. I am not a hip man, Jenny, but I know what hipness is. And Black Bottle has a good, hip vibe, while at the same time offering a selection of food that is eminently edible on a daily basis (hence, a good contingent of the local denizens stopping by for supper). I can't remember everything that I've consumed, but the things that really jump to mind are the blasted broccoli, and the flash-fried sardines. The blasted broccoli tastes like it's been under the broiler, which gives it a great charred, nutty taste. And the sardines are big, meaty, and not greasy at all, while offset well with a citrusy, tangy sauce and some raw vegetables (fennel? cabbage?) on top. (If you don't like fishy-tasting fish, then these would definitely be an adventure, as sardines are definitely assertive in flavor.) Some of the other items which looked great on paper were just OK for me -- perhaps because other places do such things fairly nicely as well. That's why the broccoli and the sardines really stand out, because these things ARE hard to find done well. I wish I could write more details about the wine, but I'm a novice here, and will defer to yelpers more knowledgeable than I.
(4)Jessica Y.
This place is great! Accommodates many different "issue" people, vegetarians, wheat free, and the like. Great prices, and efficient wait staff, and pretty much bitchen' snacks. Not too fancy, but good enough for a proper dinner. Generally awesome.
(5)Meggles C.
food- low/average service-sub-par clientele- "high class" escorts fresh from hugh heffner's NW location further details: we were ignored most of the night. When we spilled our peanut tofu sauce, they scowled at us and made us use our our soiled napkins the entire night/ this place is horrible.
(2)Sunny K.
Me and my sister read all the reviews here on yelp before we went in. With my friend's and yelp's recommendation, we decided to order the following: Pork belly and kimchi (5 stars) - size was small but it was amazingly good~ Very tender pork with awesome added taste of enough marinated Kimchi. sweet-and-sour taste of the sauce made the dish not too spicy, but it kept the taste of kimchi very well Smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries (5 stars) - Very large portion, very reasonable price and delicious~ Broccoli blasted (1 star) - huge disappointment. Why do people recommend this dish? I would be able to make dish at home easily. It was a huge dish, full of just broccoli. What is so special about this dish? I really didn't get it. It was really salty, burned, and ... I just didn't like it.. With the disappointment, we decided to order one more dish to make ourselves happy. We were pretty full, but we didn't want to get disappointed on our way out by the broccoli. So we ordered, Mussels marseille-style (3 stars) - I like mussels.. I like hot soup.. only reason I liked it, but nothing special. I can find this kind of dish in any italian restaurant, I think... Overall, I liked the place. If I lived near Seattle, I would want to visit this restaurant again to try other dishes as well. Both of us are petite size 0 and we were so full after eating all of the dishes we ordered... except broccoli.
(4)Dawn A.
We really enjoyed our dinner out at Black Bottle. It's a really neat little atmosphere - cozy and romantic. We enjoyed the wine and the food. My husband loved the fried spanish olives and we both enjoyed a flatbread pizza with brie, lamb and hummus plate, and bacon wrapped scallops. Three plates were definitely enough for the two of us, which we appreciated with the pricing. Service was well-timed and friendly. We'll definitely be back at some point with friends to try the rest of the menu.
(4)Eva G.
Twice in one week..need I say more? Ok..you know you want me to elaborate. Saying I've been there doesn't really justify you going there. Ain't like I"m an A-Lister. Oh wait...this is Seattle...being a celeb doesn't mean anything..it's LA where places get hype with that kind of marketing. Soooooo..Black Bottle... I wasn't impressed with their menu online but somehow, when I got there and saw the small plates being brought out, I tried matching the items that walked past me with the descriptions on the menu. I got 7 out of 10. Not a bad score. My prize for guessing right was the Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce. I hear the local celebs like Michelle B. loved it as well. Oh and make sure you get a spot in the front rather than the 2nd back room. Seats are always better in the front of anything!! Duh!
(5)Sarah B.
I love Black Bottle. Went for a late bite to eat and stayed for hours for the wine. The octopus salad was pretty good with standout dressing. We also had a sub-par chicken wings dish. The flatbread was amazing. The atmosphere is cozy but chic and a little dark. Enjoyed it very much.
(4)R. C.
Absolutely wonderful...you wouldn't think a place this hip, modern and stylish would have such an array of not just amazing and affordable food, but in significant portions--oh yes, well prepared and really filling. I expected something a bit more veggie friendly, but thank goodness I was wrong: they get their meat on here, folks..and get it on so so well. Great for sharing because the plates are substantial. The place is also very comfortable and spacious, a pleasure to be in and great fun even when its crowded. Service was very good, though for a place this attractive you'd have thought the wait staff would seem a bit less "just wandered in from a bike ride"; but perhaps that's their way of making the place seem approachable. For those looking for a good night out, there's lots of eye candy here. Its on the edge of Belltown so the crowd is hip though a tad older, a bit more sophisticated and/or far more mixed than it would be just a block away (of course, if you go on Friday or Saturday nights the crowd will definitely be more 20-something). We are definitely regulars now.
(4)Keridwyn D.
It felt like the wait staff were recovering from concussions or something - their communication was really poor, they were pretty inattentive and just made us feel uneasy. I sat down and joined my group - it was during happy hour but the waiter didn't point out that fact, no happy hour menu was brought to me, I found out there were specials after the fact. Really no incentive to go back here.
(2)Shannon S.
Black Bottle automatically get a star for taking over the space from the previous restaurant/bar, Two Dagos from Texas. I lived above this place in a little crap ass efficiency studio before I turned into a grown up and realized adults dont live in places where you have to share a bathroom with a whole floor of people. ANYWAYS... Two Dagos was a hole in the wall where you could walk in order a drink and hope to god a rat wasn't floating in it. Thank Jesus and Baby Jesus Black Bottle moved in. By the time they had I was long gone, but I always make the trek back into the abyss of Belltown to visit this gastro-tavern. Must haves are the hanger steak, potato and prosciutto wheels and the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato which can make you forget all your worries. Creative food, creative atmosphere. Can be pricey but c'mon people we live in Seattle, I know you've all got the money.
(5)Maria C.
I'm in Seattle for the weekend and I know what I'm having for dinner tonight. Blasted Broccoli. I know- how great can broccoli be??? Pretty freakin' amazing at Black Bottle.
(4)Heather F.
Fantastic. There were about 8 of us and I'm pretty sure we came close to ordering a little of everything off of the menu (ok, not that close but it seemed like it!) and every morsel of food was really delicious. The wines we picked were very good and our server was super patient and knowledgeable. Oh, I should also mention that everything on the menu is pretty reasonably priced. We went on a Saturday night and the place was packed (thank goodness for reservations) but still comfortable. I like how this place can be both a perfect first date spot or a cozy little spot to have dinner with a few close friends.
(5)Audrey W.
It is challenging to find great spots around Seattle where you can get lost in conversation while being tantalized by a delicious menu. Black Bottle is one of the few establishments paving the way for better options for an entertaining night out. The small plate revolution is a good thing. Black Bottle's selection covers a nice range of variety in cuisines. However, some cuisinal (making up my own adj. here - work with me...) attempts are trumped by others. Possibly a result of misnomers for dishes that lead to unforeseen perplexion (this one is cited on urbandictionary.com , thank you): 1) The french country flatbread: it isn't flat. It has enough yeast in it to be categorized as a focaccia... should be renamed the tuscan italian focaccia!? 2) The chocolate cake with vanilla gelato: I think we decided it wasn't really a cake but resembled a chocolate fort but my afterthought was chocolat chateau!... a fancier way to say, hostess ding dong. Since I had a charming night at Black Bottle, I am quite forgiving. Good conversation, happy drinks, and entertaining food. Before I forget, if you do get the grilled lamb, be sure to not get too caught up in your conversation and enjoy it while it's still warm. I noticed that it lost some sparks of flavor once cooled. So all in all, Black Bottle definitely has the potential to host an enjoyable time. * Dedicated to EW *
(3)Will S.
After having a bold red wine in a tiny wine glass. ( you would think a wine bar would have appropriate wine glasses). I check my bank statement because I paid with my debit card and I found a charge for the total and a second charge for a total plus tip. I called Black Bottle to have them credit the mistake and was told that this stuff happens sometimes and that an automatic credit would happen. Check for it on Monday. What kind of crap is that?? Check your bank statements if you pay by credit card.
(1)Ramo N.
I'd give this 4.5 stars if I could, but not quite the 5. To get a 5 from me, the place has to do something novel to teach and impress me. Went for dinner on a Sunday night with a large group of people. Ambiance: Reminds me of some of the winebars of Manhattan's lower east side. I enjoyed the black on brick/concrete with the candlelight. The clientelle were cool. Food & Wine: My recommendations are the Mussels Marseillaise, Hangar Steak, and the Flatbread Prosciutto & Bechamel. These were tasty treats, and worked extremely well with the wines and ambiance. Tip: If you like the Canaletto Pinot Grigio served here, you can buy a bottle of it retail for $5. Service: Very good. Good place for a date. I like how it is crowded with the hustle & bustle; others may not.
(4)cheng k.
The bartender at my hotel suggested belltown as a means of escape from the sausagefest that the w bar was that particular night. This place was recommended and it turned out to be a funny evening. Nice place, really good food, nice people. If i get the chance to come back to Seattle, I'll be making my way back here for sure
(4)Josh B.
Forget the wine; the broccoli here will blow your mind!!!!! This is not a joke. Eat the broccoli. It is amazing. To elaborate a little further, this is a great place to take a group of people and order a bunch of stuff (Tapas style).
(5)Austin K.
How about desert? The blueberry peach kettle cobbler is fantastic. The crust is well made and perfectly cooked. You get a cute serving in a cast-iron skillet with a tiny bottle of creme to douse the deliciousness. The crowd is the beautiful people, and be ready for a wait. It's not hard to improve on The Two Dagos, but Black Bottle steps it up level.
(4)Robin S.
Who says black bottle is expensive? Try the eggplant rolatini. $5 for lemony ricotta goodness wrapped in crispy eggplant. Also the roasted veggies are inexpensive and can feed the whole table. Another one of my favs is the squid salad... delish. Stick with Mediterranean dishes on their menu - where their chef is from. Other options are good but the standout items are Italian inspired. Black Bottle is my favorite standby in Belltown when I want some solid cuisine and good atmosphere.
(4)Jason L.
Love this place. We weren't thrilled by the menu ahead of time but we went by the other reviews here and are glad we did. Maybe we were lucky, but the two of us arrived at 8:30pm on Saturday and were promptly seated at a nice table in the front room. And we were prepared to wait! Cool. So... The food was overall just scrumptious. The Prosciutto Flat Bread with Bechamel Sauce is f'in amazing. We also liked the hangar steak. The cauliflower and potatoes were really yummy (this coming from a guy who hates cauliflower), though they give you way too much on the plate. We also had the 7-spice shrimp, and that was, eh, okay. OMG we loved the dessert. We had was was basically a peach and blueberry cobbler. OhSoGood. The atmosphere was pretty cool. Makes me think of the trendy industrial/lounge-y places we have in San Francisco, but without being pretentious. And our server was cool--she was friendly and chatty (but not when my girlfriend and I were having our own intimate moments), and helped make the meal really wonderful. Go here!
(4)jeffrey T.
Ate here 2x. Both times I dont remember really noticing the food much, and the bil wasnt bad either. The dessert was awesome, however. Way way way way too overcrowded and noisy however.
(3)Claire W.
Stopped for a beverage with friends while walking back to the hotel. The music was a touch loud, but the bartender was a delight. He was charming and helpful. The plum martini was incredible. The tequila grapefruit cocktail was refreshing. The bartender recommended a fantastic grassy white wine. We all enjoyed our drinks.
(4)Kelly B.
Wow. I guess I was thinking that since this was a wine bar, there wouldn't be much of a menu beyond a few casual apps, lotsa cheese and bread, that sort of thing. Wrong, wrong, and wrong! This place is a TOTAL food destination. Having dined at many a restaurant that serves up small plates, I was a bit nervous that I would leave hungry. Wrong again. They basically serve you family still side dishes...lotta eats...tons of flavor. Since I'm a broccoli fanatic, seeing that heaping portion of green, crunchy florets arrive at my table, crikeys, I just about died. The pork belly was the best cut I've had ever - solid and meaty with that fatty flavor, oh my. Our table was mildy distracted by a bunch of twenty and thirty-somethings modeling school girl outfits one table over but other than that, great experience!
(5)Emily A.
We went back to Black Bottle to try out the food. It was decent, nothing fantastic, but nothing to complain about (except, perhaps, the price again). Good bites included the sauteed broccoli, the bacon lemon scallops, the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherry flatbread, and the chocolate cake with vanilla gelato (really yummy caramel sauce on this one). The civiche, spanish fried olives, and the yellowfin sashimi were average. Didn't like the wild boar ribs (way too tough - almost inedible), the brie and leek pesto flatbread (far too many leeks for me. couldn't taste the brie!), or the baba rum cake (the cream inside was tasty, but the cake itself was dry and had a weird texture). Probably wouldn't go back there on my next trip to Seattle, but I'm glad we tried the food.
(3)kaitlyn k.
This is my favorite place to eat in Seattle. I have never been disappointed, and they have a ton of vegetarian options that I really enjoy. Blasted Broccoli is a must if you go, I think I could eat a whole dish to myself. I would recommend getting a French 75 here, it is definitely the best one I have had in Seattle. Love the ambiance, staff, food and the price.
(5)Travis M.
Just moved to the neighborhood, saw the restaurant from the outside and came back with my girlfriend. Atmosphere is nice, very clean and organized. All of the food was very good. We ordered as much as we possibly could eat. The happy hour taco's were a great start, tried all three, chicken, steak, and pork. Neither of us liked the steak but we got two more orders of the pork and chicken. The kale is the most AMAZING thing on the menu. I have never had kale so well seasoned and cooked, and I hate the stuff normally. Hummus plate was pretty average as well as the lamb, but the portions were huge for an $8 plate. Service was great and I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Kim M.
Great food. Fun crowd. Reminds me of BK! Crowded on weekends so make a reservation.
(4)Princess J.
Delicious!!! Met some friends at Black Bottle while in town for work and was a little skeptical of their menu. Atmosphere is hip and kind of dark. Servings of food bigger than I expected and everything delicious! Though Kimichi/Pork Belly was not as spicy as I wanted. Over all a great experience and I would go back.
(4)Gretchen B.
It has been nearly a year and a half since my last review and I have to say I am throwing them the final star. I love this place. Last night we went with a friend and ordered about 7 or more dishes. Every single plate was better than the next. Spectacular. The tuna, the pork, the steak, the mushrooms, the clams, the scallops-all perfect. Not to mention that every dish seems to come with a side of greens or something. I also had dessert for the first time, the lemon ricotta cake. Like a delicious cheesecake with lemon curd on top. Fabulous. We also had the Summer drink with the grapefruit juice, it could be my new favorite summertime drink. The sake mojito was delicious too. I need to be eating here way more often!
(5)Faith E.
We arrived at 7:20 pm on a Friday the place was packed. After putting our name on the waiting list, the nice-clipboard-holding-guy quickly told us that with all of the reservations our estimated wait would be one hour and forty-five minutes. (Oddly enough, the website claims they do not take reservations!) We bit the bullet and waited. I assumed with other people storming out because of the wait we would be in our seats sooner. I was wrong Exactly One hour and forty-five minutes (and two Margaritas) later our table is ready. (Man is that nice-clipboard-holding-guy accurate at estimating). Since we were famished, we ordered away. I loved everything they had. The Margaritas were nice and strong. The flatbread was very good; it almost justified the $9 price tag. The pork belly was lean and tender, and the seviche was very good as well. Unfortunately, I had arrived at the restaurant famished, after waiting so long I was insatiable. I knew that I would need to order half of the menu to be satisfied and frankly, we didn't want to shell out that sort of cash. Our table was also precious real estate and it didn't seem fair to hold up the table when other people were waiting so long so we decided to head out for pizza next. To sum it up, great place to eat something light. Skip it if you don't have reservations, and it's packed
(3)Claire S.
This was our first meal upon arriving in Seattle, and certainly one of the best. They focus on serving small plates of delicious creations, and the price points are fairly reasonable. It's listed as a gastropub, but feels a little classier than that, in my opinion. + HOUSE-SMOKED WILD BOAR RIBS. I didn't realize wild boar had such small ribs, but regardless, get this - awesome flavor, a unique dish, and worth having at least once. + OREGON PORK SHANK w/APPLE BRANDY & HAZELNUTS. This was just fantastic, the pork was cooked to perfection, soft and falling apart, and was a nice, meat-heavy addition to our meal. ~ SPICY COCONUT LEMON-GINGER CEVICHE w/TARO CHIPS. Not a huge amount of ceviche came with this dish, but it was good. The taro chips far outnumbered the fish, though. ++SEVEN SPICE SHRIMP. I'm used to getting this sort of dish at Japanese restaurants (whole shrimp, including the heads, fried and served), and this was quite similar, but with a nice kick. A table favorite, but it doesn't really travel or reheat well. ++BROCCOLI BLASTED. Weird that such a simple dish could be so impressive. Still no idea how they cooked the broccoli so that the heads were crunchy without being deep-fried, but we were fans of this. It's a HUGE serving, be warned. - CHOCOLATE CAKE w/VANILLA GELATO. This was in lieu of a real birthday cake, and I gotta say, it was pretty unmemorable. The cake was dry, and the gelato was the only good part, really. Other than a few hiccups, this place is fantastic, and worth checking out if you're in the area!
(4)Dave W.
Everything was great - plenty of options for those with diet restrictions. Perfect for family style! Lamb meatballs, pork belly, and the roasted vegetables were our favorites
(5)Jay L.
Try the blasted broccoli. Fun place for a tapas style dinner out with friends. Cocktails are good. Flatbread is also really yummy.
(4)Brooke H.
By far one of my favorite restaurants in Belltown. Moving to the area it's been hard to find a nice dining option. Most restaurants down here are divey bars, unless you want to eat sushi. Black Bottle had been recommended to me for awhile and when I finally convinced the boyfriend to go it was definitely worth the wait. I've been to Quinn's in capitol hill featuring an assortment of unique food, but in truth it was poorly executed and seemed to be trying a bit too hard. Black Bottle is the opposite. A candlelit romantic dinner setting, although a bit tight (we could hear all of the discussion at the next table over) featuring truly delicious food to share. We had the boar ribs and the greek hummus plate, paired with some nice wine and it was more than enough for two people. I had planned to get the chocolate cake too but was too stuffed to even consider. The ribs fell apart as you ate them and the greek plate was filled with an assortment of cheese, olives, bread, and hummus that was delectable. The ambiance is nice, the server friendly and informative and the crowd respectable. We'll defintely be back for another visit.
(4)Kim K.
Any place with a menu item titled "broccoli blasted" is already a win in my book. We ordered 3 items which was more than enough for for two people. Broccoli, lamb meatballs and hummus and the brie leek french-country pesto. Dear sweet heavens, they were all incredible. Great ambiance and would make a great spot for a romantic date night. The service could have been a bit better but otherwise, a great experience and I'd love to come here again for round 2...
(4)Gregg H.
Black Bottle is, hands down, my favorite restaurant in the city. I'm not sure I've ever been turned away without a reservation, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to call ahead. There's plenty of seating without feeling cramped, and the back room doesn't feel closed off even though there's no windows. It's tapas, so depending how hungry you are, I'd say either 1.5 or 2 dishes per person for the main course should suffice. The lamb balls are a must, but honestly it's hard to go wrong. There's usually a couple decent beers on tap, mostly local stuff. I've never done a cocktail here, but I've heard mixed reviews; the menu looks decent enough. $2 tacos during happy hour, so, y'know. Go.
(5)Vivian N.
Best meal of our trip! Summary: Moscato and pork belly!! Crowded but great atmosphere. Pricy though but what isn't in Seattle right??
(5)Beau R.
I met my parents for dinner here and a really delicious meal. The food will not disappoint. My parents had recently arrived in Seattle for a visit and this was my first time meeting up with them, so you can imagine that we wanted to do some chatting and catching up. Our server was patient with us, as we were more interested in talking than the menu, but the restaurant was on the loud side for conversation. We shared some small plates: a flatbread, boar's ribs and halloumi cheese. The dry rubbed boars ribs were superb; the meat would just fall off the bones. All of them were excellent, but the ribs really were memorable. As I wrote this review, I was trying to reference the menu online. It seems that the menu keeps changing, so I've got plenty of reasons to go back!
(4)Ken N.
Everything was prepared perfectly. Portion sizes/prices were very fair, and the food tasted incredible. Highly recommend the roasted veggies, scallops, and the wild boar ribs couldn't have been more savory. The cacao mousse/pistachio brittle dessert - you will finish it, even if you think you can't. It's that good. Will definitely be back soon.
(5)Sheng M.
I've always liked Black Bottle. They have really good food and really good service. The flat bread pizzas are delish... The spicy prawns...the salads...yum! This particular location has a private room you can rent out (capacity of ~50 people and I think it was $200 for like 6+ hours given that you rack up a couple hundred bucks in food and drinks). My friend hosted her 30th birthday party which was 1920's/flapper-themed and it was such a cool little venue. The rental came with a full bar and bartender....totally cool! And the appetizers were refreshed as necessary. Another fantastical experience! The restaurant itself has exposed brick throughout and really old hardwood floors. Only gripe is parking...but you're in Belltown...what are you gonna do. :)
(5)Deborah S.
Fried Chicken with collard greens. Slap my mama! I love this place. Friendly, warm and casual with a little edge. Great South American wine selection and tasty food. Cocktails are inventive without being pretentious.
(5)Jennifer K.
Delicious food with beautiful presentation. I have yet to find something I do not enjoy here. The ambiance is dark glam, and you almost feel like a celebrity walking in. The price is higher than I prefer, but reasonable when you consider quality. All menu items are small plates (not dinner entrees).
(4)Neil W.
I really enjoyed my last visit; Sundays are not as crazy. The drinks were dynamite; the Vesper and the Martinez that my wife ordered were tops. The food was good overall with a few missteps, but nothing major. The fried olives and shishito peppers are a must. The beet au gratin was unique. It had that earthy sweet beet flavor with a pleasantly odd creamy texture with the cheese. I like the fried chicken, but I wish there was more of the chicken and less of the greens. I loved the greens, but the two small nuggets were a bit disappointing. I also would have like a lighter, crispier batter. The seared tuna lacked seasoning and was a bit over cooked in my book. I know it came with a soy sauce concoction on the side, but it needed more. The salad with edemame, green beans and asparagus was excellent. Service was prompt and attentive as always.
(4)Madison G.
The food here was great. The food we were able to order, that is. We must have came on an off night because after sitting down and ordering our drinks, the waitress came back to let us know they were out of "some of the items" on the menu. She proceeded to tell us which items weren't available and it was literally everything we already had picked out to be ordered. They were completely out of everything under the meat section, no scallops, no this and no that. I was able to get the chicken and roasted cherry flat bread, which was beyond amazing. I was able to get pretty full off of it and shared with my friends too. I also had ceviche which was very fresh, it was just surprising at the small amount of chips I was given with it. I made it work though. :) This really is a cute place and has a good amount of things to choose from, when actually available and not out. The prices are even better, so I will most likely be back to try out the items that were unavailable the night we went. However, I would suggest to anyone working at Black Bottle reading this that if you're out of almost everything on the menu, you say that before seating a table and taking our drink orders. We would have gone else where, but we already waited there for so long and were late to our other night activities.
(3)Kristin P.
I can't say enough good things about this place...love the food, the rotating menu, the drink selection & the dim lighting! Staff has always been extremely friendly too. It's good to have a reservation if you're going on the weekend! Perfect for a date night!
(5)Denise L.
The broccoli blasted from Black Bottle is BOMBDIGGITY! Ok, having a little too much fun with alliteration. Anyway, we came here on the first night of our trip to Seattle because our friends in town made reservations here after hearing many good things about Black Bottle. The service was excellent and our waitress was quick to inform our party of four that we would need around 6 dishes in order for everyone to be full (most dishes are served in medium portions). We ordered: lamb meatballs, pork belly and kimchee, BROCCOLI BLASTED, duck breast, ribs, and a vegetable medley dish ("verjus" is written on our receipt). The best dish was definitely a three-way tie among the broccoli blasted, duck breast, and pork belly kimchee. The broccoli blasted is so good that everyone agreed that we should have doubled up on that order, I'm not sure how it is prepared but I think it might have to do with being baked because it's a really deliciously crunchy dehydrated texture. I've never had anything even remotely close to this broccoli blasted dish in my life before! The duck breast was really good and the pork belly kimchee had great unique flavor with actual pieces of kimchee in the skewers. I am not a fan of lamb so the lamb meatballs were a little bit gamey for my likings, however, the hummus and flat bread that came with the dish was spectacular. The ribs did not have as much flavor as I would have wanted but it was cooked go perfection, the meat just slid off the bones. The vegetable medley farm fresh dish or whatever it was called was a total disaster because the string beans were so burnt that it just tasted like burnt char which made it very bitter. For drinks we got the doppelgänger, the mixed drink with Rachel's ginger beer, and a diamond knot blonde. A+ for the bartender at Black Bottle! The ambience was very chic with a spinning planet silhouette, intimate and dark, and just an overall amazing place for a date or a get together with friends. For music they even played a few of my favorite songs from Lana Del Rey (who I absolutely love). The night was just perfect, and I would absolutely come here again. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. I apologize for the lack of photos but we were having too much fun enjoying ourselves and devouring the food. But there will definitely be a next time! ;)
(5)Christiana A.
Went here recently for dinner. It was delicious, and service was nice. I can't eat gluten, and the waiter brought out an allergen-friendly menu. The shishito peppers were tasty. Nice vibe inside, though I'd suggest you make a reservation as the wait times for walk-ins is l-o-n-g. Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant.
(4)Bethany M.
We dined here on a Friday late night dinner with friends after a Seahawks game. We thoroughly enjoyed the service, atmosphere and most especially the food. We ordered the tomato caprese, scallops, lamb meatballs, blasted broccoli and fried chicken with collard greens. They were all wonderful. The lamb meatballs served with hummus, pita, tzatziki, cucumbers and olives plate was a special treat. The fried chicken was AMAZING. These 5 plates were delicious and more than enough to satisfy 4 adults. I would definitely return again to have the opportunity to sample the other 15 items on the menu we didn't have the room to enjoy last night!
(5)Rafi R.
We arrived in a large group of 12. The decor and ambience are great and our table was ready and set for us. The waiter was quick to get our first drink order in and the drinks arrived promptly. The food was hit or miss. The cauliflower fritters were horrible. They looked delicious with a nice crispy brown outside. Inside they were mostly undercooked breading with ground up cauliflower in them (I think - hard to tell). These could have been so good - batter and fry chunks of recognizable cauliflower. But instead they processed them to a point they were unrecognizable. And the batter was mealy and not cooked through. This opinion was universal at the table. We ordered three servings of this. The deep-fried octopus was inedible. So hard and chewy it resembled jerky. Several guests commented that octopus is always like that. But I've had it a couple times recently where it's been delicious. The octopus requires some extra steps to soften it up before the final cook - whether frying or grilling. We left most of it. The fried chicken and collard greens were a hit. Two southerners at the table noted the greens weren't vinegary but savory and definitely above average. The chicken on skewers had a great crust and the portion size was perfect. They use white meat which was a tiny bit dry for a few but overall delicious dish. The coconut lime-ginger ceviche with taro chips was also a hit. Only one order of it, but got passed around and everyone was pleased with it. Some even surprised. The flavor was balanced. You could taste all the ingredients but none out-shined the others or the seafood which was a mixture of tender calamari and fish and, we think, shrimp. The chips were light as a feather and not greasy at all. The pork belly could have used some more rendering but was really tasty with the kimchi. The kimchi could have been spicier - it was pretty mild and didn't stand up to the sweet syrupy sauce. The cocktails were kept flowing all night and the waiter made a valiant effort to give us all personalized checks.
(2)Tanya P.
Really classy spot, great for cocktails with girlfriends or a first date that's romantic but not too romantic. Ordered the oxtail, which was delicious. But it was only meat, no veggies or anything on the side. When they segregate the menu by meat, seafood, veggies they mean it. I asked for rice (of course) or even a potato side, but they don't have any! What. Got a side of flatbread instead. This was delicious too! But just this for $17? Ehhh, come here for cocktails and a cool vibe. Go somewhere else for dinner.
(4)Tori N.
Came here for drinks. Service was very attentive and friendly. Overall decor, atmosphere, and theme is clearly french influenced. A little bit on the sophisticated, hipster, trendy vibe going on in this restaurant if comparing this to other happy hour spots in Belltown. Will be back again for Happy Hour to try the food next time.
(3)Johnny N.
One of my favorite wine bars/gastropubs and tapas place in Seattle. Their wine list is not as extensive as a true wine bar, but their selection is excellente. However, you have to definitely try their specialty cocktails; try the Barrel-Aged. As far as food goes, again it is tapas. You definitely have to try their Bacon Lemon Scallops with frizzled kale. Wow it is just an explosion of different flavors! There are other hidden gems that you must try at least once such as the Spanish Chorizo and Octopus Hash with Marcona Almonds. The entree has a lot of flavorful bursts and interesting textures.
(4)Christina N.
This place is the sole reason why I now love eating brussel sprouts and green beans. My first visit was a few months ago in a large group of 8. I was very thrilled that they could accommodate a larger group and even more so when they were willing to split our checks. Usually not a huge deal but it certainly eliminates the complications of figuring out who owes who what. The staff is super friendly and service is very speedy, two great recipes for a 5 star review :D. Buttttt lemme tell you bout their Farmer's Market Roasted Veggies dish...it is incredible. I'm usually not a veggie fan, especially as the main dish. I like some savory aspect in my meals, but the way these veggies are seasoned provides just that. I first tried the dish when a vegetarian friend of mine ordered it, but I literally just got back from Black Bottle and could wait to share that I ordered it again and it was just as amazing the second time. I don't recall the other dishes that I tried during my first visit, but I can tell you that I left a very happy camper lol. I must say, I wasn't too impressed with their HH food selection, which is just a selection of 3 tacos for $2. They're pretty tiny and not amazing...but still good. I'll just say I don't visit for the happy hour, the rest of the menu blows tacos out of the water ;). Stop by, it's definitely worth a visit!
(5)Kyle W.
Adding one more star to my review as a thank-you to one of the managers at Black Bottle for calling me to apologize for the negative experience. They tried to see if they could make things better, but I had already found a restaurant for my company party. Will be happy to give them another shot in the future to make my review a four or five star :)
(3)Toby C.
This place just struck me as weird. We arrived at 8:30pm for an 8:30pm reservation, and no one greeted us for about 5 minutes. Three groups of two came in and we're waiting just like us; just odd because it was clear this place did not have a hostess. Later, one of the waitresses sat us down, clearly not caring whether we had a reservation or not. The entire dinner just seemed really unorganized. We never got menus; we just had shared the one we picked up from the front of the restaurant while waiting... The waitresses were clearly overworked/understaffed... The waitress got one of our entrees wrong, which wasn't a big deal. The waitress ended up taking some $$ off the bill, but it all just seemed unorganized. They even forgot to add our two cocktails onto the bill. Just seemed like the workers were under-trained. The food was pretty good... Oxtail seemed a bit over cooked.
(3)Lemme K.
This place was amazing!!!!' We came with a very large group of friends and so were able to order the majority of the food on their menu. The favorites were the beet gratin, the wild boar ribs, pork shank, skillet vegetables, panna cotta and the pie. Everything was amazing and delicious. We were so full at the end but couldn't stop eating. Would definitely come back to try the things we didn't order this time. Service was also awesome. Our waiter was very nice and helpful and super informative about things.
(5)Tamiko T.
I've been here over 20 times and have a very good grasp on their menu. It is a great place to come with a group of people or a date but keep in mind that it's one of the most sought after places in Belltown these days - the wait can be pretty long and the service can be quite slow at times. The food, drinks and atmosphere make it all worth it!! Things you don't want to miss. In order of importance: 1. Blasted broccoli! They do something to each floret to make them addictive like crack. They give you a heaping plate. Enough to theoretically share with 3 - 4 but you may find yourself ordering another plate... 2. Wild boar ribs. They will make you lick your fingers and the plate. 3. Braised oxtail. (3 pieces.) You don't get that much meat on the bone but the flavor is amazing. 4. Pork shank with hazelnuts. Cooked to perfection with great flavors. 5. Farmers market vegetables. An assortment of veggies in a cast iron skillet cooked to perfection with a squeeze of citrus. Often find things like carrots, parsnips, asparagus, Brussel sprouts, but it really depends on the day. Like the broccoli there's enough to share. 6. Pork belly and kimchi. In the mood for some good pork fat? Get these delicious skewers of meat. It's not very spicy at all. 7. Bacon wrapped scallops. Can't go wrong with that combo! Lower priority but still good: 1. Tacos. They are good but you can get better tacos elsewhere, and there's plenty of other things you want to try first. 2. Fried chicken. It's good but again you can get better elsewhere. Order it by all means if you're craving friend chicken though! It's two pieces of white meat on a bed of collard greens. 3. Hanger steak. This used to be one of my favorites until they changed the sauce... Now it's a bit too salty for my taste. It's an Asian-style steak that used to have a delicate citrusy soy sauce but now it tastes like it's doused in straight up soy sauce.
(5)Whitney B.
A prime spot for awkward first dates. Black Bottle is a classy enough option to have dinner to conceal the fact that you stopped shaving your pits months ago, can recite every episode of Cake Boss verbatim, and your sofa has been collecting Flaming Hot Cheetos' crumbs during your year long dating hiatus. You start yearning longingly for a warm penis, so you agree to get set-up on blind dates. Where do you plan to meet? Black Bottle. Awkward couples were all I saw that night. It's moody, mildly upscale, and it's in Belltown so it's convenient if you need a quick and painless escape plan when there's nothing left to keep you interested. That's about as good as Black Bottle gets. The food is completely forgettable. I came here when they also had their taco happy hour and ordered the carne asada taco for $2.00. I think the cow was traumatized in the womb. It was incredibly tough and chewy that marinated, elastic waistbands would have better texture. The only two things I mildly enjoyed were the lamb meatballs and the bacon-wrapped scallops on top of kale. The lamb meatballs came with a side of a thick ass tzatziki sauce, toasted pita bread, a generous helping of hummus, and a Mediterranean salad. It was my favorite thing, simple and well done. The bacon-wrapped scallop is a standard gastropub food that neither excites nor bores me; the balsamic dressing over the kale leaves was far more interesting than anything else. It's still a far better choice than any of their boring flatbreads, the vile and reprehensibly overpriced broccoli blasted, and unflavored, chimney smoked wild boar ribs. Black Bottle isn't for people who are legitimately hungry. It's when you've been reduced to going out with Syphilis Steve who is looking for a willing, wet hole and Twice Divorced Tim who cries midway while drinking his Jameson on the rocks.
(3)Brodie O.
Food is wonderful, service was great (sat at the bar but the tender was personable, made Seattle recommendations and made us feel at home). Would probably frequent this place if I lived in the Seattle area.
(4)Ana S.
The broccoli everyone is talking about is as good as they say. It's nothing complicated--olive oil, salt, pepper, roasted--but it's realllly tasty. And the serving is huge. Boyf and I shared the broccoli and brie leek french-country pesto flatbread (which is also large) and we were satisfied. Those two items made this place reasonably priced. My cocktail was pretty great, too--Bee's Knees it's called. I like the dark, sexy atmosphere.
(4)fank l.
A hip little tapas-like place. Inside the lighting is pretty dark so if you're self-conscious about your looks or just want to pig out and not be judge, it's perfect. The food is delicious with different range of items from duck to humus. I was there with a party of 10. Call in advance for a large party, because it gets busier than Zach Efron's underpants. Portions: Feeds about a person per plate. Some plates have more food than others. The food is meant to be shared, so expect to order several plates if your party is more than four. Plates were mostly $10-$13 per dish. Environment: It's loud during peak hours. I think having a party of 4 is just right. Larger parties make it different to interact with one another. I didn't see any circular tables. Yumminess: Pretty much on point. The broccoli was amazing- I know it doesn't make sense but just get it man. The duck breast was so tender like Ryan Gosling's heart in the Notebook. The pork shank falls off the bone and so most- you'll remember it like your first love. The wild boar ribs was meh- a little dry. If you want to have a good time or show your out of towner friends a good place to dine. This is the spot.
(4)Marlon G.
My boyfriend and I decided to try something new and exciting while I'm staying up here (From California). First lets talk about the ambiance. It's perfect for a date, reasonable pricing and location is great. Service was great as well. Went during dinner time. Our server had a smile the entire time. The time it took from ordering and receiving our plates was actually the only down side. It was quite the wait. I'd say at most 45 minutes so enjoy the time with a drink or converse with that special someone. Once the food was served, then the sparks lit and then we knew why this place was great. The food was outstanding! I eat at a lot of high end places and for the price, most excellent. We ordered Brie Flatbread, duck, ceviche and for dessert the panna cotta.
(4)Amaresh S.
I found this place kind of disappointing, as it looks really fancy. It's hard to know how big the plates will be, as some dishes are huge and others barely fill you up. The food also wasn't that spectacular, I ended up wondering why it was as busy as it was. Probably not worth revisiting
(3)Kendra Y.
Wow halloumi cheese with dates was amazing!! Also had the wilted kale, spinach salad with goat cheese and pancetta. It was more spinach and arugula but so delish. I also recommend the doppelgänger cocktail. The pear component was very crisp and refreshing. I will definitely be back. They also are great for big groups, they have a separate dining area with a private bar. Also there is no mandatory gratuity for large groups which is a nice option.
(4)Trevin C.
Fantastic spot for drinks and dinner. Great service but can be slow at times when the place is hopping. For food, I highly recommended their Blasted Broccoli (it's like crack!) and the béchamel flatbread.
(5)Matt S.
Inventive pairings that really work. The service was impeccable- the servers were attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth it- we had a fantastic experience.
(5)Emily K.
A group of 6 of us dined here last night. Such a great spot for groups with all the shared plates. The Blasted Broccoli and the Fried Chicken were my two favorites of the appoximately 12 plates we ordered. Great wine list, affordable prices and lots of street parking. What's not to love!
(5)Jill C.
The food is overrated. Was here for dinner with my 2 sisters and we felt that it was just an ok restaurant. We ordered: 1. Scallop wrapped in bacon: good but not the best I've had 2. Flat bread with prosciutto: tasted like pizza, nothing special 3. Pork belly with kimchi: not bad 4. Hangar steak: my favorite of the night! the steak was super tender and I loved the sauce 5. blasted broccoli: this dish was the worst in my opinion. From looking at the pictures, our broccoli was definitely over-blasted. When put under light, the broccoli was essentially all burnt and black. 6. ox tail: delicious, second favorite dish! 7. choco cake with vanilla gelato: only the gelato was good, cake was dry 8. Lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust: disliked the texture of the ricotta All in all, it was a decent restaurant with some great dishes. However, considering the price and my dislike on some dishes, I won't be visiting again.
(3)Liana H.
Loved the atmosphere, the menu, the gluten free menu available, and most of the food. It should've been all around really awesome. However, my boyfriend and I ordered the scallops as one of our dishes and I ate half of one and was blown away by ammonia. The scallops reeked of ammonia and tasted awful. When we told the waiter, he seemed less than concerned and asked if he should take them away for us. Yes, the answer is yes. Your scallops have gone bad, please take them away. I was just disappointed that nobody seemed at all concerned, or apologetic, or asked if we'd like to order something else instead. We mentioned it to three different servers, and no one was concerned. Finally, we asked to order something else to replace them. They comped the scallops off of our bill, but it was really bizarre to me that nobody apologized once. Cut to...I got food poisoning later that night and was up all night sick. So....our experience could have been really awesome, but unfortunately was less than worth it.
(2)Jenny S.
Cry babies. They do a great business, in a great location and whine about actually paying their staff a decent wage. It is hard to feel sorry for them. Actually, it is impossible. Well they are going to take the surcharge off the receipts. Bravo! I will amend my review. But they will get only an okay, because they had the stupid idea in the first place. But we all can grow.
(3)John I.
Pretty legit place right here - definitely recommend making a stop! A pretty cool cocktail list... dozens upon dozens of beer and wine choices - really dope atmosphere! No complaints about the Black Bottle whatsoever
(5)Wendy V.
Highly overpriced for the portion. I make better food at home. Ordered three things and split with a friend. After we left we went to Dick's because we were still hungry. For a place called Black Bottle, I expected a big wine list - no. Everything for our table of 11 was brought out one dish at a time. It took two hours before we got all our food. There was a lot of sitting and watching someone else eat, waiting and hoping you might get something to eat soon. It was also so loud you couldn't hear the server announcing the next dish they brought out. I ordered calamari with hen of the woods mushrooms, there were no mushrooms at all. Broccoli was just roasted broccoli. The short ribs were good. The butter chicken was alright but I've had better for far less money. I'd never go back.
(2)Elizabeth L.
Still a fan after 3 yrs. in Seattle. Black Bottle has maintained its lustre and remains a trusty standby. Love its versatility - great date spot, good for hosting parties, or just quick drinks at the bar. All-around solid menu with something for everyone. Vegetarian-friendly, but carnivores won't be disappointed, nor your sweet tooth. Small plates are more like large plates, priced $7-13, good for sharing 3-4 ways. Hosted a party of 9 on a Monday evening. MEATS - Pork belly & kimchi skewers - liked the fun skewer presentation (4 skewers). Easy to share and kimchi was a nice, strong note against the pork belly - Malbec-glazed oxtail - this was delicious, will order again. Braised to tenderness. Just a note - since oxtail is bone-in, this is probably better for those accustomed with cutting close to bone/marrow to really get at the oxtail. Can be slightly daunting, but well worth it. - Sliced hanger steak and daikon/shiso was nicely pan-seared. The daikon and shiso provide a clean, refreshing balance to the steak. Generously portioned - Masala chicken drums - yum! Juicy, falling off the bone and well-flavored, sweet and savory with plump golden raisins - Chicken laab-gai - Thai chicken lettuce wraps, a bit on the salty side, but tasty nonetheless. Great for sharing. - Flash-fried sardines - very fresh and a lighter preparation. This is more of a small plate than the rest. VEGGIES: Black Bottle does a killer job on its veg dishes. - Curried roasted potatoes and cauliflower - deliciously fragrant. This was an unexpected star. - Gruyere beet gratin - while everyone does roasted beets, loved this gratin preparation. - Broccoli blasted - flavorful and perfectly seared - Brie leek french-country pesto - probably my favorite flatbread at Black Bottle. Brie and leek are an outstanding combo. - Fried tofu and house made peanut sauce - a guilty snack, tasty and satisfying SWEETS: Save room! - Lemon curd ricotta cake lavender crust - made of angels' smiles. Airy and refreshing - one of my favorite desserts in Seattle - Peach/blueberry kettle tart with fresh cream: comfort food at its finest. Tastes like Grandma's kitchen SEATING While front room has the bar and excellent ambiance, would recommend back room for hosting parties - was frigid in the front room during my visit (Feb. 3). All in all, tried and true - will be back!
(4)Danika A.
Terrible service. Our server was very inattentive. However, no complaint about the drinks and food. The awful experience began when my girls and I (4 total) walked through the door. My local friend was celebrating her birthday and had been to Black Bottle once before. The bartender told us to sit anywhere we like. It was 10:45 pm and it seemed like the parties in the restaurant were already wrapping up as we entered. So, we sat down ordered waters as we decided which drinks to order. We ordered 2 painted palomas, a sweet prosecco drink, and beer. Maybe 20 minutes later we are served our drinks from the bartender (who I later realized was our dedicated server from another server just helping out). Our food order took way too long. We ordered desserts (2 Panna cottas and chocolate cake), ribs, artichokes, and 2 orders of butter chicken. The desserts were served first. This was odd, but we were hungry so we went with it. After we had already finished the dessert. The bartender came over to verify the rest of our order since our ticket had been "lost." It took another 30 minutes to receive 2 orders of ribs (one of which we didn't order but kept because we were again very hungry) and 2 butter chicken orders. We were nearly done with the food and another round of drinks before the artichoke order even came to the table. We had to nearly flag the bartender every time we needed something as his position was fixed there and having conversation with his coworkers. I understand that we were dining late night. However, there was no excuse for the poor service. When we wanted to settle the bill, we had cash and credit card payments. We did not ask to have the bill split because we attempted to consider the time (now 1 am). So, we wrote the amount to be settled for each card and cash on the back of the receipt. The bartender came back with no change in cash and the bill just split three ways. When we asked him about it, he said that he assumed we wanted the cash amount off then spilt the rest between the cards. We were very frustrated but made no remark about his disregard for the math done for him on the back of the bill, paid, and left. We were just done with this Black Bottle experience. I will not recommend this place to anyone traveling as I did to Seattle nor are my local friends.
(2)Ati B.
$2 tacos for happy hour?! Sign me up! Unfortunately, you absolutely get what you pay for. I ordered two carne asada and two Korean BBQ pork tacos. The pork tacos came out first and they weren't half bad. The pork was cool to the touch but very flavorful. I can handle a lot heat but these were unbearable. If they were a little less on the heat side I'd say they were delicious. We then we got our carne asada tacos and they were horrible. They had zero flavor, zero heat and were so tough and dry I thought I was gonna break a tooth. Our server came over and we decided to order the fried chicken because these tacos were on a single 3 inch tortilla...not enough food for an ant. We also asked for some hot sauce an salt and pepper...because the tacos were that bad. Well we sat and sat and watched our server chatting (again) at the bar with a female employee. I had to get up and ask for the hot sauce. Hoping the chicken would be good; I ordered another glass of wine. Chicken comes out and for $8 you get three chicken nuggets so over cooked and dry you could play shuffle board with them (see pics below). We sent those back and they were removed from our bill. We just wanted to get the hell out of there. Maybe the rest of the food on the menu is good but the service sucked...another couple got up and left because they weren't being served. The food we ordered was 98% nasty. We will probably never be back.
(2)Shaylene A.
Black Bottle ranks as one of my favorite places in Seattle. They are great with gluten and dairy allergies and accommodations. The broccoli blasted is the perfect texture with a strong butter flavor which you rarely enjoy dairy-free.
(5)Trang N.
Best meal while visiting Seattle! A friend we know who had recently visited highly recommended this place. With that and the great reviews, it was a must-go. We ordered the lamb meatballs and sumac hummus, scallop crudo cucumber mango blood orange, and spice-seared sashimi yellowfin tuna. Um, I don't even know where to begin. Words can't describe how good everything was!!! The sashimi was served with an asparagus salad which was a pairing that could only be put together by Chef Gods. The tuna was like butter! Definitely high quality fish! I was sad when I ate it all and had no more. Now THAT's how you know a dish is good! The scallop mixture was an explosion of flavor. I'm a huge fan of blood orange and I was happy I could really taste it in this dish. Oh man, and then the lamb meatballs. THE LAMB MEATBALLS. The texture and fullness of the taste of lamb was incredible. In addition to the sumac hummus, a thick creamy yogurt (tzatziki) sauce was also served. OMG, the richness of the yogurt was amazing paired with the meatballs. I was honestly eating dabs of it alone, heh. Ordinary yogurt sauce after having this will be crap to me. Don't have much to say about the service, it wasn't very memorable. But if you love food, you must go here!
(5)Michelle H.
Our friends have been here before, but we don't get downtown a lot. So I was excited to eat at a swanky place. When we got there it was very crowded, it is kinda awkward they there is no waiting space, we had a reservation but were about 20 min early. We did not get seated which was fine since we were early; the decor is nice, a little dark but that it's the whole point. We ordered a little bit of everything I am sure. But my fave was the steak and the artichokes. And the lemon curd was delicious! Overall good experience, would most likely go back.
(4)Sydney M.
Varied menu: Get 4 things... The local beers are extraordinary. I had the oxtails (amazing and flavorful) and hubby had lamb sausages with arugula. So dang good! The tuna sashimi didn't have a great texture or much flavor and the shrimps were fried, so you eat the heads and skin... Why would you offer "fresh shrimp" and then fry them crispy? Didn't get that... Food came before drinks, get that sorted out guys, this is your second restaurant, no excuses for poor execution.
(3)KT E.
This would have been a 5 star review. All the previous times I've been here (and I swear I reviewed them before .. but I guess I haven't) I had amazing service! Amazing food and I just and a wonderful time - especially when I get to sit outside on a sunny day! However, I took 2 friends here for their birthday last week and we had the worst server ever! I can't think of a worse experience with a server ever. She seemed like she was annoyed with us and when I asked for suggestions on desserts, she completely blew me off. Anyway ... I've been here numerous times and she was the only bad apple. I'll definitely be back because I love the food and I love the restaurant!
(4)Sarah R.
My friends and I wanted to get dessert and they suggested Black Bottle since we were in the area (they said their desserts were the bomb dot com lol). It was almost 9 PM and they stay open late so that was really great. At first it looks like small place, but there was actually more seating towards the back off to the side. Service was great! We didn't have to wait around or anything to get seated or order. I ordered the two desserts suggested by my friend: 1) Lemon Curd Ricotta Cake Lavender Crust: Whenever I want something sweet and refreshing I always go for something with lemon, and this was perfect! The hint of lavender was also subtle and went great with the lemon which wasn't an overpowering flavor. Also I was surprised with the ricotta because I'm not a big cheese person and that was really good as a dessert! I would definitely order this again! 2) Cacao Nib Mousse Torte and Chili Pistachio Brittle: I LOVE chocolate anything for dessert. This was delicious, I enjoyed the nibs, it added texture to the mousse. The brittle was good, with a subtle kick. Other items my friends ordered that I tried and liked were their House-Smoked Wild Boar Ribs which had a good flavor and it just slid right off the bone, mMmMmm! Also their Broccoli Blasted, I'm in awe, I want to know how they make this! The broccoli held it shaped but had a crunch as if you were eating kale chips or something. The flavor was also very good, hint of garlic I think! UPDATE: My review changed from a 5 star to a 4 star. *LARGE PARTIES: I came here a 2nd time for a birthday dinner. It was great they could accommodate our large party of about 12 people. The DOWN SIDE to all of this, all of our dishes came at various times, I was EXTREMELY disappointed. I was one of the first to get my dish, I was waiting for the birthday girl to get hers before eating. My BF however was the very last to get his dish and had to waive down the waitress to tell her when he was still waiting. Honestly she should have been checking on her own in the first place. Basically EVERYONE was done eating by the time his dish came. I had slowly nibbled on my dinner so that he wasn't the only one eating when he got his dish. I ordered the BACON LEMON WILD ALASKAN SCALLOPS WITH FRIZZLED KALE which were soo delicious, BUT they were COLD by the time he got his dish, it would've been more enjoyable had I been able to eat them right away. He had ordered their MALBEC DEMI-GLAZED OXTAIL, although he said it was good, it wasn't really worth the wait and would not order that again. Black Bottle HOWEVER did comp his dish which was appropriate. On top of this - I was slapped with a $20 cake fee for bringing a cake! I talked to our waitress about this and she said someone should have told me at the door, which no one did. Our waitress however removed the fee. This ordeal for us totally ruined our dinner time that should have been a happy, relaxing gathering with friends. I would never come here with a large party.
(4)Gerald C.
We were just getting back from a late visit to the Space Needle. Not many places were still open, but this was a welcome exception. They seated us promptly as the place was still hopping, amazingly, at 10pm. Service was friendly, if just a bit casual. The bacon-wrapped scallops were amazing! Too bad we didn't really pick dishes that could follow it - the bbq chicken pizza (just what you'd expect) and the roasted vegetables (too much for us two, even).
(4)Chris H.
Thoroughly enjoyed it. Portion sizes somewhere between typical and tapas. Got 4 things for 3 people, and that worked out well. The broccoli was a highlight. Their Manhattan is good.
(4)C J.
Avoid this establishment! We visited this place during our recent visit to Seattle and regret it! We walked in and were greeted by a sign that said to seat yourself. That is the only greeting we got. We sat down at a table near the bar and waited AND WAITED. We finally asked the bartender if the waiter would be coming over and were told he will be right over, as he handed my hubby menus. We sat and observed the waiter chatting with his buddies at another table and with the bartender. We waited 5 more minutes and got up and left! This place is poorly managed. Perhaps management should invest in a host/hostess. As we were leaving, we saw a couple reading the menu outside and advised them to go elsewhere, as the service stinks! I only hope they listened. If not, their loss. There are so many restaurants and bars in the area, I would expect management to insist upon providing some, any level of customer service!
(1)Jesus S.
It was around 7pm on a cool rainy Thursday night in Seattle when my date and I stepped inside. Our clothes were wet from the recent downpour and popped in for dinner. As soon as we stepped in we could smell the rich smokiness of the ribs permeating the air. The lighting was subdued providing a gentle warmth that complimented the aroma. The crowd was mainly groups of friends enjoying drinks, food, and good conversation. We were seated within minutes and even with a full house we were still able to enjoy conversing with one another. After ordering the food each plate came out one after the other with clean plates being provided between entrees. It was exquisite to say the least, the seasoning was perfection, the meat from the ribs was so soft it practically melted in my mouth. My date was thoroughly impressed by the food and her drink. Everything we had was over the top and honestly for the quality of the food and the fantastic service the price is incredibly reasonable.
(5)Shelby W.
Jesus rollerblading Christ I haven't had a bad dish here ever. This is my favorite place for food in Belltown, maybe all of downtown! You can't go wrong and you should order something from every category to share.
(5)Nermeen W.
Managed to make reservations on Friday for a group of 7 for that same night. They were very accommodating and friendly, the service was great and the food was excellent. This was my second time there and I will definitely be going again
(5)Guillaume G.
Great wine (although a bit pricey). The food is perfectly cooked, respectable portions, classy presentation and good ingenuity. Highly recommend the pork bellies with kimchi. Wow. Service was kind but not rushed. Made it possible to enjoy everything, including the well chosen music. I will definitely be back to dissect both the food and drink lists.
(5)Michael P.
Unrealized potential. That best sums things up. In Washington from Chicago for a week, I knew we wanted to spend a night in this neighborhood, and looking around on Yelp, Black Bottle popped up as a place with real promise. But unfortunately our meal was more poop than pop. While we'd planned on having more, we only got three dishes due to the declining quality as the meal progressed. First, we had the wilted baby kale and spinach with goat cheese, hazelnuts and pancetta. Overall a decent dish. Dressed well, good combination of flavors, main criticism is that the pancetta was relatively chewy. Had it been crispy, this would have been an excellent dish. Then came the grilled greek halloumi cheese with madeira sauté. Mediocre. The cheese was eh, the veggies were eh, overall the dish was lacking in seasoning and flavor. And then came the debacle. The dish we were looking forward to the most ended up being the worst, and it wasn't even close. The pork belly with kimchi was HORRIBLE. AWFUL. ATROCIOUS. Whoever was cooking it must have been drunk and suffered a recent head injury. It was rubbery, almost as if it had been boiled. And the sauce was buh-land. Service was so-so, but it didn't even matter because of the food. Angels could have fed us and given us foot rubs and sang heavenly harmonies, and it still would not have made up for the food. If they could execute the menu at a 80-85% level, this place could be a stand-out. As it is, they should rename the place Broken Bottle.
(2)Elizabeth C.
OMG the chocolate cake! The bartender was fabulous and gave me brandied cherries with it. My new favorite dessert. Love the ambiance and the chocolate cake. We will definitely return. 10/10 on the yum factor.
(5)Darren A.
I've been to Black Bottle and Black Bottle Postern several times now as friends seem to like the place... I'm just not that big a fan. The food is consistently mediocre and the drinks generally don't seem that interesting or tasty. It's a great atmosphere. I just wish their menu and cocktail list was much better.
(2)Aimee D.
This place would have been incredible and amazing...if someone had told us it was tapas. The hostess and server never asked if we had been there before and just assumed we understood the concept...we however did not, and left hungry and angry when I figured out what the concept was. We would've spent more money on food and drinks, would have tipped the server more and the Black bottle would have made another $30 from us easy. The food was delicious, but how hard is it to explain your restaurant's concept? It's not. Maybe enough people know and they don't have a problem with business, but I'm incredibly upset with my experience. Also, the service could use a friendliness boost. If you like the nonchalant "we're too cool" hipster attitude you'll, love this place. If you like nice friendly competent service, you will not.
(1)Wenxi Y.
Oh!!!!! Such a nice little place as our Seattle's first meal! Bacon wrapped scallop with kale was my fav; scallop and kale, when they r together, srsly????? Gosh. Also their drinks are very down to earth and candid - referring the proportion and price. And decoration of the place is a plus. Huge plus. Love it. Seattle ppl are lucky!!'
(5)Rhia G.
We were in Seattle for my birthday and looking for a good birthday dinner. We were so not disappointed. We started with cocktails at the bar, the bartender's service was good, and the drinks were delicious. An order of blasted broccoli was absolutely fantastic. We were seated and had pork belly and kimchi, ox tail, bacon-wrapped scallops and kale, and artichokes. Everything was phenomenally delicious. We finished with a panna cotta with drunken strawberries, complete with a cute birthday candle, for dessert. We were incredibly impressed with the food and drinks. The only reason this isn't a five star review is the waitress was not educated enough and her advice was mediocre at best, and empty dishes weren't cleared promptly. She was obviously trying to do well though, she had a good attitude, and we didn't dislike her. She did a disservice to the delicious food and drink, but all-in-all, we loved our experience here. Regardless of service, the food is epically worth it and even affordable, on top of that. I would recommend this place to anyone with a true love and appreciation for a gastro pup.
(4)peter c.
So I went on one of those awkward first blind dates here as I needed to check it off my list. I live down the block for peet sake. Anyways the food is of good quality and the service is good. We ordered the Blasted Broccoli, Ceviche, Mozarella and Tomatoes and something with ribs. Can't remember exactly since it was awhile ago. Everything came out well and like the other reviews said the Brocolli was particularly tasty. I wasn't wowed by anything though and never pictured myself returning to experience the food again.
(3)Rebeccah M.
Black Bottle is an upscale wine bar / restaurant in Belltown, with a modern, open interior and friendly, attentive staff. The experience as a whole, though, was just ok, not great, because of the following: 1) the music was too loud (maybe that means I'm too old, but it seems like the atmosphere in wine bar should be more conducive to conversation), 2) the bottle of wine suggested by the waiter didn't wow us - we asked for something unique and indicated we were willing to pay more for a bottle of something special, but what we got was a barely decent cab-syrah blend, and 3) the food options looked good, and the Blasted Broccoli we ordered was ok, but it was a bit under-seasoned and over-oiled. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but with the plethora of other options in Belltown, there's no reason to settle for an experience that's just "not bad."
(3)Cat Y.
Black Bottle serves some pretty tasty beverages and a variety of tapas style plates. I'd actually say slightly larger than normal tapas - 3 are good for 2 people. Some of my husband and my favorites are their flatbreads, the lamb meatballs, and the fried chicken with okra. I've also had the pork belly with kimchee and it's good but being a korean, it's not REALLY kimchee..ya know? The service can be slightly spotty depending on the time of day you go. I've had better luck during happy hour on a weekday versus dinner on a Friday or Saturday night. At the end of your time there, you walk out feeling full but not too full and you didn't have to pay a ton for the experience.
(4)Adam D.
Two times I have come to this restaurant and been turned away! The first time I came, they said the wait was just too long and I might as well go somewhere else. The second time, was last night. I was with a group of friends who wanted to grab a drink after dinner so we stopped here. We were boisterous and having a good time, but in no way were we drunk. They told us that they would not serve us and we had to leave! I was shocked! This business seems to have so many good reviews, and the few times other than these two times, I have been pleased with service, wine, and food. Perhaps, they were just having a bad night? I will give it one more shot and then I am done.
(2)Georgie M.
Black bottle is a solid wine, and small plates place to chill out with friends. I have been here a few times and it has always been fun. The things that worked: In the meat tapas I really like the - pork belly and kimchi, demi glazed oxtail the wine selection that the place offers is great and the hosts are good with their recommendations From the flatbreads options - brie leek french-country pesto, smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries In the veggies definitely try the - blasted broccoli (it is very different and has a middle-eastern flavor side note to it) The ambiance of the place is great with muted lights, cute corner street location, open bar, not so loud mostly indie music, the place is easy to have a good conversation at The things that did not work: In the meat tapas - lamb meatballs with hummus (the plate was overbearing and there was a lot of ingredients that were kind of oddly made to fit on one plate), crispy fried chicken and collard greens (just the crispy chicken would have been acceptable but there was too much going on with the collared greens), wild boar ribs (I got them a little too over smoked though the not too smoked ones tasted great!) So overall a good place to relax, have good food and great conversations at... :)
(4)Kelsey H.
Fun, cute little place. We went for drinks and it was perfect. Great location and music. They had The Weeknd on and he's my favorite so this place automatically made its mark in my book.
(5)Janice Y.
Yum. The bacon lemon scallops over frizzled kale was my favorite dish, followed by the seared duck. The flavors are perfectly balanced and the dishes are beautifully presented. Great restaurant for catching up with old friends.
(4)Mark I.
The kim-chi and pork belly skewers. Simply amazing. That is all. - Mark Inocentesâ„¢
(5)Kelly T.
I can't quite remember exactly what I ordered here but I think I got one of the flatbreads, the hangar steak, the 5spice shrimp and one other item. The seasonal sangria was delicious. Though all the foods ordered weren't excellent, there was something about this place that I enjoyed very much. It could do with the atmosphere and our waitress. Wish I could remember her name but I don't. Sorry!
(4)Lauren H.
Came here for the first time for my birthday a few weeks ago. Dark lighting, intimate setting...this would be a great date spot. Our server was very friendly (even comped something that took a bit longer than expected, which was a really nice gesture, especially since we didn't even complain). Can't comment on the cocktails, as I only got a glass of wine, but the menu looked good (a few strong staples/classics). The food was hit & miss. The ceviche was unseasoned and boring. Octopus was too chewy, even the chips didn't have enough salt. Could have used a lot more lime, salt, and spice overall. Hangar steak was...well...hangar steak. Not the best steak I've had but it was cooked right and the accompanying veggies went nicely. The fried sardines were pretty good, but for someone who loves anchovy/sardines, you might find these lack that distinct, strong flavor. Still would recommend, though. Even my non-sardine loving friend (who is a very picky eater, I should add) was a fan. Best part of the meal was, interestingly enough, the broccoli. GET THE BROCCOLI. It's a HUGE portion and so good. Seriously, I could have just eaten that. Overall, I think the prices are fair and atmosphere is cool. I wasn't blown away by the food, but there were some stand-out options. I'll have to come back and try more.
(4)Lawrence L.
My second trip to this Belltown broccoli mecca. The Broccoli Blasted is one of simplest, yet tastiest veggie dishes I've had the pleasure of enjoying. Always a good small plates menu. Intimate space with knowledgeable staff and a good selection of local beverages. It's good for two or small groups. Would love to see a tasting menu here. Give it a try!
(4)Sean M.
Ok I hang out in bell town too much. I really enjoy the plates at black bottle. If your just by yourself or with group definitely recommend coming here. Wine collection is good but hit or miss
(3)S L.
Really great drinks but the food was not as much of a hit. I had the summer martini which is vodka and elderflower - not too strong and not too sweet, and it came with the small shaker on the side so you felt as though you got your money's worth (even though it's probably all ice). For the food, we had cauliflower fritters with raita sauce and the "flat bread". The cauliflower fritters were extremely dry, not worth getting and the flat bread was not flat.... OK but not what I was expecting. Next time I'll stick to drinks here.
(3)Chris D.
We've been the Black Bottle a handful more times since our initial visit and have had a very good experience each time. Both times we've ended up here, it was after attending another events with a group of friends. We were in the area, wanted some food and additional beverages and BB fit the bill. So, as an intimate couples dinner? Eh. As an after-party with friends? Awesome.
(4)Andy H.
I came here because my friend recommended this place when in seattle. This restaurant is pretty hipster, from the decor to the servers, but my experience here was fantastic. My friend had warned me that the service can be a little slow and downright rude, but i didn't run into that problem at all. We ordered: 1. pork belly with kimchi - best dish on the menu 2. flat bread w/ prosciutto - soft and cheesy 3. lots of alcohol I'd recommend this spot to anyone visiting seattle or want a chill place to drink/eat. They also played the entire kendrick lamar CD. A+++
(4)D T.
no one took my order or brought water despite sitting at a table with wine in front of me for 40 minutes straight. i arrived there at 6.20 pm earlier this evening. i was seated, luckily right away. the waiter came over to ask me what i'd like for a drink, said he will come back with water. he came back with wine, disappeared, and no one looked my way or took my order for 40 minutes straight, they were just passing by me serving other people, not even looking my way, until i walked inside and asked if anyone will take my order. the waiter finally came back, i ordered a flatbread, 30 minutes later, still nothing! i finally walked away and went home to heat myself up some food, since they destroyed my joy as well. i am at home right now eating the food i heated up for myself. the most horrible service i have ever experienced anywhere!!! do we have to be more than 1 person to be considered worthy of service??? clowns. you had one job: ask what i was going to f...g eat and you could not accomplish it.
(1)Nena P.
Yummy, yummy, yummy! Music was way too loud to hold a decent conversation without yelling, but the food was good. Just try everything, I had the Kimchi Pork Belly and Korean Taco, delicious.
(4)Kailee B.
My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day. We're from San Francisco, but came here on a recommendation from a friend. Cauliflower fritters - They were good, nothing to write home about. Fried chicken - My boyfriend thought they were pretty good (I'm a vegetarian). Artichoke and farro - The farro was so hard, you could chip a tooth on it. When I told the server, she nodded and walked away. Doesn't seem like the best way to handle the situation. Service - We had to ask the host after he sat us to find our server because we sat there for at least 10 min without being greeted. She got our order wrong and only checked on us once without being flagged down through the whole dinner. Overall, sorry Seattle, but this place is no where near good enough to have such poor service. Could've gotten 3 stars if the service was better. (I realize SF has probably spoiled me just a bit )
(2)T Rosa I.
I went here tonight with my 4 girlfriends for the first time. The place is a typical belltown restaurant meaning it's very cozy. It was like walking through a maze trying to walk to our table and then to the front door. It definitely has that hipster feel to it when it comes to the decor and the people who work there. They weren't mean by any means but they weren't overly friendly either. We ended up ordering like 9 dishes bc we couldn't decide. So, we ended up sharing it like family style. I didn't like that they brought out our veggie dishes first and then our meat dishes. And it seemed like the dishes took forever to come out. Good thing we had some good conversation going that it made the wait bearable. I was really excited about this place and expected the food to be better than it was. The porkbelly kimchee, oxtail, and the artichoke appetizer was my favorite. Sadly we heard great things about the blasted broccoli so we ordered it. Unfortunately, the cook must have been off tonight because it was overly burnt. Our waiter noticed that we didn't even eat half of it so he ended up taking it off our ticket. Which was nice and greatly appreciated. Glad we tried this place but I doubt I will go out of my way to come back.
(3)Cucteen V.
Four stars because our server took forever to acknowledge us after we were seated. The hostess, on the other hand, was extremely friendly and helpful. The restaurant itself appears small when you first enter, but there's additional seating in the back. The ambiance was enjoyable, though, the crowd and music combined made it too loud to simply relax. I saw a few couples that appeared to be on dates. I can't imagine going on an intimate date with all that noise in the background. Aside from that, the food was definitely worth the 30-minute wait. We ordered the kimchi pork belly, broccoli blasted, and fried chicken with collard greens. The fried chicken was okay, but the other two dishes. OMG. I savored every last bite. The broccoli was such a simple and basic dish but had my taste buds flipping with joy. I think I gave a compliment after each bite. In hindsight, my friend must've been annoyed. Oops. I was excited to try the boar.ribs, but they were sadly out of it. Boooo. The dishes are served tapa style. I don't recommend anyone coming if you're starving, but it's definitely a great spot for a night cap or to wind down.
(4)Troy M.
This was our first time here. It was walking distance from our hotel and looked hip. It took a bit too long to get our drinks but the waiter was attentive throughout the evening. The food was priced and tasted great. Order a few plates since they are a bit smaller and you can try more. Decent drink selection and cozy atmosphere. Good spot to go for drinks or dinner or both
(4)Arielle S.
I'm never sure about going to places that serve tapas because I always think it won't be enough food and I will be hungry after. Our waitress was kind enough to tell us that for 2 people, we should order 3 dishes and that the dishes tend to be pretty generous in size compared to other tapas places. She wasn't lying---I was pleased with the portion sizes. While we did devour every last bite, i left feeling content and not hungry at all. We ordered the smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries flatbread, the triple cream délice de bourgogne | port mission figs | marcona, and bacon lemon wild alaskan scallops | frizzled kale. Everything was absolutely delicious and I think i most recommend the fig dish but really you should order everything we did and you will leave very very happy :)
(4)Leigh K.
Yum! It was pouring rain. Duh. It's Seattle. When does it not pour rain? Anyway, that's beside the point. We were hungry and had gone to a place prior to this that offered me one delightful option of beefsteak tomatoes with seasonings. While the tomatoes were flavorful, I was still starving. Our friend recommended Black Bottle as a place where there were options for everyone. So true. Nice size portions and plenty of choices for me (the difficult one) and everyone else (not so difficult). I got a butter bean salad with grilled mushroom, someone else got carne tacos. Obviously it fit the vegan, gluten free, fun free person, and it worked for the meatatarian too. Only complaint was the service. It took a while to be noticed once we sat down and had menus. Other than that, it was a good experience. Props for the cool bathrooms too.
(4)L H.
Went for a late night bite and drink around 10pm. Table service, but had to go to the bar to get our presence acknowledged and even then took about 10 minutes to get service. Took a while to get the drinks once they were ordered despite it being pretty slow in there. Had the fried chicken which was delicious, but the collards had a lot going on and were SUPER sweet - needed a hit of vinegar. Hot sauce helped but still, shouldn't need condiments to make the food good. The muffaletta flat bread was great - pretty crispy. The artichoke hearts with toasted farro were very good - there was a LOT of farro masking the artichoke hearts, though. I didn't try the scallops we ordered, but the kale served alongside them was perfect.
(3)Karen L.
I love Black Bottle. Our favorites are the kimchi pork belly, duck breast, bacon wrapped scallops (my personal fave), broccoli blasted, and hanger steak. I also like their flatbreads. What more can I say? Their food is consistent and delicious. It's a great place to have an amazing meal with some friends.
(5)Willa S.
Duck dish was awesome. Sit at the bar for gracious service by handsome bartenders :)
(5)Jane A.
I LOVE (UNIQUE) TAPAS, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! (4.5 stars) The reviews and pictures on yelp just does not do justice. SO much to choose from and everything looks good. This is thus far my new favorite place to eat in the 206. - FOOD, good - PRICES, decent - SERVICE, fair - AMBIANCE, it looks small on the outside but spacious on the inside Heard good things about this place through friends. Tapas are great size for individuals or to share. Great for dinner dates, etc. Saturday festivities was to eat dinner at BlackBottle and the birthday party at Ohana. I made it fair so we only have to walk 2 blocks. BlackBottle accommodated and saved the backroom for my large party. We had reservations for 9PM, however the stupid TorchLight parade went from the needle to chinatown and traffic from the Capital Hill blockparty screwed us up. BlackBottle still held my reservations and said kitchen doesnt close til Midnight. Since the party was very large, the waitress was so kind to do individual billing to make it easier for everyone. HEFFER STATUS (items I remember) - crispy fried chicken and collard greens ($8) - ceviche* and hand made tortillas ($11) - house-smoked wild boar ribs ($7) - seven spice shrimp ($11) - crispy squid with salt + szechuan pepper ($9) - steamed clams in white wine broth or marseilles-style ($13) - broccoli blasted ($8) - wilted baby kale and spinach pancetta goat cheese hazelnuts ($11) - fresh arugula fresh tomato basil pesto ($9) - smoked chicken and sun-dried cherries ($9) - chocolate cake and vanilla gelato ($8) - doppelgänger ...pear vodka passion fruit rum oj cran ($7) - clemency ...vodka lemon rose geranium blood orange ($8) - Malbec Alta Vista 11 AR ($30/bottle) Will I be back? HELL YAH!!! You don't have to ask me twice. JABA APPROVED. Until the next review.....
(5)Jenn B.
Overwhelmingly underwhelming & the worst service in Seattle during our week long trip. This was a restaurant that I had bookmarked to try on a recent trip to Seattle with my mom. We had been bookmarking & trying some of the higher rated restaurants in & around Seattle. The good news is that out of all of the restaurants we tried, this one was the most disappointing. 1 out of a half dozen or so ain't too shabby! Unfortunately, it was a bad experience from the moment we walked in. The sign at the front told us to seat ourselves & since there were no free tables in the front of the restaurant save for one table that was obviously set up for a group of 8 or 10, we made our way to the back of the restaurant in search of a free table. We were standing at the entrance to the almost empty rear-dining room deciding on which table we wanted when a lady (waitress, hostess??) came up behind me & said, for a party of 4? When I turned to look at who was talking to the back of my head & to explain that it was just 2 of us, I was greeted by a very unfriendly, unwelcoming & confused face. I in turn was so confused by her expression & started feeing like we were doing something wrong, so apologetically I mentioned the sign at the front saying to seat ourselves & asked if that was still correct. I thought that maybe someone had forgotten to change the card to "please wait to be seated" She said no, that's correct but I just want to make sure there's no tables up front. I told her there wasn't, just one big one. She said ok & walked away with an annoyed look on her face. Weird. I used the restroom while my mom went & sat down at the table. Upon joining my mom, I realized that the previously unknown woman was our waitress. We ordered water with our meal much to her very obvious disappointment. I also asked for ice water with lemon instead of the tiny glass of still water that seems to grace every restaurant table in Seattle! This was like the nail in the coffin for her & her annoyance at my request was palpable. She left us alone for quite a while to look over the menu & once we had decided on what we wanted, we sat waiting while she made her way to the tables surrounding us answering questions & making pleasant conversation. She finally came to take our order. We had a couple of questions but it felt like pulling teeth to get any info out of her & she acted almost annoyed when she had to explain a couple of the dishes to us. We decided on the Bacon wrapped scallops, lamb meatballs, cauliflower fritters & the much reviewed broccoli. The fritters came out 1st. They weren't nearly as hot as I would have liked them to be & since it was about 10 mins before the next item came out, they got much colder. It would have been nice to have things served a bit closer together. The next dish out was the scallops which were incredible. Def the best dish out of all of them. Then about 10 mins later, the lamb & broccoli came out. The lamb was good although a little on the spicy side which although fine for me, was a bit much for my mom. It would have been nice if that had been mentioned somewhere in the description. The broccoli was just broccoli. Nothing special. Maybe people up in the PA NW don't normally prepare their broccoli this way, but this is the only way I cook my broccoli so I was surprised by the number of reviewers raving about this "amazing" dish lol After taking our order, our waitress never came back to our table again until right before we were finishing up when I had to practically yell to get her attention as she was leaving the table right next to us!! We had needed water refills for most of the meal so I said if we would get some more water, that would be great. During our meal, she had been visiting all the tables around us, refilling waters, making conversation & asking how the food was, so my mom & I really started feeling like her attitude towards us was personal. It was very odd & I've never experienced anything like this before. We had a very pleasant woman that delivered our dishes to us that I wish had been our waitress. The bill came out to $46 & change. I left a $50 bill. I have never tipped that poorly in my life but this was service that didn't even deserve that much to be perfectly honest.
(1)James L.
Worst restaurant in Seattle. Menu way too cute for its own good. Forest Gump our waiter was so slow it was comical. Bad wine bad food, bad service. Not a keeper! Black Bottle should have known it was a warning!
(1)Sonia C.
I came here expecting a tapas type of place, with small portions and relatively high prices. I was pleasantly surprised to find that each dish was substantial. This is a great place to go to with a group (like I did) because tables of two would probably only be able to manage 2-3 plates before crying uncle. Here's what we had: - broccoli blasted: This was roasted broccoli, salty and just slightly greasy-crispy. Pretty good. - portobello and butter bean salad: I'm not used to eating beans so large. The portabello was also very meaty. Pretty good for a salad. - ceviche and chips: Lots of squid but could have used more acid. Ok, probably wouldn't order again. - lamb meatballs: This was a platter full of food. The meatballs were quite lamb-y (but well-received by the rest of the table). There was also lots of warm pita, olives, cucumbers, and an ice cream-sized scoop of hummus. - braised oxtail: Sweet and savory. I liked this a lot. - smoked chicken flatbread: Lots of sweet onion on very soft bread. Tasty. - arugula and tomato flatbread: Loved the sweet balsamic dressing on this. - chocolate cake & ice cream: The cake was hot (yay!) but dry (no!). I didn't love this. - blueberry/peach kettle tart: The tart was super hot and the crust was buttery, but the overall tart wasn't sweet enough and I wish there had been a top crust to it. Also, the fresh cream that they served for topping was a bit weird. It had neither taste nor texture, like adding half & half to your pie - whyyyy? Despite the #dessertfails, I'd probably come here again. Great value, lots of variety.
(4)Just S.
The best tapas place around! Went there for date night on a patio for a warm summer night. Had the view of the water, sipped white summer sangria which tasted like white wine and pineapple juice! Not typical but I now think all sangria should be made this way! Oh and ladies they're not only delish but super sweet AND strong as well. We ordered seven spiced shrimps which was simply to die for. It was a little bit spicy but when you eat some of the shrimps with the crispy heads? Oh boy sooooo good. Who knew the heads were not only edible but soooooo soooo good. Can't emphasize enough! Also had sardine namban which was nice and crunchy. Not the best but more than edible! The pickled veggies on the side were yummy. Also had the oxtail which I read about on yelp before visiting. It was overly sweet and not my favorite. Pricy too. Could probably go without but saw the reviews and thought I had to try it. Be warned: it's a tapas place so the portions are quite small. We order 3 dishes between 2 people cuz we weren't extremely hungry and the server recommended us to start with 3 as it can be a bit much. Honestly if we were there more a real meal we would probably need to order at least 2 more dishes!! Everything on the menu look great!! Can't wait to go back to try everything!
(5)Logan B.
Apparently this restaurant would like to make a political statement about the attempt to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. The owners can feel however they want but I don't like seeing political discourse on my bill. Remove the stupid 2% surcharge from the bill. Figure out another way to incorporate the increase.
(1)David A.
My friends local neighborhood restaurant that she swears by and I am now a believer. Good mix of global food from meat that will stick to your bones to some sort of middle eastern Lebanese food. Wine list is good as well with lots of stuff to try. Even had some Washington Whisky
(4)Robert F.
Black Bottle is/was one of our top 5 Seattle restaurants... until last night. I've never sat in the back room, so perhaps that was part of the issue. The food is typically phenomenal, but last night it was mediocre-- borderline bad. We had several raw vegetables that were inedible since we could not even chew them. It was kind of odd for a plate of cooked vegetables to not be fully cooked since it's something so simple to prepare. Then the scallops were overcooked and rubbery. This I sort of understand since it does take a little skill to know how to sear scallops properly. Beyond the lackluster food, the service was pretty bad. We ordered 3 plates and told our server to bring it out all together. The vegetables arrived first, followed by the steak 10 minutes later. To top it off, the overcooked scallops took over 20 minutes to find their way to the table. The vegetables were meant to be shared whereas the steak was my dinner and the scallops were my Fiance's dinner. Therefore, due to the bad timing, it was an awkward meal where I had to eat before her and then sat watching her eat once the scallops finally arrived. One thing that is so basic to customer happiness is to make sure there are drinks on the table. I had both an empty water glass and beer glass for well over 15 minutes. We received our 2nd round of beer and wine after our meal was almost done. If I had known it was going to take so long, we would've ordered drinks at another bar and gotten out of the hot back room of Black Bottle. What was truly disappointing was that the server didn't seem all that apologetic even though I'm pretty sure he forgot to place the scallop order since we had to remind him that we were still waiting for them. This was one of our worse dining experiences in a long long time. This place has gone down hill regretfully. I can no longer rave to acquaintances about the food and service. I'm hoping it was just an off night for this establishment.
(1)Stephanie P.
How come no one really mentions just how massive the portions are?! I came here hungry and thinking that Black Bottle was like any other gastropub where the plate sizes were relatively small and tapas style. What a (glorious) mistake! There was only two of us and it was really just me that was very hungry so I ordered the prosciutto flatbread, the blasted broccoli, and the kimchi pork belly skewers. And as the plates came to our table one by one my eyes got bigger and bigger. How the heck was I supposed to eat all of this myself? That blasted broccoli plate could easily feed 6 people! And yes I thought $11 was expensive for some skewers of pork belly but each piece was also very big! I dug in eagerly and after I was stuffed to the brim it didn't even look like I put a dent into the blasted broccoli. Now onto each item... Prosciutto Flatbread: Also very big but I really wouldn't call it a flatbread as it was quite thick. It was tasty but nothing amazing. Lotsss of cheese if that's your thing. Pork Belly Skewers: Pork Belly must be like the golden chalice of meat-cuts because there is no way you can prepare it to make it taste bad. As always it was very very juicy and soooo flavorful with that little kick of kimchi. They come on skewers with actual pieces kimchi as well. Blasted Broccoli: I have now made it my life goal to perfect this simple recipe. Perfectly seasoned (although i can see how it can get a bit salty after a while if you are eating it with other salty dishes) and "blasted" to a crisp perfection on the tips of each little broccoli hair. Best of all? I'm sure it's pretty good for you minus the high sodium intake. Who knew eating veggies could be so fun! Definitely best gastropub I visited in Seattle and for a very reasonable price for all the food that you get!
(5)