Boxcar Ale House
3407 Gilman Ave W, Seattle, WA, 98199
Boxcar Ale House Menu
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Address :
3407 Gilman Ave W
Seattle, WA, 98199 - Phone (206) 286-6418
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Music : Karaoke
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Tue, Thu, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Has TV : Yes
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Katya L.
I debated between giving this place two or three stars, and realized that it's a solid three-star place but I had a two-star experience here. Also I've become incredibly hyper-critical since Yelping obsessively and scrutinizing every detail, so I'm going to try and be nicer. Here we go. Came here on a Saturday night for a friend's birthday. He loves karaoke. LOVES IT. We managed to get here early enough to snag two of the big tables in the back, right next to the stage, and yet there were still more of us milling about because there weren't enough seats. What can I say? Apparently my friend is popular. The bar filled up as the night went on, and I can see why - the drinks are cheap and the karaoke options are extensive. Definite plus. The service was also good, for a dive bar, and it wasn't the grimiest or the judgiest dive I've been to. All good things. The bad things are the clientele. The night I was there, three drunken frat guys (one with his shirt ripped down the middle and his beer gut hanging out) were harassing the ladies, although they could hardly stand on their own. The host did tell one of them to put his shirt back on when he decided to have an impromptu striptease, but I couldn't believe that they hadn't been cut off or thrown out yet. They were so obnoxious that when they went up to sing Katy Perry's "Firework", nobody cheered or clapped. And this was a receptive crowd! Another drunken dude that resembled a pirate (and smelled like one) planted himself at our table and proceeded to hit on my friend and several other ladies at the table. When we proved to be immune to his charms, he started grabbing our arms. Again, couldn't believe that he hadn't been cut off or kicked out - he was gone far beyond socially acceptable. I generally don't like to judge a place by its clientele but when drunken assholes are clearly harassing other patrons, it's time for the bar employees to step up. No one did. I was recovering from a cold, so I limited myself to one drink - an Irish coffee. It was stiff and cheap, but at the end of the night they double-charged me because of some confusion when I was ordering (I had to wait for the coffee to brew so one person took my order and another made it, so they assumed it was my second drink). The issue was resolved immediately and without any fuss, but it makes me wonder how many more customers were overcharged because of similar confusion and never realized it because they were drunk and paying large tabs. I'd probably come back because the karaoke was fun, but I'd have to come back with a crew of large men to fend off the drunken bros (and the occasional pirate). And check the bill carefully.
(3)Emerson F.
"Dude, I know a good dive bar!" says my wing man. OK, wing woman, but you get the idea. 2 single people, out and about, looking for a good place to get cozy, kick back a few inexpensive drinks and have a good time. "What could possibly mess this up," you ask? The Boxcar Ale House, that's what. Seriously, this place just isn't. Exactly. See how that sentence ended and left you wanting more? It just kinda left you hanging? Yea, it's about like that. My problem is very simple. Apparently this place is known for Karaoke, and puts on a pretty good spread on those nights. However, you're a bar, an Ale House to be exact, so I should be able to have a good ole beer time at your place irregardless of karaoke night or not. That's just not the case here. I made the mistake of going on a non karaoke night. The place was dead, which is OK, can't fault them for that. However, the patrons were all huddled together at the main bar and when my friend and I walked in, you could have heard a pin drop. Very, very eerie. We decided to cop a squat at one of the tables facing the stage in the back which was OK I guess. The drinks weren't as cheap as I'd suspected they should have been, but my copilot paid, so I can't complain. I could go on and on about how we FROZE in the back, or how the food smell in the place was odd, but I'll save you the details. I'll just say if it's not a night they're doing Karaoke, or the weekend, stay home.
(2)Nathan H.
I didn't eat here so I can't judge the food. They had two bartenders on a Saturday night so the line to get booze was horrible. It took forever to get drinks, thank goodness you could pick up pitchers of beer. Best selection of Karaoke I have ever seen. Seriously, a massive selection of music. If I was just rating the Karaoke, I would give it 5 stars. Would I go back, yeah, I would.
(3)Scott K.
Karaoke has the ability to raise the general publics opinion of even the most mundane establishment... tired places like the Rickshaw are raised to the status of legend. The Boxcar is not one of those places... in a nutshell... The Boxcar missed the train to the ever fun, Divetown and rode way too far into the begrimed end of Grossville. The last time I was in the Boxcar there was a faint smell of water-rot in the air and I was served my drink with a lemon in it. Which normally, would be a pretty uneventful event... on occasion it has even been a notably pleasant experience... This particular lemon however had rotted and turned to Grey powder. I ran out the door, hooked my arm onto a passing train, pulled myself up with all of my strength and shot my shotgun at the fuel canister outside the bar! The concussion of the scorching explosion blew me onto my back and as I raised my head looking back onto the raging fire, it's hot glow entering through my iris, shooting deep into my dark memories... I vowed never to return.
(1)Brian M.
FAIL. You would think running a dive bar is like cooking breakfast - you almost have to go out of your way to screw it up. Perhaps you somehow got rushed into the cliquish frat that drinks and works there, or maybe you like getting the same unfriendly glare from patrons and bartenders alike. You may among that percentage of the population who likes abuse. If so, just go the Boxcar where some guy with the male pattern baldness/mullet combo will glare at you as if to say 'Who the f is this d-bag?' If that's your thing, then the Boxcar on a Saturday night is the place for you. Otherwise, spend your drinkin' money elsewhere. The Boxcar staff really doesn't care either way.
(1)Jamie P.
We came up here to meet some friends -- just for a casual night out in Seattle while on a short weekend away from Portland. The boyfriend noted the irony that we had driven 175 miles to go out to a dive bar and drink beer and sing karaoke (like there's not 100 good places to do that in Portland)... This place was very good. The karaoke selection (and people running it -- what do you call them? k-jays?) was fantastic, and not aggressively "tip for play" kind of folks. (That makes me uncomfortable, you know? I'll totally tip you, but not if you're crass about it.) They made a nice balance of music, rather than "first come first served," but everyone in my party got to sing a couple times -- really kept it going. Beer selection was pretty good, and offered by the pitcher for Seattle-reasonable prices. We had a nice hazelnut brown for, er, $13.75 I think. The karaoke crowd was pretty supportive (in a clap-and-cheer-for-everyone way) and nobody was outrageously talented (I hate those bars that appear to have freaking professional singers doing karaoke, don't you?)...and happily, the emcee kept the backing vocals/music turned up good and loud and the mikes at a pretty reasonable level so it wasn't like all you heard was caterwauling. It was more like listening to your roommate sing along with the radio.... I mean, I wouldn't pay to listen to it, but it's fair because they put up with you, too, and it's not the kind of racket that makes you want to stick q-tips too deep into your ears. We didn't try any food so I don't know what to say about that. The bartenders are good and friendly, and we didn't wait long or feel ignored at all on a Saturday night. There's a smoking patio out the side so everyone doesn't have to smash smokily onto the sidewalk in front of the place, which everyone can appreciate. We took the bus from downtown, got off about, oh, 1/2 mile away... not too bad a journey, and decent option since we'd been drinking previously and intended to continue doing so. Got a ride home from our friends, though, so can't speak to how quality the return trip is on the bus. Bottom line it's a good joint to hang out, have a couple beers, sing some songs. Also bonus points for having hockey playoffs on big-screen tvs. I like a bar that shares my taste in sports. :)
(4)Daniel S.
I didn't really get to sit down and enjoy much. I was doing a quick hop through a couple places checking out Magnolia. I've been here before. It's a bar... So I won't go into aesthetics. What I will say is: Beer Pool Food You can't go wrong. Look at their daily specials. You'll find it possible to get a full meal with beer under $10. The prices are incredibly fair during happy hour, and all day if it's on special. I saw a guy working on his laptop, so I assume that is ok as long as the place isn't packed. I would like to take some friends there soon ~ Free pool all day Sunday is amongst one of the awesome weekly specials. If you haven't been, check this place out!
(4)Sarah H.
I love karaoke at the Boxcar! They have the best selection. Totally obscure recent stuff plus all the classics, and some stuff you don't see anywhere else. I love it. The atmosphere at karaoke night is really nice, friendly, and fun. I drank Red Bull Vodka all night and my bill was less than $20. Good times.
(4)Tonya H.
Oh you wonderful Boxcar sitting across the street from the train tracks. How I have started to like you. Easton and Eric are great and friendly bartenders. Thanks for all the Red Headed Slut shots and the beer. You two are truly on top of it when I ask for a drink. Cheers!!! It's good for people watching and they have an outdoor area with a tennis table and picnic tables. It's truly accomodating for smokers. I haven't tried the food or anything but that's not why I started going there anyways. Karaoke night gets busy so I prefer to go during the week. I don't feel like out doing the other singers with my mad air guitar skills and horrid vocals because we all can sing when we get drunk. The jukebox is pretty freaking sweet and I will stick with those nights. Get my groove on in a nearly empty bar and all. Close to home but that hill is killer to walk up when you had a few too many. I guess it's better than rolling down the hill to get home. =)
(3)Chris D.
The Boxcar reminds me of the scene in "Friday" when Craig doesn't have any sugar... SMOKEY: "No sugar? Damn. Y'all ain't never got two things that match. Either ya got Kool-aid, no sugar. Peanut butter, no jelly. Ham, no burger. Daaamn. " The Boxcar is just like that- stick with me on this... The atmosphere is great, but the service sucks, trivia on Tuesday's is a blast, but they served my Girl raw chicken, the cook apologized profusely and the bartender took some off the tab at the end, but then a nail sticking out of the wall kicked my ass. So go there- I do recommend it- especially for trivia with Jason on Tuesday's- but watch your back because right after something cool happens, something stupid is going to come right up behind it and aggravate you. At least that's every experience I've ever had in this joint. And the biggest pointer I can offer you is buy two beers at a time because the wait to get a drink is kind of ridiculous.
(3)Jessica B.
When i first came to the boxcar, it wasn't called the boxcar, it was called the Roadhouse. It was the diveiest of dives. So much so that as we approached i was certain we would get into a knife fight that night. Unfortunately we did not, but we did find our favorite dive bar in Seattle. It's been 9 F-ing years since that night. The Roadhouse is now the boxcar, and A LOT has changed. Some good, some not so good. It used to be all you could get was three beers or wine from the box, now they have a wide selection of drinks. That's good. It used to be you could find a table, sit, listen to the jukebox and not be bothered by anyone who is or has ever been to college. Now? Well now you are surrounded by drunk half-wits crowding around an anorexic puppet. Not good. I soon found that the boxcar offered THE BEST karaoke in Seattle, hell, in the West. I LOVED going there to rock out. Now it's WAY to popular, too crowded, too full of people singing Journey at the top of their lungs. But, it is still a great place to karaoke, just get there early.
(4)Zach R.
This place is dying. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad place, nor am I saying it's dead. However, I have heard lots of stories of this bar being famous 5+ years ago. When I mention the name these days, people ask if its in the Seattle area. Small dive bar located in Magnolia, but near Interbay, right by the AM/PM. They have a pool table, jukebox, bar, small stage, and patio (with ping pong). The karaoke seems to still be alive with the regular crowd, however, the trivia night crowd is decreasing. They have weekly specials at the bar, including decent prices on PBR. The pool is cheap and there are always people in attendance. If you need to share a pitcher with a couple of friends, it's a fine place to do so. They have Jenga with some fun activities/discussion items on the blocks, which can keep things interesting. As far as I can tell, Boxcar makes for a good end of the triangle bar-hop (Magnolia Village Pub to Mulleady's Irish Pub to Boxcar Ale House). If you truly rock those three establishments in that order, you'll have a night to remember (or at least one you'll be left trying to remember)...
(3)Vincent L.
Let me start off this review by saying that Boxcar Ale House has the best variety of karaoke songs I've ever seen. From Avenue Q to Jason Mraz to Stone Temple Pilots, you'll find the song you're looking for. The problem is, though, that despite the ginormous variety of songs, you probably won't want to sing all of them due to the clientele. The clientele isn't bad by any stretch (in fact, they're quite fun), but it's definitely your more blue-collar, rocker crowd. In other words, I don't think they want to be hearing your version of Britney Spears, Celine Dion, or Justin Timberlake any time soon. Songs like the "a-hole song" by Denis Leary and "big balls" by ac/dc will be much more appreciated. As for the singers, I've got to say that I'm quite impressed. On a Saturday night, between the hours of 9 and 12, 95% of the singers are above-average to excellent. By the time 1 a.m. rolls around, the good singers are gone and the people that go up are a drunken mess. The stragglers, however, are quite entertaining. If you're looking to sing some karaoke and don't mind a non-preppy crowd, I'd definitely recommend Boxcar Ale House. Otherwise, I'd probably try a different one out.
(3)Alli D.
Check it out! My first one-star review. (Maybe I'll upgrade to 1.5--more on that later) Normally I'm a fan of dive bars. Especially when they have karaoke. But this was just...sad. a) It stunk like pee-pee and cleaning solution and grease. b) The bartender was a jerk, first rolling his eyes when we said we wanted food, then grouchily telling us that "Just so you know, there's only one guy cooking and you're about the 12th order in line, so, ya know, you'll have to be patient." c) Was fine with waiting, but not for the icky food that showed up. At least 5 potatoes-worth of fries, which could have been awesome except they were cold and too-salty. The hawaiian chicken sandwich had some funky-tasting teriyaki sauce that made me cringe. Plus, they didn't advertise it as blackened chicken, but it sure was. d) Too-loud jukebox music. e) FRIGHTFUL bathroom. +.5 star for the mishap with payment at the end of the evening. I may still owe them a few bucks. If I ever thought I'd go back, I'd for sure settle the score.
(1)Jason M.
I wandered here on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, so it was probably a little less crowded than it usually is for Karaoke Saturdays. Being a capitol hill kid, I don't usually wander over to Magnolia, especially for karaoke. I was a bit leery, but glad I made the trek with fifteen of my closest friends. As others have noted, a very neatly organized album of karaoke songs, sorted by artist. Their latest updates were from February 2008, so those of you hankering to sing "I'm on a Boat" will have to save it for some other karaoke place. The clientele was mixed, but everyone was really friendly. I think the fact that most pitchers of beer were under $13 really helped. The waitstaff were friendly and quick, which is necessary to keep the liquid courage flowing. I'd definitely go back again.
(4)Will L.
This review is purely from the perspective of a musician playing in a loud rock band. Everyone else, I recommend you check out the other reviews on the Boxcar, as you're going to be having a much different experience. One of these days I'll return as a normal patron and write an update. We got about 5 days notice that we were going to be playing the Boxcar; I'm not sure what the deal was as I didn't set it up, I'm guessing a regular act canceled and we were filling in. The stage in this place is small, though we still were able to fit all of our gear on it. As usual, I got squeezed into a corner to make way for Phil E. and his monstrous amounts of keyboards and keytars. Yes, you read that right, we have a keytar. There was a single monitor, and as far as I could tell, it wasn't doing anything. We spent a long time with the sound guy early on trying to get some volume out of it, but no go. It basically just served as another object to trip over on the stairs up to the stage. And the sound guy left almost immediately after we were set up. This was too bad, because apparently Phil's mike wasn't working quite right, and unbeknownst to us several of our songs were done as psuedo instrumentals, with my backup vocals suddenly appearing out of nowhere. This would have been awesome if the audience was totally tripping on acid. Alas, they were not. That is the primary reason for dropping stars, I wish we could have at least gotten a run-through on how the sound board worked so we could have monkeyed with it ourselves. Speaking of the audience, we drove out everyone but our friends due to my band mates' inability to play any quieter than super-loud-volume. What can I say, we're a loud rock band. The last time we tried to play 'quiet' we didn't do too well because Stu and Phil couldn't hear each other. Weird, because I could hear both just fine. Anyway, the Boxcar's stage is in a smaller room, and we just blasted. Apparently there was a big crowd of people hanging out in the front of the bar listening, where they were also not going deaf. The Boxcar has an outside deck as well that looked nice, but I didn't get much of a chance to head out there. Oh, and just for the sake of those of you who searched for 'Boxcar Alehouse' (no space) I'm adding this sentence in so the Yelp search function picks it up. Aren't I nice?
(3)Jay B.
This is the stupidest place in the world. Even worse now that Jared works there. He's only worked in one good place his whole life and then he was just filling in. Go to Mulleady's or anywhere else in the universe. In summation, the Boxcar is, the suckiest suckhole to ever suck a suckhole! Hey, just kidding, you guys are alright!
(1)Paul C.
The Boxcar is hands down the best neighborhood venue. The staff is awesome and the regulars are all great people. I love the food and happy hour specials as well as the pool and ping pong tables. It's a great place to catch a game, belt out some of your favorite tunes or just hang out on a great patio with friends.
(5)Ken B.
If your rexpectations are callabrated correctly, then the boxcar will not dissappoint, but exceed your expectations. If you are looking for refined, don't go here, if you are looking for that bit of respect you feel your not getting at work you won't find that here either. This is a bar, and a fun one and the menu, while not expansive, offers food that goes well with a beer. What you will find at the boxcar: The best trivia night I have been to ever. Sometimes there are only a handful of teams, sometimes it is standing room only. The competition is friendly, a free beer is given out every round, money for the winners, beers for the second place team. House matches the pot if there are ten teams, and the dumbest team gets to pick a round for the next week! Karaoke night i(Thursday) is lively and fun with no worries about sucking. Like every karaoke night, there are regulars, and some people find a way to sing more than everyone else, but you find that everywhere. What you don't find is the cheap drinks and GIANT book of songs. The boxcar rewards loyalty, come here once and you'll have an okay time, come here another time, it's a little better, and keep coming and soon you'll wonder why you bother with other more expensive showy bars? I don't even live in Seattle anymore, been gone for two years, but was up there on business and went in for a trivia night, then again on a trip a karaoke night, and the bars facilities have been improved, the porch added, with a tent and a heat lamp, new tables and the karaoke area is jazzed up a little. This bar tries hard for the people it serves. It's like that movie you watch and don't know what to think, then watch it again, and again, and suddenly you can quote the whole thing. Wrapping things up, the bar is open to suggestions from its customers; ask them to sponsor an indoor soccer team for five straight seasons and they just might, they have pictures and jerseys to show they did. Suggest they hold a "whatever" night for a party, they probably will, they like their customers. Go here expecting a bar, get everything a bar has to offer. Go here expecting marble counters in the bathroom and you will be horribly terrified. If you want to drink cheap alone, go on the slow nights (not tue/thurs). I don't play pool, I can't comment on that scene, but they have a table, so yeah. Final thoughts: Go to the boxcar, then go again, get a $2 PBR, or drink the one of the real beers on tap.
(5)gretchen m.
We've never been at night, only for lunch. Nice patio area outside, quiet and great service. Typical bar menu, done fairly well. Burgers are pretty decent. Its a good local alternative to more expensive lunch places.
(3)Ian O.
This really is a great place. I've been coming here for a little over a year, and the staff has always been really nice. Thursday and Saturday The Boxcar becomes a Karaoke Bar, which are their busy nights. There are a lot of people that come there to sing so get your requests in early. The prices are affordable PBR being the cheapest and Stella (gross) costing the most at a whoppin' $4.75 a pint. The crowd is pretty friendly, I've only really had problems with other patrons once, and they were not regulars, and I've never seen them there again. They do have bar food, which is pretty good. When you order it they serve it up pretty quick. Bonus points for having Mac & Jack's. So if you find yourself in Magnolia on a Thursday or Saturday come in and sing a song or two.
(5)walt t.
I love the dip sandwich and the luau burger good beers on tap people seem friendly great place to get away from the world for an hour or two
(5)Pascale C.
I really liked this place. My boyfriend and I were on our way to Discovery Park on a hot, beautiful, 75 degree day during Memorial weekend. We were just about at the entrance when I asked if he wanted to grab a drink first (I'm a sucker for drinking midday cocktails outside). We drove around for just a minute and saw this little hole-in-the-wall bar (our favorite type of bar). Right when we walked inside we knew it was our kind of place. The bartender was super nice and she told us we could sit outside on the patio and smoke (score!). The bartender and the patrons all were down to earth and chill. My kind of people. Needless to say, we never made it to Discovery Park. We sat outside, soaking up the sun, downing gin and tonics for a few hours. Never been here at night but I wouldn't be opposed to trying it out. I really enjoyed my time at this bar.
(4)Dru L.
I almost want to vote zero stars on this, just so it stays the way it is. Oh well. Great place, good burgers, cheap beers.
(5)Ryan S.
I freakin love this Karaoke Bar. So much so that for some reason I capitalized karaoke bar just then! I always look for fun places to sing, and then I was introduced to this place by some friends. They have a really extensive book, the most that I have seen before, and the drinks are super cheap. Also, everyone in the bar is super nice...probably because they are drunk because they are singing karaoke, but whatevs. I have really only been on Thursday nights...the one time I went on a Saturday it was so packed and the karaoke jockey stopped taking our requests after a while so that was kind of lame....so I'll just stick to Thursdays.
(5)Geoff N.
As a frequent visitor of many of Seattle's karaoke bars, I have learned to accept several karaoke realities. I accept that those who tip the host tend to get favorable treatment. It worked for me at the Boxcar last night. I also accept that on busy nights, you may only get to sing one or two songs. However, what I find unacceptable is a karaoke host at a busy venue full of people waiting to sing, who fails to notice the group of three women submitting slips under different names each time. As a result, each of these women gets up three or four times over the course of an hour, while everyone else gets only one or two songs per night. Just because a woman calls herself Juanita for one song and Velma for the next, she is STILL THE SAME PERSON! It's not as if they are pulling the old sorority girl trick of having all 16 tube-topped hoochies cram the stage every time a member of their group gets called. These women were singing one at a time, but the host was completely oblivious. Seriously, host man. It makes you look like a fool. In addition to the crowded conditions and the poor hosting, we also had to deal with the methed-out pool-shark wannabe grifting people for a dollar per game, insulting other patrons and generally twitching and flailing around the crowded bar. The only truly redeeming thing about the Boxcar's karaoke is the quality of their book. They've got a ton of songs! While many of the recordings are weird mixes and none of the songs have the amusing karaoke videos many karaoke fiends know and love, chances are, the Boxcar has your old standard as well as that song you've always wanted to sing. If you can get to the joint on an un-crowded karaoke night, you may enjoy your singing experience, but should the crowds roll in, I would avoid this place like the plague.
(2)Betsey S.
Yep, love it. The Boxcar gets the Rick and Neil Karaoke Heaven Stamp of Approval! (ie: highest honor from me and Lindsey S.) This is the new best karaoke spot as far as I'm concerned, edging out Bush Gardens, and it's way closer to home and a million times easier to park at. They had every single song I could think of to look up, including new stuff. My friend Daniel did the most killer "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse, complete with drink-brandishing and spillage on his shirt. The stage even has enough room to throw a couple of dance moves in during the music-only parts of your song. Well drinks were a mere $3.75, High Lifes were $2, and both the bartenders were smiley and cool. There's a great big deck and a pool table. I can't wait to come watch football here, too! Watch for Rick and Neil performing our new and improved "Shoop" - coming as soon as possible to the Boxcar's Saturday Night Karaoke! Update: so, you know how when you leave your card at a bar, and you go back to get it the next day and the bartenders are all Douchey McMassengill on you? The Boxcar bartenders are not like that in any way.
(5)Danielle B.
From the outside this place looks to be a cute little hang out spot that the neighborhood locals flock to to hang out and chill. Inside it's super packed and filled with frat boys and retired sorority girls... not my kind of scene but if you like that kind of place then come here.
(1)johnny D.
three star dive , cheap drinks a steady stream of boozed up patrons which become very entertaining the later it gets.It gets first place when you add karaoke and things get downright insane!!
(3)Phil S.
Bless my ear hair: So, I went to my Queen Anne High School 10 year reunion back in 1987 at the World Trade Center, skipped my 20 in 1997, but cabbed it to my 30 year reunion last Friday, at least one of them. They had two different engagements. The Friday evening one just happened to be at the much Yelped of, Boxcar Ale House and the main reunion was again at the WTC on Saturday. We (my wife and I) decided to only go to the casual one because, a), we didn't want to dress up in hot formal threads, on a warm night and b), if people are going to stand around and look at each other, they might as well put on their spectacles and recognize each other in a reputed social gathering place, right? Well, the Boxcar turned out to be the best place to have it. They had a video jukebox with lots of great old and new tunes blasting away and a great layout both inside and out and unless I miss my guess, more classmates actually showed up at the casual affair than the main. I mean, the place was packed inside and out with classmates. I actually enjoyed myself more than I expected to at this reunion. I remembered a lot of my classmates even though I hadn't seen them for 20 years. They remembered me as well though my hair is much shorter than my late 70s Billy Preston afro or my late 80s Rock do. As for The Boxcar, the staff behind the bar were very friendly , efficient and with only two people manning it, believe you me, they had to work pretty hard that night. They pulled it off though. I was impressed to say the least. Not being a Saturday, they didn't have karaoke going but we shall return and check that out. To sum up, there were great conversations, some good laughs and a great venue for Boxcar Phil, Boxcar Wife and Boxcar Friends to gather in. And I didn't even have to dye my hair or anything.
(5)Lizzy W.
The box is amazing. End of story. Thursday night karaoke gets me through friday classes. Geoff and Brian are awesome and it usually isn't too crowded. Also, you can get drunk for less than 20 bucks. What more can you ask for?
(5)Lindsey S.
I think it's love. It's out of the way over in Magnolia, and I had never even heard of it until my friends had a fundraiser there. I'm a huge karaoke fan and it has the best set-up that me and my friends have discovered so far. I love Bush Garden but this place blows Kenny and his laser disks out of the water. They had really new songs, I was shocked! And every song under the sun, 3 microphones that actually work, 3 tvs and a huge screen with the lyrics, and I haven't even talked about the drinks yet.... Large liquor drinks were $3.75! As my friend Karen would say "Mama likey!"
(5)Trevor E.
They have good shrimp here.
(5)Rylee O.
There are some bars that just work because they don't do anything special. The Boxcar is one of them. A good selection to drink from, big patio to hang out on in the summer, and nice staff. Doesn't take much to please this gal. I look forward to hitting it on karaoke night sometime soon.
(4)Greg F.
This is a dive and it doesn't pretend to be anything else. Karaoke, blue-collar regulars, ratty pool table, jukebox, disgusting restrooms, PBR on tap, deep fryer in the "kitchen" area - it's got all that.
(3)Becky B.
Wow, check out all the stars people are throwing at the Boxcar. I do not share in the enthusiasm. For some reason, this place was PACKED at 8 on a thursday night with sorority looking chicks with their make up and their purses and their high heeled shoes and their manly friends with their white backwards baseball hats.... probably there to see the two man rap group- also known as "Beasty Boys/Justin Timberlakes/Eminem Thrown in a Blender." (my words.) They were all... right... Finally karaoke started and I felt NO love from the superficial crowd. Whatever. Drinks were weak. And the bathrooms gave me the cocaine vibe- know what I mean? I feel weird giving such low ratings, because my sister goes to this bar literally like 3 times a week. She fancies herself a karaoke-er. She knows everyone in the bar. The dude that owns the bar is nice and cool and all that fun stuff... but I just was not feeling it. I high-tailed it out of there with a shred of dignity left.
(2)Henry R.
Take your econ 201 class here to explain the problem with a monopoly: this is pretty much the only bar in the neighborhood. A fact the staff takes advantage of to justify the painfully horrible service. On the surface it should be awesome. A dive bar with karaoke two nights a week. Reasonably priced beer, a great deck and a convenient location. Only staff is made up of jerks. I've probably been here 20 times in the last 5 years and each time the staff has been rude bordering on mean. Waiting for 20 of their friends to get served before you (despite having been in line much longer than them) is standard. On a big night they'll blatantly overcharge for shitty beer in contrast with the prices on the menu, just hoping that you'll be too drunk to notice. When you're not and you all them out on it they get angry and tell you leave. This has has happened to me three times. Apparently there are enough bros in this particular neighborhood to keep this place alive. i've tried it over and over again but each time it comes up lacking. Just go a couple miles east and go to the Nickerson where you'll always be treated like the customer you are. Going to the Boxcar is by far the worst symptom of my karaoke habit.
(1)Arron M.
This place sucks. Went in to get a couple beers and maybe some food. We sat down and the bartender never even came to us. The only ones he would attend to were the young girls. Tried getting his attention, even talking out loud about how lousy the service was, but I doubt he could hear us over the blaring jukebox. Don't get me wrong, I love a jukebox in a bar but when it's so loud you can't hear yourself think it's lost it's fun. Oh, and it's frat boy city on the weekends, no thanks.
(1)Amber H.
Karaoke on a Thursday night was great!!! Wasn't too busy and I was able to sing 4 songs even though I got there late. I didn't order any food or drinks but it didn't seem to be a problem for everyone else...
(4)Clayton B.
I love this place. It is close to my work, it has $2.50 Coors Lights for happy hr, they know my drink when I walk in the door, and have a decent deck when the sun is out. This is a great neighborhood bar for those in the area, and have a decent bar menu with 25 cent wings during happy hr at this time. Bingo, karaoke, and connect four are all on tap during different days of the week. Stop in and say hello; they will find you a spot to sit at the bar and unload.
(3)Glen B.
There are better options to go out in Seattle, though in this neighborhood, not a ton. Mulleady's would be my first choice in this neighborhood. This bar can be fun... I love the Wii, they have some decent and different beers on tap... but I can't stand the bathroom. Anywhere that has a stall without a door is too dive for its own good. The feeling of the place otherwise is nice: scratched and graffitied tables, an AMAZING real jukebox (I hate the Sat boxes in comparison to anywhere that has a great selection like this place), and weird but interesting central bar at the opening (that can make for problems if the place is busy and you want to get in). I have only been here on colder days, so I have yet to go on the patio, but it looks nice.
(3)Lindsey D.
So I will preface this with this is a Tuesday night only review. We haven't ever been here not on a Tuesday night. The box car is a dive bar hang out place with the younger crowd of Magnolia & Interbay hanging out there. Tuesday is trivia night, which is fun and usually has a grand prize of $35 and free beers. The food is really average, only the usual greasy bar food options. The beer selection is good enough to keep my friends in great moods and it's not too pricey. It would get 4 stars if the restrooms weren't quite so sketch. Guys, my male friends say go before you come. The women's room is a bit better.
(3)Rodney W.
I think the Boxcar is an upgrade from a Dive Bar. They have good TV's, great service, good food and nice patrons. I have always had a great experience.
(5)Danielle W.
If you like Ozzie's, you'll like The Boxcar. I, however, don't like either. Bros, hoes, and no room to even stand do not equal a good time for me.
(2)Katerina M.
SUPER cool bartenders and fabulous karaoke with EASTON!!!
(5)John H.
Cheap beer and karaoke. Hell yes.
(4)Scott S.
ive always had a great time at the boxcar since i moved to seattle. the people are cool, the drinks are great, and they any song you can think of in that jukebox
(5)Bob D.
Out with the gal, needed a good spot to watch America's best pastime. Took in the Mariners over a few cold drinks. Was after a Schlitz but a Miller would do. The place had all of the characteristics of a dive and it was a gem of a dive. We had free pool and good service, a fine patio, and regulars were out enjoying their Sunday. It's obvious that this place pulls a community and is an asset to Magnolia. Bob don't care.
(4)Brian J.
I've been to this bar a couple times since I live nearby. I plan on going more frequently because there are definitely a few things that make this bar stand out from other dives. First the Juke Box has a large selection of music. I had a hard time figuring out though, I recommend asking for assistance. They have an awesome outdoor area with... Ping Pong! It's covered and everything for all season playing. Careful though there are a few sharks who will absolutely dominate you. Same with the pool table. Also and change machine located inside for convenience. You'll start seeing quite a few regulars here, the bartender is always friendly. Something interesting always happens when I visit. Serves all of your favorite standard beer: manny's, mac and jacks, pbr.. what more do you need!?
(5)Julie R.
A great dive bar! Good bar food, I especially like the chicken wings! They have pool, ping pong, board games, and a great juke box. And the bartenders are great, shout out to Eric! He rocks!
(4)Katie S.
Stopped in here a few nights ago with the boyfriend. There weren't many people there and we were served quickly. The bartender was pretty cool. What blew our minds was the amount of Iron Maiden that was played, being my boyfriend is a huge Maiden fan. I think we would honestly just return for the awesome music. Great little place. Glad we stopped in.
(5)SeaProps S.
Great local bar with karaoke and ping pong tables. Very friendly staff and great service. Food is solid, but the drinks are what keeps me coming back!
(5)Carolyn H.
Loved this place... Until I got my tab. Three small whiskey diets turned into $28.00. That number isn't even divisible by three. I would have asked had I not been in a rush to go to the game. On a more positive note, there's good energy and service. I didn't eat, but the food looked delicious.
(3)Brittany K.
Too bad, so sad. This place is "we haven't cleaned in 5 years" dirty. The inside is dark and dingy. The outside misses the mark. This location would benefit the neighborhood if there were some reevaluation. I won't be back and I wouldn't drink their beer on tap given the state of the place. Unfortunate.
(2)Seth J.
This is a hideaway bar and I like it. Not an eye-popper when you walk in but the people are down-to-earth and the wings are amazing! I love it. Saw a guy who was either super drunk or crazy cause he was just mumbling jibberish. Me and my gf had a craving for wings and this place didn't disappoint. Meeeeoooow
(5)Emily S.
A good bar in Magnolia. Not too fancy. Lots of street parking out front. There is a great happy hour menu. Cheap food that we missed out on. There was also Karaoke when we went. Phoenix even went up to sing :) I like this place because it's not too loud so you could talk to your friends while drinking. Also to pass the time, they had a few games you could play. . . we played a few rounds of Jenga. Would come back.
(4)Suzie M.
Best little pub in town! Mellow days, packed nights and really great service! If youre looking for a regular place where the bartenders remember your name and drink every time, go here! Love you guys! :)
(5)Jonny B.
I've been here a few times. I usually come on Thursday karaoke night's but its a good place to have a burger and a beer. Try the pepper jack burger special.
(5)Kristine H.
A good friend of mine works in Magnolia. When he has free time for lunch, I'll swing by his office and we stop here for food. Each time we've visited, we have enjoyed burgers that are well-made, tater tots that easily rival the Tin Hat's and superb service. It's never been super-crowded between noon and two so I imagine the bulk of their business is at night. And I've never been here at nighttime so I cannot review the service or the patrons.
(4)Reina K.
Love the great service, good food, and extensive music selection ( jukebox & kareoke )! Friendly neighborhood bar. The outdoor patio is great on a nice day. Stop by on a Thursday or Saturday night kareoke for entertaining and diverse performances run by a skilled host.
(5)Chandra H.
Just to clarify the Boxcar Ale House isn't a dive, it's a neighborhood bar. It's my neighborhood bar, it's an easy place to get a drink and maybe a burger and jalapeno poppers on a Tuesday night when a friend comes to visit you and you have no beer in the fridge and you can't be bothered to cook something up for them. The bartenders aren't overly friendly but they do acknowledge that you've walked through the door which is far better than the majority of restaurants in the Emerald City. In fact if you go in on a weekday/weeknight everyone in the bar will look up and acknowledge you've come in and I think it's tied to most of the folks in the Box knowing one and other in some fashion. The food is great for what you should expect burgers, sandwiches and fried food. The guys in the kitchen take pride in their work and the burgers are consistently good. In fact I'd say it's one of the better burgers in Seattle never under or over cooked. I love the jalapeno poppers and my favorite burger is the Cali with pepper jack. The drinks aren't cheap bu they're also not unreasonable. Now let's talk the back of the bar. It's not nice. It needs work. It has a pool table and it's obviously a work in progress and someday ten or so years from now perhaps they'll figure out a better lay out. However for now I suspect it's what works best for their karaoke. I recommend either sitting up front by the door or hanging out on the porch, these seem to be the more welcoming places in the bar. The weekends are busy and strangely full of college students. It can get a little rowdy but it's mostly harmless. The crowd is primarily folks from the neighborhood somewhere in the 30 - 40 demographic.
(4)Max Z.
The first couple of times that I came to the Boxcar I hated it. The tables aren't clean, some of the servers will intentionally ignore you, and their back room is so depressing you should have prescription meds handy before entering. The day drunks present there are downright scary (I have seen fights nearly started between the guys for no good reason, and skin flashed by the girls that no one needs to see). But then I wondered why so many people actually came to the Boxcar. The reason is, that in comparison to many other bars/restaurants in Magnolia, it doesn't feel fake. It in fact feels very real, with real people; some of whom have real drug problems and real regrettable tattoos. Three stars.
(3)Giuseppe A.
Although I've been dubbed the duke, I really only visit a couple of times a month. Boxcar is a solid 4 star dive bar. They have great staff, good Karaoke, and really good pub food. A great out of the way place to have fun and drinks with friends. For a 5-star dive bar, Boxcar needs to upgrade the "decor".
(4)Cascade G.
Best little dive bar around and they have a killer patio with ping pong!
(5)Aaron H.
Just as as it should be and always been. No need to change a thing.
(4)Bob D.
First off, this place is not a dive bar, it's just a dump - there's a difference. A dive bar is full of alcoholics, and I mean real alcoholics at all times of the day. People that smell like puke and piss, people that are dead broke and hit you up for their next drink, people that got thrown out the night before and then are let back in the next morning as soon as they sobered up. You want that experience then I would recommend Joe's Bar and Grill in Chinatown. The boxcar is harmless enough I guess but I've never been impressed by the frat-boyish bartender who will ignore you with cash in hand while he catches up with his "bros". I guess the karaoke is OK but there are other spots I would go to instead. I will say though, that the jukebox is phenomenal! Haven't had the food there, never thought it looked appetizing. Overall, I would say it's a poseur's "dive" bar for hipsters that would get their ass kicked in a real dive bar.
(2)Morgan L.
I have been to Boxcar a couple of times. Never tried the food, and the drinks are "Meh- I've experienced better" but its close to my boyfriends house. When we need to drown our sorrows or feel too lazy to travel further out, we end up here.
(3)Malibu S.
Delicious specials everyday. I actually come here for the food. I don't order drinks but the staff is always nice. People here are friendly and talkative. Food is flavorful and made to Just what I like when I need some good fried food.
(4)Shawn S.
Showed up around 1pm on a Monday afternoon for some sud n grub as we had never stepped in the joint. 2 customers at bar, barkeep, and one guy smoking outside. Barkeep didn't seem interested that 2 two more people showed up to give him business, beer was $4.50/pint, place stunk/filthy, menu a clone of every other stinky pub in the Seattle area. Had a pint each, and bailed. Barkeep almost seemed annoyed he had to hand us our check. Won't be back.
(2)Laura L.
Their food has gotten so much better. I actually enjoy coming to this dive bar for the specials on drinks/ beer as much as the food. I get the Luau Burger with a veggie burger patty, no cheese. And.. they have tater tots done to perfection.
(5)Jay H.
I just moved to the area and found this joint a short walk from my place... and I'm glad I found it! The few times I've been here my drinks have been strong and cheap, the food has been great (for bar food) and the karaoke selection is awesome. The crowd is fun and entertaining... definitely some good people watching to be had here. The bartenders and cooks I've had encounters with have been friendly. The friends who have joined me for a night out here have all had a good time and would gladly come back again. If you're looking for a fun dive bar then you've found it!
(4)Liz B.
Boxcar is a nice and close place to grab a burger along with some tasty tater tots. The service is OK, the atmosphere mediocre and the food nothing to write home about. But the prices make me smile, as it's pretty hard to grab a dinner in Seattle for under $25. Parking has always been easy here as well.
(3)Victoria C.
How have I not been here before?! It's the closest bar to my bf's house and I've driven by it probably 100 times, but have never taken the chance to walk in and check it out. After climbing (it's seriously like a quarter mile from the gym), we decided to throw our climbing workout out the window and grab some beers and bar food. So glad we did! PROS: 1. Super casual, laid back, chill environment. Your typical divey sports bar. 2. Friendly bartender. Easton is his name, and he took our food and drink orders like a pro. Plus, when we were paying our tab and he gave me back my debit card, he said, "here you go Victoria" even though Victoria is my middle name and NOT indicated on my card. I said, "how did you know my name?" I assumed he was eavesdropping on our dinner conversation and heard my friends call me Vicki. He confidently said, "I know you. I've met you before." I racked my brain and then took a shot in the dark, "I was on a reality show. Did you see that?" And then he said, "Oh yeah! That travel channel worst driver show with your sister Stephanie." LOL. I felt so famous (note: I wasn't up for worst driver; it was my sister). 3. Guiness on tap! 4. Pretty decent bar food. We each loved our respective sandwiches, and they each came with MOUNTAINS of tator tots. Yummy, very bad-for-you greasiness. But yum. 5. Karaoke some nights of the week! CONS: 1. Took awhile to get noticed to pay our tab. 2. The waitress was flakey and didn't take our food order, which is why we had to get Easton to do it.
(3)Kellie C.
Rude bartender, dirty tables, small/dark bathroom. Cheap drinks and decent karaoke singers.
(3)Lesley D.
This place gets 4 stars instead of 3 based on the karaoke and the beer selection alone. Come here for a great dive bar in Magnolia with decent enough food and great beers! Pros: Vitamin R & PBR + tons of "good" beer selections as well Karaoke! Great dive bar vibe Cons: Its a little off the beaten path
(4)Damon L.
Besides the place being, well... cold. But that's only in temperature. The staff is extremely friendly and the guy cooking the food knows what he is doing. Had the Cali burger (that was light on guac) and the tater tots that were nicely seasoned. Karaoke on Saturdays with the usual crooners. It's a good time. Don't forget to tip.
(4)Benjamin S.
The best dive bar in WA. How many bars do you know that have a functional you train that goes around the bar hourly? Exactly. Fair prices and an astonishing amount of sexy queen Anne girls. SOLD.
(4)Grant T.
Flat beer. Weird vibe. Need I say more?
(2)Erika S.
Makes my neighborhood AWESOME! The bartenders are cute too!
(5)Georgia W.
Rowdy. Fun. Come-as-you-are, dive bar! This might be the least pretentious bar in Seattle! Good Beer selection. Solid bar tender and fair priced cocktails. Go with friends or make some new ones. Random location= Magnolia locals and Seattlites that have strayed off the beaten path. Who wants to order food at a dive bar? Not it! But I heard the wings are good.
(3)Ryan D.
I can't attest to much else about the place since I didn't get food and stuck to beer all night, but this is the best karaoke, period. It's a shame this place is in Magnolia. I've done a decent amount of karaoke, which generally leaves me full of regret and self-loathing the day after. Not at Boxcar. There's a legit stage, people get up and dance and cheer you on. Great experience all-around.
(4)Anna W.
Dear Boxcar Ale House, Please invest in some fans. Big, heavy duty fans that will ventilate your tiny karaoke space that inevitably fills with people who love to belt out a tune but aren't obnoxious enough to try out for American Idol. Also, you may want to look into installing locks in SOME part of your bathrooms. I think you are located far away from the Belltown/Cap Hill core to avoid cokehead congregations in your lavatories, so please provide some privacy for the overhydrated drinkers. Thanks, Anna Other thoughts: surprisingly expansive karaoke selection (although: how do you have 24098349 Avril Lavigne songs and ONE Feist song in your repertoire, Boxcar???), okay selection of booze, strong and cheap-ish drinks. This place is located right next to the train tracks that apparently separate Magnolia from the rest of the world, and as such, it is really divey and well, un-Magnolia-like. Though I should probably mention that my entire perception of Magnolia is based on my sole trip to Palisade. Anyway, unless you live somewhere nearby or REALLY love being able to karaoke one of twelve billion Billy Joel songs after listening to drunk sorority types "sing" some awful song from Rent, the Boxcar isn't really worth the drive. You will probably find better options closer to proper Seattle civilization.
(2)Aub D.
BEST KARAOKE BOOK IN SEATTLE. HANDS DOWN. And it's only on Thursday & Saturday nights (with Easton VJing) It's a total dive/watering hole for the sports crowd that shouldn't be playing sports anymore. But they still yell and scream at the TVs with any shred of dignity their old sports lives have left. HOWEVER, come 9PM...That all changes. It's karaoke madness and it's almost always a drunken free-for-all. And that kicks ass. They've got a great stage, best book in town. cheap pitchers and when you're bored - you can go smoke on the patio. And the food is pretty damn good too. Seriously. This place is a hidden gem. But choose your night wisely...
(4)jennifer r.
Ever since I moved to the faraway land of Magnolia, The Boxcar is now my "neighborhood bar" and you know what? I'm okay with that. The bartenders are friendly, I like the regulars, they have great outdoor seating on the patio (with PING PONG!), the food is better than you would expect for bar-type food, you can catch whatever sports games is on, and they have a decent jukebox. But what you really can't beat about the Boxcar is the karaoke on Saturday nights. HUGE selection of songs, big stage, people gettin' really into it and singing and dancing....it's the epidome of a great night of karaoke. My friends will even cross the borders from the comfort of their homelands of Capitol Hill or Downtown to come out to Magnolia for some karaoke at the good ol' Boxcar.
(4)J D M.
Semi cozy, decent late night food joint and enticing daily happy hour. They do a good job carrying some local brews, and it doesn't taste like it's been sitting in the line for 2 days too. Lots of TV's and a pool table and PING PONG table outside. Their outdoor section is real nice. Never had a bad experience here. I've been here a lot and they are accommodating to large groups.
(4)Adam C.
A few friends of mine went to The Boxcar last night, which also happened to be karaoke night. We got there around 8 pm and ordered a pitcher of Manny's as well as some jalapeno poppers. The poppers were served up quick; and still frozen in the middle. I took them back up to the bar and told them what the problem was, the bartender said "fuck that" and threw them out then had another batch made up with about twice as much as the first one and gave it to us on on the house. I little grossed out by a half-frozen jalapeno popper; but they corrected the problem quickly and with no hassle. Luckily for those who are not into bar food, there's a Romio's pizza about two blocks south of the street The Boxcar is on; 20th. Their pitchers and pints are pretty inexpensive compared to what you normally find in the city. Pitcher of Manny's (and most every other beer) is about $13.25 - $14. I usually see pitchers costing around a dollar and a half or so more than that in Belltown and even in West Seattle. It was some gals bachelorette party and I guess their "male entertainment" didn't show up. One of her friends came asking around if there was an "Ian" at our table and I told her "I could be Ian for a beer" and she just said "We'll keep that in mind." Well, apparently they didn't find "Ian: because about 30 minutes later one of the little honeys in that group came over with a beer for me and asked me to get my picture taken with the bride-to-be. Good times, fun people. I was excited to see they have a ping pong table set up in the back, but as soon as I noticed it they were breaking it down to make room for the karaoke crowd. They also have a pool table, but we didn't get a chance to play it. A note to those who are into karaoke; try to get your name in the hat ASAP as the list fills quickly. My friend Devon ended up waiting about 45 minutes to do his first song and then another hour after that for his second and by then it was around 1 am. As Lindsey D. said, guys, go before hand. The bathroom is a urinal and there's a small wall then the toilet; no door. I've used one of those bathrooms before and it was at the 9 Lb Hammer. I've found that you have to be pretty drunk to justify taking a two without a door on the stall; I usually get stage fright. Can't say I know what the ladies room is like, but the gals we were with had no complaints they felt voicing. I must admit that I went to high school at Garfield in the Central District; I've seen enough wiggers to last me a lifetime during my four-years there. However, the sheer amount of rap and hip-hop songs chosen by shitkicker-white-boys to sing was on the verge of sickening. If I had to choose a song to sing to make me express how I felt it would definitely be "99 Problems" by Jay-Z; yeah I know I said I hate wiggers, didn't say I wasn't one (jk jk jk jk, that's not how I roll). If you havin' taste problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 problems and your lack of musical knowledge sure as shit is one. I gotta say though, with the amount of Bryan Adams they had to choose from for music, I was much happier listening to people butcher the Geto Boys than doing country.
(4)Alix H.
Forever's gonna start tonite! Forever is any night that Boxcar has karaoke! ossm: * a terrific stage for you to sing (or perform) your heart out * huge selection of songs * reasonably priced drinks * pool table * outdoor area for you puffers not so ossm: * 1 hard-to-flush toilet with short door in the women's bathroom and usually a long ass line towards the end of the night and shortage on toilet paper (bring your own tissue to use in a pinch) but ya, I'm a fan. :)
(4)