Shaker + Spear in Seattle

Pretty disappointed by my experience here, even debated giving this review one less star. I’d put it at a 2.5/5 if I could.The good: the environment was lovely. It has a darker and more refined atmosphere that I’d expect out of a quality restaurant. Service was good enough, although nothing to write home about. The plating was quite visually appealing.The bad: severely unimpressed by the food. We ordered the oysters and rolls to start. Both were palatable, I enjoyed the rolls but thought the peppercorns in the butter were kind of overpowering and crunchy. For entrees, we ordered the duck, hanger steak, and halibut. All three were quite cold by the time they arrived. The hanger steak seemed like quite a poor cut of meat and had a really tough texture. The duck was also tough and the salad green was quite bitter, the kind I would expect as a garnish.Would have liked to see some better quality in these dishes, especially given the price. Additionally, for a restaurant that labels itself as “coastal seafood”, there were very few fish choices (and the octopus was from Spain, not the PNW).Might be willing to try this place again, but I would spend your money elsewhere if you are looking for a nicer place to eat downtown

Perfect little restaurant for a date night! Small cozy atmosphere with great local options and delicious cocktails. Service is exceptional pricey but what isnt nowadays, its definitely worth the splurge!

The clams are soooo good here! Aaron, the bartender is so good at his craft! Duck and octopus balls were ok.

The location was nice. The staff and aesthetic was warm and inviting. A bit spendy for the food selection. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the menu offerings. Had the risotto which was a bit underdone and tasteless but my husband said his steak was good! Pretty smal portions for dinner. Had to grab a bite to eat after at a nearby bar. Wine was the star of the evening.

I’m giving this place 3 stars bc most of the food tasted good (don’t get the salmon …it’s bland). The server was very attentive and provided great customer service. The place is very overpriced especially for the quantity of food you get…very small portions for the price… I left hungry. Don’t get me started on the $13+ surcharge on the check…tried asking what this was for and was bounced around by the employees when i tried to get an answer as to what the surcharge was for and ended up getting some random nonsense excuse for an explanation that made absolutely no sense whatsoever…lack of transparency left a bad taste in our mouths, won’t be back for this reason.

Poor attempt at an upscale restaurant. Very slow service, unknowledgeable and uninterested staff. Two of of us ordered fish as it is supposed to be primarily a seafood restaurant, both were very dry and clearly been under the heat warmer waiting, both dishes of salmon and halibut were curled on the corners and dry, meal was barely warm.Would not recommend or revisit, overpriced for poor quality food and service.

Yes to the chef and his team! That was a great experience. Sitting at the chefs table made it that much more of a wonderful time. Watching and seeing what they do was amazing as was the food. Thanks for the best spent four hours! Definitely going back and recommending!

We sat at the bar and Zoe took such great care of us. She was so sweet and helpful. We had an amazing conversation with her. We will definitely be going back during this trip and asking to sit at the bar again!The restaurant itself is such a great place for date night. Very intimate and the food was amazing!

Dishes ranged from excellent to decent. The sauce on a couple of them was on the salty side, and 1/2 of our halibut was overcooked. On the positive side, the pulpo croquettes with tuna flake were to die for, and the grilled salmon was well executed and served with some deliciously prepared quinoa. Our dessert (a deconstructed raspberry crumbledidn’t improve on the classic recipe.Evaluated on food quality alone this would be a 4* place, but marking them down 1* for being a bit on the pricey side.

Great dinner! We got charred octopus, Burrata tomato salad (shocked how much we loved it), scallops, and desserts. All absolutely amazing!The menu changes as they use seasonal local ingredients. Out server Adrianne was phenomenal and her recommendations were spot on! She was kind and attentive and we loved her. We are so glad we had dinner here.

Chefs 👩‍🍳 and bartenders did a excellent job. Oysters, champagne, and fresh fish 🐟 oh my.

Executive Chef Jay Donahue (and friendshave created an amazing dining experience in an area that is tough to beat - but they have done it. During a weekend getaway vacation from Oregon, we sat at the counter in front of an open kitchen. In short, as I said - an amazing dining experience. Jay literally oversees every dish that goes out of the kitchen. I am not kidding, every dish - he has to approve it. And if its not the way he expects, he adds or subtracts from it. The taste of the hanger steak I had was stellar, and the halibut my lady had, was equally so.Likewise, our service from Aarianna was also attentive (but not overly soand she explained everything on the menu without being asked. When we first sat down, she asked if we had been there before, and when we said no, she responded - "oh, you are in for a treat." Wow, was she right!Is there a rating higher than 5 stars? Highly recommended!

Zoe, the bartender, was amazing! We sat at the bar and she was very attentive, made amazing drinks, and always had a good story to tell. The food was to die for, small portions but packed with flavor. Zoe definitely made the experience top notch!!

Not one to leave reviews often, but I dined at Shaker + Spear tonight for a business meal and it was absolutely fantastic—the best meal I’ve had in Seattle after a week in town. The only thing better than the meal was the service; our server Ben was a delight—funny, knowledgeable, and attentive.

One of the hallmarks of a great restaurant is the wait staff, and Shaker + Spear does NOT disappoint!!! Ben and Nate took wonderful care of my wife and me. Their suggestions were spot on, and everything was outstanding! I believe the rating for this hidden gem is WAY too low. Go and you enjoy, you will NOT be disappointed!!! THANK YOU BEN AND NATE!!!!

We walked in, got seated at the Chefs table, and the dining experience was amazing. We tried the appetizers such as the octopus, nicoise salad, and the mussels. Every dish was delicious. The seafood was fresh. The staff is attentive. We received free desserts from the head chef. I would give this place a 6 stars out of 5 if I could.

Absolutely my new favorite spot!!! The food and drinks were amazing!!! Ordered octopus, duck and cheesecake! All are delicious ❤️❤️❤️ cocktails are amazing tooo loved the whiskey sour!!! People there are nice and friendly:already recommended to all my friends!

Absolutely amazing!!! We had the scallops (perfect), the charred octopus (amazing), the muscles (perfect), the chevre cheesecake with blueberry compote (amazing), and the raspberry sorbet eton mess (so delicious). The service was excellent as well (thank you Nate)! My wife and I went here for our anniversary and we love fine dining. The meal and service here was on par with any great restaurant weve visited. Id absolutely come back.

Quality seafood. Sides are made to be more aesthetic. Great atmosphere!

The food was so good. The cod was easy the best piece of fish I have ever eaten. They were very accommodating, as I accidentally came to my reservation early.If you get the clams, I recommend you ask for an extra bread, as the sauce is stunning and you wont want to lose any of it.Avigail was amazing. They were so attentive. This will definitely be an anniversary staple going forward!

Magnificent. I had a fantastic meal here and I absolutely loved the vibe. The black cod entree has a nice sear, is full of flavors, and just melts right into your mouth! The manila clams are very tasty too and I also enjoyed their local greens salad with the roasted delicata squash. Highly recommended restaurant. Will definitely be back for more of their delicious seafood.

Service was excellent but understaffed . Oysters were good but the sauce is kinda overpowering. Black cod was standard, not really special. Brussels sprouts were too oily and heavy sauce . Scallops cooked fine but the pairing was terrible - over seasoning on the carrots and purée, the lentils were not fully cooked.For sure disappointed and will not be returning.Service 8/10Food 4/10Price 5/10

just stopped by in for a quick drink and desert, it was pretty good. more importantly the service was amazing, my waitress savannah was really helpful and made sure I had everything I needed. would definitely recommend asking for her as a server next time!

The food was outstanding we went for 2 appetizers and 2 mains for the two of us and the food was very filling. I would argue this is one of the few perfect restaurants in Seattle. Outstanding food, attentive staff, good drinks, clean and intimate atmosphere, good music. Overall great. Also Abigail (our servercrushed it all around 5star experience.

Best clams, truffle fries, cheesecake and lattes we’ve ever had! Highly recommend!

Torn between 4 and 5. The food was solid to very good, service was excellent, prices were a bit high given the above. The scallops were excellent but the octopus fritters didnt really work and the veggies were overly charred. Decent wines by the glass but wow, $$$. Call it 4.5.

I had a beautiful meal here, it didnt look that attractive when I had initially looked it up, but the atmosphere is intimate and up scale. Everything we ate was wonderful and fresh, I loved seeing the chefs do their magic from my table. We ended up spending $90 a person with sharing an appetizer, 3 entrees, and 4 drinks.

Had an amazing dinner here, from the food to the service and to the overall vibe — everything was dynamite.The striped sea bass ceviche special was🔥, such a perfect balance of acidity and freshness. The charred octopus was up there with some of the best I had, while the steelhead was paired beautifully with wheat berries (a new eat for meand the duck confit fried rice was something I’d order again in a heartbeat.When the wine we ordered was discovered to be sold out, our server had another recommendation at the ready — which we probably enjoyed more than our original request — love that!If you’re in the area and in the mood for perfectly balanced, fresh, delicious plates, you have to go here!

First evening in Seattle. I actually had gone for climate pledge Coldplay show and was walking around the evening I arrived and it went from mild to windy raining and I was trying to find anyplace to grab a meal and I am sure satisfied that I was welcomed with no reservation and the staff/food/and Espresso Martini ooh. I must go back. Friendliest city by far Ive had the privilege to visit. Entire visit on point COLDPLAY!Space needle. I love you Seattle!

Great local ingredients to form great dishes. This is a nice place to come for a fancier meal. The miso black cod and the scallops were very tasty although am glad that we ordered the truffle parmesan fries on the side as they weren’t the most filling. The fries were fantastic. The service was great - very helpful and friendly. Overall nice meal albeit slightly on the pricier side.

Great restaurant. Modern, inviting space. Great servers and service. Wonderful cocktail that was a Oaxacan riff on a Last Word. Food was outstanding. Grilled octopus was super tender and flavorful. I normally dont get a steak at a place like this, but had a need for a carnivore fix and went with their ribeye. Man, I wasnt disappointed! The grillmaster ensured it came out perfectly cooked. Loved the accompanying sauces & veggies.Great place - highly recommended!

The food was great and the service was attentive. We thought there was room for improvement on the Mac and cheese. Also our service was a bit too on top of us. We felt like our server was trying to hang out with us despite our brief answers to their questions. We also didnt effort to extend the conversation. Were friendly and everything but we like some space too. Well let you know if we need anything or have questions about the menu, the city of Seattle or whatever else. Otherwise a very positive experience.

Shaker + Spear exudes a warm ambience and was a great environment for five of us to share a fun evening. Our server was both helpful and fun. The standard of all our dishes was outstanding. The octopus starter stood out, as did the scallop and steelhead mains. Drink was great. Perfect!

We went heavy with our appetizers as the entrées were not impressive or attempted. Last time I visited 6-7 mos ago, we had amazing dinner but recent updates are not meeting the expectations. Appetizers were great, oysters are the best ones. I would go for a lite grab next time. Service staff was great, ambiance is great, but $80/person? I am not so sure. It was definitely not worthy of that much $$$!! 😆

Shaker + Spear was recommended to us by a friend and this restaurant was absolutely amazing! The drinks were delicious and the entrees are even better!!! We did not have a reservation and had to wait a bit but not long! I would recommend a reservation as it was very busy and you dont want to miss this place! Perfect for a date night dinner!

Such an amazing experience. Great service, terrific food/drinks and a wonderful vibe. Was our "fancy" dinner during our trip to Seattle and it in no way disappointed. In fact, greatly exceeded any expectations we may have had. Thanks again!

My party was able to make a reservation in advanced and I highly recommend you do so as well. The staff were very professional and we were well taken care of during our whole visit. We ordered a bunch of different items; some notable mentions are the truffle parmesan fries, pan seared salmon , and devils food cake.

I came here for my birthday! The inside was clean and moody. We were sat promptly as we reserved, and the waiter helped us choose what to order. We got a raw scallop appetizer which featured plums, and it was delicious! The scallop was soft, the sauce on top was salty but balanced by the tangy sweetness of the plum slices. For our entrees, we got the lamb and halibut. Lamb was mouth watering and soft enough to fall off the bone. It was amazing, with hints of sweet carrot and peas. It was topped on a bed of couscous which absorbed the heavy flavor of the meat perfectly. The halibut was also extremely soft, served with veggies that played into the flavor of the fish. Amazing. A little bank-breaking, but its a perfect spot for a special occasion.

Food was great and the staff was fantastic. Cocktails and the food was really good. Everyone at the table really enjoyed all their meals.

This place had everything we could ever want in a restaurant: friendly service, good food, and a nice atmosphere. My friend and I were looking for a decent place that was open after 5 near Pike Place Market and Shaker + Spear fit the requirement nicely.We walked in and were seated at the bar. I ordered the ribeye and the my friend ordered the scallops. The sauce the ribeye was in was absolutely delicious, and the meat in combination with the asparagus and mushrooms was so satisfying. The scallops were also perfectly cooked and seasoned well. Both meals really hit the spot and I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is near the market.

Absolutely delightful! Great date night spot. Treat yourself to some amazing seafood! Loved the grilled octopus, salmon, & scallops (perfect sear)! Would recommend to anyone looking for a romantic or fun dining experience. Definitely don’t skip dessert.

Food is very good, though a bit on the spendy side for portion sizes. Had the charred octopus which was delicious, the diver scallops were cooked perfectly and accompanied by a refreshing and summery veg mix, and the Mac n cheese. M&C was very creamy with a crunchy top, but the cheese flavor was imperceptible (tasted like plain bechamel sauce, but was still good). Service was superb--everyone from host, to busser, to bartender & servers were friendly, prompt and helpful. Would definitely go again, though the price point would make it a rarity.

When you walk in, the modern and luxurious interior design welcomes you. We got a table at the basement level, it’s a pretty dining space that gives you more privacy. Seafood Chorizo Paella was fantastic that it has generous amount of shrimps, clams and scallop. I was afraid that this is just some fancy place whose food isn’t really that great, but it turned out that the food was impressive and had pretty presentation that I will definitely revisit here again. Btw, the dessert is also unforgettable.

Dinner met my expectations... barely. I came here last Wednesday for dinner and ordered the oysters, truffle parm fries, scallops, and octopus. All four items were flavorful and most of it was finely crafted. However, some of the sauces in the dishes didnt seem to complement the item that well and some of the dishes were quite salty..... Im not some elite foodie or anything but I was a bit confused by the tastes. Overall, pleasant experience and I wouldnt mind eating here again but it would definitely not be my first choice.Pictured: diver scallops

Not sure what was up when I went there but I could smell garbage as soon as I went in and the smell didnt go away for a while. -1 star just for the smell.I didnt order any drinks.I had the octopus and paella.The octopus was really salty, other than that it was not bad.The paella was okay but nothing special. There isnt a crusty bottom and its also pretty oily.TLDR: food tastes already but not worth the price and there was a garbage smell during my visit

So glad they’re re-opened. Had a fantastic meal (arguably the best I’ve had in Seattlefor a party of three consisting of an appetizers of the grilled octopus, cauliflower curry fritters, and truffled fries, and three mains: the scallops, steel-head salmon, and bouillabaisse. Absolutely no complaints. Perfectly attentive server (Mitchell). Already want to go back there. Great cocktails too.

We came here for our friends birthday and overall the experience was amazing. Our server Mitch was on point, he took great care of us the entire time.Several of us got the drinks and the were good but seemed expensive for what we got, they didn’t seem very strong. I would say stick to the beer or wine.The truffle fries are a must!!!I have the restaurant 4 starts because there is nothing here for vegetarians!!!

Where hipster meets exceptional cuisine, Shaker + Spear is an experience worth going out of your way for. From the service to the food, I was personally blown away. Albeit, I wasnt expecting much, the food was actually interesting, creative, departing from simple concepts--adding a refreshing unique flare. For starters, I had the "Salties” Salt Cod Beignets & Salsa Verde". I would liken it to hush-puppies with green salsa. Simple yet tasty. Going into the entree, I dont know why, but the burger really caught my attention. It seemed a bit out of touch with the other items and really stood out. I knew it must be worth a try if it made the menu. Boy was I right! This is likely one of the best sandwiches Ive had! Towards the end of the meal, our server also brought us a liquor to try which was unique to the venue. It was a small touch that really made the service stand out. It was the perfect finish to our meal. From the refined aesthetics of the restaurant to the food and service, this was a 10/10 in every category. I highly recommend giving this place a try.

The service was very friendly and attentive. The patio seating is pleasant, but a bit loud right at the intersection of two busy streets (I get it, covid... We make concessions-and Im grateful they offered outdoor seating. The food was solidly ok, but I had higher expectations based on other reviews I read. The prices are predictable given that it is still upscale dining (but not stuffy). I wouldnt go back, but only due to the food.

Very unfortunate experience. We loved the atmosphere and our main waitress was awesome, the food was outstanding, very well presented and and cooked to perfection BUT too bad “the dessert waiter” a server that comes out of nowhere would offer us a tequila shot that would go very well with our dessert, just to find out that all he wanted was to sell us $15 a glass tequila shot. Very shady way of doing business that ruins the whole experience of an overall great restaurant