The Whale Wins in Washington

appetizers are quite terrible, the main courses are ok, the waitress serving us had so much attitude, impatient and straight up rude and lacked flexibility on smallest requests to the food. bad experience for a restaurant on fancier side. not going back

Our server Dillon told us the dishes were shareable so we assumed decent sizes. The bread w cheese w honey for $18 had four slices of 3/8” brewed and a golf ball size of Brie. Not an appropriate portion. BTW there were three of us. Clams were yummy but again came w 4 slices of bread - good customer service would have given us 6. The ‘entree’ dishes (both gnocchi and the halibutwere really small for the price. Yummy but small. Cannot recommend going here for dinner unless you eat somewhere else beforehand.

Service was good, but meals were over-priced, under-portioned, and over-rated. Unfortunately, this is typical of many Seattle-based, boutique eateries as they take advantage of the local clientele who will typically pay these prices and not expect quality.Side note - I tried the Eton Mess since this is the only place in town to get one. I fell in love with this when I went to Ireland. It was good, but not what I had expected and is typical.Associated pics of our entree (note portion sizeand the Eton Mess, post "mess" I guess 😅

Great food and good vibe and decor. Rene’s food is consistent from one restaurant to another restaurant. The service is above others while still has a casual feel that makes you comfortable. Seafood is always great and look forward to my next visit

Delicious food and drink, informative and attentive service.

We had a good dinner. Every plate we took was really very tasty. And very friendly service.

Whale Wins is by far one of the best restaurants in Seattle. The local seasonal dishes never cease to disappoint. be ready to share eat family style (trust me you’ll want to try everything!)The steak is unreal, seriously so good but also HUGE go with 4 people or more if you want to get the steak and try other stuff.Be sure to check out the market while you’re there!

Whale wins more like the whale disappoints. Minuscule is an understatement for how incredibly tiny these so called “family portions” were. Honestly I will NEVER ever come here EVER AGAIN. The food was mediocre to say the least We paid $40 for a half of an emaciated Dungeness crab, that didn’t fit menu description. This dining experience was incredibly disappointing - 2/10

Outstanding! The service by Cody (I thinkwas excellent! Knowledgeable, fun and engaging! The Food, OhMyGosh we got 6 things to share and with Codys recommendations were Amazing. Wine suggestions as well.I had my 60th birthday that my kids took me and it was great. I wish I lived in Seattle this place would be a favorite go to. ❤️

This used to be a great brunch place, but the menu changed and they may have changed chef too because now the food is really bad and the choice is super limited. Service and vibe are still good but the food is so bad that it doesnt deserve more than one star.

Came here for lunch with my work team. By the time food came to our table, it was cold and tasted just okay. Shakshuka had a tasty tomato sauce but it looked like an omelet with a side of sauce rather than the actual dish. Would not recommend.

My food was pretty good. My friend’s sandwich came out burnt we saw another table order the same and theirs was normal so clearly a quality control issue. Not sure I’ll be back, $17 for a small burnt sandwich just isn’t right.

Yummy absolutely amazing french lunch. Sit down enjoy a glass of rose. Sample plates from pickled vegetables to a smoked halibut dip. This place is a wonderful stop for food lovers.They also have a lovely selection of local vermouth

Wow!! Fantastic service and the food was most delicious. We started on a very high note with the roasted cabbage, and the meals kept hitting us with explosive flavors from start to finish. Highly highly recommend!

When people ask me what is Pacific Northwest cooking, The Whale Wins immediately comes to mind. (Which is somewhat odd because their little store also has strong European market vibes!)Between the ingredients theyre using and the use of a wood-fired oven for the cooking of (seeminglyall their proteins, they would be a good representative for what the region has to offer and how it can be showcased.Better yet, the exceptional food is matched by exceptional service. While we were dining there, our server went above and beyond to make sure our experience was superb, answering all of our questions and requests.The location is also unbeatable as you could easily make a day out of the area, enjoying the scenes from Gasworks park, a local beer, etc. But when it comes time for dinner or lunch, make this the place.

I love this place - the atmosphere, the larder, the service. I just wish they had at least one vegan dish on the menu. Their food is so good and fresh. I know they would rock a vegan option.

My impression of Whale Wins is that service is an afterthought and the comfort of diners is negligible at best . We entered and the woman who sat us seemed indifferent. We waited a long time for our waiter to come to our table and the host who sat us didnt seem interested in helping out her coworker.At $200+ for 2 people I would have expected better. I got a mezcal cocktail that wasn’t very balanced. The gnocchi was gummy and should have never been served. The cod was well cooked but the tomato sauce was over powering and the lovely buttery quality of the fish was lost. Both the front door and patio door were open during service. The temperature was in the low 30’s so it wasn’t very comfortable . The staff, when asked to increase the room temperature , stated that the had to keep the doors open during service. Desert was a bread pudding. I believe the bread was a slice lemon pound cake soaked in a custard and baked. The texture of the the pound cake was similar to sand. It may have been the result of over mixing and or under baking. It should not have been served.

The location and patio is great but I was very disappointed with the food (we came for brunch; had dinner the night before at the sister restaurant Walrus and Carpenter). The food is nothing special and the ingredients used often don’t match (e.g. sardines and walnuts, egg salad on burnt toast with a load of fenugreek seeds). Instead of having one or two great ingredients run the show of a dish the chef seems to think that several heavy ingredients are needed to create a tasty, sophisticated dish. The dishes are generally heavy and not light/ fresh (sardines drenched in oil and loaded with equally oily/ heavy walnuts; the granola had no fresh fruit and while tasty was nothing special - def not enough to qualify for a James Beard mentioning). We’re major foodies and the Seacreature restaurants we visited while in Seattle where all incredibly disappointing. You can tell that the chef is self taught; and it’s not clear to us why this restaurant gets such good reviews.

Awesome.Favorites were the egg salad sandwich (and I dont like egg salad), and orange blossom bread pudding, but everything was great. Maybe our favorite restaurant in Seattle currently, along with Layers Sandwich Co.

Great breakfast place with a cute market attached! Would appreciate a slightly larger menu, or more excitement or variety in the small menu. Always very lively in the evening, but I havent been there for dinner yet.

They have pesto gnocchi that melts in your mouth. Seriously the best I’d ever had- it’s a must try. The pâté was delicious too!

Dinner for three tonight was just fantastic for us. Had a 6:45 reservation on a Monday night. When we arrived the patio was busy but we were accommodated outside at our request. Inside was pretty empty though. We ordered halibut dip, Jambon, xo scallops, asparagus, curry clams, and steak (29oz was the SMALLEST they had!). Options for wine that we tried were all great! Our waitress was very personable, friendly, and attentive with lots of recommendations (including on how much to order, and she was spot on which I really appreciate). Offered us more bread on multiple occasions too. It all may sound like a lot of food, but it was perfect for 3 hungry people... So yes the portions are definitely on the smaller size. And yes its very expensive when all is said and done. But the masterful cooking and the top notch service were enough to justify it in our opinion, and keep this at a solid 5* level. The only thing I would call "not worth it" from our otherwise wonderful meal is the special Mojito on the menu. $18 and the glass was only 2/3 full, and mostly of ice.Nothing beats an almost flawless meal, and this was that. Well be back!

This was a disappointment on several levels. Staff didn’t care about our comfort (it was very chilly, even though we were seated inside). Even when I said something about being cold and then retrieving a coat and extra jacket to drape across my lap (as did the diner next to me), staff said and did nothing.There was a disconnect between the quality/price of the food and the service/atmosphere. From the cheap IKEA plates to the oversized flatware to the same basic wine glasses for both red and white, there was no attention to the detail expected for a restaurant billed as a James Beard cheffed establishment.We ordered 3 dishes, all of which contained so many nuts that a full one hour after finishing the meal I am still picking them out of my teeth. Dinner shouldn’t linger in this way. The warm goat cheese starter was ok, ruined with an abundance of walnuts. The lettuce course was good, but the simple elegance of a pile of fresh greens and finely shaved parm was interrupted by the strong, salty taste. And, so many pistachios, which joined the walnuts in my teeth. Finally, after 40 minutes, the halibut arrived, a tiny portion for ‘two’ on a swirl of delicious salsa negra but, once again, nuts in the tiny cup of pico de gallo.Add a confusing wine list, loud dining room, and dismissive staff, and the best thing I can say about The Whale Wins is we had a killer parking spot.

Absolutely scrumptious food and brilliant service. Every item in the menu is cooked to perfection and the presentation as elegant as it can get.There are ample vegeterain options along with meat options. Some of the must try items in the menu are Lettuces, Roasted Aspargus and Parisienne Gnocchi. Wine options are decent as well. Reservations are recommended.

Food was great, but service felt kind of incompetent. The waitress was forgetful and inattentive. It started sprinkling light to moderately when we were seated outdoors, and we werent offered to be reseated (we had to request it). It took 2h15m to finish our meal because of how slow our food service was and the main courses we ate room temperature because the plates arrived 10 min after the food (waitress offered us new plates for our food). In addition, we were greeted about 10 min after being seated which seemed unusual. It didnt seem busy at all in the restaurant either. Not sure why our experience was subpar compared to other reviewers but I wont be coming back or recommending this place.

A Fremont MUST!!I tried their Chicken Liver Pâté and Baked Goat Cheese..WOW!!Trust me..this is gonna rock your world.My server, Connor, had given me these recommendations to try after I asked for his assistance. Great choice!!The overall vibe and experience has surely set this as a staple.The Whale truly does Win this one.

Awesome food, staff and ambiance! Menu choices were incredible. Chef Marc was great in explaining the menu and provided great recommendations! A must try!!

Great place for small plates! We had the scallops, parisienne gnocchi, and olives. Great ambiance on the patio; staff were friendly and very knowledgeable on menu items. However the menu in its presentation felt a bit pretentious in our opinion. Its impossible to know what portions youre receiving by menu alone, as it lacks section headers for starters, entrées, etc. Again staff were helpful with this and flavors were delicious, but the warm and casual vibe of the restaurant was a confusing juxtaposition with the menu for us. All things considered, it is a great stop in a beautiful location!

High stars for great service, ambiance, and cocktails. The food, however, wasnt to my taste. Everything was cooked perfectly, hence the high stars, but it was one of those meals where everything tasted confusing. Dinner conversation consisted of hard hitting questions like: Why is the duck paté and pickled veggies sweet? Why is everything garnished with pickled stuff? Is it supposed to taste like that?

To start, I have got to say that I had one of the best dining experiences at The Whale Wins.The entire serving staff went above and beyond what was needed or required to give a wonderful dining experience. They were able to answer any question, help with allergy and dietary restrictions, as well as suggestion great food.The food itself was great, as to expect from this restaurant.The shareable plates were all unique, fresh, and thoughtfully plated.My significant other tried the half chicken, and it was the best chicken she has ever had. I have no idea how they were able to cook the chicken so tender.I would recommend getting a reservation a few days out in advanced as it can get busy on the weekends.

Beautiful open space, Renee Erickson brings her best at all her restaurants. Flavorful, fresh, and exciting rustic takes on dishes from far and wide.

This is THE restaurant in Seattle that I absolutely must visit every time Im in town. I have never had a meal that was less than fantastic and you can easily eat on a budget if you want to.

A perfect place to stop and restore oneself after a walk along the shore of Lake Union. Very friendly staff and delicious gorgeously presented foods. Excellent selection of beers on tap. Serving breakfast, lunch, mid-afternoon and dinner menus. Features a lovely terrace covered with a young magnolia and wisteria.

Casual restaurant/fancy pantry. Great for setting for casual midday lunch or a coffee and light breakfast. Order at the counter.Fantastic wine available for purchase to go. Ask about their wine club!

They have some really interesting foods on the menu but they are so good. For instance, when I saw the “sardines on the toast” on the menu, I was not sure if it was going to be any good but it was indeed very very good.Good coffee, good food, friendly staff with the killer atmosphere

Excellent experience. Yummy food and kind wait staff. Cute little retail/wine store by the cash register. Beautiful outdoor patio and industrial style fresh decor.

Very good food, got the pate, nettle soup and biscuit with blueberry jam. The outdoor seating area is also really nice on a sunny day!

The place is really good, dishes portions may be small but excels in flavors and good ingredients.The service is excellent, attentive, nice and friendly. The interior its really cosy.

Loved looking around at their new little larder/specialty grocery and frozen goods section. The items seemed a bit overpriced, but overall very interesting selection. We got several items from the lunch menu!

Very cute spot in Fremont. Loved the patio and decor inside. Had the chicken curry salad on toast during lunch and it was really good. During COVID you can currently order inside via counter and they bring the food out to you. Definitely going to come back to check out breakfast and dinner.

So this restaurant has been a Fremont neighborhood staple for about 7 years. We ate the roasted broccoli, chicorie salad, sardines and pork chop. The roasted broccoli were mixed with beets and pickled jalepenos. The salad had pink lady apple slices and thin shards of sheep cheese blended with chicorie into a bitter sweet bite. I liked the sardine dish but found the bread slice to be difficult to eat, very large and uncomfortable in the mouth but tasty. At the end of the meal our server dropped off the pork chop. Cooked perfectly on a bed of fermented kohlrabi. I accompanied my food with a thick winter stout beer, a satisfying meal and I hope you have a great night too.

Another great Renee Erickson restaurant. Open air dining room with a beautiful patio perfect for enjoying seafood during the summer months. We very much enjoyed our lite European fare. The sea wolf bread is always a delight. When toasted a laden with sardines, it is even better. The chicken was fantastic and cooked perfectly! The halibut was interesting and cooked in very different style, but was cooked to a perfect texture and still maintained its delicate nature. The warm charred Savoy cabbage salad was a different as well and very enjoyable. Would definitely come back and try other iterations of the menu!

Weve been to many of Chef Renee Ericksons restaurants for our wedding anniversary but The Whale Wins totally won. Best service. Warm, genuine and friendly staff. Exquisite food. And just a great space.I want to go here everyday.

Possibly the best of Renees restaurants. Bigger and slightly more button down than Ballards bar-like Walrus & The Carpenter, the more vegetable-oriented menu here plays to the strengths of the heavily Mediterranean canon interpreted through a northwest palate. The tight, Italian-leaning wine list is in service to the fresh and deeply savory food, and the rest of the beverage menu was clearly crafted with care. The abundance of small plates makes it an obvious destination for groups with good taste, solo diners in search of a compelling and varied meal, and anyone in between.

Went with 12 others for a birthday dinner on a Sunday evening. We shared everything family style and it came to $57 per person with folks being full and having had starters, wine, mains and dessert. Food was fast and there were definitely some stand out dishes. My TLDR is it’s definitely worth a go but it’s pretty expensive.Thoughts:Everyone loved the pork chop, the cold tomato salad with croutons, zucchini bread.The large $90 steak came with a lot of meat but it was past medium rare for sure. Potatoes were bland.The charred squid was just OK, would pass. Clams were good but not amazing.Good came fast but they took away wine glasses for some folks too early.

Had a lovely meal here. The food was overall very tasty and well presented, especially the carrots and chicken. Serving staff was very friendly and attentive although perhaps a tad flaky but that did not spoil the incredible atmosphere of the restaurant. Very impressed and a wonderful dining experience.

Great Brunch! Great Service!I’d recommend the cinnamon rolls here over Sea Wolf! French Toast is the best I’ve had in Seattle.Bloody Mary’s are spot on and not too spicy.

Beautifully designed interior, cosy setting. Very good service, waiters are helpful and attentive. The food is deliciously cooked from a very good quality produce and prices are very reasonable. They also have a nice wine and cocktail selection. All you need for a good meal and comforting time.

I had been here couple of years ago and I vaguely remember that it was good. Lets just say that acertain special cookie I had before coming here was not helping me with my recall. 😂 This time around, it was a matter of chance that we walked in as we were hungry and our table next door was not ready. The cocktails and the bartender was great and the sardine toast...oh my Lord in food heaven.... thats just too good for words. I could eat a meal of that alone. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it! The squid was just as good as well and I regret that our dinner wasnt here and next door! Sigh!

The food here is incredible and the service is amazing. The restaurant is so picturesque, with beachy decorations and nice elegant lighting. All of the dishes are great, you really cant go wrong. The desserts are great too. The pastry chef is totally amazing!