Steelhead Diner (Seattle, WA) – On our first day, we decided to knock out Pike Place out of the way. By the time we got to Pike Place, parked, and walked around, it was already almost 3 o’clock. I think we were getting hangry because we couldn’t decide where to eat. Initially, I did want to try one of the touristy classics like Piroshky Piroshky or Beecher’s Cheese, but it all sounded SO heavy. I wanted to be full and ready for the rest of the day, but not feel like 2395 pounds.
Eventually, we settled on Steelhead Diner, because I saw it on some reputable website’s list (I wish I remembered who shouted out because I would definitely link it here), it had no wait, and we were literally like 100 feet from it.
It’s definitely not a stereotypical diner. The menu prices are higher and it’s much more upscale inside. The menu does have classics like burger and fries, but the entrees are more elevated than that. I mean look, they had habanero garlic pepper! It also overlooks Post Alley and you can admire the market from above.
While we figured out what to order, we were thankfully served Warm sourdough bread with butter and maldon salt. I also ordered a No-jito because I love lemon/lime and mint together. It’s my favorite flavors combined! I will say this was on the tart side, but that’s what really made me like it.
We were a group of six adults and one baby, so everyone mostly got their own entrees. The one thing that was ordered to split as an appetizer were the Dungeness Crab & Bay Shrimp Tater Tots. It came with what they call Tiger sauce and a celery leaf salad. I did not expect to like these as much as I did! They were so good and the sauce made it that much better. It just melts in your mouth in the best way and you get that crab, shrimp, and tot outer shell in one bite and nothing tastes fishy or overcooked. I’m not a big fan of crab since it ends up tasting fishy often to me, but this was made really well. The Tiger sauce was some combination of mayonnaise, horseradish, and other spices – it was the perfect complement.
My sister and I smartly decided to split our entree. A lot of times, I don’t end up finishing my food, and I had a feeling the burger we agreed to order was going to be gigantic. And it was. We ordered the Snake River Farms wagyu beef burger. It came with dijonaise, melted white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. I had to get it well done because of the post-transplant life, which doesn’t make for the best picture, haha. The burger was really good though! The patty had simple seasoning, but I really like that because you just taste the beef. And even though it was well done, it didn’t feel rubbery, so it was just perfect. I felt really satisfied because I had a good amount of protein to get through the rest of my day!
I’m honestly not sure who ordered this one anymore, but this is the Diner’s simple grilled Alaskan halibut with roasted spring vegetables. It looked like a good, healthy lunch option if you don’t want to get too sluggish haha.
Surprisingly, I didn’t end up really eating this, but our friend ordered one of the tarts from their dessert menu. I’m pretty sure this is the Gala Apple Tart because of the ice cream (the receipt just says “tart” lol). It looks so delectable! It’s an apple tart with hazelnut streusel, caramel sauce, and a cinnamon-caramel swirl ice cream. I tried a spoonful of the ice cream and it was REALLY good – and I’m not a huge cinnamon person. It made it a little spicy and helped balance out the sweetness of the caramel. I would definitely order this to properly try it together – I was so full from my burger!
Overall, the food at Steelhead Diner was better than I thought it would be. I wasn’t that enthused about eating in a super touristy area, since it can be hit or miss, but it was a good decision. My big negative, would be our service. Our waitress had an attitude and seemed annoyed while taking our order. Maybe she was having a bad day or something, but that’s a big factor in not wanting to come back – but if you do go, GET THOSE TATER TOTS.
bay-food.com 