(mccormickandschmicks.com) – Lake Union
How I heard of this place: Working at Alaska Airlines, I was introduced to McCormick & Schmick’s restaurants, through a promotion that gave all passengers a $20 gift certificate towards dinner at one of their many locations across the country.
Type of cuisine: Pacific Northwest cuisine, featuring seafood, as well as a handful of pasta options, a raw bar and steak. As can be read on their website: “McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside’s menu is printed twice each day and features an extensive array of Pacific Northwest seafood and other regional favorites, as well as fresh seafood selections from around the world. For the non-seafood diner, we have poultry and beef specialties, tempting pasta dishes and large dinner salads. And save room for one of our decadent desserts!”
Ambiance: Romantic and elegant with expansive views of Lake Union and downtown Seattle’s city lights. Enjoy booth seating or chairs and tables against the many floor to ceiling windows that allow you to partake of the view from anywhere in the dining room. Choose a cozy and intimate setting for two or an expanded table-scape for larger parties.
What I ordered: Of the four of us dining here today, three selected the BBQ chicken sandwich ($9.95 each) with a side of fries and ketchup. We had one order off the game day menu, to add variety to our table, for the eight-ounce cheeseburger ($8.95) and a side of fries.
What I loved: The fries, while hot, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, were my favorite part of the meal. We had mixed reviews over the BBQ chicken, being too char-grilled and tasting more of the grill than of the chicken, although the caramelized onions and pepper jack cheese added good flavor to the sweet BBQ sauce.
Why I loved it: The service was friendly, the booth seating comfortable and relaxed in the downstairs bar and the view gorgeous. Seeing a grey cat wearing a red bandana meandering the pier, making its way into and out of the boats moored at the dock made things even more enjoyable!
Cost: Average ($8-$12 per lunch entree)