The Blue Glass

Tonight was Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The game was to start at 5:00 and we decided to come here. To our surprise it was right next door to Lunar Laundry, which allowed Alan to return a spare sock that that made its way into our laundry. He had put it in the trunk so it would be handy.
I was greeted and told to take a seat wherever I liked. I first tried a table against the wall, but it was a little far to see the game. They had high tables closer w/​chairs w/​sturdy backs and rungs to rest my feet, so it would be comfortable. The bartender was our server, a friendly fellow who had moved up here from San Francisco not too long ago. He gave us menus, including a Happy Hour menu. I ordered a gin martini. I talked to him about the kind of gin (Gordons) asking how it compared to Bombay Sapphire, Plymouth or Hendricks, all of which I like, and Beefeater, which I hate. He said it was closer to Beefeater, so I asked if he could make it dirty, then. He asked how I wanted it made and I said up w/​olives. Alan discussed dark beers. He gave him a taste of one. Alan didn’t like it that much, so he ordered a margarita. We also ordered a Market Salad to share, a delicious concoction w/​sliced nectarines, arugula, walnuts and aged goat cheese in a citrusy vinaigrette. It was excellent and huge. My martini when it came was tasty, full to the brim. Our bartender explained that he made it w a local gin. I didn’t catch the name, but it was good. Alan liked his margarita too.
For our mains I ordered crab spaghetti and Alan ordered a poblano burger w/​crispy unsalted fries. We’re going home soon and I have to eat all the Dungeness crab I can. I had misgivings about the chili that was in the sauce along w/​garlic, lemon, parsley, bread crumbs, Parmesan and crab, but forgot to ask about it and it was subtle. The dish was well executed and very satisfying. Alan’s burger was also very good. I liked the bite I had of it. Our waters were refilled. We didn’t have second drinks because we wouldn’t have been able to walk or drive safely. We watched the first half of the game and then left at halftime to watch the rest of it where we’re staying. I wasn’t expected the massive blowout but am pleased we won.

Being in the neighborhood with my daughter who is under 21, we order a take out.
Braised lamb and a burger. Both are so delicious. The staff are very polite.

We had a party of 10 on a Saturday evening — no reservation. We waited a mere 5 minutes for a table. Our waitress, Carrie Jo, was amazing! She had an extensive knowledge of the menu (whiskey menu included), was able to make tailored recommendations, had great eye contact and addressed us all as friends. The food was phenomenal! I had the halibut special and highly recommend it. The rest of my party was equally impressed with their choices. What a great neighborhood place!

Our waitress was fantastic and had great recommendations for drinks and food. I would eat their brussel sprouts in chili sauce everyday if allowed. The lamb with couscous was very tender and I liked it better than my husband’s steak dish which was also delicious. I got the recommended salted caramel cheesecake and it lived up to the hype.
The décor is nicer than I expected from photographs. I think it’s just a hard place to take pictures of. They have big garage doors that I assume they’ll open in summer. I’ll be back for sure.

I have been going to the BG for the past five years. It bothered me a bit when they changed hands last year and the awesome staff was all replaced. That said, I loved the food the new chef put out, so we kept going. Last week probably ended our dedication… I met friends for happy hour and when we ordered the burrata (a fav!) the three of us got three pieces of grilled bread. I asked, as I aways do, for an extra order of grilled bread. The staff informed me that it would be an additional fifty cents. Not a problem! Then he shows up with a big plate with one small slice of grilled bread. Now, I’m thinking you have to skimp on the bread? It’s a small thing to complain about, but I just feel that the heart of hospitality has left this restaurant.

Ray: I had forgotten it was St. Patrick’s day last Thursday, when Josh said he wanted to go to this Irish Pub he was familiar with. We did head out there, but when we arrived at the door of the pub (at 5:00 I might add) the place was completely packed out with an $ 8.00 cover. It looked like St. Patty’s Armageddon. We passed…
On up the road just a block was this nice quiet place called The Blue Glass. We were greeted by an enthusiastic and very knowledgeable waitress. She was really great. We gave her our beer orders and looked over the menu. Of the dinner plates, one stood out to me. I decided to go with the Lamb Tajine. Our beers arrived right away with the dinners not that far behind.
I must say that The Blue Glass had a nice exterior with a beautifully decorated interior. We were quite comfortable with out last minute decision indeed! When the plates arrived I had to pause because the slow roasted lamb looked simply stunning. Josh and I were talking when I took my first bite. The flavor in that bite caused all the rest of the world to pause for a second as I took it all in. The follow-​on bites were every bit as delicious. I was, quite simply, blown away. It was freaking unbelievable!
I have no problem at all giving The Blue Glass a hearty five stars, only wishing there were ten. Go there my friends, you will not be disappointed. Oh, and try that lamb!
Josh: Since last Thursday was St. Patrick’s Day I thought it would be fitting to have dinner in an Irish pub. I know Irish pubs tend to get busy on this day, but I figured our normal early dinner time would put us ahead of the crowd. I realized how wrong I was when we walked up to Molly Maguires at a little after 5 o’clock and there was already a bouncer taking $ 8 per person to get in, and it was already completely packed.
This is how we ended up at The Blue Glass for dinner, just a couple doors down. We walked in to a nice comfortable dining room and had a seat at a tall table. The server arrived at the table almost immediately with water and menus.
The menu looks really great. I was tossed up between the crab spaghetti or the fried chicken sandwich. I asked the server what she thought between the two, and she said that the spaghetti was delicious, but the serving was kinda small, and if I had a larger appetite, I should go with the chicken. Great advise! My stomach was consuming itself from the inside, so I went with the sandwich.
The wait was minimal even though the dining room was filling up pretty fast. I don’t know what a normal evening looks like at The Blue Glass, but I was wondering if they were getting a lot of spill over from folks intending to go to Molly Maguires and being turned around by the bouncer and the cover charge.
The sandwich was really damn good, probably the best fried chicken sandwich I’ve had. Definitely in the top three. I was quite impressed with the Blue Glass, the dining experience was literally flawless. Really nice job, Blue Glass. Seriously. 5 very easy stars.

My wife and I have been here numerous times. Between the two of us we’ve tried almost everything on the menu in addition to a few of the specials. Every single item has exceeded our expectations. The food here is so well prepared and tastes amazing. It’s hard to find the consistency this restaurant has with every single dish including desserts. One thing the stands out is how well designed the entrees are. The vegetables and sides that go along with meat and fish entrees are so well flavored and not only taste great separately but also meld together to taste even more awesome. I can’t recommend this place enough. It matches and/​or beats many of the $$$ and $$$$ restaurants easily.

This place is rather expensive for the amount of food and the overall quality of it as well. Came out to about $ 40 for 2 with two large plates and a small plate, no drinks. That would be fine, except we both left not very satisfied.
The service was good when we first walked in. Got a menu almost as soon as we sat down. But from there it went downhill. Slow service with maybe 3 other tables and 4 people at the bar.
We first ordered a small plate with cheese and bread. Well the bread tasted like it was soaked in salt and then they grilled it using salted butter. But somehow… it was soggy. I didn’t understand that part but whatever. We went during happy hour so it was $ 9…for 2 pieces of small bread and some cheese…
I ordered the organic buttermilk chicken sandwich. It was laughably small. By that I mean it took me maybe 5 bites to finish. The actual chicken was really REALLY thin. It was actually kind of sad because I think if I combined the breading, it was half the thickness of the chicken. The taste was just alright and for the price, I could’ve gotten fuller on KFC and it would’ve tasted better too.
My friend got the poblano pepper burger, medium rare. Well it came out alive. I know it should be red, but man it was straight up raw in the middle. Rare is fine, rare is actually great. But the burger was still cold in the middle which is not ok. So we sent it back and had it recooked, cut it in half, and found it was just kind of warm in the middle now, but still raw. But at least it was consistently raw throughout the entire burger. By the time it had come back out, I had finished my 5 bites of chicken sandwich a long time ago. My friend ate half of the burger but it wasn’t very good so we decided to just take the burger to go and cook it later (it tasted better since it actually got cooked through this time.)
Definitely won’t come back here. They don’t know how to cook burgers even when given a 2^nd chance, the portions are tiny, its overpriced, and the service is slow.

This really is a great little spot for a cozy, inexpensive, yet delicious meal. My husband and I have been twice and both experiences were excellent. We’ve never had to wait for a table and the staff is very welcoming and friendly.
The food came to our table quickly and was a feast for the eyes before ever taking a bite! The caramelized bacon was a tasty appetizer and the fried chicken sandwich met this southerner’s high expectations.
We will be back!

Great, local restaurant in East Ballard. They have a quality, seasonal menu and great drink options. There are a few places to eat outside, but plenty inside. The service has always been very good, as well. If the pork chops are on the menu, definitely order them!

There is a sexy sassy bartender here on Friday nights that shakes cocktails and serves delicious plates. Good for beer, wine, and booze too.

Great food and amazing service! My friends and I shared the market fish and the bratwurst. Both dishes were so flavorful and so fresh! We opted for dessert and went with a sundae and the best salted caramel cheesecake I’ve ever tasted. The cheesecake is entirely homemade right down to the delicious salted caramel drizzle. Would definitely go back and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

Best neighborhood bar around!!! Get the Maple Rye Old Fashioned!!! NOW!!! Also has great food and a warm, friendly atmosphere!!!

I came here for the first time last week with my family who was visiting from out of town. We came in on Saturday night, about 8pm. I was concerned we would have a long wait but there was a nice table in the corner. The place is a cute neighborhood restaurant: good ambient lighting, a cozy place to catch up with a friend or have drinks with your honey at the bar.
Our service was great. She was prompt, friendly, asked if it was our first time here. She selected a nice rose for me by the glass that I loved. Our table ordered the crispy chicken sandwich, the black mission fig salad with fresh green beans, corn and manchego cheese, and clams. Oh, and a side of bread. Everything was delectable but the special salad was my favorite. It also had watermelon radish in it and all the components were wonderful together!
All in all, I’m a new fan and am so glad to have found another «go-​to» restaurant in North Seattle that isn’t in congested central Ballard!

Oh jeez, service was abysmal.
Granted I came here around 9:00pm on a Friday night, there was another group of chatty-​cathys, the bartender, my friend, and I. The décor was adorable, the solid wood vibe was great, and the layout made sense for waitressing. The drink options were pretty vast, as a whiskey drinker I did enjoy that option but due to the waitress taking… 15 minutes to come back to our side of the bar (mind you there are less than 10 people here) I just ordered a bullit and bourbon, I was quite afraid that if I asked her a question she would answer and walk away… again. My drink was well made, a good amount of whiskey for the $ 8.00. My friend got something else that looked tasty as well. Service was pretty darn horrible.
My friend who lives in the area said she would come back for dinner, or the food, since it looked so great at the other table but we weren’t offered any type of food menu (presumably due to it being 9:00pm). The other group was still making orders to go into the kitchen but after we got our drinks the bartender didn’t come back to us for about 30 minutes, after both of our waters were dry, just to refill them… no, «can I get you anything else» etc.
All in all, I would probably go back earlier in the night with a reservation and an appetite, late night the bar next door looked amazing but I think it’s so new that it’s not on Unilocal yet!

I classify this place as a hidden gem. Excellent food & cocktails and never a wait. Cozy up to the bar for a friendly chat with the bartendress, or choose a table instead. I rarely stray from their fantastic shareable menu and usually try and talk my dining partner into the brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and the caprese salad.
Cocktails are a worthy endeavor here, we particularly like the Lion’s Tail. A decent beer & wine selection as well.
All in all well rounded neighborhood establishment.

There’s a lot to like about this place if you’re looking for a hand-​crafted cocktail in the area. It’s very handsomely turned out, and they’re working hard to earn your business. This stretch of 65^th is pretty much solid with bars, and each one has a different personality (or maybe theme): Irish pub, craft beer place, fun dive, etc. Blue Glass is the tony cocktail lounge.
You walk in past little deck lounges with one row of seating each. They roll up big garage doors to open those spaces to the world – must be a great setting when that happens. Through the door, you’re in a tiny vestibule hemmed in by shower curtains or something. Then, the main lounge space. They’re working a nicely cool and detached early-​60s vibe, with nice vintage light fixtures, cool oversize paintings, faux-​zebrawood paneling, tilted mirrors behind the bar, old knob-​style stereo equipment – even the Belle and Sebastian on the hi-​fi seemed amazingly period-​appropriate.
The house specializes in cocktails, offering their own recipes as well as their own takes on classics. They keep a decent little beer list and a decent little wine list, too. The beer prices are actually pretty good, and my companions all seemed pretty happy with the cocktail prices (but I have no perspective there). The staff are friendly, and the bartending seems very capable. Much oohing and aahing over the libations from around the table. My beers were absolutely fine. I would come back to this place with a group, but there’s a serious beer bar right next door, and those places will always be my own personal first choice.

I met a friend here for drinks one night. I live three blocks away and had not been here before. We had Manhattans which were a bit pricey but very good. I recommend having them make it a «perfect» instead of the one on the menu but that’s my preference.
The waitress/​hostess was very friendly and quick to serve us. It was a pretty slow night, but I didn’t get the impression that service would be different otherwise. The Blue Glass seems like the kind of bar that it would be really easy to be a regular at, providing you have a bit of disposable income.
I plan to come back and try some of the food in the near future and will update the review then.

I will always regret not coming here sooner and trying the adult corn dogs. I can’t remember what made them adult so I am never able to adequately describe them to entice others to give this place a try. It is situated on the edge of Phinney Ridge just outside the outskirts of Ballard but this place has the same chic appeal of a true Ballard urban village joint. Parking can be tricky unless you have my uncle’s uncanny luck. As usual he found a spot right across the street.
The hostess /​waitress was awesome and funny. I wish I’d gotten her name so I could compliment her here. We came right at the beginning of HH and it was nearly empty on a Sunday afternoon. The lighting and art are perfect and although the wood finishing is pretty dark, the dining room still appears open and uncrowded. There’s a sense of intimacy here that would be great for dates or for listening to live music when they have it.
We ordered the arancini for an appetizer: three large arancini rather than more smaller ones like they serve at Saltoro up in Greenwood. The marinara lends just the right amount of sweetness to the crisp outer shell and oozy cheese. Uncle had the mahi mahi over rice pilaf which he inhaled. I let my eyes order rather than my stomach so while I loved my pork arepa the mushroom polenta cakes were barely touched. The guacamole sauce on the arepa is just right over perfectly braised pork and the homemade corn tortilla is almost more like crisped polenta. The cakes are good but served cold, were pretty greasy so I wouldn’t order them again if I didn’t think I could finish them on site. I’ll be back for another arepa and to try the pumpkin ravioli!

A hidden gem for a nice dinner in the sun.