The Ballard Cut

Super friendly staff at a restaurant with a legendary selection of American and Scotch whiskies. Excellent cocktails made by friendly craftspeople. No BS service charge. Lots of barrel picks made by the owner that are fantastic available as pours. The owner is an active participant in making Ballard a vibrant place and does fundraisers and gives back to the community. This is the kind of restaurant we should all be supporting through and through.

An absolutely wonderful experience. We ordered the octopus, fried cauliflower and pork belly for appetizers which were so flavorful! Then the salmon with asparagus and crab tagliatelle which were both delicious! Highly recommend for a nice meal.

Absolute gem of a restaurant in Ballard. The menu is a tight edit but every dish we tried was incredibly well done and tasty. Staff is friendly and prepared with great advice. And if you like whiskey- wow there’s and incredibly well curated selection of top shelf options.

An absolutely wonderful experience. We ordered most appetizers which were very delicious! I highly recommend fried cauliflower, pork belly, and lamb tartare. Lamb tartare is impressive. The flavor is special because they add cinnamon. Cocktails are also amazing. I love marionberry margarita and strawberry-rose french! Sweet, sour, and fresh! No dress code. It’s on the market street, a little hard to find parking. Recommend park in the resident area and walk to here. It will be easier.

Food was delicious. Each plate was amazingly designed so the elements supported each other's flavors and textures and the sauces emphasized everything. The cocktails were also meticulously crafted with the perfect balance of flavors. Would highly recommend. We had a reservation for Fri @9p and were seated immediately.

An instant favorite!! Everything we had was absolutely delicious, and I’m writing this review as I eat our leftover carbonara and New York strip steak and I can say they it heats up just as well! Already can’t wait to go back, and upset that it took two years of living in Ballard before trying this place.

Absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in the city for a nicer meal. I’ve been here so many times now and have taken family, friends, and visitors. Their pork chop changed my life I think. It’s definitely the best pork chop I’ve ever had. But besides that, they also have absolutely amazing appetizers, and most if not all of their other main dishes are fire too. I’ve had their crispy pork belly (🔥), grilled octopus (hit or miss tbh, but when it hits 😩), clams (👍🏽), charred Brussels, wild rice Tom Kha (❤️ I actually loooove this one too), tagliatelle, salmon, and more! Everything’s always pretty good. The only things I didn’t care for that I’ve had here were the duck and the tartare, although I don’t think either are currently on their menu. Recently went for Valentine’s Day and we got their beet salad and lamb chop special, as well as the NY strip entree! Tbh I’m not the biggest steak person and the NY strip didn’t change my mind, so the pork chop definitely reigns supreme I think. Highly recommend checking this place out for a nicer (but not too fancy) dinner spot!

Staying in Ballard for a couple of days and enjoyed the Ballard Cut! The menu is small, but means everything on it is very well made. Friendly for GF folks as everything but the pastas can be made safe. The whiskey selection is one of the best I’ve seen for all types. The Whiskey person is very knowledgeable and also helped us find a new gin for my wife. They have all the bottles you never see if you want to try something rare, or can build a flight based on a budget. Great spot!

Food, excellent. Service, stellar. Ambiance, oh so lovely and cozy. Perfect spot for both a special occasion or a random delicious dinner. Cocktails, whisky and wine list are impressive... Don't miss the green curry steamed clams appetizer. Their pasta and fish dishes are also always great!

We went here for the whiskey selection and we were not disappointed. It’s huge and the staff is super knowledgeable and passionate about whiskey. They will help you select a flight or make a flight for you based on what you like and want to explore. The food is also phenomenal. For starters we did the pork belly and the carrots. Both were delicious and I would order again. For my meal I did the pasta with sausage and burrata. The spice level was so good combined with the burrata. For dessert we did the strawberry rhubarb shortcake, it was nice and light and not too sweet. We had a lot of whiskey and enjoyed the atmosphere. I highly recommend!

Went there on a wet Thursday night and made to feel welcome from the second we entered. Exceptional Whisky list, incredible food, friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff. The vibe is perfect for any type of night from date night to family in town to a quick bite and a pint. It covers all ranges. I will return. Be warned!!

At first we were sad that Sailfish had closed but once we sat down and gave this place a try we saw that the space not only changed, but evolved into something more. From the peaceful, refined atmosphere to the kind and understanding staff to the absolute gargantuan (and DELICIOUS!) slice of tomahawk hands down this was one of my best dining experiences in Seattle. Whether you’re celebrating a fine occasion or catching up with acquaintances, make sure you put this spot on your shortlist of places to visit.

I was here based on my colleagues recommendation. It looks like a small village when you come to this area. Something completely different from the city. I made a reservation for myself and my friend and we reached here before our reservation time. We were given an option to sit outside otherwise they can keep our table by the time it's our reservation time. It was windy and chilly so we decided we would walk around and come later. As I said it's a small village because most of the stores were closed at 7 pm on a Friday evening. We walked around and chatted standing there until we were called to be seated. It's a small place not much of a seating area inside but they have extended outside seating. I'm sure it will be good on a sunny day. As soon we were seated we were served water with a menu card. We ordered appetizers such as Thai chicken wings and I asked for a green tea with lemon and honey. We were busy talking and the place was crowded, it was very loud and there was music played as well. A perfect Friday vibe. One thing about this place, the food is Michelin kind and the ambience is that of a sports bar. Anyway expect delay because it's a bit laid back as we got our appetizer late and when we got we got our main course as well. The server apologized and we also didn't say much. It tasted good too. The server who served us was nice and courteous. Overall I had a good experience. Loved their whiskey bar. I was pretty sure there's a story behind that whiskey bar and someone very passionate about it as well who must be managing it. Since it was crowded I didn't get a chance to interact with the bar attendant otherwise I wanted to ask about Rum 😁. I will definitely go here next time but day time as the lights are very dim. If you're in town please visit this place as the people in the kitchen are really passionate about what they do.

Another fine establishment that luckily is all ages. No kids menu but some amazing flavors, great cocktails and a fantastic staff that truly knows how to deal with table an guests. We had a fantastic night ,and it was delicious!

Got lucky with an opening for dinner. Would recommend a reservation. Service was incredible and nice. For covid restrictions they have a really nice covered and heated outdoor dining that is very well spaced out. We had the pork belly, Brussels sprouts, and the tomahawk pork chop and it was all delicious. Would definitely recommend!

This is the spot every whiskey and steak connoisseur would dream up but never be able to make reality. Well, Tommy made this heavenly dream a place. And the people who work there are passionately trained. Each customer is treated as kings and queens. Try some recommended neat pours. Get the biggest pork belly pieces ever. Can't go wrong with an old fashioned or Manhattan made with the bars own private barrel. Eric is amazing. And if you find yourself lost in great conversation with an attentive bartender you may just have talked to the owner without knowing. I would come here every night if I could.

Just took my husband here for his birthday and it was fantastic. While my main choice reserving here was for my husband to enjoy the mind-boggling amount of whiskeys they offer, I was pleasantly surprised on how well prepared their food was. We ordered a nice spicy arrabiata pasta dish and Tom Kha inspired type stew. We both enjoyed our meals and felt inspired afterwards especially as we both enjoy cooking at home. Also they surprised my husband with a lovely horchata cake and candle. He enjoyed the whiskey and food. And promises to come back again. The staff was very friendly and attentive. Especially with providing a run down of all the different whiskey options and favorites.

WOW! I had a symphony of flavors in my mouth! Started the evening with a delicious cocktail. Next up I shared the pork chop and risotto with my partner. The pork chop is a must try! Perfectly prepared and the most wonderful flavors. Great spot for a date night. For covid restrictions, they have a nice heated and covered dining space outside. Recommend making a reservation.

Everything was 10/10. Went in there for my birthday celebration and they made me feel so special!(candles and even a free drink from the bar!) and the food was beyond amazing! The dry-aged literally melts in my mouth. Never had Octopus that tender before and the sauce that pairs the octopus go so well with even with the potatoes. Definitely coming back!

6/5 dining experience. The crispy pork belly sizzles the taste buds and leaves you wanting more - then comes the tomahawk pork chop to end the night with pure satisfaction.

Tried to pick a place for dinner and was not sure where to go. Read the menu and just thought yeah let's try it, why not. Something new. For the love of God...if you have not been here you must come try it. Salad and fried cauliflower to start you will not be disappointed. The main course, salmon, we devoured the plate in less than 10 minutes it was SO good, SO GOOD! The environment makes it even better. The din lights, music, staff. WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL! EXPERIENCE! Great selection of spirits! Nothing disappointed. Saved this as a favorite as we WILL be coming back again. Hands down one of the best we have had in Seattle. For sure.

Came here for an after dinner cocktail and it did not disappoint. The host was friendly and welcoming, we sat at the bar and the bartender was very nice. He made our drinks very well, they were great cocktails and would highly recommend! We didn’t eat here, but the food looked good coming out of the kitchen, and we will definitely be back for a dinner!

Make sure to try the mussels & clams here. It had super flavorful curry coconut broth with some kick to it. Oh and the pork belly was delicious as well. Spring salad was meh. Overall wonderful service & experience. Highly recommend it!

Phenomenal! HH menu has some favorites from the full menu including the Brussels and the chicory salad! Pork belly was outrageously good. Loved the seasonal pasta. Bartender was spot on with cocktails! Can’t wait to go back.

Dan was an amazing bartender! He was super knowledgeable and happy to answer the wide variety of questions we had about the whiskey. You could tell he was well versed on every whiskey behind the bar. 10/10 on vibes and service, will definitely be back.

Some of the best, creative food we’ve had in a while. My wife and I shared the Lamb Loin with Cous Cous, and the NY Strip with Sweet Potato. Both were perfectly prepared, excellent dishes. We started with bread service and finished with the carrot cake, both also excellent. We started with a couple cocktails off the menu and moved to Cab-Franc for dinner which paired very well the meat dishes. We did see some others doing flights of whisky with the bottles lined up on the table which looked fun and we’ll try next time. The service was first class with 3 different staff taking care of us and the timing of everything was on point. All in all a great dining experience. Can’t wait to go back.

We went here primarily to have some great pours of bourbon as part of a double birthday celebration and the Ballard Cut didn't disappoint. Prices on many hard to find bourbons were very reasonable, they aren't giving the stuff away but you should be able to find a lot on the menu to try without feeling like you are being scammed. The cocktails are also top notch with some of the best quality happy hour cocktails I've seen. All of the food was great too, the pork belly being a stand out. No complaints about the carbonara, lamb, or steaks.

Unpretentious, good vibes, good food. A breath of fresh air after an unfriendly experience at the other “large whiskey selection” bar on cap hill. Absolutely a great place to try a variety of whiskeys at a fair price. They had some very unique bottles too at an affordable tasting price.

A friend and I went in for a Tuesday dinner. We shared an amazing chickory salad, clams and mussels appetizer and bread service. It was absolutely perfect. Too much food to eat and paired with a delicious cocktail. We will be back to order this identical meal! Service was great, attentive but not intrusive. It was pur first time in but will certainly not be our last. Recommended.

The food is all good, not great, but very expensive. It's just not good enough to justify the price given the small serving sizes. The appetizers are maybe enough for 2 people and the sides "for sharing" are really not. My biggest complaint is that our $160 "40-oz" ribeye was nowhere 40 ounces. It was also removed from the bone and served pre-sliced, so the steak didn't even stay warm after we had a few slices. Pre-slicing also makes it a lot easier to hide how small the steak actually is. It was cooked pretty well, though there was a very clear gradient of doneness rather than a smooth, pink center. All of the food could have used a big pinch of salt (and there was no shaker on the table) and heavier seasoning. Again, none of it was bad, but paying over $100 per person and not really loving any of the dishes was disappointing.

This was a special dinner on our baby vacay to Seattle. We started with delicious focaccia bread service and cornmeal crusted summer squash. The beef was perfect as were the crispy, smashed potatoes. The summer bean trio was okay.

Exceptional eatery in the heart of Ballard. The staff are incredibly warm, the menu is diverse and the bar selection is second to none in the greater seattle area. The salmon is without question the best I’ve ever eaten at a restaurant. I don’t eat pork chops but wow was I close to ordering one just because. The flank steak is out of this world and the tomahawk could serve a few small families. The owners care deeply and pay attention to details. Prices are beyond reasonable for what you get and the service is good too!

Overall I had a positive experience with good service when I came here with some girlfriends. Standouts were the clams (huge portion for an appetizer, but delicious) and the mushroom risotto. We were excited for the tagliatelle but when we took a bite, it was so ridiculously salty that we had to send it back! (And I never send things back!!) To be completely honest I think it was a random mistake of the chef due to the massive amounts of salt flakes you could see on the pasta (see pic posted… maybe it accidentally got dumped on the dish at the end?)…. Regardless the server took it back and comp’d it for us without question which we appreciated. I liked the food, but it seems just like another pricey “PNW fare” type of restaurant that didn’t have a specific reason to come back for me. I’m glad I went once to try it, but probably will try somewhere new next time.

Great food, great service, insane spirits on offer, modest wine list. Only negative is pumping too loud music. They could have a more subdued playlist without interfering with the vibe, and you would be able to enjoy the conversation with your dinner mates.

We wanted good food to celebrate a promotion and my friend suggested The Ballard Cut. I was hesitant cause the prices were on the higher side but we went anyway. Everywhere in Seattle is pricey so I guess it didn't really matter. If you're spending $50 per person it better be top notch! The drinks were very over priced so we just stuck to beer. They have a ton of whiskey to go around so go here if you want a good selection of that. We had to sit outside and couldn't enjoy the vibe inside. It was fine but I was looking forward to the inside. We had the rabbit liver pate and it was fantastic. Creamy, smooth and they added a blackberry jam to it which was a nice touch. We got the Carbonara and the wild caught shrimp tagliatelle. The carbonara was too salty and the shrimp tagliatelle didn't have a lot of sauce and it was just bluh. We wouldn't get either dish again. Maybe we ordered the dishes and should've stuck to meats.

Dined here with my husband 12/27. The atmosphere was lovely and warm, very nice use of the space. Our steaks and sides were pretty good, but nothing outstanding or memorable. I can think of quite a few comparable meals I've had in the past year that wowed me more AND cost less. The cocktails were quite nice. My main gripe is with our server (curly hair in a bun and septum ring), who seemed to go out of his way to make us feel unwelcome. Not sure why! Throughout the meal he made several small comments that landed weird and when we (visibly over drinking age, clean and quiet, dinner reservation) ordered a standard cocktail, he made a big show of not only carding us but holding up our IDs and giving us each a once over. Other similar parties near us did not seem to be subjected to this. Everyone else was friendly, but this put a strange taste in my mouth. Bracketing the service, I think I'd come back for a drink but likely skip the food in favor of something more distinctive.

Service was impeccable. The cocktails (espresso martini and Manhattan) were delicious. The wine was subpar. The 8 oz steak was perfectly cooked and incredibly tender. The Brussels sprouts were yummy, but the potatoes were bland. The halibut was just alright. The atmosphere was lovely. If you’re coming for steak and cocktails, you’re in the right spot. For anything else, it’s overpriced.

We started the evening with dinner at Ballard Cut. Although the food was good, the portions were minuscule, everything was à la carte, and the prices were quite high. I had the mushroom tagliatelle. It came out smaller than the size of my fist, for $37. There was no meat in this dish; it’s pasta, so why so expensive? Needless to say, I left hungry and very disappointed. Corkage was outrageous for Seattle, much less Ballard, at $35 for the bottle we brought, especially since their wine list was nearly non-existent. Our bill for 4 people, and we brought our own wine, was nearly $300. I’ve had much more satisfying meals for much less. The music was too loud to have a conversation without feeling like I was shouting, and kept getting louder even after we asked them to turn it down. To top it off, the bill automatically included a 20% gratuity, which was okay since the service was good. When you add in the overpriced cost of parking in Ballard, I think it was a very poor value and probably won’t be back.

Two medium rare steaks came out completely different colors. They were acceptably cooked but so cool the hunk of whipped butter stayed solid. Sides came out burned and cold. Not everything needs balsamic (bread, steaks, and sprouts)! Kitchen clearly has timing issues. Service was happy to replace the potatoes though which were delicious and hot brought out a second time. For the price I think you’re paying for the Ballard corner location and big windows.

Food was never good both times at old location and the new location (at the old matador) … when I went in and sat at the bar it was a large group of mysogynist gross men that I felt uncomfortable as a woman. The two make bartenders just laughed at all their jokes and kept feeding into it so I couldn’t even finish my wine and left immediately. Third strike you are out. The interior is beautiful but that is about it at this point.