« Ballard Restaurants

if they'd just go back the Tall Grass breads instead of the Costco crap I would eat here biweekly instead of bimonthly.

Last night was my first time trying Barking Dog. The place was hopping busy. Had a to wait about 10 mins for a table. Seemed like a typically neighborhood bar to me. Good food, good brew. Nothing over the top. A good place have a casual dinner with friends in my neighborhood.

The last time we went, one of the owners asked us to pay our check when she dropped off our food, because she was about to get off work for the evening. WTF? Ok, let me just ignore my food while it's still hot so I can get my credit card out. So the OWNER can get off work. She was still sitting in the bar when we left, and her husband was still working. Couldn't he, as the other owner, have closed out our check? We weren't in a hurry, and would have ordered more beer, but since we had already closed out, we left instead. I've always been annoyed at the bad service here, but have enjoyed the food enough to try, try again...but we haven't been back after that experience (over 6 months ago). They are *clueless* about how to run a restaurant.

This used to be me favorite little beer and burger joint in Ballard. Last time I went there a few weeks back I ordered a chicken sandwich and it was served to me on a Costco hot dog bun. My wife got a hamburger bun with her veggie burger however. I didn't feel so bad when i noticed the lady at the table next to us was eating a fish sandwhich on a hot dog bun also.
I miss the old barking dog (along with the other numerous posters), but still go to this place for its good beer selection and baby friendly rules despite terrible service time and time again.

My husband and I live down the street and have probably been there a couple dozen times. Besides loving the beer and the festive, family atmosphere, we've never had any bad experiences with either the food or service. Admittedly, most of the food we've had wouldn't win any awards, but it's always been good, especially the generously-sized and tasty pizzas. We probably go once a week or so and are grateful to have them around.

This palce is horrible, probably the worst experiences I've had in Seattle. I went there three times, the last two not by my choice - mu friends wanted to meet there. Sure it's good if you want to bring your kids, but two hot dishes came out at room temperature and one still was cold inside. The service was slow and if you sit at the bar you have to hope that someone sees you through the beer taps. Who designs at bar with beer taps across the front a foot away from the customers face. Bad, bad, bad.

Two words: Tofu Fries.

They're delicious. And this high praise comes from a meat eater! It's a great little neighborhood joint to grab a beer (Ziewicz, please) and some fresh pub food. Good, not greasy.

service wasn't good and the food was so-so. no flavor.

The service just kept getting worse each visit, so my wife & I just stopped going. The last time we went the waitress was sooooo inattentive, condescending, & rude that I did not leave a tip. For example, after sitting for more than 10 minutes without being acknowleged, I walked to the bar where she was talking to anyone who would listen & tried to order a beer & a glass of wine & she put me in my place by saying she would be right over to take our order. It would have been quicker if she would have poured the drinks then & let me take them to the table, but I guess she likes to be in control. She took her time coming back to the table & even longer to deliver the drinks & even longer than that to take our food order. After the food was served (by another waiter) she never came back to ask how the food was or if I wanted another beer (I did). The best part is that it was not busy - it was around 3 in the afternoon on a Saturday....

I witnessed this and I still can't believe it!! I was completely shocked and actually took a look around to make sure it wasn't my imagination, but the place was in fact EMPTY, aside from me, ThinTire here and another in the bar area! Oh, and the friend (non-employee) with whom the waitress/manager was chatting behind the bar. The place was dead quiet. It happened exactly as ThinTire states. They were in the far corner by the window and she actually yelled at him across the restaurant.

In fact, all of these posts are accurate, ESPECIALLY the poor service. They do give you a perfectly good pour however. It is a shame because it is a great venue and has access to a popular neighborhood at its doorstep where three turns of a table are possible during peak hours. The new owner is a local and has been around the business forever. The chef is L-A-Z-Y! There's simply no excuse. This town is full of places to go. It would be nice to capture the business in your own back yard before they drive/walk-by on the way to other venues. The bonus (literally) would be to return to a destination place from beyond the immediate area too. None of this will happen unless a change is made. Maybe they should call-in Gordon Ramsey!

These reviews are right on the money. When BD first opened it has some really good food (the Reuben was to die for) and a neat ambiance.

But alas now the food is just so-so and the Reuben inedible.

It's what I call 'Food Services of America' food now. Definitely gone downhill and the kids' fish and chips last time was god awful + tiny. Stop going last year.

Our first visit recently for "Date-Night" was nice. We ordered the Skirt Steak Salad offered as the night special and crab cakes for an appetizer. The food was divine. There were a lot of young kids in the restuarant but it didn't bother us too much, we sat in the bar.

We went back the following week with my younger brother and sister and had a somewhat different experience. It was a Friday night, the wait line was out the door. This is where the baby situation got annoying.

Couples with a baby (there were at least 5... not joking) were seated at tables meant for four... meaning the wait time doubled. We were almost seated two times when the hostess realized she was taking the wrong people and brought us back to the front.

Also, the special was gone so we ordered from the menu which was good but suprisingly different than the first time.

This is a great restaraunt if you want the small pub/ family feel but to avoid wait times it is a better middle of the week type place. The weekends you will end up waiting at least 30 minutes.

Agreed, gone down hill very fast. We stopped going last Fall after one particularly awful meal.

So, I guess I don't know what all the fuss is about. I've just moved to Ballard so I can't compare it to how it was 'before'. While I haven't tried everything on the menu, the few things I've tried I enjoyed. Burger and soup for sure. The pizza is good if just a tad bit saucy. The fries are good. I'm not going to lose sleep over the fact that they probably bought them instead of made them from scratch. The burger buns are fine as well. Do you really need a locally baked ciabatta roll to make a burger well?
I have kids that enjoy the place but have been here myself for a few beers and a football game at the bar.
The beer selection is good and the Belgians really are a nice addition. Usually a great selection of IPA or something toward the hoppy end. I'm surprised that people are complaining about the pours... never had a bad one and they are full imperial pints.. not the lousy small glasses you get at other places.
The service while seated at the bar has always been great at the bar - bar tenders/wait-staff have been pleasant and attentive. The only time it took a while to get a beer was when there was standing room only on a recent Friday night. They had also just sat a 10-top and there were only two front-of-house staff.

My opinion on this one is that it is a good neighborhood pub with decent pub food and great beer. If you live close, you are lucky to be able to drop in every once in a while.

Downhill indeed. Each time we go it is a little worse and we vow never to go back, the only thing it has going for it now is the proximity to our house. Wish they would realize how badly they have screwed up a good thing. Used to have good, unique food and fairly friendly and reliable service. Now, I don't bother to order food and I'd often be better of walking behind the bar to get my own beer.

I agree..slid downhill...serivce takes forever,and the once great food is now mediorce..and they don't even seem happy to see you, let alone serve you

Each time I've gone to to this place I kept think ok this time will be different. Nope. Service is poor. Beers are short poured, food is undercooked. Went the last time with a decent sized group (about 10+) the waitress was downright snippy (and it was dead in the restaurant at the time). That was the end for me trying that place in the hopes it would get better.

In their defense, it's not like they can lock the kids out in the street.

Steph. You are totally wrong. This place is like a play-pen at times. If I wanted that, I'd go to Red Robin. You should too.

With such a great space, location, and some outstanding menu items you'd think this place would be good. But it isn't.

They take the best stuff off the menu, offer some of the weirdest, slowest service around, and insist on ignoring some basics like lighting, cleaning tables, etc.

I have given this place many, many chances, but it fails every time.

Sigh - I love the food, the environment, and the location. But the service is almost always bad, bad, bad. Not rude, exactly, just...indifferent.

The thing where you can only get happy hour food between 4 and 5 is weird, but would be ok if they came back around at 5 to see if you want dinner.

They walk away before you are done ordering, and don't come back until there's an empty beer glass.

It makes me want to work there - a server that cared could make a KILLING in tips there. We got good service once and left over 50% because it was such a shock.

Used to be a great place to eat and drink. Now it's only a good place to get a beer. I keep trying to give it another chance, but it always disappoints.

Most miserable service I've ever had in Seattle.

The nice thing about the Barking Dog is that you can go here with your kids, get a decent burger and drink a great beer without having to sit next to people like TT.

Barking Dog is a decent place to go if you are looking for some food above pub-fare. However, we've stopped drinking and eating here because they tend to cater to parents & children instead of couples and groups of adults. When you are spending a decent amount of money for a dinner entree and imported beers, the last thing you want to do is listen to kids running around your table. We've started going to the 74th St. Alehouse for the wider beer selection and absence of kids. It's just an issue of price-point and clientele.

I've been here about five times, always with the highest hopes. Alas, each time the service ranges from nonexistent to poor. Once, we were forced to walk out because after water was delivered we received no attention for ten solid minutes. On a hot day when cold beverages were sorely needed. After having given the Barking Dog little thought for the six months since that happened, I spoke with my neighbor tonight and he reported that his trip to the Dog tonight with his family was a similar dismal failure due to lack of any sort of service. A bitter disappointment. Don't waste your time.

I will have to agree with the theme I see written here about the Barking Dog. I first went there about 4 years ago. They had gotten a decent write up about pubs that also served better than average pub fare. Tried it and it was pretty good. Big selection of Belgian beers served in appropriate for style glasses. The service was even good and friendly. Somewhere around 2 years ago, things really started to change. I even walked out the last 2 occasions. It is just not worth it anymore. Bad food, bad service, and overpriced. They did have some dang fine waffle fries though.

We used to go here frequently and was the place to bring all our out of town friends and relatives. The Halibut Sanwich was my all time favorite. I think they get their halibut from a box in the freezer now. The food has gone downhill in the last year and we will most likely not go there anymore. There are way too many places to walk to and have a great meal.

A group of us from work would go to the Barking Dog often for their soups and sandwiches. I even found my house after lunching at the Dog! Alas, after a change in ownership the Barking Dog is no longer a neighborhood boon but a sad reminder of what was every time I pass by. The menu is boring and the offerings mediocre at best. I'm hoping that the new owners check out some of their online reviews and make some changes for the better!

This place has slid downhill, and continues to do so.
When the menu was revamped over a year ago, and I believe new owners came in- they got rid of some excellent dishes (i.e. vietnamese sandwhich) and replaced them with very average sandwiches. The quality of ingredients is low (Costco buns), and dishes lack flavor. You can tell they've gone cheap, and because the beer is good and they welcome families, it doesn't seem to have effected the popularity.