« Ballard Restaurants

Just moved in the area trying out the resteraunts near my condo. I got a salad and pizza not to hard to go wrong with or so I figured. As I was eating my salad I found a grasshopper! That was the the first and last time I ever go there. Many great resteraunts in ballard Ive found, this is not being one of them.

I got sick after eating seafood there. No wonder after looking at the city inspection in Duck's note. Yikes - stay away for your health! Otherwise I must agree with the majority of the posts about fair food and less than mediocre wait staff.

inspection link:

http://www.decadeonline.com/insp.phtml?agency=s...

OK food... was better when I first moved here about four years ago. Quality seems to have declined a bit. Not my first choice for Italian, but it's OK, so I'll give it 3 stars.

I am sad that Lombardi's has gone so far downhill. It was such a great place and we would spend 100+ once a month nearly year 'round. It was *our* place to celebrate everything. Birthdays, Anniversaries, friends and family visiting, job promotions...you name it. The downgrade in the quality of the ingredients was the biggest disappointment. (those are tough white pencil earsers; not scallops !) We are still looking for that new place to call our home away from home...a place we think of first when we want to celebrate something new. We won't be returning to Lombardi's.

Was once a great place. Back in the days of the Backstage in the early 90s the food was great and was a place to go. Looking at the comments now I fear I see the death of Lombardi’s and it's their own fault.

Meh

I have to second what MaLora Ann said. Eat in the bar. I've never had a bad experience with either service or food in the bar. Highly recommend the margarita pizza.
And the early evening bartender makes the best Gibson I'd ever had.

Definitely do not eat seafood at this restaurant.
http://www.decadeonline.com/insp.phtml?agency=s...

I've had great meals here (about 8 years ago) but recent experiences have been bad and sad - poor service (staff cutbacks?) and routine food, do they just reheat it on the premises?

the fiancee got food poisoning here during an office lunch gathering.

the owner said there was no way it was possible and said we didn't know what we were talking about.

a little research showed there were routine food safety violations.

on top of that, the service was horrid. we would never have gone except a co-worker loves it.

there are a plethora of great, safe places to eat in ballard. we wouldn't recommend this to our dog (our the tramp)

Called ahead to make "special occasion" dinner reservation; obviously not noted in reservation book and ended up in loud open area. Asked in advance about availability of specific wine on their list, only to discover when I ordered that they had none. Only waiter in section looked very busy but it took far too long to get a beverage or to order. Food was unremarkable at best. Unlikely to return.

The food is good if not great but I can’t say I have ever had bad service. I think maybe many restaurants tend to treat well dressed older patrons such as myself a little better than they do neo ballardites dressed in Northface who don’t wash their hair. Unfair? Maybe but that’s life. I do agree with those who feel there are some areas in the place that are uncomfortable. For the price they charge I expect to be able to linger in a relaxed place without my neighbor sitting in my lap.

haven't had as bad of an experience as other posters over the last 10+ years of eating here occasionally, but can definitely believe their experiences. not a destination resto by any means, but keeps OB happy and that's cool by me.

Lot's of changes in Ballard recently. It would be GREAT if this place would close and something nice would go in. A great location but a horrible place. Waste of time and money!!

I'll repeat what everyone else has said.

I never realized how difficult it would be for a server to find a spoon to stir my coffee.

Lousy service, luke-warm food and bad management.

There are plenty of GOOD restuarants in Ballard. Don't waste your money here.

Everytime I eat here, I get a stomachache afterward. Granted, I've only eaten here three times. It's easy to get suckered by the fancy-looking interior and great location, but DON'T. Killer stomachache.

Save your money! Sorry to say after several visits I must admit - the food is average, the service is bad and yes some of the wait staff seem to have a bad attitude.

I'd sooner eat at the Olive Garden.

The service is usually bad. The LAST time I was there, an older balding man was extremely rude to me and my date when we asked to be seated in a pleasant area instead of the congested areas he had suggested. Later we overheard him talking to the kitchen staff about those difficult customers (us), we decided to boycott this place for life.

The happy hour is great, cheap, quality food. Be sure to sit in the bar, and enjoy an Italian mojito. The pizza and calamari are particular good, so is the tiramisu.

They did used to be much better, food & service both - but I havent put a foot in the door for years now because the last several attempts were so bad...

We eat here 2x/year, during the month when our birthday cards get us a free entree. Over the years, IMO, the food quality has slowly gone a bit downhill. Lombardi's used to be a favorite place of mind, but not any longer.

average food with service that is slower than molasses in winter...

ugh,the food here is a mess. the service is unhappy and doesn't care. I really can't understand why anyone would eat here when there is so much better food in the area