Sailfish

We sat in the center of the restaurant at the circle communal table with the fire center. The server sat us there instead of our originally reserved table which was a small, dark table right by the door.The server was personable and checked in on us and the food frequently. The let down was probably the king of the north oysters which were so tiny, but described as medium sized. It was an insignificant bite. The triple fried potatos were good, but definitely way too greasy. They were so crispy yet the inside was unusually fluffy, they kept falling out each bite.The risotto tasted sour at initial taste and we learned that could have been from the lime squeeze finish. I didn't love the texture and taste with fennel and sage but the scallops were beautifully cooked. We also ordered a Sablefish which was in a light miso broth with tofu and cabbage and that was nice but felt more like an appetizer rather than a shareable entree. Overall it was a decent experience but some of the food left more to be desired. Rounded up to 4 stars.

My son picked this for his birthday dinner in Ballard since he'd heard a lot of good things about it. We ordered a lot of food but the portions were so big, we had a lot of leftovers. Service was good and the food came out quickly. Lots of menu choices for vegetarians. We had some cocktails, and fried Brussels sprouts, triple fried potatoes, grilled Napa cabbage, the crab cakes, salmon, and aguachile (rockfish with jicama, micro greens, and cilantro.)We'd like to go again, but will cut back on the vegetable dishes since the portions were so big.

Celebrated my fiancé's birthday here after hearing great things. We tried the oysters, scallops with risotto, potatoes, and the renowned crab cake. The oysters were fresh and satisfying, and the crab cake truly lived up to the hype - it was outstanding. However, the scallops were good, yet the risotto had an unexpected sour note. The potatoes were okay but didn't quite match the anticipated excitement. Service was decent but a tad awkward. In all honesty, while some dishes shone, I might explore different options next time.

Loved this place. My friend and I celebrated her birthday there. Service was great (it's very important for me if I am paying lots of money!), food was amazing. We ordered oysters, bacon wrapped scallops, crab cake, clams and potatoes. Scallops were cooked perfectly, not raw, but not over cooked, and the puréed pea was perfect match! Crab cake was huge, very generous portion of crab, seasoned just right. We were expecting everything was small portion but we were wrong. I appreciate we get what we pay, especially everything is getting expensive and service is getting worse in Seattle. We really enjoyed our night out there. Thank you! Oh, don't forget to order yummy cocktails. Raspberry 76 hit my spot. Not too sweet and refreshing. Perfect for Spring/Summer evening.

A cute spot for seafood tucked into the heart of Ballard -- we'd initially stopped by they're very strict about everyone in the party being 21+ (even if nobody's drinking), so we came back another time and it was a lovely evening. It's centrally located next to all of the other bars and restaurants in Downtown Ballard, so a great place to start or end the night. The servers are really attentive and friendly, and it had a nice ambiance. The food here was really tasty and filling! We got the Fried Brussels, Oysters, Potatoes, and Crab Cake -- can confirm the crab cake hype and the oysters were also really delightful without being too briny. The drinks were were also SO great -- the cherry apple punch was so unique and the mango marg was a classic, too. A great spot for date night or a slightly nicer night out with friends!

We came here for our anniversary dinner and we're impressed with both food and service. I found Sailfish through the Yelp app and was already looking forward to the dinner experience based on the reviews and photos. I completed a reservation on their website and indicated as our anniversary.Our experience began right as we checked in with our server. She was absolutely friendly and accommodated my request for booth seating. She also provided us a couple glasses of Prosecco and wished us a happy anniversary. That right there was attention to detail and very much appreciated.We started dinner with a dozen oysters, aguachile, triple fried potatoes, and an old fashioned cocktail. The oysters were locally sourced and was fresh. The rockfish aguachile had a nice texture and was perfectly balanced in flavors. The jicama gave the dish the crunch and freshness. The triple fried potatoes are addictive. Crispy outside yet soft on the inside. We ended up ordering the same fish for our mains, which was the chimichurri scallops. Each serving came with 3 large scallops doused in chimichurri sauce and grilled bread. The scallops were cooked to perfection and dish was delicious.We ended the meal with a couple of Grand Marnier warmed up. I was impressed with how the bartender knew about this method of slightly heating Grand Marnier.Final verdict: This is a must visit restaurant. Ballard does have a lot of options and Sailfish stands out both in service and food.

We decided to check out this restaurant during happy hour, and the prices truly brought smiles to our faces. Our selection included the house bubbly, dungeness crab cake, gazpacho, aguachile, and salmon crostini. While most of the dishes were delightful, the aguachile, although beautifully presented, left us wanting in the flavor department. The gazpacho, on the other hand, had a texture more akin to salsa than soup, which wasn't quite to my liking. However, the salmon crostini was a definite win, and the crab cake was generously filled with delicious crab. Overall, a satisfying happy hour experience with a couple of standout dishes!

Went in on a Thursday for girls night happy hour, and at 5pm there were very few people. As we sat and enjoyed our drinks and food, it did gradually fill up. There was no rush and we thoroughly enjoyed a relaxed meal! This place is a gem. We loved the crab cake, Brie toast and scallops best, and all of the drinks were clearly crafted with care - including the seasonal mocktail. They have happy hour weekdays from 4-6 pm, and well worth it to come in for that, but also in general. Interior is beautifully decorated, with a variety of table sizes and seats at the bar to accommodate single diners to families.

Cute place in Ballard with great cocktails and food. Happy hour on a Saturday? Yes please. Great drinks and omg the poke nachos were soooo amazing. Who knew I needed cilantro greens in my life? The service was great and bartender was great.

Walking into Sailfish you are greeted by friendly staff and a wonderful ambiance. I love all the plant life at the bar. Great spot for happy hour or even a date night!Oysters and Espresso Martinis...say less!Their Happy Hour is quite good. Half a dozen oysters for $18 and they are SO very fresh! Highly recommend. The espresso martini has sarsaparilla which makes it have a truly unique flavor that I absolutely loved. Triple fried potatos... yum. Really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you love seafood or just great cocktails I definitely recommend stopping in!