Ivar's Acres of Clams and Fish and Chips to go in Seattle (On Pier 54)
Written: Mar 14 '06
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Pros: great food, awesome view of Puget Sound, walk-up stand and vast sit down area
Cons: could be seasonal to some
The Bottom Line: Ivar's is a great restaurant for fish and clam chowder, and is family friendly. It also provides great views that have to be seen.
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| three_ster's Full Review: Ivar's Acres of Clams |
Anyone who lives in the Seattle area, and has taken a trip down to the piers, knows of Ivar's and the history behind the restaurant. Ivar's started out as a fish and chips stand years ago, and developed into a chain of seafood restaurants located in the Pacific Northwest. They have branched out quite a bit since then, but the original store is still located on the waterfront in downtown Seattle. Originally just a walk up location, they went through a huge remodeling phase, brought in a famous chef, and revamped the entire menu to provide a sit-down location with a vast array of top notch sea-faring cuisine. The name Ivar's Acres of Clams actually comes from one of the dishes, which gives you two pounds of clams served with butter. It is an immense pile of food, and for lovers of clams, this is a must-have if you make your way downtown.
Ivar's Acres of Clams is located on Alaskan Way in the downtown area of Seattle, Washington. More specifically, the location is on Pier 54. From the front, you can purchase the normal walk-up fare, which has made the Ivar's name so famous. They sell their fish and chips as the primary food, with cod and halibut as options, and you can get pretty much as many pieces of fish as you want. Of course the price goes up a little bit with each piece, but you can normally get your fill for under $6.00. The chips are of course french fries, and they go really well with a splash of flavored vinegar. The thing that I love the most, and would eat over and over again, is their specially made clam chowder. It is thick with clams and potatoes, and can be a meal in itself. I love getting some of the clam chowder with some oyster crackers, and it is my favorite thing at the restaurant. It is also something that has moved into the chain restaurant side of Ivar's as well, so you can pretty much get it anywhere now.
The walk up area is a great attraction for people in the area, and it is an easy food option to grab on the go. There are seating areas outside, but you receive the food in a way that you can carry it around with you if you are just there for the sights. Behind the walk-up counters is a larger restaurant that allows up to 400 people to enjoy seated seafood cuisine. It is on the pier, and it seems like a giant restaurant from the outside. Walking inside, you will see that it is a casual dining experience, and know that you won't be under-dressed. It is there for people who are visiting the area, or for those who just love the food, and they don't want to scare people away by being too "high-class." That is not to say that the food suffers from the way the restaurant is set up, but that it makes it easier for them to cater to large groups of friends, or to families. It is a very welcoming restaurant, and when you sit back to enjoy the food and the views, you realize why you came in the first place.
Nearly anything that you can purchase at the walk-in stand, or in the fast food restaurants can also be purchased inside. The difference is in the appearance, and how you are served. On top of that, they offer a multitude of other options that can cater to just about any fan of seafood. They of course offer their 2 pound basket of clams, an Alaskan Halibut, and some clam pastas. On the higher end of things, they have New York Steak, Alaskan King Crab Legs, Fresh Atlantic King Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and of course Chicken served a variety of ways. The food is served very nicely, and everything I have had was quite good. This includes the halibut, salmon, and many variations of the clams. Now I wouldn't put their seafoods at the top of the list for best around, but they hold their own, and with all of the dishes under $20.00, you aren't going to pay paying a ransom for your dinner. I do however have a stigma attached to Ivar's, that I don't want to sit down there very often, but would rather enjoy the walk-up part of the restaurant.
Ivar's is a Seattle tradition, and if you have ever been down to the waterfront, you have probably seen the Ivar's signs. It has its own nice little area, and beside the walk-up areas are some great places to have a seat and enjoy your food outside. Ivar's is best in the late spring, and into the summer months, because you can enjoy the sun of Seattle, and eat out in the open. When it is sunny out there, everything seems that much more beautiful, and you will able to enjoy miles and miles of views out over the Puget Sound. Mountain ranges, ferries that are going by, and cities in the distance will all be great parts of the overall ambiance that you can enjoy. With all of the other sights to see on the piers, lunch or dinner at Ivar's can be just one stop along the way on a day of fun. The food is great, extremely inexpensive if you use the walk-up area, and sitting down with all the views can become a memorable experience that you won't soon forget. Make sure you at least try the Clam Chowder either in the cup or bowl size that they serve, and rest assured that it will be well worth it. Reservations are possible at the restaurant, but with all of the seating, unless there is something big going on in the area, it is easy to just walk right in. I highly recommend Ivar's Acres of Clams, and suggest it as a stop if you are visiting the piers of Seattle.
All of The Menu Options:
Ivar's Skillet of Fresh Yearling Oysters
Gulf Prawns n Chips
Ivar's Famous Fish n Chips
Ivar's Fried Seafood Combo
Ivars Acres of Clams
Ivars Fired Baby Prawns
Alaskan Halibut n Chips
Ivars Fried Clam Strips
Fresh Atlantic Salmon
Mahi Mahi
Steelhead Trout
Fresh Ling Cod Stuffed
Crab and Shrimp Cakes
Bay Scallop and Prawn Saute
Ivars Pier 54 Clambake
New York steak
Shellfish Pasta
Chicken
Ivars Skillet of Fresh Yearling Oysters
Alaskan Halibut
Clam Linguine
Sea Scallop Stir Fry
Roasted Vegetable Fettuccine
Fresh Alaskan Dungeness Crab
Ivars Autentic Seafood Bouillabaisse
Ivars Fried Baby Prawns
Ivars world Famous Fish and Chips
Traditional Acres of Clams
Ivars Best of the Northwest Platter
Fresh Atlantic King Salmon
Fresh Mahi Mahi
Alaskan King Crab Legs
Alaskan Razor Clams
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Make sure you try the fish, and the best time to visit is in the summertime, whn you can sit outside and enjoy the views.
Best Suited For: Large Group
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