Canlis is the perfect full service formal dining place. Every moment here is catered to you, from the valet through your coats warmed by the fired when it's time to leave. The restaurant itself is difficult to get to from the north, but the effort is so worth it.
My wife and I have been to Canlis several times now and have been more impressed each time we go. The food is always delicious, the staff is personable and attentive, the atmosphere is second to none in Seattle. I think my favorite dish here has been the Muscovy duck. The creme brulee is my favorite desert (pretty much ever). And I've ordered the Peter Canlis salad every time because it's that good.
Too expensive with a great ambiance and respect---
FYI : They serve food assuming that you are on diet lol
Finally got to visit and wow, as stunning, elegant, and dignified as I'd always heard - and the cuisine was flatly incredible.
Its always been a dream of mine to go to canlis. I finally said, screw it, lets go for broke. And broke i am. $400 out the door for two people but pretty well worth it. The service is phenomenal, view is great, food fantastic. Our server loren was super nice and accomodating and the wait staff was educated and classy without being stuffy. The portions are small but we left stuffed. The food is rich. The wait time between courses is too long in my opinion. We were there for 2 hrs. 1.5 hours would have been more enjoyable. I probably wont return dude to financial circumstances but this is a place everyone must try at least once. Valet guys were cool and gratuity included on bill. Probably the best restaurant in Seattle.
This is something out of towners dont know about too often. And In towners go to on special occasions or the ones that dont mind indulging in the finest of dining life. Best everything here. You will spend min $150 per person. If guy, Wear a dinner jacket and nice jeans or slacks. If Gal, classy dress.
Amazing experience. Definitely best in Puget Sound area. Make sure to get a reservation well in advance for weekend times.
Servers treat you right and valets magically have car ready when you are leaving, no claim ticket needed.
The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the servers were absolutely amazing (attentive and friendly but neither being overbearing nor condescending ) and the food....oh the food. I didn't know pork could melt in your mouth.
There's nothing I can add that will do justice to this epic Seattle fancypantsatorium. Was worried there would be a snobby cloud hanging over the crowd but it was chill and the wait staff had a nice sense of humor.
This is the most fun dining experience ever! The Crab Shack, which is their outdoor dining space is very creative and the food is to die for. Don't delay! Make a reservation soon!
My wife and I celebrated our anniversary there and I only can say wow! The food, the service and a friend surprise (who recommended me Canlis). We ll be back for sure before our next anniversary ;)
We ate in the private dining room (the office, as they call it). It was a lovely intimate experience with excellent food. The tour included in that package was a nice look behind the scenes. My only (small) regret was getting the truffle fries. They were delicious but the main meal was enough food that they pushed me over into too much food
Went here for my Dads 50th Birthday celebration and it was absolutely amazing. I've never been to such a nice, classy, delicious restaurant before. The service was excellent and they even brought out a piece of dessert for my dad. Highly recommend going here!
Increadible, just amazing. Warm and welcoming hospitality. Creative and beafutiful dishes.
Great wine selection. I asked for some dairy free version of the meals and I wasn't sure if they're very familiar with this type of request.
It has great view and ambience. Fancy restaurant to take the ones you love.
Went for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. We went with the 4 course option. The options were wonderful and in order to try multiple things my husband and I each got something different. We tried 8 different items and loved them all. The artistry with the cooking and plating blew us away. The ambiance of the restaurant was a little dark, but it set the romantic mood and the views of the lake are unbeatable. Obviously, when you come to a restaurant like this you know it's going to be a little pricey and it is, but the food and the service justifies the cost especially for special occasions. Be mindful of the dress code. I definitely recommend Canlis for any special occasions and celebrations!
Met friends here for dinner and were not disappointed. A lovely elegant and refined atmosphere. Service was impeccable and friendly. Our food was outstanding...beautifully prepared and presented and melt in your mouth goodness. Dessert was More
The valet service is fascinating. They don't take your name or give you a ticket, they remember you. By the time you walk out of the restaurant your car should be waiting for you without having had to ask for it or remind the valet attendant which car is yours.
I didn't realize how booked out this place gets, we got lucky and put ourselves on a waitlist and luckily there was a cancellation.
We opted for the four-course menu option. The malted pancake came first, it was good, but it was essentially a crepe. The garganelli reminded me of some kind of penne pasta with a tomato based sauce, a good option for the less adventurous. My third course consisted of the waygu, this was absolutely one of the better steaks that I've had (even at steakhouses). It was pre-salted perfectly, the flavor was fantastic. However, there was a piece of charred romaine on both of our plates that smelled absolutely disgusting. It honestly smelled like cigarettes, I had to finish my waygu rather quickly because the smell was killing the meal for me. We gave feedback to the waitress who said that the chef was trying a new recipe and she would happily pass on our feedback. My last course was the souffle, the souffle was beautiful and the texture was fantastic -- I should have read the description a little more carefully because I hate orange, so I didn't really care for the flavor at all. If they ask you if you want them to prepare it for you after setting it down in front of you, say yes -- they'll pop it open and neatly pour the filling inside.
The best service and some of the best food I've had. Worth the price tag.
Beautiful ambiance, food, and service from the moment we arrived. The tasting menu offers a perfect combination of flavors and textures, and the wine pairings were spot on. We thoroughly enjoyed everything about this experience and wouldn't change a thing.
Vibe: 80s decadence. Stuffy.
Food:excellent. Timing between courses poor(Too long).
Decor: dated
Service: overly keen
Hospitality: poor: could not guarantee a window seat despite pre-booking
Two months in advance.
Was a Seattle institution, in the past. & ought to stay there.
The food was delicious, but the view! Is just the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
Visited for first time back in December 2019.
I was rather disappointed by the overall experience since we were expecting one of the best restaurants in Seattle. Location (view on Union Lake), staff and valet parking are great.
Wine list is really impressive (such a great choice). But at the end, you expect the food to be at same level and it was not the case.
Dishes are well presented but missing flavor and sophistication you can expect in this kind of restaurants. Portions are also quite small.
A very enjoyable meal, we enjoyed our time there, recommended.
Review for burger pop-up. Super long lines, unorganized and definitely not the same classy staff. I appreciate the pivot but not worth the 45 minute wait!
4 course meal with the best view in Seattle. Highly recommend that you get a reservation at a minimum month in advance. Everything that you pay for here is worth it and incredible.
Definitely a great place to go once. Really like the view and the valet is awesome too (their story is what made want to go)
Amazing: atmosphere, service, food, view beautiful evening!
Very expensive, even for Seattle. Food taste fine, but what you're really paying for is the view and the name.
Fantastic in every way! Cody was awesome! He was engaging, helpful, very knowledgeable, and made our evening even more enjoyable.
One of the most incredible culinary experiences. Every dish was perfection and the service was better more than we expected with an incredibly knowledgeable and personable wait staff.
Was not overly impressed by the food last time we visited. First time was fantastic.
This is an iconic Seattle restaurant. It has a beautiful view of Lake Union. They have a Choose Four menu for $135 and each small dish will arrive
One. At. A.Time.
It's an Experience as you will receive stellar service from a Team of professionals... but need to carve out three hours to endure said service.
The dessert is certainly the highlight. Although the beet salad was exquisite. It's a quiet restaurant that is reminiscent of old money. Make a reservation with a $50 per person holding fee. A wonderful place to treat a parent on a special occasion.
They love three hour meals.
Great food and drinks. Liked the reflection of the setting sun on the clear SLU waters.
We had dinner at Canlis on Saturday evening/night. We rented the Cache room and it was amazing. Dinner at Canlis isn't just dinner, it is an event! We ordered the four course dinner but ended up with like 8 courses of tasty tidbits. The service was excellent from Matt and Jess were our servers and they were fun, personable but knew when to give us time. Everyone at Canlis were great. The food was awesome. Try the Haiga rice, ridiculously good. The lamb was very good, shoot everything was excellent and fun to taste and try things. Best part was tasting things we didn't order. It wasn't a special event for us but we sure left feeling special. Spendy, yes but it is more than worth it.
Went here for an anniversary many years ago. Was in a different place in my life, and wasn't prepared for the degree of the fine dining experience. Nevertheless, Canlis treated me very well, went above and beyond in terms of service. Valet quality actually blew my mind - they remembered each customer down to the car, and sprinted away as I approached the door leaving the restaurant. Food was lovely, did the seasonal chef's menu. A lot of focus on technique and execution similar to other french style fine dining restaurants. Not my particular taste overall, but the experience was really worth it and I felt welcome.
Before speaking about the food i would like to make clear that the service was excellent and my poor rating is not there fault. As someone who has eaten at several gourmet restaurants, I can safely say that this is not one of them, the food is okay but not worth it's price, the truffle fries are horrendous. If Micheline would of rated this restaurant it wouldn't of gotten neither a star nor a recommendation. I can safely say that you can find a better restaurant in Seattle for half the price.
Went for an end of year dinner. It was the best dining experience I have ever had. The service was impeccable and the food was even better
Good food, very spacious parking lots, easy entrance and exits. Friendly staff.
The people at Canlis do everything to make your time there an experience. It is expensive, but you get what you pay for.
If you like fine dining, you must try Canlis. My food was cooked to perfection. Super thrilled with how my meal turned out.
They are on top of everything! Food is great but try did change their menu to a four course menu. The view is of lake union and the windows are always impeccably clean. Love the man/woman that comes to take away your bread crumbs! Piano isn't too loud and is always tasteful. Drinks are about $16 each and dinner is $135 per person.
Food and scenery was outstanding..we loved the food and staff was exceptional.. if I had to absolutely say anything negative...your seated close I'll n some areas and the guests next to you can hear ya talk..so if you are any chance trying to do the dinner drink and talk your way into bed...you might talk the couple next to you in on it also..cause they will hear ya.. but you gotta go..
Over the past decade we dined at Canlis for special occassions and it was always top notch. The experience and food are not the same. Too much salt in their foods more than I ever experienced at any restaurant. It was difficult to enjoy the taste of the food. Not to mention the health issues with that much salt intake. The servers were trained to handle a cookie cutter menu. We required a slight modification and she simply couldn't get it straight. The hostess and valet were the only positive reviews to share. We won't be back.
The place is so beautiful! Very well decorated, the staff was very friendly and helpful. The drinks were very delicious. The food was good, but only one dish stood out for me. The apple desert was the best dish of all.
The holy grail of all restaurants in Seattle. The service is orchestrated to perfection, with buttoned up wait staff, perfectly folded table clothes, glasses lined up, and silverware setup for a full course meal. This is the ultimate date night or special occasion restaurant with unprecedented views of Lake Union.
Had a wonderful time. Great food and stellar service.
One of a kind dining experience. This team is dialed in and delivers from start to finish. The staff execute their duties with surgical precision. The culinary experience brings unique and balanced flavor profiles, textures, temperatures, what treat. Suit up enjoy this fine dining experience!
Canlis and their employees are awesome! Just went through their drive in. Grabbed two burgers with fries and a salad. The burgers were amazing, juicy and not greasy. The fries were crisp and the salad was flavorful. During all the craziness, thank you all for the amazing meal and service! Will be back for more and a sit down meal once things settle, and get back to normal.
You get what you pay for, and you will pay believe me. It s worth it but they could make the portions a little bigger. I get trying to be the fancy one bite restaurant, however when I spend $500 on food and cocktails for two, I want to feel satisfied, not still hungry.
What a wonderful experience! Cavier in egg shell! Souffle!
Service is impeccable, an example of what fine dining should offer. Wait staff knowledgeable and friendly. Food was outstanding. Lovely, elegant evening.
Fantastic.Worth every cent.Excellent for special occasions
Excellent service and food
Very knowledgable wine stewart.
Out waiter was Dan. He was our favorite part of our experience, however the food was outstanding as well. He seemlessly handled a difficult food allergy and helped make modifications to deliver a delicious meal. He never seemed rushed and was extremely knowledgeable and personable. portions were small, but there were many of them and everything from the bread to the main course was outstanding. Thank you for providing such a beautiful night. We will be back soon!
Incredible food and out of this world service! It's pricey, but so worth it for a special dinner.
A must eat when in Seattle. I do not live in Seattle, but I travel there once a year and I usually make a reservation to eat here. It is expensive, there is no arguing that. However, the service and hospitality you receive is unlike any other restaurant you will visit. Plan to dress up and feel like royalty for a night when you dine-in here. The lighting, piano music, and view of Lake Union is worth the visit. This really is one of the fanciest restaurants in Seattle. I recommend making a reservation well in advance and ask for a window seat so you get the best view of Lake Union and beyond. This isn't a restaurant to go to in the spur of the moment. Plan ahead. Make reservations. Enjoy the experience! I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great night out in Seattle.
Best restaurant in Seattle, amazing food and service.
hosted banquet dinner, short ribs, salad and creme brulee all excellent. Very refined in iconic Seattle setting.
Classic 5-star American dining in the burbs, giving every table a sweeping view of the Seattle skyline. Waitstaff will go out of their way to make it a special night, and is flexible with last-minute accommodations. Great menu rotation and wine list. We'll be back.
But Canlis hasn't lost touch with Seattle's quirky side, either. Make a reservation MTW, and you'll realize that most patrons sport a charcoal grey suit. Did we magically teleport to trust-fund country in the upper east side? Canlis is just 10 minutes from downtown; bring a change of clothes or stop by the condo before heading over... northwest fine dining isn't a black-tie affair. If you're not looking to talk business, your party may prefer Th-Sun when clientele is less stodgy.
I spent my 40th birthday here and it was so wonderful. The staff is outgoing and very professional. I would highly recommend it for a special occasion.
I had heard so much about Canlis ever since I moved here. My wife was sweet enough to find reservations on my birthday. Make sure you wear a sports coat if you are a guy. We got quite a grand view of Lake union and Gas works park from our table.
The dinner was simply extraordinary. The service was so outstanding that I felt I was a celebrity!
It is a set 4 course meal, each meal has one veggie option. Really hard to pick and choose. The staff helped us pick the dishes by giving us quite a detailed description of them. In between the courses, we got quite a few tasty small bites.
Canlis salad, haiku rice, lamb and the souffle were the options I chose. You cant go wrong with any of the choices. So go for it. This is a place every one should go visit once at least.
Well, my wife wants to go here next weekend also lol!!!
This restaurant stands out. It is clean, friendly service, and a lot of food to select with a great price. This is a great place! Continue your great service and more customers to come.
Lovely place if you want an excuse to get dressed up and have a fancy dinner. Fantastic water and skyline views (ask for a table near the window when you make your reservation).
The staff were unusually excellent -- super friendly and professional without seeming stuffy.
It's fairly expensive, but totally worth it for a special occasion.
This was a beautiful experience. The food was amazing and the hospitality was warm. An evening to remember.
By far the most expensive restaurant I ve ever been to. Impeccable service, food was a little bland.
Excellent place! Service was top notch! I ordered everything my server recommended and it was all delicious.
The food is beyond excellent. It's expensive but worth the price. Dress up as it's a five star restaurant, but that adds to the experience.
Its an event to go to Canlis. Its more than an evening out. From the ticket-less valet to the fact that you always have some sort of food in your hand, Canlis is an experience. The food is excellent and well executed.
About a week ago, we were finally able to cross off another incredible restaurant on our bucket list. We dined at Canlis and it was one of the best dining experiences we ve had so far.
From the moment we walked in the door, the bar was set so high. They absolutely crushed it. The food and service was marvelous. We could taste the confidence in every course. If you re ever in Seattle, please do yourself a favor and snag a reservation if you can. We can t wait to go back!
One of the most upscale restaurant in Seattle.
I love that place !!!
Absolutely amazing food, atmosphere and experience. I would love to go again and again.
My wife and I lover Canlis. The service is excellent, the food is tasty, fresh and plentiful. There take out service is superb, you can order online, it is fast, accurate and on time. I cannot think of a negative thing to say.
canlis.com
