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Landmark fine-dining destination (since 1950s) offering Pacific NW fare in a midcentury-modern home.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2576 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 283-3313
Website: https://canlis.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: canlis.com
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Related Web Results
Canlis — Seattle’s family-owned fine dining since 1950
In the Spring of 2025, Food & Wine Magazine reached out to more than 400 writers, chefs, and travel professionals to rank the best restaurants in America.
Canlis Restaurant | Fine dining restaurant Seattle | Relais & Châteaux
At Canlis, the chef James Huffman showcases authentic local flavors through refined cuisine inspired by the traditions of the Pacific Northwest.
Canlis (@canlisrestaurant) • Instagram photos and videos
Let’s travel to @CanlisRestaurant in Seattle, Washington where @Aisha.Ibrahim.22 delves into sourcing and the power to create a better food system as a chef.
Reviews
Chandra Gilbert
My husband and I have been frequenting Canlis for the last five years because we adore the ambience, service, and cuisine. However, this last visit left much to be desired. The unspoken, incredible coat check we were accustomed to was completely off as my peacoat was strewn haphazardly across an entryway table as we were being seated — and that’s where it was when we got up to leave. Several servers acted either confused or contradicted each other when offering information about our dishes. We opted for a tasting menu complete with wine pairing for Valentine’s Day. The wine and service by the sommelier was the absolute highlight of our evening. She was knowledgeable and professional. The wines were exquisite. The food, unfortunately, was not. Out of the five courses, two were “good” – and one was dessert. Most of the dishes were over-seasoned (read: very salty) and overcooked. Neither of us finished our food. For a thousand dollar meal, we certainly expected more. Sadly, we will not be returning to the dining room after this experience.
… morePULLOOR ANGITH
Canlis Restaurant is truly one of the finest dining destination. From the moment you arrive, you’re welcomed with warm hospitality and an atmosphere that perfectly blends elegance, comfort, and timeless charm. The restaurant’s architecture and breathtaking views of Seattle’s landscape create an unforgettable setting for a special meal.
The food at Canlis is nothing short of extraordinary. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted with precision, creativity, and exceptional attention to detail. The tasting menu beautifully showcases seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, and each course feels like a work of art both in flavor and presentation. The balance of textures, the depth of flavors, and the innovative combinations make the dining experience truly memorable.
The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about every detail of the menu, and genuinely passionate about making your evening special. Their recommendations on wine pairings elevate the entire dining experience.
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, hosting a meaningful dinner, or simply indulging in world class cuisine, Canlis offers an experience that exceeds expectations on every level. It’s not just a restaurant it’s a destination
… moreThe food at Canlis is nothing short of extraordinary. Every dish is thoughtfully crafted with precision, creativity, and exceptional attention to detail. The tasting menu beautifully showcases seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, and each course feels like a work of art both in flavor and presentation. The balance of textures, the depth of flavors, and the innovative combinations make the dining experience truly memorable.
The service is impeccable. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, knowledgeable about every detail of the menu, and genuinely passionate about making your evening special. Their recommendations on wine pairings elevate the entire dining experience.
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, hosting a meaningful dinner, or simply indulging in world class cuisine, Canlis offers an experience that exceeds expectations on every level. It’s not just a restaurant it’s a destination
Jonathan Kim
Canlis offers an undeniably beautiful ambiance and world-class views, but unfortunately, the cuisine did not live up to the setting. Several courses were hampered by heavy-handed seasoning; the bread, mashed potatoes, and steak were all excessively salty to the point of being difficult to finish. Additionally, our server didn’t inquire about a temperature preference for the steak, which arrived much rarer than the medium-rare we typically enjoy, resulting in a texture that was quite chewy. Given the restaurant’s renown, we expected a more refined and balanced flavor profile, but the execution on this visit didn’t justify the price point.
… moreJoe Tobiason (Wedding photographer)
I recently photographed a wedding upstairs in the Canlis Penthouse space. It was beautiful, intimate and so fun. The couple packed it to the max (stated seating size is 25-80), but everyone was still able to move around between tables when needed. The staff is incredible and the food was unforgettable. It was awesome because they even let me go up on the roof with the couple for a few photos of Lake Union!
… moreMiranda Le
I can’t speak highly enough about service. Valet parking is the only option but they’re very prompt to get your vehicle when you leave and dining service was great. I got good recommendations for the wine and they explained every dish when brought to the table. Not pictured was the Canlis salad, which was extra. Overall, the dishes were interesting, but my one feedback is that all of the dishes were over salted. Even the donut at the end was too salty for me to enjoy and I ate half (also partly because I was full) I would have enjoyed these dishes more if I could taste the original ingredients as they were all local and normally very good by themselves. The salad was good but again I think less bacon and dressing would have been better for future visits here.
… moreDeb Correia
We had an incredible evening here. The service is top notch. Our waiter, Mack, knew everything about every item on the menu, and described them perfectly. We never felt rushed, even though we asked a lot of questions. The support staff was very stealthy at times, when I would realize I had new silverware but never saw them bring it. The entire staff are friendly and outgoing, and they all looked happy. The food was superb, and every dish was as beautiful as it was delicious. While the portions look small, all four of us were stuffed when we left, and we didn’t have the salad. The sommelier was excellent, bringing us several different samples to try before we made a decision. The view is also top notch. It is absolutely a huge splurge and not something we would do often, but it’s a great experience for a special occasion.
… moreTrypp Adams
Love the mid century modern building. This was my first visit and I went solo. I booked an early time, 5:15 and had a window view. Service was amazing. If you work in any sort of service roll, you should visit to see what top service is. Arrive hungry as there are so many more courses than the 3 you order. I’m usually not a fan of service charges but the service here is as amazing as the food, and they don’t ask for a tip on top which is appreciated. Free valet only parking.
… moreZhanhang Li
Unlike most ordinary restaurants that focus solely on the food, Canlis creates a dining experience through its carefully designed ambiance and controlled pacing of service, allowing diners ample and natural time to converse with each other. Pianists plays many different styles of music. These added value goes beyond the food itself and very valuable, and make the dinner memorable.
However, the food itself wasn’t outstanding. The duck was a bit too thick, the crispy skin texture was overshadowed by the meat. The sturgeon also didn’t stand out in any particular way. The dish seemed to have turned the sturgeon’s texture into an ordinary fish. My partner, on the other hand, had a very low opinion of the pork. After taking a bite, she had to spit the fatty part out onto her napkin.
… moreHowever, the food itself wasn’t outstanding. The duck was a bit too thick, the crispy skin texture was overshadowed by the meat. The sturgeon also didn’t stand out in any particular way. The dish seemed to have turned the sturgeon’s texture into an ordinary fish. My partner, on the other hand, had a very low opinion of the pork. After taking a bite, she had to spit the fatty part out onto her napkin.
Justin Soliz
tldr; uninspired tasting menu, disinterested vibe from staff
I’ve been coming to canlis for the last 15 years, I usually try to visit at least once a year or catch any new updates, such as a new chef. I was interested to try the updated menu.
Overall, the visit was average and each visit has noticeably trended down in quality over the years; and this without taking into account the steep price. View is still great, wonderful location, I guess that and the table side salad are the best things going for it now.
One observation persistent throughout all the staff (with the notable exception of the table busser), I felt a really cold, sterile, uninterested posture in communication and conversation.
* conversation with the sommelier to pick out a bottle for the evening, came off very cold and uninterested as noted above. made basic comments about price points but otherwise not interested to tailor any kind of a selection to my interests. I ended up just picking a selection on my own. presentation and opening of the bottle, more of the same. I would expect at least a little bit of conversation and highlights of a $500 bottle but fair enough
* as far as the wine selection, I feel like there is a noticeable gap in options from the 200 – 600 range. it would be great to get a vintage closer to 15 – 20 years without having to go up to a $2,000 or $3,000 bottle or have to go with a magnum
* for entrees, I had the pork belly, steak and blueberry? dessert.. it was fine, steak had kind of a weird texture, sides (carrots and potatoes) were similarly average, kind of checking the checkbox. best item was still the original table side salad
… moreI’ve been coming to canlis for the last 15 years, I usually try to visit at least once a year or catch any new updates, such as a new chef. I was interested to try the updated menu.
Overall, the visit was average and each visit has noticeably trended down in quality over the years; and this without taking into account the steep price. View is still great, wonderful location, I guess that and the table side salad are the best things going for it now.
One observation persistent throughout all the staff (with the notable exception of the table busser), I felt a really cold, sterile, uninterested posture in communication and conversation.
* conversation with the sommelier to pick out a bottle for the evening, came off very cold and uninterested as noted above. made basic comments about price points but otherwise not interested to tailor any kind of a selection to my interests. I ended up just picking a selection on my own. presentation and opening of the bottle, more of the same. I would expect at least a little bit of conversation and highlights of a $500 bottle but fair enough
* as far as the wine selection, I feel like there is a noticeable gap in options from the 200 – 600 range. it would be great to get a vintage closer to 15 – 20 years without having to go up to a $2,000 or $3,000 bottle or have to go with a magnum
* for entrees, I had the pork belly, steak and blueberry? dessert.. it was fine, steak had kind of a weird texture, sides (carrots and potatoes) were similarly average, kind of checking the checkbox. best item was still the original table side salad
Saori U
The best service I’ve ever experienced in the US. The food was not only incredibly delicious but beautifully presented. Every staff member moved with perfect timing—serving the dishes and pouring drinks at just the right moment. And when we left, our car was already waiting at the entrance without us even asking. Truly exceptional.
… more