We’ve actually had the good fortune to visit Canlis a number of times including for our wedding in 2023. We’ll focus more on the restaurant in this page and discuss having an event at Canlis elsewhere (but will say they’re fantastic). Canlis has been in business overlooking Lake Union since 1950. That doesn’t quite make it the oldest establishment in Seattle but it’s on the list. It’s also probably as fine dining as Seattle gets these days. Since I’ve lived in Seattle, this has been THE restaurant that is thought of when people think about a special occasion. That’s not to say it is the most expensive restaurant in the city nor is it the hardest to get a reservation (which probably has more to do with the size of Canlis vs the harder to get into ones being quite small). If you haven’t been yet, this is not a restaurant to miss.
The Experience #
All sorts of restaurants can have food that tastes amazing. From a food truck to a casual restaurant all the way up to the finest dining establishment. What makes the difference is the experience you have as a diner, customer, and visitor to the restaurant. It’s easy to say that going to Canlis is an experience. There’s an assortment of ways this shows up. Between seatings, not only do they reset the table and the tablecloth, but they iron it to make sure it’s crisp. Every time you get up to visit the restroom, a new napkin is put at your seat. The food platings themselves are playful and artful. The main dining room has a piano where the player plays instrumental versions of popular songs. You can actually watch a youtube video of one of the players here. Additionally, when you valet your car, there is no asking them to bring it around when your meal is done, they just know. Added to all of that, the team members at Canlis actually work as a team. The service and the experience are routinely exceptional.
The Food #
In May of 2021, Canlis announced their new chef, Aisha Ibrahim after the prior chef, Brady Williams, left to open his own restaurant. Under Ibrahim, the menu has pivoted over the last two years returning to both a tasting-menu format and shifting away from some of the traditional Canlis dishes (I never loved the Canlis Salad but the Canlis Prawns were spectacular). As of writing, the way the menu works is that you choose three courses: an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. Generally for the first two courses, there is a selection focused on seafood, one on meat, and one vegetarian. In addition to those courses you’ll also see an assortment of other courses brought to the table. When we were last there, there was also an amuse-bouche, a soup, a salad, a bread course, a palate cleanser, and additional dessert treats. If you’re the sort that has a hard time finishing a single entree at many restaurants, you may not end up eating every bite, but generally portions are the right size that you can enjoy the whole meal. For myself, I’ve never left hungry but also never overly full. During our last visit, the standout dishes were actually the teriyaki mushrooms (Sam’s entree) and the palate cleanser (featuring goat cheese) though everything was delicious.
The Views #
If you’re lucky enough to be sat by the windows or near them, you’ll be taking in one of the best views of Lake Union in Seattle. Perched on the eastern slope of Queen Anne hill, there isn’t much blocking the view down to Gas Works park and the lake itself with its frequent assortment of pleasure craft going to and fro. However, that’s not the only view that Canlis boasts. At the back of the main dining room, you can see the original copper grill which is as much a showpiece as any kitchen can have. Also, and slightly harder to see, is the wine cellar downstairs. Canlis does occasionally do small special tours of the cellar (or if you’re fortunate enough to get married there, they’ll let you do photos in the cellar).
Canlis during Covid #
During Covid, many restaurants shut down or tried to pivot to take out. While Canlis did do a form of takeout, they also went through an assortment of iterations of trying other things. From a bagel shop to a burger pop up to live broadcasting of their amazing piano players. Canlis did a lot to be successful and keep their people employed. If you want to hear more, listen to this episode of Acquired focusing on Canlis’ journey during Covid.
Links #
