21 Central Steakhouse

Went for my father in laws birthday, and the staff was great. I like a 50$ steak, but that was not it. Plus for 50$ you only get a potato with your so so steak. If you want a good steak, pick somewhere else for sure. As for the staff, well its really the only thing the will keep you from feeling totally ripped off when you walk out the door.

Pros: Dan Williams is great, my whole famly loved him

Cons: The food was so so, and the price was out of control.

Posted 09/27/09

I have eaten at the 21 many times and would consider myself a regular. Like any restaurant there are menu items that are exceptional and a few that need work. I have "NEVER" had a less than wonderful Steak there. And several seafood items especially the Seabass and the fresh Salmon are amazing.The only fault I can see is the appetizer menu needs some work and there needs to be a daily soup. Also maybe adding Prime Rib on occasion as a special or some other Entree specials would spice it up a bit.
But if you want to go somewhere to feel at home this is the place. The service is excellent with Dan leading this staff of obviously experienced Servers and Bartenders. The bar is also quite busy especially on Fridays when Sean is bartending. He mixes a great drink with great conversation. If you want to feel at home in Kirkland this is the place to go!

Pros: Service, Food

Cons: Appetizers, Creativity

Posted 04/23/08

21 Central is a "classic" steak house. If you can imagine the menu at any steak house in America, that's the menu there. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the "classic" steak house genre, however, you better serve fabulous food, because you will be compared against many other restaurants. There's truly nothing special about the food, crab & lobster cake appetizer was mostly filler, my husband's caesar was average (that was the one surprise in my meal - the wedge salad was very tasty), steaks were fine, not great. We both asked for our steaks to be cooked medium, and his was well done and mine was rare to medium rare. The rosemary fries lacked any evidence of rosemary, and the mashed potatoes, while being creamy and smooth, didn't have much seasoning. The dulce de leche ice cream was very good, but for the price, not worth it.
On the postive side - the service is great, some of the best service in a restaurant I've every received. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly, yet gave us time and space to make decisions. I also liked the ambiance, the wood paneling and leopard cushions gave it a very comfortable yet upscale vibe. I probably won't go back for dinner, but if I find myself in Kirkland and want to go someplace comfortable to have a drink and a snack, I will definitely keep 21 Central in mind.

Pros: Great service, location

Cons: Average food, high prices

Posted 03/19/08

First the good: the steaks were perfectly cooked and wonderfully tender and the waiter was great, knowledgable about wine, very friendly and an Inglemoor High graduate :) Now the bad: almost everything else. The appetizers felt like frozen food reaheated with parsley garnish--except the teriyaki tenderloin tips, again, the beef here is great. The side of mashed potatoes were as plain as any I've ever had at a restaurant. We went at 8 p.m. on a Saturday night and the place was almost empty, and I know why, cause I won't go back. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as great as their prices want you to believe. Either lower the prices or kick everything else up a notch--diners, especially on the Eastside expect more. Go to Daniel's.

Posted 03/01/08

I would call this very nice bar food with an excellent waiter. In the end, though, it is the same kitchen as the pool bar downstairs, and despite the price of the entree, there is no mistaking the sauce and frozen veggies that were designed to be served in bulk and came from the giant plastic tub.

...I guess it is fair to say, I was disappointed.

Pros: The service was great

Cons: the food was okay at best, but priced like something more

Posted 12/18/07

Location, service and food is great. Sea food entrees are just average -- they have good selection but are not prepared as well as they could be.

Cons: Average sea food

Posted 06/28/07

This place is awesome!! What a great ambience of old NY charm. My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary and we had a great. Top notch perfect martini's and awesome oyster rockefeller. The oysters were only $12 for a large plate. The steak was cooked to perfection and the wait staff was very prompt. All around the best place for steak on the eastside.

Posted 11/16/06

I have had the pleasure of being there several times. I have two teenage sons who won't eat much of anything decent but they really like the tenderloins and of all things, the creamed spinach which I never would have guessed and they still talk about going there whenever I ask them where they would like to go out for something nice! The Caesar salad is a creamy, very garlic based salad which is exactly what I love. I have read the others reviews of those that haven't been pleased. Maybe I have been lucky but based on my own experience, I have no interest in going back to the Met, Morton's, Ruth Chris, etc. in that they are all in the same price range, pricey, but the results from the kitchen, the service and the setting make this the better choice!

Posted 03/30/06

Smaller resturant located above a dance club and pool hall. On Friday and Saturday nights you can get a foot massage if you are seated at the right table by the bass thumping up from below.

The steaks are the stuff of legends. Thick, Jucy, cooked to perfection. the sides are amazing. they even have the mushrooms you are looking for out of season!

The service is what you would expect from any five star resturant. All in all one of my favorite resturants for getting a good steak and potatos.

Pros: good Valet, Great Wine list, Great Sides

Cons: no dedicated parking

Posted 02/08/06

Being from the Midwest and a very picky meat eater, I was greatly pleased to find such great quality steaks in Kirkland. The ribeye was out of this world. The Oysters Rockefeller were the best I've ever had and my girlfriend loves the Creme Brulee. The best part of the evening had to be our server, Dan. I can't imagine a 21 Central visit without Dan's gracious, courteous, and jovial attention.

Pros: Ambience, Romantic, Wine list

Posted 04/06/04

The steaks were half frozen, as were others from surrounding tables. Service was terrible, and they were actually dragging a trash bag through the dining area in the middle of my meal!

Posted 02/01/04

I've never had such great steak in my life! This place even beats Daniel's. If you're looking for a great (though a little pricey) steak dinner, this is the place you've got to try.

Posted 08/15/03

My husband and I spent a rare evening away from the kids. Just him and I, no crying, no noise, just the two of us being adults. We were recommended this restaurant by the Bellevue Club. Steak is my favorite dinner so we thought we would give it a try. Our dinner was the best steak I have ever eaten! We followed our hearts (and stomachs) and order what we wanted, without looking at the prices and although the bill was high, we didn't even bat an eye. We only do this type of dinner about once a year but we'll be back next year!

Pros: small restaurant, excellent service, excellent food

Cons: prefer table to booth

Posted 01/12/03

A wonderfully warm atmosphere. The steaks are as good or better than all the other top steakhouses in Seattle but in amuch more intimate resturant. The size of this place lets you know that your steak had special attention when it was being prepared.

Pros: Intimate, service, great food

Posted 01/12/03

The steaks are at least as good, I think better than the met. Prices aren't quite a ridiculous, and the eastside now has two restaurants worth leaving downtown Seattle for!

Posted 12/18/02

We had a nice meal at 21 Central. The steaks were done just as we asked and had nice flavor. However, the service was unremarkable considering the prices (and what we subsequently tipped). In this price range we would opt to go back to Daniels in Bellevue or better yet, JaK's in Issaquah. The total experience doesn't justify what we expect on a "nice" dinner out.

Pros: Great Steak, Quiet

Cons: Overpriced, Service

Posted 11/06/02

The steaks at 21 Central are fabulous, the best I've found in the Seattle area. The ambience is a bit on the formal side and the dining area is small, though. I highly recommend 21 Central for small parties or romantic dinners.

Posted 10/06/02

I dined at 21 Central for the first time a few months ago. I had a Filet which was excellent and so tender I could cut it with my fork. I have recommended your restaurant to many people, and always give it praise when talking about restaurants in the Kirkland area. Ambiance- great, Decor- swanky dinner club, Food- excellent! Wonderful place for out of town guest, clients, or any other special occasion!!! I will definitely try to be back soon!

Pros: Quiet, Close to the water

Posted 09/22/02