Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant - Seattle

Are you kidding me?! Best Irish Pub in Seattle?! Maybe because Fado is a chain and therefore gets Awards for it. By no means is this the best Irish Pub in Seattle. They can't even make Cornbeef and cabbage correctly!!!
They serve shredded cabbage and sliced corn beef and call it authentic?! I'm from Ireland and that IS NOT how you serve Cornbeef & Cabbage. I ordered the same thing at Celtic Swell (Alki Beach), Mick Kelly's (Burien) and at Owl & Thistle ( behind Fados) and it came in the Traditional manner of quartered Cabbage and Chunked Corn Beef. Fado's is a joke. Granted the decor and atmosphere will do any irishman justice, but the cover charge will hurt your wallet. Who gives out these Awards anyway?!

Pros: Decor

Cons: Food

Posted 04/23/09

cant wait to drink some green beer next week. this is my favorite holiday to get drunk and have a good time

Posted 03/12/09

I had a Guinness BBQ Chicken sandwich and I'd eat one every day if possible, it was that good. The bar was impressive, but unfortunately they were so busy (during a game) that the waitress was pulling double duty as a bartender and was running all over the place. Luckily she seemed to have energy to spare. This seems like a typical American Irish Pub, and I would have no issues eating/drinking there again though I'd also like to try the Owl n' Thistle around the corner which looks a little more authentic.

My only complaints are that my Guinness was a little expensive and my table was wobbly. Definitely not deal breakers, but worth noting.

Pros: Great bar and AMAZING Guinness BBQ sauce

Cons: My table was wobbly

Posted 01/11/09

This is one of my favorite bars in Seattle. I don't think I've ever NOT had a good time there! I prefer to go on Saturday nights when they have this two person band that plays cover music. It gets pretty busy on weekend nights to get there early if you want a table.

Pros: Great atmosphere, more guys than girls (obviously I am a girl)

Cons: Parking

Posted 01/09/09

Fado is to Irish pubs what Denny's is to American diners. Not bad, but not great. Not authentic. Not worth spending your money in. You can order Guinness anywhere--why get it here? Seriously--there is not a single reason to spend your money in this bar. Go anywhere else on the block--Owl N Thistle, Contour, or up the street to Earth & Ocean's happy hour. Fado is overpriced, cold, and completely devoid of charm.

Pros: Convenient location

Cons: Poor service, expensive

Posted 12/21/08

This place is to Irish pubs what Taco Bell is to Mexican restaurants. Everything here seems like it was placed by a committee of people from at the Institute of Irish Cliches & Stereotypes. I'm told there is an identical Fado in dozens of cities around the US, absolutely generic! The food was average and the drinks were a bit overpriced, to be expected in this neighborhood though. The staff was friendly and it's close to the ferry dock, other than that I probably will look elsewhere in the future for a real Irish experience.

Pros: Close to the Bremmerton/Bainbridge Ferry Dock.

Cons: Plastic fake Irish corporate feel.

Posted 12/02/08

The menu looked great, but I didn't end up ordering any food because I was so put off by our server's attitude. She threw some menus on the table and then looked at us to get our order. When we asked for a minute to look at the menu, she rolled her eyes and stalked away. She didn't smile once, and didn't respond to our "thank you's". When she came back again and glared at me as I was trying to put in my order, I immediately lost my appetite and just got a beer. I have a feeling that this isn't indicative of the entire Fado staff, but if you get unlucky and get waitstaff like her, it can ruin an otherwise great night.

Their live music was fantastic, and the clientele cleaner and not as immature as other places in the area.

Pros: Music, location

Cons: Service

Posted 08/02/08

You can get a pint of Guinness anywhere. Alright service but nowhere as good as some of the other reviews claim. Not dingy enough to be an Irish pub. H it or a miss.

Pros: Might be great

Cons: Might not

Posted 06/20/08

Fado is downtown so it can be a great place after work while being close enough to Pioneer Square if you want to live it up without listening to bad music. The food is great and I have gone just for the rashers. The staff are almost always awesome but you might get unlucky and feel like you're at Red Robin if you get one of the few bad ones. Soccer is on if you don't mind getting a cramp in your neck from watching the randomly positioned TVs. I appreciate that they are opening early for matches but so is every other Irish, English, or Scottish place in town. It is really only worth it if you are close by since the beers are twice as much as the competition.

Pros: Rashers

Cons: Expensive beer

Posted 06/20/08

I've been here several times and I've finally decided to never go again. The drinks are decent and the location is great, so it took me a while to realize that the service is always somewhere between mediocre and hostile. It's as if the wait staff could really care less about the customers. After my last experience at Fado, which was particularly disappointing, I sent an e-mail to management. They responded with a halfhearted apology and no offer of compensation.
I've mentioned this to a few friends and they all mentioned having similar experiences. The only reason this place stays open is because of the great location.

Posted 05/17/08

Best corned beef and cabbage I've ever had that wasn't cooked by someone's grandma, and unlike some of the other "Irish" pubs around Seattle they can actually pour a pint. I was so impressed that when I was on a road trip recently I looked up all the Fado pubs that were anywhere near my route and stopped in for dinner and a few pints at all of them, none of them disappointed.

Pros: Great food, pints poured right, nice atmosphere during the day.

Cons: Can be very crowded at night, in WA state so there's no smoking inside.

Posted 02/17/08

Love the new late night happy hour! I can always find a place to eat late on the weekends, but never mid-week. But Fado now serves their happy hour and full appetizers until 1. I love the friendliness of the staff and the pints of Guinness are great! Now even more reasons to hang out there.

Pros: late night food, free wi-fi

Posted 12/09/07

If You're Up, You're Irish is the tagline here and they must be Irish because all the staff are "Up". Friendly, knowledgeable and energetic. I am becoming a regular here for the food, the great beer and my regular lunch time server, Carter. Honestly, I have never had a server who knows so much about beer. I've been in on a Saturday night recently and the atmosphere is a little different but it's Saturday night, the place is jumping and the staff are still smiling!

Pros: Great Service, Friendly Staff.

Posted 04/08/07

I Love this place!!!! They have the best Pint of Guiness in town! I went there with four friends, we had a great time. A really cool touch is they have different branded glassware for each beer. Even if the beer wasn't as great as it is I would still go just to be served by Liz behind the bar, she is the BEST!

Posted 01/14/07

My wife and I stopped in Monday evening for a bite and a pint. We've been here a few times before and were only disappointed when they charge a cover. My wife ordered the Full Irish All-Day Breakfast which was huge and tastey, I ordered the Corned Beef and Cabbage which was also large.... but the cabbage was so bland that I thought it was unseasoned shredded coleslaw that had been boiled to death. I've been to Ireland and that is not how they prepare it for you. It will not be ordered again anytime soon. Great service and a wide selection of beer's on tap. Comfortable atmosphere and easy on your wallet. Overall a great place for a game and a pint.

Posted 12/04/06

As an Irishman living in Seattle I have to say this is my home away from home. Great food, great atmosphere, friendly staff and the best pint of Guinness outside of Ireland!

Sinead behind the bar is enough to make me come back 2 or 3 times a week for a reminder of home.

The best Irish bar in Seattle, without a doubt!

Pros: Atmosphere, friendly staff, great pints, good food and pretty girls (especially at the weekend).

Cons: 0

Posted 12/02/06

Great place to watch futbol after work or on the weekends. Friendly service and they know the REAL way to pour a pint of Guiness. The food is very good and reasonably priced as well.

Pros: best pint of Guiness

Posted 11/15/06

We loved Fado and their friendly staff! The live music was all music we knew and the place was electric on Saturday! We came in and watched soccer on Sunday with Gerry the manager and had a good laugh.
Great before a Mariners game....Fado's happy hour menu was a great deal and really good food!
The best pint of Guinness I have ever had!
Loved it! Thanks Gerry!

Pros: Live Music, Great Happy Hour, Incredible Brunch

Posted 08/08/06

Unbelievable World Cup coverage and a great place for a great pint of Guinness, great food and great staff! We had a great time for lunch and ended up staying all the way through the night! Came back for Brunch on Saturday and loved it.
I travel all over the country and always try to find an Irish pub. Fado was reasonably priced and good fun all the way around! A must see.

Pros: Great Guinness, Great Food, Great Staff

Cons: None

Posted 08/08/06

I've been to Fado's quite a few times over the past year or two and everytime I leave with a smile. The service is always excellent. Whether you are there for lunch or a night out for some live music. At lunch you'll see everyone from business men to tourists, and at night you'll see people from their early 20's to late 30's. Great prices too. I love ending up there for lunch or @ 2am, just a great joint to be.

Pros: service, food, price

Cons: ?

Posted 04/18/06