Ivar's050

Ivar's is a Seattle institution founded by Ivar Haglund that dates back to 1938. The chain consists of three full service restaurants (Ivar's Acres of Clams on Pier 54, Ivar's Salmon House on the north end of Lake Union, and Ivar's Mukilteo Landing next to the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal), three fish bars, and 25 quick-serve seafood bars. Check the website for a complete list of seafood bar locations. Most items on the menus feature seafood in some form or another, but burgers, pasta, and a few other non-seafood items are also available.

Our favorite local entertainers, Ivar's Dancing Clams, have appeared on television, and in person at Mariners games, Children's Hospital, and Ivar's locations since 1985. Along with the Santa Clam, Ivar's Famous Ballet Clam, and the fantastic clam chowder, Ivar's is always working hard to keep the "Sea" in Seattle.

Although we're big fans of Ivar's quick-serve locations and its fun characters and slogans, our Easter Brunch experience at Ivar's Acres of Clams on the Waterfront was sorely disappointing. The hot foods were outright cold, the cold foods were tepid, and the lettuce was wilted. At $28.95 for an adult and $14 for a child, it was quite overpriced.