Had a decent dinner at this restaurant. An odd setting, set back among many houses and was hard to find. Had reservations but sadly the staff gave them away with us being about 15 minutes late. Sat in the bar, wished we could have had a window seat. Food was pretty good, had sole fish with beer soup. Beer soup was okay but my sole was really nice. My MIL recommended the restaurant and it definitely seemed to fit an older crowd. I would go back with the right group of people.
Review Source:Contrary to some reviews here, service is not formal, unless having a black apron and black attire is the criteria. Casual dining with a view. Â Coconut curry shrimp was fried in peanut oil but a tad greasy. Plentiful portions. A salad bar option with entree is welcome even if a bit old school. Asparagus side was microwaved even though they have a grill, so don't understand that presentation.
Review Source:This is a great place for a date, especially when there is enough light outside to see the beautiful view of the bay. The steak ala Oscar is to die for and I have never tasted a better soup than their Whiskey Crab soup! While it is a bit pricey, it's certainly worth the cost! The service is great as well with a very friendly and knowledgeable staff!
Review Source:If I lived anywhere near this resturant I would eat here regularly. The Wiskey crab soup is delicious. The salmon is fresh and absolutely worth the trip. While the decor is a little dated I think it's intentional. You have a beautiful waterfront and sunset view. The staff was very curtious and friendly. It was an enjoyable experience all around.
Review Source:My wife and I are in town from the Midwest with our son, who is enrolling in Western Washington University. Â This is our second night in a row eating at the Cliff House--last night we had the Whiskey Crab Bisque and salad bar. Â The Crab Bisque was great--not too salty as another reviewer found.
Tonight, my wife and I had the King Salmon with the Bernaise sauce. Â Nicely done!
Great margaritas--with a hint of cranberry juice along with Grand Marnier, tequila, Cointreau.
The view is the best in Bellingham--all seats with great water views. Â We had a break in the rain and clouds and had a hint of a beautiful sunset.
The wait staff was fabulous both nights. Â Maureen, the restaurant's baker, helped us both evenings and was attentive, gracious and very friendly. Â Maureen's carrot cake was moist and very tasty.
We plan to come back the next time we are in town (probably when we are moving our son in for fall semester).
We've been here on a few business dinners, maybe being in a large group wasn't isn't the best way to dine at the cliff house, but each visit has been very underwhelming.
The first time we went, most of us got the 'famous whiskey crab soup', it was so salty not a single person could eat even half the small bowl!
The people who ordered seafood dishes seemed pleased with their food, but the steaks were tough and bland. One person ordered lobster and didn't even eat it, it was so overcooked.
I just assumed it was an off night, and went expecting better things the next 2 times, just to be disappointed.
Nothing as bad as the first time, but still just meh food.
We all agreed none of us would go back.
However, the servers are wonderful! No complaints at all about the ambiance or service each visit.
My husband and I came here for our 1 year anniversary especially since our honeymoon was in Seattle and I officially detest Seattle since then. Â We wanted to go to the steak and seafood restaurant but assumed we wouldnt be able to get in because it is reservation only & my husband doesnt have any dress clothes since he just got out of the Marine Corps. Â The Cliff House wasn't too busy maybe because it was Sunday, but all the servers were very friendly. Â It was an overcast day but the sun came out just enough so we sat on the outdoor deck. Â I find it humorous that for "fine dining" they use plastic lawn chairs and tables. Â My husband ordered the new york steak because he does not eat seafood but i love seafood so I ordered the seafood medley (it has a little bit of everything). Â The scallops were perfect, the shrimp was good but over cooked, the fish was perfect, mini squids & calamari no dice for me, the herb lemon butter sauce was pretty good as well, the clams were absoltely atrotious tasted like sewer and poluted water. Â Their sauvignon blanc by the glass was very good also (cant remember the maker, but its at the back of the wine list, very big wine list by the bottle though small list for single glasses)! Â I would recommend this restaurant it is very dress casual and a lot better quality of food than most, but if you're looking for
Review Source:Tonight was the second time I've eaten here with my father who lives in the area. Â On my first visit the Steamed Clams were wonderful, 30-40 baby clams in a fragrant, flavorful broth. Â That dish so impressed me that it got me started on my search for perfect steamed clams in the Bay Area. Â
Anyway, back to the review, I ordered Steamed Clams again and they lived up to my memory, except this time they came with a small pot of drawn butter. Â That seemed a little strange but being a butter lover I poured about 1/2 of the pot into the broth--very yummy.
My father had a steak on our first visit and seafood pasta on our second. Â He thoroughly enjoyed both dishes and I agree after sampling his meals. Â We asked for a taste of their "World Famous Whiskey Crab Chowder." Â It was good, but certainly not world famous--sorry everyone who loved it. Â We had serve yourself salad bar, which was good.
All in all a wonderful meal.
I had read some great reviews of the Cliff house. My initial reaction was positive. I loved the great view. The servers were quick and efficient. We had the oyster shooters and pan-fried oysters as an appetizer. They were wonderful, so we had high hopes for the entrees. I loved that they served the sides of the entrees with the appetizers, so we also enjoyed the whiskey crab soup and the Caesar salad. My only complaint with the salad was that they did not put capers in it like a proper Caesar Salad, when they clearly had capers in the kitchen (as evidenced from their appearance in the pasta entree)
They were featuring 2 specials that night. A duck salad and a seafood primavera pasta. When they arrived, our evening was just ruined. We had heard that the steak is wonderful, but it being so warm we didn't want to eat it. Maybe if we had ordered it, our evening would have been better.
Both the scallops and shrimp in the pasta were overcooked and rubbery. The asparagus was the only saving grace, as it was perfectly juicy. The pasta was a little dry and stuck together. Then, it was just drenched in olive oil. The duck wasn't seasoned at all. Tasted gamey. Was overcooked and dry while the fat hadn't properly been rendered and was this mushy border on top. I couldn't eat any more after 2 bites. My husband and I love duck and we have cooked it before, so we could tell that a proper cooking method was not employed. It was everything that could go wrong with the duck. I was not impressed with the champagne vinagrette that went with the greens. I think the walnuts, apples, and chevre were a great touch, but with the addition of the crispy leeks and shitake mushrooms it was just too much happening on the plate and did not go very well with the rest of the dish.
This was our anniversary dinner, so we were really upset. They offered to comp us some dessert, but at that point, we weren't wiling to give the food another chance. It's a shame the food wasn't good because the view is fantastic.
I consider the Cliff House to be one of the top 5 restaurants in Bellingham. It's upscale, so it's in a different category than a taco shop or pizza but the food is amazing! It's basically a fancy seafood and steak place.
It's nestled away in a residential neighborhood overlooking the bay and Chuckanut drive. All of the tables are on the west side of the house with a massive bay view. Reservations are highly recommended and although each table is candle-lit, you don't have to be dressed super fancy to dine there. Wearing sweatpants is probably not advised.
I enjoyed Lime-coconut crusted Halibut and wow it was good. There is also a salad bar which is great! The wine list is pretty good and they have ~15 varieties of tea.
This is my pick for best date restaurant in Bellingham. Any girl would be pleased to be taken to the Cliff House.
The quality of the food matches the view! Great seafood, fun place to go when the weather's nice to sit on the deck with a g&t and a bucket of steamed clams. Â Lots of seafood, very good salads, professional wait staff . Probably one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Bellingham, that should say something!
Review Source:A great view will get you so far, but then the food has to carry the biggest share of the load. Bellingham i s a laid back town, with a pretty spotty record of supporting fine dining, so restaurants like the Cliff House that have been around forever excel at finding that middle ground.
Did I mention the view? On a warm, sunny day (check the local forecast as they are rare), the atmosphere on the deck is terrific, with views of Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. One of the premier restaurant water views in the north sound area, for sure.
The food is consistently good, and as other reviewers have noted, the Whiskey Crab Soup alone is worth the trip. Service has almost always been very good, and the menu has something satisfying for everyone, with prices that seem about right for what you get.
I can't wait for a warm summer evening to return, eat some good food, and watch the sun slowly sink into the sea.
I'll sometimes visit just north of Bellingham, south of Canada for work, and when I do, I always make a drive over to the Cliff House! Like many others, I love the whiskey crab soup, and also a mussels entree that they serve. And I've also been there for a happy hour where they serve HUGE oyster shooters that are also great (and no risk of vibrio)!
The view from the dining room is also really nice.
I disagree withg one of the other reviewers (who posted a one-star) lambasting the service and the patrons; I've always been treated really well and have seen a nice, upscale (and older) crowd!
My only gripe is that when I was there during a serious heatwave in 2009, there was one little fan - seriously a teensy desk fan - Â keeping the restaurant cool...I guess you don't typically need fans in July in Bellingham, but they sure did that day. Whiskey crab soup+hot weather=funky stomach! But every other time I've been there, this has been a highlight of my trip!
I don't recall the year I first ate at the Cliff House but it was a long time ago. Since then I go back every now and then and I'm always impressed by how consistent the place is. We were there recently and the food was as good as always, the view spectacular and the best part is that the price is very fair. Another owner would charge a premium just for the view but not here.
Review Source:I just went there yesterday with my family and the service was mediocre and way over priced. Â We ordered two half dozen of oysters and got one, Â I also want to point out 13 bucks for a half dozen is over priced, and that's coming from someone who has gotten oysters In Southern California. Â Â A member of our party got the lamb and it just didn't taste right, either went bad or seasoned bad. Â I got the shrimp saute and there was more of an emphasis on butter than garlic which when I think of a scampi its about the garlic and shallots as well. Â I thought the whiskey crab soup needed salt to be bearable because it tasted rather sour to me and a few others that sampled it. Â Over all our experience wasn't all that great. Â The view was fantastic though.
Review Source:The Cliff house is tucked away on a hill in a residential neighborhood. It feels like a little secret treasure- it's comfortable, the view is spectacular, and the food I've had (on the happy hour menu) was fantastic. Delicious hummus plate, perfect coconut prawns, insanely good whiskey crab soup, excellent house wine, a full bar with a great drink menu ...can't wait to go back! (I've heard rave reviews about the fish tacos, a new addition to the happy hour menu). The service is fast and friendly, and the people who work there appear to be enjoying themselves. They had beautiful paintings by a local artist (Audrey Roll) hanging on the walls and when I used the restroom I discovered that they have tastefully remodeled it using a gorgeous, modern color pallet.
Review Source:Like the name says, this is a house on a cliff. Â It's basically the size of a house, but has been this restaurant since 1972. Â You'd be hard pressed to find another small restaurant with a view like this place, and the view of Bellingham Bay is a real and compelling highlight. Â I had seafood pasta and it was decent, and reasonably priced. Â Local micro-brewed beer was reasonable at $4 also. Â I also tried the whiskey crab soup - it was creamy and tasty with dungeness crab, and hearty and reminded me of having turtle soup in the Philly area and with the customary sherry added. Â The steak prices here looked to be on the over-priced side. Â This place is definitely on my revisit list, particularly under different weather conditions for the view. Â It's a house in a residential district, so very easy to miss, unless you have the heads-up.
Review Source:A dated, throwback kind of place tucked off the beaten path in a residential neighborhood. Â Â The best thing about it is the view. Â The next best thing would be a perfectly grilled steak or chunk of fresh fish, which they do very well.
After that it's downhill.
And that's because this is a Hunk O' Meat (well, or fish) restaurant at heart. Â You choose your meat and you choose your side dish from the usual pilaf or baked potato options. Â It is NOT a chef's restaurant, not a place where dishes are carefully composed from the best local ingredients. Â The few specials they do offer in an attempt at upscale combining are heavy and clumsy--usually a baked fish of some kind buried under a sauce tasting of a Knorr's package mix bulked out with extra cream, cheese and butter. Â Â Â
The whisky crab soup is famous here, but I think it's in part because if you order the soup then you're saved having to make the trip to the salad bar. Â Yes, a salad bar. Â Like at The Sizzler. Â You thought there weren't any more salad bars, but you'd be wrong! Â Â The Tradition That Never Should Have Been is alive and well at The Cliff House, complete with all the cliche components, the lazy bottled salad dressings, and the glass "sneeze plate" that's supposed to catch all the germs being spewed by your not-so-well fellow diners. Â
Ewwwwwww.
So go for the view.  Go for the full-service bar.  Go for a great piece of fresh grilled salmon and  the whiskey crab soup.   Or go because you live down the street and it's close. Â
Just don't expect great dining, because it's not here.
O.k. so it gets a 3 automatically of view and ambiance...can't beat the view, who cares if it's 80's decor...80's are coming back with a vengeance anyway. Â Oysters, wine, & service were good enough to boost the rating...and I'm sure dinner would have been comparable if we would have stuck around for the main course.
Review Source:Whiskey Crab Soup. Need I say more. The soup is amazing. I eat here every time I am in Bellingham. The place has the best view in Bellingham and is unpretentious. Â You can be comfortable wearing anything from jeans to a suit. Â I have never had an item there that I did not like. Â
The other thing I like is the price. Â Wow. Â Perhaps I'm too used to Seattle prices, but when you can get a steak, soup, and a side for less than $25 I am happy. Â I will keep going back and recommending this place to everyone.
One of the best steaks I've ever had was at the Cliff House. What made it even better was our friends paid for it!!
All I can say is that when the 4 of us went for dinner at the Cliff House we all were very satisfied with our meals. The service was right on, the food was served hot and it all was very delicious.
I would recommend the Cliff House to anyone looking for something out of the ordinary. Plus, their crème brûlée is soooo good!!
Whiskey Crab Soup, oh my gosh, so good.
And well I can't remember what they called it, something about the devil, it was large sea scallops wrapped in bacon then smothered in cheese. I could have died, it was so good. The prices where pretty good considering. We where there at night so the view was lame. Even thou we had made reservations, we still had to wait quite a while. The tables are very close to together, so you really don't get much of a private dining experience. And I would have to say having a salad bar for such a slightly upper scale place seemed odd and cheap.
We ate dinner at the Cliff House way back in 7/98 and loved it, but recent comments indicate that perhaps the food isn't nearly as good as it was long ago. Â The restaurant looks out on the bay (be sure to reserve a window table) and it's in a lovely residential neighborhood. Â We had their (famous) whisky crab soup, freshly-caught halibut, creamy baked potatoes, delicious (somewhat sweet & warm) bread, and we shared a piece of chocolate peanut butter pie. Â Dessert & coffee were consumed while leisurely watching a gorgeous sunset from our window table (very romantic), and our server was *fantastic*. Â It was truly a memorable evening and the prices were reasonable.
Review Source:My husband & I went here for dinner for my birthday in March. It was a Saturday night & a packed house. The service was very good despite the fact it was so busy. View was awesome & I am looking forward to going back in the warm weather for the patio. Our food was decent and I am pretty picky. I had seafood which was cooked perfectly & pretty good. I wouldn't say outstanding though. Â My husband had this delicious pasta with a smoked salmon cream sauce that was really good .
My main complaint is that it is overpriced for the quality & the selection of food it has to offer. I wouldn't say this is fine dining. But it isn't bad either. The whiskey crab soup is really good and it is hard to find a really good seafood bisque anywhere  these days. Nice salad bar too if you opt for that. I would go here again for the soup, some oysters or appetizers, a drink or a nice glass of wine on the patio in the summer just for the view! Good wine list but WAY overpriced. The decor is outdated & reminded me of an old style steakhouse. This place would disappear in Seattle, but for Bellingham, with the lack of really good restaurants here it has been allowed to survive. I will give it kudos for service, crab soup & the view.
The ONLY reason this place gets two stars is the view. It has been awhile since I've been here but I am pretty sure it hasn't changed. The food is awful, you mine as well eat at a buffet. Maybe there are a couple things that are good here, but I wouldn' t know because I would never go back. For the price, SO NOT WORTH IT. I can't believe so many people think this place is good, go eat at Dennys then you'll save money.
If I were to ever go here, it would be for drinks and sunset, not food. I am actually very surprised this place has lasted so long, i thought i heard it was closed by now.
The dated decor screams 1980 and for the price you'd think they could perhaps redecorate. Â The view is fantastic, food is decent, but over priced. Â If you want to do the romantic or special event dinner try Nimbus, Guiseppe's or the Oyster Bar... you'll get the great atmosphere AND good food.
Review Source:Good food, better view. Â If you are ever here, you must order the Poached Halibut. Â Don't even consider another entree, it's the best thing they offer. Â Also, if you don't order the Whiskey Crab Soup, you shouldn't be allowed in public. Â It's unlike anything you've had before, and once you taste it, you will want to have it at every meal.
My only complaint is the food quality doesn't live up to the price. Â Not expensive per say, but not exactly a great deal either. Â About on par price wise with the Keg and Black Angus in the area...
It's been a long time since my wife and I ate at the Cliff House, but it was one of the most memorable meals of my life. Â The best prime rib I've had was at Laury's in Chicago, the best steak was at Tara's in San Jose, Costa Rica, and I have had other memorable meals around the globe. Â But I remember the Cliff House as where I first had ostrich. Â The Cliff House may not serve it any more, but it was fabulous. Â It was sort of a "surf & turf" meal since it came with salmon. Â And though the salmon was excellent, it was the ostrich that blew me away. Â Looking at the other recent and positive reviews as well as this restaurant's longevity, the Cliff House is definitely worth visiting again.
Review Source:This is a nice place with good steak and seafood. I had the smoked salmon alfredo and my date had a 8 oz steak. The view was cool; you could look out over Bellingham bay and watch the sunset. The noise level was prefect. The place was alive and had people talking in the background but you didn't have to shout to be heard. The main gripe I have with the restaurant is the prices. The food was good but it seemed overpriced. It was Keg quality food for 5-10 more. Overall a good place to have a good semi fancy meal.
Review Source:Whiskey crab soup is great. Â I like a special that they have quite a lot, poached halibut in a creamy parmesan sauce. Â It is wonderful!
The kicker is their chocolate cake dessert, served in a puddle of raspberry sauce and whipped cream on top. Â It melts in your mouth. Â
The dessert and the great view of the water is why we choose this restaurant over any others.
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