Appearances can be deceiving.
I had passed by El Norte several times on LCW and thought it just looked creepy. It does look shabby and like a total dive from the street. Nothing wrong with that but there was nothing that compelled me to stop in either.
I was a bit surprised to see the 4 1/2 star average on Yelp and thought it was worth checking out.
The lovely Necia and I decided to give it a try and we were very pleased and impressed!
They have a nice patio set up out back and our server/bartender was charming. We really liked him and he obviously took pride in delivering excellent drinks and good service.
The drinks are very tasty, well made, and cheap.
The house margarita was $4.54 (weird price) made with Sauza Gold and it was good!
I tried the Chambord margarita ($6) which the bartender warned me may be too sweet. Turned out he was right. He was very nice and let me pick a different drink. He made me a concoction of juices, orange bitters, gin, and sprigs of mint and it was very tasty!
The drinks were sufficiently boozy.
We ordered the carnitas quesadilla  per our server's recommendation. It came with 3 quesadillas, a side of black beans, and salsa. I thought it was quite good and I wouldn't hesitate to order it again. It looks like they have a nice menu of Mexican dishes here.
Crowd was more towards the middle aged crowd but it could be different on weekends. A live band started up later on in the evening.
I was really feeling this place! Can't wait to go back and try more drinks. It was $25 for 3 cocktails and the appetizer before tip. Not bad at all! I plan to be back very soon.
The atmosphere is weird. I'm all about dive bars and cheap food, but this place is dirty and kind of expensive. Plus, NO HAPPY HOUR! I ordered a fresh mint mojito, which was weak and the mint was dirty. Like rub the mud off onto your finger from the mint leaf, dirty. We were a party of 4, the only people in there, and the service was SLOW. The food was ok. We were told to try the crab stuffed avocado and the queso fondito. The crab dish was okay, but the fondito was just a bowl of cheese with a nice thick layer of grease and some "chorizo?" Â Not much in the way of beer. There was a guy setting up for music. He acted like he really didn't want to be there and was slamming the equipment down, talking loudly on his phone, and looking at us like we should leave. The waiter was nice. Â There are way better mexican food places in this city.
Review Source:Do not be alarmed by the appearance! Â The first time I came here with a friend (a bunch of us were meeting here), we stopped at the sight of this place, hesitated to go in. What a dive! (just the outside appearance!!) step in for a pleasant surprise. A nice bar, lounge is a nice wood floor dance space. Live music is always nice. Because of the wood floor and all, the live music sound isn't exactly warm, but, hey, it's a bar after all. Â I hear that the place us owned by the sane folks who operate Mr. Villa restaurant, evident once you taste their food. I had a nice plate of seviche. Also, my favorite is a dish with halved avocado stuffed with shrimp, tomato and cheese and baked. Yum. Â Very good, and the price was reasonable. Fun atmosphere, friendly crowd and staff. A fine neighborhood hangout!
Review Source:I used to love El Norte. Over the past two years, I've been telling people what a great neighborhood bar this was, and how much I loved their crab quesadillas. Many memories were made dancing the night away to awesome 90's hits from their live DJ.
Last night, I was meeting friends here for a few rounds of drinks just before midnight. As we were approaching the front door, we were greeted briefly by a friend who was already there but had stepped out to say hi to us. And when I say briefly, I'm talking a matter of seconds.
Just inside the door, when the bartender asked for my ID, she also asked "are you all REALLY coming in here?" and continued with "we can't have you just standing around on the street." There were 3 of us altogether, who stopped very briefly out front, and had every intention of "REALLY coming in" and spending money. We're clean-cut, young professionals in our late 20's. If we didn't plan on staying and giving them business, we wouldn't be there. It's not like Lake City Way is the best place to loiter on the sidewalk now, is it?
Anyway, her blatant hostility and assuming tone were very clear. I thanked her for being so friendly (sarcastically), as I absolutely felt disrespected. I would have walked out immediately if my other friends weren't already there. The three of us who were so rudely insulted left shortly after, and she had the audacity to tell my friend who stayed at the bar to finish his last drink that I was now banned.
First off, when you walk into a business you want/expect to be greeted by a friendly and welcoming person. I've always thought that the staff here were super nice and impressively attentive. Secondly, who wants to be treated like that .. by ANYONE? Check my Yelp Rating Distribution chart and you will see how rarely I give a 1 star rating - this bartender certainly elicits the lowest of ratings. Rest assured, no ban is necessary because I will not be back. And you can bet I won't recommend that kind of customer service or experience to anyone anymore.
I just moved into the Lake City area and I'm REALLY amped about having this place in the neighborhood. Â The tomatillo sauce on the poblano and cheese tamal we had was smooth and rich with just the right amount of tanginess. Â Top it off with a cold Elliott Bay brew and we are talking happy. Â Can't wait to try more of their menu. Â Our server was really nice and REALLY fast. Â Good vibe. Â Hoping to see some live music there too.
Review Source:Fun atmosphere, great, affordable Mexican food, friendly service.
I got a Living Social for El Norte based on great Yelp reviews, but the outside looks super sketchy, so my husband never wanted to go. I tried to get a refund on the Living Social, but they wouldn't give it to me. So I told my husband we had to go, and we took a friend. Our friend (a single man who eats at bars a lot) has been going there multiple times a week since for the amazing tacos. The Living Social did the trick because we will definitely be back and I would never have known from the outside what type of place it was.
You could tell the patrons of El Norte really loved it. There was a DJ (DJ Ducky) the night we were there and a lot of people seemed to know him. People were dancing and it was a fun scene, not too clubby - dare I say it was borderline classy. The bartender was so friendly and helpful we asked him if he was the owner, and he said no, he was the bartender a few nights a week. It's great to see people taking ownership and pride in their jobs and that is a reflection on the place.
Don't judge a book by its cover here. Total hidden gem.
These folks are as delightful to work for as they are to hang out with. Whether I'm out there with friends after work or DJing for one of their parties, I'm always treated with friendliness, respect & courtesy. The staff are kind, fun, and incredibly efficient, and the food is deliciously authentic and unique. The wide range of events they host make it easy to find something for everyone. The venue is cool & cozy and is always spotlessly clean and polished.
I can't speak highly enough of the passion these folks have for their work, their business, and their neighborhood!
So, is it sad that fabulous server Amber and bartender extraordinaire Neal know me by name, know what I like to drink, and where I like to sit? Or is it ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC?
The owners have worked hard to improve El Norte since it opened a few years ago, and it shows. Air conditioning was added this year, which is very welcome during the warmer summer weather. French doors were also built to lead onto the lovely back deck. The menu has expanded. The prices have remained, at least to my discerning pocketbook, unchanged. Owners Katrina and Eduardo are there regularly to stay on top of the biz and to interact with their patrons.
My favorites:
Menu - taco trio for $7.50, includes black beans
Beverage - margarita on the rocks, $5. Yes. $5. Other beverages are $5, also.
Entertainment - Davanos on most Wednesdays, Jerkels one Thursday/month
If you've not seen the Davanos yet, and you enjoy listening to older cover tunes from bands like America, Beatles, CCR, Spinners, Santana, Johnny Cash, and others, then get thee to El Norte on a Wednesday night. Check the Davanos calendar/announcements on Facebook, first, as sometimes Jerry, the lead guitarist, is on tour with the Dusty 45's.
I'll just add to the positives. This is a hidden gem: authentic mexican food that is priced well. I agree with all the commendations for the staff. I just ate there and heard music by  a bunch of jazz guitar players and a kick-ass rhythm section. The waitress/bartender was helpful, nice and genuinely friendly.  And the food was great!. Try the carnitas!! I thought I was in Mexico City, except the jazz was better (lo siento, amigos!).
Review Source:Here's how they earned each of those five stars:
1. Nice balance in the atmosphere - dark, but clean inside and a great deck outside
2. Friendly, attentive service
3. Negra Modelo on tap (along with plenty of other great options)
4. Great food and generous portions (HEAPS of heavenly guacamole)
5. Incredible happy hour prices
This will surely become our regular gathering spot.
I always have fun at Katrina and Eduardo's bar. Â Eduardo reminded me this is what real lounge is all about. Â No TV's, games, some acoustic or jazz music in the background, dark and chill. Â Plus the Mexican food is just excellent. Â They own Mr. Villa's also and know how to do this cuisine right! Â Definitely, the place to chill when you are in the North End, Eastside of I-5 and need to lounge. Â Of course, if you are on the West Side, then hit Tim's Tavern--a tinier version of the lounge concept with stiff drinks, two tvs with sports, and darts.
Review Source:A surprising little find in the Lake City strip. It does not look like much from outside, but inside the decor is clean, cool and modern. The tap choices aren't overwhelming; there were only a handful of local microbrews available when I visited, along with several German beers, but the selection varies. Prices are very reasonable: $4.50-$5 for beer and sangria, cocktails for a few dollars more.
The food menu is quite limited, as others have noted, but the flavors pack a memorable punch and low prices make it a great value. My friend and I split the guacamole dip with fresh tortilla chips ($5) - it was very good, though on the spicy side, so be warned if you like your guac mild. I had the shrimp empanadas, which were DELICIOUS. Lots of flavor, not too spicy, and you get three empanadas for just $7 - which amounts to a full plate of food! My friend had the crab quesadillas, which were really yummy (also $7). They also offer tacos, nachos, and a few other items that we didn't try. The whole bill with drinks and tax came to just over $30, which for two people is practically a steal.
If you're looking for a place to chat with friends, either snag a table by the door (there are only two there to choose from) or else be prepared to holler at each other over the too-loud background music. They also had live music starting at 9pm on the Friday night we went. Nothing special, but it was nice to have live music in the background.
We stopped in for an early bite. Â This place was a little random. Â I am not sure what they are trying to go for here. Â The name and menu are Mexican, but the decor is a mix between Gothic (we showed up on Goth Night), German/Irish pub with Rat Pack music.
The bartender (I think he was it for servers) was extremely friendly and made a decent margarita.
The menu was very limited. Â We tried the nachos first. Â They were overloaded with toppings and not enough tortilla chips for balance. Â The ceviche was tasty, but "over cooked". Â The tacos were only so-so.
They have a lot of space and a nice little patio out back.
I've been here twice now. Â Once during the mid-week and it was kind of dead. Â The second was last night, where they had live entertainment. Â It was like these two brothers were a human karaoke band. Â You could pick just about anything and they would play it. Â
Definitely a different crowd during different days. Â There were a lot of up scale types here last night and a whole group of bikers wearing club colors who were very well behaved and pleasant to be around. Â Unlike a bunch of bikers not in clubs who like to pretend they are bad asses, these guys actually are bad asses and didn't need to prove anything. Â Kind of refreshing.
I like this place, I think I'll go back again soon.
To the crew at El Norte, thank you. Â The old cliche of don't judge a book by its cover is what you get at El Norte. Â From a group of about twenty Saturday night, 90% of the individuals had always driven by the front and said WTF is that place. Â When you walk thru the front door, you enter a very welcoming, cool place. Â
Neil the bartender was making cocktails for the ladies in the group based upon their likes and they likey. Thanks Neil. Â Eduardo the owner pays attention to detail. Â He is a rarity of caring owners, the bathrooms were clean, not kidding. Â Kathrina, worked the food and service for our group to perfection. Â The bday boy of the group also thanks you for the goodbye:) Â
The food kicks ass. Â Small selection but its very tasty. Its the real deal Latin/Mexican food and not Americanized crap. If you have a group and you want something else, Eduardo owns Mr Villas up the road and will work with you on selections. Â DJ Doughboy keeps the beats a flowing. Â He is the nicest DJ who has a great ear and is more then happy to take requests. Â
I did'nt know the people of El Norte before Saturday. Â The point is they care about the customers and made it a point to welcome us. Â
Thanks Norte
Fun place with a good bar and a very friendly and knowledgeable bartender, Neil. He's made this a place that we keep going back to. Small but curated/interesting selection of beers, some fantastic cocktails, and a very good tequila selection. Good food for extremely reasonable prices--the seafood empanadas, ceviche, tacos, bean dip, guacamole, and salsa are all delicious.
If I could change one thing... after eating there half a dozen times, the menu does get a little small. I know the kitchen is tiny, but it would be nice if there was maybe just one rotating food special every week or two to keep it interesting. But it's hardly something that will keep me away!
As with many of my reviews, this one begins with a place relatively close to where I live, a coupon (living social) and a totally hot date.
The food menu is small, but every item sounds amazing. We tried the crab quesadillas and the crab-stuffed avacado... they were quite delicious. It's hard to believe that a bar could serve such good food!
I can't really speak to the drink menu because I didn't look at it. We heard that the Long Islands were quite good here, so that's what we ordered. I don't know that it was the best Long Island that I've ever had, but it was certainly good.
The bartender was friendly, service was prompt, and the food and drinks came out pretty quickly. No complaints from me!
Apparently we went too early for the live music ... there's always next time!
In summary...
I don't usually go into dive-y looking bars on Lake City Way, but when I do, I prefer to go to El Norte.
Fun little place and well within walking distance to my house. Â I like this. Live music and beer- I like this even more. Â Also they have a menu for snacks and I have to admit that the menu is priced to be very affordable. Â
I have yet to experience their deck so I reserve the right to add another star to this review should the weather EVER be nice in Seattle. Â (Seriously)
Beer: they have a decent selection. Â I admit to my beer snobbery so this is important. Â They even have decent local craft brews on tap, so major kudos. Â The drawback is that although they have a generous happy hour (4-7pm daily I think) the deals for happy hour are on the bottle beers that are things like Bud- things that no matter how cheap, I am not going to drink. Â
Food: I have only really had their guacamole and i have to say it was way way way too spicy. Â Yes I am a wimp but really, its guacamole- not salsa! Â I have never had this problem before. Â
Ambience is pretty nice. Â It gets busier later in the evening and there is just something about the turquoise blue walls that I admit that I love. Â
I think I might like this place more, but having been in a couple times, I never feel the urge to really go back. Â Its nice enough, but not really a draw. Â Even located so close to me, I don't find myself heading to El Norte often. Still, its not something I'd avoid either, and if the weather gets nice ever and I discover this deck... I could be persuaded to spend more time at 137th and Lake City Way.
El Norte effing rocks. Originally I went because it was walking distance from my apartment. Then I moved, but I keep coming back. They have great live music and a relaxed, but still classy atmosphere. Excellent cocktails, big back porch, friendly staff. Best menu item is the carne asada tacos.
I'm not the type to hang out at a bar by myself, but this is one where I feel comfortable just popping in alone on occasion. Big wrap-around bar makes for easy conversation with strangers if you're so inclined.
Also, probably because it's a little off the beaten track, this place is NEVER crowded even on a Saturday night, which is a major plus in my opinion. Had my birthday party there recently and Wendy the bartender was super accommodating and even provided plates for the cake we brought!
Wandered into this place on a Saturday a couple of weeks ago. Was a bit put off by the outside of the place..it looks dive-tastic! But since we were there, went in anyway and was very pleasantly surprised. The inside was clean and classy with great atmosphere and background music being played.
Our waiter, Neal (who may have been part owner as well), gave us a small tour and a little history of the place. Very friendly service.
Menu is small but offers a wide variety of Mexican/Latin inspired food. Prices are great - no food item was over $7.50...two very good sized and tasty entrees, an appetizer and two well mixed drinks for $35 with tip.
Also, Neal said that for Cinco de Mayo they'll have a back deck/patio open and two live bands. It's pretty close to home...think I'll check it out.
Lake City? Whooda thunk?!
I am from Texas and this is the only thing halfway passable for good Mexican eats in this area (sans Chupacabra). Â
 Eduardo is a hell of a nice proprietor and he brought a much needed face lift to this bar with regards to the previous establishment.  Where one would use to go to score crack rocks, now they find an excellent assortment of tequilas, food, and draft/bottled beers. Â
 Some nights they have karaoke and it is a blast.  I rarely say that about karaoke.  This bar is a good blend of regulars and noobs.....I dig it.  They have a nice porch out back for smoking and people are very friendly  I came for Eduardo's birthday party and had a blast....Good drinks and good company=Good times    See ya soon
I can't believe this place was empty when we went for dinner this evening. Â The food is outstanding and the drinks are substantial, or is it the other way around. Â Oh, and the prices, well we had dinner for two with appetizer and drinks for the price of just drinks your upscale gin joints. Â If you find yourself on Lake City you owe it to yourself to drop in. Â If you are in the north end do yourself a favor and take a detour. Â Find El Norte, stop in for drinks and a nosh. Â You deserve it.
Review Source:Finally a great lounge within walking distance. I can't believe the dramatic change from what used to be The Rose Garden - listed as one of the top three shadiest places in Seattle to a great bar with fast service and amazing food.
We went there for Octoberfest and we were able to sit at a nice table, converse with each other, eat tasty food and drink great german beer that they had on special for the occasion. Â
We met the owner and the friendly staff. Â He was excited about the ability to transform this place. There is a back porch where you can sit a table and enjoy the crisp fall weather. No crowds, no shady people, we will go there again.
You should check it out!
Cool little spot in an area you wouldn't think to find a cool little spot!
Went in for happy hour (4p-7p), ordered a house margarita and a carne asada taco... YUM! the menu is short and to the point which i like and it was nice sitting outside on the deck since it was a nice day out.
will be back to check out the live music at night sometime soon
The first time i came here, i was all "This used to be the...Rose Garden?!"
Good: Classy joint right near me. Nice deck. Happy hour is cheap and good. Â Negra Modelo on tap! Â Staff is freakin' awesome. And, oh yeah, they turned a real problem in the neighborhood into an asset, just as promised. Would like more food but the small plates are yummy.
Bad: It's kinda spendy after happy hour. There was a dude there with ironic mutton chops and that means the dreaded presence of hipsters too close to my house for me and my rent's comfort.
I went here on Saturday, the night before the fourth of july so the place wasn't very busy. Â I loved the atmosphere and the music. Very chill. Â They have a deck out back with tables which I'm excited to visit on a sunny day. Â I had the nachos and they were very tasty... not very much to choose from but I was assured by the workers a bigger menu was coming soon. Â I will definately go back. Â Especially to check out the karoke on Thursday nights.
Review Source:Same ownership as our favorite Mexican Restaurant, Mr. Villa. El Norte offers a nice variety of small plates/appetizers and quality drinks.
Recently opened, it's still a work in progress but things seem to be running smoothly. They have a very nice offering of draft beers and will be expanding it to offer even more. They have Tecate on draft and the lines are chilled as are the glasses. There's a nice selection of premium tequilas and rare related spirits. Margaritas are great.
The small plate offerings are a little limited but all are of quality ingrediants. Crab Stuffed Avacados alone are worth the trip. Some of the best guacamole in Seattle.
Really great to see a nice place in Lake City with non generic food and drink. They've done wonders with the inside, we are told there will be live music at times. No signage up yet, it's on the west side of LC way.
I would echo what the reviewer above said. Â We went last night (5/7/2010), and the margaritas were good, the food was good, and the staff was very friendly and welcoming. Â If you had seen the inside of the previous tenant (the Rose Garden), you would know what a transformation has taken place. Â They still have to add a few finishing touches (while the inside is clean, it is a bit plain right now), but it is looking very promising. Â Maybe a sign of better things in Lake City?
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