Great atmosphere! I went on Friday and even though they were packed due to the Norway day parade, the staff were friendly. Their website describes the owners and their background.
They had quite a few beer options. Not a lot on their food menu, but the cheese and meat selections were tasty.
We stopped in here ti try something new in Ballard. Â It was Sunday afternoon. Â Not very busy. Â It is a beautiful space! Â Really pretty. Nice vibe. Â The menu looked great and we were excited to try it. Â We sat down and it took a good 15 minutes for the waitress to come over to us. Â When she finally did, there was no greeting. Â Just took our drink orders and left. Â It then took another 10 minutes to get our drinks and they were not brought by the same person. Â No one asked us if we wanted to order food, which we did. Â No one came by and asked if we wanted water or if we needed anything. We waited and waited for about 25 minutes for someone to come by and take our order. Â I even looked at the waitress and made a point to make eye contact. Â She flat out ignored us. Â Odd. Â We then observed the same waitress warmly greet and welcome every other new party that came in! Â Promptly took their orders and asked if they wanted food! Â The drinks came super quick and so did their food! Â So strange. Â Why were we treated so differently? Â It was very disappointing. Â I was really looking forward to this place as I have heard great things. If I had actually been able to try the food I may have been able to give a higher score. Â I suppose we could have flagged her down to order, but it seemed like she should have come to us. Â Might give it another go, might not. Â Truly disappointing.
Review Source:A cozy joint in Ballard, for sure. You can belly up to the bar, sit in the tables beside the window and people-watch on Ballard Ave, canoodle in one of the booths or take up some space near the bookshelves.
Their beer menu is stellar and if you have one that you really like, I'd recommend calling ahead to inquire because their taps rotate daily. There is also wine and cider if beer doesn't make you grin. Some nights a buck from every pour will benefit a specific charity or a cause too. Pretty cool, eh?
Food menu is limited but solid - an array of high quality antipasti. You choose three, five, or seven, and it's served with Macrina bread slices and garnishes. There's also vegan and vegetarian options plus you can buy extra bread to pad out the nibbles. I'd personally prefer they offer one bread refill with the antipasti, but that's me.
No reservations so take that into account if you roll up with a huge group. They have a HH every day from 16:00 to 18:30 and it's 21 and over ONLY so leave the kids at home. Parking in the area can be busy but snag a spot and then pubcrawl to your heart's desire.
The Noble Fir is a beautiful, relaxing place to grab a beer.
The atmosphere is cozy and very conducive to conversation. They serve a wide variety of great taps and bottles, many which are local.
Expect to pay $6-8 and up for your beer which adds up if you're having a couple beers.
Last night I had the Two Beers Cherry Porter and really enjoyed it. It was $8 for a snifter.
Service was great. The Noble Fir is one of my top picks in Ballard for a drink.
They only have nibbles so don't come too hungry but if you're feeling snacky I'm sure they have something on the menu that will fit the bill.
Came here for an early happy hour on a Tuesday night. The place filled up fast and soon became so loud it was difficult to carry on a conversation. Service started out good and then became incredibly slow. This is a beer lovers place, they don't have a very good wine by the glass selection. I had wine, my boyfriend had beer, and we split the herbed gouda, smoked salmon, and prosciutto. Our bill was $25.00 and for some reason there was no tax?
Review Source:Fun, relaxed, handsome, adult bar. Â They've got a huge beer selection by owners who are clearly beer lovers. Â They've got a few ciders on tap. Â They've got wine. Â They've got maps and books to spur some plans with your beer drinking friends. Â
This is a great place to meet up with friends and have yourselves a nice time together. Â Kind of what you would like hanging out at your house to be except with a much better beer selection and no cleanup required. Â
The last time I was there I just wanted my server (who was very nice and attentive) to be a bit more helpful with beer suggestions and explanations. Â There are so many different kinds of beer that I know a lot of people could use some hand-holding. Â I made a guess and I liked it.
Their snack menu disappoints me though. Â Basically sliced meats and cheeses. Â I would be happy if they added a few desserts since this is often a place I hit after dinner.
I just love this place. I've only been for the beer, have never ordered any tapas but the menu does look tasty. It does get really packed on Friday's because we've had to wait for seats many times. The tap list changes weekly so I am always keeping tabs on what's new. They get some hard to find brews in, most recently Avery's Mephastopholes at 16.7 ABV! Woo! Prices are decent, growlers are available, what more can a gal ask for?
Review Source:This bar has the best selected taps in the city. Â Beer lovers--especially those who seek out unusual offerings--will not be disappointed. Â Additionally, they have some really tasty food items and a great atmosphere for relaxing around your favorite board game. Â The staff is always friendly and seems to be quite knowledgable.
Review Source:Oh how I love a good babysitter.
Because a good babysitter means a date night. Â And a date night often means Ballard and possibly a microbrew (or wine) and dinner, and when in Ballard, we find ourselves at destination Ballard Avenue.
Now, there are many, many good options for a date night that starts on Ballard Avenue. Â However, no matter what time date night starts, even early afternoon in the middle of the week, a nice microbrew at The Noble Fir is always a welcome commencement.: an official, let the evening begin.
Light wood interior, very low-key PNW vibe, cabin-like decor, great beer on tap and in bottles, easy going staff, and some interesting, not the same old, choices.  My parents had a 70s basement bar they never used, with old light wood paneling  --I believe the Noble Fir may be a more upscale and modern formulation of what they were aspiring to.  It feels homey.  Maybe its too like a Timberland catalog for some, but the microbrew and the low key, not trying to hard feeling is fine by me.
You will be comfortable in the Noble Fir even if date night consists of a pair of jeans and flannel shirt and a pair of boots, because friends, sometimes you just gotta get the sitter, get out the door, and the rest of the evening will take care of itself.
Definitely earns 5 stars. Â I travel to Seattle about 7 or 8 times a year on business. Â This is my first time in Ballard. Â It was a Tuesday night. Â I tried to go to Old Town Alehouse but since they are closing down soon they close their kitchen at 6:00 pm during the week. Â Had to call an audible and landed at The Noble Fir. Â It couldn't have worked out better.
First off, I'm a beer guy. Â I like a nice, broad selection. Â Noble only has about 15 taps but it was a nice variety and it included Pliny. Â Fantastic. Â Served in the proper, beer clean glass. Â In fact, I did not see a shaker pint glass the entire time I was here. Â That is a plus. Â I know shaker pints are very convenient for bars but they aren't really the best glass for beer.
Next, I like a good vibe. Â Good music and lots of people. Â This place had both. Â Music was just loud enough and the place was full but not overcrowded.
For food, I'm a meat and potatoes guy. Â I had my eye on the Ballard Beef Sandwich over at Old Town. Â Noble has small plates. Â Hmmm... Not really what I was after but since I was drinking Pliney, I didn't want to leave so I decided to try the food. Â It was very good. Â I especially liked the Cocoa Salami and the Vermont Aged White Raw Cheddar. Â Comes with a sliced baguette, a couple of mustards, etc. Â Very tasty.
Staff was very friendly and helpful. Â Two flat screens. Â Home run.
I appreciate that they have a pretty extensive beer and wine selection (especially happy to see that they had a Gueuze). The prohibition cider was tasty and definitely gives you a buzz. The atmosphere is cozy and adorable...
But all the good things were pretty much forgotten due to one rude bartender/waitress. They had called last call, and perhaps we were talking and laughing too loudly, but the waitress came up and in the RUDEST tone of voice said, "Thanks for coming, but go home." My jaw dropped and we all got silent. I am sorry if we did something to offend you...didn't know I had to whisper. At 1 AM. In a freaking bar.
Whatever. It was too expensive anyway. I won't be going back.
this place is amazing.
I want to put a mattress above the left corner lofty thing- and live above the maps & books forever. I love that the idea is to come here, have a drink, whip out a map or a washington book & plan a trip. It gives my drinking- direction.
an amazing bar. with good drinks & sweet service. shiny wood tables & tons of maps & books. what could possibly go wrong?
i guess you could get eaten by a bear on your hike or something...
I love the huge selection of maps and travel books in the back- this would be a great place for a first date or a trip-planning spot for friends. (Tons of green trails maps you can look at to make sure you're buying the correct one).
Owners are great and were able to recommend beers and ciders based on your personal taste- small plates were tasty and well-priced.
Ambiance is cozy, you have the feeling of being in someone's backyard under the pergola just chatting and enjoying some great food and drinks.
I'll be back!
I was very impressed! Â Amazing beer selection (the reason we came) but the food was really, really enjoyable. Â We had a salami/cheese plate, which was the perfect late night snack. Â The waiter was totally on top of it, able to remember a lot of details in his head and served us very quickly and professionally. Â I really look forward to coming back here next excuse we have to go to Ballard!
Side note: [-1 point for the weird couple sitting behind us who did not speak to each other the entire night and worked on their laptops. Â If you are going to drink and work, do it at home. Â They took up a perfectly good big booth just to be antisocial bumps-on-logs.]
I love the Noble Fir - this is a great go-to bar when I'm in Ballard, and I've been there on date nights, with groups of friends, for events, and work meetings. It's absolutely beautiful (tons of big wood tables and booths, great lighting, and I LOVE their library in the back with benches) and service has been spot on from day one. I know Rick and Ellen professionally, and even though they're almost always busy when I'm in there, they always stop by to say hi and check in, which I really appreciate - very professional.
Great beer selections, always. Never a dull menu, never short of new, fresh options. I'm a bit of a beer guru and am always hunting for something new to try, and the Noble Fir has never disappointed me. Good wine list, too. And yes - this is a beer and wine bar only. If you want a cocktail, you have 23820832 options within two miles of this bar.
Tried one of their small plates for the first time a few weeks back, and it was tremendous. Fresh salmon, great cheese, perfect pairings. So good with my perfectly hoppy Northwest IPA. Cheers!
Just what it looks like -- a cozy beer bar with a nice draft selection. The wait staff is friendly and offers up tastes as you like, the selection of beer is eclectic and diverse, and they'll even put sports games on their 2 tv's (no sound, so not so distracting) as you request.
Pro's:
- eclectic and diverse beer selection (15?, including a few ciders usually)
- cozy atmosphere (travel books and maps in a little seating area in the back, big windows looking at old Ballard Ave in the front)
Con's:
- pricey (cheapest draft beer is ~$5.50)
- do NOT go hungry -- only cheese and meat options, and soup, but it ain't cheap
A great place for a quick one or two rounds before dinner, or just to while away the afternoon...
This place has a cozy atmosphere, and a great variety of beer. Â Downside: beer is a little expensive, depending on what they are rotating through at the moment (like $6-10/pint). Â But most of it is well worth it! Â I had a delicious espresso stout last night that was quite good. Â
Great place to go if you just want to hang with a friend or two and grab a beer. Â I haven't eaten there, though you can get a "small plate" with meat, cheese, and bread.
Noble Fir is cozy, serves amazing beer and gives off a log cabin vibe. Their beer selection makes this place unique on Ballard Ave. Happy hour is 4-6:30 and offers 17oz beers and glasses of wine for $6. Not a big fan of beer? Try their yummy hard cider!
Favorites: Damnation Golden Belgian Ale and Orchard Select Semi Dry Cider
Wait, did I just walk into someone's cabin? Â It definitely feels that way as soon as you walk into Noble Fir...almost like you've escaped the bustling city of Seattle into this hidden mountain-resort-pub. Â The only thing that's missing is a fireplace--I think. Â
My first visit here was unexpected, as my coworkers and I were waiting for another restaurant's happy hour to start at 5:00pm. Â Fortunately, Noble Fir was close and open for business. Â My first surprise was the "no-hard-A" on the menu. Â This menu is strictly wine, cider, and beer. Â No doubt, though, that the choices that they do have are unique and selective. Â I enjoyed a glass of cider, while my coworkers enjoyed the same and wine. Â
Looking around, I immediately noticed the little library-nook. Â Shelves full of traveling and outdoor-sy books with wooden seating. Â It's a great addition to the decor of this establishment. Â I also love the logo: a simple tree, how suiting. Â :)
As this wasn't our priority spot, we weren't able to enjoy any food or other drink selections. Â I would love to come back, though, as I think this places looks promising!
One word: growlers! Â Yes, you can purchase growlers of most of their offerings - granted they are not already tapped out. Â The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helped us pick out some tasty brews to take home with us. Â The atmosphere is very laid back and it's always nice to find a bar in Ballard that isn't too crowded with the, ahem, trendy types or college kids. Â
Although Noble Fir only serves beer and wine, they have an awesome selection and you can always find something new to try. Â The variety of ciders is hard to beat too.
I really enjoy this place, and hope to go back again when it's a little less crowded. I came here with some friends for a beer on a night that happened to be a Sounders game night and it was pretty packed- lots of people waiting in the cramped entry for seats.
That being said, service was outstanding and friendly! The selection of local beers and ciders was very impressive. They have a lot on tap, and many many more in the bottle. I have to go back to try some of the selections I havent tried before!! They have lots from big breweries (Deschutes, New Belgium, etc) but plenty from smaller breweries local and from California, etc.
I also like the travel books they have in a corner nook! FUN!
I am a fan of The Noble Fir for one reason... and one solid reason only:
It's one of the ONLY places in Seattle with Pliny the Elder on draught!
And, when they have it, make sure you move heaven and Earth to get here because it won't last for very long. Â Many other lovers of Pliny the Elder flock here to drink up the goodness!
Beer and snacks...a deceptively artless summary of what these guys are up to. Yes, it's a bar with beer and wine (no liquor) and the snacks are just out of the fridge. But the vibe they create around this lineup is pretty exceptional. They put a dozen good west coast beers on tap, mixing in the occasional national or international visitor. There are a dozen good bottles of wine, at least, and another dozen or so bottles of good beer. One of the better small lineups of beer and wine in town.
The "small plates" program, which they also refer to as tapas, is really just charcuterie done with great enthusiasm. There are half a dozen meats, half a dozen cheese, a couple veggie options. You order in groups of 3, 5, or 7, and you get a nice rectangular plate with mustards and jams thrown in, as well as little REI stainless camp bowls full of bread slices. It's an awesome way to get a round of appetizers and drinks out of the way on your way to dinner. All the meats and cheeses are particularly good.
The decor is heavily focused on hiking in the NW, mostly in WA. Maps, framed shots of trees deep in terminal virgin forests, lots of old NW school post and beam architecture reminiscent of an old lodge. A great place and well worth a visit.
I feel really bad giving this place 2 stars, especially after reading other peoples reviews. I've been wanting to try this place since it went in.The idea is so cool and the space is even cooler.
Lets start with the good:
1. They have carabiners to hang your purses and coats on under the bar
2. They have a delicious selection of meats and cheeses
3. You can choose as little as three options to make a plate for $10. All plates come with Macrina bakery bread.
4. On Wednesdays after 6:30pm they donate $1 of every pint of beer purchased to Seattle Parks
And the bad... really there was only one:
1. The service. To me, this is your chance to shine - with so many bars in Ballard, it's your chance to set your business apart. My boyfriend and I came in for Happy Hour (on a Wednesday night) around 6pm. We sat ourselves (we were one of only 5 occupied tables in the entire space) and were not even acknowledged for the better part of 10 minutes. The servers walked past our table several times, but never came around to check on us.
Finally when someone came, they briskly took our drink orders and left without even asking about food. We were more than ready to order as we had a lot of wait time to go over the menu. The waiter then quickly dropped of our drinks and scurried off to go wipe down a table. We practically had to grab him to get him to take our food order - and when we asked to order food, he said, "one minute" and proceeded to go wipe down 3 other tables (no one was waiting mind you) before he came back to take our order.
We saw a woman approaching our table with our food about 5 minutes later and were relieved it wasn't our previous server, wishfully thinking she'd be nicer than him - she wasn't. She practically threw the plate on the table, said "here ya go..." and stomped off. OK, great!
The guy who brought our check was great - and very friendly - where had he been the entire night???
All in all food was great, my wine was tasty and well recommended - but the service, was just plain awful.
I'll need to give the Noble Fir another shot because my first time here wasn't too exciting. While the space is inviting and cozy, almost like a cabin, it was very confusing too. No cocktails? Just beer and wine? I've encountered lots of bars like this but it was tough because I was in a group of 8 and not all of us were in the mood for beer/wine. We sat down and were informed that our orders for food and drink needed to be taken at the bar. Each of us needed to get up and place orders and start tabs. Just seemed like a lot of work when we just wanted to have a few drinks.
I liked the wall of books/maps/encyclopedias. The decor was cute and the menu of snacks looked great. Maybe this place is deal for groups of 5 or less? I'll come back next time. Without so many friends!
This place is great if you don't mind getting kicked out when you are about 10% of the way through your second beer.
At around 10:45, approximately 3 minutes after receiving a 20 oz. beer, a woman who we had had absolutely no interaction with dropped our check off at the table (without us asking for it). My friend and I found it a little odd, but continued drinking. A few minutes later, the same woman, presumably the owner, came back and asked us to settle up. I asked if we could finish our beers first, to which she replied, "ummmm, yeah, but, it's 11 o'clock and we close at 11". Then she just stood there until we put our cards on the table!
I must mention, the bar had over 20 people in it when this woman preceded to kick people out. I don't think she knows how to do math, but if she did, she may realize that the revenue coming in from those customers far outweighs the operating cost. Not to mention the chance at retaining a customer for future visits. Of course, that does not take into account the utility she gains for getting to bed before midnight everynight in which case I must say... if you want to sleep before the clock strikes 12, you might have reconsidered opening a BAR!
I usually don't rate solely based on service, but the fine gentleman who first served us, the atmosphere, and the selection do not forgive the extreme rudeness of this particular woman.
If REI had a bar that served just beer, wine, and cider...Noble Fir would be that bar.
Let's get the big things out of the way - if you are looking for mixed drinks or you are looking for a large meal, this is not the place to go to. Â This, my darlings, is not the end of the world for if you are in Ballard, your options are next to endless. Â (Mixed drinks - see also: Hazelwood...large portions of bar grub - see also: half of the other bars/pubs in Ballard.) Â ALSO - if you are coming with kids or teens, you should note that this is a 21 and over establishment. Â So take the kids elsewhere. Â (See also: Snoose Junction.)
Now then. Â Noble Fir is owned by a couple who like to travel. Â One of them used to work at REI and this is noticeable in some of the dishes they use (and probably some of the decor). Â The decor is beautifully Northwest - wood, outdoorsy, earthy, filled with maps and pictures from travels. Â High top tables reign the floor with cozy cubbys edged along the wall.
The beer/cider list shows what's on tap and what's in the bottle. Â For a such a small nook, their tap list is pretty impressive. Â Mostly Pacific Northwest with a hearty helping of whatever's good in other states and countries. Â Note to cider fans: while many bars offer maybe two ciders, this one had quite a few more, some on tap and some in the bottle. Â If you're looking for a place to get some cider, this may be a good bet for you.
The wine list is decently sized and predominantly NOT Pacific Northwest. Â Which is also fine - go to Woodinville for those.
The small plates are a variety of meat, cheese, or veggie offerings that you can "mix and match" to create your own snack board. Â Hint - the Northwest smoked salmon costs more but it's totally worth it.
The service is friendly and prompt without being intrusive. Â The food really is quite tasty. Â The beers and ciders are reason enough to visit. Â I spent an afternoon here with the boyfriend, him sipping a beer and me sipping a cider, the two of us eating a plate made of two cheese (one of which was a triple cream, which I can vouch as a good pairing for a dry, hard cider) and the above mentioned salmon, and I was happy. Â So very happy.
Interesting note: they have those super-sonic type hand dryers in the bathrooms, which sounds like a jet engine. Â But man, do those suckers dry your hands effectively!
LOVE Noble Fir. Â Oh Ballard, you temptress...stop toying with my emotions, making me want to live there.
What a gem! Any place that calls their happy hour "Taps and Maps" is a-okay with me! The location is spot on too...right in the heart of Ballard. Just light bites here with wine and beer, which indicates this is where you go to kick back for a long afternoon or evening filled with good conversation and company.
Create your own nosh platter with meats, fish and artisan cheeses. We selected three items and that was more than enough to fill up myself and my two happy hour gal pals. Plates are served with bread and thoughtfully presented.
Dessert? Enjoy a Theo Chocolate Bar or dark chocolate covered espresso beans. Grab a map or outdoor guidebook from their corner library and plan your next adventure as you sip your tap and nibble on your selected bites.
Everything at The Noble Fir is simple and easy. Just enjoy.
The Noble Fir is a perfect place for a beer on a drizzly fourth of July afternoon. Â Beautiful woodwork, tasteful decor, maps and travel books, Chris Isaak croonin' away on the speakers, over a dozen hand-crafted Northwest microbrews on tap, a selection of wine, some tasty bites and good company all conspired to make this an enjoyable way to avoid the crappy weather.
I enjoyed Ninkasi's "Radiant Ale," which was actually much hoppier than I expected (and was a pleasant surprise). Â My partner-in-crime for the afternoon chose a nice red bordeaux and we split a serving of dark chocolate espresso beans (which actually weren't bad with the beer).
I was originally going to take one star off because I thought the prices were a bit high, but then I remembered that they serve imperial pints, so you get 20 oz of hoppy deliciousness. Â Plus drafts are $1 off from 4-6 every day. Â I look forward to returning and sampling more of the Northwest's finest ales.
Wonderful spot.
The intended use should be exactly as follows:
Go with a part of 4, no more, no less.
Naturally, sit at one of the high tables, sitting at a booth with 4 would be silly.
Pick 5, you'll know what I mean. Â Maybe all three cheeses and a few meats if you're into that.
Choose a beer at the recommendation of the bar-tenda, the fresher the better.
And then it's a 5 star time for you!
My dear Yelpers, when was the last time you were served a platter of lovely salted butter, garlic oil AND red pepper oil, to accompany a - wait for it - heaping Sierra cup filled with baguette slices?!
You who know what a Sierra cup is know you've never seen THIS in one before.....
The Noble Fir is the new project from a couple, recently from REI and the law world. REI and travels: hence the maps scattered throughout, as well as in a lovely little seat cubby in the back corner, complete with your little table and coasters,( if you want to feel like you're in an old geography library that happens to be in a refurbished Ballad storefront space). Otherwise, grab a seat at a high table or one of the few booths, taking some time to look over the menu. And stop, in amazement, at the $5-$6 beers that appear in 20-ounce Imperial pint glasses.
Yes...twenty ounces of beer for five or six dollars: some great beers, from around the Pacific Northwest. Elsewhere in town you'll be hard-pressed to find even a simple pint for that pittance.....Not to mention the variety and quality. Terminal Gravity, Elysian, Diamond Knot, Rogue, Laurelwood, to name only a few. If you're not a beer lover, Noble Fir also offers a substantial selection of cider bottles (and a couple on tap!), a welcome addition to our beer-soaked city.
And if you're not a beer lover but a wine lover, the interesting (primarily) French (but a few Spanish) and Northwest wine list will delight, not only for the selection but also the very generous pours (which make the sticker price-per-glass a deal). Add on a little cheese/salumi/field roast plate, and a couple of sandwiches, and you have all you need for some light eating and quality drinking on Ballard Ave. See you around!
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