Ballard Grill & Ale House

Reviews

• Matt R.

  star star star star star 11 June 2026

  In the gentrified city that Seattle has become- this place is one of the true old dive bars.
  
  No frills or fanciness here- the booze is cheap and the pours are strong, the service can be a tad surly, the regulars are an older group, and the bathrooms have the level of filth you'd expect in a place like this- complete with communal pissing trough in the men's room!
  They offer a burger and fries (which I've heard is quite good) for only $6. Their draft beer selection is surprisingly large.
  I recently visited and they had some Oktoberfest beers leftover (it was November). They were being offered at a "kill the keg special" of $2 per pint. Outstanding!
  They do have a couple of Golden Tee machines, Big Buck Hunter, Skee Ball, and a handful of pool tables.
  
  I LOVE IT.
  
  I hope this place never changes and that it retains its old world charm. There aren't many true dive bars like the 4Bs left around town- which I think is a damn shame.

• Claudia C.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 10 June 2026

  This place was like a sports bar but it only has about 3 tvs... odd. They also stop serving real food like burgers around 9 or 10 so going there after that and your options will be chips, if they arent out (what?),  and of French fries.. When I went they were out of chips and the fries we got were soggy and lukewarm. Not a place that I would go out of my way for or hit up again if I had a choice.
  The only good thing is the games and pool tables but thats not a selling point.

• John R.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 1 June 2026

  I refuse to go in this place just for the fact I cannot stand those awful cartoony murals painted on the exterior walls by Seattle artist "Henry".  I really dislike his childish and goofy depictions of animals and fish... 9 times out of 10 with one eye way bigger than the other.  If I'm going to spend my money on lunch or a dinner out, I'd never think to go here.

• S. J.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 18 May 2026

  Worst parts about a dive bar. Filthy bathrooms, questionable kitchen, ants and ant poison everywhere,  dogs nosing into your food while you try to eat. Bartenders more interested in their phones and chatting with their boyfriend's than serving you. All around a dismal experience.

• Josephine L.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 14 May 2026

  This used to be a good and reliable bar, but it's fully gone to the dogs. The bartender is brand new and was more concerned with playing the boxing game the serving us drinks. She didn't know anything about the beers or how to ring drinks up separately. We asked for menus, but she couldn't find them. She was totally lost behind the bar and I can't imagine her challenge if we'd ask for something hard like a gin and tonic.