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(5 stars from 1 rating)
Cliff House 0:5

Address

331 North State St.
Bellingham , WA 98225
(360) 734-8660

Hours

Every day 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Review

The Cliff House is aptly named, a small, intimate restaurant perched-- clinging really--to the very edge of State Street, overlooking Bellingham Bay. With its all-encompassing, 180-degree view, you'll swear that on clear days you can count all of the San Juan Islands--well, not quite, but you understand my drift. This is a great place for a date or, at the other end of the social spectrum, for relatives visiting from out of town, who have never been able to quite understand why you choose to live in Bellingham, of all places. Take them here on a clear, still evening, when the Bay is dotted with white sails and the islands look as blue and mysterious as the sea that surrounds them.

Oh yes, the food. The Cliff House is also a very good restaurant. I don't mean to make it sound like an afterthought, because it really isn't. The Cliff House does not have an extensive menu but it is well-rounded and sophisticated enough to appeal to just about anyone. There are several pasta dishes, various types of steaks and a good smattering of seafood entrees, which seems to be something in which this restaurant especially excels. We tried the seafood linguine, which was excellent, full of calamari and prawns. Where do they get such succulent prawns? We also tried the sirloin, which came in two sizes: 8 ounce and enormous. I requested medium rare - it is a medium rare occasion when a restaurant gets it right the first time, but they did, right on the button, so that it was a beautiful pinky brown, lightening to a delicate rose in the center. Perfect.

Dinner entrees come with your choice of salad or the house specialty - whiskey crab soup. With a name like that, we had to try it. The verdict? It was a little too rich for me but my husband loved it, so you'll have to come to your own conclusions. We finished off with decaf and peanut butter pie, which was a hands-down winner.

The Cliff House is a special place for a quiet, intimate evening - a great place if you're out to impress someone or celebrating an event. Or maybe you just want to relax and remind yourself all over again why you chose to make Bellingham your home.
Written By: Tanya Perkins
On: 11/5/2000

Directions

Go south on state street from download and continue straight through the a stop sign and up a fairly steep hill. The restaurant is about a hal-mile ahead on the right, across from residential apartments.

Features

Wheelchair Accessible | Dinner | Outdoor seating | Takes Reservations | Beer and Wine | Full Bar | Smoke-free

Map

User Reviews

Dealer0fThings
BELLINGHAM, WA
140rating
(7)
(0)
8/4/2009
The Whiskey Crab Soup is the best
(1)
(0)
Anonymous
20rating
(1)
(1)
2/17/2007
First To Review
We recently took relatives to this restaurant... the food, service and views were amazing. The lack of linen along with the corny tables/chairs and cheap decor surprised us. Kind of like having a delicious cake without the icing.
(0)
(0)
Anonymous
10rating
(1)
(0)
3/14/2007
Their Whiskey Crab Soup is TO DIE FOR! As the reviewer mentions, it is quite rich--but so worth it! As in the grand tradition of Bellingham restaurants, yes--the interior does not match the quality or style of the restaurant, but that aside, this is still one of my favorite restaurants, in Bellingham or elsewhere!
(0)
(0)
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