The Hardware Store

We're new to the area, and we've tried The Hardware four times, but it just doesn't live up to the hype. New owner? That may be part of it, but they have some service issues. The teenagers manning the host desk are clueless and indifferent. The servers seem harried, either due to understaffing or an inefficient kitchen. The food is just so-so, and often over-cooked. An example is the fried chicken breast on my last visit, coming out rock hard. The mashed potatoes were excellent, despite the fact that the accompanying gravy wasn't on them, but on the plate, under the chicken. WTF? We've dined with five different table mates, and none have commented on their food beyond "it's OK", except for the dinner salad, which is unique and excellent.

Always enjoy HS. Burger mediocre. Need larger bun. Fell apart, soggy, could be less vertical.

Good service , good food , we like a booth and got one

Very impressed with the Valentine’s Day presentation at The Hardware Store. Picked them for this evening because I waited too long to get a V-Day reservation at the higher end places in Seatte or Tacoma, and there were slote at THS...so glad, the food & wine were very good, and the service impeccable. Very nicely impressed!

We've eaten here for many, many years and have concluded that their food has gone down hill. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken, a staple there, was rubbery and had a strange texture to it. It was inedible and we sent it back to the kitchen. My spouse had already received her food so we didn't bother to wait for the replacement. Service was good and overall ambiance is energetic. We just can't overlook the mediocre to low quality of the food anymore.

NYE. Good band. Too loud for small space though. Entrees arrived at different times so had to start eating ahead of our guests or wait and food got cold. Husband’s chicken tenders overcooked. My pork chop was delish!

New Year’s Eve
Very busy and very noisy.
Live music, slow service, but good food.

Good but a little too rushed on the entrees after our salads.

The food was excellent and always enjoy coming to this restaurant. But, there is one BIG problem when it is cold outside. Every time the outside/front door opens the cold air swirls into the booths and the tables. Then it becomes very uncomfortable to sit there trying to enjoy everything shivering and sitting on my own hands trying to warm up. Everyone at my table was also cold if they were in the view of the door.
Maybe the restaurant can have a contractor build an inner door to prevent the wind from coming in......or even just maybe build a half wall at the door area to prevent the wind from coming in.

I was my adult son’s birthday celebration. Nice place on Vashon for special occasions for good food and service.

A good place in the center of town. A bit noisy for conversations, but a step above bar food with five beers on tap. We ate dinner there and returned for brunch.

Varied menu, quite good food, but usually a little disappointing. Great staff. Feels like the center of the Island.

Good service and environment, but overpriced for the quality of food. We ordered the French onion soup to start, which was delicious; however, we ordered the fish and chips and crab cakes for dinner and both were mediocre at best.

Maybe it was an off night but we found hair in our fish and chips and fruit flies twice in a drink from the bar. They did re-make the drink the 1st time but another fly was found in the new drink. They also replaced the piece of fish when the hair was found but this made us check everything we ate. The food was ok, nothing special.

I've had some great meals there but the latest was not great at all. The meal (salad) was so drenched in dressing it felt like slime in my mouth. The waiter was clearly new and in over his head. We got our drinks and bread finally, just before the meal that took 40 plus minutes to get to us. Fine for the meal not so much on the drinks. I would go back as it may have been a change in staff or just a bad night, but I wont be going any time soon.

26 years living in the Puget Sound, never been to Vashon Is. Finally decided to go and needed a place for dinner. THS was perfect. Great food and service. Amazing wine list!

Jana is the best!! Such great service! ~ Sincerely, Sean, Jen, Kevin, and Hailey. :)

I really loved most of my meal. Generally liked place and service, but specifically they failed to cook the dish in this case buttermilk fried chicken breast without a burned flavor. Not waitress fault. After tasting she asked it be refired and by the time it came out we were otherwise done, so we took it to go. When I got home only slight difference which suggests to me cooking oil not being changed out and
Inability of cook on duty to figure it out. Disappointed. But when back on Vashon will try again we liked everything else including side dishes, gravy, soup etc.

First time visit was delightful for dinner. I would go back to check out their breakfast or lunch.

I checked "date night" on the Open Table sight and we ended up at a tiny table squished between a crying child and another couple. Nothing remotely romantic. Unfortunately I don't eat meat and my choices were very very limited. My husband's thought his tuna was wonderful.

The Hardward Store was a wonderful location for dinner before a performance by the Seattle Dance Collective at the Vashon Center for the Arts. Having not been to Vashon for many years, I was delighted by the town and the cultural and dining possibilities. Our food was great, our server was attentive but not overbearing, and the decor was upscale/casual. I had the crab cakes, and they were well-seasoned with lots of great Dungeness crab. My dining partners had the ponzu bowl and a salmon pasta dish, and said they were very good as well.

My only problem was my reservation (which had been verified} could not be found at the front desk.

Everything was great except for the hostess. We showed up a little early, and even though our table was ready, she wouldn’t seat us until our reservation time. We sat in the lobby looking at the empty table with a reserved sign on it. I go to the Hardware Store several times a month, and most of the staff are excellent. Our server, Molly, was awesome! The hostess put a damper on the evening, and should be better trained. She wasn’t friendly at all.

Terrific food, service, and atmosphere. We have eaten here before, but brought out of state guests this time. They also enjoyed themselves.

Basically, we didn't understand the hype. We went on a weekday evening in the summer and the restaurant was busy. However, the service was quite poor-- we stood around for 5 minutes just waiting for the host to greet us, then everything else followed the same trend-- slow. The food itself was okay, but it did not feel like a $50 pp meal, which is what it turned out to be.

A favorite Go To choice on the island. Comfortable, pleasing atmosphere, good food for
many different tastes and convenient hours. What is not to like?

Cod sandwich had way too much shredded lettuce. Very sloppy and hard to navigate. Over cooked. The kids meal and spicy Chicken sandwich both very good. They have many great items but just wouldn’t get fish sandwich again. Server very nice

One of my favorite restaurants on the west side of Seattle, this was my choice when asked where to go for Father's day.

Overall experience was good however the table we were at wobbled causing water to spill whenever we cut our meat.

Very slow service tonight.

I absolutely loved this restaurant. The food was great and the atmosphere was lovely. I will definitely return if I find myself on the island again in the future.

I was disappointed especially with our burgers, which both tasted burnt, acrid, like charcoal...even my husbands who was cooked properly at medium inside. The waitress never checked on us once after we started eating. Cleared our plates when we were done but never brought a check, although it was clear our 3 kiddos were restless and ready to go when she cleared the plates. The place is nice and the food seems great on paper, but was really basic in reality. I would try a different place next time I am on the island.

I’ve been to the Hardware Store many times and typically enjoy it. And I did this time too, with one caveat — the exceedingly loud live music made it very difficult to have a conversation. THS, you might try turning the amps down on the musicians, and/or choosing musicians who are more aware of the situation they’re in and the people they’re playing for.

Restaurant was very noisy. Server did not smile, our make eye contact while at my table.

Good try... the heart is there but the know how is lacking

St. Patrick’s Day!

Always love this place! One of the best restaurants on the island!

Just across the sounds and a quick Carrey ride to Vashion Island and your a world away. The Hardware Store has a small town feel with a big city taste. The mood is welcoming and the staff warm. I have been here for breakfast and dinner and always leave feeling taken care of and have enjoyed each bite! Make reservations for dinner as the seats for fast. Take time to check out this hidden gem!!!

We had another wonderful experience. Our waitress, Jana, was such a pleasant professional on both of our visits to The Hardware Store restaurant. The food was delicious and well prepared. We weren’t rushed with our courses.
We highly recommend THSR!

One of our favorite places. Service and food always great and we feel right at home.