We've generally had great experiences at Rider, which is why this visit stood out as disappointing. The staff were friendly throughout and very apologetic, which we appreciated. My wife has dined here numerous times, and this was the first occasion where the overall experience fell short. Given that there was a matinee and a large sporting event that day, it was surprising that the bar didn't open because those staffed didn't show and therefore the remaining staff had to adjust. While we were able to adapt, it felt like the restaurant could have done more to prepare for what was clearly going to be a busy, high-demand weekend. We hope this was just an off day, as Rider has set a much higher standard in the past.
Mila
I felt racially discriminated, due to the fact that I was the only woman of color, I was sitting down for about 20 minutes and the people who came after me received plenty of plates before I even got a drink, every table was lit up with a candle except mine, so once I started realizing the energy I left and I will never return.
Harriet
Really lovely server. Front desk was very friendly. My $65 prime rib was alone, not even a sprig of parsley! I'd hoped for even a little jus but no! Thankfully I ordered mashed potatoes. They needed salt but otherwise okay. I get, it was Christmas. It's not that the food was bad, it's that it was just a bummer it was so plain if we didn't get the pre fix menu. We spent close to $300 between the 2 of us but the food wasn't worth it.
Jessica
Absolutely terrible experience. I booked through OpenTable and then called the restaurant directly to modify the reservation because online booking only allowed counter seating. The host assured me the reservation would be updated to five people, but I never received a confirmation. When we arrived, we were told there was no room for us. The restaurant was nearly empty, yet we were seated at a small, awkward half circle table right by the door. It was freezing cold. We specifically mentioned we had two children and were told this was the only option. Service was equally poor. In a very short time, we had four different servers, none of whom seemed interested in our table. It took about 15 minutes just to get drinks. When we asked for the happy hour menu, the staff treated us as if this request was inappropriate or embarrassing, which was uncomfortable and unnecessary. The food itself was lackluster and forgettable, but the real issue was how poorly we were treated throughout the entire visit. Between the reservation mishandling, dismissive service, and awkward seating, this was not an experience I would ever repeat. I will not be returning. Please get over yourselves. You are a restaurant in a hotel.
brandon
Food portions are large. Splitting was encouraged. We split a salad and the steak with mashed and carrots. Throw in a couple of appetizers and it was way more than we could finish. Highly recommend.
Monica
Went for Thanksgiving dinner (buffet) and the food was mostly good. Turkey was drier than dry. Ham was good. Wish the stuffing/dressing wasn't wet clumpy grains with big chunks of squash and pork sausage. Texture was off-putting. Squash ravioli with sausage ragu was an odd combo IMO, why not offer it with a butter sage sauce or something lighter to offset the heavy foods. Sweet potatoes were ok, but the stuffing had sweet potatoes and ravioli also tasted like sweet potatoes. It was yam overkill. There was NO gelato cart as listed on the menu. We had to ask an employee about it and they let us know they weren't able to get a cart but they do have gelato in the kitchen. The staff was nice about it and got us a bowl of chocolate gelato.Pumpkin pies were very wet. The mini dessert option was lacking and not labeled well. The brussels sprouts and green bean casserole were decent. Overall I did not feel like the food quality was worth the price, especially when cocktails are averaging $20. $450 for 3 to eat buffet with 2 glasses of wine/2 mocktails/soda. And we ended up needing to get dessert elsewhere.
Ben
The Thanksgiving buffet feast was incredible! A generous spread of dishes with carved ham and turkey on the spot. The dessert spread was also impressive—we loved the pastry selection. A special shoutout to the Rider staff who swooped in to accommodate a medical need (unrelated to the meal) in our party. Hospitality at its finest.
Mellissa
We had such a fantastic time during the “Fire and Ice” tasting! The service was exceptional—every staff member we interacted with was knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely fun to be around. They went above and beyond to make the experience special, especially as we were celebrating my friend's 50th birthday. It truly made the night unforgettable.
Jason
Stood there waiting by the sign to get seated as multiple employees came by and didn't acknowledge us. Finally said something to the gal who was seating other people but she just said to wait and that she wasn't the host, despite seating other tables. Got sat took forever to get our drinks especially the second one. This is a place where the waiter takes the order and everyone else just drops stuff at your table. Literally as it comes out so my wife got her meal without the accompanying sauce. I waited 10 more minutes then my dish was delivered, it's just so poor of service especially for the prices. Nobody checks to see if you need anything until you flag them down. Duck Gnocchi was flavorless, usually duck is a strong dish, nope this was horrible. The pear salad was good and the pork belly was average. I will never go back, too many other options in the city literally within a block to choose this place again.
darcy
The service was extremely slow. We waited twenty minutes to get water. The dinner was another 40 minutes and we had told them we had a show. The 20% gratuity was an insult. The food is way over priced.
The staff were amazing! I was behind a 10 top so my entre took a little longer than normal. Even though this was not an issue for me, it concerned the staff and they continued to check in with me, apologized numerous times for the delay. The food and drinks were wonderful, and perfectly priced for the quality! Rider and hotel Theodore are now my go to when I'm in Seattle! Thank you for making my weekend away even more perfect!
Agnes
We had a wonderful experience, the food was delicious however it was a bit pricey. But would still recommend Rider.
Ian
Food was excellent. The Chilean sea bass was cooked perfectly. Gnocchi with duck sausage was fantastic. Tender and the gnocchi eas perfect. Service was attentive
josh
Rider used to be my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Every dish, from its specialty bread rolls to its creative desserts, was excellent. We had a regular waiter who was phenomenal. We loved going and it was our must-go-to dining spot for before theatre shows in Seattle. Unfortunately, the quality has never returned since the pandemic. The is is our third trip to Rider since 2021 and each time has been unimpressive, but this weekend's visit was especially disappointing. The oysters were poorly shucked...literally 10 of the 12 had bits of shell in every bite. The mignonette and cocktail sauce with the oysters tasted like there were not made fresh. Our favorite bread rolls are no longer offered. The $40 specialty house gnocchi was overdone...mushy even...the dish was not hot when it arrived at the table, and the portion was small...what I'd expect for an appetizer, not a main with that price. The autumn squash $ brown butter soup was delicious, but again arrived warm, not hot. Our server genuinely tried his best, but it was clear that the restaurant appeared understaffed...our drinks arrived after we had already finished the entrees. The restaurant also apparently no longer served espresso after 6pm. Again...nothing was bad. But for a $275 meal for two we have high expectations from a restaurant that we used to adore and we came away disappointed, knowing we won't return.
Louis
The food was delicious and presented well. Our server and the hostess were very friendly and helpful. We ate in the bar which has a cool vibe. The price of the food was about 20% higher than comparable big city downtown restaurants.
We've generally had great experiences at Rider, which is why this visit stood out as disappointing. The staff were friendly throughout and very apologetic, which we appreciated. My wife has dined here numerous times, and this was the first occasion where the overall experience fell short. Given that there was a matinee and a large sporting event that day, it was surprising that the bar didn't open because those staffed didn't show and therefore the remaining staff had to adjust. While we were able to adapt, it felt like the restaurant could have done more to prepare for what was clearly going to be a busy, high-demand weekend. We hope this was just an off day, as Rider has set a much higher standard in the past.
I felt racially discriminated, due to the fact that I was the only woman of color, I was sitting down for about 20 minutes and the people who came after me received plenty of plates before I even got a drink, every table was lit up with a candle except mine, so once I started realizing the energy I left and I will never return.
Really lovely server. Front desk was very friendly. My $65 prime rib was alone, not even a sprig of parsley! I'd hoped for even a little jus but no! Thankfully I ordered mashed potatoes. They needed salt but otherwise okay. I get, it was Christmas. It's not that the food was bad, it's that it was just a bummer it was so plain if we didn't get the pre fix menu. We spent close to $300 between the 2 of us but the food wasn't worth it.
Absolutely terrible experience. I booked through OpenTable and then called the restaurant directly to modify the reservation because online booking only allowed counter seating. The host assured me the reservation would be updated to five people, but I never received a confirmation. When we arrived, we were told there was no room for us. The restaurant was nearly empty, yet we were seated at a small, awkward half circle table right by the door. It was freezing cold. We specifically mentioned we had two children and were told this was the only option. Service was equally poor. In a very short time, we had four different servers, none of whom seemed interested in our table. It took about 15 minutes just to get drinks. When we asked for the happy hour menu, the staff treated us as if this request was inappropriate or embarrassing, which was uncomfortable and unnecessary. The food itself was lackluster and forgettable, but the real issue was how poorly we were treated throughout the entire visit. Between the reservation mishandling, dismissive service, and awkward seating, this was not an experience I would ever repeat. I will not be returning. Please get over yourselves. You are a restaurant in a hotel.
Food portions are large. Splitting was encouraged. We split a salad and the steak with mashed and carrots. Throw in a couple of appetizers and it was way more than we could finish. Highly recommend.
Went for Thanksgiving dinner (buffet) and the food was mostly good. Turkey was drier than dry. Ham was good. Wish the stuffing/dressing wasn't wet clumpy grains with big chunks of squash and pork sausage. Texture was off-putting. Squash ravioli with sausage ragu was an odd combo IMO, why not offer it with a butter sage sauce or something lighter to offset the heavy foods. Sweet potatoes were ok, but the stuffing had sweet potatoes and ravioli also tasted like sweet potatoes. It was yam overkill. There was NO gelato cart as listed on the menu. We had to ask an employee about it and they let us know they weren't able to get a cart but they do have gelato in the kitchen. The staff was nice about it and got us a bowl of chocolate gelato.Pumpkin pies were very wet. The mini dessert option was lacking and not labeled well. The brussels sprouts and green bean casserole were decent. Overall I did not feel like the food quality was worth the price, especially when cocktails are averaging $20. $450 for 3 to eat buffet with 2 glasses of wine/2 mocktails/soda. And we ended up needing to get dessert elsewhere.
The Thanksgiving buffet feast was incredible! A generous spread of dishes with carved ham and turkey on the spot. The dessert spread was also impressive—we loved the pastry selection. A special shoutout to the Rider staff who swooped in to accommodate a medical need (unrelated to the meal) in our party. Hospitality at its finest.
We had such a fantastic time during the “Fire and Ice” tasting! The service was exceptional—every staff member we interacted with was knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely fun to be around. They went above and beyond to make the experience special, especially as we were celebrating my friend's 50th birthday. It truly made the night unforgettable.
Stood there waiting by the sign to get seated as multiple employees came by and didn't acknowledge us. Finally said something to the gal who was seating other people but she just said to wait and that she wasn't the host, despite seating other tables. Got sat took forever to get our drinks especially the second one. This is a place where the waiter takes the order and everyone else just drops stuff at your table. Literally as it comes out so my wife got her meal without the accompanying sauce. I waited 10 more minutes then my dish was delivered, it's just so poor of service especially for the prices. Nobody checks to see if you need anything until you flag them down. Duck Gnocchi was flavorless, usually duck is a strong dish, nope this was horrible. The pear salad was good and the pork belly was average. I will never go back, too many other options in the city literally within a block to choose this place again.
The service was extremely slow. We waited twenty minutes to get water. The dinner was another 40 minutes and we had told them we had a show. The 20% gratuity was an insult. The food is way over priced.
Restaurantji Recommends
The staff were amazing! I was behind a 10 top so my entre took a little longer than normal. Even though this was not an issue for me, it concerned the staff and they continued to check in with me, apologized numerous times for the delay. The food and drinks were wonderful, and perfectly priced for the quality! Rider and hotel Theodore are now my go to when I'm in Seattle! Thank you for making my weekend away even more perfect!
We had a wonderful experience, the food was delicious however it was a bit pricey. But would still recommend Rider.
Food was excellent. The Chilean sea bass was cooked perfectly. Gnocchi with duck sausage was fantastic. Tender and the gnocchi eas perfect. Service was attentive
Rider used to be my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Every dish, from its specialty bread rolls to its creative desserts, was excellent. We had a regular waiter who was phenomenal. We loved going and it was our must-go-to dining spot for before theatre shows in Seattle. Unfortunately, the quality has never returned since the pandemic. The is is our third trip to Rider since 2021 and each time has been unimpressive, but this weekend's visit was especially disappointing. The oysters were poorly shucked...literally 10 of the 12 had bits of shell in every bite. The mignonette and cocktail sauce with the oysters tasted like there were not made fresh. Our favorite bread rolls are no longer offered. The $40 specialty house gnocchi was overdone...mushy even...the dish was not hot when it arrived at the table, and the portion was small...what I'd expect for an appetizer, not a main with that price. The autumn squash $ brown butter soup was delicious, but again arrived warm, not hot. Our server genuinely tried his best, but it was clear that the restaurant appeared understaffed...our drinks arrived after we had already finished the entrees. The restaurant also apparently no longer served espresso after 6pm. Again...nothing was bad. But for a $275 meal for two we have high expectations from a restaurant that we used to adore and we came away disappointed, knowing we won't return.
The food was delicious and presented well. Our server and the hostess were very friendly and helpful. We ate in the bar which has a cool vibe. The price of the food was about 20% higher than comparable big city downtown restaurants.
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