Before I get to the food, I want to talk about the staff. The people at John Howie are professionals. They walk through with the air of a military drill in progress, setting out place settings and removing crumbs at a brisk, but gracious, pace. There will be trays of salt, bread service if you’re there for dinner, and fresh place settings. You can walk in casual, but you will be upstaged by the staff.
After talking out the game plan, we started off the bar menu for happy hour and moved to dessert.
The martini was crisp, with almost a buttery finish I wasn’t expecting. As for the Sailor’s Kiss, with a half rim of sugar it tasted of floral spiciness and allspice. It’s a very pink drink from the cherry juice, but I got a few questions about what it was from the men around us.
Then, prime tenderloin bites ($13) and fried brussels sprouts ($7). On a bridge-like plate, the teriyaki-glazed tenderloin bites were nestled with orange supremes and chives for an acidic kick. It’s a sweet dish, but thankfully not cloyingly so.
Then came the burger. I think all of Bellevue knows about the happy hour burger. At $9, this really is a veritable – and towering – shrine to all that is good in a burger, topped with Beecher’s Flagship Reserve cheddar, Kurobuta bacon, a house baked bun with their “drive-in sauce,” lettuce, tomato, pickle and red onion. It is juicy, it is messy, and I love it. I usually cut it into quarters, and it’s still enough food for two if you’re ordering another plate. The fries are also things of fried, crispy beauty, and should be reserved for special occasions – or cravings.
Then we moved on to dessert. We faced two delicious options: the the flourless semi-sweet chocolate volcano cake or the salted caramel and chocolate ganache tart (both $9).
The real theme of the happy hour menu is the ability to share the food. All the portions are large and the prices are more than reasonable for the amount of food you receive. If I was there on date I’d probably get the burger and those ridiculously awesome sprouts, then share the caramel tart. But whether you’re alone or with a group, you’re going to be in great hands.
John Howie Steak
11111 NE 8th St #125 Bellevue, WA 98004
(425) 440-0880