"John Howie's Pacific Northwest seafood since 2002, built on cedar-plank salmon and a raw bar. Book it for a Bellevue client dinner."
About Seastar
John Howie opened Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar in downtown Bellevue in spring 2002, after years running the kitchen at Seattle's Palisade. More than two decades on, it remains one of the Eastside's most reliable seafood rooms. The address is 205 108th Avenue NE, a short walk from the Bellevue office towers. The menu is Pacific Northwest fish handled with restraint: cedar-plank roasted king salmon at about $56, miso-glazed sablefish around $49, and a raw bar of local oysters, sushi and sashimi. Dinner lands in the $50 to $100 per-person range.
The Kitchen
John Howie built his reputation on Northwest seafood at Palisade before opening Seastar under his own name, and the cooking here is the work of someone who trusts the fish. The signature is the alderwood and cedar-plank roasting: king salmon set on a cedar plank and finished over the coals, served with smoked broccoli and citrus rice. The miso-glazed sablefish, the local black cod, comes with braised bok choy, grilled shiitakes and a jasmine-ginger rice cake. Dungeness crab cakes and a wide raw bar round out a menu that reads as a tour of Washington and Alaskan waters.
Seastar is not chasing a tasting-menu crown, and it does not need to. The format is à la carte with shareable starters, a sushi and raw-bar section, and grilled or planked mains, which makes it easy to feed a mixed table. A 20% service charge is added to each check, so factor that into the bill. The result is a kitchen that has stayed consistent for over twenty years in a market that turns over fast, and a room that still draws the Eastside's business and celebration crowd.
The Room
Seastar is a large, polished room with high ceilings, warm wood, and a long raw bar that anchors the space. Lighting is moderate rather than dim, the sound level rises with the room but the booths stay conversation-friendly, and tables are spaced generously enough for a working dinner. Dress is smart-casual with no jacket requirement, though business attire is common given the location. Service is professional and unhurried. Ask for a booth if you want a quieter corner; the bar and raw-bar seats run livelier.
Best for an Eastside Client Dinner
Book this room for a business dinner because it solves the Eastside host's problem: it is minutes from the downtown Bellevue towers, the booths give you space to talk, and the broad menu of raw bar, sushi and planked mains keeps a mixed table happy. The pace is steady, not a three-hour commitment. For more rooms that carry a working dinner, see the best restaurants for closing a deal and our picks for when you need to impress clients.
Not for
Not for anyone after a long, hushed tasting-menu evening. Seastar is a lively à la carte seafood room with a busy raw bar and bar scene; the energy is its appeal, but it is the wrong call if you want a quiet, ceremonial multi-course dinner.
Frequently Asked
Is Seastar in Bellevue worth it?
Yes. Seastar has been one of the Eastside's most dependable seafood rooms since John Howie opened it in 2002. The cooking leans on Pacific Northwest fish handled simply and well: cedar-plank king salmon, miso-glazed sablefish, and a raw bar of local oysters. It is not a tasting-menu destination, but for a polished seafood dinner near downtown Bellevue it is hard to beat. Book ahead on weekends and ask for a booth if you want quiet.
How hard is it to book Seastar Bellevue?
Not very. Seastar takes reservations on OpenTable, and weeknights can usually be booked a few days out. Friday and Saturday evenings, plus the corporate calendar around the Bellevue tech corridor, tighten things up, so reserve a week ahead for a weekend table or a party of six or more. The restaurant is at 205 108th Avenue NE in downtown Bellevue. Call (425) 456-0010 for private-dining and large-group enquiries.
What is the dress code at Seastar Bellevue?
Smart-casual. Seastar is an upscale restaurant rather than a formal one, and there is no jacket requirement. Business attire is common given the downtown Bellevue location and the steady client-dinner traffic, but neat denim with a collared shirt or a nice top reads as perfectly at home. Aim a notch above casual and the room will read you as dressed right, for a date or a client dinner.
What is the average meal price at Seastar Bellevue?
Dinner runs roughly $50 to $100 per person before drinks. Signature mains sit in the high forties to mid fifties: the cedar-plank roasted king salmon is around $56 and the miso-glazed sablefish about $49, with raw-bar oysters, starters and sushi adding to the bill. A 20% service charge is applied to each check. A couple sharing the raw bar and two mains with wine should plan for roughly $250 all in.
Is Seastar good for a business dinner?
Yes. Seastar is a natural fit for an Eastside client dinner: it is minutes from the downtown Bellevue office towers, the booths give you room to talk, and the menu pleases a table with mixed tastes thanks to the raw bar, sushi and grilled mains. The pace is steady rather than drawn-out. See our picks for the best restaurants for closing a deal for more rooms that handle a working dinner cleanly.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Seastar
Via OpenTable · or call (425) 456-0010
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address205 108th Avenue NE #100, Bellevue, WA 98004
NeighbourhoodDowntown Bellevue
CuisinePacific Northwest seafood
SignatureCedar-plank king salmon ~$56
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ReservationOpenTable
Service charge20% added to each check
