Highline

Being a vegan, I do love highline. I crave their potato salad. It’s so good I’ve even gotten takeout. It’s for sure bar food, so don’t go expecting an organic salad but if you’re in the mood for a vegan BLT check it out. The reason I gave it 4 stars (like other reviewers) I agree that the place is a bit dirty. Like lipstick still on the glass dirty. If it was cleaner I would feel better about stoping in more often. I would still check it out though if you’re in the mood for some vegan bar food, see what you think!

I have a severe and deadly peanut allergy. This place can accommodate my allergy! I am able to eat vegan food and not get sick and/​or die! I freaking love this place. I feel like a human being being when I order food here. They don’t have any peanut menu items. This is greasy, vegan comfort food at it’s best! Thanks, Highline! Thanks for your kind bartender, and your awesome peanut-​free menu!

I really hope this place survives the awful condition that neighborhood has degraded into. Maybe the new train stop/​service will help revitalize it. The food is great vegan bar food. So awesome. You really can’t ask for more. As others have mentioned you don’t go here to be waited on. Walk up, order food at the bar, they’ll bring it to you. Our food was hot and delicious. We’ll be coming back again soon and maybe hit up bingo night. Because bingo night.

Came here to try out the vegan fare — YUM! it’s definitely not the most attractive place, especially from the outside. It’s on top of a currently empty store front and it’s a place where the unhomed gather.
The inside is a dive, but that’s what makes it fun! Service can feel a bit impersonal, but this is more of a music venue/​bar than it is a restaurant. You order at the counter and they’ll bring it to your table when it’s ready. If you’re looking for an experience with notable service you’re in the wrong place.
The fish tacos I got were great. A bit «meatier» than fish should be (if I recall correctly anyway, it’s been over a decade since I’ve actually had fish), but overall a great taste and texture. I will definitely be back to try other menu items!

Seitan sandwich heaven. I always make an effort to hang out here when I am in Seattle and I’m never disappointed. Great beer selection, cool staff, and super good food. A very «hang out» kinda vibe when there is not live music. The steak and cheese sandwich was super flavorful and fresh. The place was dead on a Sunday, but I was totally okay doing my own thing. Tip? It’s on the 2^nd floor!

I’m not vegan. Eww. Was here for a concert and only thing that we could eat were bearable vegetarian fries & cheese curds. Didn’t realize cheese curds meant cottage cheese and I’m assuming was fake cottage cheese. They were not understanding in our honest mistake and didn’t let us have our money back or switch for something else. If they were just a few bucks I wouldn’t have cared but the item was $ 5! Poor service. Will never be back here. Fries were not great either.

They have Happy Hour from 5pm-​6pm, it’s not a long one but glad I came here as their drinks are cheap. It’s definitely a divey bar with heavy metal music, but it’s totally laid back, comfy and great place to catch up on some good times with friends.
Started off with a few rounds of beers and drink specials which got us going to try their vegan fare. My friend is vegan so this place was on her list to try. Im glad we came here because the food was actually really good. I’ve eaten vegan food with her many times but this place provided some the best vegan bar food I’ve tasted. A good amount of options to choose from that you can share among your group, sandwiches, salads and even nachos!
We got the «Nachos» to start us off, it was quite yummy and tasted great, housemade chips, good amount of jalapeño, tomoatoes, olives etc. Had plenty of flavor, you could taste the difference in the «cheese» but it was still good. Perfect size to share!
Also we got the «Satan Fingers»: vegan version of buffalo chicken strips, WOW… this was so good! A definite hit at our table! Breading was so good, not greasy, very crisp, the «chicken» was seitan hence the name satan fingers.
«Corndog» this tasted like an actual regular corndog, I would’nt have been able to tell the difference compared to any other ones. Delicious field roast corndog and pretty huge in size!
For a good time, try sharing that among friends.
Lastly, we also got the «The Bell Toll» which is their vegan take on a Philly Cheesesteak and a sorta of a French Dip. Delicious seitan strips, which I could’ve swore tasted like one of my childhood favorites: Steak-​Ums. Good amount of carmelized onions & peppers, mushrooms and vegan cheese on some tasty bread that you can dip in the au jus. Oh man! I definitely would get this again!
We enjoyed our happy hour and meal very much, we all shared everything we got and everyone thought it was super delicious!
A few helpful hints, everything is pretty much done through the bartender. There’s not much of a waiter/​waitress service, just go to the bar and order your drinks & food etc. Bartender guy was nice, other staff from the kitchen brought out our food and cleared our table later.
They also have shows here so dont forget to check that out!

Very impersonal service. And why was my food sitting for 10 mins and delivered cold when there was three staff for a total of 7 people in the bar?!
Food was okay. The slightly warm part at the bottom was good.
Kinda makes me mad I tipped, but I guess that’s what you get when he asks you to pay up front.

I never would have expected a bar/​music venue to be the place I’d find the best vegan/​vegetarian food I’ve had in years, but I’ll definitely be returning for the food. I’m frugal, so it takes a lot for me to say that a $ 12 sandwich was worth it, but I was quite happy with the food, the service, and the venue in general. I went on a quiet night, when there was no incentive to try one of their cocktails, and a hop over to Tea Republik next door was the chill thing to do, so individual experiences may vary. I only wish they still did karaōke, the article that brought me there mentioned it, though sadly it was outdated by two years.

My boyfriend and I came here our first night in seattle. He had the fried tofu sandwich buffalo style and I had the portabella sandwich, both of which were awesome, and the fries are definitely worth the extra two dollars. He was super excited about the beer selection and the painkiller was exactly as promised. The only downside was the wine which was not great, but with such an extensive cocktail list this was not really a problem!

This is one of those reviews that really hovers somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but I rounded up for effort.
I’ve not been to the Highline for a show so I can’t yet speak to that. This review is just for the restaurant aspect.
All vegan with a healthy number of gluten-​free options (sometimes not the easiest when you’re talking vegan comfort food with lots of seitan). A big drink menu and smallish but good selection of beers on tap. You order at the bar and they bring your food to you.
The food was good. 2^nd best vegan Philly cheesesteak I’ve ever had (#1 goes to my beloved Owlery in Bloomington, IN). The bf got tofu tacos which were also tasty.
The house mixed drinks err on the sweet side which is funny since they all have metal names (like, named after metal or hardcore bands). Too foofy for my tastes. But I assume they’ll make a normal drink if you want it.
The main drawback to this establishment as a restaurant is that it really looks and feels like a dive bar, which is fine since it actually is one… But it definitely makes the eating experience a little weird if you’re not expecting it. I was and it was still a little bizarre. Eating outside was the right choice in our case.
I’m excited to check out shows here. Overall I think I like it.

After falling in love with this place months ago, I’ve spent the better part of the last half year trying (almost) everything on their menu. I don’t like mushrooms, so anything with that as a root ingredient was not tried. Everything else was fair game!
I have finished my quest and I was not disappointed. I started my journey with their BLT because it comes so highly reviewed. This remains to be one of my favorite sandwiches of all time, definitely the best vegan BLT on the market. Other favorites are (in no order) the crazy train, satan fingers with buffalo sauce, the nachos (do yourself a favor and get it with «carne») and their French fries. I also love that they do off menu specials like the Thanksgiving sandwich, the taco salad, shrimp salad, and all sorts of little surprises every once and a while, everything I’ve tried was delicious.
There isn’t much on the menu I don’t love, but the things that I wouldn’t order again include the poutine, the more cumin than cumin tacos, and the pickle spears. None of them were bad, it’s just that there is so much on the menu that is insanely good that I can’t see myself ever being in the mood for these.
Aside from food, this place has amazing staff, a quirky menu with call outs to lots of bands and metal culture in their drink and entrée names, and fun events every once in a while. It’s definitely worth a stop in if you are looking for a dive bar to indulge your munchies at. Oh and half off pitchers during happy hour!

This is a total dive.
I came to the Highline with the BFF to see a concert.
No bottled water sold. They actually had paper cups next to an Igloo for water. What the heck.
No fans were on during the hot night even though they have huge fans drilled to the wall, so stepping outside to breathe didn’t work due to all of the smoke coming from the outdoor seating area.
Couldn’t see the band at all that we paid good money for due to how bad the lighting was. The lead singer grabbed the lights a few times and tried to adjust them. All we could see of him was his silhouette. The sound was ok but when you’re in a really small venue that is standing room only except for a handful of tables along the walls, you should get some great sound.
The broken elevator didn’t help my friend who had an injured leg and had to climb up and down the stairs since Highline is on the second story.
The entrance is small, with a tiny walk way through where tickets were reviewed/​purchased. The line for the bar took forever with one bartender working most of the night with an occasional second bartender stepping in.
Saw patrons turned away who had stopped by for a drink due to the concert as they didn’t want to pay for the concert.
The floor and walls looked like they hadn’t been cleaned in a really long time. There was a coat of dust on the arcade games. The ATM machine is slathered in stickers like a 12 year old’s skateboard.
No parking anywhere except really crappy paid street parking.
I’m too old for this.

My review is for the vegan food only. All I can say is: WOW. San Francisco has Bender’s, a metal bar with a similar vegan menu schtick (seitan sandwich called «Hail Seitan,» etc.), but Highline does it MUCH better. We ordered the Fish & Chips, Reubender, and Crazy Train. The Fish & Chips were my favorite, with the beer batter light and flaky and the fries spices just right. Even the coleslaw was good! The Reubender includes vegan corned beef and was a little tangy/​strong for me, but I have a sensitive palate. My partner regretted not getting the optional buffalo sauce on the Crazy Train, but thought it had a hearty, well-​balanced flavor, and loved that it had more of that delicious breaking. This is an order-​at-​the-​bar place where they just bring out the food when it’s ready, not standard table service. So great! Will definitely be back next time we’re in Seattle.

All I can really comment on here is the food and drinks, since we did not come here for a show. That being said, the food is absolutely amazing! The bartender that helped us was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area, as we were tourists. He was quick to offer suggestions of other tasty places to eat, things to see, etc.
Now on to the food. I ordered the Bell Toll, which was their version of a Philly Cheesesteak meets a French Dip. It was 100% amazing. I was sad they only serve food Sunday through Wednesday, as we came on Wednesday and I was gladly ready to come back the next day! My husband ordered the Reuben, which he said was very good but could have used a little more dressing. The prices are good for the amount of food you get, and the drinks are reasonably priced as well.
The divey atmosphere, tasty food, and friendly bartender make this a must stop for visiting the Capitol Hill area.

This little gem is hidden away and I was hooked on the idea of «Vegan Dive Bar.» Only in Seattle, right? The beer was good, and the food was not great but very filling. What I liked most about the place was the space. It’s definitely a place you can go to drink and have fun, and get something to eat that will help you hold your drinks. They close kinda early though.
The fishless tofu was poorly executed – I’ve had loads better, but I enjoyed the seitan-​chicken fingers, which still tasted good the next day.

Here’s the thing: a good idea that’s at times poorly executed can feel like a bad thing instead of a valiant try.
Sometimes I love it there but mostly I don’t. I find the drinks to be ‘just okay’ and the space while good for shows lends itself poorly to hanging out with friends due to the way it’s situated.
I don’t hate it, I’ll go to a show there if it’s a band I really like but I don’t see myself ever spending any other time there.

If you’ve ever uttered «hail Seitan!», you belong at Highline. I am so happy they re-​opened their kitchen because it’s already THE place to go for metal and industrial shows in Seattle, serves some of the best booze you’ll ever drink, managed by the best people you’ll ever meet, and is easily one of the finest spots in the PNW. The kitchen got a complete overhaul with new cooks coming in last year and the food they’ve turned out is amazing. My favorite are the vegan carne asada tacos which manage to pack so much food into a single taco without spilling all over the place. The sauce they use for the seitan is just the right amount of spicy and flavorful. Dylan and his team are constantly whipping out miracles and they deserve all the patronage they can get.
The sound systems are great and I wish there were more dance parties here, but this is such a popular venue for live shows, they’re usually booked for months. Smokers can usually go outside and the pinball machines are rotated every few months. And the 8 drops off half a block away for those traveling by bus. Cannot say enough good things about the Highline. The kitchen is also open a few days at a time, so go get some eats and show your support! :)

Awesome punk/​metal club with good live sound. the place can be packed so buy a ticket in advance. Small outdoor patio.
I didn’t try the food, just went for a show.
Security is cool, bartenders are working hard. This is the polar opposite to formality. Knot up your hair, tattoo, plug your ears, and sew some band patches on your jacket. If you listen to bands who’s logos are so pointy you can’t read it, this is a great spot.

«Gloom, Despair, Agony on Me…»
SITREP
So are the lyrical funny words from the hillbilly songsters on the show «HEE-​HAW». And for me, that’s kinda what the Highline has become over the last couple of years. A slow slide into «gloom & despair»…
NO MORE KITCHEN
I don’t get into Seattle as much as I’d like to of late, so when something changes, it’s quite a shock when I get back here. And one of the sad realities is that there is no more kitchen to make the healthy vegan munchies they once did last year. Fine. I can survive going to a club without munchies. Moving on…
DRINK PRICES
Here’s where it gets more unfortunate. Okay. Just this past weekend — Friday/​Saturday, November 8 & 9 — I spend clubbing on Capitol Hill because that’s where the fun is for me (and because Noc Noc has closed).
* So on Friday night, I go to the cool show featuring the «Break Up» & «Combichrist» and get a basic Rum & Coke mixed drink. $ 9 fricken dollars!
* The next night — Saturday — I hit The Mercury and I make the same order for a basic Rum & Coke. $ 3.50. And get this — IN A BIGGER GLASS.
Pretty dramatic disparity here between two Capitol Hill clubs merely blocks away from each other. And so when it comes to basic cost metrics, you are not going to frequent an establishment that gouges you for the same product you can get someplace else for much less.
THE VENUE AS A CONCERT STOP
It’s not that big. The raised stage is small, but I admit that if you are up front — as I was at the CombiChrist & Break Up show — it makes for a lot of fun to be within spitting distance of Andy of CombiChrist.
And there was a beautiful tall girl dressed with a lighted unicorn-​horn (I shit you not — look at my pictures). That was pretty priceless!
THE STAFF
The employees of Highline are extremely professional and nice. The bartenders (other than price issues) are friendly, helpful & chattable. The DJs are great and very receptive to music requests. All the other ancillary staff were very nice in guiding me and my friends around the venue.
So big props for the service staff since they deserve it.
THE LOWDOWN
This is basically a wash — there is enough good stuff to counterbalance what I consider the bad stuff and I will definitely come back again. But this is not what I would call an establishment to get your cost-​effective «drink on», if you know what I mean.
[And it’s rather frustrating now to go through the photo-​album of this business and see all of these de-​LISH dishes… that are no longer served there… which is why I am checking «Not Helpful» on all of those pictures.]