The Walrus and the Carpenter

"Chef-owner Renee Erickson was inspired by the casual oyster bars of Paris to open this bustling shoebox of a restaurant on the south end of Ballard Avenue." Full review

"Taking its name from the Lewis Carroll poem and set at the back of a converted commercial building on shady Ballard Avenue." Full review

""Pay someone to stand in line for you" at this "tiny", "packed-to-the-gills" midpriced Ballard seafooder, where bivalve fans slurp "expertly shucked oysters" at the zinc bar." Full review

"Loyal regulars know well to come early or be prepared to wait for a seat in the homey, historic Kolstrand Building space, all dolled up in cheerful white with conversation-starting lighting." Full review

"This tiny restaurant, with an unlikely name-from a Lewis Carroll poem-has been designated one of the top restaurants in the nation by multiple national news media."

"The haute bar cuisine (tartines, charcuterie, smoked fish and cheese) is matched by an impressive roster of drinks." Full review

"There's a bit of Alice in Wonderland-inspired whimsy at this oyster bar—a coral-inspired chandelier, wild drawings by a local artist, and a staff that doesn't take themselves too seriously." Full review

"Walrus is walk-in only, a spare and simple spot in a former marine hardware shop, where you come for piles of oysters—each named for the regional bay where they were harvested." Full review

"Oysters and cocktails make a great party in Ballard." Full review

"This oyster bar blends the elegance of France with the casual comfort of a local fishing pub." Full review