88 Keys

01/09/2008 Posted by astroaphi

I've been here twice and enjoyed both times. I've been to the Howl at the Moon in Orlando several times, and while I don't think this one is as high energy, the piano players will at least play your song without making you put down a 20. It's much cleaner than several other bars I've been to, and you can generally find a seat as long as you don't have a huge party. Saturday nights are pretty insane, but I thought it was a good crowd and everyone was friendly and in a good mood. The bartenders will make just about anything, and the piano players are pretty talented. They played some pretty random songs that I had never heard of, which is a testament to their talent, but sometimes they are slaves to a lame crowd and have to play the crowd's lame requests (which I really can't fault them for).

Pros: Music, bartenders

Cons: Music can be lame if the crowd is lame also

10/25/2007 Posted by angieisout

I recently discovered 88 Keys and the warm, friendly, and inter-personal atmosphere has brought me back the last three weekends in a row! The pianists put on a fun and interactive show, and I loved the way they encouraged everyone in the audience to participate, and even be silly! It definitely broke down that strange social barrier you sometimes find in bars, and this is a great place for going out solo. The food was the best bar food I've ever eaten, and priced very reasonably. To top it all off, this place has an all-around wonderful staff! I'm always greeted at the door with a smile, the bartenders make to die for drinks, and the waitresses are sweet, friendly, and attentive. This is the only bar that I've frequented where the staff actually remembers my name week after week!! I recommend this bar for everyone, young and old, single or not, even a place to take dad; a fabulous time for all!

Pros: Fun for everyone, friendly staff, good food!

Cons: Crowded!

08/05/2007 Posted by initforfun

This is only my first posting, but after seeing these others about this joint, I just had to chime in. While I understand the frustrations of slow service and mediocre food......others who have posted about 88 keys obviously don't understand what it's really all about. I've been there 3 times......I've never eaten there and at some point each visit I've had to leave my table to get a drink from the bar because my waitress was MIA. But the serivce is not the reason to go there, people!! You go there, like I did last night, to have a kick-ass time with friends in an environment that makes it IMPOSSIBLE TO NOT HAVE FUN!!! The place is packed by about 9:30.....I don't envy those waitresses trying to get to everybody! But the music is loud, and I mean that as a plus, not a minus. I practically lost my voice singing along to songs that I have missed terribly over the years. Be prepared for Birthday parties (of which I was a part last night), Bachelorette parties (there were 3), small groups and couples. Don't be shy about singing, dancing, and just plain having a great time. But again, IF THE POINT OF YOUR EVENING OUT IS TO HAVE A JOHNNY-ON-THE-SPOT WAIT STAFF AND GOURMET FOOD.......YOU SHOULDN'T BE AT ANY BAR........!!! But if you just want to let your hair down and have fun with a ton of other people looking to do the same, by all means......88 keys is the place for you!

Pros: Lively crowd, great music, very few of the "youngsters" usually in the Pioneer Square area

Cons: can be hard to find a table, could use more waitresses

03/10/2007 Posted by seattlefunseeker

I went to 88 Keys for the first time last night and had the greatest time!!!! From the minute you walk in the door the atmosphere screams-FUN FUN FUN! People were on their feet dancing, singing along to the song being played and having a great time. We grabbed a drink from the friendly bartenders (who make great drinks by the way) and sat down to enjoy the show. Not knowing what exactly to expect I was completely blown away. The piano players (4 of them on rotation) entertained the crowd with their colorful rendition of our favorite songs. They bounced around all music genres- from Radiohead to John Mayer to Garth Brooks to Elton John and many other great tunes that we all know and love, pausing their vocals at certain moments to let us sing the next few lines. Then out of nowhere one of them jumped on a set of drums, another grabbed a bass guitar and they tore a killer version of "City of Compton" by Dr. Dre. It was awesome!! I noticed they were allot of single people mingling and having a great time , and I couldn't help but think of how the fun atmosphere is a real ice breaker when you want to have fun with someone you just met. You can be goofy and its totally acceptable! There was a big bachelorette party there and they made the bride to be feel real special. Overall my experience was as good as it gets. There wasnt the typical Pioneer Square roudies that tend to ruin the fun. The drinks and service was great. The bathroom were the cleanest I've seen in Pioneer Square and the entertainment was top notch. I recommend going there very soon. We will definitely be back very soon for more fun. Enjoy

Pros: Tons fo fun to be had. Clean bathrooms. Zero drama that is usually associated with Pioneer Square bars.

Cons: There wasnt any.

03/07/2007 Posted by howlinginseattle

This is a great place to go with a group of friends. I have been to quite a few Howl at the Moons across the country and this is right up there with the best of them. I was just there saturday night and had a great time. The food has gotten better since the last time I was there and I would recomend having dinner there now. I had the Meat Loaf and it is out of this world! The people that were with me had a variety of things on the menu and everything was great. They have a good wait staff that is very helpful. We had a reservation fo 12 and showed up with a few more and the host was very accomadating to find room for us even though they had a almost full house. Some of the piano players have changed and it is very refreshing to here the show they have now! I cannot wait to go back!!!!!!!

Pros: Fun times had by all

03/05/2007 Posted by bakesbaker

I know the old owner of 88 Keys and he got out of there because Pioneer Square is DEAD! The new owner has no idea what he is doing, the piano show is horrible, service lacks direction and this place will be done in a couple of months! Face it Pioneer Square is over!

Pros: Cool space

Cons: Pioneer Square

02/28/2007 Posted by glittergurl

2007 Must have brought some serious changes to this place in the most NEGATIVE ways possible! Like the 2 reviews below, the service is HORRIBLE and bartenders are EXTREMELY cocky and rude. Too cool to serve anyone... Hello!!? We PAY your bills boys!? What happened to customer service? A friend of mine knows people who use to work there and apparently under really BAD new management now, they’ve lost all their good staff and any sense of organization and customer service it seems. Even the piano show is different. :( Pretty sad…it use to be a really fun place…LAST year. Sorry to say I wasted my money here…won’t do it again!

Pros: It's out of the rain!

Cons: Oh let me see....nope, too many to list!

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

02/04/2007 Posted by hammarb

My sister called over 3 weeks in advance and reserved tables in front for a birthday party with 18 guests. She checked back at least 4 times to work out details, and the day of the party she called to confirm the number of people. When we arrived on time last night, the front desk had no record of our reservation. This was surprising because we were supposed to have a special group rate where each person would be charged $15 at the door and receive drink tickets and a seat at a the front tables. The manager refused to do anything about it. Only after making a scene did he even agree to waive the cover charge for us. There was no attitude of apology or accommodation whatsoever. Once inside, we discovered a group of tables where the reservation tags had been hand-written (all the other reservation tags were printed.) An hour later the people at those tables left and we took over the tables only to discover that the tags had our names printed on the inside. Someone had folded them over to hide our names and hand-write another party’s names on the back. When we showed this to the manager, again, there was no explanation, no apology, no offer to comp us drinks, nothing. On the service in general: We arrived at 9PM. It was midnight before a waitress came to our “special front row party table”. Even then, no one ever cleared the dirty glasses and dishes from the previous group. We had to get our drinks from the bar line. The bartenders were rude, and too cool to listen to your whole order. They had to make multiple trips per person to get the orders right, instead of taking time to listen the first time. One good note: The entertainers were excellent. However, overall this was the worst experience I’ve had in Seattle. Thanks 88 Keys for an absolutely inept, crappy time. None of us will be back.

Pros: Great entertainers

Cons: Terrible management, Service, wont go back until those change

01/10/2007 Posted by limeuser

These guys seem to have thier heads waaaay up thier A$$e$! Takes waaaay too long to get service from a waitress. When I requested a song...they never even played it and I paid $5! What a waste of money this place was. I will NEVER go back there again!

Pros: A great place to go if ya wanna be ignored!

Cons: Too many to list!

11/16/2006 Posted by junebug111

I love this place! It is a great place to get together with friends and enjoy some live music. I have been there twice and both times there was a great mix of people, not everyone was 21. :) The bartenders a re super hot and the drinks are very inexpensive. Also the live music is a major plus and provides a fabulous atmosphere, loud enough to enjoy, not to loud to still chat with your friends.

Pros: cute bartenders, inexpensive drinks, talented entertainers

Cons: can get really crowded...but this can be a good thing