SEAReview
Duke’s is a Seattle seafood institution, so you can expect things like crab cakes, fried shrimp, chowder, and a huge wait for a table in a space that feels like a stuffy landlocked boat. You can also expect to be pretty disappointed.
If the food was great, we wouldn't mind having to order using the goofy phrases written in their menu, like: "Rockin' Rockfish Tacos," "It's So Dreamy Parmesan Halibut," and our very least favorite, "Blessed By The Pope Seafood Cioppino." But we've found that most of this seafood, from salmon stuffed with soggy breadcrumbs to coconut-crusted prawns, is tremendously overcooked and unpleasant. For a city that prides itself on food that comes from the water, it's not a good look. It's not a good taste either.
If you're practically being dragged here by tourists or stubborn locals who love "the good old days," it's not going to be the end of the world. Get a basket of "oh my cod! fish and chips" and move on with your life. But before all of that, do try your best to convince your group to eat somewhere else.