mccormick and schmick's

i don't normally write about chains, but i had drinks and appetizers at mccormick & schmick's last week and i'm currently running a little short on material so i figured i would write about it. i had actually never been there before, but liberal foodie had a gift certificate so we decided to hit it up.

overall, i was whelmed. is that a word? i was neither over- nor underwhelmed. just whelmed. ummm... this is getting annoying. i guess basically i just thought everything was ok. we tried a number of appetizers (reuben sliders, salmon cakes, fish tacos, mussels, spinach/artichoke dip, calamari, and a few other things i can't remember). everything was just ok. it was prepared fine, but just kind of lacking in flavor i guess.

however, it was super cheap. everything on the happy hour menu is between $1.95 and $4.95. there are also drink specials. i just stuck to wine ($5 for 8 oz.), but there were some holiday themed mixed drinks and beer. after liberal foodie's $20 gift certificate, we only paid $30 total including tip for three of us. and we ate enough to fill us up so we didn't need dinner.

the atmosphere was pretty much what you would expect in a higher-end chain restaurant's bar. lots of dark woods, a few tvs with sports on, dim lights. the service was very attentive and friendly.

if you go here, don't expect to be wowed by the food (at least the food on the bar menu... i can't speak for the lunch/dinner menus). however, if what you want is some cheap food to soak up alcohol and ward off hunger pangs while you hang out with friends downtown after work, mccormick and schmick's definitely does the job.