Runway views plus real salmon: Anthony’s in SEA Main
In SEA’s Main terminal, Anthony’s Restaurant feels closest to a waterfront seafood spot you’ll find airside, with big windows looking straight onto the runway and a full bar. It’s past security, sit-down only, and the menu leans Northwest: salmon, chowder, and fish tacos dominate. Expect a mid-tier airport bill: most mains land in the $20–$30 range, with chowder and starters a bit under that.
Prices sit firmly in the $$ bracket, and reviews hover around a 4-star average on Google and Yelp. The tradeoff: you get actual plates, real glassware, and pour-by-the-glass Washington wines, not just plastic cups and heat-lamp fries. One regular on Yelp calls it their “preflight ritual – chowder and a glass of wine watching the planes,” which sums up the pace and vibe here.
Menu strategy is simple: order chowder or salmon. The clam chowder shows up in countless reviews as the safest move, and grilled or blackened salmon gets similar praise for being “surprisingly good salmon for an airport.” Fish tacos are the other solid bet if you want something lighter than a full $25 entrée. Regulars say skip the more experimental dishes and stick to the core seafood items Anthony’s already nails downtown.
Watch out for time and money. Service often runs slow during peaks, with several travelers saying they ended up shoveling down a $28 salmon plate before boarding. Build in at least 60 minutes gate-to-gate if you’re doing a sit-down meal here. Sticker shock is another common complaint; Google and Yelp reviews repeatedly flag the $20–$30 mains as steep, even by airport standards.
One practical move: if your layover is over an hour, ask the host for a window table so you can track departures while you eat, order the chowder plus a glass of Washington wine, and pay as soon as the mains land so a slow check drop doesn’t cut into boarding time.