Falls Terrace Restaurant

We were a group of 5, three of us Vegetarians. We looked at the menus online for several places for vegetarian options and Falls Terrace had the most… including small plate choices. But no, when we got there we saw the menu all the veggie choices had disappeared… why, because it was a «Special Mother’s Day Menu» Small Plates…“not today”…though the small plate menus had been left on the tables. Reluctantly, the server went to the kitchen and found ONE entrée could be made from the main menu… it was that or green salad (yawn) We even explained that we had checked online PLUS more than half of our group was vegetarian… but that was the best they could do
Now if we had been gluten-free…they couldn’t do enough for them… very disappointed by this attitude and we live in an area with LOTS of vegetarians!

The food is on the pricier side. Some is kind of bland but scenery and wait staff are really nice. Had chicken fettuccine and was not bad. The bread was great and butter was soft. The dessert was good with ice cream in a crêpe with strawberries.

In Olympia on business by myself (that’s a lot of prepositions to start)… Glad I found this spot. My fish and chips were good and the bread pudding was very good! Great relaxing atmosphere with a wonderful view of the falls. My server didn’t even scoff when I only wanted water (I’m the worst). In accordance with other reviews I did think it was a pinch over-​priced. I’m not sure I’d eat here real often if I was a local but for an out-​of-​towner like me it was just what I was looking for.

This is a nice place for lunch or dinner but I feel it is a bit over priced for the food that is prepared but is a trade off because of the view. The dinning area overlooks the trails of Tumwater falls and is really a nice setting and the service is always really excellent.
The lunch menu does not have a lot of vegetarian and no vegan offerings. I was really wanting a veggie burger with fries and asked if there were any alternatives to the beef burger and was told no. Not even a chicken or turkey burger let alone a veggie, which is not really keeping up with the times. My husband ordered a chicken caesar salad wrap with the soup and I ordered the shrimp and avocado open faced sandwich with sprouts and the fries. Unfortunately the fries were the best part of the meal, well that and the people watching on the trail was a hoot too but not worth the price of admission.
When the food came out I was seriously surprised at one slice of wheat bread with a crap load of sprouts on it, topped with the tiny pink shrimp and a few slices of avocado and a side of 1000 island dressing. It was so lack luster, I couldn’t believe this was what I ordered, tasteless and boring.
The wrap was just as bad, it was a huge wrap full of really large lettuce pieces and also lacking any kind of oomph or flavor. We aren’t really sure that there was any chicken in it and had to search, then finally gave up. The fries were delicious, but if that is the measure of the place they are not fine dining and lunch is certainly not worth 35 bucks without drinks. Sorry most likely won’t be a next time unless it is in the bar for a cocktail.

Let me start off by saying that this was one of the most worst dining experiences ever. Other than the view of the falls, I was so shocked to see that this place was actually a fine dining restaurant!!! The first thing I thought of was that this place should be on an episode of Kitchen Nightmares…
Anyway, after an exhausting day of work and an evening of house hunting, I decided to stop here for a bite to eat. My waitress was terrible. I was looking for light menu selections. This was my first time coming to this restaurant and I thought she would be a little more caring, especially since I announced that fact to her. Well, she rudely replied, «There is a side salad. I mean I do not know what you want.» Then she said she was going to get my iced tea and come back. Once she came back, I gave her my order and then she left the table. After she brought my food, she was M.I.A. Now I did notice the care she was giving to other tables. I am assuming it was because there were larger groups. Although as an African-​American woman in Olympia my mind began to wonder…
She did not ask me if I wanted a refill on my drink until it was time to bring me my check. For the other tables she asked if they wanted desert, assistance with the menu, and even asked if they had any questions. I did not receive any of this service. I told her that I did not want anymore to drink since I was done with my meal. As she is sitting the check into the table, she managed to spill iced tea on my shirt and pants. The waitress quickly grabbed the dinner napkin and wiped the table. She offered to bring me another towel. When the idiot returned, she gave me a dirty kitchen towel!!! Seriously!!! Of course I refused that foolishness!!!
When I noticed my very lovely shirt was stained with tea, I alerted the hostess who gave me a clueless expression. When I asked for a manager, the hostess replied, «The manager does not work on Mondays.» What the hell!!! She told me to come back with my cleaning bill. I told her that I live in Federal Way and I was house hunting in Olympia tonight so that was unacceptable. She said she was going to speak with the waitress about this issue. Now keep in mind this is the same waitress who offered me a dirty kitchen rag to clean my shirt. The hostess advised that the waitress said to comp the bill. Even after all of that, I still left the waitress a $ 5 tip.
Even though the meal was comped, the principle of horrible and rude customer service remains. Save your money. Go to Red Lobster.

Food here is definitely 3 stars. It’s not bad, but I don’t think it’s worth the price. I’ve had the halibut and the steak, and neither impressed me that much. Fish was a tad overcooked, and the steak was underseasoned.
However, the view from this restaurant overlooking Tumwater Falls is incredible, and the service is impeccable. These factors bump this up a star.
My advice would be to come here to eat while watching the falls, and just get something relatively cheap and simple to eat. You can easily drop $ 30-​$ 40 on a filet mignon, but this isn’t a steakhouse and you’re bound to be disappointed.

My husband and I got married at the falls. We are the ones kissing in the photo on the bridge actually. (See photos) So we decided to go here on Valentine’s Day and try it out. Safe to say I’ll never go back. I literally chipped my molar on something inside a carrot in the side salad. I figured I’d try the main course, assuming it wouldn’t happen to me, 2 times in one night, at the same restaurant. It did. They have offered to pay my dental bills, and sent a gift certificate but the service, the environment and the entire experience was pretty terrible. I don’t recommend this place. They are very expensive and not very quality food. But to each his own! If you do go here, I hope you have a much better experience!

(Valentine’s Day visit) Dirty drink glasses at my table and over heard the table next to me make the same complaint.
Felt very rushed. –I get it, big holiday, the turn around needs to be fast to accommodate, but come on? A good experience means repeat customers. Especially on a romantic night meant to go slowly. The menu was limited for the occasion– also understood to speed turn around times– but the offerings were slim and unimpressive. My BF and I both had chicken that we both verbalized we could have made better at home, and we aren’t even fancy cooks!
I suppose the place is appeasing to the eye, hence 2 stars, but we will be going somewhere else next year to celebrate

Went there for Valentine’s Day dinner. The service was good, servers and what not we’re professional and pleasant and did their job with class. The glasses and flatware were dirty, multiple tables had complaints of dirty dishes or odd objects in their food. The food is OK, the chicken cordon bleu was not only overpriced but the worst I’ve ever had. Their menu needs a little help and they certainly need a better recipe for the food. The creamy butter sauce was oily and the chicken was dry and hard. It’s a nice restaurant, good view, but the décor is tacky and out of date. They have the prices of a 4 star but the food and furniture of an over priced shari’s. The bathroom was a mess and in desperate need of repair and update. $ 85 for two dinners was a bit much for the quality of furniture and facilities. This place needs a major overhaul. I will however be back to try out their lunch, because of the view only.

I’ve ate here before and had good food and good service, with that being said; tonight I went in after a long day at work, and sat in the bar over 15 min with no acknowledgment, the bartender smiled at me, then walked to the back, the waitress never even looked at me. She did have 3 other tables, so I finally got up to walk out and she’s at the front counter chatting with another staff member, then acts shocked that I’m walking out, and proceeds to follow me out to the parking lot, telling me she didn’t see me… I was even more embarrassed. Won’t be going back for quite awhile

My experience was middle of the road. Couple items for the restaurant to address: Catalina dressing should not be served as your house raspberry dressing. Also, «flaming» dishes should not be placed in front of customers for them to «blow out and use lemon to help with the smoke». What was that? Ever heard of liability?
The food was borderline, nothing to rave about. The staff was good they fulfilled my needs. Although there was no check back which is a big deal for me.
Just not the experience of the past I had anticipated. Beautiful view I’ll give them that, step up the food and service and I’d be happy. Honestly not worth what I was charged.

Excellent Service! Our waiter Jake was absolutely the Best! Delicious Bacon Cheese Burger!
Lovely View of the Falls!
We will be back!

There was six of us last night celebrating my son’s birthday at this restaurant, I was displeased that that things started off slow, it was as if they weren’t very organized at the dinner hour. Three of us had the early bird steak dinner and every one of the steaks were not cooked properly and had a big string of non edible gristle through it. One had filet mignon and it was over cooked and a tiny portion. Everything else seemed great, maybe they should re evaluate where they get there steaks from and the chef needs a lesson on fine tuning his steak cooking times to get the correct doneness. I’ve had much better here in the past.

Everyone talks about the view, and yes it’s the main reason to go here, but on a Friday after a long stressful work week I also appreciate the extremely quiet low key atmosphere. Very different from Hearthfire or Dillinger’s. On a recent visit I had the seafood sampler. Both the salmon and halibut were good and the portions generous. The crab cakes were mostly bread crumbs and if you’re not going to do them right, just leave them off the menu! My partner had the prime rib which was nicely medium rare just as ordered and accompanies by the standard creamy horseradish and au jus circa 1985.
If you make a reservation be sure to ask for a table on the lower level because the upper level has these awful bright lights that shine right in your face.

The view alone is a reason to go. The food is a tad high. I had the fried prawns, which was a on the small size with a baked potatoe. It came with a soup or salad, I had the salad which was decent. My husband had the soup, which this day it was steak and potato. He said it was okay but not great. The meal came out luke warm. The fried prawns were tasteless and soggy in some parts. The view is really the main reason to go. Maybe it was just what I ordered, but at those prices I will have to really think twice before I go again.

Their food was over priced/​OK in my opinion. However, their view is AMAZING. You are pretty much paying for the great view. I had a hard time trying to pick out what I was going to have for dinner. None of it was appealing to me, so I just ordered their steak. Their 33 dollar ribeye steak was NOT a $ 33 rib eye. GO for the view!

My husband and I ate here for lunch today and it was wonderful. Our service was friendly and fast. We never had to ask to fill our water and the food was great!

A beautiful restaurant with great views. We make a point to go Everytime we visit Washington. We love the falls, and hope to renew our vows here. The beauty of nature, the story of the brewery, and a hatchery, all from a table of good food? I can not ask for more. They even have a very special anniversary cake they offer when celebrating.

If you go for the view and atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed. If you go for the food… you should focus on the view and the atmosphere as the food is only okay, and a little over priced.
And you don’t need a reservation, although you would be wise to make one if you are dining during peak times.

Waitress wasn’t what i would call a good one and was slow on everything. From water, drinks, to the food order. oh, and the bill.
I ordered the seafood pesto pasta is great. Super creamy just the way i like it. It was also a good sized portion. LOL, it was so good i didn’t want to share.
My husband go the salmon dish and before i could try it, it was demolished so I’m going to say that it’s safe to assume that he would recommend it for the fish lover.
Aside from the okay service, the food itself was great! Plus, you get a nice view. I would say it’s slightly overpriced but I guess they need to charge more for that location.