Mc Cormick's & Schmick's
 

Have you eaten there? We have a new one in Raleigh ... deciding whether to take visitors there to give it a try. Any opinions appreciated ... :)

Our's here in Birmingham is very good and is usually crowded. They have an extensive variety of oysters to choose from, if that is your fancy.

Very nice ambience and a huge menu.

Huge menu selection with generally good, but uneven, delivery. Downtown ATL venue is always ear hurting loud.

Have eaten only in Kansas City and Dallas. Both are different, but good. The one in KC is really nice, while the one in D is in a Mall. The menu changes Daily. We have only eaten there 3 or 4 times, but have never had a bad dish yet. I thought it was overpriced for what you were getting. But it definately is good. Portions were somewhat smaller, if i remember correctly.

The one in Houston is wonderful.

I used to be a fan. We have three here in Seattle, but I now eat my fish elsewhere except for happy hour and calamari at Harborside on Lake Union (not at the two downtown restaurants).

I've been to the one in Seattle for happy hour. It's nice for that.

Great restaurant. Far cheaper than the big name steak restaurants, very fresh seafood (they print their menu daily), and really good bar food for happy hour.

We've been to the one in Houston, and it's wonderful. I like that their menu changes daily based on what fresh fish they get in. I hope Ike doesn't ruin that.

There are two in Boston - one at Faneuil Hall and one at Park Plaza. My DH has eaten at the one at Park Plaza and says it's okay. We both ate at the one at Faneuil Hall and it was not so good! My observation about the ones in Boston is that they are both in areas where you get a large out-of-town crowd so they are going to get customers that way. IMHO, there are much better seafood places here in Boston so they have tough competition here. It's interesting to me to read the reviews for M&S in other cities...

I've eaten at the M&S in Seattle. I had some really wonderful mussels. I actually had the mussel appetizer as my meal - and I was stuffed! They were in a light coconut milk & red curry sauce. Delicious!

Also, in Portland, OR, Jake's Famous Crawfish is owned by M&S. We ate there just a few weeks ago and our dinners were terrific. My DH got his favorite dish: crawfish etouffe. I wish I had gotten that (not that my cioppino was less than wonderful).

They have a very good happy hour deal at the bar in NYC.

I've eaten at one in NJ. The bill is not much higher than at Red Lobster (and the food is several light years better). I might not bother if I lived in a city like Boston or Seattle with really good local seafood available, but otherwise I'd recommend it highly.

True about Seattle. No one ever mentioned them when recommending "seafood restaurants".

Have had a group lunch at the one in DC, a group dinner at the one in Annapolis MD and 2 lunches in Annapolis.

Both were quite good. Service in Annapolis uneven but place is new there.

Had excellent seafood dinner with group of 8 people.

I'd say pretty good for a chain.

I've eaten at the ones in Boston. They're just OK compared to their peers locally. No idea what the seafood options are like in Raleigh, so I can't speculate on whether it's better than the competition or not.

Just fyi, our local Sam's Club or Costco recently was selling a package with two $50 McCormick & Schmidt's gift cards, plus their seafood cookbook all for $75.

I probably wouldn't choose them over a local seafood restaurant along either coast. We've been to the ones in downtown Minneapolis and downtown San Jose and they were both pretty good.

I like them, especially for Happy Hour. I believe they started out here in Seattle and I think they usually have very good meals and reasonable prices.

<i>Worse meal I ever had at that price point...hands down. &lt;/&gt;

I think the problem is inconsistency. It is a chain, but it seems that the chef in each restaurant has more input into the menu and preparation than in chains which insist on the same menu and preparation at all properties. As a result, you can't be sure what you're going to get.

In a meal at the restaurant in Beverly Hills our entrees were up-market and appetizing; in a meal at a restaurant in downtown Seattle, our entrees were mundane (and expensive).

So, to ask, <i>Have you eaten there?</i> is insufficient. You need to name the specific city AND the restaurant in that city to get more accurate information.



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We've eaten in the one in Boston and Las Vegas. Both very good. Expensive, but very nice. You get what you paid for. Boston.. the best steak &amp; lobster I ever had... Las Vegas, I had orange roughy and it was very good, just not as good as the S&amp;L in Boston.

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. My husband and I will try Happy Hour on our own one evening, and go from there. I got such varied opinions from this site, and others, that I didn't want to risk taking our company/spending a lot, then being disappointed. Thanks again ...

I like some locations better than others. They vary quite a bit, unfortunately.

Artlover--Close, they began down here in Portland:)

They might vary, but here in Austin, both are VERY good. Excellent fish tacos. They have one of the best happy hours going - A few drink specials and specially priced appetizers. Cheeseburger and fries for $1.95, Fish Tacos for $3.95...The chefs here in Austin are excellent.

thanks, mms, seems I learn something new every day :D

We've had one here in Pasadena, California for well over a decade and it's very good. A friend even had her wedding reception there. I've been eating at them for a very long time. Happy Travels!

Okay, we tried Happy Hour at our new Raleigh location today. Outstanding! I had the Sangria, DH a beer, plus the cheeseburger/fries for $1.95, and the steamed mussels with garlic sauce (wonderful) and yummy bread for an unbelievable $3.95. We had the mini-desserts, creme brulee and three-berry crisp, $1.99 each. Total bill less than $22.00 plus tip. We were very impressed, and will go back for dinner.

Have to say that our waitress knew next to nothing about the beers but ... I can live with that! :)

So, are these happy hours only during the week? My husband works too late during the week to try to do anything like that.

They opened a restaurant very near us a few months back. I just assumed they were way out of our budget. But now I'm wondering whether, one of these Sunday afternoons when we can't get into the city for one reason or another, it'd be worth our while to check out their bar? We're always looking for new places for drinks and appetizers.

Wow, elsie, those are great prices. Sounds like it was a hit!

CAPH52, the 4 - 6:30 Happy Hours are only Monday through Friday, and then a Late Night Happy Hour Monday - Thursday 9 to 10 PM. Call your local one to confirm as the hours may vary a bit from one location to another. The food is delicious, and I really don't know how they do it for those prices!!!

Thanks, Elsie!

At the McC&amp;S's in Seattle, the food is a bargain at happy hour but drinks are not discounted.

I don't go to happy hour often, but when I do, I go to Palomino which has a great deal on the food and drinks and validated parking in downtown.

A few drinks and beers WERE discounted here in Raleigh ... I don't know if that will be a permanent thing, but we can hope!

Eat the catfish. Wonderful.