Independent-review disclosure: this was not an advertisement, hosted meal, or restaurant collaboration. We paid the bill ourselves.
Quick verdict
| Overall rating | 3.2 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Best for | Happy hour, a solo Resy-credit meal, or diners seeking a broad steak and wagyu selection |
| Main weaknesses | High dinner pricing, an approximately one-hour wait for our food, and flavors that did not justify the premium for us |
| Current happy hour | Monday–Saturday 4–6 p.m.; Sunday 4–9 p.m. |
| Important bill detail | A 20% service charge is included |
Bottom line: we would return for happy hour, but would not choose full-price dinner over Bellevue and Seattle’s many alternatives unless a specific steak or credit made the numbers work.
For one diner, a targeted dinner can work
A solo visit is the easiest way to keep the total close to an available quarterly Resy credit while still ordering a proper entrée. Check the current menu first, remember sales tax and the service charge, and do not build an order that lands at exactly $100 before those additions.
The credit should reduce the effective cost of a meal you actually want—not persuade you to spend substantially more at a restaurant you would otherwise skip.
For two or more, choose happy hour
John Howie’s official happy-hour page currently lists Monday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. The happy-hour menu is associated with the bar and lounge; confirm seating eligibility when reserving or arriving.
The current menu includes items such as deviled eggs, wagyu-beef-fat truffle fries, shrimp, sliders, a prime-beef burger, cocktails, and wine at meaningfully lower prices than the main dining-room experience. Menus and availability change, so use the restaurant’s live happy-hour page rather than an old screenshot.
Sunday is the easiest option because the published window runs through the evening. At any time, capacity and bar seating can still limit access.
Our food was fine; the pacing was not
John Howie Steak offers a serious range of beef, including prime, aged, American and Australian wagyu, and Japanese wagyu. The restaurant clearly caters to diners who want to compare cuts and origins in one place.
Our meal tasted competent but never became memorable. At the full dinner price, “fine” is not enough. More frustratingly, food arrived roughly an hour after ordering. One slow visit does not establish the restaurant’s normal service time, but it materially affected our experience.
Do not arrive ravenous or schedule a tightly timed event immediately afterward. If timing matters, tell the server at the beginning and ask for a realistic estimate.
The 20% charge is not an ordinary tip line
The restaurant currently adds a 20% service charge to every check. Its published disclosure says John Howie Steak retains 100% of that charge and compensates its service team through its pay structure. It also says additional gratuities are appreciated but not expected and go entirely to the service team.
That distinction matters: do not automatically add another 20% because you mistake the included charge for a blank gratuity suggestion. Read the bill, then decide whether you personally want to leave anything additional.
Using the Amex Platinum Resy credit
John Howie Steak’s current Resy listing says it qualifies for the Resy Credit. For the U.S. consumer Platinum Card, American Express currently offers up to $100 in statement credits per quarter on eligible Resy purchases, up to $400 per calendar year, after enrollment.
- Enroll in the benefit before paying.
- Use the enrolled eligible card directly with the restaurant.
- Confirm the venue remains eligible on Resy shortly before dining.
- Allow for tax and the restaurant’s 20% service charge when targeting a total.
- Do not assume credits roll into the next quarter.
- Check your own card’s terms; other Amex products and non-U.S. cards differ.
Statement credits are not instant discounts at the register and eligibility can change. The terms in your Amex benefits dashboard control.
John Howie Steak is in Bellevue, not Seattle proper, at 11111 NE 8th Street in The Bravern. It is best treated as an Eastside dining option rather than a downtown-Seattle recommendation.
This independent review reflects one personally paid visit. Menus, prices, happy-hour times, seating rules, service charges, restaurant eligibility, card benefits, and credit terms change. Verify current details with John Howie Steak, Resy, and American Express before dining.