By William Wayt
It’s 10:45 p.m. and I’m sitting in the bar at Cliffhanger Sports Bar & Restaurant in Lynnwood, Washington. I smell the mouth-watering aroma of steaks as a server whisks past me balancing a large tray of food for the party of four sitting behind me.
Seems like Lynnwood rolls up the carpet at 10:00 p.m. By then most of the good eating places are closed. Even Cliffhanger’s restaurant lobby is closed, but the good news is the kitchen is open until 1:00 a.m. They serve their full menu of homemade dishes — yes, even their signature $5.99 breakfast is available. So if you’re hungry, you’re in luck, and you don’t have to put up with cafeteria food from Applebee’s, Sheri’s, or Denny’s.
Do you like beer? If so, they have a variety of six ice cold beers on tap, along with many more bottles of various beers in the cooler. They have a great mix of domestic and imported beers, along with a smattering of full-bodied microbrews. If you prefer the sound of ice cubes clinking into a clear glass, the full service bar may be your cup of tea. Too early for an adult beverage? Then enjoy a cup of coffee or iced tea or one of the many soft drinks they offer.
After or during your meal you may want to visit the game room. You can have fun playing pool or darts. There are two soft tip dartboards and two four-foot by six-foot pool tables. The pool tables are coin operated and cost 50 cents to play. Minors are welcome in the game room until 9:00 p.m.
Televisions abound here. If you enjoy watching “the game” or another sports event this is a good place to go. Ten large flat-screen LCD TVs are positioned strategically around the room. This makes any seat in the house a good one. During major sports events they have prize drawings, social games, and food and drink specials. Happy hour is Monday from 2:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and all day on Sunday. Well drinks and domestic beers are $2.75. Margaritas and Bloody Mary’s are $4, to mention a few.
Would you like to win some money? Many people play pull tabs here; they have a room dedicated to the sport. They boast of having 42 pull tab bowls. They even have a “happy hour bowl” that pays double during happy hour. Helen, a longtime bartender, said, “The pull tabs are a major reason why a lot of our customers come in.”
Enjoy karaoke three nights a week, Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. What about live entertainment? Laurie, the bar manager, has you covered, booking live bands on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. On Sunday from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. enjoy “The Couch Blues Band” playing soft rock and blues favorites. It is an intimate, laid-back setting. They take requests, too.
Tuesday night is Men’s Night with drink specials and live entertainment. On Wednesday they do the same for the ladies.
The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Food is available in the bar until 1:00 a.m. The bar is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Cliffhanger is located at 17525 Highway 99, Lynnwood, WA 98037, (425) 967-5781.
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