Let’s Eat: Red Mill Totem House location blends two classics

The newest Red Mill Burger location that sits at the location of an old landmark restaurant has evolved as a hybrid of two classic Seattle joints. (MyNorthwest.com/Linda Thomas)

The newest Red Mill Burger location that sits at the site
of an old landmark restaurant in Ballard, just a short walk from the locks, has evolved as a hybrid of two classic Seattle joints.

The Red Mill Totem House is taking inspiration from its
predecessor and is offering the dish that the old Totem
House restaurant was known for, fish and chips, along with it’s typical Red Mill Burger options.

So when you go to the new restaurant, do you go classic
Red Mill burger, or Totem fish and chips?

Let’s Eat
host and Seattle Times restaurant reviewer Providence
Cicero says while she definitely likes the fish and chips,
for her, at Red Mill, it’s still all about the burgers.

“To me, Red Mill means a burger,” says Cicero, who lists
her favorites as the Verde Burger and Bleu Cheese N’Bacon
Burger.

“The thing you have to know at Red Mill is you’ve got to
get bacon on whatever you get because their bacon is
amazing.”

On her most recent visit, Cicero says she saw a guy
walking out chewing on a handful of bacon, no joke. She
learned you can get it as a side to go.

She also says the onion rings are potentially the very
best thing that Red Mill has on the menu, and if you like
their onion rings, you’ll probably also be a fan of their
new fish and chips.

While the dish was inspired by the former restaurant
occupying the building, Cicero says she’s not sure how
much this fish and chips resembles the famous original.

“I have never had the Totem House fish and chips, so I
can’t really compare them to before but I can tell you
that I like them now. I love the tartar sauce with lots
of dill pickle in it. The fries are great, nice and kind
of meaty fries.”

Cicero seems to see good things in both the fish and chips
and burger options.

“I think it depends on if you’re a burger person or a
fish and chips person,” says Cicero.

If you go, she says expect at least a short wait. Even
though the staff is great and always busy keeping things
looking and tasting great, it’s just a popular
place.

“I think justifiably so,” says Cicero.

Let’s Eat
can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM at 4 p.m. on Saturday and at
noon on Sunday. Available anytime ON DEMAND
at MyNorthwest.com

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorhwest.com Editor