‘Priced like it was from 1950’: Canlis celebrates 75 years with surprise menu
Jan 3, 2026, 5:00 AM
Canlis, a premier fine-dining establishment in Seattle, celebrated its 75th anniversary in December by offering its guests a unique menu that drew inspiration from the restaurant’s roots.
Canlis co-owner Mark Canlis joined “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio to share the special surprises the restaurant served for the occasion.
“It’s a tradition my grandfather started, which was to use big anniversaries to do something that gives back to the community that has supported us,” Canlis said. “For our 75th birthday, we thought, wouldn’t it be fun to say thanks to the city by surprising them with a menu that was priced like it was from 1950. The food was modern, but the pricing was of another time; it was a lot of fun.
“[Guests] didn’t know, they sat down at the table, all thinking it was a normal meal,” Canlis continued. “We didn’t tell them when they made the reservation. We handed them the menu and said, ‘Hey, for our birthday, we want to give you, the city, a present.’ We priced this menu true to how it would have been in 1950, which was so fun. The first course, pork, was $4, and the staple fish was $3.50. The soufflé and desserts were down in the 80-cent to $1.25 range.”
In light of a scathing food review from The Seattle Times, Canlis noted that anytime the restaurant receives constructive criticism, it’s a wonderful opportunity to reflect and use it as an opportunity to improve.
“I learned this lesson from Chef James, he said, ‘We’re learners, we have to be open to feedback. We want to be the kind of people who will receive a difficult word.’ It’s not the first time this restaurant has had a hard review,” Canlis said. “This moment was to take an honest look in the mirror and say, ‘Are we working as hard as we possibly can to take care of our guests?’ Maybe we missed on a meal for her, but I’m a huge believer in what we’re doing and where we’re going with this team.”
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
