Duke’s Chowder House has come a long way since 1976 when Duke Moscrip broke away from his partnership in Ray’s Boathouse to start the original Duke’s Bar and Grill at 1st Ave. West and Thomas on Queen Anne, just two blocks from the Seattle Center.
“I wanted to do something on my own,” he said. “Something that was markedly different from the direction Ray’s was headed. I wanted something less formal, a hangout, but a hangout with distinctive food. We started with what was definitely an eclectic menu with my favorite foods but quality was always important even at the beginning. From there we embarked on a trail adding tasty menu items each year.”
The first Duke’s opening was about as informal as the restaurant business could get. “We paid the employees cash every nite. There were no paychecks. We didn’t even have a cash register….we kept the money in cigar boxes. Really, cigar boxes.” There was always a feeling of a free wheeling party every nite. It was packed. For a thorough list of Duke's "Firsts & Other Capers", take a look at this!
Fueled by the success of Duke’s Bar & Grill in Queen Anne, Duke’s Bellevue opened two years later, followed by Duke’s 5th Avenue in 1985. It was in 1989 that the company made its biggest and best decision, i.e. the opening of the first Duke’s Chowder House on South Lake Union followed by Duke’s Greenlake Chowder House in 1990 and finally Duke’s Alki Chowder House in 2001. Duke's expanded once again in 2005 with a location in Kent Station, and shortly thereafter opened a location on Tacoma's Ruston Way waterfront.
The Duke’s Chowder Houses have a casual, unpretentious atmosphere where comfort, cold beer, tasty cocktails and scrumptious food all come together. Duke’s famous Clam Chowder recipe originated with Duke’s grandfather in New England and has won countless awards including the Seattle Chowder Cook Off three years in a row. Seven other chowders have now been introduced and other “soups” and Chowders will continually be developed. Duke’s has also won, for two years running, the “Gills and Grills” (best seafood barbecue) contest with the Indian Salmon Bake recipe.
As for the future of Duke’s Chowder House? With many plans for continued growth, Duke’s Chowder House is committed to continuing their reputation as being the classy place that guests choose where they can enjoy tasty food and drink and genuinely friendly service, “Just the way you like it.”
