John Howie Steak in Downtown Bellevue.
The Bravern’s steakhouse since 2009 — 28-day custom-aged Prime over mesquite, the deepest Wagyu list on the Eastside, and a whiskey bar next door for the nightcap.
John Howie Steak is the quiet, serious steakhouse in The Shops at The Bravern — a dark, wood-and-leather room reached by the Amethyst elevators from the garage, with a fireplace patio on the Shops’ upper level, two wine-named private rooms, and Whiskey by John Howie through the wall for the after-dinner pour. The kitchen custom-ages USDA Prime for 28 days and grills it over mesquite, and the Wagyu list — American, Australian, Japanese A5 by the ounce — is the deepest on this side of the lake.
Chef John Howie opened it in 2009, seven years after Seastar, and DBN has followed it since: the BDA’s Best Steakhouse four years running by 2013, the fireplace patio added in the pandemic summer of 2020, the whiskey bar that opened next door in 2021, the Wine Spectator award in 2022. The wine program is run by the same team as Seastar’s, and the white chocolate coconut cream pie is the same pie.
It is the opposite of STK’s volume and a more contemporary room than El Gaucho’s tableside theater — the steakhouse for a client, a Wagyu flight, and a conversation you can hear. Where it sits among the rest is in our guide to the best steakhouses in downtown Bellevue.
What to Order at John Howie Steak
Prime, Wagyu, and a mesquite grill; these five are how regulars build the night.
Filet Mignon, USDA Prime
28-day custom-aged Omaha beef grilled over mesquite — the cut the room is built around, in 6 or 8 ounces.
Seven Flavor Prime Tenderloin Bites
Lemongrass, ginger, five spice, and Thai basil on Prime tenderloin — the appetizer that has followed Chef Howie from Seastar.
Japanese Wagyu A5 Filet Mignon
Miyazaki Prefecture beef, pan-seared, sold by the ounce — the reason the Wagyu list here is the deepest on the Eastside.
Wagyu Beef Fat Truffle Fries
Parmigiano-Reggiano and black-truffle aioli. Order two; they do not survive the first round of drinks.
White Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie
Chef Howie’s famous recipe, made for two. The same pie that ends dinner at Seastar, and the right one here.
John Howie Steak Through the Years on DBN
DBN has reported on downtown Bellevue since 2005. This is John Howie Steak’s story as we covered it, as it happened.
2013 Best of Downtown Bellevue Haute Picks Announced
The BDA named John Howie Steak Best Steakhouse for the fourth year running — four years after the 2009 opening at The Bravern.
John Howie Steak Adds Outdoor Dining at The Bravern
The pandemic summer produced a patio in front of the fireplace on the Shops’ upper level.
New Whiskey Bar by John Howie Now Open at The Bravern
Whiskey by John Howie opened next door, giving the steakhouse a bar built for the nightcap.
6 Bellevue Restaurants Receive National Recognition for Their Wine Programs
A Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — the wine list here is run by the same team as Seastar’s.
Browse all John Howie Steak coverage in the DBN archive.
Getting There & When to Go
The Bravern is built around its garage and elevators; the restaurant is easy once you know which bank to take.
Getting There & Parking
- Drive: The Bravern garage, entered from the NE 8th arrival court or from 112th Ave NE at the south end. Park near the Amber or Amethyst elevators — the Amethyst elevators open onto the restaurant’s lobby entrance. Valet is available at the arrival courts on 110th Ave NE and NE 8th.
- Light rail: 2 Line to Bellevue Downtown Station, then a five-minute walk east across 110th to The Bravern — see our light rail guide
- On foot: From the Bellevue Collection it is a 10-minute walk east along NE 8th; the Shops’ entrances are on NE 8th and 110th Ave NE.
Best Times to Go
Friday and Saturday dinners book out weeks ahead for the prime hours; Tuesday through Thursday the same room is easier to land, and the private rooms go earliest of all in December. Whiskey by John Howie next door is the walk-in move before or after. Restaurant Week, spring and fall, is the value way into the kitchen.
Make It a Night
The Bravern makes it a night: pair dinner with a walk through The Bravern’s shops before your table, The Dolar Shop a few doors down for the next Bravern dinner, or a downtown hotel within a few blocks if you are making a night of it.
Good to Know
As of August 2026: dinner nightly; a 20% service charge is included on each check; corkage per bottle. Two private rooms — the Magnum Room for up to 16 and the Jeroboam Room for up to 24 — through the private-dining line. A Prime Rewards loyalty program covers the Howie restaurants. Whiskey by John Howie is next door.
John Howie Steak FAQ
Does John Howie Steak take reservations?
Yes, and the restaurant recommends them: book through OpenTable or Resy, both linked from the official site, or call. As of August 2026 there are two private rooms, the Magnum Room for up to 16 and the Jeroboam Room for up to 24 with a view of the Cascades, arranged through the private-dining line.
Where do you park for John Howie Steak at The Bravern?
The Bravern garage, entered from the NE 8th arrival court or from 112th Ave NE at the south end. Park near the Amber or Amethyst elevators; the Amethyst elevators open directly onto the restaurant’s lobby entrance. Valet is available at The Bravern’s arrival courts on 110th and NE 8th.
What should you order at John Howie Steak?
The USDA Prime filet mignon is the signature and the Wagyu list, from American to Australian to Japanese A5, is the reason to come; the Steak Oscar with Dungeness crab is the Northwest move. Start with the Seven Flavor tenderloin bites, add the Wagyu-fat truffle fries, and finish with the white chocolate coconut cream pie.
Is there a service charge at John Howie Steak?
Yes. As of August 2026 a 20% service charge is included on each check and retained by the restaurant, the same policy as at Seastar. Corkage is charged per bottle.
Who is John Howie?
A James Beard-nominated Northwest chef whose group runs Seastar in Bellevue, this steakhouse and the adjacent Whiskey by John Howie at The Bravern, and Beardslee Public House in Bothell. John Howie Steak opened at The Bravern in 2009 and was named the BDA’s Best Steakhouse for four straight years in its early run.