Again, this is a Yelp review brought over here for archival purposes, especially the description of the Midnight Manhattan (links added). Originally written in 2021.
We’ve been coming to Airways since they had only their space in the more industrial section of Kent. I think we’ve been coming to The Bistro since it opened.
They’ve always been a friendly, accommodating place. They have their own beers, which tend to the IPA side of the scale, but they always have “guest” beers as well, usually with a porter or a stout for reprobates like myself. Lately they’ve been doing mixed drinks as well, and I very much like their Midnight Manhattan — “Blue Spirits rye whisky, Sidetrack Distillery nocino walnut liqueur, Scrappy’s orange bitters, rouge vermouth $10″ (don’t be scared off — the walnut note is very faint, and mixes with the rest of the drink just fine).
Food? Their kitchen started small, only able to do sandwiches and flatbreads. As they’ve gotten more space, they’ve fleshed out the menu in interesting ways — a charcuterie plate; mac & cheese; fish & chips; a “Bavarian breakfast plate” on the weekends.
In the age of COVID, they’ve always been scrupulous, much helped by the patio area they’ve had to start with (and hops growing on the fences). The menus are touchless, by giving you a QR code that sends you to their web site.
Not only have they been the one restaurant we’ve tended to eat at in person, when we have friends from the city of Seattle itself come by, we generally take them here.
I give out my stars on how far out of the way I think you should go. Five means nationally; four is within the region; three is within a city; two means down the street; and one star means you’re in front of a place’s door and can’t move.
By definition, if we’re inviting friends from elsewhere in the region to drop by, Airways Brewing Bistro is a solid regional four stars.