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    Big Wave Cafe

    4.2 (708 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Big Wave Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BIG WAVE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Big Wave Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Big Wave Cafe.
    Laura C.

    David Jennifer C. has made accusations and claims that are incorrect without any real knowledge of our dissatisfaction of our dinning experience earlier this month while In Manzanita,Oregon at Big Wave Cafe. He has accused me of not responding to his attempt made to contact me. I did generate a reply to the message via Yelp I received within approximately forty-eight hours of his written message posted. In my reply I suggested, to him that he might as an owner spend more time and energy on presentation of food served at his eatery. I also added that he might want to consider the quality of the food offered. He claims he gave me an opportunity to retract my review, that the restaurant would make my food once again if I had informed them of my disgust and that I ate my meal in mostly its entirety. This is his claim. Certainly was not my experience, nor what I perceived to be the case. My response was generated timely, concisely, and above all accurately. It in fact was my experience. I had no intention of retracting my original review generated. It was in fact the experience I had. I found food to be under cooked, and this may in fact be a on off. I did not as it is stated by David Jennifer eat most of my meal. I did not find the dining experience as I would have expected.

    Amelia R.

    We were on a little road trip on the Oregon coast and wanted to stop for some seafood! We stopped at big wave cafe! My husband got the catch of the day and I had the crab cakes. The cod sandwich was absolutely FRESH AND DELICIOUS! The fish was flaky and the bun very soft. The crab cakes were not my favorite. They had an extremely fishy flavor. I took one bite and couldn't finish them :( . While the crab cakes were not fresh the sever was great and took Them off the bill. I can appreciate great customer service and they had that. They have a private parking lot and plenty of seating for parties of all sizes. Beautiful Oregon coast vibe. I would come back just for the cod sandwich!

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    2 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    14 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David Jennifer C.

    David Jennifer C.

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    24 days ago

    Dry fish. Overpriced. No atmosphere. I don't know how this could possibly get so many good reviews.

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    1 month ago

    Came to the coast and stumbled on the Big Wave Cafe. The food was delicious and the service friendly. We left totally satisfied. Enjoy!

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 months ago

    Truck stop decor with world class food. Our scallops and razors were perfect. Hustling staff did a nice job. Mmmmmm

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The service was really kind and attentive but...the food was very meh. Don't get the Halibut. It's not worth the extra expense.

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

    So good. Had the captains feast and my wife had the chowder. Both delicious. The prawns were excellent.

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    5 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

    Food was fresh and hot. Excellent clam chowder and crab cakes. Service was exceptional and laid back.

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    10 months ago

    Very nice lunch of fresh crab. Friendly service -quiet, clean-easy to park near Manzanita.

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    9 months ago

    Restaurant opened late and the service was mediocre. Food was so-so and not worth the price. I wouldn't go back.

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    Page 1 of 18

    Ask the Community - Big Wave Cafe

    Hours of operation?

    Currently hours are 8-3 seven days/week. They are not serving dinner at the moment. There is both indoor and patio seating. Great place!!!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Riverside Fish n' Chips - 3-piece Cod Basket

    Riverside Fish n' Chips

    4.8(330 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    A friend asked me to go kayaking in Nehalem. She saw something in a paper that was introducing a…read morefood cart in town. "We will go paddling on the river then grab some fish and chips." Sounds like fun and tasty so we left early on Saturday morning. We splashed in and played for a few hours. After getting out of the water we walked to the food cart restaurant on the bank of Nehalem river. When we walked up there was a sign "Waiting Time One Hour". Ok! It's a three day warm winter weekend so many people headed to the coast. We ordered beer and chatted away the time. This is a good food cart, outside seating on the river on the sunny day. The cart is associated.with the roadside store in the downtown. The back of the store has a covered deck with tables in case it rains. Prices are high, for three piece halibut with a dab of coleslaw and overcook cold french fries was $32. My friend had the three-piece cod for $26ish. My friend really wanted to try this place and she enjoyed the cod. I, on the other hand, have had better with Moore sloth and fries at other places on the coast., But you're here, right. You're on a mini vacation, just enjoy the warm winter day and nice food.

    The fish and chips here are great! The fries are seasoned and crispy. The cod is perfectly battered…read moreand comes with tarter sauce and coleslaw. Really good food truck with awesome river views on a sunny day :)

    Photos
    Riverside Fish n' Chips - The line grows quickly

    The line grows quickly

    Riverside Fish n' Chips - Pulled BBQ pork Tacos with Fries

    Pulled BBQ pork Tacos with Fries

    Riverside Fish n' Chips - 3 piece cod n chips

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    3 piece cod n chips

    San Dune Pub - Fried calamari

    San Dune Pub

    3.7(325 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    Celebrated my birthday weekend with friends and had an excellent night of music,dancing delicious…read morefish tacos at The San Dune! Thank you to the staff for an epic night!

    One of the lovely parts of Manzanita is how quiet it is compared to some of the larger cities on…read morethe coast. But, even being a year round visitor, there are still some things that take getting used to like the limited hours for many restaurants. Even in the high season, the San Dune Pub is only open a few days a week and only during dinner hours. So, no lunch visits or late night drinking sessions. Also, no children allowed, just fur babies on the back patio. The best time to experience the San Dune is on a late summer afternoon or early evening on the back patio. It is a nice place to hang out sheltered from the traffic on Laneda and any strong wind coming off the beach. I've only ordered burgers and it hits the spot served on a brioche bun with a generous side of fries or tots. A funny quirk about the menu is that all of the cheeseburgers are the same price (currently $18). So whether you want a plain cheeseburger or the more extravagant Chipotle Bacon Chicken Burger, it is the same price. You can upgrade the side if you prefer salad or chowder. There are three large screens inside, so it is a place where you can watch a game, but there is also a wall with video poker machines that have the sound turned on, which is quite annoying. Personally, I'd turn left as you enter and stick to the quieter side of the dining space.

    Photos
    San Dune Pub
    San Dune Pub - Mushroom Swiss Burger and side salad

    Mushroom Swiss Burger and side salad

    San Dune Pub

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    Kelly Brighton Marina - Summer spread ;)

    Kelly Brighton Marina

    4.6(252 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    I was worried that the vibe would change after the new owners took over. I love you Kelly, but have…read moreto admit, the new owners (not so new anymore) are doing a GREAT job! They really are! They updated a few things, moved the office towards the front, and it just seems to be running really well (do I dare say better?). Everything else is great! We rented a boat and went crabbing. Only got 3 crabs this time, but it was still fun. It's just the idea of being out there that makes it so fun! We went on a rainy day so could not enjoy the view from our site since we had to stay inside the trailer. It's okay, it was still a great visit. I look forward to going again! Ha! I have to laugh, you know when you are tying reviews, you can see others to the right. I see that one of my friends wrote a review and pretty much wrote the same as I did in the 1st paragraph. That's funny. July 2025

    We came here with friends for lunch, and we couldn't have asked for a better afternoon! Between the…read moregorgeous weather, the great seafood, and the amazing view, it was a total highlight of our trip. One of the best parts of the experience is that you get to pick out the exact crab you'd like; they are then cooked and cleaned for you right on the spot! They also offer clams to steam and oysters that you can shuck yourself if you're looking for a variety. After selecting your crab, you head inside the shop to pick out chips, canned sodas, or something from their variety of beers and sauces to pair with your meal; just don't forget to grab your butter, garlic, and lemons before paying! They also offer oyster shooters in a souvenir shot glass, though be warned that they are served frozen; you may find yourself finishing your meal with them instead of starting with them by the time they finally thaw. The crab was obviously super fresh; truly, nothing beats eating it fresh out of the pot! We also noticed they have a number of back-in RV sites overlooking the water; that is definitely something we'd consider for a future stay. If you're looking for an authentic, hands-on coastal experience, this is the place to be!

    Photos
    Kelly Brighton Marina
    Kelly Brighton Marina - 2x Dungeness Crab cooked & 1 lb. Clams

    2x Dungeness Crab cooked & 1 lb. Clams

    Kelly Brighton Marina - Oyster Shooter

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    Oyster Shooter

    The Fish Peddler - Steamer Clams & Clam Chowder

    The Fish Peddler

    3.9(710 reviews)
    13.6 mi
    $$

    My family and I were in town on vacation and were looking for some seafood. After a little bit of…read moreYelp research, we decided on The Fish Peddler. I'm almost a little sad that we picked this place first, because I don't know that any other place we eat at is going to be as good or better. This is a combination restaurant / fish counter. Don't let that discourage you from eating there. When we walked in, there was one table left. Always a good sign when a place is busy, especially during the off season. There's generally a reason why the other places are empty. In addition, there was no smell from the fish counter. A sign that everything is fresh. Honest, you really don't even notice there is a counter there once you sit down. We went with a half-dozen oysters on the half shell, Dominic's Fish and Chips, which is the fresh local catch of the day. Today it happened to be Rockfish, always one of my favorites, the Shrimp and Chips, and The Cioppino, which is a seafood stew. This has clams, mussels, fish, prawns, and crab in a tomato sauce. There's a decent selection of beer as well. First, I want to say these were some of the best oysters I've had, fresh out of Willapa Bay. We should have ordered a dozen or two. These came with some lemon and fresh horseradish. Try the horseradish! The oysters tasted great with nothing on them or with a little fresh horseradish. The fish was fried perfectly, golden brown, not oily, and not overcooked. You can easily tell this was fresh Rockfish. The shrimp were fried perfectly as well. The Cioppino was amazing! Again, all the seafood was prepared perfectly. But it was the flavor of the stew that really stood out. This is a dish not to be overlooked and tastes great on a cold day. The food here is outstanding! Though this is a combination market / restaurant, the atmosphere felt comfortable and inviting. The service was great as well. Everyone here was friendly. If you're looking for some great fresh seafood, the Fish Peddler is a must eat and there are plenty of items on the menu that can bring you back multiple times. Honestly, I hope we come back here before we leave town.

    Great food!!! Service was great and quick! Really good…read moreChowder, I'm picky and will be back for more. We had the Halibut fish and chips! Fantastic! Halibut was firm, great flavor, juicy, and awesome breading. They are my favorite place for chowder and fish and chips!

    Photos
    The Fish Peddler
    The Fish Peddler - Fish & Chips

    Fish & Chips

    The Fish Peddler - Front store

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    Front store

    Big Wave Cafe - seafood - Updated May 2026

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