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    Big Wave Cafe

    4.2 (714 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood, Steakhouses
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Big Wave Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    BIG WAVE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - Big Wave Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Bar area
    Justin O.

    The food is good from what my group said . Mine was good just a basics fish sandwich The service was decent the waiter checked on us and filled waters when low . For me the problem was the portion size compared to the price. If I am will to pay the price of a fish sandwich then I expect a big piece of fish and more than 17 fries ( I counted mine ) . Every thing is suppose to be locally sourced, from the coffee , food to the alcohol. I am glade I didn't get a drink after seeing the portion sizes . I know it is a tourist area but come on .

    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.

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    30 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    7 days ago

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    26 days ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    25 days ago

    Great dinner stop on our way through! Great food and service! Had the scallops and Halibut- so delicious!

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of David Jennifer C.

    David Jennifer C.

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    2 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    3 months ago

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

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    3 months 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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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 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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    10 months ago

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    6 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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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

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

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    11 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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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

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

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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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

    Riverside Fish n' Chips

    4.8
    (333 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Pricey, yet well worth it. Brother... this place smacked my fish n chips game into a new…read moreperspective. They play ball. Prices were high (I spent $20 on a 3 piece cod) albeit the quality softened that blow. I've already spread the word. This gem of a spot needs a visit. Right along the river as the name implies. Batter was right where it needed to be. Oh do I wish I could go back. Some fish n chip spots mess with the formula. I'm no specialist but when it comes to FnC it seems only few spots know how to get the batter right without drying out the fish. If you're in the Nehalem area you gotta try it.

    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.

    Photos
    The line grows quickly
    The line grows quickly
    Pulled BBQ pork Tacos with Fries
    Pulled BBQ pork Tacos with Fries
    3 piece cod n chips

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    3 piece cod n chips
    San Dune Pub

    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.

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    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

    Kelly Brighton Marina

    4.6
    (255 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

    Must stop spot whenever you visit Rockaway and surrounding areas! Or plan for a brunch spot on…read moreyour trip. Fresh boiled to order crabs and oysters! Reasonable prices and sufficient service for the freshest crabs!!!!! Not a lot of shade and cover spaces so come prepared for the weather. I wouldn't recommend it during winter raining season. They have small campground onsite though it more to accommodate people renting or taking their own boat out to the bay for crabbing, not designed for leisure camping experience due to its location. It offers its own gift shop, and restroom. Limited condiments on tables. I came prepared with my own lemon/lime and knife.

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

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    Oyster Shooter
    The Fish Peddler

    The Fish Peddler

    3.9
    (717 reviews)
    13.6 mi
    $$

    Tried the steelhead burger, chowder, calamari strips, tuna melt and sautéed shrimp- ALL DELICIOUS…read more Finally found a good seafood restaurant and will be back. Oh! The shrimp tacos are great also Just do not expect great ambience and you'll not be disappointed . I rated it generously but really I think I would give it 8 out of 10 due to the ultracasual atmosphere and the self serve aspects. I really think this coastal town needs a bit of class added. Not everyone is beach combing ALL the time while visiting.

    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.

    Photos
    The Fish Peddler
    Fish & Chips
    Fish & Chips
    Front store

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    Front store

    Big Wave Cafe - seafood - Updated July 2026

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