I won't lie, they weren't the fastest but it was definitely the kitchen not the waitstaff. I wouldn't suggest eating here if you're strapped for time but on a cold, rainy day like we had it was a nice respite from the elements. My husband had the fried Halibut and chips and he said it was excellent. Not fishy in the slightest and it was indeed a speciality like they said. I had a burger (I know, I know), since I'm not a huge fish fan and honestly zero complaints other than the bun was toasted a bit too much. It was tough and crunchy but the burger itself was juicy and well seasoned. Our waitress was nice and informative. Solid lunch spot. read more

We chose Cold Water when coming off the ship in Sitka because it seemed to have plenty of seating for a larger group and we were on a time schedule. We were started quickly and drink orders were taken along with appetizer orders. When it was time to get entrees is when stuff started slowing down. We waited quite a bit of time for our meals, which I suppose is to be expected where cruise ships are docking! Food was fine, not bad, not great. I had the fried chicken sandwich with fries. It was a large portion, I did not end up finishing. Overall it was a decent meal and the prices were fair. Service was friendly. Our server had a crowd to help and was very nice throughout our meal. I also had a coffee that included some type of alcohol but unfortunately I can't recall the type. There's a lot of options in Sitka for lunch but the convenience and size of the Cold Water drew us in. It was fine as I said, but if you have more time, I'm sure there's better options. read more

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Service was extraordinarily slow. A table of 8 that came in after us was served before us. Took an hour to get 2 beers. We would have gotten more but she was just way too slow. A table next to us went and purchased his beer at the bar and came back to the table before she did. Our food came out cool- not cold, not hot. I got fish and chips, son got chicken sandwich and fries, husband got salmon blt. Salad with 2 oz grilled chicken- $34. Tab was 200$ total. My son with Celiac has a stomach ache now. We told them he had celiac. Absolutely not worth it. (We went to a local dive bar up the street for fast cheap beer after.). We are coming back to Sitka in 3 weeks and will not be patronizing this place. read more

Outside is nice on the patio. They first sat us inside and the music was so loud we all had headaches def not enough staff working. However our waitress was very nice. Food is ok- unless you're willing to pay $100+ for king crab leg! I recommend the fried halibut. Just be prepared as service is slow read more

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22 minutes after sitting down, somebody came to take my order. I had to say the order twice, "the classic, eggs over easy, bacon and white toast". There was only one table with 4 people seated before me. There are less than 11 people seated to eat breakfast and nobody has food yet. THIS IS WHAT I GET FOR BEING LAZY AND NOT WANTING TO LEAVE THE HOTEL! read more

We got lucky with a bright sunny afternoon on the deck outside - the Alaskan King Crab legs were fantastic - it was really busy but our server was quick and friendly and got us on our way so we could make it back to the last tender for our cruise ship just in time! read more

Tourist Beware - the prices to seafood is outrageous - and this stuff is even caught right off their own shorelines. Though some really good seafood - the prices are a total gouge and rip off of tourist in Alaska's ~5 month tourist season, before the boats quit coming. $97.50 lb for King Crab (3) chowders, 1 lb King Crab and a salmon burger - that has our bill at $200 for lunch! My conclusion is that (the) seafood isn't somehow so much better; so much better; prepared some so much better way; to ever justify "the juice" being worth that "squeeze". A pure fleecing of tourists is the restaurant theme in the cruise ship port areas of Alaska. read more

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Ate there this morning. 1) I ordered the $28.00 "cold water omelette". I read the menue stating Smoke salmon, crab meat and hash brown. What I got was a disgusting pink runny muck, with tiny bits of crab meat. For $28, could you put some real pieces of smoked salmon, makes me urp just thinking about it. 2) My wife orders "2 eggs over hard and white toast". She got a barely toasted english muffin, and almost uncooked - very runny eggs. Waiter, Ryan apologized and lowered the bill 25%. I tipped him 18%, which he said he didn't deserve. But it was 44.00 +, for a very unnecessarily horrible experience. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

Wildly over priced for mediocre food. Paid $39 for halibut fish and chips and got what looked like kids fish sticks. Food passed the table twice, apparently they had the wrong table number. Just poor experience all around. Save your time and money. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - $39 Halibut fish and chips - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

This is a little late, but wanted to give a shout out to Cold Water. We wandered off of a cruise ship in early July in search of Alaska King Crab. Cold Water was amazing. We were a little high maintenance as we wanted to get the experience right. The entire staff was as amazing as the food and we had a great time. Prices were a little high, but we were there for the experience and loved it. CiCi did an amazing job and made us feel at home. She made our experience special. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

Stopped by Cold Water Bar & Grill today and after dining at the Skagway fish Company in Skagway and ordering the halibut fish and chips there is no comparison. Blanca was our server and was pleasant, professional and efficient. The place was packed but the halibut fish and chips at $39 a plate were dissapointing. The plate reminded me of a frozen dinner from Trader Joes from the halibut fish sticks to the French fries. I don't generally rate or compare at this level but for two plates of fish and chips and one ice tea at $106 it's not something that deserves more than three stars. The third star is for Blanca as she was a pleasure to talk with and her service was worthy. read more

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I was determined to get crab legs at one of our cruise stops, so chose to have lunch here. It was a long wait for a table and crab legs were $100/lb, which was actually less than another spot we checked.. Service was fine and the crab was good, but I wouldn't do it again. read more

Service was good but I felt the prices were extremely high for the quality of the food. The chowder was tasty but lacked fish, I may have had 2 tiny bits in it; mostly potato and carrots. The salmon spread was good and the halibut bits were not very crispy. Overall it was fine. read more

Service was good and lobster was okay. Surprised that there were not a lot of people on a Saturday night. read more

Just few into town. Wanted something easy and good. This was a really good place for that. I ordered the House burger with the side salad. Salad was good, your typical House salad nice size. The burger had that great char flavor on it with the garlic, aïoli dressing, and it was really, really tasty. My brother-in-law had the pork belly sandwich and he absolutely loved it. I definitely come back to this place, if I lived here, but I plan on catching a lot of fish and eating that for the next three days. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - House burger. - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

Honestly some of blandest food I've had. My wife's smoked salmon chowder was ok at best. My oldest got a cod fish and chips extremely attractive lots batter and seasoning but lacked flavor. My cheese burger was dry, no sauce added but they give you a cup of mayo and have ketchup on the table. The drinks were watered down. I understand things have to be more expensive because of shipping costs but at least put some effort in making some what worth your money. read more

Excellent service! Great location. Easy to stop in for a quick drink or bite to eat. Ask for, CiCi! read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

Stopped in Sitka during our cruise and had a nice walk around the city. It was lightly raining but not cold at all by Alaskan standards. We spotted Cold Water and stopped in for lunch before heading back to the ship. There was a young lady who greeted us and told us about the patio menu or that there was a full menu inside. We opted for inside due to the rain. We were sat immediately. Our server was phenomenal. I had a cup of the soup of the day which was a chicken tortilla. It was amazing! We also had some halibut nuggets which were cooked perfectly and filled with of flavor. Finally, I had the salmon BLT for my entree and it was the right decision. This was one of the best handhelds I have ever had. The salmon with the tomato and bacon as well as the sweet chili mayo were delicious. Overall, we had a great lunch and zero complaints during our visit to Cold Water Bar and Grill. read more

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Popular restaurant recommended by a few locals. It was busy but there was only two of us and our 20 minute quoted wait time was only about 10 minutes. Hubby had Halibut fish-n-chips while I had the Salmon BLT. Both meals were tasty and the atmosphere was cozy for our rainy day in Sitka. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

Cold Water Restaurant, Sitka, Alaska I find it ironic that the menu encourages guests to "ask your server about the daily special" when, after dining here three or more times a week for the past two years and spending a significant amount of money, the specials rarely seem to change. At what point does it stop being a "daily special" and simply become part of the regular menu? My biggest disappointment is the lack of creativity and consistency coming from the kitchen. The pork chop special appears so often that it has become predictable. A great chef brings passion, innovation, and excitement to the menu. Unfortunately, that is not the experience I have seen here. Service has also declined over time. It often feels as though the focus is placed entirely on the tourist season, while local residents who support this business year-round are overlooked. There is also a recurring issue with menu items being unavailable, creating a frustrating and inconsistent dining experience. I would like to recognize the staff members who have made my visits enjoyable. Cindy has always been professional, attentive, and outstanding. She is truly the best. I would also like to thank Callie, who was always a pleasure to see. Losing employees like her was disappointing. As someone who works in the hospitality industry, I understand the challenges restaurants face. However, there comes a point when the lack of consistency and attention to quality becomes impossible to ignore. For that reason, I have decided that I will be "86'ing" myself from this restaurant. read more

Nice seafood restaurant right in the middle of town near the shuttle area. We were greeted positively and seated with a nice view of the mountains. Outdoor and indoor seating. Menu full of seafood halibut, crabs etc. Fish and chips. And a full bar with local brews. We weren't hungry so we grabbed a drink and fries. Fries were crunchy and good and the local brew was fresh. Server was very nice and helpful. read more

They don't take cash or checks so you must use a card then they charge a credit card fee for using it. Food is ok but very expensive. Three little halibut fingers and fries forty dollars. Wait for service really long. read more

A Ok. Fun bar and grill that we stopped at for lunch while in the area during our cruise. The staff was quick to seat us, and we had a good window view. The menu is short and sweet, and I opted for the halibut nuggets. Food and drinks came out pretty quickly and the nuggets were good, but a little on the dry side. I would recommend pairing them with a sauce. The fries were just okay. The inside of this location is pretty basic. Seating, a bar, and a large wrap window offering a street view. Overall: B A ok to stop for a quick bite. read more

Great little spot we stopped for lunch on our cruise. Order at the window. Good comes out quick. Mostly fish and chips. Drinks and beer. Outside seating in a heated tent area. Food came out fast and hot. Staff were friendly . read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Gosh and chips - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

waited 1.5 hrs tor fish & chips!!! don't go here on your stop at Sitka! Food is mediocre ! Go somewhere else to eat if you want to explore Sitka more and get to tour ship on time !! read more

Looking for coffee before a Sitka excursion, we found Cold Water Bar and Grill just on the corner and they were open early and serving breakfast. Ana was our server, and she was fantastic. We had a nice spot by a window and enjoyed a breakfast sandwich and coffee until it was time to join our tour group. Nice place, plenty of seating, great service and awesome location. read more

-Our group of nine (my wife, two kids ages 8 and 6, MIL, SIL, BIL, and two nephews ages 12 and 10) stopped here for lunch while our cruise ship was in port. We originally had plans for another restaurant, but our kids were tired, so we settled on this one. Hindsight is 20/20. -No kids' menu. Not a dealbreaker on its own, but inconvenient. We asked how many wings came in the order of wings (for the kids), and we were told, "6 to 8. Depends on the cook and some cooks give up to 15." My kids shared 3-piece chicken strips and fries. My 6-year-old wanted BBQ sauce, which was $2 for a tiny 1 oz. cup. -Fish & Chips - My wife and I ordered the 3-piece beer-battered halibut fish & chips with seafood chowder. For $39 per plate, I expected fresh, crispy fish. Instead, the breading was soggy, the fries were stale, and there was no lemon included. When I asked for lemon, the waitress brought about five wedges and told us the kitchen only wanted to give one wedge to share among all nine of us. Tartar sauce for fish and chips? Also $2 per small cup. The seafood chowder was just "okay" and not worth the ~$15 price tag. -Tip reminder - When reviewing my BIL's bill, I overheard the waitress reminding him that she "hadn't added the tip yet" -- basically telling us to add one. -They only accept cards, and there's a transaction fee for using one. -The interior is fine. Between the high prices, nickel-and-diming on sauces, and subpar food (I've had way better for way less), this is one of the worst fish & chips experiences I've had. 0/10 -- Would Not Recommend read more

Super nice people. The fisherman's chowder was amazing and the halibut nuggets were good as well. Nice atmosphere and in a good spot downtown. Typical tourist establishment. read more

Crab was excellent best I've had , but it was 99.00 per pound we had 2 lbs and 1 bowl seafood chowder 1 burger/fries 2 sodas 2 iced teas . Total was 270.00 absolutely shocking !!! The place was packed but I would not recommend because of the price:( read more

I am a regular customer at Cold Water in Sitka and have been visiting at least three times a week for the past two years. During that time, I have consistently supported the business and spent a significant amount of money there. I would like to start by recognizing the excellent service provided by Cindy, Callie, and Ana. They are truly outstanding and a big part of what keeps customers like me coming back. However, I believe there are some areas that need serious attention--particularly in the kitchen and menu offerings: The menu and daily soup variety have remained unchanged for the past two years. Introducing new options or seasonal updates would greatly enhance the experience. Orders are frequently incorrect or incomplete. Basic ingredients such as avocado and jalapeños are often unavailable, which is disappointing. Bread options are very limited, with little to no variety. Additionally, now that cruise ship season has started, it feels like the focus has shifted away from local customers--the people who support the restaurant year-round during the winter months. This is concerning, as local patrons have been essential to keeping the business going. Overall, while the front-of-house service remains strong, there appears to be a lack of attention and consistency in kitchen management. Without improvement in these areas, many loyal customers, including myself, may begin considering other options. I hope this feedback is taken constructively. I believe Cold Water has great potential and can provide a much better experience with some necessary changes. read more

We went there for lunch and had the worst meal ever! Chowder was like warm and prices very high....would not recommend

This place is huge and centrally located in downtown Sitka so it was hard to miss. We sat at the bar and shared the Halibut Fish and Chips and subbed the french fries with sweet potato fries. When our order came, I reminded our bartender, Ramon, that we ordered sweet potato fries instead of French fries. He said he didn't hear that but quickly got us the sweet potato fries and still left the fries with us to enjoy. The halibut was flaky and flavorful, cooked perfectly, immediately making its way up to the top of my list of the best fish and chips! read more

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Horrible service. We sat there for 10 min(trying to give them a chance)without any one acknowledging us or even dropping off water. Said something about it and the guy said he was getting someone when I seen him talk to someone she looked and acted like we weren't there. We ended up getting up to leave(18 min later). I made the "manager" aware and she wasn't much help(worst part is she was at the bar and we were right across from it so it's not like she couldn't see us either). It would be different if the 2 parties that were seated before us didn't already get drinks and food. Shows me what I need to know. read more

Pretty good halibut fish and chips. Nothing out of this world compared to other halibut we had on our journey. However, it was still good. Nice size restaurant with good location to the cruise ship shuttle drop off. Service was very friendly. Friends also said the clam chowder was wonderful. read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Clam Chowder - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska

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Tried the seafood chowder. Really good. Had Salmon BLT sandwich. Really good. Fries were very good too. Waitress was nice. Smoked salmon dip was great read more

Tourist trap, save your money and time. We visited this restaurant while in Sitka, hoping for a great local meal but ended up totally disappointed. From the start, it was clear this place survives on tourist traffic, not quality. We waited a long time just to be seated, even though we had a reservation. Our server was kind, but service was painfully slow. It took forever to get drinks, and then our food order was completely forgotten. After more than an hour of waiting, the food finally came, and it wasn't worth the wait. The crab legs were bland, the wings tasted like frozen Sysco food, and the chicken tenders (which cost $16!) were just two tiny pieces served with soggy fries. The Caesar salad had a strange dressing that didn't even taste like Caesar. Somehow, the halibut fish and chips were the only redeeming item, crispy and well cooked. They were randomly out of beers, and then some mysteriously became available midway through the meal. Just bizarre. To top it all off, we were hit with an automatic 20% gratuity on a full-priced bill, which felt extra insulting after such a poor experience. There are much better places to eat in Sitka. I'd skip this one unless you're okay overpaying for subpar, mass-produced food and slow service. read more

Excellent restaurant. Our group had 4lbs of crab and the halibut bites. Delicious definitely recommend this restaurant read more

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Service here is excellent! Ramon told us we had to try the Halibut Bites, they were amazing! A bowl filled with hot, crispy delicious bites of halibut. The batter was crisp. Needed just a hit of salt but amazing! The tarter sauce was full of dill and a fresh squeezed lemon accented it perfectly. Ramon also helped us with a great bottle of wine we will enjoy in our room. Service and food were fantastic! read more

We shared the halibut nuggets and we each had a cup of the seafood chowder. The chowder was a cream base and chuck full of seafood. It was delicious. A cup was plenty with splitting the halibut nuggets. The nuggets were lightly battered, hot and crispy. They were served with tartar sauce e. read more

The menu is limited and extremely pricey. The halibut nuggets were $32 without any side. It was like a portion of "fish and chips" parcel, pretty good but I wouldn't care to try them again. $7 for a side of regular French fries. The nuggets were good, but should have at least a side for the price. I guess thats tourist pricing in a small town in Alaska for ya! The bartender Ramon was super nice. 2 stars for the pricing for what you get read more

Cold Water Bar & Grill - Halibut nuggets + side salad - Barbeque Near Me - Sitka, Alaska