Let's start out with service. The young man Alex was very pleasant, helpful and friendly…read more The food was over the top good especially the French Onion Soup. One of the best I've had. I got the risotto my wife the steak. Both very good. Would definitely come here again.

I'm extremely bummed to leave such a low score. My wife and I had high hopes this would be the…read morehighlight of our time on the island (food wise). The high points: The views! The location is wonderful. Water views, downtown, so it's easy to get around. Parking was easy and even though we were early for our reservation they sat us right away. The mids- when I made the reservation online I made a note about it being a very special birthday for my wife. I did not expect anything for free, but I anticipated they might at the minimum say something. Not one person ever mentioned it. The lows. The service, well intended, but under trained. I won't list everything but the prime example is once the food was dropped the server did not show up again until we were almost done. The food was sub par. We had Miso glazed cod and French onion soup. We weren't happy with either. By the looks of reviews, our experience was not normal. We hope it is just due to going before the tourist season starts. No matter the reason, it was a big let down.

Last knight, we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. We call ahead and made a reservation with…read morea special request of being seated by a window with a view. The table that was given to us, had the most incredible and breathtaking view. Our server's name Lauren L., Gave us a wonderful experience. Her service exceeded our expectations. Thank you Lauren!! Next time we visit the island make sure that we'll look for you. Food was out of this world.

Right on the water with a great atmosphere in downtown Orcas Island. It's an easy spot for the…read morewhole family, with menu options that work for everyone. My friends loved their burgers (chicken and hamburger), and while I went with the shrimp salad, it was fine -- not bad, just more on the simple side and heavy dressing. Overall, a solid stop for the location, views, and laid-back vibe.

We came the first day of the season! We arrived 10 minutes after it opened at 12pm and there were…read morealready quite a few people and it filled up quick. Ordering can take a minute when it's busy but the food comes up relatively quick- especially the non cooked options. It was a beautiful day so seating outside was perfect. We got oysters where we shucked it ourselves and it was a fun experience! They give you a demo and can help if folks are having trouble. The freshest oysters you're going to get. The mussels were so flavorful with their broth. I recommend getting their bread for it!

While visiting Friday Harbor, Westcott Bay Shellfish was recommended…read more Free parking can be found in the lot. Discover is an accepted form of payment. We didn't have reservations and were extremely lucky to be seated at a high-top table. If you want a tide table, be sure to make a reservation. The high-top tables are more like bar style seating while the tide tables are more family style seating. The tide tables are equipped with sun umbrellas and closer to the water. The high-top tables are also covered and equipped with blankets to help ward off the chill. The Farm Store is also an option if unable to get seating near the water. A casual self-serve dining style, similar to going on a picnic. The Farm Store also has a little gift shop. Westcott Bay Shellfish only offers beer and wine. I sipped on a glass of Revelation Rose for $14. My wife had a SJI Lager for $9. While deciding what we wanted to eat, we shared the Bakery San Juan Bread for $7 with Olive Oil for $2. We each sampled a single High Beach Sweets Oyster for $3.75 each; served with mignonette and a lemon. We each ordered a Stop Light Oyster Sampler (qty 3) for $13.50: Herb Lemon Garlic, Lime Cilantro Sriracha and Chipotle Bourbon. My favorite flavor was the Lime Cilantro Sriracha while my wife's favorite was the Herb Lemon Garlic. Service was impeccable. The environment friendly. The food fresh, flavorful and fun. Overall, I am so happy that our lodging steered us to Westcott Bay Shellfish.

Truly one of the best meals I've ever had. It was upscale without being snobby and it was service…read moresimilar to being at your friend's house who's good at hosting. If you're on orcas it's a must visit. I definitely will be back if I'm ever on the island again but this meal was so good I'm debating making a special trip just to experience houlme again.

I was super excited to try Houlme - it's been nominated for a James Beard award multiple times!…read more Here's everything we ordered (June 2025): - Salad of kale, garlic & fried sourdough - Grilled & braised leeks, caramelized hazelnut, rye & roe - Black cod roasted in the wood oven, pea shoots & green garlic - Carrots glazed in hot honey, smoked yogurt - Scallop crudo, plum/chili & strawberry - POH-TAY-TOH pizza - Blutos Bane Pizza Houlme uses local ingredients and everything tastes pretty fresh! The dishes were all pretty interesting - my favorites were the carrots and the poh-tay-toh pizza. Definitely recommend making a reservation if you're on the island!

I eat here a few times a year. Best item on the menu is the crab and cheese sandwich. Great taste…read moreand I take half home for later. Good selection of beverages and a nice view Spring/Summer.

Saw this place last year and didn't get a chance to go in. Restaurant Bar is definitely someplace…read moreI'd hang out. Locations a great view overlooking the water. Service was fantastic and both dishes were had were very good. I just loved the corned beef and cabbage. My wife really like the chicken pot pie.

We had a fabulous experience here. The atmosphere is so welcoming. Everyone is so nice. We loved…read moresitting outside. We brought our dogs and they loved it too! The pulled pork and baked beans were standouts. I would skip the Cole slaw, it lacked flavor for me. The Mac and cheese was just ok. My partner loved the halibut fish and chips and said the oysters were the freshest he's ever had. We cannot wait to go back!

A colleague I met shared she lives in the San Juan Islands. When I told her I was visiting, she…read morerecommended we eat at Buck's Bay Shellfish Farm. We're happy we dined here while we staying on Orcas Island! This is truly a watering hole. The restaurant gets busy with hungry visiting and local diners. They're family friendly and dog friendly! There's a couple spots on their property--one being their fish market and deli the other being the place to order food! Seating is first come first serve at their communal tables and all outdoors. The workers work hard and do their best juggling lots of hungry customers. Everyone who helped us was kind and sweet! They have a variety of foods to please all tastebuds. Along with seafood they have BBQ, kid friendly options, and specials. For dinner I had the Spicy Halibut Sandwich but grilled instead of fried. The fish was delicious and everything was fresh and filling. My family enjoyed their chowder and oysters. We also shared a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie which was a slice of heaven--sweet, tangy, and divine! I can see why this is a popular place! If you find yourself on Orcas Island, Buck Bay Shellfish Farm is a must visit! Great seafood and a great ambiance. They have their own gravel lot you can park at and it's easy to find off EJ Young Road since it's a popular spot!

If you find yourself in Friday Harbor, you absolutely have to visit this spot. My top tip: make a…read morereservation. This place fills up fast, and after dining there, it's easy to see why! Our party of three visited for lunch at noon on a Thursday. Since we had a reservation, we were seated immediately at a lovely table right by the window. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were incredibly courteous and friendly throughout our meal. We initially thought about starting with some small plates, but we were so eager for seafood that we jumped straight into the entrees. We weren't disappointed: Bouillabaisse: This was our first time trying this dish, and it was the highlight for us. It was incredibly flavorful--exactly what we were craving. Spicy Prawn Mac and Cheese: It definitely lived up to its name! It wasn't "blow-your-head-off" hot, but it had a perfect, noticeable kick that really elevated the dish. Blackened Cod Tacos: These were fantastic. The cod was perfectly prepared and worked so well with the rest of the taco ingredients. We also enjoyed a couple of non-alcoholic drinks that hit the spot, though I'll admit that since I'm writing this a couple of weeks later, I forgot to snag photos or the specific names of the drinks! They also have a really nice patio area if you prefer dining outdoors. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking for a great meal with a view, this place is a must-visit!

A lovely restaurant tucked at the edge of Friday Harbor…read more While the views were stunning, the service was just ok. For the nature of the restaurant, we had hoped for our waitress to be more friendly and genuine. However, it felt like they just wanted to fulfill our order and be done. I ordered the South Sound Clams and Snapper Sandwich. Bathing in an umami-packed and rich Thai curry broth, the clams were tender and fresh with a bit of brine. Very good and shareable with one other person. The snapper sandwich wowed me! The bright escovitch and creamy avocado paired wonderfully with the snapper. Every bite was delightful. The house-made potato chips, however, were disappointing. They were thin, not crispy, and sticking to my teeth. If you can, substitute for fries or salad. Despite our subpar service, the delicious, well-priced food and beautiful scenery still make this the perfect date spot.

Nice views, good food. Nice summertime choice, i believe it is closed in the mid fall to early…read moreSummer.

Had a wonderful (generous!) omelet this morning Ham,…read moremushroom and avocado. A delish latte and wonderful service. There is also a bar and a little store.

This is a great place to buy raw or cooked crab spot prawns and oysters for your boatread more

How can you beat fresh seafood on the Marina dock? Get your own LOL! Check it out, and enjoy!!read more

Friendly,helpful, and super fresh & delicious seafood! Will…read moredefinitely return, and try more Add to your to-do list!

Best smoked salmon we've ever tasted! The new owners/family…read moreare so delightful and knowledgeable. Worth the visit just to stop and chat about island history and get all your seafood questions answered too. Will be back soon for the crab cocktail and fresh poke bowls everyone is raving about! (*please note this place is under new ownership and some of the reviews are from the previous- this place is the opposite of racist! So welcoming to all!)