We love deer harbor inn and have dinner there almost every visit to the island. We even tried last year when the power on the island went out - they were closed along with everyone else in the island, but we enjoyed cup of noodles in the parking lot with the kiddos, watching the deer and rabbits. The quiet location, wildlife, and outdoor seating with a view of the harbor is hard to find anywhere else. Plenty of room that reservations aren't usually needed and it's kid friendly with menu items for them and plenty of room to run around while percents continue sipping drinks on the deck and enjoying the love piano music. The food is good - we usually get a seafood entree and always save room for the blackberry cobbler. Don't miss this hidden gem the next time you're here. read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - Deck view - best seat in the house! - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

Mother's Day morning. No tables were available for "hot" food for 90 more minutes. We sat at the bar with our lattes and herbal tea. Also a blueberry scone and a freshly baked cinnamon roll. When it was time to pay "Happy Mother's Day!" No charge read more

Barbecue ribs and brisket are amazing! Delicious sides! Great old fashioneds as well!

The food was delicious, however while we were eating a cat walked into the restaurant which was unsanitary. I ordered the vegetable fettuccine which was very good. The pianist was a nice touch to the atmosphere. read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - a plate of pasta and vegetables - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

I only ate here once, and even though I was not blown away by the food, the rest of the experience was terrific--so saying I'm a fan is legit. First, it was a beautiful day; sunny but crisp. Days that you wish you could sit outside and enjoy water/greenery views on a restaurant deck but would need a blanket. Days that...oh? You have blankets for your patrons to sit outside on the deck to enjoy the views? Well, okay! And even though they could have dropped off on the service a little bit (after all, I'm as snug as a bug in a rug dining al fresca) but the service was attentive without drowning us. Really great. And if that wasn't enough, they had a couple of violinists playing outside too. They even played Bittersweet Symphony haha! Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant grows some of their own ingredients on-site and have chickens happily walking around the grounds. Neat experience. I would try something else next time besides the seafood bouillabaisse...it was a little bland but boy, it was HUGE. The soup starter and the dinner salad were nice though. So besides ordering something different, I would totally do a redux on this place. read more

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I go out to eat to enjoy food number one, but service is also a close second. An upbeat or even smiling server can make a mediocre meal a better experience, and vice versa. The food at Deer Harbor was very good. The clam chowder had large tender clams and was homemade. The sourdough bread comes out warm in a basket and the salad, though not my thing, comes family style spring mix. The almonds all fell to the bottom and there was very little dressing. It had no oomph. The seafood pasta was great, pasta and cheesy sauce was fantastic, but the scallops were stringy. I almost sent them back. My wife's veg fettuccine was very rich and had a nice assortment of veggies. My issue was with the service and atmosphere. The place is dead quiet and you can hear everyone's conversations around you. There was music but it was very very quiet. And our server was also very quiet and did not smile once. And quiet atmosphere is fine, if it's fine dining with dim lighting, candles, and overall opulence. But the dining room is brightly lit, with fake plants and small paintings of local wildlife. I didn't feel welcome and comfortable, just awkward with the server's meek presence adding to the quiet. I won't go back, but I will say the soup and entrees were indeed good. read more

We have a weekend home on Orcas and are embarrassed to admit that it took us fifteen years to try this place. While it looks a bit foreboding from the road once we drove in the eclectic Orcas vibe was readily apparent and very pleasant. We ate in the main dining room which feels a bit dated; there is a large patio with a terrific view of Deer Harbor for when the weather is more cooperative. Having had a big lunch earlier in the day, neither of us was up for a formal dinner. We both opted for entree salads; the steak and blue cheese as well as the seafood Louie. Both were well made and, with soup, bread and a shared berry cobbler ala mode, more than enough food. We will be back. read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - Seafood salad with Louis dressing - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

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We stayed at the marina in Deer harbor and were told about this restaurant. Just a short walk up the hill (one of the prettier walks i have ever been on) we found this quaint restaurant - perfect island dining spot. Everything about this place was just adorable - seated near us were an older gentleman and his son that made us want to know their story, through the windows, we could watch people playing table tennis on the lawn, the food was great. Happy to have made the unexpected stop in this quaint little harbor. read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - Deer harbor marina Sea planes come right next to you - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

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My wife and I had the lovely opportunity to start our anniversary weekend at this great restaurant! We came for the food and were blessed by the hospitality. It seems to be a very common theme with these reviews. My wife and I shared the shrimp cocktail as well as the salmon special. The salmon was cooked to perfection as were the mashed potatoes and the broccolini. We finished off the meal with the blackberry cobbler which came with vanilla ice cream. It's exactly what you want to finish the meal in the summer time. All of this cake with a soup starter that was really good as well as bread, which was also really good and then a salad!! Excellent. Apparently it's the owner's father's recipe. It's excellent! So, enjoy yourself. We did! In fact we enjoyed alongside the deer the the harbor is named after. They enjoyed chewing on the grass and playing together in the field on the other side of the deck! You'll love this place! read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - Lovely patio seating when it's nice out! - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

Great food, Live Music, and wonderful people. We have Salmon with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. The sauce and flavor of the whole dish was perfect. The meal came with salad and as much fresh sourdough bread as we wanted. The friendly server and the warm and inviting welcome we received we definitely a wonderful memory for our 34th wedding anniversary celebration. So glad we came.... Highly recommend this place. read more

Restaurant open 5-9 daily. Four of each each ordered something different on a Saturday night. Salad, bread and soup are all served family style. No offer for additional bread was made. For the price, bread and butter should be offered to guests while they are waiting. I ordered the Veggie Fetticini with Roasted Red Pepper pesto sauce. The flavor was outstanding, however ALL of the vegetables were overcooked. Rookie mistake. My husband ordered the Garden Vegetables stir fry over Basmati rice. Good flavor, over cooked veggies. Our friends were happy with their entrees. The place is known for its Sunday night friend chicken dinner. Our friends returned to the restaurant to have the famous fried chicken. It was WAY over cooked, black and burned, almost inedible. Even the mashed potatoes weren't good. At $24 for 2 pieces of fried chicken, potatoes and a veg, it should ALL be edible. The building is original to the property; clearly original glass, squeaky carpeted floors, but very stuck in the 80's. There is a large deck with peek-a-boo water views that I'm sure would be great in the summer time. A very interesting 89 year old gentleman played the piano and visited. Fun to chat with and he took requests, too. Server was very friendly and attentive on Saturday, not so much on Sunday. Perhaps the Seahawks had his attention. I hope the chef reads this and will choose to serve his veggie al dente, as they should be! read more

Our second dinner at the Deer Harbor Inn this past Sunday was just dandy! The Blue1972 Cadillac Fleetwood with jump seats still runs fine and it was a welcome ride up from the up the hill from the marina. Seems like we were there three years ago. As in the past we were welcome guests of the two owner brothers and since we had a 7:30 reservation (strongly recommended in Summer peak times) seated in a prime location on the outdoor deck. The deck looks over a gently down sloping grass field to woods with plenty of openings for a view of Deer Harbor Marina and the water and islands beyond. All the food is prepared with care including the Sunday fried chicken special! Service was polite and informative and our wine choice was easily made from an ample wine list. The food preparations are very straightforward, something I like about this special place. We were also lucky enough to be in front of a brother & sister each playing violin and viola. The music was just magically adding to a wonderful evening. These two young people were trained by their mother. This fact according to a 96 year old woman I met while waiting to be seated. Such is the island way. A interesting feature that you also experience is the wandering of two tiny young black and white cats around the deck. They leave you alone if you do not pet them but they also like to be picked up and petted. As we prepared to leave we saw a huge bunny near the edge of the field. It was a short walk back to the marina down the gentle sloping hill. read more

I have been going to this place since I was a kid. I have always loved the food here. It is not a gourmet restaurant, it is good NW fresh food (fish and meat) with seasonal changes. This restaurant has the consistency that most of the other restaurants lack. The drive out to the restaurant is so beautiful. The farmhouse location is great. You feel special arriving. The orchard in the front and the surrounding cabins are so beautiful. The view of Deer Harbor is second to none. To top it off it a local family run place. If you are on the island you need to stop by and it is also a great place to stay the night. read more

Best meal on the island, hands down! This was a fabulous experience. The family-owned and run restaurant has a pristine yet comfortable atmosphere. It's a must-do if you travel to Oracas Island! Do save room for dessert, as they are fresh and delicious. read more

The server was kind, the menu looks good...however we have been here for a hour plus and our toddler is still waiting for his chicken strips (and us our dinners too). I understand island time and all...but hire another cook. Completely unacceptable. Update: Food finally arrived. His chicken strips were a perfect temp for him to dig in. Of course this means that they were ready way before they came out. Contrary to the server's comment that it was his strips that were the hold up. I am think it is the watery cream sauce with the penne since that was the only meal that was still hot... read more

How I heard of this place: Initially, we were told of the restaurant by Michelle, our first greeter on the island, at the Visitors Center. Having determined that it was right on the same property as our Inn, it was a given that we would simply have to make a reservation! Type of cuisine: American cuisine, kept simple and hearty through offering local and seasonal produce from the Island. "Since 1982, the Carpenter family has pursued the Deer Harbor Inn's tradition of quality and service. Craig and Pam Carpenter moved to Orcas Island after many years in the restaurant industry stemming from Boise Idaho, Reno Nevada, and Friday Harbor. Their two sons Matthew and Ryan grew up in the restaurant business and have followed in their father's footsteps. In 1998, Matt "Chef" and Ryan took over the restaurant and catering operations bringing a renewed energy and enthusiasm to the Inn's history. They purchased the restaurant from Pam and Craig in 2006. Our commitment remains to uphold the standard of using only the freshest seafood, choicest steaks and seasonal fruits and vegetables." Ambiance: With the ease and comfort of Grandmother's home, the Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant welcomes diners into its fold. A wrap-around porch leads from the gravel driveway to the large house on the property of the single units and lodge available for guests to stay the night. The tree-lined property, over which one can see the water and small islands in the distance is a gorgeous view as you enter the establishment. Indoors, the sliding glass door opens up into a large room with pink-toned carpets, tiled ceilings and white linen tablecloths. To the right, a separate dining area for a single, larger party, whilst maintaining the integrity of a cozy, old world home. We took our seats and proceeded to peruse the menu. What I ordered: To start, we were offered a basket of freshly warmed bread and a ramekin of miniature balls of butter. Each entree comes with the daily soup and salad, each of which is presented family style, in larger serving dishes to share and enjoy as we please. This evening's soup selection was a vegetarian Split Pea, and the salad a lovely mix of field greens, tomatoes, sliced almonds, Parmesan cheese and lightly tossed in a house made vinaigrette. For our main entrees, my husband had been looking forward to the Smoked Salmon Fettuccine ($25) since our arrival at the Visitor Center, having heard that it was the most popular menu item and a must-do at the Inn Restaurant. The house-smoked salmon came served over pasta with tomatoes and green onions in a cream sauce. Looking for something different with which to supplement our dinners, I selected the Wild Salmon ($26), grilled salmon topped with a dill beurre blanc sauce and served with seasonal vegetables and a scoop of mashed potatoes. Having been too full, and forced to refuse dessert the previous night, we saved room for both of the house made desserts on this culinary adventure. My husband and I shared the Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae with house made chocolate sauce and topped with whipped cream, and the hot, tart Blackberry Cobbler served a la mode! What I loved: Surprisingly, the two appetizers: both the split pea soup and the fresh salad. My favorite parts of the meal were the beginning and the end, the tart blackberries in our cobbler served warm and bubbling against the frozen sweetness of the vanilla ice cream and diabetes-inducing chocolate sauce! Why I loved it: This family-run establishment truly lives up to its name. Each member of the family has his/her part to play, and the friendliness, the ease and warmth with which we were welcomed was consistent with our experience on the entirety of Orcas Island. Combine that with good food and a cozy space, and you have yourself a winning combination! Cost: High ($22 - $40 per dinner entree) read more

What a disappointment last night as we had eagerly awaited a great meal. Service was slow, but oh well we had the time. But then my husband's steak was tough with lotza fat on it served on a mound of cold mashed potatoes along with the cold but over cooked broccoli. I. Fairness the waitress took the steak back and threw it back on grill but still not good. My salmon was great, but the potatoes were Luke warm And broccoli cold. I started to sneeze only to learn there were cats in the building. To which I'm deathly allergic . We ate there 4 years ago and had a much better experience. Whatever has happened . read more

Everything on Orcas is expensive. So that's not the issue. But when you are going to drop $30-$40 a person, it should at least be good. This was not. Wife's steak was over cooked to order. Mashed potato's were cold. My seafood pasta was solid but not amazing. The vibe of this place is just...odd. Needs some major updating. Smells and looks very old. Not sure who "resorts" here these days, but it feels like it hasn't been touched in decades. read more

This place is pretty pricey, but if that isn't an issue, then you will enjoy the large selection of fresh seafood and steaks. Most dishes are around $28-$38. The Caesar salad I ordered used fresh lettuce from the garden, but it tasted like I was eating leaves with dressing on them. The deserts are very good too, the warm blackberry crumble and apple pie with vanilla ice-cream... yum! A great view too, and friendly staff. read more

We walked from the Deer Harbor Resort, loved the short cut off the main road! We sat outside and used blankets on our laps because the view of Deer Harbor couldn't be missed. The soup of the day was vegetarian split pea and my wife and I aren't fans of split pea soup but this made us converts! It was an awesome meal and I'll go back next time we're on the island. read more

Dang. Stopped in to get some Lopez Island I've cream (which is SO GOOD!!) and ended up ordering some loaded fries. The fries were so good, we decided to eat here. Fantastic food (we had a brisket basket, ribs, and cod tacos). Everything was excellent. Food was delicious, great beer, wine, and cocktail selection. The Mac and cheese is the best I've ever had. And only about a 10-15 minute walk from the harbor. Such friendly staff. read more

This was a good meal. We didn't have reservations, we were seated right away. Lovely outdoor seating with a beautiful view. The meals came with soup and salad. My husband ordered the salmon special and I ordered the seafood penne pasta. The meal was well-paced and the service was just right--not overly attentive, but we were never left with empty water glasses or dirty dishes on our table. We will definitely come back the next time we visit the island. read more

Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant - Seafood penne pasta. Lotsa seafood. - Seafood Near Me - Deer Harbor, Washington

Nice setting on outdoor deck, pretty good food, nice waiter, but fairly slow service on a Thursday summer evening (due to only one waiter staffing entire outdoor seating area). Gluten free options. Great view of deer on lawn at dusk. read more

Wow . I had to start my review off with that a WOW the food was outstanding. They know their flavors. We are here the last night of our trip. It's a some what hidden gem but a must visit while in Orcas Island. They are the first place I have ever eaten at that has a realistic kids menu.I will for sure make this my first stop next time I visit Orcas Island in the future. read more

Live music. Outdoor seating. Beautiful view. Awesome New York steak dinner. ...and the cat visited!

Not such a great experience. Waited to be seated for several minutes and should have gone with my gut instinct and left. Sat down and waited for service. Waitress came, reviewed specials and left to get drinks. We overheard another server state that they were out of two items but our server didn't tell us that. Ordered and waited... Soup came and was good, salad came and was good, dinner did not come. We waited and all tables around us got food. Even tables that were seated after us got their food. We waited and food finally came, not good!! Service slow and food not up to par. Not worth it. Best thing they have going is the view! read more

We were staying on the island but had our dog so we couldn't sit and dine. We ordered take out and they were really great about it. We stayed in the bar area and had a drink we waited. Food came out quickly and we were back to out cabin ready to enjoy dinner. Everything was really good. Dinner came with a soup and salad both of which were really tasty. It also came with homemade bread and butter. The entrees were delicious and there was plenty of food for leftovers. I had the Seafood Penne which had smoked salmon in it that gave it a great flavor. My wife had the Smoked Salmon fettuccine and loved it. Definitely worth the drive. read more

I took my family to this restaurant for dinner on Saturday evening, August 31, 2013. We were staying on our boat at Deer Harbor Marina. Our son had the Seafood Penne/Pasta dish. My wife had chicken pasta, and I had Halibut. At 3am the next morning, on our boat, our son became violently ill with vomiting and diarrhea. This continued for the next 36 hours, constant vomiting and diarrhea; he could keep nothing down. Pretty much ruined our Labor Day weekend getaway, especially for him. I did speak with the Owner about this experience. His first response was to offer me a free ride back to the Marina. I declined. He then offered a bottle of wine. I declined. He finally offered a refund of the cost of the sickening meal..... SInce I could see this was his best and last attempt, I accepted the refund. Too bad he wasn't able to come and clean up the toilets, sinks, and floor on the boat after almost two days of vomiting and diarrhea.... And spend his Holiday sick as you can be..... To those considering eating at this establishment, our family suggests that you choose very wisely where you eat, and what you eat. Our son suffered greatly; hopefully you will be spared this same result. A formal complaint has been filed with the San Juan County Health Department. read more

Our meal at Deer Harbor Inn was *astonishingly* delicious. I am obsessed with the fresh tomato soup we had. It might be a little pricey, but we felt like it was a bargain after all of the super fresh, delicious food we ate. The bunnies playing on the lawn while we ate was a nice touch, too. :) read more

We enjoyed a nice, relaxed dinner here tonight. Good food, good service, "entertaining" atmosphere. Overall quiet with one larger party sharing louder stories. It was cold today but they have a deck and I imagine outdoor seating in summer, that would be nice with a great view of the harbor. I'd definitely visit this restaurant again. read more

I was pleasantly surprised about this little gem! Located in what looks like an old lodge, the decor is a little dated, but homey. Soup, salad and bread come with all entrees. The soup was served in a larger bowl with a ladle. I am not a fan of split pea, but this one was amazing! The salad was simple,but delicious with homemade balsamic dressing. The entrees were very nice. I had tiger prawns with an amazing homemade chutney. They have an awesome deck for summertime dining. I highly recommend this place. Definitely worth the trip! read more

The best food and service that I have ever experienced. I may find my way to Orcas Island just for the food. I would even go as far as to say that they had a "Blueberry Cobbler" that warrants a sixth star. My husband and I both had different variations of Halibut. They were phenomenal! I can't remember the last time that I made it out restaurant of this caliber for under $60... But there is a first for everything. The rolls that they start you with are home made. The had fantastic freshely made Split Pea Soup and our entrees also included an amazing salad with pine nuts and a mouth watering dressing. The fish was very fresh and dessert was amazing. If you are on the island and in the are-- definately stop by this restaurant. We happened to stumble upin this restaurant and it was the highlight of our week long trip. Service was also fantastic and there were views of the ocean from the deck. Try it--- you will not be disappointed! read more

Maybe my five star review was influenced by the fact that it was our 30th. anniversary, the view, and the perfect weather for sitting out on the deck. But putting that aside, the meal was wonderful from beginning to end. The white bean soup, the bread, and the garden fresh greens were superb. The smoked salmon gave the seafood fettucini an amazingly unique flavor. I never order dessert, but the fresh blueberry cobbler we shared melted in my mouth. I would highly recommend the Deer Harbor Inn. read more

Love coming here. The food is consistently very good. We enjoyed the salmon special last night - perfectly prepared fresh wild coho salmon. The soup, a white bean red pepper soup, was quite special, especially with the warm, freshly made sourdough baguette. We loved the Chateau St Michelle 2015 Columbia Valley Cabernet. At $42 it was a great wine at a fair price. And the entire evening was topped off by wonderful live keyboard music and blackberry cobbler! Of all the places to enjoy a summer evening I cannot think of a better choice! read more

This is my new favorite restaurant. I have an Airbnb nearby and I have recommended this restaurant to many of my guests this summer. They have all been very pleased. Sitting on the deck on a summer evening is simply enchanting. Wonderful views of the Olympic Mountains and Deer Harbor marina. The food is wonderful too. I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you order. read more

We don't normally go anywhere that doesn't have a 4-5 star overall rating, so the Deer Harbor Inn wasn't on our list of options during our recent trip to Deer Harbor on Orcas Island, a destination we've never visited before. But after realizing how far Eastsound was from our resort (where the bulk of the Orcas Island restaurants are located), we decided to drive 2 minutes, rather than 25. We are so glad we made that decision because we would have missed out on a very enjoyable meal. I honestly can't believe the ratings aren't higher. I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant that served soup AND salad AND bread/butter with all of the entrees. Very good clam chowder was followed by a nice spring lettuce mix with a tangy vinaigrette with chopped almonds. The entrees we had were both excellent. I had the seafood penne which was loaded with seafood and a delicious cream sauce. My wife had a chicken fettuccine dish that had very tender and moist chunks of marinated chicken breast along with artichoke hearts. Last but not least, we enjoyed excellent service from our server, Julia, who was uber attentive, professional, and friendly. We look forward to returning to the Deer Harbor Inn on our next trip to Orcas Island. read more

What a wonderful restaurant! It is a special place, charming and quaint, and the food is delicious! The service was also excellent. If you're sailing in, get the old Cadillac to pick you up - adds to the memorable experience :) read more

Had a really great dinner here for take out last night, salmon pasta. Prices are high, but it's the only game in town and it's in a pretty remote location so what do you want? Server was super nice and helpful considering I arrived just a few minutes before they closed after getting on the island from a ferry just minutes before read more

Over looking Deer Harbor, it's the perfect place for a summer dinner. The setting is serene with grass fields, trees, and deers lurking in a safe distance. A couple very well-fed kitties will accompany you for dinner on the deck while you are serenaded by birds. They have a garden off the deck where you can see the cats defending from the raccoons. The inside is very classy and warm. Highly recommend! read more

Nothing spectacular for the prices. Had the halibut special with orange reduction. Way too much orange flavor, but the halibut was good. Also had the bouillabaisse and it was fresh and light. Staff was friendly, but I think there's better choices for the money. read more