I visited this spot years ago, before there was yelp and had one of the best meals of my life. I came all the way from a small barrier island in Florida (Anna Maria) to visit my sister who lived in Seattle at the time. She took us on the ferry ride to Friday Harbor and it left a mark on me as one of the most picturesque and lovely places I've been. Duck Soup had been recommended to her, and we went for my birthday dinner. We sat on the deck and had one of the loveliest meals I have ever had. One of my favorite parts...we ordered Blackberry cobbler and you could see someone from the kitchen go out with a pail and pick blackberries from the bushes in back. What fun! I was in my 20's then (I just turned 47 this last August). I think sitting here in my house during Covid has made me think of places I'd like to go again if the world ever rights itself again. If it does, I will be a guest at Duck Soup again. Hopefully soon! read more

While their food on some dishes are quite good (lingcod, creme brûlée), the hostess is so rude and cold that she alone makes me not want to eat here anymore. I live on the island and have really wanted to be a loyal customer to this place because I want to support local, I just can't bring myself to support this establishment anymore. The hostess is remarkably rude. Really dismissive and unkind, it seems particularly to minorities but I also don't want to assume. read more

We have some great restaurants on the island but this is by far my favorite. The food is amazing and the staff are so friendly and genuine. Their sommelier is outstanding and there bartender can make any drink you dream up. I enjoy every time I am there and cannot wait to go back. read more

I frequent San Juan island more regularly in the summer months, enjoying it's enchanting beauty, lush Northwest greenery, and breathtaking views. But to fully enjoy your experience, I would highly recommend taking in a meal at Duck Soup Inn, conveniently located halfway between Friday Harbor and Roche Harbor. From their amazing service, extensive wine list, and locally sourced farm to table menu items, this restaurant truly exemplifies the island's distinct tastes but with a modern flair in culinary delights. As if the absolutely delicious food wasn't reason enough to enjoy a meal here, the entire staff was so friendly and extremely attentive to our needs. Our server, a young woman named Claire, was so friendly and charming and made our dining experience even that much better. It's a great spot to share a cozy dinner with a group of friends or a more intimate affair with your significant other. There's even a fun little patio and fire pit for those everlasting Northwest summer nights! In all, I couldn't recommend Duck Soup Inn more highly. I enjoyed my experience thoroughly and can't wait to come back soon to try some of their other delicious menu items. read more

Absolutely amazing food and great service. The ambiance is awesome, but not really suitable for young children (we found out the hard way). However, they have some pretty nice high chairs! The filet and Steak Diane were both out of this world, and since every meal comes with soup and salad, we were quite happy with our meal. read more

Great place and great staff. BUT the steak gave us food poisoning. Very disappointing and ruined our one year wedding anniversary trip since we were sick. read more

Loved this place! The place sits in front of a nice pond situated in the trees. The restaurant itself is nice and clean, it does not sit too many to keep its nice atmosphere so i would book a reso during high volume times. The service was great, the waitress was kind, patient and well mannered. The food was elegantly crafted, you could see the effort put into each dish and the thorough thought that went into them form the presentation to the subtle tastes. We had the oysters to start, along with the complimentary bread that came with an anchovy and olive butter paste...it was amazing! I had the duck entrée, it was cooked to tee, i've never had anything better in all of my duck experiences. After that we were full and had no room for dinner, and called it a night. you do pay a little for this quality but it is worth it. read more

We went to Duck Soup after looking at their website and looking at the menu. We asked the front desk people and they said, "it is different." Should have listened! I had the scallops and my husband had the duck. They were both served with a flower. A BUG came out of my flower and crawled across my plate!!!! The creme brulee was a weird texture and had a sheet of THICK sugar glass on top that was hard to break to eat and even worse to bite down on. NOT impressed, would not go back and ... it is very expensive with tiny portions. Just how I feel! read more

What a treat! The short drive from Friday Harbor was so worth the trip. Even our taxi trip out to the restaurant, about 5 miles from town, was great with little known facts about San Juan island, like Mona the camel. But the food, the service, the atmosphere was terrific at DS. We had salmon that was perfect, but we wisely left room for the cobbler dessert was scrumptious, and from the looks of the other choices around us, well, too many to eat at one sitting, so we will be back. Make reservations. One note...for those visiting Roache Harbor, it is only a 5-10 minute ride from there, so enjoy from both sides of the island. It will be worth it. read more

Thanks to Duck Soup we had an outstanding meal last night. They have plenty of outdoors covered seating but we are in high risk groups and being extra careful, we had take out. We ordered on-line and I was impressed by the easy to use, modern ordering interface. The meal was outstanding. We had a delicious harvest vegetable chunky soup, followed by the scallop entree and the beef filet entree. Both were wonderful, fresh, tasty and seasoned perfectly. For dessert, we had the parsnip cake and the apple crisp, all outstanding. Thanks, Duck Soup, for a fantastic meal on a special day. Highly recommend. read more

It's been my privilege to visit a few places that merit 5 star reviews on Yelp (and to be honest, I generally don't take the time to write a review for any place that doesn't make a big impression) but wow, all I can say is that if it were possible to give a place 6 stars, I would do it here! One of the finest meals I have ever eaten anywhere in the world, including in some of its so-called culinary capitals, and if you'd have told me I'd find a gourmet restaurant of this calibre on San Juan Island before last night, I would not have believed you! I had the finest steak Dianne I've ever eaten anywhere, the appetizers were great and the desserts even better. I went with a table of 10 people and everyone was tasting one other's food - we were all so impressed with our dishes that we positively insisted that everyone else try them! Truly excellent and attentive service and great ambiance too, complete with a friendly cat that came by later for table scraps (I'm surprised he or she doesn't weigh 50 pounds!). Loved this place. Will definitely visit it again! read more

Duck Soup Restaurant is a shining gem on an enchanted island called San Juan, near Seattle. OMG, the halibut was the best I ever tasted, with two contrasting colorful concoctions on top of the succulent meat. The dungeness crab appetizer was sublime. Chef Steven Jones is a star in the making. His menu's change with the seasons to source the ingredients at the height of their freshness and availability. General manager and wine manager Anna Lisa Lindstrum is charming, funny, and has great attention to detail. She has plans to enhance the property, which is lovely to begin with. The $25 corkage fee is reasonable for that special bottle in your cellar, but the Duck Soup wine list is surprisingly large and varied. After dinner the staff lit a fire near the pond for us to enjoy at sunset. San Juan may be your destination, and Duck Soup is a place to enjoy during your visit, but I now think the opposite. Duck Soup is the destination, and San Juan Island is also there to enjoy. Mike Orio, Palmetto, Florida May 2018 read more

My family and I were camping at Lakedale across the way, and a few of our friends had recommended Duck Soup Inn for a great foodie experience. I read some of the reviews and was a bit leery. However, this restaurant did not disappoint. We had reservations for 8:00. A later dinner, but it fit our schedule. As it turned out, the restaurant has limited seating for groups over 4. So when the other group of 5 holding our table from 5:00 stayed well beyond the end of their meal, it put a lot of pressure on the hostess. She tried to get us seated as soon as possible, but 5 adult-sized people just don't fit in a booth built for 4. So, at my suggestion, we started our appetizers in the booth and then moved to the 6-top when it was vacated. The staff was INCREDIBLY accommodating, and made our move with minimal disruption to the surrounding diners. The server wasn't even thrown by the change... she was a true pro. The reason we wanted to dine in this place was its focus on "locally sourced and foraged ingredients". This is their strength. And the chef did amazing things with the food. My children (15-19 years old) can be picky eaters, so this was an adventure with a menu having few choices. Despite that, everyone got things they could readily enjoy. everyone cleaned his/her plate. For the food: The bread was good, though the crust was chewy and tough to tear (even with my fingers). Biting through it was difficult. The anchovy spread was amazing! The soup course was "Cauliflower Cheese Curry". Now, I haven't voluntarily eaten cauliflower in over 40 years. But I inhaled this and was even asking for more. It was smooth, tasty, and the cauliflower flavor was perfect... there, but not overpowering. The salad course featured local organic greens, fresh peach, lime-infused almonds, goat cheese, bing cherries, and a house-made vinaigrette. It was unique. My daughter and wife were not fans, but the three boys inhaled it. It was a nice blend of a fruit salad and a greens salad, nicely balanced. The entrees were, to put it simply, amazing. The duck was perfectly cooked, and the bull kelp pickle served with it was unique and excellent. As was my pork chop - the meat was sweet and tender and the blackberry sauce served with it was tart and matched perfectly to the plate's other ingredients. My daughter's chicken was "the best I've ever had" - a fried chicken breast that was not greasy at all, as in no residue on the plate even after 30 minutes, and the breading was light and crisp. The doug fir gravy on it was different, but in a great way. And my son's steak medallions were perfectly medium rare. The only slight miss were my wife's oysters... they were very tasty, but on one of the 6 she got an overdose of vinegar that soured her on the dish for a good 15-20 minutes. We suspect one of the pickled green strawberries was a little over-pickled, if there is such a thing. We absolutely had to stay for dessert. The sundaes with Lopez Creamery Vanilla and some very rich fudge sauce were excellent. I had the lemon blueberry cake - heavenly. It was a dense cake with a light elderflower frosting and a ricotta-like curd filling. The fruit cobbler came out searing hot and fresh, but after the ice cream melted in it was surreal... an odd mix of fruit that really worked together, especially with the cream. Not overly sweet, either, with just the right amount of crumble on top. The night's bill came to $300 with tip. For a unique and creative foodie experience, that's about right. If you're looking for value for your money - this isn't necessarily it... expect slower, country-home style service. The food is good, and rightly portioned, but not huge amounts. And they won't rush you. they'll wait until everyone is finished with one course before bringing out the next (which might explain why some people complained about the service in other comments - don't blame the staff, blame your dining mates). We will be back. We're hoping for 5 stars next go-round. Smooth over the little hiccups, and it'll be there, I'm sure. Oh - I almost forgot. If you're lucky, and late enough in the night, Momo the cat might make an appearance to see you off and beckon your return soon. read more

I'd really like to give this restaurant more than 3 stars but not quite 4. However, given the system, it seemed more deserving of a 4 than a 3. It's a very good restaurant with a nice ambiance. With a few exceptions, the food was great. Excellent value - the entrees include bread, with this amazing anchovy spread and butter, soup, salad, plus your entree. It's a solid restaurant and you likely won't go wrong if you come here. If you're interested in more details read on. The wait staff was very friendly and accommodating. We didn't have reservations. Luckily, they weren't busy that night. Being on the coast, we wanted to get some form of fresh seafood. For starters, we ordered the Scallop appetizer. The scallops were cooked spot on. They had a nice crust on either side, but remained juicy and tender on the inside. The semifreddo and preserved lemon added an excellent flavor note to the scallops. After the appetizer, they brought out the bread and and anchovy spread. My wife would have made a meal out of just the bread and anchovy spread. The spread was perfect - salty, creamy, with some sort of herb. Both the Soup and the Salad were excellent. Because they were in season, the salad included several forms of fresh and pickled radishes. However, we liked the bread and anchovy spread so much, they brought a second serving. I ordered the Steak Diane. I have some order remorse and wish I had ordered something else. Don't get me wrong, it was a good meal. The French fries were wonderful - crispy on the outside with an almost creamy center. It also came with grilled asparagus. The grilled asparagus had a nice char and was not over cooked. I was underwhelmed by the Steak. The sauce was flavorful but the steak was overcooked. I think the waitress suggested medium rare, which I agreed to. I don't think any of the steak was actually medium rare. The slices of tenderloin were so thin, I think it would have been nearly impossible to keep it from being well done. To be honest, I'm almost always underwhelmed when I order steak at a restaurant. I saw another table had the chicken and the pork - I think I would have been more satisfied with one of those dishes. My wife ordered the Salmon. I tried a bite of the salmon as well as the sides. It was very good as well. The Salmon was perfectly cooked. Besides the anchovy spread, my favorite part of the meal was the dessert. While I will eat dessert, I often have a take it or leave it attitude toward dessert. We ordered the Baked Alaska. It was phenomenal. The homemade strawberry ice cream was amazing. It was loaded with large chunks of frozen strawberries. It was topped with the most delicious meringue. I don't think I have ever had meringue that good before. The bottom layer was a delicious lemon cake. The cake added the right amount of tartness to offset the sweetness of the ice cream layer. This is the first time I've ever had Baked Alaska. I fear it may have ruined me for all others. read more

Beyond disappointed. Much anticipated dinner. Sat outside which was lovely. Sweet waiter. Ordered fresh tomatoes, basil,burrata which was not tasty, cheese solid, not runny as it should be. Tomatoes tasteless. Then a 40 minute wait for our entree by which time we'd decided enough was enough and told manager we were done. She was not particularly apologetic, did insist we take food with us. But there was not enough done to smooth our feathers. This was a first for us. We are very tolerant folks. Not worth the big price tag. Our server was very chagrinned and apologetic. We did feel bad for him. We hope to do better tomorrow night! read more

You have to give a place five stars when it hits all the right points: ambiance, service, and, of course, food. Duck Soup is smack dab in the middle of idyllic bliss, but indoors is so charmingly cozy that most customers actual dis the San Juan splendor for romantic rusticity. Waitstaff? Attentive, but not annoyingly so, and with just the right amount of perk to let you know they are, truly, happy to serve you. And the food. Even common dishes get the five-star treatment when it comes to presentation, with colorful swirls and local blossoms adorning every plate. My twice-baked corn souffle was much lighter and airier than any corn concoction I've ever had, and it hinted of some wonderful flavor I couldn't quite place but loved every time it woke my taste buds. But what stood out was the absolute freshness of the produce. I swear my spinach was picked moments before it garnished my plate. Honest injun. And anyplace that goes out of its way to make vegetarians feel at home gets my thumbs-up. read more

Food is wonderful. And if interested in the noodle bowls from Back Door Kitchen, get those Monday and Saturday from 11:30- 2p I think.

It is very underwhelming for the price. Portions for some of the dishes is ridiculous. We had ordered a octopus appetizer and it was one tiny octopus leg smaller than my pinky and the rest are purple cabbage. Are u kidding me? For like $16? The pork belly is very salty. Traditionally it come with buns or rice, so it is the not salty. I felt the chef is trying to be creative but the understanding is lacking. The duck breast was good but the collard greens that came with it were sweet and had a weird aftertaste. The fillet mignon was very ordinary and not much better than the one we usually make at home. The lemon basil pasta was pretty good except they only gave 7 pieces of ravioli and I kept trying to avoid the sour berries inside. Service is good though. read more

We had a wonderful dinner here in the outdoor heated patio. It was warm and cozy and the restaurant is beautiful. I'm appreciative that it felt very safe during the pandemic. The food was delicious! I had the duck breast which was a favorite and my husband had the pork loin which he enjoyed. read more

In a lovely secluded setting among trees, a short drive off Friday Harbor, a ravishing restaurant with creative cuisine, which emphasizes flavors and.... eatable flowers! Everything was really fresh. Service was friendly, had up to three waitresses, two of them daughter and mom. There is a lovely outdoors dining possibility, but it's really small, and I was not aware when I booked and was not offered either, too bad, weather was great... And it's even open on week-ends, which is not that common in San Juan, believe it or not! A must-do in San Juan in my opinion! read more

Great atmosphere and decent food. Some parts of the meal were bland. A little cold eating outside in October.

Exceptional Crab cakes + fresh and excellent greens. Exceptional Duck Breast in every way. Oysters were only good, not quite as good as exceptional in Friday Harbor, and rack of lamb fell flat with both over cooking and a chutney that did not compliment. I'd go there in a heartbeat for the crab and duck any day! Lovely service, lovely venue, lovely selections on the menu. read more

Rude staff, and bad service, just trying to make a reservation in person that was enough for us.

YUCK. Terrible, rude service. Especially the snotty hostess (Kristin?), but the whole staff really give off the arrogant "you're so fortunate, we're doing you a favor by letting you be here" vibe. Way over-priced, yet average at best, or just plain lousy food makes this place a rip-off. (This place recently changed ownership and staff, so don't pay any attention to all the old, outdated 5 star reviews which are no longer accurate. This place now sucks, and the old reviews should be removed since it is the same restaurant only in name only!) None of the locals go here anymore, and you shouldn't either. There are much better dining options on San Juan Island. Try the Back Door Kitchen, or The Place Restaurant and Bar. read more

Slow and unfriendly service. The food was not seasoned well and just seemed bland. I had a house cocktail I wasn't really impressed with, but only because the wine list didn't have much character. We didn't hang in for dessert. I just couldn't bear the disappointment. read more

Fantastic location, ambiance, service and food! Our group of 8 was handled flawlessly Superb selection of local fare prepared and served impeccably. Highly recommend! read more

Really enjoyed the food. Started with baked oysters. Loved the duck breast and the greens that came with them. The Steak Diane was very good as well read more

The food was good and service was great. However, did not quite live up to my expectations (based on Yelp reviews). Yes, it was quite good. Was it worth the $$$ plus $40 round trip taxi...? Not sure. We had the clam appetizer and while we loved the sauce they were in, the clams themselves were nothing to rave about. Husband had the scallops which were tasty but not very hot. I had the steelhead, which was good but so very salty. And let me tell you, I am a salt lover who adds salt to everything. We were full, so skipped desert. Our one appetizer, two mains, and four glasses of wine plus tip came to about $150. It was all good, but pretty sure I would try something different next time. read more

Amazing place! If you are looking for somewhere for dinner, do not pass this up! This is a gorgeous place with fabulous food. The service was great, too. One of my favorite places I have ever eaten! read more

Duck Soup - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Excellent service, delicious food, great vibe, lovely outdoor seating. They shouldn't have charged a fee to split the main dish, since we ordered an appetizer and dessert as well. I'd definitely return if I lived nearby read more

Not 5 sty but it is a solid four star restaurant. Our family visited August. I tried multiple dishes. Steelhead fish cakes 5 stars. Curried squash soup 4+ stars. Cardamon Cosmo cocktail 5 stars. Sun dried tomato manicotti 4 stars per my sister. Lemon grass shrimp 3 stars. Shrimp were small, dry and no taste of lemongrass. Vegetables underneath were properly cooked. Tasted my brother-in-law's duck. Surprisingly dry and flavorless for duck. He said he was quite disappointed so I will take his rating of 2 stars. Wine Selection four starsGreat ambience. We ate on the outdoor patio 4 stars. There is also a lovely garden area (give 5 stars just looking at it). Indoors looked very cozy and would be ideal if you visit in the fall or winter. read more

This place is amazing! The food is excellent. I had the steak fillet and I also tried the gnocchi. Steak was cooked to perfection and I don't even like gnocchi but loved that dish too. This is definitely the best restaurant on the island and one of the best I've been to anywhere! read more

This is becoming my favorite place on the island for a wonderful dinner. Starting with amazing cocktails that are creative and contain interesting locally sourced ingredients like a martini with San Juan Distillery gin garnished with sea grape! Food was delicious, had some of the best sea bass I've ever had. read more

This is definitely a special occasion place, with the prices to match--but well worth it. It's in a beautiful setting with lovely rustic decor inside and a great deck for outdoor seating when the weather is nice. Service was terrific and everyone was very friendly. The food was inventive, local, and very high quality. We particularly loved the duck and pea & tarragon ravioli. The cocktail menu is also excellent and features local spirits and decor (some from San Juan Island Distillery, which I also highly recommend!). read more

The food was good - from the bread (anchovy paste was yummy) to dessert (chocolate cake was really good) but we were put in a not so good mood when we arrived. We were the first of about 5 parties to check in for the 8:15 reservation time (several parties of two like us). When the hostess started seating the groups, she started seating people who had checked in after us (as accountants would call it, last in first out). When I'd asked her if our table would be ready soon, she gave me a snippy "it'll be a few minutes". So negative 1 for bitchy hostess. It also seemed like they were a bit disorganized - tables who were seated after us got food first. Food here is good but we won't be rushing back. read more

OMG! How to describe The Duck Soup Inn. It's not a restaurant, it's a Dining Experience. The food is unimaginably amazing, the cocktails sublime, and the wait staff so capable it feels like you are the only table there and you have their 100% attention. All that, and then the location is in a picture perfect part of the San Juan's. Yes, it's expensive, but deservedly so. But keep a look out for Friday's Happy Hour and you can experience DS without too much expense. read more

Outstanding food from start to finish and great service - I highly recommend having a dinner here!

Nice place, restaurant tucked amongst the trees. We started off with steam clams, they were tasty, I ordered the duck, felt like it needed more taste, but it was decent. My husband ordered the fillet, it was well seasoned and tender. The wait staff was not as attentive as I would have like. Overall, glad we visited, so need have the need to return. read more

We chose Duck Soup Inn for our wedding rehearsal dinner - it was amazing! I will agree with the previous reviewer who felt "not good enough" while waiting. We also got this feeling but not as intensely as he apparently felt. Other than that, it was spectacular! So good to still earn 5 stars in my opinion. We were seated outside by the fire, the service was top notch & the food was to die for. Everyone had a wonderful time & my husband still mentions it as one of the best times we had during the trip. read more

Amazing. Everything about this place was perfect... From the deer that gracefully walked out of the bushes and walked with us through the parking lot (this seriously happened), to the warm hospitality of the waitress and hosts, and the beautiful tree-framed view of the stars as we looked up, leaving the restaurant. The host was really flexible with our reservation- we had originally scheduled for 8pm, and an hour before, they allowed us to switch it to 8:30 instead. When we got there, we were seated immediately. The brussel sprouts were the best I've had in my life. The salad was fantastic, it had watermelon and edible flowers in it. The duck was incredible, as was the steak diane. It was all topped off perfectly with a pot de creme. My dining partner has dietary restrictions, but the waitress and chef were really considerate and accomodating about it. Out of my entire week on the island, this was hands down, my favorite dining experience. read more