For Fine Dining, San Juan Island's Duck Soup comes highly recommended. Is it 'all that'? Read on, Gentle Readers... THE ROSES: Lovely location in the heart of the island. Nicely appointed dining room, decorated in a homey, rural northwest style. Pleasant and attentive service. Superb menu with a wide variety of offerings to please most palates. Most dishes are executed very well (see THORNS). I was very happy with my scallop dish, and I would heartily recommend the mixed berry crumble, served with a side of warm sweet coconut milk. Prices are reasonable for the quality of the dining experience you're receiving. THE THORNS: While most dishes are very well-executed, there is the occasional misstep. The duck breast suffered from inadequately rendered breast fat, leaving the duck excessively fatty and rubbery. If you didn't come to San Juan Island by car, getting to DS can be a challenge. DS recommends San Juan Taxi, which was a disappointment. While the ride was on time and the driver competent, the vehicle was quite tatty and reeked of cigarette. Furthermore, they charge $25 per couple (one way), regardless of how many people they pick up along the way. While Uber and Lyft are sometimes hard to get, I recommend trying to get a ride with them instead. You'll pay less and probably have a better experience. THE VERDICT, AND WHY ONLY THREE STARS WHEN IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ENJOYED THE RESTAURANT: Overall, I recommend Duck Soup. I give them 3 stars because at this level of dining experience (Fine Dining), I grade on a higher standard, and as Fine Dining restaurants I've been to go, DS is in the middle of this pack; not a standout, but not underperforming either. Recommend. read more

The menu did not have many vegetarian options. I ordered a creme brûlée was old. The interior of the location was really nice. Reasons for Rating: +1 Excellent location and parking +0 Food taste really good +0.5 Customer service +1 Interior/atmosphere +0 Would return/recommend others read more

Aloha, San Juan Island, also known as Friday Harbor, is basically a tourist destination in the summer months as the car ferry stops here. We lucked out to come before the crowds yet most businesses we're already geared up and open, nice. Duck Soup was recommended by our host, as one of the best on the island, and Duck Soup did not disappoint. Definitely one of the more expensive restaurants, but hey, we heard they get a lot of celebs who own on the island :). A cozy fireplace warmed us on this cool spring evening, as we dine at a very fine meal. One of our party said he's favorite of the trip! Wow, that says a lot as we dine a Michelin stared restaurants too. Nice beverages to compliment our meal, decent wine list too. Make your way to Duck Soup when at Friday Harbor, enjoy! read more

See all

Four of us enjoyed a wonderful evening at Duck Soup. It was a little chilly outside and they graciously moved us to the main dining room. Our appetizers were a small side salad and artichoke soup; both were great. The salads were loaded with local vegetables and the soup was rich and piping hot. Entrees consisted of the lamb chops, the pasta with spot prawns and pesto sauce, steak Diane, and the duck confit. We shared bites with each bite better than the first and all of us exclaiming that we should have ordered each other's meal! Extensive wine list with many selections moderately priced. Service was prompt, food was well timed. In all a great experience worth repeating when we next visit San Juan island. read more

The peach burrata was so delicious! The scallops were pretty good, they were a little over cooked. The dashi risotto was really good, nicely cooked. The spinach wasn't very good, too much of it and didn't have the best flavor. The filet mignon was cooked nicely, the mushrooms and potatoes were very good and the sauce was delicious too. The service was okay, our waitress wasn't the friendliest but overall the staff was alright. The restaurant is like an upscale cabin, the ambiance was really nice! We came here to celebrate my boyfriends birthday and our 5th anniversary, I told them this in advance but they didn't offer any free dessert or anything which was a bit of a bummer, but not the biggest deal. I just had to pay for them to bring out a dessert with a candle on it. read more

See all

If you're looking for an excellent meal in San Juan island, skip anything on Friday Harbor and check out Duck Soup. When Halibut was in season, it was the best I've ever had. The vegetables are prepared almost perfectly, pork belly cuts like butter, clam chowder is off the chain, and the desserts are fab. The service here is also top notch. Emma is wonderful, informative, and a kind human. I can't stress enough that if you're looking for a great dining experience, you should first come to duck soup and then try everything else. You won't be disappointed in your selection. Don't forget to make your reservation today! read more

Duck Soup - It's delish - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

See all

Magnifico- love it. Always amazing. Creative healthy clean and flavorful. One of my favorite restaurants in the west coast not just WA!! Don't eat here I don't think you should enjoy the fabulous food and staff. Leave them for me read more

Flavor was fine. The server was friendly and tried her best, but the kitchen made us wait 90 minutes for entrees and delivered the food lukewarm. I feel like we got our food early because we complained, and other tables that arrived at the same time were still waiting. Will not return unless future reviews indicate significant improvement. read more

See all

My bf and I recently spent a few days on San Juan Island first week of July and this was one of our favorite places. Price point was a bit on the high side at around $150 for 2 people including tips. Ambiance: 5/5 I loved loved the ambiance, very rustic chic and homey. The rugs on the benches was an especially nice touch. Food: 4/5 We had the soup, salad, the fish of the day which was halibut and duck. The salad was this beet salad but it was pretty tasteless. Everything else though was great and I loved the homemade warm bread that was continuously being replenished. The drinks were also good. Service: 4/5 When I went, which was around 8 pm on a weekday, service was attentive and we didn't have to wait long for our food. We never had trouble flagging down someone if we needed to either. read more

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

See all

Our experience here is fantastic. Made a reservation for Friday night. When we came in, we were promptly greeted and seated - everyone here is warm and friendly. The bread with anchovy paste and butter were amazing - the anchovy paste was flavorful but not overwhelming. Lamb meatballs were juicy and the pita chips were crispy and airy. I got the duck leg and it was 100000/10 - crispy on the outside, tender on the inside and very flavorful; the carrot purée was magical. They were able to accommodate double veggie no potatoes and that was some fine fresh veggies! Husband got the quail and he really enjoyed that as well! For dessert, he got the earl grey cream brûlée - the earl tea flavor really comes through. I got the toasted dandelion sundae and it aaa delightful. Highly recommend coming here when you are on the islands! read more

See all

Food and service were excellent. Ambiance was a bit eclectic, but I think that's the vibe they are going for and it works. Sat on the patio and the heaters made for a very pleasant evening. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth the expense. read more

We went to visit the in-laws and this is where they took us. They have talked about this place and how great the food is. My experience was sadly the opposite. I hate the open room seating because of the noise. We were seated next to an obnoxious family clearly drunk. They were out of the Steak Oscar so I played it safe with the soup and salad. My husband said his duck was great and his parents shared pork medallions. The wine is always a winner so there is that. The bill was over the top expensive. I would never go there again. read more

See all

On our 30th anniversary stay on San Juan Island, wanted to try a couple known restaurants. We picked Duck Soup as one. Atmosphere is cozy, nice fire place, nice decor, and comfortable. The menu changes, but you can tell the chef puts effort into it. We got the duck and scallops for entrees. Very good. But the pork belly appetizer was absolutely the best part of the meal. Very good. Oysters also tasty. Thanks for a nice dinner. Try it out everyone. read more

This is an outstanding restaurant. It's located in a woodsy area with a pond out front. You almost start looking for fairies and gnomes to peak out from behind the trees. From the ambiance to the food, drinks and service, it's an amazing place to dine. The cuisine features locally grown produce and seafood from the area. The creative cocktails have local ingredients and are quite the treat. To start the meal we had 2 appetizers: the steamed Westcott mussels that were so delicious that we used the freshly made bread to sop up the sauce. We also had a shrimp/seafood tartare that was to die for. Dinner was an herb crusted halibut and a scallop dinner. Both were great. We had their crème brûlée for dessert. It was the creamiest and best one I've tried. All in all it was a fantastic meal. Oh, our waitress? Outstanding! read more

See all

Not up to the hype. We were there for our honeymoon and while the restaurant itself was beautiful, the food and the service were underwhelming. Not to mention both the booths AND the chairs at the tables were mind-bogglingly uncomfortable. I was looking forward to relaxing and enjoying a fancy dinner for our honeymoon but it wasn't worth the price or the trip to that part of the island despite their past reputation. read more

I am already planning my next trip back here! It was an amazing experience from start to finish, and they went above and beyond to make sure we had a wonderful birthday dinner for my partner. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, due to the rain I had wanted to reserve a table inside and they suggested a wonderful booth for us. Upon arrival we immediately provided our vaccination cards, and we appreciate their care in checking these. The menu was so hard to choose! We ended up beginning with the tandoori shrimp, which was an amazing warm and cozy appetizer to start the meal. Our waitress floated over with a break basket (literally little red riding hood style) and always made sure we were well taken care of. Next up - the SCALLOPS. Cooked to perfection and beautiful. One of our standouts was the dessert - earl grey creme brûlée! It was absolutely beyond. Ambiance was like a romantic cozy cabin, service was attentive, and food was fab. We brought our own wine bottle and I believe corkage was $30 or so - worth it to enjoy our own red wine! read more

See all

I don't know about you, but sometimes when I'm traveling to a place I've been before, I know I've had a great dinner somewhere, but can't quite recall the name of the place. What to do? I go into my previous Yelp reviews to figure it out. For Duck Soup, I will never need to refer to this Yelp review to remember. This restaurant is MEMORABLE and then some! We are staying on the island for a couple of nights (Snug Harbor Resort...great place to stay fyi!) so it's convenient, but I would consider making a day trip from Seattle and beyond for this dinner. It's THAT good! First of all, the initial impression from the outside is like a dream. The restaurant is somewhat hidden by beautiful trees and tastefully decorated with lights. It felt like we were somewhere in the deep south walking up on a secret spot. The restaurant was packed. They had been recently closed for the winter season and are only open for four hours a day, four days a week. It was very obvious that most of the guests were locals based on the way the staff recognized and interacted with everyone. This is always a good sign. We arrived early for our reservation and had to wait a bit in the lobby. Two different people on staff asked us if we wanted a drink while we waited so..we had a drink. Rhubarb Margaritas were unique and refreshing. Hit the spot after a long day of relaxation :) We were sat in a corner booth in the charming, dimly lit dining room. The aroma was hitting us from all directions and we were practically (literally) salivating in anticipation. They have a killer wine list that goes deep and the prices are shockingly fair when compared with other restaurants at similar price points. We went with the 2019 Andrew Will Cab Franc for $63 and loved it. Dinner started with homemade bread and butter, followed by oysters on the half shell with yuzu mignonette, and wasabi tobiko. It was a beautiful presentation and we loved the little popping crunch the tobiko added. Just right. My wife ordered the Filet Mignon which was cooked to a perfect medium-rare topped with a smokey bearnaise. Did you ever see the movie 'When Harry met Sally'? Remember the scene where Sally faked an orgasm while eating in Katz deli? I'm convinced my wife wasn't faking it when she took that first bite. I watched her...eyes closed and sounds I haven't heard in a long....now that I think about it, I've NEVER heard those sounds before. Sounds like a "me problem" right? I digress....my entrée was the Halibut. I managed a seafood restaurant for over 20 years and can say with reasonable confidence that I have eaten more halibut in my life than most people. This was without question, the best halibut dinner I have ever had...ever. A tender, thick cut over a puddle of pureed peas, a delicate crust, served piping hot and it seemed as though the flavor profile changed with each bite. Total bliss! After we practically licked our plates clean, we decided we were ready to go up a size in our pants wardrobe and we each ordered dessert...worth it. Crème Brulé and Banana pie. Just do it. The service was flawless. Everyone was genuinely friendly from the moment we walked in, until we left. We were grinning from ear to ear the whole way through and we will definitely be back. read more

When asking around for nice restaurants to try out, Duck Soup was referred to us by a Friday Harbor resident who, admittedly, has only been like twice. So we gave it whirl. We arrived early on an Autumn evening and were seated at a table along the periphery of the main dining room. The lighting was so dim, and the menu print was so small, that we couldn't read the menu without our phone lights. The menu was difficult to choose from for me because I don't eat a lot of meat or shellfish. When our meals arrived, we had to use phone lights to see what was on our plates because the lighting was so dim. Without our phone lights, our plates looked like various grades of shadow shapes; however, with our phone lights we could see the color of the flower on our plate, the color of the vegetables, the texture of our meal. Our service was ok, no personal connection, nothing memorable. The restaurant is a high-priced experience. Our bill was more than $200 for two people; our meal was more ok but nowhere near was wonderful as our dining experience the night before. The restaurant we dined at the night before was actually less money, the service was personal, warm, and exuberant, the wine choices were good, the evening marina ambiance was lovely, the food was fantastic, and the lighting was such that it was cozy, even romantic, but we could read the menus and see our food. All in all, Duck Soup was a disappointing and expensive experience for us and we wished we went back to the previous night's restaurant. read more

My husband and I have been to Duck Soup twice. The first time was back in 2018, and then April 2022, just last week. Last week we went twice because it gets better and better each time. The drive there and the location is enchanting enough. Then you walk inside their cozy, rustic, charming dining room, while being greeted by the sweetest staff. Such a family like vibe. My husband and I shared the black cod appetizer. Absolutely delicious. We then had the halibut and scallop entree . I'm not used to seeing scallops this big. They were seared, and cooked to perfection. Scallops can be tricky. Second night, we split the pork belly, which was also delicious. I never had that before and wanted to try it. I had the filet mignon entree which melted in my mouth. It was just perfect. The presentation of the food and all the blended flavors just 'WOWED' us. They recently extended their outdoor area with pavers and a firepit. Such ambiance! These special nights there were such a treat. 2018 and now 2022 experience I will never forget. Thank you Duck Soup! read more

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

I was so disappointed in our dinner last week. I had visited Duck Soup several months ago and it was amazing. I revisited last week with my husband wanting to share the great experience I previously had but it was a huge let down. We had visited the local brewery earlier in the day and we were told by locals it was not as good as it used to be to be but we went regardless. The menu was nothing like the previous visit. Nothing sounded appetizing and prices had significantly increased. We still ordered regardless. The trip to get here is 4 hours for us so we were committed. Food was terrible, overcooked steaks and charred undercooked vegetables. Staff were pretentious and very unfriendly. We ran into another couple that night at our hotel in Roche Harbor and they shared our same experience. They were there at the hotel restaurant having what looked like a second dinner but we found out they sent back just about everything they ordered at Duck Soup. They had been told by their boss that Duck Soup was amazing as well and were as disappointed as we were. I normally do not post bad reviews on business but this place left a bad taste in our mouths and our wallets. read more

The food was just ok. Ordered the filet and clams. The pricing was not too high but the food was not great. Cute place.

This place was fantastic other than the somewhat slow service. The ambiance was great, it's such a beautiful place! The food was also delicious, but the only off putting part was us having to wait such a long time to get ahold of a server. We were there for 2 hours when it could've been 1. However, I understand them wanting more of a dining experience. We will be returning. read more

We had a great experience at Duck Soup. After recent bad reviews we were a little concerned but things went well. Service was prompt, waiter was very nice. Price is a bit high for the food -- considering the locale I don't blame them for upcharging but I could do better. Nothing spoke out as fantastic which I would generally expect at the price. read more

We went as a group of 6 with the highly anticipated restaurant experience. Once we were seated, it was 15 minutes before the waitress came by to provide water service and take our drink order. After we placed our entree orders, we were told by the manager that we were too loud and to quiet down. We were talking at the same level as all the other patrons in the restaurant. Also, while we were waiting for our entrees, none of the servers cleared any of our appetizer dishes or provide any refills on water. At one point, one of us had to leave the table and flag down the waitress to get them to clear our table in preparation to receive our entrees. From order time to receiving the entrees took at least 45 minutes. We noticed all other patrons received their entree's in a much quicker timeframe. Entree quality was very good but the rudeness of the waitress, manger and staff cancelled out the total experience. To pay these high prices, we expected impeccable service and politeness' from all of their staff - which we did not. On our way leaving the restaurant the hostess made a comment that "you will never come back again to our restaurant". Once we got into our cab, the restaurant called the cab driver and told him to charge us TRIPLE! This is most outrageous un called for approach we have ever experienced at a restaurant. We visit the Roche Harbor area each year and will definitely tell everyone we know to NEVER go to this restaurant. read more

COVID-19: Outdoor dining available on 9.17.20. No indoor dining, but we were allowed to use the restroom inside. Reservations highly recommended. Parking: Private lot. Even though we only had the option of eating outside, I loved the atmosphere and how this was tucked away on its own. I wished I had made an earlier reservation so that half our meal wasn't eaten in darkness. Some tables had umbrellas with some lighting, but ours just had a candle. It would've been romantic to see the stars, but unfortunately the air was smokey from the fires. There was a fire pit in the middle of the outdoor dining which kept us warm enough. Casual dress code. Service was fantastic. Complimentary bread and butter: The bread was warm and very tasty. In addition to the butter, there was an anchovy spread of sorts. I didn't try it because I don't eat seafood, but my boyfriend said it was good. Spiced Pisco Sour $12: A very tasty drink! Old Cuban $13: Refreshing and minty. A little too minty for my personal preference. Duck Confit $17: I don't really know how duck confit is supposed to taste, but I thought the duck meat was OK. I loved the white truffle aioli and would have been just as happy to have this as a salad without the duck, as odd as that is. Roasted Figs and Brie $14: I wasn't expecting the Brie to be stuffed in the figs, so it wasn't as brie-y as I was hoping. Still finished it all. Duck Breast $34: I don't eat duck often except at Chinese restaurants, and even then I mainly like it for fried skin. I still wanted to try this because duck is in the name of the restaurant. Same to the duck confit, I thought it was OK. Normally if a sauce is really good it can save the dish for me, but the sauce with the duck didn't really stand out. Beef Filet $39 for 5 ounce: The beef was a little too salty. I wasn't super impressed with the sauce on this either. The mashed potatoes were OK. I prefer them to more creamy. San Juan Island Distillery Apple Brandy $13: I don't typically order liquor straight up, but I was curious to try this local product since the distillery wasn't open for tastings on the days we visited. Yeah. It's just not for me. My boyfriend liked it though. Cedar Creme Brûlée $11: This was interesting. I definitely detected the cedar notes. I wouldn't want it again, but glad to try something different. Photo Mention - Small Soup $7: Thai Fish Chowder. My boyfriend said it was good. ***** My Star Ratings: 1 Star - Terrible. Just thinking about it makes me angry. 2 Stars - Meh. Unlikely for me to return. 3 Stars - OK. Open to coming back, but wouldn't go out of my way to. 4 Stars - Yummy! Will definitely return if I haven't already. 5 Stars - AMAZING!!! Would plan my day or even a trip around eating here. read more

See all

Lovely restaurant. Appetizers were all delicious. Maybe even better than the duck entrees we ordered. The duck was fine but not spectacular. Nothing to write to Yelp about. If I had to return I might order something else. But definetely try this place. It's cute and cozy and the staff are wonderful. read more

I imagine this is the best food on the island! It was certainly head and shoulders above the other restaurants at which we ate. The menu is eclectic and sophisticated. My Japanese eggplant was raised to an art form, and the porcini mushroom soup was decadent and rich. Everyone at the table loved their fare, and desserts were delicious too. The place was packed and I wouldn't even try to eat there without a reservation. Don't miss it! read more

Service was slow and the staff rude. We waited too long once we were seated for service, and that slowness continued throughout the meal. The management said several comments to our group that we couldn't believe. Very unprofessional! The food was good, but the experience left a bad t in our mouths!! read more

We had high hopes for this place, but unfortunately it did not live up to the reviews. Food on the island is already expensive, so we knew that we should expect even worse for fine dining but the food should at least taste amazing then :'( We got the lamb and the duck and both were very one dimensional tasting. Everything just tasted like one flavor, but with that flavor boosted to the max. The duck was also not crispy, but rather soggy? Basically it had the texture of chewing on fat. The lamb dish was going for a Mediterranean flavor, but again it was just so boring and flat and tasted like if a cafeteria was doing Mediterranean day or something. I mean in the end the food was not unpalatable or anything, just really fell flat. read more

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

Disappointed. As many reviewers have said, the wait times were unacceptably long. The mevu was very hit or miss. Drinks: sangria was bitter and had no fruit flavor (tasted like dry red wine over ice, couldn't finish mine). Apps: were good, Burata was good, smoked oysters good. The mains were very disappointing and in general a great mismatch between quality and price. Grilled scallops--no sear/caramelization on the scallops and no seasoning, meant no flavor, just cooked enough not to be raw. Miso glazed cod served in an inedible broth that was so strongly flavored it tasted like miso paste mixed in rice vinegar. Dessert--was okay, not great. I've definitely had much better food for less; it clearly wants to be a fine dining experience but just can't get it together. Save your time and money. read more

GOOD FOOD, slow service. As with every business, they are short staffed. But the food is excellent. read more

Best dinner on the island I've had thus far! Perfect atmosphere for a romantic date, and the homemade bread with butter spread is a must. Our service was also excellent. read more

Second visit in 40 years. Seriously. My wife and I honeymooned on San Juan island 40 years ago. Set up dinner reservations on our 40th anniversary. The food is still absolutely great. The place has changed a lot in 40 years. Enjoyed everything we ordered. Drinks, appetizer, dinner and dessert. Apparently the server we had wasn't a big fan of marriage, but to each their own. read more

See all

I had high expectations going into the restaurant based on the rating and reviews. Disappointed. Service was lack, and the food was okay. I don't usually give negative comments on Yelp, however just being honest. I was there for birthday occasions, drove from Seattle. The waitress promised us something she would make it a special, she mentioned it twice, didn't happen. The food wasn't spectacular as I expected. I would ever go back there again. Sorry. read more

See all

Beautiful atmosphere!! A group of 10 of us came in for dinner last night and sat outside by the fire with blankets and enjoyed each other's company and a full dinner. The pork belly app was amazing, and so are the martinis with blue cheese stuffed olives. My husband got the halibut and was beyond pleased, I got the scallops and barely spoke while I was devouring them, amazing risotto! The desserts I was less impressed by, the crime brûlée was nothing special, but the boys like the chocolate cake. Pricey but ya get what ya pay for! read more

I think this place may be a little overhyped, but still solid if you want a more classy dining place in SJI. The food was good, but I think the food pairings are strange at times. Service was a bit slow but guess it is COVID dining times. The duck breast was incredibly tender with a perfect juicy and crispy skin. The duck fat fried rice that came with it was also very flavorful, but that mixed with the peppers and the duck just seemed a bit of a strange pairing. In some ways it felt like it was almost trying to be asian fusion, but the flavors & textures were not a great combo. Maybe a duck fat fried crispy rice or duck fat fries would've worked better? For the Halibut, it was cooked just right so that it was still moist, and the fish was very fresh. However, I think some simple roasted veggies might have worked better to match with the halibut - either way I think there's too much couscous that it overwhelms the fish. The steamed clams were good - nice citrus beer broth and a solid choice for appetizer. read more

See all

Lovely ambiance, outdoor tables are charming. The food was well presented & unique. Nestled in the woods. Would return!

I don't know how anyone can rate this restaurant lower than 5 stars. Yes, the lamb wasn't a full rack. But despite that everything here was absolutely top notch. The scallops had a beautiful rich complex orange flavor, the banana creme dessert was a masterpiece. This restaurant is truly top notch. My best meal of 2023. read more

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

A spectacular restaurant tucked back into the woods on the island farthest west in the chain. Other than the two roadside signs signaling you to slow down and turn in to the driveway, there's not much preparing you for how good your meal will be in here. There's a gravel parking lot, with trees overhanging everywhere. There's even a willow hanging low enough to brush the tops of most vehicles pulling in. It's an old house, with a host station just inside the door at the top of the stairs. There are a couple dining rooms just past that, with a nice mix of interesting lighting, clean carpentry, dark paint, and a few eye-catching sculptures and wall hangings. There are booths and tables filling up the rooms. The staff are friendly and cheerful, and clearly they're focused and serious about food and drink whenever they're on shift. A bunch of us came in for dinner during a recent guy's weekend, joining the quiet mix of families and couples on date night. They seem to draw a lot of locals as well as tourists who hunt down good food. The menu isn't long, but everything is interesting. We tried half the appetizers; the roast fruits were the most unexpected and fun. The duck confit was amazing (and amazingly ungreasy), and the pork belly was probably the best I've ever had. The westcott bay clams were fantastic, and we kept plowing through bread to sop up the broth. Speaking of the bread--they come around with a basket, constantly replenishing your bread plate. I can proudly say I refrained from making any Little Red Riding Hood jokes about this. The house-baked sourdough is absolutely delicious, and we must have put away half a dozen of the little loaves. It usually comes out with fresh butter and an anchovy paste as spreads. We had whiskey flights, nice regional beers, and a few different very interesting bottles of red wine. The cocktails were great, too. We must have tried almost everything. For entrees, we tried the ling cod special, duck breast, quail, Copper River salmon, and sea scallops. Everything came with a wide variety of delicious vegetables, beans, and other sides, all artfully piled on the plate. The scallops were impeccably cooked--it's amazing how buttery and tender they were all the way through; even the best cooks usually cook the outside at least a millimeter of the way in, and these were like butter all the way through. The duck was magic, though the skin could have been crisper. The quail was exceptional: sweet, savory, juicy, tender. I'd order anything here. We had tasty desserts, nothing overly sweetened. All showing off the flavors of whatever ingredient was front and center--chocolate or fruit and so on. Too many places make white sugar the star of their desserts, and that isn't the case here. In the end, this place turned out to be a relative bargain for the quality of food on offer. We paid about $130 per person, but that includes a hefty bar tab since this was a bachelor party. It's hard to imagine eating and drinking this well at too many other places for these prices. I can't wait to come back with any sized group. read more

On our last night on San Juan Island, we chose Duck Soup as our fancier dinner date night. I love the location: between Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor, tucked away in the woods, which makes it feel more special and secret. They only offer dinner from 5-9pm except for Monday lunches from 11:30-2:30pm when they partner with Backdoor Kitchen and make noodle bowls. We didn't get a chance to try the noodle bowls unfortunately, but it's on my list! We had made reservations pretty far in advance when we weren't sure how Covid restrictions would be, and saw they offered heated outdoor heated dining. Take out is also available, but highly recommend making a reservation request through their website early on to experience dining there, if not you need to call if it's within 24 hours. Unfortunately I was stuffed from lunch earlier, so we skipped appetizers, but the 8 offerings they had at the time sounded amazing! Really wish I could have tried the mushroom sauté or fish cakes. For entrees, we had to order the duck breast based on the restaurant name alone, and I opted for the scallops. The scallop dish was the perfect amount, and the subtle Japanese flavors of miso and ponzu really stood out among the meaty scallops. There is no nuts in the passion fruit chili sauce in the duck breast dish (in case you are concerned about allergies like we need to be) and the duck was cooked to perfection. Tender, not chewy, and the duck fat fried rice was amazing - not greasy or heavy, and paired so well with the light chili sauce. Luckily I had room for dessert, and the tiramisu genoise (also no nuts!) was the perfect end to our meal. Light, fluffy, chocolate-y, and well plated as the couple next to us asked what we ordered haha! Our server was really friendly, attentive, and overall we had a lovely evening! I want to go back wahhh!! read more