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

Beautiful space, friendly and helpful staff, and the food was solid. We were a group of four adults, and had a cocktail each, a bottle of wine, shared three appetizers, each had an entree, and shared three desserts and the bill came out to around $400 before tip. I enjoyed everything we had (butter lettuce shrimp wrap, pork belly, heirloom tomatoes, rack of lamb, scallops, sundae, creme brulee, and peach cobbler), and I feel like each of the dishes were well thought out, seasoned and cooked perfectly, and presented well. I think it's a great restaurant to check out if you're in the area and reservations are available. read more

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 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

After two trips to San Juan Island and eating at most every restaurant shown on Yelp (top 12 Restaurants) Duck Soup is definitely the highest quality and most expensive. It is larger than anticipated and they do a superb job at breaking down the various seating areas to provide 1st quality service, food & drink. To get started we had a large group of 9 and they reserved the perfect spot for us indoors at a large table setup in a room by ourselves. The mixologist (Nate) is very good. He made some dirty martinis that had an exceptional local vodka that was extremely smooth. The wine list is expansive with a strong inventory of wines from Washington, Calioforinia, France, Italia and more. Between our group we ordered a wide selection of menu items. Probably the best was the duck breast and on the negative side the Salmon was the least favorite as it was pretty dry (this is a bad year/time/season for salmon and so giving them the benefit of doubt it might be very difficult to prepare moist salmon right now. The bread with butter and anchovy paste as an option was exceptional. All freshly baked. The deserts were were tasty and so was the ice cream. Suggestions to owner: With the name "Duck Soup" suggest yo add an appetizer with duck or a salad with duck as an ingredient for those guests who order another type of dinner but who would like a small sampling of duck. Does also seem to be a good idea to offer Duck soup, but when someone asked the server thought that was a joke (it was a serious question). You need to have a big budget for dinner out at Duck Soup, but if money is not an issue you will most likely enjoy the experience. PS If possible get Julia as your server. read more

What a beautiful, intimate restaurant. My husband made dinner reservations here for our wedding anniversary. We were debating between Downriggers on Friday Harbor and Duck Soup and I'm so happy we went with Duck Soup! This restaurant is tucked away in a little woodsy area and we sat outside on the upper patio (there's also lower, expanded patio with one large table and chairs around a big fire pit for drinks and hanging out). There's a certain sweetness to this place and the ambiance is cozy and romantic. My husband and I opted for ginger beer for our beverages and we ordered two appetizers and two entrees: Appetizer 1, Steamed Westcott Bay Clams: The clams were nice and plump, and while the spicy curry broth flavor was good I wish it was a tad more sweet to balance out the spiciness. I also wish there was a little more clams on the plate! It was served with two pieces of toasted bread which was nice to slop it into the broth. Appetizer 2, Dungeness Crab Cakes: Yummy! Can't go wrong with these crab cakes! Entree 1, Seared Sea Scallops: Seriously some of the best cooked scallops I've ever had. They were not rubbery/overcooked and not over-seasoned so you can really taste and appreciate the scallops. They surprisingly meshed well with the bok choy and white rice. Entree 2, Duck Breast: What a pretty plate! The duck breast was also cooked to perfection; however, I wish there was more flavor. The real winners though, were the sides: carrots and potatoes. Carrots had a nice grilled char and the potatoes were so nice and crispy! I wish we tried a dessert but we really wanted to catch the sunset at Lime Kiln so we had to leave. We will try next time. Staff and service were nice. My one and only (minor) complaint is that it took a little long to get our food, but aside from that, the restaurant and the food were amazing!. read more

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The setting and the ambience here was great, the food was top-notch, we were able to get in at the end of the season and you can tell everything was made fresh and from scratch... Make sure you get reservations as they fill up but it was well worth it and we will definitely return next time we were on the island read more

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

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

Absolutely awful. Service was kind and helped my mom navigate the menu but that was it. Never asked how I'd like my duck cooked, never asked or brought us a carafe for water until our main courses were served, and never once asked if we wanted a second glass of wine. Bread and salad were delightful but the main courses took 45 minutes to arrive. The duck was cooked damn near well-done with very bland rice. My mom's pasta was completely dry and gummy with hardly any vegetables. The piece de resistance of the night was the tray of condoms and tampons in the bathrooms. Like... what the actual f-ck? read more

Duck Soup - Is this a fine dining restaurant or a truck stop?? - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Yes it live up to the hype. Make a reservation, consider leaving the kiddos at home, splurge on the bottle (or two) of wine and enjoy yourselves! Patio seating before dusk is the best! read more

We called for a last minute reservation for two for dinner and they were able to accommodate us. We were so happy! Our first time visiting the San Juan Islands and everyone recommended Duck Soup for dinner. It was definitely the best meal we had while on the island. I had the scallops and my partner had the duck breast. Both meals were fantastic. We shared the tiramisu for dessert which was delicious as well. Duck Soup is definitely a must while on the island! read more

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

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Really swanky spot with great views and plush interior. Super cool garden seating with nice views and heaters for the outdoor seating. My martini was very good and had floating ice crystals on top - always a sign of a well shaken drink! The roasted beet appetizer was my favorite. Super fresh greens, nice beets and perfect cheese. Well done! The main courses for me and my wife were ok. The duck was nicely cooked but all the sides were disappointing. As someone who likes bitter greens as a side, these were almost TOO bitter to eat. The bean sauce was also super dense and reminded me of bean dip. Overall I didn't enjoy the compliments to the really good duck. My wife's linguini bolognese was ok, not much overall flavor or textures and pretty oily. I would go back and enjoyed my meal. Great service and atmosphere. Maybe we picked the wrong entrees and would have enjoyed others more. read more

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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

I love this place.. I just wrote a long review declaring my love and realized I was not logged in. Tried to copy and paste but deleted instead. In a nutshell, you will never find another restaurant as good as Duck Soup Inn on SJI. It is artsy, authentic, nature-esque and filled with warmth. You will not be dissapointed--but be open minded as the menu is constantly rotating, local and daintily enhanced with edible plants that hug the shore of the San Juans. I wish I had more sea kelp and seaweed...it's like kale chips but 10x better. Also the edible flowers with seafood are so creative and tastefully arranged. read more

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Marvelous ambiance. A warm atmosphere and high quality menu. The best Manhattan on San Juan Island. Fresh ingredients. The staff is attentive, personable and gracious. A must do for fine dining. read more

This was a delightful experience and one I am grateful I had. I have wanted to dine here for years but never had the opportunity until tonight. It was well worth the wait. Even upon seeing the restaurant from the outside I was memorized with the tree entwined in the architecture with little blue flowers hanging below. It was enchanting. The restaurant is bohemian rustic for lack of a better phrase. Booths line the perimeter while thick solid wood tables fill the floor. One wall consisted of thousands of carefully arranged corks while the other walls were painted a deep green with natural wood trim. Paintings of flowers were tastefully arranged. Candles were arranged on the tables in Himalayan pink salt holders or glass holders. A rack of antlers hung on the cork wall. Chandeliers made of driftwood and scattered crystal pieces hung over the check in area. My reservation was for 5 PM so my friend and I were second to be seated. We were promptly greeted and well taken care of. Our primary waitress had a great rhythm of checking in with us while others would whisk away plates, serve the food, and stop by to see how everything was. It was never overbearing and seemed to be timed during the pauses in the eating or conversation. We ordered the steelhead for an appetizer. I ordered the steak while my friend ordered the duck. The steelhead was fantastic. It reminded me much like lox but a little milder. The steak was amazing. It was cooked perfectly and nicely flavored with pepper. Simple and divine. There was a potato with it that equally was good but I can't tell you the preparation other then it reminded me of a scallop potato but drier. It was nice! I ordered the strawberry and rhubarb trifle for dessert. It was amazing! Very rich but also very amazing. It was a fantastic meal and one I will appreciate for a long time. read more

Duck Soup - Looking out the window at the blossoming trellis. - 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

I've been delaying on writing my review for this dinner for some unknown reason because this was honestly a knock out meal at an amazing place. I wish San Juan Island wasn't so far away from where I live because I'd be coming back to visit just to eat here again! I came here with my fiance and my parents for a birthday celebration and oh man, was this right for that. Our table wasn't quite ready for us when we arrived, so we sat outside by the lovely fire pit and talked to Steve the bartender about what drinks we wanted. My mom got the cherry bomb, my fiance got the wild cherry manhattan, and I got a ginger mocktail. The manhattan was very good, the mocktail was amazingly delectable, and the cherry bomb absolutely stupendous. My mom is normally very picky about drinks and she absolutely LOVED her cherry bomb. Flavors wowed us and the balance between sweetness and acidity was perfect. For our main course we ordered: - smoked scallops ($36) with truffled carrot puree, pickled rhubarb, hazelnuts, bok choy. Amazing. The smokiness of the scallops was delectable and they were cooked perfectly. All of the little sides were great pops of flavor. - Roasted duck breast ($29) with smokey braised greens, bacon, rosemary potatoes. Again, perfectly cooked, not a single complaint. Crispy outside skin & tender inside, mmm mmm mmm. - Coffee encrusted lamb rack ($36) with oaxacan mole, potatoes, charred vegetables. Stupendous, and again perfectly cooked. I loved the coffee and lamb combination and it surprisingly did not overpower the meat. - their special of the day which was local cedar sockeye ($36) with brown butter sunchokes, blistered cherry tomatoes. This literally had all of us drooling. It was the best salmon I have ever tasted in my life. Unlike some other cedar salmons, this was moist and buttery. It wasn't my main course but I kept stealing more bites of it. We had rosemary ice cream for dessert and it was the perfect ending for a sensational meal. The rosemary flavor were savory but highlighted in a lovely way in the sweet cream. We were very impressed with the kitchen, and our service was excellent. I can't wait to come back some time when I make my way to the island again! read more

Duck Soup - coffee encrusted lamb lack from their summer menu - truly amazing! - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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San Juan dinning at its finest. Wine was fire and the lamb chops incredible. I would give six stars if I could... or I would take stars away from my other reviews just so this place will get boosted. Waite staff was great too. read more

Star of the show: scallops. Prob the best plate of food I had on the island. Perfectly cooked, good sear. Standout dish. Bread service rules and every restaurant should be doing this. Mushrooms were a bit of a letdown. For being a place that focuses on foraging, there wasn't much to them. The biggest disappointment was the duck itself. Sucks cuz this place has duck in its name! The duck was waaaaay overcooked. The kimchi was not kimchi (more like a quick pickle) and everything was just doused with mai ploy. Sweet chili sauce is great but felt a little cheap here. I refuse to give restaurants bad reviews during this time. My experience could very well be a one off. I was recently listening to an interview with a famous BBQ chef who said lots of folks come up to him and bad mouth other BBQ restaurants and he always replies with "well, have you tried them at least three times? if not, please do that before you hold and spread a negative opinion." Wise indeed. read more

This is a gem tucked away in the woods ten minutes outside of Friday Harbor. This restaurant feels like a cozy little cottage the minute you see is grapevine draped entrance. Due to COVID, dining is still isolated just to their patio, but everything was extremely comfortable, with heaters and blankets available. My partner and I ordered drinks, their house salad, scallops over butternut squash puree and duck with spiced yams and crispy parsnips. Each dish was immaculately prepared, with scatterings of edible flowers in the salad to a perfect sear on the duck breast. The drinks were equally unique and delicious. The service was similarly excellent with plenty of care paid attention to our meal by the staff who were quick to bring extra blankets or beverages if asked. You couldn't ask for a better culinary oasis to escape to in the area! Keep in mind that cell service is limited so while driving up, have directions in mind or written down. read more

Duck Soup - One of their amazing cocktails - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Beautiful and top-notch despite covid. The food is incredible - we had the crab cakes, filet, and halibut. Each cooked to perfection. The wine list is awesome, and their house made bread is delicious. We love coming and sitting in their rustic dining room, but with Covid, the patio was still great. There were heaters and it was covered making it a safe and welcoming spot. If you're on the island, this is a must stop! read more

They had such a fantastic customer service. They were very accommodating when I got my timing all messed up with the ferry schedule. All the servers were extremely friendly and welcoming. The food was absolutely delicious, especially their homemade sour dough bread with anchovies spread and grilled oyster mushrooms. We had the duck and halibut, it was amazing and cooked phenomenal. The ambiance is very peaceful, warm and comforting. Especially it's in the middle of the woods, definitely an amazing restaurant that worth to try out. read more

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We chose Duck Soup to celebrate our 45th anniversary and made a reservation request for a quiet table for 6-7pm. I was told there were no booths available for that time but our request could be accommodated in the 5-6pm time slot so I agreed to the change. Upon arrival we were seated at an open table but the hostess was dismissive when I mentioned our reservation request, so there we sat even though there were two open booths. We ordered bubbly to celebrate and bread was served with a lovely anchovy paste and butter. My scallop dish was fine, just not exceptional considering the $$$. My husband's duck confit was another story -- the duck leg was overcooked and soooooo salty, combined with kimchee and over-salted rice congee, his sodium intake was certainly through the roof! The 6-minute egg, however was perfect. Our desserts, Earl Gray crème brûlée and ice cream sundae, were served with lit candles and hit the spot. Our server was attentive and also indicated that she shared with the chef our concern about the over-salted duck and congee. Hopefully other diners have a better experience. However, we will not be returning. read more

The best meal by far in San Juan. Lovely and balanced cocktails, delicious menu and great ambiance. I only wish more restaurants around here would try to hit a higher quality of food and service. read more

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

We were SOOOO happy we made reservations here. At first we were worried with how far away it seemed from things but we we got there, I feel like I could have stayed forever. It was soooo cozy, and I bet in the cooler months it'd feel even more so. We loved the small touches of pillows on the benches. The food was INCREDIBLE. From the anchovy butter to start, to all desserts that were far too delicious looking to pass up (even though we were stuffed), it exceeded our expectations and beyond. HIGHLY recommend to anyone who loves good food, cocktails, and ambience. We can't wait to come back and try their next menu. read more

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Beautiful covid-friendly outdoor seating experience and great service, but the food wasn't as memorable as I'd hoped. Our 3 appetizers were the best part of the meal-- the cold summer squash, crispy pork belly, and thai fish cakes that tasted of curry. The duck and scallop entrees were just okay-- the meat itself tasted great, but the entire dishes reminded me of the taste of an asian TV dinner. I probably would not return to eat a meal (at least an Asian-inspired one) but would consider drinks and lite bites. read more

We went there for Father's Day, All the entree's we ordered were so salty. Service was good but slow considering it's Father's day

My husband and I went to Lakedale Resort for a little weekend getaway and Duck Soup looked like a nice, cozy, restaurant to have dinner and it was also really close to the resort. I ordered the duck breast, and my husband ordered the salmon. We really enjoyed the food, and the ambiance. The staff was really friendly but our waitress seemed to misread us a few times. My husband left a floral/veggie item on his dish and we asked the waitress if it was edible. She took his dish to the kitchen and came back empty handed, letting us know that, "yes it was edible". I didn't want her to be embarrassed since she seemed like she tossed it but my husband would have eaten it if he had known that it was edible and we just wanted to verify that it was. He also had about a forth of his soda left in his glass when she asked if he wanted another refill. Since we were almost wrapping up, he said that he didn't need a refill, to which she responded by taking his glass away. Again, not sure why, as he was planning on finishing what was left, he just didn't want an entirely new soda. She did it so fast that we didn't bother to try and stop her. Even with the miscommunication, we would still come back since the staff really was nice and the food was great! read more

Duck Soup - Salmon with the pretty floral thing that we didn't know if we could eat :) - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Delicious meal and excellent service. Halibut chowder was the soup of the day and was really tasty with a nice tarragon flavor that made it unique. They have a short menu but with good variety. There were various seafood selections and also vegetarian. They have the local oysters. Everything was delicious and service was prompt but not rushed. We had an enjoyable relaxed meal. We made our reservation by email as they are closed during the week. It went to our spam and we didn't know that. But they called us on the day of for confirmation and we were happy to know we got a table. They were also flexible to move it back an hour since we had made some other plans. read more

Ambience? Check. Service? Check. Food?Check. Cocktails? Check. Wine list? Check. Highly recommend the garden area as it is just stunning. They also have blankets if you get cold. Every thing we had was good. Salmon. Fried chicken. Duck. Steak Diane. Fried brussel sprouts, pot de cream and cheesecake. Modern Mule best drink ever! read more

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Very cute and romantic restaurant with a cabin in the woods feel. Food and service were on point! The bread service was among the best we've had - anchovy pate and butter on fresh sourdough. So good. The curried clams and pork tenderloin are also must tries! read more

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

It's hard to find a spot in San Juan Island that is not good, but there are a few that are excellent, Duck Soup is probably, IMHO, the best restaurant on the island. From the nested in the wood setting to the locally foraged cocktails all the way to consciously sourced meals with a PNW menu that is to die for. The ambiance is great, you will feel like you are having a gourmet dinner in the middle of the Forrest, hard to imagine right? The staff is very courteous and accommodates requests, for instance my wife is lactose intolerant so our waiter was great in explaining options. You start with some home made fresh bread and then the rest just is up to you, fish, pasta, beef, and other options that are perfect. I won't recommend a dish just because they are all cooked to perfection. Make sure the deserts and be careful with the cocktails as they are both delicious and well served. read more

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Has dinner at Duck Soup while staying in the island. This Resturant was excellent, from the atmosphere to the entrees our experience was nothing shy of incredible. read more

Food- somehow I was left ill the day after by the Cassoulet or two blue cheese stuffed olives from my martini. For this reason I decided to leave a review. Of the four others in our party, all reported decent meals, but not on par with the price and reputation. Drinks- tasty. More NA options would be great. Service- our server gave up on us for some reason. We were left without water for some time and upon leaving no one said a word to us. Not sure what the issue was. We called ahead to bring a birthday cake to celebrate two recently b-days, but were told it would cost us $50 to have it there. As a result, we ordered just one desert to share and have our cake later. Perhaps we weren't spending enough? Atmosphere- Dark and cozy. So dark that phones were needed for reading the menu. There was a drunken party of birthday revelers that made so much noise our 81 YO member was stunned and left out of any conversation. It was a cacophony, easy for one group to take over the space. I highly recommend sound attenuation in the dining room. It's a basic, functional solution and not expensive to install. Summary- Consider if you want to take older folks here. Work on sound attenuation, lower prices to fairly match the food quality. Improve service training. Say bye and smile when a party of five leaves your $$$ establishment. read more

Amazing food but seasonal so the dish your friend ordered 6 months ago may not be available. The Rack of Lamb and Halibut were definitely the winners on our table. The duck confit was ok but I've heard the duck fried rice is amazing. The fried rice wasn't available when we were there. The environment is nice NW style and the staff were all cordial and professional. Reservations needed, probably more so in the summer but we were able to get in on a Friday evening with a two day reservation. read more

Oh my delicious goodness.... go here now. Read all the Yelp reviews a month before we came to the island and knew we had to go, then everyone we came in contact with agreed and highly recommended this spot. Did a dinner on a Tuesday, and was so happy that we got it at 7:45 pm. Started with the special anchovy paste with bread, moved to the charcuterie/ cheese board and a special crab caprese salad. Then had the salads, and onto dinner- SCALLOPS! Everything was so so incredibly spiced, seasoned, and such unique ways of presenting and delivering. The whipped prosciutto, for example, was a delectable, welcomed surprise to the c/c board. Oh and we wrapped the meal with the berry/ peach cobbler Just in heaven! I could eat here every night!!! read more

Duck Soup - C/c board and the crab caprese - New American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Beautiful setting with okay food. We stared with specialty cocktails, lamb sausage, oysters, pork belly, and salad. Most heard from our group, "it's okay." Personally, I loved the lamb sausage. The rest was ...okay. Three of our party had the duck. Mine was cooked perfectly, moist, tender flesh with crispy well seasoned skin (a must on Duck for me). My sister's and friend's duck skin was limp. Not so good. My husband had the ragu pasta which was not a hit, but my niece enjoyed her scallops and my friend enjoyed her steak. Creme brûlée is my friends favorite desert, so of coarse they order it. They said it was the worst they have had. Like cold vanilla pudding in the middle and rubber on top. My blueberry cake with lemon curd, looked nice but was quite bland. The two ice cream sundaes were an absolute hit - delish. All in all, our group thought it was "okay." We did enjoy having a deer wonder by read more

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