El Agave

Connor is a genius! I told him I wanted a couple of n/a cocktails and that he could pick for me…read more(I'd like anything) or experiment on me. He chose the latter. OMG! Each used n/a spirits (n/a mezcal in the latter) and a symphony of sophisticated ingredients, which wish I tell you what. Each had a speared dried citrus slice and a luscious ginger bite (or something!) a top. The first had included honey, but it wasn't sweet--just complexified with a little snap to it that the honey smoothed; the second was a little sweeter in tone, including a bit of huckleberry along with the mezcal. (Connor might recall them by my play name for them. Inspired by a book in my hand on collecting meteorites, I nicknamed the first the "Extraterrestrial Visitor" and the second the "Heavenly Visitor.") They were so delicious I suggested he put them on the menu. If he does or doesn't, no matter. Just ask him if he has time to get creative for you. He'll ask you flavor tone preferences, or you can just go for whatever he wants to make, like I did. Again, he is excellent. I enjoyed my lovely drinks with a Caesar salad (another OMG!) which included crispy bacon bits and loads of tiny shreds of a delicious white cheese along with a creamy dressing. It was scrumptious as was the very lovely charcuterie plate. Pistachios, green apple slices, fat outstanding Castelvetrano olives (caution: with pits), a luscious pepper jelly that went beautifully dipped into with their choice of excellent crackers, delicately flavored salami and a prosciutto so elegantly-flavored it could make you weep. And it was lovely enjoying it all on their "porch" on a sunny day.

I've been coming to this place for a while. The drinks are good but the staff and service are not…read more I think it would be wise for the manager to get some new talent...I was there this past weekend and the bar tender was not at all attentive. The place was not even half full. No follow-up after our drinks and then after we finished one drink she basically avoided us no matter how obvious we tried to be that we wanted to order another (opening the menu, waving a hand). She was rude and didn't even try to show service. A few months ago we were there and the staff and bartender were being extremely obnoxious, loud talking, and just unprofessional...We usually stay for 2 drinks be decided to leave and not give further business...Looks like we will be looking for another cocktail bar to give our time and money to...

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Southside Bar

3.9(24 reviews)

Dark, old-school speakeasy ambiance, equally traditional old school drinks, local taps and some…read morecreative surprises (ask about the frozè) await you at Southside, the slightly more fun/less spartan big brother to Jack's (in downtown B-ham). Unusual snacks and sharables round out their simple menu, including a selection of tinned fishes with crackers, spicy nuts, pickle plates, and warm Brie with apples and bread. Fun and yummy, but this is not a restaurant; it's a cocktail bar, so not really a dinner option for most tastes. They get extra points for having the now-rare and much maligned cocktail onion, and even a savory cocktail (The Businessman's Lunch) that features it as a garnish. I love a good Gibson, too, and these savory cocktails with the pickled onion pair well with the fish snacks on their menu. Nicely done! Prices are high, but the excellent, exacting cocktails and upbeat, attentive service makes it a worthy splurge for a little celebration. Recommended!

the beer selection is crap! chuckanutt kolsch- crap…read morestems IPA- ok Larrabee Lager- crap terramar cider- seriously cider! wander IPA - absolute crap model- acceptably crappy Miller High Life- seriously! Heidelberg Lager- are you kidding me!

Sardines, etc.

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Beautiful bar!

Estelle

4.2(73 reviews)

My Wife looked at me in disbelief as I kept commenting on the Burger available on the dinner menu…read moreand stated: This is the best burger I have ever had in my life! Make no mistake though, this is not a Burger restaurant but a nice French based dinner house that completely knocked the ball out of the park with their burger. We discovered Estelle on our most recent long weekend getaway to Bellingham. We like to come up to Bellingham once or twice per year. What a discovery this was! I certainly have a favorite pizza (Dirty Dave's Pizza in Lacey), a favorite burger and a favorite steakhouse (Met Grill). The rest of the food was outstanding. While I raised an eyebrow that a dinner roll was offered for $5 on the menu, I was quickly reassured once this over sized dinner roll was delivered with what featured as "Brown Butter". The Brown Butter is absolutely amazing. The service was excellent. The food was exceptional.

My wife and I had the best meal we have ever had in Bellingham. Head shoulders above every other…read moremeal we have had. I had the roasted mushrooms appetizer and my wife had the spring salad. Both were excellent. Everything was freshly prepared and disparate flavors worked together amzingly well. Our main course was the Black Cod and it was some of the best fish I have ever had. Proporptions were generous, the fish is self was amazingly moist and tender, with just a hint of crunch on the outside. The fingerling potatoes were creamy inside, and also with nice crispy edges. The artichoke cream was full of flavor, with a sweet counterpoint from thin but flavorful wheels of tommatillo that just made all the flavors sing. We went for the deseert with a a choclate mouse bottom layer, chocolate crumbles in the middle and a vanilla Chantilly on top. Another symphony of texture and flavors! I went for the Chateau Bancli Sauvignon Blanc and it too was one of the best SauvBlancs I have had. Rather than leaning into the herbal flavors, this one had more fruit, while still preserving good acidity and mineralty making it a great pairing with the cod. Julia was our server and she was great! Helpful in all ways, attentive to our needs at just the right time, and just a real pleasure to interact with. For rereference I was down in SF Bay Area in September and hit several really good restuarants in Napa, Danville, and Los Gatos. Estelle met or exceeded all of the them across the board. Prices are comparable to Keenan's but overall food quality was far better. Now it is time to work our way through the menu!

Lacinato kale pasta with pecorino, pistachio, and black pepper

Brussels with apple cider, ginger, and sage aioli.

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Dungenness crab pasta with 'nduja butter and Meyer lemon

The Black Cat

4.1(499 reviews)

0.0 mi

The Black Cat was selected for lunch, and I was very happy to support another small Bellingham…read morelocal business. Placing a to go order over the phone was very easy, the lunch menu is small but has a little something for every dietary preference. Customer service was excellent, as the hostess was extremely courteous. I absolutely loved the nostalgic decor, whimsical artwork, and stained glass windows. I would definitely return, and highly recommend!

We were looking forward to trying The Black Cat after reading strong reviews. I had taken the day…read moreoff to have lunch with my wife, and we were excited to visit somewhere new. We were seated promptly by a friendly hostess at a table in DT Fairhaven, and our server was the bartender. After being seated, we waited a long time without anyone taking our order. We eventually asked if we had a server and were told it was him, with no apology or explanation. We ordered drinks and food, but after more than 40 minutes, we noticed two tables seated after us had already been served, finished eating, and were leaving. At that point, we asked for the check and said we would not be staying. About 15 minutes later, the server returned with our food instead of the check. We declined the meal and sent it back. He then asked if we wanted it boxed to go, which we also declined. His reaction suggested frustration rather than understanding. We never got to try the food, so we can't comment on it. The service, however, was well below expectations given the restaurant's reputation. This was lunch on July 15, 2026. We may try The Black Cat again in the future, hoping this was just an off day.

Entrance

French Dip

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Gouda Pesto Chicken, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts

1-Up Lounge

4.2(33 reviews)

•$

Seriously my favorite after work spot! VERY MUCH ENJOYED THEIR OFFICE TRIVIA AND AM EXCITED FOR…read moreMORE TRIVIA NIGHT. I'm stoked they serve cocktails now, and if you wanna play a little Mario party and eat greasy food, this is the place. The blue haired bartender is so lovely and hospitable and deals with our large parties with utmost grace

This place is really special. The way it is designed, you as a patron are encouraged to share the…read moreexperience of gaming which is hard to do. Most barcades will lock the patron in a singular experience exclusively and assume "this is what people want, right?" And while 1up knows that this is totally a valid part of a gamer's experience, they remember that sharing games with your friends is what makes gaming memories last. Thanks for creating the most unique and thoughtful space for really enjoying games and employing staff that understands that.

The "dining" area

Some patrons enjoying the games

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The owners with some regulars

Matthew’s Honest Cocktails

4.4(24 reviews)

2.3 mi

Great drinks, well informed bartender, and great windows!…read more Mojito was fresh and minty, I tried the experimental lager/liquor cocktail (crystal mourning) and it was funky but good. I'd go back ‍

We were wandering around in the dark and happened upon Matthew's. We loved it! And how lucky for us…read morethat it was Happy Hour! Our wonderful server, Seth, immediately and proudly proclaimed (with smile) that they use premium liquors for all their Happy Hour pours (at a mere $5!) I ordered the Rosemary Gimlet from their Unique Cocktails list: House infused rosemary gin, fresh basil, lime juice, simple syrup--it was total perfection. Nate, our second server, joined in the fun as we toured the photos of young stars. Beautiful atmosphere, wonderful staff, delicious drinks. A fun time was had by all!

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Old fashioned

Keenan's at the Pier

4.0(507 reviews)

0.4 mi

I should have wrote this long time back but missed. Only thing I remember is having a very nice…read moreexperience with respect to food and service (not to miss the ambiance) for a party of 6 at this place and food and drinks didn't disappoint any one of us. Definitely would go back if I am in the area.

Food was delicious, seriously loved the seafood chowder. And the cod tacos were super fresh!…read moreService was quite slow but it was busy and it's a perfect place to see the view no matter the seat you get.

VIew

KALBI SHORT RIBS

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Glass of rose on the patio

Back Door

4.8(20 reviews)

2.2 mi

Yes, yes, yes! The staff from the moment we walked in, to ordering drinks, getting drinks and…read morechecking to see our satisfaction was on Point! The cocktails are as unique as the glasses they are served in. The drinks were 10/10. The vibe...like the name....it's fun and flows with a funky sexual fun vibe. Definitely will be back!

The staff is very welcoming and really care about your drinks and make sure you are enjoying what…read moreyou are having. The music is great, the staff are friendly and the drinks are Incredible! Highly recommend!!!

Amazing cocktails!!!!

Black Bock

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Drinks

The Filling Station

3.9(390 reviews)

I Love the names of Sandwiches. My favorite is the Ferrari…read moreand house fries The staff has been friendly and helpful. My niece is Gluten free and she raved about the bun for a week. The customers at the bar were regulars and visited with everyone sitting with them. I Love that. Cheers

The filling station is located on the northern side of Fairhaven. We had the kids' cheeseburger,…read morethe Thunderbird with fries, and the impossible burger. Two chocolate malt milkshakes and a vanilla milkshake. Food was really good, and the service was pleasant. Great for families and kids. Excellent ambiance.

Interior of restaurant

Triumph Burger

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Margarita + Spiked Mint Shake

Övn Wood Fired Pizza

4.0(301 reviews)

This is my go to pizza place in town. Amazing gluten free crust & topping options! Their limoncello…read morespritz is also favorite.

Good pizza and a hip, lively atmosphere. It's a little loud (seemingly by design), and the service…read morepacing was a bit awkward, as our appetizers and mains all arrived at once. I'd suggest ordering appetizers first, then putting in your mains a little later. The only food miss was the complimentary cookie for first-time guests, which we got to-go and it was mostly raw and not in a good way. I am guessing it is normally baked when served in-house, but there was no warning of this. Overall, a fun spot with good pizza and a few rough edges.

Byrd 12" Pie - delicious combo of flavors! IG - @bilalandjesseatfood

Bushwick 12" - spectacularly good! IG: @bilalandjesseatfood

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Kale Caesar (full) @bilalandjesseatfood

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Nicci A.

11 months ago

Worst customer service ever ..... what happened???? We have NO good Mexican restaurants in this village.... Sucks u

El Agave - mexican - Updated November 2026

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COA Mexican Eatery & Tequileria

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On a Friday, evening expect to wait approximately 20 minutes to be seated. The food my family and I…read moreordered was hot and delicious. The tall and young waitress from Jalisco is great. Highly recommend this restaurant!

I love this place. And Isaac, so we always ask for him. We often get their Tres Enchiladas because…read morewe love them so much. This time we shared one with each kind of meat offered: chicken, pork and beef. I can't say which I liked more because they all were so awesome as ever. We tried something completely new to us this time: a ceviche called aguachile negro. I Googled it: "Aguachile negro is a bold, spicy Mexican seafood dish featuring raw, butterflied shrimp "cooked" in lime juice, blended with a dark, savory sauce made from roasted chiles, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and Maggi seasoning. Served cold with cucumber and red onion, it offers a deep umami flavor and intense heat, often topped with avocado." I'll say it's hot!!! A heat that grows and fills your whole head. Yet, it was so incredibly delicious I weathered the effects. I am not kidding--I don't think I've had a dish I have loved more. The flavor is fantastic, and when I fished for a little raw prawn and put that thing in my mouth, I just thrilled. We had some of their wonderful guacamole as a starter, and I wish now I had saved some to try with the ceviche--it would have been lovely. I will go back.

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Came here for my birthday lunch and had a wonderful experience the food was delicious. The service…read morewas excellent staff were friendly and knowledgeable about the menu making great to make suggestions and ensuring I felt celebrated. 10/10 would come dine again

In town for the night, we were looking for a place to watch the game and Northwater had solid…read morereviews, so we decided to give it a try. Our server was outstanding. They happily put the game on when we asked and were very attentive throughout our visit, which made a great first impression. I ordered the burger with bacon and blue cheese and requested no condiments. I think there may have been some confusion in the kitchen, as the garnishes were left off as well, but our server promptly brought them out when asked. Unfortunately, the burger itself was overcooked and lacked flavor. The ciabatta roll was only partially toasted, and overall the dish fell a bit flat. The fries, however, were excellent hot, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and absolutely delicious. I don't usually like coated fries, but these were a home run. My dining partner ordered the BLT and said the sandwich was great overall. We also shared the mozzarella sticks appetizer. They were a bit different from traditional mozzarella sticks, thicker cheese with a heavier breading. While they were good, I felt the order should have included six instead of four. Overall, even though we were one of only two tables in the restaurant, we had a great lunch, thanks largely to the excellent service.

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