I love this place. I love the owner--Jabriel--who has been so helpful to me and so nice. The staff…read moreare wonderful: I would name them, but don't want to misspell a name or leave anyone out--especially those who've participated in making such a wonderful experience and I just haven't met them in person. They are welcoming and warm, skilled at what they do, helpful and more. I love that they have musical offerings--and often. I have loved every one I've attended. Last night I had the pleasure of enjoying the Tuesday Songwriter Showcase--this event showcased Lucy London and her violinist partner, Adam. OMG!!! It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. Ever! And the food and beverages--oh my. Chelsea is my mixmaster extraordinare. When I ask her to create n/a mocktails for me (IMO, no easy task to get a truly interesting flavor sans alcohol), she always comes up with something complex and wonderful. I cannot recall all the ingredients in one of my favorites last night, but it had both an elderflower component and a rhubarb one: lovely. (And a beautiful salmon-colored hue to boot, complete with a Bartender's cherry...) The food was spectacular. I had read a recent review in the Cascadia Daily News that raved about the Admiralty (for good reason) and spotlighted the deviled eggs, among other choices. Because I make nice deviled eggs myself, I never bothered to try these, so I did last night. Very lovely: creamy and gorgeous with a different, interesting spicy little twist. (Be sure to smear the egg on the bottom of the tray to pick up more of that wonderful red spice.) And the lamb/beef sliders: I'd had them before and really loved them (and sliders aren't really my thing, so that surprised me). Either they were even better last night or I just hadn't remembered how absolutely spectacular--each bite was one of the best of anything I have ever put in my mouth. Luscious. No more be said. Love this place... (plus it's really pretty inside...)

After trying to walk into three other top-rated restaurants in downtown Bellingham on a Friday…read morenight in June with a party of five, The Admiralty Lounge had an open table. Initially going for just a drink, we stayed for dinner. We're glad we did. Here's our experience. 1) Food: We started with the salmon dip, which everyone really loved. It comes with little toasted bread slices. The menu is heavy seafood, but there are a few options without. Walking in hungry, I ordered the deviled eggs, Caesar salad, and the shrimp (all small plates). Each dish was full of flavor and delicious! 2) Drinks: They have a robust menu. Enjoying more sweet drinks, I ordered the Spa Day. I don't love it. It's mainly ice and not sweet at all. It wasn't tart, just muted. I then ordered a local raspberry cider, which was very tasty. (It's dry cider.) 3) Service: Phenomenal. Everyone was top notch- efficient and personable.

This place was, to say the least, unforgettable. I grew up in Bellingham but have never lived there…read moreas an adult. I visited Redlight on my dad's 62nd birthday. Not only were the cocktails delicious and intriguing, the food delectable, and the atmosphere spectacular. The service was beyond words. Anna was a wonderful server as well as a different server who helped when I asked for something, but additionally I spoke to a bartender who provided great recommendations for my father. When the food and drinks were served, my expectations were exceeded. In addition to all of the positive experiences, once we had closed out a customized birthday card signed by the entire staff was delivered to my dad. PLEASE DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND VISIT THIS RESTAURANT!

We had a really good experience at Redlight and I'm already looking forward to going back and…read moretrying more of the menu! First, the cocktail menu is fantastic. It's been a long time since I've seen one this creative and extensive. If I wasn't worried about falling over, I probably would have ordered one of everything . I had the Song of the Siren, which was a perfect balance of sweet and tart without being too sweet. I especially loved the hint of white balsamic vinegar. It was surprisingly strong though, so one was plenty! My husband had Le Tigre, which had guava, passionfruit, pineapple, lime and Thai chili tincture. It had just a touch of spice and a really interesting combination of flavors. We both loved our drinks. For food, we started with the ribs and then ordered the pork belly bao buns and the hot noodle dish. The ribs were cooked really well and had a wonderful crispy/fried texture, but they were very lightly seasoned. If you really want to taste the meat, you'll probably love them. For us, they could have used a little something extra. A couple of fun dipping sauces, maybe something like a honey gochujang, would have made them amazing. Our waitress, who was extremely friendly, told us the hot noodles are one of their favorites. They weren't quite for us. There was definitely lots of flavor, but the sauce was pretty rich and dense and the dish had a good amount of spice. We each had about a bite and ended up packing the rest to take home. It sounds like it's a popular dish though, so I think this one is probably just personal preference. The absolute highlight was the pork belly bao buns. I was a little worried pork belly might mean a lot of heavy fat, but these were much more meat-forward, with the perfect crispness around the outside. The flavors were phenomenal and the bao itself was perfectly cooked. Definitely order these! Overall, really good food, wonderful service and one of the most interesting cocktail menus I've seen in a long time. We'll definitely be back.

Juxt Taphouse is always a vibe! I'm a flight club member and I always enjoy coming in for yummy…read moredrinks, sports watching, and all around positive energy. All the servers are so friendly and when you become a regular they treat you like family!

Friendly staff, may be understaffed or odd flow. Beer selection was okay, nothing impressive for a…read more"tap house". Funny thing is all of their cocktails come out of a tap as well. Late night menue was good. Didn't take too long, again, odd flow of the restaurant. Pretty noisy but expected for a college bar. Have TV's on the walls but tuned to random channels ( who wants to much our shitty news while dinning out?). Overall enjoyable but most likely one and done.

Steak was excellent Gnocchi delicious…read more Cheese ravioli tasty Pizza bread was the best starter! Service was consistent and nice

D'Anna's is a true Bellingham staple that I've visited again and again over the years. And they've…read morestayed pretty much the same that entire time - from their delish Italian food to their friendly service, their great reputation among locals is well-deserved. Lately, D'Anna's has become a tried-and-true favorite for date night. We love to go on a weeknight, when they're less busy, and bring our own bottle of wine (they charge a very fair $20 corkage fee), then just enjoy our dinners. My favorite is their ravioli and their amazing homemade meatballs. Recently I tried their pasta dish featuring mushrooms with a vodka cream sauce and it was over-the-top delish. They also have HUGE portions here; always enough to take home for the next day's lunch. And their service is consistently fast and friendly. Okay, now I'm officially craving pasta again!

Tucked in the woods on the eastern shore of Lake Whatcom lies a hidden gem known as The Fork at…read moreAgate Bay. I have been coming to this restaurant since I was a young boy, attending special family dinners or just going to get pizza after soccer practice. Now well into adulthood I still find myself coming here with my wife for an excellent dining experience, any time or day of the week. This week we decided to go in for brunch, and I couldn't think of a better place to spend a dreary Washington morning. When you walk into this cozy little restaurant the smells of fresh breads and fried potatoes invite you into an elevated breakfast experience. Our hostess sat us down at a table almost immediately with the same friendly smile and welcoming attitude that I have come to expect from the staff at the fork. After sitting down and sipping of fresh squeezed orange juice we ordered two of our favorite breakfast plates. Chicken Fried Steak, and Corned Beef Hash. The Corned Beef Hash consisted two poached eggs sitting on a heaping pile of shredded corned beef that was both crispy and tender. Typically this dish is served with peppers and onions, but on this trip my wife opted out and the chef was happy to oblige our request. I can say from prior experiences that the peppers and onions are a fantastic addition to this mix. I went with the Chicken fried steak. A classic breakfast that requires a large appetite to face on your own! The cube steak was breaded and fried with the traditional seasonings, then covered in a house made gravy that was so rich and flavorful I couldn't put my fork down. I ordered mine with over medium eggs that were cooked perfectly, something that other kitchens can rarely get right. If you are a fan of Chicken Fried Steak then you must try this one! Both of our plates came with a large portion of golden brown home fries, and a fluffy biscuit served with honey butter and a peach preserve. Our server was extremely nice and very attentive. Although the restaurant was fairly busy she made sure our every need was taken care of :) I once again left the fork feeling full, and extremely satisfied. If the doors to this amazing restaurant are open, I will definitely be coming back again and again.

The Fork is just down the road from us and we continue to enjoy the stop in at the bar or nice…read moredinner at the table--it feels special, rustic, natural and local and the food is always tasty and the service on par--thank you Brianna for always bringing us smiles to our stop ins! The drive to The Fork .. such a nice feel and the views on the way superb!

For date night this evening my wife and I decided to revisit The Elk Street Tavern in downtown…read moreBellingham. For those who are looking for a date spot with unbeatable ambiance and gourmet cuisine, The Elk Street Tavern should be your next date night destination. As soon as we sat down at their beautiful bar, the waitress and bartender were both very attentive and friendly. We both ordered cocktails off their seasonal cocktail menu. I had the East of Eden which was smooth and refreshing, but its flavor did not overpower that subtle bite of the gin. My wife ordered the Dream Girl. The combination of banana, raspberry and coconut tied together with smooth rum was so good we could have ordered several more. Our food arrived in a timely manner. The Elk Street Burger was first up. Elegantly simple with just bacon, cheese and heap of pickles with a medium rare all beef patty in-between a soft sesame seed bun. I do wish that the burger came with a toothpick through the center to keep everything together. The taste and texture of this burger was fantastic, but the real star of this dish was the frites. These jojo style potatoes had a fried crust with a crunchy texture that was almost indescribable. They also came with Elk Street's house sauce that is a mixture of mayo, mustard and bbq that gave my food a tangy kick of flavor that I will not soon forget! I would also recommend asking for their house made garlic chive sauce. It is so good! My wife's Prawn Roll was fresh and light. Chunks of prawn mixed with lemon aioli, celery, and chives stuffed in-between a toasted brioche bun. A great choice for anyone who is a fan of lobster rolls and is looking for a lighter dish bursting with flavor. Lemon wedges to garnish and a small bowl of potato chips on the side, this dish was a ten out of ten. Elk Street Tavern has a great vibe for a dinner date, or if you are just looking to sip on great cocktail at a classy bar. I will definitely be coming back again.

Elk St. Tavern is an upscale 21+ only bar with an amazing menu and an outstanding bar staff with…read moresome original drinks but no arrogance towards the classics. The Shepherds pie was delightful as well as the Scallops. I highly recommend for an intimate setting or meeting another couple for dinner. The setting is darker with some outdoor seating on busy State st.

We stopped in The Temple Bar for drinks and dinner prior to seeing a show. The server was quick to…read moreseat us and she remained attentive. We ordered a special cocktail "the persuasion," with earl grey vodka, calamansi,honey, and lemonade. It was good but a bit unbalanced. Too medicinal. Perhaps too much calamansi. My husband later ordered an old fashioned cocktail. It was good. For food we ordered the blue cheese dip, the pork chili verde & polenta, and a reuben sandwich. The food took a while to arrive. The server might have noted our anxiety because she asked if we had a show, noting the dip in particular might take a while. She was accommodating, bringing items out as they were prepared and supplying us with to-go boxes in case. The blue cheese dip came first. It came with potato chips and bread. It was tasty but a bit too salty. It was better with bread--the chips were a nice idea but it pushed the sodium level too high. Both entrees were delicious. We ate them in a rush (not everything got photographed). The atmosphere is nice. Perhaps a bit dated (i.e.,1990s), but nice. I think it would be a perfect date spot when you have the time to leisurely enjoy bites and drinks.

Stopped here on our way up to Canada on a Friday night. We had a great time here for happy hour…read more The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was lively. We enjoyed the two charcuterie plates we got. The Petite Cheese board was a bit disappointing as there was only one cheese on it. The individual items on the boards were all good and the whole thing was a great value. I would definitely stop here again.

OMG, it was absolutely divine. Be forewarned, pricey, but divine…read more The first thing our wonderful server, Leslie, brought out to us were our drinks. Mine was a perfectly delicious Blueberry Martini with a perfectly outrageous bubble atop it that so stunned us that, once we found our voices again, we couldn't stop talking about it. (Blew was right! See photo for this amazement.) (The Blood Orange Old Fashioned wasn't "half bad" either...) We ordered the salad special: oh, and it was! Not sure I have this all straight, but it included peach and blueberries, along with candied walnuts (a generous amount!) with a peach vinaigrette on the interestingly slightly wilty greens. Wonderful. The Miso-glazed Black Cod was melt-in-your-mouth. The Game of the Night was Elk. It was splendid (medium rare, so delicious, tender, not gamey). The roasted veg accompanying was very nice as was the stuffed baked potato. The fries were, hands down, the best we have ever had. I ended up eating them without dipping them in anything (and I am certain their aioli was a thing of wonder). Leslie steered us to beautiful wines. Sweetly (pun intended, but true) they gave us a birthday treat of Crème Brûlée--you had to smack hard with your spoon to crack the top--just the way I love it! It was an over-the-top occasion for us--and this was the perfect over-the-top place to celebrate. We loved Leslie. She was so patient and accommodating, and all her recommendations were perfect. We got to meet the owner, Steve--a really nice guy and committed to create a fabulous experience in a beautiful place. Wonderful birthday; wonderful night...couldn't ask for anything different. All was just perfect.

We really wanted to like Dirty Dan's, but unfortunately our experience was pretty disappointing…read more When we arrived, the restaurant was almost completely empty--just two other couples--and the layout felt a little strange and not particularly warm or welcoming. We started with the clams and mushrooms. Unfortunately, the clams had quite a bit of sand/grit in them, which made them difficult to eat. The mushrooms were also disappointing--they seemed like small button mushrooms from a jar covered in a BBQ-style sauce and just weren't what we expected. There were definitely some bright spots. My companion ordered the filet, and it was cooked perfectly. His mashed potatoes and fresh carrots were also very good. I ordered the scallop risotto, but the risotto was noticeably undercooked and crunchy. After hearing the owner tell the servers to "give her the scallops," they brought me a small dish with my three scallops on it. I appreciated the gesture, but the whole interaction just felt a little awkward. They did bring me a crème brûlée for my birthday, and it was delicious--probably the highlight of my meal. The owner, who was very casually dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, did come over and apologize for the food, which I appreciated. Overall, there were some good elements, especially the filet and crème brûlée, but there were too many misses for us to want to return. For a special-occasion seafood or steak dinner in the Fairhaven area, I think we'd choose somewhere else next time.