On my family's first visit to Orcas Island, we meticulously planned-out all of the meals that we would be going-out for. Hogstone's was our very first dinner on Orcas Island. Although the food was delicious, and it was a genuine experience that we will remember and cherish forever, there are some important aspects of this visit that will greatly interest any would-be diners.
Food: One of the reasons we chose Hogstone's was because we saw at the bottom of their menu the option that states, "Trust us with your dinner - $45". Prior to coming, our entire table had committed to doing this, so the stipulation that it 'requires whole table participation' was of no issue. What we experienced with the food was unlike anything I had ever experienced before in my life. The food was incredibly unique, and some dishes delivered exquisite results, where others were a little less successful. Here is what we were served for $45.
A Sugar Snap Pea with a dressing and some flower (possibly lilac): I honestly do not remember this item that well beyond the above description, but it was incredibly delightful. When I first received it I thought, "This is a pea and a flower. WTF am I going to do with this?" Honestly, though, the flavors married incredibly well and started-off our meal superbly.
Duo of Oysters: Next were fresh (raw) oysters with a rhubarb and shallot topping, coupled with a cooked oysters that had a sauce that tasted like basil and lime. Again, I am a little foggy on the second oyster; but wow were both flavorful and fresh. Absolutely a beautiful pairing of ingredients with each respective oyster. The only issue I had with this dish was there were 5 of us, and there were only 4 of each type of oyster -- um?
Some sort of (what tasted like) raw shrimp with a sauce: I know, not very descriptive; but absolutely horrible. The texture of the shrimp is why I assume it was raw. It was so unpleasant that I had to wash it down with water to avoid gagging and vomiting.
Pizza: We were treated to the Smoked Tomato and some creation with fennel, new alliums, and fresh goat cheese. Both were overwhelmingly delicious. Definitely not like any pizza this New Yorker has ever had; but different in and amazing way. This is not pizza I would eat every night, or even once per month for that matter; but once in a while, this would be truly fantastic.
Meat: I cannot remember for the life of me if it was beef or pork (I think it was beef), but it was definitely neck meat with fresh herbs, and hearts of new onions. It was served with a reduction that might have been balsamic-based. Either way, this ranks as one of the top 5 things I have ever put in my mouth. I literally cleaned the plate. It was absolutely amazing. I don't see it on their menu, and have no idea how you would order it; but it was incredible.
Fir, chocolate, goat cheese for dessert: I will give them credit for creativity; but I would not order this again if I had the choice. It did not fit-the-bill as a dessert for me, and though the flavors were unique and fresh, we found that they did not go well together.
Food: 4 +1 (4; but plus 1 for incredibly unique and creative offerings we will never find anywhere else)
Service: This is something important to note for all would-be diners. They are very, very slow. Excruciatingly slow. This can be attributed to their farm-to-table concept, and the fact that they put a lot of care and effort into our mostly-delicious food; however, I would strongly discourage bringing children because of how long we waited. We arrived at 730 PM, and did not leave until after 10:00 PM. Service was friendly, but haphazard and stressed. We loved our experience, and fully understand that service expediency was sacrificed for unique food and dining experience.
Service: 4 / 5
Atmosphere: It is a small, yet intimate restaurant with maybe 250 sq ft of actual dining space. I think there were (at most) 7 tables on the interior, but ample seating outdoors. It was cramped and a little busy, but that didn't stop our party of 5+1 child from having an amazing time. The charming atmosphere coupled with the incredible aromas wafting from the kitchen that was 10 feet away was comforting and unique.
Atmosphere: 5 / 5
Price: For what we got, at $45 per person, I don't feel as if we got a good value. Honestly, I believe that for that price a bottle or two of wine should have been thrown in at no cost. By the time we were done with tip, tax, and wine, the bill was over $400. This experience, though unique and fun, was not worth over $400 -- maybe $250 at most.
Price: 2 / 5
Final Thoughts: As I mentioned, this was an experience that will likely be remembered by all of us, forever. It was our first night on the island, and we had an amazing time in one another's company, but a dining-time as long as ours for three people or less would have been awful. I would go back for the pizza, but to-go only. read more