We had lunch at The Lower Tavern right after getting off the ferry. We liked the atmosphere and…read morethe service. We got Buffalo chicken burger w/ coleslaw and Salmon burger w/ mushroom soup. We liked both our burgers, every ingredient was fresh and well made. The buffalo chicken was the standout item for me. Highly recommend.

No hard alcohol here - sad but true. However, the appetizers make up for it! The fried MAC & cheese…read morebites hit just right paired with the fried pickles Dog friendly patio is legit, but if you bring your pup you'll miss playing pool inside. I also don't drink beer but the waitress picked a banger for me and I stayed for 2! Ambiance is that of your typical local bar - little space, big spirit! Hope your experience is as solid as mine!

Took my partner here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. Charming and cozy restaurant…read morein an incredible location with great views. The food was delicious and the service was friendly and fast. We enjoyed our dinner so much we went back for brunch!!

During our visit to Orcas Island we ate at New Leaf Cafe 3 times. We visited Sunday to Monday, and…read moreunfortunately many places are not open on those two days. New Leaf Cafe is the nicest restaurant in town that was open those days. TLDR: Breakfast is better than dinner here. Dinner items: - Beet salad - excellent - Clam Pasta - it was good - Vegan Roaster Cauliflower with hummus and harissa sauce - cauliflower was a bit mushy for my taste. - Cod - it was ok, pricey for what it was - Shishito peppers - good - French onion soup - too salty - side of potatoes - delicious Breakfast: - smoked salmon bagel - so good. loved the house-made bagels and house smoked salmon and heirloom tomatoes. This is an elevated smoked salmon bagel. - Mushroom egg omelette - also incredibly delicious. The potatoes that came with it were also so delicious Highly recommend both breakfast entrees. If you had to choose, I would prioritize breakfast over dinner here. Breakfast is also more lovely to enjoy the view and the stained glass and art inside. Although breakfast at Brown Bear Bakery is also wonderful. Service was good for the most part. During one dinner, there was a very long wait between appetizer and our entrees.

UPDATE: We came for Dinner to enjoy the lovely sunset views & kicked it off with a couple of solid…read moreBees Knees cocktails . Followed by a cup of the most delish Crab Bisque! Yum! Next up: Pan-fried oysters, Fish & chips & a spinach salad with added grilled salmon, these were basic but good. On our last night on orcas Island, we stopped by for a drink and food to go. We tried their Madrona burger with fries and a bowl each of the crab bisque and we're not disappointed. It's crowded and has generous operating hours so I would advise either stopping by or calling in to make a reservation or else be prepared for a wait on most nights.

Mmmm! Coming from the desert of AZ we needed seafood! The crab cakes hit the spot! To die for with…read morethat aioli. The fish and chips were based just enough and had great flavor. The clam pot was packed with buttery goodness. Also,i we enjoyed being able to watch some world cup soccer games as well

Great, innovative cocktails in the heart of Eastsound. We went here after dinner around 8pm and it…read morewas super busy. There's always seats if you don't go in the summer, as I see some people brave the cold and enjoy their drinks right outside, but we wanted to be warm so we took one of the last tables and eventually moved to the bar seats. We happened to go during the Orcas Island Film Festival so we decided to try some cocktails in that theme. One of them was the Harlem Renaissance which was inspired by Once Upon a Time in Harlem, and we opted for a $2 add on of smoke which was well worth the additional flavors. This cocktail was really interesting as it comes with a candy cig with ashtray for a fun little drink The other we got was Frou Frou which is fruity and light, inspired by "Coward". I found this refreshing yet not as innovative as the Harlem Renaissance. One slight miss is that some ice were a bit too crushed so it dilutes the drink quite a bit, but the drink is so flavorful and strong that I didn't really mind all that much for this drink For fun, we also tried the Underberg which is a digestif bitters which is incredibly bitter but herbal, kind of like a jagermeister. It apparently helps with digestion if you overconsume. It was an experience and worth the $5

Delish creative cocktails in a cozy pub environment. We tried one of their fall inspired cocktails…read morecalled November rain and it was outstanding. Very pricey, but quality ingredients and a very complex blend of fat washed bourbon with spice & citrus. Also tried a clarified rum punch drink that was a special and it was delicious as well. They do offer a very limited menu of small bites like an onion dip and chips, some hummus and cheese plates along with sardines.

Amazing food, lovely setting!…read more We stayed the weekend at Inn at shop Bay and decided to start the weekend off with dinner in their restaurant. We started with a drink in the bar, which was delicious. Handcrafted margarita. For dinner we had Oysters, muscles, salad, magalista, scallops and halibut. My husband cannot stop raving about the flavors on the scallops. The scallops were cooked perfectly. The halibut was too notch. I don't know what the creamy sauce was on the side of the dish but it was absolutely phenomenal. The service was spot on. What a lovely place for a romantic evening. Thank you I'm at Ship Bay for the amazing food

The food was delicious and the service staff was nice & Friendly! The ambiance was relaxing. I…read morewould have given this Inn restaurant a 5-rating. But one mushroom dish that we ordered was very salty. Their prime rib special was so delicious and priced right. I highly recommend this place. Nice and cozy!

Drive all the way to the end of the road, until you almost get to the roundabout. Look for the…read moresmall Tee Jays sign on the right and go in the small open door under it. Follow the strung up lights for the best Mexican food you've ever had. If I had a dollar for every time I drove by Tee Jays in case it was open... I'd have enough to buy lunch for everyone. I have no idea when they're open, but I know that when they are, they'll close early because they ran out of food. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The food is fresh and even though it might take a while (because the only guys working are Tee and Jay), it's worth the wait! I can't forget to mention the freshly fried tortilla chips and their house pico de gallo. There are a few tables out around back to enjoy the view of the water on a nice day.

Quirky little cantina in the basement of the Oddfellows Hall, with seriously delicious good eats…read more Friendly guys in the kitchen whipped up some excellent tacos carne asada, pork adobo burritos, and even smoky duck tacos. Pico de gallo and other salsas were fresh and made from scratch. They made their own chips as well. Everything was excellent, and prices were very good - the most expensive combos were $12, and everything was very filling. We'll definitely be back!

Brown bear bakery is hands-down, the best bakery on orcas Island. So good that we went there four…read moredays out of our seven day trip and stocked up. I consider myself to be a morning bun connoisseur and they have a top contender with their orange morning bun. Sugary Orange zest is delicately present in every bite. Oh, and did I tell you how huge they are? Two people could easily share one. My number two favorite is the Kouign-Amann ... buttery & Flaky with sea salt on the top, Yum! We also tried the bear paw, which is their version of an almond croissant, and the ratio of dough to filling was off imo, ditto with their ham and Gruyère cheese croissant...More filling, please. We also tried their raspberry and lemon tarts. Both of them were excellent! I loved the buttery shortbread like tart base. Finally, we bought a loaf of their sourdough bread, and it was solid. They also offer other great food options like quiche, breakfast sandwiches, specialty coffees, and tea. I will warn you, prices are steep, but the quality is there for sure. I would advise getting there early before they sell out of their top contenders. In the summer there is usually a line but it moves quickly. Also, check their hours as they are more limited during the off-season. Dont sleep on this gem.

Beautiful pastries & prime location, but flavor was a bit lacking. Quick service…read more Pros: ​Unbeatable location in Eastsound, super cute atmosphere. ​Pastries look amazing! The layering, flakiness, and crispiness were top-notch. ​Cons: ​Visually impressive, but the flavor was surprisingly subtle and plain. My partner and I shared one pastry, but we couldn't finish it because it felt a bit bland after a few bites. It's definitely a popular hotspot on the island and worth taking a photo of, but for taste alone, it didn't quite live up to the hype for us. If you're strolling down the main street, there are several other local coffee shops right nearby to check out as well!

This is one of the fewer food options available late, so we were fortunate to go here after a ferry…read moredelay! The downstairs lounge is 21+ but offers ample seating and a great view of the water. We were able to find a table for 6 people. The menu is limited in the lounge, but decent. I ordered a hamburger with fries. The fries were really good. I also ordered a red wine - I like that they have 6oz and 10oz options. It was very busy Friday evening, so it took quite a while to get our food. They mentioned having a small kitchen. I hope they are able to improve on this soon.

Every visit to Orcas......I try…read more One time? Ordered the fish and chips. When I cut into the fish? And I'm NOT kidding, the middle part of the fish was BLUE. I told the waitress and she said "no, the kitchen temps everything". Me. Um .....NO they don't .....but you keep on believing that. The second time I ordered something it was the pot pie. The filling had ZERO flavor and tasted like it came out of a can. This week? I thought. SIGH....ok. I'll try again. I ordered the chicken wings. Now. This is probably personal preference. But, I tore off the skin trying to get away from that weird sauce. It was so sweet! Think I ate two naked pieces of chicken and called it. That all said? The restaurant is right on the water so the views are great. The staff is kind and VERY attentive. Can't say I won't try again. Maybe next time I'd try the wings without sauce. Or! I'd like to try their Irish egg rolls :)

A Perfect Sunny Lunch at Cafe Aurora on Orcas Island! ​We…read morefound this charming spot, Cafe Aurora, on a sunny day! If you're visiting Orcas Island, it's a must-stop. They have convenient parking, which is a great plus. ​The concept is a charming self-service setup with table delivery. You place your order at the counter inside (where the friendly staff assists you) and pay first. While tipping is optional, the system is mostly self-serve for water refills...etc. ​We chose to sit outside on their lovely deck, pulling up counter chairs that offered a great view of the garden. ​For our lunch, we ordered two items to share: 1. ​Braised Pork Belly Benedict: The pork belly was incredibly tender, paired perfectly with delicate poached eggs, rich hollandaise, and a satisfying kick from the whole grain mustard on an English muffin. The seasoned tater-tots on the side were the ultimate crispy comfort food! 2. ​Aurora's House Granola: A beautifully balanced bowl! It featured a hearty mix of nuts, oats, and maple syrup, perfectly complemented by a refreshing citrusy hint from the orange, creamy Greek yogurt, and fresh seasonal fruit. Sharing both dishes allowed us to enjoy the perfect balance of flavors--savory, rich, and fresh. The food quality was excellent, and the outdoor setting made it feel like a true vacation meal. ​Highly recommend Cafe Aurora for a bright and delicious stop on Orcas Island! We left full and very satisfied.

10/10 The best smashburger on the planet, no joke. I try to make it in every week, but often find…read moremyself having it 2 days in a row. The service is terrific as well- friendly and fast. I've only dined outside, mostly order take-out. If you ever have a bad burger experience, this will heal you. 10/10

After several years of choosing other dining options on Orcas, I finally stopped by The Mansion…read moreRestaurant twice this year and enjoyed both visits. Over the summer my family and I came in for dinner. We didn't have reservations and had to wait in their cozy lounge area for a table to open up. We were lucky and snagged a window seat with the amazing view! I enjoyed my Old Fashioned, and was happy to see a couple vegan options clearly labeled on the menu. I went with the entree size of the Cauliflower ($22), which includes roasted tri-colored cauliflower, roasted pine nuts, dried apricots, and raisins over a citrus and spiced tahini coconut yogurt. While tasty, the entree size was more of a starter size, so I ended up getting some fries too. Yum! The fries were hot and the perfect thickness. We waited a while for the food, although this is expected on the island. With that said, enjoy your drink and have a snack before your visit if you tend to get hangry. Our waitress this time around was friendly and helpful. Overall it was a great experience. I stopped in for a last minute dinner this fall after my dinner reservation at another restaurant was cancelled that day. Without a reservation our option for dining room seating for two people was 5:30 (a little early for me) or 8, so we took some snacks to the beach for the sunset before heading back for dinner. They did have lounge seating available but I wanted a table with a view (even though it was dark, ha). This time around I ordered a glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, which was not my favorite, but drinkable. My entree was delicious though, making up for the wine. Even though it's not vegan, I made a vacation exception and went for the vegetarian Coconut Curry Vegetable Pot Pie ($30). That filling is so flavorful! I wish I could have a big bowl of just the filling, to be honest. Plus, the recipe of course. It included cauliflower, mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, kale, and peppers topped with puff pastry. Mmm. My companion seemed to enjoy his Ribeye enough. The host was friendly and helpful, and our server was pleasant enough. I'd happily come back again in the future, for both the ambiance and food.

My review is for the restaurant only. The spa is a solid five stars…read more I'm glad we ate here--the setting, the history, the ambiance are all stunning. The massive wooden furniture is impressive and surprisingly comfortable. This place has been loving restored and cared for. It was an absolute pleasure to be here and to sit on the veranda. The food was very average, although the Mansion Burger sounded amazing--maybe we just ordered wrong. The scallop/ halibut cake stole the show. I should have ordered two of those, along with the extraordinary Cole slaw ( best ever Coke slaw, imho). Sadly, we didn't stop at the scallibut cake, and the rest was disappointing; wedge salad, drowning in a watery blue cheese dressing, and overcooked lobster ravioli, served with four beautifully prepared scallops. I would return, but I'd order differently--just appetizers and skipping everything else. Drinks and scallibut cakes would make for a 4-5 star meal. The service, by the way, was just okay. She hadn't tried much of the menu, so she wasn't able to describe the dishes very well. She was great about checking on us and warning that the kitchen was slow (it was slow, but we loved taking our time and watching the sun set over the bay). Nothing was awful--what we ordered averaged out to be just ok.