We loved the food, ambiance and service. Beyond that, we had a unique and heart-warming experience with the personal help we received from the manager, Sarah Filer. One of the members of the crew got extremely ill and needed to be taken to the emergency room at Friday Harbor, a 20-min ride away. The taxis were unavailable. When we asked Sarah if she knew of anyone we could hire, she volunteered to drive us to the emergency room and did so immediately. She refused to take any compensation. So we are big fans of Sarah and Lime Kiln Cafe. read more

The quality of the food is very good. The restaurant is clean and offers great views of a smallish, quiet harbor. I asked for my egg dish to be well done and that was not the case. There was a charge for a cup of hot water, something we haven't seen in some time. Beautiful area! read more

So delicious I went there for dinner and breakfast! I got cheese pizza and tried some of their fried chicken both were good! My family also liked the meat pizza. The service was very good and the ambiance was pretty good. However the reason to go is for their orange custard French toast for breakfast! I got it with a side of hashbrowns and it is to die for!! read more

We stopped for lunch at the recommendation of one of the stores in the area They were quick had fish and chips go coffee You could sit in or out. They made up fresh cocktails sauce for me Very attentive for a place that you order at the counter read more

We were initially planning to head to Madrona Grill for lunch on the recommendation of our hotel concierge, but after realizing that their online menu and their actual in restaurant menu is entirely different (and missing what we were planning on ordering), we decided to eat at the Lime Kiln Grill instead. Owned by the same company, this restaurant is a more casual counter-service type of establishment, apparently famous for their donuts, which we of course had to order as well. It was pretty busy at 11AM, but there were plenty of tables both inside and out. The food took around 20 minutes to arrive. Maple Donut ($2.49) - This donut looks better than it eats. It tastes decent enough - both icing and cake base that aren't too sweet, with vanilla flavored dough and a tiny bit of maple flavoring in the icing. The problem is the texture - when I want a really good cake donut, I expect there to be a crust on the outside contributing a bit of a texture difference vs. the soft and fluffy cake interior. This one, on the other hand, is completely soft and fluffy throughout, like it wasn't fried nearly long enough to develop a crust. Either that, or it had been sitting too long in a moist environment? The sign says they make these fresh daily, so it's a bit strange. It's also a bit on the oily side. (3/5) Clam Chowder, Bowl ($10.95) - Good creaminess, a good amount of ingredients mixed into the stew, with skin on red potato, celery, and clam. There's isn't too much clam swirling around, and the clam taste seems to be a little lacking compared to other clam chowders I've eaten. It's definitely more milky in taste than a lot of other chowders. They add a ton of dried herbs that add a bit more complex flavor. It's salty and milky, but otherwise a bit too light on the clam. Still, it's not a bad clam chowder by any means. (4/5) Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich ($19.95) - This sandwich includes a thinly pounded breast filet, breaded and fried to perfection. While it's white meat, it's surprisingly not dried out and instead is still rather softer in texture and not overcooked. The breading is fried very nicely, being almost cornflake-like in crunch factor. It's applied very evenly and tastes somewhat similar to KFC (texture-wise as well) - not that I've eaten KFC in a while, so I could be wrong! A ton of spices adorn the breading. If this is a frozen, commercial fried chicken patty, I would be very impressed. Lengthwise cut pickles line the bottom bun, which is buttered and toasted well, along with a smattering of fried jalapeno chips. There's a bit of slaw on top, then a bunch of chipotle mayo. It's a little smoky, but not really spicy at all. I do have an issue with the bun - it's a rectangular ciabatta that I don't think goes well with the sandwich. To have good textural contrast, typically fried chicken is paired with a soft and fluffy bun. The ciabatta, on the other hand is a denser and drier bread that doesn't fit as well. Then again, I was not expecting this sandwich to be any good and the quality certainly surprised me. The sandwich comes with some normal commercial thin fries. They are salted heavily, have a good crisp and taste like what a fry should taste. No complaints here. (4/5) I don't think I missed out on anything choosing to eat here instead of Madrona Grill. They serve simple, but satisfying fare. I'm just not sure why they are so famous for their donuts though! Bathrooms - Both larger rooms and individual rooms outside on both sides of the building shared with the other businesses. read more

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Café with a nice view. Outside seating is lovely. Order at the counter and they bring the food to you. Clear your own food from your table. I had the BLAT which was filled with a hearty portion of bacon. Avocado was a nice touch. read more

A great place for breakfast if you are in the Roche Harbor area. Very efficient ordering system when you walk in the door. Have a seat and enjoy the view of the resort. It's definitely worth the wait for a delicious meal. Don't forget to get one of their famous doughnuts for a second breakfast! We will be back! read more

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We ate lunch here after realizing it was pretty much our only option in Roche Harbor on a cold Monday, other than the grocery store next door. I asked for a recommendation from the server taking our order, she suggested a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich that was delicious! I opted out of the fried jalapeños, and would have opted out of the chipotle mayo if I'd been paying enough attention. The chicken was fried perfectly, dressed with pickles and coleslaw, exactly how I like it. I would request regular mayo next time, but even with the chipotle mayo, it was excellent! My husband had fish and chips. The cod was cooked just right, as well. The homemade tartar sauce, so good! I ordered extra for dipping my fries, as I love a homemade tartar. We are on Friday Harbor for a week vacation, I might make another trip for one more fried chicken sando before we leave. The location is right on the harbor, can't beat that view! read more

The fish & chips were mentioned on a lot of reviews, but were pretty bad. The fish was cold in the center and the fries were lukewarm. The chowder tasted like chemicals, not very fresh and the chicken salad was not spectacular. We would have left the food on the table if we weren't starving. They seem to be doing well just because of their location, and care little for the quality of the food they're putting out. The servers were nice, but not friendly. They did bring over the order to the table. The tables that were empty, only half of them were clean. Maybe they're understaffed. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - Breakfast menu (Dec '24) - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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I love the breakfast here. They do a great job and the views are fantastic. Order at the counter, get the doughnut of the day read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - The marina - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Located in the Roche Harbor Resorts, this is a breakfast place famously known for the cake donuts. I went here just a little after 10am Sunday, perfectly timed to beat the brunch rush, as there was a queue of 15 people when we left 5 minutes later. So if you want the special donut of the day, you'd want to get there before 10am to be safe, or even earlier if you are visiting in the peak summer months. We got the last specialty donut (same price as the permanent rotation) which is the maple bacon donut, as well as a chocolate donut. It was $2.63 per donut after tax, which is decently priced. For the hype, I would not give it 5 stars, as the maple bacon did not have much bacon flavor. It was a slightly glorified maple donut with some texture from bacon bits. The chocolate donut was a bit too sweet for my liking, even though I could tolerate sweeter desserts if they intended to make it as such. If you are in the area, I would try the donuts or even the breakfast items, but I would not make a journey of 15 min or more just for their famous donuts. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - Maple bacon (special of the day) donut, chocolate donut - IG @bougiefoodieboi - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Very cute, counter service cafe in Roche Harbor, right on the marina. We came here twice for breakfast during our trip and stay at the resort. The staff were super friendly and the view/vibes were spot on. Unfortunately, we found the food a little lacking, though my partnered enjoyed the Benedict entree that he got. Overall, definitely still recommend if you're in the area for breakfast/lunch! read more

The food was great and their portions were awesome. The service was great. The ambiance was good. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

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Good food, steep prices. It's clean and the service was friendly and efficient. Lunch for 3 people was $45. One of us had ice tea, otherwise we drank water. My point? Even in the off season, it's expensive here. Still the views were good and the food was tasty. The 12 oz soup was filling and had a smoky tincture to it. I love split pea soup and this soup was really well prepared: creamy and perfectly seasoned (most restaurants add too much salt). The turkey sandwich with small chowder was also delicious. The dining room was a bit messy with debris on the floor and chairs pushed away from the tables. Next time I'd just eat on the boat, but a friend was disembarking so going out to lunch was a social decision. Im glad we tried this place but the prices will likely keep me away in the future. read more

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Aloha, when you have dinner rez in 3 hours, yet you're so hungry as you just finished playing pickleball, best to share a sandwich to hold you over. We stumbled onto Lime Kiln Cafe, where they make fresh sandwiches. Our cubano was so ono! Great system, you stand in line to order and pay, you get a number, find a table and viola the food is served. You can dine indoors or outdoors on a nice boardwalk with umbrellas. All with a fantastic view of the boats (yachts) in the harbor. Roche Harbor drips in millions if not billions of dollars just sitting there in the harbor. Fun little town of shops, hotels, wedding venues and fun! Enjoy! read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - Cubano - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Very cute cafe with beautiful harbor views But the fish and chips I got was very over-breaded and cooked too long, dark brown in color, With the excess breading and just a very thin layer of fish, I couldn't even peel the breading off. Would not return here. I've had great, lightly battered big chunks of fish and chips from Cape Cod to Kauai, so I know it can be done. Please let your chefs know. read more

Ate breakfast here. I had the gluten friendly hash and was very good. Great views even on a rainy day. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - View out the window - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

They used to have the best donuts. Not particularly good any more. Soft/soggy and used to be nice and crisp on the outside. Maybe they're trying to cook them in less time (not crisp) but whatever, they aren't very good. C- and used to be A+ Service was great, donuts were a little disappointing. read more

Solid fish sandwich and delicious tarter! Fries were great too and I am not much of a fry person. My partner got the fish and chips and some donuts to go and he thoroughly enjoyed it all. Service was quick and the place was clean with some rest outdoors spots to eat. read more

We've gone here for years. The fish and chips yesterday were horrible. The batter coating was very dry as was the fish. Needs to change back to the light panko of years ago. Was terrible. read more

Still on our cruise through the San Juan Islands. Todays port of call: Roche Harbor. At Lime Kiln a cafe I ordered the cheeseburger. Oh bay this is one of the better burgers I've had. And it takes a lot for me to compliment a burger. Juicy, slight char, Swiss cheese top and a broche bun that did not take over the meal. I'm not sure about the rest of their food but the burgers are worth it. read more

Great sports bar and food. Hawaiian flavor!many specials each day and home-made ice cream.

I saw a long line and the smells were phenomenal! You have to save a seat or snag a table outside and walk inside to order your meal and drink. Atmosphere inside was spacious and lovely ! So much room . There is also a back patio that has a mini quad and two large benches out there . Order : the chicken sandwich with coleslaw and a Carmel macchiato. Chicken was crispy and cooked to perfection! The slaw reminded me of home in the south ! Coffee was pulled and poured correctly and tasted great . Views are amazing !! Service was decent . Fast and quick service very minimal . Tables all cleaned and bathrooms are 100% clean and the showers looked great . This is definitely a great place to be . read more

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There was lots of free parking in front, hard to find the restaurant. Tables were available indoor and outside. Very nice menu, we got here and there was a line out the door. They are open only for breakfast and lunch from 11 o'clock until 4 daily. Their donuts are supposedly world famous. We ordered at the register, nice wraps, soups, sandwiches, burgers and seafood. There was a line for the soda fountain, it was nice to order and get refills of ice cold drinks. I ordered the San Juan lamb burger grown locally my husband Ordered a grilled chicken Gorgonzola salad. Lunch was exceptional, generous portions, flavorful and really delicious. Very pretty restaurant right in the boat at the marina read more

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You should visit this cafe while in Roche harbor! We enjoyed breakfast and dinner here: First of all the donuts are fluffy and delicious, the frosting isn't too sweet-which unappreciated. The avo Toast is a must, the bread was nutty and crispy, topped with thin slices of avocado, crumbled cheese, tomato and micogreens-Delicious! At lunch I enjoyed the crispy and moist fish sandwich! This is a must stop, even just a quick stop for a donut and coffee on the pier! read more

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For close to 30 bucks (coffee and tip and breakfast) I expect hot food and the right meat choice. I got neither. When sent my plate back I got the link sausage but the food was still alm room temperatur. read more

The service and staff are top-notch and so nice. The food was delicious and we ate outside, the view was amazing! We will definitely be back. read more

Needed something to get me through to dinner so I stopped here. Got the Bagnmi, excellent. Love the pickles and condiments they used in conjunction with the meet. Fries were nicely hot and well salted without being over salted like many places. Highly recommended. read more

Excellent food, service and atmosphere. We had breakfast and dinner at the cafe. Both were great, as they have been for decades!

My picture of the fish and chips should say it all. I've never had such a thin piece (more like slice) of fish and chips, ever. It was pretty much unacceptable, and I regret not saying anything! I think it was $16 or something like that too? What a sad mistake. I was hoping for a better experience, given it was pretty much the only option in the area, but it was just disappointing. The two upsides was that it is a cute little cafe at Roche Harbor right next to the water and... the maple donut we also got was actually pretty good! It had a good chew to it, which I appreciated. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - Look at how unbelievably thin this piece of fish is! Needless to say, I wouldn't recommend the fish and chips! - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

You have to order outside which is terrible you should be able to order while sitting down so you can have the time to look at the menu. I would not recommend this place at all didn't even get to try the food because of this terrible system!!! The service was pretty bad because they don't give you time to say your order because there's a line of people waiting while you have to speed run a menu with 40+ things. The ambience is somewhat okay but they ruined it for me by adding such a terrible cafe in the center of the view. ​​​ read more

Good food but very expensive. Nice location and good service too. Take a walk on the boardwalk while you are there.

It's open for breakfast and lunch. Both meals are great. I love the chicken sandwich! The employees are always really nice and I appreciate all that they do. They even have Starbucks drinks. I don't like that they close half of the restaurant 1-2 hrs before closing so they can clean up early. I also don't like that they will wait to start lunch orders past the lunch start time. That's just not right. I prefer lunch food over breakfast. I realize that they're making more money on breakfast items but if it's your posted lunch time then take the lunch orders. Here's a funny one. The trashcans are only on 1 side of the restaurant (where they have the least tables) so most people have to walk through the restaurant in order to toss their trash then walk back through the way they just came from if they want to exit out to the dock. Just put another trashcan on the other side of the restaurant. It's an obvious issue. I bet it's so they don't have to empty another can. read more

Lime Kiln Cafe - American Near Me - Friday Harbor, Washington

Yummy everything was perfect . Fast nice people clean. Very pretty view . It's really nice to walk by boats too. read more

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Busy on the weekends, nice views of the docks, good food. Order at the front and then find a table.

We came for lunch on a Saturday. You order at a counter and sit down to wait for the food to be brought out to you. There was a short line. The cashier that took our order was a clearly moody gal. Plenty of seating. The menu is extensive with great options. We ordered fish (3/5) and chips (2/5 French fries), clam chowder (5/5), and a Cubano sandwich (5/5). The food came out quickly. Good food but the vibes were lacking. read more

Pay attention to where you park some spots are reserved some are 30 minute and some are 2 hour. Everyone was friendly and helpful even though they were busy. We got our food pretty fast it was all correct and very good. The gorgonzola chicken salad, chicken was perfect and it had the perfect amount of everything for every bite to be yummy. The Cubano was very flavorful and they have great buns. Kids cheeseburger was good just a regular burger however the buns make it a bit better. After you eat there is a few things to wander around and look at, made a nice trip. read more

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In my opinion, the only breakfast worth eating on the island. We dined twice here during last weekend's stay at nearby Snug Harbor. Day 1, I had the carnitas breakfast tacos. Delicious and delightfully filling. Day 2 I had the Everything breakfast burrito. And by everything, they mean everything. It was loaded, dense, and tasty. I had to try one of their doughnuts as well. Nothing to write home about, but tasted good. I mean, it was a doughnut. Who complains about a doughnut? My only complaint... and this is why only 4 stars... is that they have an unhealthy obsession with grease. Everything I ate was *literally* dripping with oil. It took 8-10 napkins per meal, fully soaked in grease, to clean my hands. I get it, cheese and butter aren't exactly healthy ingredients. But even this was too much for me. Even with that, this is the only place I will eat breakfast on SJI. We tried a few others... but they just don't compare. read more

The parking was easy to find but the restaurant wasn't. Once we found it however we saw the line out the door. Open for breakfast 7-11 and lunch 11-4. It is casual, counter style service where you order at the counter, take a number and your food is delivered to your table when ready. Andrea had the San Juan lamb burger grown locally I had a grilled chicken Gorgonzola salad. Both were very good and we also enjoyed the marina view. read more

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I heard this place had great donuts so I stopped in and got donuts. They were, in fact, good donuts. Good, solid cake donuts with good frosting. Simple as that! Next time, I'll probably try the food too :) It's right on the water so the views are superb. Well worth a visit. read more