While staying a few days in Friday Harbor, my wife and I dined at Madrona Bar & Grill. Madrona Bar & Grill is closed seasonally and seats on a first come first serve basis. Madrona Grill offers outdoor dining with a gorgeous view of the harbor and island. Each table outside is equipped with a sun umbrella to help ward against damaging UV rays. Madrona Grill adds a 3% service fee to each tab to compensate the staff. Discover is an accepted form of payment. While looking over the menu, I had a San Juan IPA for $8.95 and my wife had a Seapine Pale Ale for $8.95. We shared the Pacific Shrimp Louie for $26.95: avocado halves (1 whole) filled with wild shrimp, served with Spring Mix greens tossed in vinaigrette, tomato wedges, lemon wedges and Louie dressing. We shared the Blackened Rockfish Tacos (qty 2): for $24.95: blackened seared Rockfish, mango-lime slaw and Pico de Gallo in a corn tortilla. Garnished with avocado crema, queso Cotija and pumpkin seeds. Served with salsa and a side of cucumber and grape tomatoes. We shared the Crispy Rockfish Crab Dip Club Sandwich (w/o bun) for $22.95: deep fried rockfish, crab, artichoke dip, mango-lime slaw and dill pickles. We chose the sea salt fries as our side. After our meals, we decided to stay for a bit longer and enjoy the view so I ordered a glass of San Juan Vineyards Rose for $12 and my wife ordered a Pig War Martini for $17.95. We had fun together sampling the food items that we chose to share. All choices were delicious with the Pacific Shrimp Louie being my favorite and the Crispy Rockfish Crab Dip Club being her favorite. It was peaceful sipping on our drinks enjoying each other and our surroundings without being pressured by the staff to leave. The staff were amazing in their attitudes, pride and knowledge. Bonus for providing island recommendations to us to explore during the rest of our stay. read more

See all

When I arrived, there was no one there, which was fine. I thought, awesome, I own the place! Then a loud hen party showed up and a "VIP" needed help so the staff totally forgot about me. They eventually gave my order to someone else, so I waited a VERY long time for a cheeseburger. No comp, no apology, nothing. Also, the female supervisor is really loud and unprofessional. I left feeling unseen. I visit the island regularly, but never going back to this place.w read more

Fantastic dockside bar and grill! Just get here early to secure your spot. We love the Pig War Martini and the crab and shrimp cocktail! Sometimes service is a little hectic and slow, but it's the best casual dinner at Roche! read more

Mmm I only got the clams and a drink here but the clams were really good!! I got it without sausage, and it was still pretty filling. Bigger clams than I'm used to but still meaty. Fluffy duck was a little too sweet for my taste but still good. Beautiful views! read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. Steamed Clams - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

See all

I stopped in for a beer and lite dinner. I ordered the Caesar salad without any proteins. It was definitely a great looking salad! However, overdressed to the point of being almost inedible. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Caesar Salad - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

First visit to Roche Harbor - won't be the last!! Reminiscent of the summer camp in Dirty Dancing! We ate on the patio and watched the sunset, watched as the flags were lowered, and listened to the announcements for the next days activities. Our server for the evening was amazing and did a great job of making us feel welcome as well as making our visit memorable. The food was delicious as were the cocktails - the fluffy duck is a must try!! The quaint village and marina were a pleasure to discover and we'd love to come back and stay longer. read more

See all

Perfect little happy hour stop in beautiful Roche Harbor! My husband said the spicy margarita was the best he's had in a long time--just the right amount of kick. We shared the ahi tuna nachos and wow... so fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Tons of flavor in every bite. The menu had great variety, the views were charming, and the service was friendly and laid-back. Just an all-around great vibe. Highly recommend for a quick bite or drink with a view--you won't regret it! read more

This restaurant just reopened in May, so a few days ago, and it felt quite short of expectations compared to what I would've expected to get from prior photos taken a year ago, featuring large portions at much cheaper prices (I get inflation but the differential is significant). The unpredictability of early May weather meant that we did not partake in outside seating as it just thunderstormed a boat load of rain so we did not want to take chances sitting outside despite the weather clearing up. We went around 4:30pm on a Saturday and it was already pretty busy. We got one of the last 2 tables remaining inside, while a server gradually dried and cleaned up the outdoor space, which started to fill up by 5:30pm. Expect a wait if you go in the peak summer months, first come first served. We still briefly went outside to soak in the views of Roche Harbor, and definitely recommend outside seating when the weather is for sure clear and nice. We got the crispy calamari, rockfish fish and chips, crab mac and cheese, and sticky Asian five spice baby back pork ribs. Dishes were around $20-40, and the portions are much tinier than expected. The crispy calamari wasn't crispy at all - it was soaked in sauce and left out for a while. I expected something like Korean fried chicken where it is still crispy while tossed in sauce, so the naming did not match expectations. The rockfish fish and chips featured 2 fairly small pieces of fish with a disappointing amount of fries and cole slaw. It insultingly felt like they purposefully skimp on food. I would've been slightly happier if they gave more fries or something more. And the fish and chips were almost $30. Crab mac and cheese had decent amount of crab but again, very small portions. The baby back pork ribs were decent but 6 small pieces for $27 is definitely grossly overpriced. With a stingy amount of fries and cole slaw. We also tried the pig martini that tasted fairly familiar, nothing stood out, but it was nice that we got the request of putting 2 little piggies on the glass. It was not aesthetic beyond that, so I would not get cocktails here. $18 for something fairly average does not score well for me. Service is decent. For such a price point and the reputation it has built up, I expected a lot more, not leaving hungry and leaving a huge dent in the wallet. Additionally, this is the only restaurant we went in the island that I see a 3% service charge on top, as if the original menu price weren't overpriced enough. I probably won't return, as I got better value, quality, and quantity elsewhere throughout the weekend. read more

See all

Service here has always been excellent and friendly! The restaurant has great outdoor seating and views of the harbor making it the perfect spot for a sunny lunch! The food is fresh and delicious while the cocktails are also amazing! I will continue to visit whenever I am in town. read more

See all

Ambiance and setting were terrific. Food (tuna poke salad and rockfish crab sandwich) was delicious. Pineapple mojito was...interesting. Just not our cup of tea (haha) Prices--$26 for a tuna poke salad that was 95% vegetables is quite ridiculous. I would have expected something under $20. read more

Great view of the marina and a great patio. Very attentive service and food that is good. I had the noodle salad with three types of protein. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Boom Chop Chop Noodle Salad - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

This restaurant is in a beautiful location in Roche harbor. Our server, Della was very friendly and attentive. French dip and rock fish taco were delicious. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

Lively atmosphere in a fun setting. Great service. Everything was on point. French dip was so yummy, Shanghai noodles yum, ribs delicious, rockfish tacos addictive. Drinks were great although the Long Island was watered down. Highly recommend. Check out the kayaking and the cute dogs. read more

Beautiful view. Service took some time but we had a big group. Tried paying and the waitress wouldn't take my card and let the groom pay. Was a bit disappointed with that. But he beat me to it. The food portions were a bit small Forturn dish. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Fish tacos - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

Many years ago, actor Charles Grodin wrote an autobiography, "It would be so nice if you weren't here". For some reason, I kept thinking about this title while dining in the Madrona Bar & Grill, located in the Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island. Can an otherwise wonderful establishment's clientele be serious 'buzzkill'? I think that argument can be made here. THE ROSES: Truly picturesque waterfront location. The century-old buildings have a wonderful 'Cape Cod' vibe to them. For pub grub, the food here is surprisingly creative and well-executed. I was particularly impressed by the Wagyu beef dip sandwich. Even little 'throwaway' details like the French fries are executed creatively and with verve. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, considering the venue. Service is quite efficient, considering the conditions they had to work under (see THORNS). THE THORNS: When busy (which appears to be pretty much all summer), this space can be loud and chaotic. Not relaxing at all. Staff seemed more than a little harried, but they were clearly trying and doing an amazing job, all things considered. What was the problem? I think in this case it's the clientele. Site of a luxury resort, some of the most expensive homes on the island and a marina full of yachts, Roche Harbor Resort hosts a clientele that is mostly white and affluent. In MB&G you add alcohol to this mix of money and ego and you get a fair amount of Really Unpleasant and Entitled People Behaving Badly. It wasn't much fun watching well-dressed middle-aged people badger and berate the staff because they felt they had to wait too long for a table or a drink. Patience and kindness matter, people. I asked my server for second beer. He was waiting many other tables and I think forgot my order. When he checked on me again I mentioned I'd love another beer, but made no big deal about it. He was so happy to have a customer who was patient that my drink was 'on the house'! It wasn't necessary; but certainly appreciated. THE VERDICT: In terms of food and service, Madrona Bar & Grill actually exceeds expectations. When things are busy, its well-heeled albeit rather entitled, loud, and demanding clientele kind of dampen the fun, and make the place seem like a set from a bad reality TV show on Bravo (think of a mashup of 'Below Decks' meets 'Real Housewives of [fill in the blank]). Recommend if you can visit this place more towards the 'off' season or outside of the lunch/dinner rush. Otherwise if you like the loud scene, it IS a great place to people-watch. read more

Amazing vibes, okay food. The bff and I decided to get lunch at this harbor side spot after the ferry ride + a small exploration on the fringes of town. Since it was a Monday, we were promptly seated in the outdoor area. We decided to order: *white truffle Parmesan fries ($9.95): lightly battered fries with black pepper, garlic, and sea salt; then tossed in grated Parmesan and white truffle oil. This was served alongside a secret fry sauce. This was so Parmesan-dominant that the white truffle had almost no chance to sneak its way through. *roche harbor's "tilted kettle" clam chowder ($10.95): chowder with tender clams, smoky bacon, clam nectar, red potato, veggies, and herbs. There was no depth in flavor at all. It honestly tasted store-bought lol *beer battered fresh vancouver Island rockfish and chips ($26.95): the rockfish and chips were tasty, but nothing that blew us out of the water. The batter was over-salted. Will have to say that tropical mango-lime island slaw was really, really, tasty though, and I'd get this again in a heartbeat. Yes for the views, the vibe, and the friendly service; not so much for the food. Grateful to have tried though! read more

See all

Wow! This place was fantastic! Seating right on the outside patio, harbor side with the sun out...fresh seafood, veggies, and a cold pint! This made for a great ending to our long day of exploring San Juan! Island life is magical, especially if you get to bask in the summer vibes emanating from the sights, sounds, and smells of this little coastal resort community. The Madrona Bar & Grill feels like high class living, but for the common folk! I highly recommend a stroll through the grounds and opting for this outdoor venue rather than the stuff indoor option next door! I will definitely be back here on our next visit to the island. read more

Probably closer to five stars than four. Great location offers a beautiful, unhurried experience just off the harbor piers. On a sunny day, outside dining is a "must." You might catch a glimpse of otters and seals in the harbor waters. The food gets solid marks. Their take on a Shrimp Louie was very popular, as was their crispy rockfish sandwich--which was well dressed with an excellent mango slaw. Our service was splendid...sincerely pleasant and accommodating. We visited at noon...but the sunset experience is reportedly very special. read more

Was not our best experience. We are touring WA and came to Orcas Island for a whale watching trip, some hiking and my daughter and her boyfriend's first visit to the San Juan's. This restaurant was recommended to us, others wanted pizza- i insisted it would be good. I was wrong. The hostess was curt- and she was not honest about tables near the window... said they were for reservations. But that's not what I witnessed. And mostly it was her abrupt nature that was a turn off. Our server was engaging and answered our many question. The food was ok to Bad - the especially horribly bland dish was the 'special' Alfredo Salmon. Both the fish was bland (how is blackened ever bland?) and the Alfredo was terrible. We did ask for some Parmesan to give the noodles some taste. The clam chowder was basic - the cod was a healthy portion. The ravioli was tasty, but the chicken added as an extra was also bland. Our server was very friendly but offered me something besides french fries and I did not realize it was +4. It was described if you are getting on of the entrees you could sub..... but the $4 was on the bill. I think the evening/dining experience took a further down turn when we were told they were out of a 3rd of the menu items.... It's not a big menu. Overall, I cannot recommend. It's easy to be nice.... And that set the stage. And the reason for being In a restaurant is the food- it was greatly lacking especially for the price.! As I type this I overheard a man say the bartender overcharged him.... PS. We also heard the lady across from us complain about the Salmon Fettuccine . Expensive and not tasty. read more

Nice restaurant great staff beautiful view very limited menu very expensive. They have a $55 corkage fee, which is just outrageous. I guess they only want you to buy wine from them even though it's a limited wine list. read more

Great service! Dinner on the patio was lovely! Great fish and chips, really tasty salad with very flavorful house dressing. So glad we came here read more

Great place for a meal and views of the harbor. My husband had the Kobe beef dip sandwich and said it was the best he's ever had. Service was on point. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

Amazing service, good food, and an unparalleled view. We were a large group of 10 and had an amazing evening.

This little establishment exceeding my expectations. Depite the area, this was pretty casual (which I like). We got seated out on the deck overlooking the marina. Our waitress was extremely friendly and attentive to our needs. I had the spicy Thai chicken burger. Wasn't all that spicy, but just about right. My wife had the fish and chips, which she enjoyed. I had one of her fries and that was pretty decent. They had the San Juan island brew on tap, which was pretty tasty. I did post some pictures, but not of the food. Great food, great service, beautiful island ! read more

Beautiful location. Service was mixed. The very young buss people were a touch aggravating. They were kind of oblivious to the wishes of customers to have a nice undisturbed meal.... A little more training could fix that. The worst part however, was the food. The crispy calamari were soggy from being absolutely drenched in dressing/garnish. Peculiar choice to drench your crispy calamari. All the other dishes we tried such as fish and chips, Shanghai noodles, etc. were less than enjoyable, too. All weirdly over seasoned/overcooked. We have gone there for a decade, don't remember the food being this bad before. Menu seems quite unchanged this summer but the chef(s) must smoke or something, it was just all off. Quite the disappointment, when service and food negatively impact what should be a memorable experience in an unforgettable location... read more

We have been here for drinks and snacks over the years, this was our first dinner. We started with the Prawn Cocktail which was delicious, sweet and spicy and so much you can share! The fish tacos looked amazing. I didn't try them; was told they were excellent, not spicy; just full of flavor. The Fish and Chips was good. Needed a hint of salt (Seasoning was mild) the batter was very good, not too oily and crisp. I ordered the Shrimp Poke Salad and was pleasantly surprised as how good it was. Cold, sweet, hint of ginger, sesame and the nice sweet pop tobiko. I don't think this was a regular menu item, it was amazing and I highly recommend it! We enjoy the atmosphere and the amazing sunset with the lowering of the flags. Go and enjoy the entire experience. read more

So damn good and Javier was an amazing server. Loved everything we had here and it is right on the water. I could literally eat that chopped salad every day. Just a really open dining area with fantastic views, great drinks, and wonderful food. Great place to stop in especially after a morning of fishing. Loved this place!! read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Chop chop salad with crab, shrimp, and chicken + noodles - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

Unfortunately, As many of the other reviews mention, this establishment allows dogs on the deck. This was my main issue here and why I removed 2 stars. The food was good. The service was good. The decision to allow dogs on the deck while people are eating ruined the experience. The Barking, the dog hair, the annoying owners acting like their dog is a person... I'm sorry this is a poor policy for a spot like this. When paying for a slightly upscale experience my expectation is definitely not to deal with the pets of strangers. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

There are only a few dining options on this side of the island, and the Yelps were clear: when in Roche Harbor, Madrona is the clear choice. You have to go in knowing that everything comes at island price. It's an island, and though there are some local producers, fishermen, or other purveyors of ingredients, a lot of stuff still needs to get trucked on and everything has a surcharge. So you may balk at $20-30 menu items, or even some that went up around $50, but there are only a few bucks difference between here and the other spots in Roche, so you might as well go first class. We were seated out on the patio, over the water, and that right there is a big part of the magic. It was lunchtime and the sun was coming down, but they did offer us an umbrella. Rockfish fish and chips (local) and a lamb burger (local) seemed like the right choice. We appreciated the COVID measures with masked staff and plenty of space between diners, and should mention that the whole of San Juan Island is taking it very seriously. In fact, they had a station set up on the dock where you could get a mask (and visitors were being checked before entry) so that's very reassuring. The food arrived, and it was a nice lunch. The fries were the actual winners of the table, with a wee bit of breading and delightfully crisp fry. The lamb burger has a lot of promise, but it's so full of other seasonings that it looks like a veggie burger with flecks and flakes and bits and bobs of I actually dunno what. We both looked at it and wondered if they had brought the veggie patty by mistake, but after tasting it, you can pick out the lamb flavor. Probably a great choice for someone who likes but doesn't love deep lamb flavor, but I wish the lamb patty could have sung a little more of its own tune. The fish and chips were a good bet, if only a bit bready. I like a good breading, but there were big chunks of breading only. Great tartar sauce, and I enjoyed the slaw. For sure this is where you need to eat. Take it all in, the view, the ambiance, and get some solid food to fuel your adventure on San Juan Island. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Local Wild Rock Fish and Chips - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

See all

Was visiting the island for a night, my sister took me to this fabulous spot. I had the Wagyu dip sandwich and it was so flavorful. The bread was soft. It was great. But it was the fries that got me! I don't know how they make those fries, where they came from. But when I go back, I'll be ordering extra extra fries. They are super delicious. Crispy on the outside tender on the inside full of flavor. read more

You are definitely just paying for the views here!! The restaurant is very open and spacious with outdoor patio seating right on the marina with gorgeous boat and sunset views and the hotel and gardens right out front for some picture perfect moments. The food itself however isn't all that -- we got the kids fish & chips (all meh, the batter could've been crispier and the rockfish isn't as flaky as the traditional cod) and the fish tacos (2 tacos per order -- a tad spicy but no wow factor). We also tried our friend's fried calamari order and the sauce isn't what I was expecting. They also layered 2 large crispy wonton skins under so it looks like you're getting more than you actually are. They also automatically split the appetizer between the two families when we hadn't asked them to which make for a little awkward bill at the end. read more

Arrived for dinner on a Sunday night and were pleasantly surprised there was no wait even though it was a busy summer night. We were taken extremely good care of. Our server was so kind and professional. The menu is huge and everything was fresh and delicious. The fish and chips were incredible. Everyone was happy. We loved the free parking and gorgeous small town feel. read more

See all

Decent menu selection but wish there was dungeness crab or local oysters too Staff is slow but polite. Great view over harbor but after sailing all day, wish there was a way to block glare from sun over dinner. read more

Location and view is fantastic. Roche Harbor is beautiful. Our server was kind and attentive - he never left us with empty drinks. The hostess was super sweet as well. Food was just meh for us unfortunately. My girlfriend got a burger that was so sloppy with a soggy bun she could barely pick it up. The Shanghai noodle bowl consisted of what I'm pretty sure was merely spaghetti noodles, cold packaged chicken and baby shrimp. While filling, it was just underwhelming for $27. Maybe other options on the menu were better choices and we just struck out with ours. I'd go back for the view and to maybe try something else on the menu. read more

Food was a disappointment; dry burgers, salads with the inedible parts, and just very heavy.

Good food, good service, great atmosphere. We shared the calamari, and I had the clam chowder and Caesar salad. All were excellent. My husband had the fish and chips and enjoyed that also. read more

See all

Grabbed lunch here during a recent mini-vacation. Great spot to dine on the patio, the weather was beautiful and the views are awesome. It's patio dining so I'll forgo the decor discussion and jump straight into the food. We started off with the Bronzed Ahi Tuna and the Kettle Fried Calamari. In my opinion, the Ahi Tuna dish had a rather small portion of...you know...Ahi. The ratio of "not Ahi" to actual Ahi made the Ahi flavor get sort of lost in this one. It's a good dish, but only if you can double up on the Ahi chunks so you can actually taste it. Which means you are left with no Ahi for the rest of the dish. The Kettle Fried Calamari served with Wasabi Aioli was very good. This dish had a very nice balance of flavors. I wasn't really sure what I was feeling like for the main. Being that I wasn't really in a burger mood and most of the fish offerings were all battered in some way (I'm not a huge fan of battered fish), I settled on the Spicy Thai Chicken Burger. Solid chicken sandwich. Not as spicy as I was hoping for, but that's probably just the Texan in me talking. Very messy though, bring a pile of napkins, get your "South Philly Haunch" worked out and practiced and then get in there. All in all, a great lunch with a great view. I'd stop in again when in town. read more

After hiking around American Camp in the morning then driving up to Roche Harbor, my wife and I had a nice "lite" lunch at Madrona's. We were saving room for an early dinner, so we shared a salad and a serving of fish and chips. Both were very good. The salad had a lot of zing to it compared to your average caesar salad, and the fish and chips were fried perfectly. Service was friendly and nice, she even answered our dumb tourist questions, and the view and the scenery were lovely. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - Fish & Chips - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

See all

They did not know how to cook a steak med rare. I sent it back and they brought out another overcooked steak. The waitress mentioned the head chef had the day off. Whoever was behind the grill today ruined 2 good pieces of steak and my birthday dinner. If you like your steak well done then check out Madrona. Cheesecake was great, the service was great. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington

If you have ever been to San Juan Island but not visited Roche Harbor you're missing out. This spot is dreamy. Sitting right on the water, Madrona Bar and Grill overlooks the Roche Harbor Marina on San Juan Island. We stopped in one late afternoon for a drink and were able to easily find a seat right on the water. The bartender took his time with us and made us 3 different whiskey cocktails which were all delicious. We chose the whiskey as he offered to make "something you have never had before and will never have again" but didn't give the drinks a name. His ability to do this speaks to his knowledge and experience as a bartender. On our way out we ordered some food to go. Service was quick and our order was packed well into a bag to prevent any spills. They included all utensils, napkins, and sauces we may need. We ordered the crab and artichoke quesadilla, rockfish and chips, fish tacos. The quesadilla didn't have much crab at all which was disappointing so I wouldn't order this again. The fish and chips was excellent and I would highly recommend. Madrona Bar and Grill is a great place for a relaxing cocktail by the water, a tasty meal, or a romantic dinner. Whatever the occasion I recommend you stop in. read more

Madrona Bar & Grill - "Something I've never had before and will never have again" from the bartender - American Near Me - Roche Harbor, Washington