Best food I had on the island!!!! Limited offerings but quality and taste beyond compare!

Wow wow wow. If you want an elegant dinner, in a charming non-stuffy place on Orcas island, this is the place. We went here on recommendations from a friend and were not disappointed! First, service was lovely. Our waitress was helpful, happy to share recommendations, quick, and responsive, but not the kind that hovers. She took great care of us. The food? Excellent. Fresh, lots of flavor without going overboard. We had mussels to start, wine, then shared the halibut special with lentils, and the filet. Everything was top notch and delicious. Be sure and get reservations. This is a fairly small restaurant, and had lots of traffic the night we were there. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend the dill pickle bloody Mary. We tried the spinach and wild mushroom omelette, duck confit hash and crab cake benedict. Fabulous! read more

New Leaf - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

Love the New Leaf!! Food is always amazing!! Staff has always been nice. A bit expensive but worth it to me

Used to love this place for dinner. Haven't been in a long while. Came for our anniversary and was so disappointed...should have checked the menu first. No main courses for dinner just a bunch of random small plates. Very odd. We cobbled something together because we didn't have another option for dinner. It was ok and service was super slow considering not many tables. Such a bummer. read more

Loved the service...adored the crab cakes Benedict and monkey rolls...appreciated the morning ambience.

Food was delicious, service impeccable. The chicken and waffles were next level with this homemade butter that was so rich and delectable it could have been ice cream. I got the mushroom spinach omelette and it was divine. The ambiance is very warm and inviting with a white, open space, lots of windows, and modern art (for sale!) adorning the walls. The prices were well in line with the quality and portion size, which is not something I can say for other joints in town. This place is a must try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Food, drinks & service were great! We ordered oysters, onion soup, scallops & the "firing squad" beverages. Great view from the tables! *update* We went to this restaurant two more times before leaving the island. Breakfast: smoked salmon Benedict = AMAZING. The salmon was perfect. And back again for dinner: filet (one of the best I've ever had), onion soup again, crab cakes. I can't believe I love everything about every plate we ordered. Everything! This never happens. Zero complaints. Service was great again. They have such great staff! read more

Dinner was good but the menu is odd: narrow and mostly appetizer-style. Not really a real dinner. The breakfast menu looked better. We enjoyed better seafood from the Irish pub across the street. read more

Most of the reviews here are for their breakfast or brunch, which may still be great, but this place used to be a go to for us for seafood dinner. That menu is gone, and it's been replaced with basically expensive bar food. After $90 of mediocre "small plates," we went home and ate leftovers. If you're thinking of coming here for dinner, you should be aware that this isn't the same restaurant that it was, and the only seafood on the menu are some underwhelming clams. read more

Just came back from dinner after getting off of the ferry. We were super keen on wanting a big heavy dinner so we decided to come here for some light sharing plates and a good drink. A lot of the other places were either closed or full, but this cafe had open seating even outside which was really appreciated. We were greeted nicely at the door and seated right away, however, that's where things started to go doenhill. There were a few other groups around us that were in various stages of their meals or ordering, yet we continued to sit and be ignored for quite a while. There was 1 waitress who was going about her business, very personable and seemed great with the other guests, yet each time she walked by she wouldn't even make eye contact with us, let alone attempt to take our order. Even groups who had been started after us in this waitress section got service even before we could put our order in. Finally another waitress came out and quickly took our drink and food order. We ordered some plates to share including the crab cakes, a salad, and a charcuterie board. We waited for a while and finally our drinks came out, again the other groups of guests were getting their meals and drinks well before we did and the other waitress continued to have conversations and check in on her tables, while we continued to be blatantly ignored (had to flag the other waitress down to have our drinks replenished a few times). Finally the food came out but we once again had to flag down the other waitress who continued to ignore us to get plates so that we could share the food. The food itself was delicious and perfect for what we were looking for. However, we were never checked on while eating, drinks were never replenished, and the only other waitress that was working would do everything in her power to ignore us and walk right by us. She would glance over at us but not make eye contact and just kept focusing on her own tables. I get that she was just working, but it's also about teamwork and trying to help each other out, plus it's basic customer service which we did not get. We were never checked on once, had to basically bus and replenish our own drinks, and felt completely ignored. It wasn't until our waitress finally looked down from the bar that she realized we were done and had been sitting for a while. She came over and asked if we wanted dessert (initially had wanted one but after having this experience it was a hard no). When I inquired about our service and our feelings, our waitress stated that she had a big table which had been taking up our time. However, that table sat down well after we did and had gotten better service than us, so I don't think this was actually the issue. She said a quick apology and ran away with the check and stood around while I filled it out which was a bit awkward and the most interaction we had with her all night. Other than making an excuse about the other table, she never really offered an apology or anything else to make up for the poor service. The entire interaction really make us feel uncomfortable and I welcomed, we just felt a like a burden. It was hard to watch the other tables get fantastic service from the other waitress and compare the lack of service we received. While the food was worth a return visit, after the experience we had and the horrible impression left, I don't know that I would return in the future. I do hope someone actually looks at these reviews and uses it as a learning experience for the future. read more

Wow! It took us coming to Orcas Island to finally find a real Italian chef in the PNW. The restaurant is definitely keeping in line with the Covid rules, the menu is diverse and extremely tasty, the location is perfect, the service is top notch, and the food is sublime! Support this place!!! read more

My husband and I ate at New Leaf Cafe for dinner our first night on Orcas Island last night, and it was wonderful! The food was great (it's rare that we have fresh clams and halibut in Kansas City where we are from), the wine was great and the views from the patio of the water are spectacular! read more

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We went to the New Leaf Cafe, which is actually a full on restaurant. This is a very popular location and reservations are needed on weekends. We just lucked out and came early around 5:30pm with two people total on a Friday. We were seated immediately and had drinks within 45 seconds. We also were very lucky to get seated with a view of the water and two matching late 80's/early 90's Toyota trucks. Seriously how often does that happen? Also there used to be a building across the street which blocked half the view, now it is gone! Lucky for us! The waiter was a nice guy from Bulgaria. The dinner was on the $$$ to $$$$ side. I ordered the chicken, which was on the smaller side of chickens. My wife had the salmon, which she really enjoyed and looked a lot better, but was twice as much, so I guess you get what you pay for. Amazing service, amazing view, two Toyotas and a happy wife. What else can I ask for? read more

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Waffles were some of the best I have had anywhere!! Absolutely a must go to! The service was great and the food was amazing!!

Our Favorite restaurant! Never disappoints - always fabulous. Not only is the food top-notch the service is also outstanding. Can not recommend the New Leaf Cafe highly enough. For breakfast try the Eggs Benedict - amongst the best I've ever had. The Duck Mac and Cheese is another great choice. read more

My husband and I took a chance and ate in the restaurant, New Leaf, in the inn, Outlook Inn, where we were staying. What a surprise! The food was excellent, prepared and served impeccably. Our waiter, Jaren, enhanced our dining experience by being attentive to our needs. A convivial conversationalist, he offered suggestions about the wine and dessert which completed our meals' repast and delight. The chef, Steve Debaste, was not only friendly, talking to us as we entered the restaurant, but also an incredible, artistic chef. The salmon and halibut and crab cakes were an epicurean adventure. A must try. He rivals chefs in San Francisco's finest, our home. Come to Orcas Island and indulge. You won't be disappointed. We were not only shocked but also indulged. Thank you for the 3 excellent dinners we enjoyed in the week we stayed on Orcas Island, read more

The cardamom cream on top of the waffles is like a CARDAMOM PUNCH IN YOUR WUSSY FACE. You can't handle the spice blast to your palate, which was expecting the samey-sameness of regular whipped cream. NOMZ. Our brunch was firing on all cylinders, both savory and sweet, and we were lovin' it. While the menu didn't seem wild and adventurous, everything delivered. My eggs Benedict was so nearly the best I've had (in the classic prep), but the eggs were a tiny bit over cooked and not spooging their yolky goodness quite enough. However, that did not keep me from enjoying every bite. The little potatoes on the side were good too and nicely spiced. Everyone else at the table seemed to rock their dishes as well, with the Monte Cristo being another savory standout (dunked in pancake batter and fried!). Great people watching spot too on the patio overlooking the bay. Huzzah. Also, the servers were gracious enough to put up with our ridiculous splitting of the check 27 different ways. read more

I don't even know how to describe my love for this place. The food was exceptional. Everything tasted fresh, seemed to be locally sourced and well-prepared. There weren't that many options on the menu which after tasting the food leads me to believe that it allows them to do what they do well. We had breakfast and dinner here. Despite the small selection, it was incredibly difficult to choose what to order because everything sounded so good. I had a savory tart and partner had two eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes and brioche. Both plates were amazing, and the perfect amount of food to leave you satisfied but not too stuffed. The brioche was the best bread I have had in a really long time. Absolutely amazing! I also enjoyed a mimosa and a "strawberry sunrise", which were both such great morning cocktails. For dinner, I had the truffle fries and split an order of the crab cakes with my partner, which was amazing given her aversion to any food that comes from the sea. But, we both loved them!. She also got the duck mac & cheese and it was delightful. The truffle fries have left me scrambling for a comparable recipe to make at home. BEST FRIES OF MY LIFE. I'm not sure what we had to drink that night, but it was good and less expensive thanks to the $2 off drink coupons the Outlook Inn gave us upon arrival. The bill was a bit pricier than the meals I usually get, but then again the quality was a million times better. The restaurant had beautiful views of the water, which made each meal even more special. The service was friendly but not too intrusive, which was really nice. We both really want to come back to Orcas sometime and the New Leaf is a big motivating factor. read more

It was ok. It was super busy which we totally understand and my kids are pretty savvy restaurant goers so they were very patient... The food was just OK but the fresh fruit was awesome! The servers were very nice and we're doing the best they could to make us feel comfortable! read more

The food wasn't offensively bad, but coming from Seattle I expected more from New Leaf's high Yelp ratings. A few notes: - The bar is extremely small. We got there at 5 PM (when happy hour opens) and nabbed the last free table. People who arrived after us chose to stay and hover for seats. - One bartender was in charge of pouring drinks for and waiting on the bar's entire happy hour crowd--not the fastest service. Yes, my water glass was empty for most of our time there. -My "featured cocktail," vodka and cranberry, was about 5% cranberry juice, 95% vodka. -The Kobe Sliders came with a good inch of goop (mayonnaise and cheese) on them. -The hummus plate's pita bread, despite tasting charred in places, was refrigerator-cold. On the upside, the prices weren't too bad. Given how few options there are on Orcas Island, this might be a relatively good spot--I'd just advise ordering cautiously. Because that waiter-bartender? He ain't coming back! read more

For those that have never been to Orcas, be advised that there just aren't that many places to eat. In fact, it is the solitude and quiet of Orcas that Hubby and I most come here seeking. The fact that we were able to find such a sweet gem in its midst was remarkable to us. And, let's face it, I may like to play at being a jungle girl for my outdoor loving, Eagle Scout, but I am all city girl and I need the occasional city accouterments. Fortunately, the New Leaf give me just that! The meal and the service earned a definitive 4 stars, but the 5th star is for the incredible patio with the amazing views. Such a romantic evening for the Hubby and I, we felt like we were dating again! The water was so still in the harbor and the weather on the island is perfect for outdoor dining. The food is very good. Hubby does not eat fish. Ever. But, luckily, that was not a problem here. They had a terrific steak that was perfectly cooked medium rare as he likes it. This left me to enjoy halibut. I would suggest you try it because it was wonderful. I wasn't sure if I would like hailbut - being a warm water fish girl who loves grouper, snapper and dorado - but I did like it. Very much. We did not try any of their cocktails. But they had excellent local Washington wines. I went with a red Pinot. Hubby stayed with the local Washington craft brews all night. I really liked that they offer Washington products because it went so well with their meal and it gave us the chance to try what we can't get back home. (I will also say that because there aren't that many places to eat on Orcas, we did visit the New Leaf more than once. I tried this kind of hot pot of shellfish and such, that was in an incredible broth. Just wow! And, Hubby, well, he stuck to the steak.) I can't wait until we go back! read more

Favorite place on Orcas by far. Food is tremendous - large portions of premium+fresh ingredients. Highlights for us were the Dungeness crab cake eggs Benedict (eggs poached perfectly with crab stuffed cakes), chili verde (phenomenal flavors + excellent pork), and the omelet (tons of truffle oil, delicious mushrooms, and great Brie cheese). Service was awesome. And the patio is delightful where you have a perfect view of the water. Would highly recommend. read more

This place is definitely worth the 5 star review! It's super cute and has great ambiance. Wonderful service and the food is SO good! read more

New Leaf - Shrimp n grits and croque madame - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

Happy Hour is M-F, 5:30pm - 6:30pm with half price appetizers which include $7 warm goat cheese salad, $4 truffle fries, french onion soup & hummus plate & $6 arugula salad & Kobe beef sliders. We tried the soup, arugula salad, hummus & beef sliders. The french onion soup came in a large pedestal bowl & was very delicious with sweet onions & lots of cheese melted on top! The salad was good but quite small for its price. The trio hummus plate had blackened pita bread & six kalamata olives. It was okay but I garnished it with shredded lettuce from the beef sliders since it lacked any raw vegetables. The three types of hummus themselves tasted bland or watery. Even the texture seemed off. The beef sliders really weren't that great & actually makes me sick to think about them more than 24 hours later. Maybe I just don't like Kobe beef! $5 featured cocktail, the Cape Cod (vodka cranberry), was very potent. Get there early as the small area fills up fast & it also gets very loud. Out of the four appetizers the french onion soup was definitely the best (especially if you have a cold)! read more

Amazing duck confit and salmon benedict. The coffee is apparently delicious too (the 3 people I went with all loved it). I especially loved their breakfast potatoes. The deck has a great view. It is also a short walking distance from the Orcas farmer's market. Next time I do camping in Orcas, I would definitely come back for another incredible breakfast. read more

New Leaf - Salmon benedict - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

With apologies to Catch 22... Me: Hi can we make a reservation for 6 plus a baby at 5:30? New Leaf: Sorry we can't take a reservation for 6 because we already have a reservation for a party of 6. M: OK, how about we come in at 5 for happy hour, put our name in and see if you can seat us? NL: OK Scene shift to the restaurant. Beautiful summer evening. Our party strolls in. M: Hi, we have a party of 6 plus baby for dinner. NL: Do you have a reservation? M: No, you wouldn't take our reservation. NL: OK we can seat you outside for dinner at 5:30 M: OK how about we enjoy happy hour in bar until dinner? NL: Sorry but no children in the bar. M: Even a baby? (NO screaming toddlers in our group.) NL: No, M: OK, we'll just enjoy happy hour at or table. NL: We don't do happy hour at the tables outside. M: Wait, you won't serve us happy hour at our table AND you won't let us into the bar for happy hour? NL: Right M: So your not willing to accommodate us either way? NL: Right The party discusses what to do and decides to go some where else more accommodating and less attitude. They have a great meal and evening and spend less money. See the next review.. read more

My boyfriend and I (both service industry veterens) had our celebratory vacation dinner at New Leaf Cafe this past weekend. We could not have had a better experience. Our hostess was warm and inviting. Our server, Jolene, was genuine and interested and very attentive. And the food was AMAZING! That's saying a lot since I'm an allergic-to-nuts-vegetarian. We were very pleased with everything we ordered and the experience as a whole. The wine list was extensive and had something for all tastes and budgets and the menu was equally impressive. Most of the tables have a view which only adds exponentially to the dining experience as the island is a beautiful place. Thank you so much New Leaf Cafe and Jolene! We'll be back for sure! read more

Alright listen...okay I mean read... This place is absolutely amazing. My wife and I have lived on Orcas Island for over 20 years each, and this is our favorite spot hands down. They have a great breakfast, and their dinners are almost beyond words. They have recently hired a new chef and he is doing some amazing things in the kitchen there. Aside from the wonderful food and drink, I appreciate the range of the New Leaf. It is versatile and works as a lounge for a quick drink all the way through to a high end, fine dining spot and most things in between. We feel totally comfortable bringing our 4 kids here to eat and love stopping in for a drink during happy hour in the lounge. One more thing...try the Kobe beef sliders with cambozola and grilled onions. Holy S!*T ...they are amazing. Perhaps my favorite food on earth. Cheers. read more

I would like to take a moment to update my recent review rating of the New Leaf Cafe from a 1-star experience to a 2-star. Not that this changes anything from my experience as outlined in my review, but simply as a good gesture to the ownership of the Cafe that took the time to contact me after such a poor experience. To me this is worthy of bumping up a negative rating as it shows that an owner actually cares about the customer experience at his or her establishment and really is working to make their business a better place. That's more than I can say for a lot of businesses out there. I will definitely give New Leaf another chance the next time I am on Orcas Island and hopefully they will live up to the high expectations that come from the high praises of this cafe. read more

The food was great however I am not a fan of automatic gratuity for parties of five or more, especially when our fifth person was 3 years old and only ordered a plate of fries. I should be able to decide how much to give. Luckily our waitress was great though! I had the cauliflower steak with cheese curds and loved every bit of it. The steamed clams were amazing and the beef filets, halibut and salmon we ordered were all top notch. Definitely not an inexpensive place though. $12 for their version of a Moscow Mule was steep. Loved the atmosphere and location though. read more

Excellent food, had Chicken and waffles. Best I've ever had, chicken flavorful, tender and delicious. Buttermilk syrup yum!!!!

My husband and I have eaten at the New Leaf Cafe 6 times, upon staying at the Outlook Inn 3 different times. The breakfasts are rich, satisfying, flavorful and homey. I walked away from breakfast feeling like my totally posh grandmother cooked it for me. The dinners are beautiful. The flavors pop, the portions are perfection, and the service is exceptional. The menu items are always interesting and there is something for all tastes. I literally CRAVE the New Leaf Cafe- if only I didn't live 4 hours away! read more

This restaurant is situated across from the sound, and inside The Outlook Hotel. Everything we had was DELICIOUS and perfectly done! We started with bay clams in butter and garlic. We tasted the sweet freshness of the tender clams. I ordered the Lardo Salad with Hempler bacon. It had extremely generous amount of mild blue cheese, chewy small chunks of bacon, and perfectly poached egg on top, with a warm vinaigrette dressing. It also had a chewy goodness chunks of sourdough (?) croutons. My husband had the cauliflower steak that he described as a cross between parmagine and puttanesca. I had the flourless chocolate cake with caramel and chocolate sauce as well as sea salt. The sea salt really topped it for me. Awesome! Every staff was attentive, pleasant and welcoming: from the two staff who kept our water glass full, to our waitress and a neighboring waitress who helped out to take our orders. This was a pleasantly surprisingly wonderful experience! read more

One of the nicer restaurants on the island and the deck has gorgeous views out over the water. The food was very good, but even for the island we found it to be slightly over-priced. We happened in very late on a Friday night on our drive from Orcas ferry landing to Doe Bay. We were able to snag the very last table for two and the hostess was very friendly and helpful. Food: Excellent, but be warned, everything that we had on the menu was incredibly rich. So much butter. So, so much. I recommend that you order an entrée to share. Decor: This is one of the nicer restaurants on the island, but even beyond the nice decor is the stunning view of the water from the deck. The heat lamps on the deck are a huge plus as the evenings tend to be cold. Service: Friendly and prompt. (I can't hold this against them, but the table next to us was very loud and drunk when we arrived. I wish that the waitstaff had calmed them down a bit. But the table left quickly so it was not an issue for long.) read more

Best meal on Orcas Island ... delightful staff, fabulous meal, great Coffe, and stellar view!!! read more

New Leaf - Crab cake egg benny... perfect egg - New American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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Had brunch here three mornings in a row. Wonderful food and service. My wife wanted to keep coming back for their waffle. It was her favorite waffle "ever". My favorite was the dungeoness crab sandwich. The black peppercorn vodka Bloody Mary was the best of three different homemade infused vodkas offered. read more

3 of us ordered and shared bites of the regular Eggs Benedict, Belgian Waffle and the bacon and eggs. My eggs were cooked perfectly and that hollandaise was just as advertised. The bacon was very similar to a jowl type bacon I loved when growing up, so tasty and perfectly cooked. Add to this perfect coffee and as we got there as they were just opening up, we were seated and served exceptionally quick. I was very impressed and our servers could not have been better! My only regret was not getting to eat dinner as I hear it's a real treat. read more

My favorite brunch (duck confit hash w/ side of hollandaise) and dinner (steak, fish, chicken) oooo (lardon salad w/ soft poached egg) spot on Orcas. read more

For my second dinner on Orcas Island, I decided to try New Leaf Cafe. The restaurant was somewhat busy with a warm and inviting, yet narrow, dining room with colorful artwork on the walls, and pretty panels of colored glass that were laid in a border around the upper part of the walls. Dinner offerings were unique in terms of flavor and ingredient pairings, and could be classified as PacNW with Western European influences. I personally found the food to be a little on the rich and/or heavy side. My family enjoyed our appetizers of sweet potato fries, drizzled with truffle oil, and served with house-made beet and mango ketchups. Best of all were the crab cakes with ginger-pear beurre blanc and habenero cream sauce. The cakes (3 for $16) were small in diameter, but very plump, with a lovely crust on the outside and whose interior consisted primarily of sweet, delicious crab. I had a hard time finding any "filler" ingredients other than crabmeat and seasonings. The sauces were delicious and provided just the right amount of heat. Two good-but-not-so-amazing appetizers were the mussels and the pan-fried oysters. The mussels, which were presented "Mediterranean-style", consisting of a sun dried tomato, basil, wine and cream sauce. The shellfish themselves were very plump and tasty, but the sauce was a bit heavy and rich. The pan-fried oysters (5) were served with aioli, but the heavy breading prevented the table from finishing the entire order. The goat cheese salad could be a meal in itself after sharing the appetizers. The generous portion of deliciously mild and creamy cheese complimented the tangy pomegranate dressing nicely. The samon fillet for an entree was perfectly cooked and served with another portion of the ginger-pear beurre blanc and roasted asparagus. The vegetarian entree was a nice offering of beautiful roasted beets, turnips, carrots and asparagus, with red quinoa and balsalmic drizzle. Specialty drinks from the bar were a little spendy and sounded more interesting on the menu than what they tasted like upon ordering. Service was just ok. Our waitress seemed a little spacey upon our interactions, and was hard to track down when we wanted to order our entrees, order our dessert or pay the bill. Plan on $50 per person if splurging on appetizers, drinks, entree and a shared dessert. read more