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    Oystertale

    4.0 (32 reviews)
    Closed 3:00 pm - 8:30 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Oystertale Photos

    OYSTERTALE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Oystertale

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    Barrel aged negroni!
    Jen A.

    We had a wonderful evening at Oystertale! Cocktails were top-notch, and my husband loved his slider and fried oysters. I enjoyed the salmon waffles--the waffle with goat cheese was fantastic (the salmon was hot-smoked, which just isn't my thing, but he happily ate it). Sweet, attentive service and a seaside chic ambience made the night perfect.

    Oysters!
    Sara G.

    Food was excellent. I've never before had a goat cheese dish that I felt like actually had plenty of goat cheese!

    Caprese and San Juan Salad
    Gregory B.

    YES!!!! Spur of the moment dining after disembarking ferry in Friday Harbor and checking in at hotel. Love these kind of local fare tables offering intimate dining and outstanding service. Prob seating for less than 50 people including the outdoor "community" tables. Quiet, great laid back vibe inside. Started with an excellent red Pinot Muniere from Dundee Hills on Oregon. Fantastic wine list. Good "local" Washington and Oregon choices. Our server Pillar gave us great overview of menu and the oyster choices. Helped me pick 6 ranging from sweet to briny. Loved them all, particularly with the vinaigrette style dipping sauce, so much better than the heavy ketchup and horse radish mix you get at most oyster places. Small plate orientation so we went with San Juan Salad and Caprese Salad. Good choices. The Caprese was fresh, local tomato's. So fresh and flavorful. Really enjoyed both, but the Caprese was a standout. Continuing on to a bowl of salmon chowder, and I have to say this might have been the best chowder I've ever had. Pink Salmon. Just outstanding. Then on to 3 REALLY good salmon cakes. For dessert a blackberry cobbler with locally made ice cream. Service was amazing. Everyone friendly and knowledgeable. Again kudos to Pillar, an outstanding, delightful experience. With really good bottle of wine, $2XX with tip for 2 and worth every cent. I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! A must stop for anyone visiting San Juan Island.

    Smoked crab dip with chips. Ok . I'd skip that
    Genna G.

    Pretty little restaurant right near the water in Friday Harbor . Food was decent. Oysters were great however quite pricy. The rest of our food was good. Not fantastic but solidly good. We had the crab potato waffle - elegant looking, glad we tried it once but sort of bland and well, unusual. Had the smoked fish dip which was ok/ good ( might skip that one ) Overall I thought the meal was good however we left a bit unsatisfied and not full. Pretty expensive to leave feeling that way. Service was friendly and efficient. Overall an enjoyable experience in the heart of Friday Harbor .

    Dungeness crab waffle in question along with a delicious Paper Plane
    Erin-Elizabeth A.

    Very cute spot right next to the harbor that promises to casually spoil you with local seafood bites. Servers were great, very attentive and informative when it came to helping us make menu choices. The cocktails and oysters we got were phenomenal, loved the mignonette that they served with our sliders. However, we also got the Dungeness crab waffle that sounded delicious in practice, but the burnt oil taste of the waffle overwhelmed the delicate flavor of the crab and other toppings. It had to be drenched with the lemon-honey sauce it comes with to be edible. Really disappointing since it sounded so good. Avoid the waffle and I think this spot still has a lot of great options!

    Marielle J.

    This is such a cute place near the ferry terminal! My boyfriend and I came during Labor Day weekend and while we made a reservation for the next day at Downriggers since it was crowded, we saw this place and loved what the menu had to offer as well as the interior/ambiance of the place. We enjoyed the strawberry frose and peach bellini - both were very good but I loved the Frose more (I could drink like 3 of those!) It was the best I've ever had. We had the charcuterie board - I got one of the flatbreads and my boyfriend got the Gryffin Bay sandwich which has smoked salmon and arugula. Ashley is the owner and told us her story about owning this wonderful place! She also baked these splendid lemon macadamia cookies (if they're there -- try one, you'll be hooked!) :) This is a great place and they even do catering so might consider that in the future! They have a lot of wine selections too.

    a sign in the window of a restaurant
    Erin B.

    The decor of this place is so cute! They've got a great selection of local oysters -- all of them were delicious! A winner here is the Dungeness crab waffles, and we also enjoyed the scallop crudo. The cocktails were fine for us this time but I'd try others. Stop by for some oysters, bubbly or a cocktail, and a Dungeness crab waffle and you won't be disappointed!

    Cocktail menu
    Jan D.

    Charming little restaurant w friendly attentive service. Loved the clean modern decor but I found the overhead dinner time lighting to be way too bright to create a romantic vibe. (Why not try lowering the wattage and putting some small electric candle on each of the tables?) we told our server we wanted to share the salad yet. It came as one with no side plates until we asked. I ordered the grilled pork chop, which had great flavor w the cherries, excellent seasoning, perfectly cooked, but sadly 1/3 of the chop was pure fat so there wasn't a lot of meat. I assumed a little side of some thing, vegetable or starch would accompany the chop. I was wrong. It was just the pork chop. The potato waffle was creative but lacked flavor. The chocolate dessert was to die for! I hope the chef tweaks the menu a bit bec it is close but not quite there.

    Our selection of oysters and cocktails.

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    1 month ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The food was average at best. Steak was okay. We expected more from a restaurant of this caliber.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Great restaurant, great food, great people! Loved the variety and the tastiness of the food.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Every bite was like heaven. The fresh oysters were the highlight. Healthy simple and delicious foods. The best!

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    We didn't care for the warm water bottle on our table, the mostly fat lamb and the crab potato waffle did not taste good at all.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

    A short walk from the guest docks at the marina, this quaint shop offers a unique menu and friendly service. Highly recommend!

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    Ask the Community - Oystertale

    Downriggers

    Downriggers

    4.0
    (754 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    Food and service were great, ambiance was 10/10. My son raved about the tartar sauce. I loved the…read moremimosa flight (mango, blood orange, and kiwi).

    If you find yourself in Friday Harbor, you absolutely have to visit this spot. My top tip: make a…read morereservation. This place fills up fast, and after dining there, it's easy to see why! Our party of three visited for lunch at noon on a Thursday. Since we had a reservation, we were seated immediately at a lovely table right by the window. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were incredibly courteous and friendly throughout our meal. We initially thought about starting with some small plates, but we were so eager for seafood that we jumped straight into the entrees. We weren't disappointed: Bouillabaisse: This was our first time trying this dish, and it was the highlight for us. It was incredibly flavorful--exactly what we were craving. Spicy Prawn Mac and Cheese: It definitely lived up to its name! It wasn't "blow-your-head-off" hot, but it had a perfect, noticeable kick that really elevated the dish. Blackened Cod Tacos: These were fantastic. The cod was perfectly prepared and worked so well with the rest of the taco ingredients. We also enjoyed a couple of non-alcoholic drinks that hit the spot, though I'll admit that since I'm writing this a couple of weeks later, I forgot to snag photos or the specific names of the drinks! They also have a really nice patio area if you prefer dining outdoors. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking for a great meal with a view, this place is a must-visit!

    Photos
    Downriggers
    Crab Melt***
    Crab Melt***
    Crab Deviled Eggs***

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    Crab Deviled Eggs***
    Vinny's Ristorante

    Vinny's Ristorante

    3.9
    (227 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Great fine dining experience! Dim lighting, quality table clothes, new utensils for every course…read more Would definitely recommend a reservation for a Friday night. We were served quickly and the food came out fast. Oysters were delicious and fresh and the dessert was sooo good

    We stopped by on June 16, 2026, after an enjoyable whale-watching excursion and were looking…read moreforward to having dinner here. Unfortunately, our experience ended before we ever made it to a table. When we arrived, the hostess was on the phone. We waited patiently, but there was no acknowledgment of our presence--not even a simple "I'll be right with you." Once she finished her call, we asked for a table for four. Rather than greeting us or explaining the wait in a courteous manner, she simply shook her head and informed us there would be a 40-45 minute wait. The issue was not the wait time; it was the complete lack of hospitality. Had we been greeted warmly and treated like valued guests, we likely would have waited. Instead, we were left with the clear impression that our business was neither wanted nor appreciated. We chose to leave immediately and spent $200+ at another restaurant where we felt welcomed. While I understand that busy restaurants often have long waits, there is no excuse for poor customer service and basic discourtesy. Based on this experience, I will not return, nor would I recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the area.

    Photos
    Seat with a view
    Seat with a view
    Eggs Benedict
    Eggs Benedict
    Singles table in a cozy corner.  Love it!

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    Singles table in a cozy corner. Love it!
    The Galley

    The Galley

    3.9
    (95 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    We decided to go here for lunch (no other options really available), and we are so glad we did!…read more Staff was amazing. Music was good and not too loud. We will be returning to try their dinner menu. We got to meet the chef and he signed his Ramen cookbook for us. We loved that we could take our pup with us (he stays in his stroller the entire time). If you only order 1 thing, make sure it's the Pork dumplings!!! Those were absolutely amazing! His ramen was delicious as well. The burger was good, but nothing to write home about. The fries were good!

    Could be a good place but at this point would not go back or recommend. Our server was friendly…read morebut did not check on us after being served. I had to catch her attention to ask for dessert. The total cost of our meal (without alcohol), was not the second issue. The two main entrees we ordered were. Two couples each split a meal because the description we were given was that it was a large portion. We and the other couple each ordered the $36 scallop and noodle meal. I can't remember the name of it but I believe it was the most expensive on the menu, maybe. I will say the restaurant was nice enough to split them ahead of time. However, our plates had the following... mine with two scallops and some noodles, my wife's with one scallop and some noodles. Our two friends received the same accordingly. The taste was wonderful but that meant a $36 entree had three scallops and not a lot of noodles; that is it. Perhaps I expect more than I should but I am not one to shy away from an expensive meal now and again. This I would expect from a high end restaurant but this is not a high end restaurant. Overall: Good tasting Poor follow up from waitress Way too much money for what you receive (especially this entree) ...doesn't matter who you are. The other items we ordered were , in my opinion, not terribly priced but somewhat still. Perhaps it is just Washington's crazies and the fact I am on an island but...???.... At this point I would give this place a 2 out of 5

    Photos
    Kid menu
    Kid menu
    Fish and chips
    Fish and chips
    The Galley

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    Friday Harbor Skybar-Anchors Away

    Friday Harbor Skybar-Anchors Away

    4.3
    (22 reviews)
    0.1 mi

    Our ship excursion to a wine tasting. This was the start of the season and we were the first and…read morethis was her first tasting of the season. and Albert were the ultimate . She first offered us a taste of the wine that she made. It was a rosé. This is a special wine since Bex was a winemaker who lost her vineyard in an earthquake. There were two surviving cases of rosé, and we got to taste from one of them. Needless to say it was a superb rosé. We were then offered an option of red or white. Our group chose the white and a sparkling wine., A Chardonnay, a rosé, and our choice. When I mentioned a specific wine that I liked, she was quick to offer me a tasting of that. It was a quite unexpected pleasure. Along with our wine, we were given a description of the vineyard and the specific attributes of-the wine. snacks of peanuts and a charcuterie were . The setting was $1 million view of the harbor. It's an experience I would

    Service was very poor. We were asked what we wanted, when we ordered, the person said ask the other…read moreserver. She served other tables who came after us. We ordered food, didn't even see it by the time we asked for our check. No apologies. The ambiance and the view are great. Otherwise, for a Saturday evening they were not prepared at all.

    Photos
    Celebrating all holidays -- this was Chinese New Year with Dim Sum night!
    Celebrating all holidays -- this was Chinese New Year with Dim Sum night!
    From the street
    From the street
    Double Rainbow Days are NOT uncommon

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    Double Rainbow Days are NOT uncommon

    Oystertale - tapasmallplates - Updated August 2026

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