Fantastic place right on the water Very friendly staff and fantastic food My wife had the breaded halibut and I did the coconut shrimp Both were very nicely presented and flavor was spot on If you're in this area do not pass this place by read more

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Good service Good food Our yacht club comes here once a year for our first outing of the year. read more

Great little place for lunch right on the river. Staff was very friendly and service was pretty prompt. Really enjoyed my chicken sandwich with the jerk seasoning and the Cajun waffle fries were nice and crunchy. My wife thought the tacos were good but didn't like the fry/seasoning on the okra. The mock/cocktails were really good and the key lime pie was a great way to finish off lunch. Definitely a great place to stop for lunch in Washougal. read more

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Been coming to this place for a while, and it's always really good. Their signature soup is well-seasoned and a bit spicy, which I like when a place just makes it the way they want. And they will warn you. Today, got a fish sandwich and my friend got the scallop basket. Very nicely fried on both dishes. Service is great and super friendly, as they welcome you in and check on you often. The only thing, which is not service-related, but more of an FYI, Ive come here in the past, and had to wait until all members of my party were there to be seated, which is fine, just plan on it, if still a thing, as it can get hot on the dock in summer. But always a cold glass of water is just one ask away. Can't beat the location and the view. Right in the water, and lots of boat activity to watch. Ramp can be a little steep sometime, so plan accordingly, but seems very ADA-accessible. read more

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We found out about this place from a local at the Pendleton Milll. What a treat! We were right down on the water, sat outside, loved it!! Our waitress was a sweetheart. He had grilled Halibut fish tacos I had Pork tacos. The Halibut in his tacos was huge! Really generous portion. He loved it. I loved mine too, the combo sounded odd for a taco , Pork, ginger, etc. but it was good!! We both don't like Okra so that went uneaten. Next time I would ask for a third taco hold the okra. The hibiscus iced tea was fire! Loved it and would definitely return if in Washougal again. read more

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Great little place. Found from another yelp review and not disappointed! The atmosphere is laid back, tons of quirky things to look at, food was good, will be back! Also if you're visiting and not from the area at all, be prepared for some amazing views of Mt Hood if you travel east from Vancouver! Great spot for pics of Mt Hood from the Puffin Cafe area as well! read more

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Another great experience at the Puffin. Great service, great ambiance, great food. The nachos were the crowning jewel of our experience. read more

The Puffin Cafe - Chicken Strips with Fried Okra and Tropical Slaw - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

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Loved this riverside restaurant! Servers were pleasant, there wasn't a wait, and I loved the Caribbean theme of the restaurant. Food was excellent, and the vibes were very calm and relaxing. A great experience! I especially loved the drop down treasure chest feature for the kids. read more

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DO NOT get their Mac and cheese. It's just noodles with shredded cheese on top. I try not to do negative reviews so when I do, it's for a reason. Service was very meh. Food was meh! The view was amazing, but I won't go back. read more

Party of six. Went there for the view drinks and food. Was told we cannot sit in the area with river view due to no tables. refused to sit us at the table that we requested with a view as they said it was reserved for eight people. The entire night that table sat empty while we're tucked away next to the entrance podium with no view. So unfortunate. The drinks were good. Which made up for the mediocre food. This has been the second time that I visited where they have declined to seat me at a requested area or table. read more

The Puffin Cafe - Empty tables while staff refused to see us there. Due to dinner rush. - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

Went to a private party here last Saturday night. It was a blast!!! The food and the service was amazing. Everyone who works there is super cool. I think I was best friends with all the staff by the end of the night. I tell you if you wanna have a private party on the water this is the place to have it at. I cannot wait to go back. read more

The Puffin Cafe - Get your grove on here!! - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

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I had two tasty shrimp tacos. Lots of shrimp. They were falling out the ends of the taco when I picked it up. Nice slaw on the taco. My date had the calamari and gobbled it down. The waitress was prompt in delivering our drinks and patient as we were meeting for the first time. We eventually decided on what to order. We got along so well that we were the last to leave. We had a short wait for a table. Hostess offered the bar and we chose to wait outside and begin getting to know each other. I would highly recommend this restaurant. I love the water and sitting right next to it was very nice! read more

Hustling and bustling spot on a sunny day. Bring your patience and be prepared to wait. Only one server for the whole space outside. Yet, on a sunny day it was fine to bask in the sun on the river. The food was delicious too! read more

We found this place by accident and it turned out to be a lot of fun and the food was great. Big portions. My brother had the fish and chips which were big and obviously freshly made not frozen food. I had the jerk shrimp salad which was very tasty. The drink menu has a carribean theme to them. The place is by the water, watch your step. We will return read more

Fun little place on the water and when I say little, I mean it. Seating is limited and mostly covered/inside, which is good to know if you're expecting to sit outside with a nice view. The servers and hostess were friendly and attentive. We got offered drinks while we waited for seating and which were brought out to us on the bench. That was really nice. Unfortunately, I can't recall what drinks we got. As for food, we had the salsa sampler and the guacamole. 1) House salsa - very mediocre 2) Blackberry - almost tasteless and I love blackberries 3) Black Bean - it was like a very blah pico with some black beans thrown in. Not what I would call a black bean salsa. All of them were disappointing. The guac, however, was fantastic. My friend and I devoured that. It was really good. read more

This place used to be a well kept secret so if you didn't launch your craft at the marina, don't have a vessel in one of the berths or didn't do a hard left rudder to make a stop while headed up the Columbia, you'd never know it was here. As others have noted, the food isn't all that great. The burgers and sandwiches are safe. The seafood can leave a lot to be desired. Prices are on the high side. The staff is consistently excellent. They have a small indoor eating area and a very small outdoor patio. I usually get a coffee and perhaps an appetizer and sit out on the dock to enjoy them in the sun watching the watercraft come and go. Can be very relaxing especially this time of year (Dead of Winter) when a warm-ish, sunny day comes along. The patrons are typically very friendly and I've had a lot of interesting conversations with strangers I've run into there over the years. You can probably tell that even though the food quality is lacking I really like and enjoy this place. read more

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Great service. Cute and cozy little restaurant on the Columbia River. It was very close to the hotel I was staying at. I can imagine how busy it gets here in the summer. Food was fresh and came out quickly. Fish tacos had huge pieces of fish. read more

The Puffin Cafe - Restaurant on the dock - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

Ahhhh. I love puffins. It's great in the summer , sitting on the water enjoying a cocktail. Coconut shrimp is tasty.

Just a bad experience for a $150 lunch for 5. First of all the kids meal was a $1 more than my burger, but it was bigger. Why such a big burger for a 5 year old. My burger was dry and I was looking for sauces to get a very well done burger down. For all of us The food lacked any flavor. Ordered a $13 BOWL of soup. Not sure what it should be called. There was no crab in it, and it was around $1 a spoonful. Needless to say for us this was a very bad choice. $150 for a terrible lunch. This for us is a very hard pass. read more

If you aren't aware of the Puffin Cafe, it's likely going to fly under your radar unless someone tells you about it, because it's kinda hard to find. This "floating" restaurant on the Columbia is nestled away at the Port of Camas & Washougal, and is surrounded by the marina, port authority, a boat launch, etc. The road that leads to it is more like a driveway for riverside businesses and warehouses, and parking utilizes spaces up the hill from the cafe, past the RV/boat trailer lot. However, this place is a real gem, and serves up a smorgasbord of spicy seafood with Calypso flair, honoring the cuisines and culture of the Caribbean in a humble riverside shack. We ducked in for a quick Happy Hour on the way home from Skamania Lodge. It was my wife's first visit, but she immediately fell in love with the location, decor and cuisine, so I know we will be back very soon. She remarked that it was "cute" and "romantic", and perfect for a date, either on a sunny afternoon, or on a moonlight night, when the passing riverboats, their lights twinkling like stars reflecting off the inky surface of the water, create a second sky that stretches across the horizon. As we were just in for a quick snack on the way home, we ordered a cup of the Calaloo Voodoo soup, which comes with a warning that guests should sample it before ordering, as it is quite spicy. Ignoring the warnings, as we often do, we dived right in, and absolutely loved it. Sort of a spicy seafood chowder, although the broth more water-based than cream based which, in our opinion, is a good thing, as this makes the soup light and tasty, not heavy and filling). The Cuban bread that accompanies it adds a little kick itself, but calling it bread is a little disingenuous, as the two pieces we received were more like croutons, but then again, we weren't looking for a fill-up, anyway. Still, that soup is really fantastic. We considered ordering a bowl to take home with us, but instead decided between us to just come back in the near future. Another place where the Puffin truly shines is in its selection of Caribbean-inspired cocktails...which means rum. A lot of rum. I like rum, so this is a good thing. If you're like-minded, you're gonna enjoy yourself here. I went easy on myself this time with a Cuba Libre (fancy rum and coke), but it's hard to resist the Execution Dock (Habanero + Pina Colada!), a Caribbean Screwdriver, or a nice hot Jamaican Coffee. For those who aren't big on rum, there are plenty of vodka cocktails & margaritas as well, but if you're ordering one of these, you belong on the mainland, landlubber! I have been to the Puffin before on several occasions, and every time I pass through along Highway 14, I remember how much I like it there, and that revelation usually means I'll be making a detour there again soon. Now that it's left an impression on my wife as well, I imagine this will occur with increased frequency. read more

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It's been a year since we've tried going back to the puffin once again,the manager lady is so rude,mean and nasty.thought maybe the owners would have fired her by now,but to our surprise she still works there.will never go back again until management and a few servers that act just like her are no longer employed there.too bad for this place,it's a great spot for food and atmosphere.but about 20 or so of us have had enough of here rudeness. read more

Puffin has an awesome vibe. It is located right on the water and the food is outstanding. Do you know when you have that meal that you keep thinking about... That is what you get at the Puffin Cafe. read more

Have not been here in forever! But I was hoping to find a nice place to take guests from out of town to dine on the water on this is a great spot To do just that! It's a small and quaint little place. But the food and service rocked! Wonderful place to people watch and enjoy a fun and relaxing summer dining experience. I had the coconut shrimp appetizer which was delicious and a little spicy! The kids loved the pirate that came from the ceiling to deliver their kids meal prize! read more

The Puffin Cafe - Coconut shrimp apprenticed - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

We just discovered this little gem. It has a fun, unique atmosphere with great views of the Columbia. The food is delicious and the service is great--friendly and professional. Plus, the prices are extremely reasonable. We look forward to many future visits! read more

The food is good, the atmosphere is awesome, but the drinks are very weak. Also, when offered a guacamole appetizer, be sure to ask if it's complimentary, like chips and salsa are at many restaurants, because it's not! Be sure to ask so you won't be surprised when you get your bill. Also, some of the staff are rude. read more

Still a favorite place after many years! Pork salad was amazing. My friends halibut sandwich was yummy and big! Great stop after a big hike! Service was very good. Always fun to be at a floating restaurant! read more

Was totally ignored when I i asked if i could sit with my dog on the deck area with food. When the waitress finally could be bothered to respond to my question after pretending to ignore me you would think I'd asked if I could perform a root canal. read more

We moved to this area 2 weeks ago and this is already our second time eating here. The staff are all super friendly! Luke was our server tonight and he did a great job. We had the voodoo soup and it is now our favorite! Halibut tacos we outstanding. Great atmosphere. read more

Great burgers , waffle fries and tacos. Service was also very good, and the ambiance can't be beat! It was a warm sunny day and it felt like I was back in Key West on the water read more

What a terrible experience my 3 girlfriends and I had at this restaurant on a beautiful day to celebrate one of our birthdays. During the pandemic, I've been generous in my reviewing and tipping especially of locally owned businesses. They need all the support they can get right now! I hadn't been to the Puffin in a decade due to very poor service. My friend picked it because of the unique atmosphere, right on the dock at the Washougal Port. We were seated in the sunshine, which was lovely. There were only a few tables occupied and it never appeared to get very busy. Our waiter did not take our order or check in with us for 40 minutes! Yes, I checked my watch. And then when we flagged him that we wanted to order, he nodded and didn't return. One of us had to get up and go ask for him to come out. When he did finally take our order, he missed one of the drinks, and had the wrong meat put on 2 of the 4 salads. He asked if we wanted him to take them back and get the correct meat and when my friend asked if it would take very long, he replied "probably." We had to ask where our chips and salsa were--we were getting hangry at this point! The food was mediocre. Three of us ordered the Jammin' salad, one with shrimp two with (accidental) jerk chicken. The other one of us ordered the halibut salad. You would think he might comp something due to all of the delay and mistakes. Nope! We paid $136 for our lunch for four. I will not be returning to the Puffin Cafe. If you're hopping off your boat and looking for a leisurely time, this may be a good fit. read more

Great ambiance, literally on the water. Enjoyed the halibut tacos, both fried and grilled. Not sure why people don't like the okra. I though it was good read more

Oh man...what a hole in the wall...or hole in the dock gem Puffins is. All the feels of a dive, all the service of a family like staff, food is outstanding (the habanero soup is off the hook...but not for the sensitive palate). Highly recommend a window seat on a last Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening. You can enjoy your food while watching tipsy families load their boats....its like watching divorces happen live. Pure entertainment! read more

Delicious margarita. Can't go wrong with anything and the view is fabulous. On a warm day what a treat. Almost feels like I'm in the islands. read more

Sunny, perfect day for an afternoon snack! Calamari was tender and delightful and enjoyed the paradise slaw too read more

The Puffin Cafe - Calamari - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

Visited The Puffin Cafe last weekend- what a great experience! The cocktails were fun and well made. We had a few different burgers between all of us in the group- very good! Highly recommend trying the pineapple horseradish. Rainbow was our server, she was attentive, fun, and just great all around The decor is on point for a dockside eatery- very cute! Definitely recommend read more

Such a fun place to eat! The Puffin Cafe is right on the boat docks on the water and it is a lot of fun watching the boats go out and come in. The restaurant decorations are fun and it's just a cool atmosphere to eat in. Great customer service. The food was ok - just lacked a lot of flavor, so that is why it is only 4 stars. Everything else was great though! read more

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I love the ambiance. It's on the river. Big windows to look outside while having your food. Burgers are good. The other seafood is good as well. They go through a lot of people. Probably busy during summer and not so much during winter season. But I'd eat there. read more

The rating for this friendly cafe depends on your avoidance or acceptance of fried foods, non spicy foods, and iceberg lettuce. I think I'll save my high calorie meals for the nachos--they looked amazing and had a generous serving of pulled pork on top. I am compelled to spotlight the delicious margarita I enjoyed while waiting for our table. I would have had a second one with lunch, but it was strong without being overpowering--one was definitely enough. I really liked the organized host who seemed completely at ease with the gathering crowd. She communicated well--and everything she set our expectations to matched our experience. Three cheers for that. Alas, I had a salad that didn't measure up. My husband's jerk chicken sandwich and waffle fries were meh but not awful or negligent. The service was friendly, organized and added to our positive experience. This cafe is cute, clean and well tended. The food that we had on our first visit just wasn't very good. We'll be back, however, for the awesome drinks and those nachos. read more

The Puffin Cafe - Jerk sandwich - Caribbean Near Me - Washougal, Washington

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Food is good but not great. We eat here 6 to 8 times a year and enjoy the location. My biggest complaint is the lady that seats you can be so rude. I believe she is the manager but the last time I went there, she wanted to argue with me. I just stood there smiling but would not engage. Every time she is there, she always gives people such a hard time. Not sure I want to go back and put myself through that again. Sad how one person can ruin such a nice place. read more

Must have had a bad cook and server the day we were there. Hard to find, hard to get to once you park.