Cancel

Open app

Search

The Puffin Cafe

3.4 (250 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated a few days ago

The Puffin Cafe Photos

THE PUFFIN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

You might also consider

More like The Puffin Cafe

Recommended Reviews - The Puffin Cafe

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Scallops!
Kate O.

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.

View from the parking lot
Tiffany S.

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.

Coconut Shrimp, a little spicy but delicious
Kelly G.

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!

Chicken Strips with Fried Okra and Tropical Slaw
Mac M.

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

View
Katie H.

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.

Empty tables while staff refused to see us there. Due to dinner rush.

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.

Get your grove on here!!
Robert K.

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.

a view of boats docked in the harbor
Frank J.

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.

Restaurant on the dock
Sandy N.

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.

a view of a dock with boats
Jason V.

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.

Coconut shrimp apprenticed

See all

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Mac M.
0
187
444

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ray G.
1
136
20

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jason V.
239
1463
25730

5 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

10 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1
Photo of Jim W.
3
25
2

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kristin F.
12
186
1538

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Joan F.
249
1210
1645

8 years ago

Helpful 8
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0
Photo of Sue R.
13
10
0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

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

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 7

Ask the Community - The Puffin Cafe

You might also consider

Washougal Times - Cup of soup

Washougal Times

4.0(137 reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

They serve breakfast/brunch on the weekends so we stopped here for breakfast. Their…read morebreakfast/brunch menu is small but with enough variety & some unique options there's something for everyone. Portions were huge, too, and we each ended up taking half our breakfast home. We had the Morning Tots and the Chicken Fried Steak - both hearty & delicious. Their breakfast gravy is unique in that it's made with elk sausage, and there was quite a bit of meat in the gravy we had with our meals. They have a lunch & dinner menu that bigger & looks great, too, so I'd like to come back to try that as well. Service was friendly and quick. You either order at the bar or use your phone & QR code at your table to order online. It's a HUGE bar, with lots of seating inside & outside on a big patio with a fire pit. I love how they have old photos of the area & people on the walls, even in the restrooms. They are a country bar, so expect country music to be playing, if that matters to you. They also have live music on certain days, so check out their Instagram for details. There are several big flatscreen TVs with various sports on as well.

Plenty of parking, very welcoming staff as well! Option to order/pay via app which my friends and I…read moredid. I ordered the meat loaf with baked potato and salad, the meatloaf was SO GOOD! The lemon pesto salad dressing was SO GOOD too! Food came out quick and hot! My friend got the prime rib with mashed potatoes, they did say mashed potatoes were lacking in flavor. My baked potato's toppings were minimal, when you get it loaded, I expect loaded. Prime rib was good, but the table said my meatloaf was their favorite. We also got jalapeño popper dip as an appetizer, came with roasted red pepper "dip" as well, which I really liked. Oh the Rumplemints hot cocoa was my favorite drink of all time! Country music on, wasn't so loud we couldn't hear eachother or talk, definitely liked the vibe of this place.

Photos
Washougal Times - Crazy people

Crazy people

Washougal Times - Windy River Original Burger!

Windy River Original Burger!

Washougal Times

See all

Feast At 316 - Bread pudding

Feast At 316

4.0(680 reviews)
1.2 mi
$$$

Talk about a hit for the little town of Camas!…read more We stumbled upon the Feast for my birthday a couple months ago... it immediately became a favorite. First, let's talk about their drink game. I'm a gin martini guy and they know how to put a smile on my face! Their bartenders are excellent. My partner loves their wine selection. He even strayed to trying their whisky recently and enjoyed that, as well! Second, their food well portioned and beautifully presented. My first meal there was a beautifully roasted chicken with a potato side... absolutely delish! My second time they weren't offering that special so I ordered the chicken off the standard menu. It was fine but one could venture to say that maybe they're heavy with the sauce. I like a more natural presentation of food without all the sauce fuss. Nonetheless, it was decent. My partner has ventured all over their menu and has been pleasantly pleased with all his choices. Lastly, I will rebut the other reviews of "reservations, had to wait, empty tables, blah blah blah"... nonsense. Our first experience we did not have a reservation. This is a small establishment and they staff for the night / crowd they expect... part of that algorithm is how many reservations they have. Yes, there may be empty tables but they also will seat you when they have the staff available to serve you. We'll even go farther to say, we personally prefer not being pushed out of our table so they can turn-and-burn for a tip. They take their time, they give you time to converse and enjoy. They aren't pushy, they move at a timed and rhythmic pace to allow for a good and enjoyable experience. Food is excellent, service is stellar, price is appropriate for the quality and ambiance. We can't recommend this place enough. For those who are just poking around to write a negative review, shame on you. This is a great little gem in Camas. We should take some local pride and lift up our locally owned restaurants. We highly recommend and look forward to returning!

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary with a dinner at Feast at 316. It was our first time…read moreto eat at the restaurant. We ordered their Caesar salad, the 14 oz strip steak, and the crispy potatoes with monkey gland sauce along with a bottle of wine. We split everything since their prices were not really in our budget. The Caesar salad was a bit of a disappointment since it was very skimpy for the price. It also really did not meet our expectations of what we expected a Caesar salad to be. The Romaine lettuce was limp and not even torn into smaller pieces. The salad contained as many tomatoes as it had lettuce. There were not any croutons nor was there any anchovy, The dressing tasted too lemony. The cheese was not Parmesan, but some other soft cheese. Our steak was cooked to perfection and plenty big enough for us to split. The steak has been cut into strips to make it easier to divide between us. It was served with a creamy white sauce which was rich and tasty. The potatoes were not crispy as they were described on the menu, but soft as if they had only been steamed. The monkey gland sauce was not to our liking. (The name of the sauce was not even appetizing.) We didn't think the sauce paired well with the potatoes, so we left most of them on the serving plate. We asked for bread and were brought some wonderful bread containing Kalamata olives drizzled in olive oil and served with pepper sprinkled butter. It was absolutely delicious! Our server brought us some extra bread after we told her we did not care for the potatoes. She claimed that those potatoes were fried and crispy, but she did take them off of our bill. The service at Feast at 316 was excellent from start to finish. The ambience inside of the restaurant was really nice too. The brick walls were decorated with historic photos and relics. There are even old movie seats at the entrance of the restaurant which came from the Liberty Theater in Camas. It's an expensive place to eat since the menu items are Ala carte. We ordered the least expensive red wine on their wine list and it was $60, but it was a very nice Zinfindel! The salad and the potatoes did not live up to our expectations, but everything else did.

Photos
Feast At 316 - Early industrial vibes intensify

Early industrial vibes intensify

Feast At 316 - Perfect porterhouse with amazeballs potatoes

Perfect porterhouse with amazeballs potatoes

Feast At 316 - Smokey Muskoge

See all

Smokey Muskoge

The Cove - California Benedict

The Cove

4.3(502 reviews)
11.3 mi
$$$

We came in for the Social Hour and got a table by the windows in the bar. The view across the river…read morewas perfect to watch while we ate. The duo of bartenders covering the area did an awesome job (thank you guys!). I tried a draft cider and we got an order of coconut prawns to start. Not only were the prawns delicious, the slaw they came on was soooo tasty. We both tried the social hour burgers. We got them with double patties and fries. The burgers were cooked beautifully and the seasoning really worked well. The fries were a perfect crisp golden brown and they were salted well. I got some garlic aioli, so so so good! Great service, great venue, great food!

Stopped in for our 4th or 5th visit to celebrate my wife's birthday last Friday night April 17th…read more.. The Cove has always been a great choice in the past for special dinners/occasions. Unfortunately this time, we left very disappointed. My wife has a sensitivity to spicy foods. Upon ordering appetizers for the table, we asked if any of them (that had a spicy description on the menu) had the option to have the sauce on the side. She proceeded to ask how the scallops were and went ahead with that order. There was absolutely no description of having any spicy component on the menu nor any mention by the server. Upon her first bite of the risotto, she went into a severe coughing fit :( I tasted it and acknowledged how spicy it was. She proceeded to just eat the scallops. We were mostly done when the waiter came to check on us ... My wife asked if the dish is typically spicy. Response was "oh yes" ... It was completely lost on us why he wouldn't have mentioned that to her upon ordering knowing how she questioned the appetizers. His offer at this point was a new meal .. which was nice but we were mostly done. There really wasn't much in the way of sincerity beyond that. It seems the right thing to have done was offer my wife (celebrating her birthday) who didn't enjoy her meal ... maybe a comp'd drink or maybe a dessert (no acknowledgment of her birthday at all. When you spend north of $300 ... Disappointing to say the least. Upon leaving, I decided to just express my concern to the hostess and suggested adding the spice level of this specific entree to the menu. I reaffirmed my wife didn't get to fully enjoy her meal. I received a lukewarm "thanks for letting us know." The worst part of the whole experience was a manager/owner type was a few steps behind her, made eye contact and was fully aware i had an issue and made absolutely no attempt to come over and address the complaint. I no longer blame the waiter for his lack of concern knowing it flows from the top. We all go out and spend top dollar at nice restaurants for good food but also, for service and the experience. The restaurant has been opened awhile and maybe is established enough where this isn't as much of a priority as it was early on. In contrast, we went out the night before to a more established fave restaurant of ours in Portland (Ava Genes). Had an incredible meal, incredible experience, and uber attentive service. They even went the extra mile and made a big deal that we chose them to celebrate. Ended our evening with a simple complimentary scoop of gelato/candle. It was a nice touch. Certainly didn't mind spending the $$$ for that evening. I wouldn't dissuade anyone from trying The Cove if they've never been (I'm hopeful they just had a bad night) ... but there are so many good choices out there, it will most certainly make us think twice before going back.

Photos
The Cove - Kitchen

Kitchen

The Cove - Gnocchi dish, very good!

Gnocchi dish, very good!

The Cove - Cloudy view of the Columbia River

See all

Cloudy view of the Columbia River

The Puffin Cafe - caribbean - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...