First of all, this is a dive bar. Don't expect posh. Second, it's a hang out for locals. Lots of banter between friends. Every now and then you hear the click of pool balls slamming into one another. Vintage rock plays in the background. Easy going vibe. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a glass of wine and two entrees--cod fish & chips and a BLT with avocado. This isn't a joint for organic froo-froo or hoity-toity cuisine (I like that stuff, too). It's a bar that serves grub and frankly, the grub was good. Just what we craved on a dreary afternoon. We'll be back. read more

One of the better in Birch for food! Big serving and the chowder was one of the best I've had! Husband's dinner .cobb salad and I had the wings! Both were delicious! We usually come here for breakfast but decided to give dinner a try glad we did. read more

My first review still stands ON THE RESTAURANT PORTION BUT....the Bar with it's very UNHAPPY HOUR is Shameful. "Discount" almost nothing. Pretty sure not ONE DROP of ALCOHOL in that nasty water downed flavorless Vodka Cran. You could tell just looking at it that it was weak. Mostly ice. Anne, WHY? You could have been very well tipped but those drinks were awful. Never again. read more

The Shores Restaurant - Nasty flavorless no alcohol. "Vodka Cran" Ha...never again - Seafood Near Me - Birch Bay, Washington

The food here is horrible. We ordered clams, ribs and chowder. . There was sand in the clams, the chowder was cold and ribs undercooked. I asked to speak to the manager and he wouldn't even come out to talk to us. There were 4 other tables in the restaurant on a Saturday night They took 25% off the clams. We live in Birch Bay and I'll make sure others know this place is horrible. read more

My hubs had the burger with bacon and Draft Amber. The fries were really good (I stole a few). I had the salmon w mashed potatoes and zucchini which was perfectly prepared. Usually zucchini is mush when you get it in a restaurant. The herbs & butter in the salmon were well balanced and flavorful tho the salmon we a little over done. I prefer salmon between medium rare and medium. Service: I have food allergies and the server was good at calling out anything I might not be able to eat as I asked about some of the ingredients. And she accommodated my switch from the 5 grain side since it had one of my allergens. The mashed potatoes were creamy and a nice compliment to my meal. We ordered their Apple cobbler and ice cream to go. It was really good. Hit the comfort food spot w oatmeal topper and just the right amount of cinnamon with tender and juicy apples. Ambiance: we were there after dark and sat on the "water side" of the house. Meaning we were in a booth that had a view of birch bay. We could see lights twinkling around the bay. They had great music playing in the background and were really able to have a nice dinner date on our weekend away. read more

The Shores Restaurant - Salmon w mashed potatoes and zucchini - Seafood Near Me - Birch Bay, Washington

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We came to this place because CJs Restaurant screwed us over. Im glad that happened because this place ain't bad. We sat on the back patio because we had our dog with us. Environment was nice. They even offered us pillows and blankets if the seats were uncomfortable or we were cold. Waiter was nice, and despite being the only ones outside, the waiter took our order and was there for us pretty fast. Prices are not bad, and the food was pretty good. Not quite a 5 star establishment, but I would recommend this place. If you're staying in birch bay, skip CJs and come to Shores! read more

Very accommodating for my gluten and dairy free diet! The service was amazing! Food is excellent and so are the drinks! Make sure to stop by if you're ever in the area. read more

Love to go here for breakfast. Food is good and the service is wonderful. Keep up the good work

Was in today to sit on patio with my service dog..went to use restroom inside and as soon as inside a man yelled from barstool very loudly in front of everyone causing a scene "only service dogs allowed..get your paperwork ready!" I said back she is service dog then went to restroom..came back out and asked for check..paid..and left....I assume the disrespectful and unprofessional man was the owner..I will never be back and will tell everyone I know...especially my friends with service dogs...to avoid this place.... this could have been handled differently...but it was not ...waitress apologized for the owners behavior and for putting me on stage in front of everyone...she was nice but it does not change how he made me feel... it was my first time out in awhile...it ruined my day read more

So, camping in the area and my wife decided she wanted to go out for a salad at lunch time. After searching Yelp, I always do, I found this restaurant was the only one that had several types of salad, but the reviews weren't great. Glad we decided to try the restaurant. Although there was only one server she was outstanding ! No waiting to be seated, drinks were quick and the food was delicious ! Waited maybe 15 after we sat down for the food. 6 other groups beside us, so it was busy. read more

The Shores Restaurant - Chicken Bacon wrap, potato salad, side salad - Seafood Near Me - Birch Bay, Washington

I have come here twice this year so far. Sat at the bar both times and got food both times. I have yet to have a bad experience with service or food. But I did go with a "regular". The last time I went the person two seats down were a little rude as I was in "their seat" but that's not a reflection on the bar itself. Food was great, fantastic tasting, homemade beer battered fish with delish home made tartar sauce. Drinks are well made as well. Great location right on the water. Plenty of parking as well. Overall a good spot and I will be back! read more

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Been herr twice, first time we were seated and it took 30 minutes to get water, WATER! Then we didnt even get to order, we ended up leaving and going to bay breeze. Second time here we just ordered from bar, uneventful read more

Food is good service is great but the place can be very loud. Take a coat because the cheap one keeps the place cold he charges for card use has raised prices and cut back on the amount of achol served. It's going to have to warm up before we go back. read more

the biscuits tasted so processed and tasted like play doe and eggs tasted like they were microwaved for 30 seconds then threw on the plate. 0/10 read more

Food great, service great.... Owner needs to quit sitting and drinking and turn on the heat. Literally shaking with being cold

Quite good burgers, also the fish & chips are really good too. Great evening - beer, burgers and pull tabs! read more

We ordered out several orders of fries and one of fish and chips to eat at the Beach Cat brewery. We all agreed that fries were great and the fish was good. Not a 5 star since I can't judge the restaurant solely on this limited experience. I would recommend what we ate. Further research may change the rating. read more

The Shores Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Birch Bay, Washington

After a bike ride around the area, a group of us were looking for lunch in Birch Bay that would be tasty without breaking the bank. We spotted The Shores and decided to give it a shot. First off, service was consistently excellent. Really top notch. She was definitely good at her job, and an asset to the business. I'd go back just based on the service. The lunch menu offers what I'd call upgraded bar food at reasonable prices. The cod and chips had the two largest pieces of fish I've ever seen, and half of that went home. Similarly, a club sandwich was a double sandwich, two meals. I had a Philly wrap, which arrived piping hot, perfectly cooked, and very tasty. Everyone was quite happy with their food, and did I mention the service? Yep. Small place, some indoor seating, some outdoor. I can imagine it gets super crowded on weekends and other typically busy times. read more

I came here for a New Year's Eve party that was advertised and the bartender Carliwas dressed up, but nobody else. She's the only one working here and running so hard to keep up that we didn't even get the 9 o'clock countdown for New York. I was really disappointed. I dressed up and left another place to come here for the countdown. read more

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Food was fantastic, and service. Burger and seafood was had flavor!!! The views of the bays are nice.

terrible service would not recommend bar tender is not polite food took forever and beer was trash

A group of us came in on a super busy Labor Day weekend evening and I must say the waitress who had been there busting her butt all day was so nice and she deserves a raise. We had to split up into two tables and even with our big group she did a fantastic job. Most of us had burgers and we even had some fresh oyster shooters which were tasty. Hopefully more people give this place a shot. read more

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Everything sucks about this place! The owner is rude! The food is gas station food! The service is slow! The bathrooms are dirty, not welcoming at all!!! Been in there multiple times and same story. Not many palace to choose from in Birch Bay, but make this your last choice! read more

So I can't really review the food because we came in it says seat yourself nobody acknowledged us or came to our table so we ended up leaving walking a block down the road to the Beach Cat I had my dog with me and an underage child I was able to order from the bar a few beers and sit there and order food next-door. Very happy that we got up and left this restaurant. read more

Straight JUNK Rude service staff Gross microwave and precooked frozen food they deep fried in an attempt to make edible. If you want to be treated terribly and eat gas station quality food this is the place for you. read more

We love the Shores. Jo and the crew always take such good care of us. It's a welcoming place and we are truly blessed to have such a wonderful meeting place to catch a sunset . We have been regular patrons since we moved here to Birch Bay and they always treat us like family. I think that's an extremely rare thing in todays busy world. read more

I've been eating here regularly, several times a week, for 18 months. Some of the one star reviews occurred around the time of bad storms, flooding, blown out windows and COVID maniacal regulation changes by the county. This wonderful establishment is a local favorite and the staff work hard make your dining experience extra enjoyable. The food is creative, consistent and tasty. Pricing is nicely affordable for both lunch and dinner. Good selection of draft beers and ciders. The view of the bay is lovely. read more

My favorite dive bar! Yummy fish n chips and burgers. The view is nice and the servers are all lovely and do a great job. It does need a décor update. Some paint and new booths would be nice. read more

So I was basically scared to try this place after reading other reviews but because so few of them were from people who had done more than 5 reviews I thought I'd be brave & try it. Hubby & I were staying at the Sandcastle Resort & just wanted to grab an appetizer & a beer & watch the Sounders game. We arrived at approximately 7:25 & grabbed a table in front of one of their many big flat screen TV's. We were quickly offered water & menus. We decided on nachos pretty quickly. They were pretty good. Not exceptional but better than others I've had. Small amount of sour cream & salsa served with. We needed more. About 10 beers on tap to choose from & we both went with Sierra Nevadas. Service was fine. No major problem except that when hubby went to cash in pull tabs the waitress took away his 1/4 full beer glass without asking if he was done. She apologized & gave him another. Would return again to try something else & might upgrade rating if it's a good visit. read more

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I would never eat here again if you want free food poisoning this is the place to eat! you would be better off pulling the food out of your freezer and nawing on it. On top of that the waitress Norma talk about anger management she should probably get a reality check! Yelling at us and breaking plates behind the bar because we asked her to take our food back and do her job! if I could give a zero rating I would. read more

Honestly I should know better but I thought we would try them again! Zero customer service It was truly a painful experience ( again) ! The waitress didn't want our business so we left and went across the street! The same thing happened years ago so I should not be upset! read more

Ate here three days in a row and had nothing but the best food. Small town, great food and atmosphere. Family feel and very inviting. Met many of the locals and they were all so friendly. Will definitely be back! read more

I had lunch at Shores on May 27. I ordered deep fried oysters and fries. In 2 hours I started to have horrible stomach pain and diarrhea, that lasted until noon next day. I had to take medication to stop it. This evening our family was invited to dinner, and I was just sitting there and could not eat. The hostess was upset. read more

Excellent! We were a company of 25 staying at Birch Bay State Park, and looking for a lunch spot with a view. We were seated on a sunny patio overlooking the bay. The waiters were super fast and very friendly. The restaurant Owner Bob came out to great us and personally brought seating pillows for everyone. Draft amber was excellent and friends who had wine got very generous servings for just 7.50 a glass. My husband had fried halibut and fries and raved how juicy the halibut came out. I had steamed clams with fresh lemon slices and bruschetta was delicious. We had a great time. Highly recommend! read more

The Shores Restaurant - Steamed clams. - Seafood Near Me - Birch Bay, Washington

Don't bother! Food is tasteless and extremely greasy. Out waitress went home early as she was ill. From then on we were on our own, even though there was another waitress AND the manager was sitting there watching football on TV. Our bill was wrong. Not worth it!!! read more

Food here is very good. Dining experience is quite casual. Employ are very hard working. This place is a hidden gem, indeed. The owner is very approachable and attentive. Great experience. read more

We recently moved to Birch Bay and have spent the last few weeks checking out the local watering holes and grills here. We've been to The Shores twice and both visits were terrible at best. The only thing on the menu worth purchasing is the beer. Probably because it comes from a tap and no skilled work is required. Burger: Both burgers we had were made of old frozen hamburger patties that were burned to a crisp. McDonald's makes a much better burger. The onion rings and fries were OK. 10 steps away is "The Beach" restaurant and they make an awesome burger so we won't be back to "The Shores." Salad: The cobb salad is edible but not much better than that. Just OK. Service: Horrible. I complained about the burger and the server (Crystal) but she didn't credit the bill. Rather than gripe at her I just made the determination that we won't ever go back. I only took one bite and tossed it back on the plate. Oh well. Maybe it's difficult to find good help in a small town. Prices: Beers were $6.50 which is pretty high for Birch Bay and the burger was $12. That's really expensive for crap that would be better from a vending machine at 7-11. Suggestions: Close down the business and sell it to someone who cares about their food and service. We live here and would rather drive to Bellingham than eat at "The Shores" again. Terrible place. read more

sooooooo rude! They do not care if you are served! They only care about their customers that are playing pull tabs! Do not waste your time & money on thus place. read more

We were hesitant to try this place because of some of the negative reviews, but were pleasantly surprised! It's a sports bar atmosphere and we visited during a seahawk game. The waitress was awesome. Prompt, helpful and gave us good recommendations and attention. We had fish and chips, chowder. It was great and not a long wait. The only criticism is that the server was overworked!!! Total hustler though. read more

Walked in around 720pm and was rushed to hurry and order because the kitchen was closing even though they close at 8pm. The waiter told us the cook was mad because we came in late. Granted we out of town and there to vacation at birch bay. So we didn't know the restaurant closed at 8pm in the first place so the experience was not great for the first time there. read more