What a truly lovely dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]From the moment we walked in, the dining room felt warm, charming, and inviting--exactly what you hope for on a special night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service was attentive and genuine without ever feeling overbearing, which made the evening feel relaxed and memorable. The menu was exceptional, and every dish we tried was absolutely delicious--thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. It's rare to have a meal where everything impresses, but this was one of those times. We came here to celebrate a birthday during a getaway to Lopez Island, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. So glad we chose this spot--highly recommend to anyone visiting the area! read more

Ursa Minor - View from the dining room - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

Do yourself a favor and come have dinner here if you're visiting Lopez Island. All the food was exceptional and the staff very friendly and attentive. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dining room has an intimate feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not really a lot of seats so I recommend a reservation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Everything was amazing. read more

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My wife and I are currently on vacation and decided to visit Ursa Minor for what we hoped would be an enjoyable evening out. Overall, the experience had some strong points, but unfortunately ended on a disappointing note. We opted for the "Chef's Choice" menu, which included four starters and two shared plates. The starters were the Deviled Eggs, Salt Cod Fritters, Chicken Meatballs, and Cold Fried Chicken. The shared plates were the Fermented Potato Gnocchi and Cedar Plank Steelhead, followed by the Sweet Cream Panna Cotta for dessert. The highlights of the meal were definitely the Deviled Eggs, Chicken Meatballs, and especially the Cedar Plank Steelhead, which was excellent. The remaining dishes, including the dessert, were just ok in our opinion. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience of the restaurant was very enjoyable[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and overall service throughout most of the evening was good. Unfortunately, the experience changed when I was denied a glass of wine after having only one cocktail during the entire evening. It is very customary for my wife and I to enjoy a cocktail before dinner and then have a glass of wine with our meal when dining at a nicer restaurant, so the situation was genuinely surprising. I completely understand and respect the responsibility restaurants have when it comes to alcohol service, and I appreciate the need to err on the side of caution. However, I had not been drinking prior to dinner and was genuinely surprised by the assumption that I appeared impaired. What made the situation frustrating was less the denial itself and more the feeling of being unfairly judged despite remaining respectful throughout the interaction. While I respect the restaurant's discretion, the manner in which it was handled negatively impacted the experience. The waitress did mention that this was only her second weekend working there, which may have played a role in the assessment and handling of the situation. In all honesty, this was one of the strangest dining experiences I have had in my life because it was so unexpected and out of line with the rest of the evening. For a meal totaling around $200, with a 20% gratuity automatically included, it unfortunately left us feeling disappointed at the end of what otherwise could have been a nice evening. I'm sharing this feedback not to create conflict, but because the experience left us feeling disappointed and uncomfortable by the end of the evening. read more

Ursa Minor - Deviled Eggs - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

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What an amazing meal and evening. I made reservations for bar seating which was good since the town is pretty full for TDL. From the moment we sat down, Nova welcomed and took care of us. We ordered the Chef Experience - each course (6 including dessert) was outstanding. She paired each course with a half pour of very unique wines from all over. We had a hard time choosing our favorite dish. The staff all work together seamlessly to provide a delightful dining experience. Thank you! read more

Ursa Minor is an incredible restaurant. Anyone visiting the San Jaun Islands should pay special attention and get a reservation to Lopez Island's wonderful locally sourced establishment (I assume locals are well aware). We were so impressed by the cocktail program, which we learned does not feature citrus as it is not local to the PNW. No worries because the N/A bev I had was next level good. The coulotte beef steak with potatoes and black garlic was the best steak I have ever had in my life. The fermented potato mini gnocchis were phenomenal and the bowl was plentiful. Trust that dinner and service here will be one to remember! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Also the space itself is beautiful with an exposed beams roof and cool mini store of food treats you can take home with you![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Ursa Minor - Beet salad with apples and blue cheese - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

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At a local eatery, I ran across a couple who mentioned their son revered this place. A couple running their own restaurant. Great at the start, problem was I was there the weekend before. My conversation with the waitress (who was beyond polite) I do not do much fish and no gizzards. I settled on soup, bread and salad. The menu, check it out before you go, but it is a chefs entitlement on an island where that doesn't work. Maybe roche harbor or no nothing in anacortes. If you like the menu go. What they serve is good. What they offer is weird and expensive.. read more

My highlight of the weekend in Lopez Island is this restaurant. I made a reservation for Sunday 5pm to allow ample time to enjoy the dinner before taking the 8:20pm back to Anacortes, and it was not too busy. I've had my eyes on this restaurant for over a year and I'm so glad to have made a visit here. We ordered various dishes, all of them standing out in its own way - Barn Owl bread with toasted yeast butter - when in Lopez Island, got to check out Barn Owl which is a really nice bakery. They toasted the bread nicely and the yeasted butter is quite creamy and a little cheesy. - Broth of land and sea - combination of chicken and seaweed broth, nicely priced at $4. Good sipping broth and they give you a heads up it's really hot so it accommodates people that prefer very hot broth or wait to let it cool down to warm - Albacore tuna - a bit pricey relatively for the portions but it is a seared tuna with koji. If you're not hungry, this is a nice dish to start - Fermented potato gnocchi - the gnocchi here is likely pan fried, adding extra flavor on top of the delicious pesto and ricotta sauce. The gnocchi is of al dente texture, and it's a good experience to try out a dish that's not as commonly prepared - Broiled black cod - large piece of cod, a bit sweet. The peas and radish and kimchi in the dish was decent, dwarfed in quality compared to the cod. The cod was perfectly smooth and had nice texture. Just watch out for the small bones (there weren't too many) - Strawberries and rhubarb - it's a crispy tart and the fruit is super fresh. I love this so much We also got an orange wine that paired quite well with the dishes and the bourbon foam drink that was okay. I think the focus is 100% on the food and wine. I wish they had more wines by the glass, but understandable since the food menu itself is also quite small to focus on quality over quantity. While there's a 20% automatic gratuity, the servers here deserve it. Water refills were frequent, they check up on you regularly, they swap plates for clean ones in between some courses, and even wipe the table between entree and dessert service. These are nice touches expected for a nice restaurant, but that are not always done at restaurants of this caliber. If I make a visit back to Lopez Island, I will definitely come back here to try more dishes! read more

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Ursa is our most favorite restaurant in all of the islands! We are so grateful for their thoughtfulness in how they think about and approach food- from the truly local ingredients to the creative flavor combinations that awaken the palate in a completely new way. It's a very special experience and one we cannot recommend enough. read more

One of the best dining experiences of my life! I look forward to coming here every summer we visit Lopez. The food is excellent, the drinks are delicious, and the service is superb. Not to mention, it is just the most gorgeous little spot--especially sitting outside under the billowing green veranda. Everything glows. It's all farm to table and the highest quality. Like food has never tasted this good--I didn't even like beets until I came here and tried what beets are supposed to taste like. I seriously dream of this food. They accommodated my gluten and dairy allergies with ease and our server was extremely knowledgeable of the menu. I also never felt like I was missing out. We've had incredible oysters here before, as well as mixed greens on top of prosciutto, gorgeously dressed beets, and a steak to write home about. The latest time we came, we ended ordering two more servings of the chili crisp snap peas because they were so dang good. They also have so many great sips to choose from, including a great non-alcoholic variety. Their housemade shrub is a favorite amongst my group. Lastly, they do a pop up on Mondays when the full restaurant is closed--Polaris. One of the best burgers of my life and my husband said the fried chicken sandwich was very tasty, as well as the corn cookie and fries. Seriously--everything is amazing. You cannot go wrong here. This is the sort of place you should go out of your way to make it to. I cannot wait to come back! read more

My husband and I are on a vacation a d Ursa Minor was recommended to us by our cottage and campground owners. We had the most wonderful time and felt cared about by various servers and other employees. The food, from the chicken meatballs to the black cod, smelts and radishes, and potato gnocchi was extraordinary in its flavors, use of herbs and presentation ! Dessert , a layered puff pastry with rhubarb , strawberries and cream, was delectable and just delicious! We plan to return as soon as we can get back here! read more

Ursa Minor--where your dining experience is elevated! As a connoisseur of not-so-fine dining, this was certainly an experience out of my comfort zone. Coming here was not my choice, and I can't say I wasn't skeptical of this place when I saw the menu. But it was certainly a good experience! It's been a while since I've experienced such complex flavors in each bite. read more

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My husband and I went to Lopez island for our baby moon and made reservations here a few days ahead of time. It has a great location in Lopez island village. We got there about 30 minutes early because we thought we would walk around the area a little bit, but all of the businesses were closed (welcome to Lopez island!), So we went inside and asked if we could get seated early or sit at the bar. There were plenty of open tables but they could not accommodate us because they had just sat several tables. Now that might seem like a bad thing, but I actually appreciated this because it means that they do not try to rush customers through or make them wait because their servers or kitchen are behind. Once we were seated at our reserved time, our waiter was very attentive and was helpful in picking out drinks and dishes with minimal sugar because I had just found out that I had gestational diabetes. All of the dishes were excellent! We tried a variety of different small plates and were especially impressed with the quality of the vegetables and the tenderness of the meats. If we are ever back on Lope island, we will definitely be.coming here to eat! read more

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On Lopez again for a couple nights, made reservations for an early dinner at Ursa Minor not knowing anything about it. Wow, what a pleasant surprise! The spinach, potatoes and flower petals under my steak coullotte were more flavorful than the steak itself, which was also very good. That's really saying something since I don't like spinach! My wife's tuna was beautifully prepared, and the bread was fantastic. House made shrubs used in my cocktail were fresh and perfectly paired with the shot of gin and ice. The service was wonderful, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance and view, fantastic.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We left with a rare 10-year-old bottle of Pino Noir produced with grapes grown on the island and purchased from the restaurant store. We will be back! read more

Wow. Just wow. What a creative, fresh, and unique gem, located on Lopez Island. If Ursa Minor were located in Seattle, I can imagine their reservations being booked out for months. Their menu may seem limited at first, but include a well curated selection of seasonal dishes. All of the dishes we ordered felt homemade, homegrown, and truly unique to Ursa Minor. Our favorite was the Pickled Potato Gnocchi with Squid and Kimchi (blurry photo below). It was so good that we ordered a second serving. According to our server, today is the last day of the season they plan to serve the dish. The dessert was a Garden Herb Ice Cream served with Blueberries and a Cornmeal Cookie. It was an excellent finale to the night, leaving us with a minty pallete cleanse. The ambiance is bright, airy, and very modern. Flowers at every table, picked from their garden, which you can see out the window. 10/10 would come back again. read more

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only eaten here once but been dying to get back to ursa minor soon! the food is some of the best in the state and nick & nora have collaborated to make a truly unique restaurant. i have never felt so taken care of in a dining room. [[HIGHLIGHT]]everything was so beautiful[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. worth traveling to. 10/10/10/69 read more

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I have enjoyed many meals at Ursa Minor, take out on Polaris nights, and bahn mi for lunch. Ursa Minor provides Lopez Island residents and visitors with a dining experience to celebrate special occasions or to enjoy a fabulous cocktail and incredible food anytime. I've done both! The service is welcoming and attentive. I walk into Ursa Minor and know I will say multiple times, "This is so good!" read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Fantastic food, great ambiance and knowledgeable servers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This is a not miss meal on Lopez -- we make reservations as soon as we plan a visit to the island. Thank you for many memorable meals. read more

My husband and I had our second dinner at this beautiful gem of a restaurant. It was a rainy, chilly night on gorgeous Lopez Island, and we sat at a corner table as the rain pelted the windows. We ate seasonal spiced squash, a carefully crafted local salad, and the most amazing chicken dish- I wish I knew more about French cuisine, but the chicken had been pounded, seasoned, and re-rolled into its crispy skin again. Magnificent. Thank you Ursa Minor for an awesome memory!! read more

Update - Thank you for your reply Nick you're clear you don't make adjustments and the customer doesn't matter. As I said YOUR policies are what matter to YOU. That doesn't change the fact that our meal was mediocre at best and our expectations were not met. We had a fantastic time and had two absolutely fabulous meals cooked by my husband he could teach you a thing or two if you ever would like some tips. I wish you and Ursa Minor good luck in the service industry read more

Staff is kind and welcoming, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the atmosphere is relaxing and place-based[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the food is thoughtful and delicious. read more

We stayed on Lopez for two nights and Ursa Minor was the only option on the first night other than the Islander (not on our list at all) and the grocery store. We ordered from the limited take out menu a local albacore tuna cheeseburger, a beet salad, some Dram soda, and Ghia aperitif non-alcoholic soda. The tuna was a solid steak of tuna and perfectly cooked. The star of the show was the beet salad - the absolute best beet salad I've ever had. I'm also on the search for Dram at home - have not found a vendor yet. It was like a full-bodied version of the light sodas that have become so trendy lately. i sure hope to be able to get some here. The aperitif Ghia was a fun experience as well - set the palette for the wonderful food to come. I can't imagine how good the full menu must be! Thank you for saving our evening and being open Ursa Minor :D read more

Really delicious food at this restaurant and great service. We ordered - the bread with rabbit paté - The crab with jalapeño - Poached Cod - Grilles Leeks - Rabbit Sausage - Trio of house made ice cream The restaurant is set right near the water has some interesting cocktails and a menu of local spirits and wine for sale too. Definitely a must-do when on Lopez island! read more

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This dinner felt like an 8 course experience! All the dishes were excellent starting with the wood fired bread with brown butter then moving on to the beet salad, then the kuri squash, followed by the cauliflower, salmon, chicken and ended with the hay ice cream. Wow! Our top two favs were the beets and the cauliflower but every dish was awesome. The sauces were unique and spectacular with every dish - blend them all together for the full culinary effect! I usually don't like kombucha but the lavender kombucha was so good! We also loved the raspberry shrub. The service was excellent, every meal was perfectly timed and the setting is very cozy and intimate during the off season. I recommend you visit! read more

Ursa Minor - The chicken - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

My wife and I visited off season, so just a couple items on the menu. We got the chicken sandwich which was very juicy, good bun, good flavor and the cheeseburger which tasted like it was freshly ground, good texture and flavor. The side salad was fresh with a light dressing. The fries were average. We sat under the in-bloom, gorgeous wisteria on the porch and had a very nice dinner. No one else was around, so it was very peaceful. My only gripe is the upfront tip requirement. For me, a tip upfront is more like a bribe than a tip. Also, the amount, 20% is high for just takeout or bring the food out, service. We did like the waitress, she smiled easily and was polite. I do suggest saying "thank you for your business or come again" as customers leave. We enjoyed the experience overall. read more

We ate here on our honeymoon and both felt like it was the best meal that we've had in years (and we're picky). We're both vegetarians and we got all 4 veggie dishes on the menu plus 2 really nice glasses of wine. The server was friendly and great to work with. This restaurant is a special place and we'll absolutely be back the next time we're on Lopez Island. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Absolutely amazing staff, food, and ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Their toasted yeast butter is out of this world and so comforting and unique simultaneously. For dinner prepare for a spectrum from delicious flavors to creatively assembled dishes that are balanced perfectly. The fermented gnocchi has been a highlight for us the three times we've gone in the past year. For drinks the amazake drink has been unlike any drink I've had the last few years with incredible herbal and sweet notes. In addition to their dine In menu, check out their banh mi (get there early to get in line as they will often sell out) and the Polaris pop up is the best fried chicken sandwich in the northwest. The pickles with it are a hit with the kids. And, Nova and Nick are so kind-a smile and a friendly greeting every time. We plan trips around going there and time our ferries so that we can check out the store for wine and snacks at home. read more

A special place on Lopez Island - service was exceptional and the creative food pairings were amazing. Small plates that you share that creates quite the experience for the taste buds. We had the pleasure of having Nova take care of us! Try the price fix menu where you get to try everything. Hats off to Chef Nick for creating an amazing experience. Hard to believe everything is local but it is!! Don't miss this unique spot. read more

Really good service - we loved our waitress and she did a great job explaining things. I loved the slow cooked beets, and the Leeks and Artichoke dishes. Basically we had all the vegetarian dishes on the menu and one fish dish. What we had was great, the portions were small, but fine. My hesitation on 5 stars is that the menu is limited; I understand that this is what they do to concentrate on just a few dishes and they are innovative. So in general what we ordered was really good and we all enjoyed it, it was just limited. read more

Chicken sandwich not my go to, so I only get one when the reviews are heavy hitters. How do Ursa Minors compare? ... Best in my life! Even when the wife and I try to copy it we can not. It is also a unique and inspired place. Thank you Ursa :) read more

We loved this place. We had a reservation (recommended) and were sat promptly. The menu was inventive and the execution was exquisite. The server was knowledgeable and helpful. This was a great dining experience. Go to here! read more

It's been great to get take out from Ursa Minor during the pandemic! My husband loves their Wagyu burger and fries and I have been enjoying their albacore burger. They have gone above and beyond to answer my multiple questions and to accommodate my various dietary restrictions, which I so appreciate! It's an extra limited menu right now, but we are grateful for them staying open for locals during the winter! read more

Lovely intentions in this place. Well thought out menus, beautiful pairings, and exquisite service. This was such a lovely time. Nova even put some delightful little touches that were completely unnecessary but so deeply appreciated (tiny spoons and all). Thank you for a wonderful experience! read more

A destination restaurant on Lopez Island. Great service and wonderful food. Local ingredients and unusual combinations. The deep fried cauliflower with yogurt and nettle sauce was our favorite. A close second was the pork belly with puréed carrots. We took the ferry over and back from Friday Harbor which was very efficient and allowed time in Lopez Village. read more

Visiting with friends on Lopez Island, the four of us took Nova's recommendation and shared the full menu. Given the small plates this proved to be a great idea. Just enough of everything to satisfy but not overwhelm. Inventive food, beautifully presented, and locally procured. An interesting cocktail and wine menu, with great recommendations from Nova. Lovely restaurant with great sunset views. We will want to return on future visits to Lopez. . read more

What a culinary treat...I had followed Ursa Minor prior to a visit to Lopez, anxiously awaiting dinner there. It did not disappoint. Their concept is small plates, which is my favorite way to dine. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was on a retreat by myself so I was not able to try everything I wanted. That said, dining solo gives you such a different perspective. No diversions-sheer concentration on the food, presentation, your surroundings, service. Again, the meal was flawless... I started with the oysters with rose water and beet berry. 3 plump, juicy oysters were placed on a bed of chilled pebbles. Beautiful. Yes, I had a second order... Second course was chicken stuffed with brined carrot and black garlic. Never have I ever had a crispier skin on chicken. Best. Chicken. Ever. And then came dessert. Hay ice cream with strawberries, hazelnuts and whey. It was everything and more...can't wait to return. Thank you Nova and Carly! read more

Ursa Minor - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

Absolutely the best meal we've had in a long time. All ingredients locally sourced, and exquisitely prepared. So good, I wanted to lick the plates! read more

Ursa Minor - Lamb belly, toasted yeast, and cauliflower. The pic doesn't do the dish justice. - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

Sadly this visit did not live up to previous awesome experiences. The service was outstanding - friendly, attentive, knowledgeable. The 3 stars go to the staff. And I love the Negroni. But the food was lacking. The black cod and white bean dish was completely bland. The fish had a gelatinous quality that we could not stomach. We provided feed back about the dish but we should have sent it back. The short rib was good and the scallop the best bite but the corn "polenta" was overpowering. This was the first week of the new menu but should not be an excuse. We are sad. read more

A pricey restaurant with few items on menu. The quantity of the food on the plate is very small, not enough for one person. The only good point about this place is that the taste of the food is good. Their service is also good, while having my meal I found a small hard seed which hurt my tooth, they excluded the price of the item from the bill. read more

Ursa Minor - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

Ursa Minor is an amazing dining experience! The dining room is quaint and comfortable just like Lopez. The servers are welcoming and guide you through the whole dining experience. I started my meal with a rhubarb soda which was sweetly refreshing. Our family of six tried everything on the menu. I could tell each dish was made with careful consideration on the details of ingredients. Nick Coffey uses ingredients that you would never expect and leave you with a sense of surprise and satisfaction. Almost every dish was licked clean not leaving a single drop of deliciousness. The menu changes daily guarenteeing only the freshes local ingredients are used. If you are looking for a fabulously unique meal this is your place! read more

Ursa Minor - New American Near Me - Lopez Island, Washington

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This is a dining journey unlike anything Lopez has ever seen. The food is literally bliss and the whole eating experience is refreshing and easy going. You leave this place feeling deeply nourished on all levels. The plates are small but I have never left hungry. This is a true fine dining experience not be to missed. Really grateful this place and that the owners decided to make their home here. read more