Oystercatcher

I found this place after seeing the Google reviews, and just as the high ratings suggested, the food was sooooo delicious. I think I’ll keep thinking about the mushroom risotto I ate here. The grilled octopus was also delicious, and the sauce that came with it was a work of art. I ate outside, and the ocean was visible, and the weather wasn’t cold, so it was really beautiful. I’d like to go back again next time I visit this city.

Spent my 3rd anniversary here and we had the best time! The staff were so welcoming and kind, super attentive. The food was exactly what we had hoped for and more! The drink menu was very cute and creative and we appreciated the Chappell Roan reference. The cod and the pork belly were our favorites. The brussels sprouts were really well done and so flavorful. The maple creme brûlée was also great! I wish the oysters were served over ice or just a bit colder, but I do appreciate the presentation with the rocks. The mignonette was lovely! We drove 90 minutes for this meal and we’ll happily do it again! Next time I would definitely do the chef‘s tasting menu:)

Absolutely the best meal I have had in some time. We got the Prawn Risotto and the Short Rib plate — holy molerino yum yum yum! The staff were so kind and present without being overbearing. The space is more intimate — we came in February at the beginning of a winter storm and it was cozy, quiet, calm. Gentle lighting and fewer tables meant we could hear each other and really enjoy our decadent meal. We also got the raw oysters, the basket of Little Red Hen Bakery bread, some sort of pineapple rum crème brûlée, and a candied walnut torte. I would absolutely come here again, especially during the lighter months as to appreciate the view. Thank you so much everyone!

We had the tasting menu with the wine pairings and it was phenomenal. Highly recommend!

A cute restaurant in a rather small and cozy place with an open kitchen. Service was attentive. We really liked how fresh everything tasted. The grilled oysters were fat and juicy! The only downside for us was that the portions were pretty small (especially the Halibut we had). The Tagliatelle was also drowning in olive oil a little bit. Overall food was still great though!

This was our first visit to Oystercatcher and cannot wait to return! We did the Chef's tasting menu and it was absolutely breathtaking. Unique flavours, dreamy pasta, local ingredients, and thoughtfully prepared dishes. Each serving was a perfect size for sharing and enjoyed having the tasting menu as dishes to share for 2 rather than individual dishes. Charlie was our server and shared so much knowledge about all of the wines and drinks perfectly paired with out food - made it very fun! Highly recommend checking out this local gem in Coupeville!

We first dine here 3 years ago and was extremely impressed with the drinks and beautiful dishes here, so we decided to drive 3hours/cross the ferry to come back for another try. I noticed there has been a shift with the menu. The chef’s definitely looking for innovative way and put twists on classic dishes. Some dishes are delicious, but some make me wonder a little bit. The oyster was super fresh and delicious, but both the oysters and mignonette were at room temperature, combined with the evening toasty temperature in the ceiling fan-operated dining room full of guests makes the taste of the oyster less refreshing. While I appreciate the nature-like look of rocks underneath the oysters, I wish it was ice instead (the usual way) and shaved ice in the mignonette to chill things out. The strawberry and rhubarb butter was very creative and has such a pretty pink color! Unfortunately, the taste of the sweet butter on top of the naturally sweet bread takes out the savory salt butter feel that I love in bread-and-butter combo. It feels less satisfying, like something is missing… The ceviche trio has really fresh crab and shrimp in it. I did not like the cauliflower/tomato with big chunks of pickled cucumber component in the trio at all. Also there’s some issue with the plating. The 3 components were put in 3 little ramekins with tiny spoons on a crowded plate did not make sense to me. You want to be able to scoop off the protein with the chips and enjoy the bite easily, rather than having to maneuver around this tiny spoon and tiny ramekin. I felt like it took me way more work and way longer to eat this dish which makes it less enjoyable. I did make a joke and gave the feedback with one of the chefs, and he said “we have bigger spoons back there” which was hilarious. The scallop risotto was the highlight of the night! Scallop was cooked perfectly, so was the risotto. The snap peas in carrots with the crunchy element, complemented it very well. I wish there was more snap peas in it. Definitely worth the money. The freshly made gnocchi was nice and fluffy, good flavors as expected. The chai crème brûlée was the strangest dessert I’ve ever had. It tastes like very sweet gingerbread as you bite into it and then has a sweet cream aftertaste. Tbh the texture is not what you would expect from a crème brûlée, but A+ to the chef for thinking outside of the box. I ordered three different cocktails and wasn’t too impressed with any of them, which was a bummer.. because I remember how the cocktail used to be super pretty looking and delicious. Overall, it was a fun dining experience. The one dish I would come back for is the Scallop Risotto :)

We love love loved this place! The food is exceptional! Highly recommend their cod!! Still thinking about it :D

I came here years ago for an excellent dinner, and then recently came back and was thrilled to have three really excellent dinners again (in July and end of November). Service is also so friendly. Wait staff was patient with lots of questions and also took pictures for us. I highly recommend their grilled oysters. They use excellent quality oysters, which are cooked to perfection, still juicy, tender, and so well marinated. I loved them so much, I had them twice during a 3 day trip, and then brought my friend back to eat them again months later. You can't go wrong with their cocktails, which also all have great names. Their main dishes are well portioned (the "small" plates were all larger than we expected!). Save room for dessert because the kitchen knows sweets too!

Delicious!!! What a fun surprise to have experienced one of the best meals I've had all year on Whidbey! Was able to snag last minute reservations for Thurs dinner and we were blown away. The pomegranate and persimmon salad was fresh, refreshing and a perfect balance of flavors and textures when everything was eaten together! The octopus appetizer was the best octopus I've ever had -juicy, tender, meaty and grilled perfectly. The pork belly melted in your mouth w crispy skin and so many different flavors melded together so well. Black cod was cooked to perfection w crispy skin and super moist portion of fish. This was the one dish I thought tasted better separately vs combined with everything as the flavors were too different and seemed to compete with vs compliment one another. Would definitely make a return visit and recommend people give this place a try. We'll worth a visit!!

Dinner Sept.19, 2024. One of the most lovely and memorable dining experiences ever! On Whidbey Island for Djangofest NW, we always make a reservation here as part of our trip. What we ate: Appetizer: Oysters with togarashi. Best oysters ever. Salad: They were out of the Buratta, so we had a composed Salad of greens, beets, goat cheese and pomegranate, yum. Entrees: Seared sea scallop Risotto Seared Halibut with calamansi foam Dessert: Pistachio and chocolate cake GF..still dreaming of this it was so good Beignets with rhubarb compote Shared glass of calvados Our server Charlie was wonderful, just the very best DInner was DELIGHTFUL.

A very cute, intimate spot for dinner. The restaurant is set in the cute downtown area of Coupeville. We sat by the window and had a good view of the town. At first glance, the menu seems small and you don't have lots of options. It turns out, every option was delicious. Our table got one of everything almost. And everything was amazing. Very rare can you say that about a restaurant experience. Our servers were also very kind and attentive. We had lots of questions regarding our dishes and they were so nice to find out information for us. A must visit if you're on Whidbey!

This is a great little place that doesn't look like much on the outside but will surprise you on the inside! There aren't a lot of tables so definitely will want to consider reservations and the effort is worth it. I had the Parmesan gnocchi which had their house made sausage. The gnocchi had a perfect fluffy pillowy texture that only comes from freshly made excellence. Service was great and our table never had to wait for anything. Definitely worth a stop when in town!

We are so glad we tried the tasting menu (thank you Maia!). We were hooked at the surprise starter (shrimp with avocado mousse and micro greens on a thinly sliced fried potato). The persimmon salad with hazelnut crunch, delicata squash and blue cheese with a maple vinaigrette was delicious. As was the fried oysters on an andouille sausage puree with chili crisp aioli. I mean - fried oysters, chili crisp... how can you go wrong! This was followed up with a spinach linguine with a puttanesca sauce, homemade duck and pork sausage, and fresh burrata. Too good. After a sorbet to cleanse the palate... or just to enjoy sorbet... the final protein was New York Strip with tempura artichokes , roasted carrots and kale with a roquefort cream. For dessert they served a freshly baked squash cake with mascarpone frosting and cranberry ice cream. Oh... we did the wine pairing, so all of the dishes were paired with a wonderful wine and the dessert was served with a 10-year tawny port made in Portugal by a women owned port house. It was a great finish to a great dinner. So easy to give 5 stars to Oystercatcher.

In short An age-old favorite changes hands, keeps the same vibe, and somehow gets even better than ever. In long You might not even notice that the place is different, necessarily. We didn't. Same location, same name, same focus on creative seafood cookery in a friendly, informal setting. We didn't know there were new owners until we bumped into some locals after lunch. They mentioned that there's a new fire table up front that serves as a waiting area when it's packed. We thought it was just a good choice to expand seating, but it's kinda the signal announcing new ownership. A few years ago, we started feeling like we'd eaten the whole menu here, and when we visited the island on weekends we'd hit other places. We still talked about old favorite dishes, though, and last week we checked their website to see if the menu had turned over enough for another visit. Turns out they had new dishes, and had added a weekend happy hour lunch. We walked in without reservations, and the nice early-spring weather had lured everyone else to something other than a local restaurant. They had only a dozen or so tables occupied, as opposed to what is usually a madhouse for HH. Our server gave us the whole rundown as we chatted during table visits. She clearly enjoys working there...she mentioned that she and her husband would soon be spending their anniversary having dinner on the deck. Who else do you know who celebrates a personal special occasion at their place of employment? So cool. The HH menu changes all the time, which is rad. They REALLY take care to explain everywhere on their website that they change their menu a lot. For some of us, this is something worth bragging about, but it sounds like they have to smooth some ruffled feathers now and then. Hopefully everyone clicks with the new approach soon. Oysters We've been almost-successfully planning an outing for oysters lately, and seeing these on the menu yanked us across the water and in for lunch this weekend. All Kumamotos, served with a red wine mignonette. We had 30. Could barely get enough. Hubbard squash risotto Great sauce with a bit of tang, nice crunchy veg, very toothsome and appetizing grains. Wonderful small dish, like the whole HH menu. Crab and shrimp salad Fantastic house-made tortilla chips, wonderful warm savory sauce underneath, a bit of greens and seafood. Not a huge portion but so delicious and you keep using the chips to scrape every other plate, too. Parisian gnocchi I dunno what "Parisian" means here, and it doesn't matter. Rich pesto sauce on the cauliflower, and gnocchi pillows you could probably chew with your tongue. They absolutely melt in your mouth. Kohlrabi croquette Delicious warm savory sauce under, a smattering of greens and such, and then two really flavorful croquettes. Awesome fillings to them, cooked through. The crust was super dark and tipping very slightly toward a hint of bitterness, so I might call them a bit over, but we sopped up every crumb, and every other table that ordered them got them the same color and they all ate every bite, too. The cocktails are all out of this world, too. Humorous names, very creative mixes, all served attractively. We tried 6 and loved them all. The Springtide had more lilac on the nose than on the palate, and was mildly-flavored overall. But that was hardly a disappointment. We wish we could come here every weekend, but it sounds like we were lottery-level lucky to walk in and get a table this time. Can't wait to come back.

I called Oystercatcher last minute to see about hosting a funeral reception. Sophia and her husband and their team created the most lovely, delicious and memorable celebration. The food and wine were exquisite. We had the short ribs, risotto, arancini, squash salad and brussel sprouts. Multiple people reached out to comment on how delicious the meal was. Our family has been going to the island for over 30 years, and we all agree Sophia and her husband created one of our favorite memories yet.

Great service and delicious food - creative fresh and yummy. small space so make a reservation if you can.

We came during happy hour which was really good. Service was amazing. Food was fantastic. I loved sitting outside and feeling the ocean breeze. Decor inside and outside was lovely. Perfect date night spot.

What a GEM of a restaurant! We happened across this cozy restaurant with an outdoor patio after a hike and did not feel underdressed. We started out on the patio but quickly became cold and our waitress was very accommodating to move us inside. We ordered the half dozen oysters and the Chefs Menu for the evening and were so happy we did! Each dish was beautifully presented, held delicious flavors and textures together and each better than the last. I only remembered to take a photo of the protein dish (scallops), the rest were so amazing. Exquisite gnocchi, octopus and scallops dishes were dinner highlights while the house-made carrot cake was divine. What a wonderful experience

Amazing food. Attentive service. Cozy location. Love, can't wait to return and share with visiting friends.

We were grateful to have stopped in the Oystercatcher for lunch. They were running a limited menu with most of their vegetarian friendly options on it. I wasn't sure we would be able to eat here during our Whidbey trip but this was perfect. We were seated on the deck with a good view, and received good service, even getting our food from the chef himself. The risotto and gnocchi options were standouts. Gourmet vibes without the fussiness.

Great place for Oysters, we have never been let down with anything on their menu. Service was top not and food was exceptional.

Head up stairs. The bottom is not the restaurant.. Came here while in town with the wife on a great motorcycle adventure. It was our 13 year anniversary. They were able to get us in and patio seats on top of that. The service is super slow, we got our apps before our drinks ever showed up, the food was good. I had the $50 steak which was good but the veggies lacked some quality and were mushy. In my opinion it could have also had a little more chimi sauce than the smudges on the side of the steak. My wife had the $48 scallops risotto which a whole 3 came out. I tried a bite and it was also good. For apps we had the raw oyster and bread. The oysters were good but the sauce they provided lacked a little excitement. I just thought maybe a little more color or just something special. Than a clear sauce with tiny onion pieces. The service was a little on the lacking side given the cost of dinner for two being just over a $200. Over all it was a good dinner but not a meal to remember in any way. Other than being there with my special gal pal. I feel like there has to be better near by.

What a lovely little spot in Coupeville! We grabbed a last minute reservation during the week in the middle of winter and the place was pleasantly quiet. Service was excellent, quite friendly and attentive. We split a number of small dishes and really enjoyed all of them, especially the grilled oysters, beet salad (sooo good!), and grilled octopus. The scallops were also really delicious. We liked the risotto as well, but unfortunately it had too much truffle oil- it would have been far better without it overpowering the actual mushroom flavor. The bread was excellent, as well, and we felt that everything was reasonably priced for all the fresh ingredients and portion size. We'll definitely return next time we're in town!

It's always gratifying to come into a restaurant and be almost immediately assured that everyone knows what they're doing. Oystercatcher is just such a place. A small eatery in the charming sea village of Coupeville on Whidbey Island, it affords good views, great food and professional service. Despite its relatively unassuming exterior and simple L-shaped dining room, this is no run of the mill repast. From the amuse-bouche to the meal-ending curry-infused chocolate nonpareils, the attention to detail, taste and presentation were first-rate. As three of us were dining, we decided to share a series of appetizers and one main. We began with an amuse-bouche: a tender piece of raw salmon, topped with a tiny crouton, drizzled in olive oil and accented with fresh herbs. Our first dish was a ceviche of octopus, scallops and halibut (and kohlrabi) in a lime marinade and hot sauce. The flavors were excellent, although I think the halibut might have been cut a bit smaller to better absorb the lime. Then we moved on to the fried green tomatoes, which included fried okra in a Green Goddess and vinaigrette dressing. It was certainly the most unusual FGT dish I have ever been served. While very good, I actually think I enjoyed the okra more than the tomatoes themselves! Our third dish was their roasted beat salad, which in many ways stole the show. In addition to gooseberries and a red currant sauce that added immeasurably to the rich, earthy flavors of the beets, it was arguably the most beautifully presented of all the dishes of the evening. Before we got our entrees, we were also served a small palette cleanser of apple and fennel sorbet. It was nothing short of remarkable and I rather wished I might have had a scoop of it for dessert (see below). For our mains, my dining partners both chose the Penn Cove mussels. This was the most unapologetically European dish of the evening: they were cooked in onions, garlic, parsley and a crème fraíche. These were quite simply the best mussels I have ever eaten: soft, juicy and incredibly flavorful. I chose the Alaskan scallops and blue prawns, served with fried grits and a ragout of tomatoes and squash. The scallops were of substantial size, which was nice, although it also meant that one (out of four in total) was rather undercooked. Although enjoyable, the mussels were definitely the better choice. All of this, by the way, was accompanied by a hearty molasses and oat bread, served with a savory cultured butter. Normally I object on principle to purchasing bread, but it was so good that I didn't mind the outlay at all. Indeed, I could have made a meal of just the bread and accompanying spreads. We finished with good, but slightly disappointing desserts. My daughter had a rhubarb ice cream, which was truly rhubarby, but (to our tastes) too tart. I had a blueberry and lemon ice cream, which was creamy and sweet, but I could not detect the lemon at all. Taken as a whole, this was a masterful, well-executed menu. It was a mature set of offerings. There was no sense that the chefs were tinkering with recipes; they knew what they were doing. Service was excellent. My only minor criticism was the booking process: they require a $25 deposit for each guest when making a reservation. I can understand they wish to insure that guests don't bail last minute--I have no doubt they are working on tight margins. Still, given the number of folks who were trying to get in without reservations, this came across as slightly crass for a restaurant that rightly deserves the lavish kudos I have read here and elsewhere.

Amazing food and views from an outdoor deck. Great drinks. Food. Food they have food. Happy hour. Some places don't. They do.

Lovely little spot with great staff and delicious food! I felt like I was in an Alaskan town while I enjoyed my meal looking at cute downtown Coupeville. The chef prepared a starter and a desert on the house, which were both delicious. We got the halibut and loved every bite! They have a heater in their bathroom and it gets warm so quick! This was such a win on a cold evening there! Overall lovely spot!

Best place for a date in Coupville Wa. We came here for the first time during the summer like 2 years ago. It was delicious and we wanted to go on a date and I chose to go back here. Everything was delicious when we got our main dish. My salmon was a bit raw, but they fixed it right away and give us complimentary drinks. Service was excellent all the people working there are amazing and great customer service.

Fresh oysters from the bay. Muscles and clams on their happy hour menu are a great value for two. Views from the outdoor deck are amazing,

We managed to snag the last indoor 2 top table on a very busy Tuesday evening before July 4th. The vibe was great with groovin music from the boisterous kitchen and slamming door to the outside deck. It was a happy place to dine, despite the slamming. Food was amazing with mussel, clams, Red Hen Bakery bread and halibut entree. They know their seafood. The wine list was the best in Coupeville....The chocolat mousse cake was divine. Do we need anything else?

Dinner was fabulous and our server was so attentive. We were concerned about bringing our (well behaved) two year old after reading all the reviews saying the restaurant is not kid friendly. Instead, we felt very welcomed and the kitchen made her butter noodles with fresh Parmesan and homemade pasta. It made for a very special night out for us, our daughter, and her grandparents to have such a nice dinner. Thank you!

We had a wonderful meal last night, both ordered appetizers and then split a halibut dinner, wine and martini. All was excellent, husband had a ceviche trio "excellent" and if had know the size would have ordered only one appetizer. I had a salad and then the halibut! Finished off with beignets with a berry sauce! The next time we are there will make sure to return for dinner. Server Cheyenne was great, happened to be a sunny day so was able to say outside on deck and look at the beautiful view. Spendy but felt like since we don't splurge too often it was worth it! Headed back in August!

I cannot express how much I loved this place. Every plate that we ordered was a new experience full flavor. We ordered several dishes. I wish I remember the name of them, but they were all perfect. We decided to split them all. This place is a must visit.

This place is amazing. We had the tasting menu and all courses were delicious with generous portions. We loved the food so much we went back the next night and created our own tasting menu from the small dishes and entrees. Service was special. Our servers both nights were both professional and warm. Just the right amount of friendly conversation. Do yourself a favor and try Oystercatcher.

Spectacular. Lucky enough to have gotten there exactly at 5 because we were the last walk-in they could take. Service, food, and wine were spectacular. They went the extra mile to make us feel welcome. What a gem.

Cute Spot recommends reservations, tiny as well. I had the oysters, scallops, and the octopus it was all delicious.

The service, the food and the vibe was all spot-on. It was worth the scenic drive from Bellingham for a special birthday dinner. I loved my cocktail, too.

I wouldn't change a thing about this place. We had the raw oysters which were perfect, the risotto with scallops, and the salmon and everything was perfectly prepared. They had the wines I wanted (I recommend the Riesling by the glass) and the cake if the day was a coconut cheese cake with an almost praline crust that almost had me ordering seconds. They even had the Armagnac I wanted. The small spot had the intimacy of a loud dinner party and pleasant casualness that screams Pacific Northwest. What a special spot.

What an amazing experience! My mother in law is in from out of town. We cruised the island and ended up here. From the Scallops to the Prawns to the Salmon. It was all so fantastic! And I love Oysters and these were soooo good! The chef even hooked me up with a few of his specialty oysters which were so delicate and yummy!! What a great experience!

Due to high winds cancelling several ferries from Port Townsend, we arrived in Coupeville much later than we'd planned. By the time we had checked in to our hotel and made it over to the area around Front Street, it was a few minutes shy of 8:00pm. Oystercatcher ended up being immediately adjacent to where we'd parked, and it looked open, so we wandered up and inquired about a table. I noticed, as we entered, that they closed at 8:00pm, and that it was already 8:01, but they seated us anyway, without saying a word about being closed. I felt a little bad about it, but nothing in our entire experience made us feel like we were being a burden to them by showing up late; in fact, quite to the contrary! First up: our server, Aaron, is among the best servers I have ever had the pleasure of being catered by! From start to finish, he was professional, knowledgeable, personable, and went the extra mile for us at every turn. We walked us through the various specials, recommendations, and helped us settle on an array of dishes which we would share between my wife and I, including my first *ever* oyster. For someone who generally abstains from seafood in almost all forms, this was a big deal for me! We settled on the aforementioned half-dozen, half-shell oysters, Galeux squash and parsnip soup, Nicola potato gnocchi, fried green tomatoes & pickled okra, and to drink, an Old Fashioned with brandy (a current special), and a gin and soda. In between the various courses of our meal, we were served a few bonus, non-advertised dishes (an amuse bouche and an intermezzo), at the whim of either Aaron or the chef (or both?). I'm going to abstain from saying anything about the oysters, because they will never be my thing. I can understand why some people love them, and to be honest, the flavor combination of the salty oyster and the savory red wine mignonette in which they were bathed, was fabulous; but textural things, particularly gummy, chewy or slimy things, will always be my Kryptonite. Beyond this, each and every individual item was spectacular, and as a whole, our meal at Oystercatcher rests near the top of a very short list of near perfect experiences at truly fine dining establishments. Both the meal, and the service (Aaron in particular), are absolutely worthy of a Michelin star (or two!).

A lovely spot in Coupeville--agree with all reviews about the quality and about the price (way steep for what you get--very small portions and I was starved and had to order another entree to fill up). One note to amplify since it's buried in old reviews--the tasting menu $79 pp + wine pairing for $40) is only available if the whole table opts into it and they can't tell you anything about what's on it--was too big a risk for me and then everyone was mad (rightly so). Mussel and clam dish was the standout with tumeric--(3) scallops and risotto ok (under seasoned and risotto was under and not warm), black cod was tiny (2-3 oz?) and meh--farro was lukewarm and undercooked and fish was under and a little slimy--I ordered the gnocchi in panic and sausage was good but gnocchi unremarkable (all under seasoned and no sigh of Parmesan listed on menu), beet and burrata was fine (nectarines rock hard little pellets), bread was bland, oishi oysters were amazing but mignonette fell a little flat like reviewers note)--I got the feeling they'd be offended if you asked for salt and pepper so didn't. Zach was a ray of sunshine--hostess and bartender were great too.

I wish I lived closer to this wonderful restaurant! I would eat there every week and would order the Chef's Tasting Menu every time. Five courses of the most delicious food, made from locally sourced ingredients, plated beautifully and paired with excellent wines. The Chef decides the based on what is available, so it changes daily. Perfect for adventurous eaters. NOTE: The entire table needs to order the tasting menu as it is served family style. If you have picky eaters or dietary restrictions, choose from the many regular offerings. It will not disappoint!

One of the highlights of our trip to Whidbey Island. The food and service were just amazing. We were so glad to get reservations to this place. We also had oysters, of course but everything on the menu seems amazing. The Brussels sprouts, halibut and mussels were our favorite.

Had the pleasure of trying this restaurant two different nights this last weekend. Both times had great experiences in pretty much every way. The food is amazing and the cook is very talented. I wanted to try a lot of different things which was the reason we came 2 different nights. The seating was great both nights! One night we sat outside on the top patio and the other night we sat inside by the window. Service all around was outstanding. Cool staff and servers. 20% gratuity already added to bill. Have to get a reservation usually. I would go back again. Pretty pricey but don't leave feeling jipped. I think it is perfect all around

Owner Sophia greeted us with her partner and made us feel like we were at the Chef's table. In fact, every table in this establishment could be a Chef's Table as they are all next to the busy kitchen. Great staff, atmosphere and next level cuisine made for a memorable night. Looking forward to returning

Great happy hour food with amazing seafood stew, oysters, and cerviche with friendly quick service in a nice contemporary ambiance. Dropped by while visiting Whidbey Island for a birthday late lunch and it was definitely a place I will return.

The best seafood you will ever enjoy, period. Served by gracious, helpful, personable servers, and prepared by an awesome kitchen crew working in full view of the patrons. It's not cheap but good lord what amazing dishes they prepare here. If you are within a hundred mile radius, do yourself a favor and make a reservation here well in advance (this place is popular). Your taste buds will thank you. (Excellent wine and cocktails too!)

We booked this place on Valentines Day 2024 not only to celebrate Valentines but also our ten-year anniversary. It was an incredibly disappointing yet expensive dinner. My partner researched local restaurants extensively prior to our 2-night stay in Coupeville and chose Oystercatcher based on 1) the location (walking distance from our hotel and historic Front Street) and 2) the menu published on their website. He shared the link with me prior to making the reservation to make sure there were items on the menu that appealed to me. Our hearts sank when we got to our table on our big night and saw that their normal menu was not being offered. Instead it was a set menu of mostly raw dishes for $105 per person. A set menu on Valentines Day is not unusual, and I understand why restaurants do it, but the menu and the price should've both been disclosed to us when the reservation was made. I'm also baffled by the choice to create a set menu that was almost all raw food, because I'm sure those of us who can't stomach such "delicacies" are not a small minority. Why wouldn't you curate a set menu that has broad appeal on a night when it's the only thing your customers can have? There were six courses total in this dinner, and I could only eat three of them. My partner ate my portions of the other three courses because he didn't want any of it to go to waste, but I honestly wish he had allowed mine to go uneaten and be returned to the kitchen so they could've gotten the message. It started with 4 oysters on the half shell. My partner ate all 4 oysters because I don't like them. He said they were just ok, not the best he's had. Next was carpaccio: thinly sliced raw beef. Not "rare". Completely raw. I only ate the roasted peppers they put on it as a garnish. He ate the beef. He didn't love it, but since he was paying so much, he managed to get it down. I could barely stand to look at it. Just watching him eat it made me gag. After that was potato leak soup with pork belly crouton. That wasn't a typo. Not crouton plural. Singular. These croutons were literally the same size as a standard bread crouton, so for the price of the dinner, it should've been more. At least the pork belly was cooked. Next was linguini on a bed of wilted greens and topped with caviar. I'm the only one of us willing to eat caviar, so I tried to scrape as much of it off for him as possible. This dish came in a communal bowl we had to share. The portion would've been perfect for one person, but it was too small for two. We paid $15 extra each to have "butter poached Dungeness crab" added to this dish, which turned out to only be barely one tablespoon of crab. Not each. We had to share the tablespoon of crab meat. This is the second of the three out of six courses I could eat, and for me it was the main course, so I really wished there had been more of it. Next was more raw beef and raw scallops. Both were pan seared but only enough to brown a paper-thin layer of it on the outside. I tried half a scallop--which I normally love--and let him eat the rest. Dessert was a flour-free chocolate tort. I did like this, but he didn't. He paid, but when I add up the price of the dinner per person, plus the extra $15 each to split a tablespoon of crab, his two beers, one shot of tequila, one $16 cocktail for me, tax, plus tip, he probably spent close to $350. I felt terrible that he paid so much for such a disappointing meal, and he felt terrible that I wasn't able to enjoy it. As for ambience, if it wasn't for the dim lighting, candles, and cloth napkins, this place would have none. There is no cohesion at all to the selection of decor on the walls. Some of it is very contemporary, some looks like something my 85-year-grandmother would've picked out from a thrift store, and some of it is Native American style. It's a tiny place, so most tables are so close together that you're elbow to elbow with the party seated next to you. There is a wood burning stove in the corner, which would've been nice if we hadn't been seated only two feet from it, We were roasting throughout our dinner, so the two of us were one of the few things in this restaurant that was actually cooked. In summation, I would recommend that the people who own and/or manage this restaurant be more transparent next Valentine's Day and other nights when they aren't going to offer their diners a choice. A set menu, particularly one with that high of a price, should be disclosed both on their website and at the time at the reservation is made.

So happy this restaurant is open once again! The food is marvelous! The full menu is coming as we get close to summer.

Seafood is the move here! Every dish had really interesting combinations of flavors and was prepared perfectly. Our waiter described the roasted beet salad as 'divine', and it lived up to the title. We also really enjoyed the seared scallops, which were super fresh and tender!

I just want to give a *chefs kiss* to this place! Everything was SO good! The wait was long for lunch but we just put our number down and walked around the nearby shops. Bread and home churned butter: SO good. Bread is from Little Red Hen Bakery, which had a long line, so it was great we could try some of their bread here. The butter w big sea salt chunks was amazing and made the fresh bread taste even better. Beet salad: beautiful presentation and beautiful flavors! Those snap peas with a little of the chèvre cream, and a bit of mint -- that bite was so perfect. The beets were very flavorful, though I had some big chunks of pepper that made it too spicy in some bites. Raw oysters, half dozen - came with a great vinaigrette. Our fav were the ones from Willapa Bay. Roasted oysters, w/ bacon jam: oysters were very buttery in texture but the bacon was the prominent flavor. I personally prefer just the raw oysters more, but I am glad we tried it! Clams: sauce was delicious and it came with Little Red Hen sourdough bread. Clams were fresh and delicious. I can't wait to come back and try their dinner menu!

We ordered the tasting menu ($79) with wine pairing ($35). 5 courses, every one was outstanding. Great wine pairing. Same result a month ago when we also had the tasting menu. Pinch me, I must be dreaming to have this caliber of restaurant in our hometown of Coupeville. The portions and pours were very generous too.

It was okay. The food felt a little over priced for what we got. They are also really not kid friendly. I was trying to get a side of rice for my kids and they said it wasn't possible even though one of their main dishes had rice in it. The ambiance was very nice. Warm and cozy, perfect place for a date.

We expected the food at Oystercatcher to be really good. But we did not expect the many GF options to be completely out of this world!!! From the starters and dinner to dessert! Every single morsel was perfection. Actually, everything about this restaurant is 5 star- the ambiance, the staff, the wine list, and most importantly, the food! How lucky are we as locals to have this right in town!?

This is a great food spot. Food is amazing and service is the best on this side of the island. My disappointment and room for improvement is this: I made our reservation for a birthday dinner four weeks ago. We were still seated in basically the worst table: in between the kitchen and the back door. We were cold and we smelled like food. We watched as three other birthday parties had candles and celebration and ours came out untouched. Would I go back? Absolutely Im just disappointed with this experience

Went during happy hour and it was delish! The oysters were amazing, I wish I asked what kind they were. I also had the pork rib and polenta. It was amazing and perfect for a cold day. The beer was frosty cold. Service was great too!

This place did have very good oysters but all other things on the menu were greatly overpriced and honestly not worth the price. Our party of four had the risotto, cod, and halibut dishes. All were so-so, and honestly were disappointing given the cost. The other issue is that they have a high chair and kids sippy cups.... But ZERO in the way of menu items for the kids. We could not even purchase a dish of rice separately. Come on... really!??!! This place is trying to be 5 stars, but really fails for the price point on customer service and making folks with kids feel like they will ever want to return. But then if that's the point, they they should be straight up and start. "Not kid friendly".