The Admiralty Lounge

I recently dined at the Admiralty Lounge in Bellingham, and overall, it was a fantastic experience. The restaurant's nautical theme is tastefully done, creating a cozy yet elegant atmosphere, which paired well with the great service and the cleanliness of the facilities. We tried a variety of dishes, and each one was delicious. The Caesar Salad was fresh and flavorful, with a nice balance of anchovies, parmesan, and toasted bread crumbs. The Shiso Wrapped Scallops were a standout—perfectly cooked, with the shiso adding a unique, fresh twist. The Goat Tamales were hearty and well-seasoned, a creative take on a traditional dish. We also enjoyed the crispy Hush Puppies, which were an ideal side snack with a crunchy exterior and soft, flavorful inside. For drinks, the Buoy IPA and Bordeaux wine complemented the meal nicely, adding a rich and refreshing finish. The only downside was that I had my heart set on the Mussels & Fries, but they were out of stock during our visit. That was a bit disappointing, and it’s the main reason I’m knocking off one star. Nonetheless, Admiralty Lounge is a gem in Bellingham with its delicious food and lovely nautical ambiance. I’ll definitely be back to try the Mussels and Fries!

I have been to the Admiralty Lounge a few times and each time it has been a delight. All the experiences from drinks to food and decor to service have been unique and exceptional. The staff is on the ball and are authentically warm and friendly. I love the cocktails as they are not your typical bar drinks. I would say the same about the food - not your fad or the month food that I could get almost anywhere. I'm a fan! Aye matey!

I do my best to visit The Admiralty whenever I visit Bellingham. The owner, Jabriel, is a tried-and-true bartender turned restauranteur who serves up amazing dishes and drinks while cultivating a safe, inclusive yet lighthearted atmosphere. I will always recommend the deviled eggs with Jab’s cocktail recommendation. I can’t wait to visit his new spot, Nacho Problems!

I went with a friend for the first time to the Admiralty, before a show at the Mt. Baker Theater, and LOVED the food and the menu. (Oh, my, try the smoked oysters and the seaweed wrapped scallops!!!) However, I was very surprised at the lack of gluten-free options, and was disappopinted that even when I ordered what I thought would be GF (b/c the menu did not list any gluten items as part of the dish) it turned out to not be GF at all -- in one case it was served with bread-- for which there was no subtitution available, and no GF bread option -- in another, the "fried seaweed" was fried in batter, and when I asked the staff about this, mentioning that I am GF, they stated "Oh, it's not that much batter" -- :-/. I think some training needs to be done here to help staff understand that GF is not a fad or an option with most of the GF folks out there. But, mainly, as stated, I was surprised and disappointed at the lack of truly GF options on the menu, particularly at such at a high-end, gourmet restaurant. On the upside, the cocktails were delicious, the ambience was fun, and the food truly yummy. Also, the waitstaff was attentive and very personable. Hopefully management will take a note for us GF folks.

We went to the Admiralty Lounge since we'd never been there before. We thought we would have a cocktail and food before we went to a show next door. We were greeted by a nice young man and asked if we could sit at the bar. The bartendar was a little prickly and not very friendly, especially after we asked for our cocktails a certain way. She continued to not be very friendly (snarky) and we decided to pay for our drinks and leave. It's ashame our experience was like this because their menu looks really good and the atomsphere is welcoming (decore/set-up). We were also excited to support a resturaunt with a location notorious for high turn-over.

My wife and I had the best experience here. Everything we had to eat was great (especially the fries) and the cocktails were all delicious and well priced

I failed to take pictures until we were well into our meals, but the food and service were so good, I decided it deserved a proper review with pictures (even if the pictures won’t do it justice). We ordered the porchetta and the harvest bowl. Both were delicious and the kitchen was able to tweak the porchetta dish to accommodate my gf/df needs. The sauce (chimichurri?) that came with the harvest bowl was amazing and dish itself was executed beautifully. As great as the harvest bowl was, the porchetta was the star with its crispy exterior/ tender inside, perfectly seasoned pan sauce and the best roasted potatoes I’ve had in a restaurant setting. We ate every bite of our dinner and topped it off with a cocktail that was magical. The Baranov made the dinner feel special, as a great drink should do.

A blend of up scaling meets nautically relaxed atmosphere. The drinks are classic with a unique twist (I recommend the Navy Grogg). The food was beautifully done, nothing showy but the kaleidoscope of delectable flavors will leave your tongue swaying in a sea of bliss with every bite.

Another fabulous night at The Admiralty, celebrating a friend's birthday. The staff were soooo sweet that they actually had a "Happy Birthday" note marking her seat! We got to try some new things this time. The lox salad (as currently envisioned by the chef) wasn't as exciting as we had hoped, but everything else we tried we were crazy about. The Croque Madam sandwich was fabulous. The Parsnip Chips were a delightful fun surprise: delicious on their own and wonderful with the awesome goat cheese side. My partner ordered the snapper, and I just kind of waved my hand, thinking, "Oh snapper--not a very interesting fish, and there are soooo many interesting things on the menu." Then his meal came and I took a bite. OMG!!!!!! Tai Snapper on Black Rice with Carrot and Yuzu Sauce and seared Bok Choy--I think I was told that Yuzu Sauce is Korean. It was so, so, so divine. Rich, so flavorful! Next time pour moi! Hog Jowl Ice Cream was a non-piggy treat (flavor wise, but otherwise if you are thinking calories)! It was a chaco taco dessert that was very delicious and fun to eat. The cocktails are delectable with lots of choices and fun things--we especially liked the mezcal ones--but the ones with lots of tiny ice get diluted fast, so I would advise asking about that ahead of ordering if it matters to you. Kat was our adorable server upon opening and our barkeep--and all charmingly dressed up in 40's Swing fare, celebrating the happening of a music event nearby! Very helpful with information, very prompt and very cheerful as was our later server, Ethan, who was extremely helpful too and let us tease him soundly (after we had a couple of drinks, of course!) Fabulous place in all ways. Wonderful, just wonderful!

Fantastic service with knowledgeable staff and fantastic atmosphere. The vibe is warm and retro and the place is spotless. The drinks are well made and the one food item I tried, the deviled eggs, were accompanied with flavors that made them pop. This is a great place to pop into before or after a show next door or a great place to stop for a whiskey from their extensive collection!

A delightful and delicious experience in downtown Bellingham... I really liked their fish n'chips... slaw was particularly tasty

Went to this restaurant tonight , we ordered fish and chips shared it with three people. It was very, very greasy. The fries tasted like they were made in the morning and reheated, they were beyond greasy. Tasteless fish. We ordered a Caesar salad and they gave us two stalks of lettuce. I'm not a horse, so that doesn't fit in my mouth. I had to ask for two sharp knives to cut it up and prepare my own salad ! That one meal and a salad was $65 ! The drinks add on another 25 ! I'm really tired of pricey foo foo restaurants with shitty food.....! The service was good and the ambience is nice, but the food sucks! Don't bother going there! Unless you have money to waste....

In short: A cool bar in a vintage space with some historic flair in the decor, great cocktails, and a really comforting menu. In long: It shares a roof with the Mount Baker Theater, which is great on show days if you have tickets, and probably less slammed on most other days. It fronts out on Commercial, and the staff seem to have all they can do without even knowing who's playing or whether there's a show. I've been here only on a show day, but this seems like a very good sign that they're just always busy. We wandered in half an hour before a show was set to start in the building, and scored seats on a genuinely comfortable vintage couch at the back of the bar. There's old brick, high windows, and some wood on the walls. Look at the very top of the wooden walls--same wood, but much, MUCH lighter at the top. Probably decades of cigarette smoke soaked into the old wood. Not a trace of smoke scent in the air, though, so I LOVE this little detail. Staff were super friendly from the host station to the bar to the servers. Everybody's enjoying their shifts, and drinks fly out quickly. Nobody right before the show was eating, and we had just come from a light dinner. So I will vouch for the deviled eggs (three halves, very light and airy yolks, tons of interesting seasonings and flavors) but can't speak to anything else. I will soon enough, though. Lots of nice touches on their menu and we're eager to come back and check it out. We had great luck with cocktails and the wine was fine. I think the bottles of red on the counter might get lightstruck here so maybe still with refrigerated wines or cocktails. Prices were fair and they were great about getting a room full of people out the door for showtime. It was just a quick visit for a drink, and we ended up oohing and aahing over the menu and messaging friends to plan a return visit. What a great find at the absolute last minute before the show.

Came last night for the first time, it's walking distance from my work and it worked out perfectly since I worked late. The service was great and my martini was delish but they were out of titos which is my go to so I chose grey goose instead. We enjoyed the Ceasar salad the dressing was perfect the deviled eggs were great but why give just 3 and not 4 ? Like where did the other half go ? We were very puzzled by this. The bubble and squeek I think it's called was just OK it was like a mushroom hash honestly..that was the one I'd never get again. We had clam chowder that was yummy with lots of clams some in shell some not. I used to come many times when it was hundred north I love this spot the big windows it's fun to people watch while dining here. All in all it was decent next time I want to get the beef cheeks those sounded delightful

My wife and I loved Admiralty Lounge! Really great food and cozy atmosphere. The hostess doubled as our server and was extremely friendly. My wife had a pork belly dish and loved it. I had steak with one of the best purées I've ever had in my life. The cocktails were great. The table next to us got the fish and chips and the portions looked really generous and they seemed happy. If you're visiting Bellingham you should definitely check it out!

My wife and I enjoyed our meals here and the drinks were amazing. Great location and the staff was kind and knowledgeable about ingredients in each dish for those with allergies. Great ambience for dinner and drinks.

SO SCARY (it's halloween) i asked for the spookiest drink and the bartender (ethan) slayed. i drank it and jumped out of my chair i was so scared. ethan also slayed bc he put on a halloween playlist and made it extra spooky vibe.

Every time I see a show at the Mount Baker Theatre, I stop here for drinks and food before. Super cool vibe and fantastic service. I have been lucky enough to barely get a seat at the bar each time because most seats are reserved throughout the evening due to their popularity. If you're seeing a show and want to stop in, reserve ahead of time or get there early! It's worth it.

Nautical-themed bar meets craft cocktail geekiness, with a side of scratch-made creative comfort food in this warm-and-woody concept restaurant in the heart of Bellingham. Nice! You can tell I dig a joint when I get out the hyphens and let the adjectives fly... Very nearly five stars - if I'm being persnickety, I'd have to say 4.5, due to some slightly unbalanced cocktail mixology (an overly-spiced and bittered Cork Leg cocktail, and a gin cocktail with a funky-smelling dried fruit garnish that did it no favors...). ...and chewy pre-fried shallots on the otherwise-noms Tavern Steak entree (it's super easy to slice them thinner on a mandolin and flash-fry crispy to order in a light, seasoned panko, guys... that's how you avoid that gummy stale texture and preserve that shallot piquancy). But it was otherwise spectacular, especially the service, which was engaging, cheerful and good humored, yet still prompt and efficient. Yes, it can be done! Our waitress looked out after us well. I do recommend the fries, which are a hand-cut affair, perfectly seasoned and served with a delicious tartar and -get this- scratch-made apple-based tarragon ketchup! A must-try (See what I mean about the hyphens?). Also, the deviled eggs, garnished with paprika, Calabrian pepper and fresh dill, were to-die-for, although harder to share than I'd hoped, with only three to the plate. I have a good idea how much money is on that plate; maybe a little more generosity would be good for that appetizer..? Not perfect, but dang close-to, and for a new joint they are knocking it out of the park. You can tell they're proud of their stuff, here. We will certainly be back to sample more! Highly recommended.

Love this place but for the love of god please Bring back the bunny chow ! it was the perfect Bellingham comfort food and we miss it so much

Another awesome place I'm a little hesitant to recommend out of selfishly wanting to keep it to ourselves.....excellent food, great drinks, attentive service, and a relaxing atmosphere. This is at least the fifth restaurant and/or bar that has occupied this location in my time here in Bellingham, and although a few of the others were pretty nice, I think The Admiralty Lounge finally nailed it, and I hope they are here for a good long while. Go here frequently - just not when I want to. Or at least don't sit at the couch.....

Bubble & Squeak is life! Sat at the bar and had a great time. Inventive cocktails and rotating menu. Yum yum!

We went on a busy Saturday Night. Thankfully I made a reservation 2 days before because they were having to turn people away. The staff did a fantastic job of maintaining a calm atmosphere with a flood of people lining up out the door. This is a small intimate space with a great mello vibe. The food is an epic tasty adventure, the menu has something for everyone. I had the Fish and Chips, the batter was perfectly light and crispy with an nice amount of salt sprinkled on top. The fish was fresh and didn't loose its flavor in the fryer. This dish came with a generous amount of house made fries and house made slaw. It was perfect. Along with my dinner I wanted to try one of the craft cocktails. I asked the waitress for her recommendation and she brought be The Stem the Tide. It was absolutely delicious in fact so much so I had 2. If you are looking for something completely different that has perfect cocktails a fabulous crew and delicious food in Bellingham I highly recommend The Admiralty Lounge, make a reservation first so you don't miss out.

Amazing food and drinks. The pork fritters were surprisingly very delicious. The tavern steak on onion toast is melt in your mouth and the fried fish is some of the best in town.

Best cocktails!! Staff friendly and knowledgeable too. Understated maritime atmosphere. This is a stellar place.

Incredible fish and chips. Friendly and attentive staff. Good cocktails. Will visit again.

Very good Manhattan (don't know why that should be difficult). Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside bread came out immediately without asking. Clam chowder is my gauge for what to expect from a restaurant. This was one of the best; thick, clammy- baby clams in shell, alot. Another test is the fish and chips; great batter, good fish, alot. I will go back when I'm t own again just for those 2 entrees. The Beef Cheek? Ah..... no.

We were surprised by this cute little place! We came in for cocktails and appetizers. The drink selections were fun and new, plus they have the standard favorites. The appetizers were amazing. Made in house deviled eggs and smoked oysters! Yum! Our bartender was fun and knowledgeable. Great atmosphere. We will be back. Ken and "not Barbie" date night!

Incredibly beautiful restaurant. Really cool and hospitable owners and staff. The house smoked oysters are so different from anything I've seen on a menu anywhere else and something to rave about. The green curry muscles were amazing, best green curry I've ever had. Bonus points for a cute chef

Dropped in last week for dinner and it was a delight. The fish and chips was incredible, with a perfect-to-me flavorful light coating, and the anchovy paste for the caesar was heavenly. Interesting, balanced cocktails. The space is cozy and just pleasant to be in.

we went last night (Jan 20, 2024) and were seated at the bar for dining. we ordered a martini with olives and crement (sparkly wine) and two dinner entrees. we then ordered one more martini with olives and two more glasses of crement. when we got the bill we were shocked that we were charged $8.00 for those four very tiny olives in the martinis. the tavern steak was good but my cornish game hen soup was very hard to eat plus it was a very tiny game hen. we went there because of the location next to the mt. baker theater. I plan to call the owner an complain.very disappointed.