Waterfront Depot Restaurant

I was on a work assignment up in Florence and heard this place had great fish and chips. It took me 2 days to get in, long lines, generally an hour wait if they weren't already booked out. When i finally got in, they sat me outside by the river. They were amazing views. The food arrived within 20min from ordering. First round was the Clam chowder, I make it a point to try this when i'm at water front establishments followed by the fish and chips. Food was top tier! Drinks were okay and a little on the pricey side. overall the food was worth the wait! Best clam chowder i have experienced along the Oregon coast.

I came in to treat myself to a birthday dinner and had a great experience overall. My waitress (Brandy, I think? Sorry, I’m terrible with names) was attentive without breathing down my neck, knowledgeable about the menu, and gave great service. The food was good. I have to nitpick that the focaccia was a bit too soft and the pasta in the clam linguine was a little over-cooked, but overall it was flavorful, well-seasoned, and fresh with substantial portions. I got the lemon chiffon cake for dessert and it was absolutely wonderful (sharp and indulgent without feeling heavy). It’s definitely tourist-area prices, but I didn’t feel ripped off. *NOTE* make a reservation if you can! It’s pretty small and they fill up fast. Also, the plates were presented nicely when they came to me! I was just hungry and took bites before pictures… oops!

We came in on a Saturday night expecting to wait for a table and we were sat immediately. The restaurant was small and crowded so we knew it would be good. Our server Christina was amazing, very hospitable and so sweet. She made sure we were well taken care of. The food was spectacular, the seafood was so fresh and the cakes were so tasty! You don’t want to miss this place. It was absolutely delicious.

Great Atmosphere and the staff is great. The food was great. It is quite loud especially when they’re busy. I would recommend getting a reservation a couple days before you go. Just went back a week later still amazing and Jessy and the rest of the staff are amazing. Jessy is very kind and always makes time for you not matter how busy he is

Oh my gosh, if you go to the Newport Historical District, you need to make reservations at the Waterfront Depot Restaurant! They have limited hours and reservations well in advance are recommended. The food and service is awesome, and the views are breathtaking! There is a small inside seating area with a bar, and three outdoor tables with some bar seating. All have harbor views! The clam chowder we had was the best of 7 we have tried so far on Oregon Coast!

Went on a Monday. Indoor dining is by reservation only. Outdoor dining is first come first serve. Server did let us know wait time was about an hour and a half but a spot opened up sooner and waited about 45mins. Our waitress Leslie was amazing she was very attentive to our table, gave my puppies water as well. The food was delicious and fresh Will definitely recommend and come back! Pet friendly ✅ outdoor seating ✅

It's a small place but it's super cute. I loved all the food! I had the clam linguine pasta and it was delicious! It came with a soft thick piece of bread. I also got a slice of cake for dessert that tasted like a muffin. It was moist and delicious!

Every seafood dish was fresh, delicious, and nicely presented. The service was outstanding. The receptionist teamed with our waitress to take care of us while we waited (without a reservation) for a table to open up, and the service was fast and no formative all night even though the restaurant and bar were full. Nice views from the patios as well. The cocktails, wine, and beer selections were good as well, and prices very reasonable.

Best lamb shank I've ever tasted. Knowledgable staff pairing wine with their dishes and they always have delicious cocktail specials!

Back again and it was another home run Food was great. Service was awesome. Love this place and wish we lived closer Great vibe

Wow! This is an amazing place. Very small (maybe 12 tables) so make a reservation. We did not have one but arrived about 2:45 (they open at 3) and got two spots at the bar. Service was spot on, always ready to help. We had a couple local beers and some clam chowder to start. I had the pistachio encrusted halibut. Perfectly cooked, so good. It came with mashed potatoes (or rice) and a small Caesar salad. My husband had the salmon piccata, also fabulous! We finished with a slice of carrot cake. Unbelievable bargain for the level of food and service.

Whoa! We were driving from the airport in Eugene to Coos Bay. For over an hour we waited to find a restaurant. The place is kind of small in here and all of the tables were occupied. We were able to wait for 15-20 minutes for a table inside. Well worth the wait! The house salad was out of this world! Their dressing, combined with soft Gorgonzola, and everything fresh. It was amazing! I had the garlic lemon fettuccine Alfredo I think. Now I've never said this before, but I think this is the time... my compliments to the chef! I don't really know how to articulate these flavors. So Flavorful, but not salty. I wish that I lived in Oregon so that I could eat here again and again.

Got last minute reservations and had a wonderful meal with the wife here. The ambiance in the place and service were spectacular, and while it feels like a small town spot everyone is just SO NICE. Not something we are used to when traveling out of major metro areas.

First, the service was excellent. With no reservations, my family of 4 was told there was no room available. Before we got back into the car, the hostess was running out of the restaurant telling us that a spot had actually opened and they would love to serve us. Service overall 10/10. And the restaurant is right on the water, so you can't get a better view. Food was amazing. The crab cakes were probably one of my favorite dishes ever, along with the arroz con marisco seafood bowl. Everything was great - after the crab cakes and seafood bowl, I would rank them pasta jambalaya, Caesar salad, lamb shank and stuffed mushrooms from best to worst. But let me clarify, everything was very good. I will definitely return and probably order the same dishes

We queued up a bit before the restaurant opened. You line up on the side of the building. They seat reservation and then add in the walk ins. We were lucky to get a two top inside by a large window. The staff was all lovely and quick! Started with the pomegranate jalapeño margaritas and crab cakes. We decided on the Alaskan Halibut with a crab sauce for our main courses. All amazingly delicious!

Amazing place! History, great food wonderful view, romantic, the staff is incredible and the food unbelievable. Always a great time there with everything perfect. Make reservations they book up fast and it's small but so worth it!

This is my second review for Waterfront Depot...it is without question both my wife and my favorite restaurant on the Oregon coast...and there are many very good places! And if you go...please try their signature dish...crab encrusted halibut. It comes with a tasty sauce and a side salad and potato or rice (for a small up charge)...if you like fresh halibut and fresh crab...combine these together and you have a meal you will never forget. This place is usually very busy and reservations are a must (but forget getting a window seat...hostess told me these book up 4 months in advance?? Uhhh...ok)...the service is sometimes uneven...but the food is exceptional and far outweighs some of the other missteps at the restaurant -- you will be remiss if you do not stop here for dinner while in Florence. A++++

Another Florence staple to try. Reservations recommended as this is another small restaurant.

Excellent location right on the river. Get there early unless you have a reservation. Quaint space with minimal Seating. The server was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend the crab encrusted halibut! Yum!!!

This place was an all capital letters WOW, from our outstanding server, to the excellent food. An Ahi appetizer, and my dining companions had scallops and Halibut, while I chose one of the best grilled wild salmon dishes I've had in years. I retired from the charter fishing industry, and salmon was my specialty, and these people did it exceptionally well. So it's a Thursday night in mid November in a relatively small city, and this place was packed! Knowledgeable, personable staff, a great varied menu, excellent beverage options, in many ways 5 stars alone isn't entirely enough

Lovely late lunch! The service, view, and food were all excellent! We had the halibut that melted in your mouth.

We got lucky and got in on a busy night without a reservation. The food was excellent, staff super nice and I loved my rice and edamame. I know, sounds super simple but oh my.. I thought about it the next day. Jesse aka Brandy aka Jason (long story) was our waiter. He was fun. Zoe was great and Kim was so nice and I think must walk 20 miles a night because she ran around so much. Everyone was so nice. It wasn't that we didn't get others names, they're just too darn busy because it's so popular! And I love my sweatshirt I bought. It's so soft! This place is a gem.

Made my way to Florence to find a late lunch. Yelp suggested the Waterfront Depot Restaurant so I decided to try it out. I got there shortly after open (3pm) and was surprised to see a line at the door. After my experience today I can justify the wait! I started off with the crab cakes (a favorite coastal appetizer of mine) along with a cocktail. The cakes were the best I've had in Oregon; complimented by a unique sweet and sour sauce. While I waited for the main dish I enjoyed looking out at the water and enjoying the patio space to myself. Although it took longer than expected for my food to come out (about 40 minutes from ordering time) I am in no way disappointed with the service. My food was delicious and prepared perfectly, the atmosphere and scenery gave me a much needed break from the rush of life and my server was very helpful and kind. I will be back when visiting Oregon!

Had a fantastic meal to the Waterfront Depot Restaurant yesterday! The service was top notch and the restaurant is really cute. The crab cakes were amazing, lots of flavor and moist. I had the Sea scallops in a creamy cheesy pasta sauce with mushrooms, great combination. Tom had the best Salmon he has ever had! The veggies were wonderful just on their own. We had to order dessert to go and look forward to leftovers later today. We were very fortunate to get a reservation for 3:00, so call first although there are first come first serve seats outside and at the bar, and what a view!! Best food and service in Florence!

What a gem of a restaurant in a smallish town like Florence! Visited with my wife and mother while in Florence for a couple of days. We were fortunate to get a table on short notice, they were super helpful to squeeze us in, as they are regularly full, and for good reason. Super friendly staff, and the food was fantastic. I had the arroz con marisco seafood bowl, it was the best bowl of seafood I've ever had, and I often get items like cioppino & seafood stews, so I've had a lot to compare this with. Unique flavors, and plenty of great seafood. Couldn't recommend this place more highly!

The food here was so delicious!! We ate at the bar, which gave us a fun view of the whole restaurant and the bay behind it. Our server was super kind and attentive and anticipated a lot of our needs. I'm taking off one star because I thought the bartender was a bit impolite-- they started rattling off guesses about my partner's ethnicity. But other than that instance it was a lovely dining experience.

This restaurant came up multiple times when I was asking for Florence restaurant suggestions. I tried to call to make a reservation but there was a pre-recorded message on the voicemail that said there were no openings. We came around 5 PM and easily sat at the bar, the restaurant was otherwise full. The bar filled up shortly after we sat down. The restaurant is small and cozy with a beautiful water view. I started with one of the cocktail specials- had bourbon, ginger, lime and agave - was not too sweet, perfectly balanced . I had the arroz con marisco seafood bowl which was a bowl of steaming hot broth with a generous amount of seafood inside. Came with Cesar's salad and focaccia bread. I highly recommend this dish! My dining partner had salmon piccata which they enjoyed . Next time will try crab stuffed mushroom appetizer which I saw multiple people eating and looked delicious and also get the crab encrusted halibut.

Food, service and drinks were amazing. Extra kudos to the bread maker. Outstanding. Will come again next time through town.

Like many reviews have already stated, a reservation is a must at Waterfront Depot Restaurant. We called a couple times to try and make a reservation but no one answered the phone. We ultimately decided to try our luck and pop into the restaurant to try and get a table. We initially wanted an indoor table and was told there was a 45-minute to an hour long wait. We were visiting from out-of-town and wanted to explore Florence so this was fine by us. There is a shaded waiting area and I also saw a couple of chairs near the water that a person could sit at and wait for a table. After walking around Downtown for a bit we returned and the host offered us an outdoor table that was surrounded by a plexiglass frame. It was a warmer day so we were okay with this. It was pretty busy in the restaurant so it took a while for our waitress to greet us and take drink orders. I decided on the special that night - a 15 oz ribeye steak, salad and mashed potatoes. Really great steak! Going to back to what I said about a reservation, throughout the evening we watched person after person walk up thinking they would get a table and being told the wait was now 2 hours. So, go early or make a reservation for Waterfront Depot Restaurant!

Crab encrusted Halibat was amazing along with a mexican version of cioppino, cant remember what they called it. Sat at the bar and they make some dang good cocktails! Loved the ambiance, small and quaint and great Service.

Food and cocktails were excellent. Service great and restaurant atmosphere very cute and cozy.

This was honestly one of the best meals I've ever had and I'm so sad that I can't have it again anytime soon! My sister and I stopped here on a roadtrip through Oregon. We didn't make any reservations because we weren't sure what time we'd get into town and lucked out that we were seated immediately, about an hour before close. The food and service was absolutely phenomenal. The crab cakes were absolutely amazing. The best I've ever had. For entrees, we got the halibut fish and chips and the crab encrusted halibut. Both were absolutely amazing. Incredible meals. That crab encrusted halibut with a side of potatoes was just a perfect meal. The whole time, our server was attentive and helpful and just wonderful. Honestly, I would do a weekend trip to Oregon just to go back to this restaurant again.

Solidly good food. Super super service. Would come back here in a heartbeat. And I am usually not impressed with places to eat.. we are on the deck next to heater. Really nice.. Zoe and Jessie were amazing.

We lucked into this one. We were really late for eating lunch and found this place on Yelp. We arrived at 315p when they opened at 3p and this is probably the only reason we could eat there. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation and ask for one of the tables looking out at the water. Really good food. We had salmon and it was fantastic. Simple and just perfectly prepared. I got Cajun and my wife did grilled. Both were great. Nice people at the bar too.

My absolute favorite restaurant in Oregon! Make sure you call ahead and make a reservation. Very cute spot, I love getting a window seat. The food is excellent! The duck is always my pick. Their rice is so good, I don't know what they put in it, but I always find myself craving it! The lamb dishes are excellent as well. They also have a full bar and a great drink menu. The dessert is always delicious! It does get a bit crowded as it's a smaller building but it's worth it. Service is always great! You won't regret coming here. We have been going Valentine's Day the past couple of years and will continue that tradition.

The bar service is by far numero uno in Florence. The cocktails are well crafted with new libations created seasonally. The food service can be spotty but any of the regular staff are very good and reliable. The food is also very good and reliable but not very innovative or creative. The biggest negative is that it can get really loud in that room to the point it can ruin your dinner. Also the reservationist can be awful. We received a window table and 15 minutes into dinner we were asked to move to a different table. This was a first in my restaurant lifetime experience and not well received. The reason for demanding to be moved was that the hostess missed an upcoming reservation and that the party arrived early. Outrageous bad form and I can say Ihave not seen the same hostess there for 9-10 months.

We had a great time here. Great food, drinks and service. Even the other diners were friendly! Outstanding in every way. We ate on the patio as I had my dog with me. He's well behaved and just slept at my feet. He did get a hamburger patty which was good enough for me to eat. I especially want to call out the exceptional service. Really enjoyed it.

Amazing restaurant: food, service, view of the Siuslaw River were all excellent! I am a seafood lover and this place had the best Scallops I've ever eaten. Prices are high, but you get delicious food!

The food was really good people nice. Sat at bar to eat was taken care of right away. Nice looking Resturant inside and out too.

Such a wonderful place to eat! We were fortunate to sit outside in front of the water. It was so nice!!! The food was so delicious. Our waitress was so friendly & gave excellent service. Glad we found this restaurant on our road trip.

This was great find!! We walked in thinking it is a small town place and won't be as busy- and were completely wrong!! So glad we waited for our table as we did not have a reservation- so highly recommend reservations ahead of time- since the food was AMAZING! so was the service!' Our server was as energetic and enthusiastic at 8pm as someone would be at the beginning of the day! My kids even commented on her energy! She was kind enough to be patient with the kids orders and also talked to the bar guys to make a drink that was no longer on the specials but I had seen it on a review! We highly recommend this place for their hospitality!!! And top it all off- the view from the restaurant is unbeatable- quaint little place with sunset views of the Siuslaw river was the perfect family getaway for the evening!! 5 stars on all accounts!

Best food in Florence, worst service. If you are a very patient person I can highly recommend the Crab encrusted Halibut.

An amazing seafood dining experience. Easy to understand why reservations need to be made well in advance. Thanks for having outdoor seating option with tables overlooking the river.

Food excellent, ambiance excellent and beyond excellent service. The reservations were full for the night so we were offered and accepted to eat dinner at the bar. I'm so glad we did because the food was phenomenal. Sea food pasta with Alfredo sauce was fresh and very tasty. The crab and crusted halibut was also fresh and delicious. We also enjoyed the fried oysters. We have no complaints. It was fun to sit at the bar and interact with the staff. The place is small so reservations are highly recommended. It seems to be a very popular place.

Waterfront depot restaurant has great food. Recently, we had dinner there. Our reservation was for 5pm on a weekday. At 6:30pm we were done with our meal. Talking. A waitress (not ours) , comes up to our table and says, "we need you to leave, we need your table". I was so surprised. Never have I been told that in a restaurant. Possibly, some sensitivity training should be initiated by management to the staff. Is there a good way to say that?Or maybe a sign stating you will be asked to leave after 1.5 hours because we because we need your table.

Didn't have reservations on a Saturday night so hubby and I sat at bar. Ate a fabulous meal and dessert and wine. Fabulous service and conversations with people at the bar. Highly recommend and will definitely go back on next visit. The whole down town area alone the ocean was charming. Walked past a bar with great live music. Great town and restaurant.

Without a doubt one of the top three restaurants in Lane County. We live in Eugene (you think we'd have a restaurant that would compare, but we don't) and went to the coast for a three week stay. Our daughter recommended that we eat at the Depot. Service - Excellent! Our waitress knew every meal on the menu, recommend wine pairings - perfectly professional! Ambiance - nice setting (we ate when it was dark). It's right on the river-I'm sure daylight is a great view. Food-crab encrusted halibut - Excellent! lamb-not an order again item (I grew up on my grandfathers raised lamb) Clam chowder - The Best! It was a great dinner. We'll be back soon!

We came to Waterfront Depot Restaurant for the ambiance. However, if you want to dine and have a waterfront view you will have to book in advance. We were fortunate to be able to reserve a table for the same night, although not a waterfront view. The hostess was friendly enough and the waiter/bartender "Jesse" was exceptionally friendly. The food was delicious. We each enjoyed our entrees and the carrot cake. Overall, we were pleased with our choice of dinner. If in the area again we would not hesitate to come again. Enjoy! :)

The food was phenomenal. I really loved the crab cakes and clam chowder, and the Cajun fish burger was quite good too. Honestly some of the best clam chowder I've ever had. I'm just taking down one star as one of the bartenders made me a bit uncomfortable asking questions about my race.

What a cute place ! We were greeted with a smile! The delicious scents came through the door as we walked up & it didn't disappoint! We loved calamari fingers & enjoyed everything we tried. We will be back to try the clam chowder ! New fave Florence spot !!!

Halibut was superb, truly! I hope to be back to enjoy the river views. Ambience is perfectly relaxing.

Yes, the reviews are right. It's that good. You just don't walk in. Expect a wait. Call ahead - maybe a week or more, possibly a month for summer dates. No table is really bad as the food and service make up for it. Try for a window or eat outside if at all nice. It can feel a little cramped and noisy. Everybody's having fun. It's the Oregon coast so take advantage of the seafood offerings. You can get steak back home.

Very small restaurant- very loud restaurant- food was more to my wife's liking - I had the seafood platter and found it to be ok but not great- my wife had the scallop pasta- great flavor and very rich- I would have to say our overall experience was underwhelming- the food was ok the service ok- we realized after finally taking the time to make a point to eat at the Depot with a reservation 3 days in advance it was just not that great. We probably won't be going back as along the coast we found places that have better food, less wait, less noise and a better atmosphere.

What a lovely restaurant! My sister and I had cocktails outside, there was a gas fire table, and we enjoy the cool weather on the water. My bees knees cocktail was sweet and delicious. We stayed outside and ate at a small table facing the water. I would highly recommend and would look forward to going back.

Great food, wonderful view and really good service. We had a lovely evening. We did have a reservation and you should definitely do that if possible.

Food was absolutely delicious and prepared perfectly. The ambiance and staff was excellent also. Will definitely be back

I'm hugely impressed. We had dinner here, and everything was 5 stars from making the reservation to dessert. A relatively small venue, as was typical for depots in the 1800s, but there is seating outdoors as well. They have made great use of every inch of the property. We were seated by the window overlooking the river. The only reservation available was at 8pm so we enjoyed the sunset from the west across the river. Service was "genuine," meaning someone glad you're there and eager to make your experience memorable. A nice Merlot and crab-stuffed mushrooms were perfect, and then we had the crab-encrusted halibut. YUM! We watched a server bring two slices of cake to a couple at an outdoor table and were "sold" from a distance. We shared a very generous slice of three berry cake from a local bakery that was a perfect ending to the meal. There is a small park nearby that we enjoyed and then walked to our car along the abandoned street. Yes, they do roll up the streets at 9 pm even on a Friday night. NOTE: The halibut has a delicious sauce that has a generous amount of red peppers, which added a bit to punch, but for me... I ended up fishing out a number of Red Peper flakes to accommodate my taste, but I would still rate the entire experience a 10.