On two separate journeys to Orcas Island, my sister and I went to Adrift for dinner. I am completely and totally in love with this restaurant. The staff is very welcoming, and they are a very good representation of the chefs' creations. The servers are experienced and professional. On our way back his week, we will be sopping again...a grand memory made, twice...and more to follow! read more

So we ended up in Adrift to kill some time before we took the Ferry to Orcas Island. What a fortunate happening! We LOVED Adrift! They have a GREAT restaurant area with interesting, lovely and cool decor. I think I even saw bookshelves in there! And around the bar, they had all these quirky, little things that made the place unique and fun to be at. The service was great and warm! I love when you have nice servers who kindly ask you why are you visiting, and how can they help to make anything better! Also, it was awesome to be able to watch how our food was cooked in the spotless, and oh-so-cool open kitchen. We were there for less than an hour, and split a grilled cheese that was to DIE for. It was a blend of three cheeses, Mozarella, Gorgonzola and Provolone on fresh, sweet basil bread. I think about it and my mouth waters! I had coffee, and got scared when I saw the typical white dinner cup landing in front of me. As y'all know, dinner coffee is awful. But Adrift's coffee was bold and delicious, just honoring the great elixir as most places do in the WA state! So if you are staying in Anacortes or taking the Ferry from there, be sure you stop at Adrift! You'll love it. read more

My husband and I recently visited Adrift, and was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. We ordered the blackened cod and cioppino. Both were excellent! If we ever visit Anacortes again, we will definitely return! read more

I can sum this place up pretty easily. Hot, crowded, noisy, over-priced. If $17+ appetizers and burgers sounds like a good deal to you, go for it. read more

The food is amazing! Definitely worth stopping and in fact I'd drive a good distance to get here! This "foodie" is not always easily satisfied but both food and service here were awesome. Thai Tomato soup to begin. It was verrrry tasty. Then I had fresh wild salmon, blackened with kale saluted in olive oil, garlic and leeks finished with clarified butter. A mashed potato croquette finished off a delightful supper. We sat at the bar and watched all kinds of food prep. The seasons first halibut was being cut into fillets, desserts being made, this is the real deal folks! read more

Fried oysters and garlic aioli on a badass burger? Yes please. The clams with white wine, garlic, butter and I think cream were some of the best clams I've had (and I have had a ton). read more

I had the scallops and kale/leeks with potato croquette. My boyfriend had the mediterranean spiced lamb burger with fries. We took the order to go, so that might be part of the reason that I didn't have a mind-blowing experience as other yelpers have. The atmosphere of the restaurant and the staff were a pleasure and the soup we had while waiting for our to-go order was fantastic. My scallops were a bit tough for my liking and the seasoning was bland. I typically like a smooth scallop taste with a crispy sear on the outside. These were smaller scallops and didn't have the soft, buttery texture that I enjoy from my diver scallops. WIll be back to try dining at the restaurant. My taste of the burger and the fries that I ate were pretty good too. read more

Hard to know where to start here. My Girlfriend and I are visiting from New Zealand and (thanks to the advice of a friend we are traveling with) use Yelp to help us find organic (or organic friendly) restaurants due to the generally atrocious state of affairs in the American food/diet system. We had just popped off the ferry from Orcas Island and were hungry as we had not yet had lunch. We Yelp'd this place and due to the larger number of positive reviews decided it was the place for us. We came in for a late lunch/early dinner. Man, what a great choice! From the moment you walk in you know this is a special place. Friendly staff, unpretentious surroundings and just enough local style to make it truly unique. Our waitress Nora was awesome. She ran through the specials with us and we had a friendly chat with her about how we found the place and asked her what she recommended from the menu. We ended up getting the Mexican Monday's Taco Special, the Grilled Polenta, Garlic-Brie Burger, a side of Oven Fries and to finish off, we got the Fruit Crisp with ice cream. To say the food was scrumptious would be a dramatic understatement. The food was much better than good and Nora kept coming back to check on us and continue the friendly banter. The sauces are definitely worth a special mention. The tacos came loaded with delicious pulled beef along with an amazing pesto sauce that you think would be soooo out of place on a taco but absolutely made the dish. They were served with a side of delicious Chipotle Sour Cream and Mango Pico De Gallo Salsa. The fries were 'to die for', oven roasted to perfection and served with a very tasty Garlic Aioli. Oddly, one of the best things about the Polenta was the out of this world wilted Garlic Kale. I am not sure if it was steamed or stir fried but whatever it was, it will change your thinking about Kale forever. The burger was beyond excellent, served up with caramelized onions and totally unique Gorgonzola cream dressing that was also served with the fries as an alternative to the Blue Cheese dressing one of our party was after. The dessert was was like a berry crumble and we selected a delectable Vanilla ice cream to go with it. Even the whipped cream is made fresh in-house - a rarity in this day and age of Cool-Whip in a can BS. We even appreciated Nora's honesty when we asked if the Edamama were Organic (almost impossible when circa 90%+ of US soybeans are Genetically Modified) and she said no, not certified Organic. It is very clear that the kitchen staff are proud of their food and treat it with the love and respect it deserves. We washed all this goodness down with a pint of the local brew and all in all, this was easily the best restaurant meal we have had on our US trip so far. One of the best parts of our visit? The surprisingly reasonable pricing. The 3 of us had beers, main meals, a side dish and a shared dessert and the total was only $88 - by almost any metric VERY cheap for this level of quality. If you are ever reasonably within driving distance of this wonderful restaurant, you absolutely must visit or you are missing out on one of life's great pleasures - a local restaurant that screams international grade quality and service. read more

Adrift ruined me. I love steak, and now I don't even want to try to cook it. It'll be like jerky compared to the heavenly heaven of their heavenlike steaks of heavendom. Holy red meat madness. OK! Back on track--the restaurant appeared clean, we were seated promptly, and the beer selection is good. We started with a pound of steamers (highly advise) before the main course. She got the Cioppino. I got the steak with crab au gratin. I don't like fish all that much and I loved hers. My steak was amazingly tender and wonderful before you even add in the deliciousness of crab au gratin. And we finshed off with creme brulee. Expensive? Yes, particularly for someone who's not a big eating-out guy. But so, so worth it--no regrets. And if you want to, there are certainly cheaper items on the menu ($12 burgers and such). It came highly recommended for a reason. read more

Amazing food, great service, and books everywhere! Lots of yummy vegetarian options. I got the tacos and my friend got the Benedict-- and we split a melt-in-your-mouth pancake! Coffee was great, too. Will definitely be back! read more

Quaint eatery in downtown Anacortes. Had cipono which, according to my foodie husband was the best he'd ever had including San Fran. Chock full of seafood. Also, had the crab cakes. Not a bit of filler! read more

My husband and I enjoyed a weekday breakfast in Anacortes at Adrift. My food, with fresh oysters, was absolutely delicious and served hot! (as was my husband's) The coffee was superior and our server cheerful, helpful and unobtrusive. Wish this place was closer to home so we could visit regularly. My other wish is that they opened earlier...couple times just not an option as we we're out at 6:00 or 6:30 am. Not open until 8:00. read more

Great breakfast menu and fantastic service. Our waitress Nicole knew the menu well and made good recommendations for our group. Will definitely return next time we are in town. read more

We stopped in Anacortes after a weekend in Friday Harbor. It seemed the only place with seafood open that day so we took the chance. Food was really good with mixes of spices and different ingredients that clearly gave an original touch to something so popular as fish and chips or a burger. Only Con: Kids menu was quite expensive for what we are used to. read more

We were in town on vacation and got a tip from the local kayak tour folks that this was the best place to get seafood in town. We were not disappointed, as all the fish was fresh caught that day, perfectly seasoned and paired with some delicious veggies. I had blackened salmon, my SO blackened halibut, and our friends had the Skagit magic burger, the wee piano salad, and the green dragon curry steamer. Paired with edamame as a starter, this was a delightfully filling repast. The atmosphere, like the town of Anacortes, is relaxed, serene and kitschy. Nautical references, old books, and copper clad tables everywhere paired with hues reminiscent of the ocean, we felt quite cozy while we dined. read more

I love this restaurant. The menu items are great - I'll admit I haven't explored it fully, but my favorites include the Yakisoba, any and all of their burgers, and the crab cakes to start. They always have something on special and a good rotating beer selection, so be sure to ask your server what's new! The steaks there are great! Get there early on Thursday night for sushi - it's a tad pricey but well executed and pretty good. If you're in Anacortes and wondering where to grab dinner, you've gotta try this place! read more

This place is a gem! I had the fish tacos and my husband had the pan fried oysters. Both were excellent! Lovely staff.

Unfortunately when you live in Minneapolis, you're far away from the wonderful seafood on the coasts. Luckily, we were on vacation in Seattle and drove up to Anacortes to visit a friend and got to enjoy a wonderful dinner at Adrift. The restaurant is especially charming with its book shelves surrounding each table, but the food is what stole the show. Our party of three devoured salmon tacos, halibut and the Dungeness crab au gratin. Oh My God. They were all delightful and amazing and awesome, but if I were on death row and had the ability to eat one last thing, the Dungeness crab au gratin would be my order. This is an adorable place with phenomenal food and shouldn't be missed if you're visiting Anacortes and looking for a fabulous meal. read more

This place has everything you are looking for in a coastal seafood restaurant: fresh fish, fun atmosphere, and great entrees. I experienced salmon tacos for the first time and they were outstanding--a great Northwest take on classic fish tacos. The catfish tacos were also very good. They both came with a mango pico de gallo that worked perfectly. I sampled the steamers and they were also cooked to perfection. They were bathed in a sauce so good that they provided fresh bread for dipping. The scallops were huge and very fresh. The waitress was very cool; she memorized our large groups order and shared lots of good travel tips for places to see and where to park. read more

Adrift lived up to all its hype on Yelp! What a find. We had several different plates on the Lunch fare, and we shared everything a la family style. The half shell oysters were fresh and succulent, the clams were enriched by their creamy garlic and white wine sauce, and the cioppino (fish/shellfish stew) topped it all off. Service was great. Seafood lovers, come visit and leave happy! read more

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I came here twice on dates with my wife and the service was phenomenal each time. The food was extremely amazing. Definitely don't miss out on the best crab cakes ever! read more

Excellent food and atmosphere. The food was super fresh. Wait staff was professional just not super efficient. There was a line out the door at 1:30pm on a Sunday but the wait was worth it. Traveling with a 1 year old and it was super nice to finally go to a place that had books and toys you could let them play with while you had dinner. read more

Adrift - Love the art in this place. The food is excellent, Super fresh and just the right amount. - Seafood Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

This has to be one of the best breakfast restaurants that we've been to. It's unfortunate that it's about 2 hours away from home! We looked on yelp for a breakfast place in Anacortes before going to the ferry terminal and walked into a very memorable experience. They had bookshelves of used books separating the tables, one whole side of the restaurant was brick, the other side had some maps and other random things, like a framed skeleton of an Alaskan king crab. I ordered eggs, bacon and french toast and it was delicious. It was absolutely perfect. My boyfriend got the eggs benedict with crab cakes and it was amazing. Both his parents ordered eggs, bacon and toast and they loved it. The coffee was good too. And on top of the food being delicious, service was prompt. Love this place. Can't wait to come back for breakfast, lunch and dinner! read more

We ate here at the suggestion of our Realtor and it was delicious! Our experience with restaurants on Whidbey and Anacortes had been hit or miss (more falling in the miss category) so this was a great surprise. I got the fried egg sandwich and husband got the fish tacos. Both were great choices, so much so that we went back and both ate the same thing the second time around. Service is good as well. We will definitely be back frequently. read more

Good food, tried the steamers which were a bit salty but flavorful Also took a bite of the poached fish which had a light taste of curry, nothing over the top but very delightful. One thing the restaurant is lacking is appetizers. Seriously, I tried looking for something I could share with my party but there wasn't anything suitable (as in, a little smaller and cheaper than an entree, and easy to share). This place was better than I expected for a small town. The decor and atmosphere is quite nice and pleasant, I loved the old books that you could buy right off the restaurant lining the wall in the back Four star food, subtracting one star for my clams being a bit too salty (I needed one or two bites of bread and a drink of water after each clam to balance it out), and the somewhat poor service from our waitress who wasn't very attentive but I think she might have been having a busy night. This place would be 5 stars if they had a decent appetizer menu, and (judging from the other commenter as well), slight adjustments to their seasoning mix read more

Great food and our server, Zeedie, was stellar. Everything she recommended was amazing. My wife LOVED her Beet Happening salad and Veggie Starts (roasted potatoes sauteed with local seasonal veggies like cauliflower, broccolini and zucchini). I had the Caesar salad and tomato-parmesan brisque, which was the best I've ever had. Everything is fresh made, most items have organic ingredients and it seems that there is an effort to buy local whenever possible. Zeedie was really sweet, very attentive and knew the menu inside and out. If you get a chance to stop here, you won't be disappointed. read more

Went here for lunch looking for some good seafood. Like other yelpers have stated this place is a bit pricey. My m om ended getting the crab cakes which were size of umm an American half dollar. Although tasty at the end she stated "can we go get lunch after this." I got the vegetarian tofu burger/sandwich. Mine was a bit bigger and I quite enjoyed mine. It was nice to see a restaurant go away from the standard veggie burger and into a nice well seasoned tofu burger slice. So with my mom giving it 3 stars and me giving it 4 I went with three. One extra thing I enjoyed was the decor being the books that surrounded me while I ate. My mom didn't like that all to much as I wasn't paying attention to her but yet reading "how to understand the star" as when you eat here you are surrounded by used books for sale apparently. I did not buy any cause I cleaned out my credit card paying for the two lunches and two drinks. SO you definitely pay for the organic side of it. read more

Away for a long weekend, we came here as a family for Sunday brunch. The day before, locals had recommended Adrift and Rockfish Café as the two places to try in historic downtown Anacortes - regrettably, we went to Rockfish the night before for dinner (meh) but Adrift is just as family-friendly, and on every other measure, in a different league altogether. For one, you have to love owners who hang a sign on the one, unisex bathroom that says "Either or Both." That kind of infectious, offbeat spirit carries through in the service, which was attentive, prompt, and personal throughout the meal. The atmosphere - brick walls, coppertop tables, quirky art, aforementioned signage - is eccentric yet authentic in a way that's really tough to pull off. And the food. Wow. Everything is sourced locally and nothing tasted short of outstanding. The youngsters had the "222" breakfast: local, organic eggs, divine pancakes (made with cottage cheese and spelt flour - slightly weird but the kids LOVED them), and crispy bacon - and pronounced all of it to die for. When my wife succumbed to the allure of mimosas by the glass, the waitress (Zeedee) was quick to suggest sparkling apple cider for the kids so they could join in the fun. I had the best cup of coffee I'd had all weekend, along with eggs, bacon and 4 slices of delectable, chewy, local bread, toasted to perfection. If you want tired, corporate foodtruck fare served by 20-something staff who don't care too much, try the large orange fish a few doors down the street. For authentic, delicious, local food served with a smile, head directly to Adrift. Can't wait to return for dinner. read more

This place is simply amazing. Wonderful food. Great service...and even delicious beer!! I don't live in town but I would make the trip from Kirkland just for a dinner! read more

Adrift - Amazing burger- fresh local beef, delicious bun and a fried oyster to make jt perfect!! Delish fries too!! - Seafood Near Me - Anacortes, Washington

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I have to say, I am definitely glad we gave Adrift a second chance. We decided to try going here for breakfast before working the Anacortes Art Festival and I'm so glad that we did! Amazing breakfast!!! I recommend sitting at the bar and watching the staff work that kitchen. They've got it going on! I ordered the wee veggie starts with an egg both mornings. My boyfriend got the delicious biscuits and gravy one morning, and the breakfast sandwich the next. Both were amazing and come highly recommended. I wish there was an Adrift closer to us in Tacoma! read more

This is a great spot for an upscale lunch! I had the burger with gorgonzola cheese and oven fries for a $11. Great service, fresh, local delicious. Note: They only have one bathroom. Which is fine. Until you're in line behind a group of 11 international males on an eco tourism trip. fml! read more

What a cool place. Comfortable atmosphere and great menu of items. Homemade dressing on the salad. Tomato soup was excellent. Tacos were huge and had high quality ingredients. Had excellent service with 2 or 3 different people checking in on us and making sure everything was good. Interesting decor with a bunch old books on shelves you can read. At my table there was a book called "Vexillology." I learned that this is a study of flags, that there is an entire science of this, and that some people are really into it. While I waited for the food I read a chapter and it was not as boring as you would think! Anyway, the food came fast and it was a nice lunch. They have a counter you can sit at also. The key lime tart and chocolate mousse desserts were really good. Did not intend on having dessert but the food was so good I had to try. Glad I did. read more

Had a brilliant early dinner here this afternoon. Drove into Anacortes on a surprise sunny day (rain in the forecast) and wandered into this special little place. The layout is a little strange; kind of a "U" shape with a counter plus kitchen on one side, tables on the other. I sat at the counter. First thing I noticed was that nearly the entire kitchen is open to the counter area. I watched as my entire meal and those of numerous other customers was prepared in front of me. Everything was right up front - nothing was hidden, and there was nothing to hide. Watched as my fresh oysters were shucked (they were terrific), my soup was ladled into my bowl, smelled the incredible aroma of one lucky patron's glorious-looking steak. I didn't get the kale salad but it looked superb (and enormous). The kitchen is spotless. This is dinner and a show. The service was without peer, although I'm pretty sure the woman waiting on me was the owner. All of the staff were friendly regardless of whether or not she was around. I've had far worse experiences at much spendier establishments. (An aside: some other reviewers characterize this place as expensive. I didn't find it to be, but I'm accustomed to Seattle prices. It was what I expect to pay for a nice meal out, and this was a very, very nice meal. I enjoyed myself, possibly a little too much.) The food: it was excellent. Started off with the clam chowder. If I had to criticize any aspect of the meal it would be with the soup - it was not very creamy. However, there are so many divergent opinions on what clam chowder is or isn't that I shelved my expectations and enjoyed it. It was fresh and hearty, with plenty of clams and plenty to like. Next: fresh oysters. They were carefully shucked and delicious. For main: the "Salish burger", basically a burger made with pan-fried oysters, topped with rocket, pickled onion, and a green-goddess style avocado sauce. I'd never encountered an oyster burger before and leapt on this as soon as I saw it. It was delicious, with the perfect combination of flavor. Oven fries were superb also. The owner then managed to coax me into a key lime tart for dessert. It was the perfect small finish for a meal. Nothing too big or heavy, just a small something as I chatted with the patron next to me. I'll be back, and I'll bring friends. read more

Ate there yesterday on a day trip after seeing Tulips in Mount Vernon. Husband ordered ordinary burger well done, no extras except ketchup and mustard. No onion. Burger came pink inside with onions, no ketchup and mustard. He asked for oven fries it came with chips. He ordered clam chowder soup, the spoon had dried on food on it. I ordered the fish tacos, they were okay, but nothing special. Would not go back. Former reviews lured us in, pick a different place. read more

Was taken to the Adrift by a local friend of ours who loves the place...and I can completely see why! Adrift was really busy during lunch so we sat at the beautiful copper counter and got to watch the action in the kitchen...which was awesome! The assault on the olfactory was incredible...watched one of the guys bring together a curried chicken and rice soup with some butter roux, as well as watching the baker bringing out the fresh house made buns out of the oven. Had to buy one as it came out of the oven, slathered it in butter...mouth-gasim! The baker? She smiled as if to say "another one falls into my power". Watched another gent breaking down a fresh halibut with a journeyman's precision, and was really impressed with how well kitchen moved, and how clean they kept the place at the same time. Service from the gent running the counter was prompt considering they where rocking, and he made some great recommendations for our lunch and a nice wine by the glass option too. I had the stuffed burger, locally grown beef, (half pounder because I was feeling cocky) and it came with local bacon, and was served on one of those amazing rolls...awesome! The fries that came with the burger where a nice twist! Not a fryer in the house to be seen, and the fries where oven baked with onion and chopped garlic that came out sweet and roasted with the fries. Had to leave some of the fries though...that buger put me down. What I love is in talking to the folks and my friend, who is there a couple of times a week, is that the Adrift is culinarily inventive, local products, and a group of people that really are passionate about the product, service, and experience. Next time we come up from Seattle, we are going to make a point of doing dinner...for a couple of hours...and getting rolled out of the place. read more

The crabcakes were delicious but the potatos were cold. And I have never went to a restaurant that when they seat you let tell you, " you have until 730 to finish your meal because someone else has this table reserved "..... read more

Great spot. Certainly seems like the 'best restaurant' in Anacortes area. Great ingredients, tasty food, extensive menu with healthful options. Get the fish, get the salads, get the soups, the desserts also... It's just a good spot. The kind u want to go to over and over. Good alternative for breakfast if dad's diner is closed. read more

Tasty food. Friendly service. Nice atmosphere. I recommend you try all four cookies- peanut butter, ginger and molasses, chocolate chip walnut, and double chocolate chip. The bread that came with the soups was insanely delicious too. Who is their baker?! read more

Always wonderful. I live in Coupeville and I make it a point of going to Anacortes once a month to enjoy my favorite restaurant there. Fabulous! Local, sustainable and absolutely wonderful. Favorites are the Pork tacos with Yams...yum. Island Trollers tuna sandwich served warm. The beet salad.. Edamame. Todays special Yaki Soba with a peanut sauce...Yum! Service, great. Wine list, great. Food, excellent. Thank you for being here! read more

I have been to Adrift twice. The first time I ordered the chicken marsala and it was very good. The second time I ordered the Cioppino and it was delightful. I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered...but knowing him it was some type of steak. The second time we came our waitress was very fun and she brought us a small sampler of all the craft beer they had on draft. I have to say my favorite was the Habanero Cider Beer. Sweet with a spicy kick at the end. Will definitely return and order that beer again!! read more