Restaurant 3/5 Overall. Ajax Cafe has a super unique vibe and a great waterfront view, it is inside an old building that I'm guessing was a general store at least 120+ years ago. The wild hats and ties are hanging all over the inside and customers are encouraged to wear them! We had reservations they do get busy, excellent quick service. Not a large menu but they were fast to bring out the food and they always have rotating specials with something for everyone on the menu. BBQ Ribs 2.3/5 Overall. Meat 2/5. Sauce 2/5. Sides 2/5. Size & Value 3/5. Massive 1/2 rack of Carolina gold bbq ribs with a slice of cornbread, coleslaw and buttery mash potatoes. The ribs were huge but most of it was pretty greasy and inedible fat to be honest. Could have used more sauce, good seasoning though. Excellent buttery mashed potatoes. Good coleslaw (I usually don't finish coleslaw and I did ). Good size slice of cornbread but it is not overly sweet, I like it sweeter or served with honey. read more

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Really interesting place inside here, lots going on with the decor, old signs and pictures everywhere, good vibe. The menus are all inside old records! I love this idea, would be fun to come back and see what album you order out of next. Anyway, I ordered out of a Carpenters album, which was appropriate because I was absolutely starving. Thankfully they bring bread and butter out to you very quickly after you sit down. The bread was great, very fresh and tasty. I had the special entree- King salmon in brown butter sage, it was amazing. Good sides and veggies too. Service was great and friendly. I am really glad I had dinner here. read more

Ajax Cafe - King Salmon (special) - Seafood Near Me - Port Hadlock, Washington

Out and about exploring from Oregon and decided to give Ajax Café a try. Such a delightful little hole in the wall! Matthew did an amazing job serving us and making menu suggestions. Each dish we had was decadent- including the desserts. Having Old 33 records serve as the menus Was such a fun idea. Everything we ordered was outstanding! Serving sizes were great and prices reasonable too. The vast array of eclectic decor kept our eye, except when we were enjoying the lively water views. Such a lovely afternoon with amazing food and friendship conversations. We will be back! read more

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Food, Service, Drinks. Excellent . Wanna see pics? The taste was even better. Rib Eye to perfection. 14oz Made husband happy. Good drinks. read more

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Had never been before and was pleasantly surprised. The drinks and food were excellent and the service was superb. Loved the quirky ambiance. read more

Met a group at Ajax the other day. We loved the area, the Cafe and the servers. Location was around the waterfront and absolutely beautiful. The Cafe was decorated with mis-matched table and chairs. It was perfect for the setting. Our server was fabulous. She was efficient, friendly and couldn't be better. The bread they serve for the table was hot and absolutely delicious. Everyone loved their meal .... except me. I wasn't real pleased but that's because what I ordered had spicy sausage in it. I don't like spicy. read more

What a gem on the docks of Port Hadlock. Delicious and interesting food, great wine selection and excellent service. Interior quirky and very fun. We had an excellent meal.! read more

lamb bolognese was simply divine. succulent, tender, flavorful lamb over incredibly fresh, perfectly cooked tagliatelle (or maybe was pappardelle ?) ... wine was great, ambiance superb. service attentive and helpful. only feedback was the pot de crème, described as a thick mousse, was a little too thick in my opinion, quite difficult to even spoon out of the delightfully plated dish. taste was great, however. read more

The location is great but the service...hostess and the food is mediocre. They opened less than 37 minutes and the hostess was hesitant to seat me because I did not have a reservation!! The restaurant was 98% empty when I got there and when I left ! I did enjoy my beer! So one star for the beer. Thanks poulsbo brewing co read more

Ajax Cafe - Poulsbo brewing co - Seafood Near Me - Port Hadlock, Washington

Nice vibe and good food. I like to go here and sit outside. Service is always great even when they are busy

Expensive, mediocre. Mashed potatoes on both dishes cold, ribs so tough I couldn't cut them. Halibut special a tiny portion for the $ and potatoes cold. One carrot?? Caesar salad very mediocre and over priced. I could go on but I just hope it improves....cause we won't be back until we hear it does. read more

this great eclectic restaurant on the water is amazing. They consistently turn out awesome food with unique Northwest qualities. The owners are wonderful and they've kept the tradition of the previous restaurant. Highly recommend for any special vacation. read more

There is NO where on the peninsula like this place! Every dish is delicious! I cannot stress how much I enjoyed this meal.

Friends who live locally referred us to this charming cafe. We were staying in Port Townsend and otherwise would have never found it. From the eclectic decorations, the scenery and the amazing menu choices, this was almost a perfect dinner. Our only hiccup was our red wine was served in a tall, thin glass that my nose kept hitting when I tried to take a drink. The waitress was very cordial to change our glasses. I had a Pork Tenderloin with a Chimichurri sauce and my husband had Seared Ahi Tuna. They were both done to perfection along with the vegetables, no mush there! Thank you for a wonderful dinner to remember. read more

Ajax Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Port Hadlock, Washington

We loved the vibe, the staff, and all of the food. Our party of six shared 2 appetizers, 5 entrees, and 4 desserts and they were all great. There wasn't a bite of anything left except some of the blackberry bread pudding. Highly recommend the clam chowder , seared ahi, Moroccan chicken, and brisket. The smoked salmon appetizer and brussel sprout appetizers were also delicious. The chocolate pot was our favorite of the 4 desserts we tried. read more

Good cocktails and decent service. Food unfortunately arrived lukewarm but was good. Highly recommend the Brussels spouts and salmon with risotto. read more

Delicious gumbo! Fresh ingredients, sauce perfectly seasoned and not too spicy. My New Orleans favorite! The service was delightful.

Grungy little place trying to be eclectic. Soon as we were seated, we noticed our bread plates and water glasses were stuck to the table top. Bread was four tiny slices of a baguette with food service butter wrapped in foil. Flatware was rolled in paper napkins and not very clean - one of my forks had brown gunk on it. Brisket was okay. The grits tasted like they had sat in the pantry for a couple years before being cooked - just had a sort of 'outdated' taste. The carrots were almost raw. The entire entree was very bland, also. Dessert was the Key lime pie and it had meringue (I prefer fresh whipped cream) that tasted like the inside of the refrigerator. The graham cracker(?) crust was syrupy from having sat in the fridge for a spell. All in all, for the lack of cleanliness, mediocre food and the prices they charge, I don't feel it was worth it. read more

I ordered the brisket. So disappointing. Over half of the portion was pure fat. The polenta lackluster. The vegetables were too al dente. The entire dish had no flavor. The only thing enjoyable about the evening was the company and our server. Sorry to say we won't be returning. read more

My wife and I had dinner at the Ajax Cafe and were disappointed with one of the meals we had. My wife ordered the Chicken Marsala which was very good. However, my Spanish Seafood Stew order was not at all what I expected. I like a variety of fresh seafood and the menu said it was supposed to have mussels which I like. When it was delivered to our table I did not notice right away that it did not have any mussels. It also lacked any other seafood in place of the mussels. It only had two prawns, a few small scallops, one small piece of fish and 4 or 5 clams. That was it other than the onions and peppers. I understand that restaurants sometimes run out or can not get fresh seafood. I also understand if you have to substitute items, but at least let your customers know ahead of time before placing an order. The other issue was a minor one but worth mentioning. Our server did not tell us about the nightly specials. If I had known about them I probably would have ordered the Halibut. For a restaurant that has such a good reputation, they can and should do better. read more

This is an annual tradition for our family to enjoy a dinner at this fun, eclectic gem found along the water at Port Hadlock. The walls are covered with fun hats, menus come in a variety of record covers and servers are friendly and attentive. Everything here is delicious from the drinks to the appetizers to main courses and you have to save room for dessert! We have vegetarians and meat lovers as well as passionate seafood enthusiasts and everyone is super satisfied with the menu options. While we come as a family, it is a great place for friends to enjoy a meal as well as to take a date to for a romantic meal. Enjoy this truly special place that makes us always want to come back again next year)or sometimes the next night, but it can get quite expensive so it is more of a special occasion experience for us)! read more

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I had dinner here with my friend in August, so my review is late, but can't skip it! Highly recommend! We were seated outside with a beautiful view of the water across the street. Our waitress/server was sweet and friendly. She knew the locals and really seemed to be having fun talking with them. I got the ribs because I was starving after being outdoors all day. They were really delicious. My friend liked his food, too. We shared a chocolate tart that was so good. They didn't have much to choose from to drink that wasn't alcohol, so I tried the local root beer they were selling. It was interesting and tasted great. They have indoors seating too, but it was closed during the pandemic. Parking is free and on gravel. read more

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Had A Very Delightful Lunch This Afternoon At The AJAX, With Our Monthly Lunch Group Of 13. We Were Greated & Seated With A Smile, Our Waitress Was Very Attentive, Drinks & Orders Came Fast, Food & Desserts Were Good, And We All Had A Great Time.. Would Highly Recommend, Especially For A Large Group! read more

We were there with our family (a party of 7) and the food, ambiance and service was great). Went back a week later and they had a "new"menu. What was new was that the prices were inflated and they dropped fish from the menu. A salad was $29 and so was an appetizer of crab cakes. The ribs were tasteless. The meringue on the key lime pie was weeping (yesterday's?). We are local and we are done. It was a favorite. read more

Until last night we were regulars at Ajax going back several years. Last night June 26 we bought two east coast friends for dinner. We had last week brought family to Ajax and had a fine meal as we had come to expect. This time however we ordered off a new menu which was such a disappointment that we will never return. The ribs which were cooked in a new smoker were overcooked with little meat on the bones and you could not taste the barbecue flavor. Many times in the past I had ordered the ribs off the old menu and they were delicious. Not so last nights ribs. My wife ordered three small crab cakes which we thought were way overpriced. The other lady ordered a small salad which was also considered over priced. Lastly there was no longer a fish dish on the menu-a glaring omission for a PNW restaurant! read more

Excellent food and drinks. Attentive service. Live music in the back. I've been here before pre pandemic and menu and hours are both scaled down from before so be sure to check hours online. I had a blue cheese & bacon burger on a brioche bun. It was delicious. They also have an excellent clam chowder. Really cute place and if you're in the area be sure to add to your list of places to go. read more

Five of us enjoyed excellent lunches on a quiet Sunday. The server was apologetic for the ling waits for ordering, and the arrival of drinks, but we were there to enjoy ourselves and were pleased with the cocktails and our delicious meals. Don't plan on a quick meal as the staff are only just adjusting to the new lunchtime service and new ownership. Enjoy a glass of wine, a beer, one of the house special cocktails, or choose a mocktail and relax. The falafel bites are crispy delicious, the salads fresh and varied, the sandwiches are generous and on great bread. The olive oil lemon curd cake is absolutely worth a try. read more

This was our first visit back in years. The restaurant is very charming and eclectic, and cold. Unfortunately there was an issue with the heater so it was quite cold. The Caesar salad with smoked salmon was exceptional. The quiche was served cold on a plate with salad, so we sent it back to be warmed up. The vegetarian chili was delicious, but not served hot. Lunch service is new here, so hopefully they will work out the kinks as it's much needed in the area. Service was very friendly. read more

Visited with a party of 6, 4 had the halibut special and 2 had steak. The fish and meat were perfectly cooked and the server was always attentive. The Ajax is better than ever under new ownership and you gotta try the desserts, not to mention the drink menu. A destination restaurant that's worth the trip! read more

Great service. Well curated and executed menu. Better than average bar. The shining star is the menu! Amazing ! Nothing short of a great meal. Cute. Quaint place. Have reservations. read more

We ordered take-out because they were closing within 20 minutes of my call. The food was ready a bit earlier than expected. It was nicely packaged to-go and was excellent when we sat down to eat. The service by phone in taking our order & in guiding us through the menu was helpful and and a pleasant experience. The menu wasn't current on-line because it changes frequently with seasonal and weekly items. We enjoyed an exceptionally good meal from Ajax Cafe. I look forward to bringing my family for dinner IN sometime soon. read more

For $30 entrees meh. Manu never changes. Service slow. New owners haven't changed the menu or cared. It's not good. Not bad. But for the price, go downtown PT - I threw my money here as a test, and verified serving Sysco butter pats and cheap ingredients says it all. Finistère prices, haha read more

We used to love Ajax cafe and it felt like a treat coming there. Today was an exception. Prices went up and the food we got lacked taste and quality. I ordered a sea bass special and my husband ordered a tofu steak. My 36$ sea bass was so dry, it felt like chewing a rubber boot. It was served on top of undercooked beans. After I told the server that it was dry she didn't apologize, but said she will tell the cook. The tofu steak my husband got was mushy and tasteless. We ordered a peanut butter pie and it was a mediocre cheesecake. The bill was 90 plus $ with tip and it felt disappointing. After over a dozen visits - we are not coming back. What a shame. read more

We came here for my birthday and enjoyed an incredible meal! Beyond our expectations, beautiful presentation too! Definitely will be bac

Made reservations days ago and were given a crappy table up against the bar. Place half empty and us getting another table was "not an option" according to the staff. We left. read more

This place was really cute and nice. Location is awesome. Staff is nice. The bread was great. The brisket was 50% fat. But flavor was great. Ribs were also awesome. I'd eat here again and order differently. read more

Darn near spectacular! Reasonable wine prices (& well chosen) and fresh, delicious food. Wowow! Talented musician playing, great, friendly service. Near perfect until the end when half the staff sat down at the table directly behind us and loudly tucked in to their family meal. Kept us from dessert and post entree chilling out to finish our bottle of wine, it was so off-putting. (Lots of other tables away from patrons they could have used were we top of mind). We'll go back but earlier so we can enjoy an entire meal in this otherwise very charming place. read more

Ajax Cafe - Smoked salmon flat bread. - Seafood Near Me - Port Hadlock, Washington

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Fantastic! Worth the drive! Clams, mussels, crab cakes, halibut and brisket were great! Margaritas were on point! Definitely will be back! If your already in Port Ludlow don't stop keep driving 10 times better then anything there. read more

Food was more than decent. The rib sauce was familiar, the tartar was lacking flavor, and I had to ask for bread when everyone else was immediately served bread with water within 2 minutes of being seated. I also had to ask for utensils when my kids food arrived. I'm glad they brought the kiddo food when it was ready instead of waiting for mine and my husbands meals to serve all at once. read more

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The food is great, the ambiance is fun, service is competent. Love the use of vinyl album covers for the menus. Reservations recommended can get crowded, very popular with the locals, like me. Even with a reservation you can wait, it is the kind of place that entices you to linger enjoying the moment. read more