Alchemy was on my list to visit for many years now just for the name and the mysterious ambiance it gave from the outside onlooker peering in. Stopped in for family lunch/brunch on Mothers Day. Sat in the lounge area at a preset area with flowers and a beautifully set table. Food selection was minimal. Seemed to be a set menu. We chose the Crab and Sirloin Benedict special, salmon Benedict, mushroom pasta, and oysters. Presentation for price was not as expected. Will return to try the prime rib dinner. read more

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Since my last review, I have been back here a couple of times and had very pleasant experiences. Special praise goes to the burrata caprese appetizer and the lamb shank, both of which I would come back for all the way from Seattle. I would even go as far as saying it's the best lamb shank you can find in Washington. It's so wonderfully prepared. Falling of the bone in its own juices - to die for. As far as I can tell, Alchemy stands out in Port Townsend with its cozy amiance, and the service is great as well. PS: I no longer see the offensive item of my last review on the menu. read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Burrata caprese appetizer - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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I'm not sure if this review really needs to be written but I'll add my 2-cents, nonetheless! The restaurant was deserted on the Thursday we stopped in early April; we'd been steered here by the Visitor's Center. Our oysters were ridiculously large - more appropriate for stew. And oddly dry as though they'd been shucked that morning..? Our cocktails were fine. My partner's pasta was decent and my French Onion Soup was mediocre. Our tab was $130 with tip and I'm unhappy about that but it is water under the pier I mean, I'll get over the food but I may never recover from the decor! So out of touch IMHO, dripping with eccentricity & old school "charm." All that said, the service was fine if not a bit oppressive. Still, we'll skip this place next time we visit Port Townsend. read more

Great service and food. Enjoyed the shrimp fettuccine and lamb shank entrees. Chocolate cake with pistachio topping was wonderful. Really enjoyed the pianist. We will be back. read more

We had a great dinner here this weekend and definitely look forward to returning in the future! We'd had a fun day of cider and wine tasting when the mood for dinner became our priority. We didn't have reservations, but luckily, on a Saturday, shortly after five, we were able to get seated right as we arrived. Our server was so gracious and welcoming, very professional. He looked into questions we had about gluten-free options and was certain to let the kitchen staff know we had two celiacs at the table. We had escargot and french onion soup for our appetizers. The escargot was flavorful and cooked well. The husband of mine and one of our friends shared the soup. The very particular husband of mine said it was one of the best french onion soups he's had. We ordered all gf for the mains and shared two bacon wrapped filets with two different sauces, gf gnocchi with scallops and pesto, and gf pork belly bolognese with gf gnocchi. The steaks were flavorful and good, though not to the med-rare temp we'd ordered. The pasta dishes were both excellent, with the bolognese being the table favorite. We had no room for dessert, but we very thoroughly enjoyed our meal and drinks. The excellent service and romantically lit ambiance made it a place we'll definitely be returning to. read more

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Five adults enjoyed the warm ambiance and just okay service but in my opinion my pasta dish was uninspiring in both taste and presentation. The pasta was a bit on the firm side of al dente and meal not quite hot. I was with friends for a birthday dinner on the actual birthday so did not want to dampen things by chasing down the server, who did not check back with us once during dinner except to bring our bill. Lots of missed opportunities in both back and front of house. Since the restaurant did not appear busy at all, perhaps the chef should appear and actually ask for feedback. read more

Best atmosphere., best service, best value, best romantic restaurant in Port Townsend. We have eaten there about 10 times in the past 6 months and have never had anything but great food, service and music. Why this place is not packed every night is a mystery. Perhaps because the previous owner ran it into the ground and people don't know everything is radically better now?? You will not be disappointed. read more

Nice fresh fish and meats. Classy bar and restaurant. I really enjoy the decorations and the servers are always nice and respectful. They have dietary options as well included gluten free and dairy free and vegan. read more

Wonderful drinks and ambience at a hidden gem in Port Townsend! My boyfriend and I came for a Valentine's Day dinner and had a great time. The place has lovely ambience and I had the aviation and the lemon drop martini. Both were perfect. Server had a lot of tables but she checked in with us frequently and was very kind. Porcini mushroom tortellini were delicious with a lovely mushroom cream sauce. And I loved the Valentine's Day decorations read more

The waitress was lovely! The food was disappointing on two occasions. The beef bourguignon: quality of the beef was disappointing & did not taste that good. On another occasion, the linguini with crab only had about one teaspoon of crab if that much. read more

Really cool place with great piano. Cocktail sauce was over burdened with horseradish. I asked for it straight up and was told they were out of it. Said they were out of it. Bartender was great. read more

Torn between a 3 and a 4, but given my personal experience, it is a three. The good: - So cute, so old school - love the old world vibe, nice place to sit and eat - I loved our waitress/host, super sweet, absolutely adorable librarian type lady that you just want to be friends with - my daughter and friend really enjoyed their meals one had a burger and one had the most amazing looking clams with pasta The bad: - wine was off - my pasta was entirely undercooked, not al dente, plainly undercooked and straight from a bag - scallops were few and they were overcooked - some items are wildly overpriced - in short, my meal was awful Perhaps had I ordered the clams this might be a 4 or 5 but my meal was pretty rough and for the price point, that should not be a thing. Changing 3 to a 4 star as I do not want to hurt the business, but please work on that orecchiette dish, was awful -gives me a tummy ache to think on it! Definitely order the clams. read more

Way over priced for the quality. A $15 salad was absolutely nothing but lettuce coated with vinegar and salt. Totally inedible, and $18 crab cake appetizer had three pieces the size of a tater tot on a piece of lettuce. The dessert and the live music were good. read more

Great authentic old school classic Italian restaurant! The service was amazing. There is a server there whose name we didn't get, but he is so fun and definitely loves his job. The female staff member also welcomed us and was very hospitable. We simply loved this place. Crab tots were full of crab meat and nothing else. The crab cakes elsewhere can be full of potatoes and very little meat. The angel hair pasta was full of fresh Pomodoro sauce! Chianti was delicious! read more

I ordered the Dungeness crab tots, for $22. We actually sent it back to the kitchen when they brought it out because we were positive they sent out the wrong dish. Turns out when I thought I was ordering a basket of tots, what I really got was 3 tot sized crab cakes. 3 stars because even though I got bamboozled, the crab "tots" were good (not $22 good). The kebabs and fries were tasty and met expectations, and the atmosphere was intimate. Also... y'all need to cover your exposed electrical outlets. read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Uncovered live electrical outlet - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Simply summarised, the four (or five star) prices do not match the plated menu items or their drinks. Alchemy is a lovely place, located near some of the best historical settings in Port Townsend. The team is very kind, nice, but do not expect them to check in on you too much. This is a small town after all, so come with a relaxed attitude to enjoy your time. We were lucky to be seated right away, but service was quite slow for a holiday week. Drinks took more than 20 minutes to be delivered to us, and with their prices, were not worth the cost. While tasty, I was not in midtown Manhattan living my best sex and the city life. We also had to ask multiple times for extra water. The menu was poorly laid out, with dated specials from days ago, incorrect information, and several items not available. However, the menu items that we wanted were available, despite their high prices. I was excited to try a few seafood and steak items. For any non-meat eaters, options are limited here. The food was presented quite sloppily, with finger prints in sauces and proportions not matching pricing. My guest was very happy with their pasta, however, which was the ideal portion. The remainder of the evening was quite peaceful, and the team was great, giving us plenty of extra time to relax as they closed during a holiday week. All in all, I would not return here unless being treated. Paying more than $50 for a dish that is presented poorly, over salted, and hides the seafood fare of the abundant nearby seas is poor taste, ultimately. read more

Alchemy is a great restaurant for a nice high-priced dinner. They have limited hours so a reservation is necessary. The food was excellent and the presentation was impressive. There is a small bar area adjacent to the main restaurant that has good ambiance. We will return. read more

I really did not want to write this review but felt I had to. I've eaten at Alchemy for a number of years but tonight was not ok. We came for a birthday dinner, but the waiter messed up the order. I had ordered tortellini and somehow the waiter thought I had only ordered salad. I should have guessed when he brought my salad with my wife's smash burger. It was not a dinner salad. To their credit, her burger was excellent and the fries were hot and fresh. However the salad dressing was quite overly salty. We had arrived at 5, and the menu showed some wines available for "happy hour". There was an italian red, which I ordered and honestly , it was just bad. As in having been uncorked a few days before bad. (my wife tasted it and agreed). To be clear I had ordered the tortellini a month back and it was excellent. The waiter, once I pointed out the mistake, did not offer us anything in return for the mistake. He did ask if I wanted anything else, but by then we had already eaten the hamburger, fries and salad and drank the bad wine. A free glass of better wine? An order of tortellini to take home? I don't know. The whole thing was an expensive night out for a burger and fries and bad wine. I write this hoping that they can better train their wait staff. I have been served by one of their long time staff who is excellent. But this whole experience left me not eager to return. Come on folks, get it together. You were not that busy at 5 to 5:30. The waiter should have paid more attention to us, and that would have caught the mistake sooner. Sigh. read more

Upscale. Great atmosphere, food was excellent, wait time good, full bar. Locals and out of towners alike love this establishment.

This was one of the best meals I have ever had. Quite unexpected to find this gem in such a remote area. Rhonda was a gracious host and server. The food was incredible and the patio was such a pleasant place to dine. Will remember this forever!! read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Waitress was not very good or helpful and she took forever to even greet us. Food was ok but not worth the price.

Food was delicious! By far ones of the best tasting steaks I have had in a long time! The chefs were on point & the bussers were there to grab your empty dishes right away. The service outside of that is absolutely horrible! But I really recommend this place for their food not their service! read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Extra small Oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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My wife started with the lobster bisque, she really like it I got the seafood creole, the rice was more like rice than risotto, the sauce was bland My wife got the duck, duck was good but the asparagus were so stringy they were barely edible We were dissappointed read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Duck - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Highly disappointed with so many things in this place. I called and asked if they could accommodate a party of 5 and they were nice about it since most of their tables only support 4 tops. We were immediately sat down and didn't get greeted for 25 min until someone came by and asked us if we've been helped. Ordered for appetizers: Shrimp and Garlic, 1/2 dozen fresh oysters, and wings. We were eating with our hands until the server came by after halfway done talking about oh you didn't get silverware? and on top of that, I was eating my oysters and there was a freaking worm like thing that jumped out from the the rock salt where the oysters were placed on. Gross! I asked our server if she could take this away because of the bug and she said that everything was "organic". Okay organic I understand but you guys don't wash your stuff? Like rinse it out thoroughly? Dinner orders: the house burger that had little cubes of Brie cheese, wasn't even melted. The bacon crumbles on it were burnt and black. My friends shared the duck prepared in two ways, and I got the lamb shanks. I wanna know who cooks the brown rice in the kitchens because the rice/farro wasn't even done. When we got the tab, server didn't even have the decency to take off the oysters AFTER FINDING A LIVE INSECT IN IT. Service was slow and honestly the food was whatever. Not coming back here and I suggest to others to avoid it. read more

Best Chocolate Martini I've had in 10 years! Hunter created it just for me. This Texas lady is loving Alchemy and Port Townsend. read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Thanks to Hunter, I had the best Chocolate Martini! - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Local Port Townsend resident. Had family in town. Called ahead to see if there was a table. Confirmed. Showed up and something was definitely amiss. Place was half full. People were seated but didn't seem to be enjoying their experience. As it turned out, maybe one wait staff working the dining room. Folded arms from those seated and people looking to place an order for their food. You pick up on the vibe from other patrons and no one was happy. And this is Port Townsend with the most patient locals on the planet! Not sure what was going on but everyone was waiting to place an order, get drinks, receive their food and even get their check to pay. Anyway, after waiting for twenty minutes without being approached by anyone, got up and left for Silverwater, which we should have went to in the first place. Wouldn't have normally gone this route but looking at the other diners, we saved ourselves a long night of frustration. Humiliated and embarrassed I suggested Alchemy to the fam. read more

So in love. Alchemy is a cute intimate restaurant tucked away in port Townsend. The cocktails are so lush, no matter what your poison is, you won't be disappointed. Mike was out bartender and he was very polite and made pretty epic drinks. My husband and I only stayed for apps and a few cocktails and the apps were sooooo delicious, I highly recommend the bruschetta. read more

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Hannah our bartender was amazing. Attentive and sincere in all aspects. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the burrata appetizer had a garlic version of Rick Flair on the heirloom tomatoes ....Whoooo !from the top turnbuckle. The interior vibe of this establishment was a combination of a traditional dark Italian bistro mixed with obscure art and decoration with a dash of my uncles man room bar. The food was exceptional and the vibe was divine. read more

Have been before and had a wonderful dining experience. Decided to go back just this past Saturday and I couldn't make this up if I tried.... Staff is overworked and service was lacking, not due to any fault of their own. They're all delightful. Owner fired most staff after he took over... read on, it's worth your time I promise. Food was ok, not as good as the previous time. But not bad. The owner / chef is UNHINGED. Came out from the kitchen to SCREAM at a woman who had requested (politely) that her steak be cooked more, as she had requested well done and it was medium rare. I have never witnessed anything like it. I'm not one to sit by and let someone be absolutely verbally assaulted, so I told him he couldn't speak to her that way. He immediately began screaming at me, told me to 'get the f*^~ out', and then retreated to the back to get a BASEBALL BAT to threaten me with. My fiancé had to call 911, and police came and got statements from us and many others- we all had the same story. He had fled out the back door by the time police arrived. His CHILD was with him witnessing this whole event. His wife works there also and looks completely broken and clearly abused as well. This man seemed SO drunk / high, and was so unnecessarily violent to every woman he saw. The female servers seem scared of him. It was so bad that I offered the wife and her child to come home with me for a safe space. He is a true monster, and deserves to be in prison. Don't go here. Don't support him. We then went to another establishment nearby and were told this is not out of the norm for his reputation. read more

Just want to say, we showed up on Mother's Day without a reservation and Johanna squeezed us in. She was the server, the hostess and the busser of all the tables and did a fabulous job! Our food was delicious too. My wife had the special Halibut and I had the Scotch feticini, both delicious. We will definitely come back again. read more

We had quite a positive experience with Sunday brunch here. Outside seating was available, and there were partitions separating tables, with each table having a heating element above it. The bread starter was nothing to write home about until we got to the jam which was incredible. The veggie hash with eggs was tasty and refreshing, though a bit heavy on the oil. The poblano omelet was like nothing we'd seen before and had some well-seasoned cheese with it with a nice side of potatoes. All in all, worth stopping by. read more

This place has become one of my favorite places to eat in all of Washington. You can have date night or just stop in the bar for an appetizer. They have outside seating with Covid. Always wonderful service. The staff is friendly. The creme brulee is exceptional. I have never had a bad meal. I drive 1.5 hours to go here. Wonderful place!! read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Cheese platter - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

I love every single thing about this restaurant. The atmosphere is wonderful, so relaxing. The food is fantastic. Since this place was taken over by new management a couple of years ago, it has completely changed in terms of the food. I am not a picky eater, but it was, not long ago, inedible. Not anymore! The steak is comparable to any steak I have had in the Northwest. The angel hair pomodoro is currently my favorite food in town. Can't get enough of this place. Plan to order a pastrami sandwich this week because the chef knows what good pastrami is supposed to taste like, and I can't find a good pastrami on the west coast. read more

You can hear someone yelling in back. Loss of good staff seems critical here. Seems the newer ownership is awful. read more

Wonderful atmosphere, friendly service and incredible food at a manageable price. What more could you ask for.

Easily one of our favorite stops on our visit to Port Townsend. To begin with, everyone who worked there that we interacted with was friendly and warm, and we were blown away with the small town hospitality! We enjoyed, with some very full bellies, the cheeseboard, oysters, mushroom bruschetta, and garlic prawns. I don't know a single bite that didn't have us just swooning over our food. They treated our two silly Pups like royalty on the outdoor patio. Looking forward to another trip to this great spot! read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Oysters and cheeseboard! - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

Not accommodating for allergies and overpriced. We came to this restaurant based on multiple 5 and 4 star reviews and were disappointed at the end of it. To start with the positives. The bar is amazing! All of our cocktails were perfectly crafted but very expensive ($18 martinis). Would 100% come back for the drinks. We had one member of our group who is allergic to gluten, dairy and carrots. He asked for the king salmon cooked in oil (instead of butter) and just broccolini (no carrots) instead of the normal mashed potatoes and veggies. The waiter completely disregarded the allergies and said he didn't want to tell the cook how to cook so he could not accommodate our request. We ended up ordering the plain salad with just red wine vinaigrette and it was underwhelming and bland. We stopped for McDonald's on the way out of town which was the better meal. The rest of the party had over priced bar food. We ordered the crab cake tots for $22 which was 3 pinky sized crab tots on two pieces of arugula, the ravioli appetizer was described as fancy mozzarella sticks. The burrata and heirloom tomato salad was the only item that was worthwhile. Overall this was the worst dining experience any of us have encountered in over 4 years. read more

My husband and I came for our anniversary dinner. We hadn't been in since last year. We dined here the day before our wedding day last year and had such a fabulous time. Even for a Tuesday in October there was a great crowd, delicious food and the staff was amazing. I noticed the sign when we walked in that ownership had changed and that they were trying to rebrand it into "steak and seafood" rather than a "bistro and wine bar". Made reservations but seems like it wasnt necessary; there were plenty open tables. The staff this time around is much older, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but they seemed less interested in building a rapport and were more akin to the servers at diners (rushed and curt) rather than welcoming and friendly. I am 7 months pregnant and asked what the non-alcoholic options were, which seemed to amuse our waitress. They do have NA beers apparently, but I ended up requesting sparkling water (which was not included in her list). I noticed that not only did the menu changed drastically (I wanted to have the same dish as last year that was so delicious), but the quality of the actual printed menu was not the same (printed paper with no protection from spills). The menu they have online is also not what was in the menu. Ordered the ravioli and french onion soup. Last year my now-husband was raving on this dish. This time the ravioli was bigger and not as toasty. Still fine, though. Soup was fine too. We both had the clam alfredo, which was good. I needed to add a lot of pepper, but it was yummy, even if it didn't blow my mind. We ended with the creme brulee (which to me is good even when it's bad). We both agreed that the one served at Siren's Pub was leagues better. Either way, we had a good time and had some yummy food, but I am so sad that we didn't get to enjoy more dinners here under the previous owners. We may go here again, but it is not a top spot for us, and unfortunately I don't think it will be part of a longstanding anniversary tradition for us. read more

Wonderful service! Liked our entrees :salmon and scallops. But tiramisu was pretty bad it had NO liquor whatsoever and could hardly be called tiramisu. read more

Great oysters and steak. Done a great job on both and the serving staff were really nice and professional , keep up the great work read more

Alchemy Bistro and Wine Bar - Oysters - Wine Bars Near Me - Port Townsend, Washington

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