We really liked this place. Joshua and Jordan were great with their service and conversation. We got the French dip and Reuben sandwiches and they were the best we've had. Clam chowder also didn't disappoint. Enjoyed the atmosphere there. read more

ordered razor clams, one of the more expensive items on the menu. The meal is only two clams, okay, but one of them was only missing a third to half of the clam. Floor manager not at all sympathetic. Disappointing considering the price. read more

Received gigantic fresh oysters from this place compared to the stuff you get in the New Mexico desert. The Salmon Fish & Chips Special was stellar. I bet the crab cakes are the star here, but I did not sample this time around. I saw one post that complained there was too much bread for them in the crab cakes. I say it's gotta still be worlds better than anything grocery store or frozen pre packed. I'd be interested. There's also beer on tap, what seems like custom made tartar sauce and a ranch option for fries. Hell yeah. Get it on read more

Big Wave Cafe - Dining room - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

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Stopped here after a hike. Had the crab cake's appetizer, and it was great, well cooked and the chipotle sauce added a little spice that I prefer. Pilsner on draft was good as well. read more

We were a party of 7 adults. Our waitress was Jordan, and we agreed she was THE BEST! Efficient, accurate, warm and funny. We were laughing, joking and, I must confess, boisterous! She laughed with us and made our evening even more fun. The food was great, especially the crab cakes and ling cod. What can I say about the desserts..... you must get something. Bread pudding with marionberry sauce and the chocolate peanut butter pie are SUBLIME! Go here. Eat here. Your life will be better for it. read more

Food is better than average but WOW ITS EXPENSIVE! $10 with tip for a smallish piece of pie? A $20 hamburger with tip? Head off the hi-way down Laneda for similar fare at lower cost. read more

Ordered twice for takeout. The staff was so friendly! Had a beer at the bar while waiting for my order, which was really pleasant. Order came up so fast both times I almost didn't have time to finish my beer! The food was delicious! Highly recommend this place! read more

Had the halibut fish and chips, which was the single best fried fish I've ever had. I've had the same dish from several places in the area, and I've had fish and chips all over all my life. The freshness, the seasoning, and the cook on the fish was perfection. Other people woth me had the fish sandwich, fried prawns, chowder. All were great. Friendly, attentive service. Great place. read more

We took our family with a couple extras and enjoyed an early dinner. The family and crew do a nice job with the serving, food, presentation, and atmosphere. I'd encourage timing to be closer to 5pm and after in order to enjoy baked potatoes that they do nicely. read more

Almost everything I can't stand about a restaurant: - high price, tourist trap, moderate food. Don't fall for it, drive into the town. - shrimp salad is a mountain of cheap Iceberg lettuce and low quality baby shrimp. - square cut halibut sandwich was average - club sandwich with boring cheddar was average - clam chowder - very potato heavy, but good - simple blah burger is $10, really? Condiment selection: Heinz ketchup and Yellow mustard. Oooh, ahhh The service and ambiance was pleasant. ....yawn read more

Big Wave Cafe - Halibut sandwhich - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

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No outdoor dining despite 3 outdoor tables. We got take out but with no drinks -- they don't provide drinks with take outs because they "have no to-go cups ". Upon paying, the attendant selected 20% for tip, when 18% was also an option -- she should have left that for the customer to choose. Although we ordered takeout, there were no utensils in the bag. We paid 90 dollars for two boxes of halibut with a small salad and fries, and one vegetarian pasta. The fish was decent but not remarkable. The pasta had a pretty heavy Alfredo sauce -- very greasy. Not returning to this restaurant. read more

the service was POOR and the food was just OK Never going back !!

Stumbled upon this place and what great food and the service was excellent. I would likely recommend if you like fish and chips. The clam chowder was delicious.. read more

We were really pleasantly surprised by how good dinner at the Big Wave Cafe was! You sort of expect all coastal cafes/pubs to have the exact same menu and type of food but BWC stood out as better than the rest. We had the fish and chips and coconut prawns and both were beautifully breaded, not greasy, and heavy on the prawn/fish compared to breading ratio. French fries were also top notch and they somehow managed to have everything hot, crisp, and fresh even though we ordered carry out. We will absolutely be back and would definitely recommend! read more

Yikes. I loved this place pre owner change. It's a real bummer coming to a favorite spot and being met with rotten service all around. I've never felt more awkward or unwelcomed by a server. The food brought to us was cold and incorrectly prepared. Feel like everyone working there needs a week off, a pep talk and an attitude change. The pie was good, so two stars for that. read more

You better have a good appetite if you order the Tsunami burger. My husband ordered it and it's big and it's good. I had the crab cakes and thought they were good too. Big chunks of crab. The service e was great and friendly! read more

Big Wave Cafe - Tsunami Burger - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

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Absolutely amazing food! I didn't even think about taking a picture of it till we were all done because it was so friggin good lol. The crab cakes are awesome too. read more

Big Wave Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

No Outdoor Seating! Not a surprise, in fact I saw probably more people including older folks with canes eating in - on the Oregon coast, and Yelp often gets this wrong, even in places that never had outdoor seating. I called from their parking lot, and they confirmed the bad news, and one of us mentioned takeout. Without a menu I mentioned the Halibut sandwich, and 10 minutes later I had my meal! I have tried making Halibut myself and my favorite place the last time I went tasted like mine with taste that is hard to describe. This place was a first in that the fish was neither fantastic or bad, but good, just good, and the breading was good too. I did make a mistake I would repeat the next morning, rushing I forgot they might put stuff on that I don't like, I was probably thinking of fish and chips. I used some French fries to scrap off the mayo, usually I can't get off enough but this worked. Bottom Line I think this is a solid place to go! read more

The food, service and ambiance were all good! We would definitely eat here again... I would also recommend the peanut butter pie with a scoop of ice cream! read more

Everything that we ordered was delicious! Our waitress was so sweet. She had a great personality which made our dinner fun. We will definitely return! read more

This place has really good food, great waitress and the Key Lime pie was the BEST we have ever had!!! Hands down to the owners wife she knows how to make a key lime pie! read more

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Stopped in last night. Hadn't been here in years. They've added beer and wine! The fish and chips are excellent. Good chowder. An assortment of (mostly local) seafood on offer. I turned the starter of steamer clams into a meal. Often they're overwhelmed by stronger flavors of whatever they're cooked in or seasoned with, but the big wave did them up just right with just a bit of garlic. read more

Great service and awesome food! The server was clearly busy as she had several tables around the restaurant but that didn't stop her from getting our drinks and food in record time or her from being friendly and checking in on us. We have had several experiences eating along the coast and this was one of our favorites! read more

If I could give zero stars I would. DO NOT EAT HERE! I don't even know where to start, the service was horrible and the restaurant was sad and lonely and the crab cakes gave me salmonella. So thanks for ruining my vacation. and I will never eat here again honestly I would rather eat at the mc Donald's a mile or two up the road . Over all just don't eat here read more

Sooo glad I found this place! I came here for breakfast around 9:30 and there was already quite a few groups there. Shortly after I sat, more and more people started to come and the place got so busy that there was a big line by the front door. And I can see why. The food is very, very good and the owners are incredibly friendly. I ordered the special, which was a Chinook Salmon Omelette with a hollandaise sauce on top, and a side salad. You could definitely tell the salmon was fresh, thus making my breakfast beyond good. It was a good size portion, too. When I asked to have a side salad instead of the potatoes and toast, the server let me know that they usually don't serve salad so early until lunch or dinner service, but would ask the kitchen if they'd make an exception, which he explained they most likely would. He also let me know of the housemade vinaigrettes and asked me which I preferred with my salad. I was impressed by his willingness to accommodate my order and that something small like the vinaigrette was housemade. I learned who the owners were because as they were working the place, they'd chat with the people who appeared to be locals about everything such as their kids, family, sports, etc... which is what you would only find in a small community. I loved that. Both of the owners, a married couple, were so incredibly nice. They kept checking up on me, asking me how the special was, and kept refilling my drip without needed to ask them. I can't say enough great things about these owners, and it was refreshing to see people who work in the hospitality industry enjoy what they do. I recommend for anyone in Manzanita to stop in this wonderful restaurant. read more

Big Wave Cafe - Side Salad with Salmon Omelette (the special of the day) - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

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We came in on a Friday evening at 8:20 p.m. (apparently everything in this town closes early) for dinner. They were packed but were super friendly and welcoming. We were seated and attended to quickly. Our server was really nice and efficient. We had salads and clam chowder. My youngest had butter noodles. Everyone was very happy with their meals. My daughter said the chicken on her salad was some of the best she has had. I was bummed the clam chowder, for the price, didn't come with any bread or rolls. They offered us oyster crackers, but a roll would have been a great addition. Prices were reasonable, for the portions. We would stop in here again. It seems to be a popular place. The owner (or manager) was walking around and checking on people, and was all smiles. Seems like a happy place to work and be a frequent customer at. :) read more

It's been a long time since I have been here. I remember the plastic covering booths and the local fisherman hanging out. Those times are long gone. This place has upgraded. It's an open kitchen bar area with more open area for seating. Still family friendly. However, you won't find the same kind of families. This town has gone upscale. The seafood is all PNW sourced. All the chalkboards list the sources and the companies that supply the restaurant. With that kind of attention to detail you can imagine what is coming out of the kitchen. Seafood is the specialty now. Burgers are still on the menu now more of an afterthought them the star of the show as in years gone by. Service is upgraded. The staff is super attentive and keep the food and drinks going The letdown for me was portion size. I guess if I order crab cakes I want them to out shine the side dishes. I wouldn't say it was bad. I just felt like the meal was the potato. The crab cakes were kind of an appertiff. Let's say there are bigger portions available maybe not as tasty but more filling. As long as they have the location they will have the business till something closer steps up read more

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Food was really nice and fresh! Enjoyed the choices on the menu. Clean inside and server was friendly and professional. Will definitely stop in again next time we're in Manzanita. read more

This was a nice surprise! We went here after looking at the crowd at a different brunch place. We wanted to have lunch anyway and this place not only fit the bill but exceeded it. Pleasantly surprised at clean layout inside, it's warm and inviting but classy too. They have many beers available and their lunch menu had some great choices. My pick was a Reuben, haven't had it in a while and I saw it was offered here. The bread was very crispy, good white sauce (tasted mayo or bernaise style), a slice of bacon and delicious sauerkraut. It came with some bartered fries which was crispy. My daughter had a Cesar salad added with extra chicken breast. She really liked her salad and I had a bite, definitely nice balance of lettuce, croutons, cheese and light dressing. I hate it when you order a salad and it's swimming in dressing. This was not it. My husband enjoyed his ahi tuna tacos and it tasted good but seared tuna isn't my idea fish for tacos. The prices are a little higher but the quality of the food was well matched. I would come back here if I'm in the area. The waitress was super, she came back to check on us and was so friendly and efficient. read more

Big Wave Cafe - Delicious crispy Ruben Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

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The clam chowder was really excellent, but make sure to get the bowl. For only $1 more you get almost twice as much. Our waitress was lovely and it was a nice family-friendly atmosphere. Right off the main highway so easy to find. A bit pricey for most items, so plan for that. read more

We had a lovely meal here. Our food was tasty, and the service pushed my review to five stars. The gentleman at the door greeted us warmly when we entered, checked in during the meal, and gave a nice farewell on our way out. Our server and the busser were both very attentive - we never had to wait for refills or to order, and they arrived promptly whenever we finished a course. Everyone was super friendly. We had a 1/2 dozen oysters on the half shell, the pan-fried razor clams and the 6 oz. Wagyu steak (both meals came with a salad, broccolini and a starch - rice, baked potato or something else I don't remember). With a glass of wine and a beer, the total was $78 before tip. We liked that the side salads that came with the dinners were good-sized portions, and their house made marionberry vinaigrette was bright and refreshing (on the sweeter end of the spectrum). The steak was cooked perfectly (we requested medium rare), and the razor clams were really good. They had a nice crisp to them and did not feel greasy. The accompanying broccolini was cooked well, so that it kept a good crunch. The oysters were fresh. I would happily eat here again. read more

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Three words: Chocolate Eclair Pie. Fantastic! If you're still hungry try the Tsunami burger - perfectly cooked (a bit salty but that's expected with both ham and bacon), great flavor, egg on top runny and delicious; or the halibut fish and chips - Panko crusted, light, well cooked. Deviled eggs with crab are rightly praised. But really...Chocolate Eclair Pie. read more

Everything here was delicious. The Panko crusted halibut sandwich was so fresh and crisp. The calamari was very tasty. We also liked the clam chowder a lot, very thick and creamy with nice chunks of potato and clams. Service was great and everyone was very friendly. They have a good selection of Oregon IPAs. I would definitely come back. read more

Had an enjoyable lunch there. A small house salad with a side of purchased Caesar dressing (my server was upfront about that). A seared halibut with broccolini. The halibut was cooked medium well. I prefer mine see you to a medium, but I didn't state that to my server. So I can't ding them for that. The halibut ran 25 and was about a 4-5 ounce portion. So the value proposition is pushing it for the quality of the food. Apart from that, I enjoyed my time. read more

Well hello. Chef! I don't remember if I've ever been greeted by a chef at the door, which probably means I haven't, but that all changed here. This place is the reason Oregon has license plates that say "pacific paradise". Holy wow! The service we had was incredible fro, start to finish. My water glass never even got close to half empty. The food was probably the most delicious thing I've ever put in my mouth. I had fish that had never been frozen and was flown in from Hawaii. The caper sauce and flower garnish didn't hurt either. It takes a rare occasion for me to get dessert, but these guys add it worth it with their peanut butter pie. There are things in life you regret, not stopping in here or making a special trip to visit ought not to be on that list. Thank you, chef! read more

Big Wave Cafe - Omg. - Seafood Near Me - Manzanita, Oregon

Way overrated. Or we caught the kitchen on a bad day. The fries were really good, and my husband LOVED his fish and chips, but the crab cocktail obviously came out of a can, the crab cakes, their supposed speciality, were weird and not the best crab cakes I've ever had. I had the razor clams and they had the same issue as the crab cakes - the oil they were cooked in was too low and so they came out greasy. Tasted good but greasy. Still looking for that awesome seafood place along the Oregon Coast :) read more

So happy we found Big Wave Cafe for a Tuesday lunch since most everything else in town was closed. Crab Louis salad was wonderful. Hubs happy with his Crispy chicken sandwich. Prices are good for the quality of the food. John took good care of us as even as lunch rush began. Recommended. In a commercial strip on the highway at the turn into Manzanita. read more

I have to update my review I realized, because they no longer serve breakfast which is a super shame. I really REALLY loved their breakfast. Boo. However, we recently came for dinner, and got exactly what we expected FRESH local fish, great food and service, and a great meal. It's a little spendy, but you know exactly where all of your fish was sourced: for example, the Dungeness Crab came from right up the road. I had their seafood pasta special, and the pasta was HAND MADE. Like rustic-style hand made. Fantastic! I love how when you walk in, there's a chalkboard which shows where everything was sourced, pretty handy! It does get busy, so I would arrive early'ish for dinner if possible, or come a bit later than the usual "dinner" time. read more

Meh. Food was average. Service was average. I had the halibut sandwich. Razor clams looked good.

Pretty basic beach fare. But it was really good. Hubby had fish and chips and thought it was a little heavy on the breading but he ate it all. Chowder was really good on a rainy beach day. read more