First off. The service was amazing!! Julie was so sweet and she definitely made sure my son and I were good to go while we dined I'm at Budd Bay. Surprisingly, the crab cocktail came on a plate, it actually was a large order for an appetizer. It was really delicious! I loved the horse radish in the cocktail sauce as well. It had a great bite to it. The steak salad with blue cheese was so amazing! The dressing was delicious as well. The creme brûlée was cold, probably the coldest I've ever had. Not gonna lie Lobster Shops Creme Bulee is better but it was still yummy if you were craving for one... read more

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We were pretty happy with the food. The shrimp po'boy is not Cajun. It's a shrimp sandwich. It was OK and not what I expected. Friend had tuna tacos - looked great, and the fries are good. Decent service, nice atmosphere. Nice day in Olympia, so lots of folks walking the docks. Fun to watch. read more

Looking for our last fix of seafood before flying home we stopped here and were not disappointed. We requested a table with a view and were given a great spot outside. Our waiter, Kennan, I think that was his name, was prompt, friendly, and accurate with our orders. We stopped in on a Monday, which is half price wine bottle night. The food was great, we had king crab and scallops. Both were delicious and the dessert, molten chocolate bundt cake, was great too. The whole experience was enjoyable and encouraged a return if ever in the area again. read more

It's all about the food, location, service... impeccable all around! Parking was available. A nice meal after a hike, and the outside seating was perfect considering this COVID posture of social distance. First time and will definitely return! read more

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Wow Budd Bay Cafe! You really let us down tonight. I get COVID and the latest challenges for restaurants lately but no excuse for the overpriced, sub par food we received and also missing an order of clam chowder (which I could have enjoyed due to my mostly iceberg lettuce salad). The shrimp cocktail was another overpriced joke as I could have bought this with more shrimp at Safeway for way cheaper. Sorry to say but this is the last time we will do business with you. I hope you enjoyed al those huge profits on your purchase of iceberg lettuce and skimpy-sized amounts of shrimp. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Overpriced food with missing items - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Outdated. Dirty. Food and service are terrible. Downtown Olympia has much better local places in the immediate vicinity...Chelsea Farms, Cove, and Row to name a few. read more

I left my credit card at the Budd Bay Cafe on 6/9/2024. The following Tuesday I called and a person at the front desk confirmed that it was there. I was then told that I would be called back about having it sent back. No call back. I called again on Wednesday and asked for the manager who also said they would look into it and call back. No call back. Called back on Friday, asked for the manager and said managers were in a meeting and that one would call back after meeting. No call back. Called on Saturday and talked to a manager who said he would send my card back. Called on Monday to get a status report on the mailing of my credit card. The manager said, after all this, that the Visa Costco card was under a different person's name, they did'nt have my card and went on to say in a terse, condescending tone of voice, "It's not our fault that you left your card". I called again on Tuesday 6/18 and spoke with the General Manager Brandon Lawland. I attempted to explain the aforementioned, he kept talking over me then hung up. Unbelievably undiplomatic, unnecessarily rude and offensive. We won't be going back there again! read more

In the past I've always given 5 stars, but something has changed. Is it the chef? Husband ordered cup of clam chowder and the Happy Hour Caesar. Chowder came out cold and it took until his dinner was served to get a fresh hot one - they explained and said they weren't charging us for this. I always ordered applewood grilled salmon and this past weekend it came out with lots of peppercorns, making it spicy, which I don't like. It was cooked perfectly, just too spicy and never had been before. The broccoli was not bright green, as in steamed, but a slight yellow, as in over-steamed. The Yukon mashed potatoes looked like they had sat under a warming light for 30 minutes. The waiter offered to redo my fish but I scraped off peppercorns - however it was still too spicy for my stomach. My husband's wasabi cream salmon was tasty. We were surprised to discover that they do not serve wild salmon, like Anthony's. It is Canadian farmed salmon according to the server. We were offered a free dessert and chose the salted vanilla caramel nut crunch cake - we can't recommend that either. This particular dinner was disappointing. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - crispy hash browns and perfect scrambled eggs (side orders) - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Long time Olympia place. Leans heavily seafood but some non-fish items. Food is good but not fabulous. Fairly good and fairly priced wine and cocktails list. Good place to bring a family. Some outdoor seating in boardwalk that fills up fast on a sunny day. read more

The food was good, I didn't like the lemonade because it tasted like the cheap powder lemonade mix you can buy at the store. It's a little pricey but I was happy with my meal. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Shrimp platter - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

I stopped by the Budd Bay Café for lunch on a random afternoon. It was fine but didn't blow me away. I enjoyed my food but I thought it was slightly pricey for what I got. I feel like I was paying for the view of the water. The service was good and the view was nice. It was a pleasant enough dinning experience and I wouldn't be opposed to returning but it also wouldn't be high on my list. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

This restaurant is so good and the food and service are super consistent. From the fried artichoke hearts to the burgers, to all the seafood -- you can't go wrong. read more

Sat outside and had a Pomegranate margarita and a seafood Caesar salad. Wife had a beer and burger. It's lovely sitting outside and watching the boats. It stinks to high heaven of creosote and diesel. The margarita was good, but overfilled and so we spilled it. We had to ask the waiter to bring a wet rag and instead he brought a dry napkin that just spread the sticky mess around. The shrimp and crab on the salad were delicious. But the lettuce was pretty soggy. The burger tasted burnt and dry, the bun was both stale and soggy, the avocado and mushroom that we paid $4 extra for was non-existent. The cheddar lacked flavor and just added to the dryness of the burger... just not worth it! read more

Nice location to start, which is always a plus. I got the combo platter, which was one piece of fried cod, 3 pieces of fried shrimp, and then an assortment of fried clam strips, calamari, fries, and a side of coleslaw. Overall a lot of food. The best was far and away the cod, it was delicious. The fries came next for me being a very tasty side. The calamari is what I would describe as "pretty good". The shrimp was over breaded and flavorless. And the clam strips were too small so I was eating a lot of fried breading. The coleslaw was on par with most restaurants coleslaw, so not amazing in my opinion. The service was underwhelming, but not bad. Overall I think if I had just ordered the fish in chips I would've loved it, so I think the items could be a hit or miss. read more

I had the cioppino. It was delicious. Great seafood. We were there after dark so I didn't get to see any of the view, but the inside of the restaurant was very clean and had a nice atmosphere. Great service. read more

Thank you for cooking dinner tonight. It was delicious. It came in less than 45 minutes. Was hot and delivered to my door. I'm afraid that I couldn't eat it all, it was a very generous portion. I will do this again! read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Soy glazed salmon with wasabi cream sauce. Rice and green beans - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

This restaurant is so beautiful! Heard they are doing thanksgiving and sitting parties of 8 now! Also, have a brand new desserts menu read more

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First and only experience was pretty dang good. First appearance is the same as any other waterfront seafood restaurant with fish decor and wood accents. Our server was a little different and the whole experience felt like an inconvenience to him. Otherwise, our review would of been five stars. I ordered the clams and a side caesar. The clams were in a delicious Chardonnay wine garlic sauce with slivers of almonds which I thought was a good taste of flavor. My salad was perfectly dressed with the right portion of lettuce and toppings. My wife had the baked potato and side salad combo which we thought to be a great add on for a place like this seeing that my wife hates seafood and meat so there usually aren't many options for her when I splurge on a seafood meal. The potato was huge and salad was plentiful. If we were in Olympia we would def return. read more

First time in Olympia, so first time here at Budd Bay. Definitely get the Clam Chowder soup but don't go with just a cup, get a bowl! Fantastic! Crab cakes are so very good and a nice option with your choice of 2 or 3 cakes. The rice pilaf and vegetables that accompany the cakes are good. I sat in the bar and the waiter/bartender was awesome. Running his tail off but so kind. read more

This has to be one of the best bloody marys I've ever tasted! The breading on the fish was phenomenal, so crunchy & lovely. Saw an idiot out the window paddling in a small craft advisory, very entertaining. & Frank was a WONDERFUL server, charming, & was very quick to take & deliver our orders. Compliments to Frank & the kitchen, y'all are doing it RIGHT here! read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Fish & chips, bloody mary, steak & eggs, IPA. - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

We used Budd Bay Cafe's catering service for my husband's 80th birthday celebration, which was held at the Harbor House in Olympia. We met with the catering manager Dan, and he helped us plan the menu, and his selections were perfect for our event. Everyone enjoyed the food, remarking on how delicious everything was. Even though it was just a small party for 20 people, Dan treated us like we were the most important customers he had! The setup and cleanup service relieved us of so much stress and work. The presentation of each tray and the overall setup was beautiful! Everything was delivered and cleaned up right on time, with friendly, polite, and efficient service by the staff. As regular customers of the restaurant, we knew the quality of the food and service, and our exceptions were exceeded! Budd Bay contributed to the success of our party. read more

We attended the restaurant Saturday 16th July and our experience was disappointing to say the least. My wife and I ordered a few plates, couple of starters and an entree to share between us. What we found in our muscles was unacceptable. This wasn't just a dirty / dead muscle, this was the half the sea floor. What had contaminated our dish made my wife ill. Not only this but needless to say it ruined the entire experience. When a restaurant is charging is $100 per head I expect a little more professionalism. To add insult to injury we did not receive an apology from the manager. In fact the manager did not even come to our table, rather sent the waitress back to inform us the muscles had been taken off our bill. Of course it should be taken off the bill!!! That's the least you could do!!! We don't go to restaurant because we can't cook a bowl of muscles, we go for the experience and pay for the experience. This was an experience I would not want to repeat ever again! read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Half the port seabed in our food!!!! Made my wife very ill! - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

So the family just moved to the Olympia area and we were on a search for a good breakfast place. We showed up last Sunday morning for breakfast, I should have read that is was going to be a brunch. My mistake was a big score for us, only wished I made reservations. The food was amazing, the service was excellent, we cannot wait to get back!!! Only gripe was the waffles and French toast were cold, not a big deal considering the spread they had going on. read more

Nice view! The appetizer (artichoke crab dip) wasn't great. My salad was good- flank steak over greens, the steak was tender and perfectly cooked. Son had bacon burger which he said was very good. He liked the fries, too, which are not fresh potatoes but rather a crispy pressed potato strip. Daughter had my steak which was perfectly cooked med rare, but it had a lot of fat down the center making it hard to cut. Her mashed potatoes were excellent and nice zucchini. Husband had seafood medley. He liked it a lot-- I wasn't impressed by the tiny scallops. The warm rolls were delicious!!! There's a small discount for happy hour on drinks, but not on the deck, so my husband and daughter went into the bar to order. It is fairly expensive, but not outrageous for an upscale kind of meal. I noticed an excellent deal m-th and Sunday with a full course meal incl dessert for $20 or so but alas it was Friday so we ordered from main menu. read more

We had a large party of 15 guests. The service was outstanding. Everybody loved their food. The macadamia crusted halibut was a big hit. I will definitely go back when in the vicinity. read more

Another great dinner in the sunshine (and the lemon drop was perfect). Thank you again Budd Bay! read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Marinated Flank Steak Salad - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Went for dinner on a busy Labor day weekend. Even though there was a bit of a wait it turned out fine. Service was excellent, and the food was great. Prime rib was absolutely on point, Salmon was cooked perfectly, and the Red Curry seafood plate was delicious and filling. Wine pours were great. Only complaint was the Manhattan being overly sweet and watered down. We will be back next time we are feeling like Prime rib! read more

Hello! my first time back since I wrote a review about the dreadful music in 2019. Today the music was fine - it was contemporary popular music - included songs my 25 yr old knows - I still prefer music without lyrics, if I wish to talk with my fellow diner, however this was certainly acceptable. So - how was the food? My salmon dinner was excellent, as were the sourdough hot rolls. Green beans at the right consistency - cooked, not mushy. My husband's seafood salad was drenched in a citrusy vinegar. There was an inch deep puddle in the salad bowl, so that all of the greens were soaked. He's not a fan of vinegar. The server was prompt and helpful. Go at sunset and watch the reflections on the water. read more

The highlight of my Saturday late morning stroll enjoying the Olympia Farmer's Market then onto the Maria boardwalk. I was delighted to see room at the Budd Bay Cafe which was so perfect for grabbing a coffee and quick lunch. I ordered the Portabella Mushroom Hamburger and a side cup of their Clam Chowder soup. A vegetarian hamburger so creative with the roasted portabella mushroom, Brie cheese, arugula, sautéed onions and garlic aioli. Delicious! The clam Chowder was hot and... well the best I've ever had. I can't leave this review without mentioning the kindness of the staff. I'm handicapped mobility wise and my server (his name was Aspen) considered every detail to make my lunch memorable. Don't miss out on this prize of the Olympia Marina Caffès. read more

I ordered 3 bowls of clam chowder for a take out dinner. Opened bag at home to find 3 small styrofoam containers. I literally measured 1 cup of chowder in each. Surely this wasn't a "bowl" that cost $15. Went back to Bud Bay later and was told "yep, that's the "bowl", 2 ladles of chowder. A cup of chowder is one ladle. It looks like more at the restaurant since we put it in a large shallow bowl". Chowder is great but not at that price per portion size. read more

Went for a dinner party and when we ordered our food a table that got sat after us in the section we were supposed to have to ourselves ordered after us they got their food before us and when we got our food it was barely warm, and drinks took forever to receive after they were ordered. read more

Great service ! Amazing view. They were very nice and moved us when someone else's toddler was trying to hurt our toddler.

I have no idea how the food is because their customer service is atrocious. I called to reserve a table for Saturday night. They said they only took reservations for large groups, so I asked if we just showed up if they would be able to seat us and she said "of course". We arrived at 6pm on Saturday and were told they were backed up because it was prom night and there would be a delay of an hour and a half. I told the hostess I had tried to make a reservation and she said they had had that night completely booked for days read more

We enjoyed the Sunday brunch buffet. Great value at $27 per person and $5 mimosas! The selection of seafood was amazing. Yummy biscuits and really good gravy. If you have a sweet tooth you would really enjoy the desserts. Eric our server was great, attentive but not hovering. read more

We have been coming here for over 20 years. Today was very disappointing. The rolls were stale, the chowder tasted like paste, the fish was over cooked, we were not offered water, our coffee and soft drinks were not refilled. I can't imagine returning. read more

Two stars tops! Got fish and chips. I imagine this is how cardboard would taste if you fried it! I got two pieces of fish, one was the size of a fish stick. Fries are covered in something, whether I took a bite of fish or a fry the taste was the same. If you have any standards go somewhere else! There's a hole on the wall in Gig Harbor that makes fantastic fish and chips! Oh, there was also something sticky at the bottom of my glass! I'm so disappointed! read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

I have been coming here for 13 years. Today it seems, I really saw how beautiful the marine view is ! Really, after 13 years of amazing sunsets and marina views. I finally get it. ...like views of Hermosa Marina ....but even better! plus the food and service is always good too! read more

Nice views of the marina and staff was friendly, but the food was just so so. I had tacos and the slaw that came with it was off. I sent it back and got some that had the same bad taste. They either gave me more from the same bad batch or it just tastes like it's gone off. Either way, no one checked in to see if it was better or offered an alternative so I paid for food I couldn't eat. Not likely to return. read more

Very good standard breakfast. Excellent bacon, but the biscuit was a hockey puck. Fast and friendly service. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Two egg breakfast. Avoid the biscuit if you want to do anything the rest of the day. - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

I have been going to Bud Bay Cafe since 1997. I was shocked when the male manager working Tuesday 9/28/2021 told me to stop complaining when food was brought to my table cold. This was the second time (8/3/2021 new server) that food was brought cold. There was not temperature to the vegetables. It was the third time, the prime rib was brought to the table not cooked medium well as specified. Ironically two of those times was 9/28/2021. Half the prime rib was rose red which is not cooked medium well. I ate the end which was cooked and took the rest home to finish cooking it at a later date (as was done with the prime rib on 9/13/2021). The restaurant used to have good service and especially better manners from the manager. I will always complain about improperly cooked food; and it is my right to expect food to be cooked as requested and arrive hot. Especially for meals over $40 per person. The incident of 8/3/2021 was when I ordered the crab cakes and they came cold with cold vegetables. The staff was under manned and I had a new server who either did not coordinate with the kitchen and left the meal cooling or the kitchen is just pushing orders through and letting them cool. Either way, this is not acceptable. I waited 2 weeks before writing this review to ensure an non emotional perspective. The kitchen is not either getting the orders clearly understood, or they don't care and just push things out wither the table customer is ready for it after having the salad course, or they have cooked all the vegetables and just let them sit cooling and thus open for bacteria infection. I have no idea how a steak comes out of a kitchen and has no heat to the touch. Further how a redo of the order produces another steak which is only cooked per order on 1/3 of the meat. The last time 9/28 was to be a mentally relaxing day to celebrate my birthday. The meal was ruined. Further to have the manager who tracks when a complaint is made tell me I should stop is totally wrong in customer service and health department regulations. I strongly suggest this restaurant be avoided till they are properly staffed, had a customer service adjustment to actually caring about the well being of their customers. Personally, I expect an apology and hope to see improvements. Nathan read more