We call Budd Bay "the Club House". In the summer, we frequently have lunch on the deck (one of the best places to dine al fresco in Oly). The food is always well prepared and flavorful. There are no swings in quality. My spousal unit's go-to is the wasabi salmon. Tonight she said it was super!! (it was her birthday dinner so I was glad it was a good one) And in non-summer, how is Budd Bay?? Just as good ! The servers are good and quickly add to your group's fun and celebration. Tonight, Maggie played right along with me being a smart alec when I ordered my veggie soft tacos "medium rare". Food (check). Service (check). Fun (check). read more

Amazing! All I can say is I am glad I don't live in Olympia, because I'd probably come here at least a few times a week... the service and food was absolutely outstanding! I will definitely be back :) read more

Wasabi salmon is really good and the potatoes are very memorable. Kind of surprised they don't have a 4-star reputation on Yelp. My family makes a point to go here when we are all together. read more

Online presence lured me in, looked good. Arrived at 1pm. Not that crowded for lunch but busy. I walked up to desk, "Yes just me" hostesses seemed bothered to talk to me. There weren't tables for just one so I was directed to the lounge area, had trouble making sure I was in right spot as no one cared to make sure I got there. I waited there for 10 mins before anyone had time. I never got a menu so I used the online one. Ordered Cioppino when the bar tender deemed to greet me. No one ever checked back. Food was ok but not up to the hype, prices and locale. Snotty, uppity, poor service. Hostesses never said boo as I left right in front of them. No hi and no bye. Chopping was tasteless compared to others I've had. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - The view - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Stopped by for takeout lunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon. I had a hankering for fish and chips. I've had good meals and mediocre meals at this restaurant in the past, but this was just plain awful..cod overcooked to the point of toughness, coated with stale tasting panko bread crumbs, and soggy, mushy fries coated with some toxic overly salty spice mix. Fries should be house made from fresh potatoes, not dumped out of some freezer burned plastic bag. I also question the freshness of the cooking oil. The Cole slaw was pretty decent, a little bland but not loaded with sugar like some. Just....don't! read more

This is a review based on my experience for Sunday brunch, so I don't know how the restaurant fares the rest of the time. Let me also preface this 2-star review by stating that I do not like seafood. That being said, I was pretty disappointed. My two dining companions, who both thoroughly enjoy seafood, seemed to like the brunch just fine, but I left hungry. That's criminal when it comes to buffets. There were so few choices for non-seafood eaters. I was basically left with either stuffing myself with sweet items (like waffles, crepes, or donuts/desserts) or going hungry.... I chose the latter. They did have bacon and sausage and sauteed chicken breast, but chicken is just not something I can eat at 9am (same goes for spicy meatballs). I was surprised they didn't at least have scrambled eggs - oh, wait... they did, but they were mixed with crab! Yuck. The only other egg item was eggs benedict, and until recently, I didn't even know anyone who liked that at all! The other things I had on my plate were a couple of pineapple slices (they didn't bother to cut out the eyes), and a sourdough roll (didn't taste very fresh). My consolation, though, was that I was able to go to the farmer's market afterward and get a teriyaki turkey stick and some cinnamon almonds to help fill the void! read more

You folks lost a good customer tonight. I sat down at the bar to get a bowl of chowder. After being told it's coming twice, the waiter was still bs'ing with the more favored customers and his co-workers. I sat there for 45 minutes. Enough is enough. You better hire some workers. read more

So disappointed that the quality of food has gone downhill. The salmon dish I normally order was overcooked, encrusted in peppercorns, and was accompanied by a bunch of mushy carrots. The only thing that has increased around here is the price. I'm not sure if they have recently changed chefs, but I noticed that even the sweet potato fries have changed. This used to be one of my favorite lunch spots, but after the sub par meal today, I won't be coming back. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Mushy carrots are gross. Also if you're only putting in 1 vegetable, it shouldn't be advertised as "seasonal vegetables". - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

I would Highly recommend Budd Bay Cafe! Seems more high scale in retrospect. The clientele may have just made the experience seem nicer, or it could have been the wait staff. Every team member greeted me as I passed and I took a lap around the place. The four plates at our table were all picture worthy and we didn't finish one meal, as well we had to share, so the portions were on point. I can't say enough about the view. Sitting on the water imbues something primal in me, and so imagine humanity as a whole. We're draw to our roots, when like attracts like. i couldn't count all the sail boats. Plus, as an added bonus the sky went from almost completely cloudy, to 80% clear while we were eating so our little neighborhood friendly Star, The Sun popped out to help start our day on the water. read more

This is our first visit. It is meeting all of our expectations. We ordered the sourdough bread. It came out warm and actually tasted of good sourdough. Yum. My crab cakes were good; my only complaint was the sauce was thousand island. A good cocktail sauce would have been better. Rebecca lived here fried oysters. It had a good batter that was not too thick. Philip's combo was also good. The prawns were very good and the scallops were over breaded. My rice was good; my grilled vegetables were overdone. This place has a good wine list. All in all, we had a good lunch that met expectations. read more

Went for an early dinner.. Aspen was our server and was awesome. He had great knowledge about the menu and when I was undecided on what to order he gave us his favorite dishes to choose from. The crab dip is some of the best I have ever had. The reason for 3 stars has nothing to do with our awesome server but the fact that 1 hour 15 mins after we ordered we still did not have our main meals. I had asked where our food was after the table beside us got their food (they had placed their order after us) Aspen stated he was waiting on the kitchen. When the 2 tables that were sat after us got their appetizers and mains I was a little done. We asked for our check as I was hungry at this point. Aspen let us know that he would grab our check and have the manager remove the meals. I walked inside to pay the tab and a manager who I didn't get the name of asked if we needed help. I explained the issue and he was great about it and took the meals off the tab. Although this visit didn't go as planned the customer service was great. I will go back and try it again. .. I also want to state that it was at 520pm and it wasn't that busy. read more

Everything we had was excellent! Had late PM lunch outside. I shared the special Duck Salad w/Lime Chipotle dressing, Blueberries and Cotija Cheese in a Fried Rortilla Bowl. It was huge and tasty. Also had the Marinated Clams in White wine & garlic - perfection! So many times they are over salted or underwhelming. Hubby had the Chicken Sandwich, and he says it was great. His side of fries were fabulous. Would definitely return! read more

We were fortunate to have a $50 gift card for Buds Bay Cafe. We both ordered the signature salmon dish, soy glaze. It was outstanding. Perfectly cooked and the rice pilaf actually had flavor! We were very impressed and can't wait to dine inside when things open up. read more

Favorite place for my girlfriend and I or the family to get loose and have a good time. Service is excellent and attention to detail makes me feel like I am welcome at the restaurant. The leadership the staff and management have shine on their customers and I can tell they enjoy their work environment. Not too mention the happy hour and great drinks. The deep fried oysters are our favorite. Give this place a go! read more

Great spot to take your family or a date. The atmosphere brings you back every time. The servers know how to handle any situation and could not be happier with my experiences there. read more

Great service, pleasant environment with a great view of the water. The seafood and beer is to die for, the chefs don't mess around. I can tell the upper management really knows how to run a business. Easy 5 stars, I will be coming back again! read more

Food was beyond excellent, came out a lot faster then expected granted how busy the restaurant was. Our server was very good at what he does and excellent with our little ones. Very hard to beat good food, amazing service and a pretty view ! read more

I was here for brunch and can't comment on any other meal than the one I had. Smoked salmon Benedict tasted a bit fishy. The view of the boat harbor was great and service was charming. read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

I visited with 2 friends from Chicago. I wanted to give them a great seafood experience, unfortunately it was kind of hit & miss. One had coconut prawns which were outstanding, another had cod & chips with coleslaw, there was too much breading on the cod, and I had a cup of chowder which I really enjoyed and shrimp salad which was very good. We had a nice view of the water and the atmosphere was cozy but not warm. Felt like their heat wasn't working. Our server was very attentive. Some of the reasons I say it was hit and miss. I will try it again once the weather is warmer. read more

Horrible experience ... my husband and I went down to have a few drinks and some appetizers , unfortunately one of appetizers had a hair in it , after Telling our waitress she asked if we wanted another plate I wasn't interested but my husband took the offer . At no time did the waitress apologize or did the manager come over to speak with us until our check came and noticed the item wasn't removed and I asked to speak to the manager . The manager came over laughed at my request and then laughed again and walked away after I told her that we where trying to do our best to help support local businesses in our community. I was shocked that this was a response from a manager. All businesses run into problems it's how they are handled that makes the difference. read more

Authentic and fresh seafood! Budd Bay Cafe not only had some bomb black tiger prawns but an awesome view to go with it! Check them out read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Outside - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Giving a good review because of the food. But WATCH OUT if you you eat outside! The chair legs will fall through cracks in the deck boards! Two people in our group accidentally had a chair leg slip into a crack and it's really scary. A woman with a walker had a wheel catch in a crack and nearly fell! It's a BIG PROBLEM and the owners need to do something about it now! It's a law suit waiting to happen. read more

Went to the Sunday brunch for the first time and it wont be my last. Me and my girlfriends loved it! Adam was our server and he did excellent! The food was so good and so many options. I do wish the eggs Benedict was made to order because the egg was overcooked sitting in that serving pan BUT other than that, I have no other complaints. The mimosas kept flowing :) read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Came in today for my birthday lunch with my family and received the worst service. Better to say no service at all. We were seated and had waiters and managers pass by our table for over thirty minutes without bringing any water or taking our order. read more

My husband ordered a bowl of clam chowder. When it arrived, it appeared to be the consistancy of mashed potatoes and if you ran a knife through it, it would stay separated. The manager did not see much wrong with it and said he would take the cost off our bill. He did not. read more

I enjoyed the scenery overlooking the water. The restaurant was clean and everyone appeared friendly. The clam chowder was really good and the waiter offered to splash with sherry. I ordered the seafood cioppino and it was excellent. Very fresh fish, clams and salmon. We had strawberry cobbler for dessert and it was tasty. Our waitress was very friendly and my only complaint was the food service a little slow. We definitely would come back. read more

On a Sunday night, after 10pm, during the Lakefair fireworks show, some knucklehead decided it was the right time to start towing cars from the gravel lot on Columbia St. As an Olympia resident, I know that there is minimal signage around that lot so I never use it. However, what an interesting flex by some manager to even consider towing cars after the restaurant was closed. I hope whoever made that call gets an earful from several unhappy people. Total dick move. read more

This dockside water front eatery is filled with ambiance and charm. Food portions are nice sized and all ingredients are very fresh. Great place to grab lunch during the week or indulge on the weekends. Had the clam chowder and ceasar salad. Loved it! Photo is after I ate half of it lol read more

Budd Bay Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Great customer service, my service was super friendly and amazing. I also absolutely loved my food it was soooo delicious! I had the fettuccine Alfredo with prawns and I am now obsessed so good!!! also had fried prawns and chips and that was beyond amazing as well! I'll definitely be coming back and I recommend 100%!!!! read more

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

Great food but customer service was severely lacking. Had to keep asking waitstaff to place our order and even to get basic water on the table. read more

Very nice restaurant with a great location on the water and good food. The restaurant and bathroom is wheelchair accessible (though the bathroom is a little bit of a tight squeeze). You are seated quickly., and rarely must wait. They take reservations and although they are not necessary it is greatly recommended when coming in a group. The food is American with a lot of seafood options. If you are seated at a window table you have a nice view of the Marina and bc there is a long boardwalk between the marina and the restaurant you will have the pleasure of watching people ppl-watch you. The acoustics are not so great and usually there is a din of noise no matter where you're seated. read more

A monumental disappointment. They were moderately busy, but being a holiday weekend I would expect them to be prepared, not so... We sat at our table for 10 minutes or so before anyone even came to talk to us, the food took FOR EVER, and 20+ minutes after placing our order the waitress came by to tell us that my wife's meal was unavailable. She ordered something else and we STILL waited upwards of 15-20 minutes before we got our food. I ordered the pork shoulder Torta and was extremely disappointed. The meat was completely unseasoned and a bit dry. The rest of food was pretty mediocre, not bad, but not great. We were told the manager would be by at some point, never saw them. Most likely will not be coming here any more as each visit is more disappointing than the one before. read more

Good service, promptly served hot food. Nice view. Clam chowder was good but Mussels in Marinara was excellent (we love tomato based sauces!) Sadly we are tourists passing through or we might make this a definite " go to" spot! read more

Fantastic view, great food. I drive about 90 miles to eat here, so try it. I notice it is a great business lunch hang out for our State House. The Seafood and Steaks are top notch! read more

My 2 friends and I had lunch there today. Their food was mediocre at best. Mine was awful. I had the crab artichoke dip, but there was no "Dip" to it. It was hard, crusty and bitter tasting. The dinner rolls they brought us, though warm, were hard to pull apart and almost uneatable! Our Server, Rebecca was nice and adequate! The prices were extremely high for the quality of food received! read more

Went here for a big group birthday dinner and the service we got was terrible, it was prom night so I understand but it was hard to watch a server forget about a table of 8 so much. I had crab cakes that were decent nothing I'd go back for and the drinks weren't very good I had 4-5 cocktails that were very mids, the Land & Sea (Lobster & Steak) looked like it was really good a few at my table got it but other then that it was a mediocre experience but could have been better with different service maybe. read more

We are fairly new to the area so when we discovered Budd Bay we were very happy. Our first time going back after the shutdown was disappointing except for the stupendous service. I found out that they served breakfast and so of course, we went back if nothing else but for the view. The sea food omelet is incredibly delicious. I would recommend splitting it though because it is very rich. My husband got the traditional eggs Benedict and enjoyed them too. Good service, great view, good food. I would just recommend until they have their full menu back before spending the prices they charge. read more

The view is splendid, no disputing that. Sitting on the patio on a beautiful day is fabulous. I went for an early dinner with friends who absolutely love the restaurant and go there weekly. I felt badly for not sharing their exuberance; as I felt it was just "O.K." I actually became annoyed at how overly friendly the waitress was. (No, she was not someone who regularly served my friends. If she was, I would have been forgiving.) She disappeared for long periods of time and we had to ask another server to find her. When she came to the table she was just so bouncy, bubbly, familiar and overly sweet, it was rather off-putting. The food was ok, nothing spectacular. It did not have much flavor, either good or bad. It seemed to be "food for the masses" ... Decent, edible, but that's it. They had a lot of salmon / fish dishes on the menu, and I am not a fan of fish except shell fish, so maybe that is where they excel. My drink from the bar was quite good and the rest of the bar menu looked good too. My desert of Crème Brulee was lacking the usual crunchy caramelized sugar topping, and therefore was more of a simple vanilla custard desert. In conclusion, the setting and the bar offerings are fantastic ... the food and our particular server were unexceptional. read more

This is a good place if you want a nice meal. Family or date night. the sunday brunch is beyond good! It is a little pricey but it is a seafood and prime rib place what do you want? The chipino (im spelling that wrong) is good..not as amazing as my grandpas but still really good, their prime rib and coconut prawns are really good!! But the Best is their sourdough rolls! so good dipped in the Chipino!!! Order your Chipino with crab meat tho, that is how it is supposed to be. :) Good place and on the water... read more

I was at Budd Bay yesterday for a late lunch. The restaurant is nice, with a great view and an attentive staff. We were sat down with a window view and given prompt service with waters. These are the only reasons I'm willing to give them 2-stars because if not for the staff and the ambiance, I don't think I could even muster giving them one. My problem with the restaurant lies entirely with the food. We ordered the saffron mussels to start, and while they were cooked well, the saffron sauce made little impression. It was bland with zero flavor to be found. I was expecting some sort of floral flavor to pop out alongside some spice like smoked paprika to brighten it. But unfortunately my expectations were a miss and there was honestly too much of the bland sauce that it was slipping out of the bowl they brought it in. For our entrees, I ordered a bowl of clam chowder and my parents split the grilled halibut. They all came with side salads which, alongside the garlic bread that came with the mussels, was probably the only good thing we ate. I'll start off with the chowder, I saw on Yelp that they consider it their "Award Winning New England Clam Chowder" but I'm not sure what type of awards it's winning. I'm a huge fan of chowder, have been since I was a child, so it was a no brainer for me to order. However, it was truly the worst chowder I've ever had at a restaurant. Not only did it lack flavor but you could eat it with a fork and knife. I had to douse it with black pepper to bring any sort of taste to it. And I don't know how much cream they put in the soup but when I shook the bowl, it moved like jello. Needless to say, when I got home that night, I had some major stomach pains despite not being lactose intolerant. For the grilled halibut, it came with a side of rice and veggies. Halibut is a great fish, if cooked right it can be as buttery as a poached lobster. This is not we got. This was the most bland, overcooked, and lukewarm piece of fish I've ever seen in my life. My parents were starved (we all were) so they ate some of it before they could no longer push back the lack of flavor. It was a spectacle to watch as they had to cut through the fish with a knife and fork when it's supposed to be moist, flaky, and fall apart in your mouth goodness. Our disappointment is immeasurable. I was really hopeful that Budd Bay would be good considering how nice the restaurant looks and the great view, but it didn't even meet a fraction of my expectations. As I said before, if not for the great staff and ambiance, this would be a begrudgingly 1-star review that really deserves to be a 0. read more