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    Lime Kiln Cafe

    3.9 (203 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 4:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Lime Kiln Cafe Photos

    LIME KILN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Lime Kiln Cafe

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    Exterior
    Albert T.

    We were initially planning to head to Madrona Grill for lunch on the recommendation of our hotel concierge, but after realizing that their online menu and their actual in restaurant menu is entirely different (and missing what we were planning on ordering), we decided to eat at the Lime Kiln Grill instead. Owned by the same company, this restaurant is a more casual counter-service type of establishment, apparently famous for their donuts, which we of course had to order as well. It was pretty busy at 11AM, but there were plenty of tables both inside and out. The food took around 20 minutes to arrive. Maple Donut ($2.49) - This donut looks better than it eats. It tastes decent enough - both icing and cake base that aren't too sweet, with vanilla flavored dough and a tiny bit of maple flavoring in the icing. The problem is the texture - when I want a really good cake donut, I expect there to be a crust on the outside contributing a bit of a texture difference vs. the soft and fluffy cake interior. This one, on the other hand, is completely soft and fluffy throughout, like it wasn't fried nearly long enough to develop a crust. Either that, or it had been sitting too long in a moist environment? The sign says they make these fresh daily, so it's a bit strange. It's also a bit on the oily side. (3/5) Clam Chowder, Bowl ($10.95) - Good creaminess, a good amount of ingredients mixed into the stew, with skin on red potato, celery, and clam. There's isn't too much clam swirling around, and the clam taste seems to be a little lacking compared to other clam chowders I've eaten. It's definitely more milky in taste than a lot of other chowders. They add a ton of dried herbs that add a bit more complex flavor. It's salty and milky, but otherwise a bit too light on the clam. Still, it's not a bad clam chowder by any means. (4/5) Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich ($19.95) - This sandwich includes a thinly pounded breast filet, breaded and fried to perfection. While it's white meat, it's surprisingly not dried out and instead is still rather softer in texture and not overcooked. The breading is fried very nicely, being almost cornflake-like in crunch factor. It's applied very evenly and tastes somewhat similar to KFC (texture-wise as well) - not that I've eaten KFC in a while, so I could be wrong! A ton of spices adorn the breading. If this is a frozen, commercial fried chicken patty, I would be very impressed. Lengthwise cut pickles line the bottom bun, which is buttered and toasted well, along with a smattering of fried jalapeno chips. There's a bit of slaw on top, then a bunch of chipotle mayo. It's a little smoky, but not really spicy at all. I do have an issue with the bun - it's a rectangular ciabatta that I don't think goes well with the sandwich. To have good textural contrast, typically fried chicken is paired with a soft and fluffy bun. The ciabatta, on the other hand is a denser and drier bread that doesn't fit as well. Then again, I was not expecting this sandwich to be any good and the quality certainly surprised me. The sandwich comes with some normal commercial thin fries. They are salted heavily, have a good crisp and taste like what a fry should taste. No complaints here. (4/5) I don't think I missed out on anything choosing to eat here instead of Madrona Grill. They serve simple, but satisfying fare. I'm just not sure why they are so famous for their donuts though! Bathrooms - Both larger rooms and individual rooms outside on both sides of the building shared with the other businesses.

    Food Physicist D.

    A great place for breakfast if you are in the Roche Harbor area. Very efficient ordering system when you walk in the door. Have a seat and enjoy the view of the resort. It's definitely worth the wait for a delicious meal. Don't forget to get one of their famous doughnuts for a second breakfast! We will be back!

    Breakfast menu (Dec '24)
    Brett M.

    The fish & chips were mentioned on a lot of reviews, but were pretty bad. The fish was cold in the center and the fries were lukewarm. The chowder tasted like chemicals, not very fresh and the chicken salad was not spectacular. We would have left the food on the table if we weren't starving. They seem to be doing well just because of their location, and care little for the quality of the food they're putting out. The servers were nice, but not friendly. They did bring over the order to the table. The tables that were empty, only half of them were clean. Maybe they're understaffed.

    The marina
    Jim R.

    I love the breakfast here. They do a great job and the views are fantastic. Order at the counter, get the doughnut of the day

    Maple bacon (special of the day) donut, chocolate donut - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    Located in the Roche Harbor Resorts, this is a breakfast place famously known for the cake donuts. I went here just a little after 10am Sunday, perfectly timed to beat the brunch rush, as there was a queue of 15 people when we left 5 minutes later. So if you want the special donut of the day, you'd want to get there before 10am to be safe, or even earlier if you are visiting in the peak summer months. We got the last specialty donut (same price as the permanent rotation) which is the maple bacon donut, as well as a chocolate donut. It was $2.63 per donut after tax, which is decently priced. For the hype, I would not give it 5 stars, as the maple bacon did not have much bacon flavor. It was a slightly glorified maple donut with some texture from bacon bits. The chocolate donut was a bit too sweet for my liking, even though I could tolerate sweeter desserts if they intended to make it as such. If you are in the area, I would try the donuts or even the breakfast items, but I would not make a journey of 15 min or more just for their famous donuts.

    Eddy F.

    The food was great and their portions were awesome. The service was great. The ambiance was good.

    1/2 turkey sandwich
    Joan F.

    Good food, steep prices. It's clean and the service was friendly and efficient. Lunch for 3 people was $45. One of us had ice tea, otherwise we drank water. My point? Even in the off season, it's expensive here. Still the views were good and the food was tasty. The 12 oz soup was filling and had a smoky tincture to it. I love split pea soup and this soup was really well prepared: creamy and perfectly seasoned (most restaurants add too much salt). The turkey sandwich with small chowder was also delicious. The dining room was a bit messy with debris on the floor and chairs pushed away from the tables. Next time I'd just eat on the boat, but a friend was disembarking so going out to lunch was a social decision. Im glad we tried this place but the prices will likely keep me away in the future.

    Cubano
    Rob B.

    Aloha, when you have dinner rez in 3 hours, yet you're so hungry as you just finished playing pickleball, best to share a sandwich to hold you over. We stumbled onto Lime Kiln Cafe, where they make fresh sandwiches. Our cubano was so ono! Great system, you stand in line to order and pay, you get a number, find a table and viola the food is served. You can dine indoors or outdoors on a nice boardwalk with umbrellas. All with a fantastic view of the boats (yachts) in the harbor. Roche Harbor drips in millions if not billions of dollars just sitting there in the harbor. Fun little town of shops, hotels, wedding venues and fun! Enjoy!

    View out the window

    Ate breakfast here. I had the gluten friendly hash and was very good. Great views even on a rainy day.

    Carmel macchiato

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    9 months ago

    Great sports bar and food. Hawaiian flavor!many specials each day and home-made ice cream.

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    1 year ago

    Excellent food, service and atmosphere. We had breakfast and dinner at the cafe. Both were great, as they have been for decades!

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    1 year ago

    Good food but very expensive. Nice location and good service too. Take a walk on the boardwalk while you are there.

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    Busy on the weekends, nice views of the docks, good food. Order at the front and then find a table.

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    Roche H.

    Thank you Jules!

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Lime Kiln Cafe

    San Juan Island Brewing

    San Juan Island Brewing

    4.2
    (461 reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $$

    We had lunch here while waiting for the ferry and really enjoyed the nice little patio and good…read morefood. Service was prompt and friendly and they had gf designations on their menu which made my life easy. I had the house salad and the apricots on top were delish. The husband of mine had a pizza which he said was the indulgence he was craving. Our friend had the curry soup of the day, fried cheese curds and a cider tasting. Everything was good. They had some cute stuff in their shop inside and I secured myself a perfect fox hat. Next time we come back to San Juan we'll definitely stop in again.

    San Juan Island Brewing was quite solid given the lack of food options open past 7 on the island…read more After waiting about 20 minutes to get seated, we ordered pizza and a couple of dishes to share. Pig war pizza: I thought this was good but my friends said it was too salty. Maybe it was a tad salty but I think that's how all pork pizza is going to taste normally. 4.5/5 Fried chicken sandwich: I didn't really like this as much, I liked the sauce and it had a nice kick to it but the chicken was a tad dry and flavorless. 3.5/5 Philly cheesesteak: I enjoyed this, the steak and the melted cheese mixed together nicely with the bread to create a delicious experience. It is a bit expensive for a Philly cheesesteak though for its size and it's not anything super special. 4/5 Fries were also pretty good but they didn't come out hot. The food took a bit of time to come out but that is somewhat understandable since they were quite busy on a weekend night. I enjoyed the ambience, it definitely felt like a brewery and gave pub vibes but with solid food. 4.1/5

    Photos
    The Bar
    The Bar
    San Juan Island Brewing
    San Juan Island Brewing

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    Downriggers

    Downriggers

    4.0
    (747 reviews)
    8.0 mi
    $$$

    If you find yourself in Friday Harbor, you absolutely have to visit this spot. My top tip: make a…read morereservation. This place fills up fast, and after dining there, it's easy to see why! Our party of three visited for lunch at noon on a Thursday. Since we had a reservation, we were seated immediately at a lovely table right by the window. The atmosphere was great, and the staff were incredibly courteous and friendly throughout our meal. We initially thought about starting with some small plates, but we were so eager for seafood that we jumped straight into the entrees. We weren't disappointed: Bouillabaisse: This was our first time trying this dish, and it was the highlight for us. It was incredibly flavorful--exactly what we were craving. Spicy Prawn Mac and Cheese: It definitely lived up to its name! It wasn't "blow-your-head-off" hot, but it had a perfect, noticeable kick that really elevated the dish. Blackened Cod Tacos: These were fantastic. The cod was perfectly prepared and worked so well with the rest of the taco ingredients. We also enjoyed a couple of non-alcoholic drinks that hit the spot, though I'll admit that since I'm writing this a couple of weeks later, I forgot to snag photos or the specific names of the drinks! They also have a really nice patio area if you prefer dining outdoors. Whether you're a seafood lover or just looking for a great meal with a view, this place is a must-visit!

    A lovely restaurant tucked at the edge of Friday Harbor…read more While the views were stunning, the service was just ok. For the nature of the restaurant, we had hoped for our waitress to be more friendly and genuine. However, it felt like they just wanted to fulfill our order and be done. I ordered the South Sound Clams and Snapper Sandwich. Bathing in an umami-packed and rich Thai curry broth, the clams were tender and fresh with a bit of brine. Very good and shareable with one other person. The snapper sandwich wowed me! The bright escovitch and creamy avocado paired wonderfully with the snapper. Every bite was delightful. The house-made potato chips, however, were disappointing. They were thin, not crispy, and sticking to my teeth. If you can, substitute for fries or salad. Despite our subpar service, the delicious, well-priced food and beautiful scenery still make this the perfect date spot.

    Photos
    Downriggers
    Crab Melt***
    Crab Melt***
    Crab Deviled Eggs***

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    Crab Deviled Eggs***
    Vic's Drive In

    Vic's Drive In

    3.5
    (57 reviews)
    8.0 mi
    $

    This long-standing family-owned diner has a lot of historic charm and the service is a real…read morestandout. The cashier was incredibly friendly and detailed when I asked about the history of the establishment. The food is unfortunately average, and for the price point my chicken Caesar salad could have more chicken. Still I'd consider returning the next time I visit the island to support this local business and enjoy the wonderful service again.

    We decided to stop in for a quick meal before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. Given that…read morewe only had about half an hour before we had to get to the terminal, Vic's seemed like a good choice. I do have to comment - the name of this restaurant is strange. What exactly makes this restaurant a Drive-In? Considering there's no parking specifically for the place, no car hop service, nor any semblance of a drive through. Instead, it's street parking and typical counter service restaurant. On the window, they had signs for a crab cake sandwich, which we decided to order along with another burger. Even though this was on a weekend during the height of summer, there was only a single other party in the place throughout our meal. I guess most people show up later in the night? But then again, they close at 7PM, so I dunno. The food took about 10 minutes to come out. Deluxe Cheeseburger ($10.99) - Firstly the bun - it's a very thick sesame bun that seems to be homemade, or perhaps from a local bakery. It's toasted well until very darkened looking, but isn't dried out at all and is instead soft and fluffy. Tons of shredded lettuce, sliced onion, and tangy pickles, form a base layer on the bottom bun, glued on by a dollop of their secret burger sauce that's nicely creamy, sweet, and tangy. On top is a juicy ¼ pound patty that's cooked to perfection for a diner burger (e.g. well done, but not dried out at all). On top, of course, the melted, fatty cheese. Everything works together very well; this is just a very solid diner-style cheeseburger. There's not really much I could envision to improve it. (5/5) Crab Cake Sandwich ($14.99) - This is pretty much the same as above but without cheese and substituting the beef patty with a crab cake. The cake is fried well, giving a good crunchy breading, whereas the interior is soft and tender, mostly filler without any taste of crab. Seems to be a typical frozen crab cake, but expected for this price point. It's a salty and savory bomb that goes well with the rest of the ingredients. This sandwich comes with a giant pile of crinkle cut fries. Unlike most crinkle cuts I've had in the past, which are typically floppy and sad, these are fried relatively well, creating a decently crisp crust on the outside while maintaining a fluffy interior. I think if these were immersed in the oil for another 30 seconds to a minute, it would create a better experience? Regardless, these are pretty good fries. (4/5) Overall, I was pretty impressed with the food served at Vic's. I'm not sure why they don't have more business at night? It's probably one of the best (if not the best) diner burger on the island. Pricing is high, yes, but it's kind of expected since it's in a tourist area, not to mention on an island. I would happily return on any future visit to Friday Harbor. Bathrooms - Single unisex room Edit: After doing some more research, it seems this place used to be a drive-in. They had to modernize but kept the name.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Vic's Drive In
    Vic's Drive In

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    Rocky Bay Cafe

    Rocky Bay Cafe

    3.9
    (512 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$

    Back to back mornings the daughter and I hit Rocky Bay Cafe for some breakfast…read more Place gets packed early so don't mess around get in and eat! Service was excellent as my coffee cup was overflowing and the food was great. The guys cooking in the back are legit! Both days I ordered the breakfast burrito with chorizo. See beautiful photo below. The salsa was also on target! Thanks Rocky Bay Cafe! 5 stars I'll be back!

    We checked in and put our name on the list and were told to wait outside while a table was being…read morecleaned. Unfortunately, we were forgotten. After noticing that two couples who arrived after us had already been seated, I went back inside to ask about our table. The staff seemed a little irritated by the question, which wasn't a great start to the experience. The waitstaff was very attentive and friendly throughout our meal, which I appreciated. However, it took quite a while for our food to arrive, and when it did, it wasn't very hot. I ordered my eggs over medium, but they came out overdone. From what I observed, the kitchen and counter staff seemed somewhat disorganized, which may have contributed to the long wait and cold food. I've heard mixed reviews about this place, and based on my visit, it seems like your experience may depend on the day. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. There are definitely some positives, especially with the waitstaff, but overall the experience fell short of expectations.

    Photos
    Rocky Bay Cafe
    Rocky Bay Cafe
    Rocky Bay Cafe

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    Cousin Vinnie's NY Pizza Cafe

    Cousin Vinnie's NY Pizza Cafe

    3.4
    (77 reviews)
    8.1 mi
    $$

    While rolling around San Juan Island for my daughter's bday we came across Cousin Vinnie's NY Pizza…read moreCafe on Yelp. What really drew my attention was some of the piss poor reviews from some fake Yelpstars...you know the ones folks; those fake folks that got three total reviews all one star. I thought it was comical about how scared and bent customers were regarding Vinnie's attitude. Honestly, if you can't hack a strong attitude maybe you should just stay inside and be scared! More great pizza for the rest of us. Cousin Vinnie's is not a hole in the wall pizzeria it's a walk up to a door you can't enter and order directly with Vinnie working in the kitchen! Bad A**! We ordered up one large thin crust with olives, mushrooms, pepperoni, and sausage. One personal size all meat pizza and cannolis. Vinnie told me to come back in about 35-40 minutes. He's a one man show people. Rolled back to the front of the pizzeria and Vinnie was showing off other pies he created for orders infront of us. Once ours was done he freshly filled the cannolis and showed off our pizzas. Wow not only did they look great they tasted great. Loved the flavor of the crust and ingredients! 5 stars Vinnie! Great pizza from a great guy! I'll be back!

    Rude owner Pizza was not great, don't waste your money…read more Pretty sure the crust was frozen

    Photos
    The front of the pizzeria do not enter!!!
    The front of the pizzeria do not enter!!!
    Custom job... mushrooms, olive, pepperoni, and sausage.
    Custom job... mushrooms, olive, pepperoni, and sausage.
    Menu 07/01/2026

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    Menu 07/01/2026

    Lime Kiln Cafe - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

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