I was pretty disappointed with the meal I ordered. I got the captain's platter which was meant for two. It comes with fried clams, popcorn shrimp, prawns, calamari, fried oysters, halibut, cod, salmon, fries and sauces. Even though it was a meal for two there was only one piece of each fish and two of everything else except for the popcorn shrimp and clams. Literally two sad prawns, two sad strips of calamari, and two fried oysters. It also comes with two basket of fries. We subbed one for soup, but the number of fries for even one "basket" was disappointing. The picture shows basically what we received minus 3 or 4 fries. I wouldn't even be mad, if it didn't cost $35. All in all a disappointing meal. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

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We have just finished eating at Seabolt's for our last time. I will be gracious and say that the food is quite good. That, unfortunately, is the only good thing I can say. We will never return. The food is good, but we can make it home. The restaurant experience is not only about the food. We've eaten at Seabolt's several times over the past few years and while the food is good, the service is absolutely horrendous. Mind you, the staff are not mean, nor uncaring, but the number of things that are forgotten or missed is just unacceptable. A few years ago, someone had forgotten to place the beer in the refrigerator (btw, if you serve beer in a can, you should bring a glass automatically). Fortunately, I enjoy British culture and warm beer doesn't bother me. Most Americans...not so much. Our next time, the server forgot our silverware, even after I reminded him. I had to remind him twice. Then in the same meal, he only brought half of my wife's meal, and again, it took two reminders to get the full meal. And these are not complex meals. Bread and seafood. That's it. Two items should be on the plate. They were not. Tonight was the last straw. We arrived about five minutes early for our reservations at 6 pm. We were seated quickly enough and received our drinks. We ordered an appetizer and then we waited. This probably took about 10 minutes. At this point, another group came in and were seated next to us. We were still having a good time at this point so it's not as though we observed the other group carefully. What I do know is that their meal arrived, they ate their meal, and they left the restaurant, all before our food had arrived. When I inquired as to whether we had been forgotten, I was told that we had not. There had been some sort of issue with one of our orders and that since we had ordered an appetizer, they (the staff) were allowed to push us back in the queue. This is an absolutely horrid policy. Because we are spending more money, then the the timeliness of our meal is less important? We felt insulted by this. A long wait is understandable. Things happen. But folks who came in AFTER us should never have been served before us. And the timing certainly shouldn't have been so atrocious that they were able to order, eat and LEAVE before our food had even arrived. At the very least a server should have come to us and explained whatever the problem was. Perhaps Seabolt's should focus on the seafood sales and just close the restaurant. We certainly won't be back. read more

Wonderful service and very good food. They were kind enough to seat us close to closing and we had a good dinner, drinks and relaxing experience after a long day getting to Whidbey Idland read more

Missed the chocolate cake on the previous order but they were super cool and hooked me up when I explained what happened. Oh my gosh it is outrageous!!! Going back several times so far for more. Yep it's worth it. read more

Day 200 plus of the COVID-19 pandemic, so physical distancing (social) was a priority. After a short wait, we were seated indoors - I mentioned first available. Our server was bubbly, and fun, although didn't catch her name. My sister and I settled on the Captain's Platter for the value. Washed it down with a Scuttlebutt Blonde (local, popular, brewery) All and all? Solid choice for seafood and service read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Captain's Platter - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

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Hands down the freshest halibut and chips I've ever had! Every dish was very apparent that it was made in-house....and ALL were OUTSTANDING! Hidden gem! 'Will definitely be back on our next trip out! read more

We had a table for 8 people last night. Both my friend and I ordered mixed shellfish. We were almost done with our plate and noticed our dish had a lot of sand. We tiled our plate and there were a bunch at the bottom. We told the waitress and she told us it's NORMAL and the mussels and clams are fresh. Among all the Seafood we ate everywhere. We never had so much sand came with our dinner. Is this normal? ps. If you soaked them in salt water, most of the sand will come out. Just a quick rinse makes a big difference. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Sand at the bottom of my Mixed shellfish. Told the waitress about it. She said it's normal and it's fresh Really? - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

I would give this a higher review if they didn't have the toxic automatic air fresheners in the bathroom. So bad for one's health, and ruins the appetite when you're smelling air freshener rather than delicious aromas from the kitchen. Otherwise, good service, great iced tea and seafood salads. read more

I liked it so much I got a t-shirt (to be fair, I couldn't resist a t-shirt that said "Salmon B. Jammin"). Crab cakes were out of this world. Extremely moist on the inside and basically melted in my mouth. Outside was perfectly crispy and well seasoned. The halibut in the fish and chips was very flaky. The fish and chips here are breaded. I definitely prefer battered fish, but their breading was done extremely well (very crispy, well seasoned). Their tartar sauce was great--you could taste the pickled vegetables more than the mayo. Fries were crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside and good enough to not need any ketchup. Service was good, there is also a bathroom with a changing station. The place is very kid-friendly (they offer coloring books and kids meals). read more

Food and service always great! I try something different every time I go and I'm always very happy with what I've ordered. Friendly staff, clean and spacious environment, delicious food! read more

Friendly workers....heads up...the clam chowder has bacon in it. I guess I have never had bacon in clam chowder, so maybe it is a local thing. Needless to say, we were surprised because that ingredient is not listed on the menu. When we let the waitress know our daughter could not have pork, she charged us for the bowl and had us take it home. The bread is great and so are the deep fried pickle spears. read more

Just wow. First of all, the pictures for this restaurant serve the food no justice... We split the fresh halibut as fish and chips as well as a bowl of clam chowder due to the other raving reviews. I've had plenty of 'good' fish and chips living in the PNW but they seem like McDonald's fish filet by comparison to Seabolt's. The halibut tasted as fresh as the little sign outside stated. The fish was cooked to perfection retaining the flaky moist texture so desired. Beyond that, the crispy fried batter matched it well. Phenomenal. I'm not typically big into tarter sauce, but the chili lime tarter sauce proved to be a great option. Then there's the clam chowder, hands down the best clam chowder. The textures of the potatoes and clams combined with the bacon was just awe-some. You just have to try a side of it. Can't wait to visit Oak Harbor again if only to come back here. read more

The food was good my son and I split the captains platter it was more food than we could eat. we did have to laugh at the "prawns" they were on the small size. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Captains platter - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

I've lived on Whidbey Island for quite some time. This has always been a go to place for seafood for myself and friends and family. It seems like there has been a change in the last year. The food here was consistent. The service was amazing. I haven't been here for some time. The last time I was here, I ordered my go to halibut grilled sandwich with chili lime tartar sauce and French fries. I was bummed a bit because the recipe changed some according to my tastebuds. I am back today and we have ordered halibut tacos with chili lime tartar, a bowl f clam chowder with bread. The meals was amazing. The chili lime tartar is still different. I'm going to have to live with it. The clam chowder was amazing as usual. I'm f you are looking for good seafood and are patient. This is the place you want to drop in on. Please remember this is Whidbey Island and we live at a different pace then most. All the best to you and yours read more

Mussels are great, the rest Dennys quality and slow service and food is cold when it finally hits your table. I would say maybe lunch but not dinner read more

Great fresh seafood - loved the halibut! Fries were fresh- Fun atmosphere, good beer,

Clam chowder here is off the hook. Like WOW. Life changing. Not to be missed if you are in the Oak Harbor area. Service is very friendly and restaurant is clean. read more

After hearing the glowing comments, I had to try Seabolts. Waited 20 minutes for a table, then another 20 to get our order taken. The disappointment continues. The crab cakes were ok. The seafood stew was more like leftover seafood dumped in a bowl with hot water. No taste. Then we had to wait 10 minutes for the credit card to be processed. I won't be back. read more

The food was fine. Not great, but good. My son and I shared the Captain's Platter and my wife had the sampler with different fried fish. We really enjoyed the fries and popcorn shrimp. The service was awful. We waited for more than an hour for our food. (Often with empty drinks.) It was warm outside with umbrellas providing inadequate cover. All in all we were there for about two hours for some fried fish that was prices the same as restaurants with better service and better locations. read more

We came here this past Sunday. We had taken the Mulkiteo ferry to Whidbey Island and were driving up and got hungry. So I had bookmarked this place on Yelp knowing it was on the way for us. I was with a group of 5. The weather was sunny, so a lot of ppl were out, we had to wait a lil before we got seated but we didn't mind. We ordered: - Captain's Platter - extra side of sweet potato fries - 3 cups of clam chowder - chicken finger sandwich - mussels (meh) I did feel bad because one of the girls doesn't eat seafood, but she found the sandwich. The rest of us split the platter. I thought the food was decent, but you can't go too wrong with a fried platter. I wasn't a fan of the mussels though. They were a bit fishy, and didn't seem like the flavor was there. I also enjoyed the chowder and the giant piece of bread that came with it! Next time I will have to bring my mom and try some of their smoked fish. read more

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All you need to know are four words... Clam chowder. Fresh fish. Seabolt's is a well-known local seafood spot. The couple that runs Mutiny Bay Distillery sent me here when I mentioned a desire for seafood. I came here and hit the jackpot. First, a word about timing. They are a small restaurant and their kitchen staff can only put out so much food per hour. Many people order takeout. What this means is that around lunchtime on weekends, expect a wait during peak hours even during the off season. I went on a Sunday for lunch and had to wait for a seat. I came back on a weekday a few days later and had no wait for a midday seat. Second, the food! If you look at my photo of their cup of clam chowder, the chowder is stacked up and looks chunky. It is filled with clams and seasoning that make it one of the best, if not the best that I ever had. Tasty. Delicious. Mmmmmm so good! Seabolt's catches their own fish. I had the wild chinook salmon sandwich. You can get it with fries on the side, a salad or several other options. I was seated near the grill and watched it being made. It comes with either a BBQ or tartar sauce. I opted for their homemade tartar sauce and was not disappointed. Third... If you have room for dessert, they have a lemon cake made with lemon curd that is light and flavorful. Service was good even when the kitchen was cranking out food and the servers were hustling. My advice for the busy summer season is simple... get there early or go later in the day. read more

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Came here on accident when a parade prevented us from making it to our first choice. Good, fresh seafood and prompt pleasant service. I felt the market price of the crab was a little on the high side, but no one forced me to order it. Would definitely go again! read more

Great fish place. This is the type of fish place I always thought would be all over Seattle before I moved to this area. Well, they aren't and they are gems when you find them. Closest similar thing is Ivar's in our area and that doesn't even come close. Fantastic fish plates, tacos, and chowders. We ordered a fish plate, a taco plate, gumbo, the seafood stew (pretty much a bouillabaisse) and fish and chips for the kids. We didn't try the fish and chips (that disappeared too quickly), but everything else was very good. read more

Staff is always friendly & the food is always fresh. The salmon Cesar salad is my favorite. The sweet potato fries are 10/10 read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Salmon Caesar salad - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

Food was delicious but a really long wait to eat there. Not sure if they were understaffed but waited close to two hours to get seated and to get food. I would eat there but order the food to go next time or call it in advance to get the food. Ambiance is a bit tense since people were getting so long to get seated and fed. Not a great place to take a starving child. read more

We dropped in there with another couple and had fish and chips. I had their sampler fish and chips that included halibut, salmon and cod. I also asked for their chili lime tartar sauce...so tasty! I would have given them five stars but the service was incredibly slow. The bill split between two couples was also scrambled. Not a biggie, but not 5-star. read more

Everything was SO delicious!!! Loved my clam chowder with that huge tasty hunk of bread! Hubby loved the fish & chips sampler and says it hit the spot!! Service was fabulous!!! Highly recommend!! read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

Simply the best Penn Cove mussels in the area. Get the extra garlic bread with them because the broth is sooooo good to soak up. Good selection of seafood and beverages. Very casual and open daily. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Penn Cove Mussels - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

A favorite stop every time we visit Whidbey. Craving fried ... anything from the sea? They've got it. The fish is more crumbly/panko than battered but absolutely delicious. They're happy to bring extra sauces for a small fee. The fries are fantastic. Did have to take one star off because the crab cake was more stuffing with a crab garnish than hefty on crab itself. Probably the only thing we wouldn't order again. read more

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Used to be Incredible. Since they changed Ownership - Quality of fish isn't as good as it used to be, portions are smaller (still costing the same), and the salmon was overcooked. Very sad. read more

Nothing more to say that Captain's Platter! It's spendy but large enough to fill two hungry hikers. Every item was delish and the calamari really stood out as succulent and tender. read more

First off I am going to say something in this review that might offend people here in the PNW. So, be prepared to hold on to your hats. Seabolt's Smokehouse has the "BEST" fish and chips and clam chowder that I have ever had. I have lived in the PNW pretty much all of my life, and I have always believed that Ivar's and Skippers were the "Be all, End all", of fish and chips and chowder. I have to say that is no longer true. The portions of fish that are served are nice and hearty. The breading on the fish is light and not greasy so you can actually taste the fish. The clam chowder is creamy, chunky, and delicious. If you are ever out in Oak Harbor, make sure that you stop by Seabolt's Smokehouse if you are craving fish and chips. It will be worth it. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Sampler and chips w/clam chowder - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

The Seabolt's Smokehouse had amazing seafood and service. It wasn't on the wharf like other seafood places on Whidbey Island but offered even better tasting fish and chips. The staff was very friendly and made exceptions to how they served their food upon request. Recommend it to anyone visiting the Whidbey Island area read more

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Food and service are really good! It has been years since we lived here and seeing that this place has survived is great! Really like where it is located now, and still offers many of the same items! Looks like some of the names have been updated? More "P.C." ‍ but still the same great taste!!! Service was quick and polite! read more

it's a restaurant AND market. We went for a late lunch on a week day so it wasn't crowded. Good food of mussels/clams combo, and seafood gumbo in a bread bowl. Lots of people around us were ordering fried dishes so those are obviously popular. Food and service by our server was good. What was surprising was how long vacated tables were left with dirty dishes, glasses, partial food while employees idly chatted. Or tables were partially cleaned, but not fully. It left an odd impression for pride in presentation. Arriving customers had to sit at less desirable tables because the dirty ones never got cleaned, the whole time we were there. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

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OK I'm gonna try to be nice because I route for everybody to be winners but I need to be honest.... came here and I ordered the smoke fish and the smoked fish must've been smoked last year because it was dry as heck and it tasted like sawdust...ugh...So I knew that that was gonna be the beginning of the end because there after our party order to mussels that was actually delicious but the clam chowder was so thick that I could build a house out of it so it was super thick I could stick my spoon in there and it would stand up.... I had the Dungeous and shrimp salad and you can tell the shrimp came out of a pack that was frozen because it was tasteless...ugh...and that was a bummer....we ordered the Dungeness crab and it was Dungeness crab so nothing special....also not to mention everything came at once about an hour and 15 minutes later...but when I came to the bill of $240 that came in a flash...we left a nice tip & paid and left town ASAP.... oh well it is what it is:( read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - A smoke fish must've been smoked pre-pandemic because it was just like sawdust:( - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

The best cod & chips I've tasted. Ordered on line, 3 plates and we were all happy! Delicious, ready on time and pleasant service! After seeing their fresh case of fish, I want to return ASAP for a filet to enjoy with a home recipe read more

We used to live in Oak Harbor and Seabolt's was always a treat. I always get clam chowder and it's always fantastic. Cannot speak to the other food options they have, but their clam chowder is a winner. read more

*Not an easy restaurant to order from if you can't go inside a packed restaurant setting. *No customer service to help. *Amazing crab cakes *Prawns were not anything I would order again *Sweet potato fry upgrade wasn't too bad. Now for the review..... The one star I gave you was for customer service and was 1 Star too many. Today and while amidst a Covid 19 pandemic your restaurant was packed with people lined up at the door. Once everyone cleared we placed our order and let you know we would wait in our car for the order. You let me know you would bring it to our car. That was helpful since one of us has no immune system because they are receiving cancer treatments. I called after 20 mins and you couldn't hear me, so I walked up. The front area by your register was so packed again with people not distanced at all....So I knocked on the door and everyone just looked at me, but did nothing.....So I called and watched your counter staff pickup the phone and put me on hold. Finally someone picked up and as it turns out our order was just sitting on the counter the entire time I was looking in. Your crab cakes were amazing and your prawns were just butterfly breaded shrimp- bummer..... I hope you folks make it easier for people who have compromised immune systems to order from you. read more

Seabolt's Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Oak Harbor, Washington

Fantastic place to stop for clam chowder and clam strips! The chowder was so good- loaded with clams and bacon, and the clam strips were crispy and perfectly seasoned. Very lucky find on our way to the Coupe ville Ferry. read more