If I could leave a less than 0 I would. First of all clearly a local hangout. Never was greeted at the door so we sat ourselves at an open booth. Finally a very rude wait lady come by and seemed very irritated that she had to wait on us. Felt the negative energy in this joint so we left. read more

We stopped by The Lower Tavern after spending 4 hours hiking Mount Constitution on Saturday and could not have picked a better spot! The buffalo wings we had to start off were cooked and sauced to perfect, as were all the lunches we had. I went with ESB Halibut & Chips, these were no measly fish and chips! The halibut was thick and hearty, well battered and fried just right. Great select of beers as well which was just what we were looking for; and to top it off the service was fantastic! Definitely consider The Lower Tavern next time you visit Orcas Island! read more

My girlfriends and I came here for dinner on a Friday night over President's Day weekend and it was a good start to our girl's weekend. Half of us for burgers and have us got fish and chips. The fish were crispy yet not overly breaded and battered, and the fries crispy crunchy. Solid meal. Minus one star because they only have beer and wine, not a full bar. Also note, in case you're wondering, no they do not have milk either. My friend ordered chocolate milk, and when they didn't have that, she ordered Bailey's on the rocks. Nada on both fronts. read more

In the mood for a solid burger and fries then go here. Popular with local folks not just tourists and it feels like a place that doesn't so rely on the out of Towner's. Excellent friendly and helpful server. Variety of beers on draft. Several TVs if you want to watch a game. Pool table in back. Can be loud but who cares? The server disclosed that the fish n chips while decent are frozen but I see the reviews are good. The prices are a bit lower than most on the Island. read more

IF YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES, BEWARE!! I told the bartender tonight that we'd like two glasses of white wine. She brings over a pink and a reddish hued white zinfandel. When I kindly explained thats not what I ordred and about my red wine allergy, she argued with me saying that I would be fine. When I kindly asked her to bring me something else, she acted annoyed. 15 minutes later, she begrudgingly brings out a chardonnay. Long story short, we continue on to our camping trip, where I awake with violent vomiting, a reaction I know all too well as from red wine. No other alcohol was consumed. I believe she tampered with my glass and mixed a hint of red wine in just to spite me. Needless to say, im not pleased, as food allergies are not a joke, and I'm miles away from any medical care. I'm considering pursuing legal action, to be quite frank. read more

This place has some very reasonably priced beer/wine and great burgers. It's great to discover more and more spots on Orcas Island that don't cost the earth. This is right next to the IGA grocery store in the main "downtown" area and a haunt for locals. It even has a "drive-thru" which is not a real drive thru but you can order ahead and phone and pick up here. It's also open late which is another advantage. They also have some parking spots and the large IGA parking lot nearby which is great on weekends as there are not too many street spots open. They only admit people over 21 even during lunch hours so I couldn't bring my kid. The doorman was very particular about checking my ID when I went on my own one evening, and got a seat at the bar. It was packed to the gills on Saturday night and several people were just standing and drinking. There was live music as it was the weekend. It's one of those local flavor pubs. It was pretty loud the night I was there as the vacationers were in extremely good spirits perhaps directly proportional to the large amounts they'd consumed. The bartenders - both girls were really sweet and patient with all, even despite some drunk people who showed up and shouted their drinks at them. There was a female chef in the partly open kitchen and she cooked up a mean burger. The blue cheese burger I ordered was delicious, the patty was fresh and the fries were nicely done. My kid also loved the to-go burger I got for her. The server was kind enough to make sure it got made right as I finished mine so it was hot and fresh for take out. A good experience despite the bawdy pub crowd! TIP - Don't bring anyone under 21 here, they will not admit them even during lunch. If you're craving a burger on the island this is probably your best choice, order on phone and pick up from the "drive-thru". That's what the locals do. read more

I would have loved the opportunity to have tried the food at The Lower Tavern, but unfortunately I was stopped dead-in-my-tracks before I could even make it in the door. I was bringing my 3-year-old daughter out for a daddy-daughter dinner while the rest of our family was out zip-lining. When I asked my daughter what she wanted for dinner, she said, 'A burger, daddy'. When I saw that fellow Yelpers had given The Lower Tavern such generous reviews, I knew that this would be a great option. One thing that is not mentioned in any of these reviews, on their website, or anywhere else is that nobody under the age of 21 can enter. As such, I cannot review the food, the service, the atmosphere, or the price. This is why I have given them 3 stars. I cannot justify blasting them with one star, nor praising them with five since I was unable to eat here. This is merely an informational review that for those of you interested in coming here as a family, it is not an option. I didn't even get one foot in the door when a waitress walked by me with dirty dishes and (without stopping) said, 'No one under 21'. I don't even know if they would have accommodated a take-out order, because the waitress disappeared before I had the chance to ask. Admittedly, based on the three seconds of crap-service I received before I turned around and left the doorway, I don't think the rest of the meal would have gone very well anyway... read more

We spent several days on Orcas in early October, when the tourists are pretty much gone. We just wanted some tasty food without the typical island overpricing and we found it here! Unpretentious, certainly. Service was efficient but not necessarily friendly. Food was exactly what we needed! I opted for their veggie burger and fries. It was perfection all around. Came out quick and piping hot. The husband opted for the recommended bleu cheese burger and hard cider. We sat and enjoyed our food in the slightly dim and dreary atmosphere, watching hockey on one of the many big screens, getting what seemed to me the occasional raised eyebrow from some of the locals. No matter, as this was probably our favorite spot on the whole island. read more

This is definitely a place of local flavor. Willie Nelson playing in the background then Moody Blues. Slight aroma of typical tavern odor. This is also a burger joint. Our burgers were juicy and flavorful and not greasy. Side soup was a homemade tomato basil, very nice. This place is friendly and inviting for not just the local folk. Prices are great, too. read more

The Lower Tavern - Lower tavern burger and Swiss Dip burger - American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

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This place is known for their "Best Burgers on the Island". It might be true if there's some bad burgers out there! We both ordered the bbq dip burger. It had cheddar cheese, two slices of bacon on a steamed & grilled french roll-type bun with 2/3 of a cup of honey bbq sauce on the side. The bacon was crispy & lean surprisingly. The burger seemed thin but maybe you may not want it any thicker. Out of the whole sandwich the bun was the best. Maybe it should say, "Best Burger Bun on the Island"! The fries & coleslaw were both very good though! Service was extremely slow since there seemed to have been only one waitress for the bar & all the tables. It was friendly service at least. Good place to watch your favorite sports team on one of the three flat screens or play some pool while enjoying a beer on a dark stormy night. If I were staying here for a week I'd probably eat there again. read more

We were in Eastsound for a long wedding weekend, staying 2 blocks away from the Lower Tavern. We ended up here on our first night (the lady was craving a burger), and we returned several times throughout the weekend. On our first visit, I entered with extremely "Low" expectations (get it?). It's the only bar in town, and it's in the middle of a tourist-heavy area. It would be easy to get away with a "Lower" quality product and experience. My expectations could not have been more incorrect on so many levels: -"The best burger in town" was also easily one of the 5 best burgers I've ever had. Sizeable, cooked to order, and delicious. -The fries were cooked to perfection: crispy outside, and soft inside. This is an art that is lost on a surprising number of establishments with deep fryers. -The tap selection was small but perfectly suitable, and filled with local options. Also, they offer canned Rainier, so don't fret, hipsters! -The atmosphere was comfortable but not dirty, great for all crowds. Lots of televisions for sport-viewers, but not an overwhelming amount. Plenty of outdoor seating, as well. -The service was perfect, attentive at all the right times. When we return to Orcas Island, we'll be making several trips back to the Lower Tavern. read more

The tastiest burgers. They use angus beef and their burgers are so creative. The bartender, Kyle is so nice and so attentive. Definitely a family feel bar. Even the customers are very nice and welcoming. The fries are super crispy with a batter on them. And the servings are huge!!! Yum!!! They advertise the "Best Burgers in Town" and they definitely are! Thank you! read more

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Got take out and was pleasantly surprised. Going back for a second dinner! Kids loved the turkey sandwich. We loved the Reuben and Chicken Burger. read more

This place is just AMAZING!! On the island there is few places to go and eat and this place gave us EXACTLY what we were looking for and more! Great selection of food and local island beer! Good atmosphere especially in the summer time! Very reasonable prices for how delicious their food was too! Recommend for a good filler meal while On the island ! read more

Great burgers and pub fare, with plenty of beer choices, too. The sign outside advertises 'best burgers on the island' and they may be right. I had the patty melt, with a huge patty, double swiss cheese, sauteed onions and 'slide' (their name for thousand island dressing). Well seasoned, well cooked, cheesy and delicious. The cole slaw was peppery and light on the dressing. She had the grilled turkey club, which was piled high with fresh turkey, smokey bacon, and fresh veggies. Plenty of room and tables for fun time in the evenings, I'm sure. On a quiet Sunday afternoon in August, there were only a few other patrons, one waitress and the cook. Three TV screens were all tuned to golf and the pool table was deserted. That was fine with us. read more

Fun little tavern, prices are a bit over the top but that's the same for all of orcas island. Been coming here very time I visit the islands to see my buddies. Sandwiches and burgers are great tasting, beer is actually pretty affordable. Servers are nice people. read more

Sadly, I didn't get to experience the food here...the waitress asked to see our IDs as soon as we sat down. When I showed her mine, she didn't think it was me. She didn't even bother to ask me for a 2nd form of ID just to make sure - she just said "you can't be in here". Even though it WAS my ID. How rude! I showed her a 2nd form just to prove her wrong. And then my companion and I left. I understand that this is a very small town, but even so your waitress should be professional enough to handle a situation like this right. If you don't think the photo on the ID looks right, ask for a 2nd form. Any good waitress knows this. Plus, it's just weird and unnecessary to require everyone sitting at tables to have an ID. We weren't even at the bar and did not plan to order drinks. I guess it goes without saying this isn't a family friendly restaurant. was literally speechless at how unbelievably rude this woman was. She didn't even apologize. I will never come back here. read more

Stopped in for lunch & the place quickly became crowded. Five stars to the two employees serving the entire place. They did an amazing job. Food was tasty, fresh & quick. Food was delicious. A+ read more

This was the friendliest bar I have been to in a long time. Lisa and Sandi made me and my GF feel like we were at home. Watched the SeaHawk game with the locals and it was so fun. The kitchen staff were busy all day getting all the delicious food out quickly and Lisa and Sandi made sure to get it to the tables HOT. If you want to relax have a drink and great food, this is the place to go!!! read more

The staff is nice but the food was awful. They served me undercooked fish and chips. And when I sent it back to the kitchen they apologized, but eventually they served me the same portion of fish fried for a second time over. Really bad! read more

We came here after it was recommended to us by the owner of the Deer Harbor Inn. It actually is the only affordable restaurant on all of Orcas Island and is the place where all the locals go. They have a pretty wide selection of beers and the best part is that you can get them to go! The food was greasy and great and I absolutely loved my fish and chips. Great tartar sauce! read more

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I was staying in the Orcas Hotel down by the ferry, which was seriously limited on dinner options, so I opted to cycle up to Eastsound for dinner. It's a 9-mile trip each way and I considered it well worth the trip for a burger and fries here. I had a deliciously unhealthy burger with blue cheese and such and AMAZING fries. It might have just been my hunger and such speaking, but the fries were perfectly crispy and flavourful. The beers are also very reasonably priced. I rode 18 miles for this food and considered it a good deal (and you can imagine what riding up and down those hills weighted down with burger and beer would be like). I think that speaks for itself. read more

Excellent fish and chips. Tried the cod and halibut. Both light on breading that was super crispy. Fish very moist. Fries also wonderfully crisp and fresh. Great list of burgers, beers and wines. The special looked wonderful. Would definitely come back. read more

Don't be fooled by the name. On a whim and some empty stomachs, my husband and I stopped for dinner. We didn't know what to expect but we were genuinely surprised by the friendly service and delicious food. We had a popcorn shrimp starter that I will be think about for some time, the cocktail sauce was beyond good with a horseradish kick that leaves you craving more. The burger and sandwich we had were perfectly cooked, juicy, and just everything you'd want good, honest, straight forward pub food to be. Hands down when we visit Orcas again we will be going back! read more

Just a 92 mile drive from Seatlle. Oh, and a ferry ride from Anacortes. Then a hop, skip and jump to Eastsound. DEFINITELY eat at The Lower Tavern. Food is bountiful and tasty. But it's the service that sets it apart from many places I've eaten around the world. Up there with The Grand Colbert in Paris but way more familiar. We dined on grilled chicken "burgers" and "ham"burgers. Cole slaw was crunchy not drowned. Fries crisp and starchy meaning they didn't bend when I picked them up. Garnish included a whisper thin sliced red onion. All in all, stuffed to the gills and stoked. Our server was very cool and super efficient. Going back when I go back. read more

The Lower Tavern - American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

Best burgers on the island. There are a lot of options. Th fish and chips are a great value. The service was great and the prices were too.

Been here 10 mins and no service - had to walk up to the bar to grab beer - waitress did not come by until the food I ordered was ready - would not waste my time coming here #noanative read more

After an excrutiatingly long day of traveling we came here and experienced friendly service and fantastic food! They make burgers like they're supposed to be - greasy, cheesy and messy! The fries were hot and crisp, dipped in ranch they were excellent! This was the best way to end a tiring day - cold beer and burgers! I will definitely come back the next time I head to Orcas Island. read more

Southwestern burger with onion rings! Delish, good service and they served 15 of us without an issue. Good place for dinner.

Yes, this is definitely the local Orcas spot -- and I would check out a local spot over fancy schmancy any day. I went for a long hike in Moran State Park and was hankering for a good burger and onion rings... and they delivered. Yum. And reasonably priced. Plus, schooners of beer -- a great option for those who like the little beers. :) read more

Having grown up and worked on Orcas Island, I was always asked where a good place to grab some food was. I realized, now that I'm off the island, that it might be good to share this information with all the Yelpers out there! The Lower Tavern is the ONLY place on the island that has affordable, good food. There is not a single other place that comes close. The Lower (as we islanders call it) is unpretentious, low-key, and perfect. The veggie burger is my staple there (and what I would order from work, on those tough days). Absolute perfection! I actually have yet to find a better veggie burger ANYWHERE. The fries are an addiction. The few times that I've tried the fish and chips, they've been great (not much to compare them to, since I've never had fish and chips anywhere else... but the fact that I actually liked it says something). If you have a chance to talk to Lisa, you'll find one of the friendliest, most good-natured people you will ever encounter. She is a gem and has made The Lower an oasis for all of us islanders. In short, the only food that I miss from the island (other than my mom's, of course) is that from The Lower. I hope you enjoy your trip to Orcas and make The Lower your favorite food destination, as well! read more

The man at the Deer Harbor Inn told us this is where we should go if we wanted to rub elbows with the locals, so after driving through the dark windy streets of Orcas Island, we finally made it. It's definitely a happening place - on a Thursday night, there were a lot of people there, which surprised me. I had a grilled cheese and fries, which was delicious. Granted, you can't really go wrong with grilled cheese, but still. My boyfriend had fish & chips and clam chowder; I don't eat seafood so I can't report on how good it was, but he seemed happy with it. They were out of Shock Top, which was disappointing, but I went with a Stella instead and all was well. Service was perfectly decent and this place is definitely affordable! I know there are other places on Orcas Island, but I can't help but think that if I make it out to the island again, I'll just end up at the Lower Tavern all over again! read more

The Lower Tavern seemed to be exactly what everyone needed at this time on this day. It was really sports bar-y, which wouldn't normally appeal to me, but being in Eastsound, it didn't seem like it focused on that too much. There was a pretty welcoming vibe from the clean interior to the menu to the staff (or at least our waitress). I have to reiterate that I was overall very impressed with Orcas' food offerings, and Eastsound's specifically. The food was pretty good. In fact, I'd say that it was almost all excellent. The only thing holding it back was the overcooked hamburger patty. The ingredients were good, the bun was great, everything was really tasty overall. There are still other places to try when we go back, but I'm sure we'd still head back here again. read more

Wow. The salmon burger was amazing. You get a whole filet of fresh salmon not some pressed frozen salmon patty from Costco. The flavor was amazing. Fries cooked perfectly with a little crisp to them. Hubs had the fresh Atlantic halibut fish & chips which was also really good. They have local beer on tap. Waitress was friendly & food didn't take too long considering the place was pretty busy. I would definitely eat here again! read more

The Lower Tavern - Salmon burger with a fresh salmon filet! - American Near Me - Eastsound, Washington

I am sure all the reviews were written by the locals who B-line there everyday after work. Everyone knows everyone and you are sorely out of place. They are known for their hamburgers, which we did not get, so perhaps we missed the whole point of this establishment. There was one lady at the bar running the whole place. She was fabulous and I hope they pay her what she is worth. We got 2 beers and a order of the jalapeno poppers. Ate, drank and left. It was almost a Deliverance moment, which we narrowly avoided. read more

Great food. Had the cod and fries. Great! Hubby had the Swiss burger and it was excellent. Friend had patty melt loved it. Fun place.

This is a great Tavern, local brews on tap (along with the usual Ambev taps) and great food ...bonus if a good game is on, it can get pretty crowded during football season. You can't go wrong here... read more

Pretty darn good place. They seem to always be slammin' busy with mostly locals but some of those crazy visitors (of which my wife and I were indeed...) which makes the staff a bit short and seeming as though they weren't interested that you are there. Well, get over it. They're busy! That's good for a restaurant that is quite seasonal. But we enjoyed hanging here, three times in eight days actually. The special burger when we were here was the burger named after a local farmer. He actually brings the mushrooms and other produce in each day on his tractor. That's pretty sweet! There are at least six TV's with a game of some sort on at any time. It's a nice, fun and lively place. The downside is they do not serve hard liquor. For some reason that nobody here really understood. It's just beer and wine. But, they have a great selection of both! Hope you enjoy yourself...don't be afraid to talk to the locals or ask questions from the staff...if they can slow down and talk with you! read more

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After a cold, wet trail run at Moran State Park, a couple of burgers and beers here just hit the spot perfectly. I ordered the Southwest Burger on special (pepper jack cheese, a big green chile, bacon, and guacamole), and my husband got the salmon burger; fries all around. I'm not sure I'd say it was the best burger ever, but it was tasty and satisfying, for sure. Service was fine, wasn't too divey (I'm a fan of dive bars, this was still pretty nice for a dive), lots of TVs for games, pool table, etc. Definitely wasn't touristy, and was affordable. read more

The burger is stupid good. My friend had never had beef stew before and he liked it here. Prices very reasonable. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with working taste buds read more