Excellent eats and great service. Interesting specials, and a cozy vibe. No notes. Friendly and…read moreattentive staff.

Duncan's best-kept secret just set the gold standard. From the moment we walked into the Old…read moreFirehouse, it felt like we were stepping into a vibe that hits that rare, perfect note: elevated but unpretentious, energetic but intimate. Huge shoutout to Owner-turned-Mixology-Mastermind Jeff, who absolutely crushed it behind the bar -- every cocktail and mocktail was a handcrafted work of art that could hold court in any top-tier city. We're talking serious flavour fireworks here. And April -- what can we say? Her service made us feel like VIPs who owned the joint. She read the room, anticipated every move, and wrapped the whole evening in the kind of hospitality you can't teach: pure instinct, heart, and grace. The food? Next level. Every bite was a flex of flavor and presentation. The kitchen is clearly playing in its own league, balancing creativity with pure culinary muscle. Combine that with an ambience that feels like cozy meets cool, and you've got an absolute home run. If you haven't experienced Firehouse Grill yet, fix that immediately.

The food was mediocre. But overall a great vibe. Good happy hour menu. Great service as well.read more

Oh my word, I love this place. The front of house gentleman is absolutely charming, the staff is…read moreefficient and very lovely. Happy Hour is 7 days a week and features $1.70 oysters! I'm a happy woman. I come in often, and won't be stopping anytime soon. Great value, lovely experience.

Food is delish and such a great nice atmosphere. Been there twice and hoping to visit moreread more

I heard about this place on a podcast (ITM) and wanted to go to a celebratory dinner somewhere new…read more The drive to Blaine was super easy, the location is convenient, and there is ample parking. There is definitely at least one back room, but the main dining room is a bright, airy space that has access to a patio where may even be some live music playing. The tables are gorgeous - all live edge, which might create a bit of an issue if you have short arms and are used to stealing bites across the table, but they are absolutely beautiful and a nice nod to the area. The wine list is extensive and a bit overwhelming, but the service is happy, friendly, and very knowledgeable. In fact, I love when servers don't know, admit it, and find the answer for you - it's humble and shows they really care at getting you what you want. We got the orange wine, which is a new favorite of mine. It's like a rose for reds. Rose:White::Orange:Red. More savory, still light, and best chilled. We had the beet hummus app, which is definitely best eaten with your hands. It's light and delicious. We had the miso black cod, a personal favorite, and the lasagna for dinner and while both were good, the accoutrements with the cod were the true standout. Amazing and I could probably eat two of them. As the restaurant operates on a seasonal menu, we had a strawberry rhubarb cobbler for dessert. I know there is Sunday Brunch, and I can't wait to try it. It's not the cheapest, but it's one of the nicer restaurants in Whatcom, and is definitely worth your pennies. Everything about it makes for a truly nice experience, and we'll definitely be back.

Ambiance and Decor: Quite quaint and dark. Try to get a seat near the front window; they'll light…read morethe table tealight once it get a bit darker outside. They have some bar-height tables made out of some barrels - I would not sit here. Service Quality: Staff was attentive and knew the menu well. They recommend getting a wide variety of dishes since it is tapas. Menu Variety: Great selection of spanish tapas. There's fish, meat, seafood, veggies - there is something for everyone. You won't find the lesser known tapas here - just the main popular ones we all know. Food Presentation: Simple, nothing crazy here. Plated with intention. Food Taste and Quality: Food came to the table hot and fresh out of the kitchen. Some of the patatas bravas were a bit undercooked - for me there was a bit too much sauce here. They also have the shishito peppers here - even though 1 out of 10 are spicy, it was more like 5 out of 10 were spicy. Luckily they were all grilled to perfection. The cod fritters were great, would order again. Portion Sizes: You'll need to order at least 5 dishes for a table of 2. Drink Selection: Simple cocktail menu with a spanish twist to them - if you really want to call it a "spanish cocktail". Price and Value: Good value for money, priced just right. Overall Experience and Recommendation: Make sure you make a reservation cause if not you'll be waiting and by the time you look for another restaurant for dinner - everything will be closed (cause its Bowen Island). I tried it, I would try the other restaurants on the island first before coming back.

Pretty fantastic! I was in Bowen Island for a yoga retreat…read more Most places were closed limited options. We were happy this place was open, we were not disappointed. Spanish tapas style, we ordered about 6 dishes and bread and we were pretty full. Also sangria. Food was fantastic, everything we ordered had so much flavor, my favourite was the orzo salad and the shrimp. A little surprise that Bowen Island had this little gem. Due to Covid protocols only patio was open, which worked fine for us, also set up socially distance. Great service. Recommend you making reservation, we didn't but came right when they opened lucked out with a table. It got pretty busy 15 minutes after we arrived. Overall, I was very impressed. We will be back!

We had a charcuterie board, cheese and wine - the host Bryan was very welcoming and went above and…read morebeyond! We had a great late night in Anacortes.

My favorite place! The vibes here are exceptional. It's warm and cozy and the owner Brian is always…read morelovely to chat with. He curates a great selection of wine and has a few beers made just for the wine bar! The charcuterie is pricey but worth it, since everything is high-quality and well arranged/balanced. Great place to grab a glass, sink into a cozy seat and chat.

I do not eat tomato soup and was told to try it WOW! It's more like a rich sauce. I also had the…read morekind of Blue sandwich and it was great. My husband had a different sandwich and both were AMAZING. We started with the warm mixed Mediterranean Olives, soooo tasty and NOT salty. The service was excellent and the restaurant was very chill. Loved this, we will be back. I wish I would have taken photos!

Worth a visit for sure…read more A talented couple bring their Ontario foodie experience to the island and create an awesome Bistro.

Starla's Tavern is incredible! I loved Blotto on Capitol Hill in Seattle and was so sad when they…read moreclosed. But I was so happy when I saw that Starla's Tavern was opening in Bellingham! The menu is much the same, and executed flawlessly. We had the Pepperoni & peppers pizza, with pepperoni that cups perfectly and just the right amount of Mama Lil's to make it interesting but not too spicy. The potato leek pizza was delectable, and the Blotto burnt potatoes with Labneh and chili-vin has my mouth watering just writing about it. Paired with an exceptionally funky Orange wine, this will be my go-to whenever I'm in Bellingham. Be mindful the place gets busy! Staff is kind and efficient. You'll love this place!

Cozy, casual wine bar but that dinner mean lack luster or boring. A strong wine line up is…read moreavailable for selecting from the board inside with help from their knowledgeable staff, if needed. Wine pours, or bottles, are served up alongside changing plates of bites that are great for snacking or sharing. This is the perfect spot to sit and share wine, food, and a good time with your friends or family and maybe relive some of Blotto's good ol' times. Like what you drank? They offer a well curated selection of bottles for retail, mostly from Europe. This neighborhood bar hits the spot.

Wow. Just wow. Came…read morein for a wine tasting and ended up making an event out of it! Having a ladies day in Fort Langley and we stopped by Valley Commons for an impromptu tasting. Their happy hour runs from 2-5pm and includes cocktails, glasses of wine and wine flights. We indulged in a self-selected wine tasting (five, 2 ounce pours) and were so impressed that we ended up leaving with 3 bottles (2022 Rose, Stoneboat "Piano" brut, and Rosé Frizzante 2022). Colby, our connoisseur (and new BFF), was very knowledgeable and accommodating in answering our questions and offering suggestions. We will definitely be back for more wine! And also to kick it with Colby. I give them my strongest recommendations!

From the owner: Valley Commons is a way of gathering, of relishing in BC’s mountains and lakes, the sweeping…read morevineyards and abundant orchards. Here, you’re welcomed as family.

Stopped by for a quick matcha to go. Nice and comfy seating and friendly service. You can get the…read morematcha with regular milk, oat milk or almond milk. Comes sweetened.

A go-to spot for my husband and me. All the cocktails are fantastic, and a nice touch is the nice…read moreglassware they use. Convenient and on the corner with comfortable chairs, a great spot to relax after a long day.

"I absolutely love the friendly atmosphere here. Hearing Italian spoken by the staff and regulars…read morecreates an authentic vibe that I just can't get enough of. It feels like a quick trip to Italy every time I walk through the door!"

Wow. Quality sure went downhill fast. Today I had the worst sandwich of my life. She definitely…read morewent cheap with the tiny amount of meat she put in the sandwich. This was the driest grossest bun I've ever had the displeasure of eating. My sandwich had mayo and mustard, yet, still tasted as dry as the Sahara desert. Disappointing. What a waste of money. Will never return. Bosa Foods may be further away..but at least they give you quality, quantity and better pricing.