Silverwater Cafe
237 Taylor St, Port Townsend, WA, 98368
Silverwater Cafe Menu
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Address :
237 Taylor St
Port Townsend, WA, 98368 - Phone (360) 385-6448
- Website https://silverwatercafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Molly W.
*NOTE* I just dipped in here once for a cup of chowder. You could say I didn't get the full experience of the restaurant. So take this review with a grain of salt. Definitely can't complain about the chowder or the service. A bit pricey but whatever. What I wanted to talk about was the atmosphere. We were seated upstairs near a very attractive, small, cozy-looking bar, and it overlooked the better part of the rest of the restaurant. There were hanging baskets with plants hanging from the ceiling. I would definitely want to come back again for an evening.
(4)Laura G.
We were in town for the day and had dinner here 9/21/13. The wait staff was super friendly and attentive. We had the stuffed chicken and chicken marsala with wild mushrooms. It was hands down the best chicken marsala I've ever had. My boyfriend really enjoyed his stuffed chicken as well. I suggest this place any time you're in Port Townsend.
(5)Michael L.
Excellent food. Excellent service. Reasonable prices. Comfy atmosphere. I don't normally grant perfect scores but at least yesterday they deserved it.
(5)Matt L.
Zucchini fries were delicious. Smoked salmon penne solid. Dungeness crab ravioli pulled off well. Fish and chips, dill was served hot. Service was also attentive.
(4)Dina J.
Had dinner here and it was a very nice experience. The atmosphere was great, very relaxed. Decor was warm and chic, but comfortable and warm. Our party of 4 had a total of 1 appetizer, 4 entrees, and 3 desserts. There was a bit of non communication between the person that took our drink and appetizer order and our waitperson and we didn't get the appetizer until after our entrees were on the table. Our waitperson apologized and comped us the appetizer. Nice save! As a whole, food was good! The special of the Duck wasn't that thrilling and lacked a bit in flavour, but the rest were very good. Dessert didn't disappoint either. They were very good. All the food was of good portion and not those ridiculous portions you see in many of the chain establishments. Real cream on the desserts as well. Yeah! One note of interest, we found out their 'baking day' is Wednesday. So, for the freshest desserts, head out there on a Wednesday. As far as the staff, they were very attentive and kind. The waitstaff seemed genuinely happy to be there, doing what they do. The hostess wasn't as overtly pleasant as the waitstaff, but she was nice enough. Besides, we only spent 30 seconds with her. I am already planning our trip back.
(4)D'oh S.
Took my friends to dinner here. So expensive for what we were served. $25. for 9 raviolis in a bowl is wayyyy too much. My steak salad arrived with the greens slimed in some dressing that looked like it had been soaking for 2 days. Inedible. The steak was good though, and cooked to my request. Good thing, or I would have gone home hungrier than I was. And the coup de gras? It took an hour to get our meal. I just do not understand this kind of non service, bad food and long waits. Save your dough, folks, there are a lot better choices out there.
(1)Jamie M.
A friend and I came to explore Port Townsend a few weeks ago and popped into Silverwater for lunch based on the reviews here. There were only a few other diners while we were there (middle of winter, on a Sunday at noon). Street parking was easy to get in the angled spots right in front of the restaurant, although it was significantly more crowded when we left (a showing of New Moon in the theatre next door was starting up). My friend ordered the crab & shrimp melt and I had the portabello burger. May I recommend not trying to eat your portabello burger with your hands, like I did. Between the juice from the mushroom and the balsamic glaze they add, I think it's impossible to eat this thing without the use of a knife and fork (unless you happen to carry a Costco sized box of napkins with you). One other interesting thing I noticed is they serve their tea loose leaf, in little french presses (I'd never seen that done anywhere else). Everything was great about our meal, including service, I'd definitely come back again the next time I'm in PT.
(4)David G.
We love this place. We stumbled upon it last year while visiting PT and made a mental note to come back this year. We had brunch in the morning, and were so impressed, we came back to try the dinner menu. Every single dish was perfect. The grilled salmon and the calamari were particularly fabulous. The salmon was moist and buttery. Yum. The calamari was crispy and very flavorful. The basil made it particularly sophisticated and unique. The desserts were delicious too. We also have one member of our family with Celiac and the menu was very gluten-free friendly. The service here is fantastic. Very friendly and helpful.
(5)Jim F.
We have eaten at the Silverwater Cafe 5 or 6 times in the past 8 years. The food is excellent and atmosphere is wonderful and it is so close to the Rose Theatre. Sometimes the service can be slow. Could be because Port Townsend is an laid back community.
(4)Robert B.
We loved this place. Wonderful food, attentive waiter, nice variety on the menu, and an interesting wine list. The only negative is that it's not on the water, but the PT street scene can be interesting too... The style of cooking tends towards rich sauces paired with impeccable ingredients perfectly cooked--not for everyone, but we all thought it good. Fish eaters, red meat eaters and picky 14 year olds were all satisfied, if somewhat bloated by the richness. Had great wine suggestion from the waiter--"Howling Wolf" Zinfandel from WA.
(5)Larry H.
Absolutely the best French dip I have ever had! Fresh bread, prime rib, grilled onions and fresh Brie cheese. Slap my pig it was good. Long waits to get into this little gem. Keep eating local!!
(4)Charles J.
What a memorable dining experience -- we are going back for more! When we arrived, the hostess noticed that my Significant Other was chilly. She seated us at a small, romantic table next to a Franklin stove. (Verrry toasty!) My S.O. had the Mediterranean Pasta. The pasta itself had been infused with roasted garlic and roasted bell peppers. When she offered me a taste, I was not expecting the _pasta_ to taste that good. (Very often, pasta is just something "neutral" that holds the sauce until it gets to your mouth.) I was surprised at how flavorful it was (in fact, the waitress noticed the shocked look on my face, and hurried over to make sure everything was OK) But the star of the evening was the Smoked Chicken with Apple and Brandy. The rich cedar-smoke flavor was present in every bite, and really played well with the thin apple slices. This was probably the tastiest meal in memory! (We actually waved "Good Bye" to the empty plates!) Next time we are in P.T. we are definitely heading back for more.
(5)Tara S.
What a find! Some of the food choices are imaginative and all of them (so far) are very tasty. Service is laid back and friendly. Visiting in October from Portland on an evening that was not too busy, our hostess welcomed us not only with a smile but with a whole short conversation about where we were from, where we'd like to sit, etc. Then she gave us the best seat in the house -- overlooking all the action! The whole place is very open and inviting, and all the people we spoke with on the staff were knowledgeable and friendly. Wine list is pretty decent, including a variety by the glass, or you can bring your own bottle for a nominal corkage fee. Definitely spend an evening here if you're spending some time in Port Townsend. Nothing is fast, so don't rush. Leisurely dinners should NOT be too quick.
(4)Julie M.
Love the crab cakes--have to make a trip whenever on this side of the water--they only serve them on the dinner menu though. Have not had lunch or breakfast. Love the staff, and the drink offerings. The owner is soulful--love this place.
(5)Michael A.
Service: Treated us like we were dressed improperly. Had to ask for everything. Waiter complained that it was too busy. Salad: Average. Entree: Fish and chips. Tasted like the fish had been boiled first, then dipped in a wierd batter and then undercooked. Doughy. Fries: Like they were cooked in month old Crisco. Cold Slaw: Couldn't eat it. Three companions experience was slightly better, so likely they will not review. I only review when the meal is worth mentioning...good or bad.
(2)Happy M.
We were in town for one night. Looked up yelp and found this place. We ordered seafood: halibut, fish & chips, crab cake. Although the portion of the food was good, my fish was bland, dry & over cooked, the French fries were overdone as well, while the crab cakes were under-done. Salad was pretty tasty, though. Overall we weren't impressed. We've had much better food on Whidbey Island.
(3)Naomi J.
I truly love this restaurant! It is an absolutely excellent place to gather. I may seem biased, since I have worked here, but this has only allowed my affection for this place to grow. My family dined at the Silverwater for many years, and I always had a great time when I got to go. The food is delicious! We all have our favorites from the menu, but I can definitely say there are many dishes here that are total crowd pleasers. My favorite appetizer is the crab cake dish, they are truly amazing! They are sort of "asian infused", topped with a bit of ginger and a delish buttery lemon sauce. It is a rare occasion to see even one flake of crab left on the plate at anyone's table. I also love the super yummy steamed clams. The broth is so good, you may have to get extra bread to soak it up. I also must say that the best fish and chips I have ever eaten are here. I love seafood, but I also eat vegetarian a lot, and there are options for that as well, or if you're gluten free...the kitchen is always willing to accommodate people with sensitivities.
(5)Erin S.
Once we finally reached Port Townsend after a long day, we were not too hungry and wanted "light" fare. This is definitely a seafood restaurant and I'm not too keen on that stuff (please don't shun me). It's definitely on the pricey side, but what I saw from neighboring tables, everything looked good. It's a nice, clean restaurant with great service. We were drinking water like no tomorrow and our waitress was great at making sure our glasses were always full and that we had everything. As for the food, my friend had the shrimp gumbo and remarked that it didn't look like gumbo, the overall flavor was "okay" and that the rice was too mushy. Their complementary bread with garlic butter was good. I had the side of sesame garlic soy green beans (because I wanted some Key Lime pie). The flavor was good, but towards the bottom they were sitting in a puddle of soy, so those beans were sacrificed. The Key Lime pie was delicious! All their desserts are made in house and would definitely come back just for their pie.
(3)Erin N.
Nice, intimate, unpretentious fine dining experience with well-prepared food. We ordered the braised lamb shank with roasted garlic mashed potatoes/string beans and a medium peppered flank steak with rice pilaf/string beans. The shank was perfectly cooked and tender in that textbook fall-off-the bone type of way. It was moist and the sauce + drippings were wonderful with the potatoes. Oh, also it was a generous portion of lamb! The flank steak was also cooked well, served to us at the desired medium. Simple flavor (which I think is the best for a nice piece of beef) and a fair size. It looks small on the plate but it actually ends up being perfect, where you take the last bite and you're just full enough. Service was good and their decorative plants are pretty awesome too :)
(4)Lindsay M.
We were seated right away (on Labor Day) which was a pleasant surprise. Plenty of vegetarian options for my husband. I indulged in the fish and chips. They were good but probably could have used another 30 seconds in the fryer. My better half had the lentil burger which was very tasty. Our server was lovely and was able to answer all questions we had.
(4)Christine M.
The scampi over pasta is a wonderful dish!
(5)Keith K.
A really nice discovery for lunch! Fish and chips were fantastic. I got 2 pc which was plenty. Fries were nicely seasoned. Cole Slaw was fresh with just enough dressing. Fish was fresh and tasty
(4)Xavier A.
House salad with loads of great stuff. It was a choice between the ahi and the polenta; Norina recommended the polenta because it was more filling and had lots of good stuff in it - she wasn't wrong! I was sufficiently sated. To be honest, I've never had bad polenta; this was just doggone scrumptious!
(4)T. G.
Had reservations for 11, which were perfectly accommodated for. I ordered the fish and chips and a Cesar salad! Everything was fantastic! Let's just say that their bread and butter is AMAZING! We were sad we did t get to stay for dessert. Great place! My only recommendation to the restaurant: The boxes you serve your fish and chips is cute, but for those of us that LOVE malt vinegar, it was a mess! I would advise a different vessel for your lovely fish!
(4)Gina P.
We stopped in this place from a hotel staff recommendation and a look at the posted menu. The place was not overly business for a Thursday night. We ordered the clam chowder which was grainy with sand and was just average in taste. The service was unorganized we were service items wrong, slowly, and out of order. I thought the Ahi lavender was going to be unique and different.The crab cakes were more breadcrumbs then lumps of crabs and overly salted. It lacked any hint of lavender and the temperature of the fish appear to be lukewarm. As if it was sitting a bit before we were serviced.
(2)J J.
Love the atmosphere upstairs next to the bar. Was taken great care of by Ray. He truly is fantastic bartender and was extremely attentive to our needs. Excellent food too!
(5)Mandy S.
This place reminds me a little of Percy and Co. in Ballard with all the hanging green plants and dim atmosphere. I love how a lot of the restaurants there have a lot of windows to view out into the streets! We had the three course meal and had a plate of the pan fried oysters. Pan fried oysters were a bit too breaded for our liking The snapper with capers was delicious and served with rice pilaf and broccolini The steak was juicy and served with mash potatoes and broccolini.. it would have been better with some steak sauce For dessert, we had two separate items - -cheese platter -pot de creme chocolate both were rich and filling so we had it for our picnic the next day! delicious mt. townsend cheese was a hit!
(4)Mary B.
We found ourselves at the Silverwater Cafe after a very long travel day from Florida to Port Townsend. Very tired and quite hungry. Places were packed, so when we walked in the the Silverwater and it was a large 2 story space, we were hopeful. The host (who I expect was the owner) told us there were no open tables as all were reserved. I asked about eating at the bar, but it was full too. I must have looked very sad and tired as I asked him was there some place he could squeeze us in and we'd promise to eat really quickly. He rechecked his book and the tables and decided we were in! Very nice of him. We both had cocktails that were stellar. Mine was tall and involved homeade limeade and vodka. Feeling even more mellow then. Fresh bread too. We overordered - husband had soup, and I had the Washington apple salad which is a meal in itself - very fresh with candied nuts. We should have stopped there, but we had ordered the Halibut on special that day. OMG - it was so moist and buttery, we ate the entire entree. Thank goodness we only ordered one entree! We sat upstairs and our table was in a cell coverage dead zone, but we got over that and decided we were on vacation. Service was friendly, but a bit slow. We were so tired that we were not bothered by that. PT has many fine places to eat, but Silverwater Cafe is worth a visit. Prices very fair and quality of food is top notch.
(4)Jesse F.
Overcharged us on our drinks, fly in the first glass of wine, and a soggy Reuben sandwich? Overpriced shrimp sandwich. Service was friendly, that's the best part. Little overpriced menu.
(2)Patricia T.
I had the pleasure of coming here for my birthday. The staff was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for the best service. We ordered the artichoke pate.. Ohh my goodness... To die for I think that was heaven on bread.
(4)Carolee H.
Great service, fresh seafood. The atmosphere is unpretentious and welcoming. I enjoyed the ahi, prepared with lavender and pepper, seared rare. My husband had the cioppino. It was heavy on fish with less shellfish than is traditionally included. The fish was well prepared, the base was less seasoned than expected. This place seems like a reliable place for a good meal.
(4)Nick E.
Nice little bistro/cafe near the water. Not on the water but everything in this area of town is close enough. Service was pretty good. No major complaints. The menu was decent. We ordered the duck which came with asparagus, cherries, pecorino risotto, a cherry sauce, and truffle oil. I liked it. Super heavy tho. We also got the polenta cakes which came with perfectly cooked eggplant, roasted veggies, a pesto on one side of the plate, and a tomatoe based sauce on the other. Heavy italian influence. My girlfriend liked this dish more than i did. A weird thing that i feel i should mention is that when i ordered the duck the waitress asked me how i wanted it cooked. Maybe i'm not up on my duck cooking game, buttttt wat? Is that a question you ask the customer? I thought the rule with fowl/poultry was cook it enough to ensure your customer doesn't get sick?
(4)Michelle F.
The food was great. We had the Mediterranean sampler. My husband had the lentil burger it was huge and delicious. I had the beet salad with salmon. The salad was perfectly dressed and the salmon was cooked perfectly. Cute little restaurant.
(5)Michelle B.
Went for dinner around 9pm after arriving in town. We had a 1 year old with us. They were so hospitable and accommodated us perfectly. Even rounded up some infant friendly toys. We wanted to try the lavender pepper ahi but the server was honest and said the mix for the day had turned out a little too salty and recommended the pepper crusted ahi. Appreciated the time it took to be honest. We also had the salmon. Delicious. The food and hospitality made it the perfect choice.
(5)Dan S.
Stood at entrance for 4 minutes. Not acknowledged. Three staff standing around me. Didn't look up. I wonder if I can find another place nearby?
(1)Tom B.
This is a very polite and unprepossessing corner cafe in downtown Port Townsend. It's a block off Water Street, which means it probably gets noticed 50% less than the places a few yards closer to the water. This is a great place to get a meal, though. You walk in through a hallway and then another set of doors into the dining room. These 19th-century buildings (they're everywhere in PT) are kinda chopped up into sub-spaces, but it adds to the charm. You might think at first blush that the most impressive thing about this place will be the house plants. They're gigantic in many cases; the NFL left tackles of the houseplant world. Most of them grow from hanging baskets or high-mounted small pots. Some of the trailing vines are lush enough that they've woven strings of white Christmas lights into them. It's a very nice effect, but you also might not even notice until a few minutes after you've sat. You can sit upstairs in a little loft balcony, downstairs by the windows, or downstairs back from the windows (where, presumably, it's a bit warmer). The tables are light and fairly small, with light chairs, carefully folded napkins, and pressed tablecloths. It's a completely unfussy but very serious and sincere presentation of the dining room. You immediately feel welcome and assured of a good experience, without any sense of ostentation. The staff is very pleasant, ranging from the apple-cheeked young small town ladies who live nearby up to some restaurant veterans waiting tables and manning the host station. The host came across as wishing he were somewhere else, but on a cold, damp day in early March he might just not have been feeling it that night. A couple of us sat early for drinks while others were still raiding all the little shops on Water Street. They offer house cocktails, which pleased my man D. He put away something that looked like a sweeter version of an Irish Coffee. I had one of the single malt scotches. Just a few pleasing choices on the scotch list, but a few pleasing choices on a scotch list ought to be enough to make a man happy up here in the salty breezes. The beer list is solid but totally meaningless, while the wine list has quite a few choices to make foodies happy, especially among the red bottles. The specials were genuinely appealing, and they take the time both to post them on the chalkboard and print them out on light cardstock. No rambling recitals from the servers. The menu is mainly seafood, with a few land animals and interesting salads and apps. There's dessert as well, but we ran out of room well before we reached that point. They offer prix fixe multi-course meals in combination with the cinema next door, which shows interesting movies a little bit outside the blockbuster superhero mainstream. We had the seafood fritters (an amazing special), fried oysters (which made me like cooked oysters for two minutes of my life), chili-rubbed pork flat iron (perfectly executed special), wil prawn risotto (another dazzling effort from the special board), seared ahi (as good as any steak without a doubt) and athenian pasta (a nice black olive rotini salad, served warm). Those things, plus two interesting and very different starter salads, a bottle of wine, and the two before-dinner cocktails, together were about $203. Very reasonable for such a sumptuous spread. The staff here are really nice, and they filled the place most of the time we were there, even on a quiet, drab March evening. They never missed a beat, and it's easy to see why they have a following among locals--locals would have to be the ones carrying them this time of year. We walked in hoping for a good experience, then right away feeling assured we'd have one, and ended up having a really great experience. Definitely be back.
(5)Alan P.
I really wish I could have actually had a meal here. Stopped in last weekend with my daughter along with my 80 year old mom and dad and my aunt. Seems a party of five is quite difficult for the Silverwater to seat. The hostess was cooperative enough. "We have a four-top where we can add a seat to the end and it should be good for your party." Okay - we'll wait ... After the 20 minutes or so that she estimated, a fellow comes into the lobby (the manager maybe?) and explained that instead they had to reconfigure that area (because a reservation for a party of six ended up only being four?) and now they would not be able to fit five at the table. "So it'll be just about 20 more minutes or so before we can seat you." Okay, listen, I'm not that hard to please. But if you offer me a table and ask me to wait 20 minutes for it, don't change up your offer 20 minutes in. I don't know, maybe your restaurant is just that good, but I'm not waiting 45 minutes to get into it for lunch! Especially when you're just basically deciding not to seat me because you've changed up your configuration. We just walked down the street and spent our money with a different restaurant.
(1)Connie P.
Lovely atmosphere, nice staff, delicious food - we were there for lunch - but leave yourself some time, a little slow (otherwise it would have gotten 5 stars)
(4)Jim V.
My favorite P.T. restaurant. Food is always great, wonderful wine list, and fun cocktails. I have never had a bad meal here. Staff is attentive but doesn't crowd you. The ambiance is what drew me in the first time, and I just keep coming back.
(5)Lisa B.
Five stars for the dinner and unpretentious but pleasant atmosphere. Three stars for the dessert which was okay. The halibut was amazing, as was the lobster ravioli. Everyone loved their dinners. Service and wine selection were both fine. The only thing I'd do differently if I went here again would be skip dessert because there is better to be had in this town.
(4)Kelci S.
We came in on an empty restaurant and had to wait for her to notice us first and then setup the table. The service sucked the food was good, but overpriced.
(2)Susan B.
Wonderful soft and seasoned crab cake sandwich! Bread delicious, crab delicious, beer delicious. Cute interior. Nice people. I highly recommend!
(5)Jeff L.
Normally, we would give this fine establishment two more stars, but tonight we decided to lay only two out of five stars on them due to an inability to serve us. Arriving late at 9:30 pm, we asked to be seated. We knew they would be open until 2:30 am as advertised, and did not think we'd have a problem. They seated us upstairs in a very hot corner. We asked if we could perhaps be moved downstairs where there were plenty of tables and cooler temps. No go. Not possible. This, being too hot to handle, smiled & exited stage left-- down the street to Doc's where cold drinks and a comfortable setting awaited. Lesson learned-- avoid Silverwater for late night dining. Other times, it's great!
(2)Kalani F.
I absolutely LOVED my lunch here. I had the Sesame Tofu Salad, and it was perfect. The tofu had been deep fried and was flavorful and not greasy, just perfect. It was also fresh and it was apparent that it was fried up for this meal, although supposedly it was supposed to be seared, it was wonderful. The dressing was perfect too, not too much, not too little. They were a little skimpy on the carrots in the salad, which were grated and I think the radish too, but the dressing was so good. The entire salad was built upon baby spinach, so if you don't like that, avoid this meal. With that, it took a long time. The waitress brought out some bread, which was sourdough and delicious while I was waiting, and thanked me for my patience. I didn't mind the waiting at all, so it was nice. And here it is, the waitstaff. The waitstaff weren't unfriendly at first, just strangely...guarded? It took a while for the waitress to warm up to me. I don't know if she had been criticized a lot lately or what, but she was a little abrupt- not mean, just not the usual "how are you today?" They just weren't smiley happy waitstaff. The two others, a hostess and a busser, looked to be teenage girls and didn't have the waitress smiley-thing down, just kind of looked around. At the end of my meal, my waitress was very chatty and pleasant, which made me give her a good tip, but she oddly had to warm up first. I might have gone in on a bad day. I can't speak to anything else on the menu, but the atmosphere the day I was here was full of baby boomers or older, as the summer rush hasn't started yet. It definitely does not have a hipster, trendy feel to it, so be prepared for that. I would definitely go back here and try other items on the menu. I love that they have so many vegan/vegetarian options!
(3)Joe B.
We just dined here Memorial Day weekend. We arrived at 8 and the place was full of locals and visitors, but were soon shown our table, for which we had made a reservation. We started by sharing the mushroom and goat cheese "struddle" on a bed of greens. It was good, but the goat cheese covered most the mushroom taste; and was only slightly warm. For mains, I had the lamb shanks and garlic mashed potatos, and my gal had the truffeled duck breast with parmesean risotto. The duck was cooked perfectly; a little pink inside and nicely seared outside. However, not a hint at all of Truffel taste or aroma. This actually makes sense, since they said they marinaded the breast with truffle oil, and as a cook, I know that the heat from cooking distroys the truffel flavor and aroma. We asked the server if they could add a few drops of truffel oil, and they happily obliged, bring out a little timble with some in it. With this added, it was perfect. My gal even had some extra for putting on the risotto (which I found under cooked, but she liked it) The lamb shank was hugh and tasted great. It was braised in a port and cherrys. Very good flavor. Unfortunaly, they didn't do a good rehating this, or maybe not turning when initially braising, as 1/2 side of it was dried out; the other side perfectly most, tender and juicy. Also, my garlic mashers where cold in the middle. I should mention that the menu is very diverse, and I would not have minded trying other dishes on a less busy night. They also have a decent wine selection, and the Agintine Malbec they recommended to go with the lamb was excellent All in all, a very good meal in spite of the goofs, which I write-off to a busy kitchen on a holiday weekend. If this was a Seattle resturant, I would given this a 3 stars, but given this is tourist town and the holiday circumstances, I give them 4
(4)Vanessa K.
Not great - Terrible service After a day with the family at the Olympic Game Farm (which was so much fun and a little funny), we stopped on our way home to Port Townsend around 4pm. The town is very cute, but since we had never been there before we relied on YELP to guide us for dinner. Since we had our 10 & 7 yr olds with us, we had to go with something middle-of-the-road... we should have gone with McDonalds! We arrived at Silverwater at 5:30 (35 mins after it had opened for dinner) and the host made it sound like he was moving heaven & earth to "fit" us in. There were other customers, but they were NOT full. We had been seated for a full 15 minutes before talking to anyone - the busgirl who brought us water. I asked her if we still had time to order the 'special' 3 course meal they offer "7 DAYS A WEEK 5-6pm". She said "yeah, you have 15 minutes..." When our waitress finally made it over to our table another 5 minutes later, both my husband and I told her we would like the 'special' if we still had time - she LAUGHED and said that it's not offered on HOLIDAY WEEKENDS (uh, OK, this was the Friday after Thanksgiving, but they should not offer it as such a great deal if they REALLY only want the LOCAL PT folks to order it!!) From there, my husband got the fish & chips (tartar sauce was good) and a beer, my kids got pasta and Shirley Temples, I had the risotto (garlicky & yummy) and an ice tea. After we received our food we never saw anyone again until we had to ask for the check after sitting there with empty plates and glasses for 20 minutes. Here's the thing - I waited tables all through college and then some so I tend to be harder (but more generous) on the service. My PET PEEVE is sitting at a table with empty glasses - should NEVER happen! 3 of our drinks we re-fillable - WHAAATTT! I had to laugh, though, when she finally brought our check she asked if we wanted to take anything to go.... um, like the 2 ice cubes at the bottom of my glass?? or the 3 noodles left on my son's plate?? So, the irony is that this restaurant seemed geared toward tourists (even day-trippers like ourselves), but they also treat you like you will probably not return.... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
(2)Cary C.
advertised time is erroneous. had shut in the window and the place was full. shut way early...
(1)Chelsea J.
Silverwater is a solid lunch or dinner spot in Port Townsend. The location is great for people watching if you have a window seat. The atmosphere is cozy and low-key with a nice feel. It's right next to the Rose Theater so it would be a good place to go before or after a movie. My friend and I had lunch here this weekend. Service was great. Lots of good choices on the menu which made deciding what to order a bit of a task. I settled on the salmon salad with fresh mozzarella, shaved parmesan, and cherry tomatoes. My friend got the au jus sandwich. There are several wines available by the glass which we greatly appreciated. Probably 8-10 choices for either red or white ranging from $7-10/glass it seemed with the house wine being $5/glass. House wine was Sutter Home which isn't a great option in my opinion. I settled for a Sangiovese by the recommendation of our server and enjoyed it very much with my salmon salad. My friend said his sandwich was okay but not great. My salad was excellent. I would definitely return when in Port Townsend. We enjoyed our time here at Silverwater.
(4)Ted B.
Family UNfriendly. Tried to eat here, but was turned away by a host staff that seemed dazed and confused. When I told them we needed a high hair, that seemed like the last straw...they wanted to save their tables for other customers. I won't be visiting this place....ever.
(1)David H.
Silverwater Cafe is one of those places that quite literally everyone in Port Townsend has recommended to us. We finally had the chance to enjoy a late lunch here, and were not disappointed. We'd just missed the lunch rush, so the place was nice and quiet. What a gorgeous building! For lunch I had the crab burger and a cup of their soup of the day. The soup was a Scottish concoction with chicken, potatoes, bacon, carrots and a little stout for kick. Soooooo good. My wife enjoyed her clam chowder, but had a little soup envy. :) Crab burger? Spectacular. Besides good food, the staff was incredibly nice and friendly. I felt very warm and welcomed here, and would love to come back.
(5)Cheryl S.
I wish we had felt a bit more welcome - there is no place to wait for a table and staff are not in a hurry. But the food was superb - a pork verde special w keffer lime infused jasmine rice ($10) and a crab burger for DH. Definitely worth a try and warming on a chilly day.
(4)Madeleine B.
If you only have a little bit of time and fancy a light lunch, consider this cafe. The atmosphere was calm and the room was nicely lit. I'd say the prices were higher than most, but overall modest. We decided to stop there before heading out of town and were treated fairly. Their soups and teas were very flavorful. As for improvement, having a little more circulation of the waiters would be great as we were waiting on our check for awhile. Really wishing I could give 4.5 stars.
(4)Patty B.
Service was weak - waitress was harried and we refilled our own water after a long wait. Clam chowder excellent. Ahi tuna was very salty and texture was cardboardy and cool, not warm. Not at all like sashimi. Fish and chips: fish was dry but fries were tasty. Overall very disappointing.
(2)Joanna K.
We went here a few nights ago for dinner. It's a very cute, two story restaurant. We ordered the salmon, fish and chips, stuffed chicken and a kids Mac n cheese. All was delicious! It's really too bad I live in California - I'd come here regularly.
(4)Diana V.
Just before leaving Port Townsend after a fabulous weekend at the Brass Screw Confederacy, we decided to have lunch. I had heard good things about the Silverwater Cafe so we stopped in. The staff was friendly and attentive. We were pleased to see lighter fare options on the menu with a half sandwich and soup or salad. I had the ultimate grilled cheese and it was tasty albeit a bit different with a bit of balsamic vinaigrette. A nice touch. My husband had the crab and shrimp melt which looked wonderful. I look forward to coming back for dinner sometime.
(4)Kimberly K.
Wow! My husband and I took my mom to lunch for her birthday. Everything was fabulous! My husband is not a foodie and he remarked many times how great the food was. I had the strudel, Mom had fish and chips, and my husband had the shrimp and crab melt with the best clam chowder he's ever had! We had the peach and marrionberry pies! Service was great too. We look forward to going back. I highly recommend this restaurant! !
(5)Chad S.
The salads were awesome. The crab and shrimp melt also awesome. But it's getting 3 stars because of the 'crab' burger. The 'crab' burger is some kind of crab cake mixture made up of 20% dungeness crab, 30% cardboard, 50% sawdust. The menu said "dungeness crab", so I do feel like I was tricked. Otherwise, everything else was awesome!
(3)D D.
My wife and I went here for the first time on 4th of July weekend. She had halibut, beer battered . Said one of the most flavorful fish-n-chips ever. My fettaccini with shrimp was also delightful, and very fresh and creamy. Service was not lightening fast, but well worth the 20 minute wait. Prices were reasonable and worth every penny.
(4)Juli-ann W.
Creamy, thick clam chowder. An excellent wine menu. Great fish and chips. Too bad we didn't have room for dessert because it sounded amazing. It was crowded, but that was expected on a Saturday night and they were very good about getting us a seat as quickly as possible. Good service. I'd definitely go back.
(4)Wendy M.
We went to Silverwater Cafe for the first time last night. It gets five stars because it was five stars The food was fabulous, the service superb, and the amibiance very pleasant. Two of us ordered the Dungeness Crab Ravoli, and they both said they were probably some of the best they had ever eaten because they were STUFFED with lots of crab. We found out that they make the ravoilis in house so that explains why they were especially good. I had one of the specials for Saturday night. It was soooooo good. It was the Grilled Halibut with succatash. The Halibut was cooked perfectly and the succatash was a wonderful addition with it. The other reason I liked it so much was that it perfect for someone who just likes fish without any sauce to hide the taste of the fish and good fresh vegetables. In other words it was what I considered and Healthy meal. We also started out with two appetizers that were also on the specials for evening. The smoked salmon and artichoke poppers and the golden beets, mozzarella, arugula with walnut pesto. Both were WONDERFUL. Any of these specials would be a good addition to the menu. We are in the area for the summer and we will for sure be back to the Silverwater Cafe. I will recommend to anyone who is visiting Port Townsend.
(5)Jennifer P.
I live in Port Townsend and have visited the Silverwater Cafe 3 other times. Each of those times I was somewhat content with the service and food but never impressed with the ambience, for some reason. Last night my friend and I decided to have dinner there. She had never been and wanted to try it. We were seated upstairs in the Mezzaluna lounge and I initially thought the place seemed nicer than it had the previous times. Our server was sweet, but slow. It took her at least 10 minutes, maybe 15, to bring our wine after she'd taken the order. We ordered our apps at the same time as the wine. My friend ordered a cup of clam chowder and I got the house salad to start, which took another 20 minutes to come out after the wine did. The chowder consisted of giant pieces of potato and a few clams, and my salad, though advertised for its fresh strawberries, had more pickled onions than anything. Meh. For dinner my friend ordered the Silverwater burger which she said was good but nothing special. The fries that came with it were quite tasty. I ordered the Wild Mushroom, Leek and Rice cakes which are like pan fried fritters with a Dijon cream sauce that was loaded with thick-sliced onion on a bed of broccolini. The Dijon sauce was nice but there wasn't enough of it to balance out the blandness of the rice cakes. The broccolini was cooked perfectly and had been tossed in butter. Tasty, but definitely not worth waiting another 50 minutes after we'd already finished our apps. We decided to ask for the check before we finished eating in order to move things along. Again, the server was pretty slow. She apologized for the delay, and we felt a little bad for tipping only 15% (I usually tip at least 20%). But we were seated for nearly 2 1/2 hours and, trust me, we do not take that long to eat! In the end, we both felt that the food, service, and ambience was sooo not worth the $75 check! I will be taking my business elsewhere in the future.
(2)Jen W.
First time here was wonderful. We chose the Fish and chips as well as the Silverwater burger with smoked Gouda and avocado. Both were absolutely delicious. Our server, Jennifer, was very sweet and attentive, as busy as she was. I recommend making reservations as the place was packed, though we were seated without reservations within five minutes of arriving. I feel we just got lucky with that.
(5)Tammy R.
Sorry if you read my previous review as I wrote on incorrect restaurant. Will update this one shortly
(1)J J.
Tonight was our third visit to this restaurant and once again we enjoyed a consistently good meal and great service. We had limited time and although they were super busy our server was superwoman and got us out of there in time to catch our ferry. I wish we could have lingered longer, the atmosphere is always so inviting!
(4)Paul M.
Highly recommended. Even my wife's grilled tofu salad was great [not something I would want to eat] Good quality food, and the prices were modest considering the ambiance and service. They had a good selection of wines by the glass, and gave us a taste when we asked. Service was prompt and efficient. We ate there on a Sunday night in mid-November, and every seat in the restaurant was full when we left. Parking, as everywhere in downtown PT is a problem, so you may be parking a block or two away.
(4)Heather S.
I can't say that I'll be coming back here, I was pretty disappointed. I kept thinking "what would Gordon Ramsay think??" There were definitely problems in the front of house as well as the back of house. The host was sloppy, very underdressed and pretty indifferent. We got a seat up on the mezzanine and after a little wait was greeted by our waitress. She was also pretty casually dressed, wearing jeans and a tight sweatshirt. We noticed a total of 4 people working on the restaurant floor and they all were wearing something different in varying degrees of casual. I was under the impression that this was an upscale restaurant but the mismatched staff, video poker/big TV in the bar and cheap christmas lights strung around said otherwise. We ordered some drinks, an appetizer and main dishes. Our appetizer, artichoke pate was pretty garlicky/tasty but seemed like it came with some warmed pre-packaged pita bread. For our main dishes, my companion ordered the fish and chips ($16) which came with french fries and what seemed to be a house made cole slaw. He said it was pretty tasty. I ordered the stuffed chicken breast with risotto and steamed vegetables (which were really green beans) ($21). The risotto was undercooked and the stuffed chicken was over cooked--burnt in some places and the meat was tough. For the price they were asking I was very disappointed at what the chef deemed acceptable to send out to a table. He should be embarrassed because the dish I ordered sounded like it would be really good. As soon as the restaurant became busier our waitress forgot about bringing us the second drink we requested. At one point she came by and acknowledged that she forgot and apologized, but still did not get our drinks. We watched her pop around to table to table, obviously overwhelmed and at one point heard her tell another floor person that she was totally behind. The restaurant wasn't full at this point so I don't know what they would have done if they were operating at capacity. While we were waiting, we watched the scene downstairs from the mezzanine of the first floor seating area. We watched the host inconsistently and slowly set tables while a senior couple waited for at least 15 minutes to be seated. We felt totally bad for them. By now we've been long done and have been sitting in our seats for an hour and a half. We were tired and just wanted to pay and leave.
(2)Jeff B.
Dined here as a family almost exactly two years earlier. I was in the area with my teenage daughter and two of her friends, so had opportunity to enjoy the Silverwater again. Despite the extensive street construction outside the door, when we arrrived at 7pm there were already plenty of diners. Great service, nice atmosphere, and good food. I had the lamb shank dinner. The meat practically fell off the bone--very tender. Though I would have preferred more spice in the sauce, it was nonetheless very good with the red wine of the day. I like coconut, and the coconut flan tasted fantastic with a creamy texture. Outstanding coffee. The girls enjoyed their dinner as well--my daughter raved about the salmon fillet.
(4)Carol C.
This is my favorite restaurant anywhere in the world. Their halibut is the best I have ever had. We live in Arizona and have traveled extensively and there is no better food. Atmosphere is amazing, service wonderful and such ambiance. I will go every time I am close to Washington just to eat here. Best restaurant by far in Port Townsend. I have their cookbook but it just isn't the same. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!!
(5)Miki B.
Out of crab and mussels at 6:30pm! Seafood pasta dish ...the chef forgot to include prawns. Lots of pasta, very little seafood. We all rated our various dishes as mediocre. Wait person was polite but didn't seem to care about the poor bad prep. Very uninspiring food and atmosphere.
(1)Luke W.
We had a great lunch experience here. The restaurant was busy, but we were promptly seated. Great service. Crab sandwich melt was awesome! We will be back!
(4)Rebecca M.
This is one of the best places I have eaten in Washington. Amazing menu with so many interesting and tempting options - so hard to choose. Good kids menu (I always respect restaurants who offer more than fried chicken, burgers and hot dogs for kids). Great service. Even when the kids decided they wanted to explore an ice cream shop on Water Street rather than have dessert there, our server made a recommendation. It would have been easy for her to ignore that part of our conversation and just get us to pay. I would definitely return.
(4)MJ P.
This is the best place in Port Townsend to eat, just drop in for a drink, or bring the family. Ray, the barkeep, can mix just about anything you ask. Dave, the owner, makes all of the wonderful pies and he is on site every night. Amanda is usually the hostess and she and the wait staff are as kind and attentive as can be. There are many vegetarian options as well as nightly specials. My meat-eating hubby craves the tri-tip beef special, while my favorite is the Grande Marnier shrimp. We have never had a bad meal here and we, often with our children and our 10 month old grandchild, dine at Silverwater at least twice a month. The entire restaurant is immaculately clean and is great whether you are feeling casual and heading upstairs to the bar area or having a more formal evening on the first floor. Especially on weekends, however, you *must* call ahead for reservations. Update 5/2915: The hostess has changed to a host who is not quite as friendly. Ray the bartender is leaving this summer also. There are sadly less vegetarian choices on the everyday menu. It has changed quite a bit. Three of my favorites have been taken off the menu and only appear occasionally as daily specials. Because of this later fact especially, I am lowering my rating from 5 to 4 stars.
(4)Samantha M.
My hazelnut halibut was excellent. One of the best halibut dishes I've ever had. Pleasant service.
(5)C C.
What a way to end a wonderful day in Port Townsend! From the moment you walk into the place you are taken aback! If you have a large party you might want to make reservations even though there is enough seating available - the food is just that good! The atmosphere sets the tone - the service was outstanding - food was unbelievable (at our table we had shrimp scampi, crab ravioli, lamb shank and bacon bacon burger). I have to say it was the best shrimp scampi and crab ravioli I've ever eaten!! From the servers, to the chef - WE THANK YOU!!! Awesome!! We will be back!!!
(5)Bob K.
This is a tough one to review. The food was 3-5 stars. Atmosphere 4-5 stars. Service, when they had the food, was 4-5 stars. But we had to wait about an hour for our food. We also saw others served before us. It was also weird that several tables of food came out all at once. They did apologize and we were offered some really good crap cakes. They also offered free desserts. I asked if they are always this busy and one of the servers said yes. The other uncomfortable thing was a couple at the table next to ours. They were complaining about all of the out-of-towners here (that is what we were). Then I heard them taking about how Port Townsend is being surrounded by horrible conservatives in Port Ludlow and Sequim. Guess what we were. BTW they were the couple who came in 20 min. after us and got served before us. So..... if you are willing to wait a while.... Its a 4-5 star restaurant. But you will have to have a tough skin if the locals start bad mouthing you.
(3)Nina M.
Nice neighborhood feel, but the food and service were just ok. The price was a bit high for "ok" in my opinion. Frozen, tasteless fries with pretty yummy fish and chips sort of cancelled each other out.
(3)David E.
This is a very nice restaurant, for a nice night out. The food was very good, they have a peppercorn steak that was what I was craving and it did not disappoint me. The halibut my wife had was a hazlenut creme halibut that was much better than I thoiught it would be ( I am not a hazlenut fan). The wine list was good and we enjoyed a bottle of Pinot. Again, a good place for a nice night out.
(4)Eric N.
Great service and great food! I usually don't get dinner specials but the stuffed chicken breast was absolutely melt in your mouth delicious. The bite of New York strip I had was very tasty and I'm super critical about steak in it's preparation and seasoning. The wait staff was on point for the total experience.
(5)Chris C.
The food was great! A very seafood-centric selection, so I wouldn't recommend going if you're not a seafood fan. Everyone was incredibly polite and attentive while I was there. I had the Fish n' Chips while I was there, and I would have them again.
(4)McKenzie Y.
The fish and chips I had were lovely, but hoo boy. That Hazelnut Halibut. My husband ordered it on a whim, and it subsequently ended up being an explosion of culinary orgasmic sunrise melty-ness. That was some of the most delicious underwater critter I have ever tasted. Great job, Silverwater. The ambiance was cozy and small town-ish. Our food did take a little while, but we got the vibe that they were a little understaffed from the onslaught of folks coming in for the film festival (or so I would judge by the black-frame glasses and severe haircuts of many of the female patrons there. But I'm not hatin', just an observation.) So yeah, good place in Port Townsend to get some chow. Great place, actually. The service was a tad slow, but the food there is brilliant enough for me not to give a shit. I'll be back.
(5)Melvin T.
My girlfriend and I went in for our anniversary and it was great! Our server was very friendly and the food was delicious. The bacon bacon burger was one of the best burgers I've ever had.
(5)Kimberly W.
I wanted to find a restaurant with good reviews so I went with this place. I ordered the Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a side of French fries. Hubby ordered a BLT with clam chowder, kiddo got the grilled chicken with smiley fries and carrot sticks. I imagined my grilled cheese to be ooyey, gooey and delicious. It's the ultimate grilled cheese, right? Wrong. It was a barely warm, not at all melted sub par sandwich. My fries were cold too. Hubby said his sandwich was good, not great. His chowder was nothing to write home about. Kids meal was also not warm, and my non picky toddler wouldn't eat more than a couple bites. We got a coffee (bitter but drinkable) and one beer. With tip (since my toddler made a bit of a mess, which I tried to clean with our napkins) we were out $48. I almost choked on my cold grilled cheese sandwich when I saw the bill. Not worth it! If I pay nearly fifty bucks for a simple lunch, I want it to be the best darn lunch I've had! We walked down the street to a local chocolate shop/cafe and saw that they served premade sandwiches for $6 each. We should have gone there and saved over $30! I get angry when our had earned money goes to something that is completely not worth it. Side note: there were only two other tables so it's not like the kitchen was busy or bring over worked!
(2)John E.
I dropped in on Valentine's Day without a reservation and they found (well, MADE) a table despite their brisk business that night. Our server was awesome and made great recommendations + made sure we made our movie next door. The food was extremely tasty. I was a bit sad that we didn't have time for the multi-course tasting menu. Next time I am in Port T, this will be a mandatory stop.
(5)Andrew S.
Impressed! It happened to be one of the few places open after 9pm on a winter night and I am glad for it! The service was quick and very hospitable (we got a drink almost immediately, which is always key in my books - excellent martini selection, would really recommend). The ambience was excellent and made you glad to be there. We ordered the Crab Cake Burger and the two piece Fish'n'Chips to share. Both exceeded our expectations. Dill batter on the fish really made it stand out from others. Moist crab cake with a crispy outside in a lovely soft bun blew me away. I would go back and I would order it all again! Fully recommend - did I mention the service was excellent?
(5)Paul V.
Salmon filet was excellent and heard no complaints from anyone in the group. Handled our group of 11 with great service.
(4)Charene M.
Went there on Sunday, February 19th. They seated us and gave us menus. We moved to a different table as we were sat next to a wood stove. After perusing the menu, we made our choices and the server took our orders. She came back soon after and said, "The hostess is new, she should not have given you this menu. We only serve off the brunch menu on Sunday." So, we ordered off the brunch menu. She came back again and told me that the kitchen had decided not to make my choice that day. So, I ordered a salad with a side of prawns. My husband ordered a burger and fries. I asked for bread to go with the salad. Our orders came. My husband's burger looked fine but the fries were a handful. My salad came out on a small salad plate with the prawns. The total for my "brunch" was over $12 dollars. After we finished eating, another server came up with the bread. I told her, "Never mind, we've eaten." She gave me a haughty look and left. I left a message on the receipt for the owners and told them that I was disappointed as I had read good reviews. I will not frequent that establishment again. Overpriced, only a few servers for a crowded room and poor customer service. My daughter is a server and when I told her of the events, she was aghast. She said that they should have comped our meal after so many mistakes. I have never given a poor review and feel bad about it but I think other customers should be cautious about this establishment.
(1)Autumn M.
Great atmosphere! We went in for lunch and both ordered the fish and chips, some of the best we've had!! Clam chowder was average and could have been warmer though. Service was attentive!
(4)Lydia K.
Nothing to complain about here! The service is attentive and the food is nothing fancy but pretty good. And, even better, they're consistent. I've been here about 3 times over the course of several years, and every time the experience is pleasant.
(4)Casey A.
Best pasta I've ever had. Service isn't the fastest in the world, but other than that, I've liked everything I've tried here, the atmosphere is great, location is great...pretty much a must if you're staying in PT.
(5)Benoit B.
Overpriced. Poor quality. 8$ kids burger. 27$ tiny, dry, chewy halibut.
(1)Marlene G.
WOW, amazing food and drinks. Great ambience too. This place is very laid-back! :)
(5)Austin K.
Spaghetti special on Wednesday is excellent, and a bargain.
(4)J P.
Not as good as Fins or T's, but it's not bad. We used to go to Silverwater often, but a couple of times, we got the same waitress with a real snotty attitude, so we took it off our list of go-to places in Port Townsend. The last couple of times we've been there was with friends and we didn't see Ms Attitude, so the coast is probably clear to give them another chance.
(3)Danni M.
I have one word- DELISH! The halibut and salmon were cooked to perfection and they customized our picky order without hesitation. Also their iced tea with apricot was amazing...will definitely be back!
(5)T A.
Arrived between lunch/dinner service and ordered from a smaller menu. Food was well executed, nice steamed clams - broth was rich and flavorful and clams were tender and juicey. Battered halibut was nice and light, an appropriate ratio of batter to keep fish moist and well spiced to stand on its own. We also shared a gem of an appetizer called "Sin Chips" consisting of on premises sweat potato chips garnished with bacon, bleu cheese, green onions and diced tomato. It was served with a spicey chipotle mayo with a good zip to it. Great take on a "loaded baked potato." The one disappointment was with grilled chicken from kids menu. The chicken was cooked fine, not dry and chewey but rather still tender. The problem arose from the exterior. The black grill marks provided an acrid bitter taste which indicates the grill might have some build up. Service was prompt and professional and did a fine job bringing drinks, taking orders and making sure we needed anything. All in all, a good place to enjoy a nice meal while in Pt. Townsend.
(3)Barb B.
Great place to eat before catching a movie at the Rose. Tucked on the corner next tot the theater, the decor is cutesy and the food satisfies. Not overly fab food, but okay for sandwiches. Pasta dishes a bit overdone.
(3)Philip W.
When I lived in Coupeville, I'd often take the ferry over to Port Townsend and have lunch at the Silverwater. Especially in the winter when their pellet stove was going and it was all warm and toasty inside, it was heaven to settle in with a paper, a beer, and one of the best reuben sandwiches I've ever had. UPDATE November 25 2008 On our way up the coast from Eureka to Coupeville for Thanksgiving we stopped at the Silverwater for the first time in a couple of years. Our meal was so good I've added another star. I had a plate of wonderful locally-made mixed sausages served on cabbage with mustard and pita wedges - excellent. My wife had the best pork chop either of us had ever had: brined and grilled to perfection with a sauce of whole-grain mustard, white wine, and olive oil, served on a bed of pumpkin spaetzle with a side of thin-sliced apples lightly pickled in cider vinegar. Absolutely exquisite, and under $20 too.
(5)Kirk M.
Looked up some options in Port Townsend for an early Sunday dinner, and thought Silverwater would be a good pick. (Used the Yelp iPhone app.) Silverwater Cafe has a special 3-5pm menu, but they failed to mention that it's basically less food for slightly less money (and with worse service, apparently.) For $22, i got a nice rib eye steak, but with no starch and a small side salad. No mashed potatoes? No fries? For $22, i was left hungry. For $14, my wife got an appetizer sized portion of seared ahi tuna - just tuna and some cabbage slaw, no starch. They didn't even offer bread with the meal, and when i asked, they said that was normal after 5, but not offered between 3-5. The quality and taste of the food was actually very good - it was just the portion controls and plating that was offputting. Ironically, my 8 yr old son's pasta alfredo was the best thing any of us ate. Great cheese sauce! If they are going to cut back on portions with the 3-5 menu, they should really be more clear. To not offer any bread is just cheap. The prices seemed normal for dinner, so it wasn't obvious that we were getting less food. Service was uninspired as well, and we seemed to be imposing on the waitstaff by eating early. I doubt we'll be back to try Silverwater again (after 5pm), but maybe we'd have a different experience on a different day and time.
(2)Koizumi Y.
I can't believe this was actually listed. This is a raving place. We've been there three times and each has been simply a fantastic time. The decor isn't magazine quality, but Port Townsend is quite an interesting town which has founds itself over the past few years. Quite eclectic and the sort of place one never tires of popping in and walking round. There are several things here about Silverwater. The wine list isn't award-winning, but we are allowed to bring our own wines due to a fair corkage fee of $8 with a two bottle maximum. The artichoke parmesan pate, and saganaki & pita appetisers are favourites and positively orgasmic. For entrees, there are wild mushroom, rice and leek cakes with dijon cream sauce; sesame crusted tofu with rice and red curry sauce w/ raisins, candied ginger & pinenuts; a grilled polenta with red bell pepper, capers, spinach broccoli, zucchini, spinach and toasted walnuts; fried tofu with peanut sauce; or spaghetti four ways (five herb and parmesan pesto, Sicilian marinara, extra virgin olive oil and garlic or creamy al fredo sauce). The prices are ridiculously moderate if not cheap ...particularly for the quality of the meals...and one is never rushed in and out the door. Put this little waterside town on your list when visiting the Seattle area, and ferry over for a memorable gem.
(5)Jennifer A.
My fave restaurant by far. If I'm having a bad day or times or I've done something phenomenal (new job, school graduation, etc.) I take the long drive out here and have my favorite plate : Grilled Polenta Etienne. I've never had any other plate here honestly and I don't know that any other food needs to exist except the dreamy ingredients that make up this wonderful marriage of tastes combined with grilled polenta!! Got to learn how to make it. Someone once told me there was a cook book put together by this restuarant - I can't find it online but I want to get my hands on that recipe if possible.
(5)Les M.
Ask for Brianna to serve you. Service was excellent without being on top of you. I had the duck with rissotto. Amazingly prepared with truffle oil and cherries soaked in Amaretto. Partner had the pork stuffed with fruit. Have to say that it was the best meal we both had at a restaurant in a long time. Definitely returning soon.
(5)Ying L.
I had a recommended pinot, seared ahi with lavendar pepper, and orange vanilla creme brule. My husband had the fish and chips. The food was delicious, just the right proportions, and the service was great. We ate dinner over two and a half hours, fabulous ambiance.
(5)Bonnie S.
Really a good place with Northwest-focused menu. Nice wine list. Not inexpensive. It's one of the few truly higher-end food experiences in a "diner" town. All the seafood is great, consistently. It can be rather noisy in there when it's packed.
(5)Pablo J.
Entering The Silver Water Café, the first thing one notices is the incredible, open, relaxing ambiance of the restaurant with it's hanging plants and bunches of lavender hanging around the room, leaving hints of the intoxicating scent in the air while you dine. The music and the local colorful artwork add subtle details to the atmosphere. The staff was there to please us, all politeness and made us feel taken care of. The service was a touch slow, but it was worth the wait for what came out of the kitchen! This is definitely a place to relax, sit back with a glass of wine, and enjoy the wait for some truly excellent dishes of culinary delight that will satiate your appetite and leave you feeling satisfied for days afterward. The food was unforgettable. The bread is flavorful, and a dish called "Lavender Pepper Ahi" was tuna with crispy greens in apricot curry dressing- this dish was to die for! The French Dip takes the traditional idea of French Dip to a new level of good taste with the Brie cheese in the middle. Dessert was divine- namely, the Chocolate Amaretto Mousse, The White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake and the Amaretto Crumble Peach Pie a la mode. The mousse was the perfect blend of consistency, texture, and portion size. The cheesecake was an amazing balance of lightness, richness and sweetness. The peach pie could not be improved upon because it was grand the way it was - whatever you do, don't leave the Silver Water Café without dessert. You won't be disappointed with any part of the meal. The Point: the value. Was the experience worth what we paid for it? The answer is YES! It was a bit pricey, but considering that the majority of the food was locally grown, and the entire place made everything come together for a wonderful dining experience- including the food, service, and locally grown food; it was an amazingly synergetic experience that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
(5)