Chuckanut Manor Seafood & Grill

Most of the food is well prepared and tasty.
However, the last visit included a flatiron steak which was, unfortunately, very chewy and poor quality.

Stopped here for happy hour one day and sat on the back patio. Great atmosphere, service, and food. The whiskey crab soup is delicious. I’ve been back for more and any time I’m in the area exploring I will stop again!

We had a wonderful dinner here tonight. There were four of us and we each ordered different entrees and we each loved our choices! Food was fresh, nice portions, great waitress and all in all a wonderful evening out from appetizers to dessert! Atmosphere is lovely with a great view of the water. Lots of space for larger groups if you have a big group. Try this restaurant — price s are on the higher side but quality of the food and the wonderful atmosphere with a great view view make it worth every penny!

We went for an early Mother’s day brunch. The scenery is beautiful! The food was good. Breakfast type stuff, with an omelet station, carved baked ham, an assortment of salads and deserts. The only thing missing was the prime rib that was advertised on their Sunday Brunch menu. There was flat iron steak. The highlight was the eggs benedict, but the hollindaise sauce was kind of sparse. Overall, it was a quaint place, and we will probably visit again. Maybe try for lunch…

I have never had a bad meal here. They use fresh local produce. The owners and staff are super friendly and don’t hesitate to go above and beyond to make sure you are happy. The views are gorgeous even at low tide. This place is great for special occasions where you are dressed up or go into the lounge and have a cocktail after hiking up the road. You are always welcomed the same.

«The experience awaits for those who drive the distance.»
Chuckanut Manor Seafood and Grill is by no means a short commute through an urban neighborhood or city limits. The drive from Seattle can take anywhere from 40 – 60 minutes depending on the traffic between Everett and Quil Ceda. The website has proclaimed the restaurant as «a historic culinary roadhouse on scenic chuckanut drive.» The experience definitely matches their statement. A spectacular view and one-​of-​a-​kind dining experience is the reward for anyone willing to take the drive. The restaurant is located on Chuckanut Drive and parking options are either roadside or a lot further down from the building. The restaurant was previously a home remodeled and expanded to its present state. I recommend calling for reservations and requesting either an outside seating (depending on weather) or indoor window. The view is an integral part of the overall experience and I suggest planning the meal near sunset.
The menu is gated towards seafood and highlights locally grown shellfish. The bar menus showcases house cocktails with some unique ingredients. They also offer local brews and a decent selection of wines to compliment the meal. I have visited Chuckanut on two different occasions and have tried multiple dishes and drinks and found the taste to be wonderfully executed.
DRINKS:
Fireside Manhattan (Valley Shine Bourbon, Cointreau, house quince-​roasted jalapeño syrup, scrappy’s orange bitters): Excellent pre or post meal drink. The orange bitters awakens the palette and the jalapeño adds a unique flare to the drink.
Rosemary Rhubarb Martini (Oola Rosemary Vodka, fresh spring rhubarb purée, simple syrup): Refreshing drink with a light touch of rosemary. The rhubarb flavor definitely stands out in this simple martini.
COMPLIMENTARY STARTER:
SESAME CRACKER BREAD SERVED WITH HOUSE SPINACH DIP: creamy spinach dip and crunchy cracker bread is good start to the meal. I like that the spinach is still visible and not overly pureed beyond recognition.
ENTREES:
Smash Bay oysters half Rockefeller and half broiled: The creamy rockefeller sauce elevates the oysters and adds an extra depth of flavor and decadence. The broiled oysters was served with lemon and butter and was still succulent. The contrast between the two styles gives the dish a nice mix of flavors. The rice and seasoned vegetables was a good addition and kept the meal balanced.
Steak Frites (flame-​broiled angus beef 7 oz roulette, cascadia mushrooms, demi-​glacé, gorgonzola, truffle fries): This is a very filling dish. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly (requested medium rare). The demi-​glacé kept the meat moist and the gorgonzola added some richness to the meat. The truffle fries and mushrooms was the ideal combination that ties the whole meal.
Sea Scallops (seared sea scallops, quince-​jalapeño glazed Jack Mountain pork belly, crispy fried polenta, brandied apples, celery salad): To taste is to believe. There were so many flavors complementing each other. The scallops were nicely seared and well-​seasoned. The brandied apples were tender and went well with the celery salad. The fried polenta added some richness to the dish. The slice of pork belly was the perfect serving and added saltiness to the dish. The dressing had a nice balance of acidity and savory. The dish was beautifully presented with garnish of small figs.
The customer service, like their dishes, were impeccable. The frequent check-​ins, drink refills, recommendations, and the simple act of getting to know your customer was evident in both of my visits. This is truly my quintessential dinner spot for out of town guests or special occassions.

A Sunday drive on Chuckanut drive ending at the Chuckanut Manor was perfect for us. We took a chance without a reservation, arriving at 12:45 with two tables waiting for us. Pat the owner sat us with his usual happy personality. We were happy to get Cathy as our server with her winning smile and wise recommendations. We were in the mood for SEAFOOD and chose the large buffet. Suzi had Prime Rib, baked Oysters, fruit, Asaragus and a ‘decadent’ Chocolet cake… I had Salmon, many oysters, prime Rib and a Vergin Mary. We ended enjoying the Bay view and rich coffee. Another very nice visit to grand old tradition.

Well we did it again! Four of us had the Sunday Brunch. Food is fresh and wonderfully prepared and presented. Service is fast, attentive, and always pleasant. A real bargain and no one ever leaves hungry or not satisfied. Keep up the great work Pat and thanks for a great Brunch.

We took a family drive to Chuckanut and wandered the area. (We’re 8 months new to Washington). After driving past a few restaurants, we turned around and decided to dine at the Manor which is also a B&B! We were greeted nicely by who seemed like the owners and seated right away. I arrived with my family, my husband and our two children. (5 & 6). Glancing at the menu, everything looked appetizing! The prices looked pretty high, with a selection of them being I the high 40’s to low 50 dollar range.
We were seated near a window overlooking the ocean with a great view of the sunset. Great ambiance and friendly staff. Our server brought us crackers and spinach dip. Then followed bread and butter.
We dined nicely with scrumptious plates. Mine was the seafood pasta and my husband, crab with rice and veggies. Our children both had grilled cheese sandwiches and fries. It was all delicious and well worth the price. We’ll definitely be returning!

Just got finished celebrating my man’s birthday. We go for Thanksgiving every year and often for Happy Hour (always great), but we had not been for dinner before. I cannot believe we have not. This place is warm, welcoming and cozy! The food (everything) is amazing. Tonight we had oysters (breaded and grilled) and Rockefeller. Both were outstanding. The brussel sprout appetizer (in a spicy sauce with nuts) delicious — like a salad. The whiskey crab soup — OMG. The crab cakes and the puff pastry veggies with gorgonzola and a delicious sauce — to die for. This place makes the best cocktails and the house wine is five star. I cannot say enough about this place. The staff is exceptional (Kathy, you are the best and always make us laugh). Thanks again Chuckanut! Oh btw, we have never received a freebie for reviewing only the absolute best time and food — ALWAYS!!!

Always great and sometimes superb– our go to place in the northlands of Washington – awesome food and awesome service – at lunch try the Cheddar burger with Truffle fries @ $ 12 or the Coconut Prawns appetizer at $ 16 add a cup of clam chowder @ $ 6.50 or the Whiskey crab chowder @ $ 7 and top it off with small batch Acme chocolate ice cream @ $ 5 and you are good – and if you want more go for dinner for all the goodies – cheers Al

Went here twice in January 2016 with two different groups, once for happy hour. Based on everyone’s feedback I highly recommend:
— Whiskey Crab Soup
— Chicken Tacos
— Halibut & Chips (swap out the Chips for Truffle Fries)
— Truffled Green Beans
— Charred Brussels Sprouts
— Bacon & Eggs
— Harissa Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Cauliflower
— and of course, Truffle Fries
Great view, great ambience, and a beautiful drive to get there. Chuckanut Manor is well worth stopping in at.

We went here for our anniversary. Asked to sit with a great view, and we got it! Scheduled to see sunset and it was gorgeous!
The food was EXCELLENT and the service was too. I never wanted for anything!
I thought the clam chowder was good. My husband loved the Whiskey crab soup — huge chunks of crab. I had the Brussels sprouts too and they were SO GOOD! Then I had the fish and chips which were excellent — may be the best I’ve ever had! The fish is cooked perfectly and the breading is light and amazingly flavorful! My husband had stuffed crab which he loved. We had crème brûlée for dessert which was good — but did have a burnt aftertaste. That was the only food complaint. They do provide crackers a spinach dip — which was fine — but kind of odd? Not really in keeping with the atmosphere.
They do need to take a bit more care in boxing leftovers. My coleslaw was in the same container as the fish and fries and Cole slaw is… liquidy — so it soaked into the fries and fish. I had to repackage it at home.
There are some areas that need updates in the interior — especially the wallpaper in the entryway — but the view is so captivating that it’s not a big deal.
It’s expensive but worth it. We felt we were really treated like the special occasion it was!

Stupendous! It’s the only word that comes to mind as I’m chewing my smoked potatoes and perfectly made ribeye. The service is superb, extremely attentive. The best wait service I’ve had in a long time. The view is just beautiful. The house Syrah is amazing. I don’t want to go back to Seattle now.

Dinner with a beautiful sunset!
We were camping in a KOA campground near Bow and decided to venture out for dinner. We picked Chuckanut Manor because of the reviews and good thing we listened.
We had the chance to either sit outside and really get a great sunset view or inside by a window with a partial sunset view. The weather was warm but I knew I would get cold and since there are no heat lamps outside, we opted for inside seating. Also, there is the train that runs every so often and did get a little loud as it passed through.
The food was exceptional. I started off with the Whiskey Crab Soup and filled up on the thin bread/​crackers they served at the table. I wasn’t too hungry so I opted for the bone marrow appetizer as my entrée. This flavor of the marrow was really good and I wish the bone marrow were a little longer. Anthony had the scallops wrapped in bacon which was served on top of corn bread. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Not rubbery and very tender.
Overall, sweet ambiance and great food. And, don’t forget dessert! We shared a slice of the chocolate mousse pie. Delectable!

I like to take my wife here, and we both agree that the whisky crab soup is galactic. The service is always helpful and friendly. You can’t go wrong with any of the menu items, really. Bring your hunger but be prepared to pay a little more than usual.

As they say this is if you don’t hit this place for crab bisque… oysters on the half shell or grilled!
Yummy.ask for Debbie she is great!

We called ahead and made reservations for our party of 11 and they set up an appropriate table for us in an otherwise empty dining room. It took us a while to find the hostess, though. We ended up walking the entire length of the restaurant before we were summarily hustled out of the bar due to the minors trailing behind.
The service was quite cheerful. Waitress was friendly and helpful, kept our water glasses full, didn’t seem to mind taking a picture of all of us. She quickly passed the little ones children’s menus just as they were about to complain about the complexity of the food.
The space was a bit sad; it reminded me of the gracious old house your parents grew up in that your grandparents have lived in for 50 years but never once remodeled beyond adding another coat of paint to the woodwork. We liked the view of the tidal flats and blackberry bramble out the big windows. My nephews liked the train tracks.
I ordered the crab cakes, which were small but decent. They didn’t blow me away though. They were really just decent. I liked the bed of seaweed salad on which they came but didn’t care for the dressing on the accompanying green salad. Hubby chose fish and chips, which came out right. Stepdaughter had the alfredo off the kids menu. I found it sort of bland and dull, which is exactly what she likes, so kudos to understanding food for picky American children. My mom had a salmon sandwich that was good but fell apart when she tried to eat it. Everyone else was too far away for me to see their food, but I recall that my nephew devoured his meal and everyone else’s leftovers.
Overall, everyone got a good meal, but I didn’t feel like this was 5-​star place, as most reviewers seem to find it. It was perfect for our party of difficult diners.

My husband and I decided on this lovely restaurant for our two year anniversary, due to the positive reviews, style of food, and incredible view. We were not disappointed.
The location is situated right above some railroad tracks along Samish Bay. We had a gorgeous view of the sunset from our table in the dining room. I’ll admit the inside was pretty modest but from where I was sitting, my eyes had a difficult time leaving the view of the islands, water and setting sun.
Our server was really great. He was spot on with a beverage suggestion for my guy and had great suggestions for our dinner. He was fast when we asked for anything and patient when we had a difficult time deciding on our entrees.
The food was outstanding. Mike loved his drink that he ordered and we were offered some crispy flat crackers and spinach dip. It was good, but the best was definitely yet to come. We had a busy day of walking around Bellingham and playing in tide pools at Larrabee prior to dinner so we both had good appetites.
We got some of the famous Whiskey Crab Soup. It came with a lovely brown bread that was sweet on its own but paired wonderfully with the soup. Whenever I order soup, I always brace myself for saltiness because that is usually the first thing I notice. I didn’t have to worry with this soup — it had a lovely flavor and was full of tasty crab meat. There was a hint of the whiskey in the background and with the house-​made brown bread, it was just lovely.
We also ordered the Coconut Prawns. They were perfectly cooked and not too greasy as breaded food often is. The coconut wasn’t overbearing in flavor, nor in texture. I thought the sauce was really nice too. It had fresh mango and papaya chunks and was the right amount of sweet. I have never had papaya that I’ve liked (I know, I need to try it in a tropical place…) until we had it here.
My guy ordered the halibut. To say it was a beautiful, delicious dish would be a total understatement. (I did post a picture of it, if you want to know what all the fuss is about.) The halibut was perfectly cooked and it was on a bed of smoked potatoes, fiddlehead ferns, and morel mushrooms. My guy said the tastes and textures of this dish were orchestrated perfectly and mentioned that every bite was a masterpiece.
I got the Crab and Shrimp Louis — I did think that Mike got the superior dish in this case but this salad was still wonderful. The soft-​boiled eggs were lightly breaded and delightfully crispy. There were copious amounts of shrimp and crab. The dressing was neither watered down nor overpowering. All of the veggies were super fresh and delicious. I even liked the olives (I normally can’t stand olives…)!
Our desserts were lovely also — I got the crème brûlée and my husband got the cheesecake. His was super rich and delicious. Mine was a lovely light custard with the caramelized crunchy sugared top.
Overall, as you could have probably guessed, this meal was everything we could’ve hoped for. It was relaxing, beautiful and delicious and if special occasions bring you to Chuckanut Manor, my only hope is that you will have a similarly perfect experience!

Chuckanut Manor is one of those old school places with things like an iceburg wedge salad, clam chowder and a thick whiskey crab soup on the menu. The menu and many dishes on it have likely remained the same year after year. The food is solid old school. Its probably one of those places without much competition for the last thirty years.
In the last decade, a couple of very charming, farm fresh places have opened up in tiny nearby Edison worth checking out, but for the most part in the area, Chuckanut Manor is one of a handful nearby for a seafood with a view meal.
The main dining room is in need of an update, and the wobbly stackable metal and pleather buffet chairs will remind you of something you sat on a lifetime ago. If you can, try to sit in the recently updated bar area (21 and older), which is light and cheery and has a much cozier feel to it.
We were there with a child, so we sat in the older, darkened, dated feeling dining room. We did appreciate that they had a kids menu here, and for other pluses, the service was terrific, old school style and attentive. Let’s face it, when you are up here on Chuckanut, it feels good to come to a place where you can look out on the water and see the islands, watch giant cargo ships slipping by, eat a chowder. The food is hit or miss, stick with traditional seafood items like chowder, and fresh oysters. Steer clear of fish tacos, and overly done mains. A nice old school good spot to enjoy a view and some fairly traditional seafood (food realistically a 3 – 4) alongside a nice draft beer.