Downriggers - Friday Harbor

Downriggers has been our favorite restaurant in Friday Harbor for years for good reason: great food, friendly service, lovely ambiance, and a stunning harbor view. The house salad with chicken is delightful.

Seafood focused meal was incredibly fresh and delicious. Service was exceptional. Downriggers was a highlight of my trip.

Went for lunch for our 50th wedding anniversary. Couldn't have been more perfect. We splurged on everything and the bill was reasonable for that very special occasion. Had a bottle of Veuv Cluquoit champagne. Oysters on the half shell, crab melt sandwich, spicy shrimp Mac and cheese, raspberry cheese cake. Everything was outstanding. Our waitress who has worked here for years timed everything so it was very relaxing. She topped our champagne glasses at just the right time. We had a window seat looking out at the Marina. The restaurant is windows on all sides so you can watch the ferry and the town. And she even added sparklers to our cheesecake. For a Jan 3rd anniversary which is typically cold and rainy this was cozy and a nice get a way. The sun even came out. Thank you Downrigger!

We stopped here after the ferry ride for our first visit to San Juan, Friday Harbour. This spot on the water was great. It had the look and feel with great views. The food was prepared perfectly and the staff was very friendly. Highly recommend making this a stop if you head out to San Juan Island.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The hostess was very unfriendly and the waiter seemed high as a kite

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

The food was very fresh. The service was prompt, friendly and professional. I was disappointed with the bouillabaisse. For $45 I expected more than 1 scallop, 3 shrimp, 3clams, and a small piece of Salmon. That said, it tasted great. The other meals in my party were all very good.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Wonderful place by the marina, great view.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Nick the host was awesome. The entire experience was amazing...from the welcome to the drinks and food, all was spectacular!!!

Rare to find a restaurant that cooks fish right... 30 seconds too long and salmon is ruined. Here, it was perfect. The atmosphere is pleasant and allows conversation, the service is friendly but unobtrusive, the menu is interesting but not extravagant. This is Friday Harbor's best restaurant.

The atmosphere was good. The waitress was bad. She was very aloof and didn’t seem to care about serving us or checking on our table for refills or care about us. She appeared to be from the Caribbean and had an obvious non caring attitude toward her customers (us).

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 1

So beautiful here this time of the year. Leslie, our wait person, was great about food selection and cocktails. The Aperol Spritzers were perfect and my favorite sandwich a Reuben with marbled rye bread.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Crab tots are awesome. Big portions.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Eating is not about views, it's about the food! The clam chowder was tasteless The crab-melt sandwich was not good with nearly two inches of toasted bread, cheese and invisible crab, thumbs down. We cannot imagine returning here.

Visited Downriggers at Friday Harbor during our San Juan Islands trip, and it was an excellent dining experience. We were a group of four friends, and after arriving via ferry with our car, we decided to stop here for lunch. There was about a 10–15 minute wait, but it was completely worth it.

We got a table with a beautiful view of the harbor, which made the experience even more special. The ambience was calm and scenic, perfect for relaxing after a ferry ride. The staff was welcoming and attentive, making sure everything went smoothly throughout our meal.

We tried a mix of dishes — Chicken Sandwich, Salad, and a few Seafood Platters. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, but my personal favorite was definitely the Chicken Sandwich — cooked perfectly and full of flavor.

Overall, a wonderful spot with great food, friendly service, and stunning views. A must-visit if you’re in Friday Harbor and want to enjoy a delicious meal by the water.

Must-try: Chicken Sandwich 🥪 | View: 10/10 🌊

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

When we arrived, there was no one up front, so I used the restroom while my husband waited. When I came out a minute later, a young brunette hostess came out and answered a phone call — no greeting, no smile, just told us she’d be with us soon. After finishing the call, she asked if we needed a table for two. We said yes, and she led us to a table. I asked if we could please have a window seat since there were several open. She looked a bit annoyed but agreed. I didn’t see the hostess smile the entire time I was there she looked annoyed by everything, maybe she was having a bad day…

Thankfully, our server — an older short brunette woman — was very kind, sweet, and genuine. I wish I’d caught her name because she was the highlight of the visit.

My husband and I both ordered the steak, but unfortunately it was disappointing. The mashed potatoes were okay, but the steak just wasn’t good — I couldn’t even finish mine it made me feel ill the look, color and even texture, I still feel sick thinking about it.

Overall, we left feeling disappointed. We came because we’d heard this was the best restaurant in town and didn’t mind spending a bit extra for a nice meal. It’s not every day we get to visit Friday Harbor, but honestly, we felt ripped off by the whole experience.

I gave one star for the view and one star for the waitress who was very kind.