Seabolt's Restaurant 31640 State Route 20, Oak Harbor, WA 98277

"The food was amazing. The staff was super friendly. Sarah was very helpful with recommending what to get. Definitely recommend trying the platter so you get a little taste of everything. I can’t express how much I enjoyed the seafood here super super fresh"

"Today, February 15, 2024, my husband and I decided we were in the mood for a seafood lunch. We figured we hadn't been to Seabolts in a while, so we drove over there after we went grocery shopping. It was about 1 PM. Upon arrival, we needed to use the bathroom. We walked to the back, used the facilities, and walked back up to the front. We got up to the counter and were looking in the glass case at the available products for purchase when a server told us to have a seat, so we did. The entire restaurant was freezing cold, and I'm not exaggerating. My fingers were frozen the entire time. The female server (shoulder length brown/blonde hair with glasses), came up to us and awkwardly and borderline rudely told us we should have waited at the front to be seated, then she walked away. She came back for a drink order, we asked for water, and she came back 4 times within 5 minutes asking for our food order. We felt rushed, so we each hurriedly picked an order. I ordered the sampler and chips, and my husband got the halibut and chips. I also got a cup of clam chowder. Around 10-15 minutes later, I received my cup of soup. Shortly after, we got our orders. First off, they advertise "beer battered" seafood. As you can see from my pictures, the fish was almost battered in... Shake-'n-Bake. It was heavily breaded in a panko/breadcrumb like crust. It definitely wasn't what we were expecting. The fish itself was overcooked, and the oil definitely was a day away from being shot. The clam chowder was pretty decent, thankfully. The chili lime tartar is WAY overly seasoned and almost gritty. I included a photo. Definitely not what I was expecting. It doesn't pair well with fish. Their regular tartar is very good. After a few bites of our food, a woman behind us sent her food back to the kitchen. We couldn't hear what she said, but she didn't look pleased. The server, a tall girl with long blonde hair in a ponytail, turned around and rolled her eyes. She took the plate to the kitchen, where my husband and I watched the entire staff (including the cooks) eat this woman's returned food. This probably delayed some orders, but from what I could see, the staff had no sense of urgency to begin with. It was crazy, not only because they were doing it, but they could see us staring at them. The kitchen is wide open. The staff also didn't seem to be a cohesive unit with any structure at all. All servers were waiting all tables, picking up tabs, and bringing out orders. I have no idea how they could keep track of what was going on, which is why I saw people arrive and order after us and receive their food first. Before we finished eating, a different server from our original dropped off a check and said "No rush." We weren't even asked if we needed boxes or if we were finished. Heck, they didn't even ask if we wanted dessert. All around, a super disappointing experience. I wanted to write this review not only for the hope management sees this to improve their service. I hope this encourages others find much better restaurants that are reflective of the wonderful fresh seafood we are blessed to have access to locally. I hope tourists don't flock here and leave unsatisfied. We will not be returning."

"The fried cod sandwich and onion rings were fire today! I also had a small side salad but the tomato wedges weren't quite up to par today, either they were "old" or weren't being stored cold: they were a little grainy. Still, a great meal overall and I left thoroughly satisfied and full. They were slammed for lunch, but kept the service pleasant and everyone seemed to be working very hard to accommodate everyone."

"Must eat seafood when in Oak Harbor! I ordered the sockeye salmon on house salad with balsamic dressing. I added the cajun seasoning and it put the sockeye in the perfect category! The menu accurately provided the weight which is good for those following meal plans! The greens were fresh and plentiful! My husband ordered the halibut sandwich with fries. Fries were crispy on the outside, potatoey on the inside, and full of flavor. The halibut was meaty, crispy, not too fishy, and one of the best he has had! Our daughter ordered the grilled cheese with fries. The grilles cheese was properly melted with a soft inside and crispy outside. She agreed with her dad on the fry description. We stayed past closing and the staff did not say anything. They were very nice and attentive! It was a great night catching up with friends we have not seen in a decade and appreciated the great service and food!"