Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. — Attraction in San Juan Island

It's a Paradox... We came here 12 years ago when it was just a small cabana with a couple of BBQ's and a few picnic tables. We made the paradoxical mistake of telling all our friends of how great this place was.

The establishment has grown twenty fold since. You're now required to have a reservation - period! No waiting for a possible table to open up, no standby, nothing. Just a patronizing "sorry."

I'm sure the place still has great oysters, but as a retired restauranteur, this is a poor business model, especially for an establishment that is opened only seasonally. I guess, myself and many others over the years helped them make too much money...? I won't be back, and I told many of those same friends not to bother either.

Oh, and note to Owner... Please don't come here and make some lame excuse about how "managing the sheer magnitude of customers is challenging" blah, blah, blah. Every good Owner will somehow manage the the overflow of patrons. Reinstate your availability for walk-ups. Additionally, given the near impossibility of making any sort of timeframe while scootering around San Jaun island, I advised Susie's Mopeds to take you off their list of possible tourist stops, because hey, you don't allow walk-ups.

Edit to Owner's response: First off, according to the older gal at your hostess kiosk, you don't allow walk-ups in the oyster grill - ever, I asked. This also appeared to be supported by the fact that I had asked if we could wait for a table, but was met with once again, "Sorry, we only take reservations." I know of only a very few establishments that are strictly reservation only, and won't allow walk-ups to wait if they like. Hell, I've waited 45-90 minutes for a table at one our our favorite places. If walk-ups are truly allowed as you say, then some important training needs to happen on your behalf.

Second off, your overflow "Netshed" (which only had a handful of customers in it BTW) only serves raw oysters, an important fact that you cleverly left out. In previous rebuttals here, you had talked of staffing problems over at the oyster grill and why you went reservations only, but yet you opened up the Netshed in response to demand, but didn't appear to have any staffing problems doing that. LOL

Additionally, as a (assuming here) oyster connoisseur yourself, you would know that only ~10-20% of the oyster consuming population prefer raw oysters over cooked. But hey, continue doing what you're doing, and I'll continue to tell my friends...

We recently had the pleasure of experiencing Wescott Bay Shellfish Farm’s Farmers Feast, which perfectly blends a cozy, inviting atmosphere with a heartfelt welcome. The experience made us feel as though we had stepped into our best friend’s kitchen, surrounded by friends, to enjoy the simple joy of sharing a meal and laughter.

From the moment our party of 6 walked through the door, we were welcomed and made to feel right at home. We were celebrating a 60th birthday and the staff surprised us with a little oyster shell memento to commemorate the occasion.

Each course was bursting with bold flavors and was beautifully presented. The dishes were thoughtfully prepared, highlighting seasonal, hyper-locally sourced ingredients in creative ways that had us swooning from the start. The staff went above and beyond to ensure our experience was memorable. We were especially thrilled by the “surprise appetizer” of tiny, sweet Pacific oysters (harvested just hours earlier!). And when we made an assumption about the menu (which turned out to be totally wrong on our part), they graciously were able to make accommodations without sacrificing any flavor or quality. From the roasted carrots and local mushrooms to the tender lamb, every bite was packed with vibrant, mouthwatering flavors.

Overall, this restaurant offers more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of food and friendship. Whether you’re there for a special occasion or a casual Friday evening out, it’s a place you’ll want to return to...

Unfortunately the experience that you get at westcott has changed. They used to offer a experience where you could pick your oysters, take them over a barbecue along with the option of getting snacks and beverages. This was a very laid back easy going atmosphere. Now they have a restaurant style environment. You have to wait to be seated and the menu consists of very few options. The options are tasty and if you have been there in the past you can still get oysters in there signature butter sauces. Unfortunately you can't get a dozen and a variety of sauces and do your own thing, now they all have to be ordered and are a little more pricey because I assume they are prepped and cooked by them. It wasn't a bad experience but it was not experience that I feel in love with. I am not sure if the change is because of covid or not but I was disappointed to see this change. They still offer oysters to go and I believe you can pre-order and pick them up at a reasonable price. I do miss the experience of getting a dozen oysters and cooking them over a fire by the water with families and groups, laughing and enjoying the causal ambiance. I will be going back periodically to see how things progress the sauces are great and the oysters are fresh. Hopefully the menu will expand and they will bring back the more intimate experience they...