Bridgemans West Coast Eatery — Restaurant in Juan de Fuca Electoral Area

My husband and I went to Bridgeman’s in Port Renfrew June 2021 for the first time and our take out meals were absolutely delicious. We made the trip out there today September 2021 specifically to have a delicious lunch (take out again). We ordered the exact same meals as we did just three months prior. I waited 40 minutes to place my order… yes it was annoying but I could see they were busy and likely short staffed. Waited about 15-20 minutes for our food (completely reasonable as it’s freshly made), got back to the car so we could eat and I see my chicken burger is missing the bacon so I wrap it back up and head in to request a side of bacon so I can throw it on there. The “chef” Justin was visibly annoyed right away. The waitress hands him my to go box and he proceeds to cook the bacon… if you can even call it that. Few minutes later he throws it on my burger and put my box on the counter. I go back to the car to find 2 pieces of completely raw bacon. I tossed the bacon off the burger and tried to salvage as much of the burger as I could. It was disgusting. There is no way I should have ever paid $19.25 for that garbage. My husband had the Bridgeworker burger and it was good. It was clear the “chef” Justin was just trying to make a point because I came back to request the bacon. Super super disappointing lunch and will not be recommending...

First, let me say that I give five stars to the hardworking young kitchen and serving staff at Bridgemans. Kudos to them for their effort and smiles. However, the company behind this restaurant, Mill Bay Marine Group, needs to get it together. You can only blame so much on staff shortages. Our food was borderline disgusting, from the slightly rancid-smelling burger, to the soggy salad. In particular, charging $15 for a tiny paper cup of mushy chowder that contained no noticeable seafood chunks at all, and had an overpowering tarragon taste, is criminal. Steps away from the restaurant, fisherman unload their fresh halibut, etc., as the bounty of the sea is amazing here...and yet they offer frozen fish and chip portions from Sysco. Wood/cardboard cutlery, plastic beer cups, and paper plates? Really? In the small community of Port Renfrew, you have a captive audience. They deserve so much better than...

Food and views look great. Unfortunately the kitchen was closed for orders at 5:23 when we made it to the front of the line, not great considering the advertised closing time is 8pm, and that we waited 15 minutes prior to receiving the news. (Suggest putting up a sign : drinks+charcuterie only from this point forward).

This was the second day in a row of being turned down prior to closing time.

The backlog in the kitchen was from a walk in group having their fish fried, not sure that is the best way to prioritize business, we would have paid for meals, appetizers, drinks, desert, which surely would have resulted in increased restaurant revenues and tip size.

Unfortunately cannot give this any stars, but with better communication and an improved back of house, they will be...