The Market Chef — Restaurant in Friday Harbor

We have had meals a half dozen times. We never get the same thing. If you like tuna salad, theirs is a treat. The potato salad with vinaigrette is light and tangy. Hubby enjoyed a fish taco. I did get seriously ill after eating crab cakes, but that happened twice on this island in 2 months with top tier restaurants...so I have to wonder if they are buying bad lots of crab from same supplier. I have otherwise only gotten ill from dining 1 time in the last 15 years. The retail area is cute. The customer service ordering area is cramped with limited view of foods to take/heat. We have walked in and out a few times because we cannot see the options and get a feel for what's available. Sometimes there's 24 hour "stories" on social media to see highlights of foods in the case. Those do draw us in, but it would be better to see pinned posts of a weekly...

The best way to describe my meal at the market chef is this: While visiting the island I ate two meals out - one at a gourmet farm-to-table destination where the bill for two came to more than $300, and one at the market chef while we were waiting for the ferry. We had sandwiches, a salad and some add-on's out of their deli case.

The Market Chef was better.

As a former baker and caterer, sandwiches are deceptively challenging to get right, but these folks nail it. On our visit each choice brought whip-crackingly fresh ingredients together to do something interesting and original - but not too crazy. The deli case items (we got chicken and Mac & cheese for the kids) were also excellent.

They also have a nice selection of kids items (PB&j etc) and a little dry goods section with fancy olives other weird/nice snacks and...

Long overdue gushy review of The Market Chef. From drop in / swing by pick up to catering - these guys do it all with quality, professionalism , great service and most importantly outstanding flavor and presentation. They use the best ingredients, have the most classic yet innovative dishes. Overall just wonderful. Our 4th of July menu featured their fried chicken (yum), Corn salad with feta and dill (yum), Cole Slaw (yum) and a gorgeous charcuterie platter (YUM). Weekday favs - the mac and cheese is better than grandma's! Fantastic sandwiches!!! Wonderful market goods (seriously great!) and the baked goods! One of each cookie, please! (Key Lime Shortbread?? Who knew??) Thank you, Laurie and Tim, you make SJI even more delicious than...