My wife and I were content with ordering some seafood from the walk-up fish bar window out front, until she pointed out the swanky restaurant attached to it, accessible from a door just a bit further down. As it was nearly freezing outside, we opted for the latter, and were not disappointed with what we found within.

Despite arriving around 30 minutes before the restaurant was to be closed (early) for a private event, we were seated without complaint, and attended to immediately. We settled on some fried calamari, which my wife had been craving and seeking (to no avail, up to this point) all weekend, as well as a cup of the lobster bisque, and some Dungeness crab and artichoke dip, to split between us. To accompany our appetizer array, my wife paired the Shellfish wine flight, and for myself, a Blood Orange Old Fashioned.

Nothing about the experience disappointed in any way. The chipotle lime aioli for the perfectly crispy fried calamari gave it a kick, while simultaneously taking the edge off the typically pungent and slightly off-putting aroma of cuttlefish. The crab and artichoke dip was equal parts land and sea, and coated with cheese - who could complain about that? And the lobster bisque? Creamy, comforting, savory, and with an aroma and flavor that delicately balances and captures the essence of lobster without overpowering or overwhelming it. I've never had better.

Service was friendly, welcoming, efficient, and most importantly, unobtrusive - our server was there exactly when she needed to be, and left us to ourselves when she wasn't. And despite the looming deadline for the private event, we were never once felt pressured or rushed to end our dining experience.

From tip to tail, everything about our visit to Ivar's was exactly what one should expect from a competent restaurant: an enchanting ambiance, diligent staff, and incredible cuisine. If you're an out-of-towner who finds themselves in Mukilteo, even while waiting for, or after disembarking from the ferry, you'd be wise to take to heart the advice of the restaurant's namesake, Ivar Haglund, and "KEEP CLAM", slow down, and stop in for a meal here. Even if it's just from the take-out window out front. You won't be disappointed.