Seabolt's Restaurant — Restaurant in Oak Harbor

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...

We have just finished eating at Seabolt's for our last time. I will be gracious and say that the food is quite good. That, unfortunately, is the only good thing I can say. We will never return. The food is good, but we can make it home. The restaurant experience is not only about the food.

We've eaten at Seabolt's several times over the past few years and while the food is good, the service is absolutely horrendous. Mind you, the staff are not mean, nor uncaring, but the number of things that are forgotten or missed is just unacceptable. A few years ago, someone had forgotten to place the beer in the refrigerator (btw, if you serve beer in a can, you should bring a glass automatically). Fortunately, I enjoy British culture and warm beer doesn't bother me. Most Americans...not so much. Our next time, the server forgot our silverware, even after I reminded him. I had to remind him twice. Then in the same meal, he only brought half of my wife's meal, and again, it took two reminders to get the full meal. And these are not complex meals. Bread and seafood. That's it. Two items should be on the plate. They were not.

Tonight was the last straw. We arrived about five minutes early for our reservations at 6 pm. We were seated quickly enough and received our drinks. We ordered an appetizer and then we waited. This probably took about 10 minutes. At this point, another group came in and were seated next to us. We were still having a good time at this point so it's not as though we observed the other group carefully. What I do know is that their meal arrived, they ate their meal, and they left the restaurant, all before our food had arrived.

When I inquired as to whether we had been forgotten, I was told that we had not. There had been some sort of issue with one of our orders and that since we had ordered an appetizer, they (the staff) were allowed to push us back in the queue. This is an absolutely horrid policy. Because we are spending more money, then the the timeliness of our meal is less important?

We felt insulted by this. A long wait is understandable. Things happen. But folks who came in AFTER us should never have been served before us. And the timing certainly shouldn't have been so atrocious that they were able to order, eat and LEAVE before our food had even arrived. At the very least a server should have come to us and explained whatever the problem was.

Perhaps Seabolt's should focus on the seafood sales and just close the restaurant. We certainly...

It's rare that a restaurant provides a front-row seat to its disorganization and chaos, but today Seabolt's Smokehouse delivered.

We arrived at 12:45pm, waited about 5 minutes to get our name on the list for for a table for four. The first server we saw assured us about a 5 minute wait.

5 minutes later we wondered what happened, as they seated a party of eight before us. Multiple folks behind the front counter were trying to figure out who was next on the list, who should go next, and if everyone had been seated.

We should have been more worried than we were. It was the first view of the chaos that unfolded. But we didn't think anything of it, as they seated us within 8 minutes of entering.

We watched the folks take the table of eight's order, and then our order at about 1:00pm. They brought us water (the only water we'd see for the rest of the meal), and then left.

The thing with Seabolt's is that the kitchen is visible from the dining area. You get to watch one person prep, another person cook, and about 5 people swapping tasks throughout the restaurant without rhyme or reason. No one seemed to know who should be doing what. You could watch one person take a note for the next table, and another person walk up and ask the same group for help.

At 2:00pm we wondered when we'd see our food. No worries, a mother at the table of 8 was clearly suffering, shaking and not having a good time. She asked when their food was because they'd also been waiting about an hour. The server she talked to assured her that their order was next.

Imagine our surprise (and boy, the looks of death from the table of eight) when another server brought food to our table at 2:05pm. It was about 3 more minutes before the table of eight was served.

Our food was alright, all told. The coleslaw served with the fish and chips was very dry; if it ever saw a sauce, I'd be surprised. The fish and chips was warm, not hot, for all of that time it took to cook. And after the final server dropped our food off, no one ever dropped by to check on our water or if we needed anything.

Overall, a very underwhelming experience.

If (and its a bit if) we visit in the future, we'll call an order in as we drive off the ferry in Clinton. Given today's experience, the food will be ready by the time we make it to Oak Harbor.

It's hard to recommend Seabolt's. We'll likely consider a restaurant closer to Clinton and save the drive to Oak Harbor for...