Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar — Restaurant in Olympia

As a disclaimer; my SO and I decided to partake in some of the gems that are in our backyard for a weekend (we are from Aberdeen, WA). After looking up other oyster bars in the area, this was the only place that offered baked oysters on the menu! How odd I thought...you'd think any oyster bar would have the cooked version available....but, alas, it made our decision easy (neither of us enjoy raw oysters, at all, but we LOVE baked, fried, cooked variations of oysters).

We stopped by Chelsea the first night to kill some time before our reservation at the Dockside.

First off; their attention and protocols to COVID safety was impressive. They had outdoor seating available, they kept tables and seating dispersed, all of the staff had their masks on the entire time. Our waitress, while curt about it, even made extra sure to remind me to put my mask on as I was in the process of getting up to use the restroom. That was neat and I can only imagine how straining/difficult it was must be - limited customers, wearing the mask the entire time, keeping an eye on everyone else. Bravo to the staff for being vigilant and adaptable. Second, I want to bring attention to the prices: they are notable. Not much, if at all higher, than other high-end restaurants I've been to. It's fresh seafood; oysters are not cheap to prepare or source locally. It's quality food and, I thought, fairly priced. You go to a high(er)-end restaurant, your meal and drinks are going to be high(er) 🤷. You can see the menu online AND see the subsequent prices - if you're caught off-guard, that's literally an oversight on your end.

We started our meal; He ordered an 'Another One' and I ordered an 'I Cant Decide'. Mine was a choice crafted drink from the bartender with my chosen base liquor. I chose tequila and while the waitress asked if I have aversions to anything (I said no) I was not a fan of mine. But, note how I didn't make that to be a cause of detraction of rating; it was my choice and my lack of even knowing I didn't like the things the bartender chose lol. Ce la vie. 🤷 His was amazing though! Delicious, refreshing, tasty!

We had the Baked Oysters (these ones with a mezcal-tamerind butter and a pickled jalapeno slice) and holy cow they were AMAZING. So amazing in fact that we vowed to return the next day to have more baked oysters (we had already had dinner reserved elsewhere).

So, after a grand experience, we found ourselves there the next day for lunch. Again, we had the Baked Oysters; this time though, they were in a ponzu-butter with pickled bean sprouts! How neat that, not only having some of the only baked/warm/cooked oysters available compared to other oyster-places in Olympia, they rotate the flavors and make it as diverse and as exciting as folks who go in to try their 4-7 varieties of local raw oysters! Furthermore, while not interested in the raw oysters, I asked for some education about them and the difference between them; the waitress gladly informed us. We proceeded to have the Chelsea Burger and Smoked Mac and Cheese; delicious. The Chelsea burger was large, perfectly cooked, and tasy! The fries were delicious and a little different. The Smoked Mac And cheese was out of this world; tasty, smooth, and the noodles were perfect al-dente. This time around, I had an 'Another One' and he had he had the 'Ponsu-su-subio' - tasty, more 'manly' of a drink.

Long-story short; we'd come again. the service was excellent, the ambiance was great, the food was delicious, and the...

The atmosphere was very welcoming and chill, the food was excellent, and the service was top notch; what more can you ask for? We came over after the children's museum. Our party ranged from 3 months to 67 years old. Everything was a treat to eat. We tried a good assortment of the menu.

The children's menu had macaroni that had us all wishing we had ordered it. It was sprinkled with bread crumbs and just delicious. The portion was enough for the children to share and for the adults to taste. I am not a macaroni person and the children's verion didn't seem baked (my usual preference) but it was amazing. Ages 2, 4, and 6 all loved it as well. The children's burger looked delicious but my 9 year old did not share it. She said it was good so we'll take her word for it. The fries were small and thin like McDonald's but, so much better in taste. Seasoned perfectly, not too salty, not too plain.

The cocktails were flavorful and just the right balance of liquor, to where it wasn't over powering but you did feel it was present. They might have snuck up on us because we started drinking them before our food arrived. There was a good assortment of cocktails and I would've tried more if we hadn't missed happy hour.

The crab cakes were amazing. The size left you wanting more, such as a side dish but they were flavorful and delicious! The side salad did not come with the cakes but even the dressing, on what seemed like a pretty simple salad, made it very satisfying.

The ceviche, to me, was a small portion to be an appetizer; Maybe shareable with 2 people at most but, the homemade tortilla chips were actually what made the dish for me.

Finally our Oyster full menu sampler was exactly what I was looking for . I love oysters and they were so fresh. They were out of one type but adjusted the price to reflect the missing oyster. I could've eaten them all but shared it with my mom.

Our waitress Emma was amazing. Knowledgeable, patient and very attentive. The only complaint I have is that there was a mix up with our drinks. The person that brought our drink, not Emma, put it down and once I told her about the mix up, she left the drink, I guess to confirm it. She returned to take the drink that had been sitting in front of me. I think as a courtesy and because of the current pandemic, she should've left the drink. I hope the drink didn't end up in front of another person and was discarded instead, which I'm sure was probably the case. It was quickly replaced with the correct drink. All in all, for us to have a clunky stroller and 5 kids, they exceeded our expectations. I will say our kids are pretty well-behaved and the baby didn't even cry but, as parents we know how some restaurants will judge before you order when they see a big party with children.

Although, I didn't get to look at the dessert menu, it wasn't a big deal, we enjoyed the gelatto next door and as a visitor to WA, I hope to return before I leave the state. I'd love to taste more of the menu...

Chelsea Farms has long been a favorite date night go-to for my wife and myself because of the reliably incredible fare and inviting atmosphere, but the real incentive to actually take the time to write a review has been the phenomenal service we have received from Shelby on our last two visits.

Shelby's serving style is unassuming and relatable, exuding informative excitement for both the menu and the diner’s experience. Jokes flow easily, and their banter is refreshing, making the diner feel not just welcome but celebrated. One aspect that stands out is Shelby's genuine enthusiasm for the talented kitchen crew and the harmonious front-of-house team at Chelsea Farms. Their responses to our praise of the food and drinks always include heartfelt admiration for their coworkers and the supportive atmosphere fostered by management. Having higher end serving experience myself, I can attest that Shelby's excitement and admiration for their colleagues is palpable and reflects a deep appreciation for the restaurant's culture. FOH work is a constantly moving puzzle of tasks and managing this while maintaining a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for guests is grueling. Shelby navigates this exquisitely, in a manner that feels effortless and enjoyable to the customer, a feat I've seldom seen matched.

In terms of the menu, the oysters at Chelsea Farms are undoubtedly the freshest we've had and staff are well informed of sourcing, tasting notes, and wine pairing. The Seafood Tower, while expensive, is worth every penny, showcasing high-end, fresh seafood that's a delight for any seafood enthusiast and is our favorite “one in a while” splurge in Olympia. Additionally, Chelsea Farms’ bartenders have created a fantastic selection of craft cocktails that are imaginative and well-developed, with each one we've tried leaving us thoroughly impressed and eager to explore more. The wine list is well matched to the menu, even for borderline wine snobs like my wife and myself.

Overall, dining at Chelsea Farms has always been solid, but Shelby's exceptional service, coupled with the outstanding quality of the food and beverages, has made our last two trips distinctly delightful and memorable. We look forward to many more enjoyable evenings at this culinary gem. It’s hard to find somewhere in Olympia that provides a dining experience and not just “dinner” – for us, that list is short and limited to Chelsea Farms and Swing. ;)

We will be back, again and again. Thank you Chelsea Farms and...