Houlme — Restaurant in Orcas Island

Houlme isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a destination.

Tucked into the serene beauty of Orcas Island, Houlme delivers a dining experience that is both grounded and transcendent. Here, exceptional service, carefully sourced local ingredients, and chef-driven innovation converge to create meals that don’t just nourish—you remember them.

And then there’s the hot dog. But calling it a “hot dog” feels like an understatement. Chef Jay Blackinton’s take on this classic is an unforgettable moment—playful, deeply flavorful, and so meticulously crafted that it turns comfort food into pure culinary art. It’s the kind of dish that stops conversation at the table as everyone takes a second to process how good it is.

The vibe is welcoming and warm—refined without being stuffy. Every dish that leaves the kitchen tells a story, one rooted in the island, the seasons, and the chef’s unmistakable creativity.

Though quietly nestled in Eastsound, Houlme commands attention far beyond the island. It’s the kind of place that lingers with you long after the last bite, that makes you want to come back, and then tell everyone you know to do the same.

If ever there was a place that blends creativity, heart, and Pacific Northwest soul—Houlme is it....

I did enjoy our dinner here but was a tad let down by the flavors. The staff was super friendly and the environment was cozy (could have been a little warmer but I get cold easily). It's super fun to watch the chefs prepare and cook everything. The pizza was fine, dough was tasty but lacking in flavor, could have been crispier as well. Wasn't wowed by the toppings either. Some of the other dishes we got were scallops (sauce was the best part, scallops were fresh but not seasoned enough) & mushrooms (good, probably my favorite dish, the broth was very yummy & complex). The dessert was this apple caramel with a brown butter ice cream - caramel was delicious, made me feel like I was eating a candy apple but a bit too hard. The ice cream just tasted like sweet cream to me, didn't get the brown butter but the texture was on point.

I would go back if I felt like a fancier dinner when visiting Orcas Island, there were a few other dishes on the menu I would have tried. It's always great when restaurants use all local ingredients and support the local markets, I love to try and support that if i'm able to,

Oh - and my wife got a gluten free pizza, she said the crust was amazing...

wine: good quality wine options. got the Gemini Pollux Chardonnay and I was happy with my choice.

kale salad: good for what it was.

scallop and carrot skewers: good quality scallops. fresh and unique taste in the way it was prepared.

fried whole chicken: uniquely flavored with fresh herbs on top and good fried crunch, but was slightly too salty.

leek pizza: good crust and good flavor, but nothing to write home about.

tomato and cheese pizza added pepperoni: they forgot about this order and took an extra 40 minutes to bring out. it was an average pizza.

Houlme definitely has a specific vibe and it’s not for everyone— my family and I included. To be fair, we’re from SoCal so we do get spoiled with amazing and diverse food and mixed company. If you decide to dine here, I recommend planning on sharing the food as everything comes out at different times; for us the salad took about 15 minutes, the scallops 20/25, the chicken about 40, the leek pizza about 50, and the pepperoni about an hour 30 minutes. By the time my sister’s pepperoni pizza came out we had finished our meal and still had to wait...