Restaurant At Alderbrook — Restaurant in Washington

When you find yourself stranded in an area with limited dining options, the façade of Alderbrook may tempt you into believing it's a safe bet. There were moments of greatness and moments of disappointment with our meal which is unfortunate when paying a premium for such delights. Most of the food was neatly cooked and presented, seasoned well, and constructed with ingredients that imparted some great flavors. We did order drinks and starters. We had a soda, a Mai Tai, and a non-alcoholic Lavender Bliss. My son said that the Lavender Bliss was the best drink he’s ever had. We ordered a cup of Clam Chowder and the Grand Marnier Prawns as our starters. The prawns were delightful. They were so flavorful and reminiscent of Honey Walnut Prawns from a Chinese restaurant. There were only five, which was disappointing as there were three of us. The chowder was ok but as our family always says, “it isn’t as good as Mike’s.” Mike’s Seafood in Ocean Shores holds our trophy for the best clam chowder. For dinner, my husband and I split the Shrimp Louie and added on a portion of salmon, while my son ordered a Caesar salad and the Raikes Bolognese. We also added a side of asparagus and mac & cheese for the table. Portion sizes were appropriate for 1-2 people but a little small for three. As with any dining experience, a few words of caution can go a long way. If you're sensitive to spice, be sure to inquire about the heat level of certain dishes. I encountered a minor hiccup myself when ordering the Shrimp Louis salad. Typically, this is a safe choice, but upon taking my first bite, I was taken aback. The dressing packed an unexpectedly fiery punch, leaving a tingling sensation in my ears and a scorching trail down my throat. Surprisingly, even my spice-loving husband found it to be a bit overwhelming. The waitress did try to make it right by redressing the salad onto fresh greens with a different dressing. The blue cheese had a vinegary edge that also did not hit the mark but the shrimp itself was impeccably cooked and full of flavor and the salmon was amazing. Its delicate texture, crispiness, and taste left us wanting more. Unfortunately, the damage caused by the Thousand Island dressing had been done and neither I nor my husband were able to eat our salad. We finished the meal with a Crème Brulé and a Smores Torte. The Crème Brulé was almost perfect. Its caramelized sugar topping provided a satisfying crispness that greeted our spoons with a delightful crack. The sweetness was well-balanced, avoiding any excess, and imparted a pleasing sensation in our mouths. It is worth expressing a slight frustration with the service charge system. It would be greatly appreciated if establishments like Alderbrook incorporated it into the menu prices and explicitly stated that tipping is not required. This would alleviate the annoyance that can arise when presented with a bill that includes an additional charge. The Restaurant at Alderbrook presents itself as a viable option for those fortunate souls blessed with wealth beyond measure. However, for the rest of us mere mortals, this establishment should be saved for that special occasion where you can afford to splurge over...

2/5 is based on total experience, but focused on service and food. My husband brought me to this restaurant for my birthday dinner last night, and I'm not sure we would ever return, EVEN with limited upscale options in Kitsap.

Service: We were seated promptly ... at a table that forced one of us to be seated in the server's walkway at the top of a short set of stairs. (Case in point - later on in the evening other customers decided to stop and have a chat at the top of the stairs behind my chair and one of them bonked me in the head with his elbow.) Also, my menu was soggy - not what I expect from a restaurant like this (or what it is trying to be.) Our server was on the surface nice enough, I felt that we were getting the bare minimum from him when I could see him giving more elsewhere, which lent to a poor experience. Example: bread on every other table - never offered to us. My husband noticed it later and said "you know, I didn't need any, but did he ask us? Did they ask him?" He had plenty of time to help clear a table that 2 other waitstaff were already clearing when we were desperately trying to get his attention for 5 minutes.

Food: The menu should be re-written or the kitchen needs a little help. A dish described as "Scallops with Chanterelle mushrooms, baby artichokes, house bacon green lentils, pea shoots..." arrived as "Scallops [beautifully cooked] with a huge mound of lentils with maybe all those ingredients thrown in but hard to tell - no visible Chanterelles and a lone baby asparagus". Similarly, my husband ordered Steak & Frites, but it came with about a 1/2 layer of Gorgonzola on the top - far too much for the...

Y'all. Here you are, in Union WA, unincorporated Mason County with population 700... how good can the food be? Having dined my way through NYC, SF, and Seattle (where I now live), and now as a father who has suffered all too many overpriced resort restaurants with my young children, I am here to attest that the Restaurant at Alderbrook is AWESOME, and stands head-and-shoulders above similar "resort restaurants" anywhere else.

The seafood is as fresh as they come—this is real-deal farm-to-table (canal-to-table?)—and Chef Sara Harvey does some amazing work crafting dishes that are beautifully balanced and that bring out the very best in her ingredients. Everything is super fresh, and the seafood is simply to die for. The restaurant is beautiful and classy, yet the vacationing clientele and the unpretentious service all allow you to enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly dining experience that is a perfect match to its parent resort. Be sure to book a dinner reservation here; and then, the following morning, drive up the highway to its sister outpost, Hook & Fork (also featuring Chef Sara Harvey and owned by Alderbrook) for a super casual and fun outdoor-only waterside dining experience that perfectly...