The best restaurants on the south coast of Washington State

I first learned about the Long Beach Peninsula as a child when my father pulled our fishing boat south from Port Angeles to catch crabs. This small region, a narrow strip of beach stretching from Astoria, Oregon, to the Quinault Reservation on the southern edge of the state, is remote, sparsely populated and overwhelmingly beautiful. My memories of Long Beach and Ilwaco are of driftwood carvers, small museums and quiet beaches. In the decades I’ve known the peninsula, it has remained the same: an enchanting escape for those who crave peaceful solitude. There’s room to breathe, stretch out and enjoy the natural wonders of the place where the edge of the continent meets the largest ocean on Earth. Perhaps the best-kept secret is that the food scene here is as strong as any of the port towns along Puget Sound..

Here are some of the best restaurants in the misty, salty stretch from Ilwaco to Ocean Park.

The Salt Hotel and Pub

Cuba Jimenez

The 30-minute wait for weekend lunch at the popular Salt Hotel Pub is well worth it. Plus, you can pass the time at the quaint Saturday art market just beyond the patio doors. The pub here serves traditional American seafood, offering the freshest fish for a variety of coastal dishes from chowder to fish and chips, with the locally caught and smoked albacore sandwich stealing the show on this menu. If you come here on a weekday, you’ll find the same great views and food without the wait.

Waterline Pub

Cuba Jimenez

Don’t mistake the quick service here for a lack of quality—the appetizers and drinks at boutique-style At the Helm pack a punch. The lemon garlic shrimp is perfect for a late light lunch or a mid-day snack for a group. Eating alone to exude an aura of mystery? The Dungeness crab soup is warm, filling, and perfect for one. Drinks like the Key Lime Pie cocktail, made with fresh lime and spiced rum, will remind you that you’re at the beach and here to relax.

The Depot Restaurant

This is probably the best you’ll find in fine dining on the Long Beach Peninsula. The Depot serves a variety of fresh Northwest seafood, as well as some excellent dishes featuring local specialties like duck confit. For those looking for a real treat you can’t get anywhere else, the Peruvian mango scallops are a real standout: The buttery, melt-in-your-mouth scallops in a sweet, tart, and slightly spicy mango reduction will take you on a cruise of the senses. The dish is finished with a drizzle of parsley oil, which gives the dish a special shine. Table reservations here fill up quickly on weekends, but if you try your luck without an appointment, you’ll find the bar has great service and comfortable seating.

The Shelburne Hotel

Cuba Jimenez

If one had to picture the ideal seaside inn, this would be it. Not only is the Shelburne the perfect choice for your atmospheric beach getaway, it also offers some of the best food in town, from buttermilk-fried oysters to rockfish and chips. The dining areas are small and intimate, making for quiet conversation and peaceful dinners. If you need a place for after-dinner drinks and dessert, you’ll find it here. And the amount of chocolate packed into the flourless chocolate cake will blow your mind.

The Lost Kangaroo

Cuba Jimenez

As good as they are, after a day or two of oysters and steamed mussels, you may be on a coastal vacation looking for anything else. Enter Lost Roo, an Australian-style seafood restaurant serving coastal dishes from across America. Yes, the seafood chowder is phenomenal and you get many of the same fresh local dishes you’ll find elsewhere in town, but that’s not all. The Louisiana-style gumbo is spicy, hot and the perfect change from the sometimes monotonous seafood offerings in coastal towns. Just minutes from the ocean, this is a family-friendly spot and the perfect end to a cool evening on the beach.