Having grown up and worked on Orcas Island, I was always asked where a good place to grab some food was. I realized, now that I'm off the island, that it might be good to share this information with all the Yelpers out there!
The Lower Tavern is the ONLY place on the island that has affordable, good food. There is not a single other place that comes close. The Lower (as we islanders call it) is unpretentious, low-key, and perfect. The veggie burger is my staple there (and what I would order from work, on those tough days). Absolute perfection! I actually have yet to find a better veggie burger ANYWHERE. The fries are an addiction. The few times that I've tried the fish and chips, they've been great (not much to compare them to, since I've never had fish and chips anywhere else... but the fact that I actually liked it says something).
If you have a chance to talk to Lisa, you'll find one of the friendliest, most good-natured people you will ever encounter. She is a gem and has made The Lower an oasis for all of us islanders.
In short, the only food that I miss from the island (other than my mom's, of course) is that from The Lower.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Orcas and make The Lower your favorite food destination, as well!
This place is pretty good. My husband and I like to go out to Orcas to unplug for a weekend. On the island it can get really hard to find unpretentious and affordable places to eat (or do ANYTHING) Â We found this place a few trips back. Â It's a typical bar, but it's clean, has plenty of seating and the waitresses are pretty nice. Â It can get pretty loud and crowded after about 6PM but hey, it's a bar!
The food's pretty good! They have your standard pub sandwiches and a nice variety of burgers and chicken sammies. The burgers are always cooked well and have an assortment of toppings for any taste. All of the fries/sides/apps are pretty consistent and always come out hot and crispy. Â It all tastes fresh and isn't overly greasy, LT is a good place to pass through for a laid back dinner.
We were in Eastsound for a long wedding weekend, staying 2 blocks away from the Lower Tavern. Â We ended up here on our first night (the lady was craving a burger), and we returned several times throughout the weekend.
On our first visit, I entered with extremely "Low" expectations (get it?). Â It's the only bar in town, and it's in the middle of a tourist-heavy area. Â It would be easy to get away with a "Lower" quality product and experience.
My expectations could not have been more incorrect on so many levels:
-"The best burger in town" was also easily one of the 5 best burgers I've ever had. Â Sizeable, cooked to order, and delicious.
-The fries were cooked to perfection: Â crispy outside, and soft inside. Â This is an art that is lost on a surprising number of establishments with deep fryers.
-The tap selection was small but perfectly suitable, and filled with local options. Â Also, they offer canned Rainier, so don't fret, hipsters!
-The atmosphere was comfortable but not dirty, great for all crowds. Â Lots of televisions for sport-viewers, but not an overwhelming amount. Â Plenty of outdoor seating, as well.
-The service was perfect, attentive at all the right times.
When we return to Orcas Island, we'll be making several trips back to the Lower Tavern.
The Lower Tavern seemed to be exactly what everyone needed at this time on this day. Â It was really sports bar-y, which wouldn't normally appeal to me, but being in Eastsound, it didn't seem like it focused on that too much. Â There was a pretty welcoming vibe from the clean interior to the menu to the staff (or at least our waitress). Â I have to reiterate that I was overall very impressed with Orcas' food offerings, and Eastsound's specifically.
The food was pretty good. Â In fact, I'd say that it was almost all excellent. Â The only thing holding it back was the overcooked hamburger patty. Â The ingredients were good, the bun was great, everything was really tasty overall. Â There are still other places to try when we go back, but I'm sure we'd still head back here again.
I must admit to a bit of a snobby pallet. My preferences run to the fresh, simple, let the food shine, approach of California Cuisine. And I was a bit disappointed by the food on Orcas.
Until my last night eating at the tavern.
I've had a lot if gourmet burgers, but the burgers at the tavern would beat most of my favorite gourmet burgers anywhere else. Great beef, fresh toppings, fries were spectacular and  beer was good.
Great, friendly service. Nothin' fancy, everything was just done right. And the price...couldn't beat it. Best dinner on Orcas.
The man at the Deer Harbor Inn told us this is where we should go if we wanted to rub elbows with the locals, so after driving through the dark windy streets of Orcas Island, we finally made it. It's definitely a happening place - on a Thursday night, there were a lot of people there, which surprised me.
I had a grilled cheese and fries, which was delicious. Granted, you can't really go wrong with grilled cheese, but still. My boyfriend had fish & chips and clam chowder; I don't eat seafood so I can't report on how good it was, but he seemed happy with it.
They were out of Shock Top, which was disappointing, but I went with a Stella instead and all was well. Service was perfectly decent and this place is definitely affordable!
I know there are other places on Orcas Island, but I can't help but think that if I make it out to the island again, I'll just end up at the Lower Tavern all over again!
After an excrutiatingly long day of traveling we came here and experienced friendly service and fantastic food! Â They make burgers like they're supposed to be - greasy, cheesy and messy! Â The fries were hot and crisp, dipped in ranch they were excellent! Â This was the best way to end a tiring day - cold beer and burgers! Â I will definitely come back the next time I head to Orcas Island.
Review Source:We came here after it was recommended to us by the owner of the Deer Harbor Inn. It actually is the only affordable restaurant on all of Orcas Island and is the place where all the locals go. They have a pretty wide selection of beers and the best part is that you can get them to go! The food was greasy and great and I absolutely loved my fish and chips. Great tartar sauce!
Review Source:I was staying in the Orcas Hotel down by the ferry, which was seriously limited on dinner options, so I opted to cycle up to Eastsound for dinner. Â It's a 9-mile trip each way and I considered it well worth the trip for a burger and fries here.
I had a deliciously unhealthy burger with blue cheese and such and AMAZING fries. Â It might have just been my hunger and such speaking, but the fries were perfectly crispy and flavourful. Â The beers are also very reasonably priced. Â
I rode 18 miles for this food and considered it a good deal (and you can imagine what riding up and down those hills weighted down with burger and beer would be like). Â I think that speaks for itself.
We made two visits in one weekend on the island (which says it all, I think). Â Tried two different burgers, the fish and chips and the fried prawns, and were happy with everything. Â The onion rings are a little greasy, so stick with the fries. Â And you just cannot beat $3.50/pint for the "seasonal selection" tap, especially when that tap pours the Elysian IPA.
Review Source:The place was crowded and there was only one waitress, so the food took a long time to get there. When it finally *did* arrive it was all really good. We got one of the specials (California Burger), the Buffalo tenders and a sourdough+swiss cheese+bacon burger thing that was really good.
Pros - Inexpensive; good food
Cons - no milkshakes on the menu; 4 TVs; it's a bar
I would still totally come back here for lunch.
This place is known for their "Best Burgers on the Island". Â It might be true if there's some bad burgers out there!
We both ordered the bbq dip burger. Â It had cheddar cheese, two slices of bacon on a steamed & grilled french roll-type bun with 2/3 of a cup of honey bbq sauce on the side. Â The bacon was crispy & lean surprisingly. Â The burger seemed thin but maybe you may not want it any thicker. Â Out of the whole sandwich the bun was the best. Â Maybe it should say, "Best Burger Bun on the Island"! Â The fries & coleslaw were both very good though!
Service was extremely slow since there seemed to have been only one waitress for the bar & all the tables. Â It was friendly service at least.
Good place to watch your favorite sports team on one of the three flat screens or play some pool while enjoying a beer on a dark stormy night.
If I were staying here for a week I'd probably eat there again.
Great burgers and pub fare, with plenty of beer choices, too. The sign outside advertises 'best burgers on the island' and they may be right.
I had the patty melt, with a huge patty, double swiss cheese, sauteed onions and 'slide' (their name for thousand island dressing). Well seasoned, well cooked, cheesy and delicious. The cole slaw was peppery and light on the dressing. She had the grilled turkey club, which was piled high with fresh turkey, smokey bacon, and fresh veggies.
Plenty of room and tables for fun time in the evenings, I'm sure. On a quiet Sunday afternoon in August, there were only a few other patrons, one waitress and the cook. Three TV screens were all tuned to golf and the pool table was deserted. That was fine with us.
4 stars because after a sunset kayaking trip there aren't too many places on Orcas serving dinner close to 10 PM on a sunday. Fish and chips and cold beer after a long kayak. Pretty much what the doctor ordered.
(though if you picture what the place must be like in mid-January it might be worth another star).
Visiting Orcas Island this weekend with my girlfriends, we found it a challenge to find a place to eat dinner on a Saturday night. So many fewer choices than big ol' Seattle! But, we settled on burgers at this pub and it wasn't a miss.
The Lower Tavern in Eastsound is on the corner of Prune Alley and Main Street. Street signs and a personalized license plate hangs on the wall. There's a bar, booths and tables. It's pretty much the typical local bar scene.
I ordered the BBQ Dip Burger with fries. Mmmmm mmmm mmm. The bacon in the burger was delicious, but the beef a bit much. I would have liked to add some lettuce at some point because it became a bit monotonous. As for the fries, I wish I could order these anywhere! They're my favorite kind: shoestring with the rugged, crunchy crust.
Overall, a great pub!
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