Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar image

Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar

Restaurant Bar Oyster bar restaurant

Relaxed, airy eatery & bar serving seafood, brunch & cocktails in a stylish, contemporary space. People often mention delicious, good, oysters, chowder, lobster, clam, staff, restaurant, time, clams,


Address

222 Capitol Way N, Olympia, WA 98501, United States

Website

www.chelseafarms.net

Contact

+1 360-915-7784

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 11 am to 7 pm
  • Monday: (Washington's Birthday), Closed, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Wednesday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Thursday: 12 to 8 pm
  • Friday: 12 to 9 pm
  • Saturday: 11 am to 9 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: delicious (17) good (15) oysters (15) chowder (11) lobster (10) clam (10) staff (9) restaurant (9) time (9) clams (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 2/5 Dani E. 5 months ago on Google • 11 reviews
    It was my birthday and made a reservation. Noted on my reservation that it is my birthday and requested that I would like a nice table. We came in and we were not greeted. We waited and then this guy came and said he will help us, shortly, we had to stand and wait for quite a bit, while the manager was on the phone and the other staff were socializing. No one paid attention to us. We waited and waited. My mom has mobility issues and not once the manager stopped talking on the phone and took upon himself to support us. We were then taken to a table which was by other people, sitting just right by them, and I requested if we could get a different table, since I wanted privacy for my celebration and just then we were seated at a table by the kitchen door and bar, where it was dark and high waiters traffic bussing orders right by us. I asked the manager who passed us by to get to seat us somewhere else and he says to me “tell me where you want to sit and I’ll sit you, there”… not very courteous… and I responded, maybe “you” could suggest the best table, since it is my birthday and I have noted in my reservation I wanted a good table. The restaurant wasn’t busy, if it was a quarter full, at its best. The manager, then, suggested a table. We were sat down and had to wait, again…this time for our drinks. They messed up our drinks order and only brought me, drinks, while my mom and dad had to sit there and wait with water for a good 10 minutes, until my wine wasn’t ice cold, anymore… Then, they messed up our appetizers. We ordered a lobster dip for each of my mom and dad and they only brought one to share. All this time no one stopped to check on us, or wish me “Happy Birthday!”not even once, although I mentioned to the manager, this was my birthday. He didn’t let the waitress know; I mentioned to her. Then, the main course came. The food was not bad, but it wasn’t exquisite, as we have experienced in the past at Chelsea Farms. Then, they asked us if we wanted a desert on the house for my bday. To my surprise, the bill came, and the desert was added to my bill. My bill was $217.70. We weren’t given the service and consideration I expected and received in the past at Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar. I wasn’t celebrated and they weren’t very courteous to me and my folks.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Vincent R. 1 year ago on Google
    At $40+ bucks a head, without alcohol, this is a truly over priced place for the quality of food provided. I ended up here as a result of an eater.com recommend but clearly this is a fail on their part, and walking around town after lunch it would seem there may have been easily as good or better options elsewhere for Seattle-getaway-dining. Reading some of the other reviews it seems like this place has past its glory years, but when you are essentially a seafood restaurant and can’t even serve that up properly then something is clearly wrong. Moreover, when you charge Seattle or London prices in the “boondocks” you should hit the quality points also. I ordered the cider mussels and they were either frozen, microwaved, over cooked or all three, and were absolutely disgusting in texture and smell. So much so, in fact, that I had to send them back to the kitchen. They were the worst i have ever had, including out of a bag from a supermarket! The crab and asparagus was ok, but greasy and nothing to write home about, while the lobster roll was again just ok, with zero finesse, while at 16 bucks you would expect the mac n cheese to have gold leaf on it. All round a pretty disappointing lunch, and certainly not a restaurant i would recommend, least of all for seafood or price.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Melissa M. 2 years ago on Google
    Fun little Oyster bar restaurant. Food and drinks are fresh and unique. Happy hour oysters are $2/piece. They don’t typically serve normal menu food during happy hour but made an exception for steamer clams. Definitely would go back to try their lobster roll during lunch or dinner (before or after happy hour which is at 3-4:30PM).
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Brian R. 1 year ago on Google
    Service and food superb. Excellent value. Will always return when in area. Inventive cuisine leveraging local ingredients while still retaining classic elements of cuisine.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Darnell K. 2 months ago on Google • 678 reviews New
    12/31/2023: What a lovely space! The menu was amazing and we had a difficult time deciding. Our group of 4 had the pleasure of Gemma as our server. The Argyle cocktail was simply wonderful. You wouldn't think with the ingredients that it would taste so delicious. Fried oysters, lobster roll, steak tartare, and lobster cacio e pepe was our dinner. That lobster roll was clearly the winner. Beautiful bread and very light. Classic flavor. And the salad with the roll was huge! Loved it. Fried oysters were fried perfect. Steak tartare was pretty standard and delicious. A little disappointed with the lobster cacio e pepe though. It felt a bit too runny for cacio e pepe although the flavors were definitely there and a good amount of lobster. Service was friendly, prompt, and informative. Can't wait to go back to try other items on the menu as well as the oysters!

  • 5/5 Erandy 2 years ago on Google
    I had a pleasant dinner with my fiancé! The Baked Oysters with Butter Sauce was delicious!! The clam chowder was heavenly. Overall their service here was beyond my expectations, we made a reservation and within seconds of arrival we were seated. I was very pleased that they considered my request for corner seating
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 B E. 1 year ago on Google
    Delicious Poke' for lunch. Love the seasonal offerings including all the unique cocktails. Fun to try all the new items. The presentation is always over the top beautiful.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jonathan O. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing spot we stopped at in Olympia for lunch yesterday. The web was right, it is worth the detour of Hwy 5. They grow their own shellfish and YES, the clam chowder is a must. Made to order and the clam bodies were larger than their shells. Lots of easy parking and the restaurant is in a market with a bakery, ice cream and other spots too.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Taylor G. 1 year ago on Google • 508 reviews
    Really neat experience both for locals and visitors alike. Bar and booth seating, there’s a warm but sea-themed vibe to enjoy. I don’t know how they stuck that balance, but we liked it. Staff were excellent - we were able to ask a lot of questions for those in our group with less experience with oysters and the drastic differences between the various kinds. In total, there were like 10 different species you could order, from singles to try or platters to feast. The menu was also friendly towards non-oyster eaters. We really enjoyed the clam chowder (easily the best we’ve had in WA) and the lobster roll was really solid. Heads up, they serve those rolls chilled. It’s not for everyone. Anyway, with drinks, everything seemed pretty fairly priced and we got a lot of high quality food and service in a wonderful atmosphere. Easy recommendation, 10/10

  • 5/5 Morningstar G. 6 months ago on Google
    I’ve eaten here a couple times now and every time the environment is very welcoming, the staff are amazing, and the food is great. I will keep coming back over and over.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Destiny W. 2 years ago on Google
    A little on the fancier side... Not much selection of meal choices in comparison to other local restaurants & not much on the beer selection besides craft beers. Staff was friendly & helpful as my husband & I had not been here before. Husband states the oysters were Incredible! I did find a worm inside of my fish (& chips) however the staff handled it very well & provided us with a free dessert, a coconut cake which was delicious! Not sure we would return outside of the oysters but did have a nice outdoor seating area that we took advantage of & enjoyed a little hustle n bustle of the city. Staff is not required to mask.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 mike d. 8 months ago on Google
    Stopped here because of the high stars. This place is legit! Wow, I’d travel from the East Coast for this food it’s that good. And Jason took great care of me too!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Casey M. 9 months ago on Google
    I do not have enough good things to say about Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar. My husband and I were in Olympia for the day and stopped in for lunch. The staff was super friendly, and we had the best oysters that I have ever had, expertly shucked. My husband had the breakfast sandwich as they had their brunch menu on and I had the clam chowder. He was thrilled with his sandwich and the home fries were the perfect blend of soft on the inside and delightfully crisp on the outside. My clam chowder was divine - nice, big, flavorful clams with no sediment, and the broth, while a little thinner than some of the traditional chowders you may see, was absolutely delicious. He also had one of their cocktails and I had their Oh Snap! mocktail and both were absolutely perfect. We live in Portland, but we will absolutely be back!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Isabelle K. 1 year ago on Google
    Sept 2022 We came here for an early dinner and it was fantastic! The place was clean and open with lots of windows. There are seats at the bar and combo chair+booth tables. The staff were friendly, attentive, and efficient. From the oyster bar, we got 3 types of oysters, though I only remember the bonita and sirena. The oysters come served on a tray of ice with the meat already loosened from the shell. All the oysters are smooth and creamy, with the bonita the least briney and the sirena the most meaty. The Peach & Cucumber Salad (Sept special) was interesting with slices of yellow peach, cucumber, and tomato, a sour dressing, and garnished with cream cheese and mint. The Shrimp Tempura (happy hour menu) was delicious with good sized shrimp but perhaps more fried batter than you would expect from Japanese style tempura. The Clam Chowder was good, briny but not salty. Note the clams are served with the shells (supposedly 1lb of shells), and the server gave us a separate pan for the discarded shells. So delicious, but a lot of work. The Pan Roasted King Salmon was also good and tender, and they cooked it to a medium temperature so that the inside was still a little pink. Overall, good food and good service, if on the pricey side. Would definitely come again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Krystal L. 2 years ago on Google
    Everything was delicious from the steak tartare to the new york strip. Everything was cooked to perfection and my favorite dish was definitely the pan seared scallops. If you have a little extra spending money and some time you will surely love this place just as much as I do. They also do a brunch on the weekends and also do happy hours from wed-sun from 3-4:30.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris H. 1 year ago on Google
    The most amazing fresh oysters. All the food was great though and the drinks! Awesome Sunday brunch.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nick C. 1 year ago on Google
    Visiting from out of state, we walked in with no reservation and the staff was pleased to make room for us. The food was exceptionally delicious (loved the deconstructed clam chowder), our waiter was very helpful, and the whole experience was well above our expectations. Great job, Chelsea farms!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cassy R. 1 year ago on Google • 86 reviews
    Went there for my birthday dinner. The food is delicious and services are super friendly. The oysters are so fresh, I can eat them all day. There is also an ice cream shop connected to the restaurant, they even have an olive oil favor which is pretty good and tastes like sweet butter to me.

  • 5/5 Viki 1 month ago on Google • 79 reviews New
    We had a fantastic lunch! The restaurant is warm and inviting. I choose the steamed clams. The clams were a touch undersized, but the flavor was wonderful. The staff was extremely helpful and polite. I'm looking forward to going there one day during happy hour at 3:00 p.m.

  • 5/5 Cary H. 7 months ago on Google • 62 reviews
    Oyster, clam chowder, pan seared scallop and steamed herbed clams are so delicious (popular items as well) 😋!! Please make sure to call them and make reservations before u visit Chelsea. 👍

  • 5/5 Sam M. 3 months ago on Google • 11 reviews New
    I would say hands down, the BEST!! Seafood restaurant we’ve ever been to, and we’ve been to quite a few. The food is absolutely delicious, and very fresh!! The service and ambience were great and very welcoming!! Definitely will be back! You must try their clam chowder with garlic bread. thank you Chelsea Farms Oyster Bar for having us. And especial thanks for the manager Lucas Aguiar! Sam.

  • 5/5 Molleigh F. 1 month ago on Google • 7 reviews New
    Our server was so attentive, super well informed on the menu too. She was incredible with helping us work in our interests and dietary needs during our visit. Consistently checked in with us. The food was great. We loved the whole clams in the chowder.

  • 5/5 Chase Gale (Chase B. G. 8 months ago on Google
    Took a tour of all the local oysters on offer - was thoroughly blown away! Fresh and delicious, with each waterway subtly changing the taste of the oyster which was cool to experience. Geoduck clams were also damn delicious, first time eating and pronouncing that.

  • 5/5 Teresa F. 1 year ago on Google
    The service was perfect, the food was beautiful, and it was delicious. Will definitely be back, That clam chowder!! You had me at 1 lb of clams, pork belly!! Gems are my absolute favorite on the half shell... see you soon

  • 5/5 Iga K. 9 months ago on Google
    This was my second time visiting this place, and once again I was not disappointed. Amazing and friendly staff. Very helpful as well. The food was very good, seafood in this place is excellent. The seafood tower, which was delicious, plus some garlic bread, fed the four of us no problem. The horseradish sauce that’s included in the seafood tower was amazing, personally my favorite. This place also has a good selection of beers, as well as several great cocktail options. We tried the three desserts that were available at the time. I do not remember the exact names/ingredients, but we had brownie, rhubarb tart and white chocolate cheesecake. They were all so good, but the cheesecake was the best, so delicious. And in general I don’t even like cheesecake. I will for sure be back next time I’m visiting family in the area.

  • 5/5 B T. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely The best food and cocktails around hands down..Most amazing staff.Hand crafted cocktails that just blow you away..The lobster roll is stuffed..The one thing you have to try is the Clam chowder. It will be the best you ever had..Very clean restaurant and plenty of seating..Thanks guys.Had a wonderful meal,cocktails, and awesome atmosphere. Thanks again!!

  • 5/5 Kefi A. 11 months ago on Google
    If you're looking for a tasteful experience with refined ambiance, this is the place. It's not too loud to carry on a conversation. I've never been disappointed by anything I've ordered and the menu changes seasonally, but the gem oysters are 💯 and pair well with the beet salad as a favorite. Their cocktails are also a delight. It is higher end in price, but worth it!

  • 5/5 TheReal K. 1 year ago on Google
    Great little place to check out great food. And strong mix drinks they don’t hold nothing back on them .lol great service nice atmosphere great for a date night or just a stop in..


Call +1 360-915-7784 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed outside
  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Paid parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
    • ✓️ Free of charge street parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Solo dining
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Kerbside pickup
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as women-owned

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