Ivar's Acres of Clams

“Fantastic spot for happy hour! First time hete and we’ll be coming back for sure. I ordered a butterscotch rum drink that was hot and tasted out of this world. All the food we ordered was delicious as well. I got 4 oyster shooters where each oyster was only $2.50 and they were big boys. Their cocktail sauce was more on the mild side and had flavor. Very good pricing for what we had. The view from our booth was of the ferrys and the sound. I’ll be thinking about this meal for another couple days.”

“Sautéed Clams ($21) – The star of the meal. Generous portion of tender, perfectly steamed clams swimming in a light, buttery broth with hints of white wine. Loved the fresh dill and the mix of carrots and celery adding brightness. The toasted bread was ideal for soaking up every drop—and I did. At $21, this felt like solid value for the quality and portion size. Seafood Cocktail ($16) – A chilled tower of fresh crab and plump shrimp, topped with sesame seaweed salad for a nice twist on the traditional presentation. The cocktail sauce had good kick without overpowering the seafood. Clean, fresh, no complaints—though at $16, it's a lighter portion if you're hungry. Service & Vibe: Sat at the bar top, service was efficient for a 2 PM visit. Nothing remarkable, but no issues either. Bottom line: A reliable waterfront spot when you're craving fresh, no-fuss seafood. The sautéed clams are the move. Keep clam. 🦪”

“We were looking for an easy, comfortable place to sit down and enjoy a meal, and Ivar’s was a perfect choice. They were able to take a reservation for six, which made things simple, and the view of the Puget Sound was absolutely beautiful. There is outdoor seating available, though it was closed during our visit since it’s still March. The menu offered a good variety of reasonably priced options, so everyone was able to find something they liked. Even though we made a reservation to avoid any wait, it was nice to see there wasn’t a wait at all. The staff was very friendly, and James in particular stood out—he was accommodating, offered great suggestions, and even let us step out onto the balcony to take some photos. We had friends visiting from out of town who were especially excited about the patio, so that was a nice bonus. The restaurant was clean, welcoming, and overall just what we were looking for. Thank you for a great meal—we’ll definitely be back!”

“Horrible experience yesterday. like most restaurants probably a staffing issue. we were sat and 20+ minutes passed before some checked to see if we been waited on. Waitress commented that they had just moved everyone around so there is confustion. Also, we came specifically for the vegetarian menu - 1/2 the items not available. Ordered Clam Chowder and when it was delivered and I asked for Hot Sauce - waited 15 minutes for hot sauce. waitress never came back. We had to ask buser for hot sauce and WATER as no water still delivered to table. just not a higher end dining experience that you expect when paying the prices. food was good for sure but cold soup is never the best. i did notice other tables, seated, served and left before us - they were lucky enough to get a section that was fully staffed. hope they have better luck with staffing”

“Very disappointing and unsatisfactory meal. Highly do not recommend. For a place called “Acres of Clams” and “world-famous” fish and chips, you’d think there’s some quality to the food here but I was utterly disappointed. The clam chowder came served warm and tasted like it came from a can, and that’s priced at $10. The fried northwest platter which has parts of the so-called “world-famous” fish and chips was mediocre at best, and that’s priced at $33. I feel like you can get better fish and chips at Long John Silver’s. The only consolation was the tartar sauce and while the seafood was edible, the chips left more to be desired and was left unfinished. The drinks were equally disappointing with the winter sangria seeming to have no alcohol at all. Its description boasts many flavours of fruits but only came with a slice of orange and a light taste that reflects a diluted drink. Service was also slow with us waiting about 18 mins before a waiter finally came to take our order. And it’s not because they are standing around doing nothing as it’s clear they are overworked and constantly moving. Management needs to do something about increasing the waiter to table ratio. It felt like a really wasted experience when I could have not only spent my money and meal somewhere else. It’s even more disappointing since Ivar has historical significance and a nice interior.”