Local guide

Best Seafood in Gig Harbor

Where is the best seafood near Olalla, WA? Drive fifteen minutes to Gig Harbor: halibut fish and chips on a deck over the water, clam chowder at two waterfront rivals, Dungeness crab at a white-tablecloth classic, wild salmon and oysters uptown, and a farm-direct oyster shop where you buy shellfish to cook back at the house.

Fifteen minutes from the house, and the seafood is the reason to go.

Written by Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

If you are staying in Olalla, Gig Harbor is your town for seafood. It is about fifteen minutes to downtown, and the harbor packs a lot of it into a few walkable blocks plus the Uptown shopping area: waterfront fish and chips, clam chowder, Dungeness crab, wild salmon, oysters, and a working oyster farm with a retail shop. This list sticks to places known for seafood, and leaves the rest for the general Gig Harbor eating guide.

A few notes before you go. Parking downtown is mostly street parking and small lots; summer weekends fill up, so go early or be patient. Two of the best-known stops work differently than the rest: Tides Tavern is 21 and over, and Minterbrook is a retail shop, not a restaurant. And if you would rather stay close to home one morning, Olalla Bay Market does breakfast and coffee five minutes away; see the Olalla guide for that.

Before you go: parking, reservations, and best times

Parking: downtown Gig Harbor is street parking and small lots, with a lot across the street from Anthony's and public lots in Uptown. Summer weekends fill up fast. Reservations: book ahead for Anthony's and Brix 25 on weekends, and for Greenhouse when the group is large. Tides Tavern, Marketplace Grille, and Ivar's are walk-in spots. Best times: weekday lunch for the shortest waits, a sunny afternoon on a waterfront deck for fish and chips, and Thursday through Sunday evenings for Brix 25, which is only open those four days. Minterbrook opens at 9am, so it pairs well with a morning drive before lunch.

Anthony's at Gig Harbor

The waterfront classic, and the one reservation that never disappoints out-of-towners. Anthony's sits in the Finholm Marketplace right on the harbor, with the marina on one side and Mount Rainier on the other when the sky cooperates. The menu is Pacific Northwest seafood done properly: Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Fettuccine, Copper River King Salmon, pan-fried oysters, cioppino, and a homemade clam chowder. There is a Sunday brunch starting at 10am, and the downstairs Shoreline Room lounge feels like being on the water itself.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 8827 N Harborview Dr. Hours: Sunday 10am to 8pm, Monday 11:30am to 9pm, Tuesday through Thursday 11:30am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 9pm. Parking: lot across the street plus street parking. Reservations: yes, especially weekends. What to order: Dungeness Crab and Shrimp Fettuccine, Copper River King Salmon, pan-fried oysters, clam chowder. Best time: dinner, or Sunday brunch. anthonys.com

Tides Tavern

The building went up in 1910 as a general store, and the Tides has been pouring since 1973. It is a proper waterfront tavern: scratched wooden tables, a deck over the water, harbor views from every seat, and a menu of pub food done well. The halibut fish and chips and the clam chowder are the order, with a lobster roll and a crab BLT as the other seafood picks. One important detail: it is 21 and over, so this is the adults-only night, not the family dinner.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 2925 Harborview Dr. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11am to 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm. Parking: street parking on Harborview. What to order: halibut fish and chips, clam chowder, lobster roll, crab BLT, smoked salmon asiago fries. Best time: a sunny afternoon on the deck. tidestavern.com

Brix 25

The special-occasion pick. Seasonal Northwest cooking on the waterfront, with an award-winning wine list that pours Washington and Oregon exclusively. The seafood side of the menu is where it shines for this list: oysters on the half shell, Alaskan king crab, and ahi carpaccio. The room is small and the view is big, and it is only open Thursday through Sunday evenings, which tells you everything about how to plan: reserve ahead, and order whatever the kitchen is excited about that week.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3315 Harborview Dr. Hours: Thursday through Sunday 4pm to 8pm. Parking: street parking downtown. Reservations: yes. What to order: oysters on the half shell, Alaskan king crab, ahi carpaccio. Best time: Friday or Saturday evening. harborbrix.com

Greenhouse Restaurant

The Uptown pick, away from the waterfront but strong on seafood. Greenhouse is an elegant American bistro in the Uptown Gig Harbor area, with a patio and a menu that leans on seasonal plates. The seafood orders are Dungeness crab cakes, wild Alaskan grilled halibut, lingcod fish and chips, wild seafood linguini Alfredo, and chowder. It takes reservations, which makes it a good plan for a group dinner when downtown is packed.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 4793 Point Fosdick Dr #400. Hours: Sunday through Thursday 11:30am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am to 9pm. Parking: public lot. Reservations: yes. What to order: Dungeness crab cakes, wild Alaskan grilled halibut, lingcod fish and chips, wild seafood linguini Alfredo, chowder. Best time: dinner, or a weekday lunch for a quieter room. greenhousegh.com

Marketplace Grille

The harborfront value pick, with a Caribbean streak. Marketplace Grille sits on Harborview Drive and mixes Northwest seafood with island cooking: parmesan encrusted scallops, pan fried oysters, steamed clams, broiled halibut or salmon, seafood paella, and fish and chips. The clams and oysters come from Minterbrook, the oyster farm further down this list. Portions are generous and prices are lower than the white-tablecloth rooms, which makes it a good everyday seafood dinner.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 3117 Harborview Dr. Hours: Monday through Saturday 11am to 8pm. Parking: street parking downtown. What to order: parmesan encrusted scallops, pan fried oysters, steamed clams, broiled halibut or salmon dinner, seafood paella, fish and chips. Best time: weeknight dinner, easy and unhurried. facebook.com/Marketgrille

Ivar's Seafood Bar

The fast-casual classic, Gig Harbor edition. Ivar's is the Washington chain known for fish and chips and chowder, and the Gig Harbor location in Uptown serves the same playbook: fish and chips, halibut and chips, jumbo prawns and chips, and chowder in white, red, and smoked salmon versions. It is counter-service fast, family friendly, and the right call when the group wants seafood without a reservation or a long sit-down dinner.

Drive: about 15 minutes, at 4901 Point Fosdick Dr #800. Hours: daily 11am to 9pm. Parking: lot and street in Uptown. What to order: fish and chips, halibut and chips, jumbo prawns and chips, a bowl of white chowder. Best time: lunch, or an early dinner before the evening crowd. ivars.com

Minterbrook Oyster Company

The one place on this list that is not a restaurant, and the freshest shellfish you will eat all week. Minterbrook is a family-run oyster farm selling fresh oysters and clams from its retail shop since 1932, on Minter Bay off the Key Peninsula side of Gig Harbor. Buy oysters on the shell, shucked oysters, steamed clams, smoked oysters, and smoked salmon, then cook them back at the house. The house kitchen handles a dozen oysters easily, and the private beach out back is a good place to eat them.

Drive: about 20 minutes, at 12002 114th Street Ct NW. Hours: Monday through Saturday 9am to 4pm, closed Sunday. Parking: on site. What to order: fresh oysters on the shell, steamed clams, smoked oysters, smoked salmon. Best time: morning, before the shop sells through the day's harvest. minterbrookoyster.com

Questions people ask

How far is Gig Harbor from Olalla Bay?

About fifteen minutes to downtown Gig Harbor, with no traffic. The Uptown restaurants and the Minterbrook oyster shop take a few minutes longer. Every spot on this list is an easy drive from the house.

Where is the best fish and chips in Gig Harbor?

Tides Tavern for halibut fish and chips on a deck over the water, and Ivar's Seafood Bar in Uptown for the classic fast-casual version, including halibut and chips and Cajun-style fish and chips. Marketplace Grille also serves golden battered cod or halibut fish and chips.

Where can I buy fresh oysters and clams in Gig Harbor?

Minterbrook Oyster Company, at 12002 114th Street Ct NW, sells fresh oysters and clams from its retail shop, Monday through Saturday 9am to 4pm, closed Sunday. It is a shop, not a sit-down restaurant, so buy fresh shellfish and cook them back at the house.

Do I need reservations for seafood in Gig Harbor?

For Anthony's and Brix 25 on weekends, yes. Greenhouse takes reservations too. Tides Tavern, Marketplace Grille, and Ivar's are walk-in spots. Brix 25 is only open Thursday through Sunday evenings, so plan around that.

Which Gig Harbor seafood spots are kid friendly?

Anthony's, Brix 25, Greenhouse, Marketplace Grille, and Ivar's all welcome families. Tides Tavern is 21 and over, so it is the adults-only night. Minterbrook is a retail shop, and kids are welcome there.

Where is the best clam chowder in Gig Harbor?

Tides Tavern and Anthony's are the two chowder stops to compare, and Ivar's serves white, red, and smoked salmon chowder. Greenhouse also lists chowder on its menu. Order a cup at two places and decide for yourself.