Locavores have made their mark on the Anacortes restaurant scene. Their innovative food philosophies have inspired the flavors of old-school BBQ, gourmet, hot, Southern Northwest fusion, rustic scratch, and Northwest creations, just to name a few.
Land in BBQ heaven at Dad’s Diner, Old School BBQ. They proudly brought the “food truck scene” to Anacortes, which has become a beacon for BBQ and smokehouse lovers. Their food philosophy is to make it from scratch, which means they grind their own meat and make their own sauces, sides, fixings, and rubs. Their menu offers applewood-smoked meats, fresh ground burgers, plates, and sandwiches with homemade sides, such as honey-horseradish coleslaw, smoked seasonal veggies, and house-smoked gorgonzola. Dad’s Diner a Go-Go Old School BBQ was inspired by “a true passion, a real friendship, and a shared love for the simplicity of great food prepared from scratch.”
Location: Their food truck can be found at the intersection of Commercial and 22nd Streets, as well as their brick-and-mortar diner at 906 Commercial Avenue.
Old world food and rustic scratch define A’Town Bistro, the most recent restaurant to make its mark on the locavore scene. The food philosophy is to create a fresh and simple menu and let “the product speak for itself.” The setting, with natural wood tones and handmade tables and chairs, reflects the rustic nature of the menu that includes old-fashioned Irish pate, Tuscan angel hair pasta, wild boar burger, quinoa salad, and mussels, just to name a few. Each bowl of clam chowder is made to order, and it’s well worth the wait. A’Town Bistro smokes its own meats, including ribeye, pork, duck, and the meats for the charcuterie board; they honor its flavor-filled relationships with local farmers, fishermen, and foragers. A list of about twenty purveyors that range approximately 30 miles from A’Town greets you at the door.
Location: 418 Commercial Avenue
Need a bit of southern comfort food? 5th Street Bistro, part of the Majestic Inn and Spa, fuses both Southern and Northwest flavors. Their restaurant has a fresh attitude, a fresh northwest menu prepared with fresh local products, featuring northwest wines and local microbrews, and prepared and served by a great team. The Skagit Valley, with an abundance of fresh produce and local seafood, has given the chefs there the opportunity to seek local purveyors and buy locally.
Location: 419 Commercial Avenue
Enjoy local art, literature, and the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, all in one place at Adrift. Their food philosophy is to create a unique dining experience that combines their love of art and camaraderie with the bounty of the Pacific Northwest and “present it in an atmosphere that will nurture both body and spirit.” In between the dining tables are shelves lined with books that one can pursue while eating or purchasing on their way out. Adrift is a cell phone-free zone, which means your attention is focused on the food in front of you and those at your table.
Location: 510 Commercial Avenue
Anacortes restaurants are proving that locavores give us more than great food. They support the very heart of our community, our local farmers. This philosophy has touched other Anacortes restaurants as well, such as Frida’s Gourmet Mexican Restaurant, Bob’s Chowder Bar and BBQ Salmon, and Penguin Coffee, just to name a few. One bite will reveal that they’ve cultivated the art of local flavor.
