During our trip through the Pacific Northwest, I was determined to enjoy as much seafood as possible. When we spotted Kokopelli Grill in Port Angeles, Washington, we decided to give it a try. Kokopelli Grill is a culinary gem, known for its vibrant fusion of Southwestern and Pacific Northwest flavors. The restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience, highlighting fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. What I didn’t realize until after we left was that the owners were originally from Texas, my home state!
The dining area was much nicer than we expected, with plenty of room. We were fortunate to arrive just before the lunch crowd. I’m sure this place is the busiest spot in town on date nights.
At first glance at the lunch menu, both Lesa and I knew exactly what we wanted. She chose the Grilled Salmon, and I opted for the Grilled Halibut, knowing we’d end up sampling each other’s dishes. Me being from Texas, it sure was hard to pass up the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich but had I known the chef was transplant from Texas, I might have tried it.
The presentation of both dishes was impressive, and the Grilled Halibut was some of the best fish I’ve had on this trip. It wasn’t dried out or stale; it tasted as if it had just been pulled from the local waters that morning. Definitely a major plus!
The Cilantro Rice and Charro Beans were perfect sides for this dish. Being from Texas, I’m pretty picky about my rice and beans, but the chefs here nailed it. Usually, after enjoying a great serving of fish, I skip the sides as they tend to diminish the overall experience, but that was not the case here. These sides were delicious and complemented the meal very well.
Lesa couldn’t stop raving about her Grilled Salmon. She’s a fan of salmon and has had it several times on this trip. Occasionally, I’ve noticed her grimace after the first bite, indicating that the salmon was less than average. But at Kokopelli Grill, her eyes lit up after the first bite, giving me the nod that it was good. The fact that Lesa loved the salmon made me realize it would be harder for me to sneak a bite to try it myself. She was equally intrigued to see how my Grilled Halibut tasted, so it was a fair trade. In this case, I think we both chose winners.
If you’re a wine lover, this place will win bonus points for you. They had a huge selection of locally sourced wines from various wineries. If we had been here for dinner, I’m sure we would have tried a bottle.
Their large selection of wine was not what I was expecting when we walked in. I assumed it would be a small town restaurant but this definitely had a big city feel to it. I am positive this place is a hit with the locals.
Not knowing what to expect from Kokopelli Grill, we were pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of their food. The Grilled Halibut and Grilled Salmon were some of the best we’ve had on our Pacific Northwest trip. We highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area.