Nestled in the picturesque coastal town of Garibaldi, Oregon, Pirates Cove Restaurant offers a dining experience that seamlessly blends stunning ocean views with a warm, inviting ambiance. I just happened to drive by on my way to a campground for the night and I knew I would need to stop back by for dinner. Little did I know they were well-known to locals for their fresh, locally-sourced seafood as well as their quality steaks, and of course, their amazing view of Tillamook Bay.
The first thing that caught my eye as I approached Pirates Cove Restaurant was its charming nautical-themed décor. Situated right on historic Highway 101, this gem undoubtedly attracts many first-time visitors like myself looking for a place to have dinner. Don’t let the modest exterior fool you; once inside, the ambiance, the breathtaking views, and, most importantly, the exceptional food are anything but modest!
The interior seating offers stunning views of Tillamook Bay, making every meal a visual treat. Whether you stop in for lunch or stay for a romantic dinner, the panoramic vistas serve as a perfect complementary “side dish” to enhance your dining experience.
Given their prime waterfront location, I knew I had to try something from their seafood offerings. The menu details a fantastic variety of locally-sourced seafood, including Dungeness crab, king salmon, Maine lobster, oysters from Tillamook Bay and Netarts Bay (just 15 miles south), and steamer clams from Willapa Bay (80 miles north in Washington).
If you’re not a seafood lover like me, don’t worry—there are plenty of other delicious options. The menu features a range of dishes, including filet mignon, ribeye steaks, parmesan chicken, pasta primavera, chicken fettuccine, and classic hamburgers. No matter what you’re in the mood for, they’ve got you covered.
I chose the whole Dungeness crab for dinner, my favorite type of crab, so it was an easy decision. The entrée came beautifully garnished with an orange slice and warm drawn butter in a small crock.
Seafood dishes come with your choice of baked potato, roasted garlic and cream cheese mashed potatoes, french fries, or rice pilaf. Additionally, you can choose a side of tossed green salad, Caesar salad, clam chowder, oyster stew, or French onion soup. I opted for the Caesar Salad and Rice Pilaf.
After much deliberation, my travel partner chose the Grilled King Salmon, pairing it with a Garden Salad and Rice Pilaf. A big fan of salmon, she was not disappointed and mentioned it was probably among the top three salmon dishes she’s ever had.
Both meals were as good as they look in the photographs. We sampled each other’s entrees and were very pleased with taste and quality of the food here. It was one of the best meals we had on this leg of our journey.
Pirates Cove Restaurant is an amazing little find for me. As I drove North on HWY 101 I often times looks for little local gems like this. I have always been more impressed than disappointed when trying out “new to me” eateries and Pirates Cove Restaurant was no exception. We were both thoroughly impressed. The only disappointing part was the fact that we were not local and this would probably be our only experience here ever!