Alec’s by the Sea
131 E Chance A La Mer NE, Ocean Shores, WA, 98569
Alec’s by the Sea Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ocean Shores for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Ocean Shores for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
131 E Chance A La Mer NE
Ocean Shores, WA, 98569 - Phone (360) 289-4026
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Danita K.
I had high hopes for this place it was ok. The best part about the restaurant was the clam chowder and the sourdough bread. The service was good. I ordered a chicken fried steak it was huge could have fed at least three people. I took one bit and my mouth was on fire. Who has every herd of spicy chicken fries steak. The cook was rude. "It's country gravy! What more does she want?" Well how about not having to drink a gallon of tums. Err would go back there maybe but I will not be eating the chicken fried steak.
(2)Leeann F.
Came with our kids the food was wonderful, service terrific recommend reservations would definitely eat there agaim
(4)Pat M.
I have been going to Alec's for several years when I visit Ocean Shores. The restaurant has consistently provided good service with the food arriving in the time you would expect. The staff turnover is low and you always see a familiar face. Very good so far. Unfortunately the food is also consistently mediocre and I have tried many of the menu items. The mixed drinks are not a good value being very small. Beer would be a safe bet and they do have a delicious local porter. I keep going back because good food is very hard to find in this town. Still looking for an alternative.
(3)Sturgis Q.
Walking in the place' decor is a bit dated; like a senior citizen blue plate special place. Although not crowded I chose to sit at the bar to eat since my dining companion was Herman Hesse. Service was tepid. Bartender/server could not be easily located. I ordered the Cajun red snapper with red potatoes and broccoli. The snapper was flavorful although not as moist as others in several parts. The potatoes were quite good but the broccoli tasted as if it may have been frozen prior to being boiled. I chose a local state wine named, "hot to trot", warning should have been there (it was a red, I know, I know, red wine with fish - criminal, but I'm not a fan of whites!) it was a bit too peppery. But this place has some of the best food in the area none the less.
(3)Brady A.
I can see how this place may have once been great. The decor looks like circa 1988 or so, some of the staff seems like they've been there that long as well. We had a really weird old lady as a waitress that mumbled to us, and talked to herself everytime she left the table. The food was bland, if not bad. I suspect it was all frozen, heated up, and served with no seasoning. With this location in a tourist town on the coast, this place could do really well, if they changed virtually everything.
(1)Meghan M.
Stopped here on a recommendation from a local shop. The prices are pretty steep but for fresh sea food near the ocean, we expected it. The man who seated us was very friendly and came back to check on us when our meal was over-we assumed he was the manager. The young man who cleared our plates and refilled our drinks was also really polite and friendly. The decor could use an update and the waitress spent more time at the table next to us than I have ever seen anyone spend time at-perhaps she ignored us because we were young (she talked to us like we were 12), but two of us at the table have worked in the restaurant industry and that's a major no. We ordered lasagna, the Neptune, and the seafood sauté. The lasagna was average, pretty much what you'd expect, nothing exciting. The Neptune was really good, but the waitress (who claimed she was new) clearly didn't remember who ordered what, as she brought potatoes with the Neptune instead of fries and mixed up everyone's plates when she brought the food. The seafood sauté was excellent and we definitely recommend it. They also make their own chips-we didn't try them but they looked really good.
(3)Thomas F.
Funny to see the staff were overwhelmed when the seniors arrived. Food was decent and didn't have to wait too long. Did have GF menu, which wasn't bad either.
(4)Shih Fa K.
The service could have been better. The hostess seemed resistant to us for requesting a table versus a booth. Then she wanted us to wait while utensils were being washed instead of letting us sit, then bringing the utensils or getting them from another table. I ordered the soup of the day, a Jalapeño Corn Chowder, and the Seafood Saute. The corn chowder was good but could've been a little more spicy. The seafood saute had fresh seafood, but tasted a little bland. The rolls that they brought were great sourdough, and the garlic bread was good. I also enjoyed the soda they carried: Bedford's Creme Beer.
(3)Keith J.
They told us it may be 45 minutes for a table. No problem, we will wait for a table in the bar. Waited for 15 minutes and still no drink. The people were trying their best, but they were horribly understaffed. Owners/management needs to staff a full time bartender. Inexcusable!
(1)Karyn W.
Food was great. Service by our waitress was great. She was happy and helpful. The only "complaint" if you could call it that was you can't get Surf and Turf with fish and steak. You can get it with clams or prawns but not fish. So it's more of a suggestion not a complaint! Definitely would return!
(4)Jim M.
Fantastic. Took Dawn and my daughter here for some seafood. The chowder was amazing and our entrées were all perfect. I had the Seafood Sauté, which was marked as the signature dish, and I can see why. Loaded with tasty seafood. Dawn got the Parmesan Crusted Halibut which was very soft and flakey. Full of flavor. I was lucky to get a taste. My daughter got the shrimp and chips, which came with homemade potato chips. I was surprised how tasty the chips were. She wouldn't let me try the shrimp, which is a good sign. Save room for dessert. The Creme Brûlée was very good and the bread pudding was out of this world.
(5)Carol A.
Alec's by the Sea really isn't (by the Sea). It is a large restaurant at the edge of a shopping center and near the Post Office in the middle of town. I ordered Sauteed Fresh Oysters, a baked potato and steamed broccoli. It was very good. Hubby tried the Lasagna and garlic toast. He said the sauce was watery and he wasn't impressed with the effort. The atmosphere was nice and it was reasonably quiet except for the out-of-control 7 or 8 year old who came in with a large family group about half way through our meal. He was a brat and no one in his family was at all interested in making him mind. So it went from peaceful to trying to ignore him and just endure enough to finish the meal and get out of there. Needless to say, we didn't linger over any dessert or coffee. Our server was very nice...I felt sorry she had to endure the monster sending most of her customers fleeing for the door.
(3)Spring W.
We come here for dinner whenever visiting Ocean Shores and look forward to the fast, friendly service and great food, especially the corn chowder which is to die for! I have never had a bad experience until last night...the food as usual was perfect, but our waitress WAS NOT! I am not at all impressed or pleased with the service of our waitress or the front counter staff.
(2)Lew L.
Good chowder, excellent fries and homemade potatoe chips, small portion of fish and chips, but it was delish. Nothing fancy but down home cooking
(3)Carolyn R.
We ate dinner here last night. Food was great per usual but the waitress and cashier supervising a young lady cashier were about as unfriendly as a root canal. The only person who provided great service was the young man who brought our rolls and cleared our plates. One of the people in our party found a long hair in her food. It clearly didnt come from the chefs because they all had short, covered hair. The waitress didn't offer to do anything to make it right other than say "sorry about that". Well she is about the sorriest waitress I've ever had and I assure you her tip reflected it. Again, food was great though.
(3)Trish H.
Stopped in for dinner. Excellent food and service. Nice menu with many appealing choices. Plenty of parking too. Decor was a bit dated, hence the reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)Stephani R.
My husband and I have been here twice and both times the food was good. We always get a clam chowder sourdough bread bowl to share and it's always so hot and yummy. Then we get the fish and chips. Fish tastes fresh. Good service
(3)Clayton M.
Yummy bacon cheese burger. Never came here because we always thought it was just sea food. Saw a picture of a cheese burger so came to try it out. Very pleased. Staff is very friendly. Will be back!
(5)Chris G.
My family and I went to Ocean Shores for the weekend and, from recommendation of the motel owner, we went to this place for dinner. First, it took 20 minutes to get a server at our table (I realize it was a little busy however it was not that busy). We ordered 2 sets of oysters and seafood fettuccine the broiler sampler and kid's mac and cheese with 2 glasses of Riesling. Okay, the oysters took 20 minutes to get to our table (it tasted good), second, the server gave us Pino gris vs Riesling that we asked for, third, the kid's mac and cheese was Kraft mac and cheese. Also, the server had said that the chef did NOT like the way the Broiler sampler did not look good so the kitchen had to fire another one (this was after waiting for out meal for another 30 minutes after the oysters). At that point, we just shared our fettuccine and didn't want the other order because we wanted to get out of there. Upon leaving, the hostess or whomever was at the door greeting people suggested that we contact the supervisor she will be in on the following Tuesday. I have to let you guys know that if you are visiting Ocean Shores (like we did), please try other seafood restaurants because the overall dining experience at Alec's was very bad.
(1)Stacie B.
Their menu is old and tired. And someone should give them the correct recipe for Caesar salad. wilted lettuce and a few sprinkles of parmesan does not cut it.
(1)Freddi T.
Service is wonderful, they cater to gluten free/vegetarian diets, the food is pretty good - but seriously over priced. 30 dollars for 2 veggie burgers and one glass of wine... the burgers were good, but damn! I'll go back, but not if I'm paying, or only on a special occasion.
(3)Dave A.
A bust. We were seated against the wall where the double doors to the back are fixed, so all we heard and felt were the big booms of the doors all night. It felt like a howitzer going off. My wife ordered the steak and oysters dish with the steak cooked medium rare and it it arrived well done, so we sent it back. The server didn't leave the oysters for her to eat, so we had to share mine, which wasn't a problem. 20 minutes later the new steak arrived, the server dropped it off quickly without asking my wife how it looked inside. It was still well done. She never came back until we were done. The lighting sucked. Bright fluorescent bulbs that hang at forehead level giving you a headache by meals end. Too much money for a bust of a dinner.
(1)Lorraine S.
At 60 years old, I have been in several restaurants around the country, but this place was the worse I have ever experienced! I ordered meat loaf. what I was served was anything BUT meat loaf. it looked like canned dog food and tasted so bad!. I had a friend taste it, she was unable to swallow the bite she took, it was that bad. The dinner came with soup or salad, I ordered soup, it was just as gross. It was a chore to even get a glass of water. When the server came to give us the check, she asked if I wanted to take the dinner home with me, I told her, in a very polite way that it was really bad, she simply smiled and and walked away. What a waste of money and my time. Mc Donalds would have been so much better......at least you know what you are getting there! Ocean Shores really needs a quality family style restaurant. it would be such a huge sucess.
(1)Patricia M.
It tried but didn't meet our expectations. Not that it was bad, just kind of meh. Our waitress was sweet and did a good job but food only so so. Calamari was probably the star of the evening, crunchy and thankfully not over cooked with a lemon aioli. Clam chowder a bit thick, good but that's the keyword, only good, nothing outstanding and possibly, maybe even canned. Parmesan crusted halibut was tough and over cooked with coating that was not crunchy, paired with over cooked broccoli made it more like a meal you'd get at Fuhr's cafeteria on all you can eat Fish Night. I got the signature dish Seafood Saute'. It was a tasty combo of clams, mussels and shrimp over pasta with zucchini, peppers and garlic. But for $24.00, you'd expect it to be teaming with seafood which sadly was not the case, four mussels, three minuscule clams and two tiny shrimp. Sad. Wine was expensive at $7 for a small glass. Decor was really bad, again harkening back to cafeteria style dining. Lighthouse Fish and Chips much better choice.
(2)Rodney Charles S.
I'll start off with you must go here for the food...if you're looking for a place that has great ambiance this is not it. The place when you walk in look something like an old Shari's or Sambo's. Just sit your butt down and get the very good priced menu and getvto work! Very friendly and a good staff. I had their seafood fettucini and OMG it was the best plate or should I say huge bowl type plate of sea food I've ever had! It was sooooo flavorful...the salmon, scallops, shrimp and cod was cooked to perfection. Im not kidding it was better than any 5 starr restaurant! The sauce was just the right consistency that you could dip your bread in and it would soak up the heavenly juices! Cheers ( 8 Im mad I didn't get a picture of it! It was so good I forgot lol
(5)Maegen A.
Don't eat the chicken Cesar salad at this place.. Tasted like they microwaved it and put it on the salad and it had a funny taste..14.99 down the drain :(
(1)Melissa R.
We ordered the sautéed shrimp entree and pan fried oyster entree. Both were very good, the seafood is fresh. Local seafood on the menu included the wilapa bay oysters & the razor clams. I would eat the oysters again; very tasty. Food is 4 of 4. The atmosphere is very small town family diner. Casual. Good service.
(4)Patty P.
Very good food, reasonable prices and a professional staff which I appreciate. I have found that most of the food service establishments in Ocean Shores don't seem to give a rat's as- weather you eat there or not. I felt welcomed and wanted at Alec's and that was refreshing. We will return.
(4)Becky E.
Delicious food every time. Halibut and chowder are to die for. Highly recommend this place!
(5)Lisa N.
We just finished a wonderful late lunch here. Servers were decked out in Seahawks gear for football Sunday which was a pleasant sight as we are from their home city of Seattle. Our waitress was prompt and attentive to our needs. The restaurant had about 7-8 other groups during this time with three servers. She even brought out a basket of warm, fresh sourdough rolls when I only requested one! this definitely hit my carb cravings. My family and I ordered the Seafood Fettuccine, Shrimp Fettuccine, and Clam Strips with Fries which all came out quickly. Both pastas were amazing; seafood had copious amounts of perfectly cooked salmon, shrimp, and scallops. Sauce was very creamy with tomatoes and olives. Buttered bread was crispy and perfect on the side and the shrimp pasta had over 10 pieces of jumbo shrimp cooked perfect with fresh zucchini in the sauce. My clam strips platter was heaping full with hot strips and seasoned fries, perfectly seasoned with a side of slaw. It was all so good, the plates were licked clean. Restaurant was clean, food was delicious, service was amazing. I would come back here any day. Highly recommend!
(5)Mary T.
Awesome value, we had raw oysters from a local supplier, pan fried at senior price, good service 2 drinks all for under $50. Good clam chowder too. Recommended by our motel owner who says this is where the locals eat.
(5)Valerie R.
Ewe. Not a good experience at all. From when we walked into the restaurant nobody really ever greeted us in a nice way. I sat on the bench for a couple minutes before anybody said anything to me. I assumed they would be good at seafood because it is named by the sea. I ordered the halibut. I settled for the halibut because everything on that menu was fried or breaded. That was even fried. I could only take one bite of my fish. It was a funky tasting mistake! The broccoli was good, the little but of rice pilaf on my plate was lukewarm. I would never go to that over priced dump Ever again!
(1)Sam Y.
Not impressed at all. Food was way overly priced and not cooked very well. Staff was on point though.
(1)Joseph M.
For a small town diner this place had a winner in the captains platter. Me and my gf each got one of these and let me say these things are huge!!! It comes with a wide variety of deep fried fish, scallops, clams, etc. and french fries. We even paid a little extra to get the clam chowder and that also was pretty good. Overall if you are in the area and are looking for good fried food I would check this place out and for sure check out the Captains Platter, but be sure to bring your appetite!!
(4)Domonique H.
Great wine, excellent food and good service! I would highly recommend this place to anyone, best seafood I've ever had. Thanks Alec's for making my boyfriends and I romantic Valentine's Day weekend getaway even more memorable! I will definitely stop by the next time I visit Ocean Shores.
(5)Jimmy C.
Great food, excellent clam chowder! Very friendly staff. We visit every time we go to the ocean.
(5)Elena M.
I was disappointed by my recent dinner at Alec's by the Sea. In some ways, I suppose, it is not entirely their fault. I have this very pleasant memory of a meal I had in Ocean Shores this side of a million years ago. (Ok, it was actually 17 years ago.) I had a blackened halibut that I truly remember as being one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. I am 99% sure this was at Alec's by the Sea. Or, at least was in the location as Alec's by the Sea is now. (I know the restaurant was in the same lot as the supermarket). But, with so many years having passed, who knows how many management changes might have taken place since? Still, I went into Alec's by the Sea with high hopes for a great meal (despite the somewhat lackluster Yelp reviews). My hopes were dashed. This time, I had a cod dish (I forget the exact name and Alec's by the Sea does not have a web site, so I cannot look it up), but, it was cod topped with asparagus, hollandaise sauce, and bay shrimp. The cod itself was cooked perfectly; it was clearly fresh, hot, and just the right level of moist. The hollandaise sauce, though, was tasteless, and the bay shrimp were cold. (Why would you top an otherwise hot dish with something cold?) The asparagus was limp. The same was true of the accompanying side vegetables -- poor little broccoli and cauliflower and carrots that had obviously been "warming" for hours and had long had anything resembling life sucked out of them. Likewise, my side of rice pilaf had obviously been sitting under a heat lamp much too long and was dry. My husband had broiled salmon which he reported to be overcooked and dry. His red potatoes had had much the same experience as my rice pilaf. He did not even attempt the vegetables. Oh, and the rolls! This bugged me. We never got served/offered any rolls. But, there was bowl of foil-wrapped pats of butter on our table, so we assumed we should have. I noticed some other tables were also roll-less. But, some were roll-full. We had no way to know why this was. (Did you actually have to ask for rolls to be served them?) We never did ask. And, given that we were not thrilled with most of the rest of our food, it was probably no great loss. (And lord knows we did not need the extra calories/carbs.) Still, I could not help but feel that we were gypped. Sadly, Alec's by the Sea left us wanting in more ways than one. ::: sigh ::: Oh, well, I'll always have my memories of a delightful long ago halibut...
(2)Mike P.
While staying at our timeshare in Ocean Shores, WA, it wa suggested that we try Alec's. My wife and I both ordered the beef roast from the senior menu and a side salad totaling $10.99 each. The roast was so tender you could cut it with your fork, the potatoes were real, and the veggies were good. The salad was also great. If we have a complaint, it is one common to many restaurants- the meal is delivered before you complete your salad. Our opinion is that it's a great value for the dollar! Mike and Sharon P.
(4)Terri B.
I gave Alec's only have four stars because it desperately needs a makeover, BUT I want good food when I go out to eat, and this place had it. Excellent Hollandaise, perfectly grilled rib steak, eh on the beans, but great baked potato and above all, the hostess and the waitress were superb.
(4)D S.
We're both 50 years old and we were the youngest people in there. This *totally* explains the food: underseasoned and overcooked. There's a big sign that says, "Best Seafood in Ocean Shores!". Man, I hope not because we're in Ocean Shores for another night and if that's the best...we're in trouble. I had the wild salmon, supposedly in herb butter, but I tasted no herbs or butter. Or salt. Or pepper. And unlike, say, properly cooked medium salmon - this one was bone dry on the inside. My wife had the halibut, supposedly in some lemon wine sauce, but there was no real lemon nor wine flavors. And it, too, was cooked as if there was no refrigeration available and you had to boil the heck out of everything to avoid trichinosis. Party like it's 1949. Oh sure, there was plenty of food and the price was reasonable. If you're hungry and you just want a good portion of easily digestible calories, here's your place. Starving college kids on a road-trip - stop here. But if you're looking for something other than underseasoned, overcooked veggies and fish - look elsewhere.
(2)Jim P.
Nothing special about this place. My wife couldn't even finish her crab cakes. The whole meal was uneventful.
(2)Mike W.
Alec's was very close to out hotel. I have been here several times in the past. I really like the place. Isn't old or outdated feeling! The food was absolutely amazing. I had the French Dip and by far the best French Dip I have ever had in my life. The jalapeño chowder, which you can only get on Fridays, is probably the best soup they have next to their clam chowder. I cannot wait to come back. I love coming here everytime I come to ocean shores. Service was great as well. I have never had a great service like that. They always frequent your table and make sure you are satisfied.
(5)Don S.
Had a late lunch on Sunday, the 4th. We ordered the senior fish & chips and a cup of clam chowder. The fish was lightly battered and deep fried really well as there was no residual grease hanging on. The fries were likewise not greasy and both were served hot as they should be. The tarter sauce wasn't to our liking but some people will like it. The clam chowder had plenty of clams in it but there was just something missing. It was good and thick the way we like it but the flavor just wasn't there. We would go back again
(3)TJ J.
After sitting for awhile and feeling invisible, the server who fiannally stopped at the table acted in a hurry eventhough the place looked to be not very busy. I got the sense that nobody cared if I was there or not. (Tired of tourists?) My Seafood Saute came with little actual seafood and the linguini was wayyyy overcooked. The lady taking my credit card asked how everything was (The standard question) I told her "Disappointing" She says " Ahhhhhhh! Can I see your ID?"
(2)Frank C.
Had lunch here. Very friendly staff, good service. My wife had halibut and chips, generous serving, nice piece of fish. I had the special with clam chowder--decent clam chowder. Generous shrimp and cheese melt. I would go back.
(4)Dick R.
My wife and I came to ocean shore for my birthday and a local recommended this restaurant for dinner. During dinner my wife was eating the steamed broccoli she bit down on something hard. She felt a pain in a back tooth. We called the manager over and explained what happened. we attempted to find the cause, but were unable to assuming she swallowed object. The owner treated us like we were trying to get out of paying for our meal. We returned home and the tooth stopped hurting. we assumed that she bruised the gum. My wife went to the dentist for her checkup and the dentist found the crown on the tooth in question had indeed been broken. The owner of the restaurant gave us his business card I sent him the results of the finding. He submitted the claim to his insurance company ARGONAUT GREAT CENTRAL INSURANCE CO. I AM QUOTING DIRECTILY FROM THE LETTER I RECIEVED FROM HIS INSURANCE. "pleased be advised that the insurance policy in place for our insured's restaurant is a liability policy only. It does not include and premises medical coverage. Any and all medical and/or dental bills that have been incurred should be processed through your personal insurance carrier" Aside from the fact the food is just passable I recommend that you EAT THERE AT YOUR OWN RISK, heaven bid bit should you sprain a ankle or break a hip. Foot note: My birthday dinner has now cost the cost of the dinner(yes we paid for our meals) plus the dental bill of 1000.00 + dollars
(1)Eric H.
This may have been the worst food I have ever eaten in a restaurant. We started with clam chowder which had the consistency of Elmer's glue and was almost clam-free. My daughter's hamburger was burned on one side. My razor clams were rubbery and swimming in grease. My wife's crab cake was thin and overcooked. Our vegetables were boiled into oblivion and then hurled at the plate. There is no excuse for food this horrible - especially not at upwards of $15 per entree.
(1)C M.
I am unsure why people are giving this place high marks. I came here with my partner and family and we all agreed the food was mildly good at best. We all got something different. I got a steak with potatoes. The potatoes were ok but the gravy was a bit off tasting. The steak was just average. Prime rib was average but nothing special. Would we come back the next time we visit, probably not. We found a few other places that are better.
(2)An T.
I would have to say this place is by far the best seafood sit down restaurant in the area. The waitress was so nice and helpful. There were some mistakes made by the kitchen and she handled all the problems with a smile. She had a wonderful smile the whole time. I made the mistake ordering something other than seafood here. I should have known that they were awarded best seafood not other food. But others at the table got the Captians seafood plate and it made Sand Castle's captians plate look like a shipwreck. The clam strips were huge, and they had butterfly shrimp. And everyone could not stop raving about how great the chowder was. I made the mistake and got the prime rib french dip. This sandwhich was small and there was not much meat in it. They filled it with more fried onions than prime rib. Disappointed. My friend made the mistake of ordering a ny strip and they couldn't seem to cook it right. Kept bringing it out well done... Would have given 4 stars for the seafood, clam chowder and service but the mistakes in the kitchen and the horrible excuse for a french dip had to take em down a notch.
(3)C G.
We had a family dinner for 10, kids loved the burgers, cod was great and hollandaise sauce was nice. Great clam chowder and fresh salads. Pot roast was great and big serving. Steak was good. Service was excellent. Served with hot fresh rolls. We will be back, always consistantly goood food.
(4)Jessie F.
Loved this place. We were given a warm welcome right away. George, our waiter, was on top of everything! It has kinda a diner feel, and the food great too!
(5)Donna F.
Don't like to see my server on her knees washing out a cabinet knowing she will soon be handling my food. That cabinet can be as clean as a whistle and it won't make up for what's lacking here, namely, good food, good service and some ambience.
(1)Sonya L.
This is probably the best restaurant in the Ocean Shores area. It's not particularly fancy (it actually has a bit of a diner feel to me), but it's a good, solid family restaurant. The food is pretty decent, but there are a few things that you've GOT to try while there. The clam chowder is truly awesome. It's super creamy and perfectly flavored. And the clam strips were AMAZING. Huge, lightly breaded strips that were some of the best I've ever had. The service is always very friendly. Every server I've ever had there has been quick and polite. It often takes quite a while to be seated, but this probably because it's one of the few restaurants in the area. This is the one restaurant I would definitely recommend in Ocean Shores!
(4)Tim H.
Good service- good seafood- The service was great the folks keep your glasses full and keep a close eye on your table. The salad is just the normal salad- not that good. The clam chorder is not very good. The coho salmon was cook perfect and the veg were cooked perfect. It
(4)Ken A.
I love their deep fried clams! That is really the best I ever tasted. I strongly recommend this delicious dish! Thick and juicy!
(5)Kori B.
Don't let the awards on the wall fool you into eating here. Service was horrible! Our waitress kept looking the other way every time she would pass and forgot to give us a kids drink and rolls. Two people came to help us after being ignored for quite some time. Also they had to keep grabbing her attention for us when she was standing there chatting with other waitresses.... Food seemed to me like it was just microwaved slop. The only good thing was the made in house bleu cheese salad dressing. Finally when standing in the front to pay, the hostess ignored us for a good ten minutes after standing in line and when paying with a card, she suddenly took another customer to pay and pushed us aside. It was hardly even busy! Proceed with caution, or better yet avoid altogether..... :/
(1)Lauren B.
Mom and pop joint that may be losing its standards. All customers were elderly with limited taste buds left. My man an I both work in restaurants so we're harsh critics but we came for lunch after reading reviews and honestly wish we had gotten subway instead. Server was incredibly unfriendly..couldn't even crack a smile, check on us, etc. and it wasn't even busy. Fish and chips.. GREASY.. Tarter was store bought.. We asked if one of our dishes could have salad instead of fries..server rudely said no you can only add it... And we wonder why our country has an obesity problem!! ...The one good thing I can say is the owner/chef that had to be at least mid to late 70's was in the kitchen cooking..respect for him and his work ethic! But its about time for that poor man to retire.
(1)Food L.
Visit once on the first week of May during our visit to Ocean Shores. We were a little scare to try this restaurant after reading the review and checking out the pictures posted. But we did give a try and we didn't like it. We understand this restaurant has been around for long time, but this is not the kind of seafood restaurant we expect it to be. The decor needed an update and so as the lighting. Food was not memorable compared to other seafood restaurants we tried in the area.
(1)Casey H.
This place makes an awesome crab and cheddar sandwich. I have not been able to explore the rest of the menu, so I cannot really say if the rest of the food is a complete hit at this place. We have ordered a few times at this location (to go) and the food has been very consistent. Two sandwiches and tip set us back $30, but not unusual for the area.
(4)Toby T.
For a place located on the ocean, I expected something...better. The food was not very fresh, definitely under-seasoned, and overall not satisfying. I ordered the Red Snapper, which I normally love, but it was covered in some un-flavored cream sauce and the snapper had no fish taste at all. When a rice cake sounds better than dinner, you know it can't be great.
(2)Jenn A.
We went here for dinner on a Friday night. One of our daughters is vegetarian so we asked for a vegetarian menu which they have as an option. I realize being vegetarian is annoying to some people but she didn't order a dish and ask for it to be modified she ordered pasta primavera which was an option on the menu and should've been meat free. As we were eating she realized she was chewing on a piece of chicken, spit it out and started to cry. She is a vegetarian because she has strong feelings about animals and doesn't feel that they should be eaten. We called over the server who apologized and took her meal back to the kitchen. She came back and said it was the only piece of meat they could find in the sauce and it must've accidentally been put in there during their morning prep. She then brought a second dish that in fact did not have any meat in it. The thing that really annoys me is they didn't take her entree off the bill. If you serve someone something that makes them cry you shouldn't make her pay for it. The rest of what we ordered was meh and not worth typing about.
(1)Karey G.
wonderful chief serving seafood, pasta, meatloaf, etc. Nice wait staff, cheerful well lite setting. yummy dinner salad with cheese, crutons and carrots on lettuce
(5)Jennifer H.
Compared to the other experiences I have had in town this place was great! I did add a little butter, pepper and lemon to my bread bowl chowder and it was DELISH! Service was spot on and friendly. Not a 5 star restaurant but good coastal food and friendly staff
(4)Patty L.
A group of us went to Ocean Shores to go clam digging, luckily we needed ice for our clams, pulled into the IGA store, we asked where to go for a "razor clam" dinner & they suggested "Alec's By The Sea," which fortunately was right there in the same parking lot. We took a chance, they had a "razor clam" dinner on the menu. We got 3 fried razor clams, string beans with fried onions & our choice of a baked potato. The meal was excellent, the staff is friendly & the attire is casual. The desserts are also good, they're all made there. We hope to go back there the next time we're at Ocean Shores. I would recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Janet J.
Went to Alec's by recommendation for front desk clerk, Alec must be her father! The restaurant was more like family dinner. Chowder tasted like flour and both entrees we ordered were drenched in butter. So much butter you couldn't even taste the seafood. The shrimp cocktail was nice, lots of shrimp and the cocktail sauce had a nice flavor. The sourdough rolls were also good, with a crunchy crust and favorable insides! We won't be going there again any time soon.
(1)Michael C.
You must be kidding me! How can this place claim to be a seafood restaurant? First, the amount of seafood choices on the menu pales in comparison to other types of foods. Secondly, the seafood we did order was, in my wife's words, "the worst dinner I've ever had in my life". My salmon was dry and overcooked...her snapper was far from fresh and also overcooked. And the worst part, not one of the 3 people we interacted with even asked how our food was, even when my wife pushed aside her essentially uneaten plate of food. Wouldn't (shouldn't) you wonder if anything was wrong when someone orders a $15 plate of food and doesn't eat it or ask for a doggy bag? Shouldn't the manager come to apologize when we complained? Instead of offering solutions, they simply deducted the meal from the bill. No one offered a replacement meal. We would have happily paid, it wasn't about the money....we came for food. Instead, we left and went to FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO EAT. Terrible food AND service!!
(1)Rosie R.
On a recent razor clamming trip to the OCean Shores: I'll start with the NOT GOOD: - the hollandaise sauce served with calamari (when the menu said aioli) - the same thick and rich hollandaise laid on the halibut our dining companions ordered that did not complement the fish at all Let me go on with the NOT BAD: - the appetizer oysters you can order any way you like (on the half-shell, fried, shooters!) - the service that was consistent, albeit a little uninformed, but always smiling and cheery And finish with the GREAT: - the specials! $10.99 for put roast or pork chops, or meat loaf or.. - CHICKEN FRIED STEAK with perfectly fluffy white gravy, and a serving that was about the size of a 10.5 women's shoe. - the PORTIONS overall: Seriously, Claim Jumper ain't got nothin' on this for the price! Since I am certain I am in love with razor clamming, I will definitely be back to Ocean Shores again and again, so I am guaranteeing a return trip to Alec's!
(4)Erin B.
My friends and I got jacked by the ocean and didn't catch a bucket full of razor clams as we had intended, so we went to Alec's to see what we were missing. The razor clam appetizer was very tasty (although, we really had nothing to compare it to!), but the seafood platter was terrible. All the taste was broiled out of the fish (even the salmon tasted like cardboard) and then it was doused in some kind of buttery concoction. It almost tasted like the fish had been sitting in deep-freeze for a few months. The clam chowder was also surprisingly lackluster. One of my friends says "never buy Washington apples in Washington, because the best quality apples are exported and locals get the leftovers". I think this notion perfectly applies to the seafood at Alec's. Also, maybe it is overly wine-snobbish of me, but I was aghast that my white wine was served in a tiny little sherry glass! Are they trying to skimp me on volume? Were they out of real glasses? Anything but dessert wine does not belong in those tiny glasses, not even cheap white wine! Alec's was an anomaly; a large, classy-looking seafood restaurant look, but actually a small, inelegant seaside town diner. Go there for fish and chips and a beer.
(2)Emily S.
Alec's by the Sea is okay. It's definitely a little bit pricey for the quality of the food, but the service was great and the dinner tasted pretty good. The fried zucchini appetizer was REALLY good - I actually liked it better than the meals we got. I wasn't a big fan of my dijon chicken - the lightly-breaded meat tasted great but the sauce was really heavy and there was way too much of it. The rice pilaf was really good, though. My husband's teriyaki chicken salad tasted pretty good, although there wasn't much chicken on it for the price of the meal - it was mostly lettuce. All in all, I think the prices of Alec's by the Sea ruined my expectations. Had each item on the menu been a couple of dollars cheaper I think I would have enjoyed our meal much more.
(3)Ellen H.
Excellent dinner. There were so many choices in all price ranges. Reasonably priced. There were five of us, one vegetarian. There was a separate vegetarian menu and also a gluten free menu. Many fresh seafood options, as well as steaks, sandwiches, burgers, etc. We all were very satisfied with our dinners. Service was very good. I highly recommend coming here when in Ocean Shores.
(5)Vicky C.
Good food and service...little slow with alcohol for a fair price... We recommend
(4)Marigene C.
well we were disapointed in the food..hubbys steak had grissle and fat..I ordered the choho salmon and it tasted like it had been cooked in liquid smoke..couldnt taste the salmon..yuck.The staff was charming and did bring me a piece of salmon that was cooked better..
(2)Pamela U.
We dined at Alec's this summer during a brief family vacation. My 7 yr old son had the Captain's Platter (this is an adult menu item). It was huge, full of all sorts of deep fried seafood. If you were to ask my son what the highlight of his summer has been, he would hands down tell you it was the Captains Platter. It was greasy and good. Big chunks of deep fried salmon and halibut, prawns, clams and even deep fried scallops (that's right, deep fried scallops.) He ate almost all of it, so much that he nearly made himself sick and had to go outside for some fresh air. If you're craving deep fried seafood like you used to get at the steak house back in the day, this is the spot. I had a Crab Louie. Sort of an old fashioned 1950's salad with iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, egg and loads of crab. Thousand island dressing on the side, just like mom used to make many moons (decades) ago. Yes, it's iceberg lettuce, and the tomatoes could have been more flavorful, but it was exactly what I expected. I took one look around the joint, the booths, the waitress with the poofy hair and sweet manner and knew that Crab Louie was right up their alley. And it was. The rest of our table had decent meals. My husband had some kind of steak with a baked potato and the little one had fish and chips. The waitress was wonderful and on top of things, if maybe a bit slow with the bill at the end of our meal. We had hot rolls and butter moments after sitting down and best of all, my glass of chardonnay was filled to the brim. Yay for me! This is Ocean Shores people. If you want creative food that's good without the use of a deep fryer, I think you need to head south to Cannon Beach or maybe some other foodie destination. This is a great place for kids who don't want complicated food or if you're with older people who like meat and a baked potato and lots of butter sauce on their fish. Simple food, relatively good with friendly service. This place is a solid 3 stars. We did wait for our booth, and it was a bit crowded but overall we left happy and with full tummies.
(3)Ben G.
Wow - this place was not good. First time I have written a review on Yelp, but felt compelled after spending $50 on one of the worst meals I have eaten in a while. My wife had the razor clams, which were a overly breaded, oily, soggy mess of goo, while my captains plate was reminiscent of something from the frozen food section. The table behind us left after waiting for over 10 minutes for a waitress to stop by. All in all, not worth a visit and definitely not recommended.
(1)John D.
If you like deep-fried to destruction dry seafood, this place is FOR YOU. One can be certain that any little crud or bacteria has been nuked to death by their fryer, but the Irish joint down the road is just plain better food. Ocean Shores is probably best enjoyed these days if you get a place with a kitchen and cook your own food...
(2)Jason J.
I work right next door at the grocery store and I send people to Alec's more than anywhere else. I've been here for 13 years and have heard only one complaint (about the service, not the food). This is easily the local favorite for seafood, pasta and steaks. The only competing restaurants are Mariah's and Home Port. Home Port has better prices but the food isn't as good. Mariah's is close in quality but not quite there and the prices are comparable. I worked at Mariah's for a long time too and didn't even take the free meals most of the time. The other two top places in town are Las Maracas (Mexican) and Lucky Dragon (Chinese).
(5)Liz C.
I am a "local" who used to love Alec's. That was a long time ago. Last three experiences -- spread over a couple of years because of dissatisfactions -- were poor but a gift certificate prompted us to try again. Mistake. I had chicken fettucini which was absolutely horrible, over herbed, funny textured chicken and glutenous sauce. Hubby had fish and chips which was very poor. Daughter had a small steak which she enjoyed. Service was bright and friendly but the food was not worth the trip. Prices were reasonable and the gift certificate helped. Sorry, Alec, last chance. No atmosphere at all.
(2)I l.
I think the for the area, this is as good as it gets. Pros- - Lytle's Oysters - these are great with the spicy cocktail sauce -Razor Clams - if you never had these, get them as an appetizer - be prepared to chew alot. - Marion Berry Pie- outstanding! - George ended up being the bartendar and waiter. Plenty of people came by to fill our water glasses and remove the plates fast. Cons - -Wine selection is only USA...which uses too many chemicals in their wine so that was a con for me -a bit of a wait -apparently you need to make a reservation or you will wait. We waiting around a lot of 'reserved' empty tables for 15 minutes before we had a seat. If I ever end up in this area, I would go back for the oysters and the pie!
(4)Spencer A.
Had heard a lot of mixed things about Alex's from my neighbors in OS, statements like, "upscale Denny's" kept me from trying them out. However a few weeks ago the wife and I decided to give it a try. We are both glad we did. The decor is a little dated..... as in it looks like you are time warping into 1992 (which for ocean shores is like 20 years more recent than most places). Decor aside, the food was really good, my wife had fried oysters and a side salad, oysters were done perfectly, salad was crisp and did not come out of a bag, which is rad. I had a small halibut and chips. Halibut was great, not too greasy, chips were crisp and salty, delicious. Our server was also very accommodating. Saw some of the non fried fish dishes and they also looked very good. Certain that I will return.
(4)Josh P.
Previous reviews are missleading. Definitely a tourist trap. This place is no more than an overpriced diner. Poor service, overpriced for the quality of food. 4 meals 2 appetizers 1 alcoholic beverage $135
(2)Otto R.
Good place to get some seafood. The soup was great, I had the pasta with shrimp. Clam chowder to die for. Much more bang for the buck compared to Home port. Will come back again :D
(4)Brent C.
Alec's was OK. Even on a Tuesday night, early, there was a 15-20 minute wait for a table. Service was very good. But the food was very hit or miss. The shrimp cocktail appetizer looked like a bowl of bait -- tiny shrimp in a cocktail glass already covered in sauce. So-so. The chowder was fine, though a little heavy and lacking in clam. The mixed seafood pasta special was light and well-prepared. The best dish was the razor clam strips, which were really well done and tasty, save for one element. The "tartar sauce" served on the side was this cold, white sludge that negated any taste of the clam and turned the whole thing into a cold, flavorless glob. Even though I didn't have to eat it, it was so foul that I almost took off another star for it alone. The blackberry crisp dessert was pretty good. One of the previous comments mentioned the wine glass, and, yes, the white wine was served in what was more of a dessert wine glass. It was filled to the brim, so they weren't skimping on volume, but it was weird to have it served as it was.
(3)Cal D.
We just ate at Alec's after having read the reviews and trying another area restaurant. Hostess was personable and efficient, even after just get slammed by a 16-top. The waitress was great. She new the menu backwards and forwards and could give us the pros and cons on several items. I went for the Red Snapper; my friend for the Razor Clams. Both dishes were seasoned appropriately and served hot. The blackberry crisp was just the right dessert for our meal.
(3)Sarah E.
this place is small. seats 57... so the sign says. the food is phenominal! just like your at someones house and they were cooking you breakfast. service was just as homey. order at the counter, pick a picnic bench and they will bring it to you. I will eat here every time.
(4)Pat H.
This has become our go-to place for razor clams. The side of steamed red potatoes here are better and the clams are not greasy as they are at Home Port. Great chowder. We've had holiday meals here and been satisfied. The service is always good.
(5)Kentt C.
Good food, but drinks are terrible, I went last weekend and only had 1, it tasted like syrup, no carbonation at all in the pop. ugh.
(2)Y A.
Edited 09-29-2013: The last few times my family and I have been to Alex's, we've bee disappointed in the food. This last time was the proverbial straw to break the camel's back. The Halibut Oscar is no longer on the menu and has been replaced with Cod Neptune. The cod in the dish was lovely, firm and cooked just right, but the bay shrimp over the top were cold and tasted fishy and like a can. There was a scant two tablespoons or so of a very dull attempt at Hollandaise sauce that taste more like cold, unsweetened and lumpy lemon pudding. My parents had the pot roast, which was only so-so. The veggies served with our dinners were the best thing about them, despite the fact that they were cold; at least they weren't limp and grey looking. I'm afraid Alex's is off of my list of places to eat in Ocean Shores until/if they go back to their former high standards. Unfortunately, we are fast running out of options in this town. Best prime rib in Ocean Shores! Make sure to call ahead to make sure they still have a rare cut if that's the way you like your prime rib, because it tends to go quickly. Their Halibut Oscar is absolutely to die for and has a very light, crispy pan fried breading and is topped with crab, asparagus and a truly lovely Hollandaise sauce. The pasta dishes are usually good also, but sometimes the pasta is a bit over cooked when the place is busy. The wait staff is fast, efficient and friendly.
(4)Wendy S.
We will never go here again. The Margarita tasted like pure lime juice. Way too close quarters. The food was horrid! Ordered Coho salmon and it was raw inside, had to send it back. Then when I got it finally and it was cooked, it had a funny taste like it was spoiled. Yuck. I ate the potato and some of the supposedly steamed veggies, although they were hard. Husband had chicken fettuccini, and very little chicken and too heavy on the pesto. Much better food and service over at Shilo's.
(1)Lori B.
If you are craving some really good clam chowder in a very family-oriented atmosphere, this is the spot. Best to go in the evening on your way out of town to warm your tummy. The rest of their food is mediocre- almost like Denny's. But I only go there when I need my chowder fix.
(4)Sandra B.
don't bother writing an unfavorable review. apparently if you do, it gets filtered and not counted in the rating, it also gets hidden. apparently yelp thinks if you disliked the food, someone is paying you to say so.
(1)C W.
I didn't have very high hopes of finding great food in this town, after all, everything's been here for decades and the entire town needs a facelift. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I had one of the best seafood platters I've ever eaten. HUGE tiger shrimp, excellent salmon, perfectly cooked scallops (which is always hard to get), all for $17. My daughter had a prime rib, which was cooked perfectly as well, all meat no fat/no grissle...an 8oz'er for $12 was a good deal.
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