Our Story
The move to develop an outdoor seafood restaurant was a natural progression for Jerry Gordon, having been a fly fisherman (from birth, we think), as well as a commercial fisherman, an owner of a retail fish and poultry store, and an owner of a popular Italian/seafood restaurant on the Alameda, California waterfront. However, for his partner, Nancy, perhaps not a natural progression, but the financial side of the business was a natural for her background as a Wall Street investment banker.
When Jerry and Nancy first arrived on San Juan Island over thirty years ago, there were only a few restaurants, none of which specialized in serving seafood. The wooden decks, providing a panoramic view of Friday Harbor and its water traffic, seemed a perfect spot to develop an outdoor, casual, relaxed restaurant environment, similar to the tiki hut atmosphere of many island destinations to which they had travelled. And so, the beginning of Friday’s Crabhouse started twenty-six years ago.
The menu has expanded over time to include local Dungeness crab, oysters, steamed clams and mussels, selections of grilled fish and crabcakes, hamburgers, fish tacos, salads, and a full rooftop bar with expansive views. And of course our hand filleted fish and chips with a lightly seasoned bread crumb coating is loved by all. So bring yourselves, your kids, and even your pets to enjoy our food and views.