THE WORD “HAVEN” brings about feelings of safety,
comfort, and respite—and it’s an apt descriptor for
Lopez Island’s Haven Kitchen & Bar. This tranquil,
nautical-themed restaurant specializes in cuisine both comforting and gourmet, and patrons enjoy their meals alongsidean unparalleled view of the Salish Sea.
Haven was established a decade ago by Owners JK and
Mariah Honeywell, both of whom are deeply involved in the
Lopez community as business owners, parents, and even volunteer firefighters. But before they became residents, JK’s family vacationed on Lopez for 60 years—or, as Mariah puts it,
“ever since his Grandma Phyllis piled the six Honeywell kids
in the car and took them camping that first year.” Grandma
Phyllis’ weekly cooking ritual with JK was also responsible
for his love of cooking.
“The rules were simple: Grandma would pay for any
groceries needed for the weekly dinner, and they would cook
something difficult,” Mariah says. “They would … spend the
evening talking about food, cooking, and drinking much better wine than he could afford in his twenties.”
Now the Honeywells strive to apply that same sense
of comfort to their restaurant, and the result is an
ambiance that Mariah says is meant to make you feel
at home (or at your grandmother’s house). Haven has
upgraded locations twice in 10 years, but some things
have remained the same: JK is the chef and runs back
of house, whereas Mariah manages the front of house,
serves tables, and shakes up cocktails, “just as it’s been
since the beginning.”
The menu at Haven stays mostly consistent, though they
offer weekly specials to keep things fresh, and certain items
rotate depending on the season. The Honeywells build their
menu around dishes that speak to them, and they aren’t afraid
of getting creative when the opportunity arises.
“We try to support our local fisherman, foragers and
farmers as much as we can; we make things in-house,”
Mariah says. “Sometimes we get some great meat or produce
and build a new recipe around it, sometimes they are family recipes that have been around for years. Sometimes my
dad makes a dish and texts me a picture saying, ‘I think this
would be great at Haven.’”
Our meal began with perfectly golden-crisp Dungeness
Crab Cakes ($25) and—my personal favorite—Mushrooms
and Toast ($16). The latter featured buttery foraged mushrooms, crostini, and a jammy egg tied together with a sprinkle of Hawaiian volcanic sea salt.
We also sampled three cocktails during our visit: the
Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour ($12), Spicy Mezcalita ($12),
and the Arugula Martini ($14). While I loved the subtle kick
of the Mezcalita, the unique flavor and peppery bite of the Arugula Martini stood out the most.
Moving on to main courses, the Gamberoni Linguine ($32) consisted of fresh pasta, spot prawns, and marinated tomatoes. These heavier flavors were perfectly balanced by a bright and fresh basil pesto. However, the star of the show was the Miso Ginger Halibut ($36). The halibut’s panko crust perfectly contrasted with its flaky, near buttery flesh, and a shiitake mushroom broth added additional umami without overpowering the delicate flavors of the fish and bok choy.
All in all, dinner at Haven was the cherry on top of our alreadyidyllic stay on Lopez — so if you’re headed to the San Juan Islands this summer, make sure to pay the Honeywells a visit.
“Come dressed up for a special occasion and watch the sun set over the water, or pop into the bar to have a quick drink and a pizza,” invites Mariah. “We welcome everyone.”
