Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe

Suleiry Matos

2024-05

We originally came to visit a different restaurant across the way but they were closed because of the rainy weather so we came across the street to Swiftwater cafe and it was okay… nice person in the front the chowder is great the fries are good the fish and chips and half and half are good it wasn’t out of this world but it wasn’t bad at all the fish from fish n chips much better then the fish from half and half but good at the end of the day. I prefer a more beer batter for fish n chips but it was not bad. Would have left an extra star but it was freezing no heat hard to eat in a cold place but again nothing wrong with the food

Rob Cone-Clark

2024-05

…More

Anresa Chavez

2024-05

Scenery great a bit small but seating outside but not great during rainy season. Food awful! The crab legs were $50 and tasted like last years frozen catch! Halibut was ok but not anything to say WOW! 2 small pieces with microwaved fries…Tasted more like packaged Bar food! Have to say, I wouldn’t recommend. Sorry for not adding pictures! But just ready to leave!

Skyler Spartan

2023-10

…More

hendra yaputra

2023-09

One of the best Halibut and chips.Please try if you explore this area.Quite busy at lunch time.No problem if you are not in a hurry, because you can enjoy the beautiful scenery behind the restaurant area.Recommended for all families.Thank you for beautiful lady who served all the customers with lovely smile😊. Will come back again.Parking: Around the restaurant area.

Laura Thomas

2023-06

We loved our lunch at Swiftwater yesterday. We ordered the crab cakes and two half and half fry baskets (half shrimp and half halibut). The shrimp was the best part and we both wished we had ordered more of it! The fries were very similar to McDonald's, which is high praise in my opinion. The perfect mix of soft, crunchy and salty. The Patio overlooking the harbor was the best spot in Whittier!

Greg Davis

2023-05

Nice refuge from the wind and rain, can't believe they stayed open in such bad weather. I was going to rate this place three stars, but they get an extra star for being open :) The interior was cozy and cute, with a nautical theme (obviously). The portion sizes were ok for the price. Not the best shrimp basket (shrimps were small and slightly over cooked), but the fish on the fish and chips plate was great, nice thick chunks of perfectly fried fresh cod. I would prefer thicker cut french fries with fish and chips, the fires here were thin. The lady running the place was very nice and served everyone with a smile. Mainly bar stool seating inside with only one table with actual chairs.

Ronil Sawant (Californiaaa_baybae)

2024-05

…More

Veronica Griffith

2023-06

…More

Nick Giersdorf

2023-06

Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe in Whittier, Alaska is a must-visit for seafood lovers. The halibut served at the restaurant is simply incredible - perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. The restaurant's friendly staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest has a pleasant dining experience.What makes Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe stand out is the feeling of an authentic local experience. From the decor to the food, everything about the restaurant feels truly Alaskan.The restaurant's location next to the water adds to the ambiance. Overall, Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe is definitely worth a visit for anyone who finds themselves in Whittier, Alaska.

Gabriella

2023-05

A quick, fun little spot for lunch. Clam Chowder is just delicious. The Calamari was well prepared as well and the Halibut Sandwich was fresh although not spectacular. The Fries were skinny and not my favorite. I would definitely recommend that you stop in for some Chowder!!

Anid De

2023-07

…More

Jenny Lynd

2024-05

We always enjoy eating here when visiting Whittier. We were pleasantly surprised by the new ramp into the restaurant. This made it so much easier for my husband who uses a wheelchair.Wheelchair accessibility: The new ramp is great!

Virginia McLean

2023-05

Ridiculously expensive food and not that great. The halibut and chips was $24 and the fish was just okay (taste was fine, it was very thin and not much of it). Good beer selection. Some of the tables are 'family style' and elbow-to-elbow seating area. Limited covered-porch seating is available and a few bar-level counter seats that look out onto parking lot. Sort of a typical dockside fish place with high prices.

Alex Palmer

2023-05

Had an excellent lunch here while waiting to board our cruise ship. The food was delicious! The outdoor space with tables was a perfect place to sit and eat. It was a beautiful day while we were there, but the outdoor space would even be nice on a rainy day, as it has a roof. There are also places inside to sit, and a restroom is available to customers. The picnic tables outside along the walkway also belong to Swiftwater, and we moved out there after finishing our food to sit (for 2-3 hours) while waiting for our boarding time. No one asked us to move (as all of the tables weren’t filled), and we had a really nice afternoon here.

MJ

2020-05

Adorably delicious! What a cool little place in a super cool small town. We stopped when we came off the ferry to grab lunch and it was quick enough to allow us to catch the open tunnel..just when we wanted to! Delicious food, amazing sweet attitude and fantastic view from the patio. Not cheap, but good is never cheap. Enjoy!

Darrion Winso

2023-09

…More

Maria Teresa Quinlan

2024-05

Fabulous chowder and fish. Was so comforting on a cold rainy day like today!! Whittier is a wonderful little spot, off the beaten track and we came here from the other side of the world! Thumbs up 👍 for Varly’s 😋

Scott Coble

2023-06

…More

Chad Odom

2023-05

WORST fish & chips I've ever had in my life!! $24.99 for 2 pieces of "halibut" and 6 pieces of small shrimp. I say "halibut" because it was not halibut. I've cooked and eaten a lot of halibut in my life and this was definitely NOT halibut. It was small, thin, dry, stringy, and had some tiny rainbow oil colors in the white meat. I was disappointed with the shrimps too as they were small. After eating here I read some of the recent reviews and it seems that the restaurant changed owners and everything has changed for the worst. Totally riding the coat tails of the previous owners and reviews. I 100% recommend NOT to waste your money here. Even the French fries sucked. And for some dumb reason they HID the ketchup packets underneath the paper sheet with all the fries so we didn't find the ketchup till we ate all the fries. Same for my wife's food too. Terrible place.

Sarah Nichols

2022-05

I went here on a recommendation from the family that runs the Portage Glacier gift shop, and it was a good decision. The food was good—seafood, burgers, chowder, and Caesar salad—and the decor included a lot of interesting historic info about ships on Prince William Sound. I particularly liked the wall of shipwrecks … fascinating stories! Before leaving, I bought a lovely doll made by an Alaskan native woman as a gift for my daughter.

LeAnn Moss

2022-05

Heard about the restaurant while researching Whittier on YouTube. Everyone said to give it a try, they loved it. They were correct, yum. Did the traditional fish and chips with an Alaskan beer... yum. Fish was fresh caught in the area, breaded, seasoned and fried fresh. Took my takeout lunch to the patio next door to eat with a friend who was gettingseafood cowder from there. The views of the mountains, wildlife and water speak for themselves at both locations. Cool trip off the beaten path 😎. Don't expect the typical tourist destination.

Sean Lai

2022-05

Came here for dinner in early July 2021. Fairly small shop but offers good variety of selection. Price was a bit high, but I guess that's expected given the limited competition in the small town of Whittier. Ordered half/half fish & shrimp plate ($23.99), a coke ($1.5), and a Corona beer ($6). Food was decent but nothing special in particular. Good place to grab a quick bite.

Casey Bollinger

2023-09

…More

RS Bee

2023-05

Great little restaurant! Fresh catch, hand breaded and cooked when ordered. The halibut was delicious. Nice outside deck with a nice view.

Derek

2023-05

Fantastic food and great views! This is about the only place in town but thank goodness it is delicious. The food was hot and fresh and it came out super fast. Patio is great for some views while chowing down.

Steven Beveridge

2023-06

…More

Christopher Grace

2022-05

I really want to give this place a better review. The atmosphere was nice, the employees were friendly, and this is a nice spot. That's where the positives stop. Took over 30 mins to receive my food, which for a fried food joint is a little long. The serving size to price was outrageous. I paid over $30 for a half and half basket and a beer. The size of the shrimp and halibut was sad. I'm not even sure there was enough halibut in the pieces to enjoy the fish. I get that this is a small town, and that it does a lot of tourist business, so I could almost forgive the high prices, if the food was better. I hope that this was an off day, based on previous reviews, i would like to try it again.

Wes Nemec

2022-05

Fyi, pretty much everything on the menu here is fried (except the hamburger I guess), and is not terribly high quality. Three stars awarded for cool decor inside the restaurant and amazing views of the sound outside. Food was edible, nothing special. Reminded me of cafeteria food. Fine to pop in if you want something quick and want chicken strips or basic fish and chips. I got the fish sandwich and was not impressed. Two tiny fish filets which were mostly breading, one tomato, lettuce and a little sauce on a bun, not toasted or anything. It was edible but just a bit drab. I had some onion rings as well which again were mostly just a ring of breading with a tiny, translucent sliver of onion ring inside. My companion got fish and chips and described them as adequate. French fries were the best part and were just basic normal french fries. The fish sandwich was one of the less expensive items on the menu at $14, which I do not feel is good value. They do have Alaskan beers which is nice. And there is a sign saying all cod and halibut served is caught locally which is nice. Maybe if you get a different menu item you will enjoy it more.

Bobby Sampson Jr.

2020-05

The food was great and I felt full. We had Irish cheesecake and Hawaiian cheesecake both were great! The inside is small but the outdoor sitting is makes up for the size. The workers were nice and generous. I'm from Mississippi and this is a most definitely recommended place to go to visiting Whittier, Alaska.