Our plan for the day started with a leisurely stroll and ended with a beer at Diamond Knot’s Camano Island location.
The combination was perfect. The beer was tasty, and a perfect reward after a walk at Cama Beach.
I’ve visited Diamond Knot’s other locations in Mukilteo, but was excite
d to discover they had a location on Camano Island as well. The ranger at Cama Beach State Park directed my friends and me there when we asked for a lunch suggestion.
After taking a slow drive around the island to admire the scenery, we took her advice. We settled in and debated appetizers, finally settling on garlic fries ($3.99 during happy hour, 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday).
The fries — a full pound of them — were an all-around hit.
Garlic fries can be overwhelming, but these were garlicy without being suffocating. The green onions went well with them, and add a bit of green and crunch. We decided the fries would go great with blue cheese. However, by the time the waitress returned we’d eaten them all. So we never found out for sure. And, clearly, since they vanished so quickly, we enjoyed them.
For my meal, I ordered a smoked salmon quesadilla ($8.50). The quesadilla was surprisingly filling and made for an affordable meal. It included smoked salmon, red onions, capers, black olives and cheddar cheese in a garlic-and-herb tortilla, with a glob of sour cream on the top. The capers were a good touch and added a pleasant tang.
My friend ordered a fish sandwich. She enjoyed it, but said it wasn’t particularly memorable.
I also ordered a small house salad ($3.29), but it was nothing special, serviceable but not interesting.
I may have done better with one of the other salad offerings. They offer more interesting — and more expensive — salads ($6.99): Caesar, bacon cheddar ranch, honey mustard spinach, Greek feta and blue cheese overload. The menu says these salads are large enough to share as an appetizer, or to eat on your own for a meal.
The brown ale was excellent. I’ve always thought Diamond Knot brews good beer, and this was no exception. It was just a little bit sweet with a malty flavor, just the thing for some garlic fries and quesadillas.
My friend ordered an India Pale Ale. The waitress accidentally brought her a honey cream ale first, which she thought was a bit tasteless, especially when she was expecting an IPA. The IPA, though, she said was nice and hoppy.
The restaurant, like the location on the Mukilteo waterfront, also offers a variety of stone-grilled menu items, including sandwiches, meat and seafood.
The people at the next table over were enjoying some meat on the stone, and it was making a satisfying sizzling noise. There’s also a selection of pizzas, calzones and pasta.
You’d have a hard time not finding something to enjoy.
I did make one mistake with my meal. I decided I’d had enough and didn’t order the brownie with stout ice cream. If you go, I suggest you don’t make the same mistake. In fact, tell me how you like it.
Diamond Knot Camano Lodge
170 E. Cross Island Road, Camano Island; 360-387-9972; www.diamondknot.com/Camano/index.html
Specialty: American
Hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Alcohol: Full bar
Vegetarian options: Many, including Boca burgers
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