Many were sad when King Solomon’s Reef restaurant in Olympia closed about two years ago. The 4th Avenue space had long been a place for families and the community, says Sam Dinsmore, co-owner of The Reef Restaurant, which opened in the same spot in June 2024. He adds that the fact that the space was so well-known and popular in the community was an important factor when he and co-owners Ryan Perkins, Noah Murry and Jiana Hook chose this location for their restaurant.
“We really enjoyed exploring the history of the place as we worked on our design, our menus and the atmosphere we wanted the place to have for the next generation of guests,” says Sam. “We are very keen to preserve the past while evolving the place with our food, our design and our aesthetic.”
Seafood restaurant in Olympia has close ties to the South Sound
““Each of us was born and raised in Olympia,” says Sam. “Ryan and I have known each other since kindergarten in Boston Harbor.” The group’s deep connection to the region means they know what their customers want – including fresh, local seafood.
It all started in 2021 when Ryan and Sam opened The Oyster Boys Catering. They often discussed opening a restaurant to offer their fresh, local oysters. “Ryan grows some of the best oysters in the state and we knew we wanted to offer his Cliff Point Pacific oysters like we had in the catering business,” Sam says, “but we also didn’t want to just turn The Reef into an oyster bar.”
It couldn’t just be any place either. It had to be just right. “We wanted a place where we could create a very family-friendly environment,” says Sam. “We’re raising young families and we remember growing up in the city and loving going downtown for food. Creating a place for families like ours was a major driver in the process. We never thought the Reef would be a great option until we had the opportunity to see the place and the wheels started turning!”
Then it was time to get to work. Sam said the space didn’t need much – the building had good structure and a lot of history. “It took us a couple of months to clean and clear out everything unnecessary,” he adds. “During that process, we started putting the design together. With a lot of help and input from friends, family and our community, we were able to get everything done much faster than we ever expected.”
The family-friendly Olympia Restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner
They knew from the start that they wanted to keep the space as a diner serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. And not just oysters, as Sam had mentioned, but something for everyone in the family, regardless of their tastes. With that in mind, they offer everything from chicken wings and burgers to fried chicken sandwiches and coconut kimchi fried rice with roast pork. Or try the fried maitake mushroom burger! They make all of their own sauces, marinades and dressings. And they focus on local and fresh produce, which means the menu changes with the season.
“Building relationships with local farmers is also paramount to us in shaping our menus,” says Sam. “We currently work closely with Lady Berry Produce in Boston Harbor to produce produce on a weekly basis and plan to expand this collaboration once we are established.”
Wondering what to order? Customer favorites include kimchi fried rice, fried chicken sandwich, and carne asada fries. Brunch favorites include katsu chicken fried steak with house-made green chorizo sauce or their breakfast burrito, the Baby Burrito at Deep Blue Reef.
They are working on their website. For now you can follow The Reef Restaurant on Facebook or Instagram.
The Reef Restaurant
212 4th Avenue E, Olympia
360.489.0124
Monday, 11am – 8pm
Wednesday-Thursday, 11am – 10pm
Friday, all-day menu 11am – 10pm, late-night menu 10pm – 2am
Saturday brunch 8am – 1pm, all-day menu 1pm – 10pm, late-night menu 10pm – 2am
Sunday brunch 8am – 1pm, all-day menu 1pm – 8pm
