Sail into Olympia for some of the best smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and tacos around at Halyard’s Cafe.
Guided by a combined love of sailing and hearty grub, Rob Bessey and Courtney Sanders opened their unique space amid a quasi-resurgence of Olympia’s historic downtown last summer.
Situated beside the venerable Eastside Club Tavern, Bessey and Sanders initially began serving their tasty fare to customers through a decades-old pass-through window. Now, their kitchen serves customers who want to dine in or take their food to go.
Guests can experience provisions from the intimate old-school vibe of Halyard’s 15-seat diner-style counter covered in nautical charts. The cozy spot is bedecked with sailing-themed décor from floor to ceiling. You might catch them spinning vinyl on their turntable, too.
Mostly everything is made in-house with quality local goods; sauces, mayonnaise, and buns are among the highlights. A generous selection of beer and wine by the can also is available.
“Olympia has definitely been on hard times for quite a while, but thankfully, there’s been a new wave of businesses coming in,” Bessey said. “Everybody’s been complaining for a long time, myself included, so I figured, ‘Why not put my money where my mouth is?’”
406 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
