5 /5 Ann / SeattleMaven: I’ve generally found that restaurants positioned near ferry lines — especially the ones where people wait for hours — rarely serve up anything worth the wait. But I’m so glad I ignored that instinct and gave Callen’s a chance!
We were glamping nearby, and the idea of having someone else do the cooking sounded heavenly. What I didn’t expect was to find a menu this creative and inviting — a lineup that ran the gamut from seafood classics to playful sandwiches.
I went for the spicy chicken sandwich, which turned out to be an absolute beast — the kind you have to unhinge your jaw to tackle. It was stacked with all my favorite guilty pleasures: smoky bacon, slices of fresh jalapeño, and a tangy slaw that brought everything together with a zippy crunch. Every bite was this perfect storm of heat, salt, and sweet that had me grinning like a fool.
My husband went his usual route — a wedge salad — but this wasn’t your run-of-the-mill iceberg situation. Callen’s version was a showstopper: crisp lettuce piled high with oven-roasted cherry tomatoes, shards of candied bacon that shattered like toffee, and a blanket of their house-made bleu cheese dressing that was creamy, sharp, and completely irresistible.
Our campsite may have offered the peace and beach I was craving, but it’ll be Callen’s that lures me back next summer. Ferry traffic or not, this little spot is absolutely worth the detour.
