About The AJAX Café
The AJAX Café is a dinner house in Lower Hadlock, a small village a few miles south of Port Townsend. It describes itself as a little out of the way, and that is part of the appeal: a relaxed dining room, craft cocktails and a list of beer and wine, a short drive from the busier Port Townsend waterfront.
The menu, designed by Chef Erick Iglesias, mixes Northwest seafood with smoked meats and global flavors. Starters include crab cakes, the house clam chowder, roasted Brussels sprouts with spiced pecans and a mezze plate. Mains range from porter-braised smoked brisket with cheesy grits and slow-smoked ribs to shrimp and scallop étouffée, a Spanish seafood stew and an elk burger with bacon jam. Vegan enchiladas and a tofu bowl give plant-based diners real choices, and many dishes are marked gluten-free or dairy-free.
Dinner is served Thursday through Monday evenings. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged; booking on their website is the fastest way to confirm, and voicemail requests are called back when staff are free. The restaurant also hosts large groups and private events.
The Sequim lavender farms are about 40 minutes west by road, so a summer day can start in the fields at Jardin du Soleil and end with dinner here. Lavender Wind Farm on Whidbey Island is closer as the crow flies but requires the ferry from Port Townsend.
What to do
- Start with the house clam chowder or crab cakes
- Order the smoked, porter-braised brisket or the Spanish seafood stew
- Choose from vegan dishes like the enchiladas or tofu bowl
- Book a large-group dinner or private event
Season, hours and prices
- Hours
- Dinner Thursday–Monday, 4–8 pm (as posted in 2026)
Good to know
- Reservations
- Recommended
Tips for your visit
- Book on their website for the quickest confirmation; phone messages are returned when staff are available.
- It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Coming from Whidbey Island? Allow time for the Port Townsend ferry.
Pair it with a lavender farm
Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm · about 40 minutes away
Spend a summer afternoon in the Sequim lavender fields, then drive about 40 minutes east for dinner in Lower Hadlock.
Getting there
Questions
What nights is The AJAX Café open?
Thursday through Monday for dinner.
Do I need a reservation?
Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are encouraged.
Are there vegan options?
Yes, including vegan enchiladas, a tofu bowl and grilled eggplant.
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
