A glance at Budd Bay Cafe's menu choices for Olympia Restaurant Week suggest the waterfront business of nearly 25 years chose to play it safe and offer classics like Seared Salmon, Rosemary Chicken Breast and Marinated Flank Steak.
But a closer look reveals the salmon is actually with wasabi cream and soy glaze, and is served with the delicate balance of jasmine rice.
"We definitely wanted to put salmon on the menu. We prepare it six or seven different ways," explains Pam Oates, manager. "And this is our most popular salmon dish. It's very well received."
And the chicken isn't just seared with rosemary; there is also shiitake mushrooms, 
artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes in a zesty wine sauce, served with a side of Yukon gold mashers.
"We chose this because it's like comfort food," says Oates.
Having a beef choice rounded out the menu, she adds.
The appetizer and dessert menus seem consistent with seafood/steakhouse fare, offering Crab Cake, Chowder or Caesar Salad for appetizer choice or Creme Brulee, Cheesecake or Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert.
Olympia Restaurant Week runs now through April 18 — Sunday-Thursday - participating restaurants offer three-course lunch and/or dinner menus for $15 and $25, respectively.
BUDD BAY CAFE, 6:30 A.M. TO 9 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY, 9:30 A.M. TO 9 P.M. SUNDAY, OLYMPIA RESTAURANT WEEK SUNDAY-THURSDAY, 525 COLUMBIA ST. NW, OLYMPIA, 360.357.6963