Everyday is an adventure at Oystertale. Only hiring good teammates. You know, the type that laughs a lot, pulls their weight, treats people nice and brings you treats to start the day…
Hi there, We're O Y S T E R T A L E. The San Juan Island's cutest little oyster bar designed to casually spoil you with great locally sourced oysters and other fabled bounty from the region. We've got great wine, cocktails, seafood and other good stuff too. We are looking for kitchen and service folks to join our tight-knit team.
The San Juan Islands are a world-class destination in the summer with many fellow seasonal workers around, making it an easy community to embed in for the duration of your work. This island steals hearts with its beauty, opportunity, and great community. Many end up staying. We are a ferry or plane ride away from the mainland, nestled between Seattle, Vancouver BC, and Victoria BC.
About O Y S T E R T A L E
Hi there, we’re O Y S T E R T A L E. The San Juan Island’s cutest little oyster bar. We are located on the docks in the heart of Friday Harbor, steps away from the ferry landing.
Join our tight-knit bunch of normal and fun folks banding together to create an enjoyable place to work and serve. Working with us means starting the day with a friendly team huddle and snack (because we all need snacks), then opening the doors for happy hour and dinner/after dinner crowds. Our hours are 4-10pm 6 days a week, which means if you are on the kitchen staff you’ll be starting at 11am or 3pm with end times of 7-11pm. Or you’ll be out front shucking, serving, cleaning, and smiling with a sliding start time of 2-5pm / ending 8:30-11:30. We like our people to work the same days each week with the option to switch shifts with fellow teammates if needed. This way you know your days off well in advance and can make plans accordingly. We want you to be able to
enjoy your time in the area. We do ask that requested days off are kept to a minimum between Memorial Day and Labor Day to keep the weight equally distributed for our team. Part time work is available if you are looking for more flexibility, but housing for full time employees will be given preference.
We desire Oystertale’s reputation to be that of kindness and camaraderie.
High-Level Strategy:
Create a desirable workplace
Create a memorable food & bev experience
Create a memorable service experience
Launched by Ashley and Robbie Rech, a husband-wife team of entrepreneurs who have done other ventures in food and hospitality in the past, enjoy adventures of all kinds, and are currently raising their two little boys Konrad and Elias on the island year round.
The Employee Experience
OYSTERTALE provides a fast-paced work environment with a tight-knit team. We work hard together to create memorable experiences for our guests, and in the mean time it becomes the same with our team. Whether its the daily "push", the team meals, or the occasional "official" outing, you will be part of a team with high expectations of ourselves for excellence and service.
Not at work? Friday Harbor is the heart of the stunningly beautiful San Juan Islands, home to some of the best whale watching, kayaking, boating, beach combing and hiking experiences available in America. All water activities can be launched steps away from our front door. Our islands have some wonderful local hikes, and for the more adventurous, the Cascade mountains are only 2.5 hours away with world class hiking experiences.
San Juan Island has a protected side, perfect for learning to kayak, sail or stand up paddle boarding. It also has the famous, and more rugged, west side with iconic views in every direction (often with pods of wild orcas swimming by).
You won't be out at the bars until 2am, but Friday Harbor boasts several nightlife options, all with our relaxed, "island living" vibe. Several hundred seasonal workers arrive each season, along with loads of tourists, creating plenty of opportunities to mix with locals, tourists and seasonal adventurers alike. And for those wanting to explore the cities, both Seattle and Vancouver, Canada are about 1.5 hours from the Anacortes ferry terminal.
Ideal Candidate
We are only hiring those looking to be a good teammate. You know, the type that laughs a lot, pulls their weight, treats people nice and brings you treats to start the day. Pay starts at $18 for servers and line cooks / $20-$30 for a Kitchen Manager (potential year-round position). Affordable housing in a great fully furnished house in town available if needed.
We are specifically looking for a talented someone to manage our kitchen, and a couple outgoing personalities to serve, shuck, pour, clean, learn, fold, fill, count, smile, and above all else, contribute their fine skills to our establishment.
Seasonal workers need to be available Memorial Day - Labor Day minimum, with opportunity to start as early as May 1st and work through the end of October. (Potential year-round work available).
Room and Board
Priority housing reserved at fully furnished staff home. Private room. Shared kitchen and living space. 3 blocks from town center. $700-$850/mo.
Employee Perks
- Rare nice affordable housing priority in town.
- Employees get a coffee bevie on us from our friends next door at RipTide Cafe before each shift (or to have on standby during your shift).
- Set schedule so you know what days you'll be working and what days you'll have off so you can plan epic adventures around the islands.
- Lucrative tip pool shared by a small team / you do the math...
- Shift meal and snacks
- Opportunity to taste and learn a ton about wine.
- Field trip to the farms around the island to see where the food we are serving comes from.
- Oyster shucking training
- Mixology / Cocktail training
- Opportunity to work extra events we will be hosting around the island (like on cool boats, piers, and at beautiful vineyards etc)
- 2 double kayaks available to use for employees to explore by sea.
Getting Here and Getting Around
The San Juan Islands are accessed by a public ferry system, accessed in Anacortes, WA. Friday Harbor is roughly a 1 hour ferry ride (depending on stops at other islands) and the ferry runs 6-8 times per day. Cost is $15 round trip if walking on, or $55 for car+driver.
Friday Harbor can also be accessed via float plane as well, connected to Sea Tac airport (https://fridayharborseaplanes.com/ or https://kenmoreair.com/).
Once on the island, you may or may not feel the need for a car. The ferry landing is in Friday Harbor. Housing and OYSTERTALE are in town. You can reach any place on the island within 10-12 miles of town. So a bike or e-bike might be just the thing. But exploring the island and its beauty is a must regardless the mode of transport you choose.
Getting around Northwest Washington in general is best by car. Within 2 hours drive are 3 major cities (Seattle, Bellingham and Vancouver, BC), as well as countless small towns and some amazing mountains. Victoria BC on Vancouver Island is our neighbor to the northwest and can be seen easily across the Straight from the west side of the island. Endless outdoor and metropolitan adventures to be had in the area.
For Fun
The San Juan Islands are a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. The temperature is high 70s (feels more like 80s) making it perfect all day to do just about anything you'd like outside. Kayaking, boating, hiking, sun-bathing at one of the many beautiful beaches, foraging, gardening, sailing, fishing, and the list goes on. This is a playground for active people. A choose your own adventure of sorts. You are also at the gateway of Canada's British Columbia and both Vancouver the city and the island. A typical day on San Juan begins with an early or not so early rise. rendevous in town for coffee and breakast. Followed by adventure 1 of the day. Then you regroup and cook out fresh seafood on the beach, while someone plays the guitar and beach volleyball in the background. It's not dark until 10pm here, so you have ample daylight to have several adventures each day. Oylmpic and North Cascade National Parks are in the area as well, but do require some travel to access.
How to Apply
Email your resume and cover letter to robbie@oystertale.com. For the cover letter, nothing fancy. Just tell us why you think you would be a great team member and what interests you most about OYSTERTALE.