A new Oak Harbor eatery is taking a bite out of portion sizes and prices.
Located under Fraser’s Gourmet Hideaway on Dock Street, the small cafe Bites offers fresh, house-made sandwiches and snacks in minimal sizes intended for maximum tasting.
“This is how we like to eat,” said Jackie Lipstein, who opened the cafe with her wife Ryan Lipstein over a month ago. “It’s similar to tapas, you get all sorts of yummy bites.”
Though the eatery has been open since April, they will be holding a grand opening 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 17. With a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m., the event will feature samples and promotional prizes.
“At Bites we are all about pleasing your palate,” the Lipsteins state on Bites’ Facebook page. “You can enjoy many menu items at affordable prices.”
Lipstein said they have always cooked food and have offered street fare at local festivals for a few years now. They also plan to participate at the Oak Harbor farmer’s market.
Now with the brick and mortar location, the Lipsteins are seeing a steady increase in faithful followers who appreciate their flavors and their portions.
“We’re building steadily,” Lipstein said.
The endeavor is a part-time business for the Lipsteins, who share the cooking. Ryan Lipstein is a United States history teacher at Oak Harbor High School. Jackie Lipstein is a CT and MRI tech at Whidbey General Hospital.
The Lipsteins have two daughters.
The menu features items like Panzella salad, cucumber salmon bites and crostini, along with classics like a pressed Cuban sandwich and a marinated pork Bahn Mi sandwich.
Sweet bites include a lemon custard tart, a triple chocolate cookie and mini cupcakes.
None of the food items are over $3.
Lipstein said she learned to love tapas-style eating on visits to Barcelona, “one of my favorite places to travel.”
While some of their fare is not Spanish per se, the Lipsteins love the idea of being able to taste multiple things at one sitting.
Customers appear to agree, according to employee Alana Acosta, a senior next year at OHHS.
“I hear a lot of good things about the Cuban (sandwich),” said Acosta, “The potato salad is good too. My mom is addicted to the potato salad.”
