Editor’s note: This story is part of Puget Press’ Local Spotlight series, where we highlight independently owned restaurants across Western Washington.
Step off the Port Townsend ferry and follow your nose — chances are, it’ll lead you straight to Tommyknocker’s Cornish Pasty, a cozy pub-meets-gastropub tucked inside a single-story brick building just down Water Street.
Here, the air is tinged with saltwater from the bay and the warm, savory aroma of pasties baking in the oven.
A Global Story, Rooted in One Crimped Pastry
Co-owners Thomas and Nikki Skipper didn’t just open a restaurant back in 2019 — they brought their personal histories to the table. For Thomas, whose family hails from England, Cornish pasties were a childhood favorite.
For Nikki, who grew up in the Philippines, empanadas played a similar role. Together, they fused those food memories into something distinctly Port Townsend: hearty, flavorful pasties paired with a laid-back, waterfront vibe.
Both bring serious culinary cred, too. Nikki trained in Manila and cooked in kitchens from Maine to Vail, drawing inspiration from travels to Spain, Japan, Italy, and beyond.
Thomas, meanwhile, managed Manhattan restaurants, ate his way across 33 countries, and — fun fact — once worked as a hard rock miner in Colorado. (Fitting, since Cornish folklore says “Tommyknockers” were spirits who warned miners of danger — pasties in hand, of course.)
What’s on the Menu?
If you think pasties begin and end with beef and potatoes, think again. Sure, the Traditional Steak pasty (grass-fed beef, potatoes, turnips, onions, brown sauce) is a fan favorite, but so are twists like the Chicken & Ricotta with pomodoro sauce and the Lamb & Mint pasty with mango chutney.
But the menu stretches well beyond the pastry crust. There’s smoked salmon linguine in a lemon cream sauce, English pub spaghetti, and hearty pub fare like vegan shepherd’s pie pasties, BBQ pulled pork sliders, and the pub-popular Big Dawg — a housemade banger sausage on a hoagie bun with Cajun mustard.
Vegans and gluten-free diners are spoiled for choice, too.
Yelpers can’t stop raving about the crab mac & cheese, with one diner insisting, “…seriously run, don’t walk for the crab mac ‘n cheese.” Another swears by the vegan crab cake sandwich, calling it “BOMB” with all caps enthusiasm.
Patio Pints & Peek-a-Boo Water Views
Inside, it feels like your neighborhood pub — cozy, casual, and full of chatter. Outside, the patio comes with peek-a-boo water views and salty sea breezes, where dogs are welcome to lounge while their humans dig in.
With sustainability in mind, everything is made from scratch, sourced locally and organically when possible — one more reason locals and ferry-goers alike make it a must-stop.
As Thomas likes to say, raising a pint with a grin: “Cheers, to you friends.”
📍 Tommyknocker’s Cornish Pasty
711 Water St. in Port Townsend
Open daily, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Find out more on its website.
