A downtown treasure and a spectacle in Port Orchard’s fine-dining scene closed its doors Nov. 30 after 13 1/2 years in business.

It’s hard to pass through downtown without recognizing the rustic, yet classy look of the Bay Street Bistro, which has boasted its local food sourcing and traditional flavors of the Northwest and Italian influences since 2010. It has been considered by many as a perfect spot for date nights and celebrations, and its food has often been considered among the best in Western Washington.

Brady and Deanna Miller have owned the Bistro for over 8 1/2 years, most notably helping orchestrate a two-year expansion effort to triple the size of the restaurant and turn its smaller bar section into a high-ceiling cocktail area by 2019.

“Since 2015, we’ve strived to create a dynamic warm environment where (the) community connected alongside delectable cuisine, wine and crafted cocktails,” the Bistro Team wrote in an online statement. “Over this time, we hosted 450 themed Sunday suppers and 70 wine dinners, each a testament to the bonds we’ve shared.”

The Bistro has also been through its fair share of challenges, including closures brought on by the COVID pandemic.