Your visit to Cafe Aurora will be fun, welcoming, and memorable. From the moment you walk in, you'll feel our vibrant energy and enthusiasm—we're genuinely glad you came!
Meet our team at the counter to order from a wide selection of upscale Contemporary American dishes. We feature simple, thoughtfully prepared meals made with fresh ingredients. Don’t know what to order? Not a problem. Our team is more than happy to make suggestions and point out their favorites.
Whether you're looking for a new go-to destination, a menu for every taste and budget, or the perfect spot for your next special event, Cafe Aurora has something for everyone.
Co-founders, chefs, and husband-and-wife Andrew Martin and Amy Nack began to settle on Orcas Island in 2021 and were immediately captivated by the island's sense of community and entrepreneurial spirit. Within no time, they found themselves caught up in the idea that they, too, might venture out on their own.
In 2024, with their son off to college, their shared dream started to take shape. Today, they are thrilled to share their vision and talents with the community and the many visitors to the island.
Amy Nack
It seems fitting that a highly experienced Pastry chef would eventually own and operate a restaurant centered around all things brunch. A native of Montana, Amy's culinary career has taken her from coast to coast and the Rocky Mountain West.
After graduating from the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, VT—where she met her husband and now business partner, Andrew—Amy began her career as a pastry cook at the highly-lauded Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Laguna Niguel, CA. Next up was the titled role of Pastry Chef at the world-famous Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colorado.
Following a stop in Portland, Oregon, Amy found herself back in Montana in 2009, taking on roles as Pastry chef for Caffe Dolce, a volunteer at an organic farm, and managing the pastry department at Le Petite Outre, a popular French bakery. She also taught as an Instructor for the Big Sky Culinary Institute at the University of Montana.
After years of moving around, Amy feels at home and happy on Orcas Island and can't wait to introduce locals and visitors to the Cafe Aurora experience.
Andrew Martin
After a notable career leading culinary teams and shaping innovative dining experiences at award-winning properties across the western United States, Andrew loves that he's now designing and sharing his own culinary vision. Getting to do it with his wife and fellow chef Amy in their new home of Orcas Island makes it all the better.
A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, VT, Andrew launched his career at the esteemed Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, CA. He then moved to the Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colorado—the city's only five-star property—where he honed his skills as the chef of their Aspen Mountain Club.
In 2009, Andrew and his family returned to Amy's home state of Montana, where he took on the leadership role of Executive Chef at Caffe Dolce in Missoula. Following this, he assumed the Executive Chef role at Finn and Porter, a Doubletree Hotel property, where his team helped reinvent the hotel's culinary identity. Most recently, Andrew led the culinary team as Executive Chef at the New Leaf Cafe and The Outlook Inn on Orcas Island.
Andrew notes that he felt immediately welcomed by the Orcas community and looks forward to sharing his passion and culinary creations with them and the area’s many visitors.
Our name is inspired by Aurora, the Roman Goddess of the Dawn. She symbolizes the sunrise, new beginnings, and the budding day, making it the perfect fit for brunch.
It's also a nod to the new direction Cafe Aurora represents for our founders, husband-and-wife duo and professional chefs, Andrew Martin and Amy Nack. After years of working in high-profile resorts and restaurants across the country, Cafe Aurora brings their longtime dream of owning and operating their own business to fruition.
By happy coincidence, Dawn is also Amy's middle name.