Steve K's Profile
Best places for Oysters on Olympic Peninsula
yeah, Xinh's is worth a side trip. Large portions, too.
Best places for Oysters on Olympic Peninsula
Not really, altho you are right about the best commercial sites. We lived on a boat for five years, based out of Sidney, BC. Almost anywhere we anchored, we would dinghy ashore and then gather oysters, in water so cold it required insulated boots.
octobercat is going to have a great time if he finds the right spots.
Best places for Oysters on Olympic Peninsula
Oysters on the half shell. Sometimes I look at my notes and forget what it means, too.
Best places for Oysters on Olympic Peninsula
South Bend WA calls itself The Oyster Capital of the World, and you might do a search to find more. The town is not what one would call a destination resort, but in the middle of town on Hwy 101 is a dump called River View Dining. There's a large home made wood fired barrel out front with logs - not briquettes or whatever - for fuel. The best BBQ oysters I've ever had, and I've had them raw and cooked every way imaginable for over 30 years, from Tomales Bay to Desolation Sound BC.
We were blasting thru town and didn't make time to try the OOTHS, but the owner/chef is a sauce/oyster genius.
Can't rec a place to stay. Would like to hear where you go and how the oysters were.
Food recs in the Bend-Sisters-La Pine-Crater Lake area?
Bend Brewing has GREAT fish & chips.
Food recs in the Bend-Sisters-La Pine-Crater Lake area?
There are a number of good restaurants, but none that meet your criteria. You might look here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/798727
Chowhound Recs in Bend?
This may be too late, but: Ariana.
Also, Scanlon's has a new menu concept. Haven't tried it, but may be what you are looking for. To see the menu etc, start at the "Athletic Club of Bend" website.
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Scanlon's
61615 Athletic Club Dr, Bend, OR 97702
Foodie Honeymoon: San Juan Islands vs. Tofino, BC
You will need to consider transportation to maximize foodie opportunities. And since it is a honeymoon, fun transportation. Like the train from Seattle to Vancouver BC (a foodie paradise, check the BC board), ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, high speed ferry from Victoria to Seattle. Getting to Tofino will eat up a lot of dining time, and you won't see any islands to speak of. Another return from Victoria option is Victoria (Sidney) to Anacortes, winding thru the San Juans. If you don't want to travel that much, Seattle and Vancouver will meet any foodie wish.
Xinh's Shelton Wa. - Still Good?
It has been a year since we were last there - we live in Oregon - but over the prior five years or so, it was consistently excellent as to both food and service. I doubt that has changed.
Request Restaurant Recommendations for Oregon Road Trip
Don't believe the mantra that the only good food in Central Oregon is in Bend. In Redmond you will be more than pleasantly surprised at the quality of food, and reasonable prices, at Diego's, Coyote Ranch, Chloe's, Madaline's, Brickhouse, ... I'm sure I missed somewhere.
Each of the above has an excellent chef preparing food in uninspired surroundings - except maybe Brickhouse, which did a pretty fancy remodeling before opening a year or two ago.
Tonight, at Madeline's: Two martini's - poured as doubles - one lobster pasta entreé, one catfish entreé with an excellent sauce that I confess I can't identify, and baked potato (side plate of butter, sour cream, chives, bacon, shredded cheddar). Chips and salsa when you sit down; as I said, the ambiance disavowes the quality of the food and service. $39 + tip.
It's good to live near Redmond OR.
The address below for Brickhouse: right street address, but Redmond, not Metolius.
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Coyote Ranch
1368 S Highway 97, Redmond, OR 97756
Brickhouse
412 6th St, Redmond, OR 97756
Oregon Wine Country - Pinots
The Dundee area is as good as any to stay for touring the valley. And The Painted Lady in Dundee is tops for a Chowhound: http://www.thepaintedladyrestaurant.com/
For the wineries: http://www.willamettewines.com/
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Painted Lady
201 S College St, Newberg, OR 97132
Bend and Sisters
Previous recs haven't changed, EXCEPT that Cork, 28, Staccato and Firehouse Red have closed. All of the spots are being reopened under new everything; you will have to check back closer to your visit, to see how the new places are doing.
The area has some very nice restaurants, more than the population has been able to support in the current economy.
Long Weekend in Bend
Search for Bend on Chowhounds for the last couple years. The top restaurants - Cork, etc - haven't essentally changed. Volo closed and Zydeco took the spot, so their space is now as nice as the food. Merenda was reopened by the previous employees as 900 Wall. We haven't been to Blacksmith since a very mediocre experience years ago, but they have always been better at promotion than execution.
Hood River, The Dalles update?
Are the Kaze portion sizes the same as at Hakatomon? Thanks for the info.
wine and dine tour around Wash. state
For the best, most reasonably priced wines and wineries, IMO the Prosser-Benton City-Tri Cities grouping can't be beat. The only problem is the lack of "3 star" restaurants, but it's getting better. At the very least, if you're going to drive from Seattle to Walla Walla take a look at what you can experience on the way.
PDX - slider buns?
A number of grocers carry King's Hawaiian buns. Perfect for sliders.
Bend and Sisters
Ariana's and Zydeco are still tops; haven't been to Cork for some time.
What you said about Jen's Garden is correct. Chloe's in Sisters: havent been (apparently need to get out of the house) but when they were in Redmond, they were excellent.
If they get to Redmond: Diego's, Coyote Ranch (looks ordinary, good food), or Brickhouse.
1 Extra Night--Astoria or Cannon Beach?
When you say Drina Daisy was a cut above anything else in Astoria, does that include Bridgewater Bistro? We liked BB and wonder if it has gone downhill in some way.
Bend Oregon on a Sunday Night?
There have been a lot of closures – Merenda, Volo, Fireside Red, Deep, Bistro Carlise, Bluefish Bistro….
The previous employees reopened Merenda with a new name which I can’t recall at the moment, and haven’t tried – but would expect to be good. Zydeco has moved into Volo’s spot, a great improvement.
Other than the closings mentioned above, my previous rec’s stand, with the addition of Zydeco, a good and interesting spot. If you aren’t picky, pretty much any of them will have something good under $20.
Best Small out of the way place?
I second this suggestion, but it's spelled Xinh's....
http://www.xinhsrestaurant.com/
1 Extra Night--Astoria or Cannon Beach?
Astoria and Cannon Beach are so close that it will make little difference, but there is (are?) a plethora of good (and different) restaurants in Astoria, and the CP hotel is one of the best on the coast. Most are within walking distance of the hotel. Plus you get to watch the ships and Coast Guard go by. Do a search of this website for each place; the work has already been done by the chowhounds, you just need to do some of your own homework.
Columbia Gorge Memorial Day Open Houses?
Before this gets kicked off the PNW board by CH, some thots:
- Most tasting rooms will be open Fri, so no need to make appts
- If you are going to get as far east as Cascade Cliff, don't miss Waving Tree
- ditto Maryhill, but if you are turned off by the marketing vs winemaking vibe, cut your losses and move on
-A GPS will be a big timesaver
restaurant reports from the Central and Southern Oregon Coast
Thanks for the report. The next folks who search "Southern Oregon Coast" will find some good info.
Carlton, Or.
a, something to consider to make your trip less frustrating is to pre-address your destinations in a GPS. The wine country in particular isn't that easy to navigate by map, and you will add hours to your time doing what you want, by using the GPS.
Willamette Valley wine & food recs?
If you haven't been before, planning is a must. It is possible to spend 1/2 hour or more getting from winery A to winery B if done at random. And unless you confine yourself to McMinnville, you will definitely be doing some driving.
The Painted Lady is exceptional.
Get a map here http://www.willamettewines.com/, pick out the wineries you want to visit, and plug the locations into a GPS. Even with the blue signs, some places are very hidden, or can be on the far side of a hill that the map doesn't show. Great sightseeing, though, if time is not an issue.
Astoria, anyone?
You will not be disappointed at Bridgewater Bistro, which happens to be the closest restaurant to your hotel. For that matter (in spite of the considerable value of the Chowhound participants) call the Cannery Pier Hotel. Bet they suggest Bridgewater.
Bend, Oregon on a Sunday night
Ariana is an excellent choice, with a wine list to match the food. Ditto Brickhouse in Redmond, if you are going to drive as far as Sisters. Check their online menu. Jen's Garden is good, and very nice people, but portion sizes are small and selections limited. Haven't been to Cork for awhile, but have never been disappointed. Haven't been to Blacksmith for awhile, but HAVE been disappointed.
