From Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip
Plankhouse Chowder, Nancy D. Brown
Give me a steaming cup of local clam chowder with a good hunk of bread and throw in a crab cake for good measure and I’m a happy camper. That’s exactly what I experienced on a recent trip to the coastal community of Coos Bay, Oregon. Being the San Francisco Bay Area food snob that I am, I’m quick to judge restaurants from the starting gate. I expect a smile, a filled water glass and good food, served hot. In Oregon, where the smiles flow as freely as the water, I was rewarded at almost every dining stop.
Hilltop House
Chef Joseph Zamora began his culinary career in Contra Costa County at the Diablo Valley Culinary Program. He’s been the chef/owner of the Hilltop House for the last eight years and intends to stay in North Bend, Oregon.
I ordered the salmon special stuffed with local crab, bay shrimp and cream cheese that was baked and served on a bed of hollandise. An excellent dish at $24, including clam chowder.
93405 Willsey Lane, North Bend
Cuisine: pacific northwest, steakhouse, seafood • Map & Directions
Mill Casino
3201 Tremont Avenue, North Bend
Cuisine: pacific northwest, steakhouse, seafood • Map & Directions
Sea Scallops photo by Nancy D. Brown
Porta
For a dining experience on par with any San Francisco restaurant, don’t miss Porta in North Bend, Oregon. Husband and wife team Alex and Kaisa Bourgidu met during their Seattle restaurant stints.
The Empire Cafe
Empire Cafe
On your way to the beach in Charleston, stop for lunch or dinner at the Empire Cafe. Owner Edna Ryzebol got her start in bread baking and it shows. I ordered the tuna sandwich on whole wheat foccacia. I even stopped to pick up a round of the ten grain miche bread to take with me on my flight home. Ryzebol said she’s considering starting a mail order business for some of her products. Sign me up!
Portside
Oyster Cove Crab Cakes
The Oyster Cove Grille and Bar
The Oyster Cove Grille and Bar has bragging rights with their “As Seen on Food Network” $40 A Day with Rachel Ray comment on their business card. Owner’s Michael and Connie Robbins are proud of their unique dishes such as Mike’s Oysters Charleston and the house made Cream Brulee or Bread Pudding.
Oyster Cove Grille & Bar 1 (541) 888-0703
63346 Boat Basin Rd. Charleston, OR 97402
Fishermen’s Wharf
For the “do-it-yourself” diners in the crowd, I recommend steering the car to D Dock and picking up fresh, cracked crab from Fishermen’s Wharf before you head to the beaches of Charleston. President Matt Ledoux says his family run business offers some of the best pricing in the area. I was happy to take some crab and canned tuna back with me to the Bay Area.
Fishermen’s Wharf 1 (541) 888-TUNA
63534 Kingfisher Rd. Charleston, OR 97420
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6 Responses
[...] After a morning of Dune Buggy riding in North Bend, Oregon, I was looking forward to checking into my hotel room at the nearby Mill Casino to kick back and relax. I stopped to have lunch at the Plankhouse Restaurant and was very happy with the crab melt sandwich. [...]
Good selection but also to be included is the “High Tide Cafe” in Chaleston, great sea food and selections of draft beers.
[...] Oregon coast is not for sun-worshipers, but beer-lovers will be in [...]
You really should add Benetti’s Italian Restaurant to your list! I live up by Salem now, but think of their food often! My fiance also proposed to me there! The upstairs is quite romantic!
[...] 2. Fresh Seafood The native residents would give great thanks for the abundance of fish and seafood; and we continue that tradition today! Throughout the year low tides provide access to a bountiful resource of clams which has inspired our local chefs to create some of the best clam chowder you’ll find anywhere (just check out Chowder Bounty). We also have amazing Dungeness crab, and the best crab are always the ones you bring up yourself from the waters of lower Coos Bay. Rent or buy a crab ring and try your luck; the payoff will be a fresh crab feast you’ll always remember. And you’ll keep coming back for more. Read Nancy Brown’s ‘Best Places to Eat in Coos Bay‘! [...]
[...] will experience a different coastline than we're used to in California. Bring home some crab and canned Albacore tuna, it's cheaper in [...]