My
dear polite travelers,
When
on the road, one doesn’t always have the luxury of finding the best eats in
town, especially when so many are closed, for example on Mondays, and due to Covid-triggered
limited staffing issues. Because of
that, I have made a list of those we chose on our long road
trip, and why you might want to try or skip each. Bon Appétit.
Note
A list of hotels and a map of our journey.
Well,
hmmm...this one is a bit of a conundrum.
The food was passable. Since I didn’t want the typical huge
burger and I don't eat fish, I chose the recession hamburger. Well, it reflected a recession, as it was thin
and tasteless. The fries were also dry.
In
contrast, my hubby chose salmon and brown rice.
His dish was great. The actual—don’t
return—issue was the wine. They had few
choices of white wine, and none were good.
As a result, we decided on the house wine, Recession White, and it was
fizzy, sour, and downright awful.
Note
Yes, red wine would have been the logical choice for my burger, but alas, as of now, I can't have any. Grr...
Skip or Dig-in
I’d
skip this place. If you love salmon and
beer, you might want to dig right in.
North
Fork Public House Eugene
Yippy! I got to spend time with my oldest grandson,
Aaron, who lives in the area! So, this
visit is a winner. Best, he chose this
restaurant. Smart lad.
Simply
walking through the entry, I felt at home.
It’s a lively open space with a long bar and open kitchen. The aromas alone cause serious hunger pangs.
Our
winning choices were Steak Frites, which we shared, and Aaron chose Chicken Cosmo. (Menu ) I found the steak to be tender, and the chimichurri
sauce flavorful but not overwhelming.
The extra crispy fries were just that—crispy and yummy.
Aaron
chose the Chicken Cosmo, a breaded chicken breast sandwich. He’s somewhat of a picky eater but appeared
to like it.
With
so many shortages, several wines were unavailable. Still, the staff allowed me to try all their
Chardonnays to find the perfect one. Bravo, staff! My hubby and Aaron chose
beer. With so many craft beers in
Oregon, it’s beer-lovers heaven.
Skip or Dig-in
The
North
Fork Public House is a definite dig-in! In fact, we both loved the area. If moving to Oregon was ever an option, we
would consider Eugene.
Downriggers
on the Water, Port Angeles, Washington
With
wraparound windows overlooking the bay, Downriggers is where one dines to enjoy
the view. Some of the dishes are great, and some are just passable. Still, it’s all
about the view and service. The beer and
wine are good as well.
I
chose the chicken sandwich twice and discarded the bun. It’s grilled and topped with Swiss cheese. The
first night was particularly good while it was dry on the second night. The fries and wine were good though.
My
hubby chose a teriyaki chicken sandwich—topped with Havarti cheese—one night and
breaded/fried salmon the next.
Evidently, they ran out of white fish for the “fish and chips.” Not the best choice for hubby. However, he liked the chicken sandwich.
Skip or Dig-in
Even
though the meal quality is erratic, I’d return, if only for the view, ambiance,
and service. Additionally, there aren’t
many restaurants in Port Angeles that are open every night, which makes the
decision much easier.
Welly’s Real Fruit
Ice Cream Port Angeles, Washington
Upon
a recommendation, we stopped at Welly’s for a cup of freshly made chocolate ice
cream. Yum!! Besides the flavor and quality of the ice
cream, I was most impressed with their dedication to conservation and
recycling. Check this out!
Skip or Dig-in
Do
I even have to write this?? Of course,
I’d return. This is a two-thumbs-up “Dig-in.”
Lake Crescent Lodge
Olympic National Park, Washington
Based
on another recommendation, we stopped at the historic Lake Crescent Lodge for
breakfast. Just stepping in the front
door gave me historical goosebumps. I
imagined all that came before. Yet, the
dining experience was less historic and downright dull. Service was slow and the food was no
better than a cheap hotel-free breakfast.
Skip or Dig-in
I’d
skip this unnecessary side trip. However,
it is a lovely place to visit and stay for a vacation.
Geno's Pizza and
Burgers Astoria Oregon
We
visited this restaurant due to its walking distance from our hotel. It’s dark but quirky, like an
old-fashioned pizzeria, which I appreciate.
Because it was such a long driving day, we kept it simple, and both
ordered burgers and fries. It wasn’t the
best burger, but it was good. The wine and
beer were decent as well.
Skip or Dig-in
Depending
on our timeline, I’d probably skip it.
Still, it is decent food, just not exciting.
Georgie's
Beachside Grill Newport Oregon
After
another long day of driving, we arrived at our Choice property
for the evening. While checking in, we
asked for the nearest restaurant that served tasty food. Without skipping a beat, the associate
suggested Georgie’s, which is the onsite restaurant for the Hallmark Resort
Newport—only one block from our hotel.
It
was wonderful! I enjoyed every second we
were there. From the vintage ambiance to
the wall of windows overlooking the ocean, to the service, right down to the
excellent meal—and beverages—this was an excellent choice.
Even
though our server also served a large group of regulars—yep, this place has
regulars—Jose was attentive and genuinely cared if we enjoyed our meal. He answered my multiple questions, without the
usual huff those who are overworked often display, allowed samples of the wine, and steered us toward a most memorable meal.
Often,
I make portobello sandwiches at home.
Curious about how theirs might compare, I chose and was happy I
did. Portobellos can be too juicy if
cooked whole as a sandwich—unless you like soggy bread. This one was moist. Perfect.
A
glass of Dark Horse Chardonnay, as usual, wasn’t the best pairing; it would have been better with a red. But
my head isn’t pleased with reds these days.
It was an excellent choice though, and very yummy. The accompanying fries were crispy and not at
all oily.
My
hubby chose a burger that was perfectly grilled and paired with a light
coleslaw. Surprising how enjoyable a
burger can be when it is skillfully cooked and artfully dressed.
Noticing
a burger theme here? A typical
restaurant burger is usually a satisfying, but not too overly filling choice
for us. I never eat the bun and hubby
rarely finishes his burger. There are no
leftovers, which is a plus when on the road.
Skip or Dig-in
This
restaurant is probably the number one reason to return to Newport for us. It’s a lovely city right off the Pacific
Ocean, but there are so many more like it to explore. I rate Georgie’s as a ‘Dig-in!’
Until next time, my polite travelers: Happy Travels!
More
from the Polite Traveler
Whew! Our Long Drive Through Northern CA, Oregon, and Washington
The
Disappointment & Reward of Hilton Garden Inn, Olympia, WA
Why I’ll Always Stay in This Comfort Suites When in Springfield OR
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