Oregon
We traveled through Oregon in September and October 2010. Our visit was brief overall, as we were on a 5-1/2 week driving trip from Northern CA to Washington, and back again. We plan to return in 2011 to explore the Portland-Eugene area in more depth.
A full travel diary and photos are on the "Pacific Northwest" page of our travel blog, http://notares.yolasite.com/
Double-click the active links for the full review, then use the back arrow to return.
Bandon OR
Alloro Wine Bar - A terrific meal of unexpected sophistication in this tiny coastal town. Also in the same review, that same day we ate a light lunch at Wheelhouse Bar & Grill. Wheelhouse is a modest place that is clearly the Denny's of Bandon...but they make a terrific fried oyster sandwich that knocked our socks off, although everything else was ordinary.
Eugene OR
Excelsior Inn Restaurant - Hard to beat the combination of a marvelous B&B and a great restaurant! How good were they? Well, we're willing to invent an excuse to return to Eugene, just to stay a few days and dine here again.
Grants Pass OR
Blondie's Bistro - A modest bistro, better for dinner than for lunch. There is no fine dining in Grants Pass, but we had a decent dinner here and would be willing to return.
Portland OR
Heathman Hotel Restaurant - NO. No, absolutely not. Never again. A big disappointment; so-so food and mediocre service. They figure the odds are good they'll never see you again, so why even bother to try?
Paley's Place - A resounding YES! Neighborhood is dicey but gentrifying, the restaurant's a charmer and the food is absolutely terrific. If we lived in Portland we would eat here at least once a week, no matter where we had to drive from.
