Had a wonderful weekend on the Coast – am currently very depressed that I’m home. I don’t want to be here. I want to be there. Now. Forever. But I digress…
Arrived at our rental after 81/2-hour drive (stopped at Breadboard in Ashland for breakfast – consistently good, %26amp; The 2 Loons in Bandon for lunch - nothing special, food was fine). The rental house was 100 feet away from the lovely wide beach on the north side of Yachats. Went for a walk immediately and then to dinner. We stopped at The Wine Trader but we were hungrier for more than their menu provided: appetizers %26amp; desserts $7-10. It’s a charming, comfy place ‘tho – wood %26amp; art-glass lighting. We ended up at The Drift Inn. The place was full (this was Friday) and had to wait just 10 minutes. Husband had sesame-crusted halibut (delicious, cooked perfectly, but a very small piece) and I had the grilled salmon with blackberry/mushroom/pine nut sauce. Sounds like it might be too sweet, but it was tart and very tasty.
Saturday was cloudy as we headed North %26amp; the first stop was Lifesaver’s Bakers in Seal Rock. Everything everyone said here is true – the pastries are simply wonderful. We had the famous cinnamon bun scone %26amp; ham %26amp; cheese croissant. Talked to Tony the owner who was most friendly – told him of the glowing recommendations on TA. In Newport stopped at the Bike Shop (to get info for future bicycling on the Coast) %26amp; walked along Nye Beach. Next to Otter Rock %26amp; Flying Dutchman Winery for some very nice Cabernet Franc %26amp; Syrah. Saw the Devil’s Punchbowl and whales! Must have been about 10 of them. Made the trip for husband, he was thrilled. Drove the Otter Crest Loop – stopped at every wayside, saw more whales! Drove further North to Depoe Bay, visited some shops %26amp; watched Buddy the seal in the harbor, then to The Side Door in Gleneden Beach for lunch. Had a wonderful Caesar salad with halibut, husband had burger with bacon %26amp; gorgonzola – spectacular, he said. Made it as far as the outlets in Lincoln City %26amp; then headed south. Walked the Historic Bayfront in Newport %26amp; found some lovely American Craft Galleries %26amp; decided to try Sharks for dinner – great choice! 4 tables %26amp; 9 seats at the bar: seemed like a place for both locals %26amp; visitors. The food was wonderful: we both had the cioppino pasta – a huge bowl of linguine with chunks of fish and mounds of shellfish in a tasty tomato-y sauce, $17.95. My only wish is that they had a better bread – a crustier, lighter bread would have been perfect. But that’s minor – we’ll absolutely go back.
Sunday started out dark %26amp; windy, but that didn’t stop me from a walk on the Yachats beach. It was only after a good half-hour of very easy walking that I realized I was being pushed north %26amp; I’d be going against the wind on the way back. The sand was rippling %26amp; I got totally soaked from the spray, but it was great! Had a pretty standard breakfast at Leroy’s Blue Whale %26amp; then headed South. Got as far as the Devil’s Churn at Cape Perpetua %26amp; stopped to walk down to the churn in the pouring rain. Walked the other way to the lovely beach %26amp; tidepools but decided against going the final few steps – storm %26amp; high tide %26amp; all. What a fantastic place! We spent the next few hours (in the pouring rain) in the Cape Perpetua Visitor’s Center watching movies %26amp; learning about whales %26amp; the CCC. Drove to the Sea Lion Caves but were told they were “out” for the day %26amp; so decided not to go down. It’s $8 admission, which I didn’t think was too bad, but we’ll visit when the sea lions are “in”. Drove to Florence Old Town %26amp; had lunch at Bridgewater – I had halibut fish %26amp; chips: halibut was lightly battered %26amp; cooked perfectly %26amp; husband had another burger – also good. Visited more great craft galleries %26amp; antique shops %26amp; then stopped at the Coast Trading Post where the owner (Jeannie) recommended the Waterfront Depot for dinner. What a find! It’s in the old railroad station in Old Town. I had Arroz con Mariscos – rice %26amp; seafood in a clam broth flavored with tomato %26amp; (very light) dill. I guess there was some rice in there, but it looked like just a mound of seafood – salmon %26amp; halibut %26amp; clams %26amp; prawns. Husband had crab-crusted halibut with a sweet chile sauce: we hadn’t had that good a meal since, well, the night before at Sharks. Both entrees came with a Caesar salad, had a Black Butte Porter %26amp; a Spanish white wine and a huge piece of Mexican Chocolate almond cake and the bill was $46. It’s a small place so we’ll make reservations for one of the 3 window tables when we go back.
This was kind of a scouting mission for a longer trip next spring, and we while we covered a lot of ground in only 2 days we didn’t get to go a lot of things we wanted to, like tidepooling %26amp; visiting the lighthouses. Husband absolutely HATES to be wet, so we learned that we have to take advantage of every dry moment to do outside stuff, %26amp; save the shopping for the wet, so be flexible. Thanks everyone for your help %26amp; recommendations – I’m sure you all know how fortunate you are to live where you do!
Trip Report %26amp; Coast Dining
Thanks for the report. Sounds like you had a great time. I am glad you enjoyed Shark%26#39;s! The panfry%26#39;s (?) are also very good, especially after a long, cold walk on Nye beach during the winter.
I am adding ';Waterfront Diner'; to our list of places to try... was it in Florence?
Trip Report %26amp; Coast Dining
Thanks for the nice report! I%26#39;ve read great things about the Waterfront Depot in Oregon Coast magazine. Sounds like a very nice trip. :)
Nice report!!
Yachats calls itself the ';Gem of the Oregon Coast'; for a reason. It really is a good place to center an Oregon Coast vacation around.
I agree, Leroy%26#39;s puts out a pretty typical, though good sized, breakfast, but if you like fish and chips, they have the best on the entire cost IMHO. The Drift Inn is consisently good.
I too read about the Waterfront Depot in Oregon Coast Magazine, but since the magazine publisher lives in Florence, I thought perhaps their review may be biased. Perhaps not!
Glad you enjoyed your trip. Next time maybe you can stay a bit longer.
Den
Glad you enjoyed The SideDoor in Gleneden and I%26#39;m glad you found it! I was hoping my directions weren%26#39;t too vague. Next time you%26#39;ll have to try our other favorite Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay. During whale migration it%26#39;s one of the best spots on the coast to watch the whales and stay dry when it%26#39;s rainy.
Tahiti
Yes, five,Waterfront Depot is in Florence at 1252 Bay St. Maryanne the owner was/is a baker %26amp; has a separate place where she %26amp; her staff do all the baking/catering %26amp; I guess supply other places. We talked to her briefly (she was really busy) and she said her success was all due to her tremendous staff. The restaurant is one big room, dark walls %26amp; ceiling, cozy, bar on one side, 3 tables by the windows, two big ones in the middle %26amp; 3 smaller ones by the entry. You walk into the foyer %26amp; right past the kitchen when you come in. The menu is on the chalk board on the wall. Nothing was over $12. Oh, I forgot to mention the calamari fingers that we had as an appetizer – that was also in the $46! How do they do it?
The Sharks owners were very nice too – working their tails off but greeting everyone, making sure everybody was happy. The Side Door was easy to find, thanks tahiti – and Tidal Raves was on my list %26amp; we saw it but not at an appropriate time. But staying dry while whale-watching – now that’s something I can talk my husband into!
Yes, den, Yachats is a gem – small %26amp; charming but with all the amenities AND wide beaches AND rocks %26amp; river – we need to go back %26amp; explore the town rather than just use it for a base. And I want to stop at each %26amp; every wayside – oh, yeah, Cook’s Chasm was awesome!
We were going to try the Adobe in Yachats for breakfast but they don’t open until 8AM. We did look into the dining room – fantastic view. We noticed the signs that said new rugs were coming, %26amp; I have to say that’s good ‘cause the place did have a musty old cigarette smell, no doubt from the very old carpeting. We really did have a terrific (short) time. Can’t wait to go back – April may be too far off.
';– am currently very depressed that I’m home. I don’t want to be here. I want to be there. Now. Forever. But I digress...';
Oh I know that feeling well. Sometimes, whenever I go on a holiday, I have that feeling, but this time, we were lucky to visit Portland and actually get to move here...
You did a lot in a short amount of time! and how nice that you have the next trip to look forward to. Although, April might not be the driest month, so start subliminal brainwashing on your husband about getting wet and liking it LOL
Thanks for the report!
Rainsuit for a Christmas present? That%26#39;s pretty direct!
Excellent report...have to check out the Waterfront in Florence, we%26#39;re always looking for a good place to eat on the coast about the time we hit that city.
I really love the area around Yachats...very fun. I love the bay, still can%26#39;t believe how empty it gets...and there%26#39;s always seals in there when the tide comes back in. I recommend The Landmark for good food and nice music scene (there%26#39;s a restaraunt and a seperated bar in the same large building).....haven%26#39;t heard much about it here, but the view out there windows is absolutely amazing!! It%26#39;s hard to miss..on the south end of town, it%26#39;s the big red building. Great food at a decent price, the chowder was awesome if I remember correct. The owner is totally cool too, very nice guy. (http://www.landmark-yachats.com/index.html)
The Adobe Resort has a pretty killer brunch with a decently killer view (though I personally like the view from the Landmark better).
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