Restaurant Guide 2011: Road Trip

WILLAMETTE VALLEY:

In Silverton, treat yourself to house-cured salami and goat cheese cavatelli at

. In Salem,

has good smoked trout salad and onion soup, and former Fleur de Sel owner Bernard Malherbe is back in the game at

. In Albany, Matt Bennett serves really excellent Northwest standards without fuss at

. In Corvallis, check out brand-new

, nuevo Latino joint

and

, a new tavern from a supergroup of local restaurant vets. If you're up for a detour to Philomath,

serves wonderful Northwest fare, much of it harvested mere hours before landing on your plate. Call in advance; hours vary. Our friends in Eugene recommend

, a rustic European place from chef Brendan Mahaney, the longstanding French-centric

, earnestly traditional

and, best of all, the

, which nails French fare by way of the farmers market. McMinnville chef Eric Bechard has brawled in defense of local meat, an ethos reflected at his restaurant,

, and college-themed bar,

.

In Dundee,

is a self-descriptive place known for fresh, simple flavors. Local standby

is still very good. In Newberg, try the

for beautifully presented, if slightly dated, Northwest fare. In Carlton, your best bets are cheese and small plates at the

.

ASTORIA:

THE COAST:

for smoked and fried critters from the deep, as can

in

. Seaside's only dinner destination is very '90s but still tasty

.

The best meal to be found in Manzanita is a steamed crab and a bottle of viognier on the deck at

. For dinner, a shot and a beer with a burger at the

will do just fine. Fifteen minutes south is the fine-dining star of the north coast, the somewhat expensive but very good

. A great lunch stop in Bay City is the

, where the signature dish is heralded by roadside middens of shells. Don't order anything but oysters or clams.

has the best dinner anywhere near Lincoln City, with classic fish and pasta. In Newport, you can't go wrong with the fishy fare at

or Frenchy breakfast at

. Our favorite in Florence is the cheap, Spanish-inspired

. We hear from reliable sources that

in Bandon is pretty good.

BEND/SISTERS:

has been making waves in Sisters with exquisitely plated, French-influenced fare. In Bend, check out the homey seasonal fare at

, the

Florentine dinners at

, the steaks at the

, the Middle Eastern nosh at

and the pastry delights of the

SOUTHERN OREGON:

HOOD RIVER AND POINTS EAST:

VANCOUVER:

Higgins-esque Northwest cuisine at

a knack for the whole farm-to-table thing. or

Downtown, hit up La Bottega (1905 Main St.) for good beef brochette. And don’t miss the shrimp aguachile or ceviche tostada at Morelia Mexican Grill (5930 E Fourth Plain Blvd.).

WWeek 2015