Wander With Wonder – Discovering Wow Moments Around the World or Across the Street
Explore the best Willamette Valley food, from casual bites to fine dining, on a delicious journey through Oregon’s culinary scene. Read on for all my delicious experiences.
While exploring the Willamette Valley, I enjoyed some amazing food. Oregon might be known for great wine, but they do a fabulous job with food. During a trip to the Willamette Valley last fall, I had incredible food experiences, from casual dining to Forbes 4-Star restaurants. Read on for my sampling of the best Willamette Valley food. Check out my article about all the best Willamette Valley wines we sipped with our food.
JORY at The Allison Inn and Spa
My favorite Oregon wine country stay is at the Allison Inn & Spa. Check out my complete article about the exquisite inn and why it’s a must for your stay in Newberg.
JORY is the Allison Inn’s signature restaurant and a favorite with hotel guests and locals alike. This Forbes 4-star restaurant is the perfect start to a Willamette Valley wine weekend. The menus change seasonally but always feature the native flavors of the Willamette Valley and its rich agricultural heritage. Executive Chef Jack Strong and his team prepare delicious meals, and they can customize wine pairings for your meal. Because the Allison Inn has a 1.5-acre chef’s garden across the street, Chef Strong works closely with Master Gardener Anna Ashby, frequently changing the menu to use what’s being harvested. If the chef wants to grow something specific, he discusses it with Ashby, and she makes it happen.
Our meal was exquisite, and it has been both times I’ve had dinner there. Favorites for me and my table mates have included Cedar Planked Oregon wild salmon, Oregon albacore, Pacific seafood, local lamb, and pork from a nearby farm.
Shrimp and scallops from JORY at Allison Inn & Spa. Photo courtesy Allison Inn & Spa
The restaurant also serves a delightful breakfast, a great way to start your day in wine country. Breakfast is available daily, and there is also a weekend brunch. Order the biscuits. They are the flakiest, most delicious biscuits anywhere. Top them with butter, local marmalade, and honey from the garden bees. It’s totally worth the splurge.
Order the biscuits at The Allison Inn and savor every bite. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Red Hills Market
Red Hills Market is the ideal spot for a quick, comforting meal. It’s charming, and owners Jody and Michelle Kropf work hard to showcase the local bounty. You can order their famous wood-fired pizzas and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. I was there for breakfast and ordered the avocado toast. This wasn’t your ordinary avocado toast. It was served on charred rustic bread and topped with toasted pepitas, fresh herbs, radish, lemon zest, and a drizzle of durant olive oil. The pastries were beautiful and tempting. I’ll have to try one of those next time.
Avocado Toast at Red Hills Market. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
REX HILL
One of our wine-tasting spots was at REX HILL, where we headed for The Somm’s Table, an exclusive food and wine experience guided by Hospitality Manager and Sommelier Mark Smith and featuring incredible dishes by Head Chef Billy Brownlee. Read more about the wines we tasted in this article about the best wines of the Willamette Valley.
We started with a delicious duo of housemade hummus. Chef Brownlee’s biggest hit was the roasted carrot hummus. I ate every bite of it and craved it for days.
I wanted to bottle the roasted carrot hummus and take it home. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
My favorite course was the beautiful tempura-battered shrimp on avocado and a corn tortilla. Under that was a lovely white bean purée and a sweet pepper sauce.
I enjoyed the shrimp tempura created by Chef Brownlee. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
We oohed and ahhed over a lovely farro risotto with smoked olives and a Sunnyside-up egg on top. It paired nicely with the earthiness of a REX HILL pinot noir, and that oozy egg added a velvety taste to the farro.
The farro risotto with olives was delicious. Photo by Kayt Mathers courtesy Taste Newberg
Rosmarino Osteria Italiano
Dining at Rosmarino Osteria Italiano is a bit like attending a production. Chef Dario Pisoni, from Northern Italy, presents cuisine from the region, much of it from his Nonna’s recipes. The restaurant hosts a Willamette Valley winery to pair with the special 5-course menu every Friday.
Not only does Chef Pisoni create tasty dishes paired with a different Oregon winery, but he also creates traditional Italian dishes that transported me back to Italy. The risotto was my favorite, but everything, including the beef cheeks, was delicious. All of the pasta is housemade, including the gnocchi. I’m a huge gnocchi fan, so I must return to Rosmarino for the gnocchi. They serve Pizza and Gnocchi all day every Sunday. You must make reservations for this small restaurant.
Rosmarino Osteria Italiana serves housemade pasta and a variety of other Italian favorites. Photo courtesy Rosmarino Osteria Italiana
Wooden Heart Kitchen
Located in adjoining Dundee, Wooden Heart Kitchen is a family-owned restaurant under the guidance of Chef Ryan Clark. In 2021, Clark started with a food truck and catering service, serving wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and plated dinners to go. The restaurant opened in 2023 in a beautiful farmhouse-style setting.
The menu changes daily, but the day I was there, my favorite was the mushroom soup made with locally foraged mushrooms and served with a lovely flaky pastry.
Mushroom soup at Wooden Heart Kitchen is made with locally foraged mushrooms. Photo by Kayt Mathers for Taste Newberg
If it’s on the menu, I recommend ordering the foraged pizza made with olive oil, mozzarella, spinach, mushrooms, chevre, and sweet yellow onion.
Foraged pizza from Wooden Heart Pizza. Photo by Kayt Mathers for Taste Newberg
The steak frites is a phenomenal entree, with a mushroom demi and perfectly crispy shoestring fries. Since it’s in the heart of wine country, Wooden Heart Kitchen has a nice, although small, wine list. I paired my lunch with a 2019 Argyle Vintage Brut, another of my favorite Oregon sparkling wines.
Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn
While you won’t be eating at Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn, you must stop by this little roadside stop for some of the best gourmet popcorn I’ve ever eaten.
Inside the Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn shop in Newberg. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Miss Hannah’s started at the Portland Farmer’s Market in 2001 and now has two storefronts in Oregon, including the one in Newberg. They have dozens of options—you can sample each before you purchase. Flavors are seasonal, so fall brings options like Apple Cider, Harvest, Pumpkin Bar, and Brown Sugar Maple. My favorites, available year-round, were Snickerdoodle, Sea Salted Brûlée, and Garlic Peppercorn. Yes, I brought two bags home with me in my carry-on bag.
I brought home Sea Salted Brûlée from Miss Hannah’s Gourmet Popcorn. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
The Painted Lady Restaurant
My favorite meal was at the Forbes 4-star The Painted Lady in downtown Newberg. I thought it was fitting that we started our visit at the 4-star JORY and ended at another 4-star restaurant. The Painted Lady Restaurant, owned by Chef Allen Routt and his wife, Jessica Bagley, serves the best from local farmers, fishermen, cheese makers, and foragers.
The Painted Lady owners are husband and wife duo, Chef Allen Routt and Jessica Bagley. Photo courtesy The Painted Lady
The Painted Lady, named in honor of the beautiful San Francisco Victorian homes, has only 10 tables. The beautifully restored Victorian sits just off the main street.
The Painted Lady is a small, exquisite 4-star dining experience in Newberg. Photo by Marielle Dezurick courtesy of The Painted Lady
Stepping inside, you instantly feel pulled into a magical setting. The sage walls, light candlelight, and lovely chandeliers offer a welcome respite for dining. At night, the entire space seems to glow with the candlelight, and the clink of wine glasses and hushed conversations is an elegant backdrop for incredible local flavors.
The dining room at The Painted Lady serves some of the best Willamette Valley food. Photo courtesy The Painted Lady
The menu changes based on availability. You receive a seven- to nine-course tasting menu and can choose to have your meal paired with one of The Painted Lady’s hundreds of wines. The restaurant is open for dinner from 5 to 10 PM on Wednesday through Sunday. Be sure to read my article about the wines of the Willamette Valley for the wines we enjoyed at The Painted Lady.
Our Food at The Painted Lady Restaurant
Our meal was quite unique and one I will remember. We started our meal with Roasted Kabocha Squash, served with pickled squash, pomegranate, pumpkin seeds, and honey. That was followed by an unusual and silky Miso Custard topped with Dungeness crab, pickled red onion, edamame, sesame powder, and dashi. The third course was Beet-Crusted Sturgeon, served with sauteed spigarello, bacon, and horseradish cream.
The food at The Painted Lady is equally beautiful and tasty. Photo courtesy The Painted Lady
After the appetizers, custard and fish, we were ready to move on to the heartier dishes of the evening. Next up was a luscious Potato Gnocchi, served with Chanterelle mushrooms, sunchoke, and black garlic. The chef followed that with Oregon Wagyu New York Steak with a celery root puree, charred leeks, grilled green onion, and shaved black truffles. Our last savory dish was Cascadia Creamery Sleeping Beauty with Savoy cabbage, cornbread, and apple butter.
Dessert finished our evening. We enjoyed a lovely Almond Pear Tart with caramel, matcha anglaise, and yogurt field gel.
The Newburgundian Bistro
We met with CHO Wines owners Lois and Dave Cho in Newberg. While we also sampled CHO Wines, the brunch served up by The Newburgundian Bistro was a great sendoff. The Newbergundian doesn’t take reservations, and it’s always busy. There is a small interior dining room and an outdoor heated and cooled tent. The bistro is open Thursday through Monday for lunch and dinner, with an early opening on Saturday and Sunday for brunch.
I enjoyed a delightful Croque Monsieur for brunch, served on a crostini with spinach, smoked ham, Gruyere cheese, and a stone-ground mustard vinaigrette. The Eggs Benedict looked amazing, as did the Ham & Brie sandwich and avocado toast.
Enjoy Food in Corvallis
I also enjoy spending time in Corvallis, home to Oregon State University and a lovely little downtown. There are some great things to see and do in Corvallis, and I enjoyed several wine tastings around the city. But the food here won’t disappoint you, either.
Downtown Corvallis. Photo courtesy Catherine Lanier
Bodhi Artisan Kitchen and Bakery
Bodhi Artisan Kitchen and Bakery offers several locations—two in Corvallis, one in Albany, and one in McMinnville. The Bodhi Bistro on 1st Street in downtown Corvallis serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and has a large, inviting patio. Bodhi Cafe & Bakery serves breakfast and an assortment of sandwiches. You can also pick up bread and granola to go. The avocado toast and Acai bowl are my breakfast favorites, while I prefer the Oregon Albacore tuna melt with Tillamook cheese on Bodhi’s sourdough for lunch.
We enjoyed breakfast at Bodhi Cafe. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
del Alma Restaurant & Bar
If you want a fine dining experience in Corvallis, I recommend del Alma Restaurant & Bar. Its upscale yet cozy ambiance is ideal for enjoying Latin-inspired dishes. Of course, you can pair everything with a lovely glass of wine.
Castor
I enjoy the food at Castor, known for its Southern-inspired and locally sourced cuisine, supplemented by a nice but small wine list. Castor (the Latin, French, and Spanish word for beaver, the OSU mascot) is cozy and intimate, with only a few tables. I recommend making a reservation at this downtown Corvallis favorite.
The restaurant serves Southern-inspired dishes prepared using classic French techniques made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Start with an order of Pommes Frites for the table and order them with the white truffle oil and parmesan.
I love the shrimp and grits, featuring white cheddar North Carolina grits and big, juicy shrimp. I also recommend the brined and grilled pork chop served with poblano-creamed corn, chipotle peach butter, and basil. They also have a classic Filet Mignon, a gumbo with a dark brown roux, and local Oregon fish. Other options change seasonally.
I enjoyed shrimp & grits at Castor. Photo by Susan Lanier-Graham
Corazón Wine Bar & Kitchen
If you want to explore and taste many Oregon wines, I recommend stopping at Corazón Wine Bar & Kitchen in Downtown Corvallis. They sell wines by the bottle to go, or you can sit down, explore new wines, and order tapas or the new Chef’s Dinner Service. Corazón is open from 3 to 10 PM Tuesday through Friday, noon to 10 PM on Saturday, and 2 to 7 PM on Sunday. Full dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 9:30 PM. A new brunch service happens from 11 AM to 2 PM on Saturday.
Corazón Wine Bar and Kitchen. Photo by Catherine Lanier
Tapas are available whenever the bar is open, and that’s a perfect place to start. I recommend starting with the artisanal bread, the albóndigas, and the pintxos (mixed olives, almonds, sourdough, and Oregon olive oil). I can also recommend that you check out the Tinned Fish section. I’ve had the Oregon-caught Royal Chinook Salmon, and it was delicious. I have yet to try the dinner menu, but that will happen on my next visit.
Articles Related to the Willamette Valley
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The Best Willamette Valley Wines
Exploring the Willamette Valley Food Scene
As my journey through the Willamette Valley came to a close, I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible culinary experiences that unfolded at every turn. While the region may be celebrated for its fine wines, the food scene truly shines, showcasing a remarkable blend of flavors and creativity. From charming bistros to exquisite Forbes 4-Star restaurants, each meal was a delightful adventure highlighting Oregon’s commitment to sourcing fresh, local ingredients. The Willamette Valley offers an unforgettable feast for the senses. Read more on Wander With Wonder about Oregon’s Willamette Valley and let your taste buds lead the way.
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