Oceanside

Roseanna's- This widely acclaimed popular establishment will probably always be my favorite.  Ever friendly staff and unbeatable closeup surf view would keep me coming even if they only served hash.  But the talented & proficient chefs Rob & Nate are consistently turning out delectable fresh seafood selections with exquisite sauces and accompaniments. My particular non-seafood favorite, though, is the veggie quiche - rich and sinfully flavorful.  Not as sinful as the very sweet and ultimately tempting desserts. Crabcakes and herbed clam chowder are my other faves. Go ahead and splurge - it's the beach.

Brewin' in the Wind - This is not your grandfather's espresso stand.  Someone behind that counter (Kathy? Thai?) knows what tastes good and knows how to hook me into buying some with that evil display counter you can't walk past to order your coffee without it grabbing you and forcing you to buy something like a pumpkin cheesecake or a peach french toast. Morning Glory muffins must be healthy, based on how incredibly delicious they are.  Sweet Potato Coffee Cake is to die for.

Deli at Oceanfront Cabins- Casual and intimate setting with the best oceanview in town. Location is fabulous, right across the street from the beach with views of the surf rolling in. Be comfortable bringing the kids in for a quick and easy munch - they offer foods kids will actually eat, too!  How about a hot dog? What a concept. No frills, just an immaculately clean family oriented friendly and accommodating neighborhood deli.

Netarts

The Schooner - Double your pleasure when twin brothers are equally amazing chefs taking turns behind that oh-so-cozy woodfired pizza oven. The best seat in the recently remodeled house is the booth right in front of that oven, too.  The homemade crust on those gourmet pizzas rivals any I've had. My particular menu favorite, but you have to love garlic, is the bruschetta.  Although it's supposedly an appetizer, I've found it so filling even for a table of four, that there is no appetite left when the bruschetta plate's empty. Hazelnut Encrusted Halibut, though, if you can muster another bite, is something you'll write home about.  I'm not a big oyster fan, but have certainly heard others rave about The Schooner's oyster dishes.  Tuesdays are Thai nights.

Upstairs Bar & Grill - Sometime I will tell you how the "Upstairs" got tacked onto the name. Gert Cham, rest her soul, still gets credit for originating the recipe for the flavorfully delectable clam chowder her son Tony still serves up from behind the bar. I don't know who gets credit for the big and very juicy burgers, but someone should. 

Sugarfoot- New, unique, and incredibly delicious. Tiny restaurant on Hwy 131 in Netarts proves good things come in small packages.  The food is fresh, beautifully prepared, original, healthy, exploding in flavor and texture. Many good choices for vegans. Had a scrumtious wrap sandwich, somewhat spicy, with a couscous salad side.  You want to linger on every bite and make it last.  Eat in or take home (or better, take it to the beach and enjoy the magnificent sunset along with your magnificent meal)

Mexican Food Restaurant on Netarts Bay, at the south end of the bay on Whiskey Creek Road, where Wee Willie's used to be (and Whiskey Creek Cafe the former BBQ restaurant), not sure it has a name yet, but stopped for fish tacos recently.  Many thumbs up!  Fresh avocado, too.  Bay view is beautiful. 

Josi's Deli - I had no idea how delicious clam chowder could be till I tried theirs!  It's creamy - not too thick, not too thin.  Lots of flavor, though I added salt.  They do great sandwiches, too.  I'm not a pizza fan, but their pizzas look thick & hearty. They keep a case of live Dungeness Crab, too, for those who are too lazy to go out on the bay and catch your own (or too squeamish, like me!)

Tillamook

Blue Heron - Where creamy brie cheeses are made, and where some of it may end up on the most delicious turkey sandwich ever invented. They spread their brie on a fresh homemade bun with oven roasted fresh turkey and very little else, but a perfect combination to delight anyone looking for something freshly made and a cut above the ordinary.  Their homemade soups are fresh and rich and very satisfying. Homemade fresh salads are unique and always tasty.

Tillamook Cheese Factory (known by locals as The Creamery) - No one makes a cheese omelet with mushrooms any better than these folks. Of course, the ice cream on fresh homemade waffle cones is the world's best treat.

Kendra's Kitchen - Haven't had the privilege of trying it yet, but this is Kendra's third restaurant in the area and each time she's had tremendous reviews, including winning People's Choice award at least once at a very well known food fair in Newport.  Her specially seasoned hand cut french fries, made from Yukon Gold potatoes, were always a hit with me. Many people rave about the great clam chowder served up in a bread bowl.

La Mexicana - Fabulous Mexican food. Wide variety of selections including excellent seafood dishes. Not as overly "cheesy" as so many Mexican restaurants tend to be. The salsa & chips are delicate and fresh and very tasty.

Pacific House Seafood Restaurant - Delicious fusion dishes with a hint of latino seasoning. Dependable and convenient in downtown Tillamook. Always a good bet for great food.

KoKo's Kitchen - at the clubhouse at the Alderbrook Golfcourse.  The surroundings are elegant, though casual, and the food is absolutely wonderful.  My favorite is the blackened halibut, but I did have the well prepared roast duck once and truly enjoyed it.  I could easily make a meal of the wonderful veggie appetizer plate, though.  It's huge and it's sooo yummy with the special hummus dip and soft warm pita bread. They always have their special recipe beer-cheese soup available, too. 

Tillamook Air Museum Restaurant - A fun and nostalgic visit back to the 50's with the checkerboard floor and the red plastic & chrome booths.  And the soda fountain type food is wonderful!  Malted milkshake (with Tillamook ice cream, of course!), a burger (with Tillamook cheese, of course!), and fries have to be my favorite.

Blue Moon Cafe - The most popular eatery in downtown Tillamook for lunch, anyway.  Always a wonderful chef's special. Seems like home cooking.  Great sandwiches. Great gathering place, too.  Want to know what's going on?  Here's where to find out.

Fat Dog Pizza - Just opened and seems to be doing well. I'm not a pizza connoisseur, but sure enjoyed my hand tossed pizza from Fat Dog. Crust is delectable. Pizza by the slice also available.

Chinese Garden - Okay, I like to play the slot machines there, but I have to tell you about the most enjoyable Chinese meal I've ever had which I would never have had the courage to order if it hadn't been for one of my clients letting me sample theirs:  Sweet & Sour Tofu and Garlic Greenbeans.  The greenbeans were fresh & perfectly cooked.  The tofu was so good it was hard to stop eating:  crunchy outer shell & soft interior.  I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.  Worsui Chicken, I'm told, is delicious - similar to teriyaki but sweeter.

McDonalds - Yes.  Not kidding.  One of my clients insists that the egg mcmuffins at the Tillamook McDonalds taste better than at any other McDonalds they have visited.  He and she both agree on this critique.  Who am I to argue?  I love egg mcmuffins!

Pacific City

Pelican Brew Pub - The most popular and versatile restaurant in the county which can please every person at your table, whether it's something fresh from the sea or a pizza meal, everyone seems to rave about it. The micro-brew your server recommends could be the finishing touch to a memorable meal, so be open to trying something new.

The Bistro - The first time I walked into this tiny restaurant which is part of a small motel on the main inland drag, I was pleasantly surprised at a very cozy and attractively finished interior.  But when my meal was served, I was astonished that this seemed to be the best kept secret on the oregon coast.  First the martinis are perfectly concocted and presented, so maybe that put a slant on my view of the rest of the meal.  Just kidding, it was a big martini, but the rest of the meal was exquisite. The flavor and presentation was proof that someone behind that kitchen door has experienced extensive and noteworthy training as a chef.  I'm embarrassed to say that I chose a dish they called macaroni & cheese for grown-ups, or something like that.  Why can't I ever choose lean meals?  It would be much less embarrassing if I were reporting how fresh & unique their salad greens were.

Grateful Bread - need I say more?  If you love homemade breads and all the great foods that go with fresh breads, this is your place.  Espresso drive up window in back. Take home loaves or pies or other pastries, too. 

Stimulus Cafe - I love their lattes and I can't say that about many espresso shops, so I consider myself a connoisseur (connoiseusse?).  Haven't yet succumbed to the delicacies in their display case, but I am such an accomplished foodie that I can tell just by looking that their pastries must be fabulously delicious.

Barview/Garibaldi

Barview Grocery & Deli - Yes, believe it or not, this little mom & pop grocery store is one of my favorite lunch spots.  I'm stuck on one menu item, though:  the wiener wrap.  Trust me.  They are delicious.  I asked once why they taste so much better than any hot dog I've had and the owner said, "It must be that I brush the dough with real butter."  That is it.  Delicious frank, delicious fresh baked bread wrapper brushed with butter.  Sooo good.

Pirate's Cove - Somehow I used to enjoy it more when you had to stand in line outside waiting to get in to the tiny restaurant with a warm fireplace.  Now it's huge and you don't have to wait outdoors, and the food is always consistent and fabulous.  Seafood specialties, of course.  Great selection.  Incredible views from every table, too.

Rockaway Beach

The Beach Bite - Experienced, reliable staff knows how to serve you and offers menu selections for every palate. The owner seems to be always there to assure top service and their dishes are original recipes prepared onsite - no prefab foods here!  You can't go wrong by taking the whole family here for dinner or lunch. Get ready for a large meal, though.  Doggie bag required.

Neskowin

Hawk Creek Cafe - The only restaurant in Neskowin, and wow is it fabulous!  Again, pizza is extraordinaire, but so is everything else on the menu. 

Nehalem

Wanda's for breakfast, yummy! Excellent homemade sweets and espresso, too.

Nehalem River Inn - only open part of the year.  Small menu selection, but world-class cuisine every time.  Starched white tablecloths, too.  Pretty ritzy for the beach.  But casual dress is still welcome.

Sunshine Pizza - on the Nehalem River for ambiance. Everyone says it's great pizza and that the owner is very accommodating. I'll get up there one of these days to give it a try. I ordered pizza there once for a meeting but didn't get to eat it because everyone else gobbled it up while I was talking!

 Manzanita

Bread & Ocean Cafe - veggie & organic selections and fresh made bread are all unique and fortifying and exploding with flavor and texture.  This is where they know how to make healthy food feel like comfort food.  How do they pull that off?

Sisters & Pete's Coffees & Treats - Ooooooooh. Aaaaaah. Mmmmmmm. Homemade pie & desserts.  'Nuff said.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN LATELY in Tillamook County that makes you want to shout from the mountaintops about the great food?

Drop me an email and I will add your positive commentary to my restaurant page.  pzielinski@prunw.com

Bon appetit!