This particular day on the coast was exceptionally rainy and windy. It occurred before Hurricane Sandy so I feel a little sheepish complaining about the weather but it was very cold and very wet. The drive from Florence to Yachats is one of the most spectacular on the Oregon coast and the highway mostly runs directly on the coast. There were heavy swells and rain did not let up all day. The ocean was a colorless gray and the waves were high. When we stopped at Yachats State Park, a flock of seagulls was huddled on the grass, unmoving seeming to try and minimize the effects of the wind with their chests puffed out looking spectacularly uncomfortable in the driving rain. And the didn't let up for our stops in Newport and Depoe Bay, a little further north.
Our stop in Yachats was at the road food reviewed Luna Sea Fish House. We arrived mid morning and chose to eat off the breakfast menu. Our visit was enhanced by two very knowledgeable staff who were very intelligent foodies. One was a massage student in Portland 3 days a week and Yachats waitress the other 4 . She told us of some great places in Newport(all of which were road food reviewed places ) and was very pleasant to talk to. The other had been a seafood chef in the bay area and knew a lot about food prep and recipes and talked withTrudy about such things. Bruce in his review said he would like to sample breakfast and if you are in Yachats in the a.m. it would be a smart move. Trudy's salmon hash was flavorful and delightful and Luna Sea omelet was filled with gigantic portions of halibut, scallops , bay shrimp and a little salmon with onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese. It was a wonderful mix of tastes and a huge meal that delighted all the senses. The marionberry jam with the toast was tart, homemade and not too sweet. If you are close to here come to this place. Read Bruce's review for more info about the place.
A short drive from Yachats is Newport, Oregon, my favorite city on the Oregon coast. There are six roadfood reviewed restaurants along Bay Street within less than a half mile and two more roadfood reviewed place within a couple miles from the bay. The bay is touristy but the odors of a still active fishing industry waft along the area. There are even a couple tourist traps of which I am fond along the bay front, some sea lions, and some decent bars. In the town of Newport, there are two light houses and a great pie shop
I love looking at the fishing boats dockside where my son first saw crabs trying to scoot away from the boat15 years ago.
The places where Trudy and I ate were all reviewed by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Broyles several months ago . Therir reviews were accurate and clued me in to some new places. Thank you Bruce and Sue for your insights. Our first stop was Saffron Salmon, a small place directly overlooking the bay. There is a large picture window where we watched 3 boats depart from their moorings and go toward the sea and also watched a couple boats come into port. A gentleman was trying to get crabs into his crab pots in the driving rain just outside the restaurant.
If you look at the pictures in Bruce's review, you can figure out why we shared an order of seafood stew. Mussels, halibut, prawns crab and wild salmon were in a cioppino like tomato broth and the flavors combined marvelously. The place was not cheap but it was not overpriced and the stew was spectacular. And on a cold, rainy day, it was a great stop for us to enjoy being in a warm place and seeing beautiful things.
Our next stop was Ocean Bleu@ Gino's. Trudy had clams steamed in wine and I had something called sea pups, hush puppies with lots of crab bits in the batter. The bread was good and soaked up the delightful wine and broth of the clams. Bruce's review mentions the strawberry lemonade which was very fruity and very tart and should be ordered with the meal. The food here was supeb and we intend to return and sample even more of it because what we had was so damn good.
Local Ocean Seafoods was our last stop in Newport. We shared a fish taco which was mostly salmon and very good. Its only drawback was that it was the last dish of a spectacular food day. This is a place where we will return because what we had was tasty and what was on people's plates looked even better. Read Bruce's reviews before you head to Newport.
Our last stop of the day was a taffy shop in Depoe Bay called Ainslee's. Trudy is allergic to salt water taffy and I'm diabetic so we didn't get a lot. The shop is curiously old fashioned with drawings that are very 50's like and cute, reminiscent of the time when taffy was a cherished reminder of fun at the beach. The drive home passed quickly and it got less dreary but no less rainy as we approached Portland
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