Wine Bars and Brewpubs

Although Seaside isn’t generally considered to be a hip town (hipsters, Astoria is your place), and in spite of its silly name, Yummy Wine Bar and Bistro (831 Broadway, 503/738-3100, 3–10 p.m. Sun.–Mon. and Thurs., 3 p.m.–midnight Fri.–Sat., main dishes $13–19) has the right vibe of comfortable nonintimidating hipness mixed with good food, wine, art, and occasionally live music. Order an assortment of small plates, such as ahi tuna tartare ($10) or crab cakes ($11), or a full meal; happy hour runs 3–6 p.m. and includes some small appetizers and good deals on house wine.

Looking for a pub with local microbrews and good sandwiches, preferably near the surf beach? Your destination should be Goose Hollow at the Cove (220 Ave. U, 503/717-1940, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Fri.–Sat., 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun., $7–10). There’s nice deck seating plus 14 beers on tap; it’s also a smoke-free environment. The Reuben sandwiches here are locally famous.

At the Gearhart Golf Links, the old clubhouse now houses McMenamin’s Sand Trap (1157 N. Marion Ave., Gearhart, 503/717-8150, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Mon.–Tues., 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Wed.–Thurs., 11 a.m.–midnight Fri., 8 a.m.–midnight Sat., 8 a.m.–10 p.m. Sun., $7–27); it has been decorated with the McMenamin’s trademark whimsical artwork and serves the local chain’s decent (not great, but always edible) upscale hippie pub food.

If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll almost inevitably end up eating at Pig ’N Pancake (323 Broadway, 503/738-7243, 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Sun.–Thurs., 6 a.m.–10 p.m. Fri.–Sat., breakfast and lunch $7–10, dinner $10–18, dinner reservations recommended), where the Swedish pancakes and crab-and-cheese omelets are tops at breakfast, and the Frisbee-sized cinnamon rolls will launch your blood sugar to new heights.

Seafood

Dooger’s (505 Broadway, 503/738-3773, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, $11–20), which also has an outlet in Cannon Beach, is a popular Broadway mainstay known for its clam chowder. Although it’s kind of a frumpy-looking place, it serves good seafood. Local clams and oysters, fresh Dungeness crab legs, sautéed shrimp, and marionberry cobbler are also the basis of Dooger’s reputation.

Cajun

A rarity in these parts, Lil’ Bayou (20 N. Holladay Dr., 503/717-0624, 5–9 p.m. Wed.–Mon., $15–20) dishes up authentic muffulettas, jambalaya, blackened catfish, gumbo, and a host of other Cajun and Creole standards, right down to side dishes of collard greens, at reasonable prices. Finish off with a slice of sweet potato pecan pie or Aunt B’s cheesecake.

Northwest Cuisine

Maggie’s (581 S. Prom, 503/738-6403, 8–10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5–9 p.m. daily, breakfast $3–10, lunch $7–12, dinner $17–20), tucked away in the Seaside Oceanfront Inn, serves carefully prepared meals, with dinners that include simple pasta dishes and a number of seafood choices.

Should the frenetic ambience of Seaside on a holiday weekend begin to wear thin, try the Pacific Way Bakery and Cafe in Gearhart (601 Pacific Way, 503/738-0245, bakery 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Thurs.–Mon., restaurant 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 5–9 p.m. Thurs.–Mon., dinner $14–24, dinner reservations recommended). Gearhart is the area where famed food writer James Beard was raised; his finesse lives on in such dishes as smoked salmon and cream cheese with thin-sliced red onion on a croissant.

Pasta, crusty pizzas, and seafood dishes (including thick seafood cioppino) as well as crepes pop up at lunch and dinner. Rib eye steak and local razor clams are other frequent dinnertime highlights in the surprisingly urbane little café hidden behind a rustic old storefront. In the morning, the bakery side of the operation is the place to be for coffee and pastries.

by Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae from Moon Oregon, 8th Edition, © Elizabeth & Mark Morris and Avalon Travel