Northwest Cuisine

Although the name makes it sound like a brewpub, Brian’s Pourhouse (606 Oak St., 541/387-4344, www.brianspourhouse.com [1], 5–11 p.m. daily, main courses $15–22) is in fact a notable restaurant for locally sourced seasonal cuisine. Few places in town can match the Pourhouse for sheer culinary creativity, and Brian’s has become a local hangout for the under-40 outdoor-sports-oriented crowd. The chef offers inventive dishes that combine the best of traditional Asian, European, and nouvelle elements, always with a fresh flair. Chili-crusted calamari is served with lemon aioli, and bison osso buco comes with crispy Niçoise olive polenta.

Another great addition to the Hood River [2] dining scene is Celilo Restaurant and Bar (16 Oak St., 541/386-5710, www.celilorestaurant.com [3], 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Sun., $14–24), with a daily changing menu and an updated lodge look that features hefty wood beams and splashes of soothing color. The food is very well executed, with up-to-the-minute preparations such as seared scallops with truffle oil and fresh porcini mushroom salad.

Cornerstone Cuisine (Hood River Hotel, 102 Oak St., 541/386-1900 or 800/386-1859, 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily, $9–19) offers a mix of sandwiches, light entrées, seafood, and Northwest cuisine, with some outdoor seating. This is a fun and always bustling place to eat, and it has a lovely historic dining room and bar. You’ll enjoy such eclectic dishes as pomegranate-glazed salmon with parsnip fries and grilled pear.

The Columbia Gorge Hotel Dining Room (4000 Westcliff Dr., 541/386-5566 or 800/345-1921, www.columbiagorgehotel.com [4], Mon.–Fri. 7 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–9 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5:30–8 p.m., main courses $18–39) looks east at the Columbia River rolling toward the hotel from out of the mountains and west toward sunset alpenglow. Local mushrooms, fruit, and wild game as well as Columbia River salmon and sturgeon are featured prominently.

For a special occasion, try Stonehedge Garden (3405 W. Cascade Ave., 541/386-3940, 5–9 p.m. daily, $18–25), located in a historic house in a romantic wooded setting on the west end of town. Stonehedge specializes in classic renditions of aged beef and fresh seafood, served with fine wines.