“Happy
25th Anniversary” written in blue and yellow chalk adorns the
sidewalk outside the entrance to the Side Door Café in Gleneden Beach. I called
ahead for reservations and mentioned we were celebrating this special event. Inside,
our table is decorated with red rose petals and a twisted red streamer down the
center. That’s just the start to our delightful celebratory evening.
A refurbished tile-production warehouse is the home
of this exceptional café, just off the beaten track of Highway 101. From the booths
and tables situated around the room, you can see a large window at the front of
the restaurant and a cozy lit fireplace to the side. The high, dark, exposed
beams at the ceiling along with the mahogany-colored walls give the interior a
rich elegant feeling. Hanging plants drape the sides of the booths and
different colored pots of plants placed around the room add to the lush
interior.
Our waiter is friendly and eager to make our dinner
a memorable one. He smiles at our delight in the chalked welcome at the entrance
and the decorations at our table. Throughout the dinner he appears and
disappears, as if by magic, taking care of our every whim.
The smell of freshly baked bread wafts through the
room. As plates pass our table to their respective guests, the spicy rich aromas
of the entrées tease our noses: Parmesean Encrusted Fresh Halibut atop Cappelini
Pasta, Dungeness Crab Cakes on a bed of Sautéed Spinach in a pool of Tomato Saffron
Broth, Fire Roasted Rack of Lamb with Summer Vegetable Risotto, Seafood Fettuccini
tossed with Sherried Pesto Cream Sauce.
We have eaten at the Side Door Café several times
before and know exactly what we want for our anniversary dinner. Honey Mustard
and Herb Rubbed Local Chinook Salmon drizzled with Marionberry Glaze, accompanied
by Fruited Wild Rice and Fresh Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables, a Caesar Salad to
split, and a bottle of Cristom Pinot Noir (2007 vintage) completes our order.
While we wait for our salad, we glance around the
room. Even though it’s summer, the small fire gives off an intimate warm glow
as if respecting the muted conversations and ambiance of the evening.
Our wine’s smoky cherry nose gives way to sweet
spices of anise and cinnamon with a raspberry fruit follow through on the palette.
The Caesar Salad is cold and crisp with a tangy pleasant bite to the dressing. The
superb Salmon flakes easily and the Marion Berry sauce adds a wonderful sweet flavor
to the hint of honey mustard coating. Fruited Wild Rice is an amazing
accompaniment and soaks up some of the berry sauce. Sautéed vegetables of zucchini,
onion, and carrots complete our dinner.
We remember to save a little room for dessert, and choose
to share the bread pudding with chocolate chips, which does not disappoint.
Custardy bread pudding with chocolate chips layered throughout and a drizzle of
chocolate syrup is a piece of heaven and a perfect way to end the evening.
