When summer arrives in the Pacific Northwest, you find every excuse imaginable to get outside. You need to soak up as much Vitamin D as possible! To the untrained eye it may seem this rainy region of the United States doesn’t offer much in the beach department. But, that’s where you would be wrong. From its massive sand dunes to the stretches of pristine white sand, the Oregon Coast provides an ideal summer vacation destination. And, of course, with any excellent summer spot comes good eats, good drinks and good times.
Florence, Oregon, located about 60 miles west of Eugene, is a hotbed for summer activities and eats. Situated between the Siuslaw National Forest and Jessie M. Honeyman State Park, Florence sees tourists of all kinds during the summer months, and the locals are aware. This fact attributes to the high volume of restaurants in the relatively small area. One restaurant stands a notch above the rest though, the Waterfront Depot Restaurant & Bar.
As the name suggests, the restaurant is most certainly waterfront. A quick turn off Pacific Highway 101 and you can reach the cozy eatery’s location on the Siuslaw River across from the bridge leading to state parks and sand dune areas galore.
The small restaurant resembles a house, but upon entering guests are greeted with a saloon-style bar and round wooden tables that line a gorgeous dining room. The menu could be considered surf n’ turf, but the team over at the Waterfront make sure their version of surf n’ turf is completely unique. Entrees such as the Seafood Linguine and Maple Leaf Grilled Duck Breast are great examples of the style the restaurant has honed in on. If you are feeling extra adventurous you can add lamb riblets to your plate: these juicy morsels are sure to take the meal to the next level.
After all of that food, you will need a carefully-crafted summer cocktail to wash it all down, lucky for you the Waterfront’s summer cocktail menu is full of great options. Two popular go-to cocktails for summer are the Merriment and the Strawberry Shrub Cocktail. The Merriment is the perfect refresher for a hot summer day at the beach: in-house infused marionberry vodka, triple sec, fresh mint and lemon juice turn into a beverage that has you feeling very festive. You aren’t a fan of vodka? Don’t worry. The Strawberry Shrub Cocktail packs just as much refreshment and is made with gold rum and strawberry shrub, soda water and fresh basil round out the drink making it the perfect summer sipper.
If you are looking to make the most of the sunny months here in the Pacific Northwest head down the Oregon Coast. Check out the sea lion caves, go for an ATV ride on the sand dunes, traverse the vast sandy beaches and, when you get hungry, find yourself in Florence at the Waterfront Depot Restaurant and Bar.
