During a recent trip up to Ashland Oregon, we had a chance to dine at several restaurants. Here are some of our favorite picks. And for those of you who want to explore the Ashland and surrounding area beyond food and wine, be sure to read our Ashland Summer Travel Guide.
Alchemy Restaurant & Bar
Located on the first floor of the historic hotel—the Winchester Inn—Alchemy Restaurant & Bar has been around since 1983, winning awards and kudos since then. It was named one of the Top 100 Restaurants for Foodies in America by OpenTable.
Their wine list, which features over 650 labels, has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2006 and Best of Award of Excellence since 2015.
Three Sheets to the Wind Cocktail at Alchemy
Anthony started with a cocktail which is a rarity for him. It was an easy choice however, because their bar menu features over 350 spirits and was named one of the Great Bourbon Bars in America. He also loved the name: Three Sheets to the Wind.
The bar scene at Alchemy in late July
We were initially more curious about their sister restaurant Chateaubriande 36, a French steakhouse, largely because they had Wagu on the menu, one of our favorites. That said, we were visiting during July and Alchemy has an amazing patio scene surrounded by flowers and lights.
Truth be told, we resonate more with the alchemy name because of the many esoteric and spiritual events and retreats we lead: a name of mystery and magic. For the folks at Alchemy, it’s all about taking “common elements and transmuting them into something greater.”As they remind, this quest was used by the alchemists of old in an attempt to finally achieve the Magnum Opus, the Great Work, the turning of a base substance such as lead into the perfect form of gold. And, that Alchemists created the first cocktail bitters and tinctures, and along with it, the first cocktail. How fun!
And not only was the food exquisite, but so was the ambiance and the service. We lucked out with our server who was a pro from the moment we sat down to bidding our final farewell at the end of a warm Tuesday evening.
Some of their appetizer options include a Glazed Octopus with Cilantro and Basil tossed in a yuzu ponzu sauce with toasted sesame, Steak Tartare with grilled sour dough, a Savory Mushroom Flan, and a few salad options. I had to try the Tuna Carpaccio which they serve with a ginger vinaigrette, cucumber jalapeno salsa, wasabi mayo and chips.
Tuna Carpaccio Appetizer at Alchemy
They had a special soup du jour that we had to try, so refreshing on a hot summer night: canteloupe with carrot chilled. OMG, right?
Above and below, the Chilled Canteloupe Soup at Alchemy
Anthony ordered the Harissa Seared Scallops with celery and capers, topped with Crispy Prosciutto and yuzu hollandaise. The presentation was exquisite as well.
Harissa Seared Scallops at Alchemy
Also available was a Dry-Aged Ribeye Steak with Farmer’s Market vegetables, Walla Walla onion sousbise, bone marrow butter and a truffle red wine jus as well as a Braised Lamb Shank with lamb neck confit, snap peas, achiote vinaigrette and rosemary sherry wine jus. If you want something lighter, they have a a curried mussel dish steamed in beer, coconut, spices, garlic and butter. Sounding scrumptious yet?
Having ordered a Santa Barbara Au Bon Climat Chardonnay, I opted for the Miso Halibut, which is an Alaskan halibut with crab tortellini, snap peas and dashi.
The Miso Halibut at Alchemy
Anthony went for the fettuccine pasta with pulled duck confit and forest mushrooms, served in a roasted chicken demi-glace.
Above and below, the house duck fettucine at Alchemy
For dessert, how about a Passion Fruit Curd Tart with Short Dough, Swiss Meringue, Coconut and Lime Zest? It was to die-for!
If you’re a chocolate lover, then I’d recommend their Chilled Chocolate Fondant with Passion Fruit Caramel, Maldon Sea Salt and Honeycomb.
The Chilled Chocolate Fondant with Scharffen Berger chocolate
Two thumbs up! For more information and to access their latest menu, visit their website.
Location
35 S 2nd Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Hearsay Restaurant Lounge & Garden
This place also has a beautiful garden, perfect for the summer and for our party of 15 on the closing night of our retreat.
On offer are many delicious mixed drink combos, bubbly, whites and reds by the glass. And of course, there’s always a margarita . . . this one had a cucumber punch and twist!
Hearsay offers a number of lighter healthier options, such as the Seared Sea Scallops with celery root & white chocolate ganache, arugula pesto, pickled beech mushrooms and chips or their Roasted Beets with Orange Segments, Arugula, Feta Cheese and Hazelnuts. For vegetarians, there’s the Manchurian Cauliflower with a sweet chili sauce and sesame seeds.
We went for the Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna with cucumber, avocado and papaya salad with a sesame vinaigrette and sweet pepper coulis.
Above and below, the Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna at Hearsay
Salad options included variations like buttermilk blue cheese, bacon lardons, smoked cherry tomatoes, and frisee with smoked ham, gruyere cheese, chives and toasted walnuts. Or, how about this Grilled Asparagus with Lemon Mascarpone and Toasted Pine Nuts?
Some of the mains include a Pan-Seared Ora King Salmon with fennel & leek risotto, grilled asparagus and sweet dill beurre blanc, Braised Short Ribs with creamy polenta, sautéed spinach, marinated cipollini onion and a mushroom demi-glace. If you’re a pasta lover, they have a Prawn Fettuccine with lemon garlic cream, beech mushrooms and arugula.
Anthony went for the Chicken Milanese, which is a breaded chicken breast with lemon butter caper sauce, potato purée and arugula salad. They had a few vegetarian options as well and even if you wanted a burger, you could substitute the beer for a grilled Portobello Mushroom.
Although I always opt for a patio or outdoor option when available, especially during the warmer months, the inside of this Ashland restaurant gem is amazing.
The bar scene is equally interesting.
Desserts include a Strawberry Roulade Cake (Lemon Curd), a Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee with espresso whipped cream, a Lemon Mouse with Mascarpone Whipped Cream or house-made Sorbet or Ice Cream.
For more information including their latest menu, check out their website.
Location
40 S 1st Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Osteria La Briccola
On our first evening in Ashland, we headed to a friend’s favorite spot: Osteria La Briccola, located in the central downtown area. Tucked away down an alleyway and upstairs, there are both inside and outdoor options available. As we were seven, we took over a lovely corner table in the tasteful patio seating area.
Burrata always draws me in, so when they offered a Burrata Con Prosciutto with arugula and fried pumpkin, how could I resist? I couldn’t and so this appetizer was our introduction to this Ashland-based Italian gem.
They also offer other salad options, such as organic mixed greens, red radish, diced tomatoes, shaved parmesan cheese with avocado and their Belgian endive with arugula, radicchio, crumbled gorgonzola cheese and caramelized walnuts. They had an exquisite Guazzetto Di Vongole (sautéed manila clams & black mussels) tossed in a white garlic combined with a light-spicy tomato broth.
I still try to stay clear of carbs so I avoided the Gnocchi despite it calling me in as did the Pappardelle Agnello e Pistacchi, translated to lamb ragù, thyme and crushed pistachios. Seafood lover? Then go for their Porcini e Bamberi, which includes shrimp, porcini mushrooms, pancetta, white wine and a light cream sauce. Anthony tried the dish I would have gone for if I wasn’t avoiding heavy carbs: the Tagliatelle which came topped with my favorite pasta combo: wild board ragù. They season it with red wine, light tomato sauce and pecorino cheese.
To end the evening, we went for cappuccio, the Panna Cotta with a mixed berry sauce and their housemade Tiramisu, which they served with ladyfinger cookies, espresso coffee and mascarpone cheese. Yum!
For more information and the latest menu, visit their website.
Location
18 Calle Guanajuato,
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Lark’s Home Kitchen Cuisine
Located on East Main Street along the main drag, this spot is a great choice for a meal before Ashland’s summer plays. Their dishes support Oregon’s farms, orchards, creameries and meat ranchers. They have been committed to offering the freshest and locally sourced ingredients that include vegetables, herbs and fruits growing on nearby farms, meat from small ranchers, Oregon cheeses, and nuts and their Executive Chef, Franco Console maintains a direct relationship with local farmers and purveyors.
On the menu, you’ll find dishes like southern fried chicken, prime grade hanger steak, seasonal soups and seafood, a variety of salads and vegetarian entrees. Ingredients like locally sourced lamb, Rogue Creamery’s award winning blue cheese, seafood off the Oregon coast, foraged mushrooms and wild berries are part of the offerings. And their wine program has been awarded the Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards. They offer a number of interesting cocktails as well.
We split a salad (mixed greens with bacon and cranberries) so the below plate is only half of their normal sized portion.
I nearly went for their summer coconut curry (snap peas and fennel were calling to me), until we heard the specials and we both ordered fish. Anthony went for the Sole a lemon brown butter sauce, served with rice and asparagus and I went for the Salmon with snap peas, and veggies in a spicy aioli sauce.
The sole in a lemon brown butter sauce at Larks
The salmon with sauteed veggies
For more information including their latest menu, visit their website.
Location
212 E Main Street
Ashland, Oregon 97520
Masala Bistro & Bar
We also dined at Masala Bistro & Bar for Indian Thali-plates one evening when we wanted a quick meal and it was open on the later side. It is bright inside and has warm colors, and there are plenty of great meat and vegetarian combo options. It’s located on 258 A Street.
Brickroom
We had drinks one early evening in a renowned place on Ashland’s main strip: Brickroom. Locals know it well for its craft cocktails and later hours. It is brick-lined option with a deck for and you can also get small plates and main plates.It’s located on 35 North Main Street.
Blue Toba
We also really liked the Indonesian restaurant on the main drag as well. It brought back memories of my years traveling through SE Asia and while you often find Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants, Indonesian eateries are more rare. We loved our experience at Blue Toba.
COFFEE & TEA BARS
There are also a number of great coffee bars in the Ashland area. Let’s take a look at a few we were able to visit. Bloomsbury Cafe & Wine Bar has a number of great coffee and tea options and it also offers wine too. It’s not as easy to find since it is upstairs from a bookstore; however, it’s a great place to get away from the crowds on the main drag if you want to read a book or work on your laptop for a while. The Internet works and is reliable.
I must have had three of their cold coffee brews by the time we left.
Then there’s the Apothecary, a gem of a spot for mixed herbs and concoctions but you can also get drinks there as well.
Now, everyone knows of Noble Coffee in the Ashland area. It’s main cafe Noble Coffee Roasting is on the other side of town on 4th Street, right next to an antique relics store which we love. It’s a bustling coffee roaster offering organic espresso drinks and pastries in a spacious, modern and I might add, spartan space.
Not to be missed is Lovejoy’s Tea Room, which is a cozy, quirky place filled with mismatched china and furniture. It’s small so reservations are suggested as there are only a few tables available for walk-in guests.
The other spot we quite liked was Dobrá Tea House on North Main Street, a gem on the corner with bright and happy colors adorning its walls.
The place has a funky ambiance and we ended up here twice during our stay. It’s known by locals as a bohemian tearoom and it takes its tea quite seriously. They serve loose-leaf teas, iced teas, bubble teas, chai and matcha.
You can buy tea in small little bags or as gift sets and there’s also bulk tea and tea ware as well as gift options.
It was over 100 degrees when we were there so we opted for chilled tea rather than traditional hot tea in a pot.
They also offer a variety of food plates as well as house made pastries & desserts. We enjoyed a few light and healthy snacks while we were there in July.
Be sure to also check out our Things to Do in Ashland article. It includes a couple of day trips as well.
What are some of your favorite restaurants in Ashland?
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
