Featured Article

Windseeker Restaurant
Outstanding Pacific Northwest Cuisine, Panoramic River
and Sunset Views
Written by Christina Duane

Perched on the Columbia River with panoramic views of the Gorge, hills and Botanical Gardens, Windseeker diners experience exceptional Pacific Northwest Cuisine with indoor and outdoor patio dining. It is here on a spectacular bend on the river that travelers and locals alike often describe the food as the best they have ever tasted.

I am one of those travelers who may not have expected to have experienced the most tantalizing and interesting entrees in my memory in the rural prairie port city of The Dalles, Oregon. It would have been enough to just take in the spectacular view of the river and hills and feel the warm wind softly blowing through the gorge. To smell the many flowers, and herbs growing along the river in the botanical gardens and enjoy excellent Vintages from the local Wineries on what feels like the edge of the Wilderness was satisfying enough and then dinner arrived.

Halibut stuffed with seafood and bleu cheese and glazed in raspberry sauce, Scallops en croute in a rich sauce of exotic mushrooms and cream, Salmon glazed in Citrus Sauce made with Peach Snapp's are among the favorite dishes that are unforgettable! Windseeker is one of those hidden treasures that become a sort of Pilgrimage for the faithful. Well worth the drive whether traveling from Portland or another state. There are educational attractions here that are not to miss, such as the renown museum The Discovery Center that features collections and exhibits on the History of the Pacific Northwest as well as cutting edge research projects on retracing the steps taken by the Lewis and Clarke exhibition.

The Dalles is rich in history as the Native American Fishing grounds of the Wasco Indians who fished what was once a great Salmon run. It also was a camp on the route of the exploration party of Lewis and Clarke, then later, a booming port City, Home of Seufert Brothers Salmon Cannery and The Harvest Queen Sternwheeler, which ran between Idaho and Oregon. In 1957, The Dalles Dam was built; destroying the Native American Fishing Grounds and creating the power that would also fuel the Aluminum Industry in The Dalles.

Today, The Dalles is experiencing a renaissance with it's Victorian Homes and Historic Landmarks being restored, it's downtown thriving and it's down home family style in refreshing contrast to the Cosmopolitan City of Roses to the East. Equally refreshing was to find inventive recipes prepared by a Le Cordon Bleu Award Winning Chef on the bend of the river just steps from where the Native American's once stood by the falls with nets outstretched and caught Salmon on an Ancient Salmon run.

Windseeker's brunch is not to miss with by far the BEST Belgian Waffles ever as they are crispy on the outside and served with your choice of berries whipped cream or syrup and butter. Oblates made to order and an array of surprise entrée's every week, which may include Roast Beef, Chicken and Dumplings or a Seafood Sauté with Crab Legs and Scallops. Come to take in the Beauty, The History and Food that you will never forget!