Why an Irish Inn Keeper Built an Inn in retirement.

Duane Smith came to Ashland as a college student after getting out of the Army 45 years ago.  He has watched it grow from a small lumber town, into a town of surprising sophistication. In the process, he built and still owns Ashland's Lithia Hot Springs Inn & Gardens.  You can usually find him at the inn in the morning having breakfast with the guests and in the afternoon, pouring wine at O’Malley’s, the wine bar at the Inn.  He invites you to join him for local wine tasting and to give him feedback on his restaurant choices.  Or if you can send him your thoughts on your favorite Ashland restaurant, send him your comments on the form at the end of the review.

Today, Ashland restaurants create a wonderful mix of fine dining, casual eateries and ethnic choices.  Plus they offer plenty of local, regional and worldwide wines to please the most discriminating pallet.  A wide range of establishments followed the foot steps of Bernard Pradel, the Frenchman who started local restaurants on a new path over 36 years ago.   Now restaurants here compare favorably with the fine dining in any large city on the West Coast.

Philosophy behind this list of Restaurants

To qualify for my list I insist that the restaurant prepares each course from scratch with the freshest ingredients and be of a consistently high quality.  Should you become aware of any violations to this basic tenant or find the restaurant in question not worthy of the rating given, let me know by posting a reply on our Blog site. Consistent violations will be grounds for removal from this list. 

Unbiased Opinion

I do not seek or take complimentary meals. I am a paying customer just like you.  However, Ashland is a small town and it is hard to be incognito. In some categories there may be other good restaurants. These are just my favorites. In fine dining, these are the seasoned veterans. I am, however always listening and watching for the new kid on the block to add to the list.  My guests at the inn don't miss much.

Rating System

You will find ratings of all restaurants in the following categories: Overall Ambiance, Service, Food Quality and Presentation and of course, the Wine List.  I use a 1-10 scale for ease of understanding. 

The entree prices in Ashland generally range from $15 - $40 with the average at about $25. The typical prices at the restaurants in this list will be given using the following system:
$ - Below average prices
$$ - Average prices
$$$ - Above average prices

Now, let us proceed. Please note that I've listed the restaurants alphabetically and not in order of preference. To make this list, they are definitely worth a visit.

Categories

With nearly 80 Restaurants in Ashland, from great to mediocre.  I feel it best for guests to Ashland to have some idea of where and where not to go.

I have broken them down alphabetically into 4 categories.

1. Fine Dining
2. 3. Casual and Fun
4. Brewery with Good Food

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Fine Dining

Amuse has been on this list for about 6-7 years now. It has stayed right up there with the best Ashland has to offer.  On a recent evening, I would have rated it equal to anything in town. What really stands out in my mind are the flavors they manage to pack into their dishes. My entree was excellent.   They have chosen a simple decor and focus on the food.

Chateaulin has turned out great food with great service for over 35 years. For many of those years, it was the only decent place to eat between Eugene and San Francisco. About 30 years ago, the headwaiter and chef (Michael Donovan and David Taub) bought out Bernard Pradel, the Frenchman who started Chateaulin.  They immediately brought out the white linen and took it “top drawer” – where it has remained ever since. Chateaulin is the yardstick by which I measure all other restaurants. I have probably eaten here over 600 times in 35 years and have only had one disappointing meal.  It still remains an all time, old favorite of mine as you can tell.  It recently was purchased by a long time employee of Chateaulin, who has played most of the rolls in it's operation  and knowing Patty ad I do, I expect it to go on with it's usual high standards for another 35 years.   For old timers, the wine shop has been refurbished into Wine Bar in a Wine Shop.  Delightful.

The Peerless Restaurant has secured itself a solid place in the upper echelons of our fine dining scene. An eclectic decor and great service from a colorful wait staff makes this a break from the ordinary. A dynamite duo reign over the kitchen –  The owner is passionate and heartfelt about the restaurant she built from scratch.  The usually have some entrees that are hard to find.

Fine Dining (Lighter Fare)

Lela’s Cafe is under new ownership; and if anything, is better than ever and still a particularly pleasing place to partake of good food and wine. You’ll enjoy a great meal in a casually eclectic environment without breaking the bank to do it. If you can get in, it's one of the best choices in town for lunch. For dinner, the competition is a lot stiffer but Lela’s more than holds its own, offering a short list of entrees as well as some lighter faire. Lela's just proves that you don't have to be pretentious or spend a whole wagon load of money to have great food and good service. Recently, I had Salmon Aioli, and it was perhaps the best I've ever had. The wine list is expanding, and the casual elegance of the decor is refreshing. Parking can be a challenge so allow a little extra time for this worthwhile eatery.

Casual and Fun

Arbor House   (Located 2 miles north of Ashland in Talent) Arbor House is the area's most heartfelt restaurant with casual elegance and wonderful food, all wrapped up with a passion for what they do. Patrick Calhoun came to Southern Oregon in the 60s to live in nature along the banks of the Applegate River. Today, the walls of the restaurant are covered with pictures of friends of that era; many of them now are the business people that populate downtown Ashland. Patrick is gone now; but his son, Rory, and his daughter, Leah, carry on with the same love and passion infused in the operation that made it a treasured find, and my secret hideaway for, oh so many years.

Beasy's on the Creek is the place to go if you like red meat, seafood, and a lot more. Your meal is served in an elegant setting of mahogany and brass. A blazing fireplace helps to set the mood as the centerpiece of an elegant decor. Beasy's is located just below the plaza and is the newest Ashland restaurant in a long string of interesting restaurants that Beasy MacMillan has started over the years. Enjoy a meal next to the fire or out on the veranda overlooking Ashland Creek. Make sure to try the Lobster Ravioli. It is a killer dish (without a calorie in it).

Cucina Biazzi is a delightful Tuscan Italian restaurant and one of Ashland’s most popular places for dinner before a show.  Some of my favorite times have been spent under its wisteria-covered arbor on a late summer evening. A 4 or 5 course meal is served at a fixed price and offers a variety of choices, although all maintain a strict allegiance to the Tuscan theme. If your idea of Italian cuisine is spaghetti and meatballs, don't come here. Starts with an antipasto dish, then, a choice from about 8-10 pastas followed by your selected entrée, and then a great European style salad. If you have room, you can add a wonderful dessert.

Kobe’s is a wonderful place to wile away the evening.  Their Pan Asian, plus a variety of more western menu items are served Tapas Style.  This restaurant just begs one self to order lightly to begin and add to your faire as the evening goes along.  One can graze through several small entrées over a period of several hours, making dinner your evening’s entertainment or if you chose, you can just eat lightly before going to the theater.

Thai Pepper is a must if you like Thai food. The setting is elegant, with white linens and creek-side dining, in the plaza area and close to the theaters.  The chef/owner is Indonesian, and I've accused him of tweaking the traditional Thai recipes with some Indonesian spices. He just grins. Truly, this is some of the finest Thai food I have ever experienced. You can have it hot if you want, but there are plenty of items to choose from that are medium to mild as well.

Specialty Restaurants

Micro Breweries with Good Food.

Standing Stone Brewery has become the locals’ “regular” place to eat since opening in 1997. The Amarotico family has created a casual dining experience and some really great beer in, around, and under a working brewery.  While there are more elegant places in town, there are none more interesting. The staff is professional; the food is consistent; and the beer is not to be missed. I recommend their beer sampler to chase down their fish and chips or a wood-fired pizza. Standing Stone is always open and nearly always has a seat available. Try the shaded patio in the summer for a relaxing start to an evening.