The North Coast loves its seafood, that’s for sure. But how do you know it is truly local? For locally caught seafood, you have to do a little research on the meaning of “local and sustainable.” These spots are some that are sure to fit the bill because they’re either owned by Oregon fishing families or buy their fish locally.
Fish and Chips on the North Coast
At Astoria’s South Bay Wild Fish House, co-owner Rob Seitz fishes on his own boat, bringing in Dover and petrale sole as well as pink shrimp to add to seafood he sources from friends for the kitchen and deli case; try the fish and chips or seafood-topped flatbreads. The 28-foot converted wooden gillnet boat that houses Bowpicker Fish & Chips in Astoria serves up beer battered albacore served with thick steak fries and their own secret recipe tartar sauce. Even without a boat, Enola’s Ship Out food cart — just over Old Youngs Bay Bridge in the south part of Astoria — and Seaside’s Grizzly Tuna food cart on Highway 101 both serve fresh, hot fish and chips. Enola’s sometimes has Columbia River sturgeon, a rare treat. Like Bowpicker, Grizzly Tuna serves only local, sustainable albacore but uses a bread crumb dredge for its version. Sea Baron’s deep blue food truck fries up beer-battered local lingcod and albacore out of a parking lot in Garibaldi. The delightfully divey Sportsman’s Pub-n-Grub in Pacific City distinguishes itself from the pack with dory-caught, breaded and deep-fried local lingcod and rockfish.
And many of the North Coast’s full service seafood markets also offer fish and chips with local fish like rockfish, lingcod, halibut, or salmon. These include Bell Buoy of Seaside, Ecola Seafoods Restaurant & Market in Cannon Beach, and Old Oregon Smokehouse in Rockaway Beach.
Local Seafood Restaurants
For upscale casual and fine dining on the coast, local seafood is easy to find at sustainability-oriented restaurants. Look for Chinook salmon in season, Netarts oysters and local bay clams, and other Oregon-caught delights at places that specialize in seafood, like Maggie’s on the Prom and Norma’s Seafood & Steak in Seaside; Stephanie Inn Dining Room and The Bistro in Cannon Beach; The Salmonberry in Wheeler; The Schooner in Netarts; and The Riverhouse Nestucca and Meridian Restaurant at the Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa in Pacific City. JAndy Oyster Co. in Tillamook serves their own fresh-from-the-bay oysters on the half shell and other dishes, as well.
Visit the North Coast Food Trail to show your support for even more restaurants and small food businesses.
