happytrailstoyou

Have you eaten at Gower St Bistro? If so, do you recommend it and/or do you have a suggestion about what to eat there?

We usually end up at the Wayfarer because it's reliable and we haven't been thrilled elsewhere.

Any other restaurant suggestions in Cannon Beach. Would we be better off at Mo's?

Fodorite018

Beachbum has been to quite a few places there. I tend to stick to my favorites, like the Wayfarer. But Ecola Seafood Market is good (not fancy by any stretch of the imagination though), and yes Gower St Bistro is as well. One place that I really do not like at all is Dooger's. Mo's is fine for what it is, but is not a favorite of mine.

Scarlett

Love Gower St Bistro!
I loved their crab cakes and usually had those and or salads..my husband liked their pasta dishes and fried calamari.
We were practically across the street from their other restaurant in Portland, the Everett Street Bistro. The food is great in both places as is the service.
I liked Mo's but the two are not even close to being in the same catagory.
I agree with mms and beachbum , who were usually the ones to tell me where to go, so whatever they recommend, you will probably be happy oops, you are happy lol

beachbum

I've been to most of them, and Gower St. Bistro is still my favorite Cannon Beach restaurant. But except for their clam chowder, which I think might be the best on the planet, none of their dishes particularly stand out for me. I think the kitchen/quality is better than Wayfarer, but it otherwise has similar attributes: just reliable and consistently good food. I also like that it doesn't try to be something it's not, unlike Stephanie Inn and Newman's 988. Be nice if they had more seafood on the menu though.

And I agree with mms re Dooger's, and regret having given JP's one too many times to redeem itself.

happytrailstoyou

Thanks for these prompt replies. It sounds like it's worth giving Gower St Bistro a try.

It was fun to read assessments of other restaurants with which I concur.

JP's has more rules and regulations than my junior high school. I don't need that place and its attitude.

The one meal I had at Dooger's did not please. However, a few years ago I went to the bar at Doogers' and asked the bartender if she made good martinis. She said she did, and proceeded to concoct me one that put be under the table! God bless that child.

Fodorite018

I agree about the drinks at Dooger's. Those are good! But the food leaves a heck of a lot to be desired.

kimamom

Gower St. is very good, I love their Wild Salmon there and all of the desserts. We had an amazing dinner at Newman's @ 988 this past Sat. night. The crab cakes, Caprese salad, Lamb Shank and Chocolate cake were all excellent. Very quaint little place with excellent service and friendly people.

We also enjoyed Mo's last night, I like the Blackened Salmon there and the bay shrimp salad that comes with your entree is always good. Have fun on the coast! ***kim***

Scarlett

kim, on TripAdvisor, didn't you say you had dinner at the Happy Clam last night?

Mo's...go for th chowder or sandwiches, bring Water Pills LOL They tend to over-salt everything..

balitrav

We go to Cannon Beach at least two weekends of every month, so have eaten many times at all of the restaurants. We had many good meals at Gower Street up until about six months ago, and then had more than a few that were just not up to par - quality of food seemed to have gone down, and service was a little spotty. JP's on the other hand has always given us great food and attentive service - we have no complaints and consider it to be one of our favorites. We had a wonderful meal at Newmans 988 about a month ago. It was the first time we'd gone since last winter after just having a so-so experience last time. We love the hamburgers at Bill's for lunch, and have never had a bad meal at Warren House. Wayfarers fish and chips can't be beat, and they make a fabulous crab salad.

happytrailstoyou

Thanks for this thoughtful comments and for the names of places that I have yet to investigate. HTTY

happytrailstoyou

We had a wonderful meal at Gower Street Bistro last Saturday evening. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the couples sitting on either side of us were great company. It was a perfect evening.

***kim***, and the others who have mentioned the charms of Gearhart, we investigated the town on the way from Cannon Beach to Ocean Shores. Driving on 101, I never expected such a lovely town was only a few yards away. We had luscious Danish and coffee at Pacific Way Bakery and look forward to dinner at the Cafe (which you mentioned to me several months ago ***kim***).

Scarlett

Great! glad to hear it remains so good
How was the weather?

Fodorite018

Glad you had a good trip Beachbum has been recommending the Pacific Way Cafe for years, and Kim took his advice and tried it and recommends it now too. Gearhart is a nice change of pace from the nearby area. We will be at the coast this weekend and are looking forward to it.

Scarlett

True, beachbum posts a lot of excellent recommendations here but even more on TripAdvisor where kim and the rest of us take his advice.
happy, do you live very far from Oregon? Will you be able to do this again soon?
If so, I will look forward to reading about it again

kimamom

Glad you enjoyed Gower and Pacific Way. What did you have for dinner at Gower St? Pacific Way also does amazing pizzas, we took guests there this summer and had a great time, I love what they have done with their outdoor patio in the back. We want to try lunch there sometime.

Gearhart is really cool, I love shopping there in the quaint little gift shops and antique stores. We did the drive up to Oysterville several days ago and had a great time, stopping at 42 Street Cafe in Seaview for lunch and taking in the gorgeous scenery. Historic Oysterville is so serene and we enjoyed a stop at the Sea Farms Oyster Shack there. ***kim***

courtneycwo

Reading through this thread as we are in Cannon Beach right now I have to ask y'all - have you had bad experiences @ Mo's lately? We go often as we have young children and it is so very kid friendly. However, the last two times that we have been the food has been just awful - to the point where truly, the last time (couple of weeks ago) we went and vowed to never return (we had hoped that our one really bad dinner was just a bad day). Have they changed ownership? Anyone know? Thanks so much!

Fodorite018

Mo's, IMO, is only good for their chowder. I still prefer Ivar's by a long shot, but on a cold day it does work for me.

kimamom

We had a nice dinner there a little over a week ago, the chowder is always good and I usually order their Blackened salmon which is yummy. The bay shrimp salad is always fresh and prepared nicely. It is what it is, a casual restaurant with good food, dont compare it to Gower, Bistro or Newman's or you will be disappointed. ***kim***

courtneycwo

We have always gone for the chowder - and usually have taken a container of it to go as we enjoy it so much. However, the past two times - the chowder was awful - it was all potatoes with a huge scoop of margarine on the top. Certainly not the end of the world - but just a bit of a bummer as we had come to depend on Mo's for a casual, easy spot to take the kids.

Fodorite018

I would never assume to compare Mo's to Gower St., etc. But yes, I do think that Mo's has gone downhill over the years. There is no view, but a good alternative would be Ecola Seafood Market.