7 Best Restaurants in The Willamette Valley and Wine Country, Oregon

This exquisite hotel dining room is named after one of the soils in the Oregon wine country. The kitchen source the majority of their ingredients locally, and many of the vegetables come straight from the on-site garden. The menu changes according to season, but always features fresh seafood and an abundance of local veggies. Ask for a seat at the counter overlooking the open kitchen if you want to see the chefs in action. Naturally, the restaurant has an expansive wine list focused on Oregon wines.

Opened back in 1991, this Dundee institution has long been known for luring Portlanders away from their own restaurant scene, offering country-French fare cooked lovingly with locally grown produce. Service is as intimate and laid-back as the interiors; a double fireplace divides the dining room, with heavy glass brick shrouded by bushes on the highway side, so you're not bothered by the traffic on Highway 99.

Owned by the Ponzi wine family, this bistro showcases Italian-style fare dominated by locally grown and raised produce, while the on-site Fratelli Ponzi Fine Food & Wine Bar serves Ponzi wines from Oregon and Italy. Vaulted ceilings provide an open feeling inside, warmed by abundant fresh flowers and the works of local Oregon artists.

Wild mushrooms and truffles are the stars at this 1857 home, named after an Oregon pioneer, that is now on the National Register of Historic Places; there are three small dining rooms, each seating about 15 people. The standard dinner is a seasonal five-course prix-fixe menu, but they also offer an elevated "Oregon ‘Omakase’ Experience," in which they just keep bringing out dishes until everyone is full—the only catch is that the whole table has to agree to order the experience.

While most McMinnville restaurants exude the same laid-back atmosphere found across the Willamette Valley, this dark, high-end spot cranks up the formality with its ever-changing prix-fixe menus. Dishes are created using ingredients grown, raised, and caught in the area and a solid, predominantly local wine menu, with nonalcoholic pairings available for those who'd rather not partake. The open kitchen allows guests to get a glimpse at their meals being made, while plates and wall sconces crafted by Oregon potters add a charming local touch. Just be aware that they are unable to accommodate gluten-free or dairy-free diners.  

Located in the bustling 5th Street Market, this renowned Eugene restaurant works with local farmers to bring fresh, local, and oftentimes organic food to the table. Specialties include salmon, halibut, sturgeon, and beef tenderloin, braised pork shoulder, and outstanding local oysters paired with an extensive wine list featuring lots of Oregon wines.

Beautifully plated meat and seafood dishes take center stage at this local favorite, where ingredients (and beverages) are sourced locally whenever possible. As the name suggests, Subterra is located in an underground cellar space, but it's not as cramped as it sounds; there's even a private dining room for special events.