The banks of the Sandy River are all the more pleasant with the buzzy community hotspot Sugarpine Drive-In. Chefs Ryan Domingo and Emily Cafazzo, both alumni of high-profile restaurants, have created a contemporary walk-up counter in what was a 1920s gas station. With an ode to American classics, Sugarpine’s menu is sprinkled with nostalgic bites, such as inventive sundaes made with both dairy and vegan soft serve. Savory food here is also a treat, particularly a grilled cheese pressed in a waffle iron for optimal crunch or a pulled pork sandwich made with pork shoulder slow-roasted onsite. Keep an eye out for seasonal salads reliant on Pacific Northwestern produce.

Located off the main drag in Cascade Locks is Brigham Fish Market, owned by Kim Brigham Campbell, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Brigham Campbell and her family are responsible for catching almost all of the fish that the market sells: sockeye, steelhead, or even sturgeon, pulled from the waters of the Columbia River. The family sells the fish raw or smoked in the market, also turning it into chowder, quesadillas, dip, and fish and chips for the lunch menu. The salmon-chowder-smothered ciabatta bread is a particular standout, finished with melty cheddar cheese and green onions; in late winter, the sturgeon fish and chips — a delicacy you won’t find many other places — is the must-order. Eat them all at tables steps away from the water and the towering Bridge of the Gods.

When Loop de Loop’s Julia Bailey started making her wild-yeast-fermented wines in 2009, sourcing grapes from the Columbia River Gorge and Willamette Valley, they became the hot bottles to keep in Portland wine bars and restaurants. In 2021, Loop de Loop opened its own tasting room and winery in Underwood, with exceptional pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, and blends poured alongside mountain and vineyard views. The winery also hosts exciting collaboration dinners from time to time; it’s worth keeping an eye on Loop de Loop’s Instagram for more details.

Pfriem has been a highlight of the Hood River waterfront since 2012, from families looking for cheeseburgers to beer nerds seeking something special. The sprawling taproom offers lagers, IPAs, and pilsners along with specialty barrel-aged beers; head to The Bear’s Den at the tasting room for cans to go or grab a pint to sip on the patio. Those sticking around for lunch or dinner can land at a table inside with the brewhouse as your backdrop or outside next to the giant fire pit — culinary highlights include the pimento cheeseburger with house-made cheese or the flavorful mochiko chicken.

Just steps from the Columbia River, Solstice Hood River is almost always abuzz. Locals and tourists flock to this Waterfront Park restaurant for wood-fired pizzas topped with Oregon and Washington produce, like the Country Girl, which pairs Gorge-grown cherries with three types of cheese, herbs, and chorizo made right in the Solstice kitchen. During the summer, when Solstice is at its busiest, the company somehow triples-down, both opening a kiosk out back for takeout orders and firing up its pizza truck to serve extra pies to hungry crowds. The fried Brussels sprouts, coated in a bacon dressing, are a crispy, salty, and sweet complement to any pie.

Michael J. Phillips and Panuwat Prasertyotin opened the first Mugen Noodle Bar in Tigard in 2018. While that location grew in popularity, the duo continued to visit Hood River, a favorite place of theirs; they loved it here so much, they ended up opening a second location in the Gorge town, a few blocks away from the Mt. Hood train station. With its many ramen options — everything from black garlic with pork belly to braised duck — it quickly became a favorite of locals. Snag a seat on the deck overlooking downtown while you enjoy a rich ramen, with a broth that simmers for at least half a day before being served. 

This barbecue cart near Hood River’s waterfront is easily the best barbecue in the Gorge, with a Texas-adjacent style and plenty of oak in the smoker. Find beef ribs fit for a Flintstone, slow-smoked for 16 hours, as well as tasso-rubbed pulled pork, ginger-soy pork belly burnt ends, and juicy Hatch-chile-and-Tillamook-cheddar sausages that ooze gooey cheese with each bite. The cart is only open on the weekends and tends to sell out by early afternoon — the cart is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day, shortening its hours seasonally to just Saturdays and Sundays.

For a special occasion meal in Hood River, Votum is the hot new kid on the scene, serving tasting menus incorporating Oregon and Washington seafood and produce. Menus change daily, but any given visit may involve Tillamook cockles transformed into ceviche, crab risotto with the zip of sorrel, or salads overflowing with fava tops. Wine pairings are thoughtful with a global influence — Mosel riesling, Oregon pinot noir, and Hungarian tokaji may all appear in a single set of pairings.

This restaurant offers some of the most refined dining in the Gorge. Chef Ben Stenn relies on Oregon and Washington ranchers and farmers to create a menu that constantly changes in accordance with what’s fresh; expect a great selection of wines from the Gorge’s robust winery scene, plus local craft beers, fun mocktails, and a great selection of cocktails. Here’s a tip that mostly only locals know about: each day it’s open, the restaurant offers happy hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sit in the bar, order a (full-price) drink and enjoy half-off all of the items on the bar menu, which features items like steak frites and mushroom pasta.

At this tasting bar and bottle shop in downtown White Salmon, visitors settle into cozy seating for a great selection of wines by the glass, along with seasonal snacks ideal for pairing — think: smoked cod dip with chips, or burrata with snap peas and dukkah. The bottle shop is home to hundreds of wines showcasing different regions and styles from whites, reds, and rosés to a wide selection of orange wines.

Situated on the main thoroughfare in White Salmon, Everybody’s Brewing offers a selection of beer that would satisfy just about any palate. The brewery is most known for its hoppy Country Boy IPA and easy-drinking Local Logger Lager; however, it serves its full lineup of staples — including its crisp Co-Pilot Pilsner and Old Soul Porter with notes of caramel — year-round. The seasonally rotating tap list can include anything from a juicy sour ale to a hazy IPA. For food, expect pub fare but with plenty of delicious vegan and vegetarian options: Meals here can include burgers, gyros, burritos, mac and cheese, fish and chips, and vegan nachos. Check out the back deck for stunning views of Mt. Hood. 

Opened in 2019, the Society Hotel in Bingen is an excellent place to sip on an Aperol spritz and nestle into a comfy lounge chair surrounded by a crackling fire and shelves upon shelves of books. The establishment, originally built as a school in 1937, is tucked away from the main street and draws mostly those who seek it out, meaning that for now, it’s still a hidden gem. Here you’ll find timeless cocktails like a classic daiquiri served up or a refreshing Pimm’s Cup paired with new-age mocktails made with nonalcoholic herbal spirits. The café and lounge also offers local beer and wine, sandwiches, and simple snacks.

This Mosier coffee shop is both a local favorite and a pro-level post-hike refueling spot. Walking into the small coffee shop, visitors pass the roaster on the right, churning out single-origin coffees in small batches. The espresso bar knocks out well-executed lattes and americanos, though it’d be a mistake to pass up specialty drinks like the pistachio latte or a brown sugar latte in the colder months, featuring house-made syrup and Portland Bitters. Pastries and cookies complement the coffees on the menu.

Head to Kainos Coffee in The Dalles for outstanding coffee, Northwestern brunch-y fare, and Neapolitan wood-fired pizza. Mornings here involve maple bourbon lattes sipped while taking in the art, a geometric-style mural featuring a retro palette of pink, yellow, aqua, and black. Here, $8 will land you a 12-inch margherita pizza, along with a variety of other topping options to create the ideal pie. When happy hour rolls around, locals head to the bar tucked on the other side of a bookcase passageway for a speakeasy vibe and creatively crafted drinks.

For a cold beer in The Dalles, Freebridge downtown is the place to go. Located in a restored historical building from the mid-1800s, Freebridge focuses on German lagers and Northwest ales including its staple, the Pulpit Rock Pilsner. Pair it with a pizza made with the brewery’s American Lager in the dough, or grab a sandwich or wrap. Happy hour also runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with $1 off pints and $2 off appetizers.

Dining options get thin the farther east you go, so it’s lucky there’s C & D Drive-In and Bakery, an old-school rest stop filled with equal numbers of kids and truckers. Order a classic American cheeseburger, milkshake, and fries, which come with a plethora of special sauces. The spot is best known for its “Bozo” burger, a quarter-pound patty topped with bacon and cheese that’s named after former owner Jack Bozarth.