The last time I visited Astoria, Oregon, was back in the ’90’s when we took our kids to find the house where the “Goonies” was filmed. They were excited when we found it and I still remember them hoping to see the old pirate ship with its trove of treasure, any child’s dream. We, of course, didn’t find the pirate ship, or anything gluten-free in Astoria, which would have been treasure to me! Now, nearly 20 years later, my gf treasure was found near the water at a place called Bridgewater Bistro.
If you ever make your way to Astoria, Oregon, Bridgewater Bistro is a must stop. The atmosphere is airy and inviting, with high-beamed ceilings and a large steel-faced fireplace roaring with warmth during the cool nights. The restaurant is open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch.
Tony and Ann Kischner own Bridgewater Bistro and you can be confident in the gluten-free food you eat, as Ann is celiac, and uses a dedicated fryer and other measures to ensure no cross-contamination. Our evening meal began with a soft multi-grain gluten-free bread made at the bistro. The texture and taste were phenomenal!
We then moved on to an appetizer of fried calamari. Now this was a rare treat! I have almost given up on trying to find gluten-free calamari in a restaurant, let alone knowing it’s prepared in a dedicated fryer!
Because there were so many enticing options for this gluten-free gal we ordered two more appetizers. The honey-lime shrimp and prosciutto wrapped asparagus did not disappoint!
Next, we were on to the main course where I couldn’t pass up the Willapa Bay Fried Oysters. I know, a bit of fried food, but again, aside from my gluten-free fried oysters recipe, I had never tried gluten-free fried oysters in a restaurant. They were nice and crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. If you like oysters, I highly recommend them!
It was a good thing I was sharing this meal with my husband because I would have been amiss to pass up dessert. Could you say no to gluten-free blackberry cobbler? Me neither. I do have a scrumptious gluten and dairy-free blackberry dessert recipe here if you’re drooling over this one.
We ended this delightful evening listening to David Drury playing jazz guitar and gazing out the large glass-pane window onto the glistening lights over the water; all in all a magical evening.
(P.S. This is an unsolicited post, just one very happy customer)
