Manzanita's Offshore Grill is Worth the Drive From Portland

Forget the Tourist Trap Restaurants in Cannon Beach and Seaside and Head Down to Manzanita for a Treat

Photo courtesy of Offshore Grill

An unassuming restaurant and coffee house offers one of the Oregon coast’s most delicious dining options.

If you’re heading to the coast to escape Portland this weekend, make some time to visit The Offshore Grill, one of Manzanita’s newest restaurants. You’ll be glad you did.

The quiet town of Manzanita is one of the Oregon Coast’s hidden gems. Located about fifteen miles south of Cannon Beach, Manzanita is only about 97 miles from Portland, so you can get there in less than two hours.

Manzanita tends to be way less crowded and commercial than Cannon Beach or Seaside, making it a more relaxing get-away for your weekend away.

If you believe that Portland corners the market on innovative restaurant fare, you may be surprised to find that you can still have some delicious meals. It doesn’t have to be all clam chowder and rubbery fried seafood because, unlike many beach towns, the tiny town of Manzanita has some exceptionally good restaurants.

Photo courtesy of Offshore Grill

Located on Laneda, Manzanita’s main drag, The Offshore Grill offers a fresh take on many of your favorites. They are committed to offering the freshest locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant moved from Rockaway Beach to Manzanita this past February, taking over the location that used to house a restaurant called Bread and Ocean.

Chef Jake Burden has created a menu that’s sure to please everyone in your family.

The “starters” menu offers several delicious dishes that can be enjoyed as a shared appetizer or a meal for smaller appetites, but two dishes really stand out.

The “Filthy Fries” is a tantalizing combination of seasoned French fries that are tossed with crispy pork belly, pickled peppers, green onions, and Pecorino cheese. Filthy Fries are rich and salty with thick chunks of bacon. The fries themselves are perfectly prepared, crispy on the outside, and soft in the middle. The fries are served with a side of “Disaster Sauce” to add some spice. They are priced at $10 for a huge serving that will serve everyone in your party.

Photo courtesy of Offshore Grill

The “Brussel Sprouts” are another great treat. Perfectly cooked brussels sprouts are sauteed with shallots and bacon, then tossed in a balsamic reduction and Parmesan cheese. The $9 price tag is a bit steep for the paltry serving size but definitely tasty.

Starters are available during both the lunch and dinner service.

During the lunch hour, Offshore Grill offers a variety of sandwiches and burgers ranging in price from $11-15. The burgers are customizable with a variety of topics, or you can get the “Offshore Burger” which combines all natural ground check, crumbled goat cheese, arugula, red onion, tomato, and black pepper mayo.

Other notable lunch items include the “Reuben panini”, the “Pan Fried Oyster Po Boy”, and for the vegetarians in your group, the “Falafel burger”.

If you’re visiting the Offshore Grill after 4:00 p.m. there’s a small but mighty selection of dinner entrees. In a nod to its location only a few blocks from the ocean, dinner includes a choice of seafood delights like Seared Sea Scallops, Pan-Fried Willapa Bay Oysters, Grilled Black Cod, and Dungeness Crab Cakes.

If seafood is not your style, try the Braised Lamb Shank, Cast Iron Chicken, Falafel Cake, or Prime Rib.

For a special treat, try the “Tilli Mac & 3 Cheese”. Campanelli noodles are tossed with creamy pecorino, yellow & white cheddar cheeses, garlic, and shallots. This decadent treat costs $16 for a very generous portion. You can add crab, pork belly lardons, grilled chicken breast, or pan-fried oysters for an extra charge.

If you want something on the lighter side, the Offshore Grill offers a great selection of soups and salads. Instead of the ubiquitous clam chowder, the restaurant has their own take on a seafood chowder that includes black cod, scallops, steamer clams, bay shrimp, arctic clams, pork belly, potatoes, and vegetables in a creamy base for $7 a cup, or $13 for a large bowl.

Photo courtesy of Offshore Grill

The "Seafood Louie Salad" is another standout dish. Smoked salmon, bay shrimp, Dungeness crab, hard-boiled egg, and a variety of local vegetables make this salad hearty enough for a meal. The very generous small size runs $14, and a full-size salad is $22.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, the Offshore Grill operates as a coffee shop in the morning, opening at 7 a.m. for early rising tourists and local Manzanita residents looking for a caffeine fix.

Lunch service is offered from 11:00 a.m. until 4 p.m. when the restaurant transitions into dinner service until 8:00 p.m. Currently, the restaurant is open only for “to go” orders, but is making preparations to add on-site dining soon. “To go” orders are wrapped with care and utensils are available on request.

Be sure to check out this great location next time you head out to the Oregon coast. It’s well worth the extra drive time from Portland.

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