The Redfish restaurant, located near Port Orford on the Southern Oregon coast, is simply put: stunning. It is the brain-child of Chris Hawthorne and his beautiful wife/sculptress Julie. Their Hawthorne Gallery (equally impressive is steps next door).
Make the Hawthorne Gallery either dessert or starter to round-out and complete an excellent Redfish meal. Neither gallery nor restaurant should be missed. Both are designed by artists with a keen, refined aesthetic eye and culinary taste.
If location, location, location is key to business success, this restaurant has found it,perched on a small jet of land above the breath-taking and wild Pacific ocean. Views in all directions, almost detract from the quality of food, if that is possible. The restaurant looks over Battle Rock, until the sun dips into the ocean.
As for eating, the menu presents solid offerings, not cheap, but with food this refined, cheap is relative. Redfish advertises as both American and French. Having lived and eaten my way through much of France (for better and worse), the restaurant correctly qualifies for a few of those French stars.
When the mouth begins to water, over at least 4 different menu-offerings, you’ve arrived. The prices are matched by the quality of preparation, freshness, inventiveness and finally taste. Both fish/shell fish and beef are on the menu, which changes so log on to their website for latest offerings. On this occasion amongst the dishes were a venison bourguigonne, caramalized scallops, fresh oysters, clams, beef tenderloin and more. Main dishes range from $15-$28. Starters $8-$15. An extensive, well-chosen wine list offers mid-range to expensive, good, wines.
It was St Patrick’s day on our stop, so corn-beef and cabbage were presented as the plat du jour. Grass fed beef, potatoes mashed with yummy lumps generously mixed with the a smooth, creamy, buttery puree and carefully prepared sauteed cabbage…fabulous. Only a true chef can trill such a basic dish to magic. And trill they did.
Sorry I can’t describe the dessert menu, as there was no room left. Merci et ca suffit. One of us however did try the bread pudding. It didn’t match the rest of the meal for my sweet tooth. But that should not deter dessert fanatics. Surely the sweets also match the rest of an otherwise gourmet meal. Try them yourself and let me know what you think.
The Redfish restaurant is on HWY 101, 25 miles South of Bandon, with Port Orford as it’s address: 517 Jefferson Street. Tel 541-366-2200. It is open Wednesday-Friday 11:00AM to 9PM, Saturday+Sunday 9AM-9PM. On Saturdays, live music is sometimes offered. There is a fully stocked bar, tastefully designed in keeping with the restaurant, making it tempting to just swing in for a drink, sunset…views and gallery visit.
and it is just this good!