Best of Ashland 2009 - Restaurants

RESTAURANTS

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Six new restaurants popped up (forgive the pun) in Ashland last year, which is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit of this town. Two of them are so new that they will be eligible next year, in addition to a smattering of others that we hear through the grapevine are on the way.
Taking down top honors this year was Harper’s, a restaurant/bakery at 36 S. 2nd that relocated here from Salt Lake City last year. Owners Kathie Chadbourne and Paul Maurer were so thrilled with the move that they got married in the restaurant’s garden a few months ago.
Coming in a close second was Paddy Brannan’s Irish Pub, Linda Goldfarb’s restaurant located across the street at 23 S. 2nd.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Stillwater, located at 1951 Ashland Street).
• Hana Sushi, on the Plaza at 29 N. Main.
• The New El Tapatio, located at 1633 Hwy 99.
• Pita Pit, downtown at 145 E. Main.
The latter two are brand new and will be eligible for the 2010 “Best of Ashland.” Opening a restaurant in Ashland in December is kind of like releasing a really good movie two weeks before everyone votes on the Oscars.

BEST STEAK & EGGS

The prevailing wisdom is that breakfast should be a huge source of protein to get you through the first part of the day. The last thing you want to do is carbo-load with a half-dozen maple bars, which will have you ready to go back to bed by noon.
Steak & eggs is probably the perfect protein source (unless you’re a vegetarian, then you’ll have to substitute tofu & eggs, but it just doesn’t sound as much fun). Taking down top honors in this category for 2008 was The Oak Tree, the Allen family’s restaurant at 2510 Highway 66.
The top three was actually a slugfest as both The Breadboard and The Wild Goose battled it out for number two.
Also mentioned were:
• Brother’s.
• Dragonfly.

BEST REUBEN SANDWICH

It was invented by Reuben Kulakofsky of Omaha, Nebraska, who supplied it to his buddies at a weekly poker game held in the Blackstone Hotel from 1920 through 1935. The owner of the hotel was part of the game, and he loved the sandwich so much he put it on the hotel’s lunch menu.
And for all you who can’t make it to the poker game this week, our readers suggested you head over to both The Breadboard and Paddy Brannan’s, which tied in this year’s balloting.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Brother’s.
• Standing Stone.
• Munchie’s.
• Greenleaf.
• Omar’s.
• Morning Glory.
• The Wild Goose.

DINNERHOUSE WITH MOST UNIQUE MENU

You got to love the chef who labors over his menu, trying to find that right combination of old-time favorites and exciting new dishes … someone who just doesn’t Google “dinner menu” for some ideas before sending it off to the printer.
And when it comes to chefs who put their hearts and souls into their menus, our readers mentioned quite a few, including this year’s winners, which featured a tie between Amuse, Erik Brown and Jamie North’s establishment at 15 N. 1st; and Kobe, where Billy Harto and his crew entertain at 92 N. Main.
It was competitive among the Top Five:
• Dragonfly.
• Chateaulin, at 50 E. Main.
• Peerless, located at 265 4th Street.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Lela’s.
• Tabu.
• Winchester Inn, at 35 S. 2nd.

DINNERHOUSE WITH MOST RELAXING ATMOSPHERE

There’s a time and place for pinball machines, loud football games on TV, and kids playing Grand Theft Auto in the corner, but trying to have a relaxing dinner ain’t one of them. What you want is a restaurant that sets the mood with perfect lighting, subtle music, attentive waiters and outstanding food.
Topping this category for 2008 was Chateaulin (50 E. Main) where Jason Doss and his attentive staff provide a serene atmosphere.
The Top Eight in the category were:
• Peerless.
• Cucina Biazzi, located at 568 E. Main.
• Amuse.
• Winchester Inn.
• Alex’s, at 35 N. Main on the Plaza.
• Lark’s.
• Beasy’s on the Creek.

BEST DINNERHOUSE TO TAKE THE FAMILY TO

This category required a little thinking, and our readers responded admirably, naming 19 different restaurants. The Top Five were actually pretty close, with Standing Stone, Alex Amarotico’s restaurant and microbrewery at 101 Oak Street, taking top honors.
They were followed closely by:
• Pasta Piatti, located at 358 E. Main.
• Munchie’s.
• Omar’s.
• Black Sheep.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Wild Goose.
• Wiley’s World, at 1606 Ashland St.

BEST NEW YORK STEAKS

The days of the cattle drive from Dallas to Abilene may be over, but our taste for outstanding steaks hasn’t diminished much. Properly presented and expertly prepared, they can make even the most staid carnivore salivate on a minute’s notice.
This category had some heated competition, but in the end Omar’s (1380 Siskiyou), with owners Bruce Dwight, James Williams and Greg Menthe, came out on top.
Also serving up some great steaks is Beasy’s on the Creek (51 Water Street), which came in a close second.

BEST CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD

It’s a great combination of healthful things that go in salads, plus chilled and diced slices of chicken strategically placed for maximum enjoyment. Add a little Caesar dressing, and you have a perfect meal for almost any occasion.
And when it comes to great Chicken Caesar Salads, our readers most often mentioned three different establishments: Martino’s/Macaroni’s, Marty Morlan’s restaurants at 58 E. Main; Alex’s (on the Plaza), where Quinn Courtright and Charles Tobey direct traffic; and Creekside Pizza Bistro, located at 92 ½ N. Main.
Also receiving their share of votes were:
• Greenleaf.
• Standing Stone.
• Pasta Piatti.
• Ashland Bistro Café.
• Geppetto’s, at 345 E. Main.

MOST INTERESTING FISH ENTREES

They’ve been hanging out in the ocean since the Cambrian Period 510 million years ago (or since 4004 B.C., depending on which version of reality you subscribe to), and since then they have expanded to streams, rivers, lakes and ponds. The varieties and numbers of fish are enormous, and now we learn that by adding them to our diet they actually help reduce the risk of heart disease (love those omega-3 fatty acids).
There are quite a few restaurants in Ashland which offer interesting fish entrees, including this year’s winner, which was a tie between Black Sheep (Susan Chester’s fine establishment at 51 N. Main on the Plaza); and Beasy’s on the Creek, where Rob Harvey and his crew pay attention to details at 51 Water Street.
The Top Five were close, and they included:
• Omar’s.
• Kobe.
• Amuse.

BEST SALAD BAR

When you’re really, really hungry, and you want to pile your plate with every food group known to man and/or woman, a salad bar is a great place to start. Most of our readers in this survey preferred the selection Grilla Bites, Tom and Monika DuBois’s restaurant at 47 N. Main on the Plaza.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Northwest Pizza & Pasta, at 1585 Siskiyou.
• Great American Pizza, located at 1448 Ashland St.
• The Food Co-op Deli, at 237 N. 1st.

RESTAURANT WITH MOST INTERESTING DECOR

It’s not necessary to have original Picassos on the walls, or signed pictures by Mickey Mantle, but anything showing a little creativity is always appreciated by restaurant-goers (especially when there’s a lull in the conversation). In that regard, our readers most often mentioned three different establishments: Black Sheep, where photos and British paraphernalia dot the walls, and there’s even a James Bond-style phone booth in the back; Tabu, with masks on the walls from all over the world; and Cucina Biazzi, where you’d swear you were in Tuscany.
The Top Eight in this category included:
• Chateaulin.
• Peerless.
• Lark’s.
• Il Giardino.
• Paddy Brannan’s.

MOST FUN MEXICAN RESTAURANT

You don’t have to fly to Cabo san Lucas or Guadalajara to get the feel of Mexico these days. Many of the local restaurants are owned by our brethren with roots in Mexico, and they bring all the excitement of “fiesta time” to Ashland.
Topping the list this year with a double olé was a tie between La Casa del Pueblo at 1209 Siskiyou, where the de la Cruz family greet you at the door; and El Tapatio, the Padilla family’s restaurant at 1633 Highway 99 N., behind Ashland Motor Co.
Others high on the list were:
• El Arriero, at 2345 Ashland Street (in the Rite-Aid Plaza).
• Miguel’s, located at 545 Clover Lane (on the other side of the Interstate next to Holiday Inn Express).
• Señor Sam’s, in the Ashland Shopping Center.
• Tabu.
• Agave, located at 92 N. Main.
• Soco’s, downstairs at 96 N. Main.
• Big Al’s, at 474 N. Main.

BEST BURRITOS

This is the classic Mexican dish, where every combination of goodies imaginable can be packed into a flour or corn tortilla. And if your waiter is having a fun day, he or she can suggest that it come with either pollo or chicken.
This was a heavily contested election, but in the end the burritos at Señor Sam’s, Jim Gilbert’s popular restaurant in the Ashland Shopping Center, took top honors.

BEST MARGARITAS

It’s the quintessential drink at all Mexican restaurants, although according to Wikipedia it is primarily a tourist drink and isn’t that popular with native Mexicans. Its versatility as a cocktail, however, is legendary, and our tequila-loving readers mentioned most of the local establishments.
This was an interesting turn of events this year as both Agave, located at 92 N. Main; and Tabu, at 76 N. Pioneer came out on top, wresting control from the traditional big Mexican restaurants. And to top it off, the margaritas at Alex’s (on the Plaza) came in a close third.
Rounding out the Top Ten were:
• Miguel’s.
• El Arriero.
• La Casa del Pueblo.
• El Tapatio.
• Creekside Pizza & Bistro.
• Hong Kong.
• T’s, at 303 E. Main.

MOST FUN ASIAN RESTAURANT

The Olympics have come and gone, but when Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt want to relive the good old days, they can always come to Ashland and hang out in some of our outstanding Asian restaurants. Our readers named all eleven of them in this survey, reserving their number one accolades for both Kobe and Thai Pepper, Billy Harto’s restaurants at 92 N. Main and 84 N. Main.
The Top Five were pretty close, and they included:
• Yuan Yuan, in the Bi-Mart Shopping Plaza.
• House of Thai Cuisine, at 1667 Siskiyou.
• Dragonfly.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Panda Garden, 1757 Ashland St.
• Bonsai Teriyaki, in the Albertson’s Plaza.
• Chun’s Palace, at 310 Oak Street.
• Mihama’s (1253 Siskiyou).
• Vic’s Mongolian BBQ, at 1662 Siskiyou.
• Golden Dynasty, located at 1415 Siskiyou.
• Hana Sushi, on the Plaza.

BEST CHICKEN FRIED RICE

The worldwide food crisis is reaching critical mass, and rice is no exception. In fact, the punishment for hoarding rice in the Phillipines right now is life in prison. Things haven’t gotten that bad in the U.S. yet, and our readers still appreciate their chicken fried rice, naming most of the local Asian restaurants in this category.
The number one choice for 2008 was Chun’s Palace, at 310 Oak Street.
It was followed closely by:
• House of Thai Cuisine.
• Yuan Yuan.
• Panda Garden.
• Golden Dynasty.

MOST FUN SUSHI COOKS

It’s fun to watch the sushi cooks because they definitely love their job. Wielding those sharp knives like surgeons and flipping little pieces of fish in the air as if they were expert jugglers, they entertain all your senses, including taste.
This category was your classic horse race between the three sushi places in town (used to be four until Kat Wok bit the dust). In the end, Kobe won top honors, although a lot of people are fans of Bonsai Teriyaki.
The new kid on the block, Hana Sushi, also made a good showing.

MOST FUN ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Now that the Sopranos is no longer on the air, we’re going to have to rely on our local Italian restaurants to keep us entertained. And in that regard, our readers loved both Pasta Piatti, Tom and Lisa Beam’s restaurant at 358 E. Main, and Il Giardino, where Gaetano Siragusa and his crew make you feel at home ... in Sicily.
The Top Four was extremely close:
• Cucina Biazzi.
• Martino’s/Macaroni’s.
Also placing high in the standings was Wiley’s World.

FAVORITE PIZZA PLACE

Its origins are Italian, but it has somehow become a staple of the American diet (I may not have made it through college without pizza). Our readers definitely love their pizza, naming Great American Pizza Company as their favorite, as Ken, Elvis, Heidi and Kathleen won this category for the 18th year in a row.
They are, however, not alone, as the Top Six in this category were very competitive. They included:
• Creekside Pizza & Bistro.
• Northwest Pizza & Pasta.
• Giseppi’s Pizza, in the Market of Choice Shopping Center.
• Papa Murphy’s, below Blockbuster.
• Standing Stone.

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

The world can be divided into two groups of people: those who wake up early on Sunday morning, and those who don’t. If you’re one of the latter, you probably partake in a Sunday Brunch or two every month. What could be more efficient? You get both breakfast and lunch taken care of in one fell swoop.
Leading the way in this category for 2008 was The Winchester Inn, Laurie, Michael and Drew Gibbs’ fine establishment at 35 S. 2nd.

BEST BBQ DISHES

This from the Internet: “The biggest debate you will find among the purists of BBQ will occur if you bring together a Texan and a South Carolinian. In Texas, BBQ means beef, and in the Carolinas (the whole South for that matter), BBQ means pork.”
Here in Ashland, it’s slim pickings for true BBQ dishes, and our readers instead turned to the menu at Roscoe’s BBQ at 117 S. Main Street in Phoenix.

BEST SELECTION OF SALADS

In Europe they actually eat their salads at the end of the meal. That’s so French! Here in the good ol’ U.S.A., we reserve our salads usually for the beginning of our meal or even as the meal itself. We can definitely show those Europeans who’s boss.
A lot of local restaurants were mentioned in this survey, with the number one nod going to Greenleaf, Daniel Greenblatt’s restaurant on the Plaza; and Standing Stone.
The list also included:
• Grilla Bites.
• Lark’s.
• Lela’s Café.
• Munchie’s.

BEST APPETIZERS

You’re so hungry you could eat an entire yak, but the cook informs you that it may take at least 15 minutes to thaw the one that was imported from Mongolia and has been sitting in the freezer for twelve years. What do you do while waiting? You order some great appetizers, like fried emu wings or something.
Anyway, when it comes to appetizers, our readers mentioned quite a few places, including this year’s winner, Peerless Restaurant, Crissy Barnett’s establishment at 265 4th Street in the Railroad District.
The Top Five in this category included:
• Alex’s.
• Tabu.
• Dragonfly.
• Thai Pepper.
Others high on the list were:
• Lark’s.
• Pasta Piatti.
• Omar’s.

BEST FRENCH ONION SOUP

It’s an onion & beef broth-based soup that is traditionally served with croutons & cheese as toppings. According to Wikipedia, the soup is “ancient in origin, and it underwent a resurgence of popularity in the 60s due to the growth of French cooking in the U.S.”
Here in Ashland, our readers reserved most of their accolades for the French Onion Soup at Chateaulin, located at 50 N. Main across from the Plaza.
Landing near the top were:
• Allyson’s of Ashland.
• Lela’s Café.

BEST DESSERTS/PASTRIES

Man (and woman) does not live on protein alone. No, we have to have those carbohydrates to keep us going, and we might as well satisfy the cravings of our sweet tooth while we’re at it. Many local establishments were mentioned by our readers, and it turned out to be a 3-way tie between The Apple Cellar, located at 2255 Highway 66; Mix Sweet Shop, on the Plaza at 57 N. Main; and Munchie’s, on the Plaza at 59 N. Main.
The Top Ten included:
• Lela’s Café.
• Peerless.
• Ashland Bistro Café.
• Deux Chats Bakery.
• Chateaulin.
• Amuse.
• Winchester Inn.

RESTAURANT WITH BEST OUTDOOR SEATING

Obviously, this category is dependent on great weather, but all I know is my wife and I eat outside in our patio almost every night from May through September. There’s just something about being outside with the fresh air, flowers and hummingbirds that makes meals more enjoyable.
And in that regard, a number of local restaurants were mentioned, including this year’s winner, Dragonfly, where Neil and Dee Clooney’s garden makes your think you’re in the French Quarter in New Orleans.
The Top Five were very close, and they were:
• Thai Pepper.
• Peerless.
• Standing Stone.
• Pasta Piatti.
Others mentioned a lot were:
• Beasy’s on the Creek.
• Greenleaf.
• Alex’s.
• Martino’s.

RESTAURANT WITH BEST VIEW

Being outside is one thing, but having a great view of the creek, the Plaza and/or surrounding hills is another. Ending up in a tie for this category was Beasy’s on the Creek, with its panoramic view of the mountains surrounding Ashland, and Alex’s, for its balcony view overlooking the Plaza and its seating outside in back with views of Ashland Creek.
The list of great views included:
• Thai Pepper, right on the creek across from Bluebird Park.
• Martino’s, where the balcony overlooks the Plaza.
• The Breadboard, with views of the hills across the Interstate.

RESTAURANT WITH FRIENDLIEST ATMOSPHERE

A lot of different variables go into the atmosphere of a restaurant, but in order to qualify as friendly, you have to have a waitstaff that is attentive to details but not too hung up on rules. They have to be flexible and able to treat every situation with humor and aplomb.
And when it comes to friendly atmospheres, our readers most often mentioned The Breadboard at 744 N. Main, and Wild Goose at 2365 Ashland Street. They’re pretty much bookends of friendliness at both ends of Ashland.
Smiles all around for the following, also:
• Alex’s.
• Black Sheep.
• Pangea.
• Omar’s.
• Standing Stone.
• Pasta Piatti.
• Greenleaf.

FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT

Whether we like it or not, we are a “fast food nation.” We have so much going on in our lives that sometimes 24 hours just isn’t enough. Sleep doesn’t comes easy, because we feel guilty if we’re not doing something. Fast food restaurants are there for our hyper lifestyles, and in the last 5-10 years they’ve even added a more healthful lineup to the menu.
The definition of “fast food restaurant” is a whole different animal in Ashland, as all the regulars took a back seat to some more creative, yet “fast,” restaurants.
Taking down the top spot this year was a tie between Happy Falafel, Greg Wilcox’s Greek-oriented restaurant in the Ashland Shopping Center; and Señor Sam’s, Jim Gilbert’s Mexican-style establishment, also in the Shopping Center.
Others receiving a lot of votes were:
• Big Town Hero at 75 N. Main.
• Pita Pit, located at 145 E. Main.
• Grilla Bites.
• Mihama’s.
• Taco Bell.
• Wendy’s.
• Subway.
• Burger King.

BEST SELECTION OF BURGERS

This is as all-American as you can get, and if they ever include “Burger Making” as an Olympic event, the U.S. should definitely sweep all three medals. Here in Ashland, gold once again went to Louie’s Bar & Grill on the Plaza, where the Jensen family takes their burgers seriously.
It was, however, a hard fought battle between Big Al’s, which came in a close second, followed by:
• Munchie’s.
• Wild Goose.
• Omar’s.
• Wendy’s.

BEST MILKSHAKES

The air conditioner went out in your car, and you’ve just returned from a five-hour trip to Reno. Sure, the family is waiting for you back home, and there’s even news that you won $12 million from Ed McMahon, and the dog gave birth to 14 puppies, yet you have to have a milkshake first. It’s just one of those things that people crave.
And when our readers want to satisfy that craving, they most often chose both Big Al’s, Arturo Pascual’s restaurant at 474 N. Main; and Zoey’s Café and All Natural Ice Cream (199 E. Main), where Zoey and Ryan Lehmann serve up some outstanding milkshakes.
The list also featured:
• Rocky Mountain Chocolate, at 33 E. Main.
• Wendy’s.

BEST SODA FOUNTAIN

It’s like taking a trip back to the turn of the century, when phosphates and sasparillas ruled the day. This category was a definite runaway, as Zoey’s Café and All Natural Ice Cream at 199 E. Main won this.

RESTAURANT WITH MOST ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE

You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to know what’s needed in this operation: perfect lighting, great music, a nice view, a choice menu, and an attentive waitstaff who treat you as if it’s your wedding anniversary every night. According to our readers, the top spot in this category goes to both Chateaulin (50 E. Main) and Cucina Biazzi, Beasy McMillan’s Italian restaurant located at 568 E. Main.
Also mentioned a lot were:
• Martino’s.
• Peerless.
• Amuse.
• Il Giardino.
• Winchester Inn.
• Hong Kong.

BEST PLACE TO CALL FOR TAKE-OUT

Going out for lunch and dinner is always fun and is a part of most family’s recreation schedule. Sometimes, however, you just can’t get it together. Not only can’t you get everyone organized but you just looked in the refrigerator, and all it had was a half-eaten box of yogurt and some left-over tamales. Where to call when you want fun food that will be ready for pick-up in 20 minutes? Topping the list with our readers for 2009 was Pasta Piatti, an Italian restaurant located at 358 E. Main.
Other popular choices were:
• Creekside Pizza & Bistro.
• Chun’s Palace.
• Dragonfly.
• Golden Dynasty.
• Pangea.

BEST WINE BAR

Okay, okay, there are only two of them in town, but we still wanted to gauge our readers’ reaction. And when it came down to it, the spacious atmosphere at Liquid Assets, Jim and Denise Piotter’s establishment at 96 N. Main, edged out The Winchester Inn Wine Bar. This was actually a popular category, and it’s good to see that Ashland can support two wine bars.

MOST FUN COFFEEHOUSE

Since coffee naturally gets you hyper and ready to run a marathon or two, it’s always good to juxtapose that with a fun setting where you can sit and savor every last drop … then get up and run that marathon.
And in that regard, our readers most often mentioned the Rogue Valley Roasting Company, located at 120 E. Main Street.
Others high on the list included:
• The Beanery, (1602 Ashland St.)
• Key of C Coffeehouse, located at 116 Lithia Way.
• Starbucks, both downtown and near campus, although we hear through the grapevine that the campus location is the best (my daughter Cat works there).
• Evo’s Java House at 376 E. Main.
• Mix Sweet Shop.
• Bloomsbury Books.
• Dutch Brothers.
• Case Coffee, 1255 Siskiyou.
• Ashland Bistro Café.

BEST RESTAURANT OUTSIDE ASHLAND

The answers here were all over the map, and this year our readers reserved their number one affections for three different restaurants:
• Porter’s in Medford.
• The Avalon in Talent.
• New Sammy’s between Ashland and Talent.
Other favorites included:
• The Jacksonville Inn.
• Kaleidoscope Pizza in Medford.
• The Back Porch BBQ in Jacksonville.
• The Arbor House in Talent.
• Inti in Talent.
• Rosario’s in Medford.
• Roscoe’s in Phoenix.
• India Palace in Medford.
• Bambu in Medford.
• Gogi’s in Jacksonville.