Shirley's Tippy Canoe Floats Our Boat

Along the bank of the Sandy River northeast of Troutdale, Oregon, the Tippy Canoe has been welcoming wanderers since the 1940's.  Once a run-down roadside bar, today's Tippy Canoe is a warm, clean, classy dining destination.  The sprawling dining room encircles the open bar with richly panelled walls and truly amazing wood and metal sculptures of the Columbia Gorge's much revered salmon and other artsy touches. Out back, beneath giant Douglas Firs, is a huge - and we mean HUGE - outdoor seating area with polished stone tables and benches.

This weekend, the TTG Team descended on Shirley's and were received as though we were their best long time customers, possibly relatives.  Our server, Deanie, offered us our choice of table anywhere in the dining room and we chose one looking out over the open-air seating.  Absolutely the farthest table from the front door - no problem.

Shirley's is pretty much famous for seafood at dinner time, but we were there between breakfast and lunch and had our choice from both menus.  Yes, there are oysters, and halibut, and shrimp and just about any seafood you can name on the menu, but we opted for major comfort food.  The patty melt was ample and tasted and looked just like God intended.  The crab omelet was full of fresh crab - Dungeness, of course, and the chicken fried steak, the size of a dinner plate, was crisp, hot, and served with a plenty of rich country gravy.  The Team, being who they are, shared a bottle of Kendall Jackson chardonnay for $30, a reasonable price, if not the cheapest in town. 

If lots of good food, welcoming staff and surroundings aren't reason enough to visit "The Canoe", then go there for the drive.  We took I-84 toward Troutdale, took exit 18 south along the Old Columbia River Highway to Shirley's then followed it east past Vista House and The Gorge waterfalls.  Sundays don't get much better.

Tippy Canoe Back Dining Room

                                              Tippy Canoe Outdoor Seating Area