Dining Spotlight
Taphouse’s pub fare and view are a winning combo
By Toni Woodard
We all know those days, those beautiful, sunny days that make the Pacific Northwest especially enchanting, those days when you go through that list of “eat outside” restaurants to soak in the gloriousness of dining alfresco.
Make sure the Waterfront Tap-house is on that list!
Located upstairs at the west end of Vancouver’s waterfront, the Waterfront Taphouse offers tasty pub food with fantastic views of the Columbia River, bridges and planes flying in and out of PDX. All inside booths and tables are oriented toward the windows, and a patio with outside seating begs you to linger on a sunny day or warm evening.
The restaurant is accessible via stairs and an elevator. Seats at tables are wood or metal, while booths offer a padded option. Service on my two visits has been prompt, efficient and friendly.
The food menu is not overwhelming, but the beverage selection could be! The Waterfront Taphouse’s array of beer, wine, whiskey, bourbon, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks is so extensive and dynamic that the beverage menu is provided online (a QR code directing you to the website is laminated on the corner of each table).
My first visit to the Waterfront Taphouse was a patio lunch with friends on a beautiful summer day. My sesame ginger chicken salad ($17) was full of fresh ingredients and burst with flavor. I loved the crunchy texture of the cabbage, snap peas, bell peppers and peanuts. The sesame peanut dressing had a hint of ginger that made the salad bright and lively.
My second visit was for dinner. My husband and I sat inside and watched the lights of Portland twinkle in the night sky. We shared a Caesar salad ($15) and cheese curds ($12). I ordered the Oregon Berry Pork Ribs ($27), and my husband had the French dip sandwich ($18). He enjoyed a glass of tempranillo wine from Washington ($16), and I tried a glass of a locally produced vanilla porter ($8) that I but loved sampling did not end up liking.
Everything we ordered was fresh and well-prepared. The Caesar salad was crunchy and had a lemony-garlic dressing with a hint of anchovies, even though none were present. The salad also included pine nuts and fried capers to add more crunch. The pine nuts were fun, but the fried capers mostly added curiosity since they were black and a little distracting.
We loved the cheese curds! The batter was perfectly fried, and the cheese inside was melted enough to pull. The accompanying dipping sauces were creative. One was a sweet and tangy mustard sauce, while the other was a smoky ranch dressing.
My Oregon Berry Pork Ribs were delicious. They were meaty and tender, and the sauce tasted like a smoky blackberry jam. The accompanying onion rings were sweet and crunchy, and would be worth ordering separately as an appetizer ($11).
My husband enjoyed the French dip, deeming it “fine,” but said he would likely try a burger next time. The thick, corkscrew Sidewinder Fries that came with his sandwich were fantastic: crispy and lightly seasoned on the outside, and warm and potatoey on the inside. Although not listed as an appetizer, the fries can be ordered as a side for $10. I highly recommend doing that, regardless of what else you order.
The lunch and dinner menus differ slightly, mostly in terms of entrees. For instance, dinner offers steak options. I am intrigued by the bruschetta offered on both menus, where you choose three of eight options ($18), including things like salami and pesto, portobello and blue cheese, and smoked salmon and red onions. The Caprese Pizza Board ($15), which also sounds interesting, has white sauce, tomato, basil and balsamic glaze. Before deciding on the ribs, I was tempted by the Apple Fig Burger ($18) featuring apple slices, arugula, bacon fig jam, onions and crumbled goat cheese. Next time!
There are several gluten-free modifications, including a gluten-free bun for the burgers.
In addition to the website, the restaurant’s Facebook page provides quick links to each week’s beverage (beer) menu, while the Instagram page is a great source for information about specials and events.
The Waterfront Taphouse
801 Waterfront Way, Suite 203,
Vancouver
360-719-2043
11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
thewaterfronttaphouse
Instagram: @thewaterfronttaphouse
Toni Woodard is enthusiastic about food, fairs, llamas and writing. She is the author of “I’m Fine: A Practical Guide to Life with Chronic Pain.” Contact her at toniisfine@outlook.com.
