Of the many restaurants along the Oregon coast, Tidal Raves Seafood Grill in Depoe Bay has fast become one of my favorites. The owners were truly blessed by the realty gods when it came to location, because they sit right above the ocean and the view is spectacular! Sunsets border on breathtaking.
On a recent trip to the Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, and Newport areas, my wife and I stopped in for dinner at Tidal Raves. We lucked out on finding a vacant parking space right in front of the restaurant. All the remaining spaces had been taken and there were more vehicles parked on the side streets, all their owners clamouring for a table. It was pretty obvious that it was a big hit with townies and vacationers alike.
We were only a party of two and the hostess was able to seat us immediately. Many people had four or more in their groups. I took in the relaxed atmosphere as we were led to our table in the middle of the dining area. Most patrons were dressed casually, some even sporting shorts and t-shirts. Smooth Jazz music wafted throughout the dining room.
Both my wife and I stared out the large windows, looking down upon the rocks and churning ocean. A seagull or two made a special guest appearance. We suddenly came to the realization that we had menus in front of us and we had better start looking them over.
Everything sounded so delicious and it took us a number of times of sending our server away before we had finally settled on what we wanted to try. Not that the menu selection was overwhelming; we just couldn't decide on what to tantalize our palettes with. They had additional Daily Specials jotted on a black board. To top it off, they offered a separate dessert and wine list. Oh, my!
The cheerful waitress approached us again and this time around, we were finally ready. She asked if we wanted to get started with an appetizer. We had been told by a couple friends that lived in the area that the Tidal Raves Seahawk Bread was to die for. We took their advice and ordered it to kick things off. We chatted with our server for a bit, asking what she recommended. I later found out she had worked there for over 15 years. If anyone knew what was good, she did. ;)
Here's what we ended up choosing (in addition to sharing the Seahawk Bread between us):
MY WIFE
House salad with shrimp
A 10oz char grilled rib eye served with brandied porcini butter with a grilled shrimp skewer
Caramel-nut truffle cake for dessert
MYSELF
Smoked salmon chowder
Alaskan halibut fish and chips
Mocha cheesecake
Each portion of our dinner, from our starter to our desserts, was served in a timely manner so as not to overwhelm us and fill us up too quickly. It made the entire dinner experience much more relaxing. They seemed to keep track of exactly what we were in need of the whole time. My son, who just graduated from culinary school, explained to me that the wait staff will do "fly-bys" and time the next dish they bring you according to where you are in the previous one. I was perfectly content to think that they could read our minds. hehe.
As we ate, we conferred with one another on each dish and, overall, everything was extremely tasty and perfectly cooked. The food itself was attractively put together. As my son progressed through school, I was attentive to his creative platings and noticed that Tidal Raves chefs made a valiant effort, but didn't quite catch his flare. It didn't matter to me, though. I was there to eat some good food, not critique the designs on our plates.
After a leisurely dinner, our server approached, inquiring whether we needed boxes to take our leftovers home with us. We certainly did and she quickly cleared our table and boxed our food up for us. Tomorrow's lunch was going to be another feast! ;)
Tidal Raves is a Depoe Bay restaurant that is a true dining experience. I really think you're going to love it, from start to finish. I recommend that you ask the hostess to seat you at the windows if you have the opportunity (good luck!). Although you can see the sea from just about anywhere you sit, the view is just too good not to get a front row seat to.
Tidal Raves is open from 11:00am to close, every day, serving both lunch and dinner. They are located at 279 NW Hwy 101, along Depoe Bay's main drag. You can get more information and take a look at each of the menus before you go at their web site, www.tidalraves.com.
Of the many restaurants along the Oregon coast, Tidal Raves Seafood Grill in Depoe Bay has fast become one of my favorites. The owners were truly blessed by the realty gods when it came to location, because they sit right above the ocean and the view is spectacular! Sunsets border on breathtaking.
We were only a party of two and the hostess was able to seat us immediately. Many people had four or more in their groups. I took in the relaxed atmosphere as we were led to our table in the middle of the dining area. Most patrons were dressed casually, some even sporting shorts and t-shirts. Smooth Jazz music wafted throughout the dining room.
Each portion of our dinner, from our starter to our desserts, was served in a timely manner so as not to overwhelm us and fill us up too quickly. It made the entire dinner experience much more relaxing. They seemed to keep track of exactly what we were in need of the whole time. My son, who just graduated from culinary school, explained to me that the wait staff will do "fly-bys" and time the next dish they bring you according to where you are in the previous one. I was perfectly content to think that they could read our minds. hehe.
Tidal Raves is a Depoe Bay restaurant that is a true dining experience. I really think you're going to love it, from start to finish. I recommend that you ask the hostess to seat you at the windows if you have the opportunity (good luck!). Although you can see the sea from just about anywhere you sit, the view is just too good not to get a front row seat to.