Meritage Café and Wine Bar

Frommer's Review

Meritage originally opened with an emphasis on Pacific Northwest cuisine, but in the past few years the menu selections have become more broad. Regardless, the lovely decor remains the draw for me. The front room, with tables opposite a long wood bar, has the feel of a hip wine bar. But the best place to sit is the romantic patio, which is lit by overhead lights; the entire space is covered and heated in winter, so you don't have to wait for good weather to enjoy the atmosphere.

The menu offers a fair variety of seafood (king salmon, skate wing, scallops), and wild game shows up both in entrees and appetizers (the smoked pheasant and woodland mushroom terrine appetizer, for example). Many dishes put a modern twist on the meat-starch-vegetable formula: a hearty pork chop is topped with gingered rhubarb chutney and served with goat cheese mashed potatoes and fresh asparagus. Desserts tend toward lighter, fruit-focused dishes (recent offerings included a Meyer lemon-poppy seed pound cake with warm mountain berry compote; and an apple kumquat tarte Tatin with caramel apple sorbet), but don't worry, there's always something chocolate, too. Don't forget to try a glass of the restaurant's namesake wine; the servers can also point the way to the best food-wine pairings.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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