We'll be staying three nights in downtown Walla Walla in August for orientation. I've checked out some websites, and it looks like there are many options in the downtown area for dining and wine tasting, and I'd love to hear if anyone has any personal favorites. Probably won't have time to drive out to the vineyards, so looking for recommendations in the downtown area. Thanks!
Last edited by sunmachine; 07-08-2012 at 04:36 PM.
Hi Sunmachine, we've been visiting Walla Walla for 3 years now as D is coming up on her senior year. She LOVES Whitman, btw. Anyway, my personal favorites are Olive for breakfast (I could pretty much go there every morning, that's how much in a rut I am), and my favorite restaurant for dinner would be be a toss up between Saffron and Brasserie Four. The Colville Street Patisserie is unbeatable for really good desserts and coffee. Enjoy your visit! We're going to really miss this little town after she graduates.
Hi sunmachine! Newly-minted Whitman grad here. You're right that there a ton of dining options downtown, and a lot of it depends on own budget and preferences.
In addition to Clarette's, which is a Walla Walla and Whitman staple, a couple other brunch places have sprung up in the downtown area: Bacon & Eggs and The Maple Counter. Bacon & Eggs has a lot of Mexican-inspired breakfast options (My old housemate LOVED the breakfast burrito there) and also serves an assortment of breakfast cocktails, if that strikes your fancy. The Maple Counter has more traditional/European-style breakfasts. The portions are huge and everything I've had there is delicious.
To add to kolijma's suggestions (which are great), I would also highly recommend Whitehouse-Crawford and have heard good things about The Marc restaurant inside the Marcus Whitman Hotel. And while those places are all what students would consider places to go "when the parents are in town" ($$$), there are excellent, more affordable options downtown as well. Other places I would recommend are Graze (for sandwiches and soup), The Green Spoon, and T. Maccarone.
As for desserts and coffee, downtown is really great too. I second kolijma's advice to go to the Patisserie (just down the street from Graze!), and you can find frozen yogurt (Frosted) and cupcakes (Frosted) only a block over. Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the wine cellars downtown, but I will say that there are many of them and they all seem like very classy establishments.
Anyway, I hope that helps and that you have a nice stay in Walla Walla! This is the first time in 4 years I won't be headed back in the fall and I can tell you that I will be missing it.
Congratulations to your son or daughter, sunmachine, Whitman is a wonderful college. To the number of good suggestions already made by other posters, I will add Olive as a relatively inexpensive place to eat. As to wine tasting, don't give up; there are several tasting rooms downtown, plus a gaggle clustered just outside of the airport. And if you are diving in from Pasco, be sure to stop at Ecole 41.
Unfortunately, we've never had a great, or even good, meal at the Marcus Whitman. The weekend brunch there is well known, but it's always disappointed us. But they have a new chef since the last time we were there, so maybe it's improved. A great option is the bar at the Whitehouse-Crawford. No reservations necessary, you can order anything that's on the menu, or just a burger. And it's a great burger! T Maccarones is nice for dinner or brunch. Enjoy!
Heh, we ate at most of the above places on parent's weekend. Green Spoon, Sweet Basil, Bacon and Eggs, and the Maple Counter. We did not have a single bad meal! Also had some yummies at the Patisserie. We also scored at the farmer's market...lots of selection.
Echoing all these other replies. Spent the 4-day weekend there in October and never had a bad meal. Succumbed to Bacon and Eggs three times (literally steps from campus) and delicious pizza (and they serve wine...) at Sweet Basil and pannini at Graze, the Farmers' Market (closed until May, I think?) too many patisseries. It was an indulgent four days, but it's absolutely a foodie town. We didn't go to any of the more upmarket eateries, because the quality at the "cheapies" was really excellent.
