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On the Border Don and I stopped for lunch at this little cafe/gas station, during our August road trip.  I didn't realize until writing this up, that we were actually in Oregon. Our roadside stop was practically on the border of Oregon and Idaho. Drive to Winnemucca We left my brother's house in Boise and felt lucky to find this quirky oasis, about a third of the way to Winnemucca, Nevada.  As we pulled up, I noticed a few vehicles in the lot. I wondered about the snazzy camper jeep. I'm sure that's not what you call it, but it was clearly equipped for adventure. Dining In or Out? There were some shade trees and some picnic tables on a deck. One couple occupied a table.  There were also a few cabins nearby. The shed-like structures didn't look too appealing. We decided we'd go for inside dining. Counter or Table? We had another decision once we stepped inside. We could sit at the counter and watch some kind of rescue program playing on TV.  The 4 stools also had a good view of the narrow window into the kitchen. Corner Table We chose one of the 4 tables instead. It was right next to the counter, so I could still watch the activity and admire the knotty pine. A pine ceiling even!  The sticker on the soda machine told me that we were dining at a Veteran Owned business. I could read the daily specials on the board. I could also hear what the wifi password was, when an inquiring diner asked. "TRUMP WINS" I did not type that into my phone. Table With View Our table was in the corner near windows and we could peek out the blinds... or study the gold collection in the case... or read a plaque that reminded us, "Cowgirls are like barbwire. Handle carefully."  A display of dates, showed us some kind of involvement with local FH and FFA. The first year was 1992. The cafe felt older, but that could indicate the age of this Rome Station business. Shopping Just past the dining counter, I found a tiny store tucked into the back of the small building.  I could go shopping while I waited for food. Handy for the folks staying in the tiny cabins. Restroom Adventure I could do a little shopping without leaving the cafe, but if I needed to wash my hands it was an extra adventure. The restrooms were located in back of the cafe.
It was a confusing little cluster of buildings. Who knows what the "white" building was for? Or what the message on the metal roof meant? The restroom doors were located to the right of the old building. I would recommend visiting AFTER lunch. I'm not the pickiest in the world, but the bathroom experience was not pleasant. Lunch We didn't converse much with our server, since she seemed quite busy. Was she cooking as well? Our food arrived and we were fairly pleased.  Don's hand-pressed burger was just $7.25. Extra for fries. Both were quite tasty. My cup of chicken noodle soup was only $4.75! I would have preferred more flavor, but that's usually what you get with chicken noodle soup. The noodles tasted like yummy dumplings. That works for me.
My dinner salad was mostly iceberg, with tomato and cheese. I don't expect fancier or healthier, when at a roadside cafe. But what a price! $3.75! Alarming Report We were just starting in on our meal when the woman we'd seen on the deck, popped her head into the cafe. She looked at us with an odd smile and asked, "Are you the owners of the car from California?" Don answered that we were driving a rental with California plates.  The woman, with a very cute hat and an accent, reported an alarming message. "Well you have a big bird on the front of your car!" Don and I sort of winced at each other and chuckled. We explained that we'd driven through a flock of birds an hour earlier. We'd felt a THUNK and worried that we'd hit one of the birds. Poor Dear Bird The couple was still on the deck when we finally came out. It's a very sad thing that the bird encounter ended up with a deceased bird stuck to the front of our car.  The whole predicament was oddly funny. This dear bird, (which appeared to be a prairie chicken) was very securely attached. The couple, who owned the jeep, turned out to be a very entertaining pair. We pondered the problem together for quite a while. Stories and Feathers Maria and I did most of the talking. She was more amused than saddened by the whole thing. She initially thought we'd wired the bird to the grill as a display. She must have wondered about those crazy people with the creepy car decor!  Our bird talk led to more chatting. They were the owners of the Jeep. Ready to meet with 8 other vehicles, to head off for a week of wilderness camping. When Maria mentioned she was from Guatemala, Don and I chatted about our stay with a family years ago. Before we headed off, I complimented Maria's hat and hinted that she could use a few feathers for her hat. I gestured towards the car. She wasn't convinced. Another Hat I told Maria to hold on. I dashed to the car and grabbed an Austrian hat, that my brother had just given me during our Boise visit.  I showed Maria just why she needed some feathers. She cracked up, because as you can see this hat has almost too many feathers. And some kind of look like prairie chicken feathers. Ladies in Hats Maria once again declined to take the bird or feathers, but we decided to get a photo of ourselves. A kind man who had just parked, took our photo.  What a goofy little lunch stop with a cringe-worthy wifi password and not so nice bathrooms. But the food was decent, the prices were low and the people encounter was mighty memorable!
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Sweet Name and Sweet Place In 2022, we drove to Gresham, (just outside of Portland) and had a yummy brunch, at a cute place, with a cute name.  I never found out if there is a real Sweet Betty, behind the name. Bamboo and Tigers We stepped inside and I grinned right away. The bamboo was festive-tropical. The tiger and chickens greeted with enthusiasm! Well... I was enthused about seeing them.
I glanced through the bamboo opening, towards the bar across the room. I believe that bear on the wall, was waving to us also! Brunch With Family Since 2018, Don and I have been visiting our daughter and son-in-law in the Portland area. Portland does brunch well! They have introduced us to some incredible places.  In more recent years, we've had the fun of brunching with this little gal. Sweet Betty's had a lot of decor to entertain Charlie! Although she was plenty interested in just staring at Pop Pop! Cozy Booth We took a cushy booth not far from a pair of dangling dandelion puff-lights.  One-year-old Charlie was content to sit in her highchair and enjoy the cheery decor. She peered through the bamboo now and then to check on new diners as they arrived.  Luckily Charlie was not a bit interested in our baby bottles, when our coffee arrived. Coffee and Cream I'm so glad Don and I both take cream with our coffee.
If we'd ordered black coffees like the 2 younger adults, we would have all missed out on the fun containers that held the cream! I love a little silliness with my coffee! Cheers! Charlie didn't have a coffee mug, but she joined us in a toast.  This photo is a reminder that I shouldn't need caffeine or a Bloody Mary to enjoy myself at brunch. Charlie was toasting with a tippy cup of water! Consuelo's Scramble There were lots of options on the breakfast menu. I narrowed it down to the 8 scrambles and omelets... then I picked Consuelo's Scramble.  My brunch plate was mighty tasty! The scramble with onion, cheese, spinach, mushroom and tomato, was a tangy delight! The nicely seasoned potatoes were hot and crispy. I loved my flat biscuit on top! I could only eat half, which meant I got to enjoy it all over again, later! Shopping? From my chair, I kept turning to peek through the gift shop window. There was a lot of curious merchandise.  I've never seen such a large, toy army man. My little brother had the tiny version of this "toy" back when he was fairly tiny. That was way back before I'd ever seen a flag with rainbow stripes. Messages When we finished and got ready to depart, I took a quick look at all the messages on nearby walls. The words on one wall read, "The Good news is, you went a long way. The bad news is, you went the wrong way."  I didn't recognize the face on the next wall. I looked it up and learned it belonged to a rapper, J Cole... (Thanks Wikipedia) Near the kitchen I took in more messages. The Fist Pride Flag offered a powerful message.  The illuminated menu board made me chuckle. It told me that we could have ordered a Mimosa Bucket for $22. Or CBD Ice Tea for $8. Add vodka for $11! And More! Much of the decor at Sweet Betty's was fun and whimsical. Some of the messages were more thought provoking.
All in all, the atmosphere had a positive vibe and the food was pure comfort food. No CBD or booze needed.  I'm slow writing this up, but it makes me a little wistful, when I look back on our brunch outing. At the time we didn't know this would be our last Portland area brunch, with this little gang. Kind of sad... but not really. Now this sweet fam lives in Texas. 2.5 hours away. A lot shorter distance than than the 1,000+ miles that separated us before!
Yay for that! Saloon Dining in Oregon Here's another throwback post!  Don and I found the Baldwin Saloon 2 years ago, while traveling in Oregon. On the Road In August 2022, Don and I made the pretty drive from Spokane to Portland.  We'd been driving along the Columbia River, admiring the water and bluffs, when we arrived in The Dalles. The Dalles? I knew nothing about The Dalles, but the small city looked pretty when we drove through on a sunny summer day. "What's with that name?" I kept wondering.  The word dalles was evidently used by fur traders to describe the rapids in a river, between high rock walls. After our drive, that suddenly made sense! I tucked that knowledge away and focused on finding a place for lunch. Built 1876 On the edge of town, not far from the Columbia River, we found the Baldwin Saloon.  The long, narrow structure was built by the Baldwin brothers, (James & John) in 1876. Exterior A plaque near the door told us, it was one of the oldest commercial buildings in The Dalles. It looked like it had been recently spiffed up.  The freshly painted facade, (facing First Street and the river) showed cast iron pilasters. I assume those were tall doors, between the decorated columns. New Entrance The newer side entrance looked attractive with potted plant arrangements on either side to the door.  We headed inside and found the place still hopping at 1:30 pm. Mahogany Bar We were seated at a small table near the back of the saloon. Over my right shoulder I had a good view of the 18-ft mahogany bar.  There was a lot to amuse me as we waited for our food. The guests seated at the bar were entertaining. They all seemed to know each other. The lovely ladies (in gold frames) had me chuckling. I counted 9 scantily clad women nearby.
There were lots of ladies on those blue walls! And lots interesting guests sitting on blue velvet chairs. Don and I were definitely the oldest people in the crowd. And possibly the only guests who weren't local. Many folks greeted each other, like this was a regular meet up spot on Fridays. RR Tracks and River Behind my chair there were rows of booths and more curious decor. The dark walls were covered in framed art and antiques were displayed on a platform near the ceiling.
The tables in the front had a view First Street and railroad tracks. The river was just beyond. When the Baldwin Brothers first opened their saloon, they catered to rail men and sailors. Good to place to put a saloon... near tracks and river! Art and Brick Besides partially nude women, there were lovely landscape paintings. Reminders of how Oregon looked, back in wilder days.  The brickwork behind those paintings was pretty wild also! Should have snapped a close up. 1876 and 2022 During our visit 2 years ago. I remember studying all the art and fixtures and wondering what the "decor" looked like, when the brothers opened their saloon 140 years ago.  How did this place look, when a nearby mortuary used the building for coffin storage? And what did this space look like in 1962, when Bonney Saddle Shop started up an operation making custom saddles? Food & Flower Don and I finally turned our focus to food. I of course had to get one photo to show just how large and lovely the painting was, above Don!
We enjoyed our soup and salad, with a sweet sunflower decorating our table. Bonus points for that! Caesar Don ordered the Caesar Salad with Chicken.  I ordered Onion Soup, served in an iron crock. I liked the sturdy china. It reminded me of dining in old hotels and lodges.  Neither meal was exactly memorable, but it was just the light bite we needed on our travels. Wondered Before we heading out, I studied a few more pieces of art that stood out (to me) from the others. What was that proper lady with the tea cup thinking? Or was she a Madam? There was a brothel on the property at some point.
And what's the story of the 4 children in the etching? They didn't exactly fit into the Saloon Theme, but I liked them. Patio Before getting back in the car. I stopped and took a peek at the patio, off the back of the building.  I remember telling Don, "We need to come back to this place!" I was intrigued with The Baldwin Saloon, as well as The Dalles.
But it's 2024 now and I just did a Google search. I was sad to hear that the Martins, who bought the saloon biz in 2020, closed the Baldwin Saloon not long after our visit. That is too sad. Good Name I love a cafe in the woods.  I especially love a cafe with a friendly name. Who was Beckie? Minutes from Crater Lake Don and I passed Beckie's when we left Crater Lake Lodge, last June.  We didn't have time to stop, but I took a photo and hoped we could someday return. A Week Later We did! A week later! We had our granddaughter and her parents with us.  We were headed on a road trip from Portland to Austin, Texas. Breakfast at Beckie's was the perfect stop at the beginning of our 10-day trip. Since 1926! Beckie's is on the Register of National Historic Places.  It sits right on the road, across from Union Creek Resort. Union Creek Resort Union Creek Lodge was built in 1922, but it had to be rebuilt after a fire in the 1930's.  You can still stay in the lodge, where famous guests like Herbert Hoover and Jack London once spent a night. Waiting for a Table Beckie's probably served some famous guests, back in the day. We weren't famous enough to jump the line. We had to wait a while for table. While we waited, I entertained Charlie with some sticks.
Charlie entertained some other waiting guests, with her jumping skills. Lots of Wood When our table was ready, we stepped into the cozy interior and admired the shiny wood walls and ceiling.
I loved the wooden stools. They didn't look exactly comfy, but they amused me! Like giant wooden checkers, balancing on carved poles! Dining Booths We were shown to a table in a larger room, but I begged (politely) to be seated in one of the little nooks in the front room. The curvy table legs looked like horns!  The red curtains and cushions made the space cozy, like Grandma's Cottage. Or was it Aunt Beckie's house? Who was Beckie? Ed Beckleheiemer The name Beckie was actually the nickname of Ed Becklehimer, who ran the restaurant and gas station, until the late 1960's. I'm guessing that's him, standing on the porch.  After Mr. Beckie died, his wife Cecil took over. She evidently had fiery red hair and a glass eye. It's a little hard to tell, but that could be her, next to Ed. When she took over the biz, guests began calling her Beckie. She was known for her huckleberry pies. Time to Eat We were hungry by the time we sat in our cozy booth.  We studied the menu and enjoyed coffee in cute mugs.  While waiting on our orders, I chatted with Charlie and tried to understand her pacifier language. She and her Paci have been best buds for 2.5 years!  We chatted a bit about pancakes (her order) and maybe even about pacifiers. I told her we had a "Paci Bed" waiting for her in Texas. (I had a good-by paci plan) Mouth Ready When Beckie's Hotcakes arrived, Charlie promptly removed the paci.
 Suddenly Charlie let out a squeal and announced clearly in non-paci-launguage, "OH PANCAKES! THANK YOU!!" Don's Omelet Don's expression is not as over the top as his granddaughter's.  But he was happy with his ham and cheese omelet. He had extra good words for the thick, sweet ham.
My soft, moist biscuit was served in a sea of sausage gravy! Pretty epic! If only we'd had room for some huckleberry pie! Next Time Sadly we didn't all finish our plates. We had no cooler for taking leftovers with us.  We headed for the cars, full and happy. I glanced across the street at the old stone water fountain and the cabins under the tall pines. I don't know when we'll be out this way again, but we'll have to stay a night at Union Creek Resort! Then we can try the dinner menu and even enjoy a beverage besides coffee! And of course, some pie!
On the Road in 2019 A few years ago, Don and I stopped for lunch at an old train station. I love a good building!  It was in October, 2019. We were on a trip from Portland to Sacramento. McMenamins Chain We usually go for Mom and Pop places when we travel.  We avoid chain restaurants, but we're always up for a McMenamins owned hotel or restaurant experience. They rescue old properties! Southern Pacific Depot This is how the town of Roseburg and its train station looked, about 100 years ago. The original was built in 1872. The current building was completed in 1912.  These photos were displayed on the wall, inside the restaurant. That's another reason I like McMenamins owned businesses. They spotlight history.  I like being reminded of the day, when train travel was popular!  I always have lots of questions, when we dine in old restaurants/buildings. It's often hard to get answers from young staff. In McMenamins owned properties, you can count on lots of shared history on the walls. Lighting You can also count on lots of curious light fixtures. We've experienced 9 of these festive properties, in Oregon and Washington.  There's always a fun mix of interesting architecture, whimsical art and refurbished antiques. Walls and Ceiling In this photo, you can sort of see the original 16-foot vaulted ceiling. The tongue-and-groove fir wainscoting, is also original.  Besides old photographs, I spotted lots of intriguing, train themed artwork on the walls. Love a Good Bathroom I love a decorated bathroom. Thumbs up to this painted designs.  I appreciated the preserved (I assume) stalls and tile. I hate it when historic features are removed. It helped me picture the traveling ladies from a century ago, stopping in to powder their noses! Food Some of those traveling ladies, kept an eye on Don while he ate his lunch.  The menu was just basic pub food, but we were both satisfied. Don was happy with the curry flavor, in his tuna sandwich. I was happy he shared his fries! My Aztec Salad had crispy greens and bright-fresh avocado and corn chips. Just the right amount!  It's been over 3.5 years since Don and I enjoyed our sandwich and salad, in the depot. Back in the October of 2019, we didn't know a pandemic was coming in 2020. We didn't know we'd have a grandchild born in Oregon, in 2021. One More Stop at the Depot! Little did we know that we would stop on another road trip in 2023.  This time we were traveling with our daughter and son-in-law and their 2 year old Charlie! She approved of the crayons!  We had a great little lunch, tucked into a cozy corner, near the old wood-burning stove. Charlie and Don toasted, like they did at pretty much every meal on our drive to Texas! Now this sweet girl and her parents live 2.5 hours from us! Not sure if we'll ever pass through Roseburg again. I'm glad we made this recent stop!
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The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
April 2025
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