3 Best Restaurants in Tillamook, The Oregon Coast

Set along a stretch of U.S. 101 that courses south of downtown Tillamook, a bit inland and through a lush, agrarian valley, this aptly named oasis of plants, garden gifts, fountains, and art is a delightful spot for a daytime meal that's usually refreshingly far from beach crowds. The restaurant specializes fresh bivalves from the owners' Netarts Bay oyster farm (enjoy them raw or grilled on the half shell or fried in po'boys) along with prawn tacos, steamer clams, and clam chowder.

Overlooking the bustling boat basin in the small village of Garibaldi, about 10 miles up the coast from Tillamook, this unpretentious restaurant with both outdoor picnic table seating and an inviting dining room warmed by a fireplace excels in barbecue but actually offers up a pretty diverse menu of comfort food, ranging from poke bowls to burgers topped with goat cheese and blueberry sauce. From the smoker, the St. Louis–style ribs are a house specialty, but don't overlook the pulled pork (best enjoyed in a Cubano sandwich).

In a rustic 1915 building on the beach, this café, brightened with candlelight and fresh flowers, sits opposite Three Arch Rock, a favorite resting spot for sea lions and puffins. The seafood-intensive menu includes fresh and simple preparations of halibut, scallops, and salmon with lemon-herb butter, oyster burgers, and shrimp melts, and the meal's not complete without one of the homemade desserts.