With family in Walla Walla, my wife and I visit the area often and with each trip we try to get out to a restaurant to enjoy the local food and wine. Of all of the places we have been to, these are the restaurants we would recommend. We hope you get a chance to try one or more on your next visit to the Walla Walla Valley.

CreekTown Cafe (509-522-4777)

We first started going to CreekTown Cafe when it opened several years ago and have always had a great meal and a wonderful experience dining there. Beyond the great food and service, we like the fact that the place is open for lunch and dinner and offers one of the best wine by the glass lists in the area. And their patio is a great place to enjoy a meal al fresco!

In terms of food, CreekTown Cafe sources most of its ingredients from the Walla Walla Valley, which when combined with their local wine list makes for a truly local dining experience. They serve great steaks, fresh seafood, wonderful game, and other fantastic dishes. But save room for dessert, because there's probably no other place in town that serves such a wide assortment of pies. If that's not your style, then other options are available.

Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen (509-525-2112).

Last month, my wife and I visited Saffron for the first time. Stepping out of our car in front of the place on West Alder Street, we could smell all kinds of wonderful aromas emanating from the restaurant. Entering the place, we were immediately taken by the design and decor of this remodeled space. The tables are made from champagne racks, with the element extending throughout the restaurant. It felt warm and comforting with the sight and smell of food. The closeness of the tables and the open kitchen gave the place a really good pulse of energy.

We were seated by the co-founder, Island Ainsworth, who after seeing us crane our necks to look into the kitchen, moved us to the "chef's table;. This is a great table, with high seats that allow you to see and smell all of the action coming out of the kitchen. We decided to partake in the tapas courses on the left side of the menu and match each with a glass of wine (I look forward to them expanding the wine by the glass list).

We started with the carrot salad, patatas bravas and falafel. The flavorful food tasted as good as it smelled. All three starters were delicious, although the falafel was a bit undercooked in the middle. We then moved on to a lamb dish and grilled quail. Both were amazing, with wonderful seasonings and cooked to perfection. We finished with a panna cotta that was out of this world. Overall, a fantastic meal in a wonderful environment. Service was good and the extra attention paid to us by Island, the manager, and her husband chef, Chris, made it feel as if we were dining in their home.

Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant (509-525-2222)

Back in 2000, I surprised my wife with a weekend trip to Walla Walla. We had never been to the town before, but an article in a travel magazine sparked my interest. Taking the easy route, I essentially followed the same path as the writer did, staying at the inn and eating at the restaurant he did. That restaurant was Whitehouse-Crawford, which at the time, was the only option in terms of enjoying a gourmet meal paired with local wines.

Whitehouse-Crawford offers a truly unique setting, located in a historically preserved building that was once a planing mill. The space, with its wide-planked floors, high ceilings and brick walls, offers a great environment to enjoy a local meal. The service is usually pretty good and the food is always consistently delicious. The wine list is impressive, although I wish they offered more choices by the glass. Also, the prices are a bit rich for my tastes, especially considering you're just a few yards away from several wineries where bottles cost half as much or less.

My family and friends have always enjoyed dining at Whitehouse-Crawford. In fact, last Thanksgiving, I ate there two nights in a row, enjoying an Asian-style seafood dinner one night and then a wonderfully prepared duck leg the next. Both were paired with delicious local wines by the glass. I wouldn't recommend eating there two nights in a row, but dining out in Walla Walla during the Thanksgiving weekend limits one's options. :-)

Whoopemup Hollow Cafe (509-337-9000)

Having dined at a variety of Walla Walla restaurants, I am starting to venture out into the valley to discover new places to enjoy a local meal. The Whoopemup Hollow Cafe in Waitsburg did not disappoint. The restaurant is located in a great little town about 30 minutes northeast of Walla Walla. The place has a warm atmosphere and a good vibe to it. Being from the South, I felt at home here, with the various references to down home cookin'. When presented with a menu, my choice was easy: baby back ribs. These were literally finger-lickin' good. And when combined with a local Walla Walla Valley syrah, I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

Luscious by Nature (509-522-0424)

After eating at Luscious by Nature a couple of times, my wife continues to rave about the place. Unfortunately, my recent attempt at eating there failed, due to arriving on a Tuesday, the only day they are closed. So, I include this recommendation for two reasons. First and foremost, I trust my beautiful wife's judgement when it comes to food. She is the foodie in the family and I am the wine geek. We make for a wonderful pair, although she does get a bit frustrated with my habit of picking a wine first and then building a meal around it. Second, other family members and friends have said great things about Luscious, so there you have it. It is at the top of my list when we head back to Walla Walla next month. Stay tuned for a firsthand account of my dining experience.

Here are few more links to other folks reviewing restaurants in the area:

Summer in Wine Country
Various Restaurant Reviews
Visiting Walla Walla & Waitsburg
Walla Walla Restaurants