Columbia Gorge Hotel

04/27/2008 Posted by paintedsquare

I recall visiting the Gorge Hotel way back in the 80's for breakfast. From what I remember, it was a great meal. That's why I recently decided to pay them another visit for a Sunday afternoon brunch. Even though the hostess was AWOL and there was no one around to greet us at 12:30pm Sunday, I was really looking forward to some delicious food and a good time. The only good thing I can say is the view was spectacular and the grounds were lush and immaculate. On Sundays they feature something called a Farmer's Breakfast for $35 a person. That must be a joke. Not only would this meal fail to meet the most moderate of farmers needs, it barely provides enough nutrition to browse the local farmer's market. Let me start off by saying we had almost no problem with the service. Our server was informative, professional and efficient at juggling the fourteen thousand plates that make up this four course meal ( a meal that could fit on a large plate). However, I believe the server forgot to offer my companion a side dish. That wouldn't be such a big deal if my companion had enjoyed her entree. My main complaint was after finishing, I was not even close to full. Everything we ate was made with quality ingredients, no doubt. The fruit was fresh and good. The oatmeal, while bland, was not bad. The french toast was delicious but did not come with butter or sufficient maple syrup. My eggs benedict included one half a biscuit, some ham and an egg. My side dish included some yummy bacon strips. All very tasty, but again, this meal can only be described as niggardly in the satisfaction category. I don't mind paying a lot for a meal. However, I expect to be full when I leave. The restaurant at the Gorge Hotel therefore should be avoided by anyone with an appetite greater than a parakeet.

02/01/2006 Posted by ddnorton

We used to drive over from Portland for lunch or dinner a couple of times a year. The food was always excellent. It had been a while, so we thought we would give it another try for lunch. We were very disappointed!! Besides the eye-opening prices, the food was terrible. Both my wife and I couldn't finish our dishes. There were only a couple tables of people and the waitress (straight out of a cheap diner) would be disappear for 15 minutes at a time. We literally had to flag her down whenever we needed anything. I had to go searching through the restaurant to pay our bill. Not sure if they were having an off day, but we are not willing to risk it, especially for the very expensive dinnners. We will, at the very least, wait a few years before making this journey again...

Pros: view, atmosphere

Cons: food, prices, service

01/14/2006 Posted by maryevon

My husband and I stayed here just before Christmas and it was lovely. Sure, the room was not the most upscale, but hey...it's an old hotel. The piano bar entertainer was good and breakfast in the morning a real pleasure. Lovely decorations, great service and a romantic location. We will definitely be back.

10/25/2005 Posted by scaryhotels

I loved this old hotel...I stayed there on a Halloween evening aprox. 4 years ago..and it is one of my fondest memories..Got in late but still received an awesome dinner..the breakfast was also spectacular..and I've stayed in many 5 star resorts around the world..But what was especially interesting to me was the ghost that reside in the Hotel..I saw and heard many unexplainable things..which I loved ... Great Adventure!!

Pros: great ambiance, great food, beautiful old hotel

Cons: can't think of any

02/06/2005 Posted by kcjohnson

We had driven by the Columbia Gorge Hotel for years on afternoon outings up the gorge and finally decided to give ourselves a treat. And what a treat!. The place is one-of-a-kind gorgeous. Rich carpets, beautiful decor, and surprisingly warm and caring staff. We had an absolutely memorable lunch on the terrace overlooking the river with flowers everywhere and people strolling leisurely through the gardens to the waterfall. We had the crab enchiladas and the coconut prawns with a bottle of wine then sat in one of the garden swings and just enjoyed the afternoon. We never got any farther up the gorge and didn't care a bit. A real gem.

Pros: absolutely gorgeous, friendly, world-class food

Cons: can't think of any

06/18/2003 Posted by CalistaU

This place is even better than it sounds in the article. The waterfall flows right off of a large "deck" (for lack of a better word), but that's only half the story. The stream that leads to the stunning waterfall meanders through a beautiful garden with several rock bridges along the way. The hotel has a Mediterranean feel to it and each room is designed with a slightly different old world theme. One room had a carved canopy bed taken from a French castle. And, as if 5 courses weren't enough, the breakfast is actually 9 courses so don't worry about eating lunch afterward. Even if you're not getting married there, a wedding night or anniversary are very good reasons to visit.

Pros: Atmosphere, Cuisine, Natural Beauty

06/18/2003 Posted by travelbug

We want to post a huge thank you to everyone at the Hotel for making our wedding a truly memorable and blissful experience. Our guests were thrilled with the location and are still raving about the food. Thank you for doing all the work so we could have all the fun - we didn't worry about a thing. Can't wait to see our pictures!!

Pros: gardens and waterfall, the food, the people

Cons: wd like email access

06/14/2003 Posted by Orvil

The first thing we heard walking through the door was "Welcome to the Gorge". Not "Hi ya", or the usual back of the head from Hotel staff, but a real welcome. The welcome continued for our entire stay. The front desk staff could not have been more accommodating and the dining room staff was professional and warm and great fun. Even the housekeepers said hello. We loved the piano player and the lady in the gift shop who helped us find just the right amazing thing for our daughter. The place has been restored to perfection and the setting is pure storybook. So much is included with the room - breakfast, champagne service, a rose, chocolates, etc., that an overnight stay turns out to be a really good value.

Pros: servce, food, ambiance

Cons: none

03/10/2003 Posted by tellyer

Couldn't believe the flowers! Awestruck to stand at the top of a waterfall! Amazed by the food and the service! Only in Oregon...

Pros: gorgeous, friendly, fun

Cons: not in Portland

02/19/2003 Posted by connoiseur

Spent Valentine's weekend here. It was like being on "Joe Millionaire". Champagne, caviar, wonderful food, lovely room, neat people. Really tough to say enough good things about it.

Pros: great dining, neat staff, gorgeous place