A couple of years ago, my friends Janie and Dan told me about this wonderful business in Pendleton, Oregon called Oregon Grain Growers Brand Distillery. I finally had the opportunity to visit it on 9/14/22.
I arrived 30 minutes before closing time and was lucky to get a table, especially given that it is The Pendleton Round Up, so the town is packed with tourists from all over. A local gentleman told me that if you want to attend this event, you need to get tickets at least six months in advance or more. He recommended trying to get them starting in January, for an event that starts in September.
The menu looks so good that I wanted to order everything on it but given that I'm traveling solo, I needed to pace myself. I hadn't eaten anything all day long with the exception of a Dutch Freeze, so I was hungry. I love a great burger but it's not something I order often because there are usually more interesting menu items to consider. But I thought it would be good to order one for my first experience at the distillery.
I ordered Chad's Big Boy Burger ($15) - 8oz Ground Chuck Patty, Tillamook White Cheddar, Hill Meat Bacon, Burger Sauce, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Brioche Fun, and served with Fresh fries. My photo doesn't really do the burger justice as the lighting was dim and I didn't want to trouble the waitstaff for a knife so I could do a cross cut photo of the burger. This is the first 8 ounce burger I've ever had. I had a hard time getting my mouth around it, but it was delicious! Every element of it was perfection and they did not skimp on the toppings, including the bacon. The fries were excellent too. It came with delicious fry sauce.
I noticed that two of the other burger options come with A&R Burger Island recipe sauce, so I asked if I could try a sample. It looked similar to my fry sauce but it had chopped up dill pickles and more of a pickle flavor. It was pretty good.
Oregon Grain Growers Brand distillery is a large building with several different indoor seating areas and a nice outdoor area. I wasn't able to get a picture of the outdoor seating without being intrusive so you'll have to use your imagination. Many of the tables inside are long tables that are meant for family style dining. I was seated at the end of a table in the back, which had seated at the other end, a lovely couple from McMinnville, Oregon. By the end of the evening, I met and had a wonderful conversation with Wayne and Kathleen. Turns out, we have quite a bit in common. I feel like I made some new friends and I'll certainly be looking them up if I'm anywhere near McMinnville. I hope they do the same next time they're in Boise. One of the reasons why I enjoy traveling alone is that I tend to meet more people than I do if traveling with someone. Tonight was a great example.
If you take a close look at the menu, you'll notice that most of the menu items have a Roll The Dice option. If you choose it, you're allowing the kitchen staff to surprise you with a custom item they have designed. Kathleen ordered a Roll The Dice Salad, which was huge and looked absolutely delicious. I've included a photo of her Roll The Dice Salad card, which explains exactly what she got and even the name of the staff member who created it.
Whether you're going to Pendleton or passing by, be sure to check out this little gem. I can't wait to return and try another menu item.
Highly Recommended!!! read more