Dining: Notes on the local sceneSpoons Deli, Salmon Bake and Auction, Gordon House extravaganza, epicurean dinner
By Dixon Bledsoe
from Salem Monthly, Section Dining
Posted on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 11:23:58 PM PDT
Dubbed by locals as "Mount Angel's Living Room," Glockenspiel Restaurant and Pub offers the perfect mix of Northwest and Bavarian cuisine and is a delight to the taste buds as well as the ears. The Glockenspiel offers a family-friendly atmosphere, wonderful service, and a diverse menu. They even have a kid-friendly menu, which is refreshing for a fine-dining restaurant.
Our party of six began the evening with scrumptious cheese fondue. It paired nicely with Spaten Optimator, an authentic, dark, chewy beer quite popular at Oktoberfest. The Glockenspiel also has its own signature wine, a Pinot noir crafted by local wine icon Joe Dobbes.
When the entrees came, the rack of lamb received rave reviews -- it was tender, moist, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. Another companion ordered the Wiener schnitzel, which was reported to be excellent. Fresh ono, a tender, flaky whitefish cooked in balsamic reduction sauce with chanterelle mushrooms was delightful, as was the crab-stuffed salmon. No one went away hungry or dissatisfied, an unusual occurrence when there are six different palates to please.
Desserts are made in-house. Standouts include the apple strudel, crème caramel, and chocolate ganache.
Small town restaurants can't always survive on local dollars only. Fortunately, the locals love it. Plus, the Glockenspiel Restaurant and Pub has good enough food to pull in diners from Salem, Portland and beyond. If you arrive before 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., or 7 p.m., you'll be treated to a show, too. That's when the Glockenspiel tower just outside the restaurant runs.
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