If you spend any time at all visiting the quaint town of Astoria, Oregon, you soon learn that the Columbia River is a major part of the city’s history and present day life. As one of the largest rivers in the United States, the Columbia River provides a means of transport, food, and energy.
Columbia River view from Baked Alaska restaurant
Stationed upon the banks of this mighty river is Baked Alaska, a restaurant space featuring a pizzeria, bar, and waterfront fine dining. Baked Alaska is the brain-child of Christopher Holen, who began the business in 2000. He and his wife, Jennifer, were driving on their way from Scottsdale to Alaska when they happened upon the town of Astoria, Oregon, and they fell in love. They made an offer on a cafe that day, then headed onto their journey to Alaska, returning to Astoria to begin Baked Alaska in August of 2000. About a year later they moved onto the current location along 12th Street and the Columbia riverfront.
Baked Alaska restaurant along Columbia River
The restaurant itself has been specially designed and built with Chris’s ideas and interests in mind. He has a strong passion for reuse and repurposing, so you’ll find many unique decor features that once served a different purpose. Shelves made from stair treads, light fixtures hanging with old ladders, and beams and walls made from reclaimed wood all make the space a delight to admire while dining.
Baked Alaska restaurant in Astoria, Oregon
From the street, you’ll enter the pizzeria, a space specifically designed for casual dining with families in mind. The industrial woodfire oven grabs your attention, but the open floor space and special game nook for kids shows how the space is perfect for families.
The pizzaria at Baked Alaska
Pizzaria industrial woodfire oven
Moving along deeper into the building towards the water, you come upon the bar. Here Baked Alaska shows off their strong affinity to local breweries, featuring at least 6 local breweries in their 12 tap lineup. For the beer lovers, they have crux on tap!
Bar at Baked Alaska
12 beers on tap at Baked Alaska
Moving on you reach the fine dining restaurant that looks out upon the mighty Columbia River. After touring the restaurant, Chris invited our family to come enjoy a waterfront meal, so here’s what we enjoyed at Baked Alaska.
Baked Alaska dining room overlooking Columbia River
Crab Cakes – YUM! These were very tasty and we loved the aioli sauce!
Drinks: Fort George Feier Helles and Anthem Pomegranate Cherry Cider
Scallops – Grace loved these! She was the first one done eating.
Chef Special Spring Chinook Salmon
Kids Fish & Chips
Ribs – this KC girl would say stick to the seafood dishes. The beets were delish though!
Dessert – 1/2 Baked Alaska
The mix of industrial meets lumber at Baked Alaska is a great complement to the riverfront town history, and a great stop for your visit to Astoria, Oregon. If you’re visiting when the weather is nice, you can even enjoy outdoor dining.
Krista
Tuesday 24th of March 2015
What a fabulous place! It looks like you had an amazing meal. Whenever I think of Astoria, I think of "The Goonies" :)
Kimberly
Wednesday 25th of March 2015
We visited the Goonies house! I'll be posting about all the fun we had in Astoria a bit later!
Gracia @ Gracious Offering
Tuesday 24th of March 2015
Kim, I love Astoria! That restaurant looks like a wonderful place to go...yummy food! Hope you had fun celebrating your birthday in Oregon. Great post!
Kimberly
Wednesday 25th of March 2015
Thanks so much Gracia! We had a great weekend away (except for the traffic around Tacoma and Olympia!). :)