Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Cannon Beach
By Gary Hayes
Published: 09/20/2012  Updated: 06/21/2019
Gary Hayes

Can't-miss spots for a day of dining out in Cannon Beach

BREAKFAST: Wayfarer Restaurant
1190 Pacific Dr, Oceanfront & Gower
(503) 436-1108

Truth is, I could eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Wayfarer. They do make it unfair to other breakfast spots when they take their luscious crab cakes and turn them into a rich Eggs Benedict. The crab cakes are thick, creamy-moist and full of crab with a nice sear. Break the yolk on the soft poached egg and it melds with the Hollandaise sauce spiked with lemon. It's rich and decadent, but you can make up for it with a long walk on the beach since the Wayfarer is located right next Cannon Beach's midtown beach access. There are actually six different Benedicts on the menu, from traditional to wild mushroom and blue cheese. There are also several options for omelets and scrambles. Bacon and eggs? Sure, but why not go for the Razor Clam and eggs with a sesame encrusted and pan fried razor. Coffee is from Cannon Beach's Sleepy Monk.

LUNCH: Waves of Grain Bakery
3116 S Hemlock St
(503) 436-9600

It usually doesn't matter what the choices of day are, you can't go wrong with the lunch wraps and soups at Waves of Grain Bakery. Check the chalkboard to the left of the pastry counter to see the day's offerings that include a veggie wrap and one of several chicken wraps. The Veggie Supreme wrap includes hummus, lettuce, carrot, tomato, cucumber and red onion in a tomato-herb flour tortilla. It's fresh, lively and crunchy good. One of my favorites is the black and blue chicken wrap with Cajun blackening seasoned chicken and blue cheese. A long list of delicious soups rotate daily and change seasonally. I've never tried one I didn't enjoy.

DINNER: Driftwood Restaurant
179 N Hemlock
(503) 436-2439

Things have changed slowly at the Driftwood Restaurant and that's a good thing. The restaurant in downtown Cannon Beach has been serving up steaks and seafood to hungry visitors and locals since 1944. This is my go-to place for a steak and my favorite is the filet mignon. Whole loins are aged for 21 days, then hand-cut to order. There are no fancy sauces or exotic seasonings. Steaks are marked on a hot grill, then dredged in garlic butter, finished to your request and delivered to your table sizzling on a stainless steel steak platter. If you prefer a New York or a Ribeye, you have those options too. All steaks are priced at under $30 and include several choices of sides. You can't go wrong with the chowder or soups, which are always hearty. Seafood is also treated simply at the Driftwood. Oysters are breaded and pan-fried, razor clams are coated in seasoned cracker flour and flash fried, and wild salmon filets are char-broiled with a baste of butter. For those craving something richer, Dungeness Crab is served in a Cheddar and Parmesan sauce and halibut is baked in a creamy, tangy dill sauce.


Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner in Cannon Beach