Memorable | One of the Best
Creamery Cafe
Review by: Michael Stern
This place is a real tourist attraction, and that is what it was designed to be. Inside the Tillamook Cheese Visitor’s Center, hoards of travelers sample local cheeses, lick cones of ice cream made from local cows’ milk, and stock up on such Oregon treats as beef jerky, hazelnuts, smoked salmon, and multi-berry preserves. It is a huge, boisterous establishment that combines informational displays about the cheese industry and grocery-store shelves galore with a casual, cafeteria-style sit-down eatery called the Farmhouse Café.
Featured on the cafe menu are Tillamook cheeseburgers, “Tillamooker” cheddar sandwiches on sourdough bread, salads sprinkled with Tillamook cheese, and even milk by the glass from the Tillamook County Creamery Association. We had a nice grilled ham and cheddar sandwich and a cheese-bacon-tomato sandwich, each of which was served with a bag of potato chips and pickle.
Even cheese-frowners can find something on the menu, which lists fish and chips, BLTs, hot dogs and corn dogs, and a variety of espresso drinks NOT available with soy milk(!).
While it certainly is not the hidden-away treasure that many travelers crave to find along Oregon’s beautiful coast, this big roadside enterprise is nonetheless fun place to stop if you are in need of ice cream, cheese, or smoked meats or a quick education in regional industry.
Directions & Hours
Information
| Price | $ |
| Seasons | All |
| Meals Served | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert |
| Credit Cards Accepted | Yes |
| Alcohol Served | No |
| Outdoor Seating | No |
What To Eat
Ice Cream Cone
DISH
Creamery Cafe Recipes
Discuss
What do you think of Creamery Cafe?
One Response to “Creamery Cafe”
Deborah Pastor
November 29th, 2007
Every year, our family travels from New York City to Portland, Oregon to visit relatives. And every year, the highlight of our trip is a visit to the Oregon coast and… the Tillamook Ice Cream Factory.
Not only is the grilled cheddar sandwich superb, but the clam chowder is surprisingly good. Usually I find that Oregon clam chowder is too floury for my taste, but this one hits the spot. But make sure to save room for the amazing ice cream. Kill two local Oregon products with one stone and order any of the berry ice creams, like marionberry ice cream or wild blueberry. The produce is all local, and fantastic. I also like buying the cheese, particularly the cheese curds, which are minimally processed and bursting with cheese flavor. I always buy the smoked salmon at the gift store, but I don’t really find it on par with the dairy items.
Don’t expect fancy decor; things are pretty simple. After all, it is a working factory. But you can see the cheese being made and there are plenty of educational videos and video games for the kids.