akres on the pier

Akres on the Pier is a newer spot sitting right on the Columbia River and honestly the location alone would be enough to get me in the door. Waterfront, chandeliers, the kind of interiors that make you want to sit down and stay for a while. It's a little fancy for the area in the best way.

The menu leans Mediterranean inspired with some really beautiful small plates. Olive oil poached sablefish, harissa calamari, a prawn and whitefish aguachile that was genuinely stunning to photograph. They also do brunch, and the shakshuka and a banoffee waffle with banana, salted caramel, and double cream were both on the menu, which tells you the range they're going for.

I should mention that I am a dairy free girly and a lot of this menu was not built with me in mind. The owners were lovely about it though and sent me home with a dairy free steak dinner, which is honestly one of the nicest things a client has ever done for me and I thought about it for days.

The food photographs beautifully. Bold plating, good color, a room with great light and interesting textures. As a newer restaurant still finding its footing, it's a cool space to watch develop. The bones are really good.

If you're near Astoria and looking for a dinner that feels a little more special than usual, Akres is worth the trip across the river.

xoxo Chelsea