Post first made in December 2021. Updated 1/14/22. Editor's note: We have decided to leave in place closures that have happened in the past and will continue to update the list as the season continues. 

Many Columbia Gorge eateries and wineries shut down for a few weeks in winter for season rest before the busy spring and summer tourist season. Below, find a list of temporary closures for local establishments. If you would like to see a list of places that are permanently closed, please click here. 

Grasslands Barbecue: Currently closed (1/1/22) but re-opening later this winter.
Henni's (White Salmon): Closed for winter rest January 1, 2022 through January 18, 2022.
Feast Market & Delicatessen: Closed Jan 15-24. Reopening January 25. 
Gorges Beer Co.: Closed 1/13-1/18.
​Broder Ost: On winter break 12/31/21 through 1/3/22

Columbia Gorge Confections: Closed 12/31/21-1/5/22

Aniche Cellars: Re-opening January 15, 2022
Grateful Vineyard: Winter Rest January 3rd -13th. Reopening on the January 14. 
Viento: Re-opening January 22
​Stoltz: Closed for the season. 
​Hood Crest Winery: Closed December 20, 2021-February 2, 2022.
Mt. Hood Winery: Closed until March
Wy'East Vineyard and Wheel's food truck: Closed December 20, 2021 - February 10, 2022.
The Gorge White House: Closed January and February 2022. 

Each spring-fall, the Downwinder opens up shop on the pier at the Hood River Event Site. The truck pumps out some of the region's most delicious tacos and frosé, keeping beachgoers and river-sports doers fed and cool. Then, when winter comes, the duo that owns the truck packs up and heads off on winter adventures. But, this year, the masterminds were busy cooking up a new idea: what if they expanded? 

And 6 days ago, the news broke: we don't get just one Downwinder this spring. We get two!

The Downwinder has taken over the space downtown that is occupied by Basik Açai Café (112 Oak St.). So what's the deal with the new space? We reached out to the owners to ask. Here's what they had to say: 

Question: Will the new eatery have the same name/menu/concept as your truck down on the pier? Answer: same name/menu/concept, yes! But we will expand on it.  We will continue to offer our signature tacos + some sharable options. In addition, we will have rotating/seasonal plates/bowls such as a summer poke bowl, winter stews, and other globally inspired dishes. 

Question: Will you continue to operate the truck on the pier while also running the downtown shop? Answer: Yes!  This is a Downwinder expansion so the cart will still operate during the summer at the event site!

Question: What's the vibe you're going for with the decor/music/menu for the new shop? Answer: funky + eclectic (see a sneak peek, below!)

Question: Is there anything else you want to share with the public? Answer: We are genuinely so excited to have a home base on Oak that allows us to serve the community year-around! We hope to be a local hang out offering good eats, tasty drinks, and an intentional atmosphere. Every design element has been mindfully made, right down to our curated playlists to create a really special environment.

Kids menu: Yes!
Opening date: Aiming for spring
Alcohol: Yes! Beer, wine, signature frosé, and a new signature margarita- available frozen or on the rocks. 
Wifi: Yes! ​

​Monarch Hot Chicken comes to Hood River
by Melissa Haskin/Hood River Eats
​
On January 29, Monarch Hot Chicken will have its second pop-up event here in Hood River. Run by chef Ryan Hunter, the business seeks to perfect one thing: Nashville-style Hot Chicken. Hunter describes his chicken as packing a hefty dose of cayenne-forward heat. At the January 29 dinner, it will be served on a Hawaiian-style hamburger bun with smokey aioli, slaw, and pickles. 

You may know Hunter from kitchens around the Gorge: White Salmon Baking, Pixan, and Kickstand (where he is currently employed). Before that, Hunter worked in kitchens from Alaska to Minneapolis to Martha's Vineyard. His last stop before the Gorge: Coquine -- you know, that fancy place everyone from Food & Wine to Esquire brags about. 

The idea for his pop-up came from a recent trip to visit family in LA. While noshing on some delicious hot chicken, he thought to himself that the Gorge could use a hot chicken place and he could be just the guy to bring it to us. 

We asked Hunter what we ask most chefs: "What do you want people to experience when they eat your food/how do you want them to feel during/after?" His response?

Where: Working Hands, 1021 12th St Suite 102, Hood River, OR 97031
What: Monarch Fried Chicken will be serving up a "feast" including the Monarch Hot Chicken sandwich, baked beans, potato salad, and cornbread cake. 
When: 3 p.m. until sold out. No reservations or pre-orders. 
Drinks: Beer, cider, and non-alcoholic beverages available for individual purchase. 
Payment: Card or cash accepted. $25 per plate. 

Hunter's next outing will also be at Working Hands, where he will be providing a bar food menu on Super Bowl Sunday. 

Y'all know it, it has been a snow globe here in Hood River. Once again, 84 closed for some of the day. While our road has cleared up, I don't know how the rest of HR looks, bad I'm guessing because the list of eatery closures is pretty long today.

Open:
Fishpeople Seafood Market at Hood River
KickStand Coffee & Kitchen
White Salmon Baking Co.
Feast
Local Rhoots
STOKED Roasters (Hood River, OR)
Lilo's BBQ
Nashi Ramen
Thunder Island
Solstice
Pine Street
Common House (opening late)
Kobe
Boda's Kitchen
Mugen Noodle Bar 
Sushi Okalani
NY City Sub Shop (open until 4)
Farmstand


Closed:
Orange Cuisine
Fox-Tail Cider & Distillery
Celilo Restaurant and Bar
Grace Su's China Gorge Restaurant
River Daze Cafe
Full Sail Brewing Company
Double Mountain
3 Rivers
Camp 1805
Ladles Soup
Stave and Stone
Ferment Brewing Company


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We also have a running list of winter break closures for local eateries and breweries. See this link. 

Moth Lounge (105 4th St, Hood River, OR 97031)
Crazy Pepper (now running as Modern Taco. Same owners, different concept)
The Pescatarian Cafe (108 US-30, Hood River, OR 97031)
No. 9 Smōk•hous (108 US-30, Hood River, OR 97031)
The Ranch Drive In (1950 12th St, Hood River, OR 97031​)
​Cindy's Espresso and More (Moby purchased the coffee stand, 1540 Osprey Dr, Hood River, OR 97031)
Kaze Japanese Restaurant (Mugen is open in the space, now. 212 4th St, Hood River, OR 97031)
Big Horse/Horsefeathers (115 State St, Hood River, OR 97031)
Brian's Pourhouse (​606 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031)

What a year! As we look back on 2021, it's crazy to remember that we started the year with risk levels. ​In April, we were still in "High Risk," which allowed for indoor dining not to exceed 25% or 50 people. There were rules on closing times (11 pm in high risk) and how many people could sit at a table (6 max in Oregon). As the vaccines rolled out and cases subsided, there was a brief window where the mask mandate was withdrawn and we lived in glorious mask-free freedom. "It's over!" some of us thought. COVID has another plan in mind, obviously. As we finish out 2021, we wanted to take a moment to recap the year and the changes that HR and the Columbia Gorge experienced. Let's start with something fun: new restaurants, food trucks, and eateries that opened this year:

In 2021, the following food and drink-related businesses opened in our area:

1. Fish People Seafood Hood River (13 Oak St, Hood River, OR 97031)
2. Wheel's Hood River (3189 OR-35, Hood River, OR 97031). Read more here. 
3. Local Rhoots (the business had been operating previously, but opened its brick and mortar location this year, 1301 Belmont Ave, Hood River, OR 97031). Read more. 
4. El Cuate. The food truck found a permanent brick and mortar location in the Heights at (1769 12th St, suite 100 Hood River, OR 97031)
5. Columbia Gorge Crepes (Cascade Ave &, 5th St, Hood River, OR 97031). Read more here. 
6. Grasslands BBQ (403 Portway Ave, Hood River, OR 97031) 
7. Hood River Common House (110 5th St, Hood River, OR 97031)
8. Orange Cuisine, Mona's, and Ladle's soup opened a little food pod with the Solstice food truck at (1501 12th Street The Heights, Hood River, OR 97031). Find menus and read more about them in our blog post here. 
9. Moby Coffee Roasters took over the Cindy's Espresso stand at 1540 Osprey Dr, Hood River, OR 97031. Read more here. 

From famous NYT wine critic Eric Asimov to Travel & Leisure, everyone wanted a piece of Oregon to brag about this year. A few notable news articles about our region included: 

1. ​"The 12 Best Small Towns in Oregon for Historic Charm, Organic Wineries, and Adventure Treks," Travel + Leisure
2. "The Columbia River Gorge's Best Food and Drinks This Fall," The Wall Street Journal
3. "25 Amazing Journeys for 2022," National Geographic
4. "Hood River’s famous Fruit Loop is a great (and tasty) fall drive: Gerry Frank’s picks," The Oregonian
5. "Hungry for a post-vaccine road trip? Take a food tour of the Columbia River Gorge area," The Seattle Times
6. "A Fall Weekend Getaway in the Pacific Northwest—Easy and Gorgeous," The Wall Street Journal
7. "The Best Things to Do in the Columbia Gorge," Seattle Met
8. "Great Oregon Wines Beyond the Willamette Valley," The New York Times
9. "The 'Top Chef' Guide to Portland," Food & Wine (the headline should read Oregon, not Portland). Mt. View Orchards is featured.