Cannon Beach Hardware
and Public House
The beer-battered hali-
but fi sh and chips are a
tasty, substantial meal,
but so is the $20 price
tag.
Enhanced pub food in a hardware store? It’s
not a gimmick, just dual-purpose
S
Someone on their way to the “Hardware
Store” in Cannon Beach is just as likely in need
of a burger and fries as they are a hammer and
nails. Nicknamed the “Screw and Brew,” Can-
non Beach Hardware and Public House tends
to both the handyman’s tastebuds as well as his
toolbox.
It began as a plain old hardware store. After
the adjacent space became available walls were
knocked down and the pub was erected. Now
one can peer from just about any vantage into
the tightly packed aisles of the hardware store
itself. Underscoring the dual-purpose, staff are
shared. Looking for a Gorilla Glue? Need a key
duplicated? Ask a waitress.
And while the hardware section may hew to
the more humble of home-improvement proj-
ects, the menu caters to those hungry enough to
eat a house. Served with an abundance of fries
— or, if you add $1, tots — it’s hard to imagine
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struction worker.
Just as any toolbox wouldn’t be complete
with a screwdriver, so too must a pub offer burg-
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like. The Hardware Store goes a bit further with
halibut and prawn burgers, a meatloaf sandwich,
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worth $20? The answer is both yes and no.
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over a mountain of fries with house-made tartar
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pace it remained hot until the last bite.
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and chips, these were high-octane, not at all oily.
Instead of needing a nap afterwards, they left me
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Cannon Beach Hardware
and Public House
Rating:
1235 S Hemlock St.
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
dollars less I’d have no qualms.
As much as the dish succeeded on the pure
quality of the halibut, it was the tartar and cock-
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made, and marvelous. The cocktail, not overly
sweet, had a late-coming, spicy kick. The tartar
was ideally balanced between the creamy base
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on, pickle and (I believe) diced red peppers.
As a lover — and collector — of hot sauce,
it is a true testament to the Hardware Store’s
cocktail and tartar that, when afforded with the
opportunity to dabble in their vast, 20-some-bot-
tle selection, I opted to stick with the house con-
coctions.
Cannon Beach Hardware and
Public House tends to both
the handyman’s tastebuds as
well as his toolbox.
The Cannon Beach Hard-
ware and Public House
is nicknamed the Screw
& Brew.
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wich ($12), however, I needed that extra kick.
Dry and crispy rather than tender and juicy, it re-
minded more of chicken strip than the namesake
wing. It came with an almost absurd heaping of
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buffalo wings, just order the wings ($6 for six,
$10 for 12).
After learning the Public House had a tradi-
tional smoker on the premises, I had to return to
try the pastrami melt ($12). (The BBQ pulled
pork is also smoked.) Unlike the classic, tower-
ing deli version, the Hardware Store’s pastrami
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the one entrée I saw on the smaller side. But the
mouth
OF THE COLUMBIA
COAST WEEKEND’S LOCAL RESTAURANT REVIEW
Story and photos by THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA • mouth@coastweekend.com
HOURS: The pub is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the
hardware store is open form 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Both are
closed Wednesdays.
VEGETARIAN/VEGAN OPTIONS: Slim. Veggie burger,
chips and salsa, fries, tots, onion rings and side salad.
PRICE: $$ – Entrees range from $10 to $20.
DRINKS: Microbrews, short wine list, house-infused
cocktails (full bar), and Mexican Coke.
SERVICE: Every bit as quirky as the place itself.
taste was sultry. The melted provolone cheese
was gooey and running, smothering and swirl-
ing with the bold brine and pepper of the smoked
beef. Despite the salaciousness, I did long for
some sauerkraut, both for texture and digestive
aid. Instead of fries, I opted for a side salad (add
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tichoke hearts, it was substantial (but so too was
the up-charge).
True to the Public House moniker, the
Hardware Store is haunted by locals as well as
tourists. You might spot some of the regulars
drinking from ceramic cups, which indicate
membership in the beer club. (A one-time, $25
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pints by 10 percent in perpetuity.) Rotating taps
pour top-notch microbrews from Oregon and
beyond. There’s a short wine list, house-infused
cocktails and Mexican Coke.
As the front patio opens and the summer
crowds pile in, space can get a bit tight. It’s the
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for such bright, earnest, engaging character.
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the Cannon Beach Hardware and Public House
is more than just a gimmick.
KEY TO RATINGS
poor
below average
good & worth returning
excellent
outstanding, the best in the
Columbia-Pacific region
503-436-4086 • cannonbeachhardware.com
April 23, 2015 | coastweekend.com | 21
