FORT GEORGE
The Fort George’s recent
“Cheddar Stuf ed” burg-
er for Burger Wednes-
day was just about the
model for a bistro bacon
burger. The side of kettle
chips, however, wanted.
BREWERY
Upstairs wood-i red oven sends out fl avorful burgers, specials
E
Every Wednesday, around 3 or 4 p.m., I start
checking Twitter. There — and across other social
networks — Fort George Brewery announces the
Burger Wednesday special. The lovingly staged
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from which it’s just emerged, leads to one of two
options: changing dinner plans or lamenting an
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While hemming mostly close to a traditional
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years have run the gamut. Besides pizza, that
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has cranked out everything from elk, salmon,
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pork and, of course, a melange of cheeses and the
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Such it was on my most recent trip, when
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toes, romaine lettuce and pepperjack cheese. The
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not dripping. Nevertheless, it was marvelous. The
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seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium rare,
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and succulent, the garlic aioli creamy, the veggies
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a handful of kettle chips — was a lackadaisical
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Each week the accompaniments change
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and macaronis, and even a slider — that’s right:
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father and son. There’s wide variance here, and
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nouncement.
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14 | March 10, 2016 | coastweekend.com
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notice much — if any — of the dijon.
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Dusted with Parmesan and also cooked in the
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top crust that gave way to a whisper. Inside it was
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malade that made me think of apples — an ideal
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ready case. With a thin, crisp crust, the rivers of
The Jalapeno Bison
Burger was exquisite
with juicy bison, deep-
fried jalapeno chips and
cheese. The accompa-
nying pasta was starchy
and bland.
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it appeared it was gone.
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shell and topped with roasted leeks, ricotta cheese
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mouth
OF THE COLUMBIA
COAST WEEKEND’S LOCAL RESTAURANT REVIEW
Story and photos by THE MOUTH OF THE COLUMBIA • mouth@coastweekend.com
Fort George Brewery
Burger Wednesday & Upstairs Specials
Rating:
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Burger Wednesday
begins at 4:30 p.m. until supplies run out (and they do).
PRICE: $$ – Bistro-style burgers priced accordingly.
SERVICE: Cheerful, fun-loving, local color.
1483 Duane St., Astoria
fortgeorgebrewery.com
503-325-7468
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tured coffee and almond milk. The North VIII was
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VEGETARIAN / VEGAN OPTIONS: Occasional.
DRINKS: Beer, wine, craft soda, juice, cof ee and tea.
KEY TO RATINGS
poor
below average
good & worth returning
excellent
outstanding, the best in the
Columbia-Pacific region