You made it to Walla Walla. You enjoyed a day of golf, shopping, and wine tasting.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: START WITH BREAKFAST
Maple Counter. Trust us.
Brief History:
Third-generation restauranteurs Kory & Rachel Nagler treat customers like family at the Maple Counter Café on Alder Street. Inspired by his parents’ restaurant, The Oak Table Café in Sequim, WA, Kory’s commitment to quality and exceptional customer service is evident in everything from the seasonal specials to the smiles on the faces of the staff and the whimsical décor.
Menu:
Not typically a pancake person? We weren’t either, until we had Maple Counter pancakes. Whatever you do, DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT HAVING A PANCAKE. Trust us on this. Plus, any omelet or scramble comes with three, so you don’t have to go strictly pancakes on this one.
Drinks:
Indulge in an Irish coffee, topped with whipped cream and green sprinkles for a touch of embarrassment… just roll with it.
CHOOSE YOUR WINE TASTING ADVENTURE
We suggest more wine tasting today, as Sundays tend to be less busy. A full day of wine (+ beer & spirits!) tasting enjoyment can be had in just about any direction.
Downtown:
Bergevin Lane Vineyards
DAMA
Studio Two Zero Two
Bledsoe Family Winery
Otis Kenyon Winery
Bonus spirits stop: 2nd Street Distilling Company
The Airport District:
Dunham Cellars
Buty Winery
All the incubator wineries!
Looking for a beer experience instead?
Hit Quirk Brewery and Burwood Brewing Company in the Airport District, or Dragon’s Gate over the border in Milton-Freewater.
Southside:
Balboa Winery
Castillo de Feliciana
Revelry Vintners
Va Piano Vineyards
Sleight of Hand Cellars
Eastside:
Dumas Station
Walla Walla Vintners
K Vintners
ALUVÉ
DON’T DRINK ON AN EMPTY STOMACH
From taco trucks to sandwich shops, Walla Walla has some of the most charming spots to snag a light(ish) lunch or snack. Our top recommendations are La Monarca taco truck for an epic veggie sope, Graze Sandwich Shop for, well, just about anything, and AK’s Mercado for corn salad or a truly gigantic burger.
Heads up:
AK’s Mercado is a must on a culinary adventurer’s itinerary. Located in downtown Walla Walla on Main Street, Chef Andrae Bopp of “Andrae’s Kitchen” renown has a long-standing reputation for creating some of the very best food in the Valley. Food & Wine Magazine even featured Chef Andrae Bopp in an epic 16-page feature published in the August 2020 issue titled “White Water Wine.”
“Andrae’s Kitchen is without any question the best restaurant located in a (working) gas station in the U.S.,” Ray Isle writes in the article. “I defy anyone to eat an order of Bopp’s Voodoo Fries – hand-cut, Cajun-spiced, then topped with housemade pulled pork, pickled peppers, and a Crystal Hot Sauce aioli – and question the title.”
Visit AK’s Mercado for a magnificent menu of Andrae’s creations.
DINNER: Go Casual
Sunday night should be laid back. You have to leave town tomorrow, after all (womp womp). Opt for something laid back and fun, like Wingman Birdz and Brewz.
Brief History:
Specializing in designer chicken wings and featuring a gigantic craft beer list, Wingman Birdz and Brewz is a great place to get really full and really happy.
People:
Owner Brendon Mendoza achieved Local Legend status in 2015 by earning the title of 2nd Runner Up in the city’s Mr. Walla Walla pageant. For a good laugh, check out his dance routine to “All About that Bass”.
Menu:
With over 20 sauces and rubs, you really cannot go wrong with an order of wings and one or two other sides. We’re just going to go ahead and recommend the salsa verde, but you might also enjoy their clucking buffalo or peanut butter and jelly.
Drinks:
If you’re all wined out, try a large glass of Burwood Brewery’s root beer or one of their rotating taps (available in 19 oz. or 7 oz. pours). Wingman also has a full bar and wine list, but after a day of tasting wine, who knows how big you’ll want to go.
SUNDAY FUN-DAY COMES TO A CLOSE
Rest up because tomorrow is the last day of your Walla Walla getaway. The final installment of this blog series will tell you how to get out of Walla Walla in style!