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Provided by Citysearch
Worked hard to make it a night to remember!
Posted by wuestr on 12/03/2008
I recently proposed to my girlfriend and when I called the hotel not only were they thrilled to order flowers in advance if I wished, they also arranged a private tour of the belltower to make sure everything was perfect. The meal was from the price fixe menu with an additional course thrown in for all the guests that night courtesy of the chef. The food was good, albeit a bit on the heavy side for five courses, but a bargain for a five course meal with this level of service. We got a window seat with a beautiful view of the river. The service was outstanding, our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly and she gracefully served from the right, removed from the left, etc. At the end of the meal a "bellhop" (actually a manger) discretely invited us to view the tower and suddenly my girlfriend had a ring on her finger! After leaving the restaurant we lingered on the beautiful grounds. Thanks to the staff for making the proposal perfect, it really was a night to remember and we will be back!
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Provided by Citysearch
(restaurant only) Awesome view but still hungry after
Posted by paintedsquare on 04/26/2008
I recall visiting the Gorge Hotel way back in the 80's for breakfast. From what I remember, it was a great meal. That's why I recently decided to pay them another visit for a Sunday afternoon brunch.
Even though the hostess was AWOL and there was no one around to greet us at 12:30pm Sunday, I was really looking forward to some delicious food and a good time. The only good thing I can say is the view was spectacular and the grounds were lush and immaculate.
On Sundays they feature something called a Farmer's Breakfast for $35 a person. That must be a joke. Not only would this meal fail to meet the most moderate of farmers needs, it barely provides enough nutrition to browse the local farmer's market.
Let me start off by saying we had almost no problem with the service. Our server was informative, professional and efficient at juggling the fourteen thousand plates that make up this four course meal ( a meal that could fit on a large plate). However, I believe the server forgot to offer my companion a side dish. That wouldn't be such a big deal if my companion had enjoyed her entree.
My main complaint was after finishing, I was not even close to full. Everything we ate was made with quality ingredients, no doubt. The fruit was fresh and good. The oatmeal, while bland, was not bad. The french toast was delicious but did not come with butter or sufficient maple syrup. My eggs benedict included one half a biscuit, some ham and an egg. My side dish included some yummy bacon strips. All very tasty, but again, this meal can only be described as niggardly in the satisfaction category.
I don't mind paying a lot for a meal. However, I expect to be full when I leave. The restaurant at the Gorge Hotel therefore should be avoided by anyone with an appetite greater than a parakeet.
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Provided by Citysearch
Hesitate before dining
Posted by ddnorton on 01/31/2006
We used to drive over from Portland for lunch or dinner a couple of times a year. The food was always excellent. It had been a while, so we thought we would give it another try for lunch.
We were very disappointed!! Besides the eye-opening prices, the food was terrible. Both my wife and I couldn't finish our dishes. There were only a couple tables of people and the waitress (straight out of a cheap diner) would be disappear for 15 minutes at a time. We literally had to flag her down whenever we needed anything. I had to go searching through the restaurant to pay our bill.
Not sure if they were having an off day, but we are not willing to risk it, especially for the very expensive dinnners. We will, at the very least, wait a few years before making this journey again...
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Provided by Citysearch
Lovely spot for a romantic Christmas evening
Posted by maryevon on 01/13/2006
My husband and I stayed here just before Christmas and it was lovely. Sure, the room was not the most upscale, but hey...it's an old hotel. The piano bar entertainer was good and breakfast in the morning a real pleasure. Lovely decorations, great service and a romantic location. We will definitely be back.
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Provided by Citysearch
Great and Haunted too!!
Posted by scaryhotels on 10/24/2005
I loved this old hotel...I stayed there on a Halloween evening aprox. 4 years ago..and it is one of my fondest memories..Got in late but still received an awesome dinner..the breakfast was also spectacular..and I've stayed in many 5 star resorts around the world..But what was especially interesting to me was the ghost that reside in the Hotel..I saw and heard many unexplainable things..which I loved ... Great Adventure!!
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Provided by Judy's Book
Romanticly charming place to stay
Posted by Lani O. on 08/02/2005
The rose garden greets guests as you pull up to the hotel and around the back you can hear the gentle rumble of a small waterfall spilling into the Columbia river. They don't have many rooms here which makes it charming and quaint. My husband proposed to me here and the staff was more than accommodating to his request to dine outside by the waterfall. He also had them sprinkle rose petals all over our room with a beautiful bouquet and champagne.The staff was extremely friendly and helpful to my husband. Breakfast was spectacular as well! I have never felt so spoiled in a hotel!
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Provided by Citysearch
Perfect!
Posted by kcjohnson on 02/05/2005
We had driven by the Columbia Gorge Hotel for years on afternoon outings up the gorge and finally decided to give ourselves a treat. And what a treat!. The place is one-of-a-kind gorgeous. Rich carpets, beautiful decor, and surprisingly warm and caring staff. We had an absolutely memorable lunch on the terrace overlooking the river with flowers everywhere and people strolling leisurely through the gardens to the waterfall. We had the crab enchiladas and the coconut prawns with a bottle of wine then sat in one of the garden swings and just enjoyed the afternoon. We never got any farther up the gorge and didn't care a bit. A real gem.
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Provided by Citysearch
Just Married
Posted by travelbug on 06/17/2003
We want to post a huge thank you to everyone at the Hotel for making our wedding a truly memorable and blissful experience. Our guests were thrilled with the location and are still raving about the food. Thank you for doing all the work so we could have all the fun - we didn't worry about a thing. Can't wait to see our pictures!!
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Provided by Citysearch
Spectacular!
Posted by CalistaU on 06/17/2003
This place is even better than it sounds in the article. The waterfall flows right off of a large "deck" (for lack of a better word), but that's only half the story. The stream that leads to the stunning waterfall meanders through a beautiful garden with several rock bridges along the way. The hotel has a Mediterranean feel to it and each room is designed with a slightly different old world theme. One room had a carved canopy bed taken from a French castle. And, as if 5 courses weren't enough, the breakfast is actually 9 courses so don't worry about eating lunch afterward.
Even if you're not getting married there, a wedding night or anniversary are very good reasons to visit.
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Provided by Citysearch
Gotta love the "Gorge"
Posted by Orvil on 06/13/2003
The first thing we heard walking through the door was "Welcome to the Gorge". Not "Hi ya", or the usual back of the head from Hotel staff, but a real welcome. The welcome continued for our entire stay. The front desk staff could not have been more accommodating and the dining room staff was professional and warm and great fun. Even the housekeepers said hello. We loved the piano player and the lady in the gift shop who helped us find just the right amazing thing for our daughter. The place has been restored to perfection and the setting is pure storybook. So much is included with the room - breakfast, champagne service, a rose, chocolates, etc., that an overnight stay turns out to be a really good value.
