The Chow Line - short term rental corporate apartment in Southern Oregon

The Chow Line
Dining Out

Medford's Downtown District features an extensive variety of dining, libation and entertainment opportunities within easy walking distance of Grape Street Gardens convenient location. We encourage you to explore our small, but friendly metropolitan center. Printed menus for most locations listed below can be found in the GSG Local Information Guide provided in all our furnished executive housing suites.

The following reviews and opinions have been created to represent all dining facilities located in Medford's Downtown District. None of the businesses mentioned have contributed to this site or bear any influence or personal preference from the authors perspective.

A   The China Hut Restaurant and Lounge is located at 450 South Riverside Avenue. The Dining room is clean and well lit with full bar service available as a compliment to the meal. The menu selection is expansive, offering both Americanized Asian cuisine as well as a broad selection of traditional ala carte items. The home made pot stickers are wonderful and the BBQ pork appetizer served warm, thinly sliced is well worth the wait. Take out is available. (541) 779-4528

B   Taqueria El Gallo offers authentic Hispanic fare which is filling, rich with flavors of roasted peppers and unbelievably light and refreshing. The fresh carrots marinated with jalapeno peppers (snack-before-your-meal) is a crisp reminder that food is about to arrive. Dipping the sliced carrots in thick cream helps hide the spicy bite while teasing the taste buds. The small, clean dining area is filled with a variety of items from south of the boarder and is frequented by the local Hispanic population. The menu consists of a variety of traditional dishes, is well priced, and the atmosphere is worth careful observation. If you don't speak Spanish...just point. The staff is friendly and helpful but English is not the preferred language. Take out is available and if you favor a cold beer or margarita with South of the Border cuisine 'pick up' and dine at home is required. 541-732-1633

C  Sally's Kitchen is the two story pink building found at 515 S. Riverside Ave. You can't miss it. Nor, do you want to if you're hungry for a hearty, well-priced cafe style breakfast or lunch. This small, family owned and operated diner provides plenty of parking behind the popular location. The dining area is clean, the counter is usually filled with locals and the seasonal specials are terrific. Go ahead..try the oyster omelet...add a little green Tabasco sauce and presto...instant hangover relief.

D   Tasty Thai is a Medford favorite. Open for lunch and dinner, this easy location is frequented by locals, especially at noon, and is 'sat' first come, first served. The lemon dressing drizzled salad offered as a complimentary first course, takes the edge off twelve o' clock hunger. The lunch menu consists of numerous selections and is available to go at (541) 779-1148.

E   Eddy's is a "local" joint near the corner of Jackson and Riverside and makes one of the best burgers on the west coast. Although admittedly small, the place is packed between the hours of 11:00 and 2:00pm with neighbors craving the drip down to your elbows, that you can't put down or it's gonna' fall apart burgers. Folks willingly move over, and offer you a place to sit down or hurry so that you too, can enjoy lunch. It's amazing! The Mushroom Burger, served with a fork, is the drippiest burger in the Rogue Valley. However the bigger challenge is the avocado, chili, chicken sandwich won't stay on the bun and both are available, as well as the rest of the menu items, 'to go' (541) 770-4678. Thank goodness! Move over...the fries are hot!

F    Oh's Osaka is a fun environment centrally located in Medford's downtown district at 35 N Central Ave. You can either be entertained by the numerous tableside grills or stroll to the rear of the building and sit at the sushi bar. Either location presents a charming evening. The grill side communal tables promote interactive dialogue with staff and other diners, while the sushi bar can be more intimate. The full service bar is a compliment to the meal and offers several varieties of filtered or unfiltered Saki, either chilled or warmed. The tableside, grill menu is reasonably priced while sushi is comparable. Take out orders are welcome and promptly available. Reservations for the dining room are suggested, (541) 282-2334. The seven, stool Sushi Bar is often full but there are more than a dozen tables that surround the casual dining area and seating is usually readily available.

G    Porter's enjoys a great reputation. They deserve the recognition. The owners have worked hard to establish an upscale, comfortable environment that serves consistently good food. The historical 1910 train station is a perfect location for this lively downtown restaurant and bar that is acknowledged as a 'Steak House". The high ceilings, dark wood, preserved tile work and era memorabilia are charming and distinctive. The outdoor patio dining is a lovely spot, tastefully appointed and a local favorite when the often, changing valley weather permits. Porters Bar is a local hot spot for professional clientele and is often used as a location to discuss details after a long day. The two-fiddy happy hour menu is an outstanding offer and is of surprisingly good quality. Reservations for the dining room are suggested to avoid the wait...but if you have to wait; the lounge area is worth a look around. Dinner reservations can be made at (541) 857-1910. You may preview the menu on line or simply mosey on down to the corner of Front and Fifth and savor the neighborhood along the way.

H    Red Rock family style Italian dinners will fill you to the brim with butter, cream and pasta. The anti pasta salad is a favorite when followed with Pasta Parmesan with grilled chicken. Red Rock's full service bar is a popular location and the al fresco dining (weather permitting) is an alternative to the some time, noisy dining room. The food is fresh, well priced, and you're going home with leftovers. The service staff is young and friendly. Take out is available by calling 541-773-6840 and the easy four block trek down the esplanade is a perfect way to burn up some of that consumed butter and cream. On line menu and dining information can be found at www.redrockitalianeatery.com. Red Rock is located at the corner of Forth and Fir, just across the tracks from Porters

I  Habaneros is located on the corner of Fifth and Front directly across the street from Porters. No wonder...both sites are owned by the same partnership and the attention to detail and appropriate decor is an obvious correlation. Although Habaneros, aka Habi's is known for it's Southwest Style cuisine, friendly service and chicken mole, the Cantina is a lively after hours location celebrating local, rock n roll bands and a hearty 'singles scene'. The small but active shaded patio welcomes sidewalk patrons, inviting guests to enjoy a traditional South of Border blended beverage. No salt please.

J   38 on Central is the latest addition to Medford's Downtown nightlife entertainment. The central location and free parking add to the convenience of this dining location. Special attention has been given to the restoration of this downtown establishment and the subtle lighting, hard wood floors and original brick offer a welcoming, warm ambiance to the dining area. The mezzanine lounge is playful and well decorated. Also, pay attention to the hanging art. Happy Hour is a hopper! The service staff is attentive and well trained. The environment is absolutely lovely. The menu ranges from choices of tuna and duck to short ribs and rib eye. The experience has a matching price tag. You may make reservations, and they are recommended by calling (541) 776-0038

K  Howie's on Front located at 16 N. Front St. offers luncheon sandwiches and specials that are 'the bomb'. Lunch is often an active, 'working mans' hang out and if not careful, lunch will turn to happy hour, and happy hour to fired cheese sticks for dinner, until you finally 'roll' home. The active pool and gaming tables may draw the attention of the competitor and the single's scene is often a lively, humorous distraction from the day to day professional grind. You can try to reach the bar at 773-5767. The staff will answer...but may not be able to hear you..."you wanna' talk to who??? Sorry, no one here answers by that name." click____

L   Walk down to G'rilla Bites at 226 E Main St. when you want to give your body a gift. The friendly, Informative staff, convenient location and organic menu Items are treats for the body as well as the spirit. The roasted turkey with cranberry and cream cheese sandwich Is an all time favorite at lunch. You may view menu selection and corporate concept at their website. Daily specials as well as the entire menu is available 'to go' by phoning (541) 245-9802.

M   Japanese Cuisine is available at Bonsai Teriyaki found on the corner of N. Grape and W. 6th. This small sushi bar consists of five seats but the twenty plus dining tables keep the Sushi Artisans knives flying. The booths and tables are filled to capacity at noon. However, the friendly staff works smoothly to insure that guests are fed and back to work with time to spare. Dinner take out is very popular and can be ordered by phoning (541) 608-0439.

N   The Downtown location of Jackson Creek Pizza is easily found at 317 E Main St., across the street from Premier West Bank on the corner of Bartlett and Main. You will be enticed by a terrific selection of micro brew beers on tap and a more than decent local wine selection to compliment your menu choices. The secret pizza crust recipe is even better when used for Calzones. The fresh menu also consists of some pretty good salad choices and all are available to go. (541) 734-734-7322

O   It's rather obvious, (look at the vehicle compared to the building in the photo) that the Yellow Submarine Sandwich shop located at 137 South Central Avenue, could use a bit more square footage...especially at lunch time. The line at the counter has been known to back out the front door and around the corner...but the hot pastrami Is worth every moment of the wait and the true corn beef Ruben Is worth twice that. If you don't have the time to wait you can try calling ahead 779-7589...but the line Is still 'the line' and you may be tripped for trying to take cuts. Not really...You'll find that your time waiting goes by rather quickly. The folks who work the counter have been doing It for a very long time and the system of operations Is more than functional. Besides...what better way to get to know the community than to be In the same place at the same time. .

P  Cadillac Cafe is a City employee luncheon hot spot. This Independently owned establishment is within very easy walking distance at 207 W 8th St. between Grape and Holly. Although, the ordering, waiting and dining sequence can be confusing, the home made soup and sandwich and several other comfort foods available, beg for your return.

Q   If you're not careful you'll miss this terrific little deli located at 406 W Main. It's called Deli Down for a reason. You get to walk down stairs to this very popular lunch spot and the descent reminds you that you're hungry as the aromas of the days fare filter through the air. This family owned operation Is recognized for their daily luncheon business as well as off site catering which can be evidenced by the signed photos of Bill Cosby, the Indigo Girls, and a variety other artists who have performed at the Local Britt Festival In Jacksonville. You can contact Deli Down In person or by phoning 541-772-4520

R  Mellelo's Coffee Roasters proudly claims two downtown corner sites. The original location is found at the corner of E. 6th and Front. The most recent coffee corner is just blocks away at the corner of Main and Holly, where you can order your favorite style of coffee and enjoy the 'locals' who often fill the place or take your coffee outside and sit in the park. Both Locations offer whole or ground beans for your brewing pleasure and a variety of sweet breads to go with your coffee of choice. .

The Chow Line Dining Out

The Chow Line
Dining Out