Wild River Brewing and Pizza Co. (Medford) — Restaurant in Medford

Honestly this place has never been a favorite but it’s always been a safe choice in that it was consistent and the food was decent. We went in recently and their new set up is awful. All the booths are gone and every table looks like it’s set up for groups of 6+ which makes me personally feel somewhat unwelcome as part of a smaller group, like I’m taking up space that a big group could have used. Instead of looking like a cute little locally owned family restaurant it now looks like it caters to work events and large parties.

We came in and were greeted by a giant poster in the doorway “explaining” how to order. No one in the waitstaff greeted us or asked us if we needed help. We eventually figured out they no longer are a regular waitstaff restaurant and got into what we assumed was the line to order but when the cashier realized we were still looking at the menu she just walked away. Several people walked past us after we had put the menus down and approached the register before someone finally asked if we’d been helped.

While waiting to place our orders, I witnessed a girl in the kitchen assembling the bruschetta crostini with long acrylic nails and no gloves. Acrylic nails are germ ridden and nasty, I’m glad I didn’t order something her hands had to dig around in. That feels very gross, especially considering other kitchen staff were in fact wearing gloves. It would be one thing if all she was doing was pouring drinks or squeezing sauce into a cup, heck even putting buns on a burger, but dunking ungloved germ ridden acrylic nailed fingers into buckets of wet ingredients like tomatoes is disgusting and so unhygienic. She then proceeded to move across the kitchen to work on other things, touching everything along the way and not once did I see her clean her hands or wash them in any way.

Every single thing in this restaurant is now effectively self serve including finding a table, which could be ok if the tables were regularly cleaned and it was clear which ones were still being used vs which ones hadn’t been cleaned yet. Most of the available tables were either for parties of 8+, had the remnants of someone else’s meals still on them, or had the table number signs but no sign of life so unclear if someone “reserved” and went to get their sodas or left and the numbers were all that was left.

The only thing the staff seems to do here now is assemble the food and bring it out to you. I can’t even say there’s much on the menu that actually requires much real cooking anymore as it appears they’ve also taken the pasta off the menu.

The food tonight was also mediocre unfortunately. My boyfriend who is the garbage disposal of our household didn’t even finish his burger and said he didn’t like it.

Overall I’m extremely disappointed with these changes and this experience, especially for $50 for only 2 people and no appetizer, dessert, or alcohol. I’m not sure what possessed them to make this a self serve wannabe fast food joint but it definitely is not my jam and I’m not sure I plan to come back any time soon...

As I wrote this, I am surprised to realize we have been enjoying pizza and fries at each of the Wild River locations for 40 years! It’s always been a treat to go. Our first experience was in Brookings for casual family, chaotic pizzas nights with my sisters’ families. My oldest sis loved the Jo-jo potatoes. In Happy Camp years we’d drive over the mountain to Cave Junction for family Friday pizza nights. Always got great Pizza, and CJ location was also casual. Then came exciting new digs in Grants Pass and Medford with an upscale feel, still delicious fresh food and friendly, efficient table service. It was a good choice for large groups, esp. Medford, with the space, and there was “something for everyone”. For some years before my Dad passed in ‘22, his favorite was the amazing fish and chips platter that was special on Fridays. Seems like it may be a regular menu item now? ( and that may be a mistake.)

Many , many visits for perfect light crusty pizzas cut into tiny pieces, fish and chips, those signature battered fries, fresh salads, bread basket, and great service!

Ahhh, so sad to visit this week and find that the Medford Wild River Brewery has lowered its standards to mediocre! I am truly sad. I am giving the owners benefit of the doubt : that being finding , keeping staff, and even affording a full staff may be the root problem these days. I’m really hoping for a recovery to the former positive dining experience. On our visit this week, it was a surprise to find counter service. The banner outside declares” New faster, fresher, simpler !

It wasn’t faster. It wasn’t fresher. The fries were too salted and overlooked. The batter on the fish was terrible! The batter was gummy and soggy inside. Fish was edible without batter. The tables around is were never bussed while we were there. The table was sticky in general and fresh sticky from last use. Whole joint needed a good scrubbing. The counter staff were friendly. At up front payment they said “machine will ask a question”. This happens Everywhere now. It’s laughable to ask for a tip before patrons have even received service, or in a place where no table service is offered. This part of CC payment step needs to be removed nationwide to help reduce the entitlement mentality of the upcoming generation. With Best wishes for a better future to the Miller Family and staff at Wild River Brewery.

Will return to dine in future with trepidation, order only pizza , and hope we just hit a rare low day at...

Meh. Food was low key terrible. I ordered a small cheese pizza and a large meat pizza (sausage pepperoni olives). We also ordered one of their burgers, cheese bread, and “jalapeño poppers”.

Now I admit I may be a bit jaded or standards are too high because I’m a baker and I make the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. Super authentic (seriously people, buy “The Elements of Pizza” by Ken Forkish if you want to up your pizza game). However, I’ve always had a soft spot for wild river brewing from when I was a kid. It was the best thing ever. Every time I visit Medford I always go there but the last two times (one time was a year ago, another time today) have just been so lackluster. Bland. The bread from the cheese bread….? Nice try guys it’s two or three days old. And melting mozzarella on stale bread doesn’t help. The marinara is nothing special. I feel like they even changed their pizza sauce. It used to be really unique but delicious. Now it’s just…bland. Pizza crust wasn’t good. It oddly seemed stale as well. Just a bad crust.

Burger was alright but the bread. It just wasn’t there. The burger came with onion rings and they were charred. Like, seriously over fried. Not edible. We threw them out.

“Jalapeño poppers”. Filled with cheeze wiz (what it taste like anyway) and dipped in tempura. Like…why. I wouldn’t have ordered them if I knew they were destroying a classic.

I paid around $110 for cafeteria food. Once a great titan of my favorite places to eat has become just a giant disappointment. I wish I could turn the clock back and save myself the $110. I make significantly better food than this place. Especially bread.I usually love cheese bread but no. Hard pass.

And last. Note to management- I read through your reviews on here and I certainly don’t seem to be the only one noticing that the food is getting worse. Seems like the servers and staff get good reviews but dang, the blandness of the food coupled with the low quality bread is just…unacceptable for what the price is. If you’re going to call yourselves a “pizza company” you should probably step it way up. San Marzano tomatoes, fresh parm, buffalo mozzarella, and garlic/basil oil to brush on the crust would really up your flavor profile. This just taste like high school lunch...