Schooner Inn Cafe — Restaurant in Reedsport

This review is the sole reflection of the food we had, not the service nor the facility, ect.

I’ll start out by saying that the service was prompt and friendly. Zero issues at all with the staff. The seating on the patio was very nice along with the view of the river that accompanied it.

My husband and I both ordered a bowl of clam chowder. We both love clam chowder, but we far from connoisseurs or picky eaters when it comes to it. Enough salt or pepper and we’ll eat almost anything. Almost.

The clam chowder came out in a smaller bowl than anticipated, although came with the usual suspects such as oyster crackers & friendly service.

The consistency was that of, lord forgive me for saying this, but “snot.” I apologize for the reference but I (we) could not find a better adjective to more accurately describe it. Typically clam chowder is anything but this consistently, so I wasn’t sure how to process it. The flavor was very bland and moderately flavorless, so we added a bunch of salt & pepper which made it fairly ok as far as flavor. The consistency killed us, though. We are both middle aged, but found each other making the faces of an 8 year old served broccoli for his birthday dinner. It wasn’t pleasant. And thoughts of what it reminded us of overcame any flavor we had corrected.

In retrospect, I recall something on the menu about the clam chowder being gluten free. Perhaps they substituted flour for a gelatin substance to thicken the chowder - this I don’t know, but it’s the only hypothesis I can conjur.

My advice? Order the...

FABULOUS FISHHOUSE

Schooner’s is a hidden gem in Reedsport. The perfect place to park your trailer or RV while you have a wonderful meal with a view of the Umpqua river. In the summer, they have outdoor tables with umbrellas and about half of them are tables where well-behaved dogs are allowed. The indoor sun porch is also a good spot to enjoy the good grub with a view.

SERVICE Stacey was a fantastic host and very attentive. She gave me a complimentary refill on my Diet Coke and was quick to take our order.

FOOD Dungeness Crab Cocktail ($16): Good amount of crab for the price and served with tasty cocktail sauce. More leg meat would’ve been appreciated, but it’s silly to be fussy. Clam Chowder Bread Bowl ($11): Nice amount of clam meat in the soup and decent flavor. The sourdough bowl is one of Franz’s finest products and I was impressed to learn they deliver restaurants these bowls. Fish & Chips ($16): I appreciate a good hand-battered F&C for sure and these are about a 7 on the Fischcter Scale. Bigger pieces would’ve been appreciated and the fry was easy to fall off. The housemade tartar is wonderful and the perfect accompaniment to this...

Right next to the Discovery Center you’ll finds the Schooner Inn, a longtime favorite restaurant with great food and views all around you. Have lunch after your tour of Reedsport’s Discovery Center that beautifully presents the local history, fish & wildlife and a few surprises too. Outdoor seating in good weather AND your dog is welcome on the deck outside! Perched next to & just above the Umpqua River, Bridges & wildlife the fishermen launch, land and float by, as you enjoy freshly made food. Same great menu for a long time and the quality is consistently excellent. Plus they have a board where they always have a daily special. It’s the only restaurant I know that bakes their own roasted turkey for their sandwiches! Be sure to try the Turkey DeLight. Excellent fish & chips & if you’re craving something different ask for Tater Tots instead of fries. They’re done perfectly! The iced tea is exceptional, being brewed fresh every day and local beers available. Tasty creative salads and seafoods too. One visit and you’ll certainly...