Arbor House Restaurant — Restaurant in Talent

I travel a good bit for pleasure all around the world and dining out is a big part of that experience. I often read rave reviews about one place or another and after my own experience at some of those places, I have to wonder if I ate at the same restaurant as did the reviewer! However, in the case of Arbor House, having read so many wonderful reviews before my visit, I still was a bit skeptical. Now, this isn't the fanciest of places I've dined, but the space is quite comfortable in a "makes you feel at home" sort of way. However, Arbor House delivers in ways far beyond its humble, cute cottage setting. The menu features many family recipes and has what I'd call a sophisticated comfort food sort of feel. To our great surprise, entrees are preceded by their house-made biscuit which, in and of itself, is truly unique and delicious. Then, along comes their house made soup du jour - which in our case was an Italian potato soup that was utterly delightful. Follow that with a beautiful salad of fresh mixed greens and a trio of fantastic homemade dressings on the side to choose from. At this point, you'll start to wonder how you'll ever get through a forthcoming entree and its sides. Yet, once it arrives, you're so impressed with everything thus far that you'll do whatever it takes to finish up every last bite. On this inaugural visit, I opted for their filet mignon with a compound butter that was over-the-top fragrant and downright incredible. But wait...so far, I've just spoken about the food aspect of this most charming of places. What made this visit really stand out was the most delightful staff. The owner, Leah, couldn't have been any more gracious, hospitable or lovely. Seriously, her attentiveness, great stories, beautiful smile and passion for the restaurant made for a most extraordinary experience. Truly memorable. Truly fantastic. This family business takes service with a smile to new heights. We will look ever forward to our next visit to the Ashland area and will certainly be taking friends along as we are sure to visit Arbor House again. Thanks to all the staff and lovely folks who made our...

Different, in a good way. Honestly, I felt I had stepped out of time taking a seat at the Arbor House. It feels like you’ve sat down in someone’s living room which they’ve cleared of couches and cushy chairs and set up tables instead. There’s an old piano set into the wall as you enter and you are regaled by a piano player who favors old Cole Porter songs and others from the American Songbook. I found his take on the music and the heart he played with quite engaging. I could have done without his pitch for a tip though. I gladly would have given one without the pitch.

One wall is covered with old photos looking to be mostly ‘70s era. I asked the waitress who turned out to be the granddaughter of the owners and she said her grandparents used to live on a commune in the Applegate back in the day and these were all old friends, several of whom still paid a visit to eat.

Which brings us to what you want to know about a restaurant- the food. I had the eggplant Parmesan which is something I’m pretty picky about. It’s a dish which is like a ‘canary in a coal mine’ for restaurants, I’ve found. Either they have the know to sweat the eggplant or they don’t. And if they don’t, it’s a slimy mess and it’s a good indication that there are other techniques they don’t know. I’m happy to report, they sweat the eggplant at the Arbor House!

Aside from that, the courses (yes courses!) seemed a bit on the small side as they came yet I walked away feeling well fed and satisfied.

The Arbor House is not a trendy place with fusion cuisine and the like. The food is a bit like the decor and the piano player - good, executed with love and character, and satisfying.

Give it a try....

My husband & I stopped here during a road trip. We had been wanting a home cooked meal after traveling across a few states. After seeing how enchanting the outside of this restaurant was, & the online menu choices, we decided to eat here. We we're a bit taken aback at how fancy the inside of the restaurant was, & felt underdressed, but we were still warmly welcomed. The whole time there we felt as if it was a special occasion due to the setting. The food was fantastic! Many people that complained in reviews about this restaurant being too expensive are not including the fact that you are not only paying for good food, but also paying for live music, & humongous food portions. ~$25 for soup, salad, biscuits, bread, & your main meal (with tax included) is a deal! Alot of places now-of-days charges extra for those things. Also in New York City (where I am from), many places don't have the credit card option (as this place only excepts cash or checks)- this is so that the business doesn't lose money in extra service fees, which do add up. I would gladly pay cash to help out a family owned business. My husband (who is originally from Finland) said this was one of the best meals he's ever had in the States, as he usually complains food here is too processed or not fresh like in Europe. Thank you again for a wonderful meal/...