Hours: 3 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. daily. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.
Where: 5555 E. Evergreen Blvd., Suite D, Vancouver.
Contact: 360-693-9440 or www.shorewoodrestaurantandbar.com
Health score: Shorewood Market & Cafe received a score of 5 on Jan. 17. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
Why: The Shorewood Market & Café is located on the ground level at the Shorewood Apartments, which are situated on the north side of state Highway 14 in Vancouver. Menu items are made in-house every day. The restaurant serves breakfast on the weekends, and has a café-style lunch menu, a nightly dinner special and prime rib on Saturday nights. In addition to the convenience market and café, there is a small bar for imbibing cocktails, wine and craft and domestic beer.
Hours: 3 to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is 3 to 6 p.m. daily. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.
Where: 5555 E. Evergreen Blvd., Suite D, Vancouver.
Contact: 360-693-9440 or www.shorewoodrestaurantandbar.com
Health score: Shorewood Market & Cafe received a score of 5 on Jan. 17. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants with a score of 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
What I tried: I settled on the Reuben sandwich and my dining companion had the Cuban sandwich with a side of potato salad. We both had a cup of the salmon chowder (the soup of the day) to accompany our sandwiches.
The salmon chowder was the highlight of our meal. I considered it on par with the chowder at Salty’s Waterfront Seafood Grill, which is my favorite. It had just the right amount of salmon to bring the flavor home. It also included the rich characteristic of cheese, but that flavor did not dominate the chowder. Small bits of carrot and celery could be distinguished in the chowder, but it was the fresh-cracked peppercorn that perfectly punctuated every spoonful.
The potato salad was a basic recipe made with large potato cubes and sprinkled with paprika. The Cuban sandwich was made by combining Canadian-style ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and Dijon mustard on a grilled brioche bun. My dining companion opted for the marbled rye for her sandwich.
The Reuben was made with house-made pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing on grilled marble rye. We both agreed that for all the tasty ingredients our sandwiches promised, they lacked the flavor we expected. We also agreed that the flavor of the grill overpowered the bread’s flavor. I thought perhaps this was because the sandwiches followed the super flavorful chowder, so I took half of my sandwich home to try the following day for lunch to see if this was the case. The sandwich was far tastier the next day, but the problem with the bread remained.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: The signature fries sounded intriguing. These are tossed in rice bran oil, garlic, rosemary and blue cheese crumbles, and are served with a side of house blue cheese dressing. Shrimp Louie is on the menu. Burgers are served with or without cheese on a brioche bun. There is also a Gardenburger veggie burger. Breakfasts include breakfast burritos, pancakes, French toast and a breakfast sandwich. Breakfast sides include roasted potatoes, potatoes O’Brien, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage and housemade Canadian bacon. Longbottom coffee is served.
Atmosphere: From the entry, the market sits center stage with the café to the right and the bar to the left. Seating in the café consists of large cushy booths and tables and chairs set for four. A cool color palette creates an almost ocean-side feel, and the ’60s- to ’80s-era music makes the café feel contemporary and trendy. Overall, the space looks as though it decidedly isn’t quite sure what it is. Lighting is mostly from ceiling can lights with a few decorative wall sconces along the dining area perimeter.
Other observations: Service was informal and friendly.
The chowder was a bargain for just $3.50 a cup, considering Salty’s costs $8 for the same amount. The sandwiches, on the other hand, seemed a bit overpriced for their size at $9.
The café was spotless. Take-out is available.
Although the market, restaurant and bar are open to the general public, the parking is very limited.
Cost: Appetizers cost $1.25 to $7. Soup is $3.50 for a cup and $5.50 for a bowl. A side salad is $3, a entrée salads costs $6 to $14. Hot and grilled sandwiches range from $6 to $9. Cod fish and chips are $9, Halibut fish and chips are $11.95 for three pieces. Burgers are $6 to $10. Sides are $2.50 to $5. Breakfast entrées are $5 to $7. Breakfast sides cost $1 to $3.
