Proud Missoulaguy

Review of The Willows Inn

The restaurant at the Willows Inn was everything w...

The restaurant at the Willows Inn was everything we had imagined and more. Over four hours, we were served (depending on how you count) 24 tasting plates from their early spring menu. There were at least five different types of shellfish, sustainably harvested black cod, rockfish, halibut, and salmon, with inventive herb/greens courses to punctuate the meal.

Highlights included the smoked black cod doughnuts (!), a winter greens tart with oyster puree, amazing halibut (the fisherman was also there dining that night), salmon like I've never tasted before, a trio of blossom desserts, and perfectly cooked rockfish. The service was all that you would expect at a place that delivers this caliber of food--unobtrusively attentive, well-informed about the menu, and completely unpretentious.

This all takes place in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable--the sunset seemed perfectly timed with the courses of the meal, and the fixtures, tables, dinnerware, and all other aspects of the ambiance were immaculate. We were glad that we were staying on the island, which gave more of a sense of place to the food that we were eating. Staying there after taking the short ferry over for a few nights is highly recommended.

After the dining experience, we were sent home with bread and asked if we wanted to tour the kitchen, where the staff (including master chef Wetzel) were extremely pleasant and informative.

That night ranks as the dining experience of a lifetime. You are probably wondering--is it worth the price? It was a big splurge for us, and yes--completely worth it. It has changed the way that I think about food, and that's something that is impossible to quantify.