Blue House Cafe

"The first secret is to serve lamb or beef in chunks, rather than shavings. Thicker slices are juicier and give a level of character to your gyro (or gyro platter). Their gyros remind me of Turkish dönner kebabs I had in Germany than any other restaurant I've been to in the USA. Their drink selection, from a full espresso bar to lavender/rosewater/mint lemonades (when in season) is the finest in town. Just today I tried Jallab tea and I have a mighty need to get more. Blue House is not open all-year round, and I would encourage you to visit during off-peak times as this cafe can get very busy - especially in summer."

"This place is one of the main reasons we bike the Banks-Vernonia trail. It's pretty much our reward and treat at end of trail. Excellent food and desserts made fresh, and beers too. Their Mediterranean coffee is exceptionally good in boosting energy needed in returning trip. Services are excellent. A must stop place for us to eat and rest in Vernonia. Oh forgot to mention, they have indoor bike parking too!"

"The best Mediterranean restaurant in Oregon located in the beautiful little town of Vernonia. Every time I ride the Banks-Vernonia bike trail, we make it a priority to stop here. Love that they have a bike rack inside so you can watch your gear - they also have outdoor seating too which is great."

"Our first order of business in Vernonia was to get our Greek on, and where better to pop in for lunch than the Blue House Café? Blue is definitely the operative word when it comes to the interior décor: everything from the walls, to the seats, to the little bottles and glasses on the mantle over the counter share a deep, radiant cerulean hue that creates a nice, casual, welcoming ambiance. I like it. Instead of table service, ordering is done at the counter; grab a table of your choice (indoor or out; there's a little patio up front, and on the side as well), and your order will arrive in a reasonably short amount of time. My wife and I split the Dolmades platter, hummus with pita bread, and a side of beef/lamb with tzatziki. The Dolmades were thankfully fresh, handmade and delicious: too many casual Mediterranean places skate by on the canned stuff, which is vastly inferior to the real thing. In fact, these were the best I've had anywhere. Similarly, the only flaw with the hummus and the meat is that we ran out of them; we would have ordered more, if we weren't stuffed already! True to the name, you can order all manner of coffee, tea and espresso drinks here, as well as a small selection of ice cream, pastries and other desserts (baklava!). Other available beverages include a complimentary water station, seasonal lemonades, and alcoholic options such as beer, wine and...gluhwein? Okay, *THAT* is a little out of place, but I do enjoy a mug of the stuff on occasion...but usually only on a cold winter evening. I couldn't see myself sucking one down on a hot midsummer's day, as it was during our visit. But hey, to each their own! Despite being swathed in sapphire and absorbed in its azure ambiance, it's impossible to feel blue after dining here at the Blue House Café! Although our experience in town is limited, there doesn't appear to be a finer dining option anywhere in Vernonia. Very recommended, all around!"

"On our biking route, we were recommended to stop here, and boy am I glad we did. At first site a modest shop, it's beautifully decorated and the food is even better. We had the best gyro we've ever had, and incredible hot spiced cider. You really can't go wrong. They even have indoor bike parking so we didn't have to lock up. We will be back!"