McMenamins Lighthouse Pub

The McMenamins Lighthouse Brewpub is just like any other McMenamins in the area. In Lincoln City, the pub is in the Lighthouse Shopping Center (or some such thing, and boasts an ocean view. The ocean view, however, is only accessible from one part of one window, and you have to climb three stairs to get to it.

In this pub, you just have to sit upstairs. The downstairs tables are just too boring. The decor of the Lighthouse pub is much like that in any McMenamins. The booths have that same color of wood, the setup is similar, et cetera. The menu is also like any other McMenamins, with a few special additions in honor of its coastal location.

The burgers are pretty darn good, and the clam chowder is surprisingly better than Mo's (which is beyond good...you know this if you've ever had it. The wine sampler is interesting and fun to try, but probably best when shared with a partner, unless you want to get smashed at lunch. There are six wines in the sampler, and you get a small amount of each. They offer three reds and three whites.

The pub was very busy, but the service didn't suffer much. Our waiter kept running past us and shouting, "I'll be right there!" though we didn't need anything at all. The only qualm I can offer is the disregard the servers have for common courtesy (not in general, there was a specific incident). The specific incident is as such:

I was happily tasting one of the red wines in the sampler when a waitress, carrying a huge tray of beverages, stumbles a bit while walking toward our table. She is unharmed and doesn't fall, but I can't say the same for the beverages. Suddenly, a number of glasses were flying toward me. I was relatively unscathed, apart from the ice that hit me before the floor. It gave me quite a fright. As a result, I instinctively jumped as I realized what I was in for, spilling red wine all over my white shirt. The waitstaff, who clearly saw me covered in red wine, completely ignored me (as well as the mess on the floor).

They had enough to deal with, so I said nothing. It really wasn't a big deal, except that my ruined shirt was entirely their fault. I worked in customer service for a very long time, and that is just unacceptable. Even if they can't offer to reimburse a cleaning bill, an apology was in order.

Pros: good food, decent wine, regular fun McMenamin's atmosphere
Cons: two hours from Portland, partially inept waitstaff
Bottom line? If you're in Lincoln City, try out the Lighthouse Brewpub, but beware of tripping waitresses!