They say word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Perhaps that’s why Word of Mouth Bistro in Salem, Oregon will forever be on my lips for their lovely hash. From the funky entrance to the cozy space inside to the abundant signage and fabulous food, WOMB (I think this is no accident!) rocked my world!
Tucked away on 17th Street NE, Word of Mouth quickly grabs your attention with the craftsman style house and the shrub trimmed in the shape of a dog. You can’t help but smile as you walk up the stairs and open the door to find a narrow waiting area packed with hungry patrons. The hostess had a waiting list several pages long, but Cristina and I had strategically arrived just before the first Oregon Ducks game and expected most of the waiting list to evaporate!
Once we were seated, we noticed the abundance of signs everywhere. My favorite was the sign above the entrance to the kitchen, “Many people have eaten in this kitchen and gone on to lead normal, healthy lives.” But, the one above our table was a close second, “Forever: The time it takes to brew the first pot of coffee in the morning.”
Cristina and I were happy that Word of Mouth had been brewing coffee all morning long so our cups of joe arrived instantaneously along with a menu, a tome to comfort food. And what to my wondering eye should appear but a complete section of hashes – and I mean serious roll-up-your-sleeves and unnotch-your-belt kind of fare – yessssss!
We both opted for the Prime Rib Hash, a.k.a. King of the Hill, because the description sounded so sumptuously delicious that we just had to have it. Imagine slow-roasted prime rib, caramelized onion, baby portobello mushrooms, roasted red pepper with Yukon Gold potatoes – heaven!
And so, a toast to Word of Mouth Bistro – here’s to a sumptuous hashcapade worthy of my top 10 list – cheers!
Happy Hashcapades,
Clark
Comments are closed.