Illustrations by Ben Engle
ALPINE DRIVE INN – $$
37148 CA-299
Burney, CA 96013
(530) 335-2211
Open Monday – Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Owners Gary and Tita Barnett
Kirsten and I visited Alpine Drive Inn a few times last year after our usual spot, Chatty Cathy’s, went out of business. I hadn’t been there in years, but Kirsten and I fell back in love with it. This place takes you to the 1950s. The food is excellent, and the milkshakes are fantastic.
My favorite meal is a double cheeseburger with Swiss or Pepper Jack cheese, served with fries. This burger is excellent and meets my standards. Occasionally, I swap the fries for onion rings, which are fantastic, though they don’t always sit well with me a few hours later! I washed it down with a thick vanilla milkshake. I’m not really a milkshake guy, but theirs are awesome.
Kirsten, on the other hand, orders their fish and chips with onion rings instead of fries. She absolutely loves them, claiming they are the best she’s had outside Boston. A milkshake guru, she gives the banana milkshake a double thumbs-up.
We also love the deep-fried mushrooms, and Alpine’s are awesome. Dipped in thick ranch sauce, they make a great meal or a satisfying snack on the way home after fishing.
SISKIYOU BREW WORKS – $$
110 Squaw Valley Road
McCloud, CA 96057
530-925-5894
Open Thursday – Tuesday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Owners Patric and Susan Brush
Last year, Kirsten and I spent a week at the McCloud River RV Park, where we fished the upper McCloud River for the McCloud River redband trout. One night, we decided to walk to the nearby pizza joint. There, we met wonderful folks making delicious pizzas. The owners, Patric and Susan Brush, were busy pouring beer and making pizzas. The restaurant was hopping, with folks having a great time both inside and on the patio.
Kirsten and I ordered the Tucci Ave. pizza—grilled chicken, mozzarella, black olives, garlic, and green peppers. It was huge. We walked back to our RV and had a feast.
A few days later, we stopped in again for dinner. While waiting for our pizza, I enjoyed a pint of Brew Works’ IPA. I’m not a huge beer drinker, but I like IPAs, and Brew Works’ IPA reminds me of the Hexagenia IPA from Fall River Brewery. This time, I ordered the California Ave. pizza—sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, black olives, and green peppers. It was fantastic. Since that trip, we’ve made it a point to stop in for pizza, whether for takeout or dine-in. I look at the specials board now. I love the creative combinations Patric and Susan come up with. Kirsten and I have enjoyed Brew Works pizza while drifting on the Rogue River and camping in the Modoc National Forest. It’s always a memorable experience!
DAMBURGER – $$
1320 Placer Street
Redding, CA 96001
530-241-0136
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Owners Nell Cox and Julie Malik
Damburger is an iconic hamburger joint in North Redding, serving burgers since the 1930s. My first memory of Damburger is from when I was a kid, when my dad delivered there while working at Made-Rite Meats. I loved riding along in the delivery truck on those runs. It meant burgers for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I always chose a burger and looked forward to those deliveries!
These hamburgers are the ones that set my bar so high. Everything is perfect. Hot is hot, cold is cold. They come with crispy hot fries and delicious dipping sauces. My go-to is the Double Burger, a one-third-pound patty topped with Pepper Jack cheese and all the fixings. It’s a meal that fuels you all day long.
They currently make only beef patties, but they do offer gluten-free options. I am sure they will soon offer other protein-based patties, but you know what I will be having—the Double!
OUTPOST STEAKHOUSE – $$$
37392 Main Street
Burney, CA 96013
(530) 962-8212
Open Tuesday – Saturday 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
I must admit I have only visited this place a few times. Our friends Gene and Julie hit this spot all the time when they’re in the Burney area. Every time Kirsten and I go there, we have a great experience. Typically, we stay overnight in town, either in our RV or at a motel. We always enjoy dining at the steakhouse.
When we eat here, we go all out. Kirsten always chooses the prime rib, and I get the rib eye. I’m not typically a big fan of rib eye, but theirs is perfectly marbled, offering great flavor without being too fatty. I’ve asked where they get their steaks, but they only say it’s grass-fed beef. It’s excellent! We go all out with our meal—steaks, loaded baked potatoes, fresh seasonal vegetables, and a green chef salad.
The last time I was there, I ordered the chicken piccata. During pheasant season, I make a pheasant piccata and always look for a new addition to enhance it. The Outpost Chicken Piccata is just as good, if not better, than mine. The chicken is tender, the sauce is spot-on, and I love the small crème mushrooms they add.
While many people go wild with capers, they do not here. It’s a solid dish.
We also ordered the Sizzlin’ Shroom Skillet as our starter. It was delicious—an excellent way to get the steak juices going!
ORTEGA’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT – $$
9153 Deschutes Road
Palo Cedro, CA 96073
530-547-8989
Open Monday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Owners Eduwiges (Duvi) Ortega and Jacinto Miranda
I’m always on the lookout for good Mexican food, and I’ve found it here. Owned by hardworking folks with a super-friendly staff, it’s a great place to stop for a bite after a hard day of fishing. Oh, and their guava margaritas are killer!
After a day of fishing at Shasta Lake, I stopped for dinner. The Jones Valley Public Boat Ramp at the lake is close to Palo Cedro. As I looked over the menu, I saw a dish being served at a nearby table and asked my waitress about it. She told me it was a chile relleno. I decided to order one, and it was topped with ranchero sauce and served with sour cream. It was spot on. It’s my go-to dish.
Kirsten’s go-to is the fish tacos, which have battered and deep-fried white fish, served with your choice of corn or flour tortillas, cabbage, and pico de gallo salsa. There are no leftovers with this meal.
The other thing I love at Ortega’s is their salsa
bar, which features a wide selection. You could easily spend an evening just enjoying margaritas with chips and salsa. Not that I’ve ever done this; I think it’s a fantastic idea!
