Gem Creole Saloon
236 NE 3rd St, McMinnville, OR, 97128
Gem Creole Saloon Menu
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Address :
236 NE 3rd St
McMinnville, OR, 97128 - Phone (503) 883-9194
- Website https://www.mcminnvillegem.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mick W.
As a Mac resident, I was very excited to see this place roll into town. My wife and I both have spent time in NOLA and love the food. Po' Boys? Oysters? Yes! No... This is some of the worst food in town. No matter what your ethnic inclination is. We ordered half a dozen oysters on the half shell. Calm Coves from Washington. At $18 for a half dozen, you'd expect to be wowed. Not so. Half of them had shell in them. Most had the brine spilled out, and none had the hinge released on the bottom shell. Ok. So let's move on to the mains. I opted for a shrimp and oyster po boy with fried okra. Wife did the beans and rice with a side of kale. The kale was incredibly salty. The beans and rice were fine, but nothing you couldn't make at home. The po boy had three fried oysters the size of a quarter on them. And two blackened over cooked prawns. On a six inch long bun. There was an under seasoned fennel/cabbage slaw and an inexplicably weird salsa made of fruit. Mango? Not sure. The prawns were like eating over cooked pencil erasers. I ended up taking an oyster out of the bun to see if I could tell I was eating an oyster. Nope. Gem. Fix it. You could shine here. I would eat here every week if you could really pull off the NOLA food. The interior has a great vibe. Inviting, cool, makes you want to be there. Until they bring the food. Highly recommend the Arnold Palmer.
(1)Kim S.
Popped in during a road trip to McMinnville for lunch with my husband. Yum! We both had good po boys with really terrific sides. Very friendly staff, good service, really good ambience. Wish we lived closer so we could visit more often!
(5)Darren C.
We were passing thru and found this hidden GEM. Sorry, had to say it. Anyway, the food was amazing (and come hungry, the servings are big). My daughter had the fried chicken and waffles. I stole a piece. It was the BEST fried chicken we've ever had. My chicken and gravy was perfect and my wife's gumbo was an excellent spice level. The fresh brewed iced tea and lemonade were very refreshing. A must visit and come hungry.
(5)Denise D.
Delicious Sunday brunch at Gem Creole Saloon. Service was friendly and efficient and the food was yummy and plentiful. My daughter had the sweet potato and cream cheese crepes and I had eggs benedict with tomatoes and spinach instead of meat. Mine came with fried potatoes and a fluffy biscuit. We also had mimosas. All the food was fresh and expertly prepared. I don't know for sure but everything had that farm-to-table freshness that is so common in the McMinnville and surrounding farm/wine country region. A nice bonus was the strong wifi connection. We had attempted to have dinner there the night before and made reservations but ended up a bit lost and were 30 minutes late. When we pulled up the place was very crowded and we decided to eat elsewhere. I will definitely return for dinner and the chance to have some hush puppies and bread pudding.
(5)Tom W.
Stopped in there while strolling the avenue on a recent overnight trip from Portland, looking for a lunch place. Love the decor, purple and gold, and the music (blues on Sirius, but still..). I had the voodoo fries, quite good, while my friend had cole slaw and braised greens, both also very good. Place was slow, so service was excellent. Would definitely like to go back for dinner and further menu explorations!
(4)Kristy N.
I've not eaten at the actual restaurant but the Gem was the buffet dinner for the Key Club restaurant at the Timbers game last Friday. Being born and raised in the south, I'm always looking for good southern food and I am usually disappointed in what I find here. But this food was spot on perfect! The collard greens were cooked perfectly and had such good flavor. The black eyed peas were some of the best I had even had. The catfish was lightly breaded and not greasy at all. The brisket was flavorful, tender, and moist. And the andouille & chorizo biscuits and gravy...what can I say? It takes some good southern food to impress this southern girl but that gravy was incredible. I could have drank a bowl of it :-) During the buffet, I also met a man I'm guessing was the owner or manager. He was very gracious and super friendly. I don't go to McMinnville much but the food at this place really could make me drive down just for dinner.
(5)Michael M.
I visited this nice little restaurant for dinner last week while I was in McMinnvile, OR. The restaurant is located on 3rd Street in the heart of McMinnville's restaurant row. It is a nice small restaurant with a full service bar. I found the wait staff to be friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered Jambalaya, biscuits, and a Hurricane drink. The waitress told me the Jambalaya dish takes 30 minutes to prepare so I guess they make it from scratch, which is a good thing. I ordered biscuits as a kind of appetizer before my entree. The biscuits were nice, fresh and and warm. When the entree came it was fresh, spicy, hot and well worth the wait. The Jambalaya cost $15 and the biscuits were $6. All in all Gems is a nice little Creole restaurant that I recommend. Who would have guessed that one could find a good Creole restaurant in a small rural Oregon town?
(4)Erin H.
Absolutely delicious! We have been here twice now and both times it hit the spot! The same gentleman served us both times (a year apart) and he was super helpful and as friendly as it gets. Love this place! A must stop when traveling through McMinnville!
(5)Alison M.
I dropped in with my husband for a quick drink and snack while in downtown Mac. The decor is fun and festive, all gold and purple, loved that. The menu looked great, but we were not super hungry. We split the stuffed sweet potatoes with chorizo, they were fantastic. I enjoyed my very first Pimms cup cocktail. We will be back.
(4)jason b.
Any place that hands me their dinner menu, and then hands me an "oyster menu" gets a couple free stars right off the bat. The service in this place was excellent, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We ordered a couple of oyster appetizers that were good and fresh. I had the 1/2 fried chicken and waffles. The portion was plenty! The chicken was fried very dark brown, on the razor's edge of being burnt. The butter and syrup served with the waffles complimented the dish perfectly. My wife had the reuben sandwich which was excellent, and the habanero slaw, which also was very good and perfectly sweat-inducing. We also tried the jalepeno hushpuppies which were delicately fried to absolute perfection. Great selection of Oregon microbrews to flush it all down and we were happy campers! Only reason for not giving that 5th star was the fry job on the chicken. Having never had fried chicken in the south before I hate to knock it if it's supposed to be fried that dark, but it was too dark for my liking. We will certainly return as we work our way through their awesome menu!
(4)Nick M.
Our meal was amazing... Service, not so much. Fried Chicken Biscuit and the Mac & Cheese add bacon and jalapeño... I start drooling every time I think about it. The atmosphere is good, mostly due to the music. If this review was based solely on the food I would give it a 5star, then again, service was a 2... But worth the long.... wait.
(4)Phaleasha R.
My second visit in one month, so worth it! Don't like fried pickles, ate a bunch! Had an amazing burger and frys this place truly is a gem. The favorite, fried chicken! I defiantly won't be getting chicken anywhere else.
(5)Kim P.
I came into town feeling lonely and hungry, and I left with a couple new friends and a lifted spirit. Steven, the manager, is super wonderful. My advice is to skip the dining room and just go straight to the bar to eat. They serve a full menu and there's no wait. Otherwise, the entire place is packed -- as it should be. The entree with 16 large shrimp served in a Creole sauce was the first thing I tried and it's still my favorite. The jambalaya is the best I've ever had and worth the wait. It takes 45 minutes because it's prepared from scratch. Tonight I had the halibut sandwich and fried okra, which was also exceptional. My favorite thing about this restaurant has been the people. All of the staff have been remarkably kind to me. Phil and Jess deserve a notable mention. I look forward to returning as many times as possible before my kids come back from their grandma's place and I have to go back to cooking my own dinners!
(5)Michelle A.
I came here while visiting my friend, phaleasha, and I have to say, I had the most amazing hushpuppies. I don't normally like them, but these were great! And the fried pickles.. best I've ever had... and I luv fried pickles... the chicken and bisquits.. amazing.. if you're a local or just passing through, you must stop by.. the food is amazing.
(5)Jim K.
This place was a great find. The food and service was outstanding. We will be back again. We found ourselves in McMinnville helping our daughter relocate to this area. While trying to decide where to eat I pulled out my phone and began looking at Yelp. This place looked pretty interesting and with the positive reviews we decided to give it a try. Boy I am so glad we did. The interesting decor with all the mirrors and other things made for a relaxing and wonderful evening. The bar was also cool looking and it was apparent that some thought went into the interior design. The service was outstanding and it is hard to find service this good anywhere. When we had questions on drinks or menu items we had everything explained and our server made recommendations. Good selection of beers on tap and a full bar. Don't come here if you are in a hurry. The food is cooked to order and not one of them microwave places. It does take a little bit of time. The taste of the food is very good. Our daughter had the BBQ bacon burger and she was very pleased with it. The other three of us had the traditional creole dishes and were equally pleased. Dinner for four, drinks, and a small plate was a little over $100 including tip. This is a pretty good value for what we got. If we are in the area again we would return in a minute.
(5)Rebecca S.
Fantastic lunch! Service, atmosphere, cocktail and food were all awesome! I had the willapa oysters (fried perfectly), collard greens, pimento cheese appetizer and the sweet tea smash. Unbelievably delicious at a great price. My boy had the fried chicken biscuit and I almost wanted to trade, almost. We will be back! Loved the Cajun music too!
(5)Andrew R.
August 18th: The food was awesome and so was the the waitress that served us. We had such a good time. Cant get any better than that!
(5)Celeste H.
We have eaten way too much but it was totally worth it! The jambalaya was amazing along with the fried pickles and Cajun fries! My husband had a delicious beer on tap and I had a "Ruby Do" drink! It was all fantastic and our waiter was great!!
(5)Patrick C.
I have been to New Orleans a half dozen times, so I am not be an expert on the regional cuisine, but, I have dined at Commanders Palace, and several other very famous restaurants in the crescent city. Never have I had a better prepared jambalaya - Wow - great depth of flavor, spicy, balanced and rich. Other foods I thought were way above average and maybe even inspired were all of the baked oysters varieties as well as the sweet potato fries. The place had a very cool vibe, plays great tunes and maybe best of all, their whisky and bourbon selection is fantastic.
(5)Jo L.
When we arrive we were the only patrons there for at least an hour. Extremely long wait time for food! The oysters were disgusting! I had to season everything with salt and pepper: a good chef knows how to season food! I'm giving them 2 stars only because the cornmeal halibut is fantastic. Otherwise zero! Ok the greens were good so we're the hushpuppies. The blackened halibut was disgusting (I didn't even eat it!) Spice was nasty and it was stone cold! When I told the waiting he didn't even flinch or apologize. It is completely overpriced for what they are serving. As a New Orleans native, I have to say there is nothing Creole about this place! Seriously don't waste your money on this place unless you like bland overpriced and underwhelming food!
(2)Wayne G.
Terrible service closed at 9 when yelp said open until 10 pm. Owners need to properly update yelp.
(1)Bob H.
GEM is really more like cut GLASS. Shiny and pretty, but no value. Was visiting MacMVile as part of a road trip to/from Crater Lake. Spend two days in town and was very motivate to try this place. Was told by a colleague who work in this town that this is a new place and worth a try. Looked good from the outside during a morning walk around town. The posted menu looked very interesting. We arrived later that evening and found the place mostly empty. The woman staffing the bar told us to sit anywhere. We sat at a table near the middle and noticed the table was cleared, but was still dirty. The woman noticed that and came and cleaned it for us. I followed her to the bar to check out what beer they had on tap. Couple of local brews. I ordered one. The waiter showed a bit later with menus. We had previously checked the menu and asked him about some of the items featured. He did not seem to be familiar with the menu. He was unable to explain how some of the menu items were prepared. Many of the items did not resembled what we had when in NOLA or at other Cajun restaurants. He told us the menu was recently changed. I decided on the shrimps and grits as he had told me that was one of the items they kept. Thinking if it stayed on the menu it must be OK. At least the kitchen staff is not experimenting with something new and will have it down pat. My wife ordered the crawfish rice dish...forgot what they called it. The entrees came with choices of sides and we select greens, sweet potato, and okra. The meal was a real disappointment. The crawfish dish had no seasoning. Just bland! This is not Cajun cooking! Justin Wilson is rolling in his grave. My shrimps and grits had only 4 shrimps. I got more than twice the amount at haft the price earlier that day at the Mexican restaurant across the street for a mid-day snack. The plate was filled with onions and pepper...in an oily red colored sauce...not well prepared at all. The sides were the only edible/appetizing part of this meal and they were not that great. My beer was OK. We left most of our meal untouched. The waiter came later and asked if we want a box to take the leftovers. We had to tell him the meal was really bad and we don't normally leave that much on our plates. My wife kicked me in the shin to remind me to be polite about it. This restaurant needs to do a review of its menu, train the wait staff on it, and train the kitchen staff in preparing it. Lots of maturing on all front is needed. Not likely to visit this place again until I see reports from knowledgable Yelpers that there is a turn in performance. We ate pizza and tramisu at a place down the street and got a happy tummy.
(1)Jane V.
On a Tuesday at 4pm..... We liked the atmosphere as soon as we walked in. We went to the back of the restaurant to check it all out. Dan, bartender/Server, was very friendly and helpful. Offered my husband a beer sample and made my drink to my request. We felt the prices of food and drinks were very good for such a restaurant Being so early in the evening, there was one couple sitting close to the window. We also chose to sit by the window. The atmosphere at GEM could of been a nice romantic experience with dim lights and pretty mellow music........ I just have to mention the 30 year old gentleman next to us ,...well....not sure if he was trying to be cool to impress the girl, but he was extremely loud and every fifth word was the 'F' word. I don't think it would of mattered if we would of sat at the back of the restaurant....he was that loud. We are grownups here, but that was not the place. Hope she dumped him !! We shared the mac n cheese and a homemade biscuit. Read great reviews about the mac n cheese so I am not sure if ours was the same recipe. There was the pasta but not sure about the cheese. No creamy cheesy sauce, no sauce what so ever. What we had was pasta with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I should of asked if that was correct. If so, we give the mac n cheese one star. My husband had the Fried Chicken. He doesn't care for white meat because it is usually dry. I will say that half chicken didn't have a chance to run. I almost had to roll my husband out of there because he ate it all. There was quite a bit of the homemade crusty batter on it which my husband didn't eat much of because he wanted to get to the tender and moist meat...so I ate most of it. I thought the spices were excellent and just the right amount of salt. I'm drooling as I write this review. When it came to my Jambalaya. I was so full already I didn't eat much. It was a huge portion and comes out on a hot case iron skillet. My husband, who doesn't care for rice, took it to work the next day and said it was delicious. We will be back. PS if you are in a hurry for dinner it is not a place to go. Everything is homemade and that takes time. It does say 45 minutes on the menu for the Jambalaya.
(4)Richard P.
Fun atmosphere and staff. Jambalaya was fabulous. Red beans and rice with pulled pork was spiced nicely. All presentations were good for the palate and eye. Great bourbon selection. Will revisit
(4)Pleschette F.
I went to Gem after a day of meetings, and the food and service was great. I'm very familiar with creole cuisine, and with the first bite I thought I was in NOLA. :-)
(5)Jan V.
We ordered: - 6 OYSTERS ON A HALF SHELL (nice taste, but very small) - MADAME LA ROUX'S GUMBO (loved it, may be too spicy for some) - CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN (generous, delicious,and deeply fried; took 1/2 home) - FRESH BAKED BUTTERMILK BISCUITS (heavenly) - JALAPENO CHEDDAR HUSHPUPPIES (really good; not super spicy) - MIXED GREEN SALAD (fine, generous) - LOUISIANA MUD PIE (very good) All was quite good (my wife is a Southerner, so she knows what makes good Southern food). Service friendly. Ambiance so-so. Spent $83 + tip, including two glasses of wine and two beer. Go!
(5)Dean S.
I went there for the UFO Festival during the weekend and came across this little slice of heaven. I ordered the Madame La Roux's Gumbo (Chicken, andouille sausage, okra, tomatoes, shrimp or crawfish in a rich sauce served with rice). It was phenomenal. Once I picked up my spoon and took the first bite, I never put my spoon down again. Before I knew it...the sadness of "all gone." What a treat. I would highly recommend this place. The waiter was very friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxing. ;o)
(4)Ken H.
A great dining option in town. The Grand Saleau burger was huge and amazing with a half-pound grilled burger, pulled pork, fried Swiss, grilled onions, bacon, tomato, and a house-made toasted bun. Be very hungry for this one. The side of Mac and cheese with jalapeño was excellent too. I had a shrimp and rice dinner entree previously which left me still hungry after dinner with only four little shrimp on the plate...with lots of starch on the side it was certainly a money maker for them. $$$. I almost didn't go back. The burger today made up for it. The service was great too.
(4)Angelene G.
Authentic as the NW can get! Can't get enough of the greens and the Gin Fizz is soooo good. Haven't had it his tasty since I lived in the South.
(5)Amy Y.
I have celebrated Fat Tuesday many times...I have to say for McMinnville, Gem did it right. So far I haven't jumped on the bar to dance but that is not to say that some one won't. The Hurricanes are stupendous, authentic, sweet and tart. An amazing list of signature cocktails to offer. Food was spicy where it needed to be and subdued where appropriate. I was greeted at the door and although they were "slammed", service was friendly and prompt. ...an exciting new addition to 3rd Street.
(5)Lynne S.
We ate lunch here today (four adults and one adolescent) and we were dazzled by the food, service, and atmosphere. We felt like we were in New Orleans. Our server, Josh, was friendly and laid-back, but if there is a Michelin school for servers, he trained there. What a professional. And the prices weren't bad; we ordered three entrees, four appetizers and a bottle of wine and it was just over a hundred bucks. FYI, the menu on the website seems to be out of date. It doesn't fully represent all the great choices available. Summary: I absolutely recommend this restaurant. What a gem.
(5)Rico S.
"Another great getaway" Wife and I and friends stepped in one night just to see what this place was. Ordered drinks and appetizers. Waitress was funny, service was great, food and drinks were great. Atmosphere was pleasant. Pretty quiet. Smaller place, probably would not be good for large groups. +8 We all said we will come back for dinner.
(5)Kurt K.
Nice service on a busy night. Accommodated a group of 7. Great food. Recommend the jambalaya. It is worth the 45 minute cook time. Had the Gumbo too. Not to spicy but still packed flavor. Not a catfish person but tried a friends portion. Really good! Not gamey like catfish can be. Nice find after wine tasting.
(4)Rachel B.
I was in town for the night in August and found this awesome restaurant by chance! My meal was amazing! Had a lemon drop (would have preferred a good dark draft beer, however), creole prawns, cheezy grits, andouilla sausage and jalapeno cheddar biscuits. Can't wait to visit McMinnville again!
(4)Michael S.
Whiskey Sour and Bayou Fries for the win.
(5)Annie B.
Bummer. Second visit was really disappointing. My pan fried oysters had a ton of cornmeal batter (barely a trace of oysters), no seasoning that I could tell, and fried hard like cement. The chicken that was so great last time was swimming in grease, remolaude sauce was watery and not at all the same recipe as last time. Maybe the regular cook was off that day?
(2)Gary W.
Stumbled into this great little creole restaurant by accident on McMinnville's 3rd Avenue. Ordered the Crayfish Gumbo and it was GREAT! Wife had the Catfish with two sides that was also great. Total bill: $34. Service, very good. Check it out next time you're in the area.
(5)C P.
Delicious! Ordered two entrees (half chicken and catfish) to share between three people. They came with two sides each (Mac and cheese, fried okra, jalapeño hush puppies, and twice baked yam). It was great and the portions were generous. Awesome vibe and the staff was very friendly. Definitely would go back!
(5)Stephanie J.
Loved Gems when it first opened . I used to always go because they had shrimp and grits. I'm from the south and loved that I finally found a place with a good comfort meal. You would also get 2 sides with your meal which were wonderful . They have changed the menu a little and now you have to pay additional for sides . It's now very easy to rack your tab up . I will now only go for a light lunch and split something with a friend . The environment was great . Bartender was friendly and makes a wonderful blackberry mojito. And the decor covered in mirrors is a little twist to Mac that I love .
(3)Ed H.
We stopped in for lunch at this place right on the strip in McMinnvile. Decor is a little unfocused but nice blues music playing in background. We had fried pickles, not the best. They fried pickle spears, usually slices are used. Sauce was interesting. We had oyster shooters and I though it was mediocre. I had the red beans and rice and thought it was ok. Had a clump of white rice in the middle surrounded by beans. I had the sausage and it was alright. One of us had the Mac n cheese with bacon and it was wonderful. Over all a generally decent place but they could work on some of the dishes.
(3)Joe C.
Great location and atmosphere located right in the heart of McMinnville on 3rd Street. It was a bit too spicy for our taste. I had the blackened and battered catfish with a side of macaroni cheese with jalapeños. The fish wasn't quite to my liking, but the mac & cheese was wonderful. I would definitely give the bar five stars for their beer selection and great mixed drinks. Gem is a nice addition to 3rd Street however, Cajun food is just not my cuppa tea.
(3)Joe M.
Atmosphere was cool. They need more mirrors btw. Can't give that great of review since we only had apps. Fried okra was pretty bad. Didn't eat much of the grits. They took it off the bill which was cool. Will go back and try something different.
(3)Ricky N.
Wow wow can't believe this place stop by to have some good Cajun food being that I'm from the south wrong idea worst food I've ever had in my life to start the cat fish batter was bland and thick second of all the blackened catfish was terrible I've seen burnt butter befor but oh my god this was charcoal I didn't know you could turn butter into charcoal third of all the fried okra was god awful it was slimy I've had much better food off a taco truck in the middle of downtown St Louis with this being said I hope you guys really take my advice never go to this place if you do go there you can never say I didn't tell you.....
(1)Jeff Y.
Wonderful new space on Historic Third Street. Decor and atmosphere are great. Staff and service were wonderful. The food quality is good, however boasting a creole based menu, I expected more flavor out of the food. Great cocktail menu and solid beer selection.
(4)Jim G.
I've spent some time in NOLA. The gumbo was rich and complex - a spicy version I had never had before. I would order this again. And the etouffee was yummy - a little spicy and salty but the flavor was excellent!
(4)John S.
Fantastic Jambalaya. Worth every minute of the wait. Great drinks, staff, space.
(5)Mike B.
Wow. What a great place. Food us fresh and flavorful. Lots of great menu choices. They are new and need to learn that a big bowl of steaming fresh crawfish needs to come with a bib and be followed by a warm moist towel. Highly recommend.
(4)Jennifer N.
GEM is a sweet addition to McMinnville's dining scene. Yummy, inventive cocktails, a fun atmosphere, and stellar service make this a great place for a night out. I have a gluten intolerance, and while there aren't a lot of gluten-free items, my server and the chef were very accommodating. I highly recommend the stuffed yam skins and braised greens! My husband loved the catfish.
(5)Denise M.
What an incredible vibe the minute you walk in! We were visiting from California and found this fun restaurant on the last night. Darn, we would have enjoyed another night. By far the best restaurant we tried in McMinnville. Sat at the bar being attended to by the friendliest staff. Yummy, CRISPY, fried chicken with mac and cheese. My only suggestion is that it could have been better seasoned, but the crunch couldn't have gotten better. Listened to a very enthusiastic hockey honky tonk band and enjoyed our last night.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I was very excited to see a new restaurant go in, sense my husband and I are always looking to try new places and I have to say I was extremely disappointed! They were pretty busy when we went in and they set us back in a corner, which was fine (we were just happy to be seated) but then we waited, and waited, and waited until we had to flag down a waitress. She took our order and then we waited more. When our food finally got out to us it was burnt and really nothing to write home about.... However the prices would suggest otherwise.... then when we decided to call it quits we had to again flag down a waitress and wait for our check. But let me tell you, they were quick to take my money! We will not be going there again.
(1)Laura S.
Don't usually take time to write a review but in hopes of the owners accepting criticism and making a few adjustments to keep good food in McMinnville, I'm jumping in the pool. We dined recently with 6 people for the first time at Gem. We all were looking for an atmosphere that fits 'Cajun' , rather than basically blank décor and a buffet of mirrors, that adorned the inside. There was just no ' feel ', or Cajun comfort to it, and if I didn't read about this first, I would never have known it was Cajun themed. I thought I was in a bedroom, instead of a restaurant. Wasn't busy, 1 table, but we had to wait for a table to be cleaned for us to sit. Our orders came in total disarray. Entrees before appetizers, and 2 at a time, Absolutely no rhyme or reason to the delivery. And though the baked oysters were good ( appetizers ) they came well after everything else was served ,making them feel like dessert more than an appetizer. Received our other oysters in between everything else and in no particular order. Seems to me, the baked oysters should have been started 1st thing and maybe they would have made it for the starting lineup. I had Gumbo. Upon delivery, by itself, a skin had started on the top, indicating that it had been served in the kitchen, and sat there. Po'Boy with fried mozzarella sticks in the sandwich ? Everyone said their food was ok, lacking some flavor.Liked their menu selections, but we should have specified delivering appetizers first, before the entrees, God help the server if another table came in. Great cocktail menu. That was very 'out of the box' and a hit with the table. I'm sure the restaurant will get the summer diners, but my suspicion is when the slow season begins, locals will be sparse. In McMinnville, the options are so small for dining, and we all want this new selection of dining to succeed, but we're going to wait to return, until we hear some more positive feedback. Jim McMinnville
(3)Derek M.
My wife and I just had the most incredible experience at Gem! The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. The food was the best we have had in the McMinnville area; comfort food, expertly crafted! The gumbo has such an intense depth of flavor that it leaves you panting for more- even the chicken wings topped Buffalo Wild Wings if you like that sort of thing... Top recommendations and praises!
(5)Alison M.
I dropped in with my husband for a quick drink and snack while in downtown Mac. The decor is fun and festive, all gold and purple, loved that. The menu looked great, but we were not super hungry. We split the stuffed sweet potatoes with chorizo, they were fantastic. I enjoyed my very first Pimms cup cocktail. We will be back.
(4)Dean S.
I went there for the UFO Festival during the weekend and came across this little slice of heaven. I ordered the Madame La Roux's Gumbo (Chicken, andouille sausage, okra, tomatoes, shrimp or crawfish in a rich sauce served with rice). It was phenomenal. Once I picked up my spoon and took the first bite, I never put my spoon down again. Before I knew it...the sadness of "all gone." What a treat. I would highly recommend this place. The waiter was very friendly and the atmosphere was very relaxing. ;o)
(4)Ken H.
A great dining option in town. The Grand Saleau burger was huge and amazing with a half-pound grilled burger, pulled pork, fried Swiss, grilled onions, bacon, tomato, and a house-made toasted bun. Be very hungry for this one. The side of Mac and cheese with jalapeño was excellent too. I had a shrimp and rice dinner entree previously which left me still hungry after dinner with only four little shrimp on the plate...with lots of starch on the side it was certainly a money maker for them. $$$. I almost didn't go back. The burger today made up for it. The service was great too.
(4)Angelene G.
Authentic as the NW can get! Can't get enough of the greens and the Gin Fizz is soooo good. Haven't had it his tasty since I lived in the South.
(5)Amy Y.
I have celebrated Fat Tuesday many times...I have to say for McMinnville, Gem did it right. So far I haven't jumped on the bar to dance but that is not to say that some one won't. The Hurricanes are stupendous, authentic, sweet and tart. An amazing list of signature cocktails to offer. Food was spicy where it needed to be and subdued where appropriate. I was greeted at the door and although they were "slammed", service was friendly and prompt. ...an exciting new addition to 3rd Street.
(5)Lynne S.
We ate lunch here today (four adults and one adolescent) and we were dazzled by the food, service, and atmosphere. We felt like we were in New Orleans. Our server, Josh, was friendly and laid-back, but if there is a Michelin school for servers, he trained there. What a professional. And the prices weren't bad; we ordered three entrees, four appetizers and a bottle of wine and it was just over a hundred bucks. FYI, the menu on the website seems to be out of date. It doesn't fully represent all the great choices available. Summary: I absolutely recommend this restaurant. What a gem.
(5)Rico S.
"Another great getaway" Wife and I and friends stepped in one night just to see what this place was. Ordered drinks and appetizers. Waitress was funny, service was great, food and drinks were great. Atmosphere was pleasant. Pretty quiet. Smaller place, probably would not be good for large groups. +8 We all said we will come back for dinner.
(5)Denise D.
Delicious Sunday brunch at Gem Creole Saloon. Service was friendly and efficient and the food was yummy and plentiful. My daughter had the sweet potato and cream cheese crepes and I had eggs benedict with tomatoes and spinach instead of meat. Mine came with fried potatoes and a fluffy biscuit. We also had mimosas. All the food was fresh and expertly prepared. I don't know for sure but everything had that farm-to-table freshness that is so common in the McMinnville and surrounding farm/wine country region. A nice bonus was the strong wifi connection. We had attempted to have dinner there the night before and made reservations but ended up a bit lost and were 30 minutes late. When we pulled up the place was very crowded and we decided to eat elsewhere. I will definitely return for dinner and the chance to have some hush puppies and bread pudding.
(5)Darren C.
We were passing thru and found this hidden GEM. Sorry, had to say it. Anyway, the food was amazing (and come hungry, the servings are big). My daughter had the fried chicken and waffles. I stole a piece. It was the BEST fried chicken we've ever had. My chicken and gravy was perfect and my wife's gumbo was an excellent spice level. The fresh brewed iced tea and lemonade were very refreshing. A must visit and come hungry.
(5)jason b.
Any place that hands me their dinner menu, and then hands me an "oyster menu" gets a couple free stars right off the bat. The service in this place was excellent, friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. We ordered a couple of oyster appetizers that were good and fresh. I had the 1/2 fried chicken and waffles. The portion was plenty! The chicken was fried very dark brown, on the razor's edge of being burnt. The butter and syrup served with the waffles complimented the dish perfectly. My wife had the reuben sandwich which was excellent, and the habanero slaw, which also was very good and perfectly sweat-inducing. We also tried the jalepeno hushpuppies which were delicately fried to absolute perfection. Great selection of Oregon microbrews to flush it all down and we were happy campers! Only reason for not giving that 5th star was the fry job on the chicken. Having never had fried chicken in the south before I hate to knock it if it's supposed to be fried that dark, but it was too dark for my liking. We will certainly return as we work our way through their awesome menu!
(4)Nick M.
Our meal was amazing... Service, not so much. Fried Chicken Biscuit and the Mac & Cheese add bacon and jalapeño... I start drooling every time I think about it. The atmosphere is good, mostly due to the music. If this review was based solely on the food I would give it a 5star, then again, service was a 2... But worth the long.... wait.
(4)Phaleasha R.
My second visit in one month, so worth it! Don't like fried pickles, ate a bunch! Had an amazing burger and frys this place truly is a gem. The favorite, fried chicken! I defiantly won't be getting chicken anywhere else.
(5)Kim P.
I came into town feeling lonely and hungry, and I left with a couple new friends and a lifted spirit. Steven, the manager, is super wonderful. My advice is to skip the dining room and just go straight to the bar to eat. They serve a full menu and there's no wait. Otherwise, the entire place is packed -- as it should be. The entree with 16 large shrimp served in a Creole sauce was the first thing I tried and it's still my favorite. The jambalaya is the best I've ever had and worth the wait. It takes 45 minutes because it's prepared from scratch. Tonight I had the halibut sandwich and fried okra, which was also exceptional. My favorite thing about this restaurant has been the people. All of the staff have been remarkably kind to me. Phil and Jess deserve a notable mention. I look forward to returning as many times as possible before my kids come back from their grandma's place and I have to go back to cooking my own dinners!
(5)Michelle A.
I came here while visiting my friend, phaleasha, and I have to say, I had the most amazing hushpuppies. I don't normally like them, but these were great! And the fried pickles.. best I've ever had... and I luv fried pickles... the chicken and bisquits.. amazing.. if you're a local or just passing through, you must stop by.. the food is amazing.
(5)Jim K.
This place was a great find. The food and service was outstanding. We will be back again. We found ourselves in McMinnville helping our daughter relocate to this area. While trying to decide where to eat I pulled out my phone and began looking at Yelp. This place looked pretty interesting and with the positive reviews we decided to give it a try. Boy I am so glad we did. The interesting decor with all the mirrors and other things made for a relaxing and wonderful evening. The bar was also cool looking and it was apparent that some thought went into the interior design. The service was outstanding and it is hard to find service this good anywhere. When we had questions on drinks or menu items we had everything explained and our server made recommendations. Good selection of beers on tap and a full bar. Don't come here if you are in a hurry. The food is cooked to order and not one of them microwave places. It does take a little bit of time. The taste of the food is very good. Our daughter had the BBQ bacon burger and she was very pleased with it. The other three of us had the traditional creole dishes and were equally pleased. Dinner for four, drinks, and a small plate was a little over $100 including tip. This is a pretty good value for what we got. If we are in the area again we would return in a minute.
(5)Rebecca S.
Fantastic lunch! Service, atmosphere, cocktail and food were all awesome! I had the willapa oysters (fried perfectly), collard greens, pimento cheese appetizer and the sweet tea smash. Unbelievably delicious at a great price. My boy had the fried chicken biscuit and I almost wanted to trade, almost. We will be back! Loved the Cajun music too!
(5)Andrew R.
August 18th: The food was awesome and so was the the waitress that served us. We had such a good time. Cant get any better than that!
(5)Celeste H.
We have eaten way too much but it was totally worth it! The jambalaya was amazing along with the fried pickles and Cajun fries! My husband had a delicious beer on tap and I had a "Ruby Do" drink! It was all fantastic and our waiter was great!!
(5)Patrick C.
I have been to New Orleans a half dozen times, so I am not be an expert on the regional cuisine, but, I have dined at Commanders Palace, and several other very famous restaurants in the crescent city. Never have I had a better prepared jambalaya - Wow - great depth of flavor, spicy, balanced and rich. Other foods I thought were way above average and maybe even inspired were all of the baked oysters varieties as well as the sweet potato fries. The place had a very cool vibe, plays great tunes and maybe best of all, their whisky and bourbon selection is fantastic.
(5)Jo L.
When we arrive we were the only patrons there for at least an hour. Extremely long wait time for food! The oysters were disgusting! I had to season everything with salt and pepper: a good chef knows how to season food! I'm giving them 2 stars only because the cornmeal halibut is fantastic. Otherwise zero! Ok the greens were good so we're the hushpuppies. The blackened halibut was disgusting (I didn't even eat it!) Spice was nasty and it was stone cold! When I told the waiting he didn't even flinch or apologize. It is completely overpriced for what they are serving. As a New Orleans native, I have to say there is nothing Creole about this place! Seriously don't waste your money on this place unless you like bland overpriced and underwhelming food!
(2)Wayne G.
Terrible service closed at 9 when yelp said open until 10 pm. Owners need to properly update yelp.
(1)Bob H.
GEM is really more like cut GLASS. Shiny and pretty, but no value. Was visiting MacMVile as part of a road trip to/from Crater Lake. Spend two days in town and was very motivate to try this place. Was told by a colleague who work in this town that this is a new place and worth a try. Looked good from the outside during a morning walk around town. The posted menu looked very interesting. We arrived later that evening and found the place mostly empty. The woman staffing the bar told us to sit anywhere. We sat at a table near the middle and noticed the table was cleared, but was still dirty. The woman noticed that and came and cleaned it for us. I followed her to the bar to check out what beer they had on tap. Couple of local brews. I ordered one. The waiter showed a bit later with menus. We had previously checked the menu and asked him about some of the items featured. He did not seem to be familiar with the menu. He was unable to explain how some of the menu items were prepared. Many of the items did not resembled what we had when in NOLA or at other Cajun restaurants. He told us the menu was recently changed. I decided on the shrimps and grits as he had told me that was one of the items they kept. Thinking if it stayed on the menu it must be OK. At least the kitchen staff is not experimenting with something new and will have it down pat. My wife ordered the crawfish rice dish...forgot what they called it. The entrees came with choices of sides and we select greens, sweet potato, and okra. The meal was a real disappointment. The crawfish dish had no seasoning. Just bland! This is not Cajun cooking! Justin Wilson is rolling in his grave. My shrimps and grits had only 4 shrimps. I got more than twice the amount at haft the price earlier that day at the Mexican restaurant across the street for a mid-day snack. The plate was filled with onions and pepper...in an oily red colored sauce...not well prepared at all. The sides were the only edible/appetizing part of this meal and they were not that great. My beer was OK. We left most of our meal untouched. The waiter came later and asked if we want a box to take the leftovers. We had to tell him the meal was really bad and we don't normally leave that much on our plates. My wife kicked me in the shin to remind me to be polite about it. This restaurant needs to do a review of its menu, train the wait staff on it, and train the kitchen staff in preparing it. Lots of maturing on all front is needed. Not likely to visit this place again until I see reports from knowledgable Yelpers that there is a turn in performance. We ate pizza and tramisu at a place down the street and got a happy tummy.
(1)Jane V.
On a Tuesday at 4pm..... We liked the atmosphere as soon as we walked in. We went to the back of the restaurant to check it all out. Dan, bartender/Server, was very friendly and helpful. Offered my husband a beer sample and made my drink to my request. We felt the prices of food and drinks were very good for such a restaurant Being so early in the evening, there was one couple sitting close to the window. We also chose to sit by the window. The atmosphere at GEM could of been a nice romantic experience with dim lights and pretty mellow music........ I just have to mention the 30 year old gentleman next to us ,...well....not sure if he was trying to be cool to impress the girl, but he was extremely loud and every fifth word was the 'F' word. I don't think it would of mattered if we would of sat at the back of the restaurant....he was that loud. We are grownups here, but that was not the place. Hope she dumped him !! We shared the mac n cheese and a homemade biscuit. Read great reviews about the mac n cheese so I am not sure if ours was the same recipe. There was the pasta but not sure about the cheese. No creamy cheesy sauce, no sauce what so ever. What we had was pasta with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I should of asked if that was correct. If so, we give the mac n cheese one star. My husband had the Fried Chicken. He doesn't care for white meat because it is usually dry. I will say that half chicken didn't have a chance to run. I almost had to roll my husband out of there because he ate it all. There was quite a bit of the homemade crusty batter on it which my husband didn't eat much of because he wanted to get to the tender and moist meat...so I ate most of it. I thought the spices were excellent and just the right amount of salt. I'm drooling as I write this review. When it came to my Jambalaya. I was so full already I didn't eat much. It was a huge portion and comes out on a hot case iron skillet. My husband, who doesn't care for rice, took it to work the next day and said it was delicious. We will be back. PS if you are in a hurry for dinner it is not a place to go. Everything is homemade and that takes time. It does say 45 minutes on the menu for the Jambalaya.
(4)Richard P.
Fun atmosphere and staff. Jambalaya was fabulous. Red beans and rice with pulled pork was spiced nicely. All presentations were good for the palate and eye. Great bourbon selection. Will revisit
(4)Pleschette F.
I went to Gem after a day of meetings, and the food and service was great. I'm very familiar with creole cuisine, and with the first bite I thought I was in NOLA. :-)
(5)Jan V.
We ordered: - 6 OYSTERS ON A HALF SHELL (nice taste, but very small) - MADAME LA ROUX'S GUMBO (loved it, may be too spicy for some) - CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN (generous, delicious,and deeply fried; took 1/2 home) - FRESH BAKED BUTTERMILK BISCUITS (heavenly) - JALAPENO CHEDDAR HUSHPUPPIES (really good; not super spicy) - MIXED GREEN SALAD (fine, generous) - LOUISIANA MUD PIE (very good) All was quite good (my wife is a Southerner, so she knows what makes good Southern food). Service friendly. Ambiance so-so. Spent $83 + tip, including two glasses of wine and two beer. Go!
(5)Michael S.
Whiskey Sour and Bayou Fries for the win.
(5)Tom W.
Stopped in there while strolling the avenue on a recent overnight trip from Portland, looking for a lunch place. Love the decor, purple and gold, and the music (blues on Sirius, but still..). I had the voodoo fries, quite good, while my friend had cole slaw and braised greens, both also very good. Place was slow, so service was excellent. Would definitely like to go back for dinner and further menu explorations!
(4)Kristy N.
I've not eaten at the actual restaurant but the Gem was the buffet dinner for the Key Club restaurant at the Timbers game last Friday. Being born and raised in the south, I'm always looking for good southern food and I am usually disappointed in what I find here. But this food was spot on perfect! The collard greens were cooked perfectly and had such good flavor. The black eyed peas were some of the best I had even had. The catfish was lightly breaded and not greasy at all. The brisket was flavorful, tender, and moist. And the andouille & chorizo biscuits and gravy...what can I say? It takes some good southern food to impress this southern girl but that gravy was incredible. I could have drank a bowl of it :-) During the buffet, I also met a man I'm guessing was the owner or manager. He was very gracious and super friendly. I don't go to McMinnville much but the food at this place really could make me drive down just for dinner.
(5)Michael M.
I visited this nice little restaurant for dinner last week while I was in McMinnvile, OR. The restaurant is located on 3rd Street in the heart of McMinnville's restaurant row. It is a nice small restaurant with a full service bar. I found the wait staff to be friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I ordered Jambalaya, biscuits, and a Hurricane drink. The waitress told me the Jambalaya dish takes 30 minutes to prepare so I guess they make it from scratch, which is a good thing. I ordered biscuits as a kind of appetizer before my entree. The biscuits were nice, fresh and and warm. When the entree came it was fresh, spicy, hot and well worth the wait. The Jambalaya cost $15 and the biscuits were $6. All in all Gems is a nice little Creole restaurant that I recommend. Who would have guessed that one could find a good Creole restaurant in a small rural Oregon town?
(4)Erin H.
Absolutely delicious! We have been here twice now and both times it hit the spot! The same gentleman served us both times (a year apart) and he was super helpful and as friendly as it gets. Love this place! A must stop when traveling through McMinnville!
(5)Kurt K.
Nice service on a busy night. Accommodated a group of 7. Great food. Recommend the jambalaya. It is worth the 45 minute cook time. Had the Gumbo too. Not to spicy but still packed flavor. Not a catfish person but tried a friends portion. Really good! Not gamey like catfish can be. Nice find after wine tasting.
(4)Rachel B.
I was in town for the night in August and found this awesome restaurant by chance! My meal was amazing! Had a lemon drop (would have preferred a good dark draft beer, however), creole prawns, cheezy grits, andouilla sausage and jalapeno cheddar biscuits. Can't wait to visit McMinnville again!
(4)Annie B.
Bummer. Second visit was really disappointing. My pan fried oysters had a ton of cornmeal batter (barely a trace of oysters), no seasoning that I could tell, and fried hard like cement. The chicken that was so great last time was swimming in grease, remolaude sauce was watery and not at all the same recipe as last time. Maybe the regular cook was off that day?
(2)Gary W.
Stumbled into this great little creole restaurant by accident on McMinnville's 3rd Avenue. Ordered the Crayfish Gumbo and it was GREAT! Wife had the Catfish with two sides that was also great. Total bill: $34. Service, very good. Check it out next time you're in the area.
(5)C P.
Delicious! Ordered two entrees (half chicken and catfish) to share between three people. They came with two sides each (Mac and cheese, fried okra, jalapeño hush puppies, and twice baked yam). It was great and the portions were generous. Awesome vibe and the staff was very friendly. Definitely would go back!
(5)Stephanie J.
Loved Gems when it first opened . I used to always go because they had shrimp and grits. I'm from the south and loved that I finally found a place with a good comfort meal. You would also get 2 sides with your meal which were wonderful . They have changed the menu a little and now you have to pay additional for sides . It's now very easy to rack your tab up . I will now only go for a light lunch and split something with a friend . The environment was great . Bartender was friendly and makes a wonderful blackberry mojito. And the decor covered in mirrors is a little twist to Mac that I love .
(3)Ed H.
We stopped in for lunch at this place right on the strip in McMinnvile. Decor is a little unfocused but nice blues music playing in background. We had fried pickles, not the best. They fried pickle spears, usually slices are used. Sauce was interesting. We had oyster shooters and I though it was mediocre. I had the red beans and rice and thought it was ok. Had a clump of white rice in the middle surrounded by beans. I had the sausage and it was alright. One of us had the Mac n cheese with bacon and it was wonderful. Over all a generally decent place but they could work on some of the dishes.
(3)Joe C.
Great location and atmosphere located right in the heart of McMinnville on 3rd Street. It was a bit too spicy for our taste. I had the blackened and battered catfish with a side of macaroni cheese with jalapeños. The fish wasn't quite to my liking, but the mac & cheese was wonderful. I would definitely give the bar five stars for their beer selection and great mixed drinks. Gem is a nice addition to 3rd Street however, Cajun food is just not my cuppa tea.
(3)Joe M.
Atmosphere was cool. They need more mirrors btw. Can't give that great of review since we only had apps. Fried okra was pretty bad. Didn't eat much of the grits. They took it off the bill which was cool. Will go back and try something different.
(3)Ricky N.
Wow wow can't believe this place stop by to have some good Cajun food being that I'm from the south wrong idea worst food I've ever had in my life to start the cat fish batter was bland and thick second of all the blackened catfish was terrible I've seen burnt butter befor but oh my god this was charcoal I didn't know you could turn butter into charcoal third of all the fried okra was god awful it was slimy I've had much better food off a taco truck in the middle of downtown St Louis with this being said I hope you guys really take my advice never go to this place if you do go there you can never say I didn't tell you.....
(1)Jeff Y.
Wonderful new space on Historic Third Street. Decor and atmosphere are great. Staff and service were wonderful. The food quality is good, however boasting a creole based menu, I expected more flavor out of the food. Great cocktail menu and solid beer selection.
(4)Jim G.
I've spent some time in NOLA. The gumbo was rich and complex - a spicy version I had never had before. I would order this again. And the etouffee was yummy - a little spicy and salty but the flavor was excellent!
(4)John S.
Fantastic Jambalaya. Worth every minute of the wait. Great drinks, staff, space.
(5)Mike B.
Wow. What a great place. Food us fresh and flavorful. Lots of great menu choices. They are new and need to learn that a big bowl of steaming fresh crawfish needs to come with a bib and be followed by a warm moist towel. Highly recommend.
(4)Jennifer N.
GEM is a sweet addition to McMinnville's dining scene. Yummy, inventive cocktails, a fun atmosphere, and stellar service make this a great place for a night out. I have a gluten intolerance, and while there aren't a lot of gluten-free items, my server and the chef were very accommodating. I highly recommend the stuffed yam skins and braised greens! My husband loved the catfish.
(5)Denise M.
What an incredible vibe the minute you walk in! We were visiting from California and found this fun restaurant on the last night. Darn, we would have enjoyed another night. By far the best restaurant we tried in McMinnville. Sat at the bar being attended to by the friendliest staff. Yummy, CRISPY, fried chicken with mac and cheese. My only suggestion is that it could have been better seasoned, but the crunch couldn't have gotten better. Listened to a very enthusiastic hockey honky tonk band and enjoyed our last night.
(4)Elizabeth S.
I was very excited to see a new restaurant go in, sense my husband and I are always looking to try new places and I have to say I was extremely disappointed! They were pretty busy when we went in and they set us back in a corner, which was fine (we were just happy to be seated) but then we waited, and waited, and waited until we had to flag down a waitress. She took our order and then we waited more. When our food finally got out to us it was burnt and really nothing to write home about.... However the prices would suggest otherwise.... then when we decided to call it quits we had to again flag down a waitress and wait for our check. But let me tell you, they were quick to take my money! We will not be going there again.
(1)Laura S.
Don't usually take time to write a review but in hopes of the owners accepting criticism and making a few adjustments to keep good food in McMinnville, I'm jumping in the pool. We dined recently with 6 people for the first time at Gem. We all were looking for an atmosphere that fits 'Cajun' , rather than basically blank décor and a buffet of mirrors, that adorned the inside. There was just no ' feel ', or Cajun comfort to it, and if I didn't read about this first, I would never have known it was Cajun themed. I thought I was in a bedroom, instead of a restaurant. Wasn't busy, 1 table, but we had to wait for a table to be cleaned for us to sit. Our orders came in total disarray. Entrees before appetizers, and 2 at a time, Absolutely no rhyme or reason to the delivery. And though the baked oysters were good ( appetizers ) they came well after everything else was served ,making them feel like dessert more than an appetizer. Received our other oysters in between everything else and in no particular order. Seems to me, the baked oysters should have been started 1st thing and maybe they would have made it for the starting lineup. I had Gumbo. Upon delivery, by itself, a skin had started on the top, indicating that it had been served in the kitchen, and sat there. Po'Boy with fried mozzarella sticks in the sandwich ? Everyone said their food was ok, lacking some flavor.Liked their menu selections, but we should have specified delivering appetizers first, before the entrees, God help the server if another table came in. Great cocktail menu. That was very 'out of the box' and a hit with the table. I'm sure the restaurant will get the summer diners, but my suspicion is when the slow season begins, locals will be sparse. In McMinnville, the options are so small for dining, and we all want this new selection of dining to succeed, but we're going to wait to return, until we hear some more positive feedback. Jim McMinnville
(3)Derek M.
My wife and I just had the most incredible experience at Gem! The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming. The food was the best we have had in the McMinnville area; comfort food, expertly crafted! The gumbo has such an intense depth of flavor that it leaves you panting for more- even the chicken wings topped Buffalo Wild Wings if you like that sort of thing... Top recommendations and praises!
(5)Mick W.
As a Mac resident, I was very excited to see this place roll into town. My wife and I both have spent time in NOLA and love the food. Po' Boys? Oysters? Yes! No... This is some of the worst food in town. No matter what your ethnic inclination is. We ordered half a dozen oysters on the half shell. Calm Coves from Washington. At $18 for a half dozen, you'd expect to be wowed. Not so. Half of them had shell in them. Most had the brine spilled out, and none had the hinge released on the bottom shell. Ok. So let's move on to the mains. I opted for a shrimp and oyster po boy with fried okra. Wife did the beans and rice with a side of kale. The kale was incredibly salty. The beans and rice were fine, but nothing you couldn't make at home. The po boy had three fried oysters the size of a quarter on them. And two blackened over cooked prawns. On a six inch long bun. There was an under seasoned fennel/cabbage slaw and an inexplicably weird salsa made of fruit. Mango? Not sure. The prawns were like eating over cooked pencil erasers. I ended up taking an oyster out of the bun to see if I could tell I was eating an oyster. Nope. Gem. Fix it. You could shine here. I would eat here every week if you could really pull off the NOLA food. The interior has a great vibe. Inviting, cool, makes you want to be there. Until they bring the food. Highly recommend the Arnold Palmer.
(1)Kim S.
Popped in during a road trip to McMinnville for lunch with my husband. Yum! We both had good po boys with really terrific sides. Very friendly staff, good service, really good ambience. Wish we lived closer so we could visit more often!
(5)