Cabbage Rose Restaurant & Gift Shop

Well, I finally got here!  I'm a night person so I sleep late and they close at 2:30pm (except I thought it was 2pm which is worse) so I just couldn't seem to get here before they closed.  I heard they were open later (along with most of the local businesses) on Thursdays but when I got here at 2:30pm one Thursday they were still closed, though I could smell the good smells drifting out of it.  Then last week I called about three different days but got only ringing and no answer so I didn't rush down there (no motels in Pendleton so I'm staying in Anderson, about 8 mi north).  Finally today I thought I'd give them one last try and someone answered, explained they are only open late in the summer and were on vacation last week and forgot to turn their answering machine on.  That explained it!

I was impressed by their menu--at least when I saw page 2,  page 1 didn't have as big a selection and at first I thought that was all they offered.  Sadly, they were out of their signature soup, the "Chicken Velvet" but I got a combo of soup (chili--good), fresh fruit (top quality) and small croissant with your choice of either chicken, tuna, or ham salad.  Tough choice but I got the ham salad since I can't get that in San Diego, and it was VERY good. The coffee was good too but I only had time for one cup and it was a tea-cup (they are considered a tea house).  Too bad I'm leaving town tomorrow as I would love to go back and try more things.  They are located in an old Victorian house that is decorated beautifully--in Victorian style with lots of roses on the wallpaper, etc!  No  surprise, considering their name--just off the main street . They even have taple out on the veranda and the weather was nice enough today I'll bet there were people sitting outside earlier.   It is a little more expensive than the diners but I think it was worth it for what I got.  Great place to take your mother or best friend--or both!

Oh yeah, I got a piece of "red velvet" cake to go and it was divine!  One of the best pieces of cake I've ever eaten!  And a huge size, too.  I ate half last night and the rest today.