Editor Pick
Copper Creek Inn
- January 25, 2006
- Rated 4 of 5 by
callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
This comfortable, friendly, and excellent restaurant is nearly the perfect mountain inn. Located in the woods of Highway 706, 2 miles west of the Nisqually Entrance to Mt. Rainier, the structure dates from the 1920s. The all-wood interior and cedar-lined walls still retain that classic feel. There are 12 tables or so, and even during the late hours at which we dined (after 9pm on both nights), we weren't alone.
We stumbled onto this place after arriving late at Nisqually. The first place that was recommended had closed, and we walked in here just because they were the only ones still serving. The menu was varied, hearty, and interesting: chowders, stews, chili, grilled trout, steaks, chicken, and a variety of interesting salads. The servers were friendly and engaging and really seem to enjoy taking care of us and our children, and everyone wanted to go back for a second night.
I had the hearty meat and three bean chili, along with the Copper Creek Cobb Salad, the first night. Both were great and a good way to finish a day of hiking and traveling. The next evening, I had the seafood chowder, which comes with a great loaf of homemade bread. Washington wines and beers are featured (my wife decided to start a beer bottle collection while looking at the assortment here), but there's also a nice selection of others. I'm glad I was talked into ordering the blackberry pie a la mode (and so is my wife, who swore she didn't want dessert).
In addition, there's a neat gift shop with items you might not find other places. It has the feel of a great place to come for breakfast, too, but we weren't able to work that in. I'd certainly eat here again any time of day.
From journal Washington: Big Beaches, Big Mountains, Big Forest