A Floating Seafood Meal on the Columbia River

A meal here begins with a long, steep ramp down toward the Columbia River. At the bottom, the restaurant opens onto a floating deck, where tables sit directly over the water and the floor gives a gentle bob now and then beneath your feet.

It is an unusual place to settle in with fish tacos or a cocktail. Boats pass by, birds work the shoreline and waves move under the deck, while an occasional airplane crosses overhead from the nearby airport. The activity changes through the meal without anyone needing to leave the table.

The mood stays casual and unhurried. Music is kept at a level that allows for conversation, and the river supplies plenty to look at between bites.

Most of the seating is outdoors, which is very much the point. Covered tables provide shade while keeping diners in the open air, and other tables sit beneath umbrellas for people who want a little more direct sun.

Warm, sunny afternoons suit the setting particularly well. This can be an easy lunch stop, but it also works for a late-afternoon round of appetizers and drinks when the river traffic seems to become its own little show.

Golden hour gives the deck another personality. As the light softens, the river and sky take over the backdrop, making a relaxed dinner feel more festive without changing the restaurant's low-key character.

The mild rocking sensation is not a decorative flourish; this is a floating structure on the Columbia. Some diners barely notice it after a few minutes, while others will be aware of the water's movement throughout the meal.

That motion is a memorable detail for people who enjoy being close to the river rather than simply looking at it from shore. It may be less appealing for anyone especially sensitive to motion or seasickness.

The approach is also worth knowing about before making plans. The ramp down is long and steep, and the return to the parking area is uphill, which can be difficult for visitors using a wheelchair or cane, or dealing with knee and mobility concerns.

The menu is built around casual seafood in several forms: fried fish, soft tacos, sandwiches, chowder and plates meant to be eaten without much ceremony. Halibut is one of the more versatile choices, appearing in crispy fish tacos, fish and chips and a halibut po' boy finished with house sauce.

The fried seafood is known for a crisp coating and generous portions. Fish and chips make an especially straightforward river-deck order, and clam chowder gives the meal a warmer, more substantial side of the seafood lineup.

Tacos make it easy to sample different directions. Along with halibut, there are tuna tacos with salsa, teriyaki salmon soft tacos and honey butter shrimp tacos.

The honey butter shrimp tacos have a particularly full set of textures and flavors: fried shrimp, avocado-lime dressing, chopped tomatoes and coleslaw. The result runs crunchy and creamy, with sweetness from the honey butter and a fresh lime edge.

They are a good example of the menu's broad appeal. The food stays recognizable and casual, but a sauce or topping gives it a little more to talk about than a standard fried-shrimp basket.

For a shareable start, steamer clams are available by the order, including a sizable two-pound serving. A bay shrimp cocktail can also make a substantial appetizer rather than a tiny pre-meal formality.

Coconut shrimp is another popular pick, sometimes paired with fries. Fried cheese offers a non-seafood snack for the table, useful when one person is still deciding between tacos and a burger.

The fries deserve their own mention. They arrive as the companion to several dishes and have been noted for a subtle lime note, a small detail that suits a menu full of seafood and bright sauces.

A group does not have to be all-in on seafood. Burgers, grilled cheese, a Philly cheesesteak and a Philly cheese dip give the menu plenty of familiar ground for lunch or dinner.

The Deck burger takes a French dip-burger approach, with toppings that can include pineapple. It is the sort of playful, filling order that makes sense beside a basket of fries and a cold drink.

Peruvian hot sauce comes in three flavors, giving heat-seekers something to explore at the table. With individually ordered tacos, sandwiches and baskets, it is easy for a mixed group to land on different meals without forcing a compromise.

Specialty cocktails are a central part of the deck's rhythm, alongside other drink choices. You can come for a complete dinner, but the setting also readily accommodates a lighter stop for drinks, fries, shrimp or a round of shared appetizers.

The tables have hosted solo diners, couples, families and larger groups. On busy days, an initially easy arrival can give way to a fuller deck; having room to wait with a drink keeps the pace relaxed.

A free parking lot is nearby, and clean restrooms are a welcome practical convenience after time on the water. Outdoor diners have also brought dogs along, though it is sensible to confirm current pet arrangements before planning around that.

Covered seating helps with shade, but this remains an outdoor dining room above the river. Heavy rain can affect comfort even with coverings or tarps in place.

On a clear day, though, the simple pleasures line up nicely: a cold cocktail, crisp seafood, a plate of fries, boats moving past and the occasional ripple under the table.