Canyon Way Bookstore & Restaurant

I have been coming here for as long as I can remember. Not only is the bread and garlic butter divine, but every entrée is prepared with a delicious sauce that has been crafted to perfection. The gals that own this place know how to cook! The bookstore attached is quite charming as well and fun to explore while waiting for the restaurant to open. Would definitely recommend!

So, a very good restaurant gone by the wayside. Canyon Way used to be a favorite of mine. Browse the bookstore, then dinner. Sadly, a lack of outer facility maintenance was followed by being open only Friday night for dinner.

This is my favorite restaurant in Newport. I grew up here, and I always love going to Canyon Way when I’m in town. The soups are phenomenal. Although, so is everything else.

Tonight we started with «Angel Hair Onion Rings» for an appetizer which were so good. They had Boneyard IPA on tap– Yumm. The fried oysters were on point as well, though we asked for more of the Creole sauce that came with the onion rings and that paired very well. The side salad was fresh, generous and had a nice variety of ingredients. Finally, there is the French Onion Soup, which the menu brags «many people tell us that it is the best (FOS) they’ve ever had. This is an understatement. This is simply the best french onion soup– period!

This review will just be of the bookstore side, as I was just dropping in to grab a few books before I hopped aboard a boat for 10 days with my good pals Gilligan, Skipper, and the rest.
The book shop is a small, cozy and quaint one and based on the tiny size of the building, it naturally had a smaller selection than someplace like Elliott Bay or Powell’s…think more along the lines of a bookstore in a major airport in terms of the total volume of books. That said, they make up for the low quantity with high quality – new releases and paperbacks from a wide range of topics and focal interests, and many award-​winning books and authors. They have a particularly good number of non-​fiction books of both broad and local significance. I grabbed a couple of non-​fiction paperbacks that kept me quite busy while I was at sea.
As the accompanying picture shows, they also have a sense of humor here… the piece of paper taped to the shelf was from one of those daily calendars with humorous but incorrect answers from high school tests.
Much of the store is also dedicated to gifts, clothes and jewelry, though as is often the case with such shops, the gifts, clothes, etc. are mainly geared toward children (educational toys and such) or women who wear a lot of purple. Not too many accessories for strapping manly men like me.
Minus one star for the check-​out process. The act of actually paying for my books and walking out of the store was like trying to escape from the gravity of a supermassive black hole. There was a couple ahead of me buying many books, and their transaction couldn’t have gone slower if they’d paid for it entirely with pennies. I couldn’t understand what was going on… buying books on a credit card seems like a fairly low-​wattage thing to do in the 21^st Century. I suppose waiting for a very long time while the cashier s-​l-​o-​w-​l-​y chats with the customers ahead of you bumps up the small-​town folksy charm factor of a place, but still…

We had lunch here. Long line and very casual (slow) service, maybe because it’s so busy. The French onion soup meets the hype. I had a shrimp caesar; the shrimp was the highlight, the dressing wasn’t very anchovy, and not very eggy, which I like. The oyster po boy had three small oysters, which were well fried, but the bun wasn’t up to the task. Sorry.

Don’t let outside fool you. Interior is like a maze, but gravitate to the outside patio and get a real home cooked meal. Try the French onion soup. Best for lunch and only open Friday evening. Closed altogether on weekends.

Tried this restaurant based on Unilocal reviews– the food was amazing! Everything made from scratch– I had the soup of the day (chicken curry) with a side salad & iced tea. Everything was perfect from the fresh baked bread with herb butter, the homemade blue cheese dressing and the creamy soup full of perfectly cooked vegetables and chicken. Portions are big, service is awesome. We sat on the patio with a beautiful garden & marina view. There’s not much curb appeal– when we pulled up I got a little nervous, but once inside this place is the perfect blend of quirky bookstore & lovely, tasty restaurant. Coming here feels like you have discovered a hidden gem. I will return every time I pass through Newport.

Fabulous bookstore. Friendly people. Wish I’d been hungry as the restaurant looked worthwhile. Next time.

This place is absurdly good. They make everything from scratch on site, and it shows.
Being somewhat of a chowder snob, I’m weary of west coast chowder. It seems like no matter how many places claim to have «real New England clam chowder!» as a New Englander, I’m left disappointed more often than not. That being said, my standards are incredibly high and Canyon Way did not disappoint. This is the closest to authentic New England clam chowder that I’ve had since moving out here last winter.
Prices are a little steep but it’s totally worth it. I had homemade fettucini and meatballs, and it was amazing, and the husband had crispy oysters. You can tell they really care about the quality of the food they serve here. I ate here for Friday night dinner and was disappointed that they weren’t going to be open on Saturday because I wanted to come back and try more of their menu. I’m obsessed, and I can’t wait to plan my next trip to Newport just so I can eat here.

I’ve been coming here for years with my family. I know we have gotten other things and they have been good, but I don’t think I’ve gotten anything besides the crab cakes for the past few years. They are just the right amount of seasoning without overpowering the crab and they come with amazing thin-​cut, shoestring fries. Every time I come back to Newport I worry that this place will have disappeared. Thankfully, it’s still hiding in the back of the bookstore. The prices are high, but it’s a delight.

We used to come here on a regular basis, but in the last few years we haven’t made it to Newport, much to my great dismay. On a whim friends and I decided to drive down and me being the most familiar with the area, chose the restaurant. I was so happy to see that Canyon Way was still as amazing as it used to be! We started with bread fresh from the oven and a nice Washington Chardonnay, a fabulous cream of asparagus soup, and we all tried something different as the main course. Crab cakes, fish and chips, and pasta were all amazing and it ended with a wonderful dessert, free because we were celebrating a birthday! The service was as great as the food. I was happy to have chosen the restaurant and I’ll be doing my best to make it back much sooner.

Authentic, homemade food.
Fresh bread from scratch; small batches of butter; chowder; dressings for salads.
This is the second time we have been here, and will continue to come back for the constantly fresh brewed coffee and delicious homemade bread.
The same servers are here every time, and the owner is in the kitchen.

This is one of those restaurants that has put more energy and creativity into their food and flavors than on upkeep for the building; don’t judge a book by its cover. The outside of this restaurant isn’t much to look at, but the food is consistently awesome — which I appreciate! I’ve been eating here for years and will continue to.
The book store is cool and you can find some pretty obscure titles.
Awesome food and great service.

One of the best low key upscale eatery around. Great soups and salads, amazing desserts and awesome wine/​cocktail options. The Spanish coffee is simply sinful! So good.
The atmosphere is great being set in the book store. Its is a wonderful spot to sit, sip and have real conversations with REAL fiends over real food.

Canyon Way Bookstore & Restaurant had me at hello. I am a complete bibliophile. The thought of having dinner in a bookstore made me swoon. It was one of the first restaurants we checked out after moving here. That was in early August and we’ve been back to Canyon Way several times. In fact, it is where we spend our new, «dinner and a book» night, on Friday nights.
Oh how I LOVE Friday nights. Not only do I get a dinner out with my husband, but I get a new book too! And, we take our two pups and sit on their very dog-​friendly patio. And the pups get to order dinner too. COME ON! Really? Please pinch me. The patio is lovely. It is quiet and off the busy Bay Front. The service is wonderful. Everyone who works there is kind, friendly and helpful.
My review is really two-​fold, one for the restaurant and one for the bookstore. I’m just going to be frank. I’m a picky person. I’m picky about my food and I’m picky about my bookstores. Canyon Way BOOKSTORE is phenomenal. It has the BEST selection of books ever. That little store packs a BIG punch. They have a section of new releases that is updated EVERY Tuesday. They really have something for every one and if there happens to be a book they don’t have, they will order it for you with lightning speed. I was a little worried about living in a small town without a big bookstore, but Barnes who?
Canyon Way RESTAURANT is scrumptious. I could go on and on about the many dishes we’ve tried and the fresh ingredients and the delicious bread, but this review is getting lengthy and I don’t want your eyes glazing over. The food is excellent. My husband is in love with their New Orleans Bouillabaisse. It is flavorful and plentiful. He always leaves a content man. I’ve tried several things on their menu and haven’t been disappointed yet. The Chicken Curry soup is ridiculous. I’d eat it every day if I could. Unfortunately, for dessert lovers, the serving sizes are very generous. I always have the best intentions of ending our meal with something sweet but I am always too full. Next time I think I’ll have dessert for dinner because the Marionberry Cobbler is seriously calling my name.
See you on Friday, Canyon Way!

My boyfriend spent some of his highschool years in Newport so when we came for a weekend with some friends, he had to take me here for their great food. He was right too. I was on a mission to eat as much clam chowder as possible and of the places I ate it at that weekend, Canyon Way was the best!
The servers were extremely welcoming and friendly as well. I’ll definitely be back.

In my never-​ending quest for great soup, This nifty little place makes the A-​List.
I stopped in today based solely on the positive Unilocal,and found a small independent café just off the main Yaquina Bay drag (Bay Blvd) of restaurants, fish markets, fishing boat rentals, and artisan/​art galleries. It also turns out to be a great bookshop and gift shop as well. (If you have kids, the childrens’ section is exceptional — speaking as a former toy store owner…)
The best part of my lunch was the French Onion Soup (something I don’t get to say very often.) Not only was it a yummy bowl full of onions, great bread, and toasted swiss cheese — but the broth was above and beyond expectations: laced with just the smallest hint of ale (okay — not being a big beer aficionado, I’m only guessing at the brew type…) But the beefy-​onion broth was slightly thick, very dark, and full of deep flavors.
There were 2 other soups on the menu — the regional favorite, clam chowder, and the soup-​of-​the-​day for today was cream of tomato — which means (oh no!) I’ll have to go back to try them…
I also ordered the open-​faced shrimp melt — which was okay, but not nearly as good as the soup. The tiny bay shrimp were almost lost in the heavy sour cream-​tarter sauce-​ish-​ness; and the blanket of swiss cheese that covered the sandwish wasn’t toasted quite enough for my druthers… And since they didn’t wait for me to finish my soup before putting the sandwich under the broiler to brown, it came out already on the down-​side of hot, and only got cooler as I finished my excellent soup.
As for the book shop — someone here has a great eye for vacation reads — from mysteries and local color-​type histories, to a wide variety of fascinating biographies and boutique history books. There are also games and puzzles for beach-​vacationers who get caught by rain and need to pass a few hours inside; as well as the regional necessities of the season — scarves, hats of all kinds, gloves/​mitts, umbrellas — even a few really lovely shawls and wraps. They also have some great jewelry –
There is a sign that boasts live music on Friday nights (!) — and their little espresso bar appears to offer a variety of sweets for those searching for smaller bites.
If you are handicapped or need ramps to get around — everything here is on one level except for a slight split in the bookshop — and it has a ramp built in!
Excellent

Years and years ago, I came up from Arizona to interview for a job in Newport. And I found myself in the Canyon Way bookstore after my interview with time to kill.
I just fell for it. Funky, quirky, books, art, food, all under one roof.
Year and years later (now I live in Portland with my Oregonian family), I still have an affnity for the place. It does have less books than it used to, and is more funky… I still really enjoy exploring it’s little nooks and crannies and maybe grabbing a cookie and some tea.
My kid loves it too. Especially the book and cookies part.

Without a doubt, the most eclectic bookstore in Newport – and my favorite find of the year!
Canyon Way has been in business for forty years, but has slipped past me on nearly every trip to the Old Bay front. How is this possible, you ask? Because, to me, it has always appeared to be closed, or at the very least in transition. A bookstore AND a restaurant? Proving once again that the most obscure places are often the best, Canyon Way was packed during my New Year’s visit – filled with droves of locals who were clearly «in the know.» And who am I to judge the combination of food, fancy gift items, and rare tomes? With the universe in such turmoil, a sense of humor and a penchant for adaptation is critical to survival.
On my visit, I found The Perfect Postcard for my sister. I also located some great organic body lotion, the newest edition of «Putting Food By,» and some Christmas decorations marked half off. In addition to finds, I also had a great time browsing! Talk about a shopping experience not to miss. One could easily pass an hour in here, wandering, back-​tracking and, apparently, snacking! I’ve gotta withhold that elusive fifth star for my next visit, when I can give the restaurant a try. But, certainly, the shop itself makes a worthy stop.