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Cascadia Grill

PNW kitsch and damn good grub

The Twice Cooked Artichoke is a good start to your visit to the Cascadia Grill. Photo credit: Dutch Randall

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ANNOUNCER: Craving classic, comfort dishes with a twist and a little Pacific Northwest kitsch, Jackie and Dutch settle into Olympia's Cascadia Grill this week.

DUTCH: The Cascadia Grill is one of my favorite things about Olympia! The eclectic scene and friendly service simply add to the quality and creativity offered on the menu. With a menu that gets tweaked on occasion, I'm glad the Twice Cooked Artichoke remains with each new update. A fresh artichoke is boiled until tender, sliced lengthwise to reveal the popular heart, garnished with Parmesan bread crumbs and broiled to give just a little char. The accompanying butter for dipping is a mix of butter, garlic and lemon. Always a good start to my visit.

JACKIE: It's such a fun space. You could go in every day for a month and spy something new every time. I'm a fan of the menu layout with clever monikered dishes and cute one-liners peppered throughout. The Tickle's Poutine features hand-cut fries slathered in pork gravy, bacon, Beecher's cheese curds and green onions. They're everything they need to be with a salty punch and cheesy perfection.

DUTCH: I skipped the "fork and knife stuff" on this visit and dove into the "hand-held stuff", specifically the D.B. Cooper. An extension of the house Cascadia burger with eight ounces of ground beef separated into two patties, three slices of melted, dripping American cheese, tomato, onions, pickles and lettuce. You can add bacon or bleu cheese for an additional charge. I seriously considered this as an option, but when I saw the D. B. Cooper that adds a pile of corned beef, my decision was made. At my request, I was given a side of Thousand Island for dipping. Served with fries, you will not leave hungry.

JACKIE: I, too, went hand-held with the Garcia Takes a Dip. Tender, slow-roasted Mexican-style shredded pork is joined by fresh, sliced jalapenos and pepper jack cheese on a hoagie roll. There's a side of au jus for dipping that brings it all together in a spicy, meaty matrimony of Flavortown. For vegans, there's a hearty sampling of delectable animal product-free cuisine as well.

DUTCH: I'm not generally drawn to salads, but I do appreciate a few classics, including the wedge. It's hard to beat the combination of bleu cheese and bacon, I figure, if it's good for a burger, it's good for a salad. And in true Cascadia style, the wedge is served as a large, fresh wedge of crispy iceberg lettuce, with plenty of bacon and bleu. Additionally, it is topped with red onions, tomatoes and even some pumpkin seeds for a bit of additional crunch. At under $10, it is also an economical meal.

JACKIE: P.S. make sure to check out the wine and beer selection. It's not too shabby and a splendid way to wash down the diverse offerings.

CASCADIA GRILL, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday; 200 4th Ave. W., Olympia, 360.628.8731, cascadiagrill.com

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