Orange Tree Café gets new life in Naselle

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Residents of Naselle may have recently noticed a blast from the past as the beloved Orange Tree Café has reopened under new ownership.

Heather Harris and Jerry Hauer reopened the restaurant last month under its previous name while adding a completely new menu. They have also opened an art gallery at the location that will house Hauer and other local artists’ work.

“We feel that there is a local flare to the restaurant and gallery, said Hauer. “We have tried to create a nice atmosphere that is homey, comfortable, and bright; somewhere the whole family can come.”

The couple moved from Burns to the peninsula in order to be closer to Harris’s family. Previously, Harris worked for a restaurant in Narrows, Ore., while Hauer worked on a ranch.

“It’s always been my wife’s dream to move back here and open a restaurant,” said Hauer. “Plus it doesn’t hurt that she is a great cook.”

Elements of the owners’ previous professions can be seen in the new establishment with a wide variety of menu items, heaping portions, and a commitment to always be there when they say they will.

The café offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner on selected days. Menu items include homemade pastries, breakfast scrambles, a variety of burgers, and an assortment of other items. There will also be Italian-themed Fridays, Mexican-themed Saturdays, and a down-home continental special on Sundays.

The gallery is filled with acrylics, watercolors, and some pen works. A majority of the pieces are done by Hauer and depict local boats, local wildlife, and local coastline.

The Orange Tree Café and Gallery is located at 750 SR4 in Naselle. Stop by from Tuesday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. or Friday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call (360) 484-3213.