Pinch

We chose Pinch for a retirement celebration dinner, and oh my, we were not disappointed! Chef Paul and Celeste took fabulous care of us as we ordered nearly everything on the menu and then some. Favorites were the shoestring fries, the heirloom tomato salad, the rigatoni, the bucatini, the focaccia, and the steak for two entree! This will be a core memory for each of the group!

I arranged a 5 course pre-fixe group dinner at Pinch for 15 of us, coming over to the valley to go wine tasting, and it was beyond anything I could have hoped for - in every way. Chef Paul was terrific from my first email to him months ago, to a call from him the day of the dinner to tell me he had gotten some beautiful heirloom tomatoes at a local farm, and wanted to use them for the salad rather than what he originally had planned. Every course was flavorful and presented beautifully. The meal was served family style which worked out to be perfect for us. We couldn’t finish everything and had to bring leftovers home. The restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and was bustling with friendly and attentive servers and staff. The cocktails and wine were all delicious and we never had an empty water glass! I recommend Pinch 100%!

My daughter and I enjoyed a wonderful evening at Pinch and it was a highlight to our trip to McMinnville! We were in town visiting family and called for day-of reservations and the staff were able to squeeze us in for a late table. We shared several items—there were too many appealing options on the menu. The focaccia is homemade and served with creamy whipped ricotta. It melts in your mouth! We also shared the wagyu carpaccio, which was a surprisingly ample portion of thinly sliced beef and pickled mushrooms. We also shared the “Pinch Salad” and the server was deliberate about addressing a mild walnut allergy, confirming that the kitchen knew and had prepared our salad without walnuts. For an entrée, we shared the Spanish octopus, which was tender and served with pearl couscous, fennel and a spicy sauce. Again, the portion was generous, and we ended up with a to-go box. My daughter had a rich chocolate cake for dessert (I think it may have been gluten free?) and polished off every crumb. The meal was fresh, and the food was stylishly plated. Despite it being a busy Saturday night, we had fantastic service! The restaurant has an elegant yet casual atmosphere, with a welcoming vibe from the servers who clearly took pride in the dishes they served. The owners each stopped by to check on us and ask about our food, and they even made my daughter a special passion fruit lemonade with tajin. They told us they had recently opened for lunch service on weekends, and they often host special themed events like a “shellabration” seafood. Pinch, we’ll be back!

My first time visiting Oregon, and this restaurant, Pinch couldn’t have been more memorable. For me, pinch was hands-down. The best restaurant I had eaten at in the five days I was in Oregon. I was there with a group of 9 girlfriends, That happened to me for the first time two years ago on a group trip in Greece. We quickly formed what we affectionately call ourselves-The Greece Girls and we travel and eat at the best restaurants and drink the most amazing wines every year. Hence, how we ended up at this restaurant. Everything that we ate was delicious and it was paired quite nicely with a variety of wines. The service was impeccable, everyone was extremely friendly, inviting, and witty. It is a comfortable restaurant where people make you feel like you’ve known them for years. It was clear that they aim to please. They were genuine and wanting to know what we thought of their dishes. They were proud of what they offered, and they should’ve been because it was to die for. The steak was the best I had, ever. It melted in my mouth. It was well seared and seasoned. The raw oysters paired with the watermelon prosecco Mignonette sauce was both unique and light. The oysters were plump, silky and buttery. Yum! The fish… oh the fish!! It was probably the best we tasted. The entire table loved it. One of my favorite dishes was the vegetarian ravioli. I truly could’ve eaten all of that. It was probably one of my favorite things to eat just because the taste was an explosion in your mouth. Something you just didn’t expect for a ravioli. The salad was picturesque as perfection, bursting with flavors and colors. They served one of my favorite desserts ever, Panna Cota that was served up sweet, smooth, and silky! What can I say, you have to dine at this restaurant! It’s truly a gem!

The building looks fantastic as soon as you walked up to the door. The atmosphere is so lovely. The people are incredibly warm friendly. The chef always comes out to greet us. Ask us about our food and the food. My God the food is tremendous. I’ve had the focaccia Blue plate special. The fries are the best fries in the world steak. Diane, is what I get the most, but my spouse loves their seafood.

WOW on every level! I was visiting from Los Angeles, but if I lived in the area, it would be my regular go-to spot. Pinch is perfect for a romantic dinner all the way to a large dinner party or celebration with friends. Our party of 8 all left feeling we received great value for the price of our dinner. The restaurant has a great vibe to it – super comfortable but still chic atmosphere. I believe locals come back often and it had a very friendly feeling throughout the dining room. And I appreciated that all 8 of us could hear each other at the table so the design was well-planned – and no one was crammed/packed in! The wine list is comprehensive and well thought out – and has something for everyone. We ordered a great champagne and a white burgundy to round out the bottles we brought. They really worked with us crafting a multi-course meal knowing we’d be going through quite a few wines…from bubbles, to whites to reds. And they provided ample stemware. The service was impeccable. Danielle was a delight – so warm and friendly and perfectly professional. She was on top of everything! And we all really appreciated that the owner/chef Paul brought out many of the dishes himself and took the time to explain them. We got to visit with him later in the evening and we all enjoyed our bit of time with him. As for the food, he really has an amazing ability to combine flavors that are a creative and delicious surprise – and enhance all of the other ingredients in each dish. All of us kept commenting on the touch of a little something in a specific dish that really elevated it. And we loved the sharing concept – and there were ample servings of every course. I kept flip-flopping on what was my favorite dish – there were so many amazing surprises in terms of flavors. Starting with the chick pea “fries” – with just that dash of lemon – they were addictive. Among the many courses, the wagyu carpaccio was perfection, and the oysters were perfectly presented. Then the delicious radicchio salad (which is not just an ordinary salad), the pesto potatoes, the tender and perfectly prepared steak, and oh my – that cacio e pepe bucatini…I have craved it every day since I was there. It was the most perfectly textbook al dente prepared pasta and the flavors were outstanding – the best I’ve ever had. It is clear Paul is working with the very best ingredients. Pinch will be on my list to ALWAYS return when I am in the McMinnville area!

Chef Paul Bachand is my favorite chef in the Willamette Valley. Since my first visit to his restaurant, Recipe, years ago, I’ve looked forward to enjoying his food each year I visited the area. My most recent meal at Pinch exceeded my already high expectations. Chef Paul created a family-style seven-course meal for eight of my friends and myself. From the introductory Gougeres (not part of the courses and we inhaled them too quickly to take a photo) to the Matcha Panna Cotta dessert, every dish tasted as good as it looked. If you are traveling to the Willamette Valley or find yourself in the area, you must visit Pinch. It will not disappoint - whether dining family style or a la carte.

Excellent dishes, great creativity chef puts into each of his dishes, wonderful service. We always visit this place whenever we are in McMinnville. Individual service makes you feel special every time.

Beautiful new restaurant in downtown McMinnville. We stopped by on a busy Friday night sat at the bar to try their fabulous craft cocktail menu. We didn't have dinner but we will be back! I had the Hold The Reins - Beefeater, allspice, cardamom, clove honey and lemon. This drink is light and well balanced with subtle hints of spice. This drink is not sweet and perfect for a person whom likes a low sugar drink. My husband had a Cale Entay ~ habanero infused tequila, lime grand marnier and cranberry. This drink is incredible spice and slightly sweet with a little bit of heat. Fun date night spot.

Last minute dinner at Pinch. Ate at the bar. Bartender was excellent and spent time answering questions for us. The food was fantastic. I had the rigatoni with a duck sugo (ragu?). I'm still thinking about the wonderful flavors. Husband had the tuna and loved it. We split a salad; it was delicious as well. We will return!!

Nope. Just nope - customer service is key for me! On a recent, mid-week (Wednesday), late afternoon (before 5PM), I entered asking to see the menu - as at this writing - there were neither hours nor menu posted either on or near the doorway. The menu looked yummy and well within my budget -however ... - when I asked about seating, I was told I "... could sit at the window" (mind you, full sun, in your eyes isn't necessarily conducive to a positive dining experience!); - so I asked about other seating arrangements - "Is there another space or table - it is quite bright there?" (pointing to the afternoon sun glaring through the window) and was politely told "No. There's nothing else available"; for the record, one booth and two tables each had two people in them (6 people total); - I inquired further, giving the hostess an opportunity - asking directly, if there were "... any immediately pending reservations?" and was succinctly and directly told "No." So ... I left. I didn't even say "Thank you". Here's the deal - if an establishment turns away a customer, without pending reservations (understanding potential impact to future income to the establishment), then your customer service capability is in question. Oh - my attire? Just in case that would come into question - it was "business casual"; pressed khaki chinos, and red blouse - I was in McMinnville on business. I cannot, in good conscience, recommend or refer a poor service location, especially as a business woman.

Had a great time here. Great food and really nice people working at pinch. Would recommend.

Great food good service Reasonable price entries $30& Nice special cocktails Will create dishes for kids

There were 4 of us and we were hungry, but didnt have a reservation. They said they could fit us in at 7:30. At 6:45 they called to say they could get us in eatly. Ive never had any restaurant do this. It was wonderful & only started the wonderful for our evening. The bartender got creative when we threw ideas at her... Tastey results. She plays well with others and came over to meet us. Our waitress never hesitated to go above & beyond. She steered the table to the fresh oysters for an appetizer (not my favorite) but everone else was raving over the oysters & thanking the waitress. The chef should be commended. The 4 of us all ordered something different so we could sample. While each of us was pleased with our choice, all of the dishes were deliciosly spiced & presented. The portions seemed small until you dug in. They were rich & filling. No one had room for more, but we all cleaned our plate. We sat in a comfortable booth. The space is beautifully appointed and not so loud we couldn't hear each other. The food - delicious! The service - magnificent! The ambiance - welcoming!