Thistle

Came here for a birthday dinner and I can’t say enough. You walk in and the space is so warm and cozy, you feel like you’re walking into a friend’s living room. That said, there’s separate partitions so it maintains a very intimate feel. The food - the menu is pretty limited but this just works to highlight how seasonal and special each dish being served is. We had the pasta which was fantastic. The rabbit risotto dish was the real star. The meat was not gamey at all, perfectly roasted with that snappy crisp. The risotto and veggies somehow was my favorite part of that dish - I would have just ordered that as a stand alone. 🥁 okay but have you ever had a PEANUT BUTTER PIE? Masterful magnificent glory. 10/10

My partner and I had a wonderful evening after the local vineyards all afternoon. Walked in with no reservations but got a nice intimate table in the bar side. The drink menu was hand made and menu was on a chalkboard. This is my kind of place. The atmosphere was lovely and had the perfect Oregon welcoming vibe. All the employees made you feel welcomed and knew exactly what they were doing. I had the Strip Loin steak dish and I can confidently say this was one of the best steaks I have ever had at a restaurant. I asked for medium and it was cooked perfectly. I wanna genuinely say thank you Thistle for a highlight of my weekend getaway trip for my partner and I. We will definitely be back. 🥩🔥❤️

The food here is amazing. Truly amazing. Small, quaint, friendly spot for foodies. Chalkboard menu reflects freshest ingredients available to compose an unforgettable meal. We enjoyed the salad for two, split the homemade pasta with butternut squash puree and ended with the Swedish style chocolate cake. Every bite of each dish was a delight. Patrick was warm and welcoming. If you love good food, you will love this special spot.

Excellent food with always changing menu. Service was friendly, efficient and top notch. Small seating area so highly recommend reservations. Small craft cocktail menu was fantastic too. I had no idea they had been in this location for 16 years. Great "new" find for us!

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner here, local veggies, meats, and bread. Lamb shank, pickled tarragon (perfect combination of flavors), beets, heirloom tomatoes and watermelon, bread, champagne. I can't have dairy, and the owner made sure everything was diary free for me. It was all absolutely delectable. Cute town too. Great personal service.

Cozy restaurant in one of the historic buildings in downtown McMinnville. We were worried that we wouldn't get reservations but had no issues on a Wednesday evening. Our expectations were high based on the reviews but we were surprised how good it was. We started with some lovely oysters in a mignonette that really set them off well. Accompanied witth a fresh baked bread We each had the fish entree for our main course- it was perfectly cooked and paired with a unique cucumber sauce that really made a nice contrast to the fish. We had gone for a long bike ride that day so we decided to share a plate of gnocchi. I was so glad we did because it was the best I've had since a trip to Italy. Definitely recommend you make the call to eat at Thistle when you are in town.

This is the best restaurant in Willamette Wine country. They have a limited menu that they execute to perfection. Relaxed, intimate atmosphere. The owner, Patrick, is easy going and welcoming. One of our favorite places to dine!

Thistle is a small, intimate restaurant, with incredible food. The timing of the food is perfect, they don’t bring anything out too fast that you feel rushed but you’re not waiting forever to get anything. The staff is very personable and attentive. Your water will never be empty and you’re always taken care of. 10/10

If this waitress greets you get up and walk away. Seriously! By far the worst waitress I've ever experienced. Plenty of other fantastic and friendly restaurants within walking distance of this joke of a place.

The food at Thistle was phenomenal, the cocktails were delicious and the glass of Pinot Noir I ordered was rich and finessed (and not overpriced). When we walked in the door, they informed us they were out of 2 out of 5 entree choices. And the two we were hoping to get... at 7:30pm. We considered leaving but decided to give it a shot since the vibe there was good and we didn't want to be too dramatic. We were glad we stayed, I'll just say that one should dine here with the expectation that things will be run like someone's home kitchen. That is a positive attribute of the cooking as well, however. The food is made with care and expertise, and is beautifully presented. Maybe just have a back up plan if you're a picky with your order choice!

Owner Patrick runs a no-tech operation serving delicious local food and wine. Nice ambience, amidst thistle-themed wallpaper. Excellent: Steak Tartare, Lamb Shank Good: Caesar Salad Average: Beets, Osso Bucco Great wines for $60 / bottle. I also like that the corkage fee is waived if you also buy a bottle from the restaurant. I also liked the bathroom, which was clean and outfitted with lit candles.

My husband and I came to McMinnville to celebrate our anniversary and after much research settled on Thistle based on what seemed to be great reviews. Unfortunately our food was really just not good. We started with the beef tar tar which was ok. We also had the bread with orange butter and really enjoyed it. The meal went downhill from there. I ordered the rockfish with spaghetti squash and it was very salty. My husband had the burger. It was cooked way too long and became hard and inedible. The staff were friendly and the wine was good. I'm not sure what was going on with the restaurant but I suspect that there had been changes of some kind for the worse. Maybe a new chef? I hope they can turn things around. Unfortunately we'll try someplace else next time we come to town.

This was such a special dinner. Excellent in every way . Unique or classic, each dish was so exceptional! Fine fusion ? Upscale casual ? I don't know what to call this "vibe" but I really could fall in love with this venue ! Our server was completely competent yet completely casual, great ! Our first round of mixed drinks was an eye opener ! This nosh is complex ! We were blown away by our firsts ... "bread & fat "was so much more than implied ... and steak tar-tar ...a classic seldom seen today ... they really nailed it ! I will return for drinks and starters without a doubt , as soon as possible! For our entree we all chose quail and were really happy with its lovely presentation ,a wholesome feast. Farm to table at its best . A perfect place to savor the best of what Oregon has on offer .

Stellar meal and service. Started with steak tartare, pork remoulet (like a pate spread), and greens. Great for sharing with the bread plate. Entree of rabbit, gnocchi, and rock fish made for fun sharing with friends, and the panna cotta was a great finisher. Portions are on the smaller side but dishes were wonderful and succulent.

I think what I appreciate the most about this meal was the accessibility. It was top quality food but at an accessible price. The portions weren't huge but it was good food for the price. We started with the cheese plate. Well thought out selection of cheeses with accoutrements. Again fairly priced for what we got. I got the pork. Very flavorful with the honey jus. I hate squash but I could eat squash if it came like this. Tender and just a pleasant bite. My wife got the fish. She was very impressed. Cooked perfectly and well supported by the sides The star was dessert. Best panna cotta I've ever had. Perfect texture and nice subtle flavor. The honeycomb is a fun addition too. Overall the food wasn't extra memorable but the experience certainly was. I'd definitely come back to try different things. Solid date night choice

Thistle offers a strange combination of fine, yet unpretentious and affordable, dining. The dining room is a bit small and noisy, but the host is extremely knowledgeable and the service is quick and definitely goes above and beyond. When I visited, the table next to me ordered something that didn't quite come out how they were expecting. The server graciously (and proactively!) offered to prepare something off-menu, more to the diner's taste. While the dining room itself is a bit subpar, the only thing actually keeping Thistle from a full 5-stars in my opinion is the menu execution. For such a well-crafted menu, I was a bit disappointed to find the tartare only mediocre and the rillettes underseasoned. I'd highly recommend the bread and fat, or any of the salads, but the biggest surprise was the smoked fish. Really, the fish ended up being more of a salad that just so happened to have smoked fish as a major component. In particular, the olives were an unexpected yet oh-so-perfect inclusion, contrasting the sharp umami of the fish and fresh salad greens beautifully.

The ambiance was great, back in 2010. The drinks were great as well. Apologies for not getting a review out sooner. Hoping things are still great!

A real pleasant surprise! What looks a bit down trodden from the outside is a sweet treasure of interesting finds that work together. The food is outstanding. Locally sourced and fresh. The rabbit terrine or pate as a starter was as smooth as butter. The tomato green bean with bleu cheese salad delicious. The three entrees, rockfish, rabbit and gnocchi perfection. Of course the menu changes weekly. Service was prompt, fun, kind and knowledgeable. Overall this was a wonderful hit.

My dining party were all very highly looking forward to dining here, but we only got as far as the front door. Why? Look at my photo and you'll see. Sitting on a plastic bin on the stoop of the front entrance was a whole pig's head, wrapped in plastic wrap. Why? That's a darned good question, but none of us cared to find out why. If it was something that was going to be prepared for diners, it shouldn't be sitting in an uncontrolled environment. If it was refuse, it should have been disposed of properly. If it was something that somebody else was supposed to pick up, why was it just sitting on the stoop? Why make potential guests walk around and potentially over it to enter the establishment? All the pig's head did was raise a bunch of red flags, so we left and dined at a nice pizzeria just around the corner and down the street instead.

Amazing dinner at this quiet, gem of a restaurant in town. Small menu, but, done to perfection. Good music and ambiance. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

This is a little gem of a restaurant in McMinnville. Definitely a must try! My table had the rabbit liver parfait, smoked fish chowder, "bread and fat" and a rabbit main dish. The smoked fish chowder was to die for, and should not be missed. The rabbit Parfait and rabbit main dish were both competent preparations, but held no surprises. I was expecting something a little more interesting. We also had two different gin cocktails that were on the cocktail menu, and both were well worth trying. Since the menu changes regularly, I would definitely go back to see what they had to offer. No question that you will have a very enjoyable meal. Reservations are recommended as they fill up fast!

Small, craft restaurant in the historic downtown McMinnville district. The kitchen is very creative and the menu is low on choice but high on locally sourced quality. On this July night still post Covid only had sidewalk seating which was very nice, very European. The gazpacho featured fresh tomatoes with a subtle garlic undercurrent. The highlight was the beef tartare with capers, chopped cornichons and a tangy homemade mustard. Served with crusty sourdough bites, it was the perfect summer delicacy. They have an extensive gourmet cocktail list that features a myriad of unique libations. A relaxing way to spend an evening with good food and a friendly ownership doubling as the staff.

Great restaurant with unique menu choices that make it worthwhile to return. I had the rabbit and it was incredible. The cherry dessert was one of the best desserts I've ever had.

I've eaten here twice now and both meals were wonderful. The cocktails are very good as well. I highly recommend Thistle.

McMinnville's best kept secret! This quaint little place packs a culinary punch. I ordered the Rabbit and it was delicious. The Panna Cotta was the perfect desert to top off my dinner.

Wonderful setting, food and service. Tried a bit of almost everything, will be back! Thank you Patrick!

Simply amazing. This is farm to table. An intimate setting with low lighting. Field greens with preserved lemons followed by the best gnocchi I've ever tasted. My partner had beef tartare followed by rabbit and potatoes. Local wines. I fell in love with this place. If you are a foodie then eat here. Menu changes based on season.

Food was good but the environment and staff were very odd. We were the only ones there and I don't understand why this place has such high praise.

Very friendly and the rockfish was amazing! Small space so make that call and get reservations. We will be back next time we are in town

This place deserves 10 stars! The host was very gracious and was able to fit us in when we called the same day for reservations. This is not typical, much better to make them ahead of time. One of the few places to have a Boulevardier on the cocktail menu which I loved, camparis not for everyone though. The wines paired well with the menu and included local options. For an appetizer we ordered the oysters. They were presented so carefully, cute, and outstanding! I saw a few orders of the steak tartare. I just didn't have to desire to dig into it at the time. They had beautiful yolks and the host was very helpful for those less familiar with the dish. We a wonderful rock fish dish and an even better pork belly meal. So good. So fun. Just the best of what the area strives for, local, high quality, one of a kind.

Wonderful dining experience! This place is tiny and the menu is limited (literally, handwritten on a chalkboard limited!) As a fairly picky person, this might have scared me off but boy would I have missed out! Every single dish was amazing - on the night we went, there were three entrees (a pork dish, a rockfish dish an a gnocchi) and we shared them between our group. They were all amazing! Would definitely recommend this restaurant - can't wait to go back next time we're in McMinnville and see what they have then.

Thistle never disappoints. On a cold, rainy Thursday evening we were welcomed. We chose salad and a pork entree from the chalkboard menu, and were seated at a Cody table for two. Patrick recommended a very fine Pinot Noir to go with our meal. The food was excellent in taste and in presentation. We enjoyed chatting with folks seated nearby as well. This is, after all, part of the small town, small venue charm. A crème brûlée with juniper berries was a delightful dessert.

Fresh organic ingredients! Everything is always delicious and food presentation stunning. Beyond accommodating and friendly staff. thistle never fails to disappoint!

At first glance the interior makes you question your choice. The menu is limited but well thought out. Our party of 4 were all more than satisfied. The rabbit, Rockfish and Tagliatelle were all superb! A must experience... don't think twice. Our waiter was a rockstar... calmly handling all the tables.

Imagine being in a small town in Oregon's Willamette Valley but after passing through a doorway you are transported, if briefly, to a bouchon in Lyon, France. It is magical. Some folks will leave pig-headed reviews about the endroît due to misconception and ignorance, never even having dined. Tant pis. But, tant mieux for the rest of us. Thistle is a treasure that I want to keep just for myself, like a coveted ring. Patrick et l'équipe are great hosts, cooks, and revelers. Enjoy their service and craft and tell your closest confidants that get it, but not everyone. Oh, and you must try a cocktail to start the evening, or to finish it! C'est un plaisir!

I had really high hopes for Thistle while staying in McMinnville for wine weekend with friends. Boy was I disappointed! Our waitress greeted us gruffly upon entry and pointed to the chalkboard where the menu was written. We had to take pictures with our phone to remember what to order and then had to ask for her to explain each of the items! The apps were pretty good - green salads nicely presented and green beans tasty. For entrees, my friends enjoyed the steak and gnocchi. Unfortunately I ordered the rabbit and it was not good. It was so tough that I could barely cut it - had to borrow steak knife. Our service went way down hill after it became clear we weren't ordering a second cocktail... she practically threw the bill at us when we didn't order dessert. All for $300 - Unimpressed

Had an great dinner at thistle. We are still talking about their beet salad. Super yummy!! Would definitely recommend this restaurant.

My friend and I were trying to get to the wineries in the area but accidentally got to the little town Thistle is in. It was getting pretty late and we didn't want to get lost again so we just looked up nearby restaurants and found Thistle. We walked in and instantly felt very invited and homey. Food was delicious. All five dishes, three starters and two entrees, were perfectly executed. I don't remember all the ingredients of our dishes, but we had salad with hazelnut, dozen oysters, bread + fat, pork, and a fish dish. We also had a lemony dessert, which was a perfect way to end a great meal. Service was swift yet friendly.

Extremely disappointed!!! We booked months ago - traveled from California and this was supposed to be our first meal on our trip . We arrived at the restaurant for our 8 pm reservation- door locked - small note stating closed tonight due to extreme heat . Very odd , yes a warm day many other restaurants open ... the restaurant had no respect or common curiosity to inform us that they would be closed . We had to scramble to find a restaurant to feed our group! Appears from other reviews they have a habit of shutting their doors ! Warning .... Dine elsewhere In McMinnville....

We went for dinner last night with four of us and everything was as stellar as always. All seating was outside at picnic tables spaces apart and the safely protocols were in place. We got the oysters, both salads, rockfish and rabbit and everything was completely delicious. The wine list is small but has a well-curated list of local and French wines. Service is always top notch too.

Tiny portions, food is pretty good but not amazing and definitely does not justify the cost.

My husband and I came for a light dinner on a night when virtually nothing else was open. The server was extremely nice - funny, attentive, chatty. My review is based solely on the cheese plate. Sadly, I didn't take a photo, but there is another one of the same cheese plate (with a more generous portion) is another review. We actually laughed out loud when the server left after setting the cheese plate in front of us with our glasses of Pinot Noir. For $18, this is what you get on your cheese plate: about 1/2 teaspoon of a few condiments, about a tablespoon of pickled onion, and a TOTAL of roughly an ounce of a few different cheeses. It was actually quite hilarious to look at, but holy smokes...$18 for that??? I am not exaggerating at all with the amounts of the items listed. The rest of the food we can't speak to, as this is all we had. Thanks for the good laugh, Thistle, but this was a one and done.

WOW!!!! We were in the McMinnville area and decided to stop and have dinner. Saw all the 5 star reviews so checked it out...so glad that we did. Small place with a bar very much fits in the old town McMinnville scene. Chalkboard menu that definitely enticed us in. Service was great, everyone friendly and patient. We split the excellent field greens, preserve lemon, filberts and cheese salad. Our entrees were rock fish with wild fennel, carrots and lemongrass and the rare steak over fingerling potatoes topped with duck egg and a red wine sauce. They both were fabulous and could not recommend them higher! We will definitely go back whenever we have an excuse to be in the area. For non-Oregonians, McMinnville is close to all the northern Willamette Valley wineries. It is small so during summer and other wine tasting weekends you are very likely to need reservations.

Visited Thistle twice while up in the area on business and it was spectacular both times. The pork tenderloin was the best I've ever had, the potatoes were delicious, the rabbit rillette is to die for, the pannacotta was perfect, and Patrick is hands down the best bartender in the Willamette valley. Also, if you like steak tartar...order it.

Like the small space and comfortable feel. Great cocktails. Food was really good. My wife and I both also loved the Panna Cotta with the candied hazelnut top. Yes please on more of that. Nice wine recommendation with the Violin Pinot. We may try to visit them in person.

Never actually got a chance to try this place because I made a reservation for a Tuesday night (while on vacation), they called me to confirm the reservation, then when I went to the restaurant they were closed. Never called to tell me they were closed. I never leave bad reviews but this is terrible customer service. The worst part is this was the restaurant I was most excited to go to on our visit to the Willamette Valley.

Traveling from Philly, we booked a hotel in McMinnville specifically to dine at Thistle. Made the reservation 2 months in advance. Was just notified late in the afternoon that they are cancelling dinner for the night. Needless to say - very disappointing.

Exceeds my expectations each time I visit. Chicory salad, delightful; rabbit rillettes, light and savory; rockfish, so fresh; steak, prepared to perfection; not to mention the unlisted deserts!!! Quality ingredients, even better team running the show!! Thank you for your wonderful hospitality, Emily & crew!!!

Small in stature, Spartan in design, but Unforgettable, this is a great restaurant. We got a delightful window box table,one of only seven in the place I think. Not counting bar, that is. As far as I can tell, there is only one menu in the place and it is a chalkboard on the wall. That is actually pretty cool, because you can see it from almost anywhere. The service is friendly and prompt. The food was delicious, and really truly special. Who knew that rabbit liver was so good? It makes a remarkable pate. You can look at my pictures and see the rest, it was all damn good. If you are in downtown McMinnville, I recommend this place with every recommending fiber in my body. It is fine dining, so it's not cheap, but you will not forget this meal. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Delightful. Outstanding. Wonderful experience. We ordered the entire menu and found everything to be outstanding.

I had made a reservation a month in advance then they decided to close the restaurant and not tell us. We showed up and we're quite surprised to find it wasn't open.

A small time-space portal off a quiet McMinnville side street leads to a French farmhouse where Grandmère stuffs you full of delicious things.

Superb. Great atmosphere. Perfect service. Every dish ordered was fantastic. Special shout out to the gnocchi.

shout out to Patrick, cook, bartender and staff. Our meal tonight was exquisite, The young lady cook is exceptional! How does she do it? the pork, rock fish, beet chèvre salad super!!!!

Thistle provides a delicious dining experience. The menu is limited but the food is fresh, mindfully flavored and harmoniously balanced. You should be prepared for a casual experience at a pace that you can enjoy every morsel. They may not have air conditioning so if you can't handle the heat, get outta the kitchen.

We ate at this restaurant in the past and it was very good. We made reservations over a month ago for seven of us. We flew in from California and were looking forward to our 8:00 seating. We walked over and were surprised to find it dark, with a note on the door saying it was closed due to heat. It was not hot at 8:00. We never received a call nor an email from the restaurant. Unprofessional and quite frankly,appalling. Thanks a lot Thistle for ruining our first night in McMinnville.

Yes yes yes! Amazing food. Great service. Lovely for a nice elevated lunch or a romantic dinner. Farm fresh food with lots of love and French influence and imports.