Coleman’s 9N Shady Rest

Coleman’s 9N Shady Rest is a classic American restaurant located in Gales Creek, Oregon right alongside Wilson River Highway.

They serve traditional “American” fare – breakfasts, over-sized sandwiches, steaks, ribs, and (of course) burgers. The menu is very extensive – ranging from a soy Reuben to Huevos Rancheros – and to my absolute surprise, they have a separate vegetarian menu.  The burger menu at Coleman’s takes up a whole page – complete with pentagrams:

The burgers come as either  1/2 lb (Regular) or 1/4 lb (Small) patty and are served on a “fresh bun” with lettuce, tomato, and sliced onion. Your side options are french fries, mashed potatoes, or side salad, or you can substitute for tater tots, soup, or onion rings for $1 extra.  I went with the 1/4 lb Backyard Burger- which comes with house-made BBQ sauce, bacon, onion rings, and cheddar cheese. The wait time was standard, and after about 10 or so minutes, the burgers were brought out:

The bun was nicely toasted and the entire plate just looked delicious.  To illustrate the burger size difference, here is the Regular:

The Regular burger comes with a larger sesame-seed bun (instead of a kaiser roll with the Small)  and the toppings are more plentiful.  Overall, the prices for everything are very reasonable. The server was very friendly and attentive, and I will definitely be back.

Burger Ratings:

Burger: 8

Let me begin this first by stating the following: I absolutely LOVE that you get to choose the size of your beef patty. I love it. I wish more restaurants would do this, and I fucking adore Coleman’s for making this an option. (Though I have to say, using the term “small” to describe a 1/4 lb burger loaded with cheese and bacon is kind of insane) The burger itself was overcooked, but it didn’t bother me too much due to the many toppings present. Delicious, dripping, greasy flavor in each bite – just how it should be. The bun was toasted nicely, and it’s always a bonus when sliced pickle chips come on the side instead of a full pickle spear. A+!

Side: 7

The french fries were very good and the side salad was better than I was expecting. I hear the chili verde is one of the best, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Environment: 7

The environment of Coleman’s is that of a country-style diner. The decor is sparse, with a few knick-knacks attached to the walls. You can either take a seat at the counter up front or at any of the many tables in the dining room.  There is plenty of natural light, and it feels very clean and cozy.  It’s definitely enjoyable to eat here.

Value: 8

Very tasty BBQ burger and a fresh side salad for $8.50.  A regular cheeseburger with a side is only $6.50 – so the value is pretty remarkable.  I would love to go here more often, but I don’t think I can justify a 40 minute drive just for this burger. It’s good, but it’s not THAT good.

55660 Wilson River Highway Gale's Creek, OR // (503) 357.3093

Tags: chili verde, cocktails, coleman's shady rest, full-page burger menu, shakes, steaks

Listed Under: 8 - Fuckin' good