Think every road trip means fast food and chips and pop from the gas station? Think again. Washington Wine Country is dotted with charming restaurants serving fresh, local food at reasonable prices. After all, there's nothing like wine-tasting to work up a good appetite.

Savor Haute Cuisine and Warm Sun
Yakima’s longtime favorite Italian restaurant, Gasperetti’s serves up fresh, authentic Italian food with a Northwest flavor, alongside an extensive list of Washington wines. Make the most of this region’s great weather and enjoy your Italian meal on the patio, surrounded by overflowing flower pots. This is where the locals go to wine and dine. On any given night, you’re bound to run into at least a couple of local winemakers here.

Try Local Fare with a Spanish Flair
Each year, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers selects a restaurant that does an exceptional job of showcasing and educating diners about premium Washington wines. Winner of the 2009 Restaurant Appreciation Award is Picazo 7Seventeen Wine Bar & Restaurant. Named for its address at 717 Sixth Street, Picazo is trendy enough for tourists and down-home enough for locals. Chef-owner Frank Magaña describes his cuisineas “local fare with a Spanish flair” paired, of  course, with an extensive Washington wine list heavy on wines out of Prosser.

Picnic on Red Mountain
A delicious picnic lunch and a glass of wine in a beautiful vineyard setting is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and there is no better place for it than at one of the wineries on Red Mountain. Simply pack a picnic basket with the essentials—plates, utensils, wineglasses, small cutting board, table cloth, napkins, corkscrew, and small ice chest—then pick up lunch fixings as you go. Saturday farmer’s markets abound in nearly every wine country town, many wineries sell gourmet delights such as cheeses, crackers, local salsas, and chocolates, and in Benton City, you’ll find a couple of great places to grab sandwiches, salads, or pizza to go.

Enjoy Fresh Mediterranean Cuisine
The lively setting at Taverna Tagaris provides the perfect backdrop for its fusion of fresh, organic Northwest fare with Mediterranean style—from Pacific Northwest meats, seafood, and seasonal game to crisp salads, house-baked flatbreads, and more. For something a little different, end your meal with a glass of Kennedy White Port, a vacation-worthy indulgence.

Treat your Taste Buds
Located just off the hotel’s historic lobby, The Marc Restaurant features creative and inspired Pacific Northwest cuisine. Executive chef Bear Ullman has built The Marc Restaurant’s excellent reputation by highlighting Walla Walla Valley’s profusion of locally grown and organic fruits, vegetables, and Certified Angus Beef, and wild Pacific seafood, paired with the awardwinning Washington wine list.