This Old-School Oregon Restaurant Serves Chicken Dinners To Die For
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 02, 2019
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Family-style dining at a restaurant is the absolute closest thing you can get to those big family meals you used to enjoy at Grandma’s house, but no one has to spend hours cooking, and no one has to do the dishes afterwards! There’s a quaint little restaurant in Silver Lake that serves delicious meals, and its chicken dinners are to die for.
Welcome to Cowboy Dinner Tree! This place was once a stop on the cattle trail from Paisley to the Sycan Marsh. It was the halfway point, so cowboys stopped here under what was known as "the dinner tree" to enjoy a chuckwagon meal of beans and biscuits under the stars.
Today, Cowboy Dinner Tree stands in this spot, but you can still enjoy some tasty homemade biscuits and beans, alongside a delicious chicken or steak dinner.
For one thing, this place is pretty remote. You really can picture it as a stop on the cattle trail. Also, it looks just like the set of every old Western you've ever seen. You can almost imagine Clint Eastwood walking out the front door.
All around the property, you'll find authentic cowboy gear. It's as though a team of cattle drivers just rode in, stabled their horses, and settled in for a meal.
The restaurant's dining room is just as authentic. You won't find fussy table settings and stuffy folks in jackets and ties here - it looks more like an old-fashioned trading post where you'd pull up a chair to dig into a hearty meal while swapping tall tales of the trail with your dining companions.
There are only two dinners on the menu: steak and chicken. Your meal starts with a salad with your choice of ranch or honey mustard dressing, followed by a hot bowl of soup...
That's right - a whole chicken, and it's absolutely delicious. Roasted on the rotisserie, it's cooked to perfection with a crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. It's served alongside a baked potato.
Walk-ins aren't allowed at Cowboy Dinner Tree - you need to make an advanced reservation by calling (541)576-2426. Also, bring cash to pay for your meal. They don't accept debit or credit cards, or checks.
