Pinch

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!

We did the chef’s choice 5 course tasting menu and it was phenomenal. Standouts included the vegetable course (cabbage, grilled broccoli, beet salad) and chickpea lamb stew. The service was excellent, they accommodated gluten free requests, and we had a tremendous time! Thank you!