These restaurants and breweries won Cascades Best gold awards this year

We now know the winners of the annual Cascades Best Awards. These local restaurants, breweries, bakeries and more made the list.

The annual competition, put on by The Bellingham Herald and Nerus Strategies LLC, seeks to recognize local businesses and individuals from a variety of categories — from breweries and bakeries to child care, schools, dentists, bookstores and more.

“Our readers and residents are proud of the communities they live in and know the area best. That is why The Bellingham Herald set out to deliver a ‘best of’ program to help the community and support Northwest Washington area businesses,” the 2025 Cascades Best magazine states.

Each category has three winners: gold, silver and bronze.

Here are the 2026 Cascade Best Gold Winners in the ‘Eat & Drink’ categories:

• All-around restaurant: Penny Farthing Bar & Restaurant at 1311 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
• Asian restaurant: Asian 1 at 4285 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
• Bakery: L&L Bakery at 477 Peace Portal Dr. in Blaine.
• Bar: The Score Sports Bar & Grill at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale.
• Bar food: The Score Sports Bar & Grill at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale.
• BBQ: JT’s Smokin BBQ & Catering food truck.
• Beer selection: Beach Cat Brewing at 7876 Birch Bay Drive in Blaine.

• Bloody Mary: The Score Sports Bar & Grill at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale.
• Breakfast: The Birch Door Cafe at 4192 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
• Brewery: Beach Cat Brewing at 7876 Birch Bay Drive in Blaine.
• Burger: Doug’s Burgers at 2527 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
• Catering: Queens of Fire Pizza truck.
• Cheap eats: Pel’meni Restaurant at 1211 N State St. in Bellingham.
• Chicken wings: The Score Sports Bar & Grill at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale.
• Coffee house: The Bean Stop at 1659 Birchwood Ave. in Bellingham.
• Coffee roaster: Maniac Coffee Roasting at 2000 Franklin St. in Bellingham.

• Craft cocktails: Smuggler’s Tunnel at Gateway 1890 Taphouse & Grill at 429 Peace Portal Drive in Blaine.
• Cupcakes: Pure Bliss Desserts at 1424 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
• Date night spot: The Black Cat at 1200 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
• Desserts: Pure Bliss Desserts at 1424 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham.
• Diner: The Horseshoe Cafe & Ranch Room Bar at 113 E. Holly St. in Bellingham.

• Dog-friendly restaurant: FireHouse Cafe at 1314 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
• Donut: Lafeen’s Family Pride Donuts and Ice Cream at 1466 Electric Ave. in Bellingham.
• Downtown Bellingham bar: Redlight Kitchen & Bar at 109 Grand Ave. in Bellingham.
• Downtown Bellingham restaurant: Storia Cucina at 109 Grand Ave. in Bellingham.
• Food cart/truck: Lumpia Luv.
• Frozen treat: Mallard Ice Cream at 1323 Railroad Ave. in Bellingham.

• Happy hour: Gateway 1890 Taphouse & Grill at 429 Peace Portal Drive in Blaine.
• Indian restaurant: Namaste the Royal Taste of India at 1213 Cornwall Ave. in Bellingham and 234 D St. in Blaine.
• Italian restaurant: D’Anna’s Cafe Italiano at 1319 N State St. in Bellingham.
• Juice/smoothie: Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies at 3110 Woburn St. in Bellingham.
• Lunch spot: Doug’s Burgers at 2527 Meridian St. in Bellingham.

• Mexican restaurant: COA Mexican Eatery & Tequileria at 1065 E Sunset Dr. in Bellingham.
• New restaurant: Bordertown Mexican Grill 1055 N State St. in Bellingham.
• Outdoor dining: The Bistro at Shuksan at 1500 E. Axton Rd. in Bellingham.
• Pancakes: Cedars Restaurant & Lounge at 2019 E Main St. in Ferndale.
• Pizza: Cascade Pizza at 2431 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
• Restaurant view: Keenan’s at the Pier at 804 10th St. in Bellingham.
• Sandwiches: Old World Deli at 1228 N State St. in Bellingham.
• Seafood restaurant: Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. at 685 Peace Portal Dr. in Blaine.

• Sports bar: The Score Sports Bar & Grill at 2030 Main St. in Ferndale.
• Steak: Herb Niemann’s Steak & Schnitzel House at 203 W Main St. in Everson.
• Sushi: Blue Fin Sushi at 102 S. Samish Way in Bellingham.
• Tacos: Black Sheep at 211 W Holly St. in Bellingham.
• Take out: Doug’s Burgers at 2527 Meridian St. in Bellingham.
• Taproom: Gateway 1890 Taphouse & Grill at 429 Peace Portal Drive in Blaine.
• Thai restaurant: Wanida Thai Bistro at 3200 Northwest Ave. in Bellingham.
• Vegan dining: New Public Creative Vegan at 700 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
• Vegetarian dining: Otherlands Beer at 2121 Humboldt St. in Bellingham.

• Waterfront dining: Drayton Harbor Oyster Co. at 685 Peace Portal Dr. in Blaine.
• Wine selection: Seifert & Jones Wine Merchants at 19 Prospect St. in Bellingham.
• Winery: Samson Estates Winery at 1861 Van Dyk Rd. in Everson.

Alyse Smith

The Bellingham Herald

Alyse Smith is a reporter at The Bellingham Herald covering retail, restaurants, jobs and business. If you like stories like this, please consider supporting our work with a subscription to our newspaper.