The Anchor Bar isn’t necessarily a place a businessperson would go to impress a client.
Then again, maybe it is. After all, bars don’t get much more “American” than the Anchor Bar in Waitsburg, Washington.
The menu features simple fare made with local ingredients—which, in this case, means plenty of those delectable Walla Walla sweet onions. You’ll find them on the Chicago Dog, the Chili Dog and the Bacon Dog.
The Anchor Bar Chili is made with local Blue Valley Meats and black beans, and served with cheddar/jack cheeses, sour cream, onion and tomato.
If there’s a “signature dish,” it would have to be the Anchor Bar Totally Killer Nachos, which come with cheddar/jack cheeses, diced jalapenos, cilantro, avocado sauce, Mexican crema, crumbled cojita, pico de gallo and green onions, along with either chorizo or chicken with chili verde.
The Anchor Bar has been called a “jukebox joint,” and the jukebox offers tunes ranging from “Blue Suede Shoes” by Elvis Presley to “Mary Sue” by Howlin’ Wolf, with lots of classic country songs thrown in for good measure.
Yes, you can get a can of Keystone or a glass of Anchor Steam beer. But considering the bar is owned by Charles Smith, one of Washington’s star vintners, we’d probably opt for a glass of the Charles & Charles Red Blend. It tastes great with practically anything.
Waitsburg is about 25 minutes from Washington’s Walla Walla wine country, and everything you need to know about the Anchor Bar is available here. And when you get to town, as is noted on the Anchor Bar’s website, just look for the old building with a giant black-and-white American flag painted on it.
