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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Medford-Jacksonville bike path becomes part of larger effort Medford clinics testing experimental treatments Public meetings, Sept. 1-5, 2014 Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Back-to-school time still conjures memories Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Medford police training program more than a video game Emergency Services Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend MPD crosswalk sting leads to several tickets Politics and Elections Gold Hill mayor faces challenger; other races have one candidate each Medford proposes new rules for pawn shops to help nab thieves Lack of incumbents, pot issue draws 10 for Medford council races Council members in Gold Hill dodge voter recall Bill Pullman campaigns for Oregon GMO labeling law Education Back-to-school shopping can add up RCC program helps prepare Latinos for college SOU launches leadership degree program Medford charter school opens with many changes, including its name Superintendent welcomes staff to a new school year Environment Elusive owls get new home in Cascades Judge won't block release of water Ashland marchers won't give up on climate change message OR-7 could be recollared next month Deadly deer virus may be spreading State news Nation - World Obituaries James (Jim) Michael Giancarlo Janie Sparks Georgia A. 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NW Raw Kelly's Crepes Basil & Berries Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend ... Wind shifts should rid Rogue Valley of smoke ... Saturation patrols planned this weekend ... Firefighting will close part of Lost Creek Lake over Labor Day weekend ... Wind shifts should rid Rogue Valley of smoke ... Saturation patrols planned this weekend ... FOOD Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Social News Offering a variety of crowd-pleasing foods with wood-fired twists, there’s a lot to like at Wild River. It had been a while since I visited the Medford eatery, at 2684 N. Pacific Highway. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The first thing I noticed as I walked in the restaurant is the kitchen and its wood-fired oven. I liked the spacious restaurant’s homey and Northwest-inspired environment. For an appetizer, we started with the restaurant’s cheesy garlic bread ($5.95). The bread is baked in the restaurant and topped with mozzarella cheese before going back in the wood oven and served with marinara sauce. The platter was piping hot with nine hearty pieces to share. Ranch dressing is available on request. We each sampled something different from the menu. I went for the Imperial Stout Burger ($11.95), a half-pound, Angus beef patty on a house-baked roll topped with caramelized onions, roasted cheddar cheese, onions, lettuce, aioli dressing and spicy mustard. Our server recommended Wild River's onion cheese roll to top the burger, but other choices include white or peasant bread, all baked in-house. The burger’s portion was satisfying, and the mustard worked well with the garlic and grilled onion and cheddar cheese flavors. It also came with a generous portion of the restaurant’s unique pub fries. One of my friends went for the Cajun Penne ($13.95). This dish takes the restaurant’s house-made pasta and adds blackened chicken and cajun-style ham in a cream sauce with gouda cheese and spinach. I took a bite, and appreciated the way the fresh pasta, spinach and spicy cream sauce worked together. The creamy dish is rather rich, but the combination of flavors seemed rare, and it’s definitely on my list to order again. My other friend opted for a small “Spirit of America” pizza ($15.70). The all-meat pizza featured Canadian style bacon, pepperoni and linguica on a thin wood-fired crust with marinara sauce. To my mind, the way a pizza is cut shouldn’t affect the way it tastes, but somehow the criss-cross grid pattern Wild River uses better complements the pizza, particularly at the crust’s edges. For dessert, my friends split the Kona Coffee Mud Pie, and I went for the bread pudding. The mud pie was a generous slice perfect for sharing with an Oreo crust, rich coffee chocolate cream filling and topped with whipped cream. My bread pudding was a smaller portion, served warm and topped with a buttery whiskey sauce. The sauce itself was rich and sweet, which was fine for the first couple of bites. Our server noted that there was more sauce on the pudding than usual, and took the dessert off of our bill. We had a great experience at Wild River. Between the friendly service and large portions of fresh food, there’s plenty to recommend. — Nick Morgan MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 29, 2014 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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