Hey Whitman! It’s Family Weekend! That means it’s the perfect time to sample Walla Walla’s finest restaurants with the fam’.

Here are my picks. ¡Buen Provecho!

Brasserie Four (4 East Main St. $10-$25, not for vegans, so-so for vegetarians)
With a daily menu thoughtfully designed around ingredient availability, well-made French cuisine and a great wine list, Brasserie Four is my first choice for fine dining, especially within easy strolling distance from campus. You’re going to want a reservation because it fills up fast! Try the French onion soup: it’s my favorite.

Taqueria Yungapeti (320 South 9th Ave. $5, vegetarian friendly)
You may be tempted to take advantage of a non-student budget this weekend, but don’t overlook the Taq! Your family will love the deliciously fresh Mexican food, and it’s a great place to eat if you are in a rush to catch the play or the sunset over the wheat fields. I always get two Walla Walla tacos con pollo and an horchata. Yum!

Tommy’s Dutch Lunch (1203 West Pine St. $10, not for vegans)
While Clarette’s reigns supreme over many Whitman hearts, give Tommy’s a try. Featuring your standard breakfast staples, Tommy’s is a salt-of-the-earth kind of place that’s straight out of the 1940’s. I’d recommend getting an early start, especially on the weekends, because this place fills up with devoted regulars. It’s worth it though; the French toast is melt-in-your-mouth good.

The Colville Street Patisserie (40 South Colville St. $2-$8 for most desserts, vegetarian friendly)
What Family Weekend would be complete without a trip (or two or three) to the Patisserie? The Patisserie has a wide variety of artfully crafted cakes, flakey pastries and divine gelato in both standard and adventurous flavors (think Schezuan, geranium and basil). Its pleasant atmosphere and light-filled space is a sure parent-pleaser and its pumpkin spice lattes are amazing. Bonus points for sourcing ingredients locally and seasonally. Savor a hazelnut macaroon for me!