Rifugio’s Country Italian Cuisine is a great spot in Deming, WA to share a bottle of wine and watch the chef prepare you a delicious date night dinner.
For sure one of the best restaurants for a date night in Bellingham. This may even be one of the best restaurants in Whatcom county!
Great date night restaurant in Whatcom County
Rifugio’s Country Italian Cuisine, also known as il cafe rifugios, sits in the countryside along the Mt. Baker Highway outside of Bellingham in the heart of the Cascades overlooking the Deming Heritage Eagle Park.
Executive chef and owner Richard Rifugio has a hands-on approach to dining. With a focus on communal feasting and encouraging interaction between diners.
This is just the sort of place I want to go to for date night. Great ambiance, inventive menu, unrushed service and delicious wine.
This restaurant in it’s unassuming location is an amazing spot to score a top notch Italian inspired meal. A charming, slightly funky, eclectic ambiance. Chef-side service, amazing wine selection and exceptional ingredients at an affordable price. This Whatcom county restaurant will have you returning for more, more often than you’d expect!
I had the honor of living in the beautiful valley that Rifugio’s sits in for many years. Making it easily accessible to stop in to this rare gem of a restaurant in Whatcom county. But even if you are not local and are coming from further away you will not mind the drive at all. Whether coming from highway 9 or from Bellingham on highway 542 the drive is a beautiful scenic one.
I recommend you choose a seat at the bar and order a glass, or bottle, of wine.
Or join them for a Rifugio’s Feast Dinner, a monthly private multi coursed chef’s dinner that is by reservation only.
About
Rifugio’s in Deming, WA is owned by a couple with both Taiwainese and Sicilian roots. And they pride themselves on offering down home comfort food with Italian inspiration.
Rifugio’s opened in 2008 as a espresso cafe offering coffee, wine, beer and fresh pressed panini sandwiches to hungry locals and weekend outdoor enthusiasts after remodeling the old bar diner that stood before it in the awkward blink-and-you-might-miss it spot off Mount Baker highway. And has evolved to a casual dining establishment open for dinner on Friday and Saturday and brunch/lunch on Sunday.
Although small Rifugio’s does accept reservations. Actually, they encourage them in order to be able to plan ahead and provide the best service possible. Which makes this an amazing location for a small celebration dinner party or special intimate date night.
Menu
An inventive seasonal menu with delicious rotating options, but typically you can find something like the following on the menu.
- 20 ounce bone in rib chop
- Homemade deep fried pierogies in bolognese sauce
- Maine lobster with seafood risotto
- Lasagne – order ahead and pickup with a loaf of bread on your way up for a weekend at Mount Baker ski area.
- House made homemade bread
- Amazing wine list – they’ve even been known to have $6 house red on tap!
Location
5415 Mt Baker Hwy Deming, WA 98244
Located directly off the Mount Baker Highway in Deming, WA. You can stop by Xtreme Bean on the way up to skiing at Mt Baker Ski Area. Then make Rifugio’s your spot to stop for a romantic dinner afterwards. Or while hiking in the area or staying at Silver Lake Park or any of the surrounding campgrounds in the area.
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