Walla Walla and Benton City Two Columbia Basin Winery Restaurants Vie for USA TODAY 10BEST Honors as Voting Opens
Two local spots, The Kitchen at Abeja and Vineyard Grill, are up for USA TODAY’s 10BEST. Cast your vote by July 20 to support WA wine country.
Prajakta Sanjay Warwadkar 
Local Winery Restaurants Vie for National Recognition
WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Two staples of the Columbia Basin culinary scene have officially cracked the national stage. The Kitchen at Abeja in Walla Walla and the Vineyard Grill at Terra Blanca in Benton City are now competing in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards for 2026.
This isn’t just a popularity contest for local wine lovers. It is a nod to a shift in how our region handles hospitality.
The competition highlights winery restaurants that actually care about food-and-wine pairing rather than just serving a sad cheese plate to keep people sober. An expert panel curated a list of 20 nominees, and our local spots made the cut.
The Contenders
The Kitchen at Abeja is swinging for the fences. They’re running five-course and seven-course prix fixe menus that focus heavily on Pacific Northwest ingredients. It’s ambitious, to say the least.
Then there is the Vineyard Grill at Terra Blanca. Located in Benton City, they take a different approach. Their menu relies on:
- Small bites designed for patio sipping.
- Various charcuterie boards.
- Brick-oven flatbreads that actually pair with their estate-grown vintages.
Look, you don’t have to be a sommelier to appreciate a good view. The Vineyard Grill offers a direct look at the Lower Yakima Valley, which is arguably one of the best office views in the state.
How to Weigh In
Voting is open right now, but don’t wait until the last minute. The polls close on Monday, July 20.
The truth is, these online awards are usually dominated by the Napa crowd or big-money tourism boards, so if you want to see Washington represented, you actually have to put in the work. You can vote once every 24 hours until the deadline. USA TODAY plans to drop the final winners’ list on Wednesday, July 29.
Why This Matters for the Basin
What’s interesting is how far the local industry has come. Ten years ago, finding a decent meal at a winery here felt like a stroke of luck. Now, the quality of these kitchens is becoming a primary draw for tourism.
Here’s the thing: while national awards can feel a bit arbitrary, they do put a spotlight on the regional economy. When a place like Abeja or Terra Blanca gets recognized nationally, the whole valley gets a bump in visibility. It’s hard to argue with that kind of exposure, even if the voting process is a bit of a grind.
If you’re planning on voting, just head to the 10BEST website. Whether or not they win, it’s a good excuse to go grab a glass of wine and support a local business before the voting window slams shut.
Source: Hospitalitycareerprofile.com
