http://www.chow.com/boards/64 Thu, 16 May 2013 02:34:18 GMT Keep track of the lastest threads on Chowhound http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902161#8086100 thanks so much! i will def check it out. i appreciate you taking the time to reply! southbysouthwest Mon, 20 May 2013 18:52:10 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902161#8086100 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900182#8086031 Portland has great breweries. I agree with others and would not hit full sail. But you could always do a hike in the gorge, and either drink in hood river where pfriem brewery and double mountain are (both amazing and way better than full sail). Or if you didn't want to make the drive all the way out to hood river (as there are plenty of hikes in the gorge before you hit hood river) you could always do a hike (angels rest is amazing) then cross the bridge of the gods into Washington and hit up walking man brewing then head west and hit Amnesia (theres a new one, I think in wasugal) and keep going west and head through Vancouver (Vancouver is not amazing in itself, but there a 3 newer breweries there) and drink your way back to Portland. In Portland proper, I would recommend checking out: -Apex (good beer selection, but they are not a brewery) -Belmont station (same as above, but they have an excellent bottle selection as well) -Hopworks has great beer and okay food -Lompoc also has good beer and okay food -Cascade barrel house (good sour beers) -Basecamp brewing -upright is fun, but if you want their beer and good food go to Grain and Gristle, upright owns them and they have excellent food. That's just a few breweries, head to the Oregon brewers guild website and check out their events section. Also if you can make it to a beer makes dinner while you are here that's a great way to have a good dinner and good beer. East burn has them and they are called beer belly dinners. They are $40 a ticket for a 5 course beer paired meal. There are also fancier ones at other restaurants around town. For treats, please don't go to voodoo, I can't think of a worse way to spend your time in Portland. It's really just a doughnut. Salt and Straw, or really any of those hand crafted ice cream places are good. Pix patisserie is lovely. For dinner, Mextica is amazing, Luce is also good. Andina is $$$ but lovely. I have never been blown away with Tasty and Sons. Podnahs pit BBQ is really good. Lincoln is nice, then you could head over to the box social after for a amazing cocktail. Oh also the Farm is yummy! For lunch, our carts are great. Hit the ones on the east side for the most original interesting food for cheap. There is a cluster on Belmont around 45thish, also some on Hawthorn. Seriously make sure to hit the carts! As for Brunch, Portland is really known for this meal. Expect to wait in a line for anything that is good. Here is a list of my favorites: -Tin shed -Gravy -Pine State biscuits (yum!) -screen door Hope that helps! srosing Mon, 20 May 2013 18:23:39 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900182#8086031 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901225#8085947 Great plan! Call Wafu/ROE and request the chef's counter. It is always fun to chat with the chef's while they create the magic! We were there late on Friday night. YUM! DanielLP Mon, 20 May 2013 17:57:15 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901225#8085947 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902578#8085887 You should go to the websites for these places and check things like hours/menus - some things will decide themselves... Podnah's only does brunch on Sat. and Sun. Slappy Cakes is not open for dinner. Personally, I would not do happy hour anywhere if I was going to dinner at Ox or Tanuki (there's so much food to eat at these places - I have a big appetite and am not a small person, and I would never be able to do it)...and to have those on the same list...well, I love them both but they are very different. Do you want to hang out in a dark dive bar with Japanese/Korean omakase and soft porn on the TV and classic pinball machines and a great sake list or do you want to have an upscale expensive steak dinner with kick-ass service, great cocktails and sides? I've seen kids in Spints for brunch, and I'd pick it over Interurban for almost any meal...though Interurban does have a nice outside seating area, if setting is more important than food. If you are going to Courier, why would you get coffee eslewhere? Again...dinner at a pool hall OR Tannery Bar (which is tiny and has a super small menu) OR an upscale small Italian restaurant...I don't know what to tell you - if it is about food, go to DOC, if it is about playing pool, go to the pool hall, if you are interested in cocktails and a few small plates go to Tannery Bar... Great dinner choices with a kid include: -Sunshine Tavern (great comfort food, pizza, burgers, steak frites, fried oysters; great cocktails; etc.) Owned by the smae folks who own Lincoln, btw. http://sunshinepdx.com/ -Mi Mero Mole - different than you have had - this is a Mexico City guisados (stews) joint with great margaritas (a super tequila/mescal list, and great non-alcoholic choices), handmade tortillas, and AWESOME food (owner is a friend of mine, but I eat there (and pay full price for it) about once a week). http://mmmtacospdx.com/ Dove Vivi and Sok Sab Bai are both good, and both OK for kids. Have fun! JillO Mon, 20 May 2013 17:37:11 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902578#8085887 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902468#8083248 The first was the best: Levant, especially the sardine stuffed w, quinoa, nicely glazed, and wrapped in grape leaf; the wonderfully generous and flavorful evening's "whole beast" lamb, two cuts served on fresh peas and more; and the amazing three slices of caramelized phyllo holding firm, flavorful labneh--garnished with lightly cooked dried apricots. Also the best wine I tasted, a Trisaetum Willamette Valley Riesling ('11, I think). The other dishes were good, if less memorable. Second was a v. busy Sat. night at Toro Bravo, where 4 of us ate through about a third of the menu, but about which I have few clear memories, except that items were pretty generous and tasty, with original touches that did not match my previous tapas experiences. I particularly liked the octopus dish and the squid ink pasta as well as the desserts (pretty much all garnished with delicious ice creams). Sorry I can't say more, but I was a guest and don't have the check to jog my food-clogged memory. Also, I can't relate well to food in an extremely noisy and rather dark atmosphere. Third was a return to Kenny and Zuke's, which I'd enjoyed four years ago but found sad this time: paper thin, dry pastrami on stale rye on a Sun. eve; an equally diet-worthy Reuben with undetectable sauerkraut--each sandwich garnished with a single sliced dill pickle with no offer of more; a passable potato knish; marvelous cole slaw ordered counter to the waiter's recommendation--very tart and seeming to contain, deliberately or accidentally, a few strands of the aforementioned sauerkraut; and a waiter who admitted to both distaste for and little familiarity with this type of food. Fourth was lunch at a place I'd chosen specifically because it stated it smoked its own wild salmon, which the waiter neglected to inform us till two of us had ordered different preparations containing it that the kitchen was out of it. I guess part of the lesson is not to eat out the day after Mother's Day, but shouldn't pros plan ahead? We made do splitting a grass-fed hamburger so strongly garnished the meat flavor was drowned. Good side of rosemary-garlic potatoes, odd-tasting "fresh fruit" cup, overall pretty disappointing. Last, chosen by a local, was Nostrana, which I shouldn't really comment much on because I'm no fan of Tuscan cooking. I enjoyed my Cattail Creek Lamb Mixed Grill, served on a delicious puree of butternut squash--like everything here, rich--and garnished with onion scapes. A generous, buttery, rhubarb-strawberry crisp, which had to be ordered midmeal, was excellent and enough for two. I tasted the crab pizza, but the piece I got had virtually no crab. The dough was fine. My two other Northwest meals were in Seattle. Fine Sun, 19 May 2013 02:21:35 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902468#8083248 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900784#8082475 Thanks for the link to UBC, first I've heard of it. I love the sound of the current regional Mexican menu, and $30 is a steal. Definitely on the list for our fifth trip to Portland next month -- wonder what the theme for June will be?? And for the OP, we went for lunch at Wildwood last year and were very underwhelmed. grayelf Sat, 18 May 2013 17:28:26 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900784#8082475 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/885029#8080242 Finally made it to Courier's. The guys in there were very nice. They showed me their cannele pan and described the technique to make them. The canneles were good. Outer crust was very crispy. Don't remember what the interior was like but they were not creamy like St Jack. I can't compare them to the rest of the list because it's been so long since I had the others [sad face]. Now only Ken's remain to be tasted. pdxgastro Fri, 17 May 2013 07:33:59 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/885029#8080242 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900069#8080233 Another favorite of mine (got to meet the owner last time and chat with him in Italian) is Ethiopian food at E'Njoni Cafe, 910 N Killingsworth St Portland, OR 97217. (503) 286-1401 pdxgastro Fri, 17 May 2013 07:16:24 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900069#8080233 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902008#8075053 A friend and I are spending a week around Seattle and Portland this summer. (Probably 3 days in Seattle, 2 in Portland, and 2 somewhere near the beach or the Willamette Valley). I've done a bunch of research, but I'm having trouble narrowing down meal options. I'd love any input. The biggest restrictions are: -I can't eat gluten, but I don't require a separate gluten-free kitchen. Trace amounts of wheat don't bother me very much. -We're on a budget. I'd like to spend less than $20 each at lunch and less than $40 each at dinner. Exceptions can be made for a few truly amazing meals, and alternately I hope some meals will cost even less than this. Besides these restrictions, we're pretty open. I love seafood -- are there any oyster bars with happy hour specials? I also love Japanese, Mexican, middle eastern / mediterranean... pretty much any ethnic food. Thanks for any ideas. (cross-posted to Seattle) nyc_to_ma Tue, 14 May 2013 20:43:57 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/902008#8075053 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899434#8071972 I get to visit Portland occasionally and happened to drop by the pod of food carts on SE Belmont and SE 43rd (called Good Food Here). With my travel partner, I sampled a few different items from several food carts there. It was around noon on a Sunday and not all the carts were open. Malasadas from Namu, a Korean/Hawaiian place (1/2 dozen for $4) -- we both liked them, they were fresh and soft, a little oily. Chicken and waffles from Cackalack's Hot Chicken Shack. I really liked the chicken on this, but the waffle was not impressive. It came with a side of fries, which made it a good deal for $8.50, but far too much food. I wouldn't mind trying a fried chicken sandwich next time. Lefse with butter and honey from Viking Soul Food ($2.50). I didn't have the stomach to get one of the lefse wraps, but I took a butter and honey one to go and it was lovely. I would go back to this pod just for the lefse. Next time I would try the savory #1, and their seasonal sweet wrap was rhubarb and chevre. Although as a disclaimer, I've never had lefse anywhere else so I have no frame of reference. I thought they were delicious here. Their lingonberry iced tea was very tasty and not too sweet, according to my dining partner (he ordered a second cup!). My companion got chicken wings from Cackalack's to go and tried them later -- he approved. He got a biscuit sandwich from Blue City Biscuits(?) and the biscuit was really good, but didn't contain enough ham to balance it out. http://www.goodfoodherebelmont.com/ calmossimo Mon, 13 May 2013 06:59:35 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899434#8071972 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/858686#8068107 Roe has made some great changes to the list recently. We enjoyed the 10 course a week ago with pairings and thought it was well worth it. We have eaten the 4 as well and came away happy as well. Ate at WAFU at the chef's counter two nights ago and love it as well. The menu is evolving a great deal now that Daniel Mondok is heading that side of the kitchen. DanielLP Fri, 10 May 2013 16:52:09 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/858686#8068107 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901400#8067452 Thanks very much. I'm intrigued by your suggestion to go to Sisters. I was planning on parking the car and finding good stuff within walking distance. It's safer also considering all the local brews I want to try! But this is good. Do they take reservations? coliwoggle Fri, 10 May 2013 04:34:52 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901400#8067452 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901386#8065226 hello everyone - i will be visiting greater Pdx soon - where can i buy Diet Rite COLA flavor in cans? i think i have seen it at Target but sometimes they are out of stock i am pretty sure that it is NOT at Safeway. is it at Albertsons? Is there one in that neighborhood? thank you - it's one of those things that we don't have in our country - most of us have TJ's lists and Target lists for our cross-border shopping! thank you in advance Georgia Strait Thu, 09 May 2013 01:08:07 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901386#8065226 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901344#8064631 It's high school but it's the baby. :) Fancy is okay, casual too, but fun and/or celebratory atmosphere is great. Thanks! savage39 Wed, 08 May 2013 20:34:43 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901344#8064631 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901200#8062767 Firehouse has lovely outdoor seating (NE) The Farm Cafe has a great happy hour to go with their nice outdoor seating (E Burnside, south side of street) JillO Tue, 07 May 2013 21:49:15 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/901200#8062767 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900672#8058335 If you are willing to walk up to 15-20 minutes, that could be up to a mile away, depending on your walking speed. We live downtown and routinely think nothing of walking that far for dinner, so if this also describes you, then you have many options in addition to those already mentioned. Little Bird and Gruner, for example are both about a mile away. Imperial would be a bit closer. Departure and Urban Farmer are near Pioneer Square. In terms of "convenience", closer is probably better, and VQ, Nel Centro, Higgins, and maybe Raven & Rose probably fit the bill. cobpdx Sun, 05 May 2013 18:08:47 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900672#8058335 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900880#8058139 Mezze is actually quite good. But they are Lebanese Christians I am pretty sure, so probably not Halal. They do have a telephone. Nice people, but the atmosphere sucks. The nice thing is they are not owned by the single family that owns 95% of this towns "middle-eastern" places...all of which are mediocre at best, and most share the same tired recipes. My opinion, of course. Good luck finding any place decent in this town for the brunch you've described. People in Portland seem to love standing in line. On second thought, they mostly stand in line for mediocre stuff (Por Que No, Voodoo Doughnuts, etc), so a really good place may not have a line! Try (they have a phone too) Cocotte. You will want to make a reservation for that day. sambamaster Sun, 05 May 2013 16:20:54 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900880#8058139 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900882#8057462 Suggested by friends in Portland. Any comments, please? Fine Sun, 05 May 2013 00:48:57 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900882#8057462 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/894854#8056253 I'm gonna stick with my recommendation of Rama Thai. If you order off the "regular" menu, you may get average chow. But only the uninformed do that. Stick with the "off menu" items, mostly those on the white board, and most of those are in Thai. That is where the good food is. They must be in Thai for a reason, and it isn't to please the hipster "Pok Pokers" who may wander in by accident. The folks are fantastic, so have them translate the boards, have them recommend something. It may not be LA, but it's still the best in Portland, in my opinion. Lines at Pok Pok=lines at Por Que No (stupidly awful taco places in Portland). Just my opinion. (I've not been to LA for Thai, nor to Thailand, but I've eaten at some amazing places in Queens NY and Madam Mam's/Sap's in Austin, a few others, and an amazing dump of a place in Wichita KS owned by a Lao/Thai couple that would kick Pok Pok's ass any day of the week.) sambamaster Sat, 04 May 2013 04:43:27 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/894854#8056253 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900370#8050860 Thanks for the Nostrana recommendation. Meat plans a good role on their menu! I would like to eat at Le Pigeon, but it does not seems meat focused enough. I have never been. Do you recommend it? zinfanatic Wed, 01 May 2013 20:32:16 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900370#8050860 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/896889#8048535 We will be hitting Castagna and Noisette here soon for a comparison...but I have a hard time imagining that they will rival what we recently had at Roe. cobpdx Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:37:19 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/896889#8048535 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899786#8047960 Courier Coffee is not too far away and has some interesting drinks (not just coffee). I wonder if they will be doing iced teas with their wonderful teas when the weather gets a bit warmer? grayelf Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:13:55 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899786#8047960 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900093#8045915 Life of Riley in the Pearl. I think they have above average pub grub. MyNextMeal Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:06:14 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/900093#8045915 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/897494#8045282 We liked the upstairs bar more than the restaurant, but the dinner was decent, too. I'd recommend having a drink before heading out elsewhere... dmelody Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:41:09 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/897494#8045282 http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899055#8045279 Imperial breakfast is solid but not spectacular. Any day but Monday I'd recommend Mother's for a downtown breakfast, or the egg sandwich at Bunk. For lunch sandwich options, you can't go wrong at Bunk or Lardo, but here's an under-the-radar old scholl suggestion: the Italian Sub at Martinotti's. One of t he best sandwiches in town. dmelody Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:38:43 GMT http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/899055#8045279