Just moved to Portland
We moved to Portland from Florida 3 weeks ago, and so far, we're in love with Piazza Italia, Le Happy, Vegetarian House (chinese). Swagat (in NW) was good, better than anything we found in FL for sure but everything was a little salty. I like Laughing Planet's veggie chili, and their chips are nice and fresh, but it's all a little crunchy granola hippie....vegetarian food doesn't necessarily have to have TVP :-P The Old Pharmacy Cafe has good bagels (I'm a native New Yorker) but no salt ones and no scallion cream cheese. Mother's Bistro's brunch was great, and I have to respect a place that Fed Exes H&H bagels, but again, no salt bagels (so we passed and got challah french toast and the special whipped cream cheese and salmon scramble, yum).
So, PDXers, we'd like this coming month to be one great meal after another. Tell me the top 5 restaurants that would be a shonda to miss. In particular, I'd love to know where to find:
- Some really great Indian food (that's not too heavily salted like Swagat)
- A NY-style (boiled) salt bagel with scallion cream cheese
- Exciting raw cuisine (as in, raw vegan)
- The best tomato soup in town
- Best Thai food in town
- A restaurant that's open late and has an interesting, varied menu (near us in FL, there was a place with gorgonzola tortelloni, a spring roll & herb plate, and watermelon gazpacho...)
- Some good pizza!!! (we went to Escape from New York Pizza on 23rd and I didn't like it....too much gummy cheese. Felt like I was chewing mozzarella-flavored BubbleYum. I miss Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. And Ray's everywhere in Manhattan.)
- Best Japanese
- Any other not-to-be-missed foodgasm-inducing places
I'm a partial pescetarian (I sounded so less pretentious before I started eating some fish again - basically I'm vegetarian but will eat raw tuna or cooked salmon), like spicy food, love cheese. The fiance has similar tastes but isn't vegetarian - kielbasa and kobe beef are on his tops (he doesn't eat meat often but when he does it's got to be good...). We both hate shellfish. Like surprising/unusual combinations of foods (the ones that work) and also classic dishes done exceptionally well (duh...well, you try explaining your taste in food!) Basically we are open to most things as long as there are some vegetarian options on the menu.
Enlighten us and thanks in advance!
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SauceSupreme
Jun 19, 2008 11:40 AM
ExtraMSG's Portland tip sheet will help:
http://www.extramsg.com/uploaded_misc...
I always warn people that while all the recommendations are solid, it's intentionally incomplete as to encourage personal exploration.
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porky pine
Jun 19, 2008 10:59 AM
Breakfast- Genies, Tin Shed
Happy Hour- Roux has a good new menu, I like Miss Delta too, southern style wth good veg. options
Thai- Siam society, Khum pic Bahn Thai, Mai Thai
Bar- Bye and Bye, Pretty simple menu but all vegan and nice cocktails and space
Pizza- Appiza Scholls is way better then Kens.
Sushi- Hiroshis, Murata or Masu
Dinner- Alberta Street Oyster Bar, Lovely Hula hands, they both have lots of meat but always have really good pescatarian options
Indian- Vindahlo, Chennai Masala -
Monday nights at Ken's Artisan in NW is Pizza night, Yum!
No matter what people say, I still love Bombay Cricket Club on Hawthorne for Indian. Plainfield Mayur is great but a little pricey for Indian food.
Definitely try Blossoming Lotus for Vegetarian. Breakfast at Paradox on Belmont also good veg food and funky place. Nicholas on Grand and Fat Kitty on Division for great falafel.
I agree with the Pok Pok votes. -
JillO
Jun 19, 2008 08:18 AM
Pizza - Apizza Scholls on SE Hawthorne, no I no longer feel I need to go to Bklyn for good pizza
Japanese - Izakaya food: Tanuki, biwa; sushi: Murata, Hiroshi, Masu East
Thai - Pok Pok, Dang's (in Lake O.)
deli/bagels - Kenny and Zuke's (not sure about salt, but they might make you a dozen or two special if you ask)
Indian - Tandoor
Raw Vegan - nutshell, Blossoming Lotus
great Cuban (and a great dessert case) - Pambiche
tomato soup - Blue Plate (downtown, lunch only), No Fish Go Fish
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