My cousin Robyn and I (and now a couple other friends as well) have made a solemn pact to chew our way through Portland, i.e., identify (and eat in) restaurants and other food emporiums in glassland, i.e., Portland, the surrounding burbs and Vancouver, WA.
Our restaurants should (mostly) fit the following criteria:
- Reasonable driving, walking or metro’ing distance from downtown Portland
- The food is in some way memorable, hopefully in a good way
- You don’t need to take out a third mortgage on the house (or sell offspring) to eat there (although we’re occasionally succumbing to the temptation to empty the wallet)
- The ambience says something besides “airport bathroom,” i.e., it’s not in a food court
How hard can that be?
So far, not very. Here’s where I (and at least one companion) have been so far:
Asian/Indian
- Abhiruchi (Indian)
- Arawan (Thai)
- Dragonfish Asian Cafe (Fusion Asian)
- India Grill (Indian)
- Koji Osakaya (Japanese)
- Mio Sushi (Japanese)
- PeemKaew Thai in the Pearl (Thai)
- PokPok (Thai)
- Sushi Takahashi (Japanese)
- Swagat (Indian)
- Thailand Restaurant (Thai)
- Typhoon (Thai)
- Vindalho (Indian)
- Wong’s King Seafood (Chinese)
- Yuki Japanese Restaurant (Japanese)
Breakfast/brunch
Coffee/dessert
- Backspace
- Costello’s Travel Caffe
- Papa Haydn’s
- Staccato Gelato
- Stumptown Coffee
- Sweet Masterpieces Coffee and Chocolate
- Sydney’s
- Tilly’s Gelato
European
- Alexis (Greek)
- Gustav’s Bier Stube (German hofbrau)
- Nicola’s (Italian)
- Nostrana Italian
- Press Club (Sorta Tuscan)
- Veritable Quandary (French-ish)
- Who Stole My Dead Husband? (Italian dinner theatre)
Latin American
- Andina (Peruvian/Andean)
- Muchas Gracias (Tex-Mex)
- Pambiche (Cuban)
Middle Eastern/African
- Blue Nile (Ethiopian)
- Marrakesh (Moroccan)
- Nicholas (Lebanese)
- Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian)
Northwestern/”New”
- Bread & Ink Cafe
- Fishwife
- Jake’s Famous Crawfish
- Paley’s Place
- Savoy Tavern & Bistro
- Skyline Drive-in
- Wildwood
Soup/sandwiches
- Burgerville
- Nancy’s Kitchen
- New Seasons Market
- Old Wives Tale
- Press Club
- Rose’s Deli and Bakery
- Savoy Tavern & Bistro
- Skyline Drive-in
- Whole Foods
Anyone who knows of a great place in Portland to eat, gimmea holler, post a comment, whatever. I’ll send in the team (my belly and whoever it can grab for company) and get there eventually.
Our “gotta try” list so far (and please feel free to give your impessions of these or suggest others):
- Hoda’s, small Lebanese restaurant on S.W. Belmont (approximately 33rd and Belmont)
- Abou Karim close to Burnside and close to the Willamette
- Yasmin on Beaverton Hillsdale highway
- Plainfield’s Mayur, an Indian restaurant
- Nob Hill Cafe
- Tabla
- Yam-Yams
- Simpatica Dining Hall
- Broder
- Navarre
- Beast
- PB & Ellie’s Cafe
- Albina Press
- Tiny’s
- Sip & Kranz
- Legin
- Biscuits
- Cadillac Cafe
- Esan Thai
- Powell’s Seafood
- Gravy
- Legin
- Higgins
- Bijou Cafe
- Cafe Castagna
- World Cup
- Pantanegra
Would love to find a GOOD Mexican restaurant (and having grown up in central California, I’m picky). Also seeking good Persian, Afghani, Armenian, East African, Indian, Northwestern, vegetarian. Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks–
–cynthia
3 responses so far ↓
1 Lynice // Dec 5, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Hi Cynthia - Just want to chime in and agree with you on Burgerville and Typhoon. I love that Burgerville uses locally produced ingredients and Natural Country Beef (no hormones, no cows eating cows, etc.) And Typhoon, I’ve been to several locations and have never been disappointed in anything I’ve ever ordered.
2 Ed LaPlante // Feb 18, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Have you tried the Delta Cafe on Woodstock around 52nd Ave? Southern food, heavy, gravy, well prepared, lots to eat, moderate to cheap pricing, PBR and Mickey’s Big Mouth beer (along with some micros).
Very eclectic decor and server attire, lots of Reedies work and eat here. Lighting by Mexican prayer candles, tables are 50’s chrome and glass, also some booths. Can be loud at times, the client base is student and blue collar, whole family units eat here.
We try and go every month or so, always a stop for out of town guests.
Favorites are white trash meatloaf, mom’s friend chicken, red bean and rice, coleslaw, mac and cheese, tater tot casserole.
Desert looks good, pecan or sweet potato pie but we never have room to try some.
3 Cynthia Morgan // Feb 21, 2008 at 12:58 am
Thanks, Ed. I’ll add it to our list to try!
Leave a Comment