Lunch at Mercato
May 15, 2008
Mercato is vintage London mod meets urban contemporary. And it’s very very orange. The dining area is really spacious and all the chairs and couches are orange, Read more
Blue Gardenia Bakery & Coffee Roasters
May 14, 2008
Not many places roast coffee this way. Blue Gardenia buys their beans seasonally and from a “single origin,” meaning all from one region. When we bought a pound of their Read more
Grand Central Bowl
May 13, 2008
OK, Grand Central Bowl is, cosmetically speaking at least, a huge step up from the old establishment. When you first walk in you could swear you’re somewhere in the heart Read more
Siam Society
May 12, 2008
Some enterprising individuals have converted what was once an old electrical station on Alberta Street into a great Thai restaurant. The night my friends and I went to check out Siam Society, the food was great but the service was a little slow, albeit friendly and helpful. The cocktail selection was good, with some interesting items like the Jalepeno Pear Cosmo. I recommend a few of those! We shared plates family-style for dinner, ordering the Drunken Noodles, Sexy Beef, Garlic Shrimp and Pnang Curry. Everything was very good except the Sexy Beef which was bland compared to the great flavors of the rest of the dishes. We all agreed the curry was the best dish of the night. The atmosphere was hip and interesting. The dinner was not cheap but not too expensive either: four adults with a few cocktails each and tip for around $200.
Siam Society
2703 NE Alberta St
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 922-3675
Sushi Mania
May 9, 2008
With so many sushi places in Portland, it’s tough to choose. For those of you tired of the restaurant groupies that congregate around hip spots like Yoko’s or Saburo’s, Sushi Mania on NE Broadway offers a welcome relief. At Sushi Mania, most times you can walk right in and get fast friendly service. In addition to the standard sushi fare, they have their own specialty items, a few bottled Asian beers and Deschutes Mirror Pond on tap. I especially recommend the Pink Lady roll.
Sushi Mania
914 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97232
(503) 288-5149
Morrison Hotel Bar
May 9, 2008
Ever since I saw the spot-on Doors album decal on the front window I’d been meaning to check out the Morrison Hotel Bar. And when I finally did, I was back two nights Read more
Uncorked: A Wine Auction
May 7, 2008
On Saturday, May 17th, wine lovers from around the state will gather at the beautiful new Zenith Vineyard event facility in West Salem to raise their glasses and their bids on behalf of children at risk of abuse. Uncorked! is the premier auction of its kind in the Willamette Valley, featuring sought-after wines from top producers and one-of-a-kind travel and culinary opportunities. The event includes a winemakers’ reception with many of our area’s finest producers in attendance, a gourmet multi-course dinner from Vibrant Table paired with wines from critically acclaimed St. Innocent Winery, live and silent auctions, dancing with Portland’s Swingline Cubs and much more. All funds raised will benefit Family Building Blocks’ child abuse prevention programs in Marion and Polk counties. Please call (503) 588-3788 for tickets or more information.
Zenith Vineyard
5657 Zena Rd NW
Salem, OR 97304
(503) 588-3788
http://www.uncorkedwineauction.org
Happy Hour at Jake’s Grill
May 7, 2008
Jake’s Grill is an exercise in displacement. It has the feel of a prim 1950’s hotel restaurant in Chicago or New York. There’s nothing hip about this place. It is meat, potatoes and Read more
Alotto Gelato
May 6, 2008
Right in front of the pig statues on NW 23rd (between Lovejoy and Kearney) you will find Alotto Gelato, one of the true artisans of this Italian specialty in town. Alotto Gelato sports a wide variety of flavors, some classics and some not-so-classic. Over the weekend they had Maple Bacon, which no doubt pays homage to the classic Voodoo Donut gem the Bacon Maple Bar. The first few bites were good, but I think its best to just sample this one so you can say you tasted it. After that, get a nice fruity raspberry or lemon. Enjoy the flavors Alotto Gelato has to offer while people watching on one of the best streets in Portland.
Alotto Gelato
931 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210
(503) 228-1709
Breakfast at Genies
May 5, 2008
If you’ve ever driven past the corner of 11th and Division on a Saturday or Sunday morning surely you’ve noticed the hoards of sleepy looking hipsters huddled in packs on the Read more
