Chow Down

[Gemme]

Originally Posted by SassyLeo

There are a bunch of amazing restaurants in Portland... especially breakfast joints. We love breakfast around here.

One of my favorites is Toast. It is a small place...but very homey. The owner is a guy who has worked in a bunch of restaurants in town and finally wanted to start one in his own neighborhood. And he works too. Seriously the guy must drink copious amounts of coffee...he is always ON.

He focuses on fresh, local ingredients.

Organic locally roasted coffee delivered by bike.

Specials of the day/week based on produce in season from CSA's.

Meat from local farmers (organic grass fed, etc)

And the staff are right on bringing you coffee, making suggestions, etc.

It is the perfect neighborhood breakfast joint.

I hear they make a mean bloody mary. I don't like tomato juice so, I admire from afar.

This is what I order the most:

The Occasional Hedonist
Sweet onion tart topped with two poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce. add rosti or sautéed greens.

http://www.toastpdx.com/

It is a wee bit more $$ because of the above, but SO worth it.

The rhubarb french toast sounds lovely!

[Queerasfck]

Lefty's Chicago Pizzaria http://www.leftyspizza.com/ is tiny inside, there are only about four tables and some counter seating for a few more and also a little bit of seating outside. Although the people that work there are super friendly and the place is decked out all in Chi town sports memorabilia you don't go there for the ambiance you go there for the pizza. They have thin crust pizza that's square, deep dish and stuffed crust. You can order it by the slice too. Order at the counter or better yet call in and take out. There phone number is in my celly address book, no joke.

Lefty's pizza makes THE MOST AWESOME stuffed crust pizza ever! I recommend the Monsters of the Midway. It has sausage, pepperoni, hot giardiniera, elephant garlic and three pounds of mozza. Usually I can only eat one slice because it is HUGE so it's best to share. It's also fantastic the next day for breakfast.
They also have Chicago style hot dogs, polish sausage and all the fixins, brews and some cheap wine. Definitely one of my favorites in San Diego.

[firie]

I swear, I have had Thai food in quite a few countries, and I think some of the best is right here in Austin.

Quaint, perfect for a quick lunch, best service ever, freshest tofu in the entire city, and most affordable for quality Thai, and so quite worth a visit. Yummy. Titaya's.

Also really love this vegetarian "chain" in NYC: Candle Cafe and Candle 79. Heavenly.

And then there are breakfast tacos, which I find, the best, are Austin owned, and the cheapest at that. Tamale House by far is the quickest, cheapest and some of the tastiest breakfast tacos around. And the salsa takes the prize, I find, for just being perfect with the tacos they make. On any given weekend day, people flock to the place from as early as 6:30 am to noon or 1 or so, when there is a line out the door, as all the Austin hipsters/musicians have finally woken up, taken a bong hit, and think of Tamale House to melt away their hangovers. Tacos are only 85 cents, salsa is free and you can have as much as you want. Cash only. It's awesome.

[SassyLeo]

Originally Posted by June

Mothers Bistro I only ever have the Ribeye, garlic mashed and sauteed spinach here. I love the decor and the staff. The owner has a great personal story and just put out a cookbook this year. She also owns Mama Mia's next door. Hands down the best Chicken Marsala I have ever eaten.

For Family Dinners, Graduations, Birthdays, etc. Tad's is usually my first pick. Fresh sourdough rolls with real butter, relish trays with baby corns! Excellent bloody mary's. I have either the pan fried oysters, ribeye or prime rib.

I'm a creature of habit, and generally order the same thing every time. I also will not wait in line for breakfast, that's just stupid. My favorite breakfast place here in Portland is Besaws where I usually have the Wild Salmon Scramble. Unless there's a line, then I get huffy and go back home.

Sassy is much more patient than I am, so she gets out more. How's that, EZ?

Posting On Command While Cranky,
June

June-y has talked about Mother's since I moved here. We finally went when Waldo was in town awhile back. The food was divine. We loved the waiter!!! He had great stories and was really funny.

I cannot remember what I ordered, which is now frustrating me. But I do know that we shared an amazing piece of cake...and I have a pic of it somewhere...

yes:

[Chancie]

Originally Posted by June'y

Mothers Bistro I only ever have the Ribeye, garlic mashed and sauteed spinach here.

<snip>

Posting On Command While Cranky,
June

Where's that place where we had big drinks?

[Chancie]

We had a lot of fun here.

[Queerasfck]

Originally Posted by Chancie

We had a lot of fun here.

Omcheeeeeeeeeeeeez, went to the website and was surprised to read the sauce recipe just like my grandmother used to make!! It's always nice too, when someone calls spagetti sauce "gravy". Reminds me of my roots.
Mangia, indeed your Aunt Suzie knows what's up!

[firie]

Really excellent Thai in NYC, East Village: Holy Basil

Sip Sak is some great Turkish food in NYC.

Way overpriced, and horrid service, but my best friend and I used to go here in NYC which is spectacular, because the view overlooks central park at Columbus Circle. You can make it somewhat affordable by sharing appetizers. We go for the Martinis there. Here is an image of the bar, as the lounge is kinda swank and impressive, and then the rest of it is pretty much solid window for looking out onto the park: Stone Rose Lounge.

~~~
And I know this isn't exactly a restaurant, but the Skeff Bar in Galway, Ireland is one of my favorite spots. This bar is incredible (it's actually like three or four) and there is a small restaurant that accompanies it, I believe, but I've never eaten there. Here. Best Guinness ever!

[SassyLeo]

Another place I like to go is >Chez Machin<

I found this little gem when I first moved to Portland just randomly wandering around in one of the neat neighborhoods we have, Hawthorne.

The restaurant is quaint and comfy. They decorate in the traditional "French" way...play french music, etc.

What I love about this place is the staff are really kind and always seem really happily mellow. They have great suggestions, are very patient with my weird food ordering ways...And the food is just good. Always good. It never wavers.

They have the best french onion soup I have ever had...so tasty.

They have lots of crepes (which are VERY popular here) but I typically order:
Croque Monsieur-Grilled Emmentaller swiss cheese, Black Forest ham and dijon mustard sandwich topped with melted Emmentaller swiss cheese
and/or
Salade Lyonnaise-Mixed greens tossed in homemade Dijon vinaigrette with bacon, diced tomatoes, homemade croutons and topped with a poached egg.

Sometimes I get the special - Chicken Cordon Bleu or Quiche.

If we are feeling especially decadent, we might get this appetizer: Brie en Croute-Brie cheese baked in savory pastry. Served with roasted garlic and sliced apples, sliced baguette, and local berry compote.

or a crepe for dessert (rarely for me since I don't eat much refind sugar) but if I do, it is often this: La Compote-Cooked apples and cinnamon with caramel sauce.

The prices are VERY reasonable as well. 2 for dinner is usually around $25 depending on what we order.

[SassyLeo]

Originally Posted by Chancie

Where's that place where we had big drinks?

I wasn't in town when you visited

But I would guess you went here: La Carreta

[Queerasfck]

Originally Posted by June

Yes. It was The La Carreta and we had Hurricanes. Two each, if I recall. I also remember looking at you sternly when you thought you might need another one. You did a lot of "Secret Talking" that night.

Yikes! Secret talking sounds like something from that chick flick "the sisterhood of the ya ya traveling pants" or something like that. Hopefully there were no blood oaths, Ellen Bursyn's, or Seances involved. Party on June-y.

[Mitmo01]

mmmmmmm i love Hurricanes that drink sounds good right about now....

[SassyLeo]

Originally Posted by EzeeTiger

That is really impressive. I love the commitment to local products too. Portland is someplace I would like to live or just visit. Besides the food I love the naked bicycle riding.

Oh yes, the naked bicycling. In fact, it was just this weekend. Rumor has it, there were 4000 riders this year...maybe more.

Portland really is awesome. I do love it. The rain has been *REALLY* hard to deal with this year...especially for those of us from CA. It rains here on average, intermittently 70% of the year. We cherish the sun when we have it.

Also, Portland is full of FOODIES!

Originally Posted by Gemme

The rhubarb french toast sounds lovely!

I haven't had the rhubarb, but I have had their french toast. So tasty. Fresh bread! If I recall, I had one with orange zest/cardamom. MMM.