Nostrana

What a fantastic evening at Nostrana! Everything here is quality, from the Staff to the food.

We were warmly greeted by the Hostess as soon as we arrived, and despite a full restaurant and no reservations for a 7pm dining time, they quickly scrambled to seat us. We were offered several options within ten minutes, and ended up choosing to wait a bit longer for seats at the pizza counter, watching all of the chefs in action (great fun!). The Hostess was very accommodating and helpful, and served us refreshing Moretti beers as we relaxed on the couches in the large and comfortable waiting area.

The menu is extensive and features impressive and inventive dishes under every course. It is seasonal, so it changes periodically. Nostrana focuses on local, simple, honest ingredients, and with every bite you will feel that love.

Our waitress was great. Attentive without hovering, and knowledgeable about the menu. She selected a great bottle of red wine (their list is extensive, to say the least, with wines from every Region in Italy) to go with pizza upon our request. We chose a Barbera D’Alba (Fontanabianca 2007) and it was right on the money.

For antipasti we chose small plates, including: Bruschetta (w/roasted yellow peppers, capers and tomatoes) and Eggplant and pesto gratin (topped with parmigiano). Every bite was amazing in texture, temperature and taste. Next time we will try the Formaggi, which is served with wildflower honey, fig & walnut salami, and house made crackers!

We had been talking about going to Nostrana for awhile, specifically for the wood-fired aspect. I, however, had no idea that this place would have…get ready for it…the BEST PIZZA in Portland! A mighty bold statement for a pizza connoisseur such as myself, but Nostrana truly delivers. I have not had anything close to such an Italian-style pie as this place. A light, basic tomato sauce combines beautifully with the perfect amount of cheese (housemade mozzarella that is) and toppings, all atop a wonderfully thin crust (with ample flavor and perfect char on the ends). Nothing overpowering or loaded, the way it should be before Americans got a hold of pizza and “supersized” it. The ingredients taste so fresh you would think you were eating straight from the garden, completely reminiscent of my pizza eating adventures in Italy. To add to the authenticity, the pies are served uncut, as in Italy, and you are offered both knives and scissors for cutting (so you can kick it old school or modern style). For the pizze, we chose the Margherita and the Diavola (spicy sausage, pecorino, garlic, lemon oil and arugala), and both were sheer pleasure. I could have ordered one of every pie if my stomach could have expanded more!

Desert has to be mentioned, as I think Armando died and went to heaven upon demolishing his Pizzeria Mozza’s Butterscotch Budino, with salted caramel. Budino is Italian for pudding, and this was the richest, creamiest, most delicious pudding we have ever tasted. Divine and an absolute must try. I enjoyed the housemade Stracciatella Gelati, which was a fresh mint explosion!

Pricing is dead on for the quality of food Nostrana serves…we left feeling ridiculously full and happy for much less than expected. What a treat!

On the way out we were bid goodbye by the Manager, and we explained how delicious the food was and what great service the restaurant had provided. He was gracious and thanked us for our business.

It also should not go without mentioning that Nostrana Executive Chef Cathy Whims was nominated for a 2010 James Beard Award. After all of this, do you seriously need another reason to visit Nostrana? I didn’t think so, now get to it.

Ken's Artisan Pizza

Ken’s Artisan Pizza rivals the best of Portland in wood-fired pizza. It also offers a great location, right on SE’s “Restaurant Row” (roughly 28th/Burnside) – and it coincidentally connected to another one of our favorite spots – Bamboo Sushi!

I would call Ken’s the upscale version of the Portland pizza scene, though you won’t feel an uptight vibe or get hit in the pocketbook…the overall ambiance is notches above the other notables (Pizza Scholl’s, Dove Vivi, Tastebud). Check out the phenomenal photography on their website and you’ll see what I mean). Modern, sleek design of light wood tables and a great bar warmly welcome guests as they arrive. The wood-fire oven is in plain sight of everyone, and the stacked wood can be seen as you enter the restaurant…again, great atmosphere.

As with almost all the best in Portland, my only complaint is the wait. Ken’ is lucky because they have both outside seating and a great bar to waste time at, but overall you cannot be starving when you arrive – you are going to wait, end of story. Ah but trust me, with each bite of that hand-crafted, wood-fired pizza your memory will forget every second of waiting in line, trust me!

There is also a second Ken’s location in Nob Hill at 21st/Flanders, but this Ken’s Artisan Bakery (fantastic spot for breakfast/lunch, and they serve Stumptown coffee). They do serve pizza from the 28th Ave location on Mondays nights, so go grab a slice if you can’t make it to the real thing!

Kettleman Bagels & Bakery

Just a quick note about Kettleman Bagels & Bakery. A local Portland company, they serve traditional New York Style bagels at three great locations throughout the city. Our favorite is just two blocks away, at the wonderful NW store at 23rd/Lovejoy. The interior is slickly decorated and offers individual chair and table seating, as well as all of the local/national newspapers for your reading pleasure. The large windows fill the space with light, which adds to the comfy atmosphere. There is also outside seating on front patio that is great when the weather starts to turn.

The bagel flavors are standard but ample, and while these aren’t the best bagels you will ever have, they are consistently fresh and tasty. They offer a number of meat and veggie sandwich options, as well as an assortment of pastries. One of the best parts is they serve Stumptown coffee, and it comes in huge mugs (we love this part).

The service is always a tad off-kilter, but friendly nonetheless. Pricing is totally reasonable.

We have grown to love our combination of bagels, coffee, and Willamette Week crossword puzzles – it’s the best way to start a weekend morning!

*Jayne

Navarre

I am torn about Navarre. The space is TINY, with almost zero decoration (less the oils and food on shelves along the walls – which I am sure is less about décor and more about space restrictions), and there are way too many tables to comfortably accommodate people. Small can have a ton of ambiance (think The Farm/Le Pigeon), but Navarre is lacking in this regard. That being said, the line of patrons waiting was consistent from the time we arrived at 7:20 until we left well after 10pm. I highly recommend getting a group of 6 together so that you can make a reservation, or you will be waiting for hours (and they have no bar to bide your time at).

Drinks:
Navarra has an impressive and affordable wine selection (two full pages), with bottles starting in the $20’s (refreshing to see) as well as dozens by the glass. One unique thing they do (and I wish more restaurants would participate in) is offer wine by the ¼ bottle and ½ bottle. Sometimes these amounts are just right, and it is always nice to have the options.

Food:
Since it is a tapas restaurant, everything is ordered to share (served in small or large size). As most of the best restaurants, the menu changes often based on seasonal availability (all produce comes from their CSA with 47th Ave Farm), so it is separated into traditional items and then specials. They hand you a checklist style menu and have you go at it. It’s a bit overwhelming deciding what to order, but luckily they offer a prix fix Chef’s Choice. I highly recommend this to get the best overall understanding of the food offerings, as well as a great value ($28!). Also worth noting is that we had a Pescatarian and Gluten-Free needs with us, and there was enough menu items to accommodate both of them. Served over several courses, the dishes were all nicely plated and in ample portions.

To start us off, we were served a plethora of hearty chunks of Ken’s Artisan bread with “grassy” olive oil for dipping…this combination has yet to disappoint and was the perfect way to begin the meal.
No menu of any sort is offered when you choose the Chef’s Choice option, and although I think the idea is fun, I do like to know what to expect on my plate or how much I will be served. Many restaurants have menus that change daily/weekly, but they are still able to provide you a list of what you will be receiving. After badgering the wait staff a few times, I finally got them to send me home with a marked up menu highlighting the items we ate throughout the night.

Here is a list of the menu items from our dinner, with an asterisk next to the winners and a ? next to the one loser:

Radishes w/French Butter
Farro w/Black Trumpet Mushrooms & Parsley
Miners Lettuce w/Pickled Carrot
Country Pork Pate* A favorite of everyone at the table – not overly creamy/heavy, perfect consistency.
Cornish Game Hen Escabetx Salad ? Way too gamey for my taste.
Crab Cakes* I think they must have caught this that morning – freshest tasting crab cakes I have had.
Cauliflower w/Spanish Paprika
Potato & Nettle Gratin
Steamed Clams* Could rival mussels from Brussels any day!
Leg of Lamb* Simply marvelous…best prepared lamb in Portland.

In true European fashion, dinner at Navarre is an event…courses were spaced so far apart at times we thought the meal was over. But then, ah yes, more goodness arrives. It was a great opportunity to spend an evening chatting with friends, drinking great local wines, and enjoying some amazing food. I am not sure exactly why, but we received a free French cheese plate (probably a mistake from the kitchen) AND our deserts were comped (maybe it was due to the long waits for the courses, but this was actually perfect for us). In any case, it was much appreciated.

Desert:
Red Velvet Cake - After seeing our neighbors order this, I knew that I must have it. Although it was good, this was not excellent, which is what I was expecting based on the amazing presentation.
Dried Fruit Tart w/mixed Nuts - Now here is where you should indulge. This was so unique and the flavors were bursting…the pear is what did it for me. It was like a turnover, only even better!
Ordered drip coffees to accompany, and they were perfectly brewed.

Service/Pricing:
Interestingly, the wait staff also has a tapas-style “sharing” format, so throughout you meal you are served by multiple people. Confusing, but it worked out just fine. Our initial server was knowledgeable about the wine menu, and helpful in going over the menu choices as well.

For price point, I have to say Navarre is a fantastic value. For two of us to have the Chef’s Choice menu and two nicer bottles of wine (desert was free) our bill was $140. Totally reasonable for this caliber of restaurant.

Navarre is spectacular cuisine…I am absolutely glad we tried it, and we had a wonderful dining experience. The dishes were delicious combinations of high-quality, locally sourced ingredients. I have to admit, however, that it pales in comparison to our beloved Toro Bravo in both food and atmosphere.

*Jayne

Cool Moon Ice Cream

Located in the glitzy, touristy Peal District is a gem of an ice cream place called Cool Moon Ice Cream. The ice cream is all natural, homemade from the finest quality ingredients, and I dream of the luscious flavors they offer! The flavors are inventive and delicious, with something to please even the pickiest palate (all are listed and detailed on their website for reference). They are also unique to Portland, with just one location (I love supporting these establishments). They have indoor and outdoor Adirondack chair seating, but I prefer to grab a cone and walk the surroundings streets or grab a spot on a nearby bench across the street at the Jamison Square fountain (great people and animal watching, lol).

After a weekend of over-indulging, something on the light side sounded perfect. We chose the Lemon-Marionberry, and it was divine. Creamy and sweet combined for a wonderfully refreshing treat. I also HIGHLY recommend the Cherry Almond Chip and the Butter Pecan from previous visits :)

Cool Moon is also easy on the wallet. Right now, they have a “Spring Pint-o-Rama”, where if you buy one cup or cone you can purchase a pint for just $3.95. They also do “Happy Hour Pints,” where pint-sized containers of your favorites are sold for just $4 from 4-6pm, every day. What deals! I highly recommend taking a stroll down to Cool Moon then next time your sweet tooth attacks. To add to the greatness of this place, they are open Noon-10pm every day – try finding a quality yogurt place that matches those hours!

*Jayne

Lucky Labrador Beer Hall

Tucked away in NW at 19th Ave/Quimby, I admittedly tend to forget about this great beer drinking establishment. With a few locations throughout Portland, the key to this Lucky Lab Beer Hall location is the HUGE interior as well as the phenomenal outdoor, partially covered patio full of old picnic tables (rivals the scene at Amnesia’s outdoor area any day). It was an old warehouse, so everything feels spacious and rustic (they even left an original crane overhead for ambiance). Seating is mainly communal style at long wooden tables (although there are some scattered smaller tables), designed to promote meeting your neighbor and allow everyone to enjoy being social and drinking amazing beers. There is also a plethora of board games/reading materials for your entertainment.

Lucky Lab offers a multitude of tap offerings, including roughly eight of their own brews, the Cask Pump, Nitro Tap and Guest Tap (details online). All are listed on a large chalkboard, and simply crossed off when they run out. This time we tried the Guest Tap (Bear Republic Crazy Ivan) and the Organic Amber and Golden Ale of the Lucky Lab brews. Quality ingredients create quality beers; these were all delicious enjoyed with pizza and a face full of Oregon sunshine.

Snacks are just your generic blend – Rold Gold pretzels, bulk peanuts from Costco, etc. Unfortunately you can’t expect anything local or exciting here, which I think is a miss for Lucky Lab.

Looking for a good, solid pizza to take the edge off of a 40+ mile cycling adventure, we decided to give Lucky Lab a shot. They offer a large selection of pre-crafted pizza options, served with a barley-flour pizza dough. We chose the “The Mediterranean” (Salami, Yellow Onion, Roasted Garlic, and Feta), and it was exactly what we were craving. Thicker than a thin-crust, but by no means a deep dish, it offered just enough dough to make sure we got our carbs in! The toppings were loaded on (there was so much garlic I called myself the Dragon Lady when we left, but of course I never stopped eating it). Hearty and delicious, with plenty of sauce and cheese, our only suggestion would have been to leave the pie in the oven for about three more minutes to brown the crust and slightly toast the toppings a bit more.

Service was a bit weird…we placed our order with a girl who seemed downright annoyed at having to deal with customers. Distasteful and unnecessary on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Pricing is not cheap for food ($20 for the pizza, but totally worth it considering the size), but beers are better ($4.50 for Imperial Pints, and they also offer ½ Pints). Overall great pricing for the quality and atmosphere received.

Oddly enough, despite their involvement in numerous cycling events and having their own jerseys for sale, there is no dedicated bike parking here (unless we totally just drank too much and missed them?). We ended up locking up one of the many picnic tables under the outside canopy.

Lucky Lab is a great spot to grab some pizza (slices or full pies) as well as some amazing Portland brews. Remember this place for your Summer adventures :)

*Jayne

2010 Eat Mobile

Sweet gluttony at its finest, and we wouldn’t have missed this for the world. 30 of Portland's renowned Food Carts corralled in one place, supplying more than ample portions of their finest offerings to battle it out for the esteemed "Best Food Cart Award." The 2010 event was appropriately hosted underneath the Morrison Bridge, on the East Side. My hat is off to the coordinators, as I have heard previous years were horrendous…tonight the food cart lines were never unbearable, the bathrooms had NO lines, and the beer and wine lines were virtually non-existent as well. An unbelievable feat with a sold-out crowd of 1,200 – well done WW!

Everyone received a marble bead as they walked in the door, and you gave that one bead to your favorite food cart. Huge decision, because almost every cart I tried was stellar. In the end, I chose Whiffle’s Fried Pies (hello fried piece of warm blueberry pie) and Armando chose PBJ’s (bacon PB&J covered with powdered sugar). The beignets served over Caffe Vita espresso-chocolate sauce was such a close second, it pained me to make the final decision.

The big disappointment was that the winner of the WW Food Cart Nominations, The Frying Scottsman, did not attend the event. This cart haunts my dreams with the ridiculously sweet smell of battered cod and chips (coincidentally positioned across the street from the new Fit Right NW running store, LOL). Also of note was that the wine was supplied by Dundee winery “Wine By Joe” and was unfortunately less than palatable. Thank god PBR was in full supply, and the ideal compliment to all of this amazing food cart cuisine!

As I write this I am in my elastic waistband pants and oversized tee, but I proudly admit that I cannot wait for next year! I love Portland now more than ever, if that’s possible.

*Jayne

Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro

After passing Thirst many times while walking down by the waterfront, we popped in here on the way to Cirque du Soleil. Obvious great location, and when the weather is nice, they have seating overlooking the Willamette. It doesn’t get much better for people watching, whether you are seated outside or inside in the lounge (all tables face the large river-facing windows for the most part). On the inside it is typical wine bar styling, modern and dark, with lush fabrics. For an out-of-towner, I image this would be a great place to take in the Portland scenery and kill a bottle of wine. For me, it seemed more like a tourist trap. Case in point, almost every glass of wine started at $10, and some were not worth half of that (they weren’t even local Pinot’s). As far as the Bistro portion of Thirst, with all of the great NW cuisine in this city, this place is not on my radar to try (they market as featuring locally sourced NW cuisine). They do have a connecting room for private parties, and it does seem like a fun place to hold a work-related event. Overall, Thirst was a bit yuppy and generic for me, but does seem to serve as a great wine spot for many.

*Jayne

Le Pigeon

I am a believer! Oh how I love when the hype turns out to be 100% TRUE! Le Pigeon is food from the French Gods, indeed. All I knew before we chose Le Pigeon as our next dining destination was that they are on every Portland food “Best Of” list, and are known for a very inventive, obviously French-themed menu.

We made reservations for 5:30 (they open at 5pm) and when we got there at 5:15 people were already eating. Three tables of various sizes are communal seating (which I did not know, but am generally fine with if the food is worth it), and there are also ten seats available at the Chef’s Counter over-looking the open kitchen (no reservations on there, held for walk-ins, these are great!). The space is very small and intimate, with exposed brick walls and minimalistic decoration of crisp white curtains and framed artwork. It actually felt like you are dining in an old country house in the French country side. Le Pigeon’s goal is not to be the best atmosphere, but to serve the best quality food, and that they most certainly do. Everything is made from the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients, as evidenced by the weekly-changing menu based on seasonal availability.

Beverages:
The wine/drink menu is ample (whites/reds, demi’s, before&after specialties, as well as some great beers), with both local and International selections. We chose the Pappas Wine Co. Pinot Noir ($40), which was light but crisp enough to compliment both fish and meat dishes.

Food:

Starters:
1) Pigs Feet, foie gras, cipollini, egg. With ingredients like this, what can you say? The combination of these was like nothing I have experienced...the different textures and flavors were so unique and just exploded in your mouth with every bite. We sopped up every last ounce of drippy egg and foie gras goodness with the fresh bread/salted butter served at every table. I must admit this dish matches the foie gras at Beast in every way - Bravo!
2) Endive, goat cheese, boquerones and radish salad. This was the perfect veggie accompaniment to the heavy Pigs Feet dish, and was served wonderfully chilled and with just the right amount of dressing. The goat cheese was sheer deliciousness, and the boquerones added just enough flavor without overtaking the light endive.

Entrees:
1) Pork, w/polenta, black trumpets, broccolini. This was almost like carnitas, and was pulled pork moist and delicious, with a crunchy outer layer – amazing. The polenta was creamy and the ideal match for the black trumpets.
2) Halibut, served over a white bean and spot prawn ragu, seasoned w/Meyer lemon, fresh dill and crème fraiche, topped w/arugula tempura-battered spot prawn heads. One of the best fish dishes I have ever had, matched only by Higgins. The Halibut was mouthwateringly tender, pan seared with a slightly browned outer layer. The bean and spot prawn ragu almost tasted cheesy, and was literally happiness on a fork.

Portions on everything were just right…enough to completely fill you up, but not enough to incompassitate you (that is left up to you to handle by ordering multiple course and desert – spoil yourself here!).

Desert:
Chocolate Doughnut – Served inside of a bread pudding, with espresso crème anglaise, and layers of chocolate whip, coco nip and peanut praline. Simply one of the best deserts I have EVER tasted.

As expected, they serve local Stumptown coffee, and in the traditional manner – in a French Press. This restaurant has all the right touches to put your dining experience over the top.

Service/Pricing:
Service was friendly and attentive, offering suggestions when requested and politely answering all of our questions regarding the menu. Pricing, for this caliber of food, was absolutely spot on. Not one dish was overpriced or lacking in quality.

If you have not made it to Le Pigeon, you must move this to your next in line. Your stomach will thank me, and you! This is without a doubt one of the Top Three Restaurants in Portland.

*Jayne

Bailey's Taproom

This is my new favorite place to grab a beer downtown! Blink and you’ll miss it, Bailey’s is located right on the corner of Broadway and 2nd, directly across the street from Saucebox. It is not large inside, but the floor-to-ceiling windows give the illusion of a much larger space. Minimal design with fashionable hanging lights and exposed brick/ductwork add the warehouse vibe that I love.

They have 20 rotating taps (check their website for the latest offerings), and do not serve food, so this is the quintessential place to go and get and get your drink on, no messing around. They do both 10/20oz servings, and they also offer tasting trays. Great window seating throughout (can accompany small or large groups), in comfy full-back plush chairs, with accompanying foot ottomans to hold your beers. There are also a number of bar stool seating options. For entertainment, they have a wide selection of old-school board games (did someone say Boggle?) for all of your playing pleasure!

Great location, great space, great place to drink some beer – get to it!

*Jayne

Gladstone Coffee & Pizza

Always on the hunt for the next best pizza, I searched the Yelp reviews and decided this sounded like a great random place to try. Located a bit farther out at 38th/Gladstone in SE, this is a totally unassuming little place to find such amazing pizza.

Gladstone has two businesses almost right next to each other, the pub on the corner, and then the coffee/pizza house two stores down. Walking by, the pub looked like an old house that was converted to the neighborhood watering hole. This would be a great chill way to spend an afternoon enjoying the sun and some beers with a group of friends. They also have the bean bag throwing game, which is always a good time!

It was so refreshing to walk into somewhere, starving, and NOT wait an hour for a table! We were warmly greeted upon walking in, and at 6pm the place was wide open for seating. They have picnic tables in the front, and a cute terrace-style area in the back. The inside has a vintage diner vibe, with old wooden furniture and knick-knacks. They also feature local artist projects, and some canvas paintings of the Portland city scape were impressive. The weather was off and on rain all day, so we chose a window table inside the café. The music was great – oldies were on the whole time.

Gladstone has a “build your own” pizza menu. You start with either a traditional cheese (tomato sauce, mozzarella and pecorino cheese) or pesto (pesto sauce, and pecorino cheese) pie, and add any toppings you want (great selection of veggies and meats). We chose the large traditional cheese pie (they were out of the small pies, though we were hungry enough for the large anyway), and added Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. The pizza came out piping hot, and had perfectly fresh ingredients. The Italian sausage was in small pieces (not like a full sausage just cut up) and the garlic was in baby cloves. The crust was made of a simple white flour dough, but was thin and chewy, with just the right amount of burnt edges.

They have a nice little draft beer selection (includes light and heavy options), however the organic Red I wanted was out, and Armando got the last IPA, which was a bummer.

FYI, they serve Stumptown coffee and assorted pastries. We tried the oatmeal/chocolate chip cookie and it was ridiculously huge and delicious…like your mom would make.

Pricing is right on par with Apizza Scholls (pizzas start at $17, then add toppings), and quality is matched in both taste and quality. Apizza gets 5 stars, however, when you take into consideration their superior location and extensive draft offerings. Gladstone gets a solid 4, and we loved every bite.

*Jayne

El Gaucho

This is not your average high-class steakhouse…this is THE steakhouse to benchmark all others against. The dark, wooden trimmed, heavy décor provides the perfect setting for a long evening of drinking, eating and talking the night away. I requested a booth, and it was comfortable and ideally situated by the open kitchen, so we were able to enjoy our meal while watching the kitchen action.

We arrived at a busy time (9:15) and while we were waiting for our waiter, the Manager stopped by to warmly greet us and discuss the wine menu. We asked for a suggestion on a Cabernet, and he immediately named the Frank Family Cab out of Napa Valley. This was, no exaggeration, the best bottle of wine I have ever had (and I am almost solely a Pinot girl). It was so good in fact, we ordered two bottles! The menu has your standard offerings, and as with most upscale steak houses, everything is served ala carte.

Our evening consisted of the following:

Starters:
We had to start with the Tableside Caesar Salad. You never see restaurants offer services like this anymore, so I appreciated this. It was quite a process…they roll out a silver cart covered with all of the ingredients, individually placed in containers. The waiter worked furiously making the dressing, then perfectly tossing it, and separating it into three equal portions. This was so fresh and perfectly blended, one of the best Caesar’s I have tasted.

Entrees:
Chef’s Rib Eye for Armando – Served with bordelaise sauce, sautéed seasonal mushrooms and roasted garlic. A very popular menu item, there was only three of these left when we ordered (our waiter put one on reserve as soon as we sat down). The sauce was thick and almost creamy, this is one heavy meal.

16oz. New York Steak for Uncle Jim – Served topped with a large Portobello mushroom, and he ordered a side of the bordelaise sauce.

8oz. Filet Mignon for Me – Served topped with a large Portobello mushroom, no sauce necessary for me. This was a HUGE portion of meat, and was still considered the “small” size. I ordered it Medium, and it was cooked to perfection, with just enough pink remaining.

For the side dishes we ordered the baked potato (which is customized at the table by your waiter with a huge assortment of toppings – anything you can think of!), asparagus (perfectly tender and covered with a hollandaise sauce), and the chipotle corn by suggestion of our waiter (which was a combination of sweet and spicy – amazing flavor).

Service was friendly and attentive throughout the meal, with my water/wine glass was never empty!

Desert:
We were surprised to receive an entire basket of assorted fruit/cheese/crackers in appreciation for our patronage after we were finished with our dinners. It was a very classy touch, and the dates they served on the platter were particularly delicious (I also took the pear home with me – it was HUGE and too beautiful to give back, LOL).

Mississippi Mud Cake - Warm chocolate cake, espresso and Kentucky bourbon, served with vanilla bean ice cream. This was essentially a chocolate lava cake, without the ooeey and gooeey center. It was an explosion of flavor, and I enjoyed Every. Single. Bite.

I think this is the most expensive place I have dined, all things considered. Even at these prices though (our bill was $430 for three people) El Gaucho was packed all night with loyal patrons, both at tables and at the bar. Economy, schmaconomy I suppose? If you can swing it, this is the ideal place to celebrate that next truly special event. It is old-school charm at its finest.

*Jayne

Higgins

Higgins is the epitome of a fine dining experience in Portland. It has the traditional white table cloth setting, but without any particular style overpowering the restaurant. It is classic and comfortable. You realize quickly that Higgins is a staple for a reason – they are strictly focused on cuisine, and could care less about being hip or exclusive. The open space of the dining room is lovely, and walking towards the back of the restaurant provides a view of the hard-working chefs/wait staff.

Let’s get to the cuisine –

Drinks:
To be expected, Higgins has an extensive wine list highlighting NW selections (deep selection of Pinot offerings). Our waiter knew about every wine on the menu, and was not afraid to give suggestions when we asked, which we appreciated. We ended up with two amazing bottles based on his selections, the Carter Pinot Noir and the Soter Pinot Noir. In the end we enjoyed the Carter more, as this was a bit better in combination with our meals.

Starters:
1) Charcuterie Plate with house-made pickles. What a value…this was a huge plate of various meats (salumi’s/pâtés/etc), and the pickles were delicious.

2) Salad of gathered spring greens, toasted hazelnuts and herb vinaigrette. This was also a large portion, and had beautifully fresh ingredients tossed in a light dressing.

Entrees:
The tables are served fresh artisan bread upon arrival, including both white and hearty wheat (bread locally sourced by Grand Central Bakery, Ken’s and Pearl).

1) Halibut Dinner – Horseradish-crusted Alaskan halibut with cheddar polenta, braised greens, asparagus, and an orange beurre blanc. The light breading on this mild fish was beautiful, and did not overpower. The asparagus was tender, and the cheddar polenta tasted like cheesy mashed potatoes.
2) True Cod Special – There were so many ingredients in this dish that I can’t recall them all. What I remember is huge pieces of baked cod served on top of a stew-like bed of deliciousness, including asparagus, mushrooms, with a side of purple mashed potatoes. Hearty yet not too heavy, all of the components of this dish combined to create a taste that I have never experienced before, but will always remember. It was luscious.
3) Salmon Special – This originally came served with French lentils and cauliflower, but the server willingly made the requested substitutions to the sides with no issues. He also included some of the special sides he thought my Uncle must try, which I thought was a nice gesture.

The plating was beautiful on every dish. There was an inherent attention to detail and care put into everything throughout our meal.

Desert:
1) Brownie Special – A massive double dark chocolate brownie with homemade chocolate AND buttermilk ice cream. Could I possibly have loved this more? I think not.
2) Maple Cake – A piece of maple coffee cake covered in icing, served with a side of homemade ice cream (the flavor is escaping me, but is unimportant, this was amazing!).

To make our finale even better, Higgins serves Stumptown coffee, as well as a lavish list of teas (served with an iron cast tea pot to keep your water hot).

Service was superb, one of the best waiters we have experienced in Portland. He was knowledgeable and helpful on everything from starters to wine, and he added an element of luxury to the evening. In addition, making my reservation and changing it on the day of was no problem, the staff was very friendly throughout the restaurant. They even emailed me some details I needed for this review – thanks Higgins!

We chose Higgins as a special place to take my Uncle who was visiting from out of town. We wanted a Portland dining experience that would exude the unparalleled cuisine that Portland has to offer, but would also provide a wonderful atmosphere and great service. Higgins nailed it on all points, and allowed us to have a truly amazing dining experience.

*Jayne

Olypmic Provisions

This place has been getting an incredible amount of press lately, locally and nationally (Forbes magazine recently did a spread featuring “America’s Best New Restaurants” and Olympic made the list). Recently opened in the historic Olympic Mills building in SE, Olympic Provisions is “home to both a European-style restaurant and deli serving lunch and dinner, as well as Oregon’s first USDA certified meat-curing facility.” They are now open M-Sat 11am-10pm.

The Olympic Mills building has been meticulously renovated and has maintained a beautiful open/warehouse design. The restaurant space is beautiful, with exposed concrete walls and wooden furniture. They maximize space by placing small tables in a long row, as well as tables in the entrance, and seats at the counter for people to grab a quicker bite. We must have arrived just in time (1pm) because we only waited 10 minutes, and a line of at least 20 people steadily built up within 15 minutes.

The lunch menu is simple but wonderful, featuring all of their homemade meats (as well as some veggie-friendly options). They also offer some amazing side dishes of vegetables/eggs, which all sounded intriguing.

We chose:
1) Tri-tip steak, bell pepper, gruyère, crimini mushroom, carmelized onion, mayonnaise on baguette. The consensus was that although this was tasty, it was actually a bit bland and could have used an additional kick of flavor.
2) Saucisson sec, mahon cheese, mortadella, iceberg, red onion, pickled peppers, mayonnaise on ciabatta. This was a perfect sandwich…the saucisson sec was sliced thin and was perfectly textured, the mortadella sliced a bit thicker and full of flavor, mahon was folded in between both, and all served on a fresh ciabatta roll – well done.
3) Duvel Beer – A Belguim pale ale that is strong, yet smooth and light enough for lunchtime. Served in a Duvel glass, I highly recommend giving this a try.

Service was knowledgeable but not speedy…our sandwiches took at least 25 minutes to arrive. Also, when we did receive the food, my Uncle’s was served with only lettuce and bread (he ordered the sandwich with just lettuce and tomato, obviously assuming everything else would still be there!). We laughed hard at this one. After receiving a bit of attitude for pointing this out to the person who delivered the food, the error was quickly fixed by our waitress. She felt embarrassed for such a ridiculous mistake, and offered to buy him a drink. He refused, but she did send the cookie plate listed under their pastry section of the lunch menu (a chocolate cookie, a ginger cookie, and a biscotti). None were half bad, and they added a nice finishing touch to the meal.

For lunch Olympic is getting three stars, but I enjoyed it enough to put it on my list for dinner (which is saying a lot). More to come…

*Jayne

Dove Vivi

Finally made it back to Dove Vivi...took my mom and Armando there to show-off the amazing cornmeal crust. This place serves an unfrogettable pizza pie.

Yelp review from 8/15/09:
Unbelievable experience with Dove Vivi last night. After spending more time reading Portland pizza establishment reviews than I would like to admit, I choose Dove Vivi as my next pizza adventure, and I am still smiling about my experience as I write this review. Here's how it breaks down:

Atmosphere:
From the modest exterior to the quaint and comfortable interior, Dove Vivi provides a casual and relaxing environment to enjoy a great meal with friends. Three outdoor tables welcome you, and inside provides a sprawling bar with seats looking outside the restaurant (great for someone dining alone) as well as small and large tables to accommodate any number of guests. Interior décor is very clean and welcoming.

Service:
We were warmly greeted by a very sweet hostess as soon as we walked into the restaurant (don't be fooled by the deli-style counter, you need to have them seat you and order at your table) and were lucky to snag a table outside (score on a Friday night at 7:30). The waitress was great, and recommended a good bottle of Sangiovese Italian red wine for starters (and totally inexpensive at $14 - try finding other places in Portland with such an affordable bottle on their standard menu). Water came immediately served in an old Mason jar for full vintage/Portland effect. Attentive throughout, she went through the specials with us and let us know how to order (pizzas come in 1/2's). We were advised to order 1 full pizza, and that was the perfect amount for 2 hungry people (but don't expect leftovers, you will eat it all!). Overall great service!

Food:
Ah, the pizza. A great specials menu was provided, so we chose to order 1/2 of the special Spanish Chorizo pizza and 1/2 of the Veggie pizza from the standard menu (both were perfect combinations with our bottle of red wine). The pizza arrived straight from the oven in a heavy cast-iron looking round pan, with toppings piled high. The chorizo was sliced nice and thin, and onions layered on top balanced perfectly. The Veggie came with mounds of chunky eggplant, tomatoes, mushrooms and green peppers, with the perfect blend of spices for a slight kick. Then there was the infamous corn meal crust - best idea ever! It literally makes the pizza over the top delicious, and worthy of all 5 stars in this review. The pizza is deep dish style, but without the heaviness of the traditional doughy deep dish because of the corn meal base. It complimented the salty flavors of the pizzas we choose remarkably well, and was never dry or soggy at any point throughout the meal. With every bite I was more impressed.

Ok, and if all that wasn't enough, they have great deserts as well! A glutton for chocolate, we ordered the homemade Zuccotto. Unbelievable! I will just call it out from the menu "chilled chocolate whipped cream cakes with a crushed biscotti layer and a ladyfinger crust." Need I say more? The perfect way to end your meal at Dove Vivi.

Cost:
At $40 for the entire meal, this was a total steal! I left completely stuffed and overwhelmingly happy with my entire Dove Vive experience.

Dare I say it...yep, here I go...Dove Vivi has the best pizza in Portland! Thank You Dove Vivi, and I will see you (VERY) soon :)

*Jayne

Farm Cafe

Farm Café is a Portland staple in the foodie scene, however, it has taken me almost two years to make it here. Located in an adorable old farmhouse in the lively close-in NE Burnside area, it offers a wonderful ambiance. It is small and quaint, roughly 10-15 tables. The dark colored walls, mahogany wood furniture, and local artwork all combine beautifully to give a truly Portland vibe. The vintage chandeliers provide dim light throughout, providing one of the most effortless romantic interiors I have experienced in Portland dining.

Service…oh how this can make or break a fantastic restaurant. We arrived at 7pm on a Friday night, and were told there was roughly a two hour wait. Not uncharacteristic and not a big deal if we could have waited here and ordered drinks/appetizers. The hostess, however, NEVER mentioned that there was an adorable bar/seating area in the rear of the restaurant! Even after we told her we were going to walk (in the rain) to another establishment to wait and to call us for our table, she still NEVER thought to suggest her own bar as the perfect warm, dry place to wait it out. This was the biggest miss in service I have yet to incur in Portland. Only after we were seated later in the night did I venture to the bathroom and discover the rest of the restaurant – I was more than disappointed. It gets better….we realized after sitting down there was only one waiter for the entire dining room, so we waited another 15 minutes to be welcomed. By the time we ordered we were starving, and knew exactly what we wanted. We order all courses at once, and told the waiter to deliver in order. Armando did eventually tell the waiter about the hostess situation, as it severely impacted our evening. He was apologetic (said they were in training?), and did “comp” our desert ($7). Nice gesture, but ultimately not enough to make up for the lack of awareness. In the end, we tipped well and were happy with our table service.

One thing to note, do NOT sit by the front door if you can avoid it. It is constantly left open and lets in a horrible draft!

Menu…It changes often and is seasonally based, ensuring the freshest ingredients. It is short and vegetarian focused, but created with true culinary craftsmanship.

Drinks – They have an extensive wine list, with affordable options (white starting at $20, red starting at $29). They also offer desert wines, absinthe, cordials and various coffee choices. We chose the Anne Amie Pinot Noir, and it was pleasantly smooth with a sweet aftertaste.

Food –
Apps: We started with the Williams Baked Brie based on Yelp user reviews (Slice of brie served warm with toasted sugar, roasted hazelnuts, seasonal fruit, and Ken’s baguette. Please allow 10 minutes as we bake this to order). Served piping hot, the combinations of sweet and salty were amazing, and the portion was just enough for two people. My dinner notes said “cheesy, ooey, gooey…happiness in a bite.”

Salad: We ordered the Beet Carpaccio (Thinly sliced beets with fresh goat chevre, mint, chives and walnut oil vinaigrette). Loved the thinly sliced beets, and the herbs tasted like they just picked them from the garden. Small in portion (and in goat chevre), but large in flavor.

We ordered two fish dishes for entrees, as it seemed from Farm’s website these may be their specialty. I ordered the Flame-grilled Halibut (Fresh halibut fillet flame-grilled with roasted Brussels sprouts, French lentil salad and fire roasted tomato-caper concasse). This was a dream dish for me, as the ingredients are some of my favorite foods. The fire roasted tomato topping gave it the kick it needed (the Halibut would have been a bit flavorless alone), and the lentils were cooked to the perfect consistency.

Armando ordered the Pan-Fried Idaho Trout (Whole boneless trout dusted with coarse sea salt, pan-fried and served with seasonal vegetables). This was one of the lightest and well-done breadings I have had, and the seasonal vegetables here almost stole the dish. Chunky cubes of tender squash were the highlight.

Desert – The sunken chocolate soufflé with coffee ice cream (a dense, dark chocolate with a molten center, served with coffee ice cream on top) was literally pure seduction. We ordered two Stumptown coffees (I love that they offered Stevia sweetener and real cream as condiments) to compliment the dish, and it was one of the best endings to a meal I can remember.

The draw of Farm Café is that they serve the freshest, farm to table dishes, at some of the most affordable prices in the city. I left feeling perfectly content, not overly stuffed, and happy that I had experienced this restaurant. For food, they are indeed 5 stars. The overall experience as detailed above, unfortunately, can only receive 3 stars.

Although we will pass on returning because of the service issues, I do highly recommend Farm Café for an affordable, romantic evening.

*Jayne

Lovely's Fifty-Fifty

Wood-fired pizza and homemade ice cream? I think I died and went to Heaven! Just to add some credibility to my review, my love affair with pizza started as a child and has only grown with time. When I was little I ate so much of it that my mom warned me that I was going to turn into a piece of pizza. Not to be discouraged, I pressed on throughout adulthood to patron as many wonderful pizza establishments as I could, and here I am, reviewing the latest on the Portland scene. Admittedly, I never made it to the beloved Lovely Hula Hands (RIP), but when I heard the business was trying their hand at a new pizza place, I was more than thrilled!

Atmosphere:
The Mississippi Area is one of the coolest neighborhoods in Portland, and Lovely’s is located here, directly next store to the old Lovely Hula Hands building (which I heard they still own and will be leasing to a new restaurant…what will it be?). The interior of Lovely’s has clean lines and all wooden furniture, with a very relaxed, “zen” vibe. It felt warm and cozy. Diner style seating, with booths on one side and smaller tables on the other. They had a good crowd for a rainy Sunday evening, but we were able to grab a table back by the “kitchen,” an open area where you can watch your order be prepared (pizza is hand-tossed). Bathrooms are located next door, so you have to get a key and walk outside to get there, which is kind of a pain.

Food/Wine:
The salad options are sprawling and have some great combinations. We started with the “Gene’s beets with grapefruit, avocado, cilantro & calabrian chilies.” While the dish was light and refreshing, the portion size was lacking for $8. There was probably one beet cut into ten pieces and ½ an avocado in thin slices…disappointing.

The pizza options are also well crafted, and we splurged and tried two different pies. First was the red chard, rapini & fennel sausage, and second was the wild nettles with salumi pancetta. Neither stuck out as better than the other, so I will speak in more general terms. The greens were a bit too charred for my taste, but the meat on both pizzas was delicious. Perfectly juicy sausage and salty, thinly sliced salumi pancetta. The crust was nicely browned and had great consistency, but lacked any sort of flavor.

I enjoyed the smaller size of the pizzas (perfect for a light meal for two people), but at $15, they should be larger.

Nice selection of wines, however we could not find anything under $25. Our bottle of Chianti was the perfect accompaniment to this meal, but I do wish they had at least a couple of $20 options.

Ice Cream:
From what I can tell, the flavors change pretty frequently because they are homemade. We split the two-scoop bowl for $5, and we chose the Malted Milk Ball and Mint Stracciatella. Both were creamy and flavorful, with perfect texture. My only complaint was that the portions were small, tiny ½ cup servings of each.

Pricing/Service:
As you can tell, I thought Lovely’s Fifty-Fifty was overpriced. When you compare it to the outstanding pizza establishments in Portland (namely Ken’s, Apizza Scholls, Dove Vivi) it definitely doesn’t give the most bang for the buck. Prices are higher and portions are noticeably smaller.

Service was friendly and attentive. In chatting with the waitress they seem happy to be in their new space, and business sounded like it was going well.

Overall, this is a place any pizza lover would enjoy, to be sure. But for these prices, I wasn’t moved to add this to the “return” list.

*Jayne

Upright Brewing

This is by far the most unique brewery I have experienced in Portland. The anticipation started with the location...Upright Brewing is located in the basement of the newish Leftbank Building on North Broadway Street. Parking is an issue here; there are only a handful of spaces in front of the building, so plan to park on a side street or to ride your bike. You walk through Leftbank’s beautiful fir entry doors into their café/gallery area (which is an impressive, open concept, artfully-designed space I might add) and take the elevator to the basement to get to Upright (you will feel like you are part of a special club). One turn off the elevator and there you are...the brewery is all there for you to tour and admire as you enjoy your beers – talk about fresh and locally sourced!

Inside it is a small space of concrete walls, barrels of beer, and six tables (two picnic-style, two high-tops, and two regular two-seaters, all with random mis-matched chairs – we had lawn chairs, how fitting for this place!). It was a full-house on a Sunday afternoon, but we were able to snag a high-top, then eventually move to a two-seater. There was a man playing folk/jazz at the entrance, so that added to the ambiance as soon as we walked in. There was a small chalkboard listing all of the offerings for the day to the left of the place, and one guy tending to the orders. The majority of beers are labeled with a #, and they offer regular brews as well as Seasonals. They also offer a sandwich and meat plate option for food. Any artwork on the walls is from local artists. Upright also sells to-go growlers and kegs, so keep that in mind for your next party! Make sure you check the hours though: the Tasting Room is open from 4:30-9pm on Fridays, 1-6pm every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and also between 6pm and tipoff for all evening home Blazers games.

Upright has amazing prices and brews phenomenal beer. The best option to get you acclimated to their beers is the tasting tray. It comes with six ample-sized tasting glasses set inside a nice wooden holder, all for $7. We added a sample of the Seasonal for an additional $1. They bring the tray to your table and go through the numbers with you. You drink them all (I recommend sticking to correct order) and then try to remember what #’s you liked so you can order full beers of choice, so fun! Notable that full beers are 12oz, which is perfect. The beers are way too potent to be downing pints of, just wouldn’t be right. The guy serving the beers was friendly and helpful, and I actually had him write down the numbers for me so I would know what I was tasting! No exaggeration, I enjoyed every beer on the tray, less the Seasonal Auld Reekie (which was described as “experimental” and was just downright awful). My favorite of the day was the Saison (a sour-style beer); it was truly amazing. The Seasonal Turkey on Rye was also a standout.

Upright is indeed Craft beer at its finest. What a way to spend a rainy Sunday…or any day for that matter. I hate to even tell people about this place, but as a devoted Yelp Elite, duty calls. Don’t say I never did anything for you!

*Jayne

Saraveza

This is by far my new favorite bar! I had read about it when it first opened, and then with all the places on my list, completely forgot about it until Armando’s friend recommended it as a great place to grab some Craft beers on Sunday afternoon. Oh how I love this place…

The Atmosphere – Authentic Eastside Portland: vintage with a flare. Everything is beautiful old wood, from the floor to the tables to the bar. The tops of the tables/bar are a clear lacquer covering old colorful bottle caps from various beers. The chairs we snagged were old beauty salon chairs (complete with working height adjustment) and they were SO comfy! I could have melted into my chair and stayed all night. The bar stools looked cushy and have full backs, which is a nice feature. They have awesome old-school beer and random memorabilia throughout the place, including the Spud Mackenzie dog, a huge Schlitz hand, but best of all…they have the fishnet leg lamp from the movie A Christmas Story – how cool is that? They have exposed brick in certain places, and other areas are covered with bumper stickers. This is a very hip/comfortable atmosphere, to say the least.

The Food – Short and sweet menu with some mean options, the majority of which are homemade. They focus on fresh, “from-scratch” items, so I am assuming everything will be good quality. Saraveza specializes in the pasty, which if you are from the Midwest, you should know all about this goodness! It is basically a pot-pie (but so much better), and Saraveza offers a few versions on the menu, as well as a daily special (lamb curry was for this day – yummy!).

We ordered “The Nater” (The traditional pasty. Porter braised beef, potato, carrot, rutabaga & onion) to split, and it was served to us on individual plates, already divided, with portions of their delicious homemade pickled veggies on the side – how cute. The meat was in larger pulled pieces, combined with tender vegetable and potatoes, nothing overpowering the other. They serve with ketchup as well as two other sauces, in case you want some heat.

Just fyi…they also offer a Steve’s Cheese Plate w/salami – are you kidding me? We will be back for this, pronto!

The Beers – The focus is on American Craft and Belgian Ales, and they serve over 200 beers between the bottle/tap offerings. They also have a few vintage coolers where you can just pop-in and grab some of your favorites to go…how convenient!

They list the draft list on chalkboards throughout the restaurant so you can see them from anywhere. We tried: Heater Allen Pils/Big Sky IPA/ Pyramid “Barbed Wire” Imperial Hefeweizen/Brewdog & Stone “Basha” Belgian Black IPA…all were delicious. They also offer a five beer sampler for those indecisive folks.

Service/Pricing – Service was totally friendly, just not exactly speedy. As you might guess, the prices aren’t exactly cheap. I would say it is average pricing for the quality, but the location and atmosphere you get at Saraveza puts it a cut above the rest. I can’t wait to come back and spend a long, rainy afternoon drinking and eating the day away.

*Jayne

Nicholas Restaurant

There is obviously a reason Nicholas’ has a perma-line of Portlanders installed in front of their Grand Avenue location…this place serves the most authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern food in town. After trying to eat here for the third time (every time there was a wait of over an hour, and I was way too hungry to stand outside in the cold), we finally got wise and changed our plan of attack. We arrived at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, parked right in front, and were seated immediately. Oh the joy! On that note… exciting news! Posters in the restaurant state that two new locations are opening in March 2010 – look for them!

The menu is stellar and features everything you could crave from Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. I suggest you try the Mezza Platter, as it is a great representation of various foods. You can order the Platter in Vegan/Vegetarian/Meat fashion, or combine the options. The Platters are served with an enormous serving of their amazing flatbread (think pitas) hot and fresh out of hearth oven. We also ordered the Lebanese salad, which was HUGE and full of fresh veggies covered in their light, delicious house dressing. Fountain drinks are bottomless, and taste delicious.

Nicholas’ atmosphere is small and relaxed, and you tip into a bucket when you pay at the counter, not to your individual server. Prices are ridiculously low, which makes this place a top Portland pick for me. Our bill was $28.50 for more food than two people should ingest in one sitting, LOL! It should be noted they do not take credit cards, and they do not serve any alcohol. No word if that will be any different at the new locations, as it would be great to enjoy this food with a glass of wine or nice cold beer.

My belly can hardly wait for our next trip back to Nicholas’ :)

*Jayne