restaurant list 2008
Started this one late (in March); I'll update to list those I've visited most recently at the top. (Related 2008 lists: book list 2008, movie list 2008) List of Restaurants I Visited in 2008 (underlined = first time) - Nuestra Cocina, Portland, OR (Apr. 17): I've tried to get in here a few times, but the wait is pretty long anytime after about 6pm, so Steve and Betsy met me at about 6, before the dinner rush started. Our server was attentive, polite, and quick with our drink order, but we never received our appetizer. He assured us that dessert would be on the house, but ended up comping only one of the two we ordered. Despite this, I wanted to enjoy my entree (sautéed beef tips), but the meat was a little tough, the squash was tasteless, and the sauce and refried beans all blended into a vaguely chili-flavored goop. I'm not sure about this place ... I wasn't really impressed, but I'd like to give it another try.
- Thai Noon, Portland, OR (Apr. 13): my first visit here was a couple years ago, and I can't remember the details other than taking away a sense of vague dissatisfaction, which has been duly eliminated following my recent experience here. Nic and I started with the egg rolls, and I talked her into sharing miang kum, which has never let me down, no matter where I order it. For dinner, Nic talked me into trying tom kha, which might now be my favorite Thai dish. We also ordered a beef and asparagus stir fry, and left absolutely stuffed with a bunch of leftovers to boot. Great place.
- E’Njoni Cafe, Portland, OR (Apr. 2): never having tried Ethiopian food before, I had to ask the attentive server if I was eating it correctly, by tearing off a strip of the crepe-like nejeri bread and wrapping it around a chunk of stewed meat. He indulgently nodded and relayed a heavily-accented anecdote from "back home" about how he and his brothers used to compete at mealtimes to fit the largest handfuls of food into their mouths. Nic and I tried a beef dish and a chicken and spinach dish, both of which were savory and spicy. This is a great place for a quick, tasty dinner, and it's about 4 blocks from my house.
- Miss Delta, Portland, OR (Mar. 30): a co-worker who lives near me recommended this new (opened last fall) restaurant on N. Mississippi, and Nic and I tried it out for a Sunday dinner. Started by the folks who formerly owned Delta Cafe, the food here is Southern, and the vibe and decor can probably be described as hipster vintage. We started with hush puppies, which didn't come with dipping sauce (the best example of which is at Screen Door), but a little hot sauce mixed with ketchup worked perfectly. I tried cajun-blackened flank steak, and Nic had the fried chicken. The entrees, and the sides (both came with mashed potatoes and a salad) were fantastic. The bartender made a mean whiskey ginger. Definitely going back ... Screen Door is probably still my favorite place in town for Southern food, but with this place a half-mile away, the location is hard to beat.
- ¿Por Qué No?, Portland, OR (Mar. 23): I'm glad I tried this tiny tacqueria at the southern end of Mississippi, although I think $3 for a taco is a little steep, considering it'll take about 3 to make a meal. The staff was cheerful, but the kitchen took a while to prepare the food. Nic and I each ordered three tacos, which were really works of art when done, each including a carefully-considered combination of tastes. This place is right on the bus ride home, which makes it a prime candidate for a quick dinner stop after work.
- Higgins, Portland, OR (Mar. 15): I lived downtown my first couple years in Portland, and this was my favorite place for "fancy" dinner ... when I moved, I guess I concentrated more on discovering new places, so it had been awhile since I visited Higgins. A group of co-workers arranged to meet here for dinner prior to seeing the touring Cirque de Soleil show, but despite nine of us there, the service was as impeccable as I remembered, and the food was artistic and delicious. I tried the pork loin special and was barely able to finish it all. However, as is usually the case with meals there, I can't really remember what I liked so much about the taste.
- Masu East, Portland, OR (Mar. 14): the Eastside location at 310 SE 28th Ave isn't listed on the website, and I haven't been to the original location downtown, but my second visit here with Betsy and Steve was almost as good as my first, with Nic. The decor is cool and sophisticated, without seeming too pretentious, and the fish is terrific; best wild salmon I've tasted. Both times, I ordered a sashimi plate, and we sampled a few nigiri and rolls, and a tempura plate for an appetizer. First time, the appetizer arrived as expected, but the second time, the it wasn't served until after all of the sushi, despite our asking about it twice (the server showed no sign of apology or regret). Regardless, I'm going back.
- R Palate, Portland, OR (Mar. 6): this little restaurant, nestled in the shadow of Big Pink, opened in November, and word seemingly hasn't gotten out yet that it exists, or that it features a great happy hour menu (til 7pm). I met Nic, Betsy, and Steve there after work; the place feels new, not quite settled-in yet (for some reason I noticed the tables were bare: no napkins, or salt and pepper; and the road construction right outside was an unfortunate intrusion into the otherwise semi-intimate feel). The server and owner Rudy (the R in R Palate) were friendly, the portions were sizable, and the food (e.g., bacon-wrapped dates with bleu cheese and hazelnut, mezza plate, spicy mac & cheese, bacon-wrapped scallops, etc., all priced between $2-$5) was tasty. We didn't investigate the cocktail offerings or find out if there really was a bar tucked in the back, but I look forward to visiting again. This place is going to get popular.
- Le Bistro Montage, Portland, OR (Mar 3): Nicole, Betsy, and Steve accompanied me on my virgin visit to this Portland institution. As with some places having an established reputation, I was expecting all fluff and no substance, but was surprised. The hallmarks were all there, even on a weeknight: loud music, shouting kitchen staff, communal tables, two servers randomly chasing a cook across the dining room with silly string ... but the food was good as well. We split the gator bites (which tasted like grilled chicken thighs) and black-eyed pea fritters (which didn't taste like much). I had a juicy steak covered in bleu cheese and accompanied by a tasty succotash. Nic had gumbo with spicy sausage, Betsy had fried chicken (4 drumsticks on a heap o' mashed potatoes), and Steve had pork loin. Monday is half-price wine bottle night. For dessert, the chocolate pot de creme was crazy delicious, but the root beer cheesecake was light on the root beer.
- Kenny & Zuke's, Portland, OR (Mar 2): my second visit in three months. Nic and I wanted a not-too-fancy dinner on Sunday night. We were seated right away, the restaurant was about half-full (my first visit was a Saturday night with Betsy and Steve, and we waited about 20 minutes). I had a deli club and Nic had a pastrami reuben, and neither of us could finish more than half of our sandwiches, they were so huge. Best pastrami I've ever tasted.
- 3 Doors Down, Portland, OR (Mar 1): my second visit in three years. Nic and I had no reservations but found a comfortable table at the bar right away, which wasn't too noisy, although the place was alive with chatter. Portelay and Humboldt Fog were both on the cheese plate, so that's what we started with, after trying the garlicky white bean spread that accompanied the bread. I had the ceppo pasta with chicken, and Nic ordered the prawns with tortiglione. Mine was great, not too spicy. The prawns were huge, and the kalamata olives in Nic's dinner made it my favorite of the two. We each had a glass or Oregon pinot noir (can't remember which), and split a creamy tiramisu for dessert.
- Gower St. Bistro, Cannon Beach, OR (Feb 16): the meal was one of the most incredible I can remember, a perfect part of Valentine's Day weekend with Nicole at the beach. We began with the cheese plate, which featured generous portions of Pordelay and Humboldt Fog, a semisoft goat cheese with a rich, buttery texture and a bleu cheese tang. Nic ordered the filet and I had the pork chop, both of which were prepared perfectly and had an excellent combination and balance of tastes. The homemade sauerkraut that accompanied my pork chop included lardons. The portions were sizable, and we had to turn down dessert. Service was excellent, and the place was full, but we didn't feel rushed or crowded.
- Lumberyard Rotisserie and Grill, Cannon Beach, OR (Feb 15): felt very chain-y. During our wait for a table, we sat at the bar for about 15 minutes without being acknowledged or served. When seated, it took a while for our server to take our orders, but the food came quickly enough. I had a bacon burger which was decent but unimpressive, and Nic's pizza was tasty but on the greasy side. Loud, with many families.
- Peso's, Seattle, WA (Jan. 12) ...
- BOKA Kitchen + Bar, Seattle, WA (Jan 11) ...
- Wild Ginger, Seattle, WA (Jan. 11) ...
- Il Fornaio, Seattle, WA (Jan. 10) ...
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