Vincente's Gourmet Pizza

Restaurant: Vincente's Gourmet Pizza
Location: 1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Date: December 2nd, 2011
Ordered: Pepperoni Pizza & Salad (Lunch Special)
Cost: $5.50

I had the opportunity to walk into Vincente's Gourmet Pizza for lunch the other day. It's on the corner of Hawthorne and 20th, just across from the Cinemagic Theatre. I went in on a bit of a lark as I saw a sign that said, "Slice of Cheese & a side salad: $5". The waiter then explained that it was really a discount on the slice of cheese; for $.50 more, I could have the pepperoni.



The good: the pizza was reasonably fantastic. Flavorful, covered in grease (which I wiped off with a napkin), and with excellent cheese, it was delicious. I ate it quickly and, as pizza goes, I'd definitely eat it again.

The less-than-good: the side salad I ordered was the Caeser salad. It was watery, the dressing was runny, and just lacked any sort of real taste. It was as if they grabbed some Romaine lettuce, dunked it in water, put dressing on it, sliced it up, threw a few croutons on it, and served it to me. Not at all exciting.

But man, the pizza was good. For $5.50 (only $5 if you just get the cheese pizza) it's still worth it; I'd just get a different side salad.

Pacific Pie Company

Restaurant: Pacific Pie Company
Location: 1520 SE 7th Ave, Portland OR 97215
Date: September 22nd, 2011
Ordered: Classic Beef Pie
Cost: $6.00

Pacific Pie Company opened just a few months ago near where I work and I had not yet had a chance to go in. As of now, however, that's changed. I went in last night, examined both the "Sweet" and "Savory" options, and ordered myself a Classic Beef pie. (And also a beer.) The place is themed after Australia, from the flag hanging over the door to the kitchen to the rugby matches playing on the wall-mounted TV.


When my food arrived, I quickly cut off the top crust (for later) and started enjoying the rest of the pie. The flavor was delicious, and the crust itself was nice and flaky. Let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The problem I had is that a small pie 4-5 inches in diameter feels pricey at $6.00. I enjoyed it, yes, for it truly was a savory pie, but the price seemed a little high. My feeling about it got a lot better, however, after I found that I'd ordered during happy hour and had also had a beer so they charged me for the happy hour special "Pie & Pint", which is $7.00. Monday through Friday, 3 PM - 6 PM, that's a much, much better deal!

It's definitely worth checking out.

Kenton Station

Restaurant: Kenton Station
Location: 8303 N Denver Ave Portland, Or 97217
Date: August 15th, 2011
Ordered: Paul Jr. (Burger)
Cost: $7.75

The Paul Jr., a 1/3 pound version of the Paul Bunyon burger, which is billed as their signature burger, contained beef, ham, egg, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and ranch dressing. Served with potato chips, I'm sorry to say that the Kenton Station signature was not that impressive. I don't know if it lacked flavor, or just was too mushy in texture, but I was unimpressed.


Still, as far as places go, you can do a lot worse than Kenton Station. It's located in hr beautiful "old town" part of the Kenton Neighborhood. The service was pretty decent, the music wasn't too loud, and it was a nice place to hang out like a grown-up.

Would I go back to Kenton Station? Probably, but mainly just when I'm looking for someplace local that's an alternative to my usual spots.

Gisarole

Restaurant: Girasole Pizza Company
Location: 8438 N Lombard, Portland, OR 97203
Date: March 6th, 2010
Ordered: Potato Fusion
Cost: $7

I was dismayed at the end of last year to find that the Ladybug Cafe in downtown St. Johns had unexpectedly closed. However, in its place, Girasole has opened its doors. This "morning" (and I occasionally use that term loosely), I had breakfast there. While the early menu is small, I found on it the "Potato Fusion", which I ordered with cheddar cheese, red bell peppers, basil, and sausage mixed in. It's essentially all these items mixed together, and the result was delicious.


The atmosphere of the place is nice, though the seating is not at all to my liking. I've always preferred a booth or a seat against a wall; I've never been comfortable sitting at a table in the middle of a restaurant and that's what 75% of the seating in this place was. Also, the food took a long time considering that there weren't that many people there; it makes me worry about what it would be like on a busy day.

Don't get the wrong impression, though. Girasole is a fine addition to St. Johns. The food was delicious and quite reasonably priced. I'm glad it's here, and I'm looking forward to going back!

Taqueria Portland

Restaurant: Taqueria Portland
Location: 7007 N Fessenden St, Portland, OR 97203
Date: March 5th, 2010
Ordered: Taco Salad
Cost: $6.99

The first thing I thought when I entered Taqueria Portland is that it is, by far, much nicer looking on the inside than on the outside. The second thing I thought is that the people inside are incredibly warm and friendly. The menu is simple and, occasionally, quaint in its accidental misspellings. I, of course, ordered my usual: a taco salad.


When it arrived, I was surprised. The beef inside was juicy and tender, and the shell was delicious and just perfectly fried. I devoured it pretty quickly, despite the reasonably substantial amount of food that was before me. It was pretty darn decent, at a pretty darn decent price.

The atmosphere inside was pleasant and intimate; there were probably only 6 to 8 booths or tables, all in the open area at the front of the restaurant. The only drawback was the two televisions loudly broadcasting whatever was on the local Spanish channel. That was certainly a detractor, but just about the only one.

In all, Taqueria Portland is a little gem that's got delicious food at a modest price, and is well worth visiting.

Also, of note: they have real Coke there. It's delicious.

La Sirenita

Restaurant: La Sirenita
Location: 2817 Northeast Alberta Street, Portland, OR 97211
Date: December 31st, 2010
Ordered: Taco Salad
Cost: $5.00

La Sirenita is a small restaurant in Northeast Portland that I found notable for several reasons. First and foremost, it lacks atmosphere. That isn't to say that it's bland, is just doesn't feel like a restaurant. It feels like a very authentic Mexican food cart that happens to be in a building. Also, the taco salad - my standard order - was good, filling, but very bland.



Now that's not to say that "bland" is "bad. The interesting thing was that La Sirenita had a reasonable selection of salsas available. After determining the bland-factor of the taco salad, I was able to spice it up a little with the salsa just to my taste. So, in the end, I had a tasty, flavorful taco salad that I was able to enjoy.

Do I want to go to a every restaurant and have to season my own food? Of course not. But for $5, you can do far worse that La Sirenita's taco salad. Check it out if you have a chance.

Dante's

Restaurant: Dante's
Location: 350 West Burnside, Portland OR 97209
Date: November 6th, 2010
Ordered: 1 slice Pepperoni Pizza
Cost: $3.50

Dante's is a bar just on the west end of the Burnside Bridge that has many faces; it's generally not a kid-friendly place with a choice of entertainment for every adult. When I was there this last weekend, it was for a friend's birthday party and there was a Rolling Stones tribute thing going on, which meant loud rock music. Lots of fun, I assure you.

At some point in the evening I started to get hungry, and I eyed the pizza that was being made in the kitchen on the corner of the building. Giving into temptation, I ordered a slice of pepperoni. What was given to me for the bargain price of $3.50 was a delicious slice of New York-style pepperoni pizza that was bigger than my face. It was quite possibly the largest slice of pizza I've found in Portland (though Rocco's, just up the street, might be close) and it was dripping in flavor.


Did I mention the slice was large? It handily eclipses the paper plate beneath it!

The trouble with Dante's is that it isn't a restaurant destination, per se. If you're already there for an evening's entertainment, the pizza will not be a bad choice. Otherwise, however, please note that the kitchen has an outside-facing order window and, if you're hungry in Portland late at night, it's a damn good place to walk past and grab a slice! I'm pretty sure I'll be there again.

Tsunami Thai

Restaurant: Tsunami Thai
Location: 2731 N Killingsworth St,
Date: October 28th, 2010
Ordered: Pad Thai
Cost: $9.00

Right next door to Mio Sushi is Tsunami Thai. I went there on a whim with some friends and, despite wanting Pad See Ew (which is one of my new favorites), I ordered my yardstick Pad Thai.


Perhaps it was due to the restaurant being less-than-busy, but my food arrived quickly. It was warm and oh-so-good smelling. I tasted it; the sauce was sweet (versus spicy), the noodles were perfect, and the accompanying vegetables were fresh. I know it sounds like I love Pad Thai every time I have it, but really, it just keeps getting better.

So what's my opinion on Tsunami Thai? I would definitely go back again. I'll just have to add it to the list of excellent Thai food in North Portland.

New Old Lompoc - 5th Quadrant

Restaurant: New Old Lompoc - 5th Quadrant
Location: 3901 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
Date: October 3rd, 2010
Ordered: BLT
Cost: $7.50

Located in North Portland (aka "the Fifth Quadrant"), the New Old Lompoc is, interestingly, about as far as you can get from St. Johns and still be in NoPo. I was there for an early lunch at about 10:45 AM, which meant that I stood outside for 15 minutes until they opened at 11. At least they put that on the website so I could look up why the door was locked.

I sat with a large group of people and, shockingly, decided to order a BLT from our friendly server. Despite the group size, the food arrived with surprising celerity. It might have had something to do with us being the first customers of the day.



The BLT was really good, though it had too much "T" for my taste*. Easily remedied, I pulled off a layer of tomato and started to devour the sandwich. Not only was the bacon succulent, juicy, and perfectly cooked, there was a delicious sauce - not quite mayo - that really rounded out the flavor. I ended up eating the sandwich with such speed that I was disappointed when it was gone.

So how do I feel about the New Old Lompoc (5th Quadrant)? I enjoyed it. The food was delicious and the service was friendly. Will I go back? Most likely. Of note, however: I'm pretty sure the 23rd Ave location is closer to where I live.

*For the record, I really don't like tomatoes, and will only eat them because they're good for me. Given this, I won't eat double-stacked tomatoes. A single layer only, please.

Mio Sushi

Restaurant: Mio Sushi
Location: 2735 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
Date: September 24th, 2010
Ordered: Combination Rolls, Tamago, Philadelphia Rolls, and a couple other rolls.
Cost: $36.65

There aren't that many places in North Portland to get sushi, so Mio Sushi is a pleasant surprise inasmuch as it keeps the bar nice and high. Fresh-made sushi awaits those who order there, and it's delicious. The restaurant is small but not cramped, it's clean, and well-kept.

On being seated, we were handed a menu and proceeded to order almost everything that sounded good.



In the end, we ended up with food for four. It was all delicious, but the danger in ordering sushi is everything is bite-sized and there's no real concept of how much food you're getting when you order four or five items.

The only problem I have is with the menu. It's not intuitive when it comes to order and getting an idea of what the food is going to be; a few brief words, if you get even that, doesn't really cover it. Furthermore, there's the menu with the food and there's the menu where you mark down what you want to order; the two don't line up at all. It's frustrating.

Does the menu really prevent me from enjoying Mio Sushi? Of course not. The food is great, the service is friendly, and the atmosphere is pleasant without being stuffy.

So what's the verdict on Mio Sushi? Definitely worth checking out, and a great restaurant to have in North Portland.

Nob Hill

Restaurant: Nob Hill Bar & Grill
Location: 937 Northwest 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97210-3005
Date: July 5th, 2010
Ordered: Tacos ($.50 each!)
Cost: confidential

It was Monday night and my stomach was on the prowl for cheap Portland eats. Suddenly it popped in my head; I'd heard friends mention cheap taco night before and this was my chance to sample it.

Nob Hill Bar & Grill is an unassuming joint sitting on NW 23rd. It's a nice, clean bar with a pleasant atmosphere. On Monday nights, from 6 PM to 9 PM, one can order tacos there for 50 cents. These are not fancy tacos; you're handed a shell with warm, delicious meat in it; I'm going to assume it was seasoned beef. You're then directed to an area where you can add lettuce, cheese, tomatos, salsa, and other toppings. Like I said, nothing fancy - but man, it's delicious.


I won't disclose how many of these cheap tacos I ate, but I can tell you that four people ate heartily for less than $10. Would I go to Nob Hill again? Sure! Aside from 50-cent tacos, the rest of the happy hour menu (2 PM to close) looked pretty darn good. I can't wait to give it a shot.

Thai Terrace

Restaurant: Thai Terrace
Location: 700 SE Chkalov Dr, Vancouver, WA 98683
Date: March 12th, 2010
Ordered: Pad Thai
Cost: $8.50

I was talked into trying Thai Terrace (in Vancouver) the other night. Once we were seated and someone came around, I ordered - of course - my yardstick Pad Thai.


I should let you know that the service wasn't so great. It was a Friday evening, so the dinner rush was on, but the restaurant was small, noisy, and slow. Something to be aware of.

I must say that Thai Terrace has some great Pad Thai. Some of the most delicious I've tasted in a while. However, it is worth having to go to east-nowhere Vancouver for? Probably not. Fortunately, it appears that they have a North Portland location!

Aprisa

Restaurant: Aprisa
Location: Corner of SE 8th & Division, Portland, OR 97214
Date: February 24th, 2010
Ordered: Taco Salad
Cost: $5.40

Several of my coworkers and I decided to try Aprisa one day, as it's within walking distance of where I work. It's a surprising-looking place; it's entirely a drive-up restaurant that's roughly the size of a single-wide trailer. A cute-looking little place, but it doesn't scream "restaurant".

I ordered my favorite, taco salad. It came in short time, as ordered. The water I asked for, while ordering, however, didn't come as ordered and I had to ask for it. Notably, my friend's burrito, ordered without cheese, was delivered (with verbal assurance) without cheese. Or so he was told; it actually came with cheese, as he later, unfortunately, found out.



My taco salad, once I got a chance to eat it, wasn't all that great. It wasn't terrible, and was perhaps nicely authentic, but it wasn't all that great. The ingredients tasted fresh, but the proportions all seemed wrong.

Still, if you're in the mood for authentic mexican food, it's a place to try.

EastBurn

Restaurant: EastBurn
Location: 1800 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
Date: January 20th, 2010
Ordered: Steak Salad
Cost: $12

I had lunch with some coworkers at EastBurn the other day, the trendy little restaurant on the southeast corner of 18th & East Burnside. The inside is nice, though it was just us when we arrived at noon on a Wednesday.

Examining the lunch menu, and wanting something delicious but not TOO unhealthy, I opted to try the steak salad. It arrived 15-ish minutes later.


Now the salad was advertised to be a bed of greens with apple chunks, steak, and brie on it. I can tell you that, combined with the vinaigrette dressing they put on, it was a darn good salad. The greens were good, the apple was crisp, the steak was perfectly done... but the brie took the salad to the next level of yum.

My overall impression of the place was solid; it seems like a trendy place with really good food. My concern is the $12 price tag associated with the salad. Will I often pay that much for one? Unlikely... but if you're in the mood to, I suggest you try it!

Bread and Ink Cafe

Restaurant: Bread and Ink Cafe
Location: 3610 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
Date: November 19th, 2009
Ordered: Provolone Bacon Basil Sandwich (with French Onion Soup)
Cost: $10.75

The Bread and Ink Cafe is a small joint on Hawthorne Boulevard, and doesn't immediately catch the eye. Step into the inside, however, and you're treated to a fun little cafe with a friendly staff and a bunch of charm.

Looking over the menu, I thought I'd try the delicious-sounding Provolone Bacon Basic Sandwich, with the French Onion Soup. Of course, I got to make this decision while eating the delicious free bread they gave us when sitting down. (Note: nothing makes a better first impression than free food.)


My food came pretty quickly, and this is where lunch went from good to great. That sandwich was like a grilled cheese sandwich, but with provolone, some excellent bacon, and some herbs cooked inside. It was amazingly delicious. I wanted more when I was done!

So go check it out. It's an expensive sandwich, so I won't be eating it too often, but it was a delicious treat in a neat little cafe.

Nosh

Restaurant: Nosh
Location: 2030 SE 7th, Portland, OR 97214
Date: October 9th, 2009
Ordered: BLT
Cost: $6.50

I have fallen in love!

Well, I've fallen in love with a sandwich. Nosh is a sandwich place just a few blocks away from where I work and it's a favorite of the staff here. They've got to be putting something in their BLT because it's so darn delicious. I've taken to eating them several times a week. I think about the BLT when I'm not eating it. When I'm out for a walk... I'm really just daydreaming about the BLT.


It's that good. Seriously.

So give Nosh a try. Try the BLT. (The other sandwiches are good, too, I hear.) You'll probably even run into me there.

Nostrana

Restaurant: Nostrana
Location: 1401 SE Morrison, Portland, OR
Date: September 28nd, 2009
Ordered: Insalata Nostrana
Cost: $9.00

I ate at Nostrana for a work meeting. It's got a great location in Southeast Portland with a good parking lot and easy accessibility. The inside is clean (but not sterile-feeling) with windows that make the place light up naturally.

Looking over the menu I hit on an instant problem that I often face when dining out: I don't speak whatever language they choose to use, so I often have little idea what I'm facing. I ended up going with the Insalata Nostrana, mainly because I could figure out that it was a salad.


The food arrived and I was quite pleasantly surprised. It was a wonderful salad with a house dressing that made it an entirely enjoyable meal. I'm not sure it's a place that I would frequent (a $9 salad was one of the less expensive items on the menu) but I was quite satisfied with what I had.

Bocci's on 7th

Restaurant: Bocci's on 7th
Location: 1728 SE 7th Ave, Portland, OR
Date: September 22nd, 2009
Ordered: Soup & Salad
Cost: $6.75

Bocci's, for me, is just a quick walk away from work, so I went there recently on a recommendation. I found a small, cozy restaurant with a personable and enthusiastic staff waiting. Sitting down at an empty table, I looked over the menu and - looking for a light lunch but finding mainly pastas - ordered the soup (a minestrone) and salad.


The order arrived quickly and I ate the bread and salad first while the soup cooled down. It was a good, small salad - exactly what I was looking for. The soup, once cooled, was also fairly delicious.

I don't have much to say about Bocci's; it was a good and I'll definitely go again (if nothing else, due to proximity.) It's worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood.

Aroy Thai Cuisine

Restaurant: Aroy Thai Cuisine
Location: 506 SW 4th Ave, Portland, OR 97204-2102
Date: September 21st, 2009
Ordered: Pad Thai
Cost: $6.95

I ended up at Aroy Thai Cuisine almost by accident, but I'm going to say that I'm glad I did. From the outside the restaurant is almost invisible; but for a small sign and a door tucked away from the street one wouldn't even know it was there. The inside presumes even less; it comes off as quite literally "a hole in the wall", with very modest furniture.


Let me also say that Aroy Thai Cuisine is definitely focused more on flavor than on presentation. When my Pad Thai arrived it was not impressive looking - not by any stretch of the imagination. The lime was literally a slice of lime, and the two shrimp that are traditionally included were buried within the meal.

But, and this is the most important part, it was delicious. Truly, honestly, good - and I wolfed it down faster than I'd have preferred to. It was a tattered book on a forgotten library shelf that you pick up, almost by accident, and find a magical story within.

So rest assured that I'll be going back. Maybe I won't go when I'm looking for atmosphere, but when I'm hunting for that hidden gem, you'll find me there.

Genie's Cafe

Restaurant: Genie's Cafe
Location: 1101 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
Date: September 16t, 2009
Ordered: BLT
Cost: $7.50

I ended up at Genie's in SE Portland having lunch with a friend. We went there with no idea of what to expect, only that "it came recommended". We sat down in the eclectic restaurant - and I say "eclectic" meaning "a bit of Portland hipster with a splash of Portland hippy thrown in for good measure" - and I perused the menu, immediately deciding on my old favorite, the BLT.


A short while later my BLT arrived with the side salad (note: no honey mustard dressing!) The salad was good enough, with delicious bleu cheese dressing, but the BLT was phenomenal. It was just the right amount of thick, juicy bacon without making me worry about having a heart attack on my way back to the office. The bacon was cooked "just right", the bread was nice and soft (versus overly toasty), and the lettuce and tomato were present but not overwhelming. Basically it was everything I look for in a delicious BLT. I was happy.

That recommendation that Genie's came with? It stands.