I'd like to make a reservation for my 3 friends and me at a can't miss place where we can go all out and experience great (possibly) fine dining during our first trip to Portland. If it helps we are coming from Austin, Tx and are open to all cuisines with a preference for a place that highlights local fare. I want to make a reservation for a Saturday night. I have as possibilities Davenport, Roe, Le Pigeon, and Beast. Do any of these fit the bill or is one standing out as superior or possibly some place not on the list?
We'll be going to Bollywood Theater the night before. Only two nights in Portland. Lunch/Breakfast places on my list are Pok Pok, Lardo, Blue Star Donuts, Beast, Tasty n Sons, Pine State Biscuits. If you have an awesome go all out brunch/breakfast place for sunday (the day we leave) that'd be really helpful too. Thank you in advance!
We are coming back to Portland in a few weeks for our 12th visit since 2012. Davenport is my favourite restaurant in the city. If it were in Vancouver, I'd go weekly, and we always book a dinner there (just did so today in fact). But it's not really a go all out sort of place. Le Pigeon might fit that bill better but I disliked most of what we ordered and haven't been back. It's also mostly communal seating if that matters to you. I haven't been to Roe as I'm fussy about seafood. There are some recentish write-ups on here about it though. I also haven't been to Beast, again because I'm picky and they don't allow substitutions. I quite fancy the look of their brunches, though, so that might be an idea for your Sunday if you don't pick it for dinner.
I've heard Austin called the Portland of Texas -- it's high on my list of food destinations in the US. Good on ya for avoiding Voodoo and picking Blue Star! Get a raspberry old fashioned if they have them or a hard cider apple fritter and be sure to go early if you're targeting the one downtown as they run out. Other outposts less so.
I was very underwhelmed by Pok Pok when we finally went for lunch in May. It's a bit grotty, the service is odd and it's expensive for what you get. Nigh impossible to get a dish that isn't sweet, either. If you're desperate to try the wings (which are sweet) maybe hit up Whiskey Soda Lounge at opening before one of your two dinners as local SteveWi has been suggesting. With only two days you might want to consider adding happy hour options to cover more ground. Consider Kachka if you do.
Lardo was better when it was a cart IMO. Tasty'n'Sons was not worth the miraculously-only-half-hour wait. Pine State Biscuits are not as good as Lauretta Jean's though they are more over the top. My top sandwich in town is the green bean one from Meat Cheese Bread, taken next door to Beer to add some hoppy libations to the mix. Bing Me is my second favourite sandwich (crepe? wonderful savoury folded thing?) and the best thing I've had yet from a cart. Dunno how Chinese is in Austin but worth a look for a breakfast or early lunch (they open pretty early and lineups can get crazy during primetime as each jian bing is made a la minute).
Have a wonderful time and let us know what you eat and drink!
Yeah... skip Pok Pok and get the wings at Whiskey Soda Lounge (along with some french-fried anchovies that you eat like potato chips...or the shrimp chips). The tamarind whiskey sour there is phenomenal. For an interesting brunch, go to Sen Yai up the street and get one of the Thai noodle dishes with an egg on top.
The Milk Glass Mrkt (http://www.milkglassmrkt.com) has some interesting brunch dishes. It usually doesn't have a line. It's not very spendy either. The dishes are mostly on the lighter side but very, very tasty -- perfect for a pre-plane-flight meal. I also like Broder for weekend brunch but weekend wait times are impossible. I always go mid-week... I would recommend Po'Shines for breakfast but, seeing how as you're coming from Austin, TX, down-home, deep fried goodness is probably not what you're looking for (plus, they're closed Sundays and don't serve alcohol).
Grazing at the farmer's market at Portland State on Saturday morning (11am - 2pm) makes for an interesting brunch. The PSU farmer's market is probably the quintessential Portland food experience. You can get Pine State Biscuits there if you're willing to wait for it. I agree with greyelf though... I can make better biscuits at home -- although a Reggie with heirloom tomatoes from the market makes a pretty satisfying breakfast (provided you're willing to wait for the Reggie).
For beer, skip the big places like Deschutes and concentrate on the smaller ones. See here: http://www.chowhound.com/post/whats-p... I like the Civic Taproom a whole bunch. You can order great burgers and fries there from the Boise Fry Company a couple of doors down. Don't forget to try at least one glass of cider.
For bars, see here: http://www.chowhound.com/post/favorit.... I like the Driftwood Room a lot -- to me it just S-P-E-L-L-S "cocktail lounge." If you order food there, order the mac 'n' cheese and the sautéed mushrooms and mix them together. For a higher-end bar experience, go to the Sapphire Hotel. For the dive bar experience, go to the Lowbrow Lounge in the Pearl District (don't eat there though) or the Goose Hollow Inn (my local dive joint). Try some locally-made spirits too.
I'm a decidedly less-high-end diner than most of the folks who hang out here (and my waistline definitely shows that!)...
It's raining as I post this so remember to bring your rain gear. Umbrellas are generally considered to be tourist equipment here so if you want to be inconspicuous, leave them at home. Columbia Sportswear rain gear is considered de rigueur here.
Since you are coming from Austin, I probably don't need to say this...but I will for the benefit of others who may be reading this. Portlanders are pretty tolerant of how you look and what you do in your bedroom and with whom. Such petty judgementalism gets in the way of our good life in a serious way so we just check that baggage at the door. That gay couple with all the tattoos and piercings you see on the street could be multi-millionaire advertising execs or brain surgeons. Also, we have a lot of homeless here...we know that...derogatory comments about same are generally considered to be in poor taste.
Also, most people here make a considerate effort to be nice to tourists. If you get lost, ask someone...more often than not the ask-ee will happily spend the five minutes or so to get you pointed in the right direction. I'll sign off with one last thought... DO NOT waste any of your time at Voodoo Donuts...no matter what you hear or who you hear it from. The costs of such actions easily outweigh the benefits several times over!
Also, "Oregon" is pronounced "Or-uh-ginn" and NEVER "Or-uh-GONE" or "Ory-gun" ... <smiley />
-- sw
One small correction to steve's great post: the PSU farmers' market opens at 8:30 till Nov then 9 am till Feb, and going at/just before opening is the only way you might dodge a crazy line at Pine State. Pro tip: check if Lauretta Jean's is there and have one of their biscuits warmed with butter and jam instead. Or their savoury handpies which are a perfect breaky in my book and also come warmed. They're usually in the centre of the market and their booth is quite small. Going early allows you to have your pick of the produce before the crowds descend, and parking is dead easy then.
wow thanks so much for the thoughtful, detailed suggestions and feedback. really appreciate it. i'll post when we return from the trip. thanks again, and do check out Austin!
Glad you found it helpful. We are contemplating Austin in May so will come over to your board, er, location for ideas!
Having been to Austin a few times, the vibe is indeed a great deal similar to Portland. However, the attraction there is live music. Not that you won't find great things to eat (esp. if you like Tex Mex). However, Austin is not known as the "Live Musc Capital of the World" for nothin' :-)
-- sw
Thanks, steve. The SO is big into live music so will deffo be a plus. And I love good Tex Mex. I just exchanged $ for our Portland trip. Damn, that was painful. We're at close to $1.34 to buy :-(. May have to curtail our US eating trips, wah....
Look for these
http://www.austinphotobook.com/2011/0...
at the Austin airport & along Congress Ave.
The "keep <place> weird" mantra originated in Austin...not Portland. Austin is the county seat of Travis County...the only reliably blue county in TX (although San Antonio is coming close).
I've always found the best exchange rates by paying for things with my debit card...however, I bank at a credit union and not at a bank. The 2nd best is AMEX... The vig is also small (esp with the debit card). The exchange rate is calculated in real time when the transaction is posted.
-- sw
you guys were so helpful so I am back with an additional request - We'll be renting a car to do a quick side trip to Multonomah Falls. leaving downtown early morning and coming back in the afternoon. Is there somewhere we should hit in terms of breakfast/lunch/snack/wine/beer on way there or back? or should we just buy lunches somewhere to take with us? if so, a good to-go place? thanks thanks thanks!
I'm local and I can't think of anyplace on the road to Multnomah Falls that is "can't miss". I've made this suggestion to others -- forage at the PSU farmer's market for picnic stuff. You'l find a wealth of goodies there (incl. really good bottled cider).
Other than that, eat a big breakfast and then just eat when you get back.
There are a couple of beer places in Hood River (Double Mountain & Pfriem) if you want to go that far east (about another 40 miles). If you do that, you will double your drive back to Portland.
-- sw
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