After a failed first attempt with eating at Pok Pok (the wait was too long without a reservation) we went to Apizza Scholls instead.
Since then, this pizza joint is a frequent follow up location for when our restaurant trying whims end in the same result (We recently tried Toro Bravo - 2 hour wait at 8:00PM... umm no thanks!).
Being a Blind Onion loyalist, I was feeling skeptical going in. I wasn't sure I could go in open minded. Would Fred, the onion who represents Blind Onion, know we had cheated on him?!
That said, Apizza Scholls is the best pizza of its kind. The pizzas are completely different so I feel comfortable having two pizza loves =).
In the three times we've been there over this past year, we've grown to have a few favorites - their Margherita and New York White Pie are tasty. The pizza that makes Apizza Scholls worthy of love? Apizza Amore - margherita plus hot capicollo (cured pork shoulder). As Brent and his friend Mike would say, its "stupid good".
Cost: Not your average pizza. Big pizza, big flavor, big prices. Average cost of a pie is $19-$25.
Menu: No complaints. You can make your own if you're really not finding anything that tickles your fancy.
Food: I would rate it a 5/5.
Service: Good service. No major complaints. The wait for food is long, but there is a good sized indoor waiting area. They allow you to order beverages at the bar while you wait, which is nice. The only unexpected surprise to look out for is that they close the doors as soon as they run out of dough. As this is determined on a day-by-day basis, there really isn't any way of knowing if they're out unless you call ahead, and they can't promise you that they will still have some by the time you arrive. The earlier in the evening you go, the less you have to worry about this.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
My Long Absence.. An Update
So I guess I should take a moment to explain my extended absence. This year has been such a transition it is hard to explain with appropriate conviction just how much of a toll it's been.
I graduated from my graduate program - finally! After that I spent the next 3 1/2 weeks studying 40+ hours for my licensing exam and two days after taking said exam began work. I am so incredibly behind that my phone is overrun with photos of food =)
Let's hope that I can catch up and share about some of the neat places we've found!
I graduated from my graduate program - finally! After that I spent the next 3 1/2 weeks studying 40+ hours for my licensing exam and two days after taking said exam began work. I am so incredibly behind that my phone is overrun with photos of food =)
Let's hope that I can catch up and share about some of the neat places we've found!
Friday, September 23, 2011
#48 Gravy - Update
So, I know I'm behind and have a lot of other places to mention, but I couldn't let my slightly unimpressed entry about Gravy go without a correction.
We had the good fortune of having out of towners show up for my graduation. They're from the south and requested some good southern food. We suggested Gravy as an option because of my love for the french toast (I still commit it's the best french toast I've ever had).
I ordered my favorite, my father ordered an omelet, my stepmom ordered the fresh fruit Créme Brûlée Oatmeal, and my husband got the Monte Cristo - success all around. Not only were we excited to find other favorites on the menu, but most importantly, our guests were very impressed with the food! We stuffed ourselves until we couldn't eat anymore and left happy. I easily feel good about moving it up to a 5/5. My only advice - avoid the country fried steak!
We had the good fortune of having out of towners show up for my graduation. They're from the south and requested some good southern food. We suggested Gravy as an option because of my love for the french toast (I still commit it's the best french toast I've ever had).
I ordered my favorite, my father ordered an omelet, my stepmom ordered the fresh fruit Créme Brûlée Oatmeal, and my husband got the Monte Cristo - success all around. Not only were we excited to find other favorites on the menu, but most importantly, our guests were very impressed with the food! We stuffed ourselves until we couldn't eat anymore and left happy. I easily feel good about moving it up to a 5/5. My only advice - avoid the country fried steak!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
#4 Screen Door
The Screen Door Restaurant has quickly become a favorite of my husband's and I. My good friend Liberty suggested it. She is such a frequenter that when she walks in they know she orders a hot chocolate with every meal and they start one up immediately. I love that about small businesses! It makes you feel like part of a family and touches like that make lifelong customers.
It has become very apparent that my husband and I have a soft spot for most things southern - bbq, deep fried, and sweet.
The Screen Door does not disappoint. My husband and I recently ordered their Bananas Foster French Toast and I ordered their Praline Bacon Waffle.... umm yumm!!! Click here to see their menu.
Cost: Decently priced for a popular Portland brunch spot. Average cost per plate is $8-$12.
Menu: Nice sized menu with a wide range of options for meat lovers and vegetarians. No one gets excluded from these soulful flavors.
Food: I would rate it a 4/5. Nice big portions, great tasting food. Both my husband and I are anxious to come back to a dinner service and see if we feel equally impressed.
Service: The waiters are friendly and warm. The food comes out in a timely manner and you can see that their kitchen has figured out a winning combination. The kitchen is open and available to see all the hard work that goes into making the food - no "Hell's Kitchen" moments here! Fair warning - this place is VERY popular. Usually a good inclination that you're in for a treat. That said, be prepared for the long wait. My husband and I typically show up earlier than we hope to eat, grab a cup of coffee from the bar and walk around the local shops to kill time. Parking has never been a severe issue for us. Enjoy!
It has become very apparent that my husband and I have a soft spot for most things southern - bbq, deep fried, and sweet.
The Screen Door does not disappoint. My husband and I recently ordered their Bananas Foster French Toast and I ordered their Praline Bacon Waffle.... umm yumm!!! Click here to see their menu.
Cost: Decently priced for a popular Portland brunch spot. Average cost per plate is $8-$12.
Menu: Nice sized menu with a wide range of options for meat lovers and vegetarians. No one gets excluded from these soulful flavors.
Food: I would rate it a 4/5. Nice big portions, great tasting food. Both my husband and I are anxious to come back to a dinner service and see if we feel equally impressed.
Service: The waiters are friendly and warm. The food comes out in a timely manner and you can see that their kitchen has figured out a winning combination. The kitchen is open and available to see all the hard work that goes into making the food - no "Hell's Kitchen" moments here! Fair warning - this place is VERY popular. Usually a good inclination that you're in for a treat. That said, be prepared for the long wait. My husband and I typically show up earlier than we hope to eat, grab a cup of coffee from the bar and walk around the local shops to kill time. Parking has never been a severe issue for us. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
A Deviation for Crépes! - Perierra Créperie
A new obsession in our household thanks to my friend Mandy who loves all things french - Crépes! Mandy first introduced them to me while teaching how to make crépes in our Group Leadership course. My world was opened to nutella and banana and I've been a believer in this combo for some time. Pretty much anything with nutella and I'm sold.
That said, our good friends Kyle and Ahna suggested we have a sweet crépe at Perierra Créperie.
Menu: Nice sized menu for a food cart and a good assortment between savory and sweet crepes.
Food: I would rate it a 5/5. We love their main location on 12th and Hawthorne! It's a neat spot for out of town guests who haven't experienced the food cart craze that Portland has so lovingly embraced.
Service: More often then not, our crepes are delivered in a timely manner and cooked to perfection. There are times that your order is either lost or you get stuck behind a long line. Everything is made fresh and before your eyes so I can't blame them too much for the wait. The only caveat to mention is to remind you that this is a food cart and we live in Portland! Many times it has rained and we are huddled underneath the covered area doing rock, paper, scissors for who orders and picks up our freshly made crepes. At least there is a covered area, right?
That said, our good friends Kyle and Ahna suggested we have a sweet crépe at Perierra Créperie.
Yumm!!! My friend Ahna is right, the secret to it being as good as it is, is the way they fold it up and stick it in a cone-shaped paper wrapping. It makes every bite a delicious one with all the ingredients evenly spread out in every bite.
Cost: Very affordable. Average cost is $4-$8.
Menu: Nice sized menu for a food cart and a good assortment between savory and sweet crepes.
Food: I would rate it a 5/5. We love their main location on 12th and Hawthorne! It's a neat spot for out of town guests who haven't experienced the food cart craze that Portland has so lovingly embraced.
Service: More often then not, our crepes are delivered in a timely manner and cooked to perfection. There are times that your order is either lost or you get stuck behind a long line. Everything is made fresh and before your eyes so I can't blame them too much for the wait. The only caveat to mention is to remind you that this is a food cart and we live in Portland! Many times it has rained and we are huddled underneath the covered area doing rock, paper, scissors for who orders and picks up our freshly made crepes. At least there is a covered area, right?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
#9 Le Bistro Montage
Le Bistro Montage is one of those places that if it wasn't recommended so much, you would probably never give it a shot. It's located right under a bridge in NE industrial. We've only gone for brunch, but I could see how it'd be a little sketchy at night. Location aside, the brunch was pretty good. From the reviews I've read, lunch and dinner seem like their star attractions. 1/2 price wine Monday and Tuesday. Worth checking out again for this, but I'm not in a rush.
Moving onto the good stuff - our experience and the food. Naturally, as seems to be the trend on this blog, my husband and I had brunch =). See their brunch menu here.
I ordered their Biscuit Sandwich and Brent ordered the Cajun Chicken Fried Steak.
My biscuit sandwich was really good with the right amount of spice in the country gravy and onion rings. To top it off, I ordered a "large" glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The glass was pretty small despite ordering a large, but we both watched her squeeze orange after orange to make this small glass. I might call it a large too ;). The OJ hit the spot and was both refreshing and delicious.
Brent also enjoyed his meal. He finished his and then worked on mine afterward. I warned him of the necessity for leftover though so he fought the compulsion we so often get with these brunches to stuff ourselves to the max. Why do you ask did we need leftovers? Because Montage is known around here for the creative ways they wrap up your leftovers. Here is what we got to hold the rest of my meal:
Awesome right?!
Cost: Very affordable. Average cost per plate is $6-$9.
Menu: Nice sized brunch menu. Their dinner menu is even more impressive with a lot of unique dinner options - gumbo, catfish, frog legs, you name it. It's like New Orleans moved to Portland!
Food: I would rate it a 3/5. We enjoyed our brunch, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I would be more interested in trying their dinner and see what I think then.
Service: The waiters are on their own clock. Do not expect timely and efficient. We didn't have any issues with them being rude or unkind. It's just got it's own pace here. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time and neither of us were openly frustrated with the service. After reading multiple reviews, it looks like this 'laissez faire' attitude can tend to be more frustrating when they are very busy, but we didn't experience them during a time where we had to wait. Until that time, I think this is a keeper and I expect we'll be back at some point for dinner.
Moving onto the good stuff - our experience and the food. Naturally, as seems to be the trend on this blog, my husband and I had brunch =). See their brunch menu here.
I ordered their Biscuit Sandwich and Brent ordered the Cajun Chicken Fried Steak.
My biscuit sandwich was really good with the right amount of spice in the country gravy and onion rings. To top it off, I ordered a "large" glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. The glass was pretty small despite ordering a large, but we both watched her squeeze orange after orange to make this small glass. I might call it a large too ;). The OJ hit the spot and was both refreshing and delicious.
Brent also enjoyed his meal. He finished his and then worked on mine afterward. I warned him of the necessity for leftover though so he fought the compulsion we so often get with these brunches to stuff ourselves to the max. Why do you ask did we need leftovers? Because Montage is known around here for the creative ways they wrap up your leftovers. Here is what we got to hold the rest of my meal:
Cost: Very affordable. Average cost per plate is $6-$9.
Menu: Nice sized brunch menu. Their dinner menu is even more impressive with a lot of unique dinner options - gumbo, catfish, frog legs, you name it. It's like New Orleans moved to Portland!
Food: I would rate it a 3/5. We enjoyed our brunch, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I would be more interested in trying their dinner and see what I think then.
Service: The waiters are on their own clock. Do not expect timely and efficient. We didn't have any issues with them being rude or unkind. It's just got it's own pace here. The food came out in a reasonable amount of time and neither of us were openly frustrated with the service. After reading multiple reviews, it looks like this 'laissez faire' attitude can tend to be more frustrating when they are very busy, but we didn't experience them during a time where we had to wait. Until that time, I think this is a keeper and I expect we'll be back at some point for dinner.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
#5 Pok Pok & Whiskey Soda Lounge
My husband and I have been on a search for good Thai food for some time now. I miss my favorite little restaurant in downtown Vancouver, Tiger's Garden, and have had more misses than hits lately when trying Thai food near where we live now. Tiger's Garden has some AMAZING curry dishes, my favorite! Anyway, Pok Pok had been recommended by a handful of friends, mainly raving about their Fish Sauce wings. An evening opened up and we took along with us four other friends (Note: You cannot make a reservation without six people!).
FYI: All you Food Network junkies, this is also a 'Triple D' (Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) PDX spot.
The atmosphere of Pok Pok when looking at it from the street is fairly unusual as it is seemingly a converted home surrounded by tents and absolutely NO waiting area in the restaurant. This said, they also own the Whiskey Soda Lounge across the street, which has now been designated as the waiting/pre-funk area for those with long waits (which there are.. very long waits). Our pre-funk cocktails were less than impressive in my opinion. I had their drink Butterscotch, which was AWFUL. The other cocktails (Southside and Umeshu Cooler) were a better hit, although again, not blowing my socks off.
The communication between the Lounge and Pok Pok was just as they said. They were good on their word and as soon as our table opened up at Pok Pok we moved our party to the private upstairs eating area reserved only for those who make reservations. You'd think this would be a great choice, but WOW was it loud. I felt like we were shouting for a good portion of our meal not to mention it is also incredibly tight quarters. My husband is a very tall man and he looked pretty uncomfortable when trying to find a spot. In the end, we had to sit across from each other just so that he could sit comfortably.
We ordered several dishes; however. these are the ones that stand out. The Ike's Fish Sauce Wings (Spicy) were really good! Great flavor.
The other item that the table enjoyed was the Kaeng Hung Leh, a curried pork belly and pork shoulder. Yumm!
The overall feeling about the food was that while the food was flavorful and fun to try, the portion sizes were small given the prices.
Cost: Fairly expensive given the portions (more like tapas). Average cost per plate is $9-$14.
Menu: Nice sized menu with a wide range of options from various Southeast Asian cultures.
Food: There are some very delicious items on the menu, though some items were either overly seasoned or just unimpressive for all the hype. I would rate it a 3/5 overall when considering the six dishes we ordered and the various feedback from our friends.
Service: The waiter was very thoughtful when explaining the various entrees and making suggestions for what rice is most appropriate for what dish. I enjoyed hearing about the culture the food came from and how to properly eat it (whether adding lettuce, coconut rice, etc). The wait stinks, but the option to hang at the Whiskey Soda Lounge is nice. Unfortunately, that place is usually busy as well. Know about it and be prepared.
FYI: All you Food Network junkies, this is also a 'Triple D' (Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives) PDX spot.
The atmosphere of Pok Pok when looking at it from the street is fairly unusual as it is seemingly a converted home surrounded by tents and absolutely NO waiting area in the restaurant. This said, they also own the Whiskey Soda Lounge across the street, which has now been designated as the waiting/pre-funk area for those with long waits (which there are.. very long waits). Our pre-funk cocktails were less than impressive in my opinion. I had their drink Butterscotch, which was AWFUL. The other cocktails (Southside and Umeshu Cooler) were a better hit, although again, not blowing my socks off.
The communication between the Lounge and Pok Pok was just as they said. They were good on their word and as soon as our table opened up at Pok Pok we moved our party to the private upstairs eating area reserved only for those who make reservations. You'd think this would be a great choice, but WOW was it loud. I felt like we were shouting for a good portion of our meal not to mention it is also incredibly tight quarters. My husband is a very tall man and he looked pretty uncomfortable when trying to find a spot. In the end, we had to sit across from each other just so that he could sit comfortably.
We ordered several dishes; however. these are the ones that stand out. The Ike's Fish Sauce Wings (Spicy) were really good! Great flavor.
The other item that the table enjoyed was the Kaeng Hung Leh, a curried pork belly and pork shoulder. Yumm!
The overall feeling about the food was that while the food was flavorful and fun to try, the portion sizes were small given the prices.
Cost: Fairly expensive given the portions (more like tapas). Average cost per plate is $9-$14.
Menu: Nice sized menu with a wide range of options from various Southeast Asian cultures.
Food: There are some very delicious items on the menu, though some items were either overly seasoned or just unimpressive for all the hype. I would rate it a 3/5 overall when considering the six dishes we ordered and the various feedback from our friends.
Service: The waiter was very thoughtful when explaining the various entrees and making suggestions for what rice is most appropriate for what dish. I enjoyed hearing about the culture the food came from and how to properly eat it (whether adding lettuce, coconut rice, etc). The wait stinks, but the option to hang at the Whiskey Soda Lounge is nice. Unfortunately, that place is usually busy as well. Know about it and be prepared.
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