explore Portland

And I can’t wait! It’ll be my first time there, and I have a list of something like 25 things I want to see. I’ve met several people online who I’m going to meet up with. Which will be nice, as they can give me the lay of the land. If I enjoy Portland, in early 2011 the plan is to pack my bags and get the hell out of Atlanta. I’ve been living here for 15+ years, and I’m bored to tears. Time for a change of scenery & a fresh start. 18 months ago

time to really explore all that makes Portland amazing! 22 months ago

1937 NW 23rd Pl
Portland, OR

Quiet spot off of 23rd, just what we were looking for. Pizza was average, Beer/Wine selection was non-existent, Garlic Knots were excellent. Doubt we’ll come back much, but it was worth the visit. 2 years ago

WW Restaurant Guide just came out. Although I’m not a huge foodie, I gotta add these places on the to-do list:

Apizza Scholls – 4741 SE Hawthorne
Clyde Common – 1014 SW Stark
Kenny and Zukes – Try the NW one…larger menu
Mother’s Bistro – 1139 NW 11th
Red Onion Thai – 1123 NW 23rd 2 years ago

300 SW 6th Ave.
Portland, OR 97204

The Original tries to go for the vintage diner feel in Downtown Portland. Their menu was general American fare, nothing to get excited over (with exception of the Voodoo Dount Hamburger). $1.00 PBR drafts during Happy Hour brought us in though. Service was standard. Food was average. But with $1 beer, two people can get out of here with $15, so you get what you pay for. 2 years ago

904 NW Couch St.
Portland, OR 97209

Candy is one of those places I wouldn’t be caught dead in at night. But they have a killer happy hour, so we checked it out. Good service. Huge thin crust pizza for $3- . Touch Screen Computers at each table, close location. Doubt this will be high on the list again, but worth checking out. 2 years ago

439 SW 2nd Ave

Great atmosphere. Nice service. Average Italian food. Would go back, considering there’s not many Italian places downtown. I wanted to like it more, to be completely honest. 2 years ago

1011 NW 16th Avenue

High scores for originality. Crepes and Beer. Very small, off the beaten path. I can’t see myself craving this place all the time, but it will definitely be on the list to take out of towners for a memorable snack. Open late too. 2 years ago

1987 NW Kearney

Good breakfast, good service, slightly overpriced.
Besaw’s was better. 2 years ago

714 SW 20th Pl./ 97204

I won’t even waste my/your time on a review. Don’t go here, unless you need a $1.00 PBR after work. I’d rather drink at home. 2 years ago

733 SW Ankeny St

My favorite burrito joint El Grillo shut down in 2008. I was devastated. I knew something had opened up in the same spot, but was reluctant to try. Turns out the place is called Santería. Different owners – Same chef! They still make burritos the size of your forearm. They still pile nachos higher than most small children. They even classed up the place a little by adding candles and flowers on each table. I’m so glad a solid Mexican restaurant is back on the neighborhood. Plus it’s next to Tugboat, a wonderful hole in the wall pub. 2 years ago

http://www.montageportland.com/
301 SE Morrison

10 reasons why I love this restaurant:

01. It’s literally under the Morrison bridge, next to barren warehouses and bums.
02. They wrap your leftovers in foil origami. I got a scorpion.
03. It’s cajun food. I love cajun!
04. It’s open until 4am on the weekends.
05. Communal seating.
06. Spicy Mac + Old Mac = SPOLD Mac. Soooo good.
07. The cornbread is down home goodness.
08. They don’t advertise. I hadn’t heard of it until a month ago.
09. Amazing artwork + ambiance.
10. Great service, despite being packed.

Go. 2 years ago

2301 NW Savier St.
Portland , OR 97210

A friend recommended this breakfast spot this week, we tried it out this morning. I didn’t expect a twenty minute wait (though I didn’t realize it was Father’s Day until we got there). But they had free self-serve coffee while we waited outside on a pleasant day. Breakfast was great. I had waffles with fresh local strawberries and vanilla bean whipped cream. They’ve been around since 1903 and looks like they’ll be around for another 100 years the way their food and service was.

http://www.besaws.com/ 2 years ago

711 SW Ankeny St

What a nice little find. A quiet, book-lined brewpub in downtown Portland. Friendly staff, a chill place where you can actually have a conversation. Right next to Bailey’s, will make a nice 2-stop combo evening anytime. 2 years ago

213 SW Broadway
Downtown Portland

Why did I avoid this place for so long? I thought it would be pretentious and expensive. Boy was I wrong. The place is cozy and friendly. The concept is simple: 20 Rotating Taps of Craft Ales and Lagers. Perfect for Portland. $4.50 pints is very reasonable for the great beer they serve. Plus they have tons of board games, we played a round of Scrabble and Battleship while enjoying the tasty brews. Will definitely be back soon.

http://www.baileystaproom.com/html.php 2 years ago

2327 NW Kearney Street
Portland, OR 97210

I had really high hopes for this place. But the food and service were sub par, the beer…average. Plus we happened to go when there were a lot of families with little loud babies around. It felt like I was at Chuck E Cheese! Very disappointed, might go later at night to get a better atmosphere.

http://www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com/ 2 years ago

While some of us can’t visit Japan any time soon, there is always the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park for $8.00. This place is just so pure and peaceful. Take every visitor here, regardless of age or gender. What a gift. 2 years ago

1438 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210

Wow. Possibly the best Tex-Mex I’ve ever had. Open-aired windows, nice service, nice atmosphere, great food, great presentation. 4-6 happy hour ever day, plates are $5.00 too. 2 years ago

622 NW 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97210

No complaints here. Giant authentic NY slices & that classic soup nazi type service found only in NY. Probably the best single slice joint in Portland so far. 2 years ago

500 NW 21st Ave., Portland, OR 97209

Yet another happy hour food joint in Portland.
Had the Fish & Chips ($5), you get what you pay for.
Good news is that they have Dead Guy on tap – unusually rare to find! 2 years ago

What a carnival atmosphere. Less of an Art Walk, more of a gathering of free spirits, music and culture. This is “so Portland”. Will definitely come back again.

Pictured: Some DJ with a spinning tire rim on his face playing some crazy techno. Yup. 2 years ago

My new favorite patio destination.

Lucky Labrador Beer Hall (1945 NW Quimby) is located in an old Freightliner Trucking warehouse in the final frontier of inner Northwest Portland. With it’s wide open feel and the pub resident five ton crane hovering above the tables, the Lab makes for a very casual place to hang out for a pint. Serving pizza, sandwiches, and salads, our pub is a great place to chill out by yourself or congregate with a group of friends, family, or associates.

Hawthorne’s Best Bitter: An amber hued, dry-hopped bitter, characteristic of a delightful aromatic English pint.

• Hops: Willamette & Cascade
• OG: 10.5° Balling
• Alcohol by Volume: 4.5%
• IBUs: 26 2 years ago

1616 NW 23rd Ave

Lompoc Strong Draft – Portland’s new cult beer. LSD is an American strong ale with big body, a touch of smoked malt and a generous hop profile.  (6.9% a/v)...whoa it was good. 2 years ago

Went to lunch at Mississippi Pizza in North Portland. I had always want to check out the Mississippi neighborhood, and was pleasantly surprised how up and coming it really was. Can’t wait to come back and explore a little more :) 2 years ago

Not quite downtown, not quite Hawthorne. A good mix of people. Slightly on the hipster side, but I’m pretty sure all of Portland is slightly on the hipster side. Went to a place called Rontoms, which was basically a giant concrete room, but with nice furniture, fireplace and huge patio. I could take out of towners there for a nice taste of the Eastside. Pretty close to the Doug Fir Lounge – which looks like a 70s ski lodge, so that could make for a nice two-fer any night out. 2 years ago

I’ve been to Hawthorne before, but never out at night. Went to the Space Room, Tanker, and Zack’s Hot Dogs. I love my friend D because she goes to places I would never go by myself. Checking Hawthorne off the list, though I need to revisit for Apizza Scholls, which I heard is the best Pizza in town and ran by a Soup Nazi type character. 3 years ago

Mt.Tabor.
Cathedral Park.
South of OMSI/Ross Island Bridge/Sellwood (Footpath?)
Classical Chinese Gardens.
U of P.
Laughing Planet – 23rd. 3 years ago

I had some of the most surreal experiences of my life in Portland. Watched some folks get married @ the Church of Elvis, & was hypnotized by an oillamp seller… 5 years ago