1438 NE Alberta St, Portland, 97211
I brunched here for the first time on Sunday. When I arrived a little before 10am there was already a crowd of people huddled on the sidewalk, drinking coffee out of cups that could've come from my dead grandmother's cupboard and waiting for their names to be called. Good thing that I wasn't starving when I got there, 'cause it took a little more than the standard 30 minutes to be seated.
When it was finally our turn, we got a table on the patio, which at this time of year is enclosed in green plastic and heated. That's cool.
My brunch companion and I didn't see much of our server during the meal, but she was there for the important bits (ordering the food, paying the bill) and her timing was awesome.
Part of what made her job easier was that the coffee is self-serve, even after you get a table. I did not particularly like having to wade through the waiting crowds to refill my own coffee, but I suppose I am just spoiled. I will say that the coffee was decent and the staff did a pretty good job of keeping the pots full despite the fact that it was being drunk at a rapid rate.
What stood out most to me about the Tin Shed was the fact that the menu was loaded with interesting (read "creative and somewhat suspect in my book") items. A good example of this is what I had, which was a twist on the breakfast sandwich: deli ham and swiss between pieces of French bread and served with syrup. It was better than I expected, but didn't blow me away.
My companion had smoked salmon eggs benedict. The taste I got was pretty good, and I was especially excited about the fact that the accompanying potato pancakes were served with sour cream and chives.
Why Tin Shed is popular: the creative menu, the heated patio, the competent wait staff, the funky vibe (helped on as much by the patrons as by the building's unique design).
What I'm no so keen on: no hashbrowns or home fries (only potato pancakes), self-serve coffee, long wait, no booths (at least outside), average food at slightly higher than average prices, and the noise level (too loud for comfortable conversation).
If you're in the neighborhood and looking for something a little different, Tin Shed has its appeal. For me, though, it wasn't worth the wait.
25 November 2008
18 November 2008
Pastini
2027 SE Division St, Portland, 97202
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
I know that other PDX publications prefer Italian restaurants like Genoa, but the problem I have with their picks is that they're all so damned expensive.
Pastini, on the other hand, is quite reasonable. You can find entrees for as little as eight bucks. Granted, they come a la carte, but they're frickin' delicious.
The Pastini on SE Division would be my second home if I could afford to eat out as much as I want to (i.e. every meal). The lighting is soft and romantic, the woods are dark, the merlot by the glass very satisfying. They have raised booths in addition to tables--have I mentioned that I love booths?--and I usually get there early enough to be seated in one of them.
As for the food itself...mmm, drool, drool. Although everything I've eaten at Pastini is very good, my favorite by far is their fettuccine alfredo, with or without chicken. Since this is my all-time favorite dish of all the dishes in the world, I can be a little hard to please when it comes to fettuccine alfredo, but Pastini certainly does not disappoint. It's rich, calorie-laden and absolutely delicious.
What's not so great about this location is the teeny tiny parking lot it shares with a Starbucks and a day spa. That said, there is plenty of street parking nearby, and the #10 bus (Harold) stops RIGHT THERE.
As for the rest: yes, the wait staff is pleasant (and some very cute); no, the music's not too loud; the pasta is cooked just right; blah, blah. It does all add to the overall impression, but the point is this: bomb, calorie-laden Italian food at an affordable price! Lemme at it!
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
I know that other PDX publications prefer Italian restaurants like Genoa, but the problem I have with their picks is that they're all so damned expensive.
Pastini, on the other hand, is quite reasonable. You can find entrees for as little as eight bucks. Granted, they come a la carte, but they're frickin' delicious.
The Pastini on SE Division would be my second home if I could afford to eat out as much as I want to (i.e. every meal). The lighting is soft and romantic, the woods are dark, the merlot by the glass very satisfying. They have raised booths in addition to tables--have I mentioned that I love booths?--and I usually get there early enough to be seated in one of them.
As for the food itself...mmm, drool, drool. Although everything I've eaten at Pastini is very good, my favorite by far is their fettuccine alfredo, with or without chicken. Since this is my all-time favorite dish of all the dishes in the world, I can be a little hard to please when it comes to fettuccine alfredo, but Pastini certainly does not disappoint. It's rich, calorie-laden and absolutely delicious.
What's not so great about this location is the teeny tiny parking lot it shares with a Starbucks and a day spa. That said, there is plenty of street parking nearby, and the #10 bus (Harold) stops RIGHT THERE.
As for the rest: yes, the wait staff is pleasant (and some very cute); no, the music's not too loud; the pasta is cooked just right; blah, blah. It does all add to the overall impression, but the point is this: bomb, calorie-laden Italian food at an affordable price! Lemme at it!
09 November 2008
Common Grounds
4321 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, 97215
I spent quite a bit of time at Common Grounds this week and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite coffee houses in P-town.
So far I've eaten toasted bagels, a cup of chicken dumpling soup, and a tuna melt here. The bagels were quite satisfactory, the cream cheese lovely and rich. The soup was just okay. The tuna melt was surprising and delicious: in addition to the usual mayo and onions, the tuna salad also contained bits of Granny Smith apple. Oooh!
The espresso drinks have not wowed me, but the house coffee is freakin' amazing. Two cups and I'm as jittery as all get-out. Refills on a 16 oz. are only 65 cents.
I also like that the staff is genuine and seem to really enjoy working there.
But what I like best about this place is that it was designed to invite people to spend many hours there. They offer chess and a great selection of magazines. There are couches and stools at the window in addition to tables. There are plenty of places to plug in computers. The music is mellow and kept at just the right volume. And you can spend half the day there without getting kicked out or asked to buy something else, as I learned from personal experience.
And the bathroom smells like pumpkin spice!
Common Grounds, I think I love you.
I spent quite a bit of time at Common Grounds this week and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite coffee houses in P-town.
So far I've eaten toasted bagels, a cup of chicken dumpling soup, and a tuna melt here. The bagels were quite satisfactory, the cream cheese lovely and rich. The soup was just okay. The tuna melt was surprising and delicious: in addition to the usual mayo and onions, the tuna salad also contained bits of Granny Smith apple. Oooh!
The espresso drinks have not wowed me, but the house coffee is freakin' amazing. Two cups and I'm as jittery as all get-out. Refills on a 16 oz. are only 65 cents.
I also like that the staff is genuine and seem to really enjoy working there.
But what I like best about this place is that it was designed to invite people to spend many hours there. They offer chess and a great selection of magazines. There are couches and stools at the window in addition to tables. There are plenty of places to plug in computers. The music is mellow and kept at just the right volume. And you can spend half the day there without getting kicked out or asked to buy something else, as I learned from personal experience.
And the bathroom smells like pumpkin spice!
Common Grounds, I think I love you.
02 November 2008
The Cricket Café
3159 SE Belmont, Portland, 97214
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
Sunday brunch is a popular tradition in Portland, and quite honestly my favorite meal of the week. The restaurant I keep going back to is The Cricket Café.
What I love about this place is THE FOOD! I've not eaten anything here that's less than amazing, though I particularly recommend the Cricket Skillet if you love dairy like I do. I love that you can get yourself a cup of coffee while you're waiting for a table. I love the tattooed staff, who are friendly and professional but not obsequious. I love the orange juice and the hash browns. And best of all I love the prices: the Cricket Skillet is only $8.25 and it's twice as much as I can eat in one sitting. They also have dog-friendly seating available outside, if the weather's nice.
I will admit that the Cricket has a couple drawbacks. Firstly, it is so popular on a weekend morning that I almost always have to wait at least half an hour for a table (though that's pretty standard for any decent brunch place in the area). Secondly, sometimes I feel slightly claustrophobic amid the small, tightly-packed tables (though so far I have not accidentally elbowed or butt-bumped anyone).
A new complaint from this most recent experience was that the music was just too dang loud and my brunch companions and I had to shout to be heard. (Note to establishments: the music should be set at a volume just BELOW that of the conversation, not above it.) But in general that has not been a problem at the Cricket in the past.
The verdict: Yum, yum, gimme some! This place has been a favorite of mine for years. All thumbs up.
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
Sunday brunch is a popular tradition in Portland, and quite honestly my favorite meal of the week. The restaurant I keep going back to is The Cricket Café.
What I love about this place is THE FOOD! I've not eaten anything here that's less than amazing, though I particularly recommend the Cricket Skillet if you love dairy like I do. I love that you can get yourself a cup of coffee while you're waiting for a table. I love the tattooed staff, who are friendly and professional but not obsequious. I love the orange juice and the hash browns. And best of all I love the prices: the Cricket Skillet is only $8.25 and it's twice as much as I can eat in one sitting. They also have dog-friendly seating available outside, if the weather's nice.
I will admit that the Cricket has a couple drawbacks. Firstly, it is so popular on a weekend morning that I almost always have to wait at least half an hour for a table (though that's pretty standard for any decent brunch place in the area). Secondly, sometimes I feel slightly claustrophobic amid the small, tightly-packed tables (though so far I have not accidentally elbowed or butt-bumped anyone).
A new complaint from this most recent experience was that the music was just too dang loud and my brunch companions and I had to shout to be heard. (Note to establishments: the music should be set at a volume just BELOW that of the conversation, not above it.) But in general that has not been a problem at the Cricket in the past.
The verdict: Yum, yum, gimme some! This place has been a favorite of mine for years. All thumbs up.
Hoda's
3401 SE Belmont, Portland, 97214
I was very sad when, a few years ago, the Garbanzo's restaurants started disappearing. I was in love with their prices as well as their chicken shwarma and freakin' amazing tahini. Since then I've only eaten at one middle eastern restaurant that I thought merited a return visit, and that's Hoda's.
I've only been to Hoda's twice, but both times the food and the service have been exceptional. It's a little more expensive than my ideal ($12-15 per plate), but so far it's been worth it. I'll tell you why.
1. The hummus. They peel the skins off the chickpeas before blending, so it's the smoothest, creamiest, dreamiest hummus imaginable. (Very near as good as that Garbanzo's tahini I couldn't get enough of.)
2. The lamb shanks. This is the weekend special, and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Two fist-sized hunks of marinated lamb, so tender that just touching the fork to it causes it to literally fall off the bone. Topped with pine nuts and served with rice (or, if you're me, you sub hummus for the rice). Oh, it also comes with a dish of that cucumber yoghurt stuff and some veggie garnish, if you're into that kind of thing.
3. Fresh-baked pita bread that's served piping hot to your table every 10-15 minutes. Sometimes it hardens and gets a little crackery, but if you eat it while it's warm it's nice and soft and dippable.
4. Ample seating, a warm & inviting interior, sufficient background noise but quiet enough to hold a conversation without having to raise my voice to be heard.
5. Attentive service. I've read other reviews that dis on the service at Hoda's, but I can't for the life of me see what they're complaining about. Both times I've been there the servers have rotated around the room at regular intervals, checking on each table from a polite distance and making sure our water glasses and bread baskets were never empty.
6. Large portions. I love it when I pay for a meal that turns out to be two meals, or even three. My dining companions were satisfied sharing a lamb shwarma plate between the two of them, while I took home half my lamb shank dinner. In fact it is calling to me from the fridge this very moment (drool, drool).
The down side to Hoda's? Hm. I'll scrape the bottom of the barrel for this one and say they could use some booths; there are none. But honestly, aside from the fact that I prefer my food a little cheaper, I have nothing negative to say about this place.
Hoda's gets a silver star from this foodie.
I was very sad when, a few years ago, the Garbanzo's restaurants started disappearing. I was in love with their prices as well as their chicken shwarma and freakin' amazing tahini. Since then I've only eaten at one middle eastern restaurant that I thought merited a return visit, and that's Hoda's.
I've only been to Hoda's twice, but both times the food and the service have been exceptional. It's a little more expensive than my ideal ($12-15 per plate), but so far it's been worth it. I'll tell you why.
1. The hummus. They peel the skins off the chickpeas before blending, so it's the smoothest, creamiest, dreamiest hummus imaginable. (Very near as good as that Garbanzo's tahini I couldn't get enough of.)
2. The lamb shanks. This is the weekend special, and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Two fist-sized hunks of marinated lamb, so tender that just touching the fork to it causes it to literally fall off the bone. Topped with pine nuts and served with rice (or, if you're me, you sub hummus for the rice). Oh, it also comes with a dish of that cucumber yoghurt stuff and some veggie garnish, if you're into that kind of thing.
3. Fresh-baked pita bread that's served piping hot to your table every 10-15 minutes. Sometimes it hardens and gets a little crackery, but if you eat it while it's warm it's nice and soft and dippable.
4. Ample seating, a warm & inviting interior, sufficient background noise but quiet enough to hold a conversation without having to raise my voice to be heard.
5. Attentive service. I've read other reviews that dis on the service at Hoda's, but I can't for the life of me see what they're complaining about. Both times I've been there the servers have rotated around the room at regular intervals, checking on each table from a polite distance and making sure our water glasses and bread baskets were never empty.
6. Large portions. I love it when I pay for a meal that turns out to be two meals, or even three. My dining companions were satisfied sharing a lamb shwarma plate between the two of them, while I took home half my lamb shank dinner. In fact it is calling to me from the fridge this very moment (drool, drool).
The down side to Hoda's? Hm. I'll scrape the bottom of the barrel for this one and say they could use some booths; there are none. But honestly, aside from the fact that I prefer my food a little cheaper, I have nothing negative to say about this place.
Hoda's gets a silver star from this foodie.
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