3901 N Williams Ave., Portland, 97227
Trudged through several inches of snow for half an hour to get to Pix today. The good news was that they were open, the bad news was that none of the bakers showed up due to the snow, so I did not get the croissant I had come for. Poop.
This was my second visit to this Pix location (the other is on SE Division & 34th). The first time I had a hot chocolate and grilled panini sandwich. It was an artichoke and red pepper panini with some kind of cheese thrown in, but they used pickled artichokes that completely overpowered the other ingredients and made the bread soggy. Yuck! The hot chocolate was what brought me back today.
On this visit it really hit home how grossly overpriced Pix is. $18, which included a very modest tip, bought my companion and I two hot chocolates, a breakfast sandwich (cheddar, bacon and tomato on brioche) and a slice of undercooked quiche. There's nothing that grosses me out more than runny eggs. Neither my companion nor I were satiated by our small meal, nor can I say that the food was worth the exorbitant price.
And I don't understand in the least why they serve on the side the most disgusting olive/pickle mix that can be had; it tastes of nothing but vinegar. Surely a single edible olive is better than a small dish full of inedible ones?
I have to say that I was a little disappointed in my hot chocolate today as well. On my first visit, it was just the right temperature and had a lovely, thick layer of heavy, homemade whipped cream floating on top. But today I got hardly any whipped cream at all, and the pieces of crushed cocoa-covered hazelnuts used as a garnish, while they looked nice, did nothing good for the drinkability of the beverage. I ended up fishing all the little pieces out with my spoon.
Maybe I'm just grumpy due to limited mobility brought about by the snowfall. I'm willing to give Pix one more chance: the memory of that first hot chocolate haunts me, and I still have to try their croissants. But I'll steer clear of the sandwiches and quiche from now on. Totally not worth it.
23 December 2008
11 December 2008
La Terraza
933 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, 97204
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
Whenever I work downtown and have the extra cash, I grab my lunch here at La Terraza.
For lunch, it's definitely on the expensive side at $9-11 a plate. BUT, since I'm a total Italian food fanatic, and since theirs is quick and delicious and comes in generous portions, I make the exception.
The fairly extensive lunch menu includes antipasti, salads, sandwiches, pastas and desserts. The dinner menu is about the same, but ditches the sandwiches and adds an entrees section. I like that soup or salad and bread is included with entree at dinner.
Entrees cost $13-20 a plate, but the pastas are much more reasonably priced at $9-12 a plate. Most are right around the $10 mark. Also interesting is the "Family Style Menu" which allows you to get pasta, bread and salad for 4-6 people at a flat rate. (I suppose the only difficulty with that would be getting everyone to agree on a pasta.)
While their fetuccine alfredo is pretty good, it's the fetuccine pesto e pollo that's to die for. My mouth waters just thinking about it! They also have a very decent Caesar salad.
Adding to the atmosphere are a preponderance of booths (hooray!) and some lovely wait staff. "Lovely" meaning both pleasant to talk to and pleasant to look at. (Yes, I am shallow.)
Overall: this place is a favorite of mine for the consistently great food served up quickly, and for dinner prices that are right on the mark.
*This is a Plain Jane favorite!*
Whenever I work downtown and have the extra cash, I grab my lunch here at La Terraza.
For lunch, it's definitely on the expensive side at $9-11 a plate. BUT, since I'm a total Italian food fanatic, and since theirs is quick and delicious and comes in generous portions, I make the exception.
The fairly extensive lunch menu includes antipasti, salads, sandwiches, pastas and desserts. The dinner menu is about the same, but ditches the sandwiches and adds an entrees section. I like that soup or salad and bread is included with entree at dinner.
Entrees cost $13-20 a plate, but the pastas are much more reasonably priced at $9-12 a plate. Most are right around the $10 mark. Also interesting is the "Family Style Menu" which allows you to get pasta, bread and salad for 4-6 people at a flat rate. (I suppose the only difficulty with that would be getting everyone to agree on a pasta.)
While their fetuccine alfredo is pretty good, it's the fetuccine pesto e pollo that's to die for. My mouth waters just thinking about it! They also have a very decent Caesar salad.
Adding to the atmosphere are a preponderance of booths (hooray!) and some lovely wait staff. "Lovely" meaning both pleasant to talk to and pleasant to look at. (Yes, I am shallow.)
Overall: this place is a favorite of mine for the consistently great food served up quickly, and for dinner prices that are right on the mark.
Thai Food Café
833 N. Killingsworth St., Portland, 97217
Shortly after this place opened, about a month ago, one of my roommates was walking by and happened to glance in through the window. To his surprise, a short woman standing behind the counter waved at him. Not wanting to be rude, my roommie waved back. The woman was quickly joined by a 50-something, silver-haired man, who beckoned my roommate to enter. Again, not wanting to be rude, and curious now about who these people were (did they recognize him from somewhere?), he entered.
Turns out the wavers were the restaurant's owners trying to get new people into their place. An interesting tactic. The roommate was on his way somewhere and couldn't stop to eat, but before jetting out the door he mumbled a promise to come back sometime.
As far as I know, the roommate hasn't returned to Thai Food Café to eat, but I've been in twice. Both times I had a joygasm over the Tom Kha soup, which is far better than the Pad Thai Kitchen's already excellent Tom Kha. Thai Food Café's mild chicken Tom Kha is flavorful, complex, and still spicy enough to make me sweat without setting my tongue on fire. How did they do that?!
The only other dish I've sampled is the Crab Fried Rice, which sounded excellent but was a disappointment to me. To be fair, the Crab Fried Rice is subtle and shouldn't have been tasted after I'd been slurping on the Tom Kha. But there also wasn't much fried about it, and the frozen Five Vegetable Medley in the rice put me off.
My dinner companion on my first visit, however, seemed quite happy with the salad rolls, and though she found the pumpkin in the pumpkin curry not cooked *quite* enough, she said she was glad at least that it was not overcooked.
I did enjoy the ambiance. It's kind of a funky, festive, cafeteria-style eatery, with plastic tablecloths, kitschy decor and bright colors everywhere...very appropriate to North Portland. The local jazz station plays at an acceptable volume that adds to the atmosphere without drowning out the patrons' voices.
They're open every day from 11am to 9pm, and with house specials like Flaming Beef (served on fire) and Evil Jungle Noodles, daily lunch specials for $6.50 and a bomb bowl of Tom Kah, this place is a decent choice for PCC Cascade students.
Shortly after this place opened, about a month ago, one of my roommates was walking by and happened to glance in through the window. To his surprise, a short woman standing behind the counter waved at him. Not wanting to be rude, my roommie waved back. The woman was quickly joined by a 50-something, silver-haired man, who beckoned my roommate to enter. Again, not wanting to be rude, and curious now about who these people were (did they recognize him from somewhere?), he entered.
Turns out the wavers were the restaurant's owners trying to get new people into their place. An interesting tactic. The roommate was on his way somewhere and couldn't stop to eat, but before jetting out the door he mumbled a promise to come back sometime.
As far as I know, the roommate hasn't returned to Thai Food Café to eat, but I've been in twice. Both times I had a joygasm over the Tom Kha soup, which is far better than the Pad Thai Kitchen's already excellent Tom Kha. Thai Food Café's mild chicken Tom Kha is flavorful, complex, and still spicy enough to make me sweat without setting my tongue on fire. How did they do that?!
The only other dish I've sampled is the Crab Fried Rice, which sounded excellent but was a disappointment to me. To be fair, the Crab Fried Rice is subtle and shouldn't have been tasted after I'd been slurping on the Tom Kha. But there also wasn't much fried about it, and the frozen Five Vegetable Medley in the rice put me off.
My dinner companion on my first visit, however, seemed quite happy with the salad rolls, and though she found the pumpkin in the pumpkin curry not cooked *quite* enough, she said she was glad at least that it was not overcooked.
I did enjoy the ambiance. It's kind of a funky, festive, cafeteria-style eatery, with plastic tablecloths, kitschy decor and bright colors everywhere...very appropriate to North Portland. The local jazz station plays at an acceptable volume that adds to the atmosphere without drowning out the patrons' voices.
They're open every day from 11am to 9pm, and with house specials like Flaming Beef (served on fire) and Evil Jungle Noodles, daily lunch specials for $6.50 and a bomb bowl of Tom Kah, this place is a decent choice for PCC Cascade students.
02 December 2008
Pause
5101 N Interstate Ave, Portland, 97217
Probably the best burger and fries I've ever had in my life. E-VER. And a huge plate of it will only cost you $8; no need to order an appetizer, though if you are in the mood for one I recommend the crab and shrimp con queso dip.
Pause stands out because it makes everything in-house, from molding their own patties (no frozen meat here!) to hand-cutting their fries, to the homemade chipotle mayo (which I didn't try because it showed up unexpected and therefore suspect on my bun, but which I'm sure is excellent).
The thing is, what I regularly order at Pause I love, but there's really nothing else on the menu that tempts me...except perhaps the mac and cheese, if not ordered with rosemary and broccolini. I don't know if they do this on purpose so they can have a relatively small menu with something that appeals to everyone, or whether they just have really eclectic taste.
As for atmosphere, I give it an A-. The layout inside is strange and not very feng-shui, but there are plenty of booths and everything's clean. The interior also manages to come across as industrial and warm at the same time. The bar is smoke-free, so you can actually taste your food (big plus, though after Jan. 1 all bars will be smoke-free anyway). There's a great outdoor seating area for the warmer months too.
And yes, Pause does take-out.
The verdict: When I'm in the mood for a burger or even just a basket of the best fries EVER, Pause is where you'll find me.
Probably the best burger and fries I've ever had in my life. E-VER. And a huge plate of it will only cost you $8; no need to order an appetizer, though if you are in the mood for one I recommend the crab and shrimp con queso dip.
Pause stands out because it makes everything in-house, from molding their own patties (no frozen meat here!) to hand-cutting their fries, to the homemade chipotle mayo (which I didn't try because it showed up unexpected and therefore suspect on my bun, but which I'm sure is excellent).
The thing is, what I regularly order at Pause I love, but there's really nothing else on the menu that tempts me...except perhaps the mac and cheese, if not ordered with rosemary and broccolini. I don't know if they do this on purpose so they can have a relatively small menu with something that appeals to everyone, or whether they just have really eclectic taste.
As for atmosphere, I give it an A-. The layout inside is strange and not very feng-shui, but there are plenty of booths and everything's clean. The interior also manages to come across as industrial and warm at the same time. The bar is smoke-free, so you can actually taste your food (big plus, though after Jan. 1 all bars will be smoke-free anyway). There's a great outdoor seating area for the warmer months too.
And yes, Pause does take-out.
The verdict: When I'm in the mood for a burger or even just a basket of the best fries EVER, Pause is where you'll find me.
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