Comment Archives: Locations: Media: 3 Stars
Re: “Phờ PDX”
Downgrading my previous review. They raised their prices on many items ($.50) [which I am fine with, actually.] but they subsequently lowered the quality and amount of food of said dishes[which I am not ok with given the raising of prices]. I no longer visit. Shame, I easily spent hundreds a year here.
Re: “Corbett Fish House”
I applaud this restaurant's commitment to gluten-free recipes and sustainable practices. The staff was friendly; attentive, but not too intrusive.
However, I cannot agree with their claims of "Portland's best" fish & chips, and certainly not "World's Greatest Fries." The fish (I had cod, admittedly the least expensive option) portion was small, especially for the price, and the flavor was nondescript. The fries were also definitely middle-of-the-road, even for just Portland, let alone the world.
The New England Clam Chowder wasn't bad, but still, not particularly memorable.
Perhaps "Okayest" is a more accurate adjective than "Best" or "Greatest."
Re: “Casba Mediterranean Cafe”
Such a cute, simple place. I work across the street and love the lamb gyros with extra tziki sauce, some of the best downtown!
Re: “Ground Kontrol”
This place is great, except when one of the owners brings his spray-bottle-toting brats down there. Serious, that shit gets old REAL fucking fast.
Re: “Le Bistro Montage”
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants in town (read- mid-1990's). It still has the atmosphere I like, but the food is just not up to par.
Re: “Doug Fir”
I just moved here from a small city in Tennessee. This was the first place I went to sample the dim fertile waters in a much bigger scene. I wore all black just to be safe. Black is always the safest color in Portland, I've since discovered. After walking through a termite's intestine decorated by gay loggers, I found the downstairs music venue. It was one of those "indeterminate" type indie bands with some guy on bass playing the brown noise a lot, a guy in a stocking cap on keyboards, and a shrill, ironically nerdy vocalist. This one had a lady who swore into the mic at intervals and played tambourine. Weaving through the people in front of the stage (not a wild bunch) was like getting trapped in a rabbi's walk-in closet. It was musty; lots of black cloth. And damn near all of them wore chunky black spectacles. C'mon. I got ostracized for my entire childhood because of my poor vision and NOW it's so cool to be a nerdy intellectual?!! Oy, vey! God damn all the unearned intellectualism in this burg!
Re: “The Hutch on Holgate”
Fairly middle of the road stuff here - reasonably priced dependable pizza, friendly staff, and great karaoke, but the beer is ALWAYS flat. Good enough for a quick neighborhood bite.
Re: “Delta Cafe”
Actually the Delta is about as unauthenic as Portland can come. I like to laugh at all the uber-Portlanders thinking they are at yet another trendy one-of-a-kind place. While I love the drinks and love to get a gut bomb going...it's a chain restaurant people!!!
Re: “Lucky Labrador Brew Pub”
Best tuna melt in town, but sort of a weird atmosphere http://www.brookegeery.com/lunchonhawthorn…
Re: “Red E Cafe”
nothing i can say thats wrong, but its just uncomfortable.. like an art gallery. you walk in and its set up for everyone there to notice you- like a large hallway runway. its kind of a cold atmosphere and each footstep echos, just not a place i can feel good in for hours on end. staff are really nice, (at least 4 are ex albina press baristas) coffees good of course, but i just need to feel a little less observed. perfect place if thats your thing.
Re: “Taboo Adult Video”
Clean and open. My boyfriend and I stopped in to browse. There were a lot more products than we thought there would be. They carry some pretty "intense" things but a lot of couple friendly things too. Some sections were organizsed better than others but we were approached by two different girls to see if we needed help finding things. It was a little annoying but the second time we thought we'd get advice on something. The girl scared me. She was loud and vulgar! I was so embarrassed. I felt like everyone was staring at us and knew what we were buying! But she eventually left us again and we picked something out and went to a different counter to buy.We might go back at some point but we'll definitely check out other options so it's more discreet. If you're totally comfortable going in one of these places, this place is awesome. But if you're a first time... I hope there is somewhere less embarrassing!
Re: “Raccoon Lodge and Brew Pub”
First of all OP Nobody wants to hear about your "condo in the Pearl". Get over yourself. The place is decent enough it is a little Hootersesque, but that is not per se a bad thing
Re: “Leaky Roof Pub & Grill”
It was reasonable and pretty fun when I went but that was in 2006.
Re: “Club 21”
Cool spot. Looks and feels like you're in Keebler Village. (another childhood dream realized) Last time I was here I didn't even order a drink I just sat in the back corner writing in my journal and burned my arm with cigarettes. The bartenders were totally cool with it. The only downside is that it's really close to the Portland Mercury office and I've seen some of the employees hanging out here.
Re: “The Bye and Bye”
the bye and bye drink is delicious!
weeping tofu sandwich was YUM, get it without the jalepinos and hot sauce its soooo good. Great setting, art, candle lit environment and awesome people all around.
Re: “Fifth Quadrant”
I've been here twice now. The first, a few months ago, was a great experience. We got served promptly and well. A buddy and I shared a really nice portion of chicken tenders for $8 and then we each had the Turkey Dinner Special which was $10.75, overwhelming in portion and tasty enough that we didn't walk away leaving food on our plates. Good gravy, everything seasoned well.
The more recent time, we got a guy that it must have been his first day serving anyone, anywhere. I try to be forgiving of that, but it's hard when I have to ask for nearly everything twice (Feel free to write an order down if you can't remember it after the four foot walk between the table and the register, okay.) No silverware or napkins, the wrong beer, the wrong side, the other part of our order....but unfortunately the service wasn't the only problem that day. The chicken tenders we loved so much the last time were dark and shriveled, yet still managed to have a gummy coating under the skin. My Beef Dip was hardly seasoned except for way too much blue cheese crumble that tasted room temperature. I could see the bottom of the cup through the Au Jus, tasteless. The carmalized onions were tasty, but not a sandwich does make. Also, three pounds of french fries does not make up for poor performance on the rest of the plate.
So, it's fifty/fifty so far, but I'm willing to give it another chance, maybe during more peak hours when the A-squad is working?
Re: “Rotture”
Rotture always seems to host the acts I want to get down on/to. So I go there pretty regularly. This is not a bad place to see a show. If you can ignore the clientèle. Which I can, but I still feel like the oldest person in the room and seriously would you TAKE OFF YOUR SHUTTER SHADES AND PULL YOUR DAMN PANTS UP.
The staff are not dismissive and rude. (Show of hands: Who thinks it's sad that is a distinguishing characteristic?) And frankly, they're pretty damned efficient. It makes me snarggle every time an order for a PBR is met with shrugged shoulders/shaken head/pointing at beer list. Cheap beer is cheap beer people. I know that the Hamms logo doesn't match your Chrome messenger bag, but it's pretty dark in here and clashing is the new coordination.
The few gripes I have probably aren't even their fault.
- On more than one occasion I've been charged substantially more than the advertised price of the show. One time they were collecting covers for a show that was advertised as free. So so so so lame.
- It's really hard to dance on a floor that has had about 30% of every drink sold that night spilled on it. I know that you kids really only buy drinks to have something to hold on to while you stand there and bobb awkwardly to music that your friends like, but get a sippy cup or something.
- Headliners that don't start playing until after Tri-Met stops running. So in addition to getting overcharged for the cover, I have to buy a cab home. Good damn you people make it hard for my broke ass to dance.
- The last time I went there I ran into my middle school boyfriend. He's a hipster and coke dealer now. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Re: “Pizza Roma”
Used to really like this place. Until they recently began skinping on the toppings.
I know the economy is rough for everyone, but getting a Predator with hardly any red sauce and half the toppings made me think twice about going here again.
Re: “Bridges Cafe & Catering”
Not the best breakfast joint in town, but it's pretty consistent, and their menu is simple and has something for everyone. Mimosas and egg scrambles are probably your best bet, and you get a lot of food for a cheap price.
RSSGoing to Seattle?
Re: “Apex Beer Bar”
Cash only- same with Los Gorditos next door (It's 2011).
With as big of a patio they have, you would think they would have at least a section for smoking.
....But I put up it because the beer selection is awesome and there are tasty tacos next door.