John Street Café
8338 N Lombard, 247-1066
Even though St. Johns has limited dining options, you should still drop by for a visit. SJ not only has Portland’s best selection of dive bars, but it also has the John Street Cafe, which makes the best Rueben in town, and a great breakfast including the Bacavo omelet (bacon, avocado, blue cheese, oh my!). Grab a seat on their huge, secluded patio and drink in the joys of summer. KS
Mae Nam Thai
35 NW 3rd, 243-2299
Lately, Thai food has been striking me as cloyingly sweet. I crave it, much like I crave a Vanilla Malt, but once I’m done eating, I’m full of regret. Thankfully then, there’s the new restaurant Mae Nam Thai, which holds back on the sweetness, saucing their dishes with subtlety. Their perfectly wrapped salad rolls came with both a chili and a plum sauce, both tasty, and the Pad Kee Mao noodle dish was smart on the spicy, restrained on the sweet, and complimented by a generous amount of vegetables; although I didn’t quite get why it came on a bed of lettuce, but I didn’t care. The Thai BBQ chicken, so you know, tastes nothing like American BBQ chicken. It’s dusted with a yellow coconut sauce, quite tender, and accompanied with a salad and rice. Good, but not phenomenal, or perhaps just not what I wanted. Regardless, if you’re looking for less sugar in your Thai food, or a cute friendly restaurant downtown, check Mae Nam Thai out. KS
Milo’s City Café
1325 NE Broadway, 288-6456
Milo’s lives up to its name with an extremely hip urban interior consisting of high ceilings and a splendid view of its beautiful kitchen. And the food ain’t half bad either. Milo’s does a reasonably priced dinner, but is far better known for its delicious brunches, which include items like eggs benedict with filet mignon, crab cakes, an assortment of fresh-squeezed juices, and all sorts of tasty omelets. The service at Milo’s is incredibly prompt and friendly considering how huge it is, and the atmosphere is as pleasant as it gets. JWS