The single hardest thing about quitting smoking is that it radically limits the number of bars you can go to, at least for a while: It’s damn near impossible to maintain a non-smoking vow when (a) you’re drunk, and (b) everyone around you is sucking down American Spirits like they’re going out of style (note: […]
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Colliding Molecules
Supper Keeps the ripe Dream Alive
In case you’re not among the many foodies and bloggers who follow the comings and goings of Portland’s culinary elite with bated breath, here’s the abridged back story on Supper: Naomi and Michael Hebberoy dominated the Portland restaurant scene from about 2004-2006, running ripe (a catering company and invite-only supper club), clarklewis, and the Gotham […]
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Happy Hours
Roux, 1700 N Killingsworth, daily 4:30-6 pm, $1 off cocktails, $3 off bar food Maybe you can’t afford to eat at Roux for dinner, but that’s no excuse not checking out their happy hour bar menu—cheap food and discounts on Southern-influenced cocktails make Roux a choice destination for a foodie on a budget. The Lamp, […]
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If It Looks Japanese…
Sushi and Sidecars at the Yakuza Lounge
As a colleague of mine pointed out, naming a Japanese restaurant in the US “Yakuza” seems a little like opening a burger joint in Tokyo called “Crips.” When I asked Yakuza’s chef/owner Micah Camden about the name, a note of frustration crept into his voice. “Do you know anything about the Yakuza?” I had to […]
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Happy Hours
Laurelwood, 1728 NE 40th, 2327 NW Kearney, daily 3-6 pm & 9-close, $2.75 pints, $3.95 appetizers A solid choice for grabbing a pint and good cheap food—and no one will frown if your kid loses it. Their menu features Draper Valley chicken and Painted Hills beef, so you don’t have to sacrifice conscience for an […]
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Your Side of the River
Francis Keeps it Real on the East Side
[Editor’s Note: Hurrah for Allison O’Brien, the winning bidder in the “Mercury Job Swap” category in our online charity auction. (More info on pg. 3.) She chose to write this week’s Last Supper review, and—as it turns out? She has a real flair for food criticism. Congrats Allison! (Please don’t make us clean the toilets […]
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A Brief History of Tiki
Thatch Revives Portland’s Tiki Tradition
In order to fully appreciate Thatch, Robert Voltz’s new lounge on NE Broadway, you need to know a little bit about the history of the tiki bar. While they’re now generally considered retro-kitsch, tiki bars were once known for skillful bartenders, well-made cocktails, and an ambiance that offered a fanciful escape from the daily grind. […]
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Pause and Smell the Meatloaf
Searching for Greatness at Pause Kitchen
Everybody loves the Low Brow Lounge—the smoky, divey little bar in Northwest that provides a welcome escape from the Pearl District’s chi-chi bar scene. The forces behind the Low Brow have recently opened another restaurant: North Portland’s Pause Kitchen and Bar, a more upscale outpost just off the Interstate MAX line. Pause is like the […]
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Play by the Rules
Learning How to Eat at the Whiskey Soda Lounge
If you haven’t eaten at Pok Pok, odds are you’ve at least heard of it: In the past year and a half, the tiny shack with the modest menu has garnered enthusiastic props from every publication in town (including this one). Owner and head chef Andy Ricker churns out Thai cuisine with the attention to […]
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Stuck in the Middle
Bo Restobar Splits the Difference
Based on a premise that “originated in Thailand,” the press release for Bo Restobar (the new dining establishment attached to Hotel Lucia) reads: “Bo Restobar features food that you wouldn’t expect from a bar and a drink menu and alcohol selection you’d rarely see in a restaurant.” It’s not a restaurant. It’s not a bar. […]
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Third Time’s a Charm?
Searching for Consistency at 23 Hoyt
23 Hoyt is the reincarnation of Balvo, Kenny Giambalvo (of bluehour) and Bruce Carey’s short-lived Italian joint. Carey is still behind the scenes, but the split-floor restaurant has been utterly transformed— the bright lines of Balvo giving way to coats of gray paint, moody draperies, and flickering candlelight, and the menu retooled to included a […]
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How Lovely
Hula Hands Moves and Improves
Last year, when Lovely Hula Hands announced that it was moving from its signature flamingo-pink home off N Mississippi to a new, more spacious spot down the road, the news prompted conflicting responses. On one hand, Hula Hands seemed nearly perfect as it was—reasonably upscale but homey, intimate, and funky. Many of us had come […]