O3 Café
701 E Burnside, 227-1975
If you wake up and the first thing you think about is music, causing you to go to the record store on an empty stomach, causing you to forget to eat for the first five hours of the day and subsequently pass out, never fear. The revamped café adjacent to Ozone offers inexpensive, light, and delicious brunches, pastries and sandwiches, all made on the spot by culinary chanteuse Colleen French. The Sunday brunch specials vary; last week, it was a salmon scramble soufflé (can be made meatless for the vegetarians) atop a bed of spinach and roasted red peppers, with a side of yummy, fresh-baked bread–all for a tiny $4.50. It sounds like a rich, heavy meal, but the tastes were pleasantly simple–fresh and hearty, and served in perfect mini-portions. JS
Long Island Pizzeria
1012 SW Morrison, 274-0628
While the name of this joint makes me think big slice of pizza and a soda, it offers a lot more. The pizza is great, mind you, and can be bought and eaten on the fly. It should not be overlooked, however, that the LIP also serves huge falafels in fresh pitas, and a Mediterranean plate that’s just as good. The plate comes with five falafel balls, tabouli, dolmas (rice stuffed grape leaves), baba, and all elements are executed with care and skill. KS
La Calaca Comelona
2304 SE Belmont, 239-9675
At Calaca, the meat is the focus of most dishes, reminding the carnivores of why we eat meat: For the challenging texture, and of course, the taste. Try the oven-roasted pork (Carnitas) or steak tacos; both are tender and fabulous. The Alambre dinner is a grilled combo of mozzarella, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, steak, and bacon. The meal is an entire platter filled with this deliciously salty blend, and served with corn tortillas. La Calaca also offers eight creative dinners: mole with blackberries, a quesadilla filled with red snapper; chile relleno stuffed with fruit, meat, and vegetables. Other specialties include a tangy ceviche with big chunks of fish marinated in a blend of lime juice, capers, tomato, and cilantro, and of course, their fabulous drinks. KS