- Better than anything in Seattle.
I don’t know why this amuses me so, but Seattle’s public radio station KUOW recently did a report about how Portland’s coffee scene is better than Seattle’s coffee scene. Among the reasons cited are Portland’s friendliness to small business and the ubiquitous Stumptown Coffee Roasters. The report also included this from Jeremy Adams of Cellar Door Coffee Roasters in Portland:
“Somebody said, Portland coffee’s just more punk rock. Or something, or more you know DIY or more you know people hustling and trying to scrape things together and make it happen and still doing really high quality, but not always with the most resources, but I think there’s something to that.”
The whole thing has some of the the readers of our sister paper The Stranger up in arms over on their Slog blog.
Personally, I believe that Portland trumps Seattle in both coffee and food. (That is, except when it comes to Korean food. I have it on good authority that Seattle kicks our ass in Korean food). Then again, it’s been awhile since I’ve eaten dinner or had a cup of coffee in Seattle. Still though, it’s kind of hilarious not funny at all when your own public radio station produces a story the equivalent of dumping a hot cup of coffee in your crotch. That must sting a little.
Seattle might beat Portland at Korean food, but does it beat Beaverton?
After years of believing that Seattle-ites are less friendly than Portlanders, I’m having a change of heart on one aspect: the servers up there are far friendlier on average. I’ve noted an awful uptick of restaurant employees around here who believe they are too cool to be serving.
Probably after we attracted all of them here with our happy bullshit about what a great city it was to be “creative” in. They got here and realized there’s no jobs, and what we really meant was: it’s a great place to start a business.
Rich Bachelor, couldn’t agree more. Just in the last few months it seems I’ve been getting heaps of attitude with my service. Not at cafes so much, but at restaurants.
I’m sorry if you’re too cool to be serving me food, but here you are… ah… serving me food. So get on with it.
Anywho, our coffee is totally “punk rock”! What? I guess so.
Let’s not fight, Seattle. We have too much in common to stop being friends. Why don’t we both ditch the attitude and agree we are basically the same place?
The server ‘tude in this town has nothing on Eugene.
Not sure if we’re “totally punk rock,” but I do think that Seattle seems to embrace big, local brands more than Portland. When something cool or new happens in Seattle, it seems to become kind of monolithic and staid, whereas in Portland, that same new thing gets rejected a bit when it gets big, and you get some more innovation.
Examples of things that seem to be cool to Seattlites but seem like they would be (or are) lame to Portlanders:
Rudy’s Barbershop – Haven’t Portlanders kind of started a backlash against Bishops, too?
Matador (the Seattle chain) – Everyone I see at that place looks like they are from Seattle, or they are staying dry waiting for Screen Door.
McCormick and Schmick’s – Fine Dining ala 1999
Starbucks – I mean, our coffee culture has reached a point of trying to move beyond Stumptown, while Seattle still considers this a viable brand.
Nordstrom’s – Sure, it’s good for a department store.
Of course, maybe I’m wrong, and plenty of Seattlites think this stuff is all lame. Also, what is culturally a bit staid may be much better for their economy, as it fosters relatively large corporations that are headquartered in or near their city.
Seattle also kicks Portland’s ass in most Asian cuisine.
McCormick & Schmick’s started in Portland. And the flagship restaurant closed, although they are available in mall-like settings all across these great u-nited states now.
@luckymike: Rudy’s has like 14 shops in three cities. Not exactly a monolothic brand. But you’re correct about the Asian food.
Seattle has better art museums.
rich bachelo, agreed. I don’t go to stumptown specifically because of the ‘tude I get from baristas AND customers in line.
I know it’s “evil” and not “local” but I’ve yet to see baristas that rival Starbucks (and almost Dutch Brothers, who are just plain fun.)
So true about the Korean food. Also the pho. Than Bros, where are you? Why is it so hard to get a cheap bowl of veggie pho without driving out to 205?
Seattle = better fashion, art, theater scenes.
Portland = better food, coffee, traffic. And, uh, gay mayor?
PDX is still pretty small time.
Arboreality
Try pho PDX downtown on 2nd and yamhill. $5-$7 pho lunches, go there quite a bit.
@834
I think you can add bikes and beer to the Portland side.
I agree that PDX is pretty small time, but I think that’s what a lot of people prefer about it.
Anybody who spouts off “third wave coffee” automatically disqualifies themselves as a tool. Jordan Michelman is hurting, not helping, Portland’s cause here.