Salvador Mollys (West)

1523 SW Sunset Blvd

Argh! Turn all your scimitars and cutlasses in at the door and hunker your pirate hide down for some hearty Caribbean fare. I imagine if pirates took their kids to a local strip mall restaurant to eat while they had their grog this might be it. The decor is an eclectic mix of fishnetting and fish live or not and there appears to be a portico outside. Each table is given a basket full of peanuts with no place to put shells suggesting you can make a mess. The drink menu is (a)vast and the menu full of tapas dishes and other seemingly mexican styled dishes. I recommend the generous portion of Machos and the delectable but not as generous portion of Calamari. The very large tamale dishes are decent but definitely more corn outside than meaty inside. Good place for a drink, possibly a date but expect a number of families with kids. Fortunately they seem to keep the bar section swashbuckler-only.

Pizzicato Pizza

505 NW 23rd Ave

Nice little unpretentious chain that offers decent pizza and a variety of other dishes. They have a great lunch special of 1/2 a small pizza of your choice and a choice of salad (the spinach was excellent and ample) for under $8. The pizza was average but the service was friendly and attentive. Actually, the salad alone was nearly enough. Definitely recommend for lunch if you want a deal and like to mix and match. Rating: you decide.

Mother's Bistro and Bar

409 SW 2nd Ave

Heaven! I'm in heaven! And my heart beats so that I can barely eat!

Actually I had no problem eating every last bite of my Belgian waffle with apples, cinnamon and raisins because the food at this sprawling and elegant downtown eatery is excellent! Two bites in, I announced that I wanted to return for my birthday. (And I happened to see that a lady seated nearby got a slice of rich-looking chocolate cake for hers.)

I took ample samples of my companion's (hi Marc! Snort!) delectable mushroom omelette and perfectly seasoned potatoes. I am definitely going back, but next time with a reservation. Rating: ****

Java Vivace

2287 NW Pettygrove St


Upon climbing the stairs, I walked into a remodeled living room filled with antique furniture and relaxed sounds of "Hey Mambo". I was immediately disappointed that I wasn't more hungry because they had an impressive collection of crepe dishes ranging from the sweet to the hearty. I settled for a reasonably priced bagel with a very generous slab of cream cheese and some Caravan tea, which did remind me of sitting on smelly blankets surrounded by camels (as the cashier had suggested)--and it wasn't a bad thing. I got my work done with no disturbances but I have to say that those antique chairs while kitschy were a bit punitive. Truth be told, it was the cool little outdoor tables with the little red candles that first attracted this place to me. I have plans to return to sample their breakfast dishes and/or huddle into one of their outdoor candle lit cubbies with some wine sometime soon.

Cameo Cafe Northwest

2340 NW Westover Rd.

Why, oh WHY is this place so popular?! We've been here three times for breakfast (but only seated twice - the first time we left because of the disorganized mass of people waiting for a table with no sign of a host/hostess anywhere.) I am embarassed to have given this restaurant so many chances to win me over. The service is BAD - 10% tip bad; the waitstaff ignores you for ten minutes and then rubs your shoulders to make it all better. Ew. And the breakfast selections are obscenely overpriced. Not that I would want to eat an "acre" of pancakes, but where does one get off charging over $10 for pancakes?! (Can't remember the exact price, and they wisely don't post their menu online.) Does it taste okay? Yeah. But I'm confident Bisquick does as good a job for a fraction of the price. And what's with the black olive slices on the eggs benedict (right)? Looks awfully boobish. Rating: *1/2

Umenoki Japanese Restaurant

2330 NW Thurman Street

I had high hopes for this neighborhood restaurant, somewhat hidden behind the Northwest branch of the public library. A peek inside on one rainy night last week revealed intimate booths enclosed by shoji-style screens, sushi chefs who looked like they might actually greet you with "Irrashaimasse!" and-- best of all-- no crowd! (After a trip to nearby matchbox-sized Mio Sushi, this emerged as a priority.)

The menu was surprisingly comprehensive, with appetizers running the gamut from the standard gyoza to the harder-to-find chicken kara-age (Bite-sized pieces of deep-fried chicken, usually served with lemon, a popular choice for a salaryman's bento). We ordered both (as well as the agedashi tofu.) Unfortunately, though tasty, the appetizers had that "TGI Friday's Party Pack" look and feel to them, as if they were purchased in some far-way grocer's freezer section and shipped stateside to be defrosted and served.

Entrees included assorted don buri, tonkatsu, and tempura, as well as an exhaustive list of both nigiri and rolled sushi. Since I order the spicy tuna roll at almost every Japanese restaurant I go to, I feel confident in asessing Umenoki's version as slightly above-average. The size of each piece and degree of spiciness were just right, but still lacked that creamy element that I so admire in Mugi Restaurant's spicy tuna. Umenoki's Tropical Roll was a tasty blend of tuna, mango, and avocado. Mango was a first for me in a sushi roll, and it worked. I think next time, I'll stick with sushi and skip the apps.

Umenoki's clientele seemed to be neighborhood folk, whom the staff greeted as regulars. The exception to this was two college-age young women who sat at the bar and loudly demonstrated their approval of each piece of sushi. "Your yellowtail is sooooo good! It's amazing!"

The waitstaff was smiley and efficient. By the way, the chefs did mutter "Irrashiamasse" to us as we entered, but it was decidedly lackluster. Rating: ***
Map

Bridges Cafe

2716 Ne M L King Blvd

Yesterday I had lunch at this little corner cafe on the corner of Knott & MLK. The service was cheerful and the menu was small but tasty. The Chipotle rubbed chicken sandwich with avocado, lettuce, and tomato turned out to be a rather messy eating experience but well worth the extra napkin! Apparently they were nominated as the best breakfast place ever. I think I will be visiting some morning soon. For those of you in the NW and SW, here is a reason to cross the river.

Welcome

PORTLAND, OR - What better way to explore a city than through its food? Over the years, cities' culinary offerings have left indelible impressions on me. London: defrosted fish and chips. Good Chinese. Great Indian. Houston: lots of beef. Sawdust (on the floor). Madrid: eh. Food comes second to wine and beer. Penang: smells like shrimp paste. Portland: Hello, crab cakes!

After 3 1/2 months in Portland, we've eaten at a number of excellent restaurants. But it's difficult to chart out new territory: so far our dining experiences have been limited to our neighborhood and restaurants near shopping centers (e.g. McGrath's Fish House x3). We've started this blog to share tips, testamonials and horror stories. Post about your favorite neighborhood joint, your impression of the newest hotspot, or your latest customer service nightmare. Comments on others' posts are encouraged!

Let's talk about food, baby.