Review List

There are two types of reviews, Full Reviews and First Impressions.

First Impressions are based on one or two visits, and is by no means an exhaustive review of the restaurant. We frequently do them when a restaurant has just opened. They cover things like ambiance, menu, etc. Full Reviews are much longer and cover many aspects of the restaurant. For a Full Review, I visit each establishment at least three times, sampling a variety of dishes. I rate on a scale of one to four stars. Between reviews I try to mark trends I have noticed in casual visits, by adding arrows next to individual reviews.

• An up arrow ↑ means that on my informal visits subsequent to the date the review was written, the restaurant is improving.
• A right arrow → means it seems about that same.
• A down arrow ↓ means it seems to have gone downhill since my review was written.
• Multiple arrows ↓↓ indicate the restaurant has changed drastically for better or worse (depending on the direction of the arrow).

For more on my review philosophy, see the About page.

Reviews:

• 23Hoyt Upscale Mediterranean in NW
• 5th Quadrant ↓ The newest brewpub by the New Old Lompoc folks
• Acadia New Orleans Bistro
• Aladdin's Café ↓ Lebanese in NE Portland
• Alameda Cafe
• Alba Osteria Italian Food in SW Portland
• Albina Press ↓ Wonderful coffee House in NE
• Andina ↑ Peruvian – Downtown/Pearl District
• Arabian Breeze Lebanese – NE Portland/Lloyd
• Autentica → Good Authentic Mexican Food in NE
• Baker and Spice Bakery
• Bamboo Grove ↓ Hawaiian Food in SW Portland
• Bar Dué The cocktail lounge side of Fratelli
• Basta’s Trattoria → Italian – NW
• Beaker and Flask
• Beast
• Bewon Korean → Excellent Korean food in NW Portland
• Bijou Cafe
• Bistro Maison French in McMinnville
• Biwa Terrific Japanese in SE Portland
• Blossoming Lotus
• Bombay Cricket Club ↓↓ Indian – SE
• Brazil Grill Brazilian churrascaria comes to Portland
• Broadway Grill
• Broder Comfort Food, Scandinavian Style
• Bunk Sandwiches Excellent sandwiches in SE/Morrison st.
• Cacao Chocolate ↑
• Café du Berry
• Cafe Umbria Downtown/Pearl District Coffee
• Café Castagna → Italian Fusion – SE Portland
• Ciao Vito Italian – NE Alberta
• ClarkLewis → Northwest Fusion – SE Portland
• Clyde Common ↓ Great, eclectic dining downtown
• Coffeehouse NW → Outstanding coffee on the West side of the river
• Country Cat ↑ Quality ‘American’ cooking out on SE Stark
• Crescent Cafe Breakfast in the wine country
• Cricket Cafe Breakfast in SE Portland
• Cupcake Jones Cupcakes in the Pearl District
• Detour Cafe
• Dove Vivi Pizza in NE
• East India Co. → High-end Indian food
• Echo Restaurant ↑↑ NW Fusion – NE MLK Blvd
• El Gaucho Upscale steakhouse downtown Portland
• Eleni’s ↓↓ Greek/Cretian – Downtown, Pearl District
• Equinox A great patio on the NE part of town
• Fat City Cafe Breakfast on SE Capitol Highway
• Fenouil → Fancy French food in the downtown/Pearl District
• Fire on the Mountain Buffalo Wings!
• Five-0-Three
• Fleur de Lis ↑
• Fratelli Cucina ↑ Italian in the Pearl District
• Gilt Club ↑ NW Fusion meets swank cocktail lounge for late night dining
• Giorgio's ↓ High-end Italian in Portland’s Pearl District
• H50 Bistro & Bar
• Habibi Lebanese downtown
• Helsers
• Higgins
• Hiroshi Sushi Top quality sushi in the pearl district
• Hot Pot City →
• Justa Pasta → Italian – NW Portland
• Karam Lebanese → Lebanese – Downtown
• Ken’s Artisan Bakery NW
• Ken’s Pizza →
• Kinara Thai Bistro →
• Koji Japanese
• Le Pigeon → French
• Life of Riley Tavern
• Little Red Bike Cafe → An excellent cafe in North Portland
• Lucca Italian on NE Fremont
• Madena of the Pearl → Lebanese – Downtown/Pearl District
• Meat Cheese Bread → Excellent sandwiches in SE Portland/Stark st.
• Mekong Grill →
• Miss Delta Southern food in the Mississippi neighborhood
• Morton's Steakhouse Upscale steakhouse downtown Portland
• Mothers Bistro American – Downtown
• Nel Centro
• Nick’s Italian Cafe McMinville
• Noble Rot → Wine bar and comfort food in the NE 28th area
• Nostrana Nostrana Italian – SE
• Nuestra Cocina →
• Oaks Bottom Public House
• Original Halibuts → Fish & Chips – NE Alberta
• Paley’s Place NW Fusion – NW Portland
• Paradox Cafe
• Park Kitchen → NW Fusion/Italian – Downtown/Pearl District
• Pasha
• Patanegra Spanish in NW Portland
• Patties Homeplate
• Pine State Biscuits Good ol’ southern biscuits in SE
• Podnah’s Pit BBQ → BBQ in NE Portland
• Pok Pok Amazing Thai Street food in SE Portland
• Pok Pok Shack ↑ Terrific Thai street food in SE Portland
• Por Qué No? Taqueria ↑ Mexican – NE Mississippi
• Queen of Sheba Ethiopian – NE MLK Blvd.
• Restaurant Bleu Fixed Price/Cooking School – Downtown
• Ringside Steakhouse Old School steakhouse in Downtown/NW Portland Oregon
• Ristorante Roma Italian SW Portland
• Ristretto Roasters Excellent coffee roaster/shop in NE
• Ruth's Chris Steakhouse High end steakhouse in downtown Portland
• Sahagun Chocolates →
• Sal’s Famous Italian ↓↓ Italian-American
• Saucebox ↓↓ Asian Fusion – Downtown
• Serratto Italian – NW Portland
• Siam Society ↓ Gourmet Thai in NE
• Simpatica Dining Hall
• Spella Caffe Great coffee from a cart?
• St. Honoré → Bakery/Lunch – NW Portland
• Stumptown Annex
• Tabla → Mediterranian Bistro in NE
• Tastebud
• Tasty & Sons A breakfast/lunch spot with some Spanish twists
• Teardrop Lounge High-end cocktail lounge in the Pearl District
• Ten 01 My Restaurant of The Year for 2008. New American food in the Pearl District
• Thatch Tiki Bar → A terrific throwback to the tiki bar
• The Tin Shed →
• Toro Bravo Excellent Spanish tapas in NE Porltand
• Vault Martini Martini Bar – Downtown/Pearl District
• Vindalho → Vindalho – Spice Route Cusine on the East Side/SE Portland
• Westcafe
• Wong’s King Seafood ↓ Chinese – SE/187th