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Echo Restaurant

Echo opened in 2006, and was quickly popular after a lot of positive reviews. After a long series of chefs and more hills and valleys than a roller coaster, a new owner is in place, and though the menu has stayed close to the original fare, the quality is much improved and seems consistently prepared. Sometimes you just want to
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Nel Centro

On a cool evening a few months ago, I sat with friends on the patio at Nel Centro. Three fire pits allowed heat to drift across our table. The flames, reflected in window after window of the hotel, were sometimes three layers deep. Sheltered from the transit mall, it was a little oasis. Vines climbed nearby walls, the background music
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Review: 23Hoyt

Since it was first built by Bruce Carey Restaurants, the 23Hoyt space has gone through multiple incarnations. The first was a short-lived Italian restaurant named Balvo, the second, 23Hoyt, managed by the well known chef Chris Israel. Chris has now moved on to open his own restaurant. Now, a third version has emerged, billed as a “New American Tavern.” With the downslide in the economy, changes were made, and the focus and menu changed considerably. The current chef is Chad Church.

Bistro Maison

Over the years, two things have remained constant in my emails. The first question is something to the effect of, “I’m coming to Portland in two weeks, where should I eat?” There is almost never anything about price, cuisine, etc. Ugh. The next most common question is, “Where should I eat when I’m in the wine country?” I’ve had the
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Review: Tabla Mediterranean Bistro

Since I first reviewed Tabla in 2006, it has been through quite a few transitions. There have been several chef changes, and for a while, I thought the food was average, at best. Recently, under the watchful eye of executive chef Anthony Cafiero, the food has changed.

Cafiero isn’t exactly a newcomer to the Portland restaurant scene. He spent two years with Cathy Whims at Nostrana, and then another year under

Noble Rot 2.0

Noble Rot has a somewhat confusing pedigree. As I understand, it was originally started by chef Leather Storrs, and received positive reviews, including from me. I liked the warm, comforting atmosphere and the limited but mostly well executed menu. In 2007, Leather left and opened another restaurant on East Burnside called Rocket. This new restaurant was known for its interesting interior, terrific patio and nice view of Portland, but the food received less than stellar reviews, and it closed in a little over a year.

Fast-forward to 2009. Rocket was still empty, and Noble Rot wanted

Review: Ten 01 – Restaurant of the Year 2008

Fugue – Music: a composition based multiple themes, which are enunciated by several voices or parts in turn, and gradually built up into a complex form having somewhat distinct divisions or stages of development and a marked climax at the end.

For those who have been reading my reviews for some time, it’s no secret that I have a background in music. Growing up, I was exposed to a wide variety, and played multiple instruments. For this reason, I tend to make lots of musical

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