Portland, Oregon food recs

Portland, Oregon is one of my favorite cities. I grew up there and although I haven't lived there for a very long time, I still visit once or twice yearly. My family still lives there. A bunch of people I know are going to Portland for various reasons in March and April, so I've been soliciting restaurant recommendations. The list is below--I've focused mostly on places in and near downtown. If you have someplace to add, please comment!

(Oh, and my Bones series takes place in and near Portland. Ery Phillips is the star of the third book and he lives somewhere near SE Belmont.)

• Maurice: http://mauricepdx.com/
• Tasty n Alder: http://tastyntasty.com/alder/
• Karam: http://www.karamsrestaurant.com/index.html
• Blue Star Donuts: http://www.bluestardonuts.com/
• Lardo: http://lardopdx.com/west.html
• Andina: http://www.andinarestaurant.com/
• Grassa: http://grassapdx.com/
• Toro Bravo: http://www.torobravopdx.com/
• Byways Cafe
  Not going to change your life, but very nice pancakes and scrambles and stuff. Close to another, similar, place called Fuller’s. The food at Fuller’s isn’t as good, but it’s more literally a diner and the big u-shaped bar is fun to sit at
• Breakfast/Brunch elsewhere:
  Broder: Get the trout hash.
  Simpatica: Best french toast in town.
  Screen Door: “Southern” food. It’s good. Same go-early advice as Tasty & Alder.
  Pine State Biscuits: Get “the Reggie” and plan to take a nap after.

Casual dining downtown:

Deschutes Brewery: Well-prepared, relatively unassuming food & great beer.

Lardo: Super-duper sandwiches, great beer.

Grassa: Handmade pasta.

The food carts at 10th & Washington: Wide selection of nice, cheap food. I like the Scotsman who makes fish & chips.

Shigezo: Cool Japanese place.

Boxer Ramen: Fantastic ramen place. Cash only, boooo.

Little Big Burger: Really nice burgers, amaaaazing truffle fries.

Casual dining elsewhere:

Podnah’s is really good for brunch and for meat. Leans more toward Texas than NC style ‘cue, though.

Nice dinner downtown:

Mucca: Super Italian place.

Higgins: Classic French place. Great beer list, fantastic charcuterie plate.

Picnic House: Hip modern French/American place we loved.

Clyde Common, Park Kitchen: Similar. We liked Picnic House more than these, but barely.

Nice dinner elsewhere:

Woodsman Tavern & OX are both really great on the east side.

Screen Door and Tasty & Alder are both also great for dinner, and sort of borderline between casual and nice.   

Other things to eat & drink:

The Hair of the Dog brewery is in town; it’s very good & has a great taproom to sit in.

Stumptown Coffee does a great tasty session every afternoon at 3 at their “Annex” location in the inner east side.

 

 

Map of Portland food carts: http://www.foodcartsportland.com/maps/

A few recs of my own:

• Salt & Straw ice cream: http://saltandstraw.com/
• Two Brothers (because I miss Bosnian food): http://www.yelp.com/biz/two-brothers-cafe-and-grill-portland#query:Bosnian
• Huber's Café (food's okay but history and atmosphere are great): http://www.hubers.com/
• Rimsky Korsakoffee House: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimsky-Korsakoffee_House