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This guide is a review of restaurants we've run across in our travels.. In this guide, the average price, food quality, and customer experience is noted. Establishments with wireless Internet access, live music, or other unique features will have an appropriate notation. If a restaurant has a web site (that we know of), a link will be provided. Fast food or chain restaurants are NOT covered here. There are many other places where you can get information about their food and services.
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This list is in alphabetical order.
A landmark on West Burnside, the
food is excellent, the service is good, and the prices are very
reasonable. Our server was very good at translating the Greek wines
into flavors that we recognized, and we were cheerfully given an
excellent table in the banquet area on one occasion. One caveat: the
corner with the non-functioning door in the main dining room smelled
strongly of urine (a result of the location on Second and Burnside, no
doubt). Other than the one table in that corner, Alexis is highly
recommended. (Oct. 2006)
Located on the north end of town on the highway,
Blackfish serves exquisite meals in a non-pretentious atmosphere. We
stopped in on a whim, and were given a nice little table next to the
window, despite the fact that we had no reservation and the place was
full. The food was fantastic, the service was excellent, and the prices
are what you would expect to pay for excellent food and service on the
coast. A family/baby friendly place. Highly recommended. (Aug. 2006, Jun.
2007, Nov 2007)
The best steak we've eaten anywhere! Although
expensive, Bobo's was worth every penny. The meat was incredibly
tender, the garlic bread was delicious, and the various sides we
sampled were excellent, as well. Great atmosphere and service. Although
connected to the Stinking Rose (see review below), the two restaurants
are in completely different classes. Highly recommended.(Dec. 2005)
Since we were essentially captive at the Butchart
Gardens, we didn't have high expectations for the restaurant, but we
were pleasantly surprised. For an "attraction restaurant," we had a
great dining experience. However, be aware that the carpaccio is BEET,
not BEEF. Although delicious, it wasn't quite what we were expecting.
Otherwise, terrific! Recommended. (July 2005)
Although we don't remember the details, our
impressions were universally favorable. Recommended (Oct. 2004)
The food was less expensive than one would expect,
with excellent service. Everything was a notch better than we expected,
for both brunch and dinner. Great location near the Presidio. Highly
recommended. (Feb. 2006)
Located in Portland's newest trendy neighborhood on
NE Mississippi. The food is imaginative and fresh, the server was
knowledgeable, and the prices are very reasonable for that level of
food quality. We were there on a night that included musical
entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyable and at an appropriate
volume for dining. Portions were good, neither too small nor too much.
Highly recommended. (Nov. 2006)
Although we hear there are many wonderful places to
eat in Chicago, we couldn't seem to find any of them on this particular
trip. After many disappointing forays, we stumbled into Exchequer and
had an excellent lunch. Their specialty burgers were great, service was
good, and prices were very reasonable. It filled up shortly after our
arrival, so it would seem that the locals agree with our
recommendation. Recommended (July 2004)
Top-notch old-school dining in downtown Portland.
Masterfully made vintage cocktails, crisp linens, delicious menu
offerings in both the bar and the high-brow dining room -- if you want
to experience expensive old-school Portland dining at its best, this is
the place. Highly recommended. (2005)
HBC is always good -- the burgers, chicken, etc. are
cooked outside on the grill overlooking the Tomahawk Bay Marina -- but
if you want to hit Hidden Bay at its best, go for Sunday brunch, which
includes just about every brunch item you can think of on one plate for
a ridiculously low price. For a small additional sum, you can also get
a mimosa to top it all off. If you're not hungry, it's still a great
place to have a beer and gaze out at the river and the moorage. Good
luck finding it (it's located at the back of the retail block above the
marina). After eating, go next door and peruse the collection of
interesting boat stuff for sale at Columbia Marine Exchange. Highly
recommended. (Oct. 2006)
Yes, this is a rural mom-and-pop market on the Southern Oregon coast. But, they have some of the best (and interesting) deli sandwiches that I've had. The centerpiece of many is their family recipe mustard. Of course, they also offer for purchase jars of this mustard. Some sandwich suggestions are the turkey and cranberry (very appropriate, being that this area is the cranberry capital of Oregon) and the salami sandwiches. So, if your headed down or up on Hwy 101, the Langlois market is worth a stop. There is some discussion as to the correct pronunciation of Langlois. We have been told the common pronunciate is "Langloys". Yes, you say the "S". (January 2008)
One of the best pub experiences anywhere. Great
burgers, good beer, fun atmosphere -- a traveler's delight.We even took
home the commemorative pint glass. Highly recommended. (March 2006)
Dim sum for lunch, practically free! Smallish
selection, but all the items are tasty, and the price is unbelievable.
Highly recommended. (Aug. 2006)
Absolutely horrible service, avoid!!! We had the
displeasure of
eating at this establishment on the evening of 12/27/07. This restaurant
was almost deserted, so being busy was not an excuse. We had to ask
several times for: bread, drinks, pepper, etc. We sat at our table for 10
minutes before we got water (and the water person did not ask for our drink
and/or appetizer order). A bit later, our "Server" came by to take our
dinner order. Never did ask for drinks, we had to ask for them. When the
food finally did arrive, it was good. Salads were good, as were our pasta
and entrees. But, food alone does not make the restaurant. We were seated
near the kitchen, and could hear all the no-so-good chatter from the area.
There are many other good places to eat in Ashland, OR, so skip this
horrible
place, and enjoy your meal. And, finally to add insult to injury, we were
charged an "optional" gratuity on our party of 6. This place truly is bad,
again, stay away. Again, avoid Macaroni's. It's rare we experience
such a horrible restaurant. (December 2007)
Fresh food, creatively prepared; great service,
within walking distance of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Highly
recommended. (July 2005)
Milo's is just about the perfect dining experience.
The food is carefully and tastefully prepared, the service is
fast and witty, and the prices are incredibly reasonable. For some
reason, there is never a line down the street, which we'd expect.
Although we're not sure why Milo's serves saganaki (flaming Greek
cheese), we recommend it. (Nov. 2006).
One word: salami. OK, four words: really good, cheap
salami. A day in San Francisco without Molinari's is like night. We
hear they have great deli sandwiches, too. Highly recommended. (Dec.
2005)
Mothers gets our highest rating of super-duper good. Best place we have been
in awhile. The service is good, and they pace the dinner nicely. The rather
extensive menu is well prepared and interesting. We can recommend the London
Broil and the Chicken and Dumplings. Oh yeah, the fried green tomatoes is an
excellent appetizer. The owner/chef, Lisa even finds time to leave the
kitchen and chat with guests. Family and Baby Friendly.
Highly recommended. (Jun.
2007)
To start, New Sammy's is high up (if not number one) on
our choices for
best restaurant in Oregon. Reservations are a good idea, if not required.
We made ours three months in advance. As you would expect, you get what
you pay for. NSCB is not inexpensive. But, it offers a very good value. The
food and preparation are absolutely first rate. The menu is limited, as you
would expect. There is a "Prix Fixe" option, as well as four or five "al a
carte" entrees, with several salad options. Appetizers come with the meal,
at the appropriate times. Since the menu changes on maybe a daily basis,
our meal will be different from yours. It important to note that they have
an extensive garden out back, so when in season, many items are organically
grown on-site. What stands out on our experience
was the squash soup appetizer, the salads, desert, Vernon, ravioli, well,
everything. As an added benefit, we noticed the New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro
Breads are now available at the Ashland Food Co-op (and probably other
places). Their bread is fantastic. Very Highly Recommended. (Dec. 2007)
Port Orford should feel fortunate to have an
establishment like Paula's Bistro. Imagine if your local food co-op morphed
into a fine dining restaurant. Incredible food, low-key atmosphere,
right next to the Port Orford Oregon harbor. Update: Paula's continues to be
a great find on the coast. As usual, very inviting atmosphere, with no
pretentions whatsoever. Food is creative, (it's northwestern bistro. For
example, we had gorgonzola chicken, apricot glazed pork, etc) service
friendly, and prices reasonable. I give Paula's Bistro in Port Orford a vote
for one of the best places to eat in Oregon.
Very highly recommended. (Latest: Nov. 2007)
A wonderful, mostly seafood restaurant near
Victoria's Inner Harbour. Great West Coast atmosphere. Try the (BEEF)
carpaccio; the rest of the food is fantastic, as well. Highly
Recommended. (July 2005)
We stumbled across a pink door in a alley in Seattle,
and dimly recollected reading a favorable review while on the train on
the way from Portland, so we ventured in. We were richly rewarded with
an excellent, nourishing meal and great service. Unfortunately the deck
was closed due to the rain, but it looked like a great place to enjoy a
meal. Highly Recommended. (July 2005)
05/12/08 OC: Run, dont walk, to Panache in Newport (Nye Beach area) on W. Olive Street. www.panachenewport.com My husband and I have eaten here twice and both times were out of this world. Hands down the best clam chowder I have ever had, they use cream with a higher fat content that makes it taste extraordinary. The lemon napoleon for dessert is highly recommended but will feed 2 so be warned! It is puff pastry stacked high on a plate with fresh lemon curd and pastry cream creating a towering treat that is a feast for the eyes and the stomach. We went to Panache for our anniversary this past November and I cannot say enough nice things about this restaurant. We went back the next night and the owners were so warm and inviting and it is such an intimate dining experience we just loved it. They allowed us to taste the dessert wines and were just lovely to us. They even gave me a tour of the kitchen since we were the only ones in the restaurant at the end of the evening. I was over the moon being a foodie and lover of all things kitchen related. I hope you try it soon!
Pizza A Go Go (Portland, OR)Although the music is almost always too loud inside,
the outside eating area in back is pleasant (except for the occasional
smoker), and the pizza is terrific. Thin crust, tasty toppings, and
choices for both the carnivores and vegans in your group. Quite
recommended. (Nov. 2006)
Since we like the idea of an organic brewery, we
decided to check it out. It was a slow night, but the bar tender
preferred to move from one group of friends to another, and completely
ignored us, so we decided to leave. We never got eye contact, or even a
hello. Of course, we never got a chance to try their beers or food. I
don't think I have ever seen service this bad. I'd avoid this place
like the plague. Not Recommended. (Oct 2006)
We went to Sofia's German restaurant upon a glowing recommendation. The
recommendation was quite incorrect (I was told it was "better than
Rheinlander/Gustav's in Portland"). To start with the good things: The
service was good, and it was fast. The atmosphere was nice as well (Is
Sofia's a former BJ's Pizza location??). The bleu cheese dressing on the
salad was tasty. But that's where the nice things
ended. The food wasn't bad, it was just bland. The schnitzel sorely needed
some flavor. I don't know how it could be made so bland. The sauce and the
mushrooms on the Jaeger Schnitzel clearly came out of a can. Beer sampler
was fun, but anyone can do that. When it came to desserts, both the German
chocolate cake and the cheesecake were dry and "grainy". We were certainly
hoping the Sofia's would be a great or even decent German place. But, it's
neither. It wasn't bad, it just was very, very bland. Not recommended. (Feb.
08)
A nice casual up-scale place. We arrived a bit early for our reservation,
and we were seated in the "wine bar". Service was good, our server was
informed about our options. There was a good variety to choose from.
Menu is mildly creative. Their specialty is seafood. Food was good, pace
was appropriate. They have a good children's menu, from grilled cheese to a
fruit plate. Also, they happily accommodate small children with crayons and a
place mat. This is unusual in higher end restaurants. Recommended. (Jan
2008)
In one word: Wow. Our 13 year old son found this gem
while trying to find a good place to eat. This is a fairly spendy
place, but you get what you pay for. Needless to say, we will be back
next time we are in Friday Harbor. Very highly Recommended. (Aug 2006)
It sounded enticing, since we are garlic lovers. But,
we found out that it's just a tourist trap. Our 13 year-old daughter
loved the garlic ice-cream, but the experience was mediocre at best.
There are so many good restaurants in SF, so don't waste your time on
this one. Not Recommended. (March, 2006)
We checked this out since one of us is an English
teacher. We were pleased to discover delicious food served family style
in a funky hotel in Nye Beach. We enjoyed meeting the other diners at
the table, and playing the host(ess) prescribed games. A very unique
experience not to be missed. Very Recommended. (Dec. 2005)
Good Thai food, good prices, and great service. Has
zero atmosphere, but so many other strong points being in a small strip
mall type setting is not a detractor. Recommended. (2005)
6/12/08 MM: I wasn't thinking about writing a review, so
I can't provide too
many details of our experience at Tidal Raves Seafood Grill (about two
months ago). I can tell you our dining party were all quite impressed. My
wife doesn't like seafood, so she had a steak. Our food was fresh and
very tasty, service was well above average considering they were nearly
at capacity. Overlooking the ocean. It was remarkable enough that I
picked up a business card on the way out so I could remember their name.
Might seem expensive ($20.00 and up), but well worth it. Looks like
reservations may be required during peak hours. Highly Recommended
(+++) 541-765-2995
German influenced pub food at it's best. Think of
McMenamins, but two or three steps better food-wise. Only small gripe I
have is sometimes Widmer has less-than-stellar beer. We have been here
many times since it is consistently good, and sometimes quite busy.
Recommended. (Nov 2006)
This is a neat little wine/cheese market and Deli. Atmosphere is great, and
the food enjoyable as well. The owners are nice people to chat with. Located
on Nye Beach. Be sure to check out the wine bar which they own with their
son, just down the street.
Highly Recommended. (Dec 2006)
Avoid this place. A line of 8 people (three different groups) waited 10 or so minutes before the hostess noticed then. The place was almost empty. When she finally started seating folks, she moved VERY VERY slow, and made no apologies. Again, avoid the Wheelhouse Restaurant. There are many other good places to eat in Bandon. (June 2008)
This *could* be an excellent restaurant. However, our lunch there was not
stellar. The service was very slow, but quite friendly. I don't hold the
slow
service against them, since they were horribly understaffed. The burgers
were quite good, served on a great sourdough bun. The beef was top quality.
Their version of Philly cheese steak is perfect. When it comes to desserts,
they mostly fall flat. I had the cheese plate, which was microscopic. It had
4 or 5 tiny slices of cheese, with a price of $10.00. Honestly, there was
about 50 cents of cheese on the plate. My wife had the flourless cake, which
was also very, very small. Sure, if they dropped the prices of these to
$4.00, that would be appropriate. On the good side, the Creme Brulee was
fantastic. Outside seating is available, with a fantastic view. We will be
back sometime to try dinner. I have a feeling that is where they shine.
See them on the web at http://www.yachatsriverhouse.com/ .
Conditionally Recommended. (July 2007)