Saturday, January 30, 2010

Best Burgers in PDX

My best burger spots (because I know everyone is going to have an opinion.)

Castagna Cafe: Fine/casual dining - Suggested to me by a friend and, as promised, delivers a great burger. Tasty, not too large or heavy, and plenty of friendly fries to accompany every scrumptious bite. I also appreciate that every burger is usually made medium rare, cook's choice. This says the chef takes pride in a great dish. Comes with homemade pickles and classic veggies, except the tomato, which you won't miss. $11

Pause: Casual dining - Used to be the ultimate favorite burger, but since this restaurant has become so popular (because of it's decent prices and location), the spotty service and quality has squashed it's potential to remain at the top. Still a good burger, however, the patty can be a little too thick and cooks are inconsistent. Medium rare can come out anything from well done to rare.$8

Sagittarius: Bar/Casual - Great dependable burger. This is a really inexpensive steal-of-a-deal. The burger is always good, although there's nothing specifically memorable, other than the quirky fixin's they have, which almost all include bacon and delicious large portion of fries. (Which should likely be one of the top on my list for best fries in Portland.) Totally worth it. $6



Thursday, January 21, 2010

Division Eatery Alley

Let's start from the river...

Genie's - Boo for the longest wait time in the history of mediocre breakfast joints. Avoid it.

On the way up (not including Clinton – that’s another article, itself):
Reel ’M Inn: Bar Food - Standby best fried chicken you can get at the best price. It may take a long time to get your hands on it…first you order, half an hour later your chicken and jojos arrive, and then you wait until your piping hot plate cools enough so that the silverware you put in it is tangible. The wait is well worth it. There’s pool and beer to temper your appetite. BTW: Don’t come starving or you’ll be drunk enough that when your food arrives, you burn your mouth eating it and you probably won’t notice until the next day.
Clay’s Smokehouse: Casual Dining - Best coleslaw in Portland. Barbeque delight. Memorabilia to match.
Further…
Pok Pok: Casual/Fine Dining – Never a bad meal. Some call it amongst their favorites.
Lauro: Fine Dining - When they first opened, I went once out of curiosity. It was fantastic. I got pork medallions with bell peppers. I could have slurped the sauce on the plate all night. This was several years ago and my mouth still waters at the thought of that sauce! Great clay carafes for wine, too.
Hedge House: Casual Dining – This easy-going converted house has a pulled pork sandwich to take care of anyone’s appetite. They make their own beers and have great outdoor seating. Feel free to ride your bike over, it’s easier than finding somewhere to park.
Friends, fill in the blanks. Please tell us of more or add to what I’ve said.