Cheap Date

Okay, the economy sucks and unemployment is now stagnantly holding at over 10% for the Portland area. We still love to eat out...and oh, yes we'll spend our minute dispensable income on just that. So what made the top 3 of cheap date hot spots?
1. Blue Hour for Happy Hour. $20 goes further than you might imagine at this posh spot in upper Pearl. With a couple friends, a bottle of wine, a few appetizers and couple of entrees we had a difficult time spending even half of our $100 gift certificate. (By the way gift certificates for Blue Hour not recommended. The thought is what counts but they always write you a new certificate for the balance and you can't leave any portion for the tip. - Annoying.)
We find the service is always gracious. Grade: A
2. Jake's Crawfish for Happy Hour. Yes, they get you with the drinks, however this little place that's been here forever+ is still rockin' and their Happy Hour dishes are generous portions of decent. (Plus, you have to buy only one drink at $2.75 or more to get the good deal.)
The service is not quick or anything to write home about (who does that anymore anyway), but there's plenty of people-watching to entertain your appetite while you are waiting and this place is a Portland classic with interesting artwork to boot. Grade: C+
3. New Seasons Hot Wok. Surprise your local New Seasons is the cream of the crop when it comes to saving you some dough. Try stuffing your stainless steel bowl as full as you can. (I like to build fencing of broccoli around the perimeter and pile a whole mound of veggies :).) For $6-8 and enough to share, this is a steal. Buy a bottle of wine and light the candles for the table. This is a perfect meal and if your date doesn't bite, maybe you're just not that into him/her.
Okay so sometimes the staff at New Seasons has been smoking something else on their break. They can really mess up your order. We've had everything from chicken in a vegetarian order to getting some other person's hot wok. The service is kind but a Pandora's box. Grade B-