After a week long road trip through Northern California and Oregon I though I would share my impression with the readers of this newsgroup. Oregon: Best and Worst Portland Genoa has got to be one of the 25 best restaurants in the US. The food is generally "Italian" but the spirit of the kitchen is French. For the talented cooks at Genoa Italy is a polychromatic peninsula stretching from Sicily to Venice. The atmosphere is intimate, even romantic. The service gracious and professional. We were thrilled by the bagna calda appetizer; amazed by the chestnut and grape must ravioli; refreshed by the tiny organic salad greens; floored by the Oregon Pinot Noir the waiter recommended; and could say nothing but yes to the dessert tray. And we thoroughly enjoye the seafood and venison entrees too. The wine list includes quality selections from Italy, France, California, and Oregon. On Belmont on the east side of the river. A thoughtful amenities to those who still smoke is a smoking lounge. Prix fixe menu, not cheap. Reservations a must. 503- 238-1464. Torrefazione Italia on 23rd Street has outstanding espresso, even the decaf. And added pleasure is the Deruta pottery from which it is served. L'Etoile has a new Bistro style bar with about half a dozen tables. The prices are about half the restaurant's and the setting with its fireplace is far more charming. Try the duck confit. Only fault was that the waiters were unfamiliar with the wine list. on NE Freemont. 503-281-4869 Pazzo, on Broadway is a good place for a quick bite and wine by the glass. Good rolls and focaccia too. We were quite pleased by the chevre bruschetta. A good job for a place that is part of a large corporate enterprise. Eugene The incredible find in Eugene is Bruno's Chef's Kitchen. Amazing bistro food, the freshest ingredients (this week's specials revolved around wild mushrooms), exquisite cooking and low prices. Served on paper plates, bring your own wine. Good luck finding this gem on Hilyard, nestled between a drycleaner and little food market, right where no restaurant would be. Florence Now the bad news: the new place in town, strategically located next to venerable MO's is a dog. To avoid accusations of slander I won't mention its name, but you'll know this slick place when you see it. Simply put: the worst job of cooking fish this side of the Mississippi. Bad service, crummy wine list (house wine by Inglenook for starters), and bad attitude. Avoid at all costs. Ashland The Ashland Bakery Cafe, with its big blue sign beckoning the southbound motorist is an ideal place to stop for lunch. Fast friendly service, healthy, tasty dishes, and priced right. Good coffee drinks too. Sorry, I don't have the address.
Portland, OR
Oregon: Best and Worst of
In fact, I was there a week ago. I had some great Mexican food in from a take out (also eat in) place on the south side of the tracks that looked like a dive (the first clue to really good Mexican food!). There was a long line of people waiting to pick up their orders (sign number two) so it took 15 minutes for my Tamales and Burrito. the Tamale was served unwrapped, with green salsa, sour cream, and some melted cheese dribbled across it. Excellent! The Burrito too was among the best. Total cost: $2.75. I wish I knew the name of the place. As for Zephyr, no, we didn't know about it. We have friends in Chico so would be glad for a rec (they're new there). After a few months in Carson City, Chico looked like an urbane and bustling metropolis, what with its art-film house and actual people walking around and shopping and all. Tell me more about Zephyr. Michael
To add one more to the Oregon best - Nick's Italian Cafe in McMinnville. Small older eatery right in town that does WONDERFUL fixed price dinners. The soup is always the best ministrone I have EVER eaten which includes pesto. The rest of the dishes vary and your only decision is choice of entree. The courses are (and I'm not sure of the order) appetiser, soup, salad, pasta and entre. I have never been disappointed with any of the first four. SOmetimes the entres have not been as good as the lead up courses. Since McMinnville is in the heart of the Oregon wine country, there are very good values on local wonderful wines. As a solo traveler, they have also been willing to pour almost any wine in stock by the glass. Mary in Seattle
About a mile north of Ashland is a damned good restaurant that is also damned hard to find: New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro. French country style, very good food, very slow service. Don't have the phone number handy, but call information. Make reservations, and definitely ask for directions. - Calton Bolick Martinez, CA
-------------- Several very good to excellent restaurants tried, neither of which is excessively formal. However, I need help recovering the names: Astoria: Seafood restaurant on the waterfront in a converted warehouse. A small scene from the movie "Kindergarten Cop" was filmed in this restaurant and the adjacent mini-mall. Restaurant name? Corvallis: Restaurant on the Willamette River in a converted railway station. Restaurant name? Michael's ? PS: Any good restaurant suggestions for Cannon Beach?
Mike S. wrote: >-------------- >Several very good to excellent restaurants tried, neither of which is >excessively formal. However, I need help recovering the names: >Astoria: > Seafood restaurant on the waterfront in a converted > warehouse. A small scene from the movie "Kindergarten Cop" was filmed > in this restaurant and the adjacent mini-mall. Restaurant name? >Corvallis: > Restaurant on the Willamette River in a converted railway station. > Restaurant name? Michael's ? >PS: > Any good restaurant suggestions for Cannon Beach? I have a suggestion for Portland: The Fish haus, run by Horst Mager. The fact that he's my uncle has nothing to do with it. The food is incredible and so is the service.
Someone wrote: > Mike S. wrote: > >-------------- > >Several very good to excellent restaurants tried, neither of which is > >excessively formal. However, I need help recovering the names: > >Corvallis: > > Restaurant on the Willamette River in a converted railway station. > > Restaurant name? Michael's ? Michael's Landing. Specials can vary all over the map, but I've been happy overall to date. A lack of good Oregonian beers, though... nickb
The worst of Oregon is their Mexican food! They literally don't know beans about beans. But....the best of Oregon is, of course, the salmon and the Dungeness crab. Fabulous, but you have to be sure to ask if it has been forzen and turn it down if it has. Otherwise, it's just like ordering it in L.A. There is nothing akin to the flavor of fresh crab. There's a fish market in Warrenton, near Astoria, that's right on the docks. You can call in the morning and order crab just caught the night before. Eat it right there with wonderful sauce or just lemon. The oysters at McCormick & Schmick in downtown Portland are usually very good, especially with such a wide assortment. Jake's, I think, has lost it's original appeal and is quite ordinary now. Down at the beach, try the Blue Sky restaurant in Manzanita. Great summer salads, with salmon and berries and strange, tasty goodies. Lovely atmosphere and good wine list. The bar crushes fresh fruits for margaritas. Before the Oregonians take this southern Californian to task for critiquing their restaurants, I have a second home in Arch Cape, so I have partial citizenship.