rockdoggydog

Tried Mi Chalateca Pupuseria and Salvadorian Restaurant last night. Good, plentiful, and cheap. We had a chicharrón and cheese pupusa, a pork tamale, and I had the Bistec Encebollada. The pupusa was really good with the tortilla made in house and fresh, the tamale was kind of like the one at La Carta, but firmer and really good as well. My bistec was tasty and I woul definitely like to go back and try the Coctel de Camarones and the Pollo Guisado. Rocky

It looks just fine to me. On the other hand Henry and I can butcher pronunciations with the worst of them. Rocky

I see that you are using the Mandarin names for the dishes for the Chinese dinner. You go Henry! Rocky

The Ben and Jerry's store at U-Village will make ice cream cakes, Rocky

Is it open weeknights? ← Until 9pm Rocky

Went and tried the new taco truck Ranco Bravo on NE 45th in the Winchell's parking lot in Wallingford. Good truck, it's not remarkable but it is a good solid truck which means that it's still pretty good. The best news is that they're open until 230AM on Friday and Saturday. Rocky

There are a bunch of tortillerias down south. start with Guadalupe Market on Ambaum. Rocky

Southern night at Cache, more fried chicken, greens, and biscuits than you can shake a stick at. Out gracious hosts Cache Mint Julep - Whoooooeeee, that's got some kick! For later - by the way see that red velvet cake? It's like buttah! Baked beans Fried Chicken - well flavoured and wonderfully moist Red Velvet Cake - it's like love on a plate Pecan Pie Ginger cookies - the Girl Scouts have nothing on this cookie I'm so bummed I didn't get a picture of the greens. They were some of the best greens I've ever had. Plenty of ham hock, and just a really surprising and sublime silky texture. How the hell do you get silky greens?! A wonderful night and a lot of fun. Thanks a lot guys! Rocky

I was just in Portland this last weekend. Went to Noble Rot, Ken's Bakery, Nicholas, Castagna, Bay 13, and Pambiche. Noble Rot was pretty forgettable for the most part, though I did like my grilled ham and cheese, but you can get a good ham and cheese lots of places. Ken's was great, I wanted to buy one of everything and bring it home. Nicholas was awesome! You guys have been hiding this from us haven't you! Some the best Lebanese food I've ever had and definitely the best pita I've ever had. Castagna was good and very enjoyable. Bay 13 sucked out loud! The chowder was good and the poke was pretty decent, everything else was actively bad. There were huge blood lines in all of the sushi, the tuna was getting a bit long in the tooth, poorly sliced, and didn't seem of very high quality to begin with. The rice was under-vinagered and over worked, rendering it a tasteless, gluey, stiff, mass. Pambiche rocked as usual, I love salt cod. Rocky

That's probably the case... I remember seeing impassioned pleas on Citysearch from the "new" owners that their food had totally changed and that people should give them a fair shake... Even so, I couldn't convince myself to try it before or after, both because the first incarnation looked so uninspired, and because I was thinking if they were doing anything particularly different they would have crafted a new identity, too. Usually you don't try to build on bad will... ← I walked in soon after the change and it was dead dead dead. My friends and I stopped by because we had gone to Chapel for drinks and spotted someone we knew working there. Looking over the menu I had no desire to go back. Rocky

PFI has all butter puff pastry for much less and unfolded. Rocky ← Very cool. I'll have to go check it out. Are they open on Sundays? lalala ← Nope, not Sundays. Their site seems to be down, but here is some info. PFI Rocky

PFI has all butter puff pastry for much less and unfolded. Rocky

Ah, the non-drinking can be a bit sticky as there is usually a drink requirement of some sort that goes with happy hour pricing. I would think that they would have non-alcoholic choices though. Perhaps let the others in your group do the drinking? Maximillien mentioned above by Tighe is also a great option, really dig the mussels. Just a word of warning about the Elliotts oyster happy hour. There's only one type available each day for the happy hour price and the last time I went they were definitely cheap oysters if you know what I mean. Rocky

Ah, the Acropolis. I've been wondering about the steaks there, may have to go next time. My favorite place of all time so far in Portland is Pambiche, pick a meal any meal, wonderful Cuban food. Rocky

Personally I would start at Shuckers at their oyster happy hour. They have more options to choose from at the happy hour price and you get free Parmesan crisps. Then over to Union to work the bar menu, available from 5-7pm and 10-12. Then I would hop a cab to Brasa for their happy hour menu, also available until 7, then over to Tavolata for some shareables from the Primi and Secondi parts of the menu and a few zeppole, then on back to Le Pichet for chocolate chaude and some cheeses. Actually, I would start at Vessel at 3pm, have a nice cocktail, and a few items off the happy hour menu there, like the mini croques, and then go to Shuckers. The only tough part is that you only have four hours to go from Vessel to Brasa following this plan, but everything after that is pretty relaxed as far as pacing goes. I like progressive dinners, haven't done one in a while. I may follow my own advice and hit the trail. Rocky

Near Factoria is Yea's Wok, definitely worth going to. Rocky

Steelhead Diner has a counter that fronts right onto the kitchen as well. Rocky

You can also eat in the bar as well if you feel like being more casual. Rocky

Sorry to miss you last night Dave! I got home around 4 I think. Rocky

Porcella is available in the evenings for parties and they have a ton of options food wise. Rocky

The minestrone was fabulous, and a total steal at $8, it's a really big bowl. I loved the agnolotti with veal brains, just a wonderfully smooth texture to the filling. Get the zeppole but be prepared for them to run out if you go late. We got the last order the other night and while it was not early in the night, it was not late either. In fact, go early have the zeppole, do your nightlife thing, then come back for dinner. I'm going to be loving having someplace open late to go. Rocky

Second Porcella. Rocky

Boat St Cafe Rocky

If you like the imports check out PFI. Rocky

For someplace that's really good and not a blowout I would suggest Kisaku, there are better places in Seattle but not many and it's still very reasonable. Rocky