Ten 01 (Grade B-)

Date of last visit:  JULY 2010
Address: 1001 NW Couch (corner of Couch & 10th), Portland Oregon
Phone: (503) 226-3463
Hours:  Mon-Wed 4pm-10:30pm; Thu-Sat 4pm-11pm; Sun 4pm-9pm
Link:  Ten 01

General Impressions of the place itself:  Glitz -- two floors--downstairs bar /with a bar menu for less expensive meals and upstairs with an expensive menu. Nicely designed restaurant --but don't be fooled: there is no grand view of Portland from upstairs (like some of their ads say). They have valet parking--the sign said $4 --which could be valuable in the Pearl. But we found street parking a block away at 6:30 on a Thursday night.
What we ordered:  We ate upstairs and ordered: 
DRINKS: A Nice Draft Beer (forgot the name) & "A PALOMA" a house specialty tequila and grapefruit juice drink that had no punch and was ok but not special
SALAD: Butter Leaf Salad was shared-- nice presentation and nice dressing--but again, nothing to write home about.
DINNER --Salmon and Halibut. Both fish dishes were well prepared but we have both had better at less cost.  Not that it was bad--it was good-- but it was not exceptional
Things we liked and disliked: The place is too spendy for what you get.  The staff was pleasant. We are glad we tried it out but we won't go back to the upstairs area; we might try the downstairs.
Number in our party:  2
Total Bill: $82 PLUS TIP
Recommended? nope
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place 3+ stars for the food/ but drop that to 3 when you factor in the price.

Veritable Quandry (Grade B+)

Date of last visit: July 2010
Address: 1220 SW 1st Ave, Portland Oregon
Phone: 503-227-7342
Hours: Lunch M-F 11:30 to 3:00;
Dinner Mon - Sun 5:00 to 10:00;
Brunch Sat-Sun 9:30 to 3:00
Bar Open to 2:30 AM

Link:
General Impressions of the place itself:  Nicely done long ago-addition/renovation/expansion of an old building in downtown area. Patio is lovely on a nice day.  Inside has big windows and a warren of rooms --nice brick wall

What we ordered: 

Appetizer Grilled Pizza: Black Mission Figs, Brie, Toasted Hazelnuts & Arugula--which was a nice size for a table of four and it was delicious.
SALADS:  1) Warm Chevre Crostini, Fresh Oregon Strawberries, Raspberries & Toasted Hazelnuts with Mizuna Garden Greens & Honey Pepper Vinaigrette and  2) Roasted Wild Mushroom & Baby Spinach Salad with Buttermilk Blue Cheese & Pancetta Vinaigrette . Both were outstanding --not overlarge--but each was shared by 2 people and was sufficient.
MAIN DISH:  1) Osso Bucco (VEAL) Served with Parmesan & Basil Risotto (we were told the Veal they serve is is humanely raised locally)  -- wonderful dish--hope they are telling the truth about the Veal. 2) Alaskan Halibut with Wild Rice Risotto --Morel & Porcini Mushrooms with a Truffle & Mushroom Jus was outstanding--the Halibut was perfectly prepared and there was no skimping on the  mushrooms.
DESERT:  CHOCOLATE NOCELLO SOUFFLÉ--ahhhh perfection -- It looks bigger thatn it really is -- it was shared by 4 --and we each enjoyed a few bites.
Things we liked and disliked:  Well there is lot to like here--but ONE THING was VERY BAD.  We had reservations--and we were place at a table with air conditioner vents under two of the chairs.  They were blowing rather vigorously making the seating uncomfortable.  There were many OPEN tables around us. And we asked to be moved but were told the tables were all taken?? !! -- The host said she would turn off the air--which she did--but it came back on in about 10 minutes.  She also gave me a small flat item to put over the vent--but it did very little to solve the problem.  So the seating was terribly uncomfortable and the wait staff seemed to know --and not give a hoot--that it was a problem.  Indeed, because I had arrived before our friends, the host suggested I take another seat at the table and let our friends have the bad seat.   
Number in our party: FOUR
Total Bill: $123.00 Plus tip
Recommended? Yes..the food was exceptionally good but watch out for the table in the corner next to the window if the air conditioner is on. Refuse to sit there would be my recommendation.
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? 4 STARS --and the rating might well have been higher if the seating problem had not been so poorly handled

City Thai, (Grade C)

Date of last visit: July 2010
Address: 341 SW Capitol Highway, Portland, OR 97239-1937
Phone: (503) 293-7335 
Hours: You'll need to call to check

Link:

General Impressions of the place itself:  Sitting toward the back of a little strip mall on Capitol Highway. Unless you are looking for it, it is very easy to miss.  I am not even sure you can see it from the street. Nicely done inside for the space they have to work with--not fancy but comfortable and with a little style.
What we ordered: Pad Thai, Yellow Curry; Thai Ice Tea, Sizzling Spinach --all ok--nothing noteworthy either direction.  -We have been here before and ordered various things..and it is always the same, fine, but not great
Things we liked and disliked:  Food is entirely acceptable--but it doesn't reach great. People who work here are always pleasant.
Number in our party:  3
Total Bill: $32.00
Recommended? Yes it is reliable
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? Standard Average Place 2 1/2 stars