Super Dog, Grade C-

Date of last visit: August 2010
 Address: 1438 SW Park Ave, Portland, Oregon
Phone: (503) 243-5045
Hours: not sure -- better call to check
Link:

General Impressions of the place itself:  fast food joint on the park row--small, a few tables inside, a few tables out front --order at the counter. People eating there seemed to know the place (& each other) and that gave it a nice community feeling.

 What we ordered:  two dog special -came with a drink and chips + coleslaw side --we ordered spicy dogs (chicken with jalapeños --and a Spicy Italian)
Things we liked and disliked:  We ordered two different kinds of dogs -BUT they both tasted and looked EXACTLY the same...did they mess up our order?--or is the selection a scam and they don't really have as wide a selection as they say?  To like is the nice list of dogs to choose from --but, then they ought to taste different don't you think?  The bread-bun is super fresh--love that--but it is also a bit too big for the dog.  They have lots of different kinds of mustard.  But they have no mayo, no catsup, no BB-Q sauce, etc. The onions were chopped too big so they fell off the dog.  Slaw is homemade, and is ok--but nothing wonderful. There was a very nice guy behind the counter.
 Number in our party: 2
Total Bill: $9.99 (for the 2 dog special) $3.50 for the slaw
Recommended? not quite--but then, maybe. If we were in the area and wanted something quick and not too expensive we might give them another try. But our first time (courtesy of GROUPON)  was not really very impressive--and with out the GROUPON COUPON we wouldn't have ever gone there.
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? 2 stars

The City State Diner - 3 Stars

Date of last visit:  July 2010
 Address: 128 NE 28th Street, Portland Oregon
Phone:
Hours: 8 AM to 10PM Daily
Link:  City State Diner
General Impressions of the place itself: nice clean, open setting, booths and tables

What we ordered: Meatloaf and Mac& Cheese & A Turkey Sandwich with a Beet Salad
Things we liked and disliked: The service was friendly; All the food was very good, the sauce of the meatloaf was great, the Mac and Cheese would have been better to have split for two people as a side with a split sandwich-- it was a just a bit too much carbs in one dish as a stand alone meal.  The Turkey Sandwich people said it was outstanding.
Number in our party: 6
Total Bill: we got 3 bills (each for 2 people -- ours was not bad $28.00 for meatloaf and Mac & Cheese)
Recommended?  yes.. very nice, everyday sort of drop in place
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? 3 Stars

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

Agave Grill, ( Grade D)

Date of last visit: June 2010
Address: 7361 SW Bridgeport Road, Tigard, Oregon (in the Bridgeport Shopping Center across from the theaters)
Phone: 503 - 372-9152
Hours: opens at 11Am week days opens at 9 on weekends, closes between 9 to 11
LINK:  Agave Grill
General Impressions of the place itself:  New, well appointed 'nice chain' sort of look (don't know if it is a chain or not but the decor looks like one). Has both booths and tables, an open kitchen, and very friendly and helpful wait staff.
What we ordered:  We wre there for lunch--and ordered off the lunch plate. We had a Guacamole Especiale;   A child's plate quesadilla (we had an 18 month old with us);  and we split a Vegetarian Enchilada plate.
Things we liked and disliked:  The service was really friendly and helpful (us having a baby we appreciated being brought orange slices for our little guy --and other diversions for him--while we waited). But the food was only so so. They use a corn meal-crepe --rather than a tortilla--and it just didn't work for me. I spoke with another person who had one and she liked it a lot.. but I sure wouldn't get another one. The guacamole was large in quantity but weak in taste. I am guessing they are using the wrong kind of avocados. 
Number in our party: 2 adults and 1 child
Total Bill: Recommended? $23.00 (not cheap) this was lunch after all and the adults split their meal and we didn't get drinks.
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place? Sorry but it only gets 1 Star / Grade D -- I say sorry becasue the staff was so nice and we had really a limited exposure to the menu.  They have a happy hour that has great discounts on the foods and we were told the Margaritas are worth a try.

Branch Whiskey Bar, (Grade A)

Date of last visit: June 2010
Address: 2926 NE Alberta St Portland OR
Phone| (503)206-6266
Hours:
Link: Branch Whiskey Bar

General Impressions of the place itself:  Big wrap around bar where you can eat &/or drink, tables lining the wall and a few tall tables in the front,  nice comfortable place with mod art on the walls, not fancy, not sloppy, busy --and a little noisy, but comfortable.

What we ordered: 

1) Spring Vegetables and Orecchiette Pasta tossed with a shallot and lemon cream sauce. With a Dark and Stormy – Goslings black seal rum, ginger, beer, and fresh lime
2) Pork Loin chop roasted fingerling potatoes, broccoli rabe, golden beet chutney.  With a Sazerac – Rye, peychaud’s bitters, angostura bitters, simple syrup, a bit of lemon.
3) Branch Beef Burger with arugula, shaved fennel salad, with Glenlivet 12yr on the rocks
4) Grilled Romaine Salad fried capers, croutons with a Ceasar style dressing with a Portland 75 – Aviation gin, lemon juice, simple syrup,sparkling wine
5) Two servings of Bread Pudding with a bourbon caramel sauce

The food was all around outstanding as were the drinks --we all really especially liked the Dark and Stormy --the only minor flaw was the bread pudding was a little dry--but the sauce on the bread pudding was super.  And it needs to be said the salad was, hands down, the best we've had in the city.

Things we liked and disliked:  oh my the food and the drinks are all to like and will call us back -- only down side was it was just a little noisy--but not terribly so. And great news--the prices are reasonable --and you can get a happy hour discount on the food between 5 &7.
Number in our party:  4
Total Bill: $83 + tip
Recommended?  you bet your life --this is a great place
With a Five Star Scale - and Five being perfect - we rate this place?  they get 5