May 23rd, 2011 La Bonita

La Bonita

2839 Northeast Alberta Street, Portland, OR

(503) 281-3662

Everyday 10 AM – 10 PM

May 23^rd, 2011

As a former resident of Southern California I’ve grown up on some really great Mexican food.  Some has been what I’ve learned to make myself, some has been from amazing family cook outs with my friends or their parents, and the rest has been from restaurants as a whole.  With this being said, I’ve been quite spoiled when it comes to my tastes in this particular cuisine.  My roommate Dave is also a big lover of Mexican cuisine.  He grew up in San Diego, California his whole life and has eaten some top-notch food there.  I know this because I’ve eaten a few with him.

Since moving up here we’ve both  looked around for some spots that could at least give a good medium because we figured it was just not going to be the same.  With the search continuing I figured he’d love to check out La Bonita with me to see if it held water.

We arrived on the scene to the restaurant pretty full with people and a small line at the counter.  The menu is right above the register for all to view while they wait.  Right below you could see through the passing windows the hustle and bustle of the kitchen.  It looked big and open on their side, which is just how I like it.  I knew exactly what I wanted so I waited no time going over the menu too much since they had ones you could take home to browse over a bit more later on.  I approached the counter and ordered the Torta with Carne Asada. Just saying it aloud made my mouth water.  I also got a side of chips and a drink to keep me preoccupied during my wait. 

I sat down and Dave soon joined me.  He ordered a Carne Asada Burrito and fish tacos.  Dave doesn’t mess around.  I waited for a small amount of time before hearing my number called.  I eagerly walked over to pick up my tray and get back to my seat. The Torta was hot and smelled lovely.  I began right into it milling over each bite.  With the exception of the beans I was quite taken with the whole thing, with lots of goodies with just enough fattiness and tartness to really bring a nice round flavor from it.  Dave really liked his Burrito but was saddened when his fish tacos, that were fried, were ice cold as well as completely lacking in flavor.  I was sad for him as well but glad he got something out of the Burrito. 

We finished up our meal and made our way out.  Granted we hadn’t found the Mecca we were hoping for but its nice to know there’s a good spot to check out again.

Rating:

Bread:

The bread a crusty French bread with a chewy crumb.  I was wishing it was a bit more flavorful in the salt content but other than that it had a nice toast on it that gave it a nice texture. 

3/5

Filling:

I ordered the carne asada and it had guacamole, beans, shredded lettuce, and pico de gallo.  It was really tasty and a good quantity of goodies. The carne asada had a good marinade to it. The beans were a bit bland but the guac and pico had some nice flavor. Unfortunately it didn’t make up for the beans.

4/5

Price:

At $6.95 this is a really good deal.  I think it’s an appropriate price for the quality/quantity of food.

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

They’re very nice over at La Bonita. They move their lines along quickly and make sure you have what you need.  The drink selection is pretty nice since they have plenty of bottled as well as fountain drinks. They have some good sides as well. They had a great offer of Chips, salsa and a fountain drink for $1.75.   I did that with my meal.

5/5

Over all Rating: 16/20 points

Repeat Visit?

 Yes. They have some good eats there and would love to try their tacos, burritos, and other plates they have to offer.

May 22nd, 2011 Edelweiss Sausauge Co. & Delicatessen

Edelweiss Sausage Co. & Delicatessen

3119 Southeast 12th Avenue, Portland, OR

(503) 238-4411

http://www.edelweissdeli.com/

Mon – Sat 9 AM – 6 PM Sun Closed

May 22^nd, 2011

It was a beautiful Monday afternoon and my phone rang as I was reading a bit before heading out for some lunch.  It was my friend Kris calling to tell me he had the day off when he thought he was suppose to work and was curious if I had grabbed my sando for the day yet.  Since I hadn’t I told him we should meet up at Edelweiss Deli for a beer and some Bavarian grub.  This seemed to settle just fine with him so we choose a time to meet and went from there. I left my house and took the scenic route since it was such a beautiful day though unfortunately I took a wrong turn and ended up going over the bridge and getting lost for a bit. Oh well can’t find out where you are if you don’t get lost a time or two.

After I finally ended up at Edelweiss I found Kris had already arrived and ordered.  He got a Beer Braised Bratwurst and a Beer. It looked good.  So I took the chance to walk over to the counter and order myself a sando and beer.  The kitchen is part of their deli counter so it’s all wide open.  From the front door to the back corner of the place the deli case makes a long “L” shape filled with meats, sausages, cheeses and other assorted goods. There are also isles of dry goods such as sweets, breads, condiments, glassware, plates, etc….  As I stood in line to order I could hear the chatter of the patrons as they ate and started to notice people speaking different languages such as Swiss and Russian. In particular the older gentleman behind me in line was quite eager to tell a group of elderly women about his travels as a child with his father from Switzerland to Russia and then to the U.S.A.  Pretty cool that a place like this will actually bring in their target customer base where they feel at home to come eat, shop, and just hang out. 

I sat back down with Kris and we chatted about what we thought of the place and how the counter staff seemed a bit unorganized or at leased ruffled from their lunch rush.  Enjoying our beer we talked about what else I had left on the sando tour and what I’ve enjoyed the most so far.  Kris has a side gig making/selling Pickles, so we talked about his upcoming endeavors in that world.  Finally my sando came out and I was happy to see it because I was starving.  It has hot and stacked with Corned Beef. In all it was a bit soggy but still very good. The best thing we both agreed on was that at the table were three different Mustards and a Horseradish sauce.  I finished up and chatted a bit more with Kris until we both had to go our separate ways.  As I took another scenic drive home I decided that it was far to beautiful and picked up the Dog to go for a short hike. Love these spring afternoons.

Rating:

Bread:

The bread was a Dark Rye that had some serious flavor to it. I love a good rye bread and this one did not disappoint.  It was pretty soggy after a few bites though. Thicker cut and a harder toast might be an option later on.

4/5

Filling:

This Reuben had Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, Russian dressing, & Swiss cheese.  Over all it was a very wet sando with the Corned Beef being pretty bland.  Quantity wise it was great but it was just lacking a bit in the flavor.

3/5

Price:

At $7.49 it will surely fill you up but it leaves you wishing for a bigger taste than what you get. 

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The customer service was odd. The people seemed a bit slammed and disorganized even though they do this everyday and have about six or seven people behind the counter working.  There are lots of sides that they make there in traditional styles and a few good beers on tap so you can find something that’ll go well with your meal.

4/5

Over all Rating:  15/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes. I’d love to go and shop there for meats or just dry goods that they have to offer. And of course grab a brat while I shopped.

May 21st, 2011 East Side Delicatessen

East Side Delicatessen

4626 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard, Portland, OR

(503) 236-7313

http://pdxdeli.com/hawthorne/index.html

Everyday 11 AM – 11 PM

May 21^st, 2011

Ah lazy Sundays. I love them and hate them.  After the workweek I’m completely unmotivated to do anything at all so my days don’t actually start off until later in the afternoon.  Today was no different.  I ended finally putting some laundry in and calling some people to chat and such.  Eventually, I got in touch with my friend Will who was looking to play a little Cribbage and have a drink. This sounded just up my alley since he was starting to get hungry and was interested in doing of a leg of the sando tour with me.  We met up at his place and shared a drink as he showed off his new kitchen set-up, which I was very impressed with. After about two games of him whooping my ass in Cribbage I decided that now would be a good time to get something to eat to appease my hurt ego.  His girlfriend Sarah came out and joined us in our discussion on where we should go. After much debating we decided to embark towards East Side Delicatessen, which was only about a five-minute drive from their Hawthorne Apartment.

We arrive to a small building that had a very simple sign on the roof saying, “Deli”. Obviously we had found the right spot.  As we walked in we all took quick notice of how small it was but how open it felt. The kitchen was a simple set up with nothing fancy but a slicer, toaster, and some lowboy space to keep all their fresh goodies. In the display case directly in front they have all their Boar’s head Meats on show.  We sat down and looked at the laminated menus they have where you use a marker to check off what kind of sando you want. They do an excellent job of making it so you don’t need to talk to the staff behind the counter at all unless you need to stress to them a food allergy.  The thing I love is that you can build your own sando or choose a signature sub. What a great idea.

The three of us sat for a bit all discussing the different combinations we wanted to try or if we were going to get one of the specialty subs.  I went with building my own sando since its one thing I had yet to do on this tour.  I was so hungry and everything sounded really good at that point. I think we were all having that issue. So many choices can sometimes lead to over thinking your sando. But, as they say, sometimes that’s a good problem to have. 

We all finally put in our orders and looked around the shop a bit more just taking in the atmosphere of the place.  It’s really directed at the younger Portland crowd.  I can see it being a hot spot in the summer time with the outside seating right there on Hawthorne though it is further south on the street.  After we received our sando we made our way back to their apartment where we sat down and looked over what we’d got, eager to enjoy.  We all were very pleased with what we ordered, with the exception of a few things I can say it was a good find for all of us.  With a satisfied stomach the taste of defeat was completely washed away from the previous games of Cribbage.  I’ll get you one of these days Will. One of these days….

Rating:

Bread: 

They have good hearty sub rolls that are pretty tasty. My only hang up was the amount of bread you were getting. If the bread amount were decreased slightly it would be absolutely perfect.

4/5

Filling:

I built my own sando with Roast Beef, Swiss, Lettuce, Onion, and Horseradish Mayo. It was quite delicious.  I wasn’t to found of the onions just because they put a little more than I expected and in addition to that they were shaved, which made them extremely potent.  I was also a bit bummed since they put cheese on one half of the sando and not the other.

4/5

Price:

I got the foot long sub at $10.25 so that I’d have something left over for later. What a great deal. I was totally satisfied with just the first half and that alone would have cost $5.50.  You can’t beat the quantity of food for the price.

5/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The service is great. I’m impressed with their set up of not actually having to deal with the customer at all until they ring you up.  Very smart but can have its drawbacks at times. There are a lot of sides and drinks to be had.

4/5

Over all Rating: 17/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes.  They have two other locations downtown and in North Portland. I’d love to check out either one or just head back to the Hawthorne spot. Good cheap eats.

May 20th, 2011 Fotis' Greek Deli

Foti's Greek Deli

1740 E Burnside St, Portland, Oregon 97214

(503) 232-0274

Mon-Sat 10 AM - 7 PM

May 20^th, 2011

Since it was Saturday I decided to drive into work and give myself the break of having to walk home around midnight after a long day on the line.  Also by driving I’m allowing myself to check out Fotis Greek Deli that I’ve had my eye on for a bit and was just waiting for the right moment to go.  Today was the day.  I arrived shortly after they opened.  There wasn’t anyone else there except a mother with her young daughter who had just finished ordering when I stepped in.  The kitchen is wide open for all to see and they have a lot of room to work in which is quite impressive.  I had to laugh at the scene of this gigantic kitchen and only two cooks at the present moment working in it. 

I didn’t have to even look at the menu because I knew that I wanted the Gyro with Feta cheese.  Everyone I knew said that is the item to get and I’m not about to argue with experience.  As I waited I took a short walk around their storefront.  They offer lots of unique and fun ingredients to purchase as well as several wider known items.  I was quite anxious to try some Greek dishes where I’d need to stop in for something particular.

They handed me my Gyro and I accepted it with a big smile as well as a growling stomach.  I was so eager to start devouring this lovely treat but I thought I should wait and make my way into work first as to not chance spilling anything on myself on the drive. 

As I parked my car near work I couldn’t help but get started. I almost finished the entire Gyro before getting in the front door.  My friend Kris said hello to me as I started to approach him and his eyes suddenly lit up with excitement and he said, “Oh man! Fotis?! I almost went there today! Let me have a bite.”  I obliged. He seemed pretty happy.  I finished the rest in the back as not to rub it in my face of my other co-workers.  Finished, full, and ready to work I changed, prepping myself for the day ahead.

Rating:

Bread:

The bread was warmed Pita with a light and chewy texture. What more can really be said or wanted.

4/5

Filling:

This particular Gyro had Lamb, Tzatziki Sauce, Lettuce, Onion, Tomato, & Feta cheese on it.  Absolutely delicious and had me wishing I had purchased another. Though one was enough.  

5/5

Price:

The Gyro without the Feta was $5.20 and with was $5.95.  Probably the best deal I’ve found this whole tour.  Awesome.

5/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The customer service was just what you want. They’re helpful and friendly. They had remembered one woman and her daughter that came in from a previous visit before.  Since the inside is like a market there are plenty of sides and drinks available to you. 

4/5

Over all Rating: 18/20 points

Repeat Visit?

I will indeed. I will be enjoying many a Gyro from Fotis.    

May 19th, 2011 Lovejoy Bakers

Lovejoy Bakers

939 NW 10th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97209

(503) 208-3113

http://lovejoybakers.com/

Everyday 6 AM – 8 PM

May 19^th, 2011

Hello summer weather! It’s hot today and no ones shy about showing off their summer themed outfits.  This time of year is always a positive one while I walk to work admiring all the beautiful women in this town taking advantage of the weather.  To those of you who prefer the male gender I’m sure there is plenty of good-looking ones walking around, I just tend not to notice them as much.  Moving on!

I was told by many a people at work that Lovejoy Bakers is always a solid place to go for a sando and I tend to take their opinions pretty serious when it comes to good food so I hoofed it down Lovejoy way.  With the sun out and it being Friday everyone was taking full advantage of the outdoor seating they have available at the bakery.  Many customers were also enjoying a Mimosa or Bloody Mary that the bakery offers on their menu, which I think is a great idea. 

The Menu itself is quite huge.  They offer their main sandos, breakfast sandos, salads, & soups.  With their menus hanging right above part of their kitchen, which happens to be open, its fun to watch the bakers kneading and baking off bread as you stand in line to order.  I approached the register and put in my sando request, a Lamb Meatball with Harissa Aioli, Cucumber Pickles, & Red Onion on a Ciabatta Roll.  Sounds fantastic.  They gave me a number and I found a place to sit while I waited/people watched. Again I’m a big fan of this because it always amazes me to see other peoples eating habits in a public setting.  After about ten minutes one of the cashiers called out my number and I happily grabbed my sando. 

As I pulled my sando out of the bag I also realized it had come with a side of coleslaw, which is always a welcome surprise.  I dove into the sando with a great deal of hunger followed by instant satisfaction that I’d choose correctly.  I finished my lunch on my way into work, soaking in any and all sun I could. I felt really good to start my day and serve up some good eats.

Rating:

Bread:

The Bread was a pressed and griddled ciabatta roll. It had a very lovely crunch to the crust and the crumb was still soft.  The flavor was great too. All around one of the better ciabattas I’ve had so far. 

5/5

Filling:

The filling was Lamb Meatballs. Red Onion, Cucumber Pickles, and a Harissa Aioli.  I love the idea of the Harissa Aioli with any kind of lamb sando because it’s a flavor combo that works well though it was a bit smothered in it.  The Meatballs themselves were quite good as well.  You get the acid, sweetness, & crunchy from the pickles and onions. It was a good pick.

4/5

Price:

At $8 for this sando I’d say you get a fair deal since you get a side of coleslaw but had it not had the side it would have felt a bit lackluster in size. 

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

Their customer service was great. Very helpful and happy to have people in it felt.  They have a great amount of drinks and some sides to choose from so don’t think you’ll walk away wanting. Their

4/5

Over all Rating: 17/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes. If anything to get some bread or one of their breakfast sandos that everyone raves about. 

May 18th, 2011 Wet Hot Beef

Wet Hot Beef

Southwest Alder Street, Portland, OR

(360) 609-9008

http://www.wethotbeef.com/Wet_Hot_Beef/Welcome_to_Wet_Hot_Beef.html

Mon –Fri 11 AM – 4 PM

May 18^th, 2011

I’ve been rolling pretty deep in the way of sando carts this week so I thought I should just keep on going with Wet Hot Beef, which serves French Dip sandos.  I would like to start off by saying this is one of the more crudely named establishments I’ve been too.  In fact it’s by the far the crudest one I’ve really ever encountered. Their slogan alone is, “We can’t wait to put our Wet Hot Beef in you.” Ahh the nervous giggles and shy glances as people would read it aloud or to themselves as they would walk up.  I’ve never known a food cart to make people so shy just by reading their sign and/or slogan.  Well-done boys.  Moving on though, I’ve put it on my list and as hungry as I am I’m not about to shy away because of a few strong innuendos.

The cart looked, as most of these carts right now do, very put together.  They kept it relatively clean it seemed with one man working the line.  He kept busy stocking this and cleaning that while I stood outside and looked over their menu.  Not a wide variety because they only serve French dips but they do different set ups as far as the filling goes.  I went with their “Dressed Sandwich” because it had a bit more than just meat and bread.  I ordered and took a step back to watch him from the window as he worked the stove putting everything together. He had taken pause every once and a while to talk to customers who were coming up to the window asking if they took Debit cards, to which he said no they didn’t.  I understand why some carts don’t or even can’t offer that as a payment option but if you didn’t, wouldn’t you memorize all the locations of an ATM in a two-block radius?  I watched as at least two people came to the window asking if they took debit and the cook only answered, “Sorry, No.” That was the length of the conversation.  Oh well. At least I bought a sando from you today ya?

He finished up my sando and handed it to me with a smile, thanking me for coming out today.  I thanked him in return and started to take a good look at my sando.   

They wrap their Dips in paper and set them in a cup so that the au jus can collect at the bottom. I like this idea for portable French Dips because it still gives you a chance to pour any remaining jus over the sando. I dove in on the remainder of my walk to work taking mental notes with each bite.  In all it wasn’t too bad but I believe the shock humor of the name brought more people in than food itself. 

Rating:

Bread:

The Bread was a French style hoagie roll.  It was toasted so it had some structure to hold together better with all the au jus that was put on it. It was fine but nothing great. It was pretty bland all around.

2/5

Filling:

The filling had Piedmontese Beef, which is their selling point for the sandos and if you don’t know what it is check it out online, House made pickles, caramelized onions, and au jus.  The beef is pretty good but I was a little confused when I had the caramelized onions with the house made pickles being…onions.  I’m not sure why anyone would want to have two different types of onions on a sando especially when there are so many great items to pickle.  I guess keeping food costs low doesn’t amount to keeping a better variety available. 

3/5

Price:

For $6.75 I’d say you are getting a fair deal with the amount of food.

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The cook/cashier was very helpful with everyone, including me, who came up to the window. They house made potato chips as a side and make their own sodas as well. Very basic flavors but I like the idea of making your own sodas.  I didn’t have enough cash to purchase one but I would hope they’re tasty.

4/5

Over all Rating: 13/20 points

Repeat Visit?

  Probably not. I'd like to check out their sodas one of these days but nothing really other than that.

May 17,2011 Picnic

P I C N I C

SW 9th & Washington Portland OR

http://www.pdxpicnic.com/picnic

Tues – Fri 11 AM – 2 PM

May 17^th, 2011

The other day when I met some friends at The People’s Pig, one of them, Jen, had pointed out a food cart that I hadn’t seen yet called Picnic. She said I should check this one out next and being that I trust her intuition about things I went the very next day since it was so close on my way into work.  It was another great day downtown and was enjoying my walk to the familiar scene of the food carts on SW Alder.  Again they were buzzing with business and I’m not surprised at all since the sun is bringing everyone out of hiding. 

Picnic is a small cart with a very limited Menu but in that respect I think they do a good job at focusing on what they have planned.  I read their web blog and found that they’ve only been open since the beginning of May so this cart is very new to the scene.  They bake their own bread, do their own butchery, and try to plan out their sandos according to availability of produce. They also have some very creative ideas that I’d be interested in trying later on such as a Sprout and Radish Sando.  I always enjoy a vegetarian sando that brings great texture contrast as well as showing off the natural flavors in a delicious fashion. 

I looked into their cart really quick to catch a peak of their set-up. Its well put together and seems very open which is unusual I think. Most times everyone looks so damn cramped in their carts it’s a wonder to me how they can do anything at all.  The two cooks in the cart are very nice and seemed excited to have people check them out.  I took a step back and looked over their menu and instantly had to go with their Ham & Cheese.  I waited for a minute while they constructed my lunch and again a line started to form slowly but surely.  They handed me my sando and I went on my way, eager to dive into it whole hog.  As I unwrapped it from the paper I was excited to see the very rustic and Semi-French design they had with the thick cut slices of ham as well as redmondo cheese. It was a cold sando but I think it was just right for this warm spring afternoon.  I enjoyed it on my way to work feeling satisfied with the choice of the day. I texted Jen later to let her know I went and to thank her for the heads up.

Rating:

Bread:

They make their own bread at Picnic. The type I had was a white bread. It was thick cut and very dense not to mention it seemed like it was a day old cause it was felt slightly stale. Not the best thing ever but could definitely improve. 

3/5

Filling:

The sando was Ham, Redmondo Cheese, Mustard Greens, Pickled Carrots, and Aioli.  The ham and cheese were both thick cut as were the carrots.  It was a very rustic style sando but everything had great flavor and texture to it.  I only wish that the carrots were a slight more pickled than they were but they still had a great crunch. 

4/5

Price:

At $8 you certainly get a good sando with quality ingredients as well as quantity of goodies. 

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

They have an excellent rapport with their customers and seem to keep a very sunny disposition.  They have few drinks to offer and no real sides except cookies for a sweet snack at the end of your lunch.

4/5

Over all Rating: 15/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes. I’m eager to see how they change up with their sandos. I believe right now they’re offering a Ruben that looks quite good.

May 16th, 2011 The People's Pig

The People’s Pig

Southwest Alder Street, Portland, OR

(503) 347-2357

http://site.thepeoplespig.com/

Mon-Fri 11 AM – 3 PM

May 16^th, 2011

I made my way downtown, yet again with my friend Erik, where we met up with our friends and fellow cooks, Jen & Alex. I had told them I was going to be going to The People’s Pig for lunch and they wanted to be apart of this particular leg of the tour.  I’m never one to turn down company when getting a sando so the more the merrier.   

A little background on the cart that is The People’s Pig. The owner/operator, Cliff Allen, uses locally raised pig from a spot called Square Peg Farms.  The pigs from this farm are absolutely delicious.  He breaks down the animal right there in the cart and then gets it rolling for the week’s service.  I believe he’s going through a whole pig a week.  Because of this notion he only really sells two to three different kinds of sando a day. I fully endorse this method of running a cart since he uses all local ingredients and stays as seasonal as he possibly can.  Since he’s just a cart open Monday thru Friday it would make the idea of all this much more manageable.

The four of us converged just in front of the cart where we all were happy to see each other and chit chat for a minute before putting in our orders. Alex used to work with the Cliff so they were saying hello and catching up as well.  I was happy to see a line forming rapidly behind us as we made our decisions. Today there were only two choices on the menu: Porchetta with Arugula and lemon Or Braised Pork with Red Leaf lettuce, Sheep’s Milk Cheese, & Rhubarb Pickles on a Poppy seed Bun.  I went with the latter.  We waited outside looking at the other carts and the local patrons they attracted.  It’s so interesting to really step back and watch these scenes.

We received our sandos, thanked Cliff, and made our way down to Bryant Square to have a seat and enjoy our lunch. There we found a Violinist who was entertaining the crowd with some mood music as well as several other colorful individuals who contribute to the local crazies I hold so dear to my heart if anything because of the stories they provide me with.  We all enjoyed the sights and sounds of the square while we ate and talked about upcoming events we all had planed.  We devoured our sandos with smiles and pleased palettes. I was especially enjoying the Rhubarb and Sheep's Milk Cheese flavor combination with the full flavor of the pig. Fantastic.  Afterwards, full and needing some walking time to work off the flavorful sando, we all went our separate ways.  It was an excellent lunch break. 

Rating:

Bread:

The bread was a poppy seed bun that was griddled so it had a crispy/crunch to it that added a really nice texture to the overall sando. The only downside I encountered was that the bottom slice of the bun was kind of sogged out by some of the filling.

4/5

Filling:

This sando had Red Leaf Lettuce, Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Braised Pork and Rhubarb Pickles.  The flavors were big and complimented each other quite well.  I was impressed by amount of meat and goodies on the sando making it quite the meal.  The mass amount of liquid from the Rhubarb Pickles was the culprit in the sogging of the bread though.

4/5

Price:

It was $8 for a sando and with the amount/quality of food you receive I’d say this is the best deal you can find.

5/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

Cliff was be taking the orders and making your sandos.  He’s a nice guy who seems to honestly care about what his customers are eating these days and it shows. There were no real options as far as sides went and there were a few bottled soda options. 

4/5

Over all Rating: 17/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes.  I can’t wait to go back and try the Porchetta sando.

May 15th, 2011 Pine State Biscuits

Pine State Biscuits

3640 Southeast Belmont Street, Portland, OR

(503) 236-3346

http://pinestatebiscuits.com/

Everyday 7 AM – 2 PM; Fri & Sat 6 PM – 1 AM

May 15^th, 2011

Sometimes you have one-two word conversations with friends via text that just make you realize how much you’re both on the same page at that exact moment.  As I woke up, this is how that particular conversation between my friend Erik and I went down.

Erik: Breakfast Sando? Me: Pine State Biscuits? Erik: Alberta?! Me: 30 mins?

Erik: HELL YA!

You can’t really beat that kind of mental balance.  It also helps the fact that I had planed on eating there that morning anyway.  I got ready and met with Erik for some much-needed biscuit sandos. 

As we entered there wasn’t much of a line at all, which is nice considering that some peoples biggest complaint about dining there is in fact the wait. We walked up to the counter and since it was my first time Erik insisted I order the Reggie Deluxe.  I’m not one to argue with someone who’s been there and done that many a time so I obliged to his insisting and got the Reggie D. as well as a Bloody Mary. That’s right, they have booze and bless them for it as I had tied a few over the night before and was thankful for some hair of the dog. 

We chatted while waiting for our food and watched the kitchen do its thing.  Its fun to do this with another cook because you can bounce ideas off the other as far as what you both think of the set up and how they utilize space.  Pine State does a good job I think and they have some creative touches here and there that anyone can really appreciate.

We got our food and it looked perfect for what I was craving. The fried chicken covered in gravy between a hearty biscuit with all the extra goodies was quite mesmerizing.  Erik ordered the Shrimp and grits, which looked equally lovely.  Besides the egg on my sando not being runny, I would say this plate is a home run for anyone who orders it, with the exception of vegans, vegetarians, and picky eaters.  To them I say, “Your Loss.” We finished our meals and hung out a bit more afterwards since it had turned into such a beautiful day.  Also it was nice to just be outside walking around after such a big meal. 

Rating:

Bread:

The Biscuits were delicious, buttery, and fluffy. I think it’s a great product to revolve a business around.

5/5

Filling:

This sando had Fried Chicken, Gravy, Cheddar, Bacon, and a fried egg on it. What more could you really want along side a Bloody Mary for an early morning Breakfast.  The only thing I would like next time would be that they fry the egg to order so that the yolk is runny.  This seemed as though they had a bunch of precooked eggs sitting in a warmer.  Not quite ideal really.  I was glad my Bloody Mary came with a Celery stick too.  I saved it for last.

4/5

Price:

For $8 I would say this is a substantial amount of food that will gladly fill you up and leave you satisfied.  

5/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The service was great.  Its mainly a serve yourself with drinks such as coffee and water but they will bring everything else to you and call out your order at the counter which I recommend sitting at so you watch all the action in the kitchen. Sometimes the wait is not what you would like it to be but patience is a virtue.  They have plenty to offer in ways of drink as well as some boozy goodies and the sides are quite plentiful too.  I’ve never had the Hash browns but hear they’re awesome.

4/5

Over all Rating: 18/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes indeed. As a matter of fact I was in yesterday, again, with my friend Erik. 

May 14th, 2011 Russell Street Bar-B-Que

Russell Street Bar-B-Que

325 Northeast Russell Street, Portland, OR

(503) 528-8224

http://www.russellstreetbbq.com/index.htm

Sun–Thurs 11 AM–9 PM; Fri& Sat 11 AM–10 PM

May 14^th, 2011

I want BBQ.  Sweet, Sour, Smokey, Spicy, Meaty, and just plain old wonderfully delicious BBQ.  It was a nice day for it too because the sun has finally starting to set around 8:30 and its just cool enough to walking around in shorts.  My roommate Dave needed little help being persuaded to join me so we made our way down to Russell Street Bar-B-Que with empty stomachs begging to be fed.

We parked and walked in and I recognized that other people seemed to be having the same hankering for slow cooked meat I was. The place was about ¾ full which I would think isn’t too bad for a Tuesday night.  They sat us and we started looking over the menus. They don’t have too much variety in the sando department but how much more do you need other than one with Pulled Pork, Brisket, and possibly a chicken or turkey. I was more interested in what I was going to drink because when it comes to BBQ I want Brisket no questions asked while Pulled Pork is a close second.  I saw Maker’s and Lemonade and had made up my mind.  As they rang in our orders and made our drinks, Dave was pretty happy to see all the different types of sauce they offered on the table since some BBQ spots will only bring them out if you ask specifically for it.  I then had a nice discovery of my own when they brought out my drink and it was poured as a Long Island Iced Tea would be, heavy and in a pint glass.  I wanted to have a small drink not get a sloshed but I can’t really complain at $7.50, which is a great deal on that.  Dave had some to help me out since I was driving later on.

The food arrived and I was little disappointed by it. I had ordered the Brisket Sando with a spicier sauce and a side of Potato Salad.  Dave got the Pulled Pork with Coleslaw, Medium Sauce, and side of Meaty Beans.  The sizes of these were pretty sad in my sense that I had about as much Potato salad as I did meat on my sando with the bun looking like it was from the local supermarket.  I thought maybe it was just what I was thinking this when Dave chimed in and said almost the same thing.  I dug in nonetheless hoping the taste would prove mightier than it looked.  Again, it was a disappointment.  The sauce was just poured over the meat where I was hoping it would have been heated up in the sauce coating the meat but it was just in odd places spread out around.  Also the fact that the Brisket seemed more like it was chipped instead of large pieces put me off.  Dave shared my issue with the sauce on his Pulled Pork but we each agreed that the Potato salad and Beans were pretty good.

We ate the rest but were still unsatisfied so we both ordered a slice of Pecan Pie. I’m always a great admirer of Pecan Pies so I like to try a bit where it’s available.  It also helped with the booze.  Next time I think I’ll have someone else drive. 

Rating:

Bread:

The Buns were like hamburger buns you’d find at any local supermarket. It was soft, small, and all around bland.  Nothing makes me more depressed than no love in my bread.

2/5

Filling:

The Brisket sando was simply just Brisket and sauce, as you’d tend to encounter with most BBQ sandos.  Though the sauce was a bit weak and the amount of meat on it was lacking as well.  Flavor wise I wanted more smoke and also it was chipped instead of great big hunks of Brisket, which is what I’m always more interested in.  The Pulled Pork sando was just about the same as far as sauce and flavor but at least had coleslaw on it so the there was some added texture and goodies.  I’d have to choose the Pulled Pork over the Brisket, which is unusual for me.

3/5

Price:

At $8.50 for the Pulled Pork & $9.00 for the Brisket I’d say its an alright deal because you get a side with each plate but the fact still remains that the sando leaves you with something to be desired.

3/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

They wait staffed seemed like they were a bit flakey but in the long run were on top of things just a little slow on the return.  There is plenty of sides to choose from when you order anything off their menu and with a full bar how could you ever complain about not being able to find any kind of drink.  I recommend the Maker’s & Lemonade if you want to get wrecked like a freshman in college and not have to pay much more than $15 for two of them.

4/5

Over all Rating: 12/20 points

Repeat Visit?

 I will and look forward to having something other than a sando from them since they have so much more to offer.

May 13th, 2011 Chop Butchery & Charcuterie

CHOP Butchery & Charcuterie

735 NW 21^st Ave Portland OR, 97209

(503) 221-3012

http://www.chopbutchery.com/home.php

Mon – Sat 9:30 AM – 7 PM; 

Sun 10 AM – 7 PM

 

May 13^th, 2011

After a rather slow morning of doing laundry and making phone calls I found myself anxious to try out another sando shop.  Chop has been on my radar for a bit and it was the perfect time to check it out.  I always love a good butcher shop as I’ve said before with Laurelhurst Market so I got ready and made the trek downtown via the Max line.  Nothing like a good walk to get your appetite primed and ready.

As I made my way into the City Market building I took a moment and looked around to see the wonderful shops that it had to offer such as Pastaworks & Newman’s Fish as well as other goods laid out in between.  Chop is located directly to the right of the entrance as anyone would be able to notice with their display case showing off their delicious assortments of Cured, aged, and fresh meaty goods.  I’m like a kid in a damn candy shop with this stuff. 

I grabbed their sando menu and did a quick glance at it noticing their build your own option as well as their daily specials.  I wasn’t to keen on the Tuna salad option and building your own didn’t seem appropriate at the time since I wanted something they had put together themselves. This left two options: The Frog, which is Pate on Baguette with Pickled Red onions with Dijon Mustard, or the , wait for it…Italian Stallion.  Yes let the stream of promiscuous jokes and puns begin.  Not sure if they named that because of that particular reason or not but I wouldn’t put it past a bunch of butchers since they tend to have a darker sense of humor in my experience, which is fine since I’m about as demented as they come.  Moving on.

With a slight chuckle I ordered their signature sando and chatted with guy behind the counter for a bit while he prepared it for me.  I thanked him (I believe his name was Ben), paid for it at the registers located near the front of the market, and made my way to Couch Park where I decided would be a good spot to eat.  I enjoyed the sando as much as I did sitting in the serene setting of the park on another beautiful Portland Day. Well-done Chop. I'll be back for your Porchetta sando on the weekend. 

Rating:

Bread:

The bread was a run of the mill Hoagie roll.  Since I had taken the sando to go, by the time I sat down to eat it, it had gotten a bit soggy but not so much that it wasn’t holding up but I still wish it wasn’t as soggy. I'll just have to eat it sooner I guess or ask for lighter oil & Vinegar.

4/5

Filling:

The Filling was their House Salami, Ham, Mortadella, Provolone, Peppers, Shredded Iceberg, Red Onion, Tomato, Pepperoncini, Olive Oil, & Vinegar. This is exactly what I expect from and Italian style hoagie sando.  There was plenty of Meat to fill you up as well as other goodies to give it all the texture and vegetables you want.

5/5

Price:

It was $6.95 for this “Stallion” of a sando and I think it was worth every penny.  All their sandos are fixed at $6.95 for a whole and $3.95 for a half. Obviously the whole is a better deal.  You also have the choice to build your own sando, which is always a good time.

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

The guys behind the counter were very helpful and outgoing with their customers.  This is always appreciated in a butcher shop.  Their drink and side selection was quite slim.  This isn’t too disappointing since they are mainly a butcher shop and they’re located within a market with plenty of options to check out. 

3/5

Over all Rating: 16/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes. Especially since they serve a Porchetta sando on Friday and Saturday.  I always love a good Porchetta in sando form.  I’m also eager to investigate their new shop location in NE next to Tasty & Sons. 

May 12th, 2011 Bunk Bar

Bunk Bar

1028 Southeast Water Ave, Suite 130, Portland, OR

(503) 894-9708

http://bunkbar.com/

Everyday 3 PM – 2 AM

May 12^th, 2011

Ah Friday again (well Saturday really) and I planed on my sando today being a late night one.  After a good night on the line I decided to trek over to Bunk Bar since I drove to work instead of taking the Max in like I usually do.  I felt it was a good idea, enough so that my buddy Kris was into it as well so he decided to come along for yet another sando endeavor. 

 

We left work and made our way down to Southeast.  I’ve been to Bunk Bar before and funny enough it was with Kris the previous time as well, only it was in the afternoon. I was looking forward to this trip since Bunk Bar is a Bar I was hoping for a hopping scene of people drinking and enjoying some good eats.  As Kris and I entered we were sad to discover there was only five other people in the place. Oh well. I’m still happy to have a beer with my sando.  I had ordered the Roast Beef and Kris got the Pork Belly & Tofu. Both came with a decent amount of kettle chips.

We talked about random things and did a bit of people watching as more came and went during our duration there.  The staff was eager to leave once 2 AM rolled along and I didn’t blame them.   We made our way out and I gave Kris a ride home. We stopped randomly before getting into the car when we noticed a turned over newspaper case.  Kris was curious why a SE newspaper case was all the way in....SE. We shared a good laugh about that for a minute and then went on our way.  Not a bad way to unwind after a long night of work.  Now I just have to think about where to go tomorrow.

Rating:

Bread:

The bread on the Roast Beef was a Poppy seed bun that was soft but hearty.  I liked it a lot.  The Pork Belly had more of a Bah Mi roll that was toasty and soft.  Very appropriate choices I would say.

4/5

Filling:

The Roast Beef had caramelized onions, Cheddar, and a Horseradish Sauce. I loved all the flavors and think its one of their more solid sandos.  The Pork Belly & Tofu had Bok Choy Raab and a Yuzu Sauce.  It was pretty good. Very savory and kind of sweet with a bit of spice but in all I’d still go with the roast beef. 

4/5

Price:

It was $8 for the Roast Beef & the Pork Belly and both came with a side of chips.  I’d say that’s a good deal.  I was satisfied at the end of it all and that’s all you can really ask for.

4/5

Customer Service, Sides, Drink Selection:

They were really nice and laid back even with it being as slow as it was.  They offer plenty of sides to go along with your sando. Some of their sides are good just on their own if you don’t want too much food. Drink selection is also quite excellent with the fact that there is a full bar with draft beers. 

5/5

Over all Rating: 17/20 points

Repeat Visit?

Yes. In fact I was there just last week after work and it was pretty packed.  No sando this time but plenty to drink and had some gravy fries my friend Erik ordered.  Pretty grubbin’.