Going to Portland, OR the end of Sept. Any "must see, do, eat" ideas?

Michael - my husband has a temp position out there

Definitely go to Mother's - it's upscale home cooking but it was good and it was THE SINGLE best dessert I have ever had out anywhere!!!

Dan & Louis Oyster Bar - one of the oldest places in town

Great cheap happy hour at the McCormick & Schmick's that is near my husband's Residence Inn down at the Waterfront

FOOD CARTS - they have the best street food in the world according to CNN.

Have to do The People's Pig food cart right across the street from Mother's - porchetta sandwich

Poutine at Potato Champion cart on Hawthorne

Go to the Saturday Market and have the pupusa's there - best I have had anywhere

Go to the PSU Farmer's Market on Saturday - lots of good stuff to eat but definitely try Salvador Molly's Tamales

Go to Random Order Coffeehouse and have pie - incredible pie - I arranged to have three delivered to DH for his 60th birthday since he was out there

OMG - Stanich's - it's an OLD burger joint and you have to get the house special loaded with ham, bacon, egg, cheese

He may be there during that time - I'll check and let you know and if you want, he's always looking for someone to eat with so he doesn't have to eat alone. He stays at the Residence Inn on SW River Parkway and it's a GREAT place to stay!!! We were just there last month.

 
For must see

Drive up to Mt. Hood and see Timberline Lodge. Drive down the other side of the mountain and come back along the gorge and see the dam (watch the salmon going upstream via the fish ladder) personally I love the grounds at the dam fish hatchery and all the waterfalls. Pretty much a full day.

Drive down through the wine country to Newport where Randi lived. Have lunch on the bay - I 'll have to look up where she took me but whatever you do - DO NOT eat at a Mo's!!!). Drive up the 'coast' and through dairy country. Stop at Tillamook, eat the freshest seafood you have ever had at Pacific Oyster, go on up to Cannon Beach and then drive back over to Portland. Actually - my friends all said to drive up the coast but thinking about it -maybe drive down (who cares about seeing the sunset over a big rock?) so that you can better take advantage of all those wineries.

Drive up to Mt. Saint Helens. I guess it's something everyone should see once. It's strange. Stop and get potato soup, potato logs (or whatever they call them) and a fried pork chop at te gas station on the left as you go up that is either the last gas station or the next to last - it's a large place that is gas and a grocery. The food was really quite good and we stopped going and it was so good we stopped coming back.

Definitely don't miss the Farmers Market - there is one every day somewhere but the main one on PSU campus on Saturday is the best. And don't miss the Saturday Market - I stay on the river side which is pretty much artisans and such - it's a lot of junk, though some of it's interesting and there are a few vendors with handmade goods on the other side.

I haven't had the pleasure of enjoying the rose gardens either time I was there but you can bet I am doing it next time!

Just enjoy downtown - there is so much to see and do and free transportion in the downtown loop and cheap mass transit to almost everywhere else.

 
Here are a few tips from my friend that goes several times a month

Castagna
Bravo Toro
Bar Avignon
the Saturday mkt at Portland State University
Apizza Scholls (you can get in on Sunday when they open at 4 pm)

I'd also add Beast and Pok Pok to the list. Also, linked is a good rundown from Matt on his blog.

Whatever they say, forget about Voodoo doughnuts. It's about the experience (gritty) not the deliciousness.

http://www.wrightangle.com/food/blog/2008/05/07/a-weekend-in-portland/

 
Traca hit some of the other great places

we've tried Apizza Scholls and we're always too late. When they sell out they sell out and you can't call in an order to go - you have to go and order it there. Get there early!!!

There is a new meat market that turns restaurant by night - Laurelhurst Meat Market - it's getting rave reviews and I tried to get in there also this last time and couldn't.

DH says Voodoo is highly overrated and overpriced.

We didn't like Burgerville at all - local NW burger chain focusing on local but I thought it was pretty yuck.

 
Missy...agreed. Pass on Voodoo Doughnuts & Burgerville. You MUST go to Powells Books

for their cookbook collection. It's staggering and I could easily spend days...and $$$ there.

Appizza Scholls is everything they say it is. I make a point of getting there about 15 minutes before they open.

Also, Ken's Bakery is good. The Canneles are out of this world. (hope I'm spelling that right. French baked bits of heaven with a carmelized outside. Swoon!)

 
Just got back from my HS. reunion in Portland and I highly

recommend The Meadow. Great people and they spent lots of time giving me an introduction to using salts. Was awesome. I also concur about VooDoo donuts. Don't waste your time. Very greasy and tasteless. Definitely do Saturday Market, they've expanded it since my last visit and it is worth a stroll.

 
Michael, this St. Honore bakery is wonderful--two locations. AS for sights, don't miss the Japanese

Garden and the adjacent Rose Garden, or a drive up the gorge to the falls.

And of course there is wine tasting everywhere.

http://www.sainthonorebakery.com/

 
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