Violetta in Director’s Park
Violetta, in the newly unveiled director’s park, isn’t quite a restaurant… I’m not sure what to call it… They have great burgers, fries (try the Oregonzola fries) salads, etc. but you order inside and can eat inside or out in the park (which isn’t quite a park either)… It’s almost the like the park and restaurant are combined into one. Also, they don’t “fry” their fries, they “air-bake” them, though you could have fooled me (this is just one of many healthy & environmental steps the place has taken).
You can even drink your beer outside… It’s the one place to get a beer in the sun downtown that isn’t Rock Bottom Brewery…
Located at SW 9th & Taylor St. in Downtown…
Produce Row
One of the best patios in town (and the inside is kinda swank too) after their big redecoration. Great selection of beer and wine, good food… and did I mention the patio is pretty awesome? Oh, and reuben sliders.
Go for the happy hour(s): mon-sat 4-7pm; mon-sun 11pm-2am (food only)
204 SE Oak St. Portland, Oregon, 97214
Pad Thai Kitchen
We love this place and not just because we live three blocks from it.
Perhaps the best Thai food in town, though there’s so much Thai food in Portland it’s hard to say (go on, just TRY to find a Chinese restaurant outside of Chinatown or 82nd). The service is friendly and super quick, with great prices to boot.
Get the pumpkin curry.
2309 Southeast Belmont Street, Portland, OR 97214
Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am – 3 pm/ 5 pm – 9:30 pm
Fri 5 pm – 10 pm
Sat-Sun 12 pm – 10 pm
Prost & North Mississippi Carts
Prost: a “real” authentically-inauthentic German pub. Seriously though, with all of the beer in Portland, it’s nice to take a break from the newbies and have some good-ole German Pilsner… and other beers, but I can’t pronounce most of them. Awesome brat- and curry-wurst.
The surrounding cart pod contains a good mish-mash, but their hours are kinda crazy. Try Nuevo Mexico if you get a chance…
Pok Pok
This place is AWESOME. Real fricking thai-street-food inspired cuisine. No way you’ll ever forget a meal here.
There is probably always a wait, but they recently opened up the Whiskey Soda Lounge across the street, where you can get cocktails and appetizers while waiting for your table.
Los Goriditos/Apex
Los Gorditos is one of the best taquerias in town, friendly to meat lovers and vegetarians alike (they even have separate menus). We highly recommend the soyrizo.
You can take your food next door to Apex, the bar with huge outdoor bier-garden style tables and the beer menu is displayed on a huge TV above the bar.
Note: both of these place only take CA$H.
1212 Southeast Division Street
Portland, OR 97202
A Roadside Attraction
One of our awesome local bars. Great patio.
There is a good chance you will see Courtney and Ryan here at some point(s) during the week!
Cash only but an ATM is on site.
http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=roadside+attraction+portland+OR&fb=1&gl=us&hq=roadside+attraction&hnear=Portland,+OR&cid=16431411232582301617
Potato Champion
A french fry cart! Try the Poutine. Do it.
This cart anchors a “pod” of carts called Cartopia, which also has a crepe cart, mexican, fried pies, pasta, and a SUPER AWESOME pizza cart called Pyro Pizza. So far, this is the only cart area you can expect to be open late. Open until 3am, closed Mondays (I think).
http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2008/10/19/potato-champion/