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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2006)
DECEMBER 1, 2Q< re eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout eatingout lUStOUt 37 eatingout TAVERN + BISTRO Epiqueerean BY JENNY NGUYEN All in the Numbers irst it was surnames (Fife, Higgins), then fic tional one-word tags (Bluehour, clarklewis), ■ now the newest in restaurant headings is in the numbers. It’s about time restaurateurs recognized the centuries-old importance of the integer. Although there is no mathematical equation for deliciousness, here are some numeric figures that’ll have you calculatin’ otherwise. ar now open around the corner! NOW OPEN MONDAYS C omfort food + C lassic C ocktails 2500 SE C linton 503-808.9990 23Hoyt • 529 N.W. 23rd Ave. If you’ve blinked at all in the past couple of months, you might have missed the drastic change of scenery at the comer of 23rd and Hoyt. Gay owner Bruce Carey shut down the faltering Balvo and quickly paired up with old-time buddy Christopher Israel. The switcheroony is night and day. The once cavemously cold space is now filled with much-needed earth tones and the simpleton Italian menu replaced with a wonderfully diverse list of local produce built to highlight the Northwest’s offerings. Israel’s specialty is the ravioli “gnudi,” spinach and ricotta dumplings that are ridiculously moist and flavorful. The risotto croquettes are so-so, and the spaetzle with braised rabbit narrowly misses perfection when topped with dill. Service is impec cable and the atmosphere lively, warm and, most of all, comfortable. If you must eat dinner on 23rd, this is hands-down the best choice. ^one fe » celebrating w * and serving the community with PRIDE for 7 years! 7631 NE Glisan * 503-262-7613 www.touchstonecoffeehouse.com Come out and Enjoy our garden! Open Everyday! Free Wi-Fi! CARDS & GIFTS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES. ORGANIC COFFEE 3 Doors Down • 1429 S.E. 37th Ave. It’s no wonder folks have been lining up at this modest Italian spot for more than a decade. The atmosphere is so welcoming and the food so consistently delicious, it’s hard to imagine any self professed foodie hasn't been here. Upon prompt seating, we were welcomed with a huge chunk of bread served with a warm white bean puree, which is one step above every other bread ’n’ butter basket in town. The mussels with northern white beans are exquisite—a perfect balance of thick, tender mussel, sweet basil and spicy santaka. The pasta dishes range from rock shrimp risotto to butternut squash orcchiette, and all are to die tor. With numerous so-called Italian restaurants in town, 3DD is a definite winner and won’t have you breakin’ your precious lil* piggy bank, either. CAFFE MINGO serving dinner nightly (« 5pm in northuest Pori land, wc don't do reservations Ten-01 • 1001 N.W. Couch St. simple Italian cooking simple Italian food Fresher than a slap on the ass, the latest Pearl eatery is making waves. Whether it’s the 4,800- square-foot dining area or the form-over-function design, one thing’s fer damn sure: The food is awesome. That is, if you can afford to pay their rent. Salads range from $8 to a whopping 25 buckaroos for a foie gras feast. The oven-baked mussels and chori zo are delicious with fennel pollen, while the chick en with porcini risotto is spot-on. You might just walk in Iwkin’ as sharp as a pressed tee, but walk out two limbs short of a full body. If you prefer to keep that bulge in yer pants (from your wallet, of course), head to 1001 during happy hour, when 10 bucks'll have you noshing highbrow style. © JENNY N guyen would love to hear what your perfect dinner date would be. Share the goods with her by anting to epiqueerean@comcast.net Happy holidays! M iNGO serving lunch mon-fri. dinner 7 nights happy hour in between l(< :' lull b.n fur K,ni,-. of Ain l’re;" Scratch Cooking with All-Natural Meats OPEN 1 32S NE Russell Street (at MLK Jr Blvd) avswvcxv J russellstreetbbq.com • 503.528 8224 division 8am - 3 pm daily 503 445 9777 11 SO < Mb Mol IlBIISIIilllEr
