Brooke Geery

Food

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More

¿Por Qué No?

4635 SE Hawthorne http://www.porquenotacos.com/ Price for 2 (with tip): $21.50 ¿Por Qué No? is one of those places that the hipsters in Portland will tell you is the most amazing place around. And why wouldn't they, "why not" is the name of the restaurant after all. With two locations in the hip areas of Hawthorne and Mississippi, happy hour drinks, and seemingly cheap food, all served up in a casually-busy decor, Por Que No is a total hipster dream come true. Unfortunately, it's not actually very good. The food at ¿Por Qué No? is definitely not trying to be authentic Mexican (despite the over use of Spanish) but is more…
Read More

Toji Korea Grill House

4615 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 21, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $18.90 Toji is one of those places I've always wanted to go, but trying to drag a vegetarian to a restaurant where one of the main options is roasting raw meat on a grill in the middle of your table has proven difficult. But since this week has been designated for the 4600 block, it had to happen and today we hit up the Grill. I guess I expected it to be expensive (it is designated with two dollar signs on Urbanspoon) and was pretty sure Jared would be forced to eat salad, so when…
Read More

Zach’s Shack

4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://www.myspace.com/dogswithasnap Date of visit: October 19, 2009 Price for 2: $17 Today we realized the 4600 Block of Hawthorne may just be the ultimate lunch utopia. We originally set out to eat at Por Que No (more for review purposes than because we wanted to) but were distracted by the neighboring Zach's Shack and the East Side Deli. Also on this block is Dingo's (where this whole project started), Toji Korea Grill House, Thai Thai and Angelo's (which I'm a little scared of.) So for this week we've got a goal within a goal: eat at all of these places. Ok, so it will actually take…
Read More

What’s for Lunch?

Today we cheated on Hawthorne Blvd and crossed the bridge to eat at an old favorite, Vegetarian House. One thing that I have noticed by eating at a bunch of new places is that most are not really that great for lunch. But rather than just complain that they aren't, I figured I should explain exactly what I am looking for in a lunch spot. 1. Cheap. One of the things that is awesome about eating lunch out is lunch specials. The midday meal is often less expensive than eating out for dinner, or even breakfast, so ideally, the restaurants serving lunch should recognize that. To put a value on…
Read More

Vincente’s Gourmet Pizza

1935 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 15, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $20 It is my firm belief that when you see the words "gourmet" and "pizza" together, you should not even consider going inside. But since the goal of this blog is to eat at every restaurant on Hawthorne, we were going to have to bite the gourmet bullet and eat at Vincente's eventually, so today was the day. I should also note I have been here before, but only for drinking purposes while waiting for movies to start and Cinemagic across the street. But this was my first pizza/lunch experience. The slice options were limited,…
Read More

Pho Van

3404 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of visit: October 14, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $26 Though we've been to Pho Van's 82nd Ave location many times, this was the first visit to the somewhat more swank Hawthorne location. On the corner of 34th and Hawthorne, the booths here are divided by ornate woodwork, and the light fixtures are especially awesome, but this is a food blog, not about interior design. And since I've been to another Pho Van location, I knew what to expect in terms of food quality. The real test was the ambiance, and of course, the lunch specials. Ironically, Pho Van seems to have an anti-lunch…
Read More

Hawthorne Fish House

4343 SE Hawthorne Blvd http://hawthornefishhouse.com/ Date of visit: October 13, 2009 Cost for 2 (with tip) $28.25 ($28.50 w/ dessert) On a cold, stormy Portland day I wanted something hearty and wholesome, so I figured fish and chips would be just the ticket. So we headed to Hawthorne Fish House, just for the halibut. No wait, because we cod. Ahahahahaha. Ok, I'm done now. The sign on Hawthorne Fish House (sister location to Corbett Fish House on the west side) says "Portland's Best Fish and Chips." Now this isn't a small claim, since this city is filled with amazing food. To say you have the BEST of anything is quite…
Read More

Lek Thai Food

3145 SE Hawthorne Blvd Cost for 2 (with tip) $21.50 If we're in the mood for Thai, we normally don't venture to Hawthorne, as our office is one block from Thai Thai on Stark. But when I saw the building that was formerly The Italian Joint had been painted lime green and purple and filled by Lek Thai, I figured I might as well throw myself on the fire and try it out. Like Chinese places, Thai restaurants usually have bitchin' lunch specials, so I expected a discounted menu, which they had. Unfortunately, the specials weren't all that great, all over $7 for a single dish. Since most of the…
Read More

Mio Sushi

3962 SE Hawthorne Blvd www.miosushi.com Date of visit: October 9, 2009 Cost for two (with tip) $36.10 Sometimes at the end of a long, hard week, you just have to treat yourself to a really bitchin' lunch. For me, sushi is the ultimate extravagance because I am 100% incapable of doing anything less than completely over ordering. In fact the only real difference between sushi lunch and such dinner is I am much less likely to opt for a saki bomb mid day, so I guess that makes it a bit more affordable. Mio has been a favorite sushi place in Portland for awhile now, and actually has several locations…
Read More

Bridgeport Ale House

3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd Date of Visit: October 8, 2009 Price for 2 (with tip): $27 If this was a Happy Hour blog, I'd probably give Bridgeport Ale House an A- overall, but this is a lunch blog, and as lunch goes, it was a C, tops. The Hawthorne location, Bridgeport Ale House, is not to be confused with Bridgeport Brew Pub on NW Marshall, where I have also eaten on a previous occasion. The Ale House is an overall much smaller location, with a smaller menu selection. There is no bakery on the premises, just your basic upscale pub atmosphere. On my visit to the west side location I…
Read More