Just went to Taste of Sichuan in Beaverton (almost Hillsboro), which is a spinoff of Bamboo Garden in Bellevue, WA. It has leapfrogged, in my mind, to the top of the "best Chinese in Portland" category, over the (qualified) Lucky Strike (it was better before it moved to Hawthorne) and Wong's King (dim sum only; otherwise, their menu's reach doth exceed their grasp). This is on the basis of a very limited dinner: ma po tofu (yum), stir-fried dried green beans (yum), and a green onion pancake (I've had better -- Brandy Ho and Hunan Restaurant in SF, I'm looking at you -- but I've also had worse). The rest of the menu looked good, and the wait staff is large, efficient, and professional. The place probably wouldn't occasion comment if it had opened in SF, NYC, Vancouver BC or LA, but for the Portland area, it is a revelation and a Godsend. Liquor license pending -- which is too bad, because the food cries out for cold beer. Also, I didn't try to convince them I *really* like it hot, in deference to my dinner companion, so I don't know if they will do that on request.

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Wong's King Restaurant
310 N Broadway St, Estacada, OR 97023

Lucky Strike
3862 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

After obsessing a little about SB I finally found some in Portland (tip: try an actual Ben & Jerry's store, rather than a general grocery store). I am sorry to report that, while it is perfectly edible, it's no great shakes. For comparison purposes, my fave B&J is Chubby Hubby.

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Ben & Jerry's
4635 Point Fosdick Dr NW Ste 400, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Well, I am pleased to report, on the basis of a very limited visit, that Authentic Thai (as it is, in fact, called) seems an excellent addition to our little nabe. I was eating alone, and so I ordered the Beef Panang Curry, a dish I know well, as a test. As the menu directed, I asked that it be prepared "very hot." Timidly, they did not do so, but I asked for and received a condiment tree (the usual: hot powder of some kind, Thai chilis in a vinegar-y sauce, jalapenos in a similar sauce, and a red chili paste), with which I was able to kick it up a few notches. The curry was delicate and tasty; the green beans and red peppers were cooked well, but still retaining slight crunchiness; and the beef was good. It came with rice. I also had a Thai iced coffee. The service was quick and friendly, the place was clean and well-lit, the portions -- although not huge -- were certainly ample. 11 bucks total. I would want to try at least the tom yum soup and the larb and the pad thai (not that I am crazy about pad thai, but it is often a good indicator of the kitchen's skills) before being sure of the place. There were several other tables, an encouraging sign for a Wednesday evening shortly after the restaurant came into being. All in all, it was quite promising. Not Pok Pok, but not trying to be. My only other good Thai experiences in Portland have been at the place at 42nd and Woodstock (in the shopping center) and at Cha Ba Thai. This seemed as good as they. (I have not yet tried the famous ma and pa place on Belmont.) I look forward to wandering around their menu some more, soon.

The utterly nonlamented Saigon Kitchen at S.E. 38th and Division is dead. Yay! As a resident of the nabe, I always took that place as a personal affront -- so near, and yet so bad. It has been replaced by a Thai restaurant of which the name is, I think, "Authentic Thai Cuisine" (cringe). Whether this is its actual name or just its claim, one would think its chances of being any good a bit dismal. But if it just does one or two things right, it would be welcome. (Some nights, gee, I dunno, I just don't feel like standing outside Pok Pok for 45". Call me crazy.) I console myself with the notion that it cannot be worse than what it replaced. I haven't been yet. . .and just wonder if anyone has; and, if so, what they have to say about it?

Though it has had one mention in the distant past, I want to give a shout-out to El Pato Feliz., though I have not fully explored its menu yet. I was wandering around on Stupor Bowl Sunday craving a bowl of posole, and I got its name from the Hispanic boyfriend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend. It's at 5824 S.E. 92nd, just a block north of Foster on the east side of the street. The first thing you should know about it is its hours: 10 AM - 11 PM seven days a week. The second is that it has a freezer case full of a wide variety of fresh Michoacan popsicles, one of my favorite guilty pleasures. I had the posole. (The place serves both posole and menudo every day, instead of the oft-encountered "Saturday-Sunday only" approach of many establishments.) The posole was just what I wanted -- a huge bowl (think pho) of animal parts and hominy in a sabroso broth. Mmmmm. Other people in the restaurant had what looked to be very nice, fat, meat-filled burritos. Though probably not made on the premises, the tortillas were hand-made, or at least, not factory-made, somewhere. I will surely be back. I have been looking for a good Mexican hole-in-the-wall this side of Woodburn since the inexplicable disappearance of Iguana Feliz a couple of years ago, and this one is much closer to home.

I thought about Country Cat, but it is closed until 5 pm on Sunday. Is Taqueria de Leon (or whatever it is called) open on Sunday, and do they "serve" food, and is there somewhere to eat it there? I'd call and ask, but despair of finding a common language. . .

Friend of mine will be driving from Ashland to Seattle, passing hereabouts on Sunday, in a large truck. She doesn't want to deal with the downtown Portland freeway spaghetti, but would like to meet up for a bite to eat. What places are there -- probably ethnic, I would assume -- easilyl accessible off I-205 between, say, Oregon City and where it rejoins I-5 north of Vancouver where she could nip off the freeway and we could meet easily for a good bite? Remember, *Sunday*. . . .Thanks!

That should be either Pho Van on Hawthorne or Pho Hung on Powell.

There's a little bistro on NE 7th just north of East Burnside, newish, called l'Astra. People on Citysearch love it, mostly, but Citysearch is about as reliable as Zagat's. Any Hounds have input? My search finds me no Hound reviews. . .

I have recently become a devotee of Laughing Planet, mostly but not entirely vegetarian, tasty, hearty, very reasonable, 33rd and Belmont. If the eventors are straight, though, it may be too "granola" for them.

I would note that the NW Papa Haydn's's [now, THAT looks wrong] dinner food is sometimes excellent. The desserts are uneven, but some are quite good. It's like they are channeling the old Rose's (ancient reference likely lost on many).

I suppose it would be too much to hope for, but: Anybody know if this restaurant shares any DNA with The Kebab House, which used to be at 67th (?) and Greenwood, and then moved to Renton briefly, then folded? Now THERE was some tasty Pakistani food.

Think about Jake's Grill in the Governor's House on about 10th and Washington, or something like that. They have at least one large room that could accommodate that sort of thing.

while it may not be as cutting edge an experience as you sound like you are looking for, there are rentable rooms at Jake's Grill (offshoot of Jake's Famous Crawfish) that would fit your bill, and you can get as much or as little flexibility in yrdering as you want.

And now for something completely different: The Press Club Cafe, at SE 26th and Clinton, has $2 off food and $1 off single glass pours and microbrews from 4 - 6, I believe. Their food is tasty and their wine choice interesting, and there's lots of on-street parking.

I kinda like the Continental Cafe on the Ave, but then, I am a dinosaur.

Historically, Ken Gordon (Ken's Place on Hawthorne) did catering. If he still does, he might be a good bet.

Willamette Week was extremely underwhelmed in their review, out today:

http://www.wweek.com/editorial/3312/8...

You might look into Two Brothers Cafe and Grill at 829 SE 39th Avenue in PDX. I can't think of anything local closer to the mark.

http://portland.citysearch.com/profil...

Huh, I thought I posted this answer yesterday. They have had good ones at Pastaworks on Hawthorne -- both chocolate and (IIRC) "white."

A friend and I feel like going out for a bucket of steamed clams in Portland (i.e., not driving to Seaside, etc.). They don't have to be world-beater cuisine, just not send us the way of Warren Harding. Off the top of my head, all I can think of is (probably) Dan and Louis's Oyster Bar, Jake's, maybe Salty's. Any of those recommended? Am I forgetting anything?

I think Lauro is open

Went there last night. Didn't take notes and don't have the menu in front of me, so cannot be specific. Everything we had was tasty, but there seemed to be a little trouble with timing; i.e., dishes sat for varying lengths of time before coming to the table, and were thus different temps. Also, the service -- though pleasant and friendly -- was (I thought) insufficiently attentive. On a surreal note: there were small bread plates, but no bread ever arrived. I asked about this as the plates were cleared, and was told that they don't *serve* bread; those plates were for sharing dishes for those who might be so inclined. Uh, okay. (I like the place, and I liked the old place, so, e-msg, I may not be much guidance for you.)

Also in Portland: Elephants, perhaps Strohecker's (called "Stroheckers' at Lowe's," or some such, these days), Food Front on NW Thurman.

When LHH is good, it is very, very good. However, I have found them to be a tad unreliable. Still among my top recs, though I have not been there since the move. Speaking of tiresome -- do they still have a "no rezzies" policy?

You might take a look at O'Connor's in Multnomah Village (a part of Portland). Not 24/7, but may meet the rest of your criteria (dunno about all-day breakfast). As to the Foster Road suggestion above, take a look at Diane's Restaurant, in the 50's on Foster on the South side of the street. Waddles is either gone or unrecognizable -- I forget which. Henry Thiele's might have filled your bill, but they too are history.

Definitely second Prima Dolci as a respectable Italian bakery. And -- don't shoot me -- there are those that love Gino's in Sellwood, which is most akin to the "family style" places in those little towns in North and West Marin County (whose names escape me now, but you know the ones. . . .)

Perhaps Syun Izakawa (Hillsboro. . .but easy MAX access). Murata'd've been my first choice too, though.

I got into Pigeon with no wait and a party of three last Friday night (at a four-top, so we could have just as easilyl been four). I don't recall exactly what time it was, but it was distinctly early, but no earlier than 6, and perhaps pushing 7. RIGHT after we were seated, the floodgates opened, so we lucked out. And as the eve of Xmas weekend, it might have been unrepresentative. But if you can stand to dine early, go. (BTW, it would be my recommendation, both for the food and for the sheer Portlandness of it.)

Friend of mine thinks back fondly on going out for Chinese for Xmas on the East Coast. Of course, there is no good Chinese food in Portland. Does anyone have an idea for good other-Asian, or middle eastern, or other food, that will be open on Xmas?