UPRISE Bakery - good soups and sandwiches and a nice casual atmosphere.

Take the 14 bus from downtown which runs down Hawthorne. There is a foodcart area at 12th and Hawthorne.

There are a variety of places to eat all but you might want to check out EVOE for a late lunch or early dinner (it closes at 7pm) and might be in that nice but not too expensive pricepoint for your dinner. It is a casual dining space around the kitchen, which adjoins Pastaworks (gourmet market) which adjoins Powells Books cooking/garden store around 37th.

I've only been to their location a few times. I mostly drink it when I pick it up in the morning at the market near my office. It's whatever blend they have brewed in their carafe.

http://www.localchoicemarket.com/ is the market
which might be fun to pass through too. they've got some good baked goods (from bakeshop - the buckwheat scone!!!)

COAVA Coffee.

I'm not a terribly picky coffee drinker but every time I have some COAVA - it really makes me pause because it is exceptional.

Thank you for the Da Enzo recommendation - we tried it last night and it was wonderful. Traditional and simple, yes. But the staff wasn't wearing the black pant/white shirt attire that most trattoria staff wear. Our waiter had jeans, tshirt and a do-rag. For me, that made it feel less intimidating.

Greetings...currently a few days into my first stay in Rome. We've had a couple of okay to good meals. But today's lunch at SORPASSO near the Vatican was by far our favorite meal thus far. A less traditional trattoria vibe but still simple good food. We are staying in Trastevere for a few more nights - recommendations for other restaurants nearby would be very welcome.

cochon butcher

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/880686

Recent thread that had a good list.

Life of Riley in the Pearl. I think they have above average pub grub.

A bit further away: Pie at Lauretta Jeans (tiny downtown location) at 6th and Pine (I think)

Near BLUESTAR:
Ice Cream at Ruby Jewel
Drinking chocolate at CACAO
Fries at LARDO

It looks like they have some new spots I haven't tried (I'm one of those fair-weather summer patrons of food carts and summer is still not here...) but in the past I've enjoyed NATIVE BOWL and THE BIG EGG.

Exit 303 - Killingsworth. Turn right on Alberta, then turn right on Albina (which becomes mississippi).

It's easy to get to Mississippi Marketplace food carts.
http://www.missmarketplace.com/

I'd also consider Lovely's 50/50 for pizza depending on time of day. I've had a great burger and fries at Bar Bar adjacent to Mississippi Studios...kids are welcome until 9pm.

And then get some icecream at Ruby Jewel to put kids into a sugar coma. :)

How key are reservations in Rome? If we are likely to eat early - will we need them?

I've been reading through the threads on Rome for my trip in mid May. Lots of great info. We've purchased one of the food apps (my friend says it is great). Staying in Trastevere. I'm hoping to keep meals under 30 euro/head - probably not going to do any fine dining this trip. Lastly I love vegetables (but not vegetarian). If there are any places that highlight vegetables really well?

I might check out:

Biwa
Aviary
Natural Selection (veg)

Tasty and Sons owner opened a new location downtown called Tasty and Alder.

A new market in the Pearl that has wine/beer/coffee
http://www.localchoicemarket.com/

Smallwares: http://www.smallwarespdx.com/

Then there are restaurants on Alberta (AVIARY) and the pocket of restaurants (AUTENTTICA) on Killingsworth/30th...

Paleys Place?

Brunches in portland often come with a wait - even if you get there at the opening bell. It's a bit insane, really. You might try simpatica though (sundays only) - they might take a brunch reservation...

I have reduced my fine dining a lot, so I'm only keeping up with the fine dining scene virtually, but my short list for a fine dining occasion would be:
Paleys Place
Castagna
Wafu (weekend only)

Ox does have the full menu at the restaurant bar. They have a separate bar next door where you can wait to be seated and have a cocktail.

I haven't been to Screendoor in years but my recollection is that it is a bit of a zoo...I wouldn't personally enjoy dining there solo. I've enjoyed a basic breakfast at City State Diner which is near Screendoor on 28th. The other place I might try would be Sunshine Tavern on Division. If the weather is good - I'd wait in line for a Pine State Biscuit and eat it outside.

I had a cheeseburger and fries at BAR BAR recently (attached to Mississippi Studios). So good. Cheap. Very Portland.

Podnah's, Chiang Mai, Victory Bar are some cheaper dinner spots. Lardo is great. Trigger - my one experience was lukewarm.

Thanks all...

I think ROGANIC might win for the midweek birthday dinner but I can see going to a few others for lunch or to catch an early prix-fixe dinner deal!

The Kitchen W8 looks like a FIND!

My friend and I will be in London for her birthday and I'm looking some dining options. My budget is around 50GBP/person. A tasting menu would be fun. We both have broad/adventurous palates so no cuisine is off limits (though no Italian as we will be going to Italy after England). Would prefer a less-formal dining atmosphere as well. Doing some research some good options seem to be:

ROGANIC
ST JOHN
MOTI MAHAL
UPSTAIRS AT TEN BELLS

Any other suggestions?

Timely thread - I am going to be in NOLA over Thanksgiving as well. Haven't been in a few years but I do make a point of going to Cochon.

Any other options for the Thanksgiving meal? Preferably not a hotel restaurant - unless the dining room doesn't feel like a hotel restaurant...

From 2011 I've seen this: http://nola.eater.com/archives/2011/11/10/the-thanksgiving-map-where-to-eat-for-turkey-day.php
From 2010 I've seen this: http://www.nola.com/dining-guide/inde...

Grain and Gristle - only open for brunch on Sat and Sun...I thought their pancakes were amazing...

http://www.aviarypdx.com/

http://blog.oregonlive.com/ent_impact...

I think HA and VL is much more interesting than any of the other breakfast places you've listed.

This recent thread will help:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/861229

More casual but good dining is found on the east side of portland (IMHO). Wandering up and down Alberta, Mississippi, close in stretches of Burnside (around 7th), Hawthorne, Division, and Belmont...will give you a taste of the food carts and restaurants and retail diversity.

Any restaurant on the east side of Portland is pretty easy to get to from 84. Downtown really isn't all that difficult either - as long as you're avoiding rush hour and Friday afternoons.

For more casual dining (an assumption since you are camping) I would suggest Tasty and Sons (but they can have long lines).

I've eaten solo at:

Blossoming Lotus
Toro Bravo / Tasty and Sons / Interurban
Biwa

Places I haven't been, but would be on my list...
Riffle NW
Wildwood
Evoe
Nostrana

I have no idea if this meets your low carb requirement, but I like the FOOD FOR LIFE/Ezekiel line of sprouted grain breads for their low-glycemic qualities (that they advertise). I can find it pretty easily at Fred Meyer or New Seasons in a refrigerated section. Might be worth checking out the label.

I'm not sure if any restaurant tries to set out to do something that can't be found anywhere else unless they are shooting for Michelin stars.

That said, Chiang Mai on Hawthorne has some interesting dishes I've never seen on any other Thai menu and done very well.

HA&VL is this Vietnamese cafe that does from scratch soups (not just pho but sometimes including pho) that are truly truly top notch.

While I have not been myself, AVIARY and CASTAGNA are places that might fit the bill for unique and innovative.

What sets Portland apart is the top notch quality of dining for an extremely reasonable price point at places all across town in a variety of neighborhoods.