I was in Brooklyn in mid-Oct and had the best cheese blintzes of my life at tiny Uncle John's on Seventh Ave in Park Slope - totally awesome!

I'm looking for just plain good (red gravy) Italian comfort food - no fancy Tuscan truffle feast for me. I'll be in Brooklyn for a few days soon, and will gladly travel for the right meal.

Remember the Baked Macaroni in a tomato cream sauce? We lived in Jersey and Philly and we were regular H&H customers in 3 states. There is a H&H cookbook out, but I'm not sure it's authentic because the cookbook recipe for macaroni is just another mac n' cheese variation. Our favorite H&H takeouts were the Health Salad and the Applesauce Cake, but I still drool for that Baked Macaroni from the Automat!

mrip541 - You are so right. Places open and close overnight in Hanoi. I know a local travel agent who takes me to those holes in the wall that you speak of. Places that cater to the throngs of tourists are the worst. Vietnam is worth the trip just to eat!

Hanoi has great Vietnamese food, but also everything else. The best Indian food that I've ever eaten was in Hoi An. In Hanoi, I like Foodshop 45 Indian. You don't have to eat fancy in this town to get good food, and the coffee drinks are to die for. Here's a list of some top spots on Hanoi's Expat Website:

http://newhanoian.xemzi.com/venue/cat...

I'll be there again in November for the 4th trip

I'm planning on visiting the northern Oregon Coast soon, and I love bbq oysters, chowder, crab and salmon. Where's a good place? I am not interested in the resorts or fancy dinner houses - I'm a casual sort of guy.

Head out to NE 122nd (at Halsey) for the best $4.50 Gyro you've ever had!!! Anoush Deli

http://www.anoushdeli.com

Swagat's Beaverton location has an excellent Indian Buffet - I believe it's $6.95

http://www.swagat.com

(I hear the NW Portland location is not as good? Can someone comment please?)

I'm connecting at SEA for my trip to Asia, and looking for a good breakfast in the terminal? What's the quality? pricing?

Mostly plastic junk near the Hilton. Your best bet is to head over near Powell's Books (Burnside @ NW10th) where within 4 blocks you'll find Ten 01*, Clyde Common** and a few bars and lunch places (K&Z's Deli**). You can walk from the Hilton or take the free streetcar on SW 10th. If you want something really special, stay on the streetcar until you reach NW 21st for Paley's or Wildwood.

Also across from the bookstore is a great fresh Gelato place on NW 11th.

Deschutes Brewpub just opened on NW 11th - north 2 blks of the bookstore (great beer but poor food).

* on Couch St across from bookstore
** on SW Alder in the Ace Hotel

You missed the best of PDX - try Pok Pok Thai next time.
The eggs benedict at Milo's are outstanding too.

The Vancouver (weekend) Farmer's Mkt. is the true gem in the Portland area. Not only do they have fresh, hot donuts, but also E. European/Russian specialties, and all the typical NW fast food too. I believe it's at Ester Short Park in downtown Vancouver every Sat. & Sun. in the warmer months.

I believe they had the same owner at one time. I've given up on Chinese in PDX - I just fly down to the Bay Area!

Leonardo, do you own Leonardo's on Lovejoy? - Hi neighbor.

I have not tried this place, but it sounds very interesting, and I hear reports that it's a great place for lunch:

Mad Greek Deli (North of Hwy 26 off 185th)
18450 Northwest West Union Road

not quite sure if this is Portland, Beaverton or Hillsboro?

Try the Mad Greek Deli
18450 Northwest West Union Road
(N of Hwy 26 off 185th Hillsboro area) - 30 min. west of downtown

for Vietnamese try Bun Bo Hue on SE 82nd and the Fubonn Shopping Center has 2 Vietnamese places plus a good Malaysian place, Malay Satay Hut.

Have you been to Pok Pok Thai/Whiskey Soda Lounge on Divison - probably the single most popular Asian spot in town!

Almost forgot the best damn gyro in town at Anoush Deli on NE 122nd at Halsey (near Goodwill) - quite a bargain at $4. for the gyro and probably the largest one you've ever had!

In the Beaverton-Tigard suburb of Portland try Hapa Grill at 14625 SW Teal Blvd, Beaverton (near the intersection of Murray and Scholls Ferry) for Asian Fusion/Hawaiian at a great price. Try the Ribs on the appetizer menu.

In the St. Johns area of Portland go to Nicola's Pizza & Pasta at 4826 N. Lombard. This is a red gravy, Italian place that has outstanding fare at a very reasonable price. I grew up in the Italian loving area of New Jersey, and this is the best I've found on the W. Coast.

for a giant (fried) Oyster or Shrimp Po' Boy try

Lagniappe
1934 NE Alberta St.

The Riverplace is very close to the Portland Streetcar line, and since you asked for really great restaurants, I suggest you take the Streetcar north to NW 21st St. to find 2 of Portland's finest restaurants just adjacent to the Streetcar stop. Both Wildwood and Paley's Place offer a sample of the finest in Northwest cuisine.

http://www.trimet.org/schedules/r193map.htm
http://wildwoodrestaurant.com
http://www.paleysplace.net/

1. Walk 0.39 mile south from Riverplace Hotel (1510 SW Harbor Way) to SW River & Moody
2. 12:13 p.m. Board Portland Streetcar to NW 23rd Ave
3. 12:41 p.m. Get off at NW Northrup & 21st St

Ten 01 is a new place in the Pearl that's operated by the Tabla owners, and it's rather close to your hotel. It's opposite Powell's bookstore on NW Couch. For the menu:

http://www.ten-01.com/

I really like Autentica and I think you will too!

http://tinyurl.com/ysot7p

They had them at Oaks Amusement Park during the Multnomah Cty. Fair - don't know if the park has this concession full time or not? I remember they were really overpriced!

Another place to call is the Hawaiian style restaurants in PDX and Vancouver (at least they might be able to point you in the right direction).

Don't rule out the Ecotrust Building's Terrace at NW10th and Johnson (has it's own Streetcar stop). This is the Pearl District (the Daily Grill is close by).

Of the two places mentioned, Hiroshi just opened about 6 weeks ago, and looks to be more upscale than Shin Ju. Both restaurants are adjacent to Jameson Square on
NW 10th Avenue (Streetcar stop Johnson), I prefer the decor at Shin Ju (carved Japanese screens and private tatami rooms).

I know very little about this place - it is listed as Fast Food Italian and hugemeni.com gives it only 1 star!

http://www.hugemenu.com/OR/Gresham/It...

What are the casino buffets like in this area? Are they cheap? Do they compare with Reno or Vegas?

Andrew & Steve's for chowder and greek salad
(on the trolley line, Astoria)

I was just thinking that with all the Scandinavians in the PNW, how come we don't have a decent "real" smorgasbord. If you're ever in Bergen, Norway be sure to try the one at the Hotel Norge.

Head on over to the Fubon (spelling?) Center on SE 82nd for the Malay Satay Hut

again, I'll direct you to a better discussion at Portland Food:
http://www.portlandfood.org/lofiversi...

I suggest you try Hapa Grill for excellent Hawaiian food in Beaverton. I'll direct you over to Portland Food for the complete review:
http://portlandfood.org/index.php?sho...

Paley's Place is really good:

http://tinyurl.com/yzm83k