Favorite restaurants with and without kids: Portland 2013
Most of my fancy eating out is with kids, and by myself, so I pick restaurants that are indulgent and times when the place isn't packed. When we want to celebrate something, my boys and I invariably go to Pok Pok; it's best between 1 p.m. and 5 on a weekday (usually, our celebrations are right after school). It's always fun to sit among the tourists who have been told that THIS is the place they should come and they MUST eat the fish sauce wings. (Also, they like to gawk at Portland's foodie kids inhaling shrimp chips and drinking vinegars.) When we want to treat ourselves to dinner out, it's Gladstone Street Pizza on a Monday or a Tuesday after the dinner rush if we're splurging, or Little Big Burger if we're on a budget.
My husband's coming home for leave this weekend, and I'm thinking about planning something fancy for a date night sans kids. I read the comments on this thread on Eater PDX and came away thinking Ava Gene's, the new restaurant on 34th and Division (the old Lauro spot) run by Duane Sorenson was the way to go. I've also been wanting to try Aviary, Tasty & Sons, Le Pigeon, and the Woodsman Tavern.
We've gone to the Whiskey Soda Lounge and Olympic Provisions on previous date nights, and loved them. I'm also a big fan of Xico for fancy nights out.
Of course sometimes I look at the menus and think, "pork chop with mushrooms and stewed beans, $30, I could make that for the whole family for that price!" and I wish I'd just eaten at home. Which places are your favorites for going out with and without the kids right now? Which blow your mind with their innovative cuisine? Which would you have skipped and made your own at home?
Food is our "luxury item" as a family and we're lucky to live closish to a number of really fantastic spots on Alberta.
Love Bar Lolo (Tapas) and Del Inti (Peruvian), both on Alberta. Both have top notch food at reasonable prices. The ceviche at Del Inti puts Andina to shame.
We tried Aviary and, though an adventure, we weren't blown away and it was really pricey. We probably won't go back. Small plates we had mixed reviews on and probably will go back to try again. Cocotte we were pleasantly surprised with, as neither of us are big into French food in general. My husband went gaga over the escargot. We love Bamboo, but it's a special treat because of the $$$. We only go twice a year; once for each of our birthdays.
With the kid, we do sushi and pizza for the most part. Bella Faccia is the favorite pizzaria, and we usually go to Hana on Alberta because it's good, reasonably priced and close by. Milo's is our favorite breakfast joint. Been taking our daughter since she was four days old.
And for a drink with friends, Cruzroom is great. For a drink alone, or to catch a game, we like NePo.
Posted by: ema | March 18, 2013 at 07:04 PM
Oh, and Bollywood Theater is fantastic, but definitely casual. Not the place for a fancy date night.
Posted by: ema | March 18, 2013 at 07:05 PM
As a New Yorker, honestly, most Portland restaurants don't impress (and until 2 years ago, I always worked in hospitality, as well), but..I do like Castagna (and its cafe) for fancier. For REALLY fancy, I did enjoy El Gaucho the time I went.
We also like Tapalaya, especially when they have live jazz. Also...Foster Burger is MUCH better than Little Big Burger. We've tried both and looooved Foster, we even brought out of town (also New Yorker) friends there and they loved it.
Also fun (and cheap) is the Troutdale General Store, where they have THE best smoked salmon chowder.
Posted by: zumpie | March 19, 2013 at 06:34 AM
Pambiche in NE Portland. Colorful, lively atmosphere. They have brunch on weekends. Kid friendly. Or casual date night friendly, too. The owners and staff are awesome. I wish it was closer as we live in the burbs.
Posted by: S.R.R. | March 19, 2013 at 01:33 PM
Laurelhurst Market and Bamboo Sushi on 28th are our go-to date night favorites. With our kids, Fire on the Mountain on Burnside and Dick's Kitchen (DK) on Belmont are favorites for their gluten free/kid friendly options.
Posted by: MM | March 19, 2013 at 02:58 PM
My partner and I went to Ava Gene's for my birthday and loved it! I would let them know it's a special occasion--service was great overall, but they went out of their way because I mentioned on the on-line reservation form it was my birthday. I was glad I had read that the menu is, to put it mildly, obtuse. If you don't read Italian, be prepared to have the entire menu explained.
Hope you have a great time!
Posted by: Fawn | March 19, 2013 at 09:00 PM
I always feel guilty eating out thinking of what we will pay, knowing I could make better for less. It is a luxury for us to eat out... when we do its usually sushi because it's the one thing I can't cook and the kids love.
Date nights are usually after dinner time and after kids are in bed, so we just do drinks. We live off Alberta, so we stay close to home and got to Bin21or Radio Room.
Posted by: ej | March 19, 2013 at 09:27 PM
With the kiddo we love love love Las Primas. very yummy peruvian food with good drinks and lots of space for the boy. In terms of date night it always varies, and it seems like we are always trying to come up with something new. One of my favorite date nights lately was at bar avignon, sweet little place and it was fun to eat at the counter and chat with the sous chefs, good food drinks and service that makes you feel special. In general if we are headed out for a date night I would like it to be somewhere that I wouldn't usually dare take a kid.
Posted by: Jen G | March 20, 2013 at 08:58 AM
For fancy special occasion, we like Higgins. For Chinese, Pure Spice. For Ethiopian, Enat Kitchen.
Posted by: zinemama | March 20, 2013 at 09:51 AM
Bar Avingon is the best! My husband and I have gone there for several date nights. It has a wonderful intimate atmosphere, the service is helpful but they leave you alone, and yet it's a lively bar so you can go with that vibe if that's what you are in the mood for.
Honestly, I have stopped trying to find "the best" place to go when my husband and I have the babysitter and the money to go out for dinner. It puts too much expectation and pressure on the whole event. And then, if your entree doesn't happen to wow you, you end up feeling like you blew your budget on food you didn't like.
Anymore, we go to places that we know are good, but aren't necessarily "fancy" or the "hot new Portland restaurant."
Posted by: SJ | March 20, 2013 at 10:03 AM
Our favorite family friendly restaurant is Fire on the Mountain on Fremont. When we go out on a date night, we like to try something new (Ox, Ava Genes, Woodsman) or an old favorite (Ringside Steakhouse, Beast, Andina, Acadia). I just love that we have so many choices here in Portland - it's hard to go wrong.
Posted by: Angela | March 20, 2013 at 03:59 PM
Tasty and Sons--great if your version of "family style" means sharing one egg and not getting dishes you ordered.
Posted by: Guest | March 20, 2013 at 04:49 PM
My husband and I have both enjoyed Natural Selection, Andina and Nuestra Cocina recently. Great thread!
Posted by: Jennifer | March 21, 2013 at 03:09 PM
What a great thread. Thanks for all the ideas.
For date nights we enjoy the omakase (chef's choice) at Boxer Sushi, three courses at Accanto or even just pool and a plate of nachos at Blitz Ladd.
For "mamas happy hour", a semi-regular Friday night with my friends, we've enjoyed Gold Dust Meridian, Night Light and (new favorite) Cibo. The happy hour pizza and salad there is an especially tasty deal.
Our three-year-old is about as picky as they come. She does not eat pizza, burgers, nuggets, hot dogs. Since kids' menus rarely offer anything but, we have had success at small plates-type places where we can share. Miho Izakaya is our current fave. (The pickiness gets better, right?)
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