Portland Food and Drink

Restaurant News and Information For Portland Oregon Area Restaurants and Bars

Reader Survey: Best of Portland 2010!

Updated: You can see our new survey, “Best of 2011” here. It is quite a bit larger than this one, breaking down into categories by cuisine. Note that so many of the links in this post have gone bad, I removed them all. You’ll find them in the newer “Best of” lists

Every few years we survey about 1000 readers to find out their favorite (and least favorite) Portland restaurants, food shops, bars, etc. Here are the results for 2010.

THE THREE BEST NEW RESTAURANTS OF 2009 ARE:

  • Laurelhurst Market – double the votes of anyone else. 3155 E Burnside St., Portland.
  • Beaker & Flask – it looks like the long wait for Kevin to open this restaurant was well worth the time. Our review. 727 SE Washington St., Portland
  • Metrovino – part wine bar, part upscale restaurant, it has given new life to the old D.F. space in the Pearl District. 1139 NW 11th Ave, Portland

My Choice: Beaker & Flask. I don’t get why Laurelhurst is so popular, but I am definitely in the minority.

THE TOP FIVE RESTAURANTS IN PORTLAND AS PER YOUR VOTES:

  • Toro Bravo – with double the votes of anyone else, this restaurant is obviously loved by many. My review. 120 NE Russell St., Portland
  • Paley’s Place – a Portland classic, this restaurant still is on just about every “Top Ten” list for Portland. My review. 1204 NW 21st Ave., Portland
  • Pok Pok – our love will never fade. Star of Thai street food, Pok Pok has been given positive reviews by almost every major food publication in the US. My review. 3226 SE Division St., Portland
  • Nostrana – in spite of service issues of the years, this approachable Italian restaurant remains a top destination. My review. 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland
  • Andina – one of my first choices for dinner with friends because of the food, wine and the lively, classy atmosphere. My review. 1314 NW Glisan St., Portland
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=toro+bravo+portland&sll=45.519399,-122.658234&sspn=0.048171,0.065918&gl=us&ie=UTF8&hq=toro+bravo&hnear=Portland,+OR&ll=45.537197,-122.658405&spn=0.049659,0.065918&z=14&iwloc=A

BEST BARTENDER IN PORTLAND 2009

  1. Kevin Ludwig – Beaker & Flask. This was an absolute landslide. It should be mentioned that every bartender at Beaker & Flask got multiple votes; quite an impressive victory for such a new restaurant/bar. Here’s an interview with Kevin. – 727 SE Washington St., Portland
  2. Kelley Swenson – Ten 01 Kelly always seems to come up in top ten lists for good reason. – 1001 NW Couch St., Portland
  3. Jeffrey Morgenthaler – Clyde Common – Jeffrey has been around bars for a long time, but it fairly new to Portland. For a newcomer on the scene, this is an impressive showing. 1014 SW Stark St., Portland
  4. Daniel Shoemaker – Teardrop Lounge – I’m surprised at this one. It’s a rather distant fourth from the others, and yet is a very good option for innovative cocktails. 1015 NW Everett st., Portland

My Vote: Kelly Swenson at Ten 01. I love classic cocktails, and his make me happy.

BEST CHEESEMONGER

  1. Steve’s Cheese – by a landslide! Here’s an interview with Steve Jones. 2321 NW Thurman St, Portland. (Check current address, as the shop is moving).
  2. New Season’s Market – multiple locations.
  3. Pastaworks – multiple locations
  4. Foster & Dobbs – 2518 NE 15th Ave, Portland

My Vote: I frequent them all for different reasons. For basics I go to New Season’s, but for the fancy stuff, Steve’s.

BEST WINE SHOP

  1. Cork Wineshop – another landslide. 2901 NE Alberta St. & 1715 NW Lovejoy, Portland
  2. Liner & Elsen Wine Merchants – 2222 NW Quimby St., Portland
  3. Square Deal Wines, Zupans and Great Wine Buys all tied (!) for 3rd place

My vote: Cork Wineshop, though I go to Zupan’s frequently, and think their wine selection is underrated

BEST PIZZA

  1. Ken’s Artisan Pizza, by a fairly healthy margin. Here’s an interview from 2006. 304 SE 28th, Portland
  2. Apizza Sholls – 4741 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland
  3. Nostrana – 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland

My vote: Any of these choices make me happy.

OUT OF TOWN GUESTS ALWAYS WANT TO GO HERE

  1. Wildwood – 1221 NW 21st Ave, Portland
  2. Pok Pok – 3226 SE Division St., Portland
  3. Jake’s Famous Crawfish – 401 SW 12th Ave, Portland (shows the power of advertising)

In my experience: Ten 01

BEST BURGER IN PORTLAND

  1. Cafe Castagna – a rout of the competition, no one else came close. 1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
  2. Slow Bar – very respectable showing, and a good option. 533 SE Grand Ave, Portland
  3. Carafe, Higgins Bar, Le Pigeon (another tie – go figure)

My vote: Cafe Castagna

BEST CHILD-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

  1. Laurelwood Public House (multiple locations)
  2. Pause 5101 N Interstate, Portland
  3. Hopworks/Slappy Cakes (tie) 2944 SE Powell Blvd, Portland & 4246 SE Belmont St, Portland respectively

MY BEST MEAL OF 2009 WAS AT:

  1. Toro Bravo 120 NE Russell St, Portland
  2. Wildwood – 1221 NW 21st Ave., Portland
  3. Nostrana – 1401 SE Morrison, Portland
  4. SelGris (closed) / Laurelhurst Market (tie) – 3155 E. Burnside St., Portland

I asked the next question two different ways, and got two different answers:

WHO HAS THE BEST BREAKFAST IN PORTLAND:

  1. Screen Door Restaurant – 2337 E Burnside, Portland
  2. Simpatica Catering – 828 SE Ash St., Portland
  3. Mother’s Bistro – 212 SW Stark St., Portland

My Vote: Little Red Bike Cafe

It’s interesting what happens when you add other emotional factors:

THE PLACE FOR BREAKFAST THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY (for any reason)

  1. Simpatica – 828 SE Ash St., Portland SimpaticaCatering.com
  2. Screen Door – 2337 E Burnside, Portland ScreenDoorRestaurant.com
  3. Broder – 2508 SE Clinton St., Portland BroderPDX.com

My vote: Zells Cafe

BEST COFFEEHOUSE IN PORTLAND

  1. Stumptown Coffee – by a landslide – Many locations
  2. Barista in the Pearl – 539 NW 13th, Portland
  3. Coffeehouse Northwest – 1 vote less than Barista 1951 W. Burnside Blvd., Portland

My vote: Tie – Barista/Coffeehouse NW They are like kids; I love them both equally. (I’m the King, so I can say that)

BEST DATE RESTAURANT

  1. Paley’s Place – 1204 NW 21st Ave, Portland.
  2. Toro Bravo – 120-A NE Russell St., Portland.
  3. Le Pigeon – 738 E Burnside St., Portland

At first I was surprised at #1 & #2, but after I thought about it for a while, all made sense

My vote: Paley’s Place

THOUGHT I’D LIKE THIS RESTAURANT, BUT I DIDN’T

  1. Ping – by a landslide
  2. Nel Centro
  3. Clyde Common

My vote: Nel Centro/The new Noble Rot

THIS RESTAURANT IS COASTING ON ITS REPUTATION

  1. Higgins
  2. Jake’s Famous Crawfish
  3. Bluehour

I’d agree with all of these choices. Fourth place is a tie between Wildwood and Ringside. I only mention it because they are just two points below Bluehour.

BEST DESSERT STOP IN PORTLAND

  1. Pix – by a landslide. Several locations
  2. Papa Haydn – several locations. Fun Fact! Haydn was spelled seven different ways in the survey.
  3. Nostrana – distant 3rd. 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland.

My vote: Ten01. I tend to like more interesting, out of the box desserts. I don’t care for Papa Haydn.

BEST SERVICE

  1. Paley’s Place – 1204 NW 21st Ave, Portland.
  2. Toro Bravo – 120 NE Russell St., Portland.
  3. Wildwood – 1221 NW 21st Ave, Portland.

My vote: Andina

WORST SERVICE IN WHAT IS OTHERWISE A GOOD RESTAURANT

  1. Clyde Common – 1014 SW Stark St., Portland. My service experiences here have generally been fine.
  2. Nostrana – 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland. I really agree with this one. Why can’t they get it right!
  3. Bluehour – 250 NW 13th Ave, Portland. I am surprised, though I have to say, on my last visit I was sitting in a spot where I could hear the employees and the bartender ripping on each other. It wasn’t comfortable.

My vote: Nostrana

BEST PLACE FOR A DISCREET AFFAIR – An easy guide to tracking down your spouse

  1. The Driftwood Room in the Mallory Hotel – 729 SW 15th Ave, Portland.
  2. Carlyle – 1632 NW Thurman St, Portland.
  3. The Gilt Club – (thought about calling it “The Guilt Club”) 306 NW Broadway, Portland.

My vote: Sometimes I cheat on my dog, sneaking off to Forest Park, where I shamelessly pat other dogs.

I COULD EAT HERE TWICE A WEEK!

  1. Pok Pok – 3226 SE Division St., Portland.
  2. Toro Bravo – 120 NE Russell St., Portland.
  3. Biwa – 215 SE 9th Ave, Portland.

My vote: Twice a week? Nowhere comes to mind. Who thinks of these questions!

BEST PLACE TO GO WHEN I’M ON A TIGHT BUDGET

  1. Por Que No – two locations.
  2. Biwa – 215 SE 9th Ave, Portland

Nothing else was statistically significant

My vote: Biwa

FOOD TREND IN DESPERATE NEED OF RETIREMENT

  1. Bacon – by overwhelming majority
  2. Pork Belly – wow, people are really over bacon
  3. Foams – a very distant 3rd

My vote: I’m a bit tired of bacon myself

THE NEXT BIG FOOD TREND WILL BE:

  1. Comfort Foods, home type meals in restaurants
  2. Food Carts
  3. Korean Food

My vote: Comfort foods

IF I WON THE LOTTERY, HERE’S WHERE I’D EAT IN PORTLAND

  1. Paley’s Place – 1204 NW 21st Ave, Portland. By a landslide
  2. Genoa – 2832 SE Belmont St., Portland. I don’t think the new Genoa is all that expensive. (review upcoming)
  3. Beast – 5425 NE 30th Ave., Portland. See comment above.
  4. El Gaucho – 319 SE Broadway, Portland.

My vote: Paley’s Place