Note. This restaurant closed in 2009There has been a lot of buzz around town about Olea, which opened last June in the old Bima space in the Pearl District. The space: think Bima gone blond - bright walls, bright lights, huge bar area up front. Very open/airy, a welcoming space. Nice glass-enclosed room in the back that you can reserve for special events. Crisp white linen … [Read more...] about Review: Olea in the Pearl
Is it Okay to Request Substitutions in Restaurants?
"During dinner last Friday this subject came up and as far as I know you are the only person who might be able to give me some insight on my situation.When out to eat I find that often there will be main entrees that I would really like to try, but perhaps the side dishes are something I don't like. So the "ginger pork loin" (hypothetical) looks fabulous, but I'm really not … [Read more...] about Is it Okay to Request Substitutions in Restaurants?
Esquire Writer Gets Free Meals – and Writes Good Reviews
Should a restaurant reviewer state when he is provided free meals by the restaurant he is reviewing? Nancy Rommelmann seems to have been three weeks ahead when she wrote about how a restaurant like Olea gets named "One of the best new restaurants in the US". From Johnathan Nicolas column in the Oregonian today: "...This week the Los Angeles Times weighed in: "When Portland, … [Read more...] about Esquire Writer Gets Free Meals – and Writes Good Reviews
Review: Vindalho Indian Restaurant
Note: 4/06. This review is out of date, and was replaced. However, the restaurant has now closed.Vindalho- vin-dah-loo’ - Indian (from Portuguese vinha d’alhos): fish, vegetables, or meat (most commonly chicken or lamb) prepared with vinegar, garlic, sometimes potatoes, and tomatoes in an intensely hot spicy curry.This is another of my first impressions of a new … [Read more...] about Review: Vindalho Indian Restaurant
Phil Stanford vs. Jim Dixon, The Salt Wars!
For those of you in the mood to argue today (there seem to be quite a few), we have Phil Stanford weighing in on the Jim Dixon "not salty enough" Castagna Restaurant controversy. You may remember, Jim reviewed Castagna and claimed everything was under-salted. The owners were so upset, they delivered a 50 pound bag of salt to the Willamette Week offices. Phil ties the review … [Read more...] about Phil Stanford vs. Jim Dixon, The Salt Wars!