VeganFabulous

the lowdown: Grand Central | 839 SE Morrison St., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.236.BOWL | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8.25 - $21.95 | ***

A little bit of grub and a lot of bowling!

Fresh off spring break I’ve been trying to kick back into my normal routine but am having difficulty focusing. I feel like I have been hibernating for six months and am wide awake and ready to start little projects around the house, fine tune wedding details, and shop for spring/summer clothes. It seems only appropriate I’d be taking a Marketing Management course this term as I am knee deep in consumerism.

Speaking of money, what better way to spend $42/hour than on a bowling lane for a group of amateurs! That’s right, close out your savings account because bowling these days is not cheap! The once dilapidated bowling alley is now a bridge and tunnel mecca! On weekends the restaurant is packed and expect a 2 hour wait for a lane! Don’t be afraid to join in the fun though, the Portobello Sandwich ($9.25) is easily vegan without the cheese, aioli, OR fries and it is pretty good. In addition, the bowling shoes were renewed with the building renovation so you won’t be trapped sticking your feet in 30 year old slogs. Phew! I think we did our part to stimulate the economy yesterday!

the lowdown: Portobello Vegan Tratoria | 2001 SE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97214 | 503.754.5993 | Website | Dinner only | Entrees $7 - $12 | ***

All vegan Italian!

Work is busy, school is busy, people’s kid’s are busy, and pets have dental appointments. As a result, over the last several years my friendships have largely involved occasional emails, dinner dates, and maybe a movie. Unfortunately, everyone’s busy schedule has a way of obfuscating strong friendships. It isn’t until something significant occurs in one’s life does the dividing line between supportive friends and those you simply dine with become obvious. Throughout the fog of excitement and stress of wedding planning, I have re-discovered some amazing people in my life. How I found them or they found me, I can’t explain. I only hope I can express my appreciation in the short amount of time we do have.

Part of wedding planning always involves choosing very important dates, especially the bridal shower. A great friend and bridesmaid graciously offered to throw the party so we met at the new Portobello to discuss preliminary details! The best way to describe Portobello is tapas style Italian. All main dishes are offered in two sizes, but even the larger size is disappointingly small. We were both quite hungry and had difficulty deciding so we ordered several dishes. To begin we shared the Bagna Cauda ($6), an antipasti with bread, veggies, and garlic/olive oil dip.  Round two included the Roast Brussels Sprouts ($4), Saltimboca alla Vegana ($8), “hearts” wrapped seitan, and Pumpkin Cappeliacci ($10), dumplings stuffed with pumpkin and layered with cashew sauce. The food is good, but not terribly exciting. However, like the Portobello mushroom, the restaurant has a variety of offerings and brings a much needed element to the currently contracting vegan dining landscape. Not to mention it is a great place to dine with the friends you want to see more often.

the lowdown: Blue Pig | 5026 SE Division St., Portland, OR 97206 | 503.231.2775 | Website | Entrees $4.95 - $10.95 | ***

Seriously large portions and the best build your own tofu scramble in town!

It seems every week I am updating a blog post to indicate the restaurant has closed. It saddens me each time because not only does it mean lost jobs and vacant storefronts; in most cases it is one less restaurant for us to enjoy. Even Great Harvest stopped baking vegan muffins and scones, apparently they aren’t recession proof. Last week I would I have told you the recession hadn’t affected me or anyone I was close to, but stark news a few days ago proved that the recession’s dark cloud was looming in my proximity and had captured someone I love. Despite the recently passed stimulus plan, I continue to feel a combination of helplessness, anger, and fear. How much more can we lose? I think it is only a matter of time until we find out.

A few weeks ago we broke our brunch dry spell by checking out Blue Pig on Division. A quaint diner with a subtle 50’s era feel, mostly due to the waiter’s t-shirt with rolled up sleeves and 501’s. Although your choices are limited to the tofu scramble, don’t be turned off because for $9.95 you can build your own scramble and include as much or as little of the items for the same price! With options includeing olives, peppers, vegan sausage, broccoli and onions to name a few, I was tempted to order the entire list! All portions are large, as is the soup mug sized latte! Blue Pig is a relative new-comber having only opened their doors last July. My hope is folks will return for the value if nothing else.

the lowdown: Tommy O’s Pacific Rim Grill | 4101 SE 192nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98683 | 360.892.2484 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8 - $14 | ***

Reasonably appetizing Vancouver option.

My 30th birthday is nearing and this year we decided to skip town and head to Montreal for the big celebration, however, I was torn at the thought of turning 30 in isolation from my friends and family. In previous years I have thrown parties where I ended up blistering drunk or hyper-stressed with party details. Either way I spent the next day fraught with regret. With hesitation, I threw myself a birthday party complete with Dove Vivi pizza and a Sweet Pea Baking Mocha Chocolate Cake. The party was a smashing success and I’ve never had so much fun at my own party! Not only have I learned to give myself second chances but I have begun to do the same for others, including restaurants.

Tommy O’s has now embarked on franchise status with a new location having recently debuted in one of the many tired strip malls blanketing Camas, Washington. This new restaurant turned out to be the perfect location for my grandmother and I to meet for our traditional birthday celebration. The decor of this classy brother establishment includes dim lighting, bamboo tables, and Asian inspired flatware. The menu is a step above but the service staff haven’t quite ironed out all the details. There are only two vegan options and I ordered them both, starting with the Tofu Wraps ($8) accompanied with sweet chili sauce and the Tofu Stir Fry ($12). The stir fry arrived very dry forcing me to ask for a serving of sweet chili sauce, but that completed the large dish of fresh vegetables and brown rice. Overall I was happy with the meal and experience and would recommend it to anyone looking for a vegan dish among the baron options in Vancouver.

the lowdown: Alexis | 215 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209 | 503.224.8577 | Website | Lunch, Dinner | Entrees $8.95 - $19.95 | ***

More work lunch choices!

Although my weekend was productive teaming up with The Clumsy Kid to register voters in front of People’s Co-Op, attending a Pentecostal church service in Oregon City for a class assignment, and catching a showing of Guys and Dolls at the Armory, I didn’t manage to dine anywhere new. As a result, this post reaches far back into the past to a lunch date I had with an old co-worker. This is his favorite place and for me it is another spot to put on the list of work friendly lunch joints.

At night, Alexis is in the heart of crack deals, homeless shelters, hobos, and strip clubs and seems an unlikely place for fine Greek dining. The restaurant entrance is quite inconspicuous and unless you knew what it was, you would think it was another gritty space trafficking in maleficence. In actuality, it is quite opposite. The expansive space opens to carefully prepared dining tables, nicely dressed servers, and articulately crafted dishes. Much to my dismay there is only one vegan friendly dish, but that is typical for work outings. At least the Gyros Vegetarian ($8.95) is very fresh and healthy. You will need to have them hold the feta but they are happy to do so. Another thing to note, their homous has a much lighter consistency and color than I am accustomed to, so don’t be alarmed if you think it looks like yogurt sauce. My only concern is if you visit after dark, leave your bike at home. Opa!

the lowdown: Vendetta | 4306 N. Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97217 | 503.288.1085 | Website | Dinner, Late Night | Items $2 - $7 | ***

Vegan friendly bar with a few cheap eats!

With 50 days left in the campaign my anxiety ridden friends and I can’t stop obsessing over what is happening on the campaign trail. What talking points did Palin babble about today, how often did McCain mention he is a POW and how badly did the Republicans try to smear Obama? I’ve never in my life felt so strongly about politics, even after Bush won two elections. Anyway, you didn’t come here to talk politics but admittedly that is all that is on my mind, even while dining at Vendetta. While catching up with a girlfriend we only broke from the politics for air and a brief discussion of my trip to Burning Man. Phew!

Vendetta is a chill unmarked bar that is difficult to find due to its lack of signage. It comes equipped with shuffle board, interesting artwork, a larger than life outdoor seating area, and a smattering of hip clientel. It reduced its vegan offerings to two down from three, leaving the tofu sandwich and sloppy jane. The tofu sandwich ($7) was lacking substantial spice making me long for the Weeping Tiger at Bye and Bye. All entrees come with aloof service and a choice of tortilla chips or side salad. If you are looking for an afterwork haunt or place to hang on Friday night, Vendetta is a great choice, just know you are going for the fantastic conversations you will have with your friends and not the food.

the lowdown: Dingo’s Taco Bar | 4612 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97215 | Website | 503.233.3996 | Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | $6 - $13 | ***

Alty Mexican fare with plenty for the vegs.

39th Avenue is the inner city limit of Portland where beyond lies nothing but Mall 205, Gateway, and Gustav’s. Ok, that’s an overstatement but I often overlook anything past 39th thinking it is too far away. As it turns out, there are a number of places I am missing out on. As I continue through my stretch of never knowing where to eat, I turn to outer Portland for inspiration.

If I were to focus on Hawthorne alone, excluding the higher ordered streets means excluding Sapphire Hotel, A Pizza Scholls, and Dingo’s. A girlfriend discovered Dingo’s and we were both encouraged by the use of tofu scattered throughout the menu. Choices include burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and fajitas. I ordered the veggie burrito + tofu ($8.25), but the fajitas + tofu ($11.75) looked and tasted even better! Sadly this was not my plate, but the cast iron dish filled with spicy veggies and tofu including rice, beans, and tortillas generated entree envy and made my sad burrito appear unsuitable for photographs. The moral of the story is that the good life of Portland does not stop at 39th. Reasonably priced, tasty food can be found beyond the unofficial city limit of East Portland.

the lowdown: Nightlight | 2100 SE Clinton St., Portland, OR 97202 | 503.731.6500 | Website |Dinner, Happy Hour | Entrees $7 - $11 | ***

Hip SE scene with ample booze and some vegan choices.

In school, if I didn’t see my friends a least twice a week something was wrong! Now, it is nearly impossible to meet up on a semi-regular basis. In some cases it can take up to 3 months before we all can find time in our schedules. When we do find the time the next challenge is determining the most central, yet fun place to meet. Earlier this week the stars aligned, nobody canceled, and we settled on Nightlight. Phew! Now for next time.

Clinton St. offers several dining options including Dots, Vinhalho, Clinton St. Cafe, and more! Additionally, you can grab coffee at Press Club or watch a poorly projected, sub par sound quality showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show or some other 70’s extravaganza at Clinton St. Theater. When you are through with all of that you can wrap up your night at Nightlight, a shadowy bar with sunken booths and stiff bevys. Scattered through the menu are a few options for us, making this joint a a place to meet for Happy Hour or anytime you are making a conscious effort to compromise on a gathering spot (except you’ll have to live without HH options). Choices include the Falafel Deluxe ($7.5), Cottage Fries ($4), and my choice, the Vegetable Stir Fry ($7). The best part about the stir fry was the rice and chili sauce, everything else was overcooked and only had the appearance of fresh. I heard reports that the Falafel has about the same impression factor. Nothing exciting. Don’t get me wrong, it was edible and sustaintainable while I caught up with my girlfriends, but you won’t be seeing me burning the midnight oil. Well, I don’t really do that anyway, but you know what I mean.

the lowdown: Fuel Cafe | 1452 NE Alberta St., Portland, OR 97211 | 503.335.3835 | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | $4 - $6.60 | ***

More than just coffee?

Although I’m not sure what it is, there is something novel about going to a coffee shop to read. Perhaps it’s the fact that I can sit there for hours sipping coffee I didn’t have to make and when I’m hungry, I simply place my order and continue sipping coffee until the food is served. There are a few drawbacks. The music is controlled by the employees and the food prices are at a premium. My guess is that they factor in the countless hours the customers are occupying a table into their prices.

When I don’t want to curl up to my Wall Street Journal at home, I’ll rally to a nearby coffee shop and a few weekends ago Fuel Cafe was the chosen one. I patronized Fuel because I had vague recollection they had a few vegan friendly menu items and I wanted to ensure I had some choices when I started getting hungry after reading the Marketplace section. In addition to Coffee, Fuel Cafe offers light breakfast items (bagels, baked goods) and sandwiches. As for the sandwiches, there are three choices, the Basil Vegan ($6.60), Hummus ($6), and Grilled Vegan ($6.60). Since I am always game for something grilled I choose the Grilled Vegan equipped with vegan cream cheese, basil, spinach, roasted red peppers and marinated mushrooms & red onions. Although chips are pictured, I ordered a green salad which added $2.50 to the price.  The meal coupled with a soy latte totaled a steep $12 for something I could have whipped up at home. These prices are certainly not unique to Fuel Cafe, however, I expect a bit more novelty for the price. A simple reminder that I should really be sure I am too lazy to make a sandwich at home before going just any old place for one.

the lowdown: Nutshell | 3808 N Williams Ste. C, Portland, OR 97227 | 503.292.2627 | Website | Dinner | Entrees $11 - $14 | ***

All vegan cuisine.

It has been nearly a year since my first visit (and subsequent review) of Nutshell and my god is an update long overdue! Not only had the food pricing changed, but my general thoughts have as well. I choose Nutshell this week as a meeting place with a friend because it is relatively close to the freeway, which is handy for my friend making the horrific commute from Beaverton to Vancouver. Lucky for me, it is a 5 minute bike ride.

Since last year, Nutshell has raised their prices, reduced their menu options, decreased their portions sizes, and changed business hours. My first review included price ranges from $5 - $11, now the only thing $5 will get you is a side of fries! The tandoori bread and oil options remain and the menu items are all fresh and elegantly presented, its just different. Either Nutshell is having an identity crisis or business is on the decline. I ordered the Barbeque Platter ($14); red beans, potato salad, roasted green pepper stuff with corn, and corn bread. While my friend ordered the Fried Quinoa & Polenta ($13); a meticulous display of three quinoa triangles topped with greens. I was rather disappointed with platter due to the dried corn bread, tart potato salad and unimpressive portion of beans. I favored the quinoa, but there is no way that portion would have been enough for me! My experience with service has always been spotty. This time it was great but it seems the half baked appearance of the cooks and servers isn’t improving as the prices go up. I’ll leave Nutshell open as an option but will more often keep riding by.