VeganFabulous

the lowdown: East Burn | 1800 East Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 | 503.236.6426 | Website| Brunch (Sunday only), Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour | Entrees $7 - $19 | **

Eclectic atmosphere with vegan accommodations.

Due to my special food choices, I am often elected the head planner when going out to dinner with friends. I’m always up for an adventure, but not without a fallback to ensure my evening rounds out to my satisfaction! As a result, East Burn was the dinner choice this weekend, because their menu makes strong claims of accommodation, and I picked up dessert for everyone at Sweatpea Baking. It is impossible for any non-vegan to dislike the goods at SweetPea. Not to mention the snicker doodle with chocolate frosting monster cookie is my insurance!

Like any paranoid diner, I called ahead to make reservations. Of course when we arrived at 6:30 we were the only losers there. Regardless, we had top table choices, which would have been difficult had there only been two of us. Between hanging basket chairs and long board tables, how could one decide? The menu is mostly meat centric with a few exceptions that I keyed in on immediately. Between the Penne Pasta with grilled seasonal veggies ($11) and the Portabell Mushroom sandwich ($9), I voted for the sandwich. Much to my dismay, it was only half of a sandwhich, the bread wasn’t grilled, and the “char-broiled” roasted red peppers were most certainly from a jar. The “Trinity Fries” weren’t bad but the portion was rather small. To top it off, the waitress was usually disjointed in her delivery of the specials and beers on tap and I frankly was annoyed.

the lowdown: Doug Fir Lounge | 830 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 | 503.231.WOOD | Website | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night | Entrees $5 - $18

At dinner, aside from modified salads, the Hawthorne Pasta can be prepared without cheese.

A spell was cast over me a couple of years ago where I would become hungover after 2 drinks and any drinking in excess of that would leave me debilitated for 24 hours. As a result, I have earned the 11 month recovery coin and eat lots of cookies instead. I try to stay up on the scene by occasionally eating dinner late and there’s no better place to go for cool than Doug Fir. Right?

On the food front, vegans can dine on a plate full of penne with cherry tomatoes, spinach, and huge garlic cloves with bread served to the table to round out the meal. From table 136 we could scope out the scene until the show started when the dining room was deserted. Not a celebrity table but it was a window seat.

the lowdown: Old Wives’ Tales | 1300 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 | 503.238.0470 | Website | Entrees $5 - $12.50 | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Several vegan options (look closely at the reader board in image above) and all menu items provide detailed ingredients.

There’s something about eating breakfast for dinner, anytime I have the chance I jump at the opportunity. As usual I ordered the tofu scramble which comes with one side of your choice. It included very finely chopped carrots, red onions, and parsley which was unfortunate because I like my scrambles with chunks. Perhaps it is because it makes me feel like I am eating something other than mushed tofu? The scramble was also disappointingly bland, joining Old Wives’ with the ranks of Genie’s. I swear, since when did spicing a dish become so difficult?!

Since I wasn’t completely satisfied with my meal I decided to give the carrot cake a try. Luckily for me I commuted by bike so I could burn some of those delicious sugary calories.