In Portland, when I wasn’t eating (which wasn’t very often), I was drawing various comparisons with San Francisco. The people are nicer in PDX, but more ambitious in SF; the coffee is better in SF but the doughnuts are better in Portland. One thing that rings true with both cities is that brunch is a big deal – a line-waiting, early morning, multiple plates deal.
At the refreshing time of 9am, Aimee and I made our way over the east side for a taste of PDX brunch at the legendary Screen Door. And guys, we ate.so.much. We couldn’t even eat anything else until dinnertime because everything here was indeed, legendary. And since we came early, we barely waited 20 minutes and leisurely devoured.
After a quick pick-me-up at Heart, which was my favorite tasting coffee on the trip and highly recommended should you find yourself on Burnside, we wandered the Hawthorne food trucks and antique shops because are 75 years old. When we remembered that we were actually 8 years old, a tire swing photoshoot ensued in Ladd’s Addition, a beautiful quiet circle of flowers and homes that look like an X on the map. The quaintness was broken only by a string of cyclists celebrating Pedalpalooza by wearing Darth Maul outfits and blasting the Star Wars theme song as they sped by. They also brandished light sabers for good measure.
Portland is big on beer, and while I am not, I cast aside my opinions for the weekend to indulge in some PDX breweries. It’s good that I did, because otherwise I would have never discovered sour beer at Bailey’s Tap Room, and I AM HOOKED. How is sour beer not a thing in SF?
Since Aimee and I are actually truly 75 years old, 5pm rolled around and that meant dinner, so we slaked our hunger at another Portland icon, Pok Pok Thai, which is located on SE Division Street where most of Portlandia takes place. This place fills up quick, and even at our geriatric time, we still had to wait a good 30 minutes, so we hopped across the street to the newish Whiskey Soda Lounge, which is owned by the same people.
WSL has food, but I suggest getting only a drink if you plan on eating at Pok Pok as to not ruin your appetite; the drinks are great as it is. Back over at Pok Pok, I realized quickly that coming in a group is the key to enjoying this place because I wanted everything on the menu but alas, we were only mortals. It reminded me a lot of SF’s Mission Chinese with its small-town, family-run décor but ridiculously good food that made me walk out of there wondering what had just happened.
But we still had one more day in Bridge City to figure that out.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i have never been to portland but its on my list to visit very soon!
Shikha says
Divya, you HAVE to go – and stop by SF on the way so we can eat!
erika says
1) you are too cute.
2) sour beer WHAT?! i need to find this!! (funny–I’m not into beer either but i had the only IPA i’ve ever liked in Portland)
3) your ordering at pok pok looks EXCELLENT.
Shikha says
I think you’d like sour beer, since we’re not really beer people – it barely tastes like beer to me. I can’t wait to venture back there soon – can do a blogger trip??
Jarrett says
Looks like you covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time! Good choice on the dessert at Pok Pok! Cool sharing conversation with another Pastry Chef over coffee and then a beer 😉
Shikha says
So glad you found me, Jarrett! It was great talking shop with you, and I can’t wait to come back to Portland soon. If you find yourself in SF, please let me know!