The McMenamins on Broadway is, like most other McMenamins pubs, a historic location. Located near Lloyd Center Mall on NE 15th and Broadway, this location is easily accessible by car, bus, or bike.
The building is not solely a restaurant, so you enter through a lobby. Once inside, you travel up a staircase and find your way to the pub. The seating is similar to any other McMenamins, and the tables and booths have the same wood finish. The menu is, again, like the other pubs. There are burgers, salads, sandwiches, and some other dishes. Beer, wine, and cocktails are available. Like a lot of restaurants recently, McMenamins has added some absinthe cocktails to their list.
If you're lucky, you can get a booth by the windows. In one of these booths, you can look down on Broadway as you eat your meal. If you enjoy people watching, this will make your visit much more enjoyable.
I wasn't famished, so I ordered the brewer's salad. It was surprisingly delicious. While my co-patrons had burgers, they all envied my light choice. It was filling and really good, so I would definitely recommend it.
The only downside to our meal at McMenamins on Broadway was the four block trek we had to make after finally hunting down a parking spot. If you bike or take the bus, you avoid this pitfall.
Pros: good service, cool window booths, regular McMenamins food
Cons: parking can be a nightmare, even worse than downtown (but it's free)
Bottom line? If you like other McMenamins brewpubs, you'll like this one.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Making My Way Down Hawthorne: Sapphire Hotel
I'm starting at the "top" of Hawthorne (around SE 50th) and am making my way toward the "bottom" (closer to the river). Along the way, I'll be eating at every restaurant that looks tolerable. This is the first stop along the journey.
The Sapphire Hotel is located on SE 50th & Hawthorne. Not a hotel at all, the Sapphire Hotel gets its name from it's past. Once a hotel, it is now a cozy, slightly romantic restaurant and bar.
As you enter the restaurant, you walk through a curtain that blocks the entrance. There are tables in the center of the space, and tables lining the walls with bench seating along the walls and chairs on the other side. There are also comfortable chairs for more intimate seating near the bar area. There are a few bar stools for bar seating if you prefer.
The space is easily romantic and intimate, but it wouldn't be uncomfortable for friends either. The drink menu is inventive and most options are good. The happy hour menu is limited but the items are scrumptious. Happy hour is 4 to 6 and 10 to close (2 a.m. all days but Sunday, when it's 12 a.m.).
On Sundays, Sapphire boasts live jazz music, which is the perfect complement to the romantic atmosphere.
Pros: great food, great drinks, romantic and comfortable atmosphere
Cons: parking can be a headache on Hawthorne
Bottom line: Definitely try the Sapphire
The Sapphire Hotel is located on SE 50th & Hawthorne. Not a hotel at all, the Sapphire Hotel gets its name from it's past. Once a hotel, it is now a cozy, slightly romantic restaurant and bar.
As you enter the restaurant, you walk through a curtain that blocks the entrance. There are tables in the center of the space, and tables lining the walls with bench seating along the walls and chairs on the other side. There are also comfortable chairs for more intimate seating near the bar area. There are a few bar stools for bar seating if you prefer.
The space is easily romantic and intimate, but it wouldn't be uncomfortable for friends either. The drink menu is inventive and most options are good. The happy hour menu is limited but the items are scrumptious. Happy hour is 4 to 6 and 10 to close (2 a.m. all days but Sunday, when it's 12 a.m.).
On Sundays, Sapphire boasts live jazz music, which is the perfect complement to the romantic atmosphere.
Pros: great food, great drinks, romantic and comfortable atmosphere
Cons: parking can be a headache on Hawthorne
Bottom line: Definitely try the Sapphire
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Archery Summit Wine
Archery Summit is a winery located in Dayton, Oregon. About 45 minutes from Portland, they offer tours and tastings twice a day. Focused mostly on Pinot Noir, the tasting offers samples of about six wines: five Pinots and one general red.
If you remember, I purchased the Archery Summit Wine Tasting & Tour at the OFOSA (Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals) benefit auction about a month ago (read the post here). Using our certificate, we drank a lot of wine while we toured the grounds.
We began in the tasting room and then ventured out into the rain to have a look at the vines. Then, we went into a room where they sort the grapes during the right season. We took a flight of stairs down and found ourselves surrounded by giant metal vats. Finally, we walked down a ramp into the "caves"--creepy, I know. The caves are underground, and are actually man made. There were a ton of oak barrels containing aging Pinot Noir. After we checked out the super cool cave bathroom that boasts three deep red walls, one cement-ish cave wall, and a cool vessel sink, we moved one. We went back to the tasting room, and had even more wine.
Four of us went on the tour and tasting, and our favorite was by far the Renegade Ridge. At $85 for the 2006 bottle, it is definitely a special occasion wine for most people, but it is delicious. None of us had been on a winery tour before, and it was a really fun way to spend a couple hours.
There are four steps to wine tasting (this is a very simplified set of instructions, and I am not an expert!). First, you swirl the wine. This allows you to examine the color and consistency. While swirling (or after, if you're highly uncoordinated), you smell the wine. The bouquet or nose (I've heard it called both) give you an idea of what you're about to taste. A lot of wines are very complex, and the more you do it, the more variety you will smell. Then, you sip the wine. This allows you to experience the full essence of the wine. Finally, you spit or swallow. If you're tasting a lot of wines, it may be best to spit. If you aren't driving, it can be more fun to swallow. After all, who wants to chew their food and spit it out? Archery Summit didn't have a place for spitting, or dumping out a spit-in glass. However, many wineries will provide this for you. This process is easy to remember as the four S method: swirl, smell, sip, and spit/swallow. There were people who just took gulps of the wine, and they didn't get kicked out or anything. You can certainly taste the wine that way if you prefer.
Pros: great wine, interesting information, pretty drive from Portland
Cons: expensive wine, caves can feel creepy (especially if you're claustrophobic)
Bottom line? If you've never been on a wine tasting, you really have to! The folks at Archery Summit are friendly, knowledgeable, and offer good wine, so it's a fantastic place to visit.
If you remember, I purchased the Archery Summit Wine Tasting & Tour at the OFOSA (Oregon Friends of Shelter Animals) benefit auction about a month ago (read the post here). Using our certificate, we drank a lot of wine while we toured the grounds.
We began in the tasting room and then ventured out into the rain to have a look at the vines. Then, we went into a room where they sort the grapes during the right season. We took a flight of stairs down and found ourselves surrounded by giant metal vats. Finally, we walked down a ramp into the "caves"--creepy, I know. The caves are underground, and are actually man made. There were a ton of oak barrels containing aging Pinot Noir. After we checked out the super cool cave bathroom that boasts three deep red walls, one cement-ish cave wall, and a cool vessel sink, we moved one. We went back to the tasting room, and had even more wine.
Four of us went on the tour and tasting, and our favorite was by far the Renegade Ridge. At $85 for the 2006 bottle, it is definitely a special occasion wine for most people, but it is delicious. None of us had been on a winery tour before, and it was a really fun way to spend a couple hours.
There are four steps to wine tasting (this is a very simplified set of instructions, and I am not an expert!). First, you swirl the wine. This allows you to examine the color and consistency. While swirling (or after, if you're highly uncoordinated), you smell the wine. The bouquet or nose (I've heard it called both) give you an idea of what you're about to taste. A lot of wines are very complex, and the more you do it, the more variety you will smell. Then, you sip the wine. This allows you to experience the full essence of the wine. Finally, you spit or swallow. If you're tasting a lot of wines, it may be best to spit. If you aren't driving, it can be more fun to swallow. After all, who wants to chew their food and spit it out? Archery Summit didn't have a place for spitting, or dumping out a spit-in glass. However, many wineries will provide this for you. This process is easy to remember as the four S method: swirl, smell, sip, and spit/swallow. There were people who just took gulps of the wine, and they didn't get kicked out or anything. You can certainly taste the wine that way if you prefer.
Pros: great wine, interesting information, pretty drive from Portland
Cons: expensive wine, caves can feel creepy (especially if you're claustrophobic)
Bottom line? If you've never been on a wine tasting, you really have to! The folks at Archery Summit are friendly, knowledgeable, and offer good wine, so it's a fantastic place to visit.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wild World of Batwoman
The Wild World of Batwoman is playing at Theatre! Theatre! for a short time. The showtimes are later than what is usual (10:30 p.m.), but it is interesting enough there is little risk of falling asleep!
A show put on by Last Rites Productions, The Wild World of Batwoman is based on a weird Jerry Warren film from the mid 60s.
The play is hilarious and truly plays on the horrible acting, plot, et cetera from the film. Presented without an intermission, it is really a must see. I've not seen any other Last Rites shows, but I will make a point to do so again at some point.
The acting was good, insofar as they were acting like they couldn't act well. The music and sound effects were done by a live band, which was fantastic. It really was a great and funny show.
Pros: funny, silly, put on by a small production company
Cons: parking can be annoying on Belmont, it doesn't start until 10:30
Bottom line? You have to see this play...it's so bad, it's good!
A show put on by Last Rites Productions, The Wild World of Batwoman is based on a weird Jerry Warren film from the mid 60s.
The play is hilarious and truly plays on the horrible acting, plot, et cetera from the film. Presented without an intermission, it is really a must see. I've not seen any other Last Rites shows, but I will make a point to do so again at some point.
The acting was good, insofar as they were acting like they couldn't act well. The music and sound effects were done by a live band, which was fantastic. It really was a great and funny show.
Pros: funny, silly, put on by a small production company
Cons: parking can be annoying on Belmont, it doesn't start until 10:30
Bottom line? You have to see this play...it's so bad, it's good!
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