Discover Portland: Leisure Public House

January 6, 2011

One of my friends was just commenting on how much she adores the St. Johns area and would love to move there.  She is in love with the area’s small pretty shops, quaint diners, and friendly atmosphere. I myself have never been, but after stumbling across the Leisure Public House in the St. Johns neighborhood I will most definitely be taking a trip to the North.

Leisure Public House is one part bar, one part pub, and is 100% the kind of place I would love to hang out at. They have a full bar, an absolutely gorgeous outdoor seating area, and a menu that is anything but ordinary–instead of a hamburger and fries, why not try their chevre salad with fresh goat cheese, or one of their gourmet pressed sandwiches?

They definitely succeed in the fun area as well. You can play some ping pong, something called bocce ball or just play some tunes on their jukebox. Then on Mondays you can show off your talents during open mic night. Tuesday try your luck at trivia night to win some cool prizes. Then wind down on Sundays with Sunday movie night–last week they showed one of my faves, Big Fish.

I really love the story of how Leisure came to be as well. Owners, Travis and Nicole, had a passion for pubs and a love of their neighborhood, and they both wanted to create a place where people could come hang out and get to know each other in a comfortable, fun setting.  You can really tell when you look at this place that they put a great deal of thought and hard work into designing it. Travis actually built  Leisure’s patio, tables, benches, planter boxes and bocce ball court, all himself!

I can’t wait to visit Leisure Public House located at 8002 N. Lombard St. Find them online here.

Lunch for Under $15: Laughing Planet Cafe

December 10, 2010

I’ve been to Laughing Planet before. When I lived in Southeast I would go to SE Belmont and invariably get the Spanky’s Bowl, a mashed potato-corn-broccoli medley for $6.25. During today’s visit to the Laughing Planet on NW 9th, I had to try the vegetarian chili. I went for the highly embellished version of the veggie chili cup, the Nacho Mama plate with chips, cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream for $4.95 (+$.95 for the sour cream).

It arrived promptly and piping hot, with generous amounts of all the extras. The chili has beans, zucchini and carrots, and it’s flavorful without being spicy. If your tastes run to less artery-clogging meals than mine do, Laughing Planet has a great selection of bean and veggie based bowls and burritos from under $5 to $7. Next time I’m going to get the Southwestern Green Chili burrito with black beans, mild green chilis, corn, jack cheese and rice for $5.50.

My cheesy chili was great, but my favorite part of today’s meal at Laughing Planet was my apple-ginger juice ($3.50). The fresh-squeezed juice arrived at my table right after I ordered, but it was so spicy and flavorful that I had to save it for after my meal. I’m crazy for ginger, and this drink was perfect for me, but it has a really strong kick that may not please everyone. Carrot juice is also available, by itself and in combination with apple, beet or ginger juices. Laughing Planet also offers smoothies for $4 — a great price for a sweetener- and additive-free nutritious drink.

I spent $9.50 on my chili plate and my juice. Had I had room for dessert, I would have gotten the apple-cranberry pie that tempted me at the register. I didn’t see the price for a slice of pie, but I imagine if I had tacked that on, my meal would still have been under $15.

The NW 9th Ave Laughing Planet location is inside the Ecotrust Building. The Ecotrust building, as the name suggests, is like a sustainable co-op housing green-minded businesses. Laughing Planet shares the space with Patagonia and other businesses. Read about the Ecotrust Building and its LEED Gold design and “ecoroof”  here.

The interior is modern and open, with exposed brick walls and the counter wrapped around part of the food prep area. There’s an outside seating area for use in better weather. The walls are adorned with Frank Zappa posters and paintings and R. Crumb cartoons. Laughing Planet is a wonderful spot to get a nutritious, locally sourced and easy lunch for a really reasonable price.

Forkfly Daily Deals: Whiffies Fried Pies

November 10, 2010

Buy 2 pies for $5 at Whiffies Pie Cart with Forkfly!

So here’s your mission for the week: mosey over to Food Cart Land at SE Hawthorne and 12th; pull up your Forkfly Iphone App, or open your mobile web browser and type in m.forkfly.com; find Whiffies under Food Carts; and now the hard part, pick two pies.

Whiffies offers both sweet and savory pies, so if you’re by yourself you can have a whole dinner here. Try one of the many vegan dinner pie options like a vegan pot pie, or go carnivore with a BBQ brisket and mozzarella cheese pie (it gets a great review in the comments here.) I’m personally tempted by the one fish option, salmon with chipotle mayo. For dessert, they have a wide selection of fruit pies, as well as peanut butter and chocolate options. You could visit with a date after dinner for two dessert pies for $5.

I’ve pretty much gotten used to seeing clusters of food carts around town (the technical term for these groupings of carts is “pods”). But I must remember not to take them for granted, because Portland is unique in its abundance of “street food” and food carts. It’s nice to know our little city can allow small entrepreneurs without much capital to operate businesses, and patronizing such places is a good way to support local efforts and keep money in the community. There’s even a website dedicated to Portland food carts: www.foodcartsportland.com. The site acknowledges that this is a different medium than your typical restaurant: menus and hours are more subject to change, and the casual atmosphere may not please everyone. But a fried-pie food cart is a uniquely Portland experience, so we’re here to help you get the most out of it!

Here is the direct link to the mobile Forkfly website coupon for 2 pies for $5 at Whiffies, good until the end of the month. So let that kitchen stay dirty one night this week and venture out for a taste of Portland culture.


What Makes Vancouver’s Cinetopia the Best Movie Watching Experience in Oregon?

September 16, 2010

I am a huge fan of beer theaters, and I have become so accustomed to being able to drink good beer and eat pizza when I go to the movies that I actually haven’t stepped foot into a normal theater in about a year.  I decided I needed to go check out the Cinetopia in Vancouver, WA, which I have heard great things about, and find out for myself what all the fuss is about.  I have been waiting to go see Machete and now was the perfect opportunity.

I quickly discovered that The Cinetopia experience is much more than a trip to the movies.  Cinetopia is fine dining, luxury seating, a wine extravaganza, and movie watching at its best!  The theater is broken up into several sections: a wine, beer and dining area called the Vinotopia; Grand Auditorium Theaters, which are open to all ages; and Living Room Theaters, which are 21 and over only.  Unfortunately my movie wasn’t playing in one of The Living Room Theaters, so I was unable to bring any alcoholic beverages into the theater, but I did have a nice meal and some good local beer in the Vinotopia before the start of the show.

The Vinotopia is the perfect combination of luxury, comfort and convenience.  You can choose to sit at the wine bar, in the dining area, around the fireplace in comfy couches, or outside in a beautifully laid out garden setting.  The staff is constantly aware of your time constraints and the food is prepared in a timely manner, and if you are cutting it close to show time, the waitress will have your food wrapped up to go so that you can enjoy it in the theater.

The Grand Auditorium where I sat looked just the same as most theater seating, but once you sit in the chairs you immediately feel the difference.  The seats are cushioned, wide and lean back far.  They also all include a pull out tray table on the side for eating convenience.  The sound and picture quality were very impressive, and the whole experience was well worth the higher price tag.  A normal evening adult ticket costs $10.75 in the auditorium and $14.25 to $15.50 for the Living Room Theaters.

The Living Room Theaters are more expensive because they are even more cosy and pampering than the Grand Auditoriums.  The Living Room Theaters have five Living Room seating areas.  Each area has excellent viewing and a secluded “skybox” feeling. The seating areas have thirteen extra wide customized Seating Concepts VIP Ultra Leather seats, each with its own footrest and unlimited leg room.  These theaters also have pre-show restaurant and wine bar table service. In addition, prior to the films showing Friday and Saturday, customers will be provided with live pre-show dinner music from a small overhead performance balcony.  There is also something called The Pillow Pit, which is a large space at the front of the theater full of pillows for you to rest on while enjoying the show.  I would pay the higher price for this kind of entertainment.

It is well worth the drive from Portland to Cinetopia located at 11700 SE 7th St in Vancouver, and for more info check out their website.  I can’t wait to go back and check out the Living Room Theaters!

Portland’s Outdoor Eating Guide: On Deck Sports Bar

August 25, 2010

Inside On Deck Sports Bar & Grill you’ll find over 25 TVs showing all of the current sports action, but if you aren’t a sports enthusiast there are still many reasons to stop by On Deck.  On Deck’s outdoor seating is just as alluring as their inside action, and you’ll find a spacious patio with covered seating and a very pretty view.  Their outdoor seating is actually the largest outdoor deck in Portland’s The Pearl District!

With all this room outside, On Deck is a fantastic spot to host a party or event.   They have a covered tent with an outside grill and complete beverage station, and the entire deck is surrounded by lavender and flowers.  It would actually make a great spot for a bachelorette party or wedding reception or rehearsal!

I personally enjoyed the fact that the building is located upstairs, so instead of the standard street view and loud car sounds that you would normally get sitting outside, you get a great view of the city and a nice peaceful dining experience.  I also really like the fact that dogs are welcome, and so it is fine to stop by and get a bite to eat or a beer while walking the pooch.  On Deck Sports Bar & Grill is located at 910 NW 14th Ave.  Find their fantastic deals on Forkfly, like $3 off any menu item!

Portland’s Outdoor Eating Guide: Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar

August 16, 2010

Southpark Seafood and Wine Bar is located in the heart of downtown Portland. Nestled comfortably on the corner of Salmon and Park, Southpark has made a name for itself over the past 10 years by serving authentic Mediterranean inspired cuisine in a lively urban setting. In addition to their terrific menu, Southpark also offers their patrons an award winning wine list that is matched by few in the Portland-Metropolitan area.

One of the more unique aspects of Southpark is the fabulous atmosphere of their outdoor seating and patio, as they offer all their patrons with the option of  street side tables and seating. Given its close proximity to the Portland Art Museum and the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall,  Southpark has an ambiance that flows terrifically with the natural beauty of Portland’s Park blocks. Tables are relatively small, so do not expect to seat large groups of people, but this creates a unique sense of intimacy not found in many other local restaurant’s outdoor areas.

On warm summer nights it is not uncommon to see several waiters tending to many full tables of people. The restaurant’s beautiful surroundings definitely compliment the unique flavor of their dishes and wines.  Southpark’s intimate outdoor dining make it the perfect beginning or end to a night of local arts and culture.  Right now you can get $10 off any two entrees at Southpark when you flash the fly!

Outdoor Seating Guide: Jinx Lounge

August 4, 2010

With the anticipation of better weather Portlanders are going to be eating out now more than ever, and many are itching to enjoy their food and drink outside.  However, not all vendors here in Portland provide such amenities, so we here at Forkfly have done all the research for you.   Every week we will showcase a new restaurant or café that offers outdoor seating for your weather enjoying pleasure.  The first spot we are highlighting is the uber popular Jinx Lounge located on 12th Ave in the Pearl District.

Jinx, which is adjacent to Vault Martini, offers a swanky experience for anyone who might be in the mood for a cocktail or culinary delight.  While the venue provides mood lighting and 70’s inspired décor inside, the outdoor seating is just as nice.  Jinx has three to four small round tables located out front. While it isn’t recommended that you rely on this seating for large groups, bringing a friend or two to enjoy martinis and Happy Hour in their outdoor seating is quite pleasant.  The location is perfect for people watching, and after a long day of shopping in the Pearl, Jinx is the perfect place to unwind.

Be sure to visit Vault Martini next door too, which is owned by the same owner as Jinx. Both provide a unique and posh atmosphere with well versed bartenders and a wide selection of drinks.  Even better, right now on Forkfly Jinx is offering Happy Hour all night long when you flash the fly!

Forkfly Friday: Happy Hour with Fenouil Restaurant Provides a Taste of the NW

July 2, 2010

I have had the pleasure of eating at Fenouil restaurant a few times for dinner, and so I was very excited to finally check out their happy hour.  Their happy hour runs from 4-6pm daily, and it is a great time to check out some of their dishes at a much lower price.  You can choose to sit outside in their gorgeous and spacious patio seating, or inside in their comfy couch style seating.  Either way you are going to be taken care of well by their attentive staff!

On the menu is some of my favorite North West foods, like oysters and mussels, but they also have some more traditional happy hour items, like a house ground hamburger and pommes frites. The menu is certainly not lacking in a variety of food, but don’t expect much in the way of drink options.  Wine, drafts, and one specialty cocktail of the day are your only choices if buying from the happy hour menu.

I tried the oysters at $1.50 each, the rabbit vol au vent $8, and the artisan and farmstead cheeses $6.  The oysters were chilled to perfection and served over a decorative bed of salts.  The rabbit dish was like a tiny potpie, and was very delicious.  My favorite though was the cheese and bread platter, which came with a side of almonds drizzled in honey.  I have since changed to a gluten-free, non-dairy & soy diet since visiting Fenouil’s happy hour, so I look forward to going back and trying the many items they offer that cater to my dietary restrictions.

Fenouil is located at 900 NW 11th Ave in The Pearl District.

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