Hi All,

My wife and I are desperate to get out of the swamp for a few days. So, we are headed to Portland for a few days starting 9 July. We will be looking at neighborhoods in our continuing search for where we ultimately wish to reside.

We like to eat at nice, clean food places that are good but not over the top.
Where do you recommend we eat? If you had only 3 nights in Portland what would you recommend. Bar scene doesn't cut it for us. We are peak year baby boomers. Those days are long gone. We have our favorite places in San Francisco (Greens, Hunan Homes), Santa Fe (Cafe Pascual), and the like and want to see some new places in PDX.

We have read about the Farm Cafe and it seems interesting, but don't really know too much about it or similar places.

We also want to go for a day trip. Is driving to the coast worthwhile?

Opinions and recommendations please!

Bill

There are so many great places to eat in Portland, most downtown. There's a place in the Pearl District (northwest part of the city) called Oba, that I would highly recommend. Awesome food. The wine is over-priced, so drink something else. The Heathman is another one of my favorites. So is one called Wildwood. Google is your friend for addresses and phone numbers.

The Oregon coast is a great place to walk on the beach and hike. The coastal towns are largely unremarkable, but the beaches are gorgeous and largely empty. I like to go to Cannon Beach and just walk for miles. From Portland take Highway 26 and head west until you get to 101.

Take the drive down the coast to at least Newport, have lunch at the Chowder Bowl at Nye Beach for sea food lunch. In Portland go to the Village and have lunch at Marco's.

If you like oysters, the Oyster Bar is downtown, I always stop there. Or Widmers brewpub on the east side of the river- good beer and German pubfood. The coast is very nice, or a day trip to Mt. Hood or Mt. St. Helens is do-able. One of my favorite cities- have fun!

__________________
Current: 2007 Arctic Silver Cayman S,1968 912 (in pieces),1985 SAAB 900T (245,000 mi)
History:1974 SAAB 99EMS, 1984? Mazda Pickup, 1971 VW Transporter, 1970 MGB,1964 Porsche 356C,1968 VW Bug,1959 Mercedes 220S,1962 VW Bug

Hey Bill,

Thanks for bringing the 90deg weather.

Oba(Brazilian?? IIRC) in the Pearl District(lower NW) is great...really most everything in the Pearl is hard to turn down. Andina in the Pearl is supposed to be good (Peruvian). Deschutes Brewery is new and in the Pearl too. Park Kitchen in lower Pearl is supposed to be very good.
Personally my fav is Typhoon (Thai) on SW Broadway(essentially 7th St).

Definitely get out to the coast for a bit (Gearhart is cool, Hwy26) and the Columbia River Gorge (Hwy84).

Regarding neighborhoods, that's a tough one...depends on how much you want to spend I suppose. Close in is $400k+ easy.

Enjoy our fine state!!