In one of my recent blog posts, I mentioned one of my prized possessions – my restaurant spreadsheet. I got so many comments on it, I figured I’d write a blog post about it! So let’s get started.
Hello, my name is Erin and I am a total nerd who loves spreadsheets.
My Restaurants list is a Google doc – I admit I like Excel a lot more but with Google Drive, I can access it from both my computer and my phone, which is of course necessary. I’ve broken it down into multiple tabs filled with places to check out for dinner, brunch, baked goods or just drinks, brief reviews of restaurants I’ve recently visited, and a list of my favorites for future recommendations.
I’ve, of course to make this even more dorky, have highlighted the few restaurants I’ve been really dying to try. Those currently are:
- Khun Pic’s Ban Thai: I love the idea of this restaurant. A small Victorian house for the restaurant, only two people on staff – the owners who do everything, and some of the best Thai food in town. The downside is that they are only open a few nights a week and it can be pretty slow, which have made going there on a whim more difficult. But hopefully I’ll make it in soon.
- Langbaan: With PaaDee being one of my favorite restaurants in Portland, I can’t wait to check out their new multi-course tasting menu concept hidden in a backroom near the kitchen.
- Roe: Situated behind Block & Tackle and only open four nights a week for dinner, Roe has gotten some insane press like GQ’s #3 Best New Restaurant, one of Portland Monthly’s best new restaurants, and Willamette Week Best Restaurant of the Year. Enough said.
- The Woodsman Tavern: I admit I feel totally embarrassed I have still not eaten there. I need to remedy this.
Obviously, since this blog is a lot about bakeries, I’ve got a hefty list of sweet shops to check out as well including:
- The Pie Spot: I thought their mini pies at the Theo Chocolate for the Congo benefit at Little Bird a few months ago were some of the best I’ve ever had. I’ve been eager to see what they’ve got over at their store in NE Portland.
- Frice Pastry: I absolutely LOVED the St. Jack Patisserie on SE Clinton, run by Pastry Chef Alissa Frice, so I have no doubt I will love this place too.
- Fifty Licks Ice Cream Shop: After getting their soft-serve churro ice cream at Taste of the Nation last year, I’ve been dying to get over to their new-ish brick and mortar shop.
- Pip’s Original Doughnuts: I’m not really a doughnut fan, but I hear this place is amazing. Plus I love chai lattes and hear they have the best around.
Pastry Chef Alissa made these amazing madeleines while at St Jack
Now while I love my spreadsheet, after reading Sarah’s blog post over at Will Run For Pasta, I’m also pretty obsessed with this personalized Google Maps. You can save all the places you want to try with little drop pins. I love that you can see everything by area since there are plenty of times I’m in one neighborhood looking for a fun spot to eat and this makes it really easy.
Where are your favorite restaurants? What about where you are looking to check out? How do you keep track of all the great places to eat at in this city?
Oh my gosh – I’m so glad there are other nerds like me! I have a google doc too, broken down by quadrant, and then into categories like brunch, happy hour, occasion, cheap, etc. I’m going to have to cross reference against your list though. This is too great.
We should definitely cross-reference each other’s lists! I’ll share mine with you now so you can see it!
Please take me to all those places with you! I haven’t been to ANY you mentioned. I also love you even if you are a little nerdy haha 🙂 🙂
Yes, I am a total nerd! I fully embrace it! And yes, I love that our blogger dates are usually to places on my list! 🙂
HA!!! I also have a google doc! I include a “Recommended By” and “Price Point” columns.
Langbaan and Pip’s are both on my list. Date?!?
Wahoo for Google docs of restaurants! I love how many people have them now. I like the addition of recommended by. And YES I so want to do both of those places. Let’s get something on the calendar.
This is such a great idea. Now if I could just get my husband to be a little more adventurous when eating out, I might have a reason to make one of these nice spreadsheets myself. 🙂
Just don’t tell him where you’re going, then he won’t get a chance to argue and I bet he’ll love his meal anywhere you go and he’ll become more adventurous over time! I’ve found that works for my husband anyway!
That’s awesome!
I really, really, really love this spreadsheet. I use Google Apps for everything — at work and for my blog. Have you checked out Trello or Evernote? I use both to keep track of my kitchen remodeling project. It’s equally as awesome. Yay for personal project management!
I have seen Evernote but never really used it. I’m kind of obsessed with Trello just from looking at their website for a brief second. I am clearly really into organizational tools 🙂
So Woodsman Tavern next then? I hear the HH is pretty awesome. :o)
Fantastic idea, Duane!!
I’m so glad I’m not the only excel nut around here!
I haven’t eaten at Roe (I’m not a huge seafood fan), but I have friends who just love it!
Wow, I’m impressed. I sometimes have a running list in my head but that doesn’t compare to this. Great idea.
I hear about so many new places all the time and maybe it’s my poor memory but I have to keep track of them somehow.
Yay for nerds, thanks for the shoutout! I do love the spreadsheet too, especially being able to sort by cuisine, that would be nice when I’m craving something in particular, especially since it’s not always clear by the restaurant name what exactly they serve, haha!
I’m gone to inform my little brother, that
he should also go to see this blog on regular basis to
get updated from hottest information.