Thursday Tours: When I Come to PDX

My favorite part of trip planning is figuring out where to eat (like my current scheming for a trip to Santa Fe! Anyone have suggestions?!). I love doing a lot while traveling but really it’s almost all about the food for me. My suggestions will often be “first we go to this cafe for breakfast, then hit up this bakery, next late lunch here, then drinks at this cool bar, followed by dinner at this great restaurant.” The sight-seeing is sometimes just a way to work up an appetite for the next meal.

With that in mind, I’m always interested in hearing where out-of-towners come to eat in Portland. What places do they hear about and want to check out? Or where do they stumble upon during their trip and tell all their friends about?

Here to share what he eats on his trips to Portland is Greg of Nomnerd. While Greg lives up in Washington, he is a pro when it comes to Portland eats. Not only is he a frequent Feast-goer (and where we first met), but he makes regular trips to the Rose City and certainly enjoys the restaurant scene here. I admire how much he seeks out good food throughout the NW. Heading to Seattle or Spokane? He’s your go-to guy for recommendations up north!

Over on Martha Chartreuse, we’ve got Michelle of the incredible Hummingbird High blog. Michelle may be living in San Francisco now, but I will still say she’ll always be a Portlander in my eyes. She doesn’t make it back that often and when she does it is usually a short trip, so she knows to make the best of it, balancing out visits to her favorite joints and scoping out new digs. Read her recommendations over on Meredith’s blog after you give this a gander!

Portland Weekend Recommendations by Greg of Nomnerd

All photos courtesy of Nomnerd

Måurice – There is much about Måurice that hasn’t been said already. Chef Kristen Murray is a genius in the kitchen, where she creates savory and sweet treats all morning long in downtown Portland. It’s almost always my first stop in the city, and her duck confit quiche is one of the best things ever and the lemon soufflé pudding cake is to die for. I’d stay here all day and eat all of the many treats she has at her luncheonette, but I might run out of room in my stomach.  I usually say I’m going to stop by for a quick pastry, but instead I end up talking to Kristen and staying for several pastries and a meal…

The Pink Rose – Brunch here is my favorite. I love the laid back speakeasy vibe they have going on in this small brunch spot in the Pearl District. The food is great, it’s well priced, and they have bottomless mimosas, which consist of 90% champagne and 10% orange juice, which in my opinion is what comprises a REALLY good mimosa. When I’m here, i usually get the Pork Belly Benedict. Great hollandaise, a delicious egg, all on top of that tender pork belly.  It’s great stuff.  They also have a whole lot of other breakfast/brunch food on the menu.

Bowery Bagels – My favorite morning bagel spot.  I usually get the Sarah’s Special (gravlax, schmear, capers and onion) on a sea salt bagel or I have a sea salt & pepper bagel with smoked salmon schmear. They also have a great local assortment of hot sauce that you can look at while you wait for your bagel deliciousness.

Portland Penny Diner – Great food and drinks, and it won’t break your wallet.  Everyone knows about Imperial, but Portland Penny Diner is right next door and is where it’s at for a great mid day meal and cocktail. I love the Soy Braised Pork Belly Taco ($9) and they have a great cocktail menu.  All the cocktails are just $7, but $5 during happy hour from 4p-6p, along with happy hour prices on mostly all their food.  I go for the Penny Old Fashioned, and I usually get a couple more if I’m dining during Happy Hour.

808 Grinds – I was born & raised in Hawaii, and 808 Grinds has the BEST Hawaiian food I’ve had outside of my hometown.  They have a food cart on the corner of SW 9th & Washington that’s only open from 11am-3pm Monday – Friday, but they have a shop in Beaverton that has longer hours. When I go there, I usually get the Fried Chicken & Kalua Pork plate lunch ($7.50) or a SPAM musubi.

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#ThursdayToursPDX is a collaborative series between Portland, OR bloggers {Erin} Bakery Bingo + {Meredith} Martha Chartreuse. In a city filled with amazing restaurants, artisan experiences, and fantastic tastemakers the inside scoop is a must. We will be asking our friends and fellow bloggers for their recommendations and tips for all the City of Roses has to offer.