Park Stone (Portland, OR)

9921 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220

 

 

Park Stone Wood Kitchen & Taps is a “new American cuisine” type restaurant. It serves pretty much the usuals, burgers, sandwiches, steaks, etcetera.

 

I get the Parkstone BBQ Burger ($17) with a side of Sea Salt Steak Fries ($4). The burger is perfectly prepared, medium and juicy, but is not very spicy. The steak fries are big and well prepared. Tasty.

 

VERDICT: 88/100

Not exceptional, and a bit pricey, but overall good and in a nice atmosphere.

Fried Egg I'm In Love (Portland, OR)

780 SW Broadway (Pioneer Courthouse Square)

 

Fried Egg I'm in Love is a typically hip Portland food cart that does breakfast sandwiches with funky names and combinations. There is also an actual restaurant in another part of Portland. 

I get the Yolko Ono ($8), which usually is toasted sour bread with egg, sausage patty, pesto and cheese but I replace the latter two with sriracha sauce. While it obviously is not worth $8, it is a remarkably tasty breakfast sandwich.

[ Oops, I was so hungry that I ate my sandwich before taking a picture ]

VERDICT: 89/100

Cool and tasty breakfast sandwich food truck

Fuller's Burger Shack (Portland, OR)

10131 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220

 

Fuller's Burger Shack is a pretty large, upscale burger joint in the Cascades Mall on the outskirts of Portland. It serves a four different burgers, including one beyond meat, as well as tator tots, crinkle cut fries, and shakes. They also have a monthly special burger. I get the October Special Burger ($10,50), the Spicy Maple & Cheddar Bacon Burger, which oddly they still sold in December. It looks a bit like a whopper, in size and in massive amount of lettuce on it. It is their classic burger with a spicy maple & Apple compote atop a spicy, honey and Cayenne aioli (I hold off on the cheddar). The organic patty is tasty but the burger is overall much more sweet than spicy and overpowered by lettuce etc.

VERDICT: 83/100

Good and big burger but expensive.

Baba’s Mediterranean Grill (Portland, OR)

10215 NE Cascades Pkwy, Portland, OR 97220

 

Baba's Mediterranean Grill is a kind of Chipotle for Mediterranean food, where you choose your protein (humus, falafel, meat) and then whether you want it in a pita, bowl or with rice. It has two locations in Portland.

I mix it up and get a bowl of humus and add chicken and a pita ($7.50). The chicken is tasty but too salty, the pita nice and fluffy, but the humus too watery.

 

VERDICT: 81/100

Pretty decent for fast food Mediterranean.

Ugarit Mediterranean Meals (Portland, OR)

SW 10th Ave & Alder St, Portland, OR, T: 503-327-4664

Ugarit Mediterranean Meals is one of the most beautiful food carts in Portland, as a busy crossroads of the northern part of downtown. It is run by a very nice old(er) man, who I assume comes from either Turkey or the Balkans. He serves classic Balkan/Middle Eastern foods, most notable gyros sandwiches.

I ordered a Halal Lamb Gyros ($7), which was quite sizable. Unfortunately, the bread tasted old, the lam was dry and had a stale taste, while the tzatziki tasted simply gross. I really wanted to like it, but threw it away after two (difficult) bites.


VERDICT: 30/100

I am willing to accept that I just had a one-off bad experience, but given the large choice of food carts in Portland, including various gyros/shawarma places, I doubt I will ever go back to Ugarit.

Flavour Spot (Portland, OR)

SW 3rd Ave & Ash St, Portland, OR 97204.

Flavour Spot is the self-acclaimed "home of the Dutch taco: America's waffle sandwich." They have three carts in the Portland area. I went to the little red cart in the old town, just between (the new) Voodoo Doughnut and Stumptown Coffee.

Flavour Spot sells coffee and many different types of 7" waffles. My favorite is the no.1: sausage and maple. It consists of two thick and spicy pork patties in a soggy waffle smeared with organic maple spread. The end result: heaven!

VERDICT: 93/100

Flavour Spot offers the perfect brunch sandwich/waffle. Only this waffle could survive the competition of Voodoo Doughnut's maple bacon bar.

Brunch Box (Portland, OR)

SW 5th Ave & Stark St, Portland, OR 97204, T: 503-477-3286

Brunch Box is situated on a square with many other food carts. It specializes in burgers, but also has some breakfast buns.

I got the Burgermeister: two all beef patties, grilled onions, lettuce and pickles, smothered in 1000 island dressing on a three-piece bun. The end result looks like a Big Mac and tastes only a bit better. The patties are thin and a bit dry, while the sauce is fairly tasteless.

VERDICT: 79/100
A decent burger, but not worth $7, definitely not coming from a food cart.

Marathon Taverna (Portland, OR)

1735 W Burnside St, Portland, OR 97209, T: 503-224-1341

Marathon Taverna has a couple of signs up: "Food Cocktails Lottery" and "Sport Bar and Grill." The latter describes this odd place better, though doesn't capture it all. It is a dark seedy but huge bar with many tvs and various pool billiards. Before Timbers games it caters to the soccer fans, but normally the crowd is more local and, uhm, less affluent. They are attracted by low prices and long hours; it's open 7 days a week from 7 to 2:30 AM!

As they don't offer breakfasts on Timbers Game Days, we had to resort to burgers (poor us). My friend ordered Chili Burger ($7), an open faced burger with a 1/3lb patty with chili, cheese and diced onions. I had a Cross Country Burger ($7.50): 1/3lb patty, egg, bacon, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickle, bun with mayo and burger sauce. Both burgers tasted quite good, even at 11 AM! I added (wrinkled) fries to my burger (+$2), which were very crispy.

The next morning I went back for the "Deuces:" 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, and 2 slices of toast (white, wheat or sourdough). I also got a 12oz OJ ($2). It wasn't the best breakfast ever, but it is sure as hell was the best breakfast for $4 ever!

VERDICT: 85/100

The Marathon Taverna is the perfectly eatery for Timbers fan on a budget: tasty and cheap!

Little Big Burger (Portland, OR)

127 NW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97209.

Little Big Burger is a small burger joint in the hipster Pearl District of Portland, Oregon. But it is a small place with big plans. As soon as you step in, you get the feeling that it is a chain. At the moment, however, they only have one more joint, in the northeast of the city. But I'm sure there will be more soon.

Little Big Burger only sells cheeseburgers ($3.75), hamburgers ($3.25), veggie burgers ($3.25), fries ($2.75), sodas ($1.75), and floats ($3.50). I went for a hamburger, fries, and soda. The hamburger is a 1/4 lb crusty, juicy patty with lettuce, red onion, and pickle. It's small, but very tasty. The fries come in a large portion, golden brown fried, but not very tasty.

VERDICT: 90/100

Little Big Burger serves small but top burgers and mediocre fries. Next time I will go for two burgers instead of burger and fries.

R&D Market and Fuel (Chemult, OR)

109565 Hwy 97 N, Chemult, OR 97731, T: 541-365-2349

There were two reasons I stopped here for a burger: (1) who could resist a place where they pump gas and bake burgers (in fact, by the same guy!); (2) there is absolutely nothing else in and around that area. In any case, the place looked greasy enough, smelled like a mix of burgers, gas, and stale popcorn, and promised "burgers so good you might eat your fingers" (don't worry, you won't!).

I guess in a place without any competition in a 50 mile radius, you can even sell burgers as slow food. There were roughly 5 people there, but it took the two people who were making the food (and pumping the gas as well as manning the mini market) easily 15 minutes to make me the LB Onion Ring Burger with fries ($6.95) and two shakes (banana and strawberry, which I think were almost 4 bucks each). The burger was big, but not particularly tasty (though the onion rings helped); the wrinkle fries were standard; the shakes were expensive and way too sweet and creamy.

VERDICT: 64/100
Although certainly an experience, I would stick with gas at R&D Market and Fuel. Definitely stay away from the overpriced shakes and don't worry that you'll eat your fingers.

Fins Drive-In (Springfield, OR)

4090 Main St Springfield, OR 97478-6456, T: 541-741-3467

I had passed Fins Drive-In many times before, always saying that I should go there, but it would be the day before I leave Eugene that I finally went. Fins is an old-school diner/drive-in situated on Springfield's (at times dodgy) Main Street, which has survived for decades.

M. went for a veggie burger basket with fries, while I went for the Double Fins Burger basket with onion rings. We also shared a small cherry shake. This together came to a total of $16.85; not cheap, but also not very expensive. Unfortunately, the burgers were not very good; the veggie burger was similar to the one at Safeway's, while the Double Fins tasted fairly similar to a Big Mac. The good thing was that both the crinkle-cut fries and the beer-battered onion rings were tasty )even though both were probably also not originally made). The cherry milkshake was creamy and sweet.

VERDICT: 68/100

Fins Drive-In is an authentic old-school diner/drive-in, where the sides are better than the burgers. Given that Giant Burger is only a minute away, I would advice real fastfoodies to go there.

Slick's Que Co. (Sisters, OR)

240 E Cascade, Sisters, Oregon 97759, T: 541-719-0580

Sisters is a quaint little 'western' town in the Cascade mountains in Oregon, mostly known for its annual rodeo, "the biggest little show in the world". Last month a new restaurant opened, Slick's Que Co., which bills itself as an "authentic pit bar-b-que".

M.G. had a pulled pork sandwich ($5.50), while I went for ribs... unfortunately, they don't do ribs on Sunday, so I went with a burnt ends sandwich instead ($6.50). Both came with a side (we both chose coleslaw). The pulled pork sandwich was absolutely fantastic! The pork was so tender, you could almost suck it up. The burnt ends were less tender, but this was largely compensated by the fact that they were drenched in delicious bbq sauce. The coleslaw, finally, was very crunchy and tasty, yet remarkably light.

VERDICT: 90/100

While M. and I disagreed on how good the pulled pork sandwich was, i.e. better than Fat Matt's in Atlanta or not, there is no doubt that Slick Que's pulled pork is among the best I have ever eaten. The burnt end sandwich was not as exquisite, but tasty nonetheless. I would probably have given them an even higher grade if I would have also been able to taste their ribs.

Dickie Jo's (Eugene, OR)

Ste A 201 E 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97401-3284, T: 541-636-4488

Just before I leave Eugene, the new burger joint that everyone was talking about opened. Portrayed as a 1950s diner annex upscale burger chain, this place is actually brand new and original to Eugene. However, it is from the people behind Mucho’s Gusto and Le Fina Taqueria, so one can expect more branches to follow (at least in the Eugene area).

I first came to Dickie Jo's on a Friday afternoon, around 2.30, and it was very busy (as it has been every time I passed it). It took at least 10 minutes before I could order and an additional 15 minutes before my food finally turned up. Clearly no fast food. When I returned the same evening, around 9 (I'll do anything for my readers ;-), it was less busy, and it took roughly 5 and 10 minutes, respectively.

The first time I took a regular burger w/fries ($6,29), but as I could hardly taste the burger over the salad and condiments, I decided to go for a double burger w/fries with bacon ($7.77) and a custom mixer of chocolate chip cookie/triple chocolate cookie/reese's pb cups ($3.99). As the first time, the fries were salty and soggy, while the burger was at best okay, but definitely not worth the money. The mixer was sweet.

VERDICT: 68/100

When Dickie Jo's finally opened, I was really enthusiastic. The place looks authentic, even if it is clearly a 'ocncept', and probably the red-white tiles reminded me of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. Unfortunately, they are no; in fact, they are nowhere near. Leaving aside the decorum, Dickie Jo's is an average burger join with extraordinary prices.

Slow Bar (Portland, OR)

533 SE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, T: 503-230-7767

Having only a couple of weeks left in Oregon, I consulted the internet to find out who makes the best burgers in Portland. One of the obvious sources was Portland Hamburgers, a great blog, but unfortunately not easy to navigate in my search to find the best burger. In the end, reading various recommendations, I went for the Slow Bar, which itself also claims to be "The Home of the Best Burger in Portland".

In sharp contrast to the dodgy outside, the inside of the Slow Bar is quite trendy. It also features a surprisingly culinary menu. I decided to go for the Spring Slowburger ($9.50): a 1/2lb burger, speck Alto Adige, sweet red pepper relish and butter lettuce and fries. The fries were absolutely awesome; best fries I had in the US (so far). They were made of real potato in the skin, fried perfectly crispy (tip: eat them first). Although the burger itself was thick and juicy (and really cooked medium), it was too gourmet for me. I should have gone for the regular Slowburger (no speck, but with onion ring).

VERDICT: 78/100

The Slow Bar is an odd place, combining trendy and dodgy. Its hand-cut fries are definitely worth the visit ($4.50 for a basket). I would also go for a burger, but then the regular Slowburger!

Just Q It BBQ & Chili (Astoria, OR)

Astoria Sunday Market, Sunday's May - October 2009

While driving through Astoria I stumbled upon their Sunday Market, which featured a wide variety of food stands. The one stand that caught my attention was Just Q It BBQ & Chili. As far as I could find out, they don't have a restaurant, but only work the market. I had a chat with the nice people at the stand, who told me they were collecting money to go to the chili cook-off in Texas -- their chili came second in the Oregon competition.

I first ordered a small chili ($2.90), which smelled absolutely amazing. It was a Texas-style beanless chili with a deep red color and full of shredded meat. The tasty was zesty and just perfect. Hence, I bought an extra large cup (at $9.50) and took it home. I also bought a slider ($.89), which consisted of a freshly grilled patty, ketchup, mustard, pickle, and... coleslaw! Odd? No, delicious!

VERDICT: 90/100

If you are in or around Astoria, Oregon, between May and October, go to the Sunday Market and order whatever you can get into your mouth and stomach (allegedly, the buttered cornbread is delicious too). And to the people of Just Q It BBQ & Chili, open up a chain of restaurants! Oh, and good luck at the chili cook-off in Texas!

Waldport Seafood Company & Restaurant (Waldport, OR)

310 South Arrow Street, Waldport, OR 97394, T: 541-563-4107

The Waldport Seafood Company & Restaurant is a fish and chips place annex fish market in Waldport at the Oregon Coast. After having eaten there once, I have come back twice only to find it closed (at 3 PM). This time we arrived at 3.01... but found the place open. Yes!

I went for fish and chips with cod; that day there was an all-you-can-eat for just $9.90. The cod is lightly battered, perfectly fried, and delicious with their fresh tartar sauce. .The basket comes with two slices of tasty garlic bread, a fresh slaw (with almost no mayo), and real fries. (which could have been crispier). M. went for a halibut sandwich, which was extremely fresh and perfectly grilled and seasoned.

VERDICT: 92/100
I am not a big fish and chips fan, and actually rarely eat it, but this is absolutely the best fish and chips I have ever eaten. The fish is extremely fresh and very well prepared. It comes in a basket full of yumminess and is very affordable. In addition, the owners are very generous, so do make a stop in Waldport if you visit the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Addi's Diner (Springfield, OR)

207 S A St, Springfield, OR 97477-5330, T: 541-747-9482

Addi's is a truly old-school diner in the heart of Springfield, Oregon, where the locals get their breakfasts and lunches. In fact, as I entered it on Saturday at 10 AM, some guys were already at their first (?) burger. I stayed traditional, however.

While not giving up on my favorite bacon and egss, I also had to try the "hotcake", their pizza-size pancake. The eggs were very tasty, the bacon could have been crispier, while the toast was standard but thick. The "hotcake" was huge, but tasted fairly dry. At $8.50, all together, it was definitely affordable for the quality and quantity.

VERDICT: 77/100
While definitely not the best diner in the Eugene/Springfield area, which is the Glenwood, Addi's is definitely worth a visit for the hotcakes and the ambiance.