La Fraternite du Bondage Gastronomique's Restaurant Reviews
"Bound to Eat!"
- outstanding (Abraham Lincoln) |
- really good (Theodore Roosevelt) |
- pretty good (Harry Truman) |
- so-so (Dwight Eisenhower) |
- lacking virtue (Richard Nixon) |
0 stars - execrable (George W. Bush)
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Quality central/southern Mexican cuisine, even if LCC tries a bit too hard to be something nuevo.
Good flavors but not a memorable meal. Well spiced pork loin.
Blackberry mole was really a pretty ordinary red mole with five blackberries on top, supposedly giving it a northwest vibe.
Friendly service, though more attention to sequencing would have helped. Everything we ordered arrived at once.
Poorly matted skeleton prints detracted only minimally from the cozy atmosphere.
Good value if you're looking to break free of typical Mexican-American fare and willing to pay a bit more.
Perhaps an excellent one if you're into skeleton themed eateries and hungry for grasshoppers.
(Yes, we tried them. It was during Walkabond 2010. Bitter.)
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Genabond XVI (give or take).
An iconic dining experience!
Thanks to our finely honed menu management skills, we transformed what would have been a "merely" exquisite dinner into a nearly 4 1/2 hour epic.
Our five courses became eight,
and we left with a feeling of having consumed precisely the right amount of sublime culinary preparations in an atmosphere both cozy and elegant.
And we were assisted by a server who, in her first go with us, achieved near pantheonic status.
As we said last year, "top to bottom, beginning to end, stem to stern, bumper to bumper, etc., our meal was superb."
If you're wondering if Genoa is worth trying after its resurrection in 2009, wonder no longer. Just go. Now!
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See our laudatory review from 9/10, which will refer you to our laudatory review of 1/08.
What's changed?
The Caesar salad was anchovy-deficient, but that was remedied immediately when we called it to our server's attention.
Our pizzas weren't delivered sequentially; our bad, because we hadn't made our preference known.
Our server was even more spectacular than previous incarnations.
What hasn't changed?
The pizza. Still unbeatable.
The beer selection. Still amazing.
The absence of cannoli and its usurpation by an ice cream sandwich. Still a travesty.
(Dessert - highly unrecommended - at the Sapphire Hotel.)
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Southerish cuisine. The chard starter was good but could have been edgier.
Tasty but somewhat undersized entrees (not appropriate for Southern or even Southernish fare).
On the other hand, relatively modest prices mean you can just order more stuff.
The service, a bit on the slow side, was better than acceptable but well short of outstanding.
The lamely updated 60's atmosphere was okay.
Uncurtained windows give out on an ordinary, traffic laden street scene; though the room threatened noise, the decibel level remained tolerable.
The Screen Door remains our top Southern stop.
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The deep fried frog legs appetizer we started with was too salty, but things soon took a turn for the better.
Smoked sturgeon made up ground on the appetizer front, while the pork belly steak and duck breast entrees proved hearty and well prepared.
We recommend the wilted spinach and green bean sides.
Desserts, though, were merely okay.
We appreciated the personable, helpful, non-pretentious service and the pleasant, easy on the ears atmosphere.
Brasserie's third iteration may be the charm.
A solid value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Goat cheese torta and sauteed mushrooms stood out among the appetizers.
We all had the bacon wrapped pork loin; one was undercooked, one was good, two were great.
Desserts were an excellent value, especially the chocolate oblivion, aptly described as a "fix."
Service was slow and impersonal.
Indoors it was a bit cramped, and overly zealous air conditioing didn't help.
Note: we went to Wild Abandon because Amber Martin, whom we met when she was with House of Cunt, was back from NYC for a one night performance.
She's unexplainable in this space, but don't miss her if you have a chance.
Her performance may have accounted for the inconsistent preparation of the pork loin and the slow service.
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/16/11
Only sixteen stops, but we didn't try terribly hard. Click here to see this year's itinerary.
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New location, same huge portions. Top-notch barbecue will satisfy even the largest appetites.
We all had the brisket, a wonderful choice.
Service was competent and friendly but not exceptional.
Functional, somewhat noisy atmosphere is an improvement from the previous incarnation.
Good value, verging on excellent.
Warning: pecan pie, albeit excellent, is the only dessert. Further warning: no coffee.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Semi-casual dining at its best, i.e., Genoa's quality in a casual, unstructured, less expensive setting.
Asparagus salad (a must), tongue, and octopus salad got us off to a tasty start.
We each had a different entree - orecchiette, lasgana, pork loin and gnocchi. All were excellent.
Our socialist server (not a political statement) was merely perfect.
The trendified, hard surfaced decor seemed to create a significant potential for noise, but, even with a nearly full house, the decibel level was acceptable.
An outstanding value on its own, plus an easy-on-the-wallet intro to Genoa.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Ahhh! French bistro fare amped up a notch in elegance and creativity.
We had great expectations, given the recent buzz, and LB delivered.
Our evening's only gaffe was our own fault; we each ordered the duck confit.
A bit too salty for one of us, but the others deemed it near perfect.
Spectacular butter lettuce salad didn't look like much on paper, but we succumbed to our server's recommendation.
He was totally right. Potato/bacon/morbier takes comfort food into a new dimension.
Fennel au gratin excels. Desserts, too, were superb.
Service was all that we could ask for - knowledgeable, pleasant, readily available but never hovering.
We were fortunate to get a table upstairs and away from the noise.
A splendid value for upscale dining.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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A menu with surprising range, but not necessarily in a good way. Quesadillas?! Hummus??!!
Predictable or reliable fare, depending on POV.
An interesting - not predictable - "Shannon spinach salad" is topped with fried onions.
Alas, the portions weren't as generous as we'd hoped - or expected.
On the other hand, the service was quite good - personable enough and highly efficient.
The atmosphere in the restaurant (not the bar) was sorta weird.
We get the wood and brick, but the two large TV screens were just plain wrong.
(Our server was kind enough to turn off the one that was on after we asked.)
Decent value, though we left with the feeling that Kells wasn't quite what it once had been.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Nearly five years after our first visit, we returned to find that what was great before had become even better.
The same was true of our meal; it started off superb and just kept getting better.
We could rave about everything we tasted,
but we'll give special props to two starters: lamb kofta and roasted yam/cashew samosas with red onion/date chutney.
The massive pork vindalho must be mentioned.
And the chocolate pistachio layer cake - moist, rich and substantial - deserves special praise as well.
Most dishes were noticeably spicy but not hot enough to mar the glorious taste sensations.
Our server was spectacular in every way.
The hip interior was surprisingly not noisy.
All told, an exceptional value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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One of our old reliables. An extensive menu means you shouldn't get bored with the same old, same old.
Entrees were well spiced and aromatic, not overpowering. (Overpowering is a spicing option, though.)
Our server was pleasant and willing to interact with us, though she had the whole room to oversee.
Low noise, comfortable atmosphere.
Good value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Brasserie Montmartre.)
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Genabond XV?!
Next year, we'll leave the "?" out of whatever punctuation we provide in announcing our most recent December pilgrimage.
That's good; it'll allow us to more emphatically depict the duration of this tradition, independent of any overt qualms about its accuracy.
But more important, it's good because it means we'll be coming back next year. And that's because, to our collective relief, Genoa is BACK!
Top to bottom, beginning to end, stem to stern, bumper to bumper, etc., our meal was superb.
As were the service, atmosphere, and all around good vibes that accompanied it.
Our one lament is that the portions, though acceptable, remain too far from daunting to suit our appetites.
Congratulations to Genoa for finding a great chef and sticking with him. Congratulations to us for sticking with Genoa.
Electabond - 11/2/10 (Steve's house)
The less said, the better.
FYI - we opted for Apizza Scholls, which now allows take out, instead of Escape From New York.
Three days that changed the world, at least that part of the world which includes our waistlines.
The official, authorized, unabridged, unexpurgated, unbowdlerized account.
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See our laudatory review from 1/08. If anything, AS has gotten better, except for dessert.
The cannoli's been replaced by what's called an ice cream sandwich. There's simply no excuse for that.
The spectacular service remains so. As does the pizza, with its better than perfect crust. As does the beer selection.
(Dessert at the Sapphire Hotel.)
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Overall quality ranged from awfully good to exceptional, with lamb and duck entrees at the upper end of the scale.
The fried chicken would have been there, too, had we not tasted the Screen Door's version.
Portions were larger than most, so we found them to be acceptable. Maybe better than acceptable.
Exceptional service in all respects.
We asked to be relocated partly through our meal (and after consuming our first course), and this was accomplished with minimum fuss.
A mixup on our order, probably the result of our having moved, led to an offer of complimentary wine.
And we moved because of the ISK's one great shortcoming - its atmosphere. Specifically, the noise level.
As in LOUD. Intentionally so, presumably necessary to create the uber-hip vibe its Pearl District location seems to demand.
Decent, not exceptional, value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/17/10
Twenty one stops - another world record! Click here to see this year's itinerary.
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Southerners don't deserve food this good, because they vote Republican.
SD's fried chicken can't be beat, except maybe by the brisket.
Don't neglect the sides, especially the local organic veggies.
Portions range from generous to enormous.
Spectacular service. No frills atmosphere allows you to concentrate on the food.
A terrific value (unless you value losing weight).
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Our second great meal at this place. Definitely not your grandmother's Mexican food.
Be sure to start with the taco sampler.
If you want a lot, order the pork loin. Our untraditional pulled chicken enchiladas were tasty but disappointingly small.
Friendly, competent service. High potential for noise, and the lighting wasn't great.
If you're not into the food (or even if you are), there's a unique diversion to entertain you.
We'll say no more.
(Dessert at Alameda Cafe.)
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Mussels and basil wrapped shrimp stood out among the appetizers.
Our swordfish was impressive. We all had it, so we can't report on other entrees.
Friendly service with generous flourishes, though there was some unnecessary clutter and it took a while for a second round of the delicious (Grand Central) bread to arrive.
Perfect lighting and a low noise level, in spite of a nearly full room. Cushions on the benches would have made for more comfortable seating.
A good value, it's worth checking out.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Laurelwood.)
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Order the seafood charcuterie plate to start. Don't argue.
Our entrees - lamb shank, pork chop, beef short ribs - were all great. And large.
Superb, unobtrusive service, including detailed explanations from the personable executive chef.
Unpretentious atmosphere, though somewhat noisy.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Wildwood.)
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We tried lotsa stuff, maybe a quarter of the extensive, imaginative, wide ranging menu.
It was all good, except for the stuff that was great. Which was most of it. Maybe all.
Our waitress belongs in the FBG waitress pantheon. No need to elaborate.
With the crowds you're sure to find, it would seem like TB would be pretty noisy.
But it was fine for conversation, even with our communal seating arrangement.
An outstanding value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Post-prebondage beer prebondage drinks at the Secret Society.)
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Well rounded menu filled with interesting/unusual/startling combinations of flavors.
Spectacular appetizers. Portions vary with what you order.
Everything we tried was well prepared and tasty.
Dessert menu tries too hard, somewhat disappointing.
Competent, helpful, cheerful service.
Pleasant, old house setting.
An excellent value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Bridgeport Ale House.)
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Genabond XIV?! After a one year hiatus, Genoa reopened on 12/1/09.
A significant interior redesign accompanied complete turnover in the kitchen and nearly complete turnover among the waitstaff.
Good news, though - it worked! Not quite up to its glory days; the 5 (as opposed to 7) course meal wasn't as much of a feast.
But the food was excellent. Ditto for the service. Ditto for the atmosphere.
And the years-long slide toward increasingly smaller portions seems to have been reversed.
We did miss the soup course and the detailed explanation of each item's preparation, though.
A significantly lower price tag justifies a more than solid value rating, keeping in mind that Genoa offers more than an ordinary dining experience.
Ultimately, it's highly refined entertainment.
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The best Chinese food in town. Daunting menu makes selection a challenge.
We'd need at least a dozen of us (or 18 normal appetites) to do justice to the offerings.
Everything we ate - soup, appetizers, pork, veggies and fish - was distinctive, not always the case at Chinese restaurants.
Unobtrusive, helpful service. Open, family oriented atmosphere, with lots of space between tables. A terrific value.
(Dessert at Rimsky-Korsakoffee.)
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Outstanding appetizers highlight an interesting, well-chosen menu.
Good value if you go the prix fixe route.
Generous portions, even with the prix fixe option.
Impressive wine list, but not many moderately priced options.
Wonderful bread pudding.
Knowledgeable, relaxed service.
Perfectly subdued atmosphere, not too bright, not too loud. Background music does what it's supposed to do.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Esparza's Tex Mex Cafe - 9/22/09 (SE) picture
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Tex-Mex at its informal, friendly, colorful best.
Incredible wild boar nachos.
Excellent, efficient service; always available, never hovering. Enjoyable all around.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Pambiche.)
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Meat-centric dining with a creative but somewhat pretentious menu.
Beginning courses were great. The salt cod fritters were especially tasty, the nicoise salad especially hefty.
Generous to large entrees. Some stuff, e.g., french fries (sorry, "pommes frites"), clearly overpriced.
Service on the slow side, but our server responded graciously and competently to all our requests for information/explanation (see pretentious menu).
Hard surfaces and open room contributed to a rather noisy atmosphere. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/11/09
Twenty stops - a new world record! Click here to see this year's itinerary.
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Well executed menu covers all the bases.
Duck confit entree was on the salty side, perhaps a bit too much. Rabbit confit appetizer was excellent.
Gracious sevice with a lighthearted attitude.
Given constraints of the location, a pleasant and functional atmosphere.
Most of us thought the chocolate dessert was great. One of us demanded lemon. picture
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Extensive menu includes Laotian, Vietnamese cuisine. Though "medium spicy" is indicated for most dishes, blandness ruled.
Mekong sausage stood out; everything else seemed variations on the same flavors. Service not particularly warm but efficient.
Uncluttered atmosphere with a low noise level.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Papa Haydn.)
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A diverse menu with tasty entrees.
Good quality, though one leg of lamb was more fatty than necessary.
Fife is closing in early May '09.
Its demise will leave a hole in NE Portland dining.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Mexican food, but not what you think.
Menu touches all the bases, including some you never thought of.
Everything we tried was exceptional, including dessert.
Service was efficient, friendly, knowledgeable, helpful.
Atmosphere both intimate and open, with a unique TV diversion that works.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Two Brothers Cafe & Grill - 2/19/09 (SE)
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Serbo-Croatia may not be known for its cuisine, but the flavors are interesting.
We were quite fond of the substanteous chevapis and their tasty accompaniments, particularly the ajvar (red pepper sauce).
Good marks for the meza, too.
It's pretty hard to find something that isn't bound to sclerose your arteries.
We had a Greek salad. Undistinguished, but a good idea.
You won't hear a lot of English here; to us, that means authenticity. The service was good-natured and efficient.
Worth the experience.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Pied Cow.)
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Inauguration Day for Barack Obama dictated American food. And what's more American than fried chicken?
And where's the best fried chicken in Portland? By virtue of having bonded here in 2/08, we speak from experience.
Our return visit confirmed our positive opinion. Check our previous review for additional detail.
Our server's attitude - informal, low-key, and all around wonderful - deserves special mention.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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High qualiity bar menu.
Great burgers, with excellent meat and splendid onion rings.
Top notch fries, if you want 'em.
Salads are better than worthwhile, which means large enough, tasty enough,
interesting enough, and, most important, they justify the damage you will do with the
burgers, rings and fries.
(Dessert at Perry's.)
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Genabond in November? Two bondages in one month? How can this be?
It can be because, as of 11/23/08, Genoa no longer is.
We felt a swan song was necessary, even though it entailed violating the bylaws we would have had, had not the bylaws we don't have now prevented us from having them.
This marked three consecutive years of significant turnover on both sides of the kitchen door.
Service, preparation, taste and overall quality remained superb, however.
Portions were smaller than we'd have liked, but we didn't leave hungry.
Electabond - 11/4/08 (Steve's house)
From New York Times columnist Roger Cohen on November 5,
"The other day I got an e-mail message saying simply this: Rosa Parks sat in 1955.
Martin Luther King walked in 1963. Barack Obama ran in 2008.
That our children might fly." Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!
Full disclosure - we settled for convenience (The Blind Onion) instead of tradition and taste (Escape From New York).
Not bad for pizza-like substance.
The imminent prospect of once-in-a-lifetime great news dictated maximum viewing time for the returns.
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Pretty damn great barbeque. And it's not just the meat; the sides were sublime.
Our server implicitly understood our appreciation for mass quantities.
On top of that, she was friendly and efficient. No frills atmosphere.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Alameda Cafe.)
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What Roux does, it does well.
An almost extensivish menu, and food prepared with more than a little originality.
Outstanding service - knowledgeable, witty, pretty assertive (in a good way).
Warm, non-trendified atmosphere.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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They know their wines, but this isn't merely a wine bar.
The food was wonderful and the choices well suited to serious eaters.
The service had good mix of attentiveness, knowledge and helpfulness.
Pleasantly low key, intimate atmosphere, but the live music was a bit too intrusive.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Pambiche.)
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/19/08
Seventeen stops - ties our '06, '07 record! Click here to see this year's itinerary.
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A place for people who value good food over white tablecloths.
We orderd a whole lotta stuff - the right thing to do in a small plates oriented place - and everything was great.
Do not miss the Basque cake.
Relaxed and friendly service matched the low key atmosphere.
You can't go wrong.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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An extensive and inventive menu guided us to a wonderfully prepared feast.
We were especially taken with the appetizers and dessert.
Special kudos for the duck confit and chocolate tangerine truffle cake.
Impressive entrees, but small portions left us wanting more.
Our server was superb - knowledgeable and attentive.
The pacing was stately. Though the room was crowded, we never felt pushed.
SG's atmosphere is restrained, not spartan, with a significant noise level.
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Stanabond VI. An outstanding foodie adventure.
We sampled lots of things - pretty easy in a tapas eatery - and wanted more of everything.
Friendly, competent service. Informal atmosphere suits the food.
Not as noisy as it seems when you're standing around, waiting for a table.
And you will wait.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Post-prebondage beer prebondage drinks at Cafe Wonder.
Dessert at Rose and Thistle Pub.)
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A menu filled with interesting options led to four different entrees and three different appetizers, all well prepared.
Our food was distinctly spicy but not overpowering.
Non-Indian desserts - chocolate chilli cake, mango cheesecake - were a hit with us;
purists may be offended.
We felt well cared for from the moment we walked in. Friendly service and a nicely paced meal ensued.
A wonderful atmosphere - elegant, understated, and a relatively low noise level.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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The menu offers complicated choices, but we mean this in a good sense.
Generous portions, unless you order fried chicken. In that case, the quantity rating jumps to our first ever 5+.
The fact that it's the best fried chicken ever should not be taken lightly.
Great service - smooth and friendly.
A plain, functional atmosphere that somehow wasn't too noisy, even with a full house.
You get a lot for your money.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Outstanding!! The crust is amazing, the ingredients (including whole anchovies) fresh and tasty.
This is serious pizza, and they give pizza Nazis a good name.
The idea of pineapple on one of their pies would probably be met with a well deserved sneer.
Unless they decided just to kick you out.
The staff - all young and cheerful - provides way cool, knowledgeable service.
Terrific beer selection for a small place. Cannoli, the only dessert, is merely perfect.
We can't say enough!
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Our 12th Genabond?
Nearly complete turnover on both sides of the kitchen door for the second consecutive year.
But this time there are also substantial changes to the design of the dinners.
The result is a bit more choice and one or two more plates, but fewer official courses.
Though preparation and quality are as high as ever, portions are significantly smaller.
One oyster, one raviolo, for example.
Service remains exemplary.
Lagniappe - 11/15/07 (NE)
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Duck and tasso ham gumbo stood out among a number of excellent appetizers.
The menu offers a good selection oriented around Cajun standards.
Portions ranged from hefty (an excellent pork loin) to huge (an excellent jumbalaya).
B/t/w, "huge" means half the size of a bowling ball.
Our waiter was competent and congenial, while the pace of service was on the stately side.
The atmosphere's rather stark, with fair potential for noise.
Hard to complain about Louis Armstrong playing in the background, though.
The chocolate buttermilk cake reminded us of Ron Paul's famous buttcake.
In fact, that's what it is; the dessert chef used to work for Ron Paul.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
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Wonderful menu; based on our best efforts to sample as much as we could fit in (a not inconsiderable amount),
it's hard to go wrong.
Decent portions.
Relaxed yet elegant atmosphere,
though a malfunctioning light that constantly flickered could have induced an epileptic seizure.
Attentive but not fawning service.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Mama Mia.)
Roundtable Pizza vs. Roundatble pizza? "Cakeage" vs. cakeage? "Plouf" vs. Plouf?
The official, unabridged account of our first out-of-state bondage provides enlightenment.
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Great food in a pleasant, low-key setting. Our two duck dishes were superb, and the saumon fume was rave-worthy.
Reminds one of some of the better aspects of a French dining experience.
Only one waiter - friendly, knowledgeable, suitably opinionated - for the entire place, but he spent quality time with us (and everyone else) without ever seeming rushed.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/21/07
Seventeen stops - ties our '06 record! Click here to see this year's itinerary.
Navarre - 6/28/07 (NE)
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Like going to a food spa - lots of little things done well, and you feel better afterward.
Great fun romping through a meal that included buffalo, tuna and rabbit.
Hint: it helps to have at least 3 people in order to take advantage of the array of menu choices.
The single server was hard-pressed to keep up, but she did so with good humor and grace.
A simple, ok, a spartan interior. Loud but not raucous.
This foodie destination offers outstanding value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Karam - 5/10/07 (SW)
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Sets the standard for Middle Eastern cuisine in Portland.
Our batenjan mekle appetizer was especially fabulous.
Karam's broad menu goes well beyond the hummus-baba g-kabab routine.
We greatly enjoyed lamb shank stew and goat casserole (one of several goat dishes).
Our good natured server was helpful and efficient.
Tony, the owner, personally attends to the important details with uncommon graciousness.
The result is consistent quality in a cozy, tranquil atmosphere.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Mama Mia.)
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Stanabond V. Creative, hearty starters.
We were particularly impressed with the radicchio, brie, candied pecans combo.
A somewhat limited choice of entrees, but there's something for everyone.
Dishes feature unusual pairings, e.g., pork shoulder, mashed potatoes, pearl onions and prunes.
Competent and personable service enhanced by the warm, homey atmosphere. Terrific value.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Alameda Cafe.)
L'Astra - 3/15/07 (NE)
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Surprisingly extensive menu for such a tiny place, but understaffing hurts.
Excellent assortment of salads; we particularly enjoyed the rabbit terrine.
Owing to a couple of kitchen mishaps, at least one of which was entirely avoidable, entrees took
an awfully long time to arrive. When they finally made it to our table,
we found them better than adequate, less than outstanding.
Our server, on the job for only a month, was quite nice and well intentioned. With a bit of seasoning,
she'll become more organized.
Vinyl records congruent with the no-frills atmosmosphere.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Rimsky-Korsakoffee.)
Andina - 2/12/07 (NW)
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Distinctive, extensive menu with a "novo-Andean" slant.
Well executed from appetizers through dessert.
Hearty but not humongous portions.
Our unflappable waiter met our persistent questions with good humor and succeeded in finding answers.
Suprisingly, the "Pearlified" hip atmosphere was quiet enough for easy conversation, even on a busy evening.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Taqueria Nueve - 1/18/07 (NE)
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Good eats. Tacos, especially the wild boar jobbies, deserve special mention.
So do the octopus cocktail and the surprisingly tasty desserts.
Best of all was the exemplary service.
Our friendly waitress was close to perfect - attentive but not hovering; assertive but not
obnoxious; knowledgeable but not condescending. An informal, not too noisy atmosphere helped. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Genoa - 12/7/06 (SE)
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Our 11th Genabond? Nearly complete turnover in the kitchen and out front.
Nevertheless, the food was as good as ever, as was the service.
Electabond - 11/7/06 (Steve's house)
"...and God saw that it was good." (Genesis 1) "So good, so good...." (James Brown)
Full disclosure - we settled for convenience (Pizza Schmizza) instead of tradition and taste (Escape From New York).
The imminent prospect of good news dictated minimal time away from watching the returns.
Acadia - 10/24/06 (NE)
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Good start with excellent pate and real anchovies on the Caesar salad.
But for the way too salty jumbalaya, our entrees were better than good.
Kudos for the humongous, tasty pork chop Toulouse.
Competent but not enthusiastic service.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Alameda Brewhouse - bad food, worse service.)
Serrato - 9/22/06 (NW)
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A pretty wide ranging, interesting menu. The Caesar salad had real anchovies (after reminding our waiter).
The pizza was just ok; we had issues with the doughier than necessary crust.
Strong entrees included an outstanding eggplant tagine and a hearty tagliatelle with wild boar.
Complimentary wine while we waited longer than expected was a nice touch. Patient, competent waiter.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Via Delizia - a not good idea.)
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Given the Asian theme, a fairly diverse menu.
Well prepared dishes; generous portions for the main courses.
Service was good natured and accomodating, though not especially knowledgeable.
Nicely paced meal.
(Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Perry's.)
Walkabond (NW, N, NE, SE, SW, NW) - 7/15/06
Seventeen stops - a new record! Click here to see this year's itinerary.
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An interesting menu that invites experimentation.
We selected what was supposed to be an anchovy laden pissadella. Good though it was, there were no more than 5 anchovies on it.
The prosciutto plate accompanied by mango chutney was superb.
Our entrees were hearty, though it took more than a little while for them to arrive.
Chocolate budino - wonderfully rich - ended an enjoyable meal.
The service was fairly attentive, a bit better than good.
Our waiter brazenly lobbied for a wine that he preferred to our selection. Props to him; it was excellent.
A beautiful but way too noisy space.
One caveat - check your bill.
Carefully. Ours was wrong. After they "corrected" it, it was still wrong. By a lot.
Savoy Tavern & Bistro - 5/9/06 (SE)
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An unassuming neighborhood eatery with a straightforward approach to dining.
Kinda hip, with a surprisingly diverse menu; kinda old-fashioned, with a choice of traditional sides to accompany
your entree. A good, affordable wine list and an excellent selection of beer. Friendly service.
(Dessert at County Cork.)
Colosso - 4/1/06 (NE)
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Stanabond IV. Nice place to take a leisurely stroll through the tapas oriented menu. Unexceptional, indifferent service. Dark atmosphere; bring a flashlight.
(Cheese course at Pizza Schmizza. Outstanding dessert at Epicure.)
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Gracious service in a bright, unmistakably-but-not-pretentiously hip setting. The restaurant's name reflects Indian cuisine with "spice route" accents. Our entrees ranged from excellent (swordfish) to excellent (lamb) to excellent (pork).
Outstanding selection of chutneys. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Pied Cow.)
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A significant improvement on pub food ordinaire. Tasty corned beef cabbage and shepherd's pie appealed to our hearty appetites.
Faux Irish selections (what's up with Irish quesadillas?) may offend purist sensibilities and offer the rest of us cause for concern. And speaking of purist sensibilities, our penalty for not ordering
Guiness was a pinot noir that was much too cold. Our server was merely competent. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Fife - 1/10/06 (NE)
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Solid and repectable food from a menu that has pretty good range. Trendified (i.e., visually appealing open space with potential for noise) but unpretentious atmosphere.
Our waiter was helpful and good natured. Exceptionally friendly staff, who pay attention to detail.
Just don't ask for substitions on the dessert menu.
Genoa - 12/1/05 (SE)
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Probably our 10th Genabond. Fabulous in every way, as always.
Also as always, our initial choices covered only two of the three available entrees.
But this time we were prepared,
thanks to the hard work of our Double Secret
Probationary Ad Hoc Genabond Entree Retroactive Planning Committee (DSPAHGERPC).
We ordered an extra entree and thus got to sample the caccuccio.
Our subsequent enjoyment proved it is possible to improve on perfection. Just add more.
Epicure - 11/8/05 (NE)
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Pleasant atmophere with perfect lighting. Exceptional service. Our potato pancake appetizer was fabulous. The duck breast was good but not great, while the lamb chops were great, not just good. We dug the bodacious wine glasses, too.
Ciao Vito - 10/20/05 (NE)
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Somewhat pretentious and noirish atmosphere. Nothing particularly distinctive about the food; sugo of pork should have been called polenta with a bit of pork. Disappointing Caesar salad, allegedly a specialty. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Esparza's Tex Mex Cafe - 9/29/05 (SE)
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Tex-Mex with some unusual twists, e.g., ostrich and buffalo. Our food was tasty but not terribly spicy. Great portions, even though they wimped out on the mole on one entree. On the other hand, a Tex-Mex pork loin was thoroughly buried in its sauce. That's meant as praise. (Dessert at Il Piato.)
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Creative preparations from a wide-ranging, interesting menu. NoPo hip vibe. If weather allows, eat outside. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Walkabond (NW, SW, SE, NE, N, SW, NW) - 7/16/05
Thirteen stops. Click here to see this year's itinerary.
Lagniappe - 6/7/05 (NE)
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Not health food, but tasty and, more important, plenty of it. (Too bad they were out of brisket.) Especially great cole slaw and desserts. (Drinks at Colosso.)
Cafe Zenon - 5/14/05 (Eugene) picture
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Wonderfully eclectic menu, which changes daily - Moroccan, Indian, Asian, Italian, American and more. A mecca for chocolate desserts. Cheerful, highly competent service.
Our first non-Portland bondage. (Breakfast at Grempsey's in Corvallis. Assorted eats and drinks at Taylor's and Max's in Eugene.)
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Stanabond III. Pretty good food and lots of it. Friendly staff. (Dessert at Alameda Cafe.)
Montego Bay - 3/24/05 (SW)
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Jamaican. They were out of some stuff, and the service was pretty slow. What we had was good, especially the appetizers. You won't find food like this at many places in Portland. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Pazzo.)
Basilico - 2/28/05 (NW)
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Initial impression of pretense faded quickly. Wonderful Roman food, thoughtful menu.. Nicely paced, too. Andrea is among the most knowledgeable, professional and personable waitri we've encountered. Hurry in, because it's on one of Porltand's restaurant-corners-of-death (R.I.P. Zefiro & Zinc). Next year may be too late.* (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.) *Don't say we didn't warn you. Basilico closed its doors at the end of 2005.
Bombay Cricket Club - 1/18/05 (SE)
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You can watch cricket while eating. Maybe a good thing, maybe not. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's. Dessert at Rimsky-Korsakoffee.)
Genoa - 12/9/04 (SE)
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Probably our ninth Genabond. As always, 3-plus hours of perfection. An experience that transcends dining justifies the expense.
Electabond - 11/2/04 (Elmer's house)
Even mass quantities of Escape From New York pizza couldn't redeem the disappointing election results.
Eleni's Philoxenia - 10/19/04 (NW)
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Dark and pretentious. The food was pretty good, but not outstanding. (Prebondage beer at Cassidy's.)
Back to Bondage
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