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Keys Lounge

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This week for our featured hot spot we went to Keys Lounge in NE Portland. We have been really wanting to try the cocktails here because their Instagram game is on point. I am happy to report that we finally made it and we were not disappointed!

They have some wines, a decent tap list, and a great mix of cocktails. I tried the Bootsy Collins which is vodka, lemon, soda, and a splash of Lillet Rouge. It was perfectly refreshing for a hot summer evening. We didn’t try any of the food but the menu looks to be perfectly Portland. They have all the bar staples like popcorn and fries, and burgers. They also have some fun twists like pork belly bites and vegan “calamari”. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian, or a vegan you will find lots of options on this menu.

One of my favorite things about this visit was the numerous places to sit! There is a huge wrap around bar with stools both inside and outside, a cute patio with a decent amount of tables, booths surrounded by old records, and a back lounge where they were showing the game.

The building is a old locksmith building from the 60’s and still features the giant KEYS sign out front. The building had been abandoned and run down for many years. It has now been returned to it’s full potential and is ready for your patronage!

Be sure to check this place out and let us know what you think!

Do you have a place that you want us to feature? Let us know in the comments!

Ruby Jewel

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This week’s featured spot is the delectable Ruby Jewel! We are here to tell you that this is the best ice cream in Portland. They have amazing flavors that change regularly, they use only locally sourced ingredients, and you can get an ice cream sandwich, inside a COOKIE!!!!!

I don’t dislike the other ice cream shops, which shall not be named, but Ruby Jewel gives you classic flavors with a small twist that only makes them taste better. A current favorite is the Peanut Butter Dream. It is peanut butter ice cream, with peanut butter cups and swirls of chocolate. It is truly to die for. I would recommend getting it inside of some chocolate chip cookies. Some of their other offerings include The vegan Jewel which is made from chocolate coconut ice cream and a gluten-free cookie and the Pride-Which made from cereal milk ice cream, rainbow cookies, and rainbow sprinkles. They will donate 10% of sales to Q Center if you buy this cookie sandwich.

Since its first opening in Portland, Ruby Jewel has grown in popularity throughout the city. They currently have 3 locations that you can step into to create your own delicious treat!
1650 NW 23rd Ave
3713 N Mississippi Ave.
428 SW 12th Ave
If none of these locations is close enough to home, don’t worry! You can now find their ice cream sandwiches pre-made in most of our local grocery stores! You’re never too far away from the best Ice cream in Portland! Check out all the current flavors Here.

Do you have a place that you think we need to check out? Let us know in the comments!

Acadia

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Our hotspot of the week this week has truly been one of my favorite restaurants in Portland for many, many years now. Acadia Bistro has such consistently wonderful food, drinks, and service that the only explanation I have for why is isn’t perpetually packed is that it’s longevity in a city obsessed with ‘new’ makes it almost like a well-guarded secret between friends.

The menu walks a wonderful balance of maintaining the classic New Orleans dishes that transport you immediately to the bayou, and introducing new innovations and seasonal ingredients from the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. It would constitute a cardinal sin to miss out on the BBQ shrimp as a starter, jumbo head-on Gulf shrimp bathed in a pan-sauce so decadent you will dream about it for weeks afterwards. The Hushpuppies are another wonderful opening, fluffy fried batter of cornbread and seasonings, doused with a spicy-sweet orange and horseradish marmalade.

The beautiful conundrum of the entrees is that I can never figure out which is my favorite, and so have learned that I have to bring at least 3 people with me so we can share everything family-style. On a recent visit we all thoroughly enjoyed the Fried Soft-shell Crab with Crawfish Etouffee, the impossibly tender Hangar Steak, the light and balanced Seabream topped with blue crab and brown butter sauce, and a Pork Chop that was practically the size of my head and juicier than I knew a pork chop could be.

The desserts and cocktails aren’t to be missed either. My Vieux Carre was perfectly rich and boozy, and the housemade ice creams are what Salt and Straw wishes they could be. My recent go-to ‘genius move’ is to get a scoop of the Sea Salt Brown Butter on top of the outstandingly delicious Vanilla Bean Bread Pudding. You can thank me later.

What should our next hot spot be? Let us know in the comments!

Palomar

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This week we went and checked out the cuban cocktail bar Palomar! We must be feeling a sunny theme with all the rain we have ben having as this is our second decidedly “Miami” themed location. The decor is pink and teal and certainly makes you wish you were sitting on the beach in Miami drinking one of their fabulous daiquiris!

They feature a rotating flavor of frozen daiquiri everyday, and this isn’t your mama’s frozen cocktail. It’s just boozy enough so you know it has good rum in it, but just sweet enough to be sure you keep on sipping. They also have an extensive bar and many cocktails that stray away from rum.

They sell delicious empanadas, plantains, and a variety of other cuban food staples. The servers and bartenders are all warm, friendly, and go out of their way to make sure you are satisfied! I highly recommend checking this place out I promise you will not be disappointed! If you want to check out the menu, click here

Do you have somewhere you think we need to check out? Tell us in the comments!

Delores

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A visit to our hotspot of the week Delores turned my expectations upside-down instantaneously. The décor, rife with giant pink flamingos and fronds, has a sort of Miami in the 80s vibe, but in chic way, which wasn’t quite what I was anticipating from Portland’s newest Polish restaurant. The soaring ceilings and scope of the murals make the space feel more modernist than cozy, which created a pleasant contrast with the menu and speed of service, both warm and inviting.

I chose to set the stage for the upcoming Polish feast appropriately with the Valentina, a smooth and icy vodka martini adorned with a foie gras stuffed olive and my companion enjoyed the Hotel Cortez, a rich bourbon cocktail with a deliciously smoked cherry adding a whiff of campfire.

We started with the happily seasonal asparagus dish, in part because I haven’t had the chance to enjoy nearly enough of my favorite fruit of the forage this year, morel mushrooms, and in part because my dining companion will order anything that involves a poached duck egg. We were both quite pleased by the balance of the bright and the earthy, and the plate was quickly emptied.

The leek pierogi and beef tartare were our next conquests, the tartare one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of eating, and the pierogi, outstanding in their own right, were further elevated with little dollops of caviar decorating the tops. We continued with the dish of braised rabbit with carrot spaetzle, so warm and cozy that I could have been in my grandmother’s kitchen rather than a lovely restaurant in the heart of the city.

It seemed to me that the unifying idea behind Delores was that everything had some touch that felt like an extra special treat, be it the caviar atop the pierogi, the foie stuffed olive, or the smoked cherry in the Hotel Cortez cocktail. I can’t wait to return and I hope that they continue producing these delightful and nuanced dishes for many years to come.

Have you dined here yet? Let us know in the comments!

Wayfinder

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There are so many wonderful things to say about this Eastside industrial district brewery and restaurant!

They have one of the largest patios in town, and as long as the weather is nice (or nice to us Portlanders) they are serving on it. They have the best German style lagers in Portland (this is a fact, not my opinion), and superb pub food. They make a beer cheese sauce that can be found on many items on the menu, best of which is the Black Lodge, their own twist on a Philly cheesesteak. They also have buffalo fried cauliflower, steak fries, and a niçoise salad, all of which are worth trying. They also have lots of vegan food options if you have a restrictive diet.

If you aren’t in the mood to eat, don’t worry, they have plenty of beer! The beer here isn’t just good, it is well thought-out, well-executed, and delicious. Wayfinder was the brain child of the co-founder of Double Mountain, the co-founder of Sizzle Pie, and the co-founder of Podnah’s Pit Barbecue so you know you are in for a treat. If you don’t want to take my word for it, they won best new brewery, best new brewer, and best brewpub in 2018 at the Oregon Beer Awards.

If for some reason you end up here and don’t want to try the beer, they do have some great cocktails and glasses of wine. Definitely take a trip to the East industrial district for this awesome brewery, and let me know what you end up ordering!

  • Wayfinder Beer
    • 304 SE 2nd Ave.
    • Minors welcome until 8pm

Do you have a place you think we need to check out? Post it in the comments!

Boutiques

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Mother’s day is just around the corner, and if you are anything like me, maybe you procrastinated? The good news is that I have some great local boutiques for you to finalize that last minute shopping! Here are some of my favorites in no particular order!

  • Sloan – Promoting themselves as surprisingly affordable fashion for every woman, they have brands that you will be familiar with and some unknown names. No matter your style there is something that both you and your mom will love!
    • 3526 SE Hawthorne Blvd
    • 3824 N Mississippi Ave
    • 735 NW 23rd Ave
  • Recycled Chic Boutique – This designer store is so much better than your average consignment shop. You will find unique pieces in perfect condition. If you want the very best without paying the full designer price, this is the place to shop!
    • 612 NW 12th
  • Imelda’s and Louie’s – This shoe store is much more than just a shoe store. They have shoes that are ahead of the trends in a laid back environment. They also have great handbags and jewelry!
    • 3426 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
    • 1416 NE Alberta st.
  • Gild – This shoe store is modern and sleek. The customer service is fantastic and they will help you find something perfect for your style and budget! They also carry tons of jewelry by local Portland artists!
    • 3370 SE Division st
  • Adorn – Focusing on trendy but timeless fashion these boutiques are sure to have many things that would make great additions to your closet. Everything is handpicked by the owner and is frequently updated.
    • 3366 SE Division st.
    • 4120 NE Fremont st.
    • 1016 SW Washington st.
    • 360 First st. LO

If you are a new mom like me, perhaps you would also like to buy some cute clothes for your little one! I find it much more fun than shopping for myself, here are 2 cute places that I love!

  • Posh Baby – This boutique has Modern and Eco-Friendly gear for mom and baby. If you have any “must-haves” on your list that you haven’t purchased yet, or you just need an adorable new toy, this is the place for you!
    • 916 NW 10th Ave.
  • Hoot N Annies – They offer both new and used items for both mother and baby. This surprisingly affordable baby boutique will have everything on your list!
    • 6308 SW Capitol Hwy

Good luck with all of your shopping and let me know what you all get!

Tacos

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May 5th is Cinco De Mayo so naturally I am going to focus on Tacos! 

I love mexican food, more than any other style of food, I would happily eat it everyday! I especially like tacos, they are so simple, but so delicious. This was an incredibly difficult topic for me to research *wink wink* but now you can enjoy the fruits of my labor! 

There are 5 taco places that really stand out to me, of course there are many many more, but I can vouch for all of these. In no particular order, here are the places you should definitely check out this week! 

  • Xico – 3715 SE Division – They have an awesome back patio, amazing margaritas, and fantastic food, everything on the menu is worth eating and while they don’t always strictly have tacos on the menu, the carnitas is a build your own taco plate and to die for! 
  • Taqueria Nueve – 727 SE Washington – They also have an amazing patio and so many taco choices you will need to try them all! They really focus on keeping things authentic and it shows! 
  • Nuestra Cocina – 2135 SE division – really cute restaurant that is a Portland staple. They have homemade tortillas instead of chips and really incredible sangria. They don’t always have tacos on the list either, but many of the entree’s come with tortillas to build your own tacos! 
  • Mi Mero Mole – 32 NW 5th – this Mexico City inspired eatery has tons of choices for your tacos. They focus on guisados, which are home style dishes like stews and stir-frys. Put that all together and you get some amazing food! 
  • Portland Mercado – 7238 SE Foster – This list wouldn’t be complete without the Mercado. There are so many delicious carts here, by Tierra del Sol wins for their tacos. Lots of choices, simple and delicious, and affordable! You truly cannot go wrong. 

Let me know which places you end up trying and which ones are your favorite!!