northeast portland

Astral and Duality

April 1, 2024 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Welcome to the ultimate hotspot of the week, where teamwork takes center stage! Picture this: Duality Brewing crafting sensational beer and playing host to natural wines, alongside Astral’s mastery of fresh, delectable small plates. We recently experienced this dynamic duo on a sun-soaked day, and let me tell you, the patio was an absolute paradise.

We started off with a glass of pinot gris, perfectly complementing the sunshine. The rice lager that we tried out next surprised us with its hoppy twist, and felt like a great balance of flavors.

Now, let’s talk about the food – on this visit we tried so many delicious dishes! The Dungeness crab tostada was outstanding, with a swath of avocado mousse, tons of fresh crab, and bursts of rainbow trout roe atop a blue corn tostada. It was sunshine on a plate, fitting for an Oregon spring day. Following suit, the dry-aged Kanpachi crudo was bright and fresh, served with an aguachile of carrot habanero, serrano oil, and shiso, with a rice crisp to scoop it up. For a heartier small plate, we added the nixtamalized sunchokes – rich, earthy, and accompanied by a green goddess dressing and bonito flakes that danced in the breeze. And oh, the grilled fish taco! A generous filet of striped bass, grilled to perfection on their tiny outdoor grill, was a testament to their dedication to freshness and quality.

Every bite and sip at Duality and Astral was a pure delight, heightened by the unbeatable patio setting on a beautiful Portland day. We’re already counting down the days until our next visit, eager to explore more of their menu or simply unwind with a refreshing drink.

You can find more info about Duality Here and Astral Here. Have you checked them out yet? Let us know in the comments!

Tropicale

April 26, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Springtime is here with summer just around the corner, and this week’s Hot Spot -Tropicale – is the perfect place to celebrate that fact! We headed here recently to test out their famous pina coladas, margaritas, and snacks, and were positively delighted!

First, let me say – Tropicale has their patio situation dialed in. There is plenty of space, a festive atmosphere, and different styles of outdoor heaters dotted about to make sure you stay warm enough while you imbibe. We actually ended up between a stand-up heater and a long, low fireplace style, and had to take off a couple of layers! A smart move on their part, as it certainly added to the tropical feel of the place!

We started, of course, with the famous pina colada in a whole pineapple. While everything is better when served in a pineapple, I can say that the beverage itself held it’s own. Delicious! Next, I tested out the spicy mango margarita, which was so tasty I had finished it before I knew what had happened. Based on those two, I want to try everything they have!

tropicale Pina colada in a whole pineapple

Next, it was time for some food to balance the bevvies. We tried a lot of the menu and were quite happy. As is tradition, chips and guacamole to start, which here you can add on dueling salsas (do it) to complement. The shrimp tacos were lovely, bright, and well-made. The tostada ahumada (topped with smoked skirt steak, greens, and caper aioli) had an excellent balance of flavors and textures and was quite filling. We ended up adding on the pulpo at the end, because, how can you not? As many know octopus can be diffficult to cook properly, but Tropicale did it right! It was super tender with wonderful flavors.

We cannot wait to come back and spend many summer evenings on the patio here. With their tasty food and fresh, fun cocktails, I think this is going to be a spot we re-visit frequently! Check out Tropicale here.

Where should we visit next? Let us know in the comments! If you want to see our other Hot Spots head HERE

Kayo’s Ramen Bar

March 15, 2021 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher 1 Comment

Our Hot Spot of the Week this week is delicious N Williams Ramen spot – Kayo’s Ramen Bar! Full disclosure, this was an accidental find. We had intended to lunch somewhere else, but arrived to find that the outdoor seating was full to the brim with newly-seated patrons. However, sometimes the world works in mysterious ways, because the loss of that other dining experience led us to discover this absolute gem!

There are several standout features of Kayo’s. First, they not only have fantastic traditional ramen options such as Shoyu and Miso, but they also have many interesting and creative spins on the dish. You could choose a Curry Ramen or Wasabi Smoked Salmon one. If you are feeling really wild, maybe you will want to try out their Japon tacos! Another great feature is that you can choose the amount of gluten you are feeling up for. You can get the standard option of traditional noodles, substitute the gluten-free option of julienned zucchini and daikon, or even try out half and half!

We both thought that the TanTan Ramen sounded the best. Apparently many people agree, as this is their most popular option. We tried out the regular TanTan and the TanTan Mazemen (no broth) respectively as well as sharing an order of the Pork potstickers.

First off, let me say that those were the BEST potstickers. They were cooked perfectly, the flavors were on point, and we made a bit of a mess because of how delightfully juicy they were. I could eat them every. damn. day. The ramen was phenomenal as well. I adore Sichuan DanDan, and having a ramen version was a totally new experience for me. We both agreed that it was better with the broth rather than the Mazemen style. That is partly because the spice disperses better in the broth and partly because the broth was so delicious!

This place is such a great option right now especially. The patio is wide open and covered, with very well–spaced tables. Plus, ramen is the perfect dish for these days where the sun is shining, but still a chilly nip to the air. Check out their menu here.

Have you ever tried Kayo’s Ramen Bar? What should we order the next time we are in? Let us know in the comments!

Capitol

January 6, 2020 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

Our Hot Spot this week is hip cocktail and karaoke bar, Capitol on NE Broadway and 14th. We have been wanting to check this place out for a bit, as it is right down the street from our new Northeast office. We finally got the chance to this last week, and we weren’t disappointed!

First off, we LOVED the decor. We were immediately smitten with the high dome-like ceiling, the beautifully lit, symmetrical liquor display, and the funky and brightly colored accent wall. There are delicious cocktails and a solid selection for happy hour. With all that Capitol has going for it, you will probably find us there for a post-workday cocktail quite often.

We started out with the True Blue. This cocktail was a gorgeous shade of robin’s egg, and included a mixture of tequila, lemon juice, and coconut. We liked that it was not too sweet and that the coconut gave it a creamy feel on the palate. Next, we tried the Something To Believe In, with Brokers, Aperol, Cocchi Americano, and Pisco. I feel like the resurgence of amaros in the cocktail scene has been fantastic, as it has lead to fun and interesting cocktails like this one.

Next, we moved on to one of the best bargains of Capitol’s happy hour- the scoots. For a measly $5, you get to choose a shot of liquor paired with a beer back. We loved the variety of choices they had and decided on a Balvenie and IPA and a Glenfiddich 12 with a Hazy IPA. You say ‘$5 for a scotch and tasty beer’? I say ‘Yes please’! However, if Whisky isn’t your thing (I don’t get it) there are also options of tequila and more.

Finally, let’s talk about the karaoke. We haven’t tested out the karaoke side of things yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Apparently, they have free/open karaoke in the evenings at 7pm. In addition, they have private rooms to rent out if belting out a tune to strangers isn’t your cup of tea. Personally, I like doing my best Paul Simon impression in the privacy of a room where only my friends can laugh at me.

If you would like more info about Capitol, check them out here: http://capitolpdx.com/

Have you tried out the Hot Spot of the week Capitol yet? Let us know in the comments what you recommend!

As always, we love to hear about new places to check out. Send us a message if you think you have a good Hot Spot to be featured!

Eem

July 15, 2019 by Jessica Berger and Tekela Fisher Leave a Comment

After months of hearing and reading rave reviews, we finally made it to Hot Spot of the week, Thai and BBQ fusion spot Eem, and it did not disappoint. Backed by a powerhouse team, the flawless execution of food, cocktails, and relaxed but efficient service come together to achieve an experience that deserves the accolades they are receiving.Â

The cocktail menu tends towards the rum-based, citrus-heavy vacation style, and the ones we tried were delicious. Some are served in delightful Tiki mugs and feature sprightly flourishes. Food comes as it is ready, which ended being a perfect pace for always having a variety of new things to taste without having an over-crowded table or feeling rushed.Â

On our recent visit, we tried a variety of dishes from all parts of the menu, including a fantastic pork belly dish with fermented pineapple, a burnt end brisket curry, and the simply prepared but outstandingly delicious snow pea tips. The Thai street food flavors melded so well with the smoky slow-cooked barbecue flavors, it makes one wonder why people haven’t been combining them for longer.Â