This post is by Kay Boatner, one of our contributors.
Most people go to the Pacific Northwest to make the most of their spectacular surroundings. Mountains, oceans and parks aplenty afford for fabulous outdoor experiences. I went to the Pacific Northwest to eat.
Here are my top 5 recommended restaurants for any travel foodie:
Old Town Pizza: I wonât lie to youâa lot of Old Townâs appeal is in its atmosphere. The dark and cozy pizza parlor is purportedly haunted, making any meal there instantly interesting. The ghost of a prostitute who was murdered where the restaurant now stands, Nina (pronounced âNigh-naâ), is said to haunt the basement and visit the diners from time to time. If you donât catch a glimpse of Nina, youâll still be able to try some of Portlandâs best pies, including everything from the basic cheesy Margherita to the more adventurous Tostada, covered in crushed corn tortillas, spicy beef and black beans. The dough is made all day long, so everyone eats fresh. And the pie guys at Old Town are perfectionistsâour server asked us if it was ok if he re-cooked our pizza because it didnât come out to his high standards. Later, one bite told us all we needed to know: the wait was worth it.
Papa Haydnâs: Dessert! Papa Haydnâs dishes out breakfast, lunch and dinner, but itâs the sweets that are worth mentioning. Haydnâs is on the pricier side, so I say skip the adequate entrees and get your chocolate on. Marjolaine, Papaâs chocolate mousse and hazelnut-praline cream confection, is worth every calorie, and some serious thought went into smuggling out the super-rich St. Moritz German Chocolate cake in my too-small purse. The baked goods all look as yummy as they taste, too. Each item is like a work of art, with tons of intricate piping and perfectly-iced eye candy to ogle.
The Ramâs Head: One of the McMenamin brothersâ better Oregonian establishments, the Ramâs Head is both run-down and sophisticated, making it appealing to all sorts of Portland folk. Itâs housed in what was once The Campbell Hotel, built in 1912. The Campbellâs old-school character remains in the Ramâs coffered ceilings and stamped-tin wainscoting. But really, the best things here are the spicy tater tots served with Cajun dipping sauce. Insider tip: Pair the tots with the Rubberhead beer, which is not normally on the menu. The bartender will know what youâre talking about and youâll be rewarded with a refreshing blend of the spotâs Ruby and Hammerhead ales.
Voodoo Doughnuts: While not off the beaten pathâVoodoo is located in the heart of downtown Portlandâthis doughnut shop so captures the eclectic, adventurous spirit of Portland, I couldnât leave it off my list. From the Marshall Mathers M&M option to the purple sprinkle-covered Grape Ape to the bubble gum topped Dubble Bubble, thereâs nothing in Voodoo that wonât give you sugar shock. Voodoo definitely has something of a naughty sense of humor, with titles like the Cock-N-Balls, Triple Chocolate Penetration and Old Dirty Bastard on the menu. The kooky dĂ©cor gives you something to look at while you wait in the inevitable line; chatting with the locals and tourists is half the fun, though.
Schooner Lodge: All of your instincts will tell you to run as far away as you can from this remote, ramshackle oceanic outpost. Ignore them. I had some of the best food of my life at Schooner. A lack of nearby options and the lateness of the hour forced my travel buddy and me into this decrepit-looking restaurant; needless to say, it was not on our coastal itinerary. Thanks to some truly stellar pumpkin cannelloni and fresh rockfish, it became one of the highlights of our trip. The staff is friendly, the low-key locals are boisterous and the food is on another level. The dishes themselves are simple, but cooked so perfectly itâs hard to find fault. Do not leave without sampling their New England clam chowderâitâs the best I ever had.
-post by Kay Boatner
Follow us on Facebook and Tweet us: @BohemianTrails