Some Faves

Recently I've gotten the chance to go to a couple of my favorite spots in Portland and I figured I should probably write about them. First off there's Laurelhurst Market. If you like meat then you need to check this place out. Somehow every time I go there I end up ordering the brisket. And this is some mean brisket too. It's Wagyu beef slow-cooked for 12 hours with a homemade BBQ sauce that only makes the world a better place. Thankfully I've been there with groups of six a few times and have gotten the the chance to try a lot of what they offer, though the menu does change frequently. When they offer the NY strip steak there should be little hesitation on your part to order it as it completely lives up to expectations. The prime rib and daily steak selections are also excellent. The one thing that really surprised me on the menu though was their double-cut pork chop. I'm usually not one to eat pork chops, but these are the best I've ever had. There's some sort of magic, saucy concoction on top that makes my mouth water. Don't forget to order sides like kale, green beans or baked beans. And lastly, for god's sake, let yourself be tempted by the dessert, you shan't be sorry.

Next and last for today is The Observatory, which is located in a fun little strip of Stark just west of 82nd. For many years the only thing worth checking out here was Flying Pie Pizzeria. In recent years a few places of note have started becoming available like The Academy Theater and the subject of this paragraph. So what do I like about The Observatory? For starters, and chiefly, the gin lavender lemon drop. Normally when I want a cocktail I stick to the basics, a gin martini, gin and tonic or a Manhattan. However, this is one occasion to go for something on the foofier side if you usually don't. The food is no slouch either. I've tried several things on both the happy hour and regular menus. I heartily recommend some garlic rosemary fries for the table to share. And for dinner you can't go wrong with the trout, which is soaked in deliciousness. When I was there recently I had the special which was a pesto linguine loaded down with fresh veggies, and I enjoyed it to the last drop.