Casba Mediterranean Cafe
Neighborhood: Old Town

201 NW Davis St
Portland, OR 97209

Corwin M. writes: I've only been here a couple times, but I can already tell the local business lunch crowd loves this place. So do I. The sandwiches are wholesome, hearty, and large enough to fit inside any respectable stomach; few things I hate more when I eat out…

3D Center of Art & Photography
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

1928 NW Lovejoy St
Portland, OR 97209

Evan C. writes: i really should have a membership to this place. not really a museum as ive heard it described which is probably why they stray from the title. they do have a great collection of classic 3d camera and viewmasters, but the really great thing about…

On Deck Sports Bar
Neighborhood: Pearl District

910 NW 14th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Laura N. writes: Gotta love a one-trick pony.  Well, I always do at least, because the one thing they do, they do reeeeally well.

On Deck doesn't play. They tell you right up front exactly where you should spend your time at their establishment. ON DECK.    

If they…

Seven Star Restaurant
Neighborhood: Old Town

205 NW 4th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Alex S. writes: This place has a longtime mainstay of Chinatown and has been sensationalized for their great seafood variety and good service. I enjoy their fish maw soup and crispy chicken the most, as I feel no one in Chinatown (not Portland mind you) can compare…

Portland Art Center
Neighborhood: Old Town

32 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Abe I. writes: I like the Portland Art Center a lot. You never know what you're going to see. Photos of refugees in Africa one month, a man made out of cigarette butts the month before, and this month a whole slew of art from the OCAC graduating class. I never hit…

Harvey's Comedy Club
Neighborhood: Old Town

436 NW 6th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Izzy N. writes: At first I was apprehensive when invited to come here, then I thought whynot. I'm glad I did, it was the later show and it was pretty fun with a group of friends. Great mixed drinks.. I had a surfer on acid and some other one I forget. The comedians…

Northwest Portland International Hostel
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

425 NW 18th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Jamaica Y. writes: I slept in a yurt (http://en.wikipedia.or...) the night before I came here, and this hostel was only slightly less cool.  The place is super clean, has free wi-fi, free pizza every night, free local calling, reasonably priced computer use, is close…

Pho Van
Neighborhood: Pearl District

1012 NW Glisan St
Portland, OR 97209

Kathleen M. writes: Sounds like the Vietnamese equivalent of taco truck. However, this is an upscale Vietnamese restaurant with your usual fusion-y decor (though they don't serve fusion). Food was good, though lunch for $13 or $14 was a bit high. I dig the wooden menus.

Northwest Bicycles
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

916 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Carissa w. writes: This shop recently changed hands and was reopened by the head mechanic, but it looks like the same nice shop with the same nice people. When I worked in NW this was a perfect location to drop my bike off in the morning for a service and pick it up…

Butters Gallery Ltd
Neighborhood: Pearl District

520 NW Davis St
Portland, OR 97209

Abe I. writes: Butter's is a great gallery, the work they show is not always my style, but they always have high quality stuff to exhibit. It's always contemporary stuff, some of it is too " non-offensive-objec t-in-a-rich-person's-house" for me, but a lot of it is…

Daedalus Books
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

2074 NW Flanders St
Portland, OR 97209

Mister X. writes: A small used book store with a great selection of scholarly books, including real philosophy books (Kant, Sartre, Hobbes, etc.)

Grab a book (pay for it) and then head over to Ken's bakery right around the corner for a read.

Cha Taqueria & Bar
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

305 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Laura N. writes: A direct translation of "cha" in my book is FLAVOR.  Expecting a run of the mill Mexican restaurant, I left with a fresh take on "local style" Mexican food (not to mention a satisfied stomach and a great buzz).

I was first pleasantly surprised by the…

Sur La Table
Neighborhood: Pearl District

1102 NW Couch St
Portland, OR 97209

Jen K. writes: I just took one of their cooking classes, which I've been wanting to do for years (finally someone at my company agreed it would be a good team building activity).  We went to the Pearl location and had a private cooking class for two hours.  There…

Laughing Planet Cafe
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

922 NW 21st Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Stanley T. writes: I always get the Holy Mole burrito and whatever hoppy local beer they have on tap. Guess I should branch out - sounds like they make other good stuff. I've heard the criticisms that LPs food isn't ethnic enough. I just pretend I'm visiting the…

Rudy's Barbershop
Neighborhood: Pearl District

212 NW 13th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Adam P. writes: I really wanted to go to "The Tonsorial Parlor" downtown
http://www.yelp.com/bi...

but they were closed...and with no hours on the door, and having never gotten anyone to pick up the phone there...not to mention watching my hair go from a little wild…

Caffe D'Italia
Neighborhood: Northwest

1720 NW Lovejoy St
Portland, OR 97209

mindy g. writes: Great breakfast/lunch or dinner panini's and delicious coffee but super S L O W...  I work  3 doors down and even if I have 15 minutes between appointments I can't be sure that it's enough time to grab an iced americano and get back to work in time.

Urban Grind Coffeehouse
Neighborhood: Pearl District

911 NW 14th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Lindsay I. writes: In actuality, I give this place a 4 1/2 star rating. The only reason being what my fiance calls the feeling of "being trapped inside a green Skittle." Referring to the wall to wall bright green paint that inhabits this coffee house.
Aside from that,…

World Cup Coffee and Tea
Neighborhood: Pearl District

EcoTrust Building
721 NW 9th Avenue, #175
Portland, OR 97209

Laura N. writes: First, you just feel environmentally savvy walking into the Ecotrust Building. As a patron, all coffees and teas at this store must be either organic, shade-grown, fair trade, or relationship coffees. All of the fixtures and materials used in the…

Fifty 24PDX Gallery
Neighborhood: Old Town

23 NW 5th Ave
Portland, OR 97209

Brad C. writes: You have to enter Fifty 24PDX via the Upper Playground entrance. I stopped in here today while walking around the Pearl district. It is a very cool, hip, small gallery.

The current show that is happening is called "Owlex" with  new paintings,…

Baja Fresh
Neighborhood: Downtown

1121 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209

JW D. writes: This is an efficient location. As you can imagine it gets hammered come noon, but I've never had to wait very long in line or had any trouble finding a table.

That smoky cheese dip is pretty good.  Especially when you pour it on your burrito. Mmmmm.

Is…

Aura
Neighborhood: Downtown

1022 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209

Tim O. writes: *oontz oontz*
guy: "HEY, WHAT'S UP? COME HERE OFTEN?"
girl : "WHAAAAT? I CAN'T HERE YOU!!"
*oontz oontz*

*oontz oontz*
guy: "THAT'S COOL!! i LIKE HEROS TOO! WHAT'S YOUR NAME, BABY??"
girl: "BAMBI?? NO, THAT MOVIE MADE ME CRY. WHY WOULD ASK ME THAT?"
guy:…

Transition Projects
Neighborhood: Old Town

435 NW Glisan St
Portland, OR 97209

Corwin M. writes: Ha ha, I knew no one would have gotten to this one yet! What's wrong with you people, you all live somewhere or something?

If you're ever down and out, this is one of two places to go. They offer a range of services, from showers, help getting your ID…

Spring Hollow Cafe
Neighborhood: Old Town

304 NW 2nd Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Tracy A. writes: Their chicken curry sandwich (plus provolone) is so good I am often drawn to Spring Hollow as if pulled by an invisible rope. Yum, Yum, Yum!!!

Stepping Stone Cafe
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

2390 NW Quimby St
Portland, OR 97210

mary anne l. writes: I saw the signs for Stepping Stone way before I ever ate there.  The bottom reads "You eat here because we let you"...  Heck Yeah!!!  Maybe I'm just a burnt out service person, but I love to see an establishment with an attitude.  When we finally…

Filbert's Cafe
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

1937 NW 23rd Pl
Portland, OR 97210

Jay F. writes: This place is at about the upper echelon of what I could regularly afford to spend on a "nice" dinner out.  On a recent trip I had the pan-fried rainbow trout, which was served on a bed of kale, black-eyed peas, with some tasty Dijon sauce on the…

Uptown Silver Dollar
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

333 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

jen d. writes: some friends of mine have a friend who works there so we checked it out for drinks and pizza. the food was good and the drinks nice and strong (thanks to said friend) but overall i thought the place was infested with douchebags. but it is a sports…

Wham
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

617 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Jeannie J. writes: Make sure you aren't trying to "hold it" if you plan to come into this shop!  You could have an accident right there!  The cards are that funny!  This shop stocks a great selection of cards of every stripe.  Do you want something comical and…

Starbucks Coffee
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

605 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Danielle K. writes: There is a great dichotomy. Yelpers! Come together!

We shouldn't give the 'Bucks dismal ratings solely for the fact that it is a chain that has tried to take over the world!

Therefore, I am going to try to overlook it's McCoffee-ness, and rate this…

In the Bag
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

708 NW 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97210

Erin O. writes: purchased birthday card that went a little something like this:

Outside  "happy birthday. I'll see you in hell."  

Inside "you heard me."

They also carry cards of the more traditional variety.  For those of you lacking a curmudgeonly sense of humor.…

Ellington Leather Goods
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

1533 NW 24th Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Angela B. writes: Ellington Leather Goods has a cool NW Portland showroom filled with tons of leather bags, purses, wallets and accessories. The colors are delicious and vibrant...bright reds, lime green, mustard yellow, and even some good old fashioned browns and…

Dazzle
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

704 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Angela B. writes: I feel a bit guilty for confessing I've never made a purchase here, since I seem to pop in frequently to ooh and ahh over Dazzle's latest collection of trinkets, gifts, baubles and accessories.

The selection at Dazzle goes way beyond the basics, and…

Nob Hill Shoes
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

921 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Gloria H. writes: Some of the shoes they put outside caught my eyes so we decided to check out the place.  Good selection of comfortable shoes in good shades of color and most are pretty good prices.  However, their stock in size is somewhat limited.  Apparently,…

Front Row Saloon

3075 NW Front Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Maggie A. writes: Better than I though it would be.

A woman I used to work with that usually wound up in charge of planning any party functions (by default since the rest of us couldn't be bothered enough to volunteer) used to send us all to to this place any time it…

Hip
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

1829 NW 25th Avenue
Portland, OR 97210

Adam P. writes: Stopped in here as part of a continuing, and probably futile, attempt to find:

1) A fainting couch/day bed that is both contemporary and classic with a specific wood stain
2) A kitchen island that is functional, not huge, and can serve as a place to…

Thai E-San Cuisine
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

2764 NW Thurman St
Portland, OR 97210

SAM Y. writes: day 10 of my trip

so of course another person offered to buy me lunch, how could i refuse her??? i would have to be a real dumbarse.

so we came here. the thai food was pretty good and they had lunch specials. they got my order wrong and they remade my…

Exit Real World
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

206 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR 97210

Liz G. writes: Last weekend I decided that snowboarding in June would be a good idea, and that I should probably replace the board I bought in high school.  Exit had all their boards, boots, and bindings at 40% off so I got a super good deal (a whole new setup for…

Blush Beauty Bar
Neighborhood: Alphabet District, Northwest

513 N.W. 23rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97210

Veronica W. writes: If anyone knows anything about me, they know that this is not a place that I would spend a great deal of time in. I know what I want/need, I ask questions, I buy, I leave. Very simple, very easy. Having said that, I was here with a couple friends who…

Two Celebrate

2257 NW Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97210

Angela B. writes: From the outside this place looks like a festive and hip jewelry and gift store. Upon entering, it looks as though this is where all the rich grannies like to shop. Their stuff IS fun and some of it is hip, but I have yet to see anyone from…