Surprisingly Good Food and Drinks
By Ashley Griffin, Citysearch Contributor
Everyone has a list of favorite watering holes that have great cocktails, a long wine list, or superior brews on tap. But what we really like are places to imbibe that also let us indulge in food that goes beyond typical pub fare. Here, our favorite spots with surprisingly good eats and drinks.
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Belgian Embassy
938 N Cook St, Portland, OR
The staff at this new bar and bistro pays as much attention to the wide variety of Belgian beers served here as they do to the food they dish up. Expect entrees like braised rabbit and croque monsieurs to tempt your taste buds. -
Cava
5339 SE Foster Road, Portland, OR
Cheap tavern food is often mundane, but not at this new haunt where gourmet dishes such as country pork pate and mushroom bruschetta appear on the menu. Here, you'll also find plenty of local and international wines and beers for pairing. -
Cricket Cafe
3159 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR
Drink options at breakfast joints typically fall into two categories: bloody marys or mimosas. Not so at the Cricket Café, where you can order a wide selection of hot and cold drinks from their liquid breakfast menu to sip alongside your eggs and bacon. -
The Gilt Club
306 NW Broadway, Portland, OR
Few late-night lounges can satisfy a hankering for both an innovative cocktail and fresh fare. Enter the Gilt Club, where inspired cocktails line the menu and pair perfectly with their seasonally driven cuisine. -
Jace Gace
2045 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR
What you'll find here: Art, waffles and beer. And though waffles may seem an odd foil for beer, we recommend you try a savory one and a Belgian brew. It's a killer combination. -
Ken's Artisan Pizza
304 SE 28th Ave, Portland, OR
At this SE hotspot, a focused beer and wine selection pairs perfectly with thin-crust, seasonal pizzas. It's a far cry from the greasy slices and PBR you used to consume at that college pizza parlor back in the day, and a welcome one too. -
Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen
1038 SW Stark, Portland, OR
Yes it's a deli, but it's a deli serving the best pastrami sandwiches in town alongside pilsners and pale ale. You'll also enjoy the wine list, and a list of sodas and colas like none you've seen before. -
Red Star
503 SW Alder St, Portland, OR
This restaurant might be attached to a hotel but it's no Red Lion-esque lounge. When Executive Chef Thomas Dunklin took over in the kitchen, the menu got a gourmet update; when beer sommelier Sara Parker-Sheppard joined the team, diners learned that beer and fine food could indeed go hand in hand.
