typsie ([info]typsie) wrote in [info]damnportlanders,
@ 2008-03-19 00:56:00
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What's to do in NoPo?
So my friends and I are finally moving out of downtown to the Kenton neighborhood in two weeks. I've only explored the area a little bit, so I wanted to find out first-hand what's good and bad in the neighborhood. What restaurants/bars should I make sure to hit/avoid? Any other points of interest I should know about?

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[info]lois2037
2008-03-19 10:05 am UTC (link)
Pizza Fino on N Denver is one of the best pizza places around. They look kind of expensive, but they are actually very reasonable. Cup & Saucer, on the same block, is also pretty good, especially for breakfast, though they close early, at 3pm. About three miles north along Lombard are two great discount movie theaters, McMennamin's St. Johns, and St. Johns Cinema and Pub, which both offer movies under $4 (only the early show at the St. Johns Cinema) and beer and food.

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[info]deprivation
2008-03-19 01:36 pm UTC (link)
funny, i always thought of them as a better bar and italian place than a pizza place :)

there's also mio sushi just south on greely, on rosa parks there is a decent thai restaurant (ginger thai? thai ginger?) - as an aside, i thought that the thai place between pizza fino and cup & saucer was not very good.

we have a new seasons, plenty of nice small bars, and a literal meat market. i wouldn't recommend the coffee/bbq place on denver.

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[info]bliccy
2008-03-19 08:49 pm UTC (link)
I can't type. THAI GINGER. HEAVENLY. Seriously, the pineapple/cashew fried rice = yummy. It's very unassuming from the outside (it's like a mini mini mini strip mall comprised of the restaurant and a Papa Murphy's) and it's pretty tiny inside. But really good.



Edited at 2008-03-19 08:50 pm UTC

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[info]deprivation
2008-03-19 08:53 pm UTC (link)
you had me confused when i first got the email response :)

yeah - i tend to just order takeout from there and pick it up.

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[info]str8ontilmornin
2008-03-19 02:58 pm UTC (link)
Johns St, Cafe, Ole Ole, ST. Johns Booksellers (former Powells Junkies are the owners, they know their shit), Ladybug Cafe, Anna Bannannas, Cathedral Park, Pier Park, Kelley Point Park, Skatepark, St. Johns Bride (natch), Forest Park (again, natch), Little Red Bike Cafe ,Tulip Bakery. Oh and sidenote on St. Johns Theater: I believe it's the only first run theater that also serves pizza/beer/wine in Portland.
Have fun exploring! Can't forget the wares at Flavour Spot waffle cart.

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[info]sixpenny_book
2008-03-19 05:30 pm UTC (link)
Oooo, I just discovered Kelley Point Park the other day. So cool!

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[info]str8ontilmornin
2008-03-19 08:30 pm UTC (link)
Have to add Fire on The Mountain buffalo wings!

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lovedayisland
2008-03-19 04:02 pm UTC (link)
The Kenton Club is a pretty cool blue collar / hipster / old folk / smoky / live music bar.

Don’t bother with Paul Bunyan Café for coffee. It’s over priced and sucks.

Best coffee I can find close is North Star on Interstate and Lombard, or Trippin’ Billies on N. Lombard, close to the Goodwill.

If you’re looking for a new hair salon, go see Heather at Stella’s, located under North Star Coffee. She rocks.

If you have a dog, Kenton Park is officially an on-leash park, but most folks who bring their dogs there run them off leash and are really respectable to others, it’s a cool park.

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[info]sage_and_sea
2008-03-19 05:34 pm UTC (link)
Tom's Pizza on Lombard has the best wings - and they deliver everything on their menu, salads, burgers and all, not just the pizza. Very handy.

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[info]stephen_h
2008-03-19 06:27 pm UTC (link)
definitely check out mock crest tavern[mockcrest.com] on lombard.
great burgers, nice bartenders.
i've been going there for years.

tripping billies coffee [also on lombard just a couple blocks east from the mock crest] has great coffee and food as well.

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[info]luvsammy
2008-03-19 06:35 pm UTC (link)
ooo, I drive past there all the time and wonder what it's like.

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[info]skeets
2008-03-19 08:49 pm UTC (link)
I second many of the places named above! Some additions to the mix:

If you get out towards St. John's, hit up Leisure, which is right on Lombard. It's relatively new, but the owner is cool and knows his wine, and the food is awesome.

I also had a really awesome veggie burger at Pause on N. Interstate; they make their own veggie burgers in-house and they're *amazing*. And there's also a full bar.

On a less positive note, I was not-that-impressed with Ukiyoe on Denver. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either.

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[info]deprivation
2008-03-19 08:54 pm UTC (link)
sad to hear about ukiyoe. i had been thinking of trying it, but wanted to hear a review from someone else first, since japanese can be hit or miss around here.

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[info]bloodred37
2008-03-19 10:49 pm UTC (link)
I agree, I didn't like Ukiyoe very much either.

Pause is great, I live like a block away. Their black bean burger is awesome as well! (I haven't tried the veggie burger yet) They are worth going to.

There's a taco/burrito type place near Papa Murphy's and Ukiyoe that opened a few months ago that I liked. It's simple and cheap.

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