Big Daddy’s BBQ at Hawthorne and 28th needs to stop claiming they have the best-tasting bar-b-que in Portland. I had such high hopes for them, too. Formerly the location of At The Hop, the new owners did a nice job renovating the space. I think my first clue that dinner would not bode well is that I couldn’t smell anything until I walked into the restaurant. My favorite BBQ places can usually be scented at least a block away, and smelling nothing from the parking lot is a bad sign. Continue reading 'Big Daddy’s BBQ: Fresh off the foodservice truck'»

One of my favorite places to enjoy sushi is Sushi Takahashi (24 NW Broadway). Very low key, better sushi than some of the spendier places, and the staff is friendly if sometimes a bit distracted. There’s a little train that chugs around the bar with flat cars of plates to pick from, or you can order plates fresh from the chefs from $1 for simple things like asparagus rolls to $3 for more elaborate dishes like spider rolls. Your bill is tallied by the colors of the plates you stack as you eat your dishes. White plates are a dollar, tan plates are a dollar fifty, floral plates are two dollars, and blue plates are three. Continue reading 'Sushi Takahashi'»