See below for full reviews

This guide is a review of restaurants we've run across in our travels.. In this guide, the average price, food quality, and customer experience is noted. Establishments with wireless Internet access, live music, or other unique features will have an appropriate notation. If a restaurant has a web site (that we know of), a link will be provided. Fast food or chain restaurants are NOT covered here. There are many other places where you can get information about their food and services.

The rating system is:

• Highly Recommended (+++) : Excellent! If you are looking for that type of food, go!
• Recommended (++): Good. You will be happy.
• Suggested (+) : OK. You will be done well.
• Not Suggested: You make up your own mind.
  

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This list is in alphabetical order.

Alexis (Portland, OR)

    A landmark on West Burnside, the food is excellent, the service is good, and the prices are very reasonable. Our server was very good at translating the Greek wines into flavors that we recognized, and we were cheerfully given an excellent table in the banquet area on one occasion. One caveat: the corner with the non-functioning door in the main dining room smelled strongly of urine (a result of the location on Second and Burnside, no doubt). Other than the one table in that corner, Alexis is highly recommended. (Oct. 2006)

Bobquivari's (San Francisco, CA)

The best steak we've eaten anywhere! Although expensive, Bobo's was worth every penny. The meat was incredibly tender, the garlic bread was delicious, and the various sides we sampled were excellent, as well. Great atmosphere and service. Although connected to the Stinking Rose (see review below), the two restaurants are in completely different classes. Highly recommended.(Dec. 2005)

Butchart Gardens Restaurant (Victoria, BC)

Since we were essentially captive at the Butchart Gardens, we didn't have high expectations for the restaurant, but we were pleasantly surprised. For an "attraction restaurant," we had a great dining experience. However, be aware that the carpaccio is BEET, not BEEF. Although delicious, it wasn't quite what we were expecting. Otherwise, terrific! Recommended. (July 2005)

Chateaulin (Ashland, OR)

Although we don't remember the details, our impressions were universally favorable. Recommended (Oct. 2004)

Curbside Cafe (San Francisco, CA)

The food was less expensive than one would expect, with excellent service. Everything was a notch better than we expected, for both brunch and dinner. Great location near the Presidio. Highly recommended. (Feb. 2006)

Entre Nous (Seattle, WA)

Equinox (Portland, OR)

Located in Portland's newest trendy neighborhood on NE Mississippi. The food is imaginative and fresh, the server was knowledgeable, and the prices are very reasonable for that level of food quality. We were there on a night that included musical entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyable and at an appropriate volume for dining. Portions were good, neither too small nor too much. Highly recommended. (Nov. 2006)

Exchequer (Chicago, IL)

Although we hear there are many wonderful places to eat in Chicago, we couldn't seem to find any of them on this particular trip. After many disappointing forays, we stumbled into Exchequer and had an excellent lunch. Their specialty burgers were great, service was good, and prices were very reasonable. It filled up shortly after our arrival, so it would seem that the locals agree with our recommendation. Recommended (July 2004)

Gustav's German Restaurant (Portland, OR)

Gustav's is one of the best family German restuarants I've been to. The food is not 100 percent authentic, but it *is* 100 percent good. We had a great lunch there, with chicken schnitzel, pasta, and a schnitzel sandwich. The service was outstanding, and it's really a good place to bring kids: big and small. And, they have a decent German beer selection. Quite highly recommended. (Feb. 2010)

The Heathman (Portland, OR)

Top-notch old-school dining in downtown Portland. Masterfully made vintage cocktails, crisp linens, delicious menu offerings in both the bar and the high-brow dining room -- if you want to experience expensive old-school Portland dining at its best, this is the place. Highly recommended. (2005)

Hidden Bay Cafe (Portland, OR)

HBC is always good -- the burgers, chicken, etc. are cooked outside on the grill overlooking the Tomahawk Bay Marina -- but if you want to hit Hidden Bay at its best, go for Sunday brunch, which includes just about every brunch item you can think of on one plate for a ridiculously low price. For a small additional sum, you can also get a mimosa to top it all off. If you're not hungry, it's still a great place to have a beer and gaze out at the river and the moorage. Good luck finding it (it's located at the back of the retail block above the marina). After eating, go next door and peruse the collection of interesting boat stuff for sale at Columbia Marine Exchange. Highly recommended. (Oct. 2006, 2007)

il Bistro (Seattle, WA)

As always, we always make reservations. il Bistro was no exception. When we walked over for dinner, they did not have our reservation. Fortunately, there were open tables, and we were immediately seated. As far as the food goes, my favorite is the truffled mashed potatoes. The amount of truffles is perfect, with a full but not overpowering flavor. For main dishes, the pork loin is quite good, and the halibut and lemon grass is fantastic. My son was not too hip on the beef, but I liked it. As a finish, you would be hard pressed to find a better tiramisu. Unfortunately, the restaurant is loud. That's an annoying continuing trend. Even though they "lost" our reservation, we still recommend il Bistro among the many good choices in Seattle. They do have highchairs. (July, 2008)

Lost Coast Brewery (Eureka, CA)

One of the best pub experiences anywhere. Great burgers, good beer, fun atmosphere -- a traveler's delight.We even took home the commemorative pint glass. Highly recommended. (March 2006)

Lum Yuen (Portland, OR)

Dim sum for lunch, practically free! Smallish selection, but all the items are tasty, and the price is unbelievable. Highly recommended. (Aug. 2006)

Macaroni's Ristorante -- Martinos (Ashland, Oregon)

Absolutely horrible service, avoid!!! We had the displeasure of eating at this establishment on the evening of 12/27/07. This restaurant was almost deserted, so being busy was not an excuse. We had to ask several times for: bread, drinks, pepper, etc. We sat at our table for 10 minutes before we got water (and the water person did not ask for our drink and/or appetizer order). A bit later, our "Server" came by to take our dinner order. Never did ask for drinks, we had to ask for them. When the food finally did arrive, it was good. Salads were good, as were our pasta and entrees. But, food alone does not make the restaurant. We were seated near the kitchen, and could hear all the no-so-good chatter from the area. There are many other good places to eat in Ashland, OR, so skip this horrible place, and enjoy your meal. And, finally to add insult to injury, we were charged an "optional" gratuity on our party of 6. This place truly is bad, again, stay away. Again, avoid Macaroni's. It's rare we experience such a horrible restaurant. (December 2007)

Med Grill (Victoria, BC)

Fresh food, creatively prepared; great service, within walking distance of Victoria's Inner Harbour. Highly recommended. (July 2005)

Milo's City Cafe (Portland, OR)

Milo's is just about the perfect dining experience. The food is carefully and  tastefully prepared, the service is fast and witty, and the prices are incredibly reasonable. For some reason, there is never a line down the street, which we'd expect. Although we're not sure why Milo's serves saganaki (flaming Greek cheese), we recommend it. (Nov. 2006).

Molinari's (San Francisco, CA)

One word: salami. OK, four words: really good, cheap salami. A day in San Francisco without Molinari's is like night. We hear they have great deli sandwiches, too. Highly recommended. (Dec. 2005)

Mother's Bar and Bistro (Portland, OR)

Mothers gets our highest rating of super-duper good. Best place we have been in awhile. The service is good, and they pace the dinner nicely. The rather extensive menu is well prepared and interesting. We can recommend the London Broil and the Chicken and Dumplings. Oh yeah, the fried green tomatoes is an excellent appetizer. The owner/chef, Lisa even finds time to leave the kitchen and chat with guests. Family and Baby Friendly. Highly recommended. (Jun. 2007)

New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro (Ashland/Talent, Oregon)

To start, New Sammy's is high up (if not number one) on our choices for best restaurant in Oregon. Reservations are a good idea, if not required. We made ours three months in advance. As you would expect, you get what you pay for. NSCB is not inexpensive. But, it offers a very good value. The food and preparation are absolutely first rate. The menu is limited, as you would expect. There is a "Prix Fixe" option, as well as four or five "al a carte" entrees, with several salad options. Appetizers come with the meal, at the appropriate times. Since the menu changes on maybe a daily basis, our meal will be different from yours. It important to note that they have an extensive garden out back, so when in season, many items are organically grown on-site. What stands out on our experience was the squash soup appetizer, the salads, desert, Vernon, ravioli, well, everything. As an added benefit, we noticed the New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro Breads are now available at the Ashland Food Co-op (and probably other places). Their bread is fantastic. Very Highly Recommended. (Dec. 2007)

Pirate's Cove (Rockaway Beach, OR)

BM 6/29/10: Wow! Stopped for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised by the breakfast menu My wife had the fresh lobster eggs Benedict I had a wonderful smoked salmon hash made with fresh potatoes green onions and cream blended with a generous portion of smoked salmon very reasonable price too oh! I I forgot the homemade jam and toast, I would have finished the hash if it wasnt for the jam and toast. Tummy's full.

The Strip Steakhouse (Shelton, Washington WA)

I was in Shelton (west of Olympia) recently on business, and was "cruising" the downtown strip for a place to have dinner. It was one of the rare occasions that I was alone for dinner. A steak sounded good, so I stopped at "The Strip". The decor is a bit unusual, but not detracting: heavy drapes on the windows obscured all view outside, and made it a little dark inside. It became quite apparent that the service people preferred: 1) a table of more than one and 2) people they knew. Several people that came in after I did got service sooner than me. Oh well. I finally was able to procure a decent Martini while waiting for my dinner. The salad was good, and the steak was quite good. It was cooked exactly to specification, and the quality of the meat was better than average. The garlic fries were very thin, lukewarm, and not exciting. The 10 oz steak that I had was a good deal at $10.95, though. If the service was improved, I'd recommend this place. (June 2009)

Nick's Italian Cafe (McMinnville, OR)

Nick's has top-of-the-line Italian food. Their signature crab and pine-nut lasagne is wonderful, as is their fried sausage-stuffed celery. The famous minestrone is also great. For desert, they have Creme Brulee nailed down perfect. The wine list is also interesting and complete. One complaint would be that it's too durn loud. As regular readers know, it's just hard to have an intimate dinner when you have to yell at your date. Service is relatively attentive. Probably not at the top of the list in service, but quite enjoyable. A larger table seemed to attract more attention than the two of us. That's annoying, since Nick's niche (in my opinion) is a great special occasion couple's place. They aren't quite there, though. So, if Nick's was a couple notches quieter, and service was excellent, they would be in the running for best restaurant in Oregon. Until we can get them to install some acoustic enhancements, I'd give them a bit more than recommended. They could probably take some hints from "New Sammy's Cowboy Bistro". (June 2009)

Pelican Inn (Muir Beach, CA)

Pescatores (Victoria, BC)

A wonderful, mostly seafood restaurant near Victoria's Inner Harbour. Great West Coast atmosphere. Try the (BEEF) carpaccio; the rest of the food is fantastic, as well. Highly Recommended. (July 2005)

Update: Again, Pescatores hit the mark. The carpaccio remains excellent (best I've had), and the steak is amazing. The other dishes (Halibut and cannelloni) were good as well. Service was fast and attentive. Highly recommended. (July 2008)

The Pink Door (Seattle, WA)

We stumbled across a pink door in a alley in Seattle, and dimly recollected reading a favorable review while on the train on the way from Portland, so we ventured in. We were richly rewarded with an excellent, nourishing meal and great service. Unfortunately the deck was closed due to the rain, but it looked like a great place to enjoy a meal. Highly Recommended. (July 2005)

Pizza A Go Go (Portland, OR)

Although the music is almost always too loud inside, the outside eating area in back is pleasant (except for the occasional smoker), and the pizza is terrific. Thin crust, tasty toppings, and choices for both the carnivores and vegans in your group. Quite recommended. (Nov. 2006)

Roots Organic Brewery (Portland, OR)

Since we like the idea of an organic brewery, we decided to check it out. It was a slow night, but the bar tender preferred to move from one group of friends to another, and completely ignored us, so we decided to leave. We never got eye contact, or even a hello. Of course, we never got a chance to try their beers or food. I don't think I have ever seen service this bad. I'd avoid this place like the plague. Not Recommended. (Oct 2006)

Serious Pie (Seattle, WA)

Very good "gourmet" pizza in the northern Italian style (thin crust, little sauce, etc). Serious Pie is yet another Tom Douglas (dahlia, lola, etc) joint. I'd say they have the best pizza I've had in the 'states. They only glitch I experienced is that the morel (yes, morel) pizza had morels that were too salty. It's common to soak morels in salt water to clean them and remove, er, bugs. But, I think they soaked too long in too salty of water. Then, they were not rinsed enough. On the other hand, I'd order another morel pizza at Serious Pie in a hot second. Be advised that this restaurant does not take reservation, and they do community (groups of 6) seating. And, it's another annoying loud joint, but you could do take out. Relatively expensive, too. They do have highchairs. I still give them a highly recommended rating. (July 2008)

Smitty's (Victoria, BC)

Avoid at all costs. The food is mediocre at best (eggs were cold, kitchen very slow), restaurant dirty, high chairs filthy, and over priced. (July 2008)

Sofia's Restaurant & Bavarian (Eugene, OR)

We went to Sofia's German restaurant upon a glowing recommendation. The recommendation was quite incorrect (I was told it was "better than Rheinlander/Gustav's in Portland"). To start with the good things: The service was good, and it was fast. The atmosphere was nice as well (Is Sofia's a former BJ's Pizza location??). The bleu cheese dressing on the salad was tasty. But that's where the nice things ended. The food wasn't bad, it was just bland. The schnitzel sorely needed some flavor. I don't know how it could be made so bland. The sauce and the mushrooms on the Jaeger Schnitzel clearly came out of a can. Beer sampler was fun, but anyone can do that. When it came to desserts, both the German chocolate cake and the cheesecake were dry and "grainy". We were certainly hoping the Sofia's would be a great or even decent German place. But, it's neither. It wasn't bad, it just was very, very bland. Not recommended. (Feb. 08)

South Park (Portland, OR)

A nice casual up-scale place. We arrived a bit early for our reservation, and we were seated in the "wine bar". Service was good, our server was informed about our options. There was a good variety to choose from. Menu is mildly creative. Their specialty is seafood. Food was good, pace was appropriate. They have a good children's menu, from grilled cheese to a fruit plate. Also, they happily accommodate small children with crayons and a place mat. This is unusual in higher end restaurants. Recommended. (Jan 2008)

Space Needle Restaurant (Seattle, WA)

The Steps (Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, WA)

In one word: Wow. Our 13 year old son found this gem while trying to find a good place to eat. This is a fairly spendy place, but you get what you pay for. Needless to say, we will be back next time we are in Friday Harbor. Very highly Recommended. (Aug 2006)

The Stinking Rose (San Francisco, CA)

It sounded enticing, since we are garlic lovers. But, we found out that it's just a tourist trap. Our 13 year-old daughter loved the garlic ice-cream, but the experience was mediocre at best. There are so many good restaurants in SF, so don't waste your time on this one. Not Recommended. (March, 2006)

Thai Ginger (Portland, OR)

Good Thai food, good prices, and great service. Has zero atmosphere, but so many other strong points being in a small strip mall type setting is not a detractor. Recommended. (2005)

Widmer Gasthaus (Portland, OR)

German influenced pub food at it's best. Think of McMenamins, but two or three steps better food-wise. Only small gripe I have is sometimes Widmer has less-than-stellar beer. We have been here many times since it is consistently good, and sometimes quite busy. Recommended. (Nov 2006)

Village Market and Deli (Newport, Oregon)

This is a neat little wine/cheese market and Deli. Atmosphere is great, and the food enjoyable as well. The owners are nice people to chat with. Located on Nye Beach. Be sure to check out the wine bar which they own with their son, just down the street. Highly Recommended. (Dec 2006)

Yachats River House (Yachats, Oregon)

This *could* be an excellent restaurant. However, our lunch there was not stellar. The service was very slow, but quite friendly. I don't hold the slow service against them, since they were horribly understaffed. The burgers were quite good, served on a great sourdough bun. The beef was top quality. Their version of Philly cheese steak is perfect. When it comes to desserts, they mostly fall flat. I had the cheese plate, which was microscopic. It had 4 or 5 tiny slices of cheese, with a price of $10.00. Honestly, there was about 50 cents of cheese on the plate. My wife had the flourless cake, which was also very, very small. Sure, if they dropped the prices of these to $4.00, that would be appropriate. On the good side, the Creme Brulee was fantastic. Outside seating is available, with a fantastic view. We will be back sometime to try dinner. I have a feeling that is where they shine. See them on the web at http://www.yachatsriverhouse.com/ . Conditionally Recommended. (July 2007)