On our way to a wedding in Hood River this summer, Jon and I stopped in Portland for lunch.
Every time I go to Portland, I love it more and wonder why we don’t live there rather than Seattle. I’m always struck by how funky it is (like how Seattle used to be) and how they don’t take themselves very seriously (like how Seattle used to not).
Stopping at The Original restaurant made me ponder this question once again. Definitely funky. And definitely not serious. This diner on 6th Avenue downtown serves up diner-like food that’s been upgraded to true adult status.
We arrived just as the Friday early-bird happy hour was starting so we got to sample some truly delicious (and interesting) small plates from the special menu.
First, we dug into the poutine which included french fries, cheese curds and (veggie) gravy. This dish, which originated in Quebec, is popular throughout Canada. I was happy to try it out given that the gravy was vegetarian-friendly.
It was just as you might imagine. The thin-cut fries were perfectly crisp despite being slathered in gravy and overall it was an indulgent treat of comfort food.
What we weren’t expecting to be good but ordered it at our waiter’s insistence were the cheese curd stuffed pretzels (photo at top). I do like my pretzels but usually from a vendor on the streets of NYC. Despite my prejudice, we couldn’t stop ourselves from eating these.
We also tried the chickpea and quinoa burger – it was a little too much bun for me (as most burgers are) but the patty itself was quite tasty.
These 3 items (and a beer and a half for Jon) were more than enough for the 2 of us for a late afternoon lunch. The portions were large and we couldn’t even finish a few of those delicious pretzels and some of the poutine.
We may not be large eaters, but even those with bigger appetites can get away with a small bill, especially at happy hour (2-6 on Friday, 4:30-6 Mon-Thurs). Prices are super cheap ($5 for each of these 3 appies!) and well worth stepping out of your foodie comfort zone to try some truly interesting food.
Details:
The Original
300 SW 6th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
Phone: 503-546-2666
Enjoy!