Odell was an amazing server made sure we had everything we needed. he also made sure we got the…read moremeats we requested and it was delicious.

It's 11:30 on a Sunday morning, the doors open promptly, and my friends and I walk in. Parking was…read moreannoyingly difficult, as per usual, but we anticipated this and gave ourselves plenty of grace time. Once seated, our (mediocre) server fills our water glasses & takes our order/confirms what we will be eating. Today, half the party elects to take the market table only and the others get full churrasco. The restaurant was busy but not quite half full so there is room to walk b through (there are too many tables imo, it's hard to not get in someone's way). I got a little of everything, and enjoyed both a classic old fashioned and a passion fruit caipirinha. The pear & arugula salad was really good; loved the salmon and capers,; the mini waffles were soft and almost cinnamony; beef rib hash was fantastic! I liked the candied bacon but it is very sweet. I'll be back to go full churassco next time!

I wish there was more Brazilian food in Portland, besides Fogo de chao I've only seen one other…read moreplace and they closed down unfortunately. In my limited experience w/ Brazilian food, the flavors seem mild and comforting, not too spicy, a lot of beans/rice, meat & plantains. We tried the Tropiero which was like a breakfast bean&rice scramble w/ eggs & sausage and Coxhinha which were like arancini stuffed w/ shredded chicken, almost like samosas but with different breading. Both were delicious. The cart is located in a pod off Belmont, and they have a little tent w/ inside seating and heaters.

Brazilian is a distinct cuisine that is sadly underrepresented in Portland -- the only other…read moreBrazilian places I know of are a fancy steakhouse downtown and a chain coffeeshop in Beaverton. Nothing against those two, but this place is where to go for a scrumptious, filling, reasonably prices and authentic Brazilian meal, served by a charming chef who is fluent in English, Spanish and her native Portuguese. This is deep soul food, with some ingredients that look familiar -- black beans, collard greens -- yet taste different from the more common US preparations. Try the feijoada or the veggie plate or, for something very different, the moqueca. The flavors are all interesting but quite mild, although there is hot sauce available on request. It's part of a pod with other interesting-looking carts, including other South American cuisines, and a terrific beverage cart.

Came over for the first time to celebrate my birthday with a few friends. We were meeting for…read moreHappy Hour and was surprised how big the lounge area was. There were many large seating area available. One main cedar table was a big attraction. There is a fireplace with a table by it We got a table. I ordered a Borgona, fruit puree juices mix with Sprite. Never had one, but sounded really good. It came and it was delicious and fruity for a mocktail. We ordered a shrimp ceviche and octopus skewers to start out with. The Shrimp Ceviche was very delicious and it was something that I was very happy to share it with my friends. It was a big portion of shrimp cocktail with salsa on the bottom and these large sized blue chips. It was so good that we ate it quickly. Octopus skewers was a tad charred. Yet very delicious especially if you eat it with the pineapple together. Brings out the flavor of the pineapples quite well. We ordered the Pork Belly Tacos and Mole Shrimp Tacos which came in 3. I absolutely loved street tacos filled with good fresh ingredients. And both of these hot the spot. The pork belly was an absolute great flavor of the pork belly. The Shrimp was delicious. Cook perfectly and easy to devour quickly. DeFuego Nachos had Jalapenos. But wasn't listed. The nachos were delicious and it was quickly devoured. Wings came in 4 wings with garlic parmesan with carrots and celery and ranch on the platter. Heavily garlic on the wings yet very delicious. Half wedge salad was a surprise how much there is in the salad. A lot of fresh veggies there with cherry tomatoes and sliced radishes in it. I had a absolutely fun experience celebrating my birthday here. DeFuego had Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm, seven days out of the week. Seems the Happy Hour here is very popular. You have 21 appetizers to choose from on the Happy Hour Menu. There are Mocktails, and any drinks you want available. Definitely will come back again.

Shoot. Last night I took my boyfriend here to celebrate a special event & we left so disappointed!…read moreWe got there at 7:15 & we were stuck there for over 2 hours! I ordered 2 things and both came out wrong. Our waitress spoke very loudly and we could hear her having long personal conversations with people a couple tables away from us for 10+ minutes at a time, several times. While we waited for her, we ran out of water a few times and I had to ask for more. It was over an hour before our order was even taken. We did flag her down to order an appetizer, brussel sprouts with cheese on the side due to a dairy allergy, but... the sprouts came out with cheese on them. They corrected this fairly promptly, but then we sat for another 45 minutes before our order was actually taken. I ordered a steak as "somewhere between medium & medium well" and she correctly repeated my order back to me "medium/medium well." When the steak came out, it was WELL well done. Like, burnt. I wanted to send it back, but I didn't want to deal with the embarrassment or have to wait even longer for food. We were about an hour & 45 minutes into dinner by the time we got our food. I was so disappointed! I also wanted to get dessert to celebrate the occasion but the service was SO slow that we had to cancel our after-dinner plans. We ordered it anyway & requested the check promptly, giving up on our plans for the rest of the evening. We were only a party of 2, we arrived early for our reservation, & we watched several larger parties come and go while we waited for our order to even be taken. It was a Wednesday night and not overly busy, there were several empty tables, so I'm not sure what the hold up was. We were also seated at an odd table next to the kitchen with a small divider between us and the staff. It was noisy and I even heard 2 staff members exchange a joke about how someone else had left & said they'd never come back. They laughed about it. I wish I had the guts those people had to get up & leave! I've never once left less than a 20% tip and felt immense guilt not tipping well, but after experiencing the poor service then also hearing the staff blatantly acknowledge it & not care.... I was appalled. The Hilton bought the hotel attached to De Fuego and I'm shocked. This was a Monarch hotel before and I'd assume that the Hilton's standards would be higher but the service and quality here have tanked hopelessly low since the acquisition. I had a similar experience at The Underground before it closed. I've learned my lesson & won't come here for a special occasion again.

Some bulletpoints because theres so much to say! - hubby…read moreloved his So Real cocktail. He said "would drink 10." - Dungeness Crab Bruschetta was so so good! We recommended it to the table next to us, and they liked it too! - Mushroom soup was so smooth and delicious! Perfect mushroom flavor without tasting like dirt. - Beef Tounge was not for me (I really hate capers ). Also was not a fan, personally, of Blood Sausage. Hubby loved both so if thats your thing, you'd probably really like them! - The rest of the Asado Argentina for Two was AMAZING! - I put the chimicurri on everything and they were so nice and brought me an extra bowl of it AND extra togo!! Thank you!! - The wine selection was incredible! I had the '21 Sangiovese and it was so so good. - Our server was very familiar with the menu and gave us such a good description of the specials and each dish we asked about! - The rest of the staff was very nice and they took away dishes and cleaned our table (literally wiped away crumbs) from previous ones so quick. - The overall vibe was so cool! I really want to sit outside next time we visit! I will be recommending this place to everyone from now on!

Oh, the joy of Ox…read more It's become a staple -- the kind of place that quietly works its way into your rotation and then suddenly holds weight in your personal ranking whether you meant for it to or not. As of right now, it sits at number one for my dad and a few of my friends alike. For me? I'm not ready to crown it just yet. I need a few more visits, a few more comparisons against my usual haunts. But it's up there. No question. When I first moved to Portland almost a year ago, this was one of the spots that kept coming up. Highly recommended, spoken about with a kind of confidence that usually means it's either overhyped or the real deal. We went for Mother's Day. Then again for Father's Day. My parents loved it -- the kind of love that doesn't need explanation -- and honestly, I get it. The service is immaculate. Thoughtful, attentive, but never hovering. You feel taken care of in a way that's increasingly rare -- like the front of house actually wants you to have a good time, not just turn the table. There's a real sense of pride in what they're doing. The team feels aligned, almost symbiotic. Front of house lifting up back of house, back of house delivering in a way that makes that support feel earned. Whether that relationship is perfect behind the scenes or not, it reads as seamless from the outside. And the food -- it's just excellent. Cooked perfectly, consistently, without unnecessary theatrics. No foams, no gels, no overworked plating trying to prove something. Just honest, confident cooking over fire. The kind of food that reminds you how good simple things can be when they're done right. It's indulgent in the best way. The kind of meal that might even tempt a few vegans back to the dark side -- at least for a night. It's not cheap. Let's be clear about that. I don't go here casually, and I'm not pretending I do. Thanks, Mom and Dad. But it's the kind of place that's worth saving up for -- not just for the food, but for the experience. For some people, this might be a random Wednesday night. For most of us, it's something you plan for. And when you do, it delivers. It's special without making a big deal about being special. And that's exactly why it works.

Super cute new coffee shop- they offer a lot of different breakfast options! The açaí bowls were…read moreyummy, nothing special, but still tastes good- good price point too! The coffee was great though, star of the show! I also tried one of the coffee shakes, it was okay, a little too bland for me personally but I want to try their other options before I rule them out!

This was such a nice surprise to find! This Brazilian Coffee Shop has a nice simple and modern…read moreinterior, that is spacious. They even have a mini store on the side. Staff are professional. Food was great! Highly recommend!

Everything was so delicious, and the service was wonderful. It made my date night truly special--I…read moreloved every moment!

Dosalas is our new favorite happy hour spot! Coming up the stairs (there is an elevator too) you…read moreare welcomed into a massive space with gorgeous views of the river. We got a table on the covered patio. Adrian our server did an amazing job taking care of us. I started with the classic margarita and it was delicious! Smooth and flavorful. Next we tried the chunky guac and the Mexican street corn. The guac was really good, the onions and tomatoes brought the flavor to a great spot. The street corn was exquisite! The cheese level was spot on! We tried both the happy hour tacos and you can't go wrong with either. The shrimp tacos had a tasty tempura batter and the carne asada tacos were full of perfectly cooked little medallions. All the toppings were fresh and crisp. Everything was amazing. We can't wait to get back! Great location, great service, great food! Definitely try this happy hour out too!!!

The food is really good. The portions are a little small, but still the price is not unreasonable.read more

Delicious brazilian comfort food! Good in any weather and at time of the day, there are many…read moreoptions and it is always very yummy! Good prices too. Highly recommend.

El Gaucho has been on our list of Portland Restaurants that we had on our bucket list; we can now…read moreofficially share what an amazing experience we had. We were celebrating my wife's cousin's birthday. El Gaucho restaurant is located on the street level of The Benson Hotel on SW Broadway. You have the option to valet your car or right across the street you will find a local parking lot or if you are lucky you can search for street parking. As you walk in you are greeted by a door man, the staff we interacted with were over the top friendly and engaging. The interior is swanky with a wood tone, white tablecloths but not stuffy. We were seated quickly. The booth was on the street side wall near the bar area with open seating in the middle of the space, but know that the booth was a snug fit, in our next visit we will see if we can reserve an open table for a little more elbow room. This aside, you are entertained by the staff's theatrics around the old school serving theater, the flaming sword brochette is worth the view. They also had live music that gave that extra touch an ambiance. Our food, wow, you know the saying, you get what you pay for, well it was worth every cent. We ordered the Prawn Linguine, very ample serving of Linguine and very tasteful Prawns, we shared the wedge salad, it was very well prepared, I had the 14oz Peppercorn, New York Steak with a side order of the Wicked Shrimp, large Prawns sautéed in a spicy sauce, (its spicy) so beware, I loved them even with the kick. Our party also ordered the Standard 14oz New York, with sautéed mushrooms and spicy Brussel Sprouts. On top of all of this great food, we enjoyed the garlic toast, its amazingly tasty. We washed it all down with a 2014 Tempranillo-Malbec, a perfect red wine from our family members collection. If you have not experienced El Gaucho, don't wait too long, you are missing out.

Although the tableside salad is standardized, it can still be a hit or miss depending on the server…read morepreparing it. I had the best tableside salad here last year, and our waiter even personalized it by adding extra garlic. Unfortunately, things fell short during my most recent visit. The salad this time was very bland and barely garlicky, even though we specifically asked for extra garlic. Last year I didn't get a chance to try their off-menu porterhouse and was planning to order it this time. Unfortunately, they no longer offer it. The only off-menu option now is a sampler of three different cuts for over $100, which isn't worth it to me. I ended up going with the ribeye cooked medium rare as usual, but it was surprisingly chewy this time and even made my gums bleed a bit. One small thing I wish they would change: at other locations, the personalized menu is kept in a plastic sleeve, but here they roll it up and tie it with a ribbon. A common issue I've experienced at El Gaucho most of the time is that when the server pours water, it often drips onto the personalized menu. I hope they can be more careful since it gets messy and ruins something many guests like to keep as a souvenir. There has also been a huge price increase across the menu since my visit last year.

E A T. H E R E . if…read moreyou're like me and maybe live nearby and have driven by or scrolled passed thinking "looks cute but I'm in 'X' or 'Y' mood right now and I'm not all that familiar with South American or Cuban etc so you put it off another day... STOP. Come here IMMEDIATELY. I popped in for brunch on a Sunday, no wait, Sat right at the bar. Vibrant bright sun filling the place, upbeat tunes playing. Handful of tables occupied. The vibes were 10/10 I pulled up a barstool and the menu had a lot of solid, tempting options. I went with a pressed Cuban sandwich topped with fried egg, bacon strips, hollandaise and sliced avocado. Had a beer and a shit, tasty. It was PERFECT. I'm coming back again, frequently, before this place POPS OFF. Gotta be a regular for me going forward. It is just GREAT!!!

Enticed by all the good reviews for this place and a hankering for Latin American food, I needed to…read morecheck them out. They're quiet on a Friday afternoon. Their space is very colorful and has a lot of fun energy. Their menu is pretty focused but the items all sound very tasty. We went with an Empanada of the day, The Cubano, and the Bandeja. Their focused menu certainly paid off when you see how fresh and well-executed their dishes were. The empanada of the day was a mushroom and cheese. It's made fresh so the cheese was nice and gooey. Their crust is different from what I'm used to. It seems to be a mix of maize and cornmeal rather than flour. I think it gave a nice crunchy crust and slightly chewy inside. A bit small for the price though. The Cubano was again made fresh. Bread was nice and crispy. Inside was filled with hearty meat and cheese. A solid sandwich, especially when paired with their pico de gallo. The start of the meal was easily the Bandeja. You can choose between chicken and flat iron steak for the Bandeja; we went with the steak and we weren't disappointed. It's cooked medium-rare, making the steak super tender. The outside crust was well-seasoned and flavorful. The Plato came with a lot of other tasty things like a perfect over-easy egg, rice and beans, avocado, and the best chicharron I've had. It's small but packed a punch. The outside was crispy all around while the fat layer was still melt-in-your-mouth soft. This dish had everything, perfect for sharing. The staff were attentive and friendly. Happy hour is from 3-5PM on weekdays. All in all, we had an amazing meal and will be spreading the word of their goodness for sure.

Ya know, it's weird that this has been in my drafts for forever. But I like this place. I like that…read morethey were down with the açaí bowl situation before it was cool (or at least, before it became de rigeur and/or spread to the damp and drippy PNW). I started chowing down on smoothie bowls in sunny southern California and the majorest of major metros like Manhattan, and it seems like it took forever for the "trend" to spread to our rainy neck of the woods. One could certainly get wheatgrass shots every which where, but smoothie bowls, not so much. ANYWAY, Carioca Bowls was leading the vanguard of delish and genuine açaí bowls in PDX long before it was an expected food variety in all hippie-ish towns in the US. Their bowls meet my exacting ingredient standards: Now that smoothie bowls have gone mainstream, many are just lightly disguised dessert with "health food" marketing: Hidden sweeteners and grody additives pushed on the unsuspecting hoi polloi ruin it for people who don't do their homework. But not Carioca Bowls: You can ACTUALLY get an unsweetened açaí bowl if that's your jam (it's mine: If I wanted dessert, I'd get a cupcake), and they don't drown the top in honey (honey has its place, and that place is far away from me), and drink in the extremely second-wave granola vibes while you're at it. Third-wave hippie food, like third-wave coffee shops, have suffered a loss of soul: Minimalist design, LED lighting, and cookie-cutter staff with vaseline smiles beckoning "welcome in!" with vacant looks in their eyes have sapped a lot of the joy from the spaces serving hippie food and matcha tea. Carioca Bowls remains a comfortingly messy, quirky callback to sincerity: Murals, houseplants, low lighting, a big messy garden-y space outdoors for sitting and chowing, organic unfussy aesthetics that make the whole scene just feel welcoming and comfy. You can eat your bowl here and not feel like you're a nuisance to the staff, or like there's a glaring spotlight on you (unlike SOME smoothie/juice/bowl places I could mention). Nary a whiff of extruded white plastic ANYWHERE in this place. It makes me feel at home, the way a wheatgrass-sniffin', long-hair-havin', big-hug-givin' hippie should feel. When I walk through the door, I feel RELAXED, ya know what I mean? Anyway, give it a try - this isn't my 'hood but I will still occasionally make a pilgrimage just to get a bowl and drink in the vibes. So if I were writing a Michelin guide (buy those tires!) I suppose I'd give this at least a star, as it's worth a special trip (IF you're into what I've described here - it's highly specific, but it's MY vibe). Anyway, long live Carioca Bowls!

Carioca Bowls -- Portland, OR…read more Hard for me not to be biased here. Richard and his crew are massive supporters of the Portland Pilots Men's Basketball program, and loyalty matters. That said--support alone doesn't earn berries. After 8 months in Portland, I've unintentionally become an Açaí connoisseur. I've tasted bowls that are icy, overly sweet, under-blended, and frankly... fraudulent. Carioca Bowls is none of that. Let's be clear: this is the standard. My go-to order is the Rose City Bowl (add peanut butter)--a move I highly recommend to anyone serious about their craft. The balance is elite. The texture is smooth but substantial. Every ingredient earns its place. Is this the best Açaí bowl in the world? Honestly... it might be. But the mission is bigger than Portland. I'm on a global quest to find the best Açaí bowl on the planet--and for now, Carioca Bowls is the bar everyone else is chasing. Rating 4.9 / 5 Açaí Berries (Perfect scores are reserved. The world is big) Breakdown Ingredients: 5/5 Taste: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Serving Size: 5/5 Current World Ranking: Top Tier. Benchmark Status. -- The Açaí Guy