My new favorite breakfast spot

I love breakfast. We usually end up going out for breakfast once over a normal non-traveling weekend. Some friends invited us to go to the Veritable Quandry (VQ) for breakfast -- actually, brunch. I'd been there for lunch and dinner -- both wonderful, but now I'm a breakfast fan. VQ is the quintessential downtown Portland restaurant with truly NW cuisine and has been in business for nearly 40 years. Not your typical buffet style brunch, the breakfasts are ordered on the menu and are very reasonably priced. I finally hit the jackpot with the "Kings Choice"; it has everything I want in a breakfast, but must order ala carte, since they rarely make a group appearance as one menu item. King’s Choice: Two Eggs Any Style, French Toast, Crisp Potato Cake & Bacon 12. I will refer to it as "Queen's choice, since I can also get those two eggs poached! The potato cakes are crispy and flavorful and the bacon lean, thick and crispy and they use local eggs. Phil had fabulous Eggs Benedict with a twist: porkloin Eggs Benedict on Alonso’s House Made English MuffinHouse Smoked Porkloin, Hollandaise & Crisp Potato Cake 13. Try the Dungeness Crab Benedict too. Don't expect your best cup of coffee there though -- head over to Stumptown on 3rd and Pine for that.

Beautiful, interesting building and decor. Go there with friends or family who are in town or for a better-than-your-average weekend breakfast. Dress casual and make reservations.
http://www.veritablequandary.com/

Autentica Mexican Restaurant Review

I am constantly on the lookout for master margarita mixers! Autentica has one of the best fresh from scratch (no icky sweet and sour mixes) margarita. It is a healthy-sized drink which makes it also very reasonably priced at $8. I would come back for the house margarita alone, by why when I can come back for the spectacular food too? This was our second time there and this time I was even more impressed. My husband and I are both suckers for good ceviche and we found, again, some of the best at Autentica http://autenticaportland.com/. Apparently they just added this particular version to the menu and I made sure to tell them it was a hit. The dish: Three large very fresh and tender scallops marinated in lime juice just enough to keep the very inside slightly pink. It was topped with well-hydrated, green and fragrant cilantro; a perfectly ripened half an avocado; finely chopped red peppers, and red onions -- a hearty appetizer for two. On to dinner: Phil had a fabulous flank steak on a bed of juicy pinto beans. I had the fresh fish of the night -- rock fish -- that was so tender and moist, next to a bed of another kind of moist beans and fluffy white rice and cilantro. The meals were perfectly cooked; hot at the table; well-presented, and filling. We were pleasantly full...until dessert! I ordered a slice of cake that I saw go by to another table. It looked better than it tasted - not bad; but not memorable. We then walked out uncomfortably full!

A few things worth mentioning
They have many great standard dishes, some of which are specialities -- experiment!
The service can be very slow on a busy night, but when they arrive at the table they are very gracious and attentive.
It can be very busy on the weekends so reservations are recommended.
It is also very open and loud so you and your party will be competing for radio waves!
Not strong in the dessert department, but that's okay - spend your calories on the good stuff!
Highly Recommended! Que' rico!