jake's famous crawfish

Jake's Famous Crawfish kicks off my ongoing "Stark Street Relief" series - rediscovering the burgeoning blocks between Ringler's Annex on Thirteenth and continuing down Stark Street to the freakishly hip Ace Hotel and the artsy Living Room Theaters at Tenth. I will be adding more coverage on the new Mcmenamins Hotel in downtown Portland, and I plan to check out Kenny and Zuke's deli as well as Clyde Commons. I will point out ways to enjoy the swank Living Room Theaters on the cheap.



Speaking of "on the cheap," I couldn't recommend Jake's happy hour more*. The star of the menu is the $1.95 Tillamook cheeseburger (!) with fries - FRIES, mind you! - complete with half a dill and mayo for dippin'. Also available for 2 bones is the spinach and artichoke dip, the blackened chicken sammich, pork pot stickers, shrimp spring rolls, tuna sushi rolls, and salmon cakes.

For 3.95:
Fried calimari
Buffalo chicken wings
Fried frog legs (interesting....)
Hawaiian BBQ pork ribs
Fried Shrimp

For 4.95:
Steamed mussels
Cod fish & chips
BBQ chicken quesadilla
Seafood soft tacos

The drinks aren't discounted (5 bucks a pint, but they have some unique selections on tap), but that's fine if you're just gonna grab a bite and a beer or two to kick off the night. Happy hour runs 4-6pm m-f, 9-close sun-thurs, and 10-close fri/sat. It can be hard to find a table at times; your best bet is to show up on a sunny day and enjoy sidewalk seating. I hear Jake's Grill down the street has similar deals, but I have yet to check it out.

SW 12th and Stark, downtown portland


*This is a lie. I could complain about the $5 pints, but that's just nitpicking.

goose hollow inn

The Goose Hollow Inn deck is amazing. If meeting up with friends and.or family on a pleasant day (or rainy, cold, windy, snowy day; doesn't matter, there's a covered and heated section) is your wont, tell 'em to meet you at the Goose Hollow. You can't go wrong here. It's across from the max station on SW 20th and Jefferson, directly off the Canyon Rd. exit on Sunset. The beers are served the way nature intended: in 20oz. imperial pints. The menu inspires indecision. The reuben is famous. The old men of Portland come here to smoke cigars and throw back cold ones undisturbed. This is former Portland mayor Bud Clark's institution since 1967.



There is no happy hour at the Goose Hollow Inn. Conversely, one might say the Goose Hollow is always in happy hour mode: everything is cheap. Go for the imperial pints of Henry's for 3 bucks (pitchers $6.75). Glasses of wine for less than $4. The reputable reuben is $8.75, the brisket of beef is $6.75, the turkey dip is 8 bucks. When I'm out with drinking buddies, because I'm a cheap-ass (hence this blog), I usually just go for the $2.50 garlic cheese bread and fill up on PBR ($2.50 imperials!) I will add more pictures of the deck shortly.

just sighted...

Two quick blurbs I've noticed on my errands about town. Kenny and Zuke's is opening a new bagel joint/deli this month in Northwest. The new location is by Food Front grocery at NW 24th and Thurman. I zipped by Joe's Cellar, NW 21st and Pettigrove, and couldn't help but notice they're advertising $2 burgers from 4-6pm. I can't vouch for their burgers as I haven't tried 'em, but I recall their French Dip to be quite toothsome.