THE WOODSMAN TAVERN - PDX

Last week my husband and I had the chance to spend some quality time with family in beautiful Portland, Oregon.  While we ate in a few good restaurants, see my next post -"Honorable Mentions - PDX", the stand out meal was at
The Woodman Tavern Restaurant and Bar
4537 SE Division Street
Portland Oregon
971-373-8264
www.woodsmantavern.com
The meal here is everything the name implies, not for the vegetarian crowd.  Luckily non of us are vegetarians.  We started with a round of drinks that included a yummy rum cocktail served in a saucer glass called a Bermuda Yacht Club.

The waiter explained that while they would try their best with my meal, there still is gluten in the kitchen.  He helped me order and we kept it simple, no sauces or fried anything to be safe.



We started with an octopus appetizer.  Well made, not chewy or over done.  They were very tender morsels of deep sea treasure that melted in your mouth.  I tried one each of the 4 kinds of local oyster they had on hand.  These were four of the freshest and sweetest oysters I've ever tasted.  Like eating pure sea butter.


For entrees Joel (my BIL) ordered the Braised Rabbit, presented and consumed with great care.

My husband, Danny, had the Crisy Pork Shank.  Slowly braised for hours and then finished in the frier.  He was in hog heaven.

Minnie (my dear MIL) and I opted for the Whole Roasted Trout.  Deboned perfectly, not one piece of cartilage left behind. Moist, flavorful and a pleasure to eat.

Adding the outstanding selection of great local brews and wines and this place wants for nothing.
Now for the dessert.  We consumed them so fast I couldn't get a picture.  There were 2 key lime pies with a coconut and ginger crust - gluten free! - now just empty jars.

Bottom Line -
Cost for oysters, appetizer, 4 entrees, 2 desserts, 2 rounds of drinks & tip (no tax) was $220.
Would I eat there again - next time I'm in PDX
Decor is dark wood like a hunting club, very tastefully done.  Nice romantic spot for carnivores.
We dined on Tuesday July 24, 2012

JOSEPH LEONARD

Joseph Leonard
170 Waverly Place
646-429-8383
www.josephleonard.com


On this Thursday Annie and I tried a place recommended by Annie's sister Susie.  As Susie said "Girrrlll, you've gotta have one of their drinks"  followed by and the food was . . .
So off we went - west on Christopher Street, where the streets intersect in ways that only occur in the West Village of Manhattan, until we came to Waverly Place.

From the outside the place seems very small but once you become part of the dining room it seems to open up wide.  We sat on the second tier by an open window overlooking a triangle of green on Christopher Street.

Girl - the drinks.  The cocktails are fresh, inventive and hard to choose a single one.  But choose we did and settled on a K'Naan which came with a very nice story about its creation and naming.  It has dark rum, maple syrup and smoked pineapple - 3 of my favorite things.  The smoke flavor was unusual.

We started with appetizer's.  I had deviled eggs on an arugula salad with white anchovy.  The eggs were cooked perfectly with yolks of creamy goodness flavored with just he right amount of dijon mustard to give it a bite but not enough to linger too long.  They were served atop a bed of delicately dressed arugula and halved grape tomatoes.  Annie had 6 of the freshest oysters, from MA. She paired them with a nice spinach and parmesan salad dressed in just the right amount of balsamic and herbs

The smokey pineapple didn't set right with Annie so when I ordered my second K'Naan, she ordered a glass of Rose Cava served in a saucer type champagne glass.  We loved the kitsch of the glass - it so fit the ambiance of the restaurant.  As we sat their sipping our drinks and waiting for our entrees I felt like I was sitting in a restaurant in Grand Case, St Martine. Yes - its that kind of good.

For entree Annie had crispy braised pork hock. It was a pork shank that was so tender it just fell off the bone atop a bed of arugula.

I ordered the skate wing (fish) atop frisee.  It came to the table breaded, as I held my breath and pointed, Andrew the waiter said "rice flour".  I just about squealed in delight - delicious.




We were served a side order of shredded and sautéed brussell sprouts lightly topped with sriracha.  Again delicious.


So we ate past room for dessert once again. Surprise!


I think I want to have dinner here for my birthday.










Bottom line
Dinner with 4 drinks, 3 appetizers, 2 entrees tax and tip $170.00
Would I eat hear again - Definitely
Special feature - The ambiance of the entire establishment is fabulous.
We dined on June 14, 2012