Jace Gace

name
Jace Gace

website
http://www.jacegace.com/

cuisine
Waffles

quadrant
SE

where exactly
2045 SE Belmont

what's unique
waffles, beer, & art ... enough said.

what to order
waffles, both savory and sweet, are unusual and tasty

fun fact
according to the website, "jace gace was one hell of a hang glider pilot..."

my short and sweet opinion
go with someone who can appreciate this eclectic space, and share one savory waffle and one sweet waffle

pros
great for a cozy, late morning saturday breakfast indulgence

cons
hours of operation are 8am-3pm everyday - i figured the beer and art would keep them open later

Nuestra Cocina

name
Nuestra Cocina

website
http://www.nuestra-cocina.com

cuisine
upscale mexican (yes i realize this is an oxymoron)

quadrant
SE

where exactly
2135 SE Division St

what's unique
specialty margaritas are served in wine glasses but oh so delicious

what to order
anything with the red mole sauce - spicy and flavorful; for dessert, definitely order the chocolate pound cake with cinnamon ice cream

fun fact
restaurant is designed to have an open kitchen - you can eat at the counter overlooking the kitchen, which i definitely recommend for a fun experience

my short and sweet opinion
great upscale mexican cuisine, which can be hard to find; great atmosphere

pros
menu, nightly specials, margaritas, open kitchen, dessert

cons
they provide complimentary, small, handmade corn tortillas with salsa - very good but they don't give you enough tortillas

Ken's Artisan Pizza

name
Ken's Artisan Pizza

website
http://www.kensartisan.com/pizza

cuisine
Sit-down pizza restaurant

quadrant
SE

where exactly
304 SE 28th Ave (at corner of Pine St.)

what's unique
Ken's also has a bakery located in the NW (Ken's Artisan Bakery)

what to order
any pizza - they are all amazing; make sure to pair with a bottle of red

fun fact
voted #10 restaurant in Portland for 2007 by Portland Monthly magazine

my short and sweet opinion
yum! yum! yum! and great in the summer when all the windows are open

pros
great atmosphere, high quality pizza, variety of wine options, yummy desserts

cons
hmm, it's far from the bakery? (not really a con, it is definitely worth the drive)

Castagna

name
Castagna

website
http://www.castagnarestaurant.com

cuisine
Italian & French Inspired

quadrant
SE

where exactly
1752 SE Hawthorne Blvd

what's unique
Castagna has a restaurant and an adjacent cafe with a more casual ambiance

what to order
the pizza - i believe the primary ingredients are tomato, basil, and cheese

fun fact
voted #5 restaurant in Portland for 2007 by Portland Monthly magazine

my short and sweet opinion
i have only indulged at the cafe which is cozy, yet trendy - great vibe and service

pros
the next door cafe is open later than the restaurant, for late night eats

cons
...

Pok Pok

name
Pok Pok

website
http://www.pokpokpdx.com

cuisine
Thai

quadrant
SE

where exactly
3226 SE Division St

what's unique
not your typical Thai restaurant; the chef emulates food served by Thai street vendors in Thailand

what to order
the wings

fun fact
voted #2 restaurant in Portland for 2007 by Portland Monthly magazine

my short and sweet opinion
Pok Pok is a definitely a must-eat; my fave Portland eatery!

pros
Whiskey Soda Lounge adjacent to restaurant, atmosphere, food, service, you name it...

cons
there can be a long wait, especially on weekends