Dave Knows Portland

Restaurant Review: Trébol

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Trebol LogoActually, I was going to write more before I checked out Rick’s beerdrinker.org; he posted a review yesterday and his experience is very close to mine.

Trébol is located up on 4835 N. Albina, just a few blocks from the heart of the Mississippi area.

Like Rick, we enjoyed our cocktails (I recommend La Loca and the Sangria Trébol made with red wine).

We ordered several appetizers; pico de gallo with a few homemade corn chips, calamari with a delicious banana/plantain polenta-like cake of some sort, and the guacamole. All were excellent, but the portions were meager.

I enjoyed the caldo, which was full of calamari, clams, fingerling potatoes and peppers. But at $17.50, it seemed a bit steep.

The asparagus enchiladas looked fantastic; that’s what I should have ordered 🙁

I’ll go back; I’d like to try some of the more traditional fare. But I’m not sure if they’ll last long. Not that they asked me, but my prescription for Trébol success? Lower prices 25-30%, or increase the portions by 50%.

Restaurant Review: Fenouil

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Fenouil LogoI visited Fenouil in the Pearl recently.

The big, modern and airy space was bustling and First-Thursday crowded. We sat outside on the patio looking onto Jamison Square.

We shared several appetizers:

The lobster beignets are as delicious as they sound; little fried lobster chunks with an anise-flavored aioli for dipping.

I tried my very first foie gras. It was served in a terrine with brioche and fig jam. It tasted like vanilla butter. Poor duck or goose 🙁

The steak tartare, with kobe beef and a quail egg on top, was mildy flavored and pleasant. My only point of comparison is a venison tartare I had in Montreal a couple years ago, which had a texture reminiscent of raw ahi and a stronger, more capery flavor.

For the main course I had the paella, which was fantastic. Prawns, halibut, chicken, clams, mussels, and chorizo! Try it.

We shared several bottles of a good Pinot Noir from Alloro Vineyard in the Willamette Valley. 2005 I think?

In lieu of dessert I ordered a flight of Calvados, which we passed around the table. My favorite was the Boulard, but the table’s consensus favorite was one that was 20 years old. Alas, I don’t remember the name . . .

The food is excellent, but in general not on par with Higgins (my Portland gold standard) and a bit more expensive. The service was great. I would definitely go back with a party again (especially if someone else is picking up the tab!); I’d like to try the frog legs and escargot; two classic dishes I have yet to try.

The bistrot menu (pdf) is Higgins-esque, and they have a happy hour, so I intend to check it out. There was no crowd at all in the bistrot around 6pm.