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Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Conin Mexican Cuisine

This article was intended to be run in the December issue of the SW Connection. Through a series of rather bizarre lapses in communication, it was not included. Beyond that, our relationship with the paper has now been severed. We wish the Southwest Connection and it's new Editor, Mr. Bill Gallagher the very best in the new year. Mr. Gallagher, by the way, is starting a "Letters to the Editor" column. If you wish to contact him: bgallagher@pamplinmedia.com

Okay then... In mid-September I received a tip from a reader, Katie Songer, about a place here in Southwest Portland that was simply not on my radar in any way. One of the reasons for that, I suppose, is that it’s a little bit difficult to find, even when you know the address on Barbur Blvd. Honestly, I looked, and looked and even drove right past it several times without seeing it. Part of that had to do with the direction I was traveling in. I was heading South on Barbur, knowing that it had to be on the West side of the street to my right, however the place is most cleverly tucked away in a small cluster of shops. To see it when heading South, is very much like merging onto the Ross Island Bridge off of Natio. You have to know how situate your car perpendicularly to do it, right? In the case of finding Conin Mexican Cuisine for the first time, head North, notice that the UPS store is on your right, and look to the left. There it is! Ta-da!

Let it be known, Conin Mexican Cuisine is a destination I’m only reluctantly sharing with you. The reason I hesitate is that, once known, it’s going to be much harder to get in. Fortunately, they offer reservations.

Georgina and I decided to have dinner early on Saturday night. The wind was blowing, and, because I’d just had the car washed, a light rain was beginning to fall. It was already dark in anticipation of the time-shift taking us back an hour. Not having been to Conin before, we could only hope that our intrepid, five-minute journey into the desperate wilds of Southwest Portland would be rewarded with something more than just okay.

Because of our early timing, we were the first people in the place, and, frankly, entering an empty restaurant can have something of a chilling effect, if you know what I mean? Gah, perhaps it was empty for a reason! How wrong that possibility turned out to be. To be clear, stepping in out of the weather we found ourselves in the cozy, quite beautiful interior: traditional Mexican music played gently in the background. In one corner over the full bar, two flat screens silently displayed soccer and football. By way of the time of the year, there was a lovely Ofrenda (Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead - offering table) set up against one wall, honoring those who are no longer with us. In this simple welcoming environment, we felt immediately at home and were greeted most warmly. What a great intimate place this would be for a party!

I started with a stellar Margarita served in a Mason jar with a handle. Georgina had a Pacifico from the tap. To keep us happily occupied while we made our decisions, fresh corn chips were placed on the table along with an excellent salsa, which thankfully contained only a hint of cilantro (allergic, you see). I ordered Tacos de Pescado: three slightly crispy shells generously filled with fish and the house’s special toppings, sprinkled with cotija cheese. Georgina had the carne asada version. Each of these dishes, and I cannot stress this enough, were O.M.G. extraordinary and delicious. Oh, and did I mention the churros made-to-order in-house? I should have!  

Katie, closed her letter to me with this, “…since we love it so much, we selfishly want it to thrive so it'll stay in business and we can keep eating there for many years.” Well I couldn’t agree more, however, Katie I would suggest this is something of a double-edged sword. An hour or so later when Georgina and I were leaving, the dining room was very nearly packed, and other rain-drenched cars were eager to contest the spot we were making available in the small parking area. People who know about Conin – know about Conin.

Rating: Extraordinarily Sincere

For reservations call: 971-808-5627
9111 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219
Site: http://www.coninpdx.com  

DIGG


If you know of a business or person anywhere on the planet you think might meet our criteria please send their information to me jon@searching4sincerity.com. I can’t promise to write about them though, as that in itself would be, well, you know… insincere.

Monday, April 4, 2011

The Legend of Tian at the Riverbank

Thursday night Georgina and I went out seeking a legendary dance location. No, it's not that it's a legend in the community only spoken of in hushed voices... not that kind of legend, but rather the sort of swing-dance-community legend where word was passed around that a big band was playing in a somewhat obscure place (to us) that was expensive and flashy, but would not make you buy anything but a soda to try out the small dance floor.

We headed to the west side of Harlem with the voice of the GPS telling us in sullen tones that we needed to go over the Triboro bridge (Calling it the RFK Bridge sounds wrong to me) when we wanted to go over the Queensborough Bridge (Calling it the Ed Koch bridge is ridiculous, and I will never do it). Still we kept going, though our hopes were muted by endless shops, apartments, and chain stores that can be found anywhere in the city. Finally arriving at the corner of 145 and Riverside (all the address we had) was a bit of a disappointment. Nothing there that looks like a restaurant, and 145 dead-ends into Riverside State Park! We only chanced to see a driveway leading into the park. There was guard shack containing a guard. We stopped at the shack and asked in tremulous voices if there was a restaurant hidden somewhere down there. Lo and behold - he said, yes!

Tian at the Riverbank has free valet parking. In the darkness of the evening the restaurant's rounded face is elegantly lit, and, for those of us who are not made of money, just the least bit intimidating. The light emanating from the interior was tinged blue with electricity, and entering felt as if we just might be treading on ground reserved for the elite. That feeling ended as the doors swung wide and swing music washed over us. One of the hosts came and greeted us, asking if we wanted dinner. When we declined, without even a pause she directed us to a table near the dance floor. We found a few friends already there, some eating, others making use of the beautifully polished wooden floor. I ordered a glass of wine and Georgina ordered seltzer with lime. Making a quick calculation based on my surroundings, I figured we'd spend twenty bucks plus tip for the waiter and another few dollars for the valet. Seemed generally fair enough, considering. But the music! The music being delivered to our ears by the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra was fantastic, smooth and perfect for dancing. The people in the place, and I mean all of them. were welcoming, talkative and friendly. We had an amazing time, and we will be going back soon. The final bill was $8.00 - I left a generous tip for both the waiter and the valet and still came out way ahead. We checked the menu and the prices are actually very reasonable - the earlier talk of it being expensive notwithstanding - an urban myth it seems.

Now the legend is of the other kind, spoken of in revered (though not hushed) tones. We're telling our friends as I'm telling you - This place is, in my...

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere! - and I recommend it highly


Digg!

Tian at the Riverbank 
679 Riverside Drive 
New York, NY 10031 
Phone:

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Wo Hop Chinese Restaurant

This is one of those places in the city that you just have to go to in order to understand the allure, and strangely there are two uniquely different locations in the same spot. There is the upstairs restaurant - on the street level where you can walk in - sit down and and have some average Chinese food that you can probably get just about anywhere, and then there's downstairs where the food is freakin' amazing! The waiters are not all that friendly, but the service is good and the kitchen is fast. We've asked about the difference in food quality only to be stoically informed that everything comes out of the same kitchen!
I kid you not - the guy at the cash register, who passed us this bit of information, didn't so much as grin or blink at the blatant lie, but I'm telling you - the truth is in the chop-sticks. Whether you take my word for it or not - upstairs and downstairs the prices are the same - which is to say very reasonable. But the thing is - if you do go downstairs you will most certainly want to write home and tell mom about it. Also, one other thing: in the world of home town sincere advertising you can buy a Wo Hop t-shirt in white or black sporting a v-cool red dragon on it (next best thing to a red dragon tattoo without the needles) for a mere $6.00

Evaluation: Pretty sincere

Digg! 

17 Mott Street, New York - (212) 566-3841



Monday, June 14, 2010

Tecolote Cafe - Santa Fe, NM

This is simply the best place for breakfast in Santa Fe, and perhaps anywhere. Friendly is what best describes the atmosphere. It was one of our favorites, and when we lived in SF we went often. Bill and Alice would make it a point to come around to say hello and spend a few moments to share what was going on in their lives, and to find out what was happening in ours. This was not a sales ploy but rather a genuine interest in who was visiting their cafe. It always felt very much like visiting the kitchen of dear friends. Of course these friends made sure to place a large basket of freshly made muffins (lovingly baked by Alice) on every table, and when breakfast was delivered by staff members who clearly loved their jobs it was always perfection on a plate. (Just give me eggs and green chile and I'll be happy...) True, we haven't been there in a few years, but our friends  in town continue to go and rave the reviews continue on. Tecolote is nothing less than a legend, and when in Santa Fe it is quite simply - a must.

Just before writing this I discovered, with great sorrow, that Bill passed away just a month ago in May as a result of an earlier fall. What a loss to the community. We shall keep Alice and the rest of their family in our thoughts. I'm sure that under the family's sure guiding hands Tecolote will continue to be what his vision first inspired in June of 1980.

Evaluation: Extraordinarily sincere!

Digg! 
www.avam.org
1203 Cerrillos Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87505
(505) 988-1362
http://www.tecolotecafe.com/