Happy Hour at Halibuts - Fish, Chips, and Chowdah for Only a Couple of Clams

Fooditka and I finally got around to checking out The Original Halibuts the other day.  We've been meaning to go pretty much since we arrived in town; we pass by it almost everyday, as it's right in our neighborhood, and we know they have a happy hour deal.  I'm actually surprised it took us so long to get there, but you know what they say: you can't eat all of the places all of the time.  Well sometimes good things are worth the wait, and this was one of those times.  Let's get to it.

Atmosphere:

Halibuts is in a great location, between 25th and 26th street on Alberta.  There are a lot of other restaurants, bars and shops nearby, keeping the area pretty busy.  Halibuts fits right in.  Like many of the establishments along that stretch of Alberta, it has its own unique style that also vibes well with the rest of the neighborhood. The restaurant is split into two sections; half of the place is a no-frills fish and chips counter and a couple of tables, and the other half is a bar/lounge type of place that features live music Thursday through Saturday Night.  The lounge half is called Halibuts II, and that's were we sat.  It's a nice space with a bunch of tables, and a lot of posters and artwork that reflect all of the live blues music that goes on there.  It was still happy hour time so there wasn't any live music, but the bartender/waitress had her Pandora going, and it was pretty chill.  There were several people inside, also presumably taking advantage of the happy hour.  

Food:

The reason we went in was for a nice piece of fried cod and a basked of french fries, but Halibuts has plenty to offer outside of fish and chips.  The happy hour menu has quite a few selections on it including clam chowder, oyster shooters, coconut prawns and a few other things.  Well drinks and Long Island Ice Teas are discounted, and there's a pint of PBR for $1.50.  Between the two of us, we hit most of the menu.

Clam Chowder - The chowder, CHOW-DAH! as Freddie Quimby would say, was very good.  I'm a fan of clam chowder, especially New England style, but I rarely get it, so this was a treat.  Rich and creamy, and mighty flavorful, I regret not getting my own cup and only having a bit of Fooditka's.  If I would have any criticism of it, I'd say it could be a bit chunkier, with some more chewy bits of clam in there, but I'm nitpicking now. It's a solid chowder for sure.

Coconut Prawns - These were delicious as well.  The coating was perfect, and the cocktail sauce was out of this world.  It was super heavy on the horseradish, which made each crunchy bite of prawn all the more exciting.  They cost $1.25 a piece, but they were pretty big and mighty delicious.  I would have gotten another, but we ordered plenty of food, so I'll have to wait till next time.

Oyster Shooters - Another bullseye, the oysters themselves were some of the biggest, plumpest I've ever eaten.  Seriously, they were huge, to the point of being almost intimidating.  Served in a dixie-cup with some of that rocket-fuel cocktail sauce, they went down very easily.  Fortune smiled upon me somehow, as the waitress brought me two instead of just the one I ordered, so I got to double down.  Yum.

Fish and Chips - Finally.  After all that goodness, I thought we might not have room for the main dish.  We did though, not to worry.  Any of the fish can be cooked gluten-free, and it costs the same as gluten-full, so I opted for the no gluten option.  Fooditka got the traditional variety, and I'll say hers definitely looked like the tastier of the two.  Mine was really good, though.  The cod is incredibly white and flaky, and the overall crunch and flavor of the batter was right on.  The tartar sauce was also terrific, with a tangy creaminess that complements the crunch impeccably.  It's like they have their own genius saucier on retainer cranking out these diabolical twists on traditional condiments.  The other half of the dish, the chips, were as well executed as the rest of the food, and went equally well with both the tartar and cocktail sauces.  The happy hour portion is one piece of cod in a decent sized basket of fries.  Other varieties of fish are available, in either full or half orders that you order off the regular menu.

Service and Cost:

The waitress/bartender was by herself, but she did a fine job, and all of our food came out quick and hot.  She was friendly and polite, and took good care of us.  As we stuck to the happy hour menu, the final bill was totally palatable at around $15 for the food, plus the drinks.  I can't wait to go back.

3 Mmmms

The Original Halibuts - 2525 NE Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211

503.808.9600

theoriginalhalibuts.com

Boxer Ramen - Salty, Porky Bowl of Yum

I've been eager to try Boxer Ramen for a while but now I had all the more reason to when I found out it moved to our neighborhood in Northeast Portland.  Known to be a legit place to get delicious Japanese-style ramen, Boxer is a no frills type of place but totally worth it if you're craving something flavorful, warm and comforting.  Now that it's in my neck of the woods, I'll surely be back.

Atmosphere:
Located across the street from local favorites such as Bollywood Theater and Salt & Straw, Boxer Ramen is centrally located but also kind of hidden from view (unless you know where to look).  Its signage is very subtle and even when you walk through its doors, you first have to pass through an open air walkway before stepping inside.  Once you do, you'll be welcomed by a modest sized dining room that's on the narrow side.  Most of it is occupied by an open kitchen where you see your food being made and a long bar alongside it.  There are a few tables along the windows that seat at a maximum of four people, but overall Boxer is more suitable for smaller groups.

Food:
We knew what we came for and didn't mess around, both getting the classic Tonkotsu-Shio ramen.  A little sweet bite rounded out this overall delicious experience.

Tonkotsu-Shio Ramen - Interested in trying their signature creation made up of savory pork broth, hefty chunks of pork belly, scallions and a soft poached egg, I wasn't disappointed.  The portion was generous and its contents looked colorful in the deep bowl.  My favorite part was the broth which boasted lots of deep, meaty (and smoky) flavor from the pork.  While the pork belly was delicious, there was so much of it that I had to hold back a little due to all that salt content.  Dan agreed that the dish was excellent but salty.

Chocolate Coconut Mochi - After all that savoriness, we were ready for something sweet and decided to share a modest portion of chocolate/coconut mochi.  It was the perfect little bite, as it wasn't overly sweet but refreshing and vibrant.  The gelatinous crust, which makes this mochi was a perfect complement to the chilled creamy inside.  

Service and Cost:
Being that this location of Boxer Ramen is very new, the staff still has to get their bearings, but they're doing the best they can.  Our server was kind and paid attention to how we were doing, even if it did take her a little while to get us our check.  

Costs are moderate for a ramen place, but definitely justified for the deliciousness they serve.  Our meal set us back about $25 total, including tip which is pretty solid for a weekend dinner.

3 Mmmms

Boxer Ramen - 2038a Alberta Street, Portland OR 97211
503.946.1619
boxerramen.com