In the mood for some carby goodness, Dan and I recently dined at Mac! Mac and Cheesery, which we've known about even before we moved to this lovely city. Who doesn't love a good mac 'n cheese, really, so it's hard not to be in the mood for something this tasty and comforting.
Atmosphere:
Located on a busy commercial block on Mississippi Avenue, Mac! boasts a whimsical sign and logo and an overall friendly facade. On a warm day, you'll notice people dining outside and the inside being virtually empty, which was the case when we went in as well. The outdoor is inviting, as the tables occupy a wide sidewalk area that's also shared with the sushi restaurant next door, and together with the other stores on that busy block. This all makes for good people watching, which gives Mac! yet another draw, but even if you decide to dine inside, you'll have a pleasant experience.
Food:
Mac and cheese is of course the star of the show here and there are over a dozen different varieties to choose from - some more inventive than others. While there are other things on the menu as well, Dan and I knew why we came and ordered different mac renditions.
Truffle Mac - Everything about this dish was music to my ears including the shaved prosciutto on top, mushrooms, peas and of course the truffle oil. While the latter ingredient was definitely felt, it wasn't overpowering and I admired their restraint. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the prosciutto gave it a little more sophistication and Italian flavor - an all around hit.
Chili Mac - Once thinking about this dish, it became so obvious to us, making us ask the question "why haven't we thought to make this before?!" Dan loved it and decided to supplement the regular pasta with a gluten free variety, which worked great next to the hearty meat sauce. The whole dish felt like a really complete meal and you almost forgot that it was just a bowl full of pasta. Loving the generous portion, it's a perfect thing to share with someone else or makes for good leftovers.
Bloody Mary - To go along with the comfort food theme, Dan also got a Miss Mary Mac! cocktail, which is Mac's! take on a classic Bloody Mary. Everything about it was delicious and just the way it should be, Dan said, even down to the slightly warm piece of bacon that floated on top.
Service and Cost:
Quite satisfied with the service, you order up at the counter and then have your food brought to your table. All this is well and good in certain restaurants in town only to later discover that your order has been delayed - but not here. Everything was done to a T and we got our mac in a mere 10 minutes. Much appreciated!
Costs are affordable and you get great bank for your buck with most of the mac dishes at just $8 or $9 a pop.
3 Mmmms
Mac! Mac and Cheesery - 3936 N. Mississippi Avenue Portland OR 97227
503.200.5787
macandcheese.biz
With another successful PDX Breakfast club meetup under my belt, I have yet another delicious breakfast haunt to share with you. It's called Milk Glass Market, which has actually been on my to-try list for a while. Burning such a proverbial hole in my food list, I suggested to the club's organizer that we try it and she was happy to oblige.
Atmosphere:
Set in the quaint and somewhat elusive North Portland neighborhood of Overlook, you'll find Milk Glass Market just a few blocks away from The Hop and Vine, which we also visited last week. Known for its breakfast treats, the cafe is open starting from 9 a.m. and has a pretty extensive and imaginative menu.
The interior is bright and cheery with clean, natural decor such as wooden cutting boards on the walls and vintage glass light fixtures and white porcelain dining-ware. There's plenty of tables in the main dining area, which makes it a good pit stop or a place for a business meeting for example. While this place can get busy, it's definitely not loud and I'd recommend stopping in for some peace and quiet. I must also mention that they have a fabulous private room in the back, which our organizer reserved just for our meetup. Being connected to the kitchen, it was most convenient and allowed us to enjoy stellar service including our own private coffee stash.
Food:
With a nice variety of savory and sweet breakfast dishes, there was plenty to choose from. While their sweet things looked very enticing, I ended up going with a savory breakfast and took a sweet treat for the road.
The Swell - I thought this an interesting name for a breakfast sandwich, and its ingredients drew me in right away. The fried egg was its main component, which was then layered with bright veggies such as roasted peppers, fresh basil and even some gooey provolone cheese. A crunchy ciabatta roll, which held the whole thing together was the piece-de-resistance, with a toothsome crust but a perfectly pillowy middle.
Apricot Scone - After seeing someone in our group eating this, I knew I had to stop back in and get one for the road. I actually bought it for Dan and he was pleasantly surprised to profit from my little breakfast outing. Needless to say, I had some as well and marveled at the crumbly, buttery dough that flaked apart perfectly and revealed a pretty orange apricot marmalade that I'm assuming had to be homemade.
Service and Cost:
Milk Glass Market is an order at the counter kind of place, which makes life easier, especially if you're dining with a larger group. Also, as mentioned, since we had that private room to ourselves, I think the staff did a great job of bringing the dishes out in good time and refilling our coffee pot when it got low.
Costs are moderate and fair for the high caliber of food. I paid a total of $11.50 for my hefty sandwich and coffee and another $3 for that godly scone.
3 Mmmms
Milk Glass Market - 2150 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland OR 97217
503.395.4742
milkglassmrkt.com
