Dining Out
Food critic picks her five favorite local restaurants of 2012
Gray's at the Park, Strada top list
The restaurant that would have occupied the number one spot on my list of Clark County's top dining destinations has closed. Executive Chef Morris Fenton and Gwyn Manney have their sights set abroad, thus, the passing of Oliver's. The restaurant, though small as it was and humbly situated in Camas, made a large impression on the dining scene in Southwest Washington. It even attracted the likes of KOIN-TV, Food and Wine Magazine, and numerous other publications.
Dining Out: Bortolami’s: Pizza, bikes and more
Food served in fun, friendly, inviting setting
Bortolami’s Pizzeria was established in 1996 and has been family-owned and -operated for 16 years. The restaurant’s bicycling theme boasts about 400 pieces of cycling memorabilia, including a 20-foot bicycle wheel. Why bicycles? Besides pizza, they believe, the bicycle is the greatest invention to come out of Italy.
Dining Out: Gustav's timeless menu a comfort on a cold day
With chilly and rainy weather settling in, it's time for some hearty, sticks-to-your ribs fare. Menu items at Gustav's have changed little since Horst Mager opened The Rheinlander in Portland in 1963 and followed up with Gustav's, with restaurant locations in Portland, Clackamas, Tigard, the Portland International Airport and, of course, Vancouver.
Dining Out: A Fudge Fix package is a sweet treat
20 flavors of delicious candy are made fresh daily, as is kettle corn
With more holidays around the corner, Fudge Fix at Daisy Maiz provides a convenient stop to fill some of the sweet wishes of family and friends with delicious handmade fudge and Daisy Maiz Kettle Korn. Georgann Anderson and her husband, Allen, began making Daisy Maiz Kettle Korn nine years ago and branched into fudge production three years later. They are a regular vendor at the Vancouver Farmers Market. The shop supplies kettle corn to selected Portland and Vancouver locations. On my recent visit, Anderson was on her way to take a special order of fudge to an Intel event.
Dining Out: Battle Ground cafe offers taste of South Pacific
South Pacific Cafe is a slight change from 15 East Restaurant, which formerly occupied the same space. A full-color, professional menu, which includes a couple of new items, has replaced a folded paper menu and brings a sense of needed permanence to the restaurant. Dishes are innovative and flavorful, made from scratch and made-to-order.
Dining Out: Philly Bilmos serves up taste of East Coast
Restaurant offers authentic Philly Cheesesteaks, Italian subs, pasta dishes
Philly Bilmos serves up authentic Philly cheesesteaks in addition to hot and cold Italian subs on Philadelphia’s own Amoroso bread. Sauces are housemade. Pasta dishes, Boar’s Head brand hot dogs, and a variety of sides that include chili cheese fries, mozzarella sticks, and chicken strips are also on the menu.
Dining Out: Gray’s offers unique dining experience
Gray’s at the Park offers a dining experience unlike any other restaurant in Clark County. The sophisticated atmosphere is matched with equally impressive and highly attentive service. Although the Hilton offers a number of menu items that are consistent with its other locations, Gray’s menu also has exclusive choices created by executive chef Troy Lucio.
Dining Out: Cafe caters to parents with young children
Meeting in public with small children in tow to enjoy a cup of coffee or a bite to eat can often be anything but relaxing. Several fast-food chains have brought the idea of playtime and mealtime together, but Little Cups & Grown Ups is a different sort of place. It’s a play café that provides an environment that caters to parents with small children in a laid-back setting similar to home. It doesn’t exclude the passer-by from coming in for some homey victuals and Wi-Fi -- as long as they don’t mind the sounds that accompany children at play.
Dining Out: La Solera gets the seasonings, comfort right
Why: If you're looking for Mexican cuisine but want to avoid large gatherings of those on the same quest, La Solera offers a clean, quaint alternative. The restaurant is among the family owned and operated Clark County casual restaurants tending smaller crowds.
Dining Out: Strada opens doors to delights of Italian street
Why: Strada opened its doors for business Sept. 17. The whole family will enjoy the restaurant's fast-casual Italian food experience, "Street Food of Italy."
Dining Out: Seize a bag of bagels, with bounty of extras
Seize the Bagel is a family-owned bagel bake shop and café that offers a wide selection of bagel-based items. Owner Bruce Yamamura is committed to using sustainable locally procured ingredients. There are no trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup or preservatives in any of the bagels served. Yamamura has incorporated 37 years of food industry experience to ensure his food quality, business practice, and community involvement are the best he can provide. He supplies bagels to Clark College and high schools in the east county, as well as various coffee shops around Vancouver.
Dining Out: Mexican eatery es muy delicioso
Why: Jorge's Margarita Factory opened in July in the space previously occupied by Los Potrillos, which has since moved to a new location. This is the second restaurant venture for owner Jorge Castro. Castro's first, Guadalajara Mexican Grill & Cantina in Longview, has been operating for five years. Jorge's brings a different experience to the Mexican cuisine component of Clark County's dining scene. The restaurant has fresh, modern appeal and brings a vast menu that offers some unique dishes, along with several traditional-turned-vegetarian selections.
Dining Out: Battle Ground brewpub is also good for breakfast
Laurelwood Public House & Brewery is an option for weekend breakfasts. Menu items range from house-made Space Stout buttermilk biscuits to scrambles that include a house-made chorizo, as well as griddle selections served with brown sugar-cinnamon butter, and hazelnut-finished ham.
Dining Out: Pioneer Street Cafe serves up good meal
Why: About four years ago, I stopped in at the Pioneer Street Cafe for dinner and was not at all impressed. Soon after placing my order, the waitress made her way to the kitchen and then the hum of a microwave filled the air -- but that was then.
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