Portland, OR: Do Not Miss This Swiss Delight In The Quaint Northeast Alberta Neighborhood

Swiss Hibiscus

4950 NE 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97211
Northeast Portland, King
Phone: (503) 477-9224
Website: swisshibiscus.com
Prices: $$$$

Located in the up-and-coming, trendy Alberta neighborhood of Northeast Portland, I was surprised by Swiss Hibiscus' appearance, expecting an older chalet-style building adorned with flower boxes and Swiss flags, but it is housed in a small modern, multi-purpose building a half block off of the main Alberta Street drag on 14th. The restaurant is small with only six or so tables inside (seating around 25) and another three or four outside (if the Portland weather cooperates), bringing the maximum seating to around 40 diners. A reservation is a must during prime hours and can be made by calling the number above.

We started with the Swiss Fondue ($24) shared among three of us and there was plenty to go around. A blend of Swiss cheeses, white wine, and kirschwasser (a clear German cherry brandy), heated in a traditional fondue pot and served with plenty of chunky French bread pieces. It was a bit pricey, but delicious and as good as any fondue I have had.

For entrees, my friend's wife had the Emince Zurichoise ($14.50), thin slices of pork sautéed in a mushroom cream sauce reminiscent of Zurich and accompanied by handmade spätzle. Each entree was preceded by a cup of soup de jour (a creamy potato leek) or house salad with their signature dressing and their crusty, piping hot French bread.

My friend Mike ordered the special of the day, Chicken Valaisanne ($17.50), two chicken breast halves smothered with sauteed tomatoes and onions and melted raclette cheese perched atop a bed of spinach and accompanies by their famous rösti, crispy Swiss hash browns infused with bacon and onions ... YUM!

I had the traditional Wienerschnitzel ($14.50), breaded pork cutlets sautéed in and topped with browned butter. I ordered a side of the Zurichoise mushroom cream sauce ($2) for my schnitzel and rösti, a wise choice because it made for a perfect combination similar to the Rahmschnitzel sauce I have enjoyed in Germany on many occasions. The cutlets were smaller and thinner than most I have had, but after the fondue and soup, I was quite glad that they were not of the traditional behemoth variety and was able to finish my plate.

Schnitzel Sans Gravy

Schnitzel With Gravy

A delightful and fortunate find on Yelp, we enjoyed our meal immensely, the service was friendly and efficient, and the prices very fair for the quality of the menu offerings. The only drawbacks were the smallish size of the restaurant and the somewhat limited menu.

PS ...

On a recent return trip, so my wife could experience Swiss Hibiscus having been absent on my first visit, we had a similar albeit not quite as "perfect" meal. The service was as outstanding as the first time and Bridgeport IPAs ($4) were an excellent value.

We ordered the fondue ($24) of course, which was as decadent and delicious as the first time, but the Jägerschnitzel with Chanterelles ($19.50) special was a little disappointing. Do not get me wrong, it was tasty and a very good value, coming with their yummy rösti (crispy Swiss hash browns infused with bacon and onions) as well as a wonderful cup of soup and fresh, hot bread rolls, but it untraditionally prepared and the pork was a tad tough. 

Having stuffed ourselves with bread and hot, gooey cheese, we spilt the schnitzel dinner into two reasonable portions (no split plate charge - the server actually suggested that we split it).

Schnitzel in normally breaded and fried, resulting in a crispy, tender boneless pork cutlet topped by a thick, rich mushroom (hunter's sauce) gravy. This cutlet came without the traditional breading and was chewier than any schnitzel I can remember having eaten ... and that has been many. The sauce itself was decent, but it was not very thick nor was it overly flavorful.

Taking this most recent trip into account, although not quite as good as the first visit, it was still an excellent meal and a very good value at a little over $60 including tip for a dinner for two, including drinks. So my rating remains unchanged ...

CombatCritic Gives Swiss Hibiscus A Nearly Perfect 9 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better

Nine Bombs Equates To:

"U.S. Marine Response To A Verbal Greeting Or As An Expression Of Enthusiasm"

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17/'18

Read Chris S.'s review of Swiss Hibiscus on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - #1 Ranked Foodie







... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube




Swiss Hibiscus

Title: Portland, OR: Do Not Miss This Swiss Delight In The Quaint Northeast Alberta Neighborhood

Key Words: Swiss Hibiscus, Swiss, hibiscus, Switzerland, German, French, Austrian, Alberta, Portland, Oregon, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Tumwater, WA: Great Bread, Good Veal, Decent Prices, And Questionable Service

Pellegrino’s Italian Kitchen and Catering 

205 Cleveland Avenue SE

Tumwater, WA 98501

Phone number: (360) 709-9020

Website: pellegrinositaliankitchen.com

Prices: $$$$

Greeted by the aroma of garlic, tomatoes and herbs after 10+ hours on the road, this small restaurant in a quiet part of town and across the street from a cemetery was quite inviting to the senses as I entered. The pretty, young hostess was sweet and professional, greeting me warmly and like a fellow human being and seating me when I walked through the door, even clearing a table in the corner so I did not have to sit next to the door on a chilly and blustery late fall evening. Unfortunately, my server was not so sweet and accommodating.

She (shall remain nameless - I only name employees when bestowing kudos) did not introduce herself, barely said a word, and looked like she would rather be anywhere but there and/or serving me. I ordered an IPA ($4.25), but she failed to tell me about the daily dinner special(s) or the Thursday 25% Off Appetizers special. Less calories for me and smaller tip for her as a percentage of the total bill.

For my entree, I got the Veal Parmigiana ($17.99), asking for meat sauce (Bolognese) instead of marinara on my spaghetti. Looking at me like I had a dick growing out of my forehead at first, she then stated: "I think we can do that, but it will be an upcharge ($2-$2.50)" to which I agreed. She brought out two bread rolls and a small bowl of EVO and balsamic vinegar. The rolls were hot, looked homemade, and were quite delicious. Soup or salad were not included with my dinner.

When she brought my veal, it looked quite inviting, but the pasta sauce looked like marinara, having little if any visible "meat". I tried to get her attention for at least five minutes while she farted around with a new customer and doing things in the back. When she finally came over, I mentioned the problem with the supposed "meat sauce", so she leaned over and looked at the pasta, gave me the dickhead look again, and walked away toward the kitchen. She never did return with the correct sauce, extra sauce, or even an explanation, so I ate what was there before it got cold.

The veal was very good, tender and plentiful, and the sauce was very well done with a modestly sweet, yet not overpowering flavor. There was plenty of sauce and cheese on the veal, but the pasta was rather dry with not enough of whatever sauce I ended up getting on it, so I asked for some grated parmesan.

When the bill arrived, sure enough, there was the $2 upcharge for the "meat sauce" and still no explanation. If a customer complains about something, it should either be rectified immediately or removed from the bill, so I deducted the $2 from what would have been a 20%+ tip, my minimum for good service, which this was not. She probably should have received less, but she could have been having a bad day and I did not want to penalize her any more than I had to in order to get my point across.

You may think I was harsh, but being a Skinnerian, behaviorist, and former server, I know that if you reward bad behavior, the behavior will never improve and will likely remain the same if not get worse. So there you have it. If she is like most people, I doubt she learns from the experience (even after reading my review - I left my card), likely blaming me for being a cheapskate and poor tipper rather than accepting responsibility for her own failings. 

This is the kind of place I would love to have in my neighborhood if the service were better (a possible fluke in this case). Unfortunately, you can serve the best food in the most beautiful setting, but if the service sucks, the experience sucks. Too bad the kind, young hostess was not my server. So there you go, I know some may think me a "dickhead", but at least I tell it the way it is ... in my opinion.

CombatCritic Gives Pellegrino's Italian Kitchen 5 Bombs Out Of 10 With A Two Bomb Deduction For Service ... More Bombs Are Better!

Five Bombs Equates To:

"Continue Mission"

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17 - 650,000+ Views A Year

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie - Over  1,890,733 Review And Photo Views

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube



Read Chris S.'s review of Pellegrino's Italian Kitchen and Catering on Yelp

Title: Tumwater, WA: Great Bread, Good Veal, Decent Prices, And Questionable Service

Key Words: Tumwater, WA, Washington, Pelligrino's, Pellegrino’s Italian Kitchen, kitchen, Italian, Catering, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Williams, AZ: Cruise In On Old Route 66 For A Decent Burger, Beer And Live Music

Cruiser’s Cafe 66

233 W. Route 66

Williams, AZ 86046

Phone number: (928) 635-2445

Website: cruisers66.com

Prices: $$$$

Famished after a long day hiking the Grand Canyon, we arrived in the exploitive town of Williams, Arizona for a night's stay just down the street. Everything in this place is WAY overpriced, taking advantage of tourists because they are the closest decent-size town within 60 miles of the canyon. The hotels are overpriced - we paid $80 for a dump of a twin room (with shared bath) in a local hotel - and the restaurants ridiculous - $16+ for a hamburger and $20 for a 12 inch cheese pizza at the first two places we saw - so I recommend you stay in Flagstaff instead.

This place is an old gas station with the 1930's Texaco pumps still in place.  Do not expect much ambiance inside, because there ain't any, but their large patio was pleasant on a late spring evening with live music, fresh air, and friendly service.

Michael, our server, was prompt, efficient and friendly. Their burger, 1/2 pound with all the trimmings and fries ($11) was the best value in town and a good, solid hamburger - good, not great. Their in-house crafted IPA ($6) was also quite hoppy and tasty. 

Compared to the other places in town, we found Cruiser's a decent, not "great", value with good burgers, solid service, and live music. What more could you ask for in a tourist trap town on Route 66 close to the Grand Canyon?

CombatCritic Gives Francisco's 6 Bomb Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17 - 650,000+ Views A Year

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie - Over  1,890,733 Review And Photo Views

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Read Chris S.'s review of Cruiser's Cafe 66 on Yelp

Title: Williams, AZ: Cruise In On Old Route 66 For A Decent Burger, Beer And Live Music

Key Words: Cruiser's Cafe, cruiser's, cruiser, cruising, Route 66, route, 66, hamburger, Williams, AZ, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"

Lawrence, KS: You Can Get Anything You Want At "Alces" Restaurant ... "Moooooooose"

Blue Moose Bar And Grill

525 Wakarusa Drive. Suite D

Lawrence, KS 66049

Phone number: (785) 727-4999

Website: thebluemoosebarandgrill.com/lawrence

Prices: $$$$

My friends, yes I actually have friends, had told me wonderful things about Blue Moose, but when I read the reviews on yelp*, I had my doubts. Lawrence is not all that big, but we rarely get over to West Lawrence, so having dropped off a UHaul in the area, we decided to give the Moose a shot (pun intended).

We were told there was a 30-minute wait, but there were a slew of empty tables, at least seven or eight on the side of the restaurant we could see alone. How can there be 25 people waiting in the lobby and a 30-minute wait with so many empty tables?

The menu is eclectic - "American New - in metrosexual speak, with choices from Mexico (empanadas, fish/carne asada tacos, quesadillas), Italy (pasta, flat bread pizza), Asia (wontons, curry, and America (burgers, steaks, chicken). The decor is modern and tasteful, but cold with the stone and wood surfaces that have become so cliché these days.

We decided to sit at the bar to speed things up, but the bartender pretty much ignored us for 15-20 minutes after serving us our drinks and giving us menus. Now I have seen firsthand why they have only garnered 2.5 stars so far. Our order was finally taken by his assistant and our starter, the Beef Empanadas ($7.99), arrived shortly thereafter. They (3) were actually quite good with a deep fried cornmeal exterior and a beef, cheese and poblano pepper interior, accompanied by an avocado salsa and sour cream. They were crispy, not greasy, and the flavors quite pleasing to the pallet ... Olé!

My wife's Build Your Own "Mac N Cheese" ($9.99) with sauteed mushrooms and steamed broccoli (99¢/ea) were topped with garlic butter breadcrumbs and came with a ciabatta in an interesting bowl that presented the dish rather nicely. I thought it was a bit bland, but my pasta loving Italian thought it was quite good ... Mama Mia!

Like most restaurants I visit for the first time, I like to see if they get the basics right, so I ordered their Blue Moose Burger ($10.99), medium-well, with sauteed onions and bacon. You can "add a house salad" to an entree for $1.99, but the sandwich menu states: "Sub a 'small' house salad" for $1.99. I found it hard to believe that you could get a "whole" house salad with an entree for $1.99, but you had to substitute your fries (etc.) for a "small" one for the same price, so I asked the beertender. He confirmed my disbelief, telling me that you in-fct have to give up your side in order to get a salad ... and you have to pay an extra $1.99 ... Good Grief!

The burger arrived with fries, sans small salad, but also missing were the sauteed onions I ordered. I do not like bloody meat and medium is about as raw as I will go, but this burger was well done and dry. The flavor was not bad and the patty big enough, but the sauteed onions would have added some much needed moisture had they been where they were supposed to be. The highlight of my meal were the fries, hot and crunchy, not crispy, with a spicy zing that was a pleasant surprise ... Holy Cow!

I was torn ... bad reviews, only a few weeks in business (bugs to work out), 30-minute wait, empty tables, inattentive bartender, decent service, great empanadas, overcooked meat, incomplete order ... Oh My! 

In the end, feeling overly liberal - with our pending move to the Left Coast - I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt , adding an additional BOMB or two (1-star on a 5-star scale - rounding up). Normally, a somewhat lackluster performance such as this would result in 4-5 Bombs, but I decided to increase their "middle of the road" yelp* average by just a tad because I see some potential ... You're Welcome!

CombatCritic Gives Blue Moose Bar And Grill 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... Ore Bombs Are Better ... SHAZAAM!

Six Bombs Equates To:

Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16/'17 - 650,000+ Views A Year

Tabelog - Official Judge (Silver)

Zomato - #1 Ranked "Verified" Foodie - Over  1,890,733 Review And Photo Views

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Read Chris S.'s review of Blue Moose Bar And Grill on Yelp

Title: Lawrence, KS: You Can Get Anything You Want At "Alces" Restaurant ... "Moooooooose"

Key Words: Blue Moose Bar and Grill, Blue Moose, blue, moose, bar, grill, Lawrence, Kansas, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, American, new, review, Yelp, Zomato, Tabelog

Translation for Civilians: G2G = "Good To Go"