Portland, OR: Original Hotcake House — Blink and You’ll Miss It, But Your Stomach Won’t

Original Hotcake House

1002 SE Powell Blvd

Portland, OR 97202

(503) 236-7402

hotcakehousepdx.com

Prices: $$$$

You’d walk right past this joint if you weren’t looking for it—and you probably wouldn’t step inside unless Yelp put it on your radar. That’s exactly how I ended up here, killing time between appointments at the nearby VA Medical Center.

The drill is simple: read the board, order at the counter, pay up, grab a number, and find a seat. No ceremony, no nonsense. Your food shows up fast. Easy peazzy.

I went with the classic combat loadout: two eggs over-medium, bacon, crispy hash browns, and a biscuit with a side of country gravy… HOOAH!

Execution? Nailed it. Eggs cooked perfectly, bacon thick and meaty, hash browns plentiful and done right, and a massive biscuit drowning in gravy. Mission accomplished. I left full, satisfied, and oddly respected.

Now let’s be honest—the place could use a facelift. It looks like it’s been through a few campaigns. But clearly, whatever they’re doing works. Bonus points: open 24 hours, which already puts them ahead of half the competition.

The staff were friendly, efficient, and squared away. And all this for about $20? That’s a win in today’s battlefield economy.

CombatCritic Gives Original Hotcake House 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better ... Unless you’re on the receiving end ... HOOAH!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

1.3+ MILLION VISITORS AND COUNTING ... HOOAH!

408,000 VISITORS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS ... OOH-RAH!

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "BLACK" ELITE '14 / '15 / '16 / '17 / '18 / '19 / '20 / '21 / '22/ '23 / '24 / '25 ... 12 Years Running ... HOOAH!

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Original Hotcake House on Yelp

Google 'Local Guide' (Level 7) - 677,631 Visitors in August 2023 Alone ... HOOAH!

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And       

   Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Portland, OR: Original Hotcake House — Blink and You’ll Miss It, But Your Stomach Won’t

Key Words: Portland, OR, Oregon, Original Hotcake House, original, hotcake, pancake, house, breakfast, open 24 hours, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu,  review, Yelp, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2025 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

São Brás de Alportel: Auction House Algarve - Unprofessional, Disloyal, And Uncaring

Auction House Algarve

Barrabés, Entreposto Comerical e Industrial Sambrasense, Cx. Postal 913, Z, 8150-016 

São Brás de Alportel, Portugal

+351289832380

AHA.com

Prices: €€€€

We spent thousands of dollars from 2022 to 2022 at Auction House Algarve (AHA) furnishing our new home in Portugal. Their staff, with one exception, are kind and professional, especially Joaquim.

I referred many customers to AHA even though we have had a few problems with the owner. The most recent issue had to do with requesting the sale of several items purchased through AHA to make room for a shipment of personal possessions from our home in the USA.

The owner agreed to come pick up the items at our home to sell at a future auction. When he arrived, he told me that he would not accept some of the items because they did not ¨conform¨ to his standards. When I reminded him about how much we had spent at AHA and that he was more than happy to sell this ¨non-conforming¨ antique furniture, he became belligerent and I threw him out of our home. 

Apparently, AHA has raised its standards significantly recently and loyal customers are neither appreciated nor respected. Not a problem for me, I will never spend another penny at AHA, and rather than recommend them to friends and acquaintances, I will be totally honest and tell them about our negative experiences with the owner.  

CombatCritic Gives Auction House Algarve 0 Bombs Out Of 10 And A Spot On My ¨WALL OF SHAME´... More Bombs Are Better!

Zero Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "BLACK" ELITE '14 / '15 / '16 / '17 / '18 / '19 / '20 / '21 / '22/ '23 ... 10 Years Running ... HOOAH!

• Over 1.4 Million Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Auction House Algarve on Yelp

Google 'Local Guide' (Level 7) - 677,631 Visitors in August 2023 Alone ... HOOAH!

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And       

   Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: São Brás de Alportel: Auction House Algarve - Unprofessional, Disloyal, And Uncaring

Key Words: São Brás de Alportel, Auction House Algarve, auction, house, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, destination, product, service, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2023 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Bend, OR: A Meal Here Will Not Send You To The Poor House

Pour House Grill
61276 South Highway 97
Bend, OR 97702
Phone number: (541) 388-2337
Website: pourhousegrill.com
Prices: $$$$

Your basic sports bar and restaurant, modern and tastefully decorated to give it a more upscale vibe. Best of all, they allowed me to bring my emotional support animal along for dinner, something only a handful of Bend restaurants allow.

I had a Reuben Sandwich ($15), coming with tots, that was pretty average, but at $15, just a tad high. I think $11.95 to $12.95 would be a more appropriate price point.

My wife had the Pour House Mac ($12) which was a much better value than mine and much tastier too, coming with sliced mushrooms and bacon in a six-cheese blend. It was actually one of the better mac & cheeses she has had, rich and creamy with the macaroni perfectly cooked.

My son ordered the Smoked French Dip ($15) and his vegan partner the House Salad ($10), both seemingly pleased with their selections.

The staff were very nice and the service excellent. The food was pretty good too, a bit better than most places in this category, but the prices just a tad high. Overall, we had a good meal and were able to enjoy it with my trusty dog Kemper, worthy of an extra star in my book ... HOOAH!

CombatCritic Gives Pour House Grill 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Seven Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Shits & Grins"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19 

• 650,000+ Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Pour House Grill on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Bend, OR: A Meal Here Will Not Send You To The Poor House

Key Words: Bend, OR, central, Oregon, Pour House Grill, poor, pour, house, grill, dogs, allowed, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved

Stevenson, WA: I Am Not Bluffing, This Place Is A Definite TravelValue

Red Bluff Taphouse
256 2nd Street
Stevenson, WA 98648
Phone number: (509) 427-4979
Website: redblufftaphouse.com
Prices: $$$$

After a day of exhilarating whitewater rafting on the White Salmon River, we were parched, famished, and hankerin' for some decent chow. Stevenson was right on our way home, so we checked out the menus of some of the local eateries and Red Bluff Taphouse took the cake.

Established in 2016, the place has not been there very long, but it is very welcoming with lots of wood and light from the large windows facing the street. The dining room is not huge, but they have a separate bar area and a small terrace overlooking their neighbors and the mighty Columbia River just a few blocks away. Unfortunately, there was no room on the terrace, so we took a booth in the front near the street.

I ordered the Fortside Newest IPA (Vancouver, WA - 6.8 ABV, 61 IBU) and my son got the Buoy Beer Cream Ale (Astoria, OR - 5.7% ABV, 19 IBU). My IPA was smooth and hoppy, but not the best I have had by far. I tasted my son's cream ale and it was also quite tasty. At $5.75 a pop, beer is not a huge bargain here by Pacific NW standards, but I have seen much worse.

Fortside Newest IPA $5.75

We both chose a burger for our meal, one Shoulda, Gouda, Woulda ($15) with bacon (+$1.50) for me and the Tap House Burger ($14) for my son. The burgers were thick and large, obviously handmade, and cooked to perfection, coming on a large, toasted potato bun. Mine came with Gouda cheese and their signature bacon jam along with the fresh lettuce and tomato as well as a massive portion of crispy, homemade, hand-cut fries ... HOOAH!

Shoulda, Gouda, Woulda $15

Shoulda, Gouda, Woulda $15

Tap House Burger $14

The service was friendly and efficient even though our server never bothered telling us her name. The food was delicious, fresh, not frozen, and filling for the price. At $55 for dinner for two and two pints of craft beer, including tip, I have to say that we made a good choice.

CombatCritic Gives Red Bluff Taphouse 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp "GOLD" ELITE '14/'15/'16/'17/'18/'19 

• 650,000+ Views A Year

Read Chris S.'s review of Red Bluff Taphouse on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Stevenson, WA: I Am Not Bluffing, This Place Is A Definite TravelValue

Key Words: Stevenson, WA, Red Bluff Taphouse, red, bluff, taphouse, tap, house, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

Copyright 2019 - 3rd Wave Media Group And CombatCritic ™ - All Rights Reserved