PDXBloss's Passport
 

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Member since:
29 January 2009

Icon_superoo_orangeSuperoo '12, '13

Icon_pictureBeen to 233 Attractions
Icon_star119 Reviews
Icon_star193 First to Review
Icon_camera2166 Photos
Icon_thumbsup99 Helpful Votes
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Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, quiet, relaxed, simple, independent, energetic, spontaneous, easy_going, scheduled
We Just Got Back From
A weekend in Astoria, Oregon!
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
New Zealand, but we did it as a couple. We are looking forward to taking our son there one day!
Favorite Vacation Memory
We are always happy in Hawaii, but then, who isn't?
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Traveling to the Oregon Coast for my birthday, and our guy having hand-foot-mouth disease and we didn't know it. He was screaming nearly the whole time and was having such a hard time eating and sleeping.
Websites I Like:

Favorite kid-friendly restaurants in the Portland Metro Area

Yes, they actually do like kids, so we like to go back and recommend them!

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1129 NW Johnson St
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
Best Italian in town, hands down!

reviewed on: April 28 2009

"One of our favorite restaurants"
Piazza Italia is one of our favorite places and I have recommended it for friends who have kids.  The food is fantastic (voted the best Italian in Portland several times).

The place is pretty small, so if you are going for lunch you are usually fine without a reservation.  If you are going for dinner, you will need to make a reservation, otherwise you won't get in.

Ever time we have brought our guy in they always greet us with open arms (and coo over him).  They always make sure we have plenty of fresh baked bread to keep him happy.  When all of us families came in and they ran out of highchairs, they started bringing out huge stacks of fabric napkins for the kids to sit on.  

There are loads of pasta dishes, and very friendly kids versions  that they will make special upon request (our guy LOVES "Gino's Favorite Dish" - Linguini Squarciarella).  They will do special half portions for your little ones, and if you feel like you need a little more, they will do a portion and a half (you just have to ask for it!).

The place is also noisy enough already with the hum of the restaurant, that kids are hardly noticed.  Futbol fans will enjoy the games playing on the big screens and the italian music playing (usually opera or some combo of opera and more modern music).

The only thing they don't have that would be handy are changing tables for the smaller kids, but we have been fine without them.

After dinner, a walk around the Pearl District is a nice way to finish the evening.  Jameson Square Park is a block down the road, and has a great fountain that runs in the summer.  


6320 SW Capitol Hwy
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
A local favorite of ours!

reviewed on: April 28 2009

"Great local restaurant!"
We LOVE this place.  The food is all local and fantastic, and they are big supporters of the Portland/Hillsdale Farmer's Markets too.  They also feature 'Kingdom of the Brine' Picklopolis pickels (not sure if they are involved in making them or just big supporters).  We have tried several of their pickled veg and think it is amazing!

The restaurant is located in the little strip mall in Hillsdale, and from the outside looks like nothing special.  Once you get inside and have a look at the food, that is where you should be impressed.  We have tried many things on their menus and my husband always goes back to the 'KA Buffalo chili'.  I like to try different things as their menu is constantly changing and have never been disappointed.  Their salads are amazing too!

They are kid friendly (not sure how long she looked for a good crayon for our guy to color with) and they have a fun kids menu with some of the best mac 'n cheese we have tasted at a restaurant.  The owners seem to remember us (could be our red-hair though) and alway greets us with a big smile and a 'hey, how is this guy doing?  He is getting big!'  You feel like you are eating with friends.

To finish your meal (and if you like chocolate) you have to try the chocolate genache cake...it is heavenly!

We got out of there with 2 adult meals, 1 kid's meal, a beer and piece of cake for $35.  That is a good deal too!


8502 SW Terwilliger Blvd
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
Another local favorite!

reviewed on: April 28 2009

"Good Tex-Mex and kid-friendly!"
We love coming here (versus a Chevy's or something like that).  Mainly because it is local, the food is great, and it feels really healthy.  We have never been to the east-side location, but enjoy the west-side location frequently.

They always start you off with chips and 2 kinds of salsa (hot and mild), and they always bring the kids cups to the table when they seat you (our guy loves these cups and fits ensue if we try to take them away).  They also have crayons and things to color on and there is a kids menu also.  

The food comes in varying sizes depending on how you order (there is ala carte up to full plates).  The prices are really reasonable (we usually get out of there with 2 meals, a beer, and some beans and rice for our guy for around $25).

The restaurant itself always has families in there and there is a constant hum.  Kids don't bother other tables, because they usually have kids at them too.  

I really like that they never put hot plates near the kids (the adults plates are really hot), and the kids plates are usually cold.  They are really aware of things and make accommodations for folks with allergies when they can.  We definitely appreciate that.

We highly recommend it!


7007 SW Macadam Ave
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
We love sushi...this is a great place!

reviewed on: April 28 2009

"Great for Sushi, good for kids"
We love our sushi and have been bringing our guy here since he was born (and before I suppose!).  We consider this one of the best sushi places in town.  It used to be part of the Koji's chain, but broke away a few years ago, which improved the quality of the fish and the service.

The sushi and other meals for adults is great.  We have never been unhappy and have taken lots of people here for meals (they seemed happy with it too).

The kids menu is small but covers all of their bases.  There is Udon, Teriyaki chicken and a few other things.  They also will bring sides of things out if you ask (like tofu chunks, which our guy gobbles up by the handful).  The kids meals also include a drink and ice cream and are around $6-7.  

For the younger set, there is no changing table and I don't think they offer crayons or anything like that so come prepared.

Otherwise, we highly recommend!

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3320 SE Belmont St
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
Several locations to choose from too! Check them out!

reviewed on: April 29 2009

"Great food and kid friendly!"
Like many of the restaurants in Portland, this restaurant is really good about food allergies and preferences.  They have food choices for those omnivores, as well as things for folks who prefer to lead a vegan life.

The menu is quite diverse and there is also a great kids menu.  The food always seems really healthy to me too and you feel like you are setting a good example.  Portions are huge and the food comes up quick too!

Laughing Planet has several locations around the Portland area (check their website for locations that may be closer to you), but all of them have the same feel, same menu and toys!  There is also a huge stack of high chairs and booster seats and changing tables.


10122 SW Park Way
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
Kid and parent friendly food that is 'home-cooked' and healthy. Plus a supervised playarea!

reviewed on: April 11 2009

"A restaurant for date night or coffee with friends"
Grandma Leeth's was designed to be a place where parents could go and eat a hot meal, and not have to worry about the kids.  They really try to do everything they can to make your time with them the best possible too (and have been open to feedback...and made the improvements possible).  

The restaurant is divided into an eating area, a playarea, a relaxing area, and there there is a space for parties and what not.  The play area is walled off from the rest with doors for the kids to go into and mirrors for parents to check on their kids (but the kids can't see you).  They have folks watching the kids while you enjoy your meal with lots of toys and arts and crafts.  They were trying out a playarea for really little folks (the 2 and under crowd).  You do pay to play, but if it is date night, this might be a nice option to having to find a sitter.

The things I like most is that there are no deep-fryers, no sodas, and really healthy food.  They really are considerate about allergies (and make every accommodation they can) and have a really wide variety of food.  If you want your child to eat with you, that is also not a problem and they have great 'home-cooked' options for you kiddo.  They also will bring toys over to the table for the kids to play with (they clean everything when the kids are done with them) and they always have some really good applesauce (the kids go crazy for it).

A great space for both kids and adults, and it is close to the Zoo and Children's Museum, so you can make a day of it.


16755 Baseline Rd. #102
Beaverton, Oregon

Comment:
A kid friendly cafe with a supervised play area.

reviewed on: March 18 2009

"Great Cafe"
Me Too Cafe is a great little cafe in Beaverton (a suburb of Portland).  They have a menu of all sorts of edibles (sandwiches and salads around the lunch time, and different entrees for dinner) as well as a full menu of cafe drinks.  This place can make for a nice night out, where you and your spouse can sit and relax and know your little one is being looked after.  They charge a $5 flat fee for all of your kids.
I would say the only down side is that I live in Portland and it is a bit of a drive for date night, but to meet up with friends for coffee, it has been fantastic.  We have also taken our playgroup there, and that worked out really well for us too. 


SW Park Ave & SW Montgomery St
Portland, Oregon

Comment:
There is always plenty to eat here. Who can resist the ice cream anyway!

reviewed on: March 24 2009

"You will be eating pretty after shopping!"
We head to the farmer's markets a lot, and this is the biggest one (and one of the best I have been to in the US).  Some of the best organic produce ever is sold here.  The selection is amazing and there is something for everyone.  The vendors change as different produce comes available.  There is also other product that is sold as well as (crafts, ice cream, meats). There is also entertainment which the kids always love to dance to.  We love going so our son learns about fresh food, where they come from and is involved in what he is eating.  So far, we don't have a picky eater and he tries everything.  I think it is a nice way to get the kids learning, and will get him excited about our own gardens.  

The market happens twice a week downtown, and at several other locations at other times.  Check the website fore details.