Trying to be a City but not quite making it
I try not to be a snob. I want to experience many places and things and like them all for their wonderful uniqueness. But you know, sometimes the citygirl snobbery just comes out.
Hillsboro. A suburb of Portland. Best known as the location of the Intel campus.
I wanted to enjoy it. They have built an area just in the last few years called Orenco Station (a MAX station is located there). It has good planning; with cute architecture, a mix of businesses, a real urban feel.
What's weird about this oasis of urbanity is the empty lots and farmland that you pass on the way to it - but that's okay. I can see where they are going. And I want to encourage it.
Several years ago we went to a restaurant there called The Merchant of Venice. (I had to go there because of my name - I was hoping for something free!) I remember really liking the set up of the location even though it was far out. But the food and dining experience was so-so. At least I never had a burning desire to go again.
Last weekend we took the trip out again. This time we were going to the Orenco Station Grill. And the ambiance was nice - nicely decorated, decent crowd, friendly server. I was slightly disappointed when I looked at the menu. It seemed to be the menu of a nice restaurant from 20 years ago. But you know, the standards are fine. I ordered sauteed scallops while my husband ordered a New York Steak, medium rare.
The first major problem came with the salads. They were among the worst I have ever seen. Mostly iceberg, dry and wimpy. 3 wrinkly cherry tomatoes. A couple of strings of carrots and slivers of cabbage and 4 croutons. Dressing in a plastic cup on the side.
I couldn't eat it. I tried. I like salad and I like eating. But it was so bad. After searching for the most green -looking pieces of iceberg and drenching them with dressing, I just couldn't do it. After years of being spoiled with interesting, flavorful and fresh salads, I couldn't go back.
Maybe it was the sophisticated atmosphere. If I had gone to a roadside diner would I have been disappointed instead of a fancy place with warm bread and whipped butter?
Yeah I would've been. First of all I would've ordered Thousand Island instead of Rasberry Vinaigrette, but no decent roadside diner would sell this dry wimpy stuff.
Then my husband's steak came out well done. Very well done. The server was great - took it back - it wasn't his fault. But come on!
(BTW - scallops were fine)
So we leave the restaurant and across the street we see something cute - The Renaissance Wine Bar and Cigar Store. It's Saturday night - we might go in and taste something. We discovered "flights" of wine at a wine bar last year and enjoyed them - we discussed having a flight at this place.
Cute place - nicely decorated. A woman on the phone. Walked around, looked at the wares. She's still on the phone. Stood by the counter. She seems to be talking about a man and what he did - not work. Hovered a little bit more. Walked out.
So will we make the 45 minute trek back out to Orenco Station anytime soon? Not likely.
I wanted to support the new area - I wanted to think it was cute. I wanted to enjoy myself. But Hillsboro didn't quite make it.
Hillsboro. A suburb of Portland. Best known as the location of the Intel campus.
I wanted to enjoy it. They have built an area just in the last few years called Orenco Station (a MAX station is located there). It has good planning; with cute architecture, a mix of businesses, a real urban feel.
What's weird about this oasis of urbanity is the empty lots and farmland that you pass on the way to it - but that's okay. I can see where they are going. And I want to encourage it.
Several years ago we went to a restaurant there called The Merchant of Venice. (I had to go there because of my name - I was hoping for something free!) I remember really liking the set up of the location even though it was far out. But the food and dining experience was so-so. At least I never had a burning desire to go again.
Last weekend we took the trip out again. This time we were going to the Orenco Station Grill. And the ambiance was nice - nicely decorated, decent crowd, friendly server. I was slightly disappointed when I looked at the menu. It seemed to be the menu of a nice restaurant from 20 years ago. But you know, the standards are fine. I ordered sauteed scallops while my husband ordered a New York Steak, medium rare.
The first major problem came with the salads. They were among the worst I have ever seen. Mostly iceberg, dry and wimpy. 3 wrinkly cherry tomatoes. A couple of strings of carrots and slivers of cabbage and 4 croutons. Dressing in a plastic cup on the side.
I couldn't eat it. I tried. I like salad and I like eating. But it was so bad. After searching for the most green -looking pieces of iceberg and drenching them with dressing, I just couldn't do it. After years of being spoiled with interesting, flavorful and fresh salads, I couldn't go back.
Maybe it was the sophisticated atmosphere. If I had gone to a roadside diner would I have been disappointed instead of a fancy place with warm bread and whipped butter?
Yeah I would've been. First of all I would've ordered Thousand Island instead of Rasberry Vinaigrette, but no decent roadside diner would sell this dry wimpy stuff.
Then my husband's steak came out well done. Very well done. The server was great - took it back - it wasn't his fault. But come on!
(BTW - scallops were fine)
So we leave the restaurant and across the street we see something cute - The Renaissance Wine Bar and Cigar Store. It's Saturday night - we might go in and taste something. We discovered "flights" of wine at a wine bar last year and enjoyed them - we discussed having a flight at this place.
Cute place - nicely decorated. A woman on the phone. Walked around, looked at the wares. She's still on the phone. Stood by the counter. She seems to be talking about a man and what he did - not work. Hovered a little bit more. Walked out.
So will we make the 45 minute trek back out to Orenco Station anytime soon? Not likely.
I wanted to support the new area - I wanted to think it was cute. I wanted to enjoy myself. But Hillsboro didn't quite make it.
posted by Portia | 9/15/2005 04:55:00 PM
3 Comments:
Stay the heck out of Hillsboro. It's a dump. All the good restaurants are either downtown or on the east side.
I hate driving there every week.
Portia, dear, we're not seeing a lot of action on your site. Don't tell me you've gotten bored already?
You might consider adding a site meter counter to the bottom. In addition to letting you know how many people visit, you can see where they come from. Having an audience well encourage greater posting diligence.
Man - I am in the middle of moving! Buying the first house, packing, stressful, etc? Give me a break!!
How do you add a site meter?
Post a Comment
<< Home