Portland's Best Budget Date Spot 2008

Inexpensive Cajun-style fare in a place where you never know who you’ll share a table with.

Reviews:

• “DANGER, DANGER!!!!”
• “one of my favorites”
• “Better mac and cheese than your mom could ever hope to make.”
• “Cool atmosphere, high energy, good people watching, HORRIBLE food! "
• “Whiny reviewers”

Tips: Only two beers are served at Montage: Rainier and Mickey’s—in the bottle.

Le Bistro Montage or email Le Bistro Montage

With four floors and more than a million titles, this store has one of the biggest book selections in town.

Reviews:

• “Selection!”
• “Independent Bookstore. Whose prices are twice as expensive as anywhere. 1 in a 1000 are used.”
• “A really fun place and a great slection”
• “Arrogant, Nasty Employees”
• “Great selection, Overpriced”

Tips: Street parking can be hard to come by, so use the store’s garage on NW 11th Avenue.

Powell’s City of Books

Tarot-card readings, tamales and tunes are all under one bridge at this open market.

Reviews:

• “True taste of Portland”
• “Hippies GALORE”
• “A great way to spend a weekend!”
• “SATURDAY LAZY DAY”
• “Good times…”

Tips: The market is right on the MAX line, so leave the car at home and ride the train.

Portland Saturday Market or email Portland Saturday Market

Festive taqueria in the Pearl offers a variety of tacos and other traditional dishes.

Reviews:

• “Cha Cha Cha…highly recommended”
• “go to byways nextdoor instead!”
• “que delicioso”
• “Always enjoy my Relleno Burrito”
• “What the heck?”

Tips: Try a variety of Mexican beer or a Jarritos, a super-sweet Mexican soda, bound to cut the hottest of salsas.

Cha! Cha! Cha!

With its soaring trees and serene ponds, this is the place to find inner peace in Old Town.

Reviews:

• “Calm and Cool”
• “Every Step is a Story”
• “Quiet Spot in Busy City”
• “Skip the Classical Chinese Gardens”
• “My backyard”

Tips: The artisans and architects who designed the garden came from Suzhou, China, Portland’s sister city, renowned for its urban gardens.

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

The big art fish in Portland’s small pond.

Reviews:

• “INTERESTING PLACE”
• “HUZZAH!”

Tips: This museum allows no-cost entry with a Cultural Pass offered free at local libraries.

Portland Art Museum or email Portland Art Museum

This stunning waterfall hosts hikers who marvel at this example of the Columbia Gorge’s natural beauty.

Reviews:

• “gorgeous but waayyyyyy tooo crowded”
• “You just have to "
• “Simply beautiful”
• “Multnomah Falls”
• “Good place for Brunch”

Tips: The drive through the Columbia Gorge to Multnomah Falls is famous for its brilliant fall colors. Make a day of it with stops at Bonneville Dam, the fish hatchery and the many surrounding waterfalls.

Multnomah Falls

Middle Eastern noshing fare that won’t drain your pocketbook.

Reviews:

• “Amazing! If a resauraunt can keep me coming back for over 8 years like this, it deserves 5 stars!!!”
• “Great food, but no room to eat it”
• “Terrible Service! Don’t go with more than 4 people, ever!”
• “Great food if you can get through the door.”
• “Up Close”

Nicholas’ Restaurant

The oldest rose garden in the country attracts visitors for its colorful variety of flowers.

Reviews:

• “It’s so beautiful”
• “Roses”
• “Peace & Beauty”
• “a place to play”
• “Stop and smell the roses!”

Tips: Within the large garden are smaller themed areas, such as the Shakespeare Garden—featuring plants mentioned in the Bard’s works—and the Gold Medal Garden, where winners since 1919 of Portland’s own annual awards are displayed.

International Rose Test Garden

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