Happy Hour at Ringside Steakhouse

via Ringside Web site

After reading lots of reviews about their happy hour online, it was time to head to Ringside Steakhouse in uptown Portland. Ringside is a fine dining steakhouse that has been around since the 1940's and is a favorite to many Portland natives.

We arrived at 9:30pm, right when happy hour started, and I am glad we showed up when we did. The bar filled up quickly, even on a Sunday night. It was very cozy with small tables and dim lighting, but people were in and out quickly.

We ordered a couple grilled caesar salads, steak bites and calamari to start. I wanted a little something more, so our waitress recommended the crab cake. It was delicious and truly the best crab cake I have ever had. Great recommendation! Check out the happy hour menu to see all their choices, prices range from $2.25 to $4.75. Next time, I am going for the onion rings, they looked tasty!

This particular location went under a recent remodel and reopened in March. Our waitress recommended a bottle of wine from their new 10,000 underground wine cellar. We went with the 2009 Eola Hills Pinot Gris and we were very pleased.

Overall a fantastic experience and below are some reasons why I will go back:

Complimentary valet parking
Great happy hours prices
Exceptional service
Open 7 days a week

Happy hours: Mon. - Sat. 9:30 - close, Sunday: 4pm - 5:30pm & 9:30 - close

Ringside Steakhouse, 2165 W. Burnside, Portland 97210

Wish I Were Here Wednesday

Playing along with Olivia from For Me, for Wish I Were Here Wednesday. The weather was beautiful here today and it made me wish I could be dining outside at a beautiful country venue. Someday I will go here...Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.

"The Barn" via

Eugene's Finest - Uly's Taco Shack

So, it wouldn't be fair unless I wrote about the one and only campus taco stand in Eugene, Oregon. Uly's is parked conveniently between two of the most active campus bars at The University of Oregon. The menu is easy...tacos and more tacos, for only $2 each. It is fair to say I have had my share of these tacos, sometimes at dinner hour and other times at 2:00am. There is generally a long line of students waiting for a carnitas, steak or chicken taco on Friday and Saturday nights.

Line at Uly's on a Friday

You can order the tacos individually or as a Trifecta - one each with a different kind of meat. It is funny because after midnight and a few Long Island Iced Teas, people insist on ordering the $6 Trifecta because it is the best deal. Interesting since the single tacos are $2 and the 3 taco Trifecta is $6. Yes, you can do the math.

But, no matter what time of the day, these tacos rock! They are loaded with a meat of your choice, cheese, sour cream, onions, cilantro and a tasty sauce. These tacos would give the Mexican food carts in Portland a run for their money.

Next time you are in Eugene cheering on the Ducks, check out Uly's!

Here is a link to their Facebook page. Enjoy!