LOCATION PROFILE

Bluehour

(503) 226-3394

250 NW 13th Ave.

http://www.bluehouronline.com/

Neighborhood: Pearl District

With national and international media shining bright lights into every nook and cranny of Portland culture, this saccharine-sweet spot gets the most hype of all. (read more) In what used to be one of Portland’s grimiest locales, the Pearl District’s upscale retailers have come a long way from their busted-warehouse beginnings—a transformation both lauded and severely scoffed at, depending on whom you ask. For better or worse, there’s no apparent end in sight to the high-rise construction. Spendy though it is, all this dense mixed-use development makes for readily walkable retail, food and gallery bounty. Couple that with the alphabetical street names, and it’s easy to navigate through high-end local shops like Bubble Boutique (1238 NW Glisan St., 219-0098) and Lizard Lounge (1323 NW Irving St., 416-7476) that commingle with giant chains like REI (1405 NW Johnson St., 221-1938) and Diesel (30 NW 12th Ave., 241-1355). For a morning bite, scribble your party’s name on a waitlist at the French-American Everett Street Bistro (1140 NW Everett St., 467-4990), or nurse your hangover at kitschy Byways Cafe (1212 NW Glisan St., 221-0011). Should the sun decide to pop up, head over to Jamison Square (810 NW 11th Ave.), where condo-dwelling MILFs and their preppy offspring splash in the fountain and take PB&J breaks at Sip & Kranz (901 NW 10th Ave., 336-1335). For a reality check, pop by the Low Brow Lounge (1036 NW Hoyt St., 226-0200) for some killer tater tots and a brew, or wallow in the blues at Jimmy Mak’s (221 NW 10th Ave., 295-6542). —Elianna Bar-El.

Also in Pearl District neighborhood:

Bluehour Food
Fratelli Food
Ecotrust Food
Teardrop Cocktail Lounge Food
REI Food
Sur La Table Food
Gerding Theater Stage
Lawrence Gallery Live Music
Umpqua Bank-Pearl Live Music
Andina Live Music
Paragon Restaurant Live Music
Vault Martini Live Music
BodyVox Studios Dance
Low Brow Lounge Visual Arts
American Institute of Architects Visual Arts

Featured in Restaurant Guide 2008

Still one of the most elegant and evocative rooms in town, Bluehour has amped up its service from professional to cordial; no attitude here. But judging by several meals over the past couple of months, the food has lost some of the edge that justified the sky-high prices. Heirloom tomato soup was bland, and a shrimp risotto contained exactly six tiny bites of shrimp; on the other hand, perfectly grilled calamari was the star of an exuberant platter with Israeli couscous and spicy sausage. Then there was the dinner entree of porchetta ($29), an impressively bronzed pinwheel that proved to be almost entirely pork fat, hiding a mere nugget of meat. I asked the waiter if perhaps the fat was meant to be eaten; “It’s normally left behind,” he said. Stick to less creative options, like the horseradish-crusted salmon ($37), grilled chicken ($29), or whatever steak or chop is featured. The real excitement here is on the bar menu, where chef Kenny Giambalvo (now on paternity leave) serves up satisfying dishes like his “Mom’s meatballs” and the pulled-pork mini-pizza. Happy hour’s even better, with bargain-priced drinks and fabulous snacks for a few bucks.

IDEAL MEAL: It’s in the bar: Caesar salad, the great house burger, a side of “Kenny’s fries.”

Heidi Yorkshire

Events Today

Upcoming Events

Sunday December 7

FOOD

Sunday Brunch with Santa

Santa gets around. This Sunday he’s pullin’ his sled into the Pearl District, hosting a brunch at Portland swank HQ Bluehour. What do jolly old elves eat for breakfast? Apparently Belgian waffles with marscarpone, smoked Chinook salmon, Dungeness crab omlets and habanero Bloody Marys, among other holiday stomach-warmers. Plus, you can pose for a photo with the man in red himself in a sparkly luxe winter wonderland inside the restaurant. Just don’t ask him about the bowl-full-of-jelly thing. He’s sensitive. 10 am-2 pm. Bluehour, 250 NW 13th Ave., 226-3394. Regular brunch prices. Call or reserve online at bluehouronline.com.