Skip to main contentIf one were spotting Portland locations for a chick flick, and a romantic-but-quirky restaurant popped up in the script, longtime Portland Lebanese joint Karam would fit the bill quite nicely. The cozy downtown restaurant is warm and inviting, with classy traditional decor that forgives the blighted real-life scene outside the window (a barren parking lot and the side of a building). Sweet touches abound—house cocktails and a luxurious wine list among them. Upon delivering your wine, the waiter pours just a little out—presumably for the dead homies—and offers a friendly "cheers." Our fictional Hollywood couple would have no problem filling up on the elaborate veggie mezza plate with salad, hummus, falafel, a fresh-made pita and more easy comfort food. But they probably wouldn't fall in love until their forks crossed while cutting into the flaky, honey-dripped baklava, which forever redefines one's expectations of that dessert.
Order this: The gorgeous chicken couscous, delivered with a side of light chicken gravy, satisfies both your carnal and aesthetic cravings.
Best deal: The veggie kebab ($14) is a sprawling plate; its succulent mushrooms in particular are the perfect balance of crispy and juicy.
I'll pass: On the street kids and their goddamn adorable dogs scoping out my grub while passing by. Stop haunting my food!
WWeek 2015
