Cheap Eats 2006

By Laura Shinn

Valentine's has all the trappings of a Portland coffee shop, without actually being a coffee shop; it's more like a panini boutique with great music (the restaurant does double duty as a late-night music venue). An abundance of sandwiches grace the menu, all available toasty warm with the telltale markings of a panini grill. Options range from a $4 breakfast sandwich to the $6-$7 house special, a salami-and-cheese sandwich smothered with olive tapenade�all served with your choice of crispy chips or healthy salad. Valentine's gets bonus kudos for its charming locale; it's on the cobblestoned, alley-esque Southwest Ankeny, snuggled right between 2nd and 3rd avenues. If you use your imagination, you could very well be in Florence (Italy, not Oregon). (LS)

WWeek 2015

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.