Sticking to the ’hood lets you eat local … very local

Taste

By liz colie gadberry

The Portland Tribune, Aug 25, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

2006 Nora Colie

Sticking to the ’hood lets you eat local … very local

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Most of us have a favorite neighborhood restaurant. Sometimes the reason for liking it is simply its convenience, or perhaps the servers remember us and treat us like regulars (we love that); maybe we’ll see people we know there; or it’s a place where we feel comfortable lingering long after the plates are cleared.

The best neighborhood spots are fairly casual, aren’t too expensive and don’t require reservations. My current favorite is the relatively new Thai Pod (2015 N.E. Broadway, 503-493-1122).

It has all the attributes I’ve listed (casual, nearby and friendly) plus another important one: really good food. Like many Thai restaurants with long menus, you’ll have to work your way through Thai Pod’s offerings to find the dishes that appeal to you most — but it’s pleasurable work, and you’ll discover some treasures.

My first choice is Kang Kua King, in which a very generous amount of tender shrimp, small chunks of pineapple and sweet basil float in a deliciously rich red curry. I’d be content eating it almost every night.

If you’re in the neighborhood, check out Thai Pod. And now that football season is almost here (yippee!), keep it in mind as a great takeout spot, too.

Can you tell I want this place to succeed?

Thai Pod is open for lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and for dinner 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

••••••••••

As long as we’re on Broadway, let’s walk three blocks east to a different pleasant neighborhood spot called Costello’s Travel Caffe (2222 N.E. Broadway, 503-287-0270), a coffeehouse and eatery that opened in 2004. To be honest, I was skeptical about it at first.

I’ve been bored almost to tears by many a friend’s slide show of a trip to Greece or Italy, so I assumed the two big screens constantly showing videos of images from different countries at Costello’s would bring back bad memories.

But Costello’s windows on the world aren’t boring at all; in fact they’re rather mesmerizing. And if looking at visions of other countries only depresses you because you can’t afford to go there, don’t worry. The screens are easy to ignore.

Costello’s is owned and operated by Chris Costello and his parents, Dave and Patti Costello. The coffeehouse fulfills Patti’s lifelong dream of cooking and baking professionally.

Her son, Chris, helped her realize that dream by getting a degree in business at the University of Portland. Armed with Patti’s cooking ability, Chris’ business degree and Dave’s willingness to work hard, the three Costellos decided to open their coffeehouse right before Sept. 11, 2001.

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