#1292 - Someday Lounge, Portland OR - 11/20/2010

125 NW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97209-3811 - (503) 248-1030
somedaylounge.com - yelp

#1291 - Portland City Grill, Portland OR - 11/20/2010

Not my favorite kind of crowd, but a nice view of the city.

111 Southwest 5th Ave #3000, Portland, OR 97204-3633 - (503) 450-0030
portlandcitygrill.com - yelp

#1290 - Saucebox, Portland OR - 11/20/2010

214 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205-3724 - (503) 241-3393
saucebox.com - yelp

#1289 - Palm Court, Benson Hotel, Portland OR - 11/20/2010

A nice, low-key lounge in an old historic hotel.  The servers were good and they were happy to tell you about the history of the 1912 building -- the presidents who have stayed there, the columns carved from one giant piece of rare Circassian walnut, the coo-coo clock which was the first piece added to the hotel.

Simon Benson himself was a teetotaler, but Jonah the bartender serves up some very good cocktails.  My favorite was the Chupacabra (Jalapeno, cilantro, lime, Hornitos, citrus liqueur).

309 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 - (503) 228-2000
bensonhotel.com -  yelp

#1288 #S781 - Japonessa, Seattle, WA - 11/17/2010

I'm not a sushi fan, so I can't judge Japonessa Sushi Cocina -- although sushi fans I know seem to like it quite a bit.  The bar is okay, but not likely to pull you in if you're not there for the food.

The name means "Japanese lady" in Spanish, and reflects the "90% Japanese, 10% Latin fusion" food, from folks associated with Wasabi Bistro and Kushibar.

1400 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 - (206) 971-7979
japonessa.com - facebook - seattlemet - seattle weekly - yelp

#1287 #S780 - La Puerta, Seattle, WA - 11/15/2010

Update: La Puerta closed in August 2012

No frills Mexican food, from the place that ran for years where Quinn's now stands.  Quinn's has much better food and drinks, but it can't replace that late night diner feel that the old location had.  Of course the new incarnation in the mall doesn't have that either.

the stranger - yelp
401 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 324-6211

#1286 #S779 - Highline, Seattle, WA - 11/15/2010

Good beers, very good sandwiches, and some interesting infusions, from the owners of Squid and Ink.  You probably won't even notice that it's vegan.

And of course the best thing about this place is that it displaces the gawdawful Club Lagoon.

210 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102 - (206) 328-7837
highlineseattle.com - the stranger - chs - yelp