Farmhouse Kitchen Thai for Portland Dining Month

Another week in March, another Portland Dining Month stop for the amazing deal of $33 netting me 3 courses – and sometimes more! For instance, at Farmhouse Kitchen Thai for Portland Dining Month, you get a free starter soup, and the starter gives you a taste of 2 different starters available on their regular menu. Here’s a closer look.

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First, I would highly recommend you make a reservation. It is definitely not a secret that the Portland Dining Month offering from Farmhouse Kitchen Thai offers a lot of variety with its 6 entrees to choose from. It is also a shrewd dollar value since those entrees are usually in the mid $20 range. So expect a packed house during peak times – if you try to walk in, you may have to wait an hour or so.

Second, you should expect that the service is going to be very functional, and forgive them for that. They are trying to serve everyone they can who comes to their door, which necessitates a lot of turnover at the tables. Sitting at a table towards the back of the house is a lot more calm then the boisterous tables at the front.

If you want to avoid the crowds, consider coming at slightly off times. I came at 8:15 pm and was never rushed out – in fact we got so caught up in conversation we were literally the last to leave the now closed restaurant as they prepared for staff meal. I saw another guest smartly order the Portland Dining Month menu but also order additional dishes to take home – I wish I had done that, even though all my meals for the next 2 days are already accounted for…

Ok, let’s get down to business. Although for the first course the official Portland Dining Month Travel Portland site lists that there are 5 options for the starter, when you get to the restaurant you actually have the choice of 3 combos. Each combo gives you tastes of TWO starters available on the menu. Each is plated individually and then put on a tray to make that duo for you, so I wonder if they would customize the duo for you on request. The default duos they offer are

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Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX

For my next Portland Dining Month 2019 recap after my visit to Kachinka, this time I am sharing the goodness of my visit for Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX. Tapalaya is one of my top picks among all the restaurants offering dining deals during this month of March with its unique viewpoint of Cajun Creole Vietnamese food that she grew up with in New Orleans. For my other Portland Dining Month picks see my full list here.

Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX for March 2019 Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX for March 2019

For those of you who prefer the savory over the sweet, you are in luck- the 3 courses for $33 at Tapalaya are all savory, with 2 options for each course.

My first recommendation is to please make a reservation via OpenTable at the Portland Dining Month Travel Portland website. That is because by doing so, OpenTable will support the Oregon Food Bank. That means you will be doing good just by making a reservation!

Another recommendation is if you can, come on Tuesday like I did to enjoy the live music they offer. However, they background music they play even on the other days is lively and classic New Orleans, so understandable if you need to come on what works with your schedule. The Reggie Houston Trio that has been playing on Tuesdays for years will take you back to NOLA even if you have never been!
Live Music at Tapalaya PDX on Tuesday: Reggie Houston Trio

Just FYI, they have live music on Tuesday evenings even if it is not Portland Dining Month. You can also find live music during their brunch service on the weekends.

Not onto the Portland Dining Month menu at Tapalaya. For starters, you have the choice of Creole Caesar with radicchio, parmesan, crispy cornbread crumbs, Caesar dressing or the Crawfish Etouffee Nachos with cheddar, cotija, green onions, cilantro, Anh Luu’s 5-spice wonton chips
Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX, course 1 of Creole Caesar with Radicchio, parmesan, crispy cornbread crumbs, fried capers, Caesar dressing Portland Dining Month at Tapalaya PDX, course 1 of Crawfish Etouffee Nachos with cheddar, cotija, green onions, cilantro, Anh Luu's 5-spice wonton chips

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Kachinka for Portland Dining Month 2019

In my previous post, I shared my top list based on the menu and $ value what I think are the best picks for Portland Dining Month, Aka the whole month of March, when more then 100 restaurants offer a deal of 3 courses for $33 all month long. On my list was Kachinka for Portland Dining Month 2019. I have already visited, and here’s what I recommend. And to help encourage you, I AM DOING A GIVEAWAY FOR A DINNER FOR TWO!

Kachinka for Portland Dining Month 2019

Ok, first, I should establish that Kachinka is in the old Kachka space – aka located at 720 SE Grand Ave, while the Kachka restaurant with its larger dinner menu has moved to a new location at 960 SE 11th Ave. Kachinka is a bit more like a bar with more small plates, including the all important dumplings. Kachinka opens at 4pm. With the opening of Kachka, it is now much easier to walk into Kachinka too since both restaurants can serve guests.

Kachinka Kachinka

The Portland Dining Month 2019 offerings they have for Portland Dining Month are really a food special that is not usually on the menu – that is one of the reasons it made my list. They are offering (including photos of each dish from my visit on March 1)

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Picks for Portland Dining Month 2019

Portland Dining Month 2019 takes place all of March in Portland, and includes 133 restaurants participating, each offering 3 course meals for $33. This is Portland Dining Month’s 20th year, and my 7th year taking advantage of the great food at a great deal. Every year I do my due diligence reviewing who are the participants and making my list based on the menu offered and value of the meal. With this post I’m sharing with you my picks for Portland Dining Month 2019.
Portland Dining Month 2019

A full list of participating Portland Dining Month restaurants and their menus can be found at the official Portland Dining Month list and map on the Travel Portland website. As usual, making a reservation though the Portland Dining Month website can also benefit the local community. Besides supporting local businesses and employees in Portland, in addition Travel Portland has partnered with OpenTable. A donation will be made to Oregon Food Bank for every online reservation booked at participating restaurants through PortlandDiningMonth.com – just click on the OpenTable reservation button next to the restaurant listing.

I highly encourage using this, not just for the fact you are doing good to fight hunger by using the OpenTable online reservation systems, but some places can get pretty busy so to avoid an annoying wait, make reservations with whoever takes them to spend less time waiting and more time dining.

Also check back to the blog and follow me on my Instagram social media stories and feed to see where I am eating at @pechluck– I will be dining at one Portland Dining Month restaurant at least once a week through March. I’ll also be doing giveaways that I post on the blog Facebook page and the Instagram page so follow me to be in the know!

Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate

Example Portland Dining Month menu of Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate

How I made the list of my picks for Portland Dining Month 2019:

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Picks for Portland Dining Month 2018 + Giveaway!

Portland Dining Month 2018 is almost here! Every year since I’ve been going (since 2012!), I do my due diligence reviewing who are the participants. I’m trying to help you out by sharing my work – this year more than 120 local restaurants are participating. This year, not only will I share my picks for Portland Dining Month 2018, but thanks to partnering with Travel PortlandI am doing a Portland Dining Month giveaway that nets you a $70 gift card to a Portland Dining Month participant! Giveaway has completed – but my recommendations are still good for all of March
March is Portland Dining Month 2018
A full list of participating Portland Dining Month restaurants and their menus can be found at the official Portland Dining Month list and map on the Travel Portland website. As usual, making a reservation though the Portland Dining Month website can also benefit the local community. Travel Portland has partnered with OpenTable for the eighth year. A donation will be made to Oregon Food Bank for every online reservation booked at participating restaurants through PortlandDiningMonth.com – just click on the OpenTable reservation button next to the restaurant listing.

I highly encourage using this, not just for the fact you are doing good to fight hunger by using the OpenTable online reservation systems, but some places can get pretty busy so to avoid an annoying wait, make reservations with whoever takes them to spend less time waiting and more time dining. OpenTable is free, you even earn points that you can redeem for gift certificates, I’ve been using them for years! There have been times my miraculous ability to make a reservation for my dining group within minutes has made me a hero – and it was because of OpenTable’s list of restaurants in an area and who has openings.

Laurelhurst Market Portland Dining Month 2015 first course of Roasted cauliflower arancini with radicchio caponata, roasted red pepper aioli and arugula Laurelhurst Market Portland Dining Month 2015 second course of Ten-hour braised beef shoulder with potato pancake, warm oyster mushroom salad and beef jus Laurelhurst Market Portland Dining Month 2015 third course of Honey panna cotta with candied fennel and fennel seed brittle
Three course dinner from Laurelhurst Market in a previous Portland Dining Month year

How I made the list: I review the menus each participant will offer for Portland Dining Month. Some restaurants make the list because their deal of three course dinners for just $33 is a huge savings from their regular prices. They must also offer intriguing menu options that either show off their strengths or can even be specials just for Portland Dining Month.

March is Portland Dining Month 2018

Just because it’s not on my list doesn’t mean it’s not a good place for you to go. Sometimes it just may be their Portland Dining Month dishes are regularly on their menu but at not enough of a price difference from regular prices (which I also count if the dishes are available at discounted prices at happy hour, or a special deal on a weekday) to make my list. Other times I may think some of their regular menu options are better then the Portland Dining Month dishes they are serving up. It may still be perfect for you to try and a wonderful experience. This list is just my humble opinion and my taste. Without further ado, here are my picks for Portland Dining Month 2018.
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