Tag Archives: chocolate

Urban Fondue on Glisan St. Portland

My eight-grader finished this year with more than 3.5 GPA (yes, I’m a proud mama) and we were delighted to attend her “Honor Student and Family Breakfast” this week where she also received an award for outstanding community service. What better way to acknowledge her achievement other than taking her to her favorite restaurant?

Inside Urban Fondue on Glisan St. in Portland, OR
Inside Urban Fondue on Glisan St. in Portland, OR

My daughter has been mentioning about  Urban Fondue for more than a year now. When I asked her to pick a restaurant to celebrate finishing up her middle school successfully…her first choice was Urban Fondue.

Located very close to the downtown area on Glisan St, this is a nice neighborhood to explore few other restaurants and stores. Bad part is that you have to find a street parking but good part is that once you do, it’s all worth the headache.

Cheese fondue with bread in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR
Cheese fondue with bread in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR

We made a reservation for four people on a week-night. Although they have option of sitting outside, we sat inside which was simple with vibrant red walls and furniture. Before you try out this place, keep in mind that this is a fondue place…with cheese, chocolate, and different kinds of broth to cook your meat/seafood/veges. Basically, a dip and dine place.

Raw meat/fish/vegetable platters in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR
Raw meat/fish/vegetable platters in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR

While you can order single entrees from the menu, we ordered a combo for 3 people ($37 per person) where we were able to choose 2 different kinds of cheese fondue, 1 side, 3 main entrees with beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetables, and 1 dessert.

All the dipping sauce with dinner in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR
All the dipping sauce with dinner in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR

Our 2 choices of cheese fondue came with small pieces of gourmet bread and a side of vege-roasted cauliflower. Then the main dishes with raw meat/seafood and vegetables came with 2 different kinds of broths that we chose – roasted beef and urban Yosenabe broth. We were given a cooking time card and few timers. Most of these ingredients take about 3 minutes to cook properly in the broth. The dinner platters also came with more than 10 dipping sauces…each being completely different from the others. After the dinner items, we moved onto the dessert part…chocolate fondue with raspberry puree (called Raspberry Swirl). And it came with combo platter with strawberries, banana slices, delicious cheesecake squares, and few other yum bites.

Cooking our dinner items in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR
Cooking our dinner items in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR

Not to exaggerate, but from the appetizer cheese and bread to dinner items in broth to sweet morsels dipped in chocolate/raspberry fondue…everything tasted just PERFECT…exactly the way you would imagine and how you know you would feel when you dip your food in scrumptious cheese fondue or cook in the broth or having fresh fruit in melted chocolate. Everything here tasted fresh and sizes of the plates were very proportionate too.

Raspberry Swirls with combo platter for dessert in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR
Raspberry Swirls with combo platter for dessert in Urban Fondue in Portland, OR

Urban Fondue is a perfect place to celebrate any occasion for any ages or just to hang out and try a different kind of dining with your loved ones. My kids were thrilled to be there and we all absolutely loved their food. The customer service is very professional and speedy also. Overall, all of us had a very nice experience here. And now that I’m hooked to fondues, I will have to come back here again to try their other kinds of cheese and chocolate recipes.

Pix Patisserie

Pix Patisserie is one of the most elegant and beautiful coffee shops I’ve ever been to in Portland. There should another one of this near my house…but no wait, I don’t want it close to me, otherwise I’d spend all my money and time buying their oh-so delicious goodies.

Inside Pix Patisserie
Inside Pix Patisserie

Pix Patisserie is a little slice of Champs-Élysées, Paris on the Burnside St. of Portland. With it’s trendy interior and wide variety of dessert menu, this is a perfect late night hang out place where you can indulge in macaroons, gourmet chocolates, artisan cakes, French pastries, and hot beverages. If you are looking for after-dinner snacks and something before desserts, try their tapas.

Inside Pix Patisserie in Portland
Inside Pix Patisserie in Portland

I clearly don’t remember what I or my friend ordered when we were there (pictures should give you a nice idea). But whatever they were…each of them was incredibly good. I don’t have a sweet tooth, but even then…I felt like a kid in a candy shop.

Desserts in Pix Patisserie
Desserts in Pix Patisserie

Finding a parking here can be a bit tricky if you hate parallel parking. But for all the trouble you are going to get thru to come  here will be all better once you step your foot into Pix Patisserie. If you have enough time, walk around and have your meal somewhere in this neighborhood before your dessert…the whole street is packed with lots of ethnic restaurants at every corner.

Desserts and tea in Pix Patisserie
Desserts and tea in Pix Patisserie

I will take every chance I get to come to this place again. I bought some fruity gum drops for my kids which they loved. Now planning to bring them for some macaroons and other pastries.