(deschutesbrewery.com) – Portland, Oregon (Pearl District) 

How I heard of this place: On a last minute trip to Portland, I emailed my friend Annalou to see if we could find a time to catch up during my visit. She recommended Deschutes as a place for pretzels. 

Type of cuisine: A brew pub in the heart of Portland, Deschutes Brewery & Public House “continues brewing unique beers at the original location in downtown Bend and now at our new location in Portland’s Pearl District – while serving the finest Northwest pub cuisine.” Brew fare at its peak, the kitchen prepares lunch pretzels, burgers, large-sized salads, pasta and anything else you could dream up at a pub. Everything is cooked and prepared on site (including salad dressings) and attempts are made to choose and serve local produce. 

Ambiance: Large interior space, which used to house an auto body parts shop, dons floor-to-ceiling windows, some of which slide open like warehouse or garage doors. Exposed wooden beams and industrial pipes line line the space as well as the ceilings. Dark greens and woods make up the plaid carpet and leather bench seats that resemble church pews, creating a very bachelor-esque space, where one might expect to see a salt and pepper haired man with a pipe, sitting in the corner and reading a classic novel, legs crossed. The bar area is somewhat small compared to the immensity of the establishment, but offers drinkers and diners a nice, removed spot from which to enjoy their drinks while overlooking the copper equipment in the distillery. Red walls with artwork mark the kitchen side of the restaurant. 

What I ordered: Both my dining companion and I ordered the pretzels ($8 each), served with your choice of side: the soup of the day, cole slaw, fries, sweet fries, or salad as well as a dish of creamy Monterey jack cheese dipping sauce with whole grain Black Butte Porter mustard. Our late-comer ordered house-made ginger ale, which gave us pure, light, sweet ginger enjoyment. 

What I loved: I loved the blue cheese dressing for the salad! I also loved the wreath-shaped pretzel, beautifully buttered and lightly salted, presented to us for lunch.  

Why I loved it: The food was delicious, the service quick and friendly and the space huge!  

Cost: Low to average ($8-$12 for lunch specials; and no tax for Washington diners means an extra 10% in your pocket!)