Natalie M.'s Profile

I DIE.

I absolutely love this place.  I started going here last year because a friend recommended it to me.  Actually, the first two times I went I had two different stylists because they both left after they cut my hairs.  I thought maybe it was my fault but then I suddenly realized, Natalie, haven't you been smoking peyote for six  straight days and couldn't some of this be in your head?  And it was!  Just kidding.  Well, except for the fact that I did have different stylists and I love this place.

This is neither here nor there.

Anyway, despite being on stylist #3 (yay Meghan!), they give some amazing cuts.  I've never been much of a product girl but they have turned me into a Phyto Volumizing Spray addict.  Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.  The haircuts I've gotten, especially with Meghan, are always outstanding.  I don't fear short hair but I know people who do and suffice it to say Meghan totally listens to what you want.  If you say you want a trim, you get a trim.  Plus, she also gives good recc's in terms of styling or other services that might make your hair even more glamorous.  I often can't afford all the fanciness but it's nice to dream and every so often I treat myself so I appreciate the non-pushy suggestions.  Price wise it seems pretty reasonable.  While it's somewhat more than what I traditionally pay for, I am notoriously stingy on hair-cutting expenses so that's probably just me.  Besides, you totally get a good bang for your buck, so who cares?  While I can only really speak to how happy I am with Ms. Meghan, I assume the rest of the stylists are also awesome and I would totally facebook friend request them if I was stalker saavy enough to figure out their last names.  

Extra bonus points for having maybe the nicest receptionist ever and offering delightful refreshments like coffee, cider and water upon your arrival.

I totally love you Ferricchia.  I will be sad when I move out of the area and can no longer obsess over how I can let my hair grow out way longer than I should and still have some semblance of 'style' due to your amazingly talented tress cutting abilities.

Let's be besties.

Hey Guy, what's up?

You are my neighbor.  I like that you always have the game on and sometimes I enjoy sitting at your bar and making friends with strangers named Joe.  I like that you make me delicious Drunken Pumpkins and always have my fav Shipyard Flavor on draft.  Know what else I like?

Your pizza.  

The Woodfids is a treat when I'm in the cheesy mood.  Crazy Mary is also something I tried on a whim and now want to stuff my face with it pretty much every second of every day.  You have spicy buffalo tenders that make my friends face sweat an excessive amount and your cheesy bread stuff is divine.  Also, your chicken parm is quite delectable - as are your meatballs.  Sometimes in the summer the excessive amount of mosquitoes makes my dining experience less than ideal but I still keep coming back.  

I like you Siano's.  I like you a lot.  I can't wait to eat at you again soon.

HUGS.
Nate

Gosh you are good.  Every time I go I say, "Today, I'm going to get something different," and every time I go I get a beer, their salad and whatever the Vegetarian Pizza Special is (which actually HAS been different each time so I am technically following my inner monologue ambition).  

First off, the huge oven and the menus decorated by little Chitlins creates a really welcoming atmosphere.  Second, it's a non-pretentious joint on the water - during the summer you can wait outside and get drinks from the bar window (SO CLUTCH!).  Third, they have a great selection of beer and wine - most of it local which makes me smile.  Fourth, the food makes me believe in humanity again.  Good Lord is it good.  Sure it's 'just' pizza and salad but man, the eats just feel clean without all the preservative gunk you can get everywhere else.  So tasty.  You shan't be disappointed.

The only downside to this establishment is that BECAUSE it is so food coma inducing it gets really, really ridiculously busy during peak eating times.  They don't take rezzies but you can call in and put your name on the list before you arrive so that helps.  Highly recommend either way.

You kind of scary looking from the outside and in a strange location.  Plus, the first time I went I wasn't totally convinced the door I went through was the really how you enter the place (it was) but you are a sweet pea of a hole in the wall restaurant with delicious Pho at massively reasonable prices.  You have an adorable staff who are very kind and one lady actually showed me how to put hoisin sauce in the chili for dipping the beef in AND put a little hoisin in the Pho itself for added Noshingness.

Nothing beats this place on a cold winter day.  Go in there.  Enjoy your complimentary egg drop soup and hot tea, then order the Pho and a cold one.  You won't be disappointed.

Pho and Sapporo.  Phapporo.  Om nom nom.

I really dislike getting my car fixed so right off the bat, most service joints are starting at a negative star position in my book.  However, I've had two really goodexperiences with the people at Dodge Kia so I feel the need to give props where it's due.

The first time I went was for a service recall so that was fairly painless.  I wasn't surprised when they called me to tell me that my 60K check up was due somewhat soon and if I wanted to get it done early, they could take care of it for me.  This is, after all, a car dealership.  I think every time I have ever brought my car anywhere I get the traditional call of "Oh, we found this obscure thing that you might want to think about also getting done - it costs a lot too!".  NO THANKS!  That being said, I WAS surprised at how fast they were able to turn my car around.  I dropped it off at 9 a.m. and it was ready by 1:30 - not too shabby.

The second more recent instance was for the aforementioned 60K check up that I waited to get done after 60K.  Given the cost of the work that was 'recommended' I decided to play it straight and simply stated I don't have the money to do everything, I know there must be some things that aren't totally REQUIRED so what items do I absolutely need to get done so I don't weep myself to sleep over my debt?  I ended up getting a tiny portion of what was listed done, they turned my car around quickly, they had the nicest shuttle man who dropped me off and picked me up at my house AND it was overall the least painful and annoying car service experience I have ever had.

Finally, the guy who runs the service department is AWESOME.  He is WICKED FRIENDLY LOVES HIS JOB type awesome.  Plus, he gave me $100 off my bill because he had an extra coup for my service laying around.  10 points to YOU kind sir.

Mama like.

This is a Beer Lover's paradise!  It's a great atmosphere, fantastic selection of brews and some knowledgeable bartenders who really know what they are talking about.  

The selection is vast, overwhelming and can be a little bit aggressive.  I usually grab one of the 'tenders and ask for guidance.  Once, I even did a little quiz to help figure out what I would enjoy.  

Novare Res can be quite the happening scene and since its made up of long tables and people growing roots at the bar, if it's crowded it can be hard to grab some service.  If I can't get a seat at the bar, I typically go elsewhere because it's just not worth the battle.  Additionally, it's a bit more pricey than your run of the mill bar scene.

I still love it.  Novare Res, I may never be able to pronounce your name correctly but you are always in my heart.

I'm befuddled by all this, WEAK TOUR nonsense.  Kids, the tour is free.  You get a video, you get to walk a around a deliciously beer scented factory.  Check out some bottling.  Knaw on some hops.  You know.  Plus, I found the one formal tour I've done to be really informative.  

You know what else?  I wanted to taste beer.  And I did.  I got to taste several, pick my favorite, and get a pint.  I also got free pizza.  FREE PIZZA AND BEER AND A SHORT INFORMATIVE TOUR.

Why all the complaints and impersonal brewhaha?  I'm not looking for a therapist.  I'm looking for brews.  And I got it.

Also, you can just go in and provided the joint is not packed, you can just do a tasting.  No tour required.  The people there are awesome.  The gift shop is fun.  And it is generally just a good activity to take up an hour or two.  I take all the buddies that visit me to Shipyard.  Bottoms up.

Portland has got it's fair share of sushi goodness.  You know, it's practically in the ocean so the fishes are freshes.  Anyway, the problem with the sush, as sush lovers know, is that it far too often requires the droppage of dollar bills in exaggerated amounts.  I mean, I just want some quality fish and rice where I don't have to sell my hair to survive after like some sushi addicted Fantine from Les Miserables.

King of the Roll is a great little joint with affordable, quality sushi.  They have simple rolls for fish and veggie lovers alike not to mention some crazy concoctions that I don't even know what is in them.  The staff is friendly and attentive and when I spilled my Sapporo, the waitress did not even get cross with me.  

It's a small little gem with a creepy parking lot but when you're in it to win it one has to make sacrifices.  I will gladly sacrifice the safety of my vehicle if it means that I can have some soft-shell crab, heavy on the wasabi and some toasty miso.

My forays into Japanese joints always journey the same way: I contemplate springing for the noodle bowl and then I always come crawling back to the maki.  However, I've been to Sapporo a few times and I'm honored to report that everything from their steamy miso oceans to their majestic mountains of  crunchy tempura not to mention the rolling hills of maki and the eel infested udon noodle waters, all of it is deliciously luxurious.  

One time I even got sake and I don't even LIKE sake.

This place is good.  Nice location, patio in the summer times and free parking.  Definitely grab some grub here and wash it down with an ice cold beer of the same name and you will be dining happy and sitting prettier than a geisha.

When I was wee and growing up in the good old Winchester(tonfieldville) of MA we used to call this joint La Pats.  I bet they didn't like it but we sure as surely did.

I have had many an item from the cherished La Pats - petit fours, cakes, tarts, cookies, soups, pastries, croissants - and it's all very, very good.  My sister even got her wedding cake done here and I had half a mind to steal some and freeze it so I might enjoy it's gloriousness whenever I wanted.  I then decided that was creepy and instead got drunk with my family but this is neither here nor there.

I liked La Pats better when it was JUST your friendly neighborhood bakery but I can appreciate that sometimes you need to branch out and incorporate the lunch crowd.  I dig.  

Their cakes are really tasty but often very rich.  You definitely only need a mini-slice to satisfy your sweet tooth (and this is coming from a girl who has two gold teeth since she literally rotted her real teeth out of her skull from eating too many sweets).  If you don't do anything else, you must try any cake with their vanilla buttercream frosting.  I am right now tempted to make an off-colored joke about buttercreaming your trousers it's so good but I digress...

I used to live off the Almond Croissants while walking to school when I was just a disgruntled, 13 year old (which is arguably why I was a bit doughy in middle school) but they are also SO GOOD.  Flaky, buttery, filled with almondy excellence. The sugar cookies are colofully splendid and I seriously could plow through about a baker's dozen of their adorable petite fours.  YUM.

I can't speak too on their lunch options because to be honest, if I'm going La Pats, I'm going there to really do some damage on my cholesterol level and not have a "healthy cup of soup".  I go there for butter and fat and dominance.  Don't judge me.

So La Pats, you get the 5 stars from Natters because I love you with your coziness and how there are always old people hanging out and how awesome you use butter to make the richest of confections.  Cheers! Show owner comment »