Danielle "Part-Time Model" K.'s Profile

I really, really, really hate to renege what I already wrote about this place. But...after several more visits, I have a few big gripes.

I've gotten Shellac/gel nails each time, hoping that the next experience would be better. The first time, the polish peeled off because a bunch of it got on my cuticles. The second time, I made sure the cuticles were clipped better, and the polish still peeled. Then now, I went back the other night, and nothing has peeled yet, but the polish job looks like I did it myself. It was pretty sloppy, with polish on my cuticles, and on the sides of my nail beds.

My pedicure isn't better by any means. Pedicures go first in a mani-pedi combo to ensure that your toes are dry by the time your gel is done curing. Normally this is fine. I got home to find that the polish must have been glooped on because my toes were wrecked because of the shoes. There was plenty of time for them to dry. Also, another sloppy job.

Finally, the massage jobs and skin care is really short (almost nonexistent), and really had little-to-no pressure.

The people here are all very, very nice so it really pains me to re-review this place with less stars, but I've brought up my concerns (especially regarding the cuticles/peeling of the gel), and nothing has improved. If I can't find another place with comparable pricing and better service, then this is an okay option. But...I want a better experience and end result when I go for salon services.

Well, I finally found the place where the locals hang--a great accomplishment for this little anthropologist!

The Tap Room was a little tricky to find, but I actually kind of like that now...it's tucked away from all the tourists, I guess. All the beers we sampled (and we actually did sample them all) were super delightful, and this is coming from someone who really doesn't like beer all that much. It's very reasonably priced, and you can take home a growler for $16 (and refills for only $10!) or a quart for $8 (and refills for only $5!!). Definitely try the Black Elk Stout (with flavors from cacao nibs and vanilla beans), the Christmas special (aromatic of orange, cinnamon, and cranberry...almost like a cider), and the special spicy brew in back (it's got like four types of chilis!). Abundant cheap snackies, and a few food options later on.

The only part that kind of blew was that they don't open until 3 p.m., so no lunchtime brews. Also, there's not much of an ambiance, with laminate flooring and fluorescent lights, but the beer definitely makes up for what the decor lacks.

Having a house in Ocean Shores, my family is actually required to have a membership to the Ocean Shores Community Club. Normally, this would really piss me off, but this place actually has quite a bit to offer.

Granted, the majority of the patronizers are the retired and their grandchildren, so this is definitely no place to pick up a date, ha! But, it's a decent place to get your sweat on or do other semi-fun things.

I normally go here to use the gym. It's not a bad gym for a community club, but it could definitely use some improvements. However, seeing that most of the people who use the gym seem to be people who also think it's appropriate to workout in jeans, this may not be a pressing issue. They have a few ellipticals and treadmills, a rower (I do NOT like this rower...I think the Concept 2 rowers are far superior), and a plethora of really weird isolation machines, none of which have instructions or demos. In another room, they have a few yoga balls, some dumbbells, and the most horrendous barbell contraption I've ever seen; the barbell is locked into the machine, making it near impossible to do deadlifts, back squats, presses (because it doesn't go up high enough), or any other functional barbell complex other than a bench press. They also have a few jump ropes made of actual rope. You can definitely get a workout here, but you have to be creative. Like, one time I brought my own jump rope, did some heavy dumbbell snatches, inverted situps, goblet squats with dumbbells, and push ups. But your average person probably won't have thought to do that.

Moving on.

There's a pretty sweet basketball court here. My dad likes to shoot hoops.

They also have a swimming pool (not big enough for laps, but it's good fun) and a hot tub, foosball, ping-pong, air hockey, pinball, and shuffleboard. They also have a really, really, really crappy and slow computer to check email on, but it's a better option than your phone, I guess.

Oh, and a nice view of the ocean.

Overall, this place is okay, but could definitely benefit from some improvements.

If you want Ocean Shores-specific apparel, this is definitely the place to go. While the designs aren't much different than any other little souvenir shop in the area, the piece that sets this shop apart is that everything is customizable. They have about a billion different tee-shirt colors and brands, sweatshirts, sweaters, hoodies, shorts, skirts, and swimsuits. Some pre-decaled, some just plain.

What was fun was choosing a tee in the color and size and style I liked, and then customizing it with one of their fun decals (of which they have many). They will then press it on your shirt right then and there!

Also, I think they have sales a lot, so you can get shirts half off, a lot of times.

The people are friendly, the prices are right, and it's a good place to get little gifts for friends. I'm down.

How about a little bit of TMI for you all this lovely evening.

A few years ago, I started thinking that maybe I had a dairy sensitivity.

Fast-forward to about two months ago, when I completely cut myself off dairy and then reintroduced it in the form of ice cream. Sick, immediately. Twice. Then I made the connection.

I am--I say with tears in my eyes--lactose intolerant.

Has this stopped me from going to Salt & Straw? Um. Not really.

But granted, at the moment, I forgot I wasn't supposed to eat it (until, of course, it was too late). Was it worth it? Well, you be the judge:

First of all, the place is freaking adorable, and nice and warm, making ice cream not only appetizing but also super desirable even in the cold of winter.

Their list of flavors is absolutely nuts, and the workers there are so sweet they will let you try a spoonful of pretty much any flavor you want. How many did I try? Well...I'm not sure...but it was a lot.

Some standouts included:

+ Pear and Blue Cheese. Yup, it was strange, but very tasty.

+ Strawberry with Honey Balsamic and Black Pepper. This flavor actually inspired a flavor of my rendition of grown-up fruit roll-ups I made a few months back. It's super delicious, smooth, and just very complex.

+ Can't remember the name, but it definitely had Hot Monkey in it, which gave a nice kick to the end. Fabulous!

+ Salted Caramel. You can't go wrong.

But in the end, what won me over for a waffle-cone sized serving was a mixture of the toffee with salted ganache (perfect) and the duck fat caramel (beyond heavenly). Yes, I said it. Duck. Fat. Caramel. It was creamy and delicious and not overtly caramelly, which I appreciated.

Salt & Straw was definitely worth the out-of-my-way drive, and was so good that I would consider ordering it online when I return to New York in a few weeks. Good. Lord. Just keep on doing what you're doing, and I'll keep on loving you.

Oh, and yes, it was worth it.

Whoops! Delayed reaction, y'all!

Maybe I didn't get the memo, but apparently "holiday attire" and "ugly sweaters" are one and the same to me. Oops! I still enjoyed rocking a vest that may or may not have had Santas wearing leopard print....eeee!

Anyway, this was a totally fun and mellow event--just my style! And, it gave me an excuse to FINALLY go to Salt & Straw. So I got to enjoy some delightful seasonal samples, AND be just a little naughty in the store by imbibing spiked milkshakes (bet ya can't get those there ever day!). Yum!

Also, it was great to see my fellow Yelpers, many of whom I don't see often enough. Great fun! Thanks, Don!

Well...it's high time I wrote a review of this place. Because, you know, I've been a regular here since they've opened.

I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said.

What initially drew me in was the prospect of free wine with my pedicure. I mean, can we say decadent? Oh yes! But, truly, it wasn't the wine that has kept me going back on a pretty regular basis. Yeah, free booze is always a plus (especially with the Yelp crowd, amirite?), but it's really about the quality overall. And not only have my services always been super consistent (granted, I am partial to a few of the ladies, but they are all truly awesome), but manicures and pedicures are both very reasonably priced. Which, for a starving grad student like myself, is fabulous.

But let me revisit the quality part. Yeah, sometimes you'll get a longer leg massage than other times, but the Shellac-ing skills here are second to none. When I get my nails Shellac-ed in Albany, they don't take care of the cuticles and just aren't very careful, which results in the Shellac easily peeling off. It's not fun, and it's frankly pretty frustrating. This has NEVER happened at Healthy Nails. They know what they're doing with the gel nails. It takes some extra time, but it's definitely worth it.

I'm also impressed with some of the upgrades they've made to the salon. On my most recent trip, I discovered that each massage chair for pedicures were awesomely outfitted with iPads, so you can play games or surf the web while your nails are being done.

This is definitely my favorite nail salon, and I look forward to continuing to patronizing them down the road!

My dreams of neverending sushi have finally been realized.

I'm not apt to give out five stars to a sushi joint too often, but this place just rocked. I'll admit...the decor is pretty corny. I don't usually want to feel like I'm in an undergrad-esque night club when I eat my seafood, but somehow the corniness works (e.g., the cheap crystal chandeliers, the lights, the slippery floors, etc.).

I came with a group of people, and the service was actually really prompt for such a large order. Essentially, since it's all-you-can-eat (which also normally turns me off), you can sample just about anything for the very reasonable price of $25. We were able to try miso soup, seaweed salad, calamari, oyster shooters, rock shrimp, ribs, crab rangoon, egg rolls, and potstickers, IN ADDITION to enormous plates of rolls and sashimi. We were all stuffed by the time we were done.

Also, since it was all-you-can-eat, I got to try sushi that I wouldn't normally order. Everything I tried was tasty, even if I had no idea which roll was which.

The only thing that's a bit wonky is that they charge you a la carte prices for food that you do not finish. I don't think we had any problems with that, but it definitely made me mindful of how many rolls we ordered.

I will definitely be coming back. I've been to several other sushi restaurants in the Captial Region, and spent far more for far less. This is definitely the best bang for your buck, in my opinion.

So, I have this complex, right? It's this weird thing that I do (or don't do, I guess), where I just never go out for Italian food. I never have the inkling to do it, and I could care less when my friends in New York want to get some chicken parm (ick!).

There are two reasons, I suspect, why I'm like this. First, I am Italian. Well...Italian-American...I'm a fourth-generation Southeast Portlander (no joke). My mom is an amazing cook, and her mother, who taught her, was an amazing cook, and my mom's father was an amazing cook, and so on and so forth. I come from a long line of great Italian cooks making great Italian food--ravioli, gnocchi, red sauces, pesto, pita fritas, biscotti, polenta, brigole, sausage--you name it. All of it fantastic. So, then, why would I go out for Italian food when I can have it better at home?

Secondly, is sort of the same reason. Since I grew up with all this crazy cuisine, while it is still awesome, it has sort of lost its "specialness," and has made its way into what I consider "normal" food, the same way that, say, someone from Mexico would call tortillas and beans simply "food," and not "Mexican food," ya know?

But...in any case...you get the point.

I've passed a Cena countless times. Really. Living and growing up about two miles away, this is pretty much my 'hood, and there are lots of places in Sellwood that I've just never really felt compelled to check out (sorry!).

I really am sorry that I hadn't given a Cena a chance before now. Everything from the ambiance (intimate! romantic!) to the food screams refined and elegant. Which is both awesome AND slightly confusing to me. Confusing, just because I traditionally associate Italian food with rusticity, and I'm not sure the cuisine here was too rustic...or it was?...but just elevated?

Anyway, everything that our servers brought out was seriously amazing. We started with an organic, unfiltered pinot noir that was unlike any wine I'd tasted before (normally, I go straight for the cabs, but this was a pleasant surprise), and a tomatoey duo of caprese salad and a chilled tomato soup. Now, granted, everyone who knows me know that I also have a weird tomato complex. I mean, I'll eat them, but only if whatever it is isn't too tomatoey. As in, not caprese salads, and not chilled tomato soups. HOWEVER, I tried it, and I'm glad I did, because it really was spectacular. Sweet and tangy, with house-made mozzarella. Divine! Especially great with the side of foccacia and breadsticks.....

Next!

Peaches wrapped in prosciutto?! Who knew? I think this is probably a twist on the classic of cantaloupe with prosciutto, but it's a welcome twist. Try it. Really. It was great.

Also, don't miss the salted-cherry-basil palate cleanser. Yup, that.

The scene stealer, though, was clearly a Cena's signature lobster and corn/mascarpone raviolini. Screw points, I could have eaten an entire bowl of this stuff, it was THAT good. Lick-your-plate good. The pappardelle with rabbit was also really, really tasty. I'd never tried rabbit before, but this dish makes me think I'd try it again. Another first? Scapes. SO. GOOD. They're sort of like garlicky green beans, and they're something I'd totally try to cook myself.

Finally, if you've come to a Cena, you might as well try dessert, too. One of my chef friends always talks about having to make panna cottas, and I have to say that they always sounded weird. Just cream and gelatin? But let me tell you, this stuff was awesome. Complete with a strawberry prosecco "soup," it was seriously delightfully light and creamy. Ditto to the tiramisu--light (really!) and creamy and yummy. Perfect with their house-made limoncello.

FINALLY, the service was so gracious and nice! Really, this was a home-run. Am I turned back on to Italian out? Maybe not completely, but I'm definitely turned on to this delightful Sellwood hideaway.

As my papa would say, MANGIA GIOIA, MANGIA!

What up, five stars?

Is it just me, or am I feeling the Portland love in here?

In short, this place rocks. And hopefully it's not just me.

Savoy has a happy hour that is not to be reckoned with. $4 wells or house wines, and $5 cocktail-o-day (when I went, it just happened to be a fragrant jasmine-gin concoction, aptly named the Gin Blossom, which was bright and lovely), in addition to a crazy-delicious menu sold me pretty much immediately.

The burgers (both vegetarian and carnivorous versions) looked incredibly delightful, and I was rather pleased with my rich and creamy mac-n-chee.

The scene-stealer, though? Definitely the fried cheese curds. See, traditionally, these little suckers would be the squeaky cheese. Mild and noisy! But when they're breaded and deep-fried, it's something of cheesy heaven. Melty and mild and delicious...it's upscale mozzarella sticks, minus the mozzarella. Salty, crunchy, yummy, served up in a frites cone. Holla!

Oh, and did I mention that apparently the entire staff could be moonlighting as Abercrombie models (Anna B. 2011)? They were nice, too.