Happy Hour

Our family enjoys eating out quite a bit, but with very little in our budget to spend out, we usually end up at happy hours.  It's our way of getting into a swanky place without spending much money.  Our favorite in LA was Ciudad and Cafe Santorini in Pasadena.  Thus far, our favorite in Portland has been clarklewis.  It's one of those places that makes you feel great, just by eating there.  You walk in and the warmth and smell of the wood-fired oven are immediately apparent.  The first thing you see is this huge open kitchen full of good-looking people cooking on huge butcher block tables.  The back windows look across the Willamette River to the lights of downtown.  It's all so aesthetic and pleasing.  The happy hour menu is a series of plates from $1 to $6 and the drinks are $3.50 for beer and $4 for house wine.  The plates range from olives and honeyed almonds with fleur de sel to more substantial items.  It's really great food, especially for the price.  Mmm.