By Emily Neelon and Hannah Baade
Junior Parents and Families Weekend is fast approaching, and campus will soon be consumed by hangry (hungry/angry) and jet-lagged moms and dads looking for something to eat.
As a (wise) junior, you know that The Commons is not an option. Although your house is only five minutes away from Dominos, Taco Bell and the Twilight Room, your parents probably won’t enjoy greasy pizza and cheap beer as much as you do.
Unsure of where to take your parents out to eat? We’ve got you covered:
Quick Bite: Blue Star Donuts 3753 N. Mississippi Ave. 4.2 miles from campus $ Skip Voodoo’s cash-only long lines and head to Blue Star Donuts. The entire store is sparkling white and the donuts are classy to match. The flavors combine to make sure no donut is too saccharine. Particularly, the Matcha Green Tea is refreshingly sweet and guilt-free vegan. Just don’t forget to bring your jealous roommates a few.
#Basic Brunch: Anna Bannanas Cafe 8716 N Lombard St. 2.2 miles from campus $ This eclectic cafe is a hidden gem of St. Johns. It serves breakfast all day with a massive assortment of bagels (including quinoa) and hearty sandwiches. Anything with their line-caught smoked salmon is delicious. Filled with mismatching furniture and quiet rock music, it has the ideal cafe noise level for finally telling your parents about that new tattoo.
Sit Down: Girasol Restaurant and Bar 8438 N Lombard St. 2.03 miles from campus $$ Tucked away in the St. Johns neighborhood, Girasol serves up wood-fired pizza, salads, sandwiches and pasta. With “fresh, natural, and simple flavors” and string lights and lanterns swaying from the ceiling, the restaurant has a warm and welcoming atmosphere that’s perfect for lunch or dinner with your parents. Girasol also has a full bar and live performances by local artists every Friday and Saturday night from 7 - 9 p.m. Share an Ample Pie and an order of Cinnamon Rolls.
Dessert: Salt and Straw 838 NW 23rd Ave. 6.24 miles from campus 2035 NE Alberta St 4.9 miles from campus $ Salt and Straw is so Portland #basic, but a classic part of the city’s quirky food culture. The long line trailing down the sidewalk during rain storms and snowpocalypses alike is telling of the shop’s successful take on classic ice cream flavors. Customer service at Salt and Straw is excellent - the servers are always more than willing to let you try as many samples as you want. The shop is currently featuring a “Chocolatier Series”. After an evening window shopping on Alberta Street, or catching some live music at one of the many restaurants or bars, stop in to get a late night dessert!
