I'm almost certainly available and interested.

Great! Which night works for you? We were thinking of trying Sel Gris or Le Pigeon. What do you think?

Good thing I checked, I've just realized I've got a meeting on the 9th. I haven't been to either (my partner is vegetarian, which shapes our fine-dining options somewhat) but I've been meaning to try Le Pigeon and I'm sure I could be happy at Sel Gris.

There are a few other places that are worth checking out, probably less likely to get written up in the New York Times or the Chronicle, but maybe a touch more essentially Portland: Lovely Hula Hands, the Farmhouse, Navarre, Grolla. And the other specialty here is breakfast-centered restaurants, of which there are at least a dozen worth going to. Where are you staying?

Le Pigeon, it occurs to me, has the advantage of being only a few blocks from my wine locker, FWIW.

I eat downtown almost every day, but I've never eaten at Higgins or any of the hotel restaurants.

The thing to know about breakfast joints is that all the good ones are likely to have 30-90 minute waits on weekends between 9 and 1 or so. Most of them have self-serve coffee available to help mitigate that. The clear starting point these days is the Tin Shed on Alberta. Helser's, a block away, is also good. There's also Gravy on Mississippi, the Cup and Saucer on Killingsworth. Bridges is on MLK across from the Nike outlet. In SE there's the J&M cafe a few blocks SE of Burnside and MLK, Genies at SE 11th and Division, the Cricket Cafe on Belmont, another Cup and Saucer on Hawthorne, Juniors on SE 12th, and I hear good things about Pine State Biscuits on Belmont.

That's not a dozen, but it's close. I'd say if you're in NE, go to the Tin Shed, and SE, probably Genies or J&M. If you're on the west side... drive to the east side.

Navarre also does a brunch now on weekends, and while it's not in quite the same mold as the others listed here, the food was very, very good, which it generally is for dinner as well. The wine list is quite good, focusing on wines that are more of the "obscure QPR" variety than the "flashy and famous". Unfortunately they're not kept at cellar temperature and if the restaurant is warm, so is the wine. Still worth eating there IMO.

I've found Wildwood hit or miss, personally. Have done dinner there several times and gone to a couple of tasting events there (Opus vertical and a DeLille tasting). Out of 5 or 6 visits, I've had one great experience and 4 or 5 mediocre ones. The service was great, just not overly impressed with the food. Full disclosure, it's been 3 years, so things may have changed... Flip side of that is I've been to Higgins several times for lunch and enjoyed it immensely (mmm pumpkin risotto), but the buddy I just went down to visit refuses to step food inside the place.

I've heard great things about the Farmhouse and was moderately bummed I couldn't hit it this past weekend. My one meal out in Portland was corned beef hash at the Heathman for breakfast on Sunday, which was errr corned beef hash. Pick up some beans at Stumptown if you get a chance :-D

Seamus, so are you available on the 10th? (edited for correct date)

"Steak Guy" can you make it too?

Hah! Wife got home last night, will ask tomorrow night over dinner :-D

Yes, I should be available anytime in the evening on Thursday, the 10th.

Wife reminded me I'm in Atlanta for the following week, and having an offline there :-D

Seamus - that's great. I'll PM my contact details.

Drew - sorry we will miss you. Have a great time in Atlanta.