This Hawthorne cafe is perfect for a lingering breakfast or a quick bagel fix. Join the ranks of locals, tourists, students, and those curious to try a new joint to savor ELO scrambles, pastas, ravioli, breads, and wines. It's easy to go overboard with the desserts and the cassata being the hot favorite. On the flip side the service can be tardy. The crowds being another dampener on this otherwise lovely neighborhood hideout.

Grab yourself a chair on the flower-covered patio or the glass-covered porch for some of the best people-watching in town. Anyone looking to spend a day on Hawthorne would do well to start it off here. Traditional breakfast is updated with healthy and delicious touches, including a house special marionberry coffeecake. Enjoy a mimosa or fresh brewed tea with your brunch. Service is quick and personable; the new owners make sure everyone feels welcome. A newly added dinner menu serves vegetarian-friendly fare into the evening.

The long drought of decent late-night pizza in Portland has finally ended. Hammy's now delivers 16" pizzas when you really need them. They have a spectacular cheese blend, fresh spices, and decadent toppings such as the Greek olive mix. Committed to sustainability, they make fresh dough everyday from local, organic flours. Toppings are also local, organic and seasonal wherever possible. Their signature Breakfast Pie with eggs and roasted potatoes is perfect for sopping up that one drink too many at the bar. Generous personal pies, fresh salads, homemade minestrone and sweet almond calzones are also available at surprisingly reasonable prices.

Featuring Portland's fresh, young jazz talent and old masters alike, you'll find the joint hopping from Tuesday through Saturday nights till late. For a nominal cover (most nights), descend the stairs to find an intimate stage setting, perfect for a date or just to relax with a drink. Take a seat next to the extensive full bar for faster service on their stunning signature cocktails. The beer menu changes regularly and features one of the best selections of imported beers in town. Italian and modern fusion food of varying quality is served till 1am.

Open earlier and later than most bars in town, the Twilight makes the perfect basic drink. Stiff but not overpowering - a perfect balance. The expansive bar wraps around the tender like a stage. There's plenty of seating and the service is prompt. Live music of widely varying quality is free on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. A surprisingly good and inexpensive breakfast is available daily at 7am with a gentle acoustic guitar serenade and ample portions. Check out the chalkboard when you enter for daily drink specials.

Exclusive without being pretentious, Simpatica Dining Hall is a unique and delicious gastronomical experience that is not to be missed- if you can get a seat. Dinner is served Friday and Saturday only, but in order to get a table you must sign up for their weekly menu-newsletter and make reservations well in advance. On Sundays, brunch and a "ten sandwiches" supper are open to the public sans appointment. Dinner menus are fixed, usually Italian-influenced 3-4 course meals served to patrons seated at communal tables so be prepared to chat with your neighbors and try new things. There is plenty to talk about, however, with inventive dishes such as roasted guinea hen stuffed with boudin blanc or Hungarian Crepes filled with roasted pear and sweet Sheep's milk cheese. Using naturally raised meats and locally procured produce, this is an excellent place to experience Portland's burgeoning local food scene and the slow food movement at its best.

The only thing harder than choosing from the reasonably priced, seasonal cuisine at the Night light is choosing what you want to drink from their extensive and creative drink menu. Injecting modern style into an otherwise relaxed atmosphere, you'll find dark corners with velvet couches and original artworks. Between 3-7 pm, enjoy one of the best happy hour specials in Portland, with generous appetizers and Stella Artois on tap. Bring your laptop and take advantage of free Wi-fi. Seating is also available on their back porch and the avenue.

Just a quick ride from Downtown Portland and you'll find yourself at one of Portland's hippest brunch spots. Eggs are the stars here, including a particularly rich and innovative Benedict selection that shines the brightest. Breakfast is served all day, along with an array of luncheon sandwiches. Weekends often find people on the sidewalk, sipping the local Stumptown coffee, waiting for the next free table to open up. Be sure and check the board for daily brunch specials and the drink of the day. Revelers will appreciate one of the most sublimely balanced Bloody Marys in town, made from house-infused vodkas.

Take in the atmosphere of the Australian Outback while enjoying mouth-watering entrees and high-quality service. Serving dinner only, Outback Steakhouse offers an extensive menu featuring appetizers, chicken, ribs, steak, seafood, pasta, salads and desserts for moderate prices. Family-friendly, the casual restaurant has something for everyone at its numerous locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Outback Steakhouse also offers call-ahead seating and curbside take-away.

Vindalho is the name of a popular dish from Goa, a coastal city in India. The warm interiors feature mango and green colored walls, a high ceiling, a mezzanine level, blue light fixtures, wooden chairs and pretty, bamboo-top tables. A bar accompanies the dining section and serves fruity cocktails, beer, wine and tea too. The enticing aroma, filling up the space, will tempt your taste buds. Chef David Machado cooks up an assortment of delights. Crunchy pappadams with sweet and tangy chutneys are on the house! Indulge in them while you wait for your order. Try the pyramid shaped Samosa, tandoor dishes and warm Nan - the Indian bread. An outdoor courtyard serves as the perfect venue on a sunny summer to begin your gastronomic tour of India.