{Eating Clean}: Portland’s Local 188.

by Katelyn Block on August 9, 2012 · 12 comments

Last night for dinner, we took a good recommendation by a fellow CrossFitter and checked out Local 188, a tapas restaurant in the downtown Arts District of Portland, featuring local, whole ingredients.

The inside of the restaurant was not quite rustic, but definitely influenced by European style. It was warm and open, with high ceilings and a combination of both family-style and bar seating.

The menu featured tapas, raciones, salads, and entrees. Because this is a vacation where we don’t have access to a kitchen (major bummer), we’re trying to keep it inexpensive while still enjoying all of the restaurants Portland has to offer.

We started off with bread, toasted and brushed with olive oil.

Padre went HAM on this stuff.

I chose the Meatballs (Tapas, above), and the Steak Tartare (Raciones, below).

Both were unreal. The Tartare was served with a cracked Quail Egg on top. I don’t know what that is, but it was creamy and I liked it.

I’m still burping steak tartare. It was that good.

Madre and Padre got a huge rice dish with a variety of seafood: Lobster, scallops, shrimp, mussels. I had some of the lobster, and some of my sister’s mussels. At first she got the scallops and nearly puked them up when she realized they were raw. They gave her mussels as a replacement, which were in an un-REAL broth that I’m dying to replicate.

Overall, we had a great experience at Local 188 and I left with a hot lemon tea. It was in a beautiful sachet, which gave it a nice local, homemade flair. No dessert necessary.

What are your favorite restaurant types to hit up on vacation?
Do you get the “weird” (read: raw) foods or the classics? 

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Claire August 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Little traveler!! Soooooooooooon your travels will have to bring you down to good old FL! Whenever I’m on vacation I tend to just eat lots of desserts…I love finding the local ice cream shops and froyo stores that are different than the ones at home. Weiiiiiiiiiiiiird. Enjoy your vaca!

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jenna August 9, 2012 at 11:29 AM

i LOVE any kind of seafood and sushi when i’m on vacation. it’s definitely my favorite! im afraid of red meat rare or raw though! the restaurant looks like a really great place! SPA LOVE!

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Emily @ Perfection Isn't Happy August 9, 2012 at 11:34 AM

I like going to places that are authentic to the area. I figure, why would I want to visit a chain restaurant when I can go there when I’m at home?

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Jodi August 9, 2012 at 11:36 AM

mmmm looks so good!! I LOVE seafood :) glad you are enjoying yourself!

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Heather August 9, 2012 at 12:06 PM

I love most raw things (read: sushi & sashimi), but I’m scurred to try beef tartare! Something about raw red meat pushes the foodie envelope for me.

Also- I always saw it served in a ground form, but this looks shaved? Innnneresting.

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Alex (@alexbridgeforth) August 9, 2012 at 1:40 PM

What are your favorite restaurant types to hit up on vacation?
I love vegan restaurants, they always have the best food.

Do you get the “weird” (read: raw) foods or the classics? I tend to do both. I guess vegan tacos would be weird to some but sound like a classic to me.

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Sam @ Better With Sprinkles August 9, 2012 at 1:45 PM

Well, I do love sashimi so I’m not one to shy away from raw foods. A lot of the time on vacation I’ll end up ordering the weirdest thing on the menu – I’m definitely adventurous in my food habits. :-)

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Anabelle August 9, 2012 at 3:52 PM

I’ll be visiting Portland in a few months and I just looked over the menu–everything sounds incredible, but I’d hardly call it inexpensive eats! Does your fam want to adopt a daughter?

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Katelyn Block August 9, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Hahaha this dinner was definitely not cheap. It was our “splurge” dinner of the week.

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Kierston August 9, 2012 at 5:10 PM

I want sushi everywhere I go…always! My favorite food!

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Lee August 10, 2012 at 8:30 AM

The first photo needs to be an advertisement for the Local 188 #justsayin

HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A BLAST :)

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