Salt & Straw - Ice Cream, Portland OR

838 NW 23rd Ave (Alphabet District), Portland OR 97210
(971) 271-8168
http://saltandstraw.com
Hours: Daily 10a to 11p

Last Visited: October 13, 2016

Food: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 3 stars
Service; 5 stars
Price: $ to $$


If you like the wine tasting experience and you love ice cream, this combines the best of both worlds.  When Lucy heard I was heading to Portland, she said I had to stop here, and I'm so glad I listened.

It's awesome how Salt & Straw takes the time to let you sample different flavors.  Since it was October, they had a special menu of limited edition Halloween flavors like Dracula's Blood Pudding and Essence of Ghost.  The best part is how they take the time to tell you the story behind the flavor - like how the essence of ghost is intended to taste like you had eaten a ghost.   November offers limited edition Thanksgiving flavors that remind you of a Thanksgiving meal.

I went with the classics this time.

- Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper - While BiRite in San Francisco is well known for its balsamic strawberry, they have nothing on Salt & Straw.  The strawberry is super flavorful and has jammy streaks running through the creamy ice cream, and you also detect the hint of spice from the black pepper and the depth of the balsamic vinegar.  It's a delicious combination which greatly exceeds what BiRite is offering.

- Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache - Another great choice for your palate to delight upon as you experience have opposing flavors - the sweet crunchy almond brittle with the salt from the ganache. Rich and creamy.

Pricing:
Single $3.95, Double $5.95, Kids $2.95, Split Scoop +0.50, Tasting Flight $9

I loved both of the ice cream flavors I selected, and on this rainy night, the place was quite empty.  The servers took their time and they were super friendly - whether it was offering another tasting or an indecisive customer wanting to change their minds - they were extremely patient and kept their smiles. I heartily recommend trying Salt & Straw in the Alphabet District!  Don't miss it.