Bridgeport Ale House (3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd)

A nice waiter that I think is named Joe, with longer than shoulder-length, nutty brown hair pulled back in a ponytail is my favorite. When he smiles, all of his teeth show and his goatee moves with his face as the shape of his head changes to accommodate the wide spread of his mouth. He crouches down next to the table and asks us what we want. I feel like asking him how his day went because somehow I feel like we are friends, even though we aren't.

The food is good - the best spinach artichoke dip in Portland, excellent poblano corn cakes, great burgers, pizza. All of that is fabulous and amazing.

I like to go to Bridgeport Ale House late at night, when I have had a not so good day, so that I can see Joe and catch a little of his contagious smile. It's a place you can sit for hours and hours and talk forever and never feel uncomfortable.

Oh yeah. And their tiramisu, served in little teacups. KILLER.