Before I get in too deep, I feel the need to start off with a slight complaint, because so many restaurants say this including Jak’s. “ We buy only corn fed, Nebraska raised beef. The finest beef available anywhere!” Displayed promptly on the front of the menu. If you use the word “finest” in any sentence you can make people believe it is true. What I read is: “We buy only corn fed beef, because it is the fattiest and cheapest beef available anywhere!” Oh well…I can only bet if this place sold grass-fed meat it would be even more expensive, but come-on…do you really have to brag about selling grain-fed meat? Anyways, onto the meat of this review.

On Monday nights they have the Prime Rib special. For around $21 you get around 18ounces of meat, which in comparison to their other prices, is a great deal. This also comes with a salad. The meat usually comes with steamed vegetables and potatoes but they had no problem substituting the potato for more veg. Also with the meal is a side of Au Jus and Horseradish (looked creamed so I skipped it).

Taste: 8 – Meat was a little undercooked even for me. Fat was chewy. 
Nutrition: 8 – Fatty cornfed meat. Otherwise pretty darn good. 
Filling: 9
Price: $$$ (Dinner)
Overall Value: 7 – Pretty good meal, but like all steakhouses (except Brazilian!) you can do what they do at home for a fraction of the price. Also I love me some steamed vegetables but when I eat out I wouldn’t mind something a little more creative.

Here’s what I had:

SOUPE DU JOUR .........................................................................8

Was a tomato provencal soup on that day. Very good.

*GRILLED PORK CHOP............................................................. 17
10oz Grilled Pork Chop in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon, Garlic and Herbs

Usually comes with mashed potatoes but they were happy to substitute a green salad
for me, and I was happy to accept.

Taste: 8 (meat was overcooked) Nutrition: 10
Filling: 7
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 8 – Left happy, would come back. Wasn't anything too special
or crazy though. I can make a pork chop and salad at home too.

Butter Lettuce Salad : $8 – Point Reyes blue, shaved radish and red onion, toasted hazelnuts, sherry vinaigrette (cheese left off)

Grilled Oregon Natural Meats Ribeye: $29 - Grilled Walla Walla onions, Olsen farm Ozettes, sautéed kale (Subbed ozette potatoes for butternut squash +$2)

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 9
Price: $$$ (Dinner)
Overall Value: 7 – Great meal, just very expensive

I’ll be back as soon as I’m rich, Stumbling Goat Bistro!

Similar selection of unlimited slow roasted meats, “Rodizio” style.

Amazon Grill staff prepping the meats for the roaster. Like Ipanema, there is a massive deli style salad bar included in the Rodizio price. On there you will find tons of different Paleo friendly looking side dishes from asparagus to sweet potato to bok choy. Something for everyone indeed!

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10? (No idea on meat quality, but its mainly leaner cuts at least at lunch time)
Filling: 10 (If less, its your own fault!)
Price: $$ (Lunch) $$$ (Dinner)

Right now Yelp has a great deal for $40 off $80 worth of food there. Check it out!

Also be sure to read Gil’s guide to Rodizio, found on the Ipanema review page.

I love this place, but I don’t think they make much money off me.

Here’s what I had:

Appetizer;

‘Taylor Shellfish’ Mussels (gluten-free) $9/$12
Local fresh shellfish, skillet steamed with white wine, shallots,
bacon & granny smith apples.

I asked if it was dairy free and they said they could do it that way…my guess is using oil instead of butter or maybe leaving out a splash of cream. Whatever they did, it did not affect the taste as it was delicious. I shared the large portion and it was a very decent size.

Main Course:

Grilled Steak Salad (gluten-free) $15
On apple pumpkin hash sauteed with winter greens and tart dried cherry gastrique

A little small on portion but not on taste…steaked was cooked perfectly…other components worked very well together. A little sugar in the gastrique? Sure, but in the small quantity consumed as a garnished – not too worried about it. The camera flash makes it look blander than it was.

Side Dish:

Handcut Sweet Potato Fries with aioli , $6

Probably not the best oil used but it would be unlike me to pass up on handcut sweet potato fries. These were great. Thick, fluffy, great dipping sauce. For $6 though I would have liked to seen a bigger pile.

So in total – how is 50 North?

Taste: 9
Nutrition: 9
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall: 8

Little pricey for the portion sizes but I definitely didn’t leave hungry and will come back for more sometime soon!

Started with:
Grilled Romaine Salad: feta, kalamata olives, English cucumber, smokey grilled tomato vinaigrette. Asked for no feta.

Main Course:

Washington Chicken: garlic-crusted pan-roasted Washington chicken, rosemary garlic fingerlings, seasonal vegetable, pan jus. They did extra vegetable for me instead of potatoes. First time ever having that vegetable in my life too. Its basically the consistency of cauliflower but green. Chicken was served with some fried leeks on top.

Taste: 7
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 7

I’ve been here once before yesterday and it was excellent. This time it was not. Maybe the head chef took the night off yesterday. It was fine, but wasn’t great. For $20+ an entree, it needs to be great. But if you are in the area and looking for an upscale place to try, definitely keep it in mind as it has the potential to be great, and at the very least has even more options other than what I chose.

Here’s what I had:

They were very willing to leave out the potatoes and substitute more salad instead of grain based sides.

Taste: 10
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$$
Overall Value: 9 (Fine dining is expected to be overpriced, so do expect).

Sweet!

After studying the allergen statement, this beautiful display above shows the items that are all gluten, dairy, and soy free. There is some conflicting and confusing information (ie why is the chicken breast not gluten free?) I will try to clear these up and report back. The fried egg is delicious but it says it contains soy, meaning they likely fry it in soybean oil. Keep in mind these items still could have added sugar, but the 3 big allergens are not present if you go by this selection.

Bonus: As stated on the menu, all their meat is natural, with no hormones, antibiotics, or CAFO conditions. Not grass-fed but close enough for the type of place it is!

Now, the part you’ve all been waiting for…pictures of the food!

This was the market selection, which happened to be Bison. Was it good? Yes. Did it taste exactly like beef? Yes. That being said was it worth $6 extra for the bison instead of beef? No!
Bison, mixed greens, grilled onions, hard boiled egg, black olives, bacon, avocado, sauteed mushrooms, dijon balsamic dressing

Taste: 9 (Meat was over-cooked)
Nutrition: 10
Filling: 8
Price: $$
Overall Value: 9 (Could have pretty much made this exact same thing for 1/3 the price in my kitchen. But for a restaurant, I’ll give it a 9).

Rock-on The Counter!

This restaurant was already my favorite general place for eating out breakfast or brunch, so it was to my absolute delight that it happens to also be the best paleo place to eat out for those meals.

Here’s what I had:

SPECIALTY HASHES

Gyro Salad

Menu Description: Fresh lettuce, onion, tomato, tzaziki, olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, feta, lamb, and beef

Taste: 9
Nutrition: 8
Filling: 7
Price: $ ($6.18)
Overall Value: 8

I felt the portion size would be a little small for a normal time meal, but at 3am it was just what I needed. Also beware a friend tells me that they may put wheat in their lamb roast, but this is unconfirmed and I felt fine after eating there. You may want to double check if you are very gluten sensitive.