the portland area has some amazing restaurants, such as: Beast, Pok Pok, Nostrana, Le Pigeon, and Gruner. Those are all beard nominees. Not one of them is a gastropub. Have you not been to any of the above? If not, I'd suggest you get to "some real restaurants"
Beard nominees are expensive. All up scale restaurants are "real restaurants". But beneath them (while still well above fast food) are mid level restaurants. In Portland this market niche seems almost entirely dedicated to "gastro" pubs. The very fact that they are called "gastro pubs" suggest people are aware there is something lacking in mid and low end (but not fast food) restaurants.
But that's not what you said. You stated "but seriously gastro-pubs are silly, get some real restaurants people". I provided several excellent counterexamples.
You then state "All up scale restaurants are "real restaurants"". That's poor logic. Portland has real restaurants. Some of them are expensive.
You then state mid level restaurants in portland are almost entirely dedicated to gastro pubs. Do you want me to debunk that as well? Very well, I'd suggest you look at:
del inti (italian)
gilda's (italian)
doc (italian)
a cena (italian)
de carli (technically beaverton)
st. jack
vindalho
meriwether's
oba
etc.
Portland has a vibrant restaurant scene full of "real restaurants". It's not just high end. If you want more than gastropubs, seek out more than gastropubs.
To be fair, I wasn't that much a fan of the gastropubs in portland. A couple were ok (ned ludd and the victory were the only two i remember), but i've never been a big fan of gastropubs anyways....
