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Since my last burger update I’ve had a ridiculous amount of new burger tastings, but only a few that are notable enough from both a burger and a building standpoint: , , and .

If you haven’t yet experienced guilty pleasures at the Gilt Club, you certainly should. Housed in the old Everett Street Hotel in Old Town/Chinatown – and the only business operating in this 11,000+ square foot historic building – it provides a unique  dining experience. Everything is ornate, and everything is red: leather booths, walls, lighting – all red. It’s also intimate and cozy, and it’s definitely safe to say the food is over the top, as well. After all, this is a place that once featured a foie gras-topped burger; alas, it’s no longer available, but it has been replaced with an equally decadent “pork-strami”-topped burger with jack cheese, meat onions, sloppy sauce and tangy, spicy slaw. And it’s even served with pork rinds! Plus, if it’s your birthday or anniversary, the Gilt Club will be happy to buy you a yummy dessert.

About as polar opposite as you can get to the Gilt Club is Doug Fir Lounge at the Jupiter Hotel on East Burnside Street. This popular music hot spot has great food, as well. Dining here is like being in a contemporary yet vintage Northwest lodge with a bit of a nod from the ’50s. It’s a place where you would expect to hear the B-52s playing the minute you walk in the door. And the décor of doug fir beams is very cool, as well. The Fir Burger is absolutely delicious, though nothing out of the ordinary. It has a juicy, flavorful, smoky-charred deliciousness. I highly recommend it.

Located in the trendy and historic Alphabet District on Northwest 21st Avenue is Paley’s Place. Paley’s is home to Portland’s only Iron Chef, Vitaly Paley, and is located in a lovely Victorian house situated above a hair salon. This tiny 50-seat restaurant is delightful on the front porch when the weather’s nice, and being so small, reservations are an absolute must. Available in the bar area only, Paley’s burger is Wagyu (Kobe-style) beef blended with rib meat that comes with homemade pickled vegetables and house-made ketchup. This is my husband’s No. 1 very favorite burger, and he has tasted most of them with me. What keeps this (almost perfect) burger from being my very favorite is simply a matter of personal preference: I found the ketchup and the veggies just a tad too sweet for my taste. And the fries, though very good, were not anything out of the ordinary.

Until next time…bon appetit!

Buildings and Burgers is a quest to find Portland’s best burgers and the stories of the buildings that house them. The best burger must be gourmet and worth its weight in calories. Submit your favorite to [email protected].