The Eastside invades Northwest PDX

Portland's quadrants have distinct differences: the Northeast's punky n' vegan, the pug-loving rich reside in Northwest, the hippies hold Southeast, and the Southwest is populated with retirees, people who've been hit by trucks, and people who've been hit by trucks hard enough to think trams are awesome. Blurring the lines with burgers and booze: Moonshine Kitchen & Lounge.

From an ex-Eastside 'tender who jumped the river to bring "a little bit of Southeast to Northwest Portland", Moonshine projects a worn-in, laid-back vibe thanks to exposed beam ceilings, an array of mid-century bar signage (Champale! Lucky Beer!), lovingly executed lowbrow fare, and a name chosen for its "casual connotations", because nothing says "casual" like drunkenly blind hillbillies, followed by the words "Kitchen & Lounge". Moon shines with an ever-growing menu that features a sweet/fiery chili (crafted from a house blend of arbol and chipotles mixed with beef and pintos) that graces everything from cheese fries to a grill-smashed Cascade Natural Beef burger plopped on a daily-made whole wheat bun with LT, mayo, and Tillamook cheddar, also what the girls are after when 50 Cent's on the Oregon Coast. Ensure you think you're attractive with the help of powerful standard lowbrow 'tails (e.g., margaritas) done up with fresh-squeezed juice, plus Moon-exclusive bottles from SE's Bushwhacker cidery like Blue Mountain Cherry, which was the name of a prominent greeting V-Card company they also mix with red wine, triple sec, and soda to create their sangria.

That menu should soon include a variety of fresh homemade tamales that wrap a proprietary masa mix around guajillo-sauced stuffings such as red cabbage & pork shoulder, which thankfully doesn't need to move to Southwest to be cured.