"When Nick’s Famous Coney Island opened in 1935, long before cross-continental flights and the interstate highway system, travel between Detroit, original home of the coney dog, and Portland could take days. While travel times — and prices — have changed a bit, Nick’s Famous continues to serve its classic, nearly 90-year-old coney dog with bean-less chili sauce and cheese (cheese, however, is not typical of coney dogs found in Michigan). The leather, steel, and neon decor is pre-retro, and the clientele is heavy on longtime Portlanders. Nick’s Famous features a full bar with happy hour specials for any budget. Hawthorne may have trendier bars, but none as deeply rooted in the soul of Portland." - Nathan Williams