Restaurants

Invaluable Tips

Portland has some of the best restaurants of any city you will visit. The atmosphere is comfortable, the service is friendly, and the Seafood is about as fresh as it gets. Here are some tips that will save you money and keep you happy:

#1 Happy Hour Food

One of the best tips we can give you about eating in Portland is take advantage of the great Happy Hour prices. You can eat an ala carte meal of fantastic food for well under $10 and walk out full. I don't know how they do it. The best one's are at City Grill, Jake's and McCormick and Schmicks. They usually run 4:30 to 6:00 PM and again at 9:30 PM to close on week nights. One night I had Calamari, Pan Seared Ahi, and a Ceasar Salad for $6. Watch out they will stick you on the booze.

#2 Order Seafood!!!!

This is Seafood Central! The Northwest gets some of the best Steelhead, Salmon, Oysters, Razor Clams, Alaskan Halibut, Dungeness Crab, Sturgeon..Need I say more.

#3 Walk There!

Portland is a great walking town. We have short blocks, and the streets are clean and safe. Yes, in March you may get drizzled on but that's just part of the Portland experience, embrace it!

 The Most Quintessential Portland Restaurants

Jakes Famous Crawfish

If you were to only eat at one restaurant while you were in Portland it would be Jakes. It's been around for over 100 years and is the oldest restaurant in Portland . The food and the service are unparalleled. The menu changes just about every day depending on what is fresh. The waiters wear white coats but are by no means stuffy or ass kissers. When they tell you what is good, listen. Don't feel you have to order Crawfish. Save that for New Orleans .

The Ringside
2165 West Burnside Portland 503-223-1513 http://www.ringsidesteakhouse.com/
If you want the best Steak in town this is it! It's a dark little hole that's a little bit out of the way but if you want to cross another one of those 'Airline Magazine Ad Steak Places" off your list you won't be disappointed. This place is dripping with Old Portland atmosphere. Sure we have a Morton's and a Ruth's Chris, but you can go to those anywhere.

Best Views

City Grill
http://www.portlandcitygrill.com/

Imagine yourself 30 floors above the Portland Skyline looking out over the Willamette River . Framed in the background is the majestic Mt. Hood . You are sipping on a very dry Martini listening to smooth Jazz played by a guy in a tux. OK, sounds a little loungy but remember the whole crowd is probably wearing jeans. They have a great Happy Hour and Sushi Menu if you want to eat in the bar. Get there by 4:30 PM to get a seat by the window. The restaurant is a little pricey but the food is good. This place is now smoke free so if you are a smoker you will have to go down 30 floors to light up.

Newport Bay

0425 SW Montgomery St
Portland, OR 97201-5131   (503) 227-3474
Ok, so it's a chain. But it's the only restaurant that is floating on the Willamette River . The view is looking back at the many Portland bridges that are lit up in colorful lights at night. The food is actually pretty good and reasonably priced. Be careful walking down the ramp. It gets slick.

The Charthouse-Terwilliger

I know, 2 chains in a row is pushing it but this is has got to be one of the best views of Mt. Hood in town. The food is fantastic and the service is excellent. This one is tucked into the south end of the West Hills that cradle Portland . It's definitely not walking distance but is a short drive. If you like Oysters they have great ones! A perfect choice if you need to escape the conference for a bit.

Salty's
http://www.saltys.com/

Salty's is another one of those been around forever restaurants. It sits above a Marina looking over the Columbia river about 20 minutes north of downtown. The terraced dining room almost ensures everyone has a great view of the river. The food and the service can be hit or miss but when it's good it's a great evening.

Most Fun !

Greek Cuisina

404 SW Washington St
Portland, OR 97204   (503) 224-2288
This place is a hoot. Come ready to break plates and drink Ouzo. The food is just a sidebar for the whole evening but it is quite good. The evening starts with a traditional Greek band playing and progresses to belly dancers, to guys dancing with tables in their teeth, to the owner strait pouring Ouzo down people's throats while the whole restaurant counts off. (be careful with this one). If you aren't on the dance floor having the time of your life by the end of the night you more than likely do not have a pulse.

Le Bistro Montage

301 SE Morrison St
Portland, OR 97214   (503) 234-1324
Eating here is more like a night at the theater than a culinary outing. You'll likely be seated at a long table with total strangers and service can be sassy. Keep all this in mind and you'll have a great time. This place is loud and obnoxious but loads of fun. They only serve 2 beers, Mickey's and Rainier but for some reason when you are there you don't care. The food is ok and reasonably priced. It is a strange version of Cajon. The highlight is the Oysters, but be forewarned, you will draw attention to yourself when you order them.

McMenamin's Kennedy School

5736 N.E. 33rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97211 (503) 249-3983
Elsewhere: (888) 249-3983
The McMenamin brothers own a bazillion brew pups throughout the Portland Area. They make all their own beer on site which is always good but there are better. Many of the pubs are very ordinary but there are a few that are extraordinary and this is one of them. They converted an old School into a combination Hotel/Restaurant/Brewery/Bar/Movie Theater. The food is earthy and very reasonably priced. The highlight of this place is the funky surreal art which can be found everywhere you look. Great for a burger and a beer night.

Sushi Takahashi
24 NW Broadway
503-224-3417
Japanese. A good and cheap Sushi place, perfectly located in Downtown.Pick your favorite one from a train that goes by to your barstool.

Great Food

Caprial's Bistro & Wine

7019 SE Milwaukie Ave
Portland, OR 97202-5718   (503) 236-6457
Caprial's Bistro is located in the Westmoreland neighborhood of Southeast Portland . A bit out of the way but well worth it. The menu consists of expertly prepared ethnically influenced seasonal Northwest cuisine that is unbelievable. The owners, Caprial and John, have a nationally broadcasted cooking show on Public Television. You will also notice that the place is very potter friendly. Caprial is the daughter of local potter Patrick Horsley.

OBA
http://www.obarestaurant.com/indexMaster.html
Pretty people sip sexy cocktails and watch people in the bar, with a backdrop of terra-cotta walls and banana palms. The more-subdued dining room is organized around deep booths, low pinpoint lights and a warm fireplace. Refined without being stuffy, diners in everything from tuxes to Tevas feel at home here.

The Food
Latin flavors with a contemporary touch are not always spot-on, but things are always interesting. A starter of green gazpacho is bland and oddly concocted, while the arepas--golden polenta coins topped with a fresh asparagus and tomato salad--are a market-driven masterpiece. Entrees are especially strong when treated to the mesquite rotisserie: Moist halibut with citrus vinaigrette, tender chili-rubbed pork tenderloin and rock salt-crusted prime rib are all fabulous. Desserts lean toward the sugary side--baked Argentina , a take on the meringue-topped ice cream classic and lemon tres leches cake are overwhelmingly sweet.

Best Budget Eats

The Doug Fir

Located at the corner of 9th Avenue and East Burnside, Doug Fir is a very affordable , 150-capacity restaurant, bar, and outdoor patio area, featuring impeccable service in an approachable, but appreciably fancy setting. Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Latenight, Doug Fir is open seven days a week, from 7 am until 3 in the morning. Great food specials are available daily between 3pm and 6pm, and the full-service bar and patio is open through the day, every day.

Menus and décor compliment one another, being a modernist dinner house with profound Northwestern influence, an ideal somewhere between "Twin Peaks" and a chic, cosmopolitan truck stop. Like the name itself, Doug Fir conveys a local traditionalism, and the menus, the hospitality, the sense of old-school comfort and elegance follow that mark. Signature menu items include Filet Mignon & Eggs Breakfast, Blackberry Salad, Venison Tenderloin, Joe's Special and Biscuits & Gravy served all day.

Milo 's City Café

If you go to Milo's City Cafe, you'll find an upscale breakfast restaurant that serves a traditional American fare. Expect the average entrée to cost under $8. Atmosphere : Structurally, the restaurant utilizes a good deal of glass and windows. is accented by warm tones, enhanced by displayed works by local artists, and the lighting is bright. The establishment is spacious with high ceilings with seating for 72 people. It is bright and cheerful and patroned by all kinds of people. Table talk is no problem - noise level here is moderate. Also, you'll notice that there is an open kitchen. More Reasons to Go : There is background music while you dine. Milo's City Cafe is appropriate (if not ideal) for entertaining clients. Eating & Drinking : Open for breakfast and lunch -- not dinner.Both beer and wine are served, and you'll find that there are several house wine choices.

J&M Cafe
537 SE Ash St
Portland, OR 97214-1158  
(503) 230-0463

The charm of the farm meets warehouse spaciousness--old wood fridge, Mason jars for glasses and high, wood-beamed ceilings. More tables would help fill the large space and better accommodate the brunch crowd that descends on weekends.

Brunch is a hit, with an array of fluffy egg or tofu scrambles to choose from. Belgian cornmeal waffles topped with apples and pomegranate are a pleasing balance of crisp and tender. Sandwiches, salads and breakfasts served during lunch hours are equally bountiful. The breakfast burrito explodes with black beans, eggs and salsa--excellent any time of day. The Reuben is piled thick with corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and oozy Emmentaler cheese. Salads like the country salad with a mountain of romaine, hunky bacon, apples and toast points smeared with blue cheese will leave you satisfied and full.

Nicola's
318 SE Grand
503-235-5123
Lebanese: metza, babaghanoosh, hummus are very good; inexpensive.

Queen of Sheeba
2413 NE MLK Jr Blvd
Ethiopian. Good for round table, family-style sharing. 503-287-6302

Billy Reed's
2808 NE M L King Blvd
Portland, OR 97212-3060   (503) 493-8127
In its attempt to "please any palate," the kitchen has concocted a menu that's as varied as the clientele. As such, some dishes surprise: Simple salmon is complex, flaky and delicate, served over pasta in a lemon-thyme vinaigrette. Others disappoint: Creole seafood pasta sounds interesting but turns out to be a bore. Some are overwhelming: An appetizer of tomato and melted Brie bisque, embellished with copious amounts of cracked pepper, scorches the tongue like wildfire.

Best Sushi

Saburo's Sushi House
1667 SE Bybee Blvd
Portland, OR 97202-5700   (503) 236-4237
The huge portions of sushi are fresh and tasty. Adventurous diners should try the creamy scallops or the broiled hamachi collar. Those who fear the raw denizens of the deep (or obscure sea creatures) can stick to traditional Japanese fare such as tempura, deep-fried soft-shell crab, or chicken teriyaki.

Best Thai

Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
1705 NE Couch St
Portland, OR 97232-3053   (503) 231-5780
Lemongrass is housed in a charming Victorian in a quiet residential neighborhood. Everything is under the presiding spirit of Shelly Siripatrapa, whose mother founded the first Thai restaurant in Portland several decades back. You won't find the usual bulging menu other Thai spots carry, just a small selection of wonderfully flavored dishes. Lemongrass tends to use explosive chili peppers, so when your server asks what heat level you want for each dish on a scale from 1-20, go easy! "Five" can take off shoe leather. Do not pass up the plump steamed mussels with lemon grass, or the best Thai soups around. The garden roll is crammed with chopped fresh fruits, herbs and dipped into chile-laden hoisin sauce. There are no beef or pork dishes here, only shrimp, chicken and vegetable curries and stir-fries. Nothing is done without serious, considered attention, and consequently every dish is a gem.

Best Italian

ALLESSANDRO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR ,
301 SW Morrison Street, (503) 222-3900 -- Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Alessandro's does a brisk lunch business but is more subdued at dinner. You enter through a spacious, well-appointed bar and make your way through to the dining area. You begin with slices of dense and delicious Como bread from the local Grand Central Bakery accompanied by a luscious olive oil redolent of garlic and pepper. Salads are excellent starters here. The hot spinach is replete with fresh scallops, pancetta, and finished with a tangy sun-dried cranberry vinaigrette; and the Caesar sports a dressing that is intensely flavorful without overwhelming your palate with anchovy. The pastas are uniformly excellent here, as are the fish dishes. The halibut filet is sautéed with sherry, lemon, parsley and capers, and the salmon is baked simply with lemon and fresh herbs. The cioppino, classic seafood stew, is also highly recommended, as are the oysters almondine. Prices are moderate, and there is also a nice little wine list to complement your meal.

Gino's Restaurant & Bar
8051 SE 13th Ave
Portland, OR 97202-6663   (503) 233-4613
The kitchen is tiny, so expect a leisurely pace to your meal. Don't skip the ultra-garlicky Caesar--a small order is big enough for four--which could vie for the title of Portland's best. Noodleheads will love the tangy strascicati and the hearty Grandma Jean's pasta, which comes with two pork ribs on top. Gino's also does seafood well: Sauteed shrimp get a spicy red-chili kick, and steamed mussels are plump and juicy. Tiramisu and white-chocolate mousse with raspberry sauce are just two of the decadent options for ending your meal.

Best Vegetarian

Nicola's

Best Breakfast

J & M Café

Milo 's City Cafe

Worth A Drive

Tad's Chicken ' N Dumplins

Nestled on the banks of the Sandy River in Troutdale Oregon, Tad's is just twenty miles east of Portland. We are located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic area on the Historic Columbia River Highway.

Tad's offer a warm, comfortable, and inviting dining experience for our guests. Tad's has been serving wonderful American food and fine drink since the 1920's.

Edgefield Winery

2126 SW Halsey, Troutdale, OR (503) 665-2992

Best Pizza Flying Pie

7804 SE Stark St
Portland, OR 97215   (503) 254-2016
Voted best pizza in Portland by you! 2000 & 2001. Flying Pie is incredibly generous with toppings--they really pile 'em on. Choose from more than 30 different toppings, including oysters and soy cheese, plus two different doughs and four styles of crust. The Combo Supreme is loaded with six kinds of meat, mushrooms, onions and green peppers. The vegetarian Presto has pesto, spinach, artichoke hearts, olives, roasted red peppers and feta cheese. The calzone, with a lovely, tender crust, is also very good. The small but well-stocked salad bar is an added bonus.

Pizzacato Gourmet Pizza

Best Burger

Byways Cafe