If you happen to fancy eating out someplace a bit totally different, Portland has loads of genuinely glorious stand-out locations to select from.
I’ve spent many evenings scouting out a number of the most unusual and stand-out locations so whether you might be in search of stylish Center Japanese fare, a hip Asian fusion, or a enjoyable spot serving up American dishes with an upscale twist, listed below are my private favorites…
1. Tusk – greatest for Center Japanese
I like this severely trendy and stylish spot. Tusk is a Center Japanese restaurant positioned within the Buckman District and this place is well-liked for a purpose.
Select from numerous mezze dishes, together with a mezze platter, mezze with rooster, and another choice with falafel. There’s even a mezze and salad possibility or I’d suggest the mezze household meal for bigger teams.Â
For dessert, ensure you strive an unique Moroccan pancake which is simply scrumptious. It consists of kewra grapefruit confit, rose-apple preserves, candied kumquat, and ricotta.
On Valentine’s Day, they’ve dinner-for-two specials to pick out an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert at a reduced value.Â
2. Mucca Osteria – greatest for Italian
Downtown Portland’s Mucca Osteria presents natural Italian meals in a Gothic-themed restaurant setting. Select from a protracted listing of half bottles, glowing, white, crimson, and Piemonte Barolo.Â
For meals, select from antipasti, primi piatti, dolci (selfmade desserts). Most are pasta dishes with greens and herbs, for instance, Tortellini ai Funghi. It options selfmade mushroom and ricotta-filled tortellini, almonds, Brussels sprouts, and glazed shallots submerged in a white wine cream sauce.Â
3. Departure Lounge – greatest for Pan Asian
I’m an enormous fan of contemporary inside design and the Departure Lounge is one other glorious and strange restaurant on the Nines luxurious lodge in Downtown Portland. Right here you’ll be able to style Asian fusion in a classy restaurant as you benefit from the native Downtown views.Â
Pan-Asian delicacies consists of Northwest Oysters, candy shrimp spring rolls, pork stomach, steamed buns, rooster tenderloin and kushiyaki eggplant.Â
You probably have a non-public occasion developing, request Departure Lounge to offer you indoor or out of doors house and catering. They’ll host a non-public occasion for as few as 12 individuals, with a most of 125 accommodated.Â
4. Melting Pot – greatest for fondue
Downtown Portland’s Melting Pot is an American restaurant specializing in fondue and I like this distinctive spot! There are at all times salads and meat-based entrees, after which hearty mains!Â
Select from four-course dinner menus for 2 or an a la carte menu for dinner. You begin your meal with an appetizer, a cheese fondue with meals for dipping, corresponding to fruits, greens, and artisan bread.Â
Fondues embrace traditional alpine, Wisconsin cheddar, fiesta, spinach artichoke, Wisconsin trio, and Quattro Formaggio.Â
5. Lechon – greatest for South American Meals
Lechon is a South American restaurant specializing in tapas and internet hosting glorious worth, scrumptious completely satisfied hour specials.Â
Tapas choices embrace pastel de choclo, pork stomach burritos, pork anticucho, lomo saltado, and smoked bone marrow.Â
Completely satisfied hour meals begin as little as $56and go as excessive as $13. Their $6 cornmeal fried olives are vegan, whereas their $6 small farmers’ inexperienced salad is vegan and gluten-free.Â
6. Han Oak Restaurant – greatest for Korean
Strive the funky Han Oak Restaurant within the Kerns District for Korean meals. The restaurant hosts dumplings and noodle nights for patrons who love such well-liked Korean dishes.Â
Two eating choices can be found. You will get shaved meats to dip in broth and luxuriate in with their hand-pulled noodles and selfmade dumplings. That is $76 per particular person.
A 5-course Mexican-inspired menu is yours for $55 per particular person. This menu consists of dry-aged fish tostadas, crimson rice croquettes, charcoal-grilled pork loin tacos, masa colada, bay leaf, and Canelo churro ice cream for dessert.Â
7. The Observatory – greatest for American classicsÂ
Swing by the Montavilla District to strive The Observatory. You possibly can depend on American classics and distinctive cocktails once you go to this restaurant. You possibly can have an entree salad corresponding to apple, beet, and rooster salad with crispy bacon for a lighter meal.Â
Strive the Capricorn, Lavender Gin Lemon Drop, Pink Cloud, Blood Orange Negroni, the spicy Tom Kah, and plenty of different choices to indulge of their signature cocktails.Â
If you’re in a distinct alcoholic temper, strive considered one of their white or crimson wines or draft beers.Â
8. Arden Restaurant – greatest for upscale
Pearl District’s upscale Arden Restaurant is positioned within the Gregory Lofts. This wine bar serves Pacific Northwest delicacies and presents upscale appetizers, and entrees along with your favourite wines.Â
If you’re a celebration of 4, contemplate the Chef’s Prix Fixe, which is $65 per particular person and in addition consists of wine pairings for an additional price.
Pattern fancy dishes corresponding to truffled potato leek pierogi with chive creme fraiche or the Dungeness crab tagliatelle with crab butter and preserved lemon.Â
9. Punch Bowl Social – greatest for enjoyable
Punch Bowl Social is a enjoyable gastropub located in Downtown Portland inside Pioneer Place. It’s often known as essentially the most outstanding Punch Bowl Social location.
Take pleasure in numerous punch bowls and trendy American eats whereas taking part in enjoyable video games. Select from karaoke, desk video games, and bowling.Â
Throughout their Completely satisfied Hour, strive sriracha, peanut fries, chips, guacamole, or a pulled pork sandwich in between your video games. Sip on a margarita, whiskey bitter, or beer to clean all of it down.Â
10. G-Love New American Kitchen – greatest for very distinctive
Northwest District’s G-Love New American Kitchen is contained in the Carson Flats car parking zone. This New American restaurant has a really distinctive idea and fabricates its dishes utilizing domestically grown produce, and it’s often known as the nation’s first reverse steakhouse.
Which means fruit and veggies are the central a part of the dish as meat is a supplementary element relatively than the opposite means round with ordinary American meals. Strive their Crunchmaster Crisp, Chirashi Bowl, charred hanger steak, or fried rooster with avocado rank.Â
11. Mediterranean Exploration Firm – greatest for stylish decor
The Pearl District’s Mediterranean Exploration Firm is a Center Japanese restaurant and I’m an enormous fan of the fabulous stylish decor they’ve right here.
They serve up home favorites corresponding to radicchio salad, roasted eggplant dip, Turkish delight, Hummus Abu Hassan, and falafel, all throughout their Completely satisfied Hour for $12.
Get pleasure from these costs Monday by Friday from 4 pm to five pm. Alcoholic beverage picks embrace American whiskey, worldwide whiskey, agave and vodka.
12. Clarklewis Restaurant – greatest for a date evening
The Clarklewis Restaurant is stationed on the Eastbank Commerce Middle within the Buckman District. Their Italian dishes are solely farm-to-table made with native elements.
What’s distinctive about Clarklewis is that their menu choices change day by day, contingent upon the chef’s discretion. It’s served up in a industrial-chic warehouse which has unbelievable stylish vibe, which I believe it excellent for a date evening!
Most dishes say the place the elements have been, corresponding to Carlton Farms pork sausage, Montecucco Farms beets, and Topaz Farms carrots. The wood-burning of their institution fashions scrumptious pizza choices, together with the Siri and Sons Honeynut Squash pizza.Â
13. Noble Rot – greatest for views
Noble Rot is an American restaurant and wine bar positioned on the 4th ground of a constructing to take pleasure in metropolis views whereas consuming.Â
Take pleasure in common American favorites corresponding to hamburgers or take pleasure in considered one of their upscale dishes. Strive their soup of the day or pasta of the day for a shock dish.
Distinctive dishes embrace Idaho Rainbow Trout, Stuffed Squash, Burrata, and the vegan Tuscan Kale Salad.Â
14. Palomar – greatest for Cuban meals
Palomar is a Cuban restaurant positioned within the Hosford-Abernethy District. Style their signature cocktails such because the Americano, Moscow Mule, twentieth Century, French 75 or the aromatic Violet Fizz.
The Harina Con Camarones embrace Creole spiced shrimp, squash polenta, pepitas, and carrot sofrito.
The Frita Cubana consists of a beef and pork chorizo patty, garnished with onion and julienne potatoes and topped with cheese. Select from 4 appetizers, two varieties of sandwiches, and 5 entrees for lunch and dinner.Â
15. Broder Soder – greatest for Scandinavian meals
Broder Soder is a Scandinavian restaurant within the household of Broder Cafe and Broder Nord all through the native space.Â
They serve essentially the most intensive number of West Coast aquavits, corresponding to Krogstad Festlig from Portland, Krogstad Gamle from Portland, and Holen from Astoria.Â
Strive Danish pancakes, smoked trout eggs benedict, Swedish hash, ortasteget a scrumptious style of Scandinavian fare. Their Swedish meatballs are available a tasty sherry cream accompanied by a lingonberry jam, pickles, potato pancake, and levian toast.Â
16. Blossoming Lotus – Finest For Vegan Eating
If you’re a vegan, you’ll recognize the vegan fusion at Blossoming Lotus I in case you are a vegan within the Irvington District. They use solely the perfect domestically sourced plant-based elements and have natural elements when potential from their suppliers.Â
Whereas Blossoming Lotus on NE fifteenth Avenue is a full-service restaurant, their Portland/Slabtown location is a restaurant and juice bar.Â
Strive the full-service Chickpea and Kale Salad, Pesto Pasta, Yakisoba Noodles, Cheeseburger, Bibimbap, Tempeh Bacon Sandwich, and plenty of different plant-based dishes.Â
17. Tope – Finest For Hipsters
Housed within the very hip Hoxton Resort this can be a stylish spot! Tope presents scrumptious Mexican snacks and tacos together with mezcal-inspired drinks.
Situated at Hoxton within the Previous City District, take pleasure in rooftop bar views as you pattern Oregon Bay shrimp ceviche, pozole Rojo, carnitas tacos, pollo pibil tacos, and pollo con mole.Â
Their signature cocktails embrace the Prime Margarita (Blanco tequila, lime, and agave), the Michelada, the Both/Or with Dickle Rye, and different home favorites. Wines, beers, mocktails, and delicate drinks are additionally obtainable to refresh you after your meal.Â
18. Pine Avenue Market – Finest For Meals CorridorÂ
I like this fabulous Meals Corridor! Previous City District’s Pine Avenue Market consists of eating places beneath one roof headed by 9 well-known Portland cooks. Strive the Pine Avenue Taproom or the Pleasure Burger.Â
Solely the Pine Avenue Taproom has a hyperlink to its web site, whereas the opposite obtainable eating places do not need a hyperlink from the Pine Avenue Market web site.
Get an concept of the general nature of the opposite eating places in Pine Avenue Market by visiting the Pine Avenue Taproom hyperlink on the house web site.Â
19. Oma’s Hideaway – Finest For Quirky Design
Oma’s Hideaway was once often known as Oma’s Takeaway. Situated within the Richmond District, you’ll be able to take pleasure in meals and cocktails as a dine-in buyer or order takeaway as their previous title suggests.
If you happen to order supply, it is going to come from a motorbike courier affiliated with Cascade Courier Collective. I like that the decor right here is deliciously quirky with vibrant wallpaper and retro-style furnishings!
Choose from coconut rice, the Oma-Zing Burger, Coulotte Tartare, candy potato dumplings, and different distinctive dishes. There are many tasty vegan choices obtainable too.