31. Piazza Italia
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 478-0619
Address: 1129 Northwest Johnson St.
Description: This seductive little cafe serves authentic Italian dishes prepared by actual Italians. It is reminiscent of the cafes one finds on the back streets of Rome, with dishes lined up in the case, looking very modest until you bite into them. In this case, you may want to bite into the gnocchi with braised beef or the bucatini with pancetta, or both. Antipasti and salads are perfect as well. Piazza Italia serves lunch and dinner daily.
32. Serrato
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 221-1195
Address: 2112 Northwest Kearney St.
Description: Serrato is dedicated to the proposition that eating is meant to be a pleasurable, unhurried event, and the pretty dining room, with its big windows and blond wood, does inspire a bit of lingering over the dessert wine. The Italian-inspired menu is varied, making good use of our region’s abundance. Good choices for antipasti might include the tomato and mozzarella salad with olive oil and basil or the potato and spinach tart with arugula and truffle oil. The pastas and risotto are very good; we have had luck with the ravioli in particular, especially when it is stuffed with crab.
33. Bluehour
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 226-3394
Address: 250 Northwest 13th Ave.
Description: Bluehour is routinely noted as the place to see and be seen in Portland, and it does provide a good backdrop for the beautiful people, with its dramatic curtains and low lighting. But don’t overlook the food. It is always carefully prepared and well-balanced, and its cheese blights are outstanding. The dishes are inspired by France and Italy, everything from seared foie gras to osso buco. Bluehour is perhaps the slightest bit self-conscious of the role that it plays, and the menu reflects that—the starters are the star of this show. But everything is prepared handsomely, with a touch of adventure. Bluehour serves dinner every night, lunch Mon through Sat, and brunch on the weekends.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1204 Northwest 21st Ave.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 422 Northwest 8th Ave.
36. Wildwood
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 248-9663
Address: 1221 Northwest 21st Ave.
Description: Wildwood is a destination spot in Northwest Portland and it has developed a loyal following who come for the fine Northwest cuisine, expertly prepared. The decor is unfussy and contemporary, and many power lunches and dinners happen here, either in the dining room booths or in the busy bar. The seasonal menu offers the very best from our region.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1314 Northwest Glisan St.
38. Ringside
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 223-1513
Address: 2165 West Burnside St.
Description: Since 1944, over three generations of owners, not much has changed at the RingSide. The prime and choice aged beef, fresh seafood, and excellent wine and service have helped RingSide garner more than 40 regional and national awards. If you’re a rib connoisseur, try the 10-ounce RingSide Prime Rib served with au jus and creamed horseradish sauce. Also, don’t leave without ordering the huge, luscious onion rings. The desserts, such as the chocolate raspberry torte (made locally by JaCiva), an exquisite Swiss-chocolate layer cake with raspberry filling, are a terrific way to finish off your feast. RingSide is open weekdays for lunch and daily for dinner.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 215 Southeast 9th Ave.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 3226 Southeast Division St.
41. Saburo’S
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 236-4237
Address: 1667 Southeast Bybee St.
Description: Serving good sushi in Portland, Saburo’s popularity is evident by the crowds who gather outside in the evening, awaiting beautiful slices of velvety, firm fish and magnificent, fresh rolls. The sake list is also good, as are the tempura, noodles, and other traditional dishes. We order these because we can’t help it, and they are good, but the true attraction is the sushi. The lighting is bright and the tables are tiny and crowded. There are always long lines, so we have been known to write our names on the list and then sneak up the street for a cocktail.
42. Podnah’S
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 281-3700
Address: 1469 Northeast Prescott St.
Description: Podnah’s serves excellent barbecue and its standard accompaniments in an unpretentious setting. It’s one of the few places in town to get an iceberg wedge salad, but it’s a salad that goes well with the sliced brisket, lamb spare ribs, and pulled pork. These and other smoky delights are made with local meats and served with refreshing slaws, beans, and other sides. Wine and beer are available, as are an impressive array of sodas. It’s open for lunch and dinner Tues through Sun.
43. Detour Cafe
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 234-7499
Address: 3035 Southeast Division St.
Description: We love this little neighborhood breakfast and lunch cafe, open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We love the modern DIY decor and the outstanding service. And we especially love the sandwiches—all of them. A flavorful BLT served on focaccia, for example—the focaccia is wonderfully chewy and fresh (made on-site), and the thick and crisp bacon is complemented by creamy avocado. The Detour Cafe also makes excellent traditional breakfasts and serves great coffee. It’s crowded on the weekends, when it serves a bustling brunch to bleary-eyed nightclubbers, so you might try a weekday lunch when it’s slightly mellower.
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Address: 537 Southeast Ash St.
45. Pine State Biscuits
City: Portland, OR
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (503) 236-3346
Address: 3640 Southeast Belmont St.
Description: Pine State Biscuits began as a stall in the Portland Farmers’ Market, but after their lines snaked around the block and they kept running out of food, they opened this spot on Belmont. Here they serve fantastic breakfasts and lunch made with ingredients from their farmers’ market friends. Specialties include amazingly delicious grits, as well as good sandwiches and hash browns. Biscuits are good too, but really, the star is the grits. If you never liked them before, you will now. Pine State Biscuits is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. A second location in Northeast Portland at 2204 Northeast Alberta, is equally popular.