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HAWTHORNE DISTRICT. A small, warm dining room and attentive service charm patrons at this inviting bistro just off Hawthorne Boulevard. Italian cuisine accented with a Northwestern touch distinguishes the menu, and you'll always find fresh, tasty fare amid comfortable surroundings. Their penne with vodka sauce is a classic, spiked with liquor and hot peppers. You'll also be thrilled by succulent roasted chicken, baked clams, eggplant ravioli and fresh salmon served atop polenta. Desserts include traditional sweets like tiramisu and a much-requested bread pudding. Italian food without wine would be a grave oversight; luckily, that's not even a worry here, thanks to the great wine list.
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A menu full of seafood items showcasing the best in Pacific Northwest cuisine greets diners at the Alberta Street Oyster Bar and Grill. Enjoy fresh-from-the-boat oysters on the half shell, pan roasted monkfish or grilled ahi. Or, let the chef make the hard choices for you. Try the Chef's Whim, a five-course tasting menu that showcases available, freshly caught seafood. A wine pairing is available for an additional fee. A wine list is available, and the bar serves up expertly mixed cocktails.
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Andina
1314 NW Glisan, Portland, OR 97209 · 503-228-9535
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PEARL DISTRICT. At Andina, their tagline is, "A Taste of Peru in the Pearl," underscoring the fact that the chef focuses on creating only the best Peruvian cuisine at this Pearl District darling. Fresh ingredients, innovative use of spices, and a pairing of home cooking and haute cuisine has diners hooked upon first bite. The restaurant offers two dining spaces, a formal dining room, and a more casual "Bar Mestizo" that features a raw bar and a host of tempting cocktails created by expert bartenders. The bar also offers live music nightly. Warm earth tones punctuated by subtle shades of red and yellow are accented by gleaming hardwoods and dark wood furniture, lending a casual, yet sleek look to the dining room.
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Bluehour
250 NW 13th Ave, Weiden and Kennedy Bldg, Portland, OR 97209 · 503-226-3394
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Perhaps Portland's most exclusive restaurant, the hip, sleek Bluehour caters to an upscale set with its scintillating cuisine and clean-lined, lush decor. The Northwestern fare takes cues from the Mediterranean, always using, of course, the best ingredients produced in the region. Starters include seared scallops, beef carpaccio, poached oysters and grilled quail. Main courses, from a menu that changes daily, could feature venison medallions, fresh pasta laced with herbs, horseradish-crusted salmon and a risotto flavored on the kitchen's whim. Desserts are executed by an in-house pastry chef and feature innovative takes on chocolate pudding, creme brulee and cake and ice cream. A well-received bar draws the nightlife crowd.
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Caffe Mingo
807 NW 21st Ave, Portland, OR 97209 · 503-226-4646
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Intimate, unpretentious and eminently popular, this Italian eatery plies diners with authentic cuisine and does so at reasonable prices. The food, although not elaborate, is very well prepared and has a strong tendency toward down-home cooking, Italian-style. In short, good ingredients produce good entrees. Fresh pastas are adorned with luscious sauces and studded with olives, Italian sausage, shrimp and the like. Roast chicken indicates the kitchen's skill, as do risotto, veal, grilled fish, and (one of the restaurant's best dishes) pasta topped with beef braised in espresso and chianti. Another success is the panna cotta, which elicits constant murmurs of delight. On weekends, be prepared for a wait and for somewhat tight conditions. Sister restaurant Mingo West (12600 SW Crescent St, Beaverton, OR; 503-646-6464) offers some of the same favorites.
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El Gaucho
319 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205 · 503-227-8794
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DOWNTOWN. This great restaurant caters to the executive set in a see-and-be-seen atmosphere. You'll often see tables of suited powerbrokers closing deals in an environment similar to an old-fashioned supper club. The dim, intimate dining room is upscale, a fitting environment for expense accounts. Steaks, naturally, are large, tender and perfectly cooked. The baseball cut of top sirloin is highly suggested, and the filet mignon is succulent as well. Plus, the caesar salad, prepared tableside, adds a theatrical touch to the meal. Cherries jubilee and bananas foster are subject to the same treatment. Reservations recommended.
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Giorgio's
1131 NW Hoyt St, Portland, OR 97209 · 503-221-1888
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Settle into one of the large banquettes that surroud Giorgio's dining room located in the fashionable Pearl District. The menu's a wealth of Northern Italian favorites with hints of French technique thrown in for good measure. The menu changes based on seasonality and availability of fresh and organic ingredients. Pasta, seafood, lamb, vegetables and, of course, outstanding wines are the mainstays of this Portland must-visit. Feel free to bring your own wine, but prepare for a corkage fee. Antique posters on the walls, golden tones and gleaming wood floors set an upscale yet welcoming atmosphere.
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The Heathman Hotel's restaurant, a study in oak, glass and brass, surrounds diners with comfort and elegance. The menu fuses French technique with Northwestern ingredients, fashioning a delectable cuisine from the mix. Selections change seasonally, depending on what's best and most available, but you're likely to run into Maine or Australian lobster, veal breast with wild mushrooms, braised rabbit and a range of fresh game and seafood. The chef dovetails the foods of Normandy with the foods of the Pacific Northwest to great effect. The extensive wine list offers French and domestic vintages to complement any meal. Breakfast at the Heathman is a special event, featuring French toast, eggs Benedict, smoked salmon hash and even homemade granola. You'll find even more selections on the a la carte menu, all meant to be savored with coffee and juice in the lovely setting. Great for a leisurely repast.
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DOWNTOWN. Polished woods and subtle colors enliven the dining rooms in this historic building. An open kitchen provides a glimpse of efficient, almost choreographed preparation, led by the chef, an expert in Northwest cuisine. Local, organic and seasonal meats and produce provide a base for intuitive flavor combinations, such as seared halibut with spring vegetable stew and cheddar-green onion spoonbread. A seafood stew features braised greens and red wine, and duck magret comes with rhubarb chutney. The menu changes frequently but always features well-considered, inventive entrees that are both beautiful and tasty. Business lunches are especially popular at Higgins, and the bar scene draws a bevy of patrons, who love the great beer selection. A bistro menu is available all day in the bar.
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Hurley's
1987 NW Kearney St, between 19th & 20th Aves, Portland, OR 97209 · 503-295-6487
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New American cuisine with a blush of French influence is the order of the day at this Nob Hill gem that offers small plates and main dishes as well. Seasonal ingredients provide for a top quality changing menu. Everything from their rich cream soup starters to their signature chocolate Marquise is bursting with flavor and served by wait staff who pay attention to detail. The extensive wine list includes wines of the Northwest, California, France and Italy. Hurley's makes for an ideal weekend brunch spot as well.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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