Introducing Resy Portland

Tusk is a sleek and airy eatery featuring complex and vibrant dishes. Chef Sam Smith earned his stripes training with Michael Solomonov (of Philadelphia’s Zahav), so it’s only fitting that his Israeli food has received critical acclaim– Tusk was named one of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants of 2017 and Food & Wine Restaurant of the Year 2017. No matter the hour, the offerings stun: enjoy the sesame halvah babka at brunch; lamb shoulder stew with hominy, greens, aleppo, hazelnuts, and yogurt at dinner, and, for dessert, rhubarb-and-rosewater pie, plus very good cocktails and wines.

Named for Korea’s traditional homes, Han Oak is a self-proclaimed “family restaurant,” specializing in prix-fixe dinners and casual dumpling and noodle meals (served four nights a week). With chef Peter Cho at the helm — named Food & WineBest New Chef of 2017 — specialties include sweet-and-sour sweet potatoes, served with toasted sesame and hand-cut kalgooksu noodles in egg drop chicken broth, as well as koji-marinated, slow-roasted pork belly, with rice cake, pickled daikon, and scallion salad.  The minimalist, light-filled interior – accented by hip-hop jams – makes for a delightfully relaxed setting that’s hard to leave.

Joshua McFadden is the chef and now owner of Ava Gene’s – a stellar trattoria with Roman inspired eats, named among 100 Best Restaurants of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast magazine. The motto is “Locally Sourced. Aggressively Seasonal,” which means the best local produce and meats raised by Pacific Northwest farmers make their way into a menu of antipasti, giardini, hand-made (down to the house-milled flour) pasta, secondi, and contorni. To experience Ava Gene’s in all its glory, order family style, and succumb to the chef’s selection of delicious, Italian-esque plates for all to share.

Acknowledged as one of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants of 2017, Dame is a neighborhood restaurant serving seasonal food with an emphasis on Northwest fish, seafood, and vegetables. The celebrated wine list is a tour of natural wines from around the world, rounded out by a thoughtful selection of aperitifs and digestifs.

Xico is a purveyor of offbeat Mexican cuisine: chef Kelly Myers grinds the corn in-house, transforming it into just-perfect tortillas. Local ingredients shine in dishes like salad tacos and roast chicken for two. The bevy of mezcal-based cocktails – which are made with rare varieties – are best enjoyed on the back patio.

If you thought Jacqueline was the name of the owner, you thought wrong. It’s a nod to the Wes Anderson film “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” and both the décor (“a romantic aesthetic with a nautical flair,” as the restaurant puts it) and the food (seafood) fit that mold. Enjoy oysters with house-made mignonettes, yellowtail crudo, charred octopus, and the like; and look out for Bill Murray– he’s there somewhere.

Lapellah features a wood-fired oven and grill, sources from the many farms around the area, and uses the freshest ingredients possible to ensure a sustainable approach to cooking. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, brunch and a great happy hour.

This quirky restaurant is outfitted almost entirely in wood and decorated with pots and pans, hanging lights, and chandeliers. A wood-fired oven is the only source of heat in the kitchen, producing flavorful dishes that highlight seasonal ingredients procured from a variety of local suppliers. Specialties include Oregon sole and mushroom duxelle with potato, sunchokes, and gremolata, and Cattail Creek lamb with charred bruss, smoked onions, lime yogurt, greens, and spices.

Self-described as Thai New Generation, or “not your typical Thai,” Farmhouse Kitchen is a San Francisco-born, Michelin-recognized restaurant offering modern and traditional dishes that focus on adventurous, bold flavors. Nightly specials range from regional dishes to market specialties (think fried grasshoppers and tiger prawns), which are offered alongside drinks spanning from Thai tea limeade to beer, wine, and cocktails.

This Portland favorite serves up Southern charm and comfort through a Pacific Northwest lens. Food is sourced locally from nearby farmers and purveyors (Your Kitchen Garden, Sauvie Island Organics, Cattail Creek Farm, and Nevor Shellfish in Netarts Bay), while staples like Louisiana fried chicken, hushpuppies, and a range of oyster concoctions combine Southern cooking techniques with fresh, local ingredients. Pro-tip: don’t miss the brunch offerings; on weekends, chilaquiles, lemon-ricotta pancakes, and biscuits reign supreme.

A chef-driven regional tapas restaurant, Urdaneta offers modern interpretations of big and bold Spanish flavors. House-crafted cocktails, Spanish wines and sherries, and Basque sidra (the region’s signature cider) play the perfect counterpart. The open kitchen and bar provides every guest with a front row seat to the action.

Enjoy classic recipes inspired by familial traditions, alongside comfort food comprised of local ingredients, at this family-friendly eatery. During the work week, lunch and dinner are served daily, in addition to a range of happy hour specials, which range from small bites to craft cocktails.