New on Resy: Ox Restaurant, Bar Casa Vale, Jacqueline

Chefs Greg and Gabrielle Quiñónez Denton like to play with fire. The knockout husband-and-wife duo won a James Beard Award for their modern Argentine steakhouse, where a blazing hearth spits out everything from smoky house ricotta to fork-tender lamb shoulder chop. Pro-tip: the excellent asado Argentino is a decadent feast for two, and a good place to start for newcomers.

A wood-fired bar that dreams of Spain, Bar Casa Vale is embedded in tapeo culture, finding inspiration in the sherry bodegas of Jerez and the pintxos crawls in San Sebastian. Build a finger food feast out of pan con tomate, manchego skewers, gambas a la plancha, and jamón boards. Drink-wise, start with vermouth to whet your appetite, and finish with one of the rare sherries on offer.

Behind its casually charming The Life Aquatic-themed façade, Jacqueline hides an ambitious menu. From Dungeness crab toast with saffron hollandaise to rockfish ceviche tostada, this Clinton favorite stuns with its fresh and inventive take on the Pacific Northwest’s seafaring produce. And best of all, it’s accessible, too (read: happy hour $1 oysters everyday from 5-7pm).

A quick glance around Renata’s sprawling dining room and it’s confirmed: everyone here is living la dolce vita. And that’s because the Eastside mainstay is an ode to Italy’s dining culture, from the aperitivo to the flame-licked pies. So, settle into the wood-accented space, and feast on handcrafted Bolognese strozzapreti, bubbly-charred pizza, and cacio e pepe-filled arancini.

How do you take your tea? Vnagladku, vrpigladku, or vprikisku? It doesn’t get more elegant than the Russian samovar tea service in the Heathman Hotel’s soaring tea room, where chef Vitaly Paley pulls from his childhood to craft one authentic menu. Indulge in honey cake, Pryaniki cookies, and grandmother Paley’s very own sour cream-and-walnut cake, with tea courtesy of Smith Teamakers.

An homage to the Tuscan terroir, Barrasca highlights the best of the region, with a curated regional wine list and inventive signature dishes (think squid inzimino). At this sun-drenched trattoria, chef Paolo Calamai extols the flavors of his homeland with farm-fresh ingredients, and there’s never been more love and care put into a plate of pasta (the gnudi al sugo is delectable).

Mothers know best, and this stunning Downtown gem knows this all too well. Inspired by the home-cooked dishes from mothers all over the world, Mother’s Bistro & Bar deals in ever-pleasing homemade and slow-cooked recipes. We’re talking handmade pierogies, matzoh ball soup, and five-hour-braised pot roast, plus a special “M.O.M” (or Mother of the Month) menu, highlighting dishes from mothers abroad.

Romance oozes out of every nook of Picnic PDX, where no detail has been left unattended to (read: a boudoir feel and twinkly lights). The seducing Nob Hill destination practically begs for two-tops. So, bring a date and delve into a menu that veers towards the comforting—think a toothsome array of sandwiches and charcuterie boards—and sip something from the bar, Picnic PDX excels in zippy libations with a touch of whimsy.

It’s not often that you’ll find Ghanaian doughnuts and Auntie Paula’s French toast side-by-side. Yet this is what SE Division mainstay Tasty n Daughters promises: globe-trotting through breakfast tables the world over to offer a brunch spread unlike any other. Think Moroccan chicken hash, Burmese red pork stew, and boudin blanc sausage omelette.

A playful twist on Italy’s Denominazione di Origine Controllata, DOC food + wine is a seamless mix of Italian heritage and Northwest produce. The Concordia eatery takes pride in pairing its farm-to-table fare with meticulously sourced small-production wines. Settle into the intimate space, and put yourself in the hands of the chef, with a tasting of six courses (plus wine pairings), that reveals the essence of this Italy-meets-Northwest production.

After a very successful run as a pop-up, Bhuna has established roots in NW 21st Avenue. A fast-casual counter service eatery, Bhuna doles out Kashmiri soul food, with a special focus on vegetables. Expect seasonal plates of spice-laden klorhabi and collards, mushroom naan topped with a fried egg, and chickpea-battered calamari.

If the Queen ever came to Portland, we wouldn’t be surprised if she stopped at this Concordia shop. Lovejoy’s Tea Room does high tea just like they do it in London, sans the pomp. Tuck into buttery scones with cloud-like dollops of clotted cream, delicate tea sandwiches, and toasted crumpets, alongside your choice of tea.

There’s a slice of the bayou in the City of Roses: Acadia Bistro, a candlelit getaway that champions the flavor-packed dishes of New Orleans. You’re in for a parade of Southern hits, from seafood gumbo to cornmeal-fried catfish—with wild catches sourced from the shores of Louisiana—alongside an extensive bourbon collection. Afterall, it wouldn’t be a NOLA eatery without some whiskey.