Now on Resy: Mano Oculta, Lulu/Jarana, Ok Omens, and More Local Favorites

While many know Mano Oculta as a spot for live music, it’s really a Mexican restaurant that just happens to have a stage. Go for the cheesy mulitas stuffed with carnitas or carne asada, tacos, and mezcal cocktails, and check out a show after if you like. P.S.: There is nothing occult about Oculta. The name means “hidden hand” in Spanish.

If you’re not familiar with Nikkei cuisine, a perfect mashup of Peruvian ingredients and Japanese technique, this Jekyll and Hyde space is the place to learn about it. Lulu is all about cocktails, which pair swimmingly with the Jarana menu. Think: gin with Sichuan–infused honey and lemon alongside empanadas, ceviche, chicken katsu bowls, and mushroom and tofu saltado.

It might be softer now, with pretty blues throughout the airy space and candles everywhere, but Carina Lounge still has a whisper of its Basta past. Mainly in the mussels, which are a must-order every time you go — and here, regular visits are the norm — plus goat cheese ravioli and a smattering of pizzas. Happy hour is worth eating early.

Madcap names of the dishes may change, but it’s the same globetrotting menu we’ve come to know from the Malka team. Sit in the eclectically decorated converted house (or on the patio) for things like lemongrass tamarind pork ribs, chickpea pancakes with schmaltzy potatoes and baby bok choy, and maybe a CBD cider, just because.

Expect a festive, plant-filled outdoor dining space; a sleek, cool dining room; a brilliantly off-the-wall wine list; and a menu of eminently shareable American fare at this sibling to the esteemed Castagna.

The friendly wine bar is a perfect complement to Backyard Social’s (same owners) fun outdoor scene. It’s fun and rollicking — there’s a stuffed raccoon mascot named Gilda and pink neon pointing to a “makeout room” — just the place to share some snacks, pop a bottle of something weighty or crisp from the list, and maybe take a few extras home for later.

There’s a reason Tina’s has been feeding wine-lovers and Willamette Valley locals for more than three decades. Sometimes you just need a friendly place, a plate of pan-fried oysters, a lovely soufflé, and classic crème brûlée after a day of tasting.

Surrounded by old-growth trees with the Clackamas River flowing beneath the cliff, this log cabin-esque spot is peak PNW dining. The all-day menu features American classics, from smoked salmon chowder to barbecue ribs and meatloaf. It’s a great spot to taste through Oregon and Washington wines.