Now on Resy: Champagne Poetry, Magnolia Tavern, and More Local Favorites

Southern staples have a happy home at this lively hang in the Orchards neighborhood. Come to watch the next big game, or for a casual weeknight meal — either way, you can’t go wrong with fried chicken, jambalaya, and mac and cheese (or perhaps an elk burger?).

Put this women-owned hotspot high on your list for a special date or a lively celebration. The pink-and-red interior is warm and witty, the menu is full of tempting (and shareable) Chinese- and Japanese-inspired fare, the cocktails are creative, and the knockout Champagne list will keep things bubbly all night long.

Chef Patrick McKee’s residency inside Broder Nord is like a tour through Italy with a hefty dose of PDX flavor thrown in. The menu changes regularly, but you’ll find delightful dishes like handmade pasta (squid ink bucatini if you’re lucky), porchetta, polenta with soft egg, and chanterelle mushroom risotto.

This pretty little Lake Oswego steakhouse (hey, it lives up to its name) is the best place to steal away for shrimp cocktail, grilled prime steaks, and just the right sides (read: all the potato options). Start with tableside martinis and end with mascarpone cream puff.

Chef Cyrus Ichiza’s innovative vegan dim sum has a cult following, and for good reason. Dishes like wontons in chile oil, lo mai gai dumplings, mapo tofu, congee, and adobo with mushrooms all warm the soul. Pro tip: The signature bunny bao often sells out, so definitely book a table on the earlier side.

One of the most charming places for tea time, Bumblebee’s got you covered with specialized teas from Darjeeling, finger sandwiches, and fresh scones during the day. But don’t overlook dinnertime when the prix-fixe menu takes hold, with specialties like crispy prawns in Mandarin sauce, braised duck, and sesame beef.

The couple behind Oregon’s beloved Ovum wine label — who hasn’t had the Big Salt blend by now — pour their wines plus hand-selected favorites at this Alberta bar and tasting nook. Snack on bite-size Spanish sausages, chicken liver mousse, and goat cheese with Serbian pepper spread alongside them. 

Sometimes, the best things are found down an alley. At Someday, that means classic and reimagined cocktails (like a daiquiri with pandan), skin-contact wines, and finger-friendly snacks like the requisite olives, nuts, and cheese. But when you get into something like seasonal crudos or the rollicking oyster Sundays, you’ve hit peak vibes. 

McMinnville has gone from sleepy wine country town to a booming culinary scene, but this easygoing stalwart with its homey vibe is still the place for ultra-seasonal dishes, clever cocktails, and local wines, of course. A jar of pâté, some bread, whatever rockfish is on the menu is the way to go. 

Sit at the long black walnut table, sip wines, and chat with new friends in anticipation of whatever seasonal, beautifully presented dishes come your way from Anthology’s open kitchen. There’s a story behind every single plate, from the local ingredients chosen by the chefs to the final dab of sauce.  

It doesn’t matter that the menu here is all plant-based — unless you eat a strictly vegan diet, and that’s what you’re looking for — the hyper-seasonal dishes are so creative and delicious, you’ll forget that it’s vegan. Cocktails are expressive and worth an extra look. 

Expect classic Peruvian dishes with personal touches, from arroz chaufa and lomo saltado to various types of ceviche — think Hawaiian ono swimming in leche de tigre with thick slices of sweet potatoes. Pisco sours are a must.

Back in the day, Portlanders would drive to then-sleepy McMinnville just to get a bowl of Nick’s minestrone soup. It’s still that good, hearty with a dollop of fresh, garlicky pesto on top, but so are the housemade meatballs, Napolitan-style pizzas, and freshly-made pasta. The wine list is a celebration of Oregon and Italian bottles that are fun to explore. 

Because here you’ll find Northern Vietnam specialties not usually seen in Portland, let alone the U.S. Half the dining room pays homage to Hanoi’s street-food alleyways, lined with colorful paper lanterns; the other half offers more traditional seating, but is equally as fun. Enjoy dishes like puffed fritters with sweet-and-sour fish sauce; sheets of chewy pho noodles rolled around roast duck and herbs; and bún chả hà nội made with housemade rice noodles. Vietnamese coffee, dulce de leche, and rum is the cocktail you didn’t know you needed.

It’s big, bustling, and always there when you need a handmade pasta or wood-fired pizza that proudly names every local farm and purveyor behind the ingredients. Make a night of it and grab a cocktail at the bar first.

There’s something so timeless about this neighborhood spot. It could be the cozy room, classics like steak frites or hearty osso bucco, or the loaded Bloody Marys at brunch. But really it’s all of it, a culmination of things that make this the place you want to be, exactly when you need it.