We're going to be traveling to Portland, Oregon soon and would love recommendations for the best restaurants. We'd probably prefer regional/northwest cuisine, since that's where we'll be, but we're open to other suggestions as well. Also how about on the way to the Columbia Gorge?

Check this site for Portland restaurants http://www.sallys-place.com/

I eat out here all the time. The best restaurants would be Genoa, Paley's Place, Wildwood, and Fiddleheads IMO. Stay away from Jakes btw, I still don't understand why it's so popular here. The food is mediocre and way overpriced.

Best,

Mike

This is a question for all you folks that know Portland, OR very well,

I used to live in Portland, OR in the early to mid 60's. There was one restaurant in particular that was our favorite by far. I am wondering if it is still there. I don't remember it's name but it was very distinctive. It was in a very large old house and had fabulous gardens. It was on the east side of Portland. I know that this is not much to go on but I am really curious if the restaurant is still around. It was very popular and quite elegant.

Hi Bobby. Doesn't ring a bell at all. I don't think it's around any longer. I'm mostly familar with restaurants close to downtown so there's a chance I'm just not familiar with it. You may want to check www.wweek.com, they write a very thorough review of all Portland restaurants every year. The new once came out last week.

Best,

Mike

Thanks Mike for the response and info. I will check it out and let you know if I find it. I believe that I will remember the name if I see it.

The best Thai Restaurant by far and cheap too, is Bangkok Kitchen - really inexpensive for all the food you get!

Bangkok Kitchen
2534 SE Belmont Street
(503) 236-7349
Thai-style home cooking offered by the Siripatrapa family in what used to be a gas station; not fancy but good food including phad Thai, whole fried fish, prawn satay and chili noodles, fair prices, don't be deterred by the crowds.

Mike's list is great, but I'd add Couvron and the restaurant at the Heathman Hotel.
If you're looking for a great place to stay, check out the White House. It's in an old neighborhood east of the river, with lots of big trees.
For updated info, you might want to go to the Portland Visitors Bureau web site at www.pova.com.
Have a great time! (I love Portland!)

Hi, Charlie,
The food is not necessarily the best but on the way to the gorge a stop at McMenamin's Edgefield (http://www.mcmenamins.com/Edge/)is a fun experience. The former Multnomah County Poor Farm has been converted to a big hotel/restaurant/brewery/winery/movie theater complex, with a lot of cool art painted on the walls, and a view of the Columbia over the vinyards. Definitely worth the short detour off the freeway.

In Portland we like the weekend breakfast at Bread and Ink on Hawthorn or any of the steaks at the Ringside (on Burnside I think)- an old fashioned steak-and-flashlight place popular with locals.

As for used-to-be-great places, I still lament for Lydia's Reuben sandwiches, now 20 years gone...