Please recommend your favorite place for steak in or near Portland.

Thanks!
Karen

Hmmm.... are you asking for the best steak, or my favorite steakhouse? They're not the same place.

Best steak is probably at El Gaugo... errr... El Gaucho. If you'd prefer a piece of history, choose Ringside West, a Portland institution. Or, there's always Morton's and Ruths Chris.

beachbum - What is the dress code for El Gaucho? I read some reviews on it and this may be a good contender. My Dad, however, is definitely a jeans guy... can we get away with slightly casual or is this a dressy place?

Thanks for the suggestion!
Karen

Portland is a pretty casual town, but I wouldn't show up at El Gaucho in a pair of jeans, Karen. Khaki pants or slacks, maybe, with a nice long-sleeved or dressy sport shirt would be fine. El Gaucho has a sort of old mens club feel, complete with a cigar lounge. Very good food, but not quite my cup of tea (or should I say, glass of port).

If I can ask, why are you thinking steak in Portland? Most visitors are looking for seafood. You can find either at almost every good restaurant in town. And in some of those places, your dad would feel right at home in his jeans.

Thanks Beachbum. My family is definitely more of a steak family (not so much with the seafood). My husband and I love to try new steak places. I guess we'll continue our search, as I'm sure my Dad won't be dressing up on his vacation.

Karen

www.portlandfood.org

There are always discussions on steak places here, Ringside seems to be a big favorite..as well as El Gaucho..

hi beachbum!

Hi Scarlett! I'm thinkin' it's too bad Karen's not asking about a steak place where you live now. Bet you'd have more than a few recommendations! Happy to read things are going well.

I dine at El Gaucho 3-4 times a year and I don't even eat steak! The service is almost always flawless, the food delicious and the atmosphere is great.

I have been there in jeans when we have gone without planning while out and about and I have seen several other people each time I have been there also wearing jeans. I wouldn't hesitate to go any where in Portland in jeans as it is one of the most casual cities of its size or larger in the USA.

For non meat eaters I recommend the ahi as it is always perfectly done.

Don't bother ordering dessert as you will receive a very large fruit, cheese and nut bowl at the end of your meal. Best bleu cheese i have ever had!

Now I am hungry!

Thanks everyone! I think we'll probably go with El Gaucho. Seems to be getting good reviews on every website I've checked out.

Happy Travels!
Karen

Try the wicked shrimp as an appetizer if you like spicey! {drooling}

I don't eat red meat, but my family's favorite is the Country Kitchen, in East Portland. And jeans work fine there.

Country Kitchen! Isn't that a chain?

Wicked Shrimp!? I love how that sounds! YUM!

Karen

The Portland Country Kitchen has been around for 50 years or so; made famous in the 50s (?) for something like a 5 lb steak that would be free to anyone who could eat it (with ample trimmings) in an hour, or something like that.

Goes back to when the east side of Portland was a western suburb of Mayberry. Goll-lee.

Speaking of the 50s, the Ringside is a knockout retro place. Order a steak and a flashlight and you'll be fine.