I'll be staying in Portland for a week babysitting my neice and nephew. While they are in school each day, I would love to sample some of the best that Portland has to offer lunchwise. I've read articles about the great food scene in Portland, can anyone help with suggestions that are open at lunch? Doesn't need to be fancy, just memorable food. I'm from Chicago, so Portland has to meet rather high expectations! Thanks for all your help.
Cherikm

Oregon?

IMHO Chicago is the best restaurant town in the US. You'll enjoy Portland restaurants more if you consider your dining there an adventure in NY cousine.

Some of the touted places that serve lunch are Bluehour, The Heathman, Higgins, and Wildwood. All these restaurants have their fans--you be the judge.

Add Fenouil to htty's list, and move Heathman to the bottom. For ethnic, I'd suggest Typhoon or Sungari Pearl.

If you can break away for dinner, you'd have more choices. Some of Portland's best restaurants don't do lunch.

I agree, beachbum.

Add to the list Pizza Italia, Everett St. Bistro, The Park Bistro, Serrato, Red Star Tavern, and Mother's Bistro, just to name a few more, lol! Stop at Mio Gelato as well.

http://kennyandzukes.com/

Will you have a car? If so, venture over to 26th and Sandy to Kesone Thai Lao Bistro or over to Pok Pok on 32nd and Division. These are my two favorite Thai restaurants.

Do you like sushi? Mio sushi is open for lunch and there are several locations. Interesting variety of rolls and affordable.

There are also many great restaurants on NE Broadway and SE Hawthorne. Both of these streets are fun to walk down as there are many eclectic shops. Stop at a place that looks interesting and check out a menu!

There are so many fabulous restaurants in Portland!

Enjoy!

Hi
I was from NYC when we moved to Portland a couple of years ago and it met our expectations and then some.

mms gave you pretty much my list of favorites also.
Every day ( or so it seems ) a new place opens in Portland..you will be spoiled for choice!

On the Eastside, I guess Le Pigeon and Screen Porch should be mentioned as well as Halibuts..fried fish, french fries..just kinda funky and extremely casual and tasty.
Otherwise, my favorite places were on the West side where I lived..

Stop at the Pearl Bakery and have something there too...sigh..I miss my Pearl Bakery
* take the streetcar to Couch and 10th..go to Powells..after Powells, walk down to couch and 9th..that is the Pearl Bakery..eat inside or outside..if the weather is good, walk a block to 8th and the Park Blocks...this was my daily routine when I lived there

Scarlett--We will be at the Pearl Bakery on Sunday morning...I will have a gilbassier for you

I love Meriwether and Hubers.

HI there! We have enjoyed many nice places for lunch in Portland, The Heathman is great, there is the London Grill at the Benson,very elegant ambaince. Fenouil and Ten 01 are both nice as is Park Kitchen in the Portland Pearl District.

Our new fave is the Portland City Grill, you will have excellent views here, if you like Sushi, they do a great Dragon Roll here. We had a nice 2 hour lunch here this summer with 3 of the kids and had a great time! ***kim***

If you don't mind sitting amongst a bunch of suits, London Grill, Portland City Grill, and the Heathman are all fine. But none are really representative of what's been happening in Portland's food scene the last few years.

Also, I'd advise checking before heading out to some of the other places recommended. I'm not sure that all are open for lunch.

Beachbum--As usual, I agree.

Hotel food is not what I would be the first to recommend. If I did, it would be a place like the Red Star (Monaco) or Typhoon ( Hotel Lucia) or Pazzo ( Hotel Vintage Plaza)...the steak place at the Benson is , I believe , one of the most expensive places in town..

I see most posters have given you good up-to-date ideas for places that are more in the line of what you ask for..
mms- when you stay at the Heathman..is it this weekend? .. I want to hear the comparison of the Heathman suites to the Monaco!!

And one thought on the Portland City Grill..
it is owned by the same people who own Henrys ...go there instead, the food and atmosphere, sorry, ambience .. is great and you won't feel like you have just stepped into a meat market with a view.

I really enjoyed the Pearl Bakery when I was in Portland a few months ago. And the By Ways Cafe for lunch, also in the Pearl. It was on the Food Network show Diners, Drive Ins and Dives this year.

The view at Portland City Grill is the best of any restaurant in Portland with a view over the city, river and Mt. Hood on a clear day. A worthwhile stop just for that! And it isn't a meat market during lunch so don't worry about that.

I have lived in Portland most of my life and I had dinner at the Heathman for the first time a few weeks ago. Our dinners were in innovative, delicious and beautifully presented from the appetizers through to the desserts. I wouldn't discount it just because it is a hotel restaurant.

cherikm, come on back and let us know more about the types of food you a wishing to try out here. We have it all!

How nice, we had dinner at the Heathman many times while we lived in Portland..there was always something wrong. Irritating, but considering the many good restaurants in Portland, it is nothing to think about . Nice that you were able to go there and had one of their "off " nights LOL

I just remembered another good lunch place..or dinner..Silk.
It is Vietnamese, wonderful dishes..the soups are fantastic, I loved the chicken pho..my friends liked the seafood pho..warms you up and you have a great view of the neighborhood from any window seat. On Glisan and 10th..

And considering that you ask for nothing fancy this might suit you better..Can't say you don't have good choices!

hi mms: scarlett recommended the Pearl Bakery last August and I made a beeline there to try out the gilbassier. It was sinfully delicious!! Really the best I've had. I had to have a few others in town to compare (of course).

I also like Le Pigeon which Beachbum recommended awhile back. It is a wonderful restaurant. There is always a long wait so reservations are best.

If the weather is nice it is relaxing to sit on the patio at Fenoil and watch the kids play in the water at the park.

Also for dinner we loved Paley's Place in NW.

Yes, we stayed at the Heathman last night. I will do a comparison with the Monaco on another thread so I don't hijack this.

This morning we hit the Pearl Bakery. They have a few sandwiches, so is a good place to go for lunch. I love their cappuccinos. But this morning we were not moving fast or early (late night out) and by the time we got the the PB they had just sold the last gilbassier to a lady in line in front of us. I was heartbroken, lol!

BTW, the atmosphere at Portland City Grill vs Henry's is light night and day. PCG is the definition of meat market, IMO, but Henry's is just people having a lot of fun. We were there last night and commenting on just that.

Hmmm, Scarlett, since you don't like the heathman, what kept you going back "many times?" ;-) Was it the cocktails?