Favorite Local Restaurants in Portland

Portland is still weird (don’t worry), but in the most delicious way possible. From sparking this country’s food truck craze to offering specially-priced menus at unusual dining times, the City of Roses (and bikes and artisanal coffee) is definitely doing things their own way, and we should all be grateful. But where are the smartest, savviest diners eating out? We’ve pulled data from thousands of restaurants to find the top spots among OpenTable's most expert, seasoned diners. You can step outside your comfort zone at places serving everything from Belarusian, Belgian, and Peruvian fare or try spots reimagining ways to cook classic cuisines like Italian, burgers, and epic steaks—all vetted by the types of tastemakers who know the best spots around the city. You'll want to follow their lead.

The OpenTable team

8 Restaurants

Updated February 25, 2020

Restaurants:	Departure Restaurant and Lounge, Nostrana, Higgins Restaurant & Bar…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Contemporary Asian, Italian, Organic…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown, Southeast Portland, Southwest Portland…

Departure Restaurant and Lounge

$$$$

Contemporary Asian

Downtown

4.7

4092 reviews

Top Chef finalist Gregory Gourdet is cooking up delicious Asian-inspired dishes in a stunning restaurant space on the top floor of The Nines (swanky) hotel. All of their dishes—but, in particular, the sushi and pork belly—are really delicious, albeit pricey, so this is a good spot for a special occasion. Their adjoining bar has a deck with a sensational view of the city (it’s incredible at sunset), and they make delicious cocktails, so you could easily come here just for the bar experience.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Nostrana

$$$$

Italian

Southeast Portland

4.7

4592 reviews

Nostrana has been doing magical things with dough, sauce, and cheese for over a decade. Their dimly-lit restaurant almost feels Japanese in its aesthetic, which is very calming for a romantic Italian dinner. They make great pastas and their oh-so-thin Neapolitan pizza arrives with scissors to cut through it. Lucky for you, if you can’t make it for dinner, they also offer a limited “reverse happy hour” menu starting at 9pm (with pizzas under $10 and $6 wine)!

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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Higgins Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

Organic

Southwest Portland

4.6

2626 reviews

Higgins is a Portland landmark, and they’re old pros at preparing delicious farm-to-table food. It’s a classic spot, but it’s pretty pricey, so a good bet is to go for lunch, which is what many opt for. The open-faced pastrami sandwich is the most popular item on the lunch menu, followed by the charcuterie board.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

La Moule

$$$$

French American

Southeast Portland

4.6

865 reviews

“The Muscle” is this Belgian brasserie’s middle name—actually it’s their first—and there’s no question they have a great command of them. Muscles have their own section of the menu, prepared in a variety of ways. They even have muscles on their wallpaper! But if you’re not into muscles, their duck and fettuccine are quite good too.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Davenport

$$$$

Contemporary American

Northeast Portland

4.8

591 reviews

This reasonably priced dinner-only spot has a regularly changing menu of globally-inspired dishes that celebrate ingredients from the pacific northwest. This is also reflected in the ambiance they’ve created using calming earth tones and lots of wood. The standout menu items (if they still have them) are the cauliflower soup, scallops, swordfish, and beef goulash.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Can Font

$$$$

Spanish

Northwest Portland

4.5

888 reviews

Beautiful, elegant, and delicately decorated Catalan restaurant in the wonderful Pearl district. Their original location is in Spain, and their menu is specifically inspired by Barcelona, as is some of the design. Their highly authentic food will make you feel like you’re eating at their original location. The octopus appetizer, Spanish rioja, and assortment of paellas (the traditional one with squid is top-notch) are popular choices, and as a bonus, you can see them make most of it from their open kitchen.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

St Jack

$$$$

French

Northwest Portland

4.6

2497 reviews

This French bouchon (from Lyon, France) feels equal parts cozy comfortable and romantically upscale, and they top that off with some unique charm by lighting huge candle formations at the bar that look like wax waterfalls. The food here is unsurprisingly rich, as is typical of bouchons, but it’s delicious and worth the post-meal nap you might need. The roasted bone marrow and decadent escargot gratin are big hits, as are the oxtail and frog legs. Also, whatever specials they have will be just that - try them.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Urban Farmer Portland

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown

4.5

2609 reviews

Located in The Nines uber-chic hotel, this Portland-born steakhouse is so popular, they opened up additional locations in Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Denver (and they also won the OpenTable Diners’ Choice Award 2018). The steaks are what you come here for—there are lots of different types and cuts—but they do have some other meats, fish, and sides. Whatever you order is sure to be a win.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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