Diners' Choice: Contemporary American restaurants in Portland / Oregon

OpenTable

Updated April 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary American cuisine in Portland / Oregon? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Davenport

4.9

4.9 (765)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

A refined restaurant focusing on simple, well-prepared dishes maintaining the integrity of premier Northwest ingredients.

Top review

Dined on Apr 18, 2025

Davenport is always an exceptional experience. This time, we brought friends specifically to eat the nettles dumplings -- a seasonal treat that chef Kevin Gibson nails every time. Said friends were blown away, and we were impressed anew. Everything else was remarkable, too -- vegetables fresh and bright, halibut cooked to perfection, wine that was complex and deeply satisfying. The dedication to bringing out the best in seasonal foods is obvious, and the kitchen's light touch is greatly appreciated.

Decant

4.9

4.9 (640)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Medford

About the restaurant

We believe in living a clean, natural and organic lifestyle mirroring that of the old world, where people eat only local foods. Most of our ingredients are certified organic and we source from local farmers to promote sustainability. We want to showcase how fertile the Southern Oregon valley is and the amazing bounty available from local farmers.

We're excited to share our wine and food knowledge with Southern Oregon. We want to educate anyone willing to learn on wines of the world as well as how they compare to local wines. We will strive to constantly create new menu items and wine pairings.

Top review

Shane

Dined 6 days ago

Amazing experience hands down. The food was amazing and so were the servers. It was a wonderful dining experience.

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4.8

4.8 (1074)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Northwest Portland

About the restaurant

Arden is an idyllic retreat tucked into Portland's Pearl District. Arden delivers seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine and an award-winning wine program featuring over 250 bottles, many with bottle age. Guests have the option to dine a la carte or enjoy the chef's prix fixe menu ($70): a shared experience that features 4 courses of seasonal cuisine. Coursed wine pairings are also available ($45).

Arden is named in homage to Shakespeare's famous forest - a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and appreciate nature's bounty and beauty. The restaurant invites you to take an exiting culinary adventure through the Pacific Northwest, and explore the incredible range of ingredients that the region has to offer.

Top review

Luanne

Dined 1 day ago

The staff and food are exquisite. Knowledgeable about wines for one

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4.9

4.9 (173)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Northeast Portland

About the restaurant

Wine bar meets casual eatery in the heart of Portland's Central East Side. From the team that brought you Le Pigeon.

Top review

Jill

Dined 6 days ago

Wonderful little place, superb food, wines and service

Canard - Oregon City

4.8

4.8 (255)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Oregon City

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Marissa

Dined 7 days ago

Great food and really good service! I highly recommend.

Le Pigeon

4.8

4.8 (1667)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

Le Pigeon serves adventurous French-inspired food, along with a varied selection of wines in an intimate dining room on Portland’s East Burnside Street.

Top review

DougF

Dined 2 days ago

still great after al these years, delicious with excellent service.

Del Alma

4.8

4.8 (1862)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Corvallis

About the restaurant

Del Alma Restaurant, located in downtown Corvallis, offers an elegant yet warm and inviting dining atmosphere with a view of the riverfront. Del Alma translates to "of the soul", and the entire del Alma staff strives to create a dining experience that reflects their passion for excellent service, warm hospitality, and great food. The menu is inspired by the flavors and cuisines of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain and offers items ranging from tapas to full entrees. Del Alma brings its passion for the vibrant flavors of Latin America and pairs them with the offerings of the Pacific Northwest, using fresh ingredients from local markets, farms, and ranches. The bar hosts an array of libations ranging from south-of-the-border classics to contemporary cocktails, plus an interesting and food-friendly wine list featuring both Old and New World selections. Prix-fixe dinner specials are available on Wednesdays and pairing dinners are regularly featured.

Top review

Jessica

Dined 3 days ago

Every food item, sauce accompaniment, and presentation was perfect. The flavors were absolutely amazing. We couldn’t believe how good everything tasted. The ambiance was a little underwhelming but who you are with is more important not to mention the food quality. The room we were in was very spaciousness and allowed for the ability to hear you dinner guests well but felt a little like we were in a conference room.

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Popular dish

Flourless Chocolate Torte

Popular dish

Key Lime Pie

Popular dish

Grilled 8 oz Filet Mignon

The Joel Palmer House

4.6

4.6 (2020)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Dayton

About the restaurant

Mushrooms are the heart of what we do at the Joel Palmer House. We have always endeavored to obtain seasonal and local ingredients and we use many locally produced greens, herbs, and vegetables, some of which come from our own culinary garden. We are frequently inspired by ingredients found in the cuisines of France, China, Thailand, Poland and India, so we call our cooking "freestyle." Our dishes pair well the celebrated wines of Oregon, especially Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Our extensive, Oregon-focused wine list has been awarded the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Of special note, The Joel Palmer House ranks as one of Oregon's finest historic homes and is on the National Register of Historic Places and the Oregon Historic Register. Built in 1857, the house is Dayton's oldest standing structure. When weather permits, guests can enjoy their dinner on our outdoor patio, soaking in the last rays of sunshine in the heart of Oregon Wine Country.

Top review

NormVIP

Dined 6 days ago

A great choice for special nights. Staff were attentive and helpful. Sommelier knew his stuff.

The Restaurant at the Jacksonville Inn

4.7

4.7 (299)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Jacksonville

About the restaurant

Located underneath the historical Jacksonville Inn in Jacksonville, Oregon, the restaurant serves modern wine country cuisine, fine wines and handcrafted cocktails.
Being Family Owned and Operated and the matriarch originating from Florence, Italy, we strongly believe in the magic of food and the power it has to being families together. We relish in the opportunity to bring our passion for food and wine to the Jacksonville Inn and witness the memories made by all that dine at our table. Our philosophy is that you walk in as our guest but leave as a friend. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.

Top review

David

Dined on Apr 22, 2025

This was the best meal ever. Great service. Wonderful waitress. Excellent food. Highly recommend this restaurant. Can't say enough good things about it.

Thirsty Lion – Tanasbourne, OR

4.9

4.9 (933)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Hillsboro

About the restaurant

Offering gastropub fare and from-scratch cooking with a culinary commitment to local and seasonal ingredients, the food is both craveable and bold. At the bar, a wide range of local craft beers are available, an option for every palate and plate. Craft cocktails are made with fresh fruit purees, juices, and premium liquors, while wines come in 25 varieties. Enjoy your lunch, dinner, daily happy hour or weekend brunch craft brew while watching the game on one of the flat screens amidst an open kitchen, central bar and a patio that soaks up the sun. Whether it's a cozy dinner for two or lunch with the whole office, Thirsty Lion is the perfect destination for any party size, including large groups and events.

Top review

Mark

Dined 4 days ago

By far, best spot for happy hour. Good variety on menu & very good service!

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Experience

Daily Happy Hour 3-6pm!

Experience

Late Night Happy Hour

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