Grant Diggles

Top 4 Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

// September 28th, 2009 // Personal Views

My wife and I are fans of the culinary world. When we look for restaurants in the Portland Metro area we are not only looking for great tasting food, but also a great experience. The ambiance, waiter, food presentation, location and vibe are all part of what this article is about. Listed below are our current top 4 restaurants in the Portland area:

1. The Painted Lady – Newberg, OR

Yup, you heard me… Newberg, Oregon. The Painted Lady is, without a doubt, going to be one of finest culinary experiences you’ll have in your life. It is a little ways outside of Portland, but is worth the extra driving. It is owned by a wonderful couple who have studied in the culinary arts for years and decided to open their own restaurant. The name, The Painted Lady, comes from the restaurant’s actual building, as it is a restored Victorian home.

If you plan on dining at The Painted Lady, plan on calling ahead and making reservations days in advance. Once you’ve reserved a table, the table is yours for the night as they serve you multiple courses throughout the evening.

The food is creative and exquisite in every way. I’ve never had anything at The Painted Lady that wasn’t absolutely life changing. Be prepared for an experience that will be memorable, but has the potential of ruining regular restaurant food forever.

NOTE – TPL is a very expensive restaurant, so plan on spending, spending, spending. With a bottle of wine, my wife and I have easily spent anywhere from $200 to $300 a night. If you’re concerned about cost, you may want to save up, as you will be cheating yourself out of the whole experience by trying to be cheap.

2. Five-O-Three – West Linn, OR

Five-O-Three is a spectacular restaurant tucked away in West Linn. It may be easily missed as its built into the corner of a larger commercial development, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that this restaurant is anything less than spectacular.

Like other restaurants in our Top 4 list, Five-O-Three changes its menu regularly to give its returning dinner guests something new every time.

From their soups and entrees to their service and entertainment, Five-O-Three should not be missed. It has all of the upper-class amenities one would expect at a high-end restaurant in Portland such as classy ambience, extremely competent waiters and tasteful decor and dinnerware, but remains accessible to the “average Joe” in location, price and attitude.

If you’re looking for an enjoyable dining experience without driving all the way into Portland, Five-O-Three is certainly worth a visit. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed.

NOTE – FOT is still a little pricey than most. Last time my wife and I were there a week ago we spent $110 with tip. This included drinks, appetizer and entrees. If you have kids, I would recommend the Mac-and-Cheese. Have them bring it out with your entrees though, otherwise you’ll end up helping your kids eat it all.

3. Jake’s Grill – Portland, OR

Jakes Grill is a personal favorite of mine for three reasons:

1. Its a hip, upper-class restaurant that gives off a great Portland “vibe”.

2. Its menu is large but still boasts a tasteful culinary art similar to smaller “niche” restaurants.

3. Solid bang-for-your-buck for the total experience.

I have to admit, the one thing I don’t like about Jake’s Grill is that its part of the McCormick and Schmick’s restaurant line. Many of their other restaurants tend to be bland and uneventful. With that said, I love this place.

Waiters have always been good here. Knowledgeable and opinionated as to what seems to be good and what doesn’t, Jake’s Grill seems to have low turnover which allows you to get to know the waiters over time.

Jake’s Grill is on the lower cost of our Top 5 restaurants coming in somewhere in $70-$90 range for 2 people. My wife and I regularly dine at Jake’s Grill to experience Portland in a comfortable, edgier fashion.

Although not required, I would recommend making a reservation ahead. Jake’s Grill always seems to be busy.

4. The Heathman Hotel – Portland, OR

The Heathman Hotel is more commonly known as one of Portland’s premier stays. Located in the heart of Portland, The Heathman is central to nearly every major attraction that someone spending time here, may want to see. What The Heathman is less commonly known for? Its restauarant.

Situated on the ground level, The Heathman Hotel’s restaurant is consistent in the style, class and service that you would expect from one of Portland’s best. The food is as unique in presentation is it is in taste.

You’ll find The Heathman’s menu offers creative couplings of different flavors to surprise your pallet and keep you looking forward to your next visit. And yes, you will come back.

Due to its stellar location in Portland, and only a couple blocks from the Arlene Schnitzer Hall, The Heathman Hotel offers a classy, yet convenient dining experience for those looking to take in some of the finer arts of Portland. Easy to find, The Heathman restaurant also makes a great location for business professional looking to impress a client or to simply find short respite in the middle of the day.

The cost of dinner at The Heathman is reasonable. We spend $70 to $120 for the 2 of us, which can be a bargain on nights we are staying in Portland for events or special occasions. I would highly recommend this restaurant coupled with a stay in their Hotel. Its relaxing, conveniently located and their service is unmatched.

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