As Irish as its namesake, this cheery downtown establishment is warm, welcoming and close to the city's heartbeat. The wood and brass tones exude an authentic yet casual tone. Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub's full bar is accommodating, boasting one of the largest selections of malt scotches in the Northwest. Varied menu offerings include traditional Irish cuisine as well as salads, sandwiches and more. Catch your favorite football team, Gaelic games or rugby on their television screens or tap your feet to the nightly live music.
This downtown restaurant is known for its local cuisine; all the ingredients are harvested here in Oregon. The small, split-level setup is cozy, but it can get bit noisy. Northwest seafood, local mushrooms and other veggies make up an array of uniquely Oregon dishes. Sustainability is at the core of the restaurant's food philosophy and it firmly believes in supporting and sourcing from local growers. The lamb sausage and Totten Inlet mussels are specialties not to be missed. The pastrami sandwich is a good choice for lunch. The freshness of the ingredients and the diversity it brings to the palate is an obvious advantage of this practice. This restaurant also claims to have the largest wine and beer list in the city; don't expect a Budweiser though. An excellent choice for a local culinary experience.
Please your palate with a memorable meal in this authentic Italian restaurant. At Serratto, you can choose one or two of more than 100 bottles of Italian wine including Sicilian vintages. The menu items are listed in Italian, but colorful descriptions will help. Choose from the varieties of house-made pastas like Seared Sea Scallops, Roasted Halibut and Risotto. Round out your meal perfectly with Cheesecake, and specialty Gelato and Sorbetto for desserts. You can also walk in here during happy hours and get great discounts on wines and other beverages.
The small street-side diner has sidewalk seating and a casual atmosphere. Originally only pizza and calzone were served here, but the family added Lebanese dishes to the menu once the restaurant was established. Nicholas Dibe and his wife, Linda, runs the place. Linda makes fresh tabouli, baklava and humus while Nicholas bakes the bread and roasts the eggplant. Although there is meat on the menu, this restaurant offers many vegetarian and vegan dishes. Try M’Jadra, a rice and lentil concoction seasoned with olive oil, sautéed onions and spices. The restaurant also opens its patio for small private gatherings and group dinners.
This swanky steakhouse serves up stylish dishes at The Benson Hotel. Meats and desserts are fired up tableside, and the elaborate dishes are mastered before your very eyes, making the experience deliciously entertaining. If a big juicy steak is not your thing, try the Australian Lobster Tail or Oven Crisped Chicken. If you do order steak, be aware that steaks ordered rare will arrive a little more underdone than most tastes will allow. Darkly lit with a full bar, this restaurant is favored by the Portland Trailblazers.
Sizzle Pie is a great little place with a strange little culture. Then again, it's Portland, so "strange" is relative and appreciated. The pizza is astounding: thin crust New York Style with plenty of heat, fresh cheese, and even vegan varieties that taste like real pizza. The staff and the decor are energetic and eccentric. The beer selection is quite diverse as well with strong lagers for the hearty drinkers and fruity sweet ales that will still get the job done. If hanging with a group of people, stop by this pizza shack to feed many on a few dollars.