On the edge of the swiftly developing Eastside Riverfront District, you'll find Bocci's on 7th, a popular Italian restaurant that caters mainly to the business lunch crowd. Enjoy the free WiFi and electrical outlets at each table. Beer and wine are served along with large portions of Italian fare and their specialty burgers and sandwiches inside the newly remodeled restaurant or on their large, shaded porch. Freelancers and students can be found here, enjoying the nice weather with an adult beverage all summer long. Breakfast is also served, specializing in giant 3-egg omelets and other traditional American fare in vast quantities.
The menu at Olympia Provisions is a merger of contemporary American dining choices with Spanish and Mediterranean sensibilities. The atmosphere is quite inviting for an intimate meal with ambient dim-lighting and a refined presentation. Olympia Provisions use locally-sourced ingredients that are assured fresh. Try the Pan Roasted Halibut or the Braised Beef Short Rib from the large-plates menu if you're too hungry to care for a sophisticated choice.
Taking the concept of vegan food and dining to the next level, the award-winning Blossoming Lotus has made such an impact on Portland's dining scene, that making this lifestyle shift for Portlanders has become a much easier and even an enticing affair. The nationally acclaimed restaurant firmly believes in the virtues of healthy cooking and offers an all-organic menu of world fusion specialties. The menu spans global specialties and has influences from every region from Europe to Asia. There's also a selection of raw food preparations. Dietary requirements are exceptionally well catered to. The restaurant offers a well-stocked bar with organic beers, wines as well as a selection of cocktails. Food has received critical acclaim and has changed many perceptions about vegan cuisine. The restaurant has also released a series of books on vegan cooking and lifestyle that have become an instant hit. Food is available to go and the catering service is perennially popular.
Fancy a bite into tantalizing wood-fired oven baked pizzas? Then head to this modern pizzeria on Everett Street in Pearl District. The decor and the ambiance may reflect the upscale quality and trendiness of modern American restaurants, but its menu is deeply rooted in the culinary traditions of Italian street food , which the award winning chef Cathy Whims has mastered over the years. The menu features the archetypal Pizza Margherita, and other regular varieties like Mushroom and Salami Pizzas which are infused with original ingredients and flavors. The Fennel Sausage Pizza, served on thin crust bread and topped with Italian sauces is also worth trying. As for the drinks, you can go for the usual wines to complement your meal, or rely on the expert mixologist Ryan Magarian's well-crafted cocktails.
If you love beer, then you will walk out all smiles after a visit to Saraveza. Located on Killingsworth Street, the pub has a unique selection of local brews available in bottles and on taps, which are hard to find elsewhere. It prides on its award winning selections like Barley Brown’s Turmoil and He'Brew Jubelation. And that's not all, as you can munch on the varieties of pasties on offer. Try the specialty Reuben pasty and Potater pasty or you can also savor the pickled deviled eggs and charcuterie board. Call ahead to know more.
If the wine selection is not incentive enough, you may want to visit Corkscrew for the cozy decor, superlative service, live entertainment and tasty bites. Although you may not be offered as varied a selection as some of the bigger bars in the city of Portland, the wines-by-the-glass are excellent. A visit on a French Cafe Tuesday (6p to 10p) is particularly rewarding, for that is when you get to enjoy a great French meal with its perfect wine partner.