If music is the food of love, then food is the … well, you know! Is there anything that sets the tone for romance more than the finest food and drink? In Portland, the top food city in the nation, only the best ingredients are used, whether it is amazing farm-to-table cuisine, exquisite wines or distillery creations. What better way to win the attention of the object of your affection than a gorgeous setting and a table spread with lovely delicacies with which to wine and dine?
In Portland there are many options for delightful dining that are surprisingly affordable, even while keeping the quality remarkably high. There are many Where To Eat Guide options at several budget levels that are sure to guarantee the most persuasive wooing. Get ready to make an impression!
Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro. Photo: Thirst Wine Bar Facebook
A Little Cash …
You needn’t spend a fortune on showing someone a good time! Whisk your darling away to Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro on the South Waterfront. Clink wine glasses filled with Pacific Northwest varietals and share a Baked Brie wrapped in puff pastry as you watch the Portland Spirit pass by. Afterward, cruise Tom McCall Waterfront Park side by side in a surrey with a fringe on top (yes, really!) from Kerr Bike Rental.
315 SW Montgomery St
Paella at Petisco. Photo: Petisco Facebook
Or is it your fantasy to take your date to a European village? You will feel like you have journeyed to Provence at Petisco, tucked adorably into the lower portion of a craftsman house in the Lloyd District. Enjoy a French Onion Soup, OxTail Osso Bucco or Ravioli of the Day. Call ahead to ask about Paella Night – now there’s an experience! (Or half price bottles of wine on Sunday evenings.)
1411 NE Broadway St
Goan Style Shrimp at Bollywood Theater. Photo: Bollywood Facebook
Want a real adventure? Add a (familiar) touch of the exotic at Bollywood Theater, Portland Chef Troy MacLarty’s expression of how it feels to visit India. Your free-spirited sweetie will enjoy a chance to explore the Alberta Arts District or Division Street, two delightfully bohemian Southeast Portland neighborhoods.
2039 NE Alberta St / 3010 SE Division St
What could be more romantic than dipping into a steaming fondue? At Urban Fondue in Northwest Portland, there are savory fondues and decadent dessert fondues, as well as an encyclopedia-length cocktail menu.
2114 NW Glisan St
Photo: Pix Pâtisserie Facebook
Date night at Pix Pâtisserie can include Spanish Tapas at Bar Vivant, then an exploration of champagnes, eclairs, truffles and macarons. Ask about the custom picnic baskets (allow 48 hours notice). Then, take your treats and your crush to Washington Park or Mount Tabor…
2225 E Burnside St
The patio at Meriwether's is uber-romantic. Photo: Meriwether's Facebook
Some Cash …
If you would be happy to spend a little more but still not too much, then plan an excursion to the garden at Meriwether’s Restaurant & Skyline Farm and relish menu items from the nearby Skyline Boulevard farm. What could be more memorable than a gorgeous meal made from the freshest local ingredients, like Dungeness Crab Risotto or house made Bucatini Pasta with Manila Clams?
2601 NW Vaughn St
Photo: Serratto Facebook
Treat your sweet to a trip to Mediterranean locales like Italy and France at Serratto Restaurant and Bar where they will be wowed with entrees like Squid Ink Fettucine and Bouillabaisse, as well as the outstanding wine list. Maybe then a trip to Cinema 21 to see that new international film?
2112 NW Kearney St
Photo: Cafe Nell Facebook
Want a cozy date? Cuddle up in front of a glowing fireplace at Café Nell and share some Beef Tartare, a Mushroom Tart and Grilled Wedge Salad. And then Crème Brûlée with a touch of raspberry or Dark Chocolate Espresso Pot de Crème.
1987 NW Kearney St
Fillet of Beef at Raven & Rose. Photo: Raven & Rose Facebook
Love romantic novels? Take a trip to the British Isles in the historic Ladd Carriage House at Raven & Rose. You will feel as if you have stepped into a Jane Austen story as you get acquainted over the Fillet of Beef with red wine sauce, braised onions, blue cheese and Yorkshire pudding or the Grass-fed Venison with huckleberry, spruce, trumpet royale mushrooms and potato puffs. Then, stroll hand-in-hand to Portland Art Museum across the North Park Blocks.
1331 SW Broadway St
Photo: Marrakesh Facebook
Or maybe something a bit more sensual will do the trick. Relax on cushions, savor the cuisine of Morocco with house-made bread in your hands and watch some belly dancing at Marrakesh.
1201 NW 21st Ave
A Bit More…
There are few selections in Portland’s outstanding dining scene that are truly expensive, but if you are in a spare-no-expense type of mood, these picks are sure to feel special:
Photo: LeChon Facebook
LeChon showcases wood-fired South American cuisine and also regularly presented international dinners (call in advance to inquire about reservations). A stroll on the waterfront can round out your date. There is also a lot of fantastic live entertainment in the area on the weekends.
113 SW Naito Pkwy
Photo: Muselet Facebook
Muselet Restaurant and Wine Bar is a lovely retreat on the south end of the Portland Streetcar. Share a charcuterie board or finely selected cheeses with a glass of champagne or a honeysuckle cocktail.
3730 SW Bond Ave
Cocktails by the river at Aquariva. Photo: Aquariva Facebook
Enjoy a view of the Willamette River at Aquariva in the River’s Edge Hotel & Spa. Your meal, created with local seasonal ingredients, can be paired with a spa treatment. Get closer over a shared plate of Polenta Cakes then try the Herb Seared Chicken with potato puree, baby root vegetables, mustard jus or the Grilled Lamb Leg with oyster mushrooms, olives, charred lemon, cous cous and herb yogurt. Then a Couples Massage with added Warm Cocoa Butter?
470 SW Hamilton Ct
Photo: Ringside Steakhouse Facebook
Finally, nothing impresses a date like a steak dinner, complete with all the accoutrements. Wow that special someone with a classic meal served in a warm and welcoming environment at RingSide Steakhouse The steakhouse has been recognized with many national awards, including Wine Spectator’s "Best of Award of Excellence."
2165 W Burnside St
