OREGON BEER
OK, let’s just address beer directly.
Unfortunately, you missed Oregon Craft Beer Month, which was in July, and the Holiday Ale Festival is still to come.
OREGON BEER
OK, let’s just address beer directly.
Unfortunately, you missed Oregon Craft Beer Month, which was in July, and the Holiday Ale Festival is still to come.
But, really, there are just too many good microbrewery and craft beers and ales to count. It exhausts us to think about it. Go to any of the fine pubs and restaurants listed here and buy a pint. See what you think. Or, if you are into careful research, consult these experts:
- Portland Beer pub crawls
- Oregon Brewer’s Guild
- Beervana
WEST SIDE
The conference hotel is downtown — so it’s easy to get from there to any place downtown, Old Town, the Pearl District and the Northwest shopping district. Very walkable and rideable via public transportation.
Voodoo Doughnut
(Old Town) Always a line here. EVERYONE has heard of this place. Donuts in all flavors, including some very strange ones. It’s right across the Burnside Bridge. One mile from the Oregon Convention Center. 22 SW 3rd Avenue
Alexis
(Old Town) Sierra has been going to this "Parthenon of Greek Food" since she was a gleam in her mother’s eyes. Warning: It looks shady from the outside. Do not be alarmed. Very close to the Burnside Bridge. 215 W. Burnside 503.224.8577
Dan and Louis Oyster Bar
(Old Town) Sierra’s dad says you have to include this Portland Treasure just because you can’t NOT include it. Oldest family restaurant in town. A mile from the convention center near Burnside. 208 SW Ankeny Street, 503.227.5906
Mother’s Bistro and Bar
(Downtown) Give it up for MOM! Great scratch cooks of elegant "Mom" food and stiff drinks in the bar. Reservations suggested for weekend brunch and dinner. 212 SW Stark Street 503.464.1122
Ringside
(Downtown) Just in case you have to stop having funky fun and impress an older business colleague or make a deal while eating extremely well: Tuxedoed waiters. Great steaks. Multiple prizewinner. 2165 W. Burnside, reservations: 503.223.1513
Andina
(Pearl District) Spend some money and get Peruvian food in Portland. In the pricey but cool Pearl District, west of Old town. One of our roving reporters tried them just last week – you’ve had tomatoes, corn and peppers, but never like this, she said. Also, the marinated fish (cebiche) is wonderful. 1314 NW Glisan, 503.228.9535. Open every day.1-1/2 miles from the convention center
Henry’s Tavern
(Pearl District) More than 100 beers and hard ciders on tap, most of them from local breweries. Hearty tavern food. 10 NW 12th Avenue 503.227.5320 (MAX/streetcar)
¡OBA!
(Pearl District) Have drinks at this upscale nuevo Latino restaurant — or go ahead and join the crowds for dinner. Amenable to special dietary needs. 555 NW 12th Ave., 503.228.6161
EAST SIDE
NEAR THE CONVENTION CENTER
Burgers….. Portland has many fine burger establishments. However, right across the street from the Oregon Convention center is our favorite homegrown burger chain: BURGERVILLE. Only in Oregon can you find real cheap fast food with Tillamook Cheese, Oregon Country Beef, Walla Walla sweet onions, Kobos Fair Trade Coffee, free range chickens AND ice cream specialties with Oregon seasonal fruit plus even some healthy, gettin’-a-little-hoity-toity choices. Can’t go wrong.
Coffee Shop. . . Goldrush Coffee Bar
Walking distance from OCC. Reeking of Auld Portland. Place to sit down with your laptop or your iPad or your Droid or whatever when you would like to do a bit of work away from the booth. Enthusiastically free wifi. The usual coffees, teas, smoothies, sandwiches and pastries plus breakfast at this rather beloved spot. 2601 NE Martin Luther King Boulevard. 503.460.6657. (They don’t have a web site, but they do have plenty of rave reviews at Yelp, Urban Spoon et al)
Portland chefs, including Eastside chefs at Beast (Alberta District), Nostrana (Buckman Neighborhood) Pok Pok (Richmond Neighborhood), keep dominating Best Chef Northwest, a James Beard Foundation competition. You want to experience what the media is talking about when they rave about Portland’s cutting edge culinary scene? Well. . . voila.
Doug Fir Lounge
(Burnside East District): Get late night food or breakfast at this famous bar/diner/music venue/hotel metroplex. Retro log cabin-themed diner. Popular happy hour with great food (arrive early if you want a seat) 830 East Burnside Street, 503.231.9663 (short cab ride from OCC)
Nicholas Restaurant
(Buckman Neighborhood) One of the most popular Middle Eastern/Lebanese eateries in town. Inexpensive. Small space, so get there early during lunch and dinner, or be prepared for a bit of a wait. 3/4 of a mile directly south of the Convention Center. 318 SE Grand Ave, 503.235.5123 (a walk or an absurdedly short cab ride)
Old Wives Tales
(East Burnside) Perhaps you brought children to ION. Here is where you should take them. This 20-year-old, grown-up hippie Portland institution is heaven for kids and their parents. Got a diet restriction? No problem. Kids need an outlet? Play space! Fresh, home made food, friendly staff and a mellow atmosphere. Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. (And, if you don’t have kids, there’s a dining room for grownups.) 1300 East Burnside 503.238.0470 (one mile southeast of the OCC)
Screen Door
(East Burnside) Southern cooking — Carolina low country, Creole, Cajun, Soul food — the whole nine yards – with the Northwest thing about freshness. 2337 East Burnside, 503.542.0880
Mash-Tun Brew Pub
(Alberta District) Avid home brewer and restaurateur founded this neighborhood gathering place and people are still crowding in. Burgers and beer. 2204 NE Alberta Street 503.548.4491 Cab ride.
Tin Shed Garden Cafe
In the Alberta (Alberta District) Outdoor/indoor seating, vegan options, kid’s menu, cocktails. Brunch classics, tacos, burgers with a twist. A good happy hour menu. 1438 N. Alberta, 503.288.6966
EaT: An Oyster Bar
(Mississippi District) Down home oysters, drinks, New Orleans style food. 3803 N Williams 503.281.1222
Por Que No? Taqueria
(Mississippi District) Handmade tortillas, sangria, Mexican brunch on weekends. So worth it, Sierra says, but it’s a teeny little place — not for large groups to hang out in. 3524 N Mississippi Ave., 503.467.4149
Pambiche
(North East) Great Cuban and Caribbean food, opens late on weekends. Trendy and crowded, Cuban music. 2811 NE Glisan, 503.233.0511
Thai Pod
(Sullivan’s Gulch) Lots of Thai restaurants in Portland — this one is a standout for freshness, atmosphere and selection. 2015 NE Broadway St 503.493.1122 (1-1/2 miles northeast of OCC)
