Piazza Italia
1129 NW Johnson St.
503.478.0619
Yes, this restaurant is in the Pearl. That said, it’s not nearly as pricy as you might think. The most expensive item on the dinner menu is $16.50. And it has wild boar in it. Piazza Italia gives you the option of substituting pappardelle (this writer’s favorite) for any pasta on the menu, and personally, that’s a huge deal. Not many Italian places in town even offer it. Like Ristorante Roma, you’ll find the employees and owners speaking amongst themselves in Italian. Thumbs up.
Eleni’s Philoxenia
112 NW 9th Ave.
503.227.2158
Just close enough to the fringe
of the Pearl to still charge modest prices, Eleni’s Philoxenia is probably the best Greek restaurant in Portland you’ve never heard of. That said, Eleni’s is more of a Cretian restaurant than a traditional Greek place, and I believe it to be the only one in town. The space is very elegant, with prices that might have you wondering if you got the dinner menu. You did, and you won’t regret it. Try the Garithes Chanea for a starter and any fresh seasonal dinner item.
Paley’s Place
1204 NW 21st Ave.
503.243.2403
Yeah, it’s in someone’s house, so what. Paley’s Place is another Portland eatery that does the fresh local emphasis and does it extremely well. Chef Vitaly Paley and company utilize Portland’s proximity to the ocean and rivers well, with a lot of water-residing creatures on their menu. From fresh-caught salmon to razor clams and everything is between, Paley’s has it covered. Their wine list is another place Paley knows—it reads like “War and Peace.”
Red Onion
1123 NW 23rd Ave.
503.208.2634
Red Onion serves up a great dish or two, but let’s get down to business. You won’t find a better place for Thai noodle dishes in the city. Not even restaurants which feature names signifying that they’d specialize in noodles can top this place. Their Pad Se Ew was the best I’ve ever had in my life, and it’s generally my Thai barometer. The décor is nice, but it can get a bit loud inside, since the space has such high ceilings. The noodles are so good, though, that you may not even notice.
Andina
1314 NW Glisan St.
503.228.9535
When you’re one of a handful of a certain type of restaurant in town, you’ve ample room to mess around. Thankfully, Andina does no such thing. Combining an eye-catching design with a certain Peruvian flair and classic elegance, Andina just might be the prettiest restaurant to look at—food included. Thankfully, the flavors can match the beauty of the space and food. Easily the best Peruvian food in town by leaps and bounds, Andina is in this writer’s top five in the city.
Ten 01
1001 NW Couch St.
503.226.3463
Having come under fire for the great foie gras debacle, Ten 01 vowed to take it off the menu after hordes of angry megaphone-touting types descended on the place. Why there and not, say, Beast? Well, presumably because so many people were ordering it. Then, after promising to remove it, Ten 01 did not. Why? Because so many diners demanded it back (note: at time of writing, foie gras is not on the menu). Yeah, it’s that kind of place, the upstairs anyway. The downstairs serves delicious “high-end” bar food. Try the downstairs if you can’t afford the posh upstairs.
Marrakesh
1201 NW 21st Ave.
503.248.9442
Your options: a five-course meal, a five-course meal for four or more, and a whole sheep roasted over a fire for eight or more only. Marrakesh is likely Portland’s most unique dining experience. You have to eat with your hands after washing them in rosewater, and you have to share the food with strangers after that. Sitting on the floor and watching belly dancers shimmy about are other highlights. One of the only Moroccan places in town, Marrakesh is easily the best one. Reservations are highly recommended. If you don’t make one, you’ll be outside all night.