5 Restaurants We’re Excited to See on the List for Portland Dining Month 2020
*pic courtesy of Travel Portland
It's here, it's here—it's finally here! March is upon us, and with it comes our favorite "holiday" here at Forktown Food Tours–Portland Dining Month! If you're anything like us, and we know you are—you keep a list of all the restaurants in Portland you're dying to try. Enter Portland Dining Month to make your bucket list a reality! Since 2009, Portland's finest chefs have been serving up four delicious weeks of dining deals. More than 130 of the best restaurants in Portland will offer specially-crafted 3-course meals for the delectable price of $33! Amazing, isn't it? But it gets better. This year, we're especially excited to see FIVE of our regular partners here at Forktown Food Tours highlighting their craft this month. Check out 5 of our favorite restaurants that should be at the top of your list during Portland Dining Month!
1. Ecliptic Brewing
*pic courtesy of Ecliptic Brewing*
Ecliptic Brewing is an Oregon craft brewing icon, and owner and head brewer John Harris has been a ficture in the Oregon brew scene for over thirty years. They rotate their scratch-made menu every six weeks, always highlighting seasonal and local ingredients. Their brewhouse showcases several beer releases each year, ranging from modern and experimental brews to long-standing favorites. We visit Ecliptic on our weekend at Mississippi Ave. Tour, starting every Sunday at 1 p.m. For the Portland Dining Month, Ecliptic Brewing is serving up the best dishes on their unique menu at its' Mississippi location. Get a sneek peek below!
Visit Ecliptic Brewing at:
825 N Cook St, Portland, OR 97227
Menu:
First course (choose one):
Deviled eggs with boquerones
--or--
Broiled oysters with bacon and bay shrimp béchamel
--or--
Beets with pumpkin seeds and pecorino (vegetarian) (gluten-free) (vegan upon request)
Second course (choose one):
Ecliptic burger with pancetta, red onion, cave-aged gruyère, arugula and Russian dressing on a potato bun and served with fries
--or--
Beet melt sandwich with roasted beets, goat cheddar, Granny Smith apples, pickled onions and grain mustard on sourdough and served with fries (vegetarian)
--or--
Vegan classic burger with black bean-bulgur-walnut patty, tofu mayo, lettuce, onions and pickle on ciabatta and served with fries (vegetarian) (vegan)
--or--
Steamed mussels with tomato, helles lager, garlic, bonito, and grilled sourdough
--or--
Pan-roasted chicken with rice noodles, maitake mushrooms, hot and sour egg drop, chilies and almonds (gluten-free)
Third course (choose one):
Tiramisu (vegetarian)
--or--
Seasonal sorbet (gluten-free) (vegan)
Additional:
Meal includes one pint of beer and $10 gift card (redeemable upon future visits and not redeemable with any other promotions).
2. Nel Centro
*picture courtesy of Nel Centro
Located in the center of Portland's Art District, Nel Centro resides in Hotel Zags. Their food has its’ roots in the French and Italian Riviera. Vines, olive and chestnut trees, and small kitchen gardens dot the countryside of both regions. An unusual degree of culinary inventiveness forms the basis for a resourceful, peasant cuisine. Fresh herbs, vegetables, and seafood are central to this food. You can visit Nel Centro on our Downtown Tour, available every day starting at 2 pm. For the Portland Dining Month Nel Centro crafted a savory array of their menu classics. All of these choices have the Forktown stamp of approval!
Visit Nel Centro At:
1408 SW 6th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Reserve your meal at Nel Centro through this link and part of your contribution will go to support the Oregon Food Bank! Click here!
MENU
First course (choose one):
Puree of potato and spring garlic soup
--or--
Mesclun greens with croutons and fresh herbs (vegetarian) (gluten-free) (vegan)
Second course (choose one):
Artichoke and ricotta cappellacci in lemon cream
--or--
Rotisserie chicken with heirloom potatoes, braised kale and pancetta vinaigrette (gluten-free)
Third course (choose one):
Ginger panna cotta with green apple gelee and molasses cookies
--or--
Housemade ice cream or sorbet (vegetarian) (gluten-free) (vegan)
3. Olympia Provisions
"Picture courtesy of Olympian Provisions"
Oregon’s first USDA-approved salumeria, deeply rooted in the past. The European-inspired restaurant Olympia Provisions was established in 2009. Elias Cairo, grew up first generation Greek-American with a father who made charcuterie at home. Doing things the old-fashioned way was commonplace. Elias later journeyed to Europe to apprentice in the kitchens of masters. It was there that he rediscovered the art of curing meat and found inspiration in the markets and mountain towns of the old world. Everything they make is handcrafted naturally with the ultimate goal of quality. In order to achieve a finished product that tastes as good as it possibly can.
For Portland Dining Month, Olympia Provisions will be hosting special menus at three of its locations. We visit Olympia Provisions Public House on our Division St. Tour, coming back this June and running every Thursday at 2 p.m.
Visit Olympia Provisions - Northwest at:
1632 NW Thurman St, Portland, OR 97209
Reserve your meal at Olympia Provisions Southeast through this link and part of your contribution will go to support the Oregon Food Bank! Click here!
MENU
First course (choose one):
Late winter lettuces with pickled raisins and grain mustard vinaigrette (vegetarian)
--or--
Creamy sauerkraut and potato soup with croutons and dill-caraway oil (vegetarian)
Second course (choose one):
Grilled sausages with tarbais beans, rapini and salami broth
--or--
Smoked Sauvie Island trout risotto with red onion, caper and fromage blanc
--or--
Tafelspitz with braised beef rump, roasted roots, bone marrow and horseradish-applesauce
--or--
Risotto with red onion, caper and fromage blanc (vegetarian)
Third course (choose one):
S’mores pudding with chocolate mousse, burnt marshmallow cream and graham crust
--or--
Pacific Beach pie with lemon, saltines and whipped cream
Additional:
Optional charcuterie flight $5
Sommelier’s wine pairings $22
Visit Olympia Provisions - Southeast at:
107 SE Washington St, Portland, OR 97214
Reserve your meal at Olympia Provisions Southeast through this link and part of your contribution will go to support the Oregon Food Bank! Click here!
MENU
First course (choose one):
Marinated corona beans with herbs, white anchovy and green olive (vegetarian)
--or--
Catalogna chicories with radicchio, Portland Creamery chèvre and walnut vinaigrette (gluten-free)
Second course (choose one):
Pan-roasted chicken thigh with swiss chard and sunchoke cream (gluten-free)
--or--
Lingcod with fried potatoes, leeks, chorizo and aioli
--or--
Spaetzle gratin with spring mushroom, aged white cheddar and bread crumb (vegetarian)
Third course (choose one):
S’mores pudding with chocolate mousse, burnt marshmallow cream and graham crust (vegetarian and gluten-free options available)
--or--
Pacific Beach pie with lemon, saltines and whipped cream (vegetarian and gluten-free options available)
Additional:
Add charcuterie course for $5
Add wine pairing for $22
Visit Olympia Provisions Public House at:
Division/Clinton
3384 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
MENU
First course:
Fitness salat with radish, carrot, beet and winter lettuce
Second course:
Fondue Neuchatel with emmental and gruyère in white wine sauce, kielbasa and accompaniments
Third course:
Bavarian cream with red currant glaze and black pepper shortbread crumble
4. Q Restaurant and Bar
*pic courtesy of Q Restaurant & Bar
Q Restaurant & Bar is a chef-driven restaurant in the heart of downtown Portland. They specialize in hyper-seasonal food produced locally. Their menu inspiration pulls from their staff’s diverse background, which allows them to have an ever-changing and unique menu selection. They maintain a relationship with local purveyors, producers, and growers, which is reflected not only in their dishes, but also in their craft cocktails, wine, and beer selections. We visit Q on your Downtown Tour, running daily Monday-Saturday at 2 p.m. For Portland Dining Month Q staff is crafting a menu that lives up to their reputation with the freshest and most seasonal ingredients. This menu has us fantasizing about cozy nights in the Tuscan countryside.
Visit Q Restaurant & Bar At:
828 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204
MENU
First course:
Tuscan roasted garlic soup with pecorino and sage
Second course:
Crispy duck confit with winter greens, dried cherry salad, candied walnuts, peppered chèvre, port wine vinaigrette, and brioche
Third course:
Tiramisu with chocolate pistachio biscotti crumbs
5. Southpark Seafood
*Picture courtesy of Southpark Seafood
Located in the heart of downtown Portland, Southpark Seafood is a contemporary Northwest seafood restaurant proudly home to the city's largest selection of oysters. The restaurant is a proud partner of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood program and PDX Seafood. All of the seafood they sell is fished or farmed in ways that minimize their environmental impact. This is one of the many reasons we choose to partner with them on our Downtown Tours and have done so for many years.
Visit Southpark Seafood at:
901 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205
Reserve your meal at Olympia Provisions Southeast through this link and part of your contribution will go to support the Oregon Food Bank! Click here!
MENU
First course (choose one):
Mixed greens salad with spring vegetables, hazelnuts, olive oil and Katz’s sauvignon blanc vinegar (vegetarian) (vegan) (gluten-free)
--or--
Beet salad with fennel, blue cheese, pistachio brittle, arugula and Katz’s zinfandel vinegar (vegetarian) (vegan) (gluten-free)
--or--
Brussels sprouts with gochujang, cilantro, and peanuts (vegetarian)
--or--
Clam chowder with braised bacon and gnocchi (gluten-free option available)
Second course (choose one):
Steelhead with chorizo, hominy stew, lacinato kale and lime zest (gluten-free)
--or--
Spicy shrimp and grits with árbol cream and garlic (gluten-free)
--or--
Beet and goat cheese ravioli with orange, black pepper, arugula and walnuts (vegetarian)
--or--
Painted Hills Flat Iron with Calabrian chili, hazelnuts, broccoli and red onion (gluten-free)
--or--
Hominy stew with lacinato kale and lime zest (vegan)
Third course (choose one):
Lemon cheesecake with lemon curd, blueberry sorbet, ginger oat crumble and almond Florentine
--or--
Cookie plate with assorted homemade cookies
--or--
Chocolate flourless cake with brownies, caramel, cocoa nib cookies, hazelnut gelato, and hazelnut brittle (gluten-free)
--or--
Two scoops sorbet (vegan) (gluten-free)
When Portland Dining Month rolls around, it's hard to decide whom to prioritize. We love these food creators for their ingenuity, consistency and true dedication to the Portland food community. That's why we bring out guests there on a daily basis, and that's why you'll be sure to find us in the seat next to you, tucking in our napkins when dinner time rolls around!
If you want to check out one of our tours, where we take guests to the best restaurants, food carts and artisans in Portland, head to our website to learn more today!
Portland Dining Month and the Oregon Food Bank
Travel Portland has been donating a portion of the proceeds from Portland Dining Month to the Oregon Food Bank for the last 9 years, “Since 2011, Portland Dining Month has raised $29,263.20 for Oregon Food Bank, or roughly the equivalent of 87,790 meals,” Oregon Food Bank Corporate and Community Relations Officer Yan Medice reported in February 2020.
Every time you make a reservation through Travel Portland's Open Table links (linked above where available), they'll donate to Oregon Food Bank. The Oregon Food Bank is a nonprofit organization committed to helping eliminate hunger and its causes by bringing the community together to provide better food, education, and hope to people in need. So you're not only enjoying the mouthwatering experience, but you'll also make a huge and positive difference in the community.
Forktown Food Tours is Portland’s oldest operating culinary tour company. We’ve been helping you cut the line at PDX’s top restaurants, food carts and artisanal food shops since 2009! Daily tours led by local guides sharing Portland’s unique history and stellar food scene. Learn more about Forktown Food Tours here.