Portland's Most Iconic Restaurants

Seasons change, trends come and go, but these restaurants have withstood the test of time—and have become integral parts of the Portland dining scene. Here are Portland’s OpenTable Classics: the places that continue to excel after 10+ years. There’s a reason they’re still around: they keep giving us a reason to come back.

The OpenTable team

7 Restaurants

Updated February 19, 2020

Restaurants:	Jake's Famous Crawfish, Il Solito, clarklewis…
Price Range:	$$ - $$$
Cuisines:	Seafood, Italian, Northwest…
Neighborhoods:	Downtown, Southeast Portland…

Jake's Famous Crawfish

$$$$

Seafood

Downtown

4.6

6392 reviews

Jake’s Crawfish is definitely famous. They’ve been around since 1892 as part of the McCormick & Schmicks family of restaurants (along with Jake’s Grill, also on this list), and Zagat considers them one of the most iconic restaurants in America. They take freshness seriously—from the hand-squeezed juices used in their cocktails to the Pacific Northwest seafood they’re constantly overnighting—so don’t question the quality here, go wild. The restaurant has a very old school feel, with neon lights aglow on their exterior sign, and it’s wonderful to come enjoy an American classic that’s still going strong.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Il Solito

$$$$

Italian

Downtown

4.2

1356 reviews

Their name means “the usual,” and they’re referencing those comforting dishes that you always go for when you need a food hug. The chef wanted his menu to be full of options that feel “soul-touching” and nostalgic; mission accomplished. You won’t see anything on the menu that seems new, but each classic dish has been given an expert upgrade. Their fried mozzarella sticks are made with fresh hand-pulled cheese, the grilled halibut has a piccata sauce made with scallops, and their saffron tagliolini alla carbonara has (the typical bacon nod, but also) a highly unexpected inclusion of sea urchin.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

clarklewis

$$$$

Northwest

Southeast Portland

4.4

2388 reviews

When you first walk into this expansive Italian-American eatery, you’ll see a neat stockpile of wood near the entrance and an entire wall of the restaurant covered in glass-paned garage doors that stretch the length of the industrial-looking space. The wood is used for their oak-burning rotisserie grill, which is at the heart of their open kitchen and fills the restaurant with the unmistakable smell of wood smoke. With an allegiance to all things local, fresh, seasonal, and organic, the chef alters menu items daily. There are two things you can count on, though, their meat dishes are all pretty strong, and (droves of devoted fans refuse to order anything other than) their tagliatelle with lamb ragu, which has become an unshakable staple on the menu.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Serratto

$$$$

Italian

Pearl District

4.7

2186 reviews

If you like European food, but can’t choose a favorite, the answer for you lies in Serratto’s seasonal menu that mixes together Italian, French, and Mediterranean flavors. Their inviting dining room resembles an earthy mountain home, with high ceilings, tons of wood, and natural light flooding in. They’ve created beautiful dishes from each of their cuisine influences. Start out Mediterranean and get their calamari (with paprika and a lemon-caper aioli), it’s well-crisped and refreshing. Their rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage is also a standout, and if they’re pairing any kind of meat sugo or ragu with one of their homemade pastas, get that. We also have to mention their French bouillabaisse (made with the season’s freshest seafood), which is rarely seen on a restaurant menu nor prepared this well.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Masu Sushi

$$$$

Sushi

Downtown

4.8

1046 reviews

For over a decade, this swanky Japanese restaurant has been rolling out some of the freshest, most beloved sushi in Portland. With honey lighting, lots of wood, and slightly retro-feeling chairs, there’s a charming and funky feel to their space. And though they do make other things (their miso soup is a real favorite), sushi is really the name of the game here. They have a large selection of house specialty rolls, an equally long list of more traditional rolls (including vegetarian options), selections of both nigiri and sashimi, and quite a few chef’s plates (including a salmon flight, sushi sampler, and even an omakase option).

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Gracie's

$$$$

Northwest

Southwest Portland

4.5

2022 reviews

With glitzy chandeliers, ornate crown molding, and deep purple banquettes, Gracie’s is glam and guests have loved it that way for a long time. This classy spot is in a category of its own for several reasons: not only are they an unusually opulent place for Portland, but they’re actually one of the city’s oldest continually operating restaurants, and they do a great brunch and a British-style afternoon tea that are both more popular than their dinner service (which they also do well). For their very ladylike and traditionally English Afternoon Tea—with petit fours, scones, and tea sandwiches— they’ve added a Portland twist by incorporating some (not so traditional) tea-inspired cocktails, so grab some girlfriends and be Gracie’s guests.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Jake's Grill - Portland

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown

4.7

2759 reviews

American food can often seem like a melding of different cultural influences, but dining in a classic grill feels like a real cornerstone of Americana, and that’s what Jake’s is celebrating. Much like their famed sister restaurant, Jake’s Famous Crawfish (located just blocks away), they have a wonderful old-timey feel that’ll transport you. Oregon’s dungeness crab will remind you of exactly where you are, and can be spotted all over their sizable menu. It shows up in delicious dishes like their crab & bay shrimp cake, crab & lobster dip, and even stuffed inside a salmon entré (along with bay shrimp, brie cheese, and garlic mashed potatoes) that you must order. They also have a great prime rib and filet, but seafood steals the show here.

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

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OpenTable Classics: Iconic Restaurants on OpenTable