Between the incredible bounty and talented chefs, it should come as no surprise that Oregon is brimming with great cuisine. From coastal restaurants to rural locales, visitors in the ‘Beaver State’ will have plenty of options from European to Indian to American cuisine and much more. Here is a list of some of the culinary highlights found in Oregon.
Ariana Restaurant is a charming restaurant located in Bend. Tucked inside a lovely Craftsman bungalow, this establishment offers classic European dishes with a modern twist. Sourcing top quality ingredients from local and regional purveyors, the culinary team, Chefs Andres and Ariana Fernandez create exquisite dishes to showcase fresh, seasonal products. Open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, discerning diners might find entrées such as wild jumbo diver scallops seared and served over Dungeness crab, or herb carnaroli risotto and duck with roasted butternut squash with rose harissa plus crisp Brussels sprouts.
Looks like it's closedHours or services may be impacted due to Covid-19
Outdoor dining at C Street Bistro | Courtesy of C Street Bistro
Established by Chef Troy MacLarty, Bollywood Theater is a casual establishment featuring flavorful Indian cuisine or more specifically, Mumbai street food. Seeking to create a space where guests can not only enjoy a culinary experience but a cultural one as well, the team put together a lively, colorful interior, complete with an eclectic array of found objects and old Bollywood films projected on the wall. The vada pav, which is a spicy potato dumpling dipped in chickpea batter and fried served on a roll with chutneys, and roasted winter squash accompanied by yogurt, red chili and pomegranate seeds are a couple of the enticing items found on the menu.
Located in the Southern Oregon community of Jacksonville, C Street Bistro is a quaint restaurant nestled inside a cottage serving gourmet cuisine inspired by the bounty of the area. Procuring the freshest ingredients from local sources, owner Chef Paul Becking creates seasonal menus that will satisfy any craving. Open for dinner Thursday through Saturday, must-try entrées include the herb smoked organic half chicken served with roasted root vegetables, caramelized fennel, garlic jus and truffle oil and the forest mushroom risotto, with garlic, fine herbs and parmesan. They also have dinner specials and serve brunch and lunch Tuesday through Saturday.
Located in Sisters, a small town in Central Oregon, Jen’s Garden is a lovely fine-dining establishment specializing in southern French-inspired cuisine. Owned and operated by husband-wife duo TR and Jen McCrystal, the charming cottage in which it’s located provides a intimate space perfect for savoring incredible fare made with the freshest ingredients available. Some of the delectable dishes found on the menu include the grilled duck breast with Italian sausage bread pudding and the beer-battered true cod served with spaghetti squash, crispy prosciutto, butternut squash purée and house tartar sauce. Luscious desserts, such as the Meyer lemon custard, plus European and domestic wine and beer are also available.
Located in Portland, Le Pigeon serves French-inspired cuisine with a creative twist. Providing a cozy, relaxing dining space with communal wooden tables, the interior also features an open kitchen — viewed best from the chef’ s table. With an emphasis on the best local and organic ingredients, the culinary team, helmed by owner Chef Gabriel Rucker, changes the menu frequently in order to showcase seasonal products. Some of the delicious options diners might find include pigeon served with brown rice, hazelnut, green apple and pork heart, and the rigatoni giganti with lemon pistachio ricotta, glazed chestnut, maitake and saba. In addition to the à la carte menu, this restaurant also offers a dessert menu plus a five or seven-course chef’s tasting menu with optional wine or non-alcoholic beverages.
The Painted Lady is an intimate restaurant serving diners ‘refined modern American’ cuisine within a renovated, elegant Victorian home in Newberg. Owned and operated by Chef Allen Routt and his wife, Jessica Bagley-Routt, this award-winning establishment — a recipient of the AAA Four Diamond Award since 2011 — offers guests not only delicious fare made with local, seasonal products but also excellent service, making it a culinary experience not to be missed. With a choice of a tasting or a five-course menu, current dishes to note include the slow roasted salmon with black garlic and lentil purée, salsify and red wine butter sauce, and the Oregon mushroom and spinach crêpe with wild rice and lentil salad plus butternut squash sauce. Local and international wines are also available.
Owned and operated by the acclaimed chef, Justin Wills and his wife, Stormee, Restaurant Beck — named after their son — is a fine-dining establishment featuring New American cuisine. Tucked inside the luxury boutique hotel Whale Cove Inn in Depoe Bay, the culinary team procures a majority of the ingredients, many of which are purchased from local purveyors. Serving dinner Tuesday through Sunday, the menu changes every day. In addition to the innovative cuisine, diners can also enjoy incredible oceanic views from the chic interior.
Located in Albany and open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, Sybaris Bistro features an eclectic menu with Northwest fare that is sure to please a wide range of tastes from carnivorous eaters to vegetarians. Established in 2001, the culinary team emphasizes the bounty of Oregon by seeking out the best seasonal ingredients from the area. Nestled inside a historical building, complete with exposed brick walls, diners can experience a new menu each month, which may include entrées such as the vegetarian mushroom-barley cutlet with mushroom gravy and shiitake ‘bacon’, or the grilled house-made rabbit sausage with rabbit-mascarpone tortellini and rosemary-grain mustard jus. To complement the meals, a wine list with a focus on Northwestern varieties is available as well.
Specializing in Southern cuisine with Pacific Northwest flair, Screen Door is a comfortable and spacious Portland restaurant serving dinner daily plus a very popular weekend brunch. Owned by David and Nicole Mouton, this restaurant focuses on creating flavorful dishes with locally sourced ingredients, which often includes organic foods. Delectable choices from the brunch menu include the fried chicken and waffles — a house specialty item popular with the brunch crowd — and buttermilk drop biscuits with vegetarian mushroom gravy plus two eggs. As for dinner options, the lowcountry shrimp and grits sautéed with bacon, garlic, tomato and white wine is one tasty entrée. With creative cuisine plus a friendly atmosphere, Screen Door is a must-try when visiting Portland.
Looks like it's closedHours or services may be impacted due to Covid-19
Walker’s Farm Kitchen is a farm-to-table establishment located in Hermiston, a small city in the northeastern part of Oregon. Serving lunch Tuesday through Saturday plus dinner Thursday through Saturday, the culinary team creates upscale New American dishes inspired by the ingredients from local and regional areas. Within a relaxing, casual environment, guests can sample seasonal items. Past highlights include the lamb bolognese served over fresh pappardelle, and the sirloin strip topped with gorgonzola cream sauce and wild mushroom ragu. Pacific Northwest wine and craft beer are available as well. Dinner reservations are recommended.
