Portland's Best Steak 2008

Businessmen and couples flock to this traditional steak bistro for hefty fare complemented by formal service.

Reviews:

• “Amazing Steak, Good service”
• “Absolutley oppulence!!”
• “Like stepping back in time”
• “It all averages out”
• “Great Service, Good Atmoshpere, o.k. food.”

Tips: Monday-Saturday (9:45pm-close) and Sunday (4pm-6pm), the happy-hour sampler menu offers $2.25 small plates.

RingSide Steakhouse Downtown or email RingSide Steakhouse Downtown

USDA prime beef, elegant tableside service and mammoth martinis.

Reviews:

• “Mediocre food for expensive price”
• “Very romantic place, great for a special occasion”
• “Our favorite steakhouse”
• “Over-Rated and Over- Priced Not Romatic”
• “Decent steak, but questionable service…”

Tips: Rare means rare: If you don’t want a cool, red center, move to medium.

Morton’s – The Steakhouse or email Morton’s – The Steakhouse

Succulent steaks, tableside cooking and a clientele of Portland’s elite make for great dinner theater.

Reviews:

• “service was great but….”
• “Expensive but nice drinks and desserts”
• “Mediocre steaks high prices and slow slow service”
• “Caesar Salad is a MUST”
• “Just Okay.”

Tips: El Gaucho offers three options for private parties: the Vintage Room, a working wine cellar for up to 16 people; the Gold Room for parties of 25 to 40; and the Fireplace Lounge for up to 20.

El Gaucho

Parisian-style bistro offers convenient preshow noshing.

Reviews:

• “Disappointing”
• “Great Burgers – Attitude Needs Adjustment”
• “A Hamburger to die for…”
• “Customer Service Won Out!”
• “Don’t know what others were talking about.”

Tips: Located across from Keller Auditorium, Carafe is packed before shows. Reservations can be booked up to a week in advance. Or plan on eating after the pre-show rush ends at 7:45pm.

Carafe

Sophisticated American chain serves up corn-fed USDA prime cuts and New Orleans-style appetizers and sides.

Reviews:

• “Why when we have the Ringside?”
• “Dont’ waste your money here.”
• “Great anniversary meal”
• “over rated, or maybe just over priced?!”
• “Excellent service!”

Tips: It’s not on the menu, but consider ordering your steak “Oscar style,” which means it’s topped with asparagus, crab cakes and bearnaise sauce.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Traditional steak bistro serves hefty fare complemented by formal service.

Reviews:

• “The guy below me is an idiot”
• “Too expensive for the steak you get”
• “You can’t go wrong…BEST STEAK IN TOWN”
• “great food packed restaurant thou”
• “Great food, but bad customer service!!”

Tips: Happy hour and gift certificates available.

RingSide Steakhouse Glendoveer or email RingSide Steakhouse Glendoveer

Country fun and finger-lickin’ barbequed and grilled meats crowd locals in this fun-filled dining spot.

Reviews:

• “Tough Tasteless Steak”

Bill’s Steak House & Lounge or email Bill’s Steak House & Lounge

A Beaverton magnet that attracts a crowd with dependably good food and a lively bar scene.

Reviews:

• “HORRIBLE management with no idea what customer service is”
• “Disappointing”
• “TERRIBLE SERVICE!!!!!!”
• “Not worth the money!”
• “Fake Upscale”

Tips: Get great deals on drinks and appetizers weekdays, 3pm-6pm and 9pm to close. For $3, you can get items like a glass of chardonnay or buffalo wings.

Hall Street Bar & Grill

Classic Italian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest ingredients for elegant dining in the Hotel Vintage Plaza.

Reviews:

• “We always bring our guests to Pazzo Ristorante”
• “Dreadful beyond belief”
• “Best Italian In the World "
• “Best Caesar I ever had”
• “Wonderfully Delicious Dining Experience”

Tips: Join the monthly last-Saturday wine tasting by calling (503) 228-1515 for reservations.

Pazzo Ristorante

Straightforward steaks and football atmosphere set the stage for this good ol’ boy chophouse in the City Center Marriott.

Reviews:

• “Excellent Service – Excellent Food…”
• ""Get It Done" Steakhouse!!!"
• “Salt & Pepper??”
• “WOW!”
• “Incredible”

Shula’s Steak House or email Shula’s Steak House

This grand dame of downtown hotel dining features fresh Northwest dishes prepared with classic French technique.

Reviews:

• “great brunch”
• “great bouillabaisse matched by great service”
• “Worst Christmas Dinner Ever”
• “Very disappointed”
• “Best Service in Portland”

Tips: The lobby lounge does double-duty as both a jazz lounge and tea court. Catch live jazz Wednesday-Saturday, 7pm-10pm, or book a table for seasonal, reservations-required high tea.

Heathman Restaurant & Bar

Creative Northwest cuisine and comfort food attract diners to this intimate, warm restaurant.

Reviews:

• “Did not live up to the hype – the service was terrible.”
• “Poor Service, Will not go back”
• “Great wine, and service but that’s it”
• “Nice Choice for more “not your everyday” dinner fare"
• “Look elsewhere for a fine dinner experience. "

Tips: For less fuss but no less quality, have a bite in the bar area where the full menu is served and the bartenders make a mean cosmopolitan.

Paley’s Place

Classic recipes and extraordinary ingredients do the Northwest proud.

Reviews:

• “Open Table reservations don’t mean a thing….and the food was nothing to brag about”
• “Great date spot”
• “We would have had a better time at Red Robin. "
• “GREAT Experience”
• “Mixed bag – some good/some bad.”

Tips: The bar’s chalkboard menu, a smart selection of uncomplicated pizzas, shellfish, salads and a $10 burger, is available daily after 2:30pm.

Wildwood Restaurant & Bar

Vintage decor, global cuisine and cocktail recipes from the 1920s add up to date-perfect ambience in north Portland.

Reviews:

• “Cozy and absolutely delicious!”
• “This is a great place!”
• “I DON’T GET IT”
• “Very long wait, too noisy”
• “Great, no-nonsense staff and wonderful food!”

Tips: Authentic 1920s cocktails include the Pegu Club, a sophisticated mix of Bombay Sapphire, Cointreau, fresh lime juice and bitters.

Lovely Hula Hands

Perennially packed diner serves a full menu of breakfast favorites and burgers all hours of the day.

Reviews:

• “Great anytime of the day!”
• “It’s good…”
• “It’s good enough to bring your Grandparents”
• “Best Hotcakes, and all other food atleast above average.”
• “Our Saturday Evening Hangout”

Tips: If you want to skip the inevitable line, call ahead with your order and it’ll be ready when you arrive.

Original Hotcake and Steak House

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