Coming to Portland and eating at chain restaurants is a crime. This area is heaven for foodies, with scores of talented chefs creating dishes with attention to local ingredients and seasonal whims. Portland regional cooking simply celebrates some of the best of the American table. And southwest Portland in the downtown area has some of the best examples.
Mother's Bistro & Bar
Mentioned as one of "America's Top Restaurant Bargains" by Food and Wine Magazine and noted in nearly 20 local and national magazines, including Bon Appétit, Mother's Bistro & Bar remains the go-to restaurant for locals looking for exquisitely prepared comfort food. Owned and operated by Chef Lisa Schroeder, Mother's serves dishes brimming with fresh ingredients, including made-from-scratch macaroni and cheese, pot roast, chicken and dumplings and meatloaf, as well as not-so-common fare such as matzo ball soup and chopped liver. Save room for dessert standards like coconut cream pie, devil's food cake and crème brulee. Choice beverages include loose-leaf teas, French press coffees, fountain root beer floats, and an extensive wine and microbrew list. The Velvet Bar, adjacent to the main dining room, serves cocktails with bar menu choices.
A popular feature of this restaurant is the rotating "Mother of the Month" menu, featuring menus from mothers around the world, culled from Chef Schroeder's extensive travels. Recent menus have included featured mothers from Sicily, Morocco, Slovakia and Cuba. This restaurant fills fast, particularly for the weekend breakfast rush, so reservations are highly recommended. Mother's is open for breakfast and lunch until 2:30 p.m. and again for dinner at 5:30 p.m. (5:00 on Friday and Saturday). The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
Mother's Bistro & Bar
212 SW Stark St.
Portland, OR 97204
503-464-1122
mothersbistro.com
Kenny and Zuke's Delicatessen
A relative newcomer, Kenny and Zuke's opened in 2007 and has quickly garnered praise and a devoted local following. Gourmet magazine named it one of the "Top Ten Deli's in America." All of the meats and fish are house cured, smoked and hand-sliced to order. The menu has deli staples like pastrami, corned beef, chopped liver and beef tongue with sides of latkes, blintzes, noodle kugel, house-made boiled bagels and lox, and a sampler plate of house-smoked pickles. Common fare includes helpings of macaroni and cheese, applesauce, pot roast and meatloaf sandwiches.
The fountain serves up chocolate ice cream soda, egg creams and floats. This deli also supplies an extensive beer list for happy hour service, along with a menu of sliders, burgers, hot dogs and pastrami cheese fries. Prices aren't cheap, but the servings are heaping and a half of one of these sandwiches will carry even the heartiest eater. Check out the lunch specials for bargains. Kenny and Zuke's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Kenny and Zuke's Delicatessen
1038 SW Stark St.
Portland, OR 97205
503-222-3354
kennyandzukes.com
Veritable Quandary
A Portland mainstay since 1971, Veritable Quandary serves elegant meals in a waterfront restaurant overlooking the Willamette River. Open seven days a week, VQ changes its menu often to take advantage of seasonal offerings, but standards include blackened catfish, pancetta-wrapped quail, pan-fried razor clams and wild sturgeon. Saturday evenings may bring a chef's tasting menu with an optional wine pairing from the 200-bottle wine list. Appetizers include duck comfit spring rolls, steak skewers and a warm chevre served with local apples, pears and hazelnuts. VQ is a popular brunch spot, and the Sunday menu includes vegetarian biscuits and gravy, chorizo hash and eggs and a brioche French toast.
The glass-walled dining room provides excellent views and a plenty of light, and in warmer weather diners can sit on the flower-lined patio. Veritable Quandary is open for lunch and dinner daily, with Sunday brunch served on the weekends. The lounge serves from a bar menu until midnight.
Veritable Quandary
1220 SW 1st Ave.
Portland, OR 97204
503-227-7342
veritablequandry.com
Tags: Kenny Zuke, Veritable Quandary, Mother Bistro, breakfast lunch, chopped liver, days week, dining room