6 Best Restaurants in Portland, Oregon

A laid-back North Mississippi gastropub with an L-shaped indoor bar and a bi-level back patio with lush landscaping and a shaded pergola, Interurban is both a convivial drinkery and a fine spot for affordable, well-crafted American fare served from late afternoon until 2 am. The kitchen creates consistently good and creative food, such as risotto with seasonal vegetables and smoked-trout BLT sandwiches, and there's an extensive selection of cocktails and microbrews.

The flagship restaurant of one of the country's leading sources of artisanal charcuterie, such as smoked chorizo, pepper-coated capicola, and pork-pistachio pâté, Olympia Provisions serves gorgeous platters of meats and cheeses along with more eclectic seasonal Mediterranean-influenced fare like eggplant à la plancha with pine nuts and lemon vinaigrette, and pan-roasted black cod with stewed chickpeas. The setting is a smartly designed warehouse space and features a glowing "Meat" sign which quite simply says it all. There's also a pub and a Spanish-inspired tavern, Bar Casa Vale, which are both also in Southeast.

This welcoming employee-owned restaurant focused on locally and seasonally sourced ingredients bills itself an "all-day café" and encourages guests to linger. Start the morning with a frittata sandwich and a latte, or drop by later in the day for a wood-fired wild mushroom pizza or a bowl of clams steamed in fennel broth, and maybe a glass of wine.

"Welcome to your friendly neighborhood beneficial bacteria emporium" is the playful greeting slogan of this locavore-minded, vegan, kombucha taproom specializing in all things fermented, from smoked-beet Reuben sandwiches with cashew-chive cheese and ruby kraut to grilled vegetables with mojo verde and fermented jalapeños. Homemade kombucha and pear-apple water kefirs are among the beverage offerings, and there's also a good variety of beers, ciders, and natural wines.

This chatter-filled breakfast and lunch spot on the edge of the Central East Side is a delightful spot for kicking off your day, with or without a splash of Campari in your glass (there's a fine selection of coffees and teas, too). The breakfast-brunch fare is superb, with chicken-and-waffles topped with hot-chili honey and Honduran baleadas (homemade flour tortillas rolled around refried beans, scrambled eggs, queso, avocado, and crema) leading the charge.

A long, narrow storefront space on the lively North Mississippi strip, this convivial restaurant with exposed-brick walls, a long bar, and high timber ceilings is appreciated as a drinking hole and source of reasonably priced, well-crafted modern American fare. Sip an inventive cocktail and order a few of the shareable small plates, such as smoked-bluefish pâté or summer squash sweet corn risotto.