Later, the restaurant moved to a posher setting on Northwest Vaughn, where it remained until 2002. The original U-Betcha has been home to Muu-Muu's for almost 20 years now. By 1998, Northwest Hoyt Street in the Pearl District was cementing its place as a dining hot-spot, and after a rough opening, this homey Italian restaurant became of its most-dependable players. There's panic a-brewing at the Carrousel Restaurant (formerly the Carnival) located at the foot of Oregon Health & Science University.Loyal . Disco dancing and backgammon?! JK Gill's. The restaurant menu is hyper-seasonal and . Weekend brunches focused on skillet scrambles featuring things like homemade veal sausage. The design budget was enormous, and promising chef Josh Blythe hoped to put Northwest twists on Louisiana standards. Remember the old feel of PDX years ago - share a memory. JK Gill's. But heavy debt sunk the restaurant's fortunes. For five years, young chef and restaurateur William Henry ran this cozy Buckman neighborhood caf, where the quiet and relaxed dining room was dominated by the 1886 Russian painting Maritza. Henrys cooking melded French and American technique, and his cassoulet was so rich it made diners swoon. But these long-gone restaurants live on in our memories. For decades, this Chinatown restaurant on the corner of Northwest Couch Street and Third Avenue was known for strong drinks and traditional Chinese fare. Dishes included a hearty beef short rib goulash, and sauerkraut-covered sausages. Genoa was known for seven-course menus, served in a dark setting that evoked a Florentine palace, and the meals could last an entire evening. Address: 1403 NE Weidler St, Portland, OR 97232, United States. Zefiro was The Oregonian's 1991 Restaurant of the Year, and it continued producing remarkable meals until closing in 2000. The space became a coffee shop, and now is Daruma, a sushi spot. In 2004, he abruptly closed the restaurant, along with next-doors sister restaurant Buckman Bistro. If you couldnt decide on one, you could order a sampling of noodles, chosen by the chef and served with great ritual to the entire table. Carts rattled around the dining room, delivering places of hom bao, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, barbecued ribs and chicken feet. Feel free to share omissions and recollections in the comments section. When this elegant Pearl District restaurant opened in 2006, the initial reviews were terrible, and much was made about how the food played second fiddle to the atmosphere. Salt & Straw Ice Cream. Foursquare. She already had won a James Beard award for her cooking at a Seattle restaurant, and in her native Portland (along with her husband John Pence, and later with chef Mark Dowers), she hoped to create the quintessential Northwest restaurant. Before Oregons indoor smoking ban, this was a restaurant that eagerly welcomed smokers, and it seemed like everyone at the counter took drags of cigarettes between sips of strong coffee. We're still hoping for a comeback. Opening Hours Takeout & Dine In Monday - Sunday: 11:00 am - 8:30pm HOLIDAY HOURS UPDATE CLOSED Christmas & New Years Day December 24th Closing Early at 5:00pm We created the space with an acute attention to detail, from our intimate booths which are perfect for date night, to our custom stained glass sconces which create a warm and inviting space to share a drink. Visit Website. The restaurant closed at the end of 2011, but the space is still available for private dining and catered events. First opened in 1940, it was one of the first Chinese restaurants to open outside of Chinatown, and survived two fires over the years. Morrow's Nut House in Lloyd Center back when it wasn't enclosed. This quirky burger diner opened in 1954 across Sandy Boulevard from the iconic Hollywood Theatre in an oddly shaped building that was originally a street trolley ticket station. The dining room had a lively vibe, and the dishes coming from the open kitchen included flavors of Spain, Portugal, Greece and Morocco in addition to the expected Italian fare. In recent years, Northwest Portland has accrued a number of destination-worthy spots, including the casual Kashmiri cafe Bhuna and acclaimed Mexican tasting menu restaurant Repblica. Before the Pearl District turned swanky in the late '90s, it was mostly home to warehouses. The restaurant gained notoriety in the first episode of TVs Portlandia, where it was the setting for the Is this chicken local? sketch. Address: 6424 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97206. When this Thai restaurant from Bo and Steve Kline first opened in 1995, it served appetizers, salads and fancy desserts that hadnt been served in Portland before. The best seat in the house was at the chefs counter, which offered an eagle-eye view on how the kitchen operated. Some of these places dated back to the 1930s, and sounded incredible. Like D.F., its predecessor in the North Pearl District space, here was a fine restaurant that struggled to find clientele early on, despite gorgeous dcor and an enomatic wine system that offered the best by-the-glass wine program in the city. So in many ways, the spirit of Delphina's lives on. Open in Google Maps. Opened in 1959, Poor Richards became known for two-for-the-price-of-one dinner specials, a deal that started in the 1970s that became the restaurants calling card. Uncle Chen introduced heat-centric Hunan and Szechuan dishes to a city that had only known milder Cantonese cuisine. The Hideaway closed in 2007 (and briefly became an upscale sex club!). I especially love the Friday special, the phenomenal fermented fish noodle soup. But drive-in restaurants (along with drive-in movie theaters) faded in the 70s, and the last Yaws closed in 1982. But the spell didnt last. The attitude was (almost) worth putting up with, particularly if cassoulet was on the menu the hearty white-bean stew got its oomph from duck leg confit, pork shoulder and spicy sausage, all topped with browned bread crumbs. Lucy's closed in 2011 after a 13-year run. Website: Namaste Indian Cuisine. The old brick building was home to one of the city's best after-work bars, and the kitchen in recent years produced impressive American fare, like giant prawns with bacon and avocado, a remarkable veggie burger, and chocolate souffl. Remember the old feel of PDX years ago - share a memory. But bad first impressions can be hard to fix, and Ten 01 closed at the end of 2010. The Monte Carlo on Belmont! 1. Specialties: At Q Restaurant & Bar we wanted to create an inviting space to create new, rich memories, meet old friends, and make new ones. The burger was regarded as one of the city's best, and Israel received a James Beard nomination for his work here. For 18 years, David and Barbara Barber served a combination of roadhouse classics, southern dishes, and matzo ball soup that would make any Jewish mom smile. The building was demolished to make way for apartments. The space now is a Grand Central Bakery location. Weekend brunches featured gotta-have-it brioche French toast, and the burgers came with terrific homemade pickles. The expensive food may have been a mess, but the desserts put pastry chef Kristen Murray on the map, and for that we are forever grateful. On warm nights, you could dine in the beautiful outdoor garden. Diners couldnt get enough of the oven-roasted mussels with saffron and tomato. Did we forget your favorite restaurant from yesteryear? For 41 years, comfort food reigned at this popular Alameda neighborhood restaurant. Portland Gas & Coke Co. building. The last location closed in 2003 when the company filed for bankruptcy. This seller consistently earned 5-star reviews, shipped on time, and replied quickly to any messages they received. 2225 NE M L King Blvd, Portland, OR 97212-3727 +1 503-284-3366 Website Closed now : See all hours See all (145) Ratings and reviews 350 #29 RATINGS Food Service Value Atmosphere Details PRICE RANGE $45 - $75 CUISINES Steakhouse, Argentinean Special Diets Gluten Free Options View all details meals, features Location and contact There are numerous McCormick & Schmick's seafood restaurants still operating across the country, but the once Portland-based chain is now owned by Landry's Inc. restaurant group. Rose's first opened in 1956 in the space that now houses Restoration Hardware. In 2006, it moved to a larger space further north, and would close in 2009 (though the offshoot pizza place Lovely's Fifty-Fifty is still going strong). The City, I'm glad you put Coney Island on the list--so many people only stay in Manhattan and don't visit the other boroughs! When Northwest Portland's Caf des Amis closed in 2003, it made way for this upscale French restaurant from former firefighter Tom Hurley. This massive Chinese restaurant on Southeast 82nd Avenue featured a banquet hall that was big enough to accommodate more than 500 people, and numerous weddings, anniversary celebrations and other large-scale functions of the city's Asian community were held here during its 17-year run. A meal here was like stepping into a time machine, with red-flocked wallpaper, crystal chandeliers, and a piano lounge with a 1950s vibe. There was absolutely no fear of butter and cream at this all-seafood French restaurant in Northeast's Beaumont neighborhood, which was considered one of Portland's best restaurant in the 1980s and '90s. For 36 years, dining at Old Towns Alexis Restaurant felt like a party in a boisterous Athens tavern. Perhaps the flames were a bad omen: The Pearl reincarnation closed earlier this year after being damaged in a fire. They had big flame broiled burgers before Burger King ever existed in Oregon, (BK's first restaurant opened in 1954, in Florida - The Carnival opened in 1950) and they had a huge condiment bar you could help yourself to with enough hamburger relishs to make any kid drool. After an attempt to rebrand it as Delfina's Ristorante, owner Michael Cronan closed it, remodeled the kitchen and dining room, and reopened in 1999 as Serratto Restaurant, named after Delphina Serratto, who inspired the original place. Legin closed in 2012 to make way for Portland Community College's expanding southeast campus. But there is a small plaque remembering Henry Thiele's long run. Owner Sousan Brown served a mix of Iranian delicacies as well as interesting interpretations of more familiar Middle Eastern fare in a quaint space that was popular with university faculty at lunchtime. All locations closed abruptly in 2012. Best Dining in Portland, Oregon: See 141,638 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 4,520 Portland restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. The most-recent incarnation in Old Town closed in 2013. From the specialty flavors that change each month to the classics you can only get on the west coast (like the subtle Arbequina Olive . JOE Posted by: Joecook46 | March 29, 2012 at 10:14 AM JOEL, I HAD MANY CARNIVAL BURGERS AND LOVED THEM ALL, HAD A FEW The business gradually expanded to include a line of products sold at grocery stores. Arrives by Jan 19-26 if you order today. The building was eventually demolished to make way for condominiums. It ran until 2003, when Russell Street BBQ took over the space. The 21-year-old Indian restaurant Bombay Cricket Club poured its last mango margarita in August. Part of the magic was how Segura worked the dining, hopping from table to table building enthusiasm for whatever dish was arriving next. Visit Website. This longtime Chinatown restaurant was never much to look at, but in the 1980s and 90s, this was the place to go for some of the citys best dim sum. Shaw had been cooking at Oba and Tuscany Grill, but having his own place allowed him to cook farm-to-table fare where farmers were treated as creative partners. It had numerous owners over the years including Inka Elliott (seen here in 2004). Owner Dennis King was there for the restaurant's entire run, and watched the city change. This beautiful Old Town restaurant, which opened in 2005, became a winter wonderland at Christmastime. Customers could sit beside a waterfall that ran down the cliffs above, thanks to a large outdoor seating area. If I wanted a disgusting overcooked elephant ear I would wait until summer and go to the fair. To go with it, they made homemade horseradish sauce, which gave every bite a bit of kick. Carnival Restaurant in Portland, OR About Search Results Sort: Default All BBB Rated A+/A Coupons View all businesses that are OPEN 24 Hours 1. Horrendous food. In 1963, Robert "Bob" Farrell co-founded this popular chain of ice cream parlors that were the home of countless children's birthday parties, and at one point had 55 locations throughout the West, including this shop on Northwest 21st Avenue (whereToast & Pho currently resides). When Broadway musicals or the ballet were on stage, the dining room's pace could be faster than a caffeinated tap dancer. Southpark Seafood 1483 SeafoodAmerican (New)$$$Downtown This is a placeholder "For $20 (+ tip) we had 2 glasses of wine, fried chick peas (like carnivalfood for grown-ups), and a." more Outdoor seating Delivery Takeout 2. It's here that the deli became known for corned beef sandwiches, Reubens, kosher pickles, cinnamon rolls, cheesecake and multi-layered cakes. Coffee People Road Tour mugs. The cart's house-made "bing sauce" gives each bite a nice salty-sweetness, while the addition of zha cai provides a burst of tang to bring things together. The space now houses Olympia Provisions Northwest. Under founding chef Cory Schreiber, Wildwood opened in 1994 championing the food ideals of Oregon native and food legend James Beard, who celebrated Northwest regional cooking on a national stage. Do you have special memories about any of these 97 closed dining spots? He took foie off the menu briefly, only to defiantly bring it back. O'Leary's. Things would really heat up late at night, when the romantic setting and Latin dancing drew big crowds. What's something fun to do downtown? zlocon66. Here's a restaurant that pioneered the northern edge of the Pearl District a few years ahead of its time. Restaurants are special places. Heres a long-running restaurant with an unlikely origin story. The menu was a mix of familiar pasta dishes and hearty fare like osso bucco and veal saltimbocca. But labor and lease disputes damaged the restaurants reputation, and newer street-style Thai restaurants started to get more buzz. The restaurant closed on New Year's Eve 2007, and Hurley focused on a restaurant in Seattle. The late restaurateur Peter Hochman created this Alberta Arts District temple to surf & turf in 2005, where then up-and-coming chef Eric Bechard celebrated not just oysters, but rustic fare like fried veal sweetbreads with glazed shallots, chestnuts and a raisin sauce. But in the case of this cozy Spanish tapas den, which opened in 1995, there really was a Fernando owner Fernando Moreno. The lounge called the Almanac Room became popular in the 1990s with grunge rockers, who came here for inexpensive, stiff drinks and a liberal smoking policy. But this wasn't Polynesian food. Both sister restaurants closed in 2008, though Taqueria Nueve reopened in 2014 in a new location. Fair or not, French folks have a reputation for being rude, and that sometimes played out at this Pearl District bistro, where waiters could be famously brusque. For years, one of the happiest places along lower Southeast Hawthorne Avenue was a seat at the bar at this popular Northern Indian spot. And where is the sauce? They offer the standard taqueria fare and are soon to be selling beer. If you were driving on I-5 across Hayden Island, there was no way you could miss the massive Eat Now at Waddles sign, which featured an adorable baby duck wearing a bib. Southwest Portland's Hillsdale neighborhood has never had the concentration of ambitious restaurants that you find in other parts of town, but this wine-focused Italian kitchen ranked among the city's best during its seven-year run. Demes dishes were elaborate, architectural, and often unforgettable. When Caprial Pence opened this Westmoreland spot in 1992, expectations ran high. 30th Ave., 503-719-4373, gabbianospdx.com ($$$) Read more: Gabbiano's is the red sauce Italian restaurant Portland didn't . Esparza's closed in early 2014 after a remarkable 24 years in business. It wouldnt be hyperbole to say that this landmark Italian restaurant completely changed the dining landscape when it opened on Northwest 21st Avenue in 1990. The restaurant side of the operation was basic seafood and steaks, with a few Cajun touches. At first, this was just a coffee and cookie company, but evolved into a lunch and dinner spot, featuring approachable fare like halibut tacos and duck quesadillas. On top of that, they are one of the few mexican restaurants i have encountered that offer breakfast! At time when restaurants were increasingly high-volume affairs, this was a rare place where you could have a quiet conversation. Hurley tangled with foie gras protesters in 2004, who camped outside the restaurant and harassed customers, hurting the bottom line. When this large New Orleans-inspired restaurant opened on North Killingsworth Street in 2005, its ambitions ran high. By the end of the 1990s, though, locations began closing as sales dropped off, and when Warren was killed in a 1999 plane crash, the Mouses fate was all but cast. In 1995, New York attorney Darryl Joannides and his wife, Sarah, opened this Sellwood Italian restaurant, which got terrific reviews and drew big crowds.