Picks for Portland Dining Month 2019

Portland Dining Month 2019 takes place all of March in Portland, and includes 133 restaurants participating, each offering 3 course meals for $33. This is Portland Dining Month’s 20th year, and my 7th year taking advantage of the great food at a great deal. Every year I do my due diligence reviewing who are the participants and making my list based on the menu offered and value of the meal. With this post I’m sharing with you my picks for Portland Dining Month 2019.

A full list of participating Portland Dining Month restaurants and their menus can be found at the official Portland Dining Month list and map on the Travel Portland website. As usual, making a reservation though the Portland Dining Month website can also benefit the local community. Besides supporting local businesses and employees in Portland, in addition Travel Portland has partnered with OpenTable. A donation will be made to Oregon Food Bank for every online reservation booked at participating restaurants through PortlandDiningMonth.com – just click on the OpenTable reservation button next to the restaurant listing.

I highly encourage using this, not just for the fact you are doing good to fight hunger by using the OpenTable online reservation systems, but some places can get pretty busy so to avoid an annoying wait, make reservations with whoever takes them to spend less time waiting and more time dining.

Also check back to the blog and follow me on my Instagram social media stories and feed to see where I am eating at @pechluck– I will be dining at one Portland Dining Month restaurant at least once a week through March. I’ll also be doing giveaways that I post on the blog Facebook page and the Instagram page so follow me to be in the know!

 

Example Portland Dining Month menu of Bluehour 3 courses for $33 for Portland Dining Month March 2018: after a complimentary amuse bouche, I enjoyed courses of 1. Farmers Mixed Green Salad with blue cheese, pickled red onions, radish, sunflower seeds, and sherry vinaigrette 2. Parisian Gnocchi with butternut squash, apples, grana padano, sage and 3. Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Torte with salted caramel, creme fraiche, textures of chocolate

How I made the list of my picks for Portland Dining Month 2019:

I review the menus each participant will offer for Portland Dining Month. Some restaurants make the list because their deal of three course dinners for just $33 is a huge savings from their regular prices. They must also offer intriguing menu options IMHO that either show off their strengths or are interesting specials just for Portland Dining Month. For instance, I love Bullard – but I think their PDM menu doesn’t show off its strengths and would recommend the regular menu instead.

The Portland Dining Month Menu is generally a separate printout from the regular menu – so you may be able to choose from a regular menu while other diners pick the Portland Dining Month menu. If you don’t see the deal marked, don’t be shy about asking.

And now, my top picks for Portland Dining Month 2019. Despite the numbering, this is not a ranked list. I note if an Opentable reservation is supported by the restaurant also.

1. Aviary is known for its eclectic blend of flavors that leans Asian without being Asian fusion restaurant – they take risks with their flavor combinations that are bold and unique and almost always pay off. You can get that idea from the dishes they are offering below.  You will also get your value here for the $33- the second course alone is usually $25 on the dinner menu. It will be a full meal too – for example look at what I had last year with their Portland Dining Month menu. Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website!
   
   For this year, they are offering
   • First course:(choose one) Gravlax with olive cake, celery root, yuzu butter and radishes -or- Chestnut soup with brussels sprouts, crème fraîche, maple brown butter and salted duck egg
   • Second course: (choose one) Pan fried skate wing with herbed soubise, green beans, Meyer lemon and black olive oil
     -or- Hoisin glazed beef brisket, macaroni salad croquette, tomato confit, cumin and sour mango powder
   • Third course: (choose one) Chocolate miso torte with coffee ice cream, caramel and crispy rice -or- Citrus tart with pistachio streusel and cardamom ice cream
2. If you got this far on my post, you probably saw towards the beginning an example 3 course dinner which is 4 photos because of the surprise amuse bouche you also get from Bluehour.  Entrees alone at Bluehour are normally priced hovering around $30. To make it a full date, make your reservation for Friday & Saturday night from 9pm to 11pm when they offer live music. Also vegetarian friendly.
   • First course:(choose one) Potato leek soup with fried brandade -or- Farmers mixed greens salad with radishes, fines herbs and sherry vinaigrette
   • Second course: (choose one) Parisian gnocchi with caramelized fennel, Maitake mushrooms, conserva, compressed apples, sage and parmesan -or-
     Red wine braised chicken with King Trumpet mushrooms, rainbow carrots, pork belly, cipollini onions and sweet garlic
   • Third course: (choose one) Dark chocolate peanut butter torte with toasted marshmallow, chocolate sauce and honey-glazed peanuts -or- Seasonal sorbet
   • Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website!
3. Brix Tavern is offering a huge list of options – almost the whole menu – to pick from for 10 options of starters, 13 main dishes, and 6 dessert choices, so depending on what you order could be a good value. Hint- look to their rotisserie chicken or dry aged steaks. Brix is also great for groups normally, not just because there are so many ways to concoct a 3 course meal from their choices. This American bar restaurant may not be pushing the edge on food, but it’s easy and comforting familiar favorites. Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website!
4. Ecliptic Brewing makes the value list because first, you get a $10 gift card for use on a future visit. You also get a pint of beer of your choice. And, this brewpub is super family friendly and dog friendly. I really like their burger and I’m not the only one – it won the bracket in 2017 of the Burger Madness: Top Brewery Burger in Portland by Willamette Weekly
   • First course:(choose one) Deviled eggs with boquerones
     -or- Broiled oysters with bacon and bay shrimp béchamel
     -or- Beets with pumpkin seeds and pecorino
   • Second course: (choose one) Ecliptic Burger with ½ pound beef patty, pancetta, red onion, aged gruyère, arugula, russian dressing and potato bun (shown below) -or- Beet melt with roasted beets, goat cheddar, Granny Smith apple, pickled onion and grain mustard on sourdough (also shown below) -or- Vegan classic with black bean-freekeh-walnut patty, tofu mayo, lettuce, onion and pickle on ciabatta -or- Steamed mussels with tomato, pilsner, garlic, bonito and grilled sourdough -or-
     Pan-roasted chicken with spaetzle, yellow oyster mushrooms and paprika cream
     
   • Third course: (choose one) Porter float with daily ice cream and Capella Porter -or- Peach Float with daily sorbet and Carina Peach Sour Ale
5. I haven’t had a chance to try out Thai Farmhouse yet, but maybe their deal will tempt you like it does me. Besides offering multiple choices with their 5 First course and 6 Second course options that includes their well known Hat Yai fried chicken or Panang Nuea slow-braised bone in short rib as options along with choice of 2 dessert for third course, they also offer free Pre-starter of Tom Kha coconut soup with mixed vegetables, mushroom, tomato, galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass and long coriander that is excellent to warm you up with its spicy and sour flavors if it’s a cooler March day.
6. Every year Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse makes my list because seriously, this is a huge bargain – all you can eat meat and salad bar for $33 (usually $57)! At this definitely not very vegetarian/vegan friendly Brazilian churrascaria you basically get a parade of meat to your plate until you cry for mercy and waddle out the door. Although you don’t get access to every single meat option, the picanha (prime top sirloin) my favorite cut is included. I believe they exclude the filet mignon, beef ancho and cowboy ribeyes, and beef and pork ribs, but everything else is fair game. Make sure you mention Restaurant Week when making your reservation and when sitting down to receive the special pricing. Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the
   Travel Portland website

   
   Fogo de Chão Market Table, part of their all you can eat buffet boasting more than 40 items /  all you can eat meats as long as your drink coaster is green for go! Full Churrasco for Children 6 and Under is Complimentary; ages 7-12 is half price.

7. Kachinka may or may not be a value – and there is no choice for your main dish. But, if it’s the main dish that is similar to what I had at a brunch a couple years ago, this dish is rare and so worth it. I’m talking about the decadant and rich a traditional Belorussian Ukranian dish made with meat gravy – like a biscuits and gravy but minus the biscuits and up all the delicious meat- and served with mini pancakes. I promise I will definitely be researching this for you and for me 🙂  See my post on Thursday March 7 to get the scoop – I definitely recommend it!
   • First course: Smoked beets salad with potatoes, pickled carrots and sauerkraut, hard fried onion and sunflower dressing
   • Second course: Belarusian pork belly machanka. pan gravy, blini and sea buckthorn berries

     

   • Third course: Hazelnut and chocolate wafer torte
8. Quaintrelle has great entrees on offer and those dumplings are really craveable.
   • First course:(choose one) Oysters with pineapple mignonette, serrano, herb oil and charred lemon -or- Panisse with olives, pine nuts and green garlic aioli
   • Second course: (choose one) Hay-smoked butternut squash, onion soubise, pistachio verde, maple and foie gras -or-
     Melted leek and potato soup with seeds, crumbs and radish
   • Third course: (choose one) Ricotta dumplings with foraged winter mushrooms, smoked beet “bacon,” fiore sardo and garlic foam -or- Pork loin with turnip, braised cabbage and sauce aux truffes
   • Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website!
9. Tapalaya needs more love because I’m always shocked it’s not in the forefront of people’s top 20 restaurants in Portand with its Cajun food pumped up with some Vietnamese flavors, and the dishes being offered for Portland Dining Month are showcasing some of my favorites. Usually what is listed on the 3rd course is $25 just by itself, (and I know from experience both those dishes are excellent) so you are getting one of the earlier two courses for free. Let me tell you now- get the Crawfish Etouffee Nachos. Plus if you dine Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday from 6pm to 9pm they offer live music.
   • First course:(choose one) Crawfish etouffee nachos with wonton chips, cheddar, cotija, green onion and cilantro -or- Creole radicchio caesar with fried capers, cornbread crumbs and shaved parmesan
   • Second course: (choose one) Pork belly skewers with brown sugar-soy barbecue sauce -or- Blackened Spanish octopus with Thai basil emulsion and crispy shallots
   • Third course: (choose one) Steak Diane: beef teres major with brandy mushroom cream sauce and pickled onions -or-
     Crawfish Anh Luu with Viet-Cajun cream sauce served over creamy grits
   • Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website!
10. Urdaneta is already one of my favorite and most recommended restaurants in Portland. Here’s what I ate last year for Portland Dining Month (which included the Filete de Culotte, culotte steak, romesco, leek marmalade, valdeon foam) and the

      
    and here’s what is on offer for this year.

    • First course:(choose one) Croquetas de pollo with smoked chicken, fennel bechamel and pimenton aioli -or- Espárragos polonaise with grilled asparagus, arrope, leek ash emulsion, breadcrumbs and egg
    • Second course: (choose one) Filete de culotte with culotte steak, romesco, leek marmalade and valdeon foam -or- Bacalao with seared black cod, mussels, Nora’s coconut milk broth, ras el hanout and fried capers
    • Third course: (choose one) Flan de chocolate with kiwi-mint coulis, toasted almonds and caramel -or- Tarta de queso with burnt Basque cheesecake, membrillo and sherry whipped cream

      

Honorable Mentions just because they are also excellent choices that offer a really good menu that really represents the restaurant, but perhaps is a more moderate value then my top 10 above (and it’s arbitrary to cut it to 10 anyway):

• Ok Omens has super fun options that capture the spirit of the restaurant – but is only a savings if you can resist the burger.
  • First course:(choose one) The Torito: romaine, creamy cilantro dressing, corn nuts and cotija cheese -or- Something to Do with Mussels and Roots: celery root, creamy mussel jus, leeks and grilled bread
  • Second course: (choose one) Buttermilk fried chicken with basil, radish, green szechuan peppercorn and hot sour cream -or- The Burger: onions, iceberg lettuce, pickles, Omen’s sauce, cheddar and American cheeses and fries
  • Third course: (choose one) Butterscotch with frozen yuzu apple ice and shortbread -or- Kinda like a McFlurry: vanilla ice cream, Butterfinger candy and chocolate
• Urban Fondue for a triple experience of cheese, broth with proteins, then chocolate fondue for the price of cheese and dessert fondues alone. Don’t forget to use the Opentable reservation to support the Oregon Food Bank on the Travel Portland website

Please note that just because it’s not on picks for Portland Dining Month 2019 list doesn’t mean it’s not a good place for you to go. Sometimes it just may be their Portland Dining Month dishes are regularly on their menu but at not enough of a price difference from regular prices (which I also count if the dishes are available at discounted prices at happy hour, or a special deal on a weekday) to make my list.

Other times I may think some of their regular menu options are better then the Portland Dining Month dishes they are serving up. It may still be perfect for you to try and a wonderful experience if you have not tried the restaurant before or if it suits what you and your dining companions like to eat. This list is just my humble opinion and my taste.

It’s a wonderful month – many other cities only do this prix fixe promotion for a week, but Portland gets to live it up every night of the week for a whole month! So go ahead and make those dinner dates with your friends, coworkers, family.

Where are you planning to go, what are your top picks for Portland Dining Month 2019?

Example meals from previous Portland Dining Months:

1. • Urdaneta for Portland Dining Month
   • Picks for Portland Dining Month 2018 and what I had for PDM at Bluehour and Aviary
   • Portland Dining Month 2017; Recap
   • Portland Dining Month 2016 Review
   • Portland Dining Month 2015 Laurelhurst Market
   • Portland Dining Month 2015 Aviary
   • Oven & Shaker: Portland Dining Month