A Nice Dinner Out at Ringside Fish House

If you are looking for a sophisticated place to go out on a holiday dinner with your loved ones or your friends during the holiday or post holiday, don’t overlook the classic nice dinner out at Ringside Fish House. This elegant restaurant is located downtown right by Director’s Park, and is a favorite for theater goers with their 3 Course Prix Fixe Dinner that can get you to the show on time. I like visiting without a show ticket even more so I can fully linger and enjoy the atmosphere. Take advantage of the complimentary self-parking at Fox Tower Parking Garage, or walk only a block or two away from the Max or Streetcar.

Here’s a look at a recent nice dinner out at Ringside Fish House I enjoyed this month. Keep in mind of course that like any excellent seafood restaurant the dishes may change based on what is fresh. Certain favorites will be there in some form though – for instance the impressive starter of a Fresh Seafood Platter arranged with King Crab Legs, Hokkaido Scallop, Gulf Prawns, Oysters, Mussels, Manila Clams, House Smoked Salmon. This one is just a small that offered more then enough for us four, but they come in two other sizes for even more grandness and has an optional upgrade addition of lobster. That house smoked salmon is really something special
  
You should perhaps also warm up with a cocktail. They have the classics as you would expect from Moscow Mule to Penicillin to Boulevardier or whatever you’d like to call. But think about their house cocktails as well, including a few that rotate seasonally. The NxNW cocktail with Vodka, Apple Brandy, Pear, Cinnamon, Lemon brings together nice warming flavors, while their Water of Youth consists of Vodka, Yuzu, Honey, Chamomile, Cava that brings some bubbly joy and yuzu that goes well with seafood.

The Undisputed Truth cocktail was my choice, with layers of flavor thanks to its mix of Rum,​ Toasted Sesame, Port, Blood Orange, and Smoked Vanilla Bitters. You can see it there in the forefront, and behind is the Ophelia cocktail with Gin, Suze, Lemon, Honey, Thyme, and Grapefruit Bitters.

Ringside has graciously shared the recipe for The Undisputed Truth. Thank you to Geoffrey Rich, Bar Manager. You’ll find the recipe at the end of this post.

For now, we will continue going through my dinner journey with our shared salads and starters. Don’t miss one of my favorite salads in Portland, the Sweet Gems salad with Petals of Sweet Gem Lettuce, Asian Pear, Crispy Leeks, Lardons, Blue Cheese Vinaigrette, and Fried Bread. It’s a great indulgent salad to share – I think everyone at the table had two helpings.

I am a sucker for burrata, and the Autumn Fruits & Vegetables Salad with Persimmon, Fennel, Apple, Pear, Kohlrabi, Hazelnuts, Burrata, Duck Prosciutto, Buckwheat Honey Vinaigrette is a fun flavor and texture combination

You may be tempted to stick with seafood since you’re well, at a seafood specialty restaurant, but I was really surprised and impressed with the Miso Cured Dry Aged NY Carpaccio with Daikon, Yuzu Ponzu, Shiso, Sesame, Puffed Beef Tendon. The bites were super flavorful with a little bit of a spicy kick. You’ll find modern dishes on the menu like this along with offerings like Albacore Tuna Poke with Soy Marinade and Yuzu Pepper Crema, or a Chirashi Zushi Bowl right alongside classics like a Crab Louie, Dungeness Crab Cakes, Wild King Salmon, Prime Rib or Twice Baked Potatoes.

These are a couple examples of several dishes that shows off Chef Jonathan Gill’s expertise and experience in Japan and how he adds touches of that in the menu alongside seafood restaurant iconic favorites. It is to often surprising effect that just elevates a dish that extra bit from the already good quality of ingredients that are showcased. This Japanese influence really helps set Ringside Fish House apart from other seafood options in Portland, and you should give it a try.

For our mains, we shared dishes that were half traditional, half new combinations. For instance, there was a real fall showcase with the Roasted Speck Wrapped Monkfish Tail with Butternut Squash Puree, Rainbow Chard, Roasted Delicata Squash, Pepitas, Pumpkin Seed Oil and also the main of a Kalamata Olive Oil Poached Sturgeon with Braised Red Cabbage, Shaved Apples, Parsnip Puree.

Popular people pleasers will be the Grilled Marlin with Fennel Fondue, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Brussel Sprouts, Black Grapes, Rendered Bacon or the Seared Dayboat Scallops with Sunchoke Risotto, Crimini Mushroom Chips, Wilted Greens

We had two bottles of wine – the wine book here is very comprehensive in both wine sourcing from around the world and varietals. The huge number of options is great for the wine aficionado but don’t feel afraid to ask for the well knowledge experts in the restaurant to make a choice for you based on what you are ordering and your budget – we asked not only for wine suggestions but even after dinner drink matchings based on our preferences in spirits and drink profiles!

Ringside Fish house not only as a great selection by the glass of almost 2 dozen options, but also utilizes a Coravin System which provides a whole additional page of aged wine selections you can order by 3 or 6 ounce pours. If you haven’t heard of Coravin before, it’s a system where instead of pulling the cork a pressurized needle system is used to pour the wine and leave the cork intact.

Now onto dessert – I didn’t remember to photograph the super refreshing Sorbet Trio or delightful Cheese Plate for those with more of a savory dessert preference, but I did also enjoy the rich Valrhona Milk Chocolate Pot de Crème with Sour Cherry Compote, Vanilla Chantilly and my favorite, the fresh Warm Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts with Dulce De Leche Fondue.

I highly recommend Ringside for a classy time, whether it be dinner, or my usual which is happy hour. Ringside Fish House has happy hour everyday starting at 3 PM – 6:30 PM and then their late happy hour starts at 9 PM in their lounge except Sunday, when it’s happy hour all day! When I get a craving for the onion rings that James Beard declared “The Best I’ve Ever Had” drop by, and if you don’t want to wait for the Steak Bites with Horseradish (which are at Ringside Steakhouse only at their happy hour, which is a late night happy hour except on Sundays), you can get them starting at 3 at Ringside Fish House.

And of course don’t forget that on Mondays, Ringside Fish House also offers DOM- Dollar  Oyster Mondays!

Have you been to Ringside Fish House? Where are your spots for seafood dinners?

The Undisputed Truth

“This drink is a combination of seemingly disparate flavors that come together harmoniously in a rich winter warmer that’s slightly tart and finishes with a roasted, nutty character on the palate.” – Geoffrey Rich, Bar Manager

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. Toasted sesame-infused rum
• 0.5 oz. Tawny Port
• 0.5 oz. Demerara sugar simple syrup
• 0.5 tbsp Blood orange juice
• 2 dashes Smoked vanilla bitters

Directions:

1. Combine toasted sesame-infused rum, tawny port, demerara sugar simple syrup, blood orange juice, and smoked vanilla bitters in a mixing glass. Fill with ice and stir for 20 seconds.
2. Strain into an old fashioned glass. Add ice and garnish with a flamed orange zest.

Disclosure: I attended a media dinner, but I have also gone to Ringside Fish House many times on my own on my own dime. I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.