I can’t believe it’s November already – the end of the year seems to be going by so fast! Winter will be on us all too soon. Before we get to winter, I wanted to share one of my favorite fall dishes that I’ve had in Portland which is from Tanner Creek Tavern. Tanner Creek Tavern is the latest restaurant opened by David Machado, the restaurateur also behind classic Nel Centro and the Altabira City Tavern with one of the best outdoor dining spots in the city. Tanner Creek Tavern has only opened a couple months, and is now serving lunch, happy hour (4-6 PM), and dinner.
Tanner Creek Tavern has a large bar area with multiple TVs and in warmer weather huge roll up garage doors on two sides that make this a perfect place to dine al fresco in the Pearl or watch the game with great snacks and drinks.
Like his other restaurants though, there is also lots of comfortable dining space which is great for an intimate dinner or large party. Nel Centro, with its location by so many theaters, and Altabira, with its location by the Moda Center, know how to service tables quickly to get you in and out before a show or be a location after the show. With its location in the Pearl, Tanner Creek Tavern is especially a welcome spot before or after seeing a play at Portland Center Stage.
If you are looking for appetizers before that perfect fall dish, or want to keep it simple as you are watching the game in the bar during happy hour, take a look at the Tanner Creek Tavern Deviled Eggs with Trout Roe and Dill, or the bold flavored (but messy) Deviled Duck Wings with Saba. So since you’re eating with your fingers possible and all saucy, combine that with the Gruyère, Country Ham, and Olive Fritters
Now to one of my favorite fall dishes in Portland right now – the Tanner Creek Tavern Squash Tortelli with Roasted Pear, Chanterelles, Radicchio and Brown Butter. GET THIS! It is so good – the play of the umami of the squash with the mushrooms with the sweetness of the Seckel pears and tempered by the radicchio and all brought together by that brown butter. Even though we had many courses coming to our family style dinner, we were this close to ordering another dish of this because we couldn’t get enough. You can find this pasta on both their lunch and dinner menu.
If you are going to share that dish and want to continue with perfect fall dishes at dinner, I was also a huge fan of their starters of the Seared Scallops with Caramelized Apples and Celery Root Puree which was executed perfectly, or try the Shaved Kohlrabi and Apple, Candied Walnuts, Pickled Mustard Seed and White Cheddar which is a textural and tasty plate.
Other dishes we tried I don’t see on their currently posted menu, but in my couple visits I’ve been seeing some dishes come and go as they switch them out based on what’s best in the market or just trying something else. I’ll share them anyway just so you can see what some of their main protein dishes may be like. (Left- Braised Lamb Shank with Heirloom Black Corn Polenta and Poached Quince, Right – Potato Crusted Sturgeon, Fennel Confit, Saffron Cream)
If you have room for dessert, get the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Cake with Blackberry Sorbet
When it comes to the cocktails, I have to warn you – they are smooth and way too easy to drink, dangerously easy to drink, and I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. Below you see the Smoke Signals cocktail with Dickel Rye, Townshend’s Smoke Tea Liqueur, Dolin Rouge Vermout, and then the super refreshing cocktails Creekside with DL Franklin Vodka, New Deal Ginger Liqueur, and Pear, or the Golden Applegate cocktail with Cruzan Aged Dark Rum, Local Apple Cider, and Lemon.
Where have your favorite fall dishes been at restaurants this year in the Portland area? Which of these dishes or drinks from Tanner Creek Tavern is calling your name?
Disclosure: Some of the photos from above were from a family style complimentary bloggers meal, others were from my own visit where I paid my own way. Either way,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.
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