Best Restaurants for a Quick Bite in Southwest Portland

One of the best meals of my life and I’ve traveled pretty extensively across the globe. I was honestly blown away to find this restaurant in my backyard here in Portland. We came tonight on a recommendation of a friend and I kid you not, from the very first dish (salad) to the last (tiramisu), the hits did not stop hitting. Every single flavor tonight blew our minds and were perfectly laid out. We will come back again and again!

This is a teeny tiny restaurant (9 tables, 20 diners) that is wedged into a semi industrial district next to a tattoo parlor. Incredible how the chef can create so many masterpieces in a kitchen the size of a broom closet. John is the owner, and he seems to function as a one man Maistre d", server, busboy, sommelier, and probably janitor after the restaurant closes. Another amazing sleight of hand(s). There is a (very pricey) tasting menu available for $152 (before wine), that appears to have about 12 courses. The regular menu changes frequently. Basically, follow John's suggestions for everything. It's all fabulous. Downsides are that the tables are only inches apart, so don't come here for quiet, private conversations. Parking is a bit of a pain, but not a real obstacle to a great destination meal. Vive la France!!

Our family had a wonderfully delicious Christmas dinner at CRAFTpdx! Everything was outstanding! Exceptional service from the moment we walked in! The food was amazing! The prime rib, salmon, duck were prepared to perfection. A shout out to our waiter Jay for his warm hospitality. Everything was a delight!

We reserved spots at the bar to watch the Seahawks game. Our bartender was all alone, and had to cover the bar and the restaurant, but she was on top of it! Once the lunch crowd cleared out, Lindon was a joy to chat with. We had the chicken wings and a burger, and everything was tasty. The wings were especially flavorful.

Wow, Friendship Kitchen was an incredible experience! We loved our first time dining there and the owner was so kind to stop and spend time getting to know us & make sure our experience was top-notch. We can't wait to go back for their delicious food again soon. 10/10, highly recommend.