Best Restaurants for Foodies in South Waterfront

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchMexican

Regions

PortlandWestside

Areas

BeavertonDowntownNortheast PortlandNorthwest PortlandPearl DistrictSoutheast Portland

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeaway only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

James Beard Award

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

17 restaurants available nearby

1. Nostrana

4.7

Exceptional(5705)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Southeast Portland

Booked 97 times today

Nostrana—literally ours—invokes local. Simple food from honest ingredients. Pure, regional, Italian. Opened in 2005, Nostrana is Chef/Owner Cathy Whims’ love letter to Italy. This is a restaurant built on relationships: with our amazing farmers and purveyors, our dedicated staff, and of course with you, our guest.We hope to offer something timeless and authentic in a beautiful space, the regional specialties of Italy deeply rooted in the Pacific Northwest. We strive to be better every day. We're currently reserving indoor tables and bar seating. When available, outdoor patio reservations may be subject to weather disruptions.A Service Charge of 22% is applied to all checks at Nostrana, providing a professional and equitable wage for all team members.

2. Mayrose

4.3

Awesome(123)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Unspecified • Downtown

Booked 1 time today

A popular downtown gathering spot for hotel guests and Portland locals alike, Mayrose celebrates the earthy, provocative progressive nature of this city within a hotel labelled for the strength and individualism of its namesake. Immerse yourself in its stunning décor and discover cuisine that expands your culinary horizons. Stop by the cozy Mayrose Coffee Bar every morning for a perfectly prepared cup of local coffee and a scrumptious pastry. When the sun sets, come to our Mayrose Bar to enjoy modern interpretations of classic cocktails, finely curated wines, or sink into a local brew. A lounge menu is available with selections from our Mayrose Restaurant. Live music on select nights. The restaurant is also equipped with a private dining room for meetings and social events.

3. Kachka

4.8

Exceptional(2313)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Eastern European • Southeast Portland

Booked 51 times today

Kachka features an award-winning menu of post-soviet inspired dishes including famous dishes such as the Herring under a fur coat, Rabbit in a clay pot, dumplings and much more. The restaurant is an homage to the dishes our chef/owner grew up eating. Kachka is open for indoor onsite dining. Walk-in lounge and bar seating are also available. Our Lavka grocery is open from 11am-9pm daily with counter service ordering from our Lavka cafe and deli available from 11-3. Seating is first come first serve on our upper patio or indoor lounge tables. We have proudly replaced tipping with a 22% service fee in order to provide a base wage of $25 per hour and free healthcare for all employees. More information is available at kachkapdx.com/wage-equityFor more info about Kachka, and our deli Lavka please visit our website: https://www.kachkapdx.com/about-us

4. Le Pigeon

4.8

Exceptional(1655)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Contemporary American • Southeast Portland

Booked 24 times today

Le Pigeon serves adventurous French-inspired food, along with a varied selection of wines in an intimate dining room on Portland’s East Burnside Street.

A photo of Departure Restaurant and Lounge restaurant

5. Departure Restaurant and Lounge

4.4

Awesome(4443)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary Asian • Downtown

Booked 26 times today

From street food-styled starters and meal-sized classics, to rice and noodle specialties to ethically-sourced sushi, Departure Portland embraces the bounty of the Pacific Northwest to deliver the fiery flavors of the Far East. Whether steamed or stir-fried, smoked or sautéed, each dish leads guests to another stage along Departure's culinary adventure.

6. República

4.8

Exceptional(915)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Mexican • Pearl District

Booked 5 times today

James Beard-nominated, Chef's Prix Fixe Tasting Experience by Executive Chef Jose Camarena, recontextualizes Mexican cuisine and culture through Storytelling. We exclusively offer a prix fixe tasting menu experience, with a longer and shorter option. Both experiences are meant to honor the complex history that created each dish, as well as leave a lasting impact on all those who taste this beautiful food and listen to our stories. República is a tasting menu-only restaurant. We offer a full tasting menu experience for $150 per person, or a briefer experience for $128 per person. We kindly require all guests to disclose all dietary restrictions and allergies prior to their reservation. We are unable to accommodate allergies to nightshades, chile, allium, rice . Additionally we are not a gluten free kitchen and are unable to provide nut and seed free diners. Please note our menu offerings change daily.What you see below, is NOT our current menu.

A photo of Mediterranean Exploration Company restaurant

7. Mediterranean Exploration Company

4.8

Exceptional(221)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • Northwest Portland

Booked 50 times today

Mediterranean Exploration is a restaurant located in Portland, Oregon that specializes in serving upscale Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. The restaurant features casual dining in an industrial setting with a chic décor. Mediterranean Exploration serves dinner nightly and offers a variety of raw, oven, mezza, piato and grilled options on the menu for diners to choose from. The restaurant features a seasonal, market driven menu that changes daily based on seasonal varieties and the local farmers' produce available.

8. Grand Amari

4.5

Awesome(163)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Italian • Southeast Portland

Booked 3 times today

Grand Amari is a traditional Italian dining destination inspired by the food traditions of Italy, fine Italian wine, and amaro. We are working with pasture raised proteins, seasonal local organic produce, and highlighting the quality of handmade products. Simplicity and care in our approach is key. Start your evening off by perusing our extensive wine list while enjoying a platter of scallop crudo with a glass of grower Champagne. Follow that with our delicate handmade agnolotti or squid ink bucatini, then indulge in grass fed bistecca alla fiorentina or salt crusted branzino. Don't forget to get a bottle of Barolo with your bistecca! Wrap up your dinner with an array of Italian desserts and our indulgent amaro cart and menu.

9. Magna Kusina

4.8

Exceptional(154)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Filipino • Southeast Portland

Booked 7 times today

Chef Carlo Lamagna, one of Food and Wines Best New Chefs and a James Beard Awards finalist, brings a twist to the food he grew up on. A modern take on Filipino cuisine steeped in traditional dishes. Old school flavor with a new school style. Connecting with diners through flavor and story. Enjoy signature takes on popular Filipino dishes at this award winning restaurant.

10. CRAFTpdx

4.1

Excellent(197)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Contemporary American • Downtown

Booked 1 time today

CRAFTpdx is a Northwest inspired restaurant in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. We specialize in locally sourced, seasonal food & beverage. Our menu inspiration pulls from our teams diverse culinary background, which allows us to offer our guests an ever changing menu selection. We work intimately with local producers and growers, which is reflected not only in our dishes, but also in our curated beverages as well. We invite you to wander in and excite your taste buds with our thoughtfully crafted cocktails & cuisine.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

R
Robb
Portland / Oregon •24 reviews
5.0
Dined today
Excellent service combined with wonderful food makes a great experience!!!
More info
NostranaPrice: Expensive• Italian• Southeast Portland
•
4.7
J
Jocelyn
Portland / Oregon •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Jason was a fabulous server and all staff were friendly and helpful
More info
Departure Restaurant and LoungePrice: Moderate• Contemporary Asian• Downtown
•
4.4
D
Darrin
San Francisco Bay Area •6 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
From start to finish….a stellar dinner experience. The appetizers (charcuterie with bread board) were the perfect start to the dinner. I enjoyed the meat-filled dumplings. The husband enjoyed the cabbage rolls. The adult beverage menu was very impressive. The non alcohol drink list was creative and interesting. Thank you for helping us celebrate our 36th year anniversary. We can’t wait to return and enjoy more culinary treats from your kitchen.
More info
KachkaPrice: Expensive• Eastern European• Southeast Portland
•
4.8
D
Davis
Portland / Oregon •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Excellent Food and Excellent Service. If ever you want to impress a loved one with a dining experience, this is where you should take them!
More info
Le PigeonPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary American• Southeast Portland
•
4.8
C
Craig
Hawaii •3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 15 Feb 2025
Overall, it was a nice breakfast with friendly staff. However, the omelet came with nothing else: omelet on a plate, no toast, no potatoes, nothing. That isn't very reassuring for $26. The eggs benedict were cold to the touch. The coffee was good, and again, the staff was excellent.
More info
MayrosePrice: Moderate• Unspecified• Downtown
•
4.3

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