Some of the city's finest restaurants & saloons are in the Pearl including:
- Bluehour was one of the 1st in the Pearl. It specializes in contemporary "big night out" meals, such as grilled lobster w/brandy sauce & pickled green strawberries, or grilled rib-eye w/kale & duck-fat emulsion.
- DESCHUTES BREWERY - Elk Burger or Spicy Fried Chicken and Waffle*
Inspired by the cayenne-infused Nashville-style hot chicken that’s become famous nationwide in recent years, Deschutes’s version is served over a house-made sourdough waffle with smoked provolone, kale-fennel-pecan salad, and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Pairs with: The brewery’s spruce-inflected Pinedrop IPA offers a crisp, slightly citrusy balance to the sweet fire of this delicious dish. 210 NW 11th Ave // 503-296-4906 // deschutesbrewery.com - Eleni's - Greek feast at Eleni's in the Pearl (112 NW 9th Ave)
- HOLSTEINSEl Caliente Burger*
This two-fisted work of carnal ecstasy derives its mild burn factor from a layer of pickled jalapeños and melted pepper Jack cheese. Crispy pork chicharonnes, mashed avocado, and slightly tangy tequila-cilantro mayo lend depth and texture.
Pairs with: There’s nothing subtle, nor saintly, about Holsteins’s hedonistic Bridgeton Birthday Cake milkshake, which is exactly why we love it! 1139 NW Couch St // 503-616-4321 // holsteinsburgers.com - Irving Street Kitchen is a southern-inspired joint featuring such foods as fried chicken and smoked pork chops w/black garlic applesauce.
- Oven & Shaker where you can order a wood-fired fennel-sausage with chilies pizza and sip on a pineapple trainwreck (rum & pineapple juice cut with spicy ginger syrup).
- ¡Oba!Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Rellenos*
Renowned for its creative Latin American cuisine, ¡Oba! focuses more on bold flavors than searing heat. But this piquant appetizer that’s a favorite during happy hour in the lounge packs some punch and couldn’t be more delicious—the smoked bacon and chorizo–cream cheese filling create quite the flavor fiesta.
Pairs with: What’s ¡Oba!’s spiciest dish? It’s actually a cocktail—the habanero mango martini. This zippy elixir contains habanero-infused Monopolowa vodka, fresh mango, house sour mix, and cilantro. 555 NW 12th Ave // 503-228-6161 // obarestaurant.com - Andina for Peruvian Tapas.
- Metrovina is a top spot for serious diners with an oenophilic (love of wine) bent.
- Via Delizia or Mio Gelato, where you may choose from their menu of panini sandwiches and save the gelato for dessert.
- Prasad Vegan Cafe (925 NW Davis St, )
- Parish, where you can wake up to a plate of braised rabbit hash and a Bloody Mary made with pickled Thai chili pepper & garlic.
- River Pig Saloon - Rare Whiskeys (529 NW 13th) - A concept of the lumbermen (River Pigs) who worked W. Burnside (Skid Road) in the old days. "They were brutes who enjoyed their booze and good times." River Pig’s atmosphere hearkens back to a time when loggers logged and flannel wasn’t a goddamn fashion choice. The name ‘River Pig’ refers to the lumbermen who floated timber downstream from forests to sawmills.
- This watering hole feels connected to those River Pigs. Serves Lunch & Dinner
- Verde Cocina (shown right)Panzita del Puerco con Fuego*
At this cheerful Mexican eatery, chef-owner Noe Garnica isn’t kidding about the con fuego part of this hearty appetizer. It might just be the hottest dish in the Pearl District, thanks to the house-made infierno salsa doused over crispy chunks of pork belly with potatoes, onions, and greens.
Pairs with: Cool off by quaffing a tangy Tamarind Sour with Bulleit bourbon and fresh lime. 524 NW 11th Ave // 503-894-9321 // verdecocinamarket.com
