Thank you to everyone who voted for the Portland area’s best restaurants in in The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Readers Choice Awards. The winners list has one repeat from 2024 along with four newcomers. So let’s get right to the results:
No. 5: Higgins
It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for Higgins, the farm-to-table restaurant that was “on the brink” of closing in July before patrons heeded the warning and packed the house night after night. One of our readers called it “the pinnacle of both food and service. All restaurants should strive to be more like them.”
1239 S.W. Broadway; 5-9 p.m. Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 5-9 p.m. Saturday, 4-8 p.m. Sunday; higginsportland.com
No. 4: No Saint
One of our dining critic Michael Russell’s picks for Portland’s best new restaurants in 2023, this pizzeria embraces seasonal produce and makes the best tiramisu. One reader told us it’s the “perfect balance of low-key neighborhood corner spot vibes and legitimately some of the best food in town.” Another reader said it’s “the best Italian food being made in Portland, just happens to be at a place focused on pizza instead of pasta.”
1603 N.E. Killingsworth St.; 5-9 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; nosaintpdx.com.
No. 3: Alma
This Balkan tapas restaurant inspired by chef Vedran Jordan’s family recipes and named for his mother opened in June. One reader described it as “the comfort of home cooking elevated by culinary skill and creativity. The menu is unique and flavorful and expertly executed.” Another reader told us, “My partner and I went there for a special event and everything was spot on. All of the courses of the menu were 10 out of 10, the wine pairing was exceptional and probably the best I’ve ever had.”
5237 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; 5-9 p.m. Thursday-Monday; almapdx.com
No. 2: Nostrana
Cathy Whims’ Italian restaurant celebrated its 20th anniversary a couple months ago. In 2006, it was The Oregonian’s Restaurant of the Year. It was also a top pick among our readers for the best Italian restaurant a year ago. “It’s a Portland institution for a reason, with incredible food and true Portland terroir. They have incredible values and vision, and they’re a pillar in the community,” one reader said. “Consistently delicious” is how another reader summed it up.
1401 S.E. Morrison St. #101; 5-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; nostrana.com
1/4
Cafe Rowan
No. 1: Cafe Rowan
The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Readers Choice Awards winner for the best brunch spot in the Portland area is also our readers pick for the best restaurant. This Southeast Portland spot serves up several Benedicts (including a Dungeness crab Benedict), birria rancheros, seafood rolls, bananas Foster French toast and other modern takes on classic brunch dishes. It also hosts a rotating limited dinner series in collaboration with other chefs from across the country.
“Cafe Rowan is unmatched. Thoughtful seasonal brunch and ridiculously creative dinners,” one reader said. Another said it has the “best food, kindest staff, warmest vibes.”
4437 S.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; caferowan.com
Dining and Cooking