Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Portland

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Portland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

RingSide Steakhouse - Uptown

4.9

4.9 (7425)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

NW Portland

About the restaurant

For more than 8 decades we have been offering guests the best steaks in town, providing impeccable service with an unmatched wine list. With over 80 years of continuous family ownership, RingSide Steakhouse is a legend in the world of steakhouses. Start with RingSide's world famous onion rings...a recipe that is a closely held family secret. Choose a steak from a menu offering a variety of USDA Prime selections that are aged a minimum of four weeks and hand cut on the premises. Choose a wine from more than 900 labels. Wine Spectator has recognized RingSide Steakhouse yearly with its Best of Award of Excellence since 2001.

Top review

Gail

Dined today

Always a favorite . Two friends and I celebrate our birthdays at Ringside every year. We’ve been doing it for decades and are never disappointed.

St Jack

4.8

4.8 (2628)

$31 to $50

French

NW Portland

About the restaurant

After 14-plus years, St. Jack has become an iconic staple of the PDX dining scene, in the wonderfully walkable "Slabtown" neighborhood of NW Portland. Chef and restaurateur Aaron Barnett's unique menu features rustic dishes from the countryside of Lyon - the heart and soul of French cooking.

We are excited to offer full service inside, as well as outside on our sidewalk tables (weather permitting). We also allow walk-up guests as space allows - Fridays and Saturdays it is highly recommended to make reservations.

Our full menu is also available at the bar counter.

Top review

Todd

Dined 3 days ago

Just a great place, all around. The wine list, salads, entrees, everything was great. Special nod to the duck confit salad. I will be back just for that!

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4.8

4.8 (1641)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Southeast Portland

About the restaurant

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.

Top review

Heather

Dined 2 days ago

We started with drinks next store at Canard and then sat at the Counter in Le Pigeon. We enjoyed watching the food prep. We tried everything: the vegetarian menu, the omnivore menu, the reserve wine pairings and the non-alcoholic pairings. We're always impressed with the wine pairings but were really surprised by how good the non-alcoholic pairings were. The menus come with an additional supplemental dish--definitely get the extra dish. This is our favorite restaurant for celebrations and we had a great dinner!

C'est Si Bon! Bistro+Vins

4.8

4.8 (597)

$31 to $50

French

NE Portland

About the restaurant

C'est Si Bon! Bistro+Vins is a casual fine dining French restaurant that specializes in thoughtful, modern French bistro cuisine using local, seasonal ingredients.

One of Southeast Portland's Central Eastside's best restaurants, C'est Si Bon! is a cozy, upscale eatery perfect for meeting friends to enjoy quiet conversation, a romantic dinner, or quick bite at the bar. Both indoor and outdoor dining options available.

John and his staff strive to provide a memorable dining experience that will take you back to Paris!
We hope to see you soon! Merci mille fois et a bientôt!

Kev's Best | Best French Cuisine in Portland | #1
2021

Honorable Mention | Portland’s Best Food Neighborhoods | Central Eastside
Eater, 2019

Top review

Zinnia

Dined on Dec 29, 2024

My husband and I went to this restaurant and it was great we did the tasting menu and the chef and team was super kind I have a shellfish allergy and they did a great job accommodating us. We also had a really great experience with the pairings of wine and the food. Will definitely come here again my husband loved it.

Salty's on the Columbia

4.7

4.7 (7977)

$50 and over

Seafood

NE Portland

About the restaurant

Salty’s on the Columbia River serves award-winning Pacific Northwest Coastal Cuisine with astonishing waterfront views and endearing hospitality. For nearly four decades, Salty’s has proudly welcomed generations of locals and travelers celebrating vacations, engagements, business, or simply a lovely day on the water. Beautifully decorated to lift your spirits, we welcome you to take in the amazing waterfront and mountain views and fresh air of the Columbia River. Salty’s on the Columbia River is ranked as one of Portland’s best restaurants winning honors as one of the Top 100 Most Scenic Restaurants and Top 100 Best Brunches in America by OpenTable, and Eater’s #1 of the 15 Essential Portland Seafood Restaurants. Our Northwest wine menu has won the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2003. We are proudly independent, family owned and operated with woman ownership.

Top review

Lynne

Dined 1 day ago

Our waiter Matt was awesome! My entree was unusual. I ordered the Smoked Steelhead with rice but they smeared the cinnamon applesauce under my food so it was mixed in with the food so most bites had applesauce. I would not order that again. The fish alone was delicious.

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Crab and Shrimp Louie

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Portland

4.7

4.7 (2336)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Downtown

About the restaurant

Ruth's Chris Steak House in Portland, OR serves the finest USDA Prime beef available, broiled at 1,800° and served on 500° plates, so your steak stays hot, juicy and delicious from first bite to last. Enjoy our New Orleans-inspired appetizers, USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, signature side dishes and homemade desserts. All this while you enjoy our warm, inviting atmosphere and Ruth’s Chris’ genuine hospitality. So whether you’re a regular or have just been wondering what all the buzz is about, Ruth's Chris is the perfect excuse to enjoy the perfect night out. Dinner is served nightly, reservations are suggested and private dining and offsite catering may be arranged.

Top review

Dined 1 day ago

As always Ruth’s Chris Steak House was outstanding in every respect- food, service, friendly staff. I could go on and on. By far our favorite restaurant in Portland.

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Jake's Famous Crawfish

4.7

4.7 (6725)

$30 and under

Seafood

Downtown

About the restaurant

Have been serving downtown Portland for over 130 years, Jake's Famous Crawfish features a variety of fresh fish and seafood flown in daily, making a true Pacific Northwest statement using fresh Northwest products and served in a traditional and timeless presentation.

Top review

Heidi

Dined 4 days ago

Our waiter was very good and helpful. The food was excellent. Salmon cooked perfectly. Calamari, steelhead and sole all very well cooked.

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4.7

4.7 (14)

$31 to $50

Sushi

North Portland

About the restaurant

We have changed reservation systems! Please visit our website at zillasake.com to book a table.

Top review

Timothy

Dined 4 days ago

The food is excellent. The offerings are both traditional and uniquely adventurous. We enjoyed both. Sake flight was fantastic. 21-day aged salmon was a highlight as well as 7-day aged sea bream. The portions are smaller than most sushi restaurants and more expensive. As many have mentioned in other reviews, the service is slow. Very slow. Having read that, we settled in for a relaxed meal. The pace pushed us beyond relaxed to impatient. We would definitely return when we have plenty of time.

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Experience

Omakase

Urban Fondue

4.5

4.5 (2071)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Downtown

About the restaurant

Urban Fondue offers a unique perspective to fondue dining. From the indulgent cuisine, and boldly delicious and extensive martini selections, to the chic and smoldering décor and expert and personable service, Urban Fondue is a feast for the senses. Enjoy house made cheese fondue, succulent meat entrees cooked "fondue" style and delectable dessert fondues accompanied with side dishes such as fingerling potatoes and garlic sausage.

Top review

Kristen

Dined 2 days ago

Service was spot on! Waitress was kind, informative and well-timed; not too frequently visiting but we were never without. I was there early and was accommodated. Food is delicious but good golly it is spendy. Be prepared for that, but also a great evening of interactive dining.

Irving Street Tapas

4.3

4.3 (400)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Pearl District

About the restaurant

Happy Hour 4 PM to 5:30 PM Walk in's are always welcome!

Eat when you drink, drink when you eat is the Spanish philosophy. We have elevated tapas to the next level by integrating world cuisine in tapas form. You will find Spanish, Greek, Indian, Japanese, African and South American cuisines; all as tapas! One tapa per person and a different one with each drink is the idea, then everyone enjoys tasting, sharing and having fun

To book large groups, events and private dining please call us at +1 (971) 389-0212

Top review

Cassidy

Dined 2 days ago

This place has always been a favorite, but last night’s dinner was extra perfect. We came in as a group of 9 to share an intimate wedding dinner and the restaurant went out of their way to make everything perfect for us. The area we were seated in was adorable and very quiet - even when the restaurant was packed we felt like the only ones there. Excellent food, delicious drinks, great service. Can’t recommend IST enough for a celebration!

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