First-time visitor to Portland OR for two nights with wife. What are the local dining “institutions”?

Question by zorzo z: First-time visitor to Portland OR for two nights with wife. What are the local dining “institutions”?
Never been to Portland Oregon. Going to be there for two nights, staying at a hotel by the Lloyd Center. Wife and I want to visit true “Portland” dining institutions — anything from dive bars and shacks to fine dining. Also open to suggestions on bars/clubs/entertainment — basically all the cool stuff a young couple in their 30s would want to do.

Best answer:

Answer by walmeis
You will be within a few miles of the Mississippi neighborhood. There is a excellent choice of eclectic restaurants. Some have no atmosphere; others, like the Thai restaurant, are quite authentic. The food booths are among the most highly rated in the U.S. (at the point where I put the end marker). This is best for driving or bicycling, though it would be an okay hour-long walk.

For traditional big city restaurant experiences (all reachable by mass transit or a much shorter walk than Mississippi Ave.), try
* Portland City Grill, 30th floor of Big Pink at SW 5th to 6th and Burnside. Has a lively bar scene too. http://www.portlandcitygrill.com/
* London Grill or El Gaucho, Benson Hotel, 309 SW Broadway, top notch service and food, tends to be quiet and formal http://www.bensonhotel.com/Dining/tabid/59/Default.aspx
* Southpark, 901 SW Salmon, great seafood, hip crowd, can be difficult to be seated http://southparkseafood.com/
* Kell’s Irish Pub, 112 SW 2nd Ave, in the heart of the pub district, lots of atmosphere and authentic drinks and foods. http://www.kellsirish.com/portland/index.php
* Veritable Quandary, 1220 SW 1st Ave., lively bar, nice meat-based food. http://www.veritablequandary.com/
* Jake’s Famous Crawfish, 401 SW 12th Ave., classic upscale seafood,

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