Portland City Grill

View Seating/Strategy for getting it.. Parking is underground - enter on the east side. Validate your ticket with your server for free parking after 4pm. But, to get the best seating in the bar area, be in the lobby at 3:30. (Elevators do not go up to 30th floor until 4 sharp) Get in the elevator at 3:59 and push '30' until it operates. The first few people up get pick of the view booths along the south side of the bar. Nice for sunsets. Don't be shy to ask about sharing the booth - it is common to do it. Restaurant faces North and East. Nice for moon rise over Mt. Hood. Happy hour is 4-6 with snacks under $6 (try the crab and avocado rolls) and you can order dinner in the bar too. We both had the delicious 'Ginger' Lemon Drop - danger-they go down too fast! and the house Chardonnay with macadamia encrusted chicken with rice (our server said they tried to rotate this off the menu for a while and had to put it back on by diner's demand) and the 10oz top sirloin steak with mashed garlic potatoes rivaled any in Portland. All were melt in your mouth good. $104 with tip. Service was gracious and welcoming. Great for that special occasion.  View Less … View More

Tops in Portland, by Altitude, Attitude AND Cuisine. With all due respect to some previous reviewers, are you sure you were at the right place? Tall building, spectacular view, interesting and varied menu that DELIVERS, not one that promises much but is better written than cooked? Helpful, efficient and unobtrusive yet attentive staff? Free parking? THAT'S the place we went to tonight.

The waiter asked if it was our first visit, and gave us a patient, but concise tour of the menu that was appreciated.

My wife and I are calamari appetizer snobs; we've had them from Mexico to Canada, California to Florida and beyond. She tried two bites and said, "This is the best I've ever had." Our friends visiting from California were equally impressed by the crab cakes. The crab stuffed halibut, alder smoked duck and grilled center cut pork chop were the entrées of choice. The smell alone of the balsamic bing cherry pan sauce on the pork made me regret my choice of the halibut, but I quickly adjusted to it, because it was marvelous. I managed to wheedle a little taste of the duck from my very generous neighbor. A pineapple/Hosin/smoky miracle. Try the duck. Really.

Desserts looked good, but we felt guilty enough with what we had.

So, with the validated and easy access parking it goes into the 6 stars category. A faultless evening atop my favorite town. Did I mention the night was clear, the lights were bright, and view was SPECTACULAR ?

Gonzoboy says, "Check it OUT ! ! !"  View Less … View More