Eat: Lake Oswego

Lake Oswego is a foodie haven just 15-20 minutes south of Portland. Portland based restaurants often look to this city to launch additional locations or sister restaurants, while Lake Oswego itself has started shops that evolve, opening additional locations in Portland or other Mt. Hood Territory communities. 

Lake Oswego Originals

Five Spice Seafood + Wine Bar: Situated along Oswego Lake, this seafood restaurant also features an open-air deck and provides pretty views of the lake and surrounding area. Must try entrées include the spicy seafood stew with fresh fish, prawns, Manilla clams, bay scallops, squid, red peppers and Spanish yellows onions all in a spicy fumet with white rice, as well as the cider-brined smoked pork chop served with vegetable tian and apple demi-glace. They also has an impressive wine list.

Chuckie's Pies: Wood-fired pizza is always worth exploring, but when you add a cozy environment and excellent service, it can be a force that brings people together. The menu here is small but mighty, with a handful of Neapolitan-style, 10 inch pizza options, as well as salads, wine and beer.

Baird's on B: Owner Baird Bulmore wants to make sure you know to come as you are; there's no dress code at Baird's on B. In fact, they even provide warm blankets on their covered, heated patio balcony for chilly evenings, so you don't have to dress up in any sense of the word. The menu highlights Pacific Northwest fare and emphasizes local and seasonal products.

The Harvest Wine Bar: The Harvest Wine Bar is more than Lake Oswego's premier restaurant and wine bar. It's a place to gather with family and friends over elegantly-presented entrées. Their food menu features tapas, so you can explore both the wines and the food in one culinary journey. The roasted garlic cheesecake with crostini is a must.

Duke's Public House: Looking for a beautiful, bright sports bar? Dukes is a casual, family friendly sports bar offering elevated bar food, almost any bar game one could imagine, from corn hole to life-sized Jenga, a heated, covered patio with a fire pit and no fewer than seven flat-screen TVs, one of which is outside! Just a sampling of the yummy menu includes ribeye Philly cheese steak, shrimp Po boy, Texas brisket and radicchio kale Caesar salad with quinoa gremolata.

Stickmen's Lakeside Smokehouse & Brewery: Craft is at the heart of what Stickmen Brewing does, from the wide variety of beers produced, to the full brewpub menu, to the specialty cocktails and wines they pour. They strive to source local ingredients and products for all of their food and beverage offerings. Sunsets from their massive patio overlooking the lake and frequent live music are not to be missed.

Nicoletta's Table & Marketplace: Nicoletta’s Table is an authentic Italian restaurant offering homemade pastas, pizzas and salads and an Italian marketplace where one may purchase fresh, cut-to-order pasta, a variety of antipasti and Italian meats and cheeses. They're is based on the Italian concept of a trattoria and small neighborhood market. The restaurant combines Italy's rustic charm and the Pacific Northwest's vibrancy.

Holy Taco: This lively spot serves creative renditions of Latin American dishes and agave focused craft cocktails. Some dinner favorites include pescado (fish wrapped and baked in banana leaves, braised greens, green rice and mango puree) and costillas (chili-lime rubbed pork spare ribs, prickly pear barbecue sauce and jicama slaw). 

Ricardo's Ristorante: At Riccardo’s, the wine list is extensive, the coffee’s strong and nutty, and the no-flour chocolate cake is to die for, making it a luxurious date-night spot. The Capesante Al Ferri (fresh sea scallops dressed with lemon and pancetta) is a great place to start, and though any pasta is worth diving into, the lasagne should be mandatory. 

Pizzeria sul Lago:  This restaurant savors their relationships with local farmers and their ability to shop right outside their doors during the summer months when the Pacific Northwest’s best bounty is available at the Lake Oswego Farmer’s Market. Come enjoy the delicious and perfectly-charred pizzas from their Mario Acunto wood-fired pizza oven. Enjoy a sunset, a pizza and a bottled Italian cocktail on their lakeside patio. 

Pho Lavang: This family owned restaurant serves up 11 different types of pho! Find other Vietnamese staples like Bun (rice vermicelli noodles), banh mi and wraps. Try the #5 (eye round steak) to slurp on some flavorful beef broth pho.

Tucci: Opened in 2002, Tucci was named in honor of the owners’ great grandmother, Mary Matteucci, who was always known as “Grandma Tucci.” Today, the restaurant exhibits the traditions handed down by Grandma Tucci, offering Italian inspired fare in a relaxed and stylish atmosphere. 

Babica Hen: Babica Hen is one of Lake Oswego’s best stops for breakfast. All of the baked goods, sausages, and sauces are made in-house, and they’re served alongside pasture raised pork and locally sourced eggs, giving you the distinct impression you’re having breakfast at grandma’s house. The comfort food-centric menu features items like waffles, eggs, smoked salmon and burritos, but if we had to pick one all star dish, it would be the pork schnitzel and biscuit served with chorizo gravy.

Lola's Café Bar: This bright, inviting place is Lake Oswego's newest gathering spot. Your daytime and nighttime spot, they offer a coffee bar, smoothies, bowls, sandwiches and salads during the day. They then transition to happy hour, draft beer and craft cocktails later. Plus, they have a sustainable gifts market, as well as a large covered patio.

Dang's Thai Kitchen: Serving authentic Thai recipes, this restaurant procures the freshest ingredients available, including specialty items from Thailand, for its healthy fare. Notable choices include the kao soi, which includes a choice of protein, egg noodles, shallots, cilantro, and pickled lettuce all in a kao soi curry soup and topped with crispy egg noodles; and the roasted duck in a red curry sauce with eggplant, bamboo shoots, tomatoes, pineapple, bell peppers, basil leaves, grapes and tropical fruit.

Tavern on Kruse : Chef Nate is described as a “culinary wizard” who constantly pushes the boundaries with his creative concoctions. In the spirit of gratitude for the farm which existed where the restaurant now stands, Tavern on Kruse sources only the freshest and most seasonal ingredients available from local farmers and artisans. Even the building utilizes reclaimed wood from the farm buildings previously on the land, paying homage to their roots and local history.

Pine Shed Ribs & Barbeque: Faced with tri-tip, beef back ribs, whole chickens, brisket, pork spare ribs and more, trying to choose just one protein is a sucker's bet. Go for a full sampler plate to really experience pit master Matt Ramey’s Santa Maria-style barbecue. The homemade cornbread has a perfect amount of sweetness.

Casa del Pollo: Known as “the little red house on Boones Ferry Rd,” Casa del Pollo is an intimate, family owned restaurant that specializes in cooking Costa Rican comfort food. Expect to find bold and bright flavors in everything from ceviche to smoked chicken and pork tacos, with large portion sizes at decent prices. Order the smoked chicken casado for a plate filled with all the fixings, including chicken, tortillas, rice, beans, pickled onions and carrots.

Oswego Grill: Oswego Grill is a classic American bistro highlighting luxurious food items, including burgers made with half pound USDA Choice chuck, a variety of seafood plates, and plenty of 28-day aged steaks. Some local favorites include the artichoke, spinach, and cheese dip, the fried chicken and the salmon stuffed with crab, shrimp and brie. 

Lake Oswego Inspires Portland

La Provence: La Provence serves as both a boulangerie and patisserie, and, at dinnertime, it evokes the cozy, European style bistro. It’s hard to beat brunch on the patio during a nice, sunny day. 

Aji Tram: At Aji Tram, their vibrant and modern restaurant reflects their Asian fusion craft recipes. Try their ground pork and Brussels sprout larb, featuring ground pork, panko, rice and a sunny side up egg on top for the perfect combination of savory tastes. The Aji Tram bar is welcoming with its specialty cocktails, local craft beer, wine and sake. Aji Tram has emerged as a favorite of several high-profile athletes, including members of the Portland Timbers and Trail Blazers, many of whom live nearby.

Kyra's Bake Shop: Owned by Kyra Bussanich, the only contestant to ever win Food Network’s Cupcake Wars four times, this bake shop makes entirely gluten free creations. While some cupcakes are playful, others feature bold flavor pairings like Sesame Caramel Bomb and Cherry Balsamic Black Pepper. Arrive early to try one seriously amazing cinnamon roll.

Portland Shows Love to Lake Oswego

St. Honoré Boulangerie: Step inside their cozy, rustic boulangerie and you instantly feel a connection with the old-world charms of France. From rows of wicker baskets holding freshly baked bread to the glass encased display of sugary pastries, St. Honoré Bakery's ambience and design are pure French. 

Bamboo Sushi: Famous for its sushi, this sustainable-minded chain that started in Portland is also well versed in izakaya offerings. Want to see a real-time view of their sustainable supply chain? Well... you absolutely can on their fishery map! See which species are featured on their menu right now, where they’re from, and how they’re caught. 

Salt & Straw: One could easily argue that Salt & Straw started the elevated ice cream craze in the Portland area. Their small batch, chef driven ice cream is made by hand with local ingredients, a true farm-to-cone experience. While they've made a name for themselves with their more extreme ice cream flavors (think mint and sea urchin), they also offer luxurious flavors that are accessible to anyone. Most locals will tell you that you need to expect to wait in long lines for their ice cream, but you can often get your scoops within no time at this Lake Oswego location. Shhhhh... don't tell anyone else.