Portland City Grill: Best views in PDX
Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
We got a small glimpse into Portland high life when we stopped in at the Portland City Grill. Granted, we were there because we heard about the fabulous happy hour: 4 pm to 7 pm and 9 pm till close from Monday to Saturday. Portland City Grill is located on the 30th floor so it boasts the best views in Portland: with large picture windows on all sides of the restaurant, diners can feast on spectacular views of all the city’s bridges and rooftops on a clear day.
Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
We ordered a couple of cocktails to quench our thirst: two fruity mojitos which were definitely more on the fruity side than the minty side. On the plus side, they were only $5. Cheers to happy hour. Another plus about Portland City Grill is they validate parking. Too bad we had already parked in another lot.
Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
The signature appy at Portland City Grill is the kung pao calamari so we had to order that. It turned out to be the most delicious item we ordered. The squid was crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside. And the sauce was tasty and addictive, it had a slight kick to it but was mostly sweet and sticky. The softened peanuts also added some texture to the dish.
Kung Pao Calamari, Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Our other appies were a disappointment. The warm crab and shrimp bruschetta turned out to be goopy, sloppy crab mush piled onto a soggy slice of bread. The flavours were there, epic fail on the texture though.
Warm Crab and Shrimp Bruchetta, Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Grilled Flat Iron steak and frites, Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
The grilled flat iron steak was overcooked and a little dry in the center. The fries were salty and crispy. I wish they were bigger though. I’m not a fan of matchstick fries, and the menu didn’t mention anything about the fries being skinnier than toothpicks.
Pan Seared Bay Scallop ‘poor boy,’ Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Our last dish was the pan seared bay scallop ‘poor boy’ open faced sandwich. The scallops were alright, they were fairly juicy in the middle. Thankfully, the focaccia bread was not soggy. The little pasta salad served on the side was okay, the little pasta shells were al dente and dressed in a light refreshing sauce with a hint of citrus.
Side of pasta salad, Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Except for the $8 kung pao calamari, all the other appies were just $5 so it’s a reasonable happy hour price point. No points for quality. Next time, I might just go for cheap drinks and the amazing view.
Happy hour at Portland City Grill, 30th floor, 111 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR