Introduction
In my last article, I wrote about a favorite restaurant that somehow had never made it into my lineup. Portland being Portland, it turns out that wasn’t a one-off.
As I looked back over the places I’ve eaten at, especially with friends and family, I realized there was another favorite I had never actually written about. Given how often I’ve been there, that omission was genuinely surprising.
We’ll get to that in a moment.
Setting the Night
First, a bit of context. In addition to world-class food, Portland is full of cultural opportunities every day of the week. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise, and to celebrate, the Oregon Symphony teamed up with the producers of The Star Trek Ultimate Journey and conductor Jason Freer for a special performance at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
Anyone who grew up in the 80s and loved Star Trek: The Next Generation knows how central Q, portrayed by John de Lancie, was to the series. Mischievous, unpredictable, and impossible to ignore, Q felt like the perfect excuse to start the evening sitting at the chef’s counter at Q Restaurant & Bar.
A Front Row Seat to the Show
Reservations are almost always required, and I strongly recommend opting for the chef’s counter if you can. It adds an entirely different dimension to the experience.
My evening began simply with a Classic Sazerac, paired with Sweet and Spicy Black Sesame Candied Cashews. The cashews were addictive, and the pairing struck a great balance between warmth, sweetness, and spice. A small opening, but a confident one.
Next came the Winter Citrus Salad, built around winter greens, honey pepper vinaigrette, peppered chèvre, candied hazelnuts, and a slice of pink grapefruit. Bright, fresh, and well-composed, it set up the rest of the meal nicely.
While chatting with the chefs, I was encouraged to try the Seared Ahi Tuna, served over sweet potato frittes with miso aioli, lightly dressed julienned cabbage, and another hit of those sweet and spicy cashews for texture. I followed the recommendation and was glad I did. I paired it with the Seasonal Crush cocktail, a mix of bourbon, kumquat purée, tangerine, lemon, Canton ginger liqueur, and cardamom bitters. Together, they made for a satisfying and cohesive main course.
Dessert felt non-negotiable at this point. Q’s dessert menu is always strong, and once again the chef steered me right with the Caramel Banana Cream Tart. Despite its appearance, the dessert was surprisingly light, built on a vanilla shortbread crust with banana pastry cream, fresh bananas, Chantilly, and toasted pecans.
Matched up with a stiff coffee, it was the perfect finish. Just enough sweetness and caffeine to fuel my ten-minute walk to the symphony, where the rest of the evening unfolded exactly as hoped.
A view from the Balcony
The show delivered exactly what it promised. Iconic footage from across film and television played on the big screen while the orchestra performed the franchise’s most recognizable and powerful music live. I had a prime seat in the Dress Circle and was more than ready for the night.
Whether you have a concert downtown or not, Q Restaurant & Bar is worth a visit any time of year. The menu evolves with the seasons, the bar program is consistently strong, and the location makes it ideal for a relaxed walk to whatever comes next.
Go soon. I suspect it will earn a place in your regular rotation just as it has in mine.