Best Place to Take a Date

[July 23rd, 2008]

Pambiche

[The Arboretum] 2811 NE Glisan St., 233-0511.

Imagine how crowded this vibrant Cuban cocinawill be when Fidel Castro actually dies and every reporter in town heads over for a local interview with flavor. The eatery is always crowded, but it’s worth the 20-minute wait. In the interest of quick seating, ¡Viva Fidel!

Runner-up: Hollywood Theatre

Lovely Hula Hands

[Baristaville] 4057 N Mississippi Ave., 445-9910.Chef Troy MacLarty’s been serving a lot of burgers ever since The Oregonian named his beef-and-brioche delight one of the city’s best, but he has much more to offer. Don’t skip the soup.

Runner-up: Roux

Portland City Grill

[Central City] 111 SW 5th Ave., 450-0030.

It’s the fifth-highest-grossing restaurant on the West Coast for a reason: Portland City Grill is part air-traffic control tower, part subground wine cellar in Napa and, thanks to a pianist banging out adult-contemporary tunes on a black baby grand, part women’s shoe department at Nordstrom. Which isn’t altogether a bad thing, especially when some of Portland’s best happy hours are thrown into the mix.

Runner-up: Mary’s Club

Andina

[El Dorado] 1314 NW Glisan St., 228-9535.

The servers call Andina’s food “new Peruvian.” Portland doesn’t have a traditional Peruvian restaurant to compare it with, but Andina is inventive and as good as it gets for upscale, world-inspired South American fare in town.

Runner-up: Bluehour

The Farm Cafe

[The Inseam] 10 SE 7th Ave., 736-3276.

Nestled on booming East Burnside Street a block west of the Doug Fir, this converted house tickles the hot Portland troika: local, organic and vegetarian—well, mostly vegetarian. The star of the menu, believe it or not, is tofu: In the herb-crusted entree with mushrooms Marsala, the meat substitute isn’t just a necessary evil, but a working part of the dish.

Runner-up: Le Pigeon

Dublin Pub

[Neglected Southwest] 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, 297-2889.

With live music and a big dance floor, the Dublin is a great place to shake your Laffy Taffy. The noise level makes awkward silences a non-issue, so if you’re afraid of first-date lulls, the Dub Pub is a safe haven.

Runner-up: Council Crest Park, Alba Osteria (tie)

Ciao Vito

[The New Frontier] 2203 NE Alberta St., 282-5522.

When Vito DiLullo opened his Italian house on Northeast Alberta Street in 2004, brought the area’s dining choices ran toward the cheap and filling. Ciao Vito brought a touch of simple elegance to the street; a mustard-and chocolate-colored perch where the neighborhood’s increasingly monied residents could sit and watch the street’s fire dancers and art peddlers with a glass of Italian red in hand. With an open kitchen at its heart, the U-shaped space, lit with twinkling little chandeliers, harbors long tables for big gatherings as well as intimate spots in the bar. Share a puckery plate of antipasti or work your way through a rich beef bolognese with housemade tagliatelle noodles, and you’ll understand why folks have been saying a happy hello to Vito for years now.

Runner-up: Alberta Street Oyster Bar and Grill

Country Cat

[The Outer Limits] 937 SE Stark St., 408-1414.

Adam Sappington butchers a hog every week, renders the fat, cures his own ham and bacon, and uses every last bit of it. Who cares if the restaurant is noisy when you’ve got that much pig to play with? And don’t even get us started on the fried chicken....

Runner-up: Mount Tabor Park

St. Johns Twin Cinemas and Pub

[The Peninsula] 8704 N Lombard St., 286-1768.

Tucked into downtown St. Johns, this cozy little movie theater is just right for a low-key date. With first-run films at second-run prices ($4 matinees, $6 evening shows), you’ll be able to catch the latest Tom Cruise monstrosity and still treat your sweetie to a slice of Pizzicato and a pint.

Runner-up: Encanto

Sapphire Hotel

[The People’s Republic] 5008 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 232-6333.Bathed in crimson light and immaculately decorated with a Japanesey theme, this former hotel of ill repute can’t be beat for romance. Nightly $5 drink specials and tiny tables encourage canoodling, and the bar’s “safe streets” cab-fare fund will get you home in one piece.

Runner-up: Savoy

Delta Cafe

[Sellwoodstockland] 4607 SE Woodstock Blvd., 771-3101.

Delta Cafe is the ultimate Portland dinner-date spot. Where else can you chew some of the city’s best fried chicken or spicy jambalaya while quaffing house-infused cocktails and housemade desserts? But for true romance, nothing beats the bubbly—40 ounces of PBR served in a champagne bucket. Eat your heart out, Genoa!

Runner-up: Gino’s, Papa Haydn (tie)

Rocky Butte

[Siberia] Northeast Rocky Butte Road.

There’s a reason teenagers in old movies drive up to Lookout Point at night. They park the car to look at the scenery, but soon their focus shifts to, um, the matter at hand. Rocky Butte has the same effect. Here’s a tip: The sunset from up there is gorgeous, and only lasts about 20 minutes.

Runner-up: McMenamins Kennedy School