I like to find places that I like, and frequent them. Consistency is a good thing. If you know your meal, service, and atmosphere will be good the majority of the time, you're more likely to relax, and have fun while you're spending your hard earned money. There's a place that my wife, friends, and I enjoy a lot, it's the Portland City Grill. We've only eaten at the restaurant twice, both extremely special occasions, one paid for by my folks as an anniversary gift, and once on our dime. But don't fret, because there's a way you can experience the great views, great food, and great atmosphere, significantly cheaper. Happy hour. I know they do it during the week but don't know the exact details. I'm going to tell you about Sundays at the Portland City Grill.
Every Sunday, they open at four and have happy hour until close. The best way to get in and assure you'll have a seat (read good seat), and totally enjoy yourself is to ENSURE, you're there before 4PM. We try to get there w/ at least 5 to 10 minutes to spare. Their address is:
30th Floor
Unico/US Bancorp Tower
111 SW Fifth Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97204
You can park right in the garage of the same building, they'll even validate your first hour of parking.
The Grill is located on the 30th floor of the U.S. Bank building just a few blocks off Burnside on 5th. If you take Pine S. from the waterfront side, you'll drive right into the garage. Park near the elevators, you'll see signs to the Grill. Here's the catch, most people wait in the lobby until the elevators are unlocked allowing access to the 30th floor. We typically get in the elevator in the garage about 3-5 minutes before 4PM. And like a kid using an ATM, or elevator, heh, I just keep pressing the 30th floor button until it finally lights up.
Just last week this tactic got us in front of the mass of people that rushed in. You'll only need to employ this tatic if you want a window seat, and trust me, you do. Happy hour is only good in the bar, so once on the 30th floor, you briskly walk in, and find a good window seat, we like to sit as far from the bar out overlooking the river. The prices are CHEAP (for food). Appetizers range from a paultry $1.95 - $4.95 and include things like Sushi, a yummy burger, fries, Caeser salad, prawns, mini pork sandwhiches, Bruscheta, and a ton more. Four of us ate about 3-4 appetizers each, had 2-3 drinks each, and a $10 dessert, with tip spent less than $100. Not bad for a night out on the town. After 5PM there is a piano player, and the music is pretty good.
This is a great way to enjoy seeing Portland from a vantage that you won't get to that often, and keeping your night out on the town very reasonable. The picture above was taken from our seats about an hour after sunset.
I was able to find the happy hour menu on their site.