Wildwood

Although I learned in Sunday school that no mortal man is technically perfect, for reasons involving a treacherous snake and a Honeycrisp apple*, let’s be honest here–we all have that one friend who is irksomely flawless. Parking spots seem to appear from a mysterious mist when they pull up to a crowded restaurant. They never miss happy hour by three lousy minutes, but if they did, the smiling server would fawningly offer to override the POS system to give them an extension. They can accidentally eat 48 Sahagun Luscious Caramels in one sitting without gaining even one nano-ounce. (Okay, so they probably wouldn’t accidentally eat 48 caramels in one sitting to begin with.) As restaurants go, Wildwood is that friend.

Although I learned in Sunday school that no mortal man is technically perfect, for reasons involving a treacherous snake and a Honeycrisp apple*, let’s be honest here–we all have that one friend who is irksomely flawless. As restaurants go, Wildwood is that friend.

Gracefully occupying the corner of NW 21st and Overton in Portland’s elegant Northwest District, Wildwood is one of the city’s original bastions of local, sustainable cooking, and continues to set the standard with a determined dedication to organic, seasonal, farm-to-table fare.

Chef Dustin Clark serves up classic Northwest dishes like Matsutake mushroom and farro risotto, heirloom tomato and Dungeness crab salad, and pan-roasted quail and fennel-stuffed porchetta with brown butter harissa, and if that sounds pretty perfect, you should see the wine list. Desserts are equally exemplary—few pass up the final course when it’s apricot and anise-filled crepes with poached peaches or almond butter cake soaking in a basil-cinnamon crème anglaise, and if your flawless friend was an ice cream, I assure you they would be on the Wildwood dessert menu.

*While I can’t actually prove that the forbidden fruit was a Honeycrisp apple, it would make sense, because everyone knows Honeycrisp apples cannot be resisted.

Details

Cuisine: New American

Executive Chef: Dustin Clark

Atmosphere: Plush, relaxed upscale dining room with cushy booths and a nice bar area

Outdoor seating: Yes, Wildwood has a nice covered patio in front of the restaurant facing NW 21st

Best Seat: The bar is a great place to park and have a drink and a small plate, or sink into a booth for a longer, more relaxed meal

Noise Level: Normal

Dress Code: Casual to Dressy Casual

Bring the Kids: If they are exceptionally well behaved

Bathrooms: Located toward the front of the restaurant, behind and to the left of the host stand

Parking: Wildwood has a private lot on NW Overton between NW 21st and NW 22nd, but street parking is free and generally quite easy to find as well.

Cocktails: Yes, well crafted specialty cocktails

Beer: Yes

Wine: One of the city's best wine lists

Coffee: Stumptown

Tea: Tao of Tea

Ideal Meal: Heirloom tomato bruschetta, Chiogga beet and Charlotte potato salad, slow roasted Sweet Briar Farms porchetta

Vegetarian Friendly: Yes

Vegan Friendly: Yes

Good for the following occasions: Romantic Date, Family Meal, Out with Friends

Group/Private Party Details: Wildwood has two beautiful private rooms that accommodate up to 40 people each, one of which has a small private patio. Call 503.225.0130 for more information.

Reservations: Yes, call or go on OpenTable

Take-Out: Yes

Delivery: No