Crank the amplifiers to eleven and bang the gongs, the 2015 Eater Awards are two weeks away and the voting starts now. On Monday, November 16, the sixth annual Eater Awards will celebrate all that's made the Portland restaurant world run — and run wild — in the past 12 months, and there will be a splashy event in Manhattan to announce all of the Eater Award winners from across the nation. Winners will be selected on both the local and national levels in five major categories. First up: Restaurant of the Year. Cast your vote for this year's top Portland restaurant below.
Here's a primer on the nominees. Renata, among a lot of fuss after the Oregonian named it restaurant of the year just 17 days after opening, updated the city's Italian cuisine with upscale yet playful pastas, pizzas, and entrees. In February, Holdfast Dining found an appropriately haute and permanent home, where chefs William Preisch and Joel Stocks turn little-known Oregon ingredients into signature dishes. Nodoguro took things further in 2015 by adding two sushi nights—often featuring around 20 courses—that were universally loved by the critics. At Coquine, chef Katy Millard and front-of-house manager (and husband) Ksandek Podbielski delivered a commitment to refined French cooking techniques, creative sourcing, and a sincere neighborhood-casual attitude. And Little Bird Bistro, with Gabriel Rucker back in the kitchen, launched new dishes, such a Fried-Chicken Coq au Vin, and wallet-friendly happy hour items.
Here's how the voting works: Eater editors have named nominees in Portland for each of five major categories. Eater readers will vote, narrowing the nominees to three finalists. From those three finalists, the Eater editorial team will select a winner. Ready to play your part? This poll will be open for 24 hours; voting irregularities will be strictly policed.
