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A couple sits on either side of a small outdoor table within one of Eem’s greenhouse-style, single-party dining cabanas.
A couple on a date at Eem
Molly J. Smith / EPDX

17 Date-Worthy Restaurants in Portland Actually Open on Mondays

Where to have a nice night out on a Monday, when many Portland restaurants are closed

by Brooke Jackson-Glidden Updated
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A couple on a date at Eem
| Molly J. Smith / EPDX
by Brooke Jackson-Glidden Updated

Anyone who has searched for a nice dinner reservation on a Monday has noticed: Options slim down significantly at the beginning of the week. As the hospitality industry struggles to staff up, operating for a full week has become more challenging for restaurant owners; therefore, many food service workers take their “weekends” on Mondays and Tuesdays, as a way to still operate on Saturdays and Sundays. For those of you who also have days off earlier in the week — or are just looking for somewhere nice to take a date, a friend, or an out-of-towner on a Monday — this map highlights a few top-notch options for a special night out, even when many of the city’s date spots are closed. Every restaurant on this list is providing some sort of onsite service, whether you’re seeking a glass of wine, some nigiri, or a big bowl of pasta.

Note: Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. The latest CDC guidance is here; find a COVID-19 vaccination site here.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Gumba

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Gumba started as a cart, but now, Portlanders pop by the restaurant’s airy, floral-but-industrial dining room for candlelit dinners of house-made burrata with fry bread or pappardelle topped with braised beef. Opting for pasta is generally the move here, but it’s difficult to pass up a few after-dinner cannolis, as well.

1733 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 975-5951
(503) 975-5951

Also featured in:

XLB

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There’s nothing like devouring steamer trays of xiao long bao and digging chopsticks into piles of pork and shrimp noodles on a first date. At this Williams Chinese restaurant, visitors can sip Tsingtao or lychee-lime soda while they wait for an assortment of dumplings and noodles — not to mention an easily shareable bowl of five-spice popcorn chicken. Williams is also lined with bars and cafes, if you want to keep the date going afterward.

4090 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
(503) 841-5373
(503) 841-5373

Also featured in:

Lovely's Fifty Fifty

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Lovely’s walks the line between casual and intimate, with wooden banquettes, a strong wine list, and an ever-rotating slate of seasonal sourdough pizzas. Dine-in visits must involve some of the restaurant’s salads, soups, and appetizers, which often highlight produce from Oregon farms or owner Sarah Minnick’s family garden; if the date is going well, stick around for ice cream (and if it’s not, grab a cone to-go).

4039 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 281-4060
(503) 281-4060

Also featured in:

Eem

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Within the dining room and heated cabanas at Eem, diners scoop spoonfuls of smoked lamb massaman curry and barbecue fried rice onto plates alongside elaborate, fruity cocktails made with things like lime froyo or Sichuan peppercorn. The intimate quarters and lively drinks make it a cool spot for dates, though be forewarned: Eem doesn’t take reservations, and it can fill up fast. If it’s too tricky to grab a spot onsite, Eem offers takeout.

3808 North Williams Avenue st, 127, Portland, OR 97227
(971) 295-1645
(971) 295-1645

Also featured in:

Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine | Pearl District

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The colorful Portland locations of this Bay Area Thai transplant serve panang curry with bone-in short rib, Hat Yai-style fried chicken with shallots, and shrimp tom yum alongside bowls of cerulean rice made with butterfly pea flower. The drinks at Farmhouse are often eye-catching, as well, topped with everything from rubber duckies to cotton candy; those who avoid booze will find a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks, including teas and whole young coconut.

121 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(971) 754-4966
(971) 754-4966

Laurelhurst Market

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Portland’s beloved, inventive East Burnside steakhouse is well-known for its house butchered meats and charcuterie, which become dishes like marinated-and-grilled hanger steaks with piquillo pepper and charred broccoli, or filet mignon with black truffle butter. Laurelhurst Market can dress up or down — couples can opt for beef tartare, the Brandt Ranch rib-eye, and a bottle of something special from the cellar on an anniversary, or they can stick to steak frites or a burger for a casual mid-week dinner date. Stick around for desserts like chocolate-caramel mousse or coconut panna cotta; Music Millennium across the street is another fun option post-date.

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 206-3097
(503) 206-3097

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Lechon

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Right off the waterfront downtown, Lechon’s brick dining room and lengthy bar give it a nice, buzzy energy well-suited to a first date. Couples can start with small plates like anticuchos and tuna tiradito alongside mezcal cocktails, and if things are going well, they can stick around for achiote-marinated lamb chops or pollo a la brasa. Lechon is open for onsite dining, with reservations available.

113 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
(503) 219-9000
(503) 219-9000

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Bullard Tavern

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The ritzy-but-accessible dining room of Bullard Tavern sits in view of the kitchen, where chefs plate towers of seafood and guajillo-rubbed chickens. The restaurant’s large-format margarita pitchers and snacks like smoked beef carpaccio make it a fun spot for dates — and the bar next door, Abigail Hall, is a fun second location to keep the night going.

813 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 222-1670
(503) 222-1670

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Lazy Susan

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The menu at Montavilla’s cozy Lazy Susan changes often, but the menu currently includes cute date-night standards like oysters on the half-shell, as well as plenty of coal-roasted or charcoal-grilled dishes. Finish with a slice of peanut butter pie, or a root beer float with two straws. The restaurant takes reservations online.

7937 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
(971) 420-8913
(971) 420-8913

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Mi Cava & Cocina

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In an area rife with chains, this East Portland restaurant is unlike many that surround it, with dishes like tiger shrimp aguachile, mussels in a chipotle beurre blanc, and adobo-marinated whole fish. Start with a few cocktails — maybe even a margarita flight — or pop by during happy hour for $6 cocktails and $5 churros.

9722 SE Washington St, Portland, OR 97216
(971) 383-1779
(971) 383-1779

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Maruti Indian Restaurant

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This sweet Hawthorne Indian restaurant, with its red curtains and patterned walls, is one of the city’s finest, with dishes like khichdi, mushroom biryani, and paneer masala. Visits should include a few orders of naan, which come in a variety of flavors and are also available vegan. Maruti is also gluten-free friendly, though not Celiac safe.

1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-0714
(503) 236-0714

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OK Omens

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Wine nerds — and the wine curious — will love this Hawthorne restaurant, home to a James Beard nominated chef and a super fun (but still accessible) wine list. Couples can start with cheddar beignets or koji-cured scallop crudo, followed by pasta tangled with chanterelles or a crispy duck leg fragrant with six-spice. On a nice day, finish up with a stroll through Ladd’s Addition. Reservations are available online.

1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 231-9959
(503) 231-9959

Also featured in:

Nimblefish

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The full omakase at Nimblefish is the ideal special occasion option for those who love seafood. Nimblefish specializes in edomae-style sushi with an oft-changing menu; any given meal may include Hokkaido uni, conger eel, or a dessert of yuzu sorbet. Plus, the wine and sake lists at Nimblefish are often full of stunners. The full omakase is $85 per person, and diners can make a reservation online for indoor seating in the stylish dining room.

1524 SE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 719-4064
(503) 719-4064

Also featured in:

Oma's Hideaway

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This funky, cool restaurant is a smart choice for first dates, with plenty of colorful conversation starters scattered among the space and menu. Kick things off with a round of Jell-O shots, studded with passionfruit boba, and a few snacks for the table: flaky roti, sweet potato dumplings, a char siu platter with longan chimichurri. No meal at Oma’s is complete without a game hen — perfect to share.

3131 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
(971) 754-4923
(971) 754-4923

Also featured in:

Assembly Brewing

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For something low-pressure and casual, it’s hard to beat this knockout Detroit-style pizzeria and brewery in Portland’s Foster-Powell neighborhood. The small, four-slice pies are the perfect size for two, cheesy and crispy-edged with a satisfyingly soft dough. The beers are straightforward and well executed, with a range of options to please most beer drinkers. Assembly is also 21-plus, which makes it feel a little more date-friendly than the average kid-packed pizza parlor.

6112 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
(971) 888-5973
(971) 888-5973

Also featured in:

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Bergerac

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Some may call this Woodstock bistro a hidden gem; others would consider it a long-beloved stalwart. Sitting in the cozy dining room, neighborhood locals begin with seasonal pates and escargot dressed in garlic butter, followed by duck confit with caramelized onions or herbed polenta smothered in creamed garlic mushrooms. Meals here are prix fixe, with options starting at $50 per person. Reservations are available online.

5520 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
(503) 777-6399
(503) 777-6399

Also featured in:

a Cena Ristorante

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A Sellwood standby, this tiny Italian restaurant is a popular spot for pastas like corn-and-mascarpone raviolini or hand-rolled penne, plus standards like eggplant Parmesan and fritto misto. The space is intimate, warm, and inviting, often populated by regulars; you can often walk in with ease, but to be safe, you can make a reservation online.

7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 206-3291
(503) 206-3291

Also featured in:

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Gumba

1733 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

Gumba started as a cart, but now, Portlanders pop by the restaurant’s airy, floral-but-industrial dining room for candlelit dinners of house-made burrata with fry bread or pappardelle topped with braised beef. Opting for pasta is generally the move here, but it’s difficult to pass up a few after-dinner cannolis, as well.

1733 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
(503) 975-5951
(503) 975-5951

XLB

4090 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227

There’s nothing like devouring steamer trays of xiao long bao and digging chopsticks into piles of pork and shrimp noodles on a first date. At this Williams Chinese restaurant, visitors can sip Tsingtao or lychee-lime soda while they wait for an assortment of dumplings and noodles — not to mention an easily shareable bowl of five-spice popcorn chicken. Williams is also lined with bars and cafes, if you want to keep the date going afterward.

4090 N Williams Ave, Portland, OR 97227
(503) 841-5373
(503) 841-5373

Lovely's Fifty Fifty

4039 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217

Lovely’s walks the line between casual and intimate, with wooden banquettes, a strong wine list, and an ever-rotating slate of seasonal sourdough pizzas. Dine-in visits must involve some of the restaurant’s salads, soups, and appetizers, which often highlight produce from Oregon farms or owner Sarah Minnick’s family garden; if the date is going well, stick around for ice cream (and if it’s not, grab a cone to-go).

4039 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97217
(503) 281-4060
(503) 281-4060

Eem

3808 North Williams Avenue st, 127, Portland, OR 97227

Within the dining room and heated cabanas at Eem, diners scoop spoonfuls of smoked lamb massaman curry and barbecue fried rice onto plates alongside elaborate, fruity cocktails made with things like lime froyo or Sichuan peppercorn. The intimate quarters and lively drinks make it a cool spot for dates, though be forewarned: Eem doesn’t take reservations, and it can fill up fast. If it’s too tricky to grab a spot onsite, Eem offers takeout.

3808 North Williams Avenue st, 127, Portland, OR 97227
(971) 295-1645
(971) 295-1645

Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine | Pearl District

121 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209

The colorful Portland locations of this Bay Area Thai transplant serve panang curry with bone-in short rib, Hat Yai-style fried chicken with shallots, and shrimp tom yum alongside bowls of cerulean rice made with butterfly pea flower. The drinks at Farmhouse are often eye-catching, as well, topped with everything from rubber duckies to cotton candy; those who avoid booze will find a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks, including teas and whole young coconut.

121 NW 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97209
(971) 754-4966
(971) 754-4966

Laurelhurst Market

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214

Portland’s beloved, inventive East Burnside steakhouse is well-known for its house butchered meats and charcuterie, which become dishes like marinated-and-grilled hanger steaks with piquillo pepper and charred broccoli, or filet mignon with black truffle butter. Laurelhurst Market can dress up or down — couples can opt for beef tartare, the Brandt Ranch rib-eye, and a bottle of something special from the cellar on an anniversary, or they can stick to steak frites or a burger for a casual mid-week dinner date. Stick around for desserts like chocolate-caramel mousse or coconut panna cotta; Music Millennium across the street is another fun option post-date.

3155 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 206-3097
(503) 206-3097

Lechon

113 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204

Right off the waterfront downtown, Lechon’s brick dining room and lengthy bar give it a nice, buzzy energy well-suited to a first date. Couples can start with small plates like anticuchos and tuna tiradito alongside mezcal cocktails, and if things are going well, they can stick around for achiote-marinated lamb chops or pollo a la brasa. Lechon is open for onsite dining, with reservations available.

113 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland, OR 97204
(503) 219-9000
(503) 219-9000

Bullard Tavern

813 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205

The ritzy-but-accessible dining room of Bullard Tavern sits in view of the kitchen, where chefs plate towers of seafood and guajillo-rubbed chickens. The restaurant’s large-format margarita pitchers and snacks like smoked beef carpaccio make it a fun spot for dates — and the bar next door, Abigail Hall, is a fun second location to keep the night going.

813 SW Alder St, Portland, OR 97205
(503) 222-1670
(503) 222-1670

Lazy Susan

7937 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215

The menu at Montavilla’s cozy Lazy Susan changes often, but the menu currently includes cute date-night standards like oysters on the half-shell, as well as plenty of coal-roasted or charcoal-grilled dishes. Finish with a slice of peanut butter pie, or a root beer float with two straws. The restaurant takes reservations online.

7937 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97215
(971) 420-8913
(971) 420-8913

Mi Cava & Cocina

9722 SE Washington St, Portland, OR 97216

In an area rife with chains, this East Portland restaurant is unlike many that surround it, with dishes like tiger shrimp aguachile, mussels in a chipotle beurre blanc, and adobo-marinated whole fish. Start with a few cocktails — maybe even a margarita flight — or pop by during happy hour for $6 cocktails and $5 churros.

9722 SE Washington St, Portland, OR 97216
(971) 383-1779
(971) 383-1779

Maruti Indian Restaurant

1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

This sweet Hawthorne Indian restaurant, with its red curtains and patterned walls, is one of the city’s finest, with dishes like khichdi, mushroom biryani, and paneer masala. Visits should include a few orders of naan, which come in a variety of flavors and are also available vegan. Maruti is also gluten-free friendly, though not Celiac safe.

1925 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 236-0714
(503) 236-0714

OK Omens

1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214

Wine nerds — and the wine curious — will love this Hawthorne restaurant, home to a James Beard nominated chef and a super fun (but still accessible) wine list. Couples can start with cheddar beignets or koji-cured scallop crudo, followed by pasta tangled with chanterelles or a crispy duck leg fragrant with six-spice. On a nice day, finish up with a stroll through Ladd’s Addition. Reservations are available online.

1758 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 231-9959
(503) 231-9959

Nimblefish

1524 SE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97214

The full omakase at Nimblefish is the ideal special occasion option for those who love seafood. Nimblefish specializes in edomae-style sushi with an oft-changing menu; any given meal may include Hokkaido uni, conger eel, or a dessert of yuzu sorbet. Plus, the wine and sake lists at Nimblefish are often full of stunners. The full omakase is $85 per person, and diners can make a reservation online for indoor seating in the stylish dining room.

1524 SE 20th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
(503) 719-4064
(503) 719-4064

Oma's Hideaway

3131 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202

This funky, cool restaurant is a smart choice for first dates, with plenty of colorful conversation starters scattered among the space and menu. Kick things off with a round of Jell-O shots, studded with passionfruit boba, and a few snacks for the table: flaky roti, sweet potato dumplings, a char siu platter with longan chimichurri. No meal at Oma’s is complete without a game hen — perfect to share.

3131 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
(971) 754-4923
(971) 754-4923

Assembly Brewing

6112 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206

For something low-pressure and casual, it’s hard to beat this knockout Detroit-style pizzeria and brewery in Portland’s Foster-Powell neighborhood. The small, four-slice pies are the perfect size for two, cheesy and crispy-edged with a satisfyingly soft dough. The beers are straightforward and well executed, with a range of options to please most beer drinkers. Assembly is also 21-plus, which makes it feel a little more date-friendly than the average kid-packed pizza parlor.

6112 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
(971) 888-5973
(971) 888-5973

Related Maps

Bergerac

5520 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206

Some may call this Woodstock bistro a hidden gem; others would consider it a long-beloved stalwart. Sitting in the cozy dining room, neighborhood locals begin with seasonal pates and escargot dressed in garlic butter, followed by duck confit with caramelized onions or herbed polenta smothered in creamed garlic mushrooms. Meals here are prix fixe, with options starting at $50 per person. Reservations are available online.

5520 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97206
(503) 777-6399
(503) 777-6399

a Cena Ristorante

7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202

A Sellwood standby, this tiny Italian restaurant is a popular spot for pastas like corn-and-mascarpone raviolini or hand-rolled penne, plus standards like eggplant Parmesan and fritto misto. The space is intimate, warm, and inviting, often populated by regulars; you can often walk in with ease, but to be safe, you can make a reservation online.

7742 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
(503) 206-3291
(503) 206-3291

Related Maps