Rosswood, a new riverfront dining destination at River’s Edge Hotel in Portland, Ore., celebrated its grand opening this month. Owned by HRI Properties, the modern restaurant showcases locally sourced ingredients from the Pacific Northwest amid views of the Willamette River.
Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Rosswood specializes in modern American cuisine infused with subtle Mediterranean influences. The menu is rooted in seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, ranches and purveyors, and with an abundance of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options.
Morning offerings include hearty, balanced dishes such as the Kitchen Sink (farro, edamame, black beans, pickled chili, seeds, chimichurri, sunny egg), whole wheat ricotta pancakes (served with blueberry syrup) alongside classics like eggs benedict (Canadian bacon, crispy potatoes, grainy hollandaise mustard).
The dinner menu is divided into the following categories: “Farmed, Foraged, Pastured” with options such as salt-roasted beets (hazelnut crumb, honey-whipped yogurt, mint) and smoked mushroom toast (lemon zest, caramelized onion, crème fraiche); “Ocean, Lake, River” with catches of the day like cast-iron seared smoked salmon (orzo, roasted peppers, celery, squid ink butter) and crispy catfish (pickled Fresno chili, Castelvetrano olives, shaved baby carrots, white bean purée, citrus-brown butter vinaigrette); and “Land, Hills, Valley” with grilled hanger steak (cottage fries, smoked mushrooms, cipollini onions, bordelaise) and half chicken (garlic, spring onion, wild rice, baby spinach, red wine gastrique).
A focal point of the restaurant, a wraparound, marble-topped bar artfully displays an extensive selection of high-end spirits. Craft cocktail offerings, created by cocktail author Dushan Zaric and principal bartender Lisa Victoria Hare, include familiar classics like the dry martini and Manhattan alongside eccentric offerings such as the Quiet Storm (bourbon, red bush tea-infused blanc vermouth, fresh lemon, Fever-Tree Ginger Beer), Billionaire Cocktail (Old Weller Antique 107 Bourbon, absinthe bitters, house grenadine, fresh lemon) and Sly Man (Suntory Whisky Toki, cognac, sweet vermouth, PX sherry, black truffle, honey vinegar, house grenadine). Curated by Rosswood’s sommelier Marissa Kipp, the wine selection boasts more than 120 bottles, ranging from affordable to high end, with a heavy emphasis on the Left Coast. Rounding out the bar program is a selection of eight craft beers on tap, all of which are also sourced from the local region.
Conceptualized by New York-based Apicii restaurant group and designed by Sera Architects, a local sustainable design firm, Rosswood balances modern elegance with neighborhood comfort. Adjacent to the newly renovated River’s Edge Hotel, the restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that provide an open-air feel and offer scenic views of the Willamette River from every vantage point. The interior décor has a simple, clean palette, executed through natural materials, wood and marble tabletops, comfortable leather seating and warm Edison-style decorative lighting. With a high-ceiling bar, main dining room, two outdoor patios, the 5,000-square foot restaurant can accommodate up to 150 guests with a multitude of seating options from high chairs circling the bar to four-tops and secluded banquets. Private dining is available with an upstairs event space offering panoramic views for large groups.