See Us Eat: Dinner at Fife Restaurant, Portland, OR

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Dinner at Fife Restaurant, Portland, OR

On the recommendation of a friend of a coworker, we made reservations at Fife, whose motto is "An American Place" and whose ingredients are all local, making it's food seasonal and sustainable. The atmosphere was laid back, yet sophisticate, much like Ad Hoc. The menu changes daily. The prices were reasonable for a relatively high-end place and the wine list was the best (in terms of affordability) that we've seen lately with at least 40 wines and not one over $45 a bottle.

Razor Clam Chowder $8
Creamy without being starchy and chock full of razor clams. The fried bits of root vegetables on top added a nice flavor contrast. Very good.

Maryland-Style Crab Cakes with Spicy Aioli $9
Alexis is always on a quest for the perfect crab cake, and these came pretty close. While not as chuncky as the waiter said they'd be, they had very little filler, and lots of fresh, local, dungeonesse crab.

Duck with Bok Choy $20
Tender and flavorful.

Bison Steak with Horseradish Cream and Fresh Grilled Asparagus $25
Alexis had never had bison before and wanted to give it a try. Basically, beef is better. The lean bison had great flavor, but it was a bit chewy, even cooked medium rare. The horseradish cream was a great accompaniment, Alexis just wished there had been more of it on the plate.

Cheese Plate $6
Although this was the cheapest cheese plate we've ever seen, it certainly wasn't the best. The fontina and a hard sheep cheese were tasty, but not incredibly interesting. The hazelnuts and strawberry were nice on their own.