Mother's Bistro & Bar

"A Portland institution, this sprawling downtown restaurant welcomes bachelorette brunches on Sunday mornings for salmon hash and bellinis, while the evening sees big family dinners of Dungeness crab cakes and pot roast. Mother's dinner menu includes a number of group-friendly appetizers — fried ravioli, smoked salmon rillettes, handmade pierogis — while the wine list is loaded with inexpensive bottles. Those interested can make reservations online for up to 14 people, though groups of 15 or more can call the restaurant for reservations." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden

"Families will find a warm welcome and a comfortable vibe at this Portland institution, made famous for its brunches, high-quality comfort food, and special Mother of the Month dishes. Younger children will enjoy the kids menu with things like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese, and macaroni and cheese — plus, the restaurant’s root beer floats, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider are sure to please." - Rebecca Roland, Levi Rogers, Jenni Moore

"This sprawling, 200-seat downtown Portland institution continues to serve high quality comfort food in a charmingly ornate space. Mother’s also offers a fantastic bloody mary, reliant on a house-infused jalapeno and pepper vodka and a “secret bloody concoction” that’s hard to pin down. It provides a rich tomato flavor with a nice balance of citrus and pepper." - Chad Walsh, Maya MacEvoy

"Mother’s Bistro & Bar, owned by Lisa Schroeder, was recognized as Oregon Small Business Person of the Year 2023. The restaurant received support from SBA to open and to sustain its business through COVID relief programs." - Janey Wong

"At Mother’s, they will do a soup of the day, and it’s almost always extremely comforting and lovely and delicious." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden