When most people celebrate Thanksgiving, they’ll be sitting down to a turkey dinner served at home with their family or friends. And aside from the holiday season, you may not expect to find this traditional dish served at a restaurant. However, a Huber’s Cafe—Portland’s oldest restaurant opened in 1879—you can get a plate of delicious roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce every day of the year!
Huber’s sits on the ground floor of the historic Oregon Pioneer Building on SW 3rd Ave and Harvey Milk St., and even in the late 1800’s they were known for their turkey sandwiches and for being one of the best spots in town to meet up with friends and family. When it was originally opened it was known at The Bureau Saloon, and even served as a speakeasy during Prohibition! Even today, when you walk inside, you can almost feel yourself being transported to Portland 100 years ago. The cafe has a timeless feel with high ceilings adorned with stained glass that fill the room with light, a classic bar made of dark mahogany wood, and simple yet elegant wooden tables and booths. You can even see artifacts like spittoons, cash registers, and old brass clocks.
Although Huber’s is well known for many reasons, their main claim to fame is their turkey and there’s no better time to try it out than the holiday season. The restaurant prepares on average 100 pounds of turkey each day for their signature plates and turkey sandwiches. Their most famous dish is the Roast Young Tom Turkey that’s served with sage dressing, and your choice of fresh mashed potatoes or fresh baked yams with hazelnut butter, traditional gravy or mushroom gravy, and cranberry sauce. Or, you can try their Sugar-Glazed Ham with tender slices of baked ham drizzled with ham glaze, and served with a choice of fresh mashed potatoes or fresh baked yams with hazelnut butter.
They also serve delicious pastas like Seafood Penne and Fettuccine Alfredo, perfectly-cooked Angus beef steaks, and mouth-watering burgers like the Beast burger, a ½ pound patty made with a blend of ground elk, Waygu, wild boar, and bison, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, olives, and mayonnaise. Customers also love the Chicken Piccata made with chicken cutlets breaded with panko bread crumbs, pan-fried, and served with a lemon caper beurre blanc with fettuccine aglio olio, and with sautéed fresh vegetables.
Make sure you save room for dessert like their house tiramisu, creme brulee, or apple-blackberry cobbler. Pair it all with their signature Spanish coffee which is made-to-order table side (and they light it on fire!) made with 151 rum, triple sec, Kahlúa, coffee, whipped cream, and nutmeg.
Huber’s is definitely one of the “nicer” restaurants in town, but for what you get the prices are actually quite reasonable (especially if you go during happy hour!). Happy hour is every day from 4:00pm to 6:30pm, and 9:00pm to close with great deals on apps, burgers, salads, and of course a turkey sandwich!
There are a couple of downsides (if they can even be considered that). Since the restaurant is downtown, there’s no designated parking and on a weekend it can be difficult to find street parking. Also, because it’s one of the most famous restaurants in Portland, you may want to make a reservation although you usually won’t have to wait too long if you don’t.
Overall, Huber’s is the perfect place to bring out of town guests, pop in for happy hour with friends, celebrate a birthday or anniversary with your family, or indulge in their famous turkey dinner during the holidays.
Hours:
- Monday - Thursday:11:30am - 10:00pm
- Friday & Saturday: 11:30 - 11:00pm
- Sunday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
Address: 411 SW 3rd Ave, Portland, OR
Phone: (503) 228-5686
