Throughout history the bull has been a symbol of strength and provision. In Portland, the bull means just one thing: a memorable meal at The Grill Room. Located just beyond the corner of Middle and Exchange Street, The Grill Room is adorned with a distinctive metal bull sign proudly guarding it’s entrance. On my most recent visit I was welcomed into the rustic yet urban steakhouse by friendly staff and the tantalizing aroma of grilled meats Seated at a cozy table with a view of the kitchen and wood-fired oven, I enlisted the assistance of my server Tracy to help decide what to choose from the many tempting menu options.
I began my meal with a classic appetizer: fried squid. While I’ve had quite a lot of calamari in my life (squid swim away in terror when they see me), this fried squid was more than just traditional calamari; it was a veritable treasure chest of crispy fried goodies. Along with the squid there were slices of spicy pepperoncini peppers, salty olives and tangy artichoke hearts, all topped with a tequila lime aioli.
I doubt I left even a crumb of it, as each bite seemed better than the last. For my entrée I ordered the butterflied pork chop with grilled onion jam and BBQ sauce served atop a chipotle cheddar potato croquette.
The pork chop was gigantic and cooked to perfection. As I savored every bite, the prospect of leftovers excited me. The potato croquette featured a spicy kick from the chorizo mixed in. The sweet onion jam and smoky barbeque sauce tied all of the components together perfectly, leaving me to wonder if I’d have any leftovers after all. Forcing myself to save some of my entrée, I found I still had room for dessert. The flourless chocolate cake with vanilla bean gelato was calling my name. The little cake was served freshly baked and topped with layer of rich ganache, while the creamy gelato provided a cool contrast in each bite.
