Portland Seafood Company Opens Today with a Dining Concept as Fresh as Its Fish

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahoy Portland! Portland Seafood Company splashes onto the Northwest restaurant scene today, opening the doors to its first location in Mall 205 in southeast Portland. The new restaurant, part of the Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) family, focuses on the delivery of simply-prepared, big-flavored seafood dishes served up with an authentic dockside vibe. The new restaurant is located at 9722 SE Washington Street and will be open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111117/SF08613LOGO)

The spacious 6,400 square-foot location seats more than 270 patrons in its casual, yet inviting dining and bar spaces. The restaurant has cozy corners for two and large 10-seat communal tables ideal for large groups, making the location a new go-to choice for a diverse set of dining needs.  Created around the casual, seafood-loving nature of the Northwest, Portland was chosen as the ideal market for the launch of this new RUI concept.

"Opening Portland Seafood Company in such a thriving, seafood-savvy market just made sense," states Chris Harter, President and CEO of Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. "As the namesake of this new restaurant concept, we know that Portlanders value fresh, high-quality and authentic dining experiences—and that is exactly what we're committed to delivering.  We've put a tremendous amount of horsepower and resources with our culinary team into this restaurant. We not only wanted to deliver great food at an attractive price, we wanted to make sure it was in a fun environment. We're thrilled with what we have put together and hope Portland will embrace it."

Portland Seafood Company sources sustainable, high-quality seafood and serves only "happy fish;" fish that are rated as a "Best Choice" or better by the Seafood Watch Program at Monterey Bay Aquarium. From Penn Cove oysters and Pacific Coast Dungeness crab to Atlantic Quahog clams, there is no mystery behind the heritage of ingredients at Portland Seafood Company – if diners want to know where their meal came from, all they need to do is ask.

"The foundation behind both the concept and culinary philosophy of Portland Seafood Company is simple," states Brian Poor, Culinary Director for both Portland Seafood Company and Portland City Grill. "We serve the best seafood possible, and source our ingredients with care. We're committed to sustainability and delivering big-flavored, crowd-pleasing dishes that please the palate and our eco-system."

Served among the dockside atmosphere of single-plank communal tables, fresh catch chalkboards and nautical lighting, the menu at Portland Seafood Company centers around bold flavors, simple preparations and crowd-pleasing twists on traditional seafood favorites. Entree prices range from $8 to $25, and many meals are designed to be shared. The menu also offers a selection of small bites, salads, a special kids menu and meal-topping desserts. Created by Culinary Director Brian Poor, the menu's signature dishes include:

• Fish & Chips: Our signature deliciousness is all in the flavorful fish, master battering and wet-dry-wet cooking technique.  Your choice of cod, halibut or prawns are doused in our house tempura beer batter, highlighted with seasoning and served up light and crisp for a mouthwatering fish & chip experience.
• Clam Strips: We use the giant Quahog Clam to craft the biggest, juiciest, most tender clam strips you've ever had. We dip 'em and fry 'em in spicy flour for an incredible can't-eat-just-one flavor.
• Dungeness Crab Bucket: It's time to roll up your sleeves and get your seafood on. This bucket is piled high with Northwest Dungeness Crab, fresh clams, andouille sausage, wild gulf prawns, baby red potatoes and corn on the cob all freshly seasoned and ready for claw-cracking fun.
• Crispy-Fried Whole Rock Fish: You can't beat the freshness of fish off-the-bone. Our preparation is mild and sweet, and served with warm tortillas, avocado, red onion, red jalapenos and topped with a spicy jalapeno-ranch sauce. It's a sharable feast.

Rounding out the menu is a full bar with wide selection of beers, wines and cocktails – all offered at wallet-pleasing prices. Draft beers and house wines are poured for $4 a glass, and PBR is served up any time of day in your choice of a bottle or can for only $2.50. Seven specially-selected house cocktails are available for just $7, including a Pomegranate Mojito, Bloody Mary and Long Island Ice Tea.

The new restaurant has taken over the location previously occupied by Newport Seafood Grill at 9722 SE Washington Street. Portland Seafood Company will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. All major credit cards are accepted and reservations can be made by calling (503) 255-2722. Additional information and the full menu are available online at www.portlandseafoodcompany.com.

About Portland Seafood Company:

Seafood lovers rejoice - your local fish joint has arrived. At Portland Seafood Company, we take dock fresh ocean catch and create simple, delicious, big-flavored meals that beg to be eaten with bare hands and good company.  We feature the seafood dishes people love, in ways they've never tasted.  Portland Seafood Company is committed to high quality ingredients and sustainable seafood. Our dockside warehouse vibe invites stories, laughter, and promises a tap that won't run dry. Additional details are available at www.portlandseafoodcompany.com.

About Restaurants Unlimited, Inc.:

Since opening its first successful restaurant in 1968, Restaurants Unlimited, Inc. (RUI) has brought its talent for bringing the finest food to some of the best possible locations across the nation. RUI operates 21 different restaurant brands in 46 locations throughout the U.S.; its diverse concepts offer a variety of dining experiences, from casual neighborhood restaurants to full-service fine dining. Single location brands include Portland City Grill, Portland Seafood Company, Palisade, Scott's Bar and Grill, Skates on the Bay and Henry's 12th Street Tavern. Multi-unit brands include Kincaid's, Palomino Restaurant & Bar, and Stanford's. The restaurants are located in eleven states, including Alaska and Hawaii, with the majority in Oregon, Washington and California. RUI is located in Seattle, Wash. and owned by private equity firm Sun Capital Partners. Additional details are available at www.r-u-i.com.

SOURCE Portland Seafood Company