Looking for east Portland recommendations for a "rememberance" dinner

[Samurai]

Most unusual request. Looking for east Portland recommendations for a "rememberance" dinner.

The honoree was 89 years old, so most of his friends and siblings are in that age group. They are Japanese-American, so I'm thinking traditional Japanese food would be preferred. But if there is outstanding food in a perfect setting that is another cuisine, I'd certainly consider it.

Most of his remaining family live on the east side of Portalnd and I figure it's best to keep them closer to home as travel is difficult as you get older. We would need a private dining room so we could show slides shows and videos on computers without disturbing the other patrons.

I welcome any suggestions. I live in the San Francisco Area, so it is difficult for me to find the hidden gems of Portland by just searching the internet. That is where I'm hoping fellow chowhounds can steer me in the right direction. I'm trying to organize this so when we come into town, everything is set for people to enjoy good food, share memories and have a minimum amount of hassle.

Thanks for your help. -- Samurai

[Samurai]

thanks for the continued input. thanks JillO for the new thoughts. Also, dagrassroots for the Chinese restaurant suggestions. While Japanese was my first thought, as you all know, it's better to fine an excellent establishment of any cusine that settling for a mediore one of a specific cusine. thanks everyone for the help. I'll continue to monitor.

-- Samurai

[Samurai]

Thanks for the recommendations so far. I know I'm asking for things that are far out of the ordinary so I really appreciate everyone taking the time to provide thoughful responses.

As for size, it won't be that large, most likely 15 - 20 people. when I refer to the east side, I'm thinking closer to Gresham than to PDX.

I had contacted Bamboo Sushi before I posted just because many of the reviews from chowhounds were so positive, but they don't have any private seating and to take over the entire 85 seat restaurant was going to be a little duanting on the pocket book.

I will start investigating JillO's recommenedations. Thanks.

[JillO]

OK, here's a crazy thought...and not at all perfect.

My favorite Japanese in town is Kurata. It is unfortunately in Lake Oswego, west and south of what you want. The thing is, the whole place probably seats around 20. A husband and wife own it and are very sweet folks, it might not take a lot of $$ to get the place to yourselves that night, but it isn't the best space to present slides and video. Best takoyaki and chawanmushi I have had anywhere, great sushi, delicious maguro somisoae and snow crab handroll. The food is definitely worth the effort, but the location just might be too far away for you.

And I just had an idea!! This is our big local Japanese-American org., I'll bet they can be of some help to you: http://www.jaso.org/index.html

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Kurata
450 5th St, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

[dagrassroots]

I don't think their is a great japanese option that fits your requirements. I would do a banquet at Wong King, Ocean City or Malay Satay Hut.

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Malay Satay Hut
2850 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266

Ocean City Restaurant
3016 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266

[JillO]

I thought of those too, big enough, but how can they do a slide/video presentation there without a private room? I keep turning this over in my brain trying to think of a place that might have a private room big enough without having to rent out the whole restaurant. Tabla's room only seats about 12.

How about Country Cat? Don't they have a private room?

West side, easy: hotels, Wildwood, Basta's, Clyde Common/Cleaners, Typhoon, and many others.

East side (aka this side ;o)...what?!

Does Pok Pok still do private room dinner upstairs in the house?

Toro Bravo @ Secret Society (though I hear the room rental is expensive)?

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Pok Pok
3226 SE Division St, Portland, OR

Toro Bravo
120 NE Russell St Ste A, Portland, OR 97212

[Leonardo]

"East" Portland is a vast area. Anything a little more specific than that? That can mean anything from inner SE PDX to Gresham more than 10 miles away.
Do you need wheelchair accessibility? That cuts out many places, if so.
Takahashi on SE Holgate comes to mind. Home-style cooking.

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Takahashi
10324 SE Holgate Blvd, Portland, OR 97266

[JillO]

You don't say for how many, but it sounds like you may need to look at a few options. You will need a private room, so it means renting an entire smaller restaurant, finding a space and having food catered, or finding a rare restaurant with a separate space.

The Japanese places in town with private rooms, well, they're tatami rooms, not really super private in terms of slides and videos, and not that large. Perhaps they could cater in another space? Try talking to places like biwa (on the east side), Murata (west side) and Hiroshi (west side) - second two are more traditional, first is more of an izakaya. Biwa is in a building with catering/supper club/brunch superstar Simpatica, perhaps they could work something out (esp. since Gabe left Simpatica to open biwa in the same building...see what I mean about possibilities?).

This is a difficult order as most hotels that would have private rooms and have restaurants/catering are downtown, which is the west side of town.

McMenamin's Kennedy School has lots of rooms (it is a neat converted old school, now a hotel/movie theatre/bar/restaurant) but admittedly mediocre food. Still, lots of folks do reunions and stuff there, so they are great about setting up rooms for presentations, and feeding large groups. It would be an easy and convenient, but not necessarily tasty, choice. http://www.mcmenamins.com/427-kennedy...

I'll keep thinking about this, hopefully others have some good ideas...

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Biwa
215 SE 9th Ave Ste 102, Portland, OR 97214