Kann

Kann is by far the biggest Portland restaurant opening in the past couple of years. Maybe that has something to do with a former Top Chef contestant in the kitchen, or the fact that they smoke their own meats over a live fire. We think it’s because a meal here always feels like a party. It’s the kind of place where you make a group reservation for a month in advance because your friend is in town or you just want to celebrate your astrological season of choice.

Get Haitian-inspired dishes like crispy taro fritters and coffee-rubbed smoked beef ribs and hang out at one of the long communal tables while pretending you’re in a Kinfolk magazine spread. Reservations are no longer as hard to nab as they were when Kann first opened, but don’t count on being able to waltz in on a weeknight—you definitely want to plan ahead.