Ringside Steakhouse, one of Portland’s oldest family run restaurants, is open again after a four-month closure due to a kitchen fire. The family-owned establishment has operated since the 1940s and offers a dining experience beloved by generations of Oregonians. Ringside has survived two fires 50 years apart, a pandemic, and, in a rapidly changing world, has managed to evolve while remaining a classic beacon of nostalgia.
Stepping into Ringside feels a little like going back in time. The restaurant opened its doors in Portland in 1944, across the street from the current location. The name originates from boxing matches held at a stadium nearby in Northwest Portland. If you sat ringside, you had the best seats. Boxing gloves still hang from the rafters above the bar as an homage. They moved into their current space, which was originally a Piggly Wiggly, in the early 50s.
Geoff Rich, who started with Ringside 12 years ago as a lunch bartender and has worked his way up to Director of Operations, says all 80 staff members were kept on the payroll during the four-month closure…