Ring

Valued guests,

After 3 generations of operating our West Burnside location on Nob Hill, RingSide Steakhouse closed May 14, 2010 for a remodel and relocated to the mezzanine floor of the Fox Tower, 838 SW Park Ave. The restaurant returns to our iconic Uptown home reopening March 28th.

Why would RingSide move? As much of the reason for the remodel was outgrowing the Burnside location and needing to update the kitchen with new equipment. Prior to the last remodel of the kitchen in 1969 current partners, Craig & Scott Peterson would be found washing dishes by hand in a triple sink while their mother and father ran the restaurant. The addition of the "Wine Room" was in the mid-80’s.

While many of guests are fiercely loyal, we did not want you to be inconvenienced by the typical "pardon our dust" banner draped around a plastic wrapped restaurant. In fact, if we worked around the construction, we still would have had to close for 6-8 weeks of the 9 month remodel project.

We are also very fortunate to have some of the best and most professional servers in Portland. Many of them are an extension of our family, having been with us for decades treating our guests like family too. They too would have been negatively impacted by a remodel and the resulting decrease in guest visits that accompany a remodel.

Guests have pleaded with us not to change the timeless, old-school atmosphere of the RingSide on Burnside. Upon visiting the restaurant again, you will find that we maintained the integrity of the classic steakhouse feel keeping much of the dining room in-tact. The fireplace is still crooked with the stein sill jutting out of it.

We have added an additional dining room to accommodate more guests on a nightly basis. Our new room, the "Barrel Room" can also be closed off for private dining space to meet larger group needs such as meetings, parties and receptions of up to 40 people.

The crux of the remodel was the expansion of our kitchen facilities. Roughly 2,500 sq. feet of space was added to the previous kitchen with new dry aging and refrigerated meat cutting rooms. Additionally, an underground 10,000 bottle wine cellar to house our award winning wine list was built.

We would like to thank those of you that followed us to the Fox Tower during our remodel. In fact, there was enough support that we have decided to make that a permanent addition to the RingSide family. After a short period or closure for remodel, hiring and menu development, later this summer we will open RingSide Fish House at the Fox Tower.

We may have moved temporarily during the remodel, although we know that RingSide Steakhouse’s home will always be on 22nd and W. Burnside; your home for the best steaks in Portland since 1944.

Sincerely,

The Peterson Family

For media coverage of the remodel:

KOIN