One of Portland’s oldest restaurants was forced to close after a Saturday fire.
Fire crews responded to reports of a fire at RingSide Steakhouse, the 81-year-old Northwest Portland restaurant, around 2:20 p.m. Saturday, according to Portland Fire & Rescue.
According to fire officials, crews arrived to find smoke coming from the historic steakhouse. Once inside, firefighters found heavy smoke and a fire in the restaurant’s kitchen. The fire was put out by 3 p.m.
No one was injured in the fire.
“I can confirm that everyone is OK,” wrote spokesperson Genesis Burton. “At this time, the team is not available for interviews regarding the incident and is not ready to talk about it.”
Though not as old as the likes of Huber’s, Jake’s Famous Crawfish or Dan & Louis Oyster Bar, RingSide has been serving great steaks, good wine and world-famous onion rings in its dimly lit dining room since 1944, before the end of World War II. Besides its age, the restaurant at 2165 W. Burnside St. is beloved locally for the great service provided by its tuxedo-clad waiters and for the cocktails served at its famous sunken bar.
During the pandemic, RingSide made headlines — and caused traffic jams — by launching its first-ever parking-lot sale, offering dry-aged steaks and other meats to the public.
Due to the fire, the restaurant was forced to cancel its dinner service on Saturday, April 6. It was not immediately clear when the restaurant would be able to reopen.
When fires break out at restaurants, the majority of the damage tends to come from smoke and water, rather than flames. Last year, a kitchen fire at Northeast Portland’s Ox caused the Argentinian steakhouse to shutter for a three-month renovation. In early 2023, a fire in the hood at Fuller’s Coffee Shop forced the downtown Portland diner to close for most of the year.
For local history buffs, here’s a RingSide timeline, provided by the restaurant.
RingSide history:
1930’s – The RingSide began in 1938 as a spaghetti Dinner house.
1944 – Marguerite & Alan Delepine purchased the RingSide changing the concept to a steakhouse. At the time, RingSide was also known for its fried chicken
1954 – The Delepines sold the restaurant to their daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Wes Peterson. As an alternative to the peanuts and French fries that had become common in restaurants of the day, the Petersons developed the recipe for their onion rings. The recipe was famously described by the Oregon-born culinary icon James Beard as “the best I’ve ever had.”
1970’s – Beverly and Wes Peterson turned over operating the restaurant to their sons Craig and Scott. The two brothers launched a second location at the Glendoveer Golf Course in response to the popularity of the Nob Hill RingSide.
1980’s – Third sibling Jan joined the team as a partner in this era and the three purchased the restaurant from their parents.
2000s – Wine lists at both steakhouses were expanded to include more than 900 selections. Wine Spectator Magazine recognized both steakhouses with its “Best of Award of Excellence”
2010 – The big remodel. A renovation of 3,500 square feet of improvements, primarily in the kitchen, an addition of a new dining room and a 10,000 bottle underground wine cellar.
2020 – The steak sale that shut down Burnside.
2024 – 80 years in business.
— Michael Russell; [email protected]
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