Housed in what was once a men’s department store in downtown Portland, Leeward is a contemporary, Italian restaurant where, like a good suit, everything is tailor-made. Almost the entire menu is prepared and baked in-house, whether that’s the focaccia or carte di musica that accompanies their homemade chicken liver mousse. You can’t go wrong here with any of their constantly rotating shareable plates like salty, crispy artichokes and butter-poached radishes. Or their freshly made pastas that range from light and pillowy sheep’s milk gnudi or the heartier pork and beef rigatoni bolognese. The dining room is large enough for celebrations but still feels spacious and warm, making it the perfect fit for any type of special occasion. While reservations book up quickly, there are plenty of bar seats and smaller tables that are saved for walk-ins.