Cay Bar & Grill, a new Vietnamese restaurant from owner Khoa Tran, is lined up to take over the longtime Harborside dining room at RiverPlace Marina in downtown Portland. The project will convert roughly 8,350 square feet of waterfront real estate into a full-service Vietnamese bar and grill with indoor and outdoor seating, live music and a late-night vibe. The team is aiming for an August to September 2026 opening and plans to run daily from about 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Owner, Name and Roots
Speaking with Bridgetown Bites, Tran said the name "CAY" was chosen because it "represents flavor" and explained that the menu draws on family recipes passed down through his grandfather, who cooked at Jake's Famous Crawfish. He told the site he wants Cay Bar & Grill to feel like family and serve as a spot for gatherings.
The Space at RiverPlace
A commercial listing on Crexi confirms the site at 309 S Montgomery Street measures about 8,350 square feet and is described as a plug-and-play restaurant with water views. The listing outlines the floorplan and existing hookups a new tenant would inherit, which helps explain why a large-scale concept is stepping into the Harborside footprint.
Menu, Hours and Entertainment
According to Bridgetown Bites, Cay Bar & Grill's menu will feature phở, bún, cơm, bò kho and bún bò Huế, along with vegetarian versions such as phở chay and bún bò Huế chay. Those dishes will be paired with a full bar and a happy-hour menu. The restaurant is projected to seat about 350 guests indoors and roughly 220 on the outdoor terrace, and the owners plan recorded music, live acts, DJs and dancing.
Harborside’s Past
According to Travel Oregon, McCormick & Schmick’s Harborside was a RiverPlace fixture known for its Willamette River views. KPTV reported that the RiverPlace location closed when its lease expired on April 1, 2024, and that staff were being relocated to sister properties nearby.
What This Could Mean for the Waterfront
With the property marketed as a turnkey waterfront venue, a Vietnamese bar-and-grill that leans into cocktails and evening entertainment could help bring more activity back to the RiverPlace dining strip and draw nighttime foot traffic to the marina. Per the Crexi listing, the floorplan and utilities make the site especially suitable for a concept that combines full-service dinners with a busy night program.
Owners are targeting an August to September 2026 opening and are expected to lock in a firm date as permits and buildout move ahead. Details on reservations and a confirmed opening day were not available at publication.
