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Portland Restaurant Survey Results 16-22
January 27, 2010 by Food Dude
Filed under News/Discussion
Pix: Carmen Miranda
BEST DESSERT STOP IN PORTLAND
No surprises here:
- Papa Haydn – several locations. Fun Fact! Haydn was spelled seven different ways in the survey.
- Nostrana – distant 3rd. 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland.
My vote: Ten01. I tend to like more interesting, out of the box desserts. I really don’t like Papa Haydn.
BEST SERVICE
- Paley’s Place – 1204 NW 21st Ave, Portland.
- Toro Bravo – 120 NE Russell St., Portland.
- Wildwood - 1221 NW 21st Ave, Portland.
My vote: Andina
WORST SERVICE IN WHAT IS OTHERWISE A GOOD RESTAURANT
- Clyde Common – 1014 SW Stark St., Portland. My service experiences here have generally been fine.
- Nostrana – 1401 SE Morrison St., Portland. I really agree with this one. Why can’t they get it right!
- Bluehour - 250 NW 13th Ave, Portland. I am surprised, though I have to say, on my last visit I was sitting in a spot where I could hear the employees and the bartender ripping on each other. It wasn’t comfortable.
My vote: Nostrana
BEST PLACE FOR A DISCREET AFFAIR – An easy guide to tracking down your spouse- The Driftwood Room in the Mallory Hotel - 729 SW 15th Ave, Portland.
- Carlyle - 1632 NW Thurman St, Portland.
- The Gilt Club – (thought about calling it “The Guilt Club”) 306 NW Broadway, Portland.
My vote: Sometimes I cheat on my dog, sneaking off to Forest Park, where I shamelessly pat other dogs.
I COULD EAT HERE TWICE A WEEK!
- Pok Pok – 3226 SE Division St., Portland.
- Toro Bravo – 120 NE Russell St., Portland.
- Biwa - 215 SE 9th Ave, Portland. Hmm… Biwa sounds good right now
2006: PokPok, Park Kitchen
My vote: Twice a week? Nowhere comes to mind. Who thinks of these questions!
OUT OF ALL THE RESTAURANTS THAT CLOSED IN 2009, I WILL MISS THIS ONE MOST
- Lovely Hula Hands
- Sel Gris
- Roux
My vote: Lovely Hula Hands (under previous chef). Other than that, no commentary. God forbid I offend someone.
BEST PLACE TO GO WHEN I’M ON A TIGHT BUDGET
- Por Que No – two locations.
- Biwa - 215 SE 9th Ave, Portland
Nothing else was statistically significant
My vote: Biwa
Comments
46 Responses to “Portland Restaurant Survey Results 16-22”
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First! Oh wait, this isn’t perezhilton…
Has anyone been to Lovely’s Fifty Fifty? How is it?
This is a second-hand report, but my friend went and said he was really disappointed. Apparently everything tasted like it had been bathed in salt (and he insisted that he likes a lot of salt on his food, so this wasn’t just a case of a sensitive palate).
Oversalting ruined my last two meals at LHH, but my first visit to 50/50 wasn’t too salty. I didn’t think it was perfect (crust not crispy or flavorful enough, overall too much sog in the pizza), but then again it was pretty soon after opening so I’m willing to wait and see how things firm up. And the salted caramel ice cream was awesome!
Can you get dessert at Ten 01 during happy hour? Or do you have to eat dinner there?
Yes. Of course it will be regularly priced. Their pastry chef rarely disappoints.
Cool. I’ll check it out, then.
I don’t know of a place that requires diners to order dinner as a prerequisite to dessert. I’ve definitely had just cocktails and dessert at Ten01. And just cocktails. I mean Kelly and Aaron are amazing! Okay, I’m done.
I went to Cafe Mingo just for dessert (because they’re Panna Cotta is so good) and they said they couldn’t take someone for dessert only. At first I was a bit disappointed, because I had already gone into Bar Mingo next door and they said I couldn’t get Panna Cotta there; but then they suddenly turned what could of been a very negative experience into a most delightful one when they put their heads together and had Panna Cotta brought over to Bar Mingo from Cafe Mingo. Sweet – in more ways than one!
If you’re on the westside, Mingo has the same delicious panna cotte as the original location. And I’ve had drinks and dessert there many times.
Not only do all the Mingos make good panna cotta, but so does John Gorham at Toro Bravo.
That’s my regular after-theater date: two cocktails and whatever Jeff’s dreamed up that week.
Go Pix love it.
I have to agree with Nostrana having TERRIBLE service, start to finish. We tried it once. Between the noise level (punishing) and the general disdain of the staff for the customers (especially the so-called hostess) it was hard to notice if the food was any good.
Perhaps I should give then another chance, but apparently other people have experienced the same nasty attitude we did. LIfe is too short to fork over hard-earned cash for bad service.
Agreed. I work hard for my money and I am TIRED of giving it to servers and businesses who do a ***tty job. There are a few places in town that work hard, care about their business and their customers, use great ingredients, put out great food and really want you as a customer.
The places where I have received middling to bad service and/or attitude are many in Portland and I don’t return. This is a very serious issue facing this city. Owners and workers need to show up and work. Earn the money people.
We’ve been to Nostrana four times, and had bad table service the first two times but good table service the second two times. The one constant on all 4 visits is the person who works the front door who seems to have had all traces of pleasantness surgically removed. But since we know to expect that now, we just have a good laugh about it and move on.
I voted for Pok Pok for best service — they have always been awesome in our many many experiences, and it surprises me how often their service gets a bad rap. But I agree that in many ways Toro Bravo has them beat, given how much more “serving” they have to do per table and they are always on the ball.
First time I went to Nostrana I had horrific service, but that was soon after they opened. I waited almost 2 years to go back (because the service was, indeed, that bad) and have been back about 5 times in the last year and all 5 times I have had very good service. I tend to eat on the earlier side though, and I think I generally get better service because it isn’t as busy in most places.
Worst service I have had in a while here in town was at EaT: an Oyster Bar. I actually said to my friend, “Are they in the business of selling food and drink here?” Great oyster selection, amazing debris po’ boy, but not so good on the mixed drinks and service.
Interesting that others had the same experience as I did with service at Nostrana. I just thought it was my inferiority complex. I had just the opposite experience with service at Laurelhurst Market. It could not have been better.
Our first three times at Laurelhurst Market, there were some major issues with the service. The last three times were a completely opposite experience. Service was uniformly excellent. My vote for “most improved service” would certainly go to them.
I’ve had the opposite experience at Laurelhurst. My first time the service was excellent, second time not very good.
Our last 3 visits have taken place within the last 2 months or so and we have noticed a few new faces in FOH. If your 2nd visit was more than about 3 months ago, you would definitely have experienced the bad service issues we did. Way better now.
BEST PLACE TO GO WHEN I’M ON A TIGHT BUDGET:
Anju: I’d fill up on mac ‘n cheese first and then go. Prices rock bottom now.
Um, Anju closed up.
Pix coming out on top confirms to me that so many people eat with their eyes and not their mouths. Does the fact that their desserts are pretty to look at make up for the fact that they taste like refrigerator? Or that the macarons are often stale? Or that the staff is, more often than not, unable to answer the most basic questions about their products and are often contemptuous and indifferent (I know that one has nothing to do with how the stuff tastes, but it certainly doesn’t help it go down any better.)
I’ve never had dessert at Pix, but I feel exactly this way about Papa Hadyn’s. There is an astounding variety of desserts there, and they *look* delicious, but they end up tasting rather mediocre.
My favorite desserts are at The Farm Cafe. In particular, their chocolate souffle is to die for. The butterscotch budhino at Nostrana is also excellent.
Pix is an impressive place to take out-of-towners, dates, etc, and I enjoy taking people there – did so last week. However, there is little brilliance beyond the beauty. Papa Haydn is all flash and absolutely no substance. For real desserts I go to Ten01 Paley’s Place, etc. (mind just went blank)
Never went back to Nostrana after two REALLY bad service experiences.
Pix all the way!
it sure seems like food dude has it in for nostrana! third’s third buddy, why keep pointing out the ‘distant’ part?
and to be fair, nostrana’s service has improved drastically and dynamically. those of you who haven’t been there for years and are still saying they have terrible service: try them again. i did, and i was really impressed.
I did the “try Nostrana one more time” recently and still had poor service, from the hostess to the table service. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. All these pleas to try Nostrana one more time! Really? Makes me think of pushing a car uphill to enjoy the experience of “driving”. Sorry, I’m done.
I also point out ties, close calls, etc. If I had it in for Nostrana, I would have skewered them a long time ago.
I was there about two months ago, and had the same type of lousy service experience. It’s either overwhelming and a different person asks the same question 4 times in 10 minutes, or I am ignored. With a few exceptions, I like the food, but the service is the reason they have never gotten my Restaurant of the Year, though they have been in the running.
Speaking of my favorite desserts in town, and also most-missed restaurants, does anyone know where Steven Smith landed after the Sel Gris fire? I only went their once but the desserts that I and my parents enjoyed were well beyond anything I’ve had anywhere before or since.
Steven Smith is excellent. I’d like to know where he is too
Steven Smith left Sel Gris before the fire. He was gone the last time I was there, which would have been last spring, I think.
I’d love to know where he ended up too, I loved his desserts.
FYI, Alma chocolates sells cake by the slice on the weekend. Got a slice of one of the best chocolate cakes I have ever had.
I don’t know where Steven Smith is these days, but he actually left Sel Gris a couple of months before the fire…I think he left in early May of 2009.
I’m with you on Ten01 it slipped my mind also on a lot of categories I would have went with Metrovino. They also slipped my mind there doing some good things definitely a restaurant to watch I’m surprised there totally off the radar
are we talking “they’re”; “there”, or perhaps even “their”???? spelling PLEASE people……
I’ve been to Nostrana once. The service was great. The pizza was horrible. Maybe the other menu items make this place worthwhile, but I haven’t been back to find out.
I’ve only been to Nostrana for lunch a few times, but I haven’t found anything to complain about with regards to service. Maybe that’s a difference when compared with dinner?
I have bad luck with going to Alma for cake…been there 3-4 times and it’s always out.
Apparently my memory is going…I have had the cake, and it’s fantastic, and I’d get it again. It was a brownie that had been recommended to me I was thinking of.
Nostranas’ wait staff and the organization of the front of the restaurant has changed and is exceptinal!!They have made an obvious effort! A++ for Nostrana. They have been highly mentioned in other colums throughout the country/world! Ciao
I agree with the above comment, too often the items I’ve had at Pix are stale. They don’t understand the need to throw things out if they don’t sell that day. The best desserts by far in Portland are at Paley’s Place. Nothing else comes close.
One dessert I recently had at Pix, the nuts were rancid. When I complained, the response was an indifferent grunt and shrug.
I’ve eated at Nostrana maybe 6-7 times in the last year and never had bad service. I’ve had good service at Clyde Common too. I don’t know if I got lucky or what.
That should, of course, be ‘eaten’.
I’ve been to Nostrana several times over the last couple of years, and the service I’ve experienced has been just fine. No complaints. I keep hearing negative things, but fortunately have not experienced them myself. Maybe because I always sit at the bar? I’ve always really enjoyed their food as well.
gotta say I miss Roux…it was my secret breakfast spot. Sundays only, but a great, reasonable brunch without a ridiculous wait.