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| - Every time I walk past this place I think "how sad, what wasted potential." The hours are horrible, it's always closed, when it's open it's dead inside. I wouldn't mind having a glass of wine on the patio on a Sunday afternoon with my iPad or laptop, but it's not open at all on Sundays, and there is no WiFi.
I've been with friends a few times that were impressed with the parmesan fries, and I've heard other people talk about them. Look at the ridiculous number of reviews of how great the $7 french-fries are, and how very few reviews of the $22 steaks. It want's to be upscale, but it's best known for it's french-fries? I suspect the parmesan fries are popular because it's is an ideal location for an upscale hangout or wine bar or something, so people will pay $7 for french-fries. But no one wants to bother having dinner there. It's a good location and has potential on the surface. I have frequently walked in hoping to "relax" after work, but every time I get halfway through my first drink I just want to leave and feel like I'd rather be anywhere else.
There seems to be no attempt to cater to the sort of crowd the place actually is able to get. From the outside it looks like a nice upscale, relaxing, fun place to have a glass of wine and hang out. But, the atmosphere is an odd negative energy, it's just not relaxing or fun. Sitting at the bar is the slightly better indoor seating choice because the booths and tables really are not any more comfortable. Plus, when you do ask for a table or booth, they seat you so close to the other customers you listening to each other's conversations anyway. I think it's just the acoustics of the place, you feel like you have to whisper to the people you are with which makes you uneasy, and everyone else is whispering and you can hear everything they are saying anyway.
I personally think the prices are ridiculously high, not because of the quality of food, because of the whole experience. It's a failed attempt to be upscale that leaves you uncomfortable. Upscale places are suppose to make you feel comfortable, well served, happy, like you and your party are important, can have a private conversation, and like you never want to leave. Portland's is none of those things. There's too much competition downtown for this place to have those prices and not offer something plush. I wouldn't mind paying more than here even if it was for something plush. But this isn't plush; it's absent any personality at all. Portland's does not have comfortable seating, does not have relaxing music, does not have peaceful surroundings, does not have pleasant happy people hanging around, does not have a friendly happy smiling and attentive staff.
I don't care how good the food is if; I'm constantly aware that there are only two other parties in the whole restaurant and we can all hear each others conversations, the seating is uncomfortable, the staff disappears, or the wait for anything you order seems to take about 10 extra minutes than is acceptable (even drinks). The whole "I can't wait to leave" feeling stays right to the last minute, and getting the check and looking at the prices cause me I wish I would have went anywhere instead of Portlands. I walk past all the time. A few times (when it was actually open), I stuck my head in the door and instantly went "oh, no, not this" and ended up walking over to Pita Jungle, or jumping on the light rail to go to CityScape, or getting in my car and driving anywhere else.
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