Mark's On The Channel

Recommends

robman57

Joined 5 years ago

Absolutely the best upscale comfort food in the Portland area! From gourmet meatloaf with roasted potatoes and bacon jus to White cheddar mac and cheese with truffle oil crumbles and perfect crispy turnips, this place is awesome. They also have oysters four ways for an appetizer with Patron topped shooters on the list. Eating on the deck with the Willamette channel a foot away is relaxing and beautiful, bring a jacket and spend an evening under the stars, it's just far enough away that the light pollution of Portland doesn't block them out.

The service is very friendly and great, you can really tell it's a great place to work and the entire staff is inviting to the point of stopping and taking the time to chat (if they're not slammed). Nice people, great atmosphere and wonderful food. What more can you ask for?

Recommends

bcoop

Joined 6 years ago

Seriously good food from scratch.. Seriously good food from scratch.

Fantastic setting on the water.

Best long island in town- if Brook makes it.

There has been a little change up w/the sous/chef but things are still coming out hot and with a twist.

Great service

Doesn't Recommend

Renee O.

Joined 2 years ago

The food and service seems to have gone downhill this year. I've been to Marks for dinner twice in the past month with friends. Both times we were all very disappointed with our meals, even a simple burger. One friend ordered the chicken in confit and was sick all night. On service, last time we had to ask for a glass 3x. I ordered tea with my meal and was never offered more hot water for a second cup. The menu said the cioppino came with croutons. When it arrived with lots of broth (very little seafood) and no croutons, I inquired. The waiter was arrogant and said it didn't come with any. When I asked her to check, she sent someone else out with a plate of bread and no apology. Even with the bread, it was not worth $15. A PB&J sandwich would've tasted better. At least it wouldn't have had teensy inedible prawns with big eyes floating around in it. We may go back to sit by the water but would only try a salad in the future. I can't vouch for the salads but might be safer.

Doesn't Recommend

Holli D

Joined 3 years ago

Long wait, beautiful views. Don't expect to be seated on first come basis. They don't take reservations on small groups.There are open tables while we are waiting. Staff's friends are seated ahead of customers that have been waiting longer then 30 minutes!

Recommends

ninabuckley

Joined 8 years ago

A Treasure. Well...I knew sooner or later some one would find out about this little gem...great views, good food, nice atmosphere, sits right on the river, and I mean "on" the

river...When I first came they were just a little hole in the wall, but have since expanded with a larger dining room and new decking for more seating. Got a first date? This would be a terrific place to go on a sunny afternoon...

Recommends

nwcoc

Joined 5 years ago

Company party gets raves from staff!!. We decided to give Marks on the Channel a try this year (2007) as the venue for our company Christmas Party. Marks did a great job of creating a semi-private space within the restaurant for our group consisting of 20-adults. It is our tradition to start off our celebration with about an hour of socializing accompanied by appetizers and adult beverages.

The bar staff handled our "very social" (we love to mix, laugh and talk) group's drink requirements with applomb and minimal waits at the bar. The appetizer buffet choices of dungeness crab cakes, warm crostini with greens and ham rouille, and the baguetts with brie and walnuts disappeared appace. Baby spinach salads kicked of the dinner,served on schedule by the wait staff who kept the evening flowing flawlessly.

I heard nothing but rave reviews from my staff and their guests about the main course selections, a choice of roast strip loin of beef with bacon-roast garlic-cabernet demi or the ahi tuna with roast peppers-lemon-pepperoni-basil. The vegetables were done the way I like--not over cooked. Dessert choices of chocolate mousse, eggnog chees cake, seasonal fruit or iced suger cookies rounded out the meal nicely.

While desserts and coffee were being served, we carried on with our tradition of an ornament exchange which our group tends to take to extreme levels of competitiveness--we get a little rowdy. Mark and his staff, handled all with grace and appeared to enjoy the fact that we were having so much fun.

As the "boss" you want to hear that folks had a good time, and I was not disapointed. Some said it was our best party to date. The event was definitely a winner!

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Editorial Review. For fresh seafood, live music and floating come to Mark's on the Channel located in McCuddy's Marina.

Recommends

smizz

Joined 7 years ago

Hidden Gem. After viewing the website for Mark's on the Channel I was enticed to visit this floating restaurant. I decided to hop in the car and travel from Portland to the channel in Scappoose. The drive was actually very nice and easy. Once we arrived to the boat slips where Mark's resides we could tell we were in for a treat. We walked down the long ramp and to the end of the dock to the restaurant. We were greeted by friendly waitstaff and were allowed to sit where we could the best view of the Willamette channel. On this particular weekend day Mark's was serving a brunch. There was a wide array of drink and menu items that made it difficult to pick what to eat and drink. I had a delicoius frittata that was made with complex ingredients and a bloody mary that left me satiated. My friend ordered Mark's benedict which was made with fresh salmon and sole. He was very pleased with his order. We briefly spoke with the owner who was very cool and left feeling pleased with our experience as we drove back to Portland.

Doesn't Recommend

krocyn

Joined 7 years ago

Poor Service, high prices.. We have been to Mark's on three different occasions. The service has been poor each time. On our last and final visit it took about 15 minutes after we were seated before our group was acknowledged by a wait person. Once our order was taken the wait person disappeared until she delivered the food. We had to go to the bar ourselves to order a second cocktail. The food was good however over priced. I would not recommend Mark's.

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commeca

Joined 8 years ago

Beautiful setting, delicious food, Pearl District prices in Scappoose. OK. Let's get right to it. Despite a very imaginative menu, above average execution of dishes, the use of obviously superior fresh ingredients, and a lovely surrounding environment, Mark's on the Channel, despite being priced like one, is not a destination restaurant. I suspect it may never be.

Our party of four, on an early Sunday evening, spent at least as much- without splurging- as we would have at Bluehour or Carlyle and much more than we would have at Carafe or Southpark for just about comparable eats. We're still not sure whether we got the Happy Hour discount or not, but if we did what I have to report in the next paragraphs is all the more pointed...

So what's my complaint? Well, the surrounding environment may be genuinely lovely, but the restaurant's own fixtures are pretty much what you'd expect at a just-above-average road-and-river-side fresh fish or BBQ diner. And on the evening we were there the deck area where we would have had the best views and the most appealing river ambience was closed.

The wine list is, like the menu, fresh and imaginative and, like the menu, priced as if you were dining in one of The Pearl's better known bistros.

The service was friendly, concerned, and much more alert than I would ever have expected given the semi-funky sense of the place.

Now to the other stuff you need to know. It's in Scappoose. It floats, like a houseboat, right on the river. There's a large gravel parking lot. And it's not hard to find if you plan ahead.

I don't want to trash this place because I think the chef/owner has a gift that should be encouraged. On the other hand, you should only plan on dining here if you have other business in Scappoose and your dining is not generally done on a budget.