Carafe
Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (503) 248-0004
- Price:
- $$
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-11am-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Carafe – by Kristin Kaye
In Short
A neon light in the front window casts a glow over traditional restaurant accoutrements: tin ceiling, cafe tables, art-deco lamps and a large mirror on one wall. On any given night theatergoers pack the place to sample steak tartare with capers, onions and raw egg and house-made pâtè. Onion soup with Gruyere gratin and pan-roasted skate in lemon-brown butter are other popular items. While a sweet apple-honey and hazelnut tart seems to be a pleasing finish.
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Insider Tips
When to GoLocated across from Keller Auditorium, Carafe is packed before shows. Reservations can be booked up to a week in advance. Or plan on eating after the pre-show rush ends at 7:45pm.
ParkingValet parking is free from 5:30pm to 9pm. Otherwise, Carafe will reimburse for parking in the 200 Market Street garage.
User Reviews for Carafe
06/30/2008 Posted by aymazing
Friends visiting from out of town chose Carafe based on proximity to the Keller and the reviews online, but I found out meal rather disappointing. The "specials" menu was handwritten and photocopied, then stuck into the existing menus--very unprofessional. The 3 of us ordered the salmon, porkchop, and vegetable sandwich. The salmon portion was tiny, though my friend seemed to enjoy. The vegetable sandwich came out covered in cheese (my friend has to eat it with a knife & fork) and minimal vegetables--not was she was looking for in a "healthy" choice. My pork chop was under-cooked and overly fatty, though the sauce & flavor was excellent--I would have liked to been able to eat more. The accompanying mashed potatoes (with bacon, snap peas, and fava beans) were completely bland. It tasted like no seasoning at all had been added. Our dessert ("petit fours" and profiteroles) were deeply uninspiring. Rather than traditional petit fours, we received a plate of boring cookies that could have come from Costco. The profiteroles also tasted like baseic frozen cream puffs. Service started out pleasant, but as the pre-show rush kicked in, our waitress disappeared, and we ended up being served by other staff (including the hostess). The only really positive thing about the experience was the generous 1/4 L of merlot. Otherwise, the evening was a resounding failure. I would not recommend Carafe, nor would I return.
Pros: Proximity to the Keller
Cons: Everything else
06/19/2008 Posted by lucky1pdx
I took a group of friends here based on reviews at CS. I'd like to say that the hostess and the kitchen staff were very friendly. The decor is closer to a diner than any bistro (in Paris or otherwise) that I've been to. The bathroom was in the parking garage. I'd like to mention that I'm skinny and don't like huge portions so when I think a portion is tiny, it's extreme. The food was very expensive. I'm told the burgers were great. My veggie sandwhich was tasty but lacking in veggies. My side salad was tiny and boring. My friend got the cheese plate. It truly was laughable. She had a few tiny, refrigerator-cold pieces of toast, a tiny piece of brie and a tiny chunk of parmesan cheese. We're talking teeny tiny. Each chunk was about 1.5" by .40" (yes inches) at best. Who wants to munch on parmesan anyway? I complained and the waiter responded that "Cheese is expensive." Excuse me? I persisted that this was not satisfactory so he comped my friend a dessert but with the high prices, the too tiny portions and the attitude with customers I won't be back.
Pros: Good Burgers, Validated Parking, Good Location & Outside Dining
Cons: Expensive, Waiter with Attitude, Poor Decor and Bathroom in Parking Garage
