Ken's Artisan Pizza

Doesn't Recommend

fromjapan

Joined 5 years ago

Horrible Service. I hope there was a choice no star. We had a horrible service tonight. We waited for an hour even though they told us we had to wait for half an hour when we got there.

I don't know what's their waitress problem. If you want get some attitudes, this is the place to go. You will definitely get some.

They also served burnt pizza. I believe pizza place should have known what's burnt or not. The pizza was definitely burnt. We have been going there for 3 years, but the quality of food and service are going down.

Anyway, if you want to get burnt pizza or horrible service, you should stop by Ken's. After waiting for a while, you will get either one of them for sure.

Recommends

minpin25

Joined 5 years ago

It wasn't the staff that was rude. I think Ken's must've changed their staff. We visited tonight after numerous recommendations from friends. We expected the wait (30-45 mns), but thought we'd try getting take-out. The hostess recommended waiting for bar seating - first come first serve - since there's nothing like trying the pizza right out of the oven. We agreed and ordered drinks. To make a long story short, there was a fellow customer (as part of a couple) who put a lot of effort into being a complete jerk to us and the staff because he didn't want to wait longer than anyone else. After we got bumped from the bar for this pleasant guy, we were treated exceptionally by the entire staff. The hostess paid for our drinks, the bartender gave us an extra one, and our food came first.

We ordered: Greens Salad, Margherita, Fennel Sausage & Onions, and Lemon Tart w/Marionberry Sauce. And it was all excellent!

But I just wanted to express our appreciation for the graciousness that we experienced and give kudos for giving respect to someone who wasn't doing it in return.

Doesn't Recommend

JBird123

Joined 4 years ago

If I gave that bad of service ever... I would want to know.. Sad, sad service. Good pizza. Bad/HORRIBLE wait Staff and Manager staff (Specifically April and some unnamed waitress who wouldn't give us her name). Maybe for a reason...

My husband and I went to Ken's Artisan Pizza tonight to celebrate my Birthday. I read about it in the Portland Monthly and was excited to go. We got there walked in the waitress looked at my husband with out saying a word. We said "table for two"... this might sound petty at the moment but wait for it... it ADDS up! We were seated at a nice table by the window with out a word said to us. Call me crazy but I think a greeting was in order. When the waitress came back to the table to take our order there was no smile or greeting just asked us what we wanted. My husband asked what she recommended and she told us even keel w/ no enthusiasm. Ok... fine. Not a problem so far but noticeable. She came back to our table with pizza in record time. Not bad if you want to rip off the burnt edges from your crust but maybe that is ARTISAN. She never came back to the table to check on our food ordered or perhaps a drink order. By the end of the meal we had our card set out on the table still with out a word said. When she finally came to check on our table we had been waiting to pay and done with no check up. Call me crazy but you would think that is standard service anywhere expecting a tip other than buffet style. There was no horrible interaction. But I was def not feeling good about the service. I asked the waitress her name and she asked me why and told me she doesn't give it out. Annoyed at this point I told her so I could reference it when I wrote my review. She said no and walked away. We didn't leave a tip two minutes later completely disappointed I called to speak to a manager. She, April was equally as rude. I was put on hold obviously while she was being updated by the unnamed waitress. I told her about our lack of interaction and that I was terribly disappointed in the service especially since it was recommended by the Portland Monthly. She asked me what happened and I explained hoping to have a better interaction. She responded to and said "didn't she recommend pizza's to you"? Ummmm yeah..... because my husband asked and it would have been even more rude to not answer that question as part of the wait staff. She said "well, I am just trying to get both sides of the story". She only defended the waitress and didn't even apologize for any bad service instead she was just "trying to get both sides of the story" WHAT?! Disappointed yet again.

Hmmmmmmm.... too bad. Was really looking forward to a good time with some good pizza with at least adequate service. This was less than adequate service. We will never go back, nor recommend this place. We will also tell all of our friends how awful our experience was.

I have had better service at all "known" bad service places in portland for years.

Doesn't Recommend

man about town

Joined 4 years ago

service horrible. good food shouldn't be served by bad people. I won't return to this place despite it's convenience to my location.

Recommends

ACJ

Joined 4 years ago

Could be almost perfect, but.... The food here is generally really nice, and worth queuing for. However, living nearby, I often notice the staff outside the restaurant smoking and it is very off-putting - makes me think, do I really want to be served food by people who have just been putting cigarettes in and out of their mouths? It isn't a good advert for a food place!

Doesn't Recommend

nookk

Joined 4 years ago

More to great pizza than a wood fired oven. There's more to great pizza than just having a wood fired oven.

I love a good thin crust pizza, and expect some char to present on a good pie. But this place is putting out enough carbon on the crust that they could be used at the Mt Tabor crits as wheels.

Something is wrong when the crust is burnt and the cheese isn't melted.

They also need tone down the sauce on the calamari, it overpowers the subtle flavors. Actually just don't serve any calamari with the dish because the flavor is lost, the sauce and crostini alone would be fine.

It is a shame to see such great ingredients so poorly handled.

Recommends

caitlynpdx44

Joined 5 years ago

Tasty pizza amidst the hustle and bustle of a busy restaurant. mmmmm.. After reading the last few reviews on here, I feel I must defend one of my favorite restaurants in Portland.

I noticed that all of the reviews that complained about a 'snobby' staff came off rather snobby themselves and in turn, probably just couldn't handle someone handing them the attitude they were no doubt dishing out.

Ken's Artisan Pizza is a great place to eat. It is very busy at any given time, in fact, I have never been there when there wasn't a wait. Even right at 5pm when the doors open.

I have never had a problem with the staff. Ever. Even during the holidays. They are sometimes quick at the table and short in conversation, but nothing short of efficient and polite.

Their pizza is delicious. Thin, chewy crust, amazing sauce and light toppings. It's not your average pizza.

I would argue, incomparable to other pizzas... so stop trying.

In conclusion: If you want pizza unlike anywhere else, simple and satisfying go to Ken's. Expect a wait, a joyfully busy place and to quite possibly be seated next to someone you don't know.

It's a fun place.

Doesn't Recommend

SeanCoyle

Joined 4 years ago

Treated like s#%!. The pizza is good, but don't expect to be treated like a human. If I want to look up a hostesses upturned nose and looked down on like the proletariat I am, I can go to a REALLY nice restaurant in New York, where at least I'll expect it.

Recommends

jazzmine31

Joined 5 years ago

Great Pizza, but not so customer friendly lately. We live in the neighborhood and have always enjoyed Ken's Pizza. Since it is so popular (and for good reason) a wait is expected even during the week. But, the last few times we have gone the person taking the names has been less than friendly. We tried going during the holiday season and they were packed. We expected that, but what we didn't expect was to be brushed off and given attitude when we were trying to get questions answered. This won't stop us from going, but I hope they realize that being friendly to the people waiting or asking questions is just as important as taking care of those already seated.

Doesn't Recommend

whozur

Joined 5 years ago

keep on walking. been the world over, read many of the reviews. those who do comparisons to italy still don't know good pizza.

all the italian chefs who were worth there salt opened restaurants in germany. John's pizza in Ny is just ok

I guess when your cold and tired and hungary most pizza is palatable. Chicago pizza is ok if you like crust and more crust. Actually the best Ive had in the US was Luigi's in South Bend IN. However Im getting away from Ken's.

Now Ken's has a wonderful bakery but his pizza is lacking. Those who claim the BURNT crust is

carmelizing haven't a clue what carmelizing is. The pizza IS BURNT. I guess those who liked this

kind of pizza are those who made poptarts a success. Poptarts is what I'd closest compare there

pizza to; a burnt poptart w/o the sugar topping. And speaking of topping... lack of any sauce or cheese ? what's the deal?? I think those who love this place are very lucky individuals who can eat ANYTHING

and find it delicious. As for me I have to agree with who ever said Portland is not known for it's pizza.

As for their competitor I read that owner's comments here,with there attitude I wouldn't go there if they

were giving pizza away. How can any business survive with a chip on their shoulder as big as a cinder block?