Simpatica Dining Hall
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 235-1600
- Price:
- $$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Morning-After Brunch 2008
- Hours:
- Fri-Sat by reservation only, Sun 9am-2pm, 5:30pm-9pm
Editorial Review for Simpatica Dining Hall – by Ivy Manning
In Short
Though it's a friendly neighborhood place, no walk-ins are allowed here. Instead, would-be diners must sign up for a weekly menu newsletter and make reservations in advance. Dinners are Friday and Saturday nights only and feature three to four Italian-influenced courses with a focus on naturally raised meats and local produce. On Sundays, the brunch and "ten sandwiches" supper are open to all and offer dishes like sausage and shrimp strata and corned beef Reubens.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Know Before You GoSign up for the newsletter by going to www.simpaticacatering.com and clicking on the "join our newsletter" link.
Look GoodSome of the seating at Simpatica is communal, so come prepared to share a table and chat with your neighbors.
User Reviews for Simpatica Dining Hall
02/17/2008 Posted by portland1709
These are excerpts from a letter I sent to Simpatica after a horrid dining experience at their establishment. Space restrictions here required abridging it. I received no reply from Simpatica: I made my reservations weeks in advance and had planned a nice evening of taking my boyfriend out to a fine meal. We are both social people that enjoy meeting other couples and groups so the family-style dining was not averse to us. Unfortunately we ended up next to a group of people that were so loud that we kept having to repeat ourselves to have a conversation. We have been to plenty of loud establishments but this group was so loud and shrill that people at other tables were visibly disturbed... Appearing possibly drunk upon arrival, this group got increasingly intoxicated pounding on the table and repeatedly leaning back into me unwittingly as they talked. But the real offense was their subject matter... We were subjected to hearing stories about drunken parties in which [subject matter here was so vile, City Search did not let me include it's "inappropriate words" ] ...all of this at a decibel level that was truly piercing and impossible to ignore. Only one member of their party ever considered the others at the table, mentioning the fact that they “have neighbors”. This comment didn’t change their demure at all. I believe that this same person, who left early, paid for their meal, surprising them. Frankly, I feel she should have paid for our meal ...It is awkward for diners to complain either to the party themselves or the wait staff about such patrons in the intimacy of a family-style environment but considering that people across the room were bothered, it seems that someone at Simpatica should have done something or there should be some protocol for this scenario. We like to dine at fine establishments as often as we can. Because we are not wealthy, these nights are special to us. These people told us that they had been to your place several times before...
Pros: No pros at all
Cons: Overpriced, inconsiderate (vegetarians beware as well), overrated - AWFUL!
0 out of 4 people found this review helpful
12/26/2007 Posted by fandolis
I went out with a couple of my closest friends during the holidays, in which one of them was a vegetarian. I absolutely loved the house smoked trout with tarragon sabayon, and my friend's savory mushroom crepes (the main course) were warm, seasonal, and delicious. The wine pairings that we got with each course brought out the harmonious nuances of each dish, in addition to complimenting the unique notes of the wines. We were all especially pleased with the dessert - the poached pear, caramel sauce, and choc. pistachio gelato. I can't say enough about the understated and elegant service, and was pleased throughout the meal, by feeling that they were attentive while not overbearing. Oh you know it, I can't wait to go again!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
