RingSide Steakhouse Downtown

11/11/09

Great steak, excellent service!

by jrod119 at Citysearch

What can I say? This has been named one of America's top 10 steakhouses and it certainly did not disappoint. While the flavor of my 14 oz. New York was immense, it was not as rare as I had ordered (I ordered med rare and got a steak closer to done). They also seared the outside almost too much, as it was quite crunchy - almost too much so.

Overall, I can't wait to go back. The rest of the menu looked extremely appealing, and I cannot wait to try the Prime Rib Eye.

Lastly, the service was top notch! Our waiter called us by name and made sure the entire dinner was perfect!

• Pros: service, employees, atmosphere

10/05/09

I like that it's dark inside

by hollywood38 at Citysearch

I want to eat in a dark, intimate setting when I go out. If you want a bright diner, you should go down to the Original. This place remains relatively unchanged since the 70s, and that is half of the charm. The staff is just great, the vibe is warm and welcoming, and the food is right on the money.

• Pros: Fantastic food
• Cons: None that I know of

09/05/09

Good but not great

by CRobroy at Citysearch

Just came back from a company function at the RingSide. I was really exited to be there cause I've been wanting to go to this place for years, but never had the chance. Overall, good experience, however, a bit of a let down. I guess given the reputation of this place (America's top 10 steak houses) I was expecting more.

Parking: Free valet parking right next door - can't ask anybetter in Downtown Portland.

Atmosphere: Why do all steak houses in Portland have to look like you're walking into a dark cave? It was a beautiful day outside, and frankly, I found stepping into a dark restaurant gloomy and depressing. Though everything was clean and well kept, I thought this restaurant needs to seriously things about updating its accommodations to be in par with its competitors. Maybe the sister restaurant in Glendoveer Golf Course may be better?

Menu: What you'd expect from a steak house. Except, choices for the non-steak eaters are pretty limited. Several co=workers didn't feel like steak that night and had a tough time figuring out what to order as the other entrees seemed bland and limited.

The steak was good, but not fantastic (I had better steaks at El Gaucho and Ruth Chris') And better yet in Morton's Chicago, Jay's Seafood in LA to name a few.

Service was fantastic. Everyone was eager to welcome and help in any way possible. I loved all the warm smiles (some may feel the service a bit starchy... but, I like it that way.)

Overall - I would recommend quite a few places in Portland before the RingSide. You won't necessarily leave disappointed, but, I think you would have a much better experience for the same tab.

• Pros: Good steaks, valet parking, service
• Cons: dark, old decor, limited menu