Rimsky-Korsakoffee House

I just returned from a fairly disappointing first visit to Rimsky-Korsakoffee House. The dessert itself was alright-- I personally did not enjoy mine but the rest of the group loved it, so it was probably a matter of taste. Regardless, the service was questionable at best. Our waitress was short-tempered and quite the downer. When she came to receive our order, I stepped in first and began to say what I wanted, in order to speed up the process (as we had a group of seven). She immediately interrupted me and said, "Wait, no, we are starting with.....her" and pointed at another member of the table. I saw no reason to her decision; in fact, it felt like a power play. Many similar incidents occurred over the course of our dessert. It truly would have been a much more enjoyable experience if she had just eased up on the sass.…

THE worst service I have ever experienced.. PortlandBluePoet must be pals with someone who works at Rimsky's, is all I can say. Several years ago I swore I would never set foot in this overpriced, overhyped PITA of a restaurant again, after the time my friend and I went in and it took the waiter over half an hour to get through the basic steps of a) acknowledging our existence, b) giving us menus, and c) taking our orders, even though there was only one other table being served. 45 minutes later, we finally got our two slices of cake, cup of coffee, and glass of milk. Was the waiter in the kitchen, arduously baking the cakes himself, which, in my opinion, would be the only reasonable explanation for such a simple order taking so long? No, my friend found him out back, smoking a cigarette and chatting with a friend when she finally went looking for him. Then the check never arrived, so we tallied up the total ourselves and left a check - with a 10% tip, because my friend insisted. I wouldn't have left a dime, and I am normally the kind of tipper who leaves 25-35% without blinking. I'm not surprised to learn that nothing has apparently changed. If you want tasty desserts, a nice environment, and servers who don't act like they're much too special and important to actually SERVE people, go to Sweet Masterpiece or Pix - don't waste your time (literally) here.…

One of Portland's most special and unique restaurants. I have had the pleasure of eating yummy desserts and drinking perfectly prepared coffee and tea at Rimsky's several times over the past few decades. I am frankly shocked at the negative reviews, as they are thoroughly contrary to my experiences! I am a New Yorker, and am not known for my patience or zen attitude. Rimsky's is a busy and popular place, a combination of a European-style coffee house and a zany, Portland restaurant. I've always had a wonderful time at Rimsky's, including just a few days ago. It's truly one of the most special spots in the city - one that helps "keep Portland Weird" (and may Portland always be so!)…

Not for the High Maintenance or Self-Important Crowd. Surprise! The other reviews are right, the waiters and waitresses here do not kiss your boots as you walk in. If you want people to suck up to you just because you're ordering food from them, go somewhere else. You're not the kind of people who'll enjoy Rimsky's anyway.

However, if you aren't in a huge hurry, want some delicious dessert, good coffee, or a variety of tea all wrapped up in a quirky ambiance complete with volumes of guestbooks with random poems and drawings, as well as live music from talented people around Portland, then it's an excellent establishment to go to.

Again, if you want to be served immediately, don't carry cash (there is a sign right next to the "please find a seat" sign that says they take cash only, for literate people), or have a problem with the artsy Portland crowd, you may be frightened away - this place is a real restaurant, not a polished consumer flytrap.…