Portland City Grill

07/14/08

knockout service and view

by urbiano at Citysearch

Friends took me out for my birthday..very special occasion. We had reservations for 5:30PM on Saturday evening, figuring we could get a window seat, but alas, not meant to be. However, we had a very nice table witha semi-view. Having arrived early, we sampled the bar and some appetizers; very crowded, but totally cool atmosphere. Drinks and food were great. After we were seated, our waitress came over and introduced herself, asking who's birthday it was. She made me feel really special all night. Drinks and wine were great, the food orders were correct, although my filet mignon was a bit overcooked. She did ask that we cut into our steaks to see if they met with our approval, but I didn't want to return it, so I ate it. The meat was good, potato perfect, veggies satisfactory. I was given a complimentary desert (with spoons for everyone). All in all, a very nice, very special event.

But ummmm.... the food. I've had much better. For the price, it should have been world class, but in fact Portland has better dishes. Most of the presentations were acceptable, but not spectacular. And although I didn't complain, do not serve the guest of honor an overdone steak! They should rethink the chef and make the room as grand as the atmosphere. Great time, may go again, but it's the experience, not the food.

• Pros: view, service, ambience
• Cons: food was good, but we've all had better.

06/13/08

great views, good happy hour

by sunflowrangel at Citysearch

Portland City Grill is a great place to go to soak up some amazing views of the city and take advantage of some cheap happy hour appetizers. You also have to purchase a cocktail or "beverage" while in the lounge, so my fiancee and I decided to try Oregon's Pinot Noir because we've heard so much about it and love pinot noirs. We were greatly disappointed. We don't know if it was just this brand or if all oregon pinot's taste like watered down white zin with no body or fullness? So, we had to send it back because we weren't willing to pay $12 a glass for that. The waitress seemed a bit offended, but was accomodating. The happy hour appetizers were pretty good and pretty big for the price too. Overall the atmosphere here was not laid-back at all, a bit uptight, so we didn't really feel at home here. Would recommend this place for the views, but probably wouldn't go back again. If you want great food with a great atmosphere, we would recommend Park Kitchen.

• Pros: great views, happy hour
• Cons: uptight, bad oregon pinot noir

06/04/08

Loved it.

by westlinnfamily at Citysearch

We celebrated our anniversary here on Saturday night. We got a seat near the window. The view is spectacular. We had the crab cakes and lobster wonton appetizers. They were fabulous. We then had a dinner table also near the window. Reservations were needed. Dinner was perfect. Steaks, salads and the mocha creme bulee was sensational. I'd highly recommend City Grille for a special occasion or special event.

05/06/08

Go for the view (food is good, but there is better elsewhere)

by hoopla_pdx at Citysearch

The view is really 5+ stars, and makes it worth going. I've been there twice in the last month, and every few months during the past couple of years. The food ranges from average to very good, but not exceptional.

• Pros: View, view, bar menu, food for any taste, view

04/20/08

Good Food Good Service

by tlcfoodie at Citysearch

I took my husband here for his birthday. When I made the reservations I let them know it was a special occasion and they went out of their way way to make it special. The views are of course great and the service was wonderful. Helpful but not hovering. The food was great!! I read one of the previous reviews about not being fresh, I'm not sure what happened but that was NOT our experience. My husband had the special steak oscar with asparagus and baked potato and thought he'd died and gone to heaven. He raved on and on about it. I had the lamb and it was done perfectly. We had the dim sum dumplings for an appetizer and loved how delicate they were. They brought my husband an apple bread pudding that had caramel sauce that was to die for. All in all it was a wonderful night. I did chat with two young women sitting at the next table who were from Japan who were dinning extensively on the sushi and they said it was wonderful.

• Pros: The food, the service and the view
• Cons: current construction arround the building can make getting to the garrage a little longer.

04/18/08

Great Views, Great Food

by pixie29 at Citysearch

This is a great restaurant. Very classy, good food, good drinks, spectacular views. However, we have requested a table w/a view the last few times when we made reservations weeks in advance and we were assured we would get a great table and then when we show up it's not a table by the window! The food is excellent, but sometimes we feel it's a little overpriced. Very good, but I don't necessarily think the menu prices should be as high as they are. (That's my only complaint.)

03/17/08

If you want fresh food, go somewhere else

by hotred56 at Citysearch

This is my first time writing a review of any kind, but I thought my dining experience needed to be heard. We had reservations at 8:15 on Sunday night, to celebrate my daughters birthday (her choice). Service was perfect, our waitress was very knowledgeable about wine selections, and helpful in suggesting food items. I drink a lot of water and my glass was never empty. If the food had been half as good as the service I would have given 5 stars. I ordered the Kung Pao Calamari as an appetizer, the kung pao sauce was very strong, but it would have to of been much much stronger to over power the fishy taste of the squid, it was NASTY. Our salads were acceptable and my wife had the salmon and it was about average in taste. My daughter had sushi, and said she has had better. I ordered the Parmesan Crusted Jumbo White Prawns, it was pretty on the plate, but it was not fresh and the taste was unremarkable. The view is amazing. The worst part was not at the restaurant, it was after we returned home, where my wife and I spent half the night on the toilet. This is one place you will never see me again.

• Pros: service, view, ambience, easy parking
• Cons: food, food, food, sitting on the toilet half the night (WASH YOUR HANDS PEOPLE)

03/03/08

Best Happy Hour

by atsugari at Citysearch

All the happy hour items were delicious the cocktails were fabulous. Happy hour gets crowded fast I had to stalk a table for 30mins before my friends and I can sit down. After the waiting then great service, ambiance and delicious food. Would go back again.

• Pros: Happy Hour
• Cons: Waiting for tables

03/01/08

A great way to end a work day

by trapizumac7 at Citysearch

The food is excellent and the menu changes often to avoid the mundane. The staff is busy and overworked, but they seem to be happy and helpful in suggesting potential drink options. The view is absolutely amazing! You can get drunk from just looking out the window. A must do for all out-of-town guests.

• Pros: View, food and service
• Cons: Waiting for a seat during happy hour

02/21/08

PAY CASH! THEY ADD MORE TO YOUR TIP WHEN YOU LEAVE!

by reuntae at Citysearch

I had a great time, do not get me wrong, great happy hour, good food, fabulous locations, but a few days later my reciept and by bank statment did not match up. The waitress add more to her tip when I even gave her over the recommended amount.

• Pros: View
• Cons: Seating, waitress