Grolla Restaurant & Wine Bar

10/03/2008 Posted by foodstalker

I took my son here for his b-day. The atmosphere is gorgeous, warm and inviting. Our servers were attentive and polite but not terribly helpful with recommendations, they seem to be inexperienced with food and wine. We ordered the chef's taster menu which was good but was simply the same things on the menu, there was nothing prepared to match our special preferences. We each received a different item for each course so we sampled each other's plates, so that was nice but there was nothing offered in the chef's menu which wasn't offered on the regular menu. We opted for the accompanying wine samplings and they consistently missed the mark with those. I don't think that anyone in the restaurant actually has any experience with wine and food pairings. We asked for different wine choices with some of the courses and they gave us some small samples to try and we made suggestions along the way which I hope they will use. The food is good, the chef tries to use vegetables grown in their garden which is nice. There is an heirloom tomato salad with olive oil ice cream that is out of this world good. The onion garlic soup is yummy and the sturgeon was also good. The desserts were tasty but uninspired. I think if I return I will order off the menu rather than going with the chef's taster and choose my own wine selections.

09/26/2008 Posted by acsv

Maybe the chef had an off night? Four of us opted for the chef's choice option with wine pairings. After telling the waiter our food allergies/dislikes and being told sharing was encouraged, we were expecting a tailored meal for each person that could be tasted by all. Instead we received course after course containing items we had expressed a dislike for. Were they trying to prove a point? Did the chef think we had given him too many limitations or that our palates were unrefined? Maybe, but then a brief explanation to that effect would have been respectful of customers spending nearly $100/person for dinner. When a table says they are not "meat adventurous" and one member is nearly vegetarian, a rabbit and venison sausage course seems like a bad idea. We eat out between 3 and 5 nights a week, and I don't get the hype over Grolla.

Pros: Nice atmosphere

Cons: Food

09/26/2008 Posted by brettvail

Very disappointed. I've wanted to try this place for years. Sorry to say I won't be trying it again. We went with friends and opted for the 5 course Chef's Taster with the paired wine. The evening began with the waiter asking about dislikes or allergies. He told us the chef sometimes likes to take people on culinary journeys of discovery. To open their eyes to ingredients they only thought they disliked. We should of made him clarify that. They prepared and brought us dishes that specifically incorporated things we told them we DIDN'T like. Lucky us! One small problem - I said I gag on beets because I gag on them. Perhaps the chef could cook something else? Something I might actually enjoy? I was excited to be surprised. With whatever he'd dream up. My only caveat - please steer clear of a couple of things I strongly dislike. Nope. Instead, we paid $90 per person (including tip) to be told "You're wrong. Your palate is unrefined." We were so shocked that it took us until the 4th course to say "Wait a minute, I specifically said I can't eat that." The waiter responded by switching out the plate with someone else's at the table. Seriously. This is a specially prepared meal crafted around your personal like and dislikes?! But it's magically interchangeable with the meal across the table?! Unbelievable. And the wine pairings? A joke. Everyone at the table shared the same wine with each course, regardless of whether we were served vegetarian risotto, scallops, steak, or venison. The waiter asked us before each course "What do you feel like now? Time for red?" Seriously? We're paying extra for this? There was no consideration or thought or explanation given to pairing anything with anything for any reason whatsoever. There are a lot of wonderful places to dine in Portland. With great food and knowledgeable and courteous staff. And sadly we could of enjoyed a couple of those places for the time and money we wasted at Grolla.

Pros: Not crowded

Cons: Pretty much everything else

09/17/2008 Posted by autumnmarie

Gluten-free at its very best! We opted for the milk-braised pork and pan-seared scallops... both of which melted in our mouths... Wow!! With just enough room to share a desert, we choose the flourless chocolate cake... can you believe it, flourless?!? The wine was exceptional and paired per Chef's recommendation. Our server was very attentive, answered all of questions and was a joy to have waited on us. We will back very soon for the Chef's Taster, can't wait! Thanks Grolla!! Also, a friend of mine just turned me on to Restaurant's website; they sell certificates for Grolla, along with a lot of other good restaurants. I checked it out and for $10 you can purchase a $25 gift certificate!!

Pros: Ambience. Food/Wine. Service

Cons: None

09/01/2008 Posted by Zosimoff

The atmosphere is wonderful, the wait staff is attentive and personable without being pushy or intrusive, the food is everything you could hope for, and Chris (the chef/owner) is charming. We love doing the pre-fix menu, and leaving the choices up to the chef. The fact that each diner gets a different dish for each course makes it especially enjoyable, and allows you to share and swap. I have no reason to go to the Pearl when we have restaurants like Grolla on our side of the river!

Pros: It's small and intimate; great service; great food; wonderful wine selections

09/18/2007 Posted by rangiebob

Hubby and I travel a lot and when we know we’re going to a specific place, I search out wonderful reviews from like-minded people who love to eat. Grolla's sounded perfect. On 9/12 we met friends to share what we thought was going to be a great dining expeience. The service was unbearably slow. When we first sat down, Josh came over to us and took our orders for appetizers. 30 minutes later, appetizers were served. There was only one other table dining at that time. Then Josh forgot about us. We kept trying to catch his eye, but he was engrossed in a conversation with a couple sitting at the bar. He finally remembered us and asked for our dinner orders. Every question we asked about what was on the menu was given the answer that he didn’t know. He didn’t even offer to find out. I truly wanted to order the Tasting Menu, but he said that I couldn’t unless everybody else did also. Nowhere on Grolla’s website or on the menu does it say this. I was so disappointed. When we finally got our entrees, we thought we were going to faint from hunger. Our server didn’t even offer any extra bread, or anything to keep us going. The entrees did not have the ingredients described on the menu. We finished our entrees and wanted to try the goat cheese cheesecake for dessert. Josh was still caught up in his bar conversation and one of us finally interrupted him to ask dessert. We placed two orders of the cheesecake thinking we would share them between the four of us. Imagine our surprise when each $8.00 slice of cake was big enough for two bites. And imagine our friend’s dismay when we were charged $7.00 for each bottle of water. On their website it says: “When you walk through our door, you will be treated as an honored guest of our family. We offer the hospitality of the old world where dinner is a joyous, social occasion which brings friends and family together.” We certainly did not have this experience.

Pros: Website looks good.

Cons: We didn't get what was on the menu. The service was abominable.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful

09/11/2007 Posted by dnlesh

I've eaten here several times and it never disappoints. Great wine selection too. The owner is a very genuine, engaging person who strives to make your dinner great.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

09/01/2007 Posted by dickc101

The other three members of my group raved about the food (lamb & duck) and ambience at Grolla. I on the other hand was very disappointed. The portions were very small. I had the wild game sausage plate which was advertised as being served with mango salsa, slaw, and potato salad. Sounded good to me but the sausage was two small links of a tasteless meat, the salsa was just a yellow smear on the plate, the potato salad was four small chunks of boiled potato, and the slaw was not like any other slaw I have ever eaten. The deserts were small as well. The service was just OK and it was a bit expensive.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/31/2007 Posted by musicrulestheworld

Good food is hard to come by...even at places you have to know Donald Trump or Lindsey Lohan to get into. Anyone can throw cream, butter and a truffle into anything and make it "tasty." But, unique kitchen artistry cannot be obtained at cordon bleu or by apprenticing for a food network chef. It only comes with loving devotion to the taste, smell & texture of each ingredient. So, let's talk: GROLLA'S happy hour from 5-6:30. For $4: "Charred Roma Tomatoes marinated in a roasted garlic and sweet red wine vinegar are stuffed with pine nuts, capers and red onions then served on mixed greens with a charred tomato vinaigrette." One medium tomato stuffed with all the things mentioned above, plus a roasted garlic clove or two, also a tiny drizzle of olive oil and a few sprigs of rosemary. It was as if each ingredient had been prepared on its own, then stuffed into the tomato before it was lightly charred (a great, tasty sear). The multitude of flavors and textures was a delight. I was in shock. More? yes! Next...$4 Polenta Cakes: "Fried gorgonzola stuffed polenta cakes with dried apricot-almond preserve." Delicious. Perfect balance of flavors and textures - sweet and sharp & crunchy and smooth. Not heavy at all. So many different flavors complementing each other on one plate. yowza! Then I had a dessert pear that had some sort of iced wine grape soak and a scattering of walnut pieces with a not-too-sweet brown sauce - yum! I left with a $27 tab (incl 2 glasses of wine) and this was BY FAR the best food I have had in Portland after a year of trying the supposed best restaurants. I left feeling I had eaten the most delicious while nutritious and creatively prepared food I have had in a long time. Oh, and hey-all the ingredients are from their personal farm or local growers. And the restaurant is gluten free-so the chef seeks out alternative flours, which seems to work out quite favorably. wow!

Pros: food! service, wine

Cons: regular menu a bit expensive, but worth it

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

08/30/2007 Posted by karimcgee

We had a group of 8 a few nights ago at Grolla and had an absolutely wonderful evening. We did the 5 course tasting menu and given the size of our group, got to taste pretty much everything on the menu. The food was wonderful (organic, local and delicious) and the pace of the service was "European" and very appropriate for a five course meal. Rushing through a meal like this would be silly so don't come if you are in a hurry! The atmosphere of this restaurant in the summer is lovely. The many french doors are thrown open to sidewalk tables so no matter where you are sitting, you can take advantage of the warm summer air. The neighborhood is eccletic and a nice change of pace from the standard downtown, Pearl District scene. And we were so surprised to find out that the menu is gluten free. I could tell that my gourmet parents were nervous when this was mentioned by our waiter, but I promise that you will not have the slightest idea that the meal you are served is gluten free. For those of you with gluten intolerance you will rejoice and for those of you who can eat anything, prepare yourselves for a great meal!

Pros: high quality, seasonal ingredients, atmosphere

Cons: interesting wines but not always fabulous wines

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful