09/24/07

Finally- food with real flavor!

by jmagic73

Equinox is one of the best restaurants I have been to in Portland in a very long time. We had the ravioli with smoked mozzerella and the risotto, both of which were excellent. The raviolo sauce tasted homemade, with capers, the cheese was smoky and memorable. The risotto was richly flavored. Besides that, the drinks were good, patio is beautiful and the server was great. Worth every penny.

10/06/09

Such a Letdown

by Blublood412

I'm not quite sure why Equinox is so well reviewed. My wife and I went based on reviews and many of you are so far off (though I notice a lot of complaints are about the seating) so maybe terrible food isn't noticed by the run-of-the-mill diner.

My wife had the salmon risotto which was salty beyond belief and overcooked into mush. I had the Equinox burger which was served sans caramelized onions and the peppered bacon I requested (don't know how hard reading an order ticket is). Also, not quite sure why the restaurant can't seem to provide ice in the water.

Beyond the horrible cooking, I lost count of how many flies there were flying over the seating, landing on my table and my clothes and buzzing around our plates.

Basically, the restaurant is disgusting and the food is well below sub-par. Equinox will never see me again nor will I recommend it to anyone I know.

08/23/09

Great breakfasts

by LongHairOfDeath

Always, consistently a great breakfast. Best in the neighborhood. Gravy can be good, but spotty. Equinox is mellower, has a more varied menu. The staff are super friendly. Nice area outside to sit

• Pros: Great food, reasonable prices, great atmosphere

07/01/09

Great find

by CSMobileUser

While visiting Portland I checked out some of the restaurants close to me and this was one of the best. The food was great and the staff was so friendly and helpful! I can't wait to dine there again.

03/15/09

Example: great place for good bread

by goodnorevil

Can't wait for summer so I can go back to their lovely patio. I've always had attentive, friendly service and delish food here.

• Pros: Example: best croissants in town
• Cons: What are the drawbacks?

09/30/08

Great food on a great patio

by xrosex

We had a great meal on their wonderful patio. The ambiance is great; the patio is nicely lit and has heaters to keep you warm. The food was excellent; highly recommend both the spicey pumpkin soup and the risotto. Also, ask the bartender to make you a coffee martini; it was her first try and it was the best I have ever had. Excellent service, including a recommendation for a great hike we took the next day.

09/03/08

Not quite hitting the mark.

by foodstalker

I went to dinner here last night after having appetizers on their patio last week. The appetizers were so good that I wanted to try the dinner menu. I'll start with the cocktails we had last week. I had a Basilberry which was a strawberry/basil based cocktail. It was OK, not too sweet but a little bland. We had the mushroom wonton appetizer and that was REALLY good. I returned last night and ordered the mushroom wonton appetizer again and it was even better this time around. I think last week we were served a portion that had been sitting under the heat lamps for a while. Last night's portion tasted and looked freshly prepared. The outer wonton was crunchy, the filling of mushrooms and other goodies was very tasty and the dipping sauce is fabulous. I ordered the Summer Pillow for dinner. It is a puff pastry square filled with vegies and other tasties. It was good but was floating in a sauce that was overwhelming. It was sort of a sweet, almost enchilada tasting sort of thing and was too much for the delicate pastry. That and the asparagus used for the filling was woody. I had the banana wontons for dessert and they were off the mark as well. The filling was supposed to be rum soaked bananas but it was bland and the dipping sauce was coconut milk straight out of a can with no flavor and no consistency. Thus it was difficult to get any on the wonton and keep it on the wonton, it just ran off. They are trying some really nice ideas but just missing the mark with the flavors and the consistency of the sauces, with the exception of the mushroom wonton appetizer which was off the hook. On the positive side, the patio was a delightful place to sit and eat, even on a cool evening and the staff and service were exceptional. It might deserve second chance as so many others have given it very positive reviews.

• Pros: Ambience, service, staff, outside patio, location
• Cons: mediocre food, uncomfortable patio chairs-need pillows!

07/05/08

A favorite for breakfast or dinner

by katetraveler

Equinox has fabulous and tasty dinners but I tend to go there for breakfast as it's close to home and makes a nice walk or bike ride. There breakfast menu is very reasonably priced, the food is not fancy but prepared very well. The service has always been quite good, and becaue Equinox is sort of large and around the corner from Mississippi, it seems like I never have to wait for a table. Nice!

I've had several very impressive dinners there, too -- exotic, yummy and nicely spicy. Once had an amazing chocolate cayenne pot-de-creme. To die for!!

• Pros: Full and rich flavors, very good service
• Cons: None

04/11/08

First thought in summer

by dinner_10

When the sun finally comes out, Equinox is one of the first places I want to head. I was delighted to learn that one of our dinner 10 crowd has had never been and has chosen it for tonight. The food is cooked in the NW tradition. Prices are fair. But you can't beat the atmosphere of sitting on the patio drinking a glass of wine, laughing with friends.

03/23/08

Great food great atmosphere

by lovesagoodmeallucy

We were looking for a romantic place for our 27th anniversary, read the reviews and thought we would try it. It isn't that romantic but the food is fantastic. This is the first reasturant that we thought was as good as Higgins,downtown,but Equinox is in the area, hurray. The service was informative,attentive and friendly. One of the best things is the atmosphere. Being able to carry on a conversation without having to shout to be heard seems to be a unique find these days,we found it here. Everything we ordered was fantastic from the calmari to the beet salad to the steak with hollandaise. We went with the lemon chiffon cake recomended buy our server,who had asked the dessert chef, it was a perfect end to a wonderful meal.

We are looking forward to warm weather and being able to eat outside.

12/05/07

Fantastic find-family dinner or romantic evening

by idahotelegirl

We have eaten here several times. Every time has been fantastic. The food is great and the atmosphere is fun. We have brought children here and then also had a romantic dinner without kids. We love the unique flavors, great value and friendly and helpful staff. Don't miss the yummy desserts and the great coffee drinks!

The menu just changed for the season and it's all wonderful.

• Pros: great patio, great indoor atmosphere, friendly staff
• Cons: no cons! we love this place!