Jake's Famous Crawfish

05/10/2008 Posted by ALLCAJUN

WE ARE FROM LOUISIANA, BEEN LOOKING FOR A "GOOD PLACE" TO EAT CRAWFISH. WE SEEN THIS RESTURANT ONLINE, AND DECIDED WE WOULD GO. WE WALKED IN THE RESTURANT IT WAS REALLY DARK, (BUT IT WAS VERY NICE) WE WAS SEATED AT A NICE TABLE AND LOOKED AROUND WITH ONE QUESTION IN OUR MINDS... DO WE WANT TO EAT CRAWFISH HERE? WE ORDERED OUR DRINKS AND OUR 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LOOKED AT US AND SAID, "WE CANT EAT CRAWFISH HERE!!!" SO WE JUST DECIDED TO JUST PAY FOR THE DRINKS AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE WE FELT THAT IT WAS NOT "A CRAWFISH EATING TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT." NOT SAYING THAT THEY DONT HAVE GREAT FOOD & SERVICE, BUT IT WAS NOT OUR TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT. WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE STAYED IF WE WAS IN THE MOOD FOR SOMETHING ELSE. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GET USED TO THE WAY PEOPLE EAT AND COOK UP HERE. ITS NOTHING LIKE LOUISIANA BABY!! SO IF YALL WANT SOME GOOD CAJUN FOOD IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT, THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE LOUISIANA.!!!! SORRY!

Pros: CANT REALLY SAY...

Cons: PARKING IS A PAIN

03/30/2008 Posted by maij

My friends and I heard about the happy hour and so we decided to check this place out. We went on a Saturday night and it was really crowded. I really liked the atmosphere of the bar, but the happy hour menu was pretty bad. Besides the cheese burgers, everything else that we ordered wasn't very good. The oysters in the oyster shooters were the size of miniature clams and the buffalo wings were super salty. Although the pricing was really cheap and the atmosphere was nice, the food wasn't so great. I was disappointed.

Pros: Easy to find, fast service, cheap happy hour menu

Cons: Not so tasty food (on the happy hour menu)

12/02/2007 Posted by gsperson

My first time dining at Jakes Crawfish and everything was great. But I'm not that hard to please - I just want very good food with very good service in a nice atmosphere. And I got all of that. I also think that Jakes has an excellent menu (I had the grilled Steelhead - and I loved it!) I got what I expected - a very nice civilized meal. The waitress was perfect, the wine was good. Zero complaints here. My party was seated in the back room of the dining area, which was perfect. I think that the back room is probably the quietest area of the restaurant as it is the most removed from the bar area. (I bring this noise thing up as I had previously eaten at the Portland Steak and Chophouse and their dining room was the most insanely loud, and consequently most uncomfortable dining room that I've ever been in. Since that Chophouse experience, I now think that I might be a little "dining with bar noise" gunshy. Thanks a lot you evil Portland Steak and Chophouse!)

Pros: large menu, excellent service, smoke free

Cons: parking might be semi-iffy (though I still usually find free street parking in the area)

11/15/2007 Posted by bmcpherson

We had a lot better places in San Francisco when I lived there, but Jake's has a good selection of fish and they do a pretty good job. Oysters are always good. They're also the closest place to my house and have a cool bar.

09/17/2007 Posted by tstricker

Love Jake's! Fresh seafood and excellent, attentive service. Lobster bisque creamy and rich, yum! The crawfish etoufee is terrific. Fresh fish always well prepared, and the halibut I had was just incredible. Perfectly cooked seafood. Desserts are primo, the chocolate bag is fantastic. A must! The only drawback: tables can be somewhat crowded and noisy, and it's difficult to park nearby. The fantastic food makes it all worth it!

06/26/2007 Posted by j_gentile

need i say more? Jake's is one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in portland. elegant yet casual atmosphere with consistently the best seafood. try crabcake appetiters. wine selection is extensive though i'm not a wine drinker. the price is in the premier range but you get what you pay for. the service is unmatched. every single waiter/waitress has been extremely knowldable and attentative. two thumbs up.

04/15/2007 Posted by simon_j

I go here quite often and always find it to be great. While they may slip every now and again, keep in mind that this place is ALWAYS very busy, they remain a great sea-food restaurant. We have always had the most professional service. The manager in question in earlier reviews is actually one of the most approachable managers; he once heard it was our anniversary and came out with two glasses of champagne and congratulated us. It was a very nice touch to a wonderful evening. I just think some of these other people come in angry and are looking for reasons to come here in write a bad review. We are here to say that Jakes is Great! p.s. You have to try the Chocolate Bag dessert, it is the best dessert in town.

Pros: It's been here for about 100 years.

Cons: It can be kind of loud. If you don't make reservations it can be a long wait for a table.

03/29/2007 Posted by sissyportland

Cheap happy hour bites with free entertainment walking past the windows... being located off Stark does seem to have some benefits! Our server made great drink recomendations, thought they don't do deals on the drinks for happy hour, just the food. The happy hour food menu is extensive, so there is something for everyone. I have gone there for dinner before as well, and remember enjoying my food, but really nothing else. I will be back for the happy hour!

Pros: watching all the portland locals out the windows

Cons: parking, but that's not really their fault

03/02/2007 Posted by odiggity

Jake's has been one of my favorite places to have great seafood and enjoy a wonderful atmosphere. Well, that was to my most recent experience. The service was absolutely horrible. Our waiter was rude and disrespectful. The last straw was when the waiter essentially throws our appetizer on the table as though we were dining at some low rate diner vs. the "special occasion" dining establishment that they historically have been. The manager seemed too careless that our experience was negative. After waiting for 45 mins to get a seat we ate half of the appetizer and then left. I’d much rather find another place to eat than to be treated with such poor service, lack of respect, and disregard. I highly recommended NOT patronizing this restaurant!

Pros: Horrible Service

Cons: Horrible Service

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/13/2007 Posted by aroundtownfoodie

I love this place but recently have had bad dining experiences. The waiters are no nonsense and not your usual schmoozer’s. With Jakes historical currency and reputation, they don't have to be. The last time I went though, our waiter looked like a ghost - literally. He was pale and sickly looking. The wine we wanted was not available and the waiter told us to "go back to square one" and walked off. No apology and no recommendation. He disappeared for 10-15 minutes at a time. One of the potatoes that came with my meal had a dark section the size of my thumb. When I pointed it out, he said that it was probably a bad spot on the potato. He said not to worry 'cause it’s not putrid, just bad. I told him that he needed to bring it up to the attention of the chef so he could keep an eye for what is coming out of the kitchen. He came back and said that the consensus in the kitchen was that it was just a bad spot, that’s all. I would like to suggest the owners spend some time updating their people, process and food or they are going right back where they came from, the past.

Pros: location, decor

Cons: waiters, food

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful