12/17/06

what a nice evening...

by sissyportland

Walking into the door of Paley's we were greeted by a seated hostess who welcomed my boyfriend and I like she would welcome friends into her home. Our table wasn't quite ready, so she found us a place to wait at the bar, but rather than just telling us where the bar is, we were walked over and seated... you know how some hostesses just want to whisk you away from their line of vision until your table is ready? She didn't give off that impression at all, we felt taken care of.

After we were seated at our table the server brought us out a little bite to get us started, it was a crustini with a sweet potato puree with smoked feta on top... it was delicious.

Our server was knowledgeable and friendly and answered all of my questions about the menu. We started out with the steamed mussels (SO DELICIOUS) and a dungenous crab salad (my boyfriend loved it, but I was unsure). I was full after our appetizers were finished, but managed to eat my porcini and pork sugo and some of my boyfriend?s American Kobe beef (which was so much more impressive than my meal, I had serious dinner envy! But my meal was pretty amazing, too.)

The creme brulee is my lasting memory of the meal and it left a great last impression for me. Through out the whole meal I felt like we were the only table in the restaurant, there was so much care and ease through out the dinner service.

We had the most wonderful quiet romantic meal. Thank you, Paley?s.

• Pros: service, american kobe beef, and the french fries with mustard aioli
• Cons: I was so full after dinner I couldn't sleep that night

10/25/09

Great???...Not really!!!

by markobear1

I went there for dinner last night and totally concur with previous reviews....what is the big deal about Paleys place???

The food was not bad , but just ok. All of us at our table concurred...the appetizers and desserts were the best part of the meal and they were just OK...not great. The ribeye steak that I had for the main course was overpriced and just blah. El Gaucho, a restaurant I had visited a just few days earlier blew my Paley's Place steak away!!! The pork and new york steak which the rest of the table had was equally uninspired. The sauteed greens were soggy and the onion rings were downright greasy.

We came to the conclusion that some legends die hard. This restaurant may have been the Portland "good-food" standard years ago, but today, with all of the new exciting restaurants in town, Paley's Place now pales by comparison.

• Pros: Service
• Cons: Food

10/23/09

What a dissapointment!

by Crab Lover

I can't believe that people really enjoy this restaurant. I have eaten there 3 times and was totally unimpressed. Went there for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago and it was terrible, Turkey was dry, stuffing was awful.

There are so many better restaurants in Portland. Bluehour, Merriweathers, Papa Haydn's to name a few.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Poorly prepared, underseasoned, bland food

09/15/09

Such a huge disappointment

by couldvbnbtr

I was so excited when a friend of mine invited me to dinner at Paley's Place. I sifted through the reviews and was looking forward to it. I found the food be be very average for the price. My particular entree, sweetbreads and pork belly, was so small I left the place hungry. This after having an appetizer and dessert. I totally understand the concept of European portions, however, for the price one pays, the portions are ridiculous. Much better restaurants in Portland.

• Pros: cute place
• Cons: tiny portions

08/17/09

Not a Romantic Place at all

by nicolehercules360

We walked in and there was no sitting area while you wait for your seat. The table in front had power bars for sale, which to me is a turn off coming into a so called omantic restaurant. We were seated way in the back room which was like a closet. The atmosphere was very plain for romance, and so very very noisy. We ended up tipping the waiter and leaving before our drinks even came. We went to Ringside on Burnside and it was the best meal I have ever had by far!!!!

• Cons: Very noisy and way to small

Victorian-home-turned resto loves Northwest regional fare.

by Ashley Gartland

From its front porch seating to its intimate dining room and a tiny bar with deep red banquettes and soft-toned walls, this veteran restaurant is at once casual and elegant. Northwest neighbors with a deep appreciation for local food and wine frequent this inviting restaurant for white tablecloth dining devoid of pretense. The Southern French and Northern Italian-influenced menus express the seasons in dishes such as a starter of poached green garlic shoots crowned with a soft egg mimosa and a spit-roasted pork shoulder served with pork and beans and a crispy pork skin and apple salad.

06/08/09

Disappointing evening at Paley's

by MMK17

I took out of town guests to Paley's based on previous good experiences there. However, this visit was a disappointment, and I was embarassed to have recommended this restaurant to my guests. Each issue on its own would not have been a big deal, but together they made for a disappointing evening. We had a reservation, yet we waited 40 minutes for our table. The bar was full, so we spent the time constantly shuffling out of someone's way. And the drinks we ordered to while away the time didn't come until after we were seated. When our table was ready, we were seated between a table with a crying baby and a table with a large group of 15. The room was so loud that most of our dinner conversation was, "Huh? What did you say?" Both our server and a busperson knocked over a drink on the table, once spilling a drink on my guest. Our server took our orders only to return 15 minutes later to tell us they were out of those dishes. We ended up ordering dishes we didn't really want. There was nothing wrong with the food, but it wasn't exceptional either.

Maybe they were having a bad night, but with a bill of $450 for 4 people, I won't take the risk again. We went to Le Pigeon the next night for a wonderful meal at half the price.

• Cons: Terrible service

02/17/09

The Dining Standard in Portland and the NW!

by gbiggins

Everything was remarkable. Kimberly Paley greeted us at the door and it was like meeting a long time family friend. The atmosphere was picturesque, the service was warm and attentive. The food is definitely the best in Portland thus far. The only thing remotely wrong with the whole picture is that when you go to places like that "oyster" place on Alberta Street , you expect the same standards and welcoming attitude. Paley's is definitely untouchable in all areas of fine dining experiences.

• Pros: Vitaly Paley and Kimberly Paley
• Cons: Nearly every place after your visit will be a let down

02/14/09

Terrible service.

by kumm

For the hype and the prices, this place disappointed. The waitress was so unbelievably rude and snobby. Our food was tasty, but nothing outstanding and my fish was oversalted.

• Pros: cute place.
• Cons: AWFUL waitstaff.

02/12/09

Unfriendly, Unprofessional and Arrogant

by vercasson

My first visit to Paley's was nothing special. The food was good, although very small portions and our server was pretty unfriendly. The menu also states "all substitutions will be kindly denied". Pretty arrogant and unaccommodating.

Unfortunately, I decided to give them another try.

We spent the majority of our visit listening to the wait staff consistently complain about their customers in the

dining room. One situation in particular regarding a drink being sent back, kept the staff bickering and complaining about the customer all night. All over a little drink. I felt like saying: "Hey just make the guy another drink and move on".

• Pros: Creative Menu
• Cons: Unfriendly, Unprofessional and Arrogant

01/30/09

Perfect Evening

by pdxrick

Thanks

Great Food, Great Service, Great night, Warm Hospitality, Great Decor

Escargot & Crab Salad were excellent.

Glad we came.

Company Catering!