11/15/06

Experience that left a lingering bad taste

by furchild

When friends who were highly selective about restaurants raved on about Paley's, I thought it would be a great place to bring a friend and her French business partner who were visiting Portland. We arrived promptly for our 8:00 reservation, but it took 30 minutes for our order to be taken. Our entrees finally made it to our table at 10:00!! In the interim, despite the small size of the dining room, our waiter managed to completely ignore us (I suppose one of us could have crossed the room and tripped him, but that seemed rather too declasse'). One of the owners was also in the dining room, but her attention was completely focused on one table. Admittedly, that table looked to be spending a great deal of money, but you'd think a cursury check-in with the other diners might have been possible over the course of TWO HOURS. I can understand if there was a problem delaying the kitchen that night, but what was not acceptable is that no one came by to explain it, or to offer even so much as a breadstick as we waited (and by 10 we were quite hungry). Seriously, when you prompt a Frenchman to complain about bad service, you have a problem. I will say that when the food did finally arrive, it was delicious and we would happily have ordered dessert had the evening not already been so late for my business travelers.

When the same guests returned last year, it was with some trepidation that I took them to Meriwether's. There, however, we all had a delightful experience: the food was wonderful and the service could not have been friendlier or more prompt.

Perhaps service has improved at Paley's since then, but, especially given the prices, I would not be inclined to risk a special evening there.

• Pros: Food, Ambiance
• Cons: Poor Service, Price, Parking

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!