RingSide Steakhouse Downtown

11/14/08

Poor comunication fron the reservation desk

by 2105 at Citysearch

I made my reservation on 11-13-08 over the phone for my 26th anniversary. . I arrived at the Burnside location, valet my car, stood in the entrance for about 5 minutes. A pretty lady asked my name then checked the computer for my reservation. Another gentleman approached me and stated The person that took the reservation over the phone did not make them for the burnside location. I stated I did not know there was another location as I always ate here. I asked if they could correct the mistake. I was told no it would be an hour wait to seat my wife and I. But they could save the reservation for the other location. I declined. I then left quite mad as they ruined my anniversary at this point , it was 7:17 in the evening and I had to find another place to eat . I was driving east down burnside trying to decide where to go. I used my wife?s gps to find my next destination. I called the London grill at the Benson hotel to see if they had a table. The answer was yes . I was pleasantly surprise the food was much better, the service was impeccable. If anyone has the same problem you know where to go

Anthony R.

• Pros: close to home
• Cons: fail to take responsability for their reservation desk

10/22/07

Rude Rude Rude Rude Rude Rude Rude Rude Rude

by rodessa at Citysearch

My husband and I love steakhouses and we love to travel. The one thing we always do when we travel (several times a year) is find a new steakhouse we have never been to. We made reservations at the Ringside because they feature a Kobe Steak. Unforntuately we left before we ever got seated because the staff / manager was very rude. We walked into the bar and grabbed two seats at the bar - other customers who were outside the bar in a waiting area for a table came in and tried to take our seats we were seated in - the manger was called over and stated that we "took" their seats. I am convinced that we were asked to get up because there was a pre-existing relationship between the manager and customer and because we were younger - I felt like I was discriminated against because of my age. I was truly offended. We left immediately went to another steakhouse in the area where we were treated very well and had delightful evening.

• Pros: There are NONE
• Cons: Out of the way - Rude Staff -

10/05/07

Not our favorite anymore

by stinky26 at Citysearch

I called for a reservation and was greeted with "you guys", short, rude by girl answering the phone during a week day morning. Not a good start for such a "fine dining restaurant". Our dinner for my son, daughter and myself was okay, server forgot my glass of wine (told him to forget it after I had finished with my dinner) and seemed to be in a big hurry to get us out by piling dishes of food right after another, we felt rushed. Used to be our favorite place, but we're going someplace else!

• Cons: don't call customers guys when calling for reservations, servers remembers drink orders, don't rush the customer who is paying the bill and your tip

11/06/06

big price and big letdown

by thumbilina at Citysearch

I recently made reservations here for a special dinner. My boyfriend just graduated from college and I wanted to take him someplace where I thought he would get special attention during the dinner service, as this restaurant advertises special occasion dining as a specialty. In fact when I made the reservation I was asked if I was celebrating anything special, and I told them of my boyfriends graduation. There were four of us in total, with reservations at 7 PM. We were there 15 min early, attempted to get a drink in the bar while waiting for our table. Getting the drink took 15 min, the bartender ignored me. We were seated 10 min. late, and the hostesses were snotty little things. Our waiter dragged his booty taking our drink order, starter order and took FOREVER to take our main course down. We were there at least 1 hour before we even ordered our main dish. During this entire time there was not one mention of my boyfriend's graduation by our reluctant server. Why was I even asked when I made the reservation if they were not going to acknowledge it? I was really disappointed and I don't know what the big deal is about this place. The only positive was the steak, which although good, was not the best I have ever had. I guess when a place becomes established they can afford to treat some of their new customers like poo-poo.

• Pros: steak
• Cons: everything but the steak, but it really isn't worth it

06/13/06

Why all the good reviews?

by maguro at Citysearch

Ringside can be fun because of the stuffy old-fashioned atmosphere which is clubby. The liquor flows and maybe that is why it gets many good reviews. There certainly are a share of reviews that mine echoes which is that is it over-rated and past its prime (rib). Service was formally friendly but the waiter kept trying to "sell" as many a la carte items as possible: greasy onion rings (those are fun at Seaside, not at a steakhouse), soggy, wet creamed spinach that was more like cream of spinach soup. The prime rib was as fatty as could be. I keep trying this place over the years because I imagine I am missing something.

• Pros: Near Thai Orchid, famous
• Cons: Food, service, claustrophobic

02/19/05

Top 10 steaks in America? Get Real!

by crazeyd at Citysearch

This place doesnt touch, the Chop House or Gibsons in Chicago, isnt even in the same ballpark as the Plaza III or JJs in KC it shouldnt even be mentioned in the same breath as Sam & Harrys in DC or The Met and Daniels in Seattle. Had to find my waiter to get coffee and dessert, my bill was left and he never returned, I went up front to pay they proceeded to dispute with me for a full 5 minutes about champagne on my bill that shouldn't have been. The valet was gone they barely found my keys. Upon my departure the manager asked how everything was, I recapped my evening he insulted me saying what do you want here? Do you want your meal for free? even though I had already paid and was on my way out the door...

• Pros: Location, Drinks
• Cons: , rude manager, average steak

06/25/04

The Steak was Worthless!

by kaycee28 at Citysearch

This place won Best of Citysearch for steak? I can't understand why. The Ringside serves a tough piece of meat and tries to pass it off as top quality. The darkest lighting cannot disguise the lack of flavor. I found myself wishing I was at Outback Steakhouse. It was pathetic. I don't understand why anyone raves about this place. Go to Morton's instead.

• Pros: Friendly Service
• Cons: , The food generally

01/13/03

terrible beef!

by DKoos at Citysearch

Three out of five visits the beef has been terribly tough. We will not go back again!

06/21/02

What's All the Fuss About?!?

by charisma77 at Citysearch

My husband insisited we try Ringside, as he is a total steak house fanatic. We were both completely dissapointed. The staff treated us as though they were working in a snooty, LA restaurant rather than relaxed Portland. Trust us, we know snooty....we're from LA! My steak was very tough and just so-so in flavor. The waiter burned my hand as he set the plates down, almost spilling on me in the process. I could have flown to LA and had a REAL steak for those prices! Terrible!