RingSide Steakhouse Downtown

09/05/09

Good but not great

by CRobroy at Citysearch

Just came back from a company function at the RingSide. I was really exited to be there cause I've been wanting to go to this place for years, but never had the chance. Overall, good experience, however, a bit of a let down. I guess given the reputation of this place (America's top 10 steak houses) I was expecting more.

Parking: Free valet parking right next door - can't ask anybetter in Downtown Portland.

Atmosphere: Why do all steak houses in Portland have to look like you're walking into a dark cave? It was a beautiful day outside, and frankly, I found stepping into a dark restaurant gloomy and depressing. Though everything was clean and well kept, I thought this restaurant needs to seriously things about updating its accommodations to be in par with its competitors. Maybe the sister restaurant in Glendoveer Golf Course may be better?

Menu: What you'd expect from a steak house. Except, choices for the non-steak eaters are pretty limited. Several co=workers didn't feel like steak that night and had a tough time figuring out what to order as the other entrees seemed bland and limited.

The steak was good, but not fantastic (I had better steaks at El Gaucho and Ruth Chris') And better yet in Morton's Chicago, Jay's Seafood in LA to name a few.

Service was fantastic. Everyone was eager to welcome and help in any way possible. I loved all the warm smiles (some may feel the service a bit starchy... but, I like it that way.)

Overall - I would recommend quite a few places in Portland before the RingSide. You won't necessarily leave disappointed, but, I think you would have a much better experience for the same tab.

• Pros: Good steaks, valet parking, service
• Cons: dark, old decor, limited menu

11/05/07

Great Service, Good Atmoshpere, o.k. food.

by gunner23 at Citysearch

This was the first time visiting the Ringside, but have heard great things. We were warmly greeted and seated promptly even though we did not have reservations. Molly our server was excellent, very attentive. The food was dissapointing, in essence they seem to have lost their passion for providing a high quality product. For prime cut steaks they were not have any better flavor or tenderness than than choice grade steaks. Also when a grocery store is offering better quality asparagus than a steak house, there is a problem. Apparently they do not have quality control, spindly asparagus with woody and discolored ends, flavorless hollandaise. Steaks are middle of the road even though they boast prime cuts. We had a 12 oz fillet with baked potato and trimmings and a 22 oz bone in rib eye with garlic mashed potoes(1/4 the size of the baked potatoe). Also they don't leave room for you to fit sides on your plate. Over all they just seem to be going through the motions. I did enjoy the atmoshphere and will probably go back and try something other than a steak.

12/30/06

Living on its reputation

by halross at Citysearch

I recently treated family and friends to a special occasion dinner at The Ringside. I come from a family that owned a restaurant meat supply company so i know good beef. The steaks at Ringside were too much fat and grisl and not enough meat. We ordered the bone in New Yorks and the flavor of what edible meat was available was just so-so and definitely not worth trying to carve around the grisl. Salads were good and onion rings OK but not that great. The service was acceptable but very slow. All in all a big disappointment and not worth the price.

11/12/06

Good Food, Not-So-Great-Service

by emjaybee at Citysearch

We went here on a busy Sunday night, and while the food was good, the service was not! Our waiter had zero personality and was extremely slow. Slow taking our dirnk order, slow bringing the drinks, slow taking our dinner order, slow bringing the food...you get the idea. I know there is such a thing as a "leisurely" dining pace, but this was beyond that. Food was good, though, and the atmosphere is nice. Friendly hostess, valet staff, etc., just not our waiter. Too bad...if he had been a bit nicer, we probably would have raved about the place.

10/04/06

Disappointed!

by guanaca99 at Citysearch

Alright, I've been to their Sunday Happy Hour, and it was GREAT! Had some out of town guests last week and decided to bring them here. Now the food was hard to judge because of our waiter. He completely ruined our experience. From the minute we sat down to when we got up and left. He first brought us onion rings without us even having ordered them. While I know their onion rings are great, 2 people had allergies at the table. We kept asking him to take them away, he refused, he actually split them up among the guests, saying we were narrow minded! Even after we told him of the food allergies.

If that wasn't bad enough, when our meal was brought out, he went ahead and decided to season our meat right in front of us without asking or being asked to do so. He was just BIZARRE! His behavior was so disturbing, I was embarrased for my guests. Needless to say we hightailed it out of there without even finishing. It's a shame, I'm sure their dining room experience is great, but I think it will be a long time before I bring any out of town guests there.

• Pros: Parking, Valet, Nice Atmosphere
• Cons: Service, service, service

12/26/05

Not a top 10 steakhouse

by kanadakid at Citysearch

I enjoyed my visit to ringside downtown. But was dissapointed that this steakhouse did not live up to its top 10 status. This resaruant is close to some of the best steakhouses like bob's dallas, charlies orlando, Gibsons & Chi chophouse in chicago or Shula's of Miami.

My bone in chop was prepared chef's choice. Was way underdone so that none of the marbeling had a chance to breakdown. Meat had good but not great flavor and was fairly inexpensive.

As I said , overall i enjoyed the place but don't go in there thinking that your getting a world class steak and you'll be better off.

Hope this is helpful,

DH

• Pros: good service, nice atmoshere, low cost
• Cons: fair steaks

08/14/05

Overpriced-you're paying for a name

by westsideres at Citysearch

Food was average-prime rib was too salty, and for the price of what I paid for one New York steak (vegetable cost 6 dollars extra), I could buy 5-6 of them and cook them just as well on my barbeque at home. Salads cost extra also. The oysters romano was mostly deep-fried bread crumbs, nothing to speak of. Service was okay, but server paid more attention to the person(s) who were paying the bill, and not the whole group. Atmosphere was nothing special, and didn't warrant the cost of the food. I can find better food for less money elsewhere.

• Cons: High cost, average food, poor service

06/06/05

Sad event..

by thefastteam at Citysearch

We tried the Ringside on a whim. We were excited, after reading the ads, and other reviews. We were so dissappointed! The steak was very good; but, tasty food can never make up for rude service. Maybe the worst service in a resteraunt, I have ever experienced. Maybe it was just my high expectations. Either way, we won't be back.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Poor parking, rude wait staff, Expensive for service

08/13/02

6

by AMOREEENA at Citysearch

GREAT ONION RINGS & AMBIANCE WONDERFUL OLD TIME PORTLAND PROPERTY, IF YOU LOVE BEEF....THIS ONE'S FOR YOU !

06/06/02

"Sirloin" Fillet

by mkadlec at Citysearch

I ordered NY Strip and my fiance ordered fillet. My strip was average at best, while my fiance had to send her fillet back since it had the texture of a tough sirloin. Good service - but we will not be going here again...

• Pros: Service, Ambiance
• Cons: Food