Papa Haydn

12/01/07

good service

by ejenni

I went with a friend for dinner and we had great service. we weren't rushed. the waitress did her job promptly and well. she had shorter blonde hair, but i don't remember her name. I had a raspeberry chocolate dessert and wine, and my friend had dinner and wine. I wanted to write this comment after reading a few others about poor service. what were the people expecting when their party was at the bar across the street and had 1 person holding their table. how long were they really over there. would you like the hostess to hold a table for 4-6 people with only one person sitting there for how really knows how long. this place is very busy. make a reservation or be prepared to wait. don't plan to sit there all night either talking. just spend a reasonalbe amount of time there and then move on to the next place or go on a walk down 23rd.

great service papa haydens and great desserts. thank you for always keeping the seating full.

10/23/09

What's everybody raving about

by jaysdron

Finally had a chance to check out this supposed Portland institution for fine eating and DESERTS. I really don't get Papa Haydn.

Menu: limited food selection, somewhat pricey, and food just ok (at best). Then I was told, this really the place to go for desert - Ah...

My mouth started to water as I saw the options that were displayed. I was even more inspired (and later confused) when I was handed the full desert menu -how in the world do you choose. The waitress recommended five options and since there were four of us, we decided to try all five (you do the math)

Three of us, including yours truly, are desertaholics. None of us enjoyed any of the 5 options that were recommended - they were dry and flavored one-dimensionally - The waitress was kind enough to offer a few other options and replaced three of the five at no charge. Well, the other three were equally average. Frankly, I've had better tasing cakes at Albertsons - And I can get the whole cake for the price of two Papa Haydn slices. For a place that stakes its reputation on deserts, Papa Haydn needs to do a lot better.

• Pros: Bright pleasant atmosphere
• Cons: Mediocre menu, deserts are too sweet

10/20/09

Best wedding cake!

by Beast09

We loved our wedding cake! It tasted delicious and everyone complimented on it.

We can't wait until our 1 year anniversary for our free one! :)

• Pros: delivered on time, look exactly as promised

08/27/09

Owner is rude, crazy?

by Ari Gold

I called the owner to tell him about a bad experience at his restaurant. I was extremely polite. His response was so unbelievably rude, and unprofessional, its hard to fathom that he's actually a business owner. During our very brief conversation, he inturrupted me twice, and ended the call by saying, "We don't need your business." Then he hung up. I felt like a practical joke victim. I've never seen a situation handled so poorly in my life.

• Pros: 
• Cons: customer service

Trendy 23rd restaurant is a longstanding dessert mecca.

by Ashley Gartland

Gaggles of teenage girls, prom entourages and couples out for a romantic date cluster under the recognizable striped awning at this corner restaurant while waiting for a coveted table. The menu in the white tableclothed dining room stars pedigreed European cuisine from French onion soup to panzanella to an aromatic clam, pancetta and herb linguine. But what the clientele is most interested in are the luscious sweets sitting in the front-of-the-house dessert case. From luscious, multi-layered cakes to chocolate indulgences and fresh berry tarts topped with tall flourishes of frosting, there isn’t a slice that won’t tempt a sweet tooth to make room for dessert.

05/15/09

good place gone bad

by gretchenschwinn

This place use to be one of my favorites. However, it has drastically gone downhill. The selection of entrees was pitiful. My mother choose an $18 pasta dish that was terrible. It was dry with no flavor. We mentioned it to the server and she said "oh, well I hope your desert is better." That's not really the service I'd expect from Papa Haydn or any place that cost that much. I won't be going back anytime soon.

• Cons: noisey, crowded

05/11/09

So lovely

by brushfire0

I've only ever eaten desert at Papa Haydens, but I've been doing it pretty steadily for several years now, and the only real complaint I have is that it is ALWAYS crowded.

A sign of a good restaurant and the crowds have certainly never stopped me.

I'm on a mission to try every desert I can, and have only ever been disappointed once when I ordered the Sorbet Bomb. It's not on the menu anymore, so maybe others were disappointed as well.

I recommend the Autumn Meringue, and the Passion. I'm also a big fan of the cobbler and the panna cotta.

• Pros: Amazing Deserts
• Cons: Always Crowded

10/16/08

Papa Haydn's, just keeps getting better!

by chrysos

Papa Haydn's has been one of my favorite restaurants in Portland for many years but I have to say I was there last week and things have changed ...

When do you ever hear that a restaurant that has been around for over 20 years, has not been content to rest on it's laurels but has actually shaken things up and improved on a good thing?

Some of the mainstay desserts recipes have been revamped. The venerable Marjolane, my favorite dessert in the world has a crispier merinigue and a more intense flavor in the filling. The Boccone Dolce alas has not been changed, it remains the sweet wonderful bite of crunchy meringue and airy cream and fruit that it always has been.

The entree's at Papa Haydn's have always been secondary to me, it was the desserts that I kept coming back for, but no more. Last week I had one of the better meals that I have ever had in Portland. A lovely grilled Sea Bass with a Celery root puree, topped with crispy leeks.

Its great to see such a Portland tradition only getting better with age

• Pros: Great food, not just for dessert anymore
• Cons: None

08/07/08

It was like having an 0rgy in my mouth

by Shyralyn

The food was divine. The atmosphere was romantic. Having our dessert and coffee over a candle lit table made for the perfect evening.

• Pros: food and romance
• Cons: expensive

07/11/08

Excellent Service with pseudo-unruly kids.

by lemond

We always stop in the Northwest part of Portland for lunch as we head to Seattle from parts South, and we have always admired this place but were afraid to go in with our brood (two 8's and one 10).

However this time we chanced it, and even though their request were almost unreasonable (all the cheese on the side, the salmon without pepper, etc) the staff was friendly and quick and brought the food and wine promptly and professionally.

We went there for lunch, and would likely NOT recommend this at night with kids, but for lunch on a beautiful hot summer day in July in Portland the lunch and dessert were perfect.

As opposed to a recent review the AC was nice and cool without freezing us, and the salads which we also ordered were just right. The salmon was cooked to a perfect flaky point and my son ate it so quickly we had to order more.

Would definitely go back as long as the kids have not burned any bridges.

• Pros: great lunch spot for people watching and enjoying dessert
• Cons: slightly pricey for a quick lunch with kids

06/30/08

Very pleasant meal, though building needs A/C

by aymazing

I visited Papa Haydn's westside location with 3 friends, 2 of whom were from out of town. We chose Papa Haydn as an upscale restaurant with superior desserts, and that exactly what we got. Three of us ordered Caesar salads (2 salmon, 1 chicken), and all were enjoyed. The only downside was the overcooked salmon, but the flavor was still delicious. The salads were served whole-leaf, which I don't prefer as it makes it harder to eat. The fourth friend ordered the halibut and seemed to enjoy it. 2 friends shared the dessert sampler, which came with ample portions of 5 desserts that looked perfect for 2-3 people. We also ordered a Boccone Dolce and Baked Alaska, each of which was perfect. We started with cocktails (Raspberry Lemondrops and Barbarita), and all were delicious and perfect for the sweltering evening. The service was excellent, with our server being friendly and engaging. My only complaint is the heat in the building. The outside temp during our visit was in the mid-90s, and the restaurant must have been in the 80s. Although not completely unbearable, the heat did put a damper on an otherwise excellent meal.

• Pros: Great drinks, very good food, fantastic desserts, very good service
• Cons: Temperature in building