10/23/09

Best meal of the year

by pdxfreckles

I had the best Cioppino and my dining partner had a fabulous spicy pasta dish. from the service to the coffee and everything in between was stellar. I would recommend Wild Abandon to anyone without hesitation

• Pros: amazing food
• Cons: close quarters

06/26/09

Solid Choice

by PDXBeer

Wild Abandon is one of my favorites in Portland, and its been appreciated by both guests and friends. The pulled pork hash on the brunch menu is excellent, and their vegan and vegetarian options (brunch and dinner) have received good reviews from friends. Its nice that vegans have the option of more than one dish.

The sides at dinner (especially the different potato dishes) are excellent. With one exception, the service has always been great, although low-key. (The one exception was a time they said there were short staffed due to someone calling in sick at the last minute -- I've been back multiple times since and it hasn't been a problem, so I'm inclined to believe that really was the problem.)

• Pros: Brunch, Wine, Martinis, Vegan options
• Cons: wish they allowed dogs on the patio

03/09/09

Fun Time Good Value

by pdxrick

We had a great meal at the Wild Abandon. Our first time, good food, nice environment, relaxing spot. I Recommend the Braised Chicken (aka "P.. au Fou" - Citysearch censures the "P" word regardless of it's meaning) and the Pasta Vongole. For a good time & good value visit Wild Abandon.

• Pros: Environment

11/22/08

Whatever happened to great customer service?

by motherlee

A friend and I have been here twice.. Once for dinner and once for breakfast. Both times we have eaten on the terrace. Waiting for a server to come to your table and greet you and serve water is ridiculous. Both times we have had servers that are just lame. So uninterested in doing their jobs. No one smiles or seems to feel any rush whatsoever to make sure the customer is taken care of. I will say this food is good, but the service just doesn't cut it. I'll never go back and won't recommend it.

• Pros: Good food
• Cons: Servers, wait time

07/28/08

Incredible Food

by Zogo

We have been hearing great reviews about Wild Abandon and finally had a chance to eat there this weekend. The food, ambiance, and service were all exceptional. Our waiter had great recommendations and we ended up with a crab and asparagus appetizer, the crab risotto and a stuffed chicken breast for dinner, and the tiramisu for desert. Everything was outstanding, but if I had to pick one thing the crab risotto would have to be the highlight of the meal. The prices were also very reasonable and the wine selection was great with lots of choices under $30. We will definitely be back!

• Pros: Great Service, Amazing Food, try the Crab Risotto!
• Cons: none

06/26/08

really?

by May1Juan

I read the reviews. I think the people freaking out about how this place serves up "one of the dreamiest examples of risotto I've ever had the pleasure to taste" are smokin' rock and working the grill. Seriously. Do you cook? I guarantee you go down to the store and pick up a $1 sack of risotto with some bacon and you'll do better. Why do I need a pound of butter and a salty waiter to serve me up bar food that really should cost $1? I wish I could write $1 with extra large font to stress how ridiculous and pretentious the jerks that write this menu must be. That is all for now.

• Pros: I got to sit outside with a beautiful lady
• Cons: everything else

06/23/08

the Risotto will stun you into silence (in a good way)

by uncommonmuse

I work at a culinary school and many of the chef instructors recommended this place.

And for good reason! I ordered the crab risotto...smoked mozarella, crispy bits of bacon and spring peas made this dish one of the dreamiest examples of risotto I've ever had the pleasure to taste.

My husband tried the pork with carmelized granny smith apples served over a to-die-for gorgonzola cheese sauce and neither of us could speak after taking our first bites....it was "eyes rolling to the back of your head" good.

Our waiter was witty and knowledgeable and the cooks helped him google a question about Aqua Man's side kick (aqua lad in case you're wondering) and he even treated us to dessert when the one we first ordered was not available. We shared a half caraf of cold red sangria on the back patio which was perfect also.

I'm not sure what the reviewer who mentioned cold sauce and bad wine experienced, but it certainly was nothing like our evening. I have to say now this is one of my FAVORITE Portland restaurants on all counts!

• Pros: hip comfy atmosphere inside, great service, delicious dessert and coffee, AMAZING food

06/08/08

Bad service and bad food

by yprado

I cook quite well, so maybe my expectations are high. I though this would be a great place to take friends from SF who were here for 1 night because of the great reviews. What a mistake. My friend ordered the pork dish w/ came w/ cold cream sauce. My guest asked if they could heat up her dish, and the second time it came back colder. Our wine, the special of the night, tasted like vinegar (like it was left open of old). We had to return. The water said nothing. My salmon tasted fine, but everything that came with it was flavorless and over salted. I tasted my friends pasta, the special of the night, and it tasted bland.

We all agreed that it wasn't good, and I will not be back. You really can't trust reviews... good or bad. The only thing that we agreed was good was my friend's drink. A wiskey sour. The rest I felt was a waste of money. I wished I would have taken my guests to a place that I had been before and knew was good.

• Pros: Cool light fixtures. Strong drinks.
• Cons: Pricey, food flavorless, over salty, no attention paid to quality

06/01/08

Great Food

by kavu88

This place has a great atmosphere. It's small, and a bit cozy, but nothing to really cramp your style. The service is great, and the food is always scrumptious and delightful. The menu seems to always be changing with the seasons, and the pasta sauces make what mama made seem like nothing. My go-to dish is the Ziti Ziti which is so rich there is no way you'll finish the whole portion, but there homemade ravioli is certainly something to write home about. The prices are a little high, but if you are lucky, they have buy one, get one free coupons that seem to pop up in local newpapers and what not.

• Pros: Food, service, waiters that actually smile
• Cons: Nada

05/23/08

Wonderful service, food, and drinks

by violetta1976

We went with a party of 30 for happy hour, and given the reviews, I was expecting a nightmare. Not the case at all. Our server was prompt, our food delicious (try the shrimp mazatlan, it's to die for), and our drinks ice cold. I don't have a single complaint, and I can't wait to go back for a full meal.