Wild Abandon

06/26/2008 Posted 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

06/23/2008 Posted 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

06/08/2008 Posted 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

06/01/2008 Posted 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

05/23/2008 Posted 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.

05/22/2008 Posted by eddingle

As I entered Wild Abandon for dinner, My girlfriend and I were "greeted" by an uninterested host with a vacuous stare, looking through my eyes at the wall behind us. Since he made no contact and didn't say anything, I said "table for two?" To which he replied by grabbing menus and moving to a table. Not even a "come hither" motion. Not a "right this way". He just sauntered over to a table with his head down. Being that Wild Abandon's happy hour ends at 6:30, I was surprised to get no happy hour menus, but full dinner menus, at a quarter to six. He checked his cell phone, said "oh", then brought us happy hour menus without saying anything else. About 20 minutes later, a couple sat down next to us, and they recieved no happy hour menus from the same host. Did he forget already? I really doubt it. We waited a good five minutes for drinks, and I ordered a Vodka Cran, though I swear it was just the "Cran". I ordered the Red Velvet Burger, which was actually really good, but the "Pasta Semplice" my girlfriend ordered was awful, tasteless, and bland. And it's pretty hard to completely screw up simple pasta, especially by undercooking. Even Ragu makes a better marinara sauce. Considering our experiences with the host, I had better hopes for our waitress. I admit, she was a little nicer, if anything. She smiled, and filled our water once. (Though the glasses were empty most of the time.) My girlfriend told the waitress that her food wasn't that good, and luckily she didn't charge us for it, but she just handed us the bill without saying sorry or anything. And sure, I may sound snobby in this review, but we were being very polite and considerate at dinner regarding the circumstances. I like what Wild Abandon is trying to do, but they are providing horrible service and food compared to what the rest of Portland is doing. Atmosphere isn't everything, Wild Abandon, so can you please get over your quirky look and provide some quality?

Pros: Patio area is romantic and wonderful.

Cons: Rude service, horrible food (aside from their torta and burgers), and bad vibe in general.

05/16/2008 Posted by blurgirl

I've had the same experience every time I've gone to Wild Abandon- maybe 8 or 9 times over the last 2 years. Really great, creative food. REALLY HORRIBLE SERVICE. Our male waiter (I think it's Michael) seems to go out of his way to be rude and condescending, and to act as though he has a thousand better things to do help us. He doesn't let us finish our sentences when we're talking. Last night he forgot our drinks and garlic bread, had the dishwasher (nice guy though!) take our order because he was too busy, and then acted rudely when we asked about our drinks 45 minutes later. We talked to a female waitress but she was equally as rude. When they finally brought the drinks, there were no apologies or smiles. It was the last straw. There are plenty of other restaurants with good food and also good service. Until they get a reputation for actually being nice to their customers, I'm done with that place.

Pros: great food, beautiful patio

Cons: worst service I've ever had, expensive

05/03/2008 Posted by nillhil

not at all in a rush when we were first seated. appetizers fine. request for more bread ignored or more likely forgotten .wrong drink brought , we said nothing oh well we were all in a good mood nice night sitting outside so who cares, then asked about ingredients in curry, pretty and sweet waitress did not know took a guess (she had had it once) made no attempt to find out, ditto on vegetable side of evening(i guess it is asparagus) until i pressed the issue turns out there were other options oh well. we are still happy relaxed whatever, siting with nice view of trees enjoying eachother glad at least they are not trying to turn tables quickly . then waited waited waited at least an hour and a half after we placed our orders (and had moved inside due to night chill falling) servers sweet apologetic food fine temperature not even but flavor good and whatever. no one complained dinner pretty good dessert oh oh vey not agian wrong drink again this time we spoke up dessert good asked about tres leche cake she went checked to see what mils were init forgot to mention marscapone cheese which we almost did not discover as she forgot cake. flourless choclate cake port an tres leche cake delicious but was a little put out she did not tell us about cheese as i am pregnant and admittedly paranoid about what cheeses i am eating. well they did graciously and without prompting from us take appetizers and many drinks off of our bill with the explanation that they had group of 20(prom) and things are not normally like that. i believe that to a certain extent but our experience was so over the top ridiculous that i cannot imagine it being so isolated an incident , most annoying to me was the servers lack of knowledge no problem but lack of interest in finding out what food she was serving . whew glad we are out of there but all in all had a good time (great company)! 0 0 0

03/21/2008 Posted by missbliss28

I've been to Wild Abandon a handful of times now and the food has always been excellent. Sometimes the service is a little poky (but that's what you get for having only one server, and it's a small place), but it's always been worth the wait (and nothing I haven't experienced in other restaurants). Try the Willamette Dream Salad: it has a light, lemony dressing and sweet currants and tangy goat cheese. Mmmm. And the Penne is really cheesy and good. They used to have a baked brie appetizer served with cinnamon glazed pears and currants and candied pecans and toast points. It was wonderful, so I'm not sure why they took it off the menu. be sure to save room for the Tres Leches Cake! Whenever we are looking for a restaurant that is off the beaten path, we avoid those yucky chain restaurants and head to Wild Abandon!

Pros: atmosphere, good food, excellent tres leches cake

Cons: they don't have ice (I like Ice in my water), small place so sometimes a wait

02/27/2008 Posted by mbucky

Go during happy hour (ends @ 6:30). Get a bloody mary, the red velvet provolone cheeseburger w/ scalloped potatoes on side, a willamette dream salad, and just about anything else. The brunch is also super duper awesome. The dinner delivers without pretension. I have been so many times, I lost count. I've never left unsatisfied, and I have converted many others to the cult of Wild Abandon. Eat, drink, and go home happy.

Pros: Patio, brunch, happy hour, bloody mary, service

Cons: cramped, slow