I COULD SMELL AND TASTE THE FAILURE OF THIS LITTE RESTAURANT IN EVERY BITE OF MY MEAL. I've been a long time fan of Park Kitchen and leave this post with sad regrets because this a restaurant that has "lost its way" and me as a customer. Recently unable to get a table at Bar Mingo we headed down to Park Kitchen. We hadn't been there in a while and I was surprised they had a table on a Friday night. The place was empty with a eerily quiet. I ordered a cast made bourbon drink for a forlorn bartender. The drink was expensive and frankly not that great. The waiter was cheery, the service good, the portions incredibly small and expensive. I was sad for the staff, the chef, and the once great little restaurant that couldn't keep up in Portland vibrant restaurant scene. I wish them well. And if they close will be back to bid on the wonderful painting to the right of the bar.
Kora T.
Excellent service. Love the no tipping policy and that the restaurant takes care of their employees in providing health care and benefits. The staff worked well together and service was excellent. I really wanted to support the business but the food was not to our standards. We had the Chef tasting and there were only 3 things we enjoyed. The salad, the pot of cream like dessert (pre made and chilled) with slices of peaches and the sausage (can't go wrong with sausage). The rest include: Chicharrones - crunchy but sticky onto teeth (very odd), roasted squash (nicely roasted - lots of effort but too salty, unable to eat), mackerel (slightly pickled, nicely plated but I don't care for mackerel and hoping other dishes will make up for it), Squid ink pasta - dry and sticky, not much flavor, pasta with mushroom - okay, just edible, roast beef - cooked to perfection, nicely plated but was stringy with lots of ligaments - hard to chew. Overall not good experience and will not be returning.
Srk K.
Service here is excellent. The staff seem very happy. I just didn't care for the food. It was just all odd. The steak at the end was expensive and wasn't cooked well so it was chewy. I like the no tipping thing and I think that's cool but this isn't a place I'd go to again. The tables are also way too close together. Pet peeve of mine I guess.
Patrick G.
We're out with work friends at Park Kitchen and they have put together a dinner for us that is absolutely fabulous. The wine and spirits pairings with food are amazing the food itself and the service is excellent. Each service brought forward a delightful gustatory blend of taste and texture, amazingly gluten-free and satisfyingly delectable.
Rena S.
Heard great things about this place but sorely disappointed. Love the idea of a restaurant paying their staff a fair wage and being gratuity free. Unfortunately the food was unimpressive. We did the chefs tasting menu- 3 of the first 4 dishes were different salads. We like salads & veggies, but this was a bit much. It was very expensive for what it was ($70/pp). $140 spent on dinner, and my husband hit a food truck afterward because he was still hungry.
Lauren A P.
Extremely odd dining experience and one I will not repeat. So, their hours of operation are from Tuesday-Saturday from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. That to me is very limiting for a dining establishment in a foody town like PDX. And when myself and companion showed up at 5:00 p.m. the place was locked down like a vault in a bank. After waiting about 10 minutes where we were sitting outside at a table, and trying the locked door several times, a waiter appeared from inside, looked at us and walked away. No gesture or indication that he was coming back, going to unlock the door or that this place was opening for service. However, as we walked away, he did come back, open the door and mumbled something about the menu. At that point, we were going to leave but had parked the car and really were hungry, and didn't have a lot of time since we had somewhere to be later that evening. We sat inside and the waiter brought over not one, not two but four different menus. That is what Gordon Ramsey, and any other successful restaurateur, would say is over kill. There is a happy hour menu good from 5:00 - 6:-00 p.m., then a Tapas menu, dinner menu and a prix fix menu. All so confusing and some of the items appear on all menus at different price points. Also, this is a no gratuity restaurant, which generally means the prices are higher as to include the gratuity, and to offer better wages and benefits to the establishments employees. There is a lot of back and forth on this subject and it generally doesn't translate into you are receiving better service. We did each order a glass of wine which is $7.00 and about a 4 ounce pour at the most. So disappointing. And try to order a second or third. That took me several tries from 4 different servers, all standing around at one point behind the bar doing nothing, as I waited and waited. We ordered from the Happy Hour menu but I think it was a mistake - the portions were like two bite maximums, small and over priced. The food is okay but not anything special. I will say the one salad we ordered, again two bites per person and it's gone, was very fresh but hard to enjoy because our server kept coming over to the table trying to take the plates away mid point. Very strange to me and just not pleasant. Also, as we are sitting there, a server comes behind me, and opens up the garage like window wall. It's was really jarring and he didn't announce, "let me get behind, I'm going to open this wall" The whole dining experience was just not good. It was overpriced, not a lot of food, the quality of the food is okay, but in PDX there is no reason to have a bad meal, service was spotty and I would not going back. Thank God I had just gone to the market the day before, because when I came home I actually had to make myself dinner later that evening.
Andrea S.
We just loved this delicious seasonal menu with many gluten free options. Exceptional and responsive service with a "no tipping" fee. Great wine list and designer cocktail choices ( I had the "Pea Brain" cocktail which was reminiscent of a vintage style drink, clever and refreshing) A very pleasant dining experience all around !
Richard W.
I really shouldn't give 2 stars but the beet chips were really good so that gets the 2 stars. Now let's talk about the service. Ever walk in a place and you feel like you are bothering The person who works there? We did. Walked in on a Saturday night thinking Park Kitchen because we haven't been there in quite a while so why not go back because we really used to like it. We were on our way to Arden Wine Bar and Kitchen and my wife said why don't we go there instead. Big mistake! We eventually made it to Arden and I am glad we did. Park Kitchen you are a service business! That is what you do. Most people will not go there without good service. We want to love you but can't at this point.
Cera O.
Perfect place for a date night. Food portion is perfect for sharing. Presentation is lovely. Staffs are friendly. Restaurant's layout is interesting and has a cozy vibe. This is a no gratuity place so no tipping needed! I haven't had a dish I didn't like here yet and recommend you grab desserts even if you are full! I really liked the oyster dish and chickpea fries....and all the desserts.
Ken B.
One of the best dining experiences we have had, ever. The staff was amazingly knowledgeable and accommodating, and everything we ate was perfect. Highly recommend to anyone who wants quality food and great service.
Came here with two colleagues for a business dinner while visiting Portland, and it was so good that I came back two nights later when my husband joined me for a weekend getaway. The food was all fantastic -- special props to the chickpea fries, lamb meatballs, and cod fritters. The chocolate dessert pie was also to die for. But cherry on top of the whole experience was Chad, the manager and wine director who also acts as a server. He's so incredibly helpful with menu selections, knowledgeable about wines, and attentive throughout the meal. He's polite without being overbearing, and was kind enough to recommend some wonderful wineries in the Willamette Valley when I told him I'd be visiting there. I'll be back every time I'm in town!
I COULD SMELL AND TASTE THE FAILURE OF THIS LITTE RESTAURANT IN EVERY BITE OF MY MEAL. I've been a long time fan of Park Kitchen and leave this post with sad regrets because this a restaurant that has "lost its way" and me as a customer. Recently unable to get a table at Bar Mingo we headed down to Park Kitchen. We hadn't been there in a while and I was surprised they had a table on a Friday night. The place was empty with a eerily quiet. I ordered a cast made bourbon drink for a forlorn bartender. The drink was expensive and frankly not that great. The waiter was cheery, the service good, the portions incredibly small and expensive. I was sad for the staff, the chef, and the once great little restaurant that couldn't keep up in Portland vibrant restaurant scene. I wish them well. And if they close will be back to bid on the wonderful painting to the right of the bar.
Excellent service. Love the no tipping policy and that the restaurant takes care of their employees in providing health care and benefits. The staff worked well together and service was excellent. I really wanted to support the business but the food was not to our standards. We had the Chef tasting and there were only 3 things we enjoyed. The salad, the pot of cream like dessert (pre made and chilled) with slices of peaches and the sausage (can't go wrong with sausage). The rest include: Chicharrones - crunchy but sticky onto teeth (very odd), roasted squash (nicely roasted - lots of effort but too salty, unable to eat), mackerel (slightly pickled, nicely plated but I don't care for mackerel and hoping other dishes will make up for it), Squid ink pasta - dry and sticky, not much flavor, pasta with mushroom - okay, just edible, roast beef - cooked to perfection, nicely plated but was stringy with lots of ligaments - hard to chew. Overall not good experience and will not be returning.
Service here is excellent. The staff seem very happy. I just didn't care for the food. It was just all odd. The steak at the end was expensive and wasn't cooked well so it was chewy. I like the no tipping thing and I think that's cool but this isn't a place I'd go to again. The tables are also way too close together. Pet peeve of mine I guess.
We're out with work friends at Park Kitchen and they have put together a dinner for us that is absolutely fabulous. The wine and spirits pairings with food are amazing the food itself and the service is excellent. Each service brought forward a delightful gustatory blend of taste and texture, amazingly gluten-free and satisfyingly delectable.
Heard great things about this place but sorely disappointed. Love the idea of a restaurant paying their staff a fair wage and being gratuity free. Unfortunately the food was unimpressive. We did the chefs tasting menu- 3 of the first 4 dishes were different salads. We like salads & veggies, but this was a bit much. It was very expensive for what it was ($70/pp). $140 spent on dinner, and my husband hit a food truck afterward because he was still hungry.
Extremely odd dining experience and one I will not repeat. So, their hours of operation are from Tuesday-Saturday from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. That to me is very limiting for a dining establishment in a foody town like PDX. And when myself and companion showed up at 5:00 p.m. the place was locked down like a vault in a bank. After waiting about 10 minutes where we were sitting outside at a table, and trying the locked door several times, a waiter appeared from inside, looked at us and walked away. No gesture or indication that he was coming back, going to unlock the door or that this place was opening for service. However, as we walked away, he did come back, open the door and mumbled something about the menu. At that point, we were going to leave but had parked the car and really were hungry, and didn't have a lot of time since we had somewhere to be later that evening. We sat inside and the waiter brought over not one, not two but four different menus. That is what Gordon Ramsey, and any other successful restaurateur, would say is over kill. There is a happy hour menu good from 5:00 - 6:-00 p.m., then a Tapas menu, dinner menu and a prix fix menu. All so confusing and some of the items appear on all menus at different price points. Also, this is a no gratuity restaurant, which generally means the prices are higher as to include the gratuity, and to offer better wages and benefits to the establishments employees. There is a lot of back and forth on this subject and it generally doesn't translate into you are receiving better service. We did each order a glass of wine which is $7.00 and about a 4 ounce pour at the most. So disappointing. And try to order a second or third. That took me several tries from 4 different servers, all standing around at one point behind the bar doing nothing, as I waited and waited. We ordered from the Happy Hour menu but I think it was a mistake - the portions were like two bite maximums, small and over priced. The food is okay but not anything special. I will say the one salad we ordered, again two bites per person and it's gone, was very fresh but hard to enjoy because our server kept coming over to the table trying to take the plates away mid point. Very strange to me and just not pleasant. Also, as we are sitting there, a server comes behind me, and opens up the garage like window wall. It's was really jarring and he didn't announce, "let me get behind, I'm going to open this wall" The whole dining experience was just not good. It was overpriced, not a lot of food, the quality of the food is okay, but in PDX there is no reason to have a bad meal, service was spotty and I would not going back. Thank God I had just gone to the market the day before, because when I came home I actually had to make myself dinner later that evening.
We just loved this delicious seasonal menu with many gluten free options. Exceptional and responsive service with a "no tipping" fee. Great wine list and designer cocktail choices ( I had the "Pea Brain" cocktail which was reminiscent of a vintage style drink, clever and refreshing) A very pleasant dining experience all around !
I really shouldn't give 2 stars but the beet chips were really good so that gets the 2 stars. Now let's talk about the service. Ever walk in a place and you feel like you are bothering The person who works there? We did. Walked in on a Saturday night thinking Park Kitchen because we haven't been there in quite a while so why not go back because we really used to like it. We were on our way to Arden Wine Bar and Kitchen and my wife said why don't we go there instead. Big mistake! We eventually made it to Arden and I am glad we did. Park Kitchen you are a service business! That is what you do. Most people will not go there without good service. We want to love you but can't at this point.
Perfect place for a date night. Food portion is perfect for sharing. Presentation is lovely. Staffs are friendly. Restaurant's layout is interesting and has a cozy vibe. This is a no gratuity place so no tipping needed! I haven't had a dish I didn't like here yet and recommend you grab desserts even if you are full! I really liked the oyster dish and chickpea fries....and all the desserts.
One of the best dining experiences we have had, ever. The staff was amazingly knowledgeable and accommodating, and everything we ate was perfect. Highly recommend to anyone who wants quality food and great service.
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here with two colleagues for a business dinner while visiting Portland, and it was so good that I came back two nights later when my husband joined me for a weekend getaway. The food was all fantastic -- special props to the chickpea fries, lamb meatballs, and cod fritters. The chocolate dessert pie was also to die for. But cherry on top of the whole experience was Chad, the manager and wine director who also acts as a server. He's so incredibly helpful with menu selections, knowledgeable about wines, and attentive throughout the meal. He's polite without being overbearing, and was kind enough to recommend some wonderful wineries in the Willamette Valley when I told him I'd be visiting there. I'll be back every time I'm in town!