4. Restaurants

Beast

5425 NE 30th Ave, Portland, OR, 97211
  • (503) 841-6968
  • Store is closed

Beast Menu

  • Main Menu

Healthy Meal suggestions for Beast

  • Main Menu

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  • Cheryl G.

    One of the beast, I mean BEST, meals I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Deborah L.

    We were traveling from Seattle...down I-5 to an urban myth we had only heard wispered...b-e-a-s-t...was it true? Please let it be true... We arrived late....yes LATE (thanks to Portland traffic and a misguided cab driver) yet we were graciously welcomed and we quickly caught up. I simply have to say that it was the best adventure of a dining experience I have ever had. It doesn't matter to you what we had that night, I believe that whatever Naomi and Mika dream up will be perfection. I will remember each and every course for the rest of my life and Beast is now the standard by which all others will be judged...I fear that they will all come up short. Hail to the pig!

    (5)

  • Rachel A.

    Beast, I would have given you my phone number at the mere mention of foie gras bonbons, but then you wooed me with local Dungeness crab, and how could I resist but to invite you up for coffee? And when you gave me pork belly, well....Beast, you know that's my weakness, tender meat, fat melting on my tongue...what was I to do but let you get to first base? Truthfully, the wine probably didn't hurt either. Then the pork cheeks. Oh god, the pork cheeks. That's when I knew we were hitting all the bases that night. And then you sealed the deal with a warm lemon souffle cake and now I'm taking you home to meet my mother. Don't worry, she already knows I always fall for bad boys.

    (5)

  • Andrew C.

    Terrible food...just terrible and way overpriced. Go anywhere else instead...try Authentica across Killingsworth, or Natural Selection or any of the other nicer restaurants on Alberta.

    (1)

  • Ben K.

    I have never had better food in my entire life. This is hands down, no question in the top 3 restaurants in the Northwest, not just Portland. If you haven't been, you're doing yourself a disservice. Not much more to say than that.

    (5)

  • Ann S.

    We went to Beast ,the food was good .It was too loud.

    (5)

  • earth s.

    The Foie Gras Bob Bon was incredible. It was one bite of a flavor expolsion unlike anything I have tasted. Was that single bite worth 2 hours and $68? That is the confusion at Beast. Many of the offerings are memorable, but someof the courses are A-OK. I do not like overly dressed salads, but a stacked high salad should have some dressing on the bottom leaves. Eating a stack of undressed Radicchio, regardless of where it is grown is not a dining experience. Why should those customers who arrive on time of 5 minutes late, wait 15-20 minutes for those that decide to arrive late. It is a long service without the wait. Beast is a great restaurant with a great chef. The entire dining experience taken as a whole needs improvement

    (3)

  • Brooke G.

    Obviously this is not an everyday, every week, or every month affair. Beast is an extremely special meal out, which for us is reserved for once a year or so. And we love food. Eating out is one of my husband and my hobbies. And Beast has been on our (ever-growing and changing) "list" for years. We were so excited to finally go. From the Asparagus soup to the rhubarb galette, we were amazed. For this occasion we did the wine pairing and enjoyed the entire experience. The communal table always feels a little awkward at the onset, but we always leave restaurants with that set up having enjoyed the evening. The chef pulled out all the stops and we enjoyed the journey all the way. If we went back, we likely wouldn't do the wine pairing. It was fun and we got to try some new varietals, but it didn't feel like the quality of the wine quite lined up to the quality of the food. We'd rather get a couple glasses of wine we knew we loved. Still, it was a night to remember. And we'd love to go back!

    (5)

  • G H.

    I visited Portland over a weekend, and eagerly booked a table at Beast with a friend. The food was amazing. The wine pairings were spot on with the menu and I didn't feel overwhelmed with food. Service was great. If I go to back to Portland in the future, I'm getting a table at Beast again!

    (5)

  • Michael E.

    We love food, Portland and Top Chef, so eating at Beast would seem to be a match made in heaven. Reality was different. The biggest disappointment was the food itself. Don't get me wrong, it was tasty and nothing missed the mark, but I was expecting more. Nothing was very inventive or creative. With a chef like this and prices like this, your expectations are high. Every dish I've eaten before and two of six courses were charcuterie and cheese. Only one dish was hot. The wine pairings were also unexciting and on the small side. Service is also slow. It took almost three hours for 6 courses. There are likely better places in Portland with more inventive food at better prices. This restaurant is coasting.

    (3)

  • Jskilicious S.

    Went here for dinner and had a great experience. It's the most expensive meal we've had since moving to Portland, ($240) but when you experience it you'll know why. I did the wine pairing which was fun but sadly in my opinion not very well paired with the food. There were many courses and we were walked through them by the wait staff. You sit family style, but it's not shared portions. There are no substitutions and the meal is served in courses. Service was excellent. The menu was exotic. A great place if you are trying to impress a date. Reservations are a must! Everyone stands in line before its time to eat, so don't making the mistake of just walking in before they are ready or you'll get some evil stares.Oops

    (4)

  • James W.

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    (3)

  • Daisy D.

    So many things led us to attempt to tame the Beast. I first learned about Naomi Pomeroy when she competed on Top Chef Masters. I really didn't know what to think, but when I saw her recently on The Taste, I found my woman crush. When we were planning our weekend in Portland, the memory of her restaurant being there popped into my brain and we looked it up. When first reading about it, we were a little hesitant but we kept reading and fell deeper into a trance. And then I read the sample menu. Dat menu doh. We booked our reservation and waited on pins & needles for the week's menu to be posted. From first glance our mouths started to water. It was going to be a long four days to wait until Saturday night. The evening finally arrived and we attempted to make our way (more about that later) to an unassuming dining spot in the arts district and the show was ready to begin. Dinner was a show & the staff - small but superb - was the orchestra. This was an orchestrated affair like very few I have attended. When you first walk in, you feel like you're being invited into Naomi's personal dining room. I've seen many an open kitchen, but none like this one. We were seated promptly and awaited our first wine. To paraphrase Lumiere, "Course by course, one by one, (I never shouted) enough I'm done". It's hard to pick a favorite course, it's even difficult to name a least favorite course. The dinner was so well put together and progressed at just the right speed to really enjoy yourself. I could wax poetic about each course from the first to the sixth and even the extras like the palate cleanser and the fruit jelly; but since the menu is different every single week, I will try my best to give you the highest of the highlights. Ms. Pomeroy has made me a believer in all the loveliness that is foie gras. Her bon bon was like something I've never had and I would easily take a box of those on Valentine's Day. The short rib bourguignon was melt in your mouth fabulous. I even enjoyed a bite of oyster mushroom; and for this fungi tolerator (barely) that's a big deal. And skipping straight to dessert for this sugar addict, it was like they called up my husband and asked what his favorite flavors were. Don't get me wrong, I hesitated about licking the rosemary caramel off the plate. Since I read several reviews mentioning the uncomfortable chairs, I'm here to say they're not that bad. I've sat in worse. Yes, it's a long dinner and a cushion might be nice; but I found the chairs to be quite supportive. Another plus for the service, they arranged our car home; and after our arrival debacle, it was much needed. A note to future diners: if you are traveling to Beast from anywhere in the Arts District quadrant, do yourself a favor and call a cab. It won't cost you much. If you live in the area, you might be used to the walk. However, to this visitor, we got caught off guard with a public transit snafu and walked 30+ blocks at cheetah pace to make our reservation. Was dinner worth the calorie deficit? Hell yeah!

    (5)

  • Christine H.

    I went for dinner with a group of friends. Creative concept and food but everything was too salty (and I love salt). The components of each dish (purees, sauces, proteins) went well together but it was difficult to eat since it was so salty and heavy. I thought I would love the charcuterie course but there was too much going on. It would have been a better course if they had less variety and better quality of each bite. As for the ambience I liked that it was a casual restaurant with an open kitchen and the Service was friendly. I'm still undecided if I would recommend beast given that it's a little pricey for Portland. You can get a better meal for the same price In Seattle or San Francisco.

    (3)

  • Markus N.

    My apologies for this having to be somewhat qualitative for as I did not write anything down evening of and supper was followed by the most delicious dessert and all I remember is that so ... My partner in crime will sate your gastronomical curiosity. I will simply lay a foundation. *he sits, trying to find words, fails* Simply, this is a highlight. Life is short and already you have many things to be thankful for. Go here, make that list a little longer. Communal tables, wonderfully attentive staff, plating just over yonder by a very serious-face kitchen. I hadn't realized that it was a fixed menu and when I began to peruse while sipping the delicious beer I had never heard of I thought damn I can't choose between any of these they all look so good then they gave me everything. Pair with the wines. Beast will lighten your pocket but not so much that you can't indulge completely. Trust. It's well worth it. These guys know what's what. Radius test - given that Portland has turned itself into something very cool and as such is worth a visit from pretty much anywhere, I'd say any and all of you from wherever you hail continental or otherwise should pay the Rose City a visit. And when you do (not if), put Beast in its proper place on your itinerary.. Now press pause, and wait for the rabbit to regale you with the culinary details.

    (5)

  • Thao N.

    I was visiting some friends in Portland & they made reservations for noon Brunch on a Sunday. I looked at the website & was looking forward to the meal. From the description of the restaurant & from the price, I was expecting exceptional service & food. The place is called Beast, so I expected a meat-heavy meal. What we received was not even close. We were a party of 4 (mid 20's-early 30's). The website told us to arrive in a timely manner, so we arrived 10 mins before noon. We walked in & were the first guests there. A hostess informed us that they weren't ready to seat us yet. There is no designated waiting area in the restaurant, so we kind of just awkwardly stood in the entrance area in front of the coat rack & main door. We were seated after about 5 mins of waiting, so that's not too bad. It smelled very nice, so we were looking forward to the meal. I did not drink the coffee, so I can't comment on it. I do know that it was French Press. The water was room temperature w/ no ice. I don't know about everyone else, but I like my water cold. The waiters did keep my glass full though, so they were attentive. First course was very good. All 4 of us cleaned out each of our ramekins, so we were hoping the following courses would be just as impressive. The next course was what we were all looking forward to: Beast Hash w/ braised pork belly. I would've loved it if there were more than 2 measly pieces of pork belly. I was digging to find the meat. It definitely was NOT a beastly hash. The next course was a salad w/ cheese & grapes. Grapes were good. I left some salad & some cheese on my plate. Last course was a really rich, deep chocolate cake. I am not a chocolate fan, so I only had one bite. Those who like chocolate would've loved the dessert, though. In summation, we had a nice time together in the restaurant, but would not recommend it or return to it. All 4 of us agreed that it was not worth the money we paid & we left still hungry. We had a much better brunch the day before at Bad Habit Room for a fraction of the cost.

    (2)

  • Jennifer S.

    What a fun experience! Even though it's not the most comfortable place to seat, grab a seat at the kitchen counter if available. If you like to cook, you'll find the experience fascinating, and maybe even learn a thing or two by the end of the evening. Staff is very friendly and will talk to you throughout the evening if you appear engaged. Not sure that the wine pairing adds much, but $150pp for food + wine + tip at a restaurant of this caliber is a fantastic deal if you ask me. They aren't kidding about the menu being meat-heavy, so skip this one if you're not carnivorously inclined. But a secret tip--the restaurant is a bit more accommodating of special diets/allergies than they let on. There were definitely some substitutions and omissions coming out of the kitchen when we were there.

    (5)

  • Harri S.

    FOIE. GRAS. BON-BON. This restaurant is straight up sexual. If communal seating, dim lighting, and perfect wine pairings don't scream eat me, I don't know what does. Eddie and J-Bee were quite astute when they booked in advance, cause ya gotta. Aside from one poor wine pairing and over-salted duck leg, I was in heaven. PS don't let all the notes and drawings in the bathroom make you miss a course...

    (5)

  • An T.

    Was in town for my buddy's bachelor party and since he is a foodie what better place to plan a dinner. Oh so much to write about. The place is decent sized for about 30 people. If you are not in a big group you will be sitting with new friends. Starters had a wonderful Asparagus veloute accompanied by some levain bread. This soup was great reminded me of clam chowder probably because of the rich cream flavor. Yet it wasn't heavy. Loved it! Next on the menu was a clock of goodness. A Charcuterie plate with an assortment of yummy bites. And as directed by the waitress the order of eating is clockwise starting at 1 o'clock. Saving the best for last the foie gras bon bon. I actually liked the Chicken liver mousse the most. It had a youzu marmalade on it and the combination was just delicious! The cured muscovy duck breast was phenonmenal! I usually am a fan of steak tartare but something was off on this one. Can't put my finger on it but seasoning flavor wasn't there for me. The Pork loin was good the carrot and confit lemon emulsion was tasty! We got a nice peach sorbet pallet cleanser before going on the the greens. I think this was the least liked dish. Not a fan of turnips. And the dressing didn't change that. The selection of cheese was good. The goat cheese from washington reminded me of cream cheese and the cheese from oregon was like a brie. This was my fav. I wasn't too big on the hard cheese from NY. The Roasted rhubarb mille feuille was delicious. Best way to describe is a large cream puff. And we got chocolate macrons at the end! All in all everyone left full and satisfied. I did get the wine paring but found some of the pairings didn't fit my taste buds with the dish. On return I would opt out of getting the pairing and maybe just get a glass of a wine I enjoy.

    (4)

  • Anthony W.

    If you are a foodie you MUST come try this place. The menu is already set and is a tasting menu. You can order wine tasting with it or individually. The food we had here was amazing with great flavor. I think one reason for their ability to do this is less customers and more quality control. They have 2 seatings a night and I think the restaurant only holds maybe 25 people. The only bad thing is everyone gets the same thing and there is no substitutions. We had a vegetarian in our party and they were not able to substitute for her. Luckily her husband and I were there to grab the meat products on her plate. Not sure what they do about allergies since no one in out party had any food allergies. The courses were very flavorful and I seriously could have ordered two meals for myself, but I probably would have had to be rolled out of the restaurant. Since there are two seatings if you get there early you will not be allowed in until they open the door. Before they open the door for the next seating they set all the tables first. Since we did arrive early we planned on heading across the street to their sister restaurant and bar, Expatriate, which had great drinks and a rocking bartender. This is definitely a fine dining restaurant that you must try if you happen to be in Portland. They don't take walk ins so be sure to make a reservation. The decor of the place was a little lacking for my taste but was fine and not obnoxious.

    (5)

  • Joanna S.

    The Sunday brunch was amazing. 4 courses, open kitchen, communal tables, I love the atmosphere! It was so Portland. The food was amazing as well! Even the cheese platter at the end blew my mind, and I was afraid I wouldn't like all of the cheeses they chose (not a big fan of pungent cheeses) Everything was paired really well. THe dishes were interesting and had a lot of great flavor! It really demonstrated why the chef is a James Beard award winner. So tasty! I'm recommending the brunch to everyone I know now! $35 a person, is amazing. You just can't get that price and quality anywhere! Pro tip- make a reservation on opentable! There's only 2 seatings on Sunday for brunch.

    (5)

  • West M.

    Delicious food with great service. 6 course tasting menu, everything was excellent, just too much food! Hard to get a table, reservation only, and communal tables.

    (5)

  • Pepper P.

    I love food. Catching it, shopping for it, growing it, preparing it, cooking it, looking at it, photographing it.... I LOVE FOOD. This is the kind of restaurant you go to when you have this kind of passion. Others will enjoy Beast, but not with the same kind of visceral delight that we do. There was so much to be excited about. Her flavor combinations, the color exchange on my plate, the excellently paired wines, the textures that were exciting and fresh. I love the communal seating with deep, dark colors, thick wood tables, open kitchen, bookshelf and chalkboard walls. Yes, even the wood chairs. It's like what came out of a memory from my happy place. A place that hasn't been fancified or overthought, overdone.. It's small and intimate and I love that. Did I have a favorite? Wow. That's a toughie.. Of course the bon bon and steak tartare were outrageous, and the cheese selection was deeply satisfying, but that watercress, fennel and radishes salad was perhaps the most exquisitely constructed salad I have ever put in my mouth. Spicy, bitter, creamy and just enough salt with contrasting crunchiness? Epic. Dining here was an absolute joy. I couldn't hope for a better experience and am ecstatic that Beast is so close to my home... Chances are, you can find me in the neighborhood, strolling around, staring in the windows from time to time, remembering that awesome meal.

    (5)

  • P H.

    Took some visiting friends from LA a couple weeks ago. Was worth checking out once but was not overly impressed. We did the wine pairing which I'd recommend. The main course was so-so. Good conversations with neighboring diners at the common table. I don't mind paying top dollar but felt this was a bit overpriced.

    (3)

  • Mark P.

    This was easily the best meal of my life, start to finish. And that's saying a lot. We had the second seating (8:45) on a rainy Saturday night. We were immediately impressed to find none other than Hilary Swank, Hollywood actress, seated at our table with her dad and other family members. That speaks volumes about the hype this place receives. They weren't given preferential treatment and never asked for it. I love that Portland is low-key like that. Naomi Pomeroy seated us herself, and was attentive throughout the meal, rolling up her sleeves and replacing silverware, filling water glasses, and describing dishes the entire night. Our other server was equally friendly and knowledgeable. Service was excellent, and the meal was perfectly paced. The menu changes weekly, so it's hard to give a review solely based on the food. Having said that, this is Beast, and Naomi is a culinary superstar, so how can you NOT talk about the food? The wonderful, wonderful food... 1. Our first course was a spring wild leek and fish chowder with salt cod and a meyer lemon croquette. It was smooth and velvety and the perfect starter. The fresh bread and European style butter were amazing in their own regard. 2. Next up was the charcuterie plate. This is in regular rotation on the menu, and blew away any and all other charcuterie plates we've had. Ours included a chicken liver mousse on leaf lard cracker, squab breast terrine, black garlic and hazelnut blood sausage, steak tartare and quail egg on toast, cured duck breast, and the highly regarded foie gras bon bon that everybody raves about. Everything was amazing, and probably our single most favorite bite of the evening was that steak tartare. The depth of flavor was wonderful, the creamy yolk contrasting with the crunchy toast, followed by the perfectly seasoned tartare. The whole thing was a flavor bomb. 3. Our entree was a pork shoulder with pickled mustard seed and apple cider glaze, served with a carrot puree, kale rapine, pommes anna (fancy name for a slice of potato), and brown butter jus. Mmm. The puree was velvety and buttery, and the perfect accompaniment for the tender pork. Divine. 4. A small dish of peach and elderberry sorbet came out next as a palate cleanser. Best. Palate. Cleanser. Ever. 5. Since the French do things backwards, our next course was a salad. By this point we were starting to feel full, but how could we resist the mixed spring greens with roasted and raw beets, blood orange and campari vinaigrette, and fried chèvre? We could not. Again, the flavors melded together in perfect harmony. I wish I could buy a bottle of that vinaigrette. 6. Steve at the cheese bar put together a cheese plate next. Cheese plates are fun! This one featured a selection of two cow's milk cheeses and one sheep's milk. They were salty, creamy goodness, served with honey (from local bees, of course), fried and salted marcona almonds, and an armagnac poached prune that was the perfect sweet finish. 7. Last but certainly not least was a salted chocolate pot de creme with caramelized bananas, whipped vanilla creme fraiche, and a toasted coconut tuile. Decadent, rich and totally to die for. We ordered a cup of French press coffee each, the perfect foil for this sweet finish to our meal. A few other observations/thoughts: go for the wine pairing. We had generous pours of six different wines (3 whites, 2 reds, 1 rose) and while we are hardly wine experts, these all went well with our courses. The communal seating was fine; considering the meal runs nearly three hours from start to finish, at some point you'll inevitably make conversation with the people around you. I guess this could be a drawback if your fellow patrons are obnoxious, but ours were not. Beast is pricey, no doubt about that. But given the quality of food, variety of courses, and excellent service, it's well worth the price of admission and a must-try Portland hot spot. Just ask the Oscar-winning Hollywood actress who ate there with us!

    (5)

  • Esther M.

    I chose Beast for my trip down the portland after reading the yelp reviews. I was not let down. My husband thought the dinner was better than providence in LA and and Whale Wins in seattle. Sitting right across from the plating island was a treat. I felt that I got a lesson in how to serve a group of guest beautifully. The meal started with mushroom soup with morels and it got us all excited because it set the bar high for the rest of the meal. The charcuterie plate was fun and there was a couple of stand outs for me - the duck and the fois gras Bon Bon. The others paled in comparison. Next was the steak. This was my favorite. Absolute perfection in the quality and the execution of the meat, the vegetables and blue cheese butter that complement the meat. I just wished there was a little more meat to finish the sauce with! Scallop and asparagus was classic but good and the cheese course was good as well. The combination of one of the cheese from Wisconsin with their crackers and the wine that they were paired with, is a stand out. After all this, if the dessert did not help in finishing the meal on a good note, five stars would not be possible. We were not disappointed. It was creamy coconut tapioca with passion fruit reduction(?) topped with crisp tuile, creme fraiche, pineapple and roasted nuts. It was a wonderous experience and which made me want to lick the plate. I didn't because I want to continue to dine out with other people. I enjoyed the meal tremendously but I can see that the format of serving all the diners together can have some drawbacks. We will be back and hope that the chef opens another place with maybe a more traditional format.

    (5)

  • Elle N.

    My husband and I enjoyed the pre-fix dinner of the week at BEAST. We were on a trip to Oregon and wanted a real foodie experience. Beast is in a great neighborhood to enjoy a drink - Portland has its share of great mixologists! Each of the courses were delicious in their own right! The soup the evening we were there was simply amazing (the only other soup I have had that is that good was at Guy Savoy in Vegas). We ordered a wine pairing and coming from a wine background I can say it was superbly matched. The only thing to be warned about it that you will sit at a community table. This worked out fine as we were in the mood for this - but if you are not - then this may not be your thing! Go and enjoy it. We will do it again when we return to Portland as it was our best meal on the trip!

    (5)

  • Jonathan Y.

    Reservation only, family style table. The chef just won James Beard this year so we got lucky we booked it beforehand. Including wine pairing, the cost was still really fantastic. I loved the fresh soup - I think that was the best dish I'd had in Portland all weekend. And I enjoyed the charcuterie plate. The cheese plate and dessert were okay, but nothing special. The duck was decent but the salad was really bad. It tasted like store bought caesar dressing. I feel like as she gets more fame, and the size of her presence requires a more set menu than a weekly rotating one she'll be able to hone her dishes amazingly. That soup was so delicious!

    (4)

  • Anthony N.

    ***Naomi Pomeroy's Beast serves a 6-course menu with each course delivered to all guests at the same time; it is a unique experience and Beast delivers rustic but very refined food that is a perfect fit for Portland but would also be great food in any city*** Pomeroy's stint on Top Chef Masters was impressive. Her food was very nicely presented and showcased delicious-sounding flavor combinations in a contemporary style. She also talked about food very intelligently. Her restaurant Beast puts her front and center and while the dining experience is meant to be very communal, she seemed reserved (though pleasant) and all business. The all business is definitely necessary to put out Beast's very strong 6-course menu for all diners simultaneously with only a staff of five (Pomeroy and another chef, a dishwasher and two servers). I am not sure of the reasons why Pomeroy utilizes such a unique restaurant approach, but it definitely results in many great benefits to customers. First, it is a great way to ensure optimal utilization of ingredients, which allows for more ingredients to be used at peak quality and freshness; this probably also helps deliver a lower price to the customer due to less waste. You also get a much better sense of what the chef is going for because of the more streamlined menu; finally, the set timing of the meal allows for a freshly made dessert, which is a rarity these days. The dessert was a rhubarb clafoutis, which combined the lift and airiness of a soufflé with the moistness of a bread pudding. I loved the use of the seasonal rhubarb so that it had both a sweet and tart flavor. It was drizzled with really good cardamom caramel--nicely sticky and the cardamom was prominent. There was also a good ice cream on top--good flavor, very creamy and the cool ice cream worked well with the warm soufflé. The other dishes were also very good. The carrot and curry velouté was very velvety and had a great carrot flavor as well as both fragrance and spiciness. I really liked their meat course--a very good strip loin, which had a great crust and a really soft and juicy center. It had a strong beefy flavor and the seasoning was just right. I really liked the sides because of the balance. There was a rich and creamy risotto, but there was also fresh, leafy and lightly bitter greens. Fried shallots provided a great and non-greasy crunch. The charcuterie plate is an always on the menu item at Beast though they do change out the small bites that make up the plate. What they had on the plate on my visit was great. There was an excellent tartare on brioche topped with a rich quail egg yolk. I am not typically a fan of chicken liver, but I really liked their preparation--very creamy chicken liver on a light crisp and a nice tang from pickled onion. The beef belly was rich and good and there was also a good pate. The foie gras bon bon with a sweet wine gelee was a meaty, rich and creamy bite. There was also a palate cleanser salad of fennel, bitter greens and pickled vegetables--bright, tart and very refreshing. The cheese plate was also a highlight. Great cheeses with very different flavors and all of the garnishes were good--sweet crunch from caramelized nuts and a very tasty and addictive prune soaked in liqueur. My least favorite course was the asparagus with a soft boiled egg, very good croutons, Marcona almonds, and very soft and sharp Parmesan cheese. It was kind of a take on a Caesar salad and it was actually a good dish. That being said, I thought it was simply a good asparagus dish while the charcuterie was a fun collection of bites, the strip loin was a great beef dish, the cheese was outstanding, and the dessert was one of a kind. Service was personable and good. The food came out at an even pace. The staff really works hard here, but I think the restaurant needs more servers. With the wine pairings and many customers asking a lot of questions because of the restaurant's reputation, finished plates seemed to sit too long. Prices are reasonable given both the variety and quality of the food. A similar restaurant in the Bay Area could cost twice as much. Beast has a great dining room. It is very simple and rustic, but it has an intimate feel that works well with this restaurant's setup. The open kitchen also allows you to see Pomery and just one other chef cook and plate all the food. Beast serves great food, but it also delivers a unique experience. The restaurant feels very much like the perfect restaurant for Portland, but its quality would make it an excellent restaurant in any city. I am not sure how many times I will return to Portland, but a trip to Beast would be likely on each visit. Free street parking is available.

    (5)

  • Stephanie P.

    Although it would be a tough call, I think if I absolutely had to pick this would be the best meal of my life. My husband and I went for a belated Valentine's Day dinner, and it was spectacular. I am only a moderately adventurous eater, but the tasting menu left no room for alterations and so I decided to try everything and it was so worth it! The only bite of the entire meal I didn't absolutely love was the steak tartare with quail egg. The charcuterie plate was beautiful, the chicken liver mouse and foie gras with sauternes gelee being my favorite. The cheese course was fun and the dessert was heaven. Normally I believe if its not chocolate, its not dessert, but the sticky toffee pudding completely changed my view on that. At $300 for a couple to do the dinner and wine pairings (tip included!), it is a pricey night out for me, but it was worth every penny for a special night out.

    (5)

  • Amanda S.

    My partner and I went to Beast on April 11th to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. It was a HUGE disappointment. This is what my partner has to say: I went to Beast last night to experience something new, something extraordinary, something that would challenge my preconceptions of fine dining. Maybe that is asking too much, however when one is paying $300.00 for two at least one should leave having experienced something competent. Sadly What I found was mass catering masquerading itself as fine dining. Amateurish dishes sold at an exorbitant price. We showed before the appointed time of 8:45 pm. 8:45 was the time we were told to be there. We were prompt, and they weren't and they didn't seem to care. We were left standing outside in the cold as the wait staff slowly cleaned the cutlery and glassware watching us wait for them. We should have left then and there - but we waited. They could see us standing outside and their restaurant was empty yet they made us wait outside well past the appointed time with doors locked. Nice way to make a first impression. Finally we were let in. The chef at the counter greeted us with "How are you doing" I responded "Better now that we are allowed in from the cold". No apology was given nor concern shared for their tardiness. Those were the last words he spoke to us all evening long. I figured the silence was a Zen Meditation technique that he had mastered so that he may focus his culinary Chakra to prepare for us an even greater meal. However I don't think that is entirely necessary when most of what you are doing is just reheating pre-made food. We settled in. Our first course was a Mushroom Veloute' with Squab Broth. Decent, correct temperature yet neither stunning nor moving. Average yes, somewhere between Whole Foods Deli and The Olive Garden. I love Whole Foods, but I didn't come here for that. Now only if the wait staff would smile or at least show some glimmer of friendliness or gratitude that we were there. The staff was as inviting and interesting as wet cardboard. Hardly a smile, or any show of friendliness. I searched in vain for any sign of passion or joy. Perhaps they were tired being the second serving of the evening but then this is one of Portland most expensive dinning experiences and one should not have to find excuses for a disinterested staff. Perhaps that is the greatest fault I found: a lack of joy for cooking. It felt like a meal prepared by people who don't like food. Next came the Charcuterie plate that many have talked about. Most of the items did not jump out in any meaningful way. They were mostly just mediocre and one expects more. The Quail Egg Toast for instance was somewhat interesting, but most of the others were as interesting as Novocain. Onto the overly seasoned and salty Snake River Farms Hanger Steak, hardly successful with the Pommes Alumettes that were as inspired as deep fried battered dental floss that had been prepared hours in advance. Perhaps they were. The next dish was a palette cleansing sorbet which was the only gem of inspiration in an evening a wash in a sea of culinary banality. We then came to a very passable One Seared Sea Scallop with Prosciutto wrapped asparagus. There might have been a little extra seasoning from the spatter of the dish washing station next to the stove as a handful of the last batch of scallops was left unattended on the stove and I observed from my chef counter table vantage some of the spray hit the mark. Oh well. I will take that over the server that was plating the food, then handling a cleaning rag to wipe some items down and then continuing to plate without thinking of perhaps washing her hands. We had the wine pairings and were poured 1/3 of a glass with each or less. Considering the price of the flight one would expect at least a decent pour. A couple of the pairings were passable. Most of the pairings were unmemorable and plain awful and considering you are paying $100.00 extra for a couple you should at least be matched with something more suitable from a competent sommelier. That was followed by a selection of cheeses, selection is defined as three but that's O.K. of which only one was a stand out, a delightful chevre, the others were unexceptional and downright boring. And yes you get stale crackers. Our final course was a Chilled Coconut Tapioca. Again passable but nothing that would justify the reputation and accolades that this place has received. Certainly I can think of far better deserts around town. There is nothing at Beast that makes one eager to return. I expected the exceptional but what I found was a myth that believes in itself and a hype that this restaurant does not deserve. It is overrated and overpriced. There are far better places, Le Pigeon, Imperial, Cabezon, Clarke lewis all come to mind. Not once did any of the staff ask "How's the food?" They seemed so bored as to not care. There is nothing inspired in the experience, nor the meal I had. It was just lazy

    (1)

  • Freddie L.

    Beast has very good food but not amazing. The short ribs were delicious- cooked so it melted right off the bone and did not require a knife. The cheeses were good and the foie gras was very very subtle. Like air. Which is kind of disappointing because I can get air for free. The sommelier explained the wines to the group of older people next to us but when he came around to us basically just told us the name of the wine and region. AND he leaned across the table to pour my wine. Not cool dude. I'm not an animal, and I'm not at Denny's. Or am I?

    (2)

  • Leslie G.

    We chose Beast as our one extravagant meal on our trip to the Pacific Northwest. We were definitely not disappointed, although, we expected to be wowed due to the price and notoriety of the chef. The atmosphere was interesting, and very Portland. Our communal table seated 4 couples and we enjoyed getting to know a couple from California, and the two ladies seated across from us. The other couple kept to themselves, and that's ok. We chose to go with the wine pairings and it was a little disappointing that there were no local wines featured. We had French, German, and Spanish wines. The waiter was very knowledgeable about the wines, but did not know what to say when a gentleman at our table pointed out that the restaurant prided themselves on serving locally sourced food, and why not and Oregon or Washington wines. The vichyssoise was one of the best things served. It was cold and refreshing on an unseasonably hot day. The charcuterie was absolutely fantastic! My husband raved about the steak tartare with quail egg, while I could have eaten a plateful of the foie gras Bon Bon. The pork loin was slightly dried out, but the preserves on top made up for the dryness. Pork rib was delicious, salad (sadly) average, and cheese plate good if not uninventive. The dessert was over the top delicious, buttermilk pan a cotta with blueberry and praline whipped cream. One awkward moment during dessert, the woman across from me mentioned to the waitress that the dessert looked patriotic, and said it was fitting as it was July 4th weekend. The waitresses response was a snarky "I assure you that was absolutely NOT the intention!" Uncomfortable silence followed, and the guests embarrassment was palpable. I thought saying "oh what an interesting coincidence" might have been a better response, but this is Portland after all.

    (4)

  • Simon Z.

    Interesting experience , nicely orchestrated and timed servings , food is ok , nothing edgy or Unique , main course meat serving was tepid Pre cooked . Pricing is correct , inclusive of service charge . Service is excellent . Not someplace I Would return , recommended for a one time visit

    (4)

  • Phil G.

    Every restaurant creates a myth, a local myth, and Beast has one. The concept with all that it involves is fresh and mystical for a town like Portland. The communal seating can be good or bad depending on one's comfort level to socialize with complete strangers while eating. The food however was disappointing. The starters were bland and flat, but the main course was over salted. The desserts were average. The wines were okay, not the best possible selection, and the pour was less than a 1/3 of a glass which did not work for a wine enthusiast like myself. I appreciate what they offer and would encourage them to be a bit forward in their taste.

    (3)

  • Christine A.

    my meal at Beast was amazing. the portions were perfect - I finished just about everything and left feeling full but not like I was in a terrible food coma. everything on the plate had a purpose and everything worked so well together. dessert was too sweet for me (marshmallow brulee) and we had to flag a server to get a second bottle of wine but that alone doesn't knock them a star. I was super impressed and very content with everything. I'd absolutely go back!

    (5)

  • Teresa T.

    I had high expectations for a dinner at Beast and am happy to report that my expectations were met, though not exceeded. The communal dining aspect of the restaurant is unique and intriguing but it always fall flat in real life. There are two dining tables that seat around 10-15 each but we found our table mates to be on the extremes: talkative, loud, almost bordering on drunk or not interested in stranger interaction. I do have to admit I'm not sold on communal dining in general, outside of family style dining with large groups of friends, because it feels forced and awkward. It is a very nice touch that Beast waits until all diners have arrived and settled in before service begins. The first two courses- soup and chacuterie were great starters that made us excited for the rest of the meal. The foie gras bon bon that seems to be a regular on the chacuterie plate was my favorite item of the entire dinner, seriously I could just eat a plate of those. The next two courses - lamb and salad weren't as successful. Most of the table agreed that the lamb was way too cumbersome to eat, it was a huge chunk of meat and bone. The meat wasn't soft which required a lot of cutting around the bone and chewing. The sauce and accompaniments to the lamb also all blended into something discernible. The salad course was nice but nothing new or special. I am happy that the last two courses left our dinner on a high note. The cheese plate had 3 wonderfully stinky cheeses with classic sides - crackers, honey, fruit. Dessert was a decadent chocolate ganache tart that was a great balance of pure unadulterated chocolate indulgence. All in all, I think a dinner at Beast is an essential experience of Portland dining. I would wholly recommend dining here at least once.

    (4)

  • Dan G.

    graciously seated without reservation minutes before Friday's late-evening feast (not recommended, obviously). dishes and wines were excellently paired and explained by friendly staff genuinely interested in your experience/feedback. each dish was creative, conceived with care, and delicious, of course. compliments to chef pomeroy and crew.

    (5)

  • Ken C.

    The night prior to Beast, I had a really wonderful dining experience at Le Pigeon. So I came to Beast with high hopes because of the chef's impressive resume. Then ended up being very disappointed because the food and wine pairing was lackadaisical and very uninspiring. One dish was basically protein and a potato over asparagus. Brilliant. Another dish was just basically a salad with a fancy title "wild lettuces, shaved radishes with radish vinaigrette blah blah blah." Then the "steve's" cheese course, should be offered as optional or extra supplement, not mandatory. And the dessert course had a really fancy title "rhubarb tart" with "creme fraiche ice cream" blah blah blah. It was like eating a slice of apple pie with scoop of vanilla on top. Boring. Basically it's a "mass catering production" of one menu, no other alternatives, designed to be idiot proof and easy as possible for kitchen and the staff. People might think the "mass catering production" of plating 20 dish at the same on the counter is a "cool idea", I call it "lazy" and "cutting corners."

    (1)

  • Brian C.

    An unforgettable dining experience. Anyone looking to understand the way to perfectly complement well executed delicious food combined with impeccable service should look at beast as an example. We had the Sunday brunch first seating and were fortunate enough to sit at the chef's table. With a small kitchen and staff, the crew at Beast was able to provide us and the other 20 or so patrons with a perfect meal, while being extremely friendly and gracious. We watched the care and scrutiny they placed on plating and consistently delivering the food to all the diners at the same time for each course. While there are no substitutions on the menu, they did adjust a few dishes for a pregnant woman who could have not have any raw or undercooked eggs or dairy. Truly one of the best meals I've ever had. If you are local or visiting Portland, Beast is a must go. I'm sure dinner is amazing, but if you are on a tighter budget, brunch is a great value.

    (5)

  • Riley C.

    Arguably the best 'chefs menu' of my life. If you live in (or are visiting) PDX you must try Beast. My recommendation would be having a small group 4-6 people come with you. Also, the wine pairing that was available with the pre-set menu matched up perfectly.

    (5)

  • Cooper M.

    Went here for a friend's bday last night and enjoyed it but not as much as I had hoped. Beast has many things going for it like layout/design, humor, music and a unique dining experience with plenty of food. However, their plates just did not taste as good as they should. The main course lamb shank was great but all the beats and salty - savory combos just didn't work for me. I admire their innovative thinking but not if the taste and experience of the meal are sacrificed.

    (4)

  • john l.

    very great place. get ready. take it seriously and leave your preconceived notions at the door. They 're the experts here, pal. This place is THE REAL DEAL!!!

    (4)

  • Casey P.

    Overall one of the best meals I have ever had. Awesome course progression and cohesion. Great experience being able to basically sit in the kitchen. This chef knows what she is doing! Rock on. It was also fun sitting with a table of people you didn't know. One of the people in my party had a shellfish allergy and they happily accommodated us. The only ding I can come up with is the wine pairing pours were a little light handed. I can't wait to go back when I find myself in Portland again.

    (5)

  • Megan G.

    Before you read further note the most important thing to know about Beast is: Bring a cushion to sit on because the chairs are hellishly uncomfortable!!! They ruined any enjoyment of sitting down and enjoying the meal. I literally had to sit on my leather jacket and then stand up for one minute increments in the middle of my meal multiple times because I was literally in that much pain. The chairs remind me of elementary school auditorium seats- not inviting. Anyway here's the story: my parents were coming into town and my dad suggested that I find a restaurant for them to take me to for my birthday. I had read reviews about Beast before and I thought that it would be the perfect place for them to take me. My mom is a chef and she passed her taste for New American cuisine on to me; my whole family loves innovative food. I found BEAST on Yelp about a year ago and I had wanted to try it for some time. I made the reservation and was very excited to finally eat there. My parents and I walked in twenty minutes early because I had read on the reviews to go early if we wanted to get good seats. Anyway, they were not ready to seat anyone so they suggested we go next door to another restaurant/bar and hang out there. Okay, so the place is small and they were not ready to seat people early, I can live with that. We sit at the end of the table and they bring out wine glasses for everyone and start pouring wine. My mom ordered an ice tea and I order a Diet Coke because I don't drink and the woman informs us that they don't have tea or Diet Coke...The waitress paused and then with a sigh said she would go to the bar next door to get our drinks. Okay, so not very good service and only water and wine in the building. Kind of odd. The first course was Flageolet bean soup with greens and sumac oil. Sumac has always bothered my throat for some reason, but the soup was so warm and hearty that I ate it all. The second course was the charcuterie plate which consisted of a fois grais bon-bon with sauternes gelee (the sauternes gelee completely took away from the fois gras flavor so if you try this do it without the gelee), steak tartare and quail egg toast, chicken liver mousse and pickled shallot, boudin noir and duck fat apple pastry and Carlton Farms pork shoulder rillettes with a shaved fennel salad in the middle and a pickled beet and carrot on the side. I will tell you that the boudin noir and duck fat apple pastry was hands down my favorite item of the night. It was so delicious that I really have no words to describe it. The next course was the hanger steak with wild onion and swiss chard panade with asparagus and brown butter béarnaise. It was a good quality course- the panade was a little dry but the steak and asparagus were cooked to perfection. My least favorite dish came out next and it was Miners lettuce, aged sauvignon blanc vinaigrette, a marinated giant sea scallop and pistachio and spring herb salsa verde. I am not a fan of raw scallops, I really don't know why because I love sashimi but I just can't do raw scallops. However, the pistachio and spring herb salsa verde was to die for! Then out came the cheese course. I have no complaints about this other than there wasn't enough cheese! I am a cheese fanatic and they paired these cheeses perfectly with the whole meal. The cheese came with anise and fleur de sel shortbread and that my friends was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! There was also homemade quince paste, wildflower honey and fried Marcona almonds. Dessert was a rhubarb clafoutis with cardamom ice cream and they brought it out with a candle because I was celebrating my birthday so that was nice but really, it was a weird dessert. I would probably go back to Beast with a bunch of friends, but not on a date or anything- the seating was just way too awkward. See, I thought that it would be a fun experience for everyone and everyone would conversate at the table and have a good time, but it really was not like that. I sat by pretentious couples who were not up to talking, just eating and getting sloshed. But you know to sum up the review, for the quality of food and the price ($60 per person without wine) is a VERY good deal! Go there if you want to try it out- it's not bad, it's really not. But I have had better. I went on a Friday night.

    (2)

  • jaimie k.

    First of all, all this food -- not to mention the ambiance and the service -- for the price is A-mazing. The many coursed meal was paced perfectly, executed perfectly, and just damn delicious. As a major fan of the experiment wherein scientists fooled wine connoisseurs into liking cheap bottles o' stuff by telling inflating the price per bottle, I'm dedicated to the importance a feeling can have on an experience. So is Beast. From the silverware to the artistry of the plate, from the food descriptions to the service, from the water jug to the bacon slice in the dessert, both the feeling and the experience were flawless.

    (5)

  • Green Devil W.

    I've traveled the world over and dined at 3-star Michelin establishments and Beast is one of my best meals ever! All that needs to be said about the food is that it is FLAWLESS. There is no room for improvement. The portion sizes are correct, every component of a dish excites the palate, but most importantly - the food is interesting. Don't anticipate any foams or test tubes but just a well-cooked meal prepared with passion. The service is at the same caliber without fussiness. They are there when you need them anticipating your every want and move through the room gracefully. I guess there will need to be more visits to Portland.

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    Sampled the amazing work of Naomi during a trip to Portland visiting a friend. Quite simply one of my top meals of my life. Was able to get seats to the Wine Dinner held on Sunday nights and really enjoyed hearing about each course, the sourcing of the ingredients, and the inspiration for how the menu came about. Loved the famed Foie Gras bon-bon and would definitely eat there again.

    (5)

  • Wendy X.

    One of the best brunches I've ever had. The tables at Beast are all communal, which means making a reservation calls for an amazing four-course meal with an eclectic group of people. The food is absolutely divine, but I think the best part of the experience and culture here at Beast was meeting other people who shared the same love of good food and good coffee.

    (5)

  • Jeanette M.

    Went for a birthday brunch on a Sunday. It was by far one of the best meals I've ever had. The wines paired perfectly the food was delicious and seasoned to perfection. Absolutely Devine!!! If you appreciate good food you will be pleased with this restaurant A great experience The service was fabulous. The food was perfect! Best way to celebrate...

    (5)

  • Max K.

    Beast was an awful experience - contrived, awkward, inflated, tense, and overpriced. Many of the dishes contained elements that blew the entire course. Examples - the Bone Marrow was so sweet it tasted like Ragu spaghetti sauce gone bad. Thankfully there were a couple of slivers of untouched marrow underneath that cloyingly sweet mess. The charcuterie plate was uninspiring; the Foie Gras bon bon was served on a crust that was so hard it was almost inedible. The Gelee was huge, and rubbery; not silky. The duck confit was overdone and tough. The dessert was inedible. The bottle of wine we chose (Cassis) started off OK, but tasted like salt water 15 mins later. I should have sent it back, but had already consumed a glass by then and felt bad doing so. But what made it a truly unbearable was a pathologically obnoxious woman at our community table who insisted on being the lead conversationalist for the meal; who became increasingly invasive and personal the more wine she consumed. She was downright repulsive. We tried not speaking with her, but she was so drunk / stupid / ignorant that our aloofness only made it worse. We generally don't mind community tables here in California, but at a high-end price-fixe restaurant with wine pairings, it's a poor idea. After attempting to stomach a couple bites of the disgusting dessert, we just desultorily left. Beast seems like a wedding caterer who set up shop in a small dining room, going for a theme that just didn't resonate. They mass assemble each course, and don't cook to order. The restaurant and experience was a big disappointment, and certainly not worth the $350++ we paid for the meal. We won't be back.

    (1)

  • Laurence B.

    It's Naomi Pomeroy, it's Beast, it's a communal table, and you along with 30 people are set to embark on a food journey that combines French and American cuisine, and if you are really indulging yourself, you select the wine pairing. So was it worth it? Oh yes!! The star of the menu was hands down the short rib, which melted in my mouth, followed by a riot of textures and spices... The heat of the padron peppers, combined with the smokiness of the grilled tomato, and the crunch of the blistered corn was a perfect accompaniment to the short rib. And the lemon sauce verte, aka an elegant chimichurri just cut through the fattiness to leave you with a perfect bite each time.The surprise of the menu was probably the chilled curried cantaloupe soup. Stunning in its simplicity, it was nonetheless complex and the Aleppo creme freche combined with the tarragon oil highlighted the curry beautifully. You can never go wrong with charcuterie in my world and the foie gras bonbon (and I had 2 since Ranjit kindly offered his) and the steak tartare were exquisite. The service was impeccable, and we were fortunate to sit next to a couple visiting Portland with whom we conversed throughout the meal. 5 spots were also open across from us at the table so I had a clear view of the kitchen, Naomi, and the playing action. It all made for a memorable culinary evening.

    (5)

  • Cora L.

    This place is amazing! Some of the best food I've found in Portland. As much as you're paying for the food, you're also paying for the experience and the quirky atmosphere. I would go back for a very special occasion.

    (4)

  • Tom S.

    I drove 1500 miles for this dinner. Ok, so it was on a road trip stop. However - after having dinner at the Chef's Counter, would consider another 1500 mile trip. Fun environment, well executed and on a nice little strip of classic Portland.

    (4)

  • Jean Y.

    Dinner at Beast was simply amazing. I couldn't find fault with anything without venturing into nitpicky territory. Beast does one or two seatings a night with a 6-course set menu. The upside is that the pacing of the meal was perfect. Watching the staff plate 30 of each course at a time was really something. The only indoor seating is at long communal tables, so be prepared to make conversation with strangers for hours unless you bring a larger group. Luckily, we were seated near people who were extremely pleasant and conversational. (If you really want to avoid strangers, you can probably ask. There are tables for 2 on the sidewalk available too, and we saw 2 people eating at a corner of the kitchen counter.) The chalkboard walls were decorated with cute drawings of pigs, recipes, and quotes about food. The 6-course menu was $102 with a $48 wine pairing, including gratuity. What a steal for the quality and quantity of food. I was stuffed and ecstatic after the meal. WHAT WE HAD 1. Muskmelon + prosciutto Americano with pickled piparra peppers, pine bud syrup, chives, chervil I don't usually care for the combination of muskmelon + prosciutto, but this was amazing. 2. Charcuterie platter 8 types of charcuterie organized on a round plate. You could eat them in any order, but it was recommended that you save the foie gras bon-bon with Sauternes gelée and peanut shortbread for last. That one was the highlight for many of my companions. I liked the steak tartare and quail egg over toast and beef tongue pastrami a lot too. 3. Carman ranch strip loin roast with summer squash tian, blistered toybox tomatoes, horseradish crème, Castelvetrano + hazelnut tapenade 4. Chicory + arugula salad with peaches, Pecorino Romano, aged balsamic, walnuts 5. Selection of cheese with muscat grapes, high desert honey, Marcona almonds, housemade crackers 6. Summer berry shortcake with whipped crème fraîche, basil ice cream, cocoa butter crumble I was really too full to properly enjoy this, but it was good! The 6 wines we had were from Washington, France, Spain, and Germany. I thought that each wine worked perfectly with the course it was paired with, and the amount of wine was just right.

    (5)

  • Stephanie A.

    When going to a French restaurant you expect to pay a lot of money, get a great food and be served by pretentious server. In this restaurant you get two out of three. Unfortunately the two doesn't include getting the good food. I am not trying to be the world best food expert but when I asked everyone from our party of 8 (that paid over $1700) what do you think about the food, I got the same polite response - it was ok. The 6 course meal was nicely presented and decorated but it was lacking any enthusiasm to surprise. Almost every course we ate was missing the wow element. It was food. The plate setting is very pretentious and try to be sophisticated, however the food can be described as nicely presented mediocracy. Another unpleasant issue is that the cooking oven is located right in the middle of the dining room and was emitting a strong and unpleasant smell of burned oil or butter. If you want to impress your girlfriend by dropping $400 on a dinner, you might want to take her here. That's probably the only reason to come here.

    (3)

  • Hayden N.

    Naomi Pomeroy won 2014 James Beard Award for best chef northwest--I've had my eyes on her for a long time. I am not sure what took me so long to dine at Beast. For my thirtieth birthday this year, I made brunch reservations for 12 people 2-3 months in advance just to make sure they could accommodate. Beast only offers a prix fixe menu so I decided brunch ($45/person) was more affordable for everyone to come celebrate a milestone in my life. They offered two seating for brunch at ten and noon, I opted for the noon hour. They called to confirm reservation a few days in advance and I changed the number to nine people. When we arrived, my friend's fiance got so excited because he didn't know where we were going and Beast was on his list of places he wanted to try. It's communal seating so they required everyone to be punctual because they fire the courses at the same time. The servers were so accommodating and friendly, we were greeted and offered coffee while we looked over the drink menu. Shortly after our drink arrived, I ordered a cassis mimosa, the first course was brought out in the following order... First course: cherry clafoutis with whipped creme fraiche and maple glazed house bacon Second course: braised pork belly hash with a poached duck egg Third course: artisan cheeses with a summer salad Fourth course: bete noire with a vanilla rum creme chantilly What's not to love about candied bacon? First course started the whole meal on a great note and setup the expectations that the proceeding courses would be just as amazing. The best dish for me probably was the second course, there's nothing like a perfectly soft-poached egg mixing with the hollandaise sauce and running into the flavorful hash. It was so succulent! People thought it was weird that the salad came out as the third dish, however, it makes sense to me because cheeses are typically the progressing dish before dessert and it was light after a heavier dish. No one liked their alcohol soaked cherry in the salad so they all gave it to me--yes! The "black beast" cake with the chantilly had the perfect amount sweet and richness to end the meal. Substitutions is politely decline and they will take allergies into consideration but I forgot to let them know one of my friend is pregnant. However, they were kind enough to hard-poached her duck egg, unfortunately, they couldn't substitute the hollandaise sauce or soft cheeses without advance notice. The restaurant and staff was beyond accommodating for my special occasion. I look forward to dining at Beast again.

    (5)

  • Quency F.

    A once a year type of experience! The food and wine were all excellent, words can't describe. My only suggestion for improvement would be to talk a little louder when explaining about each course. The portions were perfect I left full and thanks again!

    (5)

  • Christine L.

    Such an amazing brunch! I love the community tables and how everyone gets their meal at the same time! Everything was good. And the menu changes. Definitely will return in the future. The ladies running this place were so accommodating. We had some time to kill prior to our flight out and they let us leave our luggage there as we explored Alberta street and offered to call a cab after

    (4)

  • Tiffany L.

    Fun experience. We sat at the smaller communal table, all the diners at our table were out-of-towners and fellow food lovers. All the courses were very good. I really loved the charcuterie plate, it's no wonder that is the staple plate that they always serve. That foie bon-bon, am i right? The only course I would say I was a little disappointed with was the protein course -- our server went on about the quality of the pork and the special diet it's fed on the amish farm and how we would totally be able to tell when we ate it. So I was super excited for a pork chop or something of the sort to highlight the meat, but it ended up being a crepinette, which is basically a sausage patty. I was just a little sad that this amazing piece of pork was ground up. It was still a tasty course though. Other than that I enjoyed my meal here and would definitely recommend it. I hear their brunch is fantastic as well.

    (4)

  • meshell c.

    I've had my fair share of fine dining and this is another one for the books. First off, we got reservations at the chef's counter (the best seat in the house) because it's only for 2 people and no one else. You're up and personal and literally watch as the chef cooks, tastes, and plates the dishes. I love watching how the whole process unfolds and then to have a causal conversation with the chef about her recommendations around town and everything else. It's a great experience if you get to sit up there. Now, food-wise, since the menu changes every weekly, I'll just say that everything was amazing except I was slightly disappointed with my lamb. I watched as Chef Alex cooked it and felt it's tenderness to determine if it's cooked thoroughly enough. But my piece was on the drier side and it wasn't juicy how i usually like my lamb. Otherwise, the wine pairing was on point. A full pairing for myself would have been too much, so I shared it with the mister and it worked out perfectly. Overall, it was a great experience. I enjoyed that it was low-key and it didn't have that pretentious feel to it, yet it was good food and a treat to watch. Wished I had a chance to check out their brunch!

    (4)

  • R H.

    A fantastic, stripped down dining experience. Don't expect to be coddled, just informed on the wine and food ingredients. Fresh, local ingredients, well displayed and prepared ten feet from your nose gets your tastebuds primed for the next course. 6pm or 9pm seating gives you the option of an early or late dinner. Plan to take a walk around the neighborhood after...you will be stuffed!

    (5)

  • Hannah J.

    Delicious! A great balanced meal with beautiful presentations. Portions were a perfect size and you leave very full and satisfied. Every dish was very flavorful and you could taste the freshness of the Ingredients. The servers were very well educated on the food they were serving us as well as the wine pairings. Every dish was full of flavor, some maybe a pinch too much salt but I would rather have a dish to be a little to salty than bland.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Good but not great. Large influx of traffic due to Naomi becoming somewhat of a network TV star. Beast offers competitively priced brunch seatings vs. their pricier dinner tastings. The communal dining experience with shared tables is a creative one that is the mother of many invigorating (or awkward) conversations. We found it pleasurable, but this depends on your preference. Atmosphere was quaint, and I really enjoyed the open air kitchen. The staff was well trained, but I found the head server to be a tad pompous but YMMV. Sour Cherry Clafoutis with Whipped Creme Friache and Maple Glazed House Bacon: B+ - Definitely a solid start to the meal. The clafoutis was perfectly executed, but was a tad bit dry. Bacon was great! A strong start to the brunch menu. Beast Hash of Braised Pork Shoulder, Parsnips, Oyster Mushrooms, Kale, Squash, and Confit Yukon Gold Potatoes with Poached Duck Egg with Black Truffle Hollandaise: B+ - Explosion of flavor on the plate. Really longed for some freshly shaved black truffle over this heavy hitting breakfast dish. The potatoes and squash were cooked perfectly, and the poached duck egg was the perfect consistency when drained. The pork shoulder itself was a bit over seasoned. Overall, a great 'summer' dish. Bete Noire & Vanilla Rum Chantilly: B A bit underwhelming after such a heavy main course. It was executed decently, but the flourless chocolate cake made the consistency a tad too dense straight after the beast hash. I'm excited to see the dining options, but so far I can only rate brunch three stars. It was a solid meal, but lacked anything particularly memorable at the price point and exclusivity.

    (3)

  • Josh S.

    Eating at Beast might be one of the most intimate dining experiences one can have at a restaurant. It's small, seating maybe 25-30 people tops, dark, and with a feel not far from being invited over to a friend's home for dinner. A friend who also happens to be a phenomenal chef. And though you may not know all the other guests, by nights end, they feel like friends. Unlike other restaurants where you make a reservation and come whenever they fit you in, Beast does it differently and in a way that I almost wish others would try. There are waves of groups. We sat down at 6 pm, but so did everyone else there that night. When we finally finished around 9 pm another group was waiting outside for the same experience. When you're seated you're seated at a communal table with others. My wife and I got lucky and sat with a very eclectic, yet enjoyable group. You probably want to know about the food, right? Well for one thing, you don't get a choice with regard to what you're served. Everything is already decided before you arrive (and can be found online). The choice you do have is whether you want to do a wine pairing with it or not, we suggest you do. As for the quality of the food, it was phenomenal. From the watercress and leek soup, to an amazing charcuterie (foie gras bon-bon?!), pork shoulder, kale salad and more, everything was great. As I've learned, what separates the great from the best, is knowing how to pace a meal -- and they did it flawlessly. Overall dinner was great, and I look forward to one day returning for brunch.

    (5)

  • Manny Y.

    I was recently in Portland for a visit and a friend had made reservations to Beast. We were seated in a shared/common table with other people and we basically had to chose wine pairings or not. It was quite enjoyable not having to chose what to eat or not. For this night, I particularly enjoyed the stuffed rabbit and chattuterrie plate. They paired the wines perfectly as well although I haven't drunk a Rose in the evening before. One should visit this awesome place. I would recommend making a reservation.

    (4)

  • Cindy M.

    This little gem is the kind of place that everyone should dine at at least once, unless of course you are a vegetarian... I love the community tables, the simple elegance of the entire place, the writing on the walls - this place is just plain perfect. The food was an experience, the service was fun and well executed and watching the dance in the kitchen just made the evening. There was not a single course that I didn't care for...the flavors flowed beautifully from one course to the next and the wine pairings were superb. Yes, it's expensive and yes, it's worth it.

    (5)

  • Melvin T.

    This is the most expensive dinner I have ever had. It was worth every penny. 6 courses, 2 people, one bottle of wine, and one TOP CHEF for about $100 pp/inc tip. Why do I consider this a deal? It is because I had the honor of the talented, top Chef Naomi Pomeroy actually cooking for me! I am a total food geek, yes I know. One of our courses had risotto. Chef Pomeroy was the one stirring and tending to the risotto the entire time. No sous chef. This was HER risotto. While she tended to her risotto, she would also baste the pork belly in the oven. Cheese plate? Even she was the one plating that course. Chef Naomi was cooking for me! Every course was knock out good, but just having someone with her talent actually prepping and cooking every course for you is unbelievable. You can go to other top chef and iron chef contestant restaurants, but they aren't the ones actually doing the cooking most of the time. Chef Naomi makes sure you are getting your money's worth. This is a dining experience that must be enjoyed at least once in your life. I will leave you with these 4 words: FOIE GRAS BON BON

    (5)

  • Alan T.

    Easily one of the best meals of my life. When researching places to eat for my Portland trip, Beast was at the top of my list. I was so very excited for the concept of a communal dinner, which is something Southern California hasn't quite caught onto yet. Each of the 6 courses we had were beautifully prepared and each was a stand out dish. The soup (carrot veloute) was one of the most flavorful soups I've ever had. We opted for the wine pairings and I felt like each wine went beautifully with each dish. I was so impressed by my dining experience at Beast and my girlfriend and I have decided to make the trip back to Portland and Beast every year. It really is that good.

    (5)

  • Amy D.

    IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE BEFORE DINING AT BEAST: -There are only two seatings, one at 6pm and one at 8:45pm -Do not arrive early for the 8:45pm seating, as you will have to wait outside -Communal seating only, unless you sit at the Chef's counter as a couple on what looked to be uncomfortable stools -You can make reservations via Opentable, but you'll need a credit card number to secure the reservation. Any cancellations within 24 hours of the reservation could result in a $75/person cancellation fee -NO SUBSTITUTIONS for the dishes. If you don't like something or are allergic, too bad (they try to accommodate allergies as much as possible, but its limited) -The meal will take close to 3 hours If you've read all the above and are still interested in dining at Beast, you'll have a wonderful dining experience and leave in awe of Chef Pomeroy and her staff. The Chef runs a very tight ship, and it's impressive to watch them serve 24 people at a time with all the different components each dish requires. The menu for that night (Sat, Feb 16) was: -Cauliflower Veloute (Brown Butter Crisps, Trout Roe, Tarragon Oil, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): Creamy and delicious, and one of the best veloutes I've had. I loved everything about this dish! -Bread and Butter ( yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): The bread was still a little warm when they brought it over, and the butter was room temperature and tasted delicious with the bread. It was difficult to stop eating this! -Charcuterie Plate (Foie Gras Bon-Bon/Peanut Shortbread/Sauternes Gelee, Chicken Liver Mousse/Leaf Lard Cracker, Steak Tartare/Brioche/Quail Egg, Lamb/Preserved Lemon/Pistachio Terrine, Pork Rillettes, Cherry Wood Cold Smoked Duck Breast, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): I'm still amazed thinking about all the prep work that went into this plate. My favorites were the foie gras, steak tartare, and the duck breast. -Palate Cleanser (Sorbet w/Thyme, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): I loved that the sorbet was so refreshing, but the herb taste was a bit too strong. -Carman Ranch Striploin Roast (Farro, Creamed Kholrabi, Crispy Maitakes, Sauteed Kale Raab, Beef/Duck Jus, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): The striploin was cooked almost a perfect medium rare (a couple of pieces were more medium), and I loved the maitakes in this dish. There was a bit too much farro for me, since I was pretty full already, and it was difficult for me to finish this dish. -Beet, Cara-Cara Orange, Grapefruit & Fennel Salad (Breaded & Fried Portland Creamery Goat Cheese, Local Micro Greens, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): I LOVED the fried goat cheese, and felt it went well with the beets. However, some of the beets weren't tender enough, so I had to work to cut through them. -Selection of Cheese From Steve at Cheese Bar (Olive Oil & Black Pepper Crackers, Armagnac Poached Prunes, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): My least favorite dish of the night. I didn't like any of the 3 cheeses on the plate, or the spices used in the poaching of the prune. -Warm Dark Chocolate Souffle (Amerena Cherry Ice Cream, Pistachio Tuille, yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): DELICIOUS, and I was amazed the souffle held up for a long enough time for them to prep all 24 without a complete collapse. I didn't think the cherry ice cream went well with the chocolate, and just scooped it out, but the souffle itself was chocolately and amazing. It had a thin layer of crunchy crust, and the inside was chewy and the perfect amount of gooey. The pistachio tuille also added a nice crispy crunch. -Little "Beast" Shaped Cookies ( yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… ): Super cute, but these were a little overdone. One of my only complaints is that the "rules" aren't communicated while making the reservation. Unfortunately, we had arrived early, and were shooed out. You can have drinks at the fancy izakaya place next door, but we didn't want to ruin our appetites and decided to wait in the car. The communal seating also really threw me off, and I would've been sad if my friends and I got stuck in the middle and sandwiched between a bunch of strangers. Overall, I definitely enjoyed my experience at Beast, and hope to try their brunch one day. I'd recommend the 6pm seating vs 8:45 and also seeing if you can request a seat towards one end of the table. Parking was easy in this area at least!

    (4)

  • Mei T.

    I was a little apprehensive with the idea of someone else choosing my meal for me, but I am sure glad I did! I went for brunch and was blown away. My favorite dishes were the quince clafoutis and the duck confit hash. The way they transformed these complex flavors into a beautiful symphony of courses was really quite impressive. I will definitely come back for more!

    (5)

  • hilary b.

    So incredibly disappointing. I guess if you don't know much about food, you could be swept up in the pretense of the place. But this meal was simply forgettable, and the combination of awkward communal seating, uncomfortable chairs, and excruciating pacing made it a complete emperor's new clothes experience. I was expecting bold, daring, primal food. Instead, I got bland, uninspired stuff more appropriate for a midwestern wedding than an allegedly special restaurant in a 'foodie' town. Everything I ate was either boring or downright 'off.' The menu felt straight out of the early 1990s -- there was simply nothing interesting going on here, from a culinary point of view. I got so bored by the food that I eventually stopped finishing stuff on my plates. Pork tenderloin atop a mound of mashed potatoes? Am I having a flashback to 1992? Where's the fat, the skin, the bones? Where's the nose-to-tail sensibility? How can a place in Portland that calls itself 'Beast' get away with serving the blandest part of the entire pig? Humboldt Fog cheese? My corner bodega sells that stuff by the pre-wrapped wedge. Etc. This food is a perfect exemplar of a genre I call "farm to table to yawn." Chez Panisse was groundbreaking, but it also licensed a million middling chefs to bring people uncreative food, justifying its prosaic quality by saying "it's all about the ingredients." At Beast, even the few creative moments were total fails. Fois gras on a peanut butter shortbread cookie w/ a gelee cube atop? Not even in Ferran Adria's nightmares would this be okay. The only saving grace is that we were seated in the middle of a row at the big communal table, so we didn't have to make polite conversation with anyone else, and could instead critique the meal with gusto. Everybody at the restaurant got the same exact food at the same time, served course by plodding course, so if we'd had to talk with other people for the three hours we were there, I would have petitioned yelp for a "negative stars" option. If you're in Portland and you want a peak food experience, go to any of Andy Ricker's places. Go to Gruner. Go to Lardo. Go to Ned Ludd. But please don't go near Beast. Don't be fooled by any of the hype, or the quotes by Julia Child and Oscar Wilde written all over the walls, or the "substitutions politely declined" policy (which usually suggests a creative genius in the kitchen, but in this case just felt like laziness.) There are many good ways to spend three hours and $100/person. This is not one of them.

    (1)

  • Martin S.

    The food here is crazy good! I'm not from Portland so I have to thank my yelp brothers and sisters for turning me on to this place. Naomi and staff are so cool and work their butts off to make sure you get a meal that is as beautiful as it is amazingly delicious.The tomato veloute with tarragon salsa was sublime!! I'll be dreaming of that for quite some time as well as the charcuterie plate with it's many wonderful offerings ( steak tartare w/quail egg toast, yum! foie-gras bon bon, decadent!!) Not too crazy expensive either especially for a six course meal. Do yourself a favor and have the wine paring with your meal. Rock on Beast all your props are well deserved.

    (4)

  • Todd H.

    Communal dinning is one thing. I am of the opinion that is acceptable when I am expecting to be entertained by how the waiter will wrap my leftovers. There are some odd quirks to this restaurant which may throw some people off. Because of its size (im guessing) they have different seating times for dinner. I would recommend making a reservation for one of the times. There are sometimes spaces available on walk up business. However, in the two times I was there the communal seating made it difficult for a party of even two to be seated together. So, plan ahead. The food is outstanding. Some of the best culinary combinations in Portland. Every attention has been given to satisfy our whimsical odd request. What can you say about the food? Delicious is not a worthy adjective. Orgasmic comes to mind. Each plate takes you on a journey through your taste pallet. As you finish each plate you could say I am satisfied and yet there appears before you another culinary journey ready to whisk you away. There are some issues with service. Mainly, everyone is served and cleared and served at the same time. It is not that they take away food however, if you are not done the next plate is hitting the table. Contrast to that is I ate it all and now I am waiting scenario. Sometimes it just works out. Seating with everyone or anyone can lead to less than desirable eating environment. It is an idea to say this is what the menu is and serve it only. It makes the meal that much more savory in my tasteful opinion because so much detail is given to that course. Food presentation and the visual enjoyment of the meal is top quality. Make reservations. Be prepared to be on everyone's time. You can bring your own wine or take their flights suggestions. I believe the flight suggestions are given the same attention to detail as the plates. They match the food perfectly.

    (4)

  • Michael S.

    There are a ton of reviews for Beast, and won't reiterate all of the spot-on comments others have made. I'll just echo the sentiment that Beast is an amazing experience. I've never had such an introduction to new textures and flavors anywhere else. They serve one tasting menu and, as such, it's almost guaranteed you won't like everything; on the flip side, you'll surely enjoy some/most of it. The small tables make for an intimate experience, which is nice because you may need some help deciphering what exactly it is that you're eating. (They tell you before you dig in, but there are so many different bites on a few of the plates that you can easily get lost in sensory overload.) As others have suggested, the complete gauntlet may run longer than the 2 hour window they give you. My dinner was at 6pm and we weren't headed out the door until after 9pm. The folks waiting for the 8:45pm seating were standing by the door and gathering outside for the last half hour of the early dinner service. It sounds almost crazy to say about dining out, but eating at Beast is a marathon. Arrive well rested and fully caffeinated!

    (4)

  • Benjamin V.

    sadly, the norm in Portland seems to be waiting for excessively long periods of time for food that would under any other circumstances be considered "ok". Beast is certainly no exception. i came here understanding that the menu was prix-fixe, but i had no idea what i was in store for. this place needs to have a warning label out front that reads: "YOU WILL BE HELD HOSTAGE FOR 3 HOURS AND BE FED MEDIOCRE FOOD." seriously.... 3 hours on a Friday night?! only in Portland can a restaurant get away with this. we were subject to round after round of mass prepared food as we watched the second hand slowly tick away. foolishly, i had attempted to make après dinner plans that progressively melted away as the night wore on. i felt as if i were in an episode of Invader Zim, the one where the a bug gets stuck in the clock as students wait painfully to rush out of Ms. Bitters's class. the bug finally gets squished by the cogs and the clock moves on, but then only to be led to a Southwest Airlines cattle-call style boarding of a sad flight to nowhere. perhaps all of this would have been worth it had the food been amazing. yet, it wasn't. the most horrifying part of the meal was this bite of peanut butter foie gras. i thought to myself before trying it, "that sounds like a bad combination." however, i convinced myself i should try it. some of the best food combinations i've ever tried have sounded like bad ideas prior to tasting. it was perhaps the most disgusting morsel i've ever eaten (aside from the time i tried stewed forest snail in Ghana). i, embarrassingly, yelped out a small, "gross!" the wine pairings were a joke. there were 4 or 5 random Austrian wines that were overly sweet and confusing. there was not one local, or at the very least CA/WA, wine pairing offered which seemed almost sacrilegious in the land of Portland. all in all this place would otherwise have received a one star, but the staff very kindly catered to my partner's lactose intolerance (very carefully). i was impressed by this consideration.

    (2)

  • Smelly C.

    Prix Fixe menu. They offered two dinner times. You can either eat at 6pm or 8:45pm. $75 a person. Everyone is served at the same time with an optional wine and beer list OR!! there's a wine pairing option for an extra $35. The restaurant is small and consists of two communal tables-- one large and one smaller. We were seated at the smaller one. The other couples pretty much kept to themselves.. I looked at the others like, hey! let's talk! but, no one took the bait. 6 courses and a palate cleanser was served.. No substitutions. You get what you get. The best thing I had was a bite-sized bite of Rabbit Liver Mousse. Everything else was good but not as memorable or notable as the Rabbit Liver Mousse. The wine pairings, too, were good.. Except one. I could see why it was chosen but, ugh.. it was like a sheep farm in a glass and I didn't like it with or without my food. The dislike for that wine-- that's memorable. The whole experience was nice. I liked the music they played. Service was nice although, at times, I'd hear one server describe the same food differently than what was said to me.. It wasn't all the same introduction or description and I wished it was.. i.e., When the palate cleanser was served, it was Watermelon and Lime. When other people got theirs, it was Watermelon, Lime, and something else.. Know what I mean? Otherwise, it's a nice splurge if you and your companion(s) don't have any allergies or reservations about foods. I want to come back and try out Brunch.. (also a prix fixe menu).

    (3)

  • Andrew A.

    Beast has a fixed menu which is fun because then you can pick what week you want to go based on the menu. I say pick because you'll only need to go once. The wine pairings were terrible. The Sommelier/server is too traditional Europe and banks on the fact you won't have tried any of the wines before. I only found one pairing pleasant in the four, count em, FOUR whites, 1 red and 1 port. The atmosphere in beast is intimate, but hardly cozy. With no more than a garage heater and an oven, my boyfriend and I were chilled. To add to it, the seating is terrible for a 2.5 hour meal. The old chairs need to go! I get that they don't want you to stay, but if you're going to pace the meal like clock work, please provide ANY other chairs for the journey and then find another way to punt me. Please go to goodwill if you must.

    (2)

  • Amber L.

    I've been to Beast for both brunch and dinner now, which were both great experiences. I'm excited to back for brunch (hopefully many, many times), but I think once was enough for dinner. As a result of hearing so much hype, I was expecting dinner to be challenging and include some things that I'd never seen before. I think the most exciting thing about dinner was the charcuterie plate which was definitely a very fun experience to eat. I could eat dozens of the steak tartare with quail egg. However, the rest of the meal was good, but not mind-blowing, and I was expecting to be blown away. Brunch on the other hand is just so pleasant and satisfying. The clafoutis that they begin the meal with is completely smile-inducing. Long story short- go once for dinner to have the experience, and then go as often as you can for brunch.

    (4)

  • Liz M.

    My first experience with a prix fixe menu. I truly am a fan. I love that the tables were communal and encouraged people to talk to each other. I got the wine pairing option at $35 which I thought might be a little steep, but c'est la vie. We were on vacation and willing to spend a little extra. 1st Course: Spinach & Leek Veloute with Dill Creme Fraiche & Trout Roe - AMAZING. I am partial to roe of any kind though. I thought this dish was exquisite. the Veloute was like velvet. Wonderful. 2nd Course: Charcuterie Plate of Foie Gras Bon-Bon on a Peanut Shortbread topped with Sauted Gelee, Chicken Liver Mousse on a Leaf Lard Cracker, Steak Tartare on Brioche with Quail Egg, Tete de Cochon with Lemon Zest and Parsely, Espelette-Cured Duck Breast, and Smoked Squab Liver & Pork Terrine. The Foie Gras Bon-Bon was completely overwhelmed by the Peanut Shortbread which was SUCH a disappointment, but the Steak Tartare and Duck Breast were outstanding. A 50/50 Course. 3rd Course: Brined Rabbit Hind Quarter with Riesling Braised Green Garlic & Heirloom Carrots and Browned Butter Potato Dumplings in Veal & Duck Jus. SPECTACULAR!! Absolutely my HANDS DOWN favorite dish of all. The rabbit was so tender and the potato dumplings so soft. Exceptional! 4th Course: Roasted Red Beets with Spring Radish and Curly Cress - A good break after the Rabbit. I love beets :P 5th Course: Cheese Plate with Armangac Poached Prunes- I didn't actually write out the whole cheese plate because all that I focused on in this course was the Prunes. They could have been dessert on their own. Delicious! 6th Course: Bruleed Goat Cheese Tartelette with Champagne & Vanilla Bean Poached Rhubarb - Cheese + Pastry to me = Cheesecake. Which is certainly was! but a light version! Lovely. and a very good end to a delicious meal. Next time perhaps I won't eat EVERYTHING or better prepare for the amount of food (IT'S A LOT!)

    (4)

  • David L.

    I went to Beast about a month ago. The food and service were good but not 5 star great. I would give the place 3.5 to 4 stars which seems to be consistent with a lot of other diners.... so then why the 2 star rating? I had a problem with something I saw that night and wanted to try to relay the message to Chef Naomi. I called the restaurant but the chef wasn't in and i didnt want to leave a message. There is no email address on their website and they refer you to their facebook, twitter, or instagram pages. I left two messages on facebook for the chef to msg me so I could let her know my issue. Its been a while and I havent heard back so Im just going to air my complaint here. I feel like its something everyone should know so here goes. My wife and I sat at the chefs table. We got to watch all the cooking and plating up close. We were there a month ago and it was particulary hot that day- in the high 80s to low 90s. Chef Naomi was not in that night. The sous chef who appeared to be in charge of the cooking had a habit of putting her kitchen towel in her armpit. normally I wouldnt really care too much but like I said it was rather hot that day and I could see that this particular staff member was sweating. It didnt help that this chef was wearing street clothes- a baby T type shirt that left her armpits exposed. So there she was tucking her kitchen towel into her bare underarm area, using the towel in her hands, and returning it back to her armpit for holding. Then she proceeded to plate throughout the night with her bare hands. When she tossed the salad with her fingers right after holding the towel I just about lost it. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately my wife and I didnt really notice until toward the end of the meal and at this point we just kinda picked at or ate around the stuff she touched. Please tell this person she needs to break this habit fast! Also I pointed out an ant crawling on my salad and the waitress just said oh okay as she took the plate away. Honestly the ant didnt bother me at all compared to the armpit sweat on my food but a simple apology should have been in order. Anyhow just wanted to share that with yall. Davids bottom line: Food was still okay... even with the special vinagrette on my salad.

    (2)

  • Matthew W.

    Beast is an innovative and amazing culinary experience. They seem to specialize in more exotic meats like rabbit, duck and veal, but occasionally go with game hen, chicken or beef as the entrees in their Prix Fixe menu. The dining experience is unique with diners, often in couples, sitting at large tables and sharing some of the food family-style. Other courses, like the Charcuterie Plate were not family-style. This atmosphere allows the diners to make new friends and my wife and I found that refreshing. We even drove one of the couples, in town from Sacramento, back to their hotel after dinner (they had arrived in a cab). The food is simply amazing. A variety of flavors make your mouth sing and the quality is top notch. Since the menu varies weekly, you will just have to experience the food yourself. My favorite was the Steak Tartare bite on the Charcuterie Plate, which is the only thing that seems to stay on the menu weekly. The challenge with Beast is they book out sometimes a month in advance, but they post their menus only on Wednesday of each week. If you don't want one of the more exotic meats, you will have to cancel and rebook. It's sort of a lottery feel...and it took us months to finally book a reservation that coincided with a game hen-based menu.

    (5)

  • Hilary W.

    This is a restaurant that I've wanted to try for a while, and I went with some friends for a ladies-night out over the holidays. It was fun to try something new and the wine was okay (we shared a couple of bottles and opted out of the wine pairing). First of all, The communal seating didn't feel very communal - more awkward and cold. The chairs are hard and somewhat wobbly. The food was interesting, but not anywhere near as delicious as I'd expected. Parts of the meal were certainly creative however I didn't really enjoy any of the six courses. I do have to say that the food presentation was, for the most part, very nice. I will say that the cheese plate (cheese from Steve at the Cheese Bar) was delicious. There was a beet salad that was pretty good and a velvety soup that was delicious and flavorful, although really heavy and rich. The main course, which that night was squab, yielded a very tiny amount of meat. And I'm not a fan of having a talon on my plate. It felt like some type of Halloween dish that was going for shock value and it wasn't very appetizing. The dessert was just okay - no one in my party really loved it or finished it. It felt very heavy and lacked finesse. The Charcuterie plate had a variety of meat items and I didn't really enjoy it, but then again, perhaps I'm not very adventurous with meat. Overall, I didn't find the food exciting or delicious enough to warrant going back. I felt oddly hollow after the meal (a little bit hungry and unsatisfied) which I wasn't expecting from a $75 six-course meal. But I wanted to try it and am glad to have had the experience.

    (3)

  • Christiana L.

    The food was outstanding. However, the communal seating structure is a little off putting, especially when you're stuck with obnoxiously loud. If you're the last seating and need a cab, be sure to let them know so you don't have to wait.

    (5)

  • maryam h.

    It's true the servers are polite but not excited to be there. The chairs are slightly uncomfortable but the food is great. I went for dinner, but believe brunch is a better choice overall. Choose your company wisely it's a long night.

    (4)

  • R M.

    This place suffers from being in Portland: there are just way too many options in Portland at this price point, and most are better than Beast. First off, the service staff when we went performed adequately. The wine was quite good. The presentation of the food was beautiful--some of the best I've seen. The dessert was also fantastic. What was missing was flavor, though. Three courses in, I was questioning whether I had burnt my tongue or I had a cold I didn't know about, except here or there we'd run into something on the menu made by someone else (ie, Tails and Trotters rillettes, etc.) that would be great. Everything made in house (except dessert) was bland to the point that I felt sorry for it. On top of that, several ingredients were missing which is unforgivable at this price point, especially since they only have to plate 20 or so a sitting, but still find a way to make that take a half hour. Finally, the general concept of the seating is flawed, in my opinion. I don't mind waiting 20-30 minutes per course if I'm having a romantic dinner, but I don't want to sit and make uncomfortable small talk with middle aged tourists and have to turn 90 degrees to even see my wife. On top of all that, the tables and chairs are some of the most uncomfortable I've ever sat in. By the time the entrees were cleared, I was going to restroom just to get up out of the torture devices. There are just so many great restaurants in this town at the $100/head price point. Beast is imminently skippable.

    (2)

  • Jared W.

    Food is served in a mandatory tasting menu which changes weekly. I found the ingredient fresh, and the food both well executed and creative. The wine pairing was worth it.

    (5)

  • Sarah K.

    I have been for brunch and dinner now and all I can say is AMAZING! Brunch is a great way to get your feet wet and spend a little bit less money while getting all the amazing dishes. Dinner was fantastic. I had wine pairings at both which enhanced the wine or the food whichever way you like to look at it. Highlights from dinner include the charcutiere plate with the chicken liver pate and foie gras bon bon taking center stage, not to be out down by the a braised pork shoulder which managed to be crispy and caramelized on the outside with the meat falling apart as you cut into it. Desserts from brunch and dinner were heavenly!

    (5)

  • Gail S.

    This is a restaurant that should be on everyone's bucket list. Menu is thoughtful and delicious. Attention to detail is fabulous. Staff is attentive, without being intrusive. I loved my meal.

    (5)

  • Nancy M.

    If you want to sit at a long table with 20 strangers and have no choice as to what you eat: this restaurant is for you. That being said, the food was very nicely cooked. Some courses were over the top with too many competing favors while others worked well. Service was efficient but not especially personal. In summation, it feels like gourmet summer camp.

    (3)

  • Ada R.

    I really enjoyed everything I put into my mouth here and I love letting the chef decide what I should eat. I would definitely recommend eating here if you are a non-picky, adventurous eater. My criticisms are: 1. The selections in the wine pairing were not that good. The wines disappointed on both their individual attributes and in how they paired with the dishes. I would not recommend the wine pairing, period. 2. It got cold eating outside. There were no heating lamps. 3. Humboldt Fog cheese on the cheese plate. I don't know about in Oregon, but in CA you can get Humboldt Fog at any Safeway or Lucky supermarket. It's a delicious cheese, but I was expecting something more special from a restaurant of this caliber. 4. The pot de creme dessert was good, but not really the kind of fireworks one would expect when eating at one of the most expensive and celebrated restaurants in the city. 5. Perhaps this isn't fair, but since I saw this place on 'Bizarre Foods', I was expecting some more exotic animal-based fare. Foie gras and chicken liver was as crazy as it got. 6. The bathroom is ridiculously dark. 7. They charge extra for coffee with dessert. I would not have ordered it if I had known. I doubly regretted ordering the coffee because they brought it out several minutes before the dessert came and the dessert came with a wine pairing. How the heck am I supposed to drink my cold coffee and wine with dessert?

    (4)

  • Nate U.

    Get down on it, people! Foie Gras Bon Bon for starters, if you're not scared or politically sensitive.

    (4)

  • Alisa B.

    I love love love love love this place. I have tried a million things that I wouldn't normally eat yet here I will eat and like almost everything. I have never had a bad meal or experience here. My only negative is that is can get very very hot during the summer so I avoid on really hot days.

    (5)

  • Jackson P.

    Pretty good.

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    We had a very nice brunch at Beast. Overall it was a bit on the sweet side for me, but I quite enjoyed it. We brought a vegetarian, which I had sensed would be an atrocious idea, but actually wasn't, so I just want to offer that perspective, as I couldn't get a sense of it from other reviews. We started with a pear clafoutis which was much breadier than any I'd had before, but was very tasty. It had a single piece of bacon stuck in it, so if you know a vegetarian who can eat around bacon, that dish is fine. Then we had a beef check hash with brussels sprouts, other vegetables, and a poached egg. This was a little more problematic, but the egg was pretty separable from the rest. I liked it all, although I thought the hollandaise sauce was unnecessary. The cheese course was nice - I was glad they weren't offering the SAME as the cheese bar's cheesemonger selection. The mixed greens with that dish was actually one of my favorite parts of the whole meal. And finally, a tasty chocolate cake, complete with candle for me. I'd like to go back for dinner sometime, although brunch seems so much more cost-effective.

    (4)

  • Alma P.

    Not get into super detail on Beast as there doesn't seem to be a strong need for another highly rated BEAST review. ;-) I will say the food was VERY good but not really super memorable? I'm not sure what I was expecting but I wasn't entirely wow'ed (hence no fifth star) but it could've been our particular menu. My fav dish was the vegetable soup and the foie gras bon bon which was delish but basically an amuse bouche size. I loved the feel of the restaurant... very cozy and the communal tables added to the warmth of the room. I would definitely go back and try it again to see if I can give it that 5th wow star. One note for tourists staying in downtown Portland: make sure to go early.. it's not close to downtown and we were almost late because of the distance and the cab wait.

    (4)

  • Barney B.

    I am a bit torn. this should (and in some way is) a 4 or 5 star place. My new hometown is severely lacking in foodie experiences, and just to have a place that cares for their dishes like this should make me push for a 6th star. I mean really it should But....exclusivity and small seating aside, our meal here was very hit or miss. Not to say that the food was bad. definitely wasn't. but for the price point, and the promised experience in food and vibe, the home runs were mere ground rule doubles. and frankly, the staff (and owner) seemed to be at season end, and no chance of post season play. Descriptions of dishes felt scripted and bored. check ins on how the meal went seemed followed by long sighs. perhaps we were there the night after a grueling day, but something felt off. still the food was pretty solid - and while the neighborhood is 'out there', the trip is worth saying you came. but stick with the meal sans wine - the pairings are weak, and stingy - and the food is the thing you came here for, right?

    (3)

  • Adrian Robert H.

    I'd rate 85% Consistently impressive tasting dinner! ***Short Review Came here for dinner Jun '11 on a weeknight. Wonderful tasting dinner. Wine pairings very well thought out. Our entree of smoked rib-eye and the onion soup were best dishes. Main chef was cooking that evening Value was very good considering the tasting worked out to $63 per person, and the optional wine parings around $30. Ambiance is pleasant, and comfortable. Feels like eating in a nice cozy house. Music levels were very reasonable. Seating is fairly limited, maybe around 30 diners per seating. Very attentive and friendly service. Very good restaurant at a commendable value. Reservations recommended in advance. ***Detailed Review My gf and I very much enjoyed my dinner at Beast. The cooking here is pretty straightforward. You're getting pretty simple classical dishes with great ingredients. Ingredients are combined very well. Wines are pairings are well selected. There's not a whole lot of complexity, that I could notice at least, in the preparation. The dining environment is very comfortable, and it feels like you're eating at a friend's house. Beast reminds me very much like eating at Alice Water's Chez Panisse (which I had the pleasure of trying for the first time a week after dining at Beast). Like Chez Panisse, there are no course substitutions. This perfectly fine, as both chefs are awesome. The approach is very similar, and I love this type of minimalist but nonetheless effective cooking. The food is always great, satisfying, and reasonably accessible to most palates. The main difference is that Beast seems to have a more pronounced French influence, and the food can be a tad heavier. I don't think this is necessarily a good or bad thing. Our dinner here followed this theme consistently. Organization and focus at Beast is very good.. We began with 'spring onion soup. goat butter, green garlic toast'. This was a very good soup with intense robust flavors. The preparation appears to be fairly conventional, so my guess would be that again, everything comes from the well-though out combination of great ingredients. best onion soup ever, and a nice, if somewhat heavy way to start. This was my gf's favorite dish. 'chacuterie plate' next. foie gras bon bon, sauternes gelee. shaped like a gourmet white chocolate, and resembles it somewhat in flavor. fun dish, and arguably the most creative dish of the evening. I try to have foie gras often, but I've yet to have it prepared like this here. 'chicken liver mousse, leaf lard cracker'. sweet, fine, and buttery. almost like a dessert. not gamey at all. very pleasant. one of the better chicken mousse I've had. 'olympic provisions salami' delicate smokey & fatty flavors. went well w grain mustard & pickle. It was good, but probably the weakest dish of the whole dinner. 'pigs head terrine lemon zest, sherry, parsley'. Fun play in flavors and texture. Nonetheless delicate and tasty. great with our wine. 'steak tartare, quail egg toast'. rich, robust, great tartare. wish I had a giant portion. Probably ties with the ribeye as the best part of the meal. This was the last item I sampled on the charcuterie board. 'grapewood smoked carmen ranch rib eye creamed gathering together farms chard porcini mushrooms, fresh favas, demi glace'. This was a steak main course. Had nice subtle smokey flavors, and didn't notice any char. Meat cooked a nice medium rare, although closer to medium well towards the edge. It was very juicy and had a good proportion of fat. Wonderful, thick cut of steak. Excellent. divine wine pairing with heavier velvety Bordeux (Chateau La Peyre St. Estephe Cru Artisan 2002). Fava beans were a nice addition. Demi glace is fairly subtle and thankfully didn't overpower the meat. Some diners on our table, including my gf found this too rich, but I loved it. 'arugala and strawberry salad. shaved stilton cheese' This was a salad with fresh strawberries & pickled strawberries. The combination of flavors flow very well together, especially when both types of strawberries are combined. I normally don't care for Stilton blue cheese (if it was a blue, I'm not sure), because it usually overpowers everything in my past experience. Not so much here. Everything complemented each other well in harmony. I'm just not a huge fan of serving salad as one of the last courses. Wish it was offered before the soup. After eating the steak, some of the subtle flavors might have been more muted. Cheeseboard (certoux goat, le pommelier cow, fraga farms raw goat) very good, esp the certoux). Poached apricot and the shortbread were an excellent condiments. (no more space) 'rhubarb galette, creme fraiche ice cream, butterscotch sauce' great sundae. fresh rhubarb with warm flaky pastry. nice reinterpretation of (what I believed to be) pie a la mode. very good dish. sprinkled gold flakes were a corny, but amusing. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Dean M.

    The food was good. For a 6 course meal with a wine pairing expect to shell out a couple clam shells, but I suppose that is to be expected when eating at a James Beard award winning chef's restaurant. I enjoyed the experience. Mostly because I got drunk after the 3rd glass of wine... (you get a glass for each course...6 if you were paying attention) The first course, a butternut squash soup was the star of the meal. E verything after that left me wanting more soup. This would be my only complaint. The seating is communal, and there are only two tables, expect to be seating in front of someone you don't know. Reservations are recommended... and canceling will cost you... $75 a person if its within 24 hours! SAY WHAT!!! They say that you won't be charged, if they fill your seats with another reservation. That being said... when we arrived, there was a table completely empty. Lets hope someone didn't cancel! Yikes! Would I go there again? No. Did I enjoy the experience? Yes. Do I recommend it? Depends. If you have a couple hundred to spend on a meal and want to experience a 6 course meal from a James Beard award winning chef... yes. Bring some friends, make sure they can afford it too, and enjoy the experience. If this is not the case... move along and go to Tasty and Sons or POK POK.

    (3)

  • Erin D.

    My partner booked us for Beast Brunch 10am sitting. First of all, the ambience of the restaurant is lovely. It is family-style but unlike other places in Portland, it still feels as if you have enough room to yourself but can still choose to converse with other diners. The waitstaff is pretty hands-off. The menu is prix-fixe and we were told that the items cooked on Sunday were purchased at a Saturday farmers' market. Our menu started with a clafoutis with blueberries and nectarines, topped with vanilla bean whipped cream. It was lovely considering it was pouring outside. Not-too-late but not-too-soon, we received our main event: a hash with beef, seasonal veggies (brussels sprouts, cauliflower, maitake mushrooms), potato confit and topped with a poached duck egg and dijon hollandaise. This was incredible. Beautiful presentation. The egg was ABSOLUTE perfection. Downside: it seemed to be consensus at our table (from what I overheard) that the veggies were not distributed evenly. My partner got 4-5 brussels and no maitakes and I received many maitakes and no brussels. Lastly, we had a local cheese plate with heirloom grapes and greens tossed in a vinagrette. The cheese was amazing (there was a water-buffalo one I couldn't get enough of!). My complaints are few: 1) I did not like the chocolate cake that we ended on. I don't particularly like chocolate cake to begin with, but this had a sort of dusty, dry texture. 2) the cost. P.S. very kindly, Naomi Pomeroy chased me halfway down and around the block in the pouring Portland rain because I left my scarf on my chair.

    (5)

  • Jennifer W.

    Beast has been on my "hit" list for a while and they didn't disappoint me. The food was good, the restaurant was small and comfy. I love their black cod and english pea chowder. the charcuterie plate was amazing especially the foie-gras bon bon! Salty, sweet, and savory just purely melt in your mouth. The strawberry mousse was another hit. Not too sweet and adding fresh strawberries and golder rasberries, it was delish! on the other hand, the entree (duck with slow cooked zucchinni and veal demi-glace with asparagus, summer herb, and cherry tomatoes salsa) was just ok... few people made comments on how salty the sauce was. The green salad was fresh and refreshing but I'm not too fond of their dressing. The preserved citrus vinaigrette was too acidic/tart/sour for my own taste. Service was good overall but one of the guy that served us was on the borderline of rude or being passive aggressive. He was on a short fuse that night when people didn't move certain things fast enough for him to put the plates down. Overall it was ok... very efficient kitchen and had a good food. Beast is out of my "Hit" list and I won't be coming back anytime soon unless the menu is looking super duper fantastic (or for any special event). a bit too overpriced.

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    It was a gift from two of our daughters and their husbands to dine there with wine pairings. Tomato bisque to start was fantastic paired with a rose. The charcuterie plate was good with the steak tartare and quail egg on toast was my favorite. The pressed young chicken was good but I would have preferred some red meat. The salad was good but the wine paired with it was way off. A Riesling would have been perfect as the wine they paired it with tasted like brandy after having a bite of the salad which had pears in it. Selection of cheeses; Marcona almonds ; poached prunes ( that was fantastic) local honey and olive oil and black pepper crackers. I would have preferred a bold red as the cheeses would have been great with it. The dessert was chocolate and espresso mouse with Madera wine which was probably the best pairing. Service seemed a little rushed. We had some great company for dinner which made it enjoyable as the seating is family style. For $110 per person which includes wine pairings it was decent but we were not blown away. The wine pairing was off the mark and after reading the reviews that the wine pairings was great we were surprised that we were. underwhelmed. I will probably try it again as the menus change weekly and hope it will be better.

    (3)

  • Natalia G.

    One of The best culinary experiences I have ever had. The menu was a flow of flavors rich but delicate. I recommend the wine pairing for a full experience! Naomi Pomeroy is so inspiring!

    (5)

  • Dan J.

    I agree with most of the reviews....it was good but not great and the wine pairings were okay. The celery sorbet palate cleanser was excellent.

    (4)

  • Lauren R.

    Beast is such a beast. The most delicious preset menu that you will ever experience in your entire life. I fell in love with every single course that was brought out. The flavor in every single dish was unique, refined, yet simple. This is a must try for any true foodie.

    (5)

  • Anna N.

    We were visiting Portland and were able to make last minute reservations the day before. For dinner, the restaurant only has 2 seatings: 6:00pm and 8:45pm. The restaurant itself probably can seat 20 people max. Also, since we were squeezed in, we were seated outside- which we didn't mind because it was quieter and more romantic (with my hubby) at a private table instead of inside at the communal tables. However, indoor seating allows you to see the chefs prep the dishes. The dinner was $75/ person which includes a soup, charcuterie (foie gras Bon Bon, chicken mousse, steak tartare with quail egg), main course (duck breast), tart pissaladiere, cheese plate, and dessert. Hubby got the wine pairing which was an additional $35. Dinner was about 2.5 hrs. Definitely worth the money. Great service. Wonderful experience. Make reservations ahead of time! If you are going to sit outside, choose the 6pm since it won't be as chilly.

    (4)

  • Emily M.

    I really, really wanted to love Beast. Oftentimes I think that the hype of a restaurant overpowers whether the food is actually good! I don't mind communal seating and actually enjoy it for a bit of fun to meet new people. However, as other reviewers have said, the chairs are horrific for such a long dinner. My favorite part of the whole dining experience was sitting in the kitchen and being able to see the food be prepared. On to the food. Blah, bland, nothing exciting. Perhaps it was the day we went, perhaps not. Cold tomato soup to start, not bad, but not great either. Charcuterie plate that was just ok (the foie gras bon bon was meh), protein dish was fine, but a bit boring. I was looking forward to the fried green tomato dish, but I could barely eat it due to being over salted. The dessert took literally an hour to prepare and wasn't great either. Wine pairing....hmmm bit confused why they charge so much for such small pours? The wine wasn't bad, but also wasn't memorable. My husband and I left feeling utterly disappointed. We chose to spend our first wedding anniversary here to celebrate and both wished we had gone elsewhere.

    (2)

  • Scott L.

    Wonderful dining experience last night. Great company, intimate atmosphere, and the food was wonderful. Highlights were the charcuterie plate and the dessert meringue. Loved it. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Mitchell M.

    I concur with Ken L. This is one beast of a meal, and is certainly a very reasonably priced tasting menu even with the wine pairing. Oh, and be sure to get the wine pairing. They do not disappoint. I loved the communal seating at this intimate restaurant. It made you feel more like you were at a gathering of foodie friends, rather than a restaurant. I liked that. The servers explained each course and wine pairing, but it in now way was condescending nor was it pretentious. The menu changes constantly, so I won't spend too much time on each item except to say how well done the menu and food preparation are here. Local, local local. I can't say that enough, and I love that they are experimenting with in house curing of meats. The duck breast prosciutto was off the chain, so hopefully it will be on the menu the night you go. The seared duck was another highlight of the night, and was easily the best duck I've had to date (5/23/2013). If you live in Portland or are visiting, put this on the short list of places to dine especially with good friends. Great for a group if they have the availability.

    (4)

  • Cory M.

    I live right around the corner from this excellent restaurant, and I had always heard of its legendary status as a top-of-the-line gastronomical experience, so I had been fiending to go there for a while. The only problem is, the menu is very meat heavy (except for their wednesday vegetarian night), and my boyfriend is a vegetarian. So, alas, I didn't have many opportunities to go there without making him feel left out - until this past labor day weekend... My boyfriend was out of town in Seattle and wasn't going to be back until Sunday afternoon. With that in mind, I jumped at the chance to have a "treat yo self day" and indulge in their phenomenal brunch. I made a reservation that week and eagerly awaited my 12pm Sunday seating time. When I arrived at the door, I milled around with the other patrons while my stomach was grumbling for the seating to start. When I gave the hostess my name, she frowned as she looked at her list and said I wasn't on it. So I stepped out of line and pulled up my reservation email and realized that I had messed up the date and had accidentally clicked on the next Sunday's brunch. I showed the hostess and she smiled and said it wasn't a problem and there were 3 extra seats open. I chose the outdoor table to have to myself while she went and immediately cancelled my next Sunday's reservation for me. The weather was wonderful and I soaked up the late summer sun while I sipped my Mimosa. My server was kind and accommodating, always making sure I had what I needed, and provided very detailed descriptions of every course. My second course, the Beast Hash, was my favorite, as I love eggs Benedict. It was served with super tender, melt in your mouth braised pork belly and loin, rattlesnake beans, and sweet corn. There were lunch box peppers and padron peppers sautéed in olive oil with a pinch of sea salt. The hash consisted of new potatoes (my favorite kind) and was topped with a poached duck egg and home made whole grain mustard hollandaise sauce. Mmmmm. It was at this point that I switched from my mimosa to a crisp lager while I waited for my third course, a cheese plate with summer greens. I then got a text from my boyfriend that he had just arrived home and so I told him to walk around the corner and join me (I could share the rest of the food with him as it was meatless for the last two courses). When he arrived, I had just received my cheese and we sampled it together. The waiter immediately came out and offered my new guest a beverage - he ordered fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Finally my fourth and final course arrived, flourless chocolate cake with sweet vanilla-rum creme chantilly on top. To my delight, a second portion was brought out for my boyfriend to enjoy and it was on the house! All in all, everything was five stars, the food, the service, the atmosphere, and I highly recommend this place to anyone who asks. I felt that I was treated like an honored guest, something that is lacking at a lot of other places I've been to with similar price points.

    (5)

  • Antonia N.

    The food is 5 Stars! - We ate at Beast on June 28,2015 The Service is 4 Stars - smile guys it is not a funeral, Chef say hello there are only 30 of us at any given time! The communal seating 5 Stars love the euro feel that has! Now the part I HATED and is a cheap and easy fix GET NEW CHAIRS! Seriously I took three guests with me and we ALL had pain from the small . hard, stiff little chairs. If I read you got new chairs I will return for sure. If not well I still might return but with a chair pillow in hand! Bottom line, great food, interesting menu, staff could use charm school and the chairs need to be used as kindling.

    (4)

  • Michael U.

    Butternut Squash veloute and brown butter crisps with chive oil and maple crème fraiche Baguette with salted cow's milk butter Charcuterie plate - Foie gras bon-bon/Sauternes Gelee, Chicken liver mousse/leaf and lard cracker, Steak tartare/quail egg toast, Hazelnut Boudin Noir, Duck Prosciutto, Lamb Lemon Terrine, Tete de Cochon) Seared Duck Breast with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrot Puree, Cara Cara Orange Beurre Blanc, Fried Shallots, Parsley Grapefruit Sorbet Lacinato Kale, Parmesan Frico, Sliced Prosiutto, Black Garlic, Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette Selection of Cheese from Cheese Bar, Armagnac Poached Prunes, Fried Almonds, Local Honey, Olive Oil, Black Pepper Crackers (UnNamed Triple Cream from Turin Italy, Brebis, Appenzeller Raw Swiss Cow's Milk) Theo White Chocolate Mousse, Honey and Thyme Poached Bosc Pears, Salted Pistachio Tuille Chocolate dipped pig shortbreads Stumptown French Press The irony of my meal at Naomi Pomeroy's "Beast" on Superbowl Sunday came in the form of a quote from my favorite author scrawled across the bathroom wall - Kurt Vonnegut's "You can't just eat good food. You've got to talk about it too. And you've got to talk about it to somebody who understands that kind of food." It was ironic because as a 'thank you' to my host in the city I'd offered to take her along to the small restaurant on NE 30th Avenue and both the food and the restaurant definitely warranted discussion. Considered by many to be the best restaurant in Rip City, Beast features a nightly six course seasonal menu for $75 - a veritable steal in fine dining - and with a small staff and seating for less than two dozen the feel of the restaurant is indeed quite intimate with the full kitchen on display and seats closely spaced, but not 'crowded' by any means. Dark, wood, cement, and steel much like the majority of Portland restaurants the space is excellent and the service leaves little to be desired as it is efficient and attentive without being overbearing. Focusing on the food and the bulk of our conversation after the meal it should be noted than there was nothing wrong with anything that we tasted during our two hours at Beast and as a matter of fact, most of it was very good - the issue was the cooking, or relative lack thereof as nearly every course was simply assembled on the plate...a case of mise en place gone overboard, verging on assembly line food detrimental to both temperature and texture, and something I've never experienced before despite dining in many open kitchens and at a fair number of 'kitchen tables.' Served with great pacing and ample descriptions of each course, the salad and sorbet would prove to be fresh and light while cheeses were well culled; all a case of quality sourcing rather than preparation while the signature charcuterie plate was indeed quite nice - the two liver preparations particularly memorable and the boudin noir one of the more funky preparations I've had to date. Less successful, the duck course clearly suffered from pre-preparation and arrived less crispy and less warm that desired; a shame as the flavor was good and the pairing of oranges and carrots was actually quite inspired in complimenting the fowl. Choosing not to imbibe but tasting a bit of what was served to my fellow diner I have to say the wine pairings at Beast were all quite impressive; particularly the light Riesling served with the earthy sweet soup while coffee, a Columbian Single Origin roasted by Stumptown was perfect with dessert, a lightly whipped chocolate cream serving to smooth out the intensely sweet pears - a nice ending to a good meal, but certainly not the best meal in a city with so many fantastic restaurants where you can watch the culinary team hard at work preparing a much larger variety of interesting plates.

    (3)

  • Camille Y.

    A truly exceptional and singular dining experience that ranks at, if not exceeds, the level of Michelin-starred restaurants I've dined at in NYC, San Francisco, and LA. Sure, the communal seating across two tables and the completely open kitchen may be a turn off to some, but I absolutely loved being able to see all of the dishes being made before me and enjoying them at the same time alongside my fellow diners - it was like a dinner party hosted in your best friend's kitchen (if said friend happens to be a James Beard award-winning, critically acclaimed TV star chef). When you look up between bites of perfectly seasoned, tender rack of lamb to catch a glimpse of cheese being carefully sliced off the wheel for your next course, the entire experience becomes deeply intimate, special, and personal, and the careful precision that goes into not only crafting each dish but also the single menu for the week becomes extra evident. As for the food: there's not much to say, aside from that every dish was expertly executed and absolutely delicious. Dinner consists of soup + crostini, charcuterie plate consisting of 6 bites and 4 palette cleansers, meat entree, salad, cracker and cheese plate + accoutrements, and a dessert. I was terrified of the charcuterie and cheese plates as I'm generally opposed to the notion of eating pure saturated fat and lard, but the appropriately-sized portions felt light and not like artery-clogging, cholesterol disasters - some, including the totally unique foie gras bon bon and the champagne-poached apricot, offered the single best bite of food I've ever had, exhibiting fascinating blends of textures, temperatures, and flavors. Fresh, local, seasonal produce was featured prominently and to great effect throughout, with standouts being a little dollop of lightly dressed, carefully smashed English peas scattered atop a ricotta crostini, and a lusciously velvety puree of mushroom, garlic, and hazelnuts that could stand on its own, even if it weren't serving as an accoutrement to a perfectly roasted-to-medium-rare double rack of lamb. The lowlight of the dinner would have to be the dessert - a rather pedestrian vanilla custard topped with an excessive amount of whipped cream - but the goat milk caramel and supremely flavorful orange roasted rhubarb went a long way to elevate what I appreciated to be a light and not-too-sweet dish. My advice - go here now before it becomes impossible to get a reservation following the inevitable endowment of a Michelin star(s). Also: props to the fabulous ladies who absolutely represent running one hell of a kitchen!

    (5)

  • Matthew T.

    On a whim, I tried to get reservations at Beast just a few days before I was going to be in town. Online said no go. Damn.... but give them a call just in case! The person I spoke to said they only had two seats left at the chef's counter, I jumped at it. And I'm happy I did. I love the small feel to the place and the communal tables, although the DC and me sat way form other guests, I think it is a great idea. Not only did we get to eat great food, but getting to watch the staff prepare the plates was great fun and interesting. Loved it. Since the menu changes each week I won't say much about what I had other than I enjoyed it, learned a few things, and each course was stronger than the one before it. Although, I can't say that for the cheese course. Loved the cheese it just wasn't better than the zuccini salad with fried squash blossoms. If you ever see squash blossoms at a farmers market in early summer, buy all you can! They are great, and they were prepared perfectly the night I was at Beast. The lamb was also excellent, I admit to being a barbarina and tackled the bones. Hey, I'm from out of town what do I care if the others guests or the one water watching me think I'm crazy? That was damn good lamb! Also, there are some real secrets in the romesco sauce, much more than basic roasted veggies I think. I also recommend the wine pairing. When a top notch chef is pairing the wine with her food, you are crazy not to give it a try. Besides each course has its own sets of flavors and no one wine is going to carry you through all the way this lovely 6 course meal. Is beast a splurge? Yes it was, but know what? It wasn't that expensive compared to other top notch food I've had around the world. I spent way more at Daniel Boulud's place in Miami for only 3 courses! How many of you blow $100 on a night out for drinks and dinner and a movie? or how much do you spend on coffee each month? Maybe not something you'll do all the time, but for an occasion, for a treat, beast is well worth it. Or better yet, pack your lunch instead of eating out each day on junk and instead you'll be able to enjoy the great food at Beast every once and a while instead. The staff, Chef-owner, and Sous, were nothing but friendly and informative about the food and the wines. So not sure about other recent reviews complaining about that. Maybe that was because I was sitting at the chef's counter and got to see all the action, while being respectful that they had a job to do unlike other crazy guests who tried to interrupt the sous while she was cooking to ask for a place to charge her phone!

    (5)

  • Amy J.

    I just had one of the most enjoyable dining experiences of my life here. Seriously! I've eaten all over the country and some great places in Spain and France. This rivaled them all. Every bite of the six courses was delicious. The flavor profiles were clean so that we could taste the individual ingredients yet complex enough that left us wondering what exactly everything was and how she did it. We left feeling completely satiated, but not stuffed - again it was six courses! The value of the meal was also remarkable. The chef, the service, the wine were all wonderful. I can't wait to go back and do it all over again.

    (5)

  • Laura P.

    BEAST had been on our radar and our "list" for some time. We have foodie friends that thought this was their best meal ever! We wanted to go, but really, $75 per person with another $35 for wine parings is a bit steep. Don't get me wrong, we eat at the best restaurants in Portland so that's not too much for the best meal ever, but I was a bit skeptical. We monitored their web site to see what each week's menu held. This past week we saw the Lemon Tart with Huckleberry meringue dessert and decided now is the time. We made our reservation for Friday night. Reservations require a credit card and if you cancel within 48 hours of your reservation, you will be charged $75 per person. That's the cost of each dinner. OUCH! We arrived on time and were seated. We opted for the wine pairings to go with dinner. We sat with other foodies which enhanced the experience greatly. Everyone near us had been anxiously anticipating dinner. The dining area is very small, only 24 diners at a time. The noise level was pretty loud, although we could hear each other. Each course was delivered and explained, however, our server spoke so quietly that we asked her to repeat herself after each announcement. The First Course: Wild Water Cress and Spring Leek Veloute, with Chive Oil and Warm Gougeres. The soup was amazing, very smooth and creamy. The Gougeres was okay, a little dry. The Charcuterie: The Steak Tartar was absolutely the best. The flavor and the toast was awesome, but the rest of the plate fell flat. The Fois Gras bonbon on the Peanut Shortbread with Sauternes Gelee, had too many flavors to notice any of them. Too bad, Fois is one of my favorite things. The Chicken Liver Mousse was very flat, but the Leaf Lard Cracker was very interesting. The House Cured Hazelnut finished Pork as okay as were the Pork Rillettes. The Smoked Duck breast was nothing special. Main Course: Buffalo Striploin Roast was very good, well prepared and medium rare. The Hedgehog mushroom & Veal Jus cream was very good. Tasty, balanced, well seasoned. The Wild Nettle Pasta with fresh Local Sheeps Milk cheese was also tasty. Salad: Tossed greens, these were fresh, but nothing special. Cheese Plate: The cheese selected were okay, but not anything special. The Armagnac Plum was good, crackers okay. Dessert: Lemon Tart with Huckleberry Meringue was okay. The tart was very small, so you tasted very little lemon, mostly pastry. The meringue was good, but so delicate that the strong flavors from the mixed berry coulis overpowered the meringue. The Wine Pairings were down right AWFUL. Every single glass distracted from the flavors of the food. I didn't finish a single selection. As I'm writing this, I'm hearing an repeating theme, it was nothing special. Such a disappointment. We had high hopes, perhaps too high after reading other's reviews and listening to friends and family that have been there. On our way home, we listed 15 restaurants, off the top of our heads that we liked better. There is nothing special about this place or the way it's run.

    (2)

  • Nancy D.

    Literally one of the best meals I have ever eaten in my life - bold statement, but true. I've lived in Portland for 3 years and dining at Beast has been a goal - not sure why it took me so long. I'm glad we started with brunch-can't wait to go back for dinner. Each course was perfection. We had a delicious bacon, rhubarb custard, an AMAZING pork belly hash with a perfectly poached duck egg, scrumptious cheese plate and finished with a chocolate truffle cake that was to die for. The pacing was perfect, the service was wonderful. The interior and communal seating was just lovely and comfortable. Could not have been a better experience.

    (5)

  • Annmarie K.

    we decided to go to BEAST after seeing Naomi Pomeroy on the esquire channel. here are the headlines: -we were told to be on time for the reservation. we were 30 min early and were also told to go have cocktail across the street at their bar expatriate if early. the seats at the bar were filled and we tried to go to the bar and order a drink. the "host" told us he would take my cell number and call us when their were seats. so no standing and drinking apparently. -ok so we went to a different bar across the street. wilder. great bartenders. great cocktails. super welcoming. -we went to beast 5 min before our reservation time. we walked in and stood there. no one greeted us. so we stood there. hmmm. wtf? other people came in... still no hostess. servers everywhere... strike 1 -they seated us at communal dining... all good...we were doing the tasting menu...still all good... first wine pairing came about 20 min after we sat down. strike 2. -the entire dinner lasted 3 hours. food was tasty. nothing spectacular. the chairs we were sitting on were the most uncomfortable chairs ever- strike 3. hmmm overall a bummer. insult to injury you are handed the bill with the tip already included... really??? please after all that let me decide what i am tipping the cranky waitress...

    (2)

  • MAP W.

    We flew into Portland to celebrate our Anniversary this weekend and secured a 6:00pm seating. What a fabulous experience!! Small and intimate spot with only two communal tables. We sat at the smaller table with 8 seats. The tasting menu was amazing. There wasn't one dish that we didn't enjoy. I chose the wine pairing and it really complemented the dishes. We were even more amazed of the extremely reasonable price for the dinner. We've spent much more on far less! Bravo Beast!!

    (5)

  • Ian J.

    I went in for dinner with a date. Almost everything was good; nothing was great. Perhaps the best course was the charcuterie, which I've heard people rave about; although, even that was just good. The foie bon bon was fun, but more because of its playful nature than anything. The rest was pretty unmemorable until dessert, which was bad. It was a chocolate stout cake that seemed very dry and uninteresting. It seemed as though it had been cut, plated, and refrigerated many hours before service, leading to a dry crumb. We both did the wine pairings. All the wines were very tasty/interesting on their own, but none of them seemed to do much for enhancing the foods they were paired with. All of the pairings worked, they just were uninteresting. To be fair, pairing wines with a menu that changes as frequently as this one is a very challenging job, and it is sometimes better to air on the side of safe and uninteresting rather than bold and possibly offensive. However, I would have like to have had one pairing that sang. All told, dinner was good, but not worth the price tag. There are other tasting menus in this city that blow beast out of the water (e.g., Castagna).

    (3)

  • Ken L.

    Beast of a meal! An appropriately priced 6 course meal includes: Starter: freshly cut bread. Definitely bread representative of PNW bakeries. Don't eat too much bread, you will need room for.... #1 Summer Corn Veloute': A smooth soup starter that doubles for a dip for the supplied stick of Tempura fried okra. Despite the fried nature of the okra, it is surprising light and not oily. Pairing choice: Beaujolais Blanc Prior to the second course, we were given a spoon of watermelon citrus sorbet for a "palate cleanser". #2 Charcuterie Plate: A sampler of meats that just melts in the mouth, not in your hand: Chicken liver mousse on a leaf lard cracker - rich texture and creamy Steak tartare & quail egg toast - you would never know it's raw.... mmmmm Pork and pistachio pate' - pistachio bits break up the monotony of just plain pate' Duck rillettes & tete de cochon - head cheese with not soo unctuous characteristics A foie gras bon-bon w/ a sauternes gelee - "save the best for last" - you swear you were eating candy as it quickly disintegrates in your mouth. Pairing choice: Riesling Kabinett #3 Seared Artisan Duck Breast: with romano beans, potato, fennel and cherry tomato salad Disappointing duck. Low in flavor and chewy despite how perfectly cooked it looked. My least favorite dish of the bunch. Pairing choice: Les Grands Picotins #4 Baird Farm Peach: Farm Greens, procuitto, goat cheese, green onion and sherry vinaigrette Not sure why #4 went before #3 as the lighter salad would have been a better transition into the main meat entree'. Nevertheless, the combination of the peach with procuitto was well executed. Pairing choice: Languedoc Blanc #5 Cheese Selection from Steve at Cheese Bar: Mars Venus Grapes, Marcona almonds, Anise shortbread, honey At first glance, this plate seemed out of place but after finishing it, I felt the portion size fell right in with the rest. Nothing really outstanding to note. Pairing choice: Dowsett Family Gewurztraminer #6 Wild Plum Clafoutis: Dessert much akin to a light bread pudding served with Vanilla bean ice cream. Nice ending to finish out dinner. Pairing choice: Rose' La Cueille Coffee: Four Barrell coffee (press) Be aware that you'll need to make a reservation well ahead of time and that you may be placed with others at a communal table. If you like multi-course meals and tasting menus, you will enjoy Beast. Bring your own wine, if you wish. The corkage fee is $30/750ml.

    (4)

  • Andy D.

    Can you judge a restaurant by the number of pictures on their Yelp review site? The answer is damn straight. And, Beast apparently has a lot of photogenic foods! After trying to come here several times the Gods finally complied and we set our party of five for my sister's birthday dinner. Now the ambiance is unlike that of a restaurant of its calibre. It's as if your dining in your kitchen, so ambiance is in the eye of the beholder. You sit with other parties in a communal type atmosphere. We were luck enough to sit next to three lovely ladies from Seattle who also had adventurous food tastes. The service, well it was superb, the staff new the nuances of the wines, the food and its preparation. The menu is set, a sustainable melange of the Northwest's finest spring vegetables, ranch raised beef and dairy cheeses. The staff at the Beast rocked it out and dinner was perfect.

    (5)

  • Sheila E.

    So I've now been here twice for dinner and once for brunch. I really liked the dinners I had, more so than the brunch I ate there this morning. Menu from today: Ist Course: Champagne-Poached Rhubard Clafoutis with Soft Whipped Cream and Maple Glazed Bacon. *Definitely my favorite course this morning. I'm not really a fan of rhubard, but the flavors melded really well in the clafoutis. The whipped cream had just the right amount of sweetness, and the piece of maple glazed bacon (which topped the dish) was the first thing to go. Overall a great tasting dish. 2nd Course: Beast Hash - Maple-Brined Pork Loin, Market Potatoes, Romanesco, Maitake Mushrooms, Haikuri Turnips, Brussels Rapini and a Poached Egg with Hollandaise. *I thought this was good, but not great, like I hoped. Egg was poached perfectly and everything went well together, but I felt it needed more seasoning (or maybe I should have added salt and pepper - who knows?). But it was a good dish nonetheless - it just fell a little short. 3rd Course: Three types of cheese (I have now forgotten what kind of cheese) and Farm Greens with Aged Sauvignon Blanc Vinaigrette. *The cheese was very good (very small pieces though) but my greens were a little wilted and had too much vinaigrette. 4th course: Dark Chocolate Stout Cake with Creme Chantilly. *One of my friends commented that it looked like a Ding Dong - which it did. The cake was good, but very rich, and I couldn't eat all of it (which shocked even me). Overall, I thought it was good, but I was expecting something better (especially for the fixed price - $35 per person). Service was good, and the atmosphere is nice (they only seat around 30 people, with one smaller table at the front of the restaurant and a longer one on the side, in front of the kitchen). You will sit at a table with strangers, so if that bothers you, just know that up front. I've always enjoyed that aspect of it, and normally talk to everyone near me. And at this point, you are probably wondering why I am giving them 4 stars, instead of 3. Well, I'm basing this on all three times I've eaten here, and I really enjoyed my other two dinners, but if this was just based on today's brunch, I would have probably only given them 3 stars. I do want to go back, but I'd like to try dinner again, instead of brunch.

    (4)

  • Vanessa M.

    I was dying to come here for brunch but I could never time it with any friends so I decided to come for brunch solo. What an amazing decision. You sit with other diners at communal tables and are served some of the best french pressed coffee to start - strong and hot! I believe that the menu changes frequently if not every day, so you might not ever have the same thing twice when you come here. I thought every part of the meal was perfect, and the only thing I did not like was the duck egg that came on the second plate but that is just me, everyone else chowed it down with the rest of the hash. Make sure you get a reservation early as I would imagine it will get even more packed now that Naomi won the James Beard!

    (4)

  • Lin Lin S.

    this place is entirely run by chicks. girls rule! for dinner, the entire dining room is served each course at the same time i.e. every person is served the soup, then few min later, when most people are done, the next course is served. there is a large communal table (which introverts may not like bc some strangers may want to talk to you) but there are also smaller tables for privacy. the food is excellent: tender succulent pork belly, flavorful lentil soup with blood sausage, creative charcuterie platter with foie gras bon bon. im assuming their menu changes frequently. we didnt care for their wine pairing as much. snag a rez if you can, since this place only has 2 dinner seatings per night and they can only accomodate a small amount of people in their dining room. PS: i came for my bday, just me and my bf and luckily the place wasnt busy so we were able to enjoy a fairly quiet evening. at the end of our table was a party of 6-7 people, who were loud at times. this place can hold larger parties, but for communal seating, i think it'd be more courteous to keep your parties small. ALSO, if you have food allergies (like i heard one guy was lactose intol), the chefs may be able to change things, but mainly, they will just remove certain toppings like no sour cream, no cheese platter. most food is prepared in advance so if you have a gluten allergy, and the pork is prepare with soy sauce, you are shit out of luck bc the entire dining room's meals are alreayd made, or are being made for everyone, not made per order.

    (4)

  • Samanthia W.

    AMAZING. I loved everything about our Beast experience. The service was charming, the restaurant itself felt cozy and intimate, and the food started with really quality ingredients. With a name like Beast, I expected a more rugged feeling meal, but every course had this feminine touch to it. It seemed incredibly well balanced. This place makes me want to make up special occasions to go there more often. This is worth it!

    (5)

  • Mike R.

    I was really looking forward to dining at Beast, based on review, however it did not meet my expectations. I did like the fact that everyone was seated at the same time, and communal table. Pacing of courses was excellent as well. Food had ups and downs. Charcuterie platter that everyone was raving about - amazing beef tartar, everything else was just ok. I would expect real foye gras at this price point, not pate. Soup was mediocre Pork belly was my favorite dish, well executed, good portion, great texture and flavor. Good desert, but nothing special. Overall $300 for 2, in Portland I'm expecting a lot more from ingredients, preparation, and presentation.

    (3)

  • Zeina E.

    Definitely a culinary experience. Food was good and different...come hungry as it's a six course meal... I got full by the third course! Very intimate setting with an open kitchen! Awesome wine selection as well! The chairs were not the most comfortable though especially for a long sitting. I wouldn't say this was the best meal I've ever had but overall it was very pleasant, tasty and enjoyable.

    (4)

  • Brent C.

    There are not a lot of "dining" experiences in Portland. Not in the dinner-as-theater, blow your mind with service sorta way. Beast is uniquely Portland while managing to step up its dining game to among the highest levels in the city. It doesn't succeed on all levels, but there is absolutely nothing like it in Portland, and as such, it's worth seeking out this dining experience on your next "special" night out. First, the menu. Prix fixe with service compris, which means you pay one price of $102 (gratuity included) and get what they service you. Six courses that rotate weekly, depending on seasonal ingredients. The charcuterie plate tends to have some consistency to it, but the rest of the dishes are probably going to be different from what I ate. But the food is going to be top notch. If you're new to some of these flavors, just trust the kitchen. Everything will taste delicious, I promise. The wine pairing costs $48 (so, dinner for two and wine pairings is going to run $300 out the door... and a quick side note, Beast just raised their prices. Like very, very recently. They went up in between the time we made the reservation and when we had our meal, which came as a bit of a surprise. This place is a splurge, anyway, but it was a bit of an unpleasant surprise nonetheless. However, now you know, so there you have it). They run from dry-to-sweet as you might expect as the meal goes on (very dry white at the top of the meal, very sweet "late harvest" white with a lot of residual sugar with dessert). It's about half a glass of wine with each course, so the $48 buys you three glasses total. We had five whites and a red, for what it's worth. Now onto the "communal dining experience." There are other restaurants, like Clyde Common, that have communal tables, but I have never been to a restaurant that orchestrates the meal in such a way where everyone eats at the same time. The biggest advantage this has is that service is going to be consistent across the board. It's very hard to be inattentive when everyone is doing the exact same thing at the same time. So it's kind of a fail safe service system built into the experience. The meal will take about three hours, because it is a dining experience, after all. I do think, however, that the communal aspect of Beast takes away from the "capital E" Experience because it removes intimacy from the evening. This is obviously a personal preference (but what isn't?), but if I'm paying $150 per person, I'm not really all that interested in sharing my special evening with the couple sitting next to me. If you're out on a date, make sure you sit next to each other, not across. The tables are too wide to sit across from your dining partner, and you'll end up shouting your conversation across the table. And the chairs are not comfortable. For a three-hour meal, their furniture choices are very strange. The vibe of the place is way more Portland chic than it is fancy dining. Open kitchen, chalkboard walls, think Toro Bravo or Clyde Common. It's a bit of a mish-mash of dining messages, because the meal is so expensive. So, you might take to these details more than I did. You might find the vibe charming. You may meet some fun new people on sitting across from you. There is a near certain chance that your food will be delicious. What it comes down to, however, is this: They go out of their way to stand out from the crowd and they succeed in that regard. There is no restaurant in Portland quite like Beast.

    (4)

  • Anna Marie C.

    when i moved to portland, all of a sudden, my idea of dining has shifted. i remember going out and having monstrosities of meals for $75-100 a person, and not feeling so guilty about it. maybe it's because there are quite a few choices of meals for less, and quite tasty. and maybe because i was such a fan of naomi on top chef masters, and maybe because the name is beast and it's all about meat, or maybe it's all the hype about the foie gras... i dunno. but, i walked away full (obviously, with so many courses) but not in awe. and i guess the a-ok is, i couldn't find fault with anything. maybe uninspired is the word. of course, i went the week when expat was opening, so maybe her attentions were diverted elsewhere. it's a shame, i had such high hopes...

    (3)

  • Misty B.

    I came to Beast with high expectations but left never wanting to return. In comparison to several other restaurants my foodie group has tried, Beast fell short. It's overrated & overpriced.

    (1)

  • Elizabeth B.

    I am riding high from a Beast brunch. In 10 words, in no particular order: Textures, colors, fresh, complementary, sensual, essential, professional, transcendental, love, pork-done-perfectly It is not expensive if you consider that it will be an unforgettable communal dining experience. Bring those you love, talk about the food and ask the staff questions. I got the amazing and deliciously bright and simple sherry balsamic salad dressing recipe from Naomi herself. Very good coffee (or tea) is included with brunch price. Five stars, easily.

    (5)

  • Shirley C.

    The meal at Beast has been long awaited. The restaurant is very cute and you sit and eat with other people at long tables. Kind of fun to get to discuss the courses with others. Unfortunately the main course was game hen so I was not that big of a fan. It was good but it was not great in my eyes. The presentation of the courses was not up to some of the other restaurants that I have been to recently. Ambience was nice, food was good, presentation was OK. Not sure I would go back though.

    (4)

  • Olivia A.

    To echo many of the reviews here: the food is excellent but the chairs are astoundingly bad. Rickety little stools with hardly any padding or backing make it basically impossible to be comfortable for your 2.5 hour meal. Yes, the food is very good, but both my husband and I left with more of a sense of discomfort from the chairs than a sense of marvel at the food. Beast owners: is it really worth the "ambience" to make your guests so uncomfortable? Listen to the reviews please!

    (3)

  • Dan N.

    We went to Portland for the Thanksgiving weekend and went to dinner here. I was surprised how small the restaurant was and it's located in area pretty far from downtown area. We were not sure how we might like sharing a communal table with others, but it turned out our group of people were all pretty friendly and we had a good time. The food was overall pretty good and the pheasant was perfectly cooked and, there was enough food to feel reasonably full (unlike some pretentious places that charged a lot of money and the portions are so small). It was our first time sharing a table with others and everything was good. Would come back again.

    (4)

  • Karin K.

    I suspect my expectations were a bit high. Having been to many great eateries in Portland and knowing Beast and Naomi Pomeroy's reputation, I was expecting a meal in my top three. Didn't happen, due to some inconsistencies, poor wine pairings, and some environmental issues, namely, the chairs and the cooking going on during the later courses. First and foremost, I will echo other's lament about the chairs. I have never had a dinner experience so greatly affected by the seating. The chairs were absolutely awful. I had to get up about five times during service just due to being incredibly uncomfortable. The chairs are no joke; bring a pillow. One would think after several reviews stating this concern, Beast would do something about this. The food was hit and miss, as was the wine pairings. The zucchini and pepper soup was good, with the French sparkling wine being a big hit. It was one of those pairings where the wine so enhanced the food it was transporting. The negative? Hard, extremely crunchy "fried bread" floating around in the soup. Too hard, they distracted from the tastiness of the soup. The Charcuterie plate was also a mixed bag. The chicken liver mousse was transcendent, and the cracker perfect under it. First the sweetness hits your tongue, the earthiness of the mousse. As perfect as it gets. I love Foie Gras but the combination of that and the peanut cracker was not for me. Also, the bon bon was really difficult to cut and really too large to eat in one bite, so you're stuck with too much in your mouth or a mess. The tartare was good but lacked seasoning. The wine was a decent local Riesling but did very little to enhance the food. The main course of duck confit was delicious. Moist but with a nice crispy skin, it fit very well with the Tarragon aioli, fresh and perfectly cooked green beans and tomato. But, as it was presented as a cassoulet, it was served with a few sad, overcooked beans. The wine was a Shiraz. Personally not a fan of Shiraz. The melon salad was interesting, and once I got the crispy shallots, mint sauce and chevre together with the melon in a bite, it was very nice. But there were rinds on the melon! Why? The wine pairing was another perfect match; this time, they got it right. At this point in the service, the staff started prepping for Saturday night's meal by cooking duck in the kitchen, which had a very strong smell. The rest of my courses, after they started to cook the duck, tasted of duck. The smell would be enticing towards the beginning of the meal but was so distracting at the end that my dinner companion was slightly nauseated. Then they lost me at the cheese plate. I'm not sure who "Steve" at Cheese Bar is, but he is doing a disservice to Beast. An avid cheese eater who loves goat and sheep cheese, I couldn't finish the cow/sheep combo, and found the other two just okay. The cow/sheep combo tasted grainy and spoiled. The full-flavored poached plum helped me get through the boring cheese. I was saving the almonds for last as I love Marcona almonds but even they were bad and tasted very strong and slightly off. The dessert? Meh. Except the creme fraiche ice cream. Yes, I said crème fraiche ice cream. It was very delicious. There are so many great places to have similar food in Portland that will not disappoint. Skip Beast and explore some other options.

    (2)

  • Chad A.

    I had a pretty good experience here, but found the whole thing a bit overrated in comparison to what else is out there. Portland is a most wonderful city...especially for a "Foodie" the place is filled with so many great choices, but alas....when I chose this spot I guess I just didn't know better, but I'll get into that. First and foremost...remember that 3 stars is still positive. There's no reason to look down upon the reviewer or the restaurant if 3 stars is given out...all that truly says about the reviewer is that the experience was enjoyable, but not necessarily enough to make that person a fan of the place. Everyone who has been to Beast is already familiar with the system so you can skip this part if you like... 1. Only Offers Communal Seating - Almost always full so I hope you're social! 2. Reservations are necessary and require a credit card 3. They only serve one menu per day which changes weekly so you will be consuming everything on that menu and "substitutions are politely declined." You are of course welcome to skip any portion if you like 4 They are only open for dinner 5. They serve a 6 course Tasting Menu designed to be paired with wine 6. The food is French inspired 7. The cost is about $75 or for an additional $35 you can have wine pairing 8. 24 Diners total 9. Two Seatings - 1 @ 6 p.m. & 1 @ 8:45 p.m. I went with my parents for a birthday meal. It is usually special occasions that bring people here and I was no different. 1st Course - Delicata Squash Soup with Tails and Trotters Pork and Crackling Salsa Verde: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… I love soup and this time it was no different. The smooth texture contrasted by the other ingredients was playful and delicious. I had no complaints and my jubilation was only increased by this opener. 2nd Course - Charcuterie Plate: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… of a Foie Gras Bon Bon, Sauternes Gelee, Steak Tartare & Quail Egg on Toast, Chicken Liver Mousse, Pickled Shallot Pork, Pork Liver, & Sour Cherry Pate. This plate was presented beautifully, but I wasn't drinking wine this evening so although it was creative I found it kind of boring. More of a filler than anything. 3rd Course - Braised Sonoma Farms Duck Leg: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… with Cream of Cabbage and a Truffle Cavilli Blanc Apple Confiiture... what's happening here? My tastebuds are on a roller coaster. I say this for two reasons. One because I love duck and two because this whole dish was whimsical and delicious. The duck was tender and juicy without a hint of fattiness or gaminess. I loved every last bite of this course. 4th Course - Beet & Marinated Celery Root Salad: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… with Fried Capers & Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese...and we're back down again (for me.) I'm not a huge fan of beets so this salad really did nothing for me. For lovers of beets though I would imagine this is the "Cream of the Crop" of Beet Salads. 5th Course - Selection of Steve's Cheeses - aka 2nd Charcuterie Plate: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… Cracked Pepper & Fleur de Sel Shortbread, Bittersweet Farms Honey, and Mars/Venus Grapes & Hazelnuts. Still not drinking sooooo snore! Carefully presented though. 6th Course - Olive Oil Cake with Cassis Coulis: yelp.com/biz_photos/beas… Port Poached Local Pears & Spiced Marcona Almonds. Sounds fancy, but not even close to the best I've had in terms of dessert. This course was just ok, not bad, but not great. Wow after further thought this would have been a boring roller coaster. Service was nice by everyone, but despite my mentioning of my birthday there was no recognition whatsoever... it was just business as usual for everyone (except my parents of course!) There is no dedicated parking so you'll need to find it on the street somewhere if you're driving.

    (3)

  • Mario C.

    Dined at Beast for the 8:45 seating on a lovely Saturday evening I was a bit apprehensive about beast because it was french food and the previous nights less-than-stellar experience at Le Pigeon. The seating is communal seating which could throw those that aren't as talkative or outgoing off. Fortunately, we sat next to traveling foodies so we were in great company and the night truly did revolve around food. The dishes were very inventive and progressive French. One that stick out was the "sampler" plate which included a foie gras that was spectacular. Every other dish was not memorable. Not to say that they were bad, but I didn't think twice about the dishes once I put them in my mouth, and it seemed to be the theme around the table as well. This dinner seemed to be more about entertainment (we enjoyed a nice French red while conversing with everyone at the table). All total we spent 3 hours at Beast. The money was well worth the entertainment as I felt I was catching up with old friends over a good meal. I wouldn't expect to be blown away by anything at Beast. What I would expect is good, maybe even great food depending on the night. I feel the experience is more based on who chooses to sit around you rather than the food

    (3)

  • robert m.

    This had to be one of the coldest and weirdest dining experiences I have ever had. There was complete silence when we arrived and continued that way for most of the meal. The chef brooded over her kitchen and seemed afraid to engage a single guest, which she didn't. If this is supposed to be a dinner party, I felt like I was that guest that was invited by a friend and got stuck at the card table at the end of the table with the kids. totally unwelcome. the food was well prepared and nicely presented but there were a lot of miscues. especially the burnt brioche under the steak tartare. the meal was very filling, yet unsatisfying. I don't consider duck confit a main course. the wine pairings felt cheaply done and not very good. It almost seemed like an after thought. I am not a fan of communal dining and this confirms it. I'm not anti-social but listening to other people drone on about nonsense is not fun for me. Being one of the more talked about places in town, it had all the pretentention but not the delivery. I couldn't wait to pay my check and leave. Sorry, I wanted to like it, but sadly not.

    (3)

  • Jacquee P.

    It was nice but we couldn't help but notice that the older couples got more attention from the staff. I'm friendly and chatty too! Everyone at dinner receives the same six course meal: 0. The baguette is perfectly crusty on the outside and soft/moist/chewy on the inside. 1. The soup was a beautiful french onion with goat cheese! Sooo creamy and dreamy. 2. The charcuterie plate is just like everyone says it is but I didn't expect the foie gras bon bon to be frozen but duhhh it's like ice cream! 2.5 Grapefruit sorbet - perfect palate cleanser for all the meat fats coating my mouth 3. Rabbit leg - my leg tasted cottony in texture and floral in aroma. Martin's was like chicken in both texture and aroma. 4. Fried oysters were good but three was too many at this point as we were stuff'd. 5. The cheese course came with three cheeses of varying textures, homemade crackers, local honey, preserved apricots and marcona almonds. 6. The souffle was light and rich at the same time. Does that make sense? Like heavy air.

    (3)

  • Jeff S.

    My friend Janet and I both desperately needed to do something nice for ourselves, so I decided to treat us to dinner at BEAST (I don't know why they write it in all caps, but they do, so there it is). We've been talking about going here for a long time, so it was cool to finally get to go. If you don't already know, BEAST offers a 6 course menu that is set weekly, and their catch phrase seems to be "substitutions politely declined" which is their nice way of saying "This is what I'm serving tonight, and you're gonna eat it and you're gonna like it, or you can go home" so you better check on the menu for the week before you make reservations. I watched the menu for a few weeks before I made our reservation, and I never saw them serve anything I wouldn't eat and probably love, but if you are a picky eater or on a restricted diet or vegetarian or mortally offended by meats such as veal or foie gras, then this is probably not a good choice for you. I have this odd phobia of being late for anything, so Janet and I were on time for our 6 o'clock seating. I need not have worried about them starting without us (they have two large tables and everybody is seated and served together), as they didn't bring out the first course until the last couple had arrived and been seated, and they were just a little bit late (not that I noticed, haha). The open kitchen is cool, unless like Janet and I, you are one of the six people seated with your back to the kitchen. That was really my only disappointment, but most of the time I was too distracted by how awesome the food was to notice that there was a lot going on behind my back that I couldn't see. The group seating was kinda fun, and in an odd twist of fate I was seated right across from a psychologist/therapist who works in the same special/alternative school program I work in. I'm not going to break down the whole menu, but I will touch on the high points. The foie gras bon bon was effing splendid. There was so much going on it made my eyes roll back. It might be the best thing I've ever put in my mouth, food or otherwise. The duck was awesome, like butter. Desert was a little lemon tartlet sitting in a pool of chocolate sauce (decorated with gold flakes, I guess to soften the blow since they're about to bring you your bill for 100 bucks a person) and was also delicious. The only course that didn't totally blow my mind was the beets with walnut lemon vinaigrette and some kind of fish. It was still really good, it just wasn't quite as amazing as the other 5 courses. The wine pairings are optional, but I strongly encourage you to go with them. Each wine complimented the course it was served with very well, and I enjoyed getting to try six different wines in one meal. I figured the meal would take about two and a half hours, and I was just about right, but it didn't feel like that long. It was really a lot of fun and a cool experience, in addition to just being delicious. I enjoyed going to a restaurant and not having to make a single decision. Yeah, it was pretty spendy, but definitely worth it. It was the best meal I've had in a long time, and one of the best meals of my life. The only down side is of course the fact that the price is a bit restrictive (meaning that although I would love to go back next week, and every week after, at 100 dollars per person I cannot reasonably foresee another dinner at BEAST in my future since I am on a limited budget). They offer a Sunday brunch for 28 dollars, which is still a lot for one meal, but something I can reasonably look forward to doing in the not too distant future. BEAST is awesome. That's pretty much all you need to know.

    (5)

  • Josie V.

    This is the ultimate Portland culinary experience. Let me just say the staff at Beast is fantastic! I'm not sure whether or not the food or the service is better. I think I may be slightly biased because they know me by face. I've been here more than a hand full of times. I love everything about this place and their block they're on. The ambiance is no frills, but it all about the food. I have sent friends, family and people who come into where I work. I almost converted a vegetarian after talking about my experiences. The wine pairings are excellent, but I always have to split mine with someone else because it's too much for me. My favorite seating is the last one because the staff seems to cut loose a little more because it does run late and they're not pressed for time with the next seating. I have met some really cool people sitting at the two tables at Beast. I love meeting all the people from out of town/state who come for the experience.

    (5)

  • Samuel M.

    Wow, I am a fan! The food was amazing, pricey but worth it. It's definitely a place to go for that special occasion. They offer individually priced drinks or the wine pairings for the many courses that are served in the set menu. My date and I shared the wine pairing. You'll have to book at least a week out. I can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • James M.

    Lived in Albert neighborhood for a few years but never made it to Beast. For our 11 year anniversary we thought it was finally a good enough occasion to dish out the dough. We really wanted to love this place. We went in knowing that we would be sharing a table with lots of strangers and thought it would not interfere with the experience. But it did. Food was good. Had a Foie-gras bon-bon that may be one of the best thing I've ever tasted. Bravo there but rest of the food was not really memorable. Staff was fine, just did their job, Nothing memorable. But the chef was the reason we found the ambiance the most lacking. For having a prep table as center stage you would think throwing out a welcoming friendly hello would be something expected. Nope, and I don't think anyone smiled. It's obvious how much work is involved but it seemed like a very uncomfortable atmosphere for the staff. Which made us uncomfortable. As desert was served the chef left out the front door. We will not go back, we will not recommend. I hope others have better experience.

    (3)

  • Grammar G.

    Enjoyed the food: it is as good a the reviewers say. I was slightly disappointed with the wine pairings and the dessert was lackluster, hence the four stars instead of five--especially at this price. I would give 4.5 if it was an option.

    (4)

  • Julie J.

    Beast is such an innovative and remarkable treasure! The creative team, led by the ever personable Chef Naomi Pomeroy, served up one of the most delicious winemaker dinners that I've ever had the pleasure of attending. Definitely a spot to explore new tastes--ever evolving wines and fine cuisine.

    (5)

  • Richard L.

    I give it 4 stars cause I can't give it 3 and a half. Beast is a good restaurant, but probably not on the par of some of the other really good places I have tried here in PDX. The food is very good, with some inspirational touches, especially with the foie gras bon bon with the Sauterne gelee, and the beef tenderloin was delicious. But there was a small element that I felt was kind of missing with the food. Put it this way: I liked the food but I didn't love it. Maybe it was an off night, but somehow I felt that the passion wasn't there. And that is kinda hard to stomach when you are paying that kind of scratch. I had the wine pairing, and while it was good, it wasn't always inspired. But no knock on the service: it was excellent, with the staff making sure that they tended to your every need. Maybe a return experience in the future might change my mind.

    (4)

  • Betty N.

    **BEST BRUNCH DEAL IN PORTLAND** I dedicate my 600th review to the Beast. Why? Bc it was OMFG good, that's why. The Beast stole my culinary heart in Portland. We made reservations for Sunday brunch at noon. We were seated upon arrival and I ordered a cup of Stumptown french-pressed Joe. No menu substitutions. I like that French attitude. Take me as-is or leave me. :) Had the following on the prix fixe menu ($28) including the wine paring ($20): *Cherry Clafoutis with vanilla whipped cream & maple glazed bacon Tasted like a light cherry souffle with an amazing glazed bacon topping. Be careful of the cherries . . they were not pitted. Delicious starter. *Beast Hash - Tails & Trotters pork shoulder, market potatoes, corn, zucchini & cherry tomatoes, poached egg & hollandaise MY FAVE. Man oh man. The freshness of this dish was simply evident with every bite. Pork was tender and flavorful. Nicely done. *Selection of Steve's Cheese, Gathering Together summer greens with aged Sauvignon Blanc vinaigrette, and champagne infused apricot Holy crap, that apricot stole the show. It tasted like orange syruped candy. Freshest greens I have ever had. Man, Portland has it good. *Chocolate Truffle Cake topped with rose geranium whipped cream and gold flakes. The rose geranium infused with the whipped cream was heavenly. So French. So in love. HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Beast for Sunday brunch. One day, will return for dinner.

    (5)

  • Shannon H.

    The most amazing meal. Only negative is that the chairs are highly uncomfortable for a 3 hour meal.

    (5)

  • Dustin L.

    Probably the best restaurant we've had the pleasure of dining at in Portland. Go in expecting the communal seating atmosphere and you will have a great time. As for the food, you pay $75 for a meal that would easily cost you hundreds in NYC (or any other large East Coast city). Would definitely recommend the wine pairing.

    (5)

  • Ann B.

    This was quite the dining experience. Small communal tables, set serve times, and set plates. The menu was exquisitely prepared and each plate was more delicious than the last. Small portions but by the time you get through all your plates there's no more room.

    (4)

  • Zack S.

    Headed back to Portland and had always wanted to try Beast because it exemplifies Portland dining (locavore, communal dining, open kitchen). I mean who wouldn't with the 27 on Zagat! It started out as such a promising evening. Dish one was a truly delicious wild nettle veloute perfectly paired with Gruner Veitliner and the cripsy maitakes were perfect addition. It can be tough to match soups with wine, but they nailed it. Also brought out bread that was ok (not spectacular. If you want spectacular bread, see DOC down the street). Followed by the charcuterie, which was delightful. The foie-gras bon-bon peanut shortbread, with sauterne gelee was like candy and a highlight. As expected, the Riesling matched the saltiness well. Third dish was a Riesling braised Pork belly with maple glazed baby turnips and pea tendrils with veal and duck jus. The dish by itself was solid, but the wine pairing was a stretch at least. The char on the crispy pork did pull out some of the savory notes but the sweetness of the dish pulled out some of the green tones and the wine was lacking in the mid palate (exactly where the pork is strongest). The wine was a half measure, either match with time with a richer red with a touch of residual sugar or go more acidic. I just don't know why you'd have to go all the way to France to make a pairing when Willamette is right next door and would go perfectly. Simply over-thinking this one. In the french style, the salad follows the main. Mache salad with a lemon truffle vinaigrette and heirloom baby carrots and tempura fried lemon paired with Chablis (2010 no less). The pairing makes sense, but the salad was nothing special and the wine was such a baby. Not as austere as Chablis can be, but still tight enough that it may have consider a decanting (if you believe in decanting whites...and I do) if you're pouring something that tight. I guess it did make the wine about as boring as the salad. On to the cheese course! I love cheese but again the issue was the wine pairing. Honestly I find this pre-dessert cheese course to be a bit perverse. It crosses the line between a nice meal and food porn. Cheeses were good but the southern white Burgundy was simply disjointed and no amout of cheese was going to fix it. Everyone's least favorite wine of the night, that is until... The Dessert! It was a lovely thought as well. A rhubarb galette with anise ice cream and Grand Marnier caramel. Sounds lovely, but again the wine! Corked! It happens. Not a big deal and while clearly muted nose and palate, it needed a bit more air to fully reveal the issue (at least to me), and they handled the issue and quickly got us some fresh juice. My date's dish came sans ice cream which again at least remedied quickly. My actual quibble with this dish was that by the wine fiasco allowed us to momentarily miss that they burned the caramel. The bitterness made the whole thing fall apart. Overall it's pretty good, and you may considering some of my comments knit-picking, which they certainly are. At a cost prohibitive 70+ per person, I've paid for that right and you expect the meal to be special. While the meal looked the part, the majority of the courses were not. We greatly enjoyed dining here largely due to the couple we were sitting next to at our table (again, love Portland) which was fun to sit with folks with a nice palate, but the meal was uneven. At this price you simply expect a little more attentiveness across the board and my 3 stars is being generous.

    (3)

  • Rick S.

    Bottom Line - Fantastic experience? Yes. Nice atmosphere? Yes. Fresh ingredients? Yes. Food presented exquisitely? Yes. Dishes were cooked flawlessly? Unfortunately, no. I was disappointed with the execution of the dishes... meaning they were not well-cooked in their execution. I came for dinner with a friend at the 6pm seating on Saturday, 11 May 2011. My friend had been to Beast once before, and had an amazing experience; however, he agreed that this night's dinner was definitely lacking in quality. So here was the menu: Zucchini & Basil Soup w/ Lemon Oil - I was so unimpressed with the soup. Firstly, it came out only luke-warm, and secondly, I think there was too much lemon oil and couldn't even taste the zucchini in the soup. I wish I could have returned it. Charcuterie Plate - The chicken liver mousse on the leaf lard cracker was definitely my favourite. The steak tartare with quail egg on toast was pretty good, too. I did not care for the pine-tip cured sockeye salmon or the pigs head terrine lemon zest with sherry and parsley. The foie-gras bon-bon was also disappointing.... it was so sweet that you couldn't taste any foie gras flavour. What a shame, and a waste of foie gras. Glazed Pork Belly on Bread w/ Pickled Green Strawberries - I cook pork belly myself, and thought this particular dish wasn't executed well at all. The pork belly was a bit tough, but should have been very tender. I was wholly disappointed here. The flavour of the sauce; however, was flawless. We also really liked the pickled green strawberries. Cheese w/ Honey - The cheese was nice. It was a standard cheese and honey. This was probably my favourite dish of the whole meal. Rhubarb and Almond Tart w/ Butterscotch Black Pepper Ice Cream - This was also really good. I enjoyed the tart crust, and the rhubarb, which I'm not typically a fan, was excellent! Ending the meal on this note (as well as the cheese plate directly above) left a better impression than the first 3 courses. Service was fine, though it was awkward sitting at the same table as others for this "calibre" of restaurant. As for the value of what you get for the price... I don't think it's there. It was a nice experience, but I'm not sure I'd opt to come back. Along with two bottles of sparkling mineral water ($3/each), our bill came to $142.00 + 30.00 tip = $172.00 for the two of us.

    (3)

  • eric s.

    Unfortunately I was not impressed with the food. First course was tomato soup. Cheese course was about six slices of cheese on a plate. None of the food was very impressive. Really nice atmosphere. Liked the communal setting. 48 dollars for wine pairings and pours seemed very stingy. Did not leave thinking anything I tasted was worth tasting again. 300 dollars for two, I expect to be wowed. This felt more like a mid range hotel banquet meal. Many better choices in Portland.

    (2)

  • Tina H.

    I barely remember my meal here and that is a shame. I paid a lot of money to dine in a legendary restaurant on a special occasion and ended up sharing it with a colossal gas bag who wanted to spend all evening talking about his right to bear arms. I went in with an open mind, and embracing the spirit of the community table, and left wishing I had eaten my dinner somewhere a little more private, like a prison cell.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth C.

    My husband and I were recently in Portland a couple of weeks ago and since our return, I've been thinking about how to write this review. The reason why I made dinner reservations at Beast was due to the four stars averaged by so many favorable reviews. Obviously, therefore, I expected a phenomenal dinner. Possibly, herein lies my mistake. Being from SF, with its renowned cuisine, maybe my expectations were too great. I applaud the restaurant's effort in attempting to provide a unique dining experience, but I feel the attempt was simply "doing too much". My husband accurately described our dining experience as overwhelming to the palate. We thoroughly enjoy 5 course menus or chef's tasting menus, but the courses at Beast, had too much going on. Too many flavors in one plate and not enough in between to cleanse the palate. Furthermore, and this may be due to the latter, the courses tasted salty. San Franciscans are very sensitive to that, as we're increasingly health conscious. Lastly, what's with the hard chairs?! At the end of a three hour dinner, my butt hurt, and throughout I felt as if I was at the principal's office--the chairs were so upright! Well, at least Beast encourages good posture!

    (3)

  • Jennipher H.

    I have been waiting to eat here for over a year. I pined, saved and reviewed the ever changing weekly menu often. Unfortunately I walked away disappointed and let down. Now I understand completely other rave reviews and I am trying to chalk it up to an "off" night for them. I would recommend people try it because I know she is an amazing chef. It's just too bad my special night was a let down:( Here's the details: The good: The presentation of food and service was beyond outstanding! The fois grois bon bon was amazing. The grass-fed beef was a little bland but I understand grass-fed is less flavorful so I wrote that one complaint off because I was happy the choice they made to use grass-fed. It's just that it's Naomi Pomeroy and I expected her to cook grass-fed steak better than I could at home. I mean I could've just pan-fried it in butter and beat the flavor. The bad or eh: The food was over-salted on at least 3 of 6 courses. I couldn't even eat more than 2 bites of my 4th course salad. The selection of cheeses was also a let down. I left a lot of it on the plate and that is saying something for me. I have picked out far better cheeses at the grocery store and just felt whoever made these choices missed bit.

    (3)

  • Julie L.

    We lovers of food make an annual trip to PDX just to eat. We read reviews, write-ups and menus to select the winning restaurants. Beast piqued our interest with it interesting menu. The food was good, and well prepared, and the wine pairing was well done. The ambience nice, the service fine. But was is great?? No. Was it worth the very very large bill?? No. Would not go back. Also the wine pours were very small, considering the price of the flight.

    (3)

  • Debbie H.

    We came here for Sunday brunch, and it was brilliant!!! Love the clean open kitchen, the big long feasting tables, that comfortable & relaxing ambience, and the fact that only choice you have to make from the menu is the beverages (tea, coffee, juice or mimosa). For $35, you enjoyed a very wholesome four course brunch. The ingredients were fresh and seasonal, the presentations were simple and elegant. We enjoyed the mixed summer berry clafoutis, the beast hash and the chocolate truffle cake. It was definitely the greatest treat you can have on a Sunday morning.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    THE BEST MEAL I'VE HAD IN PORTLAND. I choose to lead with that because although Portland has more good food than any other city, around every corner, in every section of the city, it has very few GREAT food experiences. I keep waiting for my socks to be knocked off and I try all these highly rated restaurants here and leave happy, but not thrilled. Until Beast. Beast is transcendant. It is the magic unicorn of dining: highly coordinated, concerned service from knowledgeable staff, a cozy and intimate setting that still allows you to have proximity to others, but private conversation. An amazing wine and beer list (even for PDX) and I'll go more into the food, but the price, for what you receive, is a tremendous value. No, its not something you'd do every night, but I've easily paid 2x as much for a dinner of this caliber. From the time we came in for the 8pm seating, they were already working on our second course and watching the staff turn the restaurant is like watching a symphony at work. We were seated and though there are only two community tables, we somehow had enough distance and space to not have to talk to our neighbors if we didn't want, and to feel a sense of intimacy. I skipped the wine and went with beer and was insanely thrilled with the options, 2 beers that I had never had before or even seen on a list. A mild sour and an phenomenal porter that was light and juicy (for a porter). My dinner mate had the wine and supplemented it with a few extra glasses here and there. The food: I won't go into every dish here, you can read others for it. I'd rather talk about how it felt. The dishes were not so overly complicated that you would be challenged to like everything in each of them. Instead, each had a fabulous balance of texture, color and taste. A velvety soup had satisfying crunchy bits and a hint of vinegar to finish. The duck was prepared so perfectly that it melted on your tongue. The cheeses were the perfect after dinner accompaniment. But I need to talk about that second course, the charcuterie. As a singular dish, it goes down in my top 10 of all time. It is bombastic. Executed as almost a clock, with a small taste at each hour. We watched the staff create these plates over an hour, carefully and thoughtfully. And each bite was an adventure on its own, finishing with a foie bon bon that will be the best thing you EVER put in your mouth (totally worth the TWSS I'll get here). We were thrilled with everything. We had literally no regrets. We'd do it all again, and WILL. Thank you, thank you thank you.

    (5)

  • Erin P.

    The food was ok, although the most interesting thing was a poached duck egg. There was nothing remarkable about the menu, including that the cheese course was simply servings of someone else's cheese, the salad was mixed greens lightly dressed, and the bread pudding was clearly made the day before. This was a nice breakfast, not a culinary treat. For a more reasonable price that would be fine, but for what we paid it was totally ridiculous. The staff was quite and hardly interacted with anyone and it was overall a weird experience. No need to go back.

    (3)

  • Heidi S.

    I was sure I would love this place and that i would have a memorable experience based on all the hype. We had to practically beg for a reservation , but they had several empty chairs at the communal table. We had the 8:45 seating, but were left to stand outside the restaurant until 9:10. They mentioned we might want to find a drink somewhere, but don't go away as we could be seated anytime. I wonder what happens when it is raining? We were on time, but the restaurant was not managing the seating times. Also,I feel they will have a better result if they hire someone to help them with the wine pairings. The wine pairings were inconsistent and served at the wrong temperature, so we ended up ordering additional wine to try and have a decent wine with dinner. The duck dish that we had was exceptional, but other than that there was nothing remarkable. The great outstanding issue here is customer service, or lack thereof. In every aspect of this experience, they act as though they are doing you a favor. I have no desire to return. There are so many better options for fine dining.

    (2)

  • Brianna A.

    One of our favorite special occasion spots for dinner. Food is delicious.

    (5)

  • RJ H.

    Its important to first recognize the owners/chef for their creativity, and talent. They have captured the attention of the national independent food scene. There is no doubt they are expert at what they do. However, apologies because the overall experience was A-OK...and given to really enjoy Beast , one needs to make a $125-$150 dollar per person investment which I did. I would have to say that I've had better experiences for the same investment elsewhere. What went wrong? Nothing really. I was hoping for a 5 star evening. They are a very small restaurant , and seating for the most part is "family " style. I embrace an ever changing menu, and have enjoyed prix-fixe dinner concepts elsewhere. Their beer list is focused on Belgian Beers....which I think is a bit myopic....don't get me wrong...they are great beers. However I think there are other non-Belgian beers that would pair just as well with their menu options.. They certainly have done their homework selecting their current wine list and their champagne/sparling list was quite impressive. The wait staff was ....acceptable....a bit stiff and borderline unfriendly , I didn't get the inkling they enjoyed what they did or for that matter what they were serving. Here's the catch ..I cant remember one course I had, nothing stood out. I truly appreciate the art and thought that goes into the menu, preparation and presentation at Beast. I still think I would attach the wine pairing ..it seemed to be a good value. Reservations seem to be a must...seating and timeframes are limited. Would I make the investment again? Yes....with the anticipation that a Chef and Ownership with a reputation that is that good....will deliver that 5 star experience one would expect.

    (3)

  • Tim L.

    Had an excellent sunday morning brunch. It was awesome, the food was good, the servers were great. The selection is always changing. Portions were just right, not too filling. Everything was a 5 star, except....... Was their bathroom. It was uni-sex and got clogged in the middle of brunch....cooks turn to plumbers, not ideal. Get that fixed and you are at a 5

    (4)

  • Sarah B.

    This restaurant will make you betray yourself and everything you stand for - and like it. Occupying Portland? Not anymore you ain't. You're now stuffing your face with the best food you've ever tasted in your life, clinking stemware with the fashionably-dressed, retired couple to your left and showing your hipster friends how to tie a Windsor knot. A sampling of my personal experience with self-contradiction at Beast: 1. I hate soup. Beast makes soup transcendental. 2. I am morally opposed to everything about foie gras. At Beast, I first, tried, and second, LOVED foie gras. I'm ashamed, but there it is. 3. I am an anti-wine snob. The wine pairings that came with dinner? A classy and delicious addition to anyone's journey on the road to drunk. 4. I hate food lectures. The server, though, gave me juuuuuuust the right amount of information about each course to bolster my food ego without bugging me. The only downside? Naomi Pomeroy was kind of surly. If you go for the food instead of the gawkery, you'll be golden.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth T.

    hard to get a reservation but worth it. perfect portions and wine pairing

    (4)

  • Rick N.

    You've read all the deets below in other reviews so what I'll say is its a modest priced wonderful indulgence/culinary adventure and must-stop for food enthusiasts of all sorts. They took me as a solo on a days notice and the community table setting made for great conversation. As long as you are into half the dishes I say just surrender to the very talented chefs and discover! Unless you enjoy being stuffed at 11pm come for the early seating. Reservations essential.

    (5)

  • Jimmy G.

    Not liking a place because you have to sit next to somebody? Gimme a break. The only problem with the food is I wanted MORE. OMG was it delicious, ... AND creative. EVERYthing was prepared to perfection. Additionally, it was a treat to be entertained by the staff while watching the food be the plated (The tables are arranged in the same area as the huge, prep area so you can watch your meal be artfully plated. Hopefully, the new location will offer a similar setup). We had a spring onion soup in a rabbit stock base. Easily in the top two of the best onionsoups I've had. The big drawback with the mixed appetizer plate was that there was ony about a half-teaspoon of the foie-gras. That stuff was simply AMBROSIA. The steak tartare was close behind with its quail egg. I could go on & on about each course, but you get the drift. I enjoyed the whole experience, INCLUDING the company of the folks next to me who drove out all the way form The Dalles JUST for the fine meal. OK, ... I hated the little intermezzo of lime sorbet. Waaaaaaayyy to heavy on the lime for my taste, but the intent was good. That was the only thing appealing to me in this meal. I have a large appetite, & slightly larger portions would be nice, but everybody else seemed to be happy with this sumptuous, 7-course delight. Thank you chef for a true gastronomic experience.

    (5)

  • J L.

    Pretty delicious. Great presentation and experience. I have had better valued upscale-foodie fare, but cant knock 'em. My favorite part was the Erykah Badu and Bill Callahan soundtracks playing. Wine pairings were interesting as well. Loved seeing petit manseng for our meal and some more obscure selections.

    (4)

  • Amy B.

    In part, I think the experience of Beast much depends on the people at your table. We did the 10am brunch this morning and had a great time with the people we met. Fun conversation, great understanding of food (definite foodies in an aspiring restaurant owner/chef and folks traveling for delicious treats through the PNW). I'm teetering between 3 and 4 stars. The first dish was a fancy bread pudding. Absolutely delish! It seemed a bit strange to start out brunch with something so sweet, but maybe that's my stomach only. It had berries and bacon, and was worth taking the time to eat. The second dish was a boar hash and had me as soon as I took the first bite. Sweet, savory, earthy...so fantastic. I could've had just the first two dishes and given Beast 5 stars. Unfortunately, the last two dishes were a miss for me. The third was a cheese plate with a basic small salad. I would've preferred bread to go with the cheese, but maybe that's my finicky eating style. Last was a chocolate stout cake with a hardened ganache. Rating: meh. In fact, our table decided that dipping it in our coffee made it tasty. Otherwise, it seemed just a normal chocolate cake. Servers were great, with absolutely no complaints. Would've loved a bit more explanation on each dish, rather than reading what was already on the printed menu, but all around solid. Price for two (with two mimosa's): $88. Worth it? Potentially. If you have a well seasoned or developed palate, it's a good treat. If not, it may not be the place for you for brunch...stick to Tasty and Sons.

    (3)

  • Leslie K.

    The foie gras bon bon was the best thing I have ever eaten in my life. Every plate was absolutely delicious. I did the wine pairing and each wine complimented its dish perfectly. I will definitely remember this excellent dining experience for the rest of my life.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    The best food experience I've ever had!! The wine pairing was a total must. I love that the atmosphere is so casual with being able to try foods I normally would not. The decor is simple but unique and fits well with the atmosphere !.. Thanks for the great experience . I would definitely come back to share this experience with family and friends

    (5)

  • John F.

    After several years of drooling over reviews of this restaurant, we finally made it for my birthday dinner. ATMOSPHERE: Beast is located in a small storefront in an older building, nestled between Yakuza and Cocette restaurants. Both are great places to grab drinks if you arrive early or the first seating is running late. The latter happened last night, and Naomi came outside to encourage us to grab a drink and come back in 20 minutes, along with a promise to not start without us (something she kept to). Entering you see two communal tables, black chalkboard walls with amusing quotes or recipes scrawled across them, and a small but highly efficient kitchen in one corner. Generally I'm not a fan of the open kitchen due to the noise and showmanship you often see. In this case the restaurant exuded an almost zen calmness as all five staff members quietly went about their work with almost no conversation between them....one big advantage of the set menu for both patron and staff. As for the communal tables, ours was filled with numerous couples and all of us found space to be with each other, though as the dinner wound down we all engaged in a bit of friendly small talk. SERVICE: These guys are pros and really know how to make a patron feel welcome. Every dish was presented with a description of both the food and wine. My water glass never ran empty, and staff made us feel neither rushed nor ignored. FOOD: As others have discussed there is a set menu with no choices and no substitutions. Some might find it annoying, like the vegetarian who sat across from me, but it's really the core of the restaurants operating philosophy so check out the menu ahead of time (posted every wednesday on their website). The sequencing was good and my wife really enjoys her salad after the main course, such as occurs here. All in all the quality was very high in regards to the ingredients, their cooking, and presentation. Our pork turned out to be a little dry, but the remainder of the meal more than made up for it. DRINK: There is a beer and wine menu, but my recommendation is to go with the pairings. Of the six we had, three were okay and three felt inspired. You could order a single wine, or beer to go with the meal, but the courses are so diverse you might get some odd flavor combinations. PRICE: You're gonna pay for it. This isn't a cheap meal, but we like to splurge now and then and we didn't feel overcharged for what we received over the yummy hours. ADVICE: Check this place out, but review their website beforehand so you know what you're getting yourself into. =)

    (5)

  • Adrienne B.

    Let me start by saying that my expectations were exceedingly high for Beast after all of the hype surrounding it. Unfortunately, I was left underwhelmed. The seating at Beast is communal and uncomfortable from the table to the chairs. So for two hours, I sat there without being able to move and this in no way added to my overall dining experience. I have also decided, after dining at numerous restaurants with communal seating, that when paying a higher price for food, I want the entire "dining" experience. Thankfully, I enjoyed the couple seated next to me. While there were some definite high points to the meal like the corn soup with its rich flavor, the fois gras bon bon and the flawlessly cooked scallops, the duck confit course was so overly salted that it required glass after glass of water to get through. Even the cookie at the end was sprinkled with salt and was not what I would have wanted my last taste profile to be. The reviewer before me (Pdx F.) did a great job of explaining all of the courses, so I'm not going to repeat what has already been written. Although you can watch everything being plated, you're not given the opportunity to see the actual cooking. Unfortunately, the one thing we saw the most of was the dishwasher washing an endless stream of plates. My understanding is that the wine pairings are in the $35 range. Unfortunately, we did not opt for the pairings which in hindsight was a big mistake. I like Rieslings and asked if they had any on the wine list without looking at the menu and its wine pairings. I was told no, but that there was another white I would like. After drinking about half of that glass, I noticed that a Dr. Loosen Riesling was offered on the menu as a wine pairing. My dinner companion, as well as other diners, was offered a wine off of the dinner menu and I am not quite sure why I was not given this option as well since the bottle was already opened. I asked about getting a glass of the Dr. Loosen (remember we were told earlier in the meal that they had no Rieslings) and after much deliberation on Beast's part, I was brought a glass of Dr. Loosen. The surprising part was when the bill arrived and I was charged $18 for a glass that should have been a fraction of that price and should have been suggested in the first place. In addition, my companion's wine (also offered as a wine pairing) was only $12. Overall, Beast just did not live up to the hype and does not warrant the $75 per person charge. I really wanted to rave about the flavor profiles, the service, and the restaurant in general, but just cannot. More importantly, I cannot recommend Beast as a must go to restaurant - it just wasn't special enough.

    (2)

  • Sarah M.

    My fiance and I went to the first seating on December 27 and loved it. Tip: Share one wine pairing between two people. The heirloom carrot and anise veloute with tarragon creme fraiche that we started with was absolutely delicious. The meal could have started and ended with this dish and I would have been happy. Then the charcuterie plate came. I loved just about everything on this plate. My fiance isn't as adventurous eater as I am so he didn't care for a few things on the plate. I loved the steak tartare quail egg toast. We both thought the squab breast and pork terrine was ok. The foie gras bon-bon with sauternes gelee was the highlight of the plate. Great texture and the flavor of the gelee was just perfect. Wish I could have had two of those! Our main course was a porcini rubbed Carman Ranch striploin which was cooked perfectly. It was served with potatoes cooked in duck fat (yum!) and served with winter greens and a black garlic hollandaise sauce. This dish honestly felt a little over-salted to me, I think it was mostly the greens. The striploin and the potatoes were just right though. The next course was a shaved fennel, pink grapefruit and blood orange salad with smoked steelhead roe and a creamy beet vinaigrette. Absolutely delicious. The vinaigrette was something else, would have loved the recipe for it. The smoked steelhead roe added perfectly to the dish. The cheese course was also delicious, all of our cheeses were made from cow's milk. Our brie was like butter, wish I would have written down the name of it. The second cheese (can't quite remember what it was) had the most interesting tang to it. My fiance hated it but I loved it paired with the honey and crackers. The third cheese was an unpasteurized cheese which we both could have done without, it was too mild for both us. The plate as a whole was really good though. We both didn't think we'd have room for dessert but once we tasted the bourbon barrel aged maple pot de creme with caramel, hazelnuts and whipped creme fraiche, we made room. The dessert was the perfect ending to a delicious meal for sure. Even though we had a few minor "misses" to our meal, overall we were incredibly impressed with the food being put out by Beast. The wine pairings went very well with the dishes, there was really only one pairing that I didn't care for. Definitely would be back, especially since the menu changes every week.

    (5)

  • Todd G.

    Ok, so I've been to Beast twice and each time the food was amazing and the service impeccable. I have but one complaint. Could you ditch the pizza parlor chairs and hook a fella up with a comfortable chair?

    (5)

  • Kristen M.

    You know how you pick a nice restaurant for a special occasion? You make sure it's extra fancy too if it's culminating a landmark event in your life. Well my meal at Beast was extra special with my group of friends because it marked a new chapter in each of our lives. BEAST is a French-inspired, no substitutions, revolving 6-course prix fixe dinner ($75pp), which is offered Wednesday through Saturday at 6 & 8:45 PM. Reservations = highly recommended since each seating houses about 25 people. A four-course brunch is offered during Sundays at 10AM & 12PM ($35pp). This tiny restaurant embodies farm to table communal dining with Chef Pomeroy's flair. [**OPTIONAL** For $35 more you can have a wine-pairing with each 6-course meal; $20 for 4-course brunch.] So what did the $75 buy me? #1: ONION CONSOMME was very savory. A delicious broth made with dry vermouth, spring radish and curly cress. A very light dish to cleanse your palette for the following dishes. #2 CHARCUTERIE PLATE. Ah, yes the infamous charcuterie place offered 12 different types of items. My favorite: FOIE GRAS BON BON (very rich and delightful). Other admirable, savory and guilty small bites on the plate: chicken liver mousse, steak tartare, quail egg toast, pork liver terrine, rabbit rillettes and tete de cochon. #3 LAMB LOIN CHOP was cooked oh-so delicious. The lamb-syrah au jus was sensational! Lots of flavors were going on and delivered in every bite. This was complimented with a chard roll with mint and ricotta cheese. A side of artichokes completed this dish. #4 LEVAIN BREAD SALAD was very light, flavorful and a great way to start a fourth meal after a heavy 2nd and 3rd dish. This salad was made with arugula, asparagus, pea shoots, pickled red onions and rhubarb with sheep's cheese was drizzled with a nice vinaigrette. The bread served as a type of crouton - the texture was a bit different that your normal crouton. It was different, interesting and decent. #5 CHEESE PLATE offered three types of different cheeses which came with a poached plum, candied hazelnuts, honey and a peppercorn shortbread cookie. This was a lighter version of the charcuterie plate. #6 OLIVE OIL CAKE was quite divine. This dessert was very light, refreshing and very mouth-gasm worthy. The olive oil cake had a strawberry/apricot sauce and the white chocolate whipped mousse was delightful. I opted to not do the wine pairing since it was a bit too much to consume in a three hour meal. Instead I chose one glass of red wine since I was driving. Service was sensational. Water glasses were filled 24/7. I enjoyed the detailed description of each plate from our servers. Oregonian, Naomi Pomeroy - Food and Wine's Best New Chef (2009), Top Chef Masters Chef-testant (Season 3) and Cochon 555 - Portland winner (2012), serves up a scrumptious feast in her open kitchen. Six courses was a LOT of food and we were all stuffed in the end (some of us were stuffed by the third course). Cheers to celebrating a new chapter our life! Cheers to delicious food creatively mastered by one of Portland's finest chefs. Cheers to BEAST!

    (4)

  • Kristin K.

    I'm sorry, but what is the big deal about Beast? Teeny tiny portions, teeny tiny pours of wine, only two actual meat courses, and one whole course was a freaking salad. You are corralled outside the restaurant before service. You're then let in and seated communally--not great for a romantic date. Naomi, in creating the restaurant of her dreams, seems to have ignored the needs of her diners. No front of house, no one asking how your food is, no one asking whether you want something else to drink--and no one to complain to when things go wrong. Our lamb loin chops were way oversalted, and on the first bite, my boyfriend got a piece of cartilage that he had to spit out. But you can't send anything back, or at least we couldn't figure out how to do it, since no one ever asked, and we would have had to complain in front of a table of ooh-ing and ahh-ing diners. So I guess some people liked the meal. But not us. This is a completely unpersonalized, impersonal experience that lacks a sense of luxury. Your glass is dry between courses if you choose the wine pairing. And the portions were so small, we felt like we needed pizza afterward. In four out of six dishes, at least one element didn't go with the rest. Potpourri-flavored little cookies with your cheese? I like letting the chefs do their magic, but there was no magic at Beast. Platters of canapés a dinner doth not make. For one of the best tasting menus we've ever had, go to DOC in the same neighborhood.

    (2)

  • Keith S.

    I am sorry to report that for me Beast was over-hyped and under-whelming. I will admit that some of my disappointment certainly came from the fact that I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a very long time. It was not helped by the fact that several people I know have eaten there and raved about it, and that Chef Naomi has achieved a level of fame as a great and innovative cook. The dining room is set up around an open kitchen and is two long tables. On the night I was there, we had plenty of room between my party and the other guests. I was excited at the chance to have a front row seat for the preparation of the meal. First off, I have to say that none of the food I ate at Beast was necessarily bad. I am being particular in this review, but I think that is warranted given the price of the dinner and the acclaim of the restaurant. Course 1 was a consomme, which did have a very good flavor and was crystal clear. Not blown away but no problems with this one, it was a simple delicious cup of soup. Course 2 was the famous charcuterie plate: Fois Gras Bon Bon - Very unique and tasty, the sauternes gelee was a nice sweet topping. Chicken Liver Mousse - This one had a deep flavor and was probably my favorite thing on this plate. Steak Tartare - Steak on toast, not impressed. Pork Liver Terrine - This one looked pretty cool, but again lacked the amount of flavor I would have expected. Rabbit Rillettes - light colored paste, wouldn't have a guess in the world what this was without the description in front of me. Home made head cheese - I like a thin slice of fat as much as the next guy, but I didn't understand this one. It looked thin piece of white fat with a couple flecks of something. I'm not a head cheese expert, but it didn't taste good so there you go. Course 3 was a lamb loin chop. I'm not going to even bother to talk about anything else on this plate since the main attraction fell flat. I think the lamb loin chop was a terrible choice for the main meat course in a menu like this. The bone to meat ratio on this cut is not very good and I would have greatly preferred a normal lamb chop here. Our chops were neither seared on the outside nor medium to medium rare on the inside (we were not asked about what temperature we would like). Course 4 was a bread salad. What?! There is no room in a 6 course menu for soup, salad, and cheese. Why is it coming after the meat course? I totally didn't understand this one. I could have made this dish in my kitchen with the lights off. At least they made the bread in house and it was fresh and delicious...nope...that didn't happen. Course 5 was a selection of cheeses from Steve at the Cheese Bar. Thanks Steve. Next time I'll go to the cheese bar and save myself $100. Course 6 was an olive oil cake with strawberry & apricot sauce. This dessert wasn't bad, and it reminded me of a dessert my dad used to make when I was young. Although that version started with little pound cakes from the supermarket so it wasn't exactly a fancy restaurant dessert. Now that we have the food out of the way, I would like to discuss the ambiance of the dinner as well as what we observed in the preparation and "cooking" of our meal. Some of these issues never would have come up if the kitchen was the traditional back of house setup. As much as we don't want to think about it, they can do whatever they want back there and most of the time we are none the wiser. In this layout, on the other hand, a conscious decision was made to have an open kitchen. That means we can see everything you are doing so maybe don't act like we can't. Let's talk about the cooking. All but one of the items were understandably heavily prepped and essentially just plated for service. I wanted to see more kitchen action, but I understand. I would have liked another hot course (goodbye bread salad). The main course, however, is a different issue. I was sure they were going to grill or pan sear the lamb in front of us and serve it hot out of the pan straight to our table. I was sorely disappointed when a hotel pan came out of the oven that had been in there since we arrived at the restaurant to reveal our (over done by this point) loin chops. Plop, plop. plop on the plates just the same as a cold appetizer or salad course. Long story short, NOTHING was live cooked on the stove for us. Am I missing something about fine dining? Furthermore, did I misunderstand the fact that this was an open kitchen? I wanted a look at the action! Finally Naomi, talk to us! Tell us about the dishes, ask us how things were. People are here in a big way because of you. Maybe pay a little more attention to your paying customers that are 10 feet away from you rather than taking iPhone pictures of your own dessert and discussing your weekend with your sous chef's boobs (I'm running out of characters to talk about appropriate work wear). Finally a shout out to the dishwasher with the shorts and thigh high bacon socks, you're awesome.

    (2)

  • Tyler A.

    It was ok, just ok. I took my bestie there who was visiting from NY. It was a Thursday night, sparsely attended, I guess this place just won't get packed based on layout. 1. tomato velouté with fried anchovy - soup was decent, anchovy was good. 2. Why do you tell me to wait to eat the foie gras mousse? Cuz it was really uninspired and mostly butter and not enough foie. 3. Buffalo loin - this was good, done right, nice and rare and served with a puree of sweet potatoes. A lot going on with mushrooms, a red wine reduction, broccolini/rabe, but balanced. 4. Frisée salad, probably the best thing they served. dressing was unctuous, but not heavy. 5. uninspired cheese plate. I'll always eat marconas though! 6. this was the worst. A frangipan based dessert - heavy as a brick after all those courses. I don't want pie, I don't want your leaded cake. I want ethereal something to have me not regret coming here. Massive stomachache ensued but it was worth the experiment. I will have my 6 coursers at home thanks. My hubby does it better.

    (3)

  • Kelsey E.

    Although the quality of ingredients was there, we were not wowed by the end product creations. The leek cream soup was delicate, but without the ability to taste the leek. The charcuterie plate was, similarly, high quality ingredients, but not special nor with flavors that pop. The lamb was very nice, tender, and flavorful. Cheese plate was not special, and the owners could stand to go to some of the local farmers markets with incredible goat, sheep, cow aged cheeses in lieu of importing cheese for the restaurant. Similarly, the wine pairings were all French, and while the red and second white were nice, some local Oregon and Washington wines would have enhanced the experience. The ambience was a little off as well. We were not welcomed very warmly by the staff, and they seemed to flirt with and coddle the older couples in attendance, not even briefing us on each plate unless we asked. We were also the last couple poured of each pairing round, often getting less as a result and the dregs of the bottle. All in all, the food was 'nice', but I would have expected more for the price and the hype. Next time my husband's birthday rolls around, we will choose another fine Portland establishment.

    (2)

  • Jennifer L.

    I came to Beast tonight on double date. My general impression is "meh". Presentation was elegant but food quality did not meet expectation. Impression was that most food were made previously and was just plated. For example: corn soup, cheese plate and charcuterie plate. Then there's the chicory salad consisting of 5 chicory pieces with dressing. The main duck confit dish was good but a tad too salty. The staff was attentive and kept water glasses full. Overall experience was okay but I expected more - especially in Portland.

    (3)

  • Hae A.

    Waited so long that I forgot the details of what I've ordered but overall it was a good experience. Was torn between 4 or 5 stars. We sat right next to the chef because the restaurant overbooked and asked me if I would like to sit next to the area where the chef is making food and I said of course. While it was a nice change from regular seating, the table was not meant to seat diners so it was a little uncomfortable but we got a great view of the chef and kitchen. The tomato bisque soup was tasty but this is a fairly simple soup and hard to mess up. The small plates with all the little appetizers including the foie gras bon bon was just okay. The foie gras bon bon was a little bit too hyped up on yelp in my opinion, but then again I don't like foie gras in the form of mousse or anything pate like. The duck was great. Tender moist and made just right. The cheese course was excellent. I loved the wildflower honey that was served and the lavender cookies. Dessert was just okay. I just remember a cookie shell that was slightly hard. Overall a great experience and I would go back if I was in the area.

    (4)

  • Kate N.

    Let me just say it was one of the experiences where it left a permanent imprint (and I mean the good kind). To be honest, I did not have much expectation for this place. I know that it's run by Naomi Pomeroy which starred in Top Chef Masters (yay, Portland) so I anticipated a lot of hype and overpriced food. We did the 2nd shift of dinner at 8:45. By the time we got there, people were waiting outside eagerly as the staff was preparing the dinner setting. Ambiance was warm and cozy. Seating was done in a communal style. There were only 22 seats surrounding 3 big tables. There were many staff members making sure that things run smoothly. We did the six course dinner with wine pairing. The menu changes every week and of course no substitution is allowed. The first course is spring carrot soup with goat butter and chervil salsa. Simple as it sounded, the taste was amazing. Soup was smooth and not too rich. The goat butter added an extinct taste and the chervil salsa complemented the richness with the crunch and citrus. Second course was a charcuterie plate that comprised of foie-gras bon-bon, chicken liver mouse, steak tartare with quail egg toast, pig head terrine lemon, and smoked salmon. My favorite here was the chicken liver mouse. Not many places can make chicken liver mouse as good as this one. Texture was as smooth as velvet and the taste was heavenly. I picked this one over the foie gras bon-bon. Although many people from my table claimed that the foie gras was the best. Personally, it tasted too much like a dessert to me (more on the sweet side). The steak tartare was my second favorite. Chopped steaks cooked to perfection resting on half of the toast while a raw quail egg laid on the other half. Such a nice combo, and it reminded me of breakfast. The third course was game hen cooked with bread salad, heirloom cucumbers and fresh green peas. This dish was good, certainly a comfort food but nothing is really special about it. I appreciated all the fresh and high quality ingredients. The fourth and fifth courses were beet salad and a cheese plate. I don't like beets in general, but they tasted good for what they were. The combo cheese plate certainly had an interesting selection. Beside the cheese, there were anish shortbread, fried marconas, poached apricot and honey. It was just a fun combo signaling to a transition toward dessert. They also served grapefruit sorbet to clean off the palate before dessert as well. At this point, I was kind of stuffed and under the influence to enjoy dessert fully. I remembered the lemon souffle was good and so was the strawberry. There was also honey creme anglaise that I didn't quite remember what it was. So that wrap up the 6 course meal. I highly suggest the wine pairing. You can totally share the wine pairing if drinking 6 glasses that night might be too much. Prepare to spend around 3 hours for dinner. It's kind of pricey, but I think it's one of those experiences that you just have to have. Go there for your special occasion. I would definitely go back here.

    (5)

  • Connie C.

    Beast beats any brunch I've had in a very long time. It's not very often that I have a meal where I find myself saying "wow" after every bite of every dish, but it happened while having brunch here. It was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had anywhere, including the Bay Area. We were lucky to get reservations for Sunday brunch. There are only two seatings on Sunday (10am & noon) and dinner happens Wed-Sat. Brunch is a $28 (yes, ONLY $28!) four course pre-fixe meal, with no substitutions. So, if you're vegan or vegetarian, this is unfortunately not the place for you. There are only two communal tables which seat about 25 people total and everyone gets served at the same time. From my seat against the wall, I had a great view of Chef Naomi and her sous chef in the open kitchen, so I was basically watching magic happen. The phenomenal meal consisted of incredibly fresh ingredients, with all the veggies just picked up from the farmer's market. 1st: Cherry Clafoutis with vanilla whipped cream & maple glazed bacon (Dessert first? Yes, please! And five more pieces of that heavenly bacon too.) 2nd: Beast Hash - Tails & Trotters pork shoulder, market potatoes, corn, zucchini & cherry tomatoes, poached egg & hollandaise (Flavors danced in my mouth. The pork shoulder was so tender, the egg perfectly poached and the hollandaise mixed with the sauce just made us crave some bread or rice to soak every last drop of it up.) 3rd: Selection of Steve's Cheese, Gathering Together summer greens with aged Sauvignon Blanc vinaigrette, and champagne infused apricot (That apricot was like candy. All the ingredients worked harmoniously together.) 4th: Chocolate Truffle Cake topped with rose geranium whipped cream and gold flakes (Rich cake, literally and figuratively. It melted in my mouth.) You can opt for the $20 wine pairing, which I'd highly recommend. The wines were perfectly paired with each dish that we had, and they were all French wines. Beast, you really spoiled me. I can only imagine what the six-course dinner is like. I'm going into withdrawals until my next trip to Portland.

    (5)

  • Alex G.

    This is a review for dinner. Waffling between 2-3 stars. Maybe Beast was good at one point, but the hype has gone to their heads. The idea is great - - I love the whole supper club/communal dining thing. We went to a place that executed on the idea a few years ago in Seattle, and it remains one of the most memorable meals of my life. Unfortunately, Beast is memorable - but not in a good way. Service - slow, unfriendly, poorly timed. Naomi was not there herself, and the people she left in charge in her place were uninspired at best. I did the wine pairing, and the tastings were very scanty. My glass was frequently empty, and I had to repeatedly ask for an explanation of the wine being poured. There was no attention paid to where people were in the meal, and I found myself having to scarf something down because a server was standing there waiting for me to finish so they could put down the next plate. You could tell the whole staff had done this a million times, and were just assembly-line style trying to get food on the table, clear the plates, and get the people out. That would all be somewhat forgivable if the food was killer, but honestly, that was lazy too. A whole course for salad - - which is fine in theory, I've had some killer 5-star salads. This was not the case. Big romaine leaves, not a lot going on, meh. And then the plate of random meats . . . presentation was ok, novelty of some of the meats was fine, but nothing that was incredible. There were actually only 2 hot courses, and actually, the hot meat (I think it was lamb? one month out and I've already forgotten, it was that unmemorable) was tough and hard to eat. In short, crappy service, meh ambiance, and I really felt like everything had been made in advance. Basically we were paying to sit at a table with strangers while servers unenthusiastically plated stuff out of the fridge. When you're paying these prices, you better get a 5 star experience. Especially since Portland has so much to offer. Spend your money somewhere else.

    (3)

  • Aaron H.

    Disappointed can sum up my experience at Beast. Always wanting to eat here I said "babe...we are going to Beast!" Coming down from Seattle with the wife on another food experience I was stoked to have the opportunity to eat at this restaurant. I had visions of food dancing in my head....on foie gras, on beef, on charcuterie, and salad of fresh greens (ok, ok, enough with the santa claus's reindeer theme). Maybe the downfall of the night was having expectations which were too high after reading all of the accolades. * Communal Table seating - No Biggie, actually can be entertaining * Open Kitchen with cleaver chalkboard for writing things on- Yep, they have those too * Impeccable service - Awesome! Explained the dishes with precision and were always there when you needed something or had a question. Made great recommendations for beverages. *Food - Ughhhhhh...................Crap, this is where it goes wrong. I will say it was slightly disappointing for Chef Naomi not to be in the kitchen (celebrity chef status and all), but I don't fault the food on the people preparing it, or maybe I do?? The menu seemed tired, uninspired and almost a retread of dinners served over the past months there. I don't think it is necessary to run through each dishes pros and cons but to summarize it the food was cooked well, but the dishes had no "WOW" factor and were completely forgettable. Unlike top restaurants in NY or even recently eating at Willows Inn in the San Juan Islands where I can remember the tastes, scents, and presentation of plates I can't recall one great moment at Beast except I liked the feel of the restaurant. With all this being said, I don't question the pedigree of Chef Naomi or her sous chef's one bit. Since a restaurant like Beast is an experience, entertainment (watching the chefs work their magic in an open kitchen), and expensive ($250-$300 after drinks and tip) I was left underwhelmed, bored, and sorely disappointed.

    (3)

  • Wolf L.

    Why did I schedule a dentist appointment on the same day as our anniversary dinner at Beast? Why? When I got into the dentist's chair at 3:00 PM, I told the hygienist about my plans for the evening. She said that she didn't have to give me any Novocaine in my lower jaw if I could handle the discomfort. Cool, it would really help if I didn't have wine dribbling down my chin during our romantic night out. "Let's do it," said I. Oh, Lord! That f**king HURT. I had a death grip on the armrests the whole time. Beast better be worth THIS, I thought. Well, it pretty much was worth it. I dropped two and a half bills on dinner at Beast. DO NOT go here expecting a meal deal. This is a fine dining experience at a "Top Chef" restaurant, so you're going to pony up some scratch. That being said, you absolutely won't be disappointed with the food here. It's freaking delicious. I let the staff know when I made the reservations that it was a special night out con mi novia. Although the seating is communal, they sat us at the end of the table with a couple of chairs between us and the other diners. They also made sure my lady got the roses I ordered for her as soon as we sat down. (The dude-parts of the other couples around us were giving me the stinkeye for showing them up. Tough luck, losers!) I loved watching the chefs plate the food right in front of us. It was like watching a show on Food Network live and in person. I loved every dish, but the best was the Carmen Ranch Strip Loin Roast. Melted--in--my--mouth. The only demerits I'm giving Beast are for the hard, hard chairs and the icy cold draft that was blowing down my back the whole time we were there. When you're dining for more than two hours--and you're as old as f**k like me--you need a bit more comfort. Otherwise, the service was great and the entire experience was fantastic. I highly recommend--although you may want to bring a sweater...and a cushion.

    (4)

  • Ashley L.

    I attended an 8:45 seating on a Thursday night. Six course prix fixe menu. The dining area is set up around an open kitchen with two long communal tables. Chalkboard walls. Ambiance? Fantastic. Intimate and cozy. Service was attentive and professional. Food? Fresh, creative ingredients. Beautiful and meticulous preparation. Certain dishes were executed well, while others were not. Sadly underwhelming and fell short of expectations. Good, but not spectacular. - White cauliflower veloute: Light and creamy, a nice starter. - Charcuterie Plate: This appears to be one of their core dishes that they do not rotate. Noteworthy: Fois gras bon bon, Steak tartare + Quail egg toast, Rabbit rillettes - Fennel brined tails and trotters pork loin, confit new potatoes: The first few bites were extremely salty. Flavor and texture were subpar. - Grilled asparagus & white bean salad: Lemon and green garlic vinaigrette: Simple and refreshing. - Selection of cheese from Steve at Cheese Bar: Standard, nothing memorable. - Butterscotch pots de creme: Fantastic, intense flavor. Worth checking out for the experience!

    (4)

  • Juan and Claudia V.

    This is a hell of a good experience and I would recommend it to anyone. Like everyone else who have posted this is not your typical restaurant. You have to make reservation and they have two or three set hours during the day to come in as a group, eat like a group and enjoy the experience and food. Bottomline its like if Naomi (TCM Alum) invites you to her home. Let me state out the pros which aside from the experience included some of the food. They started off with a chowder soup (4 of 5), then it was a weird clock kind of different variety of appetizers (3 of 5), Salad (3 of 5), Main course was duck confit? (4 of 5), Cheese appetizer with honey (2 1/2 of 5), dessert consisted of some kind of strawberry soup with ice cream (3 of 5)...the great thing and what is truly worth it is that the kitchen is infront of you so you can see Naomi and her staff working her magic...we did the wine and beer pairing...nothing spectacular... CONS---two big issues it takes a long time for the whole experience to be over with (3 hours) for 6 courses. Also unfortunately our small table was overwhelmed by a group of 5 women in the other table who were screaming at their top of their lungs and being extremely annoying. It takes a lot for me to be ticked off and I was to the point I was close to politely tell them to shut up or keep it down. Ohh and the worst beer I've ever tasted in my life... Would we be back? Don't know. Primarily and most importantly we would be if the Menu is more appetizing (apparently its a possibility since it changes weekly) and with something in our stomach as the wait is just too long...

    (3)

  • Linda H.

    Dinner at Beast is an experience everyone should have. It's been almost 2 years since my visit but it still stands out as one of my favorite meals. The charcuterie plate was delicious and seems to stay on the menu from week to week, which is good. The foie gras bon bon was really delicious and I wish they gave me a whole plate of just those instead. :) The cheese plate that day came with marcona almonds and table grapes with drizzlings of local wildflower honey, which I really appreciated as it was simple yet tasty. Another stand out was a lobster bisque with truffle oil. You can bet I tilted and scraped the bowl with my spoon to get the last drop. The tables are communal, but I didn't mind as each group received the same course at the same time, making the experience less awkward since people won't be staring at others' food. I've wanted to come back since but each time I check the menu, there were some repeats from my visit so I opted to wait for a different menu where I would get more new dishes to try.

    (5)

  • T. S.

    Okay...I'm starting to think I'm a food snob. I see all these 5 stars and wonder, "hmmm...is it me?" I enjoyed my meal. I loved the fact that I was able to taste many flavors with each bite. Yes, it's great...but I can make this by going to any gourmet delicatessen and picking up fois gras, quail egg, crackers, liver paste & mousse, prosciutto, creme faise, honey, cheese, etc. cut it up in small portions and serve them on a plate. I've actually done that a lot when entertaining guests at my home. It's a great starter food because there is no cooking involved (no need to time things out for guests arrival). The main course was ribeye with a flavorful demi-glace sauce which I enjoyed but again...I felt we can go to any steak restaurant and have that...or I can just make that too. It was very uninspiring, I guess. I think I just expected more from a very well renowned place. I believe being a chef is a work of art. Artists pull together tubes of paint color to make a wonderful master piece. Here at Beast, the chef doesn't mix the colors but rather uses one color and blots it on a plate, and then picks up another color and blots it on a plate. No need for creativity here. Anyone can run this restaurant.

    (3)

  • Cecilia L.

    I'm sorry to say that the Beast defeated me. I'm pretty shocked to see others here complaining about the portion sizes. This place does some cool stuff, but there was so much richness and such massive amounts of it that my stomach rebelled and didn't even let me finish the meal. The cozy space has two long, communal tables. The larger one filled up quickly and looked like a pretty convivial group, but we were seated with just one other couple that didn't seem like they wanted to chat, so that was kind of awkward. More annoying was that both our seats had our back to the chef's table, so we couldn't watch what was being plated. The creamy tomato veloute topped with a crispy fried white anchovy was the perfect starter. Then came the charcuterie - pork rillette, chicken liver mousse, steak tartare with quail egg, and fois gras bon bon. All went swimmingly until the bon bon, a dome of fois gras perched on a piece of shortbread. I was already sated with the richness of the other meats, and it didn't make sense to eat the bon bon in more than one bite. This medallion of fois was so huge and rich I was gagging to get it down, and the sweetness of the shortbread added a strange note. Next, the tender, flavorful bison loin with butternut squash, creamed mustard greens, caramelized shallots, and pickled mushrooms. This was one of the best dishes I'd had in a while, but each of its components were so rich the brightness of the mushrooms was barely enough to cut it. The portion was also really big, but I finished it, and my brain pretty much thought that was the grand finale. I didn't eat much after that. Next came a salad, and instead of the bright, refreshing salad called for after that bison, this was a heavy salad with curried vinaigrette and rich pecans. Next, a cheese plate with honey, apricots, marcona almonds. The cheeses weren't memorable - all I can recall is the brillat savarin, which I didn't eat a bit of because triple cream was just not what the moment was calling for. The boy liked the coconut cream cake with caramel and blood orange ice cream, but I thought it too sweet and didn't eat this either. This is a lovely place with a lot of talent, but I found Beast over the top, focused on showing off what it can do rather than crafting an experience with the right balance, one that leaves the diner anticipating the next delight.

    (3)

  • Merilou T.

    Love, love, loved this place. I love how intimate the dining experience is here. Very limited seating and must have a reservation and be on time. Just to so you are aware you will have to share a table with other guests. I don't mind sharing a large table with other patrons, its fun. I really enjoyed being able to watch Chef Pomeroy prepare and cook each dish for us just a table away. The food was amazing. 6 course meal, wine and coffee. You must be open to try a wide variety of foods since you do not get to order from a menu. I loved everything that was served . The servers are great and explain each dish as its served. My only complaint about this restaurant were the uncomfortable chairs, but other than that this was by far the best dining experience i have had. I hope to be able to dine here again. It was well worth the money spent.

    (4)

  • Avonlea W.

    An immense disappointment! Check out some of the Beast's photos on this very site and see for yourself how lamely assembled and faux-elegant these plates are. There is better plating at the Cheesecake Factory for christsake. The Beast's motto "if it has four legs and it's not a table, eat it" seems quite accurate a flavor guide--a bland potpourri at best. Definitely not a recommendation.

    (1)

  • Enoch H.

    For the couple days I was in Portland, there was only time for a few meals, so I made sure to make them all count. I was impressed by the cooking of chef Naomi Pomeroy after watching Top Chef Masters. I was even more excited to have the opportunity to visit Portland and dine at her restaurant. Brunches at Beast seem almost like exclusive events, having only 2 seatings each Sunday at 10am and 12pm. Doors open exactly at the time of seating, as patrons are allowed to enter and sit at long community-style tables. Reservations are a must. The cozy restaurant is small and quaint, with an open kitchen on one side and the plating table right in the middle. It's nice to see the chefs working to prepare all the ingredients and plate all the dishes just a few feet away. Seeing everything come together from scratch gives the diners a feeling of comfort that the food is fresh and cooked with care. We started brunch off with a light bing cherry clafoutis topped with a smokey and crispy thin slice of maple-glazed bacon and some powdered sugar. The pastry was soft, creamy, and had an almost flan-like texture. Fresh pitted cherries added a rich dark fruit flavor and some sweetness. The dish was paired with nice crisp white from Germany. Our second course was exactly what I pictured in my mind as the ideal brunch entree. A lovely fresh poached egg sat on top of some potatoes, romanesco, maitake mushrooms, and summer squash, all with some hollandaise sauce poured over them. To make things better, delicious tender duck confit gave the dish its savory element. Some mustard greens, a drizzle of chive oil, and a slice of crispy bread on the side finished off this picture perfect and tremendously tasty "Beast Hash" dish. A low acidic Beaujolais from France paired nicely with the dish as well. Following the main entree, we had a small plate of cheeses with some fresh farm greens. The cheese were a French sheep cheese, an Italian goat cheese, and a cow's milk cheese from Washinton state. This dish was paired with a chilled smooth white wine from France that had a hint of sweetness to it. To finish off our meal, we had a chocolate truffle cake. The creamy cake tasted rich and had a very smooth texture, topped with a peach leaf and white chocolate mousse that was not too sweet, so it balanced well with the chocolate cake. A strawberry rose from France was paired with this dessert. Of all the food I ate in Portland that weekend, the brunch at Beast was my favorite. The food was not only fresh and delicious, but all the wine pairings complimented the food well, and I could really see the thought that went into each dish. Portland should consider itself lucky to have Chef Pomeroy at the helm of such a wonderful restaurant. I cannot wait to go back and treat myself to dinner. Thank you Beast! knockrz.wordpress.com

    (4)

  • Haley B.

    Let me start by saying that I have done far more fine dining than anyone needs in a lifetime. My business has taken me to the likes of Charlie Trotters, Nobu, Micheys. We have lived in Seattle, Chicago, and Los Angeles. My meal at Beast was THE BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD, EVER!!! About half of the menu sounded like things that I wouldn't normally eat, but I could hardly stop making happy noises with every bite!!! At $68 per person, it is actually a bargain for the quantity and quality of food, not to mention the experience.

    (5)

  • Sonia C.

    Our 3 hour meal at Beast was the best meal that I've eaten in a long time. I was a bit worried that the meal would include lamb, veal, or foie gras (the only 3 things I won't eat) since they serve everyone the same prix fixe menu with no substitutions. It was a huge relief when the menu only included one small foie gras "bonbon" as part of the charcuterie plate. It was pretty obvious that Beast took great care to select on the freshest ingredients and the best cuts of meat. Everything was assembled in the open kitchen right in front of us and everyone was served simultaneously. The highlights of the multi-course meal were the tomato soup & the guinea hen. Tomato soup may sound kind of boring but Beast's interpretation was spicy, tangy, and creamy. The guinea hen on a bed of morel mushrooms was tender, savory, and richly flavored. All the diners are seated at communal tables. I met some very interesting people and had a great time. I would definitely recommend Beast for any visitors to Portland!

    (5)

  • Jamie W.

    Incredible meal... Incredible experience!

    (5)

  • Karla B.

    The food is to die for. EXCELLENT. No complaints about anything. I would eat here every weekend if I could afford it.

    (5)

  • Sarah G.

    Beast will always serve my number one favorite meal in Portland. I love the menu, the atmosphere, the way I feel when I am in that space. Had the best dinner of my life here, and brunch is a great way to go if I'm running low on cash. My go-to place for special occasion dinners.

    (5)

  • Taylor W.

    This place is incredible! All 6 courses were creative and delicious. Not something you would get just at any old restaurant. I love how quaint and cozy the seating was, a truly unique dining experience. I split the wine airing with my Mom and that was absolutely worth the extra 32 bucks. Great for a special occasions celebrating with a we a people. Also good if you just love to meet new people while you dine.

    (5)

  • Sophia C.

    "If it has four legs and is not a table, then eat it." Oh, eat it, I did! Located in the Alberta Arts District in Portland, Beast lives up to its hype as one of the best restaurants in town, serving a memorable 3-hour French/American (new) meal. The prix fix menu centers around meats and has 6 courses of impressive, delectable eats. Each course came out like little, artistic gifts wtih complex layers of flavor and texture. This is surely one of the best places that I've eaten in Portland and an excellent dining experience. It's well worth the $60! I didn't have the wine pairing ($30 extra), but the little sips that I had of my boyfriend's wine were excellent. While I liked dining in the dim lighting and candle-light (not the most ideal for taking pictures, but it's quite flattering on my facial features), I didn't like the communal dining. It's supposed to emulate an intimate dinner party that you'd have at your home, but I just want to spend my time with my friends and not really eat with strangers the way I would at a normal restaurant. Hey, I'm a born and bred New Englander. It's going to take awhile for me to change this in me. Overall, dining at Beast was a memorable experience and something that I would do again.

    (5)

  • Justin N.

    We have heard people rave about this place for quite some time now. It turns out it has its ups and downs (like every place?) and is not the "greatest place in the universe" as so many people proclaim. Of course I imagine that on a week to week basis or even on a seating to seating basis things may change. So your mileage may vary. We had second seating (8:45pm) and were the first to leave at 11:30pm. Nice, leisurely meal. I like this arrangement but it must be hell on the bottom line/business model for a restaurant. Service was very good, just nice, well informed/spoken servers who were glad to answer questions and were not overbearing in the least bit. Kind of refreshing not to be upsold all night long or feel forced into small talk with a server. Of our 7 (?) courses (or was it 6?) they were all very unique and absolutely delicious EXCEPT for two of them... the salad was the most incredibly un-noteworthy I have ever had, I typically have the same or better at home every night. This could be a function of season? It was completely over dressing-ed (if that is even a word) and was so uterly lacking in anything to spruce it up - I mean, really, two pieces of goat cheese to try to set it off? And then the ultimate disappointment was the dessert, bland as all get out... which is too bad because that is always the dish that really makes the evening despite all the deliciousness of the previous courses. Like I said, all the other courses from the cheeses to the pate and everything in between was fantastic. The only other major issue besides going 5/7 on the courses was they appear to have machinery like I dishwasher/sanitizer running very frequently. Maybe you only notice it when you are sitting near it, but I found it incredibly annoying to have to raise my voice every 10-15 minutes for a long period to overcome it. I would really recommend sitting away from it if you have a choice (which i don't think you do) or they should relocate it in back or outside or something. It distracted the party of 4 I was in the entire 3 hours. If you are going to go so high end on the food and price then have a place that is quiet. I eat at communal dining quite often so it certainly isn't an issue for me or anyone in our party. However, if you are uncomfortable with it then don't go. however, I noticed two people sitting at the butcher block bar/kitchen counter and the place was not full at our seating so if you don't want to rub elbows then that may be an option for you, however, you should call to inquire because I don't know the rules about it. Of course since it is closer to the equipment it is probably noisier. Summary: in reality this place is probably a 4* however, after hearing so many people talk about how it is a 5* I really need to balance it out. I recently ate at Robuchon (in Vegas even, not Tokyo, HK, or Paris) and that is 5* so I think people should really adjust their perceptions or not listen to the media/TV.

    (3)

  • J G.

    Reasonably good food. But I don't understand the hype and all the people who claim this is the best place in Portland. It definitely is not the best place in Portland, not even close. Reservation gets you communal seating, but capitalist prices. We had the prixe fixe menu with wine pairing. The curried carrot soup was good. Next, came the charcuterie plate, and then the striploin, also good. The next course of Kale Raab was mediocre. The selection of cheeses left something to be desired. The desserts were good. A major complaint: The wine pairing was awful. In the six wine servings, only one was red, and the sole red was a Beaujolais! The beaujolais was a poor companion to the striploin. Apart from a Gewuztraminer, the other five whites were frankly forgettable. Disappointing.

    (3)

  • Andrew R.

    In honor of my soon to be second trip to Beast (seeing as I only get to go when someone else foots the bill), I think I should leave the review I didn't leave before... because I wasn't on Yelp. Now, you might say - how long ago was it? You can't possibly remember your experience well enough to leave a relevant review. And to that I say phooie and pashah - I'm fat enough that I never forget a good meal, and this is up there as one of the best. It is a better experience, and more memorable, experience than that time I saw Radiohead in Berkeley - and I will never forget the guy screaming, "Creep! Play Creep!" for 3 hours. Maybe that's part of the problem... Either way - Beast is delicious. It's a foodie paradise that lasts for hours around a big, public, dimly lit wood table where all you do is savor and talk about savoring the delicious courses. I'd say the wine pairings are essential as they obviously are an enjoyment multiplier. You don't need to have the wine to enjoy it, of course, but if you want to experience God you should probably dance the jig the way it was meant to be danced. And you can dance. You can dance all night long.

    (5)

  • Kathleen K.

    There are chalk scrawlings on the wall and one of them reads, "Unleash the Beast". Love It!! :) What can I say about this place that hasn't already been said?? I won't even try to write something witty or pretentious. lol. Instead, let me just say that we came for brunch and the food was superb, the service was not annoying in any way whatsoever and the space/ambiance had a very casual relaxed vibe. This is a must-do-again, when visiting Portland. I hope to catch a dinner here next visit. At the very least, there will be another brunch here. :) GO!! "Unleash the Beast"!!!

    (5)

  • Jen T.

    Dude, I am poor. I work in social services. I barely make over minimum wage. It's a bummer. $200 dinner? Nah, no way, can't do it. That could feed a family of 6 for a week. But man, I am a sucker who loves, loves, LOVES good food. Thankfully, BEAST assuages my classist guilt by offering a much more affordable, still pretty fancy $28 brunch. Braised beef short rib hash topped with truffles. Brown sugar glazed bacon. Souffle. Gold leaf. Creme fraiche. You're still going to get it all. Pure delicious decadance. Really, a steal at $28. Celebrate an anniversary. Take your mom here. Trust me, she'll like it. You aren't going to blow that much cash on a brunch very often, but at BEAST, it's totally worth it.

    (5)

  • Anna H.

    By far, hands down the best food I've had in Portland. I've eaten here at least six times, which is saying a lot considering how spendy it is! Every time I go, I am wowed with how simple and delicious everything is. I love the family style dining. If you have social anxiety, you might want to get a glass of wine or something! The very best thing you'll eat when you go there is the foie gras bon bon. It's a miracle. Trust me.

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    For the TL;DR crowd - (Too Long Didn't Read) Bueno: Amazing food, great service, community seating (something I heart) and an amazing feel of something special. No Bueno: The ass numbing chairs. Mierda: There isn't a Las Vegas location. Summary- Go here and enjoy. Living in Vegas I get to experience the best food in the world. Generally things that have been touched by Robuchon, Thomas Keller, Hubert Keller, Ogden, Puck, Flay, Conant, Coliccio et all. My issue with just about all of those places is that forgive me for stating the obvious, but they are very commercial and very sterile. I personally believe that the crew at Beast is doing something truly special here. It's intimate, well orchestrated, but never did I get the impression that I was being rushed or that I was part of some machine trying expand a mega-global empire. The food overall was excellent and since the menu changes constantly it's nearly pointless for me to recommend something. And oh yeah the fact that its a fixed menu precludes that anyway. Mushroom soup- small bits of hazelnuts were in the soup and provided a great textural contrast to the creaminess of the veloute. From what I can see in previous reviews the charcuterie plate is standard fare, but the foie gras bon-bon is a technical masterpiece. It is single handedly one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life. (Insert off color joke here. HEYO!) This particular night we were served a perfectly roasted duck breast. I personally could have tolerated a bit more salt but that is not to say the dish wasn't perfectly seasoned, it's just that I really enjoy my red meats salted a bit more than the next guy. I'll take the hit for being the weird guy as opposed to the Beast crew having done something wrong. The demi glace? Pfffft- I wanted to shower in it. It was other worldly. I'll spare you the blow by blow of the rest of the dishes but please don't take it as a slight, rather I'd rather not get into a 4 page review. Some people have complained about being seated with COMPLETE STRANGERS at a table. Ughh....... Effing sheltered people, dining is a communal event by nature. Complaining about it is just letting stupid ooze out of your mouth. Some people complain about the staff needing to smile more or whatever. I thought the staff was amazing on this night, focused on what they were doing and very attentive to needs of the customer. Say whatever you want, but what I got out of this evening was a passionate cooking staff turning out fresh, quality food on par with anything I have ever experienced in an atmosphere that is intimate and unique. It really is that special of a place. Do not lose yourself in Yelp. Do not criticize because you are looking for flaws. Sit back and enjoy the entire experience that is the result of passion,skill and vision intersecting.

    (5)

  • Dean R.

    I think everyone else has the food bit covered (and on food alone, Beast deserves 5 stars). 2 big problems -- $30 corkage is a little much -- particularly when your party of 8 has about 12 bottles in tow. Also, remember when Clark Lewis opened up? The only thing people really complained about was the really, really uncomfortable chairs. C.L. got the message and got new chairs. Those exact same chairs went to Beast. I don't know why. They sucked then and they suck now. Why would you allow something that annoying (and that simple to fix) to happen? Next time I suppose I'll be bringing less wine and my own chair.

    (4)

  • Steph J.

    I came here after much research on where to eat for Sunday Brunch and thank you, Yelp Users, you did not let me down! It was truly a wonderful culinary experience. We sat down for the four course, prix-fixe menu for $28 and was served magic. The first course was the Blueberry Clafoutis with vanilla whipped cream and maple glazed bacon. Maple on bacon? Not something I would've thought of but it was DELICIOUS! Second course was the Beast Hash, made with milk braised tails and trotters pork and guinea hen, mixed together with market potatoes, corn, zucchini, sweet onions and tomato, topped with a poached egg and hollandaise sauce. Magnifique! The third course was a selection of cheese with summer greens. They told me what type of cheese I was having but I forgot to write it down. They were all yummy, though! The final course was the chocolate truffle cake with whipped cream and gold flake. The chocolate was nice and light and oh-so-delicious! The restaurant is not large but it's very cozy with a large table that you share. The morning we went, there were only 4 parties so we had space between us and the others but I can see how it could be fun to chit chat with your neighbors. There are chalk-writing on the walls that make for such cute decorations and it was fun to be able to watch them make the food in their open kitchen. It was very much like going to a friend's house and being served while relaxing at the table. We also had orange juice and my friend had 2 servings of french-pressed coffee and the bill came to $68. A definite must go and I'm looking forward to returning on my next trip to Portland!

    (5)

  • Lola C.

    Went for the 3rd time recently. It will be the last. Food has gone downhill consistently since my first visit, and now there is the added annoying tourist spectator piece. Also: I know that it is 2 seatings a night, but is there anything more awkward and unpleasant than hovering in the foyer staring at the lingering diners as you wait to be seated. It just feels so tacky.

    (2)

  • Susan O.

    I had heard of BEAST and while it sounded wonderful I never thought I would eat there. I am not a meat eater. My husband and I attended a charity event there last night and I must say the whole experience was stellar. The atmosphere is charming, the servers were great and the food was phenomenal! I did not eat the meat courses but what I did have was excellent and absolutely everyone raved about their meals as well. We will most definitely return (we may go for the vegetarian night next). This restaurant is a must!!

    (5)

  • Apolinaras S.

    Some folks here left very long reviews. I am not a food critic or food blogger, so let me keep it simple: When I lived in 2nd best city in US for food - Chicago (NY being #1), you would have had to fork over about $400 plus wine per person to get the same experience. For 1/4th that you can have same (if not higher) level of food, except you don't have to deal with pretentious film/acting school dropout waiters. Yes, you sit at one big table, yes, there are no substitutions, yes, you don't have a choice. And you know what - I LOVED IT! Chef is that good that basically every course (but desert) was absolute foodgasm! Beast - a brothel for your mouth :-) So go ahead and sin a little.

    (5)

  • Albert H.

    We scored reservations for the 6pm seating the one Friday night we would spend in Portland this trip, flying up from the San Francisco Bay Area. We were curious about this restaurant with communal tables, an inflexible market-driven set menu, a name implying some interesting meats and two seatings a night. We arrived just a little early for the 6pm seating to find about half the dinner crowd already seated. As we found later, arriving early for the later seating is a mistake ( they play it really close with turning the tables ), but arriving early for the early seating seems to be just fine, and may give you a better choice of seats. We were in fact offered a choice of sitting inside at the shared communal tables or at a small table out on the sidewalk. It's not that we're adverse to shared tables - we do that all the time - but the wonderful summer weather drew us outdoors. They have a reasonable wine list, and a selection of beers that includes quite a few Belgians. The wine pairing is an excellent deal in comparison to a bottle from the list, and my companion chose the pairing while I had a nice saison. Though we were seated outdoors, out of sight and presumably out of mind, service was friendly and relatively attentive. The first course, a soup, was strongly flavored and well-balanced, though my companion complained of the saltiness. The charcuterie plate which followed was probably the hilight of the meal for us, bearing many small tastes of cured and processed meats and accompaniments including a heavenly foie gras bon-bon topped with a little cube of sauternes gelee. Our main dish of duck was well prepared but unmemorable, as was the following arugula salad course with cherries and blue cheese. The plated cheese course was excellent, though quite small. A dessert of dark pecan caramel cakes topped with peach ice cream and coulis was a fine finish, until it developed that my companion's portion was burnt. All in all, it was a very pleasant evening. Beast appears to be trying to do a lot with a small staff, a small space and a small kitchen. They are, for the most part, succeeding. We were served some very good things, especially the wonderful charcuterie plate. It seems to me, though, that mistakes such as my companion's burnt dessert are much more likely to happen when you are cooking and plating the same course for a whole restaurant at the same time. Quality can very easily suffer. Beast is asking a lot of their customers. Communal tables, more than usually inflexible menus and two set seatings are all concessions from the customer to the restaurant, and they can be made worth it. Or not. I am not quite seeing the value to the customer being delivered either through the quality of the food, the uniqueness of the experience, or the price of the menu.

    (3)

  • Christina N.

    Vacations are always so hard because they are never as long as you'd like them to be, and your stomach can handle only so much food, even though there are a gajillion restaurants to try!! Luckily for me, I was able to find Beast here on Yelp and my heart's yearning for a great place to eat was satisfied in the best way possible! The menu was a beautiful showcase of fall flavors and also highlighted some of the great local produce from the area. Each dish was carefully arranged and boasted the "too good to eat" kinda look. Some favorites of the nite were the sour cherry pork pate, the poached quince and chevre in the salad course, the tomato soup served with ceviche and caviar, and of course the pumpkin creme brulee with praline whipped cream. The overall experience of Beast is something that I've never had at any other restaurant. The seating was done family style, although we each got our own plates. It was perfect and made me feel like I was sitting down with my own family. Anyone was welcome to the table, whether you were a local or a curious, casually dressed tourist such as myself. The idea of community space encouraged myself and the other diners to chat about the menu, or food in general, or really, any other topic that came to mind. It was a great time for sure! The sisters of Beast sure have a great thing going and I hope I get back to Oregon someday to stop by!

    (5)

  • Alan G.

    This is a phenomenal dining experience. There are two settings for dinner and we went to the six o'clock. Six courses and of course you can have a wine pairing as well. The food was incredibly delicious, but what really impressed me was the preparation and the plating. Gorgeous. What I also noticed was the skill of the kitchens knife skills. The duck breast was scored perfectly in 1/8" squares so as to make the skin crispy and unctuous. Chef Naomi is to be commended on her wonderful staff and her food. WOW! It's not cheap, but it is worth every cent.

    (5)

  • Chad T.

    This could easily be the best place in Portland for locally-sourced fine dining. Many things are prepared in a quasi-french quasi-new american style. The charcuterie plate was truly fantastic, featuring items like a curry pork shoulder, blood sausage, and even a foie gras bon bon topped with sauternes gelee. Also, you'll no doubt be seated at a table with other foodies so don't hesitate to strike up some conversations and get some new restaurant recommendations!

    (5)

  • Lindsey L.

    The menu at BEAST was extremely out of my comfort zone, but I must say I enjoyed almost everything! My favorite was the butternut squash soup. Divine. Lamb Shank. Fabulous from a girl who swore she didn't like lamb. I think it'd be more fun to go with a bit of a group. It would definitely be an interesting date night, but gambling on the strangers you are sharing a table with is tough. I went with a group of 3, our table was a bit quiet and awkward. I can imagine feeling more comfortable to talk, laugh and enjoy the meal if I was with a group that took up a substantial portion of the table.

    (4)

  • Dexter D.

    Service 5 stars Food 5 stars Here's the deal for us. Not everything was a home run. A couple of elements could be improved upon. On the other hand, a few items were grand slams! On balance, we would definitely come here again and recommend it to our friends. Going backwards: Pear Strudel with Preserved Ginger Ice Cream - 4 - crust was a bit dense for us; maybe more ice cream would have helped Cheese Plate - 4 - we're not huge cheese fans so it may not have been the quality but our own palates. The honey that was served with one of the cheeses was fantastic though. House-cured Salmon with Salad - 3 - The pieces of fish were not particularly special and were quite small. The salad otherwise was okay. Fennel Brined Pork with Butter Braised Cabbage - 4 - The pork was tender and quite flavorful. Charceuterie Plate - 6 - Yes, we're rating on a 5-scale but the Foie Gras Bon Bon, Steak Tartare and Quail Egg Toast and Duck Proscuitto was simply over the top. French Onion Soup - 6 - The BEST French Onion Soup EVER!!!

    (5)

  • dylan h.

    BELIEVE THE HYPE! The BEST dining experience I've had in Portland. Top to bottom the menu was well thought out with great wine pairings. Every piece of food on every plate was there for a reason all full of profound flavor. Hate to be the guy to point the foie gras part of the meal out but the bonbon atop peanut shortbread was one of the single best things I've ever eaten. I wanted it to last forever in my mouth. Garlic soup with mushroom was amazing! Roasted pork belly blew me away. Naomi and crew rocked it!

    (5)

  • Paul S.

    ~~Substitutions Politely Declined~~ That's how I feel about Beast. When I'm in Portland again this is where you'll find me. No other restaurant in my many years of dining brought me to the level that Beast did. With Six individual courses paired with six glasses of wine, it can only be described as epic! The way the menu was put together I didn't feel overly stuffed at the end.... I just had an incredibly satisfied smile on my face. It's rare nowadays that I'll treat myself to a meal at this level. While on vacation though it's no holds barred. The restaurant is small and adorable... she sits nestled between two buildings waiting patiently for the two seatings a night. There are two communal tables, and an open kitchen where you can see every ingredient carefully being placed on each plate. The walls, almost like one big chalkboard, are adorned with scribbled quotations and drawings. My favorite quote I read... "Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat" We sat at the smaller of the two communal tables that sat eight, the other holding 18. We met a great couple from the city and talked food the entire night. You could feel the anticipation of what was to come from everyone in the restaurant. Highlights of the evening: (because I'm not about to break down a six course meal) Foie-Gras Bon-Bon was impressive... earthy and smooth, but still packed an explosion of flavor in your mouth Steak Tartare & Quail Egg Toast: Some of the better Tartare I've had... when you get the raw quail egg though, and the way it bursts and percolates on your tongue wrapping itself around the tartare.... wow, it was heavenly! Chicken Liver Mousse: "Mom... I ate chicken liver, and I'm in love. Be proud of me - Love, Your son" The Duck from Sonoma Farms was the best duck breast I've ever had. Seared but still cooked perfectly, served with Sauteed local Zucchini tossed in Basil and Pine nuts.... Words can't describe... so they won't try. The meal culminated with a Coffee Creme Brulee served with the most marvelous hand full of Cherries I've ever had. Fresh food like this should be outlawed if not available to everyone! I'm not used to these kinds of ingredients and the availability locally so each bite brought me closer to never wanting to leave the city. The Chef as a parting gift provided Honey Maple Bacon dipped in Chocolate... since Bacon makes everything better it was a wonderful way to end the evening. All in All I'd have to say it was one of the best meals I've ever had. Somethings brewing in Portland and if you haven't been you're missing out. Set a date, make a reservation, and arrive with a passion for great food, an appetite for destruction, and an open mind... Beast will take care of the rest. Substitutions Politely declined...

    (5)

  • Camille P.

    What a place! The food here was soooo awesome. It's no wonder that Chef Naomi Pomery made it as far as she did on Top Chef Masters. Was anyone else watching that show? And honestly, from a restaurant/cook's perspective, this is the way to do it! They only have 2 seatings a night, it's a fixed menu and everyone is served at the same time. It's like being at a dinner party at someone's house. Talk about an easy night on the line! Everyone was so relaxed and happy...just havin' a good ol' time singing along to the music, makin' some food. No pressure to get the orders out, nothing to confuse or screw up. It was awesome! I want a restaurant like that! Each course was set up on the huge island that took up half of the 'dining' room (which also contained the kitchen, dish pit and most everything else). Like this: The rest of the space was very cool and casual, too. A couple of the walls are full chalkboard on which they have written a bunch of meat-loving sayings. Things like, "If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of MEAT?" Haha! Hilarious! But when the food started to arrive, it was clear that these women were NOT messing around. It was all thoughtful and complex yet balanced. Our first course was "Black Cod & English Pea Chowder with Fresh Dug Fingerling Potatoes and Cherry Smoked Bacon." Not that you can tell from the picture, but it was so many things: creamy, smokey, fresh & deep. Every once in a while you'd get a pop from some fresh herb or earthy oil. I wish I could clearly communicate how truly delicious this seemingly simple chowder really was. I guess you're just going to have to trust me on this one. The charcuterie plate, too, was simple yet intricate. I mean, you may look at this an see a bunch of tiny little bites but upon closer inspection, you'll notice that each little bite has some serious components. Like the "Foie Gras Bon-Bon," for example (which you can see at 12 o'clock). Not only did they make that delicious, silky-smooth, rich, fatty mousse but they also made the shortbread that it sits on and the sweet sauternes gelee that pops with a sprinkle of sea salt. Talk about decadence! I wanted to fall on the floor, it was so good. Or get up and dance... one of the two. There was also a chicken liver mousse TDF (To Die For, really) with a pickled shallot and lard cracker, the brilliantly colored, house-cured Sockeye Salmon, spicy artisanal salumi and lightly tangy steak tartar with quail egg. To counter the fatty richness of the plate was the classic mustard and cornichon along with the not-so-classic (in fact, unheard of) pickled green strawberry and red chard stem. Interesting, huh? Are you, like me, wondering just who in the hell thinks of these things? Someone much more creative than I. And in the center, to clear your palate between each complex, flavorful bite was a fresh, lightly lemony salad of shaved fennel bulb, herbs and micro greens with dainty, orange edible flowers for color. It's so gorgeous that I made it my desktop wallpaper . The duck was fab, too, with its crispy skin and moist, pull-apart meat. My fave, however was the asparagus, herb & cherry tomato salsa. It was such a nice accompaniment to the rich duck&veal demi. I also loved the slow cooked zucchini with green garlic that was soft and melty but not mushy and just salty enough. Mmmmm.... Even the simplest of green salads was spot on. The "gathering together of early summer greens" was fresh and perfect, heightened by the light citrus vinaigrette and deepened by the finely shaved parmesan. A cheese course followed with something creamy, something nutty and a blue. The honey and poached apricot were definitely yummy but even better was the cardamom shortbread and the most glorious Marcona almonds I've ever tasted in my life. Why were those things so good? Oh yeah, they were fried and salted. Good thing I don't have those in my pantry.... I don't think I could control myself! Last, but certainly not least, came another summer specialty: strawberry mousse. The fruit's full flavor came at you singing in this creamy, soft pillow of summer love. There to accompany it were its brighter, bolder friends... the macerated strawberries and a few tangy, unadulterated golden raspberries, just to give the palate something else to consider. The loose Champagne gelee was no stretch in regards to flavor combos and I'm not totaly sure that I loved its texture. But the buttery, caramel-y, black pepper tuille, on the other hand, lent some contrasting crunch and depth. I hear that opposites attract. I'll go with that... especially on this plate. *Full review with pics on the blog.

    (5)

  • Nathan V.

    Like Canadian Geese return to roam the parking lots of Clackamas, I returned to Beast. For dinner this time. Let's say it was so good that I didn't even mind the over-the-limit fee. That's saying something! But there were a few (literally two) things that made me reconsider my four-star review for my previous trip to brunch. Let me start by saying that Beast isn't about playing it safe (and perhaps more so at dinner). Maybe I'm getting old? Maybe that's why they are getting such great press and the like. For this past experience, 90% of the food was great. Amazing. Different. Rad. But then... there were a couple exceptions. Big ones, I hate to say. For example, on the 3rd or 4th course, whilst eating clock wise around of plate of delectable little meaty treasures, I find myself gazing at something, well, different. The server explains it's a peanut butter-truffle-pate-with-jellied....blah blah... I hesitate. I look around at everyone else in fear of being uncivilized. I bite. It was awful! It was like peanut butter liver with plenty of salt. The following courses were amazing and my taste buds soothed me upon each bite of something new. I put my guard down. Then it struck - chocolate-dipped-bacon. You know, I'm all about trying new things. But this was two great tastes that should never be together. Salty greasy sweet chewy wrongness. But I digress, as my dining mate along with a few other people at our communal table seemed to love it. Anyway, net-net, go to Beast*. Just use your nose and judgment when deciding to eat what they put in front of you. Don't feel like you have to try everything - you wont leave unsatisfied even if you skip a few things. *Unless you are vegetarian or vegan. Of course.

    (3)

  • Pants P.

    Got to rock the Beastie with my Mom and we had an epic time. I won't go into details, as the menu changes weekly, except to say that the charcuterie plate seems to be a constant, and yes, the steak tartare and quail egg on toast and chicken liver pate on lard leaf cracker are as good as all these other Yalpers say. And the pork belly with a sour plum confiture rocked my socks off! Came at a Saturday at 6 p.m. serving - I didn't want to be stuffed at 11:30. Nice talk with couple from outta town. Do the wine pairing. I'm no expert, so it's fun to taste great wines play so well with bomb food. I also dug the soundtrack almost as much as the dinner - the Kinks, Cure and Beatles. It's fun to see Naomi Pomeroy at work, although it seems like she'd prefer if you *didn't* stare at her in the open kitchen doing her thing. The mumz tried to say thank you and good bye. She got what was at best a lackluster nod and no where near a smile. It's a total treat. Sure, I walked out $120 technically poorer. But baby, I feel like a rich gal for that meal!

    (5)

  • Jaimee D.

    I had been wanting to go to Beast for years now and was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. I wasn't disappointed. I agree the waiting around for the previous diners to finish up is awkward. We went outside so as not to hover, but it was really chilly. Then the previous group had a large party that left the restaurant, but then stood around chatting for a while right in front of the door. I wanted to say, "You know we're all waiting for you to get out of the way, right?" But they moved on and I decided I was not waiting outside any longer, so I did my best to stay out of the way in the tiny space by the door while they cleaned and reset the tables. They have communal-style seating and we enjoyed talking to the couple across from us. Possibly my favorite course was the first - which I wouldn't have guessed going into it - the watercress and sorrel soup with duck fat croutons. YUM. Duck fat must be a wonderful addition to a lot of things. The charcuterie plate was a lot of fun. I can't say I've ever had a foie gras bon bon before! And it was delicious. I also loved the steak tartare. I regret not taking a picture of this plate, but my husband always rolls his eyes when I do this. The third course was a ribeye, cooked perfectly over double whipped potatoes with chive sauce bordelaise. Again, I was surprised that my favorite thing on the plate were the crispy brussels sprouts. So simple, but so good! The radicchio and pear salad worried me because I find radicchio to be very bitter. But the pear, fried prosciutto and browned butter vinaigrette balanced the radicchio. I could have drank that vinaigrette. YUM! Loved the cheese course with honey as always, but the toasted marcona almonds were amazing! My husband is allergic to almonds so I got his too - bonus! The final course of chocolate torte was very rich and delicious - the stand out for me was the salted caramel ice cream that went with it. The service was very attentive and not pretentious. They explain what is on each plate as they serve it which could be reconfirming for knowledgeable diners or provide some more explanation to people who don't do a lot of fine dining. My only complaint is they have got to have the most uncomfortable chairs of any restaurant I have ever been to! I couldn't cross my legs under the table. When my calves started shaking, I realized I had been up on my toes (so my back wouldn't be in such a weird alignment). I think Beast is doing alright - enough that they can invest in some stylish, but comfortable chairs. I had to give it a 4/5 stars for this. If you're paying this much for dinner, you should not be uncomfortable throughout the whole thing.

    (4)

  • Daniel P.

    Yes, the foie-gras bon-bon: incroyable. Yes, the wine and cheese pairs: formidable. Yes, I get that the hôte Is more oaty than haute-- But who were those schmucks at my table?

    (4)

  • Avitania B.

    To say my expectations of Beast were sky-high could be an understatement. I'd had amazing experiences at similar fixed-menu restaurants (Cinc Sentits in Barcelona; Schwa in Chicago) -- so when The Mister and I went to Portland to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, Beast was a natural choice. Besides, I saw the phrase "foie gras bon bon" and nearly shat myself. How could we go wrong? The meal started off quite well with a chilled cucumber and creme fraiche soup, topped with a dainty scoop of dungeness crab. Very refreshing, given the warm, humid weather. The charcuterie plate was next, consisting of eight items including the much-anticipated foie gras bon bon, which was topped with a gelee made from Sauternes wine. The bon bon itself was slightly gritty and lacking in that velvety mouthfeel that I associate with foie gras. And it was REALLY salty. FAIL. The other charcuterie plate items were good, if nothing to write home about. The entree, pork cheeks, were similarly quite salty. (Maybe there was a blue light special on salt at the market that week?). It was accompanied by a perfectly flaky potato and creme fraiche turnover, which made up for the oversalty pork cheeks a little. The only other standout dish among the rest of the courses was the pork belly, served with a little salad of shaved radish and parsley. That beautiful cube of perfectly marbled pork fat and meat practically redeemed all the shortcomings of the courses that preceded it. And the radish and parsley salad? Brilliant -- the lush texture and taste of the pork belly really made the flavors and texture of the parsley salad pop. Oh, yeah. I definitely recommend getting the wine pairing, though beware if you're a lightweight -- the pours are generous, and I was definitely loopy by the fifth course. The service was great, though I was not too into the communal-seating style of my table. I'd been hoping for a more romantic, intimate dinner. However, at least our table-mates were nice and interesting enough, so it wasn't as painful as it could have been. I'd definitely like to go back the next time I'm in Portland. Although my meal had some hits and misses, the successes really hit it out of the ballpark and made the meal quite worth it.

    (4)

  • Aria S.

    I had a very overrated & stifling night at Beast. Maybe they're all not like that. I have been planning on going here since I dropped foot on portland soil 2 years ago. I finally got to do it on my birthday. And was overwhelmingly underwhelmed. Tressa at SaltFireandTime makes a far more soulful and delicious cassoulet. And she's not just copying things out of the French Laundry Cookbook and greasing it with bacon fat. Pomeroy and crew don't make lazy things, thankfully. Just very fussy. Very very very very extensively, beautifully fussy. The folk at Beast just look *so* unhappy or bored or underwhelmed themselves while putting together your plates. It appears that they go out of their way to be over-serious about what they are doing. Are we, as restaurant goers, conditioning Naomi and her crew to flout us? Is she secretly upset that she is fussing so deliberately over her concoctions, and we don't appreciate her nearly enough? The air has an attitude of "I was on Iron Chef god dammit, you will WAIT for my food, you will BEG for my food." ... an attitude which I just found a little overwhelming. And fussy. What did knock my socks off, though, was her great, and very UN fussy salad. Ohhhh, it is apparent she likes salad, because she makes a great one. I would follow naomi around with a stainless steel mixing bowl, begging for her various takes on greens and vinaigrette! Oh, and the nettles pesto. Fill my tub with nettles pesto. The other courses were seasoned with a bit too much ?attitude? and I couldn't taste the *soul* through the overly serious preparation. To me, it was like we were served to be served and done with, not a friendly interaction between artisan and enjoyer. The salad was served as the palate cleanser just before dessert (dessert being a retch that I won't detail because I fear i would be too negative), and it was divine. If only more portlandians prepped salad this way! If only I didn't have to endure 4 awkward courses to get to this jewel! Fill up my bathtub with growing together greens, Beasties, I'd like to swim in this.

    (2)

  • Dian K.

    Don't get me wrong, the food is good. Just not THAT good to have to deal with the soup nazi-ness feel. 2 seatings a day, no substitutions, if-you-don't-want-to-eat-here-there-are-others-­lining-behind-you attitude. I've been here for a couple of brunches and a dinner. The first brunch, was awhile ago and it was the best experience I had of the 3. The food was delish, well presented and the french press coffee kept on pouring. Also, OJ was included. The 2nd brunch about a month ago didn't include OJ. It was $6 for a champagne glass of OJ - if I've known, I would get mimosa for $2 more. As for dinner, we went on a Thursday, 8:45 seating. We got there a few minutes early and weren't allowed to sit yet. By the time the meal start, it was almost 9pm. Water was room temperature on an awkward vase-like water vessels. The most uncomfortable water carafe I've encountered. The acoustics of the room is bad too. I can hardly hear the person across the (wide) table from me. It's not a problem if there's just the 2 of you in the party. The menu changes weekly and good, so I won't dwell into the details there. The pace of the courses is a bit slow though. We didn't get out til after 11:30. Definitely slower than the early seating because they were out before 8:30pm. They didn't start plating the next course until everyone finishes the previous course. I would think a slight overlap would be better. It's just a little dragging especially that late in the night. Incidentally, my friend and I wanted to split a wine pairing and they were gracious enough to split it into 2 glasses! Definitely the way to go, IMO.

    (3)

  • Kiera R.

    Beast offers a unique, communal-style six course prix-fix dining experience. My love for Top Chef Masters drew me towards trying Beast after watching contestant/chef Naomi Pomeroy compete for the title. Just one thing leaves me curious about Beast (beside their brunch), how did Pomeroy decide 'Beast' for the name of her restaurant??? We have a full in-depth review of our 6-course menu and the food experience below: insideportlandliving.com… For the most part, the food was good -some courses were outstanding and other course a little bit disappointing. In my opinion, there are better restaurants that serve original dishes that push the envelope in culinary artistry, humbling chefs, and inviting atmospheres. I probably would not eat dinner here again; but, I am curious about all the hype about Beast's Brunch: We will let you know! The price for the food including the wine-pairings in PDX is on the expensive side, but if you had this meal in NYC, you would be paying $400-$500 -no joke.

    (4)

  • Kelli W.

    Not that Beast needs another 5 star review, but here it is. Beast is tremendous. Lovely little location, helpful, soft-spoken and friendly wait staff. THE FOOD. Spectacular. Charcuterie plate was the best thing of the night. I dream about that plate. Be prepared to spend 3 hours there. Also be prepared to chat it up with your table partners. We'll be back in 2 months.

    (5)

  • Allie S.

    I was expecting soooo much more. I would have been much happier having a meal across the street at Autentica. We waited 6 months for my husbands birthday to come around so we could celebrate something special at Beast. I read many good reviews and I hope we just ended up there on an off night menu-wise, unfortunately my first experience and the price will keep me from trying Beast a second time. ONE EXCEPTION - the Chartreuse plate had the most amazing bon-bon! Our meal consisted of mushroom soup with garnish of oil, we were lucky to be in the first seating, we saw them adding more and more liquid to the soup pot throughout the night. A flower flavored sorbet, a small white lump in a little white bowl with no garnish or color. Lamb and beans, the lamb was mostly bone and fat. Cesar salad with maybe 4 full yellow leaves of lettuce and few croutons and cheese... not pretty and the lettuce was the bitter inside leaves. Finally a little citrus tart.. which was mostly grapefruit flavored which is the citrus I like least of all. Oh well... gotta try new stuff, especially when they are voted best of Portland..

    (2)

  • Andrew M.

    Ahh Beast. I would be a liar if I said I wasn't disappointed. Naomi, was well, a beast on Top Chef Masters (didn't really check, but that is probably so unoriginal on these reviews). I couldn't wait to eat here. First it should be known that this place is in the middle of nowhere. Now I'm sure anyone from Portland reading this is rolling their eyes, but we were staying at the Nines downtown, and to say this is the "middle of nowhere" is generous. We were lucky that a couple who were also staying in the city finally had a cab show up and offered to share, because there were about 20 of us waiting there for 30 minutes after dinner still trying to get back downtown. But back to the food. There are 2 seatings. We were in the second, which ran about 30 minutes over, but no biggie we grabbed a drink next door while we waited. Once inside, hmmm, how to describe this. I've spent the last 10 years in SF, so communal seating is not new to me. But generally you are at a long communal, where you can still sit across from your partner. It is easier to keep the flow of conversation that way and tune out your neighbors (when you want to). The lady and I were sat at a table that seats 8 or so, and sat next to each other as were most others, so you are literally staring at complete strangers across from both of you. It was just, distracting I guess, how everyone was sitting, and awkward. The place is tiny to begin with, but I could overlook sitting on my head if the food blows me away. It didn't. It was good. The soup opener was nice. The pairings throughout were also very well matched. But the charcuterie plate I thought was really underwhelming. I mean a tiny pickle with some hot mustard? A tiny piece of salami? The foie-gras bon-bon that people raved about was OK, but tiny. The entree was decent, a rack of lamb with cherries, but honestly I've had much, much better. And then after the openers and your entree they serve...........a salad??! Huh? I mean it was so out of place I was in a slight state of shock to be honest. The lady was laughing and barely touched hers, waiting for the cheese and dessert courses. Really, really odd. What is that supposed to be, a palate cleanser? Bizarre to be honest. It was just OK. Didn't see the superstar chef at all, but her staff was solid on service. Though good, I was expecting spectacular. It wasn't.

    (3)

  • Benjamin P.

    Beast delivered me one of the best bites of food I have had in a long time last night. Just absolutely stunning; and let me tell you, my tastebuds get around! My dining partner and I (long time friend and ex-executive chef) attended the 8:45 seating. Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the meal was the fact that I didn't leave until 12:15. Eating is too often an in and out experience, and taking over 3 hours to enjoy my meal, wine, the atmosphere, and good conversation, was a great way to spend the evening. This is one thing to keep in mind, leaving beast in less than 2 hours is just not possible, so don't go for a quick bite to eat. This is truly an experience to be savored. Beast is a simple, small restaurant with an open kitchen and dish pit. You can watch every detail of service from anywhere in the restaurant. The counterspace for the kitchen? A long, beautiful, butcher block. French cookbooks line the walls, along with pickling jars. The immense chalkboard around the restaurant serves up witty quotes, drawings, and conversation pieces. The dining tables: one small 8 seat communal table and a longer communal table towards the back, beautifully stained wood. Eating at Beast is just a special experience. The communal seating is a wonderful thing, especially in a prix-fixe environment. Once the wine gets flowing, the conversation opens up, and savoring your meal with your new-found friends makes the experience even better. Food is about memories, bringing back old memories and making new ones. Beast does an excellent job of helping to create new memories. Now, onto the food. Our first course was a french onion soup with a gruyere crouton. Chef Naomi, you and your team nailed this soup. The sublte sweetness of the cognac, the rich, complex beef flavor, the perfectly cooked onions, and the cheese...oh my. That gruyere was out of this world. Also, my crouton still retained a small bit of crunch, even after being submerged for 10 minutes. That textural contrast was nice. The wine pairing was also perfect on this course. Munching on the never-ending, delicious baguette in between courses was great. Second course was the famed charceuterie plate. Foie gras bon bon. Best bite of the night. The complexity and richness was just incredible. It was one of those eyes roll back in your head moments. The leaf lard cracker and chicken liver mousse were also quite good. Overall, the charceuterie plate was stunning and delicious. I have to say, duck proscuitto seemed bland and overly chewy. I also got a bit of crunch from it that wasn't very pleasing. I can overlook this minor detail though. If I remember correctly, the wine pairing was a riesling. Also quite good. Third course was the fennel brined pork with butter braised cabbage, mustard seed, apricot and bacon verjus, and veal jus gastrique. My only knock on this course was that I lost the fennel in the other flavors. Not that I mind, I'm not a huge fennel fan. The pork was a delicious pork belly with a high fat content. That beautiful melt in your mouth fat that you cannot get enough of. The sauces, just out of this world. Rich, deep, with a tiny bit of sweetness. And hey, what can make fatty pork belly better? Fu*ckin bacon, that's what! The mustard seeds provided a nice textural crunch to the dish which really took it to another level. A very well thought out and tasty dish. I mopped up the sauce with my bread afterwards! The first three courses got progressively better, but the last 3 disappointed a little bit. The fourth course was a house cured salmon with a radish, endive, and citrus salad with a horseradish vinaigrette. The salad was texturally pleasant, but overly bitter and without any real punch. The horseradish was undetectable, and that was sad. I think having that bit of heat would have really made the dish better. A touch of sea salt would have made it much better as well. The salmon was good, but nothing special. As far as the cheese course, I've had better. This isn't really a reflection on Beast though, as the accompaniments were quite good. I enjoyed the plum, local honey, and fried almonds. To me, this was a throw away course. The dessert was a apple strudel with walnuts, almond ice milk, and ginger caramel. I'm not a sweet dessert person, but this was pretty good. The strudel was okay, but the almond ice milk was divine, and the subtlety of the ginger in the caramel was impressive. Overall, the meal was great. The first three courses were just incredible, and the last three were hit and miss. However, the overall experience was phenomenal, and I really had a great time. Beast's staff is friendly, welcoming, attentive, and knowledgeable. Our water and wine glasses never went empty, the staff was happy to talk with us when they weren't busy, and Chef Naomi was gracious enough to let us pick her brain for a moment. I will definitely be returning to Beast. Thank you for a wonderful, complete, experience guys.

    (4)

  • Jenny K.

    beast was quite an experience. spent the entire day at airports with delays and more delays (on connecting flight)...and socal is not even that far from portland. so, i wasn't feeling well but had to go to my reservation as they were going to charge $20 per person if you didn't show up anyway. for dinner, there are only 2 seating times: 6pm and 8:45pm. the capacity is 20 people. there are two communal tables in this restaurant. we booked the 8:45pm for saturday night. there is NO NEED to arrive before that time as you will just be in a little corner with the other people while the staff sets up for your dinner. it's strange because they don't have a waiting area and you are cramped in a corner with the other people while they set up. the communal seating would be awkward if you are on a romantic date or anniversary. everyone at my table was nice...in fact, almost all of us were from CA. everyone was given the 6-course prix fixe menu. substitutions are politely declined. so really, you have to be open to everything. if you are just posing as a person who likes fine food...don't go there. by that i mean, if you pretend to like fine dining but just really like ambiance and not the food...just like to be seen and say that you are going places...don't go. it's a small, open kitchen. you see the 20 plates prepared on the counter at all once. when they have finished plating every dish for each person in the same way, they serve. the first course was absolutely wonderful. it was a creamy fried leek soup that definitely told your palate that unique flavors are coming your way. they have mini-baguette are butter too. i put some soup, as sauce, on my mini slice baguette. the charcuterie plate was pretty. they were introduced to you one by one in a clockwise manner. in the middle was a "salad" (pickled daikon) to cleanse your palate between each bite. these bite sized works of art packed a punch. the entree was lamb. i wish it were duck but i was open to it (last week was duck...this week was lamb!!). did not taste gamey but it wasn't cooked evenly. there were parts of the lamb that was very rare and other parts were medium. it came with a scalloped potato pie with red kale (that tastes like may tsai ko ro...a chinese dish with the fatty meat and black veggie. the black veggie tasted like the red kale.). i could only eat about 2/3 of the dish. felt bad that i didn't finish the plate but i was kinda full at the time...and actually dreading the next courses as i was reaching my limit for the day. the next dish was a salad which i didn't understand since at most places salad is served as a starter or after soup. it was very well put together. i loved how the nuts were chopped and practically in every bite with the radiocchio. then came the cheese plate. well, it was a half cheese plate since there were 3 kinds of cheese and two mini shortbread cookies, a tart apricot, marcona almonds with a circle of honey in the middle of the plate. dessert was not very good. highly disappointed. they should go to vino volo at the airport to learn how to make real dessert. a vanilla bruleed marshmallow was on top of this chocolate truffle cake (very small). it did not taste like really high quality chocolate truffle. but maybe it was because they were trying to pair it with a prune on top. if i had to compare this dessert to any of my homebaked goods...i'd say that when my dessert turns out that way, i don't want to serve it. so dinner was long... and when you don't feel 100% like i didn't that day...i was ready to go home after a long day. at 11:40pm, our taxi was called. other customers in the restaurant were also waiting for taxis but we were first. our taxi did not arrive until 12:30am. the 3 stars is for the lamb that was not cooked evenly...and the dessert that was not stellar. i'm sure if either was better, they would receive a higher rating from me. also the chef and sous chef were in LA on business (no, they weren't opening one in LA...i asked. haha). so we had the 3rd in command prepare our dinners...that could have something to do with it. ask to see if chef naomi will be out of town. we most likely would not have gone there if we had knowledge of this prior to going.. NOTES: 1) Beast is located in a very out of the way area. 2) No substitutions 3) Communal Dining 4) Do not arrive before your reservation time. 5) You don't know the cost until the end.

    (3)

  • John B.

    It was awesome. While it may not be cheap, I went in without knowing the prices (my wife booked this on recommendation) and i assumed the bill would have been much higher. Oh yes, bless you portland for no sales tax. Great food, great wine pairings, very attentive and helpful staff. Downside: i dislike communal tables. The couple closest to us were wonderful and knew when to keep their (and our) conversation private and when to talk to others. Other patrons weren't so lucky (lots of people love to talk about the history of their lives apparently). I could see that being a random variable on top of the other variable of not having a choice in your meal ahead of time. I'm happy to give it 5 stars based on our lottery victory.

    (5)

  • Patty V.

    We had wanted to dine at Beast for quite some time and we finally made it there last Saturday. I aimed for the early seating with my reservation (6pm), but they were full so I went with the second seating at 8:45. I did call them however, to see if I could get on the 6pm waiting list and was happy to get a call back on Friday letting me know that would work and that we would be sitting at the Chef's Table (which means on stools at the big butcher block where they plate all the food - a bird's eye view of the work in progress). The other seating options are communal tables, one large table that holds about 14 people and a smaller one that seats 8. We were excited about the Chef's Table. Sadly, they had a miscommunication between their Friday and Saturday staff and when we arrived on Saturday night someone else had been seated at the Chef's Table and, well, oops! Not a great start. But it turned into a good thing when we sat down at the smaller communal table and wound up with 6 fun and fabulous strangers who helped make the meal memorable. I'm an "up for anything" eater and I thoroughly enjoyed the variety and flavors of the 6 course dinner. The soup (curried carrot veloute) arrived still steaming hot (so rare), the charcuterie plate was fun and exciting, everyone at the table had a good time sampling all the different flavor bites. My lamb was perfect and also arrived hot and juicy. Ahhh...the salad...such a simple course and so wonderful. The cheese plate and the dessert (ginger cake with a brulee banana and banana ice-cream) were both delicious. I did the wine flight that goes with the meal and was so glad of that decision. Good food, good wine, genial company. There's not much more I need for a wonderful dining experience (maybe a more comfortable chair?). I would give 4 1/2 stars, but since I can't I'm rounding up to 5. I will add this however; I think your enjoyment of Beast (or lack thereof) may have a lot to do with the company you are in. Good food or not, if you end up at a table with people who aren't interested in talking and laughing, it's going to be a long night.

    (5)

  • Pdx F.

    Beast needs to be slaughtered..... How do I begin... I think Naomi has been overly praised for the dining experience at Beast. I brought a date for the second seating (9pm-midnight) and I've been eager to dine at Beast for 2 years. Brace yourselves 6-course meal + wine pairing + 2 coffees + tip = $270 for 2 people. First course: a lovely (small) serving of chilled corn soup.. Charcuterie board (about 10 bites) had 2 memorable items: the foie gras bon bon and the beef tartare. The palate cleanser sorbet was delicious (and sadly the most tasty item of the meal). The duck leg confit was so salty that I could barely eat it after the first bite. The salt level was out-of-bounds and ruined the course. Scallop course: 1 sea scallop with a teenie salad... seriously? The cheese course: what a joke.. no cheese was memorable. Naomi couldn't remember one of them.. 3 small pieces of blah. Dessert: cherry cobler with ice cream... It was fine. Do not expect cooking when you arrive at this restaurant. Her busy bees have prepped away long before you show up, so it runs more like a catered event. My date asked "do they actually cook here"? The best part (sarcasm) besides watching all of the plates lined up in the dining area, was watching the staff scoop pre-made items (sauces and ice creams) from plastic storage containers right in front of us (visualize pho broth containers). They did cook each of our 1 sea scallop in the "kitchen" area. Sorry Naomi, I won't return. There are too many good, affordable restaurants in town and the end product at Beast is not worth the hype.

    (1)

  • Nobody M.

    I have more friends on Yelp than in real life. Retard? No. Misanthrope? Maybe. Notions or ideas that come from direct experience need to be tested for accuracy over time....and I was willing for the 1,254th time to suspend misanthropic apprehensions to see if a night of communal dining--contact with real humans--would expose a world changed; that perhaps, at Beast, the public would redeem itself (or provide a small glimmer of hope for humanity). Here's how it played out: The four couples who sat at our table were no more interesting as a box of IRS forms. But they were quiet and mostly chewed with their mouths closed. The other table was filled with bunch of drunken/high adult-industry liver and codpieces who irritated everyone with their stupidity. At one point a girl passed out and fell. Another I think stumbled out in time to vomit on the sidewalk. So the score is now: Me: 1,254 World: 0 As for the food? With a name like Beast I expected something a little more sinister and daring--the kind of meal that you'd be ready to sell a small piece of your soul for. Unfortunately it was all just good. A solid dining experience--surely. Though I can't say I expected more from the patrons, I did expect a little more out of the food. 3.5 stars.

    (4)

  • Rick W.

    Food is still great, cutlery is improved. Unfortunately a 3 hour meal remains uncomfortable for your derrière as well as your waistband; the chairs will make you want to skip dessert. Naomi: invest in new chairs and turn the music down a titch, I can't hear my companions rave about the food. The meal and wine pairings were definitely four stars, but there is much to be learned about creating ambience besides just sitting strangers together and turning the lights down. The staff could learn to smile, the music should match the food as well as the wine does and yes...the damn chairs.

    (3)

  • Sce P.

    I was expecting sooo much more based on all the hype and press. It was a huuge disappointment. Overall it was artistically presented well but there were several downfalls. The starting course had some interesting elements but nothing you couldn't find anywhere else in portland, no new tastes at all. The wine pairing was rather dull, mostly on the sweet side, pretty amateur at best. The lamb was very undercooked and the cut was so poor that several people in my party were like can we please spit this out? The food was what you can get at a bad portland restaurant. On top of that the service was cold at best. Making a reservation was a hassle, we had to ask for water, it just sucked. I'd give the whole experience a zero because of how rude these people were which was such an insult. They treat you as if you should feel privileged to be eating there and treat you like crap. I can sort of understand the attitude if oh I don't know they were Thomas Keller but come on, really you're just another restaurant in Portland which has a lot of AMAZING restaurants. If you want to compete here, be nice, give great service, instead of being jerks. I think the people who like this restaurant are just buying into the hype and not tasting the food or they just haven't had a truly world class 5 star experience elsewhere.

    (1)

  • A K.

    Really liked the space with uncut timbers and all prep work done very close to the two communal tables. The conversation with other diners was very interesting, so no issues. The spinach soup was a great starter, the charcutiere plate was six types pate/foie/rillette (the steak tartare was the only real miss) but I thought it could had used something a little more firm (salumi?) for texture balance. I thought the next four courses (steak, salad, cheese, brownie) were very good but lacked any outstanding attributes except for the sauce with the steak which was fantastic. It was also a little odd to have the salad after the steak as a little break from the meat (charcutiere) would have been nice. The palate cleanser after the steak was quince, elderflower liquore, and grapefruit, and was quite bracing in its cleansing. The wine paring was excellent with all the courses however it leads to my only real complaint: It would have been nice to see more local/OR selections in the cheese plate (France and Quebec were two of the three) and on the wine/beer list (one lone pinot) or wine paring (all EU wines). They seem to lack a little of the local focus that a number of other area restaurants work on and I think it might benefit the continuity of the meal.

    (3)

  • Ken N.

    I have to say, this was one of the two top meals I have ever had in my life - every course was awesome - loved that there were no choices to make, the chef made them for you and did a fabulous job!!! Only downer was the chairs - by the end of the meal it was very unconfortable to still be sitting there, but the food made me mostly forget about them.

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    Not to sound snobby, but I've been to numerous restaurants with equal/ higher regard and I've never had a more uncomfortable dining experience. You'd expect a restaurant like Beast to act professionally, but my friend and I were treated like adolescents--past curfew! Based on the reviews we read, we arrived preparing to have the highlight meal of our trip, only to be greeted by the host like we turned up at the wrong place. She basically asked what we were doing there and if we had reservations. Um, duh? She looked at us like we took up valuable space since there was only one bench for early arrivals. I understood they needed to to prep and we were 10 min. early, but this host and whoever else served us acted suspicious the entire time. People--your restaurant is not that expensive! When I declined the wine pairing and requested a glass a la carte, she asked for ID. Common and legal procedure, but she spoke in a derogatory manner making some snide joke about my age. Next to us sat some girl who hardly looked 20 with her sugar daddy (and believe me--he was NOT her daddy) and she was not carded. But fine, they're selective... ...as in selectively attentive!! The host, after hesitating to take my wine order, neglected to actually bring me the glass. Tried flagging her down for 10 minutes but she didn't pay attention to me. Without an apology, she finally brings it, and unlike with the other diners, she did not bother asking me for an initial sampling. What made matters worse might not relate to the restaurant itself, but definitely exacerbated the general sentiment at this time: Friend and I had to tolerate racist chatter from 2 of their regular patrons. Throughout the meal, we had to listen to them define their non-Asian friend's face as "Chinese" because "You know, her nose is flat" and because "Her face is flat" and because "She just looks flat so she's Asian" or "Japanese" or "Chinese" because of course there's no difference when we're apparently all 2-D! Ladies, do these people look Chinese? Because they are! And there are MILLIONS OF THEM: cdn.wn.com/pd/0b/87/8099… Aside from these ignorant women who, by the way, happened to roll their eyes back as they chewed, Beast's food was SUBPAR. And I base this relative judgment on the other highly-starred dining establishments I've been to with similar reputations. It's typical New American and nothing special, which is fine; I understand their "all about the ingredients" concept but their food just wasn't spectacular especially when the service already left a bad taste in my mouth. Dishes were overly salty and I felt the whole place was just one pretentious show trying to come off "real" and grounded when it was just a pig wearing lipstick. The only thing that stood out was this scoop of foie gras on shortbread topped with champagne gelee. The flavor literally exploded in my mouth and I wish I had mouthfuls more to substitute for the average dishes that made up the rest of the dinner, though that would've made me barf from flavor overload anyway.

    (1)

  • Sam C.

    Since hearing about Portland's great restaurant/foodie scene and having gotten to sample some of the fine offerings already who would be next on the list but none other than BEAST! This had been an eagerly anticipated dining experience for us. With high expectations after enjoying a sample bite at James Beard to catching chef Naomi Pomeroy on Top Chef Masters we knew we would be in for a six course culinary treat! Menu: Smokey Tomato & Espelette Pepper Soup w/ Maple Glazed Cherry Wood Bacon Charcuterie Plate Foie Gras Bon-Bon w/ Sauternes Gelee Chicken Liver Mousse on Leaf Lard Cracker Steak Tartare & Quail Egg Toast Olympic Provision Salami Pork Pate w/ Fennel, Chili Flake & Corriander Pine Mountain Farms Grass Fed Beef Spring Onion & Artichoke Gratin Tarragon & Green Garlic Salsa Verde Little Gem Lettuces Fourme D' Ambert Vinaigrette Roasted Springs Morels & Pickled Ramps Selection of Local Cheeses Anise & Fleur De Sel Shortbread Bittersweet Farms Honey Wine Poached Apricot & Candied Hazelnuts Goat's Milk & Creme Fraiche Custard Strawberry & Elderflower Granita Food: Another wonderful showcase of the Pacific NW's finest local ingredients. Professionally executed preparation and beautiful done presentations, each meal created an anticipation of what was to come next. Flavors profiles were spot on and harmonized very well together. Service: Very professional, but laid back and not uptight. We were warmly greeted into the restaurant even though we had showed up early and were offered drinks while we waited. They were very accommodating for us as we also had friends dining the same night as us so they were able to seat us together. The waitstaff were always checking in on our meals, making sure glasses were full, courses explained, etc. Atmosphere/Experience: BEAST is a very intimate (24 person seating if I remember) setting. The tables (except for the bar top 2 person) are communal seating. It has a family style feel to it. While some may find it a bit peculiar it is a very comforting relaxed way to enjoy a meal. There is plenty of distance between you and the person next to you or if you prefer try for getting the 2 top on the counter. The kitchen is in front stage view of the diners who can catch a glimpse of the magic happening. Part of the accented walls were written with whimsical food related quotes to the delight of the diners eyes, a great conversational piece. Overall it was like coming home to dinner with family/friends in the mix. Our high expectations were met and exceeded! And while Naomi Pomeroy was not in the kitchen leading the brigade that night it was still a memorable culinary adventure for us and our friends! We will be back for more wonderful and delightful creations that BEAST has to offer!

    (5)

  • Vince C.

    another case where i wish yelp allowed fractional stars, since my complaints are pretty minor and should only cost at most a half star. i was in portland with a couple colleagues on the tail end of a project, trying to cram in as many of the town's amazing restaurants as we could, and our trip to beast was sort of spur of the moment on our only available night. i think it was the bit on the website about "Our general rule is that we do not offer substitutions.... Pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans would find it a challenge to enjoy our six-course dinners...." that really sold me. god bless them for sticking to their principals. the quote written on the chaulkboard wall saying something to the effect "if we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made of meat?" sealed the deal. we went on 9/5/12, second seating, and ordered the wine pairing. the menu was: - FRESH CORN CHOWDER, NASTURTIUM SAUCE VERTE & FRIED OKRA: the soup was basically corn flavored heavy cream with whatever TF "nasturtium sauce" is, and it was basically the best soup i have ever eaten in my life. the okra was also the best fried okra i've ever eaten...no idea how they avoided the mushiness that has been fundamental to every other serving of fried okra i've ever had. insane. as for the beaujolais blanc wine pairing, i could have drank a bottle. in my opinion the best white of the evening. - CHARCUTERIE PLATE: FOIE-GRAS BON-BON, SAUTERNES GELÉE CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE, LEAF LARD CRACKER STEAK TARTARE, QUAIL EGG TOAST PORK & PISTACHIO PATE DUCK RILLETTES & TETE DE COCHON everything on this plate was just stupidly good. and if you were wondering, like i was, i can confirm that indeed "sauternes gelee" is basically jello made with badass french white wine. as many others have reported, the fois gras bon bon and the tartare/quail egg toast are the standouts here, but i could have eaten an entire dinner consisting of a half pound of everything on this plate. - SONOMA FARMS SEARED DUCK BREAST GREEN ROMANO BEANS, WARM POTATO & FENNEL SALAD REDUCED DUCK JUS this was one of the three minor disappointments of the evening. i love duck but don't eat it often so it could be that i'm overreacting. the breast was tough. really tough. tasted great but very chewy. again this could be just the way it is, i don't eat duck often enough to judge. it tasted great and was well accompanied, well presented, and the portion was reasonable. the wine, GUILLEMOT SAVIGNY-LES-BEAUNE 'LES PICOTIN' 2008, was the best red of the evening and an overall amazing burgundy. - ATHERING TOGETHER FARMS ARUGULA GRILLED 1/2 PEACH CRISPY PROSCUITTO & GOAT CHEESE GREEN ONION & SHERRY VINAIGRETTE i am not a big fruit in my salad kind of guy. this was generally great but i did not think the peach added anything. the prosciutto, goat cheese--everything else really--was incredible. so chalk that up to personal taste. - SELECTION OF CHEESES FROM STEVE AT CHEESE BAR ANGELINO PLUMS, CANDIED HAZELNUTS ANISE SHORTBREAD, WILD FLOWER HONEY OMMFG. best cheeses i have ever had in the united states, hands down. they had some kind of raw milk english cheddar from manchester that was actually better than any cheese i'd ever had in britain, which is saying something. wish i knew what the other two were--one was italian and one i believe local. all amazing. - WILD PLUM CLAFOUTIS ARMAGNAC VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM good. not super memorable. overall, with the exception of the duck breast, the food was other worldly. my only other complaints, and what prevent a 5 star rating: - the service was unenthusiastic. maybe because we were the second seating and the staff was getting tired. but they were a bit abrupt and just generally seemed like they wanted to get through with the whole ordeal so they could go home, which most of them managed to do once dinner was done, before our cab arrived to pick us up. - the wine pours were pathetic. they are advertised as half a glass. i ordered an extra full glass of the aforementioned amazing burgundy and it was similarly pathetic. seems like they should either provide enough wine to get you through a course for the standard wine pairing menu, or offer an upgrade where you can get a "full glass" with each course (which, judging by my purchased full glass, would be about 4 oz). ultimately, negatives aside, beast is one of my top 3 portland restaurants (with ox and andina) which easily makes it one of my top 10 worldwide, since i think portland is a foodie mecca and sets a very high bar. i will definitely go back if i ever get the chance again. and order a backup bottle of wine. :^)

    (4)

  • Andrew S.

    So this was a real treat...and I highly recommend this establishment with two caveats. Food quality, preparations, presentation, wine, etc FABULOUS. Served in prix fix setting at GROUP tables....not so good for romantic tete a tete. Price very fair for high value . One minor complaint is lighting...very dark and hard for us older folk. The biggest concern is about MUSIC. It was incongruous that all the music was vocal (vs instrumental) and MoST importantly......chef likes it loud! Makes it hard to hear your company ....so if you are older, have any hearing issues, might reconsider on this. AND, this is an easy remedy, folks......I cannot be the only one to have said this stuff. Keep up the great work.

    (4)

  • Zack S.

    Sometimes, you eat a meal. Other times, you get to experience a meal. Beast ensures that you do the latter when you get the rare opportunity to eat here. To this day, I have no idea what I ate (I visited quite a while ago), but I can tell you that I've never had a more dynamically crafted, full flavored, experiential meal. Not once did the conversation deviate from the food we were partaking in--there was nothing else more interesting than the symphony of flavors playing on our taste buds. Perfectly crafted, amazingly executed. One for the record books, for sure. One tip: try to go with a group of four. I went with just my sister, and our conversation was tainted by this really annoying couple that was trying to be all snobby and cool (communal tables). If you go with a moderately sized group, the conversation will be more likely to compliment the amazing meal that you're guaranteed to experience. Don't hesitate to go.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    I really wanted to love Beast, but it was a bit disappointing. The first course set an awkward, disappointing tone for the night. We were served bean and bacon soup, which was okay but seriously lacked any depth of flavor - I just kept tasting bean. Someone asked the server about the bacon, so she consulted with the chef and then told us that the chef just straight up forgot the bacon. Seriously?? I expect a little more from a restaurant of that caliber. The other courses were good, but only a couple were great. At this point, 3 weeks later, I can barely recall half of them. The service was okay, but since we were seated family style I expected that everyone at the table would be served each course at approximately the same time. Instead, 1/3 of the table was served much later than everyone else, which kind of sucked for us. I watched enviously as everyone else enjoyed their food for a while. The wine pairings were okay, but not really on point. 1 or 2 were definitely too sweet and they didn't all really compliment the food with which they were paired. I would try again for brunch, only because it's my favorite meal and they have a good reputation. Not sure I would give them another chance for dinner.

    (3)

  • Chris B.

    Second best restaurant in Portland. I have never had a foie gras that was as amazing as the one at beast. Wine pairing is well worth the price.

    (5)

  • Casey M.

    Five stars for one of the top brunches I have ever had! I came with such a big party that we got our own table. It appeared that the other table was full of one party as well. There are only 2 long tables in the restaurant. I can imagine how it would be weird to sit so close to strangers. It was a very pleasant dining experience. At $35 a person this was quite a deal. I ordered a lovely Mimosa to go with my meal, but you could go with a wine paring for an extra $20. First Course: Local Cherry Clafoutis with Soft Whipped Cream and Maple Glazed Bacon This dish was amazing! At first I thought it seemed more like a dessert and should go at the end of the meal, but the more I thought about it I really loved having it as the first dish. I would love to attempt to make this at home. Second Course: Beast Hash Rainshadow El Rancho Duck Confit w/ Market Potatoes, Romano Beans, Snap Peas, Maitake Mushrooms, and Squash topped with a Poached Duck Egg and Hollandaise. Holy Lord, this dish was unbelievable!! I have never had a duck egg before and now I can say it is the best egg I have ever tasted. The yolk was bright orange and just kept coming. It never hardened up. It was always gooey and delicious. It complimented the rest of the dish sooo well. Third Course: A Selection of Cheeses and Summer Greens w/ an Aged Balsamic and Sherry Vinaigrette. It was very nice to have something so light after the Beast Hash. I love cheese, yet I completely forgot to write down what cheeses I was eating. The cheese was perfect and the salad was heavenly. Las Course: Chocolate Truffle Cake w/ a Strawberry Mousse. So delightful! It came with an edible flower as well. It was a very nice touch. I was so full by this point but I managed to fit it all in the gullet. Absolutely incredible! Go to Beast!

    (5)

  • Melissa O.

    We went to Portland last weekend to celebrate my fiancé's birthday. The only reservation I made in advance was for Beast. I wanted to eat at the best place in Portland, and according to Yelp, Beast is it. We took the bus from Downtown and arrived too early. In the rain. We stood outside for a little while, peeking in the window to watch the prep, then walked back down the street and found shelter in a nearby coffee shop called Extracto. As it got closer to our reservation, we walked back to the restaurant and waited. Eventually another party showed up, and another, until finally a server opened the door and let us in. He told us to wait there, in the corner, as they were not ready to seat us yet. A while passed until another server came out with a reservation book and asked who was there first. We were! She sat us in the middle of the long table, facing the kitchen. Sweet view! Most people were on time, but some were not. It's really not cool to be late for reservations here since they try to feed everyone at once. Being late means making everyone else in the restaurant wait. The menu for Saturday, November 6th, 2010 was: 1. Andaluz & Gypsy Pepper Soup with Almond, Lemon, & Parsley Pistou 2. Foie-gras Bon-Bon, Sauternes Geleé; Steak Tartare on Quail Egg Toast; Chicken Liver Mouse, Pickled Shallot; Locally Made Olympic Provisions Salami; Pork, Pork Liver and Cracked Peppercorn Pate 3. Cattail Creak Lamb Loin Chop with Butternut Squash, Cippolini Onion, & Kale Gratin, Candied Hazelnut Salsa Verde & Lamb Demi-Glace 4. Arugula & Persimmon Salad, Tomme Du Fedou Sheeps-Milk Cheese, Crispy Leeks & Aged Sherry Vinaigrette 5. Cheese From Steve at Cheese Bar, Bittersweet Farms Honey, Cracked Black Pepper & Fleur de sel Shortbread, Red Wine Poached Pear, Candied Local Walnuts 6. Brûléed Apricot & Vanilla Custard Tart Everything surpassed my expectations, from the olive oil-based pepper soup (which tasted so rich I thought it had to have cream in it), to the charcuterie plate of deliciousness, to the lamb, to the salad, to the cheese and that incredible honey, to the dessert. 5+ stars for all the deliciousness and amazement. The things that I didn't like were: A. The chairs. If you're going to have these long meals (ours took 2+ hours), please have comfortable chairs. The seat was small and the back was uncomfortable. B. The chefs were about 8 feet from my face, yet they seemed to refuse to interact with their diners. Why the open kitchen? C. The attitude upon arrival. I understand you have to prep and you only have so much space, but did you really have to pretend you didn't see us waiting in the rain? And how about when you finally let us in... Why seem put out that we're there early? We're sorry we're so polite and responsible. So I loved the food and I would definitely recommend others try it at least once, but I don't know if I'll wait to go out of my way again and be uncomfortable for really fantastic food.

    (4)

  • John K.

    The pacing of the courses makes Beast a great place to go with friends, giving everyone time to talk a bit, as well as time to eat. Not being hurried also helps with the ability to appreciate the food. I'll go along with all the others as a big fan of the charcuterie plate, and everything else was high on both the taste and presentation scales. My only gripe is that the very cute bentwood cafe style chairs were increasingly uncomfortable as the meal approached the three hour point - since they're not trying to turn the tables aggressively, I think that cushier seating may make it easier to appreciate the fine work being done in the kitchen.

    (4)

  • Jason L.

    I was hesitant to go to Beast. All the marketing with the animals and whatnot creeped me out. I pictured plates full of weird piles of meat. I was wrong. This place was amazing and definitely moved into my top 5 in Portland. The atmosphere was great, the staff was wonderful and the food was amazing. I've never had many of the the items on the menu. The portions and combinations were perfect and the wine pairing was the best I've had in a long time. Sitting at a shared table with others is also really great. Being in Portland, everyone is always really nice and we met some nice people. It's definitely not cheap but the price was worth it. Also, the scheduling and reservation is really strict but it makes things really efficient and I'm sure the business is much easier to run.

    (5)

  • Laura N.

    I am constantly critiquing the names of restaurants. I just feel that many restauranteurs - while kitchen savvy, utterly lack in the marketing department and settle on a lack luster name. And then there's BEAST. The name alone spawns visions of a primal gathering of barefooted natives, chasing and capturing their food, grabbing some fresh greens along the trek, and sitting slick lipped among a fire - 100% Lord of the Flies style - while grease from their prize drips down to their elbows. Saying six courses of "meat-centric" bliss would be the understatement of the century as Naomi separated quail eggs in between quick bites of this and that. (This being foie gras bon-bon, and that being riesling braised carlton farms pork cheek). It wasn't just meat however, which will make the animal rescue center next door a bit less concerned...it was fennel & fleur de sel shortbread, crushed strawberries and shaved humboldt fog goat cheese. It was baby nantes carrots and reduced atique rose petal & vanilla bean champagne sorbet. (READ: It was heaven on the end of a fork...or tongue, as it may be.) One direct quote from our table was "it makes my brain do funny things." This being after he tasted the maple glazed bacon dipped in chocolate. Words cannot describe the bliss my taste buds experienced...so I'll leave it to the one-syllable brilliance of the name: BEAST. Prepare to indulge. Prepare to explore a culinary adventure-land. Prepare to experience what the name truly embodies.

    (5)

  • K P.

    The community table seating with every course served to every patron at the same time was great. What a great meal. I would suggest that the large mirrors along the wall are moved down so people seated with their backs to the kitchen prep area can still see the action.

    (4)

  • Lauren T.

    I'm not sure what to say that hasn't been said before so I'll leave you with this. I have been to beast several times for dinner and once for brunch while I was living in Portland. All experiences have been fantastic. I don't recall exactly what I had, but all dishes have been inventive, fresh and delicious. I highly recommend dining here.

    (5)

  • Scott C.

    It was strange that the head chef was not there. Seeing her on iron chef America made me so excited to go there, but just did not blow me away like the reviews said. I felt the portion size was a little large and it would be nice to have smaller plates. Also, my girlfriend called ahead and told them she was pregnant and they said they could accommodate. If it would have been a problem, we would cancel no big deal, but it seemed like a common situation to have being a restaurant in a family neighborhood. When she received certain plates her options were to either give me what she couldn't eat or have them left off the plate. I know it can be a pain to make an alteration to the meal based on one person, but other places took it as almost a challenge to provide a dish that was equally delicious without the certain items. They did change the cheese plate and replaced a non pasteurized cheese with one that was, and it was delicious. All in all it was a good and interactive meal and experience but is it wrong for me to expect a little more from a place like this???

    (3)

  • Alysia A.

    when the beast gal called me to confirm my reservation i hollered into the phone "hell yes i'll be there it's my birthday dinner!" and she kind of was not into the hollering, ok. beast is tiny but thoughtful with a few long tables and very little outdoor seating. when i walked in with my good looking date (who wore a lesbian waistcoat suit!) there at the corner pocket was my stupid friends who i never get to stupidly catch up with, looking super dumb together and grinning like banshees. i felt forced to sit with them since they are "ok cool" and the girl part of the couple is a total bruiser. we laughed over some weird shit that included the boy part of the couple generally behaving badly and making low flying sexual remarks (i honestly expected more from him) while i mouthed "i love you" to his wife (because she is smokin' hot y'all). i thought we were sharing a MOMENT when she mentioned liking my sexy bra but i think we were just "girl talking" which totally brought up memories of high school make out with my drunk and punk girlfriends who would fall asleep talking about boys while i creepily smelled their aqua net mohawks whispering "let's go steady" into the back of their shorn heads. the food was pretty great and just kept coming, beautifully presented and served with a description from the unlaughing faces of our servers. beast is not exactly a "hay let's joke around" establishment. they take their food pretty seriously and so you can imagine that i was grateful to my boy friend who came back from the bathroom in his shorts and tevas( ?!) proudly telling us that he was not THAT DRUNK because he totally didn't blow dry his balls under the hand dryer. the mathletes at our table were appropriately nerdy and did a lot of toasting and i will admit that i totally ignored them. i hate math and count with my fingers or an "air abacus" so like, mathletes are kind of basically the scourge of the earth, counting and telling nerdy jokes and high fiving over their foie-gras. one of them caught my eye and i shook my head and pursed my lips. he did not look again. i know i should say more about the food. it was good and partially great (the duck leg was like a david bowie song mingled with mushrooms) and the cheese plate was basically licked clean.

    (4)

  • Todd R.

    Went in there for mother's day with, guess who, mom and dad (in their 60's). Food was great, as expected. However, as big a fan of 80's music as I am, my half deaf father and Andrew's Sisters era mother are not so much, particularly when it's so loud you can hardly converse. When I asked the waitress if it could be turned down, she grimaced and said "ok I'll turn it down a little bit but don't be surprised if the mother of the hour turns it back up." By whom I assume she meant the owner. Well, the reason I spent $40 a head to eat there was because I consider MY mother the mother of the hour and I expect any restaurant which intends to earn money from me to cook good food and keep the music at a level acceptable to the people who keep them in business, namely their customers! Next mother's day it will be one of the other billion fantastic restaurants in this town. And no, the music didn't get turned down.

    (3)

  • Josephine L.

    What else can be said for this phenomenal experience? Yes, I say experience, rather than restaurant. What you're paying for is the feeling of being in a Top Chef's kitchen and watching her (and her team) carefully prepare course after course right in front of your eyes. What a cool little place and a true Portland gem for any out of towners to partake in. I took my family here during a visit and they were in awe of how cool the restaurant was and how interesting it is to sit right next to an open kitchen where your food is being made. Every course was delicious, the wine bottles are reasonably priced, and the staff is very helpful and attentive. I mean, this meal is really a steal for the quality and the quantity! My husband is lactose intolerant and they made an exception for him by making him a cream free soup and cut off the cheese on specific items. We were so happy with our experience and cannot say enough about it. I look forward to trying their Brunch menu soon.

    (5)

  • S M.

    We have made a tradition of traveling and having a lovely meal on my birthday. This year, we picked the Beast in Portland. They only serve a chef's menu with no substitutions and you have to make the reservation for one of two seatings: either 6 PM or 8:45 PM, 20 seats per seating. Everyone is served at the same time. We got there early and the previous seating was not finished. There was no waiting area so we walked around the neighborhood. When we came back, there was a flock of people standing outside the door because the previous seating ended late. Not the most pleasant experience, I must say. Finally, we were seated at the corner of a big communal table, hungry and yet excited. We chose the wine-paring menu and were surprised that they did not have any Oregon wines on the list. They said because everyone else was serving Oregon wine so they wanted to be different. Another surprise. The food was decent, somewhat innovative but did not blow us away. There was nothing shocking yet nothing wowed us either. I could not recall one single dish that was significantly memorable. Luckily, we had a wonderful conversation with another guest who traveled a lot and had great tips for where to go and where to eat next. I think our new friend actually made the dinner more interesting. Overall, it was a fine experience but I was looking for more. Maybe try somewhere else next time.

    (3)

  • BigArm K.

    My wife and I went here for our anniversary during a road trip to Portland. The restaurant is located in what looks like a residential neighborhood, but there are a few other places nearby. The atmosphere is very inviting. At first I was a little apprehensive about the fact that you share a table with people you don't know, but it forces you to converse with people, and actually lead to some nice conversation. Now to the "meat" of my review (see what I did there?). I lived in San Francisco for a long time, and travel quite a bit, so I have been to some fantastic restaurants. I can say with confidence, that this was the best food I have had in my life. We started with a cold tomato soup, then had a plate of hors d'oeuvres, the highlight of which was a foie gras mousee, then a pork belly entree, followed by a salad, and finally a peach desert. Each course was fantastic, and the wine pairing were perfect. I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone.

    (5)

  • Lisa K.

    Everything here was done very, very well. However, there was nothing that absolutely blew me away. I respect the incredible amount of work and commitment to food that it took to put a six course meal together so precisely. Still, I was left wanting something more..... The wine pairings were too heavy on the whites but were all excellent and some were unexpected in flavor. The chairs were uncomfortable. The foie-gras bon bon was great, as was the steak tartar, the cardamom shortbread on the cheese plate, and the olive oil ice cream. The service was fantastic. Overall a pleasurable experience and I'll probably go back.

    (4)

  • Bora K.

    Having dinner at Beast is like going to a fabulous dinner party. The communal dining and two seatings per night create a sense of intimacy and an amount of anticipation of who you might end up sitting and dining with. We actually met a very cool couple also from CA who had an almost identical eating itinerary and were also staying at the Ace Hotel. Lively conversation ensued and the meal was quite memorable not only because of the food but the very cool company. A very memorable meal indeed. More info and photos can be found at alamodejournals.com/inde…

    (5)

  • Deanna N.

    I can't stop going here for the recession dinners. They are going to recognize me with my corkage. Ok by far I am addicted to top Chef Master's and root for Naomi weekly, and the spread her peeps put out....yowza. The best chicken broth based french onion soup. The best rib-eye on ramps and green veggie assorts! All went so well with my Sineann Merlot I brought back from wine tasting for the $10 recession session corkage. PS I am the girl who has no flash on her camera and is taking pics of the chefs as they prepare.

    (5)

  • Geoff K.

    Naomi Pomeroy started the community dinners in the back of a catering company "Ripe". From those roots sprang this restaurant. With two seatings per evening, sat at community tables , Naomi recaptures the feeling of these early dinners. Beast offers a price fixed dinner (you can add a wine paring) that changes from week to week. While many chefs spend a lot of their time and attention on main courses, Naomi gives early courses a tremendous amount of attention. This can mean that the main course isn't the crescendo of the evening, but her dinners really are designed to be enjoyed as a whole. Beast is a special place in Portland absolutely worth eating at.

    (5)

  • Tabitha B.

    Beast is not the kind of restaurant you're a "regular" at (unless you're making serious bank and living in the Concordia district). It's the place a guy takes you if he really wants in your pants. Or to marry you. Or it's your birthday, and you have people around that are good planners. Or your fabulous Bellevue friend comes to town, and fate sits you down at the last two seats on Saturday night. Two long, communal tables flanked the open kitchen and assembly prep area, with our two (painful) chairs waiting. In a room without air conditioning on a 90+ degree day, the chilled soup was a welcome first course. Very floral and fresh, it was a little too lavendar/perfume tasting to me. Maybe because I don't have much experience with chilled soup or edible flowers. We chose the pairing flight, which offered a small pour of a specifically selected wine with each course. It's odd to have a Portland menu sans any Oregon wine (bordering on sacrilege, actually), but paired so well with the simple, lovely food, it couldn't have been more perfect. Beast's signature meat tasting plate made all the little bites I'd seen on Iron Chef America real and tastable. The blood sausage is rich, a bit smoky, like a deep country-style pate. Loved the smooth, salty chicken liver mousse cut with a snappy house cracker. The winner was the pork shoulder rilettes with Seville marmalade. I could eat an entire trough of that candy. Imagine the best pulled pork you've ever had, topped with a note of sweet citrus. The fennel salad in the center, again, very welcome in the heat alongside the heavy. Each bite is decadence squared. In between this and the main course, we were treated to an "off script" intermission - a berry-something sorbet along with a red wine that tasted like jam and sunshine. Those two playing on my tongue, basking in their season... probably my favorite taste of the night. Beef Cheeks might sound like something you'd pick up in the "Others" bin at WinCo, but this is an elegant, mild and tender cut. And with that cloud of horseradish cream and sea of flavorful jus, how could you not ravage it? The cheese plate featured mild selections, including a very good French soft-ripened. I kind of gave up on these; quite a few imports have a funk. The scene was stolen by the candied hazelnuts, spiked with a flowery honey. The point of the communal table was lost on our crowd - we were surrounded by unfriendly Portlanders (or maybe visitors from San Fran? Portlanders are usually a *little* friendly), and they kept their conversations tightly to themselves. But I was in good company that I don't get to see very often, so seriously whatever. It was probably better than having some couple from Fremont debating the new plastic bag ordinance. After dessert, the bill was left with dark chocolate-dipped bacon. It just doesn't get any more Portland than that.

    (5)

  • Daniel P.

    Hmmm...I know I have reviewed this place, but it has disappeared. Dinner - The qail stuffed with foie stuff might be the best thing I have put in my mouth. Love the kitchen dinner setting. Nicely, complex, and approachable dishes Well portioned Well trained staff Still one of the best places in Portland - we have been a half dozen times and recommend it.

    (5)

  • Albert S.

    I've been to Beast three times - once for brunch and twice for dinner. Each time I've had some of the best food of my life. Both brunch and dinner consist of two seating times with mostly communal seating. The ambiance is fabulous - the food is prepared on a giant wood island right in front of the diners; the menus says "Substitutions politely declined"; one of the walls has written phrases like "If we weren't meant to eat pig, why is it made out of bacon?" The last time we ate there, we had a six-course meal for $60 per person: 1. Zucchini, Walla-Walla onion & goats milk yogurt soup 2. Foie-gras bon-bon, sauternes gelee, steak tartare & quail egg toast, chicken liver mousse & pickled shallot, locally made-Olympic Provisions salami, and pork shoulder rilettes 3. Roasted guinea hen with slow-cooked Creative Growers broccoli, and cherry tomato confit & herbed aioli 4. Mixed summer lettuces with roasted marinated peppers and shaved Pecorino & fried almonds 5. Selection of Steve's cheese, cracked black pepper & Fluer de Sel shortbread, Oregon wildflower honey, and poached apricots & candied hazelnuts 6. Sweet corn cakes with anise syrup, fresh fig ice cream, and caramelized fig Everything was delicious. The roasted guinea hen was without a doubt the best poultry dish I can remember ever eating. Make reservations early. Do NOT miss out on this experience.

    (5)

  • Jan Mark H.

    One of the best places locally-sourced fine dining. The seating is great with only two large tables and servings in two groups. It engages people in conversation and great exchange of new food recommendations. The food was great and in particular the charcuterie plate was outstanding with the Foie Gras bon-bon (only the cracker underneath was a little bit missplaced) and the unbelievable curried pork with plum marmalade. Also the braised duck leg was wonderful

    (5)

  • Todd M.

    I've been wanting to come here since.. forever... having been infatuated with the place more and more with every review and article read, and especially with the pig porn pictures.. love them. So, when my bday rolled around this year I finally made a reservation for us and another couple. 6pm seating.. we were about 10 mins late and called to let them know.. turns out it didn't matter, as we weren't the last to arrive and they still hadn't even put water in the glasses yet. I threw myself completely at their mercy and took whatever was offered, both in food and wine ( something I never do with wine ) 6 courses.. probably about 2 more than was necessary. 1st course was mushroom soup toppled with Oregon black truffle.. nice truffles, and soup was good.. but not an auspicious start. 4th course was a citrus salad.. again, seemed just like a "filler" course.. not much substance. Cheese course was good. Dessert was marginal. the Amuse of choc covered bacon at the end was a nice touch, but the bacon was greasy.. should have been rendered a bit more. Overall, the food was good. Great? no, not really. Interesting and well prepared, but nothing that made me go "wow". Am I spoiled? maybe.. but as I was sitting there, I was wishing that we had gone to Toro Bravo or Higgins, for some food that was really interesting. I was very excited to try the foi gras bon bon.. and after eating it.. was just "meh".. I prefer my fois gras simply seared. This was an interesting experiment.. but fell flat in my humble opinion. Service was good.. but again, could have been better. I was watching a female server and a male server who were involved in a very Funny conversation while we were watching our soup get cold on the counter. Other than that, they kept the wine flowing and water glasses filled. I too, think that $30 for every 750ml corked is a bit excessive, but after experiencing the wine flight ( $140 for for 4 ) I know why they stick to their guns. between the four of us, we consumed approximately 2 bottles of wine ( most of which I recognized and none have a retail of more than $15., most are less ). So they easily made $100 on wine alone. I should have brought the magnum of Oregon Pinot Noir I had planned.. would have saved us $50 and given us better wine to drink. I don't want to appear as if I'm slamming Beast, because I'm not. I think it's a great experience and for $100+tip per person, it is definitely something every foodie should try once. I just don't think there is enough going on to warrant a second visit. There's nothing served here that isn't being done as well by Simpatica, John + Caprial, or anyone of a number of set price dinners, for signficantly less. The one reason I really went there ( to see the Pork Goddess Naomi in the flesh ) wasn't there.. and based on some other reviews I've read, it looks like that makes all the difference.

    (3)

  • Vive l.

    Just lovely, I've dined here 4 times, every one its never disappointed. The kind of place where you remember what you ate a year later- I honestly do! Its not for everyone- which is a plus in my book. Just choose your company wisely, orient them beforehand about the fixed menu. A total fave.

    (5)

  • Makenna C.

    I waited to finish my review of Beast until I had eaten a dinner as well as a brunch there (especially since it won best brunch from WW). Having fulfilled this requirement this morning at 10AM, it's time to dive in. What I love about Beast as well as most tasting menu style restaurants is that it's an experience. You block out 2-2.5 hours for a paced meal where you have time to spend with your dining partners, watch your food be plated... you know - breathe and savor. As far as the food, the dinner I ate at Beast was great and exploratory, but the food didn't really WOW me as much as I would have loved it to. Was it good enough (and the experience enjoyable enough) for me to return? Obviously. Brunch at Beast was incredible. Especially at $28 for an amazing four courses and enough hot French press to rocket me into oblivion (and keep me from passing out mid-meal, food coma style). I can say with certainty that I'll return to Beast in the foreseeable future, and until then, I'll probably be dreaming about it.

    (5)

  • Giggly C.

    This weeks buffalo dish was amazing. Came with friends from Germany. I didn't know how much thought went into the wine pairing and food (certain oils imported from same regions as the wine and paired perfectly? wow). They were so gracious about us being late and we didn't miss any of the courses. I think it's hit or miss if you like all the food, but overall, after 3 times, 2 of 3 were amazing and 1 was pretty good. That's not bad considering the menu changes every week!

    (5)

  • Sophie C.

    I loved the mellow atmosphere of the place; it managed to convey that you were in for a special meal, without any stuffiness. The staff seemed to work in harmony with each other, probably due to working closely together for so long, and it was fun to watch them prepare the meals. They made it look so easy, which is probably partly due to their definite skill and partly due to a lot of the heavy lifting being done in advance. My male companion found the chair almost unbearable, but it didn't bother me. As these reviews will tell you, you sit with others, and will most likely be expected to make conversation. Luckily, we went on a Wednesday for the the 8:45 seating and had three empty seats in front of us. But the atypical seating style help to make it a special evening, even for introverts, I would hazard. The food was lovely, though I was getting a little full by the time the entry came. My favorite course was probably the chilled vegetable soup-- flavorful and refreshing. The entree was tasty, but the combination of pork + potatoes + tart fruity sauce made it feel like a fall/winter holiday meal, rather than something for high summer. The various ingredients were all delicious and even though I spent more than I usually do, it was well worth it. I hope I have another reason/special occasion/windfall to go back.

    (4)

  • Kyle D.

    Excellent experience. The food was wonderful and perfectly paired with the wine. Expensive as all get out, but worth it for the experience. Being able to watch the food preparation was almost as exciting as the dining portion. I thought I wouldn't like the communal seating, but it turned out to be a nice experience. On the negative side, it would be nice if they had some place for people to mingle before the seating takes place. If your dinner starts at 7:30, there is no point in arriving early, because all you'll be able to do is cool your heels. Although, I guess that's the reason that Yakuza is next door.

    (5)

  • Gina W.

    I was in Portland for the holidays with my bf's family and we wanted to try out a nice dinner one night and heard good things about this place. It's a communal table dinner however since it wasn't a fully booked dinner we had little interaction with our other dinner guests. Our courses were: Leek/Kale soup Charcuterie plate Roasted Duck Beets, goat cheese and Arugula salad Cheese course Lemon souffle We also shared a wine pairing along with it. I would say the dishes were good with my favorites/memorable being the soup and the charcuterie plate. The duck was cooked perfectly however to me a tad salty, the salad was refreshing but the wine paired with it made a very bitter taste in my mouth. The last 2 courses I wasn't a fan of the wine paired with it, it almost overpowered the flavors. And my dessert was a tad runny on the bottom. Overall, I was stuffed by the end of the meal, the atmosphere was comfortable and entertaining being able to watch the kitchen work in front of you.

    (4)

  • Trent W.

    So, I turned older and went on a bit a food splurge. That included Commis in Oakland (James Syhabout, nominated best new chef Good and Wine 2010), and Beast (Naomi, 2009). Because people have said so many other good things about the places, I'll just make a short comparison. Commis is food executed and presented to perfection. It's modern, stylized, and delicious. Beast is the single best dinner party you've been to, with a friend who knows their protein in a intimate way. Commis combines incredible visual food with astonishing flavor. Beast brings the flavor and let's the space add the ambiance. I liked them both, and they're two of the best places I've ever been to. But if I had to pick one -- I just feel more at home at Beast. Seeing the chef dance at the end of the night to Beyonce while they cleaned closed it.

    (5)

  • Matt T.

    What a brunch experience! Easily the finest meal I've ever had at 10am; Beast sets the bar high. Their four course pre-fixe brunch is an incredibly sweet and savory way to start the day! The care and quality was evident in every delicious bite. While everything was excellent, the Cherry Clafoutis with bacon and the Beast hash with duck-confit were the highlights of the meal for me. Brunch was so satisfying in fact that I was ready to take a nap afterwards. :P If you're planning to visit Portland (hell, this brunch is worth the trip!) be sure to make a reservation in advance for one of their two seatings (10am and noon).

    (5)

  • Andy O.

    Holy one-of-the-best-meals-of-my-life, Batman. In every single course, I had a put down the fork moment. Some of the highlights (of the highlights) were the tartare and quail egg toast, foie gras bonbon, the French lentil soup, oh damn... this is pointless. I'm gonna end up naming the whole menu. The only let down was when the menu promised tails and trotters pork and a pork tenderloin arrived. It was brought to my attention that Tails and Trotters is the name of the farm that the pork comes from. My disappointment abated when I tasted said pork. I really can't stop thinking about that meal.

    (5)

  • Lawrence L.

    1)I go PDX 3 times a year because of BEAST. 2)Reservation is a MUST. 3)There is only one MENU. Substitution politely declined.. =) 4)$60.00 you will have 6 dishes. (soup, amuse bouche (foie gras bonbon), main dish, salad, cheese and dessert) 5)Gosh if I live in Portland.

    (5)

  • Easter E.

    I went here about 18 months ago, but would like to write a review.... let's see what I can remember... I like the setup of the interior... Only room for about 20 people? And the table we sat at was one big communal table w/ another couple and another party. The plating area is cool b/c it's this huge counter and you see them lay out each course and they plate everything at the same time. I don't remember every course we got. The rabbit and leeks were OK... I think I'm not too big a fan of rabbit. The pea soup was good. I got the wine flight pairing with my meal, but didn't like the wines that much... (So while the food, service, atmosphere were pretty good, I REALLY, REALLY enjoyed eating this 6-set-courses way. Basically you sit down... and the only decision you have to make is do you want the wine pairing or not.... otherwise you just sit there and let them serve you what they got... no substitutions, no decisions, maybe a few questions, but that's it. It's kind of relaxing and interesting and I wish I could eat like that all the time!! I'm not a picky eater, so someone just put good food in front of me! ) It was kinda pricy including the wine flight.. but oh well I never eat like this so it's fine to splurge every now and then... oh... and what a great name to name your restaurant!!! BEAST!

    (4)

  • John K.

    I went here for a celebration, and I had high expectations that were pretty easily met. As you can gather from their website, they have a six course menu and you sit at one of two communal tables and enjoy it over the course of about 2.5 hours. You are able to overlook the prep station and see them plate everything, which is a bonus. The space is great, it has wonderful ambiance, good music, and very helpful waiters. There is an optional wine pairing with each course, but I am more of a beer person and their selection (while slim) comprises 6 or so wonderful ales. Menu changes weekly, so it won't be much help to talk about exactly what we got, but the ingredients were top notch and everything (even the few items that were not ALL the way there on taste) was cooked impeccably and had great texture and temperature. It was in the top five of the most expensive meals I've ever purchased - including Michelin starred restaurants - but I think it was well worth it. Enjoy!

    (5)

  • Nicole L.

    An interesting place to go. Great for a large group. My husband and I enjoyed several of the courses and thought a few were bland or off the mark a bit. We wouldn't go back, due to the price, we think there are other ways to spend a couple hundred dollars, but it was a nice one-time experience.

    (3)

  • Matthew C.

    This is an event. Clear you night, because this is it for the evening. Afterwards you are going to want to slump over a hibernate for 6 months. The entire meal took nearly 3 hours. I thought the service was great, the food was exceptional, and the communal seating was really fun. The place definitely attracts crazy foodies, so you can hear about all their other favorite spots too. My girlfriend and I thought it was possibly the best dining experience we've ever had...and we're no slouches! (Ok we love in-n-out , but who doesn't?)

    (5)

  • Stacey H.

    They offer 2 seatings, and the menu is fixed with no substitutions. Only very good restaurants get away with this. Beast is very good. I went for dinner. I'm not usually into weird cuts of meat, but decided if I am going to eat a foie gras bon bon, I might as well have an excellent one. I had to stop conversation several times during dinner because I was so amazed by the flavors. I was catching up with a friend so I didn't really talk to people around me. I liked the communal seating. I drove, so I was nervous about having the entire wine pairing. The server was patient and suggested 2 wines that would compliment several courses. Chicken liver mousse, apricot soaked in champagne... I wouldn't normally order these things, but I loved them. Even the little gem salad with lemon garlic anchovy dressing was amazing. Service was great: they explained all the dishes and what pairings are ideal. I was pleasantly stuffed after dinner (did not eat bread, I didn't want to get too full and was excited to try everything) I wanted a really delicious and fun dining experience, and I was not disappointed. Everyone seemed equally excited to have a special dining experience. I would not try to go without a reservation (maybe it's not always full, but it was when I went)

    (5)

  • Stephan S.

    I did some research about Beast before committing to reservations and found a lot of negative reviews about the communal dining setup, the wait staff, and the food, even so, I jumped at the opportunity to try this place. We arrived right at 6pm and the waiters (who serve as hosts as well) allowed us to choose between the large communal table or the smaller one near the front window. We chose the large table because it faced the prep area. Immediately the waitstaff asked us the kind of water we'd like and whether or not we'd be having the wine pairing (of course we would). When the food started arriving I was overwhelmed. Every course was delicious and paired perfectly with the wine. The meat course, a braised pork belly, had a crispy outer crust but the inside melted in my mouth. Overall, the menu, the atmosphere, the waitstaff, and the wines all exceeded my expectations.

    (5)

  • Rene C.

    We make it an annual pilgrimage to Beast. It's not a place you would eat at once a week, or even once a month, unless you have lots of $$$ to spend. We don't, so once a year works just fine for us. A quick breakdown of what to expect: * wine pairings are offered for each course for additional $$ * six course meal. The portions may seem small, but after six courses, you're not going to be asking for someone to wheel you out. * if you're vegetarian, vegan, or have food allergies, you may want to skip this place. "Substitutions [are] politely declined." * community table seating: it's not going to be "romantic" for some of you. You're here for the food. You'll most likely meet some cool people who will share be sharing this dining experience with you. * you can watch your food being prepared/plated throughout the meal, since you're technically eating in the kitchen. * french INSPIRED food. There will be things you have never heard of and some you will. Restaurants like Beast will not serve you a burger with a side of fries. Go in with an open mind and an empty stomach.

    (5)

  • Megan B.

    Wow, wow, wow. Beast is one of those restaurants that's not just about a meal but an experience. It's a 6 course fixed menu, with no choices. This may sound bad, but it's actually wonderfully relaxing to just sit back and enjoy the meal without worrying about what to order or what's best there. The portions are just right so you leave fulling full and happy but also happily eat everything they give you. It's hard to even begin to choose what my favorite part was. Maybe the ham pot pie for transformed my opinion of pot pie, the mouthwatering cheese plate, or the yummy tomato soup. I cannot reccomend this place enough. Totally worth the price. oh and if you're in the mood get the wine pairings, it's fun to try how the wine goes with each course.

    (5)

  • Carlo X.

    Decent food. Not big on the table sharing. Had high expectations and was a little let down overhearing others conversations or watching the dude next to me fumbling around with his knife and fork, cutting meat like a five year old. The fixed course I had during my visit centered around rabbit. Definitely the best I've had so far. The wine pairing was acceptable. Go with a group to occupy the majority of the seating. Steer clear if you're a couple.

    (3)

  • David N.

    Two weeks after the fact, I still remember all six courses in detail. For me, that is rarely the case. My girlfriend and I had a great meal at Beast. No complaints whatsoever. Attentive staff, great food, cozy atmosphere. I could do without the communal seating, but to be fair, I NEVER like communal seating. Tip: They seat first come, first served, so if you want to watch the ladies work their magic in the kitchen, get to your seating early.

    (5)

  • Karin W.

    Our first visit was last year, and as we sat there, eating some of the most incredible food we have ever enjoyed, we wondered who we could bring with us the next time. Our son and his father would be perfect! And, it was. The look on my son's face, with the first taste of the soup, was joy, pure and simple. We knew to eat light that day, as we would want to savor every bite; Phil hadn't eaten that day, and he thought he was in heaven. He asked Naomi to marry him (which would have made his wife a little upset).... We were served pork chops with a African pepper sauce that defies description. We suggested she bottle it, she'd be very rich! Every mouthful was extraordinary. I just wish she would get different chairs! One should be very comfortable, as you sit for almost two hours. Otherwise......I can't wait to go back again.

    (5)

  • Bev L.

    After hearing about the wonderful restaurant that is Beast from several friends, we knew we had to give it a try on our weekend trip to Portland. Since we had dinner sorted out, we decided to go for brunch on our way out of town. Beast has 2 seatings for brunch: 10:00 a.m and and 12:15pm. We had originally made reservations for 12:15, but found that we were up early and ready to hit the road. After a quick phone call, they were very accommodating and we were able to change the ressies to 10am. Brunch consists of 4 courses: something sweet, a hash, a cheese/salad plate and dessert. The "something sweet" was a raspberry clafoutis with a piece of maple glazed bacon- crispy, sweet, delicious. I would have been happy with just the piece of bacon, but the clafoutis was very flavorful and light. The "Hash" was a braised pork shank with potatoes, green garlic, morels and topped with a poached egg and hollandaise. Wonderful! So packed with flavor that I only wish I had a piece of bread to mop up the "sauce" since I decided it would be impolite to lick my plate. Alas I had to leave some behind. The cheese course consisted of three samples ranging from mild to pungent accompanied by a light salad. The meal finished with a small slice of heavenly chocolate truffle cake with salted caramel ice cream. Not too heavy, and just the right size. The price for this wonderful meal: only $28! A steal for the quality of food, presentation and service. We'll be back, Beast. Because we loves us some tasty animals!

    (5)

  • Tim C.

    OMG you must go to the Beast in Portland and have their Foie-Gras Bon-Bon (Foie-Gras on a round of Peanut Shortbread with Sauternes Gelee square on top with a sprinkling of Fleur de Sel)! Post desert (which was very respectable) and a second Foie-Gras Bon-Bon, they served a sliver of Maple Glazed Bacon Dipped in Chocolate (3 of my favorite foods), YUM! The Lamb dish was good but the Tomato & Prune Confiture was overbearing. Very nice staff, communal tables were plain and the chairs were awful; but, who cares they have Fois-Gras Bon-Bons to die for!

    (5)

  • Jim T.

    Just a quick note to say that Beast deserves all the praise it is getting. I tried to get some photos but the room was too dark. My wife and I went for my birthday last week and had a hell of a time. The communal dining option (really more of a mandate) can sometimes be sketchy but this worked out fine. Our table did all six courses plus the wine pairing so we were all on the same page. Any restaurant which has a memorable palette cleanser (lemon thyme sorbet that felt like you were sucking an entire bunch of thyme) that equals all courses is a pretty good start. The portions were expectedly small but each was incredibly delicious. Other favorites were the foie bon bon and pork and prune pate (from the charcuterie plate), the neal's yard stilton from the cheese course and the lobster creme fraiche served with the soup. The lamb was good but not the pinnacle of the meal. The consistently high quality, awesome wines, interactions with the chef and overall great service made this is a great way to drop $200 for a night.

    (5)

  • Belle M.

    The highlight of our weekend getaway was our pre-fix meal at Beast. It solidified my appreciation to the Portland culinary scene. The food was fresh, simple and amazingly tasty. The quality of ingredients was reminiscent of ingredients used at Chez Panisse. I even saw a sign at the farmers market earlier that some heirlooms were going to be used at Beast, that's farm to table practice! I appreciated the fact that you actually see the chef prepare the food in front of you, like a couple of feet away. Since there were at most 20 people in our sitting, the dinner felt intimate. The servers were friendly and attentive. However, my only criticism that the wines used in the pairings were not local (most were European wines) when there are excellent local alternatives. The decor was simple, rustic and cozy, I esp liked the communal table which would have facilitated some type of conversation but for the anti-social people that were at our table. A truly unforgettable dining experience.

    (5)

  • Brandy J.

    This was, by far, one of the most unique dining experiences I've ever had. We went for Sunday Brunch at noon. Since it's communal dining, there are two seatings to choose from - 10am & 12pm. The brunch includes bottomless mimosas and an amazing spread of dishes. The tables (2 long dinner tables) are set up around the kitchen, so it feels like you're at a friend's house watching them prepare a meal. While 5 girls cooked, hip-hop music blared in the background to which I sang along. I mean, rapped along. I can't be certain if the food tasted great simply because the room was filled with the aromatic scent of candied bacon (I apologize to my non-carnivorous friends - I mean, the place is called Beast), but everything was so flavorful. Some of the dishes included: bread pudding with candied bacon, poached eggs, lamb and brussel sprouts. If you're ever in Portland, you HAVE to try this place. I can't wait to go back. Oh - and be sure to use the bathroom. The walls are covered in clever quotes as is the main dining area.

    (5)

  • Kody L.

    I couldn't have asked for a better Birthday experience. The uneasiness of wondering who we'd have to be friendly with at the communal seating arrangement was better than we could have expected: Yelpers Hazel (the Don of Orange County) and Mike were tons of fun to hang out with! My favorite course happened to be the first one served: potato leek soup was so flavorful, I don't know how I'd recreate it. The artichoke and mushroom toast was equally as amazing with the cheese spread. With so many options, you can't do wrong with the charcuterie plate. The only disappointing thing about it for me was that I was anticipating the foie gras bon bon to be one of the highlights of the meal, but it ended up being my least-favorite -- it was just way too salty. Everything else on the plate was great! Rabbit on Easter weekend was my idea of a good time. It was pretty tasty, too! The servers had a good sense of humor about it all and I really enjoyed watching all the plates come out on the prep tables. I guess I could go dish-by-dish, but the menu changes, so I don't know how helpful it would be. Just know that the dishes are delicious and worth the price (oh, it's pricey!). There was so much food that by the time dessert came around, I couldn't finish it. There was no way I would salivate over anything put in front of me. Wonderful service and I had a great time! It's so nice to get there and just be told that the food will be coming out without any decisions on my part. Be aware that this dinner will run somewhere in two and a half to three hours range.

    (5)

  • Ela M.

    Thanks to the economy, I recently got a bad case of the poverties. Needless to say, it was taking me a while to raise money for the epic dinner with wine pairings I wanted to do. Well, all the Beast hype I kept hearing finally gave me an uncontrollable case of the antzies, so I went the cheap(er) route: BRUNCH. I had an epic four course brunch ($28) which included coffee and/or juice, and tacked on a $5 mimosa for myself. The space is small and has family-style seating with only two tables, so I was wondering how it would be. The staff cooks right in front of you and they managed to produce amazing food, offer tons of information about what I was eating and were super attentive. The meal started with a brown butter crepe with maple glazed bacon. Second course involved a short rib turnover and a poached egg served with potatoes, asparagus and turnips. Course three was a selection of cheeses with greens in a delicious sherry-balsamic vinaigrette. Course four (officially the deal-sealer!) was a perfect custard with a rhubarb puree and an herb tuile. Beast went beyond my expectations. It was simple, it was beautiful and it was really good. I mean...if you want a meal that's going to give you a sweet case of tummy party or make you fist pump in triumph after each bite (while tears for fears plays, mind you), throw down the cash and GO.

    (5)

  • Andrew K.

    I cant say anything, you wont hear me over how awesome this place is. Trust me, just go. And call in advance.

    (5)

  • keith p.

    Where can you going to find a better brunch tasting menu? Seriously, if somebody knows, tell me.

    (5)

  • Jason T.

    I once had a girlfriend named Pomeroy. I won't mention her full name. Everyone deserves their privacy. As far as relationships go, she might have been the biggest disappointment. I was young, 18. I met her at a reading. We lived in the same dorm. She was older, 21, tall, slender and wild. She hung out with John Waters. She enjoyed picnics in cemeteries. She liked gay clubs and vintage Chanel, introduced me to Syd Barrett and Opal. She claimed she could play Mozart backwards in her head. She slit her wrists when she was 17. This, at the time, was my perfect girl. I fell head over heels. We seemed perfect for each other. I fit her bill. I could play Mozart, fancied myself a composer, played in a Ska band, DJ'd dance parties into the wee, wee hours. I even wrote poetry. What cemetery hanging girl doesn't love poetry? Of course, after a few turbulent months of crazy young love, she ended up leaving me for another women. Such is the story of my life's and love's disappointment. Such is how I felt about another Pomeroy and her restaurant Beast. I thought we'd be perfect for each other. She loved offal, had a restaurant that subverted the white-tablecloth genre of casual fine dining. She was into bold flavors and Dylan. Even her advertising spoke to me. What guanciale lover wouldn't want to see a pig's head in a print ad. It took me a long time to eat here. Perhaps I was simply too shy to go and walk over to her and ask for her sweetbreads. When I finally did last week, it seemed everything I thought about her was wrong. Beast's food was low on the bold flavor notes I gravitate towards. The first course, a smoky tomato soup, struck one note, tomato. The second, a meat plate, was overly sweet on the palate, especially the foie gras, which resembled poop on a cookie, but tasted like chocolate. The third course was the best, but as the song says, I guess their best wasn't good enough. The beef tenderloin in croute was perfectly cooked, tender and rich. The demi-glace however was a bit overpowering, and the accompanying gratin only made it heavier. Even shaved truffles couldn't save the dish, their intensity squelched by the sauce. Smartly the fourth course followed with a lighter note, a giant prawn on a salad of celery hearts. Conceptually right, execution not so much, the prawn chewy and flavorless, the celery overpowering. Unfortunately, the food wasn't the low point, that was reserved for the communal seating arrangement. My girlfriend and I were seated our back to the kitchen, two-by-two, directly across from a young couple. Now, I suppose this move was to encourage communitas, light conversation, to create a convivial we're all in this together, perfect, secret dinner party atmosphere. It felt more like a blind date. Our dining companions seemed to dislike our world-weary ennui. They rode bikes and stayed in hostels. We don't ride bikes. Hostels scare me. The whole experience was just terribly, terribly uncomfortable--physically. My neck ended up crinked after two hours trying to shun engagement. Beast just might have been my biggest restaurant disappointment ever. Another Pomeroy, another disappointment. I'm beginning to think the Pomeroy's have a feud with my kinsmen. Why I keep being drawn into their evil plot, I'll never know.

    (1)

  • Lindbergh M.

    This place is awesome! We drove from Seattle to Portland just to try this place out. Beast is an intimate restaurant. In fact, there are only two tables. A large table that seats at least 12 and a smaller table seats 6 so though you do not have much privacy it adds to the experience if you have interesting strangers around to converse with. One couple at our table was from Seattle as well and came to try out the food. From our conversations they seem seasoned epicurians and enjoyed the place. Another couple was there for the second time. It is relatively expensive to the places we usually dine but if compared to Rover's in Seattle or Cafe Juanita it is relatively less expensive especially when you choose the wine pairing.

    (5)

  • Chris B.

    There is nothing better in PDX. Naomi is an amazing chef and her Beast is simply amazing. Her menu changes weekly, but she can seriously cook. If I had to go to the electric chair tomorrow, she would be cooking my last supper. This place is special

    (5)

  • Jason M.

    I make a point of going here about once a year (that's about all I can afford). Classy, intimate, space with funny quotes and recipes scribbled on the wall. The first time I ate at Beast there someone got engaged, so we all got a flute of champagne. This time around I had the lamb. Delicious! Definitely make a reservation if you're trying to eat on a weekend. Oh, and as others have mentioned, it's communal seating. So don't keep giving me weird looks when I'm seated next to you.

    (5)

  • Mairead R.

    Service was great. We did the first seating, which I highly recommend. You get an early start on the enormous amount of food, don't get too drunk too early, and can watch the sun set as you pass by the courses. They always start with a soup, usually a seasonal vegetable, followed by their legendary charcuterie plate. But I'd rather tell you about the dessert: a perfect sphere of caramel ice cream (less salty than some of the trendy versions out there) with caramelized banana, a slump of heavy cream, and a chatter of peanuts. Simple, just like the rest of our meal. They offer freshly brewed Stumptown french-press as well. After six courses, the dessert could have lost-out but Beast made it the highlight of an otherwise decadent, made-especially-for you feast. While other raved, I didn't care for the crimson beet soup, which reacted oddly to the drizzles of crème fraiche. I promptly threw myself into the baguettes and salted butter. While the fois-gras bon bon was super good, I preferred the pungent housemade salumi and the chicken pate with maple candied bacon. Served on a buttery cracker, it was comfort food at its richest. For the main course, Beast served a new york steak (seemed like 6 ounces of meat) over chilled asparagus with a dollop of béarnaise, sliced potatoes sautéed in duck fat, and a phenomenal demi glace sauce. The presentation was so elegant and the flavors stood out, each to his own. (We were told that Naomi, the chef, had burned her hadn the night before making this recipe. Our Naomi-less experience was still great.) Fourth course was a salad of local greens with a ramp and ricotta toast. The wild greens packed a powerful punch and the toast highlighted the ramps fresh, springy flavor. It was the perfect prelude to the cheese plate, three cheeses (one goat and two sheeps) with a crumbly anise salt shortbread. The highlight though was the stonefruit poached in champagne. Mmm. Some folks have complained about the price. From my perspective, six courses for $52 (before alcohol) is impossible to beat. Have a drink before you go, skip the wine pairings, and get out of there for about $8 a course. I'm not clear how Beast isn't losing money with this pricing system, but it seems to work to everyones advantage.

    (5)

  • Melody D.

    Beast is hella expensive (like $75 a head expensive). And after five tiny courses and some well paired wines, you may or may not actually be full, though you will very likely be drunk. But the food... my goodness. Preface:: I'm completely ADD with my food, so when I go out with friends I always end up splitting dishes with two or three people, just so I don't get bored with my entree. And *that* is the miracle of Beast, see... because every course is like a 'best of' compilation of your favorite restaurants' amuse-bouches. Every bite you take is a different explosion of flavor on your tongue. (The meal is like a parade of tasting, with fireworks, floats and trumpets... (bad metaphors will reveal themselves to you at every bite!!)) Ahem. More importantly. Please do not miss out on the PANDACONDA in the bathroom. I'm not sure how no one else has taken note of her 'beastly' splendor...

    (5)

  • Andy W.

    Jeebus, Beast's yelp page is like a broken record. "Best meal I've ever had." "One of the best meals I've had in my entire life." "A perfect dining experience." "One of the best places in the USA." Ok, we get it: the food will blow your mind. So instead of flogging a dead horse, let's talk service. I was there for a birthday party with about 24 people tonight. 24 people are not easy to serve all at the same time, each wine being poured at the same time, each course being brought out at the same time. At every other restaurant I've ever eaten and probably will ever eat, if I've got 24 people with me, I'm going to expect something to go wrong or some waiter or waitress to have some attitude problems, and I'll always give the wait staff a pass. I know now that I've cut every other restaurant in the world too much slack. The folks at Beast were perfect. The service we were provided looked like a well-rehearsed ballet, every aspect carefully staged and choreographed. They even looked like they were having fun with it. Having fun serving 24 people, each of whom has drunk six glasses of wine? That's not easy to pull off. But oh, theirs was a nuanced performance, and they found ways to make even perfection seem ordinary; behold the following example. During the fifth course my friend lost the handle on her fork and it fell. Not even a second after it hit the floor with a high-pitched clink, before my friend had even made the neuro-physical connection between losing the fork and realizing she needed a new one, our waitress had already presented her with a new fork. That is some mind-blowing service. It goes nicely with mind-blowing food.

    (5)

  • Stefanie N.

    delicious food and you'll leave absolutely stuffed! My BF couldnt' stop talking about the foie grois bonbon!

    (5)

  • Komo B.

    I'm not going to write a long ass review, but what I will tell you is that Beast is an EXPERIENCE that everyone should try. The service was was spectacular! My favorite part was the communal seating, our group of friends made two more friends at the table and they joined us for the rest of the evening and it was a blast! Yes Beast is expensive, but you're worth it! Treat yourself to a good time and amazing food!

    (5)

  • Jonas T.

    If you were to pick one restaurant in Portland to splurge on, it would have to be Beast. Don't come if you're not open to eating anything though, e.g. pate, and don't bother making reservations if you're anti-social and against communal dining. You won't regret this meal. JONASAPPROVED!

    (5)

  • Scrantz L.

    oh BEAST! oh Feast! foie gras truffles! ahhh. braised duck leg with parsnip-potato mash. oohh. the best bouillabaisse I have ever had (and I make a good one)--mmmm we did the "wine pairing" -- where Naomi also chooses the wines for each course--- delish. no doubt one of the BEST places in the USA. OOoo!

    (5)

  • Benja F.

    Game recognize game. I'd put it in my top 5 meals. Maybe best meal in PDX so far... Anyone want to step to that? Bring it. Whatevs, put your jewels up. Love the name, love the decor, love the open kitchen, love the straight up, no bullshit approach to goodness. Each course had it's flourishes, none disappointed. Wine pairings were spot on, though none were truly transcendent (nothing to be ashamed of given the prices were not bad at all...) I'm gonna bring my hardcore food headz from NYC, SF etc and see if they front on the BEAST.

    (4)

  • Wasabi D.

    I've travelled the world and have eaten at Thomas Keller's Bouchon, Nobu in London and Gordon Ramsey's restaurant at Clareridges and they've been some of my most memorable meals. Beast rests solidly up there with the best. I have only been here for brunch so can't attest to how dinner goes, but we had a wholly satisfying meal for my husband's birthday last month. First of all the guy who I spoke with on the phone was super nice and very accomodating, especially when I had to change my reservation around. That's always nice to feel good about the place before even setting foot inside the door. The communal seating is hit or miss, but we were fortunate to be seated next to some very friendly, yet not instrusive people and had some interesting conversation--mostly about food and where we've eaten. The crepes were tasty, especially with the slice of bacon, the cheese plate/salad was fine and the dessert was faultless, though I'm not a huge chocolate fan, so I never swoon when faced with a dense chocolate cake. But the hash with the poached egg and hollandaise was so good I wanted to lick my plate, then my husbands, then the pan from where it came. It was that good.

    (4)

  • Nato S.

    Feeling a bit nostalgic for an upper west side Manhatten sort of evening? The Beast delivers. Not to get too pulp fictiony on you, but as we left i thought, "lets get something to eat." Don't bring a big appetite to this establishment just a fat billfold. When they asked us to leave it was like, "why are they kicking us out before the main course arrives?" I found it all very weird because you would think for $250+/couple you wouldn't remember a thing about this place except for the fact that you would wake up full, hopefully way hungover, and not feel like eating for 3 days. Not the case here. In fairness, we were with a group of 16 people, one of whom ordered 3 bottles of wine at, i would guess, in the $50-90 range so that boosted things a little. I personally, had one $20 bottle of beer, which was almost worth it because i like Belgian beer but the bottom line here is don't be fooled by the name. You would think with a name like Beast, one would be facing mounds of meat and some type of Viking ritual thrown in for good measure. What you get is a perfectly pretentious overpriced evening of frinkled pompadue, and 3 or 4 plates of hors d'oeuvres interrupted by a soup served in an oversized thimble barely big enuf to get a spoon into. I'm not going to lie to you here, the soup was dam good. But I'm pretty much a blue collar working stiff trying to make my no doc triple B rated traunch mortgage payments on time, while bailing out Wallstreet, so i've only heard of a cup of soup and a bowl of soup. Never heard of a shot of soup. So consider the source here. I was told later on, much to my surprise, that the main course was actually the cube of pork belly. And this is part of my frustration. If i'm going to surgically remove a 1/2" sliver of meat out of a cube of blubber, i want that cube of blubber to be carved out of something exotic or on the endangered species list like a blue whale, or rhino, or silver back ape. That way i could brag how i got a slice of that before we totally destroyed that select grouping of DNA. No. It was just a garden variety pig. If money is no object and you like hearing eloquent elaborence of the artfully done culinary prep , which takes about twice as long as it does to eat it, then by all means, Beast may be your destination. If you have to work for a living and don't want to fly to NY for this kind of enchanting evening but love eating little sculptures, then hit a mexican restaurant on the way and bring a few roadies to prime that buzz.

    (1)

  • Sarah L.

    Let me say that as much as I love the casual place and the neighborhood dive bar, I am quite fond of fine dining. My sister and her husband are both Michelin rated chefs, so I've had the pleasure of eating at some of the best restaurants in the country. When said sister came to town for the weekend, we made reservations at Beast. And we regret it. I never, ever want to see the chef and kitchen staff screwing around when I'm sitting there, waiting for ages, for the next course. And considering how much people pay to eat there, they should really pay better attention to the guests. The food wasn't anything special at all. It literally took 39 minutes to get a cup of coffee before the dessert course - we timed them. And then they charged us $10 for it. Really? So frustrating. Oh, did I mention my sister got food poisoning. My sister tried calling Chef Pomeroy, and 4 days later has still not received a call back. Of course it doesn't end there, this is the only place she used her debit card in Portland - and guess what got stolen - her debit card number. I see this completely as a chef banking on their celebrity status and taking advantage of the guests. Never again.

    (1)

  • Bret C.

    Had a great experience at the Beast! Really enjoyed the ambiance, a combination of an open kitchen, family style seating, and Nina Simone playing in the back round set the tone for a great dinner. I don't get out to nice restaurants like this much so I will keep my review simple. The food was sophisticated yet approachable, I'm a one fork kinda guy and glad to see the food served without the white table cloth. Our group loved the six course meal with wine paring, lasted around 2.5 hours, a perfect time line for food of this quality. The staff was excellent in presenting the food and tending to the guest without interrupting the dinning experience. Most importantly, everything I ate was excellent! After our meal we spoke to Naomi for a few minuets and she was thrilled to speak with us. Looking forward to trying the brunch next time I'm in town.

    (5)

  • Steve F.

    Before we go on a trip, I spend days researching the possible things to do and particularly where to eat. One place that was showing up on a lot of radars is out in a residential area in northwest Portland, the sort of place where I would look for a really good neighborhood restaurant but probably not for a top-flight restaurant. But this restaurant is Beast. It was opened in 2007 by Naomi Pomeroy, and has an unusual prix fixe format. It's like this: - You show up for your seating (6PM or 8:45PM; reserve well in advance) and are one of two communal tables (24 diners per seating) - You eat what is put in front of you-the menu is only a guide to what you will be served later. You have a choice of drinks (good wine list) - You try to keep from swooning as you dig into each course. Each course is prepared and plated at the open kitchen in the room; every seat is a chef's table seat. Ms. Pomeroy, her sous chef Ms. Paredes, and a couple of waiters and bussers run the whole show from there (okay, the sinks are in the back). Every plate is plated on the big island butcher table in the middle of the room. The food, of course, is the main show. It changes every week, so any menu you see online is just a view into how Ms. Pomeroy and her staff think about food. They are all-in to the slow-food, locally-sourced, snout-to-tail philosophies. Our dinner started with a carrot veloute and a pickled oyster served as a large shot. We are not normally oyster people-usually I find them bitter, and Herself is just not into raw bivalves. But in this case, the shiso pickling rendered the oyster exquisitely sweet and tangy; with the carrot veloute, it was a real treat as a starter. The next course was a charcuterie plate. Herself has gotten into minced organ meats in a big way of late; see the prior night's dinner for a sample. I will admit that I am still on the "eew! liver" side of the equation in most cases, especially when it's a big slab on a plate with toasts. But in this case, the course was five individual and different tastes of bits of raw and cooked meats. In this case: - Chicken liver mouse, on a cracker made with leaf lard - A bit of salami - Steak tartare, perched on the same toast as a poached quail egg - Pork rillettes - A foie gras truffle-a tender ball of foie gras, almost a mousse-with a tiny cube of gelled Sauternes Plus little dabs of mustard as seasoning. You're supposed to eat the foie gras last, as the texture and the Sauternes cube have a dessert-like sweetness. It's good advice, as is eating the tartare and egg toast in one bite. The main course was roast quail stuffed with bread, herbs, and-get this-rabbit hearts. Yes, there were these little lumps that really did look tiny hearts. Where do you even get rabbit hearts? This is truly hard-core omnivorism, or maybe omnivoraciousness, in the sense of eating every bit of an animal. The quail was served with tomatoes, caramelized cauliflower, and a demi glaçe that had us polishing the plates with the last of our bread. There was a salad at this point, very Continental. It turns out that salad is apparently an aid to digestion, and eating it after the main protein course seems to make more sense that up front. I have no idea, but it does work well as a palate cleanser and refresher after the main course. Thence to a selection of cheeses. I remember a blue, and Irish cheese, and a Manchego, with almonds and quince paste and figs. Is one supposed to clean an offering of cheese, down to the last bit of almond and quince? I have no idea what the protocol is, but we cleaned this one. The dessert was a brown butter pecan tart with ice cream and caramel, all made in-house, of course. A great finish to the meal. Really cool touch: once the salad had been served, the chef/owner took a big pitcher of water and went out side, several trips, to water the flowers and trees out front. That's a small crew.

    (5)

  • renee w.

    Ahhh... at long last a restaurant that actually lives up to all the hype! I had high expectations for beast and believe it or not they delivered. Our party of nine was treated to a fabulous evening of great service and really good well prepared food. The only downside were the wine pairing. Just ok. Too many sweet whites for my taste. Also, the pumpkin creme brulee was a bit gloppy after such a heavy dinner. Would have preferred a little texture to finish out the courses. Every other course of the dinner was mouthwatering. Loved my foie gras bon bon;-) and the steak tartare with quali egg was one of the best bites of food I have ever sunk my teeth into. Oh and dont even get me started on the short rib....It was perfection! Well worth the price for a fabulous special evening with friends. Would not recommend this place for couples looking for romance. The communal seating kinda forces you into a group date. I will be back!

    (5)

  • Gil S.

    service was great and food was even better. what more do you want? i will be going back for dinner.

    (4)

  • Jay G.

    When you go get the wine pairing with the meal. The food and wine are both amazing. The place is small and the group seating is fun. Get to meet new people, great conversation and wonderful food.

    (5)

  • Chelsea A.

    Seriously . . . the best meal I've had in Portland hands down. Possibly the best meal I've ever had in my entire life. Just looking at someone that left 4 stars for this place makes me want to weep. Seriously, WEEP! The food . . . oh my god . . . the food. Service was impeccable. (Someone else used that in their review but I, uh, liked it so I'm going to use it). They were the type of staff that you never wanted for anything BUT you never noticed that they were around. Water glasses got filled, clean silverware was brought out, questions that you didn't even know you had were answered. Atmosphere was LOVED. I'm a sucker for family style sitting. I'm always a sucker for places that only do two seatings a night because THAT IS how cool they are.

    (5)

  • Joe E.

    BEAST is an expensive place, and not one I would normally go to, but I had heard rave reviews, including from my two foodie sons, so when I got a gift of a meal there we all went to celebrate. I'm not a huge fan of the communal table, so I was grateful that there was only one other party in house that evening, and there was sufficient space between their birthday bash and our quiet family dinner. Well, relatively quiet anyway. I don't get the loud music in the place. It makes you wonder what management thinks the identity of place should be. On the one hand you have a very formal atmosphere as compared to ,say Le Pigeon, which has carved out a hipster-chic niche for itself, both with the food and the atmosphere. BEAST on the other hand looks and feels like a farmhouse kitchen, in the nicest possible way, and yet has fancy silverware and glassware, and loud VOCAL pop music. Hmmm ! The tomato soup was very good, but really tomato soup !?The garnish of deep fried ginger was, however, a masterpiece !A little sliver of ginger deep fried in panko breadcrumbs. Genius. What followed was a charcutire platter , where the steak tartare with quail egg was the star of the show. But hardly unique. There are dozen places in Portland alone who do a formidable steak tartare. The salami selections from Olympic Provisions were good, but they were from Olympic Provisions. So do we give the kudos to the chef for that or not ? The tiny salad in the middle however was outstanding. Watercress and micro-greens with an astonishing vinaigrette. But the braised lamb was in a tiny vol-au-vent pastry that was limp instead of crisp. The same with the cheese platter. They were all from Steve's Cheeses, with a neat circle of honey in the middle.I'm not saying the chef should have mde the cheeses, but there should have been SOME mark of the chef on the plate. The main course was actually disappointing.Pork loin. Probably the safest and most boring piece of pork you can get. Served with a balsamic vinegar, it was mundane and looked the work of a bored or lazy mind. When I was asked at the end of the meal what I thought was the highlight, I could only think of the fried ginger, and sadly I reflected that the highlight of the meal should never be the garnish for the soup.

    (3)

  • E W.

    Communal seating, which could be great and could be awful (didnt factor into my stars). Just keep that in mind when planning what kind of dinner you want. Like the other reviews say, it's pricey, but definitely worth it at least once. I went for Father's Day brunch and it was amazing. Caramelized bacon with a crepe, a sauteed duck breast, some cheese, and a great mimosa. This is more of an experience than just a show up and order type place. As far as I know, it's always pre-fixe style. The coffee was amazing (french press local brew). I only give it 4 stars because the portion sizes were smaller than I expected, and I've been to my fair share of "small portion, big price" type high-class restaurants; this was still on the smaller side. I understand it's so they can concentrate on quality and detail, but... i might be skewing this because it was brunch, and you expect that kind of thing out of dinner and not necessarily meals before noon. I'd recommend this for dinner if you want to have a fun, different kind of dinner night with a date or group of friends. Arrive early for your seating time to request a corner of a table so you're close to your friends. Check it out!

    (4)

  • Evan R.

    Beast just rocks. Ok so the place it a little quirky but that is the point of the place. If you want a cookie cutter restaurant go to Morton's or Olive Garden and stop reading Yelp for food finds. There are only 2 tables of communal seating one of 8 and one of 12 I believe. So if you go as a couple you will be sitting with a lot of people you don't know. But quite often I have found them to be interesting and food loving. There is only a set menu and a small but serviceable wine list as well as a nice BYOB with a small corkage. The menu changes weekly and is always meaty. They do offer wine glass flights to match the menu too. The service is great and everything gets plated in the open of the restaurant which is interesting to behold. But once the courses start coming you can loose track of that and just enjoy the food. Mmmmm the food is so tasty every course is an interesting twist and in our 4 visits so far we have yet to have anything that was not good.

    (5)

  • Jason H.

    The food and service are everything that is claimed. Perfect timing of dishes, perfect ambiance. Worth the price. An amazing fall meal!

    (5)

  • Will S.

    Having lived in NYC for going on 6 years now, I feel that I've experienced some incredible meals (think Il Mulino, Bouley, Gothams, etc), and I must say that Beast, in Portlandia of all places, is on par with some of NYC's vaunted dining establishments. The space is intimate, the chefs preparing your meal for you equally so, and the service is impeccable. The food is Pre-Fixe only and as it should be- you get roughly an 8 course meal that leaves you feeling full and satisfied in terms of variety. The beer list here is minimal, but extremely thoughtful and paired so well with the food (the way all good beer lists should be). Almost every course was amazing, the standout taste of my evening was the Foie Gras bon bon, think Foie Gras Gelato is all I can say. All the Charcuterie was exceptional, that was maybe the highlight of all the plates/portion. The pork tenderloin entree was juicy and delicious. My only complaint was dessert. If I could give Beast 4.8 stars I would because their dessert was disastrous. It was a sort of apple tart tatin, but you could tell it was perhaps the only true "pre-fab" item on the table, it just seemed like no love went into. And the caramelized topping was overcooked so it congealed to the sides of the plate which was very annoying. But, this was only a small blip in an otherwise incredible dining experience. On my next trip to Portland I shall return to Beast.

    (5)

  • Kitty P.

    Sometimes I think about how fortunate I am to live in Portland, where Beast is, and I well up in tears. There was a foie gras bon-bon on the appetizer platter that gave my life more meaning. It's inexplicable. Money should be no object here - please, think of all the ways we've frittered away $100 on video poker and lattes and give yourself the gift of your lifetime.

    (5)

  • Alissa R.

    Uhm... I don't even know where to start. Hands down one of the best and most original food experiences I have had in Portland. If you haven't been here yet... GO!!!! Just DO it already!

    (5)

  • Michelle K.

    Here's my first review! I had an excellent experience here at Beast. We'd timed out visit for the last week of August as a good send-off for me before going to Burning Man -- nothing like intense decadence before a week in the desert! Anyway. Everyone is seated all at once, and there are two servings a night, one at 6 and one at 8:45 pm. The service is attentive but not overwhelming. Corkage is $15 -- depending on your wine collection, it may be worth it, though I have heard great things about their flights as well. It is very meat centric and decadent. If your idea of a good time includes a charcuterie plate with the meats arranged in a clock, then this is the place for you! Seeing the food prepared en masse is also a great experience. The only slightly questionable aspect of our experience was an overly chatty person at our table who loved interrogating everyone else about their life stories. But some deflecting body language helps with that. Highly recommended! I'm hungry just thinking about it... yum...

    (5)

  • Ann S.

    Amazing! Right now this might be my favorite in Portland. For awhile it was Sel Gris, but my experience at Beast was over the top. If you're not into the communal dining, don't come here. I'm not the most outgoing person, but still I personally thought it was enjoyable meeting a few random folks. The setting is intimate and cozy, I felt like I was having dinner at a close friend's house. Also we happened to have the chef's father was sitting at our table, which was kind of fun! Overall each course was incredible and the portions were surprisingly large for a multi-course dinner. The servers were extremely knowledgeable, attentive and friendly. Everything was expertly prepared and plated, the ingredients were fresh and seasonal (and local when possible). I'd have to say I got a little too full toward the end and probably should have only had the 5 versus 6 course menu (but I couldn't resist!). I did not choose to do the wine pairings b/c I don't drink very much. However everyone I dined with did, and they said the pairings were great and really add to each course. I will definitely be back during another season, and I must head back to try brunch!

    (5)

  • Mary S.

    Hands down a phenomenal dining experience. It's a no brainer. Simple concept, extraordinary flavors, stellar execution, and superb service. It's a feast fit for a king.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    So good! I like the atmosphere too, how open the kitchen is, etc.

    (5)

  • Jenny K.

    This is the place I go when I want the best food in town and when I want to impress visitors from NY, SF and LA. I've been there countless times for brunch and dinner, and feel food euphoria at every visit. Don't go to Beast if you are a picky eater and always ask the chef to change something about the menu. "Substitutions politely declined." I agree whole-heartedly.

    (5)

  • Melody H.

    My bf took me to Beast on Valentine's Day. It was AMAZING! At first we were on the waiting list because it was all booked, but a few days later 2 seats opened up so we were very excited. The restaurant is tiny and located in a random area. It was my first time dining at a place w/ communal tables instead of individual tables and it was quite interesting. Service was great! All the waiters/waitresses were so coordinated and organized when they brought out our dishes. The menu that evening consisted of a 6-course tasting w/ wine pairing: -Cream of carrot w/ curried hazelnut salsa verde -Charcuterie plate: foie-gras bon-bon, sauternes gelee, steak tartare & quail egg toast, pork liver, sour cherry & pistachio pate, chicken liver mousse, and maple candied bacon -Seared duck breast w/ caramelized lentils & duck-demi glace -Beet, arugula & citrus salad w/ shaved sheeps milk cheese & candied kumquat viniagarette -Selection of cheeses -Coconut cream tartlette w/ pineapple sorbet mango/rum caramel. Every single dish was so unique. Preparation was beautiful and flavors were incredible. The foie-gras bon-bons were deeelish! I've never tasted foie-gras like that before. It was sweet...almost like dessert. Yum! Next time I'm in Portland, I'm going back.

    (5)

  • Marti H.

    "Best Food Experience in my life." If you go to Portland, OR and don't go to Beast you have made a HUGE mistake. If you live in Portland and haven't been get in there! Seriously, you must do the wine pairings too. I even recommend going alone if you are traveling on business. Seating experience is European where they place you at any open seat. The stranger next to you will soon be your new friend. The atomsphere is "like home" with five star service. Hope Beast becomes an experience of your living too.

    (5)

  • Megan C.

    Foie gras bon bon... need I say more? Hands down the best foie gras I have ever eaten, easily comparable to what I ate while traveling around France. The charcuterie plate was my favorite part of the entire meal! Wine pairings were phenomenal! The wines all paired so well with the foods they were being served, never over-powering or under-whelming. Well worth the extra $$. It was really hard for the rest of the menu to live up to the charcuterie and that foie gras bon bon. The rest of the meal was really good, but not great. Even so, I will definitely be going back for seconds, thirds and so on

    (5)

  • Julie D.

    Food was great but you have to sit in tiny, uncomfortable chairs for 2 hours. They literally left a pain in my butt for a good hour afterwards and it was hard to enjoy the wonderful food because of it. Won't go back unless the chairs improve.

    (2)

  • Mo M.

    I love that the chalk board wall says "never eat more than you can lift."

    (5)

  • Andrew B.

    I just want the world to know, that 7 months later, i'm still saying that beast is the best meal i have ever had. tonight i ate at some 4 diamond blah blah blah restaurant, but i still said, beast was better. so i find myself, here, on the net at 3am reminding you how great it is.

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    Beast, a unique take on eating out, no choices for the Indecisive, but rather a small singular and centralized six course menu approach. Great food, spot on pairings and enough small courses to have you rolling out of the establishment grunting in the relish of stuffed stomach pain. But is Beast worth five stars when compared to the price? and particularly for someone who can cook an amazing meal themselves? It's hard to say. For many people Beast would be the creme' de la creme' of meals... but for people who lament over recipes and meticulously create amazing meals at home I would say this ranks up there with what a talent home cook could so with a a sous chef and a wait staff to plate their food for them. Don't get me wrong the meal was fabulous and a splendid night off from the kitchen... but there just seemed to be an inventive uniqueness that didn't ever come through... Everything thing was perfectly prepared, beautifully executed, and all the while I was left with the question. "Where is the wow factor?" Even smaller less distinguished restaurants are traditional in their take on the indigenous culture of food... but at a 68dollar per person price tag, plus the 35 dollar wine paring per person... and coffee at 6 six dollars a night out for 250.00 for two is quite extravagant in my book and something I would expect to walk away feeling like I'd had the best food-gasam of my life.... Maybe another time, maybe another palate of tastes.... Beast puts forth a solid effort for well executed selections... if you want a safe bet and a romantic night out... this is your place... if you're looking for value, ingenuity, and risk.... I'd suggest Le Pigeon.

    (4)

  • Art B.

    An over rated, over priced phony establishment. I am a well traveled New Yorker who lives in Portland during the summer. I have eaten in some of the great restaurants of the world and some great places in Portland.....please take note ......the Beast is a Fraud. Small portions are an understatement....for an entre a brace of quail stuffed with rabbit hearts?...give me a break! And they don't really prepare the food from scratch in front of you as you dine and as advertised.....mostly it is prepared in advance and assembled and in some case finnished in front you. We were 6 experienced diners, ranging in age, professionals by trade, eclectic in taste.........all of us were angry that we didn't demand our money back, and call the better business bureau!

    (2)

  • Bowie F.

    Words cannot explain. The other night at Beast I tasted flavors together that brought me straight to heaven. Seriously

    (5)

  • Drea R.

    If you're a sucker for atmosphere, getting chatty at communal tables, hip hopping with chefs who look tired from making awesomeness 24/7 (though their hours may not reflect that), and are from out of town (every eating outing is automatically extra special), you'll dig this place. The staff was super chill, super nice, and any one of them can probably kick your ass with a skillet.

    (5)

  • Jo T.

    Another great restaurant in Portland. Nicole is awesome! Another destination restaurant.

    (5)

  • Mimi L.

    Beast was a smaller restaurant with two communal tables and an open kitchen. I loved the open kitchen which allowed all the diners to watch the cooking in action. Plus it's great if you don't want to talk to your dinner companion(s). As for the communal tables I wasn't a fan. Communal tables are great for lunch hours but for dinner at a restaurant like Beast I would have rather sat with my group and have a more intimate dining experience. Dinner was a set menu with a butternut squash veloute, Monterey Bay squid sald, charcuterie plate, sautéed squid salad, lamb loin chop, assorted cheese, and blood orange olive cake. The butternut squash veloute was my favorite. Very rich and creamy. The squid was well prepared and not rubbery but there were a lot of white bean that gave the overall dish a mushy texture. My lamb was a bit overdone. Like I said, food was good but not amazing. The service was a bit stiff. With such an intimate setting I wish that everyone that worked there would have been more interactive with the diners and with more character. I've been to supper upper crusty restaurant where I can joke with the guy and have him tell me where the best pizza joint are. Restaurants can be nice but it doesn't have to be boring. I would definitely go back for a second try.

    (3)

  • Jen S.

    We finally got to try Beast this past weekend. It was a wonderful meal and dining experience! The setting is classy with a cozy feel and they had a great varied selection of music (we really enjoyed the 90's hip hop mix toward the end of our evening!) Every dish was well put together with a many different flavors and textures. The portions were quite adequate for this type of dining experience. The wine pairings went well with each dish. The wait staff were pleasant, friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves throughout the evening. I was impressed to see that Naomi Pomeroy still makes time to be there to prepare the meals herself with all that she has going on recently. We definitely plan to go again someday. Although this is overall an expensive meal (especially if you get wine pairings), it is a good value for what you get. Be sure to call well in advance (3-4 weeks) for a reservation if you want to dine on a Friday/Saturday, especially if you want the 6:00p seating. I would not recommend this place for people who are picky about fat in/on your meat or organ meat as they do incorporate many different parts of the animals and some of the most delicious cuts, such as pork belly have quite a bit of fat.

    (5)

  • Grace C.

    An exceptional meal - one we'd happily fly back to Portland for. The husband and I aren't huge fans of communal dining unless you're friends and family, but we don't bite so it's okay. ;) Each course was incredibly thoughtful in terms of flavors and presentation. Surprisingly enough, the salad was the most memorable dish of the evening for me: cherries with baby arugula and grated blue cheese. The combination of sweetness from the cherries, pepper from the arugula and tang from the blue cheese is amazing. I won't wax on about each course since the menu changes weekly, but Beast is a not-to-be-missed experience and a delightful representation of Portland's culinary prowess. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Patrick C.

    As many others have posted, the food here is excellent, and so I won't get into the details of what was served when I have eaten here. What I feel sets this place apart was articulated well by Andy W. The service and experience that comes along with the amazing food and wine is second to none. The servers are knowledgeable, polite to a fault, and attentive. Best of all is that they meet all of your needs in such an understated and unobtrusive manner that you barely notice them. In general I find this lost art of serving is missing from restaurants today, and it is a real treat to find a truly professional group of servers that allow you to focus on your meal and your company with a minimum of distraction. My only concern is that Andy's story about the fork is scarily accurate. Is Beast somehow endowing their servers with ESP? This should be investigated. If you want to wow someone, bring them here. It worked for me, I proposed to my fiancee at Beast! She said yes.

    (5)

  • Jeremy H.

    I really wish I could give 4 and 1/2 stars because the food was absolutely delicious. We came for the 10am Sunday brunch seating and shared a table with two other couples we had never met. I'm usual not much into communal seating due to the uncertainty of my dinner companions (kind of like rolling the dice), but the couples at our table were actually rather cool. Course 1: was the best course, Rhubarb clafoutis, soft whipped cream and the maple glazed bacon was fantastic! Course 2: Beast Hash, Butter Poached Lamb, Potatoes, Mushrooms and the Poached Duck Egg with Hollandaise delish! Course 3: Selection of cheese from cheese bar - nothing spectacular but good Course 4: Coconut Chocolate Truffle Cake with Pistachio Praline and Vanilla Whipped Cream We had the wine pairing, but I was relatively unimpressed with the wines. Overall, great birthday brunch!

    (4)

  • Lille P.

    Hands down, the best brunch I have ever had in my life. I haven't had the pleasure of eating there for dinner, but the 4-5 times we took part in the decadent perfection of the 5-course, reservations-only brunch were some of the most memorable dining experiences of our lives! Don't hesitate to book a spot for your next special occasion, or any time you need to treat yourself!

    (5)

  • Annie M.

    We had brunch there this morning. We almost had to cancel because my boyfriend wasn't feeling well, and, since his parents are in town, we went to mother's bistro yesterday morning and fenouil last night. thank god we didn't cancel, this was by far the best breakfast/brunch i've ever had. this was definitely one of the most amazing dining experiences i've had. usually when i read yelp reviews, i scroll to the negative ones, to see what might be wrong with the place. rest assured, negative reviews of the place are crazy. the food was brilliant, the ambiance cozy and friendly (and probably quite romantic at night), the service fantastic, i give it 6 stars.

    (5)

  • Bob S.

    Seriously...Seriously, no Seriously!! Beast is Seriously top of the line, superb food, art, performance. You know by now that it's big table, prix fixe, one menu with an additional, optional, wine tasting menu. You are relieved of having to make any menu choices, any wine choices. Just sit and have a stunning meal brought to you. You don't walk out too full or too drunk. It's a perfect dining experience performed by a true artist. Bravo!

    (5)

  • Ellen H.

    When you go to Beast you relinquish almost all choice. No choice of what you eat or who you eat it with (communal tables) and very little choice on wine (list is tiny). It's very much like going to a dinner party at the home of a stranger, who happens to be a very good cook. And Naomi herself is actually there cooking, which is so cool. I think 6 medium sized courses for $68 is an incredible deal (though the long distance from downtown resulted in $50 of cab fare), but I didn't LOVE anything on the menu the night we went. I didn't dislike anything, but nothing really moved or wowed me - many things were close to fantastic, but just a touch off (as an example, the foie gras "bonbon" was on a sweet peanut butter cookie that overwhelmed it, bummer) And so, I probably wouldn't go back. I'm just not a big fan of the dinner party approach and the food wasn't amazing enough to outweigh that for me. Though my BF did love it, as did a few others at our table (we were split half and half at our table of eight between liking it and loving it).

    (3)

  • Elissa D.

    One of the best prix fixe meals I have ever had. Six courses of "meat-centric" bliss, accompanied by delicious wine, and a few surprises (including a lemon thyme sorbet) Standouts for me were the cornish game hen, stuffed with brioche, morrels and a sour-cherry sauce, the foie gras "bon bon", a green garlic and leek soup and one of the most amazing desserts I've ever had, the rhubarb tarte tatin. Dessert was paired with a Kir Royale, which is now a favorite drink of mine. The back wall of the restaurant is covered in chalk-board paint, and scrawled upon it are various quotes, recepies, phone numbers, restaurant recommendations, etc. Very clever. The atmosphere is delightful, group tables, and you can get to know the poeple you're dinning with. There are only two seatings per evening, and they also do brunch. I was really impressed with the design and the thought that went into this place. I was also a fan of Clark Lewis when it was under the same ownership, but Naomi and Co. have done a truly fantastic job with Best. Go enjoy and "unleash the beast."

    (5)

  • Steve G.

    Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very good food, hard to get a reservation, very expensive but well worth the cost, if you do eat here try to get the late seating, and make sure to do a wine pairing...

    (5)

  • Peter B.

    Really good food, great atmosphere. A tad on the pricey side, but not too bad. The people are nice and knowledgeable, the service solid and the food excellent. Check out the interior first, the communal thing may not be for everyone.

    (4)

  • Catherine C.

    Simply the best that Portland has to offer for Sunday brunch.

    (5)

  • Kate S.

    For all the time and effort put into preparing such great food, customer service seems to have taken a back seat. It is possible to serve wonderful food with some warmth and appreciation for your patrons. When there are so many amazing places to eat in Portland, no reason to go back to a place where you aren't really all that welcome.

    (3)

  • Steven T.

    I've been hesitant to write this review because of all the glowing accolades that surround Beast. Other yelpers have opined: "Beast ranks as one of the best meals I have ever had in my life" "A perfect dining experience." "One of the best places in the USA" "Seriously . . . the best meal I've had in Portland hands down. Possibly the best meal I've ever had in my entire life." So my question is did we go on a off night? Or was I expecting too much? Beast was good but not superlative, it had several shortcomings, not only in my eyes but also in the eyes of my dining companions. First of all the place is small and it gets loud, the creaky chairs are not very comfortable and the open kitchen is passé, however the service is very good, but there is not much service acumen that one needs to pour drinks and deliver prix fix plates. We all decided to go for the 6 course meal with the wine pairings, the price is reasonable but the portions are small. We started off with a broccoli soup with pork cracklings and that was paired with a Grüner Veltliner, a grape that is grown Wachau district just west of Wein in Austria where I spent many summers during my youth. The soup was rich and good but the pork cracklings overpowered the flavor of the soup and did not pair well with the wine. (3 Stars) We had the charcuterie plate, which enough people have raved about as was probably the highlight of the evening. (5 stars) And then onto the entrée of hanger steak, it was good but nothing out of this world, it was paired with a potato and squash gratin with a French blue cheese, again the blue cheese seemed to overpower the gratin and the salsa verde they served with it didn't seem to belong at all on the plate. All of this was paired with a medoc that was good, but I would have gone with a bigger wine to compliment the flavors of the food and the steak. A little more tannin would have gone a long way to cut through the fat and enhance this dish. (3.5 stars) The salad was good but when we asked if one could be made without the candied bacon we were told that the chef felt this would change the flavor component and refused. This was unacceptable in my mind. Also to pair wine with a salad is a notoriously hard task, they did a good job with a sherry style wine, but I think I would have forgone a wine pairing with this course. (4 stars for the salad - 1 for refusing to take off the bacon = 3 stars) The cheeses were excellent, the goat Capretta Tenerina was exquisite, but the raisin wine, we all agreed did not go with the cheeses at all, you mouth unfortunately stayed coated with fat, a nice port or perhaps a zin would have been a better pair. (5 Stars) Deserts were just okay, I liked the quince sorbet, the cat's tongues were a little dry and the rose cream was - meh (3 Stars) So Beast averages about 3.75 stars for the 6 courses.

    (4)

  • Reece D.

    Supercool place. I found sitting next to strangers and eating family style to be an out-of-the-ordinary and fun experience. The multiple, tiny courses got a little tedious after the first 60 minutes, but it wasn't a problem. If you like to eat your meal all at once, you may find yourself hungry and looking for something a little more substantial. It wasn't the best meal I've ever had, but I'd say it was in the top 10.

    (4)

  • Marty X.

    A place that is this pricey and has such a great reputation, has high standards to meet. I broke vegetarian to come here, seeing as they're no-substitutions menu is full of meat. Well, the food and the service were good. I enjoyed the communal dining, we met some folks who were a pleasure to have dinner with. The wine was very good. The menu creativity was very good. But, generally when I'm dining at a super-pricey, chef's-choice restaurant, I want a knock-my-socks-off-holy-crap-this-is-what-a-­little-bit-of-heaven-tastes-like experience. This should have been one of the best meals of my life, I rarely have the opportunity to have such a pricey meal. Unfortunately, Beast did not deliver. I understand this place is doing something different for which they're celebrated, but overall the entire experience felt rather undisciplined for such a costly affair. The experience was Beast's to lose, for this level of eating establishment, high quality should be the baseline standard. Here's where I feel Beast disappointed: Aesthetics: - the chairs were awfully uncomfortable. remember, you'll be sitting here for 3 hours. - the decor (complete with silly anecdotes about poop written on the wall) including what the servers and staff were wearing was very casual and surprisingly scruffy. I can get that sort of experience when I'm spending $10 a plate, not at a super-expensive dinner, thank you. - pulling the paper towels off of the hot water heater might be cute, but again it's another place where perhaps Beast is 'original' but to me comes off as undisciplined. We paid enough, now fix up the bathroom! The Food: - The presentation was sloppy! I understand it's hard to make every dish beautiful but again, that's what I'm paying for. Usually a hallmark of any high-end-cuisine place, the presentation was not consistent. - Understand that the menu changes daily, so I'm sure on a different night that my experience might be different. The night we went, besides the exceptions of a very delicious mixed green salad and a fabulous cream-of-celery soup, everything else was good, not great. -Wine pairings were half-pour servings. That was a bit of a turn off as well. Is this what other places do? -I guess the container which held the half and half for my coffee was aesthetically pleasing, but it was the sloppiest milk pourer of my life. This is another small detail that is telling of the lack of consistency with Beast. Ultimately, if this place were half the price, I'd probably be writing a rave review right now, but with the amount of hype and the price of this joint, I'm afraid I would not recommend it to folks looking for the ultimate dining experience.

    (3)

  • Sylvia J.

    Great food! The charcuterie plate was awesome. We sat with strangers in a long table and were lucky to be with people our own age who were conversational, interesting, and friendly. There was a much younger couple at the other end of the table and they did not seem to enjoy themselves as much. So, I think your dining experience depends on your other diners. Good pairings of wine with each plate. The meal was a memorable experience for us!

    (5)

  • Colin G.

    Fantastic meal in a comfortable setting. The Foie Gras Bon Bon was absolutely incredible!

    (5)

  • Rodney P.

    Expensive as hell, but worth it. Varied and interesting menu. Great service and it was fun to chat with strangers at our shared table. Nearly everything we tried was top notch.

    (5)

  • Pat R.

    Just a quick note. Let me start off by saying, that the food was very solid, and the preparation well thought-out, and creative. Further, staff attentive, sprite and helpful. The deficiency is the indifferent attitude of owner/chef, Natalie. A group of four, were at the last sitting, recently on a week night, not at all busy or a hectic night by any stretch of the imagination. My out-of-town guests, from Napa, mentioned they were big fans of Natalie, and it being their anniversary, if it might be possible to take a picture with her, at the end of the evening. Upon asking her, and relaying their admiration for her, a rather benign request, was meet with apathy and a general malaise. While she did agree to a couple of pictures, there was no inquiry to the meal, or thanks for their patronage. Kind of a brisk slap for a $500 dinner. Perhaps, a singular off-night. Notwithstanding, will not recommend to visiting food patrons or guests, after such a damper to the evening.

    (3)

  • Chad M.

    Beast has been named as a restaurant of the year in Portland Monthly Magazine and other locations - and there is a reason. It is superb. Lets break it down! Ambiance - I found the place charming - two community tables. Tiny restaurant that can seat about 22 people. You are sitting right next to the kitchen, practically in it. Simple table, simple serving pieces, complex delicious food. Only challenge is with all that going on in such a small space it can be difficult to hear at times. Service - servers were kind, quick, and good with explanations. Since they have a set menu there isn't much "order taking" to do, but they explain each dish and help with beverages and clearing. We had a few special requests and they were very accommodating. Food - Where the rubber hits the road! These ladies know what they are doing and it shows. Each dish is creative, well done, and the pieces complement each other. A broccoli soup with pork cracklings started us off, which lead to their charcuterie plate, on to a main course, salad, cheese, dessert, all terrific. If you aren't normally an adventurous eater the charcuterie plate may be a bit... much ... for you. Raw steak and quail egg is on there, as is foie gras and other liver pates, but it is all done so deliciously and melts in your mouth. The week we were there the main course as hanger steak and it was tender and easy to eat with a great side course. I really enjoyed my meal here. Each dish was an adventure worth pursuing.

    (5)

  • K. M.

    Don't get me wrong, we had a lovely time. And maybe since we were visiting our expectations were high but it was ok, not great. We had chicken - really? Chicken? We also had salad and sliced meats and really didn't enjoy dessert because the next seating was hovering over us. Nothing I tasted knocked my socks off or honestly was new or inventive or so fresh that I never really knew what it should be like. I can shop at Whole Foods and make the same meal at home. Plus they changed the menu from beef to that blah chicken. Big let down!

    (2)

  • Heath K.

    I can't imagine walking out of this place anything but glowing. Amazing food, great service. My fav meal in Portland, which is saying a lot! If you are into high end, but unpretentious food, this is the place!

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    A unique dining experience in a small space with two large communal tables and open kitchen. I loved seeing the chefs work and just how everything was so efficiently set up. I think the experience might have outshone the meal though. The food was undeniably good, but not terribly memorable. I'd go again, for the reasonably priced set menu and the adventure of having someone else pick my meal and try things I probably wouldn't normally order for myself. We had the luck of sitting with two other interesting couples, one of whom had gotten engaged earlier that day and were celebrating the event. We even found out we were staying at the same hotel and split a cab back. All in all, a fun night out.

    (4)

  • Yuan T.

    So we came for dinner at the second sesion of dinner at 8:45. Everyone was waiting outside and we were not seated until 9:05 or so. We were seated and the seats weren't very comfortable. They were small and stiff. The food overall was alright, definitely nothing spectacular. The service started off decent and the waiters/waitresses would tell us what wine we were drinking when they poured it. But the second half of the dinner they got lazy and didn't bother to tell us the wine we were drinking. In the $60 6-course dinner, I felt like the salad was a filler and the food overall was expensive. They included 20% gratuity on top was not earned either. I don't plan to come back and would rather go somewhere else for dinner!

    (2)

  • John B.

    It is a true foodie place. Gives you the chance to try some amazing new foods. The wine paring is amazing. Each course is very unique

    (5)

  • Michael G.

    Beast lived up to our extremely high expectations - it easily equaled the hype. The food was, naturally, delicious, and was creatively and inventively assembled. Every dish was expertly crafted before our eyes and served with a simple but clear explanation by our efficient and friendly servers. Being able to watch a master chef and her crew at work while we sipped our perfectly paired wines with each course made the meal into a full-spectrum entertainment experience that also happened to be a spectacular gourmet meal. A very minor caveat or two: the meal is a full 3 hours plus. Be prepared for a long night. The earlier seating at 6pm is better if you are not a night owl. Also, the chairs are small and are not exactly designed for a long night. The seating is family style, at one of two long, common tables, so be prepared to share conversations with your neighbors. I enjoyed that, but not everyone may. And while Beast is a good special occasion spot, the communal dining may not be romantic in the traditional sense. But those really are minor caveats. I have nothing negative to say about Beast.

    (5)

  • Saya K.

    Not sure how this place got some one star reviews. Beast was one of the best and most entertaining dining experiences I've ever had, and I've had a lot of great ones. The foie gras bon bon was a real shocker (in a good way) and the meat course was phenomenal. The seating arrangement inside is a bit intense for an introvert like myself, luckily my boyfriend and I got a seat outside. Really really great- highly recommend

    (5)

  • Emily S.

    A meal at Beast is about the experience. I wanted to walk away saying it was the best meal I'd ever had (like many of the reviewers) but it wasn't. 3 of the courses were spot on, but I could have done without the other 3. The highlight for me was a curried carrot soup with tomato cream that was so good, I wanted to lick the dish! The salad and dessert courses were also exceptional, but those aren't really the parts of the meal that I wanted to stand out the most. I was worried that I might not enjoy the communal dining experience, but my husband and I made easy conversation with the couple sitting across from us. It was a great experience even though every dish did not wow me. I would like to go there for brunch sometime but I doubt I will return for dinner again. Once was enough.

    (4)

  • Marian C.

    wild mushrooms and lamb chops and cheese! oh my! is it possible to have almost all my favorite foods in one pre-fixed meal?? YES!! i wont go into detail with the foods since it's all been mentioned already. i do want to highlight the staff service - impeccable! the people were so genuinely nice and helpful through-out the entire meal... not that kind of fake-nice where you can sense that they just want a generous tip. .. but really truly kind. the HIGHLIGHT of the entire experience.. (YES, it was truly an experience.. not just a meal!) was the fact that the staff knew that my hubby and I are both left-handed. They bring out new plates and utensils after each course and they immediately placed the fork, knife, and spoon on the left side... ... so very observant!! I felt so validated for being a lefty.... Twas so pleasantly stuffed after this meal and proud that I ate the same amount as someone almost twice my size sitting across from me. i love the little note at the bottom of the menu "SUBSTITUTIONS POLITELY DECLINED" =] **failed to mention that the only reason i got to experience this place is that it was for my bday dinner from my honey who found this place =)**

    (5)

  • David L.

    Stuffed full of French-food lalaland. Okay, I may be a little biased since I think I'm secretly in love with the chef Naomi, and her souschef Mika. That said, I have good reason to be so enamored. I've been to Ripe a bit back in the day, and Clarklewis, and more recently Family Supper during the summer in the backyard of the chef's house. All amazing dining experiences. Sumptuously prepared meals, well planned, top shelf ingredients with an eye to what's local and in season, and most importantly to me, not a hint of guilt in a single bite. Everything is made with the intent of taste, bullocks to health or well being. The chalkboard walls at Beast are scribbled with adages, Thank Heavens for Lard, Vegetables are nice and all, but really a waste when not accompanied by a big slab of meat! We had the prix-fix six course meal (substitutions politely declined), they now offer some minor variations in number of courses, but I say Bah! Go whole hog! It'd be a waste to describe each course, just go and try it. My biggest compliment: My friend and I are some of the most critical people around (we're both from New England) and typically delight in criticizing things in order to fully enjoy them, but we didn't have a negative word to say, period. Actually, this is what we're amazed by this morning. Thank you Naomi for taking the negativity out of us for a night, and leaving us passed out on the couch for the next 12 hours.

    (5)

  • Adrienne A.

    The food was exquisite, the service was impeccable, and the general atmosphere of Beast was lovely. Getting a six-course meal plus wine pairings (ok, my dining companion and I split the cheese and dessert courses, so that's kind of like 5.5 courses) for $90 including tip seems like a coup. My only complaints are a) the music was a touch too loud to have conversations w/ others at the table; b) the chairs are inexplicably small and uncomfortable; and c) the communal-dining aspect, while charming, becomes less charming when you realize you have to sit next to your dining companion, rather than across from them. Honestly, it wouldn't be that hard for them to reconfigure the space for smaller tables. I know, I know, it's the owner's prerogative, but I, for one, experienced more than a few awkward moments, since my companion and I (mid-20s) ended up at a table of much older and non-talkative couples. But for the food and wine, I'll definitely be back.

    (4)

  • G. C.

    My husband and I were gifted with a dinner here. The steak they produced has so much gristle and fat that I gagged. The other courses were edible but I really think this place is much overrated. If you are going to serve steak -- at these prices -- make it edible.

    (2)

  • Stephan J.

    I was suprised with reservations at Beast for my birthday! We unfortunately had to wait in the rain for the first seating of the evening to clear the restaurant before we could enter. Once in, we found the wait to be worth every minute. There was something magical about watching the preperation of each course. Everything was amazing, but the standout was the duck! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! It was 2.5 hours of bliss. This is definately a pricey splurge, but worth every penny!

    (5)

  • Joshua E.

    I don't know if words can faithfully describe the experience. Everything was perfect. Prepare to wait a bit for things to get rolling. We were STARVING, and it was tought to be patient when the service was getting into its groove. Once the edge was off (bread!!), we just let the beautiful, thoughtfull, and delicious courses wash over us.

    (5)

  • Margaret S.

    The food here is amazing--would buy a box of those foie gras bonbons to take home. Being able to see the kitchen plate our courses really added to the experience. The waitstaff was attentive without being overbearing in such a small dining room. It was really fun sitting at a table with others who were enjoying the menu as much as we were.

    (4)

  • Brandi M.

    Beast was good. Why then only 4-stars? Because in Pdx, there are a TON of equally incredible options at lower price points.

    (4)

  • Anne M.

    Dysfunctional Dining at Its Best Because we were told the earlier seating was full, we reserved for the 8:45 seating and made plans for earlier in the evening. The day we were to eat at Beast, we get a call-- they have spots earlier can we come? We got there around 8 and the restaurant was only half full, and it turned out we were the only people in the later seating. As everyone else finished we were made painfully aware that the staff wanted us to finish quickly and leave, as we were brought out course after course of middling warmed up food. Naomi was in Napa for a special event, and I wonder if that's why the food and dining experience were so lame. The highlights unexpectedly were non-meat things--the carrot veloute was gorgeous and the seared brussel sprouts were also well prepared. The rest of the food was competent but nothing special.

    (1)

  • Kine F.

    You LOVE meat! So just go! Save up and go for the dinner with the wine pairing. The best Portland has to offer thus far.....take this as a challenge to keep pushing on with the food revolution here.

    (5)

  • Gwen B.

    I went here for brunch during my past trip to Portland. Luckily I have a huge foodie friend that I was staying with there, so she made reservations in plenty of time and let me in on what makes this place so fabulous. As mentioned in other reviews, there are just 2 tables in Beast and you will be sitting next to complete strangers. Unfortunately, we were at the small table and the larger table seemed to have a lively conversation...whereas we just stuck to talking with the person we came with. My friend and I were pretty mesmerized watching all of the food being prepared freshly in front of us. The first course was my favorite--custard with maple-glaze bacon. All of the others were pretty delicious, minus the goat cheese (never been much of a fan). Keep in mind, there is a new menu every day. And if you go for brunch, it is much more affordable...$25 for everything. You can include wine pairings for a little bit more.

    (4)

  • Travis D.

    I went back to Beast for a second time in May while in Portland for my brother's graduation. Turns out the first time was not a fluke. This might just be my favorite restaurant that i've ever been to. They just get everything right - the food, the atmosphere, the service, the space, the wine, the music, the price. Just utterly perfect.

    (5)

  • Peter I.

    Arguably my best meal in Portland in my first year of living here. I found every course to exceed my expectations and the wine pairings were perfect. It should be noted that dinner with the wine pairings can set you back but I still think it's worth it, depending on what they're serving that night. It'll probably be one of those places I only go to once or twice a year but I'm already looking forward to my next visit.

    (5)

  • ken a.

    Really this is as good as it gets in PDX I wouldn't bother with a review at this point EXCEPT (1) really, if is not that expensive (2) this is my kids (10yr and 16yr) favorite restaurant (and if you go for a weekend brunch chances are you'll see Naomi's daughter around somewhere) - so we think it is kid friendly.

    (5)

  • Nathan B.

    I finally acquiesced to the GFs pleading to dine at this establishment. Not being a fan of communal dining, I was relieved to be placed at the small table. Luckily we ended up with a mess of other diners who loved to talk about food and dining (other restaurants). One was even a food scientist. Being a former chef, we had plenty to chat about. And then there was the food. For the buildup, I was quite disappointed. There was a duck breast with demi glace that was marvelous, even though the duck was rare to the point of being cold and raw in the middle. But the rest was unremarkable, a few bits were even inedible. We fell for the "wine paring", for $35 each. Works out to buying a $75 bottle of wine, except that two of the 6 2oz pours were so terrible (and mismatched to the food) that I couldn't drink them. So, for $100 per person, my girl friend and I had a mediocre to poor meal. I felt ripped off. And my back was killing me from those god damn excruciatingly painful chairs! Everybody bitches about the chairs. For Gods sake, can't you afford to replace those damn chairs!? I can't recommend it. I won't be back (although I usually give a place two chances). I will say that the service was very good. But for $100 bucks per person, I expect a hell of a lot more.

    (2)

  • Susan B.

    How do I even start to describe the amazingness of Beast! This was hands down the best meal I have ever had in my life! There were things on the menu I never thought I would have and they were all so good!! And I don't eat a lot of red meat, in fact I lean towards a lot of vegetarian dishes. Our cream of asparagus soup with lemon oil and parsley pesto was an explosion of flavors blending together in a most tantalizing way and the wine pairing was phenomenal. I know, long sentence! And the fresh baguette with finishing salt on the butter was ridiculous. Ok, so here is where my fiancé and I were a little nervous 2nd course of charcuterie. There was a lot of liver and pate and foie gras on the menu. Our server/hostess suggested the foie gras bon bon last and it did not dissapoint. My fiancé had never had liver before and he was an instant convert. Okay, let's get back to the foie gras: mmmmm so good the wine gelee and creamy smooth deliciousness of the Bon Bon with vanilla and bourbon, out of this world! The flavors lingered there for a while and I was so thankful! That was the single best bite of the meal! Thank you beast for enlightening my palate. Oh wine pairing awesome and I'm not a white wine drinker normally, but really great. Then for the palate cleanser of sorbet, you have to love French cuisine for that, three words can only describe this light amazing sorbet, champagne, grapefruit and rhubarb. Main course was lamb loin stuffed with olives and kens artisan bread. There was rapini on the side and an aged balsamic dressing, oh and a tomato and GABA bean chutney. It was a touch too salty for Me but the lamb was prepared perfectly! And the rapini was delicious. Wiping my plate clean with the perfect chewy baguette was delicious too. Now for the post courses. The cheese platter was delicious. I ate every little morsel, the cheeses were amazingly French. Great almonds and the wild honey and poached pears were scrumptious. Oh and who can forget the shortbread! So good. Dessert was an awesome trifle with strawberrys and hazelnut cream, so good. The portions were perfect too! So for the finale amuse Bouche they brought out this carmelized piece of bacon dipped in dark chocolate. Ridiculous and bursting with flavor. Ahhh. I love beast! I can't wait for my next opportunity to go back! Oh, I also loved watching our food being plated!

    (5)

  • Adam B.

    Pros: Quality of food, service, family style seating, wine selection Cons: Price is high but justified, and the chairs are painful. A note on the chairs: After sitting for 20 minutes, I mentioned to my wife that my a$$ really hurt. She said that she saw several reviews that mentioned that, but just thought it was complainers. Well, now I am a complainer. I have never had my rump get sore from sitting in a chair. By the two hour mark, the woman sitting across from me was standing because she couldn't take the chair anymore, and I was sitting on my linen sports coat (so un-Portland, I know) and my wife's coat. The food was excellent--and the staff was terrific! Really exceptional service. I appreciate kale as I never have before. Lamb and Duck are my two favorite vegetables, and they were served in abundance.

    (4)

  • Scoob W.

    Every once in a while you go to a restaurant that inspires you and confounds you. A restaurant that serves you food so good that you can't stop talking about it. Cooking that is so skilled that you wouldn't even know where to start if you wanted to copy the dish in your own kitchen. This place is absolutely amazing. I am obsessed with food and go out to restaurants more than I like to admit... I have no qualms saying that this is the best restaurant in town.

    (5)

  • Janine Yelp F.

    Be WOWED somewhere else. Our first inclination was to bolt after the rude interaction with the main server. We had a reservation for the 8:45 pm seating. You are instructed to arrive at 8:30 which we did only to be told that they were running behind and to come back at 9pm. We headed next door for drinks and appetizers since we came ready to eat at 8:45pm. Next door is an Izakaya which was a pretty awesome find. After the abrupt greeting, we just wanted to stay and have dinner. Oh....but I left my CC with our reservation. 9 pm rolls around and we promptly return only to be told they are running behind. Again. I asked how much longer, since they were running behind before and we weren't really going to wait much longer. We finally get seated at 9:15. I gave this restaurant a star since the presentation of the food was well prepared (yes, that's the equivalent of telling your best friend that your blind date was , "nice") and it did taste good. The problem that I have with this restaurant beside the initial interaction is that the restaurant is called BEAST and I expect to eat a bunch of meat. The food cost for our meal probably topped out at around $15 per person. Not only that, but we had already had appetizers and drinks next door and we were nowhere FULL. Overall the dishes were okay. Nothing was notable to put up with the attitude. BTW, the cheese course was a bit of a joke and I could have made the salad myself at home. Do yourselves a favor and skip and attitude and the mediocre food and go somewhere else.

    (1)

  • Kevin W.

    I wrote a really long review of this restaurant on my blog with pictures and wine pairing. Check out my Yelp profile page for the blog address and check it out. I will say this is a great and creative restaurant with fresh ideas about dining.

    (5)

  • jeroen v.

    Had a great dinner at Beast last night. We opted for 5 courses with wine pairing. I leave the details to the other reviews (which seem universally laudatory), but a few comments. Foie Gras Bon Bon = W.T.F.. Clearly a terrible idea, skillfully executed, but nevertheless, terrible. My throat felt slimed. The gelatin content on the thing must be close to 40%. I was advised by the wait staff to try it last but wish I had tried it not at all. The rest of the charcuterie plate was excellent. Wine Pairing. Wine and menu choices favored classic french (salad course came after the main dish). I particularly enjoyed the Châteauneuf Blanc (Domaine Texier) paired with the salad. The wine was well balanced, complex, electric and beautiful. And worked well with the acidity of the salad. The salad itself was carefully composed with "farmers greens(?)" -- bright hardy winter greens that stood up well to the vibrancy of the wine and the acidity of the blood and cara cara oranges. The only wine mis-pairing was the Lustau (Cuevo Jurado?) which is a pleasantly complex sweet dessert sherry with some bright green apple notes, that was unfortunately ill equipped to provide backing to a sumptuously rich, dense, apple, cinnamon, and calvados dessert. I would have preferred the obvious pairing of a calvados in this instance. Whoever is selecting wines is doing a great job. The pairings were otherwise flawless. Naomi Pomeroy and her staff did an excellent job and I look forward to an opportunity to return. It is, in the end, one of the best meals I've had.

    (5)

  • Alexis Y.

    I think I'm the first to review the Sunday brunch at Beast so yay! The menu was Brioche & Baguette bread pudding / tails & trotters hash / three cheeses / and a chocolate cake/fudge/ganache thing. The food was, naturally, spectacular. The flavors were really complex and nuanced... every bite was a little adventure. This is definitely a foodie paradise. coffee was served in a french press for each group and we had our choice of juice, mimosas or wine pairings. Or a combination of the above. The service was impeccable, and although family style seating isn't my preference and I think it's a little tired, it was fine. We didn't have anyone sitting across from us though, so it felt a little more private. I love open kitchens, even if they aren't the most original design feature I like watching the plates get built and just observing the process is fun. The chairs weren't as uncomfortable as I remember from Clarklewis... and the clever quotes on the wall were cute. $75 for brunch for two seems a little steep (that was with mimosas) but it was not bad for a special occasion and certainly more reasonable than dinner. Edited To Add: Brunch is Sundays only with two seatings, 11:00 and 1:00

    (5)

  • Sara G.

    Don't pre-drink before dinner at Beast. It's way too good and they give you lots of wine, anyway.

    (5)

  • Katherine B.

    Great food, good service. I'm normally not a fan of group seating, but they give you plenty of room so you don't feel like you're sharing a table. Will definitely come back when we visit Portland again.

    (5)

  • Perla H.

    We had reservations for the 8:45 seating and as mentioned in previous posts it really doesn't help to be early as the 6 PM seating turns just in time. It doesn't really matter, I don't think any one seat is better than another at a communal table and it's really not the restaurant's fault if you sit to someone annoying. It takes a while to get beverage service going for 26 people with only two servers, but once the ball got rolling dinner was good. First course: Cream of Fennel Soup with Salmon Roe. Second: Charcuterie with a foie-gras bon-bon and sauternes gelee that was out of this world, also chicken liver mousse, head cheese terrine, steak tartare with quail egg and pork rillettes, all of which I rarely enjoy, but this was fantastic. The main course was definitely the most memorable: Cognac brined pork with house made sauerkraut, and a duck and veal demi. WOW. There was no need for a knife, it was so tender. I would have licked the plate if I weren't in public. The salad course was arugula and radicchio salad, a little bitter, it was ok . Fifth course: Cheese plate with some REALLY neat cheeses, one of which was almost the exact smell/taste of stinky feet, but I liked it :-) Dessert was an Apple Tart with creme fraiche ice cream. I enjoyed the wine pairing very much with the first and second course, but the rest were disappointing. The third wine fell incredible flat, especially when paired with such a rich succulent pork dish. The dessert wine was good. I did not enjoy the pace of the meal. After two hours of sitting around I started to get anxious and tired. The whole thing lasted about 2.5 hours. Thanks to Kevin's wonderful partner at work we had a gift card so we were able to skate out of there much faster than all the people that had credit cards needing to be swiped.

    (3)

  • Quency F.

    A once a year type of experience! The food and wine were all excellent, words can't describe. My only suggestion for improvement would be to talk a little louder when explaining about each course. The portions were perfect I left full and thanks again!

    (5)

  • Anna N.

    We were visiting Portland and were able to make last minute reservations the day before. For dinner, the restaurant only has 2 seatings: 6:00pm and 8:45pm. The restaurant itself probably can seat 20 people max. Also, since we were squeezed in, we were seated outside- which we didn't mind because it was quieter and more romantic (with my hubby) at a private table instead of inside at the communal tables. However, indoor seating allows you to see the chefs prep the dishes. The dinner was $75/ person which includes a soup, charcuterie (foie gras Bon Bon, chicken mousse, steak tartare with quail egg), main course (duck breast), tart pissaladiere, cheese plate, and dessert. Hubby got the wine pairing which was an additional $35. Dinner was about 2.5 hrs. Definitely worth the money. Great service. Wonderful experience. Make reservations ahead of time! If you are going to sit outside, choose the 6pm since it won't be as chilly.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue
  • Mon :Closed

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Intimate
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Beast

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