Firehouse
711 NE Dekum St, Portland, OR, 97211
Firehouse Menu
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Address :
711 NE Dekum St
Portland, OR, 97211 - Phone (503) 954-1702
- Website https://www.firehousepdx.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
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 : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Paul R.
This is Paul R's wife: my husband and I are from California and are visiting for weekend and saw great reviews for this place! We walked in and it had a great feel. when the first of the waitresses walked by she told us 20-30 mins for a table. Totally reasonable we thought since we did not make reservations. She walks to serve someone and another waitress walks by, we ask if there was a sitting area or bar that we could sit at to grab a drink while we were waiting, while she was explaining the first waitress walks by and hold up her hand to stop her and with a horribly bitchy attitude says " I already told you 20-30 mins" and that we could not sit at the bar, she was not only horribly rude to us but her co worker. The second waitress tried to apologize with her eyes but didn't know how to respond to her attitude either. Needless to say we walked out and I hope the first horribly mean waitress reads this and knows how big of a bitch she was and how sour of a taste we have in our mouth for that establishment. I get people have there "off" nights but that little short person needs to take a chill pill and learn some manners.
(1)Bridget C.
I had the three course meal which was only $30. Everything was amazing, I had the stuffed olives, summer salad and the meatballs. Couldn't make one complaint about the place. Would definitely recommend getting there early as it fills up fast, and for good reason.
(5)Carrie L.
Excellent food!! Snotty service. Steak, mussels, pizza, all amazing. Waitress seemed more concerned with what time we were leaving and whether my two children were going to split a 3 plate special. Mind you our bill was over $400 for 7 people. We had a wonderful three-course meal but really expected better service and friendlier waitress. I believe her name was Amy.
(4)Gail L.
The service was fair. Our server was all business, not personable and not great at water refills. We had to find the pitcher and fill the water ourselves. We did enjoy the cauliflower, olives and the salads. After reading many reviews about the pizza, we were excited and even made reservations a week in advance. The pizza was good, but it was soggy and the crust was overly burned. I wouldn't feel the need to come back.
(3)Brooke C.
Pizza was phenomenal although... could be a little lighter on the olive oil topping! Was puddling in the middle. Fried cauliflower is over-rated (sorry, but true!). Mussels were fabulous! Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Kyle O.
Only reason this restaurant gets a 2 star review instead of 1 is because of the atmosphere. Very cool building. After being notified that they were out of chicken I decided on hanger steak and wife had meatballs. The rest if the party had steaks pizza mussels......etc. Well I will keep this short and sweet. Service was bad (checked on us a couple times in 2 hour dinner) Meals took about 45 mins to an hour to come out and my steak was cold. In fact all 4 people ordered the streak got it cold and it tastes like lemon. Waitress seems frazzled all night and again never really came over drink orders.... Actually had to track down manager just to get a beer. The entire group didn't enjoy meal except those that got piZza. So bad food and horrible service sum it up.
(2)Mike G.
OK...Maybe 1.5 stars but thats it! This is ONLY because this place is really cool on the inside. That is where it stops! Had reservations for 4 and of course had to wait...staff didn't seem to care that we had not been seated, but whatever. Finally got seated and the service started out good! We ordered a bottle of wine and some appetizer's, which she didn't get correct, but thats alright, what do you expect? We then ordered our food....I had heard and read MANY reviews that you must get try the pizza, so i ordered one. BAD choice, it was delivered and looked like a small lake in the middle of it! No kidding! I had found like 5 small pieces of sausage on the entire thing and a somewhat blackened crust on the bottom, well not really crust because that would mean it had to have been cooked right? lets just say it was like grease soaked cardboard. I proceeded to cut out a piece to attempt to try it...I took a few bites and even it could have been edible it tasted horrible. I don't know why anyone would say this pizza is good. It is HORRIBLE! When I said something to the server, she acted very defensive and said that is the style of pizza they serve! Obvious they do get customers complaining about the lake inside your pizza. She became very rude and short from then on. Horrible outcome at somewhere we were hoping would be so good.
(1)Momo B.
NAPOLITANO STYLE PIZZA This Lawnwood neighborhood firehouse was built one hundred years ago. During 2008 it was renovated to house both the Firehouse Restaurant and upstairs the Dekum Family Health Clinic. (Firehouse was named after Frank Dekum who had a huge connection with Portland's commercial and residential development) I love pizza Napolitano style and Firehouse was on my Garmin. But, there's more to just discovering pizza. We ordered a thin crusted Zoe's Sopressata* pizza with fresh mozzarella and chili flakes. Normally it would be a pizza and salad, but this evening we included their much touted Hanger Steak wood grilled and on top of a bed of crispy potatoes, arugala and grana padona. We were forewarned that the Hanger Steak medium-rare would take 30 minutes. Not a problem, that allowed us ample time to devour their incredible bread dipped in olive oil with pinch of sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Hands down, it's the best bread I've eaten since my arrival to PDX. There was never a concern of filling up with bread and not having room for the pizza and steak. As for the pizza, it was everything I saw and read. I wish there was just a few more slices of the Sopressata*. Otherwise, it's very very good, The surprise was the Hanger Steak... cooked and seasoned to perfection. One could consider leaving their teeth in the drinking glass by the bedside. The other unexpected surprise was their Mulberry Orange Ice Cream dessert. You'll notice that I seldom order dessert following a so-so meal. This dessert was like Betty Page popping out of a birthday cake. * Sopressata is a Southern Italia pork salami that is a popular substitute topping for pizza instead of pepperoni. Pepperoni has become very expensive.
(5)Priscilla P.
The food was good, especially the roasted cauliflower. The pizza was good, but there were parts that were really burnt. The pasta was really al dente and the portion was quite small, but it was still good. I would go back.
(4)Heather S.
Awesome atmosphere, absolutely delicious food, including fantastic thin-crust pizzas (the mushroom one is divine, and I went off Paleo to have it!: YUM!), and an incredible roasted chicken with the best mashed potatoes and sauteed greens! My one gripe is that the service is hit or miss. The last time we went, last night (at 6:30 on a Wednesday), they hadn't started to get busy yet, but our waitress was really impatient with us, and seemed irritated when we asked about unknown-to-us food items on the menu, you know: those foreign-sounding words. ;) She actually rolled her eyes at us while answering curtly. She was downright rude and honestly, if the food hadn't been so good, I would be rating this less than four stars. She needs some training on how to be kind to customers! That said, Firehouse has great food in an awesome, historic environment!
(4)Cass M.
Great, great, great! Great food all five courses we had. The Pizza was stand out and dare I say better then at Nostrana?? The atmosphere was awesome sitting out on the cute pation on a warm summer night. The service was superb with a waitstaff that had good wine pairing suggestions and was kind enough to answer my mother 1 million questions. I have yet to eat a salad here that I wasn't totally in love with and later tried to copy when I got home. This is now on the regular dinner rotation.
(5)Paul D.
Slow to seat us, slow service and the stuffed olives are stuffed with meat, although that wasn't identified on the menu. Not a cool accident for vegetarians. The space is the redeeming factor of the place, great building.
(2)Taylor J.
The pizza here is delicious. Like yum. The prices are a bit on the expensive side, but in the end I think it's worth it. There's a good vibe going in the place, the fact that it used to be a firehouse definitely adds to that. The waiters are friendly for the most part. My glass was never empty and they brought the food quickly. I would definitely go again.
(4)M A.
We had high hopes for this place as it was recommended by one of our foodie friends. But from the beginning to end, everything was just too salty. Yikes, everything from the salad, pizza, and meatballs. Not sure what happened that night. Later we were told, he was recommending the Firehouse in NW. Oops, don't make the same mistake.
(2)Amy S.
First time getting anchovies on a pizza and I do not regret it. If you're going to try anchovies for the first time this is the place to do it. We chose the pizza with sopressata, fresh mozzarella, and chili flakes and added anchovies. The crust was just right for a wood-oven pizza though the distribution of the toppings could have been better; they tended to be in little piles rather than spread out. We also had the fried stuffed olives, bruschetta and roasted beets and I don't have a bad thing to say about any of them. Nor do I have a bad word for their cocktails, they were fantastic.
(4)Cynthia H.
I wasn't thrilled by any part of this place. There was no bar, a chilly "waiting area" upstairs, and music that made me want to rip my hair out. Once we were called for our table I was ready to let my first impression go and then...we were sat at a table right next to the freezer and all the wait staff traffic. It was cold, smelly, and crowded. Our waitress was also extremely busy, so it took her a good 10 minutes to greet us and put our drink orders in. Not her fault, but maybe they should have more staff on a Friday night? Once we ordered the food came out really fast, however my meatballs were nothing to rave about. In fact, they were a little too salty for my taste. I think I ate 2 of them and passed the rest off to my boyfriend while I filled up on bread. It's really too bad. After hearing all sorts of good things about this place I was definitely disappointed. Maybe I came on a bad night, but in any case don't come here full throttle hungry, there's much left to be desired.
(2)Kara M.
Service was wonderful. Came here without a reservation and was seated immediately. My boyfriend and I had the margherita pizza and rotisserie chicken. Amazing! The hop cider is awesome as well.
(5)Teri L.
Love this place, our go-to restaurant in North Portland. Super nice staff, wonderful food, salads and wine!
(5)Patrick T.
We decided to go here on the spur of the moment for a nice valentines dinner but it was anything but that. We ordered the Bruschetta which came on a 1.5" thick hard as a rock piece of bread which was not easy to eat or share.. We both ordered pizzas and they came out with the dough on the bottom completely raw and soggy. Mine had a puddle of mushroom juice in the center and I couldn't even pick it up to eat. We had to take home what was left and put it in a frying pan to make it edible.. For the price and other options out there its easy to say we won't be going back.
(2)Drew W.
tasty, salty, fun,omg pizza and meatballs deliciousness!! ok wine.
(4)Christine L.
Good (not great) food, but terrible service. Because of the poor, slow service, the experience did not meet our expectations for this price range. We will NOT return.
(1)Michael M.
I don't know how the food is because they couldn't accommodate one extra person in our party when we had reservations for weeks for our daughters 16th. Horrible customer service. Very pretentious!
(1)Lindsay C.
Really, really good! We made a reservation on the same day and weren't disappointed. Service was great and pork sausage pasta and true cod were both perfect. Had the fried cauliflower on the servers recommendation and loved it. We will definitely be back -- hopefully on a night to take advantage of what looks like a nice patio area.
(4)Esther K.
Chapter 1- First Impressions Super awesome converted fire station location. It's really architecturally beautiful inside and out. The menu is small but exciting. Everything on it sounds intriguing - like fried stuffed olives. Chapter 2 - Salty Salty Salty! Unfortunately, the fried stuffed olives were pretty disappointing. The frying doesn't cook the olives at all, so they're still pretty hard and they lose none of their tangyness. It's a crunchy salt bomb. We also ordered the fried cauliflower. SAAAAALLTTYYY. Holy crap! I mean, it tasted really good minus the overpowering feeling that I was shriveling up from the inside out. I also feel like the lightly steamed cauliflower could've been cooked for another minute, it was a bit too crunchy. Chapter 2.1 Entrees I ordered the mussell bouillabaise which was an ok portion, and the seafood was well cooked and just fine. The broth was unfortunately also extremely salty. Eating just the seafood and not being able to have any of the broth or the broth-soaked bread on the bottom of the dish made it not enough food for an entree. Chapter 3 - The Bright Side The hangar steak was excellent though. It comes sliced in chunks (not a whole piece) but it is juicy and flavorful. If I ever return, I will get the hangar steak and maybe a pizza. :|
(3)Matthew W.
I found the pizza at The Firehouse to be one of the best pies in Portland. A perfectly caramelized crust, tangy sauce, succulent toppings and gooey cheese. I almost ordered one to go! The place is small, the seats are tight and the location is off the beaten path in NE Portland, but it is worth the drive and, potentially, the wait. I had the Soppressata pizza with its meaty goodness and burn from the accompanying chili flakes. As I said, the crust was sublime and the portion size was enough for my big appetite. My friend has the Firehouse Meatballs, which were good, but not as memorable as others I have tried elsewhere. The beer offerings are excellent and the atmosphere is nice inside the converted old-style fire house with its rich woods and brick. I'm already looking forward to my next pizza at The Firehouse.
(4)Anne R.
Went here with a group and the meal was delicious. We all did the three course meals and got to try a bunch of little things. Favorites were the squash flat bread, steak, cod and salads. I thought it was an excellent price for the quality and the menu had really good variety. I loved the atmosphere. We had ended up being one of the last tables to leave but no one rushed us at all. Plus, I was guested with an appearance by polar who snuck in unnoticed which made my evening pretty perfect.
(5)Jason S.
Great food and service. Interesting flavor combinations and small plates.
(4)Kirsten H.
The service and quality of food at this place is pretty darn good. I will say for a smoke house some of their items are a little too smoky, and this isn't something I've ever been sensitive too...perhaps it was just the night. Good atmosphere and location.
(3)Dan H.
Words cannot describe the food that comes out of the kitchen at Firehouse. This review is over. I'm kidding of course. I will try to use words to describe the food that comes out of the kitchen at Firehouse. Why else would I be on Yelp? A friend (also from the east coast and who lives here) told me about this place many many moons ago. She swore by the pizza here. Said it was the best she had in Portland. Before we left to come here yesterday I asked her again about the pizza and how it compares to a place like Apizza Scholls. She stepped back a bit and said they were number 1 and number 2 in her book of pizza in Portland. We had a 7p reservation (thank you opentable.com ) and were seated within a few minutes of 7p. I was actually surprised the place wasn't more packed on a Saturday night from some of the other reviews I read. It isn't a big space so reservations are the smart way to go. Within a few minutes of sitting the woman who sat us welcomed us and told us who our server would be. Very friendly people here. An extra star for that, but I can only give 5. There were 4 of us in our party and at first we thought about getting two pies and splitting them along with a few salads. Discussing it a bit more, the friend who recommended this place and I ended up getting a small plate, a salad and a pie and splitting that between us. I was worried it wouldn't be enough food, but it was fine. The portions aren't huge, but definitely not small. Course 1: Small plate-beets with salsa verde and pistachio ($5). If you like beets you should do yourself a favor and get over here for these beets. They give you 4 nice sized beets and they were just about perfect. There really isn't anything more I can say about these beets. Course 2: Salad-unfortunately their online menu doesn't have the salad we had listed. I'll try to go by memory. It was a shaved asparagus salad with lettuce and bread with a citrus inspired dressing ($8). I don't know why I went with the word inspired, but I felt it and I'm sticking by it. Course 3: Pizza-the course I was waiting for. With sopressata, olives, fresh mozzarella and chili flake ($15). These pizzas are small enough to eat on ones own if you have a large appetite, but easy enough to share with someone if you have a few more dishes. The pizza comes out whole, so you have to cut it yourself. If you do the job correctly, you should get 6 slices out of it. It is on the par of more boutique pizza and less like a NY slice of pizza like Apizza Scholls gives you. The crust on this pizza reminded me of Naan. Very light and airy. You can tell that a lot of hard works goes into the construction of this pie. Thumbs up. I was speechless after the meal. With a beer and tip, my half of the bill (I owed my friend some money so I just paid for her meal) came out to $40 on the nose. Not a bad price to pay for top quality ingredients and a meal that I will speak fondly of until the next time I make it back.
(5)Devandra B.
This is the first review I have written below four stars, The buildings architecture and restoration are great, the menu was interesting. There is even a cute kitty to pet out front but the space has a strange flow, And we both got very sick after eating there tonight, we each had a salad and shared a oily mushroom pizza. Oh I haven't had food poisoning in years, this is really bad.
(1)Michael S.
This place gives me mixed emotions. The pizza is as good as you will find anywhere in the world. The brick oven is great, and the ingredients they throw in there are appropriate to making truly world-class pizza. Now, the problems: 1. The fried olive appetizer was just weird. Some tasteless meat in there, a breaded olive then deep fried. For something that's a calorie bomb, I want excellent flavor. This didn't deliver in any sense of that concept. 2. The wine- oh the wine- we ordered a bottle of white suggested by the waitress. It was okay for a simple wine with pizza. But it came out at 34 degrees. And stayed there. Pathetic. I mean really, a restaurant serving wine at food refrigerator temperature? We might have tasted the wine's flavor, if we had a couple hours to wait for it to warm up. But of course we didn't. This is inexcusable.
(3)Ophelia Y.
Wow. What a meal. From the cute, cozy ambiance to the friendly and amazing service, this meal could not have gone any better. It's in a beautiful brick building with the entrance off NE Durham (I wandered around everywhere looking for the front door and almost walked into a health clinic instead!) Once I pulled up, I could smell the aroma of the food in the air--I was ready for my meal. My friend and I decided to go all out and ended up with one hell of a meal: bruschetta with squash: This was pretty good--I loved the crispiness of the bread, with a light tomato sauce, and the squash was delish! One big piece of bread covered in all it's yummy toppings! fried cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche: I expected great things from this dish based on all the reviews, and agree--it's the bee's knees. The flavors go together swimmingly, and you will be pleasantly surprised by how good cauliflower can taste! wood-grilled hanger steak with crispy potatoes, arugula and grana padan: Oh man. This steak just melts. in. your. mouth. She didn't ask us how we wanted it done, so I just crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. It was PERFECT. I'm not a big fan of arugula, but why waste time eating arugula when you have steak?! pizza with crimini mushrooms, oregano, and fresh mozzarella: This was probably the biggest surprise of all--I don't like red sauce pizza. I just don't. It tastes like tomatoes, and just leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth. This pizza, on the other hand, rocked my world. I could not stop eating it, it was so good. The sauce was light and sweet, the cheese warm and stringy, the mushrooms well distributed. Amazing, amazing pizza. My favorite red sauce pizza I've ever had. strawberry tart: If you could take the "processed"ness of a pop tart out, this would be it. The strawberry tart covered in ice cream was a mix between pop tart and toaster strudel, which was amazing because those things are bomb.com , but are awful for you. This removes the guilt, and adds several layers of awesomeness. chocolate torte: Light, not too rich, and sprinkled with candied walnuts. To die for. I'm really glad I had the chance to check this place out. It's nestled in a quiet area of town I rarely go to, but with a restaurant like this here, how could you not?
(5)Travis M.
My wife and I have lived in the area for over a year and this has been our first visit to Firehouse. This mostly because of their (or our) odd hours (they close at 8-9 pm). I've always been impressed by the building and their grounds, it's a very striking restaurant. We walked in and it was cozy and warm. You can see the chef putting in and taking pizzas out of the pizza oven. And see the beautiful interior. We were with a friend and our friend had walked in first but it took a moment before anyone spoke to her. Alas, the first thing they was, "Do you have reservations?" Perhaps it's that I steer clear of places that need a reservation; perhaps it's that I don't encounter them much at all in Portland's laid back restaurant atmosphere, but this turned me off, especially since, as I heard the question, I was looking into the dining room at 4 - 5 empty tables. When we told them we did not have a reservation it took them a moment to figure out what to do. Our group consensus was that we would sit outside. We were told to wait for a table to open up. That's fine. We went out to the wonderful patio and waited. After 15 minutes or so, a waitress asked if it would be okay if she sat us at a table meant for two and she could pull up another chair. We said, "That'd be fine." "Give me 30 seconds," she said. We watched as she prepared the table and then...walked right past us back inside. We waited another 5 minutes before she came back and seated us. It wasn't really a big deal that she didn't seat us right away, it was just a little odd. My wife had a hard time figuring out what to order. She's a vegetarian and their options are VERY limited, unless you stick with pizza or salad. She ended up ordering the margherita pizza and our friend and I both ordered the mushroom pizza. For appetizers we ordered the bruschetta and cauliflower. Both were delicious. I also ordered a beer from their tiny beer list. As we waited for our main courses I looked around and noticed most of the people there were older women. Like grandmother types with white hair. I thought about the reservations and the older grandmothers and felt like I had returned to the midwest and was eating at some rich, exclusive restaurant. I was a bit perplexed. Maybe it was because it was a Wednesday night, yes that must be it, I thought. Our pizza came out, my wife's was burnt a little more on the bottom than mine or our friend's and it had mushrooms on it which the waitress said she could return to the kitchen for another pizza. My wife was hungry and said she'd just pick them off. The pizza was uncut, which I found odd for such a seemingly high-class place. I'm sure this is some kind of gourmet way to serve pizza but I'm sure not impressed with the presentation. I began cutting. it was soggy and I almost didn't want to eat it. The thin crust was cooked but glistened with oil and was very difficult to cut. Then came eating it. I had to curl each slice to take the first couple of bites because the pizza was so soggy. It was tasty but I've definitely had better thin crust pizzas that weren't such a pain to eat. We finished our portions and each had half a pizza to take home which was nice. We declined on dessert and I finished my second beer before leaving. The service had been just okay, not great. I think she checked on us twice for the hour we were there. Overall, I'm unimpressed and it's unlikely that I'll be back. The exclusive feel that I took away, the lack of vegetarian options and lack of beer choices are all marks against this place for me. The strange service we received just felt jumbled and the servers seemed uncertain what was expected. It's unfortunate that this place is so close to us, I want to like it, but there's two late night restaurants just across the street that are more welcoming. Too bad both the pizza joints have bad marks against them.
(2)Kody H.
Just visited this place tonight. Nice decorations, lots of wood and pizza oven is out in the open for customers to see. Overall- looks like a great restaurant. Also a plus that there is another pizza place on the same block. Prices seem a little higher than normal for the area. Not going to hide it- I was being pretty cheap tonight. Just wanted a beer and an appetizer. They have 3 beers on tap, the beer I ordered was out, had to get another. No big deal there. Service was pretty nice, just not really around. I stopped in on a Monday and there was almost no seating at all. Just not enough servers to be honest. One more would probably cover it. For the appetizer, I ordered crispy potatoes with lemon, garlic and grana padano. It was basically fried potatoes somewhere between french fries and potato skins. Was simple-potatoes,salt, and a bare minimum of cheese. Super salty! Had a really difficult time eating them. I asked for ketchup but they don't carry any. Instead I asked if they had marina sauce or any other tomato sauce. They brought some pizza sauce. Sauce seemed very watered down, but that's not uncommon for pizza sauce considering that it isn't cooked. TLDR- Just didn't care for the appetizer, made me not want to try an entree. Poor choice of beer. Nice servers, wish there was 1 more as they seemed very busy for just a Monday.
(2)Tina H.
I wanted to update this review, because I ate there again last night, and I am pleased to say that I am ever more impressed with 1) the consistency of excellence in the food, and 2) the service. Have you ever eaten in a restaurant where the waiter thought his job to make corny jokes, or to make you feel inferior, because the place was so special, but it was impossible to get plates cleared, you never had fresh silverware and a second drink was something you could only dream of? This place is the opposite. This is the kind of quiet, excellent, invisible service that you expect in the best fine dining, although the food is rustic. We had 4 courses and 2 drinks each. That's a lot of service. What I remember most about the waitstaff and the manager, who also served our table at one point, was how many times our table was visited to efficiently attend to different details, including one time to discreetly wipe the table before dessert, yet our conversations were never interrupted, and it never felt awkward. Even though there were long pauses between courses, I never felt like we had been forgotten. And although the place was busy (it's always busy), the waitstaff never appeared harried. The service is just very professional. That shouldn't seem so special, but it really is. Having been burned before when taking my favorite dining friends to a restaurant we swore was really great, only to be treated to a completely underwhelming meal, I'm always concerned. No need for concern here. The food was consistently excellent throughout, just as I had remembered. I ordered the arancini, the romain salad and the meatballs which were all excellent. but we all shared our appetizers, so I can also recommend the fried olives, the fried cauliflower and the salt cod fritters and the beets. I had a bite of my husbands pasta, and the texture was incredible. I am not a huge pot de creme fan, but theirs had these nice salty candied hazelnuts on top which really set off the chocolate. Really no mistakes, but my friend did wish that her pizza had been cut.
(5)Josh M.
A remarkable experience. We walked into a beautiful old brick firehouse with the garage door and all. There is an open fireplace and an exposed wood grill. The pizza and appetizers were amazing. Timothy was the chef on sauté and, as reflected by the food, really loved what he was doing. The pizzas were 5 stars, the environment was 5 stars and the service matched. Worth going out of the way for this one.
(5)Bob R.
This is a review by a vegetarian Really near perfect neopolitanesque pizza. Served with knife and serrated fork, a few blackened crust bubbles but an unburnt undercarriage, and no soupy center , this pizza ranks among Portland's finest and among the best I've ever wolfed down. It's impressive that they do this in the middle of a very good service and dining experience. Salads, soups, and other entrees were all top notch. Only ding is that it's maybe a little loud with the brick walls. I can't believe how much good pizza there is in portland.
(5)Petrea H.
Very good dinner for 5 of us. Shared some starters--the roasted cauliflower is a must--had a really delicious spring salad, and the outstanding meatballs. We didn't get pizza but lots of people were eating it and it looked delicious. The bread is wonderful. Service was a little sketchy (not terrible, but not great) and I have to say that the sweater I wore still smells a little like a campfire, but those things will not keep me from going back.
(4)Kim K.
Adorable neighborhood restaurant fashioned out of an old firehouse. The interior is full of personality and charm. The fried cauliflower appetizer was very good. I got the classic margherita pizza for dinner which was fresh, piping hot right from the oven, and the perfect balance of cheese/sauce/basil. The crust was doughy and but the bottom had a nice char. My view of the open kitchen was spectacular. I felt bad for my husband who had his back to them. I don't think we actually talked over dinner, I just sat there staring with my mouth open. Prices were fair on most items. Portions looked small on entrees though, glad I got the pizza. I do have a few gripes despite my 4 star review: - The service left something to be desired - The house carbonated water was flat and not carbonated at all, don't waste your $2.50 - My pizza was under salted and there was no table salt (I felt too bad to ask for it) - My hair and coat smelled like campfire until I showered the next day
(4)Cam T.
Before I met the human Goldendoodle I always had this fantasy of dating a fireman. You know, some tall, broad shouldered hunk that vaguely resembled Rodrigo Santoro & could carry me out of a smoldering building without being crippled with a hernia. There are no firemen at the Firehouse but the raw brick walls & lovingly burnished wood evoke idealized images of firemen of decades past sitting through the eye of the storm waiting for the deluge to break. Large nostalgic photos of iconic events adorn the wall adding to the sense of history & great past deeds. The open kitchen with the wood fired clay oven & rotisseries are a testament to current culinary deeds. You would think that by now, I would learn from my fellow yeep predecessor's pitfalls rather than trying to re-invent the wheel but seriously, where's the fun in that? Despite not calling ahead to make reservations & arriving on a Saturday night, the staff were ready & willing to accommodate us, the 30 min wait time miraculously shrinking to 10 min blink of an eye. But really, in the future, make reservations, it's easier & less stressful for all involved. Service was wonderful: fast, efficient, friendly, & highly knowledgeable about the ingredients & titillating backstory behind the menu items. Now, about those culinary deeds. I'm not one for truffles & cheese-based sauces because in general they tend to be cloyingly rich & not so flavorful. I can honestly say that the handmade chitarra pasta with pecorino & Zoe's Oregon black truffles was the best pasta I've had in quite some time. The sharp salty bite of the pecorino coupled with the slightly chewy chitarra pasta (named after the cool guitar-shaped pasta maker) set off the delicate truffles perfectly. As one of their rotating items it will likely be gone the next time we come here unless I engage in some more dinner time subterfuge [wah!]. If you like Neopolitan pizzas then you'll be sighing after each bite. The crust has varying consistencies to amuse your bouche, the silky soft middle that folds to your will, the puffy-crispy-chewy edge will make even the carb haters in your group gobble it down, reveling in the rich textures & slightly smoky ash from the oven. Fresh, simple tomato sauce with hints of garlic just covers the crust, no tragic drowning accidents here. The rest of the toppings are again done with a light hand, just enough to give you flavor & texture but not overburdening the tender crust or simple sauce. Love the fresh mozzarella, great chewy milky taste that look like cute little melted marshmallows on your pizza, all for $10-12 depending on the toppings. The rotisserie chicken was tender & juicy with a slightly smoky aroma but not quite as flavorful as the pasta or pizzas. Loved the tangy vinaigrette over the slightly bitter greens--yay! Another place in PDX that doesn't overdress the salad...for a while there I thought it was a Stumptown thang. Surprisingly despite my unabashed love of starch, the potatoes were super buttery but sort of gluey & blah. As for the drinks, my favorite was either the homemade hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows or the fresh Meyer lemon soda. The hot chocolate was made with velvety bittersweet chocolate & fluffy, chewy marshmallows that melted into creamy swirls in the mug. It could easily be a dessert in itself. They make the fresh Meyer lemon soda themselves with fresh lemons, simple syrup, & vanilla resulting in a very zesty, tangy, & oh so refreshing drink. I could easily picture myself slurping this down on the patio on a sultry summer night...with a fireman at my side [winkwink]. Most of the time my dinner choices are made with the goal of leaving room for dessert. Sadly, our desserts were good but not great, a bit mediocre yet thoughtful in presentation & design. The butterscotch tart with almond crust & whipped cream looked lovely placed off-center over a dollop of chocolate ganache. The butterscotch was rich & creamy & thankfully not too sweet which is usually the pitfall of this dessert. The crust however, was a bit tough & bland. Although an interesting concept the marsala crème caramel with chocolate pecan biscotti was a failure. The consistency was too pudding-like for a flan & not eggy tasting, as if it was composed of whipping cream rather than a delicate custard, very sweet with no discernible marsala & the biscotti were well...biscotti. So overall 4.5 stars which definitely deserves to be rounded up in this instance. Despite being in NE Portland (!) I see myself inveigling unsuspecting dining companions to this spot on a regular basis. As for the firemen of decades past & lost opportunities, well, I guess that's what that fireman costume in the closet is for....
(5)foodfoodfood f.
Absolutely fabulous pizza, delectable hanger steak, amazing fried cauliflower and roasted beet salad, and oh, those meatballs... I need to go back soon.
(5)Petey O.
Very cozy, great food. Been once, will go again.
(4)Stephen R.
The husband & I were discussing where we could take our frequent Seattle visitors that was not one of our regular spots. I had been reading reviews of Firehouse on Yelp & in local publications. It is an actual old firehouse that takes up most of a triangle block in the yet to be gentrified NE neighborhood- Woodlawn. Everything about our visit was superior. We were a half hour early for our reservation, because our Seattle friends had made really good time on their drive to Portland. We thought we might go early & sit at the bar...but there was no bar. The host sat us early. We had excellent service from a cute server. We chose appetizers of Roasted Beets with Spiced Pecans & Fried Baby Artichokes. We ordered several wood oven roasted pizzas with excellent thin crusts. They featured a small, but varied wine list. I let the waiter choose & we had a very nice Spanish White. It was a pleasant evening of good food & good conversation with dear friends in a lovely & unique space. I will be back.
(4)Gigi P.
Jennifer C. pretty much nailed it with her review. Hubby offered to take me out last night, and since we don't go out to dinner often (he works nights) I wanted to take the opportunity to try someplace I had never been (road less traveled, and all). I discovered The Firehouse Restaurant after searching through pages of listing for NE Portland. Sounded interesting (the building), so off we went! I never would have discovered this little gem on my own. It is a little off the beaten path, but only a little. As the name hints, the building is an old firehouse from the 19-teens. It is the sole occupant of a pie shaped island surrounded by street. It has been painted a dark red with black trim and looks absolutely charming. It beckons you to enter. And so we did. Since Jennifer took my thunder in describing the inside (just go and see it, already), I'll move on to the food. We went for a lighter meal - the romaine salad and the sausage pizza - both split. The food is very simple, straightforward, and perfectly seasoned, which is a really good thing. The salad was simply whole leaves of romaine heart tossed with an absolutely yummy dressing and topped with freshly grated Italian paramasan. So simple, yet so full of delicious flavor! The pizza was reminicent of pizza I ate in Italy - very thin crust (which is not crisp, but as it should be) with a tomato sauce that screams of ripe tomatoes, lots of little hunks of fresh mozzarella, and little balls of sausage. Hubby would have liked more sausage, but I thought it was just right (per quarter pizza, there are probably 8-10 little balls of sausage). The flavor of the dough was so good. I could have eaten a whole plate of crust! So good. I loved it so much I considered ordering another pizza, but I thought I better not (girlish figure and all). I figure it just gives me another reason to go back. Firehouse, you have lit a fire in my heart! I'll be back!
(4)Anna L.
I've been here about 5 times since I moved to Portland so it is safe to say I really like this place. The only not-so-satisfying experience I had was a prefix Valentine's Day menu....it was only so-so. The regular menu is sprinkled with fun items and the pizza is the best wood-oven style I have tasted since moving here. A sheep cheese and honey almond appetizer was also a favorite of mine. This is a fun place to take friends for American-style tapa's dishes. It is cozy in the winter and open and fresh in the summer!
(4)John B.
Today I had both brunch and dinner at Firehouse, and they were both superb, perhaps the best meals I've had in Portland. My ideal brunch is not a sweet mess with cooked dough; it's a lovely savory meal that has breakfast-like eggs with it. I had braised lentils (yum!) with sausage and two perfectly poached eggs. There was a splash of pesto-like green on the top and a wedge of chewy, crusted bread. The other two breakfasts on the table were the tomato soup. It looked incredible, though not enough for me for breakfast. I noticed the saltiness of my breakfast. I had a friend coming in to town in the evening, so before I left this morning, I made an 8PM dinner reservation, excited to try more of their food. For dinner, I had a little more variety. I split the appetizer sampler and they were all good, but a bit salty for my taste. The arugula salad with hazelnuts and Humboldt fog cheese was a great trio. Each had a strong, distinct flavor, yet they were not competing. I've been craving arugula, so it was a natural choice. My main course was a hangar steak that was incredible. I asked for it as rare as they'd serve it, and they did it right. It was server on fried potatoes and arugula. It was simple and good. Though the portions looked small, it was just right, especially given the first two courses I'd had. The atmosphere is great: brick with open kitchen. Service was fine, which probably means that it was better than I thought. It was out of the way, and attentive. It's not a difficult combo, but so many places can't get it right. Firehouse gets extra points for serving good food without attitude and for making their own sparkling water. Shipping water, sparkling or still, across the world does not make environmental sense. Knowing that I can order sparkling water without worrying about increasing my carbon footprint makes dining out easier since I don't drink wine. Oh, the things we worry about. OK, so, Firehouse is really a four-star restaurant. I gave it five stars because I want to see it make it, I have not had a better meal in Portland in its price range, and I love the ambiance of place with people. It's one of the very few menus offers me a choice: almost everything on the menu looks good and suits my food needs. At most restaurants, I scan a menu to narrow down my choice to the least bad. I'll return to enjoy more food at Firehouse.
(5)John M.
Not overwhelming, not alot of menu choices but the pizza we ordered was tasty, service was good and I love the atmosphere in this small, warm place...
(3)Jav V.
I'm not sure how I ended up at Firehouse, but I'm glad I did. It was pretty great. I love the atmosphere. The food was pretty good too. I had the margherita pizza. I think it's up there on the list of better pizza I've had in Portland. They have a bunch of small plates too. The bruschetta was tasty. Their main dishes sounded really good too, so I will definitely be back to try some of them. The service was super friendly too!
(4)Alan R.
All I can say is WOW! I had the lentils, pork sausage and poached eggs. The lentils may have been the best I have ever had. Delicious! And a very nice patio to boot.
(5)Wendy C.
Firehouse is a lovely addition to the neighborhood. Really: I have absolutely nothing snarky to say about this place! From the overflowing gardens lining the perimeter to the historical b&w photos lining the interior to the heat radiating out of the brick oven, this restaurant just defines cozy neighborhood Fall Friday night dinner. Our waiter was knowledgeable, funny, and had perfect timing. Everything smelled delicious. Just go. Make a reservation, order a bottle of red, a pizza or two and some apps. Firehouse has some sort of rosy glowing aura or some such nonsense. It's hard to define, but it's good!
(5)A. K.
Service: friendly, prompt, helpful, unpretentious Decor: lots of wood, cozy, nice brick oven Food: not a single low note. highlights: pizza, fried cauliflower, seared mussels. simple and delicious. Prices: for good food, excellent prices. Other: small for large groups, great date spot. For better or worse, seems kid-friendly. A great place when you want something special but not formal or expensive.
(4)Steven C.
great atmosphere and the building makes for an excellent restaurant setting. i wasn't blown away by the food, but the alcohol selection made up for it. i will have to come back and try other items on the menu because what all the other tables ordered did look much better than mine!
(3)Justsun B.
Good. The building was really cool inside, the pizza oven real and wood burning... All a plus. The pizza's were a little on the high side and soggy, but the effort was there and I enjoyed them. Would I go out of my way to stop here again? Maybe not, but if I lived in the area it would be a common stop.
(4)Esther H.
The space in this 1912 firehouse has been restored to perfection, with exposed beams and brick, and historic photos of its original opening hung on the walls. The entrees are mostly cooked over a wood-fired rotisserie or in a wood-fired oven, so everything (fish, fowl and otherwise) has a crisp browned skin and a luscious juicy flesh. The greens are mostly grown in the onsite garden. Pizzas (listed as a side) are cooked Neapolitan style-no extra ingredients, tender thin crust- and are the perfect size for one person, or two or three as an appetizer/shared plate. in my mind, the menu is overly modest about the ingredients, which are sourced from a local farm, fromagerie and rancher. You can't miss the incredible desserts, like my curent favorite-the refreshing espresso granita layered with rich creme fraiche, or the chocolate almond torte.
(5)Sheila J.
Outstanding really! The setting is fabulous-- outdoor seating is our favorite..the setting is like relaxing a nice backyard patio. The food is simple but totally exquisite flavor...reminds me of the food in Italy. The fried artichoke hearts were delish. The stuffed olives were great-- crunchy, soft in the inside and not greasy at all. We live in the neighborhood and definitely will go back again and again!
(5)Ahsan A.
They make the simplest and best pizza I've had in Portland. I don't really know what Neopolitan style pizza is supposed to be like, but whatever it is they do, wow. A couple other dishes we tried seemed to adhere to similar notions of simplicity. We had the pizza with home-made fennel sausage. The crust was not blackened like some other woodfire pizza you may find around town. Just enough tomato sauce and cheese, and great sausage. The plate of roasted vegetables was exactly that, but absurdly good. I hate cooked carrots. I loved their roasted carrots. Like so many other PDX restaurants, they adhere to local organic produce and it shows when you taste their veggies. Yumz. And oh yes, the dessert. Cantelope is my least favorite melon, but I've never had it like this. I don't know what exactly it was, frozen Cantelope mush with some frenchy creamy sauce and berries. Again, simple yet awesome. Great ambience. You really can't go wrong with a restaurant in a former firehouse, but they've done the interior right proper. We sat outside in their enclosed courtyard, the open skyline with summer sunset and a starry eve was yum. For the quality of food you're getting, this place is pretty darn cheap. One pizza is plenty for one person and runs 10-12 bucks. Disclaimer # 1: My friend works here. But I must say that I like talking smack to my friends and his place of employment gives me no such opportunity. Disclaimer # 2: I love the flavor of wood ovens, and most of the entrees seem to be cooked as such. So mayhaps I am biased.
(5)Kurtis C.
If you are looking for very friendly (but not annoyingly so) staff, great space, yummy food, and an off-the-beaten path place, this is it. I love going here, with friends, family, date, whatever. It's consistently good.
(5)Red G.
A 5 for the food, a 5 for ambience, a 1 for MAKNG US WAIT 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES (felt as if I had never left the Bay Area...). Maybe we were just too stupid to wait so long or too curious to check out a new place, but we should have at least gotten an apology or complimentary glass of wine (Toro Bravo gave us a glass of wine for a 15-minute wait). I'll go back, but only way after the buzz dies down.
(3)Terry S.
06/29 Pizza review only......just blah no sauce and 6 small pieces of sausage for $15! I stopped at Thriftway on way home and bot some canadian bacon to put on top. Over rated 'wood fired' I didn't experience any mouth moving tantalizing excitement. Dominos still on top.
(1)Jenn K.
We came during the heat wave. They had some AC. The staff were all amazingly attentive. The HH prices / drinks were a great price. The pizza was good and had REAL Canadian bacon! I'd go back again!
(5)Keith M.
Excellent food and service. Had albacore entree which was outstanding. Service friendly and swift.
(5)Kristi K.
We had dinner at Firehouse a few weeks ago. It was one of the best, most unique meals we've had in Portland. We made a reservation for 6 p.m. on a Saturday night. We were seated promptly and greeted by the best server we've ever had - Steven G. He was friendly, efficient and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. Most notably, he was completely calm and collected in spite of having several tables to take care of. The restaurant was offering a 3 course meal - small plate, salad, and entree - for $25/person. Not only was the price reasonable but the food was delicious. We started with the house made orange lime soda and an iced tea. I typically don't go for fruity sodas but this was fresh and effervescent. We ordered the beet and hazelnut dish and the fried cauliflower. The beets were tangy, with a pleasantly acidic vinaigrette and the cauliflower had nice texture and a lemony dipping sauce. In between courses, the table is wiped down and all the dishes cleared. This was a little awkward because I kept my beets but I was able to eat them when my silverware was reset for the salad course. We both ordered the summer salad, one of the most creative salads I've ever had the pleasure to eat - green beans, nectarines, and blackberries; it was topped with a ricotta salata cheese that balanced the dish. For entrees, we ordered the pork shoulder with polenta and little (whole) peppers and the hanger steak with potatoes. The server, did a fantastic job of explaining the pork dish - it's fatty and delicious but not for everyone. The polenta was amazing - almost like a fresh creamed corn. And the steak was perfectly prepared - medium rare and juicy. We completed our meal with the chocolate torte w/ whipped cream and a crunchy nut brittle. It was dense and rich. If you're going for the full three course meal, be prepared to spend an hour or so. It's the kind of experience to savor and enjoy on a special occasion. although there were several diners who had the wood fired pizza and were in and out more quickly that us. We'll certainly go back to Firehouse with the hope of becoming regulars!
(5)Angela K.
Enjoyed the character and decor of the converted firehouse. But food was somewhat pricey and only so so. Mussel presentation was nice and well cooked but flavor only mediocre. Pizza crust was thin and soggy and sauce was lacking in flavor other than way too much salt. Beets were only serviceable because only flavor I could taste was salt. Hostess seemed like she would rather be anywhere but there. Server was somewhat present but really didn't offer "good" service. With all the fantastic options available in Portland, I'm sorry to say I see no reason to return here. The 2 stars is because I rate this establishment as below average.
(2)Megan C.
Went here last night for date night. Love the ambience, the lighting and the music that was playing in the background. We were sat at a tiny corner table for two and had mostly sides (cauliflower, beets and fried potatoes) as well as the pizza with sausage. The cauliflower was awesome (salty), beets were beautiful but fried potatoes were a bit too thin and more crunchy and lemony than need be. The pizza took about 40 mins to get out and then unfortunately the serve staff took forever to deliver then take away our dessert menus and bring the bill. I would go back for a meat heavy meal as there weren't many main course veggie options.
(4)Carrina M.
My husband, my parents (visiting from out of town), and I had dinner here on a Sunday night to honor the birthday of a family member who died over the summer. For me, at least, stakes were high to make sure that we found the "right" place for the occasion - good food, good service, and not too over-the-top Portland-quirky. Firehouse excelled on all counts. I avoided seeking out a reservation until the relative last minute. I left a message at about 3:50 and got a friendly call back by 4:05 confirming the reservation. The person who called me back was also totally happy to entertain my questions about making sure that we wouldn't be rushed (given that our time was for not too long before their closing time), and confirming that they had a certain menu dessert on offer (since it had sentimental value for the person we were celebrating). Literally the only interaction of the entire night that caused any level of consternation was when we first arrived and presented ourselves. After waiting for many beats for someone to acknowledge us (there were some folks making cocktails and paddling pizza who saw us, so it wasn't uncomfortable, just unclear), the person who eventually acknowledged us took my information about the reservation, then disappeared. We learned after a couple of minutes that she was just around the corner, very close to us, at a built-in station, but there was no way to see this - so something more than a nod ("I'm just going to step around the corner and then I'll be back") would have been nice, just as an acknowledgement of the limitations of the entryway space. Our party was entertained by the pizza oven behind the bar area while waiting, though. Everything else met or exceeded our expectations. Our party had house cocktails (the Italian Greyhound, the In Earnest, and the Stanley's Cup) and the Caldera Pilot Rock Porter. I had the In Earnest and it wasn't life-changing, but it was very good. We had the cauliflower, beets, and fried stuffed olives and everyone enjoyed them. We also had the Winter Salad, the Romaine Hearts salad, and something with sunchokes. For our mains, we had the hanger steak, a pizza (with brussels sprouts and calabrian chiles - spicy!), and - I think - the gnocchi (I never got a good look at my dad's plate, much less a taste of it). We loved it all - everyone got a taste of everything else (except the gnocchi or whatever it was over there). There was a lot of satisfied sighing. I was worried about the oversalting that I had read about in a couple of other reviews, but it wasn't in evidence at all. It was a lot of food. I had half of my pizza for lunch a couple of days later. Wood-fired doesn't hold up great, but for leftovers it was plenty tasty. Service was the absolute perfect level of warmth and attentiveness. Definitely in the "nice restaurant" category for me when my silverware is swapped out after every course and my crumbs (sorry!) are swept away - but gave us the perfect amount of space for our occasion, too. Our server was happy to talk with me about the digestifs on the dessert menu, reassuring me that anything would be more subtle than the fernet, which she described, to the amusement of my table, as a "punch in the mouth" (true, that). For dessert, three of us had the chocolate pot de creme [also has cream, toasted hazelnuts, and caramel] out of respect for the person we were honoring, who had a penchant for chocolate pudding with spray whipped cream. It was the kind of dessert that silences the table in (the best kind of) disbelief. I spent about 0.5 seconds feeling unfaithful to the Platonic ideal of chocolate pudding and spray whip that I had come here to honor - then I got over it and dug in. My dad had the bread pudding - both he and my husband have very strong predatory feelings toward bread pudding, and they were not disappointed. Noise level was fine - full when we arrived, but never once a concern. We were in the area to the left of the entryway - the side with the walk-in and the bathroom. It might be louder on the other side, not sure. We arrived well after dark so I don't have any sense of how much natural light is available during daylight hours. Personally, I loved the cozy interior - a combination of original brick, plaster, and (I think) some wood paneling when we came in. It wasn't inexpensive, and it won't be when everyone gets at least one drink, a small plate, a couple of course, and a dessert. But that was primarily due to our no-holds-barred ordering process for this special occasion - the prices felt reasonable. We'll absolutely be back, and I can't wait to try them for happy hour.
(4)Zach M.
My wife and I had dinner at Firehouse this past Sunday evening, and it was one of the best restaurant experiences I've had in Portland. The food is probably closer to 4 stars for me than 5, but the service and ambiance are straight-up 5 star. We walked in without reservations and not knowing it was happy hour, and the staff made sure we were able to order from the happy hour menu and asked us if we wanted anything more from it just before time was up. Our server was great about making recommendations and explaining the menu, and every time we had a request or he asked if we wanted something, he came through, despite the fact that he seemed to be the only person working in the dining room besides the hostess. He paid exactly the right amount of attention to us, and he didn't rush us one bit even once the dining room filled up. All the wine we tried was very good. The one cocktail we ordered, Nonna's Lemonade, was expertly balanced and the first thing containing Campari that my wife has ever enjoyed. We tried most of the small plates on the menu that night, and the fried cauliflower and bruschetta with fava bean paste were our favorites (not that you could go wrong with any of them). The arugula salad was full of fresh vegetable flavors - no masking bad ingredients with a ton of dressing. The pizza was thin, had excellent, flavorful crust, and was as good as any I've had in Portland. Our desserts were not as good as the rest of the meal, but we agreed with our server that the marsala ice cream is amazing. We didn't walk in expecting to order so much, but the food, drinks, service, and atmosphere were so good that we ended up spending almost two hours at our table sampling everything we could. We live pretty close to Firehouse, but it's worth a trip to the Woodlawn Triangle no matter where you live in Portland.
(5)Ross W.
Firehouse is the best restaurant we have tried while vacationing in Portland, not just in terms of food, but also service, ambience and price. The Bruschetta was amazing. The heirloom tomatoes were so juicy and refreshing. I had the wood grilled Oregon albacore tuna, very flavorful, and you get 2 good-sized pieces. Hubby enjoyed his wood-grilled hanger steak with crispy potatoes, arugula and grana padano. He licked everything clean. The meal ended perfectly with a tiramisu semifreddo. For tiramisu lovers like me, semi-frozen is the way to go. If we lived in Portland, we would eat at Firehouse regularly.
(5)Courtaney M.
This is the first time I've felt the urge to write a review... Firehouse was *that* good. The food was delicious -- do not miss the cauliflower! My salad (with Humboldt fog cheese) was yummy, too. The pizza was great, too -- crust was perfect. Yay for a fabulous meal start to finish! The experience was made even better by our server, Kevin. Awesome -- the perfect combination of attentiveness, humor, patience, conversation and food/drink recommendation. I will definitely be back!
(5)Mitch D.
We went to firehouse for dinner last night after getting a reservation on Opentable. The service was a tad slow, but I believe that was likely due to a party being held in the other room that required a lot of attention (they seemed to be having a lot of fun). We ordered a three-course meal (small plate, salad, main) for me (Bruschetta, Romaine Hearts Salad, and Hanger Steak) and a Mike's Winter Green Salad and a Pizza with Crimini Mushrooms for my wife. We shared everything. The bruschetta was very tasty, yet kind of small. We were able to cut it into four pieces. The salads were a bit underwhelming, but still tasty. The steak was very good and prepared perfectly. The pizza was excellent. As many reviews have stated, it is very thin crust, but still chewy. I enjoyed the leftover pizza today. I thought that the atmosphere was cool too. It's a little spendy, but I think that I would go back.
(4)April C.
this place is plain awesome - it's become a favorite with a friend and i and we've never had anything there NOT yummy. it's not the cheapest, sometimes there's a very long wait, but ooooh, it's worth it. in decent weather the patio is a great option. the space is great just from an adaptive-reuse-project perspective (planning/design geek, sorry) but functions quite well as a restaurant - they did a great job with it. the trio of appetizer munchies is a great idea for sharing and for anxiously awaiting that fabulous pizza.
(5)Loren A.
A quaint place in Woodlawn with wonderful outdoor seating. Apparently it can be hard to get a reservation, but we just walked in on a weekday at around 6PM while visiting Portland and had no problem. You'll get pizza with a perfectly cooked crust (slightly chewy but crispy on the edges) and flavorful sauce. We got the pizza with sausage on it too which was a good move - delicious. It's not just about the pizza, though - their appetizers are great also. We loved the cauliflower.
(4)Caden R.
My biggest takeaway from my experience at Firehouse is: MAKE SURE YOU GET A RESERVATION. We didn't and that's the reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5. We showed up with a party of 3 without a reservation and were told it would be a half hour wait. We waited 45 minutes and then went to the hostess to check the status. It took half an hour after that. I'm one who is fine with waiting for good food, but it was a bummer to wait more than double the amount we were told. Even after waiting 45 minutes more than we were told, I was pleased with the experience. I got the Margherita pizza with honestly rivals those of Ken's and Apizza Scholls. I also sampled the Fennel Sausage and Sopressata from those in my party. As far as appetizers go, the Bruschetta is a MUST HAVE and the Olives and Arancini are worth the $4.50 when you get all three.
(4)Emily M.
Bad. customer. service. That's my 3-word summary of our night at Firehouse. The food was good; nothing out-of-this-world, but it was good. Otherwise, it was cramped, stuffy, and we were treated indifferently by the host. A friend called (a few times) in advance to inquire about seating policies, reservations, etc and then to confirm that we were, indeed, coming for dinner. The information she was given over the phone was very consistent re: seating policies for the outdoor patio. Upon our early arrival, we were told we couldn't sit outside. Contrary to the policies previous stated to us on the phone (patio is first-come-first-served), the host was "saving" the outside seats for a group. Okay... we'll sit inside. We sat inside (it was sweltering hot) and watched the totally empty patio seats. They were empty for over an hour. I've worked in the service industry, and I know that sometimes customers can be annoying/ungrateful/just plan stupid. We were none of these. My friend was very gracious when she didn't pitch a fit that we were seated inside with a nice view of the empty outdoor tables. We were polite and ordered lots of alcohol and food. In spite of this, we felt snubbed.It honestly felt that we were being ignored and that nobody cared that we were inconvenienced or that we were misinformed several times. We got infrequent water refills (did I mention it was ROASTING inside?!) and at one point someone who worked there "fluffed" a napkin (a used napkin) directly over my drink. Eew. Crumbs. Good thing it was my friend's napkin and I don't mind her crumbs. Dear Firehouse: it seems (based on other reviews) that the only thing consistent with your treatment of guests is that you are inconsistent. Maybe a better training for your staff? Maybe being clear and fair regarding your policies? Even if we made a mistake (which we didn't) there is no excuse for the lack of service... I really have no desire to go back. There are many places with similar menus and GREAT service.
(1)Kristin J.
Although it's a touch on the spendy side,it's pretty amazing. We ordered the cauliflower and it was perfect, then we moved on to the mussels - all I can say is wow. These are the only mussels I have ever liked! Lastly we enjoyed the mushroom pizza. It's was the right amount of food for 2 people.
(5)N R.
We had a lovely dinner with a sour ending. I've never been asked to wrap up conversation and go to alleviate the wait time for special "friends of the owners" at a restaurant before. I've been a server for years-- I feel no need to return.
(2)Naomi F.
Great location. I am a fan of the redone firehouse and the nostalgic pictures scattered around and how well they were able to turn the old firehouse into a well laid out restaurant. The food was good: the fried cauliflower, the salads were delicious and the brown butter carrot carrot was amazing. I ordered the pizza, was a bit disappointed in the quality of the pizza, it was soggy and burnt. My friends' entrees per them was really well done. If anything I recommend going there for the atmosphere and trying other things on their menu and avoiding the pizza.
(4)Wayne C.
I love puns. As such, I instantly liked the Firehouse when I learned that the restaurants theme is wood-fire grilled food sold out of a decommissioned Portland city firehouse. How awesome is that! The environs are great and very pleasant - but a bit more about that further into my review. Now for the dining experience. For the food - a solid, rock solid 4 stars. For the atmosphere - a 3.5 stars, as the venue is rather smokey and we left with fully "smoked" clothes post meal. Finally the service - man, Portland really has a dilemma with regard to quality, reproducible service. It seems that dining out is pretty much a hit-or-miss at Portland eateries, and the Firehouse was no exception. Don't get me wrong, the service wasn't overtly bad - it just wasn't overtly good either. I'm a firm believer in the notion that the food is only a small percent of the overall dining out experience, and the service at the Firehouse was aloof, not overly hospitable nor centric to the needs of the guest. As such - I give it 2 stars. Overall this means my rating of the Firehouse is on the low side; however, if the food were the only variable - I'd rate it much higher. With all of that said, the smoked skirt steak and the cauliflower starter were awesome. I mean it - really nice dishes. The drinks were also good. If the service was just a little more guest focused, I would rate the Firehouse with more stars and be back for future visits.
(3)Scott H.
Not fair to hold to a higher standard, but I do. My wife and I found this in the 100 places to stuff your face book. Fortunately when we arrived it was happy hour so we got to try lots of things. Some of the tables are unusually small for a two top. As a wide person I noticed this discrepancy. I appreciate the old firehouse feel, but the noise level gets a little crazy. It's a little hard to hear the person across from you. The fried cauliflower was pretty good. Could have been seasoned a little better and it was cut kind of clunky. The bruschetta was not really bruschetta, but toppings on a piece of bread. Kind of clunky as well. I think they would be better to have two smaller portions than one large one. The flavor was good, but a hair salty. The meatballs were quite good. Excellent texture and just a little salty. Seemed to be a theme for the night. We were most looking forward to the pizza, but were most disappointed by it. We got the marghareta pizza. Love the fresh mozz and the basil. I think the sauce was good, but the pecorino or whatever cheese they added blasted the thing with salt. It was almost inedible from the salt content. I did like the crust. Nice and chewy and cooked well. The middle was a little soggy and thin, making it a little hard to eat. Sadly I hold the east side eateries to a higher standard, and this did not quite make it.
(3)Kim P.
We went here last night and it was a very good experience. The happy hour menu (available from about 3-6 pm) was well-priced, so we ordered a variety of items. The pizzas were excellent! They arrived almost immediately. Our server said they only cool for 90 seconds in the blazing-hot brick pizza oven, and that was a welcome surprise because we were hungry! The cinnamon rooibos ice tea was excellent! We also had the cauliflower appetizer and it was so great that we had to order it again. For $3.50, it's definitely something to try. The place is hard to find because it's a remodeled fire station with no visible signage. But it's worth the search.
(4)Trudy F.
Don't have a reservation? Don't even bother. Absolutely call ahead because this place is well worth a little planning. If only for the cauliflower, it's definitely a must-try. On two out of three visits we enjoyed outstanding seating. The third we were stuck around the corner by the toilets. Pet peeve when dining out. Lesson learned... call well in advance and request a window seat or to be seated in the main dining area, not around the corner to the left. The service is not overly solicitous... it's professional, direct, prompt and efficient. The food, well, WOW. Every item we ordered on all our visits was shared with the group, with tons to take home. I love the idea that they use local produce and the liquor selection, though limited, is well selected. The table next to us on our last visit brought their own wine and the restaurant served for them (assuming for a corkage). Parking in this part of PDX tricky, but not too difficult. Plan on a walk and rely on your GPS if you don't know the area well.
(5)Kevin K.
I thought it was good. I don't have any complaints, but i was expecting better. I had called long in advance for a group reservation. The people I spoke with, and the entire process made me feel really good about my choice. But, once there, the service was lacking. Not only was our waiter slow, but he just seemed confused about what he was doing, which created confusion at the table. Ultimately, I believe he was new or newer. I don't think he should have been assigned to our group and that someone more seasoned and polished in the business would have been a better fit. Everyone liked and enjoyed their food. No one raved about anything in particular. I would go back, but not as a group.
(3)Hema P.
What a delightful place to stop for dinner. It's a real gem. My friend and I made reservations but were unfortunately 20 mins late, the gave away our table but were great about getting us another one and gave us complementary appetizers - roasted beets and roasted cauliflower were just divine. We ordered a simple margarita pizza and it was just perfect. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and the staff are super nice. Don't miss the rhubarb and strawberry compote - it's just perfect, not too sweet and not too tart. I will go back here when I visit Portland again.
(5)Haroun K.
Firehouse offered New Years Eve seating in 2014, one of the few places without a prix fixe menu. The catch here is that they require a credit card in advance, and will charge $40 if you no show. Also you are allotted about 1 h 45 min to finish your meal. Of course, they can't actually enforce the time constraints, and by the time we walked in, three parties were waiting to be seated, the larger of which was quoted an additional 15-20 mins wait time. By the time we left, there was a line of parties out the door, all of whose reservations were long overdue. We didn't especially like the goat cheese + lettuce salad or the crispy potatoes. But the pizzas are spot on, in terms of ingredients. The flavors are excellent. The pizzas are pretty difficult to slice (and you have to slice them yourselves), with the center being too squishy, and the toppings falling everywhere. But they tasted great. All in all, a four star option for New Years Eve, and probably 3-4 stars in the non-holiday context.
(4)Nathan V.
Highs: A nice patio perfect for summer evenings. Fun pizza offerings. Location. Lows: Some waitstaff is rude and impersonal. Strange reservation policy. Prices not in line with food. We visited on a Monday night. Though early (6PM), apparently they were pretty booked up and made it known the table we were seated at had to cleared an hour and fifteen minutes later. I can't recall ever hearing something like this from a restaurant. I think the seating area at the downtown Portland Safeway has the same time limit. Luckily we were able to relocate to the patio which is not reservable and happened to have an open table. The table tops are really strange as they have two huge 2.5" gaps running parallel the length of the top. This might be interesting if not for the fact they are also small tables so you will quickly find no space to set things with more than four people. Initially the service was great with host helping to relocate us to the outside The waitress, though professional was not really friendly or informative. Strictly business. When I discreetly told her I had a problem with one of my things she sort of made a big deal and embarrassed me for mentioning it and only with my instance eventually took the plate back without apology. Really strange. I know from experience the first instinct is not always to agree with a customer but you really have to pretend even when you do not agree. There is no winning when you argue. And I am not a big complainer, I realize food and service is not a science. The food was good though as other have said, tended to be over salted. The pizza I ordered was soggy in the center. Really strange. Center 1/3 was just plain undercooked dough. Favor was right but texture no. These might be excusable mistakes for a cheaper and less snooty atmosphere but here it was a real surprise. I will probably not be going back. :(
(2)Deanna N.
In attempt to hit the Eater 38, I went to the Firehouse this weekend. The only bummer is they didn't have a bar for us to wait at, but we went to Breakside Brewery across the street and they called us when a table was ready. We sat at a small bar table top the three of us which was good because our sarcasm, wit and humor may have been misconstrued - we called ourselves the Japs with two Jews and one Japnese boy - oy! Anyway, We loved the brussel sprouts and we loved the pizza. The crust was woodfired amazing, the pizza a little drippy, but so so so yum. I particularly like the spiciness of the sopressata. Can't believe its been open 6 years and it took me this long to get here. And the kale humbolt fog currant salad was also a hit. Love you can try a three course menu for a fixed $25 or $29 with a primi, salad and secundi, price dependent on whether you order pizza or mains.
(5)Candra G.
Muscles were good. Portions were insanely small. Cocktails were not worth the $10 ea. that we spent on it. It took forever to get seated. My water glass tasted like soap. Seating was uncomfortable and sat people WAY too close together. I went out for a nice dinner with my significant other. Not be observed by the family of 4 sitting on our laps. Furthermore, this is the first Italian restaurant that has about 4-5 entree options, and a pathetic pasta selection. It's cute and people are nice and all. I just anticipated better accommodations for guests based on the better service and comfort that I get at Shari's for half the price.
(2)Steven M.
Great little neighborhood restaurant. We have been at 3-4 times, and we continue to love this place. Looking at the other reviews, I noticed the issues with the he staff. I was glad to see that they have implemented a dedicated host to greet you and assist with the the waitstaff. We were immediately greeted and showed to our table. The renovated firehouse is unique and love the open hearth wood oven. I have noticed a little issue with the air flow and sometimes does get smokey. Also, the management needs to address the issue of flies in the restaurant - I have noticed our last two visits an inordinate number of flies. Our waitstaff were attentive - they do tend to be a little aloof, but perform their jobs with efficiency. The food is always consistent. We have enjoyed everything we have ever had - some of the best rotisserie chicken that I have had in Portland. We did try their pizza this last go around, and I think they have the dough issue handled. I have noticed some reviews that the dough was not quite cooked through and chewy. The last two pizzas we have had have been perfect - a perfect appetizer for two. I am a little worried that the menu is somewhat static, and not updated for the season. Lentils with my chicken seemed a little out of season. We will keep returning to Firehouse. Love the easy atmosphere and wonderful food. Food: 38/40 Atmosphere/Decor: 16/20 - solve the fly problem Staff/Service: 18/20 Value: 19/20 Total: 91/100
(5)Nina S.
The best thing about the Firehouse is that it's right across from the Good Neighbor Pizzeria. Terrible service. Terrible greeting. They greeted us with "You can't sit there" and with what time we need to leave so other patrons could be there. Very odd, very rude. Won't go back.
(1)Cola V.
Open space that feels warm and cozy. A big group was eating, kids running around, a laid-back vibe that doesn't feel chaotic. The "individual-sized" pizzas were excellent ($14+), staff was kind and attentive (glass was never empty!). We didn't have a reservation and they were reluctant to turn us away and found us a table. Great casual date spot, family dinner, group spot.
(4)High S.
Wow. When someone calls to get information about the following night's availability, it's really smart to actually talk to them. The girl who answered the phone, just now, first hung up on me before I'd even said ANYTHING. When I called back, I told her that she'd hung up on me so she knew that it had happened. Rudely, her only flippant reply was, "...how can I help you", in the most insincere tone. When I asked, again, if she had time to help me or if she was too busy, she then said, dismissively and impatiently, "how many in your party?" At that point, I just said to forget it. OWNER: if your staff can't even answer the phone, properly and courteously, how on earth do you expect to keep business with those who want to reserve for the following night (not even the same night, mind you)? Your restaurant's first impression is through whomever you've hired to greet customers (or potential ones calling so they might spend money eating your food). This seems pretty basic to me. Restaurants come and go in PDX and the good ones remain because the staff are friendly. Sorry to say, I would never spend my money in your restaurant, simply, because the person who answered the phone left a very, bad taste in my mouth: rudeness. Too bad because I dine out A LOT, tip HEAVILY, and review, FREQUENTLY (not only here).
(1)Yeng D.
The staff was friendly and accommodating. I had a reservation for 12 and when we arrived, they gave everyone a glass of sparkling wine while they finished setting up. All of our food & drinks came out at a good pace. The sausage & margherita pizzas, most of the salads, potatoes and broccoli were delicious. It was a birthday dinner, so we ended up leaving several items behind and they called me immediately and left a message for me.
(4)Blake M.
Probably best to make reservations but we were seated at bar with in 15 min. Great pizza and beer on tap. Will be back again soon to try some other menu items.
(4)Amy B.
This place is spectacular and I haven't been there in forever. Not sure why I waited so long to try it again. Every single item we had was amazing. I would have the whole meal all over again and be completely happy. We had the meatballs, which are not smothered in marinara and a wood fired pizza, which had a perfectly cooked crust. A steak that was not only cooked perfectly but set on top of these crispy potato wedges. Every, absolutely everything was good. Even the presentation was impressive.
(5)Aimee L.
OK I've been going here regularly since they opened, and while Amy was a waitress the place was awesome because the service matched their incredible food. The thyme-scented chicken is hands-down the most amazing wonderful dish ever, but the service, for the last at least five times in 2013 (including my birthday where we had the most humorless waitress ever) has been horrible. We went last night and again, great food, but an almost nonexistent waitress who brings our wine and then doesn't return for - seriously - 15 minutes, then doesn't even apologize for the delay. Never asked us how our food was, and our plates were clean for a good 15 minutes before she bothered coming back to clear them, then WE had to ask HER for the dessert menu and for the check because we were - again - feeling abandoned. Unfortunately every single dessert has dairy in it (how about a lovely sorbet or fruit plate) so we didn't order, and she was stone faced when I said (very politely) that I couldn't have what was on the menu. My boyfriend was furious and actually did not want to tip her at all - I just am hoping what we did leave went to the fantastic chefs, because she didn't deserve squat. Massive fail. It's to a point now that even living right nearby all these years, I'm no longer going to go there, and am definitely not having my birthday there that I've had at Firehouse every year since they opened. Such a bummer as this to me has the best food in Portland but with crappy service by the waitstaff (the hostess was very nice).
(2)Aubrey T.
Firehouse is my favorite restaurant in town. The wood-fired oven makes everything taste amazing. The meatballs are my go to, the romaine salad is perfectly dressed, the steak is delicious and the caramel pot du creme is a taste sensation. Their pizza is also excellent (be advised that fresh mozzarella will leave a little liquid in the middle of your pizza - you'll want to sop it up with your crust, trust me). The cocktails are terrific. Honestly, you can't go wrong here. And most of the above items are on the happy hour menu! You should eat here.
(5)Chuck N.
I would not feed a dog my plate at the Firehouse. Dry, rubbery meatballs that are half filler with too much fennel so that they taste like licorice. That drowning in an oily sauce that is the weirdest marinara I have ever encountered. All that lying on a bed of over-cooked, devitalize long beans that have no flavor whatsoever. Oh yeah...some tasteless bread to mop it all up with too. Garbage food from someone who gave up caring about cooking long ago.
(1)Todd Q.
Absolutely lovely. Cozy & tasteful space design with an open kitchen and patio. Ordered: fried cauliflower, soppressata pizza & the hanger steak. Each were delicious. The staff was highly attentive but never hovered. Highly recommended. I will be going back for sure.
(4)Melanie C.
My first experience was the warm and herbaceous aroma. We were greeted promptly and seated near the open kitchen where I saw the pork and chicken which immediately increased my appetite. The atmosphere was cozy and lively as the restaurant filled. We had the fried cauliflower w/lemon aioli and arancini, both perfectly hot and crisp on the outside and moist on the inside. The Hearts of Romaine salad is a lighter kind of Caesar and, finally, I got the saltiness of anchovy (which is hard to find in the States) balanced with the brightness of lemon. I had the pappardelle which was PERFECTLY al dente. My husband had a pizza which had the thinnest crust while remaining plenty chewy. And everything is tinged with the flavor of hardwood smoke from their little pizza oven which keeps churning out pizza like Mary Poppin's bag. Finally, the panna cotta with huckleberries was the best of berries and cream. There's no salt and pepper on the tables because the cooks know you don't need it. The food is perfectly seasoned, the staff friendly yet efficient, AND the Portland Dining Month menu (three courses: one item from each wide open menu category for $25 or $29) is ALWAYS in effect year 'round. Go to Happy Hour between 5 and 6 and get an even better deal with $3 small plates and $10 pizzas big enough to share.
(5)melissa d.
Unnecessarily elitist. Snooty server that made our large table feel like a burden, even after they seat your reserved table 25 minutes late. They don't seem interested in accommodating their guests. If you dare order cheese and pepper with your pizza, prepare to, first, get it when your pizza is cold, second, get an inadequate amount of pepper, and third, pay $2 for cheese. There are so many better restaurants in Portland for taste, service and cost. I give it 2 stars for a previous late-night visit for dessert and wine, still overpriced. Also, the blonde who I assume is a hostess, was sweet, but I definitely can't say the same for the server.
(2)Jessica S.
Great ambiance, great food. Pizzas, meatballs, small plates, drinks were all great.
(5)Mary R.
Creative, Lively, affordable! Carmelized cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche? Spicy roasted broccoli with crunchy crumbs? Creamy white herbed beans on artisan bread? What to eat first! It was all so delicious. We shared everything including sweet romaine caesar and greens tossed with hazelnuts, humboldt fog, and currants. Followed by six huge melt-in-my-mouth meatballs cooked with greens, perfectly-prepared hangar steak, mussels with melted butter. This was a great family style meal with loads of variety, flavors, and vegetables. While the restaraunt was really full, we enjoyed attentive service. Highly recommend this character-filled neighborhood place.
(4)Kristina K.
Firehouse knows how to feed a party. Reminiscing about our 5-course meal, I can't help but be reminded of the light, yet rich Bittersweet Deep Chocolate Torte. Let's not rush to dessert quite so soon... Our first course consisted of Warmed olives and Terre del Sole Aged Sheep's Milk Cheese on top Rosemary Crackers with Oregon Honey and Spanish Marcona Almonds. It was perfectly balanced; sweet, salty, crispy and crunch. Also arriving on the table was Roasted Beets with Walnuts and Bufala Ricotta Salata. The Bufala Ricotta was finely diced and mixed with the slightly sweet Roasted Beets. Firehouse did an excellent job in making this ordinary root vegetable shine. Tomato Braised Cannellini Beans and Toasted Bread Salsa rounded off the first course. Our second course began with a bountiful pile of Fennel Fritto and a side of House Cured Sardines. The Fennel Fritto was unique and the sardines were quite fishy. However, the winner of those course went to the Wood Oven Iron Skillet Mussels with Drawn Butter. Seafood and butter, do I need to say more? Our third course, pizza and more pizza, came in two forms, Spicy House Fennel Sausage, Onion and Fresh Mozzarella and Margherita. The tender sausage paired well with the slightly crunchy onion and melted fresh mozzarella. The sauce was very good and the crust was tangy. Unfortunately, both pizzas were soggy and difficult to hold. This might be circumvented in the future, if the pizzas were served on something other than a ceramic or porcelain plate. Romaine Hearts with Lemon-Anchovie Vinaigrette and Shaved Pecorino accompanied the pizzas. The Romaine salad was simple and enjoyed, as it was completely devoured. The fourth course came with House made Meatballs Braised with Tomato, Rosemary and Lacinato Kale and Rotisserie Chicken with Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes and Arugula Salad. I preferred the Chicken, as it was juicy and very flavorful. The arugula on top the mashed potatoes were a nice touch. Lastly, fifth course takes it us back to the beginning of this review. Arriving for the final course consisted of Bittersweet Deep Chocolate Torte and Warm Bartlett Pear Crostata. The chocolate torte was by far the winner. I tend to prefer the fruit choice whenever dessert comes around, but this time the Chocolate Torte was the winner. It came off as very light, but the flavor was very rich. The service was very good for a party of 30. We were closely seated in a room upstairs that got to be very warm by the end of the night. Firehouse is in a beautiful building with a spacious patio for outdoor dining. I recommend the Rotisserie Chicken and Chocolate Torte. Avoid the pizza, unless it can be guaranteed soggy-less.
(4)Rand T.
The menu is small, but what they do is all good. We had the Hanger Steak and it was well prepare and delicious. Ambiance is casual and comfortable. Nice beverage selection as well. Service was prompt but not hurried.
(4)Chris M.
My group enjoyed the pizzas. The drinks were solid, but were downtown prices. The fried cauliflower with lemon aioli was a spiritual experience. Don't worry it's not healthy, but damn good. The waiter was awesome. We talked about the cauliflower, but failed to order it. To our surprise it showed up and the waiter assured us that it was must have been our oversight for not ordering it..He got tipped out well. It was a very nice touch.
(4)Kaitlin P.
I used to live close to Firehouse and had always heard good things about it but never made my way there. Now I live in St. Johns and have been to Firehouse and wish I still lived closer. The ambiance is beautiful and quaint and welcoming. I love that it's a relatively small place with the kitchen right there for everyone to see. I had great service, from the hostess to the wait staff to even the chef saying goodnight as we left. I had the pizza and really enjoyed it's simplicity, yet it was full of flavors - and it made a great lunch the next day. My date had the steak and was also very impressed. It was cooked to her liking and came with a good recommendation from the waiter. We each had the house-made sodas and really loved them. Their flavors were crisp and not overly sweet. Speaking of sweet, don't pass up the dessert menu! We had the vanilla bean creme brulee (to share) and we may have each wished we'd had our own. It was SO good.
(4)beth h.
I like their cocktails and nibbles. If you love the super-crispy super-skinny style of pizza, you will like their offerings a lot. I had an unfortunate experience when I took my mom there - she ordered the pasta with the meat sauce. It was so salty it was inedible (three of us tried it and agreed), and though the server took it back without question, she never checked back to see if we'd like to order something to replace it. I had to give my mom some leftovers when we got home. Really disappointing as I was trying to show off my local restaurants!
(3)Samantha J.
If you like to eat something and then yell out "yuuuuum!!!!!", then this is where you should eat! We were in a party of five and tried half of the menu. The fried cauliflower, the crispy potatoes and the corn were amazing appetizers. Our group also tried the meatballs (insanely good), the sausage and onion pizza (drool worthy) and the hanger steak ( a touch fatty, not my favorite). The chef sent out the rotisserie chicken (moist and flavorful) and we devoured it. They make their own fruity ice tea and vanilla soda, and l will crave that soda for ever. Dessert is a must, but good luck deciding between the chocolate pot, the berry tart or the vanilla ice cream on a perfect meringue cloud. The staff was friendly and attentive. The decor is warm and inviting and it smells smokey and wonderful. Be prepared, it is noisy and we had to talk loudly and lean in to hear each other toward the end of the meal. We can't wait to go back!!!
(5)L.A. W.
After a day out and about with spouse we were hungry and came upon Firehouse by chance. Um, not sure about the reviews and we mu have got them on a bad night or something...but no. Other than the stuffed olives that were deep fried and the dressing on the salad - the rest was meh. Pizza burnt, spouse said his pork was missing something and his veggies were neutral. Won't make the effort to go there again and if in the 'hood again, we'll most likely go else where. The outdoor patio looked like it could be fun midsummer -
(2)Michael G.
The little triangle of land at NE Dekum and NE 8th is the heart of a mini-boom in excellent neighborhood food and drinking establishments: Breakside Brewery, The Oregon Public House, Woodlawn Coffee and Pastry, and the new Bushwacker Ciderhouse and restaurant, scheduled to open in November. At the heart of this little district is Firehouse. Located in the beautiful old Firehouse 29 building, the menu focuses on the usual Portland ethos of local, sustainable, and seasonal offerings, many of them cooked in a large wood-fired oven that dominates the open kitchen area (and whose aroma provides a mouth-watering introduction when you walk in the door). The interior is warm wood paneling and comfortable old brick, while the patio is a great way to take in the summer evenings that we all love in Portland, with enough vegetation to shield diners from Dekum's traffic without being claustrophobic. My food was quite good - I enjoyed the grilled albecore tuna steak that FIrehouse is said to be known for, and the fried cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche was quite tasty. My companions had the hanger steak, which was equally delicious. But the real star were the deserts - a coffee ice cream cake and a vanilla tartlet with blueberries. Service, too, was quite good, despite our server being very new, and being shadowed by her trainer most of the time. Firehouse seems to be somewhat off the radar of the current Portland foodie scene, which is quite ok with me. Have a meal there before it's discovered.
(5)Marisa D.
I love the firehouse. The food is delicious, every time. Without fail. Ambience is great and with everything cooked over an open fire. I would do anything to eat here more often, but I always have to get appetizers (amazing, last night brussel sprouts with lemon and chili and butternut squash bruschetta) pizzas (better than anything else in the world, last night mushroom, greens and green olives) and desserts ( FROM WOODLAWN--last night we had a caramal pecan tart with homemade peach ice cream...oh my god I almost passed out from amazingness). And then it's over 40 per person and that's just too much for each visit...Worth it though. Definitely worth it.
(5)Mario S.
Good food (probably among the best pizzas in town), cosy atmosphere and attentive service. It sounds basic but remains the only recipe for sustained success. We'll be back. PS We came in a little late with the kids after soccer practice and I asked for super speedy service. Must say we got it despite a full house, leaving me quite impressed.
(5)P V.
Great experience here! This place has character and a great vibe. Appetizers are spot on. Even if you're not a fan of beets, they're a must as is the Arrancini, zucchini and cauliflower appetizers. Friends recommended the Caesar salad...probably one of the best I've had. They're know for their wood fired pizzas and chicken and from the look of all the empty plates at our table...Firehouse did not disappoint. Another Portland neighborhood gem worth trying.
(5)Eric M.
Amazing food; great service; beautiful ambiance. One could not ask for a more pleasant dinning experience!
(5)Heidi L.
Slow service but the food made up for it. Had the pizza and the pasta. Also ordered a meatball on the side - delicious
(3)Don D.
Update: This place is just magic. The cocktails (house made orange/ginger shrub and vanilla simple), the food, the service. Wow! Only our second time here and we are asking "Why?". Our New Year resolution is to become regulars here. We had the pizza this time and it was reminiscent of Venice, ridiculously simple yet unbelievablly good. San Marzano tomatoes, salt and olive oil. Yeah, stupid simple and yet so crazy good. This is skill and pride in doing the wonderful ingredients justice. Thanks to everyone involved in our wonderful experience. We will be back SOON! Loved it. My partner and I went to Firehouse on a recommendation and gift certificate from a close family member who had just recently passed. We were excited to try a restaurant that he enjoyed so much as well as reverent for the slightly somber occasion. We were not disappointed. The staff is well trained, knowledgeable and accommodating. My only minor complaint is that the hostess was completely consumed the telephone and ignored us when we walked in. The manager saw me wince and quickly offered to seat us. That put me right at ease. We each chose to have 3 courses and share so that we could sample a broad range from the menu. I'm very glad that we did. We started with the bruschetta and arancini. We followed with a salad of winter greens with Humboldt Fog (one of the best vinaigrettes I've ever had) and wood fired mussels. The mussels arrived on a sizzling skillet. Dry. Not bathed in white wine and butter as one might expect. Hmmm... That threw me for a moment. But I have to say, I was amazed! I've never had such a perfectly cooked and tender mussel. Unbelievably tender. Just wonderfully fresh and slightly smoky. For mains we had Firehouse meatballs and the wood-grilled hanger steak. I've cooked a few hanger steaks in my time and they can be tough/chewy if not done just right. This was probably one of the best I've ever had. Succulent, tender, flavorful and cooked to perfection. Kudos to the Firehouse. We will be back.
(5)kelly s.
Firehouse defines awesome in this neck of the woods. It is sited in a beautiful brick building, presumably once a firehouse located on a sweet quiet street in North Portland. The provincial style kitchen is set in clear view of the dining area so you can watch them feed beautiful natural looking ingredients into their home style enameled cookware. We enjoyed the chef's version of a Coq Au Vin with a sort of Ratatouille prep of veggies that was light, flavorful, fresh and intoxicating in it's flavors. Prices aren't too cheap here, but they do feature a formidable happy hour. Most importantly, however, it's worth it. If you're looking for a romantic night out, or a place to take your family, Firehouse delivers on both counts, but it is advisable to have a reservation in place.
(5)Lin N.
Very impressed with the fried cauliflower. While not exactly state fair style (which I am also a big fan of), it was perfectly prepared with a light coating and sized/priced well on the happy hour menu. Less impressed with the pizza, as this was a stop on the "find best pizza in Portland based on all the 'best pizza' lists". We tried two pies (a sausage and a Margherita) and they were good, but not excellent. Sorry, but cheese needs to be applied moderately so as not to result in an oily pile of mush on an underdone wood fired pizza. Just sayin.
(3)Robert H.
This is a solid restaurant with very good food, beer, and wine at very good prices. In fact we think it is the best value for the money that we have experienced in Portland. We ate at Firehouse with another couple on the evening of 8/23/12. The four of us try a new restaurant every month. We had wanted to try this one for a while but it was a bit of a hike from SW Portland. Among the four of us we had a pretty wide swath of the menu: Bread, Beets, Crostini, Potatoes, two different pizzas, mussels, some green beans, and a hanger steak. Dessert was a shared Almond cake and a berry tart.. Nothing disappointed, everything was either very good or excellent. The mussels were a real standout as was the hanger steak. Everything is priced well. As I remember it all but three of the good selection of wines were priced at $30.00 or less, and wine by the glass is priced accordingly. The draft and bottled beers are all the equivalent of $5.00 or less. They have a full bar and the prices for spirits are good too. The service was excellent. We dawdled over our drinks, dinner and dessert for nearly three hours on a fairly busy night. We felt neither neglected nor rushed; our server always had a smile on her face and she knew where things stood in the kitchen. What makes this place work so well is the evident level of cooperation by the whole team. The knowledgeable servers willingly helped each other out and they seemed to have a very good handle on what the situation was in the kitchen. When we left the good folks in the kitchen made eye contact and smiled as they said good by. Firehouse is very well worth going out of your way for.
(5)Lily L.
We ordered the Brussels sprouts and the rice balls for appetizers and they were both very good. We also ordered the mushroom pizza and the house made sausage with fennel pizza. Both pizzas had good flavor and were seasoned well except they were both 85% burnt black on the bottom of the crust with burnt black bubbles on top of the pizzas. While I understand the wood burning oven style pizza is supposed to have some burnt spots, but the excessively charred crust overpowered the wonderful flavors of the mushrooms and sausages, which was a shame. I will come back for another pie, as I love just about anything that's cooked in a wood burning oven. This place is small and street parking was a challenge. There is a court yard out front which would make for great summer patio seating.
(3)April C.
We have been to Italy several times and upon each return we try to find a pizza that rivals those of Italy. Eureka!!! I knew when I read the bad review of the pizza below that we were going to find exactly what we were looking for. Obviously the person that found the pizza terrible because it was thin, not cut into slices and slightly soggy in the middle has never been to Italy for pizza. Ours was perfection. The slightest bit of char, perfectly thin, the crust was chewy, not dry like a cracker. We will always come back here for the pizza. We also had the meatballs, fried cauliflower and wine. Everything was so delicious. Service was impeccable. Prices were very reasonable. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Andrew Y.
This place came highly recommended during my visit to PDX. A converted restaurant with a heavy wood interior - quite the interesting place. Rotisserie chicken and fire roasted pizza - all huge pluses. Staff were friendly and although I came for a quick bite, the menu had some interesting eats that I could see myself enjoying in the future. Ordered a few quick options of fried cauliflower, potato crisps, and a wedge salad and a couple beers (Portland and beer = harmony). Fried cauliflower was rather neutral in flavor - the focus was the citrus creme that it was paired with - can't say the flavors matched enough to make me order the dish again. Potato crisps were a mix between french fries and potato chips. Slightly fried, tossed with a salty cheese, and served in a bowl. Cool concept, just needed better sides - a fresh aioli or a seasoned ketchup would amp up this dish. The wedge salad actually had a good flavor. Similar to the wedge options I've seen in Los Angeles, the fresh dressing actually complimented the dish in a way that wasn't overpowering. The lettuce was crisp, and the sprinkle of light cheese added a creamy element to the combination. A little side note: One of the issues that they've probably worked on is the ants. Sitting at the bar I rested my hand and noticed a couple crawl across. I dusted them off and then looked at the menu and saw a few more...it then clicked...there weren't 'just a couple' - I looked at the entire counter and saw that there was quite the family. The server noticed as well, apologized...and I sincerely hope it has since been corrected - sadly, some customers aren't as mellow as my friend and I were about this...
(4)Brent W.
Margharita pizza was ok. They were out of the porcetta entree which I really wanted to try. Took a while to get seated even though tables were open. When you walk in you see the yummy looking whole chickens rotating over the grill.
(3)Alissa K.
Firehouse gets an extra star because they're within stumbling distance to what is swiftly becoming my favorite brewery (Breakside). Sadly, they don't have much of a beer selection at all here. I'd recommend making a reservation here, as it seemed to fill up rather quickly on a weekend night. Our group had a wide selection of cocktails (yep, we're drunks) -- the whiskey ginger and Old Fashioneds were delicious, but the vodka drinks were definitely lacking. My friend ordered a dirty martini, and it was about 80% Campari. Nope. Between the four of us, we had the fried olives (about what you'd expect), the beet salad (small but very good), the steak entree (cooked to perfection), the albacore steak, and the meatballs. I ordered a crimini pizza, and although the pizza seems to be the main draw at this restaurant, I found it the most disappointing thing we tasted. It was a bit limp and bland. I don't think I'd go back, but it was a nice experience once.
(4)Ashley M.
My husband and I have eaten here twice and both times the food has been fabulous. The atmosphere is trendy and cozy. We were impressed with the attention to detail and the care that went into the food, not only the composition of the ingredients but the presentation as well. Their stand-out item is their pizzas, which are absolutely fabulous. I've had the hanger steak twice, and while seasoned to perfection, both times it was not cooked to the temperature I ordered (this seems to be a theme in Portland). I ordered a medium rare and got well done both times, but fortunately it was still tender, juicy and brown throughout. Also, the bay leaf creme brulee was quite possibly the most amazing dessert I've ever had.
(4)RJ H.
Great find! Their simple menu really capitalizes on the wood fire stove. Loved the untampered mussels. Truth be told, this restaurant is such a breath of fresh air: it's warm and inviting, tasty and timeless, not overly complicated or trendy. Italian food done well, with a definitively Pacific Northwest sensibility. No exhaustingly "Portland" features. Reminds me of Nostrana in many ways, although less expensive and more approachable. The kind of place I'd love to take a wide range of people to. There's something for everyone on this menu, which manages to succeed at staying focused. Attentive service, free of pretense. Love the neighborhood and it's quaint location. Want to return when the weather improves to dine on their patio!
(4)Christy H.
This isn't your average pizza joint. I would think of this more as a fancy restaurant with pizza as a choice item on the menu. This is a great spot located in the NE Dekum area. It is on a large corner. The building is an old firehouse....hence the name :) It is two stories and the upper level can host large groups. It is very private upstairs with most of the seating and hustle bustle located on the lower level. We had a New Year's reservation here for 9:30pm. We arrived on time but didn't get a table until 10pm. By then we all were super hangry and not too bright eyed. They came over with three margherita pizzas, beet salads, fried cauliflower, and green garlic and potato fritters. This was a very nice gesture and made our group super happy! Loved the pizza. Beet salad was tasty. Cauliflower was off the hook! Once we finished off the complimentary food items we dug in! We ordered a round of mussels. They were out so we went for the oysters. super tasty but a bit pricey at $15 for a half dozen. My main dish was house made chittarone pasta with pork sausage ragu and pecorino. This and the pizzas made my night. The flavor of the pork ragu was amazing. The dish was packed full of rich, deep flavor. It wasn't too filling and had just the right amount of oil. I highly recommend this dish. We ordered a few whiskey sours for drinks. There well is Four Roses. Pretty good quality is you ask me. They do offer three course dinner options for around $30. We walked away with bellies full but I will say the tab was a bit hefty. $115 for two people. I think it may have been the few rounds of oysters but that is why I will say I would think of this place more as a fancy restaurant that also has pizza on the menu.
(4)mack h.
SO SALTY! We had the romain salad- very salty! The fried cauliflower- very salty! The meatballs-excellent! and the beets- excellent. We were so excited for the pizza- we'd heard so much about it, but it came and was the saltiest thing of the night. We had a margherita and sopressata. We are big pizza fans and have no problem finishing two pies, but we were only able to eat about half of each. Sadly disappointed with the food we had, but the decor of the restaurant is fantastic.
(2)Nikki W.
One of my favorite restaurants in Portland. When you walk in the door you can smell the deliciousness coming from the old brick oven. We seem to get the same thing every time we go there. Hanger Steak, Hearts of Romaine Salad, Fried Cauliflower and the Fennel Sausage Pizza with fresh arugula on top. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. We really should try something new but it's hard to go there and not get our favorites. The staff is also very polite and knowledgeable too. Well done Firehouse!
(5)Joe K.
We made reservations and ready to enjoy a family friends birthday dinner-had heard so many great things about this spot. Were seated then experienced pretentious service and left without ordering a thing. I wish we had been able to enjoy. Please find some Portland quality staff and we will come back.
(1)Debbie L.
Once again another great spot on my list. Firehouse was delicious and I loved the entire experience. He had a steak and I enjoyed my beloved pizza. Beer choices were great and the atmosphere was very nice since hubby is a retired firefighter, this wasn't the first time we enjoyed a meal in a bay. I highly recommend Firehouse on Dekum and now I am looking forward to summertime when I can have that pizza on the patio.
(5)Jskilicious S.
Slow service, soggy pizza, small selection. Yuck. So disappointed because the reviews were good. The waitress seemed indifferent to how we were doing. We complained about the significant moisture in the center of our pizza and she said it was normal. The slices fell like limp noodles. There was no way you could eat without a fork. This was not caused by sauce because there hardly was any. The crust was burnt which was odd because the center was so wet. Worst pizza we have had here so far. I ate the toppings and we left.
(2)Michael H.
The building is charming. So is the space inside. My girlfriend and I went with the 3 courses for $30 option - 1 small plate, 1 salad and 1 entree each. Her small plate - salt cod & potato fritters. Really salty. Mine - bruchetta of the day. Really salty. Both had the winter salad. Overpowering vinegar flavor. Neither of us could finish it. Her entree - hangar steak with crispy potatoes. Really salty steak. I believe the crispy potatoes were made completely of salt held together with a little potato. Mine - meatballs. Really salty. We were so overwhelmed by salt and vinegar that we each had a bite of our entrees and couldn't go on. Our server handled everything well when we told her how salty / unbalanced everything was. She offered us dessert and comped our entrees when we declined. If you like a LOT (I mean a LOT) of salt on everything I can highly recommended this place. If you like balanced flavors and normal amounts of seasoning I would suggest looking elsewhere.
(1)Msc C.
A few of us enjoyed the Portland Dining Out month menu. I don't like cauliflower, but the lemon creme fresh helped make it delicious! The arancini was a bit too salty, but it was nice & crunchy on the outside. The hanger steak & trout were delicious! I'm glad I was able to finally try the food! The service was very friendly.
(4)Michael B.
Really cool spot. Everything was absolutely delicious. My hanger steak was perfect. The service was exceptional. Great atmosphere. My only complaint is they only had three beers on tap, but at least those three were great choices.
(5)Tabatha J.
Great service. Like their source for food and daily menu. Pizza is authentic. Wait time was too long.
(3)Nico D.
Maybe more like 3.5 star. Not a convenient location if you are downtown/in pearl district. This is far and feels in the middle of nowhere (at least nowhere you would like to be). But once inside or in their garden, it's a different feel: it's a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. Service is nice. Good selection of beers and wines. My wife enjoyed her roasted chicken (good, not great), and we had their side of French fries/chips hybrid. Unique and good. My Margherita pizza was OK. It needed 20 more secs to have enough char, and be less soggy in the middle. There were puddles of water and olive oil everywhere. And instead of using only mozzarella, they also put a good amount of parmesan (or maybe pecorino?) but after going through the high heat of the oven, all moisture is gone from that cheese and it's super super salty. Having said all that, my pizza standards are very very high because I have been spoiled with Motorino, Pulino's and Roberta in NYC, as well as Summer Kitchen in Berkeley. So it's still probably the best pizza in Portland, and it's a decent one. The big plus was the dessert: an individual raspberry tart. It had a nice custard over a thin fresh shortbread crust. Really excellent.
(3)Kelsie V.
I had a very nice time here at the FireHouse. My friends had highly recommended, so was glad when my date picked it out of two choices. Super cute neighborhood, so it's easy to grab a drink before or after at another local, award-winning business. Shout out to Breakside Brewery. Anyway, we agreed to meet right at 5 and by the skin of our teeth got a counter seat. I totally didn't mind at all. We didn't make a resy or anything. The building is dark, cozy, and charming. Must be some cool history there. I had a nice glass of house red and my companion had the Heater Allen Pils - $3.50 for happy hour. We shared a happy hour pie. I thought the flavor was exceptional. It contained Mozzarella, Soprassetta, & I forget. One problem, we had to cut our own pie with a knife and fork. It worked, I guess, the server said that's the style, Neapolitan. I would have preferred a tiny little slicer. The flavor was so overwhelmingly good, that I couldn't worry about it. To be honest I could have ate the entire pie.....but was still full from yesterday's Christmas Festivities. I'm excited to return.
(4)Shy A.
I've been looking forward to trying out Firehouse for months and we finally made our way over. We ordered the fennel sausage pizza with fresh mozz and onions, a couple drinks, although I can't remember what we ordered.... The pizza was good and the service was solid but nothing really stood out. There's a lot of glowing reviews, I'll have to come back and give it another shot.
(3)San D.
Awesome place. Must order: Beets with Salsa Verde and Hazelnuts, Chocolate Pot de Creme. If you only go there for dessert, the latter is your best bet. I want to go back soon just for that!
(4)Bill H.
Old Firehouse was a little hard to find as it is tucked in a little off of the street. Our waitress was great and walked us through the menu. I had the Caesar Salad which is a must. I think the only thing that could make this salad better would be a little cracked pepper. I will be returning just for the salad. I had the meatballs and was not disappointed. Co worker had the sausage pizza that was also great. This is a don't miss eatery.
(5)Kathy C.
I don't often have the time or occasion to take my family out for a really nice dinner but I thought I would treat us on the occasion of my birthday to a Friday night outing with my teenage sons and my husband.....I want to emphasize that my days of being with toddlers and screaming babies are really done and over with-- my sons are high schoolers - surly one moment and wry and beguiling the next ---so they don't tantrum, don't throw food, don't scream -- which means I really appreciate going out to dinner in a setting where I don't have hear that anymore. But at Firehouse, that's what I was seated next to: one family behind us with a screaming toddler and another family next to us with the screaming infant and a whiny whiny wobbler. I couldn't enjoy the wonderful trout, my awesome rose, and the fact that my lovely boys and hubby had exactly what they wanted for dinner . I was just plain done with hearing the screaming ad having New Mommy 2nd Time Around And Fighting PPD seated next to us....she looked like she was going to just crumble and that baby was losing it at 6:40 at night ---- I've been there, all sleep deprived and ornery , but why have a restaurant seat you where you make folks around you miserable???! We will never return and I'll never recommend this restaurant ever to anyone.
(1)Caitlin S.
I wasn't impressed. Service was decent - our server did a great job explaining the menu (we were there for Portland dining month, but it turns out they have a similar deal like that year round) and that is what is getting them 3 stars (good service). She kept a close eye on our water glasses and checked on us often. The courses were really spread out - we waited awhile to eat after ordering. I would not recommend the hangar steak - very chewy. However, the potatoes that came with the steak were divine. I got the bruschetta, which was near impossible to eat (exceptionally hard - I should have thought that through, that it would be hard bread - it was also piled high in a fashion that made it a little tricky to eat), but tasted okay. I had their winter salad which had a strong vinegar dressing that I really didn't care for, but if you like Vinegar you will probably like it. I don't think I'll be going back here. I felt the portions were also a little small for the prices (again, since it was Portland dining month we weren't too bothered by this). I think I should have ordered the pizza - but I have seen mixed reviews about the pizza. If I ever do find myself eating here again, I'll try their pizza.
(3)Anthony P.
Really delicious meatballs, great beer selection- they always have something from the Commons. I brought my wife for her birthday this year and we had a great time. The atmosphere is intimate. The service was great. I'd recommend it!
(4)Mad W.
While walking my dogs around noon I stopped by the firehouse to check the menu. Inside the tables were set for seating and I saw a seat was already occupied by a CAT!! I look closer and there is a second one walking around. In shock I made contact with a worker inside who just shrugged and kept on. The silverware,glasses, and plates were set while cats roamed free?!
(1)Allison R.
I think I possibly had the best pizza of my life here tonight. Wow. And the fried cauliflower? Awesome!!! The beets were high up there too. I'm impressed. Crimini mushroom pizza Fennel sausage pizza Beets Cauliflower Dessert: Chocolate pots de creme Get it.
(5)Dian K.
I've heard of how good Firehouse is for a long time. I finally was able to go the first day of Portland Dining Month this year. They have 2 types - $25 if you have pizza as your main entree, or $29 if it's non-pizza. While I chose the latter, a few of my friends picked the pizza option and we bartered throughout the meal. Every starter that I tried (cauliflower & brocolli in particular) were excellent. The winter salad was a decent salad, nothing spectacular. My hangar steak entree was also okay. The major negative was the pizza (and I thought they're famous for their pizza). All 3 types of pizza I tried was soggy in the middle. Slightly chewy crust and just not good. The toppings were good though (fennel sausage in particular). In all, I'm disappointed with the pizza - but looking at the many 5 stars reviews, perhaps it was an off night. If it were just for food, I would rate it a 3 stars. But the service was very good, I'm bumping it to a 4.
(4)Jason W.
Although sometimes hard to get into and on the pricey side, this place is worth the work and the money! Every item on the menu stands in its own and is delicious. The drinks are fantastic. If you haven't gone, go. We love it so much we could see no better option than The Firehouse for our rehearsal dinner.
(5)M R.
There are not enough word to describe how wonderful this pizza is! The dough is thin and crispy, but the crust still is soft and doughy on the inside. The sauce is just sweet enought and flavored perfectly that you can't help but notice it without it overwhelming the pizza. They have a great happy hour with food and drink specials from 5-6. Try the in house gin and Tonic! Beware: you will leave smelling like you just spent all night at a camp fire, and if you are sensitive to smoke this might not be the place for you.
(5)Marti F.
I went to Firehouse with my fiancé and a few family members to celebrate my birthday. I had done some reading on here and thought that maybe everyone was being a bit sensitive regarding the service (I often find that people are quick to judge the friendliness of service even when they, themselves, aren't very friendly in the first place). However, some of these reviews are spot on. Our sever wasn't friendly, nor was she present. Everything seemed to take longer than average, besides water fill-ups! The food was... Pretty good. I'd say the prices are high for the quality. Two people at my table ordered pizza which didn't have very much cheese and a particularly doughy, perhaps undercooked, crust. I ordered the hangar steak which was incredibly salty with way too much cheese on the plate. What's worth ordering? The fried cauliflower and bruschetta small plates. Flavorful, simple, delicious. For the amount of Portland-restaurant competition that Firehouse has, at their price point, I think they need to step up their game with both service and quality of food. I won't be back any time soon, and I don't believe I would recommend it over the many other fantastic eateries in Portland.
(3)Kristi S.
We came to celebrate a friend's birthday. She had called ahead to make a reservation at 5 pm and had asked to sit at the outside patio during her phone call. She called again another day to make sure she got a good understanding of the protocol for outside seating and was given same answer; she was told to arrive before 5 and if she was first in line she'd get a patio seat. I showed up 15 minutes to 5 pm on a Sunday, and was told to wait. A party of 6?8? Showed up 4 minutes before 5 and they immediately were sat outside meanwhile we continued to wait till 5:03 pm. We were the only other party in the whole place but they wouldn't sit us outside. They were sorry. They were holding a table for someone they knew they said. We had reservations AND got there early..::instead we sit inside on a 90 degree day, fuming....no other party was sat outside for over an hour. Fair? No. Happy with service? Nope. Dinner and food? Good. Actually quite good. If we got water refills and they'd check back on is after food was served, I'd rate the service better. If they weren't so second rate handling prime tables outside and refilled water and delivered a check in a timely manner, it would be have been 5 stars. Instead, I will NEVER go back, and will tell anyone I know who was considering going there to not go. So there. Take your patio seating and shove it. Jerks.
(1)a c.
Firehouse, I love you. Birthday dinners, Sunday suppers, walking date night, you're my fancy spot. I am always delighted with our food (especially the mussels or cauliflower w/lemon aioli), your service and beverage selection. We send our Airbnb guests here all of the time and they are constantly impressed with the place. Thanks for being our gem in Woodlawn!
(5)Mark K.
Absolutely fabulous. Try the small plates and the pizza but definitely save room for desert. Actually, be sure to bring a few friends so you can order all the deserts and share.
(5)Rebecca D.
Great food but SPOTTY SERVICE. I've had great servers, and then I've had folks who try to take my plate while I'm still eating or do the weird hovering thing when they want you to leave or have nothing to do which does hurt the dining experience.
(3)haley b.
I'd heard so many good things, I was dying to try this place, but sadly it didn't live up to it's awesome rep. Both the cauliflower and the winter salad were delicious, but the main courses were not. Both my dad and I were so excited for meatballs that we very nearly each got an order--luckily we did not. The portion is large (a good thing in my book) but the meat had such a weird, gamey flavor that we asked if they had lamb in them. The waitress said they were all beef and pork, so I don't know what was going on in there. We didn't finish them. The pizza we got instead of a second dish of meatballs was pretty tasty but the middle was very soupy and the crust was wet and limp. The service was good but overall it just wasn't worth the price.
(3)Aaron T.
The grilled hanger steak was brilliant. Nestled on arugula and crispy potato wedges (with maybe a little too much salt), it satisfies meat cravings but doesn't overwhelm you like a traditional steak and potato dish would. Just be aware: their medium rare lands a bit on the rare side! Appetizer options are wonderfully varied, with several standouts -- the fried cauliflower is certainly lighter than the name implies, and the arancini is perfectly crisp on the outside but filled with melty goodness. Fellow Portland beer snobs: being that this is an Italian-inspired menu, don't expect much in the way of beer selections (they do stock Good Life IPA at least). However, wine enthusiasts will love the enormous dinner options. A robust dessert drink menu is no slouch, either. Great atmosphere, too -- cozy with the wood-fire pizza oven scenting the entire restaurant!
(5)Kelly P.
A bit on the expensive side, and the food was also a little salty. Overall though, dinning out is all about the experience, and my wife and I had a great time. The service was spot on, though it started out a little rocky with the hostess. She seated people with no reservations ahead of us even though we had been waiting an hour. I made myself heard and the problem was quickly resolved without an attitude. I have been to restaurants that give up on you the minute there is a problem, not so with this restaurant. She comped a drink for us and gave us desert on the house. The atmosphere was great and our server was attentive. As I said before the food was a bit salty, but it was cooked to perfection and comprised of good quality ingredients. This is not a get in and get out restaurant. Plan to spend a few hours, and call ahead for seating. For my money, it was a great restaurant and I will most certainly be returning.
(4)Stephanie A.
It was 7:30 on Friday night, my BF and I were HUNGRY but we wanted something to set the night apart (date-like) instead of the local brew pubs or Mexican joints we tend to visit. With a little yelping, Firehouse arrived at the top of the list and lucky for us it was in a near-by neighborhood (DEKUM). I was able to make a reservation for 2 right on my Yelp app, for the next hour. We arrived to a pleasantly renovated, intimate but open brick building which was none other then a firehouse in past lives. The walls are lined with historic pictures and you can watch the chefs work there magic while you enjoy your dinner. The staff was very attentive and friendly, we were seated promptly, described the menu and given a few beverage samplers. I was pleased they carried the local "Commons Brewery" on draft, a current favorite of mine. Following with Ophelia's review. We got the Brushetta with Squash, it was absolutely amazing, melted in your mouth, full of flavor, I could of ate 4 plates of it. But we didn't stop with one appetizer we also got the Fried Cauliflower with Lemon Creme Fraiche, it doesn't sound great but it's incredible; I highly recommend you try this unique dish. We teetered between the hanger steak and the Fennel Pizza and ultimately went with the pizza. The sauces and toppings were absolutely fantastic but I was a bit surprised by the crust, the pizza was really soft and soggy in the center but kind of burnt on the outside. It still tasted fabulous but the "dough-ish" taste wasn't as appealing to us pizza-condiciours. I even asked the waitress if it was the norm and she said it was, so just be aware it's good it's just a little messy and doughy ;-) I would also recommend a reservations and don't make the same mistake we made and skip dessert for somewhere else, for some reason I bet there's is off the hook.
(4)Sheila E.
Can't believe it has taken so long to eat here! We are within walking distance, so we should have come a long time ago, but at least we finally made it. First course I ordered Mike's Winter Greens with Humbolt Fog, Currants, Hazelnuts and Red Wine Vinaigrette and it was a perfect salad. Dressing was just the right amount, not overpowering, and the greens were fresh and crisp. Loved it! Second course was Fried Cauliflower w/ Lemon Creme Fraiche, also really good. One of our friends ordered the Beets with Salsa Verde and Hazlenuts, which I tried, and I thought that dish was better than the cauliflower (but I love beets). Third course, I ordered the Pizza Margherita with anchovies...I know, I know - don't knock it before you try it, because it's amazing! One of the best pizzas I have had in Portland. Crust was thin, crisp and a little burnt around the edges (just the way I like my pizza crust), and the combination of the cheese, tomatoes, basil and anchovies was just the right amount of creamy saltiness. So good.... My BF got the Meatballs, and said they were absolutely delicious. I would have tried one, but I was too busy devouring my pizza. Our friends got the Meatballs and Roitisserie Chicken, and they both said everything was good. Overall, a great dinner. I would highly recommend Firehouse.
(5)Joni W.
I've been telling people for so long that the best pizza in Portland is at Dove Vive, but I take everything back! This pizza was to DIE FOR!!!!!!!!! Hot, melty pizza with house made fennel sausage onions and fresh mozzarella!!!!! I will probably come back at least twenty times just to order this one dish. My partner and I went to Firehouse for the first time after seeing it in the "Best Places to Stuff Your Faces" book. Firehouse is described as Italian, but I wouldn't say it's really that, at least not in the super familiar Americanized kitschy way. The menu is very refined and elegant, simple, just a select few items really, and a good wine list. Our server, Kamile, was very friendly and attentive. The bruschetta with fromage blanc, butternut squash and crispy shallot was amazing, the salt cod and potato fritters with chili vinegar was delicious, the fried cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche was UNMISSABLE (yummmmmmmmmmm) and the arancini with salami and mozzarella was very nice and light! Such variety, and such fresh, fun dishes!! The only thing I didn't like was that the interior was very smoky. Firehouse was unforgettable and I already can't wait to go back. I'm bringing ALL my out of town guests here FOR SURE.
(5)Ender W.
I used to love coming here a lot. The food was excellent and so was the service. Well, the food is still good but the service is terrible. It seems that most of the waiters and waitresses have been replaced recently and everything has suffered. Our waitress last time was incredibly rude and it ruined our dinner. I sent an email to management soon afterwards and nobody responded. We will not be returning here.
(1)Robert V.
I'm a little disappointed in the Firehouse staff. They are a great neighborhood restaurant and usually do a great job of taking care of their patrons and keeping a good neighborhood presence. However, the owner has been asked several times to stop blocking the sidewalk with his car and stop piling the wood there as well. We have a community of young families with children in strollers. Instead of parking in the street they continue to block the sidewalk forcing people into the street. Just disappointed with their lack of attentiveness to repeated requests.
(1)Cheryl G.
We have been coming to Firehouse since they opened and it has always been at the top of our list to take out of town visitors to show them am awesome Portland dining experience. Although we are not weekly regulars, we do go often enough to be considered loyalists. Not any more. We were a party of 6 adults, 1 child and 3 toddlers in early to celebrate my birthday. The restaurant was full and there were at least 5 other tables with children during our meal. Yes, we were a big party. Yes, we had toddlers. Were they unruly and out of control? No. This was obviously not the opinion of the host, perhaps also the manager, who had the audacity to openly complain about our table right in front other customers and staff. His exact words were "Those children are AWFUL!" As he looked directly at us. My friend happened to be standing next to him as he said this, she was very thoughtfully ordering me a surprise birthday dessert, and responded with a reasonably upset "Those are my children you are talking about" and walked away. What a let down from a place that we have always championed. And what a bummer of a birthday dinner.
(1)Hana F.
Pretty tasty and a cool building. The food is decent but nothing too special. Overall a fairly enjoyable place for dinner.
(3)Celeste N.
I should start by saying we never actually ate here. A friend recommended Firehouse as a great pizza place, especially for large groups. With my family in town for the weekend, I thought this would be a great place to take them. The five of us arrived on Saturday evening-- about 20 minutes after they opened. When a staff member finally greeted us, they said there were no open tables-- just four seats at the counter. After looking around at the space, I saw tons of [physically] open tables but understood that some might be reserved. I inquired about how long a wait would be, to which he said it wouldn't even be possible to wait. There were no open tables for five people for the entirety of the evening. None at all. Mostly, I'm just confused. Their entire restaurant was booked with reservations for the entire evening? They didn't keep any tables open for walk-ins? The groups of people who were currently eating then weren't eventually going to finish to free up more tables? None of the dozens of open tables were available for a quick dinner? There was no option to at least order take out? I've never been turned away from eating at a restaurant (perhaps Firehouse is fancier than I realized?) The lack of empathy and apology also makes me wonder if there were alternative reasons (we weren't dressed well enough? we had two kids with us?) Your guess is as good as mine though it did leave an unpleasant taste. Perhaps we're over-thinking this or taking it too personally-- but it was an unfortunate experience on my birthday.
(1)Deena J.
So fun to go back to a place I played in as a child. They've done a very nice job with the interior, though if I were wearing hearing aids I might want to wait till I could eat outside (which I'm looking forward to). The service was excellent. Our waitperson, Steven, was very attentive without being pushy and the food was serve in a timely manner. The fried olives were exceptional as was the pizza, just enough for two of us. I love that we can watch the cooks! I'll be back!
(4)Stephanie H.
Went with my boyfriend without a reservation and we got lucky and got a table. It seems like this is the kind of place where you're much safer calling ahead and we'll do that next time. There will be lots of next times. The pizza was freaking amazing. We had the house made sausage and it came out quickly and was so good I was tempted to lick my plate clean. We also ordered the mussels which were, surprise, also great. They came out super quickly and were pretty good sized. So tl;dr it's delicious.
(5)Lisa S.
I wish I could give more stars, but on the whole we were disappointed. We had reservations for a birthday and were hoping for a special night, but we were seated at a rickety table in an awkward spot in the middle of the room. When we asked if there were possibly any other tables available, the hostess was rude and indifferent so we stayed put. The food was inconsistent: the drinks and fried stuffed olives were tasty, but the arancini were extremely salty, and I am a salt lover. The salad was nice, but the pizza was soggy and raw in the middle so we sent it back. The waiter argued with us that this is how the pizza is supposed to be! He did take it back, and it was replaced with one that was still problematic-very salty, like crazy salty, and still wet in the middle despite a lot of char on the outer crust. The roasted trout was good but the tomato sauce underneath was again really really salty! Dessert and wine were very nice. Portland has so many great restaurants, and the unwelcome reception plus awkward seating, very over-salted food and inconsistent quality mean I have no plans to ever go back here.
(3)Janelle C.
The food was amazing - but as in any experience a server can make or break the dining experience and in this case Sarah was having a bad night. The food was good and the atmosphere is amazing a true Portland experience. However from the minute we walked in and 5 people passed us with out so much as a Hi I should have known the service would not live up to the expectation. Sarah instantly told us she was too busy, then proceeded to listen to our conversation and make judgments. The wait for drinks once ordered was long - the wait for food was long and not once did Sarah feel the need to let us know they were running behind - we had a pre-fix menu so the kitchen should have been on their game. I had to ask to receive my check and when Sarah brought it she had an attitude, however I did notice her spending about 20 minutes talking to her friends at another table - The food was great, yes but there are a lot of great restaurants in Portland and most have great service also. I would skip this place due to service and if Sarah is your server asked to be re-seated.
(3)Chris C.
First time visiting last night. Food was great and service was good. I had the hanger steak and the wife had the meatballs. Both were excellent. The 3 course meal for $30 I thought was a bargain. Neat building with pictures of the the old firehouse crew on the walls. Definitly will be visiting again
(5)Laura W.
What a gem! Tried this place on a recent Saturday and everything was stellar. They have two three-course options (small plate, salad and either a wood-fired pizza or entrée) for either $25 or $29 - a great deal. We both opted for that and I had fried cauliflower with a lemon crème fraiche, a winter salad, and a cavatelli with a spicy sausage sugo. My hubby had the bruschetta of the day, a romaine salad (with a generous serving of shaved pecorino) and the Firehouse meatballs with tomato sauce and braised Lacinato kale. The salads were terrific, portion sizes were generous, and the small plates and entrees came out nice and hot and had robust, unique flavors. The space is warm and inviting (albeit a little small, and you're pretty close to your neighbors), and the service was spot-on - attentive, helpful and pleasant. The by-the-glass wine and beer menus, while not long, offered good choices and were reasonably priced. And while we were too full for dessert, they had some tasty-sounding options like a polenta cake with creamsicle ice cream, a chocolate pot de crème with salted caramel and hazelnuts, and an ice cream cake with huckleberry ribbons. I would definitely recommend making a reservation (they're on OpenTable) - we arrived early for our 7:00 and luckily were seated right away, but by 8:00 or so when we left, there were quite a few folks waiting and since it's not a large space, the small entrance area looked a little uncomfortable. Parking is on the street but we had no trouble finding a spot. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Annie L.
Wow! My husband and I headed here after I randomly stumbled upon it online and we were blown away! First, the place itself is so cozy and comfortable and warm. Second, our server was incredible! We hardly had to wait and our table was well-kept throughout our dinner. Third, the food was AMAZING! We ordered the "WOOD OVEN ROASTED IRON SKILLET MUSSELS WITH DRAWN BUTTER" to share (which were mouth-watering yummy!), he ordered the "WOOD GRILLED HANGER STEAK WITH CRISPY POTATOES , ARUGULA AND GRANA PADANO" which was delicious! It has a lime kind of taste to the dish, incredible steak, and perfectly crunchy potatoes and was just delicious. Then I got the "PIZZA MARGHERITA: TOMATO, FRESH MOZZARELLA AND BASIL" which was so good! It was chewy, fresh, and the crust had blisters from the fire, making it the best pizza I had! Oh, and for drinks, we ordered the mint soda - and wow! It was so fresh, crisp, and refreshing! As I said to my husband "It's as if I am crunching on a mint leaf itself!" Anyway, all in all, it was probably one of our best experiences going out for dinner! We're already making plans to take our parents there next week! INCREDIBLE PLACE!
(5)May C.
I went here with a group of 20 for a birthday dinner and was quite disappointed. I love the ambiance and environment of the restaurant but everyone in our party who ordered the pizza was extremely disappointed. The pizza came out soggy and there was a pool of juice in the middle of the Mushroom pizza. I've definitely had better pizza for the same price in Portland. I'm hoping it was just an off day for them since we had such a large party.
(1)Star S.
The Firehouse was one place I wanted to try. Something a little different, which is one of the things that I love about eating in Portland. My boyfriend and I were running errands around town and he decided he wanted pizza for dinner. I looked at Yelp to get some ideas and remembered that I had wanted to try the Firehouse. We showed up at about 730 but didn't have reservations. I never would have thought of reservations at a pizza place! We waited about 10 minutes before we were seated but were able to enjoy the outdoor patio. We ordered made in-house strawberry soda, crispy potatoes, stuffed grape leaves and two margherita pizzas. We liked the sodas, they were lightly flavored and nice and crisp. My boyfriend liked the grape leaves, but prior had only had greek style dolma, so these were not quite what he had in mind. While he thought they were tasty, the flavors were not what he expected. I enjoyed the crispy potatoes and liked the addition of the lemon flavor. I personally liked the pizza for the most part, Who can say no to fresh mozzarella? My boyfriend thought his pizza was too "wet" for his preference and thought it was awkward to receive a pizza that was not yet sliced. I was less picky about my pizza even though I generally prefer a crispier crust. Overall, we liked the restaurant. I probably would go back, but I would be prepared this time to leave smelling like a campfire =)
(3)Mark W.
Great food and great service. Wonderful ambience with the brick walls. Must have is the wood fired mussels. Hangar steak was cooked perfectly. The highlight was the special which was the tuna steak my wife ordered. So delicious. Great selection of Italian wines too.
(4)Jillian S.
Delicious food! We have never had a bad meal here. The meatballs are the best meatballs I have ever had, and the pizzas and desserts are always spot on. I love the atmosphere and the wait staff is helpful. This our go-to date night spot. It is best to have reservations, unless you don't mind a very long wait.
(5)Curtis C.
Went back to try out the happy hour offerings the other day, and had another excellent meal. I LOVE THIS PLACE! Happy hour is short, only 5-6pm, but the offerings are decent, and have all of their favorite items. A couple of pizza selections, meatballs, fried cauliflower, and roasted beets are among the offerings. Plus there are drink specials to boot. We got the fried cauliflower with lemon aioli. It was as delicious as I remember, and only $3 on the HH menu. Roasted beets with herbs and hazelnuts, also $3. Margerita pizza was only $10, and the same size as usual. I also got to try their new whiskey sour. It was BOMB! Bulleit whiskey, kumquat juice, lime juice, and simple syrup is what I remember being in it. It was perfectly balanced and oh so refreshing on a 90+ degree day. If you haven't tried this place, you're missing out.
(5)Monica T.
Went here for the dine around portland week. Had a reservation for a table of 4. Checked in but still had about a 10 mins wait. No big deal...since they were super busy. I asked to be seated outside, because the inside on a sunny day is ridiculous. Was super hot inside, even with the A/C running. :( The staff and nice and friendly and the service was very good. I thought the food itself was very food. Sampled food for everyone elses plates and everything tasted amazing. The low rating was because...everyone in my party had a bad stomach ache the next morning. Was sick for a day afterwards. Very disappointing because I really wanted to like the place. Would probably eat here again, but wouldn't go out of my way. Only if I was in the area. But will for sure give it at least 1 more try.
(3)D J.
Beautiful concept with the old firehouse - the woodwork and windows make it an amazing concept for a restaurant - well done there! Made a reservation with OT for 7pm on a Tues. Had to wait about 5 minutes but was talking with my dining companion so no complaints there. We were seated at a table in the middle of everything, which is fine, but we were surrounded by a large party with kids who kept screaming and wandering around everywhere. Very distracting, but it's a family place; okay, not my preference, but it's where we had chosen to dine. The host commented on a dish I asked about as I had seen it on the website menu (maybe they need to update that a bit) and he referenced it was a fav of his and available, so when the menu came and it wasn't there, I asked the waitress about it and she said they didn't have it. When I mentioned that the host had confirmed it, she shook her head and scoffed indicating he had no idea what he was talking about, which I thought was very rude. I asked for her references on her whiskey drinks as they had some ingredients with which I am not familiar, and I know my cocktails, but they had some Italian things to offer. She kept pointing me to the gin drinks and saying they could make them with whiskey - what??? I gave up on her and just chose an OVG - great drink, btw. Once she dispensed with her attitude about the host and my suggestion of a dish that, apparently, is no longer available but that is listed on their website menu, she settled down and recommended the meatballs. My friend and I ordered the appetizer cauliflower, which was delicious, but let me tell you, what they say about the salt in the reviews here - multiply that by 2. I don't mind salt, but it was definitely overdone. I had the farm lettuces salad, which was great! I ended up getting the meatballs, which was delicious dish, but again, extremely salty. My companion had the steak, ordered medium, which looked MR, and potatoes. She seemed to like it but stated, it too, was incredibly salty. I've marked Firehouse off my to try list - been wanting to try it for a while - but no need to go back now. I might like to visit in the summer when they bay door is open, as the space is just beautiful.
(3)David G.
What's not to like here?! We had a reservation, but when we arrived our table wasn't ready so we were offered complimentary sparkling wine. Headed upstairs to wait for our table and had the privilege of meeting the neighborhood cat that seems to frequent the restaurant (smart cat!). Once seated, after a relatively short 20 minute wait, our server returned with an array of complimentary appetizers and profusely apologized for our wait. Menu had nice variety to satisfy different palates and quality of food is exceptional! Great ambiance/atmosphere and perfect for our casual birthday dinner! I can see returning to enjoy the patio in the Summer months!
(5)Craig M.
The Firehouse has great atmosphere and wonderful service. Our first time here the house was full, and not having a reservation, we sat at the small bar. The benefit to this was being able to watch the food being prepared in the open kitchen a few feet away. It also meant being able to have a conversation with the bartender as our server. She had a lot of great advice on menu items, both food and drink. The thing that sticks out for me was the waitstaff's attention to detail. Every wine glass is held up to the light and polished. Every bottle of wine is taste tested before being brought to the the table. The kitchen also aims high as well, with well presented meals. The pizza and deserts are superb. However, the other entrees, ours and the couple at the bar with us, were a bit disappointing. An unfortunate miss with rather bland and overcooked main dishes. With that being said, we will definitely be coming back. The entire experience was so much fun. We'll probably just be ordering pizzas in the future.
(4)Hagit K.
This is a great place for family dining - there's something great for everyone on the menu: from really good pizzas to fun appetizers and entrees that truly please parents. This isn't a trivial achievement. There are so many places that are great for adults but offer nothing for picky kids and even more places that offer pizza and pasta but nothing a bit more, well, sophisticated, for adults. The Firehouse balances these two demands extremely well. All five members of my family were very pleased with their order, from pizza to a great fish entree. Oh, and leave room for dessert.
(4)Thomas B.
Hands down the best place I've eaten in Portland. Everyone was super-friendly, the meals were outstanding, and damn if the fried cauliflower was 'da bomb!
(5)Justin E.
I was actually expecting a lot more from this place. The food was good but it was not high end quality. Technically everything was perfect, but it was nothing impressive. I ordered the meatballs and could have made better at home. The salads were average nothing spectacular. We tried the fried califlower and it was very salty. I liked the ambiance but it was very crowded. The wait staff was very freindly and our food arrived at a good pace. This is basically a fancy pizza and beer place if you are expecting something more spectacular look else where. For the price it was not that great.
(2)robert a.
Firehouse is amazing. Cozy little space in an old, well, firehouse. Excellent service, friendly, nonobtrusive, but attentive. My daughter dropped her fork on the ground and we had a new one in seconds. Every item was phenomenal. Extremely fresh produce, lots of vegetable items (beets with EVOO and balsamic, mint; fried cauliflower with lemon), and wonderful anise-scented meatballs. Housemade pasta, baked mussels, and a flavorful hanger steak rounded out our little meal. I didn't much enjoy the pilsner ale or sangria - just not to my taste. But a number of good-looking wines by the glass, including a montepulciano and a nero d'avola, not often on a 'by the glass' menu. Excellent desserts - housemade ice cream 'cake' with candied orange and chocolate, and a dense rich marzipan/almond cake. Really good value, too. One of my new favorite places in Portland, and for the first time in quite a while, when I stood up to leave I asked, "When can we come back?" By the way, their happy hour is a nice deal and available in the dining area until 6 pm.
(5)Travis S.
Really good food, particularly the the cauliflower appetizer. We tried two pizzas, both were pretty good - a bit soggy in the center, but great flavor. The Firehouse Gin and Tonic was definitely a great choice though (house-made tonic water). Good wine list, the waiter was helpful in selections, offered a couple of different tastings. Overall, a good place. Interesting flavors and great ambiance.
(4)M R.
Best thin crust pizza I've had to date in Portland. Since they don't open til 5 on Sundays (and maybe other days...), I suggest getting a beer at Breakside Brewing right across the street then wandering over for a pizza. Good price on appetizers, especially during happy hour. Had the meatballs and "drunken" broccoli. Meatballs were pork and tasted like they belonged on pizza. The "drunken" broccoli I would highly recommend! So tasty!!! Had the pizza of the night and it was absolutely fabulous. Was expecting scissors to come with it to cut, but they gave us a knife. :-( Also, had to wait on pizza for quite awhile.... Great place for a date, BUT be prepared for your body/hair and all your clothing to smell like smoke (the good kind) from seemingly insufficient ventilation of the pizza oven.
(4)Samantha S.
I've been to Firehouse twice now and both times I have left happy. By far the best deal is the 3 course meal for $27 dollars. You get an appetizer, a small plate, and an entree- and you get to pick anything from the menu. The last time I was there I had the beet salad, the romaine salad, and the salami pizza. It was an extremely gratifying meal without being too heavy. My only complaint was that they romaine salad was positively covered with cheese. Otherwise it was great. The wine and drinks are reasonably priced and although I've never ordered off of the happy hour menu the options look good. In addition to the good food, the Firehouse has a great atmosphere. It's a little rugged and little refined. The service has been excellent on both trips as well. I would totally recommend this as a place to visit for both Portland newbies and Portland natives.
(4)Dayna D.
By far, some of the best pizza I have had in Portland yet! Delicious food. Nice wine and beer selection. Extremely friendly staff. Beautiful rustic, intimate and tastefully decorated restaurant. I will be back here soon!
(5)Jenn C.
Firehouse was another stumble-upon restaurant one summer day. After walking to Breakside Brewing, we spotted Fireside and said, "Oh, we should check that out." And we did. And it was great. We've tried to visit Firehouse often and it would appear that Portland has heard of it. That being said--get a reservation unless you plan to go after 9pm. The food is fantastic--how could it not be? We enjoy the pizza (wood-fired!) and this most recent visit we ordered an appetizer--some little delicious rice crustette with salami and mozzarella--yum! I then tried the pork shoulder braised in white beans with some greens. The server brought me a steak knife...insert laugh. You don't need a steak knife for their pork shoulder--it practically crumbled at the touch of my fork it was so tender and moist. It was incredibly rich and the beans and greens were a nice addition to break it up. Needless to say, we haven't had something here we haven't liked, save now needing a reservation!
(4)AK Cuisine C.
A bustling neighborhood restaurant with an energetic, efficient staff and an open kitchen turning out rustic Italian-inspired fare from a wood-burning oven. Wood-grilled hanger steak is a reliable choice, tender, juicy and served with crispy little potatoes that are absolutely addictive. Their take on a traditional Caesar, romaine with lemon-anchovy vinaigrette and shaved pecorino, is zesty and makes a nice starter or second. The wood-roasted pork shoulder "confit" can be dry rather than succulent, with bland accompaniments - stick with the rotisserie chicken or the hanger steak. Insider tip: Choose 3 courses (starter, salad, entree) for just $28. Not 'tasting' portions - 3 full courses for less than $30. Just try to save room for dessert!
(4)Lelay P.
The service was great. We reserved ahead of time and that was helpful. My salad was almost all arugula, would have been great if I liked arugula but unfortunately, no. The pizza was disappointing. I was really hoping that I would like it because of the reviews here, and that's exactly why I wanted to try their pizza in the first place. It was way too thin. Like eating tomato sauce with mozzarella cheese on a cracker, the very thin kinds, because Ritz cracker is thicker than their crust. I did not like that. I had dessert and it was good, chocolate something. My bf enjoyed his meal, but in my opinion, we paid more than what we got. I ended up going home hungry. I will try the pizza place right across the street next time, and sorry but no, I will not be coming back, nor do I recommend this place to anyone I know.
(2)Cari S.
Que romantico! Some of the best service I've had in Portland. The dessert, an ice cream cake, was hands down on my favorite desserts ever, my dining mate thought so too. The fried cauliflower and beet salad small plates were fantastic. This place is perfect for a birthday dinner, anniversary or similar. Prices were well within reason.
(4)Benny C.
Food was good, had the hangar steak. It was juicy but kinda cold, granted it was a very cold day out. I loved the decor of the restaurant.
(4)Olivia C.
gross pizza don't bother
(1)Phil S.
The Firehouse is a simply lovely venue. The lighting, the bricks, the whole idea of it... charming to say the least. I had brussels sprouts, the steak, and all the desserts (shared of course). First let me start with the service. The service was quite possibly the finest service I have experienced at a restaurant in this price range. The waitress was attentive, knowledgeable, and patient. Brussels sprouts can easily be hated, but they made me a believer. The hanger steak wasn't flavored to my palate's liking, but that is my fault and not theirs. Despite this, I can say that the steak was cooked perfectly to its order: medium-rare. The quality of the meat itself is quite good, it was also very tender. As for the dessert... honestly did not enjoy the desserts... but the one with the salted caramel cake was unbelievable. It is a must if you can tolerate the sexiness. Did I also mention how reasonable the prices are? I wasn't the one that paid, which is always reasonable, but I would certainly return and pay my dues in the future!
(5)Evan R.
I have never eaten at Firehouse until last Friday. The staff was great, got us seated at a table quickly even though we were 10 minutes late for our reservations. The building looks really nice and even though there is a wood oven, it was not hot or stuffy. Menu was amazing too many choices for just one visit, we are headed back again this Friday, but my wife and I each chose different things to share and were both really pleased. They are offering a small plate, salad and entre for $27 which is a really good deal considering the size of the portions and the quality of the food. I had the soft cooked farm egg with braised celery and olives, very good and an interesting combination. My wife had the fried fennel slices, that was amazing! We had salads my was a nice rendition of a cesar and hers a goats cheese mixed greens, both were excellent. For main course she had the gnocchi with spicy house sausage sauce, WOW! And I had the porchetta rich and delicious. Sadly we had no room for desserts as the menu looked great. The wine list is very nice. I dont think there is a bottle over $50 and they feature a lot of really great lesser know but wonderfuly delicious Italian wines. Like I said above we really enjoyed the dinner and saw such great things going out to other tables we had to book this Friday's dinner there as well. The pizza's look great and the mussels at the next table smelled so good. Will certainly post a update on our second go around. But go check this place out.
(4)lynne O.
YUM! I absolutely love the pizza here, If I lived closer I would eat here all the time. Very cool building and friendly service! Next time I can find a reason to be in that part of town I will be back for sure!
(4)Carlton M.
Really the best pizza in Portland. Just amazing. The hanger steak was cooked just right, amazing...! Service was quick and efficient, though our server was new and a little nervous when we asked about the food before ordering. We've been here 4 times now and it's consistently good. You can't go wrong. Make sure you make reservations.
(5)Andy M.
Long wait. Mandatory 20% tip added to parties of 6+. Appetizers & pizza are bland and soggy. Service is friendly but not very attentive. I wouldn't eat there again.
(2)Reed C.
This is the second time my husband and I visited Firehouse, but the first time we stayed to eat. More than a year ago, not long after Firehouse first opened, we stopped in and were less than impressed with the greeting we received and the menu, so we left. Our second visit was a completely different experience. We were greeted immediately, and seated at a table outside. Please note: reservations are probably a good idea -- the place was packed by 7 on the Saturday night we visited. Our waitress was friendly, funny, and helpful with questions about the menu. We started with two small plates: beets with hazelnuts in a lovely vinaigrette, and watermelon, cucumber and olives in a light, citrus-y dressing --- wonderful! Next: salads. Scooter chose the green beans, peaches, blackberries and ricotta, while I had the mixed greens, heirloom tomatoes, Humboldt Fog chevre and vinaigrette. Scooter's salad was beautiful on the plate and the palate. As for mine: if something on a menu includes "Humboldt Fog," (or anything "fog" for that matter) you pretty much have to investigate. I was not disappointed. Yes, our small plates and salads were all rather salad-y, but that's how we roll, people. There are plenty of other choices (pate, fried cauliflower, and an array of pizzas) so don't fret. For our entrees we both went for the albacore with pepperonata (cooked peppers with tomatoes, onions, garlic and olive oil) and salmoriglio (lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and parsley) -- and while I am not usually a fan of seafood and tomato sauce, this was delicious. We opted to go to a different spot for dessert, but the will definitely be back for that --- if not another meal to go with it!!.
(4)Cindy I.
We have eaten here twice now and it's okay but just doesn't wow us. It was a nice atmosphere when we took our friend from out of town recently. I had the gnocchi and again it was just ok. There are many other places that would be higher on our list.
(3)Kate S.
This place is amazing, I can't believe it took us so long to eat here. When you walk in it smells like a mix of camp fire and amazing food. The restauraunt has a great cozy atmosphere and the food was perfect. We will definitely be heading back since everything on the menu looks great. It was a little pricy ~15-20 for an entree but it is well worth it and you get more than enough food for the price.
(5)Betsy S.
Meh. Ambiance is pretty great. Service was pretty great. Food was...meh. Nothing really wrong with it, just nothing really stood out as being exceptional. Perhaps pizza is the thing to order here? Drink was VERY strong, but not very tasty, imo.
(3)Antonious M.
The service was 5 star again ( they are keeping a full time dishwasher employed - great thing in this economy ) but the food didn't perform even though it looked perfect . we ordered 80 percent of the menu and only 3 items were exceptional (the mussels - the hanger steak - and the pizza ) , the rest lacked flavor and the ingredents didn't work together like it should . It's like someone was cooking from a recipe and skimped on the ingredents . This was not the birthday dinner i hoped for and wasn't the meal I experienced there in august which was exceptional . I am sorry guys but this meal was lackluster at best . You know how to service your customers , you presentation is spot on and if the flavor and the love of food is missing it's not worth the price tag . This makes me sad :( check my preivious review from the last meal and you'll see why .
(3)Lisa W.
We went to Firehouse for dinner last night for dinner, what a charming restaurant. Loved the fact that they turned an old fire house into a restaurant, made our experience that much more charming. The food was impressive, everything we tried tasted amazing. The wood fired oven made the pizza I had taste amazing. The service was very good and the price seemed to be very well matched to our experience. We will definitely go back.
(5)H M.
The Firehouse is good. The food is fine, the service is excellent. The building is probably the coolest part.
(4)Lindsay L.
Overall Impression: By itself, this restaurant would have gotten only 3 stars from me. However, the mussels alone were enough to propel the restaurant to 4 stars. The mussels are cooked in a cast iron skillet in the wood fire oven. It's a very simple and rustic preparation and the result is amazing. It tastes like your on the beach and you take in a large breath of fresh salt air, campfire smoke and pure heaven. The mussels get a dunk in clarified butter which adds the perfect amount of sweetness to each bite. This dish truely blew me away and I would go back just for it! Service: Other have comments on slow service and slow food coming out of the kitchen. Luckily, that wasn't our experience. Our waiter came by several times to take our order and check in on us.
(4)Rachel H.
I was really glad we brought our sweaters and sat outside (inside was dark and smoky)... enjoyed a long, leisurely meal with the family on a Saturday night. Shared pizzas, steak, salads, dessert and beers. For five satisfied, previously hungry people the total came out to less than $100 for the best food I've had in my first year living in Portland. It's italian, but really interesting northern "rustic countryside" Italian -- not the southern italy pasta dishes you might expect. The kitchen staff really knows their food. YUM! Bravo to a really perfect meal for our entire group.
(5)Jessica K.
Delicious! This place has gotten so popular we had to make a reservation for when they opened at 5pm. Completely worth it! The three of us each got the three course meal for $25. My appetizer was the crostini with Humboldt Fog chevre and plum sauce. Amazing, this could have been dessert! One person in our group got the bruschetta with white beans and the other got the beets. Normally I don't like beets, but I definitely went back for another bite of it! I got the arugula salad which was also very tasty, the olives were excellent though I was trying to pace myself so I could make it to dessert. For my entree I got the meatballs that were recommended by the hostess. Great texture and fennel flavor! My boyfriend got the rotisserie chicken which honestly was the best chicken I've ever eaten while dining out. So moist and flavorful with the thyme! Our friend got the gnocchi and the accompanying sauce was delicious, though it didn't stand up to the other two dishes quite as well. As soon as we walked in I saw these apple pastries sitting on the counter and knew I would do whatever it took to make room for it at the end of our meal. We got it and it was absolutely fantastic!!! Better than apple pie and the whipped cream was a perfect complement. I just asked my boyfriend if he remembered what they were called and he said he didn't remember, all he could call them was delicious! I wish I had one now with my coffee. The service was excellent. Our waiter was very attentive. He was concerned when I didn't finish my salad because he thought I didn't like it, though I was just try to make room. Just try to leave food on your plate here, you can't do it! It's too good to waste a single bite! If you don't eat it, the rest of your table will! We had a small wait for our dessert, and the waiter felt horrible and comped us for one of our desserts. It was such a wonderful experience. We will definitely be back and can't wait until it get's nice enough outside for the outdoor seating area!
(5)Af R.
Great food and atmosphere. I'm sure in the summer there is way more seating once they open the side up but I got reservations on Open Table the day of and was seated right away on a Friday night around 7. They have a special where you can get a small plate, salad, and pizza or an entree for $27. My salad and pizza were $21 so I didn't bother but my husband got an $18 entree and it worked out well for him. The salad was a good size and the pizza was DELICIOUS! The crust was perfect, a bit crispy on the outside and a tad chewy on the inside. The pizza is for 1+ person but at $12-14 it's a steal in this city. It's a bit bigger than I thought it would be too. I had the special pizza of the night, a white pizza with garlic, basil, and green olives and it was soooo good! Everyone that works there is super nice. The only thing I'd want are a few more reasonably priced wine by the glass options. I chose the cheapest at $7 (don't even know what it was) but wasn't a fan. The 3 beers they had on tap were all from OR, props there too. It may be good this is rather far North for me or I'd be eating pizza all the time.
(4)Jannies B.
Food has BIG flavors, love it! We ordered gnocci, rock fish (fresh from Alaska), and magherite pizza. Gnocci had good texture--they used a bit of polenta to amp it up. Rock fish was one of the best I have ever had, and the carrots and finnochio was perfectly seasoned and cooked in the Italian oven. Pizza--slightly runny and salty, but good flavor and pretty close to the best pizza we had in Napoli. Will definitely be back! Note: Total bill including dessert and tip came out to $70. Entre ranges from $12 - $25.
(4)Chris H.
Mixed Review We had some very tasty food here and some that was just O.K. After reading the reviews of the fried cauliflower, we decided to order some, along with the roasted Brussels sprouts for appetizers. Both were very tasty, but the portions were fairly minuscule for the price ($5 each). One person at our table ordered the spit-roasted pork, which he said was some of the best he had ever tasted. No knife required, because it just fell off the bone. For $17, this generous portion was served with white beans, grilled bread, and greens. Another person in our party ordered wood-fire iron skillet mussels and was similarly enamored. Two of us ordered pizza. The Margherita pizza was bland and uninspiring and had very little basil. I ordered the pizza with criminal mushrooms and added some anchovies. Everyone at our table agreed that it was much better than the Margerita, but still lacking in flavor. If I were to go here again, I would probably steer clear of the appetizers and the pizza and order from the main courses only. The service was friendly and attentive. However, when I made the reservation, I requested a nice table since we were celebrating a special birthday. I know requests like this can't always be accommodated, but they seated us close to the downstairs bathroom, which was special but not in a good way. This unisex bathroom was constantly busy. Not only are the tables very close to the bathroom door, but there is no sound barrier. If you are in the bathroom, you can hear the conversations in the dining room and they can hear you too! There was a big sticky puddle around the toilet (ah, the joys of unisex bathrooms). While bathrooms do not generally figure into my restaurant choices, this one would. I imagine that sitting in the front of the restaurant or upstairs might make for a better quality experience. With so many good restaurants in Portland, I'm not sure I'd go back.
(3)Kamalani M.
No at all what we expected. Staff were very standoffish & the pizza was burnt very salty!
(1)Alana P.
With 181 reviews already written, I'm not going to say anything here that hasn't already been said. Great place, good food, fun experience. I highly recommend it and will certainly be going again soon. That said, of all the reviews I've read, no one has mentioned that you (and your clothes) will literally smell like this restaurant (aka an actual fire in your house) for days to come. I guess it's up to you to decide how you feel about that. In the words of a friend of mine, "Keep the cashmere at home and plan for an extra wash of the hair." Bon Appetite!
(4)Marcus H.
Love this restaurant. Be sure to try the chicken & steak. No meal here is complete without a pizza and the fried cauliflower. Great service & delicious food, great ambiance.
(5)Jamie M.
We came here for dinner before heading over to my nephew's basketball game at Concordia University. We arrived at around 5:30 and there were still tables available, but by 6:30 on a Saturday night the place was packed. This is an incredibly small space (I think I only counted maybe a dozen tables), but they have done a very nice job of making it not feel crowded. I've been to restaurants of similar size where you feel like you're practically on top of the table next to you and I didn't get that feeling at all here. We debated about sharing some of the small plates but we couldn't come to an agreement so we both just decided to order our own pizza. My boyfriend ordered the sausage pizza and I had the mushroom. Both our pizzas were delicious! I was a little worried about the "soggy" center crust some other reviewers mentioned, but I thought that was the tastiest part. Our waiter said that they generally consider each pizza to feed one person since its thin crust; however a 12 inch pizza, even with thin crust, was a bit much for me. I probably would have done better to split a pizza with my boyfriend and maybe get one small plate to go with it. I'd love to come back in the summer and dine on their patio, it looks like a beautiful space.
(4)Red R.
I have lived in Portland for 9 years and consider myself a foodie. The biggest issue I always have in PDX is the horrible service at MOST yummy restaurants. Well, thanks to Firehouse that has changed! Their food was bomb and the service was OUTSTANDING! I told them their service was epic. As for food, the meatballs are to die for and the pizza was fabulous. I hope to return very soon for those meatballs and great service. Lastly, I do not drink and they had fresh watermelon soda. YUM! Thanks and we will be back!
(5)Connie C.
I've been to Firehouse twice now and I leave feeling happy and satisfied. I start out with the garden romaine with lemon-anchovy vinaigrette and shaved pecorino - delish! I've had the pizza with crimini mushrooms, oregano, and fresh mozzarella, as well as the pizza with Zoe's sopressata, fresh mozzarella, and chili flake. Both were good, but I think the sopressata is my favorite. I love thin crust pizzas but I think theirs are a little TOO thin for my taste. But that won't stop me from going back for more.
(4)Amanda M.
Expensive, small portions but lovely atmosphere. I look forward to going back in the summer to sit outside.
(3)HOWIE B.
Firehouse is nicely designed (with great outdoor seating), has a nice staff and fine food at reasonable prices. It's very Portland-foodie (wood-fired pizza, sustainable ingredients, free range chicken) and to be honest, I'm kind of tired of this trend. All these places (Roost, Ned Ludd,), though good, have a precious sameness to them. I'm ready for the next big thing!
(3)Michelle H.
True to its name, Firehouse is in fact in an old firehouse. It oozes charm and awesome from every piece of dark wood and exposed brick. The natural light from the old truck door adds to the warmth, as does the wood-fired oven. It's just cozy. The kitchen is open to the dining area, allowing your senses to be assaulted with all the glorious flavors the second you walk in the door. They have a lovely garden patio, but I don't know if I could tear myself away from that warm interior. I love it in there. They prefer you get on the reservation train, but we keep forgetting every time we go. It isn't planned. We never plan. We just show up. Each time they've been more than hospitable, and we've had no trouble getting a seat. Aside from their inner dining area with bar and outer garden patio, there are a few disconnected tables in the back and a room you can rent out upstairs for a larger group. It's safe to say you have all your dining options covered. Water glasses appear almost out of thin air while you're perusing the menu. While they do have creative cocktails and an impressive beer and wine list, I'm addicted to their iced tea. It's not your average Lipton. Blue Flower Earl Grey? Yes, please. It's refreshing. We've sat right in front of the kitchen each time, which makes deciding from this delicious menu even more difficult. It all smells good, and it looks good. You literally want it all. There are a number of small plates, a few salads, a few pizzas, and capped off with a few entrees. Somehow, we've managed to avoid the small plates. That's usually because the smell of the pizza oven wins out. I'm such a sucker for good pizza, and Firehouse delivers. It's easily one of my favorites in the neighborhood. The crust stays pillowy, and has yet to be overly charred. The middle gets a little limp, but that's only because the sauces have their way with it. It doesn't take away from the experience, though. It's nothing a little knife and fork action can't remedy. Each pizza boasts simple ingredients, but they're such unique flavors that they go really well together. I want to say the entrees are better than the pizza, but they're not. They're just different but equally as awesome. They're hearty and rich and want to be shared. Everything wants to be shared here. The grilled tuna is the only one I've tried so far (told you pizza wins out), but it was so buttery and soft that it melted in my mouth. The flavor pops with each consecutive bite, and before you know it, you're scraping out the last bits of olive oil and diced tomatoes. It's lick your plate good. What I like most about this place is you can customize your experience based on your budget, and still walk out feeling as if you've really classed it up. The dishes taste so decadent that every bite feels like an indulgence, but you're not always going to break the bank. Firehouse is quickly becoming my favorite place to eat. I'm definitely crushing hard. When you're headed out the door and no less than three people tell you thanks and to have a good night, it's hard not to come back night after night.
(5)Jess H.
As usual, my son and I were looking for a new spot to try out for pizza. I yelped and came across Firehouse. Some reviews indicated it was a great pizza and the atmosphere does welcome kids. Well, it is a very cute atmosphere, very current Portland, but I would not say that it is a spot to take a kid, especially a hungry 13 year old. The ceasar like salad was very tasty and he loved it as well. The pizza was really good but a bit too shishi for my son AND not very big for two people. Now if you want a night with a sweetie or an intimate gathering of friends: ideal indeed
(3)Alex L.
Walked up to the outside to look at the menu and a very friendly patron tapped on the window and gave us the thumbs up. We decided to give it a try and were greeted by the smoky, comforting smell of a wood-burning pizza oven. Instantly felt at home! Then the hostess swept us up to a table by the very window where the friendly patron had convinced us to come in. On her recommendation we ordered the fried cauliflower and the beets with hazelnuts, followed by the house-made fennel sausage wood-fired pizza. I felt like I was in Italy again - the crust was fabulously thin and light, the cheese used sparingly and the sauce was sweet - this is the way Italians make pizza and Firehouse nails it. Jen, our server, was phenomenal and took great care of us. After all was said and done our tab (including a couple of beers and tip) was about $40. Can't wait to come back again. Do yourself a favor and check it out! You won't be disappointed.
(5)DJ G.
Ambiance, score. Food, check. Three apps, four pizzas, two sides and three desserts...YUM. Highly recommended. Nice to see a great restaurant way up on Dekum in NE. The revitalization of NoPo continues!
(5)Katie K.
I started coming here a while ago--long before moving to a block away last fall. In fact, Firehouse's proximity was a definite selling point! Whenever we have guests over to the house, we look at it as an excuse to come to the Firehouse. There are so many things to love about the Firehouse--the delicious and subtle flavors; local, seasonal ingredients; deliciously warm-feeling interior (I'm a sucker for renovated, re-purposed buildings); the smell of the wood-fired oven; the welcoming smiles of the waitstaff; the outdoor gardens...in fact, so much of this is well covered by the other reviews, I don't have that much to add. My favorite parts of the menu? The hanger steak, the cauliflower, the asparagus bruchetta, and the margharita pizza. The bf is consistent, and no-nonsense. He goes straight for the steak every time, rolling his eyes as I beg for my inevitable taste. In spite of my love for the steak, I always have to try something new...outside of the cauliflower and pizza, that is! While it does tend to be soggy in the middle, the blending of flavors is so great that I don't give a sh*t. And the cauliflower...their treatment takes what can be a very bland or 'regular' vegetable, and turns it into something fantastic. And the bruschetta...the lovely bruschetta! You just have to try it to believe it. It's seasonal, so hit it soon! Other tips--definitely get a reservation. It shouldn't be difficult, but it will save you 30-40 minutes if they're busy. The plus side is that if you don't get a reservation, there's a great brewery or pizza place across the street that would love to help you kill time. Another thing I love: the prices. Entrees seem very well priced to me--it is not an every-day-of-the-week kind of place, but very good for even a semi-special occasion. Like Thursdays.... :)
(5)Tuyen L.
Lets get to the point, PRO: Appetizers are good... Salads are good... Hanger steak was awesome... Service was good... CON: Waited an hour for main entree... Pizza had nice flavor but the middle was really soggy... Verdict: It wasn't busy, we had reservations, don't get why they don't know how to make pizza? Although the wait for food was madness, I'd go again, if I wanted to just chill with company and knock down some drinks. Maybe...perhaps...I'll try the pizza again. I did enjoy the food...hence the 3 stars! =)
(3)Andy W.
Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983, American philosopher, architect, futurist, and inventor) and Friedensreich Hundertwasser (1928-2000, Austrian painter, architect, philosopher, and sculptor) sat at a table at Firehouse recently and each ordered a pizza off the menu before engaging each other in a heated discussion about the proper way to eat them. Bucky: "Now, as I was saying, Fred, the triangle is the most elementary shape in the universe. From the bubbles created out of the crashing of the ocean's waves down to some of the most prevalent molecules in the universe, they are all made up of tiny icosahedrons, which are in turn built of tinier triangles. It is the triangles that endow these objects with their tensegrity. That is the principle by which I designed the geodesic sphere, the only human-made structure that gets proportionally stronger as it increases in size. "Therefore, I shall apply this logic to my pizza and cut it into triangular wedges before I eat it." Fred: "I would agree with you, Bucky, only if the universe were flat. But as anyone can see, it is not flat. Not even the pizza is flat -- not without the aid of this human-made plate. You see, Bucky, you live in a human-made chaos, a jungle of straight lines. In reality, not one of these so-called naturally occurring triangles of which you speak is truly such, as their lines are never straight. The straight line is godless and immoral, and by attempting to cut straight lines through this pizza, you are destroying its natural beauty. "Therefore, I shall cut my pizza according to the various non-linear motions of my hand as they strike my fancy before I take each bite." When they were finished eating, both had enjoyed the taste of their pizzas immensely. Yet Buckminster Fuller was not completely satisfied. Fred: "My dear Bucky, did you enjoy your pizza?" Bucky: "I did -- so insubstantial was the crust in the middle that it had only a subtle impact on the flavor of the fresh mozzarella and fennel sausage. But I am ashamed to acknowledge the flimsiness of the triangles I cut. How did you like yours, Fred?" Fred: "Well, Bucky, unfettered and uncorrupted by your straight line fetish, I fully enjoyed my pizza. Each bite was a delightful combination of textures and flavors." Friedensreich Hundertwasser is such a snotty fucking know-it-all.
(4)Jeff P.
I had a business meeting here once and have been dying to go back. I have told multiple people about it and everyone who has gone has said nothing but great things. Great place!
(5)Jessica M.
I never thought I'd ever say this, but I just finished a meatball that was better than my Silcilian / Neopolitan mother's (please don't tell her though). Really intimate, but casual, atmosphere. Delightful servers. Simple, delicious food. From your table you can watch your brick oven pizza being made or the finishing touches being put on your tender gnocchi. This gem sets the bar high for the up and coming Dekum Triangle neighborhood.
(4)Jenny C.
I'm kicking myself right now because I forgot to find out if this amazing old firehouse still has its shiny fire pole. Everything else is there, including the big truck door turned into a window, the old exposed brick, and the rich, dark wood paneling. Even the walls are adorned with old photographs of the station and the men who made up the family that called it home. Although the use of this two story building has changed, the charm and warmth of a quintessential neighborhood landmark remains and wholeheartedly welcomes you in. I'll admit that I really only wanted to come here to see the place, but the talk of pizza was indeed an added draw. Entering the small vestibule you're instantly hit with the warmth from the pizza oven and open galley kitchen that runs almost the entire length of the shared dining room. A back room with more tables and booths is much more quiet & intimate (and consequently all the more awkward when your dining companion is your little sister) and provides a cozy spot to have a gin + tonic and unwind from a long week. The menu is small but hardly lacking. A couple of small plates serve as a great appetizer. The fried cauliflower is amazing, and supports my belief that vegetables are so much better when they're breaded and slightly crispy. A pizza serves two, and its ultra thin crust and rich sauce pairs so well with fresh crimini mushrooms, oregano, and mozzarella. An appetizer, pizza, and a round of drinks for two will set you back around $30.00. Firehouse's intimate scene makes a night out for dinner an event, so go with folks whose company you enjoy and you don't mind sharing plates with. There's a collective feeling when you're here. From close tables to a small but attentive staff bouncing between parties, it seems like everyone is connected to one big dining experience. I can't help but think that perhaps it's strangely reminiscent to the comradery of the crew that was stationed here in the early 1900s. But unlike them, at least you don't have to abruptly jump up from your meal and save NoPo from another fire, or rescue a kitten stuck in a tree.
(4)Vicki T.
We drove all the way out to this restaurant from our hotel downtown, expecting a spectacular meal. It was a good meal, but in no way spectacular. For us, it was not a 4 1/2 star restaurant. If I could give half stars, I would rate it as 3 1/2. The pizza was good, as were the appetizers, and main course, and I would recommend it as a place to get a decent meal, but not a great meal.
(3)kay c.
The pizza was soggy in the middle and the cheese on it was underdone. The outer crust was good. The crostini appetizer was odd. Wine great. Service excellent.
(3)Jeff M.
Fried Cauliflower with Lemon Creme Fraiche is AMAZING. Great combo, and it is not batter fried, so it is not all fatty and oily. It is just pure awesome. It is probably the closest to Napels style pizza anywhere I have had in Portland. Which means it is fantastic. It is not in the same style as like A Pizza Scholls but more like Kens, but in a more traditional sense. It is really great. I would say if you like Pizza you have to go here. The only reason this doesn't get 5 stars is they have a limited beer, wine and cocktail list.
(4)H O.
+: No wait on a Friday night, quick service, cool building and yummy food. -: A little too far away for me. !: Fried cauliflower was such a delicious surprise! ?: Find another abandoned fire station to take over closer to me?
(4)sarah s.
This is such a cute local gem. I have been wanting to check it out for months and when my fiance and I were celebrating our 5 year anniversary, we decided it was time to visit the Firehouse for a special night out. The old building looks amazing and everything on the menu sounded divine. Our server was really sweet, attentive, and knowledgable. The reservation process was streamline and simple. I want to give it five stars, I really do, but... The only thing was...we waited for almost an hour for our food. Not because they were busy, but because they didn't know how long my food would take. Apparently I ordered a pork chop that they had just put on the menu and I was the very first to order it and they didn't have the cook times worked out before they put it on the menu. Our server told us once what was going on...after we had already waited about 30+ minutes and watched everyone who walked in after us get food, but she offered little apology with her explaination. After an hour, my food finally arrived. It was delicious. It was cooked perfectly...but I still don't think if given the option to do it all over again it would be worth the hour long wait. Maybe just don't put something on your menu until it's tested and you know you can execute it? Or perhaps someone could have warned me of the possibility of a longer wait when I ordered? The waitress never spoke of it again. I wish she would have at least offered to comp my $5 glass wine or SOMETHING...even another sincere apology that we had to wait....any small gesture that it was understood that the wait wasn't very nice would have really gone a long way.
(3)Suzanne F.
I will keep this short n' sweet - Came here awhile ago to help celebrate my swell pal, Anna's birthday. There were 4 of us women & we had been unapologetically drinking. I was a wee bit fuzzy on some details, so I returned with The Big Man a few nights later. Not quite as fuzzy, we sat & waited in the waiting area, which TBM suggested felt like ' a gynecologist's waiting room'. It does. It is Siberia, upstairs, with a hideous aqua colored couch and there actually were very old magazines and a cat chew toy (shaped like a carrot!)...turns out, a Naturopath has her office up there, so he's not too far off! ANYWAY...food is tasty, especially the cauliflower with the lemon aioli, and I like the beets with the ricotta secco. The glasses of wine are all good choices & they make a mean Manhattan. The pizza was a bit soggy the night we went - it seemed as tho' there were too many people & the wood-fired oven was not hot enough. The Romaine salad is delicious. I like this place. It doesn't blow me away, yet the atmosphere (once you emerge from the dreaded Waiting Room) is warm & inviting. The waiters are friendly, as are the kitchen crew (it's an open kitchen). I think this is a swell addition to the neighborhood and I like the use of space. I will return for more snacks as well as checking on the crusts of the pizzas - they need more than one night for a fair assessment! Go check it out if you're in this neck o' the woods!
(4)Mary W.
Delicious! We had a private party upstairs and it was wonderful. The staff was excellent and all the food was a delight. Wonderful experience was had by all the guests.
(5)Melisa V.
took my husband here for his birthday a couple weeks ago. we had a reservation for 8 p.m. and the space was full, including the group upstairs, when we arrived (we learned our lesson when we tried to go for my birthday in October and there was an hour and a half wait). we sat down and were overwhelmed with the number of choices on the menu. not because it was cheesecake factory-sized but because everything looked so GOOD. we decided to order a pizza as an appetizer and two entrees, but the small plates all looked amazing so we ordered one of those as well. our server was wonderful and helped us to make a few decisions. :) first to arrive was the pan fried cauliflower, the small plate. delicious! it wasn't battered, more of a saute. it also came with a lemon creme fraiche, but didn't really need it. next up was the pizza. apparently the group upstairs put in their pizza order right before us, so we had to wait a good 30+ minutes for our next course. we weren't in a hurry, but it was still pretty annoying (didn't help that we had a table of loud, obnoxious women sitting next to us - in a small restaurant, no need to use an "outside" voice). when the crimini mushroom pizza arrived, it was well worth the wait. it reminded both of us of the pizza we loved in Italy. we didn't have to wait as long for our entrees. my husband ordered the meatballs and I had the rockfish. they were both delicious, but I think we enjoyed each others better than our own. finally for dessert (we had to indulge, it was his birthday!) we shared a slice of gingerbread cake with pear and ice cream. the other thing we wanted (which now I can't remember) was already gone for the evening, but I was happy with this. the cake was a bit dense, but the pears on it were amazing. when we return, which we will, I think we will just focus on the small plates and pizza.
(4)Jeremy M.
I stayed in Portland over night and decided to try it out. By the time I got there They had sold out of some entrees. But they have a nice selection of beer, wine and their pizza was very good.
(4)Carmen T.
Celebrated birthday here with new grandchild in tow. Best birthday meal in a restaurant ever. All meals and apps were fantastic and served piping hot. Staff accommodated our request for table with baby in a carrier so well. Even he at 6 weeks loved the atmosphere and great smells. We all loved the lively bistro atmosphere. Our serving staff were attentive but never hovered. The staff worked as a team. The standout dish was the perfectly cooked tuna. Corkage is reasonable but the wine list was reasonable and excellent. We are foodies and can't wait to return. Best dining experience and price/value we had during our 3 week Oregon stay. Go, go, go.
(5)M. M.
Went with a small group (4 adults 1 child) on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The happy hour menu was great from 5 to 6 pm. $8 pizza & $10 for 3 antipasti. The pizza rivaled that of Ken's. Thin, Italian-style, but with raised crust - fantastic. The diversity of apps were great - fried olives, italian cured meats and asparagus bruschetta. So good - just small (minus one star) They were so accommodating for our little guy - actually made "homemade" potato chips - they were so tasty that the table ate them and only left a few for the bebe. Can't wait until summertime when the patio is open.
(4)Neil W.
I really enjoyed this restaurant, except for the greeting experience. I liked the wine list - they have done a nice job of finding wines that are not to expensive and are yummy! I also liked the special they had for a small plate, salad and entree at a flat rate. The heart of romaine salad had very fresh lettuce and the dressing and cheese was very smart. I would give this place five stars if the process of getting seated by the hostess was a little better. I know it is a converted firehouse and I would hazard to guess that the firemen did not need a stand for visitors to check in at, but some such item should have added when they made the restaurant. Instead they have a touch screen monitor hidden around a corner. When we arrived we stood in the entrance area trying to figure out who we should check in with or what we should be doing. Some folks came in about three minutes after us and peered around the corner, got the attention of some staff member and were seated before us. This could be a trainning opportunity for the hostess too.
(4)Ellen S.
We went back to Firehouse after reading some good recent reviews (we'd been there once before years ago) and were not disappointed. Firehouse has the vibe of a neighborhood favorite and merits checking out as a destination restaurant. Folks seem to think of it as a pizza place, but to overlook the entrees would be a crime! The three course menu for $29 is a very good deal (you get a small plate, salad and entree). The food is straightforward--nothing fancy-- but ingredients are fresh, the cooking is spot on, the portions are generous, and the vibe is relaxed. Who needs places like Ava Genes with $30+ entrees when you can revel in the delights of places like Firehouse.
(4)Marta K.
The refinished firehouse is lovely. It was a cold rainy night when we went, and in the back room things were a hair dark, a hair cold and a hair loud (the speaker was right above me, my dining companions thought it was fine, but I think my dad might be losing his hearing!) But I really look forward to going back in the warmer months when the doors are open and the brick outdoor seating area is open. Or going back and getting a seat at the teeny tiny bar up front. This might be tricky because I think and hope they are busy a lot, deservedly busy. We shared a bunch of appetizers, the beets with salsa verde were a great combination. The salads, romaine and arugula, were super fresh and nicely dressed, nicely seasoned. The fried cauliflower was pretty good, not as good as the fried cauli at Lincoln, but good. The most disappointing entree was my steak. I didn't like the crispy potatoes, they seemed like a throw away, given all of the delicious things you can do to potatoes. They were kind of like overcooked home fries or over thick potato chips. And the steak was undercooked, barely rare when I had hoped for medium rare. My father's gnocchi were delicious, they were in a spicy tomato sauce with a big dollop of fresh cheese, ricotta, I think? And I liked the pizza, high quality fresh ingredients, thin and chewy crust. The negronis were good, the whole drink list was thoughtful and tempting, especially the after dinner digestif and bitters list. The house made soda was tasty. The desserts were really good as well, and I wish I could remember them in more detail. The semifreddo had little bits of candied orange. This place has the kind of fresh, clean food that I really love in a fairly low key but professional and hospitable atmosphere. If I lived a little closer I could see being there once a week.
(4)Jessica S.
Went here this weekend with the family and grandma. They were very accommodating in regards to working with us for a reservation time as we had a party of 6. Didn't want to keep my 82 year old grandma waiting long. The ambiance was great. I'm sure this place would be awesome in the summer with the garage door rolled up and outside seating. Had some great wine our waitress recommended. We ordered a few apps to go with our drinks as we settled in. The fried cauliflower with lemon aioli is amazing. Not greasy or super battered. Just crispy delicious cauliflower and the aioli was a nice counterpoint to off set the fried-ness of it all. Also, had the beets with ricotta. It was okay, not memorable or worth going back just for the beets. We all ended up ordering pizzas and sharing. The Margherita was by far my fave. The sauce was so good. Had the right amount of salt and tomato with basil. The other pizzas were all good, but my only complaint was that the bottom of the crust was soggy. Would have liked it to be crisp like the exterior. Also, if you're going to compare pizzas to Ken's Artisan Pizza - the toppings were kind of skimpy compared to Ken's. The sausage were big hunks of sausage scattered across the pie which made it hard to bite into and to make sure everyone had their fair share of sausage...same with the soppresata. The entrees sounded amazing and I wished I would have tried the fennel scented roast chicken. Next time. I would come here for drinks and to try the entrees and maybe the Margherita pizza, but if I'm in a pizza mood - back to Ken's
(3)Mike J.
If you add up all the qualities you might want in a restaruant --- great food; good service; good and interesting drinks; reasonable value price/quality; and a good atmosphere -- Firehouse is my favorite place in town. I haven't had a bad meal here, and the building is fantastic, as is the outdoor seating in summer. Love it.
(5)Anonymous R.
I absolutely love this restaurant. The staff is kind and efficient and the food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the hanger steak and all of their desserts are always tasty.
(5)Josh W.
From the moment you walk inside, there is a warm, cozy feeling to the Firehouse. Wood paneling, exposed brick and pictures of the old fire brigade adorn the walls. The smells from the brick pizza oven and the sizzling of the rotisserie draw you further in. Everything we sampled was expertly prepared and really delicious. Salt cod fritters (keep 'em coming!) and rockfish with saffron sauce were excellent. As mentioned by others, the pizza here is outstanding. Sure, it may get a tiny bit soggy toward the center but it's so damn good. This is Neapolitan style. Thin crust with just the right amount of chew, slightly charred from oven. I'd go back for the crust alone but the sauce takes it to another level and the toppings were all top notch. Not only does this place have great food and ambiance (with very reasonable prices!), the service is excellent. Everyone is friendly and personable from the hostess who showed us to our seats - to the server that attended our every need without pretension - to the chef that took the time to say goodbye from the kitchen on our way out. This has to be my favorite find in the last few months. We ate here for the first time this past weekend and we are destined to become regulars.
(5)Aura P.
Uneatable--unbelievably salty. I'm a salt lover and there was no way I could eat the meal. My boyfriend and I both had the three course meal. Him: bruschetta, winter salad and meatballs Me: cod fritters, winter salad and hanger steak. All were overpowered with salt. You could tell it was great quality but sadly unable to taste anything but salt. On the positive note, the service was great and the ambiance was beautiful. I believe firehouse has great potential but the seasoning needs to be fixed--quickly!
(1)John C.
Certainly one of the best pizzas in a very good pizza town. Love this place. Good value, decent wines, great patio.
(5)Vinh T.
Best wait staff in Portland, hands down. Everyone who's waited on me has remembered me, it'd almost be creepy if they weren't so damn friendly and sincere! Super unpretentious and approachable. That also translates to the menu. The menu is small, which i like, but i know some people are into multi-page menus that offer everything under the sun. Not here. They focus on doing just a few items very very well, and many dishes are changed regularly. It's obvious they use high quality ingredients. Most everything is cooked by wood fire (whether in the brick oven or rotisserie). One thing, you have to try the pizza. Split it as an appetizer. This is very serious pie--simple enough for the casual pizza lover, yet will stand up to the most experienced connoisseur's palate. It's easily the closest thing to legit Napolitano (sp?) style pizza in Portland. The weird thing is, the pricing is so accessible for the quality of food you're getting. I don't really understand how. But hey, i'm definitely not going to complain about that. To conclude, this place is good enough to take clients or a date when you're trying to impress your audience, while at the same time it's approachable and friendly enough where you and the girlfriend can come for dinner on a whim.
(5)Karen K.
Honestly based on reviews I was excited to try. I was met with service that made me feel like I was putting them out when asking questions, and the food was disappointing. Will not be back. Sometimes "foodie" spots have lost the focus of good food! I really think I could make a better pizza and I don't cook. Will try the place across the street next time!
(2)Richard B.
This was our first experience eating at the Firehouse. The food was fine and the service was friendly. However, the restaurant reeked of smoke from their wood oven which was not properly ventilated. When we left the restaurant, our eyes were burning and our lungs were irritated. Our clothes smelled of smoke like we had been camping and sitting around a campfire for several days! When I called back the next day to discuss this with the owner, she was defensive and unhelpful. She denied there was a problem and told us that we should take our business elsewhere. That's not the kind of response I would expect from such a restaurant. If you have any sensitivity to smoke or don't want to have to wash your clothes after dining, I'd suggest you take the owner's advice and take your business elsewhere!
(1)Michele N.
Firehouse: thank you for a terrific dinner and memorable evening! I had the flank steak with crispy potatoes, and it had an AMAZING smoky flavor; my husband had the cod, served in a delicious broth. The atmosphere is friendly and cozy, with beautiful dark wood tables and a warm wood-fired oven. Service is top-notch. A birthday dessert (dark chocolate cake) arrived with a candle and the waiter offered to sing, but only if it was Dolly Parton's "Jolene". A new favorite for us!
(5)Linnea M.
Firehouse is warm, cozy, and inviting. The way they have converted the space into a restaurant is great-using lots of reclaimed wood and separating the spaces into a couple of dining areas. For starters we shared 3 of the small plates-the polenta bites, the cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche, and the crostini with beans and pecorino. The polenta bites were delicious-crunchy little squares of fried polenta with grana padano grated over the top. Simple, tasty, and satisfying. The cauliflower was pretty good-it was cooked perfectly, but I wish the creme fraiche was a little more lemony. The bean toast was also good. Honestly I was a little disappointed by the pizza. The ingredients were obviously of high quality, and a lot of thought was put into the toppings, but the crust was soggy in the middle. Nice outer crust-chewy and slightly charred from the oven, but I just couldn't get over the sogginess. I had a couple of glasses of the Rosso italian wine which was delicious, and they have a good beer list as well. I would go back based on the coziness and friendliness of firehouse-the service was attentive and super friendly. It has a very neighborhood feel. Next time, however, I think I would pass on the pizza and order one of the wood fire cooked entrees(like the meatballs, which sounded delicious).
(4)Vince B.
This is my favorite place so my review is slightly bias. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Simple food done really really really well!
(5)Taylor B.
Went for a family and friends gathering of ten people and it went on without a hitch! Superb food and service, plus servers that can recommend great wine for a variety of tastes. Their personal pizzas are huge but absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. I had a rotisserie chicken with rosemary roasted potatoes and it was amazing! But, last and not least the biggest surprise was how amazing the dessert was. We kind of ordered every kind and had a taste of it all, and no one choice you can go wrong with. Now, if it only wasn't more ideally located to SW Portland. I would love to have a slice of their pizza any day of the week! But, the location and atmosphere is quite enjoyable. I'd recommend this place as a nice casual date or great location for a group gathering. Either way, you won't be left disappointed!
(4)Patrick M.
Fantastic! It was really great that the server paid attention. I am not vegetarian, but my partner is, I ordered almost all vegetarian appetizers except for one and it was stuff with pate, she made an effort to ask. WONDERFUL!
(5)Rob T.
The pizza here is a totally different style than many people are used to. The couple next to us sulked and refused their pizza, we dove in to a very similar looking pie and were rewarded with a pretty delicious experience. I wouldn't say this is a place to go every weekend, it was expensive and the service was a bit slow. However, it was a nice experience in more rustic style pizza and worth trying out. Plus, you can get a beer at the brewery across the way afterwards. Or before. Or both.
(3)James E.
Just had dinner at Firehouse. As with most local Portland places it's very cozy and down to earth. I had the romaine hearts salad and the lamb sausage pizza from the Happy Hour menu (5-6 PM). The anchovy-lemon salad dressing and pecorino cheese worked for me. I like a little tang and this had a bite to it. The salad was large, 8 full leaves, big enough for two, for like 3 bucks. A great value! The pizza was just as good. The crust was very thin with a slight char on the bottom and around the edges from the wood-oven. At first I though the sauce was going to be bland or light because it looked like plain tomato sauce but it worked really well with the onions, mozzarella and lamb sausage. Even though I was stuffed from eating the whole pizza ($11, big enough for 2), I still wanted more because everything just worked together. I sat at the bar (small, 4 seats but in the summertime it looks like they have a patio) and watched them prepare hangar steak (large portion), rock fish, spit-roasted chicken, fried cauliflower, and more. Every dish looked perfect. I heard several guests compliment the cook staff. All things considered I'd recommend Firehouse.
(4)Michael E.
Tasty little joint. The pizza was a little thin on toppings and too soggy to hold, but quite delicious. Make sure you try the honey-drizzled cheese tapas. And the vanilla orange soda. Finally I don't have to hang out at the creepy Jantzen Beach carousel to get my Orange Julius fix.
(4)J. J.
everything was delicious except the Margarita pizza was very chintzy on the basil.
(5)Sara J.
This place is AWESOME! I've only been here once but will definitely be back. The restaurant smells amazing from the moment you step inside, thanks to their wood wired oven that cooks so much of the menu. It's a little pricier than some other casual restaurants, but it's an excellent bargain for what you get and the atmosphere, service, and food can't be beat. For $27, you can get a starter, a salad, and an entree/pizza. Everything I tried was delicious. If I had to pick the weak part of the meal, it'd probably be the salad; I had a mixed greens one that was good, but not amazing. Everything else more than made up for it, though. The beets with salsa verde and hazelnuts, the bread with goat cheese and chanterelles... YUM. I think next time, I may get their special of 3 starter plates and skip the salads altogether. Definitely the highlight of the meal, however, was the pizza. The crust is thin but chewy, and the oven leaves it with the most wonderful woodsy taste. Probably one of the best pizzas I've had in Portland, and definitely different (and better!) than what you usually think of when you think of pizza. The pizza here isn't greasy and it's not easy to hold in your hand at first (thanks to the thin crust, it's a little flimsy in the middle), but it is perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I can't wait to return to try another one! All the entrees looked nice as well, and I'm sure I'll try one in the future, but I haven't yet, so I'll just have to say for now that it all looked good. Loved the intimate, romantic atmosphere without it being too pricey or trendy. Also, the service here was fantastic! All the servers were super attentive and made sure everything was perfect, without it ever feeling like your table's being watched.
(5)Jennifer C.
As a resident of Woodlawn, a section of town some Portland Yelpers may never have even heard of, I was jonesing for some good neighborhood grub. The Good Neighbor Pizza restaurant opened last year, and, I hear has some very tasty pie, but as a Gluten Free girl, they most certainly did NOT fit the bill for me. The work on the old Dekum fire house had everyone in the neighborhood curious. I had actually been in the building when it was on the market and, though it had very beautiful bones, it was quite the fixer. The exposed brick walls and weathered wood floors were beautiful, though, and when I heard that it would be a restaurant, I was thrilled. While I couldn't see the progress on the inside, I saw a TON of work put into the outside. They built a flagstone patio, and surrounded the building with perennials, fruit trees, and raised beds for vegetables and herbs. A great sign that these people cared about food, and where it comes from. When it finally opened, my husband and I high tailed it over there. It was summer, so the patio was open, and lovely, but we needed to get inside and see how they had handled the daunting task of rehabilitating the old, neglected building. What we found was beautiful. Perfect, really, at representing the essence of the restaurant, which we discovered when reading the menu. Lots of old, weathered wood, the exposed brick walls lined with pictures of the restaurant in its previous life as a firehouse, an open kitchen highlighting the tiled and brick wood oven. So on to the food, which like the design of the interior, is simple, beautiful and lovingly prepared. Yes, it is as great as we hoped - clean, fresh, tastes like FOOD, not butter and salt. Most dishes are cooked in the wood oven and so have a pleasing, but not overwhelming smoky flavor. We love to start the meal off by sharing their lemony romaine hearts with tangy and sweet shaved pecorino. If I am feeling gluttonous I'll get the buttery mussels with corona beans and leaks before making my choice between the tender rotisserie chicken, the perfectly cooked hangar steak (you won't even need a steak knife), or the smoky rock fish with tomato, saffron, and starchy sun chokes. My husband is thrilled that you can get some of their crusty thin pizza as an appetizer so that he doesn't have to miss out on fennel roasted pork shoulder with cannellini beans. The food is consistently good, and easily paired with their versatile and inexpensive wines. They have a beer lovers list of bottles, but I can't comment more extensively than that, since I am allergic to the stuff! While we no longer live in the 'hood, we still make frequent treks there for the food first and foremost, for the atmosphere to be sure, but also for the folks who run the place. We are greeted warmly by all - even the chefs, as busy as they usually are, smile and nod to us through the heat of the kitchen. Our servers have been known to remember what we had the last time we were in, what we had going on in our lives since our last visit ("How did the move go?"), and offer up some helpful reviews of new menu items. The owners always take the time to chat us up in between making efforts to ensure that everyone else is having an experience as pleasant as ours. Did I mention their prices? You would be hard pressed to find a comparable value in town. The Firehouse is one of those ever-so-slightly out of the way places that you should jump to get to before the rest of town finds out about them.
(5)Tan N.
One-word impression: HOMEY Busting out of my stomping grounds in SE, I'm just getting to know the Woodlawn and Dekum area in NE more. As I have been strolling around the neighborhood with my girlfriend, I've noticed Firehouse several times and thought to myself that it would be great place to try on a special occasion. So on her birthday, we braved the cold and moseyed over there, hopeful that we would be warmed by their hearth and satisfied by their food. I must say that I really liked the atmosphere of Firehouse. I guess it was really a firehouse in the old days, but they did a great job of turning it into a lovely establishment that was inviting and comfortable. The only thing to note is that if you're looking for a quiet, fine dining experience, this isn't the best of places, as there were a lot of kids making ruckuses in there. The kids didn't take away from our experience, but some of the other diners looked annoyed, which brought some bad vibes. The service was on par of what you would expect for a nicer restaurant, and the warm smiles of the staff also seemed to match the warmth of the atmosphere. As for the food, we took advantage of their fall special: $27 for a small plate, a salad, and an entree or pizza. First, I had the bruschetta with butternut squash, which was loaded with tasty melt-in-your-mouth squash and was a nice start to the meal. I then had the fall lettuces salad with Humboldt fog cheese and hazelnuts. There were some great bitter notes, colors, and textures in those lettuces that went along quite well with the soft cheese and sweet hazelnuts. I thought that salad was a solid hit on their end. For my entree, I chose the rotisserie chicken with chanterelles and butternut squash bread pudding; just the description of this dish made me salivate. I must say though, that while it was tasty, this was the least impressive dish of the meal. The chicken was perfectly cooked and I have no qualms about that. I felt that the chanterelles were an afterthought, as I had two total on the plate. The "bread pudding" was actually more like a soggier rendition of the bruschetta I had earlier, too. Even though the flavors were solid, the plate also suffered from just too many soft textures and was not as balanced as the other dishes. That is not to say that it was all bad, on the contrary, I still enjoyed it. As for my girlfriend's food, I cannot remember what exactly she had, but I do remember it being pretty good as well. In the end, we left Firehouse with comforted bellies as we walked back home. It was definitely not the best fine dining experience we've had, but for a neighborhood spot, it was quite lovely. The menu changes from week to week, and I would love to go back to try another meal during another season. I would also love to check out their pizzas sometime, as well.
(4)Keith D.
What a delightful surprise this restaurant is in every way. They do a wonderful pizza in a real wood-fired pizza oven and the staff does everything to make your evening an enjoyable one. Save room for desert after as well, as these are one of the best for the price anywhere in Portland. We'll be back, and looking forward to summer evenings too once the weather warms up the patio looks like a real find.
(5)Kody L.
After hearing a lot of buzz about this place, I went on a Thursday night and it wasn't too busy to get in without a reservation. The atmosphere is really homey with the wooden beams and warmth of the wood-fire stove. Excellent service by the waitstaff, too! My friend and I shared three small plates (a steal at $12), a pizza and the roasted vegetables. The selection of small plates is great: we got the yummy fried cauliflower, bruschetta and pickled beets. I don't think you can go wrong with any combination from the menu. The pizza was a thin soft crust with a simple-is-better style: toppings aren't piled on because the flavor of the homemade ingredients stands out. I probably wouldn't get the roasted vegetables again just because they were too plain, but you can't expect tons of excitement with such an option. They at least had a great array of veggies: rainbow chard, squash, carrots and more. I wouldn't call this place a destination, but if you're in the neighborhood you should make a point to try it out. If I lived nearby, then I'd probably be a regular, especially after I spotted the courtyard that would be a great place for outdoor seating when the weather warms up. Recommendations: Share everything. You'll want to try it all anyway. The flavors are simple, but it's fresh, local and well-prepared. It would be a great place for a group of friends to hang out together - not that I have actually tested this theory out. It just had that vibe.
(4)Olivia C.
The food was impressive, no complaints there. The service, however, left much to be desired. Our group of seven had a reservation for the evening, and had discussed the billing arrangement with our server before any food had been ordered. We were told that they could divide the check accordingly (three ways), but had to send two of the tickets back, twice, because of calculation errors. In the end, one of the tickets still had an incorrect total (*less* than what it should have been), and the restaurant was unable to rectify the situation. The length of time it took to from when we requested our bills, to completing our payments, was absolutely unacceptable - half an hour. We waited. And waited. And waited. It's understandable if there are (occasional) calculation errors, or computer problems, or whatever, but to sit and wait with no offer of an explanation, and then no actual resolution, was displeasing to say the least.
(2)Kim T.
I went for dinner late on a Friday night and had no wait. Our waiter was very helpful in recommending some great dishes to us. The chicken was delicious with great mashed potatoes. This restaurant is cozy (read: small) so I could see how wait time could be a problem. But its a great neighborhood restaurant with more of an upscale feel than a lot of other options in the same area.
(4)Carlton M.
A really great conversion of a old fire station into an Italian pizza focused restaurant. I have to say this is one of the best food experiences we've have here in Portland so far. The pizza's were some of the best we've had here and the appetizers was well prepared and delicious. Our servers were knowledgeable and really low-key friendly.
(5)Patrick G.
We had a lovely dinner at Firehouse tonight. Our only regret is that it has taken us so long to try this little gem in NE Portland. The place offers a rare combination of excellent food, friendly service, and a cool space. We enjoyed the three appetizer sampler platter which is a steal for only $12. The fried cauliflower sounded odd but had a nice crunch and delicious dipping sauce. The beets and pecans were also a surprising mix but the creamy taste of the beets and the crunch of the nuts played together nicely. The potato frittata was perfectly prepared. I loved the rotisserie chicken which was cooked over a wood fire giving it a nice smokey taste. My wife loved her simple cheese pizza cooked in the woodfire oven that gives the restaurant a nice glow. The building itself is gorgeous - a firehouse built in 1913. Our friendly waiter showed us where the fire poles were located by pointing them out in the large black & white photos of the fire station and its firefighters. Very cool! One last thing: try the homemade Meyer lemon soda. So crisp and refreshing!
(5)B R.
Very good Italian style pizza and ambience.
(4)John E.
Love this guy's pizza. Love the wine prices and small plates. The owner, however, obviously hates being in the restaurant business. Hey, I'm not looking for Mr. Congeniality here. He's rude. I still go back because I love that thin crust pizza. But man, the owner (he is usually the host) is Rude Boy. UPDATE on 3/13/10: That owner has sold his shares. Looking forward to getting back.
(4)Benjamin C.
Laid back, but full of mostly people in their thirties to fifties and dressed like professionals. Fast, friendly service. Great food. The pizza is great and completely different from the also great Good Neighbor across the street. The flatiron steak with arugula is also quite good, and the curried cauliflower are perfect, lovely little starters. Good fries.
(4)Tina H.
Was in Portland's NE neighborhood last Saturday, read the reviews for the Firehouse so we stopped by. So glad we got there early, around 4:45, because all the tables were reserved and the only opening was at the bar. We were starved so we took it. Started with the fried cauliflower and lemon mayo and it arrived quick, it was hot and it was GOOD! Just the right amount of salt to bring out the lemon. Of course we had a pizza, the sausage and cheese and it rocked! Rather small so if you're hungry get your own. And our waiter was awesome! So all around a great place. But note to self, make a reservation and order 2 pizzas!
(4)Kathy P.
Awesome desserts. Great menu. Good vibe. Cool upstairs room for private parties. Even our teen kids gave it a thumbs up. Left side a little loud due to communal table.
(4)Chris B.
Rotisserie chicken is flavorful and bold with just the right amount of smokiness.
(4)Lauren S.
I've eaten here several times in the past year and I've never had a bad meal. The food is fresh, unpretentious, and superbly executed each time. The ambiance is quite cozy and the staff are all incredibly friendly and professional. This is a great date night restaurant as well as a great place to take out-of-town guests. It's also *the* place when you've had a crappy day and you just need a meal that won't disappoint. I have to admit that I put off reviewing it because I fear the day it reaches Toro Bravo levels of popularity. But I changed my mind after the excellent meatballs I had last week, and the weird fact that WWeek listed it under "pizza" in their dining guide. The pizza is delicious, but the entrees are stellar. Either way, these people know their way around a red sauce.
(5)Malia A.
Went here last week Thursday around 6:30 and was pretty much impressed with the atmosphere, staff, and food. We were greeted and sat immediately. I recommend it to everyone and anyone, who wants to have good service while eating amazing food, and the great thing is, its not that spendy at all. My boyfriend and I got the 3 for $13 appetizer deal, and shared a pizza. I ordered a glass of red wine, and our server was very helpful and offered a sample of two different red wines, so that I could choose which one to drink that evening. For our appetizers, we got the fried cauliflower, grilled squid and white beans, and a mushroom, goat cheese bruschetta. The cauliflower was the best out of the three, followed closely by the bruschetta. For our main course we got the lamb sausage pizza. A-mazing. The sauce was wonderful, the lamb was wonderful, the crust was crunchy on the outside and soft and swimming in pizza juices in the center. I am definitely going back, and soon!
(4)Yasmien H.
I think I got screwed here... I got the Meatball meal and it was so salty I couldn't even eat it. My husband who loves salt ate it and said he barely could handle it. I had his pizza and while it was okay, it wasn't that great. I may have just gotten a heavy handed chef... who knows.
(2)Jack K.
This place is up on Dekum by Breakside Brewing. It's in a 1913 firehouse and the first thing you notice is the amazing smell of the old wood. It's totally cozy, but there's also a garage door with seating outside. Service was very friendly and attentive. The waitress paid for my dessert as it was my birthday. For starters we had the fried stuffed olives, fried cauliflower with lemon cream, and the bruschetta. They were all good. The salad with currants, hazelnuts, goat cheese, and red wine vinaigrette was REALLY good. I would eat more salad if they were all this tasty. The hanger steak and meatballs were both delicious. They ran out of the roasted pork shoulder. The almond cake, chocolate pudding with hazelnuts, and berry tart were all great. The beer list had some German beers that I'm not familiar with. Of the rest, the only exceptional one was Boneyard's RPM IPA so that's what the beer drinker's stuck with. FYI, the menu on line is from last winter; it's a little different now. Good selection of wine with a lot under $30. Glasses were a little expensive at $8-9. They don't serve liquor. There is a large table by itself upstairs that appears to seat 10-12. Looks like they only use it for parties. Also a really nice bathroom upstairs that most people don't realize is there. I don't go to many restaurants twice because there are so many good ones to try out, but this place seems special.
(5)Samantha J.
Such good food. I was floored. My husband and I walked away thinking we'd had one of the best meals in recent history and we live in the Bay Area. I would love to have the Firehouse local, I would be a regular, if only for the amazing smell of the wood-fired oven when you walk in. Unfortunately we weren't there on nice day, so sitting outside for an entire meal wouldn't have been comfortable. However we had showed up early hoping to get a table earlier than our reservation and hung out on the patio with a cocktail. They were were able to accommodate our early arrival and we moved inside for what my husband still calls, the best tuna he's ever had (seafood on special that night). I myself ordered a rotisserie chicken and enjoyed every bite. We had also ordered the cauliflower for an appetizer and it was as good as other yelpers claimed. Very cozy and down to earth. As we were visiting Portland for a long weekend we asked our server for some more restaurant recommendations and boy did she deliver. Every place we dined at after the Firehouse was on her recommendation and delicious, however none were quite as good. I will make it a point to go back here whenever I'm in PDX again. If it wasn't for Yelp we would not have found this restaurant; so happy we followed the reviews to this place!
(5)Jeff T.
I had a tremendous time at Firehouse this evening. We had reservations but beat the traffic and got there early. We were able to still make it for their happy hour offerings. We had the mussels which were great served on the sizzling skillet with a little clarified butter. Simple and tasty. Next we had a small roasted beet salad with walnuts and some cheese. My wife loves beets so it was a winner too, nothing fancy just good. Then we had the pizza on special for the evening, mozzarella with morels and just a little thyme. I can't say more about how good the thin crust was and the thyme and mushrooms really worked well together. We had the meatballs with kale and tomato also and used the pizza crust to sop up the juices from that dish. Great combo. Finished it off with a nice rhubarb crisp with vanilla ice cream. Also really enjoyed their house made lemon soda. Like Limonata but not quite as tart. The staff was friendly and attentive and made us feel right at home. It's the kind of place that I wish I lived closer to, it was just that good.
(5)Layne F.
My husband and I wanted to go somewhere new and support a local business. We choose the Firehouse. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food and the service. It was fun!
(4)Nicole A.
An ancient firehouse remodeled to be a cozy Italian oasis, firehouse provided an enchanting evening of fine drink, personable service, and absolutely delicious cuisine. From the tender roasted beets to the equally tender rotisserie chicken, from the ultra-thin-crust sicilian style pizza margherita to the succulent house-made gnocchi with sungold tomatoes, it was obvious that the food was made with skill and amore. Great wine. Good beer selection for an Italian place.
(5)Chris S.
A very solid place in north portland. Great setting in an old firehouse. Our server was very pleasant. The meatballs were nearly amazing and the pizza was wonderful. My 4 year old daughter can't wait to go back which says a lot. They make their own soda which was a nice touch.
(4)Susan B.
We finally made it the Firehouse with some friends. Luckily they got there before us on a Friday night and snagged a corner table. At first the service was kind of slow, hence the four. We went with some specialty cocktails and beers. The cocktails were good, and big! I like the small plate appetizer concept. I think it was 3 for $10 or $12...not a bad deal. We shared two bruschetta (awesome!) and one beet which was great. The table next to us got the cauliflower and it smelled amazing! Each couple ordered their own pizza. We got the mushroom (excellent), I like their crust and it was the perfect amount of toppings. Our friends got a house made fennel sausage and onion, looked good too. All in all, other than the initial slow service we really enjoyed ourselves. The decor is cool, it's an old firehouse, hence the name and the exposed brick was pretty neat. They have some old school Italian framed posters and a nice background music playing. The wood fire can be seen when you walk in. Looking forward to heading back to NE Dekum for more!
(4)Derek M.
arrived on a Saturday night for early (6:30) dinner. server was very nice and friendly and able to handle a mini-tantrum by our 2yr old. we orders the cauliflower, a salad, 2 pizzas (1 sausage and 1 mushroom) and for mains i had the rotisserie chicken. look, basically, this was once the best meals we had in Portland. GREAT decor and vibe, servers were excellent and it was a great meal.
(5)Heidi K.
Our night dining on Dekum: Started at Good Neighbor Pizzeria with drinks & apps, dinner at Breakside Brewing and dessert at the Firehouse. We went in after hearing rave reviews on desert from a customer that was leaving "I wanted to order everything!" she enthused. Our group ordered the Ricotta cheesecake (smallish & gritty texture), a tiny $9 brandy, the custard & cookie combo (nice custard underwhelming cookie), chocolate torte (it looked like a little muffin with a bit of garnish.) Isn't a torte a dense multi layer cake with decadent filling???? Service seemed good unless we needed them. Hello! could you bring dessert forks & spoons for the custards? Twice we got up to get them ourselves at the wait staff cabinet. Then we had a 20% gratuity automatically added to the bill. Why- because there were 5 of us or because coffee & dessert service is so exhausting? -get real. The pizza may be the greatest but skip the dessert. The ambiance was great & the brick is beautiful but if you sit against the wall it does smell damp/moldy (we own a commercial brick building too but it doesn't smell like mold....)
(2)Catherine H.
Really good pizza, great building. Friendly staff. The rotisserie chicken is also really good. Nice wine list. We had an excellent bottle of Aglianico del Vulture.
(4)Jennifer A.
Yummy, I loved the thyme scented rotisserie chicken! The salad with Humboldt Fog cheese and hazelnuts was divine. Still love the meatballs! Our top favorite restaurant in town.
(5)JoAnn C.
I found this on yelp and pizza sounded good so we checked it out. The smell coming from the wood-fired oven inside was wonderful! We arrived about 15 minutes before Happy Hour was over so we were able to take advantage of some great prices. The fried cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche was sooo good. I had the romaine hearts with lemon-anchovy vinaigrette and shaved pecorino and my daughter tried the shaved asparagus salad with arugula & lemon vinaigrette. Both were delicious. Now for the main course - we shared a pizza with house made fennel sausage, onion and fresh mozzarella and added arugula. We both agreed that the flavors were so good but the crust was a little soggier than we liked. We also shared dessert - bittersweet chocolate torte - chocolaty but light & fluffy! Perfect end to a great evening!
(4)Valerie F.
One of my old time favorite. Warm atmosphere, wonderful staff, wood oven, delicious pizzas. I love this place. I have never been disappointed there. They can also accommodate big groups. The menu offers a variety of seasonal dishes. Desserts, yummy too. Can't say anything bad.....
(5)Marc D.
Excellent food & service. I'd suggest a reservation to avoid waiting.
(5)Jenny B.
Hands down the best wait staff in Portland! Everything was fantastic and I can't wait to go back.
(5)Kristi W.
The ambiance is great - I love the old pictures of the neighborhood. It is nice to have a lovely place to eat right in the Woodlawn neighborhood. The pizza was great - authentic Italian style. The staff wasn't super friendly and with the crowded seating, I felt like we were constantly eaves-dropping!
(4)Justin R.
We live in the neighborhood and for the hood, this place is as good as it gets. From the beutiful interiors to the relaxing outdoor patio to the flirty nice wait staff and nummy food, this place is great. Kid freindly for a kid with good table manners. This eatery will single handedly bring back Dekum Triangle.
(5)scott l.
One of my favorite dinner spots in Portland.
(5)Steve W.
Great atmosphere. Great food. The sausage and onion pizza was amazing!
(5)Sue B.
This is not one of the best restaurants in Portland. The food ranged from pretty good, to pretty bad. Our table shared three small plates, they were easily the best part of the meal. Especially enjoyed the beets. Next we tried a pizza, good flavor, but the crust was super soggy on the bottom. I ate the Mike's salad with hazelnuts and goat cheese.....let me just say I enjoy an acidic salad dressing, probably more than most people, and this salad dressing was REALLY acidic and the greens were swimming in it. One of the most disappointing salads I have ever had. The staff was very nice and attentive. Overall given the hit and miss of the food, I may give them another try, but it's not on the top of my list given how many other great restaurants there are in Portland.
(3)Andrew L.
Six months of sweat equity finally paid off for Eric Rose and Matthew Busetto. Their much-anticipated southern and central Italian-inspired restaurant, Firehouse, opened in June 2008 at 711 NE Dekum. Rose and Busetto's quest to find the optimal space didn't take long - less than two weeks. "We saw it and it made perfect sense," Rose says. "We were looking at having a neighborhood, family-friendly restaurant. The triangular streets make it a very unique piece of property." Woodlawn Triangle's signature building, constructed in 1913, served as fire station No. 29, which housed firefighters on the top floor and a horse stable on the lower level. Rose lives in Lake Oswego, but intends to relocate to Portland. No doubt, he is impressed by Woodlawn. "It's very unpretentious, very warm and welcoming," says Rose, who grew up in Chicago. "There is a lot of diversity in this neighborhood. It reminds me of neighborhoods in bigger cities. It has lots of potential and seemed, to us, to be underserved in the way of good places to eat." Rose, Busetto, friends and contractors began renovation in January and helped transform the former artists residence to an inviting destination. Demolition work revealed exposed beam ceilings and original brick walls. Firehouse also has a wood-fired oven, rotisserie and grill. Justin Rideout, owner of the two-story building at 820 NE Dekum, constructed Firehouse's tables and banquettes from reclaimed rough-sawn fir. The City of Portland Archives gave Rose and Busetto vintage digital images, which they enlarged and hung throughout Firehouse. A framed print of the Firehouse logo, designed by Rose's son David, hangs in the main dining area. Outside, a semi-circular stone patio on the building's south side provides additional seating. The landscape is a garden oasis in training. There are small orchards of apples, pears, cherries, blueberries, huckleberries, currants, persimmon, crabapple, quince and grapevines, among others. Raised garden beds include arugula, tomatoes and various herbs. "We will use them here," Rose says. "We intend to use everything we can, although it can't fulfill all our needs." Firehouse values simple preparations with quality local and seasonal ingredients. Rose and Matthew buy ingredients in small quantities and use them at their peak freshness. "Buying large quantities and compromising the freshness of the ingredient just doesn't make sense to us," Rose says. "We're using as much produce from small local farms as we can." Rose has worked in the Portland and Seattle restaurant scene for 24 years. Before owning Firehouse, he was the food services director for New Seasons Market for almost nine years, overseeing the delis and specialty-cheese program. There he met Busetto, who served as store chef for two years. "We want to start off in a manageable fashion to give the kitchen the opportunity to give justice to the food without overwhelming them," says Rose, who employs a staff of six. "As the neighborhood starts to request more days, we will certainly try to do that. It's nice to start out small and get big, as opposed to start big and get small." Firehouse complements Good Neighbor Pizzeria, which launched last year, in the developing Woodlawn Triangle commercial district. Two more eateries are just a few blocks away - Izogie's and Rumpspankers. MORE INFO: Firehouse is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5-10 p.m. Phone: 503-954-1702. Reviewer's note: The food is great! Simple food paired with great wines and priced right. Same dinner on Alberta or Mississippi would cost 10-20 percent more. I also brought some picky food/wine people who are hard to please ... they loved it. Firehouse is a great addition to the long-forgotten and now up-and-coming Woodlawn neighborhood.
(4)Karl S.
Great restaurant, terrible location. If you are looking for risotto with generous shavings of black truffle or spaghetti alle vongole, this is not the place for you. However, if you are in the mood for friendly, professional service and delicious unpretentious Italian food, this place fits the bill. The pizza was almost perfect. The crust a bit too light and fluffy, but the crushed roma tomatoes and not too much cheese made for a very tasty pie. The meatballs were out of the world and left me longing for more. The downside: The unsavory types hanging around. Not the usual knuckle dragging rednecks or doped up hippies, but rather the types one's more likely to encounter in the large east coast cities. When leaving, we were surrounded by "pimped out" old American boats with blaring music. It was very unnerving to be caught in the middle of drag race happening on a two-lane road. Unless there was a pimp convention in town, I can only assume we had a run-in with some of the locals.
(4)Arnie Lewis T.
Valentine's evening. Our first time to Firehouse. In fact, our first time to this little neighborhood. Loved it. We made reservations and it is a good thing that we did. Pretty small space, tables fairly close to one another....which is probably the thing that I liked the least. Would have been a little difficult to enjoy with a lot of noise i.e., from children or a large party. Zero pressure to be rushed or get out. Really enjoyed the easiness of the service and flow. We both chose the $27 three course meal. Fried olives and cauliflower both amazing. Mixed greens and caesar salads excellent. Hangar steak super yummy and smoky. They made a vegetarian dish for me.....it was good, not great. Desserts top notch -- the dark chocolate torte and lemon pudding cake. Fairly expensive for this sort of neighborhood....$110 for two including tip. We'll definitely be back. It's a find in a city where we thought we knew it all!
(4)m s.
This is a solid, neighborhood bistro. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the actual building is a wonderful treat all its own. I can't wait to visit their patio once the weather warms up, it looks wonderful. Their menu, while not expansive, was solid, tasty, really legit food. I snuck a bit from everyone's plate that night and wasn't disappointed with anything! Their house made soda was also pretty fantastic, a nice unique touch. Only thing keeping this from four stars? Honestly, the wait for service and our food. They weren't super busy, but the food took a while. Certainly worth the wait. The staff, however was apologetic, and comped our deserts, which was pretty redeeming. I'm not a speed-eater by any means, but i'd budget a little bit more time than you normally would heading over here.
(3)Sara S.
Delish! We had the Olives, crispy potatoes, & fried cauliflower with lemon creme fraiche as appetizers. Everyone in my party liked the olives except me. I think that's because i burned my tongue on one after letting it sit & cool for about 5 min. The cauliflower was SO AWESOME!!!! All of our entrees were also delicious & we'll prob go again
(4)